Rumors (Luxe Series #2) » (Bargain)

Anna Godbersen was born in Berkeley, California, and educated at Barnard College. She currently lives in Brooklyn, New York, where she is at work on the sequel to Bright Young Things.

After bidding good-bye to New York's brightest star, Elizabeth Holland, rumors continue to fly about her untimely demise.

All eyes are on those closest to the dearly departed: her mischievous sister, Diana, now the family's only hope for redemption; New York's most notorious cad, Henry Schoon-maker, the flame Elizabeth never extinguished; the seductive Penelope Hayes, poised to claim all that her best friend left behind — including Henry; even Elizabeth's scheming former maid, Lina Broud, who discovers that while money matters and breeding counts, gossip is the new currency.

As old friends become rivals, Manhattan's most dazzling socialites find their futures threatened by whispers from the past. In this delicious sequel to The Luxe, nothing is more dangerous than a scandal...or more precious than a secret.

Children's Literature

This sequel to Godbersen's previous YA novel, The Luxe, continues the stories of Elizabeth and Diana Holland, Henry Schoonmaker, Penelope Hayes, and Carolina Broud at the very end of 1899 in Manhattan. Elizabeth has joined her true love, Will Keller, in Carolina where he is exploring for oil. Only her sister and Penelope know she's alive, but rumors are flying among high society that she might not really be dead. Carolina has used the money she made selling Holland family secrets to set herself up as a lady at a fancy hotel. She believes that, once she finds Will, her makeover will convince him that he made a mistake in passing her over for Elizabeth. Diana and Henry are still engaged in their clandestine love for each other, while Penelope is working behind the scenes to become the next Mrs. Henry Schoonmaker. The rich descriptions of manners, mode and settings are great fun for historical fiction fans. Snippets of gossip and advice columns preface each chapter to lend an aura of authenticity. Romance readers will also find this an enjoyable if somewhat erratic ride—one can't help but feel emotionally manipulated by the author. There are no romantic happy endings here, but the stage is certainly set for the sequel. Reviewer: Paula McMillen, Ph.D.