Category: Barb’s Reviews

The Barbary Mark by Anne Cleeland

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

The Barbary MarkBarbara’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: None – Standalone
Publication Date: July 1, 2017

What a heroine!! What a story!! I love Anne Cleeland’s Acton and Doyle series and the heroine in this book is an ancestor of Doyle. I believe this book actually began as a serial on Cleeland’s website and was so popular that they published it. So, let me be honest – this is a book I would not normally have chosen for myself. Not even close. It doesn’t take place in England, Scotland or Ireland and it isn’t about a polite subject. However, I am so glad I have it and I think you will also love it if you give it a try!

Sionnan (Nonnie) Rafferty (yes, she is Irish) is washed ashore in Algiers and is taken to the Dey where she comes into contact with some good people and some very bad people. She meets the necromancer and there is definitely more to him than is apparent at first glance. Then, there is the Agha who is cruel and evil. The necromancer, of course, is another story. He is enigmatic and mysterious – and very, very enticing.

Nonnie and her friend Jamie have been sent to Algiers by the English Crown to find and eliminate whoever is funding and abetting Napoleon in escaping his imprisonment on Elba.

You’ll find Nonnie is fearless, brave and very intelligent in trying to keep herself (and others) out of the hands of the slave traders and to complete her mission. Then, we’ll have to add love into the picture for there is indeed love abounding in this book – we end up with more than one HEA.

It is an intriguing and interesting tale of the slave trade and the journey to its end. There are many twists and turns, but you’ll always find your way through. Also, be prepared for great waves of sympathy for the back stories of both Nonnie and Jamie.

An all-around interesting read and I hope you’ll give it a chance.

An Earl by Any Other Name by Lauren Smith

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Edwardian Age (1901-1910)1 Comment

An Earl by Any Other Name (Sins and Scandals #1)Barbara’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Sins and Scandal #1
Publication Date: 8/1/17

Delightfully sweet and happy tale that takes place at the end of the Edwardian era (1910),

Leopold Graham, Earl of Hampton had always been a free spirited, happy, loving man – until his father dies in his mistress’ bed. Then, he found that the estate was in debt and the scandal his father created has denied him entry to investments and lines of credit. Now, he is serious and rigid and determined to marry an heiress.

Ivy Leighton is the half-Romani half-English child who lived on the Hampton estate until she was eight. She and Leo were fast friends even though they were eight years apart in age. Ivy has grown up to be a suffragette and feels she’ll have to forgo love and marriage in order to continue in her work for women’s rights because no man of that time would allow his wife to work for or support those causes.

When Leo’s interfering mother cajoles him into having a house party, she invites Ivy and her father to attend. You’ll just have to read the story to see how things go at the house party, but you can assume that Leo is a changed man before all is said and done.

“I requested and received this book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher.”