Diamonds & Deceit (At Somerton, #2)

Summary:

"One house, two worlds...book two in our sumptuous and enticing YA series about the servants and gentry at Somerton Court.
A house divided...
London is a whirl of balls and teas, alliances and rivalries. Rose has never felt more out of place. With the Season in full swing, she can't help but still feel a servant dressed up in diamonds and silk. Then Rose meets Alexander Ross, a young Scottish duke. Rose has heard the rumors about Ross's sordid past just like everyone else has. Yet he alone treats her as a friend. Rose knows better than to give her heart to an aristocrat with such a reputation, but it may be too late.
Ada should be happy. She is engaged to a handsome man who shares her political passions and has promised to support her education. So why does she feel hollow inside? Even if she hated Lord Fintan, she would have no choice but to go through with the marriage. Every day a new credit collector knocks on the door of their London flat, demanding payment for her cousin William's expenditures. Her father's heir seems determined to bring her family to ruin, and only a brilliant marriage can save Somerton Court and the Averleys' reputation.
Meanwhile, at Somerton, Sebastian is out of his mind with worry for his former valet Oliver, who refuses to plead innocent to the murder charges against him--for a death caused by Sebastian himself. Sebastian will do whatever he can to help the boy he loves, but his indiscretion is dangerous fodder for a reporter with sharp eyes and dishonorable intentions.
The colorful cast of the At Somerton series returns in this enthralling sequel about class and fortune, trust and betrayal, love and revenge."

        Diamonds & Deceit was everything I had hoped Cinders & Sapphires was going to be, it had the glitz and glamour, the intrigue and the drama. Even though it was entirely predictable and melodramatic, it was perfection. I honestly wasn't even interested in reading Diamonds & Deceit after how disappointed I was in Cinders & Sapphires but it made up for it in full. 

     The addition of Alexander Ross was exactly what I needed, he reminded me of Mr. Darcy a little and I was SO happy to see that there was less Sebastian. Although, I like him as a character I did not enjoy his storyline. The ending however is where the intrigue begins and I cannot wait to see what will happen! It was a giant cliffhanger and it is very reminiscent of Season 2 of Downton Abbey. In conclusion, if you were like me and were not wowed by Book 1... try out Diamonds & Deceit,  I could hardly put it down.