The Romanceaholic

Expected Release Date: February 27, 2012 (Available Now!)
Publisher: Harlequin
Imprint: Carina Press
Author’s Website: http://www.cristamchugh.com/
My Source for This Book: Netgalley
Part of a Series: No
Series Best Read In Order: N/A
Steam Level: Warm

Official Blurb:

New York, 1866 

When her mistress receives an utterly unromantic letter from a potential suitor, servant Susanna Parkwell is asked to craft an appropriate response. Though hesitant to take part in the deception, Susanna agrees, never dreaming the scorned suitor will write back. 

Theodore Blakely abhors being pressured by his family to marry, but he’s intrigued by the witty refusal he receives from “Charlotte”. After exchanging more letters, Ted believes he’s found a soul mate in his thoughtful and understanding correspondent, and asks permission to formally court her. 

Though racked with guilt over her lies, Susanna can’t resist the opportunity to meet Ted in person. So she poses as Charlotte at a holiday ball, where she vows to tell him the truth. But when the clock strikes midnight, will Susanna have the courage to reveal her identity and risk losing the man she loves?

What Worked For Me:

• There is just something hopelessly romantic about falling in love via letters. Perhaps it’s because it takes physical appearance out of the equation, or maybe it’s just the thought of anticipation between missives, but whatever it is, it certainly helped add a certain sweetness to the story.
• I adored Susanna. Though it’s true she was technically hiding behind another woman’s name in writing her letters, her bluntness really endeared her to me. She never shied away from calling a spade a spade, and you could just feel when she started to feel more than animosity towards Teddy.
• While not an obnoxiously overt reference to Cinderella, there was still a fairy-tale quality to the story, with a rags-to-riches theme, as well as the feeling that true love conquers all.

What Didn’t Work For Me:

• I was a little disappointed that the only “action” we get is a kiss. A minor point, to be sure, but I tend to prefer steamy romance, so I felt it was worth mentioning.
• I really wish that there had been an epilogue. While I definitely felt that Susanna and Teddy were in love at the end of the story, but I was really left with the feeling that a solid epilogue could’ve made me believe in their Happily Ever After a little bit more.  As it was, I didnt’ have complete faith that things would work out between them, no matter how much I adored them as a couple.  This was the main thing that kept this story from receiving a perfect score.

This was a very sweet, incredibly romantic novella, and I absolutely adored it.  While not a sensual romance, the emotion that developed over the course of this love story more than made up for any lack of steam in my opinion.

I really enjoyed the sort of Cinderella story, with Susanna having gone from riches to rags, and then back to riches again, and her own tenacity in dealing with Teddy.

In the end, this was a delightfully romantic, easy read, with just enough conflict to keep things interesting.

A sweetly romantic 4.5/5 Stars.