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ajcousins's review
Trying some self-care via reading this week. Tamara Allen is good for what ails me. Low heat, fabulously written historical adventure romance about a counterfeiter and a Secret Service agent. The building trust between these two is lovely to read. Perfect for my stressed out nerves.
winters's review
adventurous
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
rozalinda's review
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.75
evewithanapple's review
3.0
My rating honestly depends a lot on what genre the book is supposed to be. If it's meant to be a mystery/adventure novel with some romance elements, great! But the cover and marketing makes me think it's supposed to be a romance, and it really didn't work for me on that level. The narration is too distant for me to ever feel like I really got an insight into what the characters were thinking and feeling. And the leads don't kiss - don't even contemplate kissing, really - until two-thirds of the way through the book, a point by which a less completionist reader looking for romance would probably have tossed the book. Romance is a genre where I tend to give a lot of leeway for narrative devices that aren't to my taste, because they're probably to someone's taste, and I know slow burn is a thing - but this book just spent so much time barely smoldering, that the actual fire didn't impress me when it finally got going.
(Granted, I probably still would have been bored if I'd gone in expecting a mystery, because it turns out that counterfeiting is the most boring felony in the world. But at least the structure would have worked for me.)
(This is a nitpick, but the names in this book were terrible. Emlyn Strickland? Darrow Gardiner? Is it so wrong to just name your characters Bob and Joe?)
(Granted, I probably still would have been bored if I'd gone in expecting a mystery, because it turns out that counterfeiting is the most boring felony in the world. But at least the structure would have worked for me.)
(This is a nitpick, but the names in this book were terrible. Emlyn Strickland? Darrow Gardiner? Is it so wrong to just name your characters Bob and Joe?)
yoda32's review
4.0
It took me a while to get into this at first. Full disclosure: I went into this expecting a slow burn historical romance and while, yes it has a romance, the book itself is more of a historical crime and mystery. Which I still very much enjoyed because mysteries are my genre!! ( Lets just all agree to ignore the fact that I would have known this had I read the blurb properly!)
The book itself was very character driven rather than plot driven which made it appear slower. I didn’t mind; I love learning about characters and watching them grow. Darrow stole my heart and his GROWTH. I love him!! Emlyn I also adored, however he’s still rather a mystery and I hope we learn more of his life and past in the sequel to come!
The overall plot was quite entertaining once it got going. It was slow in the beginning but got faster up around the middle and I found I couldn’t put the book down.
The little romance this book has would be considered slow burn, enemies to lovers but it wasn’t very prominent. It seemed be beginning and the book ended. I for one, loved it like that. It was subtle and sweet. It makes me even more excited for the sequel and I’m never really a fan of romances that take over the plot anyway.
Overall: I good solid book with a HFN ending that I can’t wait to see continuing. I’ve never read anything by this author before but I see from review’s - slow burn romance and historical fiction seems to be her forte and considering how much I enjoy both, I shall defiantly be checking out more of her books.
The book itself was very character driven rather than plot driven which made it appear slower. I didn’t mind; I love learning about characters and watching them grow. Darrow stole my heart and his GROWTH. I love him!! Emlyn I also adored, however he’s still rather a mystery and I hope we learn more of his life and past in the sequel to come!
The overall plot was quite entertaining once it got going. It was slow in the beginning but got faster up around the middle and I found I couldn’t put the book down.
The little romance this book has would be considered slow burn, enemies to lovers but it wasn’t very prominent. It seemed be beginning and the book ended. I for one, loved it like that. It was subtle and sweet. It makes me even more excited for the sequel and I’m never really a fan of romances that take over the plot anyway.
Overall: I good solid book with a HFN ending that I can’t wait to see continuing. I’ve never read anything by this author before but I see from review’s - slow burn romance and historical fiction seems to be her forte and considering how much I enjoy both, I shall defiantly be checking out more of her books.
_isabel_'s review
4.0
Second book by Tamara Allen I've read and I'm officially sold.
I really adored this one. It was a wonderfully paced, with lots of action and heartstopping moments and the perfect slow-burn romance, enemies to (kinda of) lovers. I must admit, I would've loved to read a bit more about Darren and Emlyn's pasts and a bit more of romance in the last chapters but, alas. I'll take what I'll get. I loved both of the main characters and their interactions were full of banter, chemistry and wit. I also loved how the author managed to reach the perfect balance of quick-paced-action-filled scenes and slow and steady moments.
I'm still kinda hoping we'll get a sequel: it is listed here but who knows? The ending was quite satisfying on it's own but I'd probably sell a kidney to have more of Darren and Em (and a tiny bit more of romance between them).
I really adored this one. It was a wonderfully paced, with lots of action and heartstopping moments and the perfect slow-burn romance, enemies to (kinda of) lovers. I must admit, I would've loved to read a bit more about Darren and Emlyn's pasts and a bit more of romance in the last chapters but, alas. I'll take what I'll get. I loved both of the main characters and their interactions were full of banter, chemistry and wit. I also loved how the author managed to reach the perfect balance of quick-paced-action-filled scenes and slow and steady moments.
I'm still kinda hoping we'll get a sequel: it is listed here but who knows? The ending was quite satisfying on it's own but I'd probably sell a kidney to have more of Darren and Em (and a tiny bit more of romance between them).
susanscribs's review
4.0
Actions speak louder than words...which is my response to those who say Tamara Allen's latest book isn't romantic enough. Are there numerous sex scenes? No. Do the two M/Cs ever say they love each other? I don't think they do, nor is it necessary. Yet for anyone who likes a slow burn love story rich with historical detail, The Road to Silver Plume will be very rewarding. Allen writes late 19th/early 20th century historical romance with a eye and ear for this period of enormous change, and the search to uncover a money counterfeiting ring is set in the context of key decisions about to be made about monetary policy and the silver standard.
As always, Allen's characters grow and change through the course of the novel (hard to believe it takes place over the course of less than a week). Emlyn Strickland proves to himself and the world that he is brave and daring enough to be a field agent, not just an expert in spotting counterfeit coins. And Darrow Gardiner - well, he stays a rogue right up to the last line of the book, but his vow to avenge those responsible for his six-year incarceration at Sing Sing (including Emlyn) slowly turns into something more honorable. The growing attraction between the two is understated until the last quarter of the book, which is also when the adventure ratchets up exponentially and both MCs have to rely on their courage, honor and cunning to keep each other alive.
Allen released this book very quietly on December 24, 2015, and it was one of the nicest Christmas presents I gave myself.
As always, Allen's characters grow and change through the course of the novel (hard to believe it takes place over the course of less than a week). Emlyn Strickland proves to himself and the world that he is brave and daring enough to be a field agent, not just an expert in spotting counterfeit coins. And Darrow Gardiner - well, he stays a rogue right up to the last line of the book, but his vow to avenge those responsible for his six-year incarceration at Sing Sing (including Emlyn) slowly turns into something more honorable. The growing attraction between the two is understated until the last quarter of the book, which is also when the adventure ratchets up exponentially and both MCs have to rely on their courage, honor and cunning to keep each other alive.
Allen released this book very quietly on December 24, 2015, and it was one of the nicest Christmas presents I gave myself.
harrietwrites's review
3.0
I liked it just fine, but I definitely felt like there was more plot and historical information than feelings and romance.
hartd's review
4.0
This is an excellent novel. Sometimes I wish this system allowed only "recommended" or "not recommended," like Steam does - I could "recommend" a book and then list the things I did and didn't like, without in any way affecting the book's positive rating. Which is to say: I did have a few moments of confusion in this book that I had not experienced reading Tamara Allen's other wonderful novels. But all of the reasons I love her books were present, too, so I definitely did enjoy it.
Negatives first: I didn't feel overly connected to either of the MCs. Their character development was subtle. It's not that it wasn't there. I felt that I was letting down the book by not always correctly interpreting Darrow and Emlyn's surface thoughts and behavior. So, I reread a lot of scenes and moments until I felt I understood their dynamic. In my opinion, there could have been a middle ground between the excess of subtlety and the characters behaving in sort of tropey ways.
Aside from the developing friendship and romance, the murkiness didn't serve the plot very well either. I felt like I should have gone into reading this book with a far better understanding of economics. I got caught up on understanding what was happening to Denver because of the government's plans to stop valuing silver. Now, again, that may be idiosyncratic to me. I did understand how all that influenced the things that happened in the plot, in a broad sense. But I would need to do outside research in order to really appreciate the historical situation that influenced this plot.
But with The Only Gold, which was also written on a subject I didn't understand, there was a decent amount of information and context given. I felt by the middle of the book that I had a very good handle on the bank's situation, what the MCs' jobs entailed, etc. Then, I understood why the bad guys were planning their crime, and why they (as individuals) were doing all of it. I could not have answered any of those questions before I read the book.
Okay, back to the positives. I really liked that Darrow seemed to be a bisexual character; as a bisexual person I felt it was a positive portrayal, at least in the ways he saw himself. He realizes he could fall in love with Veda again, if circumstances were different, even though a lot of the other characters seem to think he's gay now. I also liked the character of Veda. I think it was a good choice on Tamara Allen's part to write such an outwardly emotional woman, and to do it very well, giving her a great deal of depth. All of this author's books include memorable, well-drawn female and male side characters - I reread them constantly, to visit Jonah's neighbors, landladies, and co-workers, as well as Ezra's wonderful family-of-choice in Downtime.
I suspect I will return to The Road to Silver Plume, too, in the future, and I'm sure I'll enjoy it even more on the second or tenth read. :-)
Negatives first: I didn't feel overly connected to either of the MCs. Their character development was subtle. It's not that it wasn't there. I felt that I was letting down the book by not always correctly interpreting Darrow and Emlyn's surface thoughts and behavior. So, I reread a lot of scenes and moments until I felt I understood their dynamic. In my opinion, there could have been a middle ground between the excess of subtlety and the characters behaving in sort of tropey ways.
Aside from the developing friendship and romance, the murkiness didn't serve the plot very well either. I felt like I should have gone into reading this book with a far better understanding of economics. I got caught up on understanding what was happening to Denver because of the government's plans to stop valuing silver. Now, again, that may be idiosyncratic to me. I did understand how all that influenced the things that happened in the plot, in a broad sense. But I would need to do outside research in order to really appreciate the historical situation that influenced this plot.
But with The Only Gold, which was also written on a subject I didn't understand, there was a decent amount of information and context given. I felt by the middle of the book that I had a very good handle on the bank's situation, what the MCs' jobs entailed, etc. Then, I understood why the bad guys were planning their crime, and why they (as individuals) were doing all of it. I could not have answered any of those questions before I read the book.
Okay, back to the positives. I really liked that Darrow seemed to be a bisexual character; as a bisexual person I felt it was a positive portrayal, at least in the ways he saw himself. He realizes he could fall in love with Veda again, if circumstances were different, even though a lot of the other characters seem to think he's gay now. I also liked the character of Veda. I think it was a good choice on Tamara Allen's part to write such an outwardly emotional woman, and to do it very well, giving her a great deal of depth. All of this author's books include memorable, well-drawn female and male side characters - I reread them constantly, to visit Jonah's neighbors, landladies, and co-workers, as well as Ezra's wonderful family-of-choice in Downtime.
I suspect I will return to The Road to Silver Plume, too, in the future, and I'm sure I'll enjoy it even more on the second or tenth read. :-)
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