Starred review from January 1, 2023
Ana Mar�a Luna Vald�s and her sisters have been sent by their parents to London for safekeeping from the French intervention in Mexico. As an heiress and the eldest daughter of a preeminent politician, Ana Mar�a has always been a perfectly obedient and well-behaved daughter. But now she begins enjoying new freedoms. She soon meets, and falls for, the dour Gideon Fox, a member of Parliament whose life's work is to put an end to the global slave trade. As the grandson of a formerly enslaved woman, he takes his political work very personally and seriously. Captivated by Ana Mar�a at first glance, he nonetheless combats his feelings, deeming he has no time for such distractions. But when Ana Mar�a is caught up in a kidnapping plot by supporters of the French invaders, the pair is drawn together, creating a bond between them despite the obstacles in their path. VERDICT This delectable Victorian Latinx romance from De la Rosa (author of the "Once Upon a Scandal" and "The Daltons" romances) will delight fans of sexy historical romances with strong social justice plots, such as Alyssa Cole's "The Loyal League" titles and Evie Dunmore's "A League of Extraordinary Women" series.--Migdalia Jimenez
Copyright 2023 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
January 30, 2023
De La Rosa (On a Midsummer Night) turns the world of Victorian London’s high society upside down with this impressive series launch. In 1863, seeking refuge from the French occupation of Mexico, heiresses Ana María Luna Valdés and her two younger sisters head to London as “goodwill ambassadors.” There, Ana María meets Gideon Fox, the son of a Scotsman and a biracial English woman, who has worked hard to gain a position in Parliament and hopes to use his political influence to end the international slave trade. The pair are bonded by mutual attraction and a shared understanding of what it is to be an outsider. When a member of the aristocracy threatens the Luna sisters’ safety, Gideon risks his political future to protect them—and love blossoms between him and Ana María. De La Rosa expands the typical purview of a historical romance to explore the impact of global politics without ever losing sight of the love story at the center of the chaos. Ana María’s struggle to balance her desire for independence with her thirst for familial approval makes her an especially well-rounded heroine. Readers will be eager for the next Luna sisters romance. Agent: Rebecca Strauss, DeFiore & Co.
Starred review from February 15, 2023
As the eldest daughter in her family, Ana Mar�a Luna Vald�s always does what is expected of her. So when the French invade and occupy Mexico, Ana Mar�a, following her father's directive, takes her sisters Gabby and Isobel and sets off for the safety of their uncle's home in London. Once in England, Ana Mar�a and her sisters quickly make a splash in society as the wealthy, mysterious, and exotic Luna sisters. However, now that she is away from her father's daily dictates, Ana Mar�a discovers that the ability to make decisions for herself, such as whether to encourage the flirtatious behavior of up-and-coming progressive British politician Gideon Fox, is exhilarating. With this dazzling series starter, De La Rosa cleverly refreshes and then rebrands Victorian-era historical romance by not only gifting readers with a beguiling Mexican heroine but also offering an intriguing view into the vibrant culture of that country. Pair this with a perfectly paced plot spiced with danger and plenty of smoldering sexual chemistry, and you have the brilliant beginning of the bewitching new Luna Sisters romances.
COPYRIGHT(2023) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Starred review from February 15, 2023
A politician's daughter finds love across the ocean. It's 1863, and the Luna sisters are on the run. Mexico is under attack by Napoleon III, and their prominent political family has sent them to England for safety. Though their father expects all three to be discreet while there, their uncle asks them instead to be visible and charming, hoping that enjoying the company of three "goodwill ambassadors" at ball after ball will inspire the queen's government, presently neutral, to take Mexico's side against the French. This soon brings oldest sister Ana Mar�a into contact with an unusual Member of Parliament: Mr. Gideon Fox. The grandson of a woman who'd been enslaved in South Carolina before escaping to England on a packet ship, Gideon is focused on outlawing all remaining loopholes that allow British subjects to profit from the trans-Atlantic slave trade. Though they are immediately drawn to each other, the obeisant Ana Mar�a is already promised to one of her father's political allies, so they try to maintain a professional distance. But as the season brings them together again and again, they finally give in to their attraction just before sudden danger necessitates what seems like a marriage of convenience (that both are secretly pleased to enter), though their well-planned futures may be overturned as a result. De la Rosa launches a thrillingly different series based on the historical fact that a number of Mexicans immigrated to England in the middle of the 19th century, centering two unusual perspectives on the overwhelmingly White world of Victorian London society. Because Ana Mar�a and Gideon have had to be more mature than most socialites, their emotional explorations are careful even when things get spicy. As a result, the story's conflict primarily derives from external events, but the couple's chemistry is undeniable--and makes for compelling reading. The other triumph of the story is the development of the sisterly love among the Luna women, who in the first chapter are at odds but by the last are very close to one another; readers will look forward to the next installments, focusing on Isabel and Gabriela. An enjoyable start to an exciting new series and a new direction for historical romance.
COPYRIGHT(2023) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.