Storm and Silence, #1

HISTORICAL ROMANCE

Freedom – that is what Lilly Linton wants most in life. Not marriage, not a brood of squalling brats, and certainly not love, thank you very much!

But freedom is a rare commodity in 19th-century London, where girls are expected to spend their lives sitting at home, fully occupied with looking pretty. Lilly is at her wits’ end – until a chance encounter with a dark, dangerous and powerful stranger changes her life forever...

Enter the world of Mr Rikkard Ambrose, where the only rule is: Knowledge is power is time is money!

“Life is not about living the safer option. Life is about living a life worth living.”

I was put off by this one being so long for its type - 885 pages - but it was highly rated so I took a chance. Glad I did.

I loved the book, but can't five more than a four star rating when it ends on a cliffhanger like that. After 885 pages, I need a cliffhanger like I need a hole in the head.

It wasn't just drug out office woes and file hunting -there was cloak and dagger stuff, gunfights and sailing ships. Adventure over romance over plotless emotion. Creative and long, but the length didn't even feel that long since it was hard to put down and such a delight to sift through.

The main character - while a little slow on the uptake at inopportune times - was a fun, feisty and soulful little thing who takes early developing feminisim to a whole new level. While the lead male, Mr. Ambrose, wasn't particularly interesting (being miserly and not into any hobbies isn't fascinating), he's a mysterious man in his way. I understand the chemistry, although wouldn't he get a bit dull after awhile?

The back and forth will be recognized as a drawn out effect for series fans. Yes, this can get tedious. You’d think by the end of the book more would be resolved, especially since the page count is so huge, but alas….

Throw in a seriously, seriously funny love interest for a sister with hilarious balls hiding behind plants and eating chocolate, fun friends who fiercely claim their independence at every turn, a bullish bodyguard companion of Ambrose's that nicknames our young heroine with glee, and you have an enjoyable mishmash of paper players on the table.

This one is fun, on this side of different, has a loveable man character, and tempers any frustrations by having a solid plot mixed in with the romance.