I would love to review this book properly, but the NetGalley version says "not for sale, review or quotation" - and that I should contact the published for a finished copy. So... that suggests to me that I can't review it properly here, or elsewhere, which seems odd.

Can I just say I loved it? Do we think that's allowed? Because I did. It's excellent. I have always been fascinated by Aphra Behn and the whole Restoration theatre period, and Brooks brings it to life brilliantly.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Many thanks to the Publishers for this opportunity.

This read is centred around one independent and outspoken young woman and the tumultuous times of rebellion, conspiracy and murder; Protestants versus Roman Catholics and vice versa as well as the Dutch involvement. Protestant King Charles II and his minders ever on guard for any such rebellion and likely removal or assassination attempt, the "Popish Plot".

The read is beautifully developed and the narrative full of colourful descriptions all the while highlighting the plight of women who had no voice and no choice in their lives. Tribulation, such an uncomplimentary name for this era, she is unusually tall and very slender and for the times has too much to say for herself.

Tribulation arrives in London and is astounded at the opulence and dress code of everyone she sees, men with enormous periwinkles, lace, ruffles adorning every available part of their clothing, high heel shoes and the women also dressed as such so as not to be outdone by the men. She wishes her sister Bethan could see such wonderment and is glad that her puritan father cannot. Through Bethan's intervention she has escaped a unsavoury proposed marriage and reveals to her that she has tweaked the truth about the cousin Tribulation will board with, a woman who lives alone, which would have been totally unacceptable to their father and even better still she is an author. A passage is arranged along with a chaperone companion who fails miserably and Tribulation is forced to pay her off and to leave her in her alcohol induced condition. Smart enough to be concerned about her welfare as a female travelling alone she is forced to dress in the male clothes of her brother's she had packed as a keepsake, a soldier brother she never knew in the hope to ensure her courage and in this case her safe passage. Her arrival at her cousin's house is anything but desirable, in male clothes and in bad health, she makes a poor entrance. However Cousin Aphra is not perturbed in the least and Tribulation is welcomed into the household.

From here on in the read is captivating and fabulously rewarding with the author cleverly bringing Aphra Behn one of the first female authors to life and for Tribulation a true adventure through Aphra into a new world of performance along with her own dalliance into writing, a love interest and a revelation from Bethan.

Yet another great book by Karen Brooks. She can capture time, place and moment with such ease and she puts you into the book so you feel you are a part of it.

As a lover of historical fiction and theatre this book drew me in and although a book the is to long I still enjoyed it. The characters and story are so well developed and researched that you just want to keep reading. the story starts and builds, it kept me there and kept me focused and I just loved it.

The author's notes at the end are a great addition and well worth reading too. They make the story real and interesting.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Australia for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book. I highly recommend it.

The Escapades of Tribulation Johnson was an entertaining romp of a read from start to finish. I loved the setting of the London theatre and it was fun to see the characters reacting and interacting around real historical events. The romance element felt a little forced to me, perhaps because of how little page time it received as a percentage of the novel, but that aside the pacing of the story was good, the characters well drawn and interesting, and the conclusion pleasing. While I was aware of Aphra Behn, having read Oroonoko, I knew little about her, so it was fascinating to see her play a major role in this story and I was left keen to learn more about her life and works. All up, I am giving this book 4 stars. It is a delightful read for fans of historical fiction.

(I have scheduled my review to go live on my blog at the link below on 20 June 2023, according to your preferences for reviews no earlier than 30 days before release. At that time I will add the review to Goodreads (link below) and will share on social media.)

I love Karen Brooks' books. This one is a ripper. I love that it is based on a real woman, Aphra Behn and around real events. Set in 1600s London, it is based around the world of theatre and writing, amidst a time of political turmoil around the monarchy. The proliferation of rumours, intrigue and false news made for tense times. The restrictions that women faced on so many levels is beautifully illustrated in this book. Tribulation Johnson is a marvellous character, who flourishes under Aphra's tutelage. I thoroughly enjoyed my immersion into this world, and thank my lucky stars I wasn’t born back then, although there is still a long way to go. The authors notes at the end are also fascinating. For lovers of well researched historical fiction, this book will be a treat.