A Secret Passion

I finished Sophia Nash's debut book last night, and while it was rough in spots, it was still enjoyable. A Secret Passion: 3 out of 5.

Widow Jane Lovering has a problem--her father needs money and plans to get it by marrying her off to a wealthy man. Jane knows he's capable of doing this; he's already done it once. Although Jane was fond of her husband, she refuses to place herself at the mercy of a domineering man such as her father or the man he wants her to marry.

When Jane goes to stay with her aunt, she meets Rolfe St. James, Earl of Graystock. She finds herself inexplicably attracted to him, but she fears that he is the kind of man she wants to avoid. For his part, Rolfe wants to have an affair with the widow; he isn't interested in marriage.

Jane and Rolfe are interesting, introspective, and complex characters. I enjoyed reading both perspectives. Jane has a blind spot about strong-willed men, and Rolfe tends to be strong-willed, which creates conflict and makes the characters more real.

The main challenge with this book is its tendency to make quick jumps. I was surprised by how quickly Rolfe falls in love with Jane, or perhaps with how quickly he realizes it. The way it's described seems abrupt. Later in the story, Jane's father changes his feelings quite quickly. This made some parts of the book seem unrealistic.

A Secret Passion is a solid debut, and I look forward to trying her next book.

Alyssa