A change in course can be refreshing…when it’s done together. 1871 After two disastrous marriages, beauty columnist Amalia Truitt’s life is finally her own–well, it will be if she can get herself back to Delaware and demand access to her share of the Truitt family fortune. After all, the charity she’s organized for women who can’t afford their own divorces won’t fund itself. However, not … itself.
However, not everyone wants her to reach her destination. When her family learns she’s been receiving anonymous death threats, a solo journey is out of the question.
Enter David Zisskind, the ragtag-peddler-turned-soldier whose heart Amalia broke years ago. He’s a Pinkerton now, and the promotion he craves depends on protecting his long-lost love on the unexpectedly treacherous journey across Pennsylvania.
That their physical connection has endured the test of time (and then some) is problematic, to say the least.
In very close quarters, with danger lurking around every curve, with each kiss and illicit touch, the wrongs of the past are righted. But David can’t weather another rejection, especially with his career in jeopardy. And Amalia can’t possibly take a lover, never mind another husband…not with so much depending on her repaired reputation. Not when she’s hurt David–her David–so badly before.
Publisher’s Note: Dalliances & Devotion contains content that some readers may find challenging, including PTSD, depression, war, sibling death and antisemitism.
And don’t miss the first book in Felicia Grossman’s The Truitts series, Appetites & Vices, available now!
One-click with confidence. This title is part of the Carina Press Romance Promise: all the romance you’re looking for with an HEA/HFN. It’s a promise!
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Felicia Grossman is the singular reason I, as a non-historical romance junkie, have developed a new appreciation for a genre I had all but written off. Her debut Appetites & Vices was the first historical romance my contemporary-loving heart adored. So, needless to say, I was champing at the bit for the next in The Pruitts series from Carina Press—Dalliances & Devotion. And just as her first book left me swooning and in love, so did this one.
Grossman tackles her genre with a unique flair and a steady, gifted touch. There’s nothing about her writing I’d call predictable or dry. She delves into the time period in which her stories are based and paints a picture so vivid and beautiful—yet somehow perfectly balanced so as not to steal the show from the plot itself—that I get utterly lost within the historic tapestry. She draws in the most minute details—clothing, gadgets, customs, even accurate locales—and allows the reader to travel effortlessly back in time.
But it isn’t just Grossman’s world-building that deserves a spotlight. I absolutely adore her characterization, and her grasp on pacing and plot structure make her writing an enjoyable and effortless treat. Amalia isn’t your typical historic heroine. She’s twice divorced and financially independent. She’s also delightfully spunky and has a got-get-’em attitude that made me grin. Then there’s David. swoon That man is just… yeah. There almost aren’t the words for him. He’s one of those book boyfriends you just wanna put in your pocket and take with you everywhere. Thankfully, this is available in ebook, so I can!
I would highly recommend this to all historical romance readers out there. It isn’t your average, run-of-the-mill example of the genre. It has diverse characters—both of the main characters are Jewish!—and it does a fantastic job of dropping the reader into the late nineteenth century.
What an amazing addition to the first book in this series Appetites and Vices. I have to say I am excited to have discovered this author as she takes you on a journey of romance and world building. I learned a lot of history and was captured by the characters she created which actually come off the page!
Amalia Truitt is a determined lady and is really a crusader for women and everybody is not happy about that.. David Zisskind is an old love who had his heart broken by Amelia in the past but is now protecting her on a trek to obtain more money for her charity. A Pinkerton ( I love the stories of this agency!) and swoon worthy to say the least, the attraction is still there for the two. It sparks right off the page!
But can they make it safely to their destination and find they are meant for each other? Don’t miss this exciting read that will keep you turning the pages until the end!
This is a story that some might pick up and not really give it a chance but just like Appetites and Vices you have to stay with the story. Beta heroes are not normally my go to reads but I have to say David is out of this world. The connection between David and Amalia is intense. Their story is interesting and the side characters do no detract but make the story even more interesting. These stories are different in a very good way. Love it!
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley.
A little different from any historical romance I’ve read before. I had no idea when I started the book the hero, heroine and their families are of the Jewish faith. Customs, clothing and Yiddish phases threw me off until what little knowledge I have started to kick into the flow of dialogue and descriptions. The heroine who has been divorced twice and works to help other women through a divorce, is under the protection of Pinkertons from death threats. Her former lover, David, is an agent and stays very close. He struggles with his feelings for Amalia, flashbacks to the battle of Gettysburg and the death of Amalia’s brother Simon. Amalia struggles with her feelings for David and supporting her cause. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.
I was so, so excited to see the next book in the Truitts series was FINALLY coming out!! I’m a huge fan of Ms. Grossman’s voice and style as an author. I couldn’t wait to get my grubby little hands on the next installment of this delightful series, and I can attest… I was not disappointed. Grossman knows how to weave a tale, and her characterization is so on-point it ain’t even funny. Plus, the realism of her historical elements and descriptions make the world she creates rich and bold. I can’t wait to see more from this up-and-coming author!!
This is book two of Ms. Grossman’s Truitt series. It’s a second chance romance also set in America like book one. I LOVE that it’s America set since so many historicals are UK or something.
I don’t read a lot of historical romances. They just aren’t my jam and that could be because they are usually European set and deal with Dukes, and Earls, and really I can’t get into all of that. The societal “norms” they try to set with the gender roles and all that, yeah I can do without. What I loved about the heroine in this book is she is different in that regard. Amalia is divorced! Not just once, but twice.
Something that is (in my limited knowledge) unheard of in a historical romance. LOVED IT! Not only that, she runs an organization devoted to helping other women get divorces without being left destitute. BRILLIANT!
But…like with any good heroine, she has her flaws. Some of them could put her in the “unlikeable” category, and that is okay. When a lot of emphasis is put on being “not like other girls” Amalia embraced being exactly that. So what if she loved dresses and makeup. So what if she put time and thought into her appearance. She was proud of who she was and what she did, no matter how much people tried to talk down to her and tell her it was silly.
The hero, David, well I admit he got on my nerves a little. LOL I have been known to be tough on the guys. What can I say, I like my dudes to be devoted to their ladies and not give them a hard time. He spent a lot of the time acting on things he believed without bothering to get confirmation. That colored a lot of his interactions and behaviors and made me want to pull my hair out a time or two.
One thing he was devoted to was doing his job. He took pride in his work and would not be deterred no matter how much his longing for Amalia tried to distract him. They were perfectly opposite and it was so fun to read how they fed off each other, good and bad.
There is danger and a mystery. That dreaded miscommunication issue that always irks me, and some steamy sexy scenes. Overall this was an excellent follow up to her first book.
This is my 2nd read from Ms. Grossman, and I’m looking forward to the 3rd in the Truitts series.
I liked the first one a lot so my expectations were high. Yet, I really enjoyed the romance between Amalia and David.
Amalia’s uppity ways grew on me when I realized the heartbreak and charity they hid. And his always-trying-so-hard sense of righteousness and duty were endearing in this beta hero.
Plus, I loved the developing friendship between Amalia and Meg.
It’s a second chance romance with intrigue and hope–two of my favorite things in a story. Plus, the HEA is right on point.
Dalliances & Devotion by Felicia Grossman is book Two in The Truitts Series. This is the story of David Zisskind and Amalia Truitt. I have read the previous book but felt this could be a standalone book if you wish to do so.
Amalia is a beauty columnist who is also a twice Divorcee who help other women seek divorces who can’t afford it. So she wants to return to Delaware to claim some of the Truitt family fortune which will help her fund her cause. But there have been death threats from a stalker and her family doesn’t want her to travel without protection. Enter David who works for Pinkerton and looking to be promoted after doing this job. But Amalia and David have a past of love and heartache due to them breaking up and the lost of her brother/his friend in the war. David struggles with the past horrors that still effect him today.
David and Amalia have a long way to travel physically and mentally to get to where they need to be along with the danger that is following them.
Enjoyed their story.
Dalliances & Devotion is yet another brilliant and engaging historical romance from Ms. Grossman.
I am a huge romance lover, but historical romance isn’t my go-to… unless the author is one as gifted as Ms. Grossman. She won me over with book one in her Truitt series Appetites & Vices so I was SUPER anxious to get my hands on this puppy and it did not disappoint.
Dalliances & Devotion stars the daughter of Urs and Jay from Appetites & Vices fame. I absolutely fell in love with Urs (kinda want to be her when I grow up) and her charming counterpart Jay. Amalia manages to embody (quite literally) some of Ursula’s traits such as her resilience and inner strength. She has been thrice divorced which is incredibly scandalous in this time period. She picks herself up after such painful moments and creates a career for herself as a beauty columnist teaching all women how to best care for their hair, skin, and nails. But in her personal life, she draws on her eternal optimism and perseveres in believing that one day her prince will come. Even if deep down she knows she’s already met him…
Enter darling David. We need LOTS of heart eye emojis just for saying the name because I literally happy sigh thinking of him. He is a caring and empathetic male lead which we, sadly, do not see enough of in romance be it contemporary or historical. I adore him and his begrudging ceaseless devotion to the girl he fell in love with so many years earlier.
Amalia finds herself in the crosshairs of a sadistic stalker (think Fatal Attraction boiled bunny kind of stalker, but replace the rabbit with a beheaded mouse) and David is charged with finding who it is with his Pinkerton counterparts. A series of incredibly unfortunate events befall our beloved characters and they find themselves knee deep in survival mode.
I refuse to spoiler ANY of this fabulous roller coaster that is Dalliances & Devotion, not simply because I hate spoilers as a reader, but because you need to experience it for yourself!
Five stars is not nearly enough to encompass Ms. Grossman sophomore release. I can’t wait to read more by this talented author and SINCERELY hope this isn’t the end of the colorful and intriguing Truitt tribe.
Even if you don’t typically enjoy a historical romance, I encourage you to dip your feet into bygone era love stories with one of Ms. Grossman’s works.