Status Updates From Bliss (de Saint Vallier Bro...

This is exquisite! (Bliss, indeed.) Even more so than I remembered. I'm highlighting passages constantly, not only for the beauty of the language and descriptions, but for character insights so well wrought. It's no wonder Meredith Duran says this is her favorite historical romance. Duran is definitely a literary descendant of Cuevas/Ivory.

Wait…… Sebastian and Marie…..?

I KNEW the bride was going to say no!!!!!!!

Noooo not the Romeo and Juliet

Waitttt did Mrs Besom know the starting price was going to be 15,000 francs 😭

I like that the book opens with Sebastien, giving us time to empathize with him before we go into Hannah’s POV. He seems cold from her perspective but we know better.

All this stuff about seeing Nardi as someone who’s already dead - Judy Cuevas is so real for writing that. Like her writing style is beautiful, filled with lovely turns of phrase - but to have something like THAT thrown in there… it’s like substance to give weight to all the style.

4th read (group read)! this book - as with all books by Judy - get better with multiple rereads. it is my personal theory that Black Silk, Bliss and Dance are thematically connected - specifically art and eroticism.