Love Practically

The Penn-Leiths of Thistle Muir, Book 1

By: Nichole Van

Narrated by: Mhairi Morrison

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—Fox left for India and Leah returned home to Scotland to rear her much younger brothers.

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.

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.

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.

©2022 Nichole Van Valkenburgh (P)2022 Tantor

the ending

liked this book because of the man letting go of his past and demons. He basically healed himself with the love of his wife.

Sheer genius

After my fourth or fifth reading, I cannot rightly recall, my respect for this woman continues to escalate. The poem alone written by the character Ethan Penleith is worth the purchase price. It can stand with the greatest of England’s poets! 

Raw and beautiful love story.

I loved the realness of this story. Leah and Fox had a marriage of convenience in a way due to secrets from one another. Nichole Van did an incredible job with writing this novel into a believable love story and kept it historically accurate. This is one of my favorite romance novels of all time!

Great book!

I read this book and now have listened to the audio version. The audio version brings more depth to this story. Like all of Ms Van's books, I found myself laughing out loud. The characters in her books are so likeable and the stories are fun and sometimes a bit serious but always fabulous. Great narration too!

Beautiful

I am a veteran reader of historical romances, and have enjoyed many, but there is something about this one which makes it quite unforgettable. It is well written and wonderfully narrated, the characters are well developed and the surroundings are colorfully vivid. The depth of emotion strikes the bone, and several places caused my eyes to mist which almost never happens, even in real life. I feel like I know these people. The grisly parts are told in recollection, the steamy parts are suggestion. It is a tale that doesn’t rely on cheap gimmicks to exist. Not quite prose, but it flows like it is. The poetry was genuine. I recommend.