A Promise Given (Henrietta and Inspector Howard Series Book #3) by Michelle Cox

A Girl Like You Review - HERE!
A Ring of Truth Review - HERE!
A Veil Removed Review - HERE!
A Child Lost Review - HERE!
A Spying Eye Review - coming soon

Synopsis - 

This third book in the Henrietta and Inspector Howard series provides a delightful romp through the English countryside and back. Anxious to be married, Henrietta and Clive push forward with their wedding plans despite their family differences, made worse now by Oldrich Exley’s attempts to control the Von Harmons. When the long-awaited wedding day arrives, there is more unfolding than just Clive and Henrietta’s vows of love. Stanley and Elsie’s relationship is sorely tested by the presence of the dashing Lieutenant Harrison Barnes-Smith and by Henrietta’s friend Rose―a situation that grows increasingly dark and confused as time goes on. As Clive and Henrietta begin their honeymoon at Castle Linley, the Howards’ ancestral estate in England, they encounter a whole new host of characters, including the eccentric Lord and Lady Linley and Clive’s mysterious cousin, Wallace. When a man is murdered in the village on the night of a house party at the Castle, Wallace comes under suspicion―and Clive and Henrietta are reluctantly drawn into the case, despite Clive’s anxiety at involving his new bride and Henrietta’s distracting news from home. Delicately attempting to work together for the first time, Clive and Henrietta set out to prove Wallace’s innocence, uncovering as they do so some rather shocking truths that will shake the Linley name and estate forever.

Review - 
 
While there is a murder and mystery in the 2nd half of this book, the first half falls solidly in the genre of historical romance.  Early on we learn about Henrietta's mother elite lineage and how she came to bitterly walk away and leave it behind. Now that family is stepping in forcefully to take charge of the family - house, servants, education for the kids and an allowance. While not welcomed by her mother, there is no choice, and it takes some of the burden off of Henrietta's shoulders.

Back at the family estate, we continue follow the intricacies of daily life with servants and social demands as all the plans for the wedding day are finalized.   We celebrate with the happy couple at their beautiful wedding while seeing the hint of trouble brewing behind the scenes.    These hints will continue to bubble up as the story moves between Henrietta and Clive on their honeymoon, and Stanley and Elsie's problems back home. There is their first night together and the beautiful surprise Clive had waiting, as well as the lovely voyage to England where the happy couple finally have some time alone, with nothing to distract them. 

England takes the couple back into the world of societal expectations.  Much is demanded of them. Then a murder happens in the village. Clive, missing his work in the force, is drawn into the case. Henrietta wants to be by his side but is thwarted at every turn, creating a great wedge between them. When a Wallace, one of their relatives becomes the main suspect, the stakes become high.  And he's hiding something? What is it? And why won't he tell them to clear his name?

Note - There are two sexual scenes included in this book, one positive and one not, but both are written with a lighter hand. 

Buy the Book: Audible ~ Amazon.com ~ Chirp ~ Apple ~ Kobo ~ Google Store

Meet the Author - 
Read my last author interview with Cox HERE!

Michelle Cox is the author of the multiple award-winning Henrietta and Inspector Howard series as well as “Novel Notes of Local Lore,” a weekly blog dedicated to Chicago’s forgotten residents. She suspects she may have once lived in the 1930s and, having yet to discover a handy time machine lying around, has resorted to writing about the era as a way of getting herself back there. Coincidentally, her books have been praised by Kirkus, Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, Booklist, and many others, so she might be on to something. Unbeknownst to most, Michelle hoards board games she doesn’t have time to play and is, not surprisingly, addicted to period dramas and big band music. Also marmalade. 

Connect with the Author: website ~ facebook ~twitter ~ instagram ~ goodreads

Meet the Narrator - 

Jayne Entwistle was born in the North of England and lived in a myriad of places (Vancouver, San Francisco, Tucson, Sequim, Seattle) before landing in Los Angeles. She is an avid improviser who hitched her space-work wagon to Patrick Bristow’s company, Improvatorium, where she studied, taught, directed and performed improv. She is an award-winning audiobook narrator best known for her narration of the Flavia de Luce series by Alan Bradley. She also received the 2015 Odyssey Honour Award for The Scandalous Sisterhood of Prickwillow Place by Julie Berry and the 2016 Odyssey Award for, The War that Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley. When not inhaling books for work or pleasure, Jayne works in film, television and commercials. The biggest star she has ever worked with is Shaquille O’Neal. He is quite literally THE biggest star she has ever worked with. Ever. He’s really big!


Comments

  1. Thank you so much for this lovely review, Marilyn!! So glad that you enjoyed this installment! You're a gem!

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  2. Lovely review, as always, Marilyn!! Thanks so much!

    ReplyDelete

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