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

Courting Trouble by Kerrigan Byrne

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Courting Trouble (Goode Girls #2)Courting Trouble by Kerrigan Byrne
Tracy’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: Goode Girls, #2

Release Date: December 8, 2020

This book picks up where A Dark and Stormy Knight (renamed Seducing a Stranger) ended, with Honoria “Nora” Mosby, Viscountess Woodhaven lying in a pool of blood after being shot by her deranged husband while saving her sister Prudence. As she lay barely clinging to consciousness, she begs Pru to take her to Dr. Titus Conleith.

Titus and Nora have a long history and this would not be the first time he has saved her life. But they parted ways years ago when she brutally broke his heart and married William Mosby. Now she is back in his life and widowed, he plans to stitch her up and send her on her way, but with her husband’s enemies come looking for something William stole from them; Nora isn’t safe anywhere but with Titus. He tells himself he no longer wants her and will simply keep her at arm’s length. But nothing between Nora and Titus has ever been simple and when their passion ignites once more it seems like this might finally be the time for them, but reality slaps Nora in the face and once again she willingly sacrifices her happiness for the ones she loves. But will Titus let her push him away again?

This was a very well written, emotional story that kept me hooked until the last page! I love how the author picked up at the end of the previous book, but took us back in time to when they first met and let us peek at their young love and their tragic heartbreak. She then brings us back to the present along with a lot of familiar faces from the Victorian Rebel series, as well as introducing some new characters. The book is not a light, fluffy read, no, it is gritty and raw and at times heartbreaking, but it is also passionate, steamy, exciting and intriguing. I loved Titus, he is every thing you could want in a hero and then some, his love for Nora is unconditional and so strong – even when he wanted to hate her, she was his love and always would be. And after reading A Dark & Stormy Knight, I wasn’t sure I would like Nora, but after reading her backstory, I realized I completely misjudged her in that book and she truly was nothing like I thought. This is the second book in the series and can be read as a standalone, but I would strongly recommend reading the books in order for the best reading experience.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher. *

A Lady’s Guide to Mischief and Mayhem by Manda Collins

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A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem (A Lady's Guide, #1)A Lady’s Guide to Mischief and Mayhem by Manda Collins

Tracy’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: A Lady’s Guide, #1

Release Date: November 10. 2021

As the owner of the Gazette, widow Lady Katherine Bascomb is sick of men deciding what knowledge is appropriate for women to know. When yet another man tells her she is too delicate to hear about the murders being done by someone the papers are calling the “Commandments Killer” Kate decides to use her position and her paper to educate the women of London. She recruits Caroline Hardcastle and they set out to get some questions about the murders answered. They interview a witness that the police never spoke to and get a lead to the killer – it is a huge break in the case that shakes up Scotland Yard.

Detective Inspector Andrew Eversham has been working on the Commandments case for months and is angry that the reporter from the Gazette released information about the killer without telling the police and that the man he assigned to interview witnesses, missed the chophouse serving girl. His superiors pull him off the case and his replacement – the man who was supposed to interview witnesses – makes an arrest of a man named John Clark. Andrew doesn’t believe they have the right man, but has no recourse. When he meets Katherine at a press conference and helps her navigate the crowd, he takes the opportunity to chastise her for her recklessness and says the wrong man is going to hang because of her. They part ways and neither expects to see the other again.

But fate and the killer are not done with these two, appalled that she may be responsible for sending an innocent man to jail, she attends a house party of her dear friend Lord Valentine Thorn, hoping to have him appeal to his father the Duke of Thornfield to intercede and have John Clark released. But while at the party the killer strikes again and Andrew is sent to investigate. He and Kate come to an agreement, they will work together to find the killer and clear John Clark. But nothing can prepare them for the twists and turns in the or for the attraction between them they can’t ignore. Will they be able to solve the murders and have their own HEA or will the Commandments Killer claim another victim.

I thought this was a well written, intriguing story with a really well-done mystery – but as a romance, it was a little lacking. Andrew and Kate don’t really begin to interact until well into the book and even then, the romance seems to take a backseat to the mystery. If this was billed as an historical mystery, I would give it 4.5 – the proof I received was marked as an UNCORRECTED copy, so I will assume that the typos, title errors and inconsistencies – including the mention of Oscar Wilde in a book set in 1865 – will be addressed prior to publication. As a romance it is more of a 3.5 star book, so I decided to split the difference. It is an excellent mystery with some romance, some steamyish love scenes, more than one twist, a couple of eye-popping revelations, great secondary characters, witty banter, a strong heroine and a great hero. I enjoyed the book and will happily recommend this title.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an uncorrected eARC that I requested and was provided by NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.*