Book Review and GIVEAWAY: Alex & Eliza, by Melissa de la Cruz {ends 5/16}

"I don't know why she cares so much," Eliza said now. "This is hardly the most prominent party of the year."

"Yes, but the Van Rensselaers are coming and the Livingstons, and, of course, that famous young Colonel Hamilton. Husband season is open. The hounds are on the loose."

Eliza's face brightened. "A good thing, then, that I have no intention of being a fox!"

I'm a huge fan of Melissa de la Cruz books, as well as historical fiction so it's not a surprise that I enjoyed this one. The novel focuses on Alexander Hamilton, who meets and later wooes Elizabeth Schuyler, and their romance, of which not much history is known about.

Official synopsis:

Their romance shaped a nation. The rest was history.

1777. Albany, New York.

As battle cries of the American Revolution echo in the distance, servants flutter about preparing for one of New York society’s biggest events: the Schuylers’ grand ball. Descended from two of the oldest and most distinguished bloodlines in New York, the Schuylers are proud to be one of their fledgling country’s founding families, and even prouder still of their three daughters—Angelica, with her razor-sharp wit; Peggy, with her dazzling looks; and Eliza, whose beauty and charm rival that of both her sisters, though she’d rather be aiding the colonists’ cause than dressing up for some silly ball.

Still, she can barely contain her excitement when she hears of the arrival of one Alexander Hamilton, a mysterious, rakish young colonel and General George Washington’s right-hand man. Though Alex has arrived as the bearer of bad news for the Schuylers, he can’t believe his luck—as an orphan, and a bastard one at that—to be in such esteemed company. And when Alex and Eliza meet that fateful night, so begins an epic love story that would forever change the course of American history.

Due to the musical Hamilton, Alexander Hamilton is currently a hot topic, and it was interesting to read how he met and eventually married Elizabeth Schuyler, one of three Schuyler sisters who were of marrying age at the time.

I thought this book was very romantic, and I enjoyed it a lot, although recently I read about this which dampered that for me a bit (actually in a fiction book I'm currently reading, which was kind of random).

However, there's a reason why historical fiction is called FICTION, in that the author has the capability to put his/her own spin on events. De la Cruz says that not much is known about Alexander and Eliza's love story, too, so it was fun to read a fictionalized version of their courtship. (plus, I'm a sucker for a good love story)

I'd recommend this book for anyone who likes historical fiction, or anyone who wants to learn a bit about Alexander Hamilton and how he met his wife.

4 stars out of 5.

{click here to purchase}

*Disclosure: I received a copy of this book to review. The opinions expressed here, however, are my own.

GIVEAWAY:

One of my lucky readers will receive a hardcover copy of Alex & Eliza!

Enter via the widget below. Giveaway will end on Tuesday, May 16th, at 11:59pm EST, and winner will be notified the next day via email and have 24 hours to respond, or an alternate winner will be chose.

U.S. residents only, please.

Good luck!

Alex & Eliza book