You Had Me at Heist by Christina Britton

On By TracyIn Georgian Era (1714-1837), Historical Rom-Com, Part of a Series, Regency Era (1811-1820), Top Pick - Highly Recommended, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

You Had Me at Heist (Wimpole Street Widows Society #2)You Had Me at Heist by Christina Britton

Tracy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: Wimpole Street Widows Society #2

Release Date: June 16, 2026

Mere days after the death of her beloved mother, Iris Rumford’s childhood home was burned to the ground to hide the theft of her mother’s life work. Iris was devastated and offered sanctuary by her godmother, Sylvia Lutton, Lady Vastkern, for the next five years, Iris tries to put her loss behind her and assist the Wimpole Street Widows Society with her botany knowledge and other skills. But when she learns that the Earl of Durand is claiming that her mother’s life’s work is his own and goes a step further to say that she stole his work! Outrage consumes her, and the widows all agree, the man needs to be stopped! But that is easier said than done, first they need to find the stolen papers and that won’t be easy since the earl has hired Oliver Beckett, a former Bow Street Runner to keep his estate secure. And to complicate things even more, Oliver Beckett is the most intriguing man Iris has ever met, and she is falling hard for him!

Oliver Beckett stood by his convictions a year ago and it cost him his livelihood and his family’s security. After almost a year without employment, Lord Durand was the first person to offer him a position and while he doesn’t like or trust the man, he can’t afford to let his personal feeling interfere with his job again. So, when he comes across Iris Rumford spying on Lord Durand’s greenhouses in the predawn hours, he is immediately suspicious and also a bit enamored by her. The more he gets to know her, the more he wants to help her, but doing the right thing in the past has hurt his family and he can’t let that happen again. Will he risk everything for love, or will he play it safe and lose the love of his life to keep his job?

I loved this installment; it is well-written and nicely paced and Iris and Oliver are a wonderful couple who are just perfect for each other. The story has a lot of emotion, a heroine with a compulsive disorder, a hero who would burn the world for her, great secondary characters, a nasty villain, some spice, a lot of love, found family and finally, a very satisfying ending complete with an epilogue. This is the second book in the series, but this book could easily be read as a standalone title with no problems. Overall, I really enjoyed this story and would enthusiastically recommend it to my fellow historical romance readers!

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *

 

A Murder in Mayfair by Magda Alexander

On By BarbaraIn Audiobook, Barb's Reviews, Historical Mystery, New To Me Author, Part of a Series, Victorian Era (1837-1901)Leave a comment

A Murder in Mayfair (Rosalynd and Steele Mysteries #1)Barbara’s rating: 4.4 out of 5 Stars
Series: Rosalynd and Steele Mysteries
Publication Date: 5/31/25
Period: Victorian London
Number of Pages: 266

Although this author has published several books, this is the first one I’ve read, making her a new-to-me author. I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery, the pacing, the writing, and the characters. In fact, I have already read the second book in the series because I wanted to see whether the female main character continued exhibiting a particular trait I noticed in this installment. She did, and I’ll discuss that below.

I should also mention that this is a very slow-burn romance. Having read the first two books and the blurbs for the third and fourth, I haven’t seen any indication of a wedding on the horizon. Personally, three books is about my limit for a slow-burn romance, so after the fourth book I’ll decide whether I want to continue the series.

The story follows the Duke of Steele and Lady Rosalynd as they investigate the murder of Rosalynd’s cousin-in-law. No one is particularly saddened by the victim’s demise—he was a thoroughly unpleasant man—but when Rosalynd’s cousin and Steele’s brother become not only suspects, but the primary targets of an inept Scotland Yard inspector, Rosalynd and Steele know they must uncover the truth themselves.

The mystery is filled with red herrings, potential suspects, and unexpected twists. While I suspected the culprit and motive fairly early on, I still thoroughly enjoyed watching the story unfold to see whether my suspicions were correct.

Now, about Lady Rosalynd. I absolutely adore her family. She is the second oldest of nine children, and they are all precocious, boisterous, well-loved, and genuinely happy. Following the deaths of her parents, Rosalynd decided she would never marry because she believed her younger siblings needed her care and guidance. No one asked her to make that sacrifice—she simply assumed the responsibility herself. She is also deeply committed to social reform, and her older brother grants her the freedom to pursue the causes she believes in. Her devotion to both her family and her principles is admirable.

What I find less admirable is her tendency to be foolhardy. It seems to be a trait many authors assign to female characters intended to be perceived as “strong.” Rosalynd repeatedly places herself in obviously dangerous situations and then resents being rescued by the hero. To me, true strength includes recognizing genuine danger and taking sensible precautions. Instead, Rosalynd often acts recklessly and then berates the very person who saves her. I had hoped this tendency would diminish in later books, but it appears to continue. It isn’t enough to stop me from reading the series, but it does leave me wondering why authors rely on this particular character trope so often.

The Duke of Steele is a compelling hero. Handsome, intelligent, and influential, he takes his responsibilities in Parliament very seriously and understands how to wield his power effectively. A widower who lost both his wife and child in childbirth years ago, he has sworn never to marry again. He has two brothers: Philip, the youngest, who takes center stage in the next book, and Nicholas, the middle brother, who plays a significant role in this one. I’m looking forward to seeing how the family dynamics evolve as the series progresses.

I enjoyed this book both in print and audio format. The narrator has a wonderfully smooth, mellow voice, and her delivery is well-paced and highly expressive. She does an excellent job bringing the story and characters to life.

Overall, this was an enjoyable introduction to a new author, and I’m eager to continue with the series to see where both the mysteries and relationships lead.

Happy Reading!

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