Portia & The Merchant of London on sale for $0.99 for one month

 My latest historical fiction/historical romance ebook is on sale from March 19 to April 17, 2021 on Amazon, Nook and ibooks. 

No bodices are ripped in my books; they aren't steamy. There is some "language" as my characters get into situations where "Zounds!" is not adequate.  

After her father's stroke, Portia Gillespie finds they have just enough money to live on, so where is her brother's

school tuition to come from? She and Mama have no idea until a moneylender comes to call. In spite of the prior debt, he is willing to lend this year's tuition. The only alternative to accepting the loan is to apprentice Benedict to one of the less expensive trades. Papa would be horrified.

Solomon de Toledo has fulfilled none of his family's expectations. He is neither a rabbi nor a physician, nor even a respectable importer or banker. Still, as a moneylender, he is able to aid Portia, whose character he admires as much as he respects her father's scholarship.

But when her father recovers and arranges Portia's betrothal, how will Solomon save her from her ruthless suitor?

Review: The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner

I requested an ARC for my unbiased review of The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner because I enjoy historical fiction, and particularly the eighteenth century. Ms. Penner’s novel weaves the story of a modern-day woman whose marriage is in crisis and that of two women in late eighteenth century London with crises of their own. The problem is different for each one but at the same time, they are interrelated. The cuts back and forth between the centuries and the three women are done with skill and the characters are three-dimensional. The mudlarking section made me want to be there searching the Thames foreshore to find cool old stuff. This is evidently her first novel. I’ll look forward to reading her future books. 

My only reservation about the book is because of one flaw which many readers will not even notice (though I’m hoping it was corrected before release). It’s a problem not limited to Ms. Penner’s otherwise excellent book. Even those who have written historical fiction for years sometimes make assumptions about past eras: for example, that letters must have been written on parchment or that bourbon was known in 18th century England. Unless a reader happens to be informed and fussy about historical details—as I am—such things will not interrupt the flow of a good story.

 

Review: Learning to Waltz by Kerryn Reid

 

I read a lot of historical romance novels, partly for enjoyment and partly for market research. My preference is for books with some depth, good writing, and no silliness (unless it’s intentional). 

Kerryn Reid’s Regency novel Learning to Waltz came my way recently via a free review copy, and what a delightful surprise it was.  Learning to Waltz exceeded my expectations.

I won’t describe the story; if you’re reading a book review, you’ve probably already seen either the blurb or a review giving a synopsis of the plot. I’ll just say that one of the things I particularly liked about Ms. Reid’s novel was that the characters were not cardboard and the situations they faced were the sort that real people might encounter. For me, that makes a more memorable story than the dukes/earls/Mayfair ballrooms kind of romance.

Oh, and I didn’t notice any cringe-worthy anachronisms. This is so rare in the historical romance genre that it deserves mention, and I’d give it an extra star just for that. As I can’t give it six stars, I’ve bought Ms. Reid’s other historical romance, Anna’s Refuge.