At thirty-one, Elizabeth, a music teacher fulfilled by her craft and dedicated to her students, is still single and living at home. Unexpectedly, the father of one of her students seems to want to court her. Edward, a well-heeled solicitor still recovering from the tragic death of his young wife, invites Elizabeth to dinner at his home - a home complete with a magnificent piano that he invites her to play.
Out of the blue, Elizabeth receives a letter from her former admirer, Tom - a sheep-farmer, living in Scotland. Will the contents of this letter change Elizabeth's destiny? What startling secrets will it reveal that may upend Elizabeth's entire view of her life?
This latest work by award-winning Australian author Margaret Lynette Sharp promises to be an engaging read for lovers of well-crafted, sweet romance.
Love Denied is a short romantic novella that can be read in a few hours. It's the story of Elizabeth, a woman who thought her chance at love had passed her by. But when Edward hires her to teach piano lessons to his young daughter, Elizabeth can't deny the attraction between them.
Soon, Elizabeth's friend Tom—the man she once refused to marry—returns to Austrailia for a short visit. When Elizabeth learns that Tom still wants to marry her, she has a decision to make: should she marry Edward and become part of a ready-made family, or should she follow Tom to Scotland?
As I look back on this novella, I have mixed feelings. There's no doubt that the story was intriguing and kept me guessing, but I didn't particularly like any of the characters (except for Edward's daughter). Also, a twist that came completely out of the blue near the end definitely surprised me, but it also didn't seem incredibly realistic. Still, I was engaged with the story the whole time, and its plot and setting are different than in any other novel I've read.
Love Denied is definitely a pleasant way to pass a couple hours. Those looking for a clean romance will probably enjoy it. 3 stars.
Buy the book.
Margaret Lynette Sharp is an award-winning writer, and the author of #1 Amazon Best Seller, 'Longbourn Revisited'. Her work was highly commended during the the 2014 Hurstville Discovery Festival of Community Arts, and published by Hurstville Council in an anthology entitled 'Write Out Loud'. In November 2015 she won a Second Prize, again in the short story section of this same competition, and her title, 'More Than a Mere Bagatelle', has been selected for inclusion in another anthology, 'The Art of Writing'. Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free for review from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
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