Review: A great romance
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 11 11, 2013
I received this novel after I requested it on Netgalley. It doesn’t influence my review.When I was browsing through titles on Netgalley, I saw this cover and it caught my attention and once I read the blurb, I knew that I had to read it. I was intrigued, hoping to find a good romance.While I think Solace in Scandal starts too slow for my taste to accelerate way too fast with the characters’ relationship, I was caught into the author’s writing. And to be honest, the plot around the Ponzi scheme their families orchestrated is very interesting. It’s quite a unique setting and I was eager to see how it would play out when both characters would get closer.Elena and Alex bring steam to his story, so much so that I can’t really see the love. I felt the sexual tension between them, the lust is ever present and well described, but I have to take for granted that they love each other – which is clearly said near the end – and aren’t just in lust because that was all I felt; lust. That bothers me a tiny bit and that’s why I’m not rating it five stars.The plot is very well built, well enough to thrill me and to make me want to read faster. The questions aren’t answered right away, the answers are brought slowly to build up along side with their relationship. I saw Elena and Alex starting to trust each other, fighting against the world when their relationship was outted and it felt quite real. The author did well and it’s obvious that the characterization is mastered.The ending is almost sudden in a way, but it ends the story perfectly, giving all the answers that arose throughout the book. But to be honest, I would have loved to see Elena’s mother meeting Alex in the last chapter. After all, her mother is an important character who suffered from what Elena’s father did and it would have been interesting to see more of her instead of just ‘hearing’ about her.This novel is the kind of book I can’t really criticize as everything is working perfectly as it is. The small things I pointed out here are more of a personal taste rather than issues within the story.All in all, it’s a very good story with interesting characters brought in a plot not all that common. It’s rare enough in the genre to point it out. And it’s refreshing! But don’t get me wrong, it’s not a funny and light story.The author knows how to write steamy scenes without being over the top and without forgetting the plot. She knows the codes that are common in Romance novels to make it work and her writing style is efficient.I recommend this book if you’re looking for a book in this genre. You shouldn’t be disappointed by this stand-alone. I’m pretty sure to read more from this author.