Tamara Allen

That was absolutely magical, and I loved it--every bit and piece.

So many twists and turns and slow-burning romance and mystery, that I never knew what would come next.

An authentic and entrancing world that made you believe and see just how the resolution of the story fit perfectly. I couldn't have wanted anything more from this story.

Characters beyond just the main two, Morgan and Ezra, who made you fall deeply in love with every scene.

Such funny banter, confusion, and situations stemming show more from the cultural and vocabulary differences from the twenty-first to the eighteenth century. I was tearing up from laughter.

And then I was tearing up from sadness and not knowing what was coming, 'cause, honestly, with the realism of the story, there were a few times where I was in deep dread of the ending.

I ended up reading this all the way through in practically one go until almost 3:30am, it was that engrossing and good. Also made me give up a bit of my romanticizing of the past because of its true depiction of the past and comparisons to our time :)

And, I haven't highlighted this many sections in a book in ages! Wonderfully accurate phrasing and dialect. Plus, just really beautiful writing.

Basically (and obviously), I really, really adored this story on every level. It's now on my all time favorites shelf, and I recommend it to everyone who likes the above elements. Or, just a really great story that actually has a story entwined with the romance, too!

I have so much eternal love for this book. show less

Tamara Allen releases new books far too infrequently so each one is cause to rejoice. Invitation to the Dance doesn't disappoint. In turn of the century New York City, a cautious new copy editor and a brash journalist go from enemies to friends to lovers when they are forced to work together to get the Society story of the year, which turns out to be more than they anticipated. This is a slow-burn romance (neither character even admits to being homosexual until more than a third of the book show more is done, and the first kiss takes place well after the halfway mark) but it feels completely appropriate to the setting. Instead of longing looks we get lots of witty banter, interesting secondary characters (including a sweet M/F romance), and period detail that makes you feel like you are trying to hail a cab on Broadway right before Christmas in a cold wind.

While Allen doesn't shy away from the realities of being a gay couple when it was still a crime, she's also rather matter of fact about the ways that Charlie and Will find to be alone together, so it doesn't feel like their sexuality is the barrier keeping them apart. Once they admit their feelings, the conflict revolves around the actions they have taken to insinuate themselves into High Society and the friends and enemies they have made along the way.

I can't understand why Tamara Allen isn't a bigger name in MM romance, but I look forward to each release with great anticipation. I'm already planning a re-read in the very near future because I already miss Charlie and Will and want to spend more time with them. To resort to a cliche - don't turn down this Invitation (sorry, couldn't help myself)! show less

There's a little bit of a story with this book.

If you know me intimately enough to find out I write (bad) historical fiction and publish it as fanfic online, then you'll know how similar this story is to my own large one. Please don't sue me Tamara--trust me when I say I hadn't heard of this and was pretty stoked when an anonymous message recommended it to me on my blog.

Well, a handful-of-a-lot months later I found an e-copy through the LA library, and 3 days later I was done. I never show more wanted to write again (God how horribly stilted my writing was in comparison) and I just wanted to reread for the first time all over again.

There's nothing much else to say except that this book was fun. I loved the setting (this is what historical fiction should be about--well researched and for world-building), I loved the romance, I loved the pace and the characters and the drama. It was as my friend said "like eating candy". It was a horribly niche treat.

I eventually figured out the anonymous message was none other than my friend Kaija, and that her dumb Vancouver library doesn't even have the book. She has my amazon kindle info now, and I'm happy to say Tamara has also become a bit of a star with us (thanks for adding me back on twitter;;;)--we're both pretty stoked that something like this exists and her passion and care for something so... esoteric. We're book clubbing it a bit and like to joke about asking the author to explain bits to us we can't understand as we're both fairly literary and love a good explication (so Tamara if you're free in the distant future *call me hand signal*)

The only thing pulling me away from giving it 5 stars is that I felt the writing in the beginning was a bit confusing, and I either grew to better understand it or it did indeed get better. I felt like i had to reread parts sometimes because it wasn't terribly clear, but beyond that--hell it was a good time. I live for cliché: all romance, post WWI and gay together. I absolutely recommend it if you're looking for something sweet, affirming, and fun. show less

Actions speak louder than words...which is my response to those who say Tamara Allen's latest book isn't romantic enough. Are there numerous sex scenes? No. Do the two M/Cs ever say they love each other? I don't think they do, nor is it necessary. Yet for anyone who likes a slow burn love story rich with historical detail, The Road to Silver Plume will be very rewarding. Allen writes late 19th/early 20th century historical romance with a eye and ear for this period of enormous change, and show more the search to uncover a money counterfeiting ring is set in the context of key decisions about to be made about monetary policy and the silver standard.

As always, Allen's characters grow and change through the course of the novel (hard to believe it takes place over the course of less than a week). Emlyn Strickland proves to himself and the world that he is brave and daring enough to be a field agent, not just an expert in spotting counterfeit coins. And Darrow Gardiner - well, he stays a rogue right up to the last line of the book, but his vow to avenge those responsible for his six-year incarceration at Sing Sing (including Emlyn) slowly turns into something more honorable. The growing attraction between the two is understated until the last quarter of the book, which is also when the adventure ratchets up exponentially and both MCs have to rely on their courage, honor and cunning to keep each other alive.

Allen released this book very quietly on December 24, 2015, and it was one of the nicest Christmas presents I gave myself. show less