Prudence (Balfe Family #1) by L.H. Cosway

ABOUT THE BOOK

Derek Balfe proposed to Milly O’Shea at twenty.

She turned him down and left to build a career and a future that didn’t include him. Derek had no idea that it wasn’t purely Milly’s decision to decline but rather the influence of a meddling relative.

Now thirty-eight, Derek is a successful hotelier, divorced and parenting two teenagers. His father is retiring soon and has asked Derek to take over the family business. He has a lot going on and to add to it Milly has moved back into town, more distractingly beautiful, shy and delicate than ever—and with a teenage daughter of her own in tow. Milly is close friends with Derek’s sister so he can’t avoid running into her—but he is determined to ice her out.

That is until their daughters meet at school and become inseparable. Derek has to deal with seeing Milly every week, sometimes daily. The more he’s around her the more he realises that deep down she’s still the same girl he fell for all those years ago, and he begins to suspect that there was more to her rejecting his proposal than he’d always believed.

MY REVIEW

I became a fan of Ms. Cosway after reading her Quiet Love series. Her books are sweet and emotional with a realistic sense of life and its hardships, and Prudence has that and more.

This beautiful story captures the essence of love and second chances, taking you from a teenage connection to adult realities, with a twist of family drama to keep things interesting. Milly and Derek reconnect after years apart, facing numerous challenges along the way.

First love is a delicate journey. It’s sweet and innocent, full of those butterflies that make your heart race. But sometimes life and family get in the way. Milly is a shy girl figuring herself out, while Derek is the charming boy always there to lift her spirits. It was heartwarming to see Derek’s genuine affection for Milly, and so tragic when she had to break his heart due to her loyalty to someone else. Moments like that really set the stage for the deep connection that follows.

Fast forward eighteen years, and they’re both dealing with the hurdles of life as single parents, making this story feel all the more real and relatable. Milly is a successful radiologist, and Derek runs his family’s hotel business. But things have changed, and Derek is an ass to Milly at first, thanks to her past rejection and his own worries at home. To my great pleasure, Milly demonstrates her maturity by giving Derek hell for his rudeness and disrespect while trying to keep her distance. But fate is a fickle thing!

Even with the tension, I was cheering for Milly and Derek as they gradually found their way back to each other. It’s not an easy road, but those little moments—like Derek’s transition from grumpiness to warmth—show that their younger selves are still in there somewhere. The ending is uplifting, hinting at a promising future as two people embrace both their past and what lies ahead.

If you enjoy a heartfelt, down-to-earth romance that reflects life’s ups and downs, I highly recommend this book, especially if you’ve ever reconnected with someone from your past like I have.

Thank you to Ms. Cosway for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

L.H. Cosway lives in Dublin, Ireland. Her inspiration to write comes from music. Her favourite things in life include writing stories, food, and of course, books. She thinks that imperfect people are the most interesting kind. They tell the best stories.