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

A Gentlewoman’s Guide To Murder by Victoria Hamilton

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Historical Mystery, Regency Era (1811-1820)2 Comments

A Gentlewoman's Guide to Murder (A Gentlewoman's Guide to Murder #1)Barbara’s rating: 2 of 5 stars

Series: A Gentlewoman’s Guide To Murder #1
Publication Date: 2/8/19
Number of Pages: 360
** 1.5 stars rounded up **

I love this author’s Vintage Kitchen Mysteries series so I couldn’t wait for this new series to start. The book blurb sounded great – just the new historical mystery series for which I’d been looking. Sadly, it turned into the longest three-hundred-sixty pages I’ve ever read. At several points, I almost marked it as DNF, but I did slog on through to the end.

Historical mysteries are my very favorite sub-genre – but I always want a romantic relationship in them. In this book, I can’t imagine there ever being a romantic relationship because I’ve never read a more unlovable or unlikable heroine in my life. I’ve liked some villains more than I liked this heroine. Emmeline St. Germaine is absolutely eaten up with rage and hate – she hates men (yes, hates is the correct word – unless you know a stronger one), she detests the monarchy, she doesn’t believe in God, she is bitter and she is a first-class shrew.

According to this tale, every female in England has been preyed upon, sexually abused and exploited – and – every male in England is a sexual deviant who abuses females – women and children. To me, Emmeline has some really sick reasoning – for instance – at the beginning of the book – she’s going to rescue a young scullery maid – she wants to time it so she catches the perpetrator in the act, but before any real damage has been done. Say what!!! It is okay if the little girl is abused, assaulted, and scared to death as long as the penetration hasn’t actually taken place.

While the book was supposedly set in the Regency period, the only indications of that were mentions of the king’s madness and the profligate prince regent. Nobody obeyed any of the social norms and the group of women who were so downtrodden and under the thumbs of the male population certainly seemed to do whatever they wanted when they wanted.

The only person I even remotely liked in the book was Dr. Woodforde. I am sure he is supposed to be the love interest, but given the way Emmeline speaks to him and treats him, I fail to see how he could possibly love her. If he does, he is definitely a masochist because she speaks to him worse than a dog.

The set-up for the next book puts the setting in an insane asylum. Frankly, I think that might be a good place for Emmaline.

I’m sorry to say that I cannot recommend this book.

Earl of Kent by Lauren Smith

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Earl of Kent (The League of Rogues, #11)Barbara’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Wicked Earls’ Christmas #2 / The League of Rogues #11
Publication Date: 10/1/19
Number of Pages: Novella

I have really been looking forward to the book featuring Phillip Wilkes, Earl of Kent, since we met him in Charles’ book, The Last Wicked Rogue. Parts of this book occur at the same time as Charles’ book, but it also includes segments from before and after that period. Of course, our intrepid heroine is Ella Lonsdale, Charles’ sister. You’ll love Ella! Ella is spunky, loyal and chafing at being under the thumb of two older, overly protective brothers.

Ella first laid eyes on Phillip when she was just fifteen years old and it was love at first sight. She was constant in her love for him through the following years, but he avoided her like the plague. At her come-out ball, he gave her a scorching kiss and that just renewed her love – but again – he avoided her afterward. Her love hasn’t changed and when she finds he’s been beaten almost to death she rushes to her brother Charles’ house to attend to both Phillip and her brother Graham.

While he didn’t realize it, Phillip had been targeted by Hugo, the man who has been targeting the League of Rogues for years. It is just one more way Hugo can cause pain to the Rogues, but it can bring death to Phillip – and it almost does. Phillip does a stupid thing, he bets more on a game of faro and when he loses, there is absolutely no way he can pay the debt. When the winner, Daniel Sheffield, offers to completely forgive his debt if he fights in the Lewis Street Tunnels. Phillip agrees, but Graham tries to talk him out of it. We saw all of this in Charles’ book. Both Graham and Phillip are beaten, but Graham manages to escape and bring help. Graham believes Phillip is dead – and he almost is – but he sends Charles and Ashton Lennox (Wicked Rivals) to recover the body.

After all of her nursing, Phillip still rejects Ella and heads home to his country estate. What will it take to shake some sense into the man? Does he hate her so much? With some unexpected and unwelcome help from a friend, Ella finds out what is going on with Phillip. Can she save him? Well, you’ll just have to read the book to see.

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