Month: March 2025

The Watchmaker’s Daughter by C.J. Archer

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

The Watchmaker's Daughter (Glass and Steele, #1)

Barbara’s rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
Series: Glass and Steele #1
Publication Date: 6/28/16
Period: Victorian London
Number of Pages: 302

I recently discovered this author and cannot seem to get enough of her books. I first found her Glass Library series (a spinoff of this series) and devoured all of them and I’m now anxiously awaiting the release of the next adventure in that series. To satisfy my craving, I came to this series and, if this book is any indication, I’m going to love it as well. The only drawback to having read the second series first is that I was already familiar with the characters and knew which characters would make alliances and which would still be around in 30 years. Frankly, I saw that as a good thing and it didn’t deter my enjoyment in the least.

This is the first book in the Glass and Steele series, and it introduces us to India Steele, who finds herself destitute after the death of her watchmaker father and betrayal by her fiancé. She has no money and no place to live when she meets the mysterious Matthew Glass – an American who immediately hires her as his assistant.

This is a delightful tale of magic, mystery, and romance – and perhaps a tad of steampunk. The author skillfully creates a world where science and magic coexist – but are at war. India is strong, resilient, talented, intelligent – and has absolutely no idea of her true power. Matthew is also strong, resilient, talented and intelligent – and is in desperate need of help – of the magical variety. The attraction and dynamic between India and Matt creates a tension where the chemistry is strong – probably stronger than they are.

The secondary characters added much to the story – I loved the pistol-toting, hard-wearing Willie Johnson and hated the duplicitous, vile fiancé, Eddie Hardcastle, as well as the entire Watchmakers Guild. The story does an excellent job of setting the stage and characters for the remainder of the books in the series – but it is a great standalone book if you never read another in the series. Though, I would wager you’ll quickly become hooked on the stories.

If you love historical romance, mystery, fantasy, adventure, and intrigue, you can’t go wrong with this book. I can hardly wait to start the next one

Duke of Midnight by Elizabeth Hoyt

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

Duke of Midnight (Maiden Lane, #6)Duke of Midnight by Elizabeth Hoyt

My Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Maiden Lane, #6

Release Date: October 15, 2013

WHEN A MASKED MAN . . .

Twenty years ago Maximus Batten witnessed the brutal murders of his parents. Now the autocratic Duke of Wakefield, he spends his days ruling Parliament. But by night, disguised as the Ghost of St. Giles, he prowls the grim alleys of St. Giles, ever on the hunt for the murderer. One night he finds a fiery woman who meets him toe-to-toe—and won’t back down . . .

MEETS HIS MATCH . . .

Artemis Greaves toils as a lady’s companion, but hiding beneath the plain brown serge of her dress is the heart of a huntress. When the Ghost of St. Giles rescues her from footpads, she recognizes a kindred spirit-and is intrigued. She’s even more intrigued when she realizes who exactly the notorious Ghost is by day . . .

DESIRE IGNITES A DANGEROUS PASSION

Artemis makes a bold move: she demands that Maximus use his influence to free her imprisoned brother-or she will expose him as the Ghost. But blackmailing a powerful duke isn’t without risks. Now that she has the tiger by the tail, can she withstand his ire-or the temptation of his embrace?

My thoughts:

I love Elizabeth Hoyt’s style of writing – it is always fresh, edgy and the love scenes are steamy. Her books never have cookie cutter plots and you never put down a book by her feeling like you read the same story somewhere else.

This book is no exception. You have a rich powerful duke, a penniless companion, a spoiled relative vying for the duke, a lunatic relation and a very nasty villain. Sounds like a hundred other HR books you’ve read right? Wrong!

I really liked this installment of the Maiden Lane series – but there were a couple of things that really bothered me.

The first was Artemis’ relationship with Penelope – Artemis says and thinks constantly how sweet Penelope really is – but at the same time she seems like she is making fun of her right to her face because Penelope is too stupid to realize it. That made Artemis come across as a mean spiteful person at times.

The second was the relationship between Artemis and Maximus – it felt a bit too much like cheating to me – considering he is courting Penelope and has made it clear he will never marry Artemis. Artemis claims to love her cousin – but has an affair with the man she knows her cousin wants to marry with barely any thought of how it will affect Penelope. I wasn’t happy about this. I don’t like cheaters and I don’t like spending my hard earned money to read about them.

Honestly as much as I love EH’s books – I have to say this was disappointing to me. If the cousin wanting to marry the hero wasn’t such a big part of the book – I would have loved it. There was action, drama, heart wrench, joy and a hero with a very possessive sexual bent – but unfortunately I couldn’t get past the feeling that the heroine was the other woman and was going to hurt someone she claimed to love. I know they technically never cheated because Maximus was not actually betrothed to Penelope – but it was implied that it was going to happen and Artemis knew how Penelope felt – so in my opinion it was wrong.

I am looking forward to more books I this series – as this book left 3 very interesting men hanging off a cliff and I have to know what happens!!

When all is said and done – the book was well written, it was interesting and the story believable – I would recommend it with a warning to others who are sensitive about cheating.