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Emily Larkin
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Unmasking Miss Appleby (Baleful Godmother Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Emily Larkin (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 5,811 ratings
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One intrepid young lady, one imperiled earl, sundry nefarious villains … and a dash of dangerous magic.

On her 25th birthday, Charlotte Appleby receives an unusual gift from the Faerie godmother she never knew she had: the ability to change shape.

Penniless and orphaned, she sets off for London to make her fortune as a man. But a position as secretary to Lord Cosgrove proves unexpectedly challenging. Someone is trying to destroy Cosgrove and his life is increasingly in jeopardy.

As Charlotte plunges into London’s backstreets at Cosgrove’s side, hunting his persecutor, she finds herself fighting for her life—and falling in love.

The first novel in the wildly entertaining and multi award-winning Baleful Godmother series by USA Today bestselling author Emily Larkin.

Length: Full-length novel of 94,000 words
Sensuality level: A hot Regency romance with steamy love scenes

If you love page-turning historical romances that keep you reading all night long, then this series is for you.

Be swept into a Regency England brimming with passion and peril, adventure and romance, magic and love. Start this addictive series today!

BOOKS IN THE BALEFUL GODMOTHER SERIES:

Original Series
Unmasking Miss Appleby
Resisting Miss Merryweather
Trusting Miss Trentham
Claiming Mister Kemp
Ruining Miss Wrotham
Discovering Miss Dalrymple

Garland Cousins Series
Primrose and the Dreadful Duke
Violet and the Bow Street Runner

Pryor Cousins Series
Octavius and the Perfect Governess
Decimus and the Wary Widow
Previous page
  1. Book 1 of 6
    Baleful Godmother
  2. Print length
    402 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  5. Publication date
    November 7, 2016
  6. File size
    2548 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review


"The best historical romance I have read all year."
~ Rachel @ Heroes and Heartbreakers

*Desert Isle Keeper*
"Emotionally satisfying, quirky and sensual. Securely tucked onto my keeper shelf."
~ Caz @ All About Romance

"What an utterly ridiculously wonderful story! Had me oddly intrigued and at parts grinning like a fool and by the end tears falling down my face."
~ Sarah @ NetGalley

5 stars
"The writing was great. The character building was fantastic. The story was completely unique. It's honestly something I've never read before and I loved it all."
~ Megan @ NetGalley

Spellbinding!
"I have never read a regency quite like this...it has everything; fascinating characters and a gripping story! I loved all the sexy secrets, humorous situations and darkly edged mysteries.It's truly heart-meltingly magical!"
~ Romazing Reader

"One of the most fascinating, unique, and well written books I have read. This one goes on my favorites list of 2016."
~ Roses R Blue

"I loved this imaginative, intelligently written and delightful romance. Highly recommended and I will definitely be reading the rest of the series."
~ Carol @ Rakes And Rascals

"I could go on forever about how enjoyable reading Unmasking Miss Appleby was. From the clever twist in a standard romantic device to a story of female empowerment in a restrictive time there are many magical things for a reader to discover."
~ Sara @ Romantic Historical Reviews

"I stayed up til 2am this morning to finish this."
~ Rachel @ NetGalley

"I loved it! Regency-era romp with a twist of magic. I can't wait for the next in the Baleful Godmother series."
~ Anne Gracie, award-winning author of the Marriage of Convenience series

"Fast paced and enthralling. After reading this book, I will be going back to read everything that Emily Larkin has ever written and I will add her to my list of authors whose books I pre-order. This wonderful book is highly recommended!"
~ Jane @ NetGalley

"I loved this book and couldn't put it down. It is not just well written and has amazing, authentic characters but it is also imaginative and very special."
~ Irina @ NetGalley

"Sexy, unusual, and vastly entertaining. The best historical romance I've read this year."
~ Anna Campbell, award-winning author of the Dashing Widows series

From the Author

The prequel to the Baleful Godmother series is available for free to anyone who joins my readers' group.

Go to emilylarkin.com to claim your free copy.

I love talking to my readers, so please feel free to email me at emily@emilylarkin.com

Happy reading!

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01KBGITJQ
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Emily Larkin; 1st edition (November 7, 2016)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 7, 2016
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2548 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 402 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 0995123179
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 5,811 ratings

About the author

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Emily Larkin

Emily Larkin

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Emily Larkin is the award-winning and USA Today-bestselling author of the Baleful Godmother historical romance series, a series that readers are calling “sexy, unusual and vastly entertaining,” and "ridiculously wonderful."

When not reading or writing, Emily can be found hiking—preferably somewhere off the beaten track. She loves to travel, and has lived in Sweden, backpacked in Europe and North America, and traveled overland in the Middle East, China, and North Africa. Her varied career includes stints as a field assistant in Antarctica and a waitress on the Isle of Skye.

Emily writes historical romances as Emily Larkin and fantasy novels as Emily Gee. She has won multiple awards in New Zealand and Australia and has been a finalist in the Romance Writers of America RITA award, as well as the National Readers Choice, Booksellers Best, and Sir Julius Vogel awards.

Sign up for her newsletter to get an email whenever she has a new release or discounts a book → www.emilylarkin.com/newsletter

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
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Top reviews from the United States

Nance SE
5.0 out of 5 stars Unexpectedly enjoyable
Reviewed in the United States on March 22, 2024
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Enjoyed this because it was a little different. Will definitely be reading more by this author as she seems to have GREAT PROOFREADERS and fun storylines .
One person found this helpful
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Tracey Cramer-Kelly
4.0 out of 5 stars Regency with a fantastical twist
Reviewed in the United States on March 3, 2023
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I had my doubts after the first chapter, as the fantastical angle isn't really my thing, and there wasn't any backstory to bolster why it was happening and to that particular person, Charlotte (we never do find out which is a tiny bone of contention for me).

That said, the plot was interesting and the character development compelling. The descriptive writing style and funny scenes were a joy to read (with no obvious typo/grammatical errors oh joy!). The back-to-back mysteries in addition to the budding romance kept me wondering how it was all going to work out for Marcus and Charlotte.

I got a little annoyed with the use of 'magic' for every clue obtained (one too many metamorphosis for my tastes), and I did wish there was more about the abolitionist movement (Marcus didn't seem to do any work other than write speeches for it). I wouldn't call the sexy times overly sexy; but they were appropriate for a Regency and Marcus's reactions to them were believably male. And I especially liked the ending (other than the 'hundreds of babies' comment which I suppose is also Regency appropriate but sort of underscored his NEED to marry and produce an heir, which I would have rather not been reminded of in the midst of an HEA).
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Theresa
5.0 out of 5 stars An instant favorite in my Kindle library
Reviewed in the United States on July 9, 2019
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I absolutely loved this book. Honestly, as soon as I finished it, I went on a bit of an Emily Larkin book-binge and have read three more of her novels/novelllas in the past two days. So, I had to come back and review this, the book that introduced me to my newest Favorite Author (high praise, trust me).

First of all, how refreshing to read a novel that's been properly EDITED! I've slogged through my fair share of romance novels, mentally fixing word-swaps and forgiving continuity errors because some other aspect of the writing --its premise, the plot, a particular character -- compelled me. But with Ms. Larkin, that's not necessary. You can immerse yourself fully in her writing and trust that the grammar and diction are intentional, not accidents of auto-correct.

Secondly--and more importantly--her fiction keeps its roots within a tangible, definable universe. Yes, there's magic. Our heroine Charlotte Appleby can physically transform her body, and she does so frequently throughout the book. But these transformations, although fantastical, still have real, rational consequences for Charlotte that further enrich both plot and character development. When Charlotte transforms, she has to adapt to the new body. She isn't instantly THE BEST, and her missteps while using her new gift tell us just as much about her as do her successes.

Furthermore, we are never simply TOLD what our characters are like, we are always SHOWN. Within the first two chapters, you get a clear picture of who Charlotte and Marcus are at their cores. Although they both learn about themselves and each other through their experiences together, they begin and end as good, honorable people. Both make mistakes, each one unintentionally hurts the other, but even their shortcomings are owned up to eventually so that they can be forgiven.

Also...the romance aspect is....awesome. Spicy enough to feel real and thrilling, yet tender and romanticized enough that you don't feel like you're reading cheap erotica. It's truly romantic and fun, and the few scenes describing physical intimacy between Charlotte and Marcus are just...perfect. Even the awkwardness --poor Charlotte and her pego!-- just makes it that much more satisfying when the steamier scenes happen.

I suppose I should mention that for much of the book, Charlotte has transformed herself into a man in order to get a decent job. Then -- SPOILER -- she does have sex with her boss Marcus while in her own womanly body, but before she's confessed to him that she's also his male secretary. When he finds out, he's pretty...upset. He eventually forgives her, pretty much because he finds that her true self is Charlotte the woman, not Christopher the man. So, if that bothers you...either that she physically gender swaps, that she becomes aroused by Marcus while she's transformed into Christopher, or even that she doesn't get busy with Marcus while she's still sporting her misbehaving pego...well. All I can say is that this book and the characters therein are much, much more than the shape of their parts.

Love the book, love the author, would buy it again (after I'm done buying and reading every single other book she's ever written!)
72 people found this helpful
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oceanjasper
3.0 out of 5 stars An interesting premise but overall an unsatisfying romance
Reviewed in the United States on January 2, 2017
Verified Purchase
I quite enjoyed this book as an entertaining story but the romance aspects of it were a bit unsatisfying.

The book has an interesting premise, with Cinderella-style poor relation Charlotte Appleby using a Faerie wish on her 25th birthday to change her appearance to that of a man so she can gain her independence through more lucrative employment than would be available to her as a woman. She finds herself employed as secretary to the Earl of Cosgrove, who is the victim of a campaign of vandalism and violence that could be related to his support for anti-slavery reforms or to his unhappy personal life. His late wife was a typical romance novel villainess, who married him for his money, was unfaithful and then died in questionable circumstances. Therefore Cosgrove is hated by various people, including the pro-slavers in Parliament, his wife's grieving brother and his dissolute heir who needs Cosgrove's money right now.

At this point of the novel I was full of anticipation, but then I experienced a feeling of letdown. The relationship between Christopher (as Charlotte calls herself) and Cosgrove struck me as anachronistic. A secretary is a step up from a servant, but still an employee, yet the earl invites his secretary to dine with him, hauls him all over town as he interviews the suspects, and generally behaves in a way that ignores the significant class barrier between them.

Although Charlotte has nothing female about her appearance and I didn't expect any romantic feelings on Cosgrove's part for Christopher, I would have liked to read conversations between them that show a developing affection or understanding, or something. But in fact Charlotte just asks a lot of practical questions relating to the investigation, or about sexual matters (after being dragged into a low-class whorehouse in search of the dissolute heir). Cosgrove rather takes pity on his mind-bogglingly naïve secretary and dispenses frank advice, personally teaches 'him' learn how to tie a neckcloth properly, and so on, but all with a kind of paternalistic attitude.

The romance only kicks in when Charlotte decides to appear to Cosgrove in her true form, under another name. I won't say much about why that happens, except that this part of the book is surprising and quite touching at times. But I felt that the two of them didn't spend enough time interacting as man and woman; most of the story involved the mystery aspect of the plot with no romantic elements at all except Charlotte's growing attraction to her employer.

The book is smoothly written but the characters are kind of cookie-cutter and overall it felt like one of those old-fashioned light-hearted traditional Regency romps, when I wanted more complex emotions.
39 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Amazon Kunde
5.0 out of 5 stars Roman
Reviewed in Germany on January 6, 2024
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Liest sich gut , kann ich nur weiter empfehlen 😉
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Winnie Robinson
5.0 out of 5 stars I actually started with book 3 and I didn't immediately fall in love with it
Reviewed in Canada on February 7, 2018
Verified Purchase
This is such an interesting series! I actually started with book 3 and I didn't immediately fall in love with it, but once I got into the story, I was hooked. If you like your historical romance with non-typical heroes and heroines, unique storylines and wonderfully developed characters that complement each other and you also enjoy a bit of fairy tale magic . . .then this series is for you. I can't wait to read the rest of them now!
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Carol Cork
5.0 out of 5 stars charming romance with a touch of magic and an intriguing mystery. Highly recommended
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 17, 2018
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I have read books where the heroine dresses as a man but I have never read a book where the heroine actually becomes a man. I feel Charlotte’s reactions to adjusting to the physical aspects of being a man are realistically portrayed by Ms. Larkin. I could imagine having difficulty tying a cravat properly like Christopher or finding it strange to write with overlarge hands.

She watched her fingers wield the quill—large, blunt-tipped, male—and the dizzying sense of wrongness came again: her hand was too large, the quill too small. The letters came out lopsided and awkward, like a child learning to write.

As would be the case for most unmarried ladies of that era, Charlotte knows virtually nothing about men and her ignorance of how a man’s body works and her naivety about sexual matters provide for some humorous moments, especially in relation to one particular appendage or “pego” as Charlotte calls it, and in the brothel scene.

In her role as a man, Charlotte has independence and the freedom to do things and go to places that would have been forbidden to her as a woman. I like it when authors make subtle social comments within a story.

She could do things she’d never been able to do, go places that had been forbidden, grab opportunities no one would ever offer a woman.

A genuine friendship develops between Marcus and Christopher and I love how Marcus feels a genuine sense of responsibility and protectiveness towards Christopher whom he sees as ‘green as an unbreeched babe’. As Christopher, Charlotte gets a real insight into Marcus’s character. He seems to have everything – looks, wealth and a title – but his life is far from a happy one. I admire Marcus for his stance against the slave trade, not only in words but also in deeds.

I was glad that Charlotte only uses her gift to aid Marcus in his search or when they are threatened with violence. I also like the fact that when she changes, it takes time for her to adapt and it isn’t all plain sailing or flying in this case.

Charlotte veered away in a wild swoop, losing height. The floor lunged up at her. She cheeped in terror, clawed at the air with her wings, found herself plunging upwards.
It took two lurching circuits of the bedchamber before she found her balance in the air. Dip of wing, flap of wing, became natural and effortless.

The ability to become any animal she wishes enables Charlotte to search for evidence in circumstances which would prove impossible for humans, and is therefore an important element in the plot. I thought Marcus’s response to discovering Christopher’s magic ability was realistic given the circumstances. He couldn’t deny what he had seen with his own eyes.

Faerie magic. It was ludicrous. Preposterous. Impossible. And yet I see it with my own eyes.

I like how Ms. Larkin explores Charlotte’s growing attraction for Marcus (which causes some problems when a certain part of her anatomy insists on standing to attention) and how she creates a believable way for Marcus to meet Charlotte as herself. Their romance develops during a series of meetings, awkward at first, but gradually with a growing sense of warmth, tenderness and intimacy.

I understood Marcus’s initial angry reaction when he discovers Charlotte’s deception, because he sees it as yet another betrayal by someone he trusted. It takes a life-threatening situation, a letter and a journey to bring him to his senses and make him realise that he loves Charlotte.

I found the plot kept my interest throughout and the denouement was quite shocking, not at all what I expected.

MY VERDICT: A charming romance with a touch of magic and an intriguing mystery. Highly recommended and I will definitely be reading the rest of the series.
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Chaitali Das
5.0 out of 5 stars You will be hooked to buy the next book in this series
Reviewed in India on October 26, 2017
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Loved loved loved it. And why won't you!! it has everything it has magic, mystery it has Regency Romance everything you ever wanted in this genre. for a good reading of the book please visit the website of the author and you can download her prequel to the series absolutely free. I suggest you give also read that. There are four stories in it and each of the stories are just fantastic. They r standalone books in their own way and is connected to this series and I won't spoil the fun by telling how. but still read the book and that free book as well and I am off to buying the next one in this series
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La veneziana
4.0 out of 5 stars Regency e fiaba
Reviewed in Italy on October 5, 2017
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Devo ammettere che questo romanzo mi ha veramente sorpreso. Pensavo di leggere una storia lieve, una mascherata regency spumosa e divertente ed invece sono capitata in una dimensione inattesa e con tocchi dark.
Questo è il primo volume di una serie in cui l'autrice immagina che, dopo aver fatto una cortesia ad una fata, a tutte le fanciulle discendenti della famiglia, al compiere dei 25 anni, una madrina garantisca un dono magico. Fin qui parrebbe proprio una favola. Se non che la madrina è più simile ad una fatina maligna ed i doni fra cui scegliere si possono facilmente tramutare in una maledizione ove la ragazza faccia male i suoi conti.
In questo primo volume Miss Charlotte Appleby è una Cenerentola tormentata dalla famiglia dello zio da cui è andata a vivere dopo la morte dei genitori. Umiliata e con le ali tarpate, viene colta di sorpresa dalla visita della madrina che le impone di fare una scelta nel breve volgere di pochi minuti. Sbalordita ed incredula, Charlotte chiede il dono della metamorfosi per potersi trasformare in un maschio ed avere la possibilità di allontanarsi dagli odiosi parenti e trovare il proprio posto nel mondo (cosa del tutto impossibile per una ragazza di buona famiglia nel 1800).
Ed è così che, nelle vesti di un ragazzo istruito, trova lavoro presso un conte il cui segretario è rimasto gravemente ferito in un agguato teso ai danni del conte stesso.
Da questo momento in poi Charlotte, grazie alle sue doti magiche, aiuta il conte a risolvere il mistero degli attentati alla sua vita, mantenendo sempre celata la sua vera identità.
Ovviamente poi lei si innamora e improvvisa un motivo per poter incontrare il conte nel suo vero aspetto.
Temevo il momento in cui la verità sarebbe venuta a galla perché molto spesso gli autori esagerano oppure ingarbugliano in modo del tutto irrealistico le cose fra i protagonisti.
In questo caso sono rimasta nuovamente colpita: pur con la giusta dose di dramma e tenendo conto del fatto che un uomo di solito rimane fortemente colpito nell'orgoglio, alla fine la storia si muove nella giusta direzione garantendo la soluzione del mistero (non difficile da comprendere) ed il lieto fine.
Ho anche trovato interessanti le descrizioni delle zone meno fortunate di Londra che nei libri sono spesso evitate o ripulite cinematograficamente ma che in questo caso vengono trattate con realismo seppure senza compiacimento.
Non gli do un voto più alto soltanto perché i toni sono alle volte un pochino eccessivi e gli accadimenti troppo fortuiti ma per il resto non posso che fare i complimenti all'autrice per l'originalità.
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