Trusting Miss Trentham

This novel was a good read. Letty Trentham is an heiress with the ability to detect truth from lies. She received this gift from her fairy godmother. She has rejected many suitors since they want her money and lie to her about their motives. Major Icarus Reid asks for Letty's help in figuring out who betrayed him at the Battle of Vimeiro. Icarus has no desire for a wife and believes he does not have long to live. His only purpose is to discover who betrayed him to the French. Letty and Icarus travel from town to town, searching for people who knew about the mission and meeting other people who have gotten into unfortunate situations or circumstances. They pose as a married couple to protect Letty's reputation. However, Letty's stepbrother keeps pushing men towards her to marry. He is jealous of her fortune but also sees her as a burden. Icarus has nightmares from his experience at the hands of those who captured him. Letty helps Icarus and they grow closer and begin to form an attachment to each other. Icarus has other plans though once he finds the traitor and Letty is doing everything she can to stop him from travelling down that path. Letty and Icarus realize they love each other but Icarus believes himself a broken man and Letty believes Icarus would not want to marry someone like her. Will Letty be able to save Icarus from himself? Will Icarus discover who betrayed him and why? I guess you will have to read this novel to find out.

This book gripped me from the start as it was beautifully written and I was able early on to empathise with the characters. It was very much a page turner and the reader needed to know who was the "villain" and if he was repentant. Love it.

I enjoyed this Baleful Godmother story. There were a lot of shocks and surprises with a bit of mystery and misery. I loved her gift but it makes a heavy life. I loved meeting the characters and watching them grow throughout the book. I loved the part where she meets a fellow cousin and wish it was expanded upon. I look forward to more!

Letitia Trentham is noteworthy for three reasons. One, she’s extremely wealthy. Two, she can always distinguish truth from lies. Three, she’s refused every man who’s ever proposed to her & so far eighteen have proposed this season alone.
Icarus Reid barely survived the Battle of Vimeiro. He lives for one thing, that is to find the man who betrayed him to the French & caused the deaths of the four men who were with him. He doesn’t want to marry Miss Trentham; he wants to use her talent for uncovering lies.
Suddenly, Letty finds herself breaking the rules, pretending to be someone she’s not, and doing things a lady would never do. But her hunt for the truth may uncover more than one secret, including the secret that haunts Icarus day and night & has him having horrific nightmares every night. The secret he intends to take to his grave.
Whilst this is the third in the series it could be read as a stand-alone novel. Another entertaining well written book from the author The story is well paced The characters are well portrayed both Letty & Icarus are likeable. It’s also uplifting that the author’s characters are flawed they aren’t extremely beautiful but can be plain with a long nose & wide mouth. The beauty of her characters is in their characters Icarus may be living in his own hell but he still has time to help injured soldiers & Letty uses her wealth to help underprivileged women & children. I look forward to more in the series.

Review:

The novelty about historical romances are that not only there is something different about some of the plotlines but most often the heroines are nothing short of remarkable. The lead female character in this book has an individuality that is extremely appealing to a feminist and at the same time empowering to the rest. Though I empathise with the lead male character and the extreme PTSD that he is suffering through, its Letitia who literally speaks for the whole book. The plot is unique and dramatic and for me, captured my attention only because of the strength of character of Letitia.

With the dual tone of narration has been used, the author has captured the setting of the regency period while bringing out how time doesn't erase some of the common problems that are often seen in this current era. My only bone of contention with the book would be the drearly and unimaginative cover image.

My opinion: If you like your heroines strong, this will be a good to choice to stumble upon.

My rating: 3.5 out of 5

Posted on Les Romantiques - Le forum du site
Reviewed by Rinou
Review Copy from the Publisher

Third volume in the Baleful Godmother series where the heroines receive a gift from a fey, Trusting Miss Trentham slightly differs as here Letitia received her gift earlier than the previous heroines, and so was able to refuse the gold-diggers’ proposals as she hears a noise when she’s lied to. The hero will ask for her help to discover the man who betrayed him during the war in Spain.

Icarus is a somber hero, tormented, he suffers from post-traumatic stress at a time when this disorder isn’t known, and he blames himself to be still alive when the members of his team died in an ambush. He has a thirst for vengeance and he’s ready to put aside all proprieties to achieve his ends. He’s often very terse with the heroine, he rebuffs her easily, and he’s going to need a very long time before opening a little. So I missed out a little on his feelings for her.

Letitia is kind and likeable, and has always done what’s appropriate. She recently lost her cousin who was much more audacious, and when she decides to do something unconventional she justifies it by thinking it’s what her cousin would have done. She’s also a little naïve and obstinate, and when she has an idea she insists till she gets an answer, which profoundly annoys the hero. She’s fast attracted to Icarus but I felt it was more a need to care for him and to save him that was urging her for the most part of the story (he told her he would die and she’s understood he intended to suicide once the traitor’s been found).

Both are very generous, they help a lot of people during the novel by giving money or hiring those in need, and if the author wanted to show their good side I ended thinking it was too much in such a short time.

The plot with the traitor is the occasion to have coming one after the other several situations in which the heroine shouldn’t be (visiting a prison, traveling with the hero without a chaperone and posing as a married couple, …) without them really being a problem of conscience. Letitia also spends a lot of her nights in the hero’s bedchamber to comfort him after his nightmares, taking the initiative to kiss him (and more) on a quite wantonly way for a young woman from high society.

But this plot goes on slowly but surely, with the suspicions being eliminated one after the other with Letitia’s power (which seems really super handy). Too bad I wasn’t convinced by the couple.

A tormented hero!

Icarus Reid is all the tormented hero that one could want. A battle scarred, dedicated officer searching for truth and justice. If you remember Icarus flew too close to the sun, his wings melted and he fell. Icarus Reid was certainly burnt--not by the sun (although he was an important satellite of General Wellesley), but by betrayal at the Battle of Vimeiro. A betrayal that caused incredible trauma for him. All Icarus lives for is to find the traitor.
Enter Letitia Trentham, an heiress who has the magical gift (yes true! compliments of a faerie godmother) of detecting when she is being lied to. Those who lie to her are perceived as a loud clanging bell. Unfortunately for Letty those clangers have been heard over the years by suitors seeking her fortune, not herself. Letty is becoming reconciled to a lonely life doing good works.
Somehow Icarus learns that Letty seems able to detect the truth from lies. Icarus wants Letty to assist him in his quest.
And here is where the story digresses from the norm. Letty agrees, which means as Larkin says the reader is taken, 'on a journey from the glittering ballrooms of the aristocracy to the dark underbelly of Regency England – with passion, danger, adventure, romance, and a little magic thrown into the mix.'
Letty joins Icarus in his search. Along with Letty the reader is treated to a 'darker, grittier side of the romance fence.'
Larkin refers to this writing as Regency Noir.
This description certainly fits a number of Regency novels I've been reading over the past couple of years. I find the term apt.
There are some quite wonderful secondary characters that add to the story.
I rather enjoyed Letty and Icarus' story.

A NetGalley ARC
(February 2017)

First of all, I got this one from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Well, I havent read the two other books in this series but it doesnt really matter because it isnt really important to know the other stories - just in the very end, the two other ladies with equal hidden talents are mentioned.

Anyway, this story is full of surprises and it took me a little bit to get into it because I so wasnt interested in another Spy-female Hero story but this one was different. Icarus' pain was so authentic and I just wanted to see, if they are ever able to find the man who caused it.

I couldnt put the book aside!
5*

Wow, I was blown away by this book, waaaaaayyyyy better then I anticipated. It was a great twist on historical romance with the little magical twist. I guess if I could be completely honest I would have liked more story into the faire godmother, but when I finished i was left with awe on such a well rounded book.
Psssssts..... big kudos to this author and not shying away from the introduction on the relationship in the next book, can't wait to read it.

Another very good book by Emily Larkin - strong characters and very good plot, very enjoyable on the whole!

Five macaroons and a piece of plum cake....

...or how to bully someone back to life - and (perhaps) to love!
When Letty, or rather - Miss Letitia Trentham, heiress and a faerie's goddaughter with her own special kind of magic, meets Icarus Reid at the Hammond's ball, she doesn't know that his quest for the truth, his quest for justice will change her life forever.
And Icarus? Well, let's just say that he definitely underestimated the power of a woman bent on saving someone despite himself. Not just any woman but Letty Trentham, strong, generous, compassionate - and extraordinarily stubborn. And macaroon per macaroon, nightmare per nightmare, Letty, a vial of valerian and of course Herodotus bully Icarus back to life.
Always at their side - Houghton, Green and Eliza. I loved that even the minor characters are well developed and very very likeable.
I felt with Icarus and Letty, I loved to see how they found their way to each other, I loved their big hearts, their compassionate nature and their loyalty.

The whole story is unique and romantic and emotional and simply amazing. I loved "Unmasking Miss Appleby" by Emily Larkin and I loved every other of her books of the Baleful Godmother Series as well. It's just the right mix of Regency paired with the little bit of magic that makes them special. The gripping story and the wonderful characters just topped it off and kept me glued to my reader.

This was my first book by this author and I did not read the prequels but I do not think it took anything away from it. I am left with questions about the whole god mother process but like I said it did not take away from the book. At first I was not sure how I felt about it- it just did not jump out and grab me but I stuck with it and was not disappointed. Not the typical story of the girl who is beautiful but does not think so story but a story plain girl/heiress and man who has no need for a wife. I was not the biggest fan of Icarus but he grew on me. I felt for him and his inner demons. It really was a nicely developed relationship- not forced. I loved that they were both so kind (not necessarily to each other) and how they held themselves. It had dark features but it touched a topic that was relevant then and relevant now. I was pleasantly surprised by Letty and Icarus' story and look forward to checking out more of Emily Larkin's books.

I'm not a reader of supernatural so this aspect of it did take away my enjoyment of this book. But I was able to appreciate the writing style and good characterization.

I received an ARC copy of this book from NetGalley.

Trusting Miss Trentham is the third installment in The Baleful Godmother series. Similar to other members of this series, this is a historical romance with a hint of magic mixed in. Letty, the leading lady, was granted the gift of knowing truth from lies. This has lead her to become a bit jaded when it comes to finding a good match for a husband. Icarus Reid enters her life and takes her on an adventure to find the man who betrayed him during times of war by utilizing her special gift. I found both characters to be somewhat one dimensional. There was very little character development. Icarus is the depressed warrior dealing with ghosts of the past. Letty is the heiress who trusts very few people due to her gift and is bored with the countless number of proposals she keeps getting from men who just want her for her money. The two eventually fall in love. Just an okay story overall.

The blurb:

Letitia Trentham is noteworthy for three reasons. One, she’s extremely wealthy. Two, she can distinguish truth from lies. Three, she’s refused every man who’s ever proposed to her.

Until Letty receives a proposal she can’t turn down.

Icarus Reid barely survived the Battle of Vimeiro. He lives for one thing—to find the man who betrayed him to the French. He doesn’t want to marry Miss Trentham; he wants to use her talent for uncovering lies.

Suddenly, Letty finds herself breaking the rules, pretending to be someone she’s not, and doing things a lady would never do. But her hunt for the truth may uncover more than one secret—including the secret that haunts Icarus day and night. The secret he intends to take to his grave…

This is a lovely story that I read in one sitting. It's well written and the characters are believable. I would recommend this book and give it 4.5*