Lilacs for Lucy

Lucy Hargrave spent years being rejected by medical schools, her dream of becoming a doctor denied at every turn. Returning home in 1856 as a trained midwife, she expects a place where her skill will finally be valued—and a chance to leave the past behind.

But William Ashford, a newly minted doctor and the childhood friend who once laughed at her ambition, has returned too.

When Farmer Jones’ pregnant daughter falls ill, treatment becomes a competition. The whole town watches to see who will handle the case best.

For Lucy, it’s a chance to prove her skill and secure her place. For William, it’s an opportunity to make amends—and perhaps win back the woman he never stopped thinking of.

Old wounds, anonymous letters, and one perilous birth force them to choose: will rivalry keep them apart, or can forgiveness take root—like lilacs after a hard winter?

Review:

William and Lucy were the best of friends while they were growing up, but one foolish comment and a misunderstanding at a ball puts William in Lucy’s despised category. While William knew he had blundered, I don’t think he realized how badly he had hurt Lucy until he returns home years later with the intent of wooing her. He has quite a bit to make up for, but William is determined to be humble and ask for forgiveness. I thoroughly enjoyed this story with its characters and message to not give up on your dreams. 

Things to love: 

second chances

Granny! 

midwifery

letters

symbolism

Be sure to read the author’s notes at the end.She shares some things that happened to influence the writing of this story. Additionally, she includes some historical information that was used throughout the novella. 

This is part of the Victorian Valentine’s series, but it can be read as a standalone. I highly recommend this clean, faith-filled romance for readers young and mature alike.

I received a copy of the book but was not obligated to write a positive review.

Flashes of Memory

About the Book:

When Mira Blayse agreed to be a personal secretary to an amnesiac detective, she never expected to be invited to Buckingham Palace. Yet here she is meeting with the Prime Minister. Assigned to protect the British Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire the two don’t realize this assignment will lead to murder, espionage, and not one, but three mysteries.

Meanwhile, an unexpected encounter with a woman from his past leaves Byron reeling with flashbacks and new memories. But despite this miraculous recovery, he always forgets Mira.

This new development, family expectations and the ever looming Order of Circe all threaten their unique partnership, the truth, and their lives. With Mira’s heart pulled every which way, can she accept that the man she loves will never remember her?
 

My Review: 

The future looks promising for private investigator Byron Constantine as his memory begins to return after years of amnesia. His secretary, Mira Blayse, is wondering if she is needed any longer since Byron isn’t having to use her as much as he had in remembering details of cases and other things. I felt sorry for Mira as she is in quite a dilemma. On one hand, she is happy that he is continuing to gain his memory, but on the other hand, Byron still can’t seem to remember her.

With a murder to solve, an ambassador to protect, and investigating who is involved with the secret anarchy group,Circe, Byron, Mira and their friends have quite an adventure in this book. I am loving the Constantine Capers and highly recommend this book and the series. I am excited to read the next book.

Things to enjoy:
Peril
Plot twists
Friend & Family
Deception
Disguises
Language of flowers
Love

I received a complimentary copy of the book through Book Sirens. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The Pennington Perplexity

 About the Book: 

You wouldn't expect a detective with Sherlockian deductive skills to have amnesia, but Byron Constantine is hardly the detective you'd expect. London 1888

Aspiring artist Mira Blayse isn't concerned with upper-tier society or conforming to Victorian expectations-she has a murder to solve. At least, she thinks it was murder. Her parents' deaths in 1870 couldn't have been by accident, but the more she investigates, the less she seems to find. Sitting at a café, she sketches a mysterious stranger, not realizing that she's penciling in the features of the man who will help her solve the case once and for all.

Byron Constantine lives day-to-day, desperately trying to hold onto his memories, only for them to slip through his fingers. Some days, he doesn't even know that he's lost four years of his life. As he manages to continue his work as a private detective, he realizes that maybe he doesn't need his memory after all. That is until he wants to remember Mira Blayse. With her keen eye for detail and his remarkable deductive skills, the two become entangled in a criminal investigation. As they uncover the secrets of the past, they must work together to stop history from repeating itself again.

My Review: 

Mira Blayse is investigating her parents’ deaths and decides to employ detective Byron Constantine’s services after she has no more leads on what occurred. Byron is excellent at observing and reminds me of Sherlock Holmes. The only problem is, he has a type of amnesia where he doesn’t remember what happened the previous day. Without the help of a daily journal to record reminders and what he learned about cases, Byron would be lost.

Mira is a gutsy, determined, and fearless young lady. I loved how she aids Byron in his investigations. She is like Holmes’ Dr. Watson, only better! She has artistic talent so she can capture suspects’ faces, is inquisitive, and a quick learner when it comes to the cases.

Things to love in this story:
finding clues
airships
danger
mystery
cat-and-mouse
secret criminal organization

Ms. Brianne is a new-to-me author, and I’m so glad I read her first book in the Constantine Capers series. It is a fast paced, well-written story and one that had me completely engaged. I can.not. wait to read the next book!

I received a complimentary copy of this book through Book Sirens. All views are my opinion in which I was not required to write a review.

Walking on Hidden Wings

About the Book: 

Geneva Ashcroft Hayes's marriage to a newspaper mogul might have been arranged, but the New York socialite is devastated when her husband's plane crashes a few short months after their nuptials. When the authorities suspect murder, Geneva sets out on a wild mission to find his killer--and to prove it wasn't her!When mysterious notes surface pointing to Geneva's guilt in his death, they only strengthen her resolve. She has little to go on except for a detective friend's cryptic list of locations connected to her dead spouse. When the friend also disappears, she trades her sparkling gowns for coveralls and pilot goggles. Armed with a new name and career as a wingwalker and barnstormer, she travels from town to town in hopes of unearthing clues and locating her missing friend. But Geneva discovers that her past may not belong to her . . . what she once believed as truth may be nothing more than lies and deception.

My Review: 

What a ride this was as I joined Geneva on the wing of a biplane. Would I actually do that in real life? No! But, it sure was fun to imagine.

History, romance, mystery, and a glimpse into the world of the wealthy in the 1920's makes this a fascinating story to read. I loved learning about the flying circuses and would gladly have attended any and all air shows that I could.

Geneva (Eva) and Warren's story shows the beauty of loving through difficulty and choosing to trust. They are just soo good for each other. Eva has a compassionate heart and generous nature but is especially drawn to the downtrodden. Warren sees this in Eva and does everything he can to help her realize she is a treasure.

Things to love (besides what I mentioned) :)
Second chances
History coming to life
Twists and turns
Loving your neighbor as yourself
Surprising conclusion

Would I recommend this book? Absolutely!

I received a complimentary advanced copy of the book. All opinions expressed are my own and voluntarily provided.

What the Mountaians Remember

 

About the Book: 

At this wondrous resort, secrets can easily be hidden in plain sight when the eye is trained on beauty. April 1913 —Belle Newbold hasn’t seen mountains for seven years—since her father died in a mining accident and her mother married Indiana gas magnate, Shipley Newbold. But when her stepfather’s friend, Henry Ford, invites the family on one of his famous Vagabonds camping tours, she is forced to face the hills once again—primarily in order to reunite with her future fiancé, owner of the land the Vagabonds are using for their campsite, a man she’s only met once before. It is a veritable arranged marriage, but she prefers it that way. Belle isn’t interested in love. She only wants a simple life—a family of her own and the stability of a wealthy man’s pockets. That’s what Worth Delafield has promised to give her and it’s worth facing the mountains again, the reminder of the past, and her poverty, to secure her future. But when the Vagabonds group is invited to tour the unfinished Grove Park Inn and Belle is unexpectedly thrust into a role researching and writing about the building of the inn—a construction the locals are calling The Eighth Wonder of the World—she quickly realizes that these mountains are no different from the ones she once called home. 

As Belle peels back the facade of Grove Park Inn, of Worth, of the society she’s come to claim as her own, and the truth of her heart, she begins to see that perhaps her part in Grove Park’s story isn’t a coincidence after all. Perhaps it is only by watching a wonder rise from ordinary hands and mountain stone that she can finally find the strength to piece together the long-destroyed path toward who she was meant to be. International bestselling author Joy Callaway returns with a story of the ordinary people behind extraordinary beauty—and the question of who gets to tell their stories.

My Review: 

One of the hotels that I remember most from my childhood vacations was staying at Grove Park Inn that is located in Asheville,NC. It was magnificent! With its mountain setting, its beautiful rock exterior, and its huge lobby it made our house seem so tiny. When I read the description of this book I thought it would be interesting to learn more about its construction.

The author gives detailed information about the building of the inn throughout the book since Belle Newbold finds herself tasked with writing about it. I loved that she not only writes about the building that is occurring, but also about the men who were involved in its construction (engineers, architects, stone masons, etc.). This made the story more personal and interesting, giving tribute to the people who made this beautiful place possible.

Belle’s story of wanting to marry Worth Delafield as an arrangement suits her just fine. Belle and Worth are not interested in marrying for love since they each have deep hurts from their pasts. The story of them trusting each other with their secrets and finding love was what I liked best.

Marie Austen, Belle’s “cousin”, was awful! Her behavior towards Belle, but even more so with men, made me cringe. I didn’t like some of the compromising scenes (nothing explicit) that she was caught in and her attitude towards marriage.

* some mild swearing, and two spicy scenes that I didn’t like (I’m a no spice reader)

I received a copy of the book from the publisher through AustenProse. I voluntarily reviewed this, and all opinions are my own.

Marshaling Her Heart

 

About the Book

Book: Marshaling Her Heart

Author: Mary Connealy

Genre: Historical Romance

Release Date: October 17, 2023

Will their lives and romance survive the trouble coming their way?

Becky Pruitt has always prided herself on knowing everything that’s happening on her successful ranch, so an unexpected admission from her foreman, Nate Paxton, comes as quite a surprise. With the notorious Deadeye Gang on the loose, Nate–a former U.S. Marshal–believes Becky’s ranch is the best spot for a group of Marshals to use as a base to hunt them down.

The timing couldn’t be more crucial for the town of Pine Valley, and Becky feels obligated to help. But after escaping the grasp of her harsh father, she’s never liked giving up control, of her life or her ranch. If there’s anyone she can trust with her ranch, and her heart, it might be Nate. But the outlaws won’t go away quietly, and as danger draws ever nearer, Becky and Nate are faced with impossible choices that will test their growing bond.

Click here to get your copy!

 My Review: 

Becky Pruitt has built her successful ranch by herself and decides she will never find a husband, but sometimes it just gets lonely. When Nate Paxton, one of her ranch hands, approaches her with a plan to capture the Deadeye Gang, she doesn’t realize her decision will forever change her life.

With endearing characters from the first two books and a continuation of the the criminal activity that continues to plague the area, I was excited to read this book. It had everything I had hoped would be in the story. Even though this is the end of the series, I can see how it could continue. I would definitely love to read any more books that the author would write. 

I have read all three books in the series, and I think this is my favorite since the Deadeye Gang members and their marauding are finally put to an end and justice is served. This is not a standalone since you will need to know the history of the characters in order to understand what has happened up to the point this story begins. I highly recommend this book and the other two titles in the series.

Things to enjoy: 

Strong, independent heroine

U.S. Marshals

Danger

Faith element

Romance

I received a complimentary copy of the book through Celebrate Lit. A positive review was not required. All opinions are my own. 

About the Author

Mary Connealy (maryconnealy.com) writes “romantic comedies with cowboys” and is celebrated for her fun, zany, action-packed style. She has sold more than 1.5 million books and is the author of the popular series Wyoming Sunrise, The Lumber Baron’s Daughters, Brothers in Arms, Brides of Hope Mountain, High Sierra Sweethearts, The Kincaid Brides, Trouble in Texas, Lassoed in Texas, Sophie’s Daughters, and many other books. Mary lives on a ranch in eastern Nebraska with her very own romantic cowboy hero.

 

 

 

More from Mary

Becky Pruitt has a problem. Her ranch is being invaded by good guys.

Becky wants the Deadeye Gang caught and thrown in jail as much as anyone, but the lawmen asking her to hire them on at her ranch aim to do their investigating while working undercover as cowhands. She runs a good ranch, however, and doesn’t like the idea of a bunch of low-skilled men making her look like she’s hired them foolishly.

Yet she goes along with it, suspicious and annoyed, because her foreman, Nate Paxton, a man she trusts, convinces her that these men are honorable. Then the three lawmen she hires, all of them U.S. Marshals, urge her to send every single one of her regular cowhands—except Nate, a former Marshal himself—off on a cattle drive.

Now she’s got Marshals cropping up everywhere. Her ranch isn’t being run in a way that suits her. She’s got trouble with her father, and an important speaker is coming to town to talk about women’s suffrage. So much is distracting her when all she really wants to do is make sure her herd is being tended properly.

Before long, Nate starts to question the behavior of the U.S. Marshals Service. They’re secretive to the point that they put him in jeopardy a few times before he decides to quit. Here he’d found a decent job on a top ranch, and he even shared a few special moments with his pretty, feisty boss that gave him ideas of how he’d like to change things around a little just so he could be with her. And then his brother, who’s still a U.S. Marshal, invades the ranch with a few fellow lawmen. Quite a few.

Meanwhile, the Deadeye Gang is more dangerous than ever. The woman coming to Pine Valley to speak is now at risk, which makes Becky frantic to protect her. The cattle aren’t being looked after like they ought to be. And yet Nate finds himself being drawn closer to Becky with each passing day. He’s determined to stand firmly between her and danger, but he’s got to keep up with her to do that. He soon discovers that nothing is easy when it comes to the hard-charging Becky Pruitt.

Wyoming Sunrise is a series I wrote in which I cast women as having nontraditional jobs: Forged in Love has a woman blacksmith, Laws of Attraction a woman justice of the peace, and Marshaling Her Heart a woman rancher. Those are all nontraditional for sure, but not really in my case personally. I must force myself not to make all my heroines feisty lady ranchers. It’s almost a reflex at this point. I fought that reflex as hard as I could, but I decided it would be okay to sneak one lady rancher into this series, and that’s Becky Pruitt. I slipped her into the western vernacular, the tough attitude, the riding skirts and boots and Stetsons—and I loved it.

Marshaling Her Heart is my first true lady rancher, and so I let loose and had fun with Becky. The foreman Nate recognizes intelligence and competence in his boss, and he’s smart enough to take orders from her because he knows those orders are the right way to run the ranch.

Add in the backdrops of the other books in the series, the vicious, stagecoach-robbing Deadeye Gang, the coming of the lady suffragist speaker to town, and you’ve got a story full of trouble, action, adventure, romance, and fun.

Blog Stops

Texas Book-aholic, October 27

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 27

Locks, Hooks and Books, October 28

Bizwings Book Blog, October 28

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 29

Jeanette’s Thoughts, October 29

Books You Can Feel Good About, October 30

Lighthouse Academy Blog, October 30 (Guest Review from Marilyn Ridgway)

lakesidelivingsite, October 31

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, November 1

Book Looks by Lisa, November 1

Connie’s History Classroom, November 2

Mary Hake, November 2

Wishful Endings, November 3

An Author’s Take, November 3

Betti Mace, November 4

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 4

For Him and My Family, November 5

Holly’s Book Corner, November 5

Splashes of Joy, November 6

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, November 6

Pause for Tales, November 7

Life on Chickadee Lane, November 7

Tell Tale Book Reviews, November 8

Cover Lover Book Review, November 8

Labor Not in Vain, November 9

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, November 9

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Mary is giving away the grand prize of a $15 Amazon Gift Card and a paperback copy of the entire Wyoming Sunrise series!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/28976/marshaling-her-heart-celebration-tour-giveaway

The Cairo Curse

About the Book:

Clue meets Indiana Jones with a fiction-loving twist only Grace Percy can provide.



Newlyweds Lord and Lady Astley have already experienced their fair-share of suspense, but when a honeymoon trip takes a detour to the mystical land of Egypt, not even Grace with her fiction-loving mind is prepared for the dangers in store. From an assortment of untrustworthy adventure-seekers to a newly discovered tomb with a murderous secret, Frederick and Grace must lean on each other to navigate their dangerous surroundings. As the suspects mount in an antiquities’ heist of ancient proportions, will Frederick and Grace’s attempts to solve the mystery lead to another death among the sands?

My Review: 

 “Gunfire erupted from outside, sending Frederick Percy, Earl of Astley, leaping from his chair.” With this opening line, I was immediately drawn into the book. I had to see what was going on and if my suspicion was correct in thinking that Grace (Freddie’s wife) was somehow involved. 

Freddy and Grace are the perfect dynamic detective duo. Freddie is the “proceed with caution” type while Grace is, “let’s investigate, no matter the danger” type. Finding themselves embroiled in a case of murder, archaeological mishaps, and tomb robbing, I enjoyed seeing what was going to happen next and if I could figure out who was behind the nefarious activities. 

Grace is my favorite! She seems to thrive on curiosity and imagination that leads her into some predicaments from which Freddie must rescue her. With her bold and risk-taking nature, clues are discovered that might not have been otherwise. I was sorry to see the Egyptian adventure end and am eagerly anticipating the next case that Freddie and Grace will need to solve. 

This is the second book in the Frederick & Grace Mystery series. This can be read as a standalone, but I’d recommend reading The Mistletoe Countess to see the beginning of this wonderful series. I highly recommend this if you like sleuthing couples such as Agatha Christie’s Tommy and Tuppence or Dorothy Sayer’s Lord Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane.

I received an ecopy of the book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own and I was not required to give a positive review. 

More Precious Than Gold

 

About the Book: 

When artistic, middle-class Kitty Winthrop discovers the grandmother she always believed dead is actually the uber-wealthy leader of New York City high society, Kitty jumps at the chance to make her debut into that world despite her mother’s disapproval. After dancing lessons and etiquette classes, she enters the high society life as the granddaughter of a New York City blueblood, wearing the gorgeous Worth ball gowns she used to design for her portfolio. But she soon discovers all that glitters isn’t gold, and ball gowns, jewels, and fancy parties don’t feed the soul.

As America enters World War I, Kitty makes the choice to forego the life of wealth and luxury promised by her grandmother and pursue a nursing career at Bellevue Hospital. She catches the eye of Dr. Samuel Hayden, a young physician in charge of the medical wards who falls hard for her.

As Kitty and Samuel fall in love, the Pandemic Flu of 1918 strikes New York City and the world. Soon the student nurses are working sixteen-hour shifts, people in the prime of life are dying, and the city morgues are overflowing with the dead. Through this incredibly stressful time, Kitty realizes she want to pursue medicine, but Samuel won’t hear of it. As the flu epidemic reaches its lethal peak, hearts are tested, lives are lost, and no one knows who will survive to see if love can overcome all obstacles.

My Review: 

Renee Yancy has written a realistic, interesting story of those who lived through WWI. Told with Katherine (Kitty) Winthrop as the main character, we see the delightful and passionate woman she is as she faces decisions that affect her life. She can enter the societal realm of her wealthy grandmother and never have to worry about anything or she can become a nurse and help those who are suffering.

Kitty was a woman who I quickly connected with in that she was compassionate and put others' needs before herself. It was difficult and quite realistic to read about the crowded conditions that Kitty encountered when she befriended a young patient. It was also heartbreaking to go through the effects of the Spanish Flu with Kitty as she lost family, friends, and colleagues.

I enjoyed reading this historical fiction story because I thought there was a great blend of facts, life stories, love, and some humor too. I would recommend reading this book. While this can be read as a standalone, the first book tells the story of Kitty’s parents, which I very much enjoyed too.

I received a free copy from the author. A favorable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

The Mobster's Daughter

Catharine Salvastano made a terrible discovery when she arrived in America.  Her beloved papa that she had not seen in 17 years was missing, accused of murder, and was a crime boss in Pittsburgh.  She assumes a new identity as Kate Chamberlin to create a new life for herself while trying to find her papa.  Too bad someone else discovers who she is and anonymously threatens her.  As though that wan’t bad enough, Detective Rhett Jennings is hired to protect her, and his life’s mission is to find the man who he thinks killed his father, Hugo Salvastano. 

Ms. McDaniel’s research, attention to detail, and the places places that Kate and Rhett go to throughout the story make you feel as though you are actually in the Roaring 20’s. With plenty of mystery, suspense, rival criminals, and red herrings, I recommend reading this clean romantic story. 

I voluntarily read and reviewed this electronic advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own. 

About the Book: 

If Kate Chamberlin can't reveal her true identity to the world, she must settle for sharing only her talent. Hired as a musician for KDKA radio, Kate plays everything from sponsors’ jingles to complex sonatas. As long as the whispers around the broadcasting room refer to her as “Killjoy Kate” and not “Catarina the crime boss's daughter,” then her life is safe from danger.

Or so she thinks.

When anonymous, violent threats surface, Kate's wary of accepting protection from the handsome private investigator, Detective Jennings. His save-the-world attitude is as charming as his manners, but no one, especially him, can know the gruesome realities of her birth.

The 1924 Pittsburgh underworld is as complicated as it is elusive, and though the dealings of the Salvastanos have dwindled, Rhett Jennings is certain the man responsible for his father's death is still at large. But his personal hunt for justice must be set aside when his day job requires him to investigate threats directed at a young radio broadcaster with enamoring brown eyes and secretive behavior.

When danger surrounds them, will the truth of Kate's past become the key to their survival?

Paint and Nectar

This beautiful time slip story whisked me away with its three interwoven stories of a buried heirloom and the two families whose feud lasts for more than a century. With greed being at the center of how events take place, it was truly tragic to see to what extremes men would go to in order to find the elusive treasure. 

There were so many wonderful quotes and metaphors in relation to life that I marked throughout the book that I will be returning repeatedly for encouragement. I find that to be a true gift to not only have a compelling story, but also be uplifting and faith building. Using gardening and painting with watercolor was a brilliant way of creating the thread that ran throughout the story. 

Even though Ms. Beth was a wonderful secondary character, her actions and wisdom brought about love and healing for these two families. Here is one thing she had to say that spoke to my heart.“In a way, all art is an imitation of a real, living experience. Think of Eliza’s garden and the many times she painted it. We love those paintings. They’re beautiful and evocative.” Ms. Beth took the blossom from Lucy’s palm and held up to her own nose to smell. “But the fragrance is unique to life. And it’s life that deserves preserving. Abundant life. If we don’t tend our ground, something else grow there. The choice is up to us.”

Ms. Clark’s descriptions of Charleston and the renaissance of music and art during the 1920’s and 30’s were so intriguing and well described that I just had to investigate the jazz singer, Cab Calloway and the houses on Rainbow Road. I will have to go visit Charleston to see them for myself. I highly recommend this 5 star book. 

Thank you to the author and Bethany House for a copy of the book. I was not required to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

About the Book:

In 1929, a spark forms between talented watercolorist Eliza and William, a charming young man who has been hired to forge her popular paintings. Her aunt makes it clear Eliza should stay away from him because of a feud between their families over missing heirloom silver. But the source of the rivalry was long ago, and as the two get to know each other, they fall in love. William regrets the job that desperation led him to take and their families' ongoing bitterness, but setting things right comes at a cost.

In present-day Charleston, Lucy Legare has just inherited an old house from a mysterious benefactor, along with all the secrets it holds, including an old silver heirloom. Declan Pinckney is determined to buy the house for his family's development company. But as Lucy uncovers secrets about the house, garden, and silver, she becomes more determined than ever to preserve the historic Charleston property, not only for history's sake but also for her own.

The Sloane House

 

All is not what it seems at the glamorous Sloane House. Rosalind Perry is thrust into a world of servants who are nothing more than those who do their employer's bidding. Rosalind's beloved sister, Miranda, who was in the employ of the family is missing. Now it's Rosalind's mission to find her. Driven by her disappearance, Rosalind has the strength of character to stay when things become unbearable at the house, to keep searching, to keep asking questions that could end disastrously for her that makes the story suspenseful. 

With the help of Reid Armstrong who is Douglas Sloane's friend, Rosalind discovers the truth. Courageously confronting powerful, ruthless people, Rosalind stays true to herself and her convictions to find justice for Miranda. With a surprising and rewarding conclusion, I was glad to see Rosalind find answers for her family and find happiness for herself. I look forward to reading the other two books in the trilogy.

About the Book: 

One woman's search for the truth of her sister's disappearance leads her to deceit and danger in 1893 Chicago.

Rosalind Perry has left her family's rural farm in Wisconsin to work as a housemaid at Sloane House, one of the most elegant mansions in Gilded Age Chicago. However, Rosalind is not there just to earn a living and support her family-she's at Sloane House determined to discover the truth about her sister's mysterious disappearance.

Reid Armstrong is the handsome heir to a silver fortune. However, his family is on the periphery of Chicago's elite because their wealth comes from "new money" obtained from successful mining. Marriage to Veronica Sloane would secure his family's position in society-the lifelong dream of his ailing father.

When Reid begins to realize that Rosalind's life may be in danger, he stops thinking of marriage prospects and concentrates on helping Rosalind. Dark things are afoot in Chicago and, he fears, in Sloane House. If he's not vigilant, Rosalind could pay the price.

Set against the backdrop of Chicago's Gilded Age and the 1893 World's Fair, Secrets of Sloane House takes us on a whirlwind journey of romance and mystery.