Reviews

Queen of Hearts by Elna Holst

jamietherebelliousreader's review

4.0

4 stars. This was such a romantic and sexy little novella. The chemistry between Netty and Francisca was so good. The writing was great and I liked all of the characters here especially Netty’s younger sister Fiona. She was such a fun character. The setting was fun and and the author did a great job with utilizing it. This is the start of a series and I’m definitely looking forward to the next one. This was great.

entazis's review

adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

5.0

Queen of Hearts is about a young woman, called Thorny Netty (that tells you all you need to know, really), who's on a vacation with her younger sister in the summer of 1972. Feeling responsible as the older one, and completely different from her carefree sister, Netty spends most of the vacation following her around and making sure no one has any fun, nor her sister, nor she. And then there's Francisca Cervantes, an enigmatic and sensual hotel singer that's bored out of her mind. You can guess where this goes, once Netty and Francisca get partnered up for the bridge tournament.

This novella is a great summer vacation read. It's relaxing, sweet, fun, humorous (it was so easy to laugh-out-loud on multiple occasions), and hot in all ways. From the sweltering summer heat that permeates the words on the page, to the simmering yearning and burning desire between characters whose chemistry is palpable. 

judeinthestars's review

funny lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

4.5

I so enjoy Elna Holst’s books! This one – the first in a series of standalones – is a quick and sexy read, a holiday fling, a tiny precious moment.

It’s 1972 and twenty-one-year-old Netty Thornton has agreed, not entirely happily, to join her younger sister Fin on a holiday to Gran Canaria, as some sort of chaperone. All Fin wants to do is flirt and party whereas Netty enjoys quieter activities. The sisters come to an agreement and Netty immediately takes advantage of her free time, entering a bridge competition. She needs a partner and it just so happens that the older woman whom she got a very exciting glimpse of from the balcony the day before also needs one…

As usual, Holst’s writing is exhilaratingly good. She casts an ironic but tender eye on her characters, stoking the fire gently yet inexorably. Netty is a naive but very smart student, whose effortless charms prove irresistible to Francisca. Holst gleefully describes the young woman’s exploration of her feelings and the sultry nightclub singer’s self-confidence mixed with amusement and kindness.

I always want more of Elna Holst’s words but I have to admit she shines in short form. These 80 or so pages pack a punch, delivering layered characters, beautiful chemistry, and more than a little humour.