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Burkard combines elements of Sense and Sensibility and The Importance of Being Earnest tocraft a delightful and comedic story that will certainly please historical fiction aficionados and those who enjoywholesome, romantic stories.Kirkus Review
“What fun! Rarely does a book make me laugh so hard! I couldn’t put it down.”MaryLu … Review
“What fun! Rarely does a book make me laugh so hard! I couldn’t put it down.”
MaryLu Tyndall, Award-winning Author
Young Miss Margaret Tavistock is promised in marriage by the wish of her dearly departed papa to Captain Rempeare. But the captain’s been at sea for a decade. When she finally meets him, tempestuous sparks fly, and she impulsively adopts a daring false identity. Going by “Lady X,” she vows never to marry such an infuriating man.
Captain Gabriel Rempeare is prepared to fulfill his duty and marry Miss Tavistock–if only he can clap eyes on her! Circumstances keep them apart, though he cannot seem to avoid the maddeningly lovely Lady X.
When the two are thrown together in Mayfair, Miss Tavistock discovers the real nature of the captain, and regrets her subterfuge. But can such a noble man forgive deceit? Or has her mistake already cost her everything?
“An exuberant heroine...The secrets, lies and misunderstanding are a perfect basis for an amusing, exciting plot. (And) Captain Gabriel Rempeare is the perfect hero.” Elizabeth Lloyd, Blogger, Reviewer, lizannelloyd.wordpress.com
“Mistaken identities, misleading behavior, fortunes and misfortunes…Miss Tavistock’s Mistake is a fun romp sure to leave the reader wanting more sweet Regency novels from Ms Burkard!”Peggy Ellis, Writer, Reviewer”
“Miss Tavistock’s Mistake is is not only the best Regency Romance I’ve read, but one of the best from any genre…a ripping-good Regency!” Terrance Grundy, editor, Editerry.wixsite.com/proofreader
A joy to read! Linore’s superior command of Regency vernacular and the period are just exhilarating! She had fun writing this and it shows.” L.K. Simonds, Author, All In
“I really took my time, soaking in Miss Tavistock’s Mistake. I wanted to walk those streets and meet the main characters! And what a great final chapter! I love how the author wrapped it all up. I’m only sorry it’s over…” Jody C. Blair, Reviewer
,b>”I love it! The characters are great, the plot is fun. Is it weird to say it seems easily written? Like the characters are who they are and the author didn’t have to force anything to make the plot work?”Jaimee Dinnison, Reviewer
“Woo hoo! I love it! Ms. Burkard was on a roll with this one and having such fun that the reader can’t help but have fun too!”Regina Groeger, Reviewer
“Miss Tavistock’s Mistake contains exquisite chapters. Some of the sentences just GLOW and make me want more, much more.” Gerald E. Greene, Poet, Reviewer
My goodness! I just started reading this book and I am gobsmacked. The writing is brilliant! ...It’s as if you are living right there in 1811 Yorkshire…the words, the turns of phrase…Burkard is a master! Thank you for using and sharing your gift with all of us. Your biggest fan,
Diane Archibald
“This action-packed, time-traveling Regency was full of surprises and spiced with humor. A delightful romp.
Dana McNeely, Author, Rain
Savored every satisfying minute. I stretched it out as far as I possibly could,because I didn’t want it to end!”
Renatta K., reviewer
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Margaret Tavistock is quite a feisty young woman. In her overly enthusiastic way, she finds herself uttering an outrageous lie, thinking she won’t be found out. From that point on, it’s compounded by one after another, creating more than a few ridiculous situations. Gabriel Rempeare is a great hero! I admired his calm and patient demeanor (most of the time) with Margaret. They’re cousins who have been slated to wed as was often the case back then. He’s a captain in the British Navy and been gone a long while. Lots of misunderstandings abound between these two that cause some ridiculously funny situations.
Miss Tavistock’s Mistake is a good start to this new Regency series from Burkard. With lots of wit, charm, and a sweet romance, readers are sure to enjoy a few hours of respite.
I was provided an electronic copy of the book. No review was required. No compensation received.
This was such a fun and easy read! The characters were loveable and the scenarios they found themselves in were humorous and delightfully tricky. I wondered more than once how our Miss Tavistock would “talk her way out of this one” and was surprised every time. The scene when she describes the predicament to Roddy gave such an accurate feel of the complete and confusing mess she’s made – I pitied the poor chap a little during that chat! I will say, the whole way through the book I wanted the heroine to come clean but understood her fear, however I did finally get exasperated (along with her companion) in the finale and while satisfied with the ending, I wished it could have been without a final effort on her part. Overall, a rollicking an enjoyable read.
[I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.]
As a reader, my earliest love stories were Regency Romance. They captivated me then–and they bring me great enjoyment to this day. Author Linore Rose Burkard’s “Miss Tavistock’s Mistake”, Book One in her “Brides of Mayfair Series”, is an entertaining and romantic tale full of all the story line elements that Regency Romance fans adore. Feodora Margaret Tavistock, orphaned at a young age, and raised by her wealthy and remote uncle, had been promised since childhood to wed Gabriel Rempeare. They had met once, when Margaret was nine-years-old and had just suffered the loss of her parents. Gabriel, a middle son not to inherit a title, soon entered His Majesty’s Navy, and it would take a decade, and the end of Gabriel’s naval career, before they would be reunited. Margaret had been pampered by her uncle, but isolated by his desire to avoid city life and remain in the country. Gabriel at last returns from the sea, but postpones visiting his betrothed. An inadvertent, brief meeting between Margaret and Gabriel provokes her into unwise behavior and will set in motion an eventful chain of events. At age nineteen, Margaret is determined to experience a societal debut. With the help of her devoted companion, Mrs. Filbert, she persuades her uncle to allow her a visit to London. Gabriel has his reasons for delaying a visit with Margaret to discuss their engagement. Beset with a scandal-prone older brother and a self-serving younger brother, Gabriel must deal wit matters of estate and family. When circumstances surprisingly place Margaret and Gabriel in each other’s company, she struggles hard to maintain an unwise pretense–and all the while she is finding Gabriel to be a quite pleasant companion. He is unsure of who she really is, but he is sure of the increasing fondness and attraction she stirs in him. With fortunes and futures on the line, and hearts yearning and vulnerable, will truths revealed bring about happiness or heartache? I very much enjoyed “Miss Tavistock’s Mistake”, and I look forward to reading more works from author Linore Rose Burkard.
Book Copy Gratis Author via Reading, Writing, and the Stuff In-Between
Thank you in advance to Book Crash for providing a gifted review copy through Amazon. A positive review was not required in any way, nor was it requested. All words are my own.
Not only was a newbie to historical fiction last year (2019), but I had NO idea there were subdivisions of it.
This falls more under the “Regency” group than overall historical. According to Wikipedia, “a subgenre of romance novels set during the period of the British Regency (1811–1820) or early 19th century. Rather than simply being versions of contemporary romance stories transported to a historical setting, Regency romances are a distinct genre with their own plot and stylistic conventions. These derive not so much from the 19th-century contemporary works of Jane Austen, but rather from Georgette Heyer, who wrote over two dozen novels set in the Regency starting in 1935 until her death in 1974, and from the fiction genre known as the novel of manners. In particular, the more traditional Regencies feature a great deal of intelligent, fast-paced dialogue between the protagonists and very little explicit sex or discussion of sex.”
Here are some common elements:
References to the ton (le bon ton)
Depictions of social activities common during the social season such as carriage rides, morning calls, dinner parties, routs, plays, operas, assemblies, balls, etc.
References to, or descriptions of, athletic activities engaged in by fashionable young men of the period, including riding, driving, boxing, fencing, hunting, shooting, etc.
Differences of social class
Marriages of convenience: a marriage based on love was rarely an option for most women in the British Regency, as securing a steady and sufficient income was the first consideration for both the woman and her family
False engagements
Cyprians (sex workers), demireps (women of ill repute), mistresses and other women employed by rakehells and men from the upper classes
Mistaken identity, deliberate or otherwise
Mystery or farce elements in the plot
Needless to say, I had ZERO idea of what I was reading. The author was as new to me as this genre, but the premise of this story was something I honestly HAD to read. And, reading such great reviews among my review groups – this was definitely something I had to check out.
The cover of the book I got (September 2020) was definitely eye-catching and I definitely wanted to read this. The current cover seems to go more with the time period the novel is set in.
Burkard includes nearly all of the above elements in Miss Tavistock’s Mistake. While this is the first book in the series, it is easily a standalone read.
The blurb does differ from what I read – in the blurb it is as if they have never met, yet clearly they did. It is interesting that he wouldn’t recognize some features of her in the adult version.
Anyway …
Margaret is an absolute delight right off; I wasn’t too sure about Captain Gabriel Rempeare, especially after a most embarrassing incident with Margaret. Still, this soon becomes a charming and adorable read after page 47. The characters for the time are somewhat realistic with some liberties taken for Margaret’s character.
The prologue starts in 1801 when poor 9 year old Feodora “Feenie” Margaret Tavistock is orphaned and taken in by her uncle in the UK. Her much older cousin, Gabriel (15/16 at the time) saves her from being whipped and comforts her. His mother tells him he must marry her when she becomes “of age”, and it is also a point with her father prior to his death. Gabriel has no issues with it as he seemingly adores the child as he comforts her.
This part of the story some people might have issues with the age difference as well as the entire “forced” marriage deal.
Ten years later, Gabriel is home from the Navy and its adventures, and is excited to “meet” his cousin. Feodora, or rather Margaret has grown accustomed to referring to herself as Mrs. Gabriel Rempeare as she knows they are “betrothed”.
But, when Miss Tavistock hears from Gabriel’s younger brother, Roderick, the young man has nothing nice to say about his brother. And, Margaret isn’t so sure she wants to have anything to do with the Captain – even if he rescued her, the fascination soon wanes. More so because of the lack of communication.
Another issue facing Margaret is the lack of a “season” as well as being introduced into society as her uncle doesn’t have a need for it.
Margaret does “meet” the Captain and it doesn’t go as she planned, nor as he planned. And, it ends up with a slight “whipping”. He is no gentleman and she is not being ladylike.
What ensues is almost comedic. Margaret is determined to get out of the engagement, so much so that she will use an alias to rid herself of him.
“Lady X” is indeed a real person – but not who she is made out to be, and certainly isn’t Margaret Tavistock. Gabriel doesn’t know that though, despite how YOUNG Margaret is.
She decides to have her season in London and wants her inheritance – while she can spend some of it, it is contingent upon her marriage to Gabriel. But, she doesn’t want to “come out” as herself, but Margaret Chrissendon. The only problem is that she cannot be introduced as she has no “standing” in society (what is sometimes referred to as the “ton”) so she will have to be introduced by a “gentleman”. None other than Captain Gabriel Rempeare comes calling.
She then decides to use her real identity as an alias to an alias, something Gabriel isn’t too keen on – after all, they are betrothed. Still, he assists her in being introduced to the “ton” (cream of cream). But, it isn’t without its follies and some “danger”.
Despite being “betrothed”, Gabriel ends up watching her as there is something about her. He definitely protects her, especially against his older brother, the Earl who almost forces Margaret to marry him.
As Margaret gets to know Gabriel, she knows she cannot come out with the truth – she decides the Captain is too good of a man to put up with her dishonesty, so she tries to end the engagement, but … not yet.
Eventually the truth comes out, almost at the very end which leads to a SWEET, SWEET happily ever after. It ended far too soon for me. And, I just I loved how Gabriel started putting things together but let Margaret continue the ruse up until the VERY END. And, his reasoning was amusing.
The plot was ABSOLUTELY darling and written with some British stylings and terms with fairly short chapters. I LOVE the witty banter, Margaret’s imagination and schemes. Though, at times I thought the deception should/could have ended far sooner than it did.
Readers are treated to a side story involving Margaret’s uncle with his own “secret” romance which we don’t nearly see the conclusion of at the end of this book.
This is a clean read – there is no foul language, and definitely no sex scenes in this. At times I laughed at this, shook my head, and there may have been a few tears. I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I would definitely be interested in future books in the series only to see how the two characters end up.
Fans of the author, genre, and clean reads will be sure to enjoy this delightful and whimsical romp through the regency era.
After reading & loving Forever, Lately by this author, I jumped at the chance to review the newly re-released/updated Miss Tavistock’s Mistake as well.
Margaret is a sometimes-delightful, sometimes-frustrating mix of impetuous, naive, thoughtless, adorable, and sincere, and one can almost forgive her the first three when you remember what her life has been like up to the point in which we meet her again as a young adult. Very sheltered. Very alone. Her somewhat recent companion helps soften some of those rough edges, but even she is no match for Margaret once she sets her mind to do something. And I can sympathize – as much as I shook my head at several of Margaret’s ill-fated decisions, I also found her adorable in spite of them.
For all that Margaret is flighty and impetuous, Gabriel is steady and loyal. While Margaret’s dishonesty causes all manner of problems, Gabriel’s sense of honor provides a welcome contrast as well as a stabilizing force. His feelings on all manner of things run just as deeply as Margaret’s do but, in Gabriel, Burkard has penned a more reserved hero, similar to an Austen or Heyer hero. It’s in these subtle moments, however, that we fall in love with Gabriel just as Margaret does – maybe even more so because we get a glimpse of the conflict in his heart and his true nature a bit sooner.
Bottom Line: Miss Tavistock’s Mistake has the feel of classic Regency novels, sure to appeal to fans of Austen, Heyer, and Wilde, with no character quite being all they seem at first glance & with a misunderstanding-riddled-disaster-waiting-to-happen in the wings. Gabriel is my favorite character, though Mrs. Filbert isn’t far behind – and I came to love Margaret most the longer she blossomed under their protection. I loved that we are given glimpses into Gabriel’s developing feelings for Margaret’s false identity, even as his integrity demands he do the right thing by his betrothed (also Margaret). And when the subterfuge begins to become more clear, ahhh blissful sigh! While I didn’t find Miss Tavistock’s Mistake as funny as others have indicated it to be, nor as witty as my previous read by this author, I did find it engaging and romantic nonetheless. A fun Regency outing for your weekend!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK
Linore Rose Burkard is a new author for me and I really enjoyed this story. I love Regency historical fiction so this was right up my alley. I love the descriptions the author gives to the story, bringing the era to life.
Miss Tavistock was a delightful and fun character to follow. Sometimes she could be a bit much but she gives a lot to the story and I love the humor she brings throughout the story making it a delight to read. The captain was adorable but his character was a little confusing at times. But he ends up being the man he should be and a character I grew to love. There are many characters the enjoy, all playing their parts so well! Overall this is quite a entertaining read. One that I highly recommend, especially to those who love a good Regency romance! And this one is a 4 out of 5 stars for me.
A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal
I didn’t always like the Regency Romance genre but since picking up a Linore Burkard book I have truly enjoyed them. She definitely writes this genre well and does in such a wholesome way you can’t help but falling in love with them. This is the first book in the Brides of Mayfair and I can’t wait for the next one and see who the story will be about!
This story is about feisty Feodora Tavistock, who loses her parents tragically when returning to England after living in America since she was an infant. Now she is in the care of her uncle the Duke. She is promised to her cousin Gabriel who becomes a captain in the Navy. Feodora now known as Margaret has grown up pretty much alone except with her companion who is really like a surrogate mom to her.
The love story between Gabriel and Margaret is quite comical! Margaret is not happy that the captain has not visited in all these years so when he finally says he is coming and cancels that becomes the breaking point for her. She decides to head to London and have a coming out season. However, Gabriel does show up and since she is so miffed at him completely fibs on who she really is. This turns into a snowball effect for her until she has to come clean.
I really enjoyed this story and it was nice to step into a different era if only for a little while. I did kind of want to know what happened to her parents. It almost felt like there was a little bit of unresolved issues there and also why she was in America since she was born and not in England but nothing was referenced to that and perhaps it wasn’t supposed to. If you are looking for a light fun read then definitely grab this one!
(I received a copy of this book as part of Celebrate Lit Tours. I was not required to post a positive review. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.)
This book was so much fun to read! From the moment that I read about Feodora (Miss Tavistock), being saved by her betrothed when they were both children, I knew this was going to be a good story. The book introduces us to Feodora Tavistock, a young lady who has been waiting for her betrothed for several years, even though she hasn’t received any letters from him. When she finally hears that he’s back, she finds out (by reading the newspaper) that he has been keeping questionable company while he’s been resting in London. Unsure of what to think, she creates a test, the ultimate masquerade to see just what kind of person she is engaged to; however, what follows isn’t what she expected and the Captain isn’t who she thought he was. Overall, this story has a good blend of romance, humor and even danger. I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars! Special thanks to Linore Rose Burkard, Celebrate Lit and Book Funnel for allowing me to read and review this book — all opinions are my own.
What I think you should know:
Miss Tavistock’s Mistake by Linore Rose Burkard is a Regency Romance/ Romantic Suspense. It is the first book in the Brides of Mayfair series The story was set in the summer of 1811 and features Margaret, a Duke’s ward and Gabriel, a war hero.
What I think about this book:
This was such a fun read, I enjoyed every page of it. Margaret is a great character, she was raised privileged, but not as part of the ton. Having been raised by a recluse uncle and betrothed from a young age she was not used to the ins and out of society. I love how she was spunky and not willing to put up with Gabriel’s mistreatment and indifference. At times her schemes were a little like quicksand, but I couldn’t help but root for her. Gabriel was also a fun character, he seemed aloof, but as the story unfolded I quickly started rooting for him as well. I enjoyed the quick quips between Margaret and Gabriel. I appreciate how Burkard wrote true historical events into the story. I enjoyed the book so much and look forward to reading the next book in the series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Celebrate Lit, this in no way influenced my review. All opinions are my own.
Delightfully entertaining Regency romance, full of humor, misunderstanding, and deception.
I loved how the author immersed me into the setting with attention to detail in how they dressed, the manners, as well as how they conversed with one another. Miss Tavistock is impulsive and can be rather dramatic at times, which made for some humorous moments, as well as helped her get into many of the circumstances that she found herself in over the course of the book.
This was an engaging read, with an delightful upbeat pace, and wonderful characters. Captain Rampeare is honorbound to protect his family’s reputation, he is clever, and I admired his ability to own up to his faults. One of my favorite characters was Mrs. Filbert, a friend and companion to Miss Tavistock, who though her wisdom is often ignored does her best to assist Miss Tavistock through every turn.
Overall, this was wildly entertaining read, with fun twists. It brought a smile to my face multiple times. Fresh and upbeat, with a comedy of intended misunderstanding this was a utterly enjoyable proper romance.
I received a complimentary ebook. Opinions expressed are my own.
I’m a lover of reading all things Regency. It was such a romantic time period. Of course, I grew up reading Jane Austen and the Bronte sisters and still go back to them as some of my favorite works. So it stands to reason I would still enjoy reading about the regency era.
Now. This book! I loved it. Didn’t want to come up for air and stop reading. But alas, I am not a lady of leisure and I did have to take breaks to do all those mundane tasks of peasants such as feeding and schooling the children. Okay, and maybe milking my cow and all the other fun things I do on a normal basis. But still, I did not want to take breaks from reading.
I fell in love with both of the main characters early on and loved getting to know them better. And what could be more fun than becoming Lady X and having a secret identity?! How neat. But then again, what if the nobleman you wanted to avoid by becoming Lady X is actually someone you’d like to know your real name. Let the games begin!
This was such a fun book to read. You get romance and some mystery. Plus lots of just good plain fun reading for pleasure. You’re going to adore this one and I can’t wait to get my hands on the next book in the series!
I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received through Celebrate Lit. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.
Oh my gosh – it is such fun to read a book that makes you laugh out loud and then continue to chuckle every one and again as you continue to read! Feodora Margaret Tavistock loses her parents in a coaching accident as a child. Growing up with an uncle and Mrs. Filbert, her companion, she spends very little time away from Toadingham. It’s 1811 and now 19 years old, she still hasn’t experienced a season in London, something she feels must be rectified.
Thus the fun begins. Her escort in London is none other than her betrothed, Gabriel, whom she hasn’t seen in 10 years! Identities are mistaken, fortunes are won and lost, not to mention the misleading actions of one Miss Tavistock and you have a story that will set your Regency ears on fire! With detailed research into that time period, the author keeps you at the edge of your seat, wondering what will happen next. Lies have a way of requiring more lies – will the truth win out?
This ARC of book 1 in The Brides of Mayfair was received through Lilliput Press, BookFunnel and CelebrateLit. The comments and impressions are my own and were in no way solicited.
This is the first book that I have read by this author. This book is also book 1 in the Brides of Mayfair series. The book is set in the early 1800’s. In this book we meet Gabriel Rempeare and Margaret Tavistock. They were betrothed to be married – and now they are grown up. Gabriel is willing to fufull his obligation…. Margaret – well she has more plans. She decides to hide her identity and becomes known as Lady X. However, she and Gabriel are thrown together – and she continues with this hilarious and deceptive act. Poor Gabriel – he has to deal with Margaret’s antics – and the chaos that his brothers have left him.
The author has down a great deal of research to ensure that the book is as historically accurate as it can be. The author has created some unique, flawed, amusing characters. The writing style flows easily.
I received a copy of this book through the Celebrate Lit blogging program – all thoughts are my own
Settle in for some entertaining reading and a clean Regency case of mistaken identity in Linore Rose Burkhard’s Miss Tavistock’s Mistake, Book One in her new Brides of Mayfair series. I had read and devoured Ms. Burkhard’s Regency Trilogy series, so couldn’t wait to check out this new series! A series of pranks gone awry sets the scene for a “be careful what you wish for” tale for the heroine, Miss Margaret Tavistock. Laced with humor and a cast of very diverting characters, this story will have you turning pages to see how the heroine can escape from the convoluted maze she has created for herself. Plus, Burkhard’s command of Regency terminology and slang will leave you feeling like you have stepped back in time.
Looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
I am welcomed back to the Regency period with a delightful story that was quite intriguing. I couldn’t help thinking about this saying as I began to dig into the story. “ Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive.” What was Miss Tavistock thinking when she pretended to be someone else? I think perhaps she is trying to prove a point but I laughed as she tried so hard not to think of the dashing Captain. It became comical that the Captain was always in her thoughts and dreams. Oh Miss Tavistock dare I say “ the lady doth protest too much.”
The author does a good job of presenting the time period with accuracy. I liked the articulation of the language and the protocol of royalty. There were times I wanted to join the characters just so I could listen to their banter with each other. The story is a mixture of misunderstandings, deceit and a road to redemption. It is indeed easy to see that Miss Tavistock is playing a game that will have consequences. I was exasperated with her at times and felt the need to shake some sense into her.
I was curious why Miss Tavistock never received letters from the Captain that he insisted he wrote. Oh my how the lies start to unravel as characters start to show their ugly side. There was something that one person said that absolutely floored me. Why would someone say, “You must do the pretties for us both, love. When you tell me he’s ready to kick, then I’ll come along.” The author really grabs my attention with the unkind feelings of some who have revenge on their mind. It’s that word “jealousy” that starts to rear it’s nasty head in this story.
The ending is quite a journey and I loved the lesson on lying. The story has a great feel of royalty and delivers an enchanting tale that I read in one day. I did enjoy the history at the end of the book which explains a very important banquet. I found it to be very interesting and helped me understand the time period.
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion
Miss Tavistock’s Mistake begins The Brides of Mayfair series by Linore Rose Burkard. I thought this story was a fun and entertaining historical fiction. I enjoyed getting to know Margaret and Gabriel. They sometimes made me giggle at times and full laugh out loud at others. I never knew what was going to happen with the two. It was pretty funny how some of the scenes ended. I had no problem reading this book in one sitting. Which was hours a very well spent.
I am giving Miss Tavistock’s Mistake a well deserved five plus stars. I recommend it for readers who enjoy clean historical romance. It is definitely worth a read. I look forward to reading the next installment from The Brides of Mayfair series, Miss Fanshawe’s Fortune, to see what happens next.
I received Miss Tavistock’s Mistake from the publisher. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.
She just wants the truth. But, so does he…
Hmmm…. Where to start? How about by saying that Miss Tavistock was one of the most silly, naive, foolish, and spoiled heroines I’ve ever read. For the most part, Captain Rempeare was entirely too good for her! But, for some crazy reason once I was a few chapters in and had settled into the story, well, I just couldn’t seem to put Miss Tavistock’s Mistake down. Why? Maybe it was because when I was away from the book I couldn’t help but wonder what crazy foolishness she would be up to next and I just had to find out. Though Miss Tavistock went about it in all the wrong ways, after what she had heard about Captain Rempeare, I can’t say that I blame her for wanting to find out what he was truly made of. She just has to do a little bit, OK, quite a bit, of growing up.
To be honest, Regency is not an era I read a lot about. Oh, don’t get me wrong, I love Pride & Prejudice and Emma, but it’s a genre that can frequently suffer from lower quality writing or turn out to be nothing more than a bodice ripper. But, Miss Tavistock’s Mistake is thankfully neither of those. In fact, Linore Rose Burkard had the creativity to insert many words such as ‘colour’ in the their British spelling. The addition of many British words and phrases, I was relieved to recognize most of them right off, was a delightful plus.
Linore Rose Burkard is a new-to-me author. I’ve seen her name many times in recent years but just hadn’t read any of her work. While, probably not my favorite book I can say that it was both amusing and entertaining. It is first and foremost a Regency romance but I did enjoy the touch of suspense and the flat-out humor in the final chapters. If you are looking for a light read in the Regency genre with a faith element you might try this book.
(I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)
Regency romances aren’t a genre I typically read, but that doesn’t matter. What matters is the quality of Burkard’s writing and storytelling in this novel. Both are excellent. The writing is clean, the descriptions put me in each scene, and the characters are delightful.
Margaret Tavistock is a terribly busy girl, who’s scheming quickly gets her into a jam in which her years-at-sea betrothed, Captain Gabriel Rempeare, thinks she’s actually a notoriously sketchy mystery woman named Lady X, who is pretending to be Miss Tavistock. Whew! I can barely keep it straight writing this review, but Burkhard pulls off this crazy Shakespearean-style comedy beautifully. She kept me immersed in the ruse, turning pages to find out what happens next.
Every character is a delight: Miss Margaret Tavistock, Captain Gabriel Rempeare, Mrs. Filbert, Roddy, all are wonderful. The “off stage” characters, such as the Duke and Lady X, are equally engaging. Burkard makes us (and Miss Tavistock) wait until the very last minute, but, boy, is the wait worth it! Marvelous storytelling!
Burkard commands the Regency period, and I can’t imagine there are many (any?) romance novels—of any sort—that are more FUN than this one. Burkard makes you believe in the magic, and isn’t that what romance is all about?
Having not read it yet (but very much looking forward to it), this book sounds so interesting! I can’t wait to read it!
Well known for her Regency romances, Linore Rose Burkard kicks off a new Regency series, complete with her well-written prose, delightful characters, and authentic historical details one expects from Ms. Burkard’s books.
In Miss Tavistock’s Mistake, after the death of her parents when she was nine, Miss Margaret Tavistock is promised in marriage to Captain Gabriel Rempeare, a distant cousin. But she doesn’t see him again for a long time because Rempeare is in the Navy.
When he delays his arrival after being released from the Navy, Margaret is disappointed, especially when he is rumored to be entertaining a lightskirt. After all, she had been waiting ten years for him. She is so upset with him, that she denies being his cousin when they meet, and impulsively gives her name as someone else. This causes a misunderstanding that complicates the long-awaited wedding plans. Soon she is caught up in a little white lie that spins out of control. Will they sort things out and find their way to the altar?
Burkard is especially skilled at her historical narrative, allowing the reader to see themselves in Regency England. The relationship between Margaret and Gabriel is a clean one, appropriate for older teens as well as adults. The story moves at a steady pace with its youthful heroine, handsome hero, and the white lie that creates havoc.
Burkhard has tried her hand at other genres and done well, but she is at her finest with this inspirational Regency series. Recommended for older teens and adults who enjoy an excellent Regency romp filled with a light-hearted adventure and clean romance. Be on the outlook for the next book in this series, Miss Fanshawe’s Fortune.
Disclaimer: Book reviews are written for books I either purchased or received free of cost from the publishers, publicists, or authors. I voluntarily reviewed this book, and my review represents my honest opinion.