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.
more
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 enjoyed reading the story of bold Sophronia, who is not deterred to work hard to achieve her dream of being a serious journalist. Although Detective Graham is at first dismissive of her (which seemed very natural for the time) he quickly sees how her special skills can be helpful for his investigation.
Nicely spun story with a good balance – for my taste – between dialogue and description.
I think this is my favorite of all of Ms. Moore’s books that I’ve read so far. The mystery was good and it took me a long time to figure out whodunnit. And even then I wasn’t 100% sure until the reveal. The romance is a slow burn but obviously coming. I wondered how they would cross the differing social classes. The book doesn’t really deal with that but I think that Sophie will just plow ahead not caring what anyone thinks just as she has been doing.
I enjoyed the two main characters as well as the surrounding support characters. I loved that Sophie actually cared about people and was not one to sit back and wonder what to do when she sees people’s suffering and she has a way to fix it. She is a genuinely good person. And so is Jonathan. He has already pulled himself up by his bootstraps and made something of his life. Even though he starts off with typical male attitudes it really doesn’t take long for him to bend toward more feminist views.
This is an enjoyable read though I confess my heart rate was up during parts of it.
No sex or language
It is a multiple murder mystery. We didn’t “see” any of those but the reader does witness an attempted murder. Not graphic.
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book through NetGalley and voluntarily chose to review it.
I enjoyed this mystery romance. Sophronia is a great character, flawed and honest with courage. I enjoyed reading her story and am glad this is just the beginning of the Orchid society books. This is what I call a step by step mystery. You follow the characters and try to follow their clues as they solve a murder. This was well done. Everything was pretty realistic. There are several murders and attempted murders in this book. Everything is kept on the not too detailed side especially because there is a Lady present. I thought that was some of the cutest parts when they tried to shield her. The romance was turtle slow and really only happened at the end of the book. In a book like this I can appreciate that. The author is good a story telling and I always keep reading her books even tho the romance is a slow moving one and is normally not the focus of the book.
No Christian element. Squeeky clean content(sex). Violence this is a murder mystery, leading characters are in peril a couple times.
This book has intrigued me for some time, and I readily admit that the stunning cover art and unusual title encouraged my interest. Yes, I judged a book by its cover, and I was not disappointed. This was a lovely illustration of how friendship can be empowering. Most of my reading time is spent in the Regency era, and this tale demonstrated to me not only how much had started to change for women by the late Victorian era but also how much remained much the same as it ever was. The depth of the protagonists—their private insecurities and their growing admiration of each other—kept me immersed as they investigated together to solve the mystery in an atmospheric Victorian London setting. Although the story could easily stand alone, I was delighted to recognize some characters from the prequel novella Emmeline making appearances in this story. Those who enjoyed the television program Miss Scarlet and the Duke will love this story set in the same time and place. I look forward to reading the rest of this series and becoming better acquainted with each of the clever ladies of the Blue Orchid Society.
Solving Sophronia (The Blue Orchid Society #1) by Jennifer Moore is a Victorian mystery romance. Set during a time when women are beginning to burst traditional gender roles, five friends help and support each other in attaining their personalized goals. In this story a lady society columnist assists the police in a murder investigation. Strong characters, a plot with twists and turns, danger, intrigue, vivid descriptions of places, fashions, and customs of the day plus a sprinkling of romance make a delicious, thoroughly delightful book.
Sophie is absolutely charming! She is kind, patient, perceptive, talented, and quite likable; however, she is not perfect. One mistake could ruin her life and the lives of so many others. The story is fast-paced and a good read!
Solving Sophronia by Jennifer Moore is a dazzling tale that takes the reader deep into a Victorian Era London where Sherlock Holmes would feel at home. It is a mystery for the ages with some moxy to boot.
Lady Sophronia shows us how she finds her way in society and truly bucks the system proving that a woman can be more than a pretty face and arm candy for some man. She strikes out on her own against her family’s wishes and most of her own society when she goes to work at the newspaper writing for the society column. For Sophie, this is not her dream job but just a steppingstone toward a greater purpose and she will stop at nothing to get what she wants.
I don’t want to give too much away since Moore’s creation take you on a journey, a magical one at that. I really enjoyed her spunk and no-nonsense attitude. She really gives everyone a run for their money, and I like that about her. She continually shows that just because she is a woman, she has much greater value and usefulness if they will just give her the chance to show it. In time they realize she is a valued member of the team and come to rely on her in many ways. She is clever and extremely intelligent; she really thinks outside the box in a way that the other characters find new and interesting. This kind of thinking helps them solve the mystery, but not without some tragedy and suspense along the way. Overall, Solving Sophronia is a story that was a fairly quick read that kept me entertained the entire time.
Solving Sophronia was my intro in Jennifer Moore’s writing and the first book in her new series The Blue Orchid Society. Lady Sophronia Bremerton, affectionately known as Sophie, is a society columnist who longs to be an investigative reporter. When she hears of a murder in a London rookery, she race on the scene to prove her skill. I loved Sophronia’s tenacity, her investigative nature and ‘bright-eyed enthusiasm’. I was engrossed from the first page and hooked in to discover not only the mystery but also if Sophie would get the opportunity to achieve her dreams. It was a perfect read for this rainy Monday and I look forward to Book 2 in this series.
A big thank you to Covenant Communications for providing a digital copy in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #SolvingSophronia #Goodreads
** This review can be found on NetGalley, Goodreads and Amazon
I loved this Victorian mystery romance. The author seamlessly blends so many aspects of a puzzling crime with a complicated romantic relationship. The story was so well-done that I stayed up way too late reading, then got up early the next day to finish the book. That’s how good it was!
I really enjoyed this book. It was so interesting to think of all the advancements in crime solving we have today. I can’t imagine trying to solve crimes without modern technology. I loved the characters especially Sophronia. Can’t wait for more books in this series!
“Perhaps the real mystery wasn’t the murders but the man solving them.”
Not all detectives wear pants. In fact, some even wear skirts. Detective Jonathan Graham’s new murder case has him stumped, that is before a pretty face and an inquisitive mind barges onto his murder scene.
From the very first page, I couldn’t put this down. I love that although Jonathan had been very against the idea of sucking up his pride and allowing a woman to help with his investigation, he started to trust Lady Sophie Bremerton’s judgement and her ideas. He even sat back a few times just to watch what she might do or say. I think he found her amusing and delighted in her company.
There was great chemistry between the hero and heroine, with hilarious interactions between the characters. I loved Sergeant Lester and his interesting quirk. It brought out a surprising comic relief I did not see coming.
It was so fun to go along on a journey to solve a murder mystery with three awesome characters along every step of the journey. I highly recommend this book, and I’m crossing my fingers that there is a second one in the works.
Solving Sophronia was a delightful mix of mystery and romance. A great beginning to an interconnected series with the introduction of many varied yet strong women who become friends. I loved how it kept me guessing at the solution to the mystery and was delighted to find that the clues I picked up on were part of that solution! Good writing, strong plot, and wonderful characters!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
A sweetly romantic mystery from Jennifer Moore! Overall, the story is very good and its themes are strong.
The timeline moves very slowly; in fact, excluding the prologue and epilogue, the entire story apparently takes place in less than two weeks, which caused some of the relationships to feel rushed. Detective Jonathan Graham apparently had a somewhat tragic backstory, however this was only hinted at and never fully explained, which was strange since it was a minor block in his relationship with Sophie and also affected his outlook on life. The outcome was a bit predictable, but the buildup is still very well-written.
I’m excited to read future stories about the other ladies in the Blue Orchid Society, and in this book their strong relationship is evident, but it seemed a bit glossed over. In the prologue, their society is formed and the reader is told they are closely connected, but their connection is only portrayed in a few short scenes and mentions.
Overall, Solving Sophronia is a sweet romance with mystery and female friendship included in the mix. 4/5 stars
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Solving Sophronia was the perfect book I needed to read right now. Sophronia, or Sophie a young lady of high society in the early 1870’s wants more than to be just a “Lady”. She wants to be a serious journalist which just isn’t done by a lady of the Gentry. One evening at a high society ball, Sophie and four other young women form the Blue Orchid Society determined to reach beyond the stilted walls of society and race after their dreams. This first book is all about Sophie, and other books will be coming in the future with the other ladies’ stories. This time period was when things started changing for women.
I enjoyed this novel so much. I really liked Sophie and I liked the relationship she formed with Detective Jonathan Graham. They worked very closely together on a murder investigation which kept the novel moving at a great pace. Jonathan is a stalwart character that tries very hard to keep boundaries up between Lady Sophie and himself who grew up in a rookery. This book isn’t just about a “romance” but it’s also a murder mystery that was so intriguing. I loved the ways the clues were all laid out and how things were pieced together with the work of Sophie, Jonathan, & Detective Lester. Of course, it was exciting to have Sophie’s Grandmother Mimi a big part of the story. Mimi’s story was told in the novella, Emmeline, that I reviewed recently. Follow this link to read my review.
As an FYI, Emmeline is free all during the month of May on Kindle. Grab your copy while you can. https://amzn.to/2Kekqmy
If you are looking for a novel that is fun, different, a clean romance, mystery, and suspense, then you are going to enjoy reading Solving Sophronia. I know I did!
In the Victorian Era, being a woman was tough. They were on the verge of gaining freedoms, but society wanted to hold them back.
The Blue Orchid Society is a series of books that feature women who have dreams and all of them meet to discuss their plans and ways to accomplish them.
This book features Sophronia, she wants to be a writer for the newspaper, not just the society columnist. She longs to be taken seriously and shows that she is capable of contributing more than inconsequential information.
Sophie has a big heart. She understands people of all classes. She looks at who they are inside rather than just their place in society. She is born as a Lady but is not recognized by her family as being relevant to their way of life. She is caught between two worlds and trying to find her place in life. She begins to prove her worth as a journalist when she partners with Detective Graham in solving a string of murders. I loved their partnership. He is reluctant to trust a woman but soon realizes that her experience and attention to detail are valuable.
This is a very interesting and fun book. It’s not too gory or violent. Sophie is shielded from the worse aspects of murder. This book has just the right amount of mystery and romance.
Source: I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
Lady Sophronia has made a name for herself among her peers as a society columnist, but she years to write something meaningful. Her chance comes when she hears of a murder in a London rookery. The only problem is Detective Graham doesn’t believe a young lady should help investigate. When it becomes clear that the murderer may be among the London Elite, the detective takes a chance on the lady to keep another murder from happening.
I almost didn’t get past the prologue of this story. This is where we are introduced to Lady Sophronia who has no interest in balls and parties. She meets other young ladies who also do not fit into among their peers and they agree to form the Blue Orchid Society so that they may do as they please. (There were also several very negative statements regarding fashion and corsets that took me out of the story.)
From there, we jump into the mystery part of the story with Detective Graham and the murder. We do not really learn how Lady Sophronia became a columnist in the first place, let alone why she differs from her family. The mystery itself is interesting, as they follow the clue to the solution.
The romance suffers from a lack of substance on both parties. i cannot get behind a couple who spend a week investigating a crime together and then declare they love each other. We can see this from a moment where Detective Graham believes Lady Sophronia betrayed him and will not listen to her. If they had known each other better and communicated better, this plot detail wouldn’t have happened. (Detective Graham also gets a raised eyebrow from me for a judgemental sentence where he senses that there is little to Lady Sophronia’s sister when he has just met her.)
Overall, this is not a bad story. it is well written and the pace is good. I would have liked it better if Lady Sophronia had fit better into the time period, instead of seeming like a present day woman sent back in time. Other readers may not have the same qualm, and I would recommend this to readers who enjoy a historical mystery.
This book was amazing! I loved everything about it. Before I get into why, make sure you check out Emmeline by Jennifer Moore. It’s kind of a prequel novella. In my opinion, you don’t need to read it first. But it’s FREE through the end of the month. Grab it fast!
Back to Sophronia. This book is a Victorian romance, but it’s so much more. There is murder, danger, intrigue…and Lady Sophronia is in the middle of all of it!
Lady Sophronia is such a great young woman. She’s part of the ton, but has never really felt like she belonged there. Half the time, she doesn’t feel as though she belongs with her own family. They were awful to her. But in the prologue chapter, we meet her group of friends. The Blue Orchid Society. These young women are amazing to each other. Such a support to Sophie and to each other through the whole book. I LOVED each of them. And can’t wait to see their stories.
Sophie gets herself mixed up in the murder to be solved. And that’s how she meets Detective Johnathon Graham. He puts up with a lot from Sophie. She’s kind of nosy and just wants to be be a reporter. I loved the way he grudgingly lets her help, when there’s no other way. And the way he goes along with her schemes. But what I really loved was how they become family to each other. And family watches out for each other. That’s just what he does.
This book was amazing! Make sure to read it!
I was sent a copy of Solving Sophronia as a gift from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
Lady Sophronia Bremerton wishes nothing more than to become an investigative reporter. Living a life pretending to care about the latest society gossip as she writes her column, ‘Miss Propriety’s People and Prattle’ has grown old and tiresome. When she befriends a group of other young ladies with similar aspirations, they form the Blue Orchid Society- a society of women who each make a goal to live out their dreams.
Sophie’s journey begins a few weeks later when she arrives at the scene of a murder investigation. At first, she and Detective Jonathan Graham but-heads but soon they overcome their differences to solve a series of seemingly connected murders.
With so many incredible moments of genuine feeling, you will laugh, be mystified and most of all be inspired to fulfill your own dreams. The main characters, Sophie and Jonathan, have outstanding chemistry without taking away from Sophie’s main journey. I adore Jonathan and would love another book about him and his history. Sergeant Lester is a personal favorite of mine, and in many of his scenes, I had to stop reading because I was laughing too hard to see the words.
Author Jennifer Moore has been a long time favorite of mine, but I think this latest novel has become my new favorite of hers. I eagerly await the next novel in this series and can’t wait to learn more about each of the outstanding women in the Blue Orchid Society.
SOLVING SOPHRONIA is the beginning of a series about a group of women who start as acquaintances, but become friends when they form the Blue Orchid Society. They each have their own dreams and find society in general, particularly men, are not approving of such, but they decide to set goals to achieve their dreams regardless. This first story focuses on Sophronia and her desire to become a news journalist. She curiously becomes involved in a murder investigation against the lead detective’s wishes, but they find that they work well together. There is some wonderful banter, a slowly-building romance, a contrast of classes, and a murder mystery all rolled into this delightfully entertaining story!
After reading Emmeline, the prequel novella, I wasn’t sure what to expect from this story. It definitely was a bit different, and I expect each of these stories will be in this series because they each will focus on a different woman in the society who each have their own personalities, talents, and challenges. I also want to note that you don’t need to have read Emmeline to enjoy this story. I think they will each stand well on their own.
I loved Sophie! She was intelligent, kind, and talented in so many ways. I also loved Jonathan! He was just a great guy who put his life on the line as a police detective every day. I appreciated the author not ignoring the difference in class between them and how they both had their own vulnerabilities. It made them human and relatable. I loved seeing Sophie and Jonathan clash at the beginning, but how their relationship changed to one of respect and friendship, and then to love. They’re surrounded by a great group of characters and I felt like not one of them came across flat. The story moved at the perfect pace, with a mystery weaved throughout, and a slightly insane villain to bring the story to a climax. I also loved the very sweet ending.
In the end, was it what I wished for? This was a marvelously executed story with lovable characters, sweet romance, and an entertaining plot. Highly recommended if you enjoy sweet Victorian romantic suspense! I’m very much looking forward to finding out more about each of the ladies in Sophie’s group in subsequent books!
Content: Some violence, but clean.
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, which did not require a positive review. All opinions are my own.