Book After Book

Publication: 25th August 2026 – Kensington Books

In Victorian England, Bath is the destination to restore a lady’s health. But after accompanying Mrs. Frogerton to the spa town, a poison-pen campaign and a locked-room murder lead lady’s companion Caroline Morton into troubled waters…

On the advice of her doctor, Mrs. Frogerton has arranged a visit to Bath to take the waters and regain her health and good spirits. While she reflects on her own next steps in light of her changing circumstances, Caroline goes with her to ensure the good lady’s well-being. Daily life in Bath takes on a routine of its own, with visits to the spa interspersed with social occasions and new acquaintances, including a group of women who live on Queen Square and gather to drink tea, play cards, and gossip.

When it comes to light that some of the ladies are recipients of poison pen letters, a rejuvenated Mrs. Frogerton offers to help. Sorting through the social dynamics of the group for motive and opportunity, she talks with the ladies while Caroline questions their companions.

The situation becomes more grave when Lady Greatmere, the oldest and most unpleasant of the ladies, is discovered strangled in her own locked drawing room, a half-finished epistle on her dressing table suggesting she might be the author of the poison pen letters. As Lady Greatmere’s companion falls under the suspicion of the Bath constabulary, Caroline and Mrs. Frogerton attempt to read between the lines to force the killer to come clean…

AMAZON

I’ve really enjoyed reading Miss Morton Takes the Waters. It was a fun and engaging read, the mystery was quite intriguing and it features two strong female protagonists which I quite liked. Also, I love the setting of Bath and its vivid descriptions and as I am writing this I realize that this is the third book I’ve read this month that is set in Bath (all historical fiction, some romance, some mystery, and I’ve enjoyed them all immensely).

The protagonist of the series is Caroline Morton, a resourceful young woman forced to find employment after her father ruined the family’s fortune. Her employer is Mrs. Frogerton, a wealthy (from trade, not aristocracy, which was a big difference at the time) open-minded lady who, after suffering some ill-health, travels to Bath to recover. The relationship between Caroline and Mrs. Frogerton is quite easy and respectful and almost on the same level, which was unusual at the time, and the theme of the relationship between a lady and her companion is quite central to the story as, throughout the novel, the author explores the different kinds of relationships between ladies and their companions.

Mrs. Frogerton and Caroline have rented rooms at Bath and their neighbours are of the greatest variety. They soon find out that they are all blackmailed by poison pen letters and when one of them is found murdered in a locked room, they start investigating, questioning their new friends and uncovering secrets. Overall, the plot was diverting, with a few surprises, a steady pace, and an interesting cast of characters.

I read Miss Morton Takes the Waters, the fifth book in the Miss Morton series, without having read the previous books, so I can say that it can easily be read as a stand-alone, as there are many references to past events, but I am looking forward to reading them all!

A huge thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for providing me with a proof of this intriguing novel.

Catherine Lloyd is the acclaimed author of Regency-set historical mysteries, including the Kurland St. Mary Mystery series and the Miss Morton Mysteries. Born just outside London, England into a large family of dreamers, artists, and history lovers, she holds a master’s degree in history from the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth. She currently lives with her family in the UK and can be found online at Catherine-Lloyd.com.

Publication: 13th August 2026 – Zaffre Books

A mysterious letter. A silenced scholar. A city paved with injustice.

When mysterious symbols appear as graffiti around Oxford, lexicographer Martha Thornhill recognises them from an alphabet created by a deceased writer whose papers she once worked on. But this is no publicity stunt, and tensions intensify when further graffiti is found near the body of a university lecturer.

Martha is not the only one to have doubts when the suspicious death is assumed by police to be a suicide. Called upon to lend their linguistic expertise to the case, she and her colleagues begin to unearth a tragedy that extends beyond the ancient walls of the university. As new messages portend more death, it’s clear that a spirit of vengeance is stalking the city’s streets, and may be reaching out towards them too.

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Death Writ Large is the second book in the Clarendon Lexicographer series, but, even though I follow the author on social media and love her linguistic posts, somehow I missed that there was a first book until I was already fully immersed in the story of this second book. Anyway, even though I am confused about a few things about the protagonist’s past (I am going to read Guilty by Definition soon!) I still really enjoyed this novel: I loved the mystery, the cast of characters is interesting and well-written, the setting of Oxford is quite atmospheric (and it’s one of my favourite places in the world), and I found the world of lexicography interesting.

A man falls to his death from a church tower. Is it suicide or someone pushed him? The runes appearing all around Oxford make the police think there is more to the story than an academic lecturer killing himself and Martha, senior editor at the Clarendon English Dictionary, and her friends are there to help the police figure it out.

The plot is clever, intriguing, and well-developed. I loved how Martha and her friends use their knowledge of the language, explaining words and their origins, to decipher the runes invented by a fictional contemporary of Tolkien, how the mystery, full of secrets and enigmatic clues, blends with their private lives, which are interesting as well. I really enjoyed Death Writ Large, it is a compelling and fascinating read, and I look forward to reading more from this author! 

A huge thank you to Bonnier and NetGalley for providing me with a proof of this novel!

Susie Dent is a writer and broadcaster on language. She recently celebrated thirty years as a co-presenter and resident word expert on Channel 4’s Countdown, and also appears on the show’s comedy sister 8 out of 10 Cats Does Countdown. Susie comments regularly on TV and radio on words in the news, and is the author of several non-fiction books on words and language. Her debut novel, Guilty by Definition, was an instant Sunday Times bestseller and was shortlisted for Book of the Year – Crime/Thriller at the British Book Awards 2025.

Publication: 13th August 2026 – Century

The new authorised novel from Georgette Heyer, the original Queen of Regency Romance -written by SUNDAY TIMES bestselling author Sophie Irwin – perfect for fans of Bridgerton!


Henrietta has secretly loved Arthur, Lord Allerton, since childhood. He is the only man who is interested in her rather than her fortune – just not in the way that she wants.

After three years away at war, Arthur has returned to London to find everything changed. His finances are ruined, his family in chaos. And sweet, shy Hetty is … different.

For Hetty has set herself a challenge: she has one summer to become the charming, dashing Diamond she’s always wished to be. And either Arthur will notice her, or she’ll give up her dreams entirely.

But in a glittering Season plagued by scandal and intrigue, is there still room for love… ?

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Being a huge fan of Georgette Heyer’s novels, which I am still going through, and having enjoyed Sophie Irwin’s previous novels I was really looking forward to reading Henrietta and, despite a bit of a slow start and a more modern language, I really enjoyed it.

The story of Henrietta and Arthur reminded me a bit of Penelope and Colin’s story in Bridgerton. They are childhood friends raised together when she became a ward of the Allerton family as her father travels around the world as a renowned professor. She’s always been in love with Arthur while for him, she’s always been only his close confidant. And while at balls Arthur charmed all the women, Hetty was on the sidelines watching and hoping. On returning to London after three years in Europe fighting in the Peninsula war, Arthur finds Hetty changed and offers to help her win over an imaginary European noble Hetty is supposed to be in love with, not realising that her unrequired love is himself.

Henrietta is a charming and enjoyable read: there are fake relationships, embarrassing misunderstandings, duels, elopements, and some quite hilarious scenes. I liked the character of Henrietta. She is funny, clever, and loyal, and always ready to help others. I wasn’t a big fan of Arthur (a bit too self-righteous), but I liked his siblings, daring debutante Trixie and wannabe dandy Timothy. Overall, Henrietta is a witty, warm, and amusing Regency romance that kept me entertained from start to finish.

A huge thank you to Century and NetGalley for providing me with a proof of this fantastic novel.

Sophie Irwin grew up in Dorset. She spent years immersed in historical fiction, first as a student when she wrote her undergraduate thesis on Georgette Heyer, and then as an editor, before she began writing her own. Her debut novel, A Lady’s Guide to Fortune Hunting, was a Sunday Times bestseller, and has been translated into twenty languages worldwide.

Publication: 28th July 2026 – Headline Eternal

There is nothing Duke Leopold Sloane takes more seriously than the safety of those he loves. So, when one of his sisters is injured at a protest rally, he drags his family to Bath for the summer, hiring a chaperone to keep them safe. The one thing he doesn’t plan for is his overwhelming but inexplicable attraction to the chaperone herself – an outspoken conundrum of a woman who soon causes him more trouble than both his sisters combined.

From the moment Portia Kendall read her first revolutionary pamphlet, she realised her true calling was to make the world a fairer place. That led her to Equitas, a radical newspaper championing reform. But writing doesn’t pay the bills, and to make a living, she must push aside her principles and serve the very people she despises. Working as a chaperone in a rich family couldn’t be further from her ideal job, but the more time she spends with him, Portia realises she might have misjudged the surprisingly dashing duke . . .

Dare she risk her principles for love, or will her pride get in the way?

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Every new novel by Virginia Heath always cheers me up and it quickly becomes my new favourite and the same happened with this latest one, Pride Comes Before a Fall. The third book in the Miss Prentice’s Protegees series features a headstrong protagonist, Portia Kendall, who, after reading A Vindication of the Rights of Woman by Mary Wollstonecraft when she was sixteen years old, has dedicated her life to advocate for the reform of society. Now Portia is in Bath, having left her job as a governess in Mayfair to dedicate herself to the publication of the radical newspaper Equitas, not realising that the job is unpaid. In need of employment, she has no choice but to accept the job of chaperone of two spoiled young women forced to spend the summer in Bath by their overbearing brother after being involved in a few scandals in London.

Leopold Sloane, the 11th Duke of Debden, is everything Portia is fighting against and yet she can’t deny that she is attracted to him, especially his dimples, and the more time they spend together, the more she realises that maybe not all dukes are bad.

Pride Comes Before a Fall is such a funny and intriguing read. Portia is determined, witty, and smart, strong in her belief, no matter the risk, while Leopold is stubborn and so overprotective towards those he loves that sometimes he doesn’t stop to think before reacting. I was completely immersed in their story as their worlds collide and the sexual tension becomes inevitable. Virginia Heath is such an amazing storyteller and her stories capture me from the first to the last page and I can’t wait for the next book (romantic Kitty)!

A huge thank you to Headline Eternal and NetGalley for providing me with a proof of this fantastic novel!

When Virginia Heath was a little girl it took her ages to fall asleep, so she made up stories in her head to help pass the time while she was staring at the ceiling. As she got older, the stories became more complicated, sometimes taking weeks to get to the happy ending. Then one day, she decided to embrace the insomnia and start writing them down. Twenty-one books and two Romantic Novel of the Year Award nominations later, and it still takes her forever to fall asleep.

Publication: 10th July 2026 (paperback); 17th July 2026 (eBook) – Storm Books

A maid found bludgeoned, a priceless treasure stolen, and the likely suspect gone without a trace…

When an old flame from Marius Quin’s past turns up at his door with knowledge of a shocking crime, he is drawn into a new case. A devoted maid has been brutally attacked, a valuable jewellery box stolen, and the head gardener has fled from the grand estate where they work.

With his sleuthing partner, Lady Bella, alongside him, Marius descends on Cherkley Court, the home of the domineering business magnate Lord Sheridan. But conflicting accounts from the man, his glamorous wife, a trio of young artists, and the troubled staff only lead to more questions. Although plenty of evidence points to the missing gardener, Marius isn’t convinced, and his hunch is proven right when the killer strikes again.

Faced with a conspiracy that reaches into the heart of the household itself, can Marius and Bella unravel a devious plot or will the killer get away with murder twice over?

A twisting, atmospheric 1920s country house mystery with a devastating final act. Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, T E Kinsey and Lee Strauss.

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I have been reading the Marius Quin Mystery series since the first book came out and I’ve been enjoying each one of them, completely immersed in the mystery and often laughing out aloud at Marius’s adventures. The Cherkley Court Conundrum is the seventh book in the series and Marius still hasn’t confessed his undying love to his first love and now partner-in-investigation Lady Bella Montague, there are still a couple of mysteries to solve from the previous books, i.e. his father’s disappearance and the murder of Bella’s fiance, and his dog Percy still shows more loyalty to strangers than to him.

The story opens with Marius and Bella’s lovely evening together being interrupted by the arrival of a woman from Marius’s past who asks for their help in solving the brutal attack on a maid at Cherkley Court, the immense estate where she works as a tutor. Also asking for their help is their friend, Inspector Lovebrook, who finds the case quite confusing. 

The mystery is quite engaging and fast-paced. There are twists and turns, everything seems laid out perfectly and then something happens that put everything on the table and Marius and Bella will have to interrogate a cast of interesting characters, from the unusual lady of the house to the three artists she is hosting, from the arrogant owner of the house to the suspicious staff.   

The Cherkley Court Conundrum is yet another charming and enjoyable addition to this fantastic series and I am already looking forward to the next one!

A huge thank you to Storm Books and NetGalley for providing me with a proof of this novel.

I’m a Welsh-Irish-Englishman originally from South London but now living in Burgos, a beautiful city in the north of Spain, with my French-Spanish wife and our two young children.

Writing has always been my passion. It was my favourite half-an-hour a week at primary school, and I started on my first, truly abysmal book as a teenager. So it wasn’t a difficult decision to study literature at university which led to an MA in Creative Writing.

I grew up in a crime-fiction-mad family and had made a few clumsy attempts at writing one over the years before coming up with the idea for my contemporary whodunits “The Izzy Palmer Mysteries”. My second series, the 1920s-set “Lord Edgington Investigates…”, has been a great success, with each of the books becoming a bestseller. I have a new series called “The Marius Quin Mysteries” coming in November 2023.

If you’d like to tell me what you think about my detectives, my writing or the world at large, I’d love to hear from you, so feel free to get in touch at www.benedictbrown.net where you can also download my free mystery novellas and join my readers’ club.

Publication: 16th July 2026 – Hemlock Press

A SCORCHING SUMMER

Down in the seaside town of Teignmouth, ex-Met detective Eden Driscoll is growing restless after a long summer caring for his nine-year-old nephew.

A DESPERATE MAN’S PLEA

When a man knocks at Eden’s door for help, claiming someone is trying to kill him, Eden jumps at the chance to solve a mystery. But before he can ask more questions, the stranger disappears.

A DEADLY FIRE

That same night a house along the coast is burnt to the ground and human remains are discovered amongst the ashes. In the days after, Eden’s curiosity only grows. He soon finds himself investigating, and begins to uncover a web of deception, jealousy and corruption.

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Having enjoyed The Red Shore last year, I was looking forward to its sequel, The Burning Tide, and I wasn’t disappointed.

Following the events of the previous book, former Met detective Eden has left his single life back in London and moved to Devon to take care of his orphaned nine-year-old nephew, Finn. And as they are both adapting to this new life together, a new mystery lands at their feet when a man knocks on his door claiming that someone wants to kill him and asking for his help. And when the man’s house burns to the ground, Eden has no choice but to get involved in the investigation, especially when the lead detective in the case asks for his help.

This was such an intriguing and complex mystery, with quite a few twists and turns, and the perfect setting and landscape of Devon make it even more interesting. However, I must admit that what I enjoyed most of this novel is Eden and Finn’s relationship as they learn to navigate their new life together. Eden misses his single life in London and the freedom he had. He is suddenly a parent to a child who barely knows him and that brings back memories of a childhood he had tried to forget. I loved how they both try to work together to become a family and to trust each other.

The Burning Tide is an immersive novel, with a cast of engaging characters, a well-developed mystery, and a final twist at the end that I saw coming and it makes me look forward to reading the next book!

A huge thank you to Hemlock Press and NetGalley for providing me with a proof of this thrilling novel.

William Shaw has been a journalist, writing for the Observer, New York Times and Wired, among others. He has written over 10 crime novels and has been shortlisted for the CWA Historical Dagger, longlisted for the CWA Gold Dagger and the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year and nominated for a Barry Award. His new series features DI Eden Driscoll, and is set in Devon.

Publication: 19th June 2026 – Boldwood Books

Aunt Violet and her niece Hannah have a bookshop to run. But after a customer comes in asking for a rare book, Hannah takes a visit to the reading room of the British Library – a glorious domed building in the middle of the British Museum courtyard – to find out more

Hannah has barely finished making her request when a man at one of the hundreds of desks slumps over his work. Within moments, it becomes clear he is dead, stabbed in broad daylight, in the middle of the reading room surrounded by oblivious academics.

The reading room is an exclusive space where no one can enter or leave without detection. Yet the initial investigation yields no weapon, no witnesses, and no apparent motive.

But then Aunt Violet discovers the victim had been researching the unearthing of a lost piece of Italian sculpture. And Hannah –despite her new husband’s firm insistence that she let the police do their job – finds herself unable to resist the temptation of investigating just one more murder

A totally gripping cozy crime novel, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, Helena Dixon and Verity Bright.

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Murder in the Reading Room is the sixth book in the Miss Merrill and Aunt Violet Mysteries series featuring Hannah Clifford (formerly Merrill) and her aunt Violet as they solve mysteries as World War I rages in Europe.

I really love this series not only for its intriguing mysteries, but also for its historical accuracy, as the war is in the backdrop and often central to the story. In this sixth book, Hannah is no longer a single woman living with her aunt and working in a bookshop. Now she is a married woman, still working in the bookshop, but also thinking about starting a family. Her aunt Violet is still retaining her independence, but she is in a committed relationship with former Scotland Yard police chief Aidan Farrell and they are running a hotel together.

The story begins with Hannah going to the British Library in search of a book for a client and stumbling on a dead man. What, at first, appears to be an accidental death, quickly turns out to be a homicide involving lost artifacts and family legends. Helped by her aunt Violet, Aidan, and her new friend and journalist Matilda Gilmartin, Hannah investigates, putting herself in danger.

I really enjoyed this novel. The mystery was fascinating as it takes us back to the Renaissance and the history of Medicis. The historical moment in which the story is set is also important: the end of World War I and Armistice Day only a month before, but the shortages are still felt in every household. Also, for the first time women had the right to vote and aunt Violet was thrilled to take part in this historical event. Entertaining and immersive, I believe this is the last book in this series, but I will keep my fingers crossed for more and I will also look forward to reading the author’s next series!

A huge thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for providing me with a proof of this fantastic novel.

Anita Davison is the author of the Flora Maguire Mysteries and the Miss Merrill and Aunt Violet Mysteries set in WWI from Boldwood Books.

Anita’s cosy mysteries might appeal to readers of Felicity Penn, Helena Dixon, Isabella Bassett, Verity Bright and Marty Wingate.

Publication: 26th June 2026 (eBook), 2nd July 2026 (paperback) – One More Chapter

Ex-Metropolitan Police sergeant Jodie Parker and her new husband, DCI Nathan Withers, are honeymooning at a luxurious eco-resort on a secluded Cornish island. But there’s a twist: they’re undercover, as the resort’s owner has hired them to investigate a series of sabotages, and Jodie’s mum Shirley and daughter Daisy – and their dog, Germaine – have somehow managed to get themselves invited along too.

The happy couple plan to make the most of the five star facilities, while discreetly questioning staff and guests. However, when a fierce storm traps everyone on the island, tragedy strikes – a guest is found dead in the wreckage of the boathouse, and it looks like murder…

With a killer among them, it’s up to Jodie and Nathan to solve the mystery before another life is lost.

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I am always excited to return to Cornwall thanks to a new Nosey Parker Mystery. In this tenth book in the series, former Met Sergeant Jodie Parker is on her honeymoon with her now husband of one year, DCI Nathan Withers, in a five-star luxury resort on an island off the coast of Cornwall. But is it really a honeymoon if they are accompanied by Jodie’s own teenage daughter, Daisy, her mother, Shirley, and their loyal dog, Germaine? In reality, Jodie and Nathan have been asked by the owner of the hotel to find out who is trying to sabotage him and his hotel. So, while Daisy and Shirley take advantage of all the facilities and luxuries offered, Jodie and Nathan try to quietly investigate the sabotages, until a body turns up and a timely appropriate storm cuts off the island from the rest of the world, leaving to Jodie and Nathan to find the killer before it’s too late.

The Cornish Honeymoon Murder was yet another entertaining and gripping read by Fiona Leitch. I loved the remote island setting and the locked room mystery that gave Agatha Christie vibes and made the novel very atmospheric. The mystery was well-developed: a victim with many enemies, guests with motives and secrets to hide, and many twists and surprises along the way. There is also a lot of humour and entertainment, especially when it comes to Jodie’s mother, Shirley, who is one of my favourite characters in the series and always makes me laugh, whenever she appears on the page.

Once again, Fiona Leitch didn’t disappoint and she drew me into another fantastic cozy mystery. The Cornish Honeymoon Murder is fun, thrilling, and I read it in one night. As always, at the end of the book there is a recipe to try and I am already looking forward to the next adventure!

A huge thank you to One More Chapter and NetGalley for providing me with a proof of this intriguing novel.

Fiona Leitch is an author, tea drinker, and Jammie Dodger enthusiast. She writes the Jodie ‘Nosey’ Parker series for HarperCollins, because she loves thinking about Cornwall, food, and murdering people (not necessarily in that order). Her biggest claims to fame are being thrown out of a TV studio debate by John Craven, having the shortest stand-up comedy career ever, and playing a French hen in a non-denominational school Christmas play, which she is definitely not still bitter about. She is a sucker for a happy ending (though not for the victim, obviously), a romantic subplot, and a cheesy pun. Her novels are currently in development with BBC Studios and Union Pictures.

Fiona is represented by Lina Langlee at the North Literary Agency.

Publication: 24th June 2026 – Boldwood Books

Scotland, 1930: Agatha Christie is getting married. She invites fellow members of the Detection Club to the windswept Isle of Skye for a quiet break while the banns are read. But tranquility proves elusive when the formidable Lord Blackwood, leader of a hunting party sharing their lodge, vanishes from the moors.

Sharp-eyed assistant to the Detection Club secretary, Eliza Baker, suspects foul play as the strange occurrences pile up: a mysterious grave in the churchyard, a missing rifle, and late-night excursions across the rugged island. There may be no body—yet—but someone at Dunmara Lodge is hiding a deadly secret.

As a storm cuts them off from the mainland, Eliza and her friend Theo must navigate lies, half-truths, and a treacherous landscape… but can they uncover the killer in the stalking grounds… or will the moors keep their secrets forever?

Head to the remote Isle of Skye in this delightful and gripping golden-age mystery series, perfect for fans of Helena Dixon, Verity Bright and T. E. Kinsey.

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I am always looking forward to a new case in the Detection Club series: it’s well-written, it features two of my favourite mystery writers, Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers, and there is always a gripping mystery to solve. This fourth book in the series, The Case of the Christie Wedding Affair, has also the added bonus of the Scottish Highlands setting, one of my favourite places in the world.

The members of the Detection Club travel to Scotland to attend to Agatha Christie’s secret wedding to Max Mallowan and their expectations of a quiet week in a remote lodge in the Isle of Skye while the bans are read are disrupted by the arrival of a boisterous party of hunters led by Lord Blackwood, who, the next day, disappears. While the search is on, it is clear to the Detection Club secretary, Eliza, and her (romantic) partner Theo that something is not quite right among the people in the lodge, starting from the owner and his daughter who are clearly hiding something to the minister who can even read the bans rights. And Lord Blackwood’s wife and friends don’t seem excessively worried about his disappearance.

The Case of the Christie Wedding Affair is an intriguing, engaging, and delightful read. Fiction and real-life events mix as mystery, twists, but also romance kept me glued to the pages. I loved how the relationship between Eliza and Theo is developing and I enjoy the close friendship among the members of the Detection Club. A brilliant cozy mystery to keep you on the edge from start to finish!

A huge thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for providing me with a proof of this gripping novel.

Kelly Oliver is the award-winning, bestselling author of three mysteries series: The Jessica James Mysteries, The Pet Detective Mysteries, and the historical cozies The Fiona Figg Mysteries, set in WW1. She is also the Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at Vanderbilt University and lives in Nashville, Tennessee.

Today, I am super excited to take part in the cover reveal for the next book by one of my favourite authors: MISS BERESFORD AND THE BEAST by Mimi Matthews. Set in the same world of the Somerset Stories, MISS BERESFORD AND THE BEAST is the first book in the Daughters of Somerset series in which a spirited Victorian beauty with a fondness for fairytales unwittingly falls under the power of a beastly, scandal-plagued nobleman.

MISS BERESFORD AND THE BEAST releases August 4, 2026 and it’s available to pre-order at your favourite online retailer now. 

A spirited Victorian beauty with a fondness for fairytales unwittingly falls under the power of a beastly, scandal-plagued nobleman in the first book in USA Today bestselling author Mimi Matthews’s new Daughters of Somerset series.

Charlotte Beresford has spent far too long under the iron rule of strict governesses and unflinching finishing school teachers. When she’s offered a brief window of freedom—an invitation to spend the summer with a recent acquaintance in a remote corner of Yorkshire, far from societal expectations—she jumps at the chance. Never mind that her new friend is odd, their chaperone questionable, and the village rumored to be cursed. Charlotte knows how to look after herself. All she must do is show a friendly face, keep her wits about her, and—above all—avoid the derelict manor house that stands on the edge of the moors…

Battle-scarred and bad tempered, Magnus Sterling never intended to return to England, let alone Yorkshire. But now he’s inherited the title, it’s his responsibility to settle his late father’s affairs. It should be simple enough to do without riling up the superstitious locals. Indeed, they don’t even need to know that the infamous son of the equally infamous Earl of Eversleigh is back on British soil. Magnus will keep to himself, and to the crumbling manor house, and for once in his miserable life avoid any cloud of scandal. A straightforward enough plan, or so he believes, until he catches sight of the bold, auburn-haired intruder infiltrating the grounds of his estate…

And now let’s take a look at the gorgeous cover:

https://www.mimimatthews.com/books/daughters-of-somerset/miss-beresford-and-the-beast/

USA Today bestselling author Mimi Matthews writes both historical nonfiction and award-winning Victorian romances. Her books have received starred reviews in Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, Booklist, Kirkus, BookPage, and Shelf Awareness, and her articles have been featured on the Victorian Web, the Journal of Victorian Culture, and in syndication at BUST Magazine. In her other life, Mimi is an attorney. She resides in California with her family, which includes an Andalusian dressage horse, a miniature poodle, a Sheltie, and two Siamese cats.