A curious beginning - Deanna Raybourn

London, 1887. As the city prepares to celebrate Queen Victoria’s golden jubilee, Veronica Speedwell is marking a milestone of her own. After burying her spinster aunt, the orphaned Veronica is free to resume her world travels in pursuit of scientific inquiry—and the occasional romantic dalliance. As familiar with hunting butterflies as she is fending off admirers, Veronica wields her butterfly net and a sharpened hatpin with equal aplomb, and with her last connection to England now gone, she intends to embark upon the journey of a lifetime.

But fate has other plans, as Veronica discovers when she thwarts her own abduction with the help of an enigmatic German baron with ties to her mysterious past. Promising to reveal in time what he knows of the plot against her, the baron offers her temporary sanctuary in the care of his friend Stoker—a reclusive natural historian as intriguing as he is bad-tempered. But before the baron can deliver on his tantalizing vow to reveal the secrets he has concealed for decades, he is found murdered. Suddenly Veronica and Stoker are forced to go on the run from an elusive assailant, wary partners in search of the villainous truth. 

My thoughts:

Was Veronica a woman of her time? No. But then why would she have to? There are always rebels. She had wit, courage and a no nonsense attitude. She loved butterflies and was an avid collector, and financed her trips with that. Oh and she had affairs, but only with foreign men who can not tell the tale.

She lives with her aunts (and now there are no aunts left). A mysterious man shows up and tells her she is in danger, she does not care, but goes away with him. And she ends up with another mysterious man called Stoker. He was rather brooding, had secrets in his past and a chip on his shoulder. I could see them end up together, since they could fit.

But the story! Yes there is danger. Who killed the Baron? Who is after Veronica? Who were her parents?

At first I read and enjoyed the book, but then I become even more hooked! I Needed to know who here parents was. It turned into a nailbiting one for me, I was so curious. It's a good mystery, and I even woke up a bit early to finish it the next day.

Conclusion:
Mysteries, danger and a woman ahead of her time. Interesting tale, I wonder what happens in the next book. 

Cover

Not for me. But still good and it fits

Paperback, 320 pages
Expected publication: October 2nd 2015 by Titan Books Ltd
Veronica Speedwell Mystery #1
Historical mystery
for review

India Black and the Widow of Windsor - Carol K.Carr

Black is back—Her Majesty’s favorite spy is off to Scotland in this new adventure to ensure the Queen doesn’t end up getting killed.

When Queen Victoria attends a séance, the spirit of her departed husband, Prince Albert, insists she spend Christmas at their Scottish home in Balmoral. Prime Minister Disraeli suspects the Scottish nationalists plan to assassinate the Queen—and sends the ever resourceful India and the handsome British spy, French, to the Scottish highlands.

French will take the high road, looking for a traitor among the guests-and India will take the low road, disguised as a servant in case an assassin is hiding among the household staff. India is certain that someone at Balmoral is determined to make this Her Majesty’s last Christmas…

My thoughts:

I do think I liked this one even better than book 1. It might have been the downstairs/upstairs things ;)

Right, so our favorite brothel owner has been sent to Scotland. There she will play the part of a servant. Being a former whore, India does know how to act and get information. Sure she is not the best all the time, but who would be that when put in a situation like this without any schooling. So I like her.

French is there too playing the bored aristocrat who does what he wants. And there was something almost said that the beginning that sure had me wondering. Will we never learn more about him?

Amusing situations, danger, spying and one strange old lady. India sure has her hands full in this book. I also wonder if the almost flirting between her and French will lead somewhere...oh yes the questions. I guess I just need to read book 3.

Conclusion:

A Christmas gathering turned deadly. Two spies, a lusty nobleman to avoid and the question of who is trying to kill the queen. A fun book that had me guessing.

Cover

works

Paperback, 320 pages

Published April 17th 2014 by Titan Books (first published October 4th 2011)

Madam of Espionage Mysteries #2

Historical /suspense/spy/mystery

For review

Review: The Emperor's Conspiracy - Michelle Diener

From nineteenth-century London’s elegant ballrooms to its darkest slums, a spirited young woman and a nobleman investigating for the Crown unmask a plot by Napoleon to bleed England of its gold.Chance led to Charlotte Raven’s transformation from chimney sweep to wealthy, educated noblewoman, but she still walks a delicate tightrope between two worlds, unable to turn her back on the ruthless crime lord who was once her childhood protector.

When Lord Edward Durnham is tapped to solve the mystery of England’s rapidly disappearing gold, his search leads him to the stews of London, and Charlotte becomes his intriguing guide to the city’s dark, forbidding underworld. But as her involvement brings Charlotte to the attention of men who have no qualms about who they hurt, and as Edward forges a grudging alliance with the dangerous ghosts of Charlotte’s former life, she faces a choice: to continue living in limbo, or to close the door on the past and risk her heart and her happiness on an unpredictable future.

My thoughts:

It started so good..and yes it continued to be that good! :D

It was a nice mix of historical fiction, suspense, mystery and romance. Charlotte the heroine was no simpering miss of the ton. She used to live in the slum, daughter of a whore, worked as a chimney sweep but was saved by a nice lady and raised as her ward. While still be connected to the underworld. Oh yes I loved that premise at once.

In this story there is a mystery too. Gold smuggled out of England and a Lord who tries to figure out the plot. A Lord who become the romantic interested of our cool heroine. As he is not one of those silly Men of the ton who wants her dowry and are all talk. And it works, because they do not fall at once, they do not even like each other at once. It's a story that will take time.

A good mystery, evil guys, flirting and the underworld. Yes that other thing I liked. She has an old friend, Luke who is now a crime boss and it just brought something new and very fresh to it. A woman torn between two worlds, dividing loyalties and a plot that kept it going. It was a book that was hard to put down, easy to read and suddenly I had read it and wanted more.

Conclusion:

I truly enjoyed it

Genre: Romantic historical mystery fiction
Pages: 336
To be Published: Nov 27th 2012 by Gallery Books
Source: For review