Review–Cinders and Sapphires (At Somerton #1) by Leila Rasheed

 

Cinders & Sapphires (At Somerton #1)

 

by Leila Rasheed
 

Summary: One house, two worlds...
Rose Cliffe has never met a young lady like her new mistress. Clever, rich, and beautiful, Ada Averley treats Rose as an equal. And Rose could use a friend. Especially now that she, at barely sixteen, has risen to the position of ladies’ maid. Rose knows she should be grateful to have a place at a house like Somerton. Still, she can’t help but wonder what her life might have been had she been born a lady, like Ada.
For the first time in a decade, the Averleys have returned to Somerton, their majestic ancestral estate. But terrible scandal has followed Ada’s beloved father all the way from India. Now Ada finds herself torn between her own happiness and her family’s honor. Only she has the power to restore the Averley name—but it would mean giving up her one true love . . . someone she could never persuade her father to accept.
Sumptuous and enticing, the first novel in the At Somerton series introduces two worlds, utterly different yet entangled, where ruthless ambition, forbidden attraction, and unspoken dreams are hidden behind dutiful smiles and glittering jewels. All those secrets are waiting . . . at Somerton.

Source: I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Review:



Cinders and Sapphires is not my typical genre, but I was drawn to it for some reason. This time my curiosity worked out in my favor, because I ended up loving the story. I was immediately caught up in all of the drama in each character’s life and couldn’t wait to find out what would happen next.

I loved the way it was written. I felt as if I was immersed in the setting without being bored, which is what typically happens to me when I read books of a similar nature. I also connected with the characters immediately, especially Ada. Other reviews hit the nail in the head by saying Cinders and Sapphires is Downton Abbey meets Gossip Girl. I definitely agree with that comparison, at least from what I’ve heard of Downton Abbey. Lovers of this time period will enjoy the book a lot.

The story was interesting, scandalous, and fun. Despite the fact that I typically avoid fiction set in this time period, I enjoyed the book quite a bit and found myself completely caught up in the events and scandals. I am so caught up in the events that I’m eagerly awaiting the sequel. I shouldn’t have loved this book since it really doesn’t fit my usual tastes, but I’m hooked. I recommend this book to others. If this type of fiction isn’t normally your things, I assure you it’s deliciously entertaining.

Cinders & Sapphires will be available January 22, 2013 and is available for preorder at various booksellers, including Amazon.