When tolerance changes into friendship which changes into…

Synopsis

Why on earth would she want to kiss him when he vexed her so?

Diana Merriwell and Giles Sinclair only tolerate one another for the sake of their nearest and dearest. Everyone believes that they are meant to be together, but Diana and Giles know that it is animosity, not attraction, that fuels their barbed exchanges. Anyway, Diana loves her freedom too much to give it up for marriage, and Giles is happily wedded to his bachelor lifestyle.

After Giles’ curmudgeonly father, the Duke of Harpenden, unexpectedly turns up his toes, it’s only a matter of time before the circumstances of his only son’s birth are revealed. With the threat of blackmail hanging over him, Giles must uncover the truth, or he and all those who depend on him will be ruined. 

As Giles and Diana dive into his family’s past, the attraction that they insisted wasn’t there proves impossible to ignore. It seems that the future of the Sinclair estate isn’t the only thing on the line…

My review

Diana Merriwell is a headstrong woman, determined to never give up her independence, and for sue not for a man.
Since her sister has found the love of her life, all eyes are now on Diana, and everyone seems to think that the bets friend of her brother – in – law is her perfect match.
However, Diana merrily tolerates Giles Sinclair, more out of love for her sister than liking the man himself. And the feeling is totally mutual.
Whenever Diana and Giles are in the same room, it’s a matter of ‘kindly’ throwing one insult after the other.
However, when Giles’ father, the Duke of Harpenden, unexpectedly dies, Giles needs to find out the truth of his parentage, as someone starts with threats of blackmail.
Diana, loving working at the newspaper, is ready to help Giles on this search for the truth. And while on the search, both of them realize that their dislike for each other is in fact the total opposite… 

Just… how… much… did… I… enjoy… reading… this… book??? 

I have read several books from this author, but this Merriwell Sisters Series brings me so much laughter and joy while reading!
This is the second book of the series, and it’s not mandatory to have read Book 1, but I think it will for sure help and also, why wouldn’t you want to read it too? 

As I have clearly read the first book, Diana is not a stranger to me. Already in the first book, it’s clear that the past has turned Diana in an independent woman, who truly believes that whatever a man can do, any woman can do it too (and perhaps even better!). 

So even before having read one word in this book, I admired Diana and her strong beliefs, even ready to go against society and just follow her own dreams, and working for a newspaper. But in this story we get to know her so much better, and that for sure was a delight.
Because of the past she had, she made up her mind of remaining unwed, and she doesn’t care what society may think about that. She does what she wants, she follows her instincts and won’t let anyone hold her down. 

And being the total opposite of Giles Sinclair, and seeing his behaviour irks her. I found it hilarious to see how she tolerates this for the wellbeing of her sister, yet seeing them constantly bickering over everything and also nothing, made me truly laugh. 

But Diana also slowly realizes that Giles is absolutely not the person she thought he is. And getting to know more about Giles, saddened me as it shows again that a title isn’t a recipe for happiness. Yet I was happy for Giles as he shows he is not only a great friend, but also very protective, and most important righteous. 

But not let all the funny bits disguise also the fact that there is a mystery to be solved… And seeing how Diana and Giles join forces, was wonderful.
Not only because they both realize that despite all the banter and bickering, there is a mutual respect and they see each other more as friends than enemies, but also because they slowly start to understand that sometimes we need to be stung by hornets to discover the truth.
And that truth can be about parentage, but also about the depth of our feelings. 

The author showed us again that some things never change. No matter what era we are living in, there are good people, bad people, but also mixed feelings, trying to ignore some feelings. But also that sometimes it’s difficult to get through headstrong people.
Yet when these kind of people see ‘the light’, their loyalty is the strongest as possible and they will never take the easy way out.
And this is all made clear in a hilarious, funny, intriguing book. And I am already looking forward what is waiting for Vee!