Argh, I loved the first book so much, but this second has just been languishing on my TBR! I am a slow reader. I’m sure it’s wonderful. I will do better with the next book.

*~~*ARC kindly provided from the publisher/author to me for an honest review *~~*

Full review to come

5 stars

I’ve enjoyed this series so much, and the sequel is even better than the first book!

DALLIANCES & DEVOTION center around Amalia, a two time divorcee and beauty columnist, and her old flame David, who fought in the Civil War and is now a Pinkerton (part of the police force). She’s vivacious and seemingly superficial and full of wit. He’s down to earth and serious, stubborn in his will and perspective. They both have the most amazing chemistry and lovable interactions. Although the story centers around him protecting her as a bodyguard against a stalker, much of the book centers around the tension and (what they think is a) forbidden aspect of their relationship. But both hearts are so drawn to each other, they soon recognize that love is worth any sacrifice.

Grossman does a great job in grabbing readers into the setting of her books. She fleshes out the anti-Semitic background of US history through carefully written interactions and discourse, which I really enjoyed. Hurrah for Jewish rep in historical romance! I think the premises of her books are really unique as well, and the opportunities presented in the US are a perfect backdrop to the stubborn and willful characters she features.

I loved Amalia so much, she's fierce and knows what she wants, and I stan a great heroine like that. I think Felicia Grossman is a wonderful historical author and knows how to set a great atmosphere and setting.

I really enjoyed a great many things about this book. Characters were fleshed out and the plot was well spaced. Some of the secondary storylines could've used a bit more page space but all in all an enjoyable read!

Dukes and devious maids and sneaky folks gone awry! What a fun book, I felt as if I wads transported back in time and living this tale along with the characters!

I had to push through to finish this book. Felicia Grossman creates an interesting world but her characters just don't hold up. I found the two main characters to be childish, immature and manipulative. I didn't care for either one. I also found it very questionable of a woman in the 1800's getting divorced not once but twice, and moving on to her third husband. Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this ARC.

Admittedly Twitter is a hellscape, but it can’t be all bad, can it? when it led me to this book. Dalliances and Devotion is the second in a series, though it can be read as a standalone (which is what I did). It’s the story of Jewish heiress Amalia Truitt and her former flame, Pinkerton Daniel Zisskind, who are thrown together on a train trip across America after Amalia receives a string of death threats. She’s determined to make it home and gain access to her fortune so that she can go on funding her charity, which helps women get divorces when they can’t afford them. (Amalia is twice divorced.)

Though “road trip” was the pitch that got me to read this book, I dare to say that I would have loved it just the same if it hadn’t been a road trip at all. It was lovely to see a romance between two Jewish protagonists, and even lovelier that their beliefs and religious practices were central to the story (Amalia’s going to Delaware for her nephew’s bris, among other things!). Since the story takes place in the aftermath of the Civil War, there were also many timely discussions of what it means to be American and Jewish, what the best of America is and how to pursue that ideal of a nation. It added emotional resonance to a book that already gave such heft to the interior lives of its central characters, inside and outside of the central pairing.

I also want to give special mention to the sex scenes. Like many romance novelists working today, Grossman is careful and deliberate about consent, which rules, but she also manages to strike a (to me) perfect balance of consent, sexiness, and joy. Amalia and David are having FUN with each other, which made their eventual HEA all the more satisfying. I loved this book to pieces and can’t wait to read more by this author.

Unfortunately, this book just wasn't for me. I enjoyed the author's first book in the series but found the writing style not to be my tastes first time around. I should have stuck with my instincts because this book didn't work for me. I didn't gel with the characters and I just couldn't handle the plot.

I did like the idea of a second chance romance and the romance between the two characters was definitely believable but unfortunately, the style of writing did mean that I couldn't get into the story.

I definitely recommend the author, I know bloggers who have loved her writing it just sadly didn't work for me.

*2.5 stars*

This makes me utterly, utterly sad, but I did not love Dalliances & Devotion.

As a Jewish reader, I'm always on the lookout for books with Jewish protagonists, and bonus points if they aren't horribly depressing. A nice romance book with Jewish MCs, and bonus, a historical romance (my favorite), and I'm all in. I was so, so thrilled to see this book and this series, and I couldn't wait to try it. But, alas, it wasn't all that I was expecting.

I liked the Jewish aspects of the story most of all. I liked the signs of the characters' religious observances, like the male MC's tzitzit and kippah, and the little ways that their Judaism affected their life.

However, I struggled with the characters themselves. Both seemed a bit fickle and immature, both toying with one another and going back and forth with their emotions. I had a hard time getting behind them, both individually and as a couple.

But an even bigger issue was the pacing. It took me absolutely ages to finish the story, and I found it to be very slow and hard to get through. After two weeks of forcing myself to read, I had to skim a bit in order to finish.

Maybe it's the fact that I don't really read any American romance, or maybe it's that this was my first experience with this author, but the book didn't quite measure up. Too bad, since the world needs more Jewish romance.

I got about halfway through the first book by this author before giving up because it never really clicked. Then I decided to give this a try and I'm glad I did, as I really liked it. I think it's the first historical romance I've ever read where both the hero and heroine were Jewish! (That was one of the things I did not like about the first one -- it was billed as a great Jewish HR and then the hero is...not Jewish.) It was refreshing to see, however, that the couple from Appetites & Vices raised their children with strong Jewish identities, and that the author is clearly Jewish and there were no obvious errors about observance or other Jewy things. The other thing I really liked about this was that it had side characters (some minor, but still) that were diverse racially and by sexual orientation in a way that felt very real, and that one of those characters (the black one) gives the hero shit about his motivations for fighting (for the Union) in the Civil War.

If you're looking for an "unusual" (#ownvoices) historical romance, this one is great!

I received an e-arc from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Reviewed on Instagram August 15 2019 and on Goodreads 17 August 2019

REVIEW:

Ya girl is a beauty columnist, getting harassed because she’s Jewish and it’s 1871 in America. The fella charged with protecting her is her hottie ex. I received this arc in exchange for an honest review. #gifted
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Did you know makeup columnist in the 1870’s was an actual vocation!? NEITHER. This is great news, I always thought if I were alive pre 1900 I would have to marry one of those super nasty dudes that are always in portraits in art galleries and then probably poison that shitbag two years in, and consequently swing in the town square. (This is just one of the unpleasant scenarios I’ve run, but they all end this badly 🤷‍♀️). If I could have had a job like makeup columnist and support myself, I could maybe avoid all that! But I digress.
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The premise of this story is very engaging. Not just the makeup (💖) but also Amalia is a 2x divorcee and Jewish. Wonderful.
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“ The divorces signify nothing but hard lessons I learned on my way to becoming something better”
^ Feminist icon over here
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Most importantly, yay diversity! The hero was also Jewish, and an immigrant with English as a second language. The Jewish historical context gave the romance a new level of meaning and authenticity and stood it apart from other historicals. I learned a lot, and loved the Yiddish. #wordoftheday is meshuggenah.
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The aspects I liked about this book was that it was feminist and the premise was interesting and it was diverse. But IMO it laboured explaining Amalia’s internal anguish (which was valid anguish!) when I would rather have read about the real world manifestations of that anguish. For me that’s a Book Boner Killer. I like lots of bantz and action. The moments where Felicia did this though she did it well. 🔥 and 🐀 oh my!

This was a quick and romantic read.
Plot was interesting but predictable.
I only wish the book was more developed. The story ended too fast for me. Perhaps I have enjoyed it too much???

I so very much love the idea of having Jewish characters in my American historical romances. But Grossman is just not a strong enough writer yet to make such stories work. I've tried both her first and now her second book, and have not been able to get beyond thee half-way point in either of them. Grossman doesn't know how to build a scene, how to pace a story, how to move the plot from one event to the next in a way that makes sense or makes the reader need to keep reading. And this story had the additional burden of two immature and unsympathetic characters weighing it down.

Will not be trying a third Grossman book...

Dalliances & Devotion by Felicia Grossman is book Two in The Truitts Series. This is the story of David Zisskind and Amalia Truitt. I have read the previous book but felt this could be a standalone book if you wish to do so.
Amalia is a beauty columnist who is also a twice Divorcee who help other women seek divorces who can't afford it. So she wants to return to Delaware to claim some of the Truitt family fortune which will help her fund her cause. But there have been death threats from a stalker and her family doesn't want her to travel without protection. Enter David who works for Pinkerton and looking to be promoted after doing this job. But Amalia and David have a past of love and heartache due to them breaking up and the lost of her brother/his friend in the war. David struggles with the past horrors that still effect him today.
David and Amalia have a long way to travel physically and mentally to get to where they need to be along with the danger that is following them.
Enjoyed their story.

After just two books Felicia Grossman has installed herself in my list of my favorite authors. Her sophomore novel, Dalliances & Devotion, is yet another wonderful story about one clever and endearing heroine. I loved this book!

Amalia Truitt is a heroine after my own heart. I was immediately intrigued by her from the synopsis because it mentioned her being a twice-divorcee and a beauty columnist. Those are both characteristics almost unheard of in historical romances. Then, there was the mention of a stalker! I was hooked and I wanted to get to know everything about Amalia and how she came to be at this stage of life. Felicia Grossman did not disappoint. She has written a heroine who is spirited, clever, and thoughtful. You initially think that she is spoiled and a little bit shallow in the beginning, but she quickly proved me wrong with her wit and emotional maturity. Amalia took life by the horns and did not care what others thought of. Amalia is not only a character I had utmost respect for, but she is also one who is easy to become attached to. I was profoundly invested in her and her journey and I simply could not wait to see her achieve her happily-ever-after.

Her family hires the stoic and intense David to protect her on a journey to her home of Delaware. David happens to be a man that Amalia shared a romantic history with. She broke his heart years back and upon reuiniting their feelings for each other begin to bubble again. I loved David's character as well. He perfectly balanced out Amalia's vivaciousness with his more serious but softer personality. The man had gone through absolute hell and more. We see his struggles with PTSD that the author handles respectfully. He didn't deserve any of the pain he was suffering through and my heart went out to him. I'm a big fan of soft and protective heroes and David epitomized a teddy-bear hero! Amalia and David's romance was full of so many wonderful tropes, my favorite being the second-chance romance. The author beautifully crafted a romance that is convincing and made of pure swoon. There were load of tense and romantic moments that had my heart aching. Not only did Dalliances & Devotion have an excellent romance, but the historical setting and plot were equally interesting. I loved how the author brought to light so many historically and currently relevant themes to this book.

I can't recommend Dalliances & Devotion and Felicia Grossman's debut, Appetites & Vices. It's got everything I could ask for from a good historical romance. I can't wait to see what the author has up her sleeves!

What an amazing addition to the first book in this series Appetites and Vices. I have to say I am excited to have discovered this author as she takes you on a journey of romance and world building. I learned a lot of history and was captured by the characters she created which actually come off the page!
Amalia Truitt is a determined lady and is really a crusader for women and everybody is not happy about that.. David Zisskind is an old love who had his heart broken by Amelia in the past but is now protecting her on a trek to obtain more money for her charity. A Pinkerton ( I love the stories of this agency!) and swoon worthy to say the least, the attraction is still there for the two. It sparks right off the page!
But can they make it safely to their destination and find they are meant for each other? Don't miss this exciting read that will keep you turning the pages until the end!

Felicia Grossman is the singular reason I, as a non-historical romance junkie, have developed a new appreciation for a genre I had all but written off. Her debut Appetites & Vices was the first historical romance my contemporary-loving heart adored. So, needless to say, I was champing at the bit for the next in The Pruitts series from Carina Press—Dalliances & Devotion. And just as her first book left me swooning and in love, so did this one.

Grossman tackles her genre with a unique flair and a steady, gifted touch. There’s nothing about her writing I’d call predictable or dry. She delves into the time period in which her stories are based and paints a picture so vivid and beautiful—yet somehow perfectly balanced so as not to steal the show from the plot itself—that I get utterly lost within the historic tapestry. She draws in the most minute details—clothing, gadgets, customs, even accurate locales—and allows the reader to travel effortlessly back in time.

But it isn’t just Grossman’s world-building that deserves a spotlight. I absolutely adore her characterization, and her grasp on pacing and plot structure make her writing an enjoyable and effortless treat. Amalia isn’t your typical historic heroine. She’s twice divorced and financially independent. She’s also delightfully spunky and has a got-get-’em attitude that made me grin. Then there’s David. swoon That man is just… yeah. There almost aren’t the words for him. He’s one of those book boyfriends you just wanna put in your pocket and take with you everywhere. Thankfully, this is available in ebook, so I can!

I would highly recommend this to all historical romance readers out there. It isn’t your average, run-of-the-mill example of the genre. It has diverse characters—both of the main characters are Jewish!—and it does a fantastic job of dropping the reader into the late nineteenth century.

I really liked this story. It is a Jewish love story and it is lovely. Set in 1871, it sets the tone for that age. This story is Lof David, a Pinkerton agent and Amalia, a spoiled , rich girl. They knew each other when they were young, but wanted different things in life.When they see each other again, it's because she has been threatened and David was hired to guard he protect her. She's getting threats from an unknown source. Amelia thinks that she is a loser and that no one takes her seriously. The story is sweet and amusing. There is a really cute joke in the book as well. I loved enjoyed reading this. I received this book from Net Galley and Harlequin/Carina Press. I recommend it highly.

This was a really unusual book for me, I cannot remember when I have read a romance that was set within the Jewish culture and tradition, it was really interesting, with a great dynamic between the seemingly spoiled little rich girl Amalia, who is a 2 time divorcee, and beauty columnist and daughter of a wealthy and well connected couple, and David Zisskind, a recent immigrant from Europe and a former comrade of her brother’s during the war, who is now a Pinkerton Agent.

Amalia Truitt is receiving threatening letters and her brother is very concerned about her. She is travelling by train to her family from Indianapolis to Washington,, to celebrate her nephew’s Brit Milah. Her family is rich and well connected, her mother is. a Banking heiress and political hostess, and her brother and father are very successful businessman. She is reeling a bit from these notes, and some feedback she has had on her column which has been described as “vapid, vacuous and verbose”, Amalia feels that she is not respected by her family and generally, that people see her a shallow and empty headed. She’s not, she has founded and funded a charity to help women who are trying to escape violent unfair and abusive situations, and she is finding it through her earnings. She is desperate to get more money for it and is very nervous about creating the best impression to her parents so they will release her trust to her.

She and David have history, they were attracted to each other when they first met, and were very close, until Amalia realised the depth of David’s radical views against marriage. Hurt, she rejects him cruelly, and rushes into her first marriage.

David has suffered, abandoned by his father as a child, he and his mother suffered, and he feels he was forced into the Russian army by his cousin and uncle, so they could usurp his place, he ran away to America, where he met Amalia brothers in V company, and became friends, he also witnessed the death of Amalias dearly beloved brother Simon.

Amalia is feeling very guilty about how she treated David, and unwillingly attracted to him. David has kept all her letters and photos, and follows her column in secret. He is still very attracted to Amalia, although he sees her as shallow and only interested in money.

As they travel across America together with Will and Meg his colleagues who are in love with each other and in an interracial relationship with each other, they begin to know each other better. Can they resolve their differences and let go of their negative feelings about themselves and how they are seen by their family, and can they protect Amalia from the person who has been threatening her?

I loved the way the author developed their relationship and how she wove in the information about being a Jew in America at that time. I also enjoyed the supporting characters and the gentle humour the author used throughout.

Recommended,

I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book and all opinions are my own.

Also posted on Goodreads