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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.