Psyche Fremont has known two constants in life: Her passion for her art, and society’s determination to ignore her talent. She isn’t looking for anything other than a handsome model when she crosses paths with Michael Delancey, and he’s only interested in making a few discreet coins lounging about in the altogether. Both Michael and Psyche are guarding secrets, but when love blooms, can they continue to guard their hearts?
Grace Burrowes started writing as an antidote to empty nest and soon found it an antidote to life in general. She is the sixth out of seven children, raised in the rural surrounds of central Pennsylvania. Early in life she spent a lot of time reading romance novels and practicing the piano. Her first career was as a technical writer and editor in the Washington, DC, area, a busy job that nonetheless left enough time to read a lot of romance novels.
It also left enough time to grab a law degree through an evening program, produce Beloved Offspring (only one, but she is a lion), and eventually move to the lovely Maryland countryside.
While reading yet still more romance novels, Grace opened her own law practice, acquired a master's degree in Conflict Transformation (she had a teenage daughter by then) and started thinking about writing.... romance novels. This aim was realized when Beloved Offspring struck out into the Big World a few years ago. ("Mom, why doesn't anybody tell you being a grown-up is hard?")
Grace eventually got up the courage to start pitching her manuscripts to agents and editors. The query letter that resulted in "the call" started out: "I am the buffoon in the bar at the RWA retreat who could not keep her heroines straight, could not look you in the eye, and could not stop blushing--and if that doesn't narrow down the possibilities, your job is even harder than I thought." (The dear lady bought the book anyway.)
To contact Grace, email her at graceburrowes@yahoo.com.
Pleasing Burrowes’ novel. Michael Delancey is a vicars son following in his father’s footsteps. After five years in Yorkshire as curate to the Rev. Hannibal Arbuckle (so many awful/interesting associations with both those names that one could digress into that forever) he’s now in London at Lambeth Palace. Michael has a secret life, more than one in fact. The necessity for one of those secrets is where he first meets Psyche Fremont (queue another secret), an artist. I loved Michael’s quiet determination and sense of what’s right. I loved Psyche’s fierceness.
After a truly delightful weekend with old bookish friends in Staunton VA last weekend (a fresh and very funny take on All's Well That Ends Well at the American Shakespeare Center, The Book Dragon, The Dragon's Hoard, many delicious meals, so much nerdy goodness!), I've had a sore throat and been tired and crabby all week. Fortunately Burrowes has a new book out. They have to be new, or I've already read them because they are just the thing when I am dragging. Also, when I'm feeling chipper. Anyway, I have read all but three or thirty of her oeuvre in a year or so. This series strikes a balance between the horrors of empire for all but a handful of insanely wealthy and privileged men, and the desire of most people ro live in a more just and less cruel world. There is also a desire for connection at odds with long custom of self-sufficiency.
As expected, just the thing. Lucky for me I can download optimism at need.
I love to read Grace and most of the time they go down like sweet, vanilla pudding (not a bad thing). Every so often though, you think you are getting vanilla pudding book and instead you get a spicy, creme brulee book with lots of cinnamon and spice. I am not talking smexy times, I am talking about a book that wakes you up and makes you cheer for the little guy. This was that book for me. Psyche and Michael had all kinds of secrets and sharks circling them ready to expose them to light. Michael was so perfect for Psyche and giving her the means to be free with her painting. But in the end painting was just a small thing in Psyche's world as she found out. As it turned out, sharks exposed to light, sun and air can't survive very long out of the shadows the need to thrive. Well done!
The storyline was interesting, with great potential but the unreasonable guilt, and martyred, soothing politeness left me not wanting to read the dialogue. A coffee that was mostly cream and sugar
When cleric Michael Delancey earns extra coin by secretly modeling au naturel for emerging artists, his path crashes, quite literally, into that of young widow, Psyche Fremont. They recognize in each other people forced to play an uncomfortable and unwanted role to protect their secrets. But as they spend time together, they realize that being true to themselves is the only way they can ultimately be true to each other. As always, Ms. Burrowes writes a beautiful novel with enough twists and turns to the story to make the satisfying HEA completely unpredictable. From the first page, the reader cares about the characters and is fervently hoping this relationship works out. But though Ms. Burrowes always surprises, she never disappoints! This is a story I stayed up late into the night to finish, it is just that good! This book was provided by the author without any requirement for a review, positive or otherwise. All opinions are 100% my own.
Part of the Mischief in Mayfair series, this story includes some of the movers and shakers from the previous volumes, basically a set of cousins and their inlaws who do not toe the line or the aristocratic world view of their upper-class social circle.
Psyche Fremont is another competent woman who is not content to be a charming ornament to some man for the rest of her life, but aspires to the freedom to follow her talent as a portrait painter. The tale of how she overcomes obstacles to reach for this goal, meanwhile finding an understanding man to be her partner in her efforts, is interesting and a little challenging. While the story is a romance, it is not at all what is currently called “steamy”, nor is it a story of a Regency virgin’s awakening. For this I thank the author.
Just like all the covers on the Mischief in Mayfair series, they are pretty but the characters are indistinguishable from each other. Psyche and Michael speak and react like the MCs who preceded them, bland, bland, bland. BTW, “mischief” seems to suggest lighthearted fun… nuh-uh.
The dilemma was pretty good, but It ever so slightly breached anachronistic heights, and then coasted to an unsatisfying stop.
I can’t remember how long it’s been since I’ve read a Burrowes’ historical romance…probably 10+ years. As a favorite, she was always an auto-buy for me. But as my TBR soared and I discovered more authors, sadly her newer books were overlooked. So I was thrilled to receive an arc of her latest, and it brought back all of the reasons she was a past favorite and all of the reasons she needs to move back into an auto-buy position.
Psyche Fremont is a young widow who has an all-consuming passion to be recognized as a woman for her artistic talents. Dressing as a man she attends art classes where part of the instruction includes sketching nude models. Imagine her surprise to meet one of those models, Michael Delancey, at a dinner hosted by his sister.
Michael is an ordained priest with a heart of gold but some disillusions with the Church who is making a name for himself at Lambeth Palace. He earns extra coin for hidden expenses by modeling.
As Psyche hires him privately to model for her, they discover similar secrets that keep them from truly revealing themselves to the world. As they become closer and a threat to their happiness presents itself, can they overcome obstacles to a HEA?
Burrowes foremost is a gifted writer. She has a distinct language that is easily recognizable and flows effortlessly. Her characters are very human, very intelligent and very humorous. I’m happy to have rediscovered the treasure of her writing expertise.
My sincere thanks to the author for providing the free early arc of Miss Devoted for review. The opinions are strictly my own.
Michael Delancey joined the clergy, not because he had any more faith than most, but because he felt it a fitting way to atone for his gambling ways as a very young man, and as a tribute to his clergyman father. To make end meet he supplements his income working at Lambeth Palace as a life model for an art teacher. Psyche is a young widow living with her widowed cousin, she attends painting lessons in disguise as a man, determined to become a renowned portraitist. when Michael realises Mr Henderson is actually a young woman, and she offers him extra coin is he could pose for her alone, their relationship starts to grow. But Michael has a secret which could destroy him, his family and friends, The characters are well drawn - even the hateful Mr Arbuckle. It's lovely to meet most of the characters from previous books, one of the things that brings me back time and time again to this author. not just within this series, but also The True Gentlemen series. Have to admit I've had mixed thoughts before reading each book in this series - is it as good at the early series by this author. But each time I've come away pleasantly surprised and wanting more, especially in this case, both lead characters 'spoke' to me, and to be fair I couldn't see any satisfactory way out of Michael's dilemma. I think a solution was found, although I'd like to know how it pans out. This may be the sign of a good book.
Probably one of the most bonkers plots I’ve read in a historical, and that’s saying something: handsome cleric is moonlighting as a nude art model, where he literally bumps into a widow disguised as a man so she can be a student. Oh yeah, and he has adopted two orphans and is secretly raising them as their dad? 😮😵💫 With a plot like this, I was definitely expecting some spice and oddly, this one felt very unsexy, bordering on platonic.
This is definitely lacking passion in spite of Michael’s near constant nudity. Frustratingly, their first kiss, which doesn’t happen until 50%, is mostly off page and then we have several chapters before the thread is picked back up. Now I’m all for a slow burn but this is pretty ridiculous. it almost feels like she made this book less sexy because of his nude modeling, so it comes off very chaste, and almost closed door. The love scenes are vague and brief and there isn't a lot of angst, romantic angst anyway, to tide you over in between.
I love the art storyline but this was my least favorite in the series so far, just bland and there was so much more that could’ve been done with Michael, ach! I was kind of hoping for Thornbirds and I got more along the lines of a dry storybook safe for children.
I could not put this book down! I also had that happy/fulfilled/sad feeling when I finished it and that I would not be able to read more of these characters. I thought the characters will fully formed/real and I love how Ms. Burrowes gives us insight into their thoughts and feelings. The dialogue is so fantastic, so smart. I loved the beginning... what an opener!! I loved the plot and all the twists and turns. I loved fully meeting our hero, Michael Delancey, and heroine, Psyche Fremont. The glimpse we had of Michael in a previous book was enough for me to chomp at the bit for this book. These characters are talented, creative, intelligent, and honorable trying to make their way in a world that doesn't want them to succeed. I feel like the details of the era are fantastic. I cheered at the beginning and end (well, really, all the way through) but can't say why without giving a wonderful part of the book away. I don't usually reread books, but I will on this one.
I might have liked this one the best in this delightful series. Psyche is a widow and an artist who must hide her artistic aspirations in Regency England. She first meets Michael, an ex-curate who works at Lambeth Palace for the church, when he's a nude model in her art class(he needs the money). This is a slow-burn romance, one of my favorite tropes, as Psyche and Michael get to know each other and fall in love, despite all the reasons they shouldn't. Ms. Burrowes is a favorite romance writer of mine for a reason. She writes compelling stories about realistic people with all their foibles and kindnesses. Michael made mistakes in his youth but has corrected them and tends to overdo his penances now. Psyche also over-compensates for a mistake in her youth, but not as bad as Michael, and she helps him realize that he doesn't have to do everything on his own and can get help from others. It's a gentle and lovely story in a very good series.
Miss Devoted is a good addition to the Mischief in Mayfair series. Michael is Dorcas MacKay’s brother, who is ordained and works at Lambeth Palace, headquarters of the Church of England. Psyche Fremont is a widow who is studying (disguised as a man) painting. It is through Psyche’s class that the two meet.
The story involves dealing with true vocation and the hypocrisy of some within the church, the struggle of women in art, and how hard it is to truly open up to and trust in another person.
The story is good. There were a couple of times where it seemed the main characters were going in circles, but it didn’t detract too much from the overall plot. It was good to see characters from previous novels. I am looking forward to the next book.
I really enjoyed this episode of Mischief in Mayfair. I think this may be my favourite of this series. Apart from the villainous Arbuckle, all the characters showed warmth and a desire to help their neighbour. It was good to see old faces come to the fore again, Ann, Dorcas, Orion, MacKay, the Dorning clan etc. The main plot was cleverly resolved and the happy end very satisfactory. Grace Burrowes has written about the plight of painters wanting to be acknowledged by the Royal Academy before, i think it might have been in the Windham brides novels. It is obviously a subject which matters to her. I look forward to reading her next instalment Miss Determined which is expected sometime in June.
As always, Grace Burrowes, inspires as well as entertains with this lovely story of two people individually seeking to follow their heart’s passion and ending up finding each other. Psyche Fremont and Michael Delancey are interesting and somewhat mysterious characters and following their journey towards fulfillment of their dreams is very entertaining and satisfying. There are mysteries, and challenges and suspense which make for entertaining reading. I am always intrigued at the way Grace Burrowes builds relationships in her books. I love her descriptive settings and wonderful dialogues. And, I love that her books always leave me appreciating the beauty and joy of human connection.
i have loved the entire Mischief in Mayfair series, yet this book is now my favorite. Psyche Fremont is one admirable heroine, and Michael Delancey is a delightfully layered hero. The dialogue is exceptional, the characters are so well developed, and we get to see the previous Mischief in Mayfair couples helping them. Delightful read, and equally delightful Happily Ever After. I will be sad to see this series end. Thank you Grace Burrowes for taking me away from my reality and entertaining me so exceptionally well.
Grace Burrowes has been a favorite author of mine ever since I found one of her novels in a used book store. I now own quite a few, and have read many others in my iPad. I borrowed this one not realizing it was #6 in a series, but found it read quite well as a stand alone. Ms. Burrowes characters are always so well written that they almost become real people to me, as did these two, one an artist and the other a member of the clergy. I had a sense of foreboding when I began to understand the secrets both characters hid, but the end of the book played out beautifully.
Psyche & Michael’s story is just lovely. Michael is not at all as he appears at first meeting Psyche - who also is in disguise - and together they are a slow burn for the ages. Both reform-minded, their values align well, but they have obstacles to overcome. Michael is every bit the warrior archangel he is named for, and Psyche is the perfect foil for him, and this reader was cheering on their HEA from the start.
Burrowes is an author I can depend on to bring me comfortable historical romances that leave me sighing happily in warm tranquility. MISS DEVOTED is Burrowes at her best, with charming historical detail and true love conquering all odds, even those with malice in their bosom. Psyche and Michael will warm your heart and leave you smiling!
The sweet romance between the clergy brother of an earlier heroine and a widowed artist who has been dressing up as a man to take art classes. The hero is the nude model for the class, so they each could be fodder for scandal if their activities are exposed. But this isn't the real issue in the story. Michael is one of those who thinks he must handle everything on his own and must be disabused of the misapprehension. It's a good read. I liked it a lot.
Michael was a man on a mission to try to save the babies that got dropped off on church steps, who happened to be a man of the cloth. Psyche was a rising artist who was disguising herself as a man to take drawing classes from a well-known artist. They met during those art classes and formed a friendship and then she did a portrait of him. I highly recommend this book! 👍👍👍👍👍❤❤❤❤❤
this series (I'm on book #6) mostly have the same formula for each book (which I won't tell so as not to spoil your reading). HOWEVER, each book has unique situations and a deep dive into Regency England life at all levels of the spectrum. that is what I enjoy about this series the most. secondly, I really enjoy the world being created one couple at a time through families, friendships, and other connections.
I read part of the first chapter of this book that was sprinted at the end of Miss Dauntless and was sold on reading it. I was not disappointed. I remembered Michael Delancey from earlier books and was curious to see what had happened to him. I enjoyed this entry into the series tremendously and am looking forward to the next book.
Psyche is a widow, who really loves to draw and paint. Michael is a pastor, who models in the nude for extra money. Michael literally bumps into Psyche dressed as a man and realizes she is a female. They are both invited to dinner, but keep each other's secrets. It took a while to get to a happily ever after, but I enjoyed it.
This felt like a soft breeze of a romance. A charming vicar and a pretty artist. It’s slow burn for sure and reaches its peak probably mid way through however falls short at the final third lost in intrigue and secrets that weren’t very interesting. But I enjoyed the world, the characters and I most certainly will read a few more books in the series.
This story features two highly sympathetic, interesting, likable characters, each unusual in his/her own way. They're a great pair!
There's a lot of serious attention here to the miseries and hardships afflicting many of the London dwellers. I particularly enjoyed the way the characters used two different forms of art to (1) push for social change in a subtle, sneaky way, and (2) vanquish a villain.
Said villain was a vividly portrayed . . . cardboard cutout.
Miss Devoted is another favorite in a long line of Burrowes favorites. It's a quick read and while not my favorite from this author, it's hard not to enjoy how she creates a clever turn of phrase, and characters you love to cheer on.
Loved this story! What an awesome series this is! And as always, this writer draws the reader in from the start and captivates with her beautiful and lovable characters. I’m definitely partial to her urchins.
Another lovely book in this series, which tackles the evils of government, church and society by giving us characters who care, and fight the injustices. Beautiful love story, too. The characters are are perfectly rendered. Highly recommended.