Category: Georgian Era (1714-1837)

The Georgian era is a period in British history 1714 to 1830. The kings were all named George: George I, George II, George III and George IV. The sub-period of the Regency is defined by the Regency of George IV as Prince of Wales during the illness of his father George III. The definition of the Georgian era is often extended to include the short reign of William IV, which ended with his death in 1837.
Preceded by: Restoration
Including: Regency era
Followed by: Victorian era

An Artless Demise by Anna Lee Huber

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Georgian Era (1714-1837), Historical MysteryLeave a comment

An Artless Demise (Lady Darby Mystery #7)An Artless Demise by Anna Lee Huber

Barbara’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: Lady Darby Mystery #7
Publication Date: 4/2/19
Number of Pages: 384

This well-crafted book is a wonderful blend of mystery and history and a romance between one of my favorite couples. The series just keeps getting better and better with each new addition to it. While this is the seventh book in the series, it can be read as a stand-alone. However, I highly recommend that you read the series in order – from the beginning – in order to learn more of Kiera’s history and see how far she’s come and to watch the romance between Kiera and Gage blossom.

This book was so suspenseful that my heart was in my throat the whole time I was reading – and yet I couldn’t put it down. There is murder, resurrectionists, blackmail, social unrest and – well – a tad of fatigue and queasiness while dealing with the early days of pregnancy. As with all of the Lady Darby books, there are multiple things happening for Kiera and Gage to unravel. The ‘things’ in this book are only loosely related and each would be a good mystery on its own – but when you put all of them in one book – well – WOW!

Kiera fled London a little over two years ago thanks to her first husband’s perfidy. Everyone thought Kiera was as guilty as her husband – just by association. After Kiera’s formal charges were dismissed, her brother and brother-in-law just barely managed to get her out of London before the incensed mobs attacked her. Now, she and Gage have returned for a visit and what raises its ugly head again? Resurrectionists! Everybody in society looks at Kiera and wonders – even outright accuses – her of being involved with them. Then, a body turns up in Mayfair – the heir to one of England’s oldest and most venerable titles. The murder was committed in a manner reminiscent of the resurrectionist murders that happened in Edinburgh a few years earlier. Then a second and third murder committed in the same manner.

In the midst of the murder investigations and trying to assist with the resurrectionists trial, someone is blackmailing Kiera. The blackmailers are threatening to go to the papers and accuse Kiera of helping them and her husband. Kiera can’t let that happen because it wouldn’t be just her that it would ruin – Gage, Kiera’s sister, brother, brother-in-law, and unborn child would also suffer.

When all is wrapped up, you will be surprised to find who the murderer is and the reasons for the murders.

This is a wonderful read and I highly recommend it.

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

Saving the Scot by Jennifer Trethewey

On By TracyIn Georgian Era (1714-1837), Scottish/Highlander, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Saving the ScotSaving the Scot by Jennifer Trethewey

Tracy’s rating: 2.5 of 5 stars

Series: Highlanders of Balforss, #4

Release Date: March 25, 2019

Louisa Robertson is known far and wide as the General’s daughter from hell – a title that she more than lives up to. The story opens with Louisa’s father pulling her off stage during a performance of Twelfth Night, where is performing the part of Viola, dressed in trousers. Her father is furious and makes it clear that she has finally pushed him as far as he will go. He tells her that she will be married by the end of the summer.

Ian Sinclair longs to return to the army, so when his former commander and the man who saved his life, General Sir Thomas Robertson aka the Tartan Terror requests a meeting, Ian thinks that he will be offered a commission. He is disappointed to learn that the General wants him to take his daughter to America on his ship the Gael Forss, the pirate ship he and his family took years ago and converted into a merchant vessel. If he delivers her, the General will award him a commission. Thinking that this is merely a short delay before he claims his prize, he agrees. He heads back to the docks and is dealt another shock – an old woman is looking for him and informs him that he has a son – the product of a brief affair seven years ago. He meets his son Rory and learn that Alice the widow he had an affair with died giving birth. He is wracked with guilt and shame, but promises to set everything to rights when he returns from America.

Meanwhile, Louisa has no intention of marrying, she hatches a plan to switch places with her maid Mairi, who is more than willing to marry her betrothed, Mr. Kirby. Louisa will pretend to be Mairi and after she sees them married, plans to go to New York and become an actress. Her father left for Belfast, so she just has to get on the ship without anyone learning of the ruse. She convinces her brother Connor to see her off on the docks and she and Mairi board the ship and begin their deception.

During the journey, Louisa begins to realize the magnitude of her lies and how it will affect Ian and even Mairi, but she thinks it is too late to do anything about it. When they arrive, the tension between Ian and Louisa comes to a head and they become lovers, but when Mairi marries Mr. Kirby and a surprise visit from her brother Nathan reveals the truth will Ian still want her? And when she learns his secret, will she be accepting or will she live up to her nickname in truth?

This was an interesting story with a lot of twists and turns, it dragged a bit in the middle, but the last 30% is a non-stop rollercoaster of revelations, bad decisions, passion and a rocky road to HEA. I thought the idea of the story was great, but I really, really disliked Louisa. She was selfish, hypocritical, immature, irrational and just plain stupid. She does realize that what she has done is wrong, but still carries on with the lie and then when she is called out, makes one stupid decision after another instead of owning her misdeeds. I think the author was going for a “Taming of the Shrew” simile, but for me, it just didn’t work, Louisa was unlikable and if I didn’t already dislike her, I definitely would have at the end when she learns his secret. Personally, I think Ian should have let her go and run away as fast as he could. He was a wonderful hero and I wish he could have gotten a better heroine than the “General’s Daughter from Hell” and I wondered why everyone believed that Ian would face the General’s wrath for HER deception – he never met her, so why would he be blamed?? It really made no sense to me, but maybe Louisa inherited her irrational, hypocritical nature from her father.

This is the fourth book in the Highlanders of Balforss, but it could be read as a stand alone title. I liked the idea of the book, but for me, this installment just fell flat.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher.*