About the Book
Book: Revealing the Truth
Author: Lorri Dudley
Genre:
Historical RomanceRelease date: May 30, 2023
His suspect holds a secret, but can he uncover the truth before she steals his heart?
When Katherine Jenkins is rescued from the side of the road, half-frozen and left for dead, her only option is to stay silent about her identity or risk being shipped back to her ruthless guardian, who will kill to get his hands on her inheritance and the famous Jenkins Lipizzaner horses. But even under the pretense of amnesia, she cannot shake the memory of her sister and Katherine’s need to reach her before their guardian, or his marauding bandits, finish her off. Will she be safe in the earl’s manor, or will the assailant climbing through her window be the death of her?
British spy, Stephen Hartington’s assignment to uncover an underground horse-thieving ring brings him home to his family’s manor, and the last thing he expected was to be struck with a candlestick upon climbing through the guest chamber window. The manor’s feisty and intriguing new house guest throws Stephen’s best-laid plans into turmoil and raises questions about the timing of her appearance, the convenience of her memory loss, and her impeccable riding skills. Could he be housing the horse thief he’d been ordered to capture—or worse, falling in love with her?
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Book Review
This is the third book of Lorri Dudley’s that I have read, the others being The Sugar Baron’s Ring and The Captain‘s Quest. And out of all the books I have read by her, Revealing the Truth is by far my favorite.
The first chapter immediately pulled me in and I found myself not wanting to put the book down until I knew what happened to Katherine. Will she be able to escape her cousin and his cruelty? If she does, where will she go to hide and for how long will she be able to stay safe?
Once Katherine arrives at the Hartingtons after being found at the side of the rode by Lady Hartington, and after she meets Stephen, the story slows down quite a bit. While not as exciting as the beginning and the end are, we get to know each character individually and get to see them grow and the relationship between Stephen and Katherine blossom.
I enjoyed much of the book, including the setting and time period, how faith was weaved into the story, and the suspense of the novel. However, I do have to say that the ending was somewhat rushed and I feel that if it hadn’t been, a couple of the twists and turns would have worked better. I feel that perhaps that perhaps the author may have dragged out the middle of the story perhaps a little too long, and then could have focused a bit more on the resolution of the conflict. But that is just my own personal opinion, and this honestly did not take away too much from the story.
Overall, I would recommend this novel, especially to anyone who loves historical romance set in 1800s England.
I had received the book as part of the Celebrate Lit Blogging Team and was required to give an honest review.
About the Author
Lorri Dudley has been a finalist in numerous writing contests and has a master’s degree in Psychology. She lives in Ashland, Massachusetts with her husband and three teenage sons, where writing romance allows her an escape from her testosterone filled household. Find her online at www.lorridudley.com.
More from Lorri
Horses, spies, and romance…
Horse stealing in Regency England was a lucrative venture. In some instances, a sale would bring in the equivalent of a quarter of a year’s income. If caught, however, horse thievery held a high price—capital punishment, typically by hanging. Criminals were a varied group, ranging from child pranksters stealing their neighbor’s workhorse for a joy ride to professional horse-thieving rings who transported their contraband a considerable distance, over 31 miles (or 50 kilometers) and sometimes internationally. They traveled to avoid buyers who’d recognize stolen property.
The British spy network of the Regency era didn’t yet hold the famous name MI6. Instead, it formed two departments the War Department, which handled international matters, and the Home Office, which dealt with domestic issues. Revealing the Truth’s hero, Lord Stephen Hartington, works as a contracted spy for the Home Office, assigned to catch horse thieves in his hometown near the rolling hills and flowing rivers of England’s Cotswolds.
The heroine, Katherine Jenkins, has reservations regarding love and trust. She inherited the well-known Jenkin’s Lipizzaner horses, and her fortune attracts her ruthless guardian. He has two options to get his hands on her money that won’t raise her solicitor’s suspicions—marry her or have her meet with a seemingly accidental demise. Due to her guardian’s actions and Katherine’s fiancée’s rejection after her parents passed, it’s no wonder she’s hesitant about love. Through watching Stephen’s interactions with his family, God heals her heart enough to take steps of faith, but allegations of her being a horse thief threaten to undo the progress she’s made.
The seeds of Revealing the Truth were first planted when I was in the seventh grade. I used to carry an idea notebook and jot down scenes whenever inspired. My mother found my old notebook a few years ago and mailed it to me. In it were faded pencil scrawls about a girl escaping into the cold night and collapsing. She’s taken in by kind passersby who nurse her back to health, only to be surprised when their handsome young son climbs in through her bedroom window and so enters Stephen into Katherine’s life.
Enjoy!
To learn more, check out my website at lorridudley.com or wildheartbooks.org or watch the Revealing the Truth book trailer by clicking here: Revealing the Truth book trailer.
Blog Stops
Melissa’s Bookshelf, May 30
Holly’s Book Corner, May 30
lakesidelivingsite, May 31
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 1
Locks, Hooks and Books, June 2
Kristina Hall, June 2
Texas Book-aholic, June 3
Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, June 4 (Author Interview)
Christina’s Corner, June 4
Lily’s Book Reviews, June 5
Cover Lover Book Review, June 6
Becca Hope: Book Obsessed, June 6
Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions , June 7
Betti Mace, June 8
She Lives To Read, June 8
Connie’s History Classroom, June 9
Book Butterfly in Dreamland, June 9
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, June 10
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, June 11
Blogging With Carol, June 11
Pause for Tales, June 12
For Him and My Family, June 12
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Lorri is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
This looks great. Thanks for sharing!
This sure sounds engrossing!
This sounds very interesting!
What a beautiful cover!!
Looks very good