Review - Diamonds and Deceit (At Somerton #2) by Leila Rasheed

Title: Diamonds and Deceit

Author: Leila Rasheed

Series: 2nd (Cinders and Sapphires) 

Pages: 420

Published: January 7th 2014 by Disney-Hyperion 

ISBN: 9781423171188

Source: Publisher via Netgalley

Description: 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. 

I Give This ...

 

I really enjoyed the first book in the series.  I'm not as familiar with this time period in England, so I like immersing myself in new details.  This series seems to have just enough scandal, intrigue, aristocracy, beautiful dresses, and romance.  However, this book seemed a little dragged down by the details.  The end almost made up for all that though.

My first problem lies with the fact that there are a lot of characters in this book, plus two separate locations. It hasn't been that long since I read the first one, but I really had to set myself straight on who was who.  I couldn't remember who were the actually related, who were stepchildren, and how all the other characters fit together at first.  I eventually figured it out, but I think the book could have benefited from some little refresher.  There was also a lot of scenes that didn't really seem to move the story forward that much. Scenes at various balls, dress shops, etc just seemed to fill the pages.  Some of them had little details that I enjoyed that connected the story together, but overall were not important.

I did enjoy Rose's Season debut.  I can't imagine going from servant to debutante and having to endure the whispers, etc.  Perhaps that's why she occasionally acted like she did around Alexander.  I think she was so use to defending herself that she forgot that things are always what they appear and sometimes words spoken aren't what was meant.  I forgave her though, because it didn't take her long to realize her errors.  

The other characters definitely had their ups and downs.  I think Ada could have been happy with Lord Fintan, but fate would have things play out differently.  Sebastian and Oliver have a long road ahead of them, so I'm hoping this isn't the last story. This family is finally starting to function as a unit and I'm excited to see what the future holds for all of them!

Review - Cinders & Sapphires (At Somerton #1) by Leila Rasheed

Title: Cinders & Sapphires

Author: Leila Rasheed

Series: 1st

Pages: 400

Published: January 22nd 2013 by Disney-Hyperion 

ISBN: 9781423171171

Source: Publisher via Netgalley

 

Description: One house, two worlds...Rose Cliffe has never met a young lady like her new mistress. Clever, rich, and beautiful, Ada Averley treats Rose as an equal. And Rose could use a friend. Especially now that she, at barely sixteen, has risen to the position of ladies’ maid. Rose knows she should be grateful to have a place at a house like Somerton. Still, she can’t help but wonder what her life might have been had she been born a lady, like Ada. For the first time in a decade, the Averleys have returned to Somerton, their majestic ancestral estate. But terrible scandal has followed Ada’s beloved father all the way from India. Now Ada finds herself torn between her own happiness and her family’s honor. Only she has the power to restore the Averley name—but it would mean giving up her one true love . . . someone she could never persuade her father to accept.

I Give This ...

  

I keep seeing this compared to the show Downton Abbey.  Apparently I need to watch this show because I really enjoyed this book.

I don't normally go for the gossip and cattiness that comes with well-off people, especially teenagers.  But, there's something about Regency England that I just love.  And honestly, cattiness and gossip are just part of the nobility.  I was hoping to get something different with Ada and her sister Georgia.  And I was partly right.  Ava is not only beautiful, she's smart.  She wants to go against the grain and attend college.  Something relatively unheard of in that day and age.  Her sister isn't entirely that same mold, but I liked her nonetheless.  She's that girl you want to protect no matter what.

The problem lies in the fact that the sisters have spent most of their lives in India, far away from the glaring eyes and loose tongues of The Ton.  They haven't learned yet how to guard their secrets and maybe even their hearts.   Her father's quick departure from India has left the family as the hot topic on the gossip chain.  His quick engagement leaves more questions than answers.   Her soon to be stepsister and stepmother will stop at nothing to bring those of the Somerton house to their knees.  But, it turns out they are hiding just as many secrets of their own.

A pages turner for sure.  I love the idea of the nobility, but every once in awhile a book comes to light that reminds how hard and dangerous that kind of life could be.  It didn't take much to bring you down, and then life could turn around and bring you back up.  I eagerly await the next book in this fun series!