The Most Eligible Viscount in London by Ella Quinn

Tracy rating: 3 of 5 stars

Series: The Lords of London, #2

Release Date: March 30, 2021

After months of courting Miss Georgiana “Georgie” Featherton is thrilled when Gavin, Viscount Turley, the man she loves, drops to one knee and proposes – but the proposal is lacking emotion, so instead of answering his question, she asks if he loves her and when he doesn’t reply, she rejects his proposal and leaves the room without another word. Heartbroken, she reveals all to her grandmother and agrees to leave town for a bit. While visiting with her dear friend Adeline Littleton – whose husband Frits just happens to be Gavin’s best friend, she is invited to a house party and figures if Gavin doesn’t love her, she must get over her broken heart and hopefully find someone who will.

Gavin is stunned, he believed that Georgie was receptive to his suit and didn’t expect her to want a love match. Gavin likes Georgie and knows she would be the perfect wife – and if he could love anyone, he would love her. But after watching his father fall apart after losing his love, Gavin is not willing to risk his heart. So while he would happily give her the world, love is not something Gavin can give to her – or any woman. He wonders if there is any way, he can convince her to change her mind and when he learns she has gone to a house party with eligible young men, he takes the advice of his friends and goes after her. He ends up staying with Frits grandmother and her friends – who agree to “help” him win Georgie.

This was a very well-written book with a lot of potential to be an amazing story – but for me – it was boring. There are a lot of characters and the author set up many plot points that could have made this an exciting read, but each point was shot down before it could take flight – leading to a book with almost no conflict, drama, or passion. Overall, I found this to be a very vanilla read – pleasant but bland with nothing to get excited about and it is definitely not a book I would read again. This is the second book in the series, but it could easily be read as a standalone title.

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

Barbara’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: Mrs. Jeffries #39
Publication: 1/26/21
Number of Pages: 304

Thirty-Nine books into the series and I’m still loving it. The characters are as fresh and delightful today as they were in the first book. There is always a serious mystery to solve, but it is done with wit and charm galore. I always look forward to each new book because of its warmth, it’s family feel – all of the characters have the utmost respect and care for each other despite the differences in their stations in life. Each book is a delightful addition to the series, but you can also read each book as a standalone should you wish to do so – but you would be missing the character and relationship growth that has occurred in the previous books.

Inspector Nigel Nivens is in serious trouble – very serious trouble. If you’ve read the previous books, you know what a despicable piece of work he is. Now, there has been a heinous murder, and all of the evidence points to Nivens being the perpetrator. Nivens detests Inspector Witherspoon, yet now, not only his career but his life is in Witherspoon’s hands. LOVE IT!

Inspector Witherspoon is called into the Chief’s office and told that he has a new case. The case isn’t out of his station, but Witherspoon is being assigned nonetheless. There has been a murder in the East End and all of the evidence points to Nigel Nivens being the murderer. The overhead folks at Scotland Yard wouldn’t mind throwing the book at Nivens and getting rid of him, but they know they have to give the investigation every appearance of fairness. That is why they assign the case to Witherspoon – the most respected Inspector on the force.

Witherspoon doesn’t like Nivens, but he doesn’t believe he is capable of murder. However, the evidence is pretty clear. In Witherspoon’s view, the only way to conduct the investigation is to be unbiased and to start fresh and look at ALL of the clues, not just the obvious ones. As he investigates, he learns that there are many, many, many people who have reasons to want the victim dead.

I love that Inspector Witherspoon has an ‘unknown to him’ support team consisting of his housekeeper, maid, cook, coachman, and several interested friends who are helping him behind the scenes. I love how they quietly feed him the clues they have found without him even being aware that they’ve done it. That ‘support team’ has absolutely no love for Nivens because of the way he’s treated Witherspoon in the past, but they also don’t believe he’s guilty. They’ll help their inspector solve the crime no matter which way it goes.

I loved this book and enjoyed reading every word of it. I love the characters and the whole ‘family’ feel it has. I hope you’ll read this book, and this series, and that you’ll love it as much as I do. I even like that this book has departed from its norm and leaves a bit of a cliff-hanger for the end. I feel a set-up for a future story there 🙂

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