Author: Barbara

Avid reader/reviewer of historical romance and historical mysteries.

God Rest Ye, Royal Gentlemen by Rhys Bowen

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, George V - 1910- 1936, Historical MysteryLeave a comment

God Rest Ye, Royal Gentlemen (Her Royal Spyness, #15)Barbara’s rating: 5 of 5 Stars
Series: Royal Spyness #15
Publication Date: 10/5/21
Period: George V, Sandringham
Number of Pages: 304

This was a most delightfully entertaining read with a well-plotted mystery and interesting characters. The writing, as always, is excellent and the plot is well developed and well-executed. The identity of the villain was plain to me early on, but only because I have a warped brain. So, once I decided who the villain was – I had to devour the rest of the book to search for clues that I was correct. There are lots of red herrings and you’ll just have to weed through them to get the full story – which might not be evident until the end. Is the prince the intended victim? Is the villain part of a plot against the government?

It is Christmas 1935 and Georgie, along with her new husband Darcy, is looking forward to their first Christmas as a married couple. They decide it might be fun to have a Christmas house party – until – what amounts to a Royal command is delivered. So, Georgie and Darcy move their entire house party to Wymondham Hall located on the grounds of Sandringham where the royal family is spending Christmas. Georgie is excited to meet Darcy’s aunt, who lives at Wymondham Hall, but is surprised to find Wallis Simpson in residence as well.

Queen Mary is concerned and she’s asked Georgie to figure out if there is really evil afoot at Sandringham. Last Christmas, there were two strange and tragic deaths during the Christmas holiday at Sandringham and the Queen is concerned someone may be targeting the prince. When the prince is hit with buckshot, that worry only intensifies. Things become really serious when the prince’s paramour, Wallis Simpson, is attacked – not to mention more deaths. Is it someone who is inside the Sandringham estate? Could Darcy become a target if they get too close?

I thoroughly enjoyed this excellently presented book. There is an intense mystery set within increasingly turbulent times for England. Hitler has already come to prominence in Germany and King George V is very ill. The heir to the throne is seriously involved with an American woman who has already been divorced once and the royal family knows the people will never accept that relationship. When you add in the unrest in Ireland, you have a formula for extreme stress for Queen Mary and King George. Will Georgie and Darcy be able to relieve some of that stress by solving the local deaths? Whatever happens to the mystery within the pages, we have some very sad news and some very happy news – you’ll just have to read the book to find out the solution to the mystery and the news.

I highly recommend this entertaining book. I know you’ll love the story as well as the recurring characters. While this is part of a series, it can stand alone. However, if you want to understand Georgie’s whole backstory, you should read at least the first couple of books. You don’t need to read the earlier books as this one presents you with plenty of the back story, but they are really good books and I think you’d enjoy them.

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

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Cheers to the Duke by Sally MacKenzie

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

Cheers to the Duke (Widow's Brew, #3)Barbara’s rating: 4.5 Stars
Series: Widow’s Brew
Publication Date: 10/5/21
Period: Regency
Number of Pages: 352

OMGoodness – I thoroughly enjoyed this lovely, heartwarming romance. Our protagonists had both survived tragedy and unhappiness in their lives, both had survived, and both had overcome. Well, he had, but I’m not sure about her. While she has survived and has done good works, she still allows what happened during her marriage to color how she lives her life. It colors the decisions she makes and it makes her very wary and distrustful. Once burned, twice shy.

Lady Josephine Smyth-Waters was the daughter of a small village vicar – one of several sisters. All of her older sisters had already married vicars of their own, but that isn’t what Jo wanted for herself. That left her ripe for the picking when a handsome, charming, titled man arrived in their village and expressed an interest in her seventeen-year-old self. She was dizzyingly, dazzlingly, giddily in love and they were married within two weeks. Sadly, it didn’t take long for her to see the grave error she’d made. She’d never trust love again!

Over the last ten years, Jo along with her friends Caro (The Merry Viscount) and Pen (What Ales the Earl) created the Benevolent Home for the Maintenance and Support of Spinsters, Widows, and Abandoned Women and their Unfortunate Children. During the last year, both Caro and Pen have married and moved away, leaving the running of the Home totally on Jo’s shoulders. That isn’t good for Jo because she stresses over the responsibility – she feels she has to do everything herself – she can’t let their residents down. So, when Pen requested her to attend her newly delivered son’s christening and become his godmother – she had to refuse. She just couldn’t leave the Home right now. Ah, there is trickery afoot …

Until a year ago, Edward Russell had been a widowered London solicitor who was raising his young son, Thomas, on his own. While he had always known he was distantly related to Duke of Grainger’s family, he’d never met any of them – nor had he cared to. Then, a tragic set of events propels Edward into the title and his life isn’t his own any longer. He intended to follow expectations and marry to produce the spare he supposedly needed, but after a season of attending social functions and meeting simpering, insipid debutantes whose only interest in him was his title, he’d had enough. He was so grateful to be able to leave to attend the christening of his friend’s child – and to become its godfather.

I absolutely adored Edward and his son Thomas. He was a wonderful, loving, involved father who had no intention of marrying someone who didn’t love his son. It was wonderful to see Jo and Edward meet and come to care for each other. Jo had serious trust issues – not only didn’t she trust men in general, but she also didn’t trust herself or her own judgment.

This was a wonderfully straightforward love story without the navel-gazing, angsty, woe-is-me you see in so many books. It was well-written with humor, romance, wonderful characters, and the most delightful bear of a dog – named Bear. I hope you’ll love it as much as I did.

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

View all my reviews