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3.93 AVERAGE
3.93 AVERAGE
adventurous
hopeful
informative
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
As the middle sister of a prominent and wealthy family, quiet and bookish lsabel is used to being ignored and underestimated. Exiled with her sisters in London due to the French intervention in Mexico, she decides to use her low profile to her advantage- as a spy to assist the cause of the democratically elected president and Mexico’s first Indigenous head of state.
But she’s not as invisible as she thinks. At least not to Captain Sirius Dawson, who’s reputation of being a rake is known to all. As undeniably handsome and charming as he may be, Isabel rejects his attentions to focus on her mission to get the necessary political intelligence to save her family and her country.
When she finds that Sirius is also an undercover agent who’s cause intersects with hers, she reluctantly agrees to work with him. As their alliance deepens, she finds it harder to resist him, and has to figure out whether the love growing between them is real, or if it's merely another game for the roguish captain.
In this exquisitely written second installment of The Luna Sisters series, set two years after the first, De la Rosa again skillfully blends elements of Historical Fiction and Romance, transporting readers to Victorian England with a complex and compelling Latinx protagonist.
Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing me with a complimentary advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
But she’s not as invisible as she thinks. At least not to Captain Sirius Dawson, who’s reputation of being a rake is known to all. As undeniably handsome and charming as he may be, Isabel rejects his attentions to focus on her mission to get the necessary political intelligence to save her family and her country.
When she finds that Sirius is also an undercover agent who’s cause intersects with hers, she reluctantly agrees to work with him. As their alliance deepens, she finds it harder to resist him, and has to figure out whether the love growing between them is real, or if it's merely another game for the roguish captain.
In this exquisitely written second installment of The Luna Sisters series, set two years after the first, De la Rosa again skillfully blends elements of Historical Fiction and Romance, transporting readers to Victorian England with a complex and compelling Latinx protagonist.
Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing me with a complimentary advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
It wasn’t as good as the first. While spicier it wasn’t as fleshed out. Isabel could be tiresome. I didn’t feel like the ending was well earned. Gideon was great. They had good chemistry. I just didn’t like the choices made for the story.
I was so happy to go along for the ride on this one. In the first third- I really felt there was some influence of the TV Bridgerton. Words and phrases and even events. I’m pretty sure this book was written well before the balloon thing on TV, and I’m chalking it up to being well researched for interesting thing happening in the world at that time.
Speaking research and history - I really appreciated learning about Mexico during this time. I never even knew the French had invaded. Even though I knew Juarez was an influential president. Having travelled many times to Mexico, I can picture the places. Because I’ve been to so many of them, even though I was ignorant of the historical significance at the time.
And now the relationships. This book is second in a series, and I haven’t read the others (yet). But I didn’t feel disadvantaged. The sisterly bond was fantastic. And I felt the relationship with Isa and Westhope was an interesting plot device to contrast with Sirius. It wasn’t “triangle-y” So no worries if you avoid love triangles in your reads. In fact, Westhope kind of deserved better, and I do hope he finds his happiness in the end.
So Sirius and Isabel. The chemistry lept off the page. It was paced just right - not too slow and not too fast. It felt so genuine. Hearing their inner monologues about each other was beautiful - but then contrasted with how each of them thought about themselves was sad. It lead to a dissonance where they each didn’t believe the words and actions of the other. And this went on a long time until the grand gesture at the end. Which I saw coming and was still very satisfied.
Bottom line, read this for some intrigue, romance, consideration of the world outside the Ton, and two MCs who need to do a bit of work on themselves before finding their happiness together.
Speaking research and history - I really appreciated learning about Mexico during this time. I never even knew the French had invaded. Even though I knew Juarez was an influential president. Having travelled many times to Mexico, I can picture the places. Because I’ve been to so many of them, even though I was ignorant of the historical significance at the time.
And now the relationships. This book is second in a series, and I haven’t read the others (yet). But I didn’t feel disadvantaged. The sisterly bond was fantastic. And I felt the relationship with Isa and Westhope was an interesting plot device to contrast with Sirius. It wasn’t “triangle-y” So no worries if you avoid love triangles in your reads. In fact, Westhope kind of deserved better, and I do hope he finds his happiness in the end.
So Sirius and Isabel. The chemistry lept off the page. It was paced just right - not too slow and not too fast. It felt so genuine. Hearing their inner monologues about each other was beautiful - but then contrasted with how each of them thought about themselves was sad. It lead to a dissonance where they each didn’t believe the words and actions of the other. And this went on a long time until the grand gesture at the end. Which I saw coming and was still very satisfied.
Bottom line, read this for some intrigue, romance, consideration of the world outside the Ton, and two MCs who need to do a bit of work on themselves before finding their happiness together.
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Misogyny, Racism, Violence, Xenophobia, Vomit, War
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
slow-paced
A cute rgency romance! I love that this series features Mexican women and touch on a part of history that I honestly had never heard about before (the French invasion of Mexico).
My biggest issue is the whole Isabel being a spy thing. Did these men in Mexico legitimately think she was going to find them pertinent war information at social parties? A lady with no training? These men who believe a woman is good for nothing but a wife??? I'm just assuming they thought her expendable. But every time she floundered about in studies I had to roll my eyes a little.
Overall a quick, fun read, and can't wait to read Gabby's story.
Thank you to the publisher for providing a free copy of the book.
Merged review:
A cute rgency romance! I love that this series features Mexican women and touch on a part of history that I honestly had never heard about before (the French invasion of Mexico).
My biggest issue is the whole Isabel being a spy thing. Did these men in Mexico legitimately think she was going to find them pertinent war information at social parties? A lady with no training? These men who believe a woman is good for nothing but a wife??? I'm just assuming they thought her expendable. But every time she floundered about in studies I had to roll my eyes a little.
Overall a quick, fun read, and can't wait to read Gabby's story.
Thank you to the publisher for providing a free copy of the book.
My biggest issue is the whole Isabel being a spy thing. Did these men in Mexico legitimately think she was going to find them pertinent war information at social parties? A lady with no training? These men who believe a woman is good for nothing but a wife??? I'm just assuming they thought her expendable. But every time she floundered about in studies I had to roll my eyes a little.
Overall a quick, fun read, and can't wait to read Gabby's story.
Thank you to the publisher for providing a free copy of the book.
Merged review:
A cute rgency romance! I love that this series features Mexican women and touch on a part of history that I honestly had never heard about before (the French invasion of Mexico).
My biggest issue is the whole Isabel being a spy thing. Did these men in Mexico legitimately think she was going to find them pertinent war information at social parties? A lady with no training? These men who believe a woman is good for nothing but a wife??? I'm just assuming they thought her expendable. But every time she floundered about in studies I had to roll my eyes a little.
Overall a quick, fun read, and can't wait to read Gabby's story.
Thank you to the publisher for providing a free copy of the book.
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I was really excited for Isabel’s story, but it ended up falling a bit short for me. I understand the Luna sisters carry deep trauma from their father making them feel worthless, but even by the end, it felt like Isabel still tied her worth to what she could provide for her country. I was hoping she would discover her self-worth and inner strength much earlier in the story.