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 Good, The Bad and The Duke by Janna McGregor

On By TracyIn Tracy's Reviews, Victorian Era (1837-1901)1 Comment

The Good, the Bad, and the Duke (The Cavensham Heiresses #4)The Good, the Bad, and the Duke by Janna MacGregor
Tracy’s rating: 3 of 5 stars

Series: The Cavensham Heiresses, #4

Release Date: November 27, 2018

Lady Daphne Hallworth is the quintessential “good girl” and all but invisible, so it is no surprise when her family departs to their country estate for Christmas and she is left behind. Rather than join them, she decides to use her time alone to chart her future. She plans to use her inheritance and set up her own household and start her charity – a home for unwed mothers. Events in her past have made this charity very near and dear to her heart – so with no one around to naysay her, she decides to visit her solicitor and get her plans in motion. But her plans are derailed when her reticule containing her journal with her deepest, darkest secrets and fantasies is stolen and she has to chase the thief – right to Reynolds gaming hell and Paul.

Paul Barstowe is the new Duke of Southart, a title he never expected to inherit and one he doesn’t feel worthy to bear. But when his beloved brother Robert died from Rheumatic Fever, Paul swore to honor his final request and become a better man by giving up his wild, wicked ways and becoming the honorable man Robert always believed him to be. Paul spent his life trying to gain his father’s approval and when he realized that was a lost cause, he began acting out to gain his father’s attention – and it worked, so well that he ended up pushing away all his friends – save Robert and Devon. But determined to turn over a new leaf, he has taken his seat in parliament and is trying to establish a hospital specializing in the care of Rheumatic Fever patients to honor his brother’s memory. He has found a piece of property that would be perfect and starts to make plans.

Fate throws them together and they strike deal, he will find her journal and she will convince her brother that he is truly redeemed and deserving of acceptance. Seems easy and straightforward, a perfect plan – but fate is not done with these two and they will have a lot to overcome before there can be a HEA.

As in the previous books, I thought the writing was a bit wordy and repetitive and I felt like the story was too busy, too many characters, too many plot elements, too many implausible scenarios and drama for the sake of drama. That said, I did like both Paul and Daphne and felt the chemistry between them and really became invested in their quest to find redemption and love with each other. This is the fourth book in the series and I would highly recommend reading them in order rather than starting with this book.

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

The Lady Travelers Guide to Deception with an Unlikely Earl

On By TracyIn Top Pick - Highly Recommended, Tracy's Reviews, Victorian Era (1837-1901)1 Comment

The Lady Travelers Guide to Deception with an Unlikely Earl (The Lady Travelers Society, #3)The Lady Travelers Guide to Deception with an Unlikely Earl by Victoria Alexander
Tracy’s rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: The Lady Travelers Society, #3

Release Date: November 20, 2018

Sidney Gordon Honeywell is the author of the wildly successful series “Tales of a Lady Adventurer in Egypt”, a fictional depiction of her grandmother’s adventures. Sidney never claimed the stories were true or that she was the heroine – but somehow that is what everyone believes and her publisher believed it was best to continue the ruse. But now the Earl of Brenton has been sending letters to the Times denouncing her as a fraud. More unfortunately, Effie, Poppy & Gwen have been replying to the letters – as Sidney. The Earl has issued a challenge, go with his nephew to Egypt and prove she is who she claims to be.

Harold “Harry” Armstrong is the new and unexpected Earl of Brenton, but before that, he was an avid adventurer in Egypt – He doesn’t like Sidney’s stories – they are not accurate and are too flowery – he might be a little miffed that he has written a book that has been repeatedly rejected, but mostly he feels guilty, when he was last in Egypt, his friend and cohort Walter died and he is angry that Sidney is getting undeserved attention and Walter was forgotten. He issued the challenge, if he wins, she will be exposed and ruined, if he wins Cadwallenders’ Daily Messenger (Sidney’s publisher) will publish his book.

Sidney is upset and the ladies try to calm her – they will go with her to Egypt, as chaperones and Mr. Cadwellender has agreed to finance the trip and send a reporter with them to document the journey- it is a dream come true for Sidney to go to Egypt, but how will she keep up the deception? The ladies promise to “help”.

Harry already regrets his challenge but it is too late to back out and save face. He poses as Harry Armstrong, the nephew of the Earl and awaits the arrive of “Mrs. Gordon” who he is sure is an older woman – the ladies are introduced along with Daniel Corbin, the reporter and Harry is drawn to Sidney. He is sure she is a fraud, but she is a lovely, intelligent fraud. He tries to get to know her better and has competition from Corbin and interference from the ladies. But finally he gets her alone, he likes her and thinks that she might be the “one”. But now he has to find a way out of the hole he dug without ruining her or humiliating himself.

Sidney likes Harry as well, but she has to be on her guard, he has the power to destroy her, so while she is attracted to him, she tries to keep him at arm’s length – how is she going to be able to keep this up?

They arrive in Cairo and Harry is certain that she is a fraud, but he no longer wants to expose her – well at least not to the public. He is not quite sure what he wants from her, until someone from his past askes for a favor and Sidney helps him – then he knows, she is the one and only woman for him. Before he can tell her, she is swept away by her own adventure. When she returns, she makes a discovery and needs Harry’s help, which is his not overly happy about, but agrees to.

Their adventure will bring them more than one shocking discovery, betrayal and startling revelations, but will it bring them together or push them apart? This was an absolutely delightful read, it is well written (I cannot even imagine the research that went into this book!), fast paced, amusing and light without being fluffy, Harry and Sidney are both likeable leads, Poppy, Gwen & Effie are fantastic secondary characters, the story has warm love scenes, the requisite dead husband named Charles, a bit of intrigue, a bit of deception, lost treasure and finally a sweet and satisfying HEA ending. This is the third book in the series, but it can definitely be read as a stand alone title with no problem whatsoever! I absolutely loved this book and am happy to recommend!

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

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