Happy Pride, friends! I’ll be celebrating all month by doing what I always do, reading queer lady fiction.

In 1874, Ruth Mallowes visits her aunt Beatrice’s dilapadated estate, Beulah Lodge while her fiancee is getting set up for their missionary life in India, but her short stay will change her entire life. Beatrice is a controlling, rigid religious woman who has “saved” a fallen young woman from London. Eliza Chambers endures the cruelty of her mistress, beccause it’s better than having to survive on the streets of Victorian London. As Ruth and Eliza become close, perhaps too close, Ruth will be faced with the possibility of her future, and if there’s a way she might change her destiny.

This one was a quick read that I mostly enjoyed. The brutal realities of the Victorian era and some of the characters it produced aren’t always my favorite, but the story moved well, and I enjoyed the budding friendship and later relationship of Ruth Mallowes. There was solid romantic tension as well as tension in the constraints of the era and women trying to make their lives better, which I always appreciate.

As historical fiction/romance goes, it’s a solid read, and it’s out now wherever you get your books.

Beulah Lodge by Cathy Dunnell

A story in keeping with the era it is set in. I felt it was true to the times but have to say that it was not for me. I almost didn’t finish it and it had more to do with the religion in the story than the story itself. I probably would not have requested to read it had I known as I tend to avoid stories with a religious bent.

What I liked:
* That I believed Ruth would feel as she did when deliberating over her future
* The gothic feel of the story
* Beatrice’s portrayal as a cruel, cunning, bitter, evil woma
* Tripp and Martha – servants at Beulah Lodge
* The way Ruth tried to make the lives of others better
* The way Ruth became aware of Eliza and the growing relationship between them
* That Ruth eventually figured out what was important to her and then set about making what needed to happen occur.

What I didn’t like:
* Beatrice
* Thinking about how difficult it would have been to be poor and is still to be poor
* I know it was necessary to tell the story but the religion, bible reading, missionary stuff…all of it were off putting to me and I wished it had been stated it was a “Christian” book.

Did I enjoy this book? Yes and No
Would I read more by this author? Yes, if it were a secular romance

Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.

3-4 Stars

Loved this story. This was a really good historical gothic romance with quite a bit of religion and angst thrown in to keep me entertained. I felt like the characters were really well written and I really liked the relationship between Ruth and Eliza their relationship was truly a romantic one. The character of aunt Beatrice was such a polarizing figure kind of creepy and sad at the same time, she was such a manipulative person and not very kind to anyone. especially Eliza. The supporting characters also helped to make this an even more interesting story. I would definitely recommend this book to my friends and family and I look forward to what this author writes next.

An historical fiction with a setting that's pretty enjoyable. It was well written and quite enjoyable.
4 stars, I recommend.


Thank You Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for this ARC.

3.5 Stars. I think this is a pretty darned good historical romance, full of restrained longing until the couple in question finally goes for it. I loved the bleak setting, the minor gay panic that protagonist Ruth Mallowes experiences when she realizes that she is attracted to the beautiful Eliza. There's some really good work on framing the tension, and how themes are carried out. The lonely quiet of the moors helps a lot with that, and that Eliza can find beauty in such a stark place shows her character. It also kind of feels like a bit of a subversion of the archetypes in My Fair Lady.

One thing that I think is a little too on the nose is that Aunt Beatrice, the owner of Beulah Lodge, is the complete opposite as Ruth. Ruth, though a bit of a product of her station, still sees the lower classes as people that are more often than not having to do the best they can in the situations they were given. Beatrice treats her servants cruelly - Eliza especially- because they are of lower class. Eliza is treated the worst because of her past as a 'working girl'. Beatrice holds some contempt for her older servants, but openly abuses Eliza. Ruth didn't like Eliza at first, but soon warms to her once she realizes she is kind, intelligent, and rightfully wary of newer people she meets. This especially comes out through their reading lessons, Eliza is an amazing student, and Ruth is a patient thoughtful teacher who actively works to help Eliza because she knows that reading can help open more doors to Eliza.

I love the romance between Eliza and Ruth - though the story is told through Ruth's head, you can tell that Eliza is a fascinating character. She can't read or write, but is a good sketch artist, and has this charm about her that just reels Ruth in. Ruth has her gay panic moment, but it is more like 'oh, this is new, and maybe sinful, but Eliza is so amazing I can't help but be drawn to her'. Most of the conflict is more about her keeping her promise to her fiancé and effectively cheating on him, not that she is falling for a woman. Ruth also has to struggle a little bit with the fact that through most of the book, she doesn't feel like Beulah Lodge is home despite the fact that she has found a mother and father figure in the two older servants, and a lover in Eliza. This is interesting to me, because she finds a home in the people she cares about, but the Lodge is so unwelcoming that she struggles being in the place.

This is a lovely historical romance. I'd say that Ruth is probably a little too progressive for her time, but her kindness does come from an interpretation of her faith, and she is willing to carry it out, unlike her future husband, who only seems to pay lip service to that kindness in order to further along his own reputation. Eliza is rougher around the edges, and though it feels more like she should be the Eliza from My Fair Lady what with her cockney accent, her rough background and her surliness towards Ruth at first. But the subversion comes from Ruth's genuine kind heart, and Eliza's willingness to learn - she's often excited to be near Ruth and gets real worth out of their lessons. The movie's Eliza was a reluctant participant and was actually treated with some contempt through most of the film by Mr. Higgins. I enjoyed this dynamic far more than the movie.

This is a great debut from Dunnell, and I hope she writes more in the near future.

Ruth Mallow is engaged and arrives at her aunts home of Beulah Lodge. It is a large, run down, estate house in the Yorkshire moors. Her fiancé is starting mission work in India and she is waiting to for him to get established before joining him. Only three servants work in the house and her aunt is a crusty, austere, almost room bound woman. Ruth spends her time getting to know the servants, exploring the moors and reading. Eliza Chambers lived on the streets in London until Ruth's aunt rescued her and brought her to the house as an unpaid servant. But she is not a kind mistress.

This is Ruth's story told from her POV. Arriving in Yorkshire it starts with a moody, Withering Heights feel. But soon Ruth can see the beauty of the moors. Just like she learns to appreciate where she is she also befriends the servants especially Eliza. She spends time trying to reconcile her sapphic attraction to her with her faith and religion. She also needs to figure out her conflicting feelings about her fiancé. I like that Ruth grows during her time at Beulah. She finds confidence and strength she didn't have when she arrives. But the romance lacks passion or spark. They are intimate and share confidences but Eliza could have just as easily been interchangeable with anyone else Ruth comes across. Their connection didn't give me the feels. I enjoyed the setting and ending is time period appropriate. For those who like sapphic historical fiction. Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

It’s sometimes hard to find good historical fiction/romance novels in the WLW niche. In the past few months though, we have been lucky to have several exceptional LGBTQ+ historical fiction novels published, and with Cathy Dunnell’s debut novel Beulah Lodge, we now have the chance to read even more stories.

This novel takes place in Victorian England during the 1870’s. It is told in the first person POV through the eyes of the main character, Ruth Mallowes. Ruth has gone to visit her aunt at Beulah Lodge in the North Yorkshire moors, a very different and solitary place compared to the London parish Ruth lived in with her father before his death. Ruth is only supposed to be at Beulah Lodge for a short while as her fiancé travels to India to prepare for the missionary life they will lead after they marry. Ruth’s life plans are about to change drastically though, especially after she meets Eliza Chambers, her aunt’s housemaid.

This novel seems to be written fairly true to life for the time period, especially through the different characters’ thoughts, beliefs, and actions. Ruth’s slow realization of what society expects from her and what her heart desires is truly well written. Add in her religious upbringing in her father’s parish, the promises made to her fiancé, and the added vitriol of her aunt’s strict religious views and Ruth finds herself facing what could be some harsh realities. The character of Eliza fits well into the plot since she is the opposite in many ways to Ruth, but the chemistry is truly amazing between the two. This is the perfect example of a financial/class disparity genre. The time period and the remote moor setting only add to the psychological thrill of the story.
I do want to give a bit of a warning for some readers. This story has a sub-theme of religion running through it. I know that some LGBTQ+ folks have a problem reading things with religious references. I just want everyone to be aware religion is often mentioned in this novel. It also affects how certain characters act.
I really enjoyed reading this book. I’m also quite impressed that this is the author’s debut novel. I will certainly be looking for more of her work in the future.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.

Rainbow Reflections: https://rainbowreflections.home.blog/

this is extremely well written. I'm so glad I requested to read it. the story is not super dark thought if the author wanted I can easily see how, This is about Ruth discovering herself more than anything, tho sometimes I wanted to go into Eliza mind and see how her day goes but that's just me liking to know both sides of the story. However I really enjoyed the book. more than i thought I would

I love historical fiction especially about lesbians! Most of the time it is a beautiful discovery for at least one of the charactery without any knowledge whatsoever about their feelings. As it was the case here paired with a strong religiuos believe. That one of the characters was a fallen woman was a really new aspect for me that I really kinda liked. Really enjoyed that one. Thank you!

I love a good regency romance and this read is pretty good. Told in the first person from Ruth Mallowes' perspective. The author did let us see and feel what Eliza Chambers was going through. Ruth is engaged to be married to Daniel. Daniel is in India where he is establishing his mission and is very excited to marry Ruth and return to India with Ruth by his side. Ruth in the mean time is living with her Aunt Beatrice in the crumbling and isolated house in the North Yorkshire moors. There she meets Eliza. I enjoyed the service staff and how they contributed to the story. Aunt Beatrice is quite the hypocritical character as she interacts with Ruth, Eliza, Martha, and Mr. Tripp.

I love regency romance and I love sapphic romance so I'm always so excited to find a romance that is both! However, I didn't love this one as much as I wanted to. It's told in first person POV and is very much Ruth's story. The romance between Ruth and Eliza often felt abrupt and lacking the emotional depth I look for in a romance.

So much of this story is about Ruth reconciling her own sexuality with her Christianity, which was personally hard for me to read as a queer woman with religious trauma. So heads up about that. I also didn't think there was enough (or any) criticism of religion and specifically of Christianity as a violent tool of British colonialism, which I found really disappointing.

Aside from Ruth and Eliza, I really enjoyed the vibrant cast of characters playing around the edges of the story.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the ARC.

CW: Abuse, accidental death, violence against sex workers

Victorian London is a harsh environment for those who do not have the means to make a living. Ruth Mallowes worked daily alongside her father. His parish was in the poorest part of London. It is a year after his passing and Ruth accepts a proposal of marriage to become a missionary’s wife. Her fiancé has set off to establish his missionary in India before they get married. Ruth has nowhere to stay and wait but at her religiously strict aunt in the North Yorkshire moors. 
Eliza Chambers lived her early life on the streets until Ruth’s aunt offers her work at her home, Beulah Lodge. Eliza did not realize until too late that her new employer wanted to take advantage of her situation.
Beulah Lodge is a Victorian romance between two women from vastly different backgrounds. It focuses on Ruth’s slow discovery of sapphic feelings as both women endure their time spent with her aunt. 
Cathy Dunnell writes the story in first person narrative which serves the plot well. We are constantly inside Ruth’s mind as she tries to come to terms with her christian beliefs and her growing feelings. Dunnell’s writing is solid adding many minor plots to highlight each character and their interaction with Ruth.
My only complaint is the attraction between Eliza and Ruth required more intensity and heat to build up to their first kiss. The attraction felt smothered somehow.
The novel has a middle of the road appeal to me. Appealing concept but just off the mark a little in the delivery.

I received an advance review copy for free from NetGalley and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I love historical sapphic books; how women in those times had to doubt and question their tendencies in silence, rein in their affections on the outside yet have the smarts and guts to beat the odds.

Ruth Mallowes was sent to her aunt for a temporary stay while her fiancé was on missionary work in India. Beulah Lodge was an old and unfamiliar place kept up by 3 servants under the charge of her aunt. Amongst the 3, Eliza Chambers, the youngest, most defensive and hard headed intrigued her. While Eliza kept her societal distance, the inquisitive and righteous Ruth did not stand down from what she saw in the house.

The progression from servant and employer’s niece to friends and subsequently lovers was delicate and delightful. It was a sweet first love but one that was forced to wilt before it blossomed. With Ruth betrothed to marry and Eliza a servant with a checkered past, the pair was running out of time.

I love historical sapphic books with a happy ending. And I love how their first time was worded, “I held myself deep inside her till the crisis passed.” The author was earnest in her writing and the result, a great testament to the ladies’ grit and strength.

I just reviewed Beulah Lodge by Cathy Dunnell. Thank you NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the ARC.

Ruth and Eliza meets when Ruth comes to her Aunt house and is surprise how the house looks. Ruth only staying temporarily while her fiancé tries to make a name for himself with his missionary work.

Eliza been surviving on the streets as she tries to keep hold of her job of helping around the house what she didn’t plan on the attraction she has for Ruth and surprise that Ruth feels the same.

This was a enjoyable read. Ruth and Eliza have decisions to make to be happy together or to follow what’s expecting of them. I like the author description of Victorian London.

I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.

Eliza has been asked by her aunt to come and stay with her while her fiance establishes himself and his missionary work in India. Beulah Lodge is not the estate she had imagined neither is her aunt. However Eliza will do her best while she's there.
Ruth a resident plucked off the streets helps around Beulah and has not had it easy.
As Eliza and Ruth spend more time together they start to develop an attraction, something Eliza is not familiar with she has intended to wed her fiance. But their feelings can't be denied.
How will Eliza break her engagement? Will the Eliza and Ruth be able to live happily?
This is a well written historical piece with some rough around the edges characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the advanced copy.