Book review : A Holiday by Gaslight by Mimi Matthews | Heartwarming Christmas Novella

A Holiday by Gaslight by Mimi Matthews

GENRE: #VictorianChristmasNovella #clean-romance
My rating: ★★★★★

I loved it!!
It deserves a full 5 stars because it's a sweet love story, full of Christmassy atmosphere and somehow connected to real historical facts, events, and fashions of the Victorian era.

Before telling you about my feelings about reading it,
here are a few words ABOUT THE PLOT:

Sophie Appersett's father is nearly bankrupt due to his ambition to renovate his manor with all the modern conveniences of the Victorian era, starting with gaslight.
Therefore, he has accepted the courtship of Sophie by Ned Sharpe, a very wealthy young man thanks to his trade, but not of the noble class.

Sophie is willing to sacrifice her happiness to help the family, but after two months of courtship by the charming, yet silent and shadowy Ned, she no longer feels at ease and decides to break off the engagement. But something shines through his hurtful and harsh words...
Perhaps she is mistaken about his lack of feelings for her? And will he be able to win her sensitive heart?

___________ ********* ____________

MY OPINION:

I loved everything about this short (but thankfully not _too_ short) Christmas story set in a Victorian setting.

____ MAIN CHARACTERS:

I find Ned and Sophie to be a truly well-matched pair, although the initial lack of communication might make our heroine _seem_ otherwise.

• NED managed to make me fall in love. Sure, he's tall and handsome, but what touched my heart was his almost childish desire to behave exactly as etiquette dictated, just to make a good impression on the girl who had struck him from the first time they met.
  
  I was touched by his hurt feelings, as a boy who grew up working, who is now a very rich young man, but knows perfectly well that he will never be accepted and valued equally by people of aristocratic rank who mistakenly believe themselves better than the working class.
  
  I was struck by the delicacy with which he approached Sophie – the kind gestures, the smiles, a candid kiss first, then with more passion... he was very sweet even in the moments when he withdrew into himself and was worthy of our heroine from the beginning to the happy ending.
  
  
• SOPHIE is the classic beauty who doesn't believe she's as beautiful as her spoiled and pampered younger sister, for whom she sacrifices herself, skimping on her clothes and other things, so that her sister can have a fantastic season in London marrying a titled man.
  
  Even though she agreed to marry a wealthy merchant to help her family, she's not at all interested in the life of the noble circle and certainly doesn't judge her suitor disparagingly. Rather, she's disappointed by the lack of warmth and communication that the silent Ned has shown her over two months of formal communication, strictly following the strict rules of good society.
  
  

What I liked most about her is the courage she showed in taking a step back from her decision and, ignoring the rules, coming forward, demanding honesty and complete openness from him so they can get to know each other better.
Sophie is not only a good daughter but also a good sister. She knows perfectly well how spoiled and often insensitive her sister is, yet she continues to protect and help her.

A classic trope of Renaissance and Victorian romances, that of the bitchy, selfish, and self-centered sister.
I confess that even though it's Christmas, for once I would have liked to see the younger sister, the spoiled one, considered by everyone to be the prettiest, _not_ have a happy ending, but be punished, while the heroine enjoys true happiness.
Mimi Matthews, the author, is kinder than I am and has given the story a happy ending even for the undeserving sister.

The growth of Ned and Sophie's feelings for each other is gradual, but I enjoyed it, and it moved me.

____ HISTORICAL CONNECTIONS:

I love historical fiction, but let's face it, in Regency or Victorian romances, there's usually little or nothing historical, except the descriptions of hairstyles and clothing.
The pleasant surprises of this story were the small connections to the real situation of the time: modernization with the advent of gaslight and running water, the death of Prince Albert and the custom of Christmas trees he introduced, the marriages between the titled poor and the nouveau riche.
You'll find some further explanation in the author's historical notes.

_____ CHRISTMAS ATMOSPHERE:

5 stars also for this unexpected aspect (I hate it when they put the word "Christmas" or something related in the title, but then there's nothing Christmassy about it, except that the story takes place during the Christmas season).
Here you'll find the decorations, the hikes through the snow to find mistletoe, the games among the guests, the Christmas ball, and the sleigh ride.
It's a short story, so unfortunately everything is described briefly, but it's enough to let the reader savor a sweet and sparkling Christmas atmosphere.

_____ FINAL VERDICT:

A decidedly Christmassy clean romance and highly recommended.
This is my first time reading Mimi Matthews, but I can't wait to read more by this author!

Thanks for stopping by and reading my opinion.

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Book review : The Theft Before Christmas by Cheryl Bolen

The Theft Before Christmas
The Regent Mysteries book #3
by Cheryl Bolen
GENRE: #Christmas-cozy-mystery-romance #Regency-novella

My rating: ★★★☆☆
Real rating 2.5 rounded up to 3 stars

Short story that combines mystery and romance in the Regency era.
I chose it as a read because I love this mix and the time of year it is set in is Christmas.

__PLOT IN SHORT __ Christmastide. Regency England.
Captain Dryden and his wife Lady Daphne are held in high regard by the Prince Regent, as they helped foil dangerous plans against the country and the crown.
Just as they are preparing to go and spend Christmas with her aristocratic family, they are called by her highness.
A famous statuette given to him by the King of Spain has disappeared and it is important to find it in time for the King's visit, to avoid a political clash.

Meanwhile, a friend of the captain and a young aristocratic girl under the protection of Lady Daphne remain alone and without a chaperone waiting for the Dryden couple. United by concern for their friends, they discover that they are very attracted to each other.
______________

This Christmas novella is book #3 in a series of mystery-romance novels ( THE REGENT MYSTERIES ), but the good news is that it can be read as a standalone, in fact the author has fully managed to illustrate to the reader the situation regarding the bonds between the various characters, their way of being/their way of think and how they got to where they are in the book.

The bad news however is that being a short story it should have focused more on one of the 2 themes and less on the other.
---> Let me explain better:

In a 230/300 page novel the author has plenty of time to develop a romantic bond between 2 characters and develop an intricate and well thought out mystery that keeps the reader on their toes.

Since the novella is much shorter than the novel, considering that a part of the pages must be dedicated to introducing the characters and situations of the previous books) everything is done more quickly and if the remaining space is divided between the budding love story and a mystery to investigate, each of the two themes will have even less chance of being developed.

The result is that the mystery is stupid and inconsistent, it lacks suspense, the investigative questions are boring and repetitive, the solution is obvious and the reader is left with the feeling of having read thin air.

The love story borders on the absurd. I admit that at that time engagements and marriages were decided much less quickly than in our times, but the fact that the two characters fall madly in love after just 2 days together does not give the reader any emotion.

There is no pathos in this story, neither in the mystery nor in the romance and perhaps it could still be a nice story to read for those who are already fond of the two protagonists of the series (a couple who are consolidated in this book, but who seemed equally unlikely), but I confess that if I were an avid reader of this series, I would still have been disappointed.

However, I'm still curious to read the novels of the series, the general plot is promising.
I will try to give book #1 a chance, to see if starting from the beginning I will have a greater chance of becoming attached to the characters and enjoying reading all the volumes.
This short story that is book #3 might help you to get to know a little about the protagonist couple of the series The Regent Mysteries.

Thanks for reading my opinion and please forgive my English ( not my native language ).
Happy holidays to you all !!

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Book review : A Fowl Christmastide by Sandra Sookoo

A Fowl Christmastide
12 Days of Christmas Book #3
by Sandra Sookoo
GENRE : #Regency-Christmas-romance #novella

My rating: ★★★★★

Such a lovely and sweet short story!
My rating is 5 full stars !!

It's a clean romance which includes a short kiss under the mistletoe and another longer and more conscious, but still very tender kiss.

The emotion of the story lies above all in the expectation and anticipation of the arrival of love for two people who by now almost no longer dared to hope for the radiance of a future with a life partner (wife/husband) and in the possibility of having children.

The happy ending is very nice and satisfying in all respects.

__NOT ONLY ROMANCE ___ This is a cheerful story that talks about budding love and the courage to take up the challenge, but also about brotherly love and unreserved sacrifice, acceptance, generosity and sharing.


__ THE PLOT IN SHORT __ England, regency era.
Miss Isabelle Fletcher and Evan Nicholas Radcliff, Baron of Hastings, have been neighbors for some years.
They meet almost every day because her chickens leave their henhouse and invade his garden. He usually reacts gruffly but actually lives for those brief meetings.

Belle also feels attracted to him, but is always put off by the fact that he speaks to her in a surly way.
Until one day, on Christmas Eve the little rebellious hens unknowingly unleash a small (but great) miracle...
___________________

The plot could suggest the usual romantic regency story, but in a delicate and light way it also addresses a very important theme: the difficulties that families of children with particular needs often encounter when they find themselves faced with a superficial and hypocritical society that does not accept the differences or the different emotional sensitivity of other people and who does not make the slightest effort to help these children integrate into the world.

In the Regency era, obviously there was no talk of autism, but the character description of Freddy, Nick's younger brother, closely resembles that type of mental and emotional condition.
So the story was very sweet and delicate in this sense too, giving relevance to the infinite affection and dedication that Nick has for his young brother.

The CHRISTMAS MAGIC of the story is completed with Nick's altruistic gesture for children without families and Belle's sincere admiration and her equally sincere desire to help.

The two MAIN CHARACTERS are both positive and pleasant to read.
Even though the story is short and the possibilities of description are few, through the vivid dialogues the two characters came to life in a believable way and the lively scenes kept me entertained with fun.

There are 2 SUPPORTING CHARACTERS:
Belle's father, a vicar who with faith and sweetness encourages his daughter not to stop hoping and Nick's joyful brother, who with the spontaneity of a child (despite already being an adult) immediately conquers not only Belle's heart, but also that of the reader.

*****_________ ******

This is book #3 in a series of Christmas stories (12 Days of Christmas Series) by different authors and therefore each book is a standalone story.

This is the first time I've read anything by Sandra Sookoo and I can't wait to read something else by her.

Thanks for reading my opinion and please forgive any errors in my text, English is a foreign language to me.

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Book review : Vienna Wolfe by Mary Lancaster

Vienna Dawn
by Mary Lancaster
The Imperial Season book #4

My rating: ★★★★★
Actually 4.5 rounded up to 5 stars.

Very short story but very nice clean romance.

____ THE PLOT ___ 1814, Vienna.
Colonel Francis Wolfe, military hero and unexpectedly new Earl of Warenton after the recent death of his brother, is ready to do his duty and marry a woman, his equal, who would be the perfect Countess of Warenton to present to the world.
Too bad that the beautiful Sylvia Renleigh is also a cold and calculating girl that he would never want in his bed, in any case not after meeting the sweet, lively and spontaneous French refugee Elise.
Elise de Sancerre, like many French nobles, now finds herself in a situation of extreme poverty, tyrannized by Sylvia and her mother.
Thanks to a rescue from an injury and a masquerade ball, the flame of true love will prevail over every convention and hypocrisy of the aristocracy.
_________________

This is installment #4 in a series named "The Imperial Season".
I adored the first 3 books in the series ( all rated 5 stars by me ), all with a usual book length , all readable as standalone but all connected one to each other not only by the setting but also through the characters, so they're more enjoyable if you read them starting with book 1.

----> This is definitely a STANDALONE .

When I saw this one was only a short story, with the same setting ( 1814 Congress of Vienna ), but not linked to the others, I don't know why, but I felt so disappointed that I put it aside.
I also decided not to read it at all... until yesterday, when I needed something short to read, something not very demanding but which made me dream a little.
WELL, I LOVED IT !!
SO BAD IT'S TOO SHORT !! (That's why I consider it only 4.5 and not really 5 full stars )


____ THE HEROINE, Elise, 26 years old, is dreamy and spontaneous, just like many of us, when we imagine that the man of our dreams will finally come to take us away on his white horse.
She says what she thinks before even considering that perhaps it is not covered by the rules of etiquette and is so humble that she doesn't think for a moment that her dream could really come true.
... Do you know? It sometimes happens that the heroines of novels are too sweet, too beautiful and desired by everyone, too humble, too good, too this and too that... I LIKE ELISE, I find her pleasant in everything, and she deserves to be happy!

____ THE HERO, Francis is the soldier who never thought about marriage, he enjoyed the good life with women, he always held the military corps in high regard and less the civilian world, but he is a kind, intelligent and sometimes playful man.
Maybe now, at 38, he finally wants to settle down, but not out of calculation... he realizes that he wants a bond made of love.

___ KISSING AND ROMANTIC SCENES ___
This is a short story, so there isn't enough, but the two scenes (the central one and the final one) with kisses first stolen, then sweet, then passionate, their making love and the words he says to her, they are very beautiful and very sweet.

Dear Mrs. Lancaster, why didn't you write a book instead of a short story?
I loved it but it's too short!
Dear writer, you are one of my favourites, so I ask you:
Please, could you write a series with these two characters together, who, even if they are now married, have wonderful adventures (and perhaps investigations) in every book of the series?
A bit similar to Crime and Passion series, but without changing couples every time, focus on the love story of these two! I would be so happy !
... I know you won't read the review, I know you won't please me, but I tried anyway!

Thanks to all for reading my opinion and please forgive any errors you can find in my text, English is not my mother language.

READ ALSO "The Imperial Season" BOOK #1 - BOOK #2 - BOOK #3:
#1 Vienna Waltz
#2 Vienna Woods
#3 Vienna Dawn

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Book review : Vienna Dawn by Mary Lancaster | The Imperial Season #3

Vienna Dawn
by Mary Lancaster
The Imperial Season book #3

GENRE : #regency-suspence-romance #Clean-Romance

My rating: ★★★★★

Actually 4.6 rounded up to 5 stars.

Another lovely regency romance by Mary Lancaster!
I adored the "Imperial Season" series ( 3 main works ) set in the capital of Austria during the 1814 Congress of Vienna.
The 3 books are all wonderful and well connected to each other. Each book tells the love story of a specific couple with several important side characters that we meet in all 3 books ( sometimes in the  main roles and sometimes in secondary roles ).

There is also a short story as book 4 in the series ( which I haven't read yet ), but it's very very short and with brand new characters that are not connected to the ones in 3 main books. The only thing in common with the other 3 novels in the series is the setting : 1814, Austria :  Congress of Vienna.  

__ PLOT in short __ Autumn 1814, Vanya's family (book 1), mother, 2 sisters and the husband of one of them, are going to Vienna. Following an argument, Dunya, the heroine of this story, runs away but runs into a libertine who tries to take advantage of her.Entering a random room in an inn, she meets the English captain Richard Trelawny, who lost an arm in the war, but has lost no gallantry, no generosity, no courage.
 Together with his faithful servant, he saves the girl and decides to help her in her plan to win back an old boyfriend, thus rediscovering verve and joy of living. Lies, misunderstandings and dishonest people will complicate the whole situation, bringing a whirlwind of negative and positive emotions until the happy ending.

____ WHAT I LIKED IN THE BOOK ___
Speaking of this 3rd installment I loved the main couple: Dunya, a young Russian countess without dowry and sweet and handsome and also penniless Captain Trelawny.

Their falling in love happened slowly and neither of them ever denied it to themselves.

There are only two kisses in the book (while I expected more like in book 2), but the plot, despite being light, completely involved me from the beginning.

---> I liked Dunya's liveliness, resourcefulness and ability to admit that she was wrong about some people.
---> Trelawny made me fall in love right away, not only because he is handsome and doesn't back down when faced with the needs of others, but because despite the horrors of war and the loss of his arm having dulled his desire to heal and live a little, he doesn't wallow in self-pity.
Indeed, he gets involved in the girl's vivacity and without ever having an ulterior motive, he protects her and supports her in his plans so that she can find happiness.
Honor, kindness and honesty are not his only qualities. He's also smart and brave, in fact, the war has taught him to fight and despite not having an arm, he doesn't hold back when it comes to foiling an espionage plan or confronting the arrogant and despicable person with the sword.

---> I loved the fact that the protagonists of the 1st book (Lizzie and Vanya and the children with the dog and other characters) were secondary characters in this 3rd installment and I liked finding again, even if only in small cameos, the protagonist couple of book 2 ( Esther and Zelig).
Finding characters I was already very fond of and seeing them actively participate for most of the narrative allowed me to enjoy the whole story even more.

___ LITTLE THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE so as not to give 5 full stars___
I rated it only 4.6 stars ( rounded to 5 because Goodreads doesn't allow half a star ) and not a full 5 stars, like the 2 previous books, because though the love story is gripping and very sweet to read, there are some open doors ( especially one in the ending ) which not only weren't necessary but they lead the reader to think that some events and adventures will follow ( in this book or in the next one ), but the truth is that the series is closed ( the last book is dated 2017) and the short story written by the author as book 4 is not connected to either the events or to the characters of the previous 3 book.
This means that I finished reading the book with a bit of a frustrating sense of unfinished business.

TO PEOPLE WHO DON'T MIND SPOILERS and also TO THE AUTHOR just in case she reads my opinion, I will explain myself a little better :  
There are 3 things that remain open:

__ 1) the most important at the end :

___WARNING : SPOILER____

our couple is stopped by two highwaymen with rifles, who then change their minds and leave. Dunya asks Richard who the villain was with the gun pointed at them, since it was clear that he recognized Richard and therefore let them go without robbing them. Richard doesn't answer and the novel ends with something unfinished which is decidedly annoying for the reader. This cliffhanger would make sense if the series continued, but it didn't and it made me angry.

___SPOILER END____

__ 2) The second thing is less important, but it seems like the introduction to a new story and instead it leads to nothing:

___WARNING : SPOILER____

in this book we find Misha, Vanya's trusted servant, brother of the novel's heroine. Misha convinces Dunya (the heroine) to take in a maid who was being mistreated and this is because it turns out that he is in love with her.
Maria, the maid and Misha, are mentioned a couple more times and then in the end Dunya and Richard leave on a trip with no definite return, around the world. Dunya says she wants to give Maria time to say goodbye to Misha and hopes that Misha will maybe ask her to marry him, but still he takes the maid with him, separating her from her beloved... BUT WHAT'S THE SENSE? The author could have written that Maria married Misha and they both remained employed by Vanya or another solution for them to be together. What the hell is the point of introducing a newborn love and then separating the characters forever, other than disappointing the reader? Let's remember that these are light romances where there is a happy ending for all the good characters (and here we even had a happy ending for a really bitchy girl, another thing I didn't like)

___SPOILER END____

__3) This third thing is perhaps not so important, but it bothers me that it doesn't make sense:

___WARNING : SPOILER____

at a certain point in the novel, the heroine's mother says a sentence that has nothing to do with the important events and characters at that moment.
He asks her if she treats her daughter-in-law (Lizzie, heroine of the first book and Vanya's wife) badly. Everyone answers yes in unison, then the whirlwind of events continues its normal course.
THAT PARTICULAR QUESTION and THAT ANSWER make the reader assume that there will be a clarification between the two characters and that Vanya's mother-countess will finally begin to treat her daughter-in-law with affection... NONE OF THIS... nothing happens in this book or in the next one because there is no continuation of the events of these characters.
At the end of the book Vanya says that Lizzie will try to talk to the angry countess... but then nothing more is said, no scene between the two women is described and she will no longer know anything about their relationship.
It seems that the writer thought about improving the relationship between the two characters, but then changed her mind (did she forget? Did she no longer want to dwell on the novel? ) well, in this case, before printing the book she should have deleted that question and that answer from the others... IT MAKES NO SENSE

___SPOILER END____

___ __IN CONCLUSION: do I recommend reading the book? Certainly yes and even if readable as a standalone, I recommend reading the series in order or at least the first book, because you will be better able to enjoy the presence of the side characters and their actions.
---> You can enjoy book 3 even without reading the previous two books, but book 2 for me was absolutely the best, so don't miss it!

:-) Apologies for my faulty English, which is not my native language, thank you for reading my review, I hope it can be useful to you in choosing whether or not  to read the book.


READ ALSO "The Imperial Season" BOOK #1 and BOOK #2:
#1

Vienna Waltz (Book Review)

#2

Vienna Woods (Book Review)

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Book review : Vienna Woods by Mary Lancaster | The Imperial Season #2

Vienna Woods
The Imperial Season Book 2
by Mary Lancaster

GENRE : #RegencySpyRomance #clean-romance

My rating: ★★★★★ + 1⭐ Special Golden Star

Beyond the 5 Stars: A Special Golden Star added!

Wowwwwwwww!!
This was a fabulous read!!

Not only do I give 5 full stars, but I've decided to introduce a 6th GOLDEN STAR for those rare books that I'd start re-reading the moment I finish them! !!

The genre of this novel is: clean romance.

----> The recipe includes :
the right dose of joy and lightness, a nice handful of adventure and a hint of espionage suspense and a few splashes of drama and tension, just to make our hearts beat faster!
Oh I forgot: fantastic HERO and HEROINE, very different from each other (she is brighter, he is more introverted and mysterious), but they're perfect together.

Before I delve into my opinion, let me introduce you to

THE PLOT:

__1814, Congress of Vienna.
Esther Lisle, is the daughter of an English general, now a diplomat in a small European kingdom and unofficially engaged to the heir of the aforementioned kingdom, a man whose bad reputation, meanness and arrogance are known to many.
__ One day Esther wakes up in the woods of Vienna, with an agent of the tough and feared Austrian secret police in front of her, who asks her questions about her relationship with Prince Otto, whose corpse is just a few steps away.
__ Secret Agent Zelig, also called Agent Z, has the task of maintaining security in Vienna and above all foiling any conspiracy and devious plan that could ruin the important congress and peace negotiations that will be discussed by the heads of government of the whole Europe.
__The death of the prince has a heavier weight than it may seem and although Esther and Agent Z don't know if they can trust each other they will try to collaborate to get to the truth.

In a world where you have to pay attention to every word said, because everything can be conspiracy and betrayal, it will not be an easy task.
Between masquerade balls, tournaments and all the "bon ton" prejudices of the time, reality and truth will be even more confused and elusive. To increase the tension and emotions there is a pleasant physical attraction, not foreseen by both, but which, little by little, will transform into a strong feeling and bond.

__________

MY OPINION

________

I REALLY LOVED THE CAST OF CHARACTERS:

1) the HERO of the story is not the usual consummate libertine (as is present in almost all romances) and who when he meets true love magically redeems himself (it's an overused cliché).
He is a very good young man of few words, very mysterious also because of his job, who despite a past of poverty, does not feel sorry for himself and does not resort to alcohol when he is desperate.
He earns his living with his work, which he is really good at and does not solve problems with the bottle, but by throwing himself headlong into his duty.
Put like this, he may seem like a boring boy, but he is not at all devoid of passion.
His icy gaze in contrast with his kind and polite ways, his tender gestures towards Esther and some street kids, whom he takes care of, fascinated me. I loved his hidden and barely visible smiles
And the way he kisses Esther...I wanted to be Esther! 😜😁

2) I also loved the HEROINE of the novel: yes, a beautiful girl, but above all with charisma. A young girl, but with a good head on her shoulders and who knows how to respond with intelligent and playful jokes, even if she is taken by surprise.
Esther is courageous and generous (but without being too saccharine or far-fetched) and the thing I like most about her is that she doesn't classify people based on social rank, but knows how to make friends with every good person.

3) among the complementary characters that I adored, there are the two main characters of book #1, plus 3 street thieves who help Agent Z in some unorthodox missions.
They are just over fifteen years old and like all young people they exude energy, liveliness and spontaneity from every pore.

This is the second book in a series of 4, all romances and with a hint of adventure/mystery.
I really liked installation #1 and rated it 5 stars, but this #2 is absolutely superior to the first.

I LIKED THIS SECOND NOVEL MUCH MORE THAN THE FIRST because the whole story mixes romance, mystery and espionage well, keeping the reader on the edge of their seat, constantly wondering 'what happens next?', so much so that it made me turn the pages one after the other with voracity.

Compared to the first novel we have more romantic moments in which the emotion of the couple's attraction and falling in love are truly palpable...indeed, despite being a slow-burn romance, the heartbeat and courtship begin immediately.
The kisses are clean, but described so well that it's like watching a movie.

The romance is clean and sweet, with no explicit scenes—making it perfect for readers of all ages.

---> I want to remember one thing though: the books are born as romances and even if there's a little mystery adventure, they are not comparable to real "mystery crime or spy stories", if you're looking for that genre , this is not for you).

Each book develops around a different couple, so you can easily choose one as a standalone, but my advice is to read them all in a row, because the main characters of one book become secondary ones in subsequent ones and the stories, in one way or another, are intertwined.
In fact the protagonist of this book, Garin/Agent Zelig, was not a simple extra in installment #1.
He had a small active role, so when I started reading this story I felt already a little fond of the character
As a counterpart, the main characters of book one ( Lizzie, Vanja and family ) have an important role in this adventure

---> UNLIKE THE FIRST NOVEL, here the historical figures of the time are only named and have no active role. However, the plot was so intriguing and engaging that I didn't miss it.
The description of the balls and the display of opulence, the subterfuge, the lust for power, the corridors of the Hofburg and the rides in the Viennese woods, make us imagine the setting and the political context.
Furthermore, if like me, while reading, you listen to the notes of the waltz in the background (you can find hundreds of wonderful playlists on Youtube) then you will feel directly catapulted into 1814 in the glittering Austrian capital!

I will definitely also read books 3 and 4 in the series, but first I need to take a break with a mystery where romance takes a backseat, because I was so involved in this one that if I read another one I wouldn't be able to fully appreciate it... I must first recover from this wonderful book hangover.

Thanks everybody for reading my review and please excuse any mistakes as English is my second language.
I hope my opinions have been helpful to you and if you read it I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.


READ ALSO "The Imperial Season" BOOK #1 and BOOK #3:
BOOK #1

Vienna Waltz by Mary Lancaster (Book Review)

BOOK #3

Vienna Dawn by Mary Lancaster (Book Review)

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Book review : Vienna Waltz by Mary Lancaster | Clean Regency Romance

Vienna Waltz
The Imperial Season Book 1
by Mary Lancaster

GENRE : #regency-spy-romance #clean-romance

My rating: ★★★★★

5 FULL STARS !! :-D

This is a lovely clean romance, with a hint of espionage that will delight every regency light romance fan.

Set during the famous Congress of Vienna in 1814, it brings us not only among the sparkling ballrooms of high society but also among intrigues, lies, dangerous papers and secrets concerning the politics of that time.

The novel, basically, follows the love story that slowly arises between the two main characters: Lizzie, the daughter of a recently deceased English baron, and the ambiguous thief Johnny, whose acquaintance began thanks to a big misunderstanding.

__THE PLOT IN SHORT__ 1814 Vienna. All the nobility of Europe and the biggest names in politics participate in the event and in the most sumptuous parties and masquerade balls.
---> Lizzie, daughter of an English baron, and her siblings have recently lost their father and with him the inheritance of the house which went to a mysterious and hateful Russian cousin, with English origins.
Having been welcomed by their uncles, they now all find themselves in the glittering Central European capital, on the occasion of the great peace congress.
While aristocrats and diplomats delight in courtship, dancing, gambling and espionage, Lizzie only thinks about how to get the money to find a new home for her sisters and step brother, herself and the lively and unpredictable big dog.
She therefore devises a very unorthodox plan, involving a brazen yet charming thief, thus getting herself into one mess after another.
---> The heartbeat, however, does not only come from the dangers, but also from a charming and fiery young Cossack colonel, met at a masquerade ball, who will help her not only solve her problems, but also those of her cousins and uncles.

___MY OPINION__ I loved it simply because it had everything that can put a romantic and bored (and perhaps lately a little depressed) female reader in a good mood:

1) a handsome and gallant hero, cheeky enough to please all women, but with a good heart, who cannot say no to the request for help of an impoverished young woman and her lively and friendly siblings.

2) an enterprising heroine. Inexperienced enough to still be innocent and without malice in contact with men, but also courageous enough to throw herself headlong into desperate undertakings for the good of her sisters and illegitimate brother, who are still children and at the mercy of an unjust fate.

3) funny situations created by misunderstandings and small romantic skirmishes.
THE LOVE STORY in fact grows little by little, but you don't have to be half through the book to enjoy sweet emotions and romantic sparks... OUR HEROES MAKE US DREAM DURING THE WHOLE STORY.

4) Pleasant supporting characters, who make the atmosphere light and cozy:
- smart children and the troublemaking dog.
- the beautiful and rich countess who gives great emotional and material support to Lizzie.
- a secret agent, gruff and lethal, but ultimately good (and protagonist of the next book in the series)
- Lizzie's uncles and 2 cousins, a little naive but good people.
- our hero's good friends, a bad guy to kick, a slimy guy to kick too, a hateful mother and all the real prominent characters of the time (starting from the Tsar of Russia up to the most courted noblewomen of 'Europe, such as the Princess Bagration and the Duchess of Sagan and her sister Dorothéé de Talleyrand).

_WHAT IS MISSING IN THIS CLEAN HISTORICAL ROMANCE? __
I could say that, with the exception of the historical characters, cleverly inserted among the fictional ones, there's no historical analysis of an event so important as to change the fate of the whole of Europe, nor some descriptions of the city of the time.
The author limits herself to indicating important names and a delicate political situation.
----> Since this is a light, entertaining read, the lack of historical depth didn't bother me and I didn't miss it.
While reading I was able to fully enjoy all the lightness and joy of a clean love story that the novel offers, so much so that I have already started reading the second book in the series. After all, why leave this bubble of well-being?

AS ALWAYS I ADD: forgive my English, it's not my native language, but I still hope that my review can be useful to you in some way.

READ ALSO "The Imperial Season" BOOK #2 and BOOK #3:
#2

Vienna Woods by Mary Lancaster (Book Review)

#3

Vienna Dawn by Mary Lancaster (Book Review)

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Book review : The Christmas Tart by Mary Jo Putney

The Christmas Tart by Mary Jo Putney
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Such a lovely Christmas novella !

___THE PLOT___ Nicole is wrongly accused of theft and fired a few days before Christmas.
Philip's friends try to cheer up their friend by giving him female company for the night. When they mistakenly mistake Nicole, who is wandering cold in Covent Garden, for a prostitute, they offer her money for a night with their friend. At first scandalized, shortly after Nicole accepts in order to have the money to feed herself and the little kitten she picked up on the street... but she is a good girl and when Philip realizes this he doesn't want to take advantage of her, he decides to help the young girl instead...


___MY OPINION___ Read it over two afternoons, it is a sweet and clean romance where are emerging feelings such as sharing ( with the people or even animals that are in need at moment ) and and of giving a chance without hastily judging by appearances.

In addition to this moral and the birth of a sweet love story, in the novel we slowly breathe in the Christmas air with the joy of preparing the decorations together, breathing in the scent of greenery in the air, savoring the mulled cider in front of the fireplace, while the cold rain pours down outside and...of course the kiss under the mistletoe.

I would like a series to be born from these two characters where their love is consolidated and both are involved in sparkling adventures and perhaps mysteries (since the novel was published recently, in October 2023, I hope that the author collects my suggestion...and I would also like the little cat Merkle included in the novels).

Thanks everybody for reading my opinion and please be lenient with my text since English is not my mother tongue :-)

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Book review : The Earl's Christmas Consultant by Bianca Blythe

The Earl's Christmas Consultant
by Bianca Blythe
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A nice clean romance.

___THE PLOT___
Flora works as a duchess's maid, passing herself off as French. Once discovered by a friend of the duke, who is actually an old acquaintance of Flora, but he does not immediately recognize her, she decides to leave and find work elsewhere.
Through the employment agency she is hired as a Christmas consultant and by chance her new employer is precisely the former friend who had discovered that she is not French.
There's much more at stake than this, because Flora is actually on the run from a cruel murderer...

___ MY OPINION___
Light and unpretentious romance, suitable for those looking for a quick read (say a day or two), pure entertainment, without drama and with a guaranteed happy ending.

The side characters have very few lines, the whole story revolves around the dialogues and thoughts of the two protagonists. Said it this way it may seem boring, yet I gave 4 stars, because although it is not an unforgettable book, it kept me good and cheerful company for every page I read.

The story is also suitable for young adults as it is a clean romance. In fact the two characters spend the nights in bed together, but there is no description or even hot kisses. (so if you're looking for a love story hoping for this, don't read it because you'll be disappointed)

( Sorry for any errors in my review, English is not my mother tongue. Thanks for reading anyway :-) )

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Book review : The Highwayman's Letter by Martha Keyes | A Regency Clean Romance & Hidden Historical Gem!

The Highwayman's Letter
by Martha Keyes

GENRE: #CleanRegencyRomance
My rating: ★★★★★
(An absolute 4.9/5 hidden gem!)

What a truly delightful surprise this book turned out to be! I absolutely loved it!

This is a clean romance with a light, engaging plot.
The author masterfully captures your attention by beautifully describing the magic of a sweet love blossoming between two young people from entirely different social classes during the Regency era.
While I was initially skeptical, I became completely engrossed after reading the first two chapters and found myself utterly unable to put it down.

| SOMETHING SURPRISING:

What sets this book apart is the historical background. Usually, in standard historical romances, there is nothing genuinely historical except for the characters' outfits and the basic etiquette of the era. Here, however, the historical elements are deeply interesting, and I actually learned something brand new (which I will explain right after the plot summary below!).

___ 📜 THE PLOT ___

 
The Regency Era, circa 1816.
By day, Reginald Sinclair works a mundane job at the post office.
By night, he transforms into a gallant, masked bandit who robs the carriages of the wealthy aristocracy. He wears a mask and old-fashioned 18th-century clothes, but what truly made him infamous in high society is his signature move: he kisses the women inside the carriages he robs!

Enter Joanna, the most sensible daughter of an aristocratic family, who has just arrived in Bath to meet the man her father desperately hopes will become her future fiancé.

All of this unfolds against a dark backdrop of severe social injustice, specifically revolving around the "postal franking" system—where the poor are completely unable to pay for mail, while the privileged nobility use the postal service entirely for free, taking advantage of it for trivial reasons and worsening the living conditions of the lower class.

Inevitably, the paths of these two young people cross. What starts as a mere game quickly evolves into something far deeper, leading to intense courtship and dangerous challenges as their differing social classes and darker secrets begin to emerge.

___ 😊 MY HONEST IMPRESSIONS ___

 

| 😽 Why you shouldn't give up after the first chapter!

I must confess: after reading the very first chapter, I thought the book was a bit silly. The plot felt like a carbon copy of an old, black-and-white Hollywood costume movie—a masked bandit robbing carriages, pretending to be a gentleman, and kissing ladies.

By the second chapter, I thought the protagonist was way too naive and the plot borderline absurd, especially when he started talking to a little mouse (I mean, it felt like Snow White singing with the birds and forest animals! 😂). BUT THEN, LUCKILY, the author got completely on the right track. With a great dose of humor and those brilliant, witty comedy squabbles that I love so much, a beautiful story truly began. My advice? Do not give up after the first few chapters!

Because this is a clean romance, there are no explicit sex scenes or overly racy thoughts. Yet, I assure you that the agonizing wait leading up to that very first kiss created a breathtaking suspense filled with pure desire and emotion.
TThe banter and lighthearted jokes between the protagonists, combined with the raw pathos of their mutual attraction, were masterfully written.
The simple shiver on the skin from a touch of the hand, lips so close they tremble with anticipation, a stomach in turmoil, and the dizzying rush of a first kiss... it is described so vividly that despite my 52 years and life experiences, I was instantly transported back in time.
I relived every single emotion I felt when I was young, when a new love was born and you couldn't think of anything else.
💞👉Once again, this book proves that it isn’t explicit scenes that make a story interesting, but the raw emotions an author manages to unleash within your heart!

| 📜 THE HISTORICAL INSIGHTS I DIDN'T EXPECT:

A historical romance doesn't always offer genuine historical knowledge, but when it does, it adds massive value: it becomes pure entertainment combined with new learning! 🧠✨

• The Class Divide: One of the core themes of this novel is the massive gap between social classes, showing how aristocratic privileges negatively impacted the already difficult lives of poor workers.


• The Rigged Postal System: In particular, the story dives deep into how the mail system worked at the time.
  During the Regency period, sending mail was incredibly expensive. Members of Parliament were the only ones who could send letters for free—a privilege known as "franking." While this perk was legally meant strictly for official Crown business, nobles constantly took advantage of it for private, superficial gossip, even giving pre-signed letterheads to their friends as favors.

This corrupt privilege heavily burdened the poor, who had to pay just to receive their mail. Yes, you read that right! Back then, the recipient paid for the delivery. If someone didn’t have the money, they couldn't receive their letters—which often contained crucial news or messages from distant family members.

Throughout the book, you will see just how serious this issue was. Furthermore, in the epilogue, the author provides a fascinating, exhaustive breakdown of these historical facts. She even explains the methods used to fold and seal letters before envelopes became a thing! (In fact, both Reggie and Joanna use clever, specific folding systems in the novel to secure their mail without using traditional sealing wax).
The author also explores the subsequent rise of the private Penny Post and the secret codes people used to cram information onto a single page to save on paper costs.

It is genuinely brilliant and deeply educational!

| 🏆 IN CONCLUSION:

I truly hope I was able to convey my absolute enthusiasm for this hidden gem!❤️ Thank you so much for stopping by and sharing this historical journey with me! Let me know in the comments if you knew about this crazy postal rule! ✉️🐎🌸

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