Review: The House at the End of Hope Street by Menna van Praag

Alba’s life is falling apart. Everything that she has been working for has literally come to a grinding halt, she has lost all hope.

While working on her MPhil at Cambridge, she suddenly gets rejected and can no longer continue pursuing her passion–history.

While wandering the streets of Cambridge one night, she suddenly finds herself in front of a house that she has never seen before.

Mysteriously drawn to the house, Alba is met by the land lady, Peggy, who invites her into the house for some tea.

As soon as Alba enters the house, she notices the hundreds of photos of famous women in British history–Beatrix Potter, George Eliot, Daphne du Maurier to name a few.

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Review: Savage Girl by Jean Zimmerman

Hugo Delegate sits in jail for a series of murders he may or may not of committed.

He is passionately in love with Bronwyn, the young wild girl who was raised by wolves.

Hugo is from a wealthy family, and after leaving Harvard he joins his family on a railroad trip to the western United States.

It is here that he meets Bronwyn and his family agrees to adopt her.

Upon returning to the East Coast, the Delegate family takes it upon themselves to educate her and present her to high society.

Surprisingly, Bronwyn takes well to her new life, but she does have her own set of motives.

Bronwyn is the toast of the town. She is wildly sought after by many eligible men both young and old, but they all too frequently turn up dead….murdered in a grizzly fashion and in some cases–castrated.

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Review: The Secret Woman by Victoria Holt

Anna Brett was born abroad in India but was sent to live in England with her spinster aunt, Charlotte, where she would be educated.

Anna’s parents promise that it will be a short stay only but when tragic circumstances occur, Anna finds herself stuck in England indefinitely.

Anna’s Aunt Charlotte is we well known antiques dealer in the busy port town of Langmouth.

There the wealthy Crediton family runs the town. They live in a ‘fake castle’ on the hill and the family is the talk of the town.

When Anna and her aunt visit the castle to purchase some antiques, Anna meets the dashing Captain Redvers “Red” Stretton. Though she is a child, she can’t help but feel a special connection to the Captain.

As the years pass, Anna grows up but has not forgotten the dashing Red. But she begins to hear gossip about him being a notorious philanderer. She tries to put him out of her mind, but then he suddenly calls on her unexpectedly.

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Review: The Venetian Bargain by Marina Fiorato

When young Feyra wakes up late for her morning doctor ’rounds’ in the Sheikh’s harem she doesn’t realize that her tardiness will have dire consequences.

As a female doctor to the Sheikh’s mother, Feyra is responsible for her health at all costs.

When she arrives in the Sheikh’s mother’s chambers she finds her delirious and raving.

As suddenly as she has taken ill, she is perfectly fine with little recollection of the terrifying delirium that over took her not moments before.

Feyra immediately suspects a poison and quickly deduces which poison.

Sadly there is no antidote for the poison and the Sheikh’s mother dies but not before revealing a tragic secret and a cryptic sinister plot. She tells Feyra that she must travel to Venice, her homeland and stop the bringer of death.

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Review: Mistress of Mellyn by Victoria Holt

On the storm coastline of Cornwall lies Mount Mellyn, a magnificent old family home. The Mount is home to the TreMellyn family, Connan and his daughter Alvean.

Connan is recently widowed and looking for a governess for Alvean, who seems to go through governess’ at an alarming rate. Martha Leigh has agreed to take the governess post at the house, and she is dreading it.

Having had her season she has not obtained what every Victorian woman dreams of–a husband. So after a couple of unsuccessful seasons her only option is to find a position.

When she arrives at Mount Mellyn the house is imposing, dark, and basically all around creepy! When she meets the lord of the manor, Connan, she is not impressed. He is arrogant and pays little attention to his daughter.

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