Review:: Rouge by Leigh Moore

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Title: Rouge
Author: Leigh Moore
Format: Kindle
Review by: Mary

Trapped in the underground theater world of 1890s New Orleans, Hale Ferrer has only one goal: escape. But not without Teeny, the orphan-girl she rescued from the streets and promised to protect.

Freddie Lovel, Hale's wealthy Parisian suitor, seems to be the easy solution. If only his touch could arouse her interest like Beau's, the penniless stagehand who captures her heart.

Denying her fears, Hale is poised to choose love until an evil lurking in their cabaret-home launches a chain of events that could cost her everything.

Review:
Oh boy. This book is full of so much stuff! I've actually never read anything like it. It has the feeling of Phantom of the Opera and Moulin Rouge. Theater, singing, dancing, danger, intrigue, and forbidden love. It is all there. A tangled weave of a mess. But, that is what makes this books so great.

Rouge is totally edgy. It is not for the faint of heart. Some scene's are hard to watch. They'll pierce your insides. For good and bad. Even when it came to sensitive issues, I think they were handled well even the painful ones. I'm not a fan of rape in books, at all, but the bits here weren't descriptive and were only there for the integrity of the story. This is not a rape story. Rape is not the main point of the story. It is just something that happens with the circumstances Hale and the other girls are in.

Rouge is first and foremost a forbidden love story. Does Hale really have the luxury of falling in love when basic survival is on the line? She must do what she needs to keep herself alive and safe. I was completely wrapped up in this story. The ending actually broke my heart. I would have bought the next book at 4am if it had been out just to find out what happens next. Brilliant. Totally fresh and new. Different. This book is totally worth your time. Buy it. Read it. Then tell me what you think! I need someone to discuss it with!