Author: Barbara

Avid reader/reviewer of historical romance and historical mysteries.

Don’t You Forget About Me by Shana Galen

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

Don't You Forget About MeBarbara’s rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
Series: Standalone
Publication Date: 7/15/25
Period: Regency
Number of Pages: 110

From the first page where Marjorie comes to and finds herself in a cave rapidly filling with water to the last page with Simon’s unique proposal, this is a wonderful story filled with excitement and delightful characters. You never go wrong when you choose a book written by this author.

Marjorie Clawson is one of, if not the, best spies in the Home Office. She’s worked hard at her craft and has built quite a hard shell around herself because being one of the very few female spies is a difficult thing. The males she works with respect her because she’s tougher, harder, and just downright meaner than they are, so they have no choice. So, how did Marjorie come to be a nice, caring, even loving person? Well, she just got hit on the head and lost her memory. OH!

Simon Burrows works at the Home Office as well and cannot imagine why Marjorie Clawson absolutely hates him. Yes, she’s cold and hard with the other spies, but it seems she has taken a particular dislike to him. Sometimes, that is really hard to bare because he’s really infatuated with her and it’s really hard to hide it.

Simon and Marjorie are sent on a vital mission in Cornwall, where they are to deliver the location for a weapons drop to smugglers delivering weapons to a British contingent near Spain. Without the delivery of these weapons, many British lives will be lost. Marjorie is the only one who knows the drop location, and when she loses her memory, the mission is in jeopardy.

SPIES!! Whoopee! I love spies, and mysteries, and romance, and this book has them all. I really liked Simon and Marjorie as they worked through the mystery, the memory loss, and finally found their way to their own HEA. This is a novella, so it’s a quick read, but the story never feels shortchanged. I can definitely recommend this book and this author. Happy Reading!

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

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A Lark’s Regret by Lynn Messina

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

A Lark's Regret (Verity Lark Mysteries, #5)

Barbara’s rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
Series: Verity Lark Mysteries #5
Publication Date: 7/11/25
Period: Regency
Number of Pages: 408

I always look forward to each new entry into the Verity Lark series, and this one was well worth the wait. As always, it is filled with wit and good humor along with a superior cast of characters and a great mystery.

It seems Twaddle-Thum has a competitor, Mrs. Flimmer-Flam, and she’s out to get Her Outrageousness, The Duchess of Kesgrave. That will never do! Not only has Flimmer-Flam called the duchess a murderer, but she’s also maligned the good name of Twaddle-Thum. So, all hands are on deck to track down Flimmer-Flam’s identity and set the record straight.

Who is behind Flimmer-Flam? Is it just someone with a grudge against the Duchess? Is it more than one person? How many bodies will there be before the mystery is solved?

I thoroughly enjoyed the story, but I did find it a bit slow in places. I loved seeing Verity’s anxiety in dealing with the Duchess – and how they might actually work through it all. The growth in Verity’s relationship with Hardwicke was a delight to watch as well because of her reaction to actually realizing she has feelings.

If you’re looking for a witty, humorous read with wonderful characters and a great mystery, you should give this book a try.

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

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