Sometimes, the romance of a lifetime starts with one perfect night.It’s the year 1885 and the world has just begun giving up its ancient secrets. Miss Charlotte Blakely is a librarian in Rome. She’s researching evidence of the fabled Veil of Veronica, but her time abroad is drawing to a close. Her viscount father is dying and has called his children home, yet a chance encounter with a stranger … with a stranger one balmy night might change her direction.
Mr. Everett Desmond is the English ambassador to Rome. He’s dashing and would have been daring had he gone down a different path, but being jilted at the altar sent him far from England and sordid memories. Now, life has grown staid and boring. When he literally crashes into a pretty lady on the street, he’s intrigued enough to further an acquaintance.
Desire flares after a couple of moonlit strolls, and a kiss at the Trevi fountain irrevocably changes both of their lives. Budding romance blooms beneath the heat and they find themselves enchanted enough to land into potential scandal. Is it a love to last a lifetime or is it merely a moonlight indiscretion? Only they can decide what they truly want for the future.
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Unconventional Heroine Seeking Adventure
I have read a few books by Sandra Sookoo, and I am becoming quite a fan! This book is a prequel for a new series and leads right into the next book. The couple featured in the prequel is the one of the next book; this prequel shows their meet-cute, a developing friendship, and burgeoning passionate romance.
I loved this Victorian heroine. I could tell from the blurb that she would be unconventional, as a scholar and treasure seeker trying to find a religious artifact that her late grandfather pursued. But she is not your normal bluestocking as presented in Regency and Victorian novels at all. She chafes against the restrictions that society and family would put on her. She’s an older heroine in her early thirties, which I always love to see in a historical romance, and she’s decided to continue her scholarly and somewhat lonely life unless she can find a fellow adventurer to live her life with. Does she find that in English ambassador to Rome, the hero of our little tale? Perhaps, as this story does end with a happy-for-now vibe. The author describes the characters so well that they felt real, with backstories that were believable. The turns of each main character’s mind showed their maturity compared to typical heroes and heroines in historical romances. The story is imbued with passion and romance that is only enhanced by the Roman setting. I particularly loved the scene at the Trevi Fountain. If you enjoy steamy historical romance that’s a little bit different, you may very well enjoy this book.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
ENCHANTED BY MOONLIGHT is the first book in the Fortune and Glory series. This could be read as a stand-alone romance and has a satisfying conclusion, but Everett and Charlotte’s adventures do continue in the next book in the series.
This is the first book I have read from Sandra Sookoo and I devoured it!
I loved Everett and Charlotte from the moment I met each of them individually, to their meet-cute, and on to the last page. Their story is smoking hot!! Beside the word passion in the dictionary should be a universal buy-link so that anyone wanting to understand the word could just read this book. And that scene at the Trevi fountain that is mentioned in the blurb? It is fun, sweet, and oh-so-romantic. Every couple hopes to have that type of epic date in their courtship.
Note: While I received this book as a gifted ARC via Booksprout, my opinions are my own and are given freely.
Title: ENCHANTED BY MOONLIGHT
Series: Fortune and Glory #0.5
Category /Genre: Historical Romance
Recommended for: 18+ due to sexual content
Grammar/editing: received as an unedited ARC / errors excused
Received from: Sandra Sookoo
This is a charming novella and is a prequel to a great new series. I was enchanted with the story right from the start. This story definitely whets your appetite for what’s to come. Ms. Sookoo has such a talent for including descriptions that are so vivid, you feel as if you are right there watching everything for yourself. Everett & Charlotte are both great characters and I am really looking forward to more of their story in the first book of this great new series!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I was as enchanted by this novella today as I was when I read it for the first time when it appeared in an anthology with a number of other outstanding authors. Unfortunately, I no longer have that particular book, so when I saw it being offered as an individual title I simply had to get it. This story was my introduction to the work of Sandra Sookoo and I have been an ardent fan of hers ever since. I loved how Charlotte did not let the restrictive expectations of the time period in which she lived keep her from deciding her path in life and how she was not a simpering miss waiting on the sidelines for a man to come and take control of her life. She meets Everett who has been the English ambassador to Rome for a number of years now after he took the position to get away from the gossip that ensued after he had been left at the altar. In fact, he has been in Rome long enough to have become rather bored and discontent with his life and is considering returning to England when he encounters Charlotte, a librarian at one of the oldest and also one of the least known libraries in Rome. That initial meeting must have been designed by fate because a chance encounter a short while later, sets the stage for a friendship to develop amidst moonlight walks that then leads to deepening emotions on both sides. This book ends on something of an implied HFN cliffhanger that is the perfect lead-in to the book Ladies Prefer Adventure. There is no way this story will be removed from my library now that I have managed to acquire it again!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is the story of Charlotte and Everett. In Rome, these two literally bump into each other. She’s preparing to return home to England as her father is ill. Everett is the English ambassador to Rome. Will they continue with this new found romance? I enjoyed this lovely romance. I received an arc of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Charlotte and Everett will leave you needing a fan from the moment they meet. There is heat between them from the second they lock eyes and it just intensifies with every moment they are together. I loved the back and forth between them and how neither ones played coy when it came to what they wanted. A week just wasn’t going to be enough for them and they soon realized fate brought their adventurous hearts together.
Charlotte is a rare woman for her time with how she does things. She doesn’t care for society or its rules and does as she pleases with discretion of course. I loved her from the start with how she doesn’t play games and lets it be known what she is interested in.
Everett longs for adventure and he didn’t know it would find him and turn his world upside down. He is also a rare man for his time because nothing about Charlotte shocks him and he knows what his heart wants. I loved him from the start but his grand gesture at the end will make your heart flutter.
I must applaud Sandra because she accurately included not one, but two forms of birth control for the time. I can’t wait for more of Charlotte and Everett because they are sure to be the next Emmaline and Miles from her Thieves of the Ton series.
4.5
Two English citizens in Rome.
Charlotte is adventurous and is in Rone researching the Veil of Veronica. I liked that she indulged her needs there. Yay. All in.
Everett Desmond is the ambassador to Rome who was jolted at the altar three years ago.
They both have a bit of adventure in them and things get spicy.
But England is calling.
Book 0.5 of the Fortune and Glory series the prequel to Ladies Prefer Adventure. A well written short story that I was not putting down until I had finished reading. I enjoyed seeing how librarian Charlotte Blakely and the English ambassador to Rome Mr. Everett Desmond who plays a violin get together. The year is 1885 and they only have short time to be together. I want to read the next book. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Charlotte is a librarian working in Rome using her spare time trying to uncover a mystery when she runs into Everett. They have a strong attraction that can not be denied. Everett has avoided any relationships since he was left at the alter but when he runs into Charlotte he reconsiders. This is a prequel to the next book about the mystery that Charlotte is investigation and Everett is just a added hot bonus.
This is a beautiful love story that touches the heart. Miss Charlotte Blakely is a librarian who is doing research in Rome to discover information on the fabled Veil of Veronica. But her father is dying and asked his children to return home.
Mr. Everett Desmond is the English ambassador to Rome who, when jilted at the altar, left England to put that past behind him. He, like Charlotte, is out for a walk on a lovely night when he bumps into her on the street. An unlikely way to meet, yet both are intrigued. Is this the start of a beautiful relationship and love? Or will he choose to walk away and not risk the pain he knows love can bring.
This is an enjoyable story. The story line was strong and well-paced throughout. The characters were presented well, realistic and likable. Grab your copy and fall in love.
Loved the book, the story was well written and the characters were intriguing. Once I started I could not get enough, from the start till the end I was engrossed I was even on the edge of my seat with twists and turns, lust and raw passion, strength, happiness with a happily ever after. Erotic with a major turn on. Do yourself a favor and buy the book you want be disappointed.
Thank you for allowing me to review your book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
ONE FANTABULOUS EXPERIENCE!!!
Amazing! Sandra presents one delectable delight, exhibiting every sentiment and nuance, displaying such a beautifully composed approach, spinning one arresting storyline and gripping plot, wielding this baby together sleek, shiny and tight. A tumultuous whirlwind of vexing circumstances and unsettling happenstance, thrusts those swirling emotions into play hooking you from the start. Twixt, twined and combined, displaying the explosive ups and agonizing downs, grounding in it’s strength and awe inspiring in it’s depth. Cognizant of the instant awareness and charged atmosphere, along with a bevy of compelling twists and wicked turns, tempting our characters in ways they could have never envisioned. The attraction and chemistry flows from the pages, alluring and mesmerizing, binding them to one another perfectly. The characters are complex and authentic with depth and traits that blend and flow smoothly, transforming into genuinely charismatic personalities. The scenes are strikingly sharp with abundant details and descriptions creating a colorful backdrop that makes the storyline pop. Amazing job Sandra, thanks for sharing this little treasure with us.
Will their adventure continue?
What a lovely romantic tale set in all places as Rome the city of love. The author did a splendid job giving us a view of 1885 Rome. The characters Charlotte and Everett were great, yet will their attraction only be for the short time Charlotte has left in Rome? I loved the ending you could almost hear the violin on the moonlight night. High marks for this charmer! I did receive a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.
Sometimes, the romance of a lifetime starts with one perfect night.
It’s the year 1885 and the world has just begun giving up its ancient secrets. Miss Charlotte Blakely is a librarian in Rome. She’s researching evidence of the fabled Veil of Veronica, but her time abroad is drawing to a close. Her viscount father is dying and has called his children home. Mr. Everett Desmond is the English ambassador to Rome. He’s dashing and would have been daring had he gone down a different path, but being jilted at the altar sent him far from England and sordid memories. Now, life has grown staid and boring. When he literally crashes into a pretty lady on the street, he’s intrigued enough to further an acquaintance. Desire flares after a couple of moonlit strolls, and a kiss at the Trevi fountain irrevocably changes both of their lives.
This was a lovely novella & would have stood on its own but as a prequel to a new series it certainly whets my appetite to read more. I loved that both Everett & Charlotte are in their thirties, both are intelligent but both fall hard & fast for each other. I absolutely loved the scene at the Trevi fountain – certainly not what you’d expect from an ambassador & a librarian but it was priceless. Strong characters & a very well paced story had me captivated from cover to cover, roll on book one
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
Now I want to go to Rome!!! This is such a sweet and romantic story that takes place in Rome, known for being one of the world’s most romantic cities. Sandra Sookoo does such a wonderful job introducing us to Charlotte and Everett in this prequel to the Fortune and Glory series.
A chance meeting on the street, instant attraction, romantic walks and dinners, even a delightful scene at the Trevi Fountain….oh yes, this story has it all. With Everett being the English Ambassador to Rome and Charlotte being a librarian who’s also researching evidence of the fabled Veil of Veronica which her grandfather believed was real, their lives don’t seem to be going the same way. With only a few days to be together before Charlotte needs to return to England to see her dying father, decisions have to be made and feelings have to be acted upon.
I received an ARC of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Charlotte, the daughter of an English viscount, is intelligent, independent and focused on her quest to locate an ancient relic, the Veil of Veronica, as a tribute to her grandfather. Her family would rather see her suitably married and engaged in more conventional pastimes, but Charlotte has spent the last three years in Rome working as a librarian and poring over old texts in search of clues that will lead her to the relic. One evening she runs into (literally) the English ambassador to Italy. Everett delights in her untamed spirit and unorthodox views. Jilted at the altar, he has steered clear of romantic entanglements, but Charlotte has him questioning his self-imposed boundaries and considering a new world of possibilities with this intriguing beauty. The book serves as a prequel that introduces us to Charlotte and Everett, their budding relationship and the search for the Veil that will propel them forward.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.