For Letter or Worse by Esther Hatch: Book Review

Details

• Genre: Historical fiction
• Series: No
• Length: 106 pages (Kindle edition)
• Publication Date: March 1, 2023

Tropes

• Childhood friends to lovers

My Rating

Book Description

“Every word in his letter spells mortification.

There was only one reason young Harrison Chase moved away from his idyllic country upbringing to the long dark hours of working in a London factory — he was bound and determined to make his fortune and deserve a chance to court Christine Stone. But as years passed and his dream of making a fortune came closer into view, he realized there were a lot more important things in life than young, unrequited love.

In the middle of his charge to reverse the Corn Laws, and make food affordable to workers struggling to feed their families, his housekeeper helpfully mails a letter she finds languishing amongst his things. Not just any letter — a six-year-old love letter to Christine. With no other choice, he rushes back to his childhood home on Christine’s family estate. If he can’t get his hands on that letter before she does, Christine will discover what a pitiful and pretentious fool he had been. Only, he hadn’t counted on the mail being delayed.

Now, Harrison must decide which is worse—waiting with Christine as he not-so-slowly falls back in love with her, or returning to London without the letter, knowing once she reads it, he will never be able to visit her or look her in the eye again.”

— from Goodreads

My Review

Signed, sealed, and…accidentally delivered!

A delightful story about a misplaced love letter that leads to romance between childhood friends.

Poor Harrison had a lot on his plate and on his mind.  I’m glad Christine was able to help him relax and remember happier times.  They also had quite the reunion at the stream!

There is a slight misunderstanding about a letter Christine is expecting, but that was only on Harrison’s part. 

Christine’s brother Gerald also had a hilarious first reaction to his sister and Harrison’s relationship 😂

Favorite Moments

✉️ reunion at the stream
✉️ stuck in a rainstorm 
✉️ skipping rocks

Favorite Quotes

“‘Harry Chase,’ she said, her amber eyes on fire. ‘You come here after six years with no word from you, push me into the stream, make me drop the herring I snatched from Cook, and then tip your hat and walk away?’“

Esther Hatch

“Two days ago, he had met with Richard Cobden in a sunless London office, discussing the economic and moral injustice of the Corn Laws. Now, he stood near a bubbling stream surrounded by shrubbery, speaking to Christine, who had spent her afternoon searching for otters. How could two such different worlds exist?“

Esther Hatch

“‘How long will you be here?’ she asked….

Harry pulled his horse forward. ‘A day. Perhaps two or three’….

She straightened. ‘Three days — that should be enough.’

He took three steps before asking. ‘Enough for what?’

‘To make you smile at me again, before you have to go back to living your life for nails.’“

Esther Hatch

“‘Would you join me in a walk to the stream?’

‘So you can push me in it again?’

‘Push you? I never pushed you into the stream. Not in years, anyway.’

‘Then how would you explain my clothing hanging out to dry all night?’

‘Oh, you mean yesterday? I didn’t push you in; I pulled you in.’ She smiled. ‘Two very different things.’“

Esther Hatch

“‘Ah, yes,’ Harry said. ‘Very different, indeed. And will you be pulling me into the stream today?’

‘No.’

‘Good.’

‘Not unless you give me cause.’“

Esther Hatch

“‘What have you been doing?’ she asked.

‘Checking the cows out in the east pasture….It seems as though they are all healthy.’

‘And what would you have done if they weren’t.’

‘I may have bought a few.’

She laughed. ‘From us? You would buy our unhealthy cows?’

‘For you,’ he said. ‘I would buy unhealthy cows for you.’“

Esther Hatch

“‘Well, it sounds like when you return to London, you will have a fight on your hands. Let’s live the days you have left here happily. Let’s live them for the things we love, not the things we hate.’“

Esther Hatch

“If he were melted down to ore and reshaped, his core would always remain the same. He was Harrison Chase, and he loved Christine.“

Esther Hatch

“‘Because a woman who loves you will search you out at any opportunity, not just those that would show her to her best advantage. She won’t always agree with you, but she will always listen. And in those moments when she has sought you out and your eyes meet, you will know.’

‘And if I am not completely sure?’

‘Then you must trust her. And if you don’t, then perhaps she isn’t the woman for you after all.’“

Esther Hatch

“She stood there wearing a dress as blue as the sky. His favorite color. If it hadn’t been before, it was now.“

Esther Hatch

“‘You don’t mind staying in this small home? I never meant for this to be permanent’….

‘Poor me. I will continue to be stuck in confined quarters with you’….

‘I knew you didn’t mind the close quarters, but I did think perhaps you missed having a stream to push me into.’“

Esther Hatch

“Life with Harry hadn’t always been easy. But every aspect of life was better when they were together, including their struggles. Life, at times, had forced them to take some steps backwards, but with their hands linked together, every step was a step in the right direction.“

Esther Hatch

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