The Longing (Grayson Brothers, Book 2)

From Publishers Weekly Short on historical depth and detail but long on convoluted plot twists, the second book in Lindstromx92s 1870s Grayson brothers series (following Shades of Honor), is an earnest but unremarkable romance set in upstate New York. When sawmill owner Kyle Grayson demands payment on a long overdue bill from Tom Drake, a business associate, Drake suffers a fatal heart attack. Feeling responsible for Drakex92s death, Kyle buys his sawmill as a means of providing for the manx92s arresting daughter, Amelia. What he doesnx92t realize is that Drakex92s enormous debts could sink his own business. Kyle confronts Amelia at her closely chaperoned teacherx92s residence and unwittingly compromises her reputationx97which predictably leads them to enter into a rocky marriage of convenience. Although Kyle and Amelia are attracted to each other, they both harbor secrets that may spell the end of their relationship. Lindstrom stretches her story by playing up every startling (and not-so-startling) revelation, but she excels at depicting the camaraderie between the Grayson brothers and the magic of minor interactions (the antics of a little girl and her cat are particularly affecting). These tender moments help soften what otherwise would have been a wooden, overworked tale. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. From Booklist Believing he is to blame for the death of his friend and business competitor, Kyle Grayson promises to take care of his friend's wife and daughter. When Amelia Drake learns that her father is dead, she initially rejects her mother's idea to use the family lumber mill as her dowry. Instead, Amelia plans on accepting Kyle's offer to buy her father's mill as a way of providing for her mother, leaving Amelia to a life of dull respectability as a schoolteacher. All of Amelia's plans change, however, when she and Kyle are caught in a compromising situation. She impulsively forces him into proposing, trapping them in a marriage neither one wants but both truly need. Kyle, whose fiancee left him to marry his brother in Lindstrom's superb first romance, Shades of Honor [BKL Jl 02], is determined not to open himself up again to emotional pain and betrayal, but with the help of lonely, stubborn Amelia, he regains his sense of trust and learns to love again, in this deeply emotional, quietly captivating historical romance. John Charles Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved "Guaranteed to move you to tears and even laughter...a portent of great things to come from a very powerful new voice in the genre."-- Romantic Times on Shades of Honor "A perfect ten...one story that should not be missed."-- Romance Reviews Today on Shades of Honor The Longing is NOW AVAILABLE in axa0revised Author's PREFERRED EDITION, as a Kindle ebook, in paperback, and in audiobook here on Amazon:xa0amazon.com/Longing-Grayson-Brothers-Wendy-Lindstrom-ebook/dp/B004HB1XLS Wendy Lindstrom is a RITA Award-winning author of "beautifully poignant, wonderfully emotional" historical romances. Romantic Times has dubbed her "one of romance's finest writers," and readers rave about her enthralling characters and the riveting emotional power of her work. For more information about Wendy Lindstrom's other books, excerpts, and sneak previews, please visit the author's website. (wendylindstrom.com) Read more