Book Review: Talk Sweetly to Me by Courtney Milan

Title: Talk Sweetly to Me
Series: Brothers Sinister, Book 4.5
Author: Courtney Milan
Genre: Historical Romance
Sensuality Rating: Steamy
Source: Review copy provided via NetGalley
Published: August 19, 2014 (self-published)

Nobody knows who Miss Rose Sweetly is, and she prefers it that way. She’s a shy, mathematically-minded shopkeeper’s daughter who dreams of the stars. Women like her only ever come to attention through scandal. She’ll take obscurity, thank you very much.

All of England knows who Stephen Shaughnessy is. He’s an infamous advice columnist and a known rake. When he moves into the house next door to Rose, she discovers that he’s also wickedly funny, devilishly flirtatious, and heart-stoppingly handsome. But when he takes an interest in her mathematical work, she realizes that Mr. Shaughnessy isn’t just a scandal waiting to happen. He’s waiting to happen to her…and if she’s not careful, she’ll give in to certain ruination.

Reviewed By: J9

Intelligent historical romance doesn’t get better than Courtney Milan. Talk Sweetly to Me is a perfect example why I jump to read Milan’s books. Rose is unique (mixed-race, intellectual, sexually self-aware) and Stephen “gets” the nuances of an equitable relationship. He doesn’t push or “seduce” Rose but strives to understand her as a person. Stephen becomes someone Rose trusts, not because he forces her hand, but because it’s the natural progression of their feelings and decisions.

I hate to use the word smart in a romance review because it implies other romance books are dumb but it keeps coming up when I think about this novella. How the author deals with Rose’s mixed race in Victorian times and Stephen’s response is so much more nuanced than I normally see in romance. Yes, this is a stellar HEA (and don’t get me started on that lovely ending where Stephen is still the imp we love!) but it gets to the HEA with grace and intelligence not usual in the genre I adore.

J9’s Rating:

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J9’s reviews for other books in this series:
The Heiress Effect, Book 2
The Countess Conspiracy, Book 3