"I could see that it would be easy to arrange for
my disappearance now, or later. . . I did not know who was trustworthy and who was
not any longer." (172)
Title: A Lady in DisguiseSeries: Daughters of Hampshire, Book 3
Author: Sandra Byrd
Publisher: Howard Books
Publisher: Howard Books
Release Date: March 21, 2017
Genre: Historical Fiction
Genre: Historical Fiction
In this intriguing novel of romance, mystery, and clever disguise set in Victorian England, a young woman investigates the murder of her own father.
After the mysterious death of her father, Miss Gillian Young takes a new job as the principal costume designer at the renowned Drury Lane Theatre Royal. But while she remembers her father as a kind, well-respected man of the Police Force, clues she uncovers indicate he’d been living a double life: a haunting photograph of a young woman; train stubs for secret trips just before his death; and a receipt for a large sum of money. Are these items evidence of her father’s guilty secrets? His longtime police partner thinks so.
Then Gillian meets the dashing Viscount Thomas Lockwood. Their attraction is instant and inescapable. As their romantic involvement grows, Gillian begins to suspect even Lockwood’s motives. Does Lord Lockwood truly love her? Or is his interest a front for the desire to own her newly inherited property? And what should she make of her friend’s suggestion that Lockwood or men like him were involved in the murder of her father?
Soon Gillian is convinced that her father has left evidence somewhere that can prove his innocence and reveal the guilty party. But someone wants to stop her from discovering it. The closer she comes to uncovering it, the more menacing her opposition grows. With her life on the line, Gillian takes on an ingenious disguise and takes on the role of a lifetime to reveal the true killer—before it’s too late both for her and for those that she loves.
After the mysterious death of her father, Miss Gillian Young takes a new job as the principal costume designer at the renowned Drury Lane Theatre Royal. But while she remembers her father as a kind, well-respected man of the Police Force, clues she uncovers indicate he’d been living a double life: a haunting photograph of a young woman; train stubs for secret trips just before his death; and a receipt for a large sum of money. Are these items evidence of her father’s guilty secrets? His longtime police partner thinks so.
Then Gillian meets the dashing Viscount Thomas Lockwood. Their attraction is instant and inescapable. As their romantic involvement grows, Gillian begins to suspect even Lockwood’s motives. Does Lord Lockwood truly love her? Or is his interest a front for the desire to own her newly inherited property? And what should she make of her friend’s suggestion that Lockwood or men like him were involved in the murder of her father?
Soon Gillian is convinced that her father has left evidence somewhere that can prove his innocence and reveal the guilty party. But someone wants to stop her from discovering it. The closer she comes to uncovering it, the more menacing her opposition grows. With her life on the line, Gillian takes on an ingenious disguise and takes on the role of a lifetime to reveal the true killer—before it’s too late both for her and for those that she loves.
Are you intrigued by the quote? Well, if that doesn't get you, the rest of the story surely will. From the very first impression of the cover, A Lady in Disguise by Sandra Byrd takes you into a world of suspense. That cover mystifies and have you question. As you turn to the first page, we are at a funeral. Grim indeed, but the story continues on, adding twist with twists. Though you may see it early on as I have, the process and how it got there makes it a compelling read. Add in the Gothic romance, this story will grip you from the start to finish.
Suspense aside, I'm also fascinated by the historical references to the upper middle class, scenes relating to theater production and the heart wrenching aspect of child trafficking. One can surely admire the amount of research the author had done for A Lady in Disguise, and to be able to seamlessly create a full story out of all these details, historical fans will relish indeed. The romance was quite yummy in the kind that sizzles beyond the pages. Their interactions will spark and eradicate doubters of romance. To top it off, the allusions to Cinderella (my childhood favorite) and Little Women will delight fellow bookish fans for sure. Not to miss!
BOOKS IN DAUGHTERS OF HAMPSHIRE SERIES
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
After earning her first rejection at the age of thirteen, bestselling author Sandra Byrd has now published more than forty books.
Sandra's new series, Daughters of Hampshire, historically sound Gothic romances, launched in 2015 with best-selling Book One: Mist of Midnight. That book earned a coveted Editor's Choice from the Historical Novel Society. The second book in the series, Bride of a Distant Isle, released in March 2016 and has been selected by Romantic Times as a Top Pick. Her latest nonfiction title, The One Year Home and Garden Devotions, published on October 1, 2015.
Check out her contemporary adult fiction debut, Let Them Eat Cake, which was a Christy Award finalist, as was her first historical novel, To Die For: A Novel of Anne Boleyn. To Die For was also named by Library Journal as a Best Books Pick for 2011 and The Secret Keeper: A Novel of Kateryn Parr, was named a Library Journal Best Books Pick for 2012.
Sandra has published dozens of books for tweens and teens, including the best-selling, The One Year Be-Tween You and God, Devotions For Girls.
She is passionate about helping new writers develop their talent and their work toward traditional or self-publication. As such, she has mentored and coached hundreds of new writers and continues to coach dozens to success each year via novelcoaching.com
Please visit www.sandrabyrd.com to learn more or to invite Sandra to your book club via Skype.
Loves stopping by here because you almost always feature a book I haven't heard of and that sounds intriguing. Adding this to the list!
ReplyDeleteJen @ YA Romantics
Thanks Jen!! That made my day! And likewise. ;)
DeleteExcellent review! I LOVE Sandra's stories!
ReplyDeleteThanks Caryl!
Deletehow did i forget that Cinderella was your childhood favorite?!? MINE TOO! (which really doesn't surprise me at all)
ReplyDeleteLOL. Of course I'm not surprised! How many "Cinderella" items do you have??!
Delete