Title: The Third Son
Author: T.L. Vance
Published in April 2005 by iUniverse, Inc.
Genre: Contemporary Romance
IBSN: 0-595-34604-9
Kellson Berkley grew up in a proper English family. His father is a Duke and Kellson knows that he should always show the proper decorum when in public. Unfortunately for his family, he was born with a wild streak a mile wide. Kells is an adrenaline junkie and lives on the edge, or at least he did until two years ago. Following a fatal car accident when he girlfriend was killed, Kellson has been towing the line. His grandmother stepped in when his family turned their back on him and gave him a new purpose in life. She made him the president of the board of directors for the Eden Foundation. Besides his grandmother, his sister, Regina, is the only member of his immediate family that he has a loving relationship with and that is due in part to Reggie being an outcast also. His brothers and mother go along with whatever the Duke says. During the last two years, he has immersed himself in running the Eden Foundation. Kells spends most of his time traveling on company business to be able to providing money and resources to various charities. As a favor to a friend, Kells has allowed Bryant to live in his downstairs apartment until he could get back on his feet. Almost from the beginning, Kells knew that this was a mistake, but since he is gone so much, he has not done anything about the situation yet. Unfortunately, Bryant’s most recent disaster has been dropped into Kells’ lap for him to deal with.
Little did he know that this latest disaster would become a life changing experience for him. Cydney is Bryant’s fiancée that he brought over from America and has staying with him in Kellson’s apartment. Called away on a job, Bryant leaves her in the apartment with a last minute telephone call to Kells to let him know what is going on. Needless to say, Kells is not happy with the situation, but decides that since he is away on business so much, he will not be overly bothered by the predicament. When he returns home to find Cydney living downstairs, he cannot believe his eyes. She is drop dead gorgeous. She is also down to earth and perky. Kells uses his influence and mutual friends to keep Bryant away from home so that he can figure out his feelings for Cydney. Kells is familiar with Bryant’s usual tactics in dealing with the fairer sex. Cydney is Bryant’s third fiancée that Kells knows about and the likelihood that Bryant will actually marry her is slim to none. When Kells realizes that Cydney is an adrenaline junkie, he is amazed. He never thought that he would be lucky enough to meet and fall in love with a woman that is as adventurous as he is, but obviously his luck just got better.
The beauty of British architecture has always intrigued Cydney Nash. So much so that she graduated from Boston University with a degree in it and jumped at the chance to go to England to be part of an apprenticeship program there. When Cydney’s mother was diagnosed with cancer, the strain of performing on the beauty pageant scene became too much for her and she walked out. In the five years since her mother has been gone, Cydney has not regretted her decision to leave all that behind her. She could no longer handle being constantly told what to do, how to walk, and what to eat. Her father is a retired judge and it has just been the two of them since then. Cydney accepts Bryant’s marriage proposal so that her father will not be able to say anything when she is staying with him. Her southern upbringing does not lend itself to living with a man until they are married or engaged. England is all she thought it would be and while she is spending so many hours working as an apprentice, she does not miss Bryant while he is gone on a job. Her days are filled with work until Kells returned from his vacation. Her life in England is about to change. Cydney and Kells start spending time together exploring the town and becoming friends.
The feelings that Cydney has for Kells confuse her. She enjoys spending time with him and his friends and being part of a group again makes her realize how much she misses her life in South Carolina. Being able to let her hair down and give in to her need for edge of the seat living, she finds that there is nothing she is not willing to do with Kells. She comes to view him as a trusted friend and struggles with her developing feelings for him. She comes home one night to find Bryant collecting his clothes from the apartment and confronts him. Cydney is dumbstruck to realize that Bryant was going to come to London and not even let her know that he was there before heading back out to do some more work. She starts to realize that their relationship is not going to work out, but is not sure what she should do since she does not have the time to find another place to live until her work visa is up. Cydney finally comes to see Bryant for the liar that he is. Everything that he has told her has been one lie after another. When he calls off their engagement through a letter that he mailed to her, she knows that he truly was never the man for her. She is more relieved than saddened by this. She is finally free to explore her feelings for Kells. Their friendship has flourished, but now the way is open for love to bloom.
The Third Son by T. L. Vance is a spellbinding tale that has many twists and turns. What you thought you know and understand about the characters is not exactly how they really are. Kellson has spent the last two years of his life making up for a fatal mistake that killed his girlfriend. While he might not have been driving, he still shoulders the blame for her death in the accident that they had, which he only vaguely remembers. He has suffered untold grief and pain ever since that fateful night, but with the arrival of Cydney in his life, he feels that he can finally start living again. Cydney had a childhood that was fraught with instructions on how to walk, talk, and act. She gave up performing in beauty pageants when her mother became ill with cancer and does not regret that decision at all. When she finds herself stranded in England while her fiancée is off working she is not upset by his absence. She throws herself into her love of British architecture and strives to do the best that she can so that she will be offered the job at the end of summer and be able to stay in England. She wants to show her dad that she can make it on her own. When Cydney is brutally attacked, she does the only thing that she can to survive. She flies home to her father and hopes against hope that the love that she shares with Kells will be enough to endure and will bring him to South Carolina after her.
I enjoyed all the adventure that was present throughout The Third Son story. Just when I thought I knew what was going to happen next, Cydney and Kells would go off in a totally different direction and surprise me. The secondary characters in the story add to the realism of the world that T. L. Vance has created. They are very easy to relate to. While you might not know a Duke or a beauty pageant winner in real life, you do know someone that has made some mistakes in their life or has turned their life around after a life-altering event. Get a copy of The Third Son today from iUniverse, Inc. to find out whether Cydney and Kellson can overcome the obstacles that are thrown into their path on the way to true love. You won’t be disappointed.
Yours Sincerely,
Annmarie
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