novella
by Nancy Campbell Allen
GENRE: Regency clean romance
My rating: ★★★★★
5 full stars !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A little gem I devoured! A novelette, clean romance, that is a solid 5-star read for me, and I'm still smiling!
If you're looking for something romantic and light, refreshing, and utterly delightful, you absolutely have to pick this up.
Right from the start, I was hooked, but before I keep going on, let me tell you...
Valentine Baker, who's craving adventure, arrives in Venice to visit her cousin Eva, when during the stay she accepts an offer to be a companion to the wonderfully unconventional Contessa (Eva's mother-in-law ). So soon enough, they're off on a ship bound for Cairo.
They are accompanied by the charming boxer Mr. Maxwell, who has the task of accompanying them to his brother's excavations (excavations financed by the countess), to discover the truth behind the thefts of archaeological finds and to protect the two women.
Maxwell tries to keep his distance from Valentine, but her warm nature and easy laugh draw him in. He soon comes to cherish their time together, until someone attempts to drug him, and the aftermath reveals serious consequences for Valentine. He’ll do anything to keep her safe and her reputation intact, yet with treachery on board and his heart at stake, Mr. Maxwell must make a choice that will change his life forever.
What truly made this novella shine for me was how complete and satisfying it felt, despite its shorter length.
Nancy Campbell Allen is a master at crafting engaging stories, and this one is no exception.
It's a brilliant comedy romance through and through.
Forget heavy drama; this story is all about one incredibly embarrassing – and utterly hilarious – situation that pushes our two protagonists to finally declare their mutual attraction and love. It’s written with such a light touch and a wonderful sense of humor that I was genuinely laughing out loud. The engaging plot keeps you turning pages from start to finish, and the humor is just the perfect ingredient to make it feel so refreshing.
___ WONDERFUL MAIN CHARACTERS ___
Even though it's a novella, the characters really come alive. Valentine and Mr. Maxwell are fantastic, and their brilliant dialogue and personal thoughts let you into their heads and hearts immediately. Their interactions are precious, and you can practically feel their connection growing.
A tiny heads-up about the title :
"From Cairo, With Love" might make you think we're spending a lot of time in Egypt, but Cairo actually only appears right at the very end. But honestly, that's not a complaint at all!
In fact, I actually loved the little HISTORICAL NUGGETS, like discovering that Shepheard's Hotel in Cairo was a real, super famous place from the 19th century until its destruction in 1952.
It’s those little details that show how much care the author puts into her stories.:-)
And yes, for all you romance lovers out there, you'll be happy to know there's a LOVELY HAPPY ENDING!
_YEAHHH ! ___
I discovered that this novella has a prequel, again a short story named "What Happens in Venice", by the same author (inside A Timeless Romance Anthology #5), telling the love story and marriage in Venice of Valentine's cousin!
I love N. Campbell Allen write style ( I rated 5 stars some other proper romance by her ), I've already added it to my "must-read ASAP" list.
All in all, From Cairo, With Love is a delightful, charming, and genuinely funny read that will leave you with a huge smile on your face. Highly, highly recommend!
Thank you for reading my opinion and please be lenient with any error in my text ( English is not my native language ).
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