Secret of the Sonnets

Description: 

Miranda Hatch is a scholar, and at the advanced age of twenty-six, she is undoubtedly a spinster. Her single-minded ambition leads her not to seek a husband but to find the lost manuscripts of William Shakespeare. So when she discovers a connection between the Bard and the local dashing marquess, she pens a letter requesting access to papers that might secure her academic triumph.

Lord Robert Hamilton is drowning in debt and must turn things around or risk losing his ancestral home. With the weight of the world on his shoulders, he has little time to bother with a letter from an M. Hatch requesting access to ancestral papers―until he realizes there may be some financial merit in granting the request. To his great surprise, M. Hatch turns out to be none other than the lovely Miss Miranda. The pair soon embarks on the trail of a centuries-old mystery, drawn together not only by their shared goal but by their growing attraction. However, someone else is seeking the priceless papers, and they will not hesitate to remove anyone in the way of glory.

My Review:

This was such an interesting story with a bluestocking protagonist, Miranda Hatch, and her love of Shakespeare’s writings. She is passionate about the Bard’s works and unearthing hidden clues to see if there may yet be more to be discovered. I always love reading about treasure hunts and this was extremely unique. 

While Miranda is on the trail to learn more about Shakespeare’s sonnets, she is aided by an unlikely ally, Lord Robert Hamilton. He is the opposite of her in many respects. He is nobility; she is from the working class; he isn’t well read; Miranda’s life centers around literature; Robert needs money; Miranda is wealthy. The adage that opposites attract certainly applies to them.  It was delightful to see them work together to overcome prejudices and obstacles. 

There is a surprising twist and one that is is sure to intrigue those who love the sonnets of Shakespeare. I thought it was clever that Miranda and her father used quotes from Shakespeare’s works while they were talking. Much like we do at our house with our favorite movies. The opening lines from various sonnets was a nice addition to the book. I appreciate all of the research that Ms. Hastings had done for the book. I recommend reading this book if you enjoy historical romances and/or mysteries.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in the review are my own.