The Briar and the Rose

After finally meeting the woman of his dreams, Devan, Marquess of Castlereagh, lost his beloved Katherine in a great fire at a Dakshire ball in 1827. It was a fire he could not save her from. Devan escapes his nightmares and pain by fleeing to his home in Ireland where he hopes to drown his grief in alcohol. Once settled in at home, he sees a servant tending the roses. She is Raven, an urchin found on the lawn of Dahlingham with no memory. When he calls for her and sees her face for the first time, he is shocked. She is the exact image of his Katherine! Perhaps to assuage his own guilt over Katherine, he offers Raven a life of luxury, living as a guest in his home and learning etiquette in exchange for any information she remembers.

Since she has no memory, Raven agrees, hoping to improve her station in life. Raven does have dreams of people and places of a different time. Unknowingly, she lives out portions of these dreams, walking the countryside, riding horses, and dancing with the locals. When Devan follows her one evening, he sees a free spirit, a woman who wants him and is willing show it and falls in love. But Raven doesn’t know she’s living out her dreams and when he approaches her, she feels that Devan is trying to take advantage of her. Their relationship continues on this rocky terrain while Raven turns to Devan’s friend, Victor, Duke of Brookshire, hoping to replace Devan in her thoughts and feelings. Strangely, it seems as if history will repeat itself. Are Devan and Raven destined to live apart? Or can they overcome the obstacles in their past and present to build a life together?

What an absolutely wonderful story of reincarnation and second chances! Raven and Devan have a chemistry that immediately strikes sparks, as well as a mutual attraction that is almost palpable. Ms. Mills Alcott does a wonderful job portraying Raven as a lost young woman, fighting to maintain her sanity in the midst of all the craziness going on within her own brain. On the other hand, Devan’s pain is truly heartfelt. He and Katherine were on their way to Gretna Green to elope when she was so cruelly taken from him and he cannot forgive himself. When he is given another chance with Raven, he can’t believe his luck and at first denies himself the luxury of her company. Their journey to discover their feelings for each other while at the same time trying to understand their dreams was one I enjoyed taking. The Briar and the Rose is loosely based on the Ballad of Barbara Allen. It is a sensual story full of twists and turns. Even when you think it’s over, it’s not! This is one book that will keep you turning the pages and praying for the happy ever after ending.

Reviewed by: Trang