Review: Love Practically by Nichole Van

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

As a young woman, Leah Penn-Leith fell hopelessly in love with Captain Fox Carnegie—the only irrational mark on her decidedly sensible life. Fox, unfortunately, did not return her regard.

Their story should have ended there. After all, Fox left for India. And Leah returned home to Scotland to rear her much younger brothers.

But twenty years later, Fox appears on Leah’s doorstep—older, scarred, and world-weary—proposing a marriage of convenience between them. He needs a mother for his young ward, and Leah, with her capable good sense, comes highly recommended. What woman could say No to such a proposal? Not Leah. Fox has always wreaked havoc on her ability to think rationally.

But after their marriage, Leah confronts the chaotic reality of Fox’s life. His castle, ten miles up a rugged Highland glen, is shambolic. His ward, Madeline, is a precocious handful. Fox’s time in India is shrouded in rumor and mystery. Worst of all, Fox himself is distant and broken, his personality as altered as his scarred body.

Throughout it all, Leah is left with two questions: What happens to a woman after her most-cherished fantasy comes true? And can a marriage, begun in practicality, transform into something deeper? Something like . . . love.

My Review

I am thrilled for a new series from this author, and was immediately swept away with the setting and characters in Love Practically. Leah and her brothers are close, and I loved how protective they are of her when she decides to take the opportunity to marry Fox, even though it's a marriage of convenience on his part. I was feeling all the feels as Leah serves and sacrifices in her new roles as wife, mother, and homemaker. Each character came to life with mannerisms and personalities that were vibrant and unique- even the cat! Such a heartrending story of love that grows through hardship and healing. I especially enjoyed the poetry that inspired the title of the book and the way it shifted as Leah's brothers saw her change from a woman who loves to a woman who is loved. This is a story I plan to read again, and I'm anxiously awaiting the next book!

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.