I purely love to read what Michelle Griep writes. She is a favorite of mine. Here are three novellas in one collection and each contain an air of mystery. All contain strong heroines and dashing heroes. Fine reading. Recommended.

*My thanks to Barbour Publishing for a copy of this book via Net Galley. A review was not required. All opinions stated here are entirely my own.

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

There are three stories of three different women in various locations (Cornwall, the Wild West, and St. Paul, MN). Each storyline was unique. If you are a fan of Griep, you’ll enjoy this trilogy of novellas with spunky heroines and dashing heroes. I think my favorite was the Gentleman Smuggler’s Lady, but I enjoyed all three.

This is a wonderful trio of *longer* short stories by Michelle Griep. Per usual, the writing is crisp, the characters are well-developed, and inspirational messages are gentle and thought-provoking. The first story is set in the Regency period, my favorite. It is set in Cornwall and concerns smuggling. That's another favorite theme and locale of mine, thanks to Daphne Du Maurier. The second one concerns a young doctor and another doctor's daughter in 19th century Minnesota. The third one is a bit different, as the main characters are already engaged. Here we have SJWs of late 19th Century America. I love Michelle Griep!

The Gentleman Smuggler’s Lady
Cornish Coast, 1815
When a prim and proper governess returns to England from abroad, she expects to comfort her dying father—not fall in love with a smuggler. Will Helen Fletcher keep Isaac Seaton’s unusual secret?

The Doctor’s Woman (A Carol Award Winner!)
Dakota Territory, 1862
Emmy Nelson, daughter of a missionary doctor, and Dr. James Clark, city doctor aspiring to teach, find themselves working side by side at Fort Snelling during the Dakota Uprising. That is when the real clash of ideals begins.

A House of Secrets
St. Paul, Minnesota, 1890
Ladies Aide Chairman, Amanda Carston resolves to clean up St. Paul’s ramshackle housing, starting with the worst of the worst: a “haunted” house that’s secretly owned by her beau—Ta home that’s his only means of helping brothel girls escape from the hands of the city’s most infamous madam.

This book is a set of three novellas. You can set next to a blazing fire in the middle of winter in your favorite chair and read just one story at a time or all three. The stories are light reads that don't take much thinking to read. Just good relaxing reading. I recommend this book to those who just want to set and relax with a good book.

I was given this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way.

The cover is what really drew me to this book. I find I often don't enjoy novellas because you just get into the story and - bam! - it's over so suddenly but two out of three of these are well worth the read. The first story, The Gentleman Smuggler's Lady, was my favourite of the three. It's a bit of a break from the ordinary sort of story, and the main characters are highly entertaining.

The second story, The Doctor's Woman, is another neat story, this time dealing with a struggle to forgive. I found myself immersed in the story and not ready for it to end, but it did come to a satisfying conclusion. I particularly enjoyed some of the characters in this story.

The third story, A House of Secrets, sounded so interesting but I found it bogged down by way too much mushy romance. Not that it wasn't clean, it is above board that way, but there's just way too much eye-roll worthy mush thrown in, to the point that I found it most definitely got in the way of the story.... what was it about again? It would have been good with some heavy editing.

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

I’m a faithful fan of Griep’s books. While the stories are a bit predictable, they are in such a way that I couldn’t help but smile and cheer on the three heroines. I loved the idea of three novellas as it is easier for me to digest them in separate sittings. I received an ARC from net galley and offer a review of my own willingness.

Three well written novellas filled with mystery and each wrapped up in a different historical timeframe. An excellent read that is hard to put down once you start.

This book was a lifesaver for me. I have been staying up way too late every night of our three-week Christmas break because it's impossible to go to sleep before finishing my book of the day. (Once you pop, you can't stop, if you know what I mean...) But this book is actually three books, a collection of three novellas all set in the 19th century. Disconnected novellas. Novellas that can be read separately. I thoroughly enjoyed each one over the course of three days and was able to go to sleep by ten o'clock instead of staying up to midnight and beyond.

The first story, The Gentleman Smuggler's Lady, is set in Cornwall, a few decades after the renowned series Poldark begins. Helen is a governess, traveling to visit her dying father who is a well-loved vicar in a coastal village. As she disembarks, the ship is set upon by smugglers, one of whom whisks her out of the way, keeping her safe from a horde of drunk sailors. Later, when Helen meets Isaac Seaton, the young lord of the manor, she realizes that she's seen him before and must make the difficult decision whether to keep his secret. 

The second story, The Doctor's Woman, is set during the American Civil War out on the frontier. After the death of her father, Emmy is supposed to go back east. But when the new doctor at the fort demands that she stay at the fort and assist him as a nurse, she finds that James Clark is a hard man to resist. Under the doctor's protection, she ministers to sufferers of measles and smallpox, assisting the Sioux Indians when others would consign them to their fate. 

The third story, A House of Secrets, is set at the end of the 19th century in St. Paul, Minnesota. Amanda is engaged to a city attorney known for trying to close down brothels. But when she tries to enlist his help in converting an old haunted house into an orphanage, her fiance proves singularly unhelpful. What secret is he hiding and why won't he confide in her? 

My favorite story of the bunch was The Doctor's Woman. It is difficult to create a lush setting and fully rounded characters in the format of a short story or a novella, and for me, this one succeeded the best in this task. Michelle Griep is at home in describing the American frontier. (I greatly enjoyed her book released last summer, The Captured Bride, which was set during the French and Indian War.) In The Doctor's Woman, James Clark jumped from the page as a determined physician, manly protector, and romantic protagonist. Emmy was just as appealing, making the decision to forgive the wrongs done to her by the native tribes and treat them as humans made in God's image. 

My second favorite in the collection was The Gentleman Smuggler's Lady. I loved the premise of this story! A gentleman forced to resort to smuggling to provide for his starving tenants...how noble! It didn't feel fully fleshed out, however, and I think it would benefit from being expanded into a full-length novel. 

All in all, this is a wonderful collection--excellent for when you need a quick bite of historical fiction instead of the full meal deal. 

Disclosure: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I have read Michelle Griep before, but was a little disappointed in this book. It has three different stories in one volume. I just couldn't really get into the plot lines and characters. I found myself skimming over pages just to get on with the story.

My apologies to Michelle Griep for not liking her stories this time. I felt no connection or excitement as I turned the pages and only finished it to write a review.

Ladies of Intrigue by Michelle Griep is a collection of three short stories of women who push the limits of what women are capable of achieving in the 1800’s.
The Gentle Smuggler’s Lady is set in 1815 when Helen Fletcher arrives at Port village of Treporth, Cornwall, England to attend to her ailing father. Upon docking the ship is overtaken by thieves raiding the cargo. She gets a glimpse of the man in charge. He takes her on a wild horseback ride to the local inn before she is accosted by the drunken longshoremen. What will happen when she realizes he is the benefactor offering food and shelter to her father?
The Doctor’s Woman is set in western United States in 1862. Emmy Nelson is overcome with grief at the death of her father, Dr. Edrith Nelson. She is packed up and ready to go live with her aunt when two soldiers come looking for her father. Will she defy her aunt and go the fort to assist them? Of course she does and meets the newly arrived Dr. Clark. They immediately disagree on treatment for the soldier’s leg and she does give in to the doctor. He assumes she is a nurse at the fort as they work together. She starts to leave as they finish up but he asks her to stay as he sees how accomplished she is. When his time is up what will she do next? Will Dr. Clark head back east to Harvard or has he found a higher calling?
A House of Secrets is set in 1890 St. Paul Minnesota. Amanda is engaged to Joseph who is the town attorney and always a bit late. When he finally arrives to escort her to their engagement dinner he tells her he has one stop to make on the way. They stop at a brothel where he and a police officer need to deliver a paper. Joseph’s goal is to shut down the brothel but why is he so obsessed with doing so? Amanda wants to purchase an abandoned house to start a school for underprivileged children but Joseph seems to stand in her way. Why is he not being more supportive?
I always love to read anything by Michelle Griep and this collection does not disappoint. Each story has many twists and turns to arrive at an ending you may not totally expect. I give this book 5 of 5 stars. The characters are warm and engaging and the story lines keep you reading till the end.
I received an advance copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

Three well written mystery novellas. I enjoyed each selection. I recommend to mystery and historical fans. I received an arc from Netgalley and this is my unbiased review.

I’m learning to appreciate the novella and Ladies of Intrigues by Michelle Griep has three beautifully written historical romance novellas! The characters and settings are so well created, I would have enjoyed spending more time in each. The reader is given enough to connect to each of the lead characters but I still have questions about their background and what will happen next in their worlds! Perhaps Michelle Griep will come back and expand these stories. I have tried to choose a favourite but I keep changing my mind, each has a charm of its own. It’s a five out of five on the en-JOY-ment scale.

This was a great collection of stories. Each had a heroine that was strong in character and didn't bow to anyone. Each story was a page turner and was set in different parts of the world. I liked that each story was vastly different in their characters and plots and settings. I recommend this book to those that like to have romance, intrigue and strong women characters.

Michele Griep has again demonstrated her fantastic writing skills in the three novellas in Ladies Of Intrigue. These novellas range from 19th century England to frontier Minnesota. Each story is filled with romance and a touch of mystery. The heroines are strong women wrapped in femininity that draw the heroes to their side. The settings are diverse but very believable. I know I can never go wrong in buying a book by Ms. Griep. So grab your tea and settle in for a cozy read.

I was given a copy of Ladies of Intrigue by NetGalley.com with no expectations. All thoughts are my own.

Michelle Griep writes wonderful Regency tales filled with history and intrigue. Her latest novel, Ladies of Intrigue, is actually comprised of three novellas. Personally, I don't enjoy novellas because everything is so rushed, and the plot doesn't feel complete. With Ladies of Intrigue, the novellas claim to have romance with a dash of mystery, but I did not discern any mystery in any of three novellas. The romance appeared rushed. BUT Griep does a fabulous job at bringing the Regency world to life. The setting shines on the page. As well as Griep's ability to create characters worth getting to know. I just, personally, wished the novellas were full length novels, so Griep could spend more time developing the romance and the mystery. If you are a fan of novellas and Griep's other writings or a fan of Sarah E. Ladd and Julie Klassen, then this might be the perfect book for you.

I received a complimentary copy of Ladies of Intrigue by Michelle Griep from Barbour Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

LADIES OF INTRIGUE by MICHELLE GRIEP is a collection of three novellas, each of which has a feisty heroine and a really good romance.
The Gentleman Smuggler's Lady takes place in 1815 in the port village of Treporth in Cornwall.
The Doctor's Woman takes place in Mendota Minnesota in 1862.
A House of Secrets takes place in St Paul Minnesota in 1890.
Each story shows us what important issues had to be dealt with in those early days, and how important it is to keep one's eyes on the Lord and walk in truth with one another, doing good wherever possible.
I really enjoyed the book.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Barbour Publishing Inc. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

If you are a Michelle Griep fan you will want to make sure you add Ladies of Intrigue to your "must read" list. This book, which comes out February 1, 2019, is a quick read because it's hard to put down.

My favourite story was the first one The Gentleman Smuggler's Lady. That one I could not put down and read it straight through. I loved the storyline and the characters and was disappointed it ended. I wonder how the author kept it to a short story as it has the potential to be a full-length novel.

Of course, the other two stories were equally thrilling and also have the potential to be full-length novels, but there was something about Isaac Seaton and Helen Fletcher that left me wanting more. Perhaps the danger involved? I hope the author brings them to life again someday.

If you are looking for some well-developed stories to get lost in, I highly recommend Ladies of Intrigue.

This compilation of three novellas of pirates, ghosts, wartime romance and an allusion to the beginnings of the fight against human trafficking was action packed! I enjoyed these stories, as each one held characters that were well developed, intelligent and easy to care about. Michelle Griep does a great job of setting the time period, using language appropriate for the setting, and using atmosphere to set the scene. I especially liked the story set in the Civil War, as it spoke against prejudice in a time when not many people stood up for those seen as enemies--the indigenous Indians. The female characters were all determined, sometimes stubborn, but always capable. The only constructive criticism I would add is that it appears all the men in these stories (even though set in different places) had a love for sandalwood cologne. ;)

I have read several of Michelle Griep's works and she is always delightful. Lots of research, great characters and solid stories. This book would be a wonderful gift for anyone who likes shorter reads or those looking for action along with romance.
I appreciated the opportunity to read early from #NetGalley and chose to leave a review. All opinions are my own.

•°o•:*:•.Danger, Intrigue, Romance.•:*:• o°•
Publisher's story synopsis followed by my thoughts.

The Gentleman Smuggler’s Lady
Cornish Coast, 1815
When a prim and proper governess returns to England from abroad, she expects to comfort her dying father—not fall in love with a smuggler. Will Helen Fletcher keep Isaac Seaton’s unusual secret?
MY THOUGHTS:
Good story, filled with danger and intrigue. I found it ended very abruptly with a question left hanging regarding some of the smugglers’ final outcome. I liked both of the main characters.
Tea Quote: “Come in, come in! Take a cup o’ nettle tea.”

The Doctor’s Woman (A Carol Award Winner)
Dakota Territory, 1862
Emmy Nelson, daughter of a missionary doctor, and Dr. James Clark, city doctor aspiring to teach, find themselves working side by side at Fort Snelling during the Dakota Uprising. That is when the real clash of ideals begins.
MY THOUGHTS:
I enjoyed this story with Sioux Indians, rough territory and practicing various types of medicine in the old days. It wrapped up nicely.
Spiritual Quote: “You have a healing gift, daughter. It’s not for man to chide what God’s given. Never be ashamed of what you are.”

A House of Secrets
St. Paul, Minnesota, 1890
Ladies Aide Chairman, Amanda Carston resolves to clean up St. Paul’s ramshackle housing, starting with the worst of the worst: a “haunted” house that’s secretly owned by her beau—a home that’s his only means of helping brothel girls escape from the hands of the city’s most infamous madam.
MY THOUGHTS:
Amanda has no idea her fiancé has any connection to the house. Joseph Blake is keeping the secret to protect her and the girls, avenge his sister and also thwart an evil city councilman – who, in my mind, looked like the walrus from Disney’s Alice in Wonderland singing Cabbages and Kings.
Mental anxiety over the happenings plus romance of the sweet couple. Wrapped up nicely.
Romantic Quote: “The warmth of his brown eyes reached out and held her, cherishing her as the most valuable of God’s creations. Her. The sole focus of such tenderness. She wished she could package it up and carry it around all day.”

CAUTIONARY NOTE: A few writings might push the envelope for some, so just a head’s up. **“Thievery is wrong.” Indeed. A principle he knew as intimately as a lover – one no honest man should ever have to bed. **“half-burned timbers reached into the night sky, dark on dark, like blackened bones trying to escape from a grave.” **“bricks holding in secrets like a jealous lover, guarding rumors of foul play.”**Most shameless maples had already disrobed for their coming marriage to winter, but a few discreet maidens refused to shed their orange and red leaves.”

I downloaded a copy of this book through Net Galley via the publisher with no fee and no compensation in the hopes of an honest review.
Connect with the author at Michelle Griep dot com.

Ladies of Intrigue
By Michelle Griep
Ladies of Intrigue is a collection of three unique historical romance novellas. Each story was skillfully written with depth in characters, plot, and intrigue. I truly enjoyed this collection.