Books › Midsummer Magic
Midsummer Magic
First published 1987 · 558 pages
A fiery, laugh-out-loud battle of wills wrapped in a classic historical romance package of deception, horses, and undeniable chemistry.
What it feels like
A spirited romp through the Scottish highlands and English countryside, this classic historical romance delivers a delightfully chaotic battle of the sexes. The narrative moves at a brisk, entertaining clip, fueled by sharp banter, comedic misunderstandings, and the fiery clash of two stubborn personalities. Readers are immersed in a lively, tempestuous atmosphere where a marriage of convenience quickly spirals into a passionate war of wills. The prose is breezy and unapologetically dramatic, capturing the vintage charm of 1980s romance with its larger-than-life characters and sweeping emotional highs. It is a perfect match for readers who crave old-school, trope-heavy love stories featuring feisty, capable heroines who outsmart arrogant heroes, ultimately forging a bond built on fiery chemistry and hard-won mutual respect.
- Mood
- lively
- tempestuous
- romantic
- chaotic
- Tone
- humorous
- playful
- melodramatic
- cheeky
- spirited
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- battle of the sexes · hidden identities · enemies to lovers · arranged marriage · finding personal agency
- The writing
- Breezy, dialogue-heavy, and unapologetically dramatic with a touch of vintage romance flair.
- The arc
- From resentful reluctance and comedic misunderstanding to fiery passion and hard-won mutual respect.
- Who it's for
- Fans of old-school, trope-heavy historical romances who love a feisty heroine, an arrogant hero, and plenty of comedic bickering.
Content notes
- outdated gender dynamics
- dubious consent
- mild violence
About the book
Philip Hawksbury, the Earl of Rothermere, obeying his father's dying wish, hies himself to Scotland to offer for one of the daughters of Alexander Kilbracken, the Earl of Ruthven.
Frances Kilbracken, informed of the earl's arrival and his mission, disguises herself as a bespectacled dowd so she won't be the one selected by the young earl. But choose her he does, and for all the wrong reasons.
The newly married couple return to England, together but not at all happy. Philip dumps Frances at Desborough Hall, his ancestral estate, and heads back to his old life in London. Ah, but Desborough has a stud farm and racing stable, and Frances is magic with horses.
When the earl returns to his home, driven by guilt, he discovers the woman he married has grossly deceived him. What follows is a battle of the sexes that will have you chuckling, maybe even howling with laughter...
The Magic Trilogy - 1
Description from Open Library.
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