Trial by Desire Book Review *Courtney Milan*

It has been three years since Lady Kathleen Carhart has last seen her husband, Ned. Their marriage was more of a polite convenience since their courtship was very brief and unconventional. The way Ned “acquired” Kate was scandalous, and really set things off on the wrong foot for both of them. Kate planned to make her marriage work, but then three months in, Ned announces that he’ll be going to China to deal with some issues that have arisen due to his holdings there. He feels neither he, or Kate is ready for marriage. And because he feels he’s lacking as both a man and husband, he wants to prove to himself, and to Kate, he’s worthy. His leaving makes Kate feel as failure as a wife.

In those three years since Ned has been away, Kate has found a way to carry on, and even though society thinks she only cares about shopping and trivial pursuits, it’s all an act. Kate helps women leave their abusive husbands. She enables them to escape and start a new life. She has just given aid to her friend Louisa and her newborn son and placed them into hiding away from Louisa’s husband, Eustace Paxton, the Earl of Harcroft. This is one of the most daring things Kate has ever done because not only is Eustace a close friend of Ned’s, but the Earl is onto Kate and will make her pay. Kate is staying at her estate in Berkshire, away from London, where she has stowed Louisa, waiting for Harcroft to come, demanding to know where his wife is. Harcoft doesn’t disappoint, but a familiar face arrives as well. Ned has finally returned and Kate isn’t happy to see him. She thinks he will ruin all her plans and side with Harcroft because of his loyalty to him. Ned left England as useless, but now has come back mature and responsible, and one he hopes Kate can respect and come to love.

Ned wasn’t sure what to expect when he comes back to Kate. She acts cold and barely civil to him, but he notices something different about her. The Kate he once knew for that short time has changed. He wants to find out who the true Kate is, and prove to her that they can begin anew and have a life full of respect, kindness and hopefully love between them. But first Ned has to figure out what Kate’s hiding.

Trial by Desire is a very character driven book, which Courtney Milan excels at. Just as with her first book, Proof of Seduction with Gareth and Jenny, Ned and Kate also have their battle of wits. Where these two should have turned to one another for guidance and help, they did the worst possible thing and walked away, only relying on themselves to find the answers they needed. Courtney shows how the support and caring of others can make a person feel valuable and important.

Ned isn’t as dark and tortured as most heroes I’ve read in historical romances, but he hurts inside and deeply, because he feels he has nothing to offer the world. He always had everything handed to him, and because of that he feels less than a man. There’s something about Kate that made him want to be a better person, even though he didn’t have to. He sacrifices not only himself, but Kate’s opinion of him. He basically wants to be Kate’s ideal man, that elusive knight in shining armor, and that perfect caretaker and husband. But Ned only had to ask Kate what she wanted of him. And now as a man who has almost slayed those internal demons, he resorts back to questioning himself and almost loses that hard warn self-esteem he found that he never thought he had in the first place. If one person can destroy Ned, it’s Kate. Ned knows this, but he’s willing to take the chance.

Kate is definitely the stronger of the two, although she hides her fears. She grins and bears it because that was what she was taught to do. Kate wants to show the world her true nature that’s bubbling below the surface, and perhaps its fate that Ned arrived right at the perfect time to help her with this.

The subject of a husband’s ownership of his wife is very important to the plot just as Ned and Kate try to heal their fragile marriage. We are shown this perfectly with Harcroft’s small minded view of women and how his wife is an object to be owned. He’s a nasty piece of work who tries to break apart Ned with self-doubt. Watching Kate handle Harcroft is just as important as how she and Ned fix their relationship.

Courtney has written a beautiful story with Trial by Desire. I soaked up every word and every piece of dialogue between Kate and Ned. These are two people who want each other’s admiration. Watching them finally come to the realization how incredible they both are is very moving. I see their relationship as two leaves flying in the breeze, barely touching, until with on final blustery push, they and come together in a perfect dance. Trial by Desire was a breathtaking romance with a very special couple who both deserve a life full of happiness and joy. (HQN)

Final Grade: B+

A few other Trial by Desire reviews:
Book Lovers Inc.
Dirty Sexy Books
Smexy Books

** Make sure to come back on Thursday where Courtney will stop by and post a top secret deleted scene from Trial by Desire that will only be shown here (it deals with a certain naughty sheep), plus one lucky commenter will win a copy**