The Mystery Woman (Ladies of Lantern Street Book 2)

If the hero or heroine or both have a shady troubled past in Amanda Quick's historical romantic suspense, it is a sign of their inner feelings that they are unworthy of love and therefore unworthy of marriage and children. I believe that the physically damaged hero, Joshua Gage, is one of the author's suffering heroes and his scarred face and bad limp are a physical manifestation of his feeling a lack of worthiness to be loved. Before, when the hero had been whole physically, Emma had rejected his love for her. Her rejection led to both his damaged feelings and his damaged body.This is not the first time the author has used a physically damaged hero in her list of historical suspense so those who complain that the author is recycling plots have latched onto that as a reason to give this book a poor or mediocre review. This book can be looked at as a paranormal version of her other novel about the couple Charlotte and Baxter which was a regency period historical suspense romance. The novel with Charlotte and Baxter was superior to this one, one her bests, but that does not mean this book is a lousy read.In this novel Beatrice has a shady past so she feels unworthy of marriage and only worthy of a less respectable short term affair. Beatrice is hiding from a killer called the Bone Man who killed her father substitute and mentor Roland Fleming. Joshua Gage has been sent searching for her because he suspects her of blackmailing a relative and possibly of murdering Fleming.I am currently rereading this novel and rate it higher than some other reviewers because I like historical romance but I get tired of all the beautiful heroines and wealthy Dukes in the standard England based romances. I also do not object to the paranormal aspects of this or other titles by the author under this and other pen names.It may be formulaic but it is a formula that I like.

Amanda Quick is back.. I know many of you didn't know she left but I was not thrilled with the first installment of the Ladies of Lantern Street.. But The Mystery Woman showcases Ms. Quick in all her talented glory. For those of you who don't know.. Amanda Quick, Jayne Ann Krentz and Jayne Castle are all the same author.. As Ms Quick she writes wonderful historicals, as Ms Krentz she writes contemporary and as Ms Castle she writes fabulous futuristic sci-fi stories... what a talent!! But today we are focusing on her Ms Quick persona and the ladies of lantern street..Miss Beatrice Lockwood is so much more than the paid companion hidden behind shapeless gray dresses. She is a woman with a career and she focuses her psy talent on helping to solve the cases for her employers on Lantern Street. She hasn't always been a super sleuth she has a secret past that is about to come back to haunt her. Beatrice was once a medium of sorts and would read people's auras sorta.. really she would read their psychic energy.. But when her mentor and father figured was killed and she barely escaped with her life Beatrice knew it was time to start again. Fortunately she discovered the ladies who run the Lantern Street investigations and a new career was found!!The mysterious Joshua Gage had given up his life in the government when a mad former colleague blew himself up.. injuring Joshua and leaving him with scars and a limp. He has hidden in the country for the past year until his sister called him to town. Seems she is being blackmailed and the trail leads directly to Miss Beatrice Lockwood.Steeped in intrigue The Mystery Woman delights.. I could just see this unassuming paid companion go home, take off her makeup and dress and turning into an attractive woman.. Watch this woman willingly enter the backstreets and slightly shady premises to gather her information. Could see her fleeing into the night when her life was in jeopardy and totally see her as never backing down.Now staid and true Joshua.. yeah I see him too.. Sure he had a job as well a spy.. but seriously, a woman? What is this girls deal? She claims to have psychic powers.. pooey.. logical in the extreme Joshua can not be convinced that such skills and talents exist.. and Beatrice is smart enough not to try and change his mind. She just does what needs to be done.Finding out that Beatrice's past actually does have something to do with the blackmailing unites these two strong individuals in search of the villain.. Only to find out that it's Joshua's past they need to worry about.. Great story Ms. Quick, glad to see you are back!!Shauni

In this second book in the Ladies of Lantern Street series, Miss Beatrice Lockwood is working for Flint & March and is undercover as a paid companion protecting a young heiress when she meets Joshua Gage who helps her foil the abduction of her charge. Joshua is recovering from injuries that happened when one of his investigations as an agent for the Crown went badly awry, He has spent the past year in isolation at his family estate and has been left with a scarred face, a week leg, and a determination to leave investigations in the past.Joshua is called back to London from his brooding when he believes that Beatrice is the one who is blackmailing his sister. Psychic sparks fly between Joshua and Beatrice when they meet though each is wary of the other. The running joke through this whole story is Beatrice's acceptance of her psychic powers and Joshua's determination to deny that they exist and to rely instead on logic. Joshua quickly comes to see that Beatrice is in danger and it looks like the case that injured Josh so badly isn't over.This story had all the elements of an intriguing mystery and an inevitable romance. Both Beatrice and Joshua are strong characters who have a great deal in common as they are both investigators and competent adults. However, they come from different social classes. Beatrice can't see a future for them but Joshua is not a conventional sort of man. The villains include a Russian assassin called the Bone Man and a truly mad scientist.This was a fun story for all of Amanda Quick's fans and anyone who like paranormal historical fiction.

I obviously didn't read the synopsis properly. I used to like Jayne's books but lately all I seem to see is paranormal stuff from her. Not my cup of tea. I have read a lot of her books when she wrote, or perhaps still writes, under her other names. I've given 3 stars because I believe she is a good author but I only read this book as far as the chapter which began with the rats and I'd had enough. I skipped to the last two pages and felt I had wasted my money.My fault. Having read the synopsis again I feel I would prefer so watch the movie, The Mummy' as it would appear to be a similar storyline. I will try and find one of her 'normal' books as her hero's may always be the same man but what a man!

One more for my collection! I can read and reread Amanda Quick all the time.The book was a day late but I wasn't bothered, just glad it arrived and in perfect condition. I am very happy with my purchase.

Miss Beatrice Lockwood works as a paid companion at a speciallised agency that also has a paranormal aspect. In the course of a job she meets Joshua Gage who helps her foil a crime. Then the adventure begins... I quite enjoyed this book and found it quite a compulsive read even though I figured out who the bad guy was early on. I love Jayne Ann Krentz and enjoy her books.

I have been a longtime fan of 'Ms Quick's novels, and this one is simply not up the the standard set by, for example, the Vanza series. It's all exposition, very little action, and the story itself familiar from others in the many series the author has set in this time period. I kept waiting for the usual charm and romance to set in, to no avail.

Excellent writer