Can I admit that historical romances are a guilty pleasure? My taste in subject matter has changed a bit since I was a teenager sneaking my older sisters books to read late into the night. I’ve come to appreciate a more diverse cast of characters and often look for historicals that are racially diverse or break the class barrier. Yes, those “Duke is a Scoundrel” romances are still fun occasionally but really I want my view of historical time periods to be a bit more educational, even if it’s just seeing how the lower classes lived. I had run across a group where the question was asked if anyone could recommend a historical romance that didn’t involve the upper crust and Alice Coldbreath’s Victorian Prizefighter series was recommended twice, and the third book was both of these reader’s favorites. Seeing that there were actually three books in the series, and because I’m a Virgo and I like to read things in order, I started with book #1 A Bride for the Prizefighter and cautiously started reading.

Mina’s dad is on his deathbed when he drops a bombshell, notifying her that she has a half-brother whom he has written on her behalf. When dad dies, Mina will be broke, with no chance to support herself. When her brother shows up, he’s two sheets to the wind and takes her immediately to an inn in the countryside and marries her off to the innkeeper, a prizefighter named William Nye. Mina finds herself going from teacher at her father’s school to running an inn with a man who only married her because her brother held something he desired and that was the only way he could get it. The story that unfolded showed Mina’s strength of character. She worked hard, didn’t hold herself above anyone else at that inn, and provided a little polish to a kind of rough tavern. Her husband at first had very little to do with her and left her alone, but he provided her with small things that brought a little joy into her life. A small parlor filled with furnishings, some fabric to make curtains, a place for her to put her mother’s fine china tea set. Inside that gruff exterior was a mushy teddy bear. This book gave insight into those establishments in England, but also that class of people. I enjoyed this book tremendously! ❤️❤️❤️❤️

Click this link to purchase this book!* A Bride for the Prizefighter

Plain, Lizzie Borden, was the poor relation dependent upon her Aunt and Uncle to keep a roof over her head. At a dinner party she sees something that she shouldn’t and instead of staying quiet, she speaks up and tells the truth. Unfortunately it’s a truth no one wants to hear and she gets cast out of the house. At this dinner party is her cousin’s new fiancé, Benedict Toomes. Benedict is an ex-prizefighter who wants to raise his station in life by marrying well, but this incident turns his stomach and instead of marrying her beautiful cousin, he proposes a scheme to Lizzie that will keep her out of the workhouse- marry him. Instead of living in a nice house, though, he plans to hit the fair circuit with his family. Something that Lizzie may have looked down on in the past, but now looks at as a challenge and an adventure. This novel was my favorite in the series. Not only did I love Lizzie and her fearlessness at living in a wagon, like a gypsy, but because Benedict protected her and had such care for the sanctity of their marriage. The setting was unique, but so were the characters. This is one of those books where you’ll go back and read it again just to see if it has that same magic as it did the first time you read the book. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Click this link to purchase this book!* A Substitute Wife for the Prizefighter

This story was the favorite pick in the series by the two reviewers I mentioned above, and I can see why. Theodora was unlike any other character I’ve read. She was raised in an acting family, but no one else in her family sees her talent and will not give her a break. It’s not until she meets Clem Dabney, who owns a competitive music hall that she sees her chance and she’s going to take it. She proposes a deal to Clem, marry her and allow her a chance on the line-up at his music hall, and he’ll receive her 25% stake in her families theater. What makes her completely unique is that her talent lies in male impersonations, and once she gets on stage- she steals the show. The more complicated part of this story is the romance between Clem and Dora. Dora is so truthful and there isn’t one hint of artifice in her persona, but Clem was a prizefighter and he has learned to con and scheme and he feels awful for how he has not believed in Dora. Just like book #2, I know I’ll come back and read this one again as well. Shoot, I’ll re-read the entire series since I bought all three books. They were just so unique and fresh. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

Click this link to purchase this book!* A Contracted Spouse for the Prizefighter

As I do with most new author’s who I haven’t read and have a backlist of books, I took a look at the other series. At some point I know I’m going to give them a try, but you know, I think it will be really hard for her to write better characters and stories as she did with the above three books. They were not perfect but they were really enjoyable and gave me that fix that I needed at the time I was looking for something different to read.

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