Mystery – Flippin' Pages Book Reviews

Never Spar with a Viscount by Lindsay Lovise

Series: Secret Society of Governess Spies #3

Release Date: March 10, 2026

After refusing to wed the man her father selected for her, Miss Ivy Bennett decided to live life on her terms, she took a position as governess to new Viscount Brackley’s young sisters and has done her best to steer clear of the man. But when the Dove, founder of Perdita’s, the most exclusive governess school in England, recruits her investigate the new viscount as he has been sighted leaving the homes of several residences in London where the ladies of the house have fallen victim to “female hysteria”, she has no choice but to interact with the man. The more time she spends with Owen Brackley, the harder it is to believe that he is responsible for the problems in London. When Ivy’s eldest brother, Barnes, who happens to be Owen’s former best friend, shows up with news that their father has a new suitor for her, Owen suggests they pretend to be courting, to save them both from their family’s interference. Owen promises to help Ivy catch the eye of the man she really wants to marry and she will keep his meddling, matchmaking stepmother at bay. It seems like the perfect plan, until she falls in love with him.

Owen Brackley has been living abroad for years building up a successful horse breeding business, a business he intended to start with Barnes. But shortly before they were set to graduate from Harrow and start their business, Barnes punches Owen and cuts all ties with him with no explanation. Now years later, it is clear that Barnes still hates him and Owen still has no idea why, so it gives him bit of perverse joy in tweaking his nose by courting Ivy. He tells himself that he really means to help Ivy win the husband of her dreams, but the heart wants what the heart wants and his heart wants Ivy. But before they can claim their HEA, they will need to solve the mystery of what is causing the female hysteria and clear Owen’s name.

As with the previous books in this series, this story is well written, nicely paced and filled with likable characters that you want to root for. Owen and Ivy have both survived awful fathers and have lived life on their own terms. I thought the author did a great job of describing the abuse they endured without being graphic, so even sensitive readers should be able to enjoy this story. In addition to Owen and Ivy, there are a lot of entertaining secondary characters, including Owen’s 8 young sisters, Ivy’s brother Barnes and her friend Diane, who all add a lot of laughter and lightness to this story. The book has wonderful characters, a great mystery, secrets, steamyish love scenes, witty banter, adorable little girls, suspense, surprising revelations and finally a happy ending complete with an epilogue. I really enjoyed this story and would happily recommend this title to my fellow HR readers. This is the third book in the series, but it could easily be read as a standalone title with no problems.

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

The Bewitching Miss Blair by Darcy McGuire

Tracy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Series: The Society of Scandalous Witches, #1

Release Date: March 1, 2026

When Clio Blair’s Uncle Lachlan MacDougal, a superintendent with Scotland Yard asks for her help in solving a murder/missing person case, she is happy to help. Clio has secrets, the main one being she is a fire witch and has the ability to talk to ghosts, so she understands why Uncle Lachlan asked for her help, but what she doesn’t understand is why he also asked Lieutenant General Thomas Grey to assist in the case! She finds the man completely insufferable, but to her dismay, she is attracted to him and for some reason can’t stop thinking about him. She tries hard to keep her secrets from him, but the longer they work together to solve Viscount Beachley’s murder and his wife’s disappearance, the harder it is. Especially when she begins having visions about him and finds herself falling for the last man she should ever want!

Lieutenant General Thomas Grey knows that Lachlan asked for his help because of his connections to the peerage. As the second son of an Earl, he has access to people and places that a commoner like Clio wouldn’t have. He is fascinated by her, but Thomas has his own secrets and knows that he isn’t fit for any woman, least of Clio. He tries to keep her at arm’s length, but as he unravels her secrets and truth about Viscount’s murder starts to come to light, his desire to keep her safe becomes overwhelming, even though it is clear that Clio can protect herself. Can he let himself fall for her, trust her with his truth and have the happily ever that has always evaded him or is he too broken?

I have mixed feelings about this book, on one hand, I loved the magic and the mystery, and I thought the book was well-written. But I wasn’t a fan of some of the story elements – like Clio’s familiar, a raven named Sir Robin Goodfellow – I have no idea why the raven was so nasty and foulmouthed – it made no sense to me, plus it was just hard to believe that it was just accepted that she walked around with a raven on her shoulder in Victorian England. I also felt like the animosity between Clio and Thomas was dragged out for way too long, it made it hard for me to believe they fell in love so quickly when they were so hostile for a good portion of the book. Neither of these things ruined the book for me, but I had a hard time accepting the final outcome of the mystery – I can’t say more without a spoiler, but it just didn’t work for me. Overall, I liked the story and would read the next installment, but I don’t think I would read this book again. If you are looking for a slightly spicy, enemies to lovers story with a paranormal twist and a bit of mystery, then I would suggest giving this book a try.

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

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