[A Heart Sufficient]: A Review

Hi y’all!

Fall is here and OCTOBER is here and everything is great. I love this time of year!

So excited to share my review of A Heart Sufficient by Nichole Van today. This series has absolutely captivated me and I have loved every page! Oh my word! Just when I think I can’t possibly love a Nichole Van book more than the previous one, I read Tristan and Isolde’s story! I was captivated by this story and these characters from the first chapter and it was impossible to put it down until I finished. This book is EVERYTHING!

Enemies to more. Forced marriage. Shipwreck. Forced Proximity. Vulnerable confessions. Villain turned hero. Family feuds. Scottish countryside. Breathtaking love story.

This story has it all. I don’t know quite where to begin in sharing my experience. There was just so much to love!
Book summary: “Tristan Gilbert, the autocratic Duke of Kendall, has a clear plan for his future—destroy his father’s memory, obliterate his enemies, and become Prime Minister. Fortunately, he can accomplish all three goals by convincing Parliament to prosecute the Scottish Earl of Hadley. Once Hadley is vanquished, surely the Queen will recognize Kendall’s readiness for the role of Prime Minister. But in order to succeed, Kendall must first conquer his own unnerving attraction to Hadley’s hoyden of a daughter—Lady Isolde Langston. No matter his efforts, Lady Isolde lingers in his blood, a sort of love-potion madness Kendall struggles to suppress.

Lady Isolde Langston knows impulsivity will be her downfall. Case in point, her heedless actions triggered the Duke of Kendall’s current vendetta against her father. Isolde needs to right the wrongs she caused and force the duke to surrender before Hadley ends up jailed. To do this, she decides to torment Kendall at every turn—at balls and musicales and even in his own library. The arrogant Sassenach will rue the day he crossed her.

But when an unfortunate accident fractures both their lives, Kendall and Isolde unexpectedly face a future neither of them wished. Adrift, they are forced to call a truce. As their romance deepens, can Kendall change his heart sufficiently and Isolde forgive past hurts in order to form a love all their own?”

Tristan’s character journey in this novel is incredible! In books 1-3 of this series, he is such a different character –arrogant, ruthless, unfeeling. Is there more to him than the man who aspires to be Prime Minister at any cost? YES! SO MUCH MORE! Getting to know him was a privilege. As he opens up to Isolde about his past, his pain, his fears, and his love, we begin to see a more complete picture of Tristan. And wow is it beautiful. His vulnerability. His brokenness. His passion. His deep love for Isolde. Wow. Just wow. Tristan has quickly become one of my favorite characters in the series after reading this book.

Perhaps Tristan’s character can only topped by his lovely wife, Isolde. I adore her! From the first moments we meet her in the previous book, I was charmed by her. I love how she is independent and intelligent. How she owns who she is and what she does. She is not a typical member of the ton and I love her all the more for it. I love that she is Tristan’s equal in intensity, passion, and stubbornness. They are made for each other and I love that fate brings them together. Most beautiful is how she truly sees him. Sees him, accepts him, and loves him. There were so many moments that were so beautiful because of what they meant to Tristan and how Isolde saw him and loved him just as he was. They find true belonging together and their reconciliation and declarations at the end of the book are some of my favorites that I’ve ever read.

What an exquisite experience to read the Penn-Leiths of Thistle Muir series. I have loved each story so much. The characters are raw, complex and go on compelling personal journeys. The Scottish setting is stunning. I want to go to Scotland so bad now! The history is intriguing, and I love the details Nichole includes from real historical events. And the love stories are simply stunning. These romances make me laugh, smile, sigh, cry, and fill my heart to bursting.

I am a Nichole Van fan for life!