ARC Review: A Touch of Passion by Bronwen Evans

“There is a great backstory to this couple, their friendship was a beautiful backdrop for their romance.” ~ Under the Covers

I think we all love the brothers best friend trope. This is one that I always run to pick up because there’s that long hidden crush that needs to burst out in the open and I gobble that up by the buckets. That is the center romantic trope of A TOUCH OF PASSION. And that part I really enjoyed! There is a great backstory to this couple, their friendship was a beautiful backdrop for their romance.

I haven’t read the rest of the series, however I felt this worked well as a standalone. Portia is sort of the rebel sister. Another thing on my list of favorites. She’s independent, she’s strong and she won’t be forced into a marriage just because that’s what society dictates she should do. She wants love, the kind of passionate love her parents have, and to live life to the fullest. I can say I was immediately taken with her character.

Grayson, her brothers’ best friend, has sworn to protect her. After they went off to war, and many didn’t come back, he’s dealt with a lot of guilt and grief. He’s that damaged hero that thinks everyone he loves he loses. And he’s barricaded his heart against caring for anyone. He wants a wife that will be the perfect example of a good wife to society, one that doesn’t argue with him, doesn’t challenge him, and that he has no risk of falling in love with. But he’s wanted Portia forever and she may prove a bigger temptation than he can fight against.

Their romance was great and they had excellent chemistry. I think some parts of the plot itself I would’ve preferred to see different, but I still enjoyed it. I do find that the dragging of Grayson’s issues with love was a little too long and that started hindering my enjoyment a bit. The hero has to give an inch here and there too, or I will start to think that the heroine might just be better off finding love elsewhere!

As much as I really enjoyed the story, I think at times it felt flat and lost some steam. I was easily distracted from reading it instead of completely invested in the outcome. And that’s really the only reason my rating isn’t higher. This was an enjoyable read and I’ll probably pick up other books by Ms. Evans in the future!

*ARC provided by publisher