Waltz With a Stranger
Pamela Sherwood


ISBN-10:
1402273223
ISBN-13: 978-1402273223
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Line: Casablanca
Release Date: Dec 4, 2012
Pages: 448
Retail Price: 7.99




Genre:
Historical
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating:

"May I have this dance?"

Aurelia wasn't hiding exactly. She just needed to get out of the crush of the ballroom—away from the people staring at her scar, pitying her limp. She was still quite enjoying the music from the conservatory. And then a complete stranger—dashing, debonair, kind—asked her to waltz. In the strength of his arms, she felt she could do anything. But both would be leaving London soon...

When they meet again a year later, everything has changed. She's no longer a timid mouse. And he's now a titled gentleman—with a fiancée. Is the magic of one stolen moment, one undeniable connection enough to overcome a scandal that would set Society ablaze and tear their families apart?

Review

Aurelia Newbold had never waltzed…

Until one moonlit night, in the privacy of a conservatory, a kind hearted man desired to bring light to her eyes. Only then did Aurelia desire to sweep away the scars of her past in the hopes of a magical future. A year abroad, recovering from her injuries in a horse accident, makes Aurelia ready to face the ton anew and hopefully claim the heart of the man who inspired her.

I adored Aurelia. She’s sweet and very loyal to her family. As a woman recovering from visual injuries, as well as mental heartbreak, she’s easy to relate too. I found myself sympathetic to Aurelia’s plights and the all-to-familiar ‘of course the man I want is engaged as soon as I’m ready for him’. The only challenge is Aurelia’s man is engaged to her twin sister, Amy. Do you ruin a sister’s happiness for a chance at your own? Of course not, but you tend to deal with a ton of misgivings along the way.

James Trelawney never planned on a title, a well dowered wife, or a family. Since taking over his cousin’s estate as his heir, he’s got the title and needs a wife. The only problem is he may have chosen the wrong one! When Aurelia appears, James is taken aback by her transformation. She’s no longer the haunted girl he danced with, but a woman both attractive and strong. Now if he could only find a way to secure the one who’s captured his heart without alienating her by rebuking a sister.

James is definitely the upstanding lord, and I really enjoy his personality. He’s similarly loyal, just like Aurelia, and a man of honor bound by his word. Those two things are bound to lead to a few moments of indiscretion, and I loved the fact that he was fallible. My angered moment was how the hell he could still go after Amy with Aurelia gone. To me a hero is a hero because he’s waiting for the one, and even though he didn’t know Aurelia was ‘the one’ yet; still.

Favorite Scene: James is in Aurelia’s home and hears a melodic sound coming from the music room. He thinks it’s his fiancée, the sister, only to be surprised by Aurelia herself:

James stared at her, astonished. Then his mouth quirked; truly, his fiancée had unknown depths. He would never have guessed she could play with such intensity, such single-minded passion. Never before had she revealed this side of herself to him. Never before—

He froze, struck by a sudden realization. And took a closer look at the pianist. Not Amy. Aurelia.

Loath to interrupt, he remained in the doorway, watching and listening. She’d come a long way from the girl she’d been a year ago, and yet she drew him as strongly now as she had then.. Not from pity this time, but admiration—and something more he did not care to name.

The story progresses in a predictable manner: believable chance meetings, a fondness growing stronger and even danger to bring the two finally together. There’s a villain, but I wasn’t surprised. While Sherwood tries to spunk things up with a secondary romance plot and an old flame come back to win Aurelia; I didn’t feel an overwhelming sense of ‘must read this quick’.

I did enjoy Sherwood’s dialogue, and her ability to navigate different settings seamlessly, while still putting unique touches to enhance the differences. Characterization and the H/H truly made my heart ache though, and their self-sacrifices more than make up for the extended angst. A good debut that promises future wonders.

Reviewed by Landra


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