This was a hard read as I expected. I’m sure it was even harder to write. Because of this, I felt the need to write a review. Now where do I start?
The romance wasn’t my favorite. I didn’t hate it but I didn’t fully buy it. The chemistry wasn’t really there for me. I liked Elle and Malcolm as characters, but I didn’t get their attraction to each other.
The historical parts were what really got to me. There’s so much tension because Elle and Malcolm are spies. It made me perpetually anxious. Then, there’s dealing with the race issues. Ms. Cole doesn’t hide from the atrocities of American history. But she also doesn't blanket vilify Southerners (or glorify Northerners). Humans are complicated and this shows that. I really appreciated the raw look at things that happened.
While this isn’t a new favorite, I did like it and will read more Alyssa Cole books. It also does some important things. It’s also important to tell more non-traditional romances-whether character, time, location, or situation.
Ok this has probably gone on too long.
Thanks for reading!
Holly