Join the Lady Travelers Society in their latest romantic misadventure, from #1 New York Times bestselling author Victoria AlexanderShe must secure her futureA lady should never be obliged to think of matters financial! But when Lady Wilhelmina Bascombe’s carefree, extravagant lifestyle vanishes with the demise of her husband, her only hope lies in retrieving a family treasure—a Renaissance … vanishes with the demise of her husband, her only hope lies in retrieving a family treasure—a Renaissance masterpiece currently in the hands of a cunning art collector in Venice. Thankfully, the Lady Travelers Society has orchestrated a clever plan to get Willie to Europe, leading a tour of mothers and daughters…and one curiously attentive man.
He must reclaim his heritage
Dante Augustus Montague’s one passion has long been his family’s art collection. He’s finally tracked a long-lost painting to the enchanting Lady Bascombe. Convinced that the canvas had been stolen, he will use any means to reclaim his birthright—including deception. But how long before pretend infatuation gives way to genuine desire?
Now they’re rivals for a prize that will change everything
Willie and Dante know they’re playing with fire in the magical moonlit city. Their common quest could compromise them both…or lead them to happily-ever-after.
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A delightful take on a group of mostly female travelers and their daughters in Victorian-era Europe. Willie, their guide, and Dante, the man determine to marry her, are a great pair that exchange witty banter and more. A bargain of a book, too, because it’s well over 500 pages of fun and educational as you learn about the various attractions in the cities they visit.
What a delightful cast of characters this book contains. It is romantic, funny, romantic, angsty, angry, larcenous and, did I say romantic? You’ll love the secondary characters as much as you love the primary characters. Especially when you throw a handsome, dashing, intelligent, rich Marquess in just so he can try to gum up the works and keep the hero straight.
The Lady Travelers Society was founded by three lonely semi-impoverished old ladies. They are having a ball and even though they aren’t directly involved in the travel anymore, they still enjoy meddling. When Poppy’s goddaughter is widowed and left with very few funds and creditors taking the little that is left, she needs to get to Venice to retrieve a painting. The Lady Travelers can surely help!
Lady Wilhelmina Bascombe (Willie) was always impetuous, fun-loving and headstrong. She defied her father to marry the man she loved. Then, the mad-cap, jaunty, slightly scandalous marriage ends with her husband, George’s death. Her father has cut off all ties with her and her finances are in ruin. She’s managed to pay off all of George’s debts by selling all of the properties except the London townhouse. If she can retrieve her grandmother’s painting from Venice, she can live comfortably. Thanks to her godmother, she has a way to get there. She (who has never traveled outside England) is going to lead a group of American mothers and daughters on a mini-tour of Europe. What could possibly go wrong with that plan?
Dante Montague is handsome and rich – and a bit stuffy and proper. He is a businessman and the curator of his grandfather’s museum. The museum is about to fail and Dante has just learned that one of the best paintings in the collection is a fake. Someone has stolen the real one and replaced it with a fake. After investigating, he learned that the painting had been in the possession of Willie’s grandmother and later it came to Willie. Willie’s husband had used the painting as collateral for a loan. Once he found out Willie was guiding a tour to Venice, he just knew she was going to collect HIS painting – and he wanted it back! So, he managed to finagle his way onto Willie’s tour by persuading his sister and her daughter to go – so he could go along to ‘protect’ them.
You are led across Europe on a jaunty tour. The descriptions of all of the itineraries along the way are wonderful. You can smell the sea in Monte Carlo or see the lights of Paris from the top of the newly finished Eiffel Tower. Her writing is superb and the story is well paced and well researched.
I alternated between loving Dante and Willie and wanting to kick them in the rear. Both had their insecurities, their angst, their misunderstanding of the other and, of course, they had their secrets. At points I didn’t really care whether they got together or not – well – not really – but they sure did aggravate me!
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“I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher.”
Wilhelmina, Viscountess Bascome, Willie to her friends, needs to get to Venice to retrieve a valuable painting her late husband used as collateral for a loan. After his untimely death, Willie learned that they were debt ridden and she is basically penniless. When she learns about the painting, it seems like the answer to all her problems, she just needs to get to Venice. She calls on her godmother, Poppy, knowing she is a founding member of the Lady Travelers Society, hoping she will be able to help. Poppy and her friends arrange for Willie to led a tour of American women to Venice. Willie has no experience traveling – but really, how hard could it be?
Dante Montague is also on the hunt for the painting. The painting belonged to his grandfather and was recently discovered missing. Dante will do whatever is necessary to retrieve the painting and return it the family museum – a legacy left by his grandfather. He tracks the painting to Willie and convinces his sister Rosaline (Roz) and his niece Harriet (Harry) to join the tour to Venice so he can tag along and reclaim the painting.
Dante makes it his mission to befriend Willie, but soon his feeling change and he wants her in his life, but he also wants the painting and the longer he waits to tell her his true purpose, the harder it gets. He is repeatedly warned by Roz to tell Willie the truth, but he never finds the right time.
Willie is falling for Dante, hard, but she has made mistakes in the past and is not willing to make them again. When she learns his true reason for joining the tour, she is heartbroken and angry. But she is not willing to let go of the painting either.
When the reach Venice, they form a truce to retrieve the painting – but gaining the painting will most definitely cost them any chance at happiness, as neither is willing to give it up.
This book was so delightful, it is well written – I was astounded at the amount of research that must have gone into the writing of this story, the descriptions of each city were amazing and very detailed! The secondary characters were wonderful and added so much to the story without overshadowing the love story and there is an appearance by “Val” Percival, Marquess of Brookings, a lot of amusing banter, a bit of steam, betrayal, heartache, larceny, surprises and a grand romantic gesture. The road to HEA is not easy for these two – but it is quite an enjoyable journey!
This kindle edition also included the novella “The Rise and Fall of Reginald Everheart”, but I will review that separately.
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC provided to me by NetGalley and the author*
Engaging characters, witty conversations, and an abbreviated tour through Europe make this romantic romp a joy to read. Never have I so enjoyed reading excerpts from travel guides!
My edition included “The Rise and Fall of Reginald Everheart”, a charming novella featuring younger versions of Poppy, Effie and Gwen playing matchmakers, of course.
This is a fun book to read, with an abundance of interesting characters. The most interesting were Willie and Dante. Willie is a young widow in financial difficulties. She and her husband had been part of a fast set, and before his death, he ran up quite a lot of debt. By selling everything possible, Willie paid off George’s debts, but there is little left for her. If she can get to Venice and pay off the last loan, she can retrieve a family heirloom, sell it, and have enough to live on for a reasonable amount of time. Her godmother offers Willie the job of hosting a tour for the Lady Travelers Society which will get her to Venice. Willie has never set foot outside England, but how hard can it be to lead two American women and their daughters, an Englishwoman and her daughter, and the Englishwoman’s brother.
There is more to Dane Montague than Willie knows. From a long line of art-loving men, Dante recently became the director of his grandfather’s little known art gallery. He spent years in the study of art and business and is determined to make a success of his grandfather’s legacy. His best option is to locate and retrieve a missing painting from a famous trio of artwork that he believes was stolen, which he has traced to Willie. He will do anything to get it back, including inveigle himself into the tour group.
I thoroughly enjoyed the development of the relationship between Dante and Willie. Their first meeting set the tone, with amusing banter and obvious sparks between them. Dante finds himself unexpectedly intrigued by Willie, who is not at all what he expected. He’s a bit wary as he was burned by another woman who turned out to be not what she seemed either. Willie is equally drawn to Dante but is also cautious. She has learned from the mistakes of the past and doesn’t intend to repeat them. Dante plans to use the time to befriend Willie and therefore keep track of her and ultimately the painting. He doesn’t expect to actually like her, and it throws him entirely out of kilter. I loved watching their friendship develop as they discover how much they enjoy being together.
Dante is caught in a dilemma. The stronger his feelings grow for Willie, the guiltier he feels about his deception. He knows he needs to tell her the truth, but he keeps putting it off. His sister regularly scolds him about it, warning him of what will happen if he doesn’t tell her. When the truth finally comes out, it’s even worse than he expected. I ached for both of them. Willie feels used and betrayed, and the loss of her trust in the man she came to love was heartbreaking. I hurt for Dante too. He loves her deeply and regrets his mistakes. Unfortunately, both of them are incredibly stubborn, and the painting becomes an insurmountable obstacle. There’s a brief truce involving the actual retrieval of the painting, but it continues to come between them. There are some exciting twists in the resolution of the problem before Willie and Dante find their way back together. I loved Dante’s grand romantic gesture. It was sweet and over the top, as well as showing his vulnerable side. The epilogue was great, though it did contain a bit of mystery I’d love to have the answer to.
The secondary characters were fantastic and a huge part of the story itself. The friendship that developed between Willie and Roz, Jane, and Marian was fantastic. I loved how it showed the changes that Willie experienced as she embraced her new life. Their support of her when she had her troubles with Dante was fun to watch. They also looked out for her and provided some much-needed advice to Dante. They were instrumental in retrieving the painting in an unexpected way. I enjoyed their relationships with their daughters, which weren’t all that different than similar relationships today. The daughters were great, each with their quirks and issues. The story of the unsuitable suitor was an excellent addition, and I liked the method Dante used to deal with it. The brief appearance of the Marquess of Brookings was hilarious, and I laughed out loud at the scenes where he “helped” move Willie’s relationship with Dante along.
Another important “character” in the book is the travel itself. I loved the details of the Paris Exhibition and the Eiffel Tower and the shopping at Worth. The scene at Notre Dame was especially poignant considering the recent fire there. I enjoyed the trivia from Genoa and Verona, and the descriptions of Venice were vivid. I loved the changes in Willie as she coped with all the challenges that arose during the traveling, and the difference it made in the way she saw herself.
I’m only half-way through with this second book in the series, and I love it. Clever concept. You really should read book one first even though each story is independent. It helps to understand the “aunts” who originally established the agency.
Great Story. A heroine who has learned the value of a dollar a little late, is attempting to retrieve a painting to solve her financial woes, and sheperd a group of American tourists through Europe. The hero also wants the paiting, and joins the group, with comical results.
Fun book! Love this author!
Victoria Alexander is one of the queens of Romance. So many romance writers reuse standard plots, Alexander’s creates new plots and situations that work within the manners and societal conventions of the time. This is a new series for her and it’s one I can’t wait to read more. You’ll love the characters, cheer for the heroine, and laugh out loud at some of the skirmishes in the battle of love!
I received this book as an ARC and having read most, if not all of Victoria’s book, this is my favourite. I loved the fact that it kept a smile on my face through out the whole novel. She filled the book with humor, warmth, love and adventure. The characters interacted beautifully and you felt you could connect with each one. This is one of the few books I have read, that I would like to see as a movie. Looking forward to the next.
I also had the pleasure of reading the novella The Rise and Fall of Reginald Everheart. I lovely story to continue on after the The Lady Travelers Guide to Larceny with a Dashing Stranger . It was another warm hearted love story, filled with humor. Well worth the read.
Favorite Quotes:
Willie and her father, the Earl of Hillborough, hadn’t spoken in nearly eleven years. On occasion, she missed the father he might have been but not once did she regret the loss of the father he was.
From the look on Marian’s face one would have thought the clouds had parted and a shaft of celestial light had shone upon her. Willie wouldn’t have been at all surprised if the dulcet sounds of heavenly choirs weren’t ringing in Marian’s ears at this very moment.
Yes, well, the idea of daughters someday sounds delightful when someday is very far off. But then someday arrives and you’re living with this clever, subtly deceitful creature whose greatest joy in life is outwitting you because she thinks you are the enemy of all she wants in life. Oh, and she’s certain you’re stupid, as well…
I suppose if one is going to have a reputation it should at least be interesting.
I stopped being horribly narrow-minded about that sort of thing years ago. Mind you, I do not approve of infidelity or flagrant immorality but I have come to accept that even the best of us are fallible… Not me, of course, but most people.
My Review:
I rarely read historical fiction but this was cleverly amusing, good fun, and an educational travelogue of sorts, I pleasantly toured through Europe with first-class accommodations and a lively set of fellow travelers, without having to leave my home. I toured Paris without standing in even one line, nor was I forced to endure a screaming baby or a bratty child kicking my seat while trapped on an airplane for hours. I also learned quite a bit about art and history, and that the Eiffel Tower was expected to be a temporary structure, and my mother always scolded me for reading fiction while claiming it was a waste of time! This was my first experience reading Victoria Alexander’s work and I found it delightful amusing and well plotted. Her characters were intriguing quirky, well drawn, and wily. Despite the unexpected length and considerable time required to complete a book of 544 pages, I reveled in the refreshing change of pace of an infrequent genre and the crisp style and tone of the narrative as well as the conundrums and entertaining storylines. But my favorite parts of the book involved the amusing banter and clever exchanges between the feisty characters as they engaged in humorous battles of wit and sass as they trundled along and melded their individual agendas into a united caper.
The second installment in The Ladies Travelers Society series begins another great adventure. Lady Willhelmina Bascombe finds with her husbands death, there is a missing piece of art that she needs to fund her future. Set up by the Society to act as a chaperone leading a group to Europe, she sets out to find an art collector in Venice that she thinks can help her. Little does she know there is someone else looking for that piece of art that had been a part of his family’s collection. Dante Augustus Montague tracts down a trail that leads to Lady Willie having the piece of art. As things often happen, as Dante attaches himself to Willie’s group, an attraction begins to grown. With each not knowing the other is seeking the same piece of art, when the truth comes out, it could be devastating. Follow the adventure of this highly amusing and charming couple and see where it takes them. As with all of Victoria Alexander’s books, you will be glad you picked this up to read. Cannot wait for more adventures of the Lady Travelers Society!
Lady Bascombe is expecting to accompany a group of ladies and their daughters to the continent on behalf of the Lady Travelers Society. She’s taken aback to learn one D. Montague is a very dashing man.
I liked that the main characters were of a more mature age. The humor is subtle. I enjoyed tagging along with this interesting group of characters on their European tour. Nicely told story.
Widow, Lady Wilhelmina Bascombe “Willie” is in a bind. She eloped with a dashing young man living a wild and exciting life until he died in an accident. Willie discovers her beloved wasn’t attending to business and she has to liquidate everything to pay their bills. She discovers her husband secured a loan with a painting given to her by her departed beloved grandmother. She has enough to pay off the loan and retrieve the last thing she has of value but the gentleman lives in Italy. She appeals to her Godmother, Mrs. Persephone “Aunt Poppy” Malcolm, one of the beloved trio who “advise” the Lady Traveler’s Society. These three ladies almost steal every one of these books. I just adore them. Anyway, Poppy and her friends manage to get Willie hired to be a tour guide to a group of American mothers and daughters for a tour of Europe, even though Willie has never traveled outside of England, so she can afford to get to Italy. Among the group is Dante Augustus Montague with his sister & her daughter. Dante is after the painting that belongs to his family’s museum and believes it was stolen from them. Thus begins the adventure.
This is written with such droll language and humor. People refer to themselves in the third person as “one” in the english way. I grin with the humor the permeates the book. The push/pull of Willie and Dante’s love developing was a fun journey. The friendship that develops between the mothers and Willie is heartwarming. The brother/sister interaction is entertaining and very real.
Thank you Victoria and Harlequin for granting me a NetGalley ARC for this freely given review. I was delighted through the whole journey.
I was given a publisher galley in exchange for a honest review.
The Lady Travelers series invites you to join a memorable journey to France and Italy with Lady Wilhelmina Bascombe also known as Willie as your travel guide. You will travel with a group of mothers and daughters and the brother of one of the mothers as they combine their English and American personalities into an adventure perhaps worthy of gossip sheets. In Venice, Willie hopes to meet-up with someone to pay off her deceased husband’s loan and return home with her grandmother’s painting which was used as collateral. The Venice exchange is the reason Willie has taken on the position of travel guide. Yet, does anything ever go as planned? The travel scenes are described so you can feel as if you are on the journey with them. Romance, a surprise additional guest, meeting up with old friends and larceny add a wealth of fun to this journey. Warning: Adult Sexual Content – which you can skip over and still fully enjoy the book