Tag: Regency Romance

Categories
Audio Books book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BOOK REVIEW: The Austen Christmas Murders by Jessica Bull

Published November 13th, 2025 by Michael Joseph
Mystery, Historical Fiction, Historical Mystery, Crime Fiction, Book Series, Holiday Fiction, Festive Fiction, Regency Romance

********

ABOUT THE BOOK:

TIS THE SEASON FOR MERRIMENT AND MYSTERIES…MISS AUSTEN INVESTIGATES A MURDER AT CHRISTMAS!

A witty, heartwarming Christmas mystery – perfect for fans of Jane Austen and classic whodunnits

‘So sharply observed, yet fresh, funny and a joy to read’ Jennie Godfrey

‘Comforting and cosy… the perfect book to read for Jane Austen’s upcoming 250th birthday’ 5***** reader review

—–

I sincerely hope your Christmas may abound in the mysteries which the season generally brings…

The festive season is fast approaching.

Jane Austen fears that without her lively siblings at home, there won’t be much Christmas cheer in the Austen household this year.

But when she uncovers a skeleton in the cellar of Deane Parsonage, Jane soon forgets her woes. For who needs merriment, when there’s a mystery to solve?

Jane quickly learns of a missing young bride, who after fleeing her wedding breakfast, was never seen again. Locals have long believed she haunts the woods nearby. Could Jane have found her at last?

Or does the truth of this mystery lie closer to home?

Over the twelve days of Christmas, Jane will embark upon festive delights, making merry, and solving murders…

BUY HERE

********

MY REVIEW:

Today marks the 250th birthday of arguably one of England’s greatest authors: Jane Austen. I’ve long been a fan of Jane’s books, so, to celebrate her momentous birthday, I’m sharing my review of The Austen Christmas Murders, the Christmas Novella in the Miss Austen Investigates series.

Hampshire, 1798.  Jane is worried how jolly this Christmas will be without most of her siblings at home for the festivities this year. But her worries about Christmas are  pushed aside when a partially mummified body is found in the cellar of Deane Parsonage. Jane sets out to uncover their identity, believing it could be the body of Mary Ellen Portal, known locally as ‘the runaway bride’ after she vanished shortly after her wedding sixteen years earlier. But others, including Mary Ellen’s own family, aren’t convinced. And Jane knows she will need real evidence to prove the body’s identity one and for all. 

I’m loving the recent trend of re-imagining famous authors of the past as amateur sleuths, and this year I’ve loved discovering the Miss Austen Investigates series. Jane is one of my favourite amateur sleuths, and I have a hard time believing that these books are anything but an accurate representation of Jane’s life. It just has to be true! All jokes aside, Jessica Bull has crafted a series and a heroine that is richly imagined, expertly written, skillfully choreographed and perfectly paced. The research is detailed and the stories are sharply observed. Meanwhile, Jane is a witty, intelligent, determined feminist icon who is now one of my favourite characters to read. 

Comforting, cosy, mysterious and full of heart, this festive whodunnit is the perfect addition to your Christmas TBR.

Rating: 🎄🎄🎄🎄

********

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jessica Bull lives in South East London with her husband, two daughters, and far too many pets. She’s addicted to stories and studied English Literature at Bristol University, and Information Science at City University, London. She began her career as a librarian (under the false impression she could sit and read all day), before becoming a communications consultant.

Her debut novel, MISS AUSTEN INVESTIGATES, sold to Penguin Michael Joseph at auction for six figures, is published in 18 territories worldwide and was shortlisted for the Crime Writer’s Association ILP John Creasey First Novel Dagger. The second book in her Jane Austen murder mystery series, second A FORTUNE MOST FATAL, was published in March 2025 and the third, THE AUSTEN CHRISTMAS MURDERS, will be published in November 2025.

********

Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

Categories
book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Most Anticipated 2025 Readalong

READALONG REVIEW: A Fortune Most Fatal (Miss Austen Investigates, Book 2) by Jessica Bull

Published March 27th, 2025 by Michael Joseph
Mystery, Historical Ficiton, Historical Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Crime Fiction, Thriller, Regency Romance

Welcome to my review for this delightful cosy mystery. Thank you to Insta Book Tours for my spot on the readalong and Micheal Joseph for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

********

ABOUT THE BOOK:

A Mysterious Stranger, a Fortune at Stake, and a Race Against Time to Save Austen’s Family – perfect for fans of Richard Osman and Bridgerton!


‘Exceptional – the Austen whodunnit I feel like I’ve been waiting my whole life for! I loved it’ SOPHIE IRWIN

–

‘Who are you, Miss Austen, but a young lady of little experience and no consequence?’

Welcome to Godmersham Park, 1797.

Following many years apart, Jane Austen is set to spend the summer with her estranged brother, Neddy.

As heir to wealthy widow Mrs Knight’s fortune, it is imperative that Neddy stays in his benefactor’s good graces.

But upon arrival in Kent, Jane quickly realises Neddy is in dire need of her help.

For a mysterious young woman named Eleanor currently resides with Mrs Knight – a stranger who threatens to swindle the inheritance for herself.

Jane must uncover who Mrs Knight’s guest really is, to protect the fate of her entire family. When she discovers a series of threatening letters meant for Eleanor, her investigation takes an unexpected turn.

Because the dangers aren’t just within the walls of Godmersham Park. Jane knows someone else is out there watching, waiting – but for what?

Is this curious Eleanor friend, or foe? And can Jane solve the mystery, before danger comes for them all?

********

MY REVIEW:

“I’m not sure one can be brave without being reckless.”

June, 1797. Jane Austen travels to Kent to be with her sister-in-law, Elizabeth, at the birth of her fourth child and to help with her other three children. Elizabeth is married to Neddy, Jane’s older brother who was adopted as a child and is heir to the fortune of Mrs. Knight. But that fortune hangs in the balance after the arrival of a mysterious and strange young woman, Eleanor, who claims to be a kidnapped Spanish Princess. Jane sets out to uncover Eleanor’s identity and track down the man penning threatening letters that keep arriving for Eleanor at Godmersham Park. Can Jane solve the mystery before it’s too late?

Atmospheric, enthralling and uplifting, this Regency cosy mystery is everything I wanted and more. The second book in the Miss Austen Investigates series, A Fortune Most Fatal is the famous author as you’ve never seen her before: a wannabe author pre-literary success rallying against societal norms that would see the 21 year old married. Not only that, but this version of Miss Austen sees her taking up as an amateur detective. Expertly written, meticulously researched, evocative and compelling, Jessica Bull transports you back to the 18th century so vividly I got lost there. And it’s so authentic I kept forgetting it was a work of fiction.

The characters leap from the pages and Jane was such a protagonist I can get behind. Intelligent, feisty and determined, I loved her loyalty to her family, how she spoke her mind, and that her writing was clearly her beating heart. Predictably, she came up against the prejudices against women that were rife at the time, but Jane wasn’t afraid to challenge them in her quest for the truth. Eleanor was strange, mysterious and intriguing. I couldn’t decide if she was mentally unwell or a complete charlatan, and enjoyed the extra tension that added to the story. Jane is suspicious of almost everyone so there’s a real sense that you can’t trust a soul, making it feel like it’s Jane against the world and I was rooting for her to save everyone.

Delightful, entertaining and addictive, this is a must for your TBR.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

********

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jessica Bull grew up in South East London, where she still lives with her husband, two daughters, and far too many pets. She’s addicted to stories and studied English Literature at Bristol University, and Information Science at City University, London. She began work as a librarian (under the false impression she could sit and read all day), before becoming a communications consultant.

Her debut novel, Miss Austen Investigates, has sold in eighteen territories and counting. A Fortune Most Fatal is the highly-anticipated second book in the series.

********

BUY THE BOOK:

Bookshop.org* | Waterstones* | Amazon*
*These are affiliate links

********

Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

Categories
book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BOOK REVIEW: My Lady’s Secrets by Katy Moran

Published July 4th, 2024 by Aria
Historical Fiction, Historical Romance, Regency Romance

Welcome to my review for this bingeable regency romance. Thank you to Aria for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

********

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Regency England

When rebellious aristocrat Cressida and Lord Greville parted ways, they swore never to meet again. Their short marriage had already descended into bitter estrangement, destroyed by scandal and betrayal.

Years later, Greville is a soldier in the Peninsular War and Cressida is following the drum as another man’s lover. Scorned by society, she has learned to survive as a spy – until the day she is caught behind enemy lines, by none other than Greville himself.

Threatened with paying the ultimate price, Cressida is offered a deal: she must entrap and betray the most famous man in England. And Greville, unforgiving, angry and still shockingly attractive, must ensure she complies.

Catapulted to the heights of fame, Lord Byron is just as chaotic, charming and ruthless as he was when he, Greville and Cressida were teenagers. As the three old friends gather for a summer house party in the Scottish Highlands, Cressida is forced to confront her past and ask herself a terrifying question: is it too late for she and Greville to fight for one another at last?

********

MY REVIEW:

Cressida, a rebellious and disgraced aristocrat turned spy is forced back to the high society world she thought she’d left behind when she’s arrested by her estranged husband on suspicion of treason. There is only one way for her to regain her freedom: betray her friend, Lord Byron. But despite their acrimonious divorce, the old lovers soon discover that their spark still burns bright. Is it too late for them to reunite?

Sexy, smart and suspenseful, this book was regency heaven. But there’s something for every reader in this crazy and chaotic rollercoaster ride of mystery, intrigue, deception, lust, lies, secrets, history, scandal and romance. It’s action-packed and compelling, Katy Moran’s evocative storytelling, meticulous research and captivating characters transporting me to the world of politics and society she’d created. It was so vivid that I felt like I’d been picked up and placed in the halls of regency aristocracy with all the gossip, games and calculated manoeuvring. This was a treacherous place where every word and move must be carefully calculated and you’re never sure who might be secretly scheming to betray you. Convoluted and intricate, everyone has their hand in multiple pies and people you’d never suspect are caught up in plots to betray those close to them. The stakes are sky-high and you feel that radiating from the pages and keeping you on the edge of your seat. 

In a regency romance you obviously need great chemistry, and you can feel the desire between Cressida and Greville sizzling from the pages. You can feel their regret over giving up on their marriage and how they both still want each other. I couldn’t help but root for them despite all the odds that were stacked against them. I also really liked Cressida. She was a compelling character that was easy to root for and I loved that she was so feisty, determined and different to what was the norm for women in her era. 

Atmospheric, clever, witty and tense, My Lady’s Secret is a bingeable historical romance with a sassy heroine you’ll love rooting for. 

Rating: ✭✭✭✭✰

********

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Katy Moran writes romantic historical fiction filled with adventure, passion and political intrigue. Her books are set in an alternate history just a step away from our own. She lives in the Welsh borders with her family and four miniature sheep.

********

BUY THE BOOK:

Bookshop.org* | Waterstones* | Amazon*
*These links are affiliate links

********

Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

Categories
book reviews

BOOK REVIEW: The Wayward Duke (Private Arrangements) by Katrina Kendrick

Published October 10th, 2024 by Aria
Historical Romance, Regency Romance, New Adult Fiction

Welcome to my thoughts on this sexy and suspenseful historical romance. Thank you to Aria for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

********

ABOUT THE BOOK:
‘Perfectly balancing romance and intrigue, this is a true page-turner’ Publishers Weekly

HE IS THE ICE-COLD DUKE

Julian, the Duke of Hastings, is known for being aloof and utterly in control. For nine years, he’s kept his distance from the only woman who ever cracked his icy exterior, burying himself in work as a top-secret government code-breaker. But when his latest assignment ensnares him in a lethal aristocratic plot, Julian has no choice but to enlist the help of his estranged wife.

SHE IS THE PRIM DUCHESS

To all of society, Caroline Hastings is the perfect duchess. For years she’s masked her pain over her husband’s abandonment behind a poised facade. But when Julian unexpectedly returns and sweeps them into a dangerous, covert mission, Caroline discovers her frozen duke isn’t quite so indifferent in the bedroom after all.

Now, locked in a dangerous chase through London’s glittering ballrooms and dark back alleys, Julian and Caroline must catch a killer-before he catches them first.

********

MY REVIEW:

Steamy, tense, twisty and engaging, The Wayward Duke is a gripping amalgamation of romance, sex, danger, angst and intrigue. 

London, Julian, Duke of Hastings, and his wife, Caroline, have been estranged for eight years when he surprisingly returns, sparking a flame of desire in them that they thought long-dead. Society is ablaze with talk of their reunion, but can they overcome the hurt they’ve caused each other to really reunite? Meanwhile, Julian’s work for the home office embroils them in a dangerous hunt for a terrorist. Can they learn to work together to catch them before he kills them first?

Though this book is the fifth in the series, it was actually my introduction to both the series and author. Despite this, I never felt confused about what was happening and think this was easy to read as a standalone. I was very much in the mood to read a romance when I started this book, but I was unprepared for the turns it would take and was surprised by how steamy it was from the start. The sexual tension is evident and I was relieved not to be reading this in public. But this is more than just a spicy book. Katrina Kendrick expertly moved between the shifts in tone of this book, making me blush with the sex scenes, almost cry with the emotional ones, and keeping me on the edge of my seat as they are caught up in espionage. We don’t initially know why they have been estranged, but their heartbreak and grief is palpable, and you can feel their fear of again trusting the person who broke them to pieces from the inside. As we learned more about the reasons their relationship broke down, Kendrick’s writing flourished, expertly conveying their loss, devastation, and Caroline’s mental health struggles in a real and relatable way. 

I liked that this couple weren’t your average Duke and Duchess and that there was more to them than meets the eye. Caroline is a linguist and Julian a code-breaker, the latter working with the home office to secretly decipher codes and hunt terrorists. I loved this aspect of the book. The danger escalated, adding an extra layer of tension to the story that had me on the edge of my seat. I have to admit that although I enjoyed both characters, I did favour Caroline a little. I felt like I really understood her and loved that she was someone who didn’t need a man to rescue her. And very different from what you’d expect of a woman in her position in society at that time.

So if you’re looking for a historical romance that will make your heart race, your cheeks blush, and keep you guessing, then this steamy and suspenseful book is the one for you. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

********

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Katrina Kendrick is the pseudonym for Sunday Times bestselling science fiction and fantasy author Elizabeth May. She is Californian by birth and Scottish by choice, and holds a Ph.D. from the University of St Andrews. She currently resides on an 18th-century farm in the Scottish countryside with her husband, three cats, and a lively hive of honeybees that live in the wall of her old farmhouse.

********

BUY THE BOOOK:

Bookshop.org* | Waterstones* | Amazon*
*these are affiliate links

********

Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

Categories
Audio Books Blog Tours book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Most Anticipated 2024

BOOK REVIEW: Moonstone by Laura Purcell

Published May 23rd, 2024 by Magpie
Gothic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Historical Fantasy, Fantasy Fiction, Romantic Fantasy, Romance Novel, Regency Romance, Paranormal Fantasy, Lesbian Literature

Welcome to my thoughts on this atmospheric gothic thriller. Thank you to Magpie for the gifted proof copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

********

ABOUT THE BOOK:

A sparkling gothic romance from award-winning bestseller Laura Purcell

‘Brilliant and beautiful, Moonstone is the gothic werewolf love story we’ve all been waiting for. Easily one of my favourite books of the year!’ JJA Harwood, author of The Thorns Remain

Don’t misbehave. Beware the moon. And never go out after dark …

Following a scandal at the Vauxhall pleasure gardens, Camille is sent to the woods to live with her reclusive godmother and her strange daughter, Lucy. Cast out from polite society, she must learn to live by her godmother’s strict rules.

Camille has never met anyone quite like Lucy before, and as they grow closer and cross forbidden boundaries, strange things begin to happen. Mysterious deaths, claw marks raking the doors, and the nights are pierced by the howls of a creature that sounds almost … otherworldly.

Should Camille be more afraid of what’s hiding in the woods – or her own heart?

From the award-winning, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Silent Companions, Moonstone is a haunting gothic romance with real bite.

********

MY REVIEW:

Following a scandalous night at the Vauxhall pleasure gardens, Camille’s family send her to stay with Rowena, her reclusive godmother, and her strange daughter, Lucy, until the controversy dies down. It is a huge adjustment for Camille, with strict and bizarre rules she must adhere to. And she has never met anyone like Lucy, finding herself at first repelled but then fascinated by her and the two grow closer, beginning to cross forbidden boundaries. But the closer they get, the stranger things become; howls pierce the nighttime air, claw marks appear on the doors, and there are deaths that can’t be explained. What is behind it all? And should Camille be afraid of what lives in the woods, or someone in the house that was supposed to be her sanctuary?

Gothic fiction is one of my favourite genres and Laura Purcell is one of the best in the genre, so I was excited to pick up her latest book, Moonstone. I mean, just look at that cover! I was delighted to find that what was on the pages was as hauntingly atmospheric as its cover; a sapphic gothic fairytale that blends werewolf lore with a journey of self-discovery and first love. Magnificently written and expertly plotted, this is a narrative that gleams with malice, oozes mystery, blooms with the joy of new romance. Purcell also explores the strict rules that governed women at the time through a quartet of strong, feisty and unusual women who I loved reading. I was in her thrall and flew through this in under a day.

Atmospheric, spellbinding and eerie, I highly recommend this book.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

********

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Laura Purcell is a former bookseller living in Colchester, Essex with her husband and pet guinea pigs.

She began her career with two historical novels about the Hanoverian monarchs, Queen of Bedlam and Mistress of the Court before her break-out Gothic ghost story The Silent Companions.

The Silent Companions won the WHSmith Thumping Good Read Award in 2018 and was shortlisted for the Goldsboro Glass Bell. It was selected for both the Radio 2 Book Club and Zoe Ball’s ITV Book Club.

Her other Gothic titles include The Corset, Bone China, The Shape of Darkness (winner of Historical Crime Book of the Year at the Fingerprint Awards 2022) and The Whispering Muse (winner of The Dracula Society’s Children of the Night Award 2023) .

Laura’s short stories have been published in a number of collections including the Sunday Times best-selling The Haunting Season and The Winter Spirits. She worked as lead writer on Roanoke Falls, a Realm horror podcast executive produced by John Carpenter and Sandy King Carpenter. It won a silver Signal Award for Best Scripted Fiction.

Laura’s YA debut Moonstone was published in May 2024 by HarperCollins’ Magpie imprint.

Please note that in the USA Laura is published by Penguin Books, where The Corset is titled The Poison Thread and Bone China is called The House of Whispers.

********

BUY THE BOOK:

Bookshop.org* | Waterstones* | Amazon*
*These are affiliate links

********

Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

Categories
book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Most Anticipated 2022

REIVEW: A Lady’s Guide to Fortune Hunting by Sophie Irwin

Published: May 12th, 2022
Publisher: Harper Collins UK
Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance Novel, Regency Romance
Format: Hardcover, Kindle, Audiobook

Welcome to my review for this sassy, outrageous and bingeable debut. Thank you to Harper Fiction for the gifted copy of the book.

********

SYNOPSIS:

Read summer 2022’s biggest historical debut!

The season is about to begin – and there’s not a minute to lose…

Kitty Talbot needs a fortune.

Or rather, she needs a husband who has a fortune. This is 1818 after all, and only men have the privilege of seeking their own riches.

With just twelve weeks until Kitty and her sisters are made homeless, launching herself into London society is the only avenue open to her. And Kitty must use every ounce of cunning and ingenuity she possesses to climb the ranks.

The only one to see through her plans is the worldly Lord Radcliffe and he is determined to thwart her at any cost.

Can Kitty secure a fortune and save her sisters from poverty? There is not a day to lose and no one – not even a lord – will stand in her way…

Sophie Irwin’s book ‘A Lady’s Guide to Fortune-Hunting’ was a Sunday Times bestseller w/c 09-05-2022.

********

MY REVIEW:

“And there is not a day to lose – the Season is about to begin.” 

As soon as I heard about A Lady’s Guide To Fortune Hunting I was desperate to read it. My two beautiful editions sat taunting me from my shelves for months, so this was an obvious choice to put on my 12 backlists books to read in 2023. I couldn’t wait to finally read it. 

The year is 1818 and Kitty Talbot is in need of a fortune. Or rather she needs a husband who has one. And with just twelve weeks until she and her sisters are made homeless, there is no time to waste, so she heads to London to find a suitor. It is there that she meets Lord Radcliffe, a man equally as determined to thwart Kitty’s plans as she is to make them succeed. Will he win this battle of wits or will Kitty triumph and capture her prize?

Sassy, spirited and simply swoon-worthy,  A Lady’s Guide To Fortune-Hunting feels like Jane Austen with a dynamic and modern flare. My only regret about this bingeable debut is that I didn’t read it sooner. Debut author Sophie Irwin is a magnificent new talent who I’m adding straight to my auto-buy list. From the first page I was in love and wrenched out of my own reality and into the world she created. And what a world it is! Richly drawn, evocative and full of ebullient, colourful and multifaceted characters who leap from the page, it was like stepping into an episode of Bridgerton. 

“Becoming a gentlewoman, Kitty soon began to appreciate, was to contain one’s self so tightly that one could not breathe – your whole body had to become a corset, with indelicacies, gracelessness and character kept strictly within.” 

One of the things that make this book so special is its fabulous heroine, Kitty Talbot. Feisty, gutsy and bright, it was easy to root for her as she takes on polite society in her pursuit of a rich husband. I loved that she was a complex and layered character, rather than simply an airhead looking for a fortune. It certainly made her more relatable and compelling to read. She and Lord Radcliffe were formidable opponents and I loved their dynamic. The banter was sharp and witty, and it was entertaining to watch as plotted and schemed to try and outsmart each other. Lord Radcliffe himself was a great character that I found myself warming to more as the story went on and the layers to his character were revealed.

Witty, outrageous and utterly glorious, I have no doubt that this will be one of my top reads this year. I was bereft at saying goodbye to the characters so I was delighted to learn that this is going to be the first in a new series. I’m already counting down to book two this summer. Fans of historical fiction or romance need to read this one ASAP. 

Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5

********

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Sophie has spent years immersed in the study of historical fiction, from a dissertation on why Georgette Heyer helped win World War Two, to time spent in dusty stacks and old tomes doing detailed period research when writing this book. Her love and passion for historical fiction bring a breath of fresh air and a contemporary energy to the genre. Sophie hopes to transport readers to Regency London, where ballrooms are more like battlegrounds.

A Lady’s Guide to Fortune-Hunting is Sophie’s debut novel and it has already sold in twenty territories worldwide.

********

BUY THE BOOK:

Waterstones | Amazon | Bookshop.org

********

Thanks for reading Bibliophiles xxx

*All purchase links are afiiliate links

Categories
Blog Tours book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BLOG TOUR: The Weather Woman by Sally Gardner

Published: November 10th, 2022
Publisher: Head of Zeus
Genre: Historical Fiction, Fantasty Fiction, Historical Romance, Supernatural Fiction, Regency Romance, Historical Fantasy
Format: Hardcover, Kindle, Audiobook

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for the enchanting and orignal, The Weather Woman. Thank you to Head of Zeus for the invitation to take part and the gifted ARC.

********

SYNOPSIS:

The rich and atmospheric new novel from prize-winning author Sally Gardner, set in the 18th century between the two great Frost Fairs.

Neva Friezland is born into a world of trickery and illusion, where fortunes can be won and lost on the turn of a card.

She is also born with an extraordinary gift. She can predict the weather. In Regency England, where the proper goal for a gentlewoman is marriage and only God knows the weather, this is dangerous. It is also potentially very lucrative.

In order to debate with the men of science and move about freely, Neva adopts a sophisticated male disguise. She foretells the weather from inside an automaton created by her brilliant clockmaker father.

But what will happen when the disguised Neva falls in love with a charismatic young man?

It can be very dangerous to be ahead of your time. Especially as a woman.

********

MY REVIEW:

“To see things differently is a gift, Neva. It makes you unique.”

I’m delighted to be opening the tour of The Weather Woman, the story of an extraordinary young woman trying to find her place in a world that has none for those who don’t fit the mould.  

Set in the early 1800s, it centres around a young woman named Neva with an unusual gift. She can predict the weather. But this is Regency England, a place where women are to be seen and not heard.  There is no place for an intelligent and educated woman with a unique talent in the male-dominated world of science. So she adopts a male persona and disguise in order to debate with them, and her father creates an automatron called the Weather Woman as the public face for Neva to make her predictions. But while she is happy to be making predictions and enjoys the freedom her disguises bring, it leaves her feeling even more of an outsider and fearing she will never find her place in the world.  

“I don’t fit the square, I’m too irregular; I’m too angular for the curves. This age is not made for me.” 

The story inside these pages is as lush as its gorgeous cover. Sally Gardner is a skilled storyteller, painting pictures with words as she weaves magical realism into historical fiction and mixes in an irresistible love story. The result is an atmospheric and beautifully descriptive tale that has an almost fairytale quality. The characters are richly drawn and compelling, with Neva being particularly memorable, and there are multiple threads that cleverly tangle together in some unexpected ways. I was captivated from the start, though there was a point I felt the story lost a little momentum and my mind started to wander, but it soon picked up and I lost myself in its pages once again. 

Enchanting, original, and filled with wonder, I’d recommend this book, especially if you enjoy stories with a magical twist.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

********

MEET THE AUTHOR:

From Sallly’s website:
I was born in Birmingham, near the Cadbury’s chocolate factory, and I grew up in Gray’s Inn, central London, in Raymond Buildings. My family (my parents, my younger brother and I) lived there because both my parents were lawyers. When I was around age five they separated and later divorced.

​I was badly bullied at school because I was different from other children. I had trouble tying my shoes, and coordinating my clothes, and I had no idea what C-A-T spelled once the teacher took away the picture. My brain was said to be a sieve rather than a sponge – I was the child who lost the information rather than retained it.

​I stayed in kindergarten until I was really too old to be there and finally was asked to leave the school. This became a pattern that repeated itself throughout my learning years.

​At eleven I was told I was word-blind. This was before anyone mentioned the un-sayable, un-teachable, un-spellable word dyslexia, which, hey-ho, even to this day I can’t spell!

​I eventually ended up in a school for maladjusted children because there was no other school that would take me. I suppose this was the equivalent of what now would be a school for kids with ASBOs. I had been classified as “unteachable” but at the age of fourteen, when everyone had given up hope, I learned to read.

​The first book I read was “Wuthering Heights” and after that no one could stop me. My mother, bless her cotton socks, said that if I got five O-levels I could go to art school, and much to my teachers’ chagrin, I did just that. At art school I shot from the bottom to the top like a little rocket.

​I left Central St. Martin’s Art School with a First Class Honours degree and then went to Newcastle University Theatre, where I worked as a theatre designer. One of the first shows I worked on was The Good Woman of Szechuan by Bertolt Brecht which transferred to the Royal Court Theatre.

​After that I spent 15 years in the theatre, but gave up working as a set designer because I found my dyslexia to be a problem when drawing up technical plans for the sets. Instead I concentrated on costumes.

​Ironically, when I went into writing, where I assumed my dyslexia would be a true disability, it turned out to be the start of something amazing. I was more than blessed to meet an editor, Judith Elliot, who was to play an important part in my journey to being a writer.

I strongly believe that dyslexia is like a Rubik’s Cube: it takes time to work out how to deal with it but once you do, it can be the most wonderful gift.

​The problem with dyslexia for many young people – and I can identify with this – is that their confidence is so damaged by the negativity of their teachers and their peers that it takes a very strong character to come out of the educational system smiling.

********

BUY THE BOOK:

Waterstones | Amazon | Bookshop.org

********

Thanks for reading Bibliophiles xxx

Please check out the reviews from other bloggers taking part in the tour.

*All purchase links are affiliate links