Historical Romance with Suspense

Jerome has never forgotten Stella. Now that she is in Paris, can one night of passion turn into more? An evil man is pursuing Stella. She stole something of his, but he also wants to possess her. The marquess pursuing Stella is a defiler of women, so she does not feel bad having stolen from him. What happens when he catches up with her? I enjoyed this entertaining story and would recommend it to those who like historical romance with suspense.

Obsession at the Opera by Delphine Roy is an excellent second chance romance that takes place in France in 1802. Stella and Jerome had a one night stand about a year ago and they cross paths again. They've never forgotten about each other. I could tell this was going to be a great book with the smoldering, tense encounter when they recognize each other again. And there's an adorable baby, little Clara. Jerome wonders if the child is his. Stella has an unsavory character from her past that is trying to hunt her down, so Jerome suggests that they marry. Ah, a marriage of convenience is like catnip to me. Hopefully Nicholas' book will be next.
Thank you to netgalley for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

Obsession at the Opera by Delphine Roy is a second chance romance which takes place in France after the revolution. Jerome and his sisters have returned to France to partially reclaim their lives after having been forced to flee for England. Jerome has just started his own architectural firm, which unlike today, seems to act as general contractor as well as designer. He is at the home of a client, Monsieur de Marbois to appraise a possible purchase that Marbois wishes to make. They wait a few moments and then she arrives: a lady from his past, not that there are many. He gets her subliminal message that he not recognize her, so he refrains and gives an honest appraisal of the item she has for sale. It is later, when he attends the opera with Marbois, that he recognizes her singing the lead. He is hesitant to approach her but when Marbois goes backstage to woo another lady, he sees a man try to break into her dressing room. He is there to help and escorts her home, much to her displeasure. There he discovers she has a child that might be his.

This is a fun departure from many other of these type of books. He has to be open to many surprises as she has them to deliver. It is complicated. To make a long story short, they marry as a means of protecting her and the child. It is a marriage of convenience, although both wish it were more, but neither communicates that wish. She quits the opera, also to keep her safe, but she misses singing. They are invited to a house party where she is asked to sing and it restores a missing piece in her heart. Both of these are good characters, with talents of their own. The plot is decent but of course, relies on her being kidnapped at one point, a popular trope, sadly. It was really a job to read. Thanks, Ms Roy!

I was invited to read Obsession at the Opera by Dragonblade. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #Dragonblade #DelphineRoy #ObsessionAtTheOpera

A historical fiction that has some suspense and a little intrigue.. I loved it! At one point I wasn’t sure you could trust. I can’t say more than the author did in the details. Read it. You won’t be disappointed with this one.. I highly recommend this one, a little different than normal fluff., it’s still there but much more to be interested in. Special thanks to the following for allowing me to read and review and to be able yo freely give my own honest opinions. #NetGalley, #Delphine Roy, #ObsessionAtTheOpera. Publication Date: March 28, 2024. Go and get your copy now for a rainy day read!

A year after their one passionate night and on another continent, Jerome and Stella are surprised to meet again and at a clandestine antique sale to boot!

Jerome has resettled in his native Paris to set up his own architectural firm, while opera singer Stella is on the run from the vicious father of her child!

Still entranced by Stella, Jerome is honour bound to protect her at any cost…

This is my first book I’ve read from Delphine Roy, and it will definitely not be my last! After all the High Bauer in the previous book in the series, I knew I had to get my hands on this one and I’m glad I did. Royce, unique characters and circumstances creates a really fun and fresh spin on your typical historical romance. This is a Novella length book, but it reads and feels more like a full length novel with the amount of depth these characters have, and the action that the story goes through.

Thanks to Dragonblade Publishing and Netgalley for my review copy. Opinions are my own.

Second in a series that I absolutely love. Set in post revolutionary France, this is a fast paced yet fully engaging story that can't be put down. The chemistry between the two main characters is fanominal. No unnecessary lengthy details. Enough steam for all readers. Just a joy from beginning to end.

What an amazing book, it took my breath away. Obsession at the Opera had lots to offer and the chemistry was a sizzler. The characters were great. Happy reading.

Genre: historical romance
Paris, 1802

A year ago, Jerome Saint Yves had an encounter with an enchanting young opera singer in England. When he sees her in Paris in an antique store, and he realizes that she’s likely running from something, his world upends. Stella Cardinelli has been singing at Theatre Olympique under an assumed name to protect her identity. Jerome’s protective instincts make him want to provide her whatever security he can, including that of his name. Her continued singing career might endanger her, but she also chafes against Jerome’s restrictions. Learning to love one another will mean finding a balance between safety and a love of performing.

Stepping into post-revolutionary France feels like a different world than England. For those of us who pay attention to historical details and the current events of the times, it’s almost like a breath of fresh air. This series from Delphine Roy gives us a chance to see a different political period in a different locale than most of us are used to, and whenever I open a book set on the Continent in the late 18th or early 19th century, it immediately feels like a bigger world than the confines of England in the same era, despite how the British Empire positioned itself in the world.

Jerome is absolutely gone for Stella the moment he sees her again. He’s willing to do whatever it takes to see her safe. Stella has in her care a young infant - it’s clear from the beginning that she did not give birth to the child but that she has adopted her - and Jerome doesn’t even blink an eye. First, he assumes it might be his, as the timeline adds up. Stella insists that the child isn’t his, but doesn’t tell him her parentage initially, and Jerome takes everything without batting an eye.

Obsession at the Opera is an absolutely charming read. It's the second in a series, but can easily be read as a standalone. At under 200 pages is a perfect treat. Sometimes when a book is too long, it looks to add extra details that muddle the plot, but Roy delivers such a tidy story that it leaves the reader completely satisfied.

What do you want when you read a romance novel? For us, Obsession at the Opera has it all. Jerome is an architect; Stella is an opera singer. A year ago, they spent one unforgettable night together in England. (It's truly unforgettable: they think about each other constantly in a terrible case of mutual pining.) They run into each other one night in Paris, and it's back ON, baby. (They don't fall back in bed right away, to be clear: they just know they won't be able to stay away from each other.)

The book is on the short side, but that means there's nothing extraneous on the page. Stella is in danger; Jerome is determined to protect her. Stella is from the demimonde; Jerome is a respectable man. Stella is hot for Jerome; Jerome is hot for Stella. If you love reading MMCs who are absolutely gone for their FMCs, and FMCs who are wary but not stupid, this will hit those buttons.

Let's chat spice: yes, this is a short book; yes, it takes a while for these two to get together. However, both of them spend time thinking about their previous encounter in very explicit terms; and both of them spend quality time alone (ahem, ahem) while doing that. (Ugh, Stella gives Jerome one of her handkerchiefs and let's just say it stars a featuring role in a very memorable scene.)

Long review short? If you like historical romance, you'll want to pick this one up.

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.

I simply loved this story. Jerome is the perfect man on paper. A little jealous, in lovey lust with Stella, a hero complex, and the desire to make Stella happy. Stella is just as in lovey/lust with a man that was considerate of her and never treated her like she was below him. Also got to see more of Nicolas being the street smart man rather than just the rakey rouge in the previous book. This book had the perfect amount of romance plot vs villainous past storyline. This series is fantastic and I can’t wait for the third. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. In exchange for my honest opinion.

This is a fantastic novel if you like erotica and historical pieces. It’s beautifully and tastefully written full of plot turns that make you truly feel like you’re in the story with how elaborate the description or the characters are. This story has everything , plot twists, heat, very well written characters. Trying not to give too much away but the ending is also extremely satisfying as are many scenes .Would recommend..