My rating: 4 of 5 stars
***ARC provided via NetGalley in exchange for honest and impartial review.***
Love at First Hate is set in the Porthkennack universe and features some of the characters from the previous books. however, it isn’t necessary to read the previous books to fully enjoy this installment. I’ve read a few others, not in order, and I wasn’t lost at any part of the book.
The is the slowest of slow burns. It took until about two thirds of the way before the characters kiss. I loved the build up to that moment. The book kept me riveted and not just for the potential love connection. The author delves into Bran’s complicated family history and ties into the exhibition of the Black Prince (an ancestor) that he is funding. Sam has his own troublesome history that he’s trying to work through and get past. .
While I enjoyed the history lessons interwoven into the story and the development of the characters, I was disappointed with the resolution of one of the points of conflict. I believe the author intended to use this as an example of the character’s evolution, but it was far from a reality I could easily accept. This particular event left me perplexed.
Overall, I really liked all facets of the story and the characters.