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The Perks of Being an Heiress #1
Bewitched by the Bluestocking
It's British versus American in this engaging battle of wits! British private investigator, Thomas Kincaid, thinks he's seen it all . . . until a gorgeous, soaking-wet American shows up and demands he help her find a stolen family heirloom. Having had his heart crushed once before by a beautiful woman, Kincaid has no intention of tempting fate a second time. But Joanna Thorncroft isn't about to take no for an answer. Joanna has to find her mother's ring and discover the secrets it contains. Secrets that have brought her all the way across the Atlantic and onto the doorstep of a sinfully handsome detective. While falling in love is the furthest thing from her mind, fiercely independent Joanna can't help but find herself drawn to Kincaid . . . and the blazing passion that soon threatens to consume them. But when the scandalous truth about the ring's history is unveiled, it changes both the past and the present. If Joanna and Kincaid want a future together, they must risk everything to get it . . . including their hearts. Contains mature themes.
308 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 26, 2021
568 people are currently reading
477 people want to read
About the author
Jillian Eaton
89 books489 followersJillian Eaton has written over forty historical romances and is known for finding the perfect balance between "intense emotions, sizzling chemistry, and light-hearted humor" (Swept Away by Romance). She grew up in Maine and now lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and their three boys on a 17-acre farm where they rescue and rehabilitate senior horses.
When she isn't writing, working at the barn, or playing a cutthroat game of Harry Potter Monopoly with her family, Jillian enjoys gardening, hiking, and being an adjunct professor at her Alma mater, Delaware Valley University.
If readers are new to her books, she always suggests the following:
Sweet and Swoony Romance: Duke at First Sight
Spicy and Mysterious: A Dangerous Seduction
All Around: Bewitched by the Bluestocking
Bit Darker: The Duchess Takes a Lover
When she isn't writing, working at the barn, or playing a cutthroat game of Harry Potter Monopoly with her family, Jillian enjoys gardening, hiking, and being an adjunct professor at her Alma mater, Delaware Valley University.
If readers are new to her books, she always suggests the following:
Sweet and Swoony Romance: Duke at First Sight
Spicy and Mysterious: A Dangerous Seduction
All Around: Bewitched by the Bluestocking
Bit Darker: The Duchess Takes a Lover
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 134 reviews
March 5, 2021
When I requested Bewitched by the Bluestocking on NetGalley, I was hoping for a quick, fun read to kickoff a new historical romance series. Although I did enjoy several side characters, overall I did not enjoy this book and therefore I don’t think I’ll continue with the series.
The structure of this book, especially compared to other historical romances, struck me as odd. While I’m all for deviating from the norm, I found several elements to be questionable and a bit confusing. After the meet-cute between Joanna and Kincaid in the opening chapter, the remaining first quarter of the book consists of flashbacks to Joanna's life in Boston and the events that led to her journey to London. While I loved seeing Joanna’s relationships with her younger sisters and grandmother, the time jump did not seem necessary in advancing the plot. I would have preferred to remain in the present developing her romance with Kincaid and having her reveal details on her past as the story progressed. Although this book is set up as a romance mystery, the whodunnit-treasure-hunt subplot goes mostly underutilized, falling into the background until it’s easily unraveled (though not completely resolved…) in the end. The romance also felt rushed, as the entire story takes place over the course of one week.
In addition, a side character who is not introduced until halfway through the book has his own POV chapter. This might have made sense as the final chapter or epilogue, since the set up implies he will be the hero in the next book; however, it was thrown in among chapters from Joanna and Kincaid's POVs. Jarring and, again, unnecessary.
Certain aspects of this book rubbed me the wrong way. Kincaid and his best friend Sterling (who will probably get his own book, too, which is unfortunate as I did not care for him at all) had multiple conversations riddled with internalized misogyny that were never challenged or corrected. Joanna complains about the many men who proposed to her in Boston and judges them for reasons I found petty, including one man who had the audacity to be shorter than her and wear salmon-colored pants. While I understood many of her suitors weren’t looking for a love match like she was, Joanna didn’t need to stoop to mocking their appearance in her reasons for not marrying them. I also could have done without her physically assaulting the femme fatale who once broke Kincaid’s heart…I get that she’s the story’s villain, but the violence was not needed.
As an American who has lived in Europe, I can say without a doubt that Joanna would be one of those obnoxious American tourists you can spot a mile away who give Americans a bad name. She is loud, abrasive, and frequently ignores the customs and advice of Londoners while justifying it with “I’m an American!”. Bulldozing over the culture and expectations of the country you’re visiting while shouting about your own isn’t cute, it’s arrogant and disrespectful and made me roll my eyes on more than one occasion.
The only reason I rated this book 2 stars is because I did enjoy some side characters, especially Evie, Claire, Rosemary, and Brynne, as well as Kincaid’s feline companions, Jack and Jane. I also appreciated the mystery and American/British dynamics, even if neither was executed nearly as well as they could have been.
Thank you to Dragonblade Publishing via Netgalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
The structure of this book, especially compared to other historical romances, struck me as odd. While I’m all for deviating from the norm, I found several elements to be questionable and a bit confusing. After the meet-cute between Joanna and Kincaid in the opening chapter, the remaining first quarter of the book consists of flashbacks to Joanna's life in Boston and the events that led to her journey to London. While I loved seeing Joanna’s relationships with her younger sisters and grandmother, the time jump did not seem necessary in advancing the plot. I would have preferred to remain in the present developing her romance with Kincaid and having her reveal details on her past as the story progressed. Although this book is set up as a romance mystery, the whodunnit-treasure-hunt subplot goes mostly underutilized, falling into the background until it’s easily unraveled (though not completely resolved…) in the end. The romance also felt rushed, as the entire story takes place over the course of one week.
In addition, a side character who is not introduced until halfway through the book has his own POV chapter. This might have made sense as the final chapter or epilogue, since the set up implies he will be the hero in the next book; however, it was thrown in among chapters from Joanna and Kincaid's POVs. Jarring and, again, unnecessary.
Certain aspects of this book rubbed me the wrong way. Kincaid and his best friend Sterling (who will probably get his own book, too, which is unfortunate as I did not care for him at all) had multiple conversations riddled with internalized misogyny that were never challenged or corrected. Joanna complains about the many men who proposed to her in Boston and judges them for reasons I found petty, including one man who had the audacity to be shorter than her and wear salmon-colored pants. While I understood many of her suitors weren’t looking for a love match like she was, Joanna didn’t need to stoop to mocking their appearance in her reasons for not marrying them. I also could have done without her physically assaulting the femme fatale who once broke Kincaid’s heart…I get that she’s the story’s villain, but the violence was not needed.
As an American who has lived in Europe, I can say without a doubt that Joanna would be one of those obnoxious American tourists you can spot a mile away who give Americans a bad name. She is loud, abrasive, and frequently ignores the customs and advice of Londoners while justifying it with “I’m an American!”. Bulldozing over the culture and expectations of the country you’re visiting while shouting about your own isn’t cute, it’s arrogant and disrespectful and made me roll my eyes on more than one occasion.
The only reason I rated this book 2 stars is because I did enjoy some side characters, especially Evie, Claire, Rosemary, and Brynne, as well as Kincaid’s feline companions, Jack and Jane. I also appreciated the mystery and American/British dynamics, even if neither was executed nearly as well as they could have been.
Thank you to Dragonblade Publishing via Netgalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
not-for-me
June 26, 2024Note to self:
Author promots her books by mocking low rating reviews.
Distasteful. Not for me.
Author promots her books by mocking low rating reviews.
Distasteful. Not for me.
January 24, 2021
❤️❤️❤️❤️
💋💋
Fun and dangerous times for two young women who brave British shores in search of a stolen ring.
Both Joanna, our heroine, and her sister Evie, are American born and travel to England following their property, a ring belonging to their dead mother, stolen from them days before.
Needing help Joanna hires a Private Investigator to find out exactly what’s happening and who the thief is.
Will she finally find love in his arms?
Will she also find out about the secrets her family kept and exactly why that affects her ?
Good read and fun dialogue, a little too much of the thoughts of characters for me, I felt it messed with the flow, but I enjoyed the storyline and the ending.
I received an Arc copy of this book and chose to post this review
💋💋
Fun and dangerous times for two young women who brave British shores in search of a stolen ring.
Both Joanna, our heroine, and her sister Evie, are American born and travel to England following their property, a ring belonging to their dead mother, stolen from them days before.
Needing help Joanna hires a Private Investigator to find out exactly what’s happening and who the thief is.
Will she finally find love in his arms?
Will she also find out about the secrets her family kept and exactly why that affects her ?
Good read and fun dialogue, a little too much of the thoughts of characters for me, I felt it messed with the flow, but I enjoyed the storyline and the ending.
I received an Arc copy of this book and chose to post this review
March 20, 2021
Fab story. A really enjoyable read. I'm eagerly awaiting #2. 4☆
January 25, 2021
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thank you to Dragonblade Publishing for providing me an arc via Netgalley!
There was nothing exceptional about this book or anything that really captivated me. In addition to that, I like more development in my romances, and this just felt really rushed and shallow.
Overall wouldn't recommend it.
Thank you to Dragonblade Publishing for providing me an arc via Netgalley!
There was nothing exceptional about this book or anything that really captivated me. In addition to that, I like more development in my romances, and this just felt really rushed and shallow.
Overall wouldn't recommend it.
March 7, 2021
This one misses the mark, which is a shame. I love stories featuring heroines who are bluestockings, typically defined as female intellectuals. The heroine here, Joanna, is not a bluestocking, more of an "original" and even then, her behavior is too anachronistic for the time period. Also, I love heroes who are detectives, and the attractive bookish type has always appealed as well. Although the hero, Kincaid, works on some levels for me, too much of the story consists of him brooding about his relationship with Joanna. He seems to do very little legwork on his investigations until past the halfway point (I do have to mention, his relationship with his cats is quirky and cute).
I liked the initial meeting between h/H--until Kincaid started getting pervy, fantasizing about Joanna and her sister together (I almost stopped reading right there, wondering if this was erotica). Bizarrely inappropriate. Then the perspective suddenly switches to Joanna, and events that took place a few months in the past. We are introduced to her family. This is all very "prim and proper", and a bit draggy. I actually found myself siding with the middle sister, Evie, during this part of the book, as Joanna has been refusing all of these men who are falling over themselves to marry her, while her family is going without. She won't marry a man if it isn't love, but as her sister points out later, she never gives any of the men a chance to love her. (What Joanna really wants is lust, if we're basing it on her initial attraction to Kincaid.)
Then we're back to the present. Kincaid wants Joanna, but was emotionally devastated by a woman years before who used him for sex and tossed him away, also managing to ruin his reputation, leading to the loss of his job. He also had a rough childhood, but oddly never opens up about this to Joanna. Joanna continues to force her way into his life, and sometimes it's amusing, other times it's obnoxious. She manages to get herself almost raped and later almost hit by a carriage (Kincaid saves her, of course) because she refuses to listen to him and is always acting before thinking. A little of this goes a long way.
Still, I was prepared to give this book 3 stars, until around the 80% mark. SPOILERS AHEAD:
You realize once the characters are heading toward the ball that loose ends are going to be tied up in a subsequent book, which I found annoying. It's one thing to introduce characters who will be coming up in the next entry, another thing to leave two big plot threads hanging. The plot involving the investigation into the apparent murder of Kincaid's friend's mistress is barely followed up on (I guess whether he goes to Newgate or not will have to wait until either book 2 or 3?) while suddenly Joanna's half-brother is introduced. He doesn't seem like a particularly likable character, but apparently Joanna's sister, Evie, feels a "birds singing, sky opening"-level attraction to him (why, we don't know, other than the fact that he's good looking). Then he has a temper tantrum and refuses to relinquish the ring they've been trying to recover. Evie decides on a hare-brained scheme at the very end, which is the segue into book 2, that makes her character seem crass and manipulative.
Meanwhile, Joanna punches out the nasty woman who'd hurt Kincaid years before. It's an unnecessarily over-the-top scene that completely took me out of the story. Then H/h head to the library and abruptly have sex. This is right after Joanna has been introduced to London society and has barely been at the ball for a few minutes--I don't mind steam in my books, but this scene is really out of place here.
As I mentioned, the story ends with a cliffhanger. H/h are planning to marry, but that's not even included in an epilogue (by the way, was anyone else bothered by how the h, who has little money, just left her luggage across the street from the H's house, in the rain? Maybe I pick up on details like that when I get frustrated).
I don't feel the need to add book 2 to my watch list. Everything just seemed so shallow and anachronistic. I didn't sense the author trusted enough in the reader's intelligence and had to bog the story down with inappropriate silliness without going to the effort of writing a satisfying conclusion. I'm giving the 2 stars because the editing isn't awful and a few of the secondary characters were likable.
NOTE: If you're wondering, this is not a "sweet and clean" Regency. There is pre-marital sex with no protection or pulling out and a few uses of "f-bombs." Kind of high-school level.
I liked the initial meeting between h/H--until Kincaid started getting pervy, fantasizing about Joanna and her sister together (I almost stopped reading right there, wondering if this was erotica). Bizarrely inappropriate. Then the perspective suddenly switches to Joanna, and events that took place a few months in the past. We are introduced to her family. This is all very "prim and proper", and a bit draggy. I actually found myself siding with the middle sister, Evie, during this part of the book, as Joanna has been refusing all of these men who are falling over themselves to marry her, while her family is going without. She won't marry a man if it isn't love, but as her sister points out later, she never gives any of the men a chance to love her. (What Joanna really wants is lust, if we're basing it on her initial attraction to Kincaid.)
Then we're back to the present. Kincaid wants Joanna, but was emotionally devastated by a woman years before who used him for sex and tossed him away, also managing to ruin his reputation, leading to the loss of his job. He also had a rough childhood, but oddly never opens up about this to Joanna. Joanna continues to force her way into his life, and sometimes it's amusing, other times it's obnoxious. She manages to get herself almost raped and later almost hit by a carriage (Kincaid saves her, of course) because she refuses to listen to him and is always acting before thinking. A little of this goes a long way.
Still, I was prepared to give this book 3 stars, until around the 80% mark. SPOILERS AHEAD:
You realize once the characters are heading toward the ball that loose ends are going to be tied up in a subsequent book, which I found annoying. It's one thing to introduce characters who will be coming up in the next entry, another thing to leave two big plot threads hanging. The plot involving the investigation into the apparent murder of Kincaid's friend's mistress is barely followed up on (I guess whether he goes to Newgate or not will have to wait until either book 2 or 3?) while suddenly Joanna's half-brother is introduced. He doesn't seem like a particularly likable character, but apparently Joanna's sister, Evie, feels a "birds singing, sky opening"-level attraction to him (why, we don't know, other than the fact that he's good looking). Then he has a temper tantrum and refuses to relinquish the ring they've been trying to recover. Evie decides on a hare-brained scheme at the very end, which is the segue into book 2, that makes her character seem crass and manipulative.
Meanwhile, Joanna punches out the nasty woman who'd hurt Kincaid years before. It's an unnecessarily over-the-top scene that completely took me out of the story. Then H/h head to the library and abruptly have sex. This is right after Joanna has been introduced to London society and has barely been at the ball for a few minutes--I don't mind steam in my books, but this scene is really out of place here.
As I mentioned, the story ends with a cliffhanger. H/h are planning to marry, but that's not even included in an epilogue (by the way, was anyone else bothered by how the h, who has little money, just left her luggage across the street from the H's house, in the rain? Maybe I pick up on details like that when I get frustrated).
I don't feel the need to add book 2 to my watch list. Everything just seemed so shallow and anachronistic. I didn't sense the author trusted enough in the reader's intelligence and had to bog the story down with inappropriate silliness without going to the effort of writing a satisfying conclusion. I'm giving the 2 stars because the editing isn't awful and a few of the secondary characters were likable.
NOTE: If you're wondering, this is not a "sweet and clean" Regency. There is pre-marital sex with no protection or pulling out and a few uses of "f-bombs." Kind of high-school level.
January 27, 2021
Bewitched Indeed! As Kincaid opened his door, he found "a blue-eyed American heiress with hair the color of fire and a plump mouth that immediately brought to mind all sorts of carnal, wicked thoughts. ... He'd learned long ago to be wary of beautiful women. And this one, with her thick, auburn lashes and high cheekbones and soft, soft lips was absolutely stunning."
Joanna Thorncroft was desperate and she needed Kincade's investigative skills to help finding a lost ring. Since she had no funds, she wanted to help him organize his office and just be there!
Hilarious thoughts by Kincade and he interacts with Joanna. A little suspense, intrigue with great characters, delightful dialogue and quips. Jillian at her best. Love her stories! Cannot wait for more of this new series!
Joanna Thorncroft was desperate and she needed Kincade's investigative skills to help finding a lost ring. Since she had no funds, she wanted to help him organize his office and just be there!
Hilarious thoughts by Kincade and he interacts with Joanna. A little suspense, intrigue with great characters, delightful dialogue and quips. Jillian at her best. Love her stories! Cannot wait for more of this new series!
January 27, 2021
The Tale of the Ruby Ring💍💕
ADULT Victorian Romance💕 and Adventure
Finding an old and very valuable ruby and diamond 💎 ring in her late mother's things, leads Joanna💃💋, the eldest of three sisters, on a trip to England to find and get it back. Her mother's name and The giver's initials JW are inscribed in the band.
The ring💍 was stolen from Joanna's bag when they are sent by grandmother to a jeweler in Boston to get an appraisal and possibly sell the ring💍. The sisters and their grandmother are nearly destitute after their doctor father is killed In the war. The girls try to chase down the thief, but he gets aboard a ship⛵ just leaving the docks for England.
Joanna💃💋 knows she must go to England, when her grandmother comes clean and tells her that her mother visited relatives there before her marriage and came back pregnant with the ring💍. Joanna is obviously the daughter of an aristocrat but who? Their father accepted the child ( Joanna) and all was well until 20 years later when Joanna💃💋 found the ring.💍
ARC Provided by Booksprout 🌱
I also got this ebook with KU.
The book starts out pretty slow with the myriad financial problems of the three sisters and their grandmother after her father dies in the War of Northern Aggression.
It picks up somewhat faster when Joanna💃💋 arrives in England and contacts a Mr. Kincaid🐺🍆⛲🔪🔫, a private detective in London, to find the ring💍, and goes to work for him as payment . Sparks and angst fly thick throughout the rest of this long novel. Kincaid🐺🍆⛲🔪🔫 has several other cases he is working on at the same time, in which Joanna💃💋 tries to help him.
I enjoyed the book but some of the happenings are ridiculous and unbelievable. But that's the magic of fiction!
ADULT Victorian Romance💕 and Adventure
Finding an old and very valuable ruby and diamond 💎 ring in her late mother's things, leads Joanna💃💋, the eldest of three sisters, on a trip to England to find and get it back. Her mother's name and The giver's initials JW are inscribed in the band.
The ring💍 was stolen from Joanna's bag when they are sent by grandmother to a jeweler in Boston to get an appraisal and possibly sell the ring💍. The sisters and their grandmother are nearly destitute after their doctor father is killed In the war. The girls try to chase down the thief, but he gets aboard a ship⛵ just leaving the docks for England.
Joanna💃💋 knows she must go to England, when her grandmother comes clean and tells her that her mother visited relatives there before her marriage and came back pregnant with the ring💍. Joanna is obviously the daughter of an aristocrat but who? Their father accepted the child ( Joanna) and all was well until 20 years later when Joanna💃💋 found the ring.💍
ARC Provided by Booksprout 🌱
I also got this ebook with KU.
The book starts out pretty slow with the myriad financial problems of the three sisters and their grandmother after her father dies in the War of Northern Aggression.
It picks up somewhat faster when Joanna💃💋 arrives in England and contacts a Mr. Kincaid🐺🍆⛲🔪🔫, a private detective in London, to find the ring💍, and goes to work for him as payment . Sparks and angst fly thick throughout the rest of this long novel. Kincaid🐺🍆⛲🔪🔫 has several other cases he is working on at the same time, in which Joanna💃💋 tries to help him.
I enjoyed the book but some of the happenings are ridiculous and unbelievable. But that's the magic of fiction!
May 10, 2021
This historical mystery’s romance absolutely sizzles!
Read full review in the 2021 May issue of InD'tale Magazine.
Read full review in the 2021 May issue of InD'tale Magazine.
February 10, 2021
American sisters Joanna and Evie Thorncroft are in London to search for a valuable ring stolen from them, not only the one thing which might keep their family from poverty but also a clue to who Joanna’s real father might be. Penniless but determined, Joanna convinces private detective Thomas Kincaid to take on their case, in return she’ll do secretarial work for him.
Sparks fly between Joanna and Thomas from the first moment… and to be honest, I actually found it a little uncomfortable. The first meeting was told from Thomas’s point of view, and he was frankly a bit creepy, perving on Joanna and, most revoltingly, fantasising about her and her sister TOGETHER when Joanna told him she had a sister. This really took me quite a while to get past, even though he did behave with complete decorum outwardly and it was eventually Joanna who made the first move.
The other thing that bothered me about the book is that Joanna isn’t actually a bluestocking. She’s not particularly scholarly or literary. Compared to her sister Evie she’s disinterested in appearances, but she’s still happy to dress up and look nice when the occasion calls for it. I was also bemused as to why two women from a family that struggled to put food on the table had silk dresses and pearl earrings and necklaces to wear. It didn’t quite add up.
I felt like there was also a lot of work being done to introduce characters who are obviously going to get their own book later in the series - Joanna’s sister Evie is presumably next, and I’m guessing her cousin, the girl with the pet squirrel, is going to get matched up with the duke who hates small animals. It was all telegraphed a bit too hard and I think could have been left for those later books, in favour of concentrating a bit harder on Joanna and Kincaid’s romance. I struggled a bit as to why they actually ‘loved’ each other. We didn’t get to see them spend enough time together when they weren’t trying to rip each others’ clothes off.
I didn’t hate this - the worldbuilding was good, and I really liked, well, pretty much all the female characters including Joanna. But there were a lot of things which bothered me, most particularly Thomas being a bit of a pervy creep. I’ll give it three stars.
Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this title via NetGalley.
Sparks fly between Joanna and Thomas from the first moment… and to be honest, I actually found it a little uncomfortable. The first meeting was told from Thomas’s point of view, and he was frankly a bit creepy, perving on Joanna and, most revoltingly, fantasising about her and her sister TOGETHER when Joanna told him she had a sister. This really took me quite a while to get past, even though he did behave with complete decorum outwardly and it was eventually Joanna who made the first move.
The other thing that bothered me about the book is that Joanna isn’t actually a bluestocking. She’s not particularly scholarly or literary. Compared to her sister Evie she’s disinterested in appearances, but she’s still happy to dress up and look nice when the occasion calls for it. I was also bemused as to why two women from a family that struggled to put food on the table had silk dresses and pearl earrings and necklaces to wear. It didn’t quite add up.
I felt like there was also a lot of work being done to introduce characters who are obviously going to get their own book later in the series - Joanna’s sister Evie is presumably next, and I’m guessing her cousin, the girl with the pet squirrel, is going to get matched up with the duke who hates small animals. It was all telegraphed a bit too hard and I think could have been left for those later books, in favour of concentrating a bit harder on Joanna and Kincaid’s romance. I struggled a bit as to why they actually ‘loved’ each other. We didn’t get to see them spend enough time together when they weren’t trying to rip each others’ clothes off.
I didn’t hate this - the worldbuilding was good, and I really liked, well, pretty much all the female characters including Joanna. But there were a lot of things which bothered me, most particularly Thomas being a bit of a pervy creep. I’ll give it three stars.
Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this title via NetGalley.
December 6, 2021
I'm disappointed that it didn't end ,but needs to be continued in bk2, her sister Evelyn 's love story. This is just the first of many grouses -
1. The unending and unnecessary repetitions. OMG ! I Get it ,the first time you spoke of the Hero, Kincaid's heartbreak ,and the second time as well as the 300th time. The same goes for heroine's feelings towards him. Its the same sentiment and pretty much the same sentences told to us, once, twice and so many times more. I truly don't mind a shorter , crisper book. Get on with the plot lady!
2. This one takes the cake - our heroine is the illegitimate child of a Marquess, and an illegitimate granddaughter of a Duke ,not to mention being the half sister to an Earl. Our h ,Joanna has managed to get an invite to a very exclusive ball, where she was to meet her extended noble family. So, what does she do??? Have sex with her blow hot blow cold boyfriend. So, towards the end, she still hasn't met nor spoken with them. So, what was purpose on coming to London?? The entire book is pointless.
3. The author mentions marital abuse - an absolute foreign concept in 1870 especially amongst the Ton.
Hmmm.. I'll now have to read bk 2 to make sense of this trilogy. God Help Me!
Recommended: only if you have nothing better to do😱
1. The unending and unnecessary repetitions. OMG ! I Get it ,the first time you spoke of the Hero, Kincaid's heartbreak ,and the second time as well as the 300th time. The same goes for heroine's feelings towards him. Its the same sentiment and pretty much the same sentences told to us, once, twice and so many times more. I truly don't mind a shorter , crisper book. Get on with the plot lady!
2. This one takes the cake - our heroine is the illegitimate child of a Marquess, and an illegitimate granddaughter of a Duke ,not to mention being the half sister to an Earl. Our h ,Joanna has managed to get an invite to a very exclusive ball, where she was to meet her extended noble family. So, what does she do??? Have sex with her blow hot blow cold boyfriend. So, towards the end, she still hasn't met nor spoken with them. So, what was purpose on coming to London?? The entire book is pointless.
3. The author mentions marital abuse - an absolute foreign concept in 1870 especially amongst the Ton.
Hmmm.. I'll now have to read bk 2 to make sense of this trilogy. God Help Me!
Recommended: only if you have nothing better to do😱
August 17, 2021
While I enjoyed the overall story concept, the writing itself bothered me. First, the author wrote in a strong lust factor in chapter one! More sex without love than seems necessary appears in this story. Second, without warning or any transition the story makes a three month flashback for chapters two through four. Third, some parts of the story seem to lose momentum through being trapped inside characters' heads.
I liked the British private investigator, Thomas Kincaid, determined not to get personally involved with a female client which had derailed his prior budding police career. I was not so fond of the curvaceous, brash American redhead, Joanna Thorncroft, in search of an heirloom ring and an unknown birth father, nor did I warm to the materialistic half-sister, Evelyn, determined to snag a duke in matrimony. I loved the investigator's cats and his friend Sterling Nottingham, Duke of Hanover.
While this first book in the series did not fully meet my expectations, I will give the series another try.
I liked the British private investigator, Thomas Kincaid, determined not to get personally involved with a female client which had derailed his prior budding police career. I was not so fond of the curvaceous, brash American redhead, Joanna Thorncroft, in search of an heirloom ring and an unknown birth father, nor did I warm to the materialistic half-sister, Evelyn, determined to snag a duke in matrimony. I loved the investigator's cats and his friend Sterling Nottingham, Duke of Hanover.
While this first book in the series did not fully meet my expectations, I will give the series another try.
June 24, 2024
So I had this series on my TBR list but then it disappeared and wasn't available on Amazon anymore. I ran across it while looking for new releases. YAY! It looks like this series originally came out in 2021 but it seems like she did some edits and re-released it. Anyway, I'm glad since it was on my list to read anyway. :) This is my 22nd book by Jillian Eaton. I read 4 of her books in 2018 but didn't pick her up again until 2021.
I loved this story. I really liked Thomas and Joanna's characters. I loved the story concept. Not usually a big fan of American's in British Regency but I really enjoyed it. I always love a Bow Street and/or detective characters. Not sure why maybe I watched too much "Police Woman" growing up but I do like a good sexy mystery. I am really looking forward to the rest of the books.
I loved this story. I really liked Thomas and Joanna's characters. I loved the story concept. Not usually a big fan of American's in British Regency but I really enjoyed it. I always love a Bow Street and/or detective characters. Not sure why maybe I watched too much "Police Woman" growing up but I do like a good sexy mystery. I am really looking forward to the rest of the books.
February 14, 2021
I was atraccted by a cover, although I don't prefer reading mystery romances. But since I liked all previous Dragonblade publishing ARC's I gave it a try.
I liked Joanna and Evie's sister bond, but there was just too much backflash of the past. I was cofused from jumping from present to past. I missed more of the romanctic aspect.
I liked Joanna's and Kincaid love story, they were perfect for each other, helpful and swoony.
I received free copy from Netgalley in exchange of honest review.
I liked Joanna and Evie's sister bond, but there was just too much backflash of the past. I was cofused from jumping from present to past. I missed more of the romanctic aspect.
I liked Joanna's and Kincaid love story, they were perfect for each other, helpful and swoony.
I received free copy from Netgalley in exchange of honest review.
Read
May 5, 2021"This historical mystery's romance absolutely sizzles!"
Check out my full review at InD'Tale Magazine:
http://magazine.indtale.com/magazine/...
Check out my full review at InD'Tale Magazine:
http://magazine.indtale.com/magazine/...
January 15, 2021
3 stars
I found this book slow to get in to, lots of back stories and descriptions of their life in America. I'm assuming the author is settting us up for a series. Three sisters are almost destitute when their grandmother suggests selling their mother's ruby ring. The two eldest go to Boston to sell it. The jeweller seems inordinately interested but tries to rip them off. They leave and the jewel is stolen and the theif jumps on a ship to London. The sisters sell Evie's dress and buy passage to England. It must have been a very expensive dress as they subsequently live on this money. Joanna finds a detective, our hero, Thomas Kincaid, to try and locate the ring. The sisters discuss the rent of a room in London in dollars which seemed odd to me. The book starts to speed up from halfway and changes from kisses to full on oral and other sexual practices. Kincaid is also trying to find out who killed his friends mistress. The friend is a Duke and likely to be arrested. Joannas sister Evie is obsessed with finding herself a Duke. By the end the heroine has hit another woman in the face, the ring has been located and other relations have been found very quickly. None by our hero's efforts and he hasn't solved his friends problem either, thus setting us up for further books, I doubt I will continue with this series.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I found this book slow to get in to, lots of back stories and descriptions of their life in America. I'm assuming the author is settting us up for a series. Three sisters are almost destitute when their grandmother suggests selling their mother's ruby ring. The two eldest go to Boston to sell it. The jeweller seems inordinately interested but tries to rip them off. They leave and the jewel is stolen and the theif jumps on a ship to London. The sisters sell Evie's dress and buy passage to England. It must have been a very expensive dress as they subsequently live on this money. Joanna finds a detective, our hero, Thomas Kincaid, to try and locate the ring. The sisters discuss the rent of a room in London in dollars which seemed odd to me. The book starts to speed up from halfway and changes from kisses to full on oral and other sexual practices. Kincaid is also trying to find out who killed his friends mistress. The friend is a Duke and likely to be arrested. Joannas sister Evie is obsessed with finding herself a Duke. By the end the heroine has hit another woman in the face, the ring has been located and other relations have been found very quickly. None by our hero's efforts and he hasn't solved his friends problem either, thus setting us up for further books, I doubt I will continue with this series.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 16, 2021
Bewitched by the Bluestocking
The Perks of Being an Heiress Series #1
Jillian Eaton
https://www.facebook.com/jillianeaton...
Release Date 01/26/2021
Publisher Dragonblade Publishing
𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗿𝗯
It's British versus American in this engaging battle of wits!
British private investigator, Thomas Kincaid, thinks he’s seen it all . . . until a gorgeous, soaking-wet American shows up and demands he help her find a stolen family heirloom. Having had his heart crushed once before by a beautiful woman, Kincaid has no intention of tempting fate a second time. But Joanna Thorncroft isn’t about to take no for an answer.
Joanna has to find her mother’s ring and discover the secrets it contains. Secrets that have brought her all the way across the Atlantic and onto the doorstep of a sinfully handsome detective. While falling in love is the furthest thing from her mind, fiercely independent Joanna can’t help but find herself drawn to Kincaid…and the blazing passion that soon threatens to consume them.
But when the scandalous truth about the ring’s history is unveiled, it changes both the past and the present. If Joanna and Kincaid want a future together, they must risk everything to get it…including their hearts.
𝗠𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄
Will he let his past come between his love and a future together ...
It had been a while since I have read this author, not its fault but mine, so caught up in the many books I have to read prior their release day, I have oft to pass on others, and while I purchase them, they sadly sat on my shelves waiting a hole in my reading schedule.
So when I saw this upcoming release, I tightened my books-to-read list to be able to add this one.
And I happy to say it was not a waste of time. I just loved this book.
While it is Joanna’s story, it also introduced her middle sister Evie, a Duke, an Earl and some other intriguing characters I suppose will be featured later.
Joanna has played the mother hen to her sister since her mother’s passing, the only thing she refuses to do for them is to marry for mercenary goal. She wants love even if she does not know what the word entails.
She is opinionated, strong willed and not one to backdown from a challenge even if it means crossing half the world to track a mysterious jewel. She gives as much as she receives.
I laughed at her relationship with her sister Evie, they are two harpies when angry but so much fun when they disagree, which is well all the time.
After the revelations that bring her in an unknown country, Joanna has to learn to navigate the new perimeter of her life, she experiences new feelings and comes to question everything she has known until now.
Thomas is a broken man, damaged beyond repair by the last blow life threw on his way. The orphan he was never knew love, why he plunged deep when he thought he has found it. Alas it cost him nearly everything why he won’t make that mistake again. Until fate takes matter in hands and lands a feisty fiery miss from the other side of the ocean at his doorstep.
Despite all the alarm bells ringing, he takes on her case.
Their chemistry is from the very beginning off the charts, with a fun reverse twist as she is the pursuer when he resists her advances.
A much entertaining read which left me eager to get my hands on the second book, Evie’s story.
4.5 stars
𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 onscreen detailed foreplays and lovemaking scenes.
I have been granted an advance copy by the publisher Dragonblade Publishing, here is my true and unbiased opinion.
https://www.facebook.com/429830134272...
The Perks of Being an Heiress Series #1
Jillian Eaton
https://www.facebook.com/jillianeaton...
Release Date 01/26/2021
Publisher Dragonblade Publishing
𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗿𝗯
It's British versus American in this engaging battle of wits!
British private investigator, Thomas Kincaid, thinks he’s seen it all . . . until a gorgeous, soaking-wet American shows up and demands he help her find a stolen family heirloom. Having had his heart crushed once before by a beautiful woman, Kincaid has no intention of tempting fate a second time. But Joanna Thorncroft isn’t about to take no for an answer.
Joanna has to find her mother’s ring and discover the secrets it contains. Secrets that have brought her all the way across the Atlantic and onto the doorstep of a sinfully handsome detective. While falling in love is the furthest thing from her mind, fiercely independent Joanna can’t help but find herself drawn to Kincaid…and the blazing passion that soon threatens to consume them.
But when the scandalous truth about the ring’s history is unveiled, it changes both the past and the present. If Joanna and Kincaid want a future together, they must risk everything to get it…including their hearts.
𝗠𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄
Will he let his past come between his love and a future together ...
It had been a while since I have read this author, not its fault but mine, so caught up in the many books I have to read prior their release day, I have oft to pass on others, and while I purchase them, they sadly sat on my shelves waiting a hole in my reading schedule.
So when I saw this upcoming release, I tightened my books-to-read list to be able to add this one.
And I happy to say it was not a waste of time. I just loved this book.
While it is Joanna’s story, it also introduced her middle sister Evie, a Duke, an Earl and some other intriguing characters I suppose will be featured later.
Joanna has played the mother hen to her sister since her mother’s passing, the only thing she refuses to do for them is to marry for mercenary goal. She wants love even if she does not know what the word entails.
She is opinionated, strong willed and not one to backdown from a challenge even if it means crossing half the world to track a mysterious jewel. She gives as much as she receives.
I laughed at her relationship with her sister Evie, they are two harpies when angry but so much fun when they disagree, which is well all the time.
After the revelations that bring her in an unknown country, Joanna has to learn to navigate the new perimeter of her life, she experiences new feelings and comes to question everything she has known until now.
Thomas is a broken man, damaged beyond repair by the last blow life threw on his way. The orphan he was never knew love, why he plunged deep when he thought he has found it. Alas it cost him nearly everything why he won’t make that mistake again. Until fate takes matter in hands and lands a feisty fiery miss from the other side of the ocean at his doorstep.
Despite all the alarm bells ringing, he takes on her case.
Their chemistry is from the very beginning off the charts, with a fun reverse twist as she is the pursuer when he resists her advances.
A much entertaining read which left me eager to get my hands on the second book, Evie’s story.
4.5 stars
𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 onscreen detailed foreplays and lovemaking scenes.
I have been granted an advance copy by the publisher Dragonblade Publishing, here is my true and unbiased opinion.
https://www.facebook.com/429830134272...
January 26, 2021
🌀🌀ONE SCINTILLATING JOURNEY🌀🌀
Busting bloomers boo! Jillian hit the ground running with this tough as nails on point realism, jamming to her own beat and slamming it home, divvying out some fervent facts, heart-rending truths and relentless pursuits, secrets confessed, revelations unveiled and promises made, testing our characters in ways they could have never imagined, jetting this jewel to new heights. Bound, wound and crisply coiled, showcasing the soaring ups and agonizing downs, breathtaking in it's simplicity and inspiring in it's depth, futures are forged and battle lines are drawn, bringing the heat and busting down walls, wrapping this gem up sleek, shiny and tight. The attraction and chemistry ignites with such intoxicating intensity, exposing boundless emotions and infinite affection, drawing our characters closer, uniting them together beautifully. The characters are complex, genuine and realistic with traits and qualities that balance and blend, with amazing depth and diversity and enough spice to add an extra kick to the mix. The scenes are abundantly descriptive with colorful details that blend and flow, creating a majestic backdrop that's so rich and lively it feels as though you're part of the story instead of on the sidelines, feeling everything the characters feel. Incredible job Jillian, thanks for sharing this little treasure with us.
Busting bloomers boo! Jillian hit the ground running with this tough as nails on point realism, jamming to her own beat and slamming it home, divvying out some fervent facts, heart-rending truths and relentless pursuits, secrets confessed, revelations unveiled and promises made, testing our characters in ways they could have never imagined, jetting this jewel to new heights. Bound, wound and crisply coiled, showcasing the soaring ups and agonizing downs, breathtaking in it's simplicity and inspiring in it's depth, futures are forged and battle lines are drawn, bringing the heat and busting down walls, wrapping this gem up sleek, shiny and tight. The attraction and chemistry ignites with such intoxicating intensity, exposing boundless emotions and infinite affection, drawing our characters closer, uniting them together beautifully. The characters are complex, genuine and realistic with traits and qualities that balance and blend, with amazing depth and diversity and enough spice to add an extra kick to the mix. The scenes are abundantly descriptive with colorful details that blend and flow, creating a majestic backdrop that's so rich and lively it feels as though you're part of the story instead of on the sidelines, feeling everything the characters feel. Incredible job Jillian, thanks for sharing this little treasure with us.
July 17, 2025
Hoopla
I normally like the tone of Jillian Eaton's historical romances and I do like this one too but really have to suspend reality in a lot of cases. I like that the heroine is feisty and brave but her attitude towards her illegitimacy is really difficult to believe. And it was all okay and I was rolling with it, considering that it's all make believe anyway. But then they decided to get naked in somebody's study at a the biggest ball of the year. The highlight ball of the year where she was just introduced to the entire Ton and everyone watched her and her sister Evie walk in and this is where she thought it was a good idea to get completely naked and lose her virginity? I'm just having a really hard time with this. If nothing else, it's just a really stupid idea. Sex is messy. Losing your virginity is messy, getting undressed out of all of those dresses and petticoats in the 1870s. Just blows my mind that she thinks she can get back into it when she needed help getting into it originally. Just a little bit ridiculous. Oftentimes women were sewn into gowns. You literally couldn't get out of them without help. So this was just randomly odd and uncomfortable. And the places that I had to suspend my belief was just in strange places like gratuitous places that that she had to add a passionate sex scene and didn't have the page count for it or something and so had to put it in an awkward place. And I could even probably be fine with that except it loses its impact. When the way the sex scene is handled, it really could have been interesting and different than most in that the female main character is the one basically seducing the the male main character. But instead it's just weird and and I had to stop and write this review before I forgot. Just silly silly silly!
And then the ending just gets weirder and weirder. Oh it's nonsense. The end is even more nonsense. Going to a house party un chaperoned unattended. Just showing up without a maid without clothes about anything. I get it that it's probably the next book and setting that up for Evie this Joanna's half brother. But seriously, she's just taken off and leaving and her sister's going to go on a boat all the way back to the United States alone. Completely alone. No chaperone. No traveling companion just alone. And where are they getting this money? This is the other question I have. They had to go to England to get the ring back so they could sell the ring so they could make it through winter without starving. Yes starving but they have money for a transatlantic ship boyage both ways and a season and food. And yes I got it. They stayed in a boarding house but that still cost money. I am just not apparently getting through the winter in Boston is not the same thing in 1870s as it is today. But the ending is just cuckoo. She goes to his house and says I'm not giving up on you. If anyone's going to walk away it's not going to be me even though she is literally the one who walked away at the ball left in a snint after he asked her to marry him. Yes he gave a terrible reason but he still gave a reason that was legitimate and she could have penned him down and said look dude you're going to have to use your big boy words and you're going to have to say things like oh what you mean is yes but this is not what happens. Oh my gosh hysterical
I normally like the tone of Jillian Eaton's historical romances and I do like this one too but really have to suspend reality in a lot of cases. I like that the heroine is feisty and brave but her attitude towards her illegitimacy is really difficult to believe. And it was all okay and I was rolling with it, considering that it's all make believe anyway. But then they decided to get naked in somebody's study at a the biggest ball of the year. The highlight ball of the year where she was just introduced to the entire Ton and everyone watched her and her sister Evie walk in and this is where she thought it was a good idea to get completely naked and lose her virginity? I'm just having a really hard time with this. If nothing else, it's just a really stupid idea. Sex is messy. Losing your virginity is messy, getting undressed out of all of those dresses and petticoats in the 1870s. Just blows my mind that she thinks she can get back into it when she needed help getting into it originally. Just a little bit ridiculous. Oftentimes women were sewn into gowns. You literally couldn't get out of them without help. So this was just randomly odd and uncomfortable. And the places that I had to suspend my belief was just in strange places like gratuitous places that that she had to add a passionate sex scene and didn't have the page count for it or something and so had to put it in an awkward place. And I could even probably be fine with that except it loses its impact. When the way the sex scene is handled, it really could have been interesting and different than most in that the female main character is the one basically seducing the the male main character. But instead it's just weird and and I had to stop and write this review before I forgot. Just silly silly silly!
And then the ending just gets weirder and weirder. Oh it's nonsense. The end is even more nonsense. Going to a house party un chaperoned unattended. Just showing up without a maid without clothes about anything. I get it that it's probably the next book and setting that up for Evie this Joanna's half brother. But seriously, she's just taken off and leaving and her sister's going to go on a boat all the way back to the United States alone. Completely alone. No chaperone. No traveling companion just alone. And where are they getting this money? This is the other question I have. They had to go to England to get the ring back so they could sell the ring so they could make it through winter without starving. Yes starving but they have money for a transatlantic ship boyage both ways and a season and food. And yes I got it. They stayed in a boarding house but that still cost money. I am just not apparently getting through the winter in Boston is not the same thing in 1870s as it is today. But the ending is just cuckoo. She goes to his house and says I'm not giving up on you. If anyone's going to walk away it's not going to be me even though she is literally the one who walked away at the ball left in a snint after he asked her to marry him. Yes he gave a terrible reason but he still gave a reason that was legitimate and she could have penned him down and said look dude you're going to have to use your big boy words and you're going to have to say things like oh what you mean is yes but this is not what happens. Oh my gosh hysterical
January 25, 2021
Bewitched by the Bluestocking by Jillian Eaton is a little different take on a Victorian novel, taking place in about 1870. It tells the story of a young woman named Joanna Thorncroft who had a ring stolen from her when she had visited Boston to sell it. Yes, she was an American, now in England looking for her lost ring. It had been her mother's and she desperately needed to sell it for the money would sustain she and her sisters for years. Moment after she left her grandmother's jeweler, she had been pickpocketed and the only thing taken: the ring. She and her sister scraped together the money they could and left for England. Joanna was now in the office of Thomas Kincaid, investigator, negotiating with him to take her case in exchange for her services as a secretary: a service for which he was in dire need. She told him the story her grandmother had told: that she was not her father's daughter but rather the result of a love affair, which had taken place in England years before. Could her please help?
Wonderful and very different story with two people not looking for love, but of course, finding it in the oddest of places. She was far out of his league, the daughter of a nobleman, even if not legitimate.
He had soured on woman after have been taken advantage of some years earlier by a married woman who had toyed with him and then lied to destroy his career. She was not interested in marriage at all. She had never met a man who interested her. It was an enjoyable journey, both the falling in love and recovering the ring. She had adored her father, and still did despite the fact he was not really her father. It was touching in so many ways, and such a clever and rewarding plot: hopefully the beginning of a terrific husband and wife detective series. An extremely enjoyable book with a good mystery and wonderful characters. Good job, Ms. Eaton. I recommend it.
I was invited to read Bewitched by the Bluestocking by Dragonblade, through Netgalley. All opinions contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #bewitchedbythebluestocking
Wonderful and very different story with two people not looking for love, but of course, finding it in the oddest of places. She was far out of his league, the daughter of a nobleman, even if not legitimate.
He had soured on woman after have been taken advantage of some years earlier by a married woman who had toyed with him and then lied to destroy his career. She was not interested in marriage at all. She had never met a man who interested her. It was an enjoyable journey, both the falling in love and recovering the ring. She had adored her father, and still did despite the fact he was not really her father. It was touching in so many ways, and such a clever and rewarding plot: hopefully the beginning of a terrific husband and wife detective series. An extremely enjoyable book with a good mystery and wonderful characters. Good job, Ms. Eaton. I recommend it.
I was invited to read Bewitched by the Bluestocking by Dragonblade, through Netgalley. All opinions contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #bewitchedbythebluestocking
July 20, 2025
A quick read that started out well and then kind of got a little lost along the way. I'm not usually a stickler for complete historical accuracy but a young woman wandering around London by herself and often alone with a man just didn't happen without ruining her reputation - or worse. And the fact that Kincaid ditched her in the middle of London just was terrible and made me not like him as a character.
There was a fair bit of repetition and a bit too much of Kincaid going back and forth and for such an independent woman, Joanna was kind of disappointing in that she kept chasing after him - even when she knows he's made it clear he can't or won't be with her (doesn't matter what the reason is - he's said he won't).
But what really killed the book for me was the last quarter. The whole point of this entire plot is so Joanna can get her mother's ring back and maybe also meet her long-lost family and it seems like everything will finally come together at a ball. Instead - Joanna doesn't meet any of them - her father has apparently suddenly gone to France? - and disappears for most of the ball
I liked the beginning chemistry between Kincaid and Joanna and I didn't mind the set up for the characters who will be coming in the next books except I'm kind of wondering about book 2 a little. but wish the last quarter had not been rushed and done a bit better.
There was a fair bit of repetition and a bit too much of Kincaid going back and forth and for such an independent woman, Joanna was kind of disappointing in that she kept chasing after him - even when she knows he's made it clear he can't or won't be with her (doesn't matter what the reason is - he's said he won't).
But what really killed the book for me was the last quarter. The whole point of this entire plot is so Joanna can get her mother's ring back and maybe also meet her long-lost family and it seems like everything will finally come together at a ball. Instead - Joanna doesn't meet any of them - her father has apparently suddenly gone to France? - and disappears for most of the ball
I liked the beginning chemistry between Kincaid and Joanna and I didn't mind the set up for the characters who will be coming in the next books except I'm kind of wondering about book 2 a little. but wish the last quarter had not been rushed and done a bit better.
January 12, 2021
I'd like to thank Netgalley and Dragonblade Publishing for giving me access to the ARC for Bewitched by the Bluestocking by Jillian Eaton.
Thomas Kincaid's very frequent sexual thoughts about Joanna right from the start was a bit creepy, im not going to lie. It was not attractive or befitting of a man that apparently has past trauma from an ex. I wasn't sure what to think of the story having such a quick to light BURN (if you know, you know), as a reader I felt the explicitness of the first chapter surpassed the usually foreplay of reading a romance and went straight in for the main course.
I believe chapter 1 that was in Kincaids POV wasn't placed well, it was the one downfall of the book. I'd much rather see it placed after Joanna and Evie arrive in London.
The book should have begun with chapter 2, that's were Jillians writing style really shines. Confident, beautiful well thought out characters, setting up the plot, context, possibilities for character development and getting to know her sisters was instrumental in my getting more involved in the book and reading further on. Chapter 1 just didn't catch me like that. Chapter 2 pulled me in and kept me there and I continued to enjoy the storyline and the mystery and intrigue and the burn between Kincaid and Joanna.
I did a few audible GASPS throughout the book and was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it after the rough start I had with it.
Thank you Jillian Eaton! I hope that Evie will receive her own book because I truly love her as well.
Thomas Kincaid's very frequent sexual thoughts about Joanna right from the start was a bit creepy, im not going to lie. It was not attractive or befitting of a man that apparently has past trauma from an ex. I wasn't sure what to think of the story having such a quick to light BURN (if you know, you know), as a reader I felt the explicitness of the first chapter surpassed the usually foreplay of reading a romance and went straight in for the main course.
I believe chapter 1 that was in Kincaids POV wasn't placed well, it was the one downfall of the book. I'd much rather see it placed after Joanna and Evie arrive in London.
The book should have begun with chapter 2, that's were Jillians writing style really shines. Confident, beautiful well thought out characters, setting up the plot, context, possibilities for character development and getting to know her sisters was instrumental in my getting more involved in the book and reading further on. Chapter 1 just didn't catch me like that. Chapter 2 pulled me in and kept me there and I continued to enjoy the storyline and the mystery and intrigue and the burn between Kincaid and Joanna.
I did a few audible GASPS throughout the book and was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it after the rough start I had with it.
Thank you Jillian Eaton! I hope that Evie will receive her own book because I truly love her as well.
Read
January 16, 2022This book is an easy short read. The entire plot is quite ridiculous and it's not clear why anyone would bother. But, once you decide that the characters would bother, it's all sensible within their own mental system. I mean, even The Talisman Ring by Georgette Heyer has an unbelievable impetus for the entire plot. Nonetheless, it's an enjoyable romp.
The present book is, regrettably, not as enjoyable a romp. Everyone in the book takes themselves too seriously. Then, they fail their own expectations. Then, they rue the day. Maybe if they took a bit of time making the decisions, they would be happier with them.
There are two refreshing aspects of the book. One is that the time is not linear. The first few chapters contain flashbacks and insight into the main character's American world and her family situation. The other welcome feature is that the male romantic lead is not nobility. He's a decent guy with a business. He is ordinarily principled to a fault until the leading lady shows up (see previous paragraph). Happily, there was no deviation from the expected HEA.
The present book is, regrettably, not as enjoyable a romp. Everyone in the book takes themselves too seriously. Then, they fail their own expectations. Then, they rue the day. Maybe if they took a bit of time making the decisions, they would be happier with them.
There are two refreshing aspects of the book. One is that the time is not linear. The first few chapters contain flashbacks and insight into the main character's American world and her family situation. The other welcome feature is that the male romantic lead is not nobility. He's a decent guy with a business. He is ordinarily principled to a fault until the leading lady shows up (see previous paragraph). Happily, there was no deviation from the expected HEA.
January 24, 2021
Oh My, I just Loved this book!! This is a spicier book than many others written by Jillian Eaton so if you are expecting a clean historical romance you might be disappointed, but the steam is tastefully written and I felt that it did add credence to the characters as they were being portrayed. I thought the character of Joanna was fantastic. She had poor Thomas at sixes and sevens from the very beginning and that never changed and neither did she. The author had her stay true to her initial character all the way through the same as she did with the character of Thomas. There were times I felt out-of-sorts with Thomas and his willful distrust of his feelings for Joanna but then we would get reminded of exactly why he harbored such a deep-seated mistrust of women and I would grant him some leniency. But when it looked like he was going to lose out on the best thing to ever happen to him (namely Joanna), I was ready to box his ears and make him wake up! Thankfully, Joanna was a brave young woman and managed to put an end to that nonsense! I do hope that we get the story of Evie next. I really want to see if she can do what she has set out to do.
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.
January 25, 2021
4.25 Stars
Thomas Kincaid private investigator & former police officer thinks he’s seen it all until a gorgeous, soaking-wet American shows up and demands he help her find a stolen family heirloom. Having had his heart crushed once before by a beautiful woman, Kincaid has no intention of tempting fate a second time. But Joanna Thorncroft isn’t about to take no for an answer. Joanna has to find her mother’s ring and discover the secrets it contains. Secrets that have brought her all the way across the Atlantic and onto the doorstep of a sinfully handsome detective. While falling in love is the furthest thing from her mind, fiercely independent Joanna can’t help but find herself drawn to Kincaid.
The first book in a new series & what an engrossing start it is. I loved both Kincaid & Joanna he’s the growly, dour investigator, she's a breath of fresh air who happens to be as stubborn as a mule. I loved the verbal bantering between & also the chemistry, which sizzled. I also really liked some of the secondary characters who I hope some will find their HEAs. There's a couple of ongoing threads that need to be resolved so I can't wait for future books. I read this page turner in two sittings & loved it
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
Thomas Kincaid private investigator & former police officer thinks he’s seen it all until a gorgeous, soaking-wet American shows up and demands he help her find a stolen family heirloom. Having had his heart crushed once before by a beautiful woman, Kincaid has no intention of tempting fate a second time. But Joanna Thorncroft isn’t about to take no for an answer. Joanna has to find her mother’s ring and discover the secrets it contains. Secrets that have brought her all the way across the Atlantic and onto the doorstep of a sinfully handsome detective. While falling in love is the furthest thing from her mind, fiercely independent Joanna can’t help but find herself drawn to Kincaid.
The first book in a new series & what an engrossing start it is. I loved both Kincaid & Joanna he’s the growly, dour investigator, she's a breath of fresh air who happens to be as stubborn as a mule. I loved the verbal bantering between & also the chemistry, which sizzled. I also really liked some of the secondary characters who I hope some will find their HEAs. There's a couple of ongoing threads that need to be resolved so I can't wait for future books. I read this page turner in two sittings & loved it
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
January 25, 2021
I love this author and I loved this book!!!
British private investigator, Thomas Kincaid, had his heart crushed once by a beautiful woman. Now, a gorgeous, soaking-wet American shows up at his door and demands he help her find a stolen family heirloom and she isn’t about to take no for an answer.
Joanna Thorncroft has to find her mother’s ring and discover the secrets it contains. Secrets that have brought her all the way across the Atlantic and onto the doorstep of a sinfully handsome detective.
But as the scandalous truth about the ring’s history is unveiled, Joanna and Kincaid can’t stop the blazing passion that soon threatens to consume them.
This book is really really good! Our heroine is smart, brave and feisty. Kincaid is strong, intelligent and has an iron will and the moral strength of a warrior. He desires Joanna like no other, but he can´t allow himself to fall again for a client. They fight their attraction all the way, but lucky us, they are not succeeding. There are a lot of funny dialogs, great side characters, lots of kissing, mystery, action and great romance.
I highly recommend it!!!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
British private investigator, Thomas Kincaid, had his heart crushed once by a beautiful woman. Now, a gorgeous, soaking-wet American shows up at his door and demands he help her find a stolen family heirloom and she isn’t about to take no for an answer.
Joanna Thorncroft has to find her mother’s ring and discover the secrets it contains. Secrets that have brought her all the way across the Atlantic and onto the doorstep of a sinfully handsome detective.
But as the scandalous truth about the ring’s history is unveiled, Joanna and Kincaid can’t stop the blazing passion that soon threatens to consume them.
This book is really really good! Our heroine is smart, brave and feisty. Kincaid is strong, intelligent and has an iron will and the moral strength of a warrior. He desires Joanna like no other, but he can´t allow himself to fall again for a client. They fight their attraction all the way, but lucky us, they are not succeeding. There are a lot of funny dialogs, great side characters, lots of kissing, mystery, action and great romance.
I highly recommend it!!!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 28, 2021
American Joanna Thorncoft hires London private investigator Thomas Kincaid to find her mother's ring that was stolen. She can't afford to pay him and offers her services as his secretary. Even though the spelling is different when I read his name I immediately thought of the painter. Thomas resists at first because of his attraction to her, but finally agrees to give it a week. Well a lot happens in a week, in particular them getting to third base many times. One of their romantic looks was at the house he was investigating the murder of his friend's the Duke of Hanover's mistress. It didn't strike me a good time or place to be thinking about that. Being a Duke and that there is no body, I doubt if found guilty his friend will be sentenced to die, but I was still surprised that Thomas in middle of investigating it would consider sailing to America when he knew it would takes months to get there and back. I like Thomas' cats, especially James who lets his mood show, but I also wonder if he found someone to take care of them when he's away. I didn't like Joanna's sister Evie with her uppity ways and obsession about marrying for money at first, but she's pretty funny and I hope she is successful in her quest she started at the end of the book.
February 26, 2021
Disjointed Parts Lead to Uninspired Whole
While I have a hot-and-cold relationship with this author's historical romances, I'm almost always a sucker for a story about a bluestocking. Unfortunately, I never really saw the heroine or any other female in this book as a bluestocking. The book came across as quite disjointed to me, at times seeming more like historical chick lit and other times like a romance. After a brief meeting of the hero and heroine in the prologue, we don't see them together for quite a while. I found myself growing impatient during the chic lit portion, where we see an extended view of the heroine’s life with her two younger sisters and grandmother three months before the meet-cute. The author certainly stretched my credulity with what happened in Boston with the ring. Seriously, it seems unlikely that such a chain of events would happen. I literally rolled my eyes at the ridiculousness of it and stopped reading for a while. Because the first part of the book was slow and dragged on with little purpose in places and the hero and heroine spent much of the book apart, I do not feel like I can recommend this book.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
While I have a hot-and-cold relationship with this author's historical romances, I'm almost always a sucker for a story about a bluestocking. Unfortunately, I never really saw the heroine or any other female in this book as a bluestocking. The book came across as quite disjointed to me, at times seeming more like historical chick lit and other times like a romance. After a brief meeting of the hero and heroine in the prologue, we don't see them together for quite a while. I found myself growing impatient during the chic lit portion, where we see an extended view of the heroine’s life with her two younger sisters and grandmother three months before the meet-cute. The author certainly stretched my credulity with what happened in Boston with the ring. Seriously, it seems unlikely that such a chain of events would happen. I literally rolled my eyes at the ridiculousness of it and stopped reading for a while. Because the first part of the book was slow and dragged on with little purpose in places and the hero and heroine spent much of the book apart, I do not feel like I can recommend this book.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
January 16, 2024
Hero: hardworking, orphaned Thomas Kincaid is a private detective whose one and only love devastated him by lying and humiliating him. He's hurt, damaged, and does not trust to give his heart to anyone.
Heroine: Joanna, illegitimate child of a Marquess, American, beautiful and bold.
Storyline: Joanna, her 3 sisters and grandmother, are running out of money since the death of her physician doctor. She finds her mothers ring in the attic and decides to sell it, except it gets stolen and is on the way to England. At this point, she also finds that her mother had an affair many years ago and that she was the outcome. Joanna decides to head to England to find her ring and her family. She hires Thomas Kincaid.
Holy smokes, from the first moment, there's hot sizzling attraction. She tugs, and he tugs back. He's hot, he's cold, and he's confused. But Joanna, lovely beautiful Joanna wants Kincaid, and she's not afraid to ask for him and fight for him. The characters are both amazingly strong-willed and lovely people. There's an annoying gnat of an Ow, Joanna's sister, and a Duke who all add to the story.
The mystery of Joanna's ring is solved, but it is more of a sideline story. This is a quick, fun read if you just want to rest your mind and enjoy.
Heroine: Joanna, illegitimate child of a Marquess, American, beautiful and bold.
Storyline: Joanna, her 3 sisters and grandmother, are running out of money since the death of her physician doctor. She finds her mothers ring in the attic and decides to sell it, except it gets stolen and is on the way to England. At this point, she also finds that her mother had an affair many years ago and that she was the outcome. Joanna decides to head to England to find her ring and her family. She hires Thomas Kincaid.
Holy smokes, from the first moment, there's hot sizzling attraction. She tugs, and he tugs back. He's hot, he's cold, and he's confused. But Joanna, lovely beautiful Joanna wants Kincaid, and she's not afraid to ask for him and fight for him. The characters are both amazingly strong-willed and lovely people. There's an annoying gnat of an Ow, Joanna's sister, and a Duke who all add to the story.
The mystery of Joanna's ring is solved, but it is more of a sideline story. This is a quick, fun read if you just want to rest your mind and enjoy.
October 14, 2024
I enjoyed this story with all the characters that were within this book. The main characters were Joanna Thorncroft and Thomas Kincaid.
Joanna Thorncroft lives in America with her two sisters and their grandmother. Their parents have pasted away from illnesses. They don't have a lot of money. So when looking through their mother's things that were in the attic, they find a ring. They decide to get it appraised at a jeweler in a town near where they live. While there something happens and the ring gets taken by a pickpocket. He finds a ship to England and gets away with the ring. Joanna and one of her sisters decide to follow after him. When they get to England, they need a detective to find the ring.
Thomas Kincaid is a detective. Thomas is very surprised when a lady shows up on his doorstep all wet. She wants him to find a ring that was stolen. He doesn't want to take her case at first. Because he is busy with other cases.
This was a fun story to read. It had action, adventure, and suspense throughout. It had a few giggles within. The mystery of what happened to the ring was fun to solve within. There was also more mystery within. This is the first book in a series of four.
I received a complimentary copy via Netgalley. This is my honest, unbiased opinion.
Joanna Thorncroft lives in America with her two sisters and their grandmother. Their parents have pasted away from illnesses. They don't have a lot of money. So when looking through their mother's things that were in the attic, they find a ring. They decide to get it appraised at a jeweler in a town near where they live. While there something happens and the ring gets taken by a pickpocket. He finds a ship to England and gets away with the ring. Joanna and one of her sisters decide to follow after him. When they get to England, they need a detective to find the ring.
Thomas Kincaid is a detective. Thomas is very surprised when a lady shows up on his doorstep all wet. She wants him to find a ring that was stolen. He doesn't want to take her case at first. Because he is busy with other cases.
This was a fun story to read. It had action, adventure, and suspense throughout. It had a few giggles within. The mystery of what happened to the ring was fun to solve within. There was also more mystery within. This is the first book in a series of four.
I received a complimentary copy via Netgalley. This is my honest, unbiased opinion.
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