Rating:
Published: 1993
Illustrator: TBD
Imprint or Line: Harlequin Presents #1682
Published by: Harlequin
Genres: Category Romance, Contemporary Romance
Format: Paperback
Reviewed by: Introvert Reader
SPOILER-FREE REVIEW 😊
The Book
In the aptly titled Elegant Barbarian by Catherine Spencer our heroine, Laura, needs a break from it all and is vacationing at her grandmother’s beach house in Canada. Things there would be fine if it weren’t for her grumpy neighbor, a barbarian of a man who lives off the ocean shellfish, washes with pink soap, and smokes Cuban cigars.
The Plot
The hero pretty much keeps to himself. Nevertheless, whenever they come in contact, he and Laura clash.
Then a cute baby seal washes ashore and the two have to care for the baby together and they bond because of it.
Despite his gruff outer shell, the hero, Jackson, seems much more of a cultured man than he initially appears.
This book would have been better suited for the Romance line rather than Presents, as the drama is mostly based on internal hurts rather than from outside sources. Jackson spent several years in prison as he was falsely imprisoned for embezzlement and has a difficult time trusting people.
Jackson’s unexplained meanness to Laura might be a turn-off for some, but strangely I liked watching his cold exterior slowly melt as, against his better judgment, he falls for her. Unfortunately, I wanted Jackson to do some chasing, but nope, it’s mostly Laura in pursuit, up until the end.
Final Analysis of Elegant Barbarian
Catherine Spencer’s Elegant Barbarian was a life-affirming romance, designed to make you feel good on a gloomy day.
This nice little Harlequin Presents was a deviation from the regular angtsy books in the line, but I truly enjoyed it. I guess it was just a case of reading the unexpected at the right time.
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| Overall: | 4.5 |