I eally enjoyed this little story. 

Ling Shuang, a daughter of a nobleman, is about to be married to a complete stranger. She is not happy with this arranged marriage. She already has a lover and they made plans for their future life together. 

On her way to her betrothed's house, Ling Shuang forces her male servant, Jie Yi, to put on a female dress and makeup and play a role of a bride. She also gives him a cheap pearl bracelet as a small bribe. They part, Yi to go and get married to the stranger, and Ling Shuang to reunite with her lover.

Tian Yang doesn't want a wife. He remembers his own beautiful aristocratic mother running away to find a better life, far away from the children and the ranch which belonged to their family. This betrayal is so deep, that Tian Yang is determined to undermine any future marriages, arranged or not. When Jie Yi arrives, claiming to be Ling Shuang, Tian Yang take him to a remote warehouse/hut to test his new bride. But Jie Yi, as beautiful and delicate as he is, doesn't mind the hardship; after all, he grew up a servant. 

Over a few weeks, Tian Yang finds himself suddenly drawn to the beautiful young lady, who seems to be perfect for him and is not afraid of hard work. One day, with two young people living so close together, things finally get out of hand. Yi's secret is discovered. Petrified, he leaves the little hut.

In the meantime, Ling Shuang shows up at Tian Yang's ranch, claiming little Yi robbed her blind, left her sick on the road and pretended to be her in order to take her place. Her proof? That little pearl bracelet....

Fun begins :)

****

As far as BL novels go this was pretty decent, with plenty of twists and turns. The ending was a bit disappointing, with numerous relatives complaining 'oh, my god, two men together! No, it's OK you can stay, but oh, my god, maybe you should leave...' Round and round and round it went.

Translation was confusing at times, but I can't hold it against the book or the person who translated it. All I can say is "thank you for you hard work" :)

3.75 stars.

Нудная середина и нудный конец. Я ожидала больше, чем "она его за муки полюбила, а он ее за состраданье к ним".

The "comfort" bit of hurt/comfort was overdone, trying to compensate for falling in love, I guess. Once Callisto's new charm was in place to stabilize his condition, everything slowed down to a crawl.

"Prince Mi'Kel is now Mikinna Petrovik, formerly of Moscow... My contact said there wouldn't be a problem (with false documents - mrella) even if those Feds get it into their heads to look.”

I laughed and I laughed and I laughed!... And then I giggled on top of it =) Maybe local, american, feds are fine with it, but Mikinna Petrovik is not a Russian name and population there is not that diverse not to draw attention to a strange name *snort* Might as well have kep Mi'kel.

4 solid stars (well, 3.5 really but read on --->). It's not the book, it's me - too much sex for my liking.

Other than that, a very nice and somewhat unconventional tale with Mother Earth as an antihero.
Love conquers all, of course, body parts be damned ♥ ♥

I am going to file this book under "culinary" tag: too much food. 
Too much sex, come to think of it, too.

And way, waayyy too much dog.

And I feel sorry for MC's because their faces must really hurt by now from all this smiling. 
I feel I need something very depressing, to even out the mood :/

1.5 stars. Rounding up to 2 for the outdoor adventures.