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Dances Long Forgotten

2019 • 117 pages

Ratings3

Average rating4

15

A very enjoyable if a little overly dramatic Georgian MM novella, bookended by a modern couple in the same house centuries later.
The book starts off in 2014 with the current Marquis closing his house from guests and tourists for the night when one of his staff, who he's helplessly in love with, states that he wants to resign. Devastated, the Marquis asks that he wait just a little longer. Then they start hearing an eerie disembodied waltz and the Marquis starts telling a family legend where any couple that hears the music in the library (where they now are) will be true loves. This paranormal occurance isn't really explained in either story, just that Hugo and Lyndon started the tradition in their time, so we're not told if it's ghosts or just a time echo. Also, in Hugo's story, the music seems to be already disembodied since they wouldn't have had record players or any way to play music besides an actual quartet in the room which would have been awkward during the lovemaking.
There are a lot of revelations that upend Hugo's life as he knows it in a short span of time. It's a wonder he doesn't go completely barmy and run screaming into the snowy night. All of these devastating blows seem to be a way for him to get his HEA but I found it a bit much, though it made for a real page-turner just to see what would befall him next.
Overall, I really liked Moone's writing and characters but I'm not sure if I'll continue the series.

July 28, 2022Report this review