Month: January 2019

The Confounding Case of the Carisbrook Emeralds by Stephanie Laurens

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Historical Mystery, Victorian Era (1837-1901)Leave a comment

The Confounding Case of the Carisbrook Emeralds (Casebook of Barnaby Adair, #4)The Confounding Case of the Carisbrook Emeralds by Stephanie Laurens

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Casebook of Barnaby Adair #4
Publication Date: 6/14/18
Number of Pages: 228

This is another lovely, well-written, well-plotted visit with Barnaby Adair and his wife Penelope along with their investigating friends Inspector Stokes and his wife Griselda, and Montague and his wife Violet. You’ll love the characters, you met most of them in earlier books in the series, and the new characters are very sweet and I’ll hope we see more of them in future books.

Miss Cara Di Abaccio’s is the daughter of an Italian painter and the sister of an English Viscount. Her parents were madly in love and had a wonderful life filled with happiness and love until they both died a year ago, leaving Cara nothing to inherit. Her father’s Italian family took her in, but when her mother’s English brother showed he was her guardian, she went to live with him. Cara is a lovely young woman, bright, funny and filled with love and life. Her uncle’s wife, Livvy, hates her and what she represents and doesn’t want her under her roof. So, when the Carisbrook emeralds disappear, Livvy calls Scotland Yard and has them arrest Cara.

When Scotland Yard’s Sergeant Wilkes arrived to make the arrest, he knows something isn’t right and doesn’t want any part of a Mayfair investigation. Even though it was Sunday morning, he knew he needed to involve Senior Inspector Basil Stokes. Stokes, of course, will involve his ton friends, the Adairs, in the case.

Everyone believes that Cara is totally innocent, but has been accused only because her aunt hates her. The aunt is a viper of a woman who runs rough-shod over everyone in her household. The investigators soon realize there is much more to the case than meets the eye – and that Car has nothing to do with the theft.

Hugo Adair is Barnaby’s cousin and he’s admired Cara for a while. He rushes to her aid and stays by her side throughout the whole ordeal. While he doesn’t participate in the investigation, Hugo keeps Cara safe and occupied. There is, of course, some matchmaking going on there and it is a sweet bit of a love story.

The investigation leads us through the relationships within a very dysfunctional family. You have to wonder how anyone can love the shrew who is Viscountess Livvy.

We have a lovely mystery and a lovely romance – what more could you ask for?

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“I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher.”

COVER REVEAL: Her Midnight Sin by Sofie Darling

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Cover Reveal, Other2 Comments

her midnight sin #1c final 1800x2700✭ ✭ HER MIDNIGHT SIN by Sofie Darling ✭ ✭
✭ Coming April 17, 2019

✭ Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/2ANQHMZ
✭ Pre-Order: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MWFP7TX

✭ ✭ ✭ About the Book ✭ ✭ ✭

Like a vengeful Norse god, Captain John Nylander has come from the sea to steal the only home that Callie has ever known. And that might not be all he’s after.

Can a Viking…

Orphaned as a child, Nylander has never known a real home. Now he is ready to leave the dangers of his past behind and put down the roots he has always longed for. The only thing standing in his way is a lanky aristocratic lady who is more at home on the farm than in the ballroom. And she has secrets…

And a Viscountess…

Callie, the Dowager Viscountess St. Alban, has poured all her energy into making Wyldcombe Grange her home. Managing an estate is not what she dreamed of, but her late husband’s rejection made it clear that love and a family would never be hers. Now she may lose even that to the sinfully handsome Captain. But Nylander is making her dream again…

Turn passion into love?

Nylander inspires a recklessness in Callie that she can’t control. Soon she finds herself conspiring with pirates and contemplating midnight trysts with the very Viking who has turned her life upside down. For Nylander, being with Callie embodies everything he’s always wanted—home. As midnight strikes, will all their secret, sinful dreams come true?

EXCERPT

Captain Nylander.

His voice was deep enough to shake the foundations of this mansion loose. Certainly deep enough to rattle Callie, her breath shallow and her mouth dry. She rose to a stand by slow increments and stood so silent and so still that she imagined she might be forgotten. Then the captain’s gaze met hers over St. Alban’s shoulder, and all hope was lost. His eyes narrowed in question, and she lifted a single, imperious eyebrow in response. The Grange knew that eyebrow well, and she sensed it was her best defense against this man in this moment.

Before her stood the man who would never be her friend. He was her rival . . . her enemy. Soft gaslight caught the golden strands of his unfashionably long, slightly unkempt hair and the glint of clear blue sky in his eye. For all his modern English attire, the man could have been a Viking, a Norse god even, from the tales of yore come to life. All he lacked was a shield in one hand and a hammer in the other.

Callie’s breath had no choice but to catch in her chest. Her enemy was imposing, yes, but did he also have to be so blasted, devastatingly . . . god-like?

AUTHOR INFO

sofie darling headshotSofie Darling is an award-winning author of historical romance. Her debut novel, THREE LESSONS IN SEDUCTION, won the Writers’ League of Texas’ Manuscript Contest in the Romance Category in 2016.

She spent much of her twenties raising two boys and reading every book she could get her hands on. Once she realized she simply had to write the books she loved, she finished her English degree and embarked on her writing career. Mr. Darling and the boys gave her their wholehearted blessing.

When she’s not writing heroes who make her swoon, she runs a marathon in a different state every year, visits crumbling medieval castles whenever she gets a chance, and enjoys a slightly codependent relationship with her beagle, Bosco.

Connect with Sofie:
Sofie’s Website
Sofie’s Facebook
Sofie’s Twitter
Sofie’s Goodreads