Ronnda Eileen Henry is originally from Michigan and was raised in California and Virginia. She read a lot of history, biography, science fiction, and regency romances when she was young. Her favorite authors are Jane Austen, Aleksandra Layland, Isabella Berdyna Zysk, and Shakespeare. Retired now, she lives in Florida.
Reviewed by Edith Wairimu for Readers' Favorite
In Ronnda Eileen Henry’s lovely historical romance, Forged in Love: A Romance Novella, two friends in their singlehood unexpectedly fall in love. Following the end of a long border dispute between the two kingdoms of Holsby and Formby, Henry, a forty-four-year-old bladesmith, leaves military life and settles down in Pennington-by-Greta, a quaint village in the rural hinterlands of Formby. When Penny, a cheerful forty-two-year-old woman hears of the new smith who will be settling in their village, she is glad to learn that he is a confirmed bachelor. When Henry arrives and begins to run the village smithy, he develops a friendship with Penny, who feels at ease around him. An attraction slowly develops between them but none is sure what the other feels. A sudden twist changes the course of their friendship when Penny finds a foundling at Henry’s door.
Forged in Love contains other unpredictable turns that make the story captivating. Ronnda Eileen Henry develops charming characters who are well-developed throughout the plot. Penny is attracted to Henry’s quiet nature while Henry admires Penny’s friendliness and optimism. The story focuses on the two main characters, following their friendship as it develops. Supporting characters add to the novella’s main themes. Others add humor to the plot. The story flows easily and it kept me engaged. Its pace is well-suited as it allows for significant details to be included in the plot but it is still brisk enough. Forged in Love: A Romance Novella is a beautiful, unique romance story that contains well-developed characters, a serene setting, and engaging scenes.
