The Dressmaker's Secret by Susanne Dunlap #Review
We are diving into the past to the nineteenth century with the Regency romance, The Dressmaker's Secret Earl by Susan Dunlap . It was published by Comfortable Prose Publishing on 25 Mar. 2025 . A marriage of convenience to a scoundrel? Not if Augusta can help it. The impoverished daughter of a baronet, Augusta has no intention of being bartered away like a prize horse. Instead, she flees to London, determined to forge her own path as a modiste. But fate has other plans. On her very first day in the city, she crosses paths with a brooding earlāone burdened with a clubfoot and a reputation nearly as scandalous as the proposal she ran from. His captivating sister, Mariana, is not only Augustaās employerās best client but harbors a secret ambition of her own: to marry the one man society deems wholly unsuitable. Drawn into Marianaās reckless schemes of masquerades, cross-dressing, and Whig intrigue, Augusta soon finds herself entangled in more than just scandalāsheās lo...
I'm looking forward to reading this book. A small but important part of my WIP takes place in a Victorian asylum in Yorkshire. I've read Victorian diaries and novels where asylums are prominent, so I'm keen to read a contemporary writer's approach. Fingersmith by Sarah Waters also has some scenes in a Victorian asylum. Thanks for sharing your review. Sounds fascinating.
ReplyDeleteThe size of the asylum really shocks, about 2000 people, some of whom are sent there for reasons we wouldn't think merited it. I found the book quite affecting. Very interested to hear about your writing. I would be willing to read if you ever need some more readers. Thanks for your comments.
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