A Superb Multi Racial Romance

Francine is against having reviews of her books posted here on the basis she runs the blog. I think a review is a review when there are more reviewers in the background though not as prolific maybe but we are there. My problem is I work a full time job and help with admin on two more blogs. Happy reading, Char.     

Paperback cover

Kindle cover

Back cover blurb:

-Regency Georgian Romance & Murder Mystery ~ They know not who their target is, nor the why of another’s desire for a specific trophy. But do their duty they will for Monsieur le Marquis. ~

After the assassination of her father in France, Lady Anne Dempsey seeks intimate comfort from the one man she trusts above all others. Whilst having sworn oath of fealty to her father, Faris Halliche resists her charms as he has for three tortuous years. More determined than ever to fulfil her utmost desire Anne sets out to compromise him, and risks all for love. With the arrival of French guests at Leominster Court, danger is realised, frightening, and Anne fears her brother has invited an unknown enemy into the heart of the family fold. But which guest, if any, is bent on harming her and wants her brother dead?

Charlotte's Review *purchased book*. What else would I do when commuting to work and home: 

To Risk All For Love is labelled book one of two murder mystery books involving the Dempsey family. In this book the heroine is the Lady Anne who has set her heart on a young man from a far distant country. His tribal society is surprisingly more appealing to this twenty-first century reader than male society in Georgian England ever was. Be warned this is a multi-racial romance in which Ms Howarth blends historical fact seamlessly with fiction, and spins a convincing web of deceit with a thrilling assassination and its aftermath.

Scarcely has forbidden romance bloomed than a near death experience for Lady Anne Dempsey requires close guard protection at all times. While protecting her was routine in the past the oath the gallant warrior hero swore to her father he pledges to uphold for her sake. That’s all well and good if he was not in love with her, and she not in love with him. Mixed marriages were rare and risqué within Georgian England at a time when slavery was rife. Notwithstanding the difficulties of the era the story is plausible on grounds of wisdom and historical intellect. Well written this novel leaves the reader feeling extremely well read.

And the heroine undaunted by social conventions plots and plans escape for happiness out of wedlock. Her plans are soon dashed as new characters enter stage left and right. And who is friend and who foe is never a foregone conclusion. It can be said thrilling suspense throughout builds and builds and ends with a happy ever after for Anne and Faris. 

There's a heart touching epilogue. Written from Faris’s viewpoint he allows the reader to see his life from his perspective. It is a lasting image of his past and what he will make of himself. Then a letter arrives addressed to him. The content of the letter he must keep secret from his wife while danger still exists for her brother. Hence a second book (also on my kindle). 

At the end of the book readers are treated to a thrilling opening scene from To Tempt A Duke.   The sample read is thrilling and I can’t wait to get stuck in.

Amazon

Georgian Romance - French Revolution

Reviewed by Francine:

All in all, the premise of this Georgian novel tells the story, to a point, but there is an underlying thread from the previous book that is long in the coming of its reveal. The prologue provides a modicum of the previous book, whilst the why of it remains a mystery throughout Moonstone Conspiracy. Nonetheless, the book admirably stands alone as a thrilling and fast-paced “second chance” romantic adventure. As a sequel to Moonstone Obsession, and not having read the former I could liken Lady Abigail to Becky Sharp, the reckless heroine from Vanity Fair (Regency era) and I did surmise Abigail as fairly self-obsessed with little or no conscience when anything or anybody stood in her way to that of which she desired in the previous book.

Abigail indeed leads an existence verging on the dangerous regardless of her parents, regardless of men who fall by the wayside or wisely look elsewhere for a wife. Equally the backdrop to the story involves the French Revolution, not least the “Elusive Scarlet Pimpernel” who enters centre stage here and there, and the hero, Daniel Ridgeway, is no lesser a spy and man of action than the former. Thus Abigail meets her match in Daniel, and the Pimpernel’s ruthless streak perhaps in part brings Abigail to her senses, that one has to give a little if one wishes to get away with the ultimate prize and win the day!

The Book’s Premise:

Revolution in France, rebels in England, and one woman caught in the crossfire...The powerful sequel to Moonstone Obsession

For her unwitting participation in a plot to embezzle the Exchequer, Lady Abigail Houghall has spent the last two years exiled to the city of Bath. A card sharp, sometime mistress, and target of scandalous gossip by the London Beau Monde, Lady Abigail plots to escape her gilded cage as well as the prudish society that condemns her. But the times are not easy. France is in chaos, the King has been executed, and whispers of a similar revolution are stirring in England. And because of Abigail’s participation in the robbery plot, the Spymaster of England is blackmailing her into passing him information about the members of London’s upper crust.

When dashing English spy Daniel Ridgeway takes a seat at her card table and threatens to expose her for cheating, Abigail has no choice but to do as he demands: seduce the leader of the revolutionaries and learn what she can about their plot. As she’s drawn deeper into Daniel’s dangerous world—from the seedy backstreets of London to the claustrophobic catacombs of a war-torn Paris—she realizes an even more dangerous fact: she’s falling in love with her seductive partner. And the stakes of this game might just be too high—even for her.

Amazon 

Welcome post

Welcome to the HRR Blog - 
I hope and Pray I do justice the books handed into my care for review. Books for me are pure escapism and I completely discard any notion to critique a novel once it has gone to press. Whilst I can skip the odd typo, and pass on by the occasional grammatical blip, the entertainment value of the story is the essential part - whether it be a thrilling romantic suspense, a page-turning romance, or a swashbuckling adventure romance. The books I derive no pleasure from are the ones heavy on domestic waffle, snail-pace narrative, and characters that simply do not step from pages.     

Francine

Best Quote: The old saying - "it's easy to be a literary critic but harder to write something worth reading" - has always stuck with me, and I think it's a wise yardstick in the measure of people and their personality!

Please note as admin/owner of this blog (Francine) I'm reluctant to post reviews of my own books even though the reviews are by people I've never met in person, and some were posted long before I was invited to join the team as a reviewer. You see, I've always believed it reflects a sense of extreme vanity to post reviews on what is essentially one's own review site as far as admin duties go. Whereas, on my author blog I can do as I please. But, and I feel sure you will forgive me for letting others post reviews of my books here, because this was not my review blog at the outset. It was founded by Suzy Somerset, who due to sad family commitments and work had to give up on this blog. Of course life moves on, and Suzy has since ventured to a wholly new enterprise, well, not one, but two - The Jane Austen Awards and Historical Romance Readers' Award. That's not to say Suzy isn't a huge supporter of this blog - she is, and does on occasion send in a review.