Waiting for Ru

I thought I was over Barbara Elsborg after I DNF'd the previous book in the series ([b:Reinventing Cato 56898775 Reinventing Cato (Unfinished Business #3) Barbara Elsborg https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1612106315l/56898775.SY75.jpg 88976713]), but this was just the fantasy that I needed. I don't mean that the book belongs in the fantasy genre but rather that it is a contemporary romance novel that bears little resemblance to real life. Ruari, who was held virtually captive and isolated by his aunt and uncle for years, is free now and just starting to live at age 20. He falls in love with Jasim, a deeply closeted Saudi prince, horse owner and polo star. The age difference is a little squicky and Jasim is arrogant and privileged, but Ru is sweet, smart, funny, and easy to root for, especially when pitted against a moustache-twirling villain. There's something about Elsborg's writing that keeps me turning the pages even as I am having trouble suspending disbelief that these are real men spouting lovelorn nonsense to each other. Best of all, Jonty, who started the series as fun and irreverent in [b:The Making of Jonty Bloom 54342632 The Making of Jonty Bloom (Unfinished Business, #1) Barbara Elsborg https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1593558322l/54342632.SY75.jpg 84086893], but ended up wearing out his welcome in subsequent books, is nowhere to be found. Even breakthrough characters need a break after a while. I didn't think Jasim was perfect for Ru, but Ru did and I wanted to see him happy, so I count that as a successful romance.