Books › The Daughter of Deceit
The Daughter of Deceit
533 pages
A dramatic, twist-filled historical romance steeped in the theatrical world of the early 1900s, where family secrets and romantic betrayals keep the pages turning.
What it feels like
Stepping into this novel feels like taking a seat at a gripping early 1900s stage play, where the drama spills far beyond the footlights. The narrative sweeps the reader from the bustling theatrical world of England to the bohemian, artistic enclaves of France, wrapping them in an atmosphere of romantic suspense and emotional turbulence. Despite a sprawling cast and a web of surprising twists, the prose remains remarkably accessible and easy to follow, ensuring the historical backdrop enriches rather than overwhelms the experience. It is a briskly paced journey through grief, betrayal, and the trials of a struggling artist. Readers who crave historical romances laced with deep family secrets and romantic betrayals will find themselves thoroughly captivated, kept guessing until the final curtain falls.
- Mood
- theatrical
- intriguing
- emotionally turbulent
- bohemian
- Tone
- dramatic
- suspenseful
- romantic
- earnest
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- maternal secrets · artistic struggle · romantic betrayal · grief and rebuilding
- The writing
- Accessible and engaging, balancing intriguing historical details with an easy-to-follow narrative despite a sprawling cast.
- The arc
- Moves from the shattering grief of a hidden past to a suspenseful journey of rebuilding a life amidst romantic twists.
- Who it's for
- Readers and young adults who crave historical romances laced with deep family secrets, theatrical settings, and plot twists.
Content notes
- death of a parent
- grief
- betrayal
About the book
Readers are introduced to the dramatic world in England and an artistic lifestyle in France as they become steeped in the lives of a theatrical family. Desiree, a leading actress, and her daughter Noelle have a special relationship. After Desiree's death, however, a secret the woman had kept is revealed, and Noelle is shattered. She flees to France to try to put her life in order. Then her mother's former understudy writes to inform her that she has married the man Noelle loves. YAs will enjoy the theater background and the trials of a struggling artist. The history of the early 1900s is intriguing but not overwhelming. Although there are many twists in the plot and a great many characters, the story is still easy to follow. Once into it, readers will be kept guessing until the very last chapter. An excellent choice for Holt fans and for those who love historical romances.
Description from Open Library.
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