In Dover, England, 1808, Officer Alexander Moore, a police officer, goes undercover as a gambling gentleman to expose a high-stakes plot against the king. He’s a master of disguise, and Johanna Langley believes him to be a rogue until she can’t fight against his unrelenting charm. Johanna just wants is to keep the family inn afloat, but when the rent and the hearth payment are due at the same time she doesn’t have the funding. Where will she find the extra funds? If she doesn’t come up with the money, there will be nowhere to go but to the workhouse. There she would be separated from her ailing mother and ten-year-old brother. When Johann confides in him, Alex desperately wants to help her, but his mission of finding and bringing to justice a traitor to the crown must come first, or they could all end up dead. Can he save the woman himself, the woman he loves, and her family? Can she forgive him?

I receive complimentary books for review from publishers, publicists, and/or authors. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.

I can count on one hand the number of Christian Historical fiction authors who can capture me completely, take me to another place and time, and not let go until the end. Michelle Griep is one of these authors as I always see a little of Charles Dickens, my favorite childhood author, in her storytelling. This time Michelle not only gave us a romance between Johanna Langley (the Innkeeper’s daughter) and Alexander Moore a.k.a. Alexander Morton (? You will have to read the story to know more) but also a peek at another between Eliza (Johanna’s mom) and Sir Richard Ford, plus lots of intrigue and mystery throughout.

Michelle’s characters of which there are many are all well developed each with very distinct personalities. I would have to say my two favorites were Thomas (Johanna’s little brother) and Mr. Nutbrown (a patron of the inn) as both made me smile. My least favorite character was Mr. Spurge not because of Michelle’s writing but because of the person he was. Shall we just say he took after Mr. Scrooge in A Christmas Carol.

I did not realize when I chose to read this book that it was a sequel to Brentwood's Ward, however it can be read as a stand-alone. Overall I enjoyed reading The Innkeeper’s Daughter and would recommend this faithful, and at times sit-on-the-edge of your seat story of the impoverished devout working class of the regency period in England.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing, Inc. via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Plots are afoot, as are nefarious smugglers and crafty, highly placed traitors in Michelle Griep's new Regency era novel, The Innkeeper's Daughter. Ordered to "ferret out" the traitor, Bow Street officer Alexander Moore is sent undercover as the gambling rogue Alex Morton and ordered to reside at the Blue Hedge Inn, perhaps the most run-down of respectable inns in Dover. Much to his chagrin, he learns that he will have to share a bed with one Mister Lucius Nutbrown. But to his delight, he finds that the young scamp who kept that detail of his lodging a secret also has an attractive older sister, Johanna Langley.

While Jo and Alex are both admirable in some ways, they are fallible in others, and though I found myself rooting for them, I did not find myself really connecting with them as a reader. But the action, adventure, and the cast of secondary characters more than made up for this. What seemed at first to be throwaway characters all became something more. In particular, I found a certain Mr. Nutbrown increasingly endearing as he tries to find his way in a world of manipulating, nefarious characters. And it was his character arc that truly touched me the most as a reader.

If, like me, you are not a fan of Charles Dickens and have seen other reviews likening Michelle Griep's work to his, do ignore the comparison (though it does bear out, but in the best possible ways for fans of Historical Romance) and give her Regency novels a try. The storyline trots along at a good pace, and has the feel at times of a novel from a bygone era. Romantic conventions, like a hero saving a heroine from falling off a ladder, are predictable but no less enjoyable for it. And the climactic action sequence is just spot on. This is only the second novel I have read by this author and so far she is a new Historical Romance favorite. Highly recommended.

This review refers to an e-galley read courtesy of the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

The story finds us in England during 1808 with an adventure as well as secrets and danger. I liked Johanna right away. Trying to keep her family's inn open has become a difficult task. It is not the most attractive place with repairs needed . I loved reading how close she is to her family. She seemed to be quite a strong woman and willing to find a way to overcome the fate of the family's inn.

Alex is a bit of a mystery to people he encounters. Why would someone who seems to be wealthy decide to stay at Johanna's less than attractive inn? He has been sent on a secret mission that could put him in danger. It was fascinating to read the banter between him and Johanna. I did kind of laugh when they seem to disagree on things. Is someone playing hard to get? The story takes a dark turn when Alex finds himself locked up and desperate to escape from his captors. I loved when I read, " If we fail to trust in God's provision, what kind of faith is that? It is hard to keep your faith strong when you find yourself in a seemingly hopeless position.

The author allows readers to feel the desperation in Johanna as she shares her feelings of being a failure to Alex. I hurt for her as she tells Alex how she can't hold it together anymore. She carried a lot on her shoulders and it has all started to drain her. Do you remember a time when you felt the weight of the world on your shoulders? Johanna must reach deep inside her and hang on to her faith and allow God to provide for her. The story is full of intrigue and a masterfully written adventure that captures the history eloquently. I loved reading about the attire people wore during that time period wore and their polite way of talking . It is easy to picture the story as the author describes in detail the surrounding landscapes, inns and ships docked with mysterious cargo.

Once again the author brings a wonderful story that is a page turner. This is one book you don't want to miss. Will Alex be able to complete his mission without being discovered who he really is? Can Johanna find a way to save the inn? The ending is very tense and I loved the action it provided as the characters race against time to pursue their goals. Thank you for a wonderful story and historical facts that made the book very realistic.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

Beautiful is the best word to describe the book. I was enthralled and captivated with Alex, he was a man to love. Johanna was a strong woman who wanted only the best for her family, and she wanted to have such for them without doing evil spirited acts. She saw brightness when others saw only darkness. I really loved this about her. The overall story kept me savory each page, knowing that sadly the book would end. I certainly could have gone on with the characters more and the plot line. It is a sign of a great book when readers don't want it to end.

I enjoyed reading this book. It was fun to read about this time period in history.  The character's were believable and relatable. I liked most of the characters. Some were just unlikable. I always liked books that have spies in them. I enjoy the mystery and drama of undercover work.

I received this book from the publisher to read and give my honest review.

I recommend this to my family and friends.,

I put this book down after 22%. The things I liked about the novel were the setting and the spy premise that first caught my attention. Unfortunately, the characters and the dialogue fell flat for me. The characters were predictable and the dialogue felt unrealistic. The one scene I enjoyed the most before putting the book down was the party scene where Alex is on a spy mission. I'm sure there are more scenes like that later in the novel, but I don't care enough about the chapters in between to keep reading.

A story filled with intrigue, smugglers, ventriloquist, spies, romance, heartbreak, and a traitor. Travel back in time to 1808 in The Innkeepers Daughter.

This story has so many moving parts that you just want to keep reading to figure out WHAT IS GOING ON??? Also, there were several times our hero needed a good purse whomping. I absolutely LOVED this story. The romantic tension between Alex and Johanna...*whew*...And the climax of that tension in their kiss(es)...Make sure you keep a fainting couch nearby...and possible smelling salts.

The common thread throughout this story is all about giving over the control of our lives to God. It is easy to SAY that we trust God to see us through things...And yet we can still be found trying to fix all the little things that go wrong on our own...Trying to make it all better...in our own power. Instead of trusting for a door to open from God...we pry open the cellar door into destruction and chaos and say, "LOOK! I found a way!!! It isn't a GOOD way...but I did it ALL ON MY OWN!" Michelle Griep addresses the need to trust in our Lord so well. And it really rings true.

If you love a good romance that is clean and passionate, sprinkled with mystery and intrigue, this is definitely a book that you will enjoy!

I received a complimentary copy of The Innkeeper's Daughter from the publishers through Celebrate Lit. I was not required to write an honest review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Full of mystery and intrigue, author Michelle Griep has written a book that will keep you in suspense! Vivid descriptions and quirky characters that you will either love or hate make this an attention-grabbing read.

I really appreciated that throughout, we are reminded that we are not our source and can’t rely on our own strength. We need to trust God with our lives. That forgiveness and redemption is always possible.

Regency England was well researched for this novel. Spies abound; who can you trust? Add in some romance and you have the recipe for a really good historical novel. If you enjoy history, romance, espionage, and humor then this is a book you’ll want to read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.

I’d give this book a 3.5 rating. There were some wonderful characters, Alex and Johanna, as well as some odd and quirky ones. The plot was pretty complicated and the story was good, but it just wasn’t quite my thing. It felt a bit forced.

This was such an interesting story! There was a lot of mystery, intrigue, espionage and just the right amount of danger and romance. I enjoy strong leading characters and a plot that moves right along and this book was interesting from cover to cover!

So much to enjoy about this book. It is a continuation of the Bowstreet Runners. Alex is given a secret assignment. And told to stay at a certain inn. He instantly connects with Johanna and Thomas, her brother. I really enjoyed Thomas. Such a fun little boy. And Johanna had to be serious because she was trying to save her family’s Inn. This would keep them out of the workhouse. Her Mam, was doing her best to cook and help out. Alex keeps helping them while working on his mission as well. He is conflicted. Johanna is confused about him. And the quirky Mr. Nutbrown! He added to the story! I giggled and also felt sympathy for him. There was mystery, danger, surprise, and so much more to this book! A definite read!

This is the second book by Michelle Griep that I’ve read and to be honest . . . with each book I like her a little more. She is definitely an author that I want to keep my eye on. She gives engaging main characters with lots of annoyingly endearing character traits throughout the cast. I have to say annoyingly because while there are so true to life and real if I had to deal with them day in and day out in real life I’d probably have to smack them. Legit, there’s a grown man who talks through his puppet. Yes, I gave you a spoiler. But for all the buckets of gravy it is a real thing. The characters in this book? Way nicer than I might be.

I have to tell you how much I appreciate that for once there was not a romance that went off the rails because one character could not see past their own insecurities. Yes it was pretty much instalove but there was so much going on that it didn’t feel like instalove and I was so not bothered by it. I think that’s two in a row for something that I find completely over the top unrealistic. Either I’m going soft or I’m just reading amazing authors who can spin a story that detracts from this huge pet peeve of mine. However, there is a reason I feel like this book I really loved only is 4 star worthy. There were holes. Holes that I never felt were truly filled in. Mostly in relationship to secondary characters but they matter because of the interactions with the main characters. I actually had to check and see if I had somehow missed that this book was part of a series and I was late to the came. I wasn’t. But there is definitely room for this to be part of a larger series. Hint. Hint.

I have to admit I was kept pretty close to in the dark as to who the bad guy (or guys or gals or well groups?) were. To be fair though I didn’t really understand the way it was even working. I mean frames? This can’t be a spoiler as I still don’t understand frames. I just keep picturing crates and piles of picture frames. I mean I know that’s not what it is but I’m thinking there will be some convoluted Google time in my near future. I didn’t have to understand the intrigue to be drawn into and be taken by a few different surprises it was all unraveled. This book has it all with a solid romance, strong characters, some espionage, and even some fun side stories. However, I’m still completely on board for a prequel (hello Ford and Mam have a story to tell) and a sequel or two (I need happily ever after and what about poor Thomas’ future?!?). Michelle has drawn me into her worlds and I need to get my hands on more of her books. Sooner rather than later!

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by CelebrateLit, NetGalley. I was not compensated for this review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I was not required to write a positive review.

The Innkeeper's Daughter
by Michelle Griep
Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Shiloh Run Press
Christian , Historical Fiction
Pub Date 01 Mar 2018
I am reviewing a copy of The Innkeeper's Daughter through Shiloh Run Press and Netgalley:



This book will transport you back to 1808 Dover England where we meet Officer Alexander Moore who is going undercover as a gambling man so he can expose a high-stakes plot against the King-He is a master of disguise because Johanna Langley believes him to be quite the rogue until she can't fight his unrelenting charm any longer.


Johanna just wants to keep her family Inn running but when the rent and health payment are due at the same time will she be able to come up with the extra funds? If she doesn't she will be sent to the workhouse where she will be separated from her Mother who isn't doing well and her younger brother whose only ten!


Alex desperately wants to help Johanna but his mission to find the traitor of the crown and bring him to justice must come first or they could all end up dead.


I give The Innkeeper's Daughter five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

I loved the history in this story! It was interesting to see how the characters came together and tried to work through their struggles and differences. I look forward to reading more by Michelle!

Michelle Griep’s book, The Innkeeper’s Daughter, is filled with mystery, intrigue, (swoon-worthy) romance plus a man that dresses very strangely and lets his puppet talk for him more than he does himself.

I started reading The Innkeeper’s Daughter late one evening. I should have known from having read Griep’s novella, 12 Days at Bleakly Manor, Book 1 in Once Upon a Dickens Christmas by Michelle Griep, that I wouldn’t be able to put the book down! I was right; I couldn’t!

The writing is incredibly descriptive. For example, you can feel every pothole the wagons go over, see the neglect of the inn due to lack of funds and smell the stench from the wharves. In addition, you feel the emotions of the characters’, be it love, loathing, fear or the gluttonous, insatiable need for control and to harm.

The story is well researched with interesting tidbits of history during the Regency Era, to include some historical notes at the end of the book. There are some scenes of violence, threats of violence and other insinuations of harm that may be intense for some readers.

I received this book (in print or e-book form) from Celebrate Lit, Barbour Publishing and NetGalley. However, I was under no obligation to post a review.

First and foremost, I love when I get a chance to read a book in a time setting and period that I am not familiar with. I love that I get to experience a lesson all in one. I felt like I was placed in a time machine and transported back to simpler, intriguing times. This is a newer author to me, and I am so glad that I was able to read this story. I could not read fast enough. The author brings the characters to life through her carefully crafted storyline. I cannot wait to read more by this author.

I received a copy of this book through Celebrate Lit Blogging program and Netgalley - all thoughts are my own.

4.5 stars

“God stamps His value on everyone – on you – by virtue of His grace.”

An undercover Bow Street Runner with a bit of rogue in him. A hardworking young woman with the weight of her family’s inn on her shoulders. A quirky puppeteer (quirky may be an understatement here). A mischievous young boy. A mother with a few secrets of her own. You will fall in love with each of these characters in turn, as well as the myriad of other eccentric and intriguing characters who cross your path on these pages. Griep is highly skilled at creating empathetic characters in whom you quickly become invested.

And then there’s the intrigue of spies and smugglers and not knowing for sure who to trust or what part they each ultimately play in this drama. Another skill Griep has mastered in weaving the setting with the plot until they become deeply intertwined. With shades of Dickens and Austen in turn, she draws you in and holds you captivated until the very last page. Listen closely and you can hear the creak of the rickety steps, the wind blowing through the badly-shingled roof, the swayback horse’s whinny, and the flapping of ship’s sails at the waterfront.

Bottom Line: In The Innkeeper’s Daughter, Michelle Griep has crafted a rich tale of suspense, romance, and faith. Layered characters and a vivid setting linger with you long after you’ve turned the final page. If you’re a fan of Brentwood’s Ward or even just the age of smugglers and spies and Bow Street Runners, then this book definitely needs to be at the top of your TBR list!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

I enjoy clean suspense of all types. This novel is not your typical one. It deals with lower-class people caught up in a difficult life and striving to survive. Mixed within the main storyline of catching a traitor are numerous threads winding their way with subplots and surprises, which is what I’ve come to expect from this talented author. This is the best book of hers I’ve read, but I did find it challenging to keep everything straight, especially since so many characters are not just whom they seem to be. But that makes the story even more compelling. The well-developed main characters, Johanna (of the title) and Alex, the undercover officer, are both drawn together and pitted against each other. Set in England more than 200 years ago, this historical’s wild ride is well worth pursuing. Only after reading the book did I learn that it’s not the first in the series. It definitely stands alone, but I thought there had to be more. And a third is in the making. I received a copy from Celebrate Lit. All opinions are my own.

She clasped her hands in front of her, a strange tension lurking behind her beautiful facade. He got the distinct impression that laughter was a friend who rarely came to call on her. What would it take to cause a genuine smile? How would it feel to be the recipient? A foreign urge ran through his veins to be the man – the only man – to make her laugh.

Don’t you just love the way the words in that paragraph were joined together? This is typical of the prose you can expect throughout The Innkeeper’s Daughter. It is so beautifully written. It brought me to a different time and place, seeing and smelling and experiencing things in a new way. Though the author’s writing style is much easier to read than his, the descriptions, especially of the characters, reminded me of Charles Dickens’ novels.

There were so many fascinating characters in this story. Mr. Nutbrown and his puppet, Nixie, were so well developed! This simple-minded man who loved yellow stockings played a fairly large role in the book. Mr. Quail and his rag-tag musicians who were perhaps tone-deaf were some more of the colorful people who brought this story to life.

I really liked the way that Alex was so conflicted about having to tell lies in order to help protect his country. He would not have been such an honorable man if that came easily to him. The way that Alex treated Johanna’s little brother, Thomas, so kindly was endearing.

The story brings readers on a journey from the dining rooms and gaming parlors of the rich to the humblest of inns, to the gaol, and to places I won’t mention so I don’t spoil the story. With more of a focus on the humbler places instead of the aristocratic ones, the story made Dover and its environs come to life. This is a rich adventure that is a pleasure to read, with some surprises along the way.