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

A Rogue In Rome by Linda Rae Sande

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A Rogue in Rome (The Grand Tours of the Aristocracy Book 4)Barbara’s rating: 3.8 out of 5 Stars
Series: The Grand Tours of the Aristocracy #4
Publication Date: 10/24/25
Period: 1841 – Rome
Number of Pages: 329

With this author, we always get two wonderful romances and HEAs in each book. She also usually references something from a long-ago book – something that helped the hero win the heroine. In this book, it is shoes. If you read that earlier book, it will make you smile as you remember, and if you didn’t read it, you’ll think ‘how cute’ and move on. In this series, we follow a group of family members embarking on a Grand Tour – with Rome as their final destination. During the tour, all of the unattached males have found their HEAs – except David, Viscount Penton.

David has always behaved as a gentleman should. He’s respectful, thoughtful, kind, caring, protective, and amiable. Everybody loves David – well, almost everybody. He cannot believe the young lady he just tried to rescue thinks he is as bad a rake as the man from whom he attempted to rescue her. Humpf! Of course, he has to admire the fact that she had actually already rescued herself.

Lady Vittoria has been excessively sheltered by her overprotective father all of her life. She’s never really traveled nor mixed in society – but she has been raised to think all men are rakes, and she acts accordingly. So, when one rake tries to take advantage of her, she believes the one who comes behind him is a rake as well.

Our second romance is between American Patrick McAdams and Dona Armenia D’Avalos, who is Lady Vittoria’s great aunt. Patrick is a widower with an adult son, and has come to Rome to expand their textile business. Armenia has never married and is thankful for that. She thinks Patrick is a fortune-hunting lothario who is after Vittoria.

The sparks fly quickly between each couple, and it was a delight to see David and Patrick pursue and win Vittoria and Armenia.

This was a fun read filled with lovely characters and delightful romances. This author is well-traveled, and you’ll also pick up lots of the history of Rome – along with descriptions that will make you feel as if you are walking right along beside them.

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

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Deadly Murder by Carla Simpson

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Deadly Murder (Angus Brodie & Mikaela Forsythe #14)Barbara’s rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars
Series: Angus Brodie & Mikaela Forsythe #14
Publication Date: 9/23/25
Period: Victorian London – 1893
Number of Pages: 240

The sins of the fathers . . . What does a heinous event from the past have to do with the recent death of a young Lord – and then another – and then another – and then . . . One doesn’t refuse when the future King, the Prince of Wales, asks you to investigate a death that is not the robbery it seems to be. Therefore, Lady Mikaela Forsythe and Angus Brodie find themselves investigating the death(s), but they are sure they’ve not been given all of the information they need. Will they unearth the information they need to stop the next death from happening?

As Mikaela and Brodie begin their investigation, yet another death occurs – almost in front of them. With secrets coming to light, yet the Prince withholding information, the investigation kicks into high gear. Who is the man Mikaela keeps catching glances of? Is he friend or foe?

I loved the investigation and the race to get the clues before Sir Avery could get to them and skew them. I also enjoy seeing Lily’s growth toward adulthood, as well as the continuing growth of the relationship between Mikaela and Brodie.

If you enjoy historical mysteries such as Sebastian St. Cyr and Lady Darby, I think you will enjoy this series as well. I enjoyed this book, and I hope you will as well. Happy Reading!

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