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A Lady Arianna Regency Mystery #3
Recipe For Treason
A diabolical traitor who's always out of reach...
England, 1814. Lady Arianna Hadley and her husband, the Earl of Saybrook, want nothing more than to savor a quiet life embellished by the occasional cup of the finest chocolate. However, when they receive orders to travel to Scotland and capture an elusive traitor, they feel their duty to the Crown must come first.
In a laboratory in Scotland, they discover the coprse of a chemistry professor--and cryptic papers hinting at a dangerous new discovery now in enemy hands. Racing against time, Arianna and Saybrook pursue their most cunning and dangerous adversary yet through a complex network of intrigue involving exotic chocolates, daredevil aviators, a missing inventor, and a secret recipe that must be recovered at any cost...
INCLUDES CHOCOLATE RECIPES AND TRIVIA!
England, 1814. Lady Arianna Hadley and her husband, the Earl of Saybrook, want nothing more than to savor a quiet life embellished by the occasional cup of the finest chocolate. However, when they receive orders to travel to Scotland and capture an elusive traitor, they feel their duty to the Crown must come first.
In a laboratory in Scotland, they discover the coprse of a chemistry professor--and cryptic papers hinting at a dangerous new discovery now in enemy hands. Racing against time, Arianna and Saybrook pursue their most cunning and dangerous adversary yet through a complex network of intrigue involving exotic chocolates, daredevil aviators, a missing inventor, and a secret recipe that must be recovered at any cost...
INCLUDES CHOCOLATE RECIPES AND TRIVIA!
Audible Audio
First published December 1, 2012
419 people are currently reading
671 people want to read
About the author
Andrea Penrose
21 books1,976 followersAndrea Penrose is the USA Today bestselling author of Regency-era historical fiction, including the acclaimed Wrexford & Sloane mystery series, as well as Regency romances written under the names Cara Elliott and Andrea Pickens. Published internationally in ten languages, she is a three-time RITA Award finalist and the recipient of numerous writing awards, including two Daphne Du Maurier Awards for Historical Mystery and two Gold Leaf Awards.
A graduate of Yale University with a B.A. in Art and an M.F.A. in Graphic Design, Andrea fell in love with Regency England after reading Pride and Prejudice and has maintained a fascination with the era’s swirling silks and radical new ideas throughout her writing career. She lives in Connecticut and blogs with a community of historical fiction authors at WordWenches.com. She also can be found at AndreaPenrose.com and on Instagram @AndreaPenroseBooks.
A graduate of Yale University with a B.A. in Art and an M.F.A. in Graphic Design, Andrea fell in love with Regency England after reading Pride and Prejudice and has maintained a fascination with the era’s swirling silks and radical new ideas throughout her writing career. She lives in Connecticut and blogs with a community of historical fiction authors at WordWenches.com. She also can be found at AndreaPenrose.com and on Instagram @AndreaPenroseBooks.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
April 27, 2021
... and finally they've caught the Renard! Only, it was not what you would expect! LOL
What I found difficult to believe is that I would have expected much more cunning from Renard... it was just too easy!
Still it was ineteresting!
What I found difficult to believe is that I would have expected much more cunning from Renard... it was just too easy!
Still it was ineteresting!
November 14, 2021
Two things came to mind while I was reading this book: Andrea Penrose doesn’t hide information from the reader. When the characters learn something, the reader knows it. There are lots of mystery writers who obscure discoveries until a big reveal. She doesn’t and I appreciate it. Also, I liked that she packs action into her books. This installment of the Lady Arianna series had characters in Scotland, at balls, the Royal Institution, in balloons (balloons!). It was a fast read because of all the action.
I usually like when sleuthing couples stick together in a story, but Arianna works alone at parts of this story (and sometimes with another woman…don’t want to spoil that) and I loved it.
The chocolate obsession is still woven in the dialogue, but there’s a point when characters are actually joking about their preoccupation with sweets.
I’m enjoying this series!
I usually like when sleuthing couples stick together in a story, but Arianna works alone at parts of this story (and sometimes with another woman…don’t want to spoil that) and I loved it.
The chocolate obsession is still woven in the dialogue, but there’s a point when characters are actually joking about their preoccupation with sweets.
I’m enjoying this series!
January 1, 2023
3.5 stars
Solid entry in Penroses's first Regency mystery series. (Wrexford and Sloane is her second, and my favorite of the two).
Direct sequel to The Cocoa Conspiracy, as the action here picks up right from the end of that one. Arianna and her husband Sandro, Earl of Saybrook, are still chasing the baddie known as Renard. Arianna has to work with Sophia Kirtland, a young woman who is friends with Sandro. To say that the two women are rather stiff with each other is putting it mildly. It made for some amusing scenes between the two.
There are a lot of twists and turns in the plot before the baddie is identified. The book has a very exciting climax before all is resolved.
I am looking forward to reading the next book Smoke & Lies, which sends Saybrook and Arianna to Elba to spy on Napoleon.
Note: the author wrote the first three books in this series well before she wrote the first Wrexford and Sloane book. The two series have one major overlapping character, as Basil Hennings, the Scottish doctor friend of Saybrook's, shows up as a friend of Wrexford's. I'm curious to see how the author deals with the character as the books in the Lady Arianna series go forward.
Solid entry in Penroses's first Regency mystery series. (Wrexford and Sloane is her second, and my favorite of the two).
Direct sequel to The Cocoa Conspiracy, as the action here picks up right from the end of that one. Arianna and her husband Sandro, Earl of Saybrook, are still chasing the baddie known as Renard. Arianna has to work with Sophia Kirtland, a young woman who is friends with Sandro. To say that the two women are rather stiff with each other is putting it mildly. It made for some amusing scenes between the two.
There are a lot of twists and turns in the plot before the baddie is identified. The book has a very exciting climax before all is resolved.
I am looking forward to reading the next book Smoke & Lies, which sends Saybrook and Arianna to Elba to spy on Napoleon.
Note: the author wrote the first three books in this series well before she wrote the first Wrexford and Sloane book. The two series have one major overlapping character, as Basil Hennings, the Scottish doctor friend of Saybrook's, shows up as a friend of Wrexford's. I'm curious to see how the author deals with the character as the books in the Lady Arianna series go forward.
July 9, 2020
No, I have not purchased the entire series to read at my leisure, why do you ask? I just really enjoy this series. I like how Andrea Penrose writes. I like how none of the characters quite fit the traditional mold, but they also feel like people. They also don't dial themselves up to about 11 in various tropey extremes.
Which isn't to say there isn't trope in these - I could name half a dozen without breaking a sweat - but there's sense mixed in with the trope. It doesn't feel like drama for drama's sake. There's certainly drama - they're working covertly for their country against to prevent the restoration of an exiled Napoleon, but this series has also had almost no kidnapping of major characters, which I enjoy.
I did knock off a star because this one felt darker somehow. The subplot with Basil's nephew, and really the whole trip to Scotland spring to mind. I did enjoy that some of the minor characters are being developed. I think I like Sophia, although I may have preferred someone less similar in personality to Arianna as a friend. Always enjoy a visit from Saybrook's great aunt. And I'm delighted that Grantham seems to be developing a real personality and becoming human, otherwise he was going to get tedious fast as an antagonist.
Tension, yes. Blind vengeance and hatred gets tedious. Especially given they're on the same side.
Which isn't to say there isn't trope in these - I could name half a dozen without breaking a sweat - but there's sense mixed in with the trope. It doesn't feel like drama for drama's sake. There's certainly drama - they're working covertly for their country against to prevent the restoration of an exiled Napoleon, but this series has also had almost no kidnapping of major characters, which I enjoy.
I did knock off a star because this one felt darker somehow. The subplot with Basil's nephew, and really the whole trip to Scotland spring to mind. I did enjoy that some of the minor characters are being developed. I think I like Sophia, although I may have preferred someone less similar in personality to Arianna as a friend. Always enjoy a visit from Saybrook's great aunt. And I'm delighted that Grantham seems to be developing a real personality and becoming human, otherwise he was going to get tedious fast as an antagonist.
Tension, yes. Blind vengeance and hatred gets tedious. Especially given they're on the same side.
March 16, 2019
A solid 4! I feel like the series continues to get better and better. Sophia was a really nice addition--hope she'll be in the rest of the series.
March 24, 2019
I do like Sophia and hope she becomes a regular.
And good lord is Grentham actually becoming a fully fleshed character?
And good lord is Grentham actually becoming a fully fleshed character?
October 10, 2018
I loved this story!!! Arianna is back to her origins in this book, and it is delightful!!
I adored book one in this series, where Arianna is introduced to us in all her unorthodox, independent and infuriating [to the men around her] glory! Then in book two, she settled down a bit, which I understood, but wasn't my favourite aspect of her character, so book two was good, but a little tame for my liking.
In book three, Arianna once again throws caution to the winds - literally! - and flings herself headlong into the new investigation the secretive Lord Grentham drags Arianna and Sandro into.
I try to avoid spoilers in my reviews, so I won't get into details, but suffice it to say there is excitement, there is drama, there is danger, there are secrets, and there are balloons! - really, what more could a reader ask from a murder mystery.
This author has a wonderful way of combining mystery and mayhem, with moments of quiet contemplation and gently sweet romance in her characters lives, and I adore her writing style!
This whole series is a definite favourite and I highly recommend it to readers who enjoy the Regency era, strong female characters and plenty of historical excitement around murder mysteries. Oh, also, there is chocolate! Plenty of chocolate - hooray!
I adored book one in this series, where Arianna is introduced to us in all her unorthodox, independent and infuriating [to the men around her] glory! Then in book two, she settled down a bit, which I understood, but wasn't my favourite aspect of her character, so book two was good, but a little tame for my liking.
In book three, Arianna once again throws caution to the winds - literally! - and flings herself headlong into the new investigation the secretive Lord Grentham drags Arianna and Sandro into.
I try to avoid spoilers in my reviews, so I won't get into details, but suffice it to say there is excitement, there is drama, there is danger, there are secrets, and there are balloons! - really, what more could a reader ask from a murder mystery.
This author has a wonderful way of combining mystery and mayhem, with moments of quiet contemplation and gently sweet romance in her characters lives, and I adore her writing style!
This whole series is a definite favourite and I highly recommend it to readers who enjoy the Regency era, strong female characters and plenty of historical excitement around murder mysteries. Oh, also, there is chocolate! Plenty of chocolate - hooray!
July 16, 2022
*Special Content only on my blog, Strange and Random Happenstance during Regency Romp (March-August 2022)
Renard, that most elusive of spies, is up to something incendiary. Which is why Arianna, her husband Sandro, and their medically inclined friend and comrade Baz are headed north to Scotland on winter blasted roads at the behest of Lord Grentham. Behest might be too kind of a word. Grentham has threatened Baz's nephew who is currently in prison in Scotland for his "radical" tendencies and if they venture north then they can free said nephew as well as investigate on Grentham's behalf. The only problem is that they are attacked on their way north, their lead turns up dead, Baz's nephew turns up dead, and a bad character, Lord Stoughton, who is the colonel in command of the region, shoots Baz. After the failure that is their trip to Scotland the only thing they know for sure is that Renard appears to have developed a method of delivering death from the sky with a new flying machine and an explosive incendiary device. Something that must not end up in Napoleon's hands. Which leads them to think that perhaps they can find answers back in London at the Royal Institution. While it is nice to go home the problem is Baz is too ill to travel and they need someone who can understand the scientific nature of their investigation and open doors that would otherwise be closed. Enter Sophia Kirtland. Arianna had learned of Miss Kirtland and her husband's weekly visits to her during their previous investigation when Lord Grentham was trying to pull Arianna to heel. She knew her marriage to Sandro wasn't a love match, even if he says he loves her now, so she assumed that Miss Kirtland is his mistress. She couldn't be more wrong. Miss Kirtland is a delightful female scientist who lives outside the conventions of society. She's a genius and a recluse, and as soon as Arianna meets her she decides that she will not only use this woman to help in their investigation but she will help Sophia become more daring, more like Arianna herself. Thankfully Sandro doesn't realize this plan because one Arianna running around England is terrifying enough. But as the two women cut a swath through the ton and make all the right scientific connections Renard isn't keeping his head in the sand. The noose is tightening but whose neck will be in it is anyone's guess.
Recipe for Treason has a lot of absurdity going on in it's pages. There's more of Arianna doing improbable disguises and cross-dressing and getting involved in chases with hot air balloons, which at times could veer towards the slapstick if it wasn't so well grounded in reality even if Arianna's feet aren't anywhere near the ground. Because science and it's discoveries were, as Andrea Penrose points out in her Author's Note, discussed by all and the men who made the discoveries were rock stars. So if you're thinking "but that couldn't possibly be happening in 1814," you're wrong. As I previously learned years ago when reading Lauren Willig's The Garden Intrigue , there were proto-submarines in the Regency so why not proto-airplanes? I mean, if you think about it Leonardo da Vinci was drawing planes in his lifetime, which ended THREE HUNDRED YEARS BEFORE this book takes place. But the science itself wasn't what I loved about this book but the scientists, and one in particular, Miss Sophia Kirtland. While Arianna is an interesting heroine, she's at times very off-putting. She's too confident, especially in her ability to disguise herself, and while it might be overcompensation to hide her insecurities, it doesn't endear me to her. I can't relate to who she is and the life she's led and every once in awhile that pulls me out of the story. She's like that friend you have that you're not quite sure you like because while she has all these interesting adventures it's too much about them and the facade they want no one to see behind. Whereas Sophia Kirtland is someone I can totally relate to. She had something bad happen to her and while she removed herself from society she didn't give up. She poured herself into her studies and experiments. She improved her mind, which is formidable, and when needed by Arianna and Sandro, she rose to the occasion more than I think she even thought herself capable of. I can't wait for her to be more involved in Arianna and Sandro's adventures because she is my cup of cocoa.
Renard, that most elusive of spies, is up to something incendiary. Which is why Arianna, her husband Sandro, and their medically inclined friend and comrade Baz are headed north to Scotland on winter blasted roads at the behest of Lord Grentham. Behest might be too kind of a word. Grentham has threatened Baz's nephew who is currently in prison in Scotland for his "radical" tendencies and if they venture north then they can free said nephew as well as investigate on Grentham's behalf. The only problem is that they are attacked on their way north, their lead turns up dead, Baz's nephew turns up dead, and a bad character, Lord Stoughton, who is the colonel in command of the region, shoots Baz. After the failure that is their trip to Scotland the only thing they know for sure is that Renard appears to have developed a method of delivering death from the sky with a new flying machine and an explosive incendiary device. Something that must not end up in Napoleon's hands. Which leads them to think that perhaps they can find answers back in London at the Royal Institution. While it is nice to go home the problem is Baz is too ill to travel and they need someone who can understand the scientific nature of their investigation and open doors that would otherwise be closed. Enter Sophia Kirtland. Arianna had learned of Miss Kirtland and her husband's weekly visits to her during their previous investigation when Lord Grentham was trying to pull Arianna to heel. She knew her marriage to Sandro wasn't a love match, even if he says he loves her now, so she assumed that Miss Kirtland is his mistress. She couldn't be more wrong. Miss Kirtland is a delightful female scientist who lives outside the conventions of society. She's a genius and a recluse, and as soon as Arianna meets her she decides that she will not only use this woman to help in their investigation but she will help Sophia become more daring, more like Arianna herself. Thankfully Sandro doesn't realize this plan because one Arianna running around England is terrifying enough. But as the two women cut a swath through the ton and make all the right scientific connections Renard isn't keeping his head in the sand. The noose is tightening but whose neck will be in it is anyone's guess.
Recipe for Treason has a lot of absurdity going on in it's pages. There's more of Arianna doing improbable disguises and cross-dressing and getting involved in chases with hot air balloons, which at times could veer towards the slapstick if it wasn't so well grounded in reality even if Arianna's feet aren't anywhere near the ground. Because science and it's discoveries were, as Andrea Penrose points out in her Author's Note, discussed by all and the men who made the discoveries were rock stars. So if you're thinking "but that couldn't possibly be happening in 1814," you're wrong. As I previously learned years ago when reading Lauren Willig's The Garden Intrigue , there were proto-submarines in the Regency so why not proto-airplanes? I mean, if you think about it Leonardo da Vinci was drawing planes in his lifetime, which ended THREE HUNDRED YEARS BEFORE this book takes place. But the science itself wasn't what I loved about this book but the scientists, and one in particular, Miss Sophia Kirtland. While Arianna is an interesting heroine, she's at times very off-putting. She's too confident, especially in her ability to disguise herself, and while it might be overcompensation to hide her insecurities, it doesn't endear me to her. I can't relate to who she is and the life she's led and every once in awhile that pulls me out of the story. She's like that friend you have that you're not quite sure you like because while she has all these interesting adventures it's too much about them and the facade they want no one to see behind. Whereas Sophia Kirtland is someone I can totally relate to. She had something bad happen to her and while she removed herself from society she didn't give up. She poured herself into her studies and experiments. She improved her mind, which is formidable, and when needed by Arianna and Sandro, she rose to the occasion more than I think she even thought herself capable of. I can't wait for her to be more involved in Arianna and Sandro's adventures because she is my cup of cocoa.
July 11, 2022
Despite the fact that it took me 2000 years to read this book it was actually very satisfying
November 19, 2023
it's giving internalized misogyny
February 9, 2020
SPOILERS
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The downside of this author, IMO, is the lack of a cogent development of emotion for the other within each character and between them. In the first book of the series, she gave us some internal dialogue that let us know there was an attraction and growing connection between the two characters. But the second book showed less of that, until, toward the end, Saybrook says he loves Adrianna, once. Then, in this third book, there is again very little, very, very little, internal dialogue to let us know that each character is building in their emotional connection to the other character. Adrianna has some, very little and never does she use the word "love." Saybrook gives us none at all. And yet, at the very end of the book, we suddenly get an admission by Adrianna of "love" but the timing feels false to me and it all feels very convenient, like the author said, "Oh, wait, the plot has resolved itself so now I have to add something to move the emotional plot along too." So she throws in a line or two and that is that. It was just a very unsatisfactory statement of emotion for me.
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The downside of this author, IMO, is the lack of a cogent development of emotion for the other within each character and between them. In the first book of the series, she gave us some internal dialogue that let us know there was an attraction and growing connection between the two characters. But the second book showed less of that, until, toward the end, Saybrook says he loves Adrianna, once. Then, in this third book, there is again very little, very, very little, internal dialogue to let us know that each character is building in their emotional connection to the other character. Adrianna has some, very little and never does she use the word "love." Saybrook gives us none at all. And yet, at the very end of the book, we suddenly get an admission by Adrianna of "love" but the timing feels false to me and it all feels very convenient, like the author said, "Oh, wait, the plot has resolved itself so now I have to add something to move the emotional plot along too." So she throws in a line or two and that is that. It was just a very unsatisfactory statement of emotion for me.
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January 12, 2017
This was good but could have been so much better if there had been some character growth over the series. The first book is probably the best, IMO. In this 3rd (and final?) book it feels like Saybrook and Arianna talk to other people more than they talk to each other.
Also, cozy mysteries are a bit funny with their “themes”. This theme is chocolate (which was why I picked it up in the first place) but having the chocolate stuff woven in with the mysteries didn’t really make the books better and I will never make any of the recipes. 1) Because many of them would require me to buy an ingredient I wouldn’t regularly use and 2) I’ll never find the few that did sound good again since they are listed at the start of every chapter.
Also, cozy mysteries are a bit funny with their “themes”. This theme is chocolate (which was why I picked it up in the first place) but having the chocolate stuff woven in with the mysteries didn’t really make the books better and I will never make any of the recipes. 1) Because many of them would require me to buy an ingredient I wouldn’t regularly use and 2) I’ll never find the few that did sound good again since they are listed at the start of every chapter.
September 28, 2015
A really enjoyable cozy mystery full of adventure, romance, intrigue, scandal and history! Set in the Regency period, this book explores beliefs, rules, attitudes and technology of the era. I have to compare this book to those by Tasha Alexander. Similarly full of wonderful female characters having grand adventures whilst fighting or using society norms. Loved it! Off to buy the rest!
September 26, 2024
RECIPE FOR REDUNDANCY
It was nice to stick with the characters through another adventure. However, the story turned into a tread mill going on and on yet going no where. New characters in and out yet adding little to reach the end. Add more depth to the two key characters and less to all the rest.
It was nice to stick with the characters through another adventure. However, the story turned into a tread mill going on and on yet going no where. New characters in and out yet adding little to reach the end. Add more depth to the two key characters and less to all the rest.
August 13, 2013
4.5! Just getting better and better,
September 11, 2017
The first book was okay and then it just went downhill from there. I can understand why Penrose abandoned this series.
January 25, 2022
I like the stories, but there is so much wasted repetition in people's thoughts.
October 4, 2017
So...who doesn't want chocolate recipes with some regency romance-ish. I really like these mysteries especially the characters Lady Arianna, Saybrook, and Aunt Constantina. This book continues where the last one left off, coerced by Lord Grentham to find the Fox. I read these for the mystery, but also for the HEA which is still strangely an HFN. Lady Arianna had a happy, but very strained life with her disgraced father who had to leave England. After he was murdered, Arianna at age 14 lived by her wits on the streets and finally made it back to England. This was all discussed in a bit more detail in the previous books, but that time of her life still haunts her and she is still constantly unsure of her marriage, thinking that Saybrook regrets marrying her out of necessity when there are many more beautiful, interesting society women he could have had out there. She was and is still broken, doubting her worth, and doubting Saybrook loves her since he only said it once. I understand how Arianna feels based on Saybrook's actions and secrets. What I don't understand is how he does not get it! If he does love her, then why can't he see what is going on (at least enough to ask questions) and help her understand. Since he doesn't seem to get it, it makes me doubt that he loves her as well. Now, at the end of this book, I thought he finally understood, after his freak out and Arianna's response, but noooooooo apparently not. I purchased the next book, which is just a novella, so I hope there are more in our future (especially if she does not wrap up this HEA in the novella).
October 2, 2021
Dr. Hennings was shot while he and the De Quincys were in Scotland to free Henning's idealistic yet misguided nephew on the strength of papers signed by Lord Grentham. Unfortunately, the report said Angus was shot while trying to escape... his body fell into the sea but was never recovered. Angus' death and his own injuries had so disheartened Hennings that he was incapable of functioning rationally and emotionally... so Saybrook and wife had to find an expert chemist to interpret what they had found at the dead scientist's quarters. Back in London, Saybrook brought in Sophia Kirtland another reclusive eccentric... his intellectual friend and a very good chemist. Personal conflicts and past histories would surface here... the new element brought in by the well~educated Sophia's beauty and personality made Arianna insecure yet eventually shared experience during adversity and personality commonality would do much to create a bond. These would all be mixed up with the events in Scotland as well as the hunt for a fox and a missing inventor and his sundry theories and diagrams. Cayley's theories and the strong plausibility of success would be Renard's revenge against England. I think Renard's reason for treason was not that compelling so I would go with madness and/or genius psychopathy. As for the plot, this had a previous connection to the chemical bomb found and diffused during the Peace Congress in Vienna (Book 2 ~ The Cocoa Conspiracy). Cayley's flying machine would carry a similar bomb but a more stable one. Aeronautics would have a say on this one... Arianna and Sophia on a balloon... if a theory could fly.
March 30, 2020
Alas, Lord Grentham has ensnared Alessandro and Arianna into another of his intrigues. This time the pair must venture into Scotland to uncover an elusive traitor. But upon their arrival in Scotland, they discover the corpse of a chemistry professor--and cryptic papers hinting at a dangerous new discovery now in enemy hands. Racing against time, Arianna and Saybrook pursue their most cunning and dangerous adversary yet through a complex network of intrigue involving exotic chocolates, daredevil aviators, a missing inventor, and a secret recipe that must be recovered at any cost...
Another great Regency series by Ms. Penrose. Filled with adventure, bits of historical lure, strong characters and interesting plots. I am so ready for this pairs next adventure.
Another great Regency series by Ms. Penrose. Filled with adventure, bits of historical lure, strong characters and interesting plots. I am so ready for this pairs next adventure.
January 3, 2018
This is the third book in the series. Arianna and Saybrook are on their way to Scotland in search for a traitor, codenamed Reynard, who is hatching a devious plot.The trail leads them to a chemistry lab, and to the drinking den of a set of early aviators. The two return to London where Arianna must work with Sophia, a lovely and intelligent friend and confidant of her husband who causes her some insecurities. The two ladies use Sophia’s connections to infiltrate the scientific society of London in order to find the identity of Reynard before it is too late. Like the previous 2 books, it contains a large assortment of delicious looking chocolate recipes.
November 21, 2017
Third in the series, this book neatly ties up plot lines left hanging in books 1 & 2, while leaving subtle openings for future adventures. Richly embroidered with details about the time period, but those details at times obscure the plot. I would have enjoyed a bit more romance - after all, Lord Saybrook and Arianna have been married a year as this volume begins, and yet emotionally they’re still just getting to know each other. All in all, I enjoyed this series a lot. It’s very different from most others I’ve read. I’m sorry that the series appears to have ended at 3 books, but I will definitely look for more from this author!
May 5, 2024
I read the first six books of this series in one fell swoop and am giving one rating for them as a whole, since I can't really separate them in my mind (although each is certainly a complete mystery). I generally enjoyed the intersection of regency politics/war and mystery, but it was strained at times. I liked Arianna and I liked that she had had a varied and interesting life before the books began, giving her skills and experience. I also liked Saybrook and that their relationship tried to avoid emotional histrionics. But the plotting and writing was occasionally boring. Don't know if I will read past book 6.
July 23, 2019
Interesting
The series added a few new characters as well as focusing on the topic of aeronautics. The author really digs deep in her research to produce a story well based on facts. There is still a few nods to cocoa or chocolate but not as many as in Books 1 & 2. The hero and heroine are still not truly united since both are too stubborn to share their feelings for each other. Lady Arianna seems to be a super tough lady with no boundaries, however, she’s constantly insecure around her husband.
The series added a few new characters as well as focusing on the topic of aeronautics. The author really digs deep in her research to produce a story well based on facts. There is still a few nods to cocoa or chocolate but not as many as in Books 1 & 2. The hero and heroine are still not truly united since both are too stubborn to share their feelings for each other. Lady Arianna seems to be a super tough lady with no boundaries, however, she’s constantly insecure around her husband.
March 4, 2021
This author writes very exciting and thoroughly engaging stories. I’ve been binging on the Lady Adrianna chocolate series. Book 3 was every bit as eventful and exciting as the prior ones BUT it didn’t make me feel personally invested. I loved the addition of Lady Sophia but wanted more development of character. More development of friendship. More storyline surrounding their interactions.
It was good but even the cliffhanger didn’t quite excite me. I gave it 4 stars because I couldn’t give it 3.5
It was good but even the cliffhanger didn’t quite excite me. I gave it 4 stars because I couldn’t give it 3.5
June 9, 2023
Good mystery great characters
Love the characters and the way the story unfolds. Switching POV works well as both Arianna and Sandro are pursuing different threads. The book has good pacing and plenty of action. The mystery is well done. The relationship between the characters continues to evolve. I really like the series and the author. I have the audio which is well narrated but I listen at an accelerated pace of around 1.3x. I have the ebook as well and switched between reading and listening.
Love the characters and the way the story unfolds. Switching POV works well as both Arianna and Sandro are pursuing different threads. The book has good pacing and plenty of action. The mystery is well done. The relationship between the characters continues to evolve. I really like the series and the author. I have the audio which is well narrated but I listen at an accelerated pace of around 1.3x. I have the ebook as well and switched between reading and listening.
March 22, 2024
I find it difficult to connect with Arianna and Sandro, which in turn makes me uninvested in the mystery and their exploits. I didn’t like the introduction of Sophia; she felt like a vehicle to manufacture marital tension, and the dynamic of Arianna and Sophia partnered together did not work for me. It’s two Not Like Other Girls—who are very aware they are Not Like Other Girls—sucking all the oxygen out of the room. And I get it, Arianna—you are unrepentantly unconventional. It’s her entire personality.
August 30, 2017
Love the continuation of Arianna and Saybrooks story!! They are still trying to find out who the Fox is a traitor to the British Crown. This mission brings them to the far reaches of Scotland in the dead of winter where Hennings nephew is shot and killed. Then back to London where Arianna masquerades as a wealthy widow to gain info from the Royal Society. Another roller coaster ride trying to find killer and Renard.
September 9, 2018
Avid Reader
This third installment of Lady Arianna, Lord Saybrook, and Dr. Henning introduced us to Sir Lawrence and Miss Kirkland. Tenses is finally captured amidst discussions of chemistry and early flight via balloons. Lady Arianna truly out does herself causing Lord Saybrook to love her all the more. Dr. Henning is shot, and a family tragedy causes problems. Loyalty seems to triumph until the next crisis.
This third installment of Lady Arianna, Lord Saybrook, and Dr. Henning introduced us to Sir Lawrence and Miss Kirkland. Tenses is finally captured amidst discussions of chemistry and early flight via balloons. Lady Arianna truly out does herself causing Lord Saybrook to love her all the more. Dr. Henning is shot, and a family tragedy causes problems. Loyalty seems to triumph until the next crisis.
July 27, 2020
Too many spies; hard to keep everyone straight
I do like these mysteries with the cocoa chefs; but I in my opinion Lady S. is a much more capable and lo likable character than her husband, Lord Saybrook. Henning, the surgeon, is a much better character also. It was confusing to have all of these spies working with all these different government groups, it was hard to rule out who was friend and who was for.
I do like these mysteries with the cocoa chefs; but I in my opinion Lady S. is a much more capable and lo likable character than her husband, Lord Saybrook. Henning, the surgeon, is a much better character also. It was confusing to have all of these spies working with all these different government groups, it was hard to rule out who was friend and who was for.
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