Unmasking Miss Appleby by Emily Larkin
Unmasking Miss Appleby (Baleful Godmother series) by Emily Larkin
1805 London Marcus Langford, Earl of Cosgrove, is attacked and his secretary harmed. [image error]He hires a new secretary Christopher Albin, who happens to really be Charlotte Appleby. Charlotte is 25 and a faery has given her one wish. Charlotte is orphaned and living with her uncle and aunt, who treat her horribly. She wants independence but the job of a governess or schoolmistress won’t pay much. She sees the ad for a secretary but it is for a man. She chooses the gift of metamorphosis – the only catch is she will miscarry if she changes shape while pregnant. Having no hopes of marrying, she chooses it and finds employment with Marcus. He lists six men who may want him dead and they begin to investigate each one to determine who it is.
Because he is fighting to end slavery in the British colonies, Lord Barshdon is on the list because of his opposing politics; Sir Broderick Hyde and his companions are also pro-slavery. Phillip Langford is his nephew and heir and always asking for money. Gerald Monkwood is his brother-in-law and blames him for Lavinia’s death. She fell from the roof of their country home, Hazelbrook Hall. She also had an affair with his best friend, Sir Barnaby of Ware, the last name on the list.
Although the investigation into who wants to kill him takes up much of the novel, the story is about Marcus and his relationships with Albin and Charlotte. Larkin is hilarious in showing Charlotte in the guise of Albin being taken to a brothel to meet with Phillip and then asking all sorts of questions about sex of Marcus, who answers as best as he can, feeling sorry for the innocent young man. He also shows him how to throw a punch and tie a neckcloth.
Charlotte also turns into dogs, birds, mouse, and a burly man. Larkin shows how she has to adjust to each new form. And did I say bear? She becomes defensive of Marcus and rescues him several times as more attempts are made on his life. She also uses her nose as a dog to find out who the hired men are. Larkin uses the shape-shifting skill to maximum effect in this story.
Charlotte has a mannerism of lining articles up in a neat line and you know it will tip Marcus off at some point. Larkin is a skilled storyteller. She has combined history, romance, and a little magic to create a unique and entertaining story. We know Marcus, who has already been betrayed by his wife, Lavinia, will be broken by Charlotte’s lies and deception, even though they are her only choice. It makes you turn every page wondering how will she resolve the problems once the secret is revealed.
