ON BENDED KNEE is the sixth
book in Celeste Bradley's Wicked
Worthingtons series. Lysander Worthington is a changed man
after living the life of a soldier. He returns home a different man and his
family has trouble reconciling the man he was then with the silent one
he is now. With his mother ill, his youngest sister sends him on a
mission to fetch his brother Poll. Instead of his brother, he finds peace
and an unexpected but welcome love in the form of widow Gemma
Oakes. Celeste Bradley tells a moving story about two people who find
each other after knowing war and loss.
Celeste Bradley injects some humor into ON BENDED KNEE to relieve the tension, but the focus
is on the romance and the story about healing. Lysander is immediately
enchanted by Gemma the first time he sees her. A somewhat amusing
accident has him convalescing at Gemma's home and an attraction
blossoms and becomes something more. Celeste Bradley tells the story
from alternating perspectives, allowing the reader a window into the
thoughts of the main characters. With Gemma, Lysander doesn't feel
the need to conform to some previous version of himself, and Gemma
is wowed by Lysander's strength, sensitivity, and hot factor. As a by-
product of falling in love and meeting each other, they both gain a
better sense of who they are and what they want in life. The romance
between Gemma and Lysander in ON
BENDED KNEE evolves from initial physical attraction, to enjoyable
companionship, to a physical and emotional climax.
ON BENDED KNEE is a tender and
terrific story about love, loss, and family. I like how Lysander is finally
able to make a psychological breakthrough by sharing his traumatic
experience with Gemma, and comparing his loss with hers. I always
think it's great when the hero in a story gains a little emotional insight
before the heroine. In previous Wicked Worthingtons books we've seen the zany antics of
the many Worthingtons, but in ON
BENDED KNEE we see how much they love each other. I look
forward to reading about Poll's "happily ever after" in a future book.
At last! The story of healing the war-torn heart of
Lysander Worthington!
Lysander Worthington has existed in a dark place since he
came back from the war. His heart seems like a locked
chamber, hidden even from his beloved family. Life seems
like a constant battlefield. When Lysander encounters an
enraged farm animal in a remote Yorkshire village, his
battle instincts take over!
Isolated doctor's widow, Gemma Oakes, has a habit of
taking in the bent and the broken. When a handsome
stranger rides into her village and proceeds to destroy
their festival, Gemma believes she can help this
beautiful, damaged man cleanse his heart of war.
Lysander's darkness appeals to Gemma's nurturing spirit,
while his beautiful body mesmerizes her senses. Lysander
has kept his secret for so many years, but Gemma's inner
strength and open heart tempt him to speak at last. Among
the beloved, misfit inhabitants (not all human!) of Yew
Manor, can Lysander and Gemma trust enough to understand
broken hearts can mend, and shattered souls love again?
What a great review! New to me series and author I'm going to have to find. Thanks for the review and introduction. (Kathleen Bylsma 3:59pm May 6, 2019)
© 2003-2024 off-the-edge.net
all rights reserved Privacy Policy