Tag: Mystery

A Body on the Doorstep

Fiercely independent Mabel Canning can’t wait to begin working for the Useful Women’s Agency. But when she discovers a body on her client’s doorstep, it’s time to add solving murders to her job description…

London, 1921: Mabel Canning is proud to be a modern woman working for the Useful Women’s Agency, carrying out tasks for gentlewomen from flower arranging to washing muddy dogs. But when she answers the door for wealthy widow Rosalind Despard, she almost chokes on her cucumber sandwich when she finds a soldier’s body on the doorstep.

As she offers tea to the policemen of Scotland Yard, Mabel can’t resist getting drawn into the investigation. Who was the mysterious dead man? And why was he holding a letter for Rosalind, written by her husband on the day he disappeared?

As Mabel hunts for clues, she joins forces with Rosalind’s handsome brother, former detective Park Winstone, and his adorable terrier, Gladys. But when Mabel suspects she is being followed, the detective duo know that time is running out before the killer strikes again.

As she investigates, Mabel discovers dusty old photographs that help her reveal the soldier’s true identity. But as she gets closer to uncovering the young man’s murderer, she knows she’s also one step closer to danger… Can she outsmart the killer and save Park and Rosalind before they also turn up dead as doornails?

A totally unputdownable and utterly charming Golden Age cozy mystery from USA Today bestselling author Marty Wingate. Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, Richard Osman, Verity Bright and T.E. Kinsey.

My Review:

A brilliant start to an exciting new historical cozy mystery series!

I love Marty Wingate’s storytelling. She has an incredible ability to create characters that are real and relatable and so easy to root for. Mabel is exactly that kind of heroine. And the fact that she considers herself at the young range of ‘middle age’ (she’s 32!) and therefore a perfect candidate for employment at the Useful Women’s Agency is so preposterously delightful!

But here we have Mabel new to London, fresh on the job and her first assignment leads to the discovery of a body on the doorstep! Gasp! Definitely not the kind of ‘gentlewoman task’ she set out to perform, but Mabel takes it all in stride and is soon enmeshed in her first investigation as an amateur sleuth.

The Golden Age vibes in this 1920s cozy hit just the right note. From social standards to the changing ‘modern’ times, this is London in transition at a pivotal time in history. I was just as excited as Mabel to experience all the wonders, drama and…yes, danger…this story provides. And just as intrigued by a cast of secondary characters who bring that much more depth and enjoyment to the story. Plus there’s the possibility of a romance brewing, which makes me all kinds of happy and eager to see what’s next for Mabel and her dashing former detective!

I thoroughly enjoyed listening the audio edition of this book. Naomi Frederick did a fantastic job of bringing these characters to life which increased my enjoyment factor that much more! Excellent storyteller paired with a talented narrator makes for an addictive listen!

My thanks to Net Galley for providing me with an audio book copy of A Body on the Doorstep.

Please Note: While not a Christian Fiction selection, this is a clean read — and charming to boot!

The Lost Boys of Barlowe Theater + Giveaway

Barlowe Theater stole the life of Greta Mercy’s brother during its construction. Now in 1915, the completed theater appears every bit as deadly. When Greta’s younger brother goes missing after breaking into the building, Greta engages the assistance of a local police officer to help her uncover the already ghostly secrets of the theater. But when help comes from an unlikely source, Greta decides that to save her family she must put the threat of the phantoms to rest.

Decades later, Kit Boyd’s best friend vanishes during a ghost walk at the Barlowe Theater, and old stories of mysterious disappearances and ghoulish happenings are revived. When television ghost-hunting host and skeptic Evan Fisher engages Kit in the quest to identify the truth behind the theater’s history, Kit reluctantly agrees to work with him in hopes of also finding out what happened to her friend. As the theater’s curse begins to unravel Kit’s own life, she sets out not only to save the historical building and her friend, but to end the pattern of evil that has marked their hometown for a century.

In this atmospheric dual-time tale, two women–separated by a century yet bound by the ghosts of the past–pursue light in the face of darkness.

My Review:

Epic Jaime Jo Wright! A bit of woo woo mystery with lots of eerie ambiance that you know has a sensible explanation but you just can’t figure it out. I was hooked from the opening line: “Sometimes death comes quietly.” Uh, yeah, I needed to read on!

Dual timelines — both with their own mystery — and I was invested in both equally. There’s also very light romance for both Greta and Kit…emphasis on the light though, but I liked the way it brings hope to the reader without shadowing the already murky waters of the mysteries.

And, oh, those mysteries! Blended to perfection by the end but made for a rabid read until then. I couldn’t put this book down though my poor eyes were screaming, “Rest! Rest! We need rest!” Huh, as if! And I was gobsmacked more than a few times — in both timelines.

Love the way the author wove in some humour amidst all the angst — especially in the current timeline. Kit is my kind of heroine. Impatient. Prickly. Stubborn.:

“Even now she could see Mom’s cautionary look that told Kit to breathe deep and let God be God.

“Maybe God wanted to work through her to slap Evan Fischer silly?” (p 55)

Bwahaha! Haven’t we all been there a time or two? But, whoa, this was also such an emotional read! I felt for both heroines and the complicated emotions churning within and around them. And the way they faced adversity with grit and courage and loyalty to those they loved. Made for such an intense read.

To sum up in one word: Unputdownable!

Book provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications Inc.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback and is available to any reader, any where — so, yay, another International Giveaway!

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Lost Boys of Barlowe Theater, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday December 16, 2023.

Shadows on the Sand + Giveaway

Random Retro Re-Read

She serves him breakfast at her cafe every morning…but he never seems to notice her.

Carrie Carter’s small cafe in Seaside New Jersey, is populated with a motley crew of locals…although Carrie only has eyes for Greg Barnes. He’s recovering from a vicious crime that three years ago took the lives of his wife and children — and from the year he tried to drink his reality away.  While her heart does a happy Snoopy dance at the sight of him, he never seems to notice her.

When Carrie’s a dishwasher is killed and her young waitress disappears, Greg finds himself drawn into helping Carrie solve the mysteries…and into her life. But when Carrie’s own painful past becomes all too present, her carefully constructed world begins to sink.

Will the fragile relationship she’s building with Greg implode from the weight of the baggage they both carry?

My Review:

published in 2011

I was organizing my bookshelves (translation — trying to fit more books into an already crammed bookcase) and came upon this gem from twelve years ago. I started reading and couldn’t stop. My original review is below, but I just wanted to mention…or muse over…how much the mystery/suspense genre has changed over the years. This one is almost cozy — in the way we’re given a glimpse into the lives of the people who frequent Carrie’s cafe — as well as her own personal backstory. The mystery is there, gradually building as the story progresses, but sometimes it’s in the background in order to allow these characters to shine. I really enjoyed the different pacing and the way it all balances out so beautifully by the end. 🙂

—–

I completely and utterly adored this book! I mean how can you resist a heroine who describes her heart doing a happy Snoopy dance at the sight of the hero? And when things heat up she declares, “No way could Snoopy move his feet fast enough to keep up with my tap-dancing heart.” (pg 186) I could totally relate to Carrie on that point alone. But of course there is much more to this complex character, including a gnarly past that she hasn’t quite left behind.

Greg has his own issues too but he finds himself surprised by his sudden desire to enter the land of the living again. Carrie has a lot to do with his change of heart and that scares him. His emotional struggle is a strong thread in the story — achingly touching and I had a real wow factor once I’d finished the book and read the author’s note at the end.

The mystery/suspense is incredibly well developed — the kind where the reader is handed the clues at the same time as the hero and heroine. We try to solve the mystery together and it totally surprised me…multiple times. A really riveting read, which is what you want in a suspense. 

Roper’s writing style is unique in that she mixes POV. Carrie’s is in first person, but all the other characters are written in third person. You’d think it would make for a disjointed read, but somehow Roper makes it work. The story flows into the page-turning kind that you want to devour in one sitting. Highly recommended for lovers of mystery/suspense.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback copy and open to any reader, anywhere in the world — so, yay, another International Giveaway!

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Shadows on the Sand, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easier for me to spot. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday November 11 2023. Offer open to International Readers.

A Murderous Charade + Giveaway

A timeless villainy, a growing love, and the couple who battles them both . . .

Miss Marianne Beaumont, a spinster, and her younger sister are on their way home from a night at the theater when they come upon a townhouse fire. They stop to help the victims, including Mr. James Harcourt, a confirmed bachelor, and his parents Sir and Lady Harcourt. Although Mr. Harcourt distrusts the beau monde, he accepts Marianne’s ministrations. That should have been the end of their association, but then a folded piece of paper shaped like a chameleon slips out of his mother’s sleeve. It’s an ornament Marianne has come across only one time before—next to her father’s dead body.

Recognizing that ornament—an orikata—might at last help her catch her father’s killer, Marianne joins forces with Mr. Harcourt. He has a penchant for solving mysteries and has been searching for the elusive criminal who uses that identifier.

Together—with a chaperone, of course—their investigations take them from one baffling clue to another. But the closer they get to finding their answers, the more they discover that all isn’t as it seems, and the dangers are more sinister—and personal—than they’d realized.

A gripping Regency cozy mystery packed with romance and secrets.

My Review:

I’m patting myself on the back over this gem of a find! Not even sure how I stumbled onto it — Good Reads or Audible browsing, I’m guessing. The cover intrigued me enough to dig deeper and, voila, new-to-me author turns into must-read author after spending a few hours in the company of Marianne and the enigmatic Mr. Harcourt.

A Regency Mystery with swoon factor — can a reader ask for anything more? Well, yes, if that includes a secret society seeking justice. And an illusive foe who threatens their very existence. Eeeeep!!! And this is just the first book in the Relentless Society Mystery series which has me all discombobulated in anticipation of the next instalment!

While there is closure on some aspects of the mystery by the end of this first book, it’s clear that Marianne and James have more work to do! Their alliance started out rocky, developed into friendship and is at the brink of becoming something much deeper which makes the anticipation for book two all the more excruciating!

A brilliant mix of Regency, mystery and romance.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

ebook available to anyone, anywhere who has a .com (US) Kindle account

US — paperback or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada — paperback or ebook (via a gift card to Canadian Amazon) or audible (.ca)

If you would like a chance to win a copy of A Murderous Charade, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday September 23, 2023

The Swindler’s Daughter + Giveaway

A surprise inheritance. A cache of family secrets. A choice that will change her life forever.

Lillian Doyle has lived her entire high-society life with her widowed mother, believing her father died long ago. But when news arrives that her estranged father only recently passed away–in jail–Lillian is startled to find that the man has left a business and all of his possessions to her, making her a rather unusual heiress.

When she goes to take possession of her father’s house in a backwoods Georgia town, the dilapidated structure is already occupied by another woman who claims it was promised to her son, Jonah. In her attempts to untangle the mess, Lillian will discover not only a family she never knew she had but a family business that is more than meets the eye–and has put a target on her back.

To discover the truth and take hold of the independence she’s always dreamed of, she’ll have to make friends with adversaries and strangers–especially Jonah, the dusty and unrefined cowboy who has secret aspirations of his own.

My Review:

First off, I have to deep dive into a cover love swoon because there is just something so appealing about that portrait of Lillian! So pretty and eye-catching with those bold choices of colour…and yes, clearly a young lady in the early 1900s would not be wearing bright lipstick but still, I think it captures her essence and provides a lovely introduction to the heroine waiting within.

The story starts in a lawyer’s office where Lillian’s life is turned upside down and builds from there. The first part of the book focuses on Lillian coming to grips with the idea of an inheritance from a father she never knew. Her grandiose ideas of what that inheritance entails takes a nose dive when she finally arrives to claim it — and discovers so much more than she bargained for.

Like an extended family she never knew about and a run down house inhabited but a strange woman who is convinced it’s owned by her son….and the son! Oy — Jonah doesn’t make a good first impression (though Lillian plays a part in that) and neither is willing to trust the other so there’s lots of clashing wills and misunderstandings which is always fun. 🙂

But as Lillian begins to understand more about her father’s life, she discovers a mystery that grows from puzzling to downright sinister. Loved the way the plot builds as the author starts to pull together diverse bits of story into a compelling whole.

The Swindler’s Daughter is an intriguing mix of romance and mystery threaded together by faith.

Book provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications Inc.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

Paperback copy available internationally — so, yay, everybody’s included in this giveaway no matter where you live.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Swindler’s Daughter, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday May 27, 2023. Offer open to International Readers.

Worthy of Legend + Giveaway

After a summer of successful pirate-treasure hunting, Lady Emily Schofield and her friends must hide the unprecedented discoveries they’ve made, thanks to the betrayal of her own family. Horrified by her brother who will stop at nothing to prove himself to their greedy father, Emily is forced to take a stand against her family — even if it means being cut off entirely.

Bram Sinclair, Earl of Telford, is fascinated with tales of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table — an interest he’s kept mostly hidden for the last decade. But when a diary is unearthed on the island that could lead to a secret artifact, Bram is the only one able to piece the legends together.

As Bram and Emily seek out the whereabouts of the hidden artifact, they must dodge her family and a team of archaeologists. In a race against time, it is up to them to decide what makes a hero worthy of legend. Is it fighting valiantly to claim the treasure…or sacrificing everything in the name of selfless love?

My Review:

What do pirate lore, buried treasure and King Arthur’s legends have in common? A brilliant-minded, creative-thinking author named Roseanna M. White! ‘Worthy of Legend’ is the resounding conclusion to her ‘Secrets of the Isles’ series, full of adventure, danger, intrigue and, of course, toe-curling romance!

The mystery includes the vilest of villains and — gah — but I was steaming mad on Emily’s behalf so many times! The addition of Arthurian legends made this final book all the more captivating. Bram and Emily and the whole gang are united once again in a treasure hunting alliance that sends them on a fantastical quest they can hardly believe is real.

I’ll pause here to mention that I feel it would be best to read these books in order. You’ll have a better understanding of the large cast of characters and the history behind the pirate treasure and how everyone has come to the Isles. If you do decide to jump into the series at this point, just be patient, you’ll likely get the gist of things after a few chapters (though it might be a good idea to jot down some character notes as you go.)

There’s such depth in these characters and their personal growth and faith journeys are inspiring. “The Lord knew. The Lord saw her, no matter how dark and small the place in which she was locked. He saw her, and He cared enough to send someone to pray over her when she never would have asked for it.” (p 101)

Swashbuckling adventure + swoonworthy romance + the kind of friendships that are destined to last a lifetime = a memorable read that buoys the spirit and thrills the heart.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

SPECIAL NOTE: Because I think it is best to read this series in order, this giveaway is for the winner’s choice of EITHER #1 The Nature of a Lady, #2 To Treasure an Heiress or #3 Worthy of Legend. Please note your choice in your comment or email entry.

ebook for anyone anywhere who has an Amazon.com kindle account

US – paperback or ebook copy — winner’s choice

Canada -paperback or ebook (in form of an Amazon gift card) or audible.ca audio book â€“ winner’s choice

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Worthy of Legend (or the first or second book in the series), leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday May 13, 2023. Offer open to International Readers.

Against the Currant + Giveaway

Investigating a murder was never on the menu…but someone’s set the table for bakery owner Lyndsay Murray to take the fall.

Little Carribbean, Brooklyn, New York: Lyndsay Murray is opening Spice Isle Bakery with her family, and it’s everything she’s ever wanted. The West Indian bakery is her way to give back to the community she loves, stay connected to her Grenadian roots, and work side by side with her family. The only thing getting a rise out of Lyndsay is Claudio Fabrizi, a disgruntled fellow bakery owner who does not want any competition. On opening day, he comes into the bakery threatening to shut them down. Fed up, Lyndsay takes him to task in front of what seems to be the whole neighbourhood. So when Claudio turns up dead a day later — murdered — Lyndsay is unfortunately the prime suspect. To get the scent of suspicion off her and her bakery, Lyndsay has to prove she’s innocent — under the watchful eyes of her overprotective brother, anxious parents, and meddlesome extended family — what could go wrong?

My Review:

I’m happing dancing over my discovery of this new cozy mystery series for so many reasons!

Love the unique Brooklyn setting. Cozies tend to be set in small towns so a metropolitan locale is quite the departure from the genre. But Matthews still manages to create that same sense of community and, well, coziness factor, within the cultural backdrop of this Little Caribbean neighbourhood.

And the close-knit Murray family is awesome! Love the way they pull together to help Lyndsay achieve her dream. And Granny’s spitfire attitude kept me grinning. As much as her words of wisdom left me pondering. Love the way the author included snippets of West Indian culture and food throughout the read. It brought an extra dimension to the story.

Lyndsay possesses all the qualities I enjoy in my amateur sleuth heroines. She’s reluctant, but determined to find a way to deflect the police’s focus on her as a primes suspect and she has to really stretch out of her comfort zone to do that. She’s more of an introvert who likes to stick close to home and family, but when’s she’s passionate about a cause — and what better cause is there than to keep herself out of jail?! — well, she’s relentless. And she also possesses a very unique talent that proves quite useful in her crime fighting. 🙂 Plus, she’s smart, but not reckless — no TSTL stunts for this heroine!

Of course, her family has her back and she picks up a few friends along the way who are ready to stand by her. In fact, the whole neighbourhood is rooting for Lyndsay! A solid mystery with so many viable suspects I had a hard time picking out just one potential killer! Love when my armchair sleuthing skills get a workout during a mystery read.

And I’m super excited because — eeeepppp — the next book in the Spice Isle Bakery Mystery series is due to come out on May 23rd! Just a month to wait before I’ll be back with Lyndsay and her clan, experiencing more murder and mayhem, Caribbean style.

*Of note: this isn’t a Christian Fiction read, but it is a clean one and Lyndsay’s life revolves around her family, her bakery and church. Plus, this is a family that prayers together.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback or ebook copy — winner’s choice.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Against the Currant, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday April 29, 2023. Offer open to International Readers.

The Metropolitan Affair + Giveaway

Bestselling author Jocelyn Green sweeps you away in a dazzling novel of secrets, betrayal, and romance within one of New York City’s most esteemed museums.

For years her explorer father promised Dr. Lauren Westlake she’d accompany him on one of his Egyptian expeditions. But as the empty promises mounted, Lauren determined to earn her own way. Now the assistant curator of Egyptogoly for the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Lauren receives two unexpected invitations.

The first is her repentant father’s offer to finally bring her to Egypt as his colleague on a new expedition. The second is a chance to enter the world of New York’s wealthiest patrons who have been victims of fraud.

With Egyptomania sweeping the city after the discovery of King Tut’s tomb, Detective Joe Caravello is on the hunt for a notorious forger preying on the open wallets of New York’s high society. Dr. Westlake is just the expert he needs to help him track the criminal. Together they search for the truth, and the closer Lauren and Joe get to discovering the forger’s identity, the more entangled they become in a web of deception and crime.

My Review:

Phew! This is the kind of read that is so well plotted that you want to take your time to savour every nuance of scene and character but, at the same time, you are impatient to get all the pieces put together and bask in the happily ever after! Such a reader dilemma! To race or relish? I confess to doing both, and revelling in it all.

The Second Chance Romance trope is one of my favourites and this one has lots of delicious layers to dig through. A chance childhood meeting sparked an unusual friendship, complicated by differences in class and education that eventually separated Lauren and Joe. Until a not-so-chance meeting reunited them and then the fun begins.

Gah, but my emotions were all over the place during this read. I loved Lauren but don’t get me started on her naivety. I was forever cautioning her, but did she listen? She did not! Luckily Joe is more grounded — the life of a New York City police detective (with scruples) will do that to a guy. Absolutely loved the depth in both their back stories, their complicated (and distinctly different) family relationships and the way all of that played into the story.

And the whole ‘Egyptomania’ craze both irked and enthralled me. The historical details are riveting (I wouldn’t expect anything else from this author, but it bears saying anyway.) I’d get so steamed up over all these wealthy patrons of the arts who thought nothing of robbing a nation of their priceless antiquities for their own private collections! And then I’d be confounded by the irresistible draw all the Egyptology details held over me. And that made me wonder if I’d have been any different as a high society matron back in the day. And that just made me cranky. 🙂

Green blends history and mystery to create a captivating tale of greed and deception nicely contrasted with faith and love and the kind of insurmountable hope God can bring into our future.

Book provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Marthin Communications Inc.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback copy.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Metropolitan Affair, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday April 8, 2023. Offer open to International Readers.

Double the Lies + Giveaway

In the second instalment of Patricia Raybon’s critically acclaimed mystery series, amateur detective Annalee Spain races the clock to solve the murder of a handsome young pilot before she is framed for the crime — and before his dashing twin falls head over heels for her, tempting her promised heart.

On a cold spring night in 1924, Annalee Spain offers her new fancy lace handkerchief — a gift from her pastor boyfriend Jack Blake — to a young woman crying in a Denver public library. But later that night, when police find the handkerchief next to the body of the young woman’s murdered husband, Annalee become the number one suspect, and her panic doubles when she learns that Jack has gone missing.

With just days to solve the murder before the city’s Klan-run police frame her for the crime, Annalee finds herself hunting for clues in the Colorado mountain town of Estes Park. She questions the victim’s wife and her uncle, a wealthy Denver banker, at their mountain lodge, desperate for leads. Instead, she finds a household full of suspects and even more burning questions. Who keeps threatening her, wh can’t she find Jack, and will a dangerous flirtation be her undoing? Her answers plumb the depths of the human heart, including her own, exploring long-buried secrets, family lies, even city politics — all of which could cost the young detective her fledgling love…and perhaps even her life.

My Review:

Annalee! Annaleee!! Annalee!!! You made my heart hurt and my blood pressure rise and I loved every minute of it! I’m a glutton for punishment when it comes to angsty reads, I guess. And, while I loved All That Is Secret, I loved Double the Lies that much more.

Annalee Spain, an up and coming private investigator, has her work cut out for her. Especially since she’s a Black woman in 1920s Denver — a town run by the Klan. So, Annalee doesn’t just have a twisty-turny mystery to solve, but the added complication of trying to do it while dodging police and the blatant prejudice that prevents her from going about her investigation in a direct manor. Gah, but my blood boiled over some the situations she faced.

Annalee is brash and headstrong and impulsive — traits that both help and hinder her work. And the way she throws herself into some alarming situations kept me in a panic stricken state for most of the read. She’d no sooner get out of one dire predicament than she’d rush headlong into another one. Mercy, but that girl has guts and grit!

Loved the depth in characterization — Annalee is an ever-evolving heroine and I appreciate the growth she makes not only through the series, but within this book in particular. And a lot of that comes about through the aid of some incredible secondary characters. I am attached to so many of them now! Plain speaking Mrs. Mason is an all time favourite . She kind of reminds me of a Marilla and a Rachel Lynde mash up (aka Anne of Green Gables.)

Double the Lies is the second book in the Annalee Spain Mystery series and, while it could be read out of order, there are some spoilers from the first book — from both the mystery and Annalee’s personal life, so I think it’s best if you read the books in order. Your read(s) will be all the richer for it.

History, mystery and faith make for a winning combination.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

*IMPORTANT NOTE:* Because I think The Annalee Mystery series should be read in order, this giveaway is for either book one, All That Is Secret (Christy Award Winner) or book two, Double the Lies — Winner’s choice, in either paperback or ebook, again, winner’s choice.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of All that is Secret OR Double the Lies, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday March 11, 2023. Offer open to International Readers.

Beneath His Silence + Giveaway

Will seeking justice lead to her own demise?

A Gothic Style Regency Romance from a promising young author

Second daughter of a baron — and a little on the mischievous side — Ella Pemberton is no governess. But the pretence is a necessity if she ever wishes to get inside of Wychkhorn Manor and attain the truth. Exposing the man who killed her sister is all that matters.

Lord Sedgewick knows there’s blood on his hands. Lies have been conceived, then more lies but the price of truth would be too great. All he has left now is his son — and his hatred. Yet as the charming governess invades his home, his safe cocoon of bitterness begins to tear away.

Could Ella, despite the lingering questions of his guilt, fall in love with such a man? Or is she falling prey to him — just as her dead sister?

My Review:

Well, I’m gobsmacked by this debut novel! Very Jane Eyre-esque with Gothic undertones. Lots of emotional angst and high drama that peaks by the end. And so much character growth! Which is a good thing because Ella’s obsession with seeking vengeance over her sister’s death was a bit hard to take in the beginning. She is full of self-righteous indignation and preconceived assumptions based on her late father’s consuming hatred. And now she feels compelled to carry on his crusade to destroy Lord Sedgewick.

If you like brooding heroes you will definitely be drawn to poor Henry. He fits the Mr. Rochester archetype — with one major difference. Henry constantly leans into his faith. Imperfectly, maybe, because he still struggles with bitterness and unforgiveness but he never turns away from God. Very realistic and relatable.

So, Ella arrives at Wychkhorn Manor under false pretences, intent on exposing the dark truth about Lord Sedgewick. She isn’t prepared to fall in love with her young charge — the nephew she’s never met before (gah, and I wanted to know why — the family had no contact with the older sister, didn’t even attend the wedding and that was never explained. My mind is working overtime thinking up credible possibilities.) Of course, Ella is about as ungovernessy a governess as they come. She’s also opinionated and impulsive which makes for some interesting cutting-edge banter. And I do so love great banter in my Regencies!

Very much an enemies to more trope and I love the way the author developed the relationship that grows between Henry and Ella. It’s all two steps forward, one step back and full of self-doubts and erroneous assumptions. You never met two more reluctant would-be-lovers! And I enjoyed every second!

And the Manor had a character all its own. Steeped in tragedy and hiding so many secrets! I was on tenterhooks the whole read trying to piece everything together. From the closed mouth servants to Ella’s feelings of being watched, to…well, I can’t say any more without posting spoilers…but, eeeeppp, deliciously mysterious.

I listened to the audible edition of Beneath His Silence and enjoyed Anna Flosnik’s narration. Her performance enhanced the Gothic vibes and kept me riveted.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback or ebook copy.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Beneath His Silence, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday March 11, 2023. Offer open to International Readers.