Here is the summary of the book:
One house, two worlds...book two in our sumptuous and enticing YA series about the servants and gentry at Somerton Court.
A house divided...
London is a whirl of balls and teas, alliances and rivalries. Rose has never felt more out of place. With the Season in full swing, she can't help but still feel a servant dressed up in diamonds and silk. Then Rose meets Alexander Ross, a young Scottish duke. Rose has heard the rumors about Ross's sordid past just like everyone else has. Yet he alone treats her as a friend. Rose knows better than to give her heart to an aristocrat with such a reputation, but it may be too late.
Ada should be happy. She is engaged to a handsome man who shares her political passions and has promised to support her education. So why does she feel hollow inside? Even if she hated Lord Fintan, she would have no choice but to go through with the marriage. Every day a new credit collector knocks on the door of their London flat, demanding payment for her cousin William's expenditures. Her father's heir seems determined to bring her family to ruin, and only a brilliant marriage can save Somerton Court and the Averleys' reputation.
Meanwhile, at Somerton, Sebastian is out of his mind with worry for his former valet Oliver, who refuses to plead innocent to the murder charges against him--for a death caused by Sebastian himself. Sebastian will do whatever he can to help the boy he loves, but his indiscretion is dangerous fodder for a reporter with sharp eyes and dishonorable intentions.
The colorful cast of the At Somerton series returns in this enthralling sequel about class and fortune, trust and betrayal, love and revenge.
I'd say this again.I haven't yet had the chance to see Downton Abbey but as with the first, Diamonds & Deceit falls in the category of this period genre...... WHAT AN EXCELLENT SEQUEL IT WAS TOO.
There is intrigue. There is fashion. The season. The romance. Of new love and deceit. The conniving ladies hiding behind the social veil of the era. A bitter sweet end to a marriage and unraveling of secrets..... In other words every ingredients it needs to produce an eloquent tale to mark the sequel. Rose has been adopted by Lord Westlake. Ada and Fintan have set the date for marriage. Georgiana must learn to manage the house. Rose catches the eye of a certain Duke of Huntleigh. Ada still has feelings for Ravi, Michael and Priya are about to face the biggest hurdle of them all. Sebastian fights tooth & nail to free Oliver..... and in all turmoil Charlotte has got nothing better to do but scheme and destroy relationships.
Suffice to say there are a lot of characters in this book to actually take about elaborating on it but yes the three Westlake sisters, Ada, Georgiana and Ada held much more prominence and improved a whole lot more throughout the course of the book. Ada in a loveless marriage to save the Somerton estate from going bankrupt and her rather attention seeking intended, Lord Fintan. Truth be told, the author proclaims Ada and Ravi together and Fintan and Charlotte but I didn't feel the attraction between the pairs at all. You can see the lust in there..... but love.... no it didn't seem so. I was rather for Ada and Fintan...... They bring out the best of it in each other...... and actually seemed to work together better too.
Now Rose. Her struggle to come to terms of her adoption and status as a lady and rise i that position gave a new meaning to the tale. She knows she must mingle but she also knows what the others say of her behind her back... Her encounters with the Duke of Hunteligh proved to be a blessing in disguise. The fit together, and in the sense brought a sort of innocence to the story as well. And I enjoyed reading their escapades.
A job well donw by Rasheed. There are not many authors out there who can maintain so many characters in the vicinity of a single book and actually manage to create a coherent tale..... I am definitely excited for a third book.
There is intrigue. There is fashion. The season. The romance. Of new love and deceit. The conniving ladies hiding behind the social veil of the era. A bitter sweet end to a marriage and unraveling of secrets..... In other words every ingredients it needs to produce an eloquent tale to mark the sequel. Rose has been adopted by Lord Westlake. Ada and Fintan have set the date for marriage. Georgiana must learn to manage the house. Rose catches the eye of a certain Duke of Huntleigh. Ada still has feelings for Ravi, Michael and Priya are about to face the biggest hurdle of them all. Sebastian fights tooth & nail to free Oliver..... and in all turmoil Charlotte has got nothing better to do but scheme and destroy relationships.
Suffice to say there are a lot of characters in this book to actually take about elaborating on it but yes the three Westlake sisters, Ada, Georgiana and Ada held much more prominence and improved a whole lot more throughout the course of the book. Ada in a loveless marriage to save the Somerton estate from going bankrupt and her rather attention seeking intended, Lord Fintan. Truth be told, the author proclaims Ada and Ravi together and Fintan and Charlotte but I didn't feel the attraction between the pairs at all. You can see the lust in there..... but love.... no it didn't seem so. I was rather for Ada and Fintan...... They bring out the best of it in each other...... and actually seemed to work together better too.
Now Rose. Her struggle to come to terms of her adoption and status as a lady and rise i that position gave a new meaning to the tale. She knows she must mingle but she also knows what the others say of her behind her back... Her encounters with the Duke of Hunteligh proved to be a blessing in disguise. The fit together, and in the sense brought a sort of innocence to the story as well. And I enjoyed reading their escapades.
A job well donw by Rasheed. There are not many authors out there who can maintain so many characters in the vicinity of a single book and actually manage to create a coherent tale..... I am definitely excited for a third book.
"Of love and sorrow, a sense of entitlement and deceit comes an exquisite sequel you don't want to miss out on"
Genre : Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Romance
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Release Date: 7th January, 2014
My Copy: publisher and netgalley
Rate: 4/5 (Really Liked It)
Books in the series (review links):
#1 Cinders & Sapphires
Buy: Amazon | Book Depository
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Release Date: 7th January, 2014
My Copy: publisher and netgalley
Rate: 4/5 (Really Liked It)
Books in the series (review links):
#1 Cinders & Sapphires
Buy: Amazon | Book Depository
I want to love the Ada/Ravi relationship so much but I just don't feel it. I need to spend way more time with the two of them as a couple before I can support it.
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