Author: Barbara

Avid reader/reviewer of historical romance and historical mysteries.

Within These Gilded Halls by Abigail Wilson

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Historical Mystery, Regency Era (1811-1820)Leave a comment

Within These Gilded HallsBarbara’s rating: 4 of 5 Stars
Series: Stand Alone
Publication Date: 10/4/22
Period: Regency
Number of Pages: 320

Whew! My head is still spinning after finishing this book. In one book you get a romance, a murderer, a thief, a spy, a smuggler, revenge, treason, blackmail, treasure hunts, and a really strange household where deep dark secrets reside. Yes, it is very busy! It is also fast-paced, well-written, interesting, and filled with characters you either want to get to know better – or you want to slap them (or worse). The main focus of the story is the mystery, but the romance dovetails nicely into it. Those of you who like steamy romances will be disappointed because there is no steam, but there is a very honorable hero who treats his lady with trust, honor, and respect. I say that is a well done.

Phoebe Radcliff, a gifted artist, is the daughter of Lord Torrington who is a spymaster. She left home in disgrace two years ago and is now studying under the tutelage of a renowned artist, Miss Drake. Phoebe and her friend Daniel are making good progress on their art project, but she’s not so focused that she doesn’t wonder about some of the goings-on. Why are Mr. and Mrs. Fagean there as permanent guests? They are odd people and Mr. Fagean is practically running the estate.

Lt. Graham Burke unexpectedly arrives at his aunt’s home with a load of antiquities he plans to sell to a neighbor and isn’t exactly welcomed with open arms. When his aunt, Miss Drake, is murdered things really start popping. The weapon used would tend to implicate Graham, but he loves his aunt. As she lay dying, she whispered a final message to Phoebe and that sets off a major treasure hunt.

Graham and Phoebe are trying to solve the riddles that will lead them to the treasure and solve Miss Drake’s murder at the same time. Are the two things connected? What about the strange behavior of Mr. and Mrs. Fagean? Daniel is also acting strangely. Secrets – secrets-within-secrets – how will they ever untangle this can of worms?

I thoroughly enjoyed the story, but I would have liked it just as well (or better) if some of the sub-plots were left out. It was just a very busy book. There was some very modern phraseology – like “How is that working for you”, but other than that it was a great mystery and a sweet love story combined. Goodness – I don’t think you can go wrong with that. The story also alluded to Phoebe’s parentage a couple of times, but never really finished it – so why include it at all?

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

View all my reviews

The Virgin Who Captured a Viscount by Anna Bradley

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Georgian Era (1714-1837), Part of a SeriesLeave a comment

The Virgin Who Captured a Viscount (The Swooning Virgins Society, #5)Barbara’s rating: 5 of 5 Stars
Series: The Swooning Virgins Society #5
Publication Date: 10/4/22
Period: Georgian – 1772 – 1796
Number of Pages: 320

Oh! My Goodness! If you hitch your horse to this wagon, you are in for a wild and wonderful ride! I’ve read and loved all of the books in this series, but this is the best one yet. We’ve seen Daniel in the background of all of the books of the series – taking care of the ladies, protecting them, but always subservient, quiet, and unobtrusive. Somehow though, you just KNEW there was more to him than meets the eye. You knew he had a story – and now we finally know that it is a hum-dinger!

Mairi Cameron has to find Daniel Adair and convince him to return to Coldstream within the Scottish borders because it is the only way to save her grandmother’s life. She’s followed his trail and learned that Daniel Adair is now Daniel Brixton. She and Daniel were friends when they were small children – she adored him then – but he and his father took off and she hadn’t heard anything from him since. Now though, her grandmother has been accused of Daniel’s murder after the village found the body of a small boy in a pond on the local Viscount’s property. Twenty-four years ago, when Daniel disappeared, he loved her grandmother as much as Mairi did, so he’ll surely return to save her grandmother – since he isn’t dead.

Mairi tracks Daniel for several days and finds him in the worst slums of London. It seems that the sweet, loving Daniel Adair she remembers has grown into the slimiest of creatures who calls himself Daniel Brixton. He is part of that criminal element that populates the underbelly of London – or is he? Well, he certainly must be – just look where she found him. Then, of all things, she had to save his life from one of those thugs bent on knifing him. He certainly owes her now! Except, he doesn’t see it that way – and he has no idea who she is and he’s quite positive he’s not Scottish. Oh! My!

Against his better judgment, Daniel takes Mairi back to Clifford School so Lady Clifford could help him decide what to do with her. He certainly couldn’t leave her in that hovel in which he found her, but he also had no intention of going to Scotland with her. Of all things – she thought he was Scottish. Ha!

Daniel and Mairi are delightful characters and I enjoyed watching them sizing each other up and coming to a truce. After Daniel and Mairi head out for Coldstream, Scotland, the fireworks really begin – between them – but also with the whole fantastical tale Mairi tells Daniel. Can it all be true? Then – the additional revelations that come to both of them will rock their worlds to the core.

I highly recommend this book and hope you will love Daniel and Mairi as much as I did. I loved that the villains actually got their just punishment – and – of course – one of my favorite things – there was a lovely epilogue. Yep! A truly lovely read.

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

View all my reviews