My Beautiful Enemy

Another beautiful story from Sherry Thomas, but it is really th

Another beautiful story from Sherry Thomas, but it is really the second half of a book. The Hidden Blade is the lengthy prequel available only as an e-novella. Nearly a full book on its own, it really is the first half of this story. I can't imagine reading My Beautiful Enemy without having read the prequel. Thomas is without a doubt a master storyteller and each and every one of her books has been far superior to ninety-nine percent of what is published throughout the romance genre.

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The second book in The Heart of Blade Duology series by Sherry T

The second book in The Heart of Blade Duology series by Sherry Thomas. It is best to first read its prequel, The Hidden Blade, so that you get the full background and childhoods of both hero and heroine. This really helped me understand them better. Also, though this story is short (under 300 pages), it reads like a saga. There is so much going on, and the romance is only part of it, not the central core of the store.
Catherine Blade (Ying-ying) is in London to retrieve two jade tablets belonging to her stepfather (her concubine mother’s lover). One is in the British Museum’s collections but she doesn’t know the whereabouts of the other.
This is classic Sherry Thomas as she uses the flashback device. It is easy to follow and, more importantly, moves the story forward, but I realize many people do not like this feature.
Leighton Atwood takes care of Catherine as no one ever has before in her entire life. She sees herself as a burden, first to her mother, then her amah (her nanny), and her stepfather. Part of this feeling is cultural with respect to one’s elders but it’s also because she has led a strict and disciplined life, devoid of any affection.
Happiness eludes her. There’s a nice moment in the scene with the solicitor, Mr. Cromwell, when she recognizes his joy for life despite a great sadness.
"Could she hope for a fraction of his joie de vivre someday?" (p80)
The fight scenes are detailed and quite brutal, and all the more surprising because they involve a woman. The few love scenes are extremely brief and not very satisfying so if you’re looking for a lot of attention to this part of the story, you may be disappointed. Leighton and Catherine’s passion is a quiet and understated one. Each sacrifices their happiness together for the sake of the other.
I think my favorite parts of the book are the tranquil and lovely descriptions of Leighton’s beloved estate, Starling Manor. These were first lovingly mentioned in the prequel, The Hidden Blade, and are part of Herb Gordon’s fondest memories. Through their shared love of Herb, both Catherine and Leighton recognize and value the beauty of Starling Manor.
Leighton and Catherine are meant to be together, through their connection to Herb Gordon, through their own shared painful childhood experiences, and through their quiet strength. But it is a very arduous road to this precarious happiness.
Catherine is a hard character to get to know. I really felt I knew Leighton better but perhaps it is because Catherine holds innate power in her healing and fighting skills? Her cool demeanor in the face of danger? She feels like a cipher to me. Yet a good part of the novel is told from her point of view. She just came across as a little cold to me.
This is a very serious and bittersweet romance. I prefer my historical romances on the lighter side but there is no denying Sherry Thomas’ skill as a writer. She makes you feel for her characters and, as a person who takes too many things to heart, this is a little too effective here if such a thing is possible.
A complex, emotional, and powerful love story.

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Exquisite story

Sherry Thomas never ceases to entertain in her wonderful books. There is always such an unusual twist and the love story is always filled with new cultural tidbits. I loved it! The only sad part of her novels is waiting for the next to be published.

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My Beautiful Enemy by Sherry Thomas

Author Sherry Thomas brings readers the first book in a new series, My Beautiful Enemy. A tale about long lost love, with an exotic locale. Thomas is arguably one of the best authors in the historical romance genre and readers need only look to her engaging and memorable characters to see why. This book combines romance with strong historical detail and a touch of mystery that will have readers glued to their seats. A nice way to start a new series! What I liked: Sherry Thomas is one of those authors that will have readers enthralled from the first page of her books. Her books resonate with readers. She has an innate ability to write what historical romance readers want to read. In My Beautiful Enemy readers meet two characters who share a past. Catherine and Leighton, met and fell in love, a long time ago, in a far off land. As is the case in a lot of historical romances, things went awry and they were separated by fate, misunderstanding and circumstances beyond their immediate control. When they meet again, the sparks still fly. What I liked about how Thomas writes these two characters would fill up a whole review by itself. Catherine is intriguing from the git-go. She is an operative working for her step-father. She is no-nonsense, strong, and understands the meaning of loyalty. Her background was so interesting and unusual. Leighton was a spy when they first met and to say things got a bit out of hand with his mission is an understatement. I loved his fierce sense of justice and his ability to forgive, even the face of suspected betrayal. But it was really something in how Thomas writes their emotions and feelings that made this one so memorable. Both are great characters that actually start out in the prequel to this book called, The Hidden Blade. I loved the setting for this one. Though the action in the story in the here and now takes place in London, readers are treated to flashbacks from Cathrine and Leighton's past that took place in China. That is a not a setting that I often see in historical romance and it was very intriguing. I would definitely like to see more romances set in places other than London. Thomas sets a great example of how to make a setting take on so much significance that it becomes a character in itself. What I didn't like: I love this author for a lot of reasons. Her stories are complex and interesting. Her characters are not soon forgotten and her plots have a sophistication that is sometimes missing in the genre. She has a great knack for writing the historical details of her books and for using elements of mystery and intrigue to add to the mix. Unfortunately, I think she had a little too much going on in this novel. She not only had a ton of historical detail in her setting but she also added a mystery to this one and in so doing, a little bit of the romance got lost in the details. Her characterizations were strong and I loved Catherine and Leighton together, but there just wasn't as much passion or romantic moments as I would have liked. Too much emphasis on the background took something away from the main part of the story, the love between the two main characters. Bottom Line: This book has a lot going for it. Though it may not be my favorite from this author, because the romance took a backseat to everything else, it is definitely worth the read. Sherry Thomas is a wonderful author who even on an off day, or an off book, can still outshine many others in the genre

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