Title: Entwined (Darkest London)
Series: Darkest London
Classification: Adult Fiction
Genre: Historical Romance/Paranormal
File Size: 1072 KB
Print Length: 120 pages
Publisher: Forever Yours (November 5, 2013)
Sold by: Hachette Book Group
ASIN: B00CRMATNW
- Author's website: http://www.kristencallihan.com/
- Notes: Received an eARC loan from the publisher.
'Dear Sir,
It has come to my attention, by way of a most distressing yet undeniable order, that we are to be married. As I find arranged marriages to be goth archaic and tantamount to a glorified stud service...'
But what started off as a ploy for Eamon to persuade the chit to marry his brother, Aidan, had grown into something more. Eamon started falling for the beautiful young woman whom he had befriended while conversing through letters while pretending to be Aidan. A woman now, thanks to him, was happily engaged to marry his brother and there was nothing he could do about it.
This book is the second novella from the Darkest London series and, if I do say so myself, a nice introduction to the series if you haven't had one yet. It is definitely a standalonestory, but it also satisfies the curiosity of a person like myself who has read the previous books. In Entwined we learn where Isley acquired Alden's mechanical arm (mentioned in Winterblaze) as well as a little about Ms. Holly Evernight's family. Holly's the gadget and gizmo guru--think Alfred of Batman or Q from 007--in Winterblaze and Shadowdance. I can't help but wonder if the next book in the series after Shadowdance will focus more on Holly Everbright. If so, this is definitely a novella fans will want to read.
Eamon is a complex character. He's been shunned by his father and all but disowned. He and his brother are very close, but it is very clear who their father favors. Eamon's father believes he is marked by the devil because of his red hair. We, through his letters to Lady Luella, see a gentle, smart, and sweet man who challenges Luella with every letter. Something she finds very attractive and appealing.
I've read several books which have letters as part of its main dialogue, and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. In Entwined, Ms. Callihan uses the technique to perfection endearing both characters to us as she reveals their personalities. I loved watching these two converse with each other and then seeing the one thing Eamon hadn't foreseen in the writing of them--that he would fall in love.
Overall I thought this was a great novella and gave it 5 out of 5 roses. It's a fun short story with a lot of twists and a touch of drama thrown in. I can't help but wonder if the novella was little inspired by the play Cyrano de Bergerac--where one friend gives another the words to say to a love interest. Luckily for Eamon, however, his brother wasn't in love or infatuated with Luella. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating scale, this one gets a STEAM rating--too hot for a fan, but you still have a handle on things. You should use extreme caution when reading a book with this rating in public. People may inquire as to why you looked flustered and flushed.
Order of the series:
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