My Dearest Enemy: A Novel

This is a witty book I didn't want to put down. The plot & twists are just delightful. Some of the historical challenges of women are well illustrated. This book is a keeper. I read the end twice.

Ms Brockways characters are often different from the standard fare in this genre, and here are more. She excels with dialogue, narrative and wonderful character development. Add a considerable amount of dry humor and we have a great read. Many times over.

More than a romance, this is a true love story. The anguish is palpable, the characters are memorable. The RITA is well-deserved: Ms. Brockway is setting a new standard in romance writing.

I loved both of these characters but the hero especially. He thinks he's a gentleman (and trust me he's the only one who thinks this ) he's blunt, and loud and pretty much knows nothing about being a boring old gentleman. Thank goodness! He's also charmingly imperfect, physically flawed by asthma, amazingly shy despite his loud mouth and sexually inexperienced. An irresistible combination, he was. The letters the two exchange during his travels cracked me up and touched me. A wonderful book that I can't recommend highly enough.

I am a very jaded reader and I found this book truly excellent. The writing is almost flawless. The heroine and hero are my very favorite type, both outsiders who are clearly made for each other. The use of correspondence between the hero and heroine in the plot is great. All characters are excellently drawn with unique voices. The use of humor is very well done. The passion is strong and wonderful.

I'm slightly disappointed with this book. I loved All Through The Night and As You Desire, rereading them often, and I waited every week in bated breath when this book came out. Then when I read it at first, I groaned. "This isn't as good as the others!" I exclaimed. But I was wrong. This book is not like the others, because it is different. Each Brockway book tells its own story, and this one tells of a love so quaint and sweet I couldn't help but to love the characters. Avery Thorne was my kind of guy. Sensitive, intelligent, shy, yet so dependent on, he is such a wonderful character. His letters and Lily Bede's make me chuckle aloud, and when they finally meet face to face, sparks really fly. This book lacks the sensuality of love scenes typical of Brockway's books, but the tenderness and warmth are intact. The characters are vivid and fully drawn. Lily and Avery are so funny, so happy, so alive together it is hard not to succumb to smile and laug! hter seeing them fall in love. My only complain is that Lily took too long to realise who she was in love with, but all in all, with beautiful prose, wonderful characters, humour, and love - this book is a keeper.

In 1887, Horatio Thorne sends a letter to his only living adult male relative, Avery, a world traveler. Horatio writes in the letter that he is dying, but Avery will not be named as guardian to his younger cousin. Instead Lily Bede will manage the estate for the next five years unless Avery shows up to take charge. Lily only has to send Avery money from the estate. If he never shows up and the estate is run in a profitable manner, Lily takes over permanently. For the next five years, Lily has managed Mill House and sends Avery money with a letter explaining the role of women in modern English society. Just before the estate is hers to manage forever, Avery, arrives on the scene. Apparently her letters have inspired the man, who quickly falls in love with the independent Lily. Now all he has to do is convince her that marriage to him is not slavery. Instead, it will be a glorious partnership. Even if it is all through the night, readers will sit down and peruse Connie Brockway's newest historical romance, MY DEAREST ENEMY, in one sensual sitting. Lily is a great role model, who shows how far an intrepid woman can go even in the confines of the late nineteenth century. The alienated Avery is clearly a dangerous man to Lily's plans, thereby turning this story line into a intelligent, passionate, and crisp tale that substantiates how good a writer Ms. Brockway is.