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The Telling Touch
AN UNACCEPTABLE PROXIMITY For as long as she can remember, Margaret Summers has been in love with Nicholas Ainsley, but her “gift” has shown her that he does not reciprocate her affections, and he leaves for six long years. Her sister’s scandal places Meg under a cloud of suspicion, and she resigns herself to being the outcast, the unacceptable girl. Isolated and vilified, Meg is content to live in the country with her grandfather. When her sister is widowed young, she returns home and sets in motion unthinkable plans, forcing Meg to break the silence of the family’s unusual abilities to keep Nick safe from a fate she cannot allow. Little does Meg know, she’s had the wrong of it for these many years, and Nick has his work cut out for him to prove the truth of his heart.
280 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 25, 2020
8 people are currently reading
154 people want to read
About the author
Keira Dominguez
9 books204 followersI'm a writer and a reader. If I review a book here, it's because I liked it, or the author is long dead and I have some things I'm tryna to work through.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
August 27, 2021
4.5*s. I can't get enough of these books. Keira Dominguez, please write more, I devour your books like candy.
To high society, Meg is a fallen woman twice over: once by association, when her sister eloped with old Lord Ainsley, and once by repute, when she was seen entering Lord Fox's apartments alone and unaccompanied. Blameless but vilified, Meg returns home to her Grandfather's only to find that her sister Isabelle has returned too, as evil and awful as ever. Both can read minds with a touch, but their moral compasses point in very different directions. Whilst Meg avoids touch, seeing it as ‘unsporting’, Isabelle uses the insight touch gives her to play with those around her, and nothing Meg says can stop her.
Between Meg and her sister is Nick, the new Lord Ainsley. Isabelle was Nick's childhood sweetheart but betrayed him for his uncle; Meg was his younger friend. Unable to resist either Isabelle's magical advances or Meg's more natural allure, Nick must figure out what’s truth and what’s lies before it’s too late.
Like Penny from Sweet Rowan, Meg goes her own way and stands strong against the buffeting winds. She suffers the taunts and abuses of others but remains steadfastly kind and good. She’s lonely though and hungers for a friend or even just a kind word or thought. I liked her a lot, and felt for her loneliness, but wish she could have shown a little more fight at times.
Meanwhile, six years on, Nick still feels betrayed by Isabelle and his uncle and determines to stay away from the whole family. He’s cultivated a stern facade but can’t help but smile with Meg at their old jokes and mock her like he used to. He knows nothing of magic, and whilst he knows that his behaviour around Isabelle is far from normal, he doesn’t know to defend against it. I liked him but prefer his friend Henry Gracechurch, the protagonist in Her Caprice.
As in the other books, the magical system is not explained and talents appears to be limited to a small number of families that keep it secret. The rest of society, meanwhile, continues on in much the same as it would have done in reality. I really enjoyed its quality but if you’re looking for grand magics and magicians vying to take over the world, this book is not for you.
The Telling Touch is incredibly easy reading and I absolutely sped through it. There are some aspects I found slightly odd or out of place - Meg’s interest in the smugglers for example - but I was content enough just to let it wash over me. It’s not a groundbreaking story, nor is it likely to win any awards, but it is excellent comfort reading if you’re looking for a book that’s 75% historical romance and 25% fantasy. Recommend for a lazy Sunday when a contemporary romance feels to smutty and an epic fantasy too much like hard work.
'Her good reasons to draw away from others were becoming a prison.'
To high society, Meg is a fallen woman twice over: once by association, when her sister eloped with old Lord Ainsley, and once by repute, when she was seen entering Lord Fox's apartments alone and unaccompanied. Blameless but vilified, Meg returns home to her Grandfather's only to find that her sister Isabelle has returned too, as evil and awful as ever. Both can read minds with a touch, but their moral compasses point in very different directions. Whilst Meg avoids touch, seeing it as ‘unsporting’, Isabelle uses the insight touch gives her to play with those around her, and nothing Meg says can stop her.
Between Meg and her sister is Nick, the new Lord Ainsley. Isabelle was Nick's childhood sweetheart but betrayed him for his uncle; Meg was his younger friend. Unable to resist either Isabelle's magical advances or Meg's more natural allure, Nick must figure out what’s truth and what’s lies before it’s too late.
Like Penny from Sweet Rowan, Meg goes her own way and stands strong against the buffeting winds. She suffers the taunts and abuses of others but remains steadfastly kind and good. She’s lonely though and hungers for a friend or even just a kind word or thought. I liked her a lot, and felt for her loneliness, but wish she could have shown a little more fight at times.
Meanwhile, six years on, Nick still feels betrayed by Isabelle and his uncle and determines to stay away from the whole family. He’s cultivated a stern facade but can’t help but smile with Meg at their old jokes and mock her like he used to. He knows nothing of magic, and whilst he knows that his behaviour around Isabelle is far from normal, he doesn’t know to defend against it. I liked him but prefer his friend Henry Gracechurch, the protagonist in Her Caprice.
As in the other books, the magical system is not explained and talents appears to be limited to a small number of families that keep it secret. The rest of society, meanwhile, continues on in much the same as it would have done in reality. I really enjoyed its quality but if you’re looking for grand magics and magicians vying to take over the world, this book is not for you.
The Telling Touch is incredibly easy reading and I absolutely sped through it. There are some aspects I found slightly odd or out of place - Meg’s interest in the smugglers for example - but I was content enough just to let it wash over me. It’s not a groundbreaking story, nor is it likely to win any awards, but it is excellent comfort reading if you’re looking for a book that’s 75% historical romance and 25% fantasy. Recommend for a lazy Sunday when a contemporary romance feels to smutty and an epic fantasy too much like hard work.
May 12, 2021
This story is intense! I was filled with anxiety as Meg's sister Isabel overshadows her and the villainy in Isabel's heart is obvious to the reader but less known to the characters. Meg is trying to make the best of her situation but suffers one heartbreak after another. I loved her and Nick together and the bond they shared from their experiences and shenanigans together as youth. So many complex layers are peeled back as they grow closer, yet held back by Meg and Isabel's powers. Great romantic tension throughout the whole book! Unlike the first book which was set in London, this one takes place in the country, and I loved the setting and thought it worked so well for the story, giving it a strong foundation of a real historical era. I enjoyed the paranormal aspect as Meg learns to explore the nuances and depth of her gift- hearing the thoughts of those she touches. An exciting climax led to a wonderfully satisfying resolution. Loved it!
Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.
Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.
February 25, 2022
A few days ago, I finished all the books I was reading roughly at the same time, which is quite rare, and I had to make a decision as to what to read next. You know how when you’re hungry but you don’t know what you want to eat and nothing really sounds good? That was me trying to pick my next reads. In the “oh, what the heck” vein, I picked Moby Dick (Penguin paperback edition); Hyperion (Kindle Edition) and then The Telling Touch as a lighter read.
Or at least that was my thought. In reality, I’m enthralled with the early chapters in Moby Dick and I’m not finding it difficult reading at all! Hyperion, though, is a bit more dense because of the necessary world-building elements, but I’m finding it very enjoyable as well.
What about my third choice? Well, I had to remind myself several times that as this book is marketed as a romance, the author (who is a dear online friend) is obligated — OBLIGATED, I TELL YOU — to give her readers a Happy Ever After. But, oh, the angst! in getting to that HEA.
Meg has a magical gift, passed down through the women in her family, an ability to read the thoughts and emotions of others through touch (hence the title). Other than that, she is just an ordinary girl growing up in a West Country village, tagging along with the neighborhood boys when they go fishing. But as she gets older, she realizes she’s in love with one of those boys, Nick, the presumptive heir of his uncle, Lord Ainsley.
But Nick is infatuated with Meg’s older sister, Isabelle, who has her own Superpower and isn’t nearly as ethical as Meg in using it for her own benefit. In fact, Isabelle is completely ruthless in twisting the emotions of others in order to get her own way.
***Edited: I just realized I forgot to mention that Meg also writes a satirical newspaper column, as Sir Frederick Magpie, Disinterested Observer of Elegant Ladies and other Alarming Things. It’s fantastic; Meg uses the column to point out inequalities between the sexes and classes.***
What a great villain Keira has created in Isabelle! I wished for so many bad things to happen to her, and I ached so for Meg that several times I had to lay the book aside for a bit. But then at the end, when Keira allows us to see inside Isabelle as a young woman — well, I still didn’t sympathize with her choices, but it was gut-wrenching anyway. And in all seriousness, Isabelle is a great fictional example of how bending the rules, ooh, just a tiny bit, can lead you down a dark path from which you can never return.
It was also nice to visit with Henry and Beatrice from Her Caprice and get acquainted with their First Pledge of Affection.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves sweet Regency romance and likes a heaping helping of fantasy to go with it.
Or at least that was my thought. In reality, I’m enthralled with the early chapters in Moby Dick and I’m not finding it difficult reading at all! Hyperion, though, is a bit more dense because of the necessary world-building elements, but I’m finding it very enjoyable as well.
What about my third choice? Well, I had to remind myself several times that as this book is marketed as a romance, the author (who is a dear online friend) is obligated — OBLIGATED, I TELL YOU — to give her readers a Happy Ever After. But, oh, the angst! in getting to that HEA.
Meg has a magical gift, passed down through the women in her family, an ability to read the thoughts and emotions of others through touch (hence the title). Other than that, she is just an ordinary girl growing up in a West Country village, tagging along with the neighborhood boys when they go fishing. But as she gets older, she realizes she’s in love with one of those boys, Nick, the presumptive heir of his uncle, Lord Ainsley.
But Nick is infatuated with Meg’s older sister, Isabelle, who has her own Superpower and isn’t nearly as ethical as Meg in using it for her own benefit. In fact, Isabelle is completely ruthless in twisting the emotions of others in order to get her own way.
***Edited: I just realized I forgot to mention that Meg also writes a satirical newspaper column, as Sir Frederick Magpie, Disinterested Observer of Elegant Ladies and other Alarming Things. It’s fantastic; Meg uses the column to point out inequalities between the sexes and classes.***
What a great villain Keira has created in Isabelle! I wished for so many bad things to happen to her, and I ached so for Meg that several times I had to lay the book aside for a bit. But then at the end, when Keira allows us to see inside Isabelle as a young woman — well, I still didn’t sympathize with her choices, but it was gut-wrenching anyway. And in all seriousness, Isabelle is a great fictional example of how bending the rules, ooh, just a tiny bit, can lead you down a dark path from which you can never return.
It was also nice to visit with Henry and Beatrice from Her Caprice and get acquainted with their First Pledge of Affection.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves sweet Regency romance and likes a heaping helping of fantasy to go with it.
March 12, 2021
2/2020
About a year ago I read Her Caprice by Keira and loved it so much! I had to buy the sequel. I was about 4 chapters in before I even realized this was a sequel and that the heroine was a secondary character from Her Caprice. 🙈 It’s a fantastic read—the same kind of wonderful (clean!) romance, strong female lead, and broody, swoon-worthy hero. I highly recommend it, and I am all anticipation for her next novel!
1/2021
I’ve read both of Keira's books twice, and every time I’ve finished them in the wee hours of the morning on my kindle. They’re just that good. Do yourself a favor and grab this one!
About a year ago I read Her Caprice by Keira and loved it so much! I had to buy the sequel. I was about 4 chapters in before I even realized this was a sequel and that the heroine was a secondary character from Her Caprice. 🙈 It’s a fantastic read—the same kind of wonderful (clean!) romance, strong female lead, and broody, swoon-worthy hero. I highly recommend it, and I am all anticipation for her next novel!
1/2021
I’ve read both of Keira's books twice, and every time I’ve finished them in the wee hours of the morning on my kindle. They’re just that good. Do yourself a favor and grab this one!
January 18, 2021
Such a jewel of a story - delightful characters, a swoon-worthy romance with obstacles, an awful villain - and refreshingly clean! Loved it so much!
June 7, 2024
Just brilliant. I can't wait to read it again!
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9/25/20: Loved it more the second time through.
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1/22/21: I don't think I'll ever get tired if reading this book. Reading it in a group led by the author has been amazing!
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2/3/22: "She had a chance now to really see others...in all their complexity. This new power would not make saints of them, but it wrested from her the comfort that she'd believed they were demons."
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"What would it cost her to understand her neighbors? Pain? Yes, she would pay that price. Heartbreak? That, too. Her righteous judgments? Those most of all."
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6/6/24: two years is too long to go without reading this book. If there's anything I love more than Her Caprice, it's The Telling Touch.
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9/25/20: Loved it more the second time through.
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1/22/21: I don't think I'll ever get tired if reading this book. Reading it in a group led by the author has been amazing!
.
2/3/22: "She had a chance now to really see others...in all their complexity. This new power would not make saints of them, but it wrested from her the comfort that she'd believed they were demons."
.
"What would it cost her to understand her neighbors? Pain? Yes, she would pay that price. Heartbreak? That, too. Her righteous judgments? Those most of all."
.
6/6/24: two years is too long to go without reading this book. If there's anything I love more than Her Caprice, it's The Telling Touch.
January 19, 2021
This was such a fun, sweet, engrossing story! I couldn't stop once I got going and read it very quickly and stayed up late to finish.
It can be read on its own, but there are characters from Her Caprice that play a role in this book and I loved seeing them again and seeing Meg's role shift from that book to this one (plus Her Caprice is delightful and worth reading anyway!). I loved the way the magic was used in this book better than in Her Caprice, but I loved the main characters and romance in both and can't really compare them!
I love the complexity to side characters in this author's books and how so many of them are not all good or all bad.
It can be read on its own, but there are characters from Her Caprice that play a role in this book and I loved seeing them again and seeing Meg's role shift from that book to this one (plus Her Caprice is delightful and worth reading anyway!). I loved the way the magic was used in this book better than in Her Caprice, but I loved the main characters and romance in both and can't really compare them!
I love the complexity to side characters in this author's books and how so many of them are not all good or all bad.
February 5, 2021
This book was everything I didn't know I needed right now. A sweet jewel of a regency that warmed my heart and made me smile.
I absolutely loved the banter between Meg and Nick. I loved the banter because it was a shield they erected between them. It made the hard truths barely wielded mallets instead of hammers. It preserved impenetrability, and banished vulnerability.
Until the shield dissolved - with the sudden swiftness of an ancient deluge. Everything that was buried floated to the surface. Flotsam. Jetsam. Unfettered words.
As two childhood friends who fished together and concocted unforgettable pranks, they were on the cusp of becoming more. Until the villain of the story ruined their chances.
I loved to hate the villain. Isabelle's vitriol is more bitter than that of any wicked stepsister. She truly is an insidious viper I wanted to slice open with the edge of my garden hoe. But Isabelle too has been hurt.
Then there's the magic. It's a gypsy sort of magic that means the people around the sisters can't hold onto their secrets. Their thoughts and wants and desires are open for rampant pillaging and manipulation. And therein lies the quandary. How can one live with such an unethical lodestone of ability?
The plot was deep and rich and wonderful. The characters were complex, robust and realistic. And the love story was both tender and transcendent.
I loved every single thing about this book. READ IT! And follow the author on Instagram @keiradominguezwrites - she makes me smile with her wry commentaries on life's profound miscellany.
I absolutely loved the banter between Meg and Nick. I loved the banter because it was a shield they erected between them. It made the hard truths barely wielded mallets instead of hammers. It preserved impenetrability, and banished vulnerability.
Until the shield dissolved - with the sudden swiftness of an ancient deluge. Everything that was buried floated to the surface. Flotsam. Jetsam. Unfettered words.
As two childhood friends who fished together and concocted unforgettable pranks, they were on the cusp of becoming more. Until the villain of the story ruined their chances.
I loved to hate the villain. Isabelle's vitriol is more bitter than that of any wicked stepsister. She truly is an insidious viper I wanted to slice open with the edge of my garden hoe. But Isabelle too has been hurt.
Then there's the magic. It's a gypsy sort of magic that means the people around the sisters can't hold onto their secrets. Their thoughts and wants and desires are open for rampant pillaging and manipulation. And therein lies the quandary. How can one live with such an unethical lodestone of ability?
The plot was deep and rich and wonderful. The characters were complex, robust and realistic. And the love story was both tender and transcendent.
I loved every single thing about this book. READ IT! And follow the author on Instagram @keiradominguezwrites - she makes me smile with her wry commentaries on life's profound miscellany.
February 20, 2021
Well crafted characters and an entertaining plot about the use of magic for good or ill.
March 27, 2020
What a surprising story! I wasn't prepared to be so enthralled from the first page as the author ensnared me in this tale. Her words brought the characters alive and it felt like I was in Meg's thoughts and could feel her anguish. Being in love when young and having him be in love with your sister was hurtful enough. But when Meg's sister Isabelle ran off with Nick's uncle, the scandal ruined Meg instead.
There is magic in these two. Meg has the ability to touch someone and sometimes read their thoughts. It seems she finds more hurt there than joy. Having her season in London with her aunt, Meg only finds she is not thought of too well and has a hard time being the quiet, biddable young lady. She ends up going back home to her grandfather. But who did she find there? Isabelle, now a widow who moved back home.
I just want to tell you the story it is so good! But things begin to happen that Meg cannot allow and as Nick comes back into the picture, she is determined to protect him...
Just awesome! I read this through Booksprout
There is magic in these two. Meg has the ability to touch someone and sometimes read their thoughts. It seems she finds more hurt there than joy. Having her season in London with her aunt, Meg only finds she is not thought of too well and has a hard time being the quiet, biddable young lady. She ends up going back home to her grandfather. But who did she find there? Isabelle, now a widow who moved back home.
I just want to tell you the story it is so good! But things begin to happen that Meg cannot allow and as Nick comes back into the picture, she is determined to protect him...
Just awesome! I read this through Booksprout
February 13, 2021
This was a super fun romance with magic and mystery. I loved the characters in this novel and that the plot and story all felt original. Margaret, or Meg as she goes by, has the ability to read people's thoughts when she touches them. Taught that doing so was bad, she's been afraid to use her power though a few times she couldn't help it. She has been in love with Nick since they were young, but she believed him in love with her sister. When the two reunite she can't help but fall for him again, though his actions fluctuate and she can't determine his feelings. There's a cloud of mystery surrounding his behavior which was intriguing as a reader as the story unfolded.
I loved Nick's character! The chemistry between him and Meg was wonderful and full of some fabulously swoony moments. I reread many scenes between the two multiple times. In fact, I couldn't put this book down until I finished it.
My only reason for withholding that fifth star was I felt like a few loose ends weren't taken care of in regards to Meg's sister. I mean the story resolves, so no cliffhanger or anything, but her part of the story seemed to wrap up a little too quickly especially considering what she had done. I would have loved to have had an epilogue.
I still totally recommend this book and purchased it in paperback. so maybe it's more 4.5 stars really.
This is set in the Regency era, but had a few things that wouldn't have necessarily happened. Then again that speculative aspect allowed for a bit of discrepancy towards being fully true to the time period.
A clean, swoony romance. I'll be reading more from this author for certain!
I loved Nick's character! The chemistry between him and Meg was wonderful and full of some fabulously swoony moments. I reread many scenes between the two multiple times. In fact, I couldn't put this book down until I finished it.
My only reason for withholding that fifth star was I felt like a few loose ends weren't taken care of in regards to Meg's sister. I mean the story resolves, so no cliffhanger or anything, but her part of the story seemed to wrap up a little too quickly especially considering what she had done. I would have loved to have had an epilogue.
I still totally recommend this book and purchased it in paperback. so maybe it's more 4.5 stars really.
This is set in the Regency era, but had a few things that wouldn't have necessarily happened. Then again that speculative aspect allowed for a bit of discrepancy towards being fully true to the time period.
A clean, swoony romance. I'll be reading more from this author for certain!
July 21, 2020
regency + some magic + villian you hate = Her Caprice (book 1) & The Telling Touch (book 2)
by Keria Dominguez
If your looking for a regency romance with a twist these could be for you. For someone who enjoys both fantasy & regency novels this was a lovely suprise.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
I received a copy of The Telling Touch by the author.
All thoughts and opinions are my own.
.
.
.
⚠️Trigger warnings ⚠️
Some language & violence (nothing strong)
by Keria Dominguez
If your looking for a regency romance with a twist these could be for you. For someone who enjoys both fantasy & regency novels this was a lovely suprise.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
I received a copy of The Telling Touch by the author.
All thoughts and opinions are my own.
.
.
.
⚠️Trigger warnings ⚠️
Some language & violence (nothing strong)
March 7, 2020
Keira Dominguez has done it again, she has written a smart, well crafted, clean, Regency romance that is still very swoony! This reads as a stand-alone book but there is a nod for those who have read her first book "Her Caprice." The villain is so villainous that I am still fantasizing ways to dispose of the villain.
February 12, 2025
I hadn't realized how accustomed to skimming books of this and similar genres I had become until this book made me want to slow down and actually absorb what I was reading.
I bought this book. (I don't buy books. I read 50+ per year, but I own less than a dozen.) I'll be rereading it. And I'm off to start this author's next book.
I bought this book. (I don't buy books. I read 50+ per year, but I own less than a dozen.) I'll be rereading it. And I'm off to start this author's next book.
March 30, 2020
Super fun book with the most villianest villain from villiansville. Oh I hate the villain! And loved the crossover from Her Caprice. Big of the author as a person and a writer...please keep them coming!!!!! Magic + regency = reader heaven
Read
March 16, 2021Oh my goodness! This book! Couldn't put it down. I'll definitely be checking out this author's backlist. Review to come...
April 27, 2020
So, I'm a sucker for regencies with fantastical elements. So, this book concept hooked my interest right away. I sampled the first chapter and was immediately impressed. So, when it went on sale I decided to purchase it even though I'd never really heard of the author which is a really rare thing for me. I am so glad I took a chance on this book! There are so many elements that are done so well. I loved and related to both Meg and Nick. I loved how their small little town never felt boring, which is a huge complaint I have about regencies (dull settings). Biggest complaint was the threat the antagonist posed was treated unevenly. Sometimes the antagonist was the biggest threat ever and other times was ignored for the convenience of pacing. Still, a great story that held my attention until the last page. When I finished I immediately wanted to read it again both to spend more time with the characters and to relive my favorite scenes.
August 13, 2021
Meg has loved Nick since she was a child allowed to tag along after him and his friends, and is devastated when he leaves after being jilted by her older sister for his rich, titled, uncle. When he returns six years later as his deceased uncles heir, they both fight the growing attraction between them, along with a growing danger to their small, country community.
I loved Meg, a plucky, not so proper heroine who fights for who and what she loves , while trying to follow her grandfather's moral instructions regarding the use of her family's gift of a "telling touch." Her sister has no such compunctions. Nick has drawn his own armor around his bruised heart, but when he finally, grudgingly, lets Meg in, they both misread each other's true feelings.
I generally don't like it when the big misunderstanding in a book is one that could be solved with one good, honest conversation, but the author does a good job of setting this one up plot and character wise.
I loved Meg, a plucky, not so proper heroine who fights for who and what she loves , while trying to follow her grandfather's moral instructions regarding the use of her family's gift of a "telling touch." Her sister has no such compunctions. Nick has drawn his own armor around his bruised heart, but when he finally, grudgingly, lets Meg in, they both misread each other's true feelings.
I generally don't like it when the big misunderstanding in a book is one that could be solved with one good, honest conversation, but the author does a good job of setting this one up plot and character wise.
November 3, 2022
A gripping tale that I just could not put down. A most unusual plot and a masterfully crafted villain. Loved the heroine so much! As in the first book in her series, the author uses really mellifluous language to describe even the simplest of situations. It adds immense appeal for the reader.
In addition to the fact that the period is Regency (my favorite), this story weaves romance with such thrills and unexpected twists that I was kept guessing at every turn of the page.
The last two chapters just had me on the edge of my seat.
Another delight I found in this story was the reappearance of Beatrice and Henry Gracechurch whom I had loved in Her Caprice, the first book. And they are not just fringe characters but a substantial part of the plot.
One of my Kindle treasures that I would very highly recommend to lovers of Regency romance who would also appreciate a dash of magic.
4.8/5
In addition to the fact that the period is Regency (my favorite), this story weaves romance with such thrills and unexpected twists that I was kept guessing at every turn of the page.
The last two chapters just had me on the edge of my seat.
Another delight I found in this story was the reappearance of Beatrice and Henry Gracechurch whom I had loved in Her Caprice, the first book. And they are not just fringe characters but a substantial part of the plot.
One of my Kindle treasures that I would very highly recommend to lovers of Regency romance who would also appreciate a dash of magic.
4.8/5
March 7, 2020
First time reading from this author. This has a paranormal feeling with the mind reading but also with parapsychology and empathy, all from touch. The story was good but I could handle all the situations with Meg’s sister Isabella pushed her self into. Making everyone bend to her will and hurting or killings the ones that don’t. I couldn’t stand all the emotional abuse from Isabella, especially with their grandfather saying and doing different paths, turning Meg inside out to please everyone without her inner magic. Both girls lost their parents and was brought into their grandfathers home to be raised, one sister turned deceitful while the other sister was the opposite but strong headed. There is a lot happening!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 17, 2022
I so liked the premise of this book and the beginning was very engaging. But alas, if left too many things unanswered
the gaps were too big to ignore really
how they gain that magic? what's the story behind that?
how was the relationship between the main couple when nick was away? she doesnt mention that he pretty much abandoned her
the guy that poisoned her ... what was the deal with that? no explanations whatsoever
yeah he just tied me and now he's dead, let's move on................????
if felt like several chapters were missing
honestly, I wonder how the editor missed these gaps
it couldve been such a memorable book but the second part felt like it was done in a hurry
the gaps were too big to ignore really
how they gain that magic? what's the story behind that?
how was the relationship between the main couple when nick was away? she doesnt mention that he pretty much abandoned her
the guy that poisoned her ... what was the deal with that? no explanations whatsoever
yeah he just tied me and now he's dead, let's move on................????
if felt like several chapters were missing
honestly, I wonder how the editor missed these gaps
it couldve been such a memorable book but the second part felt like it was done in a hurry
March 10, 2020
A unique fantasy thriller.
Meg is not just magical but she is an author too the honorable Sir Frederick Magpie, Disinterested Observer of Elegant Ladies and other Alarming Things. In London, for the season she has found it rather horrible so she returns home only to find her sister has returned home now and doing things that are morally wrong. This tale was a unique fantasy a true good vs. evil tale (kind of because no one is truly good or evil). The final chapters were spine tingly and so engaging. I love the book! I did receive a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.
Meg is not just magical but she is an author too the honorable Sir Frederick Magpie, Disinterested Observer of Elegant Ladies and other Alarming Things. In London, for the season she has found it rather horrible so she returns home only to find her sister has returned home now and doing things that are morally wrong. This tale was a unique fantasy a true good vs. evil tale (kind of because no one is truly good or evil). The final chapters were spine tingly and so engaging. I love the book! I did receive a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.
February 27, 2021
I enjoyed this book way more than I thought I would. I love Victorian historical romances, but I was skeptical about the magical elements. But I was so pleasantly surprised and loved the magic. And it was so fun to have all of the magical elements tied up in the history of smuggling goods into England to avoid taxes, the flouting of social conventions, the exciting trope of a woman posing as a man so that her voice and opinion could be heard, etc. And the romance! It was drawn out swoon worthy throughout. I really enjoyed it.
May 16, 2020
This second installment had a lot of things going for it - who doesn’t love a spunky heroine? I liked the country setting and it was nice to see the characters again. It did have a lot of a plot device that is a pet peeve of mine - when problems happen because people assume and don’t say the one or two simple things that would solve a lot of issues. I still loved the heroine, however, and was eager to see her get her HEA.
February 14, 2023
I love the premise of this book, and I really enjoyed reading it. But I was left wanting because it felt like whole portions of it were missing somehow. There were very choppy segues from paragraph to paragraph in a lot of places. Sometimes from line to line. And I felt like in the story as a whole, entire chunks of detail or plotline were left out. I will probably give it another shot in a year or two. Maybe it's all in my head!
Please don't judge this book by the awful cover.
Please don't judge this book by the awful cover.
March 13, 2020
This Author has a way of telling a story that draws you in and does not let go until you have finished reading. Margaret Summers and Nicholas Ainsley's story has suspense, drama, danger, evil magic, a villain and romance. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 20, 2020
Sisters and rivals
Two sisters with a similar magical gift find that their rivalry enters new and deadly territory as they seek the love of the same man.
This book contains almost constant interior monologue, not something I enjoy ordinarily. But for this particular story it was the perfect storytelling technique. I could not put this book down.
Two sisters with a similar magical gift find that their rivalry enters new and deadly territory as they seek the love of the same man.
This book contains almost constant interior monologue, not something I enjoy ordinarily. But for this particular story it was the perfect storytelling technique. I could not put this book down.
September 18, 2025
4.5 stars Nearly through Dominguez' backlist, and finding this series more compelling than I anticipated. I'm not much for the genre blending caused by sprinkling magic into history and romance, but I'm definitely a fan of Keira Dominguez' characters and writing. Had trouble putting this one down.
March 9, 2020
Another great regency romance by Keira Dominguez! When you read one of her novels you know they’re going to have witty characters, the perfect kind of romance, a little bit of magic and a conniving villain you’ll love to hate. Meg and Nick’s relationship was my favorite as they tried to navigate between being just friends or something more. This was the perfect clean read and just what I needed!
April 6, 2020
I love Keira’s writing! She tells the story using unexpected descriptions that often have me grinning at her wit. I love this story with a brave, smart heroine and a pining hero. Can’t wait to read future novels by Keira!
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