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Lost Ladies of London #2
The Deceptive Lady Darby
When a lost lady discovers that love is found far from home.
After confessing her love for Lord Cunningham, Lady Rose Darby is whisked away by her father in the dead of night and locked in an old asylum. With no one but her paid companion, Miss Flint, for company, six months pass before Rose manages to escape.
But her plans to return to London go awry when she finds herself at Everleigh, a sprawling mansion nestled in the heart of the forest. Mistaken for a newly appointed maid, Rose is sent to meet her new master, the sinfully handsome and brooding Lord Farleigh. But how can she tell him who she really is without ruining her reputation? And why does the thought of working for a living suddenly have appeal?
Christian Knight, seventh Viscount Farleigh, leads a reclusive life in his country estate. Widowed at thirty and left to care for his two young children, love and marriage are not on his agenda. What respectable woman would want to move into a house in such a state of turmoil? The staff are sick, and he can’t keep a governess for more than a week. Is that why the new maid, Rose, proves too much of a distraction? As an honourable man, he knows he must fight the attraction. Yet, crippled with loneliness, his conscience is soon at war with his feeble heart.
Features:
Regency historical romance
Contains some descriptive sex scenes
Approx 65,000 words
After confessing her love for Lord Cunningham, Lady Rose Darby is whisked away by her father in the dead of night and locked in an old asylum. With no one but her paid companion, Miss Flint, for company, six months pass before Rose manages to escape.
But her plans to return to London go awry when she finds herself at Everleigh, a sprawling mansion nestled in the heart of the forest. Mistaken for a newly appointed maid, Rose is sent to meet her new master, the sinfully handsome and brooding Lord Farleigh. But how can she tell him who she really is without ruining her reputation? And why does the thought of working for a living suddenly have appeal?
Christian Knight, seventh Viscount Farleigh, leads a reclusive life in his country estate. Widowed at thirty and left to care for his two young children, love and marriage are not on his agenda. What respectable woman would want to move into a house in such a state of turmoil? The staff are sick, and he can’t keep a governess for more than a week. Is that why the new maid, Rose, proves too much of a distraction? As an honourable man, he knows he must fight the attraction. Yet, crippled with loneliness, his conscience is soon at war with his feeble heart.
Features:
Regency historical romance
Contains some descriptive sex scenes
Approx 65,000 words
276 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 29, 2017
909 people are currently reading
380 people want to read
About the author
Adele Clee
54 books531 followersAdele Clee writes historical romance mysteries set in the early nineteenth century. Her stories blend romance with intrigue, gothic atmosphere, and a touch of scandal, often unfolding in Regency and early Victorian London. Readers praise her scarred heroines, brooding heroes, and the way love and mystery intertwine across each series.
Amazon - http://author.to/AdeleClee
Download the complete Adele Clee reading list here: https://www.adeleclee.com/booklist.html
Amazon - http://author.to/AdeleClee
Download the complete Adele Clee reading list here: https://www.adeleclee.com/booklist.html
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
May 11, 2020
When she declares her love for a lord her father deems unsuitable, Lady Rose Darby finds herself locked away in an old asylum with only her paid companion, Miss Flint. After six months of confinement, Rose manages to escape, but becomes lost during her attempt to reach London and winds up at Everleigh, an estate near the asylum. She’s mistaken for a newly hired maid and when she’s sent to meet her new master, Lord Farleigh, Rose can think of no way to explain herself without ruining her reputation further.
Christian Knight, Viscount Farleigh, lives a rather reclusive life on his estate with his two children since his wife’s death. Since his first disastrous marriage, and with rambunctious twins who run through governesses like water, he’s had neither the time nor the inclination to think about marrying again. Besides no wife would want to move into a house in such utter chaos and with staff who are constantly falling ill with a mysterious ailment. Christian fights his attraction to Rose as best he can, but with his heart awakening and Rose bringing light into his lonely existence, it’s a losing battle.
I listened to audio version of this book and thoroughly enjoyed it. I loved the mystery element here and the budding relationship between Rose and Christian. I loved how protective he was of her and how loyal she was to him. Even thinking I had it all figured out, the ending still managed to surprise me. I loved how Rose and Christian came to trust each other, helped along by the crazy circumstances they face. I liked this couple and look forward to the next book.
Christian Knight, Viscount Farleigh, lives a rather reclusive life on his estate with his two children since his wife’s death. Since his first disastrous marriage, and with rambunctious twins who run through governesses like water, he’s had neither the time nor the inclination to think about marrying again. Besides no wife would want to move into a house in such utter chaos and with staff who are constantly falling ill with a mysterious ailment. Christian fights his attraction to Rose as best he can, but with his heart awakening and Rose bringing light into his lonely existence, it’s a losing battle.
I listened to audio version of this book and thoroughly enjoyed it. I loved the mystery element here and the budding relationship between Rose and Christian. I loved how protective he was of her and how loyal she was to him. Even thinking I had it all figured out, the ending still managed to surprise me. I loved how Rose and Christian came to trust each other, helped along by the crazy circumstances they face. I liked this couple and look forward to the next book.
August 11, 2021
I had a hard time connecting with the H/h and I am almost never of a fan of kids in my HR fiction. Kids may figure into my life here in the real world but they don't rate very high when they invade my fantasy world. All in all this one was just a little wholesome for my tastes.
January 8, 2018
Even Better Than the First
This was another fun, romantic mystery. I liked Rose, I thought she was sweet and charming. I really liked Christian. He is the perfect tortured and untrusting hero. It was touching the way Rose’s lies hurt him, but he was still able to overcome it. I don’t like kids. Sorry, not sorry. I think they do nothing but get in the way in a romance. Clee does a decent job of knowing when to get rid of the kids so they do not become too much of a main focus. In fact, this may be the only book that strongly featured children I’ve given 5-stars to (Aside from Jane Eyre, of course). Still think the book would’ve worked better without them though. I loved the mystery and I really didn’t know what was going to happen until I read it, so that was nice. I would strongly encourage readers to read the first Lost Ladies of London book just to give you more background into Rose’s character. I have read everything published by Adele Clee and one of my favorite things about her is her consistency. I think of her 18 works I've only given two 3-star ratings. The rest are 4s or 5s. So, if you liked this book I would recommend more of her books. A Simple Case of Seduction is my personal favorite. WARNING: there is sex in this book, it is not erotica, but enough to be a steamy & hot adult romance. Please do not read if you are looking for something PG. Romance-5/5 Steaminess-3/5 Explicitness-3/5
This was another fun, romantic mystery. I liked Rose, I thought she was sweet and charming. I really liked Christian. He is the perfect tortured and untrusting hero. It was touching the way Rose’s lies hurt him, but he was still able to overcome it. I don’t like kids. Sorry, not sorry. I think they do nothing but get in the way in a romance. Clee does a decent job of knowing when to get rid of the kids so they do not become too much of a main focus. In fact, this may be the only book that strongly featured children I’ve given 5-stars to (Aside from Jane Eyre, of course). Still think the book would’ve worked better without them though. I loved the mystery and I really didn’t know what was going to happen until I read it, so that was nice. I would strongly encourage readers to read the first Lost Ladies of London book just to give you more background into Rose’s character. I have read everything published by Adele Clee and one of my favorite things about her is her consistency. I think of her 18 works I've only given two 3-star ratings. The rest are 4s or 5s. So, if you liked this book I would recommend more of her books. A Simple Case of Seduction is my personal favorite. WARNING: there is sex in this book, it is not erotica, but enough to be a steamy & hot adult romance. Please do not read if you are looking for something PG. Romance-5/5 Steaminess-3/5 Explicitness-3/5
July 2, 2019
Quite good, very graphic at times. Not really captures that time more like how they behave now.
Good book, too modern for that period in history. Sex scenes too graphic for my taste. Well written but too much about privelaged .
Good book, too modern for that period in history. Sex scenes too graphic for my taste. Well written but too much about privelaged .
September 5, 2018
Great story with lots of mystery, romance and love. Loved the characters.
August 6, 2022
Read:6/14/20
Pretty good. I liked the characters. I admired the h. This is an easy fun read!
Pretty good. I liked the characters. I admired the h. This is an easy fun read!
November 6, 2019
The author's written better stories--don't bother with this one.
I just couldn't buy into the premise, and it went down hill from there. The heroine has been banished to a run down estate purchased by her father in the not too distant past, which estate just happened to be used as an asylum for the insane (or merely inconvenient). Naturally the heroine and her companion have been closely guarded and treated with disrespect by those paid by the heroine's father during the many weeks they've been kept there. The reason the heroine has been so shabbily treated by the man who believes himself to have been cuckholded by his late wife and, therefore, not the heroine's biological father--she expressed interest in marrying a fop. The father wasn't selling her off to the highest bidder, betrothing her to a young lech or a man old enough to be her grandfather: just thwarting her desired choice. The premise that he'd have her imprisoned for months is ludicrous. There's no hint of a backstory suggesting that either to he heroine it the fop had the backbone or passion to elope. And if they had, wouldn't it be much more likely such a father would have jumped at the chance to disown her and keep any dowry?
With the able assistance of her companion the heroine manages to escape. In an unfortunate coincidence the family equippage is in the area, headed to the estate. Learning of it the heroine diverts to a nearby estate, fortuitously the home of the hero and his two motherless children, where she takes the position of hapless housemaid cum wise and caring governess. And of course she's truly beautiful -- inside and out. And of course he's as handsome as she is beautiful. And of course they fall in lust/love. And of course they have sex. And of course, very shortly after having the coupling, he learns she hadn't been entirely honest with about who she was and why she was there. And of course he's a big baby because it's all about him. (Clearly the heroine's using an assumed name to hid away from the ogre of a father who had essentially imprisoned her couldn't be deemed a reasonable response to that provocation. ). And of course these two beautiful people will eventually work through their difficulties and have their HEA.
Two stars for the reveal toward the end. There were sufficient clues sprinkled that it didn't come completely out of the blue.
I just couldn't buy into the premise, and it went down hill from there. The heroine has been banished to a run down estate purchased by her father in the not too distant past, which estate just happened to be used as an asylum for the insane (or merely inconvenient). Naturally the heroine and her companion have been closely guarded and treated with disrespect by those paid by the heroine's father during the many weeks they've been kept there. The reason the heroine has been so shabbily treated by the man who believes himself to have been cuckholded by his late wife and, therefore, not the heroine's biological father--she expressed interest in marrying a fop. The father wasn't selling her off to the highest bidder, betrothing her to a young lech or a man old enough to be her grandfather: just thwarting her desired choice. The premise that he'd have her imprisoned for months is ludicrous. There's no hint of a backstory suggesting that either to he heroine it the fop had the backbone or passion to elope. And if they had, wouldn't it be much more likely such a father would have jumped at the chance to disown her and keep any dowry?
With the able assistance of her companion the heroine manages to escape. In an unfortunate coincidence the family equippage is in the area, headed to the estate. Learning of it the heroine diverts to a nearby estate, fortuitously the home of the hero and his two motherless children, where she takes the position of hapless housemaid cum wise and caring governess. And of course she's truly beautiful -- inside and out. And of course he's as handsome as she is beautiful. And of course they fall in lust/love. And of course they have sex. And of course, very shortly after having the coupling, he learns she hadn't been entirely honest with about who she was and why she was there. And of course he's a big baby because it's all about him. (Clearly the heroine's using an assumed name to hid away from the ogre of a father who had essentially imprisoned her couldn't be deemed a reasonable response to that provocation. ). And of course these two beautiful people will eventually work through their difficulties and have their HEA.
Two stars for the reveal toward the end. There were sufficient clues sprinkled that it didn't come completely out of the blue.
August 18, 2023
I normally enjoy this authors characters but this felt…superficial? The mystery was…not a mystery? The connection between the hero and heroine didn’t feel genuine or the connection between the children. The spice was mild at best. I’m glad her writing has improved.
November 14, 2019
Sex: multiple scenes, heavy petting
Language: 0 F words, 47 Lord's name in vain, 0 S words
Violence: fist fights, stabbing, drowning
Cliffhanger: only a lead in to Lillian's story
Do I need to read books before this one: no, but I'll go read it
Would I read more of the series: yes
The book starts in turmoil, a romance develops, we get updates on Nicole and Oliver, the turmoil comes to a head, and ends with a HEA and a little bit of a lead in for Lillian's story. The mystery was well done, the characters sufficiently created, and the plot was moved because of character's decisions. I enjoyed this one.
----SPOILERS----
Rose, daughter of the Earl of Stanton, is escaping being held prisoner in her father's manor. She comes to the inn, sees her father's carriage, turns back to warn her paid companion, Nicole. But she gets lost, then sees a light. It's not the Manor. Mrs Booth comes out, pushes Rose out of the way. Mrs Hibbet tries to get Booth to stay, says Rose isn't expected until next week. Rose has blisters on her feet, Mrs Hibbet assumes because old master was miser. Earl was miser; she'd declared affection for Lord Cunningham, and Earl sent her to asylum for 6m. Booth found toads in her room, the children are horrors. Rose doesn't reveal who she is to protect her reputation.
Day 1, Christian Knight, Viscount Farleigh, isn't happy his 7yo twins don't have a nanny. Cassandra died 2ya, unhappy marriage. Hibbet introduces Rose, an angel. He's attracted. She says she was hired at Morton Manor. Her hands are soft, her curtsies ton-ish; must've fallen on hard times. He offers her more money than she says she'll get there (and has to give raise to rest of house). She accepts on 2 conditions: groom accompanies her there to tell them, trial basis for 1 week. He'll accompany her; he doesn't tell her he suspects a murderer in their midst. She tries to clean and set the fire, he coaches, wipes ash off her face. She's affected by him, more than by Lord Cunningham. Dr Taylor comes weekly, servants routinely sick. Reverend Wilmslow is no angel. No one's asked Jacob and Alice them why they've scared away 10 nannies in 2 years. They sleep in the room next to Dad; the nursery is far away because Mom needed to sleep during the day.
Dr believes source of illness is spore; all illnesses similar to Cassandra's. Rev thinks it's evil from the Manor. They leave, Christian fantasizes about Rose. Hibbet says the kids like her; Jacob detests everyone. She also says Rose already left. He runs to get his horse, memories of a dead miss in the forest. Cassandra had had an affair with the Manor's warden, Watson. Rose has found no one there, weeps on Christian, he feels protective. Walking home, Christian tells her Cassandra got addicted to laudanum after the babies were born, came to the Manor for an hour or two every week. She tells him he's a good man to let his wife stay at home during that time; her father locked her in the house for six months. Greatest teachers cause most pain. He offers her governess; she won't discipline: we are more inclined to remember the lessons from those we revere.
Jacob's to go to Eton next year; neither twin is happy about it. Rose takes lesson outside. They had the fever the rest of household has; Papa told stories; Rev tidied nursery--organized cupboards, straightened drawers, looked under bed, memories of Mom trunk. They play Blind Man's Bluff while Papa watches. When it's her turn, she gets dizzy, falls, Christian catches her. Papa! “Shush,” Lord Farleigh whispered. “I cannot release her until she says my name.” R: I am the one who does the catching. C: Oh, you’ve caught me, Rose; make no mistake about that. “Rose has won the point, Papa.” C: Oh, I don’t know; I can’t help but feel I am the winner of this game. She's tingly, attracted. The kids help her off him. “Your cheeks are red.” R: Are they? Well, it is rather warm out. C: I have to agree. I, too, am rather hot beneath the collar. They go for cake, she's invited because she didn't scream when Jacob put a worm in her hand.
Day 2, the Knights wait for Rose for the picnic. She'd had to cut her hair because of Jacob, but she won't lay blame at his feet. They ask questions the other won't answer. They play BMB again, Christian as It. Rose falls in the lake, Jacob jumps in. Jacob had pushed her; she doesn't know how to swim; neither does Jacob. Christian gets them both, they all walk home. Their pinkies entwine.
After hot baths, Christian calls Rose in for Jacob's apology. Had the lake been a few feet deeper, I might not be sitting here. Christian didn't know about the push, just the hair. Jacob cries, Everybody leaves us, please don't leave. Hugs. Mama didn't want us. C: She was sick. J: These were tests, Rev says when you care about someone, you forgive them. Hugs. Jacob confesses he stole letters from Mama. He won't show them to Papa. Rose asks to take Jacob to his room to speak at his ease. C (in pain): “What sort of man has no control over his children? You must think me weak and foolish. R: Loving your children and trying to protect them does not make you weak, not in my eyes. OK, return tonight after dinner; I want your counsel on other things.
Jacob takes her to her room, not his. They're sex letters. J: A lady died in the woods, just like Mama. I think the letters might say why but I don’t understand all the words. She offers to read and give Papa the pertinent stuff. There's also a ledger. Dr arrives to see Jacob, did you like tonic? Lies, Yes.
She joins Christian in his study. He knew about affair. They didn't love each other, appeased parents. At least yours didn't take your freedom. Jacob thinks Mama's death and lady in woods are related. Miss Stoneway had escaped asylum; Miss Turner did, too, not found. Cassandra died in Watson's arms in cottage fire. She's sorry that was so dreadful, kisses his cheek, apologizes. He kisses her back, both passionate. Then he sees the Manor is on fire. He'll go, you stay with kids, kisses her, makes her promise to stay in the house.
The Manor will be ashes in hours. A couple sits on the ground. Christian goes for the Dr while they go to the Inn. It's the Earl and a woman, but it's not the old man. After the Dr tends to her, he asks Christian if he still claims to have seen faceless figure in a long black coat, like he did at the cottage's burning. Stanton dismissed all servants 2 days ago.
Rose worries Christian's hurt, goes toward the manor. She runs into a man who confuses her with Miss Asprey, his dove. He apologizes for leaving her there to die, then sees she's blonde, not auburn. Christian finds them, the man says You'll not take her from me again. Christian punches him. Lord Mosgrove's coachman takes him away. They hug, C: You promised you'd stay safe. R: I needed to know you were safe. C: Do you have any idea what you’re doing to me? On one hand, you make me feel like the strongest of men. I could race up a mountain, climb that damn tree. Punch any man who threatened to harm you. And yet inside … Pay me no heed. R: I don’t know what’s happening to me, either. C: Rose, when I’m with you my thoughts are far from moral. R: When I’m with you my thoughts are far from moral, too. They kiss, turns into 3rd base. Butler Alfred interrupts. On the walk home, he tells her all he knows, plus the old Earl died. The lady with red hair was Nicole. She faints.
He carries her to her room, sending someone for the Dr. Hibbet takes him out of Rose's room, someone's been asking for a woman of her description; if it happens again, direct them to me. "Truth be told, he needed her. She made his world of chaos a bearable place. Even the children behaved differently around her."
Day 4, Rose wakes, having slept through Day 3. She learns Rev searched her room for spores. Hibbet tells her Christian reprimanded Rev and Dr sharply. Rose battles with Lady Rose battles with Christian's wife. She walks to the Inn. Then walks back, without seeing Oliver and Nicole. Dr offers her a ride back, she can't refuse. He asks her opinion on the illness, she says it's not a plant because the garden is well-established, and the servants don't have time to roam the woods. It began with Cassandra's death. Rose asks about Miss Stoneway and what the Rev is looking for. He says Goodbye, my lady. She reexamines the letters and notebook, determines she needs Christian's help to decipher. He takes forever to get home, comes to her 2 stairs at a time while still muddy, needs to see her, too. She waits in her room, a footman gets her and introduces her to the study. Christian wants to talk after. Kisses, he invites her to his room, we can't, a man can dream, how about here in the study? I am at your mercy. R: So this is to be a game of master and servant, only we’ve reversed the roles. You're not my servant. They make love. Afterward, he tells her Rev's wife provides the herbs and plants used in Dr's potions. No one's to take his medicines anymore. He also took a potion to an apothecary in London to be analyzed. Rose asks if Cassandra's lover was for sure Watson. No real proof. She was better after visiting Manor for a few days. He saw someone in the woods when he pulled Cassandra out of fire. Found identical buttons in her hand and Miss Stoneway's. She thinks he needs to read letters. C: Are they as vulgar as I suspect? R; Yes, they detail intimate relations between a man and a woman, though they bear no resemblance to what we’ve just shared. C: You mean the letters lack passion, tenderness, any true feeling or sentiment? Kiss. He's thinking how to make her his wife.
Day 5, he's busy all day. As he sits down to read letters, Lord Stanton and Miss Asprey call. Looking for my sister. Christian feels betrayed, angry, sends Hibbet to get her. Rose gives Hibbet a hug, “My mother died a long time ago, but you have given me another glimpse of unconditional love. You love Lord Farleigh like a son. Anyone can see that. Know that I love him, too. Know that I never meant to hurt him.” Oliver hugs her, as does Nicole. Why didn't you return to London? C: Yes, why didn't you, and marry Lord Cunningham? She thinks Because I love you. She tells her escape story. Oliver and Nicole are marrying tomorrow. Christian excuses himself, won't let her say goodbye to the children, wants her to leave tonight. He gets drunk in the drawing room. Rose comes, has 2 letters for children. I'm the same woman. He pushes her away. She gives him a kiss on the cheek, I'll miss you, crying as she leaves with Oliver.
Days 6 and 7 have passed. Everyone misses Rose. Alice hates aristocracy, Jacob blames himself. Hibbet says Christian should marry her. That Rose told her she loves him, didn't want to hurt him. He gets her letter. Half of it's in Rev's writing, half from her. "I hope this example of the reverend’s writing proves useful in your endeavour to find peace. Forgive me." Sure enough, Rev was Cassandra's lover. Christian visits him, his wife is in London (never goes there), confronts him, threatens to take him to court for trespass of his estate, punches him for the damage to Jacob, and if he finds out he's responsible for Cassandra's death, he'll finish it. Goes to see Dr, he's gone to London to the Worshipful Society of the Apothecaries.
Day 8, Rose is at a ball, so not in love with Cunningham. Nicole knows she loves Christian. Knows sex. Then Ross Sandford, Marquess of Trevane, known to all as Vane, arrives with his sister, Lillian, and Christian. He's been staying in Christian's London house, and now Christian, kids, and Hibbet are there, too. They're searching for Rose. He finds her, asks her to dance, feels peace. Tell me you don't have feelings for Cunningham. My heart is yours, Christian. At the dance's end, he takes her back to Oliver, who doesn't like Christian because Rose cries all night. O: I suppose you're here for the book? C: I don't read lady's journals. O: She found it there. They all go for a walk in the garden. R: It's a ledger Jacob gave to me at same time as letters. C: Wilmslow wrote letters and has been poisoning staff. R: Dr is involved. C (panicked): Do not go inquiring without me. Kiss. Oliver calls, Vane is in trouble.
At breakfast, Rose tells Oliver she's in love with Christian, but don't you dare force him into marriage. She gets a letter: I’m to come to the Chelsea Physic Garden at two o’clock today. That I’m to wear a coat and breeches, as women are not permitted entrance. That I’m to bring the blue book. Should I fail in the task, Lord Farleigh and his children will suffer a fate similar to that of his late wife. Poison is an invisible enemy often consumed without knowledge. Oliver and Nicole (as a man) will go early, grab Christian, and Rose will go at 2.
A boy meets her at the gate, has to see the book first. His vest is missing 2 buttons. She meets Mrs Wilmslow. They go in a building, Mrs kisses Dr. He takes the book; the letter from Miss Stoneway's aunt isn't in it. Mrs killed Cassandra and Watson. They're going to run away together after killing Rose. R: I take it your offer of marriage no longer stands. Mrs gets angry. R: So I’m not the only intelligent woman in Abberton? Mrs angrier. R: I copied everything from the book, Oliver is coming, and Christian has buttons. Dr: Like my pocket watch? Yes. He turns on Mrs, viciously accuses her of stealing, of murdering Miss Stoneway. They fight, Mrs stabs Dr in the chest.
Christian, Oliver, and Nicole hurry as fast as they can. They scale the fence. They hear Mrs accusing Rose: You made me do this! Then she holds a knife to Rose's throat. The 2 women get to the river, the others following, when Dr follows, falls. Mrs cries out, falls into river, pulling Rose along with her. Christian rescues Rose, can't get to Mrs. They go to get the head of police, Home Secretary Peel.
His throat grew tight when he thought of how close he’d come to losing her. Rose was his friend, his love, his everything. He recalled something she’d said at Everleigh. Often our greatest teachers are the ones who cause us the most pain. Now he understood Cassandra’s lesson. She had shown him all that love was not. Only now could he appreciate the value of sacrifice. Now he could appreciate the beauty of true love.
"Peel sent a constable around to every London address listed in the blue book. It soon became evident that some patients at the manor had not been mad at all. Greedy people often resorted to underhanded methods to rid themselves of their unwanted relatives." Rose tells Nicole to take her to Christian's home, not Oliver's. Trevane lets her in, hoping she'll quiet the children. He's amazed she's not worried about her reputation. The children hug her, report on the tasks she set them in her letters: to pour Papa a brandy, to bring Papa a flower from the garden. Hibbet draws a bath, Lillian loans clothes. Rose likes Lillian. Lillian asks what is like to be loved and cherished. She had a scandalous encounter with a rogue, Trevane blames himself. She has no hope for a love match, only for a gentleman in need of funds. Lillian darts away from the window. What's wrong? It's nothing, a carriage stopped outside.
Much later, Christian comes home. Vane blames himself for Lillian and for Miss Darcy. Christian finds Rose sleeping with the children on 1 bed. Hibbet says they were sent an angel. He takes Rose for talking, but that was said for Hibbet's sake. He pulls her into the master bedroom. While making love, he says I love you; she says I've loved you since you wiped ash off my face. Marry me. Yes. We leave for Scotland tomorrow. Yes. First thing when we get home-- R: Study? Woods? No, I'm teaching you to swim. Then those things.
The children thought Scotland was an adventure, plus Christian and Rose didn't want Wilmslow marrying them. When they get home, they've received a letter from Vane. Lillian is missing. Found a newer letter, Vane knows where she is. Kidnapped by a pirate.
Language: 0 F words, 47 Lord's name in vain, 0 S words
Violence: fist fights, stabbing, drowning
Cliffhanger: only a lead in to Lillian's story
Do I need to read books before this one: no, but I'll go read it
Would I read more of the series: yes
The book starts in turmoil, a romance develops, we get updates on Nicole and Oliver, the turmoil comes to a head, and ends with a HEA and a little bit of a lead in for Lillian's story. The mystery was well done, the characters sufficiently created, and the plot was moved because of character's decisions. I enjoyed this one.
----SPOILERS----
Rose, daughter of the Earl of Stanton, is escaping being held prisoner in her father's manor. She comes to the inn, sees her father's carriage, turns back to warn her paid companion, Nicole. But she gets lost, then sees a light. It's not the Manor. Mrs Booth comes out, pushes Rose out of the way. Mrs Hibbet tries to get Booth to stay, says Rose isn't expected until next week. Rose has blisters on her feet, Mrs Hibbet assumes because old master was miser. Earl was miser; she'd declared affection for Lord Cunningham, and Earl sent her to asylum for 6m. Booth found toads in her room, the children are horrors. Rose doesn't reveal who she is to protect her reputation.
Day 1, Christian Knight, Viscount Farleigh, isn't happy his 7yo twins don't have a nanny. Cassandra died 2ya, unhappy marriage. Hibbet introduces Rose, an angel. He's attracted. She says she was hired at Morton Manor. Her hands are soft, her curtsies ton-ish; must've fallen on hard times. He offers her more money than she says she'll get there (and has to give raise to rest of house). She accepts on 2 conditions: groom accompanies her there to tell them, trial basis for 1 week. He'll accompany her; he doesn't tell her he suspects a murderer in their midst. She tries to clean and set the fire, he coaches, wipes ash off her face. She's affected by him, more than by Lord Cunningham. Dr Taylor comes weekly, servants routinely sick. Reverend Wilmslow is no angel. No one's asked Jacob and Alice them why they've scared away 10 nannies in 2 years. They sleep in the room next to Dad; the nursery is far away because Mom needed to sleep during the day.
Dr believes source of illness is spore; all illnesses similar to Cassandra's. Rev thinks it's evil from the Manor. They leave, Christian fantasizes about Rose. Hibbet says the kids like her; Jacob detests everyone. She also says Rose already left. He runs to get his horse, memories of a dead miss in the forest. Cassandra had had an affair with the Manor's warden, Watson. Rose has found no one there, weeps on Christian, he feels protective. Walking home, Christian tells her Cassandra got addicted to laudanum after the babies were born, came to the Manor for an hour or two every week. She tells him he's a good man to let his wife stay at home during that time; her father locked her in the house for six months. Greatest teachers cause most pain. He offers her governess; she won't discipline: we are more inclined to remember the lessons from those we revere.
Jacob's to go to Eton next year; neither twin is happy about it. Rose takes lesson outside. They had the fever the rest of household has; Papa told stories; Rev tidied nursery--organized cupboards, straightened drawers, looked under bed, memories of Mom trunk. They play Blind Man's Bluff while Papa watches. When it's her turn, she gets dizzy, falls, Christian catches her. Papa! “Shush,” Lord Farleigh whispered. “I cannot release her until she says my name.” R: I am the one who does the catching. C: Oh, you’ve caught me, Rose; make no mistake about that. “Rose has won the point, Papa.” C: Oh, I don’t know; I can’t help but feel I am the winner of this game. She's tingly, attracted. The kids help her off him. “Your cheeks are red.” R: Are they? Well, it is rather warm out. C: I have to agree. I, too, am rather hot beneath the collar. They go for cake, she's invited because she didn't scream when Jacob put a worm in her hand.
Day 2, the Knights wait for Rose for the picnic. She'd had to cut her hair because of Jacob, but she won't lay blame at his feet. They ask questions the other won't answer. They play BMB again, Christian as It. Rose falls in the lake, Jacob jumps in. Jacob had pushed her; she doesn't know how to swim; neither does Jacob. Christian gets them both, they all walk home. Their pinkies entwine.
After hot baths, Christian calls Rose in for Jacob's apology. Had the lake been a few feet deeper, I might not be sitting here. Christian didn't know about the push, just the hair. Jacob cries, Everybody leaves us, please don't leave. Hugs. Mama didn't want us. C: She was sick. J: These were tests, Rev says when you care about someone, you forgive them. Hugs. Jacob confesses he stole letters from Mama. He won't show them to Papa. Rose asks to take Jacob to his room to speak at his ease. C (in pain): “What sort of man has no control over his children? You must think me weak and foolish. R: Loving your children and trying to protect them does not make you weak, not in my eyes. OK, return tonight after dinner; I want your counsel on other things.
Jacob takes her to her room, not his. They're sex letters. J: A lady died in the woods, just like Mama. I think the letters might say why but I don’t understand all the words. She offers to read and give Papa the pertinent stuff. There's also a ledger. Dr arrives to see Jacob, did you like tonic? Lies, Yes.
She joins Christian in his study. He knew about affair. They didn't love each other, appeased parents. At least yours didn't take your freedom. Jacob thinks Mama's death and lady in woods are related. Miss Stoneway had escaped asylum; Miss Turner did, too, not found. Cassandra died in Watson's arms in cottage fire. She's sorry that was so dreadful, kisses his cheek, apologizes. He kisses her back, both passionate. Then he sees the Manor is on fire. He'll go, you stay with kids, kisses her, makes her promise to stay in the house.
The Manor will be ashes in hours. A couple sits on the ground. Christian goes for the Dr while they go to the Inn. It's the Earl and a woman, but it's not the old man. After the Dr tends to her, he asks Christian if he still claims to have seen faceless figure in a long black coat, like he did at the cottage's burning. Stanton dismissed all servants 2 days ago.
Rose worries Christian's hurt, goes toward the manor. She runs into a man who confuses her with Miss Asprey, his dove. He apologizes for leaving her there to die, then sees she's blonde, not auburn. Christian finds them, the man says You'll not take her from me again. Christian punches him. Lord Mosgrove's coachman takes him away. They hug, C: You promised you'd stay safe. R: I needed to know you were safe. C: Do you have any idea what you’re doing to me? On one hand, you make me feel like the strongest of men. I could race up a mountain, climb that damn tree. Punch any man who threatened to harm you. And yet inside … Pay me no heed. R: I don’t know what’s happening to me, either. C: Rose, when I’m with you my thoughts are far from moral. R: When I’m with you my thoughts are far from moral, too. They kiss, turns into 3rd base. Butler Alfred interrupts. On the walk home, he tells her all he knows, plus the old Earl died. The lady with red hair was Nicole. She faints.
He carries her to her room, sending someone for the Dr. Hibbet takes him out of Rose's room, someone's been asking for a woman of her description; if it happens again, direct them to me. "Truth be told, he needed her. She made his world of chaos a bearable place. Even the children behaved differently around her."
Day 4, Rose wakes, having slept through Day 3. She learns Rev searched her room for spores. Hibbet tells her Christian reprimanded Rev and Dr sharply. Rose battles with Lady Rose battles with Christian's wife. She walks to the Inn. Then walks back, without seeing Oliver and Nicole. Dr offers her a ride back, she can't refuse. He asks her opinion on the illness, she says it's not a plant because the garden is well-established, and the servants don't have time to roam the woods. It began with Cassandra's death. Rose asks about Miss Stoneway and what the Rev is looking for. He says Goodbye, my lady. She reexamines the letters and notebook, determines she needs Christian's help to decipher. He takes forever to get home, comes to her 2 stairs at a time while still muddy, needs to see her, too. She waits in her room, a footman gets her and introduces her to the study. Christian wants to talk after. Kisses, he invites her to his room, we can't, a man can dream, how about here in the study? I am at your mercy. R: So this is to be a game of master and servant, only we’ve reversed the roles. You're not my servant. They make love. Afterward, he tells her Rev's wife provides the herbs and plants used in Dr's potions. No one's to take his medicines anymore. He also took a potion to an apothecary in London to be analyzed. Rose asks if Cassandra's lover was for sure Watson. No real proof. She was better after visiting Manor for a few days. He saw someone in the woods when he pulled Cassandra out of fire. Found identical buttons in her hand and Miss Stoneway's. She thinks he needs to read letters. C: Are they as vulgar as I suspect? R; Yes, they detail intimate relations between a man and a woman, though they bear no resemblance to what we’ve just shared. C: You mean the letters lack passion, tenderness, any true feeling or sentiment? Kiss. He's thinking how to make her his wife.
Day 5, he's busy all day. As he sits down to read letters, Lord Stanton and Miss Asprey call. Looking for my sister. Christian feels betrayed, angry, sends Hibbet to get her. Rose gives Hibbet a hug, “My mother died a long time ago, but you have given me another glimpse of unconditional love. You love Lord Farleigh like a son. Anyone can see that. Know that I love him, too. Know that I never meant to hurt him.” Oliver hugs her, as does Nicole. Why didn't you return to London? C: Yes, why didn't you, and marry Lord Cunningham? She thinks Because I love you. She tells her escape story. Oliver and Nicole are marrying tomorrow. Christian excuses himself, won't let her say goodbye to the children, wants her to leave tonight. He gets drunk in the drawing room. Rose comes, has 2 letters for children. I'm the same woman. He pushes her away. She gives him a kiss on the cheek, I'll miss you, crying as she leaves with Oliver.
Days 6 and 7 have passed. Everyone misses Rose. Alice hates aristocracy, Jacob blames himself. Hibbet says Christian should marry her. That Rose told her she loves him, didn't want to hurt him. He gets her letter. Half of it's in Rev's writing, half from her. "I hope this example of the reverend’s writing proves useful in your endeavour to find peace. Forgive me." Sure enough, Rev was Cassandra's lover. Christian visits him, his wife is in London (never goes there), confronts him, threatens to take him to court for trespass of his estate, punches him for the damage to Jacob, and if he finds out he's responsible for Cassandra's death, he'll finish it. Goes to see Dr, he's gone to London to the Worshipful Society of the Apothecaries.
Day 8, Rose is at a ball, so not in love with Cunningham. Nicole knows she loves Christian. Knows sex. Then Ross Sandford, Marquess of Trevane, known to all as Vane, arrives with his sister, Lillian, and Christian. He's been staying in Christian's London house, and now Christian, kids, and Hibbet are there, too. They're searching for Rose. He finds her, asks her to dance, feels peace. Tell me you don't have feelings for Cunningham. My heart is yours, Christian. At the dance's end, he takes her back to Oliver, who doesn't like Christian because Rose cries all night. O: I suppose you're here for the book? C: I don't read lady's journals. O: She found it there. They all go for a walk in the garden. R: It's a ledger Jacob gave to me at same time as letters. C: Wilmslow wrote letters and has been poisoning staff. R: Dr is involved. C (panicked): Do not go inquiring without me. Kiss. Oliver calls, Vane is in trouble.
At breakfast, Rose tells Oliver she's in love with Christian, but don't you dare force him into marriage. She gets a letter: I’m to come to the Chelsea Physic Garden at two o’clock today. That I’m to wear a coat and breeches, as women are not permitted entrance. That I’m to bring the blue book. Should I fail in the task, Lord Farleigh and his children will suffer a fate similar to that of his late wife. Poison is an invisible enemy often consumed without knowledge. Oliver and Nicole (as a man) will go early, grab Christian, and Rose will go at 2.
A boy meets her at the gate, has to see the book first. His vest is missing 2 buttons. She meets Mrs Wilmslow. They go in a building, Mrs kisses Dr. He takes the book; the letter from Miss Stoneway's aunt isn't in it. Mrs killed Cassandra and Watson. They're going to run away together after killing Rose. R: I take it your offer of marriage no longer stands. Mrs gets angry. R: So I’m not the only intelligent woman in Abberton? Mrs angrier. R: I copied everything from the book, Oliver is coming, and Christian has buttons. Dr: Like my pocket watch? Yes. He turns on Mrs, viciously accuses her of stealing, of murdering Miss Stoneway. They fight, Mrs stabs Dr in the chest.
Christian, Oliver, and Nicole hurry as fast as they can. They scale the fence. They hear Mrs accusing Rose: You made me do this! Then she holds a knife to Rose's throat. The 2 women get to the river, the others following, when Dr follows, falls. Mrs cries out, falls into river, pulling Rose along with her. Christian rescues Rose, can't get to Mrs. They go to get the head of police, Home Secretary Peel.
His throat grew tight when he thought of how close he’d come to losing her. Rose was his friend, his love, his everything. He recalled something she’d said at Everleigh. Often our greatest teachers are the ones who cause us the most pain. Now he understood Cassandra’s lesson. She had shown him all that love was not. Only now could he appreciate the value of sacrifice. Now he could appreciate the beauty of true love.
"Peel sent a constable around to every London address listed in the blue book. It soon became evident that some patients at the manor had not been mad at all. Greedy people often resorted to underhanded methods to rid themselves of their unwanted relatives." Rose tells Nicole to take her to Christian's home, not Oliver's. Trevane lets her in, hoping she'll quiet the children. He's amazed she's not worried about her reputation. The children hug her, report on the tasks she set them in her letters: to pour Papa a brandy, to bring Papa a flower from the garden. Hibbet draws a bath, Lillian loans clothes. Rose likes Lillian. Lillian asks what is like to be loved and cherished. She had a scandalous encounter with a rogue, Trevane blames himself. She has no hope for a love match, only for a gentleman in need of funds. Lillian darts away from the window. What's wrong? It's nothing, a carriage stopped outside.
Much later, Christian comes home. Vane blames himself for Lillian and for Miss Darcy. Christian finds Rose sleeping with the children on 1 bed. Hibbet says they were sent an angel. He takes Rose for talking, but that was said for Hibbet's sake. He pulls her into the master bedroom. While making love, he says I love you; she says I've loved you since you wiped ash off my face. Marry me. Yes. We leave for Scotland tomorrow. Yes. First thing when we get home-- R: Study? Woods? No, I'm teaching you to swim. Then those things.
The children thought Scotland was an adventure, plus Christian and Rose didn't want Wilmslow marrying them. When they get home, they've received a letter from Vane. Lillian is missing. Found a newer letter, Vane knows where she is. Kidnapped by a pirate.
October 22, 2017
After having read and thoroughly enjoyed many books by Adele Clee, I was delighted to read her newest book, THE DECEPTIVE LADY DARBY. It is the second book in her new Regency historical romance series, LOST LADIES OF LONDON, and NOT to be missed.
If you have already read The Mysterious Miss Flint (Lost Ladies of London- Book 1), you will immediately be familiar with Rose, the heroine in THE DECEPTIVE LADY DARBY (Book 2). But, even if you have not had the pleasure of reading the first book, THE DECEPTIVE LADY DARBY easily stands on its own and is a story to savor!
In THE DECEPTIVE LADY DARBY, Lady Rose Darby is the innocent, loving, daughter of a, hmm, how can I say this politely, MALICIOUS, CRUEL, WORTHLESS EXCUSE for a human being, the Earl of Stanton. (And that WAS being polite.) The earl's life goal is to make everyone's existence as wretched as possible. When Rose tells him she is in love with one of the Lords of the Ton, he hires a young woman, Nicole Flint, as a companion and whisks the two women off on a trip. Unknown to them the trip won't be long or far- just to an abandoned insane asylum outside London where they both will be held prisoner under the harsh care of brutal keepers. For six long, terrible months, the two women have endured imprisonment in the insane asylum before Rose is able to escape. Nicole stays behind to help delay anyone coming after Rose.
Rather than finding her way through a nearby forest to a well-traveled road leading to London where she hopes to get help, Rose loses her way and ends up at lonely Everleigh Mansion just beyond the forest bordering the insane asylum. Frightened, hungry and weary, she accepts a job as a housemaid in order to have a safe haven until she feels capable of continuing her flight to freedom.
And this is where the story truly begins. The hero, Christian Knight, Viscount Farleigh, is the master of Everleigh and the widowed father of two young twins. Though he tries to do his best for them under unpleasant circumstances, he feels he is failing which adds to his despondency over his deceased wife. When Rose is introduced to him as the newly hired maid, he instantly sees that she is a lady of quality, but assuming she has fallen on hard times and needs to work for a living, he gives her the position of governess to his twin son and daughter.
Rose's affectionate personality soon wins over the lonely twins and Christian. However, an unknown evil plagues the people at Everleigh. Mystery, illness, and death hang over their heads and true happiness will never be achieved until the mystery is solved and the evil stopped.
This book has it all: mystery, excitement, strong emotion, danger, and a HEA. I highly recommend it! I received an advanced copy and voluntarily chose to read and review it. The review is my honest and unbiased opinion.
If you have already read The Mysterious Miss Flint (Lost Ladies of London- Book 1), you will immediately be familiar with Rose, the heroine in THE DECEPTIVE LADY DARBY (Book 2). But, even if you have not had the pleasure of reading the first book, THE DECEPTIVE LADY DARBY easily stands on its own and is a story to savor!
In THE DECEPTIVE LADY DARBY, Lady Rose Darby is the innocent, loving, daughter of a, hmm, how can I say this politely, MALICIOUS, CRUEL, WORTHLESS EXCUSE for a human being, the Earl of Stanton. (And that WAS being polite.) The earl's life goal is to make everyone's existence as wretched as possible. When Rose tells him she is in love with one of the Lords of the Ton, he hires a young woman, Nicole Flint, as a companion and whisks the two women off on a trip. Unknown to them the trip won't be long or far- just to an abandoned insane asylum outside London where they both will be held prisoner under the harsh care of brutal keepers. For six long, terrible months, the two women have endured imprisonment in the insane asylum before Rose is able to escape. Nicole stays behind to help delay anyone coming after Rose.
Rather than finding her way through a nearby forest to a well-traveled road leading to London where she hopes to get help, Rose loses her way and ends up at lonely Everleigh Mansion just beyond the forest bordering the insane asylum. Frightened, hungry and weary, she accepts a job as a housemaid in order to have a safe haven until she feels capable of continuing her flight to freedom.
And this is where the story truly begins. The hero, Christian Knight, Viscount Farleigh, is the master of Everleigh and the widowed father of two young twins. Though he tries to do his best for them under unpleasant circumstances, he feels he is failing which adds to his despondency over his deceased wife. When Rose is introduced to him as the newly hired maid, he instantly sees that she is a lady of quality, but assuming she has fallen on hard times and needs to work for a living, he gives her the position of governess to his twin son and daughter.
Rose's affectionate personality soon wins over the lonely twins and Christian. However, an unknown evil plagues the people at Everleigh. Mystery, illness, and death hang over their heads and true happiness will never be achieved until the mystery is solved and the evil stopped.
This book has it all: mystery, excitement, strong emotion, danger, and a HEA. I highly recommend it! I received an advanced copy and voluntarily chose to read and review it. The review is my honest and unbiased opinion.
October 28, 2017
The Deceptive Lady Darby is the second of Adele Clee’s ‘Lost Ladies of London’ series. It follows Lady Rose Darby as she makes her escape (aided by Nicole Flint, her companion and the heroine of the first first ‘Lost Ladies’ book The Mysterious Miss Flint) from Morton Manor, a former asylum in which she has been unfairly imprisoned by her father for the past six months.
The story is told parallel to the first novel so if you have read that it gives a greater understanding of the events as a whole but if not, it works very well as a stand alone novel.
Due to certain events Rose ends up doubling back trying to return to the Manor but loses her way in the dark and ends up Everleigh, the neighbouring estate which is home to widower Christian Knight, Viscount Farleigh. She is mistaken by the housekeeper for a maid they are expecting shortly. Needing sanctuary, Lady Rose grabs this chance to stay hidden for a few days whilst she decides what to do.
Lord Farleigh, on his part immediately recognises Rose is not what she says she is but being in dire need of a governess for his children he accepts her word and employs her to look after the children rather than as a maid. He is a deeply troubled man - his children are not settling and there is an inexplicable sickness running rife through his home for which there seems to be no cure. But in Rose he feels an immediate sense of comfort and peace as well as a deep attraction.
The story employs one of my favourite sub genres in romance - the troubled Lord of the manor and the sweet but feisty governess - and adds a twist to it. Rose is not a maid or servant and certainly doesn’t always act like it but Christian suspects she is more than what she says and is not surprised by her manner. This cleverly allows for franker discussion a and behaviours than would usually be the norm. We see the deepening attraction and developing relationship between the two but there are also mysteries to solve. Rose needs to know what happened to Nicole back at the Manor and Christian has to figure out why the strange illness that has befallen his household is not going away and who could be behind it.
There is also a mystery surrounding his faithless wife’s death which seems to be linked to Morton Manor. There are many strands to the story which are linked very well but keep the reader guessing.
I loved Christian as a hero. He is a good, strong, deeply honourable and honest man who is struggling with events that are out of his control. He is also a wonderful father and you can see that from his interactions with his children in the book. He may not have been as understanding as he could have when Rose’s deception is revealed (because after all he did have some suspicions) but you can certainly see why he reacts as he does and this is quickly resolved.
Rose is a wonderful heroine. She is a gently bred lady who is thrown completely out of her comfort zone and she learns to adapt very quickly to her new circumstances. She is sweet, lovely with the children and in a short amount of time makes herself indispensable to everyone at Everleigh. She falls very quickly for Christian but is always aware of her deception and can never really find the right moment to tell him her true identity.
The events actually only span a couple of weeks but Adele crams a lot of twists and turns through it and it is never predictable. The writing is excellent as always and the secondary characters are intriguing. I am waiting with baited breath for Vane’s story!
Needless to say that I loved this story and would recommend this to all. Adele is on my list of must buy authors and she never disappoints. I was generously given an ARC copy by the author for my honest opinion.
The story is told parallel to the first novel so if you have read that it gives a greater understanding of the events as a whole but if not, it works very well as a stand alone novel.
Due to certain events Rose ends up doubling back trying to return to the Manor but loses her way in the dark and ends up Everleigh, the neighbouring estate which is home to widower Christian Knight, Viscount Farleigh. She is mistaken by the housekeeper for a maid they are expecting shortly. Needing sanctuary, Lady Rose grabs this chance to stay hidden for a few days whilst she decides what to do.
Lord Farleigh, on his part immediately recognises Rose is not what she says she is but being in dire need of a governess for his children he accepts her word and employs her to look after the children rather than as a maid. He is a deeply troubled man - his children are not settling and there is an inexplicable sickness running rife through his home for which there seems to be no cure. But in Rose he feels an immediate sense of comfort and peace as well as a deep attraction.
The story employs one of my favourite sub genres in romance - the troubled Lord of the manor and the sweet but feisty governess - and adds a twist to it. Rose is not a maid or servant and certainly doesn’t always act like it but Christian suspects she is more than what she says and is not surprised by her manner. This cleverly allows for franker discussion a and behaviours than would usually be the norm. We see the deepening attraction and developing relationship between the two but there are also mysteries to solve. Rose needs to know what happened to Nicole back at the Manor and Christian has to figure out why the strange illness that has befallen his household is not going away and who could be behind it.
There is also a mystery surrounding his faithless wife’s death which seems to be linked to Morton Manor. There are many strands to the story which are linked very well but keep the reader guessing.
I loved Christian as a hero. He is a good, strong, deeply honourable and honest man who is struggling with events that are out of his control. He is also a wonderful father and you can see that from his interactions with his children in the book. He may not have been as understanding as he could have when Rose’s deception is revealed (because after all he did have some suspicions) but you can certainly see why he reacts as he does and this is quickly resolved.
Rose is a wonderful heroine. She is a gently bred lady who is thrown completely out of her comfort zone and she learns to adapt very quickly to her new circumstances. She is sweet, lovely with the children and in a short amount of time makes herself indispensable to everyone at Everleigh. She falls very quickly for Christian but is always aware of her deception and can never really find the right moment to tell him her true identity.
The events actually only span a couple of weeks but Adele crams a lot of twists and turns through it and it is never predictable. The writing is excellent as always and the secondary characters are intriguing. I am waiting with baited breath for Vane’s story!
Needless to say that I loved this story and would recommend this to all. Adele is on my list of must buy authors and she never disappoints. I was generously given an ARC copy by the author for my honest opinion.
October 25, 2017
Lady Rose Darby has been kept prisoner in at Morton Manor, an abandoned insane asylum, with just her paid companion, Nicole, to keep her company and help protect her from those her father has paid to keep her there. After 6 months in captivity Nicole helps Rose escape from the manor with the plan of heading for a main road to London to get more help but she ends up lost in the woods outside of the manor on the grounds of Everleigh where she is mistaken for a new maid. The staff at Everleigh is in desperate need of help given the sickness running rampant, deaths in the woods around the estate, a set of insufferable twins creating the need for a new governess every other week, and their father, the widowed Christian Knight, seventh Viscount Farleigh, who is stuck in the middle of everything. Christian immediately realizes that Rose is not just a common maid due to her intelligence and lack of ability to clean and reset the fire in his study. There is an instant attraction between the two but he must do everything he can to keep himself from acting on it. Rose feels this attraction too but she can’t give away her true identity since her reputation as a lady would be ruined. Rose becomes the twin’s governess rather than a maid and as such spends more time with Christian. Will Christian be able to protect his family and staff from the evil lurking around the grounds of Everleigh? Will Rose’s true identity be discovered before she is able to finish her escape back to London? Can Christian and Rose really ignore the sparks flying between them?
This book is a great mix of romance and mystery. The plot has twists and turns that kept my interest throughout. The primary characters are very well developed but I wish there was a bit more about some of the secondary characters towards the end of the book (I can’t give more details without giving away part of the story!). This was a wonderful book. Adele Clee has done it again!
I received an ARC of this book and have voluntarily provided an honest review.
This book is a great mix of romance and mystery. The plot has twists and turns that kept my interest throughout. The primary characters are very well developed but I wish there was a bit more about some of the secondary characters towards the end of the book (I can’t give more details without giving away part of the story!). This was a wonderful book. Adele Clee has done it again!
I received an ARC of this book and have voluntarily provided an honest review.
March 6, 2018
This is the second book in the Lost Ladies of London series, and it's all about Rose's adventures after she leaves Morton Manor. If you haven't read book 1, go read it first! This review will have spoilers for the first book, which was a really good read.
After being locked away in Morton Manor for the last six months, Rose finally escapes the old asylum. Desperate to return to London and avoid her father, Rose makes her way to the local inn in the middle of the night. Seeing her father's coach outside, she tries to return to the manor house to warn Nicole. But Rose loses her way in the woods and finds herself outside Everleigh Manor instead.
Mistaken for a newly hired maid, Rose goes along with the deception. When Rose meets the owner of the manor, Viscount Farleigh, she's driven to help the burdened widower and his two young children, even if she loses her heart in the process.
This was another lovely romance with a suspenseful mystery that had me hooked until the end! It's a steamy read, it could be read as a standalone but I enjoyed the first one and recommend it as well. I loved both Rose and Christian. Each of Adele Clee's heroines are distinct and have their own personalities. Rose was so sweet and kind, in contrast to Nicole's spunk and spirit. Christian was a mature man with a weight on his shoulders, experiencing love for the first time. The mystery kept me listening and guessing until the end.
The narration was great, the narrator performed separate voices for each character and read dramatically. She made it a really easy listen. I requested a copy of the audiobook, and I'm voluntarily leaving a review.
After being locked away in Morton Manor for the last six months, Rose finally escapes the old asylum. Desperate to return to London and avoid her father, Rose makes her way to the local inn in the middle of the night. Seeing her father's coach outside, she tries to return to the manor house to warn Nicole. But Rose loses her way in the woods and finds herself outside Everleigh Manor instead.
Mistaken for a newly hired maid, Rose goes along with the deception. When Rose meets the owner of the manor, Viscount Farleigh, she's driven to help the burdened widower and his two young children, even if she loses her heart in the process.
This was another lovely romance with a suspenseful mystery that had me hooked until the end! It's a steamy read, it could be read as a standalone but I enjoyed the first one and recommend it as well. I loved both Rose and Christian. Each of Adele Clee's heroines are distinct and have their own personalities. Rose was so sweet and kind, in contrast to Nicole's spunk and spirit. Christian was a mature man with a weight on his shoulders, experiencing love for the first time. The mystery kept me listening and guessing until the end.
The narration was great, the narrator performed separate voices for each character and read dramatically. She made it a really easy listen. I requested a copy of the audiobook, and I'm voluntarily leaving a review.
October 22, 2017
Lady Rose Darby has escaped the dreadful asylum her father had her imprisoned for the past six months. She accidentally comes across Lord Farleigh’s property bordering the asylum. She’s mistaken for a maid, which suits her purpose, she can’t be found yet, she fears that her father will send her back.
Lord Farleigh Christian Knight is a widowed reclusive man, his late wife was a deceitful lying woman who only thought of herself. Her tragic death with her lover and the mysterious illness plaguing his home have left him alone and he’s vowed never to marry, his only concern are for his children they have been through so much in their short lives. When Rose is introduced as the new maid all he can think of are her luscious lips. Too many things are going on in his house with a mysterious illness and he can’t be distracted by the delectable maid with the not so maidly look.
This was a really really great story lots of twists and an intriguing plot with a vilain you would never expect. Loved Rose and Christian you could see that Rose was the healing he needed and their attraction was a slow burn that caught flame.
A surprising turn of events with a mystery to be solved. A page turner that will keep your interest until the very end. Adele Clee writes the perfect blend of mystery and suspenseful plot, and heroes that burn for their heroins and fight the villains to save their maiden.
I received a complimentary copy from the author for my honest unbiased opinion.
Lord Farleigh Christian Knight is a widowed reclusive man, his late wife was a deceitful lying woman who only thought of herself. Her tragic death with her lover and the mysterious illness plaguing his home have left him alone and he’s vowed never to marry, his only concern are for his children they have been through so much in their short lives. When Rose is introduced as the new maid all he can think of are her luscious lips. Too many things are going on in his house with a mysterious illness and he can’t be distracted by the delectable maid with the not so maidly look.
This was a really really great story lots of twists and an intriguing plot with a vilain you would never expect. Loved Rose and Christian you could see that Rose was the healing he needed and their attraction was a slow burn that caught flame.
A surprising turn of events with a mystery to be solved. A page turner that will keep your interest until the very end. Adele Clee writes the perfect blend of mystery and suspenseful plot, and heroes that burn for their heroins and fight the villains to save their maiden.
I received a complimentary copy from the author for my honest unbiased opinion.
May 12, 2018
The more I read/listen to this series, the more I am enjoying it.
In this particular story we have a very jaded young man, Christian Knight, whose wife had some relationships with other men and at the writing of this story he is a widower. He is trying to bring up his 2 young children but every governess he hires leaves the house at a fast sprint. To add to the chaos in his life his household is very short staffed and many of the staff he employs fall ill with a mysterious illness.
Rose escapes the 'madhouse' nearby and arrives on his doorstep - the story takes off and unfolds in leaps and bounds with lots of twists and turns. It is very cleverly written, captured and held my interest throughout and I was extremely well entertained. It is a stand-alone but does have close ties to the first book and we meet the main characters from that story again.
I enjoyed the narration by Liisa Ivary in this audiobook and note that her work is improving with each book she does.
I am very happy to recommend this book/audiobook as a page turner that will entertain and keep you wanting more in is series.
A copy of the audiobook was freely supplied by the author and this is my voluntary and unbiased review of it.
In this particular story we have a very jaded young man, Christian Knight, whose wife had some relationships with other men and at the writing of this story he is a widower. He is trying to bring up his 2 young children but every governess he hires leaves the house at a fast sprint. To add to the chaos in his life his household is very short staffed and many of the staff he employs fall ill with a mysterious illness.
Rose escapes the 'madhouse' nearby and arrives on his doorstep - the story takes off and unfolds in leaps and bounds with lots of twists and turns. It is very cleverly written, captured and held my interest throughout and I was extremely well entertained. It is a stand-alone but does have close ties to the first book and we meet the main characters from that story again.
I enjoyed the narration by Liisa Ivary in this audiobook and note that her work is improving with each book she does.
I am very happy to recommend this book/audiobook as a page turner that will entertain and keep you wanting more in is series.
A copy of the audiobook was freely supplied by the author and this is my voluntary and unbiased review of it.
October 23, 2017
If you have read the first book in this series, "The Mysterious Miss Flint" then you have to read
this one. It is the finish of what happen to Rose Darby after she is finally able to escape after six months locked in an old asylum by her own father. Planning to go to London she gets lost and ends up at the sprawling mansion Everleigh, home of Lord Farleigh(Christian). He had been widowed at 30 and left to care for his two children. He has a number of problems, a sick staff that no one know the reason for. Kids that play nasty tricks on all the governess so they leave and memories of a unfaithful, ill wife.
The housekeeper runs into Rose and mistakes her for the new maid. Quickly all know she is not a maid, by her actions so she becomes the new governess. The kids, Rose and Christian and the house keeper Alice Keepers make this book a keeper. It was hard to stop reading wished it had been longer,
but I find I don't like for any books I read by Adele Clee to be over.
Hope you will give this a try, can be read as stand alone, but much much better read in order.
this one. It is the finish of what happen to Rose Darby after she is finally able to escape after six months locked in an old asylum by her own father. Planning to go to London she gets lost and ends up at the sprawling mansion Everleigh, home of Lord Farleigh(Christian). He had been widowed at 30 and left to care for his two children. He has a number of problems, a sick staff that no one know the reason for. Kids that play nasty tricks on all the governess so they leave and memories of a unfaithful, ill wife.
The housekeeper runs into Rose and mistakes her for the new maid. Quickly all know she is not a maid, by her actions so she becomes the new governess. The kids, Rose and Christian and the house keeper Alice Keepers make this book a keeper. It was hard to stop reading wished it had been longer,
but I find I don't like for any books I read by Adele Clee to be over.
Hope you will give this a try, can be read as stand alone, but much much better read in order.
October 29, 2017
As all of Adele Clee’s books I knew this would be a wonderful story and I was not disappointed!! This was the second book in a series but can be read as a stand alone. In the first scene Lady Rose Darby is frantically running away from an asylum where she has been held captive for over six months. Yes, can you imagine? Her father had imprisoned her there with her friend Nichole when she was determined to marry a man of which he did not approve. She was found by the housekeeper of Everleigh, a manor close by owned by widower Christian Knight, Lord Farley. Mistaken as a maid, she becomes part of the household and fights her attraction to Christian but soon has deep affection for his children. Mysterious illnesses and strange happenings seem to plague the manor and there are deep secrets that are hidden that start coming to the surface. If you enjoy mystery, romance and a healthy dose of intrigue, you will really enjoy this story. Adele Clee keeps you on the edge and holds you there until the end. I cannot wait to read the next book in this series!!
May 6, 2018
Mystery, suspense and romance abound in this second book in the series.
The whereabouts of Lady Rose is revealed and I followed her adventures with excitement.
I like the governess trope when it is well written and the characters are as likeable and charming as they are here. The children and their bond with Rose was sweet and I couldn't help but be entertained as they muddled through their days together. Lord Farleigh was kind to Rose and their initial scenes together, sweet and cute, left me with a warm fuzzy feeling inside.
I enjoyed the dark elements to the novel. There were a few sinister characters lurking in the background which kept my mind busy in guessing what their motives were and how they would fit into the events surrounding the deaths of two women and the mysterious illness affecting the servants in the house. I was kept guessing right to the end.
Events unfolded and concluded in a very satisfactory way. I'm looking forward to reading more of the series.
The whereabouts of Lady Rose is revealed and I followed her adventures with excitement.
I like the governess trope when it is well written and the characters are as likeable and charming as they are here. The children and their bond with Rose was sweet and I couldn't help but be entertained as they muddled through their days together. Lord Farleigh was kind to Rose and their initial scenes together, sweet and cute, left me with a warm fuzzy feeling inside.
I enjoyed the dark elements to the novel. There were a few sinister characters lurking in the background which kept my mind busy in guessing what their motives were and how they would fit into the events surrounding the deaths of two women and the mysterious illness affecting the servants in the house. I was kept guessing right to the end.
Events unfolded and concluded in a very satisfactory way. I'm looking forward to reading more of the series.
October 29, 2017
This was an entertaining story concerning Lady Rose Darby and what happened to her when she escaped from the asylum. She finds her way into a nearby Manor House and pretends to be a maid. The house belongs to Christian Knight, Viscount Farleigh, a widower with two children. Rose quickly becomes involved in the life of the house and there is a definite attraction between Rose and Christian. There is also a mystery concerning the death of his first wife and a strange illness that affects the staff. The action takes place in the country but also in London. In London, we meet Christian’s friend Vane and his sister, Lillian. There is also a mystery involving Lillian. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I look forward to reading the next in the series. I was given a pre-release copy and I have voluntarily reviewed it. However I have purchased a copy as well.
November 19, 2019
I must saw for the first half of the book I found myself asking multiple times “what on earth are they referring to?”. This was when I realized that this is a second book in the series and it appears that each of the stories have some overlap in them. Once that was cleared and things started getting explained it was a decent read. I found it a little hard to believe Christian instantly started trusting Rose since he was a man that trusted literally NO-ONE. But since this is a romance one just learns to go with the flow and just accept things as they are. Towards the end of the book I did feel the connection the two main characters had, and though Vane sounds like an amazing character I don’t really find myself jumping to want to read his story. So all in all it was a fun read but not fun enough that I want to continue on with the series.
December 4, 2019
Rose escapes from an abandoned insane asylums where she has been held by order of her father for six months. When she reaches the Inn to get passage back to London she sees her father’s coach in the Inn courtyard. She tries to return to the place she had been held in to warn her friend and companion but got lost and ended up at at a mansion of a viscount. They mistook her for the maid they were expecting. So she agreed to stay for one week, but first she must go back to explain where she is. But things go wrong and have been wrong since the Viscounts wife was murdered two years ago. The viscounts children are very upset and having been working very hard to rid themselves of governess for the past two years. There is much to be done to make this family into a happy healthy family. A delightful book.
October 20, 2017
Lord Farleigh, Christian Knight, lives at Everleigh with his two children. His wife died two years ago. Lady Rose Darby, was sent to an asylum. She has been there for six months.
This a regency mystery. It has all the things you need for a good one. Spooky Manor, deaths, a storm, and sick people. The characters were warm, sweet and kind, but someone wasn't who he appeared to be. The descriptions were wonderful, the forest behind Everleigh was kind of creepy. The plot was suspenseful, intriguing and a puzzlement. It was somewhat complex, but the author brought it all together into a remarkable, smooth and well written book. I loved the children's attachment to Rose. I highly recommend this exceptional story.
I received this ARC free and voluntarily reviewed it.
This a regency mystery. It has all the things you need for a good one. Spooky Manor, deaths, a storm, and sick people. The characters were warm, sweet and kind, but someone wasn't who he appeared to be. The descriptions were wonderful, the forest behind Everleigh was kind of creepy. The plot was suspenseful, intriguing and a puzzlement. It was somewhat complex, but the author brought it all together into a remarkable, smooth and well written book. I loved the children's attachment to Rose. I highly recommend this exceptional story.
I received this ARC free and voluntarily reviewed it.
October 29, 2017
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
💋💋💋
Rose Darby has been imprisoned in Morton Manor by her father , he’s now died and her brother has taken the title .
Rose has no idea these events have come about , before her brother came to rescue her , she escaped on her own , now she’s found her way to Everleigh, the residence of Christian Knight 7th Viscount Farleigh.
Christian is stunned by the angel now in his study , apparently a maid with no references, she can’t prepare and clean a grate and gets soot and dust on her face , which far from making her look dirty , makes her more desirable.
He can’t afford to get involved, his unfaithful wife died 2 years earlier ,leaving him with 2children to care for , he’s got staff falling ill every week for no apparent reason, and the governesses keep leaving .
No matter, he can’t seem to stay away from her , and she has similar problems.
When she finds evidence all may not have been as assumed in the death of his wife, and that the illnesses maybe anything but random, they work to discover the identity of the people involved .
Adele’s sequel to The Mysterious Miss Flint is brilliant, just as good , just as emotional, just as gripping, written with the same amount of care and attention to detail, books don’t get better than these .
Highly recommend
I received a copy of this book in return for an honest review
💋💋💋
Rose Darby has been imprisoned in Morton Manor by her father , he’s now died and her brother has taken the title .
Rose has no idea these events have come about , before her brother came to rescue her , she escaped on her own , now she’s found her way to Everleigh, the residence of Christian Knight 7th Viscount Farleigh.
Christian is stunned by the angel now in his study , apparently a maid with no references, she can’t prepare and clean a grate and gets soot and dust on her face , which far from making her look dirty , makes her more desirable.
He can’t afford to get involved, his unfaithful wife died 2 years earlier ,leaving him with 2children to care for , he’s got staff falling ill every week for no apparent reason, and the governesses keep leaving .
No matter, he can’t seem to stay away from her , and she has similar problems.
When she finds evidence all may not have been as assumed in the death of his wife, and that the illnesses maybe anything but random, they work to discover the identity of the people involved .
Adele’s sequel to The Mysterious Miss Flint is brilliant, just as good , just as emotional, just as gripping, written with the same amount of care and attention to detail, books don’t get better than these .
Highly recommend
I received a copy of this book in return for an honest review
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 17, 2018
Now the reader learns what Lady Rose was up to while her brother and Miss Flint (see Book 1) looked for her! As Rose does not know her father has died, she's understandably desperate to not be found. When others jump to false conclusions she does not correct, it's an opportunity for her to hide. She accepts the offered position in Lord Farleigh's household. Rose can empathize with Lord Farleigh's half-orphaned children in this somewhat irregular household and is entrusted with their care. This is a lovely love story in which the relationship between the H and h slowly develops. There is also some odd malady afflicting the servants providing a mytery to be solved. I totally enjoyed reading this.
March 28, 2018
Another fabulous entry in a great series! At the end of The Mysterious Miss Flint The Mysterious Miss Flint (Lost Ladies of London Book 1), we were left to wonder at the fate of Miss Flint's charge, Lady Darby., sister of Miss Flint's soon to be husband, Oliver. This book answers the question, with an unusual plot device that kept me up past 2 a.m. to finish. I rarely find that the mystery driving the story in this genre is heart pounding enough to get me to stay up that late, but the strength of Lady Darby and the sympathetic character found in Christian Knight kept me in the story. Can't wait for the next installment!
July 8, 2018
I really enjoyed this 2nd book in the Lost Ladies of London series & was so pleased to read what happened to Rose from the 1st book. Rose Darby is an intelligent, lovely & strong lady & when she meets the handsome "knight" Christian Knight, 7th Viscount Farleigh, sparks begin to fly between them! This was a very good & different story with some suspense, danger, romance, spice & great secondary characters. I am off to read Book 3 to see what happens to Lillian & who's the pirate & I hope to see more of Christian's friend Vane. I highly recommend this series to all historical romance lovers!
October 27, 2017
After reading 'The Mysterious MissFlint', the first book in the series, I was looking forward to Rose's story. Ms. Clee did not disappoint. The story was enthralling and kept me reading throughout the night. There is love, misunderstandings, and most of all a lot of mysterious happenings. Throughout the well-paced book are plenty of hints to keep the reader interested. It took me a long time to figure out the mystery and in the end, I was still surprised. Well done, Miss. Clee! Now I can't wait for the next book in the series. Well, I hope there will be a next one.
April 28, 2018
It starts out with heart-stopping action and does not let up until the end! After reading to the end, I just had to sit back and catch my breath. This second installment of the series dials up the romantic heat and action. One mystery is solved, only to have another one develop. As Lady Darby finds her happily ever after, her friend starts another adventure. I cannot wait to read the next installment!
August 27, 2021
Rosen Nicole
These two books for a wonderful true friends meeting under awful circumstances helped each other through thick and thin one goes missing other than meets the love of her life while hunting we’re her friend could be your friend lost in the woods and needs her live in shining armor what more could aHistorical romance offer true or invert loves reading about loves it was white past wishing she was born in another time
These two books for a wonderful true friends meeting under awful circumstances helped each other through thick and thin one goes missing other than meets the love of her life while hunting we’re her friend could be your friend lost in the woods and needs her live in shining armor what more could aHistorical romance offer true or invert loves reading about loves it was white past wishing she was born in another time
January 21, 2023
Better and better
Not only do we get to find out where sister Rose has been all this time, we discover she has found a love of her own with his own mystery. I couldn't put it down. I had the bad guy pretty well pegged from the start but that twist at the climax really threw me for a loop. I am loving this series. Lovely romance, interesting mystery, fantastic characters. Definitely looking forward to the next one.
Not only do we get to find out where sister Rose has been all this time, we discover she has found a love of her own with his own mystery. I couldn't put it down. I had the bad guy pretty well pegged from the start but that twist at the climax really threw me for a loop. I am loving this series. Lovely romance, interesting mystery, fantastic characters. Definitely looking forward to the next one.
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