The Perfect Spinster

Beyond a curse

Mrs Annabelle Anders is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors so far.
I do love her writing style, I’m unable to analyze it and say why but I’m always immediately sucked in the storyline, unable to put it down.
It is only because of a short night the day before I was unable to finish it in one sitting.
Mrs Anders once again crafted more than fleshy characters, they have their flaws, their make errors but it is the reason they are so vivid.
Miss Olivia Redfield is an heroine as I love them, she was not been rendered bitter by her life circumstances, she is still a kind and compassionate woman. Despite being shunned and disparaged by those who should have protected her, she stayed true to her loving nature. Because of a slight squint, she is ostracized from polite society, worse, she had been removed from her father’s house to not cause “further embarrassment”, and is constantly told she is cursed and the cause of many misfortune.
My heart arched for her, she grew up believing everything was because of her, that she has no right to happiness.
All her hopes and dreams had been trashed because she was declared damaged goods by her kin. Her sole allie now far away, married, leaving her at the mercy of her doubts and unkind family.
She has been depreciated for so long, that it had been engrained in her. Why she is ready to sell herself short to the first and only man offering for her hand, feeling she deserves no better.
When Gabriel Fellowes wants to give her belief in herself, playing hot and cold with her, only reassure her she is not worth much.
The Earl Of Kingsley has been warned to not come closer to his friend’s sister-in-law. But he feels in his guts a pull, he can’t shake his mind to stay away from her. Even when he knows it is wrong, being betrothed for years does not excuse him to pursue a path he knows will bring only heartaches.
He is well aware of why it is wrong, yet, he drowns in her eyes, the ones she thinks are proof of her being cursed.
He kept telling himself at the same time he must avoid her as he has a promise to fulfill but he senses he is linked to her by much more than lust, or a sizzling chemistry.
He is an honorable man, he tried and failed. Time and distance will not diminish his attraction toward Olivia. But he is locked in a predicament of his own doing.
Mrs Annabelle Anders leaded Olivia and Gabriel in a merry chase with aplenty of heartbreaks while also cheering them to find their right path.
A five stars

I was granted an advance copy by the author, but I had already purchased my own copy. Here is my true and unbiased opinion.