Absorbing Victorian romance!

The Reluctant Duchess by Sharon Cullen  

I knew this was going to be a five star read right from the opening pages. Mystery, murder and mayhem, my three favourite 'm's. Indeed I mostly smiled all the way through. Lady Sara Emerson has come to London to ask the help of her dead cousin’s fiancé, Gabriel Ferguson, Duke of Rossmoyne.  Her cousin Meredith had been fiendishly murdered two years ago and now someone was sending Sara scary letters that could be from the murderer.

Recently returned from a two year stint in India, Rossqmoyne agrees to help her on condition that she stay in his home with his mother as chaperone. Of course that also opens up its own set of  problems. 

Sara is totally different from Meredith--a fact Ross comes to appreciate the more he sees her.

With him she is refreshing and challenging. At social events she fades into the background. Puzzling behaviour indeed!

The pace is fast, one scenario tumbles after another gathering momentum. Sara's confrontation with Ross and her brave insistence on his help, the scenes with the child Thomas and their conversation, their visit to the rookeries, their midnight talks in the library. All set the atmosphere for what is an exciting and enjoyable read.

A NetGalley ARC

*****