Cover Image: Waltz with a Stranger

Waltz with a Stranger

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

DNF 52%
This was just all over the place, soap opera-y and simply weird. I tried to find something I liked, but it was not funny or interesting. I stuck it out halfway then I ended up just giving up.

Was this review helpful?

I recieved a free copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was a DNF for me. I really tried. I got about half way before giving up. I just felt every single character was bland. I didn't care about the the H/h. The subplot about the death of the former lord was even boring.
This book just didn't work for me.

Was this review helpful?

Loyalty – is the connection in this romance. Waltz with a Stranger pulls at your heart as you read of the love between twins Aurelia and Amelia. It does seem a bit odd that James, handsome, hero and gentleman, asked for Amelia’s hand rather than find out more about Aurelia. His explanation is plausible and helped make for a great read.

Loyalty kept Aurelia and James from being together. James, as betrothed to Amelia/Amy, did not feel he could go back on his word to her. Aurelia was loyal to Amy, to the point she could not betray her sister, either. Amy, too, was loyal to Aurelia and their sister connection. Aurelia and Amelia loved and cared for each other tremendously. Then, along comes Thomas Sheridan who refuses to betray his first love, deceased, and his good friend James. Again, all this love and loyalty makes for a great read.

Amy’s heart had been bruised by Glyndon, so she she may very well have encouraged and accepted James as a rebound due to Glyndon’s mistreatment. She seemed more to be settling for a marriage of convenience rather than having a true connection with James. Evidence of her lack of affection showed in her relationship with James, especially when they kissed.

To add to the difficulty these couples are facing is the accusation of James and friends having killed his cousin in order to inherit the title. An angry sister joins the crowd. There is also the matter of a missing cargo.

Waltz may be a rerelease, but it is a good one. You will find this to be an enjoyable weekend read, somewhat light-hearted as these couples find their HEA.

Was this review helpful?

This was a beautiful novel and I loved every minute of it. It'll be one that I read over and over again. 5/5 stars

Was this review helpful?

This story was at first reminiscent of a Henry James "novel of manners" but then developed some additional plotlines surrounding mysterious circumstances. I rather preferred the former--the struggles of a young unmarried woman in the Victorian era whose beauty is marred by an accidental injury was an interesting situation on its own. A light, quick read suited to this snowy weekend!

Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for a digital ARC.

Was this review helpful?

This book reminds us that while it might be fun to read these stories, it couldn't have been very fun to live in the actual time (which is why I can not stand time travel stories that strand women in the past, where are the stories that bring a lady from that time and strand her in the present and watch her blossom with all the freedoms and opportunity she could have).

Was this review helpful?

This started quite interestingly, one beautiful, scarred woman and her perfect twin.
There was a nice set up and a clever way to show the passing of time and events with a series of letters but my interest started to wane after a while. I also found the concept of the engagement to the sister a conflict that I lost interest in. It dragged on a bit.
Overall a well written story.

Was this review helpful?

It is difficult to make a good matchup between a hero and heroine when close, loving family relationships and friendships are part of the roadblock to the relationship. This was a slow moving romance that never had a chance to simmer, let alone boil.

Was this review helpful?

I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review from Netgalley.

This is was a story I’m really not certain exactly how I felt about it. I thought the twins thing would be a cute mistaken identity and cleared up quickly, but the engagement lasted almost the whole book- to the wrong twin. It’s just a little ick to me to be engaged to one and in love with the other for that long. I liked the mystery, as it allowed the characters to interact without the focus of the romance, but honestly I wish the revelations on the romantic side came sooner.

Was this review helpful?

London, May 1890 She'd met him while she was in the conservatory, not wanting to be amoung people who would just look at her and feel pity. Of course her twin was dancing and enjoying herself. Then she met him. James Trelawayand he asked her to dance. Aurelia had not feel this way before. He held her so she would not stumble with her limp, but she knew she might never see him again.
Aurelia and her twin Amelia had come from America and were being hosted by their Godmother.
One year later after Aurelia had gone to restore her health and came back to London confident and feeling so much better. But she finds her sister is engaged to the man she had waltzed with and now he is an Earl, having inherited recently. She could not believe it! She had thought of him so many times and hoped to see him again.
What she did not know was that James had thought of her too. His cousins death had been a little suspicious and this leads to a mystery.
A story of two kindred spirits who were meant for each other, if only they can admit and find a way. I truly enjoyed this book so much and look forward to reading more by this author!

Was this review helpful?

This is a rerelease of the author's debut novel. While there is nothing I disliked about the book, I didn't find it memorable either. The book is lengthy, and while it didn't drag, it could have been shortened.

The characters are likeable, but I found myself not really caring about any of them. They were too bland, and nothing was interesting about them. The romance was lukewarm at best with no steam whatsoever that I could tell.

While I was underwhelmed by this book and I wouldn't recommend purchasing it, there are some who enjoy a simple, uncomplicated romance.

I received an arc of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

‘Waltz with a Stranger’ was filled with such great characters. Aurelia Newbold has met the man who can make her happy, after a riding accident left her scarred both physically and emotionally. However, after a year away trying to recover, she returns to find him engaged to her sister Amelia. James Trelawney first meets Aurelia when she is at a low point in her life, yet the waltz he shares with her, lingers with him, despite his engagement to her twin sister. The more time they spend together, the more they find the attraction grows and their feelings are conflicted.
This was a lovely romance but at times, I would have liked this romance to have been more fast paced. All the characters were delightful and their dialogues engaging. I enjoyed the two romances of the twin sisters, and the detail in the writing was well developed.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Aurelia Newbold wasn't hiding exactly. She just needed to get out of the crush of the ballroom—away from the people staring at her scar, pitying her limp. She was still quite enjoying the music from the conservatory. And then a complete stranger, James Trelawney dashing, debonair, kind asks her to waltz. In the strength of his arms, she felt she could do anything. When they meet again a year later, everything has changed. She's no longer a timid mouse. And he's now a titled gentleman with a fiancée & she is shocked to learn that her twin Amelia is engaged to James.
An engaging read that had two romances as both twin had her HEA, Aurelia and James & Amelia and James's best friend, Thomas Sheridan, an artist. It was a welcome change for both of the twins to be lovely no horrid sibling. I liked how both romances were handled & how each couple found the road to their HEA although neither were smooth
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Was this review helpful?

This is a first time read by this author and I thought it was a wonderfully written piece. Although I was tempted to not finish as it dragged a bit in the early chapters, it took a turn and the pace and plot became much more interesting.

there was.I much character development and mystery in the story. My heart was tugged at on several occasions that confirmed my romantic nature at heart. A very nice story and I look forward to reading more from this author.

I would like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC. This is a fair and honest review and all opinions are my own.

4-Stars

Was this review helpful?

An enjoyable story with plenty of detail, character development and even a little intrigue.

I was provided with an ARC of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

I thought that this was a really good story, it was full of mystery and romance.

The plot was good and I thought the author had done a great job. It was a little slow to start but after a few chapters the story build up in pace and it got a whole lot better and was a real page turner by the end of the story and I was fully engaged with it! I thought that the characters were really good too, well developed and their interaction was great.

It is 5 stars from me for this one, I thought it was a really good story, lots to keep me entertained after a bit f a slow start but it is definitely one I would recommend you carry on with if you feel in the same position as me as it is really worth it!

Was this review helpful?