Rumors (Luxe Series #2)

Reviewed by The Story Siren for TeensReadToo.com

The mysterious death of Elizabeth Holland still hangs onto the hearts of those whom she was close to. Her fiancé remembers the look she gave him the last time their eyes met and it continues to haunt him. Only Diana Holland and Penelope Hayes know the truth behind Elizabeth's death. That she didn't in fact perish, but fled New York to follow her one true love, Will Keller.

Penelope has her heart set on claiming everything that Elizabeth left behind, including her fiancé, Henry Schoonmaker. Henry, however, is even more aware of his feelings for the younger Holland sister, Diana.

Lina Broud, the Holland's former maid, continues to rise into society as she had often dreamed. Box seats at the Opera and lavish parties are now her reality. She also continues to be a cause of trouble for the Holland sisters, with the help of Penelope Hayes.

When Elizabeth receives word that her mother is ill and that the family is in financial disarray, she knows that she must return to New York. Even if it means revealing the scandalous nature of her true disappearance. Elizabeth never could have imagined what events would unfold next.

RUMORS was an entertaining and captivating sequel to THE LUXE. If possible, it may be even better than its predecessor! Godbersen continues to impress me with her writing and flair for the dramatic. Although I initially started reading this book for its historical fiction aspect, I couldn't help but become engrossed in all components of the story!

Diana continues her reign as my favorite character. I admire her strength and compassion. Penelope, unfortunately, continues to be her evil, conniving self, and I only hope that she gets what she deserves in the end. I have come to know and care for these characters and I was very surprised and shocked by the ending! I have to say I was a little disappointed at first and thought that certain aspects were unnecessary, but not every book can have a happy ending.

I have faith in Godbersen's creative mind and I can't wait to see what she has devised next. I will eagerly be waiting for the release of ENVY.

10 out of 10 people found this review helpful.

Wow!

Wow.I thought this book was very good. It suprised me alot near the ending, and at times it was really sad, but i love it! It had a lot of drama, which I enjoyed very much. Overall, I thought it was a great book. :]

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Yuck

I really hated this book.

2 out of 20 people found this review helpful.

Sumptuous Sequel

Anna Godbersen gave readers a delicious follow up to The Luxe in this exquisitely scandalous novel. Rumours brings us back to all our favorite characters, and all the ones we love to hate. There's Elizabeth Holland, now out west and forging a new life with Will after she escaped from Manhatten's social scene by faking her own death. Her sister, Diana, is pretending to mourn for her and being presured to make a good marriage as the family fortune dwindles. And all the while she's pining away for her sister's former fiance... Penelope Hayes, who has her eyes on Henry as well, is playing the part of the demure debutante so she can impress his father. Meanwhile, Lina Broud is discovering that being a lady means more than having money. And Henry Schoonmaker himself, Manhattan's own heartthrob, who faces the possibilty of being seperated from his love forever. In her second novel, Anna Godbersen's writing has improved. The characters are more developed, and Manhatten 1899 is a fully believable setting. Cholk-full of intriuge and good use of the English language, the second installment in the series is more than just teen fluff. This time around you have sympathy for all the characters, who happen to have twice as many juicy secrets. You won't be able to put Rumours down, and it will leave you longing for more.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Awesome!

I couldn't put rumors down! Rumors was so much better than luxe. this whole series is petty good. it makes you keep guessing then makes a huge twist

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

OMG!!

i just read the book, and overall i like the book. I don't know why i didn't pick up this book earlier and i always see this book right in front of me but idk. Penelope is such a witch, i can't think of anyone to be so evil and exhausting just reading whats going through this characters mind. I feel so sorry for Diana and Elizabeth, the way it had end in this book for them. Lina, i don't know what to think about her, i somewhat feel bad for her and i get how shes trying to fit in with the high class crowd but i also think its so wrong for her to sell out the Hollands of all their secrets, when she has one of her own. Although i like how detailed the author is to make the scenes of the book suck you in and like your right their watching every move these characters make. Oh yah i love the covers of the books its very eyes catching and gorgeous!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Godbersen just keeps getting better!

The follow-up to The Luxe, exceeds anticipations. The world created by the writer is beautifully described and pulls the reader into all that we dreamed about as little girls. The american "royalty" depicted is extremely beleivable and fantastic at the same time...even the scandals, back-stabbing, and munipultions are as enjoyable to the reader as the daydream quality this series exudes. If you enjoyed The Luxe, you will rave about Rumors...this is one I will read over and over!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A Scandalous Sequel

Rumors is the sequel to The Luxe, which set the stage of the backstabbing social world of NYC at the turn of the twentieth century. All eyes are upon Diana Holland, the late Elizabeth Holland's younger sister, the family's only hope of redeeming their financial situaton. In the meanwhile, Penelope Hayes, NYC's most envied girl in society, is stirring trouble by trying to take everything Elizabeth left, including her fiance. Now, however, everyone is watching Henry Schoonmaker, NYC's most notorious bachelor, to see whom is next for his proposal after the tragic passing of Elizabeth. Then, there is Carolina Broad a newcomer, an immediate exotic beauty. But, behind the rich and glamorous heiress is a vulnerable girl, once Lina Broud, the Holland's former maid. Once again Anna Godbersen spins a phenomenal, scandalous tale, of how even the best are not quite the best.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Angieville: RUMORS

Well, everyone's in love with the one person they can't have and no one seems to be able to communicate their woe to anyone who could help. Must be Tuesday in Luxeland. RUMORS is the second volume in the Luxe series and, as the deep red dress and haughty gaze of the cover model suggest, things are just getting worse and worse for our crew of Manhattan debutantes/bachelors/scheming underlings. I checked this copy out from the library and the girl at the checkout desk smiled knowingly and said, "I liked this one." I smiled and said, "I just finished THE LUXE." Her grin got bigger. "I liked this one much better," she said. So. There you go. I was beginning to get the impression that lovers of THE LUXE fell into two categories: even bigger lovers or big time haters of RUMORS. I was interested to see which category I fell into (if any).

So everyone thinks Elizabeth Holland is dead. And pretty soon (oh, let's go ahead and say it) shockingly soon, everyone thinks Henry Schoonmaker should just say enough with the mourning and go ahead and marry Penelope Hayes since it is clear they were Meant To Be. What with the being rich and hot and whatnot. But then Elizabeth Holland is not actually dead, is she? And Henry is not actually in love with Penelope, is he? Meanwhile, Lina is masquerading about as a mining heiress from Utah (LOL), Penelope is advancing on Henry like a post-coital black widow, and the weight of the world rests squarely on Diana's little shoulders as she is the one who is now expected to make a most advantageous marriage to save the family name. Just not the advantageous marriage she'd like to make.

I liked this one. Liked it just as much as the first one, in fact. I continue to enjoy Diana and Henry and what's going on there. I continue to hate Penelope unreservedly and feel almost unbearably embarrassed for Lina around the clock. Although I do wonder about Tristan. As I was never a fan of the whole Elizabeth and Will thing, I was perfectly happy to have them off screen (for the most part). And I have to say, I really liked the ending. I mean it was exactly the awful thing you were expecting down to the last dewy glance. In slow motion. But then the last page was just so awesome and fierce in its way, that I'm really looking forward to reading ENVY and consuming another volume of decadent treats on display.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Liv's Book Reviews

Yum, yum, yum. This book was just as delightful as the first one in the series which I am really happy about. Sometimes, you get an amazing first book and then a really bad sequel, but in the Luxe series, that is not the case. Thankfully. I completely loved hearing more about all of the scandal surrounding the families that I had come to know and love in the previous book. I think one of the things that is the best about this series is that Anna Godbersen has the perfect writing style to go along with the storyline. She knows how to write so that even the language aspect of the book draws you into a world that's far from your own. Also, the plot was really amazing. There were a ton of twists and surprises that left my mouth open, and my mind scrambling. But in a good way of course. These were nice and luscious twists that were completely plausible but at the same time unexpected. The ending especially nearly wrenched me apart. I almost cried! Yikes! It's a little wierd to confess to crying over a book that's purely fluff made for enjoyment. But it's the kind of book that gets you to relate to the characters and actually care about what happens to them. That's definitely one of the parts that keeps me coming back for more. I feel like I'm actually in the turn of the century New York, which is saying something because not only do I have no idea what New York's like, I do not in any way know what anything around that time period would be like. But the book is such that you can't help but be drawn in. And although this series is completely fluffy, I still love it to pieces and I can't wait for the next book, Envy. If you haven't read the first book, The Luxe, you had better go and pick it up soon!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

(Source: I own a copy of this book.) This is the second time tha

(Source: I own a copy of this book.)
This is the second time that I have read Rumors and I still love it!

Do not read this review if you have not yet read ‘The Luxe’ as there will be some unavoidable spoilers.

Elizabeth Holland is dead – well to most of New York she’s dead. After faking her death at the end of ‘The Luxe’, she’s actually living out in California with the family’s old coachman Will who she is in love with.

The Hollands family is swiftly running out of cash or valuables to sell, and so Mrs Holland is now intent on marrying off Diana instead. Diana is so not interested however, as she is secretly in love with Elizabeth’s ex-finance Henry.

Henry is taking Elizabeth’s death fairly hard as he worries that he had something to do with it, whilst Penelope is as usual scheming again. It comes as no surprise that Penelope still views Henry’s as her own, and is once again trying to entrap him into marrying her.


Even the second time around you can feel the build-up and anticipation in this book – what will become of Elizabeth and Will? What will happen to the Holland family? Who will Henry actually Marry? Because YES! There is a
wedding at the end of this book!

I really feel for the different characters in this book. Elizabeth is so happy with Will, but still feels the pull of home as she feels she has done wrong by her family by leaving in the way she did.
Diana is obviously secretly in love with Henry, and I really feel her pain when it seems that they can’t be together,
Penelope is just so scheming!
I have to say that this book made me cry! :( It was so sad in one place and if you read it you will know why :(

This series has been so good so far and I will be moving on to the next instalment (Envy) soon!
9 out of 10.

Alot of fun to read series!

This series unfortunately only has 4 books and I was hungry for more.I had been reading alot of paranormal romances so this was a nice change. I loved the time period. I loved how the men were real gentlemen. These women actually had poeple to dress them. How luxe. However, if you have read the first Luxe book, you will know that there a bit of a love triangle. This is a great book!!!!!!

Great series based in America 1900!!

This series really suprised me on how easily it drew me into their world. Set in the early 1900's, you get a feel for how select groups of people lived their lives. Full of love, deceit, betrayal, happiness- these books take you on a roller coaster full of emotions! Fairly easy read but really entraps you in this world that is so different yet so similar to our society today!

Pretty good.

The first one is better but this book is still pretty good.

Meh. Not too shabby!

Well, I bought this and the first one hoping for a Pride and Prejudicesque read. Not what I was expecting. Botg of the books were slow reads. I finally got into this one when Lina was caught by Mr. Something or other. I was actually interested in Lina for once.

Read this!

So good i love the whole series :)

This book was great. ;)

Okay, i love this book! The luxe series is now a series ibreally look forward to reading... BUT i really hated the ending. :( Still, this is an overall amazing book for drama lovers!!!!!!!! :) :)

good book

i really like these books, they sucked me into the 1890's and i loved it. full of love triangles, cunniving witches and everything is about keeping up appearances and heartache.

incredibly boring

this book was one word: boring.
it was only intense for the last two chapters.. it was amazing writing though. Anna Godbersen is an incredible writer, but i will not be reading the next book.

OMG!!!

There is obviously too many uneducated people who do not know how to write a review. You do not for the most part tell the story line. I already read that information before I decided to buy it. It is your opinion of the book and the authors way of writing. I'm sure going to suggest to get rid of customers reviews to B&N on their blog. Since some get off by telling the endings of the stories. Total ********!!!!