Customer Reviews

Not So Innocent

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Sophie Haversham would give anything not to have the gift of foresight. Her talent has already cost her one fiancé. And reporting a crime that hasn't happened yet is no easy task--especially when the future victim turns out to be the tough and devastatingly attractive policeman handling the case.

Inspector Mick Dunbar doesn't believe in visions, and he's convinced that Sophie is actually shielding a would-be murderer. Only when Sophie's life is in danger does Mick realize he has fallen in love with the beautiful courageous woman who can see into his very mind and heart--but will the knowledge come too late to save her?

Laura Lee Guhrke is known for her beautiful prose and lush historical romance novels. In Not So Innocent, Ms. Guhrke turns up the heat and creates two compelling characters that readers will cheer for until the very last page. This was one of the best books I've read this year. I didn't want it to end.

Gloria Winter---avid reader

What a refreshing new author (at least new to me)! This novel takes place in a historical time period we usually read little of, the end of the 19th century. And its hero is a regular every day guy with no noble possibilities held in the wings. I really enjoyed the book and read it rather quickly for me.

Mick Dunbar is a high-ranking detective with Scotland Yards. He has just turned 36 and is sensitive about his age as his co-workers kid him constantly about it. He has a way with the women, of course, and has yet to meet his perfect woman but has every intention to marry her and have a family once he finds her. He is very handsome - few heroes are ever portrayed in any other manner - and is a straight talking man who knows how to speak truthfully - even if it is not what one wants to hear. However, his speech is always noteworthy and it is a treat when you read his lines. I guess he has that gift of saying a lot with few words therefore; you listen well to what he says.

Sophie Haversham has a gift of foresight that she would prefer to not possess. She first meets Mick at Scotland Yard where she has gone to report a death she has foreseen in a dream. She is very shocked to see that very man in her dreams - the one that is intended to die - as she stares at Mick. Mick believes she is some sort of crazy woman and dismisses her. Later that night when he is shot at, in precisely the location Sophie had told him he would be shot, he believes that she may not be crazy. Instead, he presumes that she is either the would-be murderer or closely connected to him. He begins to methodically interrogate her and ruthlessly opens every aspect of her life in order to find the identity of one who means to see him dead.

Sophie lives with her aunt in a rather run down home in Mayfair. Her aunt had begun renting rooms for income some years previously and Sophie assists her in these duties. Sophie lives a rather reclusive life because of her strange gift. Once someone gets to know Sophie, they realize she can, at times, read their thoughts. Since there is hardly a person who wants this invasion of their thoughts, her acquaintances are few and her former fiancé had left her at the altar for the same reason. Now she is accepting life as a spinster at the age of 24. She believes that no man will ever want to marry her since she has this threatening, invasive gift.

Mick begins to invade Sophie's life forcing him into every aspect of her life - even to the point of taking a room at the aunt's boarding house where Sophie lives as well. However, for the most part, his intentions are those of a detective. Yes, he seems somewhat attracted to her but will not conduct a relationship with a suspect. At the same time, Sophie is very wary of Mick. She has a few family skeletons that she doesn't want uncovered and if Mick looks too closely, he will discover those secrets. And sure enough - he does.

The author allows us to observe the leads in page after page of quality time spent together as Sophie and Mick become further acquainted. It is not a relationship that develops quickly. Although attracted to one another and at times, giving into those feelings, neither believes that their relationship will lead to anything more serious. Sophie eventually realizes she has become extremely vulnerable where Mick is concerned. She understands the extreme inevitable hurt she has exposed herself to and attempts to put Mick out of her life. We really empathize with Sophie but don't really consider Mick too much of a brute. After all, he has told her he is not a marrying man and has attempted to keep her at arm's length. The sensual scenes come late in the book and rate about a 3.50 out of 5.0 (see More About Me for rating guidelines).

Guhrke is so successful at blending just the right amount of mystery with romance and secondary characters that this is a very well rounded story. The murder mystery is not boring and Sophie's aunt is very enjoyable while her mother and sister are especially annoying.

I look forward to reading the few other books Guhrke has written. Although I relished this book, I don't know if this will go on the keeper shelf. I have been in a real reading slump lately and although Not So Innocent really pulled me out of it, I could not rate it five stars. Relatively speaking, the books on my keeper shelf are stronger than this book. However, it was immensely satisfying to climb out of that slump by reading Not So Innocent.

This was a first time read for me by this author. I must admit that I was not let down.

Sophie and Mick are social opposites. Mick is a London Inspector Detective with Scotland Yard. He is a man that has just celebrated his thirty six birthday does not have a family and has watched his best friends marry, have kids and live the life that he wants to have.

Sophie is genteel poor, has a witch of an older sister, and a harridan for a mother, and lives with her aunt who thinks that she is the reincarnated Cleopatra. She also has the gift of second sight and she feels that no man is ever going to want to marry her because as her sister has told her repeatedly she is a freak. Sophie would have just gone about her business but she could not live with herself if she did not go to Scotland Yard and report the murder that she has `dreamt' about. When she is in the process of reporting the crime she looks up and sees the object of the murder only he is alive and well and he is Mick. Mick of course does not believe anything that he can not see and thinks that Sophie's act is a birthday prank and goes about his business but on the way home someone tries to kill him but instead of believing Sophie's gift he thinks that Sophie is involved the attempt to kill him This belief leads him to moving into Sophie's aunts boarding house, and into a working relationship between Mick and his unlikely witness Sophie to find a killer that calls himself Heart Eater.

This was a fast read with plenty of suspense as to who is killing London Policemen and lets not forget the romance between Sophie and Mick. Their romance is sweet, tender, and sensual and wonderful to read. I especially liked the dancing scene between Mick and Sophie at the ball. It was probably the most tender moment of the book and I must admit to falling a little bit in love with Mick myself at this point. Add this story to your must read list you won't be disappointed!

Just a Terrific read. Sensual, paranormal in a very believable and practical sense, wonderful characters and so well written that you feel a part of the story. Read it from cover to cover without pausing. A very absorbing mystery. This is Ms Guhrke's best yet and definately rates to be on the Top 10. Looking forward to her next book!

I sort of enjoyed this book. It kept my attention all the way to and from work on my train ride. Our heroine, Sophie Haversham, is one of those Victorian genteel spinsters. She has relatives who are of the upper class (Viscounts and such). She lives wiht her Aunt Violet, her mother's sister, who dables in the occult, harmlessly. Her Aunt's home has been turned into a boarding house, but in a good area.

Our hero, Scotland Yard Inspector Mick Dunbar, is a hottie with a capital "H". His blue eyes and body sound amazing!!! But we never really get an idea of Sophie's appeal outside of chocolate brown eyes, and Mick loves chocolate.

Sophie was engaged to Charles, the Earl of Kenleigh. He broke the engagement the day befor the wedding!!! How caddish is that! Only it seems he was not a real cad, he is now married 5 years later. The day before their wedding Sophie, who loves him, confesses her "talent" or curse, depending on how you look at it.

Now, here is a major issue for me with the story: how does Sophie let him know her special ability? She tells Mick she kept it hidden but how does one break that news the day befoer her wedding? How did that play out? It would have added something to the story to actually know what really happened between them that night. Being left high and dry at the alter is never a good thing and all us regency readers know that his behavior would NEVER have been condoned by Society so how did he get away scott clean?

So, our story ends happily ever after except...how does that play out, too? With such a story as this, where Mick so totally married outside the system (marrying way way up), how does their social life play out? Sophie is actually going to be called as a witness for the trail - really? In 1897 they will put a psychic on the stand???? Do they stay in the boarding house? What happens to Sophie's broher-in-law? If he was stealing all that money, how does he put it back with no financial harm his way????? I don't know about you, but I like my ends tied up at the end of investing time reading a story.

after forcing my way through about 120 pages of this book I finally just gave up. In a word, this book was BLAND. The hero is your typical caricature of a Victorian policeman, and a bit of a boor to the heroine besides. Also-why does every low brow historical police officer have to be named Mick? The only saving grace was that he wasn't portrayed as Irish as well!

The heroine is a Spinster psychic (another popular Victorian Romance cliche)-what I couldn't understand is why she was written as strong enough to go to the police after having a vision of a murder, but quickly loses all reason and becomes dreary and ditzy-taking abuse from everyone, family included.

The final small, but odd straw is the cover-why is a Victorian street policeman wearing a velvet cape like some Elizabethan popinjay?

This book was not my cup of tea but others have given it positive reviews so you may want to try it for yourself.
2 stars.

What a delightful late Victorian story, from a gently deft writer! Sophie Haversham is lady of quality, even though she lives in genteel poverty with her aunt Violet. Since her uncle's death, Aunt Violet has turned her Mayfair home into a boarding house. Sophie helps with the borders, spends her time in the gardens and in the observatory growing orchids. She is happy with her life, though it is not the life her mother hoped for. Only, Sophie is plagued with visions. Sometimes they come in her dreams, leaving her to wake up shaking, knowing something very horrid will happen; sometimes they seize her while she is up and about causing her to faint and suffer a lingering headache. When she awakens from one of her dreams, where she saw a man dead and bleeding in the park, she knows she just cannot ignore it, so she goes to Scotland Yard with hopes of preventing it.

It's Mick Dunbar's birthday. One of the best roving inspectors of the Yard, he is not facing his birthday with much joy. First, looking in to the mirror he decides to shave his mustache, hoping to hide he is not getting old - after all, thirty-six is NOT old, or so he kept telling himself and everyone at the yard. He arrived to find his office and been moved, while it's being painted, leaving him in the middle of the traffic of the yard. So, he hears the pretty but slightly disheveled young woman trying to report a murder.

When Sophia spies Mick sitting there, she knows he's the man she sees dead in her vision. She describes the park that it is at night, below the statue of Robbie Burns. But she cannot convince Mick the threat is real; he believes it's another birthday joke being played upon him. Later, after he leaves the pub and crosses the park to get to his boarding house, he discovers he is passing right by the statue of Burns. Being alerted, he catches shadows moving in time to fall to the ground to keep from being shot.

Now Mick is convinced Sophia is a nut shooting at him, or she knew someone was going to shoot at him and is trying to protect this person, so Mick is coming after her. He investigates Sophia and those connected to her, and eventually takes a room in Violets Mayfair home. Nothing Sophia tells him changes his mind, so he sets about to find out what she is hiding.

Sophie is telling the truth about her vision, but there are other secrets she is hiding. Their butler was a former criminal. Aunt Violet is "overly fond" of other people's jewellery - not a thief, but a kleptomaniac. Her sister Charlotte is married to a lawyer, who does not love his wife, is stealing from his clients, and keeps a blonde mistress on the side! Just before Mick moves in, Sophie discovers Violet has "borrowed" her cousin's diamond and emerald necklace. When Mick searches the house, and finds it hidden in Sophie's underwear draw, he arrests her.

As Sophie tries to convince Mick he's still in danger, they both are drawn into an affair. Sophie and Mick are delightful characters, and Gurhke bring the end of the 1800's alive. The whole book is just such a wonderful read! I am off to order my Gurhke books!

In 1897 Scotland Yard detective Inspector Mick Dunbar feels ancient on his thirty-sixth birthday. However, just because he thinks he is old it has nothing to do with him handling a case. When Miss Sophie Haversham informs him that she has seen a murder while lying in bed Mick figures she suffered a nightmare, a birthday gaga gift, or is just a lunatic. Sophie realizes she does not need her power to forecast the future to see he disbelieves her. After she explains and he stops laughing out loud, Mick asks who is this unfortunate future victim? Sophia responds "you" and warns him to stay away from Victoria Embankment Gardens.

Mick changes his mind somewhat when an unknown assailant takes a shot at him while he crosses the Victoria Embankment Gardens. He blames Sophie for the attempt and begins to investigate her including her Aunt Violet whose house is where she lives. However, as Mick makes inquiries his skepticism begins to change into a belief that the woman he now loves has psychic powers even as he fears for her safety.

NOT SO INNOCENT is a delightful late Victorian paranormal police procedural romance that readers from both genres will enjoy. The story line absorbs the full attention of the audience as the doubting Mick and the sexy seer make a dynamic team. The investigation into a cop's murder is cleverly designed to entertain mystery fans while furthering the relationship between the lead couple. Hopefully Laura Lee Guhrke provides sequels starring Mick the private investigator and his wife Sophie the psychic assistant.

Harriet Klausner

I usually enjoy L. Guhrke's books. However this one was no not even close to being up to par with her others. Sadly enough, this is the book she chose to go hardback with. I guess the female character having a "special ability" could have been interesting, but it wasn't. I will continue to read this author's books unless she doesn't improve with the next few books.

I am so glad this wasn't my first Guhrke novel. I would have been so completely turned off! I agree with other reviewers who gave it less than 3 stars. I managed to get past page 100 (I think) but had to give up. I wasn't 'feelin' the love'. The hero was boorish and the heroine wishy-washy. It read more like a contemporary rather than a Victorian-era book. My recommendation: stick with her newer stories "And Then He Kissed Her" and "The Marriage Bed" and "His Every Kiss".