The Best Part of Love by A. D'Orazio is a beautifully plotted and well-executed historical romance with a cast of exciting and delightful characters. After the merciless murder of her first husband, Elizabeth Bennet knows there is no future for her with any man. In fact, she spends her days hiding from the people who destroyed her marriage. Many people know this is no secret, except Fitzwilliam Darcy, and he is growing fonder of the country girl than he is aware. Elizabeth quickly develops a friendship with him which soon transforms into love. They are wedded, and, not long after settling into their married life, a condemned man about to serve prison time divulges a secret that makes Elizabeth question everything she thought she knew about her late husband. Now, she could be walking a path that might destroy her new happiness and her entire life.
This isn’t your run-of-the-mill kind of romance with predictable plot lines and one-dimensional characters. The plot is well-conceived and it unfolds in an unpredictable manner with surprising turns for readers. I enjoyed the compelling cast of characters. Elizabeth is a broken woman and readers will love the way she’s fleshed out. It is just natural to feel her hesitation when she meets Darcy. The conflict is well developed and it enhances the emotional depth of the story. A. D'Orazio’s writing features great prose and passages that are delightful to read. The Best Part of Love is a book that will transport readers into the inner world of the characters’ hearts; it reels with intense drama and is so emotionally charged.