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Archer Family #3
The Earl's Masquerade
A frog in a teapot, a lost necklace, and a sabotaged boat: incongruencies that lead an unlikely hero to investigate a chilling murder in Regency England.
Discarded by his betrothed with a parting sally that “being an earl does not excuse being a bore,” Hugh Castle, the Earl of Monnow, joins his brother on a relaxing cruise, hoping to forget. But a storm capsizes their boat, and despite Hugh’s desperate efforts, he can’t save his brother’s life. Then he finds evidence amongst the wreckage of sabotage and realizes he was never meant to return to dock. Someone intending to murder the earl killed his younger brother, instead. Angered beyond endurance, Hugh travels to London to enlist the aid of the Second Sons Inquiry Agency in finding his brother’s murderer.
Helen Archer attended the Earl of Monnow’s ball in expectation of celebrating his betrothal, but the event seems destined for disaster. She arrives late, the earl makes no announcement, and Helen manages to lose the fabled Peckham necklace her sister reluctantly loaned to her. Unwilling to admit her carelessness to her sister, Helen rashly decides to return to the earl’s estate and retrieve it in secret.
When his aunt threatens to send him to his cruel uncle, the Earl of Monnow, Edward Leigh-Brown decides he’s had enough. He’s going to join the navy and follow in Lord Nelson’s footsteps to become a military hero. But finding his way to London is a lot harder for a young boy than it seems, and he’s soon lost. When he bumps into Miss Helen Archer at an inn, he’s more than happy to accept a ride in her carriage, even if she seems determined to escort him to an inquiry agency to hire someone to locate the family he doesn’t want located.
When the three meet in London at Second Sons, Helen impulsively decide to accompany Hugh to the earl’s home, disguised as servants, to pursue their secret goals. Hugh hopes to uncover a killer, Helen hopes to find her necklace, and Edward just hopes he can find the opportunity to escape again.
But they are soon engulfed in an adventure none of them anticipated, and Hugh must hurry to identify who wants him dead before their deception ends in the death of another innocent.
Discarded by his betrothed with a parting sally that “being an earl does not excuse being a bore,” Hugh Castle, the Earl of Monnow, joins his brother on a relaxing cruise, hoping to forget. But a storm capsizes their boat, and despite Hugh’s desperate efforts, he can’t save his brother’s life. Then he finds evidence amongst the wreckage of sabotage and realizes he was never meant to return to dock. Someone intending to murder the earl killed his younger brother, instead. Angered beyond endurance, Hugh travels to London to enlist the aid of the Second Sons Inquiry Agency in finding his brother’s murderer.
Helen Archer attended the Earl of Monnow’s ball in expectation of celebrating his betrothal, but the event seems destined for disaster. She arrives late, the earl makes no announcement, and Helen manages to lose the fabled Peckham necklace her sister reluctantly loaned to her. Unwilling to admit her carelessness to her sister, Helen rashly decides to return to the earl’s estate and retrieve it in secret.
When his aunt threatens to send him to his cruel uncle, the Earl of Monnow, Edward Leigh-Brown decides he’s had enough. He’s going to join the navy and follow in Lord Nelson’s footsteps to become a military hero. But finding his way to London is a lot harder for a young boy than it seems, and he’s soon lost. When he bumps into Miss Helen Archer at an inn, he’s more than happy to accept a ride in her carriage, even if she seems determined to escort him to an inquiry agency to hire someone to locate the family he doesn’t want located.
When the three meet in London at Second Sons, Helen impulsively decide to accompany Hugh to the earl’s home, disguised as servants, to pursue their secret goals. Hugh hopes to uncover a killer, Helen hopes to find her necklace, and Edward just hopes he can find the opportunity to escape again.
But they are soon engulfed in an adventure none of them anticipated, and Hugh must hurry to identify who wants him dead before their deception ends in the death of another innocent.
336 pages, Paperback
First published March 17, 2012
147 people are currently reading
198 people want to read
About the author
Amy Corwin
59 books133 followersAmy Corwin is a charter member of the Romance Writers of America and recently joined Mystery Writers of America. She has been writing for the last ten years and managing a career as an enterprise systems administrator in the computer industry. She writes Regencies/historicals, mysteries, and contemporary paranormals. To be truthful, most of her books include a bit of murder and mayhem since she discovered that killing off at least one character is a highly effective way to make the remaining ones toe the plot line.
Amy’s books include the two Regency romances, SMUGGLED ROSE, and LOVE, THE CRITIC; three Regency romantic mysteries, I BID ONE AMERICAN, THE BRICKLAYER’S HELPER, and THE NECKLACE; and her first paranormal, VAMPIRE PROTECTOR.
WHACKED!, a contemporary mystery from Five Star, will be out in 2012, and her most current historical mysteries include THE VITAL PRINCIPLE--a Second Sons Mystery.
Amy’s books include the two Regency romances, SMUGGLED ROSE, and LOVE, THE CRITIC; three Regency romantic mysteries, I BID ONE AMERICAN, THE BRICKLAYER’S HELPER, and THE NECKLACE; and her first paranormal, VAMPIRE PROTECTOR.
WHACKED!, a contemporary mystery from Five Star, will be out in 2012, and her most current historical mysteries include THE VITAL PRINCIPLE--a Second Sons Mystery.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
March 20, 2015
I guess I don't read regencies often enough because this one wasn't bad, in fact the author is really good at building suspense. But I found some little things bothered me.
I know, I know! Ignore the little things and enjoy the story. But it's hard when you get tired of characters saying, "I... em, ah, oh um." Okay, so together they weren't said 50 times, but after seeing each about 8 times, I got a little sick of them. I could see if one character had that habit but all of them? If you don't want people to know you're hiding something you'd better learn to be a better actor because interrupting yourself with "ah, um" is a dead giveaway.
Anyways, so they characters are bad actors. Well, they only have their lives/reputations at stake. What got me though, was the hero going incognito in his own house, and nobody knew it. Not even his aunt. But, disbelief and slight irritations aside, this was a good book.
The characters are likable, even those who don't seem it at first. The heroine is a bit feather headed, but nonetheless enjoyable and in a tough spot, she doesn't loose her head. The hero is kindly, if slightly blind. And the best character was Ned Brown, a little orphan boy who "can't remember who he belongs to" he is humorous, lovable and a real boy.
The Best thing about this book: NO BIG MISSUNDERSTANDING! None! Zip!
Loved that. I was so afraid that when everyone revealed their secrets, that people would misunderstand and get offended. But they didn't, they just took it all in stride. Which was about the most realistic thing that happened in the whole book. I'd read another by this author next time I feel in the mood for something of this nature.
G-PG talk of out of wedlock kids, a few swears, namely Ds and British Bs.
I know, I know! Ignore the little things and enjoy the story. But it's hard when you get tired of characters saying, "I... em, ah, oh um." Okay, so together they weren't said 50 times, but after seeing each about 8 times, I got a little sick of them. I could see if one character had that habit but all of them? If you don't want people to know you're hiding something you'd better learn to be a better actor because interrupting yourself with "ah, um" is a dead giveaway.
Anyways, so they characters are bad actors. Well, they only have their lives/reputations at stake. What got me though, was the hero going incognito in his own house, and nobody knew it. Not even his aunt. But, disbelief and slight irritations aside, this was a good book.
The characters are likable, even those who don't seem it at first. The heroine is a bit feather headed, but nonetheless enjoyable and in a tough spot, she doesn't loose her head. The hero is kindly, if slightly blind. And the best character was Ned Brown, a little orphan boy who "can't remember who he belongs to" he is humorous, lovable and a real boy.
The Best thing about this book: NO BIG MISSUNDERSTANDING! None! Zip!
Loved that. I was so afraid that when everyone revealed their secrets, that people would misunderstand and get offended. But they didn't, they just took it all in stride. Which was about the most realistic thing that happened in the whole book. I'd read another by this author next time I feel in the mood for something of this nature.
G-PG talk of out of wedlock kids, a few swears, namely Ds and British Bs.
February 20, 2015
This was a LibraryThing Member Giveaway, thank you.
The story: After having been missing for years, the Peckham necklace has recently been found, and upon invitation to the Earl of Monnow's ball Helen Archer begged to wear it there. And has just discovered that she lost it there. Terrified of revealing her ineptitude to her sister, and fixing on the slightly mad idea that notifying the host of the ball would make her shame public, she decides on a hare-brained scheme to go and find it herself.
Meanwhile, eleven-year-old Edward (Ned) rebels against hateful guardians and the prospect of being sent to what he has been told is an equally hateful uncle (the Earl of Monnow) and acts on a hare-brained scheme to run away by himself to London to join the Navy.
Meanwhile, the Earl of Monnow, Hugh Castle, is jilted in the middle of the above ball and takes off to clear his mind with a sail in his boat the Twilight, dragging his brother along with him – and when a storm comes up and the Twilight goes down he loses boat and brother both. He wakes up on a beach and walks and hitches his way to London to talk to his lawyer, concocting a hare-brained scheme to find out who damaged the boat to cause it to sink.
The three main characters – earl and lady and boy – converge in London and with varied layers of mistaken and assumed identities join forces to find the necklace, find out who scuttled the Twilight and killed Hugh's brother, and keep the boy out of danger and trouble until a suitable guardian can be found for him. Hijinks ensue as Helen takes a position as lady's maid to Hugh's elderly spinster aunt, Hugh poses as her brother and steward for his own estate; Ned is presented as the third sibling, available for potato peeling and boot blacking. In the course of the investigation for necklace and murderer, the two grownup undercover operatives learn about themselves and – both being free, attractive, and of marriageable age – each other.
This was, I think, meant as an enjoyable, light read – but it's not as light as it should have been. The murder hanging over Hugh's head darkens things considerably: was he the target? Will someone try again? Was it someone he knows and trusts? His brother is dead, and while at times he mourns, at other times he seems to forget the very fresh grief completely. More, he tells no one but his lawyer and a professional investigator any of the details, leaving anyone else who might care about him or his brother to suffer anxiety waiting for news. While Helen's strand of the story is almost as frothy as could be wished, this is – sometimes – grim, as everyone comes under suspicion, and Hugh begins to learn what he's never been conscious of before: what everyone else in his house thinks of him.
The justifications for the three main characters' adventures felt a bit thin. There just never seemed to be a reason for Helen to be so terrified and foolish as to set off on her own with little forethought to infiltrate the mansion; her sister does not seem to actually be an ogre, and for her uncle to encourage it as he does is very strange and very unlikely. Hugh's pigheadedness about revealing the boating "accident" and his brother's death is irritating. The boy's adventure takes the least stretching to accept; he's a boy who feels himself abused (later chapters make the psychological abuse stronger, but I didn't see it at the time; the aunts were upset because he kept a frog in a teapot, for heaven's sake – most women, especially of the time, would be a bit put out), and he fears being sent somewhere even worse, and runs away. The problem with him is that he is forgotten from the story for long stretches, until he is required to fling himself into danger and bring about a resolution. This lack of grounds for just about every action would be somewhat acceptable in an average fluffy regency romance; the overall tone certainly feels like same. But this strives to be a bit more, I think; the fact that it begins with a man failing to save his brother's life completely removes it from the start from the "madcap comedy" genre to which it otherwise seems to aspire, and actually makes the romance aspect a bit discordant. Also, the spinster aunt's abuse of Helen as her servant is a dark note that does not combine well with the silliness.
In short (!), the plot is half grim murder mystery, half madcap comedy, and half romance novel – oh, and half boys' adventure novel. There was a lot going on in this slender book; too much, really.
The story: After having been missing for years, the Peckham necklace has recently been found, and upon invitation to the Earl of Monnow's ball Helen Archer begged to wear it there. And has just discovered that she lost it there. Terrified of revealing her ineptitude to her sister, and fixing on the slightly mad idea that notifying the host of the ball would make her shame public, she decides on a hare-brained scheme to go and find it herself.
Meanwhile, eleven-year-old Edward (Ned) rebels against hateful guardians and the prospect of being sent to what he has been told is an equally hateful uncle (the Earl of Monnow) and acts on a hare-brained scheme to run away by himself to London to join the Navy.
Meanwhile, the Earl of Monnow, Hugh Castle, is jilted in the middle of the above ball and takes off to clear his mind with a sail in his boat the Twilight, dragging his brother along with him – and when a storm comes up and the Twilight goes down he loses boat and brother both. He wakes up on a beach and walks and hitches his way to London to talk to his lawyer, concocting a hare-brained scheme to find out who damaged the boat to cause it to sink.
The three main characters – earl and lady and boy – converge in London and with varied layers of mistaken and assumed identities join forces to find the necklace, find out who scuttled the Twilight and killed Hugh's brother, and keep the boy out of danger and trouble until a suitable guardian can be found for him. Hijinks ensue as Helen takes a position as lady's maid to Hugh's elderly spinster aunt, Hugh poses as her brother and steward for his own estate; Ned is presented as the third sibling, available for potato peeling and boot blacking. In the course of the investigation for necklace and murderer, the two grownup undercover operatives learn about themselves and – both being free, attractive, and of marriageable age – each other.
This was, I think, meant as an enjoyable, light read – but it's not as light as it should have been. The murder hanging over Hugh's head darkens things considerably: was he the target? Will someone try again? Was it someone he knows and trusts? His brother is dead, and while at times he mourns, at other times he seems to forget the very fresh grief completely. More, he tells no one but his lawyer and a professional investigator any of the details, leaving anyone else who might care about him or his brother to suffer anxiety waiting for news. While Helen's strand of the story is almost as frothy as could be wished, this is – sometimes – grim, as everyone comes under suspicion, and Hugh begins to learn what he's never been conscious of before: what everyone else in his house thinks of him.
The justifications for the three main characters' adventures felt a bit thin. There just never seemed to be a reason for Helen to be so terrified and foolish as to set off on her own with little forethought to infiltrate the mansion; her sister does not seem to actually be an ogre, and for her uncle to encourage it as he does is very strange and very unlikely. Hugh's pigheadedness about revealing the boating "accident" and his brother's death is irritating. The boy's adventure takes the least stretching to accept; he's a boy who feels himself abused (later chapters make the psychological abuse stronger, but I didn't see it at the time; the aunts were upset because he kept a frog in a teapot, for heaven's sake – most women, especially of the time, would be a bit put out), and he fears being sent somewhere even worse, and runs away. The problem with him is that he is forgotten from the story for long stretches, until he is required to fling himself into danger and bring about a resolution. This lack of grounds for just about every action would be somewhat acceptable in an average fluffy regency romance; the overall tone certainly feels like same. But this strives to be a bit more, I think; the fact that it begins with a man failing to save his brother's life completely removes it from the start from the "madcap comedy" genre to which it otherwise seems to aspire, and actually makes the romance aspect a bit discordant. Also, the spinster aunt's abuse of Helen as her servant is a dark note that does not combine well with the silliness.
In short (!), the plot is half grim murder mystery, half madcap comedy, and half romance novel – oh, and half boys' adventure novel. There was a lot going on in this slender book; too much, really.
December 16, 2015
Three people, all with different problems, meet... and act as servants together. Mystery, sorrow, death... all bind them together.
December 17, 2021
Again, a fairly complex book. Each of the three characters presenting a false identity has a mission and a goal and their own 'plot' and the story happens where they all three come together.
Our leading lady is perhaps the best one yet. While past female leads in this series were women who seemed like strong women but who kept jumping to conclusions and making silly decisions, this character is a little different. Helen is a quieter person who comes across as weaker and scatterbrained to her family but when under pressure she turns out to have more steel in her, and to be a stronger person that she perhaps thought she was, and to have the fortitude to try to do as her uncle wishes in order to find her lost necklace.
My only complaint is that a few issues were brought up and never really addressed. Had those been dealt with, this would have been a 5 star book. It was so close.
Our leading lady is perhaps the best one yet. While past female leads in this series were women who seemed like strong women but who kept jumping to conclusions and making silly decisions, this character is a little different. Helen is a quieter person who comes across as weaker and scatterbrained to her family but when under pressure she turns out to have more steel in her, and to be a stronger person that she perhaps thought she was, and to have the fortitude to try to do as her uncle wishes in order to find her lost necklace.
My only complaint is that a few issues were brought up and never really addressed. Had those been dealt with, this would have been a 5 star book. It was so close.
March 3, 2019
It's been a very hot few days here - so I've quite enjoyed reading these non-taxing books.
In comparison to the first two in the series, I'd say this one is a little bit lighter on the whole romance trope front. It's also a little weaker in plot. But - I was just as engaged, and I think that's on the strength of Helen as a character.
She's not hyper intelligent, she's not exceedingly pretty, but she is incredibly compassionate and good natured. She doesn't leap to odd conclusions to serve the story, and her care for Ned is believable and lovely. I also enjoyed the way the author didn't 'tell not show' her affection for Hugh, and it led to a much more believable conclusion.
All in all, I'd say this one is the best of the three I've read so far.
As with the others, I'd recommend if you want a light read in the historical romance / cosy mystery genre. (Isn't that niche?)
In comparison to the first two in the series, I'd say this one is a little bit lighter on the whole romance trope front. It's also a little weaker in plot. But - I was just as engaged, and I think that's on the strength of Helen as a character.
She's not hyper intelligent, she's not exceedingly pretty, but she is incredibly compassionate and good natured. She doesn't leap to odd conclusions to serve the story, and her care for Ned is believable and lovely. I also enjoyed the way the author didn't 'tell not show' her affection for Hugh, and it led to a much more believable conclusion.
All in all, I'd say this one is the best of the three I've read so far.
As with the others, I'd recommend if you want a light read in the historical romance / cosy mystery genre. (Isn't that niche?)
November 21, 2022
The Earl's Masquerade (The Archer Family Regency Romances Book 3)
The love story of Hugh and Helen. Hugh and his brother when out in a boat ride and a great storm arose and the boat capsize. His brother was kill and Hugh thinks someone is trying to kill him. Can he find the killer before he is kill.
Helen has lost a family heirloom necklace and she does not want the family known. She return the Earl's home to find it. She meet Ned Brown who want to join the Navy. He tell her that he has no memory of his past so she want to help him find his family. Can she find her necklace and find Ned's parents? Great story.
The love story of Hugh and Helen. Hugh and his brother when out in a boat ride and a great storm arose and the boat capsize. His brother was kill and Hugh thinks someone is trying to kill him. Can he find the killer before he is kill.
Helen has lost a family heirloom necklace and she does not want the family known. She return the Earl's home to find it. She meet Ned Brown who want to join the Navy. He tell her that he has no memory of his past so she want to help him find his family. Can she find her necklace and find Ned's parents? Great story.
May 21, 2017
I was a little skeptical about this book after reading all the reviews about it. This isn't any more far fetched than the other Archer Family stories.
The Earl is shipwrecked and finds that his boat was sabotaged. He returns home in disguise to try to find who is behind the damage.
Helen lost the famed family necklace and is determined to retrieve it before anyone knows it is missing. When Helen finds that Hugh is heading to the same place she is, they team up to solve their respective mysteries.
An easy, cute yet somewhat predictable read.
The Earl is shipwrecked and finds that his boat was sabotaged. He returns home in disguise to try to find who is behind the damage.
Helen lost the famed family necklace and is determined to retrieve it before anyone knows it is missing. When Helen finds that Hugh is heading to the same place she is, they team up to solve their respective mysteries.
An easy, cute yet somewhat predictable read.
June 5, 2018
(Audiobook Review)
Third in the Archer Family Series. The story was about an Earl and heroine masquerading as servants and ensue complications while one is trying to find the killer of his brother and the other a family heirloom. The characters a very much likeable and the plot fairly predictable.
New author and enjoyable listen. It has it twists and air of mystery all around. Romance was clean with wittly in parts that kept you smiling at times. First listen also for the narrator which was okay but could have been better. A bit flat.
3-Stars
Third in the Archer Family Series. The story was about an Earl and heroine masquerading as servants and ensue complications while one is trying to find the killer of his brother and the other a family heirloom. The characters a very much likeable and the plot fairly predictable.
New author and enjoyable listen. It has it twists and air of mystery all around. Romance was clean with wittly in parts that kept you smiling at times. First listen also for the narrator which was okay but could have been better. A bit flat.
3-Stars
July 26, 2017
Edward is the real jewel of this piece!
Sadly the Archers don't make an appearance but the winner of this show was Edward! A brilliant and funny lad who adds much to the enjoyment of this story. The lead characters are nice enough, not half as sharp as Sarah & William from the previous book, but they are likeable enough and the storyline is decent. Not every couple can have great amounya od chutzpah. Still, Edward takes the cake!
Sadly the Archers don't make an appearance but the winner of this show was Edward! A brilliant and funny lad who adds much to the enjoyment of this story. The lead characters are nice enough, not half as sharp as Sarah & William from the previous book, but they are likeable enough and the storyline is decent. Not every couple can have great amounya od chutzpah. Still, Edward takes the cake!
July 5, 2018
Inquiry Investigation and Introspective Hero
Good mystery. Interesting set of circumstances. Characters to love. A sense of introspection fueled by tragedy. An awakening to the difference between appearances and what goes on inside people.
"The Earl's Masquerade" has everything we want in historical romance with the addition of inquiry agents investigating and moving the story forward.
Enjoyable.
Good mystery. Interesting set of circumstances. Characters to love. A sense of introspection fueled by tragedy. An awakening to the difference between appearances and what goes on inside people.
"The Earl's Masquerade" has everything we want in historical romance with the addition of inquiry agents investigating and moving the story forward.
Enjoyable.
June 30, 2019
Fantastic Mystery/Romance Author
Not only are her stories soaked in mystery, intrigue, wit and romance, she is a clean read author. Loved how everything turned out and how the story demonstrated the wrongs in judging by appearances. Can't wait to read another wonderful mystery and romance penned by Amy Corwin.
Not only are her stories soaked in mystery, intrigue, wit and romance, she is a clean read author. Loved how everything turned out and how the story demonstrated the wrongs in judging by appearances. Can't wait to read another wonderful mystery and romance penned by Amy Corwin.
January 19, 2024
Great book
I love the author. She writes great dialogue, interesting story lines and believable characters. So nice to find a writer that doesn't feel the need to add sex scenes to the story. So glad I found you and I plan to read everything you have written. Wishing much inspiration into your life.
I love the author. She writes great dialogue, interesting story lines and believable characters. So nice to find a writer that doesn't feel the need to add sex scenes to the story. So glad I found you and I plan to read everything you have written. Wishing much inspiration into your life.
May 11, 2017
This well written novel is the perfect blend of mystery and romance. The author pulls you into the story from the first page. The characters are so diverse and clever. I will continue to read more books by Amy Corwin.
May 30, 2017
The Archer series gets better and better
Absolutely loved Hugh, Helen, and Edward's story. A lady becomes a maid, the earl becomes a steward, and Edward, the future earl, is working in the castle kitchen. Oh, the fun that ensues.
Absolutely loved Hugh, Helen, and Edward's story. A lady becomes a maid, the earl becomes a steward, and Edward, the future earl, is working in the castle kitchen. Oh, the fun that ensues.
March 2, 2019
Very Entertaining
Wonderful story. If you love HEA story then I definitely recommend this tale. Miss Archer and the Earl were matched perfectly and Edward, the boy who wanted to run off to sea was a delightful little scamp.
Wonderful story. If you love HEA story then I definitely recommend this tale. Miss Archer and the Earl were matched perfectly and Edward, the boy who wanted to run off to sea was a delightful little scamp.
September 25, 2017
A very enjoyable read. Mystery and (clean) romance with some very humorous parts that kept a smile on my face. Lots of hidden identities ultimately lead to a perfect conclusion.
April 10, 2018
Romance novels
Thank you very much for sharing these wonderful romance novels series books. Please keep writing more of these wonderful books.
Thank you very much for sharing these wonderful romance novels series books. Please keep writing more of these wonderful books.
May 4, 2018
Excellent book
Loved the characters could not put it down. Romance, intrigue, and suspense abound. Loved it all the way through it.
Loved the characters could not put it down. Romance, intrigue, and suspense abound. Loved it all the way through it.
July 14, 2018
Good book
I really enjoyed this book. Great author. Out of all the characters in here I really liked Ned and the Aunt.
I really enjoyed this book. Great author. Out of all the characters in here I really liked Ned and the Aunt.
July 29, 2018
Very good book easy summer read
I like her books this is the third one I have read, they are a lite read very easy, good book for the beach!
I like her books this is the third one I have read, they are a lite read very easy, good book for the beach!
August 24, 2018
Apparently, this book has two titles. I read it under the title of "The Earl's Masquerade." When I read the synopsis , it has the same characters and plot.
February 11, 2019
My favorite mystery/romance yet by Corwin.
May 23, 2019
The Earl s Masquerade
I loved this story, I recommend everyone to read this book, I look forward to reading more of her books. Kattie.
I loved this story, I recommend everyone to read this book, I look forward to reading more of her books. Kattie.
April 7, 2021
Brilliant
Wonderful exciting and rather different story, I do like this author's style, her stories flow effortlessly and everything makes absolute sense
Wonderful exciting and rather different story, I do like this author's style, her stories flow effortlessly and everything makes absolute sense
June 29, 2021
My favorite yet in the Archer series! A great read! Love the intrigue and action and romance. Clean and recommended.
November 22, 2022
Good book and I liked how things were wrapped up in the end and how the author was able to tie things together. Something I did not see coming but was happy for.
May 1, 2016
Lord Monnow needs to find out who killed his beloved brother. His eleven year old cousin needs to run away or otherwise he will be sent off to his cousin Lord Monnow, a cruel and foul-tempered man as Edward believes. Helen needs to retrieve the necklace that went missing when she had it.
Three people. Three stories. In the end, will they manage to find each other?
All in all?
This book was freaking awesome.
I’m totally a fan of all these historical romances now. Especially of those where there are kids involved, and by kids I mean funny and smart and adventurous ones like Edward. My goodness, such a cute but demanding eleven year old. Awesome.
Lord Monnow is great. Sure, he’s been blind when he was the earl of the house and has made several misjudgments but hey, he just never suspected that this would be his life. And Helen? Oh, she’s such a gorgeous young woman and her family seems to be a fun one :D I loved that she really tried to help the people in the household.
Sure, I also have some tiny negative remarks. This whole Helen-needs-the-bracelet-back-thingy was just a bit over the top :D Can’t have been so embarrassing just to write there and say: Hey, guys, I totally lost my bracelet at your ball. Would you mind looking for it and sending it back to me asap? Great. Yeah, no, sure one has to put more effort into this. And then there are those fine kissing scenes between her and the Lord or rather, the investigator who isn’t a lord at all. Quite daring when thinking about the fact that this could reflect back on her negatively.
Anyways.
Plot: awesome
Characters: awesome
Writing style: great
5 stars! I’m happy and satisfied :D
And this time, I’m also satisfied with the ending. Sure, it could have been longer and it could have elaborated on the future a bit more but hey :D At least, the main plot was completed by then :D
Three people. Three stories. In the end, will they manage to find each other?
All in all?
This book was freaking awesome.
I’m totally a fan of all these historical romances now. Especially of those where there are kids involved, and by kids I mean funny and smart and adventurous ones like Edward. My goodness, such a cute but demanding eleven year old. Awesome.
Lord Monnow is great. Sure, he’s been blind when he was the earl of the house and has made several misjudgments but hey, he just never suspected that this would be his life. And Helen? Oh, she’s such a gorgeous young woman and her family seems to be a fun one :D I loved that she really tried to help the people in the household.
Sure, I also have some tiny negative remarks. This whole Helen-needs-the-bracelet-back-thingy was just a bit over the top :D Can’t have been so embarrassing just to write there and say: Hey, guys, I totally lost my bracelet at your ball. Would you mind looking for it and sending it back to me asap? Great. Yeah, no, sure one has to put more effort into this. And then there are those fine kissing scenes between her and the Lord or rather, the investigator who isn’t a lord at all. Quite daring when thinking about the fact that this could reflect back on her negatively.
Anyways.
Plot: awesome
Characters: awesome
Writing style: great
5 stars! I’m happy and satisfied :D
And this time, I’m also satisfied with the ending. Sure, it could have been longer and it could have elaborated on the future a bit more but hey :D At least, the main plot was completed by then :D
September 20, 2016
Clean, sweet, mystery romance.
March 14, 2016
The Earl's Masquerade by Amy Corwin
Archer Family Series Book Two
Miss Helen Archer has discovered she somehow has lost a family heirloom. After begging her sister Oriana to borrow it, she has somehow lost it. She'll have to return the Earl of Monnow's castle to try and find it. Before anyone in her family finds out. They think her irresponsible enough without this happening. The reader can first meet Helen in the prequel of this series; The Necklace.
Hugh Gerard Castle, the Earl of Monnow went out on his boat, Twilight, with his brother Lionel. A storm came up and now he wakes among the wreckage of his boat...and the memories of his brother. Since it will look as if Hugh perished, he might as well stay dead in case this was a murder attempt on his boring life.
Edward Brown-Leigh is going to run away from his two great aunts who just don't understand him. Such as, how it makes sense to keep his frog in a teapot. Now they are threatening to send him to his evil and cruel guardian. He does what any eleven-year-old has to do...runs away to join the Navy.
These three people seem to find themselves thrown together. Not having any idea how they may be connected. Hugh has used a false name and they are all headed to his castle under the guise of being siblings that the earl's lawyer has hired as various servant positions. Another great addition to this series. Romance and mysteries that take you down paths that you never know will lead you.
**Mild language
**First published as Escaping Notice.
http://justjudysjumbles.blogspot.com/...
Archer Family Series Book Two
Miss Helen Archer has discovered she somehow has lost a family heirloom. After begging her sister Oriana to borrow it, she has somehow lost it. She'll have to return the Earl of Monnow's castle to try and find it. Before anyone in her family finds out. They think her irresponsible enough without this happening. The reader can first meet Helen in the prequel of this series; The Necklace.
Hugh Gerard Castle, the Earl of Monnow went out on his boat, Twilight, with his brother Lionel. A storm came up and now he wakes among the wreckage of his boat...and the memories of his brother. Since it will look as if Hugh perished, he might as well stay dead in case this was a murder attempt on his boring life.
Edward Brown-Leigh is going to run away from his two great aunts who just don't understand him. Such as, how it makes sense to keep his frog in a teapot. Now they are threatening to send him to his evil and cruel guardian. He does what any eleven-year-old has to do...runs away to join the Navy.
These three people seem to find themselves thrown together. Not having any idea how they may be connected. Hugh has used a false name and they are all headed to his castle under the guise of being siblings that the earl's lawyer has hired as various servant positions. Another great addition to this series. Romance and mysteries that take you down paths that you never know will lead you.
**Mild language
**First published as Escaping Notice.
http://justjudysjumbles.blogspot.com/...
June 11, 2013
****3.5 Stars****
This was another light, likable and entertaining book from Amy Corwin. I read a ridiculous number of both romances and mysteries, so it's always a treat (and sadly rare!) to find a book that combines the two with some success. The mystery isn't especially clever or intricately plotted, but it does work as a fun diversion. The characters are likable and root-worthy (certainly not a given in this genre!), albeit not especially layered or compelling. And while I very merrily read romances that range from very steamy to G-rated, sometimes it can be an awfully refreshing change to come across one that doesn't include a bunch of painfully explicit, graphic, can't-tell-one-from-the-other sex scenes.
I didn't like this one quite as much as The Vital Principle, which was one of the more supremely enjoyable low-cost books that my Kindle and I devoured that year. I did, however, like this a lot more than A Rose Before Dying, which was something of a mess for me. For me, there's a certain depth, substance and undefinable magic missing from Amy Corwin's books that keeps them from being true favorites or even especially memorable, but that's more of a subjective feeling than an objective criticism. They're certainly entertaining, enjoyable and refreshingly angst-free reads that are worth the reasonable price!
This was another light, likable and entertaining book from Amy Corwin. I read a ridiculous number of both romances and mysteries, so it's always a treat (and sadly rare!) to find a book that combines the two with some success. The mystery isn't especially clever or intricately plotted, but it does work as a fun diversion. The characters are likable and root-worthy (certainly not a given in this genre!), albeit not especially layered or compelling. And while I very merrily read romances that range from very steamy to G-rated, sometimes it can be an awfully refreshing change to come across one that doesn't include a bunch of painfully explicit, graphic, can't-tell-one-from-the-other sex scenes.
I didn't like this one quite as much as The Vital Principle, which was one of the more supremely enjoyable low-cost books that my Kindle and I devoured that year. I did, however, like this a lot more than A Rose Before Dying, which was something of a mess for me. For me, there's a certain depth, substance and undefinable magic missing from Amy Corwin's books that keeps them from being true favorites or even especially memorable, but that's more of a subjective feeling than an objective criticism. They're certainly entertaining, enjoyable and refreshingly angst-free reads that are worth the reasonable price!
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