A London officer goes undercover to expose a plot against the Crown

Dover, England, 1808: Officer Alexander Moore goes undercover as a gambling gentleman to expose a high-stakes plot against the king—and he’s a master of disguise, for Johanna Langley believes him to be quite the rogue . . . until she can no longer fight against his unrelenting charm.

All Johanna wants is to keep the family inn afloat, but when the rent and the hearth payment are due at the same time, where will she find the extra funds? If she doesn’t come up with the money, there will be nowhere to go other than the workhouse—where she’ll be separated from her ailing mother and ten-year-old brother.

Alex desperately wants to help Johanna, especially when she confides in him, but his mission—finding and bringing to justice a traitor to the crown—must come first, or they could all end up dead.

Why This Book:

I have heard a lot of great things about Michelle Griep’s books, but I hadn’t yet had the chance to read one (despite putting her novel, The Captive Heart, on my list of Top Ten Must Read Historical Romance Novels for 2017). When I saw the opportunity to join her Celebrate Lit tour, I hopped over to Amazon to check out the first few lines in the book’s preview and decided this was an opportunity I didn’t want to miss.

Opening Line (from Chapter 1):

Dover, England, 1808

Numbers would be the death of Johanna Langley.

First Impressions:

The first line, even the first paragraph, intrigued me, but I have to admit the rest of the first scene, though well-written and filled with interesting characters, just didn’t engage me. Perhaps I was just tired or distracted, but for whatever reason, I didn’t really feel engaged until the second scene where the hero was introduced, and I wouldn’t say I was truly “hooked” until the first scene of the second chapter. I can’t honestly put my finger on why this was. It may be that I needed time to adjust to Griep’s writing style or to the slightly different genre/setting of the book from my typical reads (I tend to read more American history than English), or it could just be that I was having an off day. Whatever the case, even in looking back at the first few scenes, I can’t find any fault within the writing or storytelling, so this less than enthusiastic first impression is probably on me and not the author.

Characters:

Johanna Langley – To say Johanna is a hard worker, sacrificing all to keep her family from losing their home and livelihood – the Blue Hedge Inn – would be an understatement. The weight of this responsibility combined with the bitterness left behind by her deceased father’s betrayal of trust has shaped her into a woman who freely admits she has no desire for fun and mistrusts each man she meets. Yet, she strives to be a godly woman and readily recognizes the truth of her errors when revealed to her.

Alexander Moore aka Alexander Morton – A Bow Street runner (sort of like an early policeman) who has been assigned a mysterious undercover assignment – the details of which he is less than pleased about. He is essentially a good-hearted man trying to walk the line of serving justice and remaining as truthful as possible with those he cares about.

Lucious Nutbrown – Eccentric moocher who’s lack of social sophistication gets him into no end of trouble.

Mr. Ford – Magistrate and Alexander’s superior with an air of mystery to his personal life. He is also Alexander’s guardian, having taken Alexander in when he was orphaned as a young boy.

Thomas Langley – Mischief-making little brother to Johanna Langley with responsibilities typical of a child his age in that era.

Mrs. Eliza Langley – Widowed mother of Johanna and Thomas Langley, she’s had a difficult life, but she’s a tough, clever woman and a loving “mam.”

Mr. Quail – The leader of an itinerate band of musicians.

Mr. Spurge – The lien holder on the Blue Hedge Inn.

Tanny Needler – A man no one wants to work for.

Viscount Coburn – Alexander’s initial suspect and Father of Louisa.

Louisa Coburn – Rebellious daughter of the the viscount.

Emotional Engagement & Pacing of the Story:

It may have taken me a few scenes to become truly engaged in this story but not too long after that I had to force myself to very reluctantly put it down when life responsibilities demanded my attention. I lost no small amount of sleep to this delightful novel. Consider yourself warned.

This book made me chuckle several times and I even caught myself truly choking up a couple times, so I think it’s safe to say I was emotionally engaged with these characters.

Elements I especially liked/disliked:

I liked the way the author handled the unique dialects in the dialogue of the different characters. I could clearly hear distinct voices in my mind as I read. (No comments from the peanut gallery, thank you.) From their physical appearance to the way they spoke, to the actions they took,  each character was distinct enough from any other that at no time was I ever confused as to whom I was reading about. Furthermore, there were no throw-away characters, as each had an important and unique part in the story. With a somewhat large cast of players, this is an accomplishment to be applauded.

I loved the climax because it tricked me – in a good way. I cannot say exactly how without giving it away but suffice to say what I thought was the situation for about three or so scenes, wound up not being the case and when I realized the truth, I was delighted with the twist – and I’m not even referring to the “whodunit” portion of the mystery (but yes, I was happily somewhat fooled there as well – I only guessed part of it).

I also want to add that the descriptions in this novel were so rich and well done that not only did I feel I was there, but the descriptions themselves enhanced the story.

Themes:

When is it okay to lie?

Is gambling itself a sin?

Who is the source of our hope and strength?

Ending:

I loved the ending because just when I thought things were winding down, there was one more twist to be had. Yet in the end, all the strings that needed tying were done so with a satisfying finesse that had me grinning like a fool and even giggling a little with delight.

Overall Rating:

5 out of 5 stars

Available at:  Amazon | Barnes & Noble

(none of the links in this review are affiliate links)

About the Author

Michelle Griep has been writing since she first discovered blank wall space and Crayolas. She seeks to glorify God in all that she writes—except for that graffiti phase she went through as a teenager. She resides in the frozen tundra of Minnesota, where she teaches history and writing classes for a local high school co-op. An Anglophile at heart, she runs away to England every chance she gets, under the guise of research. Really, though, she’s eating excessive amounts of scones while rambling around a castle. Michelle is a member of ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) and MCWG (Minnesota Christian Writers Guild). Keep up with her adventures at her blog “Writer off the Leash” or visit www.michellegriep.com.

Let’s chat!

Have you read a book by Michelle Griep? What most intrigues you about this novel?

TWEETABLES:

I loved the ending because just when I thought things were winding down, there was one more twist to be had. #BookReview @KathleenDenly @MichelleGriep

You won’t want to miss out on this 5 star English Regency Intrigue Romance! #BookReview @KathleenDenly @MichelleGriep 

Psst! Feel free to borrow any of the book quote images above for sharing on social media and remember to tag me @KathleenDenly !

The image below means I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Click here for more details.

Guest Post from Michelle Griep

Celebrating Oak Apple Day

Spring is just around the corner, or maybe it’s in full bloom in your neck of the woods. Regardless, by this time of year, everyone is ready to celebrate. . .and nothing new is under the sun. For centuries people have been eager to welcome budding greenery and warmth.

In my recent release, The Innkeeper’s Daughter, I incorporated a spring holiday that’s been around for over 500 years in England, one you may never heard of.

Oak Apple Day.

This ancient celebration dates back to the year 1651. At the time, Charles II escaped the Roundhead army by taking cover in an oak tree. Everyone loved ol’ Charlie and was glad he lived, so in his honor, a new national holiday was born—one that in some parts of England is still celebrated today.

Another name for this annual event is Royal Oak Day and the festivities occur every May 29^th. Celebration traditions vary from parades to the ringing of bells, but one thing that is standard is that it’s a day to pin an oak leaf on your lapel. If you fail to wear one, you could end up getting pinched.

The hero in my latest release is kind enough to remind the heroine that she forgot to pin on her leaf, thus saving her from untoward pinches. Interested in hearing more about this gallant fellow and the forgetful miss? Here’s a blurb about The Innkeeper’s Daughter…

Tension is high with the threat of a Napoleonic attack in Regency England, but risk from abroad means nothing when there’s danger at home.

Officer Alexander Moore goes undercover as a gambling gentleman to expose a high-stakes plot against the crown—and he’s a master of disguise, for Johanna Langley believes him to be quite the rogue . . . until she can no longer fight against his unrelenting charm.

All Johanna wants is to keep the family inn afloat, but when the rent and the hearth payment are due at the same time, where will she find the extra funds? If she doesn’t come up with the money, there will be nowhere to go other than the workhouse—where she’ll be separated from her ailing mother and ten-year-old brother.

Alex desperately wants to help Johanna, especially when she confides in him, but his mission—finding and bringing to justice a traitor to the crown—must come first, or they could all end up dead.

It’s a race against time for them both.

Blog Stops

Just the Write Escape, March 15

Fiction Aficionado, March 15

All-of-a-kind Mom, March 15

The Morning Chapter, March 15

Reflections From My Bookshelves, March 16

Reading Is My SuperPower, March 16

Mommynificent, March 16

Blogging With Carol, March 16

Among the Reads, March 17

Connie’s History Classroom, March 17

Mary Hake, March 17

Blossoms and Blessings, March 17

Karen Sue Hadley, March 18

The Power of Words, March 18

Christian Chick’s Thoughts, March 18

D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, March 18

Kathleen Denly, March 19

Faithfully Bookish, March 19

Captive Dreams Window, March 19

Red Headed Book Lady, March 19

The Fizzy Pop Collection, March 20

Remembrancy, March 20

Inklings and notions, March 20

Book by Book, March 20

Moments Dipped in Ink, March 21

Black ‘n’ Gold Girl’s Book Spot, March 21

Singing Librarian Books, March 21

To Everything a Season, March 21

Bookworm Mama, March 22

Two Points of Interest, March 22

Vicky Sluiter, March 22

Carpe Diem, March 22

Pause for Tales, March 23

Have A Wonderful Day, March 23

A Baker’s Perspective, March 23

margaret kazmierczak, March 23 (Interview)

proud to be an autism mom, March 24

Bibliophile Reviews, March 24

A Greater Yes, March 24

Texas Book-aholic, March 25

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 25

Janices book reviews, March 25

A Reader’s Brain, March 26

Jeanette’s Thoughts, March 26

Simple Harvest Reads, March 26 (Mindy Houng Guest Post)

Kaylee’s Kind Of Writes, March 27

My Writer’s Life, March 27

Pursuing Stacie, March 27

Bigreadersite, March 27

Tell Tale Book Reviews, March 28

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, March 28

Pink Granny’s Journey, March 28

The PhD Mamma, March 28

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Michelle is giving away a grand prize of a signed copy of The Innkeeper’s Daughter and a $25 gift card from Barnes & Noble!!

Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! 

Let’s chat!

Have you read a book by Michelle Griep? What most intrigues you about this novel?