This novel is the sequel to The Thief of Blackfriar’s Lane. We meet up with Jackson & Kit as they plan to be married. Jackson is the hardworking police inspector and Kit is the “reformed” thief with a heart for the oppressed. There are several other characters populating the pages who had depth and interest to the overall story. You really need to read the first novel to appreciate this one. Read it—you won’t be disappointed!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Bride of Blackfriars Lane by Michelle Griep will keep you intrigued from beginning to end.I previously read The Thief of Blackfriars Lane so I was already familiar with the setting and main characters. I believe thisxwas helpful but not mandatory to enjoying this book. Kit and Jackson are still working to solve crimes together, unofficially. He has received a promotion to inspector so has to be more cautious of Kit's involvement and he also wishes to protect her, against her will at times. When she misses her own wedding following a lead he is upset and believes he can no longer trust her. Will they ever be able to trust each other and work to solve the cold case they are both pursuing?
A great novel with lots of action and emotions from beginning to end. Michelle Griep never gives away too much till the very end leading the reader on a journey through the eyes of the characters. It makes on feel as if they are there, immersed in the adventure. I never pass up a chance to read a Michelle Griep book and give this one a hearty 5 of 5 stars.
I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

I loved reading Michelle Griep's The Thief of Blackfriars Lane, the first novel in this series. I was anxious for this second book, The Bride of Blackfriars lane to be published.
It was fun and exciting to return to the streets of Blackfriars Lane and Victorian London.
This is a clean fun read, with characters you will not soon forget. Full of adventure with lots of twist and turns.
I want to thank Barbour Publishers and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book. The opinions expressed in this review are totally my own.

#TheBrideofBlackfriarsLane #NetGalley

This is the second book in the series, it can be read as a stand-alone novel, I didn't read the first book in the series. This book was one that I had a hard time putting down. Kit, used to be a street urchin, and knows her way around street thugs and can get herself out of any situation. Jackson, is Kit's fiance, an iinspector, trying to solve the crimes, with Kit as his partner. I loved Kit's no nonsense approach to sticky situation, her knowledge of living on the street and her tenacious attitude, she was a hoot. The scraps she gets herself into, and the banter between Kit and Jackson made this a fast paced read.

This read checked so many boxes for me, from fantastic, easy to fall in love with characters, to a plot that was unique and still one of my favorite tropes.

Another Kit and Jackson adventure, and I’m HERE FOR IT! I genuinely love these two.

Things I LOVED:
- The complexities of being in a relationship when you’re an independent woman. This was navigated so well.
- Kit. She’s strong, independent, witty, fierce and totally bonkers. What’s not to love?!
- Jackson. He’s sweet, protective, loyal and loves fiercely. He has to learn to give Kit some freedom but realises that loving someone for who they are is more important than trying to change or overprotect them.
- It’s a murder mystery romance set in Victorian London.
- Depiction of disability and acceptance.

Things to think about:
- Some plot points moved a little slowly.
- That’s literally all. I loved it.

Another exciting adventure through the back alleys of Victorian London. The story picks up where the first book ended. Mysteries are solved from the past and present, adding up to make an interesting, multi-layered plot.
"Love is always worth fighting for."
This author knows how to keep the story moving with colorful characters who seem to have a nose for trouble. Curiosity nearly kills Kat when she puts herself into dangerous situations. Her determination and self-reliance seem to often put her at odds with Jackson. Secrets, though well intentioned, cause mistrust, and the couple has to learn some lessons in forgiveness, work out their issues, and decide what they both want for the future. Some twists and turns made me wonder how it would end.
I liked the addition of Jackson's family in the story, especially his sweet brother. Kat's friend, Martha, is a special person, lending an ear and giving good relationship counsel. There are some soul searching moments and both main characters grow in faith and understanding through their trials.
A satisfying read from start to finish. Recommend!

The Bride of Blackfriars Lane is another action packed Victorian era romance. It is a fun read that had us romping through England with Jackson and Kit again. This sequel has them questioning their relationship all the while chasing after clues and bad guys. I love these characters and I can tell you that the ending is a satisfying sigh of a book well done and a happily ever after.
*I was given a copy of this book by the publisher and this is my honest opinion.

With The Bride of Blackfriars Lane, master wordsmith and researcher Michelle Griep delivers another unputdownable, entertaining tale. In this action-packed read, Kit and Jackson are at it again adventurously traversing the streets of Victorian London in search of justice. The multi-layered plot, replete with suspense and mystery, drew me in with the first line and kept me hanging on every word for the entirety of the read. Vivid descriptions and sensory images allowed me to experience the sights, sounds, and smells of the setting. I felt like I was roaming through “the narrow-throated alleys and shadowy nooks” of the dangerous London streets. I could smell the scent of cooked cabbage emanating from the soup kitchen and hear the “screeches and squawks” of the street hawkers selling their wares. This is not your typical Victorian romance story as Kit and Jackson are nowhere near your typical Victorian couple, but they are one of my all-time favorite fictional couples. In this story, you can feel their emotions as they struggle to sort out their relationship and learn to trust each other. The gentle faith thread carries reminders of God’s grace and provision. Sufficient background information is given to make this book work as a standalone read, but I recommend you read The Thief of Blackfriars Lane because it will give you further insight into the characters; and, like this one, it is just so wonderfully entertaining. I totally enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley with no obligation to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

While I didn't enjoy this book as much as I did its prequel, it was still a clean read full of fun characters, exciting plot twists, lots of drama (especially relationship drama, haha!) and important themes like trust, forgiveness, and second chances. There's also a disability rep in the story which I thought was really well done. I love when books feature characters who have physical or mental handicaps because it adds a lot of emotional value to the plot. Overall, well done!

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for an eARC of The Bride of Blackfriars Lane. A positive review was not required, only my honest opinion. All thoughts are expressly my own.

The Bride of Blackfriars Lane
by Michelle Griep
Pub Date: September 1, 2022
Barbour
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.
The Continuing Adventure of Jackson and Kit!

Detective Jackson Forge can hardly wait to marry the street-sly swindler who’s turned his life upside down. Kit Turner is equally excited to wed the handsome detective, and what better way to show her love than providing him with a gift any man of the law would love? She determines to bring to justice the men who years ago maimed his brother—despite Jackson’s warning to leave the past in the past. As she digs into the mystery of what happened, she unwittingly stumbles into her own history and endangers her future happiness with Jackson.
This is a great book and I am glad to recommend it. I will be purchasing it for our library.
4 stars

Michelle Griep once again takes the reader along on the adventure when Jackson Forge and Kit Turner continue their work of bringing criminals to justice. Forget Grosvenor Square and fashionable rides in Hyde Park, for this riveting tale unfolds in the undesirable and dangerous areas of Victorian London. Potential murders, thefts and intertwining mysteries populate this action-packed book.

With her signature crisp and evocative prose, Griep paints a vivid portrait of the times, down to street children and even the noxious odors. Kit and Jackson's personalities leap off the page, and secondary characters are also well-drawn. James with his "silkie" is so endearing! Attention to historical detail isn't lacking, either. "Hellfire Club" is now in my knowledge base.

This concludes Kit and Jackson's harrowing journey to a well-deserved HEA. This is not a stand alone novel.

Thanks to NetGalley and Barbour Publishers for an ARC of this compelling read.

I highly recommend this book and crave the time to read the rest of the series, but alas, the size of my TBR pile daunts me. I will come back, though!

This is the only book in the series that I've read, but I wasn't lost. I could tell there were previous books in the series, but that only made me want to go back--I wasn't confused.

I really enjoyed the depth of these characters and fell a little in love with Jackson. Kit's behavior confused me a bit, but then again, I wasn't raised as an orphan in the slums of Victorian London. I do need to go back and figure out how she had any money whatsoever and why she was living in a boardinghouse instead of with her father.

Just a few weeks earlier, I'd visited England so it was really cool to read about some of the places I'd walked through and around. The Borough Market is very much still bustling and a wonderful place to shop. I didn't walk through any slums or scary areas, but I can see the closeness of the alleyways and back streets.

I received this book as a gift from the author and part of the Celebrate Lit Tour; the ideas and opinions are my own. I highly recommend this book as a romance with a little history and a lot of intelligence.

Kit and Jackson are going to get married. She has her dress, and Jackson has the ring. but on the day of their wedding Kit doesn’t show up. She has a really good reason for it too. Jackson is deeply hurt by this action from Kit and they put off the wedding until…?

Kit and Jackson despite their best intentions keep bumping into each other, and well this is another Victorian romp that did not disappoint. There was so much going on and sometimes I got kind of lost but in a good way, but Kit and Jackson couldn’t but admit that they really do work well together and acknowledge their weakness and strengths and how they work for them and not against them. They realize that they do need each other. I really enjoyed The Bride of Blackfriars Lane, the characters in the first Blackfriars book showed up in this one, and those relationships were deepened and it made this one so much better for it.

My gratitude to Barbour Books and Netgalley. All opinions expressed are mine.

3.5 - I really enjoyed the first book in this series and was very eager to read this one. However, the drama between the two main characters felt forced and prolonged just for the sake of keeping it going later into the book. It felt repetitive. I did enjoy the mystery part of it that had to do with Kit's mother.

The cases just keep coming in this story, so fasten your seatbelts! You are in for a wild ride! The Bride of Blackfriars Lane is an adventure packed, fast paced, mystery filled, cloak and dagger, all around fun read set in Victorian England. I highly recommend reading the first book in this series, The Thief of Blackfriars Lane, before reading this one, so you will be familiar with Kit, Jackson and their backstory. They still reminded me of Miss Scarlet and the Duke from the PBS series, but I felt like this book had a bit too much discord/bickering between them. To the point where it started irritating me. Then again, I am a conflict avoider, so this shouldn't come as a surprise. I didn't solve any of the mysteries before the characters, which is why I am a book connoisseur and not a detective. I thought I had them figured out, but Michelle Griep surprised me by how things wrapped up. Major themes of trust and letting God be in control run through0ut the story. I enjoyed the first book better, but this one was still an entertaining page turner that I would recommend reading.

Thank you Barbour Publishing and Net Galley for the free DRC of this book. The opinions expressed here are my own.

'Niceties were for gentlefolk, and he was feeling anything but gentle.'

Well, Michelle Griep has done it again. And done it fabulously well, I might add. We are taken on an intriguing journey back to the streets of Victorian London as Jackson Forge, the intrepid inspector, and Kit Turner, of street fame, are only days away from their wedding. But did we think things would go smoothly? Not a chance. Events conspire to draw their attention away from said wedding.

We are treated to more than one mystery, one of which inches very close to Kit's heart. Suspense and intrigue and danger abound as Jackson and Kit roam these dangerous streets trying to find answers. Along the way, they also find problems that just may be the end of their love.

Michelle Griep never disappoints. Never. Her vivid descriptions and outstanding research make for a grand time for the reader. In fact, they are so vivid, this reader just plopped herself down into the story, sights, smells and all. I loved her wit as she gives us this great banter between Jackson and Kit. Here are two book characters I purely love. I do think I may be a bit in love with Jackson Forge. What a guy!

Totally unputdownable and definitely one for the keeper shelf, a treasure to read again and again. Well done!!!

My thanks to Barbour Publishing for a copy of this book via Net Galley. I was not required to leave a review and the opinion here is expressly my own.

THE BRIDE OF BLACKFRIARS LANE is the second novel in the Blackfriars Lane series by MICHELLE GRIEP Rich in descriptions of London in the 1800’s, especially the seedier parts, and rich in unforgettable characters, some more to be trusted than others, full of suspense and surprises, and with a strong Christian message running through it, this book has all that you need for a truly enjoyable read. I also love the humourous banter, especially between Kit Turner and her fiance, Inspector Jackson Forge, who watch each others’ backs in the crime ridden streets of London.
When Kit’s independent streak causes her to miss her wedding and infuriates Jackson, she fails to listen to her friend Martha who advises her to show humility and apologise to him because “Pride preserves yerself, humility preserves yer relationship.” Her father says to her, “You never know what good God will birth out of the darkness, Daughter.” I like to see how Kit talks to God so naturally and really wants to be free of pride and become someone Jackson can trust. After being alone on the streets for so long she loves the thought of becoming part of Jackson’s family, which does not seem to be likely to happen any more.
Add to all this, findng the body of a woman who has been dead for twenty four years, digging up stolen property while working incognito in a dust yard, and escaping someone who wants you dead, and you have a real page turner.
I cannot recommend The Bride of Blackfriars Lane highly enough.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Barbour Publishing.The opinions in this review are completely my own.

Simply put, this book was just so good!

Kit and Jackson are back in this lovely follow-up to "The Thief Of Blackfriars Lane", and they're up to more wild hijinks than ever before!

Kit Turner, soon to be Mrs. Jackson Forge, seeks to right the sins and mysteries of the past as a wedding present to her loving Jackson.
As streetwise as she may be, will this mystery be more than she can handle?

Newly installed Inspector Jackson Forge can't wait to marry Kit, and start their new life together far from the hustle and danger of the rough London streets she's grown up on. He's trying to wrap up loose ends and mismatched pieces of cases and crimes but Kit is hot on the trail of something, but what exactly?

I didn't know how much I needed this book, but it's absolutely smashing! I do quite love the lingo and rich flavor, and in my opinion this book beats the Regency stuffiness of so many other English/British novels today.

Michelle Griep brings to life the London of old in pristine color, and makes you feel as though you're traipsing down the cobblestone streets right alongside Kit, Jackson and the gang.

This is a positively brilliant sequel, and I would love to see this become a full series what with Jackson and Kit being such a cracking detective team and all!!

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and Barbour Publishing for a e-copy of this book. A positive review was not required, and the thoughts above are my very own.

The first one is awesome and this one is awesomer!

You'll need to read the first book in this duology (series?) so you can see how Kit and Jackson met. There's a lot to pack in their relationship and their insecurities come right to the top during this story.

But wow! So so much going on in this book! The mystery, the page-turning action and suspense, the tender moments and the deep trials. So much in the balance!

The writing is fabulous! Nobody can do imagery like Michelle Griep. The setting is quintessentially Victorian and the characters grip you from the beginning.

Go read The Thief of Blackfriars Lane and then read this one.

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.