Author: Barbara

Avid reader/reviewer of historical romance and historical mysteries.

Visions of Lady Mary by Rachel Ann Smith

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Visions of Lady Mary (Agents of the Home Office Book 3)Barbara’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Agents Of The Home Office #3
Publication Date: 3/5/20

This latest addition to the Agents Of The Home Office series has a fun bit of the paranormal thrown in. Actually, I suppose it is more than a ‘bit’, but it is fun and adds a nice twist to the story. You see, Lady Mary Masterson, daughter of a duke, has the family curse — or gift – depending on how one views it. Mary communicates with the dead – they are a constant cacophony in her head – and sometimes she wishes they would just be quiet.

“Despite what our dear family may whisper, our ability to see and talk to the dead is not a sign of madness. It is a gift that has flowed through our bloodlines for generations.”

The dead, along with members of her family who also have the family ‘gift’ have been telling her that Gilbert Talbot is the man for her. Mary doesn’t really mind that since she’s fallen a little in love with him just based on the letters her brother, Phillip, has written about him. Then, Gilbert came home from Cambridge with Phillip – just for a school holiday – and… Gilbert wasn’t at all as Phillip had said – he called her a witch!

“Masterson, you fooled me into coming. You touted your sister as a great beauty. You claimed she was of extreme intellect and held high morals.” Waterford snickered. “She is no diamond of the first water. She’s a witch!”

Phillip was killed during the wars and as he lay dying, he extracted a promise from Gilbert that he would take care of Mary and would marry her. Gilbert fully intended to keep that promise, but had put it off for years – for good reason, of course. In his work for the Home Office, he had to finish his assignments and he didn’t want to bring any danger to Mary because of his role as a PORF (you’ll learn what that is when you read the book). Luckily, Mary is all tucked away safely in Scotland with her aunt.

Shock doesn’t even begin to describe his reaction when he arrives at the port of Calais and sees Mary walking down the gangplank. WHAT! Then, she doesn’t seem particularly pleased to see him. Thus begins an exciting adventure through France. There is lots of excitement and fast-paced adventure as they try to tell friend from enemy.

Poor Gilbert has his hands full trying to keep Mary safe while keeping her other suitors away – not to mention fulfilling his mission. I loved watching Gilbert coming to respect Mary’s abilities and to learn to depend on her and let her lead at times.

I enjoyed this story and I hope you will as well.

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

Engaged to the Earl by Lisa Berne

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Engaged to the Earl (Penhallow Dynasty, #4)Barbara’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: The Penhallow Dynasty #4
Publication Date: 2/25/20
Number of Pages: 384

Christopher Beck was a delightful hero, you couldn’t help but love him. As a very young man, he had a contentious relationship with his father. His father didn’t understand Christopher at all and was constantly pushing him into things that Christopher just hated. So, when Christopher was twenty, he decided to leave home – and when he told his father he was leaving, but would write – his father told him not to bother. He left that night, traveled the continent working at many odd jobs, and didn’t return home for several years.

Gwendolyn Penhallow is another delightful character – you’ll love her as well. She comes from a large, happy, boisterous family – you met them in the last book, The Bride Takes a Groom. Gwendolyn has missed her friend from next door over the years. She’s wondered what happened to the troubled young man to whom she once proposed – when she was ten and four. Now, she’s in London for her delayed London season – and she’s already engaged to the most handsome, most wonderful man. It was love at first sight – they literally saw each other ‘across a crowded room’ – and they were lost in each other.

Two things happened at about the same time, but they weren’t related. Gwendolyn began to have small, niggling, subconscious doubts about her engagement and Christopher Beck returned to England – London specifically. As more and more life events happened, Gwendolyn became less and less sure of her decision to marry the earl.

As Gwendolyn and Christopher renewed their friendship, she fondly remembered the young man he had been before he left and she valued him as a friend – someone to whom she could talk and someone she could trust.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and hope you will as well. I had trepidations about the book because I assumed (wrongly) that it contained infidelity. Yes, she and the earl were only engaged, but to me, it is still just as wrong to take up with another man without resolving the current relationship. That isn’t what happened. She considered Christopher a good friend and was always happy to see him.

Be prepared – there are LOTS of people, plots, and sub-plots you have to keep straight, but they all make sense. Well, except one – I have absolutely no idea how Gwendolyn could ever have thought that Christopher was smitten with Helen. Goodness, Helen was an awful person and it was readily apparent that was the case.

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