Why you should run out and buy this Michelle Griep book immediately!

1. The author. Griep. The Bride of Blackfriar’s Lane is historical fiction at its best. You will race through the ratty streets and back alleyways of London with Kit and Jackson, learn to love the street urchins, and look over your shoulder every time the hair on the back of your neck prickles. Plus, enough language from 1880s inner city London to put you squarely in those streets that will give you the willies.
2. A special-needs character is presented with great authenticity and compassion. As someone who has worked with special needs people for a length of time, this is essential to me.

3. Humor in all the right places, plus a ton
of great metaphors! How does Griep do
it?!


All I can say, is, I have bought a paper
copy and an ecopy of the book so far, plus I received a copy from the publisher. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

This will be one of the few I will be rereading for great relationship advice applicable to today!! Times change, but basic relationship issues do not.

WOW!! This book is a "Must Read"! This book has mystery, suspense, action and romance. It will keep you turning the pages to see what happens next. Don't start reading this book at bedtime, you will be up all night. Loved it!! Highly recommend this book!
I received a complimentary copy from Barbour Publishing via NetGalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Love love love this sequel to The Thief on Blackfriar Lane. Kit and Jackson’s story is so intriguing and amusing. The story of how their paths crossed in the aforementioned book is continued in this, The Bride of Blackfriar Lane novel. While planning their wedding, yet deep in their investigating crimes assignments, Jackson and Kit get sidelined and chaos ensues. The investigations continue to pull them together, but he doubts creep in and their love for each other is questioned.
The story takes place in the historical Victorian era of London. I appreciate the authors research and knowledge of the era. It is well written and has many fascinating turn of events. The characters are delightful and entertaining. It is a clean and wholesome book, appropriate for any young adult and older.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Bride of Blackfriars Lane
I immensely enjoyed the previous book featuring these characters set in Victorian London. This books starts off with a bit of excitement and the reader gets to see Kit and Jackson back in action!
Sadly, I have to admit that I did not enjoy this book as I did the previous one. The plot took a long time to form and I felt like I was treading water waiting for the story to head in a discernible direction. Kit and Jackson were honestly a bit frustrating with their lack of communication and misunderstandings. They had a hard time getting on the same page and it just made the romance a bit tedious. The mystery angle added some interest, however I just had a hard time getting invested in this story and there was admittedly a lot going on. The setting of this book drew me in as usual, I just wanted more from these characters and plot making it a miss for me.

You need to read the first book to fully understand this story. I didn't feel like the first book had a cliffhanger, but this is the second half of their story.

Kit is an incredibly independent woman. Her and Jackson work well together, but they also come from different worlds, which can complicate things at times. This story had a lot going on. Some I felt was directly related to the plot, while others I felt were just something the author found interesting and wanted to include in a book somehow. It didn't really add to the story and kept me wondering how it was finally going to tie in. The relationship struggles seemed to drag for me at times, but it could also have just been because I was reading it during a difficult week. There was plenty of mystery, intrigue, suspense and danger to keep your attention with a little romance sprinkled in here and there. In my opinion it wasn't as good as the first book, but I still enjoyed seeing how these two characters developed and grew during this story.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through Netgalley and this is my honest review.

I always enjoy Michelle Griep’s novels. They are multi-layered with rich characters and imaginative plots. The Bride of Blackfriar’s Lane is the second in a series. You’ll want to read The Thief of Blackfriar’s Lane first. (See my review at http://landofmysojourn.net/blog/?p=18761)

This is the continued story of Jackson and Kit. I appreciated how Griep moved us deeper into their relationship, exposing all those little beliefs that trip us up as we seek deeper intimacy and connection. And she did it in the midst of another riveting, kept me up way too late at night, page turning tale of intrigue and adventure.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and recommend it to you.

The challenge of redemption!

Once again Griep gives us a London Dickensian backdrop, the seedy underbelly of so many stories. Here Kit Turner and Jackson Forge are forging more than a working partnership they’re committing to a “have and to hold” proposition.
There’s just a few problems. Jackson thinks his Kit will go into the place where all wives go, the home—gracefully. And though Kit wants to do this, tries to—she just can’t.
Plus there’s loose ends.
There’s some sort of mystery around her mother’s death.
Jackson and Kit’s joint effort at stopping a thieving ring had supposedly payed off, and yet it hasn’t.
There’s still stolen silver and goods showing up in these controlled rubbish dump. As Kit “suggested—that maid had been pilfering items and tossing them in the dustbin, [then] who was collecting them here and hawking them to Skaggs?
Someone wants Kit and Jackson dead and has made several efforts.
Then Kit misses her wedding. Oh dear!
What’s a girl to do, particularly as she discovers the man she loves is about to ship out? You’ll love her gutsy move. I did.
A wonderful story, the sinner moving forward, but only just.

A Barbour Publishing ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
Please note: Quotes taken from an advanced reading copy maybe subject to change

Ah, Kit and Jackson have to be in the top 10 of my favorite literary couples. This story is a continuation of the first book, following the same characters. And while I loved the first book, even though they fell in love pretty quickly, I was especially happy to go back and revisit their relationship. They are witty, cute and both such passionate, headstrong (Read:stubborn) people and I loved seeing their relationship fleshed out more, and to have them actually have to work through some of their issues. Though sometimes I wanted to roll my eyes at some of the mopey drama between the two, it still fit their characters.

The book starts with Kit wanting to surprise Jackson by finding out what happened to his brother's attackers and Jackson is trying (and failing) to keep Kit from harm. Which of course leads to different cases, and a lot of hijinks. There was a lot going on in the story and it kept me entertained from beginning to end.. This book took such an unexpected turn for me and I felt it flowed excellently from the first book. I was surprised that I couldn't see the antagonist, I mean I had an idea that it was possible but I didn't "know", you know? This book was very well researched and it showed, I felt that I was literally running around Victorian England with these two. I'm always game for a good Michelle Griep story, and this one has definitely edged out the others for my second favorite book of hers. Content is clean, some kisses/thoughts of kissing, ogling by other males, talk of mistresses, couple of fight scenes, it is all pretty standard stuff for the time period and genre.

I highly recommend and I will be buying the book for my actual bookshelf. Give it a try you won't be disappointed

I received a copy of this from the publisher, my thoughts and opinions are my own.

London 1885

Delightful! In this second of the series, Kit's independence and unconventional ways continue. She has the best interest of others and the law in mind. The way she goes about things is just a bit different than most.

Jackson is both in awe and exasperated with her. Is his love strong enough to give Kit the freedom she desires?

In particular, I loved the scenes with Kit's father...a stern man with a soft underbelly. And of course, the humor was spectacular.

Lovely character development by both Kit and Jackson as they each worked to solve cold cases and define their relationship.

Another fun adventure with Jackson and Kit! While I’ll admit I got pretty frustrated with their stubbornness, this was a great story with the most perfect ending I could imagine for such unique and interesting characters.

First off I do feel you need to read these in order as there were lots of things I felt I was missing by only having read this in relation to Kit's father and the development of the relationship between Kit and Jackson. Having said that it didn't affect the mystery and intrigue in this book. I did guess the main villain at an early stage but the twists and turn's still kept things interesting. Now I just need to find time to go back and read the first book. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was a bit of a slow build at first, but once it got going--wow! Watch out (literally and figuratively)! I ended up bingeing about half the book yesterday afternoon, lol; I just had to find out what happened and whodunit.

I definitely recommend reading the series in order; picking this one up standalone would be confusing (not that that's stopped me before :D #whoops), and knowing who the characters are and how they got to this point would be helpful (in addition to avoiding spoilers!).

While I do prefer book 1 in the series (_The Thief of Blackfriars Lane_), Griep definitely has another winner in this one, and I absolutely recommend it. Historical London brilliantly comes to life in this read, and the author's extensive research is evident. Well done. 4/5 stars.

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Jackson and Kit are back, fighting crime together or apart, and learning about love and trust. We are taken on many twists and turns and one case seems to grow exponentially into another. During all this, Jackson is offered a job as a bodyguard. We see Martha, Frankie, Sergeant Graybone, Officer Baggett, Chief Ridley, Mr Mann, Vicar Harpenny and his mother, Mr. Mann and a few others. Another page turning story with a lot going on that has you piecing together the pieces as Jackson and Kit do.
A complimentary copy was provided by Barbour through NetGalley. A review was not required and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Michelle Griep will always be a win for me.

I must admit I almost put down The Bride of Blackfriars Lane a time or two because I hated the idea of Kit and Jackson being at odds. But Griep of course grabbed my attention with Kit’s shenanigans and plenty of suspense.

The ending made it all worth it. I loved both of them more by the end, and they both had fantastic character arcs and grew not only as people but also as a couple. The spiritual elements about trusting God and depending on Him deepened this romantic tale.

If you loved The Thief of Blackfriars Lane, then I highly recommend this sequel. You really can’t go wrong with a Michelle Griep novel. Though you can read The Bride of Blackfriars Lane as a standalone, these books are best enjoyed in order.

Kit and Jackson return! These two are such a fun couple and there is never a dull moment in their story. I was really looking forward to their nuptials but knew it couldn’t really be that easy. Kit’s determination is something that Jackson loves about her, but it also does a fine job of creating some obstacles. The pace was thrilling, and the mystery was intriguing. The inner workings of crimes in Victorian London streets were fascinating and realistic. They are both skilled investigators but have very different methods and strengths, bringing much needed balance to the other. At times, their differences are comical and other times the tension drove my pulse to a rapid rate. As the story unfolds, there were many directions in which Michelle Griep could have taken it. I was thrilled with the one she chose as it seemed the perfect outcome for Kit and Jackson. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to all lovers of inspirational historical fiction!

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are solely my own.

A nice Victorian romance, with some sleuthing, God, and great misunderstandings. I felt that the author couldn’t decide where to place her focus - on the relationship or the mystery - but it didn’t detract from my enjoyment. I eagerly awaited what would happen next. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

The Bride of Blackfriars Lane
by Michelle Griep
Publisher: Barbour Publishing
Series: The Thief of Blackfriars Lane
Rated: 5
Obtain: Borrow or buy (depending on how full your bookshelf is)
Back of the Book: “The Continuing Adventure of Jackson and Kit!
Detective Jackson Forge can hardly wait to marry the street-sly swindler who’s turned his life upside down. Kit Turner is equally excited to wed the handsome detective, and what better way to show her love than providing him with a gift any man of the law would love? She determines to bring to justice the men who years ago maimed his brother—despite Jackson’s warning to leave the past in the past. As she digs into the mystery of what happened, she unwittingly tumbles into her own history and endangers her future happiness with Jackson.”

Impressions: Loved it! I was excited to continue this story with the wonderful characters, Jackson and Kit. This book had it all, suspense, murder, romance, and faith! I struggled to put this one down. Heads up, this is not a stand alone novel and has a previous book that should be read first.

Quotes: “Truth may sometimes bleed the soul, yet it is also a balm, healing that same wound when spoken in love. It is falsity which betrays, bringing comfort to the ear while driving a knife in the heart.”
“‘I have learned,’ he said at length, ‘to look past the darkness of my anger and see the light of creation. To choose to think on the good my Creator has brought into my life rather than the hardships. Anger and bitterness area choice. Either you may dwell on your losses or you may be grateful for what you have. I eventually learned to be grateful, and now I have you. You never know what gift God will birth out of the darkness, Daughter.’”
“By God’s grace, who we are today is not who we will become.”

I received an ARC of this book via the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review shared here. For more book reviews go to: https://simplyannehere.wordpress.com

Multiple mysteries, shenanigans, hijinx, twists & turns, romance and faith woven into another exciting tale! I loved revisiting Inspector
Jackson Forge & Kit Turner. It seemed like every character had extra detail and depth that really added to the story. And it had the gritty feel of a Robert Downey Jr. SHERLOCK HOLMES movie 🎬🕵🏻‍♂️ (she said wistfully).
I highly recommend this one, but read in order if you'd please).

FAVORITE QUOTES:
1. "Kit Turner could talk a bandy-legged pirate into donning a white robe and joining a cathedral choir, such was her silver tongue—"
2. "The only thing better than a hot drink of tea on a cold morning was catching a glimpse of the one you loved most over the rim of the cup."
3. "Thank You, God, for deliverance even from a muddle of my own making."

Note: There is a certain amount of creepiness involving an underground gentleman's club, but I had built it up so much in my mind it wasn't nearly as bad as expected. Apparently it was a historical oddity as noted in the back of the book.

I received an eVersion of this book for my opinion with no expectation or compensation. Thank you to the publishers & Michelle Griep!!

5☆
Read 8/24&25/2022

Great story but you should read The Thief of Blackfriars Lane first. I suppose one could read this one as a stand alone but the backstory from book 1 helps clarify some things. This is part two of Kit and Jackson's story where they are nearing their wedding day. But things go awry of course. The book is full of adventure since Kit can't seem to stay out of it. She is a fun character because she is so not your typical woman of the time. So, put on your seatbelts for the run ride that is this book.

There were a couple things in the story that I didn't enjoy much. No spoilers but I will say that anger and pride can ruin good things. And also sadists - ick.

There is a large focus on the romance but also some intrigue and mystery. A couple mysteries really. I was surprised by twists and turns along the way though I did pick one villain from the start. Others were surprising.

Dangers lurk everywhere in this story and sometimes I wanted to thump Jackson and Kit on the head for walking into them but of course there is a happily ever after ending. Or maybe it isn't an ending. Do Jackson and Kit get to continue their fight against evil in a book 3? I haven't heard one way or the other but if there is, I'm sure their adventures together will be as exciting as they have in the first two books.

Religious: yes but not over the top
Sex: no
Language: no
Violence: yes
*I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley and voluntarily chose to review it.

Will they let doubts and stubbornness tear them apart…

My first read by the author was the book narrating Jackson and Kit’s romance and how it turned out for them despite their differences.
I thought it would be a one time tale, so when I saw there will be a sequel, I was delighted.
And now I hope there will be more of Kit and Jackson’s adventures.

It was such a pleasure to see again these people who have in some way become friends, even when you would have bashed them on the head, two stubborn hard skulls, so in love they are blind to anything else and pass by the hints they should not do this or that.

Kit is her usual “acts first, thinks letter”, and while it is with the best of intentions, it can have a serious impact on their lives, so when it fires back and hurt them both, how can then undo the words they have thrown at each other.
Jackson is in hyper protective mode, wanting to offer the best to his new bride, not always realizing she is not a common Miss, one who will tend his hearth and wait patiently at home, she needs a purpose outside thinking for their next meal’s recipe.

So when things turn sour between them, they have to reweigh and rethink their relationship, will love been enough a glue to keep them together.
Or are their differences too important to mend the bridge they have created between them.
In some ways, they have forgotten what brought them together, how their uniqueness in the eyes of the other made them fall in love.

Mrs Griep gifts us a lovely sequel demonstrating love is the sum of attractions but also of the willingness to make it work.
4.5 stars

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 kisses

I have been granted an advance copy by the publisher, here is my true and unbiased opinion.