Month: August 2026

Miss Morton Takes The Waters by Catherine Lloyd

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

Miss Morton Takes the Waters (A Miss Morton Mystery)

Barbara’s rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
Series: Miss Morton Mysteries #5
Publication Date: 8/25/26
Period: Early Victorian, 1841
Number of Pages: 272

Miss Morton has been quite concerned about her employer, Mrs. Frogerton, since Mrs. Frogerton was seriously injured during their last adventure. Mrs. Frogerton’s wound has healed, but her spirits have not. When the doctor agrees that a season in Bath might be just the thing to restore Mrs. Frogerton to her normal spritely self, they head out almost immediately.

Mrs. Frogerton wasn’t enamored of the baths and refused to try them a second time. Miss Morton despaired of Bath providing any help at all. However, they soon met their neighbors, and things began to perk up – especially after a murder, and then another. It wasn’t long before Mrs. Frogerton was up to her mischievous self while ‘helping’ the local police Inspector. With lots of suspects and motives, they had their work cut out for them.

I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the irrepressible Mrs. Frogerton return in full force and bowl right through both the police and the suspects. At the same time, the more level-headed Miss Morton tried to keep her steered in the correct direction. This book had a nice selection of new characters, and I wonder if we’ll have another book set in Bath before they return to London. If we are not going to have another book in Bath, there are a few loose ends I would have liked to see finished. What happened to Mrs. Walsh? What happened with Mr. and Miss Markham? Did Miss Markham and Mr. Pettigrew get together? I hate hanging chads 😊.

I would suggest that while this book can be read as a standalone, you would find far more enjoyment if you read the series from the beginning. The character growth and backgrounds throughout the series definitely enhance your reading pleasure.

This is a book I recommend and hope you will enjoy as much as I did. Happy Reading!!!

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

View all my reviews

Only One for the Orc by Isabelle Taylor

On By TracyIn Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Paranormal / Fantasy, Part of a Series, Romantasy, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Only One for the Orc (Claw Haven, #3)Only One for the Orc by Isabelle Taylor

Tracy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Claw Haven #3

Release Date: August 25, 2026

Two years ago, orc Nick Wicker met his fated mate, human, Violet “Vi” Harper, too bad she made it crystal clear that she didn’t believe in fated mates, and she thought Nick was annoying. He doesn’t accept rejection immediately and tries his best to make her like him, but as the time passes, he begins to lose hope. But when the owner of the bookshop that Vi works at is injured and can’t host the weekly book club, Nick sees his chance to impress Violet and offers to host the book club. Too bad he isn’t much of a reader and at the first meeting it becomes clear that he didn’t finish the book, which causes normally calm and collected Violet to yell at him and tell him to leave. Thinking all is lost, Nick makes a final attempt at winning her over by apologizing and to his absolute shock, she not only accepts, she kisses him! Could this be the opening he needs to finally convince her she is his mate?

Violet Harper moved to Claw Haven two years ago when her sister Gabrielle’s husband was killed in an accident. She found a job working at the local bookstore that is owned by Chester, a very grumpy dragon, but Violet seems to thrive in chaos and doesn’t know how to say No to anyone – other than Nic Wicker, the orc that everyone finds charming. But when Chester is injured and there is no way Violet can run his book club, she (ungraciously)accepts Nick offer to help. She is sure he is just trying to annoy her (as usual), so when he shows up unprepared, she flips out on him and tells him leave. She then feels bad and is shocked when he comes back to apologize and kisses him. Not only that but suggests they have a friends with benefits affair. But when feelings start to get deeper, old fears may tear them apart before they can see that they are meant to be.

I enjoyed returning to Claw Haven and was delighted to catch up with the previous characters and getting to know Violet and Nick. This story was your typical enemies to lovers & miscommunication romance, but it was anything but typical. Nick is keeping big secrets, and Violet has her own issues, but the chemistry between them is obvious and you can’t help but want them to find their happy ending. If you like a romantasy with great characters, spicy love scenes, secrets, lots of books & baked goods, more than one grumpy dragon, lots of witty banter, and sweet declaration scenes – this book is for you. This is the third book in the series but could easily be read as a standalone title with no problems.

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