Review Tour & Giveaway for Audra by Amanda L.V. Shalaby

Welcome to my stop on Amanda L.V. Shalaby's Virtual Review Tour for Audra.  Please leave a comment or question for Amanda below to let her know you stopped by.  Amanda will be awarding an ebook copy of her previous book, Rhianna, to one randomly drawn commenter during her tour.  You can follow her tour stops here, the more often you comment, the better your odds of winning.  

Audra 
by Amanda L.V. Shalaby
Crimson Historical

Publisher: Crimson Romance
Release Date: April 29, 2013

Genre: Sensual Historical Romance

Buy Links: Amazon │B&N │ ARe 

Book Description:

Audra Kingsley, a wealthy heiress, may not have seen much of the world, but she knows exactly how she wants her future to play out - and a coming out ball held at her country estate, Kingsley Manor, would suit her just fine. Her father’s wish that she be presented at St. James in London seems silly since she is to marry her neighbor and childhood sweetheart, Lord Crispin Brighton, but she obliges him.

Audra travels to London with her patroness, the eccentric Lady Sutherland, intending to return home as soon as she has curtsied to the Queen. Unknown to her, Lady Sutherland is in no rush to leave London before the Season is over and intends to show Audra she has more options in the suitor department than Lord Crispin, a second son.

Audra finds herself surrounded by few friends and is forced to attend parties, balls, and operas - all while becoming the object of a secret admirer’s obsession. As Audra struggles to make her way home to her beloved, plans to compromise her into an unwanted marriage are underway.

Excerpt:

Audra shut the door to her bedroom with the intention of making her way to the ivory-and-gold secretary to write a letter to Lady Brighton of the day’s events. As she walked and began to remove her gloves, a letter addressed to “Lady Audra Kingsley” fluttered to the oriental rug, stopping her in her tracks. She had forgotten all about its appearance at St. James, and how she had hidden it. She hardly knew why she hid it, except that its mysterious nature seemed to require that she do so.

Audra lifted her skirts to kneel beside it and held it over her lap. She wasted no time in opening it now, and read the following words:

Dear Lady Audra,

It was an unfathomable privilege to rest my eyes upon you when you arrived in St. James Square today. You are a heavenly creature, and you cannot imagine my happiness in discovering you may be at Almack’s, as will I. I look forward to the time when I am blessed with the indulgence of seeing you again. Until then —

I am & co,

Your Secret Admirer 

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Amanda L. V. Shalaby's passion for all things Jane Austen was inspired by her mother and grandmother. She now writes her own English historical romances, and is the author of Rhianna and Audra.

Links:

Blog: http://amandalvshalaby.wordpress.com/

Facebook: www.Facebook.com/amandalvshalaby

Twitter: www.Twitter.com/amandashalaby

Pinterest: www.Pinterest.com/Amandalvshalaby

My Review

A sweet historical romance, Audra by Amanda L.V. Shalaby captured my attention from the first page and never let go.  Likable characters, good dialogue, and a rapidly paced plot kept me turning the pages to discover what was going to happen next.  Adding a mysterious “secret admirer”, with a nefarious plan, Ms. Shalaby gives her story added depth with the twists and turns which take place inside the story.

An independent sixteen year old young woman, Lady Audra Kingsley wants to have her “coming out” party at home in Kingsley Hall.  She then plans to marry her best friend and neighbor, Lord Crispin Brighton, and get started on a family of their own.  When her father insists that she spend the “Season” in London, like they had planned when she was twelve, Audra reluctantly agrees.  Assuring Crispin she’ll be back before he realizes she’s been gone, Audra wasn’t planning on complications being a young rich debutante would bring.

Ms. Shalaby does a really good job developing Audra’s character from the very first page; smart, beautiful and determined, Audra is no simpering maid who blindly takes orders from anyone.  A liberated thinker, Audra makes plans, prepares to follow them through and has a really great attitude to boot.  She really grew on me throughout the whole book.

When a “mysterious secret admirer” begins sending her letters, Audra finds them somewhat intriguing but still has plans to come home and marry Crispin.  Making a few “friends” and coming to agreeable terms with her chaperon in London, Audra believes she’ll be going home shortly after her “debut”.  Only nothing is quite as it seems and soon Audra finds her future with Crispin in danger.

Will Audra have the strength of character to fight for the future she wants when a friend, who is much less than they seem, hatches a plan to ruin her and change what she wants?  Will Crispin be able to rescue her before it’s too late?  You’ll have to read Audra to find out.  I enjoyed it and I think you will too. I look forward to reading more of Ms. Shalaby’s books. 

My Rating:4.5 out of 5 Crowns

FTC Disclosure:  I was provided a complimentary copy of this book as a part of a book tour in exchange for a fair and honest review.  I received no additional compensation for my opinion of the reading material provided.

Don't forget to leave a comment or question for Amanda below to let her know you stopped by.  Amanda will be awarding an ebook copy of her previous book, Rhianna, to one randomly drawn commenter during her tour.  You can follow her tour stops here, the more often you comment, the better your odds of winning.