Category: Barb’s Reviews

Two Weddings and a Murder by Alyssa Maxwell

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, George V - 1910- 1936, Historical Mystery, Interwar Period (Nov 1918 - Sep 1939), New To Me Author, Part of a SeriesLeave a comment

Two Weddings and a Murder (A Lady and Lady's Maid Mystery #9)

Barbara’s rating: 3.5 out of 5 Stars
Series: A Lady & Lady’s Maid Mystery #9
Publication Date: 2/25/25
Period: Inter-War (1922)
Number of Pages: 272

I enjoy reading historical mysteries and am always on the lookout for new-to-me authors. When I saw this book, I just had to try it and the author. I didn’t notice that it was the final book in the series, but that was not a problem. I had no trouble reading this as a standalone and following the characters and storyline.

Lady Phoebe Renshaw and her betrothed, Owen Seabright, are celebrating their wedding with friends, relatives, and servants and it is a joyous occasion for all. Eva Huntford, Phoebe’s lady’s maid, is especially joyful because she has served as both maid and close friend for many years – and she has a romance of her own. Speaking of Eva’s romance, why was he a no-show at Phoebe’s wedding ceremony?

Constable Miles Brannock finally arrives only to announce the murder of Chief Inspector Isaac Perkins had caused his delay. Oh! My! While Perkins was not well-liked, who would dislike him enough to murder him? Miles quickly begins his investigation only to be supplanted by a brutish Inspector from Scotland Yard – AND – that inspector quickly decides Miles is the murderer and arrests him.

Lady Phoebe and Owen quickly postpone their honeymoon to help Eva investigate because they are all positive Miles is not the murderer. There are many suspects – including Phoebe’s elderly aunt, Phoebe’s uncle Greville, a local farmer, a gypsy, and more. With many disparate suspects and no clues, the investigation is filled with twists, turns, and surprises.

I enjoyed the mystery and the characters, but, for me, the story seemed to drag. It was not a fast-paced, exciting mystery; but more of a slow-paced investigation. I also enjoyed seeing the storylines for the series all neatly tied up with the appropriate HEAs and good feelings all around. I would have liked to see a wrap-up for Uncle Greville and his wife Giovanna since they were front and center throughout much of the book. We learn the motives for their appearance in England, but there is no wrap-up. I would have liked to see Grampapa deal with them, but now we will never know.

While I enjoyed the mystery and the characters, I wasn’t inspired to go back and read the first books in the series. Perhaps that is because I wasn’t already invested in the characters due to that lack -I don’t know.

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

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21 Days with the Lyon by Shana Galen

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Part of a Series, Regency Era (1811-1820)1 Comment

21 Days with the Lyon: The Lyon's Den Connected World

Barbara’s rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
Series: The Lyons Den Connected World
Publication Date: 2/12/24
Period: Regency
Number of Pages: 141

The besieged heiress and the lost gentleman. 😊 Bianca Featherswallow has a huge dowry which makes her a prime target for young lordlings with pockets-to-let. She’s managed to thwart three abductions so far – but sooner or later one will succeed. What is a concerned father to do? Why, take her to The Lyon’s Den for the matchmaking services of Mrs. Bessie Dove-Lyon. To their surprise, Mrs. Dove-Lyon already has the perfect match in mind for Bianca, but he is the pig-headed and stubborn sort who likes to feel he’s made his own choices rather than being prodded into it. So, with a plan to give them twenty-one days to get to know each other, Bianca will have to use her feminine wiles to convince him that he wants to marry her.

Theophile “Theo” Filliol is mired deep in grief and self-loathing. Because of that, he has been gambling and drinking at the Lyon’s Den and is deeply in debt – a debt he cannot pay. His lack of self-worth and his self-loathing are so ingrained that he hesitates to take up Mrs. Dove-Lyon’s offer to wipe his debt clean if he will protect a young heiress who has been besieged by not-so-honorable suitors. Protect the girl for 21 days and his debt is clear.

I loved these characters and was cheering for them to overcome their deep grief and emotional issues to find love and their own HEA. Can they heal each other? Can Theo learn to forgive himself? It is a lovely story of emotional growth and understanding.

We also meet Bianca’s sister Kitty in this story and she is a lively termagant. If you love her, you can find her story in the anthology A Duke By Any Other Name. While this book was more serious than frivolous, I found a few spots of humor – most notably Bianca’s attempts at seduction and Theo’s reactions to them. I also found the character names a tad humorous and kept chortling at the idea of them using hyphenated names – Featherswallow-Filliol. 😊 I also had to wonder why the father didn’t just drastically reduce the dowry until he saw a suitor he could agree to – but then – we wouldn’t have this lovely story.

I always enjoy this author’s stories and this was certainly no exception.

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

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