Historical Romance Book Club discussion

Discussion thread for the second BOTM for February 2025. Please remember to use the spoiler tags when necessary! (Please see 'some html is ok' for instructions.)

Join us in reading this HR that firs the theme:Mystery/Suspense. Happy reading!


The Watchmaker's Daughter– C.J. Archer

Synopsis:

India Steele is desperate. Her father is dead, her fiancé took her inheritance, and no one will employ her, despite years working for her watchmaker father. Indeed, the other London watchmakers seem frightened of her. Alone, poor, and at the end of her tether, India takes employment with the only person who'll accept her - an enigmatic and mysterious man from America. A man who possesses a strange watch that rejuvenates him when he's ill.

Matthew Glass must find a particular watchmaker, but he won't tell India why any old one won't do. Nor will he tell her what he does back home, and how he can afford to stay in a house in one of London's best streets. So when she reads about an American outlaw known as the Dark Rider arriving in England, she suspects Mr. Glass is the fugitive. When danger comes to their door, she's certain of it. But if she notifies the authorities, she'll find herself unemployed and homeless again - and she will have betrayed the man who saved her life.

With a cast of quirky characters, an intriguing mystery, and a dash of romance, THE WATCHMAKER'S DAUGHTER is the start of a thrilling new historical fantasy series from the author of the bestselling Ministry of Curiosities, Freak House, and Emily Chambers Spirit Medium books.

I was eager to get started on this one. The first chapter is quite a scene!

I am on the fence about this one.

What is your concern, Merry? I am halfway through at this point. The book is set in the Victorian era and is true to the time. There has been nothing paranormal other than a brief glimpse of a glowing watch. The romance is a VERY slow burn and the mystery has been more secrecy (lots and lots of secrecy) rather than mystery.

Oleander, I think it is book overload. I am reading too many lol. The plot sounds intriguing,

I certainly relate to that, Merry. It would be nice to finish more series than I start, but no, I have to start more than I finish. And I constantly wish I could read multiple books at the same time.

Oleander. Exactly!

I finished the book. I like the characters and they will be moving forward in the series. So looks like the next book continues India and Matt's story. I found the story intriguing but it was a bit slow paced. I would like to read further in the series though to see where it goes.

Oleander, does the story give some conclusion for the couple, or do you have to continue the story in the next book? I'm bad at completing series', so I'd like to know going in.

This would be something where you need to keep going. The attraction is building but there is no conclusion to it. I liked it well enough that I want to keep going but if you are looking for a wrapped up romance, this isn't it.

When there are 2 books with the same title and I got

Went back and saw the correct book and found it was free on Amazon. Unsure when I will start it due to book overload.

Oleander, thanks. I'll have to skip this one then

Free is great! I just picked it up also.

It may not be my cup of tea - sounds like not quite enough romance and maybe a bit too much mystery for my taste. However, it's free, so I just picked it up too, and will give it a try at some point this month :) Thanks for the info about it being free, Merry.

Welp, I've read a bit of the book and decided it's just not my cup of tea. Yes it was free - that's lovely. But I should have looked a little closer at the blurb describing it as a historical fantasy with only 'a dash of romance'. Not really my preferred genre. I appreciate Oleander's comment above that there isn't a lot of fantasy, but a mysterious purple-glowing watch in Chapter 1 says this one's not for me. Hopefully others will enjoy this different type of BOTM.

Thanks for the info, Jan, I may read it later, but I have so many on my tbr list that it is ridiculous. A lot of them are free and I end up starting them and reading a few chapters and then deciding they aren't my style.

Merry wrote: "Thanks for the info, Jan, I may read it later, but I have so many on my tbr list that it is ridiculous. A lot of them are free and I end up starting them and reading a few chapters and then decidin..."

Yeah my tbr list is getting out of control too. That's one reason i decided not to persist wth this one.

I am still sitting on the fence about this one... I started reading it the other day but couldn't get into it. I will try again, on the weekend and see how it goes.