Tag: Historical

How to Fall for a Scoundrel (Her Majesty’s Rebels: Book 2) by Kate Bateman

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Paperbacks

Date of publication: August 20th, 2024

Genre: Romance, Historical Romance, Historical Fiction, Historical, Adult, Mystery

Series: Her Majesty’s Rebels

Second Duke’s the Charm—Book 1 (review here)

How to Fall for a Scoundrel—Book 2

Purchase Links: Kindle | Audible | B&N | AbeBooks | WorldCat

Goodreads Synopsis:

Two unlikely allies team up to solve a case in this novel filled with Kate Bateman’s signature sparkling voice, exciting adventures, and steamy chemistry.

As a founding member of King & Co., London’s most successful private investigation firm, studious Eleanor Law delights in secretly proving that women can solve crimes just as well as men. When a charming con man pretends to be her fictional boss, “Charles King,” Ellie knows he’s lying, but accepting the scoundrel’s offer of help might just be the key to cracking her new case and recovering a priceless manuscript.

“Henri Bonheur”—or “Harry” as he asks to be called—claims his criminal past is behind him, but a man who steals and seduces with such consummate ease can never be trusted. As the investigation draws them deeper into danger and desire, Ellie’s infuriated to realize she’s developed feelings for her law-breaking accomplice. How can she love the scoundrel when she doesn’t even know his real name? And what will happen when Harry’s past finally catches up with him?

First Line:

Eleanor Law had not expected to kiss anyone at Lady Chessington’s annual Christmas boil, let alone a charming, anonymous scoundrel.

Important Details about How to Fall for a Scoundrel

Pace: Medium

POV: 3rd person (Henry and Eleanor)

Content/Trigger Guidance: How to Fall for a Scoundrel contains themes of gun violence, injury, injury detail, and death of a parent. Please read carefully if any of these trigger you.

Language: How to Fall for a Scoundrel contains mild swearing and language that might offend some people.

Sexual Content: There is explicit sexual content in How to Fall for a Scoundrel.

Setting: How to Fall for a Scoundrel is set in Regency-era London, England.

My Review

As most of you know, Regency-era romances are one of my favorite genres to read. And, if you have been following me for a long enough time, you know that I love Kate Bateman’s books. So, when How to Fall for a Scoundrel came across my email, it wasn’t even a question of me reading the book. It was an automatic acceptance on my end.

How to Fall for a Scoundrel is the second book in the Her Majesty’s Rebels series. You can read it as a standalone, but I highly suggest reading book one first. It provides a more in-depth background of the main characters and how their detective agency started.

The main storyline of How to Fall for a Scoundrel is centered around Ellie and Harry. Ellie is 1/3 of the owner of King & Co., a detective agency that the Queen uses. Harry is an ex-con who wiggled his way into her life by claiming to be her fictional boss, Charles King. Ellie and Harry are forced together when King & Co. is approached and asked to find a stolen priceless manuscript. But Ellie isn’t aware that Harry has secrets that revolve around his past. What happens when Harry’s secrets come to light? Will their fledgling relationship be able to withstand them?

I loved the chemistry between Ellie and Harry. I wasn’t expecting that because it was an Instalove-type deal, and usually (in my experience), Instalove doesn’t have the chemistry that these two did.

I liked Ellie. She certainly didn’t take any shit from Harry, that’s for sure. I loved watching her interact with him. It was a healthy blend of skepticism, lust (later love), and amusement.

Harry was an enigma. When he introduced himself as Henri, my attention was caught from the beginning. The author did an excellent job of keeping his identity a secret, but I wasn’t surprised when it was revealed. I also liked that Harry was very much in tune with his feelings. He acknowledged what he felt for Ellie before she even began to admit it to herself. And for a Regency-era man, I thought that it was refreshing.

The storyline with the manuscript was exciting, but it was more of a backdrop for Ellie and Harry’s romance. I liked the shenanigans that they got into, and I loved watching them fall for each other.

Toward the end of the book, a secondary storyline revolves around Harry. This interesting storyline involved Harry’s eyes (he had heterochromia). Other than that, I can’t get into the storyline because there are some major spoilers, and I don’t want to give anything away.

The end of How to Fall for a Scoundrel was a HEA. I liked how the author wrapped up Ellie and Harry’s love story, solved the manuscript mystery, and solved the secondary storyline with Harry. I cannot wait for the third book in this series to come out!!

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Paperbacks, NetGalley, and Kate Bateman for allowing me to read and review this ARC of How to Fall for a Scoundrel. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoy reading books similar to How to Fall for a Scoundrel, then you will enjoy these books:

Other books by Kate Bateman

Agony Hill (Franklin Warren: Book 1) by Sarah Stewart Taylor

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books

Date of publication: August 6th, 2024

Genre: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical

Series: Franklin Warren

Agony Hill—Book 1

Purchase Links: Kindle | B&N | WorldCat

Goodreads Synopsis:

Set in rural Vermont in the volatile 1960s, Agony Hill is the first novel in a new historical series full of vivid New England atmosphere and the deeply drawn characters that are Sarah Stewart Taylor’s trademark.

In the hot summer of 1965, Bostonian Franklin Warren arrives in Bethany, Vermont, to take a position as a detective with the state police. Warren’s new home is on the verge of monumental change; the interstates under construction will bring new people, new opportunities, and new problems to Vermont, and the Cold War and protests against the war in Vietnam have finally reached the dirt roads and rolling pastures of Bethany.

Warren has barely unpacked when he’s called up to a remote farm on Agony Hill. Former New Yorker and Back-to-the-Lander Hugh Weber seems to have set fire to his barn and himself, with the door barred from the inside, but things aren’t adding up for Warren. The people of Bethany—from Weber’s enigmatic wife to Warren’s neighbor, widow and amateur detective Alice Bellows — clearly have secrets they’d like to keep, but Warren can’t tell if the truth about Weber’s death is one of them. As he gets to know his new home and grapples with the tragedy that brought him there, Warren is drawn to the people and traditions of small town Vermont, even as he finds darkness amidst the beauty.

First Line

The day was hot and clear, the sky overhead a thick blue traced here and there with ragged wisps of stringy clouds that reminded Sylvie of the bloody scratches she got when pruning brambles.

Important details about Agony Hill

Pace: Slow but does pick up to medium by the end of the book.

POV: 3rd person (Warren, Alice, and Sylvie)

Series: Agony Hill is the 1st book in the Franklin Warren series.

Content/Trigger Guidance: Agony Hill contains themes that include homelessness, poverty, classism, sexism, misogyny, dubious consent scenario*, adult-minor relationships*, emotional abuse, alcoholism, alcohol consumption, alcohol abuse, pregnancy, blood, cancer*, dead bodies, death of a spouse, grief & loss depiction, death of a parent, fire & arson, gun violence, conscription*, war, murder, and animal cruelty. Please read carefully if any of these triggers you.

  • Dubious Consent Scenario: Sylvie remembers her first sexual encounter with Hugh. She was pressured into having sex because it was her wedding night.
  • Adult-Minor Relationship: Hugh was thirty-five when he met and married Sylvie, who was in her mid-teens.
  • Cancer: Alice goes and visits a neighbor who is dying of cancer during her investigation into who stole bullets and framed a friend of hers.
  • Conscription: The draft is mentioned at various points during the book. Sylvie interacts with a young man who is a draft dodger.

Language: Agony Hill contains mild swearing and language that might offend some people.

Sexual Content: There is no sexual content in Agony Hill.

Setting: Agony Hill is set in 1965 in Bethany (a fictional city), Vermont.

My Review:

I enjoy reading police procedural novels. I have been reading quite a bit of them, and I am always fascinated by the work and time that goes into solving a case. My fascination grows even more when the book is set in the early days of forensic science. Agony Hill is one of those books.

I was also pleased to see that Agony Hill takes place in Vermont. I can count on one hand the number of books set there in the past year.

Agony Hill is the first book in the Franklin Warren series, but it can also be read as a standalone.

Agony Hill takes place in 1965, and the author mentions the Vietnam War and the draft. The author does explain in her note (at the beginning of the book) that she didn’t use the spelling that most small-town papers used for the war (they separated Vietnam into Viet Nam). She didn’t want to confuse people; I am happy she did that. I am also glad there weren’t too many scenes with anti-war protests (actually, there was a brief scene of a veteran marching against the war in the parade).

The main storyline of Agony Hill is centered on Warren (a recently hired detective from Massachusetts), Sylvie (the wife of the victim), and Alice (an amateur detective who is more than she seems). The book is slow. Usually, I’m not too fond of it when books start and stay slow, but in this case, it worked. It allowed me to digest the clues that Warren uncovers, try to figure out who Alice was and the motive behind Hugh being killed. It took me a long time to read, but I enjoyed it.

I have never read a book in which people were so happy to see someone die. I get that Hugh Weber was unlikable, but to have no one, not even his wife or children, mourn for him was a bit much. Of course, the more Warren uncovered about this unpleasant man, the more I could understand why people felt that way.

I liked the main characters (Warren and Sylvie). Each had a compelling backstory, which added mystery to the main storyline (Warren’s background and everything about Sylvie).

I do want to mention Alice. I loved her. She was the epitome of your busybody, widowed neighbor. However, as the author got into her background, it was surprising to discover that she was so much more. Alice has a lot of layers to her, and I feel that the author isn’t done yet with this character.

The mystery angle was well written. The author kept me on my toes about who killed Hugh and why. I had several suspects on my list but started mentally crossing them off as Warren began talking to people. I was shocked at what happened and even more surprised at what Warren did. But, having thought about it, it was the right call.

The end of Agony Hill was interesting. I liked how the author wrapped everything up, but I also liked how she left a little room for the next book. I have a feeling that Bethany, Vermont, is going to be a hopping place now that Warren is there.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books, NetGalley, and Sarah Stewart Taylor for allowing me to read and review this ARC of Agony Hill. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoy reading books similar to Agony Hill, then you will enjoy these books:

Other books by Sarah Stewart Taylor

All’s Fair in Love and War (Miss Prentice’s Protegee’s: Book 1) by Virginia Heath

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Griffin

Date of publication: May 28th, 2024

Genre: Romance, Historical Romance, Historical Fiction, Historical, Regency, Fiction, Adult, Regency Romance, Humor, British Literature

Series: Miss Prentice’s Protegee’s

All’s Fair in Love and War—Book 1

Purchase Links: Kindle | Audible | B&N | AbeBooks | WorldCat

Goodreads Synopsis:

A new Regency romp of a series, about governess who believes in cultivating joy in her charges, clashes with the children’s uncle who hired her, only to find herself falling in love.

When the flighty older sister of former naval captain, Henry Kincaid, decides on a whim to accompany her explorer husband on an expedition to Egypt, he finds himself unwittingly left in the lurch with her three unruly children and her giant, mad dog. With no clue how to manage the little rascals, a busy career at the Admiralty that requires all of his attention, and no idea when his sister is coming back, Harry has to hire an emergency governess to ensure that everything in his ordered house continues to run shipshape. In desperation, he goes to Miss Prentice’s School for Girls prepared to pay whatever it takes to get a governess quick sharp to bring order to the chaos.

Thanks to her miserable, strict upbringing, fledgling governess Georgina Rowe does not subscribe to the ethos that children should be seen and not heard. She believes childhood should be everything that hers wasn’t, filled with laughter, adventure, and discovery. Thankfully, the three Pendleton children she has been tasked with looking after are already delightfully bohemian and instantly embrace her unconventional educational ethos. Their staid, stickler-for-the-rules uncle, however, is another matter entirely…

First Line:

Georgie stared up at the strange building while her stepfather’s latest dour housekeeper supervised the unloading of her things from the back of the hackney.

Important details about All’s Fair in Love and War

Pace: Medium

POV: 3rd person (Henry and Georgina)

Series: All’s Fair in Love and War is the first book in Miss Prentice’s Protegees series.

Content/Trigger Guidance: All’s Fair in Love and War contains themes that include the death of a parent, child abuse, emotional abuse, animal cruelty, abandonment, classism, era-appropriate sexism & misogyny, anxiety, anxiety attacks, alcohol consumption, military service, military deployment, and conscription.

Language: All’s Fair in Love and War contains mild swearing and language that might offend some people.

Sexual Content: There is moderate sexual content in All’s Fair in Love and War.

Setting: All’s Fair in Love and War is set in London (Mayfair), Plymouth, and Cawsand, England.

My Review

When I started reading All’s Fair in Love and War, I badly needed a book that didn’t require me to think about what I read. The previous three books I had read before this one were heavy books, and I badly needed one that I could coast through. Thankfully, All’s Fair in Love and War let my overstimulated brain rest.

All’s Fair in Love and War is the first book in the Miss Prentice’s Protegee’s series. Since it is the first book, there will be no warning if it is a standalone. You can dive right into this book without having to worry about that.

The storyline of All’s Fair in Love and War follows Georgina and Henry. Georgina has been trained to be a governess at a prestigious school, where she is the founder’s protege. However, she has been having issues finding work because she does not adhere to conventional teaching or raising children. Because of her childhood, which was spent being shuttled from naval base to naval base by her stepfather, she abhors rules and believes that children should be seen and not kept in the classrooms or out of sight. These beliefs have cost her jobs. When Henry, a former naval captain on the fast track to becoming an Admiral, inquired at the agency about governesses after his sister left her three children with him, Georgina was presented and hired. Georgina and Henry’s relationship begins, both working and personal. The more time the two spend together, with and without the children, the closer they get.

Georgina (or Georgie) was way ahead of her time, education-wise, and I liked that. I do have a feeling that Georgie’s views on education and childrearing will upset some of the die-hard Regency readers (too modern), But, for me, it was refreshing. I liked seeing the children bloom under Georgie’s care. I was also surprised when it was revealed (by the children) that their mother taught them and that all of them were smart beyond their years. Georgie considered that in their lessons, and I loved seeing the children learning in an environment that enriched and supported them.

I liked Georgie. She wasn’t afraid to let people know her feelings and views. Her childhood (and the abandonment at Miss Prentice’s school) did scar her, but she refused to let it bring her down. She was authentically herself and stayed true to herself throughout the book.

I also liked Henry. He did come across as an uptight, rigid person at the beginning of the book. But, as his backstory was explained, I understood why he was that way. He was terrified of reliving his childhood with irresponsible parents. But, at the same time, he was also terrified not to live up to the standards that his grandfather and the Royal Navy beat into him. He was also a workaholic and was severely stressed out when Georgie and the children came into his life. He needed them, even if he wouldn’t admit that to himself. His character growth was fun, and I loved seeing him unwind. I also loved seeing him slowly realize there is more to life than work and promotions.

I can’t write this review without mentioning the children or the dogs. The children and Norbert (the dog) stole scenes when they were in them. I laughed at their shenanigans. I also agreed with Henry when he said that they were hellions. And Norbert, you have to read the book to understand my Norbert love (and I am including his son, too). Everyone should have a Norbert.

The romance angle of All’s Fair in Love and War was sweet and a little spicy. Henry fought, falling in love with Georgie. At a point in the book, I got a little frustrated with him because he was hung up on something that happened years earlier (being forced to break an engagement). I would be rich if I had a nickel for every eye roll I did when that woman’s name was mentioned. I liked that Georgie was more straightforward. Once she got to know Henry (saw past what he projected), she fell in love with the inner him.

Of course, there is sex in this book. Because of the chemistry and the build-up that the author did with Henry and Georgie, the sex was fantastic—a little vanilla but amazing.

The end of All’s Fair in Love and War was your typical HEA. I liked that everything worked out for Henry and Georgie. But I am curious about the next book and whether it will be anything like Henry and Georgie’s romance.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Griffin, NetGalley, and Virginia Heath for allowing me to read and review this ARC of All’s Fair in Love and War. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoy reading books similar to All’s Fair in Love and War, then you will enjoy these books:

Other books by Virginia Heath

Rednecks by Taylor Brown

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

Date of publication: May 14th, 2024

Genre: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Adult, Literary Fiction, Adult Fiction, Southern, Drama

Purchase Links: Kindle | Audible | B&N | AbeBooks | WorldCat

Goodreads Synopsis:

A historical drama based on the Battle of Blair Mountain, pitting a multi-ethnic army of 10,000 coal miners against mine owners, state militia, and the United States government in the largest labor uprising in American history.

Rednecks is a tour de force, big canvas historical novel that dramatizes the 1920 to 1921 events of the West Virginia Mine Wars—from the Matewan Massacre through the Battle of Blair Mountain, the largest armed conflict on American soil since the Civil War, when some one million rounds were fired, bombs were dropped on Appalachia, and the term “redneck” would come to have an unexpected origin story.

Brimming with the high stakes drama of America’s buried history, Rednecks tells a powerful story of rebellion against oppression. In a land where the coal companies use violence and intimidation to keep miners from organizing, “Doc Moo” Muhanna, a Lebanese-American doctor (inspired by the author’s own great-grandfather), toils amid the blood and injustice of the mining camps. When Frank Hugham, a Black World War One veteran and coal miner, takes dramatic steps to lead a miners’ revolt with a band of fellow veterans, Doc Moo risks his life and career to treat sick and wounded miners, while Frank’s grandmother, Beulah, fights her own battle to save her home and grandson. Real-life historical figures burn bright among the hills: the fiery Mother Jones, an Irish-born labor organizer once known as “The Most Dangerous Woman in America,” struggles to maintain the ear of the miners (“her boys”) amid the tide of rebellion, while the sharp-shooting police chief “Smilin” Sid Hatfield dares to stand up to the “gun thugs” of the coal companies, becoming a folk hero of the mine wars.

Award-winning novelist Taylor Brown brings to life one of the most compelling events in 20th century American history, reminding us of the hard-won origins of today’s unions. Rednecks is a propulsive, character-driven tale that’s both a century old and blisteringly contemporary: a story of unexpected friendship, heroism in the face of injustice, and the power of love and community against all odds.

First Line:

Doc Moo was up at the coal camp above town, checking on an elderly patient of his, when the Baldwins came rattling up the road in a pair of tin lizzies, their rifles and shotguns prickling from the windows, like hackles and spines.

Important details about Rednecks

Pace: Medium

POV: 3rd person (numerous characters)

Content/Trigger Guidance: Rednecks contains themes that include bullying, classism, homelessness, poverty, racism, terrorism, alcohol consumption, blood, gore, body horror, dead bodies, body parts, decapitation, dismemberment, loss of limb, medical treatment, medical procedures, mutilation, physical injuries, scars, death, grief, explosions, fire, arson, gun violence, murder, physical assault, police brutality, police violence, torture, mass murder, war themes, and military violence. Please read carefully if any of these triggers you.

Language: Rednecks contain moderate swearing and language that might offend some people.

Sexual Content: There is nongraphic sexual content in Rednecks.

Setting: Rednecks is set around Blair Mountain, West Virginia.

My Review:

The storyline of Rednecks is centered around a conflict called the West Virginia Miner Wars (1920-1921). These wars were the most significant armed conflict on American soil since the Civil War, but little is known about it because politicians and coal mining executives covered it up. I will warn you: this book is bloody, violent, and is not an easy read. But people need to read because this is a part of American history.

Another thing that I liked about this book was how the author incorporated actual events and people into the timeline. Everyone (and every event) in this book is real, except for Dr. Muhanna (Doc Moo), a Lebanese-American doctor based on the author’s great-grandfather. It made the book stand out more to me. 

I do want to explain the book’s title. The miners wore red kerchiefs tied around their necks, identifying them to the police and army they were fighting against. The police and army started using this as a derogatory statement, and it has stuck to this day.

I was irritated by the end of the book. I thought people would have been up in arms over what happened (a year of war in Appalachia). But instead, people who were sympathetic to the coal miners (mainly politicians) started denouncing everything that happened. And the reason the coal miners went on strike (working conditions and wanting shorter days) was forgotten.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, NetGalley, and Taylor Brown for allowing me to read and review this ARC of Summers at the Saint. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoy reading books similar to Rednecks, then you will enjoy these books:

Other books by Taylor Brown

Cast a Cold Eye (Jimmy Dreghorn: Book 2) by Robbie Morrison

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine, Bantam

Date of Publication: April 9th, 2024

Genre: Thriller, Mystery, Historical Fiction, Crime, Historical, Fiction

Series: Jimmy Dreghorn

Edge of the Grave—Book 1

Cast a Cold Eye—Book 2

Purchase Links: Kindle | Audible | B&N | AbeBooks | WorldCat

Goodreads Synopsis:

In 1930s Glasgow, partners Jimmy Dreghorn and Archie McDaid face a danger that threatens to set their city aflame—the second novel in the acclaimed mystery series that began with Edge of the Grave .

Glasgow, 1933. Murder is nothing new in the Depression-era city, especially to war veterans Inspector Jimmy Dreghorn and his partner “Bonnie” Archie McDaid. But the dead man found in a narrowboat on the Forth and Clyde Canal, executed with a single shot to the back of the head, is no ordinary killing.

Violence usually erupts in the heat of the moment—the razor-gangs that stalk the streets settle scores with knives and fists. Firearms suggest something more sinister, especially when the killer strikes again. Meanwhile, other forces are stirring within the city. A suspected IRA cell is at large, embedded within the criminal gangs and attracting the ruthless attention of Special Branch agents from London.

With political and sectarian tensions rising and the body count mounting, Dreghorn and McDaid pursue an investigation into the dark heart of humanity—where one man’s freedom fighter is another man’s terrorist, and noble ideals are swept away by bloody vengeance.

First Line:

At first it’s like a prison, an iron fist around my head, but as the horror goes on, it becomes a shield and I raise my hands, pulling it tighter.

Important details about Cast a Cold Eye

Pace:  Mostly slow but the pace does pick up towards the end.

POV: 3rd person (Jimmy, Archie)

Series: 2nd book in the Jimmy Dreghorn series

Content/Trigger Guidance: Cast a Cold Eye contains themes of bullying, classism, poverty, sexism, misogyny, terrorism*, attempted rape, dubious consent scenario*, post-traumatic stress disorder, alcohol consumption, alcohol abuse, blood, gore, dead bodies, body parts, physical injuries, scars, grief, loss depiction, confinement*, explosions, fire, arson, gun violence, knife violence, murder, attempted murder, organized crime, physical assault, police brutality, police violence, stalking*, torture, blackmail, war, riots, military violence, and animal death. Please read carefully if any of these triggers you.

  • Terrorism—There is talk of the IRA in Glasgow.
  • Dubious Consent Scenario—There is a scene where Jimmy and Archie walk in on a lawyer having sex with a woman. The lawyer tells them that she was using sex to pay a bill. But it didn’t seem like she was there voluntarily.
  • Confinement—Archie remembers how Jimmy saved his adopted daughter from being burned to death in a wardrobe that was barred from the outside.
  • Stalking—Jimmy expresses concern for Ellen, a young WPC, after being made to work with Strachan. Strachan stalked and harassed Ellen in the previous book and continues to do so in this one.

Language: Cast a Cold Eye contains moderate swearing and language that might offend some people.

  • The author also uses slang that is only used in Glasgow. My phone got a workout googling the different terms they used.

Sexual Content: There is mild nonconsensual sexual content in Cast a Cold Eye. There is no consensual sexual content.

Setting: Cast a Cold Eye is set in 1933 Glasgow, Scotland.

My Review:

I was surprised when I got an email saying that my wish for Cast a Cold Eye had been granted. I honestly don’t remember wishing for it on NetGalley, and I also don’t usually read historical police mysteries. But since I had pushed that button and it was granted, I downloaded the book. Now that I’ve read it, I was pretty impressed with what I read.

Cast a Cold Eye is a slow book. But it is not one of those taking forever to get to the next scene of the book. It is slow in the way that the author takes his time with the murder storyline and the secondary storylines in the book. He takes his time building everything up. I liked it because it allowed me to fully understand what was going on in Glasgow, how that affected people (including Jimmy), and how it related to the storyline.

Cast a Cold Eye is the second book in the Jimmy Dreghorn series. It can be read as a standalone. There are references to the first book sprinkled throughout this one, but—and I stress this—those references did not take over the main storyline.

The main storyline in Cast a Cold Eye is the murders of four seemingly unrelated people and the police investigation into them. I was caught by surprise when the author mentioned forensics being used. I didn’t know that people in the 1930s used forensics (I do want to note it was only for the bullets). I enjoyed seeing Jimmy and Archie’s investigation into those murders. I was a little surprised at the connection between the murdered people. I was even more astonished at why those people were killed. What I wasn’t surprised by was who did it. The author didn’t keep that secret. The person was named several times during the book.

Some more minor storylines feed into the main storyline. The most major of those secondary storylines was the one with Ellen, Strachan, their investigation, and their attempted murder. This storyline is connected to the main one, but the author doesn’t reveal how until almost the end of the book. I was shocked at who tried to kill them, and I was surprised by why once Jimmy got that person’s confession. Ellen and Strachan’s relationship is also the main focus of this storyline. Strachan was obsessed with her, and the events immediately leading up to their attack were proof of that. Of course, I do like how Jimmy took care of that.

I liked Jimmy. He was a former boxer and ex-solider who became a police officer. He did his best to uphold the law in Glasgow. His and Archie’s methods were brutal (dunking a suspect in horse manure to get him to talk is one example), but they got results. He and Archie also had one of the best bookish bromances that I have read to date.

The book had many memorable secondary characters, but the two Special Branch operatives, the priest and the female magistrate, stood out the most. The author also connected those individuals directly to the murders and the events that led up to them years before.

The mystery angle of Cast a Cold Eye was wonderfully written. As I stated above, the author did reveal who was behind three of the murders. The reason why those men were murdered was horrific. Why was it terrible? Because of what they did. I didn’t blame that person for wanting vengeance. But, there was one other murder and an attempted murder of two police officers that were not tied to that person. I wasn’t shocked at who was behind the first murder. But the person behind the attempted murder did surprise me. There were also two innocent people in this whole mess. One was severely hurt by the person who tried to kill Strachan. The other person, unfortunately, was going to pay for who this person was related to and their crimes (which was a shame).

The end of Cast a Cold Eye left me wanting more. I wanted to learn more about Jimmy, see more of Archie, and see if there was going to be a resolution to the beef between Jimmy and Strachan and if Elle was going to be collateral.

I want to add that the author did write a note and explain that he did take liberties with places and items.

Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Bantam, NetGalley, and Robbie Morrison for allowing me to read and review this ARC of Cast a Cold Eye. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoy reading books similar to Cast a Cold Eye, then you will enjoy these books:

Other books by Robbie Morrison

Wake Me Most Wickedly (Once Upon the East End: Book 2) by Felicia Grossman

Publisher: Forever (Grand Central Publishing), Forever

Date of publication: April 9th, 2024

Genre: Romance, Historical Romance, Historical, Jewish, Retellings, Historical Fiction, Adult Fiction, Fiction, British Literature

Series: Once Upon the East End

Shtup Me at Sunrise—Book 0.5

Marry Me by Midnight—Book 1 (review here)

Wake Me Most Wickedly—Book 2

Seduce Me in Secret—Book 3 (expected publication date: January 2025)

Dream of Me Until Dawn—Book 4 (expected publication date: January 2026)

Purchase Links: Kindle | Audible | B&N | AbeBooks | WorldCat

Goodreads Synopsis:

Solomon Weiss has little interest in power, but to repay the half-brother who raised him, he pursues money, influence, and now—a respectable wife. That is, until outcast Hannah Moses saves his life, and Sol finds himself helplessly drawn to the beautiful pawnshop owner.

Forever tainted by her parents’ crimes, Hannah sees only a villain when she looks in the mirror—no one a prince would choose. To survive, she must care for herself, even if that means illegally hunting down whatever her clients wish. So, no matter how fair or charming she finds Sol, he belongs to a world far too distant from her own.

Only neither can resist their desires, and each meeting weakens Hannah’s resolve to stay away. But when Hannah discovers a shocking betrayal in Sol’s inner circle, can she convince him to trust her? Or will fear and doubt poison their love for good?

First Line

Night was the best time to hunt-especially if you relied on stealth, not strength, to snare your prey.

Important details about Wake Me Most Wickedly

Pace: Medium

POV: 3rd person (Hannah, Solomon)

Content/Trigger Guidance: Wake Me Most Wickedly contains themes of nongraphic sexual assault, nonconsensual sexual contact, emotional abuse, antisemitic language, antisemitic behavior, classism, physical abuse, religious bigotry, injury and injury detail, bullying, violence, medical content*, grief, death of a parent, pregnancy, and deportation. Please read carefully if any of these triggers you.

  • Medical Content: Solomon suffers anaphylactic shock after consuming a cake with nuts in it.

Language: Wake Me Most Wickedly does not contain swearing, but it does contain language that might offend some people.

Sexual Content: There is explicit sexual content in Wake Me Most Wickedly.

Setting: Wake Me Most Wickedly is set in the East End of London, England.

My Review:

I enjoy reading historical romances, but reading the same romance format gets boring after a while. So, I am always on the lookout for different historical romances (but do keep in context with the era the book is written in). So, when the Wake Me Most Wickedly widget slid into my inbox, I accepted immediately. Also, I had read the first book in the series and liked it.

Wake Me Most Wickedly is also a fairy tale retelling. I like reading fairy tale retelling and discovering how different authors interpret fairytales. Wake Me Most Wickedly is the retelling of Snow White. I admit I had an issue figuring out how Snow White fit into this. Thankfully, that only lasted for the first couple of chapters, and I enjoyed seeing how this retelling played out.

The main storyline of Wake Me Most Wickedly was your typical romance storyline. Hannah was an outcast in the Jewish community due to crimes that her parents and herself committed while running their pawnshop. Hannah spent two years in prison, and her parents were deported to a penal colony island (I figure it was either Australia or New Zealand). She continued running the pawn shop and took up a side gig of illegally hunting down things for her fence and clients. During one of those jobs, she saved Solomon from being attacked. Solomon, raised by his older brother after their father and his mother died, grew up very sheltered and had almost no worldly experience. Solomon soon becomes enamored with Hannah, much to her dismay. But even she can’t deny the scorching heat between them. When Solomon is injured after being chased by a group of men, Hannah investigates his accident. What she uncovers will rock Solomon’s world. Will her discovery mean the end of her relationship with Solomon?

The author graciously included content guidance at the beginning of the book. I love it when authors do that because I don’t have to take notes about content. At the end of the book (and she did this with the first book), she explains the history of the Jewish people in London’s East End and their treatment throughout the centuries.

I found Wake Me Most Wickedly’s storyline much darker than the first book. I wasn’t sure if I would like it (the first chapter has nonconsensual sexual contact). But, the deeper I got into the storyline, the more I understood why the author wrote this book the way she did. Not everything was sunshine and roses in Victorian London. For people experiencing poverty and those forced to live on the outskirts of their communities, life was awful. The author was correct in reflecting the tone of the book. It made the book much more interesting to read.

Hannah started the book off with me not liking her very much. She had a chip on her shoulder that came across in her words and actions. But, the more the author got into her backstory, the more I saw how those events shaped her into the woman she was in the book. I felt terrible for her because she honestly didn’t think she was attractive enough to a man to commit to and was focused on getting a dowry for Tamara. What got me onto Team Hannah was her fantastic character growth. By the end of the book, I was amazed by her strength and devotion to those she considered family and friends.

I liked Solomon, but he reminded me somewhat of a puppy. How? Well, he was hard to train (no matter what Hannah did to push him away, he still came back), he was loyal, even when the person he was faithful to didn’t deserve it, and he was fiercely protective of his family and friends. I was also on Team Solomon because he deserved to be seen for the man he was instead of the image that he put out for family and friends. The one thing that I didn’t like was that he had a prominent blind spot when it came to his brother. But I also understood. It made what Hannah told him so painful to hear.

The romance angle of Wake Me Most Wickedly was spicy. The author turned the heat up on the sex scenes, and they had me fanning myself. But the sex was only a part of the romance. Solomon and Hannah falling in love was sweet. While Solomon immediately knew that Hannah was the one for him, Hannah fought it tooth and nail. She used every excuse in the book (the age gap: her 32 to his 26), her past, that he was just infatuated with her, his brother, and the considerable class divide to try and drive him away. Thankfully, Solomon didn’t care and pursued her anyway.

A secondary storyline that cropped up around the middle of the book involved Solomon, his brother, and Hannah. I was absolutely disgusted by what Solomon’s brother did, but I like how Solomon’s friends rallied around him and turned it around. It was poetic justice how that storyline ended.

I loved how Wake Me Most Wickedly ended. It was your typical HEA. The epilogue, which takes place five years later, almost made me cry. It also made me wonder who the next book will be about. I have a feeling I know who, but I can’t wait to see if I am right.

Many thanks to Forever (Grand Central Publishing), Forever, NetGalley, and Felicia Grossman for allowing me to read and review this ARC of Wake Me Most Wickedly. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoy reading books similar to Wake Me Most Wickedly, then you will enjoy these books:

Other books by Felicia Grossman

A Sweet Sting of Salt by Rose Sutherland

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Dell

Date of publication: April 9, 2024

Genre: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, LGBT, Retellings, Historical, Fiction, Queer, Romance, Lesbian, Adult

Purchase Links: Kindle | Audible | B&N | AbeBooks | WorldCat

Goodreads Synopsis:

Once a young woman uncovers a dark secret about her neighbor and his mysterious new wife, she’ll have to fight to keep herself—and the woman she loves—safe in this stunning queer reimagining of the classic folktale The Selkie Wife.

When a sharp cry wakes Jean in the middle of the night during a terrible tempest, she’s convinced it must have been a dream. But when the cry comes again, Jean ventures outside and is shocked by what she discovers—a young woman in labor, already drenched to the bone in the freezing cold and barely able to speak a word of English.

Although Jean is the only midwife in the village and for miles around, she’s at a loss as to who this woman is or where she’s from; Jean can only assume she must be the new wife of the neighbor up the road, Tobias. And when Tobias does indeed arrive at her cabin in search of his wife, Muirin, Jean’s questions continue to grow. Why has he kept his wife’s pregnancy a secret? And why does Muirin’s open demeanor change completely the moment she’s in his presence?

Though Jean learned long ago that she should stay out of other people’s business, her growing concern—and growing feelings—for Muirin mean she can’t simply set her worries aside. But when the answers she finds are more harrowing than she ever could have imagined, she fears she may have endangered herself, Muirin, and the baby. Will she be able to put things right and save the woman she loves before it’s too late, or will someone have to pay for Jean’s actions with their life?

First Line:

The ship was burning.

A Sweet Sting of Salt by Rose Sutherland

Important details about A Sweet Sting of Salt

Pace: Medium

POV: 3rd person (Jean)

Content/Trigger: A Sweet Sting of Salt contains themes of animal death, homophobia, kidnapping, confinement, murder, pregnancy, animal cruelty, death, emotional abuse, infidelity, blood, medical content, stalking, lesbophobia, fire and fire injury, outing, gaslighting, domestic abuse, suicide*, death of a parent, rape*, sexual assault*, and sexual violence*. Please read carefully if any of these triggers you.

  • Suicide—Jean’s mother commits suicide off-page, with a very brief description of how she was found.
  • Rape, sexual assault, and sexual violence—These all happened to Muirin off page. The author does not go into detail.

Language: A Sweet Sting of Salt contains mild swearing and language that might offend some people.

Sexual Content: There is mild consensual sexual content in A Sweet Sting of Salt. The nonconsensual sexual content is alluded to, and the author gave no details other than it happened.

Setting: A Sweet Sting of Salt is set in Barquer’s Bay, Nova Scotia. 

My Review:

A Sweet Sting of Salt is the second book in a series of four books that have made my April must-read list. I was initially caught by the cover (isn’t it gorgeous?). But when I read the blurb, I was captivated. I haven’t read many retellings of The Selkie Wife and was curious how this retelling was. Well, I am happy to say that I loved this book.

The main storyline of A Sweet Sting of Salt centers around Jean (a young midwife), Muirin (the mysterious wife of her neighbor), their developing relationship, and the mystery of how Muirin came to be with Tobias (the neighbor). This well-written, gut-wrenching, and engaging storyline kept me glued to the story.

Jean was quickly one of my favorite characters in the book. As a midwife, she assisted women in the town and outlying areas with their pregnancies. But she didn’t have many friends due to her forced outing as a lesbian by her lover/best friend’s mother five years earlier. Her loneliness, discomfort, and sadness was palpable. After helping Muirin give birth and keeping her at her house, I could see Jean getting attached. And the struggle to keep away from Muirin was real, even when Tobias started threatening her on her land. But Jean wouldn’t let Tobias get the best of her and was determined to help Muirin.

Muirin was my other favorite character in the book. Despite her language barrier (she spoke Gaelic), she could communicate enough with Jean to let her know something was wrong at home. She didn’t bother hiding her feelings for Jean (they were apparent from the beginning). She was sweet, sassy, and very protective. Her love for Jean and her baby and her yearning for freedom was also palpable.

I want to mention Tobias since he is a significant character in the book. I had mixed feelings about him. On one hand, I was disgusted by what he did to Muirin and Jean. But on the other hand, I couldn’t help but pity him. His upbringing (which was chaotic and abusive) directly contributed to his capturing Muirin. He had this fantasy of having the perfect family. But the cracks started when Jean visited and spread after Jean’s ex’s mother told Tobias about Jean. The state of his mental health slowly deteriorated after that. His stalking of Jean and killing of her goat, Honey, was a small glimpse into his mind. What broke him was when Jean found Muirin’s pelt, and they left the house (after it caught on fire). I do not doubt in my mind that he would have killed Jean by the pond if Muirin hadn’t done what she did.

The LGBT angle was interesting. I liked seeing Jean, Muirin, and Lauri have so much love and support from their family and friends. Heck, before Jean met Muirin and after her ex left, Lauri’s mother tried to set her up with her Native relatives. It was refreshing.

The fantasy angle is kept in the background until the end of the book (when Muirin gets her pelt back). I liked that Muirin, through her uncle, explained everything. I also loved that Jean wasn’t as freaked out as I thought she would be.

The epilogue of A Sweet Sting of Salt made this book. I liked seeing what everyone was doing five years in the future. It was a HEA that made me smile.

Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Dell, NetGalley, and Rose Sutherland for allowing me to read and review this ARC of a Sweet Sting of Salt. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoy reading books similar to A Sweet Sting of Salt, then you will enjoy these books:

Sincerely, The Duke (Say I Do: Book 2) by Amelia Grey

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Paperbacks

Date of publication: March 26th, 2024

Genre: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Regency, Regency Romance, Adult, Historical Fiction, Adult Fiction

Series: Say I Do

Yours Truly, The Duke—Book 1 (review here)

Sincerely, The Duke—Book 2

Purchase Links: Kindle | Audible | B&N | AbeBooks | WorldCat

Goodreads Synopsis:

Sincerely, The Duke is the second novel in the historical romance Say I Do trilogy about dukes needing to wed to tap into their wealth by New York Times bestselling author Amelia Grey.

Miss Edwina Fine has one shot at finding a husband before the ton learns her secret. With red hair, green eyes and being one of triplets, she knows the superstitions and rumors about women like her. So when a marriage proposal from the Duke of Stonerick arrives by mail, Edwina jumps at the chance to solve her problems. But nothing could prepare her for the attraction that sparks between them when they finally meet. It will take more than Edwina’s wit to navigate her past, reservations about marriage and the passion that ignites within her for the irresistible duke.

Rick, Duke of Stonerick, enjoys his life exactly as it honing his expert marksmanship, playing cards and fencing with his friends. He even enjoys exchanging affectionate humor with his mother about his lack of matrimonial engagement. But when a recurring illness reminds Rick he has no heir, he picks a name from the list of prospects his mother presents and writes a simple marriage proposal. Then he forgets about it—until that very lady with an iron will and breathtaking bravery shows up at his doorstep, ready to accept. Edwina tempts him like no other and suddenly, marriage doesn’t seem much of an inconvenience after all. But will keeping his illness a secret cost him her love?

First Line:

“She had a son.” Roderick Cosworth, the Duke of Stonerick, considered his mother’s frown as he bent to place a hello kiss onto her cheek.

Sincerely, The Duke by Amelia Grey

Important details about Sincerely, The Duke

Pace: Medium

POV: 3rd person (Roderick and Edwina)

Content/Trigger Warnings: Sincerely, The Duke contains themes of classism, sexism & misogyny, chronic illness, death of a parent, and grief & loss depiction. Please read carefully if any of these triggers you.

Language: Sincerely, The Duke contains mild swearing and language that might offend some people.

Sexual Content: There is moderate sexual content in Sincerely, The Duke.

Setting: Sincerely, The Duke is set in London, England.

My Review:

Regency romances are one of my favorite genres to read. So, when I get an invite to review, and it is a Regency romance, I automatically accept. And that was the case with Sincerely, The Duke. I was so excited to read it; this book did not disappoint.

The main storyline of Sincerely, The Duke centers around Roderick and Edwina, their romance, and Edwina’s secrets. I found this to be a well-written storyline that was easy to read. It also intrigued me with the folklore and superstitions that were introduced about triplets and redheads.

I liked Roderick, but I found him a little blind when it came to Edwina and her sisters. I was yelling at the book (when her sisters arrived for Roderick and Edwina’s wedding) when he did a double take when seeing them together. His surprise when he found out they were identical triplets did make me laugh. His illness was a significant part of this book. While the author didn’t come out and say what his illness was in the book (and for the record, I guessed it early on), she did address it afterward.

I loved Edwina. She was the youngest of the Fine triplets, and she took keeping their secret very seriously. I didn’t understand why she needed to marry first when she was introduced. But the author explained, and I got it. She was the more dependable of the three and needed to take care of her sisters. Her father had hammered it into her to protect the secret, and I understood why she was so hesitant to tell Roderick.

The romance angle of Sincerely, The Duke was sweet but had a little spice. I did get a laugh over who gave Edwina the sex talk. That led to one of the more humorous wedding night scenes I have read. And Roderick, bless him, did the right thing by not pushing Edwina.

The end of Sincerely, The Duke was sweet and what I thought it would be. I loved the epilogue. I liked seeing Edwina and Roderick five years into the future. I cannot wait to see what book three will be about. Since there are two more Fine sisters, the next book will feature one of them.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Paperbacks, NetGalley, and Amelia Grey for allowing me to read and review this ARC of Sincerely, The Duke. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoy reading books similar to Sincerely, The Duke, then you will enjoy these books:

Other Books by Amelia Grey

The Phoenix Bride by Natasha Siegel

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Dell

Date of publication: March 12th, 2024

Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance, Historical, Adult, Fiction, Historical Romance, Mental Health, Jewish, LGBTQ+

Purchase Links: Kindle | Audible | B&N | AbeBooks | WorldCat

Goodreads Synopsis:

A passionate tale of plague, fire, and forbidden love in seventeenth-century London from the acclaimed author of Solomon’s Crown

1666. It is a year after plague has devastated England. Young widow Cecilia Thorowgood is a prisoner, trapped and isolated within the cavernous London townhouse of her older sister. At the mercy of a legion of doctors who fail to cure her grief with their impatient scalpels, Cecilia shows no signs of improvement. Soon, her sister makes a decision borne of she hires a new physician, someone known for more unusual methods. But he is a foreigner. A Jew. And despite his attempts to save Cecilia, he knows he cannot quell the storm of grief that rages within her. There is no easy cure for melancholy.

David Mendes fled Portugal to seek a new life in London, where he could practice his faith openly and leave the past behind. Still reeling from the loss of his beloved friend, struggling with his religion and his past, David finds himself in this foreign land, free and safe, but incapable of happiness—caring not even for himself, but only for his ailing father. The security he has found in London threatens to disappear when he meets Cecilia, and he finds himself torn between his duty to medicine and the beating of his own heart. He is the only one who can see her pain; the glimmers of light she emits, even in her gloom, are enough to make him believe once more in love.

Facing seemingly insurmountable challenges, David and Cecilia must endure prejudice, heartbreak, and calamity before they can be together. A Great Fire is coming—and with the city in flames around them, love has never felt so impossible.

First Line

Three springs had passed since the king’s return to England, when I married William Thorowgood.

The Phoenix Bride by Natasha Siegel

Important details about The Phoenix Bride

Pace: Medium

POV: 1st person (Cecilia and David)

Trigger Warnings: The Phoenix Bride contains themes that include antisemitism, fire and fire injury, confinement, death, medical content, grief, religious bigotry, death of a parent, alcohol, pandemic/epidemic, homophobia, vomit, classism, pregnancy, religious persecution, arranged marriage, forced marriage, depression, eating disorders, sleep disorders, attempted suicide, suicidal ideation, infertility, blood, dead bodies, and the death of a spouse.

Language: The Phoenix Bride contains no swearing or language that might offend some people.

Sexual Content: There is mild (non-graphic) sexual content in The Phoenix Bride.

Setting: The Phoenix Bride is set in 17th-century London, England.

My Review

I have always loved England. I will try to read anything I can about England when given the opportunity. I do read books from the Victorian or Regency era, but I will read earlier if I find a book I like. The Phoenix Bride definitely fit what I liked, and seeing that it takes place before, during, and after The Great Fire (an event that I have read almost next to nothing about), my interest was caught.

The Phoenix Bride’s storyline centers on Cecilia and David, their backstories, their romance, and The Great Fire (and its aftermath). I found this a well-written, eye-opening book about life in 1666. I did have questions about the end of the book. It was vague, and I couldn’t tell if there was an HEA. But, considering how prejudiced people were, I went for not being an HEA—just an HEA for that moment.

Cecilia was a hot mess when the book started. Her mental health issues were addressed immediately, and you couldn’t help but pity her. She went into a deep depression when her husband died. But, the book didn’t dwell on Cecilia’s mental health for long. Instead, it steamed forward with her falling in love with David and her engagement to Sir Grey. In a world where women were considered property and often were regulated to the background, Cecilia refused to do so. When she wanted something (in this case, it was David), she went after it, no matter the consequences.

I liked David, and he was another one that I felt terrible about. He dealt with antisemitism daily (which would depress me). He also lost the man he loved to the plague and couldn’t talk to anyone about it (remember, being homosexual back in the 17th century could end up with jail time). He had taken over his ailing father’s practice and was busy with patients. I was surprised he agreed to go to Cecilia’s sister’s house. I was also surprised by his reaction to Cecilia. But, mostly, I was saddened by his grief and stress.

I was very interested in the medical aspect of The Phoenix Bride. I knew the basics of how doctors dealt with the plague back then (plague doctor masks filled with scented flowers), but I never knew what a doctor did on a day-to-day basis (besides bloodletting and leeches). Reading about the different herbs and flowers used to help with different afflictions was interesting. I wish the author had spent more time on that in the book.

Also, what was interesting to me in the book was how doctors treat mental illness and neurodivergent people. Bloodletting was very popular. Cecilia was also confined to a courtyard and her room, was not allowed to exercise, and didn’t visit anyone. It was a little disturbing how she was viewed and treated. Sir Grey was treated similarly (I think he had ADHD or maybe autism, but I am not sure).

I was also interested in how the homosexual community was treated back then. It seemed to me (even though it was technically illegal..the sodomy laws were enacted in 1533) that most people were accepting of the molly houses, and the police did periodic sweeps to appease the government. It seemed like people were accepting in the book. But, even with that, David and Jan (and maybe Sir Grey) had to keep their sexuality very quiet or risk being put in jail or to death.

The Great Fire of London was also incorporated into the plotline during the last half of the book. Only a few details about how it started were given, but there was speculation. I was surprised by how the upper class reacted to the fire. They were on barges watching London burn and people trying to escape. It seemed weird, but I could see why people did it. The author also detailed the aftermath of the fire from David’s POV. He escaped with his life but lost everything.

The romance between Cecilia and David did seem a little forced in spots. I know I am cynical, but I don’t believe in falling in love in only a week (or, in this case, a couple of days). But, even with it feeling forced, I did like their chemistry and how they interacted.

The end of The Phoenix Bride was good, but it was a little vague. I liked that Cecilia and David finally got back together (after being apart for a year). But I read that last chapter, and I couldn’t figure out if they were together with Sir Grey’s blessing or going behind his back. That’s why I mentioned it might be a HEA for now instead of forever.

Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Dell, NetGalley, and Natasha Siegel for allowing me to read and review this ARC of The Phoenix Bride. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoy reading books similar to The Phoenix Bride, then you will enjoy these books:

Other books by Natasha Siegel

The Underground Library by Jennifer Ryan

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Ballantine Books

Date of publication: March 12, 2024

Genre: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Books about Books, World War II, Historical, War, British Literature, Adult Fiction, Chick Lit

Purchase Links: Kindle | Audible | B&N | Kobo | WorldCat

Goodreads Synopsis:

When the Blitz imperils the heart of a London neighborhood, three young women must use their fighting spirit to save the community’s beloved library in this heartwarming novel from the author of The Chilbury Ladies’ Choir

When new deputy librarian, Juliet Lansdown, finds that Bethnal Green Library isn’t the bustling hub she’s expecting, she becomes determined to breathe life back into it. But can she show the men in charge that a woman is up to the task of running it, especially when a confrontation with her past threatens to derail her?

Katie Upwood is thrilled to be working at the library, although she’s only there until she heads off to university in the fall. But after the death of her beau on the front line and amid tumultuous family strife, she finds herself harboring a life-changing secret with no one to turn to for help.

Sofie Baumann, a young Jewish refugee, came to London on a domestic service visa only to find herself working as a maid for a man who treats her abominably. She escapes to the library every chance she can, finding friendship in the literary community and aid in finding her sister, who is still trying to flee occupied Europe.

When a slew of bombs destroy the library, Juliet relocates the stacks to the local Underground station where the city’s residents shelter nightly, determined to lend out stories that will keep spirits up. But tragedy after tragedy threatens to unmoor the women and sever the ties of their community. Will Juliet, Kate, and Sofie be able to overcome their own troubles to save the library? Or will the beating heart of their neighborhood be lost forever?

First Line:

“Hurry, Sofie!” Her sister’s voice floated through the open door, echoing past the bookcases lining the walls.

The Underground Library by Jennifer Ryan

Important details about The Underground Library

Pace: Medium

POV: 3rd person (Juliet, Kate, Sofie)

Trigger Warnings: The Underground Library contains themes that include pregnancy, classism, poverty, refugee experiences, religious persecution, sexism & misogyny, indentured servitude, abandonment, childbirth, involuntary pregnancy, blood & gore depiction, body horror, dead bodies & body parts, death of a friend, grief & loss depiction, disappearance of a loved one, infidelity, explosions, and war themes & military violence.

Language: The Underground Library contains mild swearing and language that might offend some people.

Sexual Content: There is no sexual content in The Underground Library.

Setting: The Underground Library is set in and around WWII-era London, England.

My Review

I am a big fan of reading books set in WWII. It is a time that fascinates and scares me. So, when I get widgets or see books on NetGalley that hint about WWII, I grab them. This was the case with The Underground Library. Random House sent me a widget, and I downloaded it. Now that I have read this book, it was a good read.

The Underground Library follows three women (Juliet, Kate, and Sofie) as they navigate life in a country at war. Juliet is the oldest of the three, and she is ambitious. But Juliet’s past threatens to derail everyone she worked so hard for. Kate is a young woman who is waiting for word from her fiancee, who is fighting in Africa against the Nazis. Her world is turned upside down when she is told he is missing in action. Sofie is a Jewish refugee working as a maid/cook in the vicinity of the Bethnal Library. Forced to leave Berlin by her sister and father, Sofie agonizes over not knowing what happened to her family. The three women meet at the library and soon become instrumental in setting up an underground library in the Tube tunnels, used as a makeshift bomb shelter. Over a few months, their lives will change for better and worse.

As I mentioned above, there are three separate storylines in The Underground Library. Usually, I’m not too fond of multiple storylines (or POV), but in this case, it worked. It only worked because the author could integrate all three storylines together at different points in the book but simultaneously keep them separate (if that makes sense). I was not confused by whose storyline I was reading (the author did label chapters with names). That made for a delightful read.

I liked Juliet. I liked that she was smart and wasn’t afraid to go after what she wanted (the book club, children’s hour, and eventually, the library). Her backstory was sad with her fiancee going MIA in France. The more I read her storyline, the more I liked her. I wouldn’t say I enjoyed reading about a love triangle between her missing fiancee and her landlady’s nephew (who she also knew from school). It was pretty obvious who she was going to end up with. But everything does work itself out in the end.

I thought Kate was adorable. Her absolute devotion to her fiancee shone through the book, as did her devastation when she learned he was missing in action, presumed dead. The pregnancy was a neat twist that the author threw in there. When Kate’s mother found out about her pregnancy, I could see why she was so upset. During that era, girls didn’t get pregnant without being married (you and I know that this isn’t true, but people liked to believe it). But what Kate’s mother proposed and what she forced Kate into doing made me take a step back and go, “Whoa.” All I have to say is that she was desperate, looking for a way to keep her husband with her, and it would cost Kate. I was a little glad that this storyline ended the way it did (and the twist that came at the very end was heartwarming).

I pitied Sofie. Because of the Nazis, she was forced to leave her father and sister behind in Berlin (the near miss on the train took my breath away). It was explained that her sister got her a visa to work in England (her English was excellent). Sofie was going to be a live-in maid to an upperclassman who was willing to sponsor her. That wasn’t what Sofie wanted and not what she was used to (she came from a very wealthy family). The first half of her storyline details her job and how she deals with it (she has been there for over a year). The second half of her storyline got a little more exciting. Her inquiries into her sister’s location were answered, and she fell in love. Of the three storylines, hers was the one I enjoyed most.

The author included a note explaining the actual underground library that inspired the book at the end of the book. She tweaked some events, but everything that happened was mainly factual.

The end of The Underground Library was one of hope. I liked how every one of the characters got their HEA. I also liked that the author included some secondary characters in the HEAs. As I stated above, Kate’s storyline had a neat twist.

Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Ballantine Books, NetGalley, and Jennifer Ryan for allowing me to read and review an ARC of The Underground Library. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoy reading books similar to The Underground Library, then you will enjoy these books:

Other books by Jennifer Ryan