Review: Historical romance at its best
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 02 2, 2014
Rhianna is a beautifully written book in the style of the Regency classics.  I am an avid reader of historical romance but am regularly disappointed by the number of "historicals" which are simply modern tales set in earlier times.  Shalaby has perfectly portrayed the habits, speech and fashions of the era. Not to mention the art of understated but sensual love play: the brush of fingertips, a lingering gaze, the tantalising glimpse of an ankle. While I read Rhianna, I was firmly ensconced in the early nineteenth century, experiencing the thoughts and emotions of the characters, societal restrictions, and the vivid detail of the surroundings.This story not only had a beautiful and satisfying love story between two admirable but very human characters, there was also a clever web of intrigue, surprise plot twists and life-threatening danger. This was an enthralling and compelling debut novel for Amanda L.V. Shalaby - one which I highly recommend.