Wednesday, September 14, 2016

Book Review: Passionate Pursuit (Dangerous Desires #3) by Tina Donahue


Andalucía Spain, 1489: Innocent Beatriz is desperate to escape the threat of a miserable marriage to a cruel Marquis. Forced into the betrothal by her ruthless merchant papá, her only hope is to conceal her identity and become a servant in a nearby castle—a life drastically different from her comfortable upbringing.

Tomás doesn’t know what to make of his well-spoken new servant girl. Her beauty and charm captivates the military hero; her mysterious nature intrigues him. And the desire she ignites burns brighter with each glance, as does his longing to claim her for his own.

Beatriz can’t resist Tomás’ passion nor deny the heat of her own. But neither the lush countryside nor the walls of the opulent Moorish castle can entirely protect her—and if he were to discover her secret, she could be torn away from him forever. Yet how can she sustain his love if she’s living a lie?







This is the first book that I've read by Tina Donahue and I wish that it wasn't. I used to read historical romance novels like crazy and then I just hit a wall. No matter which one I picked up, I just didn't like it. Because of that, I haven't read one in quite a while and when I was approached about this one, I almost said "no, thank you". Boy, am I glad that I didn't. It restored my faith in the genre. That kind of stamp of approval is not something I give easily. I'm a jerk about books. I won't lie. I will pick them apart and take no prisoners. I'd like to think that my criticism is constructive ... but I'm sure that some authors don't feel that way. Anyway ... this one is easily a four-star book because I really didn't have any issues with it. 

Passionate Pursuit is well written and I think true to the time-period. I've actually not read anything that dates back as far as this one does. Usually I kind of stay away from them because I just didn't know if I could connect with that time-period. I was pleasantly surprised! Donahue wrote this book in such a way that it really pulls you into the story and you believe that you're in the 15th century. Does that mean that everything was completely accurate with the times? I have no freaking clue but she made me believe that it was and that's all that matters.

I enjoyed getting to know Beatriz and Tomás. I don't want to really delve into the whole premise of the story ... hopefully you've read the blurb and there's no reason to go over that again but Beatriz's character was interesting. I appreciated what she was going through and how she was always trying to do the right thing but ornery Tomás was having none of that. Tomás behaved a bit like a petulant child at times and that made me smile because all men get that way, right? "I want what I want, when I want it", type thing. Brats. 

That being said, the push and pull between Beatriz and Tomás was what made me love the story so very much. Tomás was always there to save the day and in turn, make the reader swoon and want to be rescued right along with Beatriz. 

The only issue is that now I'm interested in reading the previous two books in the series. They aren't necessary to understand this one but I think that the back story from those two books would just make this one even richer. Great book, great author and it was a nice break from my usual romantic suspense novels. 

* I received this novel in exchange for an honest review *



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