Victorian romance with a difference!

-

The Siren of Sussex (Belles of London #1) by Mimi Matthews          

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


Evelyn Maltravers must find a wealthy husband. Her sisters are depending on her. How to take what she is—unremarked and unprepossessing, and to turn those strengths she has to advantage?
Remembering her dead mother’s words, “one must approach a problem from a position of strength”, Evelyn decides to challenge the lure of The Pretty Horsebreakers, courtesans who ride in Rotten Row every day, their well made riding costumes setting their charms off to advantage. A talented equestrian, owner of a magnificent Spanish-bred Andalusian horse, Hephaestus—Evelyn has decided this would be the factor to set her apart from other debutantes entering the season’s lists. A well made marriage to someone who’ll provide for her family is her goal, and she works diligently, if not in the usual way, towards that end.
Evelyn recognises the superb tailoring and magic of the Horsebreaker’s outfits. She discovers where these are made and meets the designer, Ahmad Malik, a gifted Indian habit-maker looking to break into the high fashion stakes. Ahmad has recently entered into an agreement with Mr. Doyle, owner of the ton’s favored establishment Messrs. Doyle and Heppenstall, to buy out Doyle’s lease. However he must first prove himself to Doyle. (Fascinating fact that male tailors crafted female riding outfits in these times!) Evelyn approaches the establishment to make her riding costumes and meets Ahmad. That approach is a charged moment for both of them. Their story is one of endeavour and hope as each struggles to follow their dream, to find their unique destiny.
The vagaries of fashion, the many conflicting messages of polite society, the prejudices on display about menial workers, about British Indian heritage persons, the place of women in society—all are grist for the mill in this unusual and compelling tale.

A Berkley penguinrandomhouse ARC via NetGalley 

Please note: Quotes taken from an advanced reading copy maybe subject to change

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Things aren’t as they seem!

-
Image
A Murderous Tryst  (Beatrice Hyde-Care Mystery #11) by Lynn Messina    ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Oh my! Bea certainly has a lot to contend with. Bea’s rattled! The Duke has been missing from their bed for a night. When a distraught Bea come downstairs the next morning she finds her beloved husband Damien clasped in the arms of a glamorous female. A female who turns out to be Kesgrave’s first mistress, Mrs. Penelope Taylor! What?! Of course Bea’s heart sinks and she falls back on her painful memories of Aunt Vera’s responses to such a situation. Bea is both shaken and traumatised, but determined not to show it.  It seems Penny has been accused of murder. Actually  Penny’s desperately trying to avoid Newgate.    As a former mistress Penny does the unthinkable thing in society’s eyes. She asks for help from Bea. Bea’s response is just as shocking. She says yes. Kesgrave is as usual inscrutable. Of course this is the beginning of a harebrained chase, complications between...
Read more

Women in war—Internment by the Japanese 1942-45.

-
Image
Sisters Under the Rising Sun  by Heather Morris    ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A fitting tribute to the women interred by the Japanese in Indonesia and Malaya during 1942 until liberation in 1945. Amongst the internees are a group of Australian Army nurses who were not given recognition by the Japanese as members of the armed forces and therefore not prisoners of war according to the Conventions of war.  Sister Vivian Bullwinkle is the only survivor of the massacre of a group of soldiers and nurses on Radji Beach, Bangka Island near Sumatra  in 1942, after the sinking of  HMS Vyner Brooke. There are a number of civilian prisoners in the camps like Norah Chambers and her sister Ena.  Combined, the story of these women interred under terrible conditions, their struggles and achievements are monumental.  Their gifts to their fellows beyond speech. Music plays an important part in uplifting the prisoners’ spirits. It’s truly a privilege to read about their plight, the...
Read more

A wonderful cat and mouse game!

-
Image
Lady Eleanor's Seventh Suitor (The Sutherlands #1)   by Anna Bradley If ever a woman was caught in the cross hairs of a deadly game, even as the reason for its very being is a deep mystery,  that is  Eleanor Sutherland. If ever a man stalked his prey so efficiently then that hunter is  Camden West. From the very beginning I was caught up in the manoeuvre that Cam had instigated against  Eleanor using her sister Charlotte. The lengths he is prepared to go to punish her are puzzling. What he punishing her for is even more so. Is it just because she appears cold and unfeeling? Lady Frost is the name Eleanor has been given. Bets are placed on her at White's. She has her own page! As the story develops we and Cam discover that he has badly underestimated and misjudged Ellie. As she turns the tables on him things look hopeful but always Ellie is taken by surprise by yet another layer that is added to the equation. It isn't until the end that we start to s...
Read more