Author: Barbara

Avid reader/reviewer of historical romance and historical mysteries.

Look Before You Leap by Virginia Heath

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

Look Before You Leap (Miss Prentice's Protegees, #2)Barbara’s rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
Series: Miss Prentice’s Protegees #2
Publication Date: 6/24/25
Period: Regency
Number of Pages: 320

Look Before You Leap is a delightfully witty and entertaining book that kept me smiling the entire time I was reading. The characters are charming, flawed, and engaging, and I don’t mean that just for the main characters. The supporting characters are the perfect support and backdrop for the main characters – and I would absolutely love to see Guy’s aunt Almeria hire another of Miss Prentice’s students in another book. Perhaps Portia would make a great fit for Lady Almeria.

Charlotte (Lottie) Travers is a “leap before you look” kind of young lady, and that is why she is currently unemployed and back at Miss Prentice’s School. Luckily, the kind-hearted Miss Prentice always allows her students to come back should they need to. One of Lottie’s many faults is impulse control – especially controlling her impulse to appropriate one of her employer’s horses for a mad gallop in the morning before dawn. Lottie’s catch phrase is Worry About Tomorrow, Tomorrow. Losing this last job couldn’t have come at a worse time because she needs money to help with a family emergency. What is she to do? Well, she will just have to take a post as companion to a curmudgeonly, ill-tempered octogenarian who is leaving for Scotland.

Guy Harrowby, the thirteenth Viscount Wennington, is grumpy, hates London with a passion, and is absolutely terrified of being the center of attention – especially if that attention is ridicule. Guy made an absolute cake of himself on his 21st birthday and is terrified of it ever happening again. Not only was he ridiculed, but his heart was broken. Now, it seems he can’t get past that, and his mother is constantly on him to marry and produce grandchildren for her. When he finally agrees to a very small gathering at their home in Kent to celebrate his 30th birthday, chaos ensues.

Poor Guy, with all of those marriage-minded debutantes chasing him all over his home, he begins to feel like the fox in a fox hunt. No escape! No one to save him, no matter how sternly he glares or how grumpy he is. Well, Lottie, his Aunt’s companion, does try to help – sometimes – maybe.

I absolutely adored the grumpy, dark-cloud, Guy and the ray-of-sunshine, worry-about-it-tomorrow Lottie because they were perfect for each other. Lady Almeria was so much fun, and I dearly wish I had an aunt like that in my life. Of course, I’d want her butler too!

This book is for you if you’re looking for a lovely romance with a meet-cute, an interesting story, fun characters, and a satisfying HEA. And – you will love the ending.

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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A Daughter’s Guide to Mothers and Murder by Dianne Freeman

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

A Daughter's Guide to Mothers and Murder (A Countess of Harleigh Mystery, #8)Barbara’s rating: 3.7 out of 5 Stars
Series: Countess of Harleigh Mystery #8
Publication Date: 6/24/25
Period: Victorian – Paris
Number of Pages: 304

George and Frances Hazelton are back in Paris to enjoy their interrupted honeymoon and to refresh themselves after solving a murder in Deauville. Goodness, a lot is going on in Paris – the Exposition that we thoroughly explored in the last book, and the Olympics that we learn a bit about in this book. So many people – so many potential victims. 😊

As Frances and George enjoy their time together, Frances is approached by a frenemy, Alicia Stoke-Whitey, who seeks Frances’s assistance in investigating Carlson Deaver, who is trying to court her daughter. At the same time, George is approached by Inspector Daniel Cadieux, from the Sûreté, to assist them in following up on new leads in an old murder case. Are the cases related – you bet! 😊 The new clue is to the year-old murder of Isabelle Deaver, wife of Carlson Deaver – and the person who provided the clue is none other than the famous actress, Sarah Bernhardt.

The mystery is excellently done with twists, turns, and red herrings galore. While we are all down a rabbit hole with several clues, another murder happens. Can that one be related to the first murder? More suspects, more clues, and Frances and George have to unravel it all – and they do it with a surprising ending.

I thoroughly enjoyed all of the supporting characters in the book, especially the close friends and family of George and Frances. Frances’s mother was particularly enjoyable in this book and quite different from previous books. What I did not enjoy was the amount of infidelity in the book. It almost seemed as if every male character was unfaithful. It got to the point where I read a new male character’s name and started looking for where it would be mentioned that he was unfaithful. It was too much! I was waiting for George to be accused of being unfaithful. I didn’t enjoy all the infidelity, and hope it isn’t a trend. One unfaithful character (male or female) is enough for any book.

If you enjoy an excellent mystery with a set of clues that twist and turn, then set it all upside down, you will enjoy this book.

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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