Tag Archives: mystery

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Historical Romance Review: Lady Charlotte Always Gets Her Man

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Thank you to Forever Publishing & Hachette Audio for my review copies! 

Lady Charlotte Always Gets Her Man
By Violet Marsh 
🎧 Narrated by: Katy Soby
Book 44 of 2024

I am deep into my historical romance era, and have been loving these historical romances with a touch of mystery!

Lady Charlotte is sick of her parent’s plans for her life, especially when they announce her imminent engagement to the Viscount Hawley, who has already been widowed twice under mysterious circumstances. In order to get out from under her parent’s thumb, she decides to go into business with her cousins. Together, they expand the cousins’ coffee house to allow women and men to mix. 

I absolutely loved the salons and coffee houses, and this culture of conversations! It added some gravity to a story that was often over the top and humorous. The cousins have a pet parrot, of course, since they are descended from pirates. 

Dr. Matthew Talbot, best friend of Lady Charlotte’s twin brother and younger brother to Viscount Hawley, is the love interest and I absolutely adored him. He is stern and spends most of his time traveling and studying nature and medicine. 

I felt like the plot moved fast and there was a lot going on, and I absolutely could not put it down. I love when the lovers have something big to work on, that gives them something to do while they get to know each other. The animals provided some levity, making it feel like a cozier romance/mystery than it otherwise could have. 

I really enjoyed this one and would love to see this turned into a series! 

🎧 Narrator Katy Soby does an excellent job bringing these characters to life, and I definitely recommend the audiobook! 

.    .   .   .   .   .    .  book synopsis  .   .   .   .    .   .   .   .  

Family secrets, a brother’s best friend’s romance, and scandalous mystery combine in this delightfully witty historical rom-com.

Lady Charlotte Lovett should have never run away upon discovering her betrothal. But when one has been promised to a man who, rumor has it, killed his previous two wives, one does what one must. The only thing that can get her out of this engagement is proving that Viscount Hawley is as sinister as she thinks he is. And the person who would know best is his very own brother.

In many ways, Dr. Matthew Talbot is the exact opposite of his sibling—scholarly, shy, and shunned by society. But like his brother, he has secrets, and he doesn’t need Charlotte exposing them in her quest to take down the viscount. It only seems prudent to help her while keeping her from poking her nose in all the wrong places. But as they put their hearts at risk to grow closer to each other, they are also getting closer to a dangerous confrontation with Hawley.

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Debut Review: Never Blow a Kiss

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you.

Thank you Forever Publishing for my review copy! 

Never Blow a Kiss
By Lindsay Lovise
Series: Secret Society of Governess Spies, Book 1 
Book 34 of 2024

This book was PERFECTION. 

Emily Leverton is a governess with a murky background. She grew up impoverished, but managed to trick her way into the ‘ton as a governess for a wealthy family. She is quickly recruited by a mystery woman known to her as “The Dove” to be part of a group of governesses that also spy on the ‘ton. 

To be honest – the title and premise seemed a little far-fetched and cheesy. To me, the meet cute where Emily blows a kiss to her love interest was the only cheesy moment. The rest was a wild ride. 

I read a lot of historical romance, so it was really fun to have the added mystery element. I have read a few books lately that tried to blend historical romance and mystery, and one element always overwhelmed the other. Either the romance was there, but the mystery was lost, or the mystery was there but the romance fell flat. Never Blow a Kiss felt very much like the best of both worlds to me. 

I loved that both of the lovers were aware of the mystery and were working in different ways at times and together at other times to solve the case. 

Fans of short chapters rejoice! I loved having 4-8 page chapters, it made the book fly by for me – especially since I usually don’t enjoy reading with my eyes, I really need a book that holds my attention. 

I can’t believe I have to wait over a year for the next book. It’s not even on goodreads yet but I need it now!! I’m excited that it’s following a new character instead of trying to make the romance play out over multiple books. We saw just enough of the next FMC to really pique my interest! 

QotD: It’s Friday! What do you have planned for the weekend?

I am staying in and hopefully getting some reading done. Thinking about trying to do a 24 hour readathon over the course of the weekend? 

[book synopsis]

The utterly charming Emily Leverton has a dark past and is determined to leave it behind in her respectable new role as a governess. But when she is recruited by a secret network of governesses who spy on the ton, it may just be a way to redeem the dark secrets of her past.

Straddling the worlds of the ton and the working class, as an ex-solider turned railroad magnate, Zach hunts killers for the Metropolitan Police by day and dutifully attends balls at night. In neither world has he met a woman with the brazenness to mock him. So when a saucy governess blows him a kiss he is determined to catch her, never expecting that when he does he will find an intelligent, quirky woman hiding more than her true name. As Zach peels back the layers of Emily’s lies, he falls for the street-wise woman who handles a dagger like a pro and kisses like a mistress. But when his affair with Emily intertwines with his hunt for a killer, he discovers Emily is hiding an explosive secret—one that could destroy them both.

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Mystery Romance Review: Unladylike Lessons in Love

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you.

Unladylike Lessons in Love
By Amita Murray
🎧 Narrated by: Aysha Kala
The Marleigh Sisters, Book 1 
Book 8 of 2024

Thank you to Bibliolifestyle and Avon for my review copy! 

Have you ever read a book that you *could not put down* but also weren’t sure you really liked it at all? 

That is a very dramatic question to start this review, since I did not dislike this book overall! I absolutely could not put down Unladylike Lessons in Love, but there were a few moments that I truly disliked the book. And other moments that I really loved it. 

What I loved: 

-Lila, the main character, is fiercely protective of the people in her inner circle and has relatively modern sensibilities about romantic relationships and women working

-The author does not shy away from difficulties in the time period due to race, class, and disability

-The central mystery and conflict

What bothered me:

-The writing at times, especially during the romantic scenes. Some of the descriptions felt very odd to me. 

-While Lila is helping Maisie and cares for her, she is also extremely judgemental and disgusted by the way Maisie has made a living for herself (s3x work)

Amita Murray has written many contemporary mysteries, and this is her first historical romance, so it makes sense that the mystery element was so strong. This is my first book from her, and I would love to read future Marleigh Sisters books! 

QotD: What element of a book is most important to you? 

📚 Character – dynamic, lovable, interesting, BA…?

📚 Setting – unique, realistic, vivid…?

📚 Plot – fast-paced, twisty..?

📚 Writing style – clear, poetic, unique…?

AotD: I like my characters to be sure of themselves and lovable! 

[book synopsis]

Amita Murray takes us on a journey from the pleasure gardens of society to the dangerous streets of 19 th century London, in this spectacular romantic debut by an unforgettable new voice. 

“Women mind their reputation if they want to marry. I don’t want to marry.”

As the eldest daughter of an English earl and his Indian mistress, Lila Marleigh knows what it’s like to be an outsider from “polite” society. As children, she and her sisters were wrenched from their home and sent to England, never quite accepted by those who claimed to care for them. Now Lila has set herself up as hostess of an exclusive gaming club, charming the ton that flocks to her establishment each night, though it shuns her by day. 

One night, Ivor Tristram comes barging through her door, accusing her of being his father’s mistress. Lila defies his expectations at every step and convinces him to navigate London’s rat pits and pleasure gardens with her, in her quest to solve a violent crime.

As they set out together to uncover the truth, an irresistible passion ignites that will shake them to the core. Lila must fight to protect those she loves, yet the biggest threat is to the sanctity of the heart she has guarded so carefully all her life. 

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Thriller Review: The Fury

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you.

The Fury
By Alex Michaelades 
🎧 Narrated by: Alex Jennings
Book 7 of 2024

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Celadon Books for my review copies! 

The Fury follows a group of unlikable actors and writers to a private Greek island for a twisty “whydunnit” mystery. It’s told in five acts like a Greek tragedy. 

I’ve been gravitating towards mysteries and thrillers more in the winter months – the fast pacing, short chapters, and darker themes just fit the weather so well. 

The big question about whether or not you will like The Fury I think depends on how much you enjoy reading about unlikable characters. I personally found the characters to be unlikable in a fun way – think the side characters in Only Murders in the Building – but without the humor of OMITB. I thought it was a lot of fun and devoured it in one sitting. I don’t remember how surprised I was by the twists and turns, but I really enjoyed watching them unravel. 

[ book synopsis ]

A masterfully paced thriller about a reclusive ex–movie star and her famous friends whose spontaneous trip to a private Greek island is upended by a murder ― from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Silent Patient.

This is a tale of murder.

Or maybe that’s not quite true. At its heart, it’s a love story, isn’t it?

Lana Farrar is a reclusive ex–movie star and one of the most famous women in the world. Every year, she invites her closest friends to escape the English weather and spend Easter on her idyllic private Greek island.

I tell you this because you may think you know this story. You probably read about it at the time ― it caused a real stir in the tabloids, if you remember. It had all the necessary ingredients for a press a celebrity; a private island cut off by the wind…and a murder.

We found ourselves trapped there overnight. Our old friendships concealed hatred and a desire for revenge. What followed was a game of cat and mouse ― a battle of wits, full of twists and turns, building to an unforgettable climax. The night ended in violence and death, as one of us was found murdered.

But who am I?

My name is Elliot Chase, and I’m going to tell you a story unlike any you’ve ever heard.

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Debut Review: The Curse of Penryth Hall

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you.

The Curse of Penryth Hall
By Jess Armstrong
🎧 Narrated by: Emma Love 
Book 2 of 2024

Thank you to Minotaur books and Dreamscape Media for my review copies!

The Curse of Penryth Hall is a gothic historical murder mystery with a sprinkling of magic. This was a strong debut, and I loved her heroine, Ruby Vaughn. As a primarily romance and fantasy reader, I could have done with a little more of both. 

The relationships felt a little surface level, with either the backstory doing a lot of work or having a magical connection between them. Since I thought each of the characters were really interesting, I wished I had a little more “show, don’t tell” to show how the characters grew together. (Or back together.) 

The mystery definitely kept me guessing, but the pieces seemed to all come together with the big reveal at the end! 

🎧 The audio was fantastic. Emma Love’s accent is the perfect amount of atmosphere without losing clarity. She created a world of characters with her performance, and I enjoyed listening to her!

[ book synopsis ]

An atmospheric gothic mystery that beautifully brings the ancient Cornish countryside to life, Armstrong introduces heroine Ruby Vaughn in her Minotaur Books & Mystery Writers of America First Crime Novel Award-winning debut, The Curse of Penryth Hall.

After the Great War, American heiress Ruby Vaughn made a life for herself running a rare bookstore alongside her octogenarian employer and house mate in Exeter. She’s always avoided dwelling on the past, even before the war, but it always has a way of finding her. When Ruby is forced to deliver a box of books to a folk healer living deep in the Cornish countryside, she is brought back to the one place she swore she’d never return. A more sensible soul would have delivered the package and left without rehashing old wounds. But no one has ever accused Ruby of being sensible. Thus begins her visit to Penryth Hall.

A foreboding fortress, Penryth Hall is home to Ruby’s once dearest friend, Tamsyn, and her husband, Sir Edward Chenowyth. It’s an unsettling place, and after a more unsettling evening, Ruby is eager to depart. But her plans change when Penryth’s bells ring for the first time in thirty years. Edward is dead; he met a gruesome end in the orchard, and with his death brings whispers of a returned curse. It also brings Ruan Kivell, the person whose books brought her to Cornwall, the one the locals call a Pellar, the man they believe can break the curse. Ruby doesn’t believe in curses—or Pellars—but this is Cornwall and to these villagers the curse is anything but lore, and they believe it will soon claim its next victim: Tamsyn.

To protect her friend, Ruby must work alongside the Pellar to find out what really happened in the orchard that night.