Stevie‘s review of Lady Elinor’s Wicked Adventures (Victorian Adventures, Book 1) by Lillian Marek
Historical Romance published by Sourcebooks Casablanca 04 Nov 14
I love stories about women who found semi-respectable ways to defy the conventions of their times, and Victorian adventurer heroines certainly fall into that category. Lady Elinor Tremaine and her mother are determined to explore the ruins of Italy as fully as possible and so design scandalously practical clothes in which to do so. Accompanying the Tremaine family on their travels is Harry, Viscount Tunbury, a long-standing friend of Elinor and her brother, whose parents are far less loving than Elinor’s and have scandalised society for decades – his father by his drinking and his mother by her affairs. Consequently, Harry feels that he will never be good enough to propose to Elinor, no matter how strong his feelings for her. Of course, Elinor has her own ideas regarding their situation.
Nineteenth Century Italy is very different to the England that Elinor’s family are used to, and they are very glad to have Harry along as a guide and translator, alongside the support of the British Consul. Staying with impoverished aristocrats in Rome, Harry and Elinor are caught up in revolutionary plots instigated by their hosts’ children. Then when they travel to the countryside to watch the excavations of some recently-discovered Etruscan ruins on another aristocrat’s estate, they get caught up in more plots – some of them against their new host.
Throughout the whole plot, Elinor proves herself to be just as resourceful as Harry in working to defeat the bad guys, and also turns out to be far more understanding of his family situation than he could have ever expected. So, having resolved the issues facing their new friends in Italy, they return together to England for a showdown with Harry’s mother and a reunion with his younger sisters.
I love the way those two work together, and I can see a relationship between them working out just as well as the example set for them by Elinor’s parents. My one criticism overall is that the title doesn’t quite fit the book and so almost put me off it before I’d properly read the blurb. I am now, however, looking forward to reading the next book in the series, which I believe will feature Elinor’s younger sister.
Grade: B
Summary:
Lady Elinor is searching for treasure
The intrepid Lady Elinor Tremaine is caught up in the Victorian fervor for exploring distant lands. Her travels throw her back in the company of an old friend-this time, far from the security of polite society.And uncovering the secrets of her own heart
Harry de Vaux, Viscount Tunbury, has loved Lady Elinor for as long as he can remember- but his family’s sordid background put her completely out of his reach. Prowling through Etruscan ruins in Italy with Elinor is exquisite torture. She is so close, and so forbidden…
Read an excerpt.
