Review: A Sweet Christmas Treasure
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 10 20, 2011
Review for My Lady Below Stairs by Mia MarloweIt is extremely difficult to write a satisfying novella. Some authors are able to "capture the magic" with 50,000 words or less, and some aren't. Marlowe totally nails it. This story has all the things I love about her longer historicals...it's beautifully written, has lusty love scenes, wonderful humor, and a very satisfying ending.The best thing about this story is all of the unexpected surprises. Giovanni, the impassioned artist, is not who he seems. Sybil, the spoiled daughter, is not as shallow as we think. Ian, the head groom, is more clever, determined and madly in love than we could imagine. Marlowe weaves a multitude of threads together in this story, and as the threads come together, you know that you're in for a wonderful surprise. I LOVE stories that weave together a bunch of different POVs. Usually, you can figure out what's about to happen far in advance. But Mia Marlowe really surprised me at the end with all of the revelations about the characters. I adored the final scene in the library, written with all of the wit and humor that is characteristic of this author. It borders on a historical farce, which is one of my favorite things!This story is truly like an unexpected Christmas gift...I opened the package having no expectations, and I found a real treasure. Thank you, Mia, for this sweet Christmas story.Grade: APenelopePenelope's Romance Reviews