love-the-morning-star

Love by the Morning Star 

SYNOPSIS:
On the brink of World War II, two girls are sent to the grand English country estate of Starkers. Hannah, the half-Jewish daughter of a disgraced distant relative, has been living an artistic bohemian life in a cabaret in pre-war Germany and now is supposed to be welcomed into the family. Anna, the social-climbing daughter of working-class British fascists, is supposed to be hired as a maid so that she can spy for the Nazis. But there’s a mix-up, and nice Hannah is sent to the kitchen as a maid while arrogant Anna is welcomed as a relative.

And then both girls fall for the same man, the handsome heir of the estate . . . or do they? 

WHY SHOULD YOU CHECK IT OUT

This one promises romance, intrigue, and espionage all in a historical setting. It will be interesting to see how girls’ mistaken identity plays out: if Hannah and Anna are complicit with each other’s plans, if one is struggling to make her true self known, and so forth. As usual, anything with Nazi villains is always going to catch our eye!

The cover has an old tyme feel with its drawn figures and straight-forward color choices. It has a much more romance appeal than that of intrigue. The flavor we’re getting is of a WWII era Jane Austen novel.

Author Sullivan is most famously known for her other historical YA romances: the King Charles II era “Ladies in Waiting” and fellow WWII tales of stage magician sisters “Delusion”. Check them out!

EARLY REVIEWS SAY…

Evoking the spirits of P.G. Wodehouse, Preston Sturges and Shakespeare himself, Sullivan delights in leading readers through a jaunty muddle of romantic misfortunes. … This lighthearted comedy set against a backdrop of gathering doom may be gutsy; it’s definitely odd. (Kirkus Review)

Farcical and decidedly risqué misunderstandings ensue… [with]… gentle humor and good-natured optimism offset these minor drawbacks. (Publishers Weekly)

NECESSARY DETAILS
YA Historical Romance
Hardcover & ebook, 320 pages
Published on June 3rd 2014 by HMH Books for Young Readers (ISBN 0547689519)
http://www.hmhco.com/shop/books/Love-by-the-Morning-Star/9780547689517