Friday, February 3, 2023

Review - - Love on the Line

Love on the Line
by Anabelle Bryant
Vauxhall Voices - Book 1
Publisher: Oliver Heber Books
Release Date: January 17, 2023
Reviewed by PJ



In the hedonistic world of Vauxhall Gardens, a place where London’s aristocracy pursues daring entertainment and sensual pleasures, desire overrules status, prejudice, and societal censure.

When Lola York meets Theodore Coventry, Earl of Essex, their chemistry is undeniable, but she knows better than to yearn for forbidden love. That is, until their involvement becomes unavoidable and Lola realizes the most dangerous risk of all is the one that threatens her heart.





PJ's Thoughts:

I enjoy a good cross-class romance and Anabelle Bryant's newest novel, Love on the Line, brings readers this particular trope in a fresh new setting. At least, fresh and new to me. I can't recall having read a pairing of a peer and a Vauxhall performer before. Both characters are intriguing, relatable, and multi-layered. Their story pulled me in and had me pulling for them the entire way. It is written in such a way that I had no trouble at all believing in their love and happily ever after, even with all the obstacles in their path.

There are two mystery/suspense threads that run through the book: the murder of Theodore's friend and the secret from Lola's past that hangs over her head. The murder brings Lola and Theodore together, with the hunt for the murderer progressing in parallel to their relationship, but it was Lola's secret that I found the more compelling storyline. I had no idea how Bryant would tie up those loose ends, allowing Lola to be reunited with her family and our couple to live happily together. As it turned out, justice was served in a most appropriate way. I do enjoy seeing a villain get what they justly deserve. 

I'm already invested in Lola's fellow performers in Vauxhall and looking forward to their journeys. It's fun to step outside the norm and explore new horizons, as Bryant is doing in this series. 


2 comments:

  1. Thanks for the review and introducing me to another new to me author. And I admire an author who can take a different perspective and make it entertaining. Thanks.

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  2. Thank you for the review and recommendation. This sounds like a nice, interesting variation of the Regency themes we usually get. Hopefully I will get a chance to read it.

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