Month: February 2023

A Killer in the Crystal Palace by Deb Marlowe

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

A Killer in the Crystal Palace (The Kier and Levett Mystery Series, #1)

Barbara’s rating: 5 of 5 Stars
Series: The Kier and Levett Mystery Series #1
Publication Date: 2/17/23
Period: Victorian London
Number of Pages: 255

What a great story! Has this seasoned historical romance author ventured into writing historical mysteries before this? I don’t know, but she has certainly done an outstanding job of it this time. She has managed to set up the series, introduce all of the series’ characters and make us like them while delivering a mystery that is intriguing. I have seen where this series is only to be three or four books long, but I could easily see this as a scenario and characters that could carry a much longer series should the author choose to go in that direction. Excellently done Deb Marlowe!

Miss Kara Levett and Mr. Niall Kier first meet when they show up at the offices of a sponsor of the Great Exhibition. They are both trying to finagle a spot on the floor of the exhibition to show their creations – but the space is extremely limited. She is a gifted engineer and he is a gifted blacksmith artist whose displays are outstanding. Of course, they win a spot, but sadly, it doesn’t take long for it all to go sour when a man is found murdered on the exhibition grounds. Yes, murdered – with one of the pieces from Kara’s display. Oops! Scotland Yard quickly wants to point the blame at Kara so they can close the case and keep the news from the papers.

If Kara wants to stay out of jail, she’s going to have to prove herself innocent and find the real murderer. Luckily Niall is right there to work alongside her. While Kara appreciates Niall’s help, she is accustomed to doing things on her own and it takes a bit for her to learn to work in tandem. They have to learn to trust each other and depend on each other – and that takes a bit of a leap of faith on both their parts. I admired both of them for the respect they showed each other. Believe it or not – she actually admitted he was right (when he was) and he actually admitted she was right (when she was). Once they got all of those cogs turning in the right direction, the investigation took off. Except – someone is trying to hurt Kara – could she have been the target all along? Surely not – she didn’t even know the man who was murdered.

Some of the stops along the way to solving the mystery provide insights into who our two characters are and the inhabitants of those places are delightful. Kara’s character seems to be pretty straightforward – she is who she is. Niall, on the other hand, is a bit of an enigma that I will love seeing unwound in future books. He has secrets and I can’t wait to find them out!

The series setup and mystery were the main focus of this book, but the groundwork was laid for a romance between Kara and Niall. I loved that there was no insta-lust in this book – just a natural progression of feelings that will, in the end, lead to love I’m sure.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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Never Seduce a Duke by Vivienne Lorret

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Part of a Series, Regency Era (1811-1820)Leave a comment

Never Seduce a Duke (The Mating Habits of Scoundrels, #5)

Barbara’s rating: 4 of 5 Stars
Series: The Mating Habits of Scoundrels #5
Publication Date: 2/21/23
Period: Regency
Number of Pages:

Mmm, mmm, mmm – who wouldn’t love a book with a genius duke who wears glasses and is socially inept? Lucien Ambrose, Duke of Merleton is absolutely precious and the banter between him and Margaret Stredwick is absolutely priceless. While I think you’ll enjoy the book ‘as is’, I think you will enjoy it even more if you read the third book, The Wrong Marquess, before you read this one. The zany aunts and their penchant for purloining recipes are introduced in that book and I think it will provide better insight into the aunts and some of the situations in this book. You don’t have to have read it because it is explained in this book, but, not to the delightful degree it is in book three.

Lucien is a very brainy, scientific man who loves to analyze everything, calculate everything, and leave nothing to chance. Until a delightfully sunny lady enters his life and leads him on a merry chase across Europe – and then disappears on him. Lucien is a man who desperately wants to connect with his family’s past and when a family heirloom that connects so closely to that past is stolen, he will go to any lengths to get it back.

Lucien’s scientific and analytical way of speaking will certainly make you chuckle – if not laugh out loud. No, it isn’t staid – with the context and situation it will make you laugh – and love him even more. One example is when he is speaking of a rival for Meg’s hand – he says – “Prescott is welcome to apply the fixed, corded braiding of hemp fibers to his cervical vertebrae and descend from a platform at a rapid rate of speed.” (In other words – Prescott can go hang himself).

The book is basically in two parts – the first fifty percent is their “on the road” adventures across Europe and the last fifty percent takes place two years later. There is a major story shift within those two halves. Both halves are good reads, but the first half is more lighthearted and fun than the second half. That isn’t to say the last half isn’t good, the tone is just a tad different – and it needs to be.

There is an antagonist in the book – I mean – somebody actually stole the heirloom and it wasn’t Meg. I figured it out pretty early on and from that point on, I’d get so aggravated because all of the characters in the book couldn’t see it too!

And – last but not least – there is the epilogue! It is whimsical, funny, endearing, and so very romantic. So, I can definitely recommend the book and I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

View all my reviews