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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 earl—one burdened with a clubfoot and a reputation nearly as scandalous as the proposal she ran from. His captivating sister, Mariana, is not only Augusta’s employer’s best client but harbors a secret ambition of her own: to marry the one man society deems wholly unsuitable. Drawn into Mariana’s reckless schemes of masquerades, cross-dressing, and Whig intrigue, Augusta soon finds herself entangled in more than just scandal—she’s lo...
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The Thief on the Winged Horse by Kate Mascarenhas #Review

 

I am delighted to be taking part in the blog tour for Kate Mascarenhas' The Thief on the Winged Horse. 


A dazzling mixture of crime, romance, magic and myth from the author of the bestselling The Psychology of Time Travel.

The Kendrick family have been making world-famous dolls for over 200 years. But their dolls aren't coveted for the craftsmanship alone. Each one has a specific emotion laid on it by its creator. A magic that can make you feel bucolic bliss or consuming paranoia at a single touch. Though founded by sisters, now only men may know the secrets of the workshop.

Persephone Kendrick longs to break tradition and learn her ancestors' craft, and when a handsome stranger arrives claiming doll-making talent and blood ties to the family, she sees a chance to grasp all she desires.

But then, one night, the firm's most valuable doll is stolen. Only someone with knowledge of magic could have taken her. Only a Kendrick could have committed this crime...

My Thoughts

This is an unusual and distinctive read, full of mystery and magic. Set in present day Oxford, you are nevertheless unsure at times, when it is actually set. The Kendrick family seem to be in their own little world, with their own rules, customs and superstitions. The whole concept of the dolls who are imbued with a specific emotion is slightly unsettling. Inanimate objects, they are nevertheless charged with affecting people's behaviour and feelings. You have to decide for yourself whether this is by suggestion or magic.

     There are some unpleasant issues bubbling below the surface of everyday life. Domestic violence, sexism and the subjugation of women's rights are all major parts of the story. The women are kept 'in their place' and it takes a determined character to challenge their role. Persephone and Larkin are certainly complicated characters but you buy into their stories. If you like a touch of magical realism, you will love this. 

In short: an atmospheric read

 

About the Author

 


Kate Mascarenhas is a writer.

Born in 1980, she is of mixed heritage (white Irish father, brown British mother) and has family in Ireland and the Republic of Seychelles.

She studied English at Oxford and Applied Psychology at Derby. Her PhD, in literary studies and psychology, was completed at Worcester.


Since 2017 Kate has been a chartered psychologist. Previously she has been an advertising copywriter, bookbinder, and doll’s house maker. She lives in the English midlands with her partner.

You can follow Kate here: Twitter  |  Website 

 Book review: Amazon UK

Thanks to Kate Mascarenhas and Head of Zeus Books for a copy of the book and a place on the tour.

 

Follow the rest of the tour! 


 

 

 

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