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 Beastly Earl by Monica Burns

On By TracyIn Gothic Historical, Historical Paranormal/Fantasy, Scottish/Highlander, Top Pick - Highly Recommended, Tracy's Reviews, Victorian Era (1837-1901)Leave a comment

The Beastly Earl (The Reckless Rockwoods #5)The Beastly Earl by Monica Burns

Tracy’s rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: The Reckless Rockwoods #5

Release Date: December 24, 2019

Almost three years after the fire that claimed her brother Caleb and her husband Devin, Louisa Morehouse nee Rockwood, Viscountess Westbrook, has decided to go to Callendar Abbey for some time alone to center herself. She leaves her two sons with her brother Sebastian, Earl of Melton and sets off for the remote Scottish estate. Her trip is without incident, until she sets out to the Abbey from the train station. A storm spooks the horses and her driver is hurt, she takes a horse and rides out on the moors hoping to find help. She is thrown from her horse and injured, she would have died if not for her brother Caleb’s urging to get up and move. She goes as far as she can and finally collapses, but Caleb assures her that “he” is coming for her.

“He” is Ewan Colquhoun, the Earl of Argaty. Ewan returned from the Sudan a almost a year ago a changed man, physically and emotionally. He lost an arm and an eye in the wars and has become a bit of a hermit, he is angry and bitter, not just about his injuries, Argaty Keep is not a haven for him, but he accepts the responsibilities of the earldom and tries to tolerate his nasty, hateful mother and ignore his late wife’s son. When his steward tells him that a horse has shown up in the stables and they believe the rider is lost on the moors, Ewan grudgingly sets out without his eye patch or a glove to cover his prosthetic arm to find the missing rider. He finds Louisa and brings her back the Keep, he tends her injuries and nurses her through a fever. He thinks she is lovely, but believes she was repulsed by him on the moors and once she is well, stays far away from her. But Louisa is not going to be brushed off, she has the gift of sight (an dara sealladh, a trait shared by many in the Rockwood family) and is sure she needs to be at the Keep – she convinces Ewan to hire her as governess to his son Ross, she doesn’t tell him exactly who she is and she concocts a story of going to the Abbey for a position of a companion, a position she lost when Lady Matilda learned she had children. She implies she needs a position and asked him to let her sons Charles (Viscount Westbrook) and William “Wills” join her.

Louisa originally believes that she was sent to help Ross, but as time passes, she thinks Ewan might be the real person she was meant to help. She is attracted to the surly man and when they finally give into their mutual passion, it is beautiful and it seems like their HEA is a forgone conclusion. But what fun would that be? Secrets and lies will have Ewan pushing Louisa away and a gothic twist may keep them apart forever.

I really enjoyed this installment of the Reckless Rockwell series. The story is well written, paced well, has wonderful characters, lots of secrets, really evil villains, some nail biting scenes, a bit of comic relief, a little heartache, some steamy love scenes, a dash of the paranormal thrown in and an incredibly romantic epilogue. I really appreciate that the author prefaced the story with her author notes, it explained many things in the story that might have confused a reader if the notes were left to the end AND she provided a glossary of Scottish/Gaelic terms – also helpful. I do wish there had been a little more background on the Rockwood “gift”, but even without that information, I found this to be wonderful book that I am happy to recommend, it is the fifth book in the series, but it can be read as a standalone title with no problems.

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

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.