The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue meets Jane Austen in this witty, winking historical romance with a dash of mystery!
DANGEROUS ALLIANCE by JENNIEKE COHEN
Series: Standalone
Genre: historical romance
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: December 3, 2019
Synopsis:
Lady Victoria Aston has everything she could want: an older sister happily wed, the future of her family estate secure, and ample opportunity to while her time away in the fields around her home.
But now Vicky must marry—or find herself and her family destitute. Armed only with the wisdom she has gained from her beloved novels by Jane Austen, she enters society’s treacherous season.
Sadly, Miss Austen has little to say about Vicky’s exact circumstances: whether the roguish Mr. Carmichael is indeed a scoundrel, if her former best friend, Tom Sherborne, is out for her dowry or for her heart, or even how to fend off the attentions of the foppish Mr. Silby, he of the unfortunate fashion sensibility.
Most unfortunately of all, Vicky’s books are silent on the topic of the mysterious accidents cropping up around her…ones that could prevent her from surviving until her wedding day.
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Praise for Dangerous Alliance:
“Contemporary fans of the Austen novels and their screen adaptations will relish this rousing, late Georgian romance.”
- ALA Booklist
“While Vicky takes center stage, interspersed perspectives from other characters, including those of Sherborne and his half-sister, deepen the story’s themes… Frequent references to then-popular novels and a thoughtful historical note add additional context to this spirited romp.”
- Publishers Weekly
“Charming and fun. Replete with intrigue, grand parties, and romantic entanglements, fans of Jane Austen will positively devour this book.”
- Jessica Cluess, author of A Shadow Bright and Burning
“Romance fans and Jane Austen devotees will devour this delicious Regency romp.”
- Alexa Donne, author of Brightly Burning and The Stars We Steal
“Bathed in Cohen’s richly textured language, Dangerous Alliance boldly shines a light on issues women struggled with historically: abuse, obstruction, and dominance. A timeless story.”
- Shelley Sackier, author of The Antidote and The Freemason’s Daughter
“A fresh, enchanting addition to the historical fiction genre! The perfect read for fans of Jane Austen and Downton Abbey!”
- Tobie Easton, award winning author of the Mer Chronicles series
“The perfect combination of mystery, intriguing characters, surprising action, and delightful romance. I loved every single word.”
- Samantha Hastings, author of The Last Word
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jennieke Cohen (JEN-ih-kah CO-en) is used to people mispronouncing her name and tries to spare her fictional characters the same problem. Jennieke writes historical fiction for young adults inspired by real people and events because life is often stranger than fiction. She studied English history at Cambridge University and has a master’s degree in professional writing from the University of Southern California. Jennieke loves exploring new locales but always returns home to Northern California where the summers are hot, the winters are mild, and life is casual.
REVIEW
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REVIEW
Dangerous Alliance by Jennieke CohenMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was such a fun, quirky book! When I read in the synopsis that the heroine is a book lover, more specifically that she is obsessed with Jane Austen, I knew she was a girl after my own heart. Not only did each chapter head have a relatable Austen quote, there were references sprinkled throughout the story. I was also attracted to the unusual cover which isn't typical in the romance genre. I'm always on the lookout for fresh, new reading experiences, and this debut author has really delivered the goods.
Victoria is the youngest of two daughters, and her parents have given her a level of freedom that you don't usually see for the period. She helps the family on the estate, and has already been through one season without any pressure to marry. She has no plans to change that in the near future, but circumstances soon force the Astons to take desperate measures. Victoria's sister Althea is newly married to a man who was thought to be her love match. Until she showed up on their doorstep seeking refuge from the abusive husband who has hidden his sins and control over her well. Much of the book revolves around the family's plot to permanently separate her from him so he no longer has any legal rights to her or the family fortune. The author put a lot of research into the details of divorce in that time period, which was not completely unheard of, despite popular belief. It was rare and of course, easier for a man to achieve, but not out of the realm of possibility.
It was decided that Victoria must find a trustworthy husband so she and her spouse will be eligible to inherit from her father. The search quickly narrows down to one main candidate, Mr. Carmichael. He's certainly charming and quick with pretty compliments, but how is she to know he isn't another monster with his own agenda? During their courtship several "accidents" befall Victoria and her family and there is an added urgency in discovering his true nature. This mystery takes up a large portion of the story, I would say it's more in the forefront than the romance I was expecting. Victoria's love interest Tom is introduced almost immediately as her ex-best friend who grew up in the estate neighboring Oakbridge.
There is some question as to why Tom suddenly left and cut off communication between them. Tom is quite stoic, holding his painful past inside as he shoulders the huge debt he inherited from his despicable father. He puts on a affable front as he fights for the welfare of his struggling family. Inside however, he's suppressing panic that his business plan isn't enough to rescue them as his brother's spending spirals out of control. His brother is such a piece of work. There were points I wanted to strangle him within an inch of his life for adding to poor Tom's stress. He acted very selfishly out of a childish, misplaced resentment.
For the majority of the book, the relationship between Tom and Victoria was that of tentative friends. They didn't communicate about the past, but rather tried to start fresh as they got to know one another again. It was a friends to lovers trope with an emphasis on friends, probably up until the last 30% of the book. Until then there wasn't really much angst between the two of them or a slow burn feeling. This is my reasoning for my rating because I would've liked to have seen their romance more equally balanced with the mystery of who was behind the attacks. This is my personal preference though, and I really appreciated the originality of the storyline.
There was a lot to love about this book. A fantastic heroine that was easy to root for, an interesting plot that taught me about divorce in the Regency period, and plenty of Jane Austen references delicately woven in. Tom and Vicki really worked well together and I loved the fact that they were childhood best friends. Once Tom opened himself up to the idea that he could deserve her and revealed his heart, the two of them fit like two peas in a pod. I really enjoyed this author's writing style, and look forward to reading more from her in the future.
“You’re not like Mr. Darcy. And I wouldn’t have you be. You’re you. And I wouldn’t trade you for a dozen perfect gentlemen. The reality of you is far better than any fiction.”
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