Author: Barbara

Avid reader/reviewer of historical romance and historical mysteries.

The Virgin and the Rogue by Sophie Jordan

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

The Virgin and the Rogue (The Rogue Files, #6)My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Series: The Rogue Files #6
Publication Date: 4/28/20
Number of Pages: 368

** Maybe 3.5 Stars **

My thoughts about this book were all over the place – from total disbelief to wondering what was going to happen next. I have read three of the six books in this series and each of the books can easily be read as a standalone. While the female lead in this story is the sister of the female lead in the previous story – the male lead is also related to the previous male lead – you don’t need to have read that story to enjoy this one.

Charlotte Langley is the middle sister, the dull one, the boring one, the uninteresting one, the one who just wants an uneventful, unexciting life. She wants to marry the man she has been friends with since they were children – he is steady, honorable, and … dull. She has convinced herself she is in love with him, but she’s never even kissed him, nor has she had any desire to do so. It never even occurred to her until – THE EVENT.

Samuel Kingston is the natural son of The Earl of Norfolk and a famed courtesan. His life has been a hedonistic one – much like his father’s – until he learns his mother is ill and he visits her. What he sees and learns of her illness turns his stomach and he immediately loses interest in his former lifestyle. He’s searching for something, but he doesn’t know exactly what it is. He’s been wandering from place to place for a while now and he finally decides to visit his step-brother. Now, his step-brother has no use for him – nor he for his step-brother – but he’ll stay there for a few days until he decides where to go from there. Except – when he arrives – he finds there is a new wife and her sisters who live there with Nicholas. Kingston is totally unimpressed with the lot of them – especially the middle one who seems like a milksop – and decides to leave the following day.

Nora, Charlotte’s younger sister, is an herbalist (she identifies herself as a scientist), and she mixes up a tonic to alleviate Charlotte’s menstrual cramps. However, she adds in a few new ingredients to see if they will be more effective. Well, it was certainly effective – as an aphrodisiac. Charlotte thought she was dying and headed out of her room in the middle of the night to go to Nora’s room for help. Except she encountered Kingston in the hallway and attacked him – seeking her pleasure on him. Luckily, he was gentleman enough to let her achieve her pleasure without him doing more.

I liked both Charlotte and Kingston, but I would have liked to get to know them a bit better. I failed to see how they could come to a deep and abiding love for each other when they spent almost no time in each other’s company and the time they did spend was of a more carnal nature.

I had to wonder how the Langley family home came to be in the possession and control of Marian who was then giving it to Charlotte. Yes, it meant the most to Charlotte, but – there was a brother. Given the times, why was the family home not under the control of the brother? Yes, he was younger, but still as the only male, and females unable to own property, I have to wonder how that came to be.

There are a few anachronisms in the ARC, but I will assume they will be corrected prior to publication. While the story itself felt a bit more modern in its concept, it had very little modern terminology or ways of speaking, etc.  There were no dates included, so the period was a bit ambiguous.  I’m assuming it was Regency.

Overall, I enjoyed the read and the characters. I would have liked to see at least one scene between Nicholas and Kingston where they come to realize that neither is actually who the other thought he was and maybe form a friendship of sorts. That could have just been mentioned in the epilogue and it would have made for a happier ending because Kingston really needed a friend.

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

Lovely Digits by Jeanine Englert

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

Lovely DigitsBarbara’s rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: None Listed, but I think it is meant to be
Publication Date: 6/12/19
Number of Pages: 210

** Maybe 4.5 **

This was one of the best debut novels I’ve read in a long time. The writing is excellent the plot is complex and well-executed, and the characters are fully-fleshed and very relatable. I was particularly pleased to find that there was both a romance and a mystery and both were really well done. Besides, what could be better than a wonderful story that didn’t have a single aristocrat in it? Well, John might be related to a title of some sort since his family crest was mentioned – but since he’s been disowned, that wouldn’t count even if it were true.

Lucy Wycliffe is a layer-out of the dead, a path she embarked upon after her parents were murdered. Some in her village, Clun, consider her unnatural because of her occupation, but it has supported herself and her sister – barely. It has been ten years and she still feels the guilt for her parent’s deaths – not that she should, it is just survivor’s guilt, but she feels it strongly. Now, she’s beginning to feel a bit desperate with the banker, Fiske, demanding payment of the note on their home by the end of the month or she will be put out in the snow. So, when an offer to act as an assistant to the new constable is made, she quickly accepts.

John Brodie is a haunted man who is filled with secrets. His goal in Clun is forgiveness and redemption. While he’s not sure how that is going to happen, it is still his goal. Many things have happened in John’s life during the last ten years and few, if any, were good. Now, after being a successful detective in London’s police force, he is assigned to this sleepy Victorian village that currently has two vicious murders of beautiful, beloved young women and it is up to John to find the murderer.

As John and Lucy work together, they come to know, respect, and finally, to love each other. Although there was an instant attraction, the love came as respect for each other grew. I loved that John cared for ALL of Lucy – even her chosen profession.

Can John, an outsider, gain the trust of the people of Clun and solve the murders? Not without Lucy’s help. As the investigation continues and the clues to the murderer become more and more perplexing, John and Lucy find themselves in danger as well. Can they find the murderer and save themselves at the same time?

This excellently well-written novel will lead you on a merry chase from beginning to end. The resolution is exciting and may surprise you – or not. While this novel is listed as a standalone, I believe the author means it to be part of a series. There is an excellent set-up for it to be a series and I definitely hope that will be the case. That said, this book was published almost a year ago and I don’t see any mention of further books, so I guess the jury is still out on whether it will be part of a series.