Monday, January 21, 2013

2012 book 26

Leila Rasheed's Cinders and Sapphires
The first book in the Somerton series is yet another series designed to appeal to Downton Abbey fans, and has quite a bit in common with another recent series starter, Summerset Abbey. But because Cinders is a YA book, it is super DRAMA-RIFFIC. Ladies Ada and Georgiana are returning from India with their father in 1910 under what seems to be a cloud of scandal, plus Ada immediately meets a cute Indian guy on the boat, which will obviously be trouble. Then their father remarries and they have a slew of unpleasant stepsiblings who will obviously be trouble. Then there's a maid with questionable parentage (the book addresses the obviousness of this quickly, which was a relief), which will obviously be trouble. Trouble is a-brewing. Plus there's all sorts of romantic intrigue and pretty dresses. I can't decide if this is more drama-riffic than season one of Downton Abbey, but it's definitely better than seasons 2 and 3. GREAT guilty pleasure reading. I can't wait for the sequel, which I'm sure will be deliciously devious. A-.


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A review copy was provided by the publisher. This book will be released tomorrow.

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