Please welcome Ang, who brings you today’s Guest Review of… A Lady Never Lies
Author: Juliana Gray
Release Date: Aug. 7, 2012
Publisher: Berkley
Affairs by Moonlight #1
ISBN: #978-0425250921
Genre: Historical Romance
Format(s): Paperback (320 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher
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About the book:
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Lady Alexandra Morley, an alluring widow, is desperate to devise a plan to reverse her fortunes. When fate lands her in the arms of Phineas “Finn” Burke, an attractive inventor, she despairs of ever getting what she needs…until they kiss.
Finn has always been impervious to the charms of the female species, intent only on perfecting his “horseless carriage” engine. He never dreamed he’d meet a woman like Alexandra, who is as stubborn as she is comely. Despite the brewing scandal, Finn longs to make Alexandra his wife, but he must first convince the maddening lady that their love is the only thing that matters
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What Ang is talking about:
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A Lady Never Lies is a fun, witty and sensual romp in the Tuscan Country Side filled with memorable characters and interesting dialogue. Even the secondary characters were fun and memorable, which is a good thing since they are sure to be the main characters in upcoming novels. My one complaint is with the curse on the castle. The castle is almost a character in and of itself, and along with Giacomo and Morini, I felt like I needed their back stories (although, I’ve got a feeling the back story would likely be a novel in and of itself).
Despite the distractions, our main characters, Alexandra and Finn were completely engaging. The differences in their characters, backgrounds and personalities played off each other nicely, building a well written tension between them. I especially enjoyed the banter throughout the story, but I did struggle with Finn’s scientific mind at times, especially when he often speaks of Alexandra’s menses. I’m sorry that simply isn’t a term or a detailed conversation I want to read in a romance novel. I get that the author was playing up the Finn’s scientific mind and his natural concern in reference to those things but I found it off putting. It’s like mentioning the wet spot in the bed after an especially romantic scene in a story, you just don’t do it. Thankfully, Alexandra insures these conversations are short lived allowing us to to get back to meet of the story quickly.
I have to say what held my interest was not only the love story between Finn and Alexandra but also the self-discovery Alexandra finds herself apart of. As a young widow who married a much older man at a very early age, she really hasn’t discovered who she is intellectually or sexually. The journey she takes in this novel is well written as she figures things out in reference to her relationship with Finn and her placement in the world around her.
Overall this is a fun escape and it was nice to read a historical romance placed somewhere other than England. I don’t know that I’ll put myself on any pre-order list to get the next two in the trilogy, but having experienced Ms. Gary’s writing style, I definitively wouldn’t pass them by should I stumble on them in a book store. If you like historical romance you’ll likely enjoy this novel.
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Ang’s Rating:
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Liked it, but I had some issues – recommend (B)
Purchase Info:
[…] issues – recommend (B) Purchase Info: A Duke Never Yields Reviews in the Series: A Lady Never Lies […]