Being unable to stay awake through most non-fiction books, I love when an author sneaks history into a story. Though it’s not necessarily sneaking it in when you know the genre is historical fiction, but you get the idea. As author Melissa De La Cruz, gives us a peek into the lives of the early colonists, it was interesting to read about how exclusive they were when it came to marriage. They kept it all between just a few wealthy families, thinking they were superior to those who weren’t the first colonists–which is ironic when you consider the fact that they hadn’t arrived much earlier themselves. It’s always fun to read about fancy parties, arranged marriages, everyone being all proper and such, but it is even better when you get to hear about someone who has been brought up that way but refuses to conform. Eliza and Alex would’ve been fantastic people to meet. They were both kind, down-to-earth, hard-working individuals with high morals. Unfortunately, having come from completely different backgrounds, their Romeo and Juliet-type romance was doomed for failure. Fortunately, the impossibility of it all changed because of the war. De La Cruz delivers a compelling love story with a scandal and suspense that you will think about long after completion. Fans of historical fiction or romance will adore Alex & Emma.

Review of an Advance Reader Copy provided by the Publisher

Content Analysis:

Profanity/Language:  5 religious exclamations; 4 mild obscenities; 1 religious profanity; 2 derogatory names.

Violence/Gore:  Many (36) brief incidents including characters wanting to hurt another; sharpening knife to carve duck; character worried about another dying; character wants to die so another doesn’t worry about him; second-hand reports of death; reference to many slaves dying; reference to hurricane causing much destruction including death; reference to character receiving an injury during war; character helps soldiers who are hurt; reference to fighting squirrels; reference to character having pox and scratching until bleeding; references to injured soldiers; references to fighting war; reference to where people are hanged; second-hand report of character getting hanged; reference to sheep getting killed; character injures ankle; characters have arm scratched in order to receive immunization; characters get punched; characters get attacked, some shot and killed.

Sex/Nudity:  Many (30) brief incidents including female character has arms around male character while riding horse; dancing at a ball; touching hand and back; flirting; holding hands; walking arm in arm; hugging; kissing; dressed pushed up breasts; character’s dress compelled one to look at cleavage; reference to unmarried woman being pregnant; innuendo; reference to mistress; reference to brothel; male character has hand on female character’s (clothed) hip; male character tries to kiss and possibly have sex with female character against her will (not completely clear what his intentions are as he is just standing over her); reference to men going to prostitutes; girls going to hayloft with men; implied sex.

Mature Subject Matter:

Slavery, war, death.

Alcohol / Drug Use:

Characters drinking at a party; soldiers smoking; men smoke cigars and  drink whiskey at dinner party; drinking at wedding.