• About
  • Review Ratings
  • Author’s Information
  • Recommended Authors

Whiskey With My Book

~ And a cozy spot to enjoy them both.

Whiskey With My Book

Tag Archives: historical

The Dueling Duchess (Wicked Women of Whitechapel, #2) by Minerva Spencer – Review

26 Friday May 2023

Posted by WWMB in Book Review

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

4 stars, Book Review, circus, feminism, historical, historical romance, reversal of fortune, romance, series

Review of The Dueling Duchess

The title character, Cecile Tremblay, runs a circus that features women as the main entertainers including boxing (see The Boxing Baroness), knife throwing, and Cecile’s act – sharpshooting.   She has a mysterious past, but has found her home with her circus family in London. 

Gaius Darlington’s previous adventure with the circus endeared him to Cecile but when it was over, Guy made a terrible mistake, offending Cecile to the point where she wished never to see him again.  But Guy has had a gigantic reversal of fortune.  He needs a job and he really wants Cecile back in his life. 

It is clear Cecile and Guy have a thing for each other.  They also have an unfortunate history.  Their friends help/hinder where they can.  A young street girl and her dog join the family which really serves as the needed buffer between the two.  But, they have a lot to work through. 

Part of this story overlaps The Boxing Baroness.  Good news for anyone who has not read that story – you get the background.  I did read that book and while new viewpoints were presented, I always find rehashing a scene a bit tedious. 

Once the story catches up to a new timeline, it takes off and at that point, I found The Dueling Duchess to be bundles of fun!  Witty conversations and humor can be found on every page.  There is chemistry between Cecile and Guy whether they are arguing or kissing.  The original take on feminism in a male-dominated society will appeal to many readers.  The historical setting, post Napoleonic wars, is enhanced with gossip papers, the London ton, imposters, ex-patriots, a raven, and plenty of romance!

Through NetGalley, the publisher provided a copy of this book.  My review is my honest opinion.

*****************************

About The Dueling Duchess by Minerva Spencer

When Cecile Tremblay lost everyone and everything in the French Revolution, she never imagined that she’d earn her living as a markswoman in a London circus. But Farnham’s Fantastical Female Fayre has become her home, her family, and her future. Another thing Cecile never imagined was becoming entangled with the man gossip columns call The Darling of the Ton. But mere weeks after her rejection of his insulting carte blanche—and his infuriating engagement to an heiress—Darlington is back, this time to beg Cecile for help. And help him she will, by teaching him about honest work—and the right way to treat a woman.

Gaius Darlington has always led a charmed life. Until now. Suddenly, a long-lost heir has appeared to claim his title, possessions, and property, Not only that, but Guy’s fiancée has jilted him to marry the usurper! Yet there is a silver lining: it’s no longer Guy’s duty to marry an heiress to save the dukedom. He’s free to wed the woman he loves—if only he can earn her forgiveness.

They say hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. But fury is just a step away from passion, and Guy knows just how to arouse Cecile’s. . .

**********************

Links

Add The Dueling Duchess to your Goodreads shelf:

Purchase The Dueling Duchess:

Weekend Tales

12 Friday May 2023

Posted by WWMB in Art, On the Bookshelf

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Art, Beth Cato, currently reading, fantasy, historical, Jojo Moyes, society 6

Today I am sharing the books I am currently reading or listening to. I hope you will share what you are reading by posting in the comments at the end.

Kentucky Sunset by Emily Kenney

Clicking on the book covers below will take you to Amazon. Use of these links supports this blog and is very much appreciated. I also recommended checking with your library (if you want to save some $$$).

On my Kindle, I have A Thousand Recipes for Revenge by Beth Cato. If you are a Prime member, Amazon invites you to select a book each month from a list of books that will be released the following month. This one comes out on June 13th. The fantasy takes place in a world where food is magical and the magicians are chefs. Lots of political intrigue included.

About A Thousand Recipes for Revenge

A world on the brink of war and a mother and daughter on the run, in a thrilling novel of swashbuckling adventure, culinary magic, and just desserts.

Adamantine “Ada” Garland has an empathic connection to food and wine, a magical perception of aromas, flavors, and ingredients. Invaluable property of the royal court, Ada was in service to the Five Gods and to the Gods-ordained rulers of Verdania—until she had enough of injustice and bloodshed and deserted, seeking to chart her own destiny. When mysterious assassins ferret her out after sixteen years in hiding, Ada, now a rogue Chef, and her beloved Grand-mère run for their lives, only to find themselves on a path toward an unexpected ally.

A foreign princess in a strange court, Solenn unknowingly shares more with Ada than an epicurean gift. They share blood. With her newfound magical perception, she becomes aware of a plot to kill her fiancé, the prince. It’s part of a ploy by adversarial forces in the rival country of Albion to sow conflict, and Solenn is set up to take the blame.

As Ada’s and Solenn’s paths converge, a mother and her long-lost daughter reunite toward a common goal, and against a shadowy enemy from Ada’s past who is out for revenge. But what sacrifices must be made? What hope is there when powerful Gods pick sides in a war simmering to eruption?

Well just as I started a new audiobook, my library hold became available, so I switched to The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes. I checked this out for my library’s June book club read. Having previously read The Bookwoman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson, I was familiar with the setting and Kentucky’s Pack Horse Library Project which is central to my current book’s story.

About The Giver of Stars

Alice Wright marries handsome American Bennett Van Cleve hoping to escape her stifling life in England. But small-town Kentucky quickly proves equally claustrophobic, especially living alongside her overbearing father-in-law. So when a call goes out for a team of women to deliver books as part of Eleanor Roosevelt’s new traveling library, Alice signs on enthusiastically.

The leader, and soon Alice’s greatest ally, is Margery, a smart-talking, self-sufficient woman who’s never asked a man’s permission for anything. They will be joined by three other singular women who become known as the Packhorse Librarians of Kentucky.

What happens to them–and to the men they love–becomes an unforgettable drama of loyalty, justice, humanity and passion. These heroic women refuse to be cowed by men or by convention. And though they face all kinds of dangers in a landscape that is at times breathtakingly beautiful, at others brutal, they’re committed to their job: bringing books to people who have never had any, arming them with facts that will change their lives.

Tell me! What are you reading?

Weekend Tales

05 Friday May 2023

Posted by WWMB in Art, On the Bookshelf

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Art, currently reading, historical, Jodi Taylor, Kelley Armstrong, Nouveau Design, romance, scifi, society 6, time travel

Today I am sharing the books I am currently reading or listening to. I hope you will share what you are reading by posting in the comments at the end.

Art Nouveau, Original wood work, elevator door, NYC Building Art Print by Nouveau Design 

Clicking on the book covers below will take you to Amazon. Use of these links supports this blog and is very much appreciated. I also recommended checking with your library (if you want to save some $$$).

On my Kindle, I have Ballgowns & Butterflies by Kelley Armstrong. This one is a holiday novella in the author’s A Stitch in Time series that takes place between books 1 and 2. I really enjoyed the first two books, so I am going back to read the novellas.

About Ballgowns & Butterflies

The North Yorkshire moors are always a magical place, but they’re particularly enchanting at the holidays…especially if one gets to travel back in time to a Victorian Christmas. For Bronwyn Dale, it is the stuff of dreams. Fancy-dress balls, quirky small-town traditions, even that classic one-horse open sleigh, complete with jingle bells. There’s just the tiny problem of the Butterfly Effect. How does a time-traveler make a difference without disrupting the future forever?

I’m between audiobooks right now. I just finished Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley. I might wait and see which library hold comes first. Or maybe I will start About Time by Jodi Taylor (#4 in the Time Police series). That way, I will have two time travel stories going at the same time. Yes, I think a Jodi Taylor fix in in order….

About About Time

Patience is not a virtue known to the Time Police. And Commander Hay is facing the longest day of her life…

After their heroic efforts to safeguard the Acropolis and prevent the Paris Time-Stop, the Time Police have gone from zero to hero. Then one fateful mission to apprehend a minor criminal selling dodgy historical artefacts blows up in all their faces.

An officer is attacked within TPHQ. A prisoner is murdered. And investigations are about to lead to the one place where no officer can legally tread.

Worst of all, trouble is brewing for Luke, Jane and Matthew as a shocking revelation threatens to tear Team Weird apart for good.

Tell me! What are you reading?

← Older posts

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 451 other subscribers

Tags

4 stars 5 stars Adventure aliens Art book feature Book Review cats excerpt fantasy giveaway guest post historical humor magic mystery paranormal Pauline Baird Jones reading romance scifi scifi romance series space opera Steampunk

Recent Posts

  • The Dueling Duchess (Wicked Women of Whitechapel, #2) by Minerva Spencer – Review
  • The Poisoner’s Ring (A Rip Through Time, #2) by Kelley Armstrong – Review
  • The Bond (The Secret Tales, #1) by Sanna Brand – Review
  • MicroP (The Cyborg Chronicles, #5) by Pauline Baird Jones – Review
  • Weekend Tales

Archives

  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016

Currently Reading

NetGalley Challenge 2016

2016 NetGalley Challenge

Copyright Notice

© This site's content is protected by copyright.

FTC Disclaimer

Some of the books reviewed on Whiskey With My Book are provided by authors, publishers, or other third party promoters. Other than review copies, no compensation is accepted for reviews.

Affiliates

This blog uses affiliate links to direct you to sites where you can make purchases. Use of these links supports this blog and is much appreciated!

Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com.

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Follow Following
    • Whiskey With My Book
    • Join 337 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • Whiskey With My Book
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...