Month: May 2024

Deadly Betrayal by Carla Simpson

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

Deadly Betrayal (Angus Brodie and Mikaela Forsythe Murder Mystery Book 8)Barbara’s rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
Series: Angus Brodie and Mikaela Forsythe #8
Publication Date: 6/4/24
Period: Victorian London
Number of Pages: 290

Non-stop action, a compelling mystery, bargains with the devil, emotional betrayal, and eye-opening relationships make this one of the best books of the series. You will probably figure out who is behind the murders early on, but that identity is less important to the story as a whole. Working through the who, how, and why is a journey that will nearly end both Mikaela and Brodie. Not only are their lives at risk but their personal relationship as well. Oh! Goodness – what a cliffhanger.

Angus Brodie left the Met under a cloud – we’ve read all about that in the previous books. In this book, that final case comes back to haunt him – big time. In that previous case, a young man was murdered. There was only one witness to that murder, and she quickly disappeared. Inspector Aberline blamed Brodie for her disappearance and threatened to bring charges against him – so Brodie resigned. Ten years later, the young woman has reappeared – and has been murdered. Are the cases related? Surely not if they are ten years apart.

Aberline has had a vendetta against Brodie for all those years, and now is his chance to get his revenge. He quickly declares Brodie as the young woman’s murderer and sets out to arrest him. Brodie quickly goes underground and Mikaela knows that the only way to save Brodie is to find the actual murderer. Brodie doesn’t want her anywhere near the case for many personal reasons aside from trying to protect her. However, when Brodie is arrested and nearly beaten to death, Mikaela makes a deal with the devil to save him. Brodie doesn’t appreciate that in the least and becomes even more surly – and when Mikaela’s life is endangered, it all comes to a head.

We had a lovely time with several supporting characters – especially Mikaela’s aunt. You will adore her – I wish I had an aunt like that! What I didn’t see – and sorely wished for – was some punishment or accountability for Aberline. However, it was totally silent in that regard. Is the Met going to let him do the things he did and get away with them? I mean – the way he conducted his visit to Mikaela’s aunt would normally be enough to see him drummed out of the Met. Apparently, unless there is something in the next book, Aberline will escape any punishment.

Normally, I am a big fan of Brodie, but I didn’t like him – at all – in this book. He is normally a big, broody, very protective Scot and I can understand and appreciate that. If you love someone, you want to protect them and keep them safe even though they are perfectly capable of protecting themselves. In this book, he isn’t protective, he is secretive, condescending, and downright mean and hateful. I understand what the author was going for, I didn’t like it, but I understood it. It is just that acting as he did in this book just didn’t seem to mesh with the Brodie I’d seen in the previous 7 books. I assume book 9 will bring resolution to the cliffhanger we are left with at the end of this book. I won’t mind seeing a contrite Brodie, but if he becomes one of those doormat heroes I see in so many tales lately, I won’t like him very well at all. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.

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

All’s Fair in Love & War by Virginia Heath

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

All's Fair in Love and War (Miss Prentice's Protegees, #1)All’s Fair in Love and War by Virginia Heath

Tracy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Series: Miss Prentice’s Protegees, #1

Release Date: May 28, 2024

After an unhappy and strict upbringing by her stepfather, Georgina “Georgie” Rowe does not agree that children should be seen and not heard. As a graduate of Miss Prentice’s School for Girls, a school known for turning out the best governesses, companions and secretaries, Georgie assumes she will have her pick of jobs as her three best friends and classmates did, but unfortunately her rather unconventional views on teaching and discipline do not endear her to potential employers. In fact, Georgie has had over thirty interviews and been rejected by every one of them – a school record, to the utter dismay of Miss Prentice. So, when a very desperate Captain Henry “Harry” Kincaid comes to the school looking for a temporary governess to his nieces and nephew, Miss Prentice takes charge and before she knew what was happening, Georgie was hired! Too bad the captain is exactly like her stepfather, much too rigid, too organized, too regimented and too arrogant to be likable. Almost immediately upon meeting her new charges, Georgie wonders if she is out of her league. But as time passes, she finds her groove and to her dismay has to acknowledge that she was wrong about the captain. Very wrong, which can only lead to a broken heart since Harry has just been given a huge promotion and a flagship to command.

Henry “Harry” Kincaid’s upbringing was the complete opposite of Georgie’s, his parents were free spirits, disinclined to follow rules or worry about paying bills, taking care of their home or providing a stable environment for the children. His sister Flora thrived in this atmosphere and still lives her life that way, which is how Harry ended up being left with her three young children and one very large dog, while she and her husband took off for Egypt. Harry was taken under his grandfather, the Admiral’s wing early in life, and thanks to the Admiral’s training and guidance, Harry has a promising career in the Navy. He had a minor setback a few years ago, involving a woman, but thankfully that is all behind him now and he is back on track to make a name for himself. He has worked hard to get where he is and it is beginning to pay off, exactly as he planned. So why is he starting to doubt his choices? And why can’t he seem to ignore his new governess? She is everything he claims to abhor, but he can’t seem to stay away, which is a problem, since he is due to take command of his new ship in a few months and Georgie is definitely not the kind of girl who would be happy with an absentee husband. Maybe HEA isn’t meant for everyone…

I liked this story, but I am going to have to agree with other reviewers who have said that the story dragged. I was never really pulled into this story and found it very easy to put down, that doesn’t make it bad, but it wasn’t the quick, easy read I was expecting. Aside from the slow pace, I found Georgie hard to like at the beginning, but eventually she grew on me. Harry on the other hand won me over immediately and was the shining star of this book. This is the first book in a new series and if you are a fan of the opposites attract trope, like children and animals in a story, or enjoy a slow burn/low steam romance, this book is for you.

*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. *