At twenty-eight, Alethea Sutherton is past her prime for courtship; but social mores have never been her forté. She might be a lady, but she is first and foremost a musician.
In Regency England, however, the violin is considered an inappropriate instrument for a lady. Ostracized by society for her passion, Alethea practices in secret and waits for her chance to flee to the Continent, where she can play without scandal.
But when a thief 's interest in her violin endangers her and her family, Alethea is determined to discover the enigmatic origins of her instrument ... with the help of the dark, brooding Lord Dommick.
Scarred by war, Dommick finds solace only in playing his violin. He is persuaded to help Alethea, and discovers an entirely new yearning in his soul.
Alethea finds her reluctant heart drawn to Dommick in the sweetest of duets . . . just as the thief's desperation builds to a tragic crescendo . . .
~
Okay, so I love the regency era. I love to read about all the rules, and protocols, and fascinating tidbits. I believe when I chose this book I wasn't planning on ordering many books (ha!) but the fact that it was regency, involved music, and the plot line drew me in and I wound of choosing it to review. The author was also named Camille Elliot, which seems perfect for a regency book. How could someone named Camille Elliot NOT write a good book? To my relief, I wasn't disappointed. I took a while to read this book, but that fact mustn't be blamed on the book or its author. The truth is, when I was reading this I was still trying to get into the college groove, so my reading was neglected for the important, but less interesting task of learning. I finally finished it, though.
First, the characters. The characters were my favorite part of this book I think. From Alethea, to the tortured Dommick, to Dommick's serious friend Raven, and goofy friend Ian... to her severe aunt, and her mischievous cousin Margaret... well, I could go on. There were such a wide variety of interesting characters, each with something special to share. No two were alike, or similar, really, and I really appreciate that in a book. It impresses me greatly when an author creates unique characters.
Next, the plot. I found the plot to be intriguing. With every attempt of thievery, kidnapping, and deception, the more I was interested. At times I could hardly put the book down. There was actually quite a bit of action in this book, which might seem strange for a regency story, but I think it just adds to the appeal. There is less time to find boredom as you read about arranged marriages, and men with guns. I want to say more about the plot and what it contains, but I'm afraid that would reveal too much.
It's a good story. It has a thread winding throughout, and at the end, the thread is cinched tight, collapsing the story into a neat little package that makes perfect sense. I recommend it for any who enjoy regency era stories, historical fiction, and sweet romance.
Buy it here or any bookstore/site.
~ a rambling author
