Eloisa James is the author of one of my favorite romances based on a fairy tale, When Beauty Tamed the Beast. Her new historical romance, The Last Lady B, is just as delightful with wonderful characters and a piglet. How many romances have you read with a piglet as a pet?
Despite her father’s description of Lord Burnsby as “A nasty old goat with three dead wives”, Lady Genevieve Hughes insisted on marrying the septuagenarian. She’d been on the marriage market for three years. With the family’s lack of money, she could ensure her new husband provided a dowry for her younger sister, Rosie. When she and Burnsby traveled to the ruined abbey that was the family home in Scotland, she discovered the abbey had a reputation. The library was said to be haunted by the ghosts of Burnsby’s late wives. He treats his teenage daughter like dirt, and the ghosts aren’t the only ones who haunt the house. Aunt Mima wanders around, looking for her lost baby and talking about the dead wives. At least Genevieve has her pet piglet, Peony, as company. It’s the stern-looking Sir Godric Everley, Burnsby’s former ward, who is entrusted with showing Genevieve around. In fact, Godric has better manners, and treats Genevieve better than her new husband does. Godric is Burnsby’s son’s best friend. Lancelot is arriving for Christmas and his father’s birthday with his new French bride.
Even Genevieve’s maid says this is a wicked household, but Genevieve is determined to make the best of it, eager to meet the staff, and take responsibility for running the household. Her load is lightened and she finds encouragement when she meets Lancelot’s spirited new bride, Colette. Burnsby is shocked to discover his new wife, the Lady B, is strong willed with a mind of her own. This may be a haunted house with some wicked and some mad people, along with a whisper of ghosts, but Genevieve forms a small circle of supportive family and friends in order to fight back after Burnsby didn’t tell her all the story behind his life and marriages.
Genevieve, Godric, Ophelia, Lancelot and Colette are appealing characters in this story of a strong, but, occasionally, naive young woman. The Last Lady B is an enchanting story of a woman who fights for herself with support of a man who loves her and friends who back her. And, of course, the help of a ghost and a piglet.
Eloisa James’ website is https://eloisajames.com/
The Last Lady B by Eloisa James. Gallery Books, 2026. 384p.
FTC Full Disclosure – I received a galley, courtesy of the publisher, through NetGalley, with no expectation of a positive review.
