Some books you read and you love them, but they fade away a bit after a little while. And others you start reading, and you immediately know they are going to stay with you for a very very long time. ‘Roses in red wax’ is definitely that kind of book for me. I’m completely and irrevocably smitten!

I am behind on posting, especially my ARC reviews. I received a copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

Roses in Red Wax is a a historical romance between Jane Stuart, the illegitimate daughter of a Scottish Lord and Percy Sommerbell, a musician turned mill owner. To be honest I don't read a lot of historical romance/fiction so this was a bit outside my norm. I truly wanted to like it (I mean the cover is gorgeous and the premise intrigued me) but it felt...a little unfinished all around. Maybe rushed is a better word. I felt like the love story went from 'I hate him' to 'We're in loveeeee' too quickly for my taste. Plus I weirdly got invested in the social commentary of the rights workers/ the running farmers off of lands and that story line felt like it was introduced, dropped, then tried to resolve it in a few lines as an afterthought. Overall not my favorite.

Very entertaining and a pleasure-able afternoon read for me. I loved both the MCs, plus, the story was interesting enough too!

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with this free ARC. My review below represents my honest opinion of the novel, and all thoughts are my own.

This book was a little bit of a mixed bag for me, but as this is the author's debut novel, I hope to provide some constructive points from which she can grow and learn. So let's focus on the positive first.

I enjoyed this novel for the most part. I found Jane and Cameron engaging as a bonded brother-sister pair, living a less than fulfilling life in the city of Glasgow (portrayed a bit like the slums of east London), having been run off their family estate of Darnalay by their "evil" titled cousin, Michael Dunn. The pair are well-developed, and I found them easy to like. Introduce Percy - as the male romantic lead for Jane - and I wasn't quite sure of him initially (he seemed to be a cad, oily and hard to trust in the beginning). But he grows and shows a truer side of himself as the story progresses, such that by the end, I thought Jane and Percy deserved their Happily Ever After. I also enjoyed the secondary characters that Jane and Cameron knew from their childhood at Darnalay Castle - Tavish, Mrs, Brodie, Mr. MacKinnon and even the ghost of Kendric.

The story is fairly well written, and I liked her use of metaphors, but occasionally the novel had a little bit of purple prose that could have been tightened up or eliminated. Additionally, there were some internal monologues that seemed to express the same thoughts and reservations repeatedly - am I good enough for him/her? Will he/she still want me when they see what their future can be?. etc. I noticed this more in the early sections of the novel with Jane and then later with Percy. I would encourage the author to continue to develop her own authentic writing voice because it will become stronger the more she writes.

Now - here was my absolute biggest problem with this novel - the spelling of the word whisky. The novel is set in Scotland, so I think it is safe to assume that the characters are drinking Scottish whisky. And this is a HUGE failing of the editor of this novel. The Scots are particular about their whisky (as they should be), and the amber-colored spirit that is distilled in Scotland and Canada is spelled WHISKY!!!!!! NO E. Throughout all of this novel, it is misspelled, and it irked me to no end, by making the novel less authentic and less well researched. Whiskey distilled in Ireland and the US is spelled with "E". Whisky distilled in SCOTLAND and CANADA is spelled without the "E". This fact is easily found on Google and Wikipedia.

I also had some difficulty with the villain in this story. It's hard to believe that he would be as dastardly as he is, that he would drive his cousins from the only home they'd ever known and want to evict the tenants from the land, but then stop when it came to possibly forcing himself on Jane. For me, he was a little soft when we actually meet him, although he had been portrayed as a harsh, unsympathetic man since the beginning of the novel, and even at the end there seems to be some question of whether he is redeemable as their last living family member.

All in all, I liked this story, and I get where the title comes from but agree it doesn't seem to relate closely to the heart of this novel. The cover is eye-catching, and I love that Percy's guitar is there at his side. It is a good first outing for this author, and I am interested to read the next story in the series, about Cameron as the new Lord Banton. Do I think it could be tighter with less flowery language? - yes. Do I think the author needs to have a serious chat with her editor about spelling in her novel? - why, yes, I do. Do I want to see what Louise Mayberry brings next to the table - yes, yes, I do.

A very solid 3.5 stars, but I have to round down to 3 stars for the misspelling of whisky.

There are just some books that, once you turn the last page, you know will stick with you for days and even weeks after you've finished them. This is one of mine.

I really have to hand it to Ms. Mayberry for an incredible debut. At first I wasn't sure where the story was going, especially in how it started out. Admittedly, I was initially wary of Percy and annoyed by Jane. But--like Percy--that annoyance was tinged with confusion and curiosity , enough to keep e intrigued enough to keep going... And I'm quite glad I did.

Percy turned out to be one of my favorite (and favorite types) of Hero. Beneath his façade as a rake and a ne'er-do-well, he truly has the heart of a cinnamon roll. This is only exemplified by his love of the guitar (something we don't see enough of in Histrom! A musical Hero!). His musicality acts as a bridge between himself and Jane, without ever overshadowing their evolving relationship in a way that makes it seem gimmicky.

Jane, as I mentioned, was frustrating in the beginning. We learn very early on that she lives with Survivors Guilt after losing her first love, and that is the basis of her resistance to Percy's affections despite her instant attraction to him. I cannot commend Mayberry enough on the way the characters communication was open and evolving. There was never a major misunderstanding that got in the way of them coming together, and even when there was a moment of miscommunication, it was solved quickly in a way that drove the plot forward.

Despite there being a number of subplots, they never interfered with the main story and that was Percy and Jane's relationship. The push-and-pull, the moments of barely leashed intensity, the longing... whew! What a ride!

I would absolutely love to listen to this as an audio book! I'm in-love with Mayberry's writing style and descriptions. The banter is smooth and witty with humor dotted throughout. I really cannot write just how much I loved this book. At my age, it's harder and harder for me to stay up to finish reading something, but I just couldn't put it down once I was settled in, then next thing I know, it's 3AM!

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reading copy of roses in red wax by Louise Mayberry. This was cut and dry for historical romance. Mainly just historical bc it’s set in 1800s like plenty of other historical romances. I thought this was pretty bland and a lot like some others. Really needed a bit more talc to make the characters pop.

Slightly perplexed by the title here as the more apt subject might be apple trees or some other arborist leaning . However that aside this was a solid opener of these series.

The plot shifts from classic regency romance , to an industrial revolution commentary and finally to a highwayman swashbuckler and really did not round out any style fully, but light and and fast paced and I can forgive much that niggled for a happy ending and honest hope for a more cohesive whole in the next, which one presumes is to couple up Cameron the younger brother…

“She knew it was the music that had calmed her. His music.”

A unique perspective with strong themes and an intensely beautiful romance at the heart.

This book is so dramatic, and yet it feels grounded in reality. It was a very unique historical romance! The writing is very well done, and the story kept me turning pages well after my bedtime.
But my favorite part was the characters! It took me a while to warm up to our heroine, Jane, but by the halfway mark I understood her anxieties and hesitations and really grew to like her. Our hero, Percy also undergoes a transformation, but he’s more likable from the start. And by the end of the book they are the most romantic couple.
The side characters were all so well written that I want to read more about them! I am thrilled to read other books in this series, so much so I’m already guessing who will get their own books. Personally I hope Percy’s sister gets a book, and his travel friend, and Cameron’s friend Tavish, but honestly I would even be interested in a book about Michael (the cousin/villain). It was interesting that there is a whole chapter from Michael’s perspective, really showing a theme of this book- even people who do bad things are usually trying their best with what they know.
A few things weren’t my cup of tea. The big reveal of Jane’s identity was kind of anticlimactic- it’s revealed earlier in the chapter in a throwaway line before she tells Percy, which I found strange. The third act is very, very tense; for a book with an anxious heroine, it was pretty anxiety inducing! And at first I really did not like Jane, which made it hard to get into the book.
But overall, even though it is a hectic ride through a nuanced landscape, the journey is fun and the happily ever after felt more satisfying for the troubles along the way!

Star Rating: 3.25/5
Tropes: Letters, hidden identity, insta lust
CW: Violence, death, confinement, alcohol, mental health, injury, medical content, blood

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have to admit, Roses in Red Wax caught my eye because of the cover. It is my first book by this author so I wasn't sure how it was going to go but I ended up enjoying the story and am looking forward to more books in this series.

The fmc in this story is Jane Stuart and I thought Mayberry did a great job of building out who she was / her background. At first it was a little fuzzy as to what was going on moving from the prologue to the story but I found myself enjoying her as a character. I also thought the relationship she had with her brother was well done too. As she is introduced (and initially pretty offended by) to Percy Sommerbell, the nephew of a friend, she has to make some decisions that will not only impact her but his future as well.

I thought Mayberry did a good job of building out the character's backgrounds to help drive the story forward. It isn't without conflict and as more is revealed it becomes clear as to why Jane and her brother are in the situation they are in. And when Percy has to face the fact that he now has responsibilities, it all comes together for these two...but not without some hardship.

This was a pretty quick and enjoyable read. If you're looking for a new adult historical romance series to start, consider picking this one up.

I loved how wonderful and delightful this was ! I am not a huge romance reader but this completely engrossed me and I was hooked from the first 50 pages . What a wonderful suprise !

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher/author for allowing me to read the eArc .

This was a beautiful book. Jane loves botany and visits a friend who shares her passion. While there she ends up meeting her friend's nephew Percy. Percy’s father was in an accident so he’s visiting his father's cotton mills in his stead. Percy is also a talented musician and sees the world through the eyes of melody. As a singer, I deeply identified with this as I see the world in melody and rhythm. Music is the guiding force throughout the whole book and what helps either survive.

They’re instantly attracted to each other but Jane is against anything happening. Jane has not only lost her parents, but her intended and has vowed to never love again. Percy is intent on pursuing Jane but is against marriage so he only wants her as a mistress. While this occurring, Percy visits more of his father’s mills and is repulsed by the working conditions, including child labor. Percy meets with Jane’s brother to work on options to better the conditions.

Percy is called away home, but this starts a long string of correspondence, mostly by Percy. He’s pouring his heart out to Jane and trying his best to show her that he’ll care for her forever, just without a marriage certificate. Slowly but surely, Jane starts to tear her walls down and dismantle Percy’s reservations as well—but then Percy is kidnapped and imprisoned by an unscrupulous man.

Can both fully give their hearts to each other? Is Jane able to save Percy? You’ll have to read to find out.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC.

Unfortunately, this was not for me. There was some insta-love and inst-lust since we don't get to see the protagonist's relationship develop and, sadly, that's something I don't like. I felt, too, that there are masses of info dump at times and that made those sections of the book feel heavy and lean too much on the 'telling' aspect. My main concern right now is the male figure. At moments, Percy is merely predatory and unsettling. Tragically, this was not the right fit for me.

I completely forgot that I was reading. I was absorbed into the story. I loved it.
I just reviewed Roses in Red Wax by Louise Mayberry. #RosesinRedWax #NetGalley
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I normally steer to clean romance novels because the stories have more depth. Plus - keep it in the bedroom. I’m fine. :).

This was a great story with a lot of depth and well developed characters. I read it was slow to start but I did not feel it started slow. I wanted the characters to have their HEA towards the end and I was glad there is enough to come behind for the next book in the series.

Some good twists I did not think about and I definitely look forward to the rest in the series.

I just reviewed Roses in Red Wax by Louise Mayberry. #RosesinRedWax #NetGalley

This book was yet another one to scratch my historical fiction itch. The historical fiction part was not so bad, but the romance? Kill me now. I would rant about it but since it’s a debut novel I’ll try to be civil.

Jane lives in Glasgow with her brother Cameron, a medical student. They are poor and very secretive about their background. When visiting friends Jane meets Percy, an heir to the Fulton Company that owns cotton mills in Glasgow.

What I liked about this book was the historical setting, even though I wish it had been explored more. Percy was an entitled and ignorant prick who lived off his father’s money without knowing where it was coming from. When visiting one of the mills had an aha moment. From then on improving the working conditions was sort of on his mind but he was too passive about it for my taste and I didn’t get the closure I was hoping for when it comes to that topic.

The problem is, he was not thinking about the mills much because he was lusting after Jane… Can you imagine I was <i>bothered</i> by a romance plot in a book? I may have pulled a muscle rolling my eyes, it was so bad. I wanted them to come up with solutions for the mill workers, do something useful together, connect over something important - none of that, they just wanted to bang.

These two could not tell the difference between love and lust. It was almost sad how much they were mistaken. They really did not spend enough time together to even tell whether they liked each other or not let alone love. On top of that Percy’s behavior when they first met was so incredibly inappropriate and predatory that I really can’t imagine how any woman would ever want to see him again after that. Later on he calmed down, switched to emotional blackmail and proceeded to push her until she all of a sudden realized that she <i>loved</i> him. Uhm WHAT? I guess if a guy is hot and rich it’s easier to <i>love</i> him…

The spice was okay but there are no butterflies if you’re not exactly rooting for the couple 🤷🏻‍♀️

All in all quite a disappointment. I’m on the fence between two and three stars but I’m afraid I have to go for 2.5 rounded down.

Thank you Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Review posted on Goodreads on 17.03.2023

"If there were a princess imprisoned in this tower, this was not the chaste prince come to rescue her and carry her away on a white horse. No, this man had arrived on a black stallion. He was the wickedly gorgeous villain who had come, not to rescue, but to ravish."

Brava!!! Brava!!! What a way to make a debut! Louise Mayberry has arrived, and she’s done so in lyrical fashion. When I tell you that this diva has skills…SHE. HAS. SKILLS. Her writing Y’all, I’ve cried…and cried some more…chuckled and laughed a bit…and don’t ya know…cried again. Her writing is beautiful. The scenes are vibrant and absorbing, pulling you in and capturing your attention.

The dialogue is witty and engaging; and the chemistry between our MCs… my gawwwd, the longing…the pining…the WANTING. Oh, how I wish somebody would look at me the way that Percy looks at Jane (side-eyeing hubby). I absolutely love…love…LOVE how Percy loves her without him realizing that loving her is exactly what he’s doing.

Jane Stuart is lonely and incredibly sad. She’s lost so much…her parents, her home, her beloved orchard and the man she loves. Her unimaginable loss is crimpling and she’s in no shape to accept the attentions from the charming & carefree rogue who’s salacious looks threaten to tear down the walls she’s built around her heart.

Percy Sommerbell loves music. It calms him and eases the disquiet in his restless soul, a disquiet that’s grows daily as he learns how his family has and continues to make its fortune…on the backs of the disenfranchised men, women, and children of Glasgow. As talk of an uprising grows in fervor, Percy leans on Jane to help him figure out a pathway forward.

If music (or in this case writing) be the food of love, play on Louise. Your writing sparkles. It sings to my soul and I can’t wait to see what you do next!

Louise Mayberry
Roses in Red Wax
Tropes: Spinster, Class Differences
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/🔥🔥🔥

After Jane Stuart loses her parents, her betrothed, her ancestral castle in the Highlands and the orchard that has become her life’s work, her future seems quite bleak. Until she meets Percy Sommerbell. Simply being in his presence, she feels alive, and his music seems to speak to her. Percy has lived a carefree life, until his father is seriously injured, and he is thrust into the life of an industrialist, where he must consider how those in his father’s spinning mills are being exploited. Yet as feelings begin to develop between the couple, they must also confront those caught up in the rising insurgents and in Jane’s past.

I was so amazed to find that this was a debut novel. The author’s ability to create such powerful emotions between Percy and Jane, whilst conveying the pain of their past, was truly touching. Whilst Percy may seem quite shallow at first to Jane, his vulnerability becomes apparent as he faces the decisions that must be made, surrounding the mills owned by his father. Likewise, Jane appears quite fragile, yet she is a strong and passionate woman, struggling to overcome past hurts. How their relationship grows throughout this story, is cleverly interwoven into the socio-economic climate of the early 1800’s. As the first book in the series, I look forward to reading about Jane’s brother Cameron.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is one of those reads where I look at the reviews and wonder if we read the same book. There was something predatory in Percy’s behavior toward Jane. There. I said it. And then it slowly gives “she doesn’t like it…until she starts to like it” vibes.

Shudder.

It’s all the worse because Jane is riddled with grief and anxiety and is in a vulnerable place. I almost stopped reading before %20. I have no idea why he fixated on her or why Jane settles for him when every line she thinks to herself is why he’s a bad idea.

Aside from that, there is SO much telling and not showing. There’s an epistolary section that furthers their relationship so we NEVER see them do the hard work. And there’s zero lead up to the change in Jane and her brother’s circumstances. The POV even changed to a third act villain for a whole chapter so we got more of an info dump. Plot points and convenient solutions were thrown out at random and it just went off the rails.

I loved everything about this book. It offers romance, mystery and adventure all of which plays out inside a gorgeous world. I especially enjoyed the connection the characters had to the land and the living palace. Gread read!