Category: Victorian Era (1837-1901)

In the history of the United Kingdom, the Victorian era was the period of Queen Victoria’s reign, from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. The era followed the Georgian period and preceded the Edwardian period, and its later half overlaps with the first part of the Belle Époque era of continental Europe.
Preceded by: Regency era
Followed by: Edwardian era
Monarch: Victoria

A Rose for Laura by Callie Hutton

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A Rose for Laura (The Rose Room Rogues, #4)Barbara’s rating: 5 of 5 Stars
Series: The Rose Room Rogues #4
Publication Date: 9/30/21
Period: Victorian (1892) London
Number of Pages: 241

Just so you know – I would have given this book 5-stars just for the epilogue alone! As the last book in the series, I did so want an epic epilogue – and this author delivered! We’ve seen each of the Rose brothers find their HEAs and thanks to this wonderful epilogue, we get to see where life’s journey has taken them and their families six years later. OH! Just so I don’t forget – there is a wonderful, romantic, heartwarming, and witty story that comes before that epilogue. You DEFINITELY don’t want to miss that.

Keniel Singh is of mixed origins – his mother was half Jamaican and half Indian and his father is white English. Keniel lead a comfortable life in Jamaica even though he had no idea who sired him. His mother, a gifted artist, was part of Jamaica’s aristocracy and therefore Keniel was as well. Keniel never had any issues with not knowing anything about his father, but, on her death bed, his mother told him all about his father and made him promise to find his English family. Reluctantly, Keniel made the promise and after her death, he made the journey to England. He had no intention of immediately making himself known to his English family because he wanted to assure himself that these were honorable and upright people. The best way he found to get the measure of them was to take a job in their club – The Rose Room. There is nothing like working with someone day after day to get their measure. He came to like and respect his half-brothers but was having a hard time convincing himself to tell them the truth. He intends to do so – just not yet. He is still unsure how they would react to hearing they have a multi-racial half-brother.

Miss Laura Benson is the much-loved only child of a very, very wealthy businessman. Their business ventures have given them exposure to all cultures and they have admired all of those cultures and enjoyed learning more of them. While they are not members of the ton, they are accepted by them and receive invitations to all of the best venues. Laura is growing more and more tired of the social side of the ton and therefore accepts fewer and fewer invitations. Her main focus at the moment is the children’s orphanage she and her two other committee members sponsor. The building that houses the orphanage is due to be torn down by the end of the month and she has to find a new home for the children – and fast.

The initial meeting between Keniel and Laura is priceless and you’ll read it and all of the subsequent meetings with a huge smile on your face. Laura is sweet, lovely, giving, and very forthright. Keniel is caring, handsome, and very pragmatic about his reception by London society even though he has the full support of his half-brothers. It was a delight to see Keniel and Laura find their HEA.

I thoroughly enjoyed the read and can highly recommend it. My only, only, only complaint is that we saw four very nasty women walk away from a truly despicable act without any punishment at all. Surely there was something that could have happened to them – maybe they all got the pox from the same man or something. Happy reading!

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

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The Duchess Hunt by Lorraine Heath

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Victorian Era (1837-1901)1 Comment

The Duchess Hunt (Once Upon a Dukedom, #2)Barbara’s rating: 5 of 5 Stars
Series: Once Upon a Dukedom #2
Publication Date: 9/28/21
Period: Victorian London
Number of Pages: 384

Hugh Brinsley-Norton, the Duke of Kingsland, is a laser-focused, analytical, moneymaking machine. When he became duke, the title was in a total mess with no money in the coffers and debts running out its ears. He knew it was his job to protect his family, protect his tenants, and protect the duchy, so his one focus became that of making money. Fortunately, he was very, very good at it and he is now one of the richest and most powerful people in England. What he is not good at is emotions – because he has no heart. At least that is his belief. His father was a cruel and hateful man who used Hugh’s mother and brother to keep Hugh in line. So now, at the ripe old age of four and thirty, it is time for him to take a wife and set up his nursery. Fortunately, his requirements for a wife are very simple – she needs to be quiet and not bother him – and she needs to provide him with his heir and spare. He doesn’t plan to fall in love – or even like – and doesn’t expect his wife to love him either. It will be strictly a business arrangement and therefore he’s set his secretary to finding and choosing his bride. Goodness, goodness, goodness – will these men never learn?

Penelope Pettypeace is every bit as bold, intuitive, organized, efficient, and focused as Kingsland and that is why they work so well together. She was amazed when he hired her as his secretary about eight years earlier. She had boldly walked into his office and proceeded to convince him that she was the perfect secretary for him even though she was NOT what he had advertised for. Now, he’s assigned her the most daunting task yet – she is to choose his wife. That is going to be a very, very difficult thing to do because she has come to care deeply for the man. She knows he doesn’t reciprocate those feelings – and even if he did, nothing could come of it. So, she’ll do her best to find him a bride who will make him happy – even though he doesn’t know that is what he needs. Penelope’s past has caused her to reinvent herself time after time, but she’s been Penelope Pettypeace longer than she’s ever been anybody else. She knows there will come a time when her unsavory past will catch up to her again and she’ll have to move on – but not today – please not today.

Penelope and Hugh both have some very deep, very dark secrets. Secrets they share with absolutely no one else. Those secrets are much too dark to share – for anyone else to know. Yet, just as they have come to realize they share an interest in each other, those secrets threaten to come to light. Is it Hugh’s secrets or Penelope’s that are about to come to light? They’ll have to find out and deal with the threat of exposure. Will their fledgling relationship survive?

We met Hugh and Penelope in the first book of the series, Scoundrel of My Heart, and I couldn’t wait to read their book. You don’t have to have read that book to enjoy this one, but it is such a good book, why wouldn’t you want to read it? This series is actually a spin-off of the Sins For All Seasons series – which is also a great series.

I definitely recommend this book! While Penelope had known for a long time that she cared for Hugh, it was wonderful to see Hugh come to the realization that what he really needed had been under his nose all along. I hope you’ll read and enjoy this book as much as I did. Now, I can hardly wait for Marcus’s book!

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

View all my reviews