Series: Holt Sisters Trilogy, #2
Traits & Tropes: experienced heroine; illegitimate, self-made hero
Publication Date: 10.01.06
Genre/Setting: Historical; Regency; London, England
Heat Level: 2
Rating: 4.5/5
Sylvie Lamoureux has worked hard for her position as the top ballerina in Paris, well known for her dedication to her dance. But when she receives a letter from the woman she believes to be her long-lost sister, Sylvie immediately sets sail for England, and directly into the arms of one of London’s most scandalous men.
Tom Shaughnessy’s handsome face and charm have earned him many friends and have women falling all over themselves for him. When he meets Sylvie, he’s surprised by her resistance to him, and his own draw to her unique brand of sensuality.
When a series of unfortunate incidents leads to Sylvie dancing at Tom’s bawdy theater, the desire between them ramps up and threatens both of their carefully made plans for their futures. Sylvie will have to decide whether to return to the security of the life she worked toward in Paris or trust Tom with her heart and start anew in England.
I enjoyed this book much more than I expected to given how long it took me to finish its predecessor. The forbidden aspect and the fact that everything about their relationship was new for both Sylvie and Tom, and they were both completely baffled by their feelings, made this an intriguing read. Sufficient time was devoted to the inner workings of both Tom’s and Sylvie’s thoughts to make this engrossing and the writing is so strong that I was pulled almost immediately into the story. There was a very slow burn between Sylvie and Tom that at times had me unsure if they’d actually be good together, but despite their struggles to speak their truths to one another, each knew the other implicitly, on a much deeper level than anyone around them was able to see. I also found the dynamic between The General and the other supporting characters to be a delightful little bit of comic relief, and yet his character also provided a poignant commentary on unrequited love, the unfairness of people and life in general, and the more hopeful idea that everything happens for a reason. I loved these characters so much more than I expected to, especially because of Tom’s showmanship and womanizing ways, but he was so unapologetically still such a good man that those faults ceased to matter. It also helped that his devotion to Sylvie was pretty clear to the reader, and to the General, before he acknowledged it himself. Seeing that slow change in Tom as he made himself into more of a family man was a delightful character arc and I think Sylvie demonstrated a lot of maturity as well as she learned to choose what she truly wanted for herself rather than what she thought she should want. I truly enjoyed this book and I must find Sabrina’s story now and complete the trilogy.
https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/3574478764
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4593366234
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