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An entertaining new author of historical romance, despite some anachronistic language. It is somewhat similar in tone and style to Anne Perry's Charlotte Pitts series, and while I found the actual mystery somewhat dull I enjoyed the characters, setting, and writing. The heroine was annoying for the first half of the book when she seemed wooden and unfeeling. Later it became clear that the main point of the book was that her conventional and restricted upbringing had prevented her from any sort o
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Wheeeeeee! I loves me some Victorian mysteries!
Emily, Lady Ashton, finds herself in the enviable position of being widowed scarcely after she was marries an almost complete stranger. Fortunately for her, her now-deceased husband left her a huge fortune, and so now the world is an oyster for her.
As the months of "mourning" pass, Emily finds herself daydreaming about the time when she is no longer required to sequester herself away. What will she do with her freedom and her money? Her daydreaming ...more
Emily, Lady Ashton, finds herself in the enviable position of being widowed scarcely after she was marries an almost complete stranger. Fortunately for her, her now-deceased husband left her a huge fortune, and so now the world is an oyster for her.
As the months of "mourning" pass, Emily finds herself daydreaming about the time when she is no longer required to sequester herself away. What will she do with her freedom and her money? Her daydreaming ...more
BookList: Emily Bromley, a Victorian beauty, doesnt really want to marry, but her mothers persistent pressure forces her to accept wealthy Viscount Philip Ashtons proposal. When Philip dies on safari in Africa a few months after the wedding, Emily feels relief more than grief. Now the wealthy widow of a man she hardly knew, she is free to pursue her hearts real passion--reading! Yet once Emily begins to hear stories about Philips interest in Greek literature and his exquisite collection of antiq
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Sep 20, 2016
Sandy
added it
You know you're reading a good book when you find yourself thinking about the plot while you are doing other things and can't wait to get back to the book to to find out what happens next. That's exactly the way it was with me and "And Only to Deceive" by Tasha Alexander.
This is a historical mystery novel -- not really a romance novel, per se because the hero in the book is dead the entire time. The story is about Lady Emily -- a very proper but independent minded member of the ton, who was wid ...more
This is a historical mystery novel -- not really a romance novel, per se because the hero in the book is dead the entire time. The story is about Lady Emily -- a very proper but independent minded member of the ton, who was wid ...more
This book started out interesting, with a heroine who is a little outside the norm, but loses steam rapidly from there. It is clear to the reader from a very early point who is the "bad guy" in the mystery and who is the "good guy who just happens to do occasionally suspicious things and who could clear this all up immediately if he would just be straightforward instead of being uselessly mysterious." Our heroine, however, is taken in for 90% of the book by the bad guy, and develops a deep suspi
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A somewhat more literary Victorian suspense exploring Greco-Roman art and literature and the role of women in the world of late 19th century England.
I enjoyed the beginning of the novel, but found myself not connecting with the characters as much as I would have liked.
Tasha Alexander did create a well researched novel on the trade and misappropriation of Greek antiquities, with light romance wound through it.
May read another in the series to as I think the next one travels to Greece.
I enjoyed the beginning of the novel, but found myself not connecting with the characters as much as I would have liked.
Tasha Alexander did create a well researched novel on the trade and misappropriation of Greek antiquities, with light romance wound through it.
May read another in the series to as I think the next one travels to Greece.
I say, I quite enjoyed the prose of this good novel. *coughs* Now that I've gotten that out of my system. Awhile ago I bought the first books of a few historical mysteries. I had intended to start them last year, but it wasn't until this week that I picked up And Only to Deceive. It took me a minute to get used to the tone of the novel. Emily narrates the novel in a very crisp, formal tone. It reminded immediately of other 19th century novels I'd read. I really enjoyed that and I loved learning
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i'm not sure what has me so hooked on these period mysteries, but hooked i am. this and its sequel A Poisoned Season are real page-turners; i could hardly bring myself to put either of them down til i was finished. two thumbs up.
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First in Alexander's historical mystery series. She actually improves with each book, so keep reading.
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Aug 11, 2009
Sharon
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Jan 15, 2014
Felicia
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Tara
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Feb 20, 2016
Adrienne
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Jul 14, 2016
RachelAnne
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Jan 03, 2017
Nadine in NY Jones
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Jul 18, 2018
Janet Whalen
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Feb 13, 2020
Christine
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Mar 18, 2021
Sarah
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Apr 03, 2021
Kate
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