I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by CelebrateLit, NetGalley. I was not compensated for this review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I was not required to write a positive review.
The Innkeeper's Daughter by Michelle Griep Published by Barbour Publishing on March 1st 2018
Genres: Christian, Fiction, Historical, Romance
Pages: 320
Source: CelebrateLit, NetGalley
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A London officer goes undercover to expose a plot against the Crown Dover, England, 1808: Officer Alexander Moore goes undercover as a gambling gentleman to expose a high-stakes plot against the king—and he’s a master of disguise, for Johanna Langley believes him to be quite the rogue. . .until she can no longer fight against his unrelenting charm. All Johanna wants is to keep the family inn afloat, but when the rent and the hearth payment are due at the same time, where will she find the extra funds? If she doesn’t come up with the money, there will be nowhere to go other than the workhouse—where she’ll be separated from her ailing mother and ten-year-old brother. Alex desperately wants to help Johanna, especially when she confides in him, but his mission—finding and bringing to justice a traitor to the crown—must come first, or they could all end up dead.
This is the second book by Michelle Griep that I’ve read and to be honest . . . with each book I like her a little more. She is definitely an author that I want to keep my eye on. She gives engaging main characters with lots of annoyingly endearing character traits throughout the cast. I have to say annoyingly because while there are so true to life and real if I had to deal with them day in and day out in real life I’d probably have to smack them. Legit, there’s a grown man who talks through his puppet. Yes, I gave you a spoiler. But for all the buckets of gravy it is a real thing. The characters in this book? Way nicer than I might be.
I have to tell you how much I appreciate that for once there was not a romance that went off the rails because one character could not see past their own insecurities. Yes it was pretty much instalove but there was so much going on that it didn’t feel like instalove and I was so not bothered by it. I think that’s two in a row for something that I find completely over the top unrealistic. Either I’m going soft or I’m just reading amazing authors who can spin a story that detracts from this huge pet peeve of mine. However, there is a reason I feel like this book I really loved only is 4 star worthy. There were holes. Holes that I never felt were truly filled in. Mostly in relationship to secondary characters but they matter because of the interactions with the main characters. I actually had to check and see if I had somehow missed that this book was part of a series and I was late to the came. I wasn’t. But there is definitely room for this to be part of a larger series. Hint. Hint.
I have to admit I was kept pretty close to in the dark as to who the bad guy (or guys or gals or well groups?) were. To be fair though I didn’t really understand the way it was even working. I mean frames? This can’t be a spoiler as I still don’t understand frames. I just keep picturing crates and piles of picture frames. I mean I know that’s not what it is but I’m thinking there will be some convoluted Google time in my near future. I didn’t have to understand the intrigue to be drawn into and be taken by a few different surprises it was all unraveled. This book has it all with a solid romance, strong characters, some espionage, and even some fun side stories. However, I’m still completely on board for a prequel (hello Ford and Mam have a story to tell) and a sequel or two (I need happily ever after and what about poor Thomas’ future?!?). Michelle has drawn me into her worlds and I need to get my hands on more of her books. Sooner rather than later!
About Michelle Griep
Michelle Griep has been writing since she first discovered blank wall space and Crayolas. She seeks to glorify God in all that she writes—except for that graffiti phase she went through as a teenager. She resides in the frozen tundra of Minnesota, where she teaches history and writing classes for a local high school co-op. An Anglophile at heart, she runs away to England every chance she gets, under the guise of research. Really, though, she’s eating excessive amounts of scones while rambling around a castle. Michelle is a member of ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) and MCWG (Minnesota Christian Writers Guild).
Thanks for the sweet review! And you’re right…this is actually part of a series, but very loosely connected. Book I is Brentwood’s Ward, where you meet and get to know Nicholas Brentwood, Alexander Moore, Richard Ford, and Flannery. And currently I’m working on book 3 which features Thatcher (and yes, I’ll give you an update on Mam & Ford, Alex & Johanna, and Mr. Nutbrown.
The frames used for the rockets were triangle shaped affairs, somewhat like a ladder. They were called frames, so I left that part historically accurate. So sorry about the confusion! Sometimes history is like that, eh?
This sounds really good–I’d love to read it.