Valour and Vanity (2014) Mary Robinette Kowal Set in Alternate Regency Venice in 1817. After traveling with Melody, her new husband, and Jane’s parent’s for part of their wedding Tour… “You must not go!” Mrs. Ellsworth came to a stop in front of them with a hand pressed to her bosom. “Charles, tell them they […]
Without a Summer (2013) Mary Robinette Kowal Set in Alternate Regency England in 1816, during the Year without a Summer. The third Glamourist History finds Jane and Vincent back in London, with a new commission and with Melody as a visitor, in the hopes she’ll find a husband. There were some interesting bits about Glamour […]
Glamour in Glass (2012) Mary Robinette Kowal Set in alternate Regency England in 1815. Following their marriage, Jane and Vincent have come to the attention of the Prince Regent, and commissioned to create a Glamour for his ballroom, which makes them even more popular, so it is a surprise when they leave for the Continent […]
Magic and Manners (2016) C.E. Murphy Set in alternate Regency England, with magic. First, I really liked the magic and world-building. Magic is stigmatized in England, worked only by the lower-classes who are useful to the crown in warfare. The new Mrs Dover marked no complaints about a home where the tea remained mysteriously hot […]
To Charm a Naughty Countess (2014) Theresa Romain Set in England in 1816 I wanted to love this story. Instead, I just liked it, despite often feeling irritated at times. Michael Layward, the Duke of Wyverne has learned that his estate is out of money, and no one is willing to extend him credit any […]
Your Scandalous Ways (2008) Loretta Chase Set in Venice in 1820 Francesca Bonnard is probably the most successful whore in Venice, perhaps even Italy. After a scandalous divorce, she fled to the continent and remade herself in one of the most sought after courtesans in Italy. “Ah, yes,” he said. “Your position. A divorcée.” “Divorziata […]
London Gambit (2016) Tracy Grant Set in London June 1818 In the Malcolm & Suzanne Rannoch timeline, this book does not go back into the past, but continues to follow events after the short story Incident in Berkeley Square. Teddy Craven, David’s oldest nephew and ward, has fled Harrow, because he can no longer handle […]
A Body in Berkeley Square (2005/2011) Ashley Gardner Set in London in April 1817 The 5th Captain Lacey mystery finds Gabriel Lacey investigating the murder of a young man with whom his former colonel was seen arguing at a ball. Because Lacey has been at odds with Brandon ever since Brandon attempted to have Lacey […]
The Sudbury School Murders (2005/2011) Ashley Gardner Set in England in March 1817 The 4th Captain Lacey mystery finds Gabriel Lacey working as a secretary for Everard Rutledge at the Sudsbury School–a school for the sounds of the wealthy–but not titled. Lacey is somewhat distressed to discover he was hired because of his ability to […]
The Glass House (2004/2011) Ashley Gardner London, January 1817 The third Captain Lacey mystery finds him again embroiled in mystery, when a young blonde is found in the river, and the Bow Street runner called to the scene wants Lacey to see if she is his upstairs neighbor. Again, I cannot decide if I like […]
A Regimental Murder (2004/2001) Ashley Gardner Set in London in 1816 Captain Gabriel Lacey is a half-pay captain from the calvalry, no longer fit for service after his right knee and leg were terribly injured in Spain, during the war. “India, and the Dutch campaign,” I replied. “Then the Peninsula. Not Waterloo, I am afraid.” […]
When Falcons Fall (2016) C.S. Harris Ayleswick-on-Teme, Shropshire in August 1813 I really do love this series. Sebastian and Hero have traveled to Shropshire to see if Sebastian and learn anything of the man who sired him–the man who gave him his yellow eyes and strange skills–because the man he believed to be his half-brother […]
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. […]
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 […]
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” […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Shores of Desire (1997) Tracy Grant This is a boinking book, but it is also a marvelous historical mystery. Set in 1815. Robert Melton and his son are traveling to Scotland to try to discover why his wife was murdered. Because he is a French spy, he is traveling under a false name and not […]
How to Catch a Wild Viscount (2009) Tessa Dare This story is currently free, and for that price it wasn’t a bad story. But I can’t say it was my thing, either. Cecily Hale has been in love with Luke for years, but after Luke came back from war, he’s a changed man who seemingly […]
The Mask of Night (2011) Tracy Grant Again, a reminder that this is a somewhat confusing series to read, as the publication order and chronological order are not related. The main portion of this book is set in 1820, but there are flashbacks going back to 1809, which provide bits and pieces of the back-story. […]