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

Go, Rogue by Kay K. Denner

On By TracyIn Check Content Warning/Triggers, Part of a Series, Scottish/Highlander, Tracy's Reviews, Victorian Era (1837-1901)Leave a comment

Go, Rogue (The Mavericks Book 2)Go, Rogue by Kay K. Denner

Tracy’s Rating: 3 of 5 stars

Series: The Mavericks #2

Release Date: December 1, 2025

On the day she is supposed to marry, Lady Catherine West instead leaves her groom at the altar and stows away on Andrew McGann’s ship, The Elphame bound for Boston. She knows Andrew thinks she is more trouble than she is worth and clearly wants nothing to do with her, but boarding his ship gives her something she desperately needs, a new start far away from the gilded cage she has been trapped in. Can she win over the stern captain and finally find the happiness she has been longing for?

Andrew McGann has fought for his place in the world; he is half Scottish/half Jamaican and carries the stigma of being born on the “wrong side of the blanket” and he has finally realized his dream of owning his own shipping company and after years of servitude to the East India Company and then four more years landlocked in England. He is finally back on the water, but within moments of setting sail, his peace is ruined thanks to “the menace”. He wants nothing more than to get rid of her, but for now he will have to keep her at a distance. But when things start going wrong, keeping Catherine at bay becomes impossible and the sparks will fly!

When I finished this book, I was left with mixed feelings. Andrew was the definitely the star of the show and I appreciated that the book didn’t shy away from the racism he faced, or the emotional wounds left by his family, he was a grump, but I loved him. He kept me turning pages, but some things didn’t quite work for me; primarily was author’s use of present tense narrative, which made it hard for me to stay immersed in the story, add to that was my mixed feelings about Catherine, she was strong, but she was also a bit self-absorbed and had more than one TSTL moments. Overall, if you enjoy opposites-attract, grumpy/sunshine or forced proximity romance tropes, you might enjoy this book, but for me, while the story had a wonderful hero and a bit of steam, it ultimately wasn’t what I was hoping for and not a book I would read again. This is the second book in the series, and I would strongly recommend reading the books in order so you can better understand the initial tension between Catherine and Andrew.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *

The Cursed Divination by Lana Williams

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Historical Mystery, Part of a Series, Victorian Era (1837-1901)Leave a comment

The Cursed Divination (Field & Greystone, #5)Barbara’s rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars
Series: Field and Greystone #5
Publication Date: 11/25/25
Period: Victorian London
Number of Pages: 321

Murder and mayhem hit a bit too close to home in this fifth addition to the excellently written Field and Greystone series. Inspector Henry Field wonders whether he should hand the investigation over to another detective, yet he can’t bring himself to step aside when the victim is a family friend and justice feels personal.

Neither Henry nor Mrs. Amelia Greystone is certain what to believe about mediums, spirit communication, or any form of after-death messages. So when a medium contacts Amelia claiming to know the location of a body, Amelia feels compelled to reach out to Henry. Is this woman chasing publicity and hoping Amelia will write about her—or is she truly gifted? When the body appears exactly where the medium predicted, they’re forced to consider a darker possibility: is she communing with the dead, or is she involved in murder?

While the investigation stalls, Henry is summoned by the Tisdales, long-time friends whose daughter has gone missing. He agrees to take the case, only to find himself with yet another mystery that leads nowhere. Then Mrs. Nettle, the medium, resurfaces. The spirits, she claims, have revealed the location of another body—again in the same place as before. Her eerie revelations ignite two grisly murder inquiries and raise one pressing question: is she genuine, or a dangerous fraud?

Henry and Amelia find themselves stumped for much of the book. No clues, no connections between victims—only the medium linking the crimes. Both Henry and Amelia have suspicions about the culprit, but without evidence, their instincts aren’t enough.

This is an excellently written mystery with strong pacing, relatable characters, and an engaging investigation. I especially loved watching the relationship between Henry and Amelia deepen, as well as the developing camaraderie between Henry, the medical examiner, and Sergeant Fletcher.
Suspense, twists, red herrings, and atmospheric tension make this a gripping read. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Happy reading!

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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