Month: January 2021

Ravish Me with Rubies by Jane Feather

On By TracyIn Edwardian Age (1901-1910), Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Ravish Me with Rubies (The London Jewels Trilogy Book 3)Ravish Me with Rubies by Jane Feather

Tracy’s rating: 2.5/3 of 5 stars

Series: The London Jewels Trilogy, #3

Release Date: January 26, 2021

2.5 stars rounded up.

When Petra Rutherford’s brother Jonathan asks her to join him for tea at Westminster to help him charm a member of parliament, she is stunned to see Guy Granville, Baron Ashton – a man she met and fell in love with ten years ago. And the man who broke her schoolgirl’s heart. She is barely civil to him – much to his surprise, as he holds fond memories of the girl he spent a summer with years ago. Shaken by the encounter, Petra vows to get her long-overdue revenge on Guy – she will charm him, enchant him, and then leave him with a broken heart.

Things don’t go as planned and her vow of revenge falls to the wayside and Petra finds herself falling under his spell once more – but this time she is wiser, she knows that Guy is a rake and promises to guard her heart. But the more time they spend together, the more they want and finally, Guy realizes that she is perfect for him and asks her to marry – it seems like HEA is a given – but soon they will have to face facts – they are both stubborn and when they find themselves on opposite sides of the Women’s Suffrage Movement – their love will be put to the test.

I am torn by this book – on one hand, it was different and I liked that Guy and Petra stayed true to their differing opinions – and while it made Guy appear to be a jerk in the eyes of a 21st-century reader – he was probably one of the most historically authentic heroes I have ever read. However, on the other hand, there is a whole lotta ICK – they meet when he is 24 and she is 14 – he spends time with her, kisses her, dances with her, etc. – later when confronted about his actions to her, claims that he had no idea she had feelings for him and then he says she was just a child – OK, so why are you KISSING a child? It was introduced early in the book and honestly, I just couldn’t shake the creepiness of it out of my mind – so that was definitely not a point in the book’s favor. Of the three books, this one was probably the most sexual – but the love scenes were far from steamy, they were downplayed and merely warm. The book was interesting, with misunderstandings, warm love scenes, cameos with the former “Jewels”, cameos with true historical figures, a meddling ex-mistress, and a HEA. I really wish there had been an epilogue as this is the final book and I would have liked to have a peek into their HEA, as well as Fenella and Diana’s – but overall, it was an OK read, and aside from the kind gross child molester vibe at the beginning – I think this might be the best STORY of the three books.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher. *

Death Comes To The Rectory by Catherine Lloyd

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Georgian Era (1714-1837), Historical MysteryLeave a comment

Death Comes to the Rectory (Kurland St. Mary Mystery, #8)Barbara’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Kurland St. Mary Mystery #8
Publication: 1/26/21
Number of Pages: 304
*** 3.5 Stars Rounded Up ***

I really struggled with what rating to give this book. If it was a book in the middle of a series, I’d give it 5-stars easily because the mystery is well-written, well-plotted, and well-executed. Usually, I figure out within the first chapter or two who the murderer is – but I wasn’t sure with this one. I had suspicions – but definitely wasn’t sure. However, this book isn’t in the middle of a series, it is the wrap-up for a series and, as such, it just wasn’t satisfying to me. The author has said she might write some additional short stories for this series in the future, but, to this reader, that doesn’t make up for what is lacking in this final book. As a series ender, I did not want to see a family left splintered and in turmoil. I wanted to know what the future held for the Harrington’s – especially the twins and Anna – Oh, and Rose’s baby. Yet, Anna was hardly even mentioned in the story and she wasn’t at her niece’s christening. So, if you read the book for the mystery, you’ll enjoy it – but if you read it for both the mystery and the wrap-up to a much-loved series, you’ll end up a bit disappointed. All of that disappointment could have so easily been avoided with just an additional chapter or an epilogue showing the family in their happy lives at some future point. I’m not exactly sorry I read the book – but I’m not exactly jumping for joy either.

Lady Lucy and Sir Robert Kurland are preparing to celebrate the christening of their baby daughter, Elizabeth Jane Sarah, who was named after her deceased grandmothers and her great-aunt. They’ve invited friends and family and have filled both the rectory and the manor with guests. In the middle of all of the guest’s arrival, there is an unexpected, uninvited, and unwanted couple who appears. Robert asks them to leave, but since the woman, Henrietta, is Robert’s cousin – and the step-daughter of Lucy’s father – they can hardly remove them bodily. You’ll never see a nastier set of people than Henrietta and her husband Lord Northam. Robert makes it very plain to both of them that they WILL NOT disturb the christening services. This is his much-loved, and much-doted-upon daughter’s big day and he will not have it spoiled.

Just after the services, the body of Basil, Lord Northam, is discovered in the rector’s office – with the rector’s letter opener. That immediately makes the rector, Lucy’s father, the prime suspect. Lucy doesn’t believe her father is guilty – but Robert thinks he could be. As the magistrate for the area, it is Robert’s duty to investigate and determine the guilty party – even if that means hurting his wife.

It seems everyone has a reason to want Lord Northam dead – he was mutually hated by all who knew him. As the investigation continues, more and more secrets come to light along with more and more reasons someone would want to kill Lord Northam. Yet, all of the evidence keeps coming back to the rector. Henrietta insists that the rector is the guilty party and she makes that loud and clear to any and all who will listen. Can Robert and Lucy work through all of the secrets and lies to get to the truth? That truth will surprise you!

I did enjoy the mystery, but the overall feel of the book left me wanting. I thought Lucy was much too sanguine about her father being accused of murder and much too accepting of Robert’s need to pursue her father as a suspect. The ending was also dissatisfying because there was no real wrap-up. The family was left fractured with more wounds than could be easily repaired.

If you love the series, I hope you won’t be as disappointed as I was in the final book. If you aren’t invested in the series – you should find the mystery very enjoyable.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.