Category: Part of a Series

The Smuggler’s Christmas Rogue by Jane Charles

On By TracyIn Novella, Part of a Series, Re-Release / Updated Edition, Regency Era (1811-1820), Scottish/Highlander, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

The Smuggler's Christmas Rogue: (Scot to the Heart #5)The Smuggler’s Christmas Rogue: by Jane Charles

Tracy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: Scot to the Heart, #5

Release Date: July 2, 2024

During her first season, Miss Sheena MacGregor met and fell in love with Camdyn Oaks, Earl of Irvine and heir to the Marquess Walsingham. She believed that he loved her too, but on the night he begs her to elope with him, her brothers and uncle arrive from Scotland as well as Camdyn’s father, and the ugly truth of how they met is revealed and just like that Sheena’s heart is broken. She immediately returns to Scotland determined to forget she ever laid eyes on Camdyn. But fate has other plans and a year and a half later, Sheena and her brother Ewan find themselves in need of shelter for the night and must to her dismay, end up at Oakley Park, the home of the Marquess Walsingham.

Camdyn Oaks, now Marquess Walsingham, is still in love with Sheena, though he tries to move on, he soon realizes that she is the only woman for him and sets out to win her back. Her family stands by her refusal to see him or even speak of him, but her uncle finally listens to Camdyn’s side and agrees to help him by letting him know when they go to Edinburgh and what events they will attend, but he will not force Sheena to talk to him. Happy for the chance to see her again, Camdyn returns to his estate to wait for word, but a few days before Christmas, Sheena and her brother arrive on his doorstep seeking shelter. Overjoyed by the unexpected opportunity to reconcile with Sheena, Camdyn welcomes them with open arms. But it is clear that Sheena wants nothing to do with him and plans to leave the next morning. But when help for his cause comes from an unlikely source, Camdyn will not waste a second of the limited time he has, because he knows that Sheena is his only chance for happily ever again and he won’t let her slip away a second time without a fight.

The was a very sweet second chance for romance between feuding families. Sheena was hurt deeply and unwilling to give Camdyn a chance to explain himself and refused to believe his claims of love, I understood her bitterness, but I felt that she held on to that bitterness a bit longer than necessary. Other than that small quibble, I really enjoyed this story and would happily recommend this novella.

Note: This story was previously published in the Christmas in Cumbria anthology and is part of the Scot to the Heart series with a connection to the Trents.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own. *

A Vicious Machination by Lynn Messina

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

A Vicious Machination (Beatrice Hyde-Clare Mysteries, #13)

Barbara’s rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
Series: A Beatrice Hyde-Clare Mystery #12
Publication Date: 6/28/24
Period: Regency London
Number of Pages: 287

A QUICK NOTE HERE: Amazon says this is the 12th book in the series and Goodreads says it is the 13th. The difference is at the 7th book where the author wrote a mystery featuring Beatrice Hyde-Clare’s cousin Flora as the investigator. Goodreads counts that as book seven and Amazon doesn’t include it in the series listing at all. This may not matter to you, but I keep up with the series and the book number within the series and I thought others might as well.

Ahhhh – this quick, entertaining, witty mystery was just the pick-me-up I needed. Bea and the Duke are always so entertaining and fill their investigations with banter, sly observations, leaps of logic, informative friends and family, and dogged determination. This series is intertwined with the new Verity Lark series, so the last couple of books in each series have had crossover stories/appearances. BTW – if you haven’t tried Verity’s series, you should – it is as interesting and entertaining as this series. Just a quick bit of background – Verity is the sister of the Duke – but he never knew she existed until just a short while ago. I think she is his full sister, but I may not remember correctly. At any rate, his father and her mother had not married when Verity was born and she was put into an orphanage where she suffered a horrible childhood. She and her two close friends managed to live through their childhood and have gone on to create successful lives for themselves – and they’ve exacted revenge on all of those cruel, uncaring individuals who were involved with the orphanage.

While the Duke of Kesgrave has briefly met his sister, Bea has not. She very much wants to meet her, but Kesgrave isn’t sure whether he wants a relationship or not – and neither is Verity. What Bea did not want to do was meet Verity for the first time with Verity imprisoned at Newgate – accused of murder. Oh! My! With Kesgrave away until the evening, Bea knows someone has to go to the prison to see what can be done. So, Her Outrageousness, the Duchess of Kesgrave, proceeds to the prison for an interview with Verity.

Miss Agnes Wraithe, the murder victim, is one of the vilest creatures ever and she sincerely deserves the nickname – The Wraith – given to her by Verity and her friends. Did she deserve to be shot? I vote YES! But, did Verity do it? I vote NO, and so do Bea and Kesgrave – and anyone else who knows Verity. Will Bea and Kesgrave be able to find the proof they need? It definitely won’t be easy because Verity was found standing over the body with the gun in her hand. OOPS!

There are plenty of suspects and none of them are innocent victims of anything – but are they murderers? Bea and Kesgrave eliminate one red herring after the other until there are no more red herrings – just the murderer.

I enjoyed watching Bea and Kesgrave zip all over London interviewing suspects, following leads, participating in witty banter, and ultimately solving the case. I hope you will love it as well. I’ve always loved that Bea is referred to as Her Outrageousness, but she also has a new sobriquet in this book – The Murder Duchess. I don’t care for that one and I hope it doesn’t stick. I’m already anxiously awaiting the next book in the series! Happy Reading.

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