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Honourable Lies
A passionate, thought-provoking tale of love and revenge set in nineteenth-century England. Follow the progress of a poor,orphan girl serendipitously elevated to High Society.
Her aim is to marry a rich man, regardless of love, so she will never be poor again; instead, she falls in love with a handsome, young landowner with whom she can have it all; love, security, and wealth.
As fate would have it, there are obstacles to their romance: his wife, an evil aristocrat, a beautiful gypsy, and Gallows Hill.
Victoria has the ambition of Becky Sharp, the prejudice of Elizabeth Bennet and the humanity of Bathsheba Everdene.
Her aim is to marry a rich man, regardless of love, so she will never be poor again; instead, she falls in love with a handsome, young landowner with whom she can have it all; love, security, and wealth.
As fate would have it, there are obstacles to their romance: his wife, an evil aristocrat, a beautiful gypsy, and Gallows Hill.
Victoria has the ambition of Becky Sharp, the prejudice of Elizabeth Bennet and the humanity of Bathsheba Everdene.
- GenresHistorical Romance
270 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 28, 2016
7 people are currently reading
111 people want to read
About the author
Fran Connor
29 books212 followersI live in SW France for the lifestyle after a career in
the UK. I have seven published novels.
the UK. I have seven published novels.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
July 14, 2018
Honourable Lies, Fran Connor
Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews
Genre:, Romance
Edit: 14/7/18
This novel is set in the 1860's, so my comments about divorce are not strictly correct, what I had read was in the process of changing at the time this novel was set, and it wouldn't have been as difficult as before to obtain a divorce, so please read my original comments with that in mind. Apologies for my incorrect facts, and I'd like to add the following info to correct things.
Under the Matrimonial Causes Act 1857 divorce was taken away from the Ecclesiastical Court and parliament jurisdiction. Under the Act it was possible for a man to divorce his wife for adultery, but a wife could not divorce her husband for adultery ‘only’. She had to have ‘aggravated’ cause to go with it such as serious assault or being abandoned. The civil court could then grant the divorce without recourse to parliament or the Church.
********************************************************
So, sometimes I just want to dip back into history, with a simple romance. Sadly though this was too sweet and simple for me. Victoria is a historical Pollyanna.... whatever happens to her she's something good around every corner. Ditto for anyone that crosses her path.
She gets thrown out of the orphanage at 16, gets attacked while out and her little money stolen, but she's well read and educated, and gets a job living in, with no references, no belongings, and probably looking pretty grubby, as companion/tutor to a 14 yr old. That quickly falls through but no worries, she just happens to meet and do Queen Victoria a favour....and the whole book feels like that, any mishap brings good things Every Time. She really is a charmed girl and everyone in her orbit benefits, everyone loves her. Its little things that were so unreal for me, she starts growing carrots, cabbages and potatoes with no knowledge of how, and within a couple of years has graduated to a huge flock of sheep, employing people to help her.
Then of course there's Richard and his wife – who's name I can't recall. She loves another and so – hey, they get divorced. Now even I with my scant historical knowledge know it wasn't that easy, so had a quick look on google “A couple could only be divorced by the passage of a private act through Parliament–remedy available only to the very wealthy. According to Feminism, Marriage and the Law in Victorian England, 1850-1895, about ten private acts for divorce were passed in Parliament each year.” It certainly wasn't the easy option.
So, I know I'm reading fiction, I'm happy for authors to bend the facts and use them to their advantage but this was just too unreal for me. Life doesn't work like that, I can accept one good thing happening, people do get lucky breaks, but for Victoria every cloud had a silver lining. There's no way she'd have been taken on in her first job, no way she'd have met the queen, got that position, grown enough veg to buy sheep in such a short space of time...it was all too slick for me. I have to say here that from about 40 to 80 % I just skim read, bored with the story but wanting to see the end.
If you can suspend any semblance of reality and like a sweet and cute read you'll love this, but sadly I want more real life, more angst, more blocks to happiness, though I need a HEA and was glad that came through.
Stars:Two, too far from reality for me :-(
ARC supplied by Netgalley and publisher
Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews
Genre:, Romance
Edit: 14/7/18
This novel is set in the 1860's, so my comments about divorce are not strictly correct, what I had read was in the process of changing at the time this novel was set, and it wouldn't have been as difficult as before to obtain a divorce, so please read my original comments with that in mind. Apologies for my incorrect facts, and I'd like to add the following info to correct things.
Under the Matrimonial Causes Act 1857 divorce was taken away from the Ecclesiastical Court and parliament jurisdiction. Under the Act it was possible for a man to divorce his wife for adultery, but a wife could not divorce her husband for adultery ‘only’. She had to have ‘aggravated’ cause to go with it such as serious assault or being abandoned. The civil court could then grant the divorce without recourse to parliament or the Church.
********************************************************
So, sometimes I just want to dip back into history, with a simple romance. Sadly though this was too sweet and simple for me. Victoria is a historical Pollyanna.... whatever happens to her she's something good around every corner. Ditto for anyone that crosses her path.
She gets thrown out of the orphanage at 16, gets attacked while out and her little money stolen, but she's well read and educated, and gets a job living in, with no references, no belongings, and probably looking pretty grubby, as companion/tutor to a 14 yr old. That quickly falls through but no worries, she just happens to meet and do Queen Victoria a favour....and the whole book feels like that, any mishap brings good things Every Time. She really is a charmed girl and everyone in her orbit benefits, everyone loves her. Its little things that were so unreal for me, she starts growing carrots, cabbages and potatoes with no knowledge of how, and within a couple of years has graduated to a huge flock of sheep, employing people to help her.
Then of course there's Richard and his wife – who's name I can't recall. She loves another and so – hey, they get divorced. Now even I with my scant historical knowledge know it wasn't that easy, so had a quick look on google “A couple could only be divorced by the passage of a private act through Parliament–remedy available only to the very wealthy. According to Feminism, Marriage and the Law in Victorian England, 1850-1895, about ten private acts for divorce were passed in Parliament each year.” It certainly wasn't the easy option.
So, I know I'm reading fiction, I'm happy for authors to bend the facts and use them to their advantage but this was just too unreal for me. Life doesn't work like that, I can accept one good thing happening, people do get lucky breaks, but for Victoria every cloud had a silver lining. There's no way she'd have been taken on in her first job, no way she'd have met the queen, got that position, grown enough veg to buy sheep in such a short space of time...it was all too slick for me. I have to say here that from about 40 to 80 % I just skim read, bored with the story but wanting to see the end.
If you can suspend any semblance of reality and like a sweet and cute read you'll love this, but sadly I want more real life, more angst, more blocks to happiness, though I need a HEA and was glad that came through.
Stars:Two, too far from reality for me :-(
ARC supplied by Netgalley and publisher
July 16, 2016
"Driving rain from a sky as dark as a dungeon swept across wheat fields and meadows while damp sheep sought refuge under sturdy English oaks. It lashed against the ancient, leaded windows as if it were a bo’sun with a cat o’ nine tails, and howled like a tormented soul through the bell tower."
The above excerpt from Fran Connor's historical fiction, "Honourable Lies" goes to prove the kind of description a reader would find in this book. It is beautifully written; one that conveys a whole range of emotions and intrigue to full satisfaction. Much like Tara in Gone with the wind, the female protagonist wants to marry rich so that she'll never be hungry again. However, does she also find love in the end is the real mystery?
The above excerpt from Fran Connor's historical fiction, "Honourable Lies" goes to prove the kind of description a reader would find in this book. It is beautifully written; one that conveys a whole range of emotions and intrigue to full satisfaction. Much like Tara in Gone with the wind, the female protagonist wants to marry rich so that she'll never be hungry again. However, does she also find love in the end is the real mystery?
February 4, 2017
This is an admirable book for lovers of historical romance with all the ingredients to keep you reading until the very last page. Victoria is the heroine, a girl who grew up in an orphanage and ended up a lady - although ladylike she is not. It is her adventures that we follow through the story with as many twist and turns as a country road. Although the ending is not unexpected there is plenty of tension along the way. Well done Mr Connor, I could see this as a mini-series on television.
March 23, 2017
This is a very dramatic, action and mystery filled story. Several twists come into play, but not until the end. There are some interesting and likable characters, and some despicable characters. The storyline is captivating and intriguing, but at times drags a bit. At the end there are several HEA endings and some very satisfying outcomes.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reading Deals Review Club. This is my honest opinion of it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reading Deals Review Club. This is my honest opinion of it.
October 12, 2018
This is an intriguing historical story that had me captivated from the start. Victoria is a strong independent woman who knows what she wants out of life and she is determine to get it. Victoria's journey is full of ups and downs, mystery, suspense and romance. I was given a copy of this book from NetGalley and I am leaving a voluntary review.
August 3, 2017
A really enjoyable read.
April 1, 2021
Fran Connor’s “Honourable Lies” is a story, filled with unexpected twists and turns, that centers on an orphan named Victoria. Victoria has had anything but an easy life, growing up in a filthy orphanage that is run by a horrible man named Tweedale and policed by heartless women. One night she is called into Mr. Tweedale’s office where she is introduced to a man named Woodward who presents her with an opportunity to be a governess in Australia. Deep down she suspects that there is something sinister about the dubious Woodward and his ‘opportunity.’ She is told that they will be leaving immediately. Stating that she needs to use the bathroom, Victoria takes the opportunity to escape from her captors. Armed with her crude-looking dagger and a small amount of money, she slips quickly into the night.
After escaping the clutches of Tweedale and Woodward, Victoria has her fair share of unpleasant adventures. She is accosted by brigands, sexually assaulted by a corpulent man, and hired as a governess only to be thrown out shortly thereafter. One day, Victoria is walking through the woods where she witnesses two foreigners who are placing items beneath the train tracks. Soon realizing what is happening, she calls out to the approaching train and causes it to stop immediately. It is this act that changes Victoria’s life forever. She inadvertently saves the life of Queen Victoria and is awarded a place of great honor.
From the beginning of the book to the end, I found “Honourable Lies” to be a fascinating read. The description of each scene was rich and the characterization was enjoyable. Above all, Victoria, a rather interesting character, was easy to relate to and had a strong, enduring nature. The flow of the story was fairly steady with its slow moments that I just slogged through. The plot was fairly well-developed and it kept me hooked when the climax reached its crescendo. The tone and atmosphere of this particular book was one of mystery. In general it was a pleasant read and is the sort of book I would curl up with on a lazy Sunday afternoon.
4 Stars
I received a complimentary copy of “Honourable Lies” by Fran Connor in exchange for an honest review.
After escaping the clutches of Tweedale and Woodward, Victoria has her fair share of unpleasant adventures. She is accosted by brigands, sexually assaulted by a corpulent man, and hired as a governess only to be thrown out shortly thereafter. One day, Victoria is walking through the woods where she witnesses two foreigners who are placing items beneath the train tracks. Soon realizing what is happening, she calls out to the approaching train and causes it to stop immediately. It is this act that changes Victoria’s life forever. She inadvertently saves the life of Queen Victoria and is awarded a place of great honor.
From the beginning of the book to the end, I found “Honourable Lies” to be a fascinating read. The description of each scene was rich and the characterization was enjoyable. Above all, Victoria, a rather interesting character, was easy to relate to and had a strong, enduring nature. The flow of the story was fairly steady with its slow moments that I just slogged through. The plot was fairly well-developed and it kept me hooked when the climax reached its crescendo. The tone and atmosphere of this particular book was one of mystery. In general it was a pleasant read and is the sort of book I would curl up with on a lazy Sunday afternoon.
4 Stars
I received a complimentary copy of “Honourable Lies” by Fran Connor in exchange for an honest review.
August 2, 2016
I received an ebook for an honest review. Victoria is an orphan who has had a rough time growing up. When she is 18 the headmaster tries to sell her and she would become a slave. She manages to escape and goes through many other rough times. Every time it looks like things are getting better, she meets someone who knocks her back. Follow her through everything and she how she overcome even the threat of hanging and her love for a married man.
December 25, 2016
This orphan lady grew up and became strong. After leaving the orphanage, there were many dangerous adventures: Gypsies, family feuds and a dangerous love affair. This one will not bore you.
July 27, 2018
Victoria escapes the orphanage where she was raised to become a companion to Elizabeth, who lives in the house with Richard and Peggy, his wife. Richard's and Peggy's marriage is of convenience as she loves another. Victoria and Richard fall in love but he is not divorced. The best way to get divorced is for one of the married couple to commit adultery. If it is Peggy, then it will ruin her so Richard agrees to be the adulterer. Will Victoria 's love remain after Richard cheats with another woman that's not Victoria? You have to read the book to find out. I received this book from Net Galley and BooksGoSocial for a honest review and no compensation otherwise. Loved this book with a sweet story and heart.
August 6, 2018
A great historical romance with drama suspense twists,angst and romance.
Really like Victoria she is so strong. Richard is also a good characters just trying to do the right thing
Really enjoyed the story great interest a must read.
Voluntarily reviewed.
Really like Victoria she is so strong. Richard is also a good characters just trying to do the right thing
Really enjoyed the story great interest a must read.
Voluntarily reviewed.
August 19, 2018
Victoria grows up in an orphanage but meets Richard and they fall in love. Can they ever be together? Richard is married and his father does everything he can to take Richard's wealth from him. Richard also has other enemies who would like to see his downfall, and Victoria makes enemies too.
This had a very good storyline.
This had a very good storyline.
September 3, 2018
Victoria is an amazing character. She goes from an abused orphan to becoming a lady to becoming a convict. What a story! It was a good story with interesting characters.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews