Not what I expected, but a very engaging & emotional read. It deals with difficult topics and is heartbreaking at times. Thank you for this arc in exchange of an honest review.

'The Gilded Cage' is a gripping historical novel that will keep readers on the edge until the end. The story follows Rosamund, a young woman trapped in a loveless marriage with the cruel and manipulative Sir Lucien Fitznorton. As she struggles to adjust to her new life in his lonely country estate, Rosamund meets Joseph, a handsome chauffeur who provides her the escape she desperately craves.
The characters in this novel are well-developed, and the chemistry between Rosamund and Joseph is palpable. The author creates a tense and dangerous atmosphere as Rosamund becomes increasingly trapped in Sir Lucien's devious web of secrets and lies. The pacing is also well done, with enough twists and turns to keep the reader engaged.
One of the strengths of this novel is the vividly descriptive prose. The descriptions of Sir Lucien's estate's chilly hallways and shadowy rooms, the clambering children and tea at scrubbed kitchen tables from Joseph's world, and Rosamund's memories of her childhood home and beloved father are all evocative and immersive.
The themes of love, loss, and desperation are expertly woven throughout the story, making it a truly emotional read. As Rosamund struggles to find a way out of her gilded cage, the reader roots for her to find the courage and strength to break free.
Overall, 'The Gilded Cage' is an excellent historical novel that will delight Lucinda Riley and Tracy Rees fans. The compelling characters, tense atmosphere, and vivid prose make it a must-read for those who enjoy a good historical romance with a touch of mystery and danger—highly recommended.

Absolutely loved this book
Was a real page turner.
Wasn’t a story line that I expected, one that was emotional, different and well researched. Amazing how much society has changed over the years

Thank you for the chance to read

A compelling story set in the early to mid 1900s about a young woman Rosamund who is married through an arrangement that her brother sets up following the death of their father. The marriage is a disaster as her husband Sir Lucien Fitznorton abuses her emotionally and physically and the author doesn’t shy away from the detail (so please be warned it is at times hard to read) I really felt for Rosamund as she had nowhere to escape except in her mind. Rosamund decides to learn to drive when her husband departs for a lengthy stay in London. She sees it as a chance that might aid in an escape from her gilded caged life. The chauffeur, Joe, her driving instructor becomes a great friend to Rosamund and she finally sees some happiness.
There is a lot to take in as we not only hear Rosamund’s story we are taken into the lives of the servants of the house and their families. The relationships between the staff and those they serve had a Downton Abbey feel to it which I enjoyed.
It is compulsive reading with a satisfying end.

The Gilded Cage follows Rosamund through her unhappy marriage in 1914 England and her attempts to free herself from her mental and physical prisons. Alternating perspectives with Joseph the chauffeur, Rosamund’s cruel husband Lord Lucien, and Rosamund’s lady’s maid Nellie, Luisa A. Jones deftly handles the multiple perspectives throughout her novel. Jones’ characters are dynamic and lifelike, and she handles the characters’ various emotions quite well -- from Mary’s dispassionate nature, Lord Lucien’s cruelty, and Charlotte’s venom to Rosamund’s dissociative passivity, Nellie’s sense of justice and Joseph’s love for his children. Jones does deal with difficult topics (domestic abuse, mental illness, and marital rape) in the novel, and she handles them well for the most part, appropriately providing a disclaimer at the beginning of the text. Jones brings in fascinating historical elements into the text, particularly about Rosamund’s decision to become one of the lady motorists of her era to find her freedom. Jones’ characters make this book shine, and the characters’ relationships with others and their world add another dimension to this interesting and vivid read. Jones’ prose and characters carry this book forward, and the transformations across the book bring the reader fully into life at Plas Norton in 1914.

A compelling read and a difficult book to put down. The subject matter of domestic abuse makes this a somewhat uncomfortable read even though the abuse happens off-page. However, the pace of the novel is relatively quick with short chapters and you get easily pulled along with Rosamund as she attempts to make some independence within her marriage and the means to escape if opportunity were to ever present itself. The hope the reader feels for her is paralleled by the optimism created in her by the friendship and romance she develops with the chauffeur as he teaches her to drive. The reader also can't help but share in her terror with every interaction she has with her husband. As events escalate Rosamund must take control of her own destiny and free herself once and for all. The story concludes in a hopeful way for all my favourite characters and we get a glimpse into Rosamund's next path in life.

A brilliant historical read which deals with the subject of domestic abuse in a marriage.
Set in the time when married women had no real standing in society where all of her worldly goods were the property of her husband.
Rosamund was married to Lord Fitznorton who took great pleasure in sexually abusing herto the point that she became a jibbering reck.
Feeling worthless she decided that if she was to escape this situation she needed a means and saw Joseph the new chauffeur as a means to reach this goal by teaching her to drive.
But not only did he teach her to drive he also treated her with respect and showed her her worth.
This book is a great read which deals with a difficult subject in a respectful way,

Having read this author’s contemporary novels, I wasn’t sure what to expect from her historical fiction, but I loved this book and whizzed through it in no time.
In the dying days of the nineteenth century, Rosamund’s father dies, and her brother makes it very clear to her that she has no choice but to marry Sir Lucien Fitznorton.
It soon becomes clear to Rosamund that her happy life is over. Her new husband is a brute, who takes great delight in tormenting and torturing her, while outwardly keeping up the façade of a dutiful husband.
Her maid, Nellie, is all too aware of the truth of Rosamund’s painful existence, but at first finds it hard to have sympathy for her mistress who, after all, has a life of luxury compared with many other women who are also beaten and abused by their husbands, but have no luxuries to compensate.
It's only when Sir Lucien and his spoilt daughter, Charlotte, head to London for a long stay with Sir Lucien’s sister, that Nellie begins to warm to Rosamund, and sees a different side to her.
I thought Nellie was a wonderful character. Sensible, practical, unsentimental, but with a genuine loyalty and compassion for Rosamund. Despite the difference in their circumstances, it’s Nellie who really comes to Rosamund’s rescue and shows her what true friendship is. Yet somehow she never steps out of place or forgets that she is Rosamund’s maid. There are clear boundaries, and I thought that relationship was particularly well done, and realistic.
The new chauffeur and mechanic, Joseph, is Rosamund’s only hope of a life outside her miserable marriage. She wants to learn to drive, desperate for a taste of freedom, and when he agrees to teach her it changes everything.
This was a beautiful story. Rosamund is such a sympathetic protagonist, trapped as surely as any bird in a cage, and finding comfort with the unlikeliest of people.
Joe is an interesting character, and although he is flawed, it’s difficult not to have sympathy with him, as he, too, finds himself trapped in a very different kind of cage.
Despite the social distance between them, somehow these two sad and lonely people find comfort in each other, taking moments of happiness as and when they can, and giving each other tantalising glimpses of what true freedom could look like.
But glimpses are all they are. Even though I found myself rooting for Rosamund and Joe, in my heart of hearts I was sure there could be no happy ending.
In the strict confines of Edwardian society, how can a born lady and a chauffeur really find happiness and acceptance as a couple?
I wasn’t sure how the author would resolve all the threads of the story and was dreading an unhappy ending for at least one of the characters.
I was delighted when I reached the end of the book with a smile on my face and a feeling of contentment in my heart. It was cheering to see all three of the main characters choosing their path for the future, deciding what was next for them, and taking action to make it work.
The ending was plausible and, to my mind, perfect, giving Joe, Rosamund, and Nellie a satisfying and optimistic conclusion to their stories, while keeping them grounded in reality. I honestly don’t think the author could have given them a better outcome.
Highly recommended.
My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced reading copy of this book.

It’s 1897 and Rosamund has no choice, her father has died and she is becoming a financial burden to her brother.
So she becomes the second wife to Sir Lucien Fitznorton, a brute of a man, who certainly behind closed doors is no gentleman, and treats her cruelly and abusively.
While Sir Fitznorton and his daughter spend time in London, Lady Rosamund is increasingly drawn to the new chauffeur, who she asks to teach her to drive, to help her escape the gilded cage of marriage

Loved the premise of the book - set in Edwardian England, women didn’t have much choice but to marry.
Rosamund was a fascinating lovable character who would not be broken no matter how often her husband abused her
All the other characters were honest and believable - you could just imagine them working at Dowtown Abbey
A very enjoyable read - thanks @taffy-lulu, @stormbooks_uk & @netgalley for the eARC

The Gilded Cage had definite echoes of Audrey Howard's A Place Called Hope - another historical novel with marital abuse at its core. There were times when I wondered how much more Rosamund could tolerate. Lucien Fitznorton was a sadistic monster. Of course, there were moments of reprieve when Lucien took himself off on business, usually to London, but always there was his eventual return and more horrific abuse. His physical and mental cruelty seem to know no bounds. When Lucien purchases a car and hires a chauffeur, quite by accident, he and Rosamund are thrown together as she decides to learn to drive during one of her husband's absences.
While feeling sorry for Rosamund and the nightmare situation she is unable to free herself of, all I could see was disaster ahead for her and Joe's illicit affair. I really couldn't see how the author planned to resolve everything and avoid a total disaster, but she did this exceptionally well. A compelling story with great characterisation, The Gilded Cage is in parts shocking – there is a note at the beginning of the book warning of this – but nevertheless, a compulsive read with a strong heroine. Recommended.
I would like to thank Storm, Luisa A Jones and Netgalley for an ARC of The Gilded Cage in exchange for an honest review.

‘The Gilded Cage’ is a beautifully written novel that packs a punch. The author does not shy away from informing the reader of the horrific abuse suffered by Rosamund, the main character. It was very tough to read what she endured at the hands of her cruel husband, Sir Lucien, so that her self-esteem reaches rock-bottom. However, the author balances this with both tender and passionate love scenes when she is free from her husband’s vice-like hold in his absence as well as with the unexpected but satisfying ending. The era and its class divide is wonderfully evoked through social comment and the characters’ appropriate dialogue. I loved the parts where Rosamund is learning to drive a motor car, a relatively new invention, all the more remarkable for a woman living at the time. I have no hesitation in recommending this excellent novel. Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for an ARC of the novel.

Have just finished this page-turning historical novel which packs a punch.
It is as crammed with the serious and distressing issues of abuse, repression and hardship as it is with intrigue, romance and passion.
The sense of time and place provide an immersive reading experience, with huge attention to detail. I particularly loved following Rosumund's journey as she learned to drive and find her away around a motor car; the grit and determination required to claw back some independence within the confines of her limited existence leapt off the page.
The unfairness of Rosumund's life is only emphasised by the multiple view points of the main characters, who all to stand to either lose or gain by the circumstances surrounding her. This is brilliant writing, allowing the flaws as well as the strengths of the character's personalities to flow through their private thoughts.
The romance was gripping and steamy, the main character was brave and enduring, the baddies were loathsome and everything was wrapped up in a satisfactory way that I hadn't really seen coming.
A brilliant read and I will be watching out for Luisa's next book!

The Gilded Cage is an unforgettable powerful historical tale that gripped my heart and shook it fiercely. I spent many hours reading late into the night unable to put this book down. It had me entranced as it is so incredibly well written. I was fully transported back in time to 1897 and placed in an English setting, captivated by a believable cast of characters and mesmerised by a riveting plot. I was immersed on all fronts by this incredible story. The prose is magnificent with a number of beautiful heartfelt love scenes. But just as the author wields enchanting romantic moments of tender love, she also shows the extreme opposite in the controlling violent acts of an abusive relationship. Even at the other end of the spectrum, she writes with such force that the descriptions made me flinch in horror. It caused me to feel the pain this woman endured. And my heart throbbed with distaste for the man who inflicted such evil on her.

This novel realistically covers the many social class issues of the time. Arranged marriages were still certainly part of English society in the late 1800s and when a woman’s father died, she could lose everything and be left defenceless in the hands of others less caring. Or as this novel shows, thrust into a gilded cage at the mercy of a ruthless master. Luisa paints a true and jarring picture.

Rosamund is the daughter of a baron. But when he passes on, her brother sells her off to a man (Sir Lucien) who wants to control her for his own evil purposes. She is forced into marriage, stripped of her dignity, immobilised and traumatised by her husband’s cruelty. Eventually she is unable to function from years of abuse. Rosamund becomes a shell void of spirit, lifeless and colourless. The negative psychological effects are real and we can imagine this clearly.

But then someone steps into her life and shows her love. Her inner life begins to change, to tilt toward the light. This positive attention puts a spark back into her heart and forces the shadows to retreat. It starts with the motorcar and learning to drive. There were very few women drivers back then but she has read about them and wants to follow in their footsteps. And when she takes it on herself to learn from Joseph the chauffeur, while her abusive husband is away in London, it gives her a sense of freedom she has not known since the death of her father. This first experience of stepping out gives her confidence and courage to begin to fight back. But there are repercussions as you’d expect. There’s a spy in the camp. And although she has setbacks, her journey to freedom continues. But there are unexpected twists and turns. And others come into her life with kindness and gifts. Healing is on the horizon and justice, too, for this woman who has suffered immensely.

There are some Downton Abbey-like scenes in this novel—especially passages with the staff but they are used well for positive effect. I particularly liked Rosamund’s maid, Nellie, who gets to tell her side of the story. She became a wonderful ally and helped Rosamund through some rough times. Besides Rosamund and Nellie, we also get the viewpoints of Joseph and Mary. Even the abusive husband gets to say his share—and we can see the darkness of his heart not only in his actions but in his thoughts.

Rosamund compares her life to a modern day fairy-tale complete with a curse and ogre. In many ways she is right as she certainly has been trapped in a tower of loss, sorrow, violence and despair. But thankfully, there is a rescue but it is by her own hands, not a chivalrous prince. Without revealing anything specific, I can say she becomes the ‘driver of her own destiny’. In this way, the author delivers an apt modern ending—a positive resolution. Slivers of joy and seeds of hope rise from a bed of ashes proving there can be freedom at the end of a dark and twisting tunnel. And beautiful love can bloom after the damage of scars. I am really glad I read this novel. It is a beacon of encouragement for the abused. A healing balm for a troubled soul. And a literary triumph for the insightful reader. The Gilded Cage is profound and expertly crafted. I highly recommend this powerful novel. 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Many thanks to Storm Publishing and Netgalley for my review copy.

Love or the fascination of love?
I’ve recently re-read D. H. Lawrence’s “Lady Chatterley’s Lover” and (she says in a low voice), to be honest, I enjoyed The Gilded Cage more. Some of the themes are similar: unfulfilled young bride, sexual awakening, lovers from different social classes etc. However, although “The Gilded Cage” is written with a touch of “period voice” – it’s also written in 2023 and therefore more accessible. I loved it. There’s also a hint of Downton Abbey meets Upstairs, Downstairs. But “The Gilded Cage” is its own book and beautifully written. The vintage tone is very fitting:
“There was reverence in his touch, and wonder in his countenance.”
And: “Suddenly the desires she had discovered within herself seemed dangerously transgressive.”
This book will sound marvellous on audio.
There’s a lot going on and the sexual scenes are on opposite ends of the scale. I’m not going to give spoilers, but there is cruel sex and there is beautiful, passionate, sensual sex – both very hard to write. The subject is tricky and the author has dealt with it head-on, with courage and skill.
The characters are complex and vividly drawn. I was thoroughly convinced by them all. I felt so sorry for the heroine Rosamund, who, as a woman living at the end of the nineteenth century, has such a rough deal and such resulting low self-esteem, “whiling away her days reading and playing the piano,” when she is not preyed on by her older husband. “Living with Sir Lucien was like living on the slopes of a volcano.”
“It was better for the staff to see her as a social misfit than as the filthy, debased creature she knew she really was.”
I wanted to take the poor young woman in my arms and comfort her.
How wonderful that the motor car brought her freedom to escape for a while from her cage and embark on “a secret life”. Her life as a result became more complex, bringing issues for both parties and it was this part of the book that I enjoyed the most, wondering how the story would develop. I might have taken off half a star at what I felt was rather a convenient ending, but I didn’t because I still couldn’t put the book (aka my kindle) down.
I enjoyed reading at the back of the book about the author’s research into motoring during this period. In fact, I was totally immersed in this world and look forward to reading more from the pen of this talented author. Thank you for transporting me in the Wolsey 24/30 Limousine-Landaulette and into your clever story. More!

Set in 1897, The Gilded Cage is a gut-wrenching Historical Fiction novel about despair, sorrow and courage with slivers of hope. Rosamund marries Sir Lucien Fitznorton who is far from a gentleman. He horrendously abuses his second wife in every way imaginable. Household staff members know what is going on but their hands are tied. Fitznorton's new chauffeur is shocked that Rosamund speaks to him but they strike up a friendship which is not bound by social class. They are also both married which inevitably becomes an issue.

The story is told with passion and gorgeous prose with wonderful historical detail including the dawn of motoring, social mores and class divisions. Characterization has a depth which is often lacking in similar books. Reading it was akin to appreciating music or art.

I liked the direction the author went with to end the story. Do be sure to read her notes at the back, too, Please take heed of the warnings of graphic abuse and loss.

My sincere thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an early digital copy of this emotive novel.

A great read despite the domestic violence elaborately depicted, because of the accurate insight into the psychological side of the beaten wife, and also because the historical and social background were well reflected in the novel. Some of the characters were not so finely drawn (Blanche, the stepdaughter, for instance). I found Blanche's character a bit over the spot and rather a cliché of the spoiled prat. On the other hand the horrid husband was very convincing. The conclusion was for me satisfying, but not what I might have predicted.....
I received a complimentary digital ARC of this novel from NetGalley and I am leaving voluntarily an honest review.

The Gilded Cage emphatically introduces Luisa A Jones as a fresh and modern voice in historical fiction. It’s hard-hitting, pulling no punches in the way it deals with the domestic violence that is at the heart of this Edwardian story, and the author doesn’t hold back when it comes to the love scenes either.
When Rosamund’s circumstances force her into marriage with Sir Lucien Fitznorton she is too young and innocent to even imagine the horrors that await her, sharing her life with this controlling man. At the beginning of the story she is broken, with no allies, but that slowly begins to change when she uses Sir Lucien’s absence to learn to drive. Society and the servants consider her a little mad, but to her it represents a freedom she could never have imagined and she begins to recover at least a little confidence.
Although the story is a little slow to start, later it rattles along, its depiction of life in an Edwardian country house meticulously drawn, and by the end I was quite breathless to know what would happen.

Rosamund was married young to older Sir Lucien. She was physically and mentally abussed. Her parents were dead, she had no surviving relatives and felt life had nothing to offer her. When she has an affair, her life improves her mental health. Her husband will not let her leave him, What will happen to her? Will she ever find happiness or will she forever be imprisoned by her husband?

I was very wrapped up in this story. The author did a great job! I just wish the story had continued.
I received a copy of this book via Netgalley, and was not required to leave a positive review.

I was soon pulled into Rosamunde’s story, as matrimony leaves her trapped in a house and a life which, though full of privilege, leaves her powerless and traumatised as she endures the most horrific cruelty. This meant I was thoroughly invested in her, and later, her romance and her friendships. We watch her grow from loved young woman under her father’s care, to a woman with all vitality drained from her - until her husband’s prolonged absence allows her spirit to rear its head once more; at which point we start to see Rosamund lift herself up and start to make changes. There are, of course setbacks along the way but there are also moments of joy and of freedom. I found the end of the story thoroughly uplifting.
Luisa A Jones deftly weaves a picture of society in the early twentieth century across all social classes and fills it with life, her characters are thoroughly believable and she writes about traumatic, but common, life events with insight.
Overall I thought this was a fabulous debut and I am looking forward to reading more from this author.

Thank you NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I honestly wasn’t sure about this one going in…it sounded like a thriller romance which is a step away from what I normally read.

Be warned. There is some seeeeeriously heavy content in this book. Domestic, verbal, physical and occasionally sexual abuse run pretty much all the way through it. It’s extremely difficult to see a female character THAT broken and terrified in a marriage.

And no matter how bad a marriage is, I just cannot reconcile infidelity in any way, especially on the male character’s part, as he has a loving family, even if his wife is distant. I’m so conflicted about it though, because I really wanted Rosamund to experience some sort of happiness in this book, but it just felt wrong.

This book has trigger warnings for a reason, and it was a bit much for me.