[Subdue] [Candle] And Only to Deceive by Tasha Alexander - 4.5 stars rounded up to 5

[Theresa]

Emily, Lady Ashton, finds herself a extremely wealthy young widow only months after her wedding, her young husband having died on safari in East Africa. Not in the least sad, in fact relieved, Emily is enduring the final months of half-mourning, this being the late Victorian era in London, and fending off her domineering mother already planning her next marriage. Emily, who only married Lord Ashton to get away from her mother, is quite sure she doesn't want another marriage nor is she particularly interested in returning to the whirlwind of society. In fact she has no idea what direction she wants her life to take, only wanting everyone to stop telling her how wonderful, honorable, and noble her late husband was. She'd found him and his obsession with hunting boring. How fortunate then that one day she picks up a book in her husband's library, not only finding a guide to the British Museum and its antiquities, but also a note warning of grave danger. What follows is the opening of her intellectual curiosity and gifts along with solving a puzzling series of art and antiquities thefts.

I loved Emily, from her youthful romanticism to growing independence and intellectual curiosity. The secondary characters and friendships made by Emily are equally wonderful, from her husband's mysterious and handsome best friend, to the older french matron whom she befriends, to the shadier characters operating on the fringes of the art and antiquities world. Locations are key and extremely well presented as are the historical and art and antiquities backgrounds. I particularly loved the connection to Santorini, my favorite Grecian location, and I hope she visits her villa there often. I can't believe I've had this on my TBR since 2012 and am only now reading this first in a series. I'm ready to dive into my next Lady Emily adventure!'