Review: Uncovering the Governess's Secrets

Here's how old I am. I remember a time when the mere suggestion of first person point of view in a romance novel sent 99% of readers into a fit of apoplexy. I was never one of those readers, mainly because I was a suspense reader long before I was a romance reader, and first person can work very, very well in suspense. For that matter it can work very well in romance. The problem is that for the last decade romance has churned out a ton of terrible first person to the point where it's kind of killed my love for it in this particular genre. 

To be fair, the first person in Uncovering the Governess's Secrets by Marguerite Kaye is not terrible. I even understand it as an authorial choice, given that this latest book is set in Scotland and has overt Gothic undertones. Kaye also avoids the most common pitfall in dueling first person books - she has given both her hero and heroine their own distinct voices. They never read interchangeable, they read like two distinct people. So why didn't I love this?  Well, let's try to explain...

Rory Sutherland is a former policeman turned private investigator and very good at his job. Now living in London he's been hired by a member of the peerage newly come into his title to track down one Marianne Little to right a grave injustice he believes may have been done to her. The beginning of the story opens with Rory finding Marianne, now working as a governess in Edinburgh, a city that Rory is loathe to be back in but work is work. It's the scene of his downfall, back when he was a policeman and got ahold of a case that he couldn't let go of - something that a powerful someone, somewhere wasn't going to let stand. 

Marianne escaped from an asylum three years ago, where she was locked up against her will, thanks to the help of a kindly nurse. That same nurse gave her the connections to start a new life in Edinburgh, but even three years later Marianne still has not stopped looking over her shoulder.  Per his employer's instructions, Rory is to track down Marianne, remain inconspicuous, but maintain her safety.  Unfortunately that gets blown all to hell in the park because these two can't help but notice each other.

As the story unfolds Kaye employs flashbacks to Marianne's time in the various asylums she was locked up in and Rory taking on her missing person's case. Both of them are outsiders, observant to a fault, and share a lot in common. Then there's the world-building and sense of place. Folks, it's a historical that feels like a historical. It feels right that this particular story is set in late 19th century Scotland, between the two cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow. From the weather, the sites, to Rory's background - it all fits beautifully.

So where does it go wrong? While the dueling first person does a good job of digging into the characters' thoughts and feelings, it bogs the pacing down. There's a lot of repetitive internal musing and "We're so attracted to each other but we mustn't!" stuff.  Also while I felt the world-building and setting was great, after a while this starts to read too much like a travelogue of various Scottish sites taking time away from the actual, oh I don't know, plot. For a book that essentially has two mysteries in it (Marianne's traumatic past and the case that tarnished Rory's reputation and chased him out of Edinburgh) there's an appalling lack of urgency.  And while the Marianne situation is set to rights?  Justice is most definitely not served on Rory's white whale cold case. Oh sure, he identifies the murdered woman and "gives her family closure" but does he really? No. The bad guy is never identified, although Rory has undisclosed "suspicions," but he feels he can now move on because he's let the woman's family know she's dead. Well, gold star for you boyo /end sarcasm.

Look, I get it. The reality of the conflict in this story is that Men Are Terrible. That woman lacked agency and were at the mercy of men, some of who were awful. Normally this kind of thing can annoy me (tarring an entire gender, race or ethnicity in fiction does that to me), but Kaye avoids that here because she includes male characters who aren't all greedy and vile. But, and here's the thing, I read genre fiction because I want the universe to be righted. I get enough rich, powerful men getting off scot-free and more often than that, "failing up," in real life. I don't want it in my entertainment reading. Please and thank you.

There's a third-act break-up we can see coming from across an ocean, but the resolution works very well for two characters who are past their first bloom of youth (Rory is 40, Marianne firmly in her 30s). It just lacks urgency. This one did not pass the put-down-pick-back-up test for a long time. I do think the dueling first person may work better for readers more tolerant than I, but I do think the pacing is a real issue with the story overall.  I typically like Kaye's work, and she's written some dynamite books, but this one sat firmly in the middle for me.

Final Grade = C+

Giving Thanks: Unusual Historical Picks for November 2022

We're somehow nearing the finish line on 2022 and right on cue I seem to be hitting a malaise with reading. The books aren't bad I'm just tired. I'm at that point where my energy levels consist of lying in bed and starring at the TV watching a Law & Order episode I've seen 50 times. But I'm so close to my reading goal for the year, so I'm trying to suck it up - and browsing for unusual historical romances is a good place to start.  November is fairly light but there's two intriguing entries from Harlequin Historical and a reprint for a good book I reviewed back when it debuted in 2008!

Her Warrior Captive by Michelle Willingham (Reprint) 

Warrior and woodcarver Kieran O’Brannon sold himself into captivity to save his brother’s life…but to win his freedom, he must carve the image of his master’s betrothed, spending hours each day with a woman he cannot have. 

Beautiful and haunted by loss, Iseult MacFergus is searching for her lost child. As she spends time with the powerful, brooding captive, she realizes that Kieran’s pain mirrors her own. Their loneliness turns to fierce desire, though honor holds them apart. 

When they are attacked by Viking invaders, Kieran must make the hardest choice of all—but to save the woman he loves, he must sacrifice everything…

This was originally published under the title Her Warrior Slave by Harlequin Historical in 2008, and oh look I reviewed it back in 2008! How handy is that? It's technically the start of Willingham's MacEgan Brothers series but when it was published back in 2008 it was, I think?, the fourth book to appear and was marketed as a prequel.  Willingham excels at wringing out emotion and putting her characters through their paces (glorious angst!) and these are Irish medievals. I mean, what's not to love?

Under the Mistletoe by Marguerite Kaye and Bronwyn Scott

Victorian Christmas Reunions 

Two passionate romances! 

In The Lady's Yuletide Wish by Marguerite Kaye, war nurse Isabella has never forgotten the night she spent in reporter Eugene’s arms. Years later, she’s surprised when Eugene, now an earl, asks for her help uncovering a family mystery—and that the attraction is still there… In Dr. Peverett's Christmas Miracle by Bronwyn Scott, war doctor William is reunited with nurse Honoria, and he invites her to spend the festivities at Haberstock Hall. Is it reckless folly…or the miracle he didn’t know he needed?

It's becoming a holiday tradition for Harlequin to give readers a duet by Kaye and Scott (I think this is the third one?) and both authors have previously displayed their writing chops in handling the Victorian period (not Regency masquerading as Victorian, but actual Victorian!).  Both stories lean into the Crimean War and Scott's story wraps up her Peveretts of Haberstock Hall series.

The Captain's Christmas Homecoming by Lauri Robinson

Can real life compare… 

To the love in their letters? 

When Emma first used a pseudonym to write to Captain George Weston on the front line, it was because she felt responsible for his broken engagement. Yet his letters became a light in the darkest hours, and she shared more of her desires than she ever dared before, never imagining they’d actually meet. Now that he’s home for Christmas, she longs to see him, but that means revealing who she really is…

So,  here's the thing - when you enjoy romance novels that aren't the current trend du jour (see: my entire romance reading life and historical western romances...) you can't just one-and-done authors. Yes, that first book you tried might have been meh or maybe you DNF'ed it - but there are only so many authors writing what you want so you give them second and third chances because options aren't falling like raindrops in a monsoon.  The last Robinson book I tried was a DNF but sigh - this blurb y'all. A heroine with a big secret and guilty conscience? A returning soldier hero? AND LETTERS!  OMG THEY WROTE LETTERS TO EACH OTHER?!  Bare minimum I'm crossing my fingers and reading a sample.

What Unusual Historicals are you looking forward to cracking open this month?

#TBRChallenge 2022: The Soldier's Rebel Lover

The Book: The Soldier's Rebel Lover by Marguerite Kaye

The Particulars: Historical Regency romance, 2015, Harlequin Historical #1253, Book 2 in duet, Out of print, Available in digital

Why Was It In Wendy's TBR?: Besides the fact that this is an ARC I've had languishing for years?  Kaye's one of my autobuys in the HH line.

The Review: In hindsight I probably should have saved this one for next month's "After the War" theme, but I was up past my bedtime, having just finished a book, and went tripping back into the depths of my Kindle to find a languishing Harlequin Historical for "Tales of Old."  Having (finally) read the first book in the duet last summer, I thought why not finally read book two nearly a year later?

If you have mad love for the Regency era but are looking for something a little outside the usual Ingenue Bangs a Duke, run, don't walk, to find a copy of this one.  Major Finlay Urquhart is the rarest of unicorns - an officer in the British Army whose blood is nowhere near blue and - wait for it - he's Scottish. He's gotten as far as he has because he's very good at his job and has proven himself useful to the big man himself (yes, Wellington).  During the war he was in the Spanish countryside ferreting out a French munitions dump when he meets Isabella Romero.  Isabella is a member of the partisan Spanish resistance and is working with the elusive El Fantasma, a leader among the partisans who has been a useful ally to the British forces. They end up spending the night together (not like that - yet, anyway) and go their separate ways at dawn's early light.

Fast forward two years and Napoleon has been dispatched to Elba, Wellington's political ambitions are rising and he's concerned about El Fantasma coming back to haunt him. The man "knows" things that might not be political expedient for Wellington should they come out. On top of that, El Fantasma is not pleased with the Spanish government backsliding on personal liberties/rights post-war and is still printing pamphlets espousing "undesirable" rhetoric.  The Spanish government is looking for him and Wellington wants him before the Spanish can find him.  So he enlists the help of the hero from the fist book, Jack Trestain, to find The Ghost and bring him back to England.

Jack is in love (hello, first book) and he's not all that keen on Wellington's orders. So he goes to his most trusted friend, Finlay, to carry out the mission.  They're not disobeying Wellington's orders exactly - more like getting creative with the interpretation.  Anyway, Jack doesn't have much information to go on, but Finlay decides that tracking down the beguiling Isabella is a good place to start since she claimed to be in contact with El Fantasma when they met.  He suspects he'll find her family working in the vineyards of the wealthy Romero family, so he poses as a wine merchant.  What he didn't expect is that Isabella IS a Romero - her father having passed just after the war and her conservative brother now running the family business.

Of course they're both surprised to see each other again and their first meeting has to be kept a secret because Isabella's activities during the war cannot get out. I mean, her brother would die of a fit of apoplexy, never mind it would ruin her forever and ever (sure, it was war - but good Lord SHE'S A GIRL!).  But Isabella, she's a smart girl - and Jack's story about being a wine merchant just doesn't add up.  Besides that, it's pretty much lust at first sight.  These two crazy kids can't stop kissing each other, which gets exceedingly more complicated as the El Fantasma problem hits full boil.

Look, none of us are new romance readers here - you can probably guess where this is going.  What may surprise is that this is a fairly quiet story.  It's not action-packed, but more internal angst with the characters struggling with what they know has to be done versus what their hearts want.  I loved that while Isabella is passionate and her passions for her country ran high - once Jack really spells things out for her, the danger, the chickens coming home to roost, she doesn't dismiss him. What he says sinks in. She realizes, dear Lord, that he's right.  These are two characters who have lived through a war and those experiences have shaped them - it's made them very practical, smart and bright.  

Finlay is charming, intelligent, honorable and smitten from the jump.  He's a great hero and well-matched for the unconventional and passionate Isabella.  These two crazy kids, even with the seemingly insurmountable odds against them, you can't help rooting for them to get their happy ending.

A couple of quibbles, the story being quiet as it is with limited action sequences, the pacing did bog down for me at times (internal angst can do that) and the ending of the book was a little too mysterious for my liking.  Yes, there is a happy ending but it's not spelled out in great detail.  No Finlay making kissie faces or Isabella big with child.  Which, come to think of it, a lot you will probably love.  For me the proof is in the pudding, and I like happy endings spelled out in more detail.

This book does stand alone well even with Jack making a couple of small appearances.  It's a Regency era romance featuring a non-Duke hero with no terrible Almack's lemonade or ballroom in sight.  Well worth the time.

Final Grade = B

Bloomin' April: Unusual Historicals Poppin' in April 2022

Y'all, it's April. April?! I'm not sure how this has happened but 2022 seems to have picked up all the steam of a runaway freight train.  Case in point, I dragged my feet just a wee bit on culling through the Unusual Historicals offerings for this month and good Lord this post took me forever to draft. I mean, LOOK AT ALL THESE TITLES?!  It's a cornucopia.  Grab yourself a nice beverage, sit back and enjoy!

 

Death of a Sorcerer by Jeannie Lin (short story, Kindle Unlimited)

The sequel novella to The Hidden Moon and prequel to Red Blossom in Snow. 

Newly married Constable Gao and Wei-wei have just begun their lives together when they're faced with the death of a Taoist sorcerer during Ghost Month. 

As mysterious occurrences arise during the investigation, are they truly receiving a message from the spirit world? Or is Gao's dark past finally catching up to them, threatening their chance for happiness?

Let's start off this month's post with a gift from Jeannie Lin - yes, it's currently only available via Amazon, but even if you don't have KU, it's currently free (at the time of this posting). This short story is tucked in the middle of the Lotus Palace Mysteries timeline, being a sequel to The Hidden Moon.

Jack of All Trades by Kate Pearce

When the brash railway contractor Elijah Hepworth and his rowdy crew of navvies arrive in Millcastle the town is divided between those who embrace the possibility of change and those who want things to remain the same. Alice Collins, who has recently come to live at Grafton Hall, knows which side she’d prefer to be on, but Mr. Hepworth obviously has other ideas. When the comfortable, safe existence Alice hoped for is snatched from her grasp, will she accept an offer from a man who never claims to be a gentleman, but who might be what she needed all along? 

I could write something pithy here about this fourth book in the author's Millcastle series, but why not crib what the author herself wrote on her website about this book?  "I loved writing this one because the hero isn’t an aristocrat, and he has no desire to become one. He’s hardworking, brutally honest and when he decides he wants something he’ll go all out to achieve his aim. The nice thing is that the heroine is so much more than he bargained for, and he has to grovel quite a bit at the end to get his HEA." 👀

Crying Wolfe by Kerrigan Byrne

He’s the man with the Midas touch… 

Elijah Wolfe is just as ruthless and aggressive as his name suggests. Born in harsh Nevada desert, he used his sharp wits and sharper fists to fight for survival mining ore for terrible men... Until one day he struck gold, literally. Despite his unimaginable wealth, his heart is empty of trust and his world full of enemies. He’s come to England searching for a priceless treasure once stolen from him and is prepared to ruin anyone who gets in his way. 

She’s a thief with a heart of gold… 

Rosaline Goode’s callous father left her nothing but a legacy of shame. Instead of worrying about the women gossiping behind their fans, or the cruelty of eligible men, she spends her nights avoiding society and mapping the stars. That is until absurd circumstances find her, nearly naked, in the home of the famously unscrupulous, lethal American whose name is on everyone's lips. 

The promise of plunder… 

Succumbing to a shotgun wedding is the worst thing Eli can imagine, but if it is what he must do to get what he wants, then so be it. Except now, all the arguments he’d made against the marriage are becoming enticements. His new wife is too young. Too small, sheltered, soft, and sensitive for a man forged in the mines and tempered in the desert heat. If theirs is a Devil’s bargain, then why does her shy touch take him to heaven?

A ruthless hero obsessed with reclaiming a priceless treasure finds himself leg-shackled to a heroine that society loves to snicker and gossip about. The latest in the author's Goode Girls series, features some catnip many romance readers are helpless to resist - the Alphahole hero knocked upside the head by love.

Lady Armstrong's Scandalous Awakening by Marguerite Kaye 

Hers was a body of marble… 

Until he brought it to life 

After her tyrannical late husband ruined her reputation, Lady Mercy Armstrong is longing to reinvent herself. The perfect opportunity presents itself when rebellious self-made man Jack Dalmuir has a daring proposition—a fake dalliance that will change society’s view of her! Only, cavorting with the handsome Scotsman ignites a passion that could change both their lives forever…

This second book in the author's Revelations of the Carstairs Sisters series sounds like it should be subtitled: How the Victorian Lady Got her Groove Thang Back.  Although from the sounds of it, she never had much of a groove to begin with. Added bonus that our hero is a self-made man!

Winning Back His Duchess by Amanda McCabe 

An invitation to Venice… 

To save their marriage! 

Suggesting divorce to her estranged husband, Jamie, Duke of Byson, takes all of Rose Wilkins’s courage. Years of distance and heartbreak have taken a toll—she needs a new start. But Jamie won’t hear of divorce, because of the scandal alone. His counteroffer is a trip to Venice… 

Might discovering Venice’s delights together rekindle the still-simmering desire that drew Rose to Jamie as a starry-eyed young American heiress?

Y'all I am HERE for Victorians and this third book in McCabe's Dollar Duchesses series gives us a not-often-seen Marriage in Trouble trope in a historical, and a trip to Venice in a last ditch effort to save a crumbling marriage and themselves from ruin.

The Knight's Tempting Ally by Ella Matthews

A knight’s enemy...

Becomes his closest ally… 

Knight Theo Grenville will do whatever it takes to discover who’s plotting against his king. So befriending—and even romancing—his target’s middle daughter, Medea, is merely part of his sworn duty. But what isn’t? Falling under the spell of a woman who’s anything but plain in his eyes! Yet every day they become closer, the more torn he is between his allegiance to his king and his heart…

Matthews' second book in her The King's Knights trilogy features a spin on the Big Secret trope I can never say no to - the hero on a mission to uncover the truth who slithers his way next to the heroine to gain access to the information he needs (unbeknownst to her).  Added bonus if the heroine is described as plain, overlooked, and/or generally dismissed out of hand by those around her. 

The Highlander's Stolen Bride by Madeline Martin

From dutiful bride… 

To the laird’s unwilling hostage! 

Kidnapping Elspeth MacMillan on her way to an arranged marriage is the only way for new laird Calum Campbell to avoid more bloodshed and bargain peace for his people. Calum expects her fury but doesn’t expect the feisty lass to break through his defenses into his heart. With war waging between their families, will they ever be able to yield to love?

 

The final book in the multi-author Highland Alliances trilogy finds our hero kidnapping the heroine in a bid to broker peace (OK, sure my dude) and getting more than he bargained for when he starts falling for her.  Will these romance heroes never learn? The surest way to find yourself hitched is deciding to kidnap someone. If you won't to stay single, just don't do it!

Conveniently Wed to a Spy by Helen Dickson 

A daredevil rescue… 

An unexpected reunion Imprisoned during the French Revolution, English spy Lord Laurence Beaumont is finally rescued—by the courageous, beautiful Delphine St. Clair. Back home in Cornwall, Laurence has no interest in the convenient marriage offered by a local landowner—until he discovers the bride is Delphine! With intense memories of their liaison dangereuse in Paris, Laurence knows theirs will be an unconventional union…but can he keep his promise never to be a spy again?

And finally, brace yourself kidddies - a stand-alone book!  I know, it's a little shocking!  There's not a lot of 18th century romances these days, and when you do see one it usually involves Scotland and the Battle of Culloden.  Here we've got the French Revolution (!) and a heroine with enough moxie to save the hero from certain death. 

Whew! That was a marathon!  What Unusual Historicals are you looking forward to?

Library Loot Review: Regency Christmas Liaisons

The plan was to have Regency Christmas Liaisons by Christine Merrill, Sophia James and Marguerite Kaye read before Christmas, and that didn't happen.  Instead I finished reading it after the New Year and it's a rare anthology where there's not a single dud in the bunch.  Oh sure, some stories I liked more than others, but this is a very solid holiday anthology with just enough angst to keep sugary holiday sweetness in check.

Unwrapped Under the Mistletoe by Christine Merrill finds our spinster, poor-relation heroine, Daphne Bingham, preparing for holiday guests.  When her parents died when she was young, Daphne was taken in by the Duke and Duchess of Twinden. Slapped with the odious, ill-fitting nickname "Daffy," she had one season that did not take. Now she's the Duchess' fetch-and-carry girl, chaperone for her cousin, and all-around cat magnet. The household cats adore her. The fly in the ointment as far as the Duke and Duchess are concerned is that Daphne keeps filching shiny baubles. They are found in her a room and she has no memory of taking them. They're worried about Daphne's light fingers with holiday guests arriving so naturally instead of helping the poor girl they ask thief-taker, Charles Pallister, to play the role of a distant relation and catch Daffy in the act. Instead, what naturally happens, is that Charles is smitten from the jump.

Merrill spins a classic Cinderella tale while not making the villains cartoonishly evil (oh, they're all terrible but they're not of the twirling mustache variety).  Daphne is the complete opposite of her nickname; smart, resourceful, level-headed.  Charles is very good at solving puzzles but finds the fact that he's been hired to catch Daphne red-handed extremely distasteful. Instead of helping the poor girl, her family is basically throwing her under the carriage, all while taking her for granted and relying on her to make their lives easier.  A very nice romance with a cozy feel, and I loved the cats!

Final Grade = B

If I have one quibble about One Night with the Earl by Sophia James is that it's a story that flew right out of my head after reading it. Case in point, I had to read a couple other reader reviews to jog my memory since Harlequin's back cover blurbs on anthologies tend to be light in the pants.  It's still a good read, just not one that stuck with me for very long.

Elizabeth Martin was at a convent school when Guy Martin swept her off her feet and straight to Spain. The marriage started floundering almost immediately, and while she took care of their twins, Luis and Jenny, Guy had numerous affairs and eventually was killed in a duel. With nowhere else to go, Elizabeth and the children come back to England and Guy's childhood home, where his reputation was well-known. She makes the acquaintance of her closest neighbor, Lord Alexander Grey, when he stumbles across Luis getting beat up by bullies. He takes the boy back to his mother, and having known the boy's useless father, suggests he teach the boy to box. He's got family coming to visit for Christmas and he has a nephew roughly Luis' and Jenny's age.  He invites Elizabeth to join them, also recognizing that she could use a friend and ally of her own.

This is a nice story. Alexander is a good guy and Elizabeth is a widow licking her wounds. Jenny is so desperate to see her mother happy she's taken to leaving notes for the fairies to find and Luis is part boy who wants a mother's love and part angry young man still smarting from his father's general jackassery.  

Final Grade = B-

A Most Scandalous Christmas by Marguerite Kaye is a quiet story where not a lot happens, but it's got a tricky happy-ever-after to pull off.  Lady Silvia Merton is in her 30s and divorced. Her husband was a notorious philanderer who didn't even have the modicum of decency to be discreet. She realizes that if she doesn't leave him, he's slowly chip away at her self-esteem and self-worth until there's nothing left.  So she divorces him. A tricky endeavor since she's a woman and therefore is, essentially, her husband's property. He has to bring the case for the divorce and naturally the way to do that is to accuse his wife of the very behavior he's taking part in. Since Silvia has been unable to produce an heir, he readily agrees to set the wheels in motion.  Once divorced the consequences are swift. Silvia is persona non grata to even her family and has taken up residence in the Yorkshire Moors. She wanted her freedom, and what she got was a life of seclusion. She decides to take a trip to York only to feel uncomfortable and hurry back home after one day. It's on her way back to the moors that she meets up with Ellis Wyn-Jones, a second son and inventor of some note.

Ellis met Silvia years ago at a dinner party where her husband's loutish behavior was on display (the man was openly flirting with his mistress in front of his wife!).  He was taken with Silvia immediately, but naturally nothing ever came of it. Now they meet again and get to talking. She's dreading another Christmas alone and he's dreading the boorish family gathering at his brother's home where another "suitable" marriageable miss will be paraded before him. So our two misfits come up with a plan - they're spend the holidays together at Silvia's home on the moors. No expectations. No boorish family traditions.  Just the two of them. Alone.

This is a nice story about two well-matched people. The story itself basically boils down to Silvia and Ellis spending time together, talking, getting to know each other.  The fly in the ointment is that Ellis thinks he's not interested in marriage and even if he were?  Silvia's divorce means she cannot marry again.  Which begs the question - how is the author going to work out the happy ending?  Turns out, quite well. It's really lovely.  It's one of those stories where the characters make their own happy ending. Society may brand her scandalous and him eccentric - but they love each other - and love will find a way.

Final Grade = B

This was a nice, cozy anthology with the right amount of angst.  I'm not sure if it was intended, but the authors all delivered stories featuring alienated, misfit heroines who end up finding their perfect matches. Not a bad way to kick off my reading in 2022.

No Tricks, All Treats: Unusual Historical Spotlight for October 2021

So you've probably noticed that this blog hasn't exactly been a hotbed of activity lately (even less so than usual - which is just super sad).  Can I blame work? I'm totally blaming work. Also after a particularly dreadful spat of reading I fell down the comfort reading rabbit hole - which for me means mystery/suspense. The upcoming Loren D. Estleman, relistening to a few Sue Grafton's (N, B and J), the next book in Marcia Muller's Sharon McCone series that I'm working my way (slowly) through. All series featuring tried-and-true characters and Wendy knows exactly what to expect.  One of these days though I'll try reading something new, which means it's time for my monthly browsing for the latest unusual historicals to catch my eye.  Here's what intrigues publishing in October 2021:

 

The Vanished Days by Susanna Kearsley

In the autumn of 1707, old enemies from the Highlands to the Borders are finding common ground as they join to protest the new Union with England. At the same time, the French are preparing to launch an invasion to bring the young exiled Jacobite king back to Scotland to reclaim his throne, and in Edinburgh the streets are filled with discontent and danger. 

Queen Anne's commissioners, seeking to calm the situation, have begun paying out money sent up from London to settle the losses and wages owed to those Scots who took part in the disastrous Darien expedition eight years earlier—an ill-fated venture that left Scotland all but bankrupt. 

When the young widow of a Darien sailor comes forward to collect her husband's wages, her claim is challenged. One of the men assigned to investigate has only days to decide if she's honest, or if his own feelings are blinding him to the truth.

This is the third book in a series that started with The Winter Sea - and has Wendy read any of them? Of course not.  Anyway, Kearsley writes the kind of meaty historicals I like to lose myself in and Miss Bates (who writes stellar reviews) just gave this book a great one.

The Earl Who Sees Her Beauty by Marguerite Kaye 

Unaware of her beauty… 

Until he awakens her. 

Prudence Carstairs knows her scars leave her with no romantic prospects—instead, she’s content revolutionizing her employer’s home with her technological marvels. Then he unexpectedly perishes and his mysterious younger brother, dashing Dominic Thorburn, reluctantly takes over. In the new earl, Prudence finally finds someone who meets her gaze without flinching. Might he see the beautiful, intelligent woman beyond her scars?

Kaye has taken her victory lap as co-author of Her Heart for a Compass with Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York and is back to give readers a brand new series, of which this is book one.  While we've got a typical titled hero (an earl) what caught my eye with this book is the heroine who is "revolutionizing her employer's home with her technological marvels." A smart, resourceful heroine?  Yes, please!

Of Trust and Heart by Charlotte Anne Hamilton 

The Great War changed everything for Lady Harriet Cunningham. Instead of being presented at eighteen, she trained to be a nurse and shared forbidden kisses with her colleagues. 

But now in 1923, at the age of 24, Harriet is facing spinsterhood. 

It's not such a ghastly prospect to her, but as the daughter of the Earl of Creoch, there's a certain expectation that she must meet. So, in a last attempt to find a match for their daughter to see her safe and secure, they send her to her aunt and uncle in New York. 

Only when she gets there, she and her cousin, a man who, like her, suffers from the weight of expectation from his father, decide on one last hoorah as a memory to hold close to their heart in their later life. 

But when they arrive at the speakeasy hidden beneath a small bookstore, Harriet finds herself entranced by the singer. No matter how hard she wants to please her family and do her duty, she finds that there's something about the woman that she can't stay away from — that she can't ignore her heart. Which is loudly calling for Miss Rosalie Smith.

OK, I want both of these dresses in my wardrobe. Think they'd be too much for say the library or grocery shopping?  Surely not!  Look, I know World War I was a major downer, but the 1920s were a really interesting time for women and it's a big reason why I'm always drawn to that era for historical romance. You've got a modern heroine expected to do her familial duty by marrying well, except for the minor detail that she's a lesbian.  Also, a speakeasy hidden beneath a bookstore? As soon as I win the lottery I'm building myself one of those.

The Knight's Maiden in Disguise by Ella Matthews 

Risking her life

To save a knight! 

Disguising herself as her late twin brother keeps Avva Carpenter, and her family, safe. Until Sir William Devereux arrives in her town. As the castle’s stable master, Avva can’t avoid the knight—or the desire he instantly stirs in her. He’s everything she never knew a nobleman could be: honest, kind, brave. When danger surrounds them, the only way to help William is to reveal her true identity, but can she trust him enough?

Turn up your nose all you want, but I know plenty of readers who can't get enough Chick In Pants stories. This medieval features a heroine (obviously in some sort of danger) disguising herself as her late twin brother.  Then the hero shows up and makes her all tingly in her girly bits.  Ain't that always the way?  This is the start of a new series for Matthews.

The Larks Still Bravely Singing by Aster Glenn Gray 

Kindle Unlimited at time of this posting

The Great War cost Robert his left leg and his first love. 

A shattering breakup leaves Robert convinced that he is a destructive force in romantic relationships. When he finds himself falling in love with David, an old friend from boarding school, he's sure that he shouldn’t confess his feelings. But as their meandering conversations drift from books and poetry to more intimate topics, Robert’s love deepens - and so do his fears of hurting David. 

Since he was wounded, David has been batted from hospital to hospital like a shuttlecock, leaving him adrift and anxious. His renewed friendship with Robert gives him a much-needed sense of peace and stability. Slowly, David opens up to Robert about the nervous fears that plague him, and when Robert responds with sympathy and support, David finds himself feeling much more than friendship. But he’s afraid that he’s already a burden on Robert, and that asking for more will only strain their developing bond. 

Can these two wounded soldiers heal each other? 

Content warning: period-typical homophobia and ableism (probably less than is strictly period typical, but this is a romance novel, not a historical essay), implied/referenced suicide

I knew nothing about this book until it crossed my timeline thanks to GoodReads friends and some bloggers. Post-World War I, former boarding school friends reconnect as wounded soldiers.  The author describes this book as "tenderness after a time of suffering," and I'm not gonna lie - I may have swooned.

The Brightest Star in Paris by Diana Biller 

She never expected her first love to return, but is he here to stay? 

Amelie St. James is a fraud. After the Siege of Paris, she became “St. Amie,” the sweet, virtuous prima ballerina the Paris Opera Ballet needed to restore its scandalous reputation, all to protect the safe life she has struggled to build for her and her sister. But when her first love reappears looking as devastatingly handsome as ever, and the ghosts of her past quite literally come back to haunt her, her hard-fought safety is thrown into chaos. 

Dr. Benedict Moore has never forgotten the girl who helped him embrace life after he almost lost his. Now, years later, he’s back in Paris. His goals are to recruit promising new scientists, and maybe to see Amelie again. 

When he discovers she’s in trouble, he’s desperate to help her—and hold her in his arms. When she finally agrees to let him help, they disguise their time together with a fake courtship. Soon, with the help of an ill-advised but steamy kiss, old feelings reignite. Except, their lives are an ocean apart. Will they be able to make it out with their hearts intact?

OK, honesty time. I haven't read Biller's much lauded debut - mainly because it was published by Macmillan and landed at that moment the publisher decided to be a butt to libraries. On top of that, what I learned about the book at the time led me to believe that the marketing of it was a mess. Honestly though, the butt to libraries thing was enough to turn me off.  Of course now it's been hyped to the hills so who knows if I'll get to it - but maybe this second book is the place to start? The Franco-Prussian War isn't exactly well-trod territory in historical romance, plus we have a ballerina heroine and a doctor hero.

What Unusual Historicals are you looking forward to?

Review: The Soldier's Dark Secret

I have a pretty good handle on my print TBR. Even as mammoth as it is, I have a rough idea of what's languishing there.  My Kindle? Another matter entirely. I have an endless pile of eBooks and while they're roughly organized into collections - Lord knows what I'll find when I open up a random folder. I took it into my head that I wanted to read a Harlequin Historical so I opened that folder, scrolled way, way (way....) back and landed on The Soldier's Dark Secret by Marguerite Kaye. A book that's been hanging around for me since 2015 (sigh).

A second son, officer Jack Trestain is home after Waterloo, having resigned his commission as Wellington's top code breaker. As is the way with war, Jack comes home a changed man - haunted and not quite himself. He's staying in the country with his older brother, sister-in-law and a young, pestering nephew who wants to hear glorious war stories from his hero Uncle Jack. This goes over about as well as you'd expect from Jack, a man who came home "troubled" (and what we would now diagnose as PTSD).

Celeste Marimon is a lovely French artist hired by Jack's brother to immortalize the family estate's grounds and gardens before they do an extensive remodeling. Celeste is part English, in country for the first time ever after the tragic death of her mother (by suicide).  They had a strained relationship and were estranged for several years.  Her mother, having left behind a letter, leaves Celeste with more questions than answers. She takes the commission with the Trestains not only for the work, but also hoping to find some answers in her mother's home country.  Jack, with his various military connections, decides to help her out.

There's plenty of angst in the book, but I also found this to be a very quiet romance.  Jack and Celeste are immediately drawn to each other, both having been celibate, and not terribly interested in changing that status, for a while prior to locking eyes on each other.  Celeste, an artist stationed in Paris, has taken more than one lover in her time, but none of whom ignited a passionate fervor in her the way Jack seems to.  Even prior to the experiences that haunt him post-Waterloo, Jack was not sowing a mess of wild oats with French women and/or camp followers.  Feeling anything other than dead inside comes as quite a shock once that first passionate kiss ignites things between him and Celeste.

Moving the book forward is the slow revealing of the war experiences that are haunting Jack and the mystery of Celeste's background, the secrets her mother kept firmly locked away.  Celeste has a few clues to go on, some hazy childhood memories, a man's signet ring, and the letter her mother left behind, half written in riddles.  This mystery eventually takes our couple to a dinner party honoring Wellington, to London and to Paris.  I was engrossed in this part of the story and really loved the outcome of the mystery.

There's not a lot of flash and histrionics to this romance, which honestly is just fine and fits this particular story quite well.  There's a lot of baggage between Celeste and Jack, but Kaye keeps it quiet and doesn't fall into the trap of overblown drama (which I sometimes like, but in this story would have been a disaster).  A lovely Regency era romance with compelling conflict and the only Duke in sight being Wellington.

Final Grade = B

Unusual Historical Bonanza for September 2020

Publishing is a fickle mistress. Some months I’m scraping the depths of the Interwebs to find a handful of unusual historical titles and other months it’s an explosion of confetti being shot out of an air cannon. Since September is an air cannon month, I’ll stop blathering on so we can get to the goodness. 

The Hidden Moon by Jeannie Lin 

A well-bred lady and lowly street hustler team up in a historical murder mystery set during China's glittering Tang Dynasty. Part of the best-selling Lotus Palace series. 

Impetuous and well-educated, young Lady Bai has always been the forgotten daughter between two favored sons. However, when Wei-wei's older brother is tasked with investigating a high-profile assassination, he turns to his clever younger sister for assistance. 

Gao is a street-wise scoundrel with a checkered past and a shady reputation. He knows better than to set his sights on the high-born Lady Bai, but when she asks for his help, he can't refuse. 

As the unlikely pair chase down a conspiracy that reaches from the gutters of the capital to the imperial palace, Wei-wei is intent on seeing justice done, while Gao is determined to solve the mystery just for her – even if the attraction between them can never be more than a moment's longing. 

OK, so this was a very late release in August that I missed with last month’s column, but no way in heck was I not going to highlight a new Jeannie Lin historical. This is the fourth story in her Lotus Palace series, the highly anticipated romance featuring Wei-Wei and Gao. 

The Venetian and the Rum Runner by L.A. Witt 

New York City, 1924 

Once their paths cross, their worlds will never be the same. 

Danny Moore and his crew only meant to rob the hotel suites of rich guests. He wasn’t supposed to find himself in gangster Ricky il Sacchi’s room. And il Sacchi wasn’t supposed to wind up dead. Now Danny has the attention of another notorious gangster. 

Carmine Battaglia is intrigued by the Irish thieves who would have made off with a huge score if not for il Sacchi’s death. They’re cunning, careful, and exactly what he needs for his rum running operation. But Danny’s already lost two brothers to the violence between New York’s Irish and Sicilian gangs, and he’s not about to sell his soul to Carmine. 

With a gangster’s blood on his hands, Danny needs protection, whether he likes it or not. And that’s to say nothing of the generous pay, which promises to pull him and his crew—not to mention their families—out of destitution. 

Working together brings Danny and Carmine to a détente, then to something so intense neither can ignore it. Something nearly enough to make them both forget the brutal tensions between their countrymen. 

But the death of Ricky il Sacchi hasn’t been forgotten. And someone is determined to make Danny bleed for it. 

Criminals as romantic protagonists is always a dicey proposition for me, but it can (and often does) work for me in the Prohibition era. Plus I’d be flat-out lying if I didn’t say the prospect of an Italian mobster and an Irish thief didn’t intrigue the heck out of me. 

Sleeping with the Enemy by Jackie Barbosa 

When Mrs. Laura Farnsworth discovers the blood-stained body of a man wearing the distinctive red coat of the British army, her first instinct is to let dead dogs lie. It has, after all, been just two days since the Battle of Plattsburgh, and the disposition of enemy corpses is hardly her purview. But then the man proves himself to be very much alive by grabbing her ankle and mumbling incoherently. 

After almost twenty-five years in His Majesty’s service, Lieutenant Colonel Geoffrey Langston never expected to wake up in heaven, much less being tended by an angel. But when he regains consciousness in the presence of a beautiful, dark-haired woman and with no memory of how he came to be there, what else can he think? Except it’s rather odd for an angel to have an American accent.  

As the long-widowed Laura nurses the wounded Geoffrey back to health, the attraction between them heats from a simmer to a boil. Bound by his oath to the British crown, Geoffrey should be working to find his way back to his regiment and from there, to England. Instead, he’s sleeping with the enemy…and thereby committing the crime of desertion if not treason. But then, who’s going to find out? 

If only Geoffrey didn’t have a family back home who refuse to take “missing in action” for an answer. 

The fourth book in Barbosa’s Lords of Lancashire series opens up just a few days after the Battle of Plattsburgh, a decisive victory for the Americans during the War of 1812. This era is criminally underrepresented in historical romance, and we’ve got a literal enemy-to-lovers romance with some amnesia thrown in for good measure. 

Once Dishonored by Mary Jo Putney 

A man who has lost his honor has nothing . . . 

London, 1816. As a Royal Navy officer, Lucas Mandeville, Lord Foxton, has fought his share of battles on the high seas, followed by long years of imprisonment. But on this night, he’d rather be on the burning deck of a ship than in a ballroom, where it is just a matter of time before someone challenges him because of what happened on the Continent. 

A woman who has lost her reputation is nothing . . . 

When dark-haired beauty Kendra Douglas arrives, a whisper of scandal ripples through the ton. The disgraced divorcee’s entrance is an act of daring. Which is exactly why Lucas asks her to dance . . . 

A couple who stands together has everything . . . 

Unexpectedly, Lucas offers Kendra his aid in finding the evidence to regain her good name—and her beloved young son. Together they investigate the wicked conspiracy that destroyed her life, and in the midst of danger, find a deep love that will redeem them both—if only they can live long enough to build a future together. 

Dude. The heroine is wearing pants and boots on the cover. This fifth book in Putney’s Rogue’s Redeemed series features quite possibly my favorite trope EVER in romance - the heroine of dubious reputation. OMG, and she’s divorced. Just inject this one right into my eyeballs. 

Sin Incarnate by Isobel Carr (Kindle Unlimited) 

Six Nights Of Pleasure… 

Georgianna Exley's passionate nature has always been her undoing—and for this reason the beautiful young widow allows her lovers only a single night in her bed. No man will ever have the right to dictate to her; to presume he owns her. 

But Ivo Dauntry has at last come home to England, and for he'll settle for nothing less than one night for every year he’s given up for her...and soon, his daring seduction becomes a sensual contest of wills Georgianna is all too willing to lose. 

But the long-ago duel that bound them forever has repercussions neither of them could ever have foreseen, and once again, Ivo must risk everything, this time to save the woman he loves… 

Originally published as Lord Sin under the name Kalen Hughes, Carr graces us with self-published editions of her lusty Georgian romances (Scandal Incarnate is also available this month). Like the War of 1812, Georgians are harder to find in the historical romance universe, a crying shame in my opinion because if Prince taught us anything it’s that men in heels can be damn sexy. 

A Forbidden Liaison with Miss Grant by Marguerite Kaye 

An unexpected encounter… 

Will change everything! 

Self-made gentleman and widower Grayson Maddox has devoted himself to his children and business, leaving no time for pleasure. Until he has an impulsive, thrillingly sensual encounter with lady’s companion Miss Constance Grant! Their passion gives Grayson hope of a happiness he never thought he’d feel again. But there’s still much in both their pasts to confront before they can turn their forbidden liaison into a new beginning… 

Kaye’s latest takes place in 1822 Edinburgh at the height of preparations for King George IV’s historic visit. The Highland Clearances also play a role in the story - the school teacher heroine now out of a job and homeless when her village is wiped out to make room for sheep. That’s all very interesting, but wait for it - there’s more. Both the protagonists are in their 40s. That’s right. No foolin’. Please for the love of all that is holy buy this on principle at the very least. 

Redeeming Her Viking Warrior by Jenni Fletcher 

He’s sworn celibacy… 

Until he gets vengeance! 

Danr Sigurdsson is indebted to the captivating, mysterious healer living alone in the wilderness who carefully tends his wounds. Consumed with anguish over the massacre that killed his family, Danr has sworn not to touch another woman until he finds those responsible. So resisting Sissa should be easy, but as they search for the truth, fighting their mutual attraction becomes the hardest battle… 

Harlequin is rolling along with the Sons of Sigurd series, with Fletcher contributing this fourth book. A hero who takes a vow of celibacy until he fulfills his mission of vengeance? And of course our lovely heroine gets thrown into his path? Gah! Sign me up! 

The Silk Merchant’s Convenient Wife by Elisabeth Hobbes 

A convenient marriage 

An inconvenient passion… 

His parents’ loveless relationship has left silk merchant Jonathan Harcourt suspicious of marriage. But in order to expand his mill and have an heir, he must marry his neighbour Aurelia Upford. Even more surprising than finding himself with a clever, beautiful society wife is the unexpected passion that flares between them, and the unsettling emotions it leads to. Sharing a bed was part of their arrangement, but can Jonathan risk sharing his heart, too? 

Hobbes takes a break from medievals to give readers an early Victorian set romance between a silk merchant (a tradesman!) entering into a marriage of convenience with a proper society heroine. I’ve enjoyed Hobbes’ medievals and can’t wait to see what she does in a very different time period. 

The Flapper’s Scandalous Elopement by Lauri Robinson 

With this ring… 

They’re temporarily wed! 

Heiress Jane Dryer will do anything to escape her controlling father and the life of domestic drudgery he decrees—even elope with the handsome stranger she meets in a speakeasy! Wealthy railroad owner David Albright needs a temporary wife and Jane needs her independence, so the plan is to marry, then walk away. Only very soon, their fake marriage feels seductively real! 

Sister #3 in Robinson’s Sisters of the Roaring Twenties series is up to bat - and our heiress heroine elopes with a stranger who turns out to be a wealthy railroad owner. I just, where do I sign up for these kinds of problems? I’m here for it. 

What Unusual Historicals are you looking forward to?

Unusual Historical Best Bets for November 2019

Here we are, in November, and I’m in denial. Have I thought about Thanksgiving dinner or my holiday gift purchasing? Of course not. Because it just doesn’t seem possible that somehow nearly a whole year blew past while I was busy doing...stuff, I guess. Who the heck knows anymore. I’m sure it involved The Day Job, continuing to finely tune my tea snobbery and books, because of course books. Which brings us to the latest crop of unusual historicals that have caught my eye. Here’s what’s hitting my wishlist for November:

My Fake Rake by Eva Leigh

Lady Grace Wyatt is content as a wallflower, focusing on scientific pursuits rather than the complications of society matches. But when a handsome, celebrated naturalist returns from abroad, Grace wishes, for once, to be noticed. Her solution: to “build” the perfect man, who will court her publicly and help her catch his eye. Grace’s colleague, anthropologist Sebastian Holloway, is just the blank slate she requires.  

To further his own research on English society, Sebastian agrees to let Grace transform him from a bespectacled, bookish academic into a dashing—albeit fake—rake. Between secret lessons on how to be a rogue and exaggerated public flirtations, Grace’s feelings for Sebastian grow from friendship into undeniable, inconvenient, real attraction. If only she hadn’t asked him to help her marry someone else...  

Sebastian is in love with brilliant, beautiful Grace, but their bargain is complete, and she desires another. Yet when he’s faced with losing her forever, Sebastian will do whatever it takes to tell her the truth, even if it means risking his own future—and his heart. 

When Leigh hits her beats she writes really interesting romances featuring feminist heroines bristling at convention. I generally really dig Pygmalion tropes in romance but Leigh flips it by giving readers the less common version of the heroine making over the hero. Plus, the hero is a bit of a nerd and those aren’t exactly thick on the ground in historicals. This is also the start of a new series.

The Truth Behind Their Practical Marriage by Marguerite Kaye

A marriage hiding secrets
…but forged by passion!  

A Penniless Brides of Convenience story. Miss Estelle Brannagh has never met a man who’s tempted her to renounce her hard-won independence—until an encounter with Irish landowner Aidan Malahide blossoms into spine-tingling attraction. He’s carefree and charismatic; accepting his proposal seems practical and shockingly desirable! Yet Aidan is hiding a dark secret, and it will take all of Estelle’s courage to ensure it doesn’t tear them apart… 

Obviously I like Kaye’s books, having featured them more than once in Unusual Historical posts - but the description of this one has literally made me go weak in the knees. Why? Well if you follow Kaye on various social media channels she’s been referring to this book as her “Irish Gothic” since she started writing it. And if there’s anything I love more than “unusual historicals?” It’s Gothics. Gimme, gimme, gimme!

Scandalously Wed to the Captain by Joanna Johnson

Bound to a stranger
…in a secret ceremony!  

With her finances, reputation and heart all broken by a family scandal, Grace Linwood seeks employment. But the lady she’s companion to isn’t long for this world. She’s intent on seeing Grace protected and quickly wed to her son, curt and closed-off Captain Spencer Dauntsey. With little choice, all Grace can say is “I do”…but who is the man she has just married? 

Discovered as part of Harlequin’s So You Think You Can Write, this is Johnson’s second book and the back cover blurb hits a ton of my sweet spots - a down-on-her-luck heroine, a stoic military hero, and a marriage of convenience.

Night of the Scoundrel by Kelly Bowen (novella)

Can he trust her with his darkest secret?  

Ruthless. Dangerous. Known simply as King. No one knows his true name or where he came from. And when he learns that the man who betrayed him has returned to London, King has only one goal: vengeance. But first, he must seek out an unlikely ally to aide him in his pursuit...  

Adeline Archambault is as mysterious as she is beautiful. Exiled after the French Revolution, she's determined to reclaim her birthright and deliver the justice that is owed her. King's offer to help her, in exchange for her assistance, is a bargain she can't refuse. But will this deal with a devil lead to a future she never dared hope for? 

Bowen has been racking up so many accolades it’s hard to keep track (by my count she’s got three RITA Awards under her belt and appearances on numerous Best Of lists….). This back cover blurb is magic and caught my eye immediately thanks to a super mysterious hero and a heroine in search of justice. This sounds perverse, but I’m a sucker for romances that utilize the French Revolution in some way.

Ride the High Lonesome by Rosanne Bittner

A man bent on revenge
A woman determined to survive
A land that knows no mercy
Meet the Men of the Outlaw Trail  

When Kate Winters is left stranded and defenseless in outlaw country, she knows there's little chance she'll make it out alive...until she stumbles across a ruthless gang hanging a cowboy for his cattle. She waits until the outlaws are gone, desperate enough to claim the dead man's horse to make her escape—only to realize he's not dead after all.  

Those outlaws should have made damn sure Luke Bowden was good and gone. Now he vows he'll have his revenge no matter the cost. But they're miles away from the nearest town, and the woman who saved his hide won't survive the ride back. He owes her his life—he owes her everything—and it doesn't take long before he's faced with a terrible choice: stand by Kate...or claim his revenge? 

I’m the type who will generally look a gift horse in the mouth, so while I’ve been happy more westerns are getting published they’ve been riding on the coat-tails of the small town contemporary trend that’s showing no signs of slowing down. Which means lots of cutesy small towns west of the Mississippi and while I do read those, they’re not my favorite. Bittner tends to write the style of western that I love - the sort where you really think either hero or heroine are going to end up dead, but never do because, hello, she’s writing romance. Action, adventure, road romance, and the start of a new series? Sign me up.

What Unusual Historicals are you looking forward to reading?