Review: Eulogy's Secret: A Sweet Little Treat
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 01 2, 2012
Reading romance novels isn't my highest priority but they are like a Snicker's bar - sometimes one is a neat, fast little treat.Eulogy's Secret by Grace Elliott is a mini Snickers bar. Book One of the Huntley Trilogy, Eulogy's Secret is a lovely little romance set in regency England. On a dark, frightening night, a little country mouse named Eulogy, in stained, travel worn clothing shows up on the front steps of Lord Devlin's home in London. Of course, she is turned away, for in that time, members of the English aristocracy never received unknowns or their social inferiors at the front door. As she leaves, the devastated Eulogy is attacked  and robbed of all her money and her very important papers. Just as she may be relieved of something even more important, her virginity and life, she is reluctantly rescued by Jack Huntley, a gentleman who bears a great deal of ill will toward Lord Devlin. Unable to leave the destitute young woman on the streets, he takes her to stay with a decent woman, hopefully discharging his duty. When he returns to check on her, he finds her to be extraordinarily beautiful, and although he is resistant, he starts to desire her more each time he sees her. There are obstacles in the way: she is a nobody, has a secret relationship with the despised Lord Devlin whose details she refuses to reveal, and although the attraction is mutual, she does not succumb to his charms. Instead, in a twist that helps reveal Eulogy's family origins, Eulogy becomes the model and muse to a formerly brilliant painter, once represented by Jack Huntley, whose livelihood comes from selling fine art to the aristocracy.The writing is lovely and Elliot writes well enough to put you in England as the ton whirls around you. The love scenes are not overly graphic but they are engaging. Eulogy's Secret will have a great deal of appeal to those who love romance novels set in late 29th century England.During the course of the novel, Jack Huntley is revealed as one of the two younger sons of a noble family. The older brother, the titled Lord Huntley is a rake and references are made to the youngest brother, away on a secret mission for the Crown, setting the stage for the next two novels in the Huntley trilogy. Once you've had this mini Snickers, you will want the next two!