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Fitzhugh Trilogy #2.5
A Dance in Moonlight
After losing her childhood sweetheart to another woman, Isabelle Englewood is heartsick. But then something remarkable happens: Upon arriving at Doyle's Grange, her new home, she meets Ralston Fitzwilliam, who looks almost exactly like the man she cannot have. Come late at night, she tells him, so I can make love to you pretending that you are the one I love.
Little does she realize what she is about to unleash.
This novella was previously featured in the anthology "Midnight Scandals".
Little does she realize what she is about to unleash.
This novella was previously featured in the anthology "Midnight Scandals".
111 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 20, 2013
100 people are currently reading
778 people want to read
About the author
Sherry Thomas
36 books7,455 followersUSA Today-bestselling author Sherry Thomas decided years ago that her goal in life is to write every kind of book she enjoys reading. Thus far she has published romance, fantasy, mystery, young adult, and three books inspired by the martial arts epics she grew up devouring. Her books regularly receive starred reviews and best-of-the-year honors from trade publications, including such outlets as the New York Times and National Public Radio.
A Study in Scarlet Women, A Conspiracy in Belgravia, and The Hollow of Fear, the first three entries in her gender-bending Lady Sherlock historical mystery series, are all NPR best books of the year. The Magnolia Sword, her 2019 release, is the first young adult retelling of the original Ballad of Mulan in the English language.
Sherry emigrated from China at age 13 and English is her second language.
“Sherry Thomas has done the impossible and crafted a fresh, exciting new version of Sherlock Holmes. From the carefully plotted twists to the elegant turns of phrase, A Study in Scarlet Women is a splendid addition to Holmes’s world. This book is everything I hoped it would be, and the next adventure cannot come too soon!” —Deanna Raybourn, New York Times bestselling author
“Thomas weaves a lush, intricate fantasy world around a gorgeous romance that kept me riveted until the very last page. What a breathtaking journey!” (Marie Lu, New York Times bestselling author of the Legend series )
"Sherry Thomas is the most powerfully original historical romance author writing today."—Lisa Kleypas, New York Times bestselling author
Visit Sherry at her website
Follow Sherry on twitter
Find Sherry on Facebook
A Study in Scarlet Women, A Conspiracy in Belgravia, and The Hollow of Fear, the first three entries in her gender-bending Lady Sherlock historical mystery series, are all NPR best books of the year. The Magnolia Sword, her 2019 release, is the first young adult retelling of the original Ballad of Mulan in the English language.
Sherry emigrated from China at age 13 and English is her second language.
“Sherry Thomas has done the impossible and crafted a fresh, exciting new version of Sherlock Holmes. From the carefully plotted twists to the elegant turns of phrase, A Study in Scarlet Women is a splendid addition to Holmes’s world. This book is everything I hoped it would be, and the next adventure cannot come too soon!” —Deanna Raybourn, New York Times bestselling author
“Thomas weaves a lush, intricate fantasy world around a gorgeous romance that kept me riveted until the very last page. What a breathtaking journey!” (Marie Lu, New York Times bestselling author of the Legend series )
"Sherry Thomas is the most powerfully original historical romance author writing today."—Lisa Kleypas, New York Times bestselling author
Visit Sherry at her website
Follow Sherry on twitter
Find Sherry on Facebook
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews
November 12, 2017
This is a Super Daft Plot. A hero who bears an insane resemblance to the heroine’s lost love and on that basis they launch into a relationship. I thought: I’m not reading that unless I’m desperate.
Well, reader, I’ve been desperate.
And, as Sherry Thomas looks to have left historical romance behind forever, I decided now was the time to read this book, the only ST I had left.
Daft plot or not, I fell into this novella head first and smiled throughout. In the very skilled hands of ST it didn’t seem so very daft. In fact, it played pretty successfully with my emotions because the writing is magic and powerful:
”It was an odd feeling: whether anyone cared for his face or not, he’d never been consistently mistaken for someone else. Particularly not in such a manner as to yank the beholder’s emotions left and right, for he could see them on her face: confusion, a flicker of involuntary hope, then resignation, the three bundled now in such a tight package that they were but one fleeting shadow upon her face, chased away the next moment by a conscious resolve on her part to appear normal and unaffected.”
I wondered how Thomas would overcome the fact that Isabelle is in love with another man at the outset of the book. How was a novella going to convince me that her feelings had truly changed and that she had genuinely fallen for this other man, who looked so like him? But, I was sold. She and Ralston make a quick, lovely, naughty friendship and I absolutely bought into them as a couple.
It’s perhaps a bit too quick – one long night of sharing their deepest secrets and then exchanging letters, But ST has a knack of doing a lot with a little - she writes powerful, punchy romances that manage to pull of magnitudes of emotion in fairly narrow word counts. So it proves with this one. I wanted more though. That typical novella problem – when they’re good, I still want more and so I can’t bring myself to give five stars [unless it’s written by Courtney Milan].
The resemblance issue actually ends up making for a fairly neat conflict. It’s one thing for Ralston to be told he looks like Fitz, it’s another thing entirely to see the resemblance up close and personal and to have to deal with the reality of it. Ralston freaks out, not wholly unreasonably, and then has to come back to his senses. It all makes for a sharp story.m
I liked this one.
Well, reader, I’ve been desperate.
And, as Sherry Thomas looks to have left historical romance behind forever, I decided now was the time to read this book, the only ST I had left.
Daft plot or not, I fell into this novella head first and smiled throughout. In the very skilled hands of ST it didn’t seem so very daft. In fact, it played pretty successfully with my emotions because the writing is magic and powerful:
”It was an odd feeling: whether anyone cared for his face or not, he’d never been consistently mistaken for someone else. Particularly not in such a manner as to yank the beholder’s emotions left and right, for he could see them on her face: confusion, a flicker of involuntary hope, then resignation, the three bundled now in such a tight package that they were but one fleeting shadow upon her face, chased away the next moment by a conscious resolve on her part to appear normal and unaffected.”
I wondered how Thomas would overcome the fact that Isabelle is in love with another man at the outset of the book. How was a novella going to convince me that her feelings had truly changed and that she had genuinely fallen for this other man, who looked so like him? But, I was sold. She and Ralston make a quick, lovely, naughty friendship and I absolutely bought into them as a couple.
It’s perhaps a bit too quick – one long night of sharing their deepest secrets and then exchanging letters, But ST has a knack of doing a lot with a little - she writes powerful, punchy romances that manage to pull of magnitudes of emotion in fairly narrow word counts. So it proves with this one. I wanted more though. That typical novella problem – when they’re good, I still want more and so I can’t bring myself to give five stars [unless it’s written by Courtney Milan].
The resemblance issue actually ends up making for a fairly neat conflict. It’s one thing for Ralston to be told he looks like Fitz, it’s another thing entirely to see the resemblance up close and personal and to have to deal with the reality of it. Ralston freaks out, not wholly unreasonably, and then has to come back to his senses. It all makes for a sharp story.m
I liked this one.
October 24, 2018
Without this review (or the opening two paragraphs) I wouldn't have read this book:
3.5
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
This book was a ridiculous premise and winds up being pretty stupidly cute. It actually worked, where Isabelle could come across as a bit vapid or shallow when pitted against the guarded Millie, here she comes across as vulnerable, sweet and free-spirited--kind and loving too. She was delightful and slightly uncomplicated (though not 'simple'). Which made the novella just right for her. It's definitely quick, yet somehow convincing.
However, I suggest you just read Wollstonecrafthomegirl's review.
3.5
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
This book was a ridiculous premise and winds up being pretty stupidly cute. It actually worked, where Isabelle could come across as a bit vapid or shallow when pitted against the guarded Millie, here she comes across as vulnerable, sweet and free-spirited--kind and loving too. She was delightful and slightly uncomplicated (though not 'simple'). Which made the novella just right for her. It's definitely quick, yet somehow convincing.
However, I suggest you just read Wollstonecrafthomegirl's review.
March 8, 2023
15 February 2021
While reading Not Quite a Husband I was thinking how sad it was. And unlike the books of Jasmine Guillory which I have enjoyed so much, there wasn't any of the main characters hanging out with their good friends and beloved relations. This, too, is very sad, and not just in one section near the end when the lovers encounter the barrier that keeps them apart.
Now that I think about it I recall that Rosamunde Pilcher is quite often very sad. So I guess that is a thing that I can appreciate in a book. Huh.
***
Well that shows me. The mood wasn't even a tiny bit sad after I stopped to write that. There were friends and relations and snacks. All manner of things are well.
***
13 July 2021
Another recent read that wasn't showing up. Seems like Goodreads is having some problems. It is not dealing well with rereads and changed text. Argh.
Anyway, lovely story, with unusual choices.
Library copy
While reading Not Quite a Husband I was thinking how sad it was. And unlike the books of Jasmine Guillory which I have enjoyed so much, there wasn't any of the main characters hanging out with their good friends and beloved relations. This, too, is very sad, and not just in one section near the end when the lovers encounter the barrier that keeps them apart.
Now that I think about it I recall that Rosamunde Pilcher is quite often very sad. So I guess that is a thing that I can appreciate in a book. Huh.
***
Well that shows me. The mood wasn't even a tiny bit sad after I stopped to write that. There were friends and relations and snacks. All manner of things are well.
***
13 July 2021
Another recent read that wasn't showing up. Seems like Goodreads is having some problems. It is not dealing well with rereads and changed text. Argh.
Anyway, lovely story, with unusual choices.
Library copy
April 17, 2013
Eight years ago, the love of Isabelle's life left her to marry a rich heiress, an act necessary to save his family's home. Though he and his wife had a platonic marriage, the years increased their intimacy until, finally, they consummate their marriage and reveal their love. It is a real disappointment to the now-widowed Isabelle, then, when Fitz rejects her request to leave his wife and live with her.
Isabelle is shocked, then, to see Fitz walking toward her home the next day. After a passionate kiss, however, she realizes it isn't Fitz, but rather her new neighbor, Ralston Fitzwilliam. He agrees to come to her in the middle of the night and give her what she never had with Fitz: one night of passion. But what happens when Isabelle realizes she might have a real future with Ralston?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Ten years ago, when there were "leftover" characters in a romance novel, the reader was either left to imagine their stories, or to read a full sequel that wasn't always merited. Lately, however, a new trend has started of inserting "half" sequels into series, allowing the author to wrap up a story line without a full novel. While I know some are opposed to this trend, I happen to be a pretty big fan. These mini-sequels are usually much cheaper than a full novel, and don't allot more time to a secondary character than is necessary.
Isabelle's story was the perfect situation for such a half-sequel. She had acted respectably in Ravishing the Heiress, but she had clearly been left heartbroken by the events of that book. Yet another good side to these half-sequels is that the "big misunderstandings" that tend to fill the plot of longer sequels are unnecessary. That was certainly the case here. Isabelle does not draw out the Ralston-as-Fitz sham, Ralston does not overreact when he learns of it...overall, it was a great use of this medium.
If you're looking to see how Isabelle's life gets put right again, you will certainly enjoy this story.
Isabelle is shocked, then, to see Fitz walking toward her home the next day. After a passionate kiss, however, she realizes it isn't Fitz, but rather her new neighbor, Ralston Fitzwilliam. He agrees to come to her in the middle of the night and give her what she never had with Fitz: one night of passion. But what happens when Isabelle realizes she might have a real future with Ralston?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Ten years ago, when there were "leftover" characters in a romance novel, the reader was either left to imagine their stories, or to read a full sequel that wasn't always merited. Lately, however, a new trend has started of inserting "half" sequels into series, allowing the author to wrap up a story line without a full novel. While I know some are opposed to this trend, I happen to be a pretty big fan. These mini-sequels are usually much cheaper than a full novel, and don't allot more time to a secondary character than is necessary.
Isabelle's story was the perfect situation for such a half-sequel. She had acted respectably in Ravishing the Heiress, but she had clearly been left heartbroken by the events of that book. Yet another good side to these half-sequels is that the "big misunderstandings" that tend to fill the plot of longer sequels are unnecessary. That was certainly the case here. Isabelle does not draw out the Ralston-as-Fitz sham, Ralston does not overreact when he learns of it...overall, it was a great use of this medium.
If you're looking to see how Isabelle's life gets put right again, you will certainly enjoy this story.
April 6, 2021
If you liked Ravishing the Heiress and ended up feeling bad for Isabelle, this gives her her HEA.
The premise for this one is simple, if a bit unbelievable. At the end of the last novel, Isabelle rented a place to be close to Fitz, but he decided to stay with Millie. Isabelle comes back to her leased home to pick up one last thing when she runs into Ralston Fitzwilliam, who is basically the exact copy of Fitz except that he's got brown hair. So why not proposition him for one night of fantasy?
Except because this is Sherry Thomas, you know "one night of fantasy" turns into one night of shared grief, sexual tension, and the start of a lasting relationship. We don't regret reading this because, y'know, Sherry Thomas, but it wasn't our favorite of hers.
5-Word Summaries:
Laine: One night with a clone.
Meg: Doppelgangers: better than the originals.
www.linktr.ee/plottrysts
The premise for this one is simple, if a bit unbelievable. At the end of the last novel, Isabelle rented a place to be close to Fitz, but he decided to stay with Millie. Isabelle comes back to her leased home to pick up one last thing when she runs into Ralston Fitzwilliam, who is basically the exact copy of Fitz except that he's got brown hair. So why not proposition him for one night of fantasy?
Except because this is Sherry Thomas, you know "one night of fantasy" turns into one night of shared grief, sexual tension, and the start of a lasting relationship. We don't regret reading this because, y'know, Sherry Thomas, but it wasn't our favorite of hers.
5-Word Summaries:
Laine: One night with a clone.
Meg: Doppelgangers: better than the originals.
www.linktr.ee/plottrysts
February 25, 2014
I love Sherry Thomas. every single word except this one. I did NOT want Isabelle to have a happy ending, she is truly awful and she certainly doesn't deserve to have a man who looks exactly like Fitz. 5 stars for the exquisite writing, 1 star for terrible Isabelle....equals 2 stars lol
February 1, 2023
3.5 stars
Very charming novella. I had my doubts about this Fitz/Fitzwilliam doppelgänger situation but it was capably pulled off and written beautifully (as expected) by Sherry Thomas.
Very charming novella. I had my doubts about this Fitz/Fitzwilliam doppelgänger situation but it was capably pulled off and written beautifully (as expected) by Sherry Thomas.
September 15, 2013
Ralston Fitzwilliam is curious about his pretty neighbor—curious enough to knock on her door. She opens it—and yanks him into a passionate embrace.
So now he’s even more curious.
If it was possible to die of embarrassment, Isabelle Englewood would do just that. Once she disengages her lips (and sundry other bits) and takes another look she realizes that the man she just snogged within an inch of his life is, in fact, not Fitz, the man she’s loved since childhood, the man who just this morning told her that, he has, unfortunately, fallen in love with his wife. This is a complete stranger.
She had just returned to the love-shack she’d leased for the two of them to collect her great-great grandma’s portrait, which happens to be a good-luck charm, and had planned to leave immediately to join her sister and children in Scotland. But… well, she knows opportunity when it knocks. The fact is, this doppelganger of Lord FitzHugh kissed her back—enthusiastically. And she really, really, had been looking forward to enjoying that comfortable bed upstairs. And if this guy turns the lights down and promises not to speak…
Ralston is shocked by her invitation, but he does return late that night with a bottle of good claret and a couple glasses to ease the way into a nice, cozy, intimate…
Chat.
I’m glad this was a novella—there really isn’t enough story for more. It’s nice to see Isabelle get her own HEA, but the conflict here wasn’t that compelling, at least to me. I’ll give this 3 stars because it was short and sweet, but I liked the other stories in this series better.
So now he’s even more curious.
If it was possible to die of embarrassment, Isabelle Englewood would do just that. Once she disengages her lips (and sundry other bits) and takes another look she realizes that the man she just snogged within an inch of his life is, in fact, not Fitz, the man she’s loved since childhood, the man who just this morning told her that, he has, unfortunately, fallen in love with his wife. This is a complete stranger.
She had just returned to the love-shack she’d leased for the two of them to collect her great-great grandma’s portrait, which happens to be a good-luck charm, and had planned to leave immediately to join her sister and children in Scotland. But… well, she knows opportunity when it knocks. The fact is, this doppelganger of Lord FitzHugh kissed her back—enthusiastically. And she really, really, had been looking forward to enjoying that comfortable bed upstairs. And if this guy turns the lights down and promises not to speak…
Ralston is shocked by her invitation, but he does return late that night with a bottle of good claret and a couple glasses to ease the way into a nice, cozy, intimate…
Chat.
I’m glad this was a novella—there really isn’t enough story for more. It’s nice to see Isabelle get her own HEA, but the conflict here wasn’t that compelling, at least to me. I’ll give this 3 stars because it was short and sweet, but I liked the other stories in this series better.
July 10, 2017
Continuing to make super life choices, obviously.
A couple of issues with this one,
1. This is one extreme case of insta-love. Especially given that it takes place immediately after Ravishing the Heiress (which now that I think about it is a terrible title) ended, and Isabelle is supposed to be absolutely heartbroken. I was originally on-board with it when they started letter-writing, and the book looked like it was gearing up towards admissions in-line with "this is clearly the start of something, and I look forward to seeing where it goes, hopefully something permanent." BUT NOPE.
2. The degree of resemblance was weird. The constant double-taking, I don't buy. I know they say everyone has a doppleganger, and I myself know of at least one case where a friend found theirs, but still, I didn't buy it. Especially when they resembled each other SO strongly people did double-takes and froze in shock, but also had different hair and eye colours? Really? I side-eye.
3. Fitz and Millie, god knows I love them, but exactly why were they in this book? Okay, sure, Fitzwilliam had to see Fitz and get a good idea of how extreme the resemblance was firsthand, but otherwise, what was the point? The scenes where they meet are beyond weird. And unnecessary.
I dunno, the biggest problem with this for me, is that even though Isabelle is not a bad person, and is very much a victim of circumstance in the previous book, I never really warmed to her. Partly because she makes some really questionable and inconsiderate choices, partly because in the previous book, the reader is meant to be rooting for Millie and Fitz, and partly because love triangles rarely work for me.
So yeah, this is fine. I'm glad everyone got a happy ending, but this is not without flaws.
A couple of issues with this one,
1. This is one extreme case of insta-love. Especially given that it takes place immediately after Ravishing the Heiress (which now that I think about it is a terrible title) ended, and Isabelle is supposed to be absolutely heartbroken. I was originally on-board with it when they started letter-writing, and the book looked like it was gearing up towards admissions in-line with "this is clearly the start of something, and I look forward to seeing where it goes, hopefully something permanent." BUT NOPE.
2. The degree of resemblance was weird. The constant double-taking, I don't buy. I know they say everyone has a doppleganger, and I myself know of at least one case where a friend found theirs, but still, I didn't buy it. Especially when they resembled each other SO strongly people did double-takes and froze in shock, but also had different hair and eye colours? Really? I side-eye.
3. Fitz and Millie, god knows I love them, but exactly why were they in this book? Okay, sure, Fitzwilliam had to see Fitz and get a good idea of how extreme the resemblance was firsthand, but otherwise, what was the point? The scenes where they meet are beyond weird. And unnecessary.
I dunno, the biggest problem with this for me, is that even though Isabelle is not a bad person, and is very much a victim of circumstance in the previous book, I never really warmed to her. Partly because she makes some really questionable and inconsiderate choices, partly because in the previous book, the reader is meant to be rooting for Millie and Fitz, and partly because love triangles rarely work for me.
So yeah, this is fine. I'm glad everyone got a happy ending, but this is not without flaws.
February 6, 2023
I hated Isabelle in Ravishing the Heiress. She was awful to Millie and her complete lack of caring about the scandal she would've caused and the grief/pain Millie would've had to endure for the rest of her life if she would've had her way made me despise her character.
In fact, reading her character in this makes her worse in my opinion considering how she talks about her late husband. This man gave her everything. He clearly loved her. He gave her children and made her a mother and gave her a good life. Still she basically said it wasn't enough because she only wanted those things from Fitz, a man who by his own admission said he never actually really loved Isabelle the way she loved him.
Then she meets Ralston Fitzwilliams, Fitz's look alike and she immediately tries to set up house with him, bringing him around her kids and basically saying, "well, he'll do since he looks like Fitz" and then we're supposed to believe that Ralston would be fine with a woman who he genuinely cares about for herself pretending that he's someone else.
I get that the author is trying to redeem Isabelle, but honestly this premise is so far fetched and unbelievable, there is zero chance Isabelle doesn't spend the rest of her life pretending that Ralston isn't actually Fitz despite what she says in the book.
This novella was completely unnecessary and makes me hate Isabelle more than in the original novel.
In fact, reading her character in this makes her worse in my opinion considering how she talks about her late husband. This man gave her everything. He clearly loved her. He gave her children and made her a mother and gave her a good life. Still she basically said it wasn't enough because she only wanted those things from Fitz, a man who by his own admission said he never actually really loved Isabelle the way she loved him.
Then she meets Ralston Fitzwilliams, Fitz's look alike and she immediately tries to set up house with him, bringing him around her kids and basically saying, "well, he'll do since he looks like Fitz" and then we're supposed to believe that Ralston would be fine with a woman who he genuinely cares about for herself pretending that he's someone else.
I get that the author is trying to redeem Isabelle, but honestly this premise is so far fetched and unbelievable, there is zero chance Isabelle doesn't spend the rest of her life pretending that Ralston isn't actually Fitz despite what she says in the book.
This novella was completely unnecessary and makes me hate Isabelle more than in the original novel.
January 27, 2014
I was rather weary of Isabelle, whom I had found quite distasteful and totally self-centered in Ravishing the heiress. She was not that awful there, though I believed some explanations were missing regarding her previous behavior, and even an apology to Millie and possibly Fitz. But those were not there.
I really liked the first encounter between Fitzwilliam and Isabelle. I also liked how their romantic meeting went on and how they built a budding relationship. A bit too quick in my opinion, especially considering the lack of explanation regarding Isabelle not being really in love with her former beloved.
However the whole subplot regarding the uncanny resemblance between Fitzhugh and Fitzwilliam just felt artificial and not really interesting.
I really liked the first encounter between Fitzwilliam and Isabelle. I also liked how their romantic meeting went on and how they built a budding relationship. A bit too quick in my opinion, especially considering the lack of explanation regarding Isabelle not being really in love with her former beloved.
However the whole subplot regarding the uncanny resemblance between Fitzhugh and Fitzwilliam just felt artificial and not really interesting.
December 28, 2013
This did make me appreciate Isabelle far more than Ravishing the Heiress but I didn't feel as though the Fitz-lookalike thing worked as well as supposed.
May 7, 2015
For a novella, and not having read book 2 from which this spins off, it was an easy read. I had no trouble following along as it was mostly a standalone story. As far as enjoyment goes, I'm iffy. As with most novellas, everything happens too quickly in order to fit the page length, so for me this is a reluctant three stars.
March 3, 2021
While I can respect Thomas for trying to give a secondary character their own happy ending, this just didn't work for me. After reading the last book, Isabelle is portrayed as a very unsympathetic and prejudiced character and I found that after reading this novella, my opinions didn't change. I only felt secondhand embarrassment because of this bizzare premise.
May 11, 2019
Nada del otro mundo, me hubiera gustado que fuera más largo y desarrollara más a los protagonistas y la historia
January 22, 2024
Splendid novella …. Starts off with a mistaken identity, passionate kissing … and ends up in the Lake District. Exquisite writing from ST as usual!! A gem. ❤️
August 17, 2025
This novella is low angst. In spite of a far fetched premise I enjoy the writing very much.
May 3, 2020
3.5/5
April 25, 2016
Another super cool book from Miss Thomas. Review to come.
*
A Sherry Thomas story of any length is pure literary joy, so on reading A Dance in Moonlight, just like another of her novellas, Claiming the Duchess, we are sure to be in for a fun read. The similarities between the two are great, because each focuses on a small set of characters.
This is part of the Fitzhugh series of books, so reading Beguiling the Beauty, Ravishing the Heiress and Tempting the Bride are essential reads.
This novella sits between books two and three. And don't be put off by its relative short length - there's plenty of story as our heroine Isabelle (initially) does a dumb thing, kissing a man she has only just met, under the illusion that he is, in fact, the man she was in love with from the previous story (Ravishing the Heiress). At this early point I was thinking 'come on, Isabelle, check who you're kissing!'...but she makes an honest mistake. Indeed Ralston does bear a strong similarity to her former love. Perhaps if we had lost someone in real life, only to see someone else looking very much like them, wouldn't we be forgiven for the error?
Fortunately Ralston acts the gentleman without lapsing into caricature, and Isabelle redeems her earlier forward actions as the story progresses.
To say more is to reveal a little too much. My advice is to read the books in order, and the enjoyment is all the better for it.
Books are meant to educate, regardless of the subject matter or genre. I always come away from a Sherry Thomas book thinking 'I must look that up' if I don't know the meaning of a word. She is an author par excellence, and I simply love reading her tales.
*
A Sherry Thomas story of any length is pure literary joy, so on reading A Dance in Moonlight, just like another of her novellas, Claiming the Duchess, we are sure to be in for a fun read. The similarities between the two are great, because each focuses on a small set of characters.
This is part of the Fitzhugh series of books, so reading Beguiling the Beauty, Ravishing the Heiress and Tempting the Bride are essential reads.
This novella sits between books two and three. And don't be put off by its relative short length - there's plenty of story as our heroine Isabelle (initially) does a dumb thing, kissing a man she has only just met, under the illusion that he is, in fact, the man she was in love with from the previous story (Ravishing the Heiress). At this early point I was thinking 'come on, Isabelle, check who you're kissing!'...but she makes an honest mistake. Indeed Ralston does bear a strong similarity to her former love. Perhaps if we had lost someone in real life, only to see someone else looking very much like them, wouldn't we be forgiven for the error?
Fortunately Ralston acts the gentleman without lapsing into caricature, and Isabelle redeems her earlier forward actions as the story progresses.
To say more is to reveal a little too much. My advice is to read the books in order, and the enjoyment is all the better for it.
Books are meant to educate, regardless of the subject matter or genre. I always come away from a Sherry Thomas book thinking 'I must look that up' if I don't know the meaning of a word. She is an author par excellence, and I simply love reading her tales.
December 27, 2015
I love Ms. Thomas..
First of all let me say I’m so tired of the name Isabelle, almost as much as I’m sick to death of Minerva. Isabelle is used way too often in books and Minerva is just a hideous name for a heroine. Find something new, will ya’ authors?
That being said, it was quite funny when Ralston met Isabelle and was greeted with a passionate kiss, even though they’d never met. But, her offer to him a few moments later was just a little too crappy for me to abide. I can’t believe he didn’t just tell her to go fly a kite and leave her. BUT, knowing how men can be I wasn’t surprised at the outcome. The offer was crazy but it worked out beautifully. Their time in her room was just marvelous.
I couldn’t see her explaining how Fitz and Ralston looked so much alike and then try to convince people she wasn’t after Ralston because he looked like Fitz’s twin and she was just replacing the man she loves with a look-alike. Unless, of course, they moved to where no one knew them.
This was a fun love story, I love the letters they shared, but it was nonsensical as far as anyone EVER believing she wasn’t trying to replace Fitz. I mean, she wasn’t but it would always look like it.
There was no swearing, no sexual tension to speak of but a nice bedroom scene.
First of all let me say I’m so tired of the name Isabelle, almost as much as I’m sick to death of Minerva. Isabelle is used way too often in books and Minerva is just a hideous name for a heroine. Find something new, will ya’ authors?
That being said, it was quite funny when Ralston met Isabelle and was greeted with a passionate kiss, even though they’d never met. But, her offer to him a few moments later was just a little too crappy for me to abide. I can’t believe he didn’t just tell her to go fly a kite and leave her. BUT, knowing how men can be I wasn’t surprised at the outcome. The offer was crazy but it worked out beautifully. Their time in her room was just marvelous.
I couldn’t see her explaining how Fitz and Ralston looked so much alike and then try to convince people she wasn’t after Ralston because he looked like Fitz’s twin and she was just replacing the man she loves with a look-alike. Unless, of course, they moved to where no one knew them.
This was a fun love story, I love the letters they shared, but it was nonsensical as far as anyone EVER believing she wasn’t trying to replace Fitz. I mean, she wasn’t but it would always look like it.
There was no swearing, no sexual tension to speak of but a nice bedroom scene.
August 20, 2015
I've found Sherry Thomas to be an excellent pen. Her stories are enjoyable, her characters very likeable, her writing superb and her dialogues very well done.
My only issue with this one was the fact that not even a day had gone by since Fitz had broken her heart. Still, I thought it was very sweet and had me smiling a lot.
My only issue with this one was the fact that not even a day had gone by since Fitz had broken her heart. Still, I thought it was very sweet and had me smiling a lot.
July 26, 2014
A sweet little novella, a bit unbelievable, but hey, that's romance, amirite?
July 2, 2021
Isabelle falls for someone who is identical to her old flame. Even if I didn't hate the character from the last book, I would hate the plot of this one.
May 21, 2017
3.5 stars rounded high. I didn't think I was going to like this book from the early scenes. I thought them too modern for the time period. But, my opinion turned a quick 180 during the exchange of letters. I liked that the characters developed as their relationship grew. Next time, I wouldn't doubt Sherry Thomas anymore.
July 30, 2018
The first chapter had me raising my eyebrows, not certain I was going to enjoy where the story seemed to be headed, BUT this is Sherry Thomas and the plot took a nice turn which led to a very fulfilling romance.
October 17, 2021
ebook - 3.5/5. This quick little novella directly follows Ravishing the Heiress and is even more bonkers a plot, but is also sweet and funny and satisfying. It’s interesting to see Isabelle’s side and I enjoyed her letters with Fitzwilliam.
January 30, 2023
Fairly silly. Isabelle and Mr. Fitzwilliam’s touching exchanges were its saving grace.
December 15, 2021
Really didn't think this novella would work because the premise is so out there (the hero in this looks almost exactly like the hero in another book), but it totally does, and Sherry Thomas does an incredibly amount of character building in a very small number of pages. I hope ST comes back to HR sometime in the future ;_;
April 11, 2013
ยอมรับนะคะว่า เรามีอคติกับนางเอกในเล่มนี้ เราไม่ชอบตัวตนของเธอที่มีบทบาทเป็น "นางร้าย" ในเรื่อง Ravishing the Heiress ทำให้ความไม่ชอบติดใจตามมาจนถึงเล่มนี้ กระนั้นเราก็หวังนะคะว่า ด้วยความสามารถของเชอร์รี โธมัส เธอจะทำให้เราเปลี่ยนความรู้สึกได้
บทสรุปก็คือ เราไม่ชอบเธอน้อยลงค่ะ แต่ไม่ได้เปลี่ยนกลับมาชอบเธอได้ เรารู้สึกว่า ในตัวตนของเธอมีบางอย่างสำคัญมากที่คนแต่งไม่ได้ถ่ายทอดออกมาอย่างชัดเจน และนี่คือปัญหาใหญ่ของเราในการอ่านเล่มนี้ เราพยายามอย่างมากที่จะเข้าใจคาแร็คเตอร์ของอิซาเบล มีหลายช่วงในเรื่องที่เรารู้สึกแบบ เกือบเข้าใจเธอแล้ว แต่คนแต่งก็พาเราออกห่างไปอีก
เป็นครั้งแรกเลยนะคะที่เรารู้สึกเหมือนคนแต่งไม่อาจแสดงอารมณ์ของคาแร็คเตอร์ให้ชัดเจนพอที่จะทำให้เราเข้าใจพวกเขาได้ (ความรู้สึกเราก็คือ--- จะถูกไม่มีถูกก็ไม่รู้นะคะ แต่เราคิดของเราอย่างนี้ --- คิดถึงผลงานของเชอร์รี โธมัสที่เขียนให้กับสนพ.ที่มีบรรณาธิการประจำ และมีประสบการณ์พอที่จะคุมการเล่าเรื่องให้มีทิศทางและความชัดเจนได้)
จุดนี้สำคัญมาก เพราะเราคิด (ไม่รู้ว่าเป็นการคิดไปเองไหม แต่เป็นสิ่งที่เราพอจับได้จากการอ่านเล่มนี้) อิซาเบลไม่ได้ต้องการฟิทซ์คืน เธอแค่ต้องการบางอย่าง หลังจากสูญเสียสามีไป ฟิทซ์คือคนรักคนแรก เธอคิดว่า เขาจะทำให้ทุกอย่างเป็นปกติเหมือนเดิมได้ นั่นคือเหตุผลที่เธอทำในสิ่งที่เธอในเรื่อง Ravishing the Heiress และที่เธอทำในเล่มนี้ แก่นก็คือ เธอรักสามีของเธอ และเสียใจในความตายของเขา
ถ้าเรื่องเป็นอย่างนั้น เราก็จะเข้าถึงคาแร็คเตอร์ของอิซาเบลมากขึ้น แต่นี่เราก็ไม่ชัวร์นะคะว่า มันเป็นแบบที่เราคิดไหม เพราะเรื่องมันกำกวมเหลือเกิน
เราชอบจดหมายที่อิซาเบลล์ส่งไปมากับรัลส์ตัน ถ้าเราไม่ยึดติดกับความไม่ชอบตัวตนของเธอมาก่อน ส่วนนี้น่าจะทำให้เราชอบเรื่องนี้มากกว่านี้
โดยรวมอ่านเล่มนี้แล้วขอบอกว่ากลัว ไม่อยากให้คนแต่งเขียนเรื่องขายเองเลย กลัวเธอจะหาบรรณาธิการเก่ง ๆ มาขัดเกลางานเขียนของเธอไม่ได้น่ะค่ะ เรื่องสั้นเล่มนี้เราอ่านพร้อม ๆ กับการอ่านชุดฟิทซ์ฮิวส์นะคะ เราเห็นความแตกต่างอย่างชัดเจนเลย
คะแนนที่ 57
บทสรุปก็คือ เราไม่ชอบเธอน้อยลงค่ะ แต่ไม่ได้เปลี่ยนกลับมาชอบเธอได้ เรารู้สึกว่า ในตัวตนของเธอมีบางอย่างสำคัญมากที่คนแต่งไม่ได้ถ่ายทอดออกมาอย่างชัดเจน และนี่คือปัญหาใหญ่ของเราในการอ่านเล่มนี้ เราพยายามอย่างมากที่จะเข้าใจคาแร็คเตอร์ของอิซาเบล มีหลายช่วงในเรื่องที่เรารู้สึกแบบ เกือบเข้าใจเธอแล้ว แต่คนแต่งก็พาเราออกห่างไปอีก
เป็นครั้งแรกเลยนะคะที่เรารู้สึกเหมือนคนแต่งไม่อาจแสดงอารมณ์ของคาแร็คเตอร์ให้ชัดเจนพอที่จะทำให้เราเข้าใจพวกเขาได้ (ความรู้สึกเราก็คือ--- จะถูกไม่มีถูกก็ไม่รู้นะคะ แต่เราคิดของเราอย่างนี้ --- คิดถึงผลงานของเชอร์รี โธมัสที่เขียนให้กับสนพ.ที่มีบรรณาธิการประจำ และมีประสบการณ์พอที่จะคุมการเล่าเรื่องให้มีทิศทางและความชัดเจนได้)
จุดนี้สำคัญมาก เพราะเราคิด (ไม่รู้ว่าเป็นการคิดไปเองไหม แต่เป็นสิ่งที่เราพอจับได้จากการอ่านเล่มนี้) อิซาเบลไม่ได้ต้องการฟิทซ์คืน เธอแค่ต้องการบางอย่าง หลังจากสูญเสียสามีไป ฟิทซ์คือคนรักคนแรก เธอคิดว่า เขาจะทำให้ทุกอย่างเป็นปกติเหมือนเดิมได้ นั่นคือเหตุผลที่เธอทำในสิ่งที่เธอในเรื่อง Ravishing the Heiress และที่เธอทำในเล่มนี้ แก่นก็คือ เธอรักสามีของเธอ และเสียใจในความตายของเขา
ถ้าเรื่องเป็นอย่างนั้น เราก็จะเข้าถึงคาแร็คเตอร์ของอิซาเบลมากขึ้น แต่นี่เราก็ไม่ชัวร์นะคะว่า มันเป็นแบบที่เราคิดไหม เพราะเรื่องมันกำกวมเหลือเกิน
เราชอบจดหมายที่อิซาเบลล์ส่งไปมากับรัลส์ตัน ถ้าเราไม่ยึดติดกับความไม่ชอบตัวตนของเธอมาก่อน ส่วนนี้น่าจะทำให้เราชอบเรื่องนี้มากกว่านี้
โดยรวมอ่านเล่มนี้แล้วขอบอกว่ากลัว ไม่อยากให้คนแต่งเขียนเรื่องขายเองเลย กลัวเธอจะหาบรรณาธิการเก่ง ๆ มาขัดเกลางานเขียนของเธอไม่ได้น่ะค่ะ เรื่องสั้นเล่มนี้เราอ่านพร้อม ๆ กับการอ่านชุดฟิทซ์ฮิวส์นะคะ เราเห็นความแตกต่างอย่างชัดเจนเลย
คะแนนที่ 57
May 30, 2016
Completely and utterly bored by this one, which was a shame. Going into this novella, I didn't realize it was a story about Isabelle (from Millie and Fitz's story) who I unfortunately just don't click with or sympathize with at all as a character. Fitzwilliam also wasn't a very distinct character and the plot was unbelievable in a less-than-entertaining kind of way. However, it was nice to see small glimpses of Millie and Fitz actually living happily as husband and wife, although I still think Fitz is a horse's ass.
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