Gilbert has got to be the most frustrating leading man ever created! I felt like everything was two-steps-forward-one-step-back with him. You keep thinking he is making progress in repairing his relationship with Madelene only for him to mess it all up. He's the model example for self-sabotage - it's like he is willfully misunderstanding everything going on with his wife. Those step forward moments show you why Madelene is so willing to keep trying. If this were a contemporary romance Madelene and Gilbert's other family members would be pushing him to get counseling. It is a shame that it took an accidental shooting for him to finally face his demons and really look to build a new, happier future. Luckily for him Madelene loved him and was willing to work together with him to make the marriage happy again.

Quite a lot of emotion in this story of how to make a marriage work after misunderstandings, jealousy and an emotionally stunted man who is quite hard to like for a fair bit of this story. It does seem like they rushed into things a bit without even knowing this was a second marriage for both so perhaps not a surprise it stalled a bit and needed them to go back to the beginning and start courting again. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

A wonderful second chance romance full of emotion and interesting characters. A romance that was always meant to be, but Gilbert and Madelene have to get through a lot of hurt first of all. I enjoyed their journey, it's a worthy story and an even worthier happily ever after.

"I cannot let her see how broken I am"

Fear makes the mind think the most worst will ha++en or has happened.

Positive thoughts:
- The fear of breaking down and expressing ones feelings is very real. Sandra did a great job in portraying that.
- I loved all the knowledge that is given to us about tea.
- I love an emotional story and I loved how the author gave us some specks of humour to lighten a very dramatic and painful story.

Negative thoughts:
- Oh I hate a jealous man. I wanted to slap him silly until his ears grew big like an elephant so he would start listening. Oh the damnation, Sandra did this so very well!
- Some might not like the sensitive topic, but that's why there are trigger warnings. Although the sensitive topic was not touched in detail as much as the emotional recovery.

Overall:
- This was a drama with a spice of romance. It is not an easy read because of the emotional ride we go through, but it is fast paced, you won't be able to put it down, even when it hurts you.
- A historical romance, with a lot of groveling, forgiveness and healing
- Recommended for those that love an emotional read and to tear up ( several times).

"If I lode you, there will of course be pain, but that is the payment for loving someone and perhaps that is how it should be."

TW: miscarriage; stillborn baby, betrayal.

Romance: 3,5/5
Grovel: 4/5
Drama: 5/5
Spice: 3,5/5
Foul language: 1/5 (if you count "damnation)
Cry factor: 3/5
Humour: 1/5

Tropes:
- married couple struggling
- healing wife/husband
- loss of child
- betrayal
- forgiveness
- tea lovers
- historical

"On your way to see Madelene?"
"Did you think I would carry around a bouquet of flowers for my health?"

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is another enchanting story that continues this great series with aplomb. the elements of drama and heartbreak combined with the brilliant characters all help to make this a very engaging read.

Thank you Dragonblade Publishing and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Speechless.

I just… Wow.

WHAT THE HELL WAS WRONG WITH YOU, GILBERT?!

Although, for someone who was named Gilbert, I should’ve not expected greatness from him. Suffice to say, he was stupid from page 1 to last page, depending on your device, if it’s on your phone or tab, page 437, or on your laptop, page 189.

Anyway, Gilbert kept repeating he didn’t deserve Madelene, and she agreed as well, and YET. How is the world so cruel?! Why would something like this be written, Gilbert was beyond redemption ISTG I WILL SHOOT HIM

And his family?! Enablers? What the hell?

Where was justice for Madelene?

This book made the feminist in me roar in outrage. No grovelling (really, Mad? You should make him beg, give him a hard time), no real progress, stupid hero, too forgiving heroine, annoying miscommunication and family members who were enablers to mental abuse and toxic relationship.

UTTER RAGE READING THIS, but deserves a star

Emotionally Packed Romance:

Certainly, an interesting beginning to this complex emotionally driven story. Interesting characters with flaws to overcome before their lives can grow.
A story of a second chance at romance as Gilbert and Madeline navigate through many traumatic situations that take them on a rocky unbelievable road before they discover if they are actually meant to be together?
The author had writing challenges with more than one touchy subject and has done much research to bring this amazing heartfelt story to the reader.
Jealousy, obsessiveness, loss of a child, depression, struggling to discover oneself.
My emotions as reading this heartfelt story had me shed tears, a sigh of disappointment, and oh, thank goodness and more.
Book #3 of the series The Willful Winterbournes. I truly love this series.
I certainly look forward to Hugh's story coming?  He's a wonderful character that deserves his own story
Adult Advisory:
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy for my honest opinion and thoughts.

What did I just read? This book purports to be a romance novel (and the steamy scenes were good) but the MMC is no one's hero. *SPOILERS* He abandons his wife for India a week after she gives birth to a stillborn son, cheats on her while he is abroad, attacks his best friend, admits he was married before and never told his current wife, sort of seems to make a couple of strides, then SHOOTS HIS WIFE!!! And she forgives him! Then blames herself for at least some of his actions! And we are supposed to want/be happy about this clear example of toxic masculinity receiving a HEA? No. Just no. Obviously romance novels, especially historical ones, sometimes require less of a modern view in reading, but this one is a bridge too far. One night of communing with his sister's rose bushes and a few apologies do not make at least this reader believe that the MMC has truly changed to the extent that would be needed after he has shot his wife. And the fact that his family just lets it go?!? No.

A couple positives - there is no epilogue in which the couple's fertility issues are magically solved. As I said above, the steamy scenes were quite good. But as no relationship should be based only on sex, neither should a romance novel.

1 star. Thank you to Dragonblade and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. The opinions herein are my own.