A Not-So-Distant Love by Heidi Kimball

A Not-So-Distant Love
by Heidi Kimball

ISBN-13: 9781524424480
Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Released: October 24, 2023

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Lady Charlotte Darrington’s path in life is clearly laid out before her: she will select a suitable husband, marry, and one day inherit her father’s Scottish dukedom. But a growing restlessness has her desperate for a bit of freedom before her all-too-certain future closes in. When the opportunity to travel to America arises, Charlotte leaps at the chance and soon finds herself across the Atlantic in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Her American hosts and their friends couldn’t be more welcoming—all except one. The insufferable Dr. Galloway captures her eye—and her ire.

Life has made Dr. Alec Galloway wary of everyone, including the self-important Lady Charlotte Darrington, who thinks herself above Pittsburgh society. He makes no qualms about voicing his disapproval of Britain’s archaic peerage system, or of a certain peeress herself, though he never intended for his brusque opinions to reach her ears, sparking a conflagration neither could have foreseen. Yet as Charlotte gains insight into Alec’s wounded past, she offers him something that changes everything—her friendship. Despite Alec’s determination to keep everyone at bay, she slowly erodes his defenses, allowing him glimpses of a future he never imagined. Soon he must decide whether to face his past fears and grasp a second chance at love or risk losing Charlotte forever.


My Review:
A Not-So-Distant Love is a romance set in 1835 in Pittsburgh. Alec publicly insulted Charlotte when they first met, and they constantly argued for weeks after that. But Charlotte liked that he didn't try shut her up when she talked about things like politics, and she wanted to to heal his hurting heart. She's careless of her reputation. She pushed a passionate kiss on him when alone in his house and intensely kissed him in public spots where they could be seen. She's certain God brought her across an ocean because Alec's her soul mate, even when Alec wasn't falling in line with her desires. Several people gave the advice of basically 'don't hold back, enjoy falling in love!' even when Alec had no intention of leaving Pittsburgh. Bad advice, in my opinion.

Alec felt so strongly that he was supposed to be a doctor in Pittsburgh that he ignored his wife's strong desire to stay in her hometown. When she died, he felt such guilt over not being a better husband that he decided to never marry again. He knew that marriage took effort and love could end in a broken heart due to sudden illness or accident. He tried to control his life so he'd never face heartbreak and guilt again. He learned to give his fears to God instead.

The historical setting was more of a backdrop than realistic. For example, it never made sense that Alec acted like the pig he injured was his to do with as he wished (to eat or make into a pet) when it belonged to someone else. He would have known how important a pig could be in terms of food or income. While there were several detailed scenes of Charlotte and Alec intensely kissing, there were no sex scenes. There was no bad language.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.