Tracey Devlyn has a brand new series out now–here’s book one!
About the book:
A promising young apothecary picks up the pieces of her life, only to collide with the ruthless thief-taker who once shattered her dreams and her heart.
When the love of his life chose an apprenticeship in Scotland over his marriage proposal, thief-taker Cameron Adair buried himself in his work–building an unmatched network of underworld spies. Forged by his reputation as a ruthless, greed-driven businessman, he has amassed a fortune. But he has one vulnerable spot in his armor–a brilliant, green-eyed apothecary, who continues to haunt his heart. When a murder investigation brings him back into contact with Charlotte Fielding, Cameron sets aside the past to find a killer and to distract a headstrong apothecary, clue by clue, kiss by kiss.
Review:
An excellent historical mystery with a touch of romance!
This one went right down to the wire–I only figured the mystery out (but not quite all the reasons behind it–a very twisted individual is involved) pages before the big reveal–and that was after turning back to the first time we saw that particular character to confirm something about their appearance. I love it when a mystery keeps you guessing!
The historical elements were a lot of fun too. The struggles that Charlotte had as a female apothecary at a time when few (if any–but Tracey makes an excellent point about this in her author’s note) women held the position provided an interesting parallel to the #HeforShe movement that’s been in the news, especially this week. (If you didn’t see them yet, check out Emma Watson’s excellent UN address and author Chuck Wendig‘s blog posts.) Cameron’s job as a “thief-taker” (an early private investigator) is fascinating. And I’ve never been quite so jealous of a fictional character before–he got to touch the Rosetta Stone! (The actual rock, not the software program, obviously. I especially enjoyed that it was a female character who was explaining to the male the potential worth of the amazing artifact. Cam was drawn to it, but described it as “a rock defaced by the scribblings of a child”.)
I was very pleased to discover that Night Storm is the first in a new series that will feature Charley and Cameron as a crime-solving couple–without realizing it, I started two such series this week, having finally listened to Naked in Death. I’m looking forward to continuing both series!
The romance–a second-chance one, yay!–offered plenty of chemistry and angst throughout much of the novel, and there was plenty of “Just give it up! You two are perfect for each other!” good-natured grumbling coming from this reader as she read. My only real complaint is that the resolution of that portion of the plot seemed to be resolved rather abruptly–he went from she can’t be in my world; it’s too dangerous to she’s the “one-day-soon” mother of my children and she went from well, this was nice–gotta go make my dinner appointment to hey, let’s continue the tour! Is that your bedchamber I see? really, really quickly. That was where I wanted them to go, though, and the scene that follows is highly enjoyable to read, so I can’t complain too much. 😉
This is definitely a series I’ll be reading more of.
Rating: 4 stars / B+
I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
Excerpt:
In the distance, Charlotte Fielding spotted the simple, white-lettered sign that marked her destination. Apothecary. The tension she’d been carrying in her shoulders since entering the Whitley residence loosened its biting grip. The strain between husband and wife had not lifted in her two-day absence. If anything, it had grown worse, now that Mr. Whitley felt well enough to defend himself.
Charlotte’s brisk pace slowed. A man was slumped on the pavement between her shop and the boarded-up bakery next door. He sat with one leg stretched out across the walkway, the other bent at an angle. The rim of his hat protected his face from identification. So, too, did the long black woolen coat and matching muffler around his neck.
The tension in Charlotte’s shoulders returned full force. Even though she could not identify him, she knew what he wasn’t—a beggar. Everything about him was too fine for him to be living in the streets. She glanced around, checking the evening shadows as best she could with only lamplight to aid her. Anderson’s lending library, Patterson’s coffee shop, Gertrude’s lace boutique, Tilly’s former bakery—they all stood silent and free of loitering troublemakers and customers. If she cried out for help, would the shopkeepers hear her from their snug, upstairs apartments?
She considered entering through the back of her building, an area normally reserved for deliveries, but she couldn’t bring herself to venture down the dank, narrow alleyway at this time of night. Drawing in a calming breath, she reached into her reticule and pulled out her pouch of pepper. A poor defense, she knew, but she always kept it, thinking it would give her a small chance of escape if thrown in an assailant’s face.
Increasing her pace, she stopped in front of her shop’s weathered door, the color of a cloud-streaked blue sky. The man remained motionless, silent. Eerily so. She experienced a moment of indecision. Should she nudge him? Could he be hurt and in need of assistance? Or should she continue on inside her own shop and mind her own business?
“Hello, Charley.” The voice was unmistakable.
A chill started at the base of her neck and swept through her body. Bone deep and breath stealing. With slow, precise movements, her gaze lowered to the source of the too-familiar voice. A voice that belonged to the only man who had ever called her Charley.
The man’s uplifted face revealed itself. Thick, bold eyebrows stood out on a pale, pain-filled face. A once-beloved face. Cameron Adair. What little air she had left disappeared at the sight of Cam—Cameron. Other than a brief glimpse of him a few months ago, she hadn’t seen him for years. But she would have known him anywhere. The shock of seeing him held her immobile, terrified in a way she hadn’t been since the early days of their falling out.
“Charley, I need your help.”
His words, laced with a strain born of hard-fought control, snapped her out of the past and plunged her back into the present. Cameron Adair was sprawled at her door, hurt, needing her help.
She slid her key into the lock. Metal scratched against metal until she heard a familiar click. Setting her bag inside the door, she returned outside. “Are you able to get to your feet?” She managed to keep her voice calm, unaffected. But inside, a violent tremor began and a maelstrom of questions flooded her mind. Why come to her? Where was he hurt? Why show up on her doorstep after complete and utter silence for five miserable years?
Carefully, she folded her hands at her waist and locked her knees before she could humiliate herself with senseless emotion. She had decided long ago to waste no more of it on Cameron Adair.
Something like disappointment flared in his blue, ice-chipped eyes. “Yes, with assistance.”
“Where are you hurt?”
“Left leg, right shoulder.”
“Let’s get you inside out of the cold, and I’ll hail a hansom cab to take you to Dr. Hollingsworth.”
He shook his head and mumbled, “I’ve been shot. Lost too much blood.”
“Cameron, I can’t—”
“You must,” he interrupted. “I haven’t the strength to go elsewhere.”
She knew what it had cost him to admit to such weakness. And because she knew this about him, an unrivaled fear forced her to his side.
Positioning herself in a crouch, Charlotte took a steadying breath before sliding her arm around his broad back. Blood, sweat, and a masculine scent uniquely Cameron’s filled her nose. She gritted her teeth against an overwhelming desire to inhale deeply.
“Ready?” she asked.
He nodded once, his full lips pressed into a thin, determined line. Bending forward, he wrapped an arm around her shoulder to brace himself. The new position put them face-to-face, breath-to-breath.
Bonus!
Also, for a limited time, Tracey will be giving away the first short story she ever published—HIS SECRET DESIRE—re-edited and re-packaged with a beautiful new cover. FREE for a LIMITED TIME at the following locations.
About the author:
Tracey Devlyn is an award-winning author who writes historical romantic thrillers (translation: a slightly more grievous journey toward the heroine’s happy ending). She’s a co-founder of Romance University, a group blog dedicated to readers and writers of romance, and Lady Jane’s Salon-Naperville, Chicagoland’s exciting new reading salon devoted to romantic fiction.
An Illinois native, Tracey spends her evenings harassing her once-in-a-lifetime husband and her weekends torturing her characters. For more information on Tracey, including her Internet haunts, contest updates, and details on her upcoming novels, please visit her website.
Connect with Tracey:
Site: http://traceydevlyn.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorTraceyDevlyn
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TraceyDevlyn
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4099565.Tracey_Devlyn
Becky, thanks for featuring Night Storm on your blog. I’m SO glad you enjoyed Cam and Charley’s story.
Thanks so much for letting me read it 🙂 Can’t wait for the next one (subtle hint ;))