She might be the making of him
American Joe Steton is visiting his estate in England, bringing his straight-talking attitude and rugged manners with him, much to the ton's disapproval! Respectable widow Olivia Shaw offers to smooth his edges and make him an English gentleman, and Joe can't resist such an intriguing instructor. He has wealth and a title -- yet how can he give her his heart when his real life is an ocean away?
This was a fun book to read. I enjoy American man/woman enters English society books with their culture clashes. Joe brought his sister to England from their home in Wyoming to fulfill her and her mother's wish to find a titled husband. Joe is a somewhat rough around the edges rancher, but he'll do anything for his sister. His father is also Baron Havesmere and owns property in the Lake District. Because his father is too ill to travel this year, Joe promises to look in on the family property once Roselina is taken care of. Unfortunately, Joe's reluctance to blend in may put a crimp in Roselina's chances. This becomes a more significant issue when he assaults another man at the first ball they attend, even though he was protecting a lady's honor.
Olivia, whom we met in The Earl's American Heiress, is an attractive widow who drew the attention of a man who didn't know how to accept the word "no." He corners Olivia in the garden but is stopped in his tracks by the timely arrival of Joe. The resulting brouhaha (compounded by Joe's dog) leads the hostess to insist that Olivia take Joe under her wing and polish his rough edges. Olivia, whose late husband's infidelities made her distrustful of all men, is left with no choice. Her young son complicates matters with his insistence that Joe is "his cowboy."
I loved the development of the relationship between Olivia and Joe. They first met in the cemetery where Olivia's brother Oliver is buried. Her son, Victor, gets lost in the fog and is rescued by Joe and his dog. Victor is immediately smitten and believes that his late uncle sent Joe there just for him. Olivia is simply wary of the stranger who appeared out of the mist. Between that meeting and the later encounter at the ball, neither can get the other off their mind. I thoroughly enjoyed the "how to be a gentleman" lessons. Joe initially resists because he thinks he should be accepted for who he is but gives Roselina's pleas. There is the additional benefit of getting to know Olivia better. On her side, Olivia finds herself just as intrigued by Joe but is determined to protect her heart.
I loved Joe. He embodies the "cowboy code" of honor, honesty, and protection. He also has a big heart, vividly portrayed by his connection with Victor and his obvious love for his sister and mother. I watched that same love spill over onto Olivia as his feelings for her grew stronger. When tragedy strikes and returning to Wyoming is no longer an option, Joe must face a different future than the one he planned. I loved Olivia, too. Her bitterness about men is understandable given the misery caused by her late husband. She has a lot of love to give, as evidenced by her devotion to Victor, but trusting someone with her heart does not come easy. Knowing that Joe will leave makes her determined to resist her feelings, but she suspects it is a losing battle. There are some sweet scenes between them as their "lessons" progress and a couple of more where Joe's protectiveness comes to the surface. But their connection deepens when Joe turns to Olivia in an emotional late-night encounter.
I loved watching Joe throw himself into his new life. It was amusing to see him convince Olivia to join his family at their estate - to continue his lessons, of course. She had no idea of his plans to court her. He hits a bump in the road when an encounter in the village stirs up Olivia's fears. Joe quickly realizes that before he can win her heart, he must first earn Olivia's trust. I loved his understanding and patience as he overcame her fears. I ached for Olivia because she knew what she wanted but was afraid to reach for it. The ending made me cheer for her. In a fantastic scene in the barn, her love for Joe beats the last of her fears (and a ghost or two) into submission. The final pages were great, and I loved the part with the hats.
Young Victor was my favorite of the secondary characters. I loved his little boy enthusiasm and mischievousness. But the best part was his absolute certainty that his Uncle Oliver sent Joe to be Victor's very own cowboy. The connection between the two was immediate and sweet. I liked Joe's mother and sister, though I wasn't too sure about Francesca's unilateral decision about the ranch. Roselina was sweet but by no means the naïve debutante that so many others of her age were. Her life on the ranch gave her an unusual set of life skills and viewpoints. I enjoyed the secondary romance between Roselina and Lord Mansfield. They were well suited to each other, and Joe's reactions were fun to watch.
The "mischief" that caused Joe's return to Havesmere was an exciting twist in the story. I liked how it gave Joe a reason to get out among his people and something to focus on other than his grief. That mischief went too far at one point, and I was on the edge of my seat until the crisis ended. I loved the revelation of the culprit, especially Olivia's part in it.
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