The Consequences of Fear by Jacqueline Winspear

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Historical Mystery, World War II Era (1939-1945)4 Comments

The Consequences of Fear (Maisie Dobbs #16)The Consequences of Fear by Jacqueline Winspear
Barbara’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: Maisie Dobbs #16
Publication Date: 3/23/21
Number of Pages: 352

WOW! What a wonderful new-to-me series to find. I had been reading the book blurbs on each new book as it was released – and they sounded like great stories – but I put off trying one because I thought it was still too close to ‘contemporary’ to suit me. I read very little that isn’t set in the Victorian or earlier eras. As I am becoming more and more disillusioned with the ‘woke’ historical romance books that are being written, I decided to branch out with more and more historical mysteries. This one is absolutely wonderful. I loved Maisie Dobbs – and YAY for me – I started with the book where Maisie gets married. The writing is excellent and the story and plotting are near perfect. What really brings the story home though, is the descriptions of life in WWII London during the blitzes. I absolutely felt as if I was running right along with Freddie as the bombs were dropping.

Freddie Hackett is twelve-years-old and is proud that he has been chosen as a message runner for the government. He is, of course, afraid of the bombs dropping, but those aren’t any scarier than his home life. If he keeps his father in enough coins to stay at the bar, maybe he and his mother won’t be beaten tonight. Freddie is a gifted runner who might be in the Olympics someday and as his feet are flying and he turns a corner toward his destination, he sees something unthinkable. Two men are in a fight, so he backs into a small doorway of a bombed-out home so the men cannot see him. When one takes a knife out and murders the other, Freddie loses his stomach contents. He remains quiet and still long after it is over – and then, shaking, he goes on his way to the delivery. He gets a really good look at the murderer – and guess who answers the door.

The police aren’t particularly interested in the murder Freddie reports, but Freddie is frightened, so he looks elsewhere for someone to help. That person is Maisie Dobbs. Maisie immediately believes the story Freddie is telling and begins an investigation despite her government office boss telling her to leave it be. As Maisie digs deeper and deeper into the case, she comes to learn that there are political implications to solving the crime. That, of course, doesn’t deter Maisie and she keeps going. She not only has to find the murderer, but she also has to keep Freddie, his mom, and his sister safe.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I’m so sorry I took so long to decide to give the series a try. Now, I just have to make time in my schedule to go back and read the first fifteen books. I can’t think of a single thing I’d change about the book – except I think it might be fun to have Mark more involved in Maisie’s case. I’m very happy to recommend this book!

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

Clara’s Vow by Madeline Martin

On By TracyIn Medieval (1066-1540), Middle Ages / Medieval (476-1454), Scottish/Highlander, Top Pick - Highly Recommended, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Clara's Vow (Borderland Rebels, #3)Clara’s Vow by Madeline Martin

Tracy’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: Borderland Rebels, #3

Release Date: March 16, 2021

When Clara Fletcher’s brother Drake and her mother begin arguing about her future, she is troubled, she has no desire to be a burden to her family, so she decides to take matters into her own hands and runs away with the intention of taking her vows as a nun at the Paisley Abbey. Clara is a skilled healer and longs to help people, so she knows she will be welcomed at the Abbey, but a small part of her grieves the death of her secret dream to have a family of her own.

Reid MacLeod is on his way to see Lord Tavish in Dumbarton Castle with a missive from the King warning of an impending attack by the English when he comes upon a cottage being set alight by English soldiers and it sparks memories of his own childhood tragedy – he intervenes and as he is fighting, he is struck in the back with a dagger. When he wakes, he finds himself in the care of the one woman he has never forgotten – Clara, the sister-in-law of his friend and former commander, Sir William.

Clara was horrified to realize she attacked Reid by mistake and knows she can’t leave him injured. She takes him back to the cave she camped in and discovers it is not just the wound she inflicted that has brought him down, but a previous injury that has become infected. Reid insists that he can’t stay and be treated, that he has an important mission to complete. A mission that Clara decides she will complete on his behalf.

Reid refuses to give up his mission and grudgingly agrees to let Clara accompany him, but plans to leave her at the Abbey and keep her well away from the trouble coming to Dumbarton. Being with Clara makes Reid long for a life that he swore he would never have. After losing his entire family, Reid lives in the hope of avenging them and decided long ago that he would never place his heart in danger of being broken again, but Clara tempts him like no other.

Clara finds herself falling for Reid and begins to hope for a different future, she knows that Reid has closed his heart to love and wonders if she can breach the walls he has erected – but before she can even think of that, they need to complete his mission – a task that seems nearly impossible when Reid is injured again.

This was a well-written, nicely-paced story filled with action, emotion, and steamy love scenes. Clara and Reid are wonderful characters, who each have their own crosses to bear and their journey to HEA is not without challenges. The book delivers a story filled with action, heartache, loss, revenge, surprises, steamy love scenes, a heroine who can hold her own in battle, a hero that will have choices to make, and finally, a HEA that brings a sigh to your heart and a smile to your face. I highly recommend this title, it is definitely my favorite of the series (so far) and while it is the third book in the series, it could easily be read as a standalone title.

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