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

An Unexpected Peril by Deanna Raybourn

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An Unexpected Peril (Veronica Speedwell, #6)
Barbara’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Veronica Speedwell #6
Publication Date: 3/2/21
Number of Pages: 336

We’re off on another mysterious adventure with Veronica Speedwell and Revelstoke (Stoker)Templeton-Vane (I love his name). The Curiosity Club is preparing an exhibition dedicated to mountaineering in general and the famed female mountaineer Alice Baker-Greene in particular. Alice recently fell to her death while climbing to the summit of the Teufelstreppe, which is located in the tiny country of the Alpenwald. Stoker and Veronica have been wrangled into setting up the displays of Alice’s memorabilia as well as a natural history display of flora and fauna of the Alpenwald.

With Stoker and Veronica involved, we know that foul play has to be involved somewhere and it doesn’t take us long to discover it. As they are unpacking the items for display, Stoker discovers that the climbing rope Alice was using in her last climb was cut very cleanly – it didn’t fray and break as was supposed. Unfortunately, just as they are discussing the fact that Alice was murdered her good friend Her Royal Highness Gisela, the Hereditary Princess of Alpenwald walks in and hears the discussion.

That conversation sets off a chain of events that includes more murders, thefts, betrayals, a missing Princess, and Veronica impersonating a Princess just to name a few things. We have a plethora of suspects and we’re left guessing to the very end. Who would risk creating an international incident to murder a mountaineer? Has the Princess been kidnapped? Murdered? Did she just run away? With vital political treaties needing to be signed and politicians to be placated answers have to be found – and quickly.

I thoroughly enjoyed this read, but I did think the middle dragged just a bit. It was also missing a bit of the danger and excitement of some of the earlier books. I guess it just wasn’t quite as couldn’t-put-it-down as earlier stories. I am also getting a bit tired of Veronica and her unyielding, know-it-all attitudes. Those are okay in smaller increments, but it does get tiresome book after book. I’m waiting for a bit of character growth and mellowing on Veronica’s part. I love Stoker, and Veronica says she loves Stoker, but it honestly wouldn’t surprise me to have her just walk off and leave him at some point.

I am totally enjoying the series and I enjoyed this book. I hope you’ll give it a try and enjoy it as well.

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

Stolen by the Rogue by Sasha Cottman

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Stolen by the Rogue (Rogues of the Road #1)
Barbara’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Rogues of the Road #1
Publication Date: 2/22/21
Number of Pages: 209

I thoroughly enjoyed meeting George and Jane and following their journey toward their HEA – not to mention the entertaining internal dialogue each of them carried on within themselves. The story is well-written, well developed, and the characters were interesting – though I still haven’t come to understand why this group of men decided to travel on the illicit side of life. That still didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the story.

The Honorable George Hawkins is quite a contradiction. He is the son of one of the most powerful men in the judiciary and he is also a master thief. He just couldn’t reconcile himself into a life as a member of the judiciary as his father wished – nor could he become clergy, etc. He’d always loved the thrill of the lie, the chase of the treasure, the planning and flawless execution of the theft, so that became his profession. Though now, he is becoming a bit jaded with that life and would love to make a big enough score to give up the life and become a law-abiding citizen – one of whom his father can be proud. He’s even more rattled when he nearly gets caught during a theft. That really brings home the precariousness of his position – he could very easily end up in the hangman’s noose. Just one more job – something big – something that would allow him to ‘retire’. He knows he’s found it when he sees the advertisement for an exhibit from the Ottoman Empire curated by one J. Scott, Esq.

Jane Scott has had quite an interesting and lively life. Her father was an antiquities expert and they lived in a number of other countries, but mostly within the Ottoman Empire. Jane worked a lot with her father and has been asked to oversee an exhibit in the Ottoman embassy in London. Jane meets a very handsome and interesting man during one of the showings – and he shows a pronounced interest – but she doesn’t trust him at all.

It was entertaining to watch George’s nefarious plans to steal from the exhibit frustrate him to no end while the lady in charge of it intrigued him more and more. Can George have it all? Can he steal from the exhibit, leave crime behind, and still get the girl? OMGoodness – George certainly has his work cut out for him.

I enjoyed this read and I hope you will as well. I will definitely be looking forward to the next book in the series, The Rogue and the Jewel.

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