Loving Lady Lazuli
According to Romance Writers of America, romance books garnered $1.08 billion in sales in 2013 and accounted for 34% of the fiction market. With stats like that, I’m wondering why I didn’t choose the romance genre but then I remembered — I have no talent for it. Ah, but Lady Shey does. Loving Lady Lazuli is the classic storyline of boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy meets girl again, but told as a relentless, breathy romantic mystery.
It’s been decades since I read a bodice-ripper if you don’t count the Outlander series by Diana Gabladon which markets itself as romance, but is really a hybrid — the love child of Romance and Historical Fiction — and I may have never read another one if I didn’t chance upon Shehanne Moore’s blog and struck up a friendship with the Lady Shey.
Now, announcing your desire to read a virtual friend’s book and write a review can be a tricky process even if they don’t live across the street from you because, well, the blogosphere has limits, too, writer’s tend to travel in the same circles, and you just don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings. Thank GOD that I just adored this book because all that worry is now a moot point. After reading a few chapters of Loving Lady Lazuli, I was hooked. Moore writes a self-described brand of romance that she calls “smexy”— a cross between smutty and sexy — a classic pot-boiler of a book with the trademark characteristics of historical fiction adding to its allure.
Loving Lady Lazuli is the story of Sapphire, the renowned London jewel thief who no one has ever seen. Sapphire’s greatest defense has been her invisibility. Her many costumes and identity changes have allowed her to remain elusive and because of that, the most successful jewel thief in England. But one evening Sapphire makes a terrible mistake. Her “mark”, the famous Wentworth emeralds, are in her grasp, but the escape route is not. Her partners have let her down and there is no way out except a long trek across an open field in winter, and in an evening gown, no less.
Complicating matters, there is a witness, the rich, young, handsome Devorlane Hawley who happens upon the bewitching Sapphire while driving by in his coach. The unsuspecting Hawley has no idea what’s happening when he offers Sapphire a ride. It all happened so quickly, that kiss, that hand where hands should not be when strangers are involved, the pawning off of the Wentworth emeralds into Hawley’s pocket without him even knowing, and her alighting from the coach before he could catch his breath and clear his addled brain. Months later, he’s been enlisted into the army, the rich man’s version of punishment for a theft, preferable to hanging from the end of a noose, but still a high price to pay for a crime he didn’t commit. She caught him all right, with a breathy kiss and a swift goodbye and he will use all his resources to exact revenge.
For ten years Devorlane harbored his enmity, for ten years, he replayed the events of that night, and for ten years he swore that one day he would find and catch Sapphire and make her pay for ruining his life. Ten years of feeding and nourishing that hatred which festered like the wound to his leg when, upon his return, he is met with a sight that makes his heart both soar and shatter — it’s her, Sapphire, sitting in his drawing room. Now who’s caught?
Want to find out? Then read Loving Lady Lazuli, a romantic page-turner of first order. You may want to ditch the tea and crumpets for something stronger!
Want more? Go here to read an INTERVIEW with Shehanne Moore.
pjlazos 3.25.17
Want more? Here are the links to all of Lady Shey’s books.
Green Life Blue Water 
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Thanks so much for your support and enthusiasm!😘
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A wonderful review of Shey’s book.
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Thank you so much, and for stopping by.
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I definitely plan to read Shehanne’s books thanks for your review. 🙂
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Thanks for stopping by, Marje.👍
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Welcome. 🙂
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Fantastic review, Pam! And thanks for the warning to drop the tea and crumpets for a stronger brew 🙂
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Haha! Thanks, Tina. I’m going to have to pick up a copy of your book as well. Sounds right up my metaphysical alley.😘
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Oh, Pam, you’re a doll. Thanks so much for saying that 🙂 ♥
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Just ordered Plateau. Looking forward to reading it. I wrote a screenplay for 2012. I was just thinking today what future doomsday occurrence could I use to hit the reset button on the screenplay. The story was solid, but I’m at a loss for future end of the world scenarios, unless, of course you take in the state of American politics.😩
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Aw Pam, thank you. I just ordered The Quality of Light. American politics might be a great reset button, especially if you go to a worse case scenario where the U.S. becomes a plutocracy/oligarchy while maintaining its world leadership. Omg, I shudder to think! But it might serve to wake up extreme right-wing conservatives if you toss in a healthy dose of suppression 🙂
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Thanks for ordering “Quality”! One of the characters is a Reiki Master so you’ll fee right at home!
As for politics – I went through a grieving process after the election. Actually, I think the country did – lots of lung and throat things were going around – but I’ve been listening to Abraham and Jim Self and have finally pulled out of my tailspin. Gotta hold the vision for the planet, eh? 🌎
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Pam is indeed a doll Tina. but I think a lot of us will be reading your book xxxxx
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Indeed, Pam. Energy follows thought. We are what we think ❤
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Aw Shey, my friend, what a sweet thing to say ❤
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I just love this review Tina. It is so good of Pam to take all this time and say these things. AND yeah I specially love the tea bit. But I love how she got these two . Lovely to see you xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx for coming by and sharing.
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Welcome, Shey. And guess what was just delivered to my Kindle for PC? The Writer and The Rake! It will push its way to the top fairly soon 🙂 ❤
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Oh My God…here written as 3 words. I don’t know how to thank you for this, YOU have seen them both so clearly I just..well…. Oh by the way 50 shades, thank you NO. I know as an author one should be respectfu but there’s times. And you know the best bit of this? The MOOT point bit. I thought as I aye do, Pam won’t like this, I know I am a difficult sell and it’s ok, That’s how I live. I am just speechless truly and that is something for me. And I LOVE the pot boiler bit cos I have always loved that kind of fiction and OH YOU have made my day with what you’ve said. Pam, I can’t thank you enough truly. I just love this xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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You are hilarious!😂 Glad to make someone’s day. Oxo
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HEE HEE. Will get this out on facebook today xxxxxxxxx
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And if you have a date for the new book, 📚 add that. I forgot to ask you. ❤💕💝
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And Ps, the dudes will chew this over. I better NOT haul that Bond post from their paws again it is nearly done BUT they will get handed it next week. I am ducking already…..x
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Give the dudes what they want. Always the most judicious course.👍
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Yeah. They get quite savage when they don’t win.
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I’m not sure of the last romance I read either, but your review makes me want to read this one!
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It’s a very fun read. I tried to read “Fifty Shades of Grey” and threw it aside after a few pages. Pure dreck. LLL is a story that you can sink into.😘
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K L I am not sure of the last romance I really wrote, it is not my genre either really but thank you x
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