The Affair by Lily Maxton

The Basics:

The Affiar by Lily Maxton
Entangled: Scandalous
A Sisters of Scandal Novella
Historical Romance
Published April 14, 2014
Source: Received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Amazon.ca 

Why I picked up this book:

Bookseller romance? Yes.

Blurb:

She was his for one week only…

When a beautiful stranger ducks into his bookshop during a rainstorm, Cale Cameron, well-known rake, is instantly attracted to her. Elizabeth, Lady Thornhill, is restless and hungers for something she cannot name. Society would never accept a countess and a mere bookseller, so they agree to a one week affair to indulge their desire.

As their passion ignites and their connection grows, Elizabeth threatens the one thing Cale has protected above all else—his heart. Letting her go is the only solution…and the one thing he is not prepared to do.

My thoughts:

This novella is about 70 pages long and it's too short. I wanted more of Elizabeth and Cale. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this short tale of romance between a widow and a bookseller with a scandalous reputation. Elizabeth is fresh out of mourning for a husband who didn't appreciate her. Cale's a man who knows how to appreciate a woman, and he's set his sights on our heroine. 

Because of the novella format, there isn't enough time to develop anything beyond the central romance. The romance started abruptly - I almost wished these two had a prior connection, perhaps she had visited the lending library/bookstore while married or had a pattern of running into each other before their fortuitous encounter one rainy day.

Regardless, there's a spark between Cale and Elizabeth that made their romance believable. 

There's the cast of required secondary characters - scheming mother, two younger sisters (who I imagine might star in their own stories, particularly the 'betting' sister as she made the stronger impression), and a respectable suitor.

Bottom line:

It's a brief, enjoyable romance. Just the thing to fill an hour in a fun way!

4.5 stars
For fans of historical romance, books in books.