Title: Harley Street
Author: Lynne Connolly
Published in 2004 by NovelBooks, Inc
Genre: Regency
ISBN: 1-59105-161-4 e-book
ISBN: 1-59105-186-X trade paperback
Related Books: (1) Yorkshire (2) Devonshire (3) Venice
Lady Strang is once again involved with murder, and her husband, Richard is again a suspect. The events surrounding the engagement and marriage of Rose Golightly and Richard Kerre was a small nightmare of attempted murder and kidnapping. Once again their lives were endangered on the honeymoon in Venice. The return home has been uneventful until now, this visit to Rose’s aunt on Harley Street has quickly changed that, again with a gruesome discovery of a maid’s death. Now, Rose is faced with the chore of discovering the murderer, and she and Richard, Lord Strang, have their work cut out for them. Julia and Stephen Drury are back in town, and this could either be part of the same problem, or another all together. The Ton is watching closely, and they will me basing a lot of their future decisions on couple’s treatment on how Rose and Richard react.
There are other players in the pond again, and Rose and Stephen discover that Rose’s long time nemesis Eustacia Terry and her mother has joined James’ family in their new London digs. The invitation, eagerly looked for by Eustacia as she wished for a phenomenal launch into London Society, was quickly snatched and used by Mrs. Terry for her daughter. It was an opportunity not to be missed. Being guests of James and Martha is a stepping-stone, for certain. The new status of Earl and Countess of Hareton is soon to be recognized by the king, and so James and Martha have come to London, and opened the London’ house in preparation for the event. Rose is also to be recognized as the new Viscountess Strang, and as Richard’s wife, will hold a place in society second only to that of Richard’s mother, the domineering and controlling Countess of Southwood. Rose knows that the best thing that she and Richard can do is to get out from under his mother’s influence. She is uncomfortable there and longs for a home of her own, away for the Countess of Southwood. She was the sole reason for Richard leaving home, and his twin Gervase exiling himself in India for all those years.
This time the players are all together in the opulent great houses of London, and yet the intrigue continues to surround Richard and Rose. There is a problem, and that is simply one of trust. Rose and Richard once again turn to the Thompsons. It has been a staple for Richard, a means of independence from his grasping mother. To Carrier, his valet-partner another source of wealth, and a hedge against a time when he might wish to retire from Richard’s service. The relation ship between the two men is more of a friendship, and partnership than master and servant. Indeed, the guise of Carrier as a servant plays handily into the many investigations that Richard and Carrier have carried out to the benefit of the country. This time, it is Richard’s ancient past that will be brought to light and test the love and the strength of his newly created bonds with Rose.
Once again, Lynne Connolly has held true to her course, and given us yet another adventure in romantic suspense. Once again, Ms Connolly has taken us along for the ride as Rose and Richard marry, and set out to begin their lives together. Harley Street, the fourth book, brings us in to the sights of the rich, and spoiled Julia Cartwright, and her scheming husband of convenience, Stephen Drury, the characters we have learned to love to hate. The story, the characters, and the excitement are kept fresh and enticing by the changes in scene and circumstance. From the discovery of the dead maid in her aunt’s Harley Street home, the pair is faced with danger, and the fact Julia and Stephen have returned to London and may still really want them dead, or at least Rose. They need to know if Julia and Stephen were involved in the death on Harley Street, and if so, what part they played. Now the trick is to find out the facts, find the spy in their household, and then stop the perpetrators before they can ruin more lives.
Look for Harley Street, coming soon from NovelBooks, Inc. Another good read, Join Rose, Richard, and the Thompsons Agency in another great tale, and an adventure that you won’t want to miss. Pick up a copy, and follow along as Rose recounts the latest of their adventures. And in case you missed them, look for Yorkshire, Devonshire, and Venice as well… because after all, they were only the beginning…
Yours in good reading,
Rose!
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