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The Rookery Rogues #2
Secrets in Scarlet
When a girl is murdered at a factory in one of London’s rookeries, Sergeant Thaddeus Knight of the Metropolitan Police comes in to investigate. But it’s not just the factory owners that Thaddeus wants information on—the devilishly intriguing Poppy O’Reilly is a puzzle he’d like nothing more than to solve.
Protecting her young daughter is the most important thing to Poppy, and Thaddeus threatens the false identity she’s carefully constructed. The last thing she should do is allow Thaddeus close to her family, yet she can’t stay away from him. With danger around the corner, will the secrets of a scarlet woman lead to their undoing?
Protecting her young daughter is the most important thing to Poppy, and Thaddeus threatens the false identity she’s carefully constructed. The last thing she should do is allow Thaddeus close to her family, yet she can’t stay away from him. With danger around the corner, will the secrets of a scarlet woman lead to their undoing?
322 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 9, 2014
494 people are currently reading
459 people want to read
About the author
Erica Monroe
30 books161 followersUSA Today Bestselling Author Erica Monroe writes dark, gritty historical romance. Her current series include Gothic Brides (Regency Gothics), The Rookery Rogues (pre-Victorian gritty working class romance), and Covert Heiresses (Regency spies who are the children of a duke). She was a finalist in the published historical category for the prestigious Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Romantic Suspense, and her books have been recommended reads at Fresh Fiction, Smexy Books, SBTB, and All About Romance. When she's not writing, she's drinking coffee, reading comic books, or watching televison. She lives in the suburbs of North Carolina with her husband, two dogs, and two cats. Visit Erica online at ericamonroe.com and sign up for her new release newsletter at: hyperurl.co/emnl.
Erica does not read Goodreads messages or respond to invitations. She rarely checks Goodreads.
Erica does not read Goodreads messages or respond to invitations. She rarely checks Goodreads.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
February 8, 2017
“Thaddeus stared openly, but not at the assorted trinkets. He looked only at her. Under the weight of his stare, everything faded away.3.5 stars...I think?
When she looked into his eyes, she saw love. Maybe she’d spent her life trying to find him. Simply by being himself, he’d pierced her heart. Her soul craved him, marking him as essential to survival as breathing or drinking water. As if he’d been made for her, he filled the empty, lonely parts of herself she’d long ago given up on healing.
In this stripping of every wall she’d built up around her, for the first time in two years, she finally felt like herself again.
She was free.”
Obviously, it was super tough to settle on a rating for Secrets in Scarlet because I think I appreciated it more than I actually liked it. I know, that probably makes no sense but bear with me for a minute here.
One thing I did love without question was Thaddeus. He’s my favorite type of hero, the kind I wish I saw more of, preferably over the abundance of alphaholes I usually encounter in HRs. Thaddeus was sweet, considerate, respectful and most adorably, a bookworm. Thaddeus even described himself as a bit of a stiff which I found to be extra endearing. He was also very perceptive and thought everything through with his own pragmatic sense of reasoning. This trait, as well as his ambitions of becoming a police inspector, left him out of step with his noble family. So basically he was an oddball of sorts, what with his high moral compass and desire to see the corrupt pay for their sins. This optimism made his presence the perfect foil for Poppy’s cynicism, as well as a direct contrast to the harsh world of the rookeries.
I had trouble connecting with Poppy, at least at first. I don’t believe she was the most likable of heroines and I often found myself very frustrated with her. But believe it or not, I actually enjoyed this aspect of her characterization. The fact that she was neither completely likable nor entirely dislikable made her character all the more authentic and realistic, in my opinion. She was also VERY young; 19 to be exact and I’m sure that played into her lack of maturity in her handling of certain situations. But it was her strength to keep moving forward that was most admirable, especially in light of everything she had been through: ruined by a cruel lordling, bearing a child out of wedlock, trying desperately to provide for her daughter, all while she was essentially alone. In that context, it made perfect sense that she would push Thaddeus and happiness in general away, partly out of fear and also because she didn’t feel at that point in time that she deserved to be happy. It took a long time for Poppy to abandon this way of thinking but when she did, when she accepted Thaddeus’s love and the love she had for him, she could finally free herself from that pain that had for so long shackled her to the past.
Poppy and Thaddeus as a couple were very well matched. It was interesting to see the combination of a man who only saw the world in a black and white, right or wrong perspective and a woman whose life was perpetually grey, and the ways in which they affected and changed each other irrevocably for the better. Even when Poppy was pulling back almost the entire time, Thaddeus didn’t push for more. I felt that Poppy really needed that type of power restored to her since so much of her life had been out of her control. The pair also had some truly sweet moments, like flirt quoting Shakespeare verbatim back and forth to each other and squeeing over Thaddeus’s impressive library; my precious book nerds! The sexy times weren’t too bad either and by that I mean ridiculously hot. I also really loved how effortlessly Thaddeus accepted Poppy’s daughter Moira and came to love her as his own.
Where this book started to fall apart for me was the main plot. It was nowhere near as interesting or exciting as A Dangerous Invitation’s. So while the chemistry of the main couple was off in book 1, I think the overall flow of everything save for the main couple was off here. Poppy’s stubbornness throughout did often make getting to the HEA that much harder which in turn caused the pacing to stutter a bit. Still, by the last chapter, I was more than satisfied that Poppy and Thaddeus had carved out a believable happy end in spite of their bleakish surroundings. Erica Monroe’s writing often leaves me quite conflicted and unsure of the full scope of my feelings regarding characters, plot, etc. and I’ve come to really enjoy this about her books.
July 30, 2018
This romantic suspense took place in 1832 London.
It featured Thaddeus, a Cambridge-educated Metropolitan
Police man, from an upper middle class family & Poppy, a
factory weaver. Rookery residents called Police "Peelers."
The h had friends who 'fenced' stolen goods, past and
present.
These 2 clashed from the start. Poppy did not believe Tad
sincere about finding the murderer of a girl employed at
her same factory. Tad knew Poppy had secrets, in part, b/c
her accent slipped, when they met.
Tad believed in keeping order and following schedules. His
strong moral compass attracted & repulsed Poppy at the
same time. I enjoyed this hero and thought he 'stole' the
story.
It featured Thaddeus, a Cambridge-educated Metropolitan
Police man, from an upper middle class family & Poppy, a
factory weaver. Rookery residents called Police "Peelers."
The h had friends who 'fenced' stolen goods, past and
present.
These 2 clashed from the start. Poppy did not believe Tad
sincere about finding the murderer of a girl employed at
her same factory. Tad knew Poppy had secrets, in part, b/c
her accent slipped, when they met.
Tad believed in keeping order and following schedules. His
strong moral compass attracted & repulsed Poppy at the
same time. I enjoyed this hero and thought he 'stole' the
story.
January 24, 2015
Secrets in Scarlet was my first book of Erica Monroe's. The premise of these Georgian-set historicals is right up my alley. They feature non-noble characters, though the hero of Secrets in Scarlet is just a tad socially higher-placed than the heroine, who lives in The Rookery, a rough, working-class neighborhood of London. Though once they seem to have been more on a level, that was before Thaddeus became a sergeant with the Metropolitan Police and before Poppy had a child out of wedlock. Questions of social class are explored at length in this book, but I'm getting ahead of myself.
I haven't read the first book of the Rookery Rogues series yet, but I believe we are introduced to both Thaddeus and Poppy there when Poppy's brother gets into some trouble he can't extract himself from and Thaddeus renders assistance. So when Thaddeus approaches Poppy outside the textile factory where she works, Poppy is initially wary of being seen with him and suspicious of his motives, largely because she has constructed an alternate identity in order to keep her daughter and the rest of her family safe from the interference of the man who fathered her child.
Thaddeus on the other hand, is utterly devoted to maintaining law and order. And while his socially-conscious family is embarrassed of his position with the police, Thaddeus can't help but want to help people, particularly working class women and lower, those who have no one to protect them if he doesn't. His motives aren't entirely unselfish in this regard though since his early days in London were marred by a murdered prostitute dying in his arms. He just can't take the idea of a murderer running around loose; both for potential victims and for himself. So when another woman is murdered right outside the factory where Poppy works, it throws the two of them together because Thaddeus needs Poppy's help to figure out what's really going on with her employer.
Overall, I was impressed with this book. The mystery was well-done and not entirely obvious, which is rare for me to find, particularly in a romance. The interactions between Poppy and Thaddeus were precious--both their initial sniping at each other and their later, more tender moments. There's also a character named Atlas Greer, a crime lord and art collector, who I was just salivating over so I'm quite hopeful that he gets his own book eventually. And I really, really, love that there's no reliance on fantastic notions of high-born Dukes carrying the romances of this series.
There were just a few touches that made this work feel a bit immature to me, like making one of the primary villains a child-molester in addition to being a and just an all-around bad guy. It felt like unnecessary short-hand, just to be sure that we knew he was really, truly BAD. Not to say that there was in any way anything wrong with the book. There wasn't. It was just enough to make me deeply desire the knowledge immediately of how amazing Monroe will be as a writer in three or five years time. It seems to me after reading this one that she has the potential to be a romance genre stand-out. It's minor, subtle details of plot and characterization, of broader themes and connections, where this book was almost there, but not quite. There was so much discussion of Thaddeus' parents' attitudes about his job and exploration of Poppy's fall from grace, but it never resolved into what I'd call a coherent theme. It seems like there was something it wanted to say, but it didn't quite get there.
I do have the first book in this series and I'll be reading that as soon as may be. And as I said, eagerly awaiting more about Atlas Greer, an utterly fascinating character and a horribly romantic figure that I can't wait to learn more about. And if you are, like many of us historical romance readers, just the tiniest smidge tired of reading about yet another Duke and balls and garden parties and the Ton, I can highly recommend this series based on my reading of this second book.
Disclosure: I know Erica Monroe from Twitter and received a copy of Secrets in Scarlet from NetGalley for review purposes.
I haven't read the first book of the Rookery Rogues series yet, but I believe we are introduced to both Thaddeus and Poppy there when Poppy's brother gets into some trouble he can't extract himself from and Thaddeus renders assistance. So when Thaddeus approaches Poppy outside the textile factory where she works, Poppy is initially wary of being seen with him and suspicious of his motives, largely because she has constructed an alternate identity in order to keep her daughter and the rest of her family safe from the interference of the man who fathered her child.
Thaddeus on the other hand, is utterly devoted to maintaining law and order. And while his socially-conscious family is embarrassed of his position with the police, Thaddeus can't help but want to help people, particularly working class women and lower, those who have no one to protect them if he doesn't. His motives aren't entirely unselfish in this regard though since his early days in London were marred by a murdered prostitute dying in his arms. He just can't take the idea of a murderer running around loose; both for potential victims and for himself. So when another woman is murdered right outside the factory where Poppy works, it throws the two of them together because Thaddeus needs Poppy's help to figure out what's really going on with her employer.
Overall, I was impressed with this book. The mystery was well-done and not entirely obvious, which is rare for me to find, particularly in a romance. The interactions between Poppy and Thaddeus were precious--both their initial sniping at each other and their later, more tender moments. There's also a character named Atlas Greer, a crime lord and art collector, who I was just salivating over so I'm quite hopeful that he gets his own book eventually. And I really, really, love that there's no reliance on fantastic notions of high-born Dukes carrying the romances of this series.
There were just a few touches that made this work feel a bit immature to me, like making one of the primary villains a child-molester in addition to being a and just an all-around bad guy. It felt like unnecessary short-hand, just to be sure that we knew he was really, truly BAD. Not to say that there was in any way anything wrong with the book. There wasn't. It was just enough to make me deeply desire the knowledge immediately of how amazing Monroe will be as a writer in three or five years time. It seems to me after reading this one that she has the potential to be a romance genre stand-out. It's minor, subtle details of plot and characterization, of broader themes and connections, where this book was almost there, but not quite. There was so much discussion of Thaddeus' parents' attitudes about his job and exploration of Poppy's fall from grace, but it never resolved into what I'd call a coherent theme. It seems like there was something it wanted to say, but it didn't quite get there.
I do have the first book in this series and I'll be reading that as soon as may be. And as I said, eagerly awaiting more about Atlas Greer, an utterly fascinating character and a horribly romantic figure that I can't wait to learn more about. And if you are, like many of us historical romance readers, just the tiniest smidge tired of reading about yet another Duke and balls and garden parties and the Ton, I can highly recommend this series based on my reading of this second book.
Disclosure: I know Erica Monroe from Twitter and received a copy of Secrets in Scarlet from NetGalley for review purposes.
October 4, 2014
I didn't realize that I had a short prequel AND a first-in-the-series waiting for me to read on my kindle, until I was half way through this one. And the only reason I did find that out, was because this one was so good, I wanted to rush out and get a stash of books written by the same author!
So, yes, this one is a really great read, and no, you don't have to have read either the prequel or the first-in-the-series to really enjoy it.
What did I like about it?
The setting was excellent, as was the plot, but what I particularly enjoyed about this book was that unlike other historical romances set in the Rookeries of London, this one shows that, although these represented the slums and poorest areas, they were also just homes for ordinary people, some of whom were on their way up society, and others on their way down. It really shared a sense of a society in motion, with active middle and working classes. It also went into a lot of wonderful detail into the work of the weavers, a group of people, whose lives had changed forever with the Industrial Revolution.
Now, what about the romance? Well, this book has one of the best written love scenes I think I've ever read. There. I said it. It's beautifully-written, hot and steamy, and just flows into the plot seamlessly.
Also, I loved the hero and heroine. It was such a refreshing change to have two protagonists who are relatively young in age. They have been matured by their experiences, but particularly the hero has a boyish charm which is endearing.
So what didn't I like?
The cover. Now I know that covers don't really mean a whole lot, but that cover, while not bad, does not convey 1830s London in the Rookeries, as much as 21st century corporate romance.
Anyway, 4 stars. I really liked it. And I'm going straight to read the prequel and first-in-the-series right now..
So, yes, this one is a really great read, and no, you don't have to have read either the prequel or the first-in-the-series to really enjoy it.
What did I like about it?
The setting was excellent, as was the plot, but what I particularly enjoyed about this book was that unlike other historical romances set in the Rookeries of London, this one shows that, although these represented the slums and poorest areas, they were also just homes for ordinary people, some of whom were on their way up society, and others on their way down. It really shared a sense of a society in motion, with active middle and working classes. It also went into a lot of wonderful detail into the work of the weavers, a group of people, whose lives had changed forever with the Industrial Revolution.
Now, what about the romance? Well, this book has one of the best written love scenes I think I've ever read. There. I said it. It's beautifully-written, hot and steamy, and just flows into the plot seamlessly.
Also, I loved the hero and heroine. It was such a refreshing change to have two protagonists who are relatively young in age. They have been matured by their experiences, but particularly the hero has a boyish charm which is endearing.
So what didn't I like?
The cover. Now I know that covers don't really mean a whole lot, but that cover, while not bad, does not convey 1830s London in the Rookeries, as much as 21st century corporate romance.
Anyway, 4 stars. I really liked it. And I'm going straight to read the prequel and first-in-the-series right now..
April 23, 2015
Copy provided by Season Publishing via NetGalley for an honest review.
This was a FUN little SUSPENSEFUL historical story! I've read a few Erica Monroe stories and have loved them all!
There's nothing not to like about this book. The setting was perfectly done and it not only showed the the slum aspect of the Rookeries of London, but it also showed the people who were doing their best to better themselves out of the Rookeries. I'm not sure how to explain it, but most of the time with historical novels, you either see 'rich' people or 'bums'. This story had a a lot of in between! Which made the story even more realistic and believable. That's enough about the setting. LOL Let's move on to the H/h ... what wonderful two characters these were! They were young but only by number. They were matured because of life! They blended so well together ... from their feisty banter in the beginning to their tenderness in the end! The mystery aspect of the story was done so well, it wasn't even predictable! LOVED THAT!
So overall, I really enjoyed myself reading this story and I think that if you're a reader who likes historical nobles, you will too!
This was a FUN little SUSPENSEFUL historical story! I've read a few Erica Monroe stories and have loved them all!
There's nothing not to like about this book. The setting was perfectly done and it not only showed the the slum aspect of the Rookeries of London, but it also showed the people who were doing their best to better themselves out of the Rookeries. I'm not sure how to explain it, but most of the time with historical novels, you either see 'rich' people or 'bums'. This story had a a lot of in between! Which made the story even more realistic and believable. That's enough about the setting. LOL Let's move on to the H/h ... what wonderful two characters these were! They were young but only by number. They were matured because of life! They blended so well together ... from their feisty banter in the beginning to their tenderness in the end! The mystery aspect of the story was done so well, it wasn't even predictable! LOVED THAT!
So overall, I really enjoyed myself reading this story and I think that if you're a reader who likes historical nobles, you will too!
September 25, 2014
Secrets in Scarlet (The Rookery Rogues Book 2) by Erica Monroe
Overview by Amazon:
When a girl is murdered at a factory in one of London’s rookeries, Sergeant Thaddeus Knight of the Metropolitan Police comes in to investigate. But it’s not just the factory owners that Thaddeus wants information on–the devilishly intriguing Poppy O’Reilly is a puzzle he’d like nothing more than to solve.
Protecting her young daughter is the most important thing to Poppy, and Thaddeus threatens the false identity she’s carefully constructed. The last thing she should do is allow Thaddeus close to her family, yet she can’t stay away from him. With danger around the corner, will the secrets of a scarlet woman lead to their undoing?
As I read this book, an interesting item popped up on my twitter feed. It was a link to an article in USA Today written by Madeline Hunter (an author I really enjoy)http://www.usatoday.com/story/happyev.... She was writing about how publishers dislike historical romance novels set outside of England. She taps a few of her colleagues to get their experience, and they confer with her assessment. Books set outside of the traditional Regency period of the Upper ton in England are NOT a publisher dream – and also not as likely to make the best seller list. I can think of some of my favourite books that are set in lush tropical settings or humid faraway lands, like Shanna by Kathleen Woodiwiss and the Ascension Trilogy by Galen Foley. Many historical romance novels are set in the wilderness of the new world or the bustling streets of India. I’ve enjoyed them all, but I guess I’ve been conditioned to seek and enjoy the stories of the upper crust of London and their sprawling estates in the countryside.
This got me thinking about the types of characters typically featured in historical romance novels, not just the setting. Most books tend to focus on the Lords and Ladies of the manor. Sometimes the gentry and those in professions are explored. But usually they are relegated to minor supporting roles, such as the doctor or banker the Lords rely on. Lisa Kleypas has bucked this trend with her Bow Street Runner series and this book was reminiscent of this series.
This was a solid, good romance story. It proved that whether you are wealthy or not, love finds people in all circumstances in life. It isn’t often that a historical romance novel explores the lowest classes of people. The main character Poppy didn’t start that way, she came from a solid family home, but through her poor choices, she is forced into a dire living.
It was fascinating to read about the lives of the poor in England in the 1830s. The author provides a great deal of research to the story about how the poor eked out a living and the dangers that were a persistent and common threat.
Poppy works at a looming factory where there has been a murder. It is being investigated by a rather determined Thaddeus, an officer with the Met. The Met are not Bow Street Runners, with their ha’ penny novels and romantic illusions. They patrol the meanest streets and the worst rookeries to stop crime before it starts.
Thaddeus is an honourable man. He comes from a well to do family who despises his chosen profession. He wants to make a difference, and therefore befriends Poppy to do some reconnaissance for him on what is really going on in the factory run by the evil Larkers. The mystery surrounding a young woman’s death and the true business ventures of the Larkers makes for an exciting mystery. This plot line was great and I held my breath as I worried about the danger they were both facing.
Poppy has one motivation in this book. To care for her infant daughter. Seduced by a bored Lord and abandoned with child, she was stained with a Scarlett A and forced to leave her home. She has fallen on hard times and has a few family members helping her so that she doesn’t have to turn to prostitution to support her daughter. She is weary of Thaddeus as what he is asking is dangerous to her position and to the secrets and lies she carries with her daily.
The investigation brings the two of them closer. They discover similar interests, like how much they enjoy reading. What surprised me about this book was how young the characters are. In most novels, the woman is in her early 20s and the man pushing 30. Poppy is 19 and Thaddeus is only 24. Yet they seem like old souls as the things they have witnessed in life have aged the joy out of life.
Thaddeus realizes that his interest in Poppy goes beyond the investigation. He wants her, even as socially unacceptable as she is to his position in life. He struggles with the lies she has told him, but respects that she is making her way in life.
The mutual attraction between the two is always lurking in the background. Poppy is afraid of physical intimacy as the birth of her daughter is a strong motivation to stay chaste, yet she is drawn to the wonderful qualities about Thaddeus. He lusts for her like no other woman. You get the sense that he is not an experienced man, as he adorably refers to a pamphlet he has read on how to pleasure a woman. A few drinks, a bad day, men stalking Poppy, ends up with a wonderful and hot scene in a bar where they are overcome with lust and need. It was a great scene and it takes the relationship from a stage of careful interactions to full reality.
As with most people who live in Spitalfields, things aren’t easy. These two don’t have a perfect resolution to the drudgery and filth surrounding their lives. They both have to bend to compromise on a future. Although the ending is very satisfying and I was hoping for the events that occurred, you are left with the knowledge that they are one in a million.
I think it was great to read a historical romance novel that didn’t trivialize the lives of the downtrodden and the lead characters thought more of safety and daily existence than bonnets and gowns. This book fits the category of historical romance novels, but it was a refreshing read and a great reality check on the world at that particular time.
Reviewed by www.kiltsandswords.com Thank you to NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Overview by Amazon:
When a girl is murdered at a factory in one of London’s rookeries, Sergeant Thaddeus Knight of the Metropolitan Police comes in to investigate. But it’s not just the factory owners that Thaddeus wants information on–the devilishly intriguing Poppy O’Reilly is a puzzle he’d like nothing more than to solve.
Protecting her young daughter is the most important thing to Poppy, and Thaddeus threatens the false identity she’s carefully constructed. The last thing she should do is allow Thaddeus close to her family, yet she can’t stay away from him. With danger around the corner, will the secrets of a scarlet woman lead to their undoing?
As I read this book, an interesting item popped up on my twitter feed. It was a link to an article in USA Today written by Madeline Hunter (an author I really enjoy)http://www.usatoday.com/story/happyev.... She was writing about how publishers dislike historical romance novels set outside of England. She taps a few of her colleagues to get their experience, and they confer with her assessment. Books set outside of the traditional Regency period of the Upper ton in England are NOT a publisher dream – and also not as likely to make the best seller list. I can think of some of my favourite books that are set in lush tropical settings or humid faraway lands, like Shanna by Kathleen Woodiwiss and the Ascension Trilogy by Galen Foley. Many historical romance novels are set in the wilderness of the new world or the bustling streets of India. I’ve enjoyed them all, but I guess I’ve been conditioned to seek and enjoy the stories of the upper crust of London and their sprawling estates in the countryside.
This got me thinking about the types of characters typically featured in historical romance novels, not just the setting. Most books tend to focus on the Lords and Ladies of the manor. Sometimes the gentry and those in professions are explored. But usually they are relegated to minor supporting roles, such as the doctor or banker the Lords rely on. Lisa Kleypas has bucked this trend with her Bow Street Runner series and this book was reminiscent of this series.
This was a solid, good romance story. It proved that whether you are wealthy or not, love finds people in all circumstances in life. It isn’t often that a historical romance novel explores the lowest classes of people. The main character Poppy didn’t start that way, she came from a solid family home, but through her poor choices, she is forced into a dire living.
It was fascinating to read about the lives of the poor in England in the 1830s. The author provides a great deal of research to the story about how the poor eked out a living and the dangers that were a persistent and common threat.
Poppy works at a looming factory where there has been a murder. It is being investigated by a rather determined Thaddeus, an officer with the Met. The Met are not Bow Street Runners, with their ha’ penny novels and romantic illusions. They patrol the meanest streets and the worst rookeries to stop crime before it starts.
Thaddeus is an honourable man. He comes from a well to do family who despises his chosen profession. He wants to make a difference, and therefore befriends Poppy to do some reconnaissance for him on what is really going on in the factory run by the evil Larkers. The mystery surrounding a young woman’s death and the true business ventures of the Larkers makes for an exciting mystery. This plot line was great and I held my breath as I worried about the danger they were both facing.
Poppy has one motivation in this book. To care for her infant daughter. Seduced by a bored Lord and abandoned with child, she was stained with a Scarlett A and forced to leave her home. She has fallen on hard times and has a few family members helping her so that she doesn’t have to turn to prostitution to support her daughter. She is weary of Thaddeus as what he is asking is dangerous to her position and to the secrets and lies she carries with her daily.
The investigation brings the two of them closer. They discover similar interests, like how much they enjoy reading. What surprised me about this book was how young the characters are. In most novels, the woman is in her early 20s and the man pushing 30. Poppy is 19 and Thaddeus is only 24. Yet they seem like old souls as the things they have witnessed in life have aged the joy out of life.
Thaddeus realizes that his interest in Poppy goes beyond the investigation. He wants her, even as socially unacceptable as she is to his position in life. He struggles with the lies she has told him, but respects that she is making her way in life.
The mutual attraction between the two is always lurking in the background. Poppy is afraid of physical intimacy as the birth of her daughter is a strong motivation to stay chaste, yet she is drawn to the wonderful qualities about Thaddeus. He lusts for her like no other woman. You get the sense that he is not an experienced man, as he adorably refers to a pamphlet he has read on how to pleasure a woman. A few drinks, a bad day, men stalking Poppy, ends up with a wonderful and hot scene in a bar where they are overcome with lust and need. It was a great scene and it takes the relationship from a stage of careful interactions to full reality.
As with most people who live in Spitalfields, things aren’t easy. These two don’t have a perfect resolution to the drudgery and filth surrounding their lives. They both have to bend to compromise on a future. Although the ending is very satisfying and I was hoping for the events that occurred, you are left with the knowledge that they are one in a million.
I think it was great to read a historical romance novel that didn’t trivialize the lives of the downtrodden and the lead characters thought more of safety and daily existence than bonnets and gowns. This book fits the category of historical romance novels, but it was a refreshing read and a great reality check on the world at that particular time.
Reviewed by www.kiltsandswords.com Thank you to NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
October 10, 2018
This book is fantastic! I'm in love with Erica's style. Gritty and realistic romantic suspense with diverse and strong characters is well done in each of the books I've read. With Secrets in Scarlet, it seems even better than her first Rookery Rogues book which I didn't think was possible. I've already started the third book! If you like historical romance but also mystery and suspense, strong vibrant characters, and very different and unique hero and heroine mashups, this book and series (as well as all of Erica's work) is for you!
March 31, 2015
This fabulous historical romantic suspense story is the tale of Poppy and Thaddeus. While investigating the murder of a factory worker, Thaddeus sets his sights on Poppy as one who can help him gain inside information. Poppy owes Thaddeus a favour for saving her brother's life but holds her own secrets close to her heart, secrets she fears will destroy the dawning attraction between them. With time running out, can Poppy trust Thaddeus with her heart or will the killer catch up with her first?
It is immediately obvious from the start that this is a well researched and meticulously crafted story. The setting with its descriptions of house and home, businesses, and general life for the average citizen is well described and immerses the reader wholly into the story. Even the vocabulary is accurate and true to the time, so one doesn't get jarred out of the story by a modern term. Unlike most historical romance novels, the protagonists are not Lords and Ladies, but average people, eking out their existence in any way possible.
Thaddeus, born into a middle class family, disappoints them with his pursuit of a policeman's career. His character was wonderful as an upright, determined young man (age 24 though his deportment would indicate someone of more mature years) dogged in his fact finding and smitten with the lovely but mysterious Poppy. He know he is ill regarded in the rookeries but doesn't hesitate to do what he can to solve the young teen's murder. One can't help but like him, with his shy smiles, his desire to do what's right, his single mindedness and his care and treatment of Poppy and her child. Poppy too is an engaging character, full of shame over secrets in her past but learning to stand up for herself and fiercely protective of her child. She knows injustice and suspects the murder of her friend could happen to another girl she works with. The opportunity to help Thaddeus is too much for her to resist - on the one hand to help with the case, but on the other to find an excuse to spend time with him, feeling that her attraction to him, though mutual is a fantasy that won't be fulfilled. With a slow simmer, the attraction between them heats up until neither can resist and the resulting love scenes are steamy and seductive.
Completing the world of the rookeries are glimpses into other character's lives - that of Daniel and Kate (hero and heroine of the first book in the series A Dangerous Invitation), Atlas the gentleman thief, Abigail a co-worker of Poppy's from the factory and assorted villains and friends who make the story flow and add intrigue, humour, tension and action to the plot.
Overall I found this story to be a fascinating view into a slice of time gone now but not forgotten, with an intriguing and suspenseful plot, engaging characters, and a sweet romance between two people who deserve a happy ever after. 5 fabulous stars!
It is immediately obvious from the start that this is a well researched and meticulously crafted story. The setting with its descriptions of house and home, businesses, and general life for the average citizen is well described and immerses the reader wholly into the story. Even the vocabulary is accurate and true to the time, so one doesn't get jarred out of the story by a modern term. Unlike most historical romance novels, the protagonists are not Lords and Ladies, but average people, eking out their existence in any way possible.
Thaddeus, born into a middle class family, disappoints them with his pursuit of a policeman's career. His character was wonderful as an upright, determined young man (age 24 though his deportment would indicate someone of more mature years) dogged in his fact finding and smitten with the lovely but mysterious Poppy. He know he is ill regarded in the rookeries but doesn't hesitate to do what he can to solve the young teen's murder. One can't help but like him, with his shy smiles, his desire to do what's right, his single mindedness and his care and treatment of Poppy and her child. Poppy too is an engaging character, full of shame over secrets in her past but learning to stand up for herself and fiercely protective of her child. She knows injustice and suspects the murder of her friend could happen to another girl she works with. The opportunity to help Thaddeus is too much for her to resist - on the one hand to help with the case, but on the other to find an excuse to spend time with him, feeling that her attraction to him, though mutual is a fantasy that won't be fulfilled. With a slow simmer, the attraction between them heats up until neither can resist and the resulting love scenes are steamy and seductive.
Completing the world of the rookeries are glimpses into other character's lives - that of Daniel and Kate (hero and heroine of the first book in the series A Dangerous Invitation), Atlas the gentleman thief, Abigail a co-worker of Poppy's from the factory and assorted villains and friends who make the story flow and add intrigue, humour, tension and action to the plot.
Overall I found this story to be a fascinating view into a slice of time gone now but not forgotten, with an intriguing and suspenseful plot, engaging characters, and a sweet romance between two people who deserve a happy ever after. 5 fabulous stars!
February 5, 2017
This was a really enjoyable read. First book I've read by Erica Monroe. I really liked her writing. Takes place in 1830's England in the seedier areas (like St. Giles). Loved that the hero of the story is an honest Peeler (police officer) and the heroine a woman hiding her past.
February 14, 2018
3.5 Stars
Engaging and interesting read. The best thing about this book was the hero, Thaddeus, who was a true gentleman, sweet and caring, and a bit of a nerd, while still being strong enough to protect his lady love.
Another reviewer described Poppy as “neither completely likable nor entirely dislikable” which I completely agree with. I found her hard to understand and connect with. She isn’t exactly boring, but nothing really makes her standout, besides having a daughter.
There wasn’t much of a mystery in this book. The audience and the MCs know from the beginning who the killer is. The plot focuses instead on how to prove it. The reason this book is a 3.5 instead of a 5 is that really nothing much happened until the last quarter of the book. I remember noticing I had reached the 50% mark and realizing that neither mystery or romance had really progressed. The whole book could have been at least 75 pages shorter without losing anything. There was much less action than the 1st book in the series, which would have been okay if it were shorter, or had a real mystery to solve, or more romance, or something to make up for the lack of exploits.
The other reason for my rating was that I struggled to understand the motivations of several characters many times throughout the book. For instance, towards the end Thaddeus just gives up the investigation for almost no reason. It just didn’t make sense for his character, who promised the victim justice and was nearly obsessed with figuring it out, to just give up. Especially since the killers were a threat to Poppy and Moira. It also didn’t make sense that Thaddeus’ superior let him investigate this case in the first place. What was his motivation? There were many other instances where characters made decisions that seemed contrived and out of character. Even the killer/s didn’t have a strong motive. Maybe this is something Munroe improves upon in later works.
But, as a whole it was an enjoyable story and a nice break from the ballroom. I look forward to the next in the series!
WARNING: there is sex in this book, it is not erotica, but enough to be a steamy & hot adult romance. Please do not read if you are looking for something PG. Romance-5/5 Steaminess-3/5 Explicitness-3/5
Engaging and interesting read. The best thing about this book was the hero, Thaddeus, who was a true gentleman, sweet and caring, and a bit of a nerd, while still being strong enough to protect his lady love.
Another reviewer described Poppy as “neither completely likable nor entirely dislikable” which I completely agree with. I found her hard to understand and connect with. She isn’t exactly boring, but nothing really makes her standout, besides having a daughter.
There wasn’t much of a mystery in this book. The audience and the MCs know from the beginning who the killer is. The plot focuses instead on how to prove it. The reason this book is a 3.5 instead of a 5 is that really nothing much happened until the last quarter of the book. I remember noticing I had reached the 50% mark and realizing that neither mystery or romance had really progressed. The whole book could have been at least 75 pages shorter without losing anything. There was much less action than the 1st book in the series, which would have been okay if it were shorter, or had a real mystery to solve, or more romance, or something to make up for the lack of exploits.
The other reason for my rating was that I struggled to understand the motivations of several characters many times throughout the book. For instance, towards the end Thaddeus just gives up the investigation for almost no reason. It just didn’t make sense for his character, who promised the victim justice and was nearly obsessed with figuring it out, to just give up. Especially since the killers were a threat to Poppy and Moira. It also didn’t make sense that Thaddeus’ superior let him investigate this case in the first place. What was his motivation? There were many other instances where characters made decisions that seemed contrived and out of character. Even the killer/s didn’t have a strong motive. Maybe this is something Munroe improves upon in later works.
But, as a whole it was an enjoyable story and a nice break from the ballroom. I look forward to the next in the series!
WARNING: there is sex in this book, it is not erotica, but enough to be a steamy & hot adult romance. Please do not read if you are looking for something PG. Romance-5/5 Steaminess-3/5 Explicitness-3/5
February 26, 2018
When I realized this was a mystery and I saw the title, it made me think of the first Sherlocke Holmes' story, A Study in Scarlet, and subsequently, it seemed a coincidence.
Something I liked right off the bat is that story is not Regency or Victorian, but that place in between the two. The other thing I liked is that it is about those who live in poverty in London and how they manage. The Industrial Revolution is making its way. People re scrambling to find ways to get work.
Our hero, Thaddeus, is part of the newly formed Metropolitan Police, he is an idealist who joined to do good because he saw something when he was 17 that changed him. Although technically of the peerage, his father was the second son of an Earl, the men in the family have to work for a living. His family hates it that he is a Met. They also hate it that at 24 he is still single. But he is content to investigate crime and read in his spare time.
Poppy earns her living at the loom, raising her illegitimate daughter. She loves Moira fiercely and sacrificed a good deal to keep her and raise her herself. Poppy also loves to read but doesn't get much chance to.
Evil is afoot in the factory where Poppy works. A woman dies in Thaddeus' arms, invoking memories from when he was 17 and he vows to get to the bottom of it. He is a detailed investigator, keeping careful notes and writing reports. As so many of them suffered damage I kept telling him to make a copy and take it home with him so he wouldn't lose his hard work. Turns out there is a reason his reports kept getting destroyed.
I hope that the author goes into even more detail what it is like to live in poverty.
Something I liked right off the bat is that story is not Regency or Victorian, but that place in between the two. The other thing I liked is that it is about those who live in poverty in London and how they manage. The Industrial Revolution is making its way. People re scrambling to find ways to get work.
Our hero, Thaddeus, is part of the newly formed Metropolitan Police, he is an idealist who joined to do good because he saw something when he was 17 that changed him. Although technically of the peerage, his father was the second son of an Earl, the men in the family have to work for a living. His family hates it that he is a Met. They also hate it that at 24 he is still single. But he is content to investigate crime and read in his spare time.
Poppy earns her living at the loom, raising her illegitimate daughter. She loves Moira fiercely and sacrificed a good deal to keep her and raise her herself. Poppy also loves to read but doesn't get much chance to.
Evil is afoot in the factory where Poppy works. A woman dies in Thaddeus' arms, invoking memories from when he was 17 and he vows to get to the bottom of it. He is a detailed investigator, keeping careful notes and writing reports. As so many of them suffered damage I kept telling him to make a copy and take it home with him so he wouldn't lose his hard work. Turns out there is a reason his reports kept getting destroyed.
I hope that the author goes into even more detail what it is like to live in poverty.
November 27, 2019
Exiting read
Loved it!! Great characters, loved the on going story and the new plot of this great love story and the plot twists that zip you to the beautiful HEA. I highly recomend for all who like this type of story. It does have a couple delicious on page love scenes be warned of you don't like that thing. But they are very well written and i.portent to the story as characters development.
Loved it!! Great characters, loved the on going story and the new plot of this great love story and the plot twists that zip you to the beautiful HEA. I highly recomend for all who like this type of story. It does have a couple delicious on page love scenes be warned of you don't like that thing. But they are very well written and i.portent to the story as characters development.
September 15, 2021
I found several things in this story refreshing, the biggest of which was that Thad was not a highly experienced rake. Instead, he was a book lover who liked to solve puzzles. As I was reading along I was wondering how this story could come to a satisfactory conclusion. The path forward for this couple had so many problems such as the bad guys winning, Abigail seriously wounded, Thad without a job, them hiding out in Scotland, and would his parents accept Poppy. Most of these were resolved, but actually not all of them. Looking forward, I see part of that is the set up for the next book.
August 28, 2018
Great read
This is a couldn't put it down book ! I thoroughly enjoyed reading about a heroine for a change. Although Thaddeus was a policeman i thought he was a bit of a wimp at times. Would have given it 5 stars but I didn't like the Author's bad reference to Scotland without any reason behind it. I guess you realise I'm Scottish.....
This is a couldn't put it down book ! I thoroughly enjoyed reading about a heroine for a change. Although Thaddeus was a policeman i thought he was a bit of a wimp at times. Would have given it 5 stars but I didn't like the Author's bad reference to Scotland without any reason behind it. I guess you realise I'm Scottish.....
September 16, 2018
Intriguing
This book starts kind of slow, but speeds up quickly. This book is not about Lord's and ladies or ballrooms and estates. It takes place in the rookeries of London. I enjoyed the characters and the plot. Looking forward to eventually reading more of this series. Wish this series was available with Kindle Unlimited.
This book starts kind of slow, but speeds up quickly. This book is not about Lord's and ladies or ballrooms and estates. It takes place in the rookeries of London. I enjoyed the characters and the plot. Looking forward to eventually reading more of this series. Wish this series was available with Kindle Unlimited.
March 10, 2017
The Peeler and Weaver
Two different people but they found a love so strong that against all odds they finally realized that all they wanted was a home filled with love and each other
Two different people but they found a love so strong that against all odds they finally realized that all they wanted was a home filled with love and each other
August 13, 2018
A little slow in places...
....but over all a good story well told. I would hope Thaddeus is back soon solving crimes with the able assistance of his lovely wife.... and perhaps even some input from a precocious little red headed girl.
....but over all a good story well told. I would hope Thaddeus is back soon solving crimes with the able assistance of his lovely wife.... and perhaps even some input from a precocious little red headed girl.
August 23, 2018
Good
This is a good story with many parts. This book is different because it deals with the working poor, the evil owners of the factories and the police. You get a look at the way life was back then.
This is a good story with many parts. This book is different because it deals with the working poor, the evil owners of the factories and the police. You get a look at the way life was back then.
January 29, 2019
Adventure
Great story with a plot of adventure and romance. I absolutely loved the hero, Thaddeus. I felt so so sorry for Poppy’s past, and had hoped that a bit of revenge on that part of the story. Good read!
Great story with a plot of adventure and romance. I absolutely loved the hero, Thaddeus. I felt so so sorry for Poppy’s past, and had hoped that a bit of revenge on that part of the story. Good read!
February 11, 2024
well researched
This murder mystery had a nice romance with well defined characters. The story takes place in the slums of London and is so detailed that you feel as if you’re there. If you enjoy learning about the past, this is a good way to do it.
This murder mystery had a nice romance with well defined characters. The story takes place in the slums of London and is so detailed that you feel as if you’re there. If you enjoy learning about the past, this is a good way to do it.
August 9, 2018
Good book
Great strong characters, intriguing,exciting,sad. Storyline was good,a little more romance scenes I would have loved.Looking forward to the next book.
Great strong characters, intriguing,exciting,sad. Storyline was good,a little more romance scenes I would have loved.Looking forward to the next book.
January 6, 2019
4 star
Better than I often expect from the genre. The sex scenes fit the characters and situations and weren't overly prominent. I found the weaving aspect interesting.
Better than I often expect from the genre. The sex scenes fit the characters and situations and weren't overly prominent. I found the weaving aspect interesting.
January 21, 2019
It is a great book to read
June 24, 2019
Wonderful story
The characters were definitely warm and human if they were hero and heroine or they were cold, brutal and calculating if they were the villain.
The characters were definitely warm and human if they were hero and heroine or they were cold, brutal and calculating if they were the villain.
April 4, 2017
ARC provided by Netgalley.
Me ha resultado imposible terminarlo.
Me está pareciendo ridículo y la historia me perdió hace ya algún tiempo. La he dejado parada pero cada vez que la cojo me ocurre lo mismo: no me la creo y me aburre…
Mis problemas: Insta-lust. No me gustan las historias donde es lo único que une a los protagonistas: la lujuria. Y si estamos hablando de un romance histórico entonces ni lo entiendo ni me lo creo… la relación entre los protagonistas se basa en los roces, las miradas calenturientas, y demás partes del cuerpo que se “animan” con el roce.
Estaba encantada con la idea de un romance en el que no aparecía la nobleza para nada. Creo que iba a ser la primera historia de este tipo que leía, pero ni aún así he podido pasar por encima de las acciones tan ridículas que nos relata el libro…
Posibles spoilers:
Increíble que una chica a la que su amado usa, engaña y deja embarazada y abandonada (y todo en la primera vez que hacen el amor), que malvive en un suburbio, que apenas tiene para mantener a su hija sienta esa lujuria desenfrenada por una persona a la que ha visto 2 veces. Yo tendría la lujuria congelada.
Y el protagonista, que sufre de la misma lujuria pero que quiere ayudarla o protegerla le pide que le haga de topo para descubrir unos asesinatos…y ella acepta…es ridículo, ponerse en peligro sin pensar qué le ocurrirá a tu hija si mueres, que es lo que pasará si te pillan…
En fin, que me parece inverosímil… sin pies ni cabeza…lo siento.
***
I found it impossible to finish it.
It is seems to me ridiculous and the storyline lost me some time ago.
These are my problems: Insta-lust. I don't like stories where the only thing the main characters have in common is lust. And if we are talking about a historical romance then I neither understand it nor believe it... the relationship between the main characters is based on brushes, feverish eyes, and other parts of the body that can erect.
I was delighted with the idea of a romance that was not starred by the nobility. It would have been the first story of its kind that I read, but I could not pass over the ridiculous actions that tells us the book...
Possible spoilers: It seems to me unbelievable that a woman who is ill-used by her lover, deceives and left pregnant and then is abandoned (and everything happens the first time they made love), who just manages to survive in a suburb and hardly keeps her daughter feed can feel this insatiable lust for a person she barely had seen twice.
The hero is the same: He is lusting after the heroine and he said that he wants to protect her, but instead he asks her for information about a murder that he thinks had committed her boss, oh yes! So safe! And the heroine accepts! She did not think about her daughter once…
I am sorry but I can believe it! It is ridiculous…
Me ha resultado imposible terminarlo.
Me está pareciendo ridículo y la historia me perdió hace ya algún tiempo. La he dejado parada pero cada vez que la cojo me ocurre lo mismo: no me la creo y me aburre…
Mis problemas: Insta-lust. No me gustan las historias donde es lo único que une a los protagonistas: la lujuria. Y si estamos hablando de un romance histórico entonces ni lo entiendo ni me lo creo… la relación entre los protagonistas se basa en los roces, las miradas calenturientas, y demás partes del cuerpo que se “animan” con el roce.
Estaba encantada con la idea de un romance en el que no aparecía la nobleza para nada. Creo que iba a ser la primera historia de este tipo que leía, pero ni aún así he podido pasar por encima de las acciones tan ridículas que nos relata el libro…
Posibles spoilers:
Increíble que una chica a la que su amado usa, engaña y deja embarazada y abandonada (y todo en la primera vez que hacen el amor), que malvive en un suburbio, que apenas tiene para mantener a su hija sienta esa lujuria desenfrenada por una persona a la que ha visto 2 veces. Yo tendría la lujuria congelada.
Y el protagonista, que sufre de la misma lujuria pero que quiere ayudarla o protegerla le pide que le haga de topo para descubrir unos asesinatos…y ella acepta…es ridículo, ponerse en peligro sin pensar qué le ocurrirá a tu hija si mueres, que es lo que pasará si te pillan…
En fin, que me parece inverosímil… sin pies ni cabeza…lo siento.
***
I found it impossible to finish it.
It is seems to me ridiculous and the storyline lost me some time ago.
These are my problems: Insta-lust. I don't like stories where the only thing the main characters have in common is lust. And if we are talking about a historical romance then I neither understand it nor believe it... the relationship between the main characters is based on brushes, feverish eyes, and other parts of the body that can erect.
I was delighted with the idea of a romance that was not starred by the nobility. It would have been the first story of its kind that I read, but I could not pass over the ridiculous actions that tells us the book...
Possible spoilers: It seems to me unbelievable that a woman who is ill-used by her lover, deceives and left pregnant and then is abandoned (and everything happens the first time they made love), who just manages to survive in a suburb and hardly keeps her daughter feed can feel this insatiable lust for a person she barely had seen twice.
The hero is the same: He is lusting after the heroine and he said that he wants to protect her, but instead he asks her for information about a murder that he thinks had committed her boss, oh yes! So safe! And the heroine accepts! She did not think about her daughter once…
I am sorry but I can believe it! It is ridiculous…
August 9, 2016
FOUR-AND-A-HALF STARS!!!
The things I love about Regency books... the imagined glamour of the ballrooms, the frivolity of the lives of the royalty, the picturesque castle settings and other wonderfully imagined places described by the authors…are not part of this book. This story has none of that. Yet, this book captivated me. I read it every chance I got, until I finished. This is the second rookeries book of Monroe’s that I have read, and I really like her ability to captivate the reader with her setting and her characters in the rookery. The rookeries were the armpits of London—its most notorious and morally offensive areas in the day.
We met both Sergeant Thaddeus Knight and Poppy O’Reilly in book one. They are like oil and water. He is the second son to a second son of an earl. He wants nothing more than to serve the public and make a difference helping to clean the streets of the crime and solve those crimes that others would brush aside. Poppy is a young woman forced to grow up too quickly. She becomes a mother to a daughter after her first brush with love ruins her in order to win a bet. Poppy becomes jaded on all men, focusing all of her attention on raising her daughter. Her life choices are limited—so she moves her infant daughter to London where she thinks she can give her daughter a chance at the life she missed.
She finds work as a weaver at a plant, whose owners are being investigated for the murder of a young woman by Sergeant Knight. Poppy hates the police and tries to avoid any association to Thaddeus, but his attraction to her and his constant ability to find a reason to be near her makes it difficult. Given impossible deadlines and perimeters to solve this case, he knows he needs help, so Thaddeus Knight convinces Poppy that her help in the case is important to solving it. The two find themselves embroiled in a mystery that brings danger to the doors of the people that mean the most to them.
Erica Monroe creates such a canvas in your mind that you can see the dingy walls of the factory, smell the fumes of the machinery and the stench of sweat and body odor that is emit
ted as the women work in the warm, close building space. Her descriptive writing style paints a picture of not only the scenery but also the struggles that take place in the families, and the environment. The characters are wonderfully developed and the story moves with a fast and steady pace. It’s a wonderful historical that is both educational as well as entertaining – and highly recommended! Total enjoyment. I’ve already grabbed up book three. Four and a half stars!!
The things I love about Regency books... the imagined glamour of the ballrooms, the frivolity of the lives of the royalty, the picturesque castle settings and other wonderfully imagined places described by the authors…are not part of this book. This story has none of that. Yet, this book captivated me. I read it every chance I got, until I finished. This is the second rookeries book of Monroe’s that I have read, and I really like her ability to captivate the reader with her setting and her characters in the rookery. The rookeries were the armpits of London—its most notorious and morally offensive areas in the day.
We met both Sergeant Thaddeus Knight and Poppy O’Reilly in book one. They are like oil and water. He is the second son to a second son of an earl. He wants nothing more than to serve the public and make a difference helping to clean the streets of the crime and solve those crimes that others would brush aside. Poppy is a young woman forced to grow up too quickly. She becomes a mother to a daughter after her first brush with love ruins her in order to win a bet. Poppy becomes jaded on all men, focusing all of her attention on raising her daughter. Her life choices are limited—so she moves her infant daughter to London where she thinks she can give her daughter a chance at the life she missed.
She finds work as a weaver at a plant, whose owners are being investigated for the murder of a young woman by Sergeant Knight. Poppy hates the police and tries to avoid any association to Thaddeus, but his attraction to her and his constant ability to find a reason to be near her makes it difficult. Given impossible deadlines and perimeters to solve this case, he knows he needs help, so Thaddeus Knight convinces Poppy that her help in the case is important to solving it. The two find themselves embroiled in a mystery that brings danger to the doors of the people that mean the most to them.
Erica Monroe creates such a canvas in your mind that you can see the dingy walls of the factory, smell the fumes of the machinery and the stench of sweat and body odor that is emit
ted as the women work in the warm, close building space. Her descriptive writing style paints a picture of not only the scenery but also the struggles that take place in the families, and the environment. The characters are wonderfully developed and the story moves with a fast and steady pace. It’s a wonderful historical that is both educational as well as entertaining – and highly recommended! Total enjoyment. I’ve already grabbed up book three. Four and a half stars!!
October 16, 2014
April 1832, Spitalfields London
When Sergeant Thaddeus Knight with the Metropolitan Police finds a young girl who had been beaten severely and stabbed, he rushes to get her to the hospital. She refuses to say who did that to her but sketches the letter “L” just before she dies in his arms. This is reminiscent of another young woman seven years earlier who died in the same way. This second death only heightens Thaddeus’s determination to find the murderer. However, his boss, Inspector Whiting, is not supportive of his work and says that it is not worth their time. Whiting thinks that crimes such as one Thaddeus solved when he found some jewels stolen from a countess are more important that the murders of young girls from Spitalfields. Furious at Whiting, Thaddeus is still determined to find the murderer.
Thaddeus loves his job much to the chagrin of his family. As the second son of a second son of a Duke and a very well-educated man, he could have a much better and safer job but will not leave his job with the Police.
Poppaea (Poppy) O’Reilly works on a loom at the Larker Textile Factory. Her hours are very long - from early morning to late at night. However, she is determined to do whatever it takes to give her baby daughter a good life and, hopefully, send her to a finishing school one day. When she found herself pregnant and unmarried, Poppy changed her last name and moved to London. The father would have nothing to do with her and she was ostracized by her townspeople. She is very ashamed about what happened to her.
While Thaddeus is investigating the murder of the women who had worked at the Larker Textile Factory, he meets Poppy and is intrigued by her beauty, her spirit and her positive attitude toward life. They find that they have a love of books so when she sees the wonderful library he has in his home, she is enthralled.
When Poppy and her friend, Abigail, discover some questionable activities at the Textile Factory that the Larkers are doing, life becomes very perilous for her. Knowing what Poppy has uncovered and their growing attraction to one another finds Thaddeus doing all he can to solve this mystery.
The descriptions of the difficult life that people in this rough area of London and their determination to make the best of their lives was very enlightening. I think readers will enjoy both the romance and the mystery combined in this novel.
Complementary copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
When Sergeant Thaddeus Knight with the Metropolitan Police finds a young girl who had been beaten severely and stabbed, he rushes to get her to the hospital. She refuses to say who did that to her but sketches the letter “L” just before she dies in his arms. This is reminiscent of another young woman seven years earlier who died in the same way. This second death only heightens Thaddeus’s determination to find the murderer. However, his boss, Inspector Whiting, is not supportive of his work and says that it is not worth their time. Whiting thinks that crimes such as one Thaddeus solved when he found some jewels stolen from a countess are more important that the murders of young girls from Spitalfields. Furious at Whiting, Thaddeus is still determined to find the murderer.
Thaddeus loves his job much to the chagrin of his family. As the second son of a second son of a Duke and a very well-educated man, he could have a much better and safer job but will not leave his job with the Police.
Poppaea (Poppy) O’Reilly works on a loom at the Larker Textile Factory. Her hours are very long - from early morning to late at night. However, she is determined to do whatever it takes to give her baby daughter a good life and, hopefully, send her to a finishing school one day. When she found herself pregnant and unmarried, Poppy changed her last name and moved to London. The father would have nothing to do with her and she was ostracized by her townspeople. She is very ashamed about what happened to her.
While Thaddeus is investigating the murder of the women who had worked at the Larker Textile Factory, he meets Poppy and is intrigued by her beauty, her spirit and her positive attitude toward life. They find that they have a love of books so when she sees the wonderful library he has in his home, she is enthralled.
When Poppy and her friend, Abigail, discover some questionable activities at the Textile Factory that the Larkers are doing, life becomes very perilous for her. Knowing what Poppy has uncovered and their growing attraction to one another finds Thaddeus doing all he can to solve this mystery.
The descriptions of the difficult life that people in this rough area of London and their determination to make the best of their lives was very enlightening. I think readers will enjoy both the romance and the mystery combined in this novel.
Complementary copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
January 30, 2016
Another good book in the series - We met both Thaddaeus and Poppy in the previous book - A Dangerous Invitation, which was about Poppy's brother Daniel.
In this book, Thaddaeus is trying to solve the murder of a young woman who worked with Poppy at the weaving factory. As a policeman, no one from the rookeries is willing to help him. He singles Poppy out of the crowd of departing employees and is instantly smitten with her.
Poppy is a fallen woman with a bastard daughter - she has come to London to reinvent herself and hopefully provide her daughter with a better life. She wants nothing to do with the handsome sergeant from the Met. She won't tell him who she is and is rude to him. She just wants to be left alone, but Thaddaeus won't be deterred. He follows her home and finds out that she is Daniel's sister. When Poppy realizes that Thaddaeus is the man who saved her brother from certain death - she feels badly about the way she treated him.
Poppy seeks out Thaddaeus to apologize and agrees to help him with the case. They work well together - but Poppy keeps trying to push him away because she has secrets that she doesn't want him to know. Thaddaeus knows that Poppy is hiding something, but he can't help falling in love with her and her daughter.
Personally, I have a soft spot for heroes who can unconditionally love and accept a child that is not his own. And I thought Thaddaeus was adorable, both in his inexperience with women and his attempts to interact with Moira (Poppy's daughter).
When danger threatens and secrets are revealed - I fell in love with Thaddaeus - he was a perfect hero. His love for Poppy was beautiful and unconditional. He made this book for me.
Poppy was a good heroine and I understand her need to protect her daughter - but I think she could have trusted Thaddaeus with the truth much sooner than she did. I would have preferred that she told him everything up front - but that is not the way this story was written.
I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading Michael and Abigail's story.
In this book, Thaddaeus is trying to solve the murder of a young woman who worked with Poppy at the weaving factory. As a policeman, no one from the rookeries is willing to help him. He singles Poppy out of the crowd of departing employees and is instantly smitten with her.
Poppy is a fallen woman with a bastard daughter - she has come to London to reinvent herself and hopefully provide her daughter with a better life. She wants nothing to do with the handsome sergeant from the Met. She won't tell him who she is and is rude to him. She just wants to be left alone, but Thaddaeus won't be deterred. He follows her home and finds out that she is Daniel's sister. When Poppy realizes that Thaddaeus is the man who saved her brother from certain death - she feels badly about the way she treated him.
Poppy seeks out Thaddaeus to apologize and agrees to help him with the case. They work well together - but Poppy keeps trying to push him away because she has secrets that she doesn't want him to know. Thaddaeus knows that Poppy is hiding something, but he can't help falling in love with her and her daughter.
Personally, I have a soft spot for heroes who can unconditionally love and accept a child that is not his own. And I thought Thaddaeus was adorable, both in his inexperience with women and his attempts to interact with Moira (Poppy's daughter).
When danger threatens and secrets are revealed - I fell in love with Thaddaeus - he was a perfect hero. His love for Poppy was beautiful and unconditional. He made this book for me.
Poppy was a good heroine and I understand her need to protect her daughter - but I think she could have trusted Thaddaeus with the truth much sooner than she did. I would have preferred that she told him everything up front - but that is not the way this story was written.
I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading Michael and Abigail's story.
April 21, 2015
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Pent up sexual desire erupts in this well written Historical Thriller by Erica Monroe. Rife with colorful characters, well researched settings, and white hot sizzling attraction between a star crossed hero and heroine. The sights and sounds of London's Spitalfields rookery come alive in this novel.
This is a stand alone novel and you do not need to have read the preceding Rookery books to keep up with what is going on in this book.
This novel was well written and action-packed. Everything was incredibly researched from the looms and techniques used to weave the silks to the workings of the Metropolitan Police force at the time. The relationship between the Hero and Heroine was romantic, passionate, tender, and complex. The villains are so completely heinous and their actions leave you cringing and jumpy, this truly is a thriller. My only complaint is that, I know there is a tremendous stigma, being a mother out of wedlock, and if it were known Poppy would most likely become a prostitute, however there are so many opportunities that she could tell Thaddeus rather than fret over whether she should or shouldn't. I realize she is afraid of losing him if she tells him and losing him if she doesn't tell him. But all of Poppy's flashbacks about Moira's father, Edward, and internal debates about her secret, she did irritate me. But, again, I do realize that was a very major issue of the time.
There are two male characters that are intriguing on both sides of the law, that I hope we see more of, perhaps in their own books? One is Atlas Greer, criminal art collector. The other, is another member of the Metropolitan Police force, Michael Strickland.
All of the elements of Romance, Historical, and Thriller are executed so well, nothing feels rushed or crowded and the novel is very well paced.
This novel was provided by the author in exchange for a honest review.
Pent up sexual desire erupts in this well written Historical Thriller by Erica Monroe. Rife with colorful characters, well researched settings, and white hot sizzling attraction between a star crossed hero and heroine. The sights and sounds of London's Spitalfields rookery come alive in this novel.
This is a stand alone novel and you do not need to have read the preceding Rookery books to keep up with what is going on in this book.
This novel was well written and action-packed. Everything was incredibly researched from the looms and techniques used to weave the silks to the workings of the Metropolitan Police force at the time. The relationship between the Hero and Heroine was romantic, passionate, tender, and complex. The villains are so completely heinous and their actions leave you cringing and jumpy, this truly is a thriller. My only complaint is that, I know there is a tremendous stigma, being a mother out of wedlock, and if it were known Poppy would most likely become a prostitute, however there are so many opportunities that she could tell Thaddeus rather than fret over whether she should or shouldn't. I realize she is afraid of losing him if she tells him and losing him if she doesn't tell him. But all of Poppy's flashbacks about Moira's father, Edward, and internal debates about her secret, she did irritate me. But, again, I do realize that was a very major issue of the time.
There are two male characters that are intriguing on both sides of the law, that I hope we see more of, perhaps in their own books? One is Atlas Greer, criminal art collector. The other, is another member of the Metropolitan Police force, Michael Strickland.
All of the elements of Romance, Historical, and Thriller are executed so well, nothing feels rushed or crowded and the novel is very well paced.
This novel was provided by the author in exchange for a honest review.
August 3, 2016
I was gifted this book in exchange for an honest review.
Erica is an excellent writer! Just when I thought I knew who all was involved in the murder and crime there was an unexpected twist to it and I wasn't sure anymore that I knew the answer. This book will keep you on your toes with the mystery and romance. I loved learning about the police and factory and I was able to picture everything. I was sucked in from the start when the girl kept drawing an "L" on her dress and by how much Thaddeus wanted to solve the murder. I also wanted to know more the other murder he talked about.
I wanted to hug Poppy so much because she didn't trust anyone. The more I learned about what happened to her the more I felt for her and wanted to see someone confront the man over it. Normally I don't like a heroine that ignores her feelings and does the things she does, but she has good reason to be like that. She is a brave woman who loves with all her heart and will blame herself when it's not her fault.
Thaddeus is someone that you will instantly love. He did not have the background that I expected him to have. He is very kind and caring and a bookworm and when you meet his family you are even more shocked that he is so kind and caring. When he started talking about Shakspere it made me love him more because it was a natural part of him and he didn't use it to get what he wanted. He is not quick to judge anyone and thinks about things differently than most.
Again I loved the history involved in the story and wanted to know more about the gentleman thief. towards the end, I wanted to know more about Strickland because he was not the kind of man I thought he was in the beginning and can't wait to read more about him.
Erica is an excellent writer! Just when I thought I knew who all was involved in the murder and crime there was an unexpected twist to it and I wasn't sure anymore that I knew the answer. This book will keep you on your toes with the mystery and romance. I loved learning about the police and factory and I was able to picture everything. I was sucked in from the start when the girl kept drawing an "L" on her dress and by how much Thaddeus wanted to solve the murder. I also wanted to know more the other murder he talked about.
I wanted to hug Poppy so much because she didn't trust anyone. The more I learned about what happened to her the more I felt for her and wanted to see someone confront the man over it. Normally I don't like a heroine that ignores her feelings and does the things she does, but she has good reason to be like that. She is a brave woman who loves with all her heart and will blame herself when it's not her fault.
Thaddeus is someone that you will instantly love. He did not have the background that I expected him to have. He is very kind and caring and a bookworm and when you meet his family you are even more shocked that he is so kind and caring. When he started talking about Shakspere it made me love him more because it was a natural part of him and he didn't use it to get what he wanted. He is not quick to judge anyone and thinks about things differently than most.
Again I loved the history involved in the story and wanted to know more about the gentleman thief. towards the end, I wanted to know more about Strickland because he was not the kind of man I thought he was in the beginning and can't wait to read more about him.
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