Danielle The Book Huntress 's Reviews > Entwined

This is a beautiful and very underrated romance novel. I fell in love with the story from the first page. This was my first read by Emma Jensen, who doesn't write anymore. I could not be more saddened by that fact. A great talent has been lost to the literary world.

Entwined is the story of the relationship between Isobel, who is a tall, ungainly spinster with carrot red hair, and an unfashionably curvaceous body, and Nathan, Duke of Oriel, who was badly injured in the midst of his spy work for the government. He is now scarred and blinded. Instead of Nathan being a mean, embittered jerk as a result, he is a very wonderful man. He realizes very quickly what a jewel that Isobel is (in fact, he runs into her when she goes into his office to return money her drunken father stole, and is very captivated by her womanly physique). Although he hires her initially as his secretary and personal assistant (she is the only one who knows he's blind), he offers her marriage very soon afterwards. It was easy to fall in love with both of these characters because of their good hearts and unique personalities.

I have a weakness for less-than-perfect characters, so I was so glad that this book was listed on the All About Romance Special Title Listing for Beauty is in the Eye and also Less Than Perfect. I made a note to grab this at the used bookstore, and I am so glad I did. If you are a reader who loves a good marriage of convenience book where two people come together for a common purpose, and initially are not in love, but fall deeply for each other and find togetherness and a wonderful future, you would love this book. There are no big misunderstandings or foolishness. There is a spy plot, but the relationship between Nathan and Isobel is what captured and kept my interest. They face the world as a team, and it's so wonderful how deeply Nathan and Isobel care for each other and take care of each other. The term 'help-mate' is wonderfully exemplified by this couple in this novel.

It's been a while since I read this book (and I really should pull it out for a reread), but I really love this story, and I consider it a favorite out of the many historical romances I've read. It might be hard to find, but it is definitely worth the read.