Unmasking Lady Helen by Maggi Andersen

Unmasking Lady Helen
The Kinsey Family #1

Maggi Andersen
Historical Romance
Published in 2017

H/h - Jason, Lord Peyton/Lady Helen Kinsey
Setting: London, 1821.

Read in September, 2017.

My rating:

                                                       [spoiler alert]

Maggi Andersen’s latest release, Unmasking Lady Helen, is a heart-warming regency romance. I had previously read two of the author’s earlier works and been quite impressed so kind of binge reading her backlist right now. I found Unmasking Lady Helen a bit different in tone than the other two. But it’s a very lovely story that you’ll definitely end up loving.

Unmasking Lady Helen is the first book of The Kinsey Family. Lady Helen, the eldest daughter of Lord Kinsey, a researcher and an explorer, is what you’d call a ‘mother hen’. Well, our hero definitely thought she was! A loving eldest daughter who loves to take care of her family, Helen is an all around sweetheart. Her siblings range from 22 yrs. old heir Harry to 18yrs. old Diana the debutante, 14yrs. old Toby to the youngest, 4/5 yrs. old Alexander whom everybody affectionately calls Zander. Helen herself is 24. She was never married and hopes to become the spinster aunt as time passes. She likes helping around the house, take care of her siblings, especially Zander who is completely crazy for her. She also likes to help her mother with her charity and everything else that may need her attention in frequent absence of their traveler father.

The Folly At Falconbridge Hall by Maggi Andersen

The Folly At Falconbridge Hall 

Maggi Andersen
Historical Romance
Published in 2013

H/h - Julian Grieve, Lord Falconbridge/Vanessa Ashley
Setting: England, 1894.

Read in September, 2017.

My rating:

                                                       [spoiler alert]

The Folly At Falconbridge Hall was yet another intriguing Maggi Andersen read that I had on my TBR for a long time. I’m so glad I finally read it because I really enjoyed the story.

Previously I read The Baron’s Wife, which is a standalone novel set in the very late 19th or early 20th century. The Folly At Falconbridge Hall is also a standalone (at least I think so), set around the same time, if a bit early in 1894. The storyline follows the same pattern, yet it’s not exactly the same. Whereas in the previous book, the h Laura arrives at the H’s mysterious castle that has been in the family for centuries after marrying him, here the h, Vanessa arrives at Falconbridge Hall as a governess.

The daughter of a good family, Vanessa had fallen on hard times when her parents passed away leaving her nearly destitute. Her father, the second son of a peer, had lost all contact with his own family after his marriage to Vanessa’s mother he fell out of favor with them. Vanessa’s mother was an active suffragist and influenced her daughter’s education and free thinking. Vanessa would’ve loved to be a part of it too, had her parents not passed away pretty close to one another, forcing her to seek an employment. To her surprise, Vanessa’s uncle, her father’s elder brother, came to visit her after her parents’ passing. Though that didn’t do much to make them any closer than before, he did help her getting this new job. Vanessa didn’t want to become a governess but with her credentials, that’s as close an honorable job she could’ve gotten. After all, she needs the financial stability. Her employer has a 10yrs. girl who needs a governess ASAP and Vanessa couldn’t wait to find out what’s in store for her in her new workplace.

The Baron's Wife by Maggi Andersen

The Baron's Wife

Maggi Andersen
Historical Romance
Published in 2017 (originally in 2010)

H/h - Nathaniel Lanyon, Baron Wolfram/Laura Parr
Setting: England, 1899.

Read in August, 2017

My rating:

                                                          [spoiler alert]

The Baron’s Wife (formerly titled Night Garden) was on my TBR list for quite a few years, since before it was republished this year. Funnily enough, when I started, I didn’t know this was the same book as Night Garden, but I’m so glad that finally I gave it a try cause I really enjoyed the story. This is my first Maggi Andersen book and definitely won’t be my last!

The Baron’s Wife is set at the turn of the century England. Our h, Laura is an educated woman who had attended university, and a staunch supporter and activist of women’s suffrage. After her twin sister Eliza’s death, Laura is now the only child of her peer of the realm parents. Though Lord Parr supports his daughter’s cause, her mother is old-fashioned and finds it all rather too bold and pointless as women, in her mind, will never have the same freedom as men. Lady Parr despairs of Laura, who refuses to marry and be bound to a man who may put an end to all her life’s dream, her hard work.

One rainy day though, that changed when Laura met Nathaniel, Baron Lanyon and fell for him on spot. Even though Laura refused to think that she may be so attracted to a man that her good senses are leaving her, it was what it was. Laura was hopelessly attracted to this man she’d just me that day! Nathaniel escorts her home as she was alone on her way there out of concern and meets her mother. Lady Parr is more than interested in tall, dark and handsome Nathaniel. He had an old title and a good standing in the parliament. Plus he was young and rich, so she expected Laura to encourage his suit. Though Laura wasn’t sure at first, soon to her surprise, it was apparent enough that Nathaniel was indeed interested in her! One thing led to another, and after a short, whirlwind courtship, Laura finds herself as Lady Lanyon, forever bound to a man she knows little about.

Book Blast and Giveaway: Taming a Gentleman Spy by Maggi Andersen

Today is the last day of the Book Blast of Maggi Andersen's Taming a Gentleman Spy, book 2 in The Spies of Mayfair series. Below find the book and author information, alongside an excerpt. Please don't forget to comment to be entered in the giveaway!

Maggi Andersen will award a $50 Amazon GC plus an ebook of A Baron in Her Bed (The Spies of Mayfair #1) to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. 

Taming a Gentleman Spy

Maggi Andersen

(The Spies of Mayfair #2)

John Haldane, Earl of Strathairn, is on an urgent mission to find the killer of his fellow spy. After visiting the young widow of one of his agents, Strathairn strengthens his resolve. A spy should never marry, and most certainly not to Lady Sibella Winborne, with her romantic ideas of love and marriage. Unable to give Sibella up entirely, he has kept her close as a friend. Then, weak fool that he is, he kissed her.

Lady Sibella Winborne has refused several offers of marriage since she first set eyes on the handsome Earl of Strathairn. Sibella’s many siblings always rush to her aid to discourage an ardent suitor, but not this time. Her elder brother, Chaloner, Marquess of Brandreth, has approved Lord Coombe’s suit.  Sibella yearns to set up her own household. She is known to be the sensible member of the family, but she doesn’t feel at all sensible about Lord Strathairn. If only she could forget that kiss.

Buy Links:

Amazon | B&N | Knox Robinson Publishing