BLOOD MOON OVER BRITAIN is one of those special books that masterfully combine all the elements of a romance, yet is intricately crafted with mystery and suspense. Cicely Winterborne works at a top secret government agency during World War II. She meets Inspector Alistair Fielding when he is investigating her cousin's apparent suicide.

The two are thrown together when Fielding realizes that Cicely may be in danger. In trying to help her get a code that the Germans wanted to her father, Alistair becomes seriously ill. To make matters worst, they are also on the run not only from the enemy, but the police who believe that they are murderers. The adventure is laced with humor and beguiling characters.

Alistair and Cicely's attraction for each other grows as they race towards their destination, their main goal to save England at all cost. Eventually the two split up and Cicely must go it on her own. Will Alistair be able to save the woman he loves before it's too late? Can they accept each other and make a life together knowing what they know? You'll have to read this engaging book to find out.

Morag McKendrick Pippin has penned a wonderful tale with BLOOD MOON OVER BRITAIN and I look forward to reading more of her work.
By Romance Junkies Reviewer: Jessica

***

From Romance News http://www.romancenews.org/

Blood Moon Over Britain
Morag McKendrick Pippin
Leisure Books
ISBN 0843955821
Review by Maria Alvarez

So much of what we have opportunities to review is historical, generally Regency or Victorian, and terribly familiar. Blood Moon Over Britain was a refreshing change. Readers who are sick and tired of the same, recycled romance should look for this book. It is not in wide release, but your local bookseller will happily order it, and it is available online at all booksellers.

Many publishers would not call this novel a historical, since it is after 1900. What is unfortunate about this is that many readers looking for a rich historical period are missing out. Set in 1942, the story follows. Most of us are familiar only with the US' trials during World War II, but the real drama was taking place in Europe, and London was a place of tension, espionage, and heroism in the face of adversity.

Morag McKendrick Pippin's novel features Alistair Fielding, a Scotland Yard detective. He encounters Cicely Winterbourne during an investigation into the death of her cousin, who has apparently committed suicide. If Alistair is a man of depths, Cicely is a woman of absolute bottomless mystery.

Fielding isn't buying the suicide theory, nor is he buying the pack of lies the charming Cicely seems to be telling. Though she is supposed to be a simple file clerk at Bletchley Park, intrigue involving code breaking and German secrets indicate a bit more going on. Is she being manipulated by something greater than she knows? Can she be trusted?

And can he? Cicely is just as conflicted. Her secrets are not only her own, but those of her nation, and the outcome of the war may depend on her silence and deception. Yet Alistair Fielding is a man she longs to trust, longs to confide in, longs for as a woman.

Blood Moon Over Britain never slows down, nor does it disappoint. The mystery keeps the pace moving steadily while the attraction between two well crafted main characters cranks up the heat. Very well researched, the novel works beautifully within its period.

This was an absolutely fantastic change from the same old romance. The time period is rich, fraught with natural tension, and is terribly underused. If Casablanca is one of your favorite movies, if you are tired of balls and the machinations of the ton, if you are looking for something new, exciting, and full of meticulous research, this is the book for you. Morag McKendrick Pippin is a fresh new voice from whom you will want to hear more!

***

Morag McKendrick Pippin has done it again with her latest novel BLOOD MOON OVER BRITAIN; she has written a riveting suspenseful tale with a fated romance that simply enthralled this reader.

Review: It is 1942 London and Cicely Winterbourne works filing war secrets at Bletchley Park. Her cousin also worked there as a code breaker but now he is dead, an apparent suicide, and Cicely finds herself answering questions put to her by Alistair Fielding of Interpol. Could his death be other than suicide? Alistair and Cicely both are quickly coming to that conclusion.

Despite Cicely’s automatic response to not trust anyone, she finds that she must in order to find out what happened to her cousin and what his death means to the security of England. Alistair feels there is something very suspicious about Cicely but he eventually learns to trust her and puts his own life in danger to help her. As the two work together they find themselves drawn to each other. But both agree they are living for today because tomorrow may never come.

I loved it! The suspense, the history, the characters, the dialog with authentic vocabulary, the romance; all made BLOOD MOON OVER BRITAIN a simply absorbing read. Ms. Pippin easily transported me to war torn England with black out curtains, bombings, espionage and jitterbugging through her ingenious writing skills. Give yourself this engrossing book and buy one for all your closest friends and family. They will thank you again after they have read BLOOD MOON OVER BRITAIN. Morag McKendrick Pippin is on my “automatic buy” list, I am eager to read all her future works.

Reviewer Donna Zapf

***

Blood Moon Over Britain

Rating: Five Cups

In war-weary England in the winter of 1942, Inspector Alistair Fielding of Scotland Yard has been called to
investigate an alleged suicide. The victim is in the bathtub in a room awash with blood from his slit wrists. Fielding soon meets the victim's cousin, Cecily Winterborne, who discovered the body. In spite of the circumstances, he is drawn to her. She claims to have no knowledge about her cousin's death except that the maimed veteran had been despondent.

Cecily finds Fielding attractive but she dares not let anyone close. She knows her cousin has been killed for
what he knew. Their work in British intelligence puts her in danger also. Until she learns what really
happened, she must involve no one else.

As the net of danger tightens, Cecily must trust someone. Fielding seems to be the only help at hand.
During their shared flight, love blossoms. Yet as Alistair learns more about her, his admiration seems
to turn to loathing. Duplicity has become her stock in trade while he respects nothing more than honesty and
honor. With the outcome of the war at stake, how can she worry about one man's opinion; yet with her heart
at stake, how can she not?

Vividly drawn, completely believable characters, a taut thriller-type plot, and an authentic and
exquisitely detailed setting make Blood Moon Over Britain a truly exceptional book. Romance and suspense
are deftly interwoven into a seamless tale that clutches the reader's mind and heart to the final
scene. Utterly absorbed by this book from page one, I will definitely get Ms. Pippin's previous book and
look for her future releases. - Reviewer Alegria

*****

BLOOD MOON OVER BENGAL Reviewed by Romance Readers at Heart
http://romancereaderatheart.com/pubsandpromos/2004/oct04/BMOB_MMP.html

Author: Morag McKendrick Pippin ISBN: 0843954523 10/2004 HISTORICAL Publisher: LEISURE
Time Period: 1932 - Calcutta, State of Bengal - India

I have read some great books lately. Excellent, really. However, after reading BLOOD MOON OVER BENGAL, by Morag McKendrick Pippin, I am hard pressed to recall the titles of those books. As a matter of fact, BLOOD MOON OVER BENGAL is the best book I have read all year. No doubt it is in my top five best books I have ever read.

I love my favorite stories (not all romantic novels) for many different reasons. Some for the writing or the descriptions. Or the characters, the storyline, and so on. Very few of those books embody all of those qualities. Some come close, but this book truly is everything.

If you want to be transported back in time to 1932 India and experience the language (slang, even!), the smells, the sights, the sounds, the very essence of the English presence there, open a page. I am astounded by the descriptive nature of this book. No detail is left out, from the finger wave hairstyle to the brand names of cigarettes. You hate the sultry heat and giant bugs, along with the torrential monsoons just around the corner from summer. The characters, every last one of them, are cool, refined, and so well done, I swear I was sitting at the blackjack table with them last night. And the drinks! Even the names of popular cocktails being served across the water in America make an appearance.

The love story between the half-caste son of the maharaja, Nigel, Major Covington-Singh, and the ultra-modern Elizabeth Mainwarring, defies a category due to its complexity. It's sexy and spicy, yet sad and poignant because of the small mindedness of the tight British community they inhabit. They are involved, yet cannot be out in the open with their feelings for fear of Nigel's career being put at risk as well as Elizabeth's tenuous relationship with her newly found father.

And did I mention murder? Lots of intrigue and unsolved murders for the reader to guess at and get caught up in. Though one murder in particular in my eyes is welcome (since the woman is such a shrew! though marvelously entertaining), most appear, at first glance, to escape any pattern save the victims are all women. Very exciting storyline here, I assure you.

Well, if I gush anymore over this I will be unable to read my next book without doing a comparison. Naturally, I realize that isn't fair, since I don't think I will find anything remotely close to this. It's perfect!

Shannon

*****

Author: Morag McKendrick Pippin
Title - Blood Moon Over Bengal

5 STARS!

Set in Calcutta, State of Bengal, 1932. Elizabeth Mainwarring was en route to New Zealand, where she has a sheep station and land full of oil. However, before she finally settles down in New Zealand, Elizabeth stops in Calcutta to visit her estranged father, Colonel Andrew Mainwarring, in hopes of mending the breach. The area is already in disarray due to several recent murders.

Major Nigel Covington-Singh is the youngest of the Maharaja of Kashmir's three sons. Even though he is a prince and an officer, the British officers and wives consider him beneath them in station. Nigel is a "wog", half English and half Indian. That does not mean that those snobbish wives do not try to seduce Nigel though. The man is very handsome. Nigel is part of the team investigating the "Bengal Killer". The killer has killed many Indian women already. Recently the killer began targeting the British women, but only those who have been with men outside their own race.

Elizabeth and Nigel cannot help the attraction they feel for each other. Elizabeth is too modern to care what others will think of her for dating Nigel, but feels as though she is not worthy of an Indian Prince. Interestingly enough, Nigel feels that she is his superior. The biggest problem they face, though, is the killer. And the killer now has Elizabeth penned as his next target.

***** This mystery-thriller has the taste of a Regency romance with the dangerous flavor of India's jungles mixed in. The only thing missing was the glorious ball rooms of London. But the majestic ball rooms of Bengal are just as breathtaking! The author set a murder mystery AND thriller plot during a volatile time in Bengal history. At this time, Bengal was still going for Home Rule (self government). The author added in several secondary characters that I could not help but care for. Fiona, Elizabeth's friend and companion, is but one example. I never found myself growing bored either. The mystery is ongoing, the thrills are non-stop, and there are lots of scandalous opportunities presenting themselves for my entertainment. Very well done! *****

HUNTRESS REVIEWS

(Reviewed by Detra Fitch)

Posted: http://www.huntressreviews.com/histrom.htm

*****

I'm thrilled BLOOD MOON OVER BENGAL received a 5 cup review from Coffee Time Romance!

BLOOD MOON OVER BENGAL
MORAG MCKENDRICK PIPPIN
0-8439-5452-3
October, 2004
Leisure Books
Www.dorchesterbooks.com
Paperback
Historical romance
$5.99
Rate 5 cups

Blood Moon Over Bengal is an enchanting historical romance set in twentieth-century India.

Elizabeth Mainwarring and Major Nigel Covington-Singh cross paths quite unexpectedly, when her plane
crash-lands almost literally at his feet. Elizabeth is British and seeks a relationship with her father, a
military man who has been stationed in India for some time. What she gets, in addition to getting to know
her father again, is a dangerous attraction to one of the men serving under his command.

Not only is Nigel an officer in His Majesty’s service, but, he is also a prince in his native land, Nigel also
royalty, in his native land. He possesses both parts of his heritage and is not a suitable match for the upper
class British lady.

Blood Moon Over Bengal does not read like a first book. The plotting is excellent and the blend of romance
and suspense rivals more veteran authors. I really liked the fact that this author wrote about India in the
1930s. It was a historical time I was not familiar with and I loved the way the author brought it to life. The
characters come to three-dimensional under Ms. Pippin’s pen. Not only did I like this book, I will be first in
line to buy my own copy when it releases to read and reread to my heart’s content.

Avalon Sydney
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance
Reviewer for Karen Find Out About New Books

*****

BLOOD MOON OVER BENGAL wins The Gold Blether Award.
The Blether Gold Award. A truly exceptional read, the finest example of a genre, a book with which the reviewer can find no fault, and which will usually have universal appeal.

Read review in full ~
http://www.blether.com/blether.php?id=9008

****

"Ms. Pippin writes a steamy, well plotted suspense with just the right amount of romance.

Ms. Pippin plots more intricately than Machiavelli while exploring her characters and their emotions with amazing depth and talent.

Blood Moon Over Bengal is a must read for suspense lovers. Ms. Pippin's fresh, intricate plot is one that will keep the reader captivated from page one to the end.

Don't plan on getting much sleep after picking up Blood Moon Over Bengal. It isn't a book you'll want to put down.

Blood Moon Over Bengal is sensual suspense at its best.

The romance in Blood Moon Over Bengal is refreshingly different and yet as emotionally satisfying as any story in the genre. This suspenseful love story will touch your heart, keep you on the edge of your seat with tension and leave you waiting with bated breath for the next story by Ms. Pippin."

--Lucy Monroe

THE REAL DEAL September ~ Kensington Brava
Merry Christmas, Baby: SILVER BELLA October ~ Kensington Brava
THE ITALIAN'S SUITABLE WIFE October ~ Harlequin Presents
THE BILLIONAIRE'S PREGNANT MISTRESS Dec ~ Harlequin Presents

****

5 Stars

Morag McKendrick Pippin’s debut novel, BLOOD MOON OVER BENGAL, is brilliantly written and an absolutely engrossing read. I was instantly transported to the blistering hot days and sultry muggy nights of 1930’s India and its last days of British rule.

Elizabeth Mainwarring literally dropped from the sky at the feet of Major Nigel Covington-Singh when her airplane crash landed on the parade field. Their first meeting was a precursor of things to come as mutual attraction and wariness collided. Elizabeth, a nonconformist, millionaire heiress with few inhibitions, has returned to her home in India to re-establish a relationship with her father. Nigel is not only an officer in her father’s regiment but is also a prince, the son of a maharaja and English woman. His mixed race, Anglo-Indian, has British society and especially Elizabeth’s father, perceiving Nigel as unsuitable for Elizabeth. The opinions of others do not stop the two lovers but the murderer, on the loose in Bengal, may stop them both… permanently.

A dizzying array of parties and "get togethers" make up Elizabeth’s days in India. She spends much of that time trying to figure out her true feelings for Nigel. Will she be able to withstand the social pressures surrounding their liaison not to mention the tenuous bond with her father? All her worries may be moot as the murderer closes in on Elizabeth. It is Nigel’s job to find the assassin but will he be able to solve the mystery surrounding the killer’s identity in time?

BLOOD MOON OVER BENGAL by Morag McKendrick Pippin is a compelling novel of suspense and intrigue which will ensnare and thrill the reader from the first page. Morag’s characters, the strong free-spirited Elizabeth and mouth-wateringly handsome Nigel, are extremely appealing as well as are the secondary characters. I admire the background research and description used in making this novel such a realistic and irresistible read. I predict that Morag McKendrick Pippin has written a best seller with BLOOD MOON OVER BENGAL.

--Donna Zapf, CataRomance Reviews

www.CataRomance.com

"Set in the exotic world of India, BLOOD MOON OVER BENGAL by Morag McKendrick Pippin is a richly woven tale about two total strangers who find love and intrigue in 1930s Calcutta. Danger and lust are forever in the background, shadowing the characters and their every move. . . ......

. . . . . An engaging love story full of mystery and erotic overtones, BLOOD MOON OVER BENGAL is Morag McKendrick Pippin's first novel, and I, for one, will definitely be awaiting her next book!"

Courtney Bowden
Romance Reviews Today

****

More than a romance, this great read incorporates many other genres that could qualify it as a murder mystery or mainstream. It opens the door into a past we have experienced only in movies.

Highly recommended as a read you won't want to put down. Its many twists and turns will lead you into the dark and forboding world as seen through the eyes of a killer. This book is one you will keep for a future reread.

Mary Emmons, ReaderTo Reader.com