About the Book

Book: Miss Tavistock’s Mistake

Author: Linore Rose Burkard

Genre: Clean and Wholesome Regency Romance/Romantic Comedy

Release Date: June 4, 2020

Can Miss Tavistock’s mistake ever be undone?

Young Miss Tavistock is promised in marriage to Captain Rempeare by the wish of her dearly departed papa. But the captain’s been at sea for a decade. When she finally meets him, tempestuous sparks fly, and she impulsively adopts a daring false identity. Going by “Lady X,” she vows never to marry such an infuriating man.

Captain Gabriel Rempeare is prepared to fulfill his duty and marry Miss Tavistock—if only he can clap eyes on her. One circumstance or another keeps them apart, though he cannot seem to avoid the maddeningly lovely Lady X. When fate throws them together in London, Miss Tavistock discovers the real nature of the captain, and regrets her subterfuge. But can such a noble man forgive deceit? Or has her mistake already cost her everything?

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MY REVIEW

I am welcomed back to the Regency period with a delightful story that was quite intriguing. I couldn’t help thinking about this saying as I began to dig into the story. “ Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive.” What was Miss Tavistock thinking when she pretended to be someone else? I think perhaps she is trying to prove a point but I laughed as she tried so hard not to think of the dashing Captain. It became comical that the Captain was always in her thoughts and dreams. Oh Miss Tavistock dare I say “ the lady doth protest too much.”

The author does a good job of presenting the time period with accuracy. I liked the articulation of the language and the protocol of royalty. There were times I wanted to join the characters just so I could listen to their banter with each other. The story is a mixture of misunderstandings, deceit and a road to redemption. It is indeed easy to see that Miss Tavistock is playing a game that will have consequences. I was exasperated with her at times and felt the need to shake some sense into her.

I was curious why Miss Tavistock never received letters from the Captain that he insisted he wrote. Oh my how the lies start to unravel as characters start to show their ugly side. There was something that one person said that absolutely floored me. Why would someone say, “You must do the pretties for us both, love. When you tell me he’s ready to kick, then I’ll come along.” The author really grabs my attention with the unkind feelings of some who have revenge on their mind. It’s that word “jealousy” that starts to rear it’s nasty head in this story.

The ending is quite a journey and I loved the lesson on lying. The story has a great feel of royalty and delivers an enchanting tale that I read in one day. I did enjoy the history at the end of the book which explains a very important banquet. I found it to be very interesting and helped me understand the time period.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion

About the Author

Linore Rose Burkard is a serious watcher of period films, a Janeite, and hopeless romantic. An award winning author best known for Inspirational Regency Romance, her first book opened the genre for the CBA. Besides historical romance, Linore writes contemporary suspense (The Pulse Effex Series, as L.R. Burkard), contemporary romance (Falling In), and romantic short stories. Linore has a magna cum laude English Lit. degree from CUNY which she earned while taking herself far too seriously. She now resides in Ohio with her husband and family, where she turns her youthful angst into character or humor-driven plots.

More from Linore

Miss Tavistock experiences a frightening crush at the Prince Regent’s palace (Carlton House) toward the end of the book which leads to a romantically pivotal scene. But many readers don’t know that what happened that day at the palace really happened.

Here’s the scoop:

The fete in June of 1811 was the Prince of Wales’ first real chance to celebrate his becoming Regent in February of that year in the lavish style he loved.

Like Miss Tavistock, many in the haut ton anxiously coveted invitations. At first reserved only for the peerage and their offspring, by the time of the event, more than 2,000 invitations had been issued to all classes. The details in the story regarding the enormous preparations really happened, and much, much, more.

Since our heroine was not able to garnish an invitation to the actual grand banquet, the extraordinary magnificence of the décor, food, and costume of that night had to be excluded from the book. But it was an unprecedented display, and both amazed and perplexed the guests.

The prince was so happy with his lavish spectacle that he wished to share it with the public. The unruly crowd described in the book happened on the third day following the banquet. It was reported that more than 30,000 people tried to crowd their way in that day. Men and women lost hats, bonnets, coats, shawls, shoes, and even their under clothing. London papers afterwards claimed there were great tubs at Carlton House filled with all the lost items. Our beleaguered heroine escapes with only her shoes and bonnet missing, but her stockings and gown are torn. Perfect situation to be rescued from!

Contemporaries both praised and harshly criticized the affair. It was described as “an assemblage of beauty, splendor and profuse magnificence,” by admirers, but as one of the princes’ “greatest follies and extravagances,” by detractors.3

If you’re not previously familiar with the Prince Regent (later George IV), this might give you an idea as to why I sometimes find him too irresistible a figure to leave out of a Regency novel. His extravagance, flamboyance and tempestuous lifestyle are just too ripe fodder to ignore. Though he doesn’t appear in Miss Tavistock, I have numerous scenes in my first Regency series where he interacts with Phillip Mornay, ‘the Paragon,’ and hero of the books.

NOTE: This post is an abbreviated account of the event, which is included in more detail at the back of the book.

Question: Have you ever been trapped in a crowd? What was it like?