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emmdahl's review
5.0
I was thoroughly enamored with "Roses in Red Wax" by Louise Mayberry. This historical romance novel contains all of my favorite elements: a rich Scottish history, a slow-burning romance, spicy scenes, a reverse grumpy/sunshine dynamic, a hero who falls first, and a heroine who ultimately saves the hero.
The story is set in 1820, during the early industrialization of Scotland. This period saw farmers and their families forced from their homes to crowd the city slums, where they worked long hours for minimal pay. The depiction of this era in Scottish history was both enlightening and engaging to read about.
The main characters, Jane Stuart and Percy Sommerbell, navigate these challenges from very different perspectives. Jane, a young woman who has suffered a multitude of losses, including her childhood love, her parents, and her home and community, feels numb to life. Percy, on the other hand, is the carefree son of a self-made man who would rather be enjoying life's pleasures in Greece than helping with his father's business in Glasgow. Despite her reluctance, Jane is drawn to Percy and their back-and-forth banter is delightful to read. Once Jane overcomes her fears and embraces her love for Percy, the two finally find their happy ending.
I was thoroughly impressed with Mayberry's debut novel and couldn't put it down until I reached the end! I eagerly anticipate her next book in the series.
The story is set in 1820, during the early industrialization of Scotland. This period saw farmers and their families forced from their homes to crowd the city slums, where they worked long hours for minimal pay. The depiction of this era in Scottish history was both enlightening and engaging to read about.
The main characters, Jane Stuart and Percy Sommerbell, navigate these challenges from very different perspectives. Jane, a young woman who has suffered a multitude of losses, including her childhood love, her parents, and her home and community, feels numb to life. Percy, on the other hand, is the carefree son of a self-made man who would rather be enjoying life's pleasures in Greece than helping with his father's business in Glasgow. Despite her reluctance, Jane is drawn to Percy and their back-and-forth banter is delightful to read. Once Jane overcomes her fears and embraces her love for Percy, the two finally find their happy ending.
I was thoroughly impressed with Mayberry's debut novel and couldn't put it down until I reached the end! I eagerly anticipate her next book in the series.
happily_after_heas's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
The only thing I knew about this book is that it was a debut novel. And even that can make a person pause because you aren't sure you want to take a chance on a debut author, or even a new to you author. However, I am very glad that I did. Thank you Louise Mayberry for the ARC.
We get a glimpse of our FMC, Jane, in the prologue as a relaxed, carefree young woman in love. But when we see her again, she is the opposite of that. She seems sad and withdrawn, almost anti-social. She resists meeting our MMC, Percy. She has secrets. And not just the one that she's no longer a virgin.
Percy is...well, I called him Pervy for the first 20% of the book. He is rich, entitled, spoiled, selfish, and doesn't seem to care if Jane wants to sleep with him or not. He is quite sure he can convince her of it with his smooth words. He doesn't take into account that she might be a lady or someone's sister and deserves a little respect. I wasn't disgusted with him but I did want to slap him...a lot. However, I reminded myself that I don't have to like the character from the jump and often they are written that way for "growth."
Pervy, I mean, Percy, just wants to leave Scotland for warmer climes and have all the sex with a former paramour. But his father is very sick and so Percy must check on the mills in Glasgow to ensure they are running properly. I must pause and say how much I appreciated Mayberry choosing Glasgow for the setting of this book. We don't see it much; we often see the more romantic city of Edinburgh instead. But the gritty, grimy Glasgow is central to the plot and Percy's growth.
Secret Jane is drawn to Percy and his carefree attitude but also offended at his treatment of her (again, when he is Pervy). Eventually she calls him out on it. They keep running into one another and through a series of natural events, begin to trust one another--or at least Percy trusts Jane. She is very good at keeping her secrets to herself but maybe not her hands and mouth.
Mayberry incorporated history into this historical romance. And not so much that you are bored or feel you are being lectured. Instead, it is woven into the story and a part of the characters and a catalyst for their growth. This book felt more like Percy's story than Jane's. He grows, she opens her heart again. There was a very surprising turn of events that felt very "gothic romance" to me that I actually quite enjoyed.
If you are looking for something with a bit more history than just another ton ball, set in a different city, and characters that actually come into their own, please consider giving this book a try. I highly enjoyed it AND you can tell that Mayberry is setting up another book. I want to see what happens with the other characters!
PS I opened the book to look something up and found myself sucked into the story again and wanting to read about these two all over again. That's a good book.
We get a glimpse of our FMC, Jane, in the prologue as a relaxed, carefree young woman in love. But when we see her again, she is the opposite of that. She seems sad and withdrawn, almost anti-social. She resists meeting our MMC, Percy. She has secrets. And not just the one that she's no longer a virgin.
Percy is...well, I called him Pervy for the first 20% of the book. He is rich, entitled, spoiled, selfish, and doesn't seem to care if Jane wants to sleep with him or not. He is quite sure he can convince her of it with his smooth words. He doesn't take into account that she might be a lady or someone's sister and deserves a little respect. I wasn't disgusted with him but I did want to slap him...a lot. However, I reminded myself that I don't have to like the character from the jump and often they are written that way for "growth."
Pervy, I mean, Percy, just wants to leave Scotland for warmer climes and have all the sex with a former paramour. But his father is very sick and so Percy must check on the mills in Glasgow to ensure they are running properly. I must pause and say how much I appreciated Mayberry choosing Glasgow for the setting of this book. We don't see it much; we often see the more romantic city of Edinburgh instead. But the gritty, grimy Glasgow is central to the plot and Percy's growth.
Secret Jane is drawn to Percy and his carefree attitude but also offended at his treatment of her (again, when he is Pervy). Eventually she calls him out on it. They keep running into one another and through a series of natural events, begin to trust one another--or at least Percy trusts Jane. She is very good at keeping her secrets to herself but maybe not her hands and mouth.
Mayberry incorporated history into this historical romance. And not so much that you are bored or feel you are being lectured. Instead, it is woven into the story and a part of the characters and a catalyst for their growth. This book felt more like Percy's story than Jane's. He grows, she opens her heart again. There was a very surprising turn of events that felt very "gothic romance" to me that I actually quite enjoyed.
If you are looking for something with a bit more history than just another ton ball, set in a different city, and characters that actually come into their own, please consider giving this book a try. I highly enjoyed it AND you can tell that Mayberry is setting up another book. I want to see what happens with the other characters!
PS I opened the book to look something up and found myself sucked into the story again and wanting to read about these two all over again. That's a good book.
plottrysts's review
4.0
This is a debut historical romance by indie author Louise Mayberry. Set in Scotland in the 1820s, this is the love story between Jane and Percy. Jane is the illegitimate daughter of a Scottish nobleman who is now living in relative poverty with her brother while he trains to be a doctor. Jane's recent past is full of tragedy: after her fiance died, her parents were in a fatal carriage accident. Since she and her brother are illegitimate, the new earl has them evicted from their childhood home. She lives in seclusion, almost relishing the solitude that gives her time to dwell on her sadness.
Percy is the son of a rich factory owner. For years he's lived as only a profligate son can: trips to Italy with his friend, where he lives in genteel bohemian debauchery: his friend paints, Percy plays the guitar, and they both engage the services of willing courtesans throughout their stay. But now, Percy is back in Scotland as the unhappy heir of his father's business interests while his father recovers from a fall from horseback.
The book has a melancholy feeling throughout: Jane is almost determined never to feel happiness again, since she knows it can all be taken away. Similarly, Percy is discovering that his carefree lifestyle was funded by factories that rely on child labor and other unsafe practices. While the romantic relationship develops into something both poignant and lasting, it begins as a true instalust situation. Percy sees Jane and he must have her! This leads to some inept wooing on his part, which Jane vows to resist. OK, sure - but we're not sure why Jane sees anything in Percy from this inauspicious beginning. (Well, he does play the guitar for her and apparently that's enough 🎸)
We did love the evolution of the relationship, and ended up on the Percy+Jane train. The ending verged on fairy tale territory, but you know what? We're in it for a universal HEA.
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.
Percy is the son of a rich factory owner. For years he's lived as only a profligate son can: trips to Italy with his friend, where he lives in genteel bohemian debauchery: his friend paints, Percy plays the guitar, and they both engage the services of willing courtesans throughout their stay. But now, Percy is back in Scotland as the unhappy heir of his father's business interests while his father recovers from a fall from horseback.
The book has a melancholy feeling throughout: Jane is almost determined never to feel happiness again, since she knows it can all be taken away. Similarly, Percy is discovering that his carefree lifestyle was funded by factories that rely on child labor and other unsafe practices. While the romantic relationship develops into something both poignant and lasting, it begins as a true instalust situation. Percy sees Jane and he must have her! This leads to some inept wooing on his part, which Jane vows to resist. OK, sure - but we're not sure why Jane sees anything in Percy from this inauspicious beginning. (Well, he does play the guitar for her and apparently that's enough 🎸)
We did love the evolution of the relationship, and ended up on the Percy+Jane train. The ending verged on fairy tale territory, but you know what? We're in it for a universal HEA.
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.
rjordan19's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot/Storyline: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥 (there’s a mix of scenes but a few are on the shorter side)
Humor: Yes, a bit
Perspective: Third person from both the hero and the heroine.
Should I read in order?
This is Louise Mayberry’s debut! Hooray!
Basic plot:
Jane has been dealt a cruel hand in life and when Percy comes in and makes her feel, she does her best to protect her heart from more pain.
Give this a try if you want:
- Scotland 1820s
- Musically inclined hero
- Botanist heroine
- epistolary – there’s a lovely section of letters written between the mains
- Heroine rescues hero
- opposites attract – our heroine is a bit closed off and reserved while the hero is a roaming free spirit
- Emotionally strong hero (hero cries)
- mix of romance, intrigue, and suspense
- well researched events and conditions of the setting/time period
- LGBT positive – a brief mention of friends that are gay
My thoughts:
What an absolutely delightful, unique, and emotional debut from Louise Mayberry!
I really fell in love with this novel. When I read the synopsis I was wondering if it would be a read that most of the focus was on the politics of the time including the mills and child labor laws and lacking on the romance. I didn’t find that AT ALL. It was the best of all the worlds – a blending of beautiful prose, heartbreaking research that created a rich back drop, and a couple that wrapped their story into my heart.
Percy is such a romantic at heart and I just adored him. His musician spirit was so special and I love how well he saw Jane’s heart from the beginning. He does suffer from the “I will never marry bug” but it’s done in a way that didn’t feel overused and I loved his head over heels tumble for Jane.
Jane is more of a prickly character with some mystery to her past at first. But I fell for Jane too and her sadness had me longing for her happily ever after so badly. I may have teared up at a part near the end when she is able to release herself from guilt that has held her heart captive and that is quite a compliment for my heart made of stone.
Some authors just make me pause and reread passages because I love the writing so much and I found this with Mayberry’s writing. So very happy to have found this new voice in the world of historical romance and can’t wait for more!
Quotes/spoiler-y thoughts:
Ugh it is SO CUTE
“My thanks.” He tucked the cloth into his pocket. “I’ll have it laundered and returned to you.” He would do no such thing. He would keep that handkerchief as long as it smelled of her.
---
Uncomplicated, uncontrived beauty.
Their eyes met for a split second, then she turned away, her cheeks suddenly stained pink.
---
I love how inspired he is with her
What he felt was more precious than simple arousel. It was inspiration, the purest and most powerful he’d ever felt.
Already he had two new compositions floating in the back of his mind. The first was a vivace – lighthearted and joyful. It was the moment she’d interrupted him. Their inane back and forth. Her laughter. She was a viola, rich and smooth. Playful. He was a pianoforte, bubbling up around her, lifting her up. The other was slower. A sultry, warm adagietto. Her viola played an airy, shimmering tremolo. His pianoforte, the melody of seduction . . .
---
“Jane.” His voice lowered to that same dark, sultry tone she remembered from their encounter in the dining room. She opened her mouth to respond, to admonish him for using her name, but he held up a hand, commanding her silence. “Don’t. Move.”
He closed the distance between them. Once stair. Two stairs. Then he was on the tread just below her. His breath was ragged in the silence. His scent enveloped her, weaving together with the sunlight, strengthening the enchantment that held her in place.
Content warnings:
- Mention of hero’s father being paralyzed from an accident
- Scenes/talk of child labor and unsafe labor practices
- Mention of 10-12 year old holding a baby in a poverty filled area of town
- Imprisonment and torture of the hero
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
Prologue – implied sex
10% - brief mention of hero masturbation
53% - 🔥 kisses, breast play, oral for her (bedroom)
69% - heroine masturbation (short)
93% - 🔥 kisses, oral/fingering for her, missionary (bedroom)
98% - 🔥 blow job (incomplete), her on top (it’s pretty short) (bedroom)
Plot/Storyline: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥 (there’s a mix of scenes but a few are on the shorter side)
Humor: Yes, a bit
Perspective: Third person from both the hero and the heroine.
Should I read in order?
This is Louise Mayberry’s debut! Hooray!
Basic plot:
Jane has been dealt a cruel hand in life and when Percy comes in and makes her feel, she does her best to protect her heart from more pain.
Give this a try if you want:
- Scotland 1820s
- Musically inclined hero
- Botanist heroine
- epistolary – there’s a lovely section of letters written between the mains
- Heroine rescues hero
- opposites attract – our heroine is a bit closed off and reserved while the hero is a roaming free spirit
- Emotionally strong hero (hero cries)
- mix of romance, intrigue, and suspense
- well researched events and conditions of the setting/time period
- LGBT positive – a brief mention of friends that are gay
My thoughts:
What an absolutely delightful, unique, and emotional debut from Louise Mayberry!
I really fell in love with this novel. When I read the synopsis I was wondering if it would be a read that most of the focus was on the politics of the time including the mills and child labor laws and lacking on the romance. I didn’t find that AT ALL. It was the best of all the worlds – a blending of beautiful prose, heartbreaking research that created a rich back drop, and a couple that wrapped their story into my heart.
Percy is such a romantic at heart and I just adored him. His musician spirit was so special and I love how well he saw Jane’s heart from the beginning. He does suffer from the “I will never marry bug” but it’s done in a way that didn’t feel overused and I loved his head over heels tumble for Jane.
Jane is more of a prickly character with some mystery to her past at first. But I fell for Jane too and her sadness had me longing for her happily ever after so badly. I may have teared up at a part near the end when she is able to release herself from guilt that has held her heart captive and that is quite a compliment for my heart made of stone.
Some authors just make me pause and reread passages because I love the writing so much and I found this with Mayberry’s writing. So very happy to have found this new voice in the world of historical romance and can’t wait for more!
Quotes/spoiler-y thoughts:
Ugh it is SO CUTE
“My thanks.” He tucked the cloth into his pocket. “I’ll have it laundered and returned to you.” He would do no such thing. He would keep that handkerchief as long as it smelled of her.
---
Uncomplicated, uncontrived beauty.
Their eyes met for a split second, then she turned away, her cheeks suddenly stained pink.
---
I love how inspired he is with her
What he felt was more precious than simple arousel. It was inspiration, the purest and most powerful he’d ever felt.
Already he had two new compositions floating in the back of his mind. The first was a vivace – lighthearted and joyful. It was the moment she’d interrupted him. Their inane back and forth. Her laughter. She was a viola, rich and smooth. Playful. He was a pianoforte, bubbling up around her, lifting her up. The other was slower. A sultry, warm adagietto. Her viola played an airy, shimmering tremolo. His pianoforte, the melody of seduction . . .
---
“Jane.” His voice lowered to that same dark, sultry tone she remembered from their encounter in the dining room. She opened her mouth to respond, to admonish him for using her name, but he held up a hand, commanding her silence. “Don’t. Move.”
He closed the distance between them. Once stair. Two stairs. Then he was on the tread just below her. His breath was ragged in the silence. His scent enveloped her, weaving together with the sunlight, strengthening the enchantment that held her in place.
Content warnings:
- Mention of hero’s father being paralyzed from an accident
- Scenes/talk of child labor and unsafe labor practices
- Mention of 10-12 year old holding a baby in a poverty filled area of town
- Imprisonment and torture of the hero
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
Prologue – implied sex
10% - brief mention of hero masturbation
53% - 🔥 kisses, breast play, oral for her (bedroom)
69% - heroine masturbation (short)
93% - 🔥 kisses, oral/fingering for her, missionary (bedroom)
98% - 🔥 blow job (incomplete), her on top (it’s pretty short) (bedroom)
sandywich89's review
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️,5/5
This is a debut novel.
I will repeat: this is a debut novel.
My mind is blown. What a gem. This is so well researched and the complexities and depth of the characters is amazing. The setting of Glasgow and the Scottish Highlands in the 1820s is described in such detail that it feels like you are actually there.
The beginning of the book is quite slow but it introduces the setting and the world. I adored the meetcute between Percy and Jane.
As the reader we don’t know all the secrets that Jane has, but you can feel her anxiety. It keeps you guessing as what happened in the 2 years between the prologue and the start of the first chapter.
When we first meet Percy he is the embodiment of the classic historical romance (capital r) Rake.
In typical rake fashion he wants Jane and devises a plan, but that plan goes south very very fast. And in stead of doubling down, he acknowledges his behavior and they *gasp* communicate!
Both the MC’s get a lot of shitty cards dealt to them, but somehow they try to live with them and try to do better.
They quickly get to know each other and I think my favorite part of the book might be the letters they write to each other. The book flies off from there and I just had to finish it.
Read if you like:
Flawed characters that feel real
Political background settings
Lots of adventure
Characters that actually communicate and dare to share their feelings
Family intrigue
Free spirited, music loving MMC
Botanist widow FMC
For readers that love books by:
Courtney Milan
Mary Balogh
Evie Dunmore
One tiny tidbit:
I am only not sure about the history of sepsis and when it was discovered that people can contract it with only a small pinprick of a wound. Also if it was actually described as such in the 1820s. Although I do have to say that I don’t mind small historical inaccuracies, I mean, it’s fiction after all.
Thank you so much Louise Mayberry for contacting me to see if I was interested in reading this book as an ARC. What a way to start your writing journey and I can’t wait for Cameron’s book!
Spice: 🌶️🌶️,5/5
This is a debut novel.
I will repeat: this is a debut novel.
My mind is blown. What a gem. This is so well researched and the complexities and depth of the characters is amazing. The setting of Glasgow and the Scottish Highlands in the 1820s is described in such detail that it feels like you are actually there.
The beginning of the book is quite slow but it introduces the setting and the world. I adored the meetcute between Percy and Jane.
As the reader we don’t know all the secrets that Jane has, but you can feel her anxiety. It keeps you guessing as what happened in the 2 years between the prologue and the start of the first chapter.
When we first meet Percy he is the embodiment of the classic historical romance (capital r) Rake.
In typical rake fashion he wants Jane and devises a plan, but that plan goes south very very fast. And in stead of doubling down, he acknowledges his behavior and they *gasp* communicate!
Both the MC’s get a lot of shitty cards dealt to them, but somehow they try to live with them and try to do better.
They quickly get to know each other and I think my favorite part of the book might be the letters they write to each other. The book flies off from there and I just had to finish it.
Read if you like:
Flawed characters that feel real
Political background settings
Lots of adventure
Characters that actually communicate and dare to share their feelings
Family intrigue
Free spirited, music loving MMC
Botanist widow FMC
For readers that love books by:
Courtney Milan
Mary Balogh
Evie Dunmore
One tiny tidbit:
I am only not sure about the history of sepsis and when it was discovered that people can contract it with only a small pinprick of a wound. Also if it was actually described as such in the 1820s. Although I do have to say that I don’t mind small historical inaccuracies, I mean, it’s fiction after all.
Thank you so much Louise Mayberry for contacting me to see if I was interested in reading this book as an ARC. What a way to start your writing journey and I can’t wait for Cameron’s book!
ameliabee33's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This was such a good 👏 debut 👏 novel 👏 There are themes of betrayal, acceptance of love and self, and of course a capture/daring escape scene- and what more could you want from a historical romance? Roses in Red Wax also brushes on the mistreatment of the workers in cotton mills, specifically exploitation of child labor, as well as the forced exodus of the Scottish from their homes to make way for "improvements".
Jane Stuart is unsure if she can accept Percy's love after she has lost everything, her love, her home, her apple trees that she worked so hard on. When Percy Sommerbell, a rake who unwillingly inherits his father's industrialist empire, wants a temporary dalliance with Jane to distract him from the horrible truth about his source of income, Jane finds herself reluctantly drawn to his charms. But how can Jane let herself love and be loved in return, when it feels like a betrayal to who she was? Percy wants a distraction to what weighs heavy on his mind and heart, nothing serious, but Jane has a way about her that makes him think things are not going to be as fleeting has he first planned.
Things I liked:
▪︎Jane's special interest in apples and botany
▪︎Musical vocab
▪︎The scene where Jane confronts her feelings for Percy and has that moment w/ her deceased husband and accepts that she can love again and everything is going to be okay I sobbed like a baby I was a mess 😭😭💕
▪︎He literally bought her a house
▪︎Percy actually doing something with his position of power to provide better working conditions and getting kids out of the mills
▪︎Kingcup yellow
Like I mentioned before, this was an excellent debut novel. I will definitely be rereading and finding more things that i enjoy to highlight and underline. Thank you to the author for an eARC, all opinions are my own! You can find this book March 3 :)
Jane Stuart is unsure if she can accept Percy's love after she has lost everything, her love, her home, her apple trees that she worked so hard on. When Percy Sommerbell, a rake who unwillingly inherits his father's industrialist empire, wants a temporary dalliance with Jane to distract him from the horrible truth about his source of income, Jane finds herself reluctantly drawn to his charms. But how can Jane let herself love and be loved in return, when it feels like a betrayal to who she was? Percy wants a distraction to what weighs heavy on his mind and heart, nothing serious, but Jane has a way about her that makes him think things are not going to be as fleeting has he first planned.
Things I liked:
▪︎Jane's special interest in apples and botany
▪︎Musical vocab
▪︎The scene where Jane confronts her feelings for Percy and has that moment w/ her deceased husband and accepts that she can love again and everything is going to be okay I sobbed like a baby I was a mess 😭😭💕
▪︎He literally bought her a house
▪︎Percy actually doing something with his position of power to provide better working conditions and getting kids out of the mills
▪︎Kingcup yellow
Like I mentioned before, this was an excellent debut novel. I will definitely be rereading and finding more things that i enjoy to highlight and underline. Thank you to the author for an eARC, all opinions are my own! You can find this book March 3 :)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death and Violence
whatcaroread's review
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
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