A Victorian Romance
Lady Sophronia Bremerton is a far cry from the typical debutante, but she’s the toast of London’s upper class for one simple reason: she’s a society columnist for the London Illustrated News, and the gentry loves seeing their exploits printed in the gossip pages. But Sophie has bigger plans—she aspires to be an investigative reporter. When a stuffy ballroom during yet another … during yet another Season proves to be nothing more than the usual rumor mill, Sophie seeks respite in the library, alongside four other young women who, for their own reasons, are also looking for escape. As the conversation turns to their secret ambitions, the women form a sisterhood and a bold plan: they will make their dreams a reality, no matter the obstacles. Thus begins the Blue Orchid Society.
Hearing of a murder in a London rookery, Sophie seizes the opportunity to prove her skills. Detective Jonathan Graham doesn’t believe a civilian, a noblewoman at that, should be anywhere near a murder investigation, but Sophie insists on helping bring the killer to justice. Her investigative prowess doesn’t go unnoticed by the police, especially Jonathan, who can’t decide whether this intrepid reporter is a thorn in his side or the woman of his dreams. But as the case grows more complicated and dangerous, their very lives—and their hearts—may be at risk.
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Victorian romances are a new favorite of mine. I really enjoy looking at some of the changes that were beginning to happen in society, and with this new Blue Orchid series, Jennifer Moore gives readers a look at women who are breaking into fields previously closed to them. I really liked how Sophie was determined to become a reporter who covered real stories and that she believed in her abilities and put them to good use. I also liked seeing how she enlisted the support of her friends as well as how she and Jonathan worked together. I would have liked to see more of Jonathan’s background (and a little more romance, since it mainly happened at the end), but I did enjoy the mystery element and trying to piece together who the murderer was alongside the characters. I didn’t like Sophie’s family, and I couldn’t help but wonder, having read the prequel novella, how Sophie’s grandmother reared a son who cared more about society than his daughter; that aspect of the book was disappointing. All in all, a great start to a new series; I can’t wait to read more!
4.5 stars.
I read an ARC provided by the publisher via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
I’ve read all of Jennifer Moore’s books and Solving Sophronia is unlike any of her other books. Most historical fiction novels seem very modern in the telling and this seemed to have a vintage feel to the writing. The characters seemed to come alive on the pages especially Lady Sophronia and Jonathan Graham. The way that Sophronia discovered clues were very clever. I loved her character’s spunk and determination to fulfill her dreams. The story is also what you would expect from a Victorian mystery with unexpected twists, disguises, secret societies and danger. It was written by a modern day author, but it had similar elements that you would expect to see in a Sherlock Holmes mystery. It was a little hard to remember the members of the Blue Orchid Society and their interests. I wish that a reference guide had been put in the front with the members’ names and short descriptions that could easily be referenced. It will be interesting to read the other stories in this series. I liked that this story wasn’t just a historical romance and delved into women’s rights as well. This story had many different elements that came together beautifully. This is probably Moore’s best work yet.
Please not that I received a free copy, however, this is my honest opinion.
I love mysteries, romance, historical romances, stories with women that pushed the boundaries of the time, and I got all of that and more in the first book in Jennifer Moore’s new series. Lady Sophronia Bremerton isn’t your typical Victorian lady. She and four other young women formed The Blue Orchid Society–a sisterhood where they’ll follow their dreams despite the obstacles they may face. Sophronia (Sophie) works at a newspaper writing the society column, but her dream is to write serious pieces. Hearing of a murder in one of the rookeries in London, Sophie inserts herself in Detective Jonathan Graham’s investigation, and he’s none too pleased to have her there at first.
I loved everything about this story–the characters, the setting, the mystery, the way Sophronia and Jonathan get together, and of course her grandmother Mimi!! Jonathan was a wonderful character. He’d grown up in a rookery but been lucky enough to rise above it to become a respected officer of the law, and try to help others who are now where he has been. I also liked the secondary characters that worked with Sophie and Jonathan on the case(s). Grandmother Mimi was a wonderful example for Sophie and probably was a balm for her spirit from her critical mother. I’m excited about this series and look forward to the other books as they come out.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Jennifer Moore’s book, Solving Sophronia, book #1 in the Blue Orchid Society series, was such a joy to read! This lovely Victorian romance has mystery, suspense, fantastically complex characters, and a wonderful ending. I loved the banding together of women and their support of each other in reaching their dreams. I truly enjoyed the unexpected love story between such different people of vastly different social classes. It was clean, sweet, exciting, and beautiful. I loved this book and recommend it to everyone.
I really enjoyed this book! It was definitely different from the other books this author has written, but I think she did a great job with this genre. The characters were multifaceted and well written, and it was very interesting to read about how police work happened in the late 1800s.
The first book in The Blue Orchid Society series is fantastic. Sophronia is a member of the upper class, but shows care and kindness to all around her. I love that character trait. Jonathan has protected his heart because of the hard life he had growing up, while keeping kindness as well. He realizes that not all upper class are the same and that confuses him. But having the two work together makes for a great story. Excellent start to a series!
Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books for review from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including Netgalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
This was a great read, by a great author. It was a murder mystery romance, that took place during the Victorian era. Lady Sophronia was not your typical high society lady. She was Miss Propriety, the society columnist for the newspaper, but what she wanted to be was a real journalist. Sophie has a very strong determination and personality, but she also came to know she had a soft spot in her heart. Jonathan, is the detective, investigating a murder, when Sophie happened upon the crime scene. He was not happy to have a society lady intruding on his investigation. The characters were wonderful and the story was very engaging. The only reason I gave it four stars (probably should be 4 1/2) is because the first chapter. I had a hard time keeping track of all the characters, who will eventually finish out the rest of the series. Which are the members of the Blue Orchid Society. It could just be my old brain! I am very excited read about the next Blue Orchid Society member.
I love books that show that women can be feminine and strong. Strong women don’t all fit the same mold. By page 7 of Jennifer Moore’s latest release “Solving Sophronia” I was already fascinated with all the future members of The Blue Orchid Society.
This series wont be books all about reporters, or all about nurses, each subsequent book with take it’s own unique direction and I can’t wait to get to know each of these characters individually.
The tension between Sophie and Jonathan was very well written right from the beginning of the book. However I loved that it wasn’t the cliche cop versus reporter tension. Jonathan’s character definitely had the cop pride gruffness, but he also understood Sophie’s worth and quickly saw her as an asset not an inconvenience. Luckily that didn’t lesson the wonderful tension between the two, it made it more real and unique.
The book was full of delightfully written scenes, witty banter, fun character idiosyncrasies, and a gripping mystery. I could literally gush about how much I enjoyed this book.
I was interested through out the book how the author was going to reconcile Sophie and Jonathan’s class difference. I felt a little underwhelmed with the two paragraph resolution of that part of the story. I’d be interested to know a few more details about how they merge their lives, Maybe I’ll be lucky enough to get glimpses of that in the subsequent Blue Orchid Society books, which by the way I’m anxiously already anticipating.
Note: I was given an advanced reader copy of this book. The following is my honest opinion of the book.
I love Jennifer Moore books, because she can capture the attention of male and female readers with her time period novels. This particular book is a murder mystery, but you still get the thrills of romance. I was pretty captivated through the whole book. I love the characters (the detective is a particular favorite of mine), the story line, and the history. I can’t wait to read about the other ladies of the Blue Orchid Society.
I highly recommend this book to history lovers, mystery lovers, and romance lovers.
I liked the intro chapter and I look forward to learning more about each of the women in the Blue Orchid Society. They don’t fit in to the constraints of the current society but they are all unique and form a lasting friendship.
“I wish to be known for more than just to whom I was born”
I enjoyed the character development of Sophie and Jonathan. The mystery itself took a little to get into. There was a touch too many crime scene details for my taste. After a little bit the mystery picked up for me and I really looked forward to seeing how it would play out.
“One cannot control matters of the heart”
I liked that this was a different kind of Victorian novel and following along throughout the inter workings of an entire police investigation was interesting aside from the crime scene itself.
“A gentleman needs to be rescued by a lady every now and then.”
Historical fiction is my favorite genre to read and I liked reading about the different groups of people during this time period.
What a fantastic book and a fabulous start to a new and exciting series! I have been a fan of Jennifer Moore’s books for years and was looking forward to reading this new novel from her set in the late Victorian era especially since it sounded really interesting and fun. That being said, this book far surpassed my expectations; I was thoroughly impressed with the adventure, the characters, and the overall wit of this story! It felt so original and honestly like a breath of fresh air. Lady Sophronia might be the daughter of a peer, but she wants to be seen for so much more than her title. Determined to be a real reporter, she happens upon Detective Jonathan Graham at a crime scene and with a compromise is able to assist him with his case. Jonathan was a great character. Not your typical hero, but so kind and smart, he really endeared himself to me. I enjoyed the way the two interacted and grew throughout the story. A wonderful dynamic overall, with great side characters I can’t wait to read more!
This book has an incredible whodunit twist that kept me eagerly turning the pages. I definitely recommend this!
Loved this book! What a fun idea! I loved the characters and I loved how it was a murder mystery and romance! I loved Sophronia and how she was so different from women of her time wth wanting to be a journalist. I loved how Detective Graham was so annoyed with her at first but then came to realize what an asset she was. I loved how they fell in love and solved the case. This is going to be a very fun series and I can’t wait to read the other ones when they come out.
I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, and or authors. A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.
Sophronia has to be my perfect heroine. She is smart, intuitive, spunky, and not you “typical beauty.” She has a goal and she is determined to see it through. Jonathan is not ready for her, but he will be.
Sophronia goes against some of what her parents expect in order to reach her goals. She goes against societal expectations, but isn’t that how change happens?
The best thing about this book were the relationships between the women. The group of friends that support each other is full of amazing women with goals and spunk. They support each other and celebrate each other’s wins. The romance was there, but this was a story truly about Sophronia and her friends supporting each other. After all, where would any of us be without those relationships.
I was able to purchase an early copy of this book and completely recommend it.
As I came to the end of this story, I found myself thinking how much I hoped the author would give each of Sophie’s friends their own story. Then I quickly remembered that this is book one in a series, and that just made me really happy.
The relationship between Sophie and Jonathan was perfect. (Not to them, of course, but to me it was.) Watching them go from enemies to falling in love was enjoyable, and I liked the mystery part too. It took me right up until just before the reveal to figure out who the bad guy was, so the author did a really good job at keeping the reader guessing. I loved how involved Sophie was with the investigation and how determined she was to learn and help, even when the situation made her uncomfortable.
Moore beautifully and brilliantly introduces each character in the Blue Orchid Society and tells a whodunnit tale like no other! Her friends are a great set of “misfits” for their time period and I loved how the Blue Orchid Society was formed on the spot. Sophronia is an intelligent and heartfelt character that any woman can relate to in some form or fashion. I was impressed with how Moore accurately expresses the plight of a woman in the Victorian era in a way that the modern reader can easily understand. Sophie just wanted to be seen for who she was instead of being told what she can or cannot do. This is a fascinating read that I could not get enough of! I was on the edge of my seat trying to solve the string of murders along with Sophie and Detective Graham and whoever you think did it, think again! Moore serves up a slice of whoddunit pie with a side of romance with Solving Sophronia! It will keep you reading until the very end and leave you gratified! I received a copy of this book for free, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Jennifer Moore has done it again. This first book in the Blue Orchid Society series is not your typical Victorian romance…it’s even better!
Lady Sophronia wants to be more than just her title or her family’s place in society. She wants to be seen for who she truly is: an intelligent, capable, tenacious woman who’s greatest aspiration is to be an investigative journalist. With an eccentric grandmother cheering her on, a group of like-minded friends supporting her, and and a brusque but endearing police detective by her side, she just may succeed.
If you are looking for a sweet historical romance with compelling characters, an engaging plot, and a satisfying ending, look no further! I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am eagerly waiting for the next book in this series.
I received an advance copy of this book but this is my honest opinion.