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Crime & Passion #2
Letters to a Lover
Will blackmail wreck their marriage? Or save it?
When Azalea, the beautiful Viscountess Trench, receives a note threatening to expose her adulterous love letters unless she pays up, she faces even greater anxieties than most blackmail victims. Not only is her marriage a little too frail to withstand such revelations at this moment, but she can’t actually remember the adultery, let alone writing the letters.
In fact, there seems to be a great deal she can’t remember, which puts her at considerable disadvantage when facing down a blackmailer. In desperation, she turns to her sister Grizelda, recently returned from her honeymoon, to track down the culprit before her beloved husband finds out.
But Eric, Lord Trench, has grown tired of waiting patiently for his wife to come back to him. When he finds her in a bizarre assignation, he sees red, and demands that she gives him her trust and her love. If it is not already too late.
For worse dangers than scandal stalk Azalea and they will need to work fast if they are to save their marriage – and Azalea’s very life.
When Azalea, the beautiful Viscountess Trench, receives a note threatening to expose her adulterous love letters unless she pays up, she faces even greater anxieties than most blackmail victims. Not only is her marriage a little too frail to withstand such revelations at this moment, but she can’t actually remember the adultery, let alone writing the letters.
In fact, there seems to be a great deal she can’t remember, which puts her at considerable disadvantage when facing down a blackmailer. In desperation, she turns to her sister Grizelda, recently returned from her honeymoon, to track down the culprit before her beloved husband finds out.
But Eric, Lord Trench, has grown tired of waiting patiently for his wife to come back to him. When he finds her in a bizarre assignation, he sees red, and demands that she gives him her trust and her love. If it is not already too late.
For worse dangers than scandal stalk Azalea and they will need to work fast if they are to save their marriage – and Azalea’s very life.
256 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 27, 2021
219 people are currently reading
163 people want to read
About the author
Mary Lancaster
143 books516 followersMary Lancaster is a USA Today bestselling author of historical fiction and historical romance. She lives in Scotland with her husband, one of three grown-up kids, and a small dog with a big personality.
Her first literary love was historical fiction, a genre which she relishes mixing up with romance and adventure in her own writing. Several of her novels feature actual historical characters as diverse as Hungarian revolutionaries, medieval English outlaws, and a family of eternally rebellious royal Scots. To say nothing of Vlad the Impaler.
Her most recent books are light fun Regency romances, with occasional forays into Victorian mystery.
Connect with Mary on-line:
Website: http://www.MaryLancaster.com
Newsletter sign-up: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webfor...
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mary.lancast...
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/MaryLancaste...
Twitter: @MaryLancNovels https://twitter.com/MaryLancNovels
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Mary-Lancaster...
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/mary-...
Her first literary love was historical fiction, a genre which she relishes mixing up with romance and adventure in her own writing. Several of her novels feature actual historical characters as diverse as Hungarian revolutionaries, medieval English outlaws, and a family of eternally rebellious royal Scots. To say nothing of Vlad the Impaler.
Her most recent books are light fun Regency romances, with occasional forays into Victorian mystery.
Connect with Mary on-line:
Website: http://www.MaryLancaster.com
Newsletter sign-up: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webfor...
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mary.lancast...
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/MaryLancaste...
Twitter: @MaryLancNovels https://twitter.com/MaryLancNovels
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Mary-Lancaster...
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/mary-...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
September 17, 2024
A wonderful light read!!!
5 full stars well deserved, I loved it from the very first page to the last one.
Amazing read for those looking for a light read with a well-balanced mix of: well-constructed and intelligently developed mystery, romance with the right amount of kisses and clean, but exciting and well-distributed lovemaking scenes throughout the story.
___ SETTING ____ Victorian setting in the mid-19th century.
Even though the story is devoid of historical details, the author fully conveys the atmosphere of the time, through events of social and private life and through the characters and their way of thinking and acting, without being too frivolous as in some saccharine romances, nor too dark like in some mystery series.
____ PLOT ___ 1852, Victorian London.
Eric and Azalea, Viscount and Viscountess of Trench have been married for 8 years, theirs was a great love full of passion, but the marriage faltered three years ago, following her postpartum depression and an unbridled recovery of social life to react to such depression.
One day, after being caught by Eric spilling tea on the head of an insistent suitor, Azalia receives a blackmail letter: either she pays a large sum of money or her letter to a lover will be published.
Azalia still loves Eric deeply and does not remember writing letters or having lovers, however she suffers from memory lapses and cannot trust herself, so she decides to get help from her sister Grizelda and her Hungarian husband Dragan, who had already investigated in the past in a murder case.
Eric also still loves his wife very much, but he can't help but suspect that she has a lover and when he decides to follow her, he discovers the whole blackmail mess.
The blackmailer is much more dangerous than he seems at first and while all four of them try to capture him, adventure, mystery, courtship and loving passion are ineluctably intertwined.
____ _______ ______
__ READABLE AS A STANDALONE , but it's surely more enjoyable if you first read #book 1 in the “ Crime and Passion” series, since the co-protagonists of this book are the protagonists of that first book and you will also have the opportunity to have an introduction to Azalea and her family.
__ THE MAIN CHARACTERS ___ they are Azalia and Eric and I liked them very much.
Superficially observed (as in the first book and in the first chapter of this story) they may seem haughty and superficial nobles, but as we discover their thoughts and get to know their deepest feelings, the more we realize how good people they actually are, but unfortunately caged in a world of rules and behaviors dictated by aristocratic society.
We discover an Azalia who is much more unsure of herself beyond her own wealth and beauty and very much in need of the love and support that only a loving husband can give.
We see how she rediscovers, in the happiness of her sister's marriage, how beautiful and more satisfying spontaneity is, letting oneself be guided by feelings and not by the rules imposed by society.
Azalia, daughter of a Duke, grew up in a somewhat spoiled way and never paid too much attention to considering the internal wounds of others, but thanks to her problems and the desire to win back her husband, we see her mature deeply and open her heart not only to Eric but also to other people around her.
We discover a generous Eric, not only with his wife, always being compliant, but also towards less fortunate people, a sweet Eric, but also passionate and hot, who fights to find, together with his wife, that complicity that two happy spouses should have.
The kisses that Azalia and Eric exchange are initially tender and then fiery, because after having almost lost each other they find themselves in the same conditions as two lovers at the beginning of a story, when love burns, but there are a thousand uncertainties and yet they are advantaged by the fact that they know each other well and when passion finds its outlet in making love, they know how to complete each other in a perfect way.
In addition to the romance and character aspect of each of them, I also appreciated the fact that the couple actively participates in the investigation.
In fact, even if Griz and Dragan are the couple who dedicate themselves to amateur investigation in this series, in the plot of this book the protagonist couple does not hesitate to act personally in the plans designed to circumvent and capture the criminal.
Kisses and sex scenes (I repeat: clean but equally sensual) alternate pleasantly with action scenes, with chases, punches and stabbings.
___ CO-PROTAGON CHARACTERS __ Griz and Dragan are the official investigators of the series, main characters in book #1 (Mysterious Lover).
Both introverted and different from the rest of the aristocracy (Griz because she is shy and loves books and culture rather than parties. Dragan because he comes from a country torn apart by revolution and war, in which he worked generously as a doctor) they are now married and they perpetuate their extravagance by not caring about the label and living their love spontaneously by pursuing their own passions and hobbies, respecting others but without the fear of other people's judgement.
A beautiful couple therefore, who gave us beautiful romantic moments in the first book (but only kisses) and wit in investigating and courage in throwing themselves into dangerous situations.
They are only in the background in this book, but always pleasant to follow.
I really liked the chemistry that was created with the Azalea-Eric couple.
__ SPECIAL CHARACTERS ___ family members, acquaintances, business partners and villains.
They only serve to create the atmosphere, but although they intervene in an occasional and brief manner, they intersect perfectly and pleasantly in the story, creating funny or tense scenes depending on the moment.
____ MYSTERY ___ I didn't even try to speculate because I just had no idea who the villain could be.
When I finally had the intuition about that, it was towards the end, when the protagonists also reached that conclusion thanks to the answers they received following their questions.
The mystery apparently starts in a simple way: with a blackmail letter, but it thickens and becomes more and more intriguing as the story progresses.
There are small action scenes, other scenes of suspense and from blackmail there is a risk of moving on to crime.
__ ROMANCE __ Although the two characters have already been married for 8 years and have distanced themselves from each other for the last 3 years, we can perceive, from the beginning, the invisible thread of the deep feeling that binds them.
The story begins with an unpleasant event which turns out to be a good opportunity to interact together and find each other, first through polite courtship and then by revealing one's fears and insecurities with an open heart, to give way to warm, well-measured kisses and finally to passion which rekindles and brings new energy and happiness.
A clean romance with 3 or 4 scenes of hot kisses at least 2 of lovemaking scenes that are never vulgar, with clean descriptions but which equally evoke warmth and deep passion and therefore exciting for the reader and which do not seem too fake and saccharine as in some books, but they are entirely plausible in reality.
----> I appreciated the fact that kisses and lovemaking scenes are well distributed throughout the story.
I mean I don't like it too much when nothing happens for half the book, then finally there's a romantic scene and then nothing more until the last page.
----> In this story you will have to wait for about a couple of chapters but then you will have the suspense of romance on the razor's edge throughout all the time and all the satisfaction of seeing things transform for the better as every reader desires.
CONCLUDING:
---> The book is well focused on the mystery, as a mystery should be (where the romantic part is usually too tepid or non-existent) and yet it is also well focused on the love story between the two protagonists, as it should be a romantic book (in which there are no mysteries to solve or if there are they are barely outlined and usually predictable and unsatisfactory).
---> The characters are not trivial at all, but they could reflect exactly the same problems of today's couples and despite the differences in time they could reflect the same feelings of people today.
---> 3 IMPORTANT POINTS WELL DEVELOPED THEREFORE WITH AN ADEQUATE AND EQUALLY WELL DEVELOPED ENDING!!
This is what in my opinion makes the book perfect to read for those who love this genre.
According to my tastes the rating is 5 full stars well deserved.
It goes without saying that I will continue reading the other books in the series (actually 1 novel and a couple of short stories, one for Christmas and one for All Saints Day)
Thanks for reading my opinion and please forgive my English, since it's not my language.
5 full stars well deserved, I loved it from the very first page to the last one.
Amazing read for those looking for a light read with a well-balanced mix of: well-constructed and intelligently developed mystery, romance with the right amount of kisses and clean, but exciting and well-distributed lovemaking scenes throughout the story.
___ SETTING ____ Victorian setting in the mid-19th century.
Even though the story is devoid of historical details, the author fully conveys the atmosphere of the time, through events of social and private life and through the characters and their way of thinking and acting, without being too frivolous as in some saccharine romances, nor too dark like in some mystery series.
____ PLOT ___ 1852, Victorian London.
Eric and Azalea, Viscount and Viscountess of Trench have been married for 8 years, theirs was a great love full of passion, but the marriage faltered three years ago, following her postpartum depression and an unbridled recovery of social life to react to such depression.
One day, after being caught by Eric spilling tea on the head of an insistent suitor, Azalia receives a blackmail letter: either she pays a large sum of money or her letter to a lover will be published.
Azalia still loves Eric deeply and does not remember writing letters or having lovers, however she suffers from memory lapses and cannot trust herself, so she decides to get help from her sister Grizelda and her Hungarian husband Dragan, who had already investigated in the past in a murder case.
Eric also still loves his wife very much, but he can't help but suspect that she has a lover and when he decides to follow her, he discovers the whole blackmail mess.
The blackmailer is much more dangerous than he seems at first and while all four of them try to capture him, adventure, mystery, courtship and loving passion are ineluctably intertwined.
____ _______ ______
__ READABLE AS A STANDALONE , but it's surely more enjoyable if you first read #book 1 in the “ Crime and Passion” series, since the co-protagonists of this book are the protagonists of that first book and you will also have the opportunity to have an introduction to Azalea and her family.
__ THE MAIN CHARACTERS ___ they are Azalia and Eric and I liked them very much.
Superficially observed (as in the first book and in the first chapter of this story) they may seem haughty and superficial nobles, but as we discover their thoughts and get to know their deepest feelings, the more we realize how good people they actually are, but unfortunately caged in a world of rules and behaviors dictated by aristocratic society.
We discover an Azalia who is much more unsure of herself beyond her own wealth and beauty and very much in need of the love and support that only a loving husband can give.
We see how she rediscovers, in the happiness of her sister's marriage, how beautiful and more satisfying spontaneity is, letting oneself be guided by feelings and not by the rules imposed by society.
Azalia, daughter of a Duke, grew up in a somewhat spoiled way and never paid too much attention to considering the internal wounds of others, but thanks to her problems and the desire to win back her husband, we see her mature deeply and open her heart not only to Eric but also to other people around her.
We discover a generous Eric, not only with his wife, always being compliant, but also towards less fortunate people, a sweet Eric, but also passionate and hot, who fights to find, together with his wife, that complicity that two happy spouses should have.
The kisses that Azalia and Eric exchange are initially tender and then fiery, because after having almost lost each other they find themselves in the same conditions as two lovers at the beginning of a story, when love burns, but there are a thousand uncertainties and yet they are advantaged by the fact that they know each other well and when passion finds its outlet in making love, they know how to complete each other in a perfect way.
In addition to the romance and character aspect of each of them, I also appreciated the fact that the couple actively participates in the investigation.
In fact, even if Griz and Dragan are the couple who dedicate themselves to amateur investigation in this series, in the plot of this book the protagonist couple does not hesitate to act personally in the plans designed to circumvent and capture the criminal.
Kisses and sex scenes (I repeat: clean but equally sensual) alternate pleasantly with action scenes, with chases, punches and stabbings.
___ CO-PROTAGON CHARACTERS __ Griz and Dragan are the official investigators of the series, main characters in book #1 (Mysterious Lover).
Both introverted and different from the rest of the aristocracy (Griz because she is shy and loves books and culture rather than parties. Dragan because he comes from a country torn apart by revolution and war, in which he worked generously as a doctor) they are now married and they perpetuate their extravagance by not caring about the label and living their love spontaneously by pursuing their own passions and hobbies, respecting others but without the fear of other people's judgement.
A beautiful couple therefore, who gave us beautiful romantic moments in the first book (but only kisses) and wit in investigating and courage in throwing themselves into dangerous situations.
They are only in the background in this book, but always pleasant to follow.
I really liked the chemistry that was created with the Azalea-Eric couple.
__ SPECIAL CHARACTERS ___ family members, acquaintances, business partners and villains.
They only serve to create the atmosphere, but although they intervene in an occasional and brief manner, they intersect perfectly and pleasantly in the story, creating funny or tense scenes depending on the moment.
____ MYSTERY ___ I didn't even try to speculate because I just had no idea who the villain could be.
When I finally had the intuition about that, it was towards the end, when the protagonists also reached that conclusion thanks to the answers they received following their questions.
The mystery apparently starts in a simple way: with a blackmail letter, but it thickens and becomes more and more intriguing as the story progresses.
There are small action scenes, other scenes of suspense and from blackmail there is a risk of moving on to crime.
__ ROMANCE __ Although the two characters have already been married for 8 years and have distanced themselves from each other for the last 3 years, we can perceive, from the beginning, the invisible thread of the deep feeling that binds them.
The story begins with an unpleasant event which turns out to be a good opportunity to interact together and find each other, first through polite courtship and then by revealing one's fears and insecurities with an open heart, to give way to warm, well-measured kisses and finally to passion which rekindles and brings new energy and happiness.
A clean romance with 3 or 4 scenes of hot kisses at least 2 of lovemaking scenes that are never vulgar, with clean descriptions but which equally evoke warmth and deep passion and therefore exciting for the reader and which do not seem too fake and saccharine as in some books, but they are entirely plausible in reality.
----> I appreciated the fact that kisses and lovemaking scenes are well distributed throughout the story.
I mean I don't like it too much when nothing happens for half the book, then finally there's a romantic scene and then nothing more until the last page.
----> In this story you will have to wait for about a couple of chapters but then you will have the suspense of romance on the razor's edge throughout all the time and all the satisfaction of seeing things transform for the better as every reader desires.
CONCLUDING:
---> The book is well focused on the mystery, as a mystery should be (where the romantic part is usually too tepid or non-existent) and yet it is also well focused on the love story between the two protagonists, as it should be a romantic book (in which there are no mysteries to solve or if there are they are barely outlined and usually predictable and unsatisfactory).
---> The characters are not trivial at all, but they could reflect exactly the same problems of today's couples and despite the differences in time they could reflect the same feelings of people today.
---> 3 IMPORTANT POINTS WELL DEVELOPED THEREFORE WITH AN ADEQUATE AND EQUALLY WELL DEVELOPED ENDING!!
This is what in my opinion makes the book perfect to read for those who love this genre.
According to my tastes the rating is 5 full stars well deserved.
It goes without saying that I will continue reading the other books in the series (actually 1 novel and a couple of short stories, one for Christmas and one for All Saints Day)
Thanks for reading my opinion and please forgive my English, since it's not my language.
July 20, 2021
Series: Crime & Passion #2
Publication Date: 4/27/21
Period: Victorian London - 1852
Number of Pages: 221
Finding this author’s work in an anthology – which I NEVER read – and then looking for more was kismet. Then finding that she had a new series in my favorite genre – historical mystery – was again – kismet. I loved the first book in the series, Mysterious Lover, and could hardly wait to see what would happen next. Well, what happens next is a wonderfully exciting, interesting, mystery that will keep you guessing till the very end – AND – a beautifully done second-chance at love romance. Yep – this book has it all. While this book can easily be read and enjoyed as a standalone, I would definitely recommend reading the first book of the series in order to understand how our main investigators came to be – besides, it is a great book.
We met all of Grizelda’s (Griz) ducal family in the previous book – some were wonderful, some were tolerable, but they all loved Griz, so that is always a plus. This book features Griz’s older sister Azalea, Viscountess Trench, and her husband Eric, Viscount Trench. I absolutely LOVED both Azalea and Eric and I just know you will as well. Zalea and Eric have been married for eight years and it was a love match from the start. However, the two have grown apart – not because they don’t still love each other, but because Zalea doesn’t know how to ask for help and Eric doesn’t know how to give it without her telling him what she needs. Mostly, it is pride causing the divide. Zalea needed support in dealing with melancholia (post-partum depression) after the birth of their last child. Four years later, their marriage is faltering and Zalea is very fearful they can never mend it.
Over the last few days, Zalea has become very concerned because she has discovered she’s missing total periods of time in her memory. People have mentioned things she has said to them – or they have said to her – and she has absolutely no memory of them. That is so frightening – what else has she said or done that she doesn’t remember? Unfortunately, she might have written love letters to someone other than her husband – and now a blackmailer has them. How could that be? She absolutely adores her husband and would never be unfaithful to him. But – did she? She can’t be sure since she is having so many blanks in her memory.
Zalea is smart enough to know she can’t handle this alone – and she certainly cannot tell Eric – so, she goes to her younger sister Griz and her new husband Dragan Tisza for help. Zalea is determined to meet the blackmailer’s demands – but she also wants him dealt with and gone forever. It seems the blackmailer is a sly one and always seems to outwit them one way or another. Keeping Eric out of the investigation didn’t work for very long and he almost manages to get the blackmailer, but again – he escaped.
Our band of investigators is working through lists of possible suspects. Some they are sure didn’t do it, but can’t really be eliminated – and others could very well be the villain. The problem is, they really have no evidence and even if they identified the villain, they couldn’t prosecute him. Then, when Zalea’s life is threatened, things get really tense. They have to find and deal with the perpetrator – and finally – a clue – a real clue surfaces.
During all of the anxiety and stress of the blackmail, Zalea and Eric are busily working on recapturing the wonderful, loving marriage they once had. It is heartwarming to see two soulmates find their way back to each other and find their HEA.
This was an excellently written, well-presented, perfectly paced mystery (and romance) and the villain will surprise you. There are lots of hints, viable suspects, and red herrings, but I suspect you might be guessing till the end.
I definitely recommend this book and this series.
Publication Date: 4/27/21
Period: Victorian London - 1852
Number of Pages: 221
Finding this author’s work in an anthology – which I NEVER read – and then looking for more was kismet. Then finding that she had a new series in my favorite genre – historical mystery – was again – kismet. I loved the first book in the series, Mysterious Lover, and could hardly wait to see what would happen next. Well, what happens next is a wonderfully exciting, interesting, mystery that will keep you guessing till the very end – AND – a beautifully done second-chance at love romance. Yep – this book has it all. While this book can easily be read and enjoyed as a standalone, I would definitely recommend reading the first book of the series in order to understand how our main investigators came to be – besides, it is a great book.
We met all of Grizelda’s (Griz) ducal family in the previous book – some were wonderful, some were tolerable, but they all loved Griz, so that is always a plus. This book features Griz’s older sister Azalea, Viscountess Trench, and her husband Eric, Viscount Trench. I absolutely LOVED both Azalea and Eric and I just know you will as well. Zalea and Eric have been married for eight years and it was a love match from the start. However, the two have grown apart – not because they don’t still love each other, but because Zalea doesn’t know how to ask for help and Eric doesn’t know how to give it without her telling him what she needs. Mostly, it is pride causing the divide. Zalea needed support in dealing with melancholia (post-partum depression) after the birth of their last child. Four years later, their marriage is faltering and Zalea is very fearful they can never mend it.
Over the last few days, Zalea has become very concerned because she has discovered she’s missing total periods of time in her memory. People have mentioned things she has said to them – or they have said to her – and she has absolutely no memory of them. That is so frightening – what else has she said or done that she doesn’t remember? Unfortunately, she might have written love letters to someone other than her husband – and now a blackmailer has them. How could that be? She absolutely adores her husband and would never be unfaithful to him. But – did she? She can’t be sure since she is having so many blanks in her memory.
Zalea is smart enough to know she can’t handle this alone – and she certainly cannot tell Eric – so, she goes to her younger sister Griz and her new husband Dragan Tisza for help. Zalea is determined to meet the blackmailer’s demands – but she also wants him dealt with and gone forever. It seems the blackmailer is a sly one and always seems to outwit them one way or another. Keeping Eric out of the investigation didn’t work for very long and he almost manages to get the blackmailer, but again – he escaped.
Our band of investigators is working through lists of possible suspects. Some they are sure didn’t do it, but can’t really be eliminated – and others could very well be the villain. The problem is, they really have no evidence and even if they identified the villain, they couldn’t prosecute him. Then, when Zalea’s life is threatened, things get really tense. They have to find and deal with the perpetrator – and finally – a clue – a real clue surfaces.
During all of the anxiety and stress of the blackmail, Zalea and Eric are busily working on recapturing the wonderful, loving marriage they once had. It is heartwarming to see two soulmates find their way back to each other and find their HEA.
This was an excellently written, well-presented, perfectly paced mystery (and romance) and the villain will surprise you. There are lots of hints, viable suspects, and red herrings, but I suspect you might be guessing till the end.
I definitely recommend this book and this series.
April 26, 2021
4 Stars of Intrigue, Angst, and... Can We Have More Stories Where Couples Have Drifted Apart!?!?
This is my kind of second chance romance. Which is shocking of me to say. I usually hate them.
No, I totally enjoyed this. It was wonderful. And I should also say I am a little shocked at myself because this is my first time reading Mary Lancaster despite the fact that I have at least six of her books on my TBR list. And might I just say that this was a really solid introduction to her, her writing style, and the types of charcters she crafts.
I loved the non-Regency setting, and the beautiful but aloof couple that was Eric/Viscount Trench and Azaela/Lady Trench. I loved that there weren't flashbacks and that, we as readers, only know the couple as they are, whic is cordially estranged (as weird as that sounds). I loved that they were devoted to eachother and that even with little bumps in the road, their love for eachother never came into question--that all made this story very unique, in my opinion. The confusion and the intrigue of Zalea's memory loss was equally interesting and I was whipping through this book frantically to understand what was happening. It was gripping!
Trench was a wonderfully Sad Hero, suffering from his Stiff Upper Lip and I throughouly enjoyed that. I LOVED that Azalea was self-described as 'just a little bit fast' because that NEVER happens and I just really liked her charcter. She was an ethereally beautiul shell, and as a sort of defense mechanism/low-self-esteem she acts like it? When really she is progressive, kind, and intelligent. She was great.
My only gripes were that the final 30% lost its steam and pace a little which was a shame--but then, this was a tricky story to craft and I still felt like Lancaster did it marvelously. I also.... okay... I would have liked more heat. But that's fine. I do like me some quasi-fade-to-black and this was especially good. Will read more of this series, and this book!
Highly recommend if you are interested in a second-chancer with a twist, adultery-but-not, angst, and solid, likeable charcters.
Thanks, as always, to Dragonblade Publishing for this ARC. All thoughts are voluntarily given, honest, and my own.
This is my kind of second chance romance. Which is shocking of me to say. I usually hate them.
No, I totally enjoyed this. It was wonderful. And I should also say I am a little shocked at myself because this is my first time reading Mary Lancaster despite the fact that I have at least six of her books on my TBR list. And might I just say that this was a really solid introduction to her, her writing style, and the types of charcters she crafts.
I loved the non-Regency setting, and the beautiful but aloof couple that was Eric/Viscount Trench and Azaela/Lady Trench. I loved that there weren't flashbacks and that, we as readers, only know the couple as they are, whic is cordially estranged (as weird as that sounds). I loved that they were devoted to eachother and that even with little bumps in the road, their love for eachother never came into question--that all made this story very unique, in my opinion. The confusion and the intrigue of Zalea's memory loss was equally interesting and I was whipping through this book frantically to understand what was happening. It was gripping!
Trench was a wonderfully Sad Hero, suffering from his Stiff Upper Lip and I throughouly enjoyed that. I LOVED that Azalea was self-described as 'just a little bit fast' because that NEVER happens and I just really liked her charcter. She was an ethereally beautiul shell, and as a sort of defense mechanism/low-self-esteem she acts like it? When really she is progressive, kind, and intelligent. She was great.
My only gripes were that the final 30% lost its steam and pace a little which was a shame--but then, this was a tricky story to craft and I still felt like Lancaster did it marvelously. I also.... okay... I would have liked more heat. But that's fine. I do like me some quasi-fade-to-black and this was especially good. Will read more of this series, and this book!
Highly recommend if you are interested in a second-chancer with a twist, adultery-but-not, angst, and solid, likeable charcters.
Thanks, as always, to Dragonblade Publishing for this ARC. All thoughts are voluntarily given, honest, and my own.
April 7, 2021
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
💋💋
What did I Love about this book?
. It’s not about a young starry eyed, newly married couple.
This pair are slightly more mature, they have 8 years of marriage under their belts, two children, and a whole lifetime of experiences together, from courting to childbirth, from post natal depression to loosing their way in their relationship and drifting apart.
It makes the book interesting and different and is very unique.
. I adored the fact that Griz and Dragan from book one were a large part of the story, adding to its depth with their sleuthing techniques.
. Having such an in-depth mystery made it hard to pin down the culprit, it kept my attention throughout.
It was a pleasure to read Eric and Azalea’s story, and I’m anxiously waiting for the next book to be released.
Mary has always been a great writer and storyteller, this series is one of her best.
I received an Arc copy of this book and chose to post this review
💋💋
What did I Love about this book?
. It’s not about a young starry eyed, newly married couple.
This pair are slightly more mature, they have 8 years of marriage under their belts, two children, and a whole lifetime of experiences together, from courting to childbirth, from post natal depression to loosing their way in their relationship and drifting apart.
It makes the book interesting and different and is very unique.
. I adored the fact that Griz and Dragan from book one were a large part of the story, adding to its depth with their sleuthing techniques.
. Having such an in-depth mystery made it hard to pin down the culprit, it kept my attention throughout.
It was a pleasure to read Eric and Azalea’s story, and I’m anxiously waiting for the next book to be released.
Mary has always been a great writer and storyteller, this series is one of her best.
I received an Arc copy of this book and chose to post this review
April 22, 2021
Well-written and intriguing, I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery. With a frightening gap in her memory, Lady Azalea Trench is confronted with blackmail letters that not only threaten to expose her but the future of her marriage as well. Trying to hide the matter from her husband turns out to be most unwise as he is more astute than she gave him credit for. Although this book is not strictly a romance, it does reflect on a marriage relationship gone stale and finding the path back to one another again. Azalea is a light-hearted being who is used to receiving the adulation of society, but having to face a silent, evil force, she begins to see her life and the people around her differently. Eric, Viscount Trench is a charming character, with echoes of Sir Percy Blakeney from The Scarlet Pimpernel. He comes to the realisation that if his wife did in fact have an affair, he only had himself to blame, due to his own lack of attention. I was delighted to meet up with Griz and Dragan once again and am really hoping we will see more of them in the future. I received a copy of this novel from Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.
October 6, 2024
Lord Trench...ahem. This series has more than its share of impossibly irresistible men. Grizelda's gorgeous older sister, Azalea, married to the intriguing Lord Trench for eight years, is worried about their relationship. They have two children. After the second child, Azalea went into a depression, and dealt with it by throwing herself into the London social scene, flirting with men and surrounding herself with attention. She longs for the intimacy she and Eric had at the beginning of their marriage.
Azalea receives a letter from someone claiming to have incriminating letters of a sexual nature that she supposedly wrote. It's blackmail, so she enlists her sister and brother-in-law, Grizelda and Dragan, to help her find the culprit. She has no memory of writing these letters. In this story, Dragan is not only an unlicensed doctor; he's a psychologist and a bit of a mind-reader (not in the paranormal sense). Not only must they find the blackmailer, but they need to discover what caused Azalea's memory lapses.
This was fast-paced, with appealing and unique characters. I'm thoroughly enjoying the series.
Azalea receives a letter from someone claiming to have incriminating letters of a sexual nature that she supposedly wrote. It's blackmail, so she enlists her sister and brother-in-law, Grizelda and Dragan, to help her find the culprit. She has no memory of writing these letters. In this story, Dragan is not only an unlicensed doctor; he's a psychologist and a bit of a mind-reader (not in the paranormal sense). Not only must they find the blackmailer, but they need to discover what caused Azalea's memory lapses.
This was fast-paced, with appealing and unique characters. I'm thoroughly enjoying the series.
September 5, 2021
Forgotten time, blackmail, and a marriage slump work together giving "Letters to a Lover" a splendid twist to a historical romance hard to put down!
Read full review in the 2021 September issue of InD'tale Magazine.
Read full review in the 2021 September issue of InD'tale Magazine.
April 29, 2021
Who you write to matters
Azalea is in trouble! She is being black mailed for something she can't remember!? Eric has a good marriage but he and Azalea have grown apart and he's not sure how to fix it!? Couples grow apart, they get too comfortable or too busy and just don't take time to reconnect! Love is still there for Azalea as she can't imagine loving another! When things happen so horrible our conscious mind protects us until we can process it all!
Azalea can't remember if she was unfaithful to Eric or even that she's capable? Loving a person and trusting is sometimes very different but the events are so bizarre I am glad that Azalea trusts Eric but there is a black mailer and potential killer about! Is Azalea safe? Will she remember in time? Does their love surpass the coldness of their marriage? Can they reconnect and love again? Her sister and husband are quite formidable in resolving the clues that are left! This series is a must read! So many unexpected twists and turns! You won’t put this one down! Stayed way past my bedtime!
Azalea is in trouble! She is being black mailed for something she can't remember!? Eric has a good marriage but he and Azalea have grown apart and he's not sure how to fix it!? Couples grow apart, they get too comfortable or too busy and just don't take time to reconnect! Love is still there for Azalea as she can't imagine loving another! When things happen so horrible our conscious mind protects us until we can process it all!
Azalea can't remember if she was unfaithful to Eric or even that she's capable? Loving a person and trusting is sometimes very different but the events are so bizarre I am glad that Azalea trusts Eric but there is a black mailer and potential killer about! Is Azalea safe? Will she remember in time? Does their love surpass the coldness of their marriage? Can they reconnect and love again? Her sister and husband are quite formidable in resolving the clues that are left! This series is a must read! So many unexpected twists and turns! You won’t put this one down! Stayed way past my bedtime!
April 20, 2021
This is slightly humorous, extremely treacherous novel.
The gist of the story is one of blackmail and attempted murder.
Azalea and Eric make a difference between right and wrong.
I've read Mary Lancaster books before but this is a first mystery by her.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. This in no way affects my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.
The gist of the story is one of blackmail and attempted murder.
Azalea and Eric make a difference between right and wrong.
I've read Mary Lancaster books before but this is a first mystery by her.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. This in no way affects my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.
April 25, 2021
When Azalea, the beautiful Viscountess Trench, receives a note threatening to expose her adulterous love letters unless she pays up, she faces even greater anxieties than most blackmail victims. Not only is her marriage a little too frail to withstand such revelations at this moment, but she can’t actually remember the adultery, let alone writing the letters. In fact, there seems to be a great deal she can’t remember, which puts her at considerable disadvantage when facing down a blackmailer. In desperation, she turns to her sister Grizelda, recently returned from her honeymoon, to track down the culprit before her beloved husband finds out. But Eric, Lord Trench, has grown tired of waiting patiently for his wife to come back to him. When he finds her in a bizarre assignation, he sees red, and demands that she gives him her trust and her love.
This is the second book in the series & it cold be read on its own but to fully appreciate it I’d recommend reading the first book which is Dragan & Grizelda’s story. I just loved everything about this book, older married couple Eric & Azalea have been married eight years, misunderstandings, trauma, blackmail & of course romance & love. Strong characters & a fast paced story had me devouring this wonderful book in a sitting. It ticked every box for me, I just loved it
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
This is the second book in the series & it cold be read on its own but to fully appreciate it I’d recommend reading the first book which is Dragan & Grizelda’s story. I just loved everything about this book, older married couple Eric & Azalea have been married eight years, misunderstandings, trauma, blackmail & of course romance & love. Strong characters & a fast paced story had me devouring this wonderful book in a sitting. It ticked every box for me, I just loved it
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
June 8, 2022
Great Historical
I really liked this a lot it has a bit of a mystery and a bit of spice and the characters are engaging. The mystery is resolved and there is a nice HEA at the end. If you like Historicals you will likely enjoy this book
I really liked this a lot it has a bit of a mystery and a bit of spice and the characters are engaging. The mystery is resolved and there is a nice HEA at the end. If you like Historicals you will likely enjoy this book
September 30, 2024
A decent historical mystery/romance, this book is not my favorite among this author's oeuvre, but it has its charms. It was a quick and easy read and an enjoyable one.
April 27, 2025
*The ARC copy of this book was provided by NetGalley in exchange of an honest review*
Azalea was married to Eric for almost eight years. But they seemed to be drifted apart since the birth of their second child. Something happened to a ball which she couldn't really remember. Then someone sent her a letter threatening to publish a letter which could ruin her marriage she wrote to her lover which she couldn't even know if the blackmailer was telling the truth or lying because of her memory loss. She went to her sister for the help to find the blackmailer. She as well as her husband agreed to help her. But Eric learned about all of it later and was included to find the culprit as well. It also worked in their favor as the situation actually brought the couple a lot closer. After investigating and facing some dangerous situation, they finally caught the real blackmailer. Phew!
The passion between Eric and Azalea was lacking at so many times. But there were glimpses of their passion here and there. But it was really a few times. Anyway, I hated the part that even though they were married, they had separate rooms. Why? Ugh! And by the way, it was quite obvious whom she was writing the letter to. 🙄 I wasn't really into the book tbh. Skimmed a lot to learn the real blackmailer's identity which was quite a surprise I admit.
Azalea was married to Eric for almost eight years. But they seemed to be drifted apart since the birth of their second child. Something happened to a ball which she couldn't really remember. Then someone sent her a letter threatening to publish a letter which could ruin her marriage she wrote to her lover which she couldn't even know if the blackmailer was telling the truth or lying because of her memory loss. She went to her sister for the help to find the blackmailer. She as well as her husband agreed to help her. But Eric learned about all of it later and was included to find the culprit as well. It also worked in their favor as the situation actually brought the couple a lot closer. After investigating and facing some dangerous situation, they finally caught the real blackmailer. Phew!
The passion between Eric and Azalea was lacking at so many times. But there were glimpses of their passion here and there. But it was really a few times. Anyway, I hated the part that even though they were married, they had separate rooms. Why? Ugh! And by the way, it was quite obvious whom she was writing the letter to. 🙄 I wasn't really into the book tbh. Skimmed a lot to learn the real blackmailer's identity which was quite a surprise I admit.
April 11, 2021
*I received a free ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review*
This is the first book in the series that I read, but I didn't feel that hurt my enjoyment at all. In a sign of how much I enjoyed it, it made me want to go back and read the previous book - Dragan and Griz's story sounds really interesting.
I spent the first third of this book yelling at Azalea to tell Eric what was going on and completely understood his frustration with his wife. I really liked that this book is told from both Azalea and Eric's perspectives. I often found myself also yelling at Eric to just flat out ask Azalea what was going on. Once all of that was out in the open the story really picked up and the mystery over the letter and blackmailer was very enjoyable. The author does a good job of creating multiple suspects and keeping you guessing until the end. I appreciated the scene with the doctor because it so masterfully depicted how women were treated by the medical field in those times. I was so glad that Dragan convinced Azalea to talk with him about what she was going through. The way in which Eric and Azalea found their way back to one another was beautifully written.
This is the first book in the series that I read, but I didn't feel that hurt my enjoyment at all. In a sign of how much I enjoyed it, it made me want to go back and read the previous book - Dragan and Griz's story sounds really interesting.
I spent the first third of this book yelling at Azalea to tell Eric what was going on and completely understood his frustration with his wife. I really liked that this book is told from both Azalea and Eric's perspectives. I often found myself also yelling at Eric to just flat out ask Azalea what was going on. Once all of that was out in the open the story really picked up and the mystery over the letter and blackmailer was very enjoyable. The author does a good job of creating multiple suspects and keeping you guessing until the end. I appreciated the scene with the doctor because it so masterfully depicted how women were treated by the medical field in those times. I was so glad that Dragan convinced Azalea to talk with him about what she was going through. The way in which Eric and Azalea found their way back to one another was beautifully written.
April 28, 2021
When is a letter not the truth? When you don't remember if you wrote it or not and that is what faces Lady Azalea. Having suffered depression after the birth of her child, she feels she may be having memory loss when she is blackmailed. Yes, to expose her for her adulterous affair! But, she does not remember having one, did she?
Eric, Lord Trench her husband, feels he and his wife have a hugh rift in their relationship. Yes, it is true he had not been giving her the attention she needed, but he was determined to rectify that because he loved his wife so much.
A mystery that will keep you turning the pages and a renewing of a romance that had always been there, but had been neglected. I really enjoyed this one as much as the first!!
Eric, Lord Trench her husband, feels he and his wife have a hugh rift in their relationship. Yes, it is true he had not been giving her the attention she needed, but he was determined to rectify that because he loved his wife so much.
A mystery that will keep you turning the pages and a renewing of a romance that had always been there, but had been neglected. I really enjoyed this one as much as the first!!
November 8, 2023
Great mystery with the couple's marriage on the rocks. I really liked the H who genuinely loved his wife and listened to her. The h had lost self confidence, and now she's being blackmailed. The wonderful couple from book 1 help her to solve the mystery. Great writing, and I loved the family connection.
October 21, 2023
5 STARS, BLACKMAIL, MISSING MEMOIRS
5 STARS for Book 2 given to Mary Lancaster, for her Series: Crime & Passion. Book 2 follows Book 1 in being well written and having an interesting exciting, with not the usual, storyline. There is a standard BLURB provided & it does entice one to hurriedly read this book.
Great characters & some from previous story and we do love seeing them again. This storyline concerns Lady Trent, Azalea who is the Duke's oldest daughter. Grizelia is the youngest. Zalea has received a blackmail letter & is terrified the information could be true. She just doesn't know if it is or not; because she has been having blocks of time just gone from her memory. For instance: A lady spoke to her & then when she remained all blank, she reminded her they had been introduced at Lady Royston's ball by the lady herself, attending the Royston Ball or what she might have worn, & then apparently she had made appointments she had not kept. Zalea was just beside herself, could she be drifting into some sort of mental condition like a great aunt had and she was to scared to tell Eric, her husband. What might he do? Especially now with the blackmail.
She had been extremely sad and down, just not herself, and didn't bounce back after she gave birth to her daughter, like she had her son. She didn't know why. That had created some distance in her deeply loving marriage. Now she was afraid for him to know, so she turned to her sister & her husband.
Back from their honeymoon, for several weeks Tiza & Griz had settled into a smaller house than her siblings, but still a good neighborhood. Tiza was studying for his doctor's degree plus one of her brothers had gotten him a job with the government. They had solved the murder of her parents' maid in Book 1 of the series and it's how they met.
Zalea poured out her heart to her sister & her husband & they agreed to look into it. !Having suggested she see a Dr and get checked & getting the results he suggested she just take laudunum besides maybe a little rest in the country for her nervous condition, Tiza most certainly disagreed. He does suggest several things to her & one is to tell her husband. Tiza & Griz do help in dropping off the first blackmail money.
It gets most intense and very dramatic at times. This is no easy to solve the Butler did it, this is a true mystery that is so interesting in the journey that it's like eating delicious finger food where you lick your fingers because it's that good & satisfying.
RECOMMEND HURRY HURRY. RECOMMEND. MUST READ
It's a mystery, drama, & a love story. A married couple find their togetherness after threats to their social standing & attempting murder. Can Eric & Azalea find the love they had, they never lost love, but read how they renew it deeper & get back closer together.
5 STARS for Book 2 given to Mary Lancaster, for her Series: Crime & Passion. Book 2 follows Book 1 in being well written and having an interesting exciting, with not the usual, storyline. There is a standard BLURB provided & it does entice one to hurriedly read this book.
Great characters & some from previous story and we do love seeing them again. This storyline concerns Lady Trent, Azalea who is the Duke's oldest daughter. Grizelia is the youngest. Zalea has received a blackmail letter & is terrified the information could be true. She just doesn't know if it is or not; because she has been having blocks of time just gone from her memory. For instance: A lady spoke to her & then when she remained all blank, she reminded her they had been introduced at Lady Royston's ball by the lady herself, attending the Royston Ball or what she might have worn, & then apparently she had made appointments she had not kept. Zalea was just beside herself, could she be drifting into some sort of mental condition like a great aunt had and she was to scared to tell Eric, her husband. What might he do? Especially now with the blackmail.
She had been extremely sad and down, just not herself, and didn't bounce back after she gave birth to her daughter, like she had her son. She didn't know why. That had created some distance in her deeply loving marriage. Now she was afraid for him to know, so she turned to her sister & her husband.
Back from their honeymoon, for several weeks Tiza & Griz had settled into a smaller house than her siblings, but still a good neighborhood. Tiza was studying for his doctor's degree plus one of her brothers had gotten him a job with the government. They had solved the murder of her parents' maid in Book 1 of the series and it's how they met.
Zalea poured out her heart to her sister & her husband & they agreed to look into it. !Having suggested she see a Dr and get checked & getting the results he suggested she just take laudunum besides maybe a little rest in the country for her nervous condition, Tiza most certainly disagreed. He does suggest several things to her & one is to tell her husband. Tiza & Griz do help in dropping off the first blackmail money.
It gets most intense and very dramatic at times. This is no easy to solve the Butler did it, this is a true mystery that is so interesting in the journey that it's like eating delicious finger food where you lick your fingers because it's that good & satisfying.
RECOMMEND HURRY HURRY. RECOMMEND. MUST READ
It's a mystery, drama, & a love story. A married couple find their togetherness after threats to their social standing & attempting murder. Can Eric & Azalea find the love they had, they never lost love, but read how they renew it deeper & get back closer together.
May 2, 2021
Letters to a Lover by Mary Lancaster puts Lady Azalea Trench in an awkward position when a gentleman refuses to take "NO!" for an answer and she is forced to empty a partially full teapot over his hear, leaves and all. Her husband witnesses this happening and it makes him chuckle. He has missed his wife. He has missed his wife. Something has come between them and it doesn't know what it is. She is behaving oddly and she knows it. She can't remember most of one evening from a few days ago and she is nervous, especially, now with someone trying to extort money from her, threatening to expose her. For what? She wonders. She goes to see her sister, Griz and explains what is happening to her. Griz promises to discuss it with her husband, Dragan, who is very intelligent, but makes Azalea promise to see a doctor regarding the missing memories. She does and he advises her to rest. But, Dragan, who had been a doctor in his own country, believes her mind is preventing her from remembering something distressing and agrees to help. He and Griz will capture the blackmailer when he comes to retrieve the money.
Azalea is so frightened of what she might have done that she doesn't remember. She loves Eric and wants to return to their previous close relationship, but is worried she had done something he won't be able to forgive. Eventually she has to tell him the whole things, including the blackmail. He is upset she hadn't told him earlier but vows to help the three of them to uncover the truth. Dragan, because of his past, is an exceptional investigator and helps with planning to take down the criminal. He is also working with Eric to discover what an investment partner is doing regarding a business deal they are in together, so it is not odd that he spends time with them. Dragan and Griz are a wonderful couple, just as Eric and Azalea will be as soon as this is solved. There are always people who will take advantage of a situation and twist the facts to suit their own narrative, just as there will always be men who will abuse women. This is a powerful story of just such men, although, thankfully, there are some good ones available to help make it right. It is full of good characters and a good plot and all comes right in the end. Lancaster has a knack for mystery. I recommend it.
I was invited to read a free e-ARC of Letters to a Lover by Dragonblade, through Netgalley. #netgalley #letterstoalover
Azalea is so frightened of what she might have done that she doesn't remember. She loves Eric and wants to return to their previous close relationship, but is worried she had done something he won't be able to forgive. Eventually she has to tell him the whole things, including the blackmail. He is upset she hadn't told him earlier but vows to help the three of them to uncover the truth. Dragan, because of his past, is an exceptional investigator and helps with planning to take down the criminal. He is also working with Eric to discover what an investment partner is doing regarding a business deal they are in together, so it is not odd that he spends time with them. Dragan and Griz are a wonderful couple, just as Eric and Azalea will be as soon as this is solved. There are always people who will take advantage of a situation and twist the facts to suit their own narrative, just as there will always be men who will abuse women. This is a powerful story of just such men, although, thankfully, there are some good ones available to help make it right. It is full of good characters and a good plot and all comes right in the end. Lancaster has a knack for mystery. I recommend it.
I was invited to read a free e-ARC of Letters to a Lover by Dragonblade, through Netgalley. #netgalley #letterstoalover
April 28, 2021
I have received a copy of this book from the author to review and here is my honest reaction:
Lady Azalea fears she is losing her mind. She has a gap in her memory and is afraid she has done something so horrible that her husband won’t forgive her. The couple has been drifting apart and she is afraid her forgotten behavior will destroy her marriage permanently.
Lord Eric is worried that he is losing his wife. Although she seems to have recovered from the melancholy that gripped her after the birth of their second child, she has become distant and has created a social life separate from him.
When Azalea is blackmailed over her forgotten evening, she is forced to confess her dilemma to Eric, To her surprise, Eric is supportive and they begin to repair their relationship as they try to unravel the mystery of Azalea’s lost evening.
They have help in their efforts from Azalea’s sister Grizelda and her husband Dragan, whose story appears to have been the first book in this series. I have not read that book, and it did not prevent me from enjoying this one. Rather, it made me curious about their Big Story—I’ll be looking for that one next.
This book is far more of a mystery than a romance, because although Azalea and Eric’s relationship is central to the story, the plot revolves around the mysterious lost evening. There is a second mystery involving Eric’s business partners, but that really doesn’t get a lot of attention, almost as if it was bigger and then cut in the editing process.
The book is pretty clean—the characters are passionate, but all sex is “off screen” so to speak. There is some violence, including an assault (not sexual) of a maid. The characters are compelling and well-developed—I truly wanted to see them solve their mystery and evolve their relationship problems. The mystery villain was not so obvious as to spoil the story, so I enjoyed it all the way through. I do recommend this book.
Lady Azalea fears she is losing her mind. She has a gap in her memory and is afraid she has done something so horrible that her husband won’t forgive her. The couple has been drifting apart and she is afraid her forgotten behavior will destroy her marriage permanently.
Lord Eric is worried that he is losing his wife. Although she seems to have recovered from the melancholy that gripped her after the birth of their second child, she has become distant and has created a social life separate from him.
When Azalea is blackmailed over her forgotten evening, she is forced to confess her dilemma to Eric, To her surprise, Eric is supportive and they begin to repair their relationship as they try to unravel the mystery of Azalea’s lost evening.
They have help in their efforts from Azalea’s sister Grizelda and her husband Dragan, whose story appears to have been the first book in this series. I have not read that book, and it did not prevent me from enjoying this one. Rather, it made me curious about their Big Story—I’ll be looking for that one next.
This book is far more of a mystery than a romance, because although Azalea and Eric’s relationship is central to the story, the plot revolves around the mysterious lost evening. There is a second mystery involving Eric’s business partners, but that really doesn’t get a lot of attention, almost as if it was bigger and then cut in the editing process.
The book is pretty clean—the characters are passionate, but all sex is “off screen” so to speak. There is some violence, including an assault (not sexual) of a maid. The characters are compelling and well-developed—I truly wanted to see them solve their mystery and evolve their relationship problems. The mystery villain was not so obvious as to spoil the story, so I enjoyed it all the way through. I do recommend this book.
April 28, 2021
Azalea Trench, Viscountess has had some lapses in her memory. Unaccounted time and she is afraid to tell her family and husband. When a mysterious letter arrives demanding money or he will tell her husband she has been writing love letters to another man. Scared and unable to recall if she actually wrote the letters, Azalea knows if she pays this will be just the beginning. Having grown apart in her marriage and having gaps in her memory she is left with no choice but to pay so she enlisted he help of her sister and her brother-in-law.
Eric Lord Trench has been patient with his wife and knows something is going on so he sets out to get his wife back. Azalea has always loved her husband and when he tries to woo her back she can’t help fall in love with him all over again but there is a dark cloud hanging over her and she is so afraid that If Eric finds out she will lose him.
When Eric finds Azalea in a compromising situation he loses all control and demands the truth from Azalea, left with no choice she has to tell Eric he truth.
I absolutely enjoyed reading this book. I lost myself in the story. Beautifully written Mary Lancaster outdid herself! I definitely recommend reading this book!
Eric Lord Trench has been patient with his wife and knows something is going on so he sets out to get his wife back. Azalea has always loved her husband and when he tries to woo her back she can’t help fall in love with him all over again but there is a dark cloud hanging over her and she is so afraid that If Eric finds out she will lose him.
When Eric finds Azalea in a compromising situation he loses all control and demands the truth from Azalea, left with no choice she has to tell Eric he truth.
I absolutely enjoyed reading this book. I lost myself in the story. Beautifully written Mary Lancaster outdid herself! I definitely recommend reading this book!
May 1, 2021
Such a departure from the normal second chance stories.
This is a couple who have been married for 8 years and slowly drifted apart. The h got post partum depression after the birth of her last child. Can you imagine what it was like back then for women.? No one knew what was happening to them - their moods all over the place?
The h realizes she has lost bits of her memory and tries not to share it with anyone. Then she is blackmailed over love letter(s). I thought here we go again, a story where a secret will be kept till the end - my worse story lines. Thankfully, at about the 36% mark, secrets are revealed.
I enjoyed that the couple of the first story have a part in this one. This is a standalone story, but it's nice to see how the stories connect.
We have so many villain's to choose from and I must admit, I got it wrong. You don't find out until the end if the h has committed adultery.
There is lovemaking, within marriage - heat level 1.5 out of 5 if that. The couple realize how much they miss their old relationship and begin to repair their marriage. I did enjoy the journey to HEA for them.
The story is suspenseful, twists, some violence, interesting main and secondary character's, no cliffhanger and a tad of spice. (ljb)
This is a couple who have been married for 8 years and slowly drifted apart. The h got post partum depression after the birth of her last child. Can you imagine what it was like back then for women.? No one knew what was happening to them - their moods all over the place?
The h realizes she has lost bits of her memory and tries not to share it with anyone. Then she is blackmailed over love letter(s). I thought here we go again, a story where a secret will be kept till the end - my worse story lines. Thankfully, at about the 36% mark, secrets are revealed.
I enjoyed that the couple of the first story have a part in this one. This is a standalone story, but it's nice to see how the stories connect.
We have so many villain's to choose from and I must admit, I got it wrong. You don't find out until the end if the h has committed adultery.
There is lovemaking, within marriage - heat level 1.5 out of 5 if that. The couple realize how much they miss their old relationship and begin to repair their marriage. I did enjoy the journey to HEA for them.
The story is suspenseful, twists, some violence, interesting main and secondary character's, no cliffhanger and a tad of spice. (ljb)
February 9, 2022
Mystery, twists, doubt & blackmail collide in this addictive page-turner!
Thoroughly well thought out plot of twists turns, deceptions and revelations with a villian I just didn't see coming!
This marvellously compelling series continues in the same fun yet deeply absorbing manner as the first. Where heartwarming sentiment, compassion and humour are so cleverly interwoven within a fraught battle to hunt out an allusive blackmailer before its too late. Centred around the highly captivating antics of the Duke of Kelburn's adult children. Griz and Dragan are once again back to sleuthing as we find Azalea fall prey to unscrupulous scheming and desperate with fear for her marriage.
I just love the chemistry and deep undercurrent of love between Eric and Azalea as they come together, to not just seek out a dangerous blackmailer lurking in the shadows but, to fight their pride, vulnerabilities and demons in the hope of breaking through the tormoil of the toxic distance that has grown between them. And with Griz and Dragan's intelligence and audacious gumption on their side what could go wrong.
Such an engaging mystery brimming with intriguing characters that truly pull you in and make you care for them. I'm really looking forward to book 3!!
Thoroughly well thought out plot of twists turns, deceptions and revelations with a villian I just didn't see coming!
This marvellously compelling series continues in the same fun yet deeply absorbing manner as the first. Where heartwarming sentiment, compassion and humour are so cleverly interwoven within a fraught battle to hunt out an allusive blackmailer before its too late. Centred around the highly captivating antics of the Duke of Kelburn's adult children. Griz and Dragan are once again back to sleuthing as we find Azalea fall prey to unscrupulous scheming and desperate with fear for her marriage.
I just love the chemistry and deep undercurrent of love between Eric and Azalea as they come together, to not just seek out a dangerous blackmailer lurking in the shadows but, to fight their pride, vulnerabilities and demons in the hope of breaking through the tormoil of the toxic distance that has grown between them. And with Griz and Dragan's intelligence and audacious gumption on their side what could go wrong.
Such an engaging mystery brimming with intriguing characters that truly pull you in and make you care for them. I'm really looking forward to book 3!!
April 29, 2021
Letters to a Lover by Mary Lancaster is a well crafted and well excuted mystery/romance. Book 2 of the "Crime and Passion" series, but can be read as a stand alone. Mystery and intrigue will keep the reader turning pages in this extremely complex and multifaceted story.
Follow Azalea and Eric through their story of angst, blackmail, attempted murder, secrets, and second chance romance, to find their HEA.
Ms Lancaster did an excellent job writing about what I would say was post natal depression/blues, which could account for Azalea's lost of memory after their second child.
I enjoyed reading about an older couple who has been married for a number of years.
Steady paced Regency Romance, Historical fiction, Mystery and Intrigue. Set in London. Highly recommended for readers of an older couple, intrigue, mystery and second chance romance. Well done, Ms. Lancaster!!
#NetGalley, #Dragonblade, #MaryLancaster
"I voluntarily received a complimentary copy, however, these are my honest opinions. I was in no way required nor compensated to write a review."
Rating: 4.5
Heat rating: Very mild
Reviewer: AprilR
Follow Azalea and Eric through their story of angst, blackmail, attempted murder, secrets, and second chance romance, to find their HEA.
Ms Lancaster did an excellent job writing about what I would say was post natal depression/blues, which could account for Azalea's lost of memory after their second child.
I enjoyed reading about an older couple who has been married for a number of years.
Steady paced Regency Romance, Historical fiction, Mystery and Intrigue. Set in London. Highly recommended for readers of an older couple, intrigue, mystery and second chance romance. Well done, Ms. Lancaster!!
#NetGalley, #Dragonblade, #MaryLancaster
"I voluntarily received a complimentary copy, however, these are my honest opinions. I was in no way required nor compensated to write a review."
Rating: 4.5
Heat rating: Very mild
Reviewer: AprilR
May 9, 2021
Lady Azalea Trench’s marriage seems to be teetering on the edge of destruction, yet she loves her husband Eric Danvers, the Viscount Trench, and he loves her. Lady Azalea has hours of the day she can’t account for, and she has no memory of what she did during those hours. To her great chagrin, she is being blackmailed for letters she purportedly wrote to her lover. Is it possible she has been carrying on a secret affair?
The Viscount of Trench, Eric Danvers, has never loved anyone more than his wife. But what was the happiest marriage in the world has become a labyrinth of secrets, and he worries that he’s lost Azalea forever. He will do anything to hold on to Azalea, but this prolonged estrangement between Azalea and he is beginning to feel permanent.
Lady Azalea enlists the help of her younger sister Griz and her clever Hungarian refugee medical student husband, Dragan Tisza, to retrieve the letters and reveal the identity of who the scoundrel blackmailing her is. But if she cheated on Eric, will he forgive her? Even worse, can she forgive herself?
Regency Romance at its best!
The Viscount of Trench, Eric Danvers, has never loved anyone more than his wife. But what was the happiest marriage in the world has become a labyrinth of secrets, and he worries that he’s lost Azalea forever. He will do anything to hold on to Azalea, but this prolonged estrangement between Azalea and he is beginning to feel permanent.
Lady Azalea enlists the help of her younger sister Griz and her clever Hungarian refugee medical student husband, Dragan Tisza, to retrieve the letters and reveal the identity of who the scoundrel blackmailing her is. But if she cheated on Eric, will he forgive her? Even worse, can she forgive herself?
Regency Romance at its best!
April 6, 2021
5 Stars
An excellent read. Book 2 of the Crime and Passion series. Book 1 is excellent and introduces us to Azalea's sister Griz and her husband Dragan, so even though you could get away with launching into the series at this stage I think it would be more enjoyable to read both. Azalea has had a tough couple of years. After suffering post natal depression she's returned to society and has had periods of lack of memory. Someone's blackmailing her and as her marriage is fragile she pays up and then gets Griz to help her sort out what's happening. Eric, her husband, is devoted to her but jealous and unsure what to do. I liked the interaction between the 4 characters and I didn't guess the villain which highlights how carefully the author crafts her stories.
I'd recommend this book and especially this author. Eagerly waiting the next episode!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
An excellent read. Book 2 of the Crime and Passion series. Book 1 is excellent and introduces us to Azalea's sister Griz and her husband Dragan, so even though you could get away with launching into the series at this stage I think it would be more enjoyable to read both. Azalea has had a tough couple of years. After suffering post natal depression she's returned to society and has had periods of lack of memory. Someone's blackmailing her and as her marriage is fragile she pays up and then gets Griz to help her sort out what's happening. Eric, her husband, is devoted to her but jealous and unsure what to do. I liked the interaction between the 4 characters and I didn't guess the villain which highlights how carefully the author crafts her stories.
I'd recommend this book and especially this author. Eagerly waiting the next episode!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
April 19, 2021
Azalea, Viscountess Trench suffered with "the baby blues" after the birth of her daughter. That caused a rift between her and her husband. Now she finds herself the victim of blackmail. Did she do what the blackmailer says?? She can't remember, that is causing her to doubt her sanity.
Eric, Lord Trench loves his wife desperately, but they have drifted apart. He knows that something has changed and wants to fix it.
This is a lovely historical romance that has a big mystery to solve. Just how naughty has our heroine been in her "brain fog"??
Can our loving hero see past what might or might not have happened???
Really great fun,. This is the second book in this series but easily read on it's own. I don't know if the rest of the series has the Tizlas involved, if not I can see a possible series related to Griz and her husband's special talents being used by others.
I loved every page and can't wait to read more.
Eric, Lord Trench loves his wife desperately, but they have drifted apart. He knows that something has changed and wants to fix it.
This is a lovely historical romance that has a big mystery to solve. Just how naughty has our heroine been in her "brain fog"??
Can our loving hero see past what might or might not have happened???
Really great fun,. This is the second book in this series but easily read on it's own. I don't know if the rest of the series has the Tizlas involved, if not I can see a possible series related to Griz and her husband's special talents being used by others.
I loved every page and can't wait to read more.
August 19, 2021
While super charming and very fun, this wasn't as good as book one. Griz and Dragan are such lovable characters that I missed them until they showed up in this book.
The couple in this entry to the trilogy are actually already married, and in love. Which is nice, and certainly made me wonder what could possibly be going so wrong that Azaela, the gorgeous paragon of a duke's daughter, would need to request Grizelda and her husband to investigate. Well, it involves everybody's favorite elitist crime, blackmail. Azaela has some recent memory lapses and finds herself wondering what exactly has been happening during these times. She wants to stop the blackmailer in their tracks before her husband Eric finds out. Things get dangerous and Griz and Dragan are on the case.
While not the steamiest series ever, what I love about this book and the others in the series, is that the couples, and everyone else, actually TALK with one another. The whole trope of misunderstandings keeping the main couple parted for most of the story doesn't happen here. The characters have difficult conversations and sometimes feelings do get hurt, but that's so much better than the reader wishing to yell OMG JUST HAVE A CONVERSATION ALEADY at the characters.
Honestly, I adore all three books in the Crime & Passion trilogy and hope the author gives us more adventures of Dragan and Grizelda someday.
The couple in this entry to the trilogy are actually already married, and in love. Which is nice, and certainly made me wonder what could possibly be going so wrong that Azaela, the gorgeous paragon of a duke's daughter, would need to request Grizelda and her husband to investigate. Well, it involves everybody's favorite elitist crime, blackmail. Azaela has some recent memory lapses and finds herself wondering what exactly has been happening during these times. She wants to stop the blackmailer in their tracks before her husband Eric finds out. Things get dangerous and Griz and Dragan are on the case.
While not the steamiest series ever, what I love about this book and the others in the series, is that the couples, and everyone else, actually TALK with one another. The whole trope of misunderstandings keeping the main couple parted for most of the story doesn't happen here. The characters have difficult conversations and sometimes feelings do get hurt, but that's so much better than the reader wishing to yell OMG JUST HAVE A CONVERSATION ALEADY at the characters.
Honestly, I adore all three books in the Crime & Passion trilogy and hope the author gives us more adventures of Dragan and Grizelda someday.
April 28, 2021
I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Letters to a Lover has a very intriguing storyline and is quite different from any other historical romance I’ve ever read. I was originally drawn to the book because it is a romance of an already married couple. However for me the actual romance fell flat - there was very little tension between Azalea and Eric, it’s very clear from the beginning they love each other and always have. Perhaps since the problem/villain instead of some type of true conflict between them both, the story really wasn’t a romance to me. However I loved the cast of characters, the mystery and the shenanigans throughout.
April 28, 2021
I’m loving this new crime and romance series. We see the beautiful Azalea, Viscountess Trench, receives a note threatening of blackmail to expose her adulterous love letters that she has no memory of adultery or writing letters. Wow what a memory gap! Her husband Eric, Lord Trench ready for his wife to come back to him. A captivating story of trying to find the blackmailer, keep the secret from her husband, will the secret destroy their marriage or make it stronger? Will Eric blame himself or Azalea for the direction their marriage has gone? I voluntarily read and reviewed this excellent book filled romance.
June 7, 2021
This is my first book by Mary Lancaster and I really enjoyed it! The premise of this story was intriguing and I quickly found myself hooked, reading the story way past my bedtime!!
Imagine losing your memory and finding proof of an affair that you of course can’t remember now! What would you do? Who do you turn to? Why would you have an affair when you love your husband and were having his child? Even if you couldn’t quite remember all the love —- and now someone is threatening to expose your secrets!!
Truly a mystery that keeps you enthralled in the storyline!! I highly recommend reading this book!
Imagine losing your memory and finding proof of an affair that you of course can’t remember now! What would you do? Who do you turn to? Why would you have an affair when you love your husband and were having his child? Even if you couldn’t quite remember all the love —- and now someone is threatening to expose your secrets!!
Truly a mystery that keeps you enthralled in the storyline!! I highly recommend reading this book!
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