ARC Review: Dangerous Alliance: An Austentacious Romance by Jennieke Cohen
10:00
Series: None
Author: Jennieke Cohen
Published December 3rd 2019 by HarperTeen
Goodreads Synopsis
The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue meets Jane Austen in this witty, winking historical romance with a dash of mystery!
Lady Victoria Aston has everything she could want: an older sister happily wed, the future of her family estate secure, and ample opportunity to while her time away in the fields around her home.
But now Vicky must marry—or find herself and her family destitute. Armed only with the wisdom she has gained from her beloved novels by Jane Austen, she enters society’s treacherous season.
Sadly, Miss Austen has little to say about Vicky’s exact circumstances: whether the roguish Mr. Carmichael is indeed a scoundrel, if her former best friend, Tom Sherborne, is out for her dowry or for her heart, or even how to fend off the attentions of the foppish Mr. Silby, he of the unfortunate fashion sensibility.
Most unfortunately of all, Vicky’s books are silent on the topic of the mysterious accidents cropping up around her…ones that could prevent her from surviving until her wedding day.
Goodreads
Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher. This in no way impacted on my view.
This book was phenomenal. As you probably know, I adore historical books, especially those based around the Regency Era, and when I heard about Dangerous Alliance, I immediately requested a copy to review, and was overjoyed when my copy arrived! Our heroine, Lady Victoria Aston is an avid reader of Jane Austen's recently published books, and she wants to find herself in a situation like her favourite Elizabeth Bennet or Fanny Price. When her oldest friend, Tom Sherborne, arrives home after being in exile abroad, completely ignoring her, she also finds herself now needing to marry to combat the scandal her elder sister has found herself in. Now Vicky is faced with three potential suitors, Tom, Mr Carmichael - who may be a Wickham in disguise, and the silly, Collins'-like Mr Silby.
I just loved Vicky. She was a woman after my own soul, who knew herself, but also had wishes and dreams that were seemingly out of her reach. She wanted a romance for the ages, but was willing to settle for a marriage to help save her family, even though it would be going against all her hopes. A dreamer at heart, she imagines herself in Austen-like situations, and often asks herself 'What would Lizzy Bennet do?'. Still quite a young woman, she feels strongly, and her feelings towards the potential suitors, especially Tom and Mr Carmichael pull her from pillar to post. Does she go with her heart, or with her head? Does she know the truth about both men, or are the secrets they're hiding too large, even for her?
Yes, there is a sort of love triangle, or even square, happening in this book, but, honestly, for me, I only ever saw one of the love interests as a true contender for Vicky's feelings. The three men all had their own back stories, and some air of secrecy about them, but most of the story was really about Vicky learning about herself, and how she can read other people more than she had been previously able to. For a romance book, I loved the aspect of suspense that ran through the book, and the plot was fantastic in giving us just enough information to be following along, but not too much as to bore us. If I didn't have normal life to interfere, I would've devoured this book in one sitting, and I can't wait to read more from Cohen, especially if it'll be of a similar genre.
Dates Read:
November 16-19, 2019
Rating
5 Stars
November 16-19, 2019
Rating
5 Stars
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