Month: March 2024

A Deadly Deception by Carla Simpson

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

Deadly Deception (Angus Brodie & Mikaela Forsythe #7)

Barbara’s rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
Series: Angus Brodie & Mikaela Forsythe #7
Publication Date: 3/26/24
Period: Victorian London
Number of Pages: 262

Shades of Guy Fawkes! An anarchist has been causing upheaval throughout the continent – and now he is in London. What havoc does he plan to wreak and can he be stopped before it happens?

Mikaela and Brodie, who are now married, are pursuing different investigations. Brodie, secretive as ever, is investigating on behalf of the Agency (a forerunner of MI6), and Mikaela is looking into the case of a missing doctor.

Joseph Bennett is a gifted physician and surgeon. He is brilliant and is always pushing the limits of current standards and trying new innovations. That brilliance has caused him to be censured by the medical leadership and that grates on him. What can a man do other than start a secret practice? Secret as in absolutely no one knows about it. So, when his wife hires Mikaela to find him, she has no place to start. That doesn’t deter her, and she digs into his life with a fine-toothed comb. What she finds . . . Well, you just need to read the book. 😊

Brodie continues working assignments for the Agency – and this one is a doozie. Lithuanian, Dimitri Soropkin, an extremely dangerous anarchist, has cost many lives on the continent with his explosions and unrest. Now, he is in England, to spread anarchy and cause maximum damage to England, its leadership, its stability, and perhaps its Queen. Brodie and the Agency know he reached London because there have been reliable sightings of him. Then, he disappeared and there have been no sightings at all. He didn’t leave, so where is he and what is he up to?

Two exciting investigations come clashing together most interestingly, and the exciting solution will leave you on the edge of your seat. The story is fast-paced, interesting, and well-written. The series has quickly become one of my favorites though I was hoping for more growth from Brodie – he has disappointed me of late. It isn’t that he distrusts Mikhaela, it is that he has insecurities about himself – plus he wants to protect her at all costs. Given his background, I can understand his insecurities to a point. I can even understand his protectiveness – to a point. However, he should know that won’t work and learn to trust that she can and will take care of herself – and maybe even help him in the process. I’m hoping there is some substantial growth in the next book.

I enjoyed this book and I have also enjoyed the other books in the series. You could read this as a stand-alone title, but for a richer experience, I would suggest reading the series in order. Some things will puzzle you – if you are an anglophile and want accuracy – such as this line – “A member of the ton, she had been born to her title of duchess, however, she rarely used it.” Ummm – right – and she is referred to as Lady Antonia (Montgomery). There is also the Lady Forsythe title Mikhaela inherited from her father. This author researches, so perhaps she’s found examples of where these could be correct, but I’m pretty sure they aren’t. Anyway – I love the book and can recommend it – and I hope you will love it too. Happy Reading!

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

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One Dangerous Night by Cathy Maxwell

On By TracyIn Georgian Era (1714-1837), Part of a Series, Regency Era (1811-1820), Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

One Dangerous Night (The Gambler's Daughters, #2)One Dangerous Night by Cathy Maxwell

Tracy’s rating: 3.5/4 of 5 stars

Series: The Gambler’s Daughters, #2

Release Date: March 26, 2024

After arriving in London with high hopes of marrying a duke, Elise Lanscarr, the youngest (and loveliest) of the Lanscarr sisters, is leaving, betrayed, heartbroken and filled with rage. After her sister Dara married Michael, the man Elise loved and hoped to marry, she can no longer abide living with them and she has decided to return to Ireland. In a final fit of pique, she leaves a note in the sister’s money box after taking the funds she needs to make it back to Ireland, knowing her sisters will believe she has gone to stay with her friend Lady Whitby and won’t realize she is gone until one of them checks the money box. She is filled with self-righteous indignation, she sets out for Liverpool, but nothing goes as planned and she finds herself traveling with a stranger, in a mail coach driven by a drunk, in a storm. A horrific crash finds her alone with the stranger, a young man going by the name of Kit. Together they will have to find their way to the next coaching inn, while avoiding the many pitfalls that pop up along the way. At first, she is sure Kit is a ne’er-do-well, but the more time she spends with him, the more she likes him and respect him. She also begins to see her own shortcomings and faults, she knows she has fences to mend and apologies to make, and once that is done, will she give up her dream of a duke for a wanderer?

Christopher “Kit” Fitzhugh-Cox, the Duke of Winderton is also running away after experiencing heartbreak when the woman he loved married his uncle. He too left in a fit of pique, and he has been wandering for months under an assumed name, play out he version of Shakespeare’s Prince Hal. It isn’t until he meets Elise that he truly begins to change and see the error of his ways. She makes him want to be a better man, a man worthy of her love. But to do that he will have keep Elise safe while evading the men trying to kill him, then return home and make things right. And there is the small fact that he hasn’t revealed his true identity to her, but he is sure she will forgive him, well, mostly sure.

This was the well-written, nicely paced story of two young people who start out acting like spoiled brats, but through a series of misfortunes, seeing the error of their ways and maturing into adulthood while truly falling in love. The book is filled with emotion, some anger, indignation, hurt feelings, broken hearts, perceived betrayal, a sweet dog, danger, hidden identities, more heartache, a tiny bit of steam, shocking revelations, and finally a very sweet ending with a lovely declaration and a nice set up for the next book. Honestly, I didn’t like Elise in the last book and I didn’t like her for most of this book, but in the end, she won me over, as did Kit. I am happy to recommend this book, but I would strongly suggest reading the books in order. I didn’t love this story, but in the end, I enjoyed it and now I can’t wait for Gwendolyn and Steele’s story!

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.*