#Historical Cozy Mystery Book Review: #Deception by Gaslight by #Kate Belli.

About Deception by Gaslight (A Gilded Gotham Mystery book 1) by Kate Belli.

Glittering Gilded-Age New York holds its lavish charms--and a litany of deadly sins--as intrepid reporter Genevieve Stewart uncovers a trail of corruption and murder.

As a chill sets in on New York City in the winter of 1888, a jewel thief dubbed the "Robin Hood of the Lower East Side" has been stealing from the city's wealthiest and giving to the poor. Genevieve Stewart--a young woman whose family is part of Mrs. Astor's famed 400 but who has forged a life of her own as a reporter--decides to chase the story, but gets more than she bargained for: a murder victim sprawled in a dark alley in the dangerous Five Points neighborhood.

A handsome neighborhood tough comes to her rescue--but when she encounters the same man at a glamorous ball a few nights later, she realizes he's society scion Daniel McCaffrey. Could this be her Robin Hood? When two more murders rock the Knickerbocker world, it becomes apparent that something much more sinister is afoot than a few stolen diamond necklaces. Genevieve is determined to prove that Daniel is Robin Hood--but she's loath to believe he is a killer as well. From the glittering lights of Fifth Avenue to the sordid back alleys of Five Points, the truth is just one murder away (from Goodreads). 

My thoughts about Deception by Gaslight

On her quest to find out who is stealing jewelry from the richest in New York City, journalist Genevieve Stewart is saved from a dangerous situation by millionaire Daniel McCaffrey who she suspects is the jewelry thief Robin Hood. When murders start happening, Genevieve and Daniel have to use their unique talents and contacts to find who the criminal is. 

Deception by Gaslight is the exiting first installment in the new series A Gilded Gotham Mystery written by Kate Belli, published by Crooked Lane Books. The story is set in New York City 1888 where we follow journalist Genevieve Stewart. She works on getting information about famous jewel thief Robin Hood who is targeting the very richest. In her struggle to get information she sets her life in danger, and millionaire Daniel McCaffrey saves her. Genevieve is shocked to meet him again at an Astor 400 ball, and realizes he is not the street thug she thought but she suspects him of being Robin Hood. Jewelry keeps being stolen, and soon murders start happening too. Genevieve and Daniel use their unique contacts and talents to dig up information and as they come closer to the truth, danger to Genevieve’s life increases.

Main character Journalist Genevieve Stewart has suffered a great loss in her life, but is determined to work for a living. She seems a caring woman who treats people well and is a person who anyone would be proud to have as a friend. She is my absolute favorite of this story.

Supporting character millionaire and philanthropist Daniel McCaffrey comes from a humble background. He has learned to live between two worlds and makes this work in his philanthropic work. I found him an interesting character who sometimes struggles with his identity.

The characters felt like they could have been my friends in real life as they felt so well crafted and relatable. 

This story was beautifully written and reminded me of Sarah M. Eden’s writing. The plot felt different as it contained an enjoyable and exiting collection of elements starting off with the mystery of Robin Hood’s identity. It had me turning pages into the wee hours of the night to get answers, and I was thoroughly surprised who Robin Hood turned out to be.

My favorite part of the story was the amusing way the relationship between Genevieve and Daniel developed. Starting with mutual distrust, they came to trust each other explicitly and rely on each other’s help as the story progressed. Least favorite part was when Genevieve found herself in a dangerous part of Town not able to escape threatening men. 

Thank you to publisher Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for this eARC which gave me the opportunity to share my honest review. All opinions are completely my own.

Conclusion: Deception by Gaslight is the exiting start of the very promising new series which will captivate readers of historical cozy mysteries. It contains a collection of well crafted mystery elements and relatable characters that will stay in your memory for a long time.

I eagerly await the next installment in the series or any other release from this author. Similar authors to explore might be Dianne Freeman or Andrea Penrose.

Rating: 5 stars / 5

Main reason: interesting and entertaining plot, relatable characters, beautiful writing

Here's where to by your copy:

Amazon Hardcover

Amazon Kindle

Amazon Audio CD

Barnes & Noble Hardcover 

Book Details

Print Length: 327 pages

Publisher: Crooked Lane Books (October 6, 2020)

Publication Date: October 6, 2020

Sold by: Amazon.com Services LLC

About The Author

Kate Belli writes historical mystery, historical romance, suspense and women’s fiction. Fascinated by history from an early age, she earned a PhD in American art and has variously worked as an antiques appraiser, a museum curator and a college professor. Kate has lived all over, from Florence, Italy, to Brooklyn, New York, to the Deep South, to a cottage next to Monet’s gardens in Northern France. Today she lives and works in a small, Civil War-era college town in Pennsylvania with her husband and son.

When not writing, Kate satisfies her wanderlust by traveling with her family as often as possible, touring museums and sampling local food. She is also an avid runner, having completed several marathons, and a yoga teacher. Kate loves hiking, camping, and cooking, and firmly believes red wine and strong coffee qualify as their own food groups. Author's website: http://katebelli.com/

Book #Review: #The Melody of the Mulberries by #Tonya Jewel Blessing

Summary: The Melody of the Mulberries (Big Creek Series #2) by Tonya Jewel Blessing

This sequel to The Whispering of the Willows is set in the late 1920s' Appalachia, where granny witches and spiritualism often show the path for wanderers to take, especially in matters of the heart.

This Big Creek sequel follows the lives and loves of two siblings. Coral determines to visit the family's nemesis, Charlie, now in prison for the rape of her sister, Emerald, and the murder of her inlaw. When Mercy re-enters brother Ernest's life, he has already found a new attraction in his elder brother's widow.

Coral sat in contemplation under a mulberry tree. It was spring, and the fragrant female blossoms promised the mid-summer arrival of first white, then pink, then crimson, and finally deep purple berries. The white berries were hard and tart and enjoyed by the quail, wild turkeys, mocking birds, and blue jays. The blackish purple berries were soft and sweet - perfect for pies and jams.

When the berries turned white, Coral would thank the good Lord for providing food for the birds. When the berries ripened she would thank the good Lord for the sweetness savored in her mouth and curse the birds for wanting more than their share.

Where Emerald Ashby's story leaves us in the last pages of The Whispering of the Willows, sixteen-year-old Coral Ashby's story begins. Like the changing mulberries, Appalachian siblings Coral and Ernest Ashby, navigate life through the late 1920s. Coral is determined to visit the family nemesis, Charlie, who now stews in prison.

When Ernest's previous love interest, Mercy, returns to the holler of Big Creek, she discovers that his heart is now singing a melody for Charlotte, the older Ashby brother's widow. But Mercy has brought along her own spiritual tools and a special friend who guides her way.

Accompanied by friends and foes, matters of the heart complicate life for Coral and Ernest. Relationships must be journeyed carefully (from Amazon).

 

#Book Review: The Melody of the Mulberries (Big Creek Series book 2) by #Tonya Jewel Blessing

Deeply religious Coral Ashby is determined to visit family nemesis, Charlie, in jail where he serves a long sentence for having hurt her family. Coral is adamant God wants her to help Charlie repent. It’s the first time she travels outside Big Creek, and the trip changes her life forever.

The Melody of the Mulberries is the second installment in the Big Creek Series written by Tonya Jewel Blessing. It is set in Appalachian Mountains 1920s and focuses on Coral Ashby as she travels to Charleston to visit murderer and rapist Charlie in jail. She has prayed a lot and is adamant God wants her to help Charlie repent. She navigates her new life while praying for guidance, but has limited experience with judging the characters of someone she meets and finds herself in a dangerous situation.

Main character Carol Ashby seems a sweet but stubborn sixteen years old girl who knows little about the world outside Big Creek. I admire the way she puts her faith in God to guide her on the difficult mission.

Supporting character Ernest Ashby is Coral’s brother and the teacher for children of the negro hill people near Big Creek. He seems to juggle his relationship issues by relying on his faith. As I feel he is a well developed and relatable character, he is my favorite of this story.

The Melody of the Mulberries consists of two distinct entertaining story-lines which follow Carol and brother Ernest’s lives as they struggle with their unique hardships. This story stood out as it was set in the relatively poor mountain area of 1920s Vest Virginia. The vibe reminded me a bit of Little House on the Prairie, with descriptions of how people lived a deeply religious, frugal life close to nature. I particularly enjoyed the part describing Charlotte Ashby’s bow and arrow skills during reenactment of Bible stories. The dialogue was well written in a charming, yet easy to read, local dialect. I loved that the quotations of Appalachian Folk Beliefs at the beginning of each chapter were so surprisingly similar to Norwegian Folk Beliefs I heard when I was a kid. I read the story as a standalone which worked perfectly.

My favorite and most amusing part of the story was when the children found a talking parrot in the woods. It had very foul language reminiscent of a bar-keep or a sailor and made very precise voice imitations. The least favorite part was descriptions of evil spirits. There seemed to be short distance from religious beliefs to mountain mysticism, and I was pleased to see the teachers were conscious that education was the best remedy against it.

Anyone who enjoys reading historical fiction of Christian lifestyle in the 1920s would enjoy this story of two siblings who stay close to God while trying to find a way through their struggles. 

Similar authors to explore might be Laura Ingalls Wilder or Misty M. Beller.

Thank you to author Tonya Jewel Blessing for this pdf, which gave me the opportunity to share my honest review. All opinions are completely my own. 

Conclusion: This is the charming and entertaining story about two siblings who navigate through hardships while making sure to stay close to God. 

Rating: 4 stars / 5

Reasons: charming unique plot and dialogue,  relatable characters 

Order your copy using any of these links:

Amazon Hardcover

Amazon Paperback

Amazon Kindle

Barnes & Noble Hardcover

Barnes & Noble Paperback

Details of the book:

Series: Big Creek (Book 2)
Paperback: 248 pages
Publisher: Tonya Blessing (July 24, 2019)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1951084004
ISBN-13: 978-1951084004

Author's Bio 

Current Books: Soothing Rain (devotionals with corresponding questions/conversation starters), Big Creek Series: The Whispering of the Willows (award winning), The Melody of the Mulberries (new release).
Growing up Tonya Jewel Blessing spent numerous vacations and holidays in the Appalachian mountains of West Virginia. Most of her adult life has been spent in full-time ministry with a focus on helping women. She has traveled nationally and internationally as a conference speaker. For a number of years, Tonya and her husband operated a retreat facility in Colorado for pastors and missionaries.
She and her husband currently live in South Africa. They are the founders and directors of Strong Cross Ministries, a non-profit organization that assists local churches in providing humanitarian relief and spiritual reconciliation. She is currently pursuing a degree in pastoral ministries (from Amazon).

#Historical Romance Book Review: #The Light at Wyndcliff by #Sarah E. Ladd

About The Light at Wyndcliff by Sarah E. Ladd

In the third book of this sweet Regency Cornwall series, one young man must search for truth among the debris of multiple shipwrecks on his newly inherited property.

When Liam Twethewey inherits the ancient Wyndcliff Hall in Pevlyn, Cornwall, he sets a goal of fulfilling his late great-uncle’s dream of opening a china clay pit on the estate’s moorland. When he arrives, however, a mysterious shipwreck on his property—along with even more mysterious survivors—puts his plans on hold.

Evelyn Bray has lived in Pevlyn her entire life. After her grandfather’s fall from fortune, he humbled himself and accepted the position of steward at Wyndcliff Hall. Evelyn’s mother, embarrassed by the reduction of wealth and status, left Pevlyn in search of a better life for them both, but in spite of her promise, never returns. Evelyn is left to navigate an uncertain path with an even more uncertain future.

When the mysteries surrounding the shipwreck survivors intensify, Liam and Evelyn are thrown together as they attempt to untangle a web of deceit and secrets. But as they separate the truths from the lies, they quickly learn that their surroundings—and the people in it—are not as they seem. Liam and Evelyn are each tested, and as a romance buds between them, they must decide if their love is strong enough to overcome their growing differences (from Goodreads).

My thoughts

When new owner of Wyndcliff Hall William, Liam, Twethewey arrives to take ownership, he finds sinister activity on the property. He unexpectantly bonds with steward’s granddaughter Evelyn Bray while working to prevent danger to lives and stopping criminal activity..

This story is the third installment in The Cornwall Novels series by Sarah E. Ladd, published by Thomas Nelson in the Historical Romance/Regency/Christian genre . The story is set in Cornwall 1820 and we get to follow new owner of Wyndcliff Hall William, Liam, Twethewey as he arrives to take over the estate. His main goal is to start a china clay business, but strange happenings on the shoreline of his property need his immediate attention. The steward seems to be at the helm of a secret operation Liam knows nothing about. He gets opportunity to bond with steward’s granddaughter Evelyn Bray while working to take care of survivors from a shipwreck and figure out what the strange activity at night is all about.

Main character, Wyndcliff estate owner William, Liam, Twethewey seems very intent on taking care of the needs of tenants and local people to make the area prosper. I feel that describes a man with good character who is my favorite of this story.

 Supporting character steward’s granddaughter Evelyn Bray seems a bit clueless in the beginning of the story, but I feel she is a great help when the going gets tough. I was happy to see she developed more of a backbone as the story progressed.

The writing of the story was, as always, vivid with great research to back it up.

I found the character building very interesting; particularly the innkeeper who managed to pose as a stand-up guy for a long time, but showed his true colors in the end. The mystery element kept me rapidly turning pages, as I was eager to know what was really going on around Wyndcliff estate and where the shipwreck survivors came from.

The story reads like a standalone with hints to the other books in series, and I am eager to see what Sarah E. Ladd comes up with next.

My favorite part of the story was how Liam and Evelyn were thrown together by the drama following a shipwreck and sinister circumstances on the property. I enjoyed how they found time for private conversations and hand holding.

Least favorite part was descriptions of how local folk seemed to behave like vultures ripping ships apart for anything of value instead of trying to save people’s lives when a ship was wrecked. I enjoyed it as a great dramatic element. 

Fans of Sarah E. Ladd will love this story. As will readers of historical romance fiction. Similar authors to explore might be Elizabeth Camden or Abigail Wilson.

Thank you to publisher Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for this eARC which gave me the opportunity to share my honest review. All opinions are completely my own.

Conclusion:  this is the exciting and unique clean romance story of a Cornwall estate owner discovering his land is used for extensive smuggling operations. He works to stop criminal activity while unexpectedly bonding with his steward’s granddaughter.

Rating: 5 stars / 5

Main reasons: Unique plot, beautiful writing, extensive research

Where to get hold of a copy:

Amazon Paperback

Amazon Kindle

Amazon Audio CD

Barnes & Noble Paperback

Barnes & Noble e-book

Barnes & Noble Audio CD

Book Details:

Series: The Cornwall Novels (Book 3)
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson (October 13, 2020)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0785223274
ISBN-13: 978-0785223276

Learn more about the Author

Sarah E. Ladd has always loved the Regency period — the clothes, the music, the literature and the art. A college trip to England and Scotland confirmed her interest in the time period and gave her idea of what life would’ve looked like in era. It wasn’t until 2010 that Ladd began writing seriously. Shortly after, Ladd released the first book in the Whispers on the Moors series. Book one of the series, The Heiress of Winterwood, was the recipient of the 2011 ACFW Genesis Award for historical romance. Ladd also has more than ten years of marketing experience. She holds degrees in public relations and marketing and lives in Indiana with her family and spunky Golden Retriever. Author's web site: https://sarahladd.com/about/

#Historical Romance Book Review: #A Proper Charade by #Esther Hatch

 

Summary: A Proper Charade by Esther Hatch

Does love have a chance if she doesn’t play by the rules?

Lady Patience Kendrick was born to a life of privilege, and with the London Season looming, she finds herself facing unprecedented pressure to adhere to the rules of society. Unfortunately, the free-spirited young woman is anything but proper. Patience’s elder brother, a former military man, bemoans his sister’s antics—but when he accuses her of incurable frivolity, it is simply more than she can bear. Determined to prove her brother wrong, Patience undertakes a drastic experiment: she will disguise herself as a maid and demonstrate her ability to work as hard as anyone.

Taken on as household staff by her brother’s former general, Patience soon learns that willingness and ability are two very different things. While her plan sounded promising in theory, the reality is that she is out of her depth—and the irresistibly charming son of the house isn’t helping matters. Patience soon finds herself embroiled in a charade far more complicated than she imagined. With both her pride and her heart at stake, she is determined to prove her brother wrong—even as her plans spiral delightfully out of control (from Goodreads)

Book Review: A Proper Charade by Esther Hatch

To show her brother and herself she is able to work and think of others, duke’s sister Lady Patience Kendrick takes employment as a maid knowing she has no domestic skills. When her employer Anthony Woodsworth asks her help in a charade to secure him a bride, Patience knows there will be and enormous risk to her reputation.

A Proper Charade is book 2 in the Proper Scandals series by Esther Hatch published by Covenant Communications. The story is about Lady Patience Kendrick who tries to prove she can be useful and responsible. When Patience screws up the most basic maid’s duties, general’s son Anthony Woodsworth shows her the ropes. He asks her help in a scheme to hurry his courtship along. Patience enters social functions in disguise to avoid getting recognized as the duke’s sister, while Anthony is seriously puzzled by how well she blends in.

Main character Patience Kendrick is the headstrong and free-spirited lady who temporarily reinvents herself as a maid. I feel she is a well rounded and realistic character who has lived a very sheltered life, so I find it refreshing she wants to work for the first time in her life.

Supporting character Anthony Woodsworth is the very structured but kind and caring general’s son who gets totally flustered when Patience enters his life as a maid. Instead of firing her for being incompetent, he takes her into his confidence. He is my favorite as he has a flexible mindset not too limited by strict society demands of the time.

The plot stands out as different the way it describes Patience’s need for change. Grief seems an underlying theme as her family is in mourning. I felt the dialogue was very lighthearted, enjoyable and amusing, particularly when Patience tries to learn how to do maid’s duties. This is one of the most entertaining stories I have read in a long time. It came alive for me by the beautiful writing describing mistakes and misunderstandings in a vivid way. I read A Proper Charade as a standalone. A well rounded story which worked perfectly on its own.

My favorite part was the amusing situation when Anthony tries to propose marriage to Patience while she hides behind a curtain, thinking she is the woman he has unsuccessfully courted for two years. Least favorite part was descriptions of Patience’s gloomy home life. Her stressed out brother keeps telling her she is naive and useless until she can’t take it anymore.

The romance part I felt was sweet and entertaining. Patience and Anthony got off to a rocky start but their «project» gave the opportunity to bond. The ending included some surprising twists which tied it all together into a satisfying ending. 

Anyone who enjoys historical romance fiction and fans of Esther Hatch will love this lighthearted and entertaining story. Similar authors to explore might be Sarah M. Eden or Kristi Ann Hunter.

Conclusion:  This is the lighthearted and entertaining story about the duke’s sister who temporarily reinvents herself as a maid to prove she can be useful when working in the household of a general’s son.  Only she didn’t expect to care for her employer quite like she ends up doing.

Rating: 5 stars / 5

Main reasons: plot stands out, vivid writing and dialogue.

Get your copy here:

Amazon Paperback

Amazon Kindle

Amazon Audio CD

Barnes & Noble e-book

Book Details:

Publisher: Covenant Communications, Inc. (May 1, 2020)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1524412317
ISBN-13: 978-1524412319

About The Author

Esther Hatch grew up on a cherry orchard in rural Utah. After high school, she alternated living in Russia to teach children English and attending Brigham Young University in order to get a degree in archaeology. She began writing when one of her favorite authors invited her to join a critique group. The only catch was she had to be a writer. Not one to be left out of an opportunity to socialize and try something new; she started on her first novel that week. https://estherhatch.com/

#Historical Fiction Book Review: #Trailing the Hunter by #Heidi Eljarbo

Summary: Trailing the Hunter by Heidi Eljarbo

1661 in Norway.
Clara Dahl has made a decision. She has seen the dread and sorrow witch-finder Angus Hill has caused in her hometown and sets out to find him. Her goal is to fight the wrongful and wicked misconceptions about witch hunting. But the witch-finder’s influence is strong. How can she warn the villagers of something they don’t understand?

Clara’s heartfelt desire is to protect and rescue the women who are in danger without causing more harm. As Clara develops secret plots to thwart the plans of the notorious witch-finder and works to help the villagers, she finds friendship and the possibility of true love (from Goodreads).

Book Review: Trailing the Hunter by Heidi Eljarbo

Under cover of teaching children to read, Minister’s daughter Clara Dahl is following witch hunter Angus Hill to Berg, South Eastern Norway. She intends to stop his activity of hunting down and declaring innocent women witches, to have them burned. In her work to keep others safe, Clara gets an ally in local nobleman Christian Ivershall. 

Trailing the Hunter by Heidi Eljarbo is continuing the theme from book 1, Catching a Witch. The story is set in South Eastern Norway 1661 and is about minister’s daughter Clara Dahl as she travels from her home town to settle in small village Berg (modern day Halden). Under the cover of teaching children to read, Clara is on a mission to save the lives of innocent women. English witch-finder Angus Hill is in town eager to blame village women for anything from too much knowledge of herbs to unattractive moles. He starts with convincing town councilmen to support the witch hunts, and with their approval the hunts begin again…

Main character minister’s daughter Clara Dahl is philanthropically minded and extremely well educated for a woman of the 1600s. She seems quite independent and has a mindset resembling a woman of today. I find it impressive how she manages to gather a group of trusted friends to help her cause.

Supporting character Christian Ivershall is an ex-soldier who has been born into privilege and is Lord of the Manor Ivershall. He seems to have a lot of local influence and filters every decision through what is best for the village and its people. He is as impressive as he is kind, which is why he is my favorite of this story.

I find the writing of this story to be both descriptive and vivid. I particularly enjoyed descriptions of village environments of 1661 Berg. Some extensive research of lifestyle and conditions in South Eastern Norway and area around Fredrikstad at the time must have gone into writing this story. The descriptions and character building of the women knowledgeable about herbs, healing and midwifery was a particular favorite. The story is told from different characters’ perspectives which I enjoyed a lot and I feel added depth to the plot. The story reads like a standalone but includes hints to characters and events in Catching a Witch.

My favorite part of the story was the vivid descriptions of Clara’s luxurious and abundant dinner at Ivershall, while the worst part was description of the chase of a pregnant woman through the woods. I appreciated the dramatic effect and it probably was a good element in a story from 1661. I very much enjoyed the author’s research notes at the back.

Conclusion: This is the captivating story of a strong, capable and caring woman who fights against a witch hunter for the lives of innocent women in 1661 South Eastern Norway. 

Anyone who like historical fiction genre would enjoy Trailing the Hunter with its descriptions of life in the 1600s.

Similar authors to explore might be Catherine Taylor and Anne Easter Smith

Thank you to author Heidi Eljarbo for gifting me this book in return for my honest review. 

Rating: 4 stars / 5

Get your copy here:

Amazon Paperback

Amazon Kindle

Book Details:

Paperback: 298 pages
Publisher: Independently published (October 21, 2019)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1699861080
ISBN-13: 978-1699861080

About The Author

Heidi Eljarbo is the bestselling author of Catching a Witch and its sequel Trailing the Hunter. She grew up in a home filled with books and artwork and she never truly imagined she would do anything other than write and paint. She studied art, languages, and history, all of which have come in handy when working as an author, magazine journalist, and painter.
After living in Canada, six US states, Japan, Switzerland, and Austria, Heidi now calls Norway home. She and her husband have a total of nine children, thirteen grandchildren--so far--in addition to a bouncy Wheaten Terrier and a bird. Their favorite retreat is a mountain cabin, where they hike in the summertime and ski the vast, white terrain during winter. Heidi's favorites are family, God's beautiful nature, and the word whimsical.

If you would like to know more, please visit:
https://www.heidieljarbo.com/about-heidi
https://www.facebook.com/authorheidieljarbo/
https://no.pinterest.com/heidieljarbo/
https://www.instagram.com/heidieljarbo/
Twitter: @HeidiEljarbo