The Girl with the Pearl Pin
4 Stars

In order to protect an innocent young woman accused of theft, London's most eligible bachelor, the Duke of Leomore, announces to one and all that she is his fianćee. While shy and sweet Phoebe North acknowledges and accepts that Leo's attentions are simply a ruse until the actual culprit is apprehended, she desperately wishes that the proposal were real - especially once his flirtation turns to passion.

The idea of an investigative organization comprised of women on the fringes of society beyond the attention of the ton, i.e., wallflowers, companions, governesses, spinsters and poor relations, has tremendous potential. Unfortunately, the Society for Single Ladies plays such a minor role in the story as to be non-existent, which is very disappointing.

Nevertheless, the rest of the book, focusing on Leo and Phoebe's romance, is delightful due to their obvious emotional connection and sizzling chemistry. Leo's affection for and protection of Phoebe are evident from the start and make him a particularly appealing hero. While my preference is usually for more forceful heroines, Phoebe grows in confidence throughout the story, and her strength and resilience in coping with her disability are admirable. That said, it would have been even better if she had confronted her mother regarding her favoritism toward her obnoxious sister and put said sister more firmly in her place.

While the mystery takes a back seat to the romance, it has its exciting moments and the resolution is exceedingly satisfying as the culprit gets their just desserts.

Overall, an excellent beginning to the series and I look forward to continuing. ( )

Move over Ton elite, New Players are in town!

On the outside she's a demure young woman, always relegated to second place beside her younger, beautiful and vastly shallow sister Lucinda. Miss Phoebe North has removed to London ahead of her family to keep her friend Angela Childers company. Angela is a wealthy young woman, not interested in finding a husband, but in husbanding her business ventures and her latest brainchild, the Single Ladies Society.
Pheobe has a terrible stutter, a lively intelligence, a keen sense of the ridiculous and is convinced of her unworthiness to be special. She is! Unbeknownst to all, including Phoebe, inside hides a wanton woman the match for any strong man.
Enter the Duke of Leomore, “Call me Leo,” whom we meet at the beginning of the story just as enticement gives way to alarm! Phoebe and Leo are thrown into the midst of a jewel heist and Phoebe is accused of the theft. Our noble Duke saves Phoebe from that situation but even his best actions can't quieten the societal gossips and jealous remarks.
Phoebe, I think is worthy of our most stalwart Heyer like heroine. Leo certainly can lay claim to being a kindred spirit to many of Heyer's heroes.
I did feel that the story had no need to devote so many pages to the couple's lingering kisses and intimacies. In fact I found myself skipping through the bedroom antics. Although, I must say that for a shy spinster of the time (1750's), Pheobe displays a fervency I'd have more attributed to that of the Duke's ex mistress La Coccinelle. Still we have been told Phoebe has an inquiring mind. Her libido certainly hasn't been squashed by her years of being ignored. She and the Duke will have to ensure the servants wear ear muffs.
What I really wanted was more focus on the catching of the jewel thieves. That became a bit elusive. Both the mysterious jewel robbery and the doings of the Single Ladies Society are frequently lost in the romantic tendrils of the novel. Unfortunately, the SSL doesn't seem to have really found it's stride yet. I expect/hope that will happen as the series develops.
I must say too that Phoebe's sister Lucinda is a wonderful 'Piece of Work'. Connolly created a truly dreadful, willful sister, that was so easy to dislike. I kept wanting people to giver her the 'cut direct' or some such thing. Totally spoilt brat!
The opening is rather brilliant. That really hooked me in.
And yes, I will want to read further books in this Georgian romance/mystery series and follow the lives of some of the more interesting ladies met so far.

A Kensington ARC via NetGalley ( )

Review originally publised at Romancing Romances.

I received an eARC through NetGalley, and I am leaving a voluntary and honest review. Thank you.

2.75*

This was my first time reading a book by Lynne Connolly. To be honest, I don’t actually know what I was expecting.

This book is a bit slow, particularly in the beginning, but it gets better closer to the end.

The best thing about the book for me was the Society for Single Ladies, yet we saw so little of them… Hopefully they’ll get a bigger spotlight in the next books.

I liked Phoebe more than Leomore, he was a bit too possessive for my liking, but in the end he gets better. Phoebe is a clever young woman, and she deserves to be happy.

The mystery didn’t really work for me, I was pretty sure of the result right from the beginning.

Angela, Phoebe’s best friend, is one of the best characters of the book, and I think her story will be more interesting.

The romance wasn’t bad, but it could have been better… There just wasn’t enough chemistry for me between the main characters.

This is the kind of book that doesn’t really stick with you, it’s pleasant, but that’s just about it. ( )

I received an ARC of this book to read through NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. The Girl With The Pearl PIn by Lynne Connolly is the first book in her new series The Society for Single Ladies. In order to escape an unwanted suitor shy Phoebe North has come to stay with her cousin Angela Childers who is quite unique for the time, she is a banker and the leader of a group of ladies uninterested in seeking husbands, who enjoy solving crimes. George Cavendish, Duke of Leomore has been tasked by his grandmother with finding a bride and sees Angela as a likely candidate. However when Phoebe is accused of a theft she did not commit Leo steps in and says they are engaged in order to protect her reputation. They become quite close while searching for the true thief and what started off as a fake engagement may end up as something quite different. Lots of adventure some nasty villains and a lovely HEA made this book a quite enjoyable read. Medium Steam. Publishing Date September 10, 2019
#NetGalley #TheGirlWithThePearlPin #LynneConnolly #KensingtonBooks #LyricalPress #Bookstagram #HistoricalRomance ( )

Series: The Society for Single Ladies #1
Publication Date: 9/10/19
Number of Pages: 247

This book was a lovely start to a new series. We met future characters and learned the start of The Society for Single Ladies. I was particularly intrigued by the founder of the Society, Miss Angela Childers who may be featured in a book with Col, Duke of Colston Magna. That could definitely be an interesting match.

Leo, delightful, delicious Duke of Leomore, is all that is proper and appropriate. He’s handsome and rich – and according to his grandmother – he’s in need of a bride. He’ll look around this season, but silly debutants just don’t appeal. The only one who might hold his interest is Angela Childers who has staunchly declared that she will never marry. Leo decides to approach her for a dance, but she foists him off on her cousin, Phoebe North, who is visiting from the country.

Phoebe stutters when she’s stressed and she’s also sometimes a bit awkward. Leo is incensed when others ignore her during the dance and when she trips and begins to fall he sees her chagrin and rescues her. Uncharacteristically, he scoops her up and carries her outside to help repair the damage to her ruffle and to calm her. He feels the need to kiss her, but before he can, there is a commotion and she dashes out to see what is happening. A heavily cloaked man runs into her – and the rest of the people in attendance at the ball are running behind him. When the worst gossip in London, Lady Latimer, points her finger at Phoebe and accuses her of being the thief, Leo steps forward and says that can’t be so because she has just been accepting his proposal.

Phoebe definitely doesn’t think she’s duchess material – and Leo isn’t sure either, but the more time he spends with her, the more he is attracted. He’s sure it is a physical attraction, but he likes her as a friend too and that is all he needs in a wife – he has absolutely no desire for love in his marriage.

I absolutely adore the way this author handled a scurrilous, underhanded, sly kidnapper. It is one of the best ‘punishments’ I’ve seen. I loved it. I didn’t love the non-punishment that the theft mastermind got – and I wasn’t thoroughly clear on whether there was one or two masterminds. I’ll be interested to see what happens to Lucinda in the future – if we ever get to see that.

This was a fun read and a great introduction to the series. I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I did.

I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. All thoughts and opinions are my own. ( )