Review: Romantic, engaging, a true gem of the series.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 08 7, 2013
First of all, can we just admire that gorgeous cover for a moment? If you're not familiar with The Lost Girls series yet, you won't need to have read them to be able to follow this story, however this novella was definitely a more romantic, gentler version than any of Amber Lin's other books. The Lost Girls characters have all lived very hard lives - crime, rape, abuse, prostitution, etc. Her writing is raw and gritty, but the author is definitely, in my opinion, a master of her craft.This is the story of Rose and Drew. Rose is Philip and Colin's sister; Drew is Philip's lawyer. Rose suffered several traumatic events as a teenager that have molded her into the woman she is today, but she's taking measures to step out of her sheltered life, both emotionally and physically. In her mid to late twenties, Rose has had very little experience with men and romance in general. We know how seriously Philip takes protecting his family, and he's probably the most protective of Rose. After all, he's been her protector since he turned eighteen. His concern for her was one of the sweetest moments I've seen from him yet. She was happy to remain sheltered and docile for the past decade, pursuing her love of ballet. She has almost reached her prime as a ballerina, and knee injuries threaten to put an end to her career. Her plans to open a ballet studio and move out of the family home couldn't have come at a better time because her crush on Drew has just taken a turn from fantasy to reality. Philip will definitely not be pleased about either development.I absolutely adored this story. I mean, I'm head over heels for this couple. I think Rose would have been a vivacious and feisty heroine were it not for her past. But under the sensual onslaught of Drew's affections, she appeared to blossom a little more every time they were together. I admired that her sudden wish for independence wasn't brought about by anything in particular. She seemed to have healed enough to the point that she just wanted more. Therefore, she didn't come across as a bird in the golden cage, despite some of Philip's rules. I loved her in her vulnerable moments, and I loved her when she tried to overcome her fears.Drew. Oh, Drew. That man was perfect in my eyes. He was such a balanced and uncomplicated character. He was always straightforward; he never said anything he didn't mean. In that, he was perfect for Rose. She never had to guess what he was thinking. I loved the open honesty of their dialogue. It would have been so easy to add unnecessary drama caused by miscommunication or lack thereof. Instead, these two handled themselves with a maturity that I often crave from characters, but never receive. He was like a steady rock in her tumultuous world, silently waiting in the wings all those years for her to be ready to live again, to be ready for him.Their exploration of their newly found passion and feelings didn't come without a few setbacks, but Drew was always there for her, with her, and he never made her feel unworthy or stupid. I also admired how quickly both of them agreed to come clean with Philip. Of course there had to be a little drama, and my heart broke a little for Rose at one point, but I felt she came out much stronger on the other side.This story was lovely and so engaging, I could read it over and over. The flow of it and the prose had the elegance of a ballet performance. Somehow Rose's elegance flowed through her into the story. The ending was so incredibly romantic and fit the characters perfectly. The Pas de Deux from Swan Lake, designed to express the strength and triumph of the character, would be a perfect analogy for Rose and Drew.Disclaimer: I received an ARC from the author for the purpose of an honest review.