Audra by Amanda Shalaby – a Review

Audra by Amanda L.V. Shalaby – a Review

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Links to order Audra: Amazon / Barnes & NobleKobo

Description:
Audra Kingsley, a wealthy heiress, may not have seen much of the world, but she knows exactly how she wants her future to play out—and a coming out ball held at her country estate, Kingsley Manor, would suit her just fine. Her father’s wish that she be presented at St. James in London seems silly since she is to marry her neighbor and childhood sweetheart, Lord Crispin Brighton, but she obliges him.

Audra travels to London with her patroness, the eccentric Lady Sutherland, intending to return home as soon as she has curtseyed to the Queen. Unknown to her, Lady Sutherland is in no rush to leave London before the Season is over and intends to show Audra she has more options in the suitor department than Lord Crispin, a second son.

Audra finds herself surrounded by few friends and is forced to attend parties, balls, and operas—all while becoming the object of a secret admirer’s obsession. As Audra struggles to make her way home to her beloved, plans to compromise her into an unwanted marriage are underway.

 

Review:

After reading Rhianna by Amanda L.V. Shalaby, I knew if she wrote Audra and Crispin’s story I’d have to read it.  So when I was asked to review this book, there was no way I was passing on it.  Having enjoyed Rhianna so much and getting to meet Audra and Crispin, I knew their story had to be told and that it would be a fun, loving and adventurous story with these two characters.  Ms. Shalaby did not disappoint with Audra.  Although it was a fast read, her love of the historical genre shines through and she continues to wield her magic through her wonderful descriptive and lyric storytelling.  Once again, Ms. Shalaby transports the reader back in time to an era of fancy parties, royalty, Lords and Ladies, coming out balls and splendid Estates.  She makes me wish I lived back in that era, being the belle of the ball with a swoon-worthy and devoted man at my side.  I love all things romantic, fancy and girlie.  😉 

We first meet Audra, and her beau Crispin in Rhianna.  Both have known each other forever and have come to love one another desperately.  Audra although young, only 16 is very head strong, mature for her age, and knows what she wants and doesn’t let anyone tell her differently. She’s the type of heroine no matter her youthful age, you can get behind and root for. Audra is a joy of a character, one I thoroughly enjoyed reading about.  She isn’t a woman to sit by idly while someone else tells her what to do. Yes she goes to London for her coming out moment only to make her daddy proud, but plans to return to Kinglsey manor and Crispin as soon as she takes her bow before the Queen.  The scene with her father where she tells him her exact plans is quite priceless. The way she speaks her mind around others and carries on is not how you picture a young debutante from that era.  There is never a dull moment when Audra is in the room.  Yes she can be melodramatic at times, but that’s part of her charm and personality. It’s this part of her personality that has always drawn Crispin to her. He knows what she’s like and loves her all the more for it.  He’s always proud of the way she handles herself and let’s everyone know she’s her own person, one who can make decisions for herself and isn’t afraid to stand up to others for herself or her family. 

Crispin is Audra’s true love, always has been and he couldn’t be happier for that fact.  He loves Audra with an intensity that one can’t miss. She is his heart, without her he’s nothing and doesn’t care who knows it.  Like his brother Thayne, Crispin is another wonderful male lead.  He’s very much the heartbreaker and swoon-worthy champion. I’d let Crispin champion me and our love any day.  The way he treats Audra and cherishes her is nothing short of perfect.  I loved every scene between Audra and Crispin.  One of my favourite scenes would have to be the during the masquerade in London when Crispin sneaks away from home to find her and see if she has moved on without him, or if something else is going on that’s keeping her from him.  I loved the way they were reunited and it just proved even more just how truly in love they are and that they really are meant to be.  Crispin and Audra are the perfect romantic couple for such a story about true love and knowing what each other wants and going after it no matter what.  

Now of course a story about true love just wouldn’t be told properly if there wasn’t some dastardly villain out to keep the star-crossed lovers apart.  Enter Audra’s patroness Lady Sutherland.  Even though Audra outlines her plans to Lady Sutherland, her patroness has other plans for her. Poor Audra is thrust into a world of deceit, unsolicited attention and danger.  No matter how hard Audra tries to return to her Crispin, it seems Lady Sutherland always has some other reason for staying in London.  In my opinion Ms. Shalaby writes this villain perfectly and had me despising her at every turn, even wanting to slap her upside the head repeatedly.  I love a perfectly written villain in a love story, it just adds many more layers to an already great story. As our dastardly villain makes plans against Audra, the action really picks up and keeps the reader on the edge of their seat wondering what will happen next.  The last few chapters just seem to fly by as Lady Sutherland’s plans seem to fall into place against Audra’s wishes.  Just when you think all is lost, Crispin must race to his true love and remove her from the clutches of an unwanted suitor.  It’s every women’s fantasy, her knight in shining armour coming to her rescue. I loved the ending of this story.

Once again Ms. Shalaby has out done herself with Audra. I loved every minute of the story. The characters are well written, the storyline moves the reader along at a good pace keeping you entertained and wanting more.  The more I read, the more I felt like I was transported back in time to this wonderful era, donning beautiful ball gowns and attending extravagant parties, with dashing young vying for my attention.  If you are a fan of the historical genre then you won’t be disappointed with Ms. Shalaby’s  newest installment Audra.  Happy reading, until next time.   

Reviewed by Marcie

Copy provided by Author

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Rhianna by Amanda L.V. Shalaby – a Review

Rhianna by Amanda L.V. Shalaby – a Review

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Description:
Upon the unexpected death of her parents, Rhianna Braden finds the enigmatic Lord Guilford Kingsley on her doorstep. He escorts her to Kingsley Manor, where family secrets and scandals begin to unfold.

Her uncommon beauty captures the attention of the dashing Lord Thayne Brighton of Ravensleigh, but Rhianna is certain, despite their mutual attraction, that he would never choose her over his wealthy intended. Meanwhile, Lady Lydia Kingsley suspects her husband’s attention to Rhianna has led to an affair between them. Events turn deadly when the truth of their relationship is discovered.

Eventually, Rhianna is forced to make a life-altering decision – while discovering that some secrets are not meant to be kept.

Review;
Over this past year I’ve noticed my reading styles to be branching out and one area is into Historical romances.  I forgot how much I enjoyed them from my days in school when they were on our class syllabus.  Now thanks to TRC and other book sites I’ve discovered the joy of them all over again.  So when I was asked to review Rhianna, by Amanda L.V. Shalaby I jumped at the chance and was pleasantly swept away on a journey of mystery, intrigue, danger and romance. 

Miss Shalaby does a wonderful job of grabbing the reader early and sweeping them along and into the story.  There were many times when I was reading Rhianna that my imagination would get away on me and make me feel like I was being transported back in time.  I could actually see in my minds eye the scenes that were being described on the pages.  From the long flowing gowns, to gardens of flowers and splendid sprawling hills and valleys.  I must say that Miss Shalaby has a talent for words and descriptions and does so in such a flowing and lyrical manner that you can’t help but get lost in the story she sets before you. As I read Rhianna I couldn’t help but think of such stories like Jane Eyre, Pride and Prejudice and Emma, just to name a few.

As I said we are brought along a journey filled with mystery, intrigue and danger. Miss Shallaby does an excellent job of weaving all these elements together to create a story that takes hold of the reader and keeps you turning page after page wanting more.  The mystery and suspense that surround Rhianna’s life is what spear heads all these well balanced elements.  Underneath all this mystery and intrigue is a slow building love story between Rhianna and Thayne Brighton.  I really enjoyed how Miss Shalaby took the time to slowly build their relaltionship and let the reader watch them fall in love. For me a slow to build love story is the best, as it allows me, the reader to better connect with each character first as individuals, then as a couple.  To me it adds layers to not only the characters, but to the storyline as well.  I really enjoyed Rhianna and Thayne as a couple and enjoyed watching them slowly fall into love. It was fun to see them try and deny their feelings at first, and then watch them slowly take that fall into love, and realize that what they have is the best thing to happened to both of them.  Thayne is a character you can’t help but fall in love with.  Watching him look after and protect Rhianna to point of accepting a duel to the death with one of the stories villians, was just, aaaaah swoon-worthy. (sorry Carmen, had to steal a page out of your book, as Thayne is a very swoon-worthy character) 😉  He definitely fits the hero mold for me. 

Rhianna was a fun read, filled with all the elements that I enjoy in a good book. The characters and storyline were well developed, and weaved together so that it just flowed from page to page.  I was swept away on a beautiful and romantic journey. Through her brilliantly written descriptive language I couldn’t help but imagine myself as one of the characters. One of my favourite scenes she described was the Ball.  I’ve always loved those scenes in old movies, with the gowns, décor and music. I may not have been born in that era, but Miss Shalaby made me feel as though I was there, the Belle of the Ball as I read that scene.  When an author can do that, pull me into her story like that, I know I’m in for a good read. If you are a fan of historical romance, filled with mystery, intrigue, danger and romance, then I highly recommend this one for you.  Happy reading and until next time.

Reviewed by Marcie

Copy provided by Author

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