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A review by stitchsaddiction
A Lady Most Intrigued by Jenni Ward
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
A Lady Most Intrigued is a wonderful story that I loved and read far too quickly because it was that good. This time, we have a tale that is based around The Frog Prince.
Set in an English mill town during the Regency era, Ward successfully brings that world to life – one many of us in England will have learnt about in school. We encounter Hannah Sheppard, daughter of the mill owner who feels misplaced in her society-driven world, and John Ingham who has a loyalty to his family and whilst accepting of his place in the world also seems as though he doesn’t quite fit. Both are the metaphorical square pegs in the story – not ever quite fitting into where they are to be.
I loved them both, and how they meet is right out of a classic romance and from that moment the two are drawn to one another. The other characters in the story give depth to A Lady Most Intrigued, from James, who works with John and voices the realities of how hard millwork was and how hard they tried to fight for safety and health for all with strikes across whole towns of England, to Millie the quiet sister of James whose cough and ill-health is a harsh reminder that cotton items came at a horrific cough.
‘...I work at a cotton mill where it snows every day.’
Then there’s Lady Catherine who only cares about her wealth, place in society and whilst aware of what she does to others. Sees them as items to replace and inconveniences which is unfortunately historically correct, and I found Ward’s acknowledgement in this story of the bad elements of the time and setting despite it being fictional and a love story.
The romance is gentle, and the connection between Hannah and John is tangible. Seeing their story unfold is sweet, but it’s the mystery the two have to unravel that had me unable to place the book down. Each string of the mystery is well done and takes both the reader and the couple onto the next in a captivating manner.
I loved this one, and this series is so good as each author gives us a unique spin on the infamous tales the Grimm brothers collated. I also loved that the Grimm story this is spun from is mentioned in A Lady Most Intrigued which had me smiling.
Set in an English mill town during the Regency era, Ward successfully brings that world to life – one many of us in England will have learnt about in school. We encounter Hannah Sheppard, daughter of the mill owner who feels misplaced in her society-driven world, and John Ingham who has a loyalty to his family and whilst accepting of his place in the world also seems as though he doesn’t quite fit. Both are the metaphorical square pegs in the story – not ever quite fitting into where they are to be.
I loved them both, and how they meet is right out of a classic romance and from that moment the two are drawn to one another. The other characters in the story give depth to A Lady Most Intrigued, from James, who works with John and voices the realities of how hard millwork was and how hard they tried to fight for safety and health for all with strikes across whole towns of England, to Millie the quiet sister of James whose cough and ill-health is a harsh reminder that cotton items came at a horrific cough.
‘...I work at a cotton mill where it snows every day.’
Then there’s Lady Catherine who only cares about her wealth, place in society and whilst aware of what she does to others. Sees them as items to replace and inconveniences which is unfortunately historically correct, and I found Ward’s acknowledgement in this story of the bad elements of the time and setting despite it being fictional and a love story.
The romance is gentle, and the connection between Hannah and John is tangible. Seeing their story unfold is sweet, but it’s the mystery the two have to unravel that had me unable to place the book down. Each string of the mystery is well done and takes both the reader and the couple onto the next in a captivating manner.
I loved this one, and this series is so good as each author gives us a unique spin on the infamous tales the Grimm brothers collated. I also loved that the Grimm story this is spun from is mentioned in A Lady Most Intrigued which had me smiling.