Beauty, wit, and charm may catch a gentleman’s eye, but nothing attracts suitors quite like property . . . as beloved, award-winning author Kate Moore reveals in this delightful Regency romp. For an innkeeper’s daughter new to the dance, a discreet volume of courtship wisdom may help discern the intentions of a mysterious newcomer. Lucy Holbrook has recently inherited her father’s south London … inherited her father’s south London inn, the place she’s always called home. Now her fashionable friends, arming her with The Husband Hunter’s Guide to London, are urging her to sell the establishment and become a society lady, just as her father always hoped. Lucy would rather toss the little book into the hearth—she could never desert the alehouse or its patrons, including an elderly blind man who depends on her care. But she may need every bit of good advice when a handsome stranger arrives with a secret agenda and a baffling crime to solve . . . and Lucy finds herself navigating a most dangerous attraction!
Praise for Kate Moore’s previous novels:
“Moore writes with a lyrical beauty that will leave no heart untouched.” –RT Book Reviews
“Fans will hope for more of Moore’s sinful delights to come.” –Library Journal (starred review)
“Moore skillfully whets readers’ appetites . . .” –Booklist
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A Lady’s Guide to Passion and Property is book Two in the Husband Hunters series. This is the story of Lucy Holbrook and Captain Harry Clare. I haven’t yet read the previous book, so for me this was a standalone book.
Lucy father owned and operated a Inn that Lucy calls home but now he has pasted, leaving her the business. Although her friends have been talking her into selling up the business and moving to town. But Lucy doesn’t want to and besides inheriting the business she has ‘inherited’ a disabled, blind man that her father cared for.
Harry is out to solve a mystery and he is thinking they the blind man is the one that may have the answers he needs..and maybe more.
Besides the love story between Lucy & Harry there was a underlining mystery.
Enjoyed this book!
Lucy Holbrook has inherited the Tooth and Nail inn from her father as well as the responsibility of Adam, an old blind man that has been at the inn for as long as Lucy can remember. Adam was injured years ago and taken in by her father, Adam is mentally disabled and suffered an horrific event, one that her father took great pains to keep secret. Now that Lucy has inherited the inn, her friends from London think she should find a husband, they offer to bring her to town and sponsor her for a season. But Lucy is not sure she wants a husband and can’t leave Adam or the inn. They leave her a copy of the Husband Hunter’s Guide and encourage her to reconsider.
Captain Harry Clare has been staying at the inn since the Pantheon Club closed, he needs to finish his final case and reap his reward. Harry is sure that Adam is the man he has been tasked in finding – a blind man who witnessed a murder. Harry is sure that if he can unlock Adam’s secrets, he will find the person responsible for leaking information to England’s enemies and will finally finish his mission, get his promised reward, save his family home and get the Pantheon club re-opened. But first he has to get Lucy to trust him enough to leave Adam and go to London. Simple, right?
This is a complex story with lots of secrets, surprises and twists. I felt that it would more accurately be described as an historical intrigue novel rather than an historical romance – the romance in this book is VERY light and subtle – I have no idea how Harry and Lucy fell in love as their relationship really it wasn’t the primary focus of the book. But there is a really great mystery to solve and a lot of surprising revelations made. There are cameos from characters in the previous book that tie up some loose ends and the introduction of a new character that will make you want to read the next book!
Kate Moore did an awesome job with this plot! Really enjoyed the twists and turns.
Oh lord. Where to begin. All these aristocrats deciding to go into trade … a duke cheerfully taking his wife to Paris so she can go to millinery school. A tradesman’s daughter invited to be the fashion-advisor to a duchess (apparently she has no maids, dresser, or abigail of her own. How odd.)
Have I said enough?
Page turner w a little twist. Story framed around a guide w/ advice for young women looking for husband material in London. Whimsical but pleasant characters with plts woven in. Charmingly enjoyable.
I love Lucy! She’s smart, plucky, bold, and her Captain recognizes what a jewel she is, but he’s a second son with few resources. A satisfying read.
Enjoyed this book because it had compassion, mystery, romance, and surprise. Compassion is shown by taking care and truly caring for a blinded man. Part of the mystery was due to the blind man being a witness to a twenty year old murder. The story has spies as well. A little something for everyone.
Well-written, wonderful story. I’ve found another author to adore!
The characters were interesting as well as the storyline
Full of lovable characters with an interesting twist.
A well crafted historical mystery with a slow budding romance thrown in. Imagine being left with an inn to run and people to watch over, but everyone encouraging you to go husband hunting. Lucy Holbrook found herself just in that circumstance when her father passes away. She really did not want to sell the place and abandon those patrons including an elderly blind man she had always been around. But when handsome Captain Harry Clare arrives seeking to solve a crime and feels the answer is there at the Inn, what’s a girl to do? The two find themselves attracted to each other but it is a gentle building that was refreshing to see. With many twist and turns and when unexpected secrets come into play, this is a well writing story that will keep you entertained until the very end.
Lucy Holbrook has recently inherited her father’s south London inn, the place she’s always called home. Now her three fashionable friends, arming her with The Husband Hunter’s Guide to London, are urging her to sell the establishment and become a society lady, just as her father always hoped. Lucy would rather toss the little book into the hearth—she could never desert the alehouse or its patrons, including Adam an elderly blind man who depends on her care. But she may need every bit of good advice when Captain Harry Clare arrives with a secret agenda and a baffling crime to solve.
I enjoyed the book but it was a bit of a slow burner for me in that the pace was slow to begin with but gradually increased until I was galloping through the pages only to find the ending was fairly abrupt & left some unanswered questions. The characters were well developed, I liked Harry & Lucy, their attraction built throughout the book, they also liked each other. I look forward to more in the series
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read