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

The Artist and the Rake by Callie Hutton

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The Artist and the Rake (The Merry Misfits of Bath #4)Barbara’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: The Merry Misfits of Bath #4
Publication Date: 4/14/20
Number of Pages: 185

This was a really exciting addition to the series – it was fast-paced, well-written, and so very romantic. I will admit that parts of it were a bit darker than I normally care for, but it was still a delightful read and a change of pace for me. We also had lovely visits with the H/h from the first three books.

Four years ago, Lizbeth Davenport lost her entire family within just a few weeks of each other. Now, alone and without employment, she accepts a fateful offer that will lead to the demise of all her hopes and dreams. In the middle of the night, she’s kidnapped – taken from her bed and sold to a London brothel.

Marcus Mallory is a member of parliament who has spent years working on getting a bill passed that would crack down on the kidnapping of women and children for nefarious purposes. The bill gets passed in the House of Lords, but is always defeated in the Commons. He’s frustrated, but still working to get the votes he needs. When his friend Nick (Nicholas Smith from Lady Pamela and the Gambler) arrives and asks for his assistance in rescuing a friend who was kidnapped and sold to a brothel, Marcus leaps at the chance to help.

After her rescue, Lizbeth is filled with anger and vows revenge on those who kidnapped her. She has every intention of doing it alone, but Marcus insists on helping her. As they spend time together, they grow closer, but still … Can a man who has declared to all who’ll listen that he’ll not marry and a woman who is terrified of a man’s touch actually find their HEA?

I absolutely loved Marcus, he wasn’t judgmental and seemed to have all of the patience in the world with Lizbeth. When there are villains everywhere – more kidnappings – and police who seem to do nothing, the reader begins to wonder if/when/how Lizbeth will have her revenge.

I thoroughly enjoyed this read and I hope you will as well. The only thing I wasn’t happy about was that one of the main villains went basically unpunished. Given the damage this person did, how many lives were ruined over a long period of time, I would have really preferred a severe punishment. If the police couldn’t manage it – the person could have fallen off a cliff, or down a quarry, or over the side of a boat, or out of a moving coach, or run in front of a bullet – whatever – just something more than what happened.

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

The Inevitable Fall of Christopher Cynster by Stephanie Laurens

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Victorian Era (1837-1901)2 Comments

The Inevitable Fall of Christopher Cynster (Cynster Next Generation, #8)Barbara’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Cynster Next Generation #8
Publication Date: 3/19/20
Number of Pages: 460

Vane and Patience Cynster (A Rake’s Vow) are traveling in the America’s and have left their oldest son, Christopher, in charge of their estate, Walkhurst Manor in Kent. Christopher knows that his plotting parents have their own motives for that – his father wants to assure that Christopher is ready to take over and his mother wants to prove to him that he needs a helpmate – namely a wife. Once that happens, Christopher is sure that his parents will move to London and live with their best friends, Sylvester (Devil’s Bride) and Honoria, who are the Duke and Duchess of St. Ives and head of the Cynster family. Believe it or not, Christopher has come to that same realization about a wife, he just doesn’t know when/where/how he’ll find that wife. Well, batten down the hatches Christopher – here she comes!

Ellen Martingale is London born and bred and had no idea she’d love living in the country until she, her brother, Robert, and her aunt Emma sell their townhouse in London and move to her beloved uncle’s country home, Bigfield House. Her uncle, Sir Humphrey, is in declining mental health and as the heir, her brother needs to take over the estate – but since he is underage, they have to try to keep their uncle’s decline a secret. To say that Ellen and Robert are ill-prepared to manage a country estate is putting it lightly, but both are trying very hard to learn. Ellen’s first encounter with her neighbor is an eventful one – Ellen’s uncle’s herd of pet goats got out of their pen and got into the Cynster’s crop. So, imagine hungry goats munching happily away on a robust cash crop.

Ellen quickly learns that Christopher isn’t the enemy and can help – but – then they learn that some strange things are happening at Goffard Hall. Christopher has been enlisted by his cousin Louisa’s husband, spymaster Drake Varisey (The Greatest Challenge of Them All), to investigate.

There is smuggling, counterfeiting, murder and lots of mayhem involved in the investigation and resolution. Not to mention all the visits by various Cynster cousins – and, of course, a lovely, lovely epilogue. I loved that Christopher quickly learned that appearances could be deceiving and that behind all of those fripperies was a lovely, intelligent, confident person.

I thoroughly enjoyed both the romance and the mystery portion of this book. It is written in typical Stephanie Laurens style – which I enjoy. There is a nice set-up for the next book, and the pairing might surprise you. I loved Sir Humphrey, Robbie and aunt Emma – they were nice additions to the story without being featured characters.

I hope you will enjoy the book as much as I did.

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