I have read several Michelle Griep novels and some I loved and others I didn't like much at all. I think this one fell somewhere in between. I liked the story but at the same time wasn't as invested in these characters so it took me awhile to get through the book. There was some mystery or suspense with the goings on at the Inn and the surrounding area but I honestly had a hard time caring about the people until I was well into the book. The last third was much better and the pace quickened. I guess this one was just a slow starter. Still an enjoyable read, had an interesting plot and is a clean romance but I think the characters were what kept me from really getting into the story. They didn't come alive to me which made the first two thirds of the book a bit of a slog.

Alexander Moore is going deep undercover. His assignment? To lodge at the Blue Hedge Inn in Dover, engage himself to a viscount's daughter, and apprehend a traitor to the Crown. The one difficulty is that it isn't the viscount's daughter who's caught his eye, but the innkeeper's daughter instead.

Ever since her father's death and her mother's injury, Johanna has been trying to keep the inn afloat on her own steam. But with a rascal younger brother to care for and few paying guests, it's getting harder and harder to pay the rent. When a handsome wine merchant calling himself Alexander Morton rents a room, Johanna finds herself irresistibly drawn to his broad shoulders and kind generosity. But what are his motives for helping her? And can he be trusted to tell the truth?

This unequivocally Christian historical romance is set during the Regency period of England (although few of its elements besides the Bow Street Runners felt specific to the Regency time period). It features murderous smugglers, sadistic rope makers, crazy ventriloquists, and more people with secrets than just Alexander Moore. It was a little confusing at parts and a little predictable at others, but it was also one of those books that kept you reading, despite the romantic cliches and convoluted mystery. Alex was a likable hero and out of the supporting cast, I was most interested in learning more about his ghost-like associate Thatcher. 

The Innkeeper's Daughter can stand alone, but I believe it is loosely connected to Griep's earlier book Brentwood's Ward, which features another one of the brotherhood of Bow Street Runners. 

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Another wonderful regency tale by author Michelle Griep.  This engaging novel transports you back in time to regency England.  It’s a page turner filled with romance, faith, and intrigue.  I really enjoyed the well developed and humorous characters and the strong thread of mystery with it twist and turns.  This author’s books are always on my must read pile.

The Innkeepers Daughter was a fascinating tale of a beautiful young woman who quite literally falls into the hands of a handsome Bow Street Runner. Under Cover as a wine merchant Alex Moore is searching for a traitor. Johanna Langley is just trying to survive running the Inn. This story had action, adventure, humor and ahhh...love. I really enjoyed it and look forward to another installment to the series.
*I was given a copy of this book by the publisher and was not required to leave a review.

In Dover, England 1808, Alexander Moore, Bow Street officer, is sent to ferret out a traitor to the Crown and must stay at the Blue Hedge Inn, which is run by Johanna Langley, her mother and her 10 year old brother.  No one must know his true identity, for if he fails at his job, they could all die.  

Johanna must find a way to keep the inn afloat  or the entire family will be headed for debtor's prison.  She and Alex begin to have feelings toward one another, but Johanna values honesty above all else and Alex is, at the time, living a lie.  He wants to tell her the truth, but he can't and his loyalty to the Crown must come first.

Michelle Griep has yet another winner with this one.  It is a stand alone novel, but has some of the characters of her earlier novel, Brentwood's Ward, which was outstanding!  She has created a cast of characters that grab your heartstrings and just don't want to let go.  My heart was breaking for them several times during this story.  I loved the historical aspect as well.  But most of all, the spiritual aspect of this novel was powerful!  In fact, it ministered greatly to me during a very rough time in my life.  It seemed as if God was just saying to me, 'Listen, here's what you need to hear from Me.'  We can't do anything apart from God.  If we are to serve Him, we must surrender.  Everything.  He has a better plan than any we could even dream of.  This is what I came away with from this novel.  

I enjoyed every moment of this book.  When I read, I try to put myself into the time and place and with a Michelle Griep novel, that is so easily done.  She knows exactly what she's doing.  Loved it!  Can't wait for the next from her.

*My thanks to the publisher for a preview copy of this book.  All opinions stated in this review are entirely my own.

Any fans of BBC dramas will enjoy this tale of intrigue, adventure and romance! A sequel to Brentwood's Ward, loosely connected by a few mentions of other characters, so it easily reads as a standalone. A cast of characters worthy of a Dickens novel, this well written story has a quick pace and a bit of humor to counteract the dark side of 1808 Dover. Villains and heroes, ladies and gentlemen of all parts of society mix it up. Some big plot twists and action towards the end kept it engaging until the last. 

Loved Alexander Moore's conflicted character, as he wrestles to hold on to his faith in God while carrying out his job, which involves some deception. Johanna's plight of working herself to the bone, striving to save her family, was a familiar one, but the details and descriptions brought a whole new side to it. Learning to trust God for the outcome was a main theme here, and worked well in both of their struggles. 

Highly recommend! This author is becoming one of my favorites for historical Christian fiction. 4.5 stars

This was a nice read.

Alexander Moore in a man on a mission. Sent to uncover a plot against the crown, Alex will let nothing stand in his way...except maybe for the spunky Johanna. Johanna doesn't have any time for the charms of Alexander Moore. She has a broken down inn to run and a mother and brother to provide for. But Alex is charming and nice and she may just fall in love with him.

I recommend this book for ages 13 and up for some violent content.

For Alexander Morton, The Blue Hedge Inn is the last place he wants to spend the assignment he only agreed to ought of obligation, but the request of the one man who’s saved his life leaves him no choice. Morton must succeed and discover the truth, all the while hiding behind his own set of lies. For Johanna Langley, The Blue Hedge Inn is the only place she wants to be, even if it means working herself to the bone to keep her and her family in the Inn. Will Alexander discover the truth in time and still be able to save Johanna’s life and livelihood?

Michelle Griep once again delighted me beyond expectation with her expertly crafted tale. She kept me engaged throughout the book and I was genuinely surprised by who actually turned out to the traitor. The Innkeeper’s Daughter is definitely worth the read, as are Griep’s other works so far.

What is better than a historical suspense or historical mystery? In my humble opinion, I think just plain suspense. I adore historical romance and mysteries, so what is better than combining the two elements. With The Innkeeper's Daughter by Michelle Griep, this is my second introduction to her writing. The first book I read was 12 Days at Bleakly Manor. Another mystery with history woven inside. With a historical mystery, I am prepared for a historical time period and a mystery that is solved differently than a contemporary mystery. 
Griep's writing is clear and concise. I had no problem imaging the inn that Johanna has to live in and work in. The point of view of the story was told from Johanna's and Alex's perspective. I had no problem disguising from each character as they shared their tale of woe. There was no head hopping or moving around from one character to another in the same paragraph. 
Johanna is a survivor. No matter what happened in her home, she was determined to keep her family's inn. Even working in a horrible place that she escaped a long time ago because of the violence brought onto her. But she knew she needed to save her family's home. Johanna does learn to trust God with her circumstances after some hard lessons. While Alex on the other hand is a lying from the first page I met him. But as the story progresses, he falls in love with Johanna and changes his perspective on his goals for the future. 
The romance didn't fit right. Alex fell in love with Johanna just because of watching her work in the taproom and her relationship with her family, but I don't think his reasons for helping her and falling in love with her were realistic. It just felt wrong to me. 
The mystery was nicely held together. I enjoyed how Griep created a story inside a story and kept me guessing until I solved it. I'm good at solving mysteries, so I don't blame Griep for writing a mystery I solved pretty quickly. The mystery was non-stopped and kept me glued to the page. I really enjoyed the ending of the novel. 
Overall, The Innkeeper's Daughter by Michelle Griep is a wonderful written setting with vibrant characters who fall in love too quickly for no reason, but the mystery imprisoning the characters brings the excitement to the plot. 
I received a complimentary copy of The Innkeeper's Daughter by Michelle Griep from Barbour Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

The Innkeeper’s Daughter is set in Dover, England in 1808. It is about Johanna Langley, a 25-year-old girl who manages a crumbling inn to support her family, and Alexander (Alex) Moore, an undercover detective staying at Johanna’s inn under the alias Alexander Morton.

Alex is staying at Blue Hedge Inn—Johanna’s inn—in Dover where he is on a mission to catch a gang of smugglers. There is a dearth of customers at the inn and Johanna is struggling to keep it afloat. Alex has been ordered to court Vicount Coburn’s daughter, Lousia, to get close to the Viscount, who is a suspect. But Alex is attracted to Johanna and is always there for the Langley family when there is a problem—paying off debtors when there is a shortfall, motivating Thomas, Johanna’s 10-year-old brother, when he has an accident and is bed-ridden—though Johanna is proud and doesn’t appreciate his help. Alex also manages to earn the good graces of Viscount Coburn—a painful process which involves a stay in the gaols—and as a result, gets the information he needs to catch the smugglers. There are so many other twists in the plot that cannot be included in this review without spoiling the entire story, but I can tell you this: Griep has crafted the perfect action-packed ending to such an exciting story.

This is the first book that I have read by Michelle Griep and I absolutely love it. I love Johanna, she is a strong and independent girl and stands strong in the face of adversity, and Alex is the perfect counterpart to Johanna. The story is fast-paced with a totally captivating plot and well-developed characters. If you like a historical romance filled with suspense and intrigue then this is definitely the book for you!

Johanna Langley walks a tightrope between success and the workhouse. In order to keep the Blue Hedge Inn solvent, she must make a crazy border pay his shot, figure out how to raise enough money to pay a looming debt, and keep her mam from doing too much and her little brother from doing too little. So when a handsome guest arrives asking for a place to stay, Johann thinks her woes have ended. Only they haven’t. 

Bow Street runner, Officer Alexander Moore takes on a new assignment for his mentor and boss—only this time, he’ll operate on his own with little assurance of help should things go wrong. His task? Find a traitor in Dover before national security gets compromised. After all, Bonaparte could strike at any moment. 

Alex bemoans his guardian’s explicit instructions to forego the nice inn in Dover and stay at the derelict Blue Hedge Inn instead. But when he sees the innkeeper’s daughter, he changes his tune. As he gets to know Johanna better, he starts to understand for the first time why men settle down and marry. But he has no time for relationship nor romance, he has a traitor to ferret out. 

The plot twists and turns like a sign hanging by one hook in the wind. Can Johanna learn to trust a man who seems just like her father? A man who gambled away the family’s resources and died far too young?  Despite his kindness, Alex represents everything she despises in a man. Or does he?

You’ll have a difficult t me putting this book down—especially if you love a well-written historical novel filled with suspense and mystery.

I didn't know Brentwood's Ward was part of a series- then I started this one and I was so pleased it was a continuation of the Bow Street Runners' adventures.
Johanna & Alexander- what a couple. His charming, slightly reckless, give-no-bothers attitude paired perfectly with Johanna's quieter but genuine & sweet personality. 
Their romance- yaaass. 
The writing style- as per usual- Michelle has a distinct voice that I have come to love in her writing. 
I haven't read many books set in inn's, and for some reason (ie- Michelle's captivating writing), I just loved the overall vibe of it. 
I loved the intrigue of the plot. Didn't see it coming- and then- BAM- SO many more players on the table than I thought! 

There were some parts I felt were slower and I had to stick it out- but that likely comes from my reading more suspense fiction than historical fiction and just noticing the pacing differences- but I stuck with it and was rewarded handsomely. 

If you are looking for a slightly grungy, utterly captivating, heartwarming romance with a traitorous mystery to solve- PICK THIS UP.

NOW...where be Thatcher's story? 
This is what I'd like to know. 
Does he...GET HIS OWN BOOK? Pleasseeee.

About the Book:
A London officer goes undercover to expose a plot against the Crown.
 
Dover, England, 1808: Officer Alexander Moore goes undercover as a gambling gentleman to expose a high-stakes plot against the king—and he’s a master of disguise, for Johanna Langley believes him to be quite the rogue. . .until she can no longer fight against his unrelenting charm.
 
All Johanna wants is to keep the family inn afloat, but when the rent and the hearth payment are due at the same time, where will she find the extra funds? If she doesn’t come up with the money, there will be nowhere to go other than the workhouse—where she’ll be separated from her ailing mother and ten-year-old brother.
 
Alex desperately wants to help Johanna, especially when she confides in him, but his mission—finding and bringing to justice a traitor to the crown—must come first, or they could all end up dead.

My Thoughts:
As I read this title, I could not help but imagine that I was meeting the James Bond of the 19th century! This gripping tale of mystery and intrigue comes complete with spies, undercover agents, traitors, danger, deception, a damsel in distress that finds her hero, and even a character named "Que"! Griep holds the readers attention by taking them on a dangerous quest to hunt down an elusive traitor as undercover agent Alexander "Morton" discovers "friends" that are foes and "foes" that become unsuspecting allies as he traverses into seemingly impossible dangerous situations with no foreseeable escape. Alexander's complete tumble head over heals into love with Johanna is so endearing, yet heartbreaking as he must keep his secret identity intact denying his feelings and as a result breaking her heart. BUT, when the villains are captured he stands as her true hero, not only fighting for her life, but also for her heart.  Loved the twists, turns, and unexpected ending!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. A review was not required but was voluntary and contains my own thoughts and opinions regarding this literary work.

I enjoyed this book.   Characters were well drawn.  I liked the motivations behind character actions that were revealed further into the book.

I received an ARC copy from netgalley for my honest review,  so thank you netgalley and publishers for offering me this book! ♡
This is a story is about  Alex Morton, He is a runner for the Crown. He stays at an inn. In this run down inn he meets Johanna Langley, Who is the innkeeper's daughter.
Johanna helps to run the inn with her mother and her younger brother. They are barely hanging on and struggle to pay the rent each month which keeps her stressed out. She knows if they cannot pay the rent, they will be sent to the work camp. 
Throughout the Innkeeper's Daughter people are not what they appear to be. The book is  well written and keeps you guessing. The characters are wonderfully diverse. 
This was my first book by this author,  I enjoyed it for the most part. It was fast paced and just alltogether an easy read. ♡ I give this book a 3.5 star rating!

In The Innkeeper's Daughter, Alex Morton is a runner for the Crown. He is sent to Dover to find a traitor. He is told to stay in an inn. In this run down inn he meets Johanna Langley. She is the innkeeper's daughter and she is lovely. Unfortunately, Alex is undercover and on an assignment. But the more he gets to know Johanna the more he regrets not being able to allow himself to love Johanna.  

Johanna helps to run the inn with her mother and her young brother. They are barely holding it together and struggle to pay the rent each month. It causes her great worry. She does all types of jobs to earn money just to keep the inn going. She knows if they cannot pay the rent, they will be sent to the work camp. The inn has all types of odd characters including Mr. Nutbrown who can only talk via his puppet and Mr. Quail and his band that have no talent. What Johanna does not know is the Alex and Mr. Quail are more than they appear. Johanna begins to have strong feeling for Alex but she does not know much about him. When Alex is wrongly accused of being a traitor and his jailed and beaten, her heart breaks for the pain he endures. Alex does so all for his assignment. Alex has been ordered to become betrothed to the Viscount's daughter. But will following orders mean he loses the one thing he cannot live without? 

Throughout the Innkeeper's Daughter people are not what they appear to be. The book is so well written and it keeps you guessing. The characters are wonderfully diverse. From a peg legged crooked sailor to a dandy deserter, you never know where the story is going and certainly not how it will end!

Pretending to be someone else, even to uncover a plot, is the last thing Alexander Moore wishes to do. He takes up residence in a crumbling inn, and fights to keep from falling for the lovely innkeeper's daughter.

It was refreshing to read about the time period that was not debutants and balls. Alex's character was intriguing, and I enjoyed seeing him try to maneuver his way through a place he'd grown up, pretending to be a different person. He had misgivings about what he was doing, and it was interesting to see him grow as a character.

I'd hoped to like Joanna, but to be honest, I found her to be rather boring. She was not fun and I didn't see much growth in her character. The rest of the supporting characters were fine in their places, although several were tedious, to say the least.

Overall, it was a nice story, though it did drag in the middle some. I would recommend this to readers who enjoy a Christian historical romance with more emphasis on mystery and suspense.

My honest review

Book Cover?  4 stars

Honestly, I loved it! It was a good book! I may have started to feel a little crush on Alex. I really do recommend this novel.

Joanna is the dutiful daughter struggling to make her family's rundown inn make money. Alex is a Bow Street Runner who stays at the Inn will investigating and trying to find a traitor. We journey with Joanna and Alex as she tries to save her inn and he tries to find the traitor. 
I liked the familial relationships between Joanna and her mom and brother. And Mr. Nutbrown grew on me. By the end of the book I was wishing for more of his story. 
I wish the mystery had taken a bigger role in the plot. The conclusion to the mystery was wrapped up very quickly. The conclusion of the book wrapped up well but the mystery seemed a little disjointed. 
I really liked Griep's previous novel, <I> The Captive Heart </I> but this didn't reach those same standards. However, regency fans will find much to enjoy here.

First off, isn’t the cover simply gorgeous? It’s one of the reasons why I wanted to read this book. That and I love love loved Michelle Griep’s book, A Captive Heart, and wanted to read another story crafted by her. While A Captive Heart still sits on my favorites shelf, The Innkeeper’s Daughter has its own merits as well. The book flowed at a good pace, the intrigue pushing it along. I also liked the character Mr. Nutbrown and his puppet. Very unique characters indeed! The romance though, had me rolling my eyes a bit—and I love a good romance book! But some of it was too cliche and not developed enough. A solid 3.5 stars.