What Clara Becker loves most in the world is composing music, but in the 1830s, society does not want a woman composer. Because of that, her father, drowning in debt, puts her brother's name as the author and sells the work to publishers. When famous violinist Darien Reynard discovers some of Becker's work, he knows he must meet the artist whose work spoke to him so highly and beg him to go on tour. Desperate for money, the Becker family agrees that Clara and her brother will both go and keep up the pretense, but when Clara and Darien start to hear the music within each other, their secret will be harder and harder to keep.

SONATA FOR A SCOUNDREL by Anthea Lawson is a wonderful historical romance filled with music. Lawson writes smoothly and the romance is absolutely wonderful. I especially like how Darien has a woman he used to love. She didn't die or turn out to be a liar, but was genuinely not a bad person that things didn't work out with. It gives the story a nice realistic depth to it that can sometimes be hard to find in romances.

Lawson has a clear voice as a writer, and the musical touches to the story give it an excellent edge of originality. It definitely made me want to learn to be a musician like the main characters! I love the historicism with Clara's struggles as a composer and how well she fits into the world, but is still relatable as a character in modern times.

All in all, SONATA FOR A SCOUNDREL makes for a very enjoyable read that would be great for any fans of historical romance.

Book Summary

* 2014 RITA Award Finalist!*

The Muse...

Clara Becker is a supremely gifted composer - a talent of little to use to a woman in 1830s Europe. Her compositions only have worth when they are published under her brother's name, yet this deception barely enables them to scrape out a living in the poorest quarter of London.

Meets the Master...

Darien Reynard, the most celebrated musician in Europe, pursues success with a single-minded intensity. When he comes across Becker's compositions, he knows that this music will secure his place in history. Darien tracks the composer down and, with some difficulty, convinces the man to tour with him. Mr. Becker agrees, but with the most unusual condition that he bring along his sister...

Set against the glittering backdrop of 19th century celebrity, Sonata for a Scoundrel is the newest full-length historical romance novel from RITA-nominated author Anthea Lawson.