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

Scoundrel of My Heart by Lorraine Heath

On By TracyIn Top Pick - Highly Recommended, Tracy's Reviews, Victorian Era (1837-1901)3 Comments

Scoundrel of My Heart (Once Upon a Dukedom, #1)Scoundrel of My Heart by Lorraine Heath

Tracy’s rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: Once Upon a Dukedom, #1

Release Date: March 30, 2021

Due to stipulations in her grandmother’s will, Lady Kathryn Lambert, the only child of the Earl and Countess of Ridgeway, Kathryn will have to forfeit ownership of Windswept Cottage – her favorite place in the world – if she does not marry a titled gentleman before her 25th birthday. So no matter how interesting she finds her best friend’s brother – as the second son, Lord Griffith Stanwick is not a viable candidate. But the Duke of Kingsland certainly is and he has made it known that he is in the market for a duchess. The duke is a busy man and doesn’t have time to find bridal prospects, so he places an advert in the papers telling the eligible ladies of society to write to him outlining their qualifications and he will choose one to court with the intention of marriage the following season. Kathryn’s friend Lady Althea who is already engaged suggests that she write to the duke after Kathryn states that she would not consider marriage to a man without a title.

Griffith has long been smitten with Kathryn, but after overhearing she would only marry a man with a title – has given up hope of capturing her heart. When she asks for his help in learning what the Duke is looking for in a bride – Griffith goes a step further and writes to the duke on her behalf. The night of the ball where Kingsland is going to announce his choice – Kathryn and Griffith share a kiss – a kiss that makes Kathryn wonder if a cottage is worth giving up on love. But when she is chosen, good manners require her to accept the “honor”, she is shocked because she didn’t write to the duke, but learns that Griffith did! The next day she goes looking for answers and is instead shocked to learn the Griffith and Althea’s father has been arrested for treason and Griffith and his elder brother Marcus have been taken in for questioning too. Shortly thereafter, their father is convicted and hanged, they are stripped of their titles and possessions and Kathryn is forbidden to associate with Althea. Not long after, their mother dies and the siblings disappear.

A year later, things change – Althea, who was jilted by her betrothed, is now married to the Earl of Tewksbury, Kathryn is being courted by the Duke and Griffith has opened the Fair and Spare club he had hoped to form before his world fell apart. When Kathryn learns of the club – she sets out to get answers and discovers the passion between them is just as bright as it was a year ago and just as forbidden.

But as they spend time together, Kathryn begins to fall more in love with Griffith and questions whether the cottage is worth a lifetime without love and Griffith is determined to see her dream of owning the cottage realized – he doesn’t feel worthy of her and loves her enough to want her to get her heart’s desire – which he believes is the cottage. Can she make him see that he is what she truly wants or will he refuse to believe it and continue to push her toward Kingsland?

What a great book, it is a well-written, nicely flowing story with wonderful characters, steamyish love scenes, a bit of intrigue, Trewlove cameos, a hero who loves selflessly, and a heroine who will not settle for less than her heart’s desire. It may seem as if there is not a lot of external conflicts and nothing other than the hero keeping our lovers apart, but even still, their road to HEA will not be without bumps and obstacles. I loved this book and highly recommend it to historical romance lovers. This is the first book in a new series, but if you read the previous series – Sins for All Seasons – you will see many familiar faces and get answers to questions you might have had at the end of that series.

*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. *

The Librarian’s Spell by Patricia Rice

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Victorian Era (1837-1901)Leave a comment

The Librarian's Spell (School of Magic, #4)
Barbara’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: School of Magic #4
Publication Date: 3/23/21
Number of Pages: 322

I absolutely LOVE the Malcolm and Ives world this author has created. We have followed them around the world from century to century and they are always delightful. The wacky Malcolm’s are always marrying scientifically inclined Ives – and – OMGoodness, the talents that can come from the combination of wacky and scientific is delightful. The book, as always, is excellently written and the story is well-plotted with completely relatable characters. It is, of course, wonderful to have a re-visit with characters from other books and series. In this story, we meet Max and Lydia who are absolutely perfect for each other and I loved to watch them come to realize that.

Poor Maxwell Ives has a mixture of Ives and Malcolm blood – so he has the scientific mind of an Ives AND the Malcolm ‘talents’. Sometimes those Malcolm ‘talents’ seem to be more curse than talent. Maxwell’s talent is magnetism. No, he doesn’t attract random pieces of metal – he attracts females – all sorts of females. Now, you’d think a man would think that is a wonderful thing – but – picture a room full of females – all fighting over you. Yep, pretty uncomfortable. So, Maxwell has lived most of his life in remote areas working with males. He has absolutely no intention of ever returning to England and society – let them just think he is dead. However, when he learns that his mother is about to be evicted from her home because her fortune is gone – he has to come home to see about it. Since he cannot possibly deal with society in Edinburgh, he heads to the Malcolm Library at Calder Castle where he has been corresponding with the Librarian Mr. Cadwallader.

Lydia Wystan has been at Calder Castle for several years acting as assistant to the Librarian. It is the first place she has ever felt truly at home. Now, however, she’s feeling fearful because she’s sorely afraid she isn’t qualified to be the next Librarian. Mr. Cadwallader says she can be – but – the books don’t talk to her as they do to him. Mr. Cadwallader had apoplexy a year ago and has been totally incommunicative since then, so Lydia has been doing the best she can. What in the world will she do when he dies? If the books won’t talk to her, she won’t be able to be the Librarian and she’ll not only lose the library, she’ll lose the only home where she’s ever felt at home.

Max and Lydia both need something within themselves. Max needs the calming/settling effect that Lydia has on him. With her, something settles and he can deal more easily with all of those females who are attracted to him. Lydia needs the self-confidence and self-worth Max brings out in her. He makes her feel as if she has value. Can Lydia break the spell of Max’s magnetism? Can Max learn to be faithful? Can Max solve his mother’s financial problems? Can he and Lydia save the Library? Can Max prevent his uncle from having him declared dead? OMGoodness – so much going on and the answers are all right in this lovely story.

I am so glad to have read this book. I think the author did a remarkable job of making Max and Lydia into real people. People we could get to know and like. Now, I can hardly wait for the next book in the series, Entrancing the Earl.

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