The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue meets Jane Austen in this witty, winking historical romance with a dash of mystery!Lady Victoria Aston has everything she could want: an older sister happily wed, the future of her family estate secure, and ample opportunity to while her time away in the fields around her home. But now Vicky must marry—or find herself and her family destitute. Armed only … Vicky must marry—or find herself and her family destitute. Armed only with the wisdom she has gained from her beloved novels by Jane Austen, she enters society’s treacherous season.
Sadly, Miss Austen has little to say about Vicky’s exact circumstances: whether the roguish Mr. Carmichael is indeed a scoundrel, if her former best friend, Tom Sherborne, is out for her dowry or for her heart, or even how to fend off the attentions of the foppish Mr. Silby, he of the unfortunate fashion sensibility.
Most unfortunately of all, Vicky’s books are silent on the topic of the mysterious accidents cropping up around her…ones that could prevent her from surviving until her wedding day.
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3.25/5
Set in 1817 England, this follows Lady Victoria Aston, a fan of Austen novels, as she strives to quickly find an eligible bachelor (hopefully one she likes) to wed and save her family’s estate from her dastardly brother-in-law who has abused her sister and refused to end the marriage. Enter Tom Sherborne, her former neighbor and childhood friend who deserted her at 14 for unknown reasons. Vicky starts out comparing/contrasting everything that happens in her life to an Austen plot. She realizes her life is a bit more complicated than fiction.
While this was OK, I didn’t get enough depth on the characters, and the plot line was all too familiar. Not bad, it’s just that I’ve read better.
Calling all Jane Austen fans! You must get your hands on Dangerous Alliance immediately! This Regency-era historical romance is the perfect novel to sink into as you relax with a delicious baked good and a mug of tea. Lady Victoria Aston is on a time crunch to find a husband in order to secure her family’s estate. In addition to the romantic twists and turns, there is also a murder mystery woven into the plot that kept me riveted. The writing style is warm and witty, and I loved the way Vicky’s character develops through the course of the book. And as a writer myself, I was so impressed by the extensive research Cohen must have done—the world is so vividly portrayed with details and descriptions. I can’t wait for her next book!
I love Book Box Club. I love how they bring me books that I never would have picked up myself. I love how they drag me out of my comfort zone and make me read stuff I never would have read if it had been up to me. Most of the times it’s a good experience. But there are times the Book Box Club book and I just don’t click at all. I’m afraid this is such a time.
Of course, the book was already destined to fail from the start: It was a historical drama, a genre that I rarely read and even less often appreciate. It’s inspired by Austen and I never ever read an Austen in my life (even though my high school book list claims I did). And it doesn’t contain any fantasy elements to keep me interested. Yet, sometimes books can change their faith. This was clearly not such a book.
It already starts with the drama aspect of the book. A lot of drama could have been prevented if the characters had actually communicated in a calm and respectful way. I probably expect something that doesn’t fit the time period, but I just can’t stand drama for the sake of drama. So many things in this book could have prevented if the characters had been thinking with their heads instead of whatever part of their bodies they were thinking with. Even more could have been prevented if characters had respected each other and had listened to each other. That’s just basic decency.
Plot wise there are also a lot of things happening that should make sense, at least the author wants us to believe though, but actually don’t. The motivation of the bad guys of this story was cliche and cheap. The actions of the so called good guys were hypocritical and simply acting as plot devices too. The best way to ensure that your other daughter doesn’t end up in a marriage with a brute so the land and the house end up in good hands is of course to force her to find a husband very quickly. Not…
And then don’t get me started on all the male characters in this book. I expect this from a book written a hundred years ago, but I may hope that modern women have different expectations of their guys. All those guys were literal assholes. They all lacked respect, they were all aggressive and violent and they all had one or more other issues. It’s not charming. It’s not sexy. It’s not hot. And they’re also not misunderstood. They’re just assholes. It’s behavior that should have stayed in the past. Thank you very much.
So, I’m glad it’s over. I normally am not this harsh about books, but this book literally had not one redeeming quality. I might have ended up not finishing if not for the other girls and the clubhouse meeting on Tuesday. It’s gonna be fun for sure. (I’ll behave. Because I don’t have anger issues and am not an asshole.)
I enjoyed the characters, but the plot was slower to draw me in. I liked the twists and surprises at the ending the most!
A fresh, enchanting addition to the historical fiction genre! The perfect read for fans of Jane Austen and Downton Abbey!
Bathed in Cohen’s richly textured language, Dangerous Alliance boldly shines a light on issues women struggled with historically: abuse, obstruction, and dominance. A timeless story.
Charming and fun. Replete with intrigue, grand parties, and romantic entanglements, fans of Jane Austen will positively devour this book.
Romance fans and Jane Austen devotees will devour this delicious Regency romp.