I have long enjoyed Roseanna M. White’s books, mostly because of their complex plots and fantastic romantic aspects. A Lady Unrivaled does not disappoint in any way, featuring a redeemed hero and fun romance, a beautiful setting filled with characters we’ve known from the previous books, and a satisfying wrap up to the mystery thread woven through the entire Ladies of the Manor series. Lady Ella is a wonderful heroine and the perfect counterpart to Cayton’s brooding and reformed bad boy character. The romance between them sizzles, even though both try to convince themselves that getting involved with the other is a bad idea. There are several stand out scenes that I won’t spoil, but romance fans will not want to miss the humor infused relationship this book contains. For fans of mystery or suspense, there are enough potential villains and motivations to keep readers guessing a bit, even though we already know from previous novels who the main baddie is. Several of the characters have nuanced shadings from reform minded to completely creepy (not revealed until the climax), giving even secondary players a well-rounded, developed persona rather than a caricature of a thug. As always in White’s books, the spiritual thread is very strong and well integrated into the storyline. Themes of hope, trust, and forgiveness dominate, but there are also many examples of drawing closer to God through His Word and in fellowship with other believers. The many characters are in various places on their faith journeys and I enjoyed watching their struggles as well as their victories. While this book could be read as a standalone with minimal confusion, I would suggest reading the series in order for maximum understanding and enjoyment. This novel is quite complex, both within its own cover and the continuing threads from the other books. It is expertly plotted and written with something to satisfy most every reader: suspense, mystery, atmosphere, and an enjoyable romance are all found within these pages, making for a riveting read. I highly recommend this novel to fans of the Edwardian Era and Downton Abbey, but any historical romance or mystery reader will enjoy it. I received a free copy of this book from the author and publisher but no compensation for this review. I was not required to write a favorable one and the opinions expressed are both honest and my own.
