Month: April 2024

The Poison Pen by Paige Shelton

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Contemporary, Mystery, Part of a Series, Scottish/HighlanderLeave a comment

The Poison Pen (A Scottish Bookshop Mystery, 9)

Barbara’s rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
Series: Scottish Bookshop Mystery #9
Publication Date: 4/9/24
Period: Contemporary Edinburgh
Number of Pages: 304

This was a fun read featuring mayhem, murder, stolen treasure, and a hoarder who thinks she is the rightful heir to the English throne. 😊 When Delaney Nichols left Kansas and moved to Scotland for a job at the Cracked Spine Bookstore, she didn’t expect to fall totally in love with the country, the job, and the handsome tavern owner, Tom, across the street. The very wealthy bookshop owner, Edwin, doesn’t just own a bookstore. He owns an extensive group of collectibles – some exceedingly valuable, some sentimental, and some just because. It is Delaney’s job to catalog that collection and to get it organized.

One of Edwin’s old flames, Jolie Lannister, asks Edwin to come to her estate, West Rosebud House, to evaluate a sword found on her estate. Edwin asks Delaney to go in his place and make the evaluation – because if the sword is what Jolie thinks it is, they are in a conundrum. Edwin would want it very, very much – yet – according to Scotland’s laws – they should turn it over to the Treasure Trove Unit of the government. What to do? What to do? There is no need to worry about that because before Delaney leaves the estate, there has been a murder, and the police have been called. Oops!

Delaney, of course, cannot contain her curiosity about all of the people involved – and the murder. Before the end, we have the full complement of characters – Tom, Rosie, Hamlet, Joshua, Artair, and Edwin working to solve the case along with Inspector Winters. Is the villain the lawyer who seems a bit shady? Is it the auction house owner? Is it the new director of the Treasure Trove Unit? Is it Jolie or someone from the estate? Is it none of them? Is it all of them? Is it some mixture? Oh! My! Goodness!!!  To find out who did it and why, you’ll have to read this fun and entertaining book.

I can recommend this book and this series, and I hope you’ll read it and love it as much as I did. Happy Reading!

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

View all my reviews

The Orchids of Ashthorne Hall by Rebecca Anderson

On By TracyIn Gothic Historical, Historical Mystery, Standalone Title, Top Pick - Highly Recommended, Tracy's Reviews, Victorian Era (1837-1901)Leave a comment

The Orchids of Ashthorne HallThe Orchids of Ashthorne Hall by Rebecca Anderson

Tracy’s rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series:  A Proper Romance – Standalone

Release Date: April 2, 2024

Hyacinth Bell has spent the better part of her adult life studying botany and has garnered a reputation as an expert in the care and cultivation of orchids. It is that reputation that lands her the opportunity of a lifetime, to act as temporary caretaker to an unprecedented collection of orchids at Ashthorne Hall, while the family is in India. Excited beyond measure to begin this new adventure, Hyacinth sets out for the wilds of the Cornish moors, but things are not exactly going as expected.

After being warned about ghosts and strange goings-on at the manor, Hyacinth is torn between excitement and fear, especially when she learns that the only staff in the house is Mrs. Carter, the housekeeper, a sullen woman who dashes any hopes Hyacinth had of forming a kinship. Mrs. Carter proceeds to shoot down all of Hyacinth’s plans to explore the house when she makes it clear that other than the kitchen, a couple of drawing rooms and her bedroom, the rest of the house is off-limits, especially the North Wing. Hyacinth is curious and wants to be respectful of her employer’s rules, but a glimpse of what could possibly be the ghost she was warned about, brings out the rebel in Hyacinth. Will she find the ghost, or is there something even more sinister lurking in the forbidden rooms of Ashthorne Hall? And will the secretive, yet charming and handsome caretaker, Lucas Hastings, supply answers or just add to the already mounting pile of questions?

This was a wonderful book, well-written and nicely paced with a distinctly gothic vibe. The book has a bit of everything you could want in a gothic romance, rain-swept moors, a dark, drafty manor, ghosts, mysterious lights, locked doors, unexplained items showing up in the middle of the night, a handsome yet secretive caretaker, a protective yet stern housekeeper, a sweet budding romance, shocking revelations, moments of thrilling suspense and finally a spectacular ending complete with HEA and an epilogue. I loved this book and would happily recommend it, the author clearly did her research and gives readers a heartbreaking story with a very sweet love story woven in. If you love a gothic-like vibe, with wonderful characters, kissing only love scenes and a happy ending – this book is for you!

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