For the Jane Austen Lover in Your Life

Do you love Jane Austen?  Do you love romance novels with wit, family drama, and the English countryside?  If you do, you need to check out Cindy Antsey’s books.

Love, Lies and Spies

Juliana Telford is not your average nineteenth-century young lady. She’s much more interested in researching ladybugs than marriage, fashionable dresses, or dances. So when her father sends her to London for a season, she’s determined not to form any attachments. Instead, she plans to secretly publish her research.

Spencer Northam is not the average young gentleman of leisure he appears. He is actually a spy for the War Office, and is more focused on acing his first mission than meeting eligible ladies. Fortunately, Juliana feels the same, and they agree to pretend to fall for each other. Spencer can finally focus, until he is tasked with observing Juliana’s traveling companions . . . and Juliana herself.

Why Do I Love this Book?

• The main character is a lady scientist in 19th century England – how often do you see that?
• The secrets!  In true Jane Austen style, Juliana is bold and passionate and she often doesn’t have all of the facts.  She doesn’t know about Spencer’s secret career as a spy and that often gets her into hot water.  Similarly, Spencer doesn’t exactly know that Juliana isn’t your average lady waiting to get married.  Their misunderstandings make for such a fun story.

Buy Love, Lies and Spies on Amazon

Duels and Deception

Lydia Whitfield has her future entirely planned out. She will run the family estate until she marries the man of her late father’s choosing, and then she will spend the rest of her days as a devoted wife. Confident in those arrangements, Lydia has tasked her young law clerk, Robert Newton, to begin drawing up the marriage contracts. Everything is going according to plan.

Until the day Lydia—and Robert along with her—is kidnapped. Someone is after her fortune and won’t hesitate to destroy her reputation to get it. With Robert’s help, Lydia strives to keep her family’s name unsullied and expose the one behind this devious plot. But as their investigation delves deeper and their affections for each other grow, Lydia starts to wonder whether her carefully planned future is in fact what she wants…

Why Do I Love this Book?

• I loved Lydia.  She thought she knew it all.  She usually did.  I loved watching her question her big plans.  Throughout the story, she learned that life is unpredictable and that’s what makes it so fun.
• I also really enjoyed the historical accuracy.  The social elements of the time greatly impacted the way Robert acted around Lydia (i.e. he knew he liked her but since he was a third son, he also knew he didn’t have a chance with her).  Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres (along with YA and romance), so this book rolls all of those favorites together.

Buy Duels and Deception on Amazon

Carols and Chaos

1817. The happy chaos of the Yuletide season has descended upon the country estate of Shackleford Park in full force, but lady’s maid Kate Darby barely has the time to notice. Between her household duties, caring for her ailing mother, and saving up money to someday own a dress shop, her hands are quite full. Matt Harlow is also rather busy. He’s performing double-duty, acting as valet for both of the Steeple brothers, two of the estate’s holiday guests.

Falling in love would be a disaster for either of them. But staving off their feelings for each other becomes the least of their problems when a devious counterfeiting scheme reaches the gates of Shackleford Park, and Kate and Matt are unwittingly swept up in the intrigue.

Full of sweetness, charm, and holiday mischief, Carols and Chaos—a standalone companion novel to Suitors and Sabotage—is perfect for readers who like their historical fiction with a side of romance and danger.

Why Do I Love this Book?

• I haven’t read this one yet.  Since it’s holiday themed, I wanted to save it for Christmas time.  But, I promise to post an update once I have read it.
• But Cindy Antsey is so amazing, I couldn’t in good conscience leave this one out of my post!

Buy Carols and Chaos on Amazon

**Not pictured**

Suitors and Sabotage

Shy aspiring artist Imogene Chively has just had a successful Season in London, complete with a suitor of her father’s approval. Imogene is ambivalent about the young gentleman until he comes to visit her at the Chively estate with his younger brother in tow. When her interest is piqued, however, it is for the wrong brother.

Charming Ben Steeple has a secret: despite being an architectural apprentice, he has no drawing aptitude. When Imogene offers to teach him, Ben is soon smitten by the young lady he considers his brother’s intended.

But hiding their true feelings becomes the least of their problems when, after a series of “accidents,” it becomes apparent that someone means Ben harm. And as their affection for each other grows—despite their efforts to remain just friends—so does the danger. . .

Update Coming Soon…

This book is scheduled to arrive at my house on Tuesday, so I haven’t read it yet, but I am putting it on the top of my TBR pile.

Buy Suitors and Sabotage on Amazon

The Hummingbird Dagger

1833. A near-fatal carriage accident has deposited an unconscious young woman on the doorstep of Hardwick Manor and into the care of young Lord James Ellerby. But when she finally awakens, it is with no memory of who she is or where she came from.

Beth, as she calls herself, has no identity; the only clue to her circumstances is a recurring nightmare of a hummingbird, blood dripping from its steel beak.

With the help of James and his sister, Caroline, Beth tries to solve the mystery of her own identity and the appalling events that brought her to their door. But nothing could prepare her for the escalating dangers that threaten her and the Ellerby clan. From the hazardous cliffs of Dorset to the hostile streets of London, Beth will fight to reclaim her past, hunted by a secretive foe with murderous intentions.

Update Coming Soon…

This book is also slated to arrive on Tuesday as it is not released yet.  I was not lucky enough to get an ARC of this one so I will have to wait to tell you how much I loved it on release day.

Buy The Hummingbird Dagger on Amazon

If you like these things, you will like Cindy Antsey’s books…

• Downton Abbey
• Jane Austen
• Historical Fiction
• The Lost Girl of Astor Street by Stephanie Morrill
• A Curious Beginning, A Perilous Undertaking, A Treacherous Curse, and A Dangerous Collaboration (aka The Veronica Speedwell series)