Not what I was expecting. I thought this would be a lighter tale of two damaged souls Nancy and Francis overcoming their troubled pasts and finding love whilst trying to bring about social change in particular for workhouse children through theatre, unfortunately I found the storyline overly long and a bit repetitive and slow to progress the characters stories. This is a shame as there were parts I enjoyed but they got lost in the convoluted story line. I was also disappointed with the ending as after following it through the ending seemed rushed, didn't include the success or failure of the scheme that had been the sole focus of the book and instead it was a here have a baby and a engagement ring instead.

Trouble for the Leading Lady is a medium paced story that has a slow beginning, but quickly became a engaging read with a good flow. Trouble for the Leading Lady can be read as a Stand-Alone, but to grasp the full effects of the series I would recommend reading the first book, A Widow's Vow.
I like how Brimble has created a charming story, that has a Victorian setting. Brimble has well researched her historical information for Trouble for the Leading Lady, as it shares the hardships of the time.
The character development of Trouble for the Leading Lady is good, with a lot of likeable characters and well thought out relationship dynamics between characters. I really like that Nancy is an independent woman and she comes across as being very charismatic.
I would recommend reading Trouble for the Leading Lady to those who love to read historical romances, as it is a gripping historical romance that is realistic and interesting.

Although I am sure that this can be read as a standalone, I would recommend reading its predecessor, to really get a handle on the relationship between Nancy, Louisa and Octavia and how they have come to be running a high-class brothel in Bath. Having said this, I did thoroughly enjoy visiting them again and finding out more about Nancy's past. Nancy and Francis are the focus of this book and both have vulnerabilities caused through their traumatic childhoods. They have tried to cover over the scars of what happened to them, but at different points in the story, they have to face up to how they feel. The face they present to the world is a cover for how they feel inside.
You certainly get a feel for Victorian Bath and the class system which existed. Francis is a self-made man and independence is important to all the characters. Inequalities in society and above all, the terrible conditions which were present in the Workhouse are shown. Most shocking is the blind eye turned by most people to the plight of its inmates who endured shocking conditions and who seemed to lack hope. This is an enjoyable read with plenty of historical details and some intriguing characters.
In short: Well written historical fiction
Thanks to the author for a copy of the book
Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the book

A romantic Victorian saga that sweeps readers off to 19th Century Bath, Rachel Brimble’s Trouble for the Leading Lady is another captivating read by this talented writer of historical fiction.

Nancy Bloom has always been enchanted by the theatre. As a young girl, she remembers going to the Theatre Royal and admiring the actors who would take to the stage and bring to vivid life a story that would take her breath away. Nancy had vowed that when she got older, the stage would become her life and when she had been promised an acting career, she truly believed that her dreams were about to come true – until she realised that all that glitters is not necessarily gold. Finding out that the man’s promise had been all smoke and mirrors, Nancy had found herself trapped in a dangerous world from which there is simply no escape – yet her love of the stage never wavered. Hardened by circumstance, Nancy thinks that she will never have the opportunity to make her dream a reality, until ambitious theatre manager Francis Carlyle comes into her life determined to change her mind.

Francis is a self-made man who has not had an easy life either. Determined not to let his lack of fortune or connections deter him from his ambitions, Francis had worked hard to become a success. Nothing and nobody is ever going to send him back to a life he had fought tooth and nail to escape and the theatre manager is always looking for the next big thing to take the country by storm. In desperate need of an actress, Francis has searched far and wide for his next starlet, but to avail. However, little does he realise that he is about to find what he has been searching for in the most unlikely of places…

Nancy has been discovered by the theatre manager – while standing on a table in one of Bath’s bawdy houses! While Francis offering to make her his star sounds like the answer to all of her prayers, Nancy had been betrayed once before and lived to regret it and she is not about to make the same mistake again. However, little does she realise that Francis is a difficult man to say no to!

Francis may have originally been looking for his next star, however, he might just have ended up finding the woman he hopes to spend the rest of his life with – but only if he can convince Nancy to be not just his leading lady, but his wife!

Rachel Brimble is on top form with her latest saga, Trouble for the Leading Lady! A heart-warming and poignant tale about second chances, learning to trust and falling love, Trouble for the Leading Lady is an immensely enjoyable romantic read that beautifully recreates Victorian Bath. Nancy and Francis are two brilliant characters who jump off the pages and theirs is a powerful love story readers will struggle to put down.

Emotional, dramatic and intense, fans of sagas and historical romances will fall in love with Rachel Brimble’s latest novel, Trouble for the Leading Lady.

"Despite his cool tone with Edmund, unease knotted Francis's stomach. The last thing he needed was his servants discussing his associating with a prostitute. Clearly, Edmund knew the house to be a brother consider his scathing comments. Unless it was a case of Edmund protesting too much? Well, Edmund could mind his own business as much as anyone else who felt inclined to judge. After all, Francis knew better than most what they had to [do] in order to survive. Neither he nor Edmund knew Nancy, Louisa or Octavia, which meant neither of them were in a position to judge their way of living."

If you're cool with this sort of declarative, telling-not-showing writing, then maybe you'll like "Trouble for the Leading Lady." I didn't mind the coincidences, and I could have abided the two-dimensional characters, but the plodding prose was just too much for me. I love me some saucy historical fiction, but only when it's well written. ("Playing the Jack" and "The Oracle Glass" are two of my all-time favorite novels.) The barely workmanlike writing here wore me down.

Thank you, NetGalley and Aria, for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

If you look centre stage, you will see a woman full of strength, determination and self preservation. A fighter determined not to let life break her again.

The book follows two main characters: Nancy and Francis Carlyle, who first meet through a song sung by a lady just looking for some fun. Francis, a well known theatreand wealthy bachelor of the City is looking for the perfect actress to play his lead in his new play. But what he didn’t expect was finding the perfect candidate for the role in an alehouse by chance. He also didn’t expect his leading lady to be a woman with many skills and a worker in a pleasure house down the road.

Nancy, a woman who is good at what she does and has convinced herself that her life will be nothing more, is dubious of her new attention. Especially when the line ‘you would be perfect for the role’ has got her into unforgettable trouble in the past, trouble that she barely recovered from and refuses to let happen again. How a man’s promise for fame became her downfall and led to trust being a fickle thing.

But what happens when you let you guard slip and open up to someone you have been trying to villianise? What happens when a girl removes her armour and tries to trust once again?

The story of Trouble for the Leading Lady was beautifully written, it felt like a step into the past, a time when being a woman was harse and dangerous, when innocence was preyed upon and no one batted an eye. I found the plot intriguing, interesting and above all, it felt real. A history lesson that was more that pure facts. I was hooked from the first chapter.

As for the characters, I loved Nancy. I loved her spunk, the vibrance and fire of her character, as well as her determination to not let the horrors of her past prey upon her future. For me she is such a strong character, a force to be reckoned with. She is an phoenix waiting to be released, for her spotlight to hit its mark.

As for Francis, I respected him. I found him likable and not predatorial. That he was the spark of hope she needed to restart her dream. He was such an interesting character, with a back story you couldn’t help but want to give him a cuddle when he talked about it. I was rooting for him from quite early on, hoping he had found his leading lady.

So if you are looking for a romance that has something a little different or a historical read that plays with your emotions, Trouble for the Leading Lady is perfect for you. It is a dramatic story about two hearts with two very different lifestyles. It is a novel that feels well researched and keeps the reader applauding for more. It left me wanting an encore, what will it do for you?

5☆ Enthralling, Captivating, Historical Romance.

Trouble For The Leading Lady is a Poignant and Compelling Historical Romance. It's the second book in the series but can be read as a standalone with no problems.

This time round it's the turn of Nancy Bloom to reveal her story.
Nancy is a working girl in a well established Brothel on Carson Street.
She works alongside her two best friends Louisa and Octavia. Each of them have a troubled and tortured past but they vowed to stick together and never let a man hurt them again. Which isn't going to be a problem with Jacob as their doorman!

Nancy is a tortured soul. She has a deep rooted passion and love for all things theatre, but her horrific past holds her back.
But one thing's for certain Nancy is a force to be reckoned with. Her singing voice is completely enchanting, some might say it's intoxicating and her beauty mesmerising.

So when Francis walks into the white Hart Pub that day and hears Nancy sing, he is certain that there paths are destined to cross that day!
You see Francis might appear to be from a wealthy upbringing, but he too carries a tortured past and with many emotional scars still bearing on his soul, the only way he believes he can heal is to produce a theatrical play of his life and he wants Nancy as his leading lady!

But Nancy has many reservations as well as trust issues and never wants to set foot on a stage ever!
However Francis is quiet the Charmer and he will stop at nothing to get what he wants!
But the pair never expected to catch feelings...and Nancy NEVER mixes business with pleasure!

I couldn't wait to read Nancy's story.
She certainly is an Endearing and Charismatic character. It's no wonder Francis is so taken with her.
I loved how both were so broken yet they just felt right together and I was willing Nancy to let her guard down and equally shouting for Francis to reassure her of his feelings.
I was swept away with the will they won't they.

One thing I did enjoy was that all wasn't revealed straight away, Brimble teased the reader with lil bits of their past and kept the reader guessing.
I loved that all of the characters were still very much part of the story and their bonds were still very strong.
The theatre setting added another layer and dynamic to the story and I loved all the little details.

Brimble is one of my favourite Authors, her books are always Engrossing, Authentic, Gripping,  Richly Atmospheric and I find myself being swept up into the heart of her stories.

Overall Trouble For The Leading Lady is an Enthralling, Gripping and Captivating Historical Saga, and if you love Historical Romances then I highly recommend you pick up a copy.
I'm now eagerly awaiting Octavia's story, which will hopefully be the next installment!

I was very happy to see us back with the same characters that I had come to know and like from the first in the series – A Widow’s Vow. Again, the characters were well developed and somehow relatable, despite the fact the book is set almost 200 years ago.

I love the way Rachel writes about what is described in the blurb as the “underbelly” of society and for me this is why I really like these books, despite not being a fan of the saga genre generally. This book is dark and explores so many issues associated with class, ambition and love, to name but a few.

Overall, this has been a dramatic and immersive read. When I read books by Rachel Brimble, I feel transported; as if I myself could be walking around 19th century Bath. Her novels are dramatic, romantic, intense, and just simply wonderful. I am definitely looking forward to reading more by this author!

5 Word Review: Lust, attraction, passion, family, friendship.

From the very first page, I loved Trouble for the Leading Lady.

One thing I really loved was the inclusion of small details that will strike every woman as familiar - not taking back paths and alleyways, having a friend as back up when talking to a stranger. As much as the women in this story very much own themselves and their sexual agency, these little things struck me right to the core. The underlying yet never mentioned danger everywhere in the world and the characters acknowledging that hit me deep.

Another thing excellently done was Nancy's reactions to these situations. Her panic and anxiety was real, the unconscious physical reactions described so perfectly. As a character she came to life on the page, and her narration of events was perfect. I could truly feel how she felt, feel the conflicts she faced. She has worked herself up from the horrors of her past and she is determined to live her life only for herself.

Francis is fantastic romantic hero, set on his decision of who he wants to play the lead in his production. He's had an almost equally as hard past and like Nancy has worked his way up, with an added dose of the privilege of being a man. He's hard-working and self-assured yet vulnerable, and it made for an excellent romantic interest, especially for Nancy.

The passion between Nancy and Francis is intense, palpable. From pretty much instant lust, a bit of mutual infatuation, and almost all-consuming chemistry, the relationship only builds, and I am here for it.

I have not read the first book, and you can easily read this as a standalone, but I am absolutely going to go back and read Louisa's story, and then I think I'll dive into the Pennington books - Rachel Brimble's books have jumped straight to the top of my TBR.

Nancy's story is the second book in this challenging and compelling Victorian saga. Nancy dreams of being on the stage end in ruin until Lousia ( A Widow's Vow) saves her. Nancy's life is not what she wants, but her close friendship with Louisa and Octavia keeps her positive. Limited by her gender and social class, Nancy's life choices are few. This poignant theme is explored well in this insightful story.

Francis'life in the workhouse still haunts him. He hopes to let go of the horrors through the play he is writing. There is strong attraction when Francis and Nancy meet, but can they fulfil each other's dreams?

The conflicted romance is passionate, but both driven characters are wary of being hurt. They are easy to empathise with, and you want them to find lasting happiness. The dynamic between Louisa, Nancy and Octavia is relatable and provides humour and realism, adding authenticity.

The setting and historical detail are well researched and give the story its ethos and immersive quality.

This is an engaging Victorian romantic saga with a strong theme of social injustice that resonates.

I received a copy of this book from the author and Aria Fiction via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

A compelling historical romance with depth and substance, TROUBLE FOR THE LEADING LADY by Rachel Brimble, is a story that will effortlessly work its way into your heart.

Nancy Bloom always wanted to be a part of the exciting theatre world and when she thought she had gotten the perfect opportunity, she had thrown herself eagerly into the hands of a man who could not be trusted. Now a ruined woman, Nancy does what she must in order to survive, but she has never lost her spark for becoming a star.
Francis Carlyle is looking for the next big thing to win over the elite, but he did not expect Nancy Bloom. But can two wounded people who have learned the hard way that you cannot trust anyone, find a way to believe in each other? And will they be able to let down their guards long enough to let love take a hold of their hearts?

As always with Rachel Brimble's stories, the setting and historical detail in this novel is fantastic, and the time period really comes alive on the page. This is the second book in this series and I thoroughly enjoyed being immersed in the lives of the ordinary man and woman in Victorian times, while also recognising the harshness of the period which is elegantly woven throughout the character's lives. Nancy is a wonderful character whose grit and spirit shine through at every turn and Francis grew on me as I learned more about him as the pages continued.

TROUBLE WITH THE LEADING LADY by Rachel Brimble is a wonderful historical romance and I look forward to more from this author.

A strange but gripping story
Nancy is a prostitute who has drama of being a star. Francis is the manager of the Theatre Royal in Bath and sees Nancy as the star of the play he is writing
I liked Nancy, she portrays a strong and confident exterior but is vulnerable and has been hurt in the past. She is loyal to her friends and those she cares about but is wary of Francis and those who promise her things. The more I learnt of her, the more I liked her
Because I saw him through Nancy’s eyes, it took me longer to warm to Francis but his determination to make Nancy trust him and his characters development meant that I learnt to love him and be routing for him and his dream of seeing his story on stage
Francis grew up in the workhouse and his play is his life story with the aim of bringing attention to the workhouses and the conditions to those in positions of power and influence who may be able to enact change. I didn’t know much about the workhouse before this book and this has really opened my eyes to the harsh reality of what happened to people and even though I only saw a part of it, seeing it through Nancy and Francis’s eyes made it even more real
Both Nancy and Francis have terrible pasts that still haunt them but they have risen up and become the people who they always could be
This book isn’t easy reading but it did grip my attention and I hope it will yours, as such I would recommend this book to those who enjoy a gritty life story that has the potential and power for pain but also of love and dreams

I have been a fan of Rachel’s work for a little while now. I haven’t caught up with everything that she has written but I am getting here. ‘Trouble For The Leading Lady’ is the second book in the Victorian series, which is set in a brothel. It’s another corker of a read from Rachel Brimble, which I thoroughly enjoyed but more about that in a bit.
I must admit that it took me a little while to get into this story as it was a little slow at the beginning. However, once I got into the story that was it and I was away. I had to read the story in bursts rather than in one continued reading binge. If I had to put the book down for any reason, then I would immediately look forward to being able to pick up the book again. This was definitely a book that was constantly on my mind. I think part of the reason for that was the fact that I had taken to the lead character of Nancy Bloom and I was desperate for her to get the ‘happy ever after’ ending that she so deserved. The pages turned over increasingly quickly as I worked my way through the story. Then all too quickly I reached the end of the story and I had to say farewell to Nancy and the rest of the characters. What happens in the story? Well for the answers to that question and so much more you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves to find out as I am not going to tell you.
‘Trouble For The Leading Lady’ is very well written. But then I have thought that to be true of Rachel’s other books too. She has a way of grabbing the reader’s attention from early on and enticing them into what proves to be a compelling read. Rachel seems to bring the Victorian era to life and reading one of her books is as near as I am going to get to being able to travel back to that era. I felt as though I was part of the story and that is all thanks to Rachel’s very vivid and realistic storytelling. I found ‘Trouble For The Leading Lady’ to be an interesting read, which kept my attention throughout.
In short I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Trouble For The Leading Lady’ and I would recommend it to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Rachel’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 4* out of 5*.

This isn’t my first Rachel Brimble’s novel. I have been reading Rachel Brimble's books since I went in a Historical Romance reading journey. I even recently recommended her books to a friend.

This book is set in Bath, in 1852, and follows Nancy Bloom - a woman with dreams and betrayed by a man that promise to help her, only to ruin her - and Francis Carlyle - a theater manager with ambitions and a goal in mind. Two characters that may have difference, but that also have somethings in common, especially in terms of having a tragic background.

Usually we read about royalty in some category, so it's very refreshing to follow the lives of the common people, rich or not. And combined with theater and all the drama that the show business brings, it's so exciting. Plus, there is this theme related to social injustice, that made me think and that I now want to read more about it, in a historical perspective.

We have likeable characters that we can connect with, people this dark and painful pasts, people with dreams and ambitions, people that just want to be happy. I liked both Nancy and Francis for different reasons, and the more I learned about them, the more I read about their interactions and the development of their relationship, the more I liked them.

Life isn't always pretty, and it doesn't matter if we are talking about our current world or many years ago. This book reminded me of that. It also reminded me that it's never too late. And to be resilient.

Overall, I enjoyed it. And although it can be read as a standalone, I do recommend you read the first one so that you get a bigger picture of the time and scenery this series focus on.

This is the second book in the author's Victorian Saga series, set in Bath in 1852. While the history of the main characters from the first novel, 'A Widow's Vow' is useful in understanding the dynamics of their relationships with each other, this can equally be read as a standalone story.

What is particularly striking about this tale is the underlying theme of past history, buried memories and society's perceptions of the different classes within the Victorian era. All of these combine perfectly within the different characters, but none more so than Nancy and Francis who battle with their demons and past experiences throughout as they struggle to reconcile their heads with their hearts.

The backdrop to the narrative is the appalling conditions for children within the workhouse at that time and, while this is a dark theme throughout, the reader becomes compelled to empathise with Francis' struggle in his efforts to bring about significant change for their benefit. This for me, was the most interesting aspect of the story and I hope that it is revisited in the next novel.

If you are a fan of historical fiction, this is definitely worth adding to your reading list. I'm already looking forward to getting my hands on the final book of the trilogy!

As a young girl, Nancy Bloom would often find herself sitting on the hard wooden benches of Bath’s Royal Theatre, marvelling at the actresses in all of their finery, as well as those actresses who are playing the roles of men. Nancy had always dreamed of being a part of it all, so when a man promised her parents that he could certainly find Nancy a role on the stage they put their faith in him, however his betrayal quickly leads to her ruin.

Francis Carlyle is a theatre manager, a man who has created his own success after overcoming his difficult past. He is on the look out for a new leading lady for his show, but never in his wildest dreams did he expect to find her standing on a table in a bar. However, convincing Nancy to put her trust in a man once more will prove difficult after her previous experiences, but Francis is more determined than ever to persuade her that he is a trustworthy man.

This is the second book in this series, and although you can read this book as a standalone novel, I would recommend reading the first book in the series before starting this one to give you a clearer understanding of the characters. Although the underlying theme is rather dark and heart breaking, it is a fantastic, gripping read which does have glimmers of light throughout. The characters are well developed and have well fleshed out personalities. Nancy is a very likeable character, and as you learn more about her and her past as the story progresses, you certainly feel a deeper connection to her. Francis is equally likeable, and the ways in which he handles himself, and respects the people around him certainly makes you like this character all the more.

The story was wonderfully written, with so much detail being added to not only the characters, but the settings and situations they found themselves in throughout. The plot was well structured and perfectly paced, keeping my interest well and truly engaged to the very end. The story flowed beautifully, and was full of drama, emotion and passion, all of which make this a wonderful read.

Once a girl with stars in her eyes, Nancy Bloom is now a successful prostitute. The exclusive and expensive brothel where she works and lives is also home to her surrogate family who support each other through thick and thin. Francis Carlyle has divorced himself from his past at the workhouse but it continues to gnaw at him though he is now a successful theatre manager. Francis hopes that Nancy can bring his past to life on the stage, but she's not looking for past dreams to upset her present contentment. Nor are either of them looking for love, but that's waiting in the wings as well.

There's a certain amount of suspension of disbelief that goes into many novels, particularly historicals, and I found my stretched by the economics of Nancy's life, not to mention her being in the bloom of health. However, once that is put aside, the characterisations are spot on. Both Francis and Nancy are haunted and shaped by their pasts in an utterly believable way. Francis is ambitious and pushy, afraid to look back, whereas Nancy puts up a facade that is aggressively cheerful - or sometimes just aggressive. It was great to see them call each other out on these traits and make small steps towards a better version of themselves. I also loved the cast of supporting characters, many of whom deserve awards for patience, if not their own book! Mrs Gaynor was a lovely sweetheart and the friendship between Louisa and Nancy spoke of deep trust and friendship.

There is also a theme of social justice as Francis and Nancy look to make a difference though Francis' play. I can't help but feel that this story is not yet ended - while there is a happy ending for our leads, between the workhouse, Francis' friend Edmund, and the play itself, there are plot threads that are yet to be tied up.

This is a good romance between two very prickly leads, if you don't mind a few loose ends.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley; all opinions are my own

2.5 stars

As an lover of the theatre and of historical fiction, I figured that Trouble for the Leading Lady would be a great choice to kick off my March reading. Unfortunately, I finished this book feeling incredibly disappointed and even a little angry.

Our lead female Nancy is a sex worker who has dreams of the stage while our lead male Francis is a theatre manager and playwright who wants to turn his childhood trauma of living in a workhouse into a play. When they meet one night at a local pub, Francis sees the woman who can make his play a sensation and Nancy sees the man who can make her dreams come true. Seems simple enough, right?

Wrong. Despite this promising introduction, the story quickly devolves into 200 pages of both leads arguing over the same few issues before the conveniently wrapped up ending. The few love scenes that occur happen off the page, which leaves the development of the romance feeling very unnatural and stiff. Secondary characters behave in ways that completely go against their established traits without any motivation or explanation. For as much as the theatre is a central part of the book, there are very few scenes that actually involve it. We don't even get to see the play that the entire book hinges on! Ultimately, it just felt like this book was trying to accomplish too many things at one time to the detriment of the entire thing.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Aria and Aries. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

As a girl, Nancy Bloom would go to Bath's Theatre Royal, sit on the hard wooden benches and stare in awe at the actresses playing men as much as the women dressed in finery. She longed to be a part of it all and when a man promised her parents he could find a role for Nancy in the theatre, they believed him. His lie and betrayal led to her ruin. Francis Carlyle is a theatre manager, an ambitious self-made man, who has finally shed the skin of his painful past and is now rich, successful and in need of a new female star. Never in a million years did he think he'd find her standing on a table in one of Bath's bawdiest pubs. Nancy vowed never to trust a man again. Francis will do anything to make her his star. As they engage in a battle of wits and wills, can either survive with their hearts intact?
This is the second book in the series & is quite a dark, heavier read although it does have lighter moments, it could easily be read on its own but to fully appreciate it I'd recommend reading Louisa's story. Well portrayed characters with depth who are very likeable & a very well written story that flowed well. I really liked Nancy who was ashamed of her work but who struggled to trust, which wasn’t surprising considering her teenage years. I also liked Frances who liked to keep his past to himself. I thoroughly enjoyed how their relationship developed & how they both learned to trust & share their secrets. I look forward to Octavia’s story
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Book 2 of the series, this story feels much heavier than its predecessor. The characters have so much traumatic baggage that it’s difficult for me to identify with them, and that’s something I hope to do with any book I read. I liked the story, I liked seeing the characters struggle to grow and develop, but I still felt weighed down after I finished reading. I can’t even imagine what’s in store for Octavia in book 3.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.