Reviewer: Lori Graham
Title: Rumors - 2nd in the Luxe series
Author: Anna Godbersen
Publisher: Harper Collins
ISBN-13: 978-0-06-134569-2 (Hardcover)
Release Date: June 2008
Genre/Sub-genre: YA/Romance
Publisher’s Age/Grade Recommendation: Young adult
OUAR’s Age/Grade Recommendation: 15 and up (mainly because of some of the historical info)
Year/Setting: 1899
Overall rating: 4.0
Sexual Content Rating: Subtle
Language (Profanity) Content Rating: None
Violent Content Rating: None
Anna's Website: theluxebooks.com
Diana Holland and Penelope Hayes are two women who both long for the same man, but for very different reasons. Henry Schoonmaker has always been known as a cad about town until his parents pushed him into an engagement with Elizabeth Holland. He is also the man both Diana and Penelope are interested in—one is Elizabeth’s sister and the other claims to be her friend.
So let’s complicate this a bit more. Penelope and Henry had a relationship long ago. Penelope wasn’t ready to give him up. It wasn’t because she was in love with him but more because she wanted the control and the status of grabbing one the finest catches in town.
Diana also had a relationship with Henry but it wasn’t until he was engaged to Elizabeth. There were feelings between the two of them and Elizabeth was very aware of the love her sister had for Henry.
Elizabeth wasn’t at all displeased with her sister because she is in love with another man. However, given the family situations and the fact that the man she loves is of a "lesser station," Elizabeth fakes her own death. Diana and Penelope both have their own reasons for helping her and neither one of them knows the other’s reasoning. So, let the games begin.
I have to say that this is a story as old as time in many ways. However, Anna Godbersen certainly puts some new twists into the story. I don’t want to give too much away because the ending takes a twist I didn’t see coming. However, the story leading up to it was very well paced and moved through the turns quickly and effectively. The main characters were well done and believable but it is some of the secondary characters who really put some freshness into the story.
The great thing about this book is that it is one of the few I have read that an adult and a teen could both read and get something out of. In fact, it would be a great book for them both to read and talk about. They each might be surprised by the insight of the other.
This is the second book of the series and I found that I wasn’t at all slowed down by the fact I hadn’t read the first book. That being said, though, I definitely want to get it for both my daughter and I to read.
Lori
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