The Heiress Effect (2013) Courtney Milan Set in England in 1867. This is another good book, but also not quite as good as The Countess Conspiracy. But it was good. “Is it something I said?” Jane asked. And if so, which sentence? Oliver makes many mistakes, but you know he’s going to do the right […]
A Kiss for Midwinter (2012) Courtney Milan Set in England in 1863. Jonas Grantham is a doctor–it has been his dream. And once he became a doctor, he vowed never to allow anyone to act against his principles as he did when a doctor he was following all but attempted to murder the pregnant young […]
The Duchess War (2012) Courtney Milan .Set in England in 1863 Another re-read, and although good, I don’t love it as much as the Countess Conspiracy. But not for lack of trying on the part of the story. “I’ve never seen this before. And it’s really not my sort of thing.” For one thing, she […]
The Suffragette Scandal (2014) Courtney Milan Set in England in 1877. Edward Clark has allowed his family to think him dead–only fitting since his younger brother all but had him killed. Unfortunately, that same younger brother is now going after one of the men Clark considers to be his true family, so Clark has returned […]
The Countess Conspiracy (2013) Courtney Milan Set in England in 1867. I really REALLY love this story. And I loved it just as much if not more the second time through, since I was just waiting for the awesome bits. There was nothing shameful about the figure Sebastian was pointing to, not unless one harbored […]
A Study in Death (2015) Anna Lee Huber When Lady Drummond dies in front of Lady Darby, Kiera immediately believes the death not due to be apoplexy, but to poison. Unfortunately, Lord Drummond all but throws Lady Darby out, and so she cannot–even with the help of Gage–openly investigate the death. Additionally, Lady Darby and […]
A Grave Matter (2014) Anna Lee Huber Set in Scotland in 1831 Hogmanay (New Year’s Eve) finds Lady Darby staying with her brother, in their childhood home, still grieving her friend’s death. But the Hogmanay Ball is interrupted (at the worst possible moment (of course)) with news of the murder of caretaker at neighboring Dryburgh […]
Once Upon a Marquess (2015) Courtney Milan Set in London in 1866 Judith Worth has been holding her siblings together as best she can, after there family was ruined by Christian Trent, the Marquess of Ashford. Except that Christian didn’t set out to ruin anyone, he just needed to do what was right. One thing […]
Dangerous to Know (2010) Tasha Alexander Set in ~1892 Recovering from the events of the previous book, Emily and Colin go to Normandy, to his mother’s house. Which turns out to be far more problematic than either expected. I’m done with this series for now. The stories are intersting, the mysteries are good, and I […]
Tears of Pearl (2009) Tasha Alexander Set in Europe in 1892 There are many problematic things with this story. I liked the historical bits, but the way Lady Emily was let into the Harem etc just seemed a bit far fetched, and I also had difficulty believing Emily actions regarding the harem. Yes, she rebels […]
A Fatal Waltz (2008) Tasha Alexander Set in 1891 This finds Lady Emily, Ivy, and others at a political house party–a party where the host is making it quite clear he will do everything in his powers to break Emily’s engagement to Colin. That was my least favorite part of the story–the whole Emily isn’t […]
A Poisoned Season (2007) Tasha Alexander Set in London ~1890 The mystery here involves the supposed son of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, and a thief who seems to specialize in articles once owned by the former queen. I do enjoy the dialog in this series. “And, Emily”—he grew serious—“if you ever…if Hargreaves doesn’t…if you […]
And Only to Deceive (2005) Tasha Alexander Set in England (and Paris) ~1889 The first time I read this book (soon after its publication) I didn’t like it. I felt it was more romance than mystery, and I wasn’t interested in reading a kissing book. Upon later reading, knowing what I was going to be […]
Mortal Arts (2013) Anna Lee Huber Set in Scotland in October 1830 The sequel to The Anatomist’s Wife finds Lady Darby returning to Edinburgh with her sister, brother-in-law, and their family when they receive an urgent summons from Phillip’s Aunt to join them at Dalmay house where her daughter has just become engaged to Michael […]
The Anatomist’s Wife (2012) Anna Lee Huber Set in Scotland in August 1830 Lady Darby has spent the last year and a half hiding in Scotland with her sister and brother-in-law, after the death of her husband and the scandal that arose following that. I quite like the relationship between Lady Darby and her sister. […]
Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke’s Heart (2011) Sarah MacLean Juliana Fiori is the daughter of scandal–her mother abandoned her first husband and twin sons and ran off to Italy to marry a merchant, and then abandoned that husband as well. After her father’s death, she discovers she has two brothers who will […]
Rightfully His (1998) Tracy Grant Set in London, December 1822 The final book in the Lescaut Quartet picks up the story of Charlotte, the daughter of Daniel, the Marquis de Ribard, and the man who had been his secretary, Francis Storbridge, who had been in love with Charlie since he first laid eyes on her. […]
Shadows of the Heart (1996) Tracy Grant Set in Scotland, July 1817 The third book in the series (yes, I did skip the first book on this re-read, but may read it last) is about Robert Lescaut’s cousin Paul, who is the unacknowledged bastard son of the Marquis de Ribard. Paul manages to rescue a […]
Shores of Desire (1997) Tracy Grant Set in Midlothian, Scotland, March 1815 This is a re-read of an historical mystery/romance, because I wasn’t sure what I was in the mood to read, but most of what is at the top of my to-be-read list is books I can’t read during the week, because I’ll stay […]
Secrets of a Scandalous Heiress: A captivating and hilarious Regency Romance (2015) Theresa Romain Set in Bath, England in 1817 I’m not sure about captivating and hilarious, but it was enjoyable. Augusta Meredith is the heiress to Meredith Beauty, and as she is from the Trades, she can never truly be part of the Ton. […]
Ten Ways to Be Adored When Landing a Lord (2010) Sarah MacLean Set in England and Yorkshire in June 1823. This book follows Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake, and sees the other twin, Nicholas St. John, become a highly sought-after prize on the marriage mart. So when he’s asked to search for […]
Incident in Berkeley Square (2015) Tracy Grant Set in London in April 1818 The latest Malcolm & Suzanne Rannoch short story takes place after the events of The Mayfair Affair. Malcolm and Suzanne are hosting a party–an event to help introduce Laura (their former governess) into society, when Raoul and two other spies take refuge […]
A Matter of Magic: Mairelon the Magician and The Magician’s Ward (1991/1997) Patricia C. Wrede This is a reissue of two lovely YA novels, Mairelon the Magician and The Magician’s Ward. Kim is a thief in London, who hopes that this job will help her get off the streets for good–before those around her discover […]
The Mayfair Affair (2015) Tracy Grant Set in London in 1818. This book takes place three months after The Berkeley Square Affair, and although I read it earlier this year, I went back and re-read it after finishing The Berkeley Square Affair. Although I enjoyed this book the first time I read it, things made […]
The Berkeley Square Affair (2014) Teresa Grant Set in London in 1817. Interestingly, this is a re-writing of her first book, Secrets of a Lady, so I was slightly confused for awhile, until I realized what was going on. I actually like this better than the original book, partially because she didn’t take the “easy” […]
The Masqueraders (1928) Georgette Heyer Set in England in the mid 1740s Kate and Peter Merriot are returning to England, the country of their birth, to meet with their father. But they have a secret: they are fleeing after the failure of the latest Jacobite revolution, and are in disguise, to remain safe, and have […]
Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake (2010) Sarah MacLean Set in London in 1823 Lady Calpurnia Hartwell (Callie to her family) is a spinster. It’s been 10 years since her coming out, and so she has come to accept that she is never going to get married (and she is quite lucky that […]
Secrets of a Lady (2002) Tracy Grant Set in London in November 1819 This is the first book in the Malcolm and Susanne Rannoch (Charles & Melanie Fraser) series, but is set in a time after almost all the other books. Because I’ve read a lot of the other books in this series already, I […]
London Interlude (2015) Tracy Grant Set in London in June 1814. This is a very short story. 77 pages according to Amazon. So just be aware of what you are getting. This is the 8th book in the series, but set towards the very beginning of the overarching story, and probably a good introduction to […]
A Dangerous Madness (2014) Michelle Diener Set in London in 1812. Phoebe Hillier has been engaged to Sheldrake at the instance of her father and her family, because their families were close, and because Sheldrake desperately needs her money. So when he breaks her engagement her feelings are complicated. She had all but accepted the […]
Summer Campaign (2012) Carla Kelly Set in England in ~1813. Major Jack Beresford is returning home from four years of campaigning, much in Spain. He (like other soldiers) has seen and lived horrors, but he is now returning back to England, and to Yorkshire. Onyx Hamilton is about to make the match she has been […]
Lucien’s Fall (2011) Barbara Samuel Madeline needs a wealthy husband to save her family estates–more specifically, she wants to save her beloved gardens. She traveled the continent and viewed many gardens, which gave her even more ideas so to what she wants to do with the gardens and grounds, but she can only do so […]
The Soldier’s Dark Secret (2015) Marguerite Kaye Set in England in 1815 If this hadn’t been on sale AND highly rated, I would never have given in a second look. The title is kinda terrible, and something about the look on the model’s face on the cover weirds me out a little, but I took […]
Miss Grimsley’s Oxford Career (2012) Carla Kelly Set in England, indeterminate time during the Napoleonic wars. Ellen Grimsley is frustrated–she would love to study at Oxford, but instead her brother Gordon is sent, and he wants nothing to do with Oxford but wants instead to be fighting in Spain. James Gatewood, Lord Chesney, is expected […]
Widow’s Gambit (1998) Tracy Grant The Neville girls are of good family, but impoverished, and after their father’s death are left to make their way as best they can. Claudia is the most beautiful (and Diana is not yet of age) so Livia decides to do whatever it takes to give Claudia a Season, and […]
The Mayfair Affair (2015) Tracy Grant Set in London in 1818. Malcolm and Susanne Rannoch have had a difficult three months, after Malcolm finally learns that Susanne had been a French agent. But when their governess is accused of murder–found on the scene in fact, they hope the tenuous peace between them won’t be shattered […]
The Black Hawk (2011) Joanna Bourne Set in London in 1818, with flashes back to Paris 1802 and other times and places. This is the fourth book in the series, the story of Adrian Hawkhurst (aka Hawker) and Justine DuMotier, who we met in previous books, Adrian as an adult, Justine as a child (and […]
The Custom of the Army (2012) Diana Gabaldon Why do I like Lord John so much? “The world is chaos and death and destruction. But people like you— you don’t stand for that. If there is any order in the world, any peace— it’s because of you, John, and those very few like you.” And […]
Lord John and the Hand of Devils (2007) Diana Gabaldon This is a collection of three stories–novellas, really rather than short stories: Lord John and the Hellfire Club, Lord John and the Succubus, and Lord John and the Haunted Soldier. “Lord John and the Hellfire Club” Set in London in 1756, prior to Lord John […]
Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade (2007) Diana Gabaldon Set in London in 1758. This is not my favorite Lord John story, although events that happen here are both the culmination of past mysteries, and the impetus for events in later stories. “But your brother is not now Duke of Pardloe?” Despite himself, […]
Lord John and the Private Matter (2003) Diana Gabaldon Set in London in 1757. This is the first Lord John book; his first novella is “Lord John and the Hellfire Club” which you can find in Lord John and the Hand of the Devils. This is a re-read for me–something about Lord John’s stories just […]
Foxglove Summer Audible Version (2015/2015) Ben Aaronovitch narrated by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith OMG I LOVE KOBNA HOLDBROOK-SMITH SO MUCH! (SWOON) ahem. I love this series, but I love Kobna Holdbrook-Smith’s narration EVEN MORE. Peter Grant is somewhat despondent about the events that occurred at the end of the last book (not that he’ll admit it) so […]
Dead Men’s Boots (2007) Mike Carey The last book ended with Castor being booted out of his living quarters by Pen, and the Stranger giving him 30 days to find somewhere else for Rafi, or they were sending him to Jenna-Jane Mulbridge–a fate even worse that his current miserable situation, timesharing his body with the […]
Who Buries the Dead (2015) C.S. Harris Set in London in 1813. “In my experience, people who view others as social or financial assets rarely do accumulate close friends.” A body is discovered at Bloody Bridge–its head sitting on the brick wall, the body lying nearby in the grass. At first, there seems to be […]
Vicious Circle (2006) Mike Carey Felix Castor can’t stay out of trouble. He’s taking some consulting work for the police, to bring in some money, but when parents as him to find their daughter–who is a ghost–Felix gets in bigger trouble than even he expected. There’s just something about the writing in these books. Felix […]
The Devil in Music (1997) Kate Ross Set in 1821 and 1825. This story is told in two parts. The first in 1821 is the story of Orfeo, a young Englishman studying music in Italy, and of Lodovico Malvezzi, an Milanese. The second part, set in 1825, is how Julian Kestrel, traveling in Italy, searches […]
Whom the Gods Love (1995) Kate Ross Set in 1825 This is the third Julian Kestrel mystery, and finds Julian called to the grave of a Alexander Falkland, by his father, Sir Malcom. Alexander was brutally murdered at a party in his own home, Bow Street has no clues, and is (for the most part) […]
These Old Shades (1926) Georgette Heyer There is so much to delight in, in this story. Justin Alastair, Duke of Avon, is unrepentant about his deserved reputation as Satanas–the Devil. I never have intentions. That is why mothers of lovely daughters eye me askance. He has done pretty awful things, and isn’t particularly sorry about […]
The Devil You Know (2008) Mike Carey Felix Castor is an exorcist, a job that has been quite in demand since the dead starting coming back in the late 90s. (T)he Bible is strangely coy on the subject of the were-kind, hedges its bets on demons, and draws a big fat blank on ghosts, so […]
London Falling, Audio Book (2014) Paul Cornell narrated by Damian Lynch (The Shadow Police) I really liked the audible version of London Falling. Detective Inspector James Quill is heading the investigation (which includes undercover officers Costain and Sefton) to take down crime lord Rob Toshack. Intelligence analyst Lisa Ross has personal reasons for wanting Toshack […]