You know that feeling when you curl up with a historical romance, hoping it’ll transport you to another time and place, and it actually delivers? That’s exactly what happened with Lady Derring Takes a Lover. As someone who devours historical romance like bubble tea on a hot summer day, I was thrilled to discover this gem.
The premise hooked me immediately – a widow and her late husband’s mistress teaming up to run a boarding house? Sign me up! It’s like the ultimate historical girl-power story, but with way more depth and nuance than you might expect. Delilah Derring finds herself in quite the pickle when her husband dies and leaves her with nothing but debt and a rundown building by the Thames. Instead of wallowing in self-pity (which, let’s be honest, I probably would have done), she makes the bold choice to partner with Angelique Breedlove, her husband’s former mistress.
Their unlikely friendship was honestly my favorite part of the book. Long writes their interactions with such wit and authenticity that I found myself grinning like I do when my best friend and I share knowing looks across a dim sum table. The scene where they toast to “dear, dull, dead Derring” over sherry had me cackling out loud on the SkyTrain, earning me some strange looks from fellow passengers.
The romance between Delilah and Captain Tristan Hardy simmers with delicious tension. Tristan arrives at their boarding house investigating a smuggling ring, and while he’s trying to maintain his professional distance, their chemistry is impossible to ignore. The way Long writes their attraction reminds me of those moments when you catch someone’s eye across a crowded room and your heart does that little flutter thing. You know the one I mean.
The Grand Palace on the Thames itself becomes almost a character in its own right. Long’s descriptions of the boarding house and its eclectic residents made me think of my grandmother’s old Victorian house in New Westminster – full of quirky charm and unexpected moments of beauty. The house rules (including my personal favorite: the swear jar) add such delightful touches of humor and humanity to the story.
But what really sets this book apart is how Long handles the power dynamics and social constraints of the time period. Both Delilah and Angelique are women who’ve been burned by society’s expectations and men’s failures, yet they refuse to be bitter or defeated. Their determination to forge their own path while navigating the restrictive social norms of their time feels incredibly authentic.
The supporting cast is absolutely delightful, particularly Dot, the endearingly clumsy maid who had me thinking of my first waitressing job where I managed to drop an entire tray of dim sum. The various boarders each bring their own flavor to the story, creating a rich tapestry of personalities that makes the Grand Palace feel alive with possibility.
While the smuggling plot sometimes takes a back seat to the character development and romance, I actually appreciated this choice. It allowed more room for the relationships – both romantic and platonic – to develop naturally. And when the mystery does come to the forefront, it adds just the right amount of tension without overwhelming the heart of the story.
The romance itself is a slow burn that builds to a deeply satisfying conclusion. Tristan’s journey from duty-bound captain to a man wrestling with his growing feelings for Delilah is masterfully done. Their verbal sparring matches are clever and charged with underlying tension, making their eventual coming together all the more rewarding.
Long’s writing style is a perfect blend of period-appropriate formality and modern accessibility. She has this way of dropping these little gems of wisdom and humor that feel both perfectly of their time and startlingly relevant to modern readers. I found myself highlighting passages that resonated with my own experiences of love and friendship, despite the two-century gap between my life and Delilah’s.
The book isn’t perfect – there are moments when the pacing slows a bit in the middle, and sometimes I wanted to gently shake both Delilah and Tristan for not just talking to each other. But these are minor quibbles in what is otherwise a thoroughly enjoyable read.
If you’re looking for a historical romance that offers more than just a love story – one that explores female friendship, second chances, and the courage to rebuild your life on your own terms – then I highly recommend Lady Derring Takes a Lover. It’s the kind of book that makes you want to cancel your plans, brew a pot of tea, and lose yourself in its pages for an afternoon.
And I’ll definitely be picking up the next book in the series. I’m already invested in these characters and can’t wait to see what happens next, especially with the mysterious Angelique Breedlove’s story. Based on the hints dropped in this book, I have a feeling it’s going to be quite the ride.
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