When Ruel Chouteau returns home after his supposed death, he shocks everyone. They are even more surprised when he mock-proposes to a common housemaid as proof that no woman in her right mind would marry him. Anne Webster is no ordinary woman, and when she is shot through the leg, it appears that she will surely die. She decides to accept Ruel's proposal so he will be obligated to save and provide for her family. Since he will have a year to mourn her death, Ruel will be spared the hounding from his family and the many families of single women in the community. But after the marriage on Anne's deathbed, she surprises them all by returning to full health! Now Ruel and Anne must face a future they never expected!
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Okay, okay, I really shouldn't give this book five stars, because there were things I didn't care for, but I absolutely loved the characters and story so much that I can't help rate it for enjoyment alone. It's definitely my favorite in the series. It is a true romance, and that's where part of my objections come in.
First, I thought there was undue attention on her wanting to have relations with her husband and yet not wanting to fully seal the wreckage of her future she knows is coming. There's discussion between them and some really heavy kissing, along with his brother outright asking her if her husband had bedded her yet. Definitely not something I'd recommend to a teen because of that.
Second, the issue of his having been a notorious rake. Yes, he wasn't a believer, and yes, it was of course common in the day. It just made my instincts go awry to have such a fellow as the hero for the pure pastor's daughter.
Third, that her pastor father had thought it was okay to get mixed up in the Luddite riots and the destroying of private property. I was really unimpressed that a minister wouldn't have tried to find some other way to assist his parishioners.
But other than that I loved the story! Loved how the two found each other an influence to become stronger and better. And the ending was so perfect!
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