Through the Smoke

Another wonderful story by Brenda Novak. This historical story is a great combination of wealth and poverty crossing the lines. I was always trying to stay a step ahead and figure out "who did it". Beautifully written and definitely a book to add to your collection.

Another great read from Brenda Novak. A well written and historically interesting storyline kept me turning page after page .BE it contemporary or historical, a reader will never be disappointed in a Novak novel.

This review is based on four categories: Story Plot, Hero/Heroine Likeability, Romantic Theme, and Erotic Rendezvous. Each category is divided into word sections and every word is rated using a 0-5 number scale where 5 most accurately describes the term relative to the category. The composite scores for overall rating and categories are qualitatively derived.
~~~~ OVERALL SCORE ~~~~: 3.9/5
• Strengths - characters well developed; villain interesting;
• Weaknesses - transitions in writing sometimes choppy; predictable anticlimactic ending
~~~~ STORY PLOT ~~~~: 4/5
Compelling: 4
Intriguing: 4
Amusing: 0
Provocative: 1 (class disparities)
Boring: 0
Ordinary: 1
Repellent: 0
Flavorless: 0
Monotonous: 0
~~~~ HERO/HEROINE LIKEABILITY ~~~~
---- Hero ----: 4/5
Tenacious: 5
Arrogant: 3
Charming: 2
Decisive: 4
Push - Over: 2
---- Heroine ----: 4/5
Good - Natured: 5
Cheeky: 3
Dull: 0
Bollixed: 2
Tetchy: 0
~~~~ ROMANTIC THEME ~~~~: 4/5
Dreamy: 4
Tender: 4
Exciting: 4
Maudlin: 2
Disagreeable: 1
Subjugation: 0
~~~~ EROTIC RENDEZVOUS ~~~~: 2.5/5
(# Of occurrences approx. 2)
Carnal: 0
Seductive: 2
Steamy: 2.7
Suggestive: 2
Sensual: 1
Raw: 0
Bondage: 0
∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆
? Dirty:
? Naughty: √
? Nice: √
? Prudish:
∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆∆
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? Constance Yarbury

I review historical romance novels that are part of Kindle Unlimited. To check out other novels I have reviewed in this genre tap on "constanceyarbury" highlighted in blue in the heading.

Rachel McTavish is a small town bookseller's daughter, and ordinarily would not come into contact with the nobility, but Rachel has something the Earl of Druridge desperately needs, information about his wife's death. Now Rachel's mother is desperately ill, and the earl offer's her a trade- information for a doctor's care for her mother.

I thought this was going to be a romance novel with a little mystery thrown in, but the mystery and romance parts came out more or less equally weighted. Rachel isn't the typical heroine, and this isn't a typical setting, and some of the other characters were unusual as well. Rachel's father and brother were both miners in the Earl's coal mine, and the Earl is generally hated for low pay and dangerous work conditions. When Rachel begins to associate with the earl, the town turns on her. She begins to realize that there is something going on at the mine, and someone doesn't want her to talk to the Earl about it. But if the Earl cannot prove that his wife was murdered by someone else, he will have to marry a powerful lord's daughter to keep his wife's family from having him prosecuted and possibly hanged.

While the end was fairly predictable (it is a romance novel after all) the plot was very well written, and there were plenty of twists and turns along the way. There were exciting fight and rescue scenes and plenty of suspense. Some of the villains turned out not to be quite so bad, and some of the "nice" characters proved fickle in the end. This is not a typical romance but it was a good read.

The Earl of Druridge was rich and powerful. He wanted an heir but found out his wife was carrying another man's child. But then there was a huge fire that killed her and the unborn child and the earl became the accused.

Rachel McTavish, a coal miners daughter, is caught up in the secret of who set the fire and the book goes back and forth as to whether the Earl is guilty, is Rachel falling the earl when he helps her by sending the doctor to her ill mother; what part does the brother play? The story keeps you going until the end with its twists and turns and close calls to both the Earl and Rachel.

The story opens in January 1838 with Truman Stanhope, Earl of Druridge, rushing to his home after receiving a letter from his wife that she is pregnant. Unfortunately, Stanhope well knows that the child is not his so he is determined to divorce Katherine. Only somehow she dies, his house is set on fire and he is rescued just barely by his cousin Wyeth.

The next chapter moves 2 years and a month forward to February 1840 and we are in the small village of Cresswell, England where Rachel McTavish and her mother have a bookstore. Rachel also has a much younger brother. The Earl of Druridge comes in the store to see her. He has heard she had some information about the fire/murder that occurred two years before. Stanhope has no memory of the events and fears that Scotland Yard or even the local police might eventually arrest him as the culprit.

I enjoyed for the most part how the events in the story unfolded but felt two things were a bit too cliche: Early on it is mentioned that most of the men and a few women and children work the coal mine that belongs to the Earl. Conditions there are horrible but yet this very smart intelligent Earl doesn't know anything about it?

Secondly, I think it is cliched to have an Early matched up with a commoner especially in those historical times. Too many romance writers use this plot device and it is, in my opinion, overdone.

That all being said, the story was fun!

Through the Smoke by Brenda Novak was my November library book from the Kindle lending library. This is a 2013 release.

Rachel's life has been hard. She lost a brother in the coal mine and then her father dies of a lung disease as a result of working in the mines. But, rumors have been swirling over the past two years that her father may have somehow been involved in a fire that killed the wife of the Earl of Druridge and her unborn child. The Earl himself was burned in an attempt to save her.
He also happened to notice a few priceless paintings had been stolen before the fire had started.
In order to remove the suspicion that he was responsible for setting the fire, since he may have had a good reason to be angry with his wife, he needs to find those paintings. That leads him to Rachel. She must know if her father was involved or not.

Rachel's mother is sick. With her young brother to look after, Rachel makes a deal with the devil and agrees to tell the Earl what he wants to hear if he will send a doctor to help her mother. Sadly, they are too late to save her.

Now things really are bleak for Rachel. The Earl's cousin, Wythe decides to make her life even harder. Soon Rachel's virtue and reputation are ruined and she finds her bookstore and her previous life over as the secrets both of her parents harbored come back to haunt her.

The miners really dislike the Earl due to the work conditions in the mine. They are plotting the formation of a union among other things that are also linked to Rachel and her father and the suspicion he was paid to start the fire.

Will the paintings be found in time to keep the earl from the gallows? Will Rachel and her brother be forced to stay in service or will the murderer be revealed?

I love Gothic romances and mysteries. I am so glad to see this genre coming back into view again. This book stuck to the "rules" of Gothic romance.
There was the imposing Blackmoor Hall, the innocent girl that finds herself in great peril, and the dark brooding hero that we don't know if we can fully trust in the beginning. The mystery of who started the fire and the motive behind it, the romance between Rachel and the Earl, all combined to make this a real page turner.
The author was true to the genre and also gave it a little facelift without compromise.
This book will appeal to those that enjoy historical romances, Gothic mysteries or historical fiction.
Over all a good solid A.

Rachel McTavish, daughter of a coal miner, must know something about the fire that killed the pregnant wife of the Earl of Druridge. The Earl, Truman, knows that the child is not his and had returned that night with murder in his heart, but he doesn’t remember anything and now he faces the gallows.

Rachel has no reason to share her information with the Earl because of the conditions of the mine, her own young brother’s death due to a mind accident, and the fact that her father was fired before he died. However, her sick mother needs a doctor and the Earl promised one if only she would share what she knows and it does appear that her father and her mother were receiving money from someone.

This follows the romance guidelines, beautiful, but penniless girl is found by rich, handsome and don’t forget kind but believed to be unkind hero gentleman. This gentleman cannot get the beautiful girl off his mind, no matter how he tries. The beautiful girl doesn’t want to care for the gentleman because he must be unkind, just look at the family that he comes from, but he does so many out of character things as compared to others in his family that she comes to realize he is just not like them. They determine they must be together and all is well. Well, there are a few more plot twists thrown in for good measure and it is historical. There are some slightly incongruent things like a cousin that runs the mine, so the Earl has no idea what goes on there, yet the Earl really questions if he trust the cousin at times. Wouldn’t he be checking on that mine a little closer? This is explained away because he has so many holdings. They are able to come and go as they please, without any of the town folk or servants knowing or caring, yet, when it fits the story the gossips come out.

So, yes, I did like this book, as romances go it was well written and enjoyable. If you are looking for a few hours of escape, this would probably be a good place.

"Through the Smoke", from author Brenda Novak, contains all the elements from the great Gothic stories which I relished as a younger reader: an intelligent young woman of character facing trying circumstances; a darker, brooding hero of wealth without happiness; and perpetrators of evil thoughts and heinous acts who seek to ruin said heroine and hero. Add plot twists and turns and more than one mystery to solve, stir in romance and passion, and spice things up even further with social class issues and laborer's rights and unfair working conditions, and you end up with an involving, enjoyable read. Truman Stanhope, Earl of Druridge, is tortured by the fiery death of his unfaithful wife, Katherine. The burn scars he bears are testament to his presence at the time of the fire, but his memory is not clear. Did his rage over his wife's behavior spur him to murder? His cousin, Wythe pulled him from the fire, saving his life, but was Wythe's true involvement? Beautiful Rachel McTavish, daughter of a coal miner father and a bookseller mother, has information the Earl needs to help him solve the mystery surrounding his wife's death. However, Rachel's mother had made her promise never to tell anyone, especially the Earl, whom her mother blamed for the deaths of her father and older brother. When her mother becomes gravely ill, the Earl presses Rachel again for the information, offering the services of his own physician to treat her mother in exchange for the information. Her acceptance of his offer is all for naught--cholera claims her mother, leaving Rachel on her own to care for her younger brother, Geordie. The information she gives the Earl is only of partial assistance, and many of his questions remain unanswered. An unexpected involvement between Rachel and Truman has serious consequences, and pressures from the miner's union along with punishing gossip from the locals creates a dangerously heated situation. Working together, can Rachel and Truman bring the truth to light? When all is revealed, who will wear the stain of guilt? Is there hope that Rachel and Truman can defy society and build a lasting, loving relationship? A compelling read from beloved author Brenda Novak.

Before I start this review I need you to understand something, while reading this book a few things happened to me:
I walked on the street with my nose stuck to me phone (where I read the book), I lost sleep, I got on the right bus but missed the right station to get down on and held to walk all the way back, I was late for class, I missed some classes and I hardly listened in the ones I was in.

In short, I was so immersed by the book I forgot about the people around me and the things I needed to do, my full attention was on the book (thus all those mistakes I made).

It has been a long time since I was this caught up in the book- up until now I was sure it was my great discipline and self-control, I was fooling myself to think so.

Brenda Novak says in the introduction how she wrote this book inspired by the gothic feeling of Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights. Only time will tell if she accomplished her goal. But your humble servant here thinks she did but she also managed to create something entirely her own!

This historical romance is written so very beautifully, and sometimes it had maintained a gothic feeling, but even when it didn't it was still chilling heart wrenching or heartwarming and completely terrifying, especially the last few chapters that had me so nervous and afraid!

I have to give you a fair warning- unlike Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights or any historical romance that was written at that time, this book, influenced by these day and age, had sex in it. At first I found it somewhat weird, since I thought that if the author aimed at a certain style she would not write such thing. But she did and I'm glad she did, because despite my love for Jane Eyre I found it lacking in sexual tension and I didn’t know that it bothered me until I read the sex scenes in this book, that are wonderfully and tenderly written.

Both main characters- Rachel and Truman (the earl), might not be likeable at first (though I loved them in first read). They are full of pride, and property and passion. Sometimes they can be found a bit cruel or naïve, full of prejudice. They can appear somewhat cold- but they stay true to themselves and their ideals through the whole story, not wavering even once.

Rachel with her naiveté, pride, stubbornness and honesty- showed her strong will enduring all the hardships in the village. I could not belief the lengths to which she went to keep her brother safe and to provide to him, her actions were truly admirable.

And Truman, with his determination to find his wife's killer, his will to protect and help Rachel, his love for her and the way he noticed every little change in her. He was truly a noble man.

The mystery is not that much of a mystery though some of the reasons behind things were surprising, and even when I suspected who the "bad guy" was, Mrs. Novak managed to have me wishing it wouldn't be him.

This book avoids all the tropes historical romance book are so well known of. The things I usually find annoying in these books- like a lousy excuse for a lady/lord- you won't find here. Both characters are smart and act accordingly. And all the things there is to love about historical romance- like the time and the love in the etiquette- are all presents here. Oh, the time, Mrs. Novak did a wonderful job describing the work in the mines, the poverty in contrast of the high social standing of the earl and all his money. The village life just sprang to life out of the book- with the brothel and how many didn't know how to read, the rumors and the fact the each and every character was more than the sum of her actions and what she seemed to be. Mrs. Tate and Mr. Linley were wonderful side characters and very loyal it was touching. And Geordie (Rachel's brother) was such a sweet kid.

I enjoyed every minute of reading this book, even when I thought it might break my heart and when I was so afraid, so very afraid of what was to come.

A copy was kindly provided by the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

*Original pre-review*
*Looking around in a haze, damn, I missed my bus station! oh well, at least I finished the book*

Review to follow shortly, but trust me, you want to read this book.

*I received a free ARC via Netgalley in exchange of an honest review*
[...]

First, I wanted to love this book. I have just read a contemporary by Brenda Kovak and I thought I was going to love this book. I did like, but not love it. I liked that the heroine and hero meet at the very beginning. I don't long and drawn out stories. I also thought that they had instant chemistry. Here comes the but... but... it fell flat in the middle.

We begin the story with Earl of Druridge-Truman receiving a letter from his wife-Lady Katherine explaining that she is pregnant, it is instantly obvious that child is not his because he has been away from his wife and she has a history of infidelity. There is a fire and she dies.

The story moves fast-forwards as Truman is trying to find out who set the fire and also who took paintings that belonged to his home. Rachel McTavishes becomes involved because her father is a prime suspect. Truman goes to Rachel's bookstore to question her about what she knows about the fire, and his wife's death. Rachel, although a poor village girl is well-read, very smart,strong and beautiful. She has no difficulty standing up to Truman. She does not like Truman because her father and mother think ill of him. He owns the mines where Rachel's father use to work before he is fired for drinking on the job. When the story begins her father is already dead and her mother follows.

Truman has a cousin- Wythe who plays the part of the villain even though he is the one to rescue Truman from the fire. He is a pretty straightforward bad guy although he is always working to gain his cousins trust.

Truman's life is complicated by the miners, who are also neighbors with Rachel. As her and Truman become involved they turn on her. This is where the story becomes very laborious for me. I've noticed that there were very few good-"guys" in this story. All the villages turn on Rachel because she becomes involved with Truman. She is left with no parents, no friends and a little brother to care for. Truman offers her a place to stay and she can not refuse after several times of trying to make it on her own.

Katherine's family is threatening to hang Truman because they believe that he is responsible for the death of Katherine and his wife. A father of Truman offers up his protection and daughter in marriage. They are his only hope, that or figuring out who set the fire.

The whole premise of the story becomes Rachel and Truman trying to find out who set the fire, pushing misunderstandings behind them and Rachel going back and forth from Blackmoore Castle-Trumans home- and her old village.

Ultimately, all the pieces of the puzzle fall together and we find out who set the fire and why-neither were a big surprise.

Here are my concerns: although Rachel starts off strong she is ultimately relying on Truman for help. There are too many villains. The cover, although beautiful, does not represent the heroine -she is blond. Overall, this was an enjoyable historical romance but nothing that I would be interested in re-reading. If you like intrigue, mystery and who-dun-it this is the book for you.

The set up
Truman Stanhope, the earl of Druridge, has lived under a cloud of suspicion for two years. His unfaithful wife, Katherine, died in a fire at their manor home and many believe at his hand. Truman has no memory of what happened, only that he was on his way to confront her after learning she was pregnant with someone else's child. He believes Rachel McTavish and her family know who set the fire and he'll use any means to force her cooperation.

The issues
Rachel's father recently died and her mother is desperately ill so she's willing to accept medical help facilitated by the earl in return for telling him what she knows. When the people in the village learn of her betrayal of sorts, they turn on her and she's ostracized. Truman and Rachel are falling for each other but she's a commoner and he's facing the gallows if he doesn't find the real killer or succumb to the demands of a benefactor that can thwart his dead wife's family's efforts to charge him with the crime.

What I enjoyed
The mix of romance and mystery in an historical setting was a nice change of pace. Truman was a decent man, if not sometimes a bit clueless, and he was immediately taken by the bright and educated Rachel. She was strong willed, intelligent and attractive but still respectful of the social constraints of the 1830s. Their relationship was given an unintended boost and things steamed up pretty quickly. The obstacles they were forced to deal with because of her commoner status and his position made the affair poignant and really touching. Neither wasted a lot of time denying their feelings and there was always a sense that they were star-crossed lovers.

Solving the mystery was also interesting as there was a nice range of suspects to consider and my choices seem to change with each chapter. I still was unsure until the final reveal.

What bugged me somewhat
Truman's passiveness drove me crazy at times. While he was passionate about Rachel, his reluctance to effectively deal with those who betrayed him time and again was maddening. In fairness, I think his behavior was perfectly fitting for the aristocracy of that era. It still was irritating:)

The bottom line
This was an intriguing mystery, a heartwarming romance and an interesting story overall. My frustrations with Truman aside, I liked how his relationship with Rachel developed. I'm not an expert of this era but the details of the story seemed accurate for the period. And, I know this isn't intended to be a series but there are some secondary characters that really should be explored (hello, Penelope!).

(I received an ARC from NetGalley)

[...]

Mystery, love, deception, horrific betrayal, and big meany poo- poo- heads... this story has it all.

Meet Rachel McTavish. A lovely daughter of a coal miner. A woman guided by her morals and values, she is widely respected within her community. She lost her father and brother to the coal mines and she is fighting for better living conditions and benefits for the men who risk their lives daily. Consequently, she has a moral objection to everything about the Earl of Druridge. He's rich and privileged, he seems to care nothing for those working in his mine, and he's unbearably arrogant. Also, he may or may not have murdered his wife. And the man won't leave her alone.

Truman is going crazy. His no good, cheating and wicked wife perished nearly two years ago and he still has no idea how. Yes, he was there. Sure, he was going to divorce her. But did he murder her? Was it an accident? Did someone set fire to his home on that fateful day? Boy, he wishes that he knew and he's going to find out, no matter the time or cost. Therefore, when his man of business has less than no luck questioning the lovely Rachel McTavish, he will conduct the interview himself and tempt her by whatever means necessary.

Doesn't this sound fantastic? Well, it certainly lives up to the description and then some.

I enjoyed this story immensly. Brenda Novak is beyond talented. I have always enjoyed her contemporary romance novels and was thrilled to give this historical a try. And I am glad that I did. The romance between Truman and Rachel was not rushed, it was realistic; slow to burn but once set, it became an inferno. I was rooting for them the entire time.

My only real complaint is the beating my poor, poor Rachel seemed to take through the majority of the book. Everytime I thought, "It can't get any worse for her", I was proved wrong. The saving Grace is, she didn't suffer such torment at the hands of Truman. But those derned townspeople, the horrible cousin, and the mysterious assailants had me ready to skewer them all on sight.
Historical romance and Brenda Novak fans alike will enjoy this book. It's worth every penny. I simply can't wait to see what she comes up with next.

Rachel McTavish runs a bookstore in a coal mining town. Her mother is ailing, and the coal mines her father and eldest brother had worked in have caused their deaths in one way or another. Times are not easy, but Rachel holds true to her convictions and keeps chugging along.

Truman, the Earl of Druridge, and the owner of the coal mines that took the lives of Rachel's father and brother, lost his wife and her unborn child in a fire two years earlier. Truman has been the number one suspect ever since. Before Rachel's father died it is said he was paid to have started the fire that killed his wife. Longing to clear his name before he is hanged he bargains with Rachel for information. Soon the lives of the Earl and the coal miner's daughter are heavily tangled.

It's no secret that I am a fan of Brenda Novak's writing. She hasn't written many historical novels so I was very excited to see what she ended up creating. What I read was a book written with such stunning imagery that I often forgot I was reading. The story she wrote conjured such magnificent pictures in my head while I read that it was like I was watching a movie.

I have been working a lot lately and I was seriously contemplating bringing my kindle with me to work and trying to strategize how I could sneak and read at my desk with so much company traffic ending there. In the long run the responsible me had to let that idea go, but it wasn't easy, it was torture walking away from it.

Even though the time categorizes it as a historical romance novel, it doesn't settle well with me to limit it to that genre, or any genre, for that matter. It has an edge to it that most historical romances don't have. It has a touch of darkness and realism that completely consumed me, running side by side the burgeoning romance. If you enjoy romances of any flavor, no matter the genre you prefer, I think you will love this one. Yes, it's a historical romance, but it is also a mystery and more importantly it's just an all around damn fine book!

LOVED IT!!!

Cherise Everhard, October 2013
Book provided by the author and/or publisher in exchange for an honest review

A shocking betrayal…

Riches. Power. An ancient heritage of pride. The Earl of Druridge wanted only for an heir. So when he learned that his wife was carrying another man’s child, he was filled with a thirst for vengeance.

But he wasn’t the one who caused Katherine’s death. Or was he? To his horror, he remembers nothing of that dreadful night, when their last confrontation ended in scorching flame and cold blood.

A forbidden love…

Rachel McTavish, the beautiful daughter of a coal miner, knows something about the fire that took Lady Katherine’s life. In secret, the strong-willed girl strikes a bargain with the desperate earl: he must send his physician to help her dying mother or he may go to the devil—and the scaffold. He agrees, but she is still unsure that her revelation will be enough to save him when so many wish him dead.

Passionately drawn to the nobleman, despite all the doubt and mystery that shrouds him, Rachel wonders if he can really be a murderer. Or if he is the only man who will ever own her heart…

Looking for a light read? You won't find it here. You will find a lot of betrayal, shocking greed and simply a wonderful read. I found Brenda Novak's writing to be so wonderful. I was dismayed that I haven't found her sooner. Any time the word bookseller is mentioned in a book, I am so there. I loved to hate a few of the characters. I promise this book will stick with you long after you are done reading, simply because the characters have been drawn out so well! From a grateful new fan!

The Earl of Druridge, Truman Stanhope, is the owner of the coal mine and thus the “enemy” of the village. Truman gets a letter from his wife that she is expecting his baby. Truman rushes home to confront his wife as he knows the baby is not his. Because of the situation, the Earl is heard muttering under his breath that he going to kill her. Shortly after his arrival, the house is engulfed in flames and Truman’s wife and her baby die in the fire. It’s obvious the fire has been set, but the question is, by whom? Truman has no recollection of the fire. His only reminders are the burns on his disfigured hand and the fact that he was saved from the fire by his cousin. Accusations of guilt abound, so many suspects with the Earl and a rabble-rouser in disgruntled worker named Jack McTavish at the top of the list.
Two years later
Rachel McTavish is the daughter of a deceased miner who was a known trouble-maker, Jack, and his critically ill wife, a local bookstore owner. Rachel lost her elder brother to a mine cave in and has been helping the mine workers efforts to form a union for better working conditions.
The Earl suspects that Rachel knows more about the fire that killed his wife and comes into the bookstore to confront her. Truman suspects Rachel’s dead father of setting the fire. Indeed, Rachel does have some information that could be helpful to the Earl, but does not know who set the fire.
Deception and despair abound in the poor mining community. Rachel goes from a well-respected person of the community to a pariah. Her humble living arrangements suddenly become desperate. Her home and shop are vandalized, her food is gone, and she has no way to support herself or her young brother.
Through twists and turns and deepening appreciation of each other, a romance begins and blossoms between Truman and Rachel. Ms. Novak has filled the story with passion and pain. Can a “Cinderella type “ story really work out between people of such distinct classes?

I was provided with an Advanced Copy of this novel by the author in exchange for an honest review.
I may have read some of Brenda Novak's work several years ago, but as far as I can remember, "Through the Smoke" is the first experience I have had with Novak's work. I read historical romances, and novels, and for the most part, enjoy them. This novel, however, doesn't fit neatly into the category. It has aristocracy, the main male character, Truman Stanhope, is the Earl of Druridge, and he is in need of an heir. The heroine, Rachel McTavish, is not the typical, female heroine. She is not aristocracy, in any way. She is a bookshop keeper, and her father and one brother were coal miners, each dying in a manner related to their work.
The Earl of Druridge lost his wife in a fire that it is generally believed he set, because he had come to confront her about her infidelity after she informs him that she is carrying "his" heir. The Earl survived the fire, but has no memory of what happened, so he is on a quest to find out what happened and prove his own innocence. This brings him in contact with Rachel, whom he believes has answers to some of his questions. He offers a doctor to help her sick mother in exchange for answers, and this sets of a chain of events that throw the two together as Rachel tries to keep her young brother out of the mines and make a life for them both.
In the forward, Novak mentions her that "Jane Eyre" is a favorite book and how she hopes this will be a return to writing similar books. I would say she was stunningly successful. The book has the Gothic feel, suspense, and darkness one would suspect. The story has its twists and turns as the mystery is unraveled. It is well-paced and grabs you to draw you in.
I can honestly say, I read the book because I thought it sounded interesting, but wasn't sure I would enjoy it as much as I did. This book pulls you in. For me, I think Novak hit her goal that the reader would enjoy the book as much as she enjoyed writing it!

In her prologue Novak tells us that writing historical gothic romance à la Jane Eyre is one of her favourite literary styles and it's given her pleasure to return to this genre. It has certainly given me pleasure as a reader.
Within the first chapters of 'Through the Smoke', the plot reveals intrigue , death, a woman compromised, villains, miners rights and dirty doings at the diggings. All finely held in tandem right until the end.
Katherine the unbalanced wife of the Earl of Druridge, Truman Stanhope, had died in a fire. Many accused him of deliberately causing it. Valuable paintings may have been stolen prior to this that could prove Truman's innocence. His investigations have so far only led to dead ends.
Perhaps Rachel, the daughter of a miner who had been asked to set the fire, holds the key!
Someone it seems is out to destroy both Rachel and Truman.
En route to seek help for her dying mother from Truman, Rachel is attacked and wakes to find herself in his lordship's bed.
From there Rachel's choices become limited. I must admit that I thought she accepted her 'fate worse than death' more easily than The situation deserved. The outrage at her predicament was not enough. But the the attraction between her and Truman was strong and in that day and age she was pretty much powerless. It seemed that her choices were limited.
I was alternately entangled, dismayed, appalled and entertained throughout the novel.
The way the villagers and miners turned on Rachel is frightening, perhaps more so, as it reveals the power of gossip, and the mindset that can encourage others to brutality, to unthinking judgement.
...with more twists and turns than a mountain track, the trials of Rachel drew me on into the wee small hours of the morning!

A NetGalley ARC

Fabulous novel!

Set in an English coal mining town, Through the Smoke is not a typical historical novel. It is faced paced , character driven and has a dark, gothic storyline full of mystery and suspense.

Novack creates a suspenseful plot line with many twists and turns. I was drawn into the story and loved how the mystery unfolded during the novel. The last 100 pages of the book were riveting, so many twists, turns and red herrings. Excellent resolution.

The hero is a dark character whose wife and unborn child died in a mysterious fire. Truman, the Earl of Druridge, is searching for the person who set fire to his home. The Earl believes that someone in the village knows who set the fire. He questions Rachel McTavish, the local book seller. Truman suspects that Rachel's father may have set the fire.

Rachel is not the typical historical heroine. She is beautiful, well educated and ( gasp) a shop keeper's daughter. She is strong willed and focused on her family and the well being of the miners.

Rachel's character and beliefs appealed to me. I grew to admire Truman as the novel unfolded. He was determined to find his wife's murder and put the tragedy behind him. I really wanted Rachel and Truman to overcome their difficulties and move forward.

All of the characters in the novel are important to the story. Each miner, villager and servant contribute to the plot and story resolution. I enjoyed the mix of romance and mystery in this novel.

I look forward to reading another historical from Brenda Novack.

Through the Smoke opens with Truman Drudridge rushing back after his wife sends him a letter saying she is pregnant. However, when he wakes up after he confronts his wife he finds out that she is dead and his castle was started on fire. Elsewhere Rachel McTavish has always been the coal miners/bookseller's daughter and after her fathers death the person who is keeping her family together. However things change after her mother passes and she is left to be the person holding the secrets of her family and what part they have in the fire. Truman wants to find his wife killer and solve who started the fire. What he doesn't expect is that he might fall in love with a common villager.

Having never read a Brenda Novak book before I was excited and a little nervous to read the book because I was not sure what to expect. I found that the book was very well written and the characters were very well developed. Having not read many historical romances I did not have a lot to compare this book to but I felt that she wrote it very good. She stayed true to what the times would be like and what royals and villagers would think of a romance of a royal and a commoner....If you love mystery, romance, and history then this defiantly a book that you should read. In addition if you want a book that keeps you on your toes and don't want to put it down because you want to find out what happens then you should defiantly grab this book off the bookshelf. I am very interested to read her Whiskey Creek series and other books from this author.

I have been reading a lot of contemporary romance lately, and have really been enjoying Brenda Novak's Whiskey Creek series. This journey back into history was not what I expected, and what a pleasant surprise it was!

When your life is on the line, what would you fight for? What would you sacrifice to learn the truth? What would you risk to prove your innocence? Truman, the Earl of Druridge, is facing the judgment and censure of the ton, and quite possibly the gallows, unless he can prove that he was not the cause of the fire that took the life of his wife and the child she carried. Truman is convinced that Rachel McTavish, the beautiful daughter of a miner and current proprietor of her mother's bookshop, knows something that can help. But Rachel isn't talking.

Rachel has secrets, but they are not the secrets that Truman is looking for. Her life is falling apart at the seams, her father is dead, her mother is sick and the bookshop that she assists her mother with is not earning enough money to keep food on the table. Against the instructions of her mother, Rachel makes a bargain with the Earl in order to save her mother's life, but things don't turn out as planned. And although she believed things could not get much worse, she soon discovers that things can always get worse. However, Rachel soon realizes that the person that she thought to be her downfall turns out to be the one man who can answer the call of her heart. But what kind of future can they have, and if they don't discover who caused the fire, will Truman even have a future?

While trying to learn the truth, they discover an intricate web of betrayal and deception. And despite the harassment and judgment of the town, Truman and Rachel discover that love does not see class, wealth or logic. And even more importantly love is worth fighting for. This book is a wonderful journey of mystery and intrigue, wrapped up by a love that concurs all!

I cut my literary teeth reading romantic suspense and historical romances in Middle School, much to my teacher’s dismay. Reading one of these novels always invokes a warm happy feeling and Brenda Novak’s Through the Smoke had me reading deep into the night, under the bedcovers in the cool Fall.

Rachel McTavish is a coal miner’s daughter who runs a bookshop in her village. The Earl of Druridge’s family runs the coal mine. As the story starts, you learn that the Earl of Druridge was in a loveless marriage; he is being blamed for a fire that took the life of his wife, however, he does not remember the details of the night and is desperate for an answer. Rachel and the Earl’s paths cross when she strikes a bargain with the Earl in order to save her ailing mother. The Earl thinks Rachel may know something about the fire. What then transpires is an attempt from the both of them to unravel the mystery of that night. Rachel and the Earl fall in love, but will their respective stations in life and the possibility that one of them may be a murderer foil their happiness?

In enjoyed Rachel McTavish’s character. She was strong-willed and intelligent. I felt she was created as a more contemporary character, as I tend to think most historical romances feature a more docile heroine. The Earl, as well, was very likable. At first, he comes off as haughty and gruff, however as his character develops, you realize his vulnerability and become anxious to have him solve the mystery of the fire, hoping it will clear his name.

However, I was able to figure out who perpetrated the fire pretty early on in the story. I didn’t know how and why, so I was in a hurry to read the book and see how it was resolved.

All in all it was a great read. Highly recommended if you appreciate a plot with your romance!

Okay, first, my confession, I read a lot of romance novels many, many moons ago, when I was a teen, I actually got to the point where I used to joke about figuring out the stories just from looking at the cover art. Perhaps needless to say, I avoided the romance genre for the next 40 some odd years.

I guess technically this would qualify as being in the romance genre, although I when I chose it from the list of books offered through vine, it was just listed as "fiction" (or was that novel?)

That being said, to my surprise, I actually liked the story. Rachel, a poor but beautiful coal miner's daughter, orphaned by her mother's recent death, is the only person left in this world to take care of her younger brother.

The mysterious Earl of Druridge, handsome, uncaring, passionate, suspected in the suspicious death of his wife.

Yeah, I know, sounds like the typical romance novel.

Not really though, I felt it was too well written to be some almost massed produced romance, like the ones I read back in the day, maybe I am fooling myself, but I read this from cover to cover and quite enjoyed it.

I recommend, perhaps a romance, that was hiding under a innocuous subcategory of fiction, but still a good read

Through The Smoke
Brenda Novak★☆★☆
I received this as an ARC in return for an hinest review. I LOVE Brenda Novaks contemp series Whiskey Creek. That is all I have ever read from her so when I got the oppurtunity to try something diff I jumped on it! I am sure glad I did :) Im not usually big on Historicals but oh I loved this one. Filled with Romance, suspense, deceit, and the Gothic period! I love it all Rachel has all the reason in the world to not like or trust Truman Stanhop The Duke Of Eldridge. But when hr comes to her for help (about his wife who died in a fire) he gives her a deal that is hard to turn down. But as she learns who he really is she starts opening up and wants tohelp him.Truman who had learned his wife was bearing a child (whom he knew wasnt his child) was angry to get her letter. He went to talk to her (the book then moves ahead a few years) but we learn that Truman's wife Katherine was killed in a fire in Blackmoor hall. He cant remember what happened that night and he is haunted by dreams, but he does know his cousin had saved him. to find out more of what happened thats when he seeks out Rachel.It was a little slow paced for me, but at the same time it help build the whole story. I enjoyed this novel very much and I highly recommend it! especially if you enjoy historicals
(Review also on goodreads.com)

Through the Smoke opens with Truman Drudridge rushing back after his wife sends him a letter saying she is pregnant. However, when he wakes up after he confronts his wife he finds out that she is dead and his castle was started on fire. Elsewhere Rachel McTavish has always been the coal miners/bookseller's daughter and after her fathers death the person who is keeping her family together. However things change after her mother passes and she is left to be the person holding the secrets of her family and what part they have in the fire. Truman wants to find his wife killer and solve who started the fire. What he doesn't expect is that he might fall in love with a common villager.

Having never read a Brenda Novak book before I was excited and a little nervous to read the book because I was not sure what to expect. I found that the book was very well written and the characters were very well developed. Having not read many historical romances I did not have a lot to compare this book to but I felt that she wrote it very good. She stayed true to what the times would be like and what royals and villagers would think of a romance of a royal and a commoner....If you love mystery, romance, and history then this defiantly a book that you should read. In addition if you want a book that keeps you on your toes and don't want to put it down because you want to find out what happens then you should defiantly grab this book off the bookshelf. I am very interested to read her Whiskey Creek series and other books from this author.

I have been reading a lot of contemporary romance lately, and have really been enjoying Brenda Novak's Whiskey Creek series. This journey back into history was not what I expected, and what a pleasant surprise it was!

When your life is on the line, what would you fight for? What would you sacrifice to learn the truth? What would you risk to prove your innocence? Truman, the Earl of Druridge, is facing the judgment and censure of the ton, and quite possibly the gallows, unless he can prove that he was not the cause of the fire that took the life of his wife and the child she carried. Truman is convinced that Rachel McTavish, the beautiful daughter of a miner and current proprietor of her mother's bookshop, knows something that can help. But Rachel isn't talking.

Rachel has secrets, but they are not the secrets that Truman is looking for. Her life is falling apart at the seams, her father is dead, her mother is sick and the bookshop that she assists her mother with is not earning enough money to keep food on the table. Against the instructions of her mother, Rachel makes a bargain with the Earl in order to save her mother's life, but things don't turn out as planned. And although she believed things could not get much worse, she soon discovers that things can always get worse. However, Rachel soon realizes that the person that she thought to be her downfall turns out to be the one man who can answer the call of her heart. But what kind of future can they have, and if they don't discover who caused the fire, will Truman even have a future?

While trying to learn the truth, they discover an intricate web of betrayal and deception. And despite the harassment and judgment of the town, Truman and Rachel discover that love does not see class, wealth or logic. And even more importantly love is worth fighting for. This book is a wonderful journey of mystery and intrigue, wrapped up by a love that concurs all!

I cut my literary teeth reading romantic suspense and historical romances in Middle School, much to my teacher’s dismay. Reading one of these novels always invokes a warm happy feeling and Brenda Novak’s Through the Smoke had me reading deep into the night, under the bedcovers in the cool Fall.

Rachel McTavish is a coal miner’s daughter who runs a bookshop in her village. The Earl of Druridge’s family runs the coal mine. As the story starts, you learn that the Earl of Druridge was in a loveless marriage; he is being blamed for a fire that took the life of his wife, however, he does not remember the details of the night and is desperate for an answer. Rachel and the Earl’s paths cross when she strikes a bargain with the Earl in order to save her ailing mother. The Earl thinks Rachel may know something about the fire. What then transpires is an attempt from the both of them to unravel the mystery of that night. Rachel and the Earl fall in love, but will their respective stations in life and the possibility that one of them may be a murderer foil their happiness?

In enjoyed Rachel McTavish’s character. She was strong-willed and intelligent. I felt she was created as a more contemporary character, as I tend to think most historical romances feature a more docile heroine. The Earl, as well, was very likable. At first, he comes off as haughty and gruff, however as his character develops, you realize his vulnerability and become anxious to have him solve the mystery of the fire, hoping it will clear his name.

However, I was able to figure out who perpetrated the fire pretty early on in the story. I didn’t know how and why, so I was in a hurry to read the book and see how it was resolved.

All in all it was a great read. Highly recommended if you appreciate a plot with your romance!

Okay, first, my confession, I read a lot of romance novels many, many moons ago, when I was a teen, I actually got to the point where I used to joke about figuring out the stories just from looking at the cover art. Perhaps needless to say, I avoided the romance genre for the next 40 some odd years.

I guess technically this would qualify as being in the romance genre, although I when I chose it from the list of books offered through vine, it was just listed as "fiction" (or was that novel?)

That being said, to my surprise, I actually liked the story. Rachel, a poor but beautiful coal miner's daughter, orphaned by her mother's recent death, is the only person left in this world to take care of her younger brother.

The mysterious Earl of Druridge, handsome, uncaring, passionate, suspected in the suspicious death of his wife.

Yeah, I know, sounds like the typical romance novel.

Not really though, I felt it was too well written to be some almost massed produced romance, like the ones I read back in the day, maybe I am fooling myself, but I read this from cover to cover and quite enjoyed it.

I recommend, perhaps a romance, that was hiding under a innocuous subcategory of fiction, but still a good read

Through The Smoke
Brenda Novak★☆★☆
I received this as an ARC in return for an hinest review. I LOVE Brenda Novaks contemp series Whiskey Creek. That is all I have ever read from her so when I got the oppurtunity to try something diff I jumped on it! I am sure glad I did :) Im not usually big on Historicals but oh I loved this one. Filled with Romance, suspense, deceit, and the Gothic period! I love it all Rachel has all the reason in the world to not like or trust Truman Stanhop The Duke Of Eldridge. But when hr comes to her for help (about his wife who died in a fire) he gives her a deal that is hard to turn down. But as she learns who he really is she starts opening up and wants tohelp him.Truman who had learned his wife was bearing a child (whom he knew wasnt his child) was angry to get her letter. He went to talk to her (the book then moves ahead a few years) but we learn that Truman's wife Katherine was killed in a fire in Blackmoor hall. He cant remember what happened that night and he is haunted by dreams, but he does know his cousin had saved him. to find out more of what happened thats when he seeks out Rachel.It was a little slow paced for me, but at the same time it help build the whole story. I enjoyed this novel very much and I highly recommend it! especially if you enjoy historicals
(Review also on goodreads.com)

In Brenda Novak's historical romantic suspense novel Through the Smoke, Truman Stanhope, the Earl of Druridge is desperately trying to clear his name for the murder of his wife and unborn child. Rachel McTavish is a bookstore owner who may have information regarding the crime. In a last ditch effort to try to save her ailing mother, Rachel is willing to share some of that information.

Initially I saw Truman's character as arrogant, bitter and cold. He was determined to find the true killer at any cost. I enjoyed watching his character grow throughout the story and getting to know the real man. Rachel, although a bit naïve at times, was a strong and determined young woman who was a great match for Truman. Once they both started to be honest with each other and share information, they became an awesome investigating team.

Ms. Novak did a superb job of keeping us guessing as to who the real killer was. While I certainly had my own list of suspects, I kept wavering between who could have done it until everything came together at the end.

If you love a good historical romance with a suspenseful twist that will keep you on the edge of your seat and guessing until the very end, look no further than Brenda Novak's Through the Smoke.

Received from the author in exchange for an honest review.

This historical romance involves the death of an earl's adulterous wife. Impregnated by another man, she has infuriated her handsome husband. Suspicion is cast upon him however when she dies in a fire at the estate. He decides to investigate focusing on a lovely, impoverished young woman whose father may be connected to the arson. Throw in angry coal miners, ambitious and greedy relatives, a brothel and a town filled with petty people and you have a twisted but sadly predictable story.

The book started slowly but did pick up. However, I was never fully engaged and had figured out the major plot points very early on. I found the hero and heroine typical and not especially interesting or likeable. Novak is a capable writer and fans of the genre will no doubt be pleased. Personally, I prefer her contemporary novels.

The late 19th century England was a time of great political turmoil, upheaval, and reform. It is here that Truman Stanhope, owner of a dangerous coal mine, turns to a coal miner's daughter, Rachel, for information that lead to the death of his wife. As he has no memories of the fire that killed the adulterous and pregnant Countess of Druridge, Truman himself is the chief suspect. Facing the gallows has prompted him to seek out any sliver of information that might save his neck.

Rachel has no use for the man whose coal mine has ended the lives of half her family, a man who she feels exploits half the town. But when he offers her a physician to treat her dying mother in exchange for information that he believes she has, Rachel makes the bargain.

Ms. Novak has created two genuinely warm and caring people who try their best to help those around them, even when it goes against their own personal desires. I love how realistic her character are, and how flawed they can be. Her writing appeals to many people because she can see the inner workings of the human mind.

Loved this story! Pick it up today and enjoy being swept away.

Although best-known for her contemporary romances, author Brenda Novak can hold her own in the historical genre.

Truman Stanhope, the Earl of Druridge, remembers little of the fire that took the life of his wife and her unborn child. Two years later, his wife's family continues to believe Druridge caused the fire and killed his wife.

Rachel McTavish runs a book shop in the village and has no love for the earl, who owns the coal mine that killed her brother and father. But, Rachel has information about the fire, and Druridge has something she needs, so she bargains with the devil.

The book moves quickly, and Novak includes enough twists to move the plot along realistically. As in all her writing, Novak's plot is gritty and realistic. The class structure of the day, with all of its rules and morals, becomes an important piece of the book, and Novak doesn't take the easy way out to resolve her characters' difficulties.

"Through the Smoke" will appeal to both Novak's fans who have never read historicals and fans of historicals who have never read Novak.

I don't normally read historical romances, but was given opportunity to review an arc. Brenda Novak didn't disappoint me. The prologue was a great history review and accurate description of the times. As the story progressed you got a feel for the difficult lives the common town people experienced working the mines.

For me it's often difficult to get drawn in and enjoy historical fiction, but felt right at home and didn't want to put it down. The heroine, Rachel McTavish, reminded me of Beauty & The Beast's Belle. She felt out of place, was a voracious reader and needed to help out her family. The family responsibility even had her going to the "castle" of the family enemy, to ask for help.

The rich characters drew me right in and I enjoyed hating the villains and cheering Rachel as she fought her stubborn nature to find the truth. There were great plot twists and unexpected endings that made me want to finish the book in just two sittings.

I can't say that I'm a total convert to historicals, but am now willing to give more of them a try.

Brenda Novak once again delivers in this historical novel set in mid-1800s. Truman Stanhope, the Earl of Druridge, and owner of the coal mine, has lost his estranged wife, Katherine, in a fire. Though his in-laws insist the Earl started the fire that killed his wife, he is tormented for two years trying to prove he did not.

Rachel McTavish is the daughter of the town bookstore keeper. Her father, who worked in the coal mines, is suspected of starting the fire. Now that her father has died from miners lung disease, the Earl is convinced Rachel has some knowledge of the circumstances surrounding his wife's death.

Because of the mystery surrounding Katherine's death, Truman has to decide to either marry the Duke of Pembroke's daughter, or continue on fighting his in-laws and possibly finding himself at the end of a hangman's noose! If Truman marries the Duke's daughter, the Duke's name and support will give Truman the protection needed to avoid prosecution.

Having read almost everything Brenda Novak has written, she is on my list of "must read." Though I prefer her contemporary stories, this historical is worth the read.

You know that phrase ‘It transcends the form’? That. Holy mother of God, how to do this justice?

This book was nothing like what I’ve come to expect from the genre. There were no flighty females, no intricate descriptions of gorgeous gowns or extravagant house parties, I wasn’t subjected to a lengthy list of the ton and the details of all their various exploits, and nor was I treated to the constant witty banter between the female lead and the hero. Novak managed to avoid every single overused trope and theme that HR fans have ever complained about.

I’m sure you’re wondering what this book is like and I’ll be happy to tell you. This book is dark. This book is gothic and creepy and unnerving and suspenseful and enraging and completely enthralling. From the very first pages it wrapped around me like a cold wind, raising goose bumps on my arms and the hair on the back of my neck. I finished it an hour ago and that chill is still gripping me.

In the forward, Novak explains that when she first became a writer she wanted to create stories that had a similar gothic feel as one of her favorites, Jane Eyre. I’d say she nailed it. This book is a beautiful, haunting amalgamation of my own favorites from that time period and yet is stunningly original. Not only that, but it felt like it could have been written back then. This book is what I wanted all of those to be. It’s uncensored, revealing both the cruelty and the baseness that those classics skirted.

Our main characters are a young woman named Rachel McTavish and Truman, the Earl of Druridge. I disliked both of them in the beginning of the book. Rachel is the daughter of a local bookseller. She’s also one stubborn and prideful woman and she wears both of these traits like chainmail. The Earl was no better. He could be very hard and very cold. He also owns the coal mine in which the locals start working as young as nine.

This story reveals how difficult the lives of those laborers were, how dangerous their jobs, how hazardous to their health the air they breathed in those cramped, dark tunnels. Their plight did nothing to make me like the earl. Rachel’s father and brother both worked in the mines, the former dying of miner's lung and the latter of a cave-in, so it’s understandable that she too hates this enigmatic and arrogant aristocrat.

Unfortunately, fate has thrown these two together. The earl suspects her father of having had a hand in starting the fire that burned his manor and killed his wife. At least he hopes he does, because he has almost no memory of that night and so the alternative is that Truman himself committed this crime in order to murder the woman that had tormented him throughout their marriage and who was carrying the child of another man.

You find all this out within the first few chapters so it’s easy to see how quickly the plot grabs the reader. I don’t want to go much further into it other than to say that the rest of the book keeps you on your toes, keeps you constantly guessing as to whom the arsonist is and why they did what they did. I had so many theories while reading this that it became slightly ridiculous because every time I thought I had some fact, some aspect of what was going on figured out, Novak blew my assumptions out of the water
.
And that ending, my God. Bravo.

This book is not for the faint of heart. This book is not for someone looking for a typical HR. This book is for those readers that loved Jane Eyre or Wuthering Heights. It’s a slow burn with a lot of tension, a lot of twists and a lot of character. As much as I disliked Rachel and Truman in the beginning, by the end I was wholly on their sides. It’s not that their behavior changed or was explained away but that I was able to accept them for who they are and to believe in them as a couple. I just…GAH!

Brenda Novak writes a period romance like she writes all of her books...darn well!
I'm not one to summarize a story or a description in my reviews, you can read that under the book description, but what I will tell you is this, Brenda brought to life in so much detail the period and the happenings of that time that I learned something relevant and intriguing while enjoying a thoroughly good "who did it" meets love story. I'm pretty fast at figuring out the who did it parts but even this had me guessing till the last minute and surprised at how it all played out. The characters, the Earl of Druridge and Rachel McTavish are strong and independent individuals that create sparks from their very first meeting. Neither wants to really have anything to do with the other, One has an agenda and wants answers, the other wants to protect her family and change a little bit of the world. That back and forth creates a great chemistry and story line for the two main characters who both have to navigate through heart ache, secrets, and treachery to find their way to each other and their ending. I always appreciate that often Brenda's characters are imperfect and scarred but they always find redemption together and the reader appreciates the journey. I highly recommend this book. I'll be rereading it for sure!

I don't normally read historical novels but I was given an advanced copy for my honest review. Through the Smoke by Brenda Novak has all the qualities of a very good novel,a well thought out plot and extremely well written characters. The main characters are, Thurom Stanhope, the Earl of Druridge, who is the troubled hero scarred by a fire that killed his pregnant wife. The baby does not belong to him. Wythe, his cousin, who saved him from the fire but who the Earl can not trust. Rachael, the lowly bookstore owner and daughter of the late mine worker who may or may not have set the fire. The background characters are also very interesting from the housekeeper(Mrs. Poulson) to those who are working at the Earl's mine such as Cutberth. The plot revolves around the mystery of the Earl's wife (Katherine) death in the fire. The Earl can not remember what happen and Katherine's family feels he killed her. Rachael becomes involved because the Earl feels she knows more than she is letting on. I could not put the book down until the mystery was solved. Brenda Novak moved the story along very well and there were a number of plot twist and surprises. I would recommend this book highly. I can't wait to read other historical book by Brenda.