Sebella's Scene

 Alysia Villier, daughter of the infamous courtesan Violet Villier, grew up in the home of her mother's lover, Lord Courtenay. Seemingly a member of the family, Alysia was aware of the huge difference between herself and the other. After the death of her mother, Alysia's situation becomes more awkward and she realizes her future will most likely take a similar path as her mothers. Even though she has loved Andrew forever, she knows she must leave her childhood home. Her passions must go unheeded for Andrew can never be hers.

Andrew Tilmore, Lord Preston, future Marquess of Courtenay, now home from Oxford, discovers his feelings for his childhood friend have only grown stronger. They have evolved into the passions of an adult man. Determined to have Alysia, he must defy not only his parents, the beau monde, and the parade of acceptable women his mother forces on him, he must also battle Alysia herself.

Of the books I have had the privilege to read by Moriah Densley, (any I could get my greedy hands on) The King of Threadneedle Street is by far the most encompassing and layered book in the series. While the other Rougemont books were wonderful and made me smile, The King of Threadneedle Street is a saga. While retaining her trademark wit and keen eye for authenticity, Moriah takes the reader for a journey that spans the European continent. I could actually feel the characters evolving into the most worthy of the title hero/heroine.

At the beginning of the book, Andrew, was headstrong, and slightly immature. By the end of the book, he is indeed a droolworthy man. His journey, I believe was the hardest, although he has his position in society and wealth, he develops strategies to win his lady love and almost topples England's economy. He transforms himself from a slightly spoiled aristocrat to a man that can work in the trenches, who can withstand all who oppose him and who fully comprehends the meaning of love.

Alysia had my admiration from the get go. Although young, and a tad bit naive, she is strong and determined to protect the ones she loves, even at the cost of her own happiness. She has the heart of a lioness and the wherewithal to ignore the slings and arrows she must endure because of her mother's legacy. By the end of the story she has learned to trust her own heart as well as Andrew's.

The cast of characters in The King of Threadneedle Street is filled with favorites from the previous books, and were a very welcome addition to at times a tearjerker of a story. I loved the depth they added to an already compelling read. the romantic thread ranges from sweet to throw a glass of ice water in my face hot. Moriah manages to inject steam into the story without the overtly graphic sexual scenes so prevalent today. While I have been known to enjoy a raunchy book or two in my day, this book can please all readers of romance.