Author: Barbara

Avid reader/reviewer of historical romance and historical mysteries.

The Lady Plays with Fire by Susanna Craig

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

The Lady Plays with Fire (Goode's Guide to Misconduct #2)Barbara’s rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars
Series: Goode’s Guide to Misconduct #2
Publication Date: 4/23/24
Period: Regency London
Number of Pages: 293

A Miss and a Lord – both have secrets and secret identities – One wants revenge – and the other wants protection. I loved this book from the meet-cute to the last word in the epilogue and I hope you will love it too.

Miss Julia Addison is the daughter of a clergyman and she always longed for more freedom than a young lady of that period was allowed – especially a clergyman’s daughter. The opportunity to gain a small measure of freedom came when Mrs. Mildred Hayes’s niece (and companion) married Julia’s brother. Julia stepped in to become Mrs. Hayes’s companion – and in doing so, she gained the freedom to become the theater reviewer for Goode’s magazine.  No, nobody knows she is writing the reviews – it is all done under a secret identity, but she is very happy with that arrangement. At least she’s happy with it until she discovers that Ransom Blackadder, a satirical playwright, is seeking revenge against her for a review she wrote about one of his plays. Oh!

Graham McKay, the Earl of Dunstane, writes satirical plays under the pseudonym Ransom Blackadder. Those plays are always great successes and bring in lots of much-needed money to save his estates. All the reviewers are writing scathing reviews (which he wants as they bring in the audience) – all except one who writes something different. He absolutely cannot have that and he’ll go to great lengths to identify and unmask that reviewer. How dare she!

Julia intrigues Graham from the first time he meets her at the theater. Will their secrets keep them apart even though they care for one another? Can either or both of them come to trust the other enough to share their secret?

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this fast-paced, witty, entertaining book and can recommend it. So, grab a cup of tea, find a cozy nook, and be prepared for a lovely afternoon spent with Graham and Julia. You’ll be glad you did.

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

The Pursuit of a Duchess by Linda Rae Sande

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

The Pursuit of a Duchess (The Ladies of the Aristocracy)Barbara’s rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
Series: The Ladies of the Aristocracy
Publication Date: 4/30/24
Period: Regency – 1814 London
Number of Pages: 332

This entertaining book presents us with three romances all gloriously intertwined. Three couples whose lives and happiness are all interwoven into an intricate knot that will see them all reach the very best of HEAs. There is even a lovely epilogue showing that our couples’ happiness has spanned the years. Yes, I certainly enjoyed it.

Thirty years ago, Michael Cummings, Marquess of Fenwick, and Lady Helena, daughter of the Duke of Woodleigh, loved each other desperately and wanted to marry. Thanks to her cruel, uncaring, unfeeling father, she was forced to marry the Duke of Weston instead. Although it was an arranged marriage, Helena went on to have two children – a son named Alfred, and a daughter named Amelia. The marriage was unhappy, but at least she got her children out of it. Michael went on to marry, though he didn’t love the woman and she knew it. She did love Michael and they were happy even though Michael was always in love with Helena. Michael also went on to have two children – a son named Philip and a daughter named Violet.

Fast forward thirty years and both Michael and Helena are widowed. Michael can hardly wait for Helena’s mourning period to be over so he can see her again. He still loves her as much as he did thirty years ago. Does she still love him? Will she be happy to see him? He hasn’t set foot in London for thirty years – but he is so excited to get back there and see his one true love.

In the meantime (in London) – Michael’s son has fallen madly in love with Helena’s daughter – and she returns that love. Michael and Alfred were friends once, but they had a serious falling out and Alfred has hated Philip since. Michael and Amelia fear Alfred will refuse his permission to marry out of spite. How can they get his approval? There has to be a way.

Violet is Amelia’s best friend and she desperately wants to help convince Alfred to agree to Amelia and Philip marrying. However, he isn’t what she expected when she meets Alfred and spends time with him. Why does he seem so different from Amelia’s description of him? He isn’t unpleasant at all? As a matter of fact – it wouldn’t take much for Violet to come to care for him. OOPS!

This is a fun read with characters you will very quickly come to love and you’ll surely be rooting for them all to figure it out – no matter how twisted and convoluted it all seems. Will we get three weddings? You bet we will and it was a blast watching them all work through the pretzel twist of things to get there. I enjoyed this read and can definitely recommend it. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did. HAPPY READING!

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