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

Her Scandalous Pursuit by Candace Camp

On By TracyIn Historical Paranormal/Fantasy, Top Pick - Highly Recommended, Tracy's Reviews, Victorian Era (1837-1901)2 Comments

Her Scandalous Pursuit (The Mad Morelands, #7)Her Scandalous Pursuit by Candace Camp

Tracy’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: The Mad Morelands, Prequel

Release Date: January 28, 2020

Lady Thisbe Moreland is attending a lecture at the Covington Institute when she meets Desmond Harrison. They hit it off immediately and Thisbe can’t wait to see him again, as a female scientist too many people don’t take her seriously, but Desmond treated her with respect and admiration. They make plans to meet again, but Thisbe doesn’t tell him who she really is – the eldest child of the Duke of Broughton. She is scared that he won’t continue to see her if he knows the truth.

Desmond is also a scientist, he works for the once revered, now scorned Professor Gordon. The professor has come under ridicule for his insistence that ghosts exist – Desmond is not a believer, despite his own experience with the spirit world, but he is loyal to the professor who took him under his wing. Desmond grew up poor and is the son of a transported convict, even without knowing who her family is, he knows she is far above him in station, but he is unwilling to give up what they share and knows that eventually it will end.

When Professor Gordon’s benefactor, Mr. Wallace learns of an artifact called the Eye of Annie Blue that might be able to have the professor prove his theory, the entire team is excited. Professor Gordon writes to the owner of the artifact, the Dowager Duchess of Broughton and asks if he might be able to borrow it for study. But the duchess refuses, crushing their hopes. The professor and Mr. Wallace become obsessed and when they learn the Dowager is in town, they ask Desmond to steal it – he refuses, but agrees to check out the Dowager’s house to see if it is even possible to enter. While looking at the house, which he knows will be impossible to enter, Thisbe comes running out – she thinks he has figured out who she is and has come to see her. She invites him back to call and when his professor learns of their connection, he tries to convince Desmond to steal it – again he refuses.

Desmond is surer than ever that nothing can transpire between him and Thisbe, no matter how nice her family is to him and when her grandmother (the Dowager) has a prediction that Desmond’s love will kill Thisbe, he is sure they have no future. Thisbe has been having her own share of strange incidents in the form of dreams, but she rationalizes them and tells Desmond to ignore her grandmother’s “prediction”. She really cares for him and begins to imagine a future with him – until secrets are revealed and Desmond lets her believe the worst to save her life.

This was a well written, fast paced, page turner that held me in thrall from the first page to the last. I loved Desmond and Thisbe, they share such an incredible chemistry that you know they are meant to be, the love scenes are sparse, but they are potent and very touching without being overly graphic, the secondary characters are wonderful and even the villains are engaging. There is a bit of drama, some humor, a healthy dose of paranormal, some heartache and finally a very sweet and hard-won HEA. This is the seventh book in the series, but it is really the prequel to the “Mad Morelands” – you can read this book first or seventh without issue, but either way – read it! I loved this story and happily recommend it!

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

The Sinful Scot by Maddison Michaels

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Victorian Era (1837-1901)4 Comments

TheSinfulScotBarbara’s Rating – 4 of 5 Stars

Series: Saints & Scoundrels #3
Publication Date: 1/27/20
Number of Pages: 400

While there is no trigger warning in the book blurb, there is one at the beginning of the book. Of course, you wouldn’t see that until you’d already bought the book, so, I thought I’d go ahead and mention it here. If you are particularly sensitive/susceptible to reading about those kinds of things, you should be aware that domestic abuse – severe beatings and rape – are talked about in this book. I thought the author handled that subject matter well and got her point across without getting overly graphic.  I thought it was all really well done.

One would think that Constance and Alec were opposites and could never be a good match. Alec is a self-made man who works for a living even though he is the second son of an earl and his working is frowned upon. Alec works tirelessly to help, as a doctor, those who have no champions. Constance’s sole goal in life was to marry a title – specifically, a duke. Well – she sure managed to reach that goal. What is missing from that scenario is that, as children, they knew and liked each other very much. Then, Constance (Connie) was sweet and loving and greatly admired Alec. What happened? Well – there are parents – particularly mothers – who seem to be spawns of Satan.

The opening chapter shows what Constance Campbell’s life has been like for the last three years – since she married Duncan Campbell, the Duke of Kilmaine and moved to Scotland to live in Castle Kilmaine. It also shows that she’s stronger than you’d think given the weak-willed way she bent to her mother’s desires rather than her own. She’d certainly have to have some strength to her to endure all she has for the last three years and not be a huddled, whimpering, mass of fears. So, while I didn’t admire the way she acquiesced to her mother’s desires, I did admire that she had managed to endure her brute of a husband and had managed to survive without going stark-raving mad.  I liked her very much.

Alec McGuiness is only attending the Duke of Kilmaine’s ball in order to speak with the Duchess of Kilmaine – and he’s only doing that because their mutual friend Sophie asked him to do so. When she finally appears on the stairs, he loses his breath because she is still so very beautiful. Then, when he speaks to her, his sharp physician’s eye notices the telltale signs of the abuse to which she is subjected. How can he help her?

When Constance (Connie) awakens the morning following the ball, she feels groggy and disoriented – at least until she sees the lifeless body of her husband sprawled across her bed. He’s been viciously stabbed and there is blood all over the place, including all over Connie. Did she finally snap and murder him? She’s not sure, but she knows her first order of business has to be to get her step-daughter, Amelie, away from the castle to protect her from her uncle Fergus.

Everyone immediately assumes Connie snapped and killed the duke – including Fergus, the duke’s brother. Alec doesn’t believe a word of it and quickly helps Connie escape the castle where she’s been confined. Once they are away from there, everything breaks loose – everybody is chasing Connie and Alec and Connie and Alec are trying to find out who the real murderer is. The answer will surprise you – and perplex you.

One thing that perplexed me was a ‘monthly dowry’. That is one I’ve never heard of, but maybe it was possible. I can’t imagine any circumstances under which a potential groom would agree to that – but – it just doesn’t seem feasible to me and every time I saw it mentioned it just jarred me right out of the story.

I also have to add that I thought Connie’s falling for Alec and being able to relax around him and even allow him to touch her came a little too quickly. We all heal at different rates, but Connie’s recovery seemed remarkable – to me.

I enjoyed the read and I hope you will as well. The stories in this series are stand-alone, so you don’t have to have read the other books in the series in order to enjoy this one.

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