Blog Tour: Lady Travelers Guide to Larceny with a Dashing Stranger by Victoria Alexander

Author: Victoria Alexander

Publisher: Harlequin

Date of publication: November 2017

She must secure her future

A lady should never be obliged to think of matters financial! But when Lady Wilhelmina Bascombe’s carefree, extravagant lifestyle vanishes with the demise of her husband, her only hope lies in retrieving a family treasure—a Renaissance masterpiece currently in the hands of a cunning art collector in Venice. Thankfully, the Lady Travelers Society has orchestrated a clever plan to get Willie to Europe, leading a tour of mothers and daughters…and one curiously attentive man.

He must reclaim his heritage

Dante Augustus Montague’s one passion has long been his family’s art collection. He’s finally tracked a long-lost painting to the enchanting Lady Bascombe. Convinced that the canvas had been stolen, he will use any means to reclaim his birthright—including deception. But how long before pretend infatuation gives way to genuine desire?

Now they’re rivals for a prize that will change everything

Willie and Dante know they’re playing with fire in the magical moonlit city. Their common quest could compromise them both…or lead them to happily-ever-after.

I'll admit, I found this story a bit slow in the beginning, but I am glad I stuck with it. It ended up being a really fun read. Lady Travelers Guide to Larceny with a Dashing Stranger is the second book in  the Lady Travelers Society series.  In a way, I wish I had read the first book because I feel like I would have gotten more background on how this society started.  However, I still enjoyed the story.

Once the trip with Willie and her companions got underway, I was pulled right in and was eager to take the journey with them.  I loved watching Willie and Dante fall for each other.  They were really cute together and their flirtations had some laugh out loud moments.    The rest of the characters added a lot of color to the tale as well.  I enjoyed that aspect of the story almost as much as the romance part.  The author did a wonderful job of describing late 1880s Europe.   If you are looking for a fun romance with a little adventure, then definitely pick this one up.  I'm going to have to go back and read the first book!

“Alexander has a marvelous ear for witty dialogue and creates winning characters.” -Publishers Weekly

“For love, laughter, and lots of fun, read Victoria Alexander.” -Stephanie Laurens, New York Times bestselling author

“Alexander is now the go-to author for historical romance readers in search of love and laughter.” – Booklist

“Alexander is an original and so are her romances…Alexander fulfills readers’ desires and then some.” -RT Book Reviews

About Victoria Alexander

New York Times bestselling author Victoria Alexander was an award winning television reporter until she discovered fiction was much more fun than real life. She turned to writing full time and is still shocked it worked out.

Since the publication of her first book in 1995, she has written thirty-one full length novels and six novellas.

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Connect with Victoria

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Victoria Alexander’s TLC Book Tours TOUR STOPS:

Friday, December 1st: View from the Birdhouse

Friday, December 1st: The Sketchy Reader – spotlight/excerpt

Monday, December 4th: Moonlight Rendezvous

Tuesday, December 5th: Reading Reality

Wednesday, December 6th: Books a la Mode – spotlight/excerpt

Thursday, December 7th: The Romance Dish

Friday, December 8th: What I’m Reading

Monday, December 11th: A Chick Who Reads

Tuesday, December 12th: The Sassy Bookster – spotlight/excerpt

Friday, December 15th: OMG Reads

Monday, December 18th: A Holland Reads

Tuesday, December 19th: A Night’s Dream of Books

Wednesday, December 20th: Jathan & Heather

Wednesday, December 20th: BTH Reviews

Thursday, December 21st: Books & Bindings

Friday, December 22nd: Book Reviews and More by Kathy

TBD: From the TBR Pile

TBD: Blogging with A

The Perfect Mistress

Author: Victoria Alexander
Publisher: Zebra ( February 2011) Audio by Brilliance Audio


Widowed Julia, Lady Winterset, has inherited a book--a very shocking book--that every gentleman in London seems to want. For a charismatic businessman, it's a chance to build an empire. For a dashing novelist, it could guarantee fame. But to a proud, domineering earl, it means everything. . . 

Harrison Landingham, Earl of Mountdale, can't let the obstinate Julia release the shameless memoir that could ruin his family's name. But the only way to stop her may be equally sordid--if far more pleasurable. For his rivals are intent on seducing the captivating woman to acquire the book. And Harrison isn't the sort to back away from a competition with the stakes this high. Now the winner will claim both the scandalous memoirs and the heart of their lovely owner. . .

Julia is a widow who is financially strapped, having been cut off from her dead husband's allowance.  She decides to sell her great-grandmother's memoirs to make money.   This sets off an amusing string of events that has three suitors trying to woo her in order to get the book.  I have not had the pleasure of reading anything by Ms. Alexander before, so I was pleasantly surprised with her latest.  I liked Julia and Harrison.  Thought they had great chemistry together.  Harrison was such an amusing character.  It was fun to watch him overcome his stodgy, proper ways in order to woo Julia.  I liked that they became friends before they fell into love.

The book has snippets of Julia's great-grandmother's memoirs sprinkled through out the book.  Each passage corresponds to what is happening in Julia's life at the time.  I almost wish that I could read all of Hermione's journal as I'm sure they would be very amusing and steamy!  The peripheral characters really enhance the book.  I loved Hermione's ghost and her gentlemen suitors that kept popping up.  I also loved Harrison's father.

My only real complaint about the book was with the audio version that I listened to.  I didn't care for the narrator's voice.  I thought she made all of the women sound much older than they were in the book. Even the 23 YO in the book sounds in her 50s.  I kind of wish I had read the paper version instead.  Other than that I definitely recommend this one.  It was a fun read.

--Kari