From the desk of Char Jones: The suspenseful sequel to The Murder of Mr. Wickham, which sees Jonathan Darcy and Juliet Tilney reunited and with another mystery to solve: the dreadful poisoning of the scoundrel Willoughby's new wife. BOOK DESCRIPTION Catherine and Henry Tilney of Northanger Abbey are not entirely pleased to be sending their eligible young... Continue Reading →
An American Beauty: A Novel of the Gilded Age, by Shana Abé — A Review
From the desk of Jayda Justus: The true tale of a woman who fought her way to the top in the Gilded Age. BOOK DESCRIPTION In post-war Richmond, Virginia, times are tough and food is scarce. Arabella Yarrington is a scrappy young woman forced to work in a den of gamblers to put food on... Continue Reading →
A Heart Worth Stealing (Proper Romance Regency), by Joanna Barker — A Review
From the desk of Katie Jackson: A determined heiress hires a charming thief-taker to aid in her search for her beloved late father’s watch, only to become embroiled in an increasingly dangerous mystery in A Heart Worth Stealing, the latest Proper Romance® from Shadow Mountain Publishing. BOOK DESCRIPTION Little Sowerby, England, 1802 Miss Genevieve Wilde―a... Continue Reading →
Who Cries for the Lost: A Sebastian St. Cyr Mystery (Book 18), by C. S. Harris — A Review
From the desk of Sophia Rose: Napoleon is meeting his Waterloo. Meanwhile in London, a British spy with a roving eye is being fished out of the Thames. Sebastian’s friends are implicated in his death… and the deaths to follow. BOOK DESCRIPTION June 1815. The people of London wait, breathlessly, for news as Napoleon and... Continue Reading →
Return to Satterthwaite Court: Somerset Stories (Book 3), by Mimi Matthews — A Review
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress: A reckless Victorian heiress sets her sights on a dashing ex-naval lieutenant, determined to win his heart as the two of them embark on a quest to solve a decades-old mystery in USA Today bestselling author Mimi Matthews's sequel to her critically acclaimed novels The Work of Art and Gentleman Jim. BOOK DESCRIPTION... Continue Reading →
Two Wars and a Wedding: A Novel, by Lauren Willig — A Review
From the desk of Jayda B. Justus: A sweeping historical fiction novel about love and loss in the midst of war. BOOK DESCRIPTION It’s September of 1896 in Athens, Greece, and American Betsy Hayes is a strong-willed, young aspiring archaeologist who is there to take part in excavations uncovering the day-to-day life of the... Continue Reading →
The Secret Service of Tea and Treason: Dangerous Damsels (Book 3), by India Holton — A Review
From the desk of Char Jones: Two rival spies must brave pirates, witches, and fake matrimony to save the Queen. BOOK DESCRIPTION Known as Agent A, Alice is the top operative within the Agency of Undercover Note Takers (A.U.N.T.), a secret government intelligence group that is fortunately better at espionage than at naming itself. From... Continue Reading →
An Improbable Season: Unexpected Seasons (Book 1), by Rosalyn Eves — A Review Â
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress: During the Regency-era, two sisters and a cousin do their first London Season searching for husbands, or their own agency, by stretching the boundaries of society, and their own expectations. BOOK DESCRIPTION When Thalia, Kalliope, and Charis set off to Regency London for their first Season, they know... Continue Reading →
Wyoming Wild: The Town of Savage Wells (Book 3), by Sarah M. Eden — A Review
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress: This might surprise my Regency era friends and followers, but I love a good Western romance. Particularly when the protagonists face down challenges from the wild west and all the lawlessness that can come with it. Add in an iconic, honorable hero, a spunky heroine, and lots of... Continue Reading →
Miss Newbury’s List: Proper Romance Regency, by Megan Walker — A Review
From the desk of Katie Jackson: Romance stories exist on a spectrum, from the fluffiest feel-good escapism to the powerfully poignant and every combination in between. The very best romances explore relatable emotions with deep insight into how people evolve through relationships. Historical romance author Megan Walker has skillfully crafted her second novel, Miss Newbury’s... Continue Reading →
Austenprose’s Best Austenesque and Historical Novels of 2022
From the desk of Laurel Ann Nattress: Happy New Year Dear Readers! 2022 proved to be a fabulous year in the historical book arena. Of the 51 books that were reviewed here last year by our dedicated staff, several were outstanding and will remain favorites. Here is a list of our highest-rated and most cherished... Continue Reading →
Death on a Winter Stroll: A Merry Folger Christmas Mystery, by Francine Mathews — A Review
From the desk of Sophia Rose: There’s always a little thrill of excitement that courses through me when I pick up a new to me series by an author with whom I’m happily familiar. Francine Mathews writes the clever and engaging historical Jane Austen Mysteries and I have long planned to pick up her contemporary... Continue Reading →