Keep My Candle Bright: a Gilded Age Romance the Pale Stars

An epic tale of star-crossed lovers, perfect for fans of Diana Gabaldon and Colleen McCollough. “This book left me speechless…I was caught in the plot from the start. By the end my only thought was my God, what a beautiful story.”⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Goodreads ReviewerSet in the opulence and turmoil of Gilded Age Manhattan, the ambitious Helen Riddell dreams of being a journalist.When she slips out of her domineering father’s house one night to document conditions in Five Points, New York City’s most notorious slum, Five Points, she is swept off her feet by Rafe “Mack” Macleod, a charming thief living by his wits.From riotous turn-of-the-century New York City to the light and art of Belle Epoch Paris, Rafe and Helen’s powerful connection will be tested against calculating fathers, uncompromising class divisions, and vindictive exes bent on avenging unrequited debts.Keep My Candle Bright is a romantic historical novel with a love-against-all-odds dynamic, an epic setting, and an unforgettable ending. Tropes:Gilded Age historicalSteamy romanceComing of AgeHero with a heart of gold‘This is a powerful story of real hardship and a life of desperation told in graphic detail and written so compassionately and with great care and thought .’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘I loved the MMC most of all. He is tender and savvy and damaged and resilient and broken and moody and frightened and hurt and… I wanted to cradle him in my arms more times than I can say!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘I flew through it and had a hard time putting it down. When I did have to leave it I thought about it and the MCs until I could get back to it.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘I haven’t read such a moving, sweeping historical romance in ages. Characters were full, complex human beings (even the villains) and the hero especially was portrayed with such tender care by the author ’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐’A beautiful heartbreaking story. This book delivered everything I wanted if not more. ’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘The best I can do to put it into perspective is somewhere between Les Miserables (without the war angle) and Gone with the Wind (for the american setting and the intrigue).’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘The characters are so well-crafted and compelling that aspects of their characteristics followed me into my dreams. AM LaMonte spins a sweeping tale of forbidden love and sacrifice that left me hanging on by a thread to find out whether the two protagonists get their happily ever after.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘The author keeps you turning the pages and wanting more. Very well written. I hope this author continues with more!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐