My Thoughts:

This story was quite the historical treat! Set in the sweet little town of Spa, Belgium in the 1770s. I learned so much about this historically important location! Known for its rich mineral waters and the attraction people had to this place at this time to find remedies to different health situations, this was quite the place! A perfect location for this story and blends beautifully with the main character’s father and his need to soothe his rheumatism.

The location really drives the story because it’s a central point of why the character’s are there in the first place, and it provides a visual backdrop to the story that is unique in its own right. Especially because societal expectations are very different in this place, too. Women are allowed to walk around on their own and not lose their reputation, but there are still some unscrupulous sorts living in this area, so it’s still important to be cautious.

What has drawn this community together though is their shared interest in the mineral waters and the health benefits it provides. Each person is either there as a physician who recommends the use of the waters or as a patient trying to heal themselves of something. This in turn creates a rather tight-knit community where the people are drawn together for shared reasons.

Amy Bridwell is the sweetest and most caring young woman. She fell deeply in love with her friend James, but his family did not approve of their relations. Then, a drastic misunderstanding takes them apart and they go their separate ways never expecting to see the other again. It’s not until six years later that fate surprisingly brings them back together in the pretty town of Spa.

Amy is travelling with her father and sisters as they tour the continent. When they arrive in Spa, Amy is flustered to find James, her long lost love, is living there as a Physician! So many things are still hindering their ability to be together and it’s a somber affair as she settles into her role as caretaker and spinster. She is a strong young woman that her father and sisters depend on dearly and she has kind of settled into the role of caretaker for her family, assuming she will never marry and settle down after what happened with James.

Additionally, James is also taken back by Amy’s appearance in his new home and is determined not to lose her this time. But he’s in a predicament of his own making and isn’t at liberty to court her. Much of the book is him getting to know her again and realizing his feelings are still as strong as ever. Lots of surprises ensue and it’s a hard fought battle for love to win in this one!

I adored the setting and the characters so much!! Amy’s sisters were very interesting and I am hoping to see their stories come alive at some point. This book created a wonderful setting where you could really get lost in the lively town filled with a variety of characters and appreciate this second chance romance at its fullest!