Author: Barbara

Avid reader/reviewer of historical romance and historical mysteries.

What’s a Duke Got to Do With It by Christina Britton

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Part of a Series, Regency Era (1811-1820)2 Comments

What’s a Duke Got to Do With It (Synneful Spinsters, #2)Barbara’s rating: 3.5 out of 5 Stars
Series: Synneful Spinsters #2
Publication Date: 7/11/23
Period: Regency – Isle of Synne
Number of Pages: 368

This is the gut-wrenching, heartbreaking, slow-moving, excellently told tale of two people whose dreams for a life together are shattered within the space of a day when both are engulfed in scandals, not of their own making. Miss Katrina Denby and Sebastian Thorne had been drawing closer and closer throughout the season and just as he was about to make his feelings known to her, he received a missive that he must return to his father’s country estate. That very same night, a man climbed into Katrina’s bedroom window causing a duel and scandal.

Four years later both Katrina and Sebastian – now the Duke of Ramsleigh, find themselves on the Isle of Synne. Katrina is there as the paid companion to the irascible Lady Tesh and Sebastian is there basically babysitting the grown brother of the heiress he hopes to marry to save his dukedom. Each is shocked to see the other because both are staying at the home of Lady Tesh. Both also realize those old feelings are still there and they also both realize that can go nowhere.

With Sebastian set to marry another and Katrina trying to weather yet another scandal not of her own making, it seems as if they will never work their way through all of their problems and find a HEA. And they almost don’t.

I liked Sebastian and Katrina okay, but I didn’t fall head-over-heels for them. My favorite characters were Lady Tesh, Mouse (a giant-sized dog), Mr. Bridling, and the group of friends known as the Oddments. Lady Tesh has been the glue that has held all of the Synne books together – both this series and the previous one, Isle of Synne. The Oddments is a group of ladies who are ‘odd’ to the world in one respect or another, but they are steadfast and true friends. I was totally surprised to like Mr. Bridling as he could have been such a dud of a character, and instead, he was bright and fun and I might have liked him better than Sebastian.

I can recommend this book because it is well written, but it wasn’t the book I needed to read at the moment. As I was reading, different adjectives kept popping into my head – mournful, morose, melancholy, misery, depressing, woe-is-me, sad, unhappy, martyr, gloom, despair, angst, angst, angst, angst, etc. and the book was all of that. I kept waiting for the happy part and it just wasn’t coming. I know it is a romance, so, of course, I knew the happy would come, but it didn’t get there until about the 90% mark and by that point, I wasn’t terribly interested.

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

View all my reviews

A Fatal Illusion by Anna Lee Huber – Release Day Blitz

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Book Publicity, Georgian Era (1714-1837), Historical Mystery, Part of a Series, Release Day BlitzLeave a comment

A Fatal Illusion (Lady Darby Mystery, #11)

Barbara’s rating: 5 of 5 Stars
Series: Lady Darby Mysteries #11
Publication Date: 6/20/22
Period: Late Georgian – 1832
Number of Pages: 384

Each time a new book in this series releases, I always say – this is the best book yet. I do truly mean that each time I say it. Each mystery is new, unique, and exciting, and will keep you guessing while the personal relationships between the recurring characters keep growing and maturing. So, I’ll say it again – this is the best book yet!

Kiera and Sebastian Gage have made a mad dash from Blakelaw House in the borderlands of Scotland, down the Great North Road to Wentbridge, a small village in Yorkshire because Lord Gage, Sebastian’s father was brutally attacked and shot. They don’t know what they’ll find when they arrive – will Lord Gage still be among the living? Who would dare attack Lord Gage who is powerful and friends with the King? That is what Kiera and Gage have to figure out – and fast – because not only are there additional attacks on Lord Gage, but Sebastian and Kiera are also attacked.

I love that we begin to see hints, just tiny hints, that Lord Gage might be human after all. Will those last? I also loved meeting baby Emma who played a delightful role in discovering her grandfather’s more human side. Of course, Anderley and Bree were front and center to help in the investigation. Then, there was Henry, and I was so glad to see him accompanying Gage and Kiera to see the father who has always denied him. I know acceptance will finally come for them. Hopefully, the rift within the family will be resolved on that long carriage ride with a convalescent Lord Gage – or – a mean-tempered Lord Gage could rip it all apart. I guess we’ll have to wait for the next book to see what happens there.

The mystery is excellently done, nicely paced, and perfectly delivered. Lord Gage’s past has come back to haunt him – a past he definitely doesn’t want his son poking into. However, the only way to solve the mystery is to delve into the past. The villains are relentless in their pursuit and they almost succeed. If not for the skills of Dr Josiah Barker, the first attempt would have taken Lord Gage’s life and the others wouldn’t have been needed. But, could Dr. Barker still be part of the plot? Hmm, you’ll just have to read the book to see.

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

View all my reviews