Review: Redeeming Lord Ryder (Cotswold Confidential #3) by Maggie Robinson

Print Length: 218 pages

Publisher: Lyrical Press (November 21, 2017)

From Goodreads.com: After two months of treatment at Puddling-on-the-Wold, Mary Nicola Mayfield has shown no improvement, and her condition seems impervious to rehab. But Nicola is not the typical guest of Gloucestershire’s destination village for the wealthy and wayward. The trauma of surviving a horrific train wreck has rendered her mute; her injuries have healed, but try as she might, she cannot utter a sound. With her family and fiancé at their wits’ end, Nicola knows Puddling is the resort—the last resort—that holds any hope for her recovery.

Lord Jack Ryder—baron, businessman and, some say, mad genius—has gone from the heights of success to hit rock bottom, after a faulty girder from his iron foundry caused a dreadful bridge collapse. Nothing has assuaged his guilt over the passenger train that crashed or the lives that were destroyed. The stringent regimen at Puddling is not doing much for his deep depression—until he meets his mysteriously silent neighbor. Their fiery affair breaks all the rules, but will the unspoken truth be too hot to handle? 

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My Rating: 3 stars out of 5

Let me begin this review as I so often begin reviews of stories that are part of a series. You do not have to have read the prior stories in order to understand and enjoy this one. 

This story had such a beautiful potential, that it was really a let down to see Nicola end up behaving the way that she did. Originally, I loved both of these characters. They were witty, unconventional, and independent. I enjoyed the thoughtful way that Jack brought Nicola a notebook and colored pencils so that they would easily be able to communicate. They had some laugh-out-loud moments together, and it was easy to fall for Jack's charming ways. So I can understand why Nicola fell for him, and why she initially offered to take him to bed. 

However. 

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The moment Jack turns her down was the moment where my enjoyment of Jack increased, and my enjoyment of Nicola severely decreased. The man repeatedly told her that while he was attracted to her, and would like nothing more to take her to bed, his honor demanded more of him. He spurned her advances in (mostly) the nicest ways possible, but Nicola just could not take the hint. She even went so far as to turn up at his cottage at night wearing nothing but her shoes, stockings and cloak. And at another point basically demanded that Jack disrobe in her room so that she could look at him. She was pushy, and honestly that is when I started to wish Jack would turn his attentions elsewhere. He deserved better than someone who claimed to have affection for him, but who repeatedly tried to coerce him into doing things he wasn't comfortable with, and whom tried to force him into carnal pleasures when he made his position on the matter quite clear. 

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Overall, I do believe this story may still appeal to those who enjoy slightly unconventional romance novels. I would read more from this author! 

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

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                              Redeeming Lord Ryder is available from Amazon.com