Category: Regency Era (1811-1820)

The Regency in Great Britain was a period when King George III was deemed unfit to rule and his son ruled as his proxy as Prince Regent. On the death of George III in 1820, the Prince Regent became George IV. The term Regency can refer to various stretches of time; some are longer than the decade of the formal Regency which lasted from 1811–1820.
Preceded by: Georgian era
Followed by: Victorian era
Monarch: George III, George IV, William IV

Review: The Matter of the Secret Bride by Darcie Wilde

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The Matter of the Secret BrideBarbara’s rating: 3.5 out of 5 Stars
Series: A Useful Woman Mystery #8
Publication Date: 12/24/24
Period: Regency London
Number of Pages: 448

London is awash in political intrigue with everyone choosing sides in the divorce proceedings between King George IV and his Queen. Some will go to any lengths to help their side win – even murder. Rosalind Thorne, a useful woman who makes her way in the world by assisting ladies with delicate problems, wants no part of any political intrigue. However, it is dumped in her lap and she has to deal with it. If Rosalind is dealing with it, so are her close friends, and it was a delight to visit with them.

I thought the mystery of the disappearance of Mrs. Fitzherbert’s proof of her marriage to the king was good, but things quickly spun out in so many tangents that it was hard to keep up with it all – and I love convoluted mysteries. All the factions pulling one way or another was almost like buckshot – going in every direction. Because there was so much buckshot, I found it difficult to ‘feel’ the stress, doom, and sense of urgency Rosalind felt for herself and her friends.

I enjoyed the page time with Rosalind and Adam and was glad to see some movement there – even if it did wait until the epilogue. This romance has been entirely too slow-burn for my taste and it still isn’t satisfyingly settled after eight books.

I was disconcerted by the portrayal of Stephen Lavender in the book. He was a real-life, renowned Bow Street principal officer frequently in the news because of the cases he solved. This story portrays him in a very unflattering light, so I’m not sure if this author just chose a name from history and didn’t do much research on him – or if she thoroughly researched him and just got a different view. There is another author who writes a historical mystery series based on his real-life cases and the two presentations of the man are very different.

Overall, I enjoyed the mystery and will probably read the next book to see how Adam and Rosalind’s relationship grows (or doesn’t). The mystery had a great premise, but too many tentacles to keep them all straight. It also appeared to me this author might have some sort of hang-up with race, though I fail to see what it might be. Upon introduction, every character is given a race or color, and those labeled ‘white’ get the word with the capital ‘W’. If you are an avid fan of historical mysteries, as I am, you will probably enjoy the basic mystery but will lament the labyrinthine twists and turns it takes. As for me, I wouldn’t read the book a second time and probably wouldn’t purchase it as a gift for a friend without giving explanations.

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Review: The Duke of Deceit by Anna Harrington

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The Duke of Deceit (The Dukes of Darkness #2)

Barbara’s rating: 3.6 out of 5
Series: The Dukes of Darkness #2
Publication Date: 12/19/24
Period: Regency London
Number of Pages: 325

What’s a fellow to do when a determined miss steadily turns his blackened reputation as pure as the driven snow? Declare all-out war!

Lucien Grenier, Duke of Crewe has spent years assuring his reputation was so dark no amount of light could penetrate its depths. He HAS to keep it that way for the sake of his brother and the title. If he’s vile enough, people will stay away and won’t dig into the depths of his family. It doesn’t matter that his reputation is all built upon illusion and role-playing and he’s not the vile creature everyone thinks he is. Everyone must view him as vile, despicable, wicked, and selfish. So, he is aghast to learn that a lady is attributing many good deeds to him and rehabilitating his reputation.

Jessamyn (Jess) St Claire has never had a positive male role model in her life and therefore has a general distrust of them. Therefore, it is easy for her to believe that he ruined her younger sister and refused to marry her. Well! She’ll make him pay and she’ll make him marry her sister. Nothing will get in her way.

Thus, the games begin. Jessamyn against Lucien is a match made in . . . where? Jessamin doesn’t have much money, but she’s willing to spend all of it to see that Lucien is rehabilitated so he can marry her sister. Every day Lucien wakes up to some new ‘good deed’ credited to him. Oh!

I liked both Jess and Lucien but failed to follow their logic – especially Jess’s. If this man’s reputation was so black – as a debaucher of women, gambling, etc. – why would she want to tie her poor sister to him for life? Yes, she was ruined – but nobody knew – and yes, she was going to have to give up the child – but – I fail to see why Jess would campaign to put her sister and the baby in the hands of someone who could be so dangerous to them. Even if she turned his reputation to the good side, that wouldn’t mean she had turned the man to the good side. Jess is too manipulative for my taste, but I did love her relationship with her aunt.

Overall, I enjoyed the story and I am glad to have met Jess and Lucien. Now, I am curious to see the story between Shay (another Dark Duke) and Sophie. There were plenty of ‘hints’ of things in this book to whet my appetite for that story and I assume it will be the next one.

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.