When Timona is rescued from violent attackers by policeman Michael McCann, she’s won over by his kindness. But Michael is shocked to learn how wealthy Timona’s family is. Can love bloom between them when they come from such different backgrounds?

Araminta Woodhall knows she is a curiosity. It is late 1800s in New York City. She is a mixed-race female with "Negro blood' whose culinary creations are unparalleled. She works as the chef in a men's gambling establishment headed by an unsavory character named Linder Kane.

She is only working for Kane long enough to save enough money to open her own restaurant. But even that would not have convinced her to stay since she really can not abide the man. However she feels protective of Kane's mistress. A young woman he beats and terrorizes and whose reasons for staying with Kane form a bit of a mystery.

Kane loves to serve his guests her glorious food and will often have her come to take a curtsey so they can take a look at his very lovely 'curiosity'. During one of these 'come take a bow' evenings, Araminta is surprised to see Griffin Calverson, the brother of her former employer and good friend.

Griffin is a man of power and means in New York City. It is obvious he has some rivalry going on with Kane, a man who himself is connected to the powerful yet corrupt Tammany Hall.

Griffin is just as surprised to see Araminta and wastes no time in trying to convince her to leave, hinting that something dangerous is in the offing.

But Araminta won't leave without Olivia and Olivia has her reasons for staying.

And during all this Araminta and Griffin start to give into their attraction for each other.

I admit I was attracted to this book in the first place because of Araminta being a woman of color. It is rare to find a historical romance that takes place in this time/place, but rarer still for the heroine to be non-white.

The book was technically well written and Araminta and Griffin's romance was engaging. The two had really good on page chemistry. However, the book didn't necessarily 'sing' for me and I was a little disappointed in how Araminta's status as a woman of color seemed sometimes to be almost wallpaper.

This is not to say the author ignores it completely. She doesn't. In fact there a couple of places in the story where the fact of Araminta's race is used rather well, quite nuanced in fact. But sometimes while reading I wondered why even make her part black because there were times while reading I could easily forget that Araminta isn't just your run of the mill white heroine in a historical romance novel. There were times when I had to wonder "Would a non-white person react that way in that space?' Admittedly there are tons of times I let behaviors that feel anachronistic in Hist romances slide.  But for some reason I felt more hyper aware of such things with this book. It could also be because Araminta seems to be the only non white person in the entire book. She doesn't seem to even cross paths just to nod a greeting with other persons of color.

To give the author credit, though, when we do get reminded that Araminta is a WOC navigating spaces that would not be normally welcoming to her, we get tantalizingly close to something really interesting.

Araminta is British. She is the granddaughter of a man of the wealthy merchant class from Englad who only acknowledged her on his death bed. She also well travelled. Because of her background and training and of course her accent, Araminta retains her 'curiosity' status. She carries herself with the bearing of the queen. And in some cases I think this extends to her a sort of 'color invisibility' so much so that Araminta herself sometimes gets lulled into a sense of false security. Until she gets reminded forcefully that she is a woman 'with Negro blood'.

There is also a really good scene where Araminta admits, almost defiantly, that sometimes she gets mistaken for Italian and she allows people think that. Griff somewhat curiously and somewhat judgingly wonders why she would deny her heritage like that. I thought this was a well done scene because of course Araminta would allow herself to pass. If she could be admitted to the rarefied place that white people at that time are accepted why wouldn't she? And of course Griff just doesn't get it because he is steeped in his own white male privilege. It is just a small conversation that just nips at the tip of the iceberg of something a little deeper. And the author lets it stop there. I almost wish she had delved into the conversation a but more. But then again, I am kind of glad she just left it there.


This isn't the only place where Araminta and Griffin seem a bit at cross purposed wrt to her race. Griff offers Araminta a position as his mistress. She of course believes it is because a man of his stature can't marry a mixed-race woman. Griff otoh has no problems with her race, he just has no intention of marrying anyone. Frankly I would have liked it better if the thought had given him pause even for just a minute or two. Would've felt more realistic, imo.

Overall this was an easy read and generally well done historical romance.

A period of  great change and growing freedom America at the Turn of the Century is an ideal era to set a romance.

Cars, bicycles, and telephones sit side by side with the older ways.  Waves of  European immigration settling into second generations.  The growing middles class battles it out with the Elite. Great stuff!

Enjoy this love stories set as the century was turning.  

1.  Mission of Hope by Allie Pleiter 

No one knows who he is or where he's from. But witnesses throughout San Francisco report a masked man in black is bringing supplies--and badly needed hope--to homeless earthquake survivors. Some believe that the city's gallant rescuer is a gentleman of wealth. But others whisper that he is a working-class man with courage as great as his faith. And rumor has it that one of the city's most spirited society belles is helping him against her family's wishes. What can be confirmed is that the masked messenger will need more than a miracle to escape those on his trail--and win the woman risking everything to save him....

2.  BOXING DAY by Jill Barnett 

 A classic Christmas short story of love set in turn of the century New York City. When her grandfather dies, lonely spinster Eleanor Austen is forced to move into an apartment on the top floor of the building he leased to a noisy gymnasium owned by famed Irish boxer Conn Donnoughue. During a snowy and magical December, two lonely people just might find they have more in common than they thought... 

3. Sweet Everlasting by Patricia Gaffney 

4.  The Passions of Emma by Penelope Williamson

Born to a life of wealth and privilege in turn-of-the-century Rhode Island, Emma Tremayne's life is all mapped out for her--including her engagement to the town's most eligible bachelor. Emma's sheltered world is shattered, however, when she discovers the horrifying working conditions in her fiance's textile mill. And when she encounters Shay McKenna, a brave Irish revolutionary, she learns what it will take to defy society's conventions, and experience a love she never thought possible.

5.  Runaway Hearts by Katie Rose 

Amateur chemist Mary Lou Finch once blew up her own laboratory — but that was nothing compared to her explosive first meeting with Pierce Thorndike. Mary Lou fibbed outrageously to win the position of governess to Thorndike's son. In reality, she is hoping to do a little detective work and find the prize racehorse that was stolen from Thorndike's stable. For Mary Lou's father has bet every dime he has on Damien's Curse — and if the horse is not found before the Saratoga races, her family will be ruined.

Mary Lou had planned a strictly scientific investigation ... until Pierce's sexy blue eyes sent a seductive tingling from her head to her toes. Now, as high stakes, pounding hooves, and irresistible kisses sweep Mary Lou away, the novice sleuth races toward an unknown finish — one that puts her in danger of losing her heart, her innocence, and maybe even her life.... 

6.  A Heart Most Worthy  by Siri Mitchell

The elegance of Madame Forza's gown shop is a far cry from the downtrodden North End of Boston. Yet each day Julietta, Annamaria, and Luciana enter the world of the upper class, working on finery for the elite in society. The three beauties each long to break free of their obligations and embrace the American dream--and their chance for love. But the ways of the heart are difficult to discern at times. Julietta is drawn to the swarthy, mysterious Angelo. Annamaria has a star-crossed encounter with the grocer's son, a man from the entirely wrong family. And through no intent of her own, Luciana catches the eye of Billy Quinn, the son of Madame Forza's most important client. Their destinies intertwined, each harboring a secret from their families and each other, will they be found worthy of the love they seek?

7. Somebody Wonderful by Kate Rothwell 

Michael McCann has a gentle way with women, and Timona Calverson is no exception, despite her ragged clothes. She is lovely--and in dire need of immediate rescue. The brawny policeman makes short work of the ruffians that have her cornered in a back alley of old New York. Though Timona may be no more than a runaway from a house of ill repute, Michael is determined to keep her from harm, if only for one night. . .

Timona can't bring herself to tell him who she really is--or that her rich family will pay handsomely for her return. She knows very little about Michael McCann, except that he is good enough to give his last cup of tea to a stranger, and compassionate enough to own the ugliest dog on earth. But the rugged Irishman's unexpected kindness has won her wayward heart--now and forever. .

8. Something Shady by Pamela Morsi 

Shocking all of Venice, Missouri, when she bobs her hair, Gertrude Barkley is secretly admired from afar by Polish immigrant and successful businessman Mikolai Stefanski, until a scandalous misunderstanding brings them together.

Gertrude Barkley, unmarried and unapologetic, had already caused a lot of talk in Venice, Missouri, with her independent ways and her book-writing career. But when she bobbed her waist-length hair, the town gossips had a field day…

Mikolai Stefanski didn’t know what all the fuss was about. In fact, he rather liked Gertrude’s daring new look. A proud Polish immigrant, who had managed to become Venice’s most successful businessman, Mikolai had always admired Gertrude’s rebellious spunk-if only from afar. After all, he believed in doing things his own way, too – though he wasn’t quite as flamboyant about it.

They had lived in the same sleepy town for a long time. But it would take a scandalous discovery-and a wild misunderstanding-to make them appreciate each other in a whole new way …

9. Beauty and the Brain by Alice Duncan 

For the sake of her career, stunningly beautiful actress Brenda Fitzpatrick is accustomed to hiding her keen intelligence behind the facade of a featherheaded blonde. But not when it comes to Colin Peters, a research assistant on the new romantic movie she's starring in. Fascinated by Colin's vast knowledge, she won't shy away from talking with him about his work. And she isn't blind to the good looks he conceals behind his thick glasses and rumpled clothes. Now Martin Tafft has asked Brenda to loosen up his too-meticulous research assistant. It isn't long before an improbable attraction blossoms into a love more real than any celluloid fantasy

10. Ship of Dreams by Brenda Hiatt

On her own in wild, wicked, post-Gold Rush San Francisco,
Della Gilliland has become a bit of a con artist, though a harmless one.
Falsely accused of murder by a rival snake-oil salesman, she is forced to flee
the lawless city's vigilantes aboard an outbound steamer. Surely her quick
wits--and tongue--can convince someone to help her until her pursuers are far
behind.

Stuffy New York businessman Kent Bradford is shocked when a
lovely redhead he's never met suddenly introduces herself as his wife to an
important business contact. Fearing a scene, he plays along . . . for the
moment. But moments turn into weeks and growing attraction becomes something
more. Then, only days out from New York, their ship encounters a hurricane that
threatens not only their budding love, but their very lives.

Did I leave out your favorite? Let me know!

To vote for the best of the best, go to the Goodreads list: Turn of the Century American Set Romance 

To enjoy even more recommendations, visit my Pinterest Board: Turn of the Century Romance. 

My review contains spoilers and they're mostly my thoughts as I went with the book...

I’ve previously read 2 books by Kate Rothwell (aka Summer Devon) and enjoyed each quite a lot, so I was more than excited when the author offered me a review copy of her newest release, The Earl, a Girl and a Promise. I just finished this and boy, I’m glad to report that it was a fun, sexy novel with an adorable H and a spunky h and that I’ve enjoyed this too.

Let me tell you why I find KR’s writing enjoyable. For a starter, I feel at home with her stories. They are well-written, different, without any headache inducing melodrama. KR’s heroes and heroines usually possess traits that I admire and enjoy in the characters of a romance novel. The heroes are no big rakes or scoundrels; they’re more or less regular guys with hot possessive streak for their women. And they know how to give it sexy without bragging about it to the world. I love it how the author portrays that a hero doesn’t need to sleep with half the world to be considered sexy *eyeroll*. To top it off, her heroines generally possess a strong character, in addition to their intelligence and that wicked sense of humor that never fails to get me rolling with laughter. I can connect with them on a level which is very satisfying for me personally. Paul and Emma were no different.