TEST
a Retro Review
originally published on October 25, 2011
Music has never really been my thing. I enjoy listening to it, but don’t have the true appreciation of it that some have. Grace Burrowes, the author of The Virtuoso, is one of those people who really understands the emotions, depth, and meaning of music, and she conveys it beautifully through the hero.
Valentine Windham, youngest of five sons of a duke, has pinned his whole existence and identity upon his considerable talent on the piano. But when he loses two of his older brothers in quick succession, his hand begins to ache, to the point of total inability to play. He is out of sorts and lost, despairing of ever being able to play again, when he wins a small, rundown country estate. It is here that he re-meets Ellen FitzEngle, a young widow who lives in a cottage on his property. Their attraction is strong, and they soon become closer as they work together to rebuild the estate. However, Ellen has a number of secrets and pain, and Val must discover his own worth when his musical talent is at risk.
While the book ostensibly focuses on Val (after all, the title refers directly to him), Ellen has her own depth and development as well. She is living a life incognito, going by her maiden name rather than her true title, the Baroness Roxbury. She loved her husband in a distant way, and after five years of solitude as the local widow, finds Val’s company to both be a balm and also to reignite the guilt and loneliness she has felt all these years. They are well matched, Val and Ellen. There is chemistry, but their connection goes much beyond that, and their intimacy is far more than sexual. I really enjoyed the emphasis the author placed on the joy that is mere contact, not just constant sex (although there is a fair amount of that too).
The writing in this book was a joy to read. The author has a wonderful command of language, and has a talent for creating interesting and unusual turns of phrase. She also is able to convey Val’s connection with music in a way that I was able to understand and appreciate on a level that I had never before.
I did have a small quibble with the plot structure, however. There was a backstory that seemed unnecessary. The prior connection between Val and Ellen didn’t make a lot of sense, and wasn’t developed fully. The actual meeting may have been relevant in a previous novel, though; there are several characters that appear to be protagonists of the author’s earlier work, but as I had not read the other novels any prior character development was lost on me.
Even so, I had a really hard time putting The Virtuoso down. It was a refreshing change from the usual fare of rakes and titled society men. There is a depth and sincerity and insecurity to Val that is lacking in many other romance heroes that I really appreciated. Even those who aren’t crazy about music can feel the emotion and connection, but I’m sure musicians and other aficionados would enjoy this book even more.
Grade: B+
Book Type: European Historical Romance
Sensuality: Hot
Review Date: 15/04/21
Publication Date: 2011/11
Recent Comments …
Yep
This sounds delightful! I’m grabbing it, thanks
excellent book: interesting, funny dialogs, deep understanding of each character, interesting secondary characters, and also sexy.
I don’t think anyone expects you to post UK prices – it’s just a shame that such a great sale…
I’m sorry about that. We don’t have any way to post British prices as an American based site.
I have several of her books on my TBR and after reading this am moving them up the pile.
Related Reviews
I recently reread this title — and a bunch of others by Grace Burrowes — as I commented elsewhere on the blog about how flexible reading order can be in Burrowes’ world. I would rate this book at A- instead of a high B.
The reviewer focuses on the principals in the novel, but the secondary characters are well drawn, too, particularly the Belmont boys. The portrait of Darius is a little skimpy, but then he gets his own book.
In addition, parts of the Virtuoso stuck with me when I thought about rereading some of Burrowes work. When I remembered them, I actually went back and started with the books about the adult Belmont brothers before rereading the Virtuoso. When a book sticks with me long after I have read it and I find myself reflecting on it (as opposed to recalling typos, misused vocabulary, or plot faults), then it gets notched upward in my comparative mental rankings.
For those who liked the Virtuoso, I recommend Cadenza, by Stella Riley. I think Cadenza is the stronger of the two, but both are excellent.
One last note: When a writer has a large body of work where characters interact across many books, I think it is harder to judge a single volume of one is familiar with the other works. Grace Burrowes’ work is the epitome of this dilemma, because characters such as Valentine Windham, the hero of the Virtuoso, and Nick Haddonfield, who has a cameo in the book, appear in so many other volumes, some of which take place in parallel time frames. I don’t know of many writers who create clusters of work that way, although Anne McCaffrey accomplished it with some of the Pern dragonrider novels set in the Ninth Pass.
I agree it is quite a feat to keep all these characters and stories together. I imagine Ms. Burrowes’ study to be wallpapered in family trees with a billion connecting lines. I remember liking The Virtuoso very much – one of my favorite Burrowes!
I just posted this on another thread, but I think the sort of information you’re after can be found on the author’s website – family trees, timelines, etc.