Category: Part of a Series

Revenge in the Rogue’s Hideaway by Deb Marlowe

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

Revenge in the Rogue's Hideaway (The Kier and Levett Mystery Series Book 4)

Barbara’s rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
Series: The Kier and Levett Mysteries #4
Publication Date: 4/3/24
Period: Victorian London
Number of Pages: 254

Yet another outstanding entry into this author’s cozy mystery series, The Kier and Levett Mysteries. It has the perfect balance of mystery and romance and will keep you glued to your chair throughout. If you read the last book, you will know there was a shocking revelation about Niall’s parentage. Well, there is a shocking revelation in this book as well, but I won’t tell you what it is – you’ll just have to read it to see.

Josie Lowe, who helped save Niall’s bacon when he was captured by those nasty League men weeks ago, now needs saving. Josie’s riveting voice has been pulling patrons into the Rogues Hideaway for a while now and when she sings, the audience is rapt. They love her, and her wealthy patron, Mr. Frederick Cole, attends every performance. However, things change swiftly when, directly after her performance, Mr. Cole dies of poisoning and Josie is arrested for his murder.

With his ruthless business practices, Mr. Cole had no shortage of enemies, but would they be willing to kill? One of them must have because it surely wasn’t Josie. Could it be the wife who isn’t grieving at all? Perhaps it was the business partners whom he had made insanely rich, but who wanted more/different things? Could it be his illegitimate son who owns the Rogues Hideaway? With his acerbic personality, it could be anyone in London!

Kara and Niall have their work cut out for them when it comes to solving the mystery – but what of their romance? Well, Kara is ready to go forward, but Niall is still dragging his feet. Not that he doesn’t love Kara and wants to marry her – NO – it is that after the revelations about his parentage, he is afraid there may be reprisals against him and he doesn’t want anyone coming after Kara. So, no wedding in this book and I’m beginning to think there is a ‘no wedding’ theme here. 😊 I’m sure they’ll marry – I’m just not sure when. Do you realize Kara will become Kara Kier when they marry? Try saying that name quickly several times without putting a smile on your face. 😊 It sort of sounds medicinal, doesn’t it? 🙂

I would love it if this became a long-running series, but that is up to the author and the publisher. I do wish they would get on with the wedding though as I would love to see them work on cases as a married couple and see how the dynamics of that relationship will work. I’d also like to see some stories where Niall’s past isn’t an issue woven throughout. However – none of that keeps me from absolutely loving the series. The writing is excellent, the mystery is engrossing and will keep you guessing, and we get to know the characters better and better with each new entry. I can hardly wait for the next book in the series – Carnage From The Cursed Crown. Oh! Doesn’t that sound exciting?

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

The Earl’s Cinderella Countess by Amanda McCabe

On By TracyIn Georgian Era (1714-1837), Part of a Series, Regency Era (1811-1820), Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

The Earl's Cinderella Countess (Matchmakers of Bath, 1)The Earl’s Cinderella Countess by Amanda McCabe

Tracy’s rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Series: Matchmakers of Bath, #1

Release Date: March 26, 2024

Years ago Eleanor “Ella” St. Aubin fell head over heels in love with the boy next door, Fredrick “Fred” Canning, the younger son of the Earl of Fleetwood. They were the best of friends, despite Fred being five years older, but all that changed when her mother died and Fred leaves to join the army. The two lose touch, but Ella never forgot him, even followed gossip about him in the papers. When her father passes, she and her sister Mary relocate to Bath and join forces with an old school friend, Henrietta, the widowed Lady Briggs, starting a matchmaking agency; The St. Aubin and Briggs Confidential Agency. They have had some success, but are by no means rich, but they are content, and Ella has made peace with the past. But when the love of her life turns up in Bath, now the Earl of Fleetwood and in need of a rich wife, Ella will have to try and force down the feelings she thought long buried and help him find a wife, who can repair not only the fortunes of the earldom, but the wounds Fred now carries, both inside and out.

Fred Canning never imagined he would inherit the earldom, and at nineteen he went to London to join the army and in his heart of hearts, hoped to return someday and marry Ella. But he did things in London as a young man that made him feel that he was not worthy of her, then the war happened and he was sure he wasn’t worthy, and buries his feeling for her. Injured and heartsore, he returns to England when he learns that he has inherited the earldom after the deaths of his brother and father. To his dismay, the estate is in shambles and needs a fortune to restore it. He visits his stepmother in Bath, hoping for a small reprieve before he has to take on the duties of the estate. He knows what he has to do, but when he runs into Ella, he realizes his feelings for her never died and the thought of marrying anyone but her is impossible to imagine. But Ella is determined to find him a bride, will he be able to let her go and wed for duty?

This was a well-written story, but it did not live up to the expectations I had based on the title. No reviews that I have read have mentioned it, but when I see “Cinderella” in the title, there are certain expectations made about the story and there was nothing remotely Cinderella-like about this book – other than the heroine’s name is Ella. Aside from that this was a good story, just not the story I was hoping for. The story is sweet, with a friends to lovers trope, a second chance romance, great friends, the possibility of several other romances and finally a very sweet ending with two happy endings. This was a nice start to a new series and I am looking forward to Mary and Harry’s stories!

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