Lady Elizabeth Davenport is desperate. Her hand in marriage has been offered to the highest bidder, a distressing proposition in and of itself but made all the more repulsive when she meets her father’s first choice for her hand: Lord Pinweather. When her parents refuse to hear her pleas, Liz is forced to take drastic measures—she will impersonate her maid and begin anew in America on her own … terms.
Once on board the ship to America, another passenger, Lord Barton, almost immediately discovers her true status as a noble. After listening to Liz’s highly modified version of her life and her plans to begin again, Barton has compassion on her and teaches her how to abandon her noble mannerisms. Upon disembarking, however, Barton’s generous spirit quickly dampens when he discovers Liz has indeed found work—as his own head housekeeper. Suddenly, the tender feelings they hid from each other on the ship are inescapable, but their difference in station makes romance impossible. As misunderstandings abound and a shocking character from Liz’s past looms, she knows she can’t hide her true identity forever. But as her deception begins to unravel, will her charade cost her the man she loves?
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What a delightful read! It is a clean historical romance, but so much more. I enjoyed that it was not the typical regency romance. I loved that it took place in England and America. Liz was in dire straits! What could she do but run. And who wouldn’t fall for the man that recused her. This book contains betrayal from her father, adventures on the high seas, learning the life of the under privileged, and of course love. The characters were woven together superbly! The drama, suspense, intrigue, plus the fun, witty, lightheartedness, made for a perfect story!! I definitely would recommend this book, it had a little bit of everything, that a good regency romance should have!
Honestly, for me, this was a 3.5 Star read but I am rounding it up to 4 stars. It was a nice escape from the current happenings in the world.
I liked the adventure of Lady Elizabeth aka Heidi when she is first onboard the ship and the friendship she develops with Lord Barton. By chapter 12 I thought he was a jerk but I liked him in the end.
One of my issues was with Liz’s age of seventeen almost eighteen. I couldn’t believe that she would be accepted by other staff as a housekeeper. A particular pet peeve of mine regarding historical books is the time it takes to travel and to send or receive mail. Parts of this story seemed a bit unrealistic in that area.
There are some funny moments along with the dramatic ones. I really liked some of the supporting characters too. I hated a couple of the supporting characters, Ms. Johnson writes a good villain.
*This review is based on an ARC I received from the publisher. A review was not required.
The opinion expressed is entirely my own.
I loved how this book started with a budding romance and danger with twists and turns, especially the “boat ride”. That sucked me right in. I really liked how Liz grew and the hope and promise the two could have together.
Readers be prepared to become totally engrossed in this fantastic novel; you’ll have a hard time putting it down it’s so good.
His Lady in Hiding tells the story of Lady Elizabeth (Liz) whose father, while supposedly an exalted Marquess in British society, is pretty much the scum of the earth. Being forced into a marriage she knows will bring nothing but misery, the spirited Liz pretends to be a servant and boards a ship bound for America. The adventure is quick to begin as she and Lord Barton have a most irregular introduction. The chemistry is fantastic and I enjoyed the way the deception played into the inner turmoil both characters faced as they struggled with their feelings towards one another. The setting or should I say settings of the story were also super fun with a sort of crossover between British and American society during the time. I also found many positive messages sprinkled throughout the story.
Regency fans make sure you check this book out, it’s definitely one you’ll want to read!
A new to me author who certainly took me on a journey. Characters are well developed and draw you in to their plight. Liz takes her future back into her own hands and travels as a housekeeper to America. She meets Lord Anthony and the adventure begins. There is a friendship that develops into more and I like that they had to work through real issues before finding their happily ever after. The descriptions of the time period, locations and aristocracy were rich and vivid, and I enjoyed learning some historical facts along the way. I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own and freely given.
Loved this story! Loved the characters including the deplorable and gross Lord Pinweather. I am soooo glad Lady Liz and Lord Barton reached their HEA albeit with much heartache, twists, and turns which kept me up past four am listening to the Audible version. This book also deals with the sensitive topic of slavery in a very diplomatic way. And of course during this time period women were much used like cattle, however, Lady Liz and Lord Barton handled their situation with aplomb. What was new to me was the subject of females being able to inherit without having to give all their money to their husbands upon marriage. To this I said “Yaayyyy, hallelujah, amen”! Get this book. Highly recommended.
Wow. This book is wonderful. It hit all the top markers if what makes a great story for me. I laughed, I cried, I was entertained, and it also made me think.
Johnson is an excellent author who really knows how to tell a good story.
The narrator was also very nice to listen to. She portrayed a number of voices and accents distinctly and well. I don’t know if someone who is actually from England would agree with that assessment, but as an American not overly familiar with British accents, I enjoyed it very much.
Another great book by Jen. Once I started reading I couldn’t put it down. I stayed up way too late so I could finish it. It made me truly grateful for all the changes that have come about for women and their rights. I can’t imagine being stuck with a creep like Lord Pinweather. This book was interesting and fun to read my only complaint is I thought Lord Barton was a bit wushu-washy. Sometimes he is down to earth and then he is a total snob. I wish he would have stood up for Liz a bit more. All in all a good read though.
I’ve been looking forward to reading this book because I’ve been hearing good things about it. I’m glad a finally got to sit down and read it for myself.
I love the way this book progressed and the many places it took me. I went from England, on a boat to America and back again. There were a lot of characters in this book but I never felt overwhelmed or confused. The author did a great job of introducing characters in a way that felt easy and natural. I had a clear vision of everyone and that always feels good as a reader. I liked Elizabeth so much. And Barton. But mostly Elizabeth. She is someone I would like to be friends with. Her kindness drew people to her and in the end it was that kindness that saved her because those people rallied around her. I loved that.
This was a good diversion for me this week and I enjoyed the journey of Lady Elizabeth very much.
Content: mild peril, kissing
– I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
His Lady in Hiding
By
Jen Geigle Johnson
I have to start out by saying this is the first book by Jen Geigle Johnson I’ve read and it defiantly will not be the last. This book was a great page turner with several twist and turns. The story just pulls you in to the point you are wondering “What’s Next”. “His Lady in Hiding” is a great regency period piece. The main characters are very likable. The only negative part was I didn’t want the story to end.
I will recommend this book to other’s
Rating is 5 out of 5
This complimentary e-book copy was given to me from the author and netgalley for a honest review. All thoughts are mine and mine alone.
What a unique premise, with a fast-paced plot! Admittedly, it took me a little while to really get into the story, and at times I felt the implausibility of some of the situations. While I admired the heroine for taking action to control her future, I couldn’t help thinking that she was silly, but instead of being endearing, she was simply annoying. I realize that it was probably more realistic than the usual strong-minded heroines we often read about in this genre. An extremely sheltered, privileged young lady would be arrogant enough to think she could quite easily take on the life of a servant. In her mind, since she never really paid any attention to the labors of her own servants, how hard could it be? I came to appreciate the determined evolution of the heroine through her many trials, though. And, oh, was there ever a vile villain. The descriptions of him made my skin crawl. Narcissistic tendencies in a time and place where women already had no control over their own destinies made for some very dramatic scenes. I was aggravated with the hero but could understand the realistic conflicts he faced. There were some unexpected plot twists, as well. This wasn’t a magical happily-ever-after. This one was earned.
This is a well written book that holds your attention. It has just enough twists and turns to keep you turning the pages to see what happens next. If you like good clean historical romance, you will love this book! Thank you Covenant Communications via NetGalley for the complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
This captivating historical romance set in 1817 begins in London, continues aboard a ship in the Atlantic, then on to the final destination—Philadelphia. This easy-to-read, hard-to-put-down story centers on the lives of Lord Anthony Barton and Lady Elizabeth “Liz” Davenport, aka Heidi Worthing, whose lives intersect in a dramatic way as each is journeying to America to start a new life.
This well-crafted narrative flows at a fitting pace and includes humor, witty banter, deception, adventure, danger, social issues, and romance. It’s twists and turns and emotional ups and downs keep the reader’s interest from start to finish. The characters are well-developed and likeable. True historical elements are skillfully infused into the fictional narrative.
Ms. Johnson is a new author to me, and I find her writing clear and concise with vivid descriptions that allow the reader to picture the story in his/her mind. I will definitely seek out other of her works. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.
I received a copy of this book in e-book from the publisher via netgalley but am under no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.
His Lady In Hiding has so many good things that readers will love. You have a mystery of sorts, a wonderful adventure, a romance that is all wrapped up in one novel.
Lady Elizabeth {“Liz”} Davenport finds herself being forced into a marriage with a very untasteful fellow, Lord Pinweather. In order to avoid the marriage, Liz disguises herself and boards a ship to America to be a housekeeper. Of course, this is when the real fun begins. While on the ship she meets Lord Anthony Barton, who saves Liz, (I’m not telling you what happens) now taking the name of Heidi. They become fast friends and maybe something more. It’s really funny how Liz ends up taking the job of being Anthony’s housekeeper. One thing I loved more than anything else, is that Liz has a hard time not showing her background as a Lady after being raised as part of the ton. Most people notice something different about her, but it doesn’t stop Liz from showing courage and doing her job well. Anthony is torn about this new situation and about his feelings for the servant, “Heidi”.
There are many funny moments created from Liz’s situation and many scary ones too, as she is still being sought out by Lord Pinweather. He takes the cake for the most annoying character in the novel! 🙂 He was a dangerous and bothersome pest that wouldn’t leave Liz alone. So…he was well written like many of the characters. I also loved how the author included a real-life character, Richard Allen and his wife Sarah. Richard Allen was a minister, educator, writer, and one of America’s most active and influential black leaders. His home and church worked as part of The Underground Railroad. He has a very important part in the story. The house staff at Anthony’s American house also had many lovable characters too.
This Historical Romance is one that will not only entertain you but will educate you too. I enjoyed the comparison between the aristocracy in England compared to America. There was only one part of the story near the end which I wish had been different, but I can see why the author had the story go the way it did. Never the less, readers will be happy about the outcome and the journey the characters traveled to get there.
Jen Geigle Johnson writes historical fiction that goes beyond the individual stories of the main characters, but also looks at the lives of those around them. This adds depth to the story and gives the reader a glimpse into what life at that time was like for those other than the upper classes. Lady Elizabeth runs away from home in order to avoid a forced marriage. But her efforts to hide as a servant don’t turn out the way she planned and eventually she must face her past in order to have any hope of things working out with her employer and the man she loves, Lord Barton. When Lord Barton meets Liz on the ship to America, he immediately recognizes that she isn’t a servant, but after hearing the version of events that she chooses to tell him, he helps her. Although employing her in his house wasn’t in his mind at the time, especially after he develops feelings for her.
Once the two realize their feelings for each other, they try to find a way to be together. But life and Liz’s past intervenes and the two are faced with a future far different than they desire. But in the face of great difficulty their feelings don’t seem to matter. Or do they? Is there a way to face their challenges and still be together? The details of life in this time period are beautifully brought to life by the author. The portrayal of English aristocracy making a life in Philadelpha is certainly an interesting one. Once again, Johnson has brought to life not only her characters but the time period. The interactions Lord Barton and Lady Elizabeth have with each other as well as those around them make for a thought-provoking, as well as entertaining story. A thoughtful, enjoyable romance with some nice historical context.
**4.5 stars**
I escaped into a good book and loved it! There is so much stress happening in the world around us. Finding a good book that I could read without being distracted by the news or the fact that I had the privilege of staying home was a huge blessing. It was also nice to be reminded that somewhere out there (including fictional characters) someone is going through something hard. #flattenthecurve
Elizabeth Davenport is a remarkable character. The courage in adversity she shows is remarkable. I don’t think I could have left a privileged home at 17 to escape marriage to a vile man. (Well, when I write it that way, maybe!) She voyages across the ocean to America to make her way as a housekeeper. She is young and untried but she is determined to make a life for herself on her own terms.
Fortune smiles upon her when she is sleeping in a jolly boat and that comes loose from its riggings and she finds herself alone at sea in a raging storm. Yes, fortune! That is when Lord Barton comes to her rescue and saves her. This is where the fun begins! I loved the friendship and respect that forms between them. There is attraction, but Lord Barton knows that it cannot last because of their “differences” in station.
This is a regency romance told on two continents. I fell in love with the story and the characters. The book holds romance and the desperate desire of a woman seeking escape from the future that her father planned for her. There is also the menace that Lord Pinweather holds, he is not willing to give up the prize that he has plotted and planned for.
Source: I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
This book opens with the greatest hook, it will pull you in right away and make you giggle at her descriptions of Lord Pinweather and Liz’s reaction to him.
Liz is such a fun character to read. She’s the kind of character that makes you cringe just a little at her naievety when you first meet her. You start to shake your head at her fumblings, until you find yourself cheering on her successes. Liz’s character growth is what makes this book hard to put down.
The book has a fun pace, every time I felt like it slow just a little, Jen would add a new twist. She does a great job of juxtaposing characters and settings so you get a greater understanding of the characters as a whole. Miss Vincent, Miss Burchill and Lady Sariah were all really good examples of that.
I felt like Lady Sariah was a bit of an unnecessary obstacle at first, but I love the insight she gave to Barton’s background and the attitude of the ton on different levels.
Having the story take place in both London and America gave that same view, pulling out both Barton and Liz’s need for freedom in a subtle way.
The need to not hide, but to be free seemed to resonate with my soul this week. I’d read this book as a beta, but that message stuck out to me this time, where it hadn’t before. A mark of a good book is being able to connect to it again and again.
This was a clean historical fiction set in the early 1800s when slavery and injustice towards women were very common.
This story was easy to read with an interesting plot and characters. I really liked Lady Elizabeth and her spunk, determination and bravery. There were some twists and turns which kept my interest in the story from beginning to end, along with some clean romance. I have read other books by this author and have also enjoyed them. I highly recommend this book if you like reading historical fiction books in this time era. I really enjoyed it!
I received a copy of this book complimentary for blog and social media review. All opinions are my own
London – 1817
Young Elizabeth is trying to explain to her father how unsuitable and disgusting his choice of a suitor for her is. Lord Pinweather is the man and he makes her stomach turn. When she overhears how her father plans to make money by marrying her to him, she is appalled. Her father needs the money to pay his debts. Refusing to accept her fate, she learns of a place where she can sail to America and find employment as a housekeeper.
Anthony Barton, second son of the Marquis of Sussex, is on the same ship as Elizabeth when they encounter a storm. She had been resting in a a small boat when she is swept overboard. Anthony jumps in the sea to rescue her. She later tells him that her name is Heidi Worthing. Upon arrival in America, they are both surprised to find that she has been hired to be housekeeper at his home. This sets the stage for an uncomfortable situation as they had shared many secrets and had become friends. Now, she must return to being just his employee.
As Elizabeth settles into her job, she quickly becomes a favorite with the staff as she is determined to learn and participate in their jobs. In addition, Anthony is delighted to see how happy they all are and admires Elizabeth’s leadership.
Will their attraction lead to someone more?
Well, this is one busy book. So many things happening that it boggles the mind – in a good way, that is. I liked Elizabeth and found her to be one strong woman, but Anthony needed a swift kick in the butt a time or two. I loved how the members of the black church backed her up. The really aggravating thing was how many times Lord Pinweather raised his ugly head. He was like a roach that you could not kill. All in all, this is a very good book and one that I think readers will remember for a long time to come.
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Lord Anthony Barton longs to make his own way in the world. Setting sail on a ship to Philadelphia to start his own shipping company, Anthony saves the life of a young lady when topples off the edge of the ship during a terrible storm.
Running away from a forced marriage, Lady Elizabeth Davenport finds herself on a ship to America to become a new housekeeper for a British home. Going by the name of Heidi Worthing, she befriends a kind Lord after he saves her from drowning. Their friendship blossoms into something more as they get to know one another.
By a twist of fate Heidi (Elizabeth) becomes the housekeeper for Anthony. With both struggling to find a new balance in their relationship, secrets, and revelations strive to tear them apart. Each must decide what truly matters- duty, tradition or their heart’s wishes.
I highly enjoyed this novel! It was interesting and different to read a regency romance from the perspective of an English Lord who chooses to live in America. Jen Geigle Johnson always writes strong women, especially for the regency time period! I loved reading about Elizabeth’s progression from the spoiled daughter of a Lord to a humble and kind housekeeper. Her realization of how she treated her own servants is eye-opening and she does everything in her power to make each of the servants in Lord Barton’s home feel important and understood. The friendship and eventual romance between Elizabeth and Anthony wavered between humorous, tender, exciting and sometimes frustrating. I wanted to shake Anthony each time he took one step towards their HEA and then two steps back. The side characters were delightful and had the feel of an old friend you had been waiting to see.