Rosanne E. Lortz

William and Margaret grew up living next door to one another in Surrey but grow up and go their separate ways. William went off to fight Napoleon and Margaret became a London debutante, but an injury brings William home and the lifelong friends cross paths once again, and not under the most ideal circumstances.

This is the second novel in the Allen Abby Romance series and I can confidently say that this series gets better and better. I have listened to both the first and second novels on Audible, and love the narrator, Maria Johnson, so much. Her voice helps this Regency world come alive and practically busting in technicolor.

Margaret is a heroine that any progressive-minded person can get behind, with her quick wit and strong will, but she is gracious in nature, and not pushy. I adored the banter between Margaret and the other characters, their impassioned conversations some of my favorite scenes, especially her interactions with William and her sister.

I also loved William’s character, though I did feel like there was a slight gap in his arc. He went from struggling with his injury and the effects of war, often turning to the bottle, to a perfect gentleman who seems to have minimal struggles. I think the growth is believed to be off the page, but I would’ve liked to have seen more authenticity in his conflicts.

If you’re wanting a well-written clean Regency romance full of heart that provides a delicious escape then look no further. If you can, listen to the Audible version as it heightens the experience so much and makes the reading of the novel that much sweeter.… (más)

I am a sucker for a good Regency romance and the Allen Abbey Romance series begins with Then Gentleman in the Ash Tree. I loved how this story started. Anytime I read a Regency romance where someone is acting outside of societal norms and gets caught in the act is always so entertaining to me. Too many characters during the Regency era are such stuff shirts that moments like these are a refreshing reminder that these people were human. This is also what first endeared me to Eloise. Her character was easy to love, and from the moment she meets fun-loving Crispin I knew this was going to be an instant favorite.

Honestly, this is one of the most entertaining Regency romances that I’ve had the pleasure of reading. Not only did I read the novel, but I also listened to the audiobook, which added so much to the narrative, in my opinion. I adored the narrator’s voice as it was so incredibly soothing to listen to and the fact that it is paired with such an entertaining story heightened the experience, truly making the novel come alive.

This is an incredible start to what I’m sure is going to be an amazing series.… (más)

Lady Maud Worlington has returned after the death of her husband to the family home in London. But she is hounded there by a her step-son who seems to have a hold over her. She is surprised to find that her younger brother, the heir, is to shortly marry. But what secrets have been hidden and will all be discovered when Jacob Pevensey, a Bow Street Runner starts to investigate.
Although this is the third in the Jake Prevensy series it can easily be read as a standalone story as I did.
An enjoyable Regency romance mystery, well-written with the right mix of characters.
A NetGalley Book… (más)

I am so pleased that I keep discovering historical fiction authors who really know how to tell a story. Rosanne Lortz has taken the Crusades, which I have to admit I know little about, aside from Richard the Lionheart, and has written a well-researched and captivating account. I'm not much for battle scenes, but she succeeded in adding just enough to show the harsh reality of war and the mettle it took for these men to fight as they did. While many of the men in the story joined the Crusades for personal gain, for many it was a deeply religious experience. A quest to prove their fealty to their Lord and Church. The main character, Tancred, was one of the latter group.

Tancred is a very likable character. It may seem cliche, but I really enjoy characters that have a purpose, a mission to do good, and a character who has principles and honor. Tancred loses his taste for killing in the name of a liege lord, that is, the killing of Christians. He seems to have no qualms in killing Turks or 'Mussulmen' (I'm assuming the name of the time for Muslims?) because they are infidels who have denounced Christianity. Killing is killing, right? But we must remember the time period, when war was common and many wars were fought in the name of the Church. Despite what we might view as hypocrisy, Tancred is a noble man who refuses to swear allegiance to any state, but the Church.

In her author's note, Lortz informs that all the characters are true historical personages, with the exception of a few supporting characters. She has breathed life into history. Something that I continue to stress that is the importance of historical fiction. An engaging book such as this is one that will spark an interest in learning more about the Crusades, even in the most lay of persons. A planned trilogy, with subsequent books with Tancred as protagonist, the second and third books are Flower of the Desert and Prince of the East, set to release in 2012 and 2013. I, for one, cannot wait to read about the further adventures of Tancred.… (más)