Key Mishaps in Lower Dimblebrook by Julie Butterfield

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Contemporary, MysteryLeave a comment

Barbara’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Isabelle Darby Cozy Village Mysteries #3
Publication Date: 5/14/21
Period: Contemporary – Cotswolds, United Kingdom
Number of Pages: 217

This author grabbed my attention when I stumbled across her first book in this series, Deadly Whispers in Lower Dimblebrook. The series is fun with its delightful characters who make up the population of Lower Dimblebrook – plus the handsome, smart, dour, and grumpy DCI Wainwright who has to come in and investigate all of the murders that have been happening over the last year.

About a year or so ago, Isabelle Darby (Issie) moved to the quaint village to recover from her broken marriage and begin again. Her intention was to move to the village and just hide out, not meet the residents and certainly not come to like and care for them. A year ago, she was agape that they made their own jams and jellies, did a regular tea service with real brewed tea and all of the accompaniments, and cooked their meals at home. Now, she can’t imagine someone coming to her door and not offering them a full tea service. She hasn’t gotten into the jam and jelly making yet – but she thinks she might get into that this summer. Ah – and she hopes there is a man in her life – DCI Dave Wainwright. He’s been off on temporary assignment in the big city for the last ten weeks, but he’s due back any time now and she hopes what had started before he left will still be there when he returns.

Issie absolutely loves spring in her beautiful village. The flowers are abundant, the smells are delightful, and everyone in the village stops what they are doing to wave and say hello as she walks by. This morning, she is on her way to feed Cleo, Mr. Donald Babbington’s cat. Mr. Babbington left this morning for an overnight trip to visit his aging mother in a nearby city. He is such a sweet and gentle man and was born and raised right there in their small village. Cleo is a very spoiled cat and expects to receive her meal promptly at 12:30 PM or she gets very upset. Issie has timed it just perfectly to arrive at the house, retrieve the key from under the mat, obtain the specially prepared food from the kitchen, and serve Cleo at precisely the right time. That is – until things go wrong – really, really, really wrong.

After returning from his temporary assignment, DCI Wainwright didn’t expect his first sighting of Issie to be at the scene of yet another murder in Lower Dimblebrook. Goodness, he just wanted to spend time with her – but he can’t – he has to treat her as any other witness to a murder. Can he do that?

DCI Wainwright and his assistant DC Cotterill have little to go on. Any slim lead they get seems to wither almost as soon as they find it. Somebody murdered Mr. Babbington and they cannot figure out who or why. Then, what is it with all of the keys that keep disappearing and showing up in strange places? Are they a diversion to keep the detectives distracted? Can Issie stay out of his investigation this time?

This was a delightfully entertaining and fun read. The mystery was great, the characters were interesting and compelling – and yes – there was a bit of romance. I simply must have a bit of romance in my mysteries. The romance was certainly secondary to the mystery, so don’t worry about that if you aren’t a romance fan. Now, I can hardly wait for the next book!

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

Catch a Falling Duke by Eve Pendle

On By TracyIn Tracy's Reviews, Victorian Era (1837-1901)Leave a comment

Catch a Falling Duke (Fallen, #3)Catch a Falling Duke by Eve Pendle

Tracy’s rating: 3 of 5 stars

Series: Fallen, #3

Release Date: May 26, 2021

When shortly after inheriting, Hugo Ravensthorpe, the fourth Duke of Cumbria learns that much of his family’s wealth came from a plantation with slaves that they owned in British Guiana until slavery was abolished 50 years ago– he is appalled and sicken. He cannot believe his grandfather owned slaves and refuses to live in a house built from the profits of that slavery. With no idea how to right the wrongs his grandfather made, he leaves Keisley Park and sets out for London to see his sister Emily and hopefully figure out what he can do to make things right. He stops for the night at a small inn and witnesses a man harassing a lone woman and intervenes by claiming to be her husband.

Widow Beatrice “Bea” Fenton is shocked and a bit wary when a handsome stranger saves her from a man bent on seduction who won’t take no for an answer. She invites Hugo to join her for dinner and they enjoy a pleasant meal, he doesn’t tell her he is a duke and is vague about his reason for traveling to the village, she reveals she is the owner of a dairy farm and has come to the village to attend the fair, hoping to find someone her mother knew years ago. After dinner, Hugo tries to get a room and learns because of the fair the inn is booked – now it is Bea’s turn to save him and insists he shares her room. Once they are alone, she makes an offer – one night of passion. An offer Hugo tries to decline, but Bea assures him she is barren and that after their night together, they will part ways with no obligations or regrets. He finally agrees and they share an incredible night together are reluctant to part the next morning. Hugo offers to spend the day with her and help her find the man she is looking for – an offer she willingly accepts. After a day spent with no success, they return to the inn ready to part ways when the innkeeper gives them a lead and their “one night” extends to two and after following the lead, which ends with Bea getting a surprising shock and Hugo sharing his shameful secret and his true identity, they spend a third night together.

The next morning, he proposes, she refuses and they part ways. He returns to London with a broken heart and a plan to right the wrongs of his grandfather. She returns to her farm equally heartsore – but sure she made the right decision. Weeks have passed when she learns his address by chance and writes to him. He takes it as an invitation to visit her and decides that this time, he will woo her and prove that they belong together.

This was not your run-of-the-mill historical romance, it was a well-written story with a distinct political message wound around the romance of an unlikely couple. The book started out interesting but after they parted ways, it became a bit dull and Bea’s refusal to marry Hugo dragged on for too long. And then there is the current trend of authors superimposing 21st-century morals and ideals into the past and ignoring the actual morals and laws of the era. This is the third book in the series, but it could easily be read as a standalone title with no problem. There are some things that might be considered triggers to some readers, such as infertility, slavery, reparations, and illegitimacy. I believe the author did her best to handle these issues with consideration and sensitivity, but if these things upset you, be aware that they are prevalent in the story.

*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. *