There is always something wonderous and magical about a well-written historical romance, but when the characters really are ‘gifted’ it just becomes – WOW! I don’t often read fantasy/paranormal (whichever word you prefer) books, but I just had to check out this one because of the author – and the book blurb. I’m glad I decided to read it – and now I am looking forward to the second book in the series.

The Prologue nicely introduces us to Lord and Lady Tremayne who are both ‘gifted’ and one of their gifts is finding others who are also ‘gifted’ – usually children who have been turned out of their homes because their families and society cannot deal with their gifts. They have rescued many gifted children, so this could – should the author wish it – be a long series. 😊 The two children featured in the prologue are Brannock (Bran) and Cade Evans and though they are not brothers by blood, they are closer than brothers by choice.

Fast forward several years and we find Bran and Cade as grown-up young men who work for the Home Office. It seems the Home Office has seen the benefit of using these misfits to help keep England safe. They are given a fair amount of autonomy and Bran keeps feeling he needs to go to Cornwall, but he can’t put his finger on a reason for that. Then, when someone turns up at the Tremayne home looking for a gifted male who has a dragon tattoo on his shoulder, Bran knows he needs to determine if he is the heir the man is seeking – and what, if anything, that means to him. Still, he knows that is only secondary because he is sure there is something afoot in Cornwall that will require his unique skills.

In Cornwall, Bran rescues Merryn and protects her from those seeking to recapture her. Merryn remembers nothing except needing to escape. However, the longer she’s out of captivity, the more she remembers – and the stronger Bran feels there is a serious threat to England coming from somewhere in Cornwall.

The story is filled with excitement, action, adventure, and, of course, romance as Bran and Merryn work their way through the mystery to uncover and thwart a huge plot to destabilize and weaken the country. As far as Bran’s natural family goes, I’m not sure I care for his decision – because I have to wonder how any future children of his will feel about that. On the other hand – things went in a perfectly acceptable way.

I enjoyed the read – and am looking forward to the next book in the series. I hope you’ll love it as much as I did. Happy Reading!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book - provided by the publisher and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thanks #NetGalley for the advanced copy of #SilverLady by Mary Jo Putney in exchange for an honest review.

This is a very interesting and unique premise for this series and I loved how quickly Putney told this story. She wasted no words and told the story completely in the right amount of words. I enjoy Putney's writing style. This book also really set up the rest of the series and I'm looking forward to reading about the rest of the family and hopefully seeing Bran and Merryn living out their HEA.

A charming and pleasant way to spend time among found family and learn a bit of previously unknown to me history. Putney's take on psychic gifts is original, and I also appreciated her treatment of a character with memory issues. The only drawback for me as a Reader of a Certain Age was the engendered David Soul earworm.

A paranormal historical romance by one of my longtime favorite authors! Silver Lady is the first in Mary Jo Putney's new series, Dangerous Gifts. It drew me in from the beginning and I was caught in the world of the Tremayne family. The book’s main male character is Bran Tremayne who is gifted in a paranormal way. He sees silver threads and silver glows when he senses danger. He is pulled to Cornwall by one of these threads and while visiting estranged family, he comes to the recuse of a young woman he names Lady. He realizes that she is also gifted and in danger. With the aid of his brother, Cade and sister Tamsyn, they uncover her past and her memories hint at an upcoming danger in the area.

I love how Bran treats his Lady. He is protective, patient and tender. The relationship blossoms as is expected in a historical and there are open door scenes that are gracefully written. Twists, turns and discoveries continue until the end. The inclusion of the supporting characters add depth to the story, and I am hoping that stories centering Cade and Tamsyn are soon to come.

I've enjoyed reading Mary Jo Putney for quite a few years. She always writes books based on historical research and includes little details that allow the reader to sink into the story.

I do not include many specific details in my reviews because I know how much more I love a story if I am able to discover the plot and particulars on my own. This is one of those books! Lots of secrets and uncovering with additional surprises once you think you have it all figured out!

I received an advanced readers copy of Silver Lady. My opinion is completely my own and based on my reading experience.

Cornwall, romance, smugglers, espionage, paranormal abilities all wrapped up in a novel that might be most appreciated by fans of Putney. Bram, who is working for the Home Office, has questions about his own past but then he meets Merryn, an amnesiac. There's dark forces out there. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. This wasn't my cup of tea but I understand why others will enjoy it.

My thanks to NetGalley for making an eARC of this book available to me.

The first half of this book reads very nicely, introducing us to this alternate world where some individuals are "Gifted", i.e. they have some kind of paranormal ability. The book did a decent job of integrating regency romance with paranormal aspects. Unfortunately, the second half of the book pales a bit when compared to the first half. It does come up with a pretty decent conclusion, and leaves us with no doubt that there will be more books in this fledgling series. I will definitely be looking for them and look forward to seeing how this series matures.

Romance, magic and adventure. Perfect. Just what I would expect from Mary Jo Putney. I am a long time major fan and book collector of Putney. I love her style of writing and her attention to detail as well as those characters you just can’t help but love. This book is filled with history, story, magic and romance that creates a wonderful adventure that will captivate you. I adore historical romance, it is my favorite genre. I didn't know what I was missing out on with the fantasy element of magic. I can't get enough.
Bran must confront the heritage that was taken when he was abandoned at birth. Along his way he encounters Merryn, whose amnesia makes her life in even more danger and he feels his duty to protect her. They share a unique passion that joins them, yet with everything going on around them will they have to take a back burner to the passion? You will love this adventure. I received this as an ARC and I can’t wait to buy it to add to my collection on the shelf.

3/5. 1`1/28/2023.

Vibes: light magic, amnesia, found family, and a generally fluffier touch.

After being adopted off the streets as a child, the paranormally gifted Bran Tremayne returns to Cornwall on commands from the Home Office. There, he meets the amnesiac Merryn, whose past could hold the key to the mystery he's investigating. Caught between threatening forces, Merryn has no choice but to trust Bran in her efforts to recover her memories and stop a dangerous plot.

This one was very.... meh. I could see the quality of the writing (to an extent--I have my quibbles) and I can definitely see how, for a reader who really loves fluffier books, this will fit the bill. While I can definitely get down with fluff, this took it a bit far for the basic premise, and I found it tonally jarring.

Quick Takes:

--Like I said, I can see that Putney (who I've never read before) has. a very distinct style, and it's clear why she's a popular, longstanding writer. There's a uniqueness to it, and she has a strong, distinct voice. If you like a really bouncy tone, this may be for you. And I did appreciate the aspects of found family; I'm a sucker for "group of kids taken off the street by a wealthy family", and this does execute that component well.

--The way the magic is woven into the story is quite light. Essentially, the former street kids all have these supernatural gifts, which are sort of like... overblown natural talents, with a paranormal edge. I didn't mind the paranormal being on the lighter side. It's definitely something you can see more of in old school books. But she definitely could've gone a little further (and a little more adventurous) with it.

--Part of why the paranormal aspect, and the general story, didn't quite hit for me was that the lightness of the tone really doesn't gel with the plot. You've got mystery, you've got magic. And while you can definitely take a light approach there, this is just. So light! At points, I felt like the subject matter warranted a bit more intensity, a bit more depth. It reminded me of some Julia Quinn books I've read, where it's like--this is kind of dark subject matter, and I think the writing needs to reflect that?

--Because of the generally shallow tone, the leads also come off as pretty flawless. For me, this is very boring. Everyone was really... to quote a show with a stronger paranormal edge, perfectly splendid. This made it so, while I could see Bran and Merryn's chemistry, I really didn't connect with them individually, or their romance.

--A random writing note: Putney uses "!" in a lot of places it really doesn't belong, especially in Merryn's dialogue. I found that kind of distracting.

The Sex:

It's present, but damn if it isn't very, very euphemistic. And you know, I enjoy some euphemistic writers, and I can definitely enjoy it when it's a part of, say, an 80s romance that has a generally flowery style. But in 2023, when you're writing a sex scene this flowery and this euphemistic (and brief) you really might as well just skip the whole scene and keep it closed door. Like, we're not even talking, like "knot of flesh", we are talking "her most sensitive place". I wasn't into it.

Again, I can see why Putney has loyal readers. The vibe just didn't work for me, and it's a shame, because I think the concept itself is so intriguing.

Thanks to Kensington and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Two and a half stars. This is a harder review than I'd anticipated. Historical Fiction. French Agents. Cornish Smugglers. Special Agent for the Home Office. This all sounds delightful. Unfortunately, I didn't feel like it lived up to its potential.

The giftedness seemed a little odd and stilted in parts. And the leading lady's mental capabilities seemed a little inconsistent at times, but it was limited enough to seriously squick me out when certain lines were crossed. I trudged on, hoping the book would improve. It turned out fine, but nothing in me is overjoyed to have read this book. It's just kind of ... done. I felt like there was more telling than showing in many places, and it just wasn't particularly satisfying.

I really liked this story. It is a romance with a bit of magic. Bran escaped from a home his father had sent him to when he was very young. After escaping the home with his "brother", they find a family that took them in and raised them to be good men. They finally had a good family. Not one they were born to, but one of the heart. While working for the Home Office, Bran gets a feeling that he needs to go home. There was a man there who seemed to know Bran's birth family. Apparently, his father is dying and needs an heir. Bran's older brothers have died. Bran isn't interested in taking anything from his father. He wasn't there for him all those years ago, so he doesn't want anything from him now. While there, Bran finds a woman who has just escaped from some kidnappers. Her mind has been blocked and he asks his brother and sister to come help him. There are so many things going on in that part of the country and Bran has to untangle the knot. He also has to convince Merryn that they belong together. Maybe that will happen if they stay alive long enough.

Just a wee bit of paranormal activity in, Silver Lady. Some things were believable others a little far fetch. Still adds some mystery to the story that I enjoyed. Bran and Merryn have a strong connection. Then again so do all of the gifted people in the book. I finished the book in one day because it is so good.

Silver Lady
by Mary Jo Putney

I've read and enjoyed Mary Jo Putney books before, and I really enjoyed the premise of this book, but it almost felt too...fluffy? Even the parts of the story that were supposed to be dire and more intense, still felt very light. If you enjoy more of a fluffy historical romance, this may be for you!

It was overall a nice story, but I definitely prefer some of this authors Lost Lord and Rogues Redeemed series more!

I give this one 3 stars.

Thank you #NetGalley for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and comments are my own.

A lovely historical romance featuring a man who comes to Cornwall to discover his heritage and meets a woman with amnesia, Bran and Merryn's story is filled with intrigue, danger, passion, and a bit of fantasy. The setting is beautifully drawn and the characters come alive. I hope there is more to come from this world.

Some of my favorite historical fiction romances are where there's a touch of magical realism, and Silver Lady does just that!! Somewhere between Claire Dane's movie Stardust and a Bridgerton novel - this was a highly enjoyable read!

So much of what I love about this kind of romance is the tenderness and the sweetness. If those are the kinds of relationships you love to dive into, Silver Lady is perfect! Easy reading, no more and no less.

NOTES:
CWs: none
🌶️/5 - Some on page open door situations

<i>**Thank you to Kensington Books & NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR 🖤</i>

Thank you to NetGalley, Mary Putney, and the publishers for allowing me to read an ARC of this book before its release.

I enjoyed this book; it was a very fresh take on the classical period romance. The magic/fantasy factor fit in really well and made it stand out among other books of its kind.

However, I found the writing to be a bit messy and the overall pacing of the book to be rather rushed. We could have had more character development, and also, the mystery part of the story felt a bit flat.

Silver Lady is a regency historical romance. It was an interesting read. I did not expect the paranormal twist. I'm an avid fantasy paranormal romance reader and I am a fan of the author's work but this was an ok story. I would still recommend this book, but I prefer and highly recommend her other works such as the Rogues Redeemed Series.

I really enjoyed this. I have always been a sucker for mystical elements, unique gifts that characters in books have. It just puts such a fun and interesting spin. I hope the author writes more in this vein.I absolutely cant wait to read more from this author in the future. Thank you to net galley and the publisher for the pleasure of reading this book!

I loved this book! I will definitely recommend it. Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Silver Lady by Mary Jo Putney transports readers to the captivating landscapes of Cornwall in a Regency romance enriched with a paranormal twist. Bran Tremayne, burdened by his heritage, and Merryn, a woman with amnesia, find themselves drawn together amidst danger and a shared legacy.

Their unique gifts add a layer of fascination to the story, though some aspects might stretch realism. The novel's vivid descriptions of Cornwall's landscapes and the endearing characters, especially among the Tremayne family, create an immersive experience. While departures from realism are present, the overall blend of historical romance, intrigue, and the supernatural make Silver Lady a captivating read for those seeking an unconventional Regency romance, showcasing Mary Jo Putney's storytelling prowess once again.

Silver Lady is a fresh new step for Mary Jo Putney in a lot of ways. It’s a fantasy historical, with some interesting magical systems at play. But at heart, it’s an historical romance, and it’s a well-paced and decent one with likable people struggling against some truly nasty ones.

Merryn has been stricken with amnesia and muteness. She doesn’t know why she’s been kidnapped until it’s explained to her that she has a Gift – the ability to see into the future. Her captors want to use her for that purpose, but unfortunately she doesn’t know how to use it, much less control it.

Enter Bran Tremayne an officer for the Home Office, and nobility to boot – though he is loathe to admit it. His father, Lord Penhaligon, abandoned him as a child once Bran’s Gift became apparent, and after the death of his wife, married again and had a second family. But with his sons dead, Penhaligon now wants to re-instate Bran as his heir, and Bran has traveled to Cornwall to tell him he wants nothing to do with him.  He finds Merryn as she flees her kidnappers and is immediately sympathetic to her plight. His Gift is a well-honed investigative ability, which makes him quite the asset to the Crown. He takes Merryn back to his family’s seat to recuperate.

Avoiding his biological father at all cost, Bran teams up with his adopted sister, Lady Tamsyn Tremayne, to help restore Merryn back to her full health. While the mutual attraction between Merryn and Bran grows, Bran investigates some discord at the port of Plymouth with his adopted brother, Cade, and tries to figure out who wanted to hurt Merryn. The cases dovetail, but will they both survive the strain?

Silver Lady is a fine, well-researched romance that makes good use of the War of 1812 as its backdrop. The magical worldbuilding, though, leaves a little to be desired, and the book is somewhat overcrowded with subplots.

Merryn… is a problem. She is not herself for the first quarter of the book, which makes the romance awkward, to say the least. I wish Putney had done a little bit more with the notion of a disabled person finding love, but Merryn soon regains her wits and the power of speech as well as her memory, and she and Bran don’t get together until she has. Bran is a good man who’s been through a lot and I respected him. The romance itself is nicely paced, once it finally gets going.

But there are just way too many plotlines going on here. We have Merryn’s pursuit of recovery, we have the threat of the two mysterious people who kidnapped her looming over everything, we have Bran and his conflict with his father, we have the Tremaynes and their large adoptive sequel factory - I mean family - and we have the stuff going on at the docks. It all comes together, but it takes a very long time to do so.

That’s what makes Silver Lady good but not great. Perhaps the magical elements will sharpen up in the next volume and the hero and heroine of that piece will be themselves from the first. But those who don’t mind a little bit of bitter with the batter, this will be a decent read.