When I first read the blurb, I was enthusiastic about following the steps of outcasts people, persons who did not have to apply society’s rules, more free to move at their own pace and able to mingle.

While it is a modern historical romance in the sense the characters act according to our era’s criteria, it was enjoyable with lovely side characters who make it for an entertaining motley team.
Lola is in some way hiding in plain sight, she has found a sort of second family among the different performers, each with their own talent and secrets.
She is a woman who is determined to do what is right, why she helps Essex looking for clues about his friend’s murder. Still she knows she must stay in the shadows as she too has reason to lay low.
Theodore just came from a long journey to learn of his best friend’s death. He is a man driven by his progressive view of the world, refusing old dictates and agreeing with a world that would allow more leeway to women.
This was what made it a bit anachronistic, but for a very enjoyable story.

At times in the story, I wondered why was there no mention of the new heir of the murdered viscount, the one who should be assuming the title. It was weird to see his sister handling things as prior to his demise.
I felt like the two background plots have been wrapped up too quickly and cleaning in a very convenient way even if the culprit was quite obvious.

Yet I am all in to follow this group of friends to see what await them.
4 stars

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 onscreen foreplays and lovemaking scenes

I have been granted an advance copy by the publisher, here is my true and unbiased opinion.

3.75 stars rounded to 4. This book has an interesting premise: the best friend of an earl is murdered and the sole witness is a tightrope performer at Vauxhall Gardens, with a subplot involving the MFC's shadowy past and her need to keep it secret. The tension in the plot is well-sustained until around the 75% point. I enjoyed the chemistry between the MC's from the beginning, and I felt that both the MFC and the MMC were fairly well developed (I was particularly glad to read a book where the titled hero was down-to-earth and not a blustery alpha or a rake). Their relationship is a bit insta-lusty, but the love scenes are well-written, with a nice balance between steam and genuine emotion. I believed in their feelings for each other; there's no silly Big Misunderstanding or unnecessary angst.

The reason why I'm not rating this a solid 4 is that neither of the two main mysteries is very twisty. The culprit and motive in the murder are easy to figure out, and with all the drawn-out suspense involving the MFC's past, the way her conflict is resolved is something of a letdown. The ending felt rushed, as if the author couldn't wait to move on to the next book in the series.

Overall: a really good idea that's not executed in a fully satisfying way, but this is still a fun read.

Love on the Line by Anabelle Bryant

Ms Bryant has picked an unusual setting for love to bloom. Vauxhall Gardens is certain considered a hedonistic setting. However, the murder of Viscount Frement, Stephen Blakey is the beginning of this happenstance meeting of a tightrope walker and Theodore Michael Coventry the Earl-of Essex.

This book flies from one possible murder to another and keeps you on your toes. When Theodore and Lola, the tightrope walker meet it is obvious Lola is keeping a deep secret. Unpeeling that onion flies between catching a murder.

“ If her past had taught her anything, it was that the line dividing social class was stronger than the rope that supported her weight each night and even more dangerous.”
When someone tells me I can’t do or can’t have something, it makes me want it all the more. I think that’s why Forbidden Love or Star Crossed Lover tropes are so enticing. It brings a certain kind of temptation and makes the story all the more exciting. These stories come with a lot of struggle and conflict. They make the happily ever after seem even more deserved. And it reminds me that love can truly triumph. All that conflict really shows what stuff the characters are made of. That was definitely the case with Theodore and Lola. These were two relatable characters with faults and flaws, fears and failures. Yet both stood up for what was right and were willing to sacrifice for the good of family, friends and love. I loved Theo because he didn’t go behind Lola’s back to discover the secret she was hiding. He trusted her to tell him when she was ready. I loved Lola because she was willing to walk away if it meant keeping Theo safe from disgrace.
The mysteries at play in the story generated tension and danger. Blended with the spectacular romance, it allowed me to delve deeper into who the characters were and it upped the ante when it came to the risks at stake for them. Anabelle Bryant’s ability to seamlessly blend romance and mystery engaged me more deeply and completely. There were several red herrings that kept me changing my mind about who the culprit was. In the end though, she tied everything together beautifully.
In addition to Theo and Lola being absolutely lovable characters, I fell in love with so many of the supporting characters in the story. They added so much more depth to the story. There was quite an array of outcasts and drifters, each with their own secrets that I’m eager to read more about.
This story hit all the right notes for me and kept me anticipating the next scene. If you love passion off the charts and a mystery that keeps you turning the pages, you’ll be thrilled with the start of this new series.

An engaging romance and intriguing story. I enjoyed the plot, well written and a good cast of characters. A heart felt romance with desire and a mystery to solve all with a yearning for love for both Lola and Theodore. A great start to a new series with the grand back drop of the Vauxhall gardens.

3.5 stars

I was intrigued when I read the blurb and was looking forward to reading the book. The story follows Lola, a tightrope walker and Theodore, an earl which sets them at odds to begin with. Feelings however soon develop between these two as they try to unravel the murder of Theodore's friend. What started out as a collaboration soon turned romantic, but I would have loved it if these two had more honest dialogue between them. As the story continues, the author reveals Lola's sordid past when she crossed a duke for his cruelty to a prized stallion. It was a noble thing to do to rescue the horse even though it meant she had to run away after confessing to releasing the horse because of the duke's cruelty.

I had figured out who the villain was early on and pretty much knew what would happen to the duke in order for Lola and Theodore to have their HEA. It seemed all too predictable and I wished the author had put more thought into dealing with the duke. This is why I only gave the book 3.5 stars.

Murder, Mystery and Love

A lovely tender story between the Earl of Essex and Lola, Lola had run away from home two years ago and was now at Vauxhall Gardens as a tightrope walker when she witness the murder of the Earl’s friend.

Theodore had arrived back from America to be told his friend had been murdered, determined to get to the bottom of it, he ventured to Vauxhall Gardens with the Bow Street Runners where he met Lola.

Getting to know each other and falling in love seemed easy but things were still in play, Lola had run away for a reason and once the murderer had been found and Lola had told Theodore of her past, he was determined to move heaven and earth for them to be together.

A lovely love story with a HEA

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I love Anabelle Bryant and have enjoyed every book of hers that I’ve read, but this book did not sit quite as well with me despite the fact that it’s still better than many out there. Missing, for me, was a feeling of true connection between the primary characters. Yes there was sex, but there was an absence of conversation. The characters did not reveal themselves to one another. So there was, for me, a dearth of information upon which to conclude they were even friends much less knowledgeably emotionally connected. Especially since one character lied about who she was until the very end. Neither revealed themselves to the other. There was an abundance of attention given to shallow appreciation of body beauty, and a dearth of conversation revealing each to the other. They miss sex when they are apart, but not the person. There isn’t the feeling of I wish they were here to talk to, or even to just quietly comfortably sit with. The more I read, the more I missed connection; the more it felt like each person ‘loved’ the other who existed in their imagination but had no clue about the actual human being they claimed to love. And the ending was a bit too deus ex machina and failed to even show them working together toward a common goal. I was disappointed, yet this is still far from a bad book overall which is why I’m giving 4 stars instead of 5.

Anabelle Bryant's new series Vauxhall Voices shows a lot of promise. In this inaugural entry, tightrope walker Lola York witnesses a murder from her perch on her tightrope. The murder victim is a viscount and good friend of Theodore, the Earl of Essex, recently returned from an extended visit to America. Theodore is determined to help Bow Street find out what happened to his friend, a determination that brings him into Lola's sphere. Theodore is attracted to Lola immediately, a feeling that only grows as they spend more time together during the course of Theodore's assistance with the investigation. Lola returns these feelings but is living a false life, having run from her family for what she believes is their own protection.

Lola is a lovely heroine. She believes she can do hard things and does those hard things. She cares about people even as she is careful to try and protect her own secrets. She loves certain aspects of her life, even as she wants different things for her existence overall. Theodore is a great MMC. He accepts Lola for who she is, start to finish. He allows her to reveal herself in her own time and never waivers in his support of her. Theodore and Lola have a surprisingly healthy relationship as they actually talk about their feelings and occurrences around them.

The dual storylines of Lola's past and the murder do wrap up a bit too quickly and neatly, but I do love the aspect of poetic justice included in one of the wrap-ups. The side characters are great, and I love the set up for Sophia's book. A very solid 4 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. The opinions here in are my own.

Lola is a tightrope walker at Vauxhall and one night while walking the rope she sees a man being stabbed to death. With secrets of her own, she doesn't want to be involved in the Bow Street Runner's investigation. Theodore has just returned to England after two years in America to be told his best friend has been murdered. When he goes to Vauxhall to investigate, he thinks Lola knows something she isn't telling. It's mostly a sweet story about insta love and class differences. Everything works out a little too neatly, but oh well, everyone's happy.

While performing at Vauxhall Gardens, tightrope artist Lola witnesses a murder. The victim's best friend, earl Theodore, joins the Bow Street Runners in investigating the crime. Can a nobleman fall for a woman like Lola?

This is an interesting story with unique characters. I enjoyed the mystery element. Theodore was sweet and devoted to Lola, no matter what.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Upon his return to London from America, Theodore Coventry, Earl of Essex, learns his friend is murdered in Vauxhall Gardens. Lola York, who is running from her past, is a tight rope performer who was witnessed to the murder.

This is a well-written, emotional, suspenseful romance. I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Lola and Theo. Great chemistry. The romantic suspenseful drama kept me turning the pages.

I received an advance reader copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this book. I thought that the chemistry between the two main characters was hot. I thought the storyline of an Earl and a covent garden tight rope walker different. It had a great opening scene, that captured your attention right away. It was a murder mystery and romance in one story.
I give it 5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐. I want to thank Netgalley for the opportunity to review this book.

I’ll have to admit to being somewhat skeptical about a romance between a tight rope walker and an earl, but it works! Lola is hiding in plain sight as a Vauxhall tight rope Walker who sees Theodore’s friend get killed. There is a bit of mystery to the story and a lot of romance and chemistry between Lola and Theodore.

Lola York witnes murder of Viscount Fremont. This incident make her meets Theodore Coventry Earl of Essex, their chemistry is undeniable, but she knows better than to yearn for forbidden love. Different in status and class make teir relationship impossible.

The storyline was good, strucute and neat. Every clue discover one by one lead to main suspect. Attraction between main character so strong they cant resist each other. I adore how Theodore willing to hear Lola past and not jump to conclusion.

Thank you to NetGalley for provide this book, it is pleasure to review this book.

#LoveontheLine #AnabelleBryant #OliverHeberBooks #ExpressoBookTours #NetGalley #ARC

An acrobat on the tightrope in Vauxhall, Lola sees someone being murdered. When Theodore comes to question her if she saw anything sparks fly. Lola is on the run for a crime and feels she isn’t worthy of Theodore, but he persists. I received an ARC from NetGalley and Oliver Heber books for my honest review.

The story line caught my attention at the very beginning and kept me interested throughout the entire book. I loved the chemistry between Lola and Theodore. A very relaxing and easy read.

Theodore Coventry, Earl of Essex, has returned to London from America only to hear devastating news: his good friend was murdered in Vauxhall Gardens. The sole witness may have been Lola York, a runaway miss hiding amongst the Vauxhall performers. When Lola and Theodore meet, their chemistry quickly sparks but there are numerous obstacles in their way.

This is the first book in the series, Vauxhall Voices. The blurb for this book is pretty vague, but the eye-catching cover and dreamy artwork pulled me in immediately. I was quite excited about a series that takes place in Vauxhall Gardens!

The book is my first read from this author and highly enjoyable! Theodore and Lola were likable, engaging characters. I was very interested in the murder investigation and the author did a great job building the intrigue and opening up a large pool of possible suspects. There was also a secondary story dealing with Lola's past, which was also compelling. My only complaint was that after all the escalation, both plots were wrapped up with a bow too easily for my personal tastes. Otherwise, I really liked how supportive the characters were of each other.

Tropes: Class Difference, Runaway/Heroine in Hiding, Working Heroine

Steam: 3

* I received an ARC and this is my honest review. #LoveOnTheLine #NetGalley