Flame and Ember - Review

Flame and Ember (The Kingsleys, # 1)

By: MA Nichols

Publication: March 27, 2018 by M.A. Nichols

266 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction, Regency

Source: YouTube Audiobooks

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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Goodreads description--A heartbroken man, a frustrated spinster, and a marriage of convenience that proves quite inconvenient.

Simon Kingsley is in desperate need of a wife. After years of searching, he finally found love. Unfortunately, she wed another, and now, it’s time to settle for someone with whom he can share his life. Love is no longer an option for a man whose heart is irrevocably broken.

Mina Ashbrook longs to marry for love but knows she’s too old, too plump, and too plain to catch a gentleman’s eye. And a marriage of convenience is better than being a spinster sister living off her brother’s charity. Simon may not love her now, but Mina knows there’s hope—if she can convince him that love comes in many forms.

Will Mina find a way to heal Simon’s heart? Or will the shadows of the past keep them from finding happiness together?

Mina's mother died many years ago, and Mina stepped into the role of mother and mistress of the house to serve in her place. She raised her younger brothers as best she could when all they wanted was their mother back. She ran the household and learned how to manage an estate, at least the female duties. She's described as being a bit overweight, frumpy, and unattractive. She's now 30 years old and basically considered a spinster. She is tired of being overlooked and unwanted. And now that Nicholas has married, his wife has taken over the role of mistress and hostess of their home. Mina is unneeded. Her grandmother left her a cottage, but when her father passed away, he didn't leave her the income she expected to be able to run the cottage. So she's stuck. Even though her brothers love her and she wouldn't say she is unwanted, she desires more than anything to have her own home to run and to be useful.

Simon had his heart broken when the woman he was in love with decided to marry another man. He still carries a torch for her. And he is determined that he will never love again. In truth, Simon doesn't know the difference between love and attraction because his parents and family never showed him any of the real deal. He needs a wife to help him run his estate, but he just can't seem to get past how the one he wanted is no longer an option.

Man I have to tell you that I spent most of this book wanting to kick Simon in the teeth. I suppose we don't know what we don't know. And Simon knew nothing about true love. But sheesh. In his efforts to work so hard at not having a marriage that mimicked his parents in any sort of way, he was doing nearly everything possible to bring about the very thing. My heart hurt for Mina because once again she was chosen, but only as the second option. I applauded her when she decided to stand up for herself. And honestly, I felt a bit like Simon got off too easy. But there's no point in repaying pain for pain.

I really enjoy the narrator Madeleine Brolly. She did a wonderful job.

I didn't want to stop listening to Flame & Ember. I'm pretty sure I dozed off a time or two when I was trying to squeeze in just a few more minutes before bed. Simon and Mina do have a good story about the journey of finding a deeper love than initial attraction. And Mina, in particular, was a wonderful, heartwarming character who persevered in times of struggle yet maintained her goodness above those around her. Yet, the desire to shake some sense into Simon did deflate my overall enjoyment just a smidgen, which means I think Flame & Ember deserves 3.5 Stars. Have you read (or listened to) Flame & Ember? What did you think? Let me know!