Book Beginnings: His Majesty, The Prince of Toads by Delle Jacobs

Book Beginnings on Fridays hosted by Rose City Reader, where bloggers share the first sentence or more of a current read, as well as initial thoughts about the sentence(s), impressions of the book, or anything else that the opening inspires.


London, England 
January 1, 1815  

Tucked in amongst the odors of wax and smoking wicks, lavender and musk, lurked the aura of anticipation. Faint, yet distinct, it hung like a scent itself in the heavy air of the Carstairs drawing room.
It became more than a smell. Sophie heard it in the sudden hushing of voices, saw it in the slight raising of eyebrows. Previously attentive gentlemen stiffened, and with polite nods faded away as if they had not been fluttering about her just moments before. Her nape prickled, and Sophie felt like she was a goat staked out in a tiger trap.
"It's Lucas," whispered her friend Minerva, her narrowed silver eyes tracking the movement behind Sophie's back.
Even the music stopped. Lords and ladies stood still in the blue and gold drawing room, their sly glances in Sophie's direction reflected in the mirrored wall. 

His Majesty, The Prince of Toads by Delle Jacobs

Lucas thinks Sophie has trapped him into marriage. He leaves as soon as they get married and goes to a war. When he comes back, he does not recognise his own wife! But he needs her. For her beauty, her money and lot more. She refuses to be in any part of his life. Lucas is stubborn and Sophie is hard headed. They are perfect for each other but don't know that.

Lucas and Sophie are both haunted by the terrible atrocities they both suffered during the war. Sophie is the daughter of a German Count and lost her parents to the conflict. With the help of her uncle, she flees to the safety of England. It takes Lucas and Sophie working together to heal what they couldn’t do on their own. The ending is satisfying on multiple levels; a marriage is united, the pain of the past is healed, and the couple has the support of dear friends and family.

The language is good, the interactions between Lucas and Sophie holds interest. And secondary characters play important roles. It is a good historical romance.