Innocence

by Elise De Sallier

[Lindsey Gray]

As the only child of Sir George, Anneliese “Lisa” Barlow would be penniless upon her father’s death. At just nineteen, Lisa believes there is plenty of time to find a husband. When her father’s heir, Lord Copeland, becomes desperate for his inheritance, he shoots Sir George and demands Lisa become his wife. Lisa would never doom her future with a husband the likes of Copeland, so she flees to an estate of a family friend, Lord Thomas Stanton, Duke of Worthington. The Duke has left on a honeymoon with his second wife when she arrives and Lisa is forced to work as a maid in disguise. When the Duke’s eldest son, Nathaniel, takes a liking to Lisa, things get a tad scandalous.

This novel seems more like that of a seasoned historical romance novelist than a debut. The knowledge of the time period and customs is breathtakingly accurate. Ms. de Sallier’s portrayal of Lisa and her struggle to understand the world that was taking shape around her was brilliant and a thrill to experience. All the differences between Nathaniel and Lisa are quite evident from the start, but Ms. de Sallier’s depiction of their attraction and intimacy make them perfect for each other.

I devoured the 313-page copy I received in one day. I don’t even recall the last time enjoyed reading a book of that length and read so incredibly fast. I highly recommend this book to any historical romance lover. If you enjoy the novels of Rose Gordon or Christine Merrill, Innocence should be the next book on your to be read list.

Thank you to Elise de Sallier, The Writer's Coffee Shop Publishing House, and The Masquerade Crew for an advanced reader's copy of Innocence in exchanged for an honest review.