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4.18 AVERAGE
4.18 AVERAGE
Fantastic historical romance - I loved this book. Well written and compulsive reading - I couldn't put it down.
Set in the beautiful location of the rugged Cornish coast, stunning scenery descriptions - I was there with the characters. I loved the relationship dynamics between the lead characters - they have great chemistry. I found it heartwarming to see their relationship grow closer - their romance is perfectly paced. A good cast of surrounding characters. It is a story about family, love and betrayal set against a dangerous background of smuggling.
A delight to read, I highly recommend this book and look forward to the next one from this author.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Set in the beautiful location of the rugged Cornish coast, stunning scenery descriptions - I was there with the characters. I loved the relationship dynamics between the lead characters - they have great chemistry. I found it heartwarming to see their relationship grow closer - their romance is perfectly paced. A good cast of surrounding characters. It is a story about family, love and betrayal set against a dangerous background of smuggling.
A delight to read, I highly recommend this book and look forward to the next one from this author.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
I accidentally read these books from Victoria Cornwall back to front as this is the first in the Cornwall books with a past reviewed book The Captain's Daughter being book 2. Luckily it doesn't matter too much as the stories are quite self contained.
This is another well written historical romantic drama that it's easy to get lost in. The descriptions of Cornwall are beautiful and really conjure up a time past. I loved the romance and the overall story. It's a great debut and having also enjoyed the second book too this is an author I'm keen to read more of.
Thank you to Netgalley and Choc Lit for the free arc
This is another well written historical romantic drama that it's easy to get lost in. The descriptions of Cornwall are beautiful and really conjure up a time past. I loved the romance and the overall story. It's a great debut and having also enjoyed the second book too this is an author I'm keen to read more of.
Thank you to Netgalley and Choc Lit for the free arc
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Saw a review of this by a Choc Lit author I've enjoyed and decided to give it a go. I wasn't disappointed
The Thief’s Daughter by Victoria Cornwall is a 2017 Choc Lit publication.
Tax laws make smuggling a big temptation, becoming a very lucrative business in eighteenth century Cornwall.
As a result, thief takers step in, striking fear and hatred into the smuggling rings. When Jenna was a child, her entire family was torn asunder thanks to a thief taker, but Jenna is spared after she was issued a dire warning.
Despite her best efforts to do the right thing, Jenna marries poorly and is only saved from years of abuse by the hangman’s noose. When she steps up to insure her husband will indeed die at the gallows, it looks as though she is committing an act of mercy. As she runs from the angry crowd, Jack Penhale aids in her escape.
But, this will not be their last meeting. Jenna ends up working for Jack as his housekeeper. But, as it turns out, Jack is a thief taker. Not only that, he is the man responsible for putting Jenna’s brother, Silas, in debtor’s prison. To help Silas pay off his debts, Jenna will have to do the very thing she swore she never would… become a smuggler. Soon she finds herself torn between the man she is falling in love with and her loyalty to Silas, her ne’er do well brother.
What a fantastic historical drama! I’m always a sucker for a book set in Cornwall, so this one already had a slight advantage going in. However, I am very impressed by the obvious research the author must have done, because the scenery, the dress, dialogue, etc. is very authentic. Anyone who has seen me rip into historical romance novels because of their lack of authenticity will know this means a lot to me. That’s really all I ask, just be true to the setting and the historical era. I don’t mind liberties being taken with the plot because it is fiction, after all. But, in this case, the author has created a compelling story that is not only authentic, but realistic as well.
I really liked Jack, who was kind and upright, but was also smart and worldly. He too suffered much in his life and his quest was very noble. Jenna was, despite her hardships, still a little gullible, willing to believe the best in the undeserving, while questioning those who wanted to protect her and keep her from undue heartache, while standing by their own convictions.
The story was very absorbing, very tense at times, as danger looms. The love story was a slow burn for a while, but reached great passion, was filled with angst and fraught with moral dilemmas on both sides. I thought the story had much depth and was often difficult to put aside. I enjoyed the conclusion and was happy to see Jenna finally obtain a measure of peace and happiness.
This is my first book by this author, but not my last. I am eager to continue with this series.
Tax laws make smuggling a big temptation, becoming a very lucrative business in eighteenth century Cornwall.
As a result, thief takers step in, striking fear and hatred into the smuggling rings. When Jenna was a child, her entire family was torn asunder thanks to a thief taker, but Jenna is spared after she was issued a dire warning.
Despite her best efforts to do the right thing, Jenna marries poorly and is only saved from years of abuse by the hangman’s noose. When she steps up to insure her husband will indeed die at the gallows, it looks as though she is committing an act of mercy. As she runs from the angry crowd, Jack Penhale aids in her escape.
But, this will not be their last meeting. Jenna ends up working for Jack as his housekeeper. But, as it turns out, Jack is a thief taker. Not only that, he is the man responsible for putting Jenna’s brother, Silas, in debtor’s prison. To help Silas pay off his debts, Jenna will have to do the very thing she swore she never would… become a smuggler. Soon she finds herself torn between the man she is falling in love with and her loyalty to Silas, her ne’er do well brother.
What a fantastic historical drama! I’m always a sucker for a book set in Cornwall, so this one already had a slight advantage going in. However, I am very impressed by the obvious research the author must have done, because the scenery, the dress, dialogue, etc. is very authentic. Anyone who has seen me rip into historical romance novels because of their lack of authenticity will know this means a lot to me. That’s really all I ask, just be true to the setting and the historical era. I don’t mind liberties being taken with the plot because it is fiction, after all. But, in this case, the author has created a compelling story that is not only authentic, but realistic as well.
I really liked Jack, who was kind and upright, but was also smart and worldly. He too suffered much in his life and his quest was very noble. Jenna was, despite her hardships, still a little gullible, willing to believe the best in the undeserving, while questioning those who wanted to protect her and keep her from undue heartache, while standing by their own convictions.
The story was very absorbing, very tense at times, as danger looms. The love story was a slow burn for a while, but reached great passion, was filled with angst and fraught with moral dilemmas on both sides. I thought the story had much depth and was often difficult to put aside. I enjoyed the conclusion and was happy to see Jenna finally obtain a measure of peace and happiness.
This is my first book by this author, but not my last. I am eager to continue with this series.