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 Courtesan’s Daughter and the Gentleman by Callie Hutton

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

The Courtesan's Daughter and the Gentleman (The Merry Misfits of Bath Book 2)Barbara’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: Merry Misfits of Bath #2
Publication Date: 12/17/2019

This is a romance that is intriguing from beginning to end. If you don’t absolutely fall in love with Carter Westbrook, you can’t possibly have a romantic bone in your body. Charlotte (Lottie) Danvers is just as admirable as Carter – meaning we have two very likable, very relatable, very charming people who are working toward their HEA. Carter is calm, steady, patient, and absolutely determined when it comes to something he wants – and he wants Lottie. Lottie is beautiful, smart, educated, graceful, sweet, caring, dedicated to her friends, and seems to become a klutz whenever Carter is around.

Charlotte was raised first by a lovely caring couple in the countryside of England and then at a boarding school outside Paris. Her mother wanted her to live outside London and not have to breathe the nasty air – and then, of course, she needed an education. Even when she’d finished her schooling, at her mother’s encouragement, she stayed on to teach at the school. During all of that, she and her mother managed to be very close. Her mother visited her regularly when she was in the countryside and twice a month when she was in France.

Charlotte decided to leave her position at the school and surprise her mother in London. However, when she arrived, unannounced, at her mother’s home in London, Charlotte is the one who got quite a surprise. Her whole world shattered when she learned the truth about her mother’s life. Charlotte left for Bath the very next day, changed her name to Lottie, and has remained there, estranged from her mother, for a year.

Lottie has shunned any social involvement during the year she’s been back in England because she is afraid someone will recognize her since she looks so much like her mother. She would love to go to assemblies, parties, etc. but she just can’t risk the exposure. She has to make an exception to that when one of her best friends is getting married in London. So, she dons a disguise (spectacles) and prays no one will make the connection between her and her mother. Sadly, she meets a man – the kind of man she could have loved if her circumstances were different.

Carter is attending his best friend’s wedding and is intrigued by the best friend of the bride. She is lovely, graceful and very standoffish. He is confident he can win her over – he’s never had a problem with ladies before. This one seems much more resistant than anyone else has ever been – but, he’s a patient man – he’ll win her over.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and I hope you will as well. It was lovely to see these two lovely, deserving people find their HEA.

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

The Dance Before Christmas by Victoria Alexander

On By TracyIn Christmas, Novella, Top Pick - Highly Recommended, Tracy's Reviews, Victorian Era (1837-1901)Leave a comment

The Dance Before Christmas (The Lady Travelers Society, #2.5)The Dance Before Christmas by Victoria Alexander

Tracy’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: The Lady Travelers Society, #2.5

Release Date: October 1, 2018

When Wesley Grant enters the Explorers Club, he is greeted by a lovely young woman, who has clearly has him confused with someone else. Wesley is the president and chief innovator of the very successful Grant Watch and Clock Company, he has come to England from his home in America to meet Sir Archibald Snelling and hopefully get him to endorse his newest invention – a travelers chronometer, at his uncle’s suggestion, he is attending the Explorers Club Christmas Ball and hopes to find a way to get introduced to Sir Archibald. He is about to tell the young woman she has the wrong man, but he becomes intrigued by her story and when he learns she is Sir Archibald’s daughter and wants him to pretend to be her suitor to prevent her father from pressuring her to marry his friend’s son, he can’t seem to disappoint her with the truth and besides, he wanted to meet her father and it seems like fate has dealt him a winning hand.

Anabel Snelling is almost 21 and her father feels it is time for her to marry. He has decided that the perfect man for her is his best friend’s son Douglas Reed. Douglas has been offered a position in India and will be leaving the day after Christmas, so unless she has another serious suitor by Christmas Eve, her father expects to announce her engagement to Douglas at their annual Christmas Eve Ball. But thanks to her Aunt Lillian, her problems are solved! Her Aunt hired an actor to pretend to be her suitor and he will court her until Christmas and then once Douglas has set sail, she will say he doesn’t suit and will be free to carry on with her life. To ensure that her father will accept the fake beau, they have decided to say he is the son of the very famous, very elusive, very dead (and very much admired by her father), Reginald Everheart. When Anabel informs Wesley of the part he is playing, he readily agrees, but refuses to be called Earnest Everheart, he will keep his own first name.

They enter the ball and dance and talk, Wesley knows he should tell her the truth, but he is smitten and doesn’t want to lose the opportunity to meet her father and talk about his chronometer. Anabel introduces him to her father and he tells him that he wants to marry Anabel, they plan to meet the next day. Wesley is satisfied that he will get to talk to Sir Archibald and decides to leave, but on his way out, he is stopped by Effie Higginbotham and detoured to the library with her friends Poppy and Gwen. Effie overheard him telling her friend Archie that he was Reginald’s son and Effie knows something is up, because she and her friends know for a fact that Reginald didn’t have any children – because they made him up!

When confronted, Wesley tells the truth and of Anabel’s dilemma, the trio of ladies are more than willing to help! What could possibly go wrong?

I absolutely loved this novella, it is well written, fast paced, funny and very sweet. So if you are looking for a quick, feel-good, love at first sight novella, look no further! This book is part of the Lady Travelers Society series, but it is more of a prequel than an actual series installment, it can easily be read as a stand-alone and out of order with no problems at all. I really enjoyed this sweet (kisses only) story and am happy to recommend it.