Category: Barb’s Reviews

The Virgin Who Bewitched Lord Lymington by Anna Bradley

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

The Virgin Who Bewitched Lord Lymington (The Swooning Virgins Society, #4)Barbara’s rating: 3.7 of 5 Stars
Series: The Swooning virgins Society #4
Publication Date: 11/2/21
Period: Georgian – 1795 London
Number of Pages: 377

Lady Amanda Clifford runs the Clifford Charity School For Wayward Girls. Each of the girls who have been featured in the series was found in truly dire circumstances and has been taught to be strong, resourceful young ladies. They have also been taught to have a strong sense of vengeance and respect for justice. Five years ago, fifteen-year-old Emma Downing was the fourth girl rescued by Lady Amanda and possibly the most damaged by her circumstances. Now, it is Emma’s turn to take on an assignment for the school and it will take all of her skills and talents to succeed.

It seems maids have been disappearing off the country estate of Samuel Fitzroy, the Marquess of Lymington and no trace of any of them have been found – until one turns up as a courtesan at Madam Marchand’s brothel. That maid, Caroline Frances, shares a tale of a Lord who seduced and debauched her, then left her on the steps of Madam Marchands. She even names the Lord who did the deed. It is now up to Emma to investigate Lancelot Banning, Viscount Lovell, and come up with the evidence to either exonerate him or convict him. To do that, Emma will live with Lady Amanda’s friend Lady Crosby and pretend to be her granddaughter, Emma Crosby, who just happens to be on the continent with her father.

Lord Lovell is the cousin of Lord Lymington and the two of them grew up together – in the same house. They are more like brothers than cousins and Samuel is very protective of Lovell. When a young debutante (Emma) starts flirting with Lovell, Samuel warns her away because he knows Lovell is head-over-heels in love with Lady Flora.

Samuel nor Lovell have any idea that Emma suspects Lovell of some very dire deeds, but Samuel certainly comes to question her and her motives when he keeps encountering her at places no well-bred young lady should be. She intrigues him – and she repels him. Yet, when Emma’s life is in danger, Samuel knows he has to save her.

I believe this was the final book in the series and it had a lovely epilogue that included visits with Sophia (The Virgin Who Ruined Lord Grey), Cecilia (The Virgin Who Vindicated Lord Darlington), and Georgiana (The Virgin Who Humbled Lord Haslemere). I’m always a sucker for a good epilogue.

I enjoyed this story but was left with a number of questions and no answers. First, since Emma is impersonating a real-life person, how will the person, the grandmother, and Emma explain all of that to the ton when the actual granddaughter appears? Emma and Samuel – and the entire family – will be shunned by the ton when they discover Emma’s time in Madam Marchand’s service – how would they explain that away? It just seems it was made much too easy and there was a rather blasé attitude to a very serious social issue.

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

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Miss Moriarty, I Presume? by Sherry Thomas

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Historical Mystery, Part of a Series, Top Pick - Highly Recommended, Victorian Era (1837-1901)Leave a comment

Miss Moriarty, I Presume? (Lady Sherlock, #6)Barbara’s rating: 5 of 5 Stars
Series: Lady Sherlock #6
Publication Date: 11/2/21
Period: Victorian Cornwall
Number of Pages: 368

OMGoodness! This was an exciting, suspenseful, page-flipping, breath-holding, nerve-jangling, heart palpating read. Holmes thought she and her cohorts had managed to obscure their involvement in the Chateau Vaudrieu case (The Art of Theft) where Moriarty was dealt a significant blow. However, it seems that isn’t the case because they are now being watched – the watchers have even rented two flats near their home. One flat has a view of the front and the other flat has a view of the rear. While they don’t like the watchers, they can deal with them. But then, Moriarty himself makes an appearance and asks for Charlotte’s help. Heavens, how she’d love to decline! Since she cannot safely decline the request, she’ll just have to accept and then be alert for whatever behind-the-scenes machinations he is performing. Has Moriarty, now known as Mr. Baxter, finally ensnared the brilliant Sherlock Holmes?

Moriarty’s request is that Holmes travel to the Garden of Hermopolis in Cornwall and assure that his daughter is well. Holmes knows there is more to the request than meets the eye, but she, Mrs. Watson, Lord Ingram, and Mr. Mears leave for Cornwall the very next day. There are some strange goings-on at the Garden and Holmes begins to worry that something sinister may have happened to the young woman. Things get stranger and stranger before Holmes is finally allowed to see a pale, wan, but otherwise healthy-looking Miss Baxter. Relieved, Holmes and her crew leave for London and communicate the good news to their employer.

When that news is met with another demand for services, Charlotte knows there is much, much more to the request than it seems. This time, one of Moriarty’s minions hasn’t been heard from in several months and Moriarty wants Holmes to find out what has happened to him. It doesn’t take Holmes very long to figure out what Moriarty is up to, but thwarting him will depend on the cooperation of a number of other people. Can they pull it off? Can they make Moriarty think he’s won – without actually letting him do so? Can they keep both Holmes and Moriarty’s daughter safe?

We haven’t left Olivia, Charlotte’s sister, and Mr. Marbleton out of the story, they just play smaller roles. While the roles may be smaller, they are pivotal to the characters and probably to future books. I had hoped the Moriarty thing would be solved within the first half-dozen or so books, but he’s still there. I’d at least like to see him get a major set-down so the characters who are currently living in fear can breathe a little easier for a while – especially poor Mr. Marbleton.

My advice is to quit reading this review and begin reading the book. Once you do, you won’t be able to put it down, so have everything you’ll need within an arm’s reach. Happy Reading!

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

View all my reviews