Book Review (XLVII) Virtue's Lady

                                            Virtue’s Lady

Blurb

Lady Jane Ramsey runs away from a life of privilege and a disastrous engagement to live among London’s poor, hoping to find freedom and love. No one thinks she can survive in this world, especially Southwark’s handsome carpenter, Mark Virtue. But there is more to this Lady than meets the eye. Jessica Cale is pleased to present the next installment of The Southwark Saga, Virtue’s Lady. From toiling for pennies to bare-knuckle boxing, a Lady is prepared for every eventuality.

 

Lady Jane Ramsey is young, beautiful, and ruined.

After being rescued from her kidnapping by a handsome highwayman, she returns home only to find her marriage prospects drastically reduced. Her father expects her to marry the repulsive Lord Lewes, but Jane has other plans. All she can think about is her highwayman, and she is determined to find him again.

My Review

Virtue’s Lady is a nice addition to Southwark saga series. Another incredible book by author Jessica Cale! She brought a shimmering and sensational story filled with enough chemistry and tension to satisfy a reader and make her escape in Restoration London.   

Virtue’s Lady is a story of second chances, an uplifting look about not settling for less than you deserve. I found it to be delightfully endearing.  Moved me and had me charmed. By the end of the book, I was definitely craving more of these characters. This plot has it all, adventure, love, revenge, twists in the action that leave you wondering what may happen next. All done in such a thoroughly interesting narrative. I loved it!

Interesting characters and engaging plot. Having read Tyburn, I was glad I could read the second book in the series Southwark saga, Virtue’s Lady. I met again Nick and Sally from Tyburn. They were my favorite characters. Now Jane and Mark take the leading roles.

Jane, Lady Jane, is determined to win the heart of the man she loves. Her sacrifice and will power won my admiration. She is my favorite character in Virtue’s Lady.

Mark, Lord Somerton's half brother, on the other hand, believe me, there were moments when I’d have jumped into the story to kick him for being a stubborn man. He rejects Jane but leaves himself led by conniving Meg.

I can’t tell you more without revealing the plot, and I never do it. If you love historical romance, adventure, and page-turning intrigue you must pick up this series! You won't be disappointed, I promise! Wonderful. Looking forward to her next work. 

My rating: 

Book Review (XLIII) Tyburn

                                             Tyburn
                               by

                      Jessica Cale
Blurb

Caught between a new love and an old need for revenge, notorious harlot Sally Green fights for survival in Restoration London. A sinister nobleman, a tutor with a secret, danger around every corner, and unbridled passion … Jessica Cale is pleased to present Tyburn, Book 1 of her new historical romance series, The Southwark Saga.

My Review

Tyburn is one of the best historical romances I have EVER read. I was not familiar with the works of Jessica Cale before this, but I am so happy to have discovered her.

There is so much to this book, I can't give it all away. I won't go into the plot....you can read the other reviews for that, but please believe me when I say that this author is incredibly talented and you will adore this book.

Jessica Cale’s main characters are multi-faceted. None of them is only black or white. They are complex, morally ambiguous and fully human. I think you will FEEL the characters and that's what makes her books special.

Main characters:

Celestine  Remi aka Sally aka the Green Devil is a woman who, according to Wrath, her pimp, “. . . has a cruel heart and a quiet tongue.”  What made her like that and who is she in fact?  A baker’s apprentice, a whore, a woman in love? “All she had wanted growing up was a quiet life, a home of her own, and a kitchen, of course."  What life offered her. . . it’s another story.

Nicodemus  aka Nick Virtue, tutor and highway man. An odd combination of occupations. What urges him to act like that? Reading this story full of twists and turns will reveal the reason.

Many secondary characters – Benedict/Bettie, Jane, Wrath, Mark and  others are as well developed as the main ones I listed above. They all are woven in an intricate fresco of Restoration England. The author has a gift with words, creating vivid images of a London infested by “rodents” of various kinds –two and four legged. She displays a keen observation of detail and unfiltered representation of London society after the Great Fire.

Just read Tyburn and you won't be disappointed. I can count on one hand, the number of times I was this heavily invested in the characters of a book. All I can say is WOW!

My rating: