Beauty Like The Night

- Liz Carlyle -

So reading this historical back to back with "Every Night I'm Yours" definitely reinforces how much better the genre works for me when there is a more balanced relationship between the protagonists.

Helene is a woman of dubious background who understood that her only hope in life was to be well educated and make something of herself that way, rather than being utterly dependent on men as her mother was.

Camden is the oldest child of a dissolute man and as such has had to bear the brunt of the responsibility for his siblings and their estate for most of his life.

The two, who have an intense history together, whilst not equals in social standing perhaps, have both had significant obstacles to overcome and work through and consequently some understanding and respect for what the other has accomplished.

This forms a basis for their relationship that, when coupled with their past history, makes the relationship feel very believable even as the inevitable obstacles and misunderstandings come up between them.

The family relationships where a nice addition here as well - they way Camden and Helene interacted with his brother, sister and daughter all gave clear insight into their characters and they dynamics of the home, and the background mystery that came to light through the story regarding why Cam's daughter would not speak, highlighted the family bonds and was very believable rather than seeming contrived.

Enjoyed this much more than the previous Liz Carlyle I had read too (One Little Sin).