Book After Book

Publication: 25th May 2023 – Hodder Children’s Books

A heartless beast
A sister’s sacrifice
And a love so strong it will drown the raging sea …
THIS FAIRYTALE IS CURSED

In a kingdom that fears the sea, Ria Lucroy longs to be brave.

Bodies are washing ashore and everyone knows who’s to blame. Legends of the Heartless King shroud the continent in fear; they call him a pirate, a monster, a god. When his mercenaries raid her father’s merchant ship, Ria’s family is faced with a horrifying demand. They will spare his life, in exchange for one of his daughters.

Determined to save her sisters, Ria launches herself into the world of pirates. Face-to-face with the Heartless King, she finds he is far more than the stories told. He is a man, with a human name and blood-stained hands, bound to the seas by a centuries-old curse. As their chemistry blooms into something more, Ria finds herself caught in an ancient web of secrets.

Battling creatures of the deep alongside those that reign its surface, Ria discovers how to love a heartless man and that some curses aren’t so easy to break.

Prepare for stormy seas and swoony romance in this addictive retelling of Beauty and the Beast … Perfect for fans of Brigid Kemmerer’s Cursebreakers series and Sarah J Maas’s A Court of Thorns and Roses.

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A Curse of Salt is the debut novel by Sarah Street, an immersive YA fantasy and a Beauty and the Beast retelling, but with pirates and gods.

The protagonist of the novel is Aurelia “Ria” Lucroy, a young woman who dreams of being brave and see the world, but, instead, her place is at home, helping to take care of her ailing sister and their father. However, as the bodies of the local merchants start arriving ashore and her own father’s life is in danger, Ria decides to sacrifice herself and protect her family and her village, by offering herself as a sacrifice to the Heartless King and his crew of pirates. He is known for his ruthlessness and he is feared by everyone who travels by the sea, but Ria soon finds out that behind the Heartless King there is, in reality, a man, Sebastian, who, together with his crew, is bound to the sea by a centuries-old curse (like Davy Jones, but without tentacles!).

I had a bit of a slow start, but then I really started to enjoy A Curse of Salt. The romance is well-developed: an impossible love and the enemies-to-lovers trope worked really well between Ria and Sebastian. I liked how their relationship developed, slowly and naturally, with easy banter and witty exchanges.

The world-building is intriguing and it blends well with the narrative, while the setting is evocative and the writing is beautiful. A fantastic and complex cast of characters kept me immersed in the novel, each with its own story and secret to tell. The ending was well-thought and satisfying and it leaves open for, hopefully, a sequel that I would certainly read! 

A huge thank you to Hachette Children’s Books and NetGalley for providing me with a proof of this fantastic novel.

Sarah Street is a YA fantasy author, born and raised on Gadigal land in Sydney, Australia. She has a BA in English and Criminology and spends her days amid a hoard of books, playing Hozier songs to her houseplants and deciding what great body of water to write about next.

Publication: 30th May 2023 (eBook), 20th July 2023 (paperback) – HarperCollins

Not every Regency lady is looking for a husband…

As the daughter of an English earl and his Indian mistress, impulsive Lila Marleigh has already broken the rules of society into tiny pieces.

When a face she never thought she would see again appears and begs for help, Lila must court notoriety once more and pit her wits against the annoyingly handsome aristocrat, Ivor Tristram. But does she risk opening her heart to the one person who can break it…?

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Unladylike Lessons in Love is an intriguing and entertaining historical romance told from the point of view of the two protagonists, the daughter of an English Earl and his Indian mistress who tries to fit into the London society and the handsome aristocrat who believes her to be his father’s mistress.

As the bastard daughter of the Earl of Beddington, Lila Marleigh’s reputation was never going to be good and, being the owner of London’s most fashionable salon and surrounded by a string of suitors every night hasn’t improved her expectations. Not that she cares. After all, she earns enough to live comfortably while cherishing her freedom and independence. Ivor Tristram is as handsome as he is annoying and he’s convinced that Lila is her father’s mistress. When someone from her past asks for her help, Lila and Ivor leave aside their difference and team up to prove someone’s innocence.

Overall, I enjoyed this novel. At times the narrative is a bit repetitive and there are themes of abuse, children’s neglect, and racism that aren’t easy to read, but there is also spicy romance, witty banter, suspense, and a cast of characters that I really liked. Especially the female characters who come out all strong, smart, and determined, who won’t stop until they get what they want and I admire them, especially as they lived in a sexist society that looked down on them. The male protagonist, Ivor, is a bit broody, flawed, and stubborn, and the perfect hero to our heroine.

The first book in a series, Unladylike Lessons in Love is the perfect read for those who enjoy a swoony romance with a mystery to unravel!

A huge thank you HarperCollins and NetGalley for providing me with a proof of the novel.

Amita Murray lives in London. Just to keep things interesting, she writes in two genres: Regency romance and contemporary mystery. Her Arya Winters mysteries are published by Agora and are under a TV option. Her mystery novel Thirteenth Night won the Exeter Novel Prize in 2022. A collection called Marmite and Mango Chutney won the SI Leeds Prize in 2016 and her short story “A Heist in Three Acts” comes out in Ellery Queen Magazine in 2022.

Publication: 7th March 2023 – Atria Books

Only Murders in the Building meets The Maid in this darkly beguiling locked-room mystery where someone turns up dead on the set of TV’s hottest baking competition—perfect for fans of Nita Prose, Richard Osman, and Anthony Horowitz.

Every summer for the past ten years, six awe-struck bakers have descended on the grounds of Grafton, the leafy and imposing Vermont estate that is not only the filming site for “Bake Week” but also the childhood home of the show’s famous host, celebrated baker Betsy Martin.

The author of numerous bestselling cookbooks and hailed as “America’s Grandmother,” Betsy Martin isn’t as warm off-screen as on, though no one needs to know that but her. She has always demanded perfection, and gotten it with a smile, but this year something is off. As the baking competition commences, things begin to go awry. At first, it’s merely sabotage—sugar replaced with salt, a burner turned to high—but when a body is discovered, everyone is a suspect.

A sharp and suspenseful thriller for mystery buffs and avid bakers alike, The Golden Spoon is a brilliant puzzle filled with shocking twists and turns that will keep you reading late into the night until you turn the very last page of this incredible debut.

AMAZON

The Golden Spoon is described as “Only Murders in the Building meets The Great British Bake Off”, so how could I resist? This is a satisfying, atmospheric debut, set in a big house, during a competitive reality show, with two hosts who hate each other, six competitors, and a killer on the loose.

Betsy Martin is a famous baker whose reality show has had huge success in the last ten years. Held in Grafton Manor, her family estate in the mountains of northern Vermont, each year, Bake Week has seen six home bakers coming together for a week and competing for the title of America’s best baker. This year, things are a bit different. For starters, Betsy is no longer the only host of the show, but she has a new partner, Archie Morris, who will judge the show with her, not that she had any choice in the matter. Also, someone seems to be sabotaging the competitors. And when, during a storm, someone is found murdered, the list of suspects is narrow.

I liked the setting of the novel: a remote big house in the mountains with its skeletons in the closet, no phones, a group of strangers with secrets, and a sense of dread that makes it clear that something bad is about to happen. I was hooked, even though sometimes the pace was a bit too slow. The story is told from the point of view of the seven protagonists (the six contenders and Betsy). These characters are complex and eccentric, some more disturbed and haunted than others, and I must admit that I didn’t like a few of them for most of the novel, but I really appreciated how they developed. 

Overall, I enjoyed The Golden Spoon and I read it in a couple of sittings. Claustrophobic, suspenseful, and dark, it kept me guessing until the end!

A huge thank you to Atria and Edelweiss for providing me with a proof of the novel.

Jessa Maxwell lives in Jamestown, Rhode Island, with her husband, two cats, and three-legged dog. The Golden Spoon is her first novel.

Publication: 16th May 2023 – Hodderscape

Let’s get one thing straight – Vanja Schmidt wasn’t trying to start a cult.

A scrappy former maid and jewel thief must outwit gods, injustice, and her own past in this sequel to Little Thieves by Margaret Owen.

After taking down a corrupt margrave, breaking a deadly curse, and finding romance with the vexingly scrupulous junior prefect Emeric Conrad, Vanja had one great mystery left: her long-lost birth family . . . and whether they would welcome a thief. But in her search for an honest trade, she hit trouble and invented a god, the Scarlet Maiden, to scam her way out. Now that lie is growing out of control – especially when Emeric arrives to investigate and the Scarlet Maiden manifests to claim him as a virgin sacrifice.

For his final test to become a prefect, Emeric must determine whether Vanja is guilty of serious fraud or if the Scarlet Maiden – and her claim to him – is genuine. Meanwhile, Vanja is chasing an alternative sacrifice that could be their way out. The hunt leads her not only into the lairs of monsters and the paths of gods, but the ties of her past.

And with what should be the simplest way to save Emeric hanging over their heads, he and Vanja must face a more dangerous question: Is there a future for a thief and a prefect, and at what price?

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It’s here! I’ve been a long wait for the sequel of Little Thieves (almost two years!!!), but, after reading Painted Devils, it was worth it! I forgot how much fun Vanja and Emeric can be and how good the author is in keeping you immersed in the story. I loved every single page of this novel, I laughed for at least half of it, and I didn’t want it to end.

Following the events of Little Thieves, Vanja is determined to find her family, who she hasn’t seen in thirteen years, while her love for Emeric is still going strong, but can a thief and a prefect really be together? She wants to be honest and be worthy of both her family and Emeric, but she “accidentally” invents a god, the Scarlet Maiden, and starts a cult that quickly takes hold of an entire village. And when it turns out that the Scarlet Maiden is indeed real and she wants Emeric as her virgin sacrifice, Vanja needs to find a way out of it, while also trying to prove to Emeric’s stubborn supervisor that she is not guilty of fraud. 

The romance between Vanja and Emeric is perfect. These two characters together are incredible, hilarious and so adorable. Emeric needs to pass his prefect exam and is supervisioned by a retired prefect who is determined to accuse Vanja of fraud and he is cursed by a god (and his virgin status made a common knowledge). Vanja is determined to find a way to protect both Emeric and the village that she has come to love, but she is haunted by her mother’s prediction that she would be the ruin of everyone she loves. 

I really hope that the third book in the series will come out soon, because I can’t wait another two years to see what happens, especially after that surprising and heartbreaking ending. 

I still haven’t read the author’s previous series, The Merciful Crow, but I can’t recommend her (and this series) enough. She knows how to hold the reader’s attention with an addictive writing style, an entertaining story full of twists and adventures, and a cast of characters that you can’t help but fall in love with! 

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

Margaret Owen was born and raised at the end of the Oregon Trail, and now lives and writes in Seattle while negotiating a long-term hostage situation with her two monstrous cats. In her free time, she enjoys exploring ill-advised travel destinations, drawing a lot of nonsense, and raising money for social justice nonprofits.

Publication: 4th April 2023 – Quercus Children’s Books

From underground Boston to the cursed ruins of Avalon, join a deadly hunt fuelled by love, revenge and pure adrenaline to find a legendary ring and break the curse.

Tamsin Lark is a Hollower. In search of treasure, she breaks into the ancient crypts of dark sorceresses.

Now, rumours are swirling about a powerful ring from Arthurian legend, a ring that could free her brother, Cabell from a curse. But they aren’t the only ones who covet it . . .

As word spreads, greedy Hollowers start circling, and many would kill to have the ring for themselves. Tamsin is forced into an alliance with her rival Emrys, the last person she wants to rely on. Together, they dive headfirst into a vipers’ nest of dark magic, and expose a deadly secret with the power to awaken ghosts of the past and shatter her last hope of saving her brother . . .

This is the stunning new dark fantasy romance from one of the top fantasy authors writing today.

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After reading many raving reviews about Silver in the Bone, I was really looking forward to reading it myself and it didn’t disappoint! A contemporary fantasy that features the legend of King Arthur and the mythical Isle of Avalon, together with curses, revenge, magic rings, a bit of romance, and tropes of enemies-to-lovers and found family.

There is only one person in the world who seventeen-year-old Tasmin Lark loves and cares about and it’s her brother Cabell. For the last seven years, they have been on their own, following the disappearance of their foster father, surviving on tarot card readings and working as Hollowers, hunting for magic treasures. Now, they are looking for a powerful ring that could break Cabell’s curse, but they are not the only ones.

I really enjoyed Silver in the Bone. I liked the magic system (initially I was slightly confused by it, but then I caught on) and I loved the unique and strong characters, especially Tasmin and Emrys, her former rival and now temporary ally. I loved their easy and witty banter and how their relationship develops throughout the story and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for them in the sequel. The side characters are also interesting and entertaining, especially Neve whose cheerfulness managed to light up some of the sinister scenes.

The novel is very well-written, with tales of legends and myths that kept me immersed in the story and a fascinating world-building. There are many twists and turns to keep you on the edge of your seat and a final unexpected surprise that made me wish that the second book was already out and in my hands. Dark, suspenseful, and full of surprises, Silver in the Bone is surely on the list of my favorite books of the year!

A huge thank you to Quercus Children’s Books and NetGalley for providing me with a proof of this fantastic novel.

Alexandra Bracken is the No. 1 New York Times bestselling author of Lore, Passenger, Wayfarer, The Darkest Minds series and the Prosper Redding series. After selling her debut novel in college, Alex worked in children’s publishing for several years before leaving to write full time. She now lives in Arizona, where she was born and raised. Visit her online at www.alexandrabracken.com and on Twitter and Instagram @alexbracken

Today I am delighted to share again my review of THE LOST DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS by Jack Jewers, out today in paperback!!!

Publication: 11th May 2023 – Moonflower Books

It is the summer of 1669 and England is in dire straits. The treasury’s coffers are bare and tensions with the powerful Dutch Republic are boiling over. And now, an investigator sent by the King to look into corruption at the Royal Navy has been brutally murdered.

Loathe to leave the pleasures of London, Samuel Pepys is sent dragging his feet to Portsmouth to find the truth about what happened. Aided by his faithful assistant, Will Hewer, he soon exposes the plot as the work of a Dutch spy. But has he got the right man? The truth may be much more sinister. And if the real killer isn’t found in time, then England could be thrown into a war that would have devastating consequences…

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Although the name Samuel Pepys sounded familiar, I didn’t know much about him or his role in history, but then I read the blurb for The Lost Diary of Samuel Pepys and I was drawn to this intriguing character and this historical thriller described as “Bridgerton meets Sherlock”.

In the 17th century, Samuel Pepys was an administrator of the Royal Navy and a member of Parliament, but he is most famous for the diaries he kept from 1660 to 1669 which have become an important historical source as he witnessed and recounted great historical events such as the Great Plague of London and the Great Fire of London. In The Lost Diary of Samuel Pepys, Jack Jewers reimagines the diarist as he is asked to find out what happened to an investigator looking into the administration of Portsmouth who made claims about a conspiracy to defraud the Crown. His loyal assistant and friend, Will Hewers, accompanies him, and as the threat of the Dutch war looms, they find out that the truth is much more complicated than they thought.

I really enjoyed reading The Lost Diary of Samuel Pepys. The characters are well-drawn and I really liked the female characters that the author depicts as strong and feisty. Samuel Pepys is a fascinating protagonist. In his diary, he recounts the historical and political events of the time, but we also get a glimpse into his personal life as he reports his infidelities and his worries about his health. He is really a diligent diarist and a scrupulous detective.

The Lost Diary of Samuel Pepys is a fast-paced, suspenseful, and riveting historical thriller full of political intrigue, suspense, and fantastic characters, the perfect read for all fans of historical mysteries!

Jack Jewers is a filmmaker and writer, passionate about history. His career has been spent telling stories across every form of media, and his body of work includes film, TV, and digital media. His films have been shown at dozens of international film festivals, including Cannes, New York, Marseille, Dublin, and London’s FrightFest, garnering multiple accolades, including an award from the Royal Television Society and a nomination from BAFTA Wales for Best Short Film. The Lost Diary of Samuel Pepys is his first novel.

Publication: 11th May 2023 – Michael Joseph

Has she been sent to save the realm or destroy it?

As Spymaster to the Queen, Aya’s blood oath ensures she protects those she fights alongside – including Will, the Queen’s Enforcer and Aya’s bitter rival.

When rumours of dark magic rise in a nearby kingdom, both are sent to investigate.

But when Aya’s power acts beyond her gods-given affinity, she risks being turned into a weapon in a war she doesn’t know how to win.

And when her relationship with Will unexpectedly shifts, neither knows the danger that will follow …

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I LOVED The Curse of Saints!!! I wish I could reread it for the first time and, at the same time, I can’t wait for the sequel to come out, because I really need to know what happens next. There is political and religious intrigue, a perfect slow-burn romance, there is magic, gods, and spies, a cast of fantastic morally gray characters that come to life under the author’s addictive writing style.

The story is told from the point of view of the two protagonists (with a third added in the middle of the narrative). Aya has the affinity of persuasion and she is the Spymaster of the Queen, one of the three members of her inner circle. One of the other members is Will, the Queen’s Enforcer, and Aya’s rival, ever since their training days together. They have both taken a blood oath to protect the Queen and the kingdom and, when rumours of dark magic arise and the threat of a war looms near, the two of them have no choice but to team up and investigate. And when Aya unleashes a power predicted in ancient times, Will may be the only one who can help her figure out the truth.

My favourite parts of the story were every time Aya and Will interacted with each other (which, thankfully, were most of the book). Seriously, these two characters together were incredible! The tension, the attraction to each other, their witty exchanges were too much to handle sometimes (I mean, “I would’ve let the entire world burn for you”). Because of their past, she doesn’t trust him and his broody mood doesn’t make things any easier, but sparkle flies and their chemistry is off the charts.

The Curse of Saints is an incredible debut and the first book in a fantasy trilogy. If the romance is not enough to entice you to read it, there is an intriguing world building of magic and gods, a cast of well-developed and authentic characters, a badass heroine, a complex hero with a few secrets, a few unexpected twists, and an ending that leaves you wanting for more!

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

Kate Dramis is an Atlanta-based writer whose obsession with fantasy worlds and escaping into a good love story eventually drove her to chase her dreams of being an author.

Inspired by a dream about a woman calling down lightning to save a friend, The Curse of Saints is Kate’s debut fantasy novel and the first in the trilogy.

When she’s not busy writing banter that makes her laugh in an embarrassingly loud fashion, you can find her impulse-booking her latest travel adventure, snuggling with her three dogs and cat, or tormenting her growing legion of readers on TikTok and Instagram with vague book teasers.

You can connect with Kate on her social media sites, and visit https://www.katedramis.com/

Publication: 2nd May 2023 – Headline Eternal

When the owner of the local flower shop in Rome, Kentucky, makes a questionable agreement with a tattooed bad boy, a delightful friends-to-lovers romance begins to bloom – from the author of When in Rome and TikTok sensation, The Cheat Sheet.

How hard can it be to find the perfect match?

Florist Annie Walker is determined to find someone who complements her life. But after overhearing her latest date describe her as ‘so unbelievably boring’, Annie wonders if the problem might be her. Is it too late to become flirtatious and fun like the leading ladies in her favourite romance movies? Maybe she only needs some practice . . . and Annie has the perfect tutor in mind.

Sexy and tattooed Will Griffin is temporarily back in Rome, Kentucky, providing security for pop-star Amelia Rose in the build-up to her wedding to Annie’s brother. He also has his own agenda: stay away from Annie Walker and any attachments to this sleepy town, which becomes difficult when she enlists him to help fix her love life.

Amid steamy practice dates and strictly ‘educational’ tutoring lessons, the lines of their friendship blur and Annie reconsiders what her ‘dream guy’ might look like. Maybe her love life doesn’t need to be perfect – it just needs to be real.

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Practice Makes Perfect is my first novel by Sarah Adams and, without a doubt, one of my favorite books of the year. The protagonists, the story, the romance, the setting, the writing… everything is perfect!

What I loved most about this book is the two fantastic protagonists. Annie and Will couldn’t be more different and yet they are perfect for each. I adored the character of Annie because she is authentic and realistic and I could really relate to her (in real life we would be great friends). Born and raised in the small town of Rome (Kentucky, not Italy), Annie quietly runs her flower shop and prefers reading a book to talking to people. Introvert, quiet, socially anxious, secret lover of historical romances with pirates, Annie’s always done what was expected of her. She only seems to be her true self when she is with Will, a bodyguard who loves adventure and traveling around the world. The two of them couldn’t be more different: Annie is looking for a man who lives in Rome, has a stable job, is supportive of her career, loves his family and wants one of his own; on the other hand, Will can’t wait to get out of Rome, hasn’t talked to his parents in years, and doesn’t believe in marriage. But opposites attract and Annie and Will are attracted to each other and when Annie needs help navigating the dating world, who is better than the gorgeous, flirtatious, and badass bodyguard to tutor her?

I loved those two characters together. The way they develop a close friendship, how they are honest with each other and try to fight their growing attraction… it gave me so many emotions!

The writing is addictive and the small-town setting is picture perfect. A town where everyone knows everyone, where nothing remains a secret for long, where councils are held at dawn to vote on other people’s personal business is the appropriate setting for some of the most hilarious scenes in the book.

Sexy, witty, and smart, I couldn’t put this novel down. I laughed so much, I highlighted my favourite parts (which was most of the book), and I wanted this book to be twice as long because I couldn’t get enough of the characters and their story. I give Practice Makes Perfect 5 stars and more and I am going to recommend it to everyone. Now I only need to read the author’s previous books while waiting for the next novel in this incredible and magnificent series!

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

Sarah Adams was born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee. She loves her family, warm days, and making people smile. Sarah has dreamed of being a writer since she was a girl, but she finally wrote her first novel when her daughters were napping and she no longer had any excuses to put it off. Sarah is a coffee addict, a British history nerd, a mom of two daughters, married to her best friend, and an indecisive introvert. Her hope is to always write stories that make readers laugh, maybe even cry – but always leave them happier than when they started reading.


To learn more, visit: www.authorsarahadams.com or follow Sarah on Facebook and Instagram: @authorsarahadams.

Publication: 13th April 2023 – Usborne

Totally addictive and packed full of glamour, scandal and romance, Royal Blood is The Princess Diaries with murder, for fans of One Of Us Is Lying, Red, White And Royal Blue and The King Is Dead.

Kicked out of her American boarding school, Evan is sent to live with her estranged father, the King of England. Her existence as his illegitimate daughter is top secret – until someone leaks it to the press. Suddenly she’s the focus of a thousand lurid headlines, plus the hatred of her stepmother the Queen and half-sister Princess Maisie.

Then the royal scandal intensifies… After Evan is seen disappearing with a journalist’s son at a party, he is found dead and she becomes the primary suspect in a murder investigation. Did “the Killer Princess” really do it? It seems that only the Queen’s gorgeous nephew Kit will help Evan clear her name. But can she really trust anyone at the palace?

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I adored Royal Blood. I read it one day, staying up late to finish it. There are secrets, a murder mystery with a few twists, a bit of romance, but also more serious themes, like sexual assault and mental health that made for an engaging and thrilling read.

In the last seven years, Evangeline “Evan” Bright has been expelled from several boarding schools. After inadvertently causing a fire in the last one, she is forced to spend the summer in London with her father who is none other than the King of England, but that’s the last place Evan wants to be. Born from an affair eighteen years earlier, very few people know of her illegitimacy and she’s never met her father. Until now. Their first meeting is not the warmest and things are not better with the Queen and her stepsister Mary, who despise her very existence. As she adapts to life in the palace, she finds a few friends in the King’s secretary Jenkins and his partner Louis, in the determined assistant Tibby, and in the charming nephew of the Queen, Kit. And Evan needs friends when the truth about her birth is revealed by the press and she becomes the focus of vicious comments and lies.

Also, after a party, a body is discovered and Evan was the last person to see the victim alive, so she needs to find out the truth and fix her reputation, leading her to uncover other secrets inside the palace.

I loved the character of Evan. Bold, smart, and fiery, she grew up with her grandmother because her mother suffered from mental problems. After her grandmother’s death, she learned the truth about her birth and she spent the following years in different boarding schools where she was never able to make friends because of the secrets she had to keep. Her relationship with her father is as central to the story as the murder mystery and I loved how it developed. 

Royal Blood is gripping, intriguing, and very well-written and it has a terrific ending that makes me really look forward to the sequel.

A huge thank you to Usborne and NetGalley for providing me with a proof of the novel.

Aimée Carter is a graduate of the University of Michigan and is the internationally-bestselling award-winning author of over a dozen books.

Publication: 11th April 2023 – Perfectly Proper Press

A reckless Victorian heiress sets her sights on a dashing ex-naval lieutenant, determined to win his heart as the two of them embark on a quest to solve a decades-old mystery in USA Today bestselling author Mimi Matthews’s sequel to her critically acclaimed novels The Work of Art and Gentleman Jim.

Lieutenant Charles Heywood has had his fill of adventure. Battle-weary and disillusioned, he returns to England, resolved to settle down to a quiet, uneventful life on an estate of his own. But arranging to purchase the property he desires is more difficult than Charles ever imagined. The place is mired in secrets, some of which may prove deadly. If he’s going to unravel them, he’ll need the assistance of someone as daring as he is.

At only twenty, Lady Katherine Beresford has already earned a scandalous reputation. As skilled with pistols as she is on horseback, she’s never met an obstacle she can’t surmount-or a man she can’t win. That is, until she encounters the infuriatingly somber Lieutenant Heywood. But Kate refuses to be deterred by the raven-haired soldier’s strong, silent facade. After all, faint heart never won handsome gentleman.

From the wilds of rural Somersetshire to the glittering ballrooms of early-Victorian London, Charles and Kate embark on a cross-country quest to solve a decades’ old mystery. Will the greatest danger be to their hearts-or to their lives?

AMAZON

In the last couple years, I have been reading quite a few historical romance novels and Mimi Matthews is one of my favourite authors. I love her writing style that keeps me engrossed in the pages of the story and I love her protagonists from the very beginning.

Return to Satterthwaite Court is the third book in the Somerset Stories series, but it can also be easily read as a stand-alone. Set a couple of decades after the events of the first two books, we see again the protagonists from The Work of Art and Gentleman Jim and we are introduced to their children.

Lieutenant Charles Heywood has chosen a career in the Navy, against the wishes of his family, especially his father. But, after eight years, he’s become disillusioned with it and its politics, and he returns to England to settle down, possibly somewhere near his family in Somerset. Lady Katherine Beresford has had an unsuccessful first season in London, mostly because men, while they find her beautiful, are looking for a dutiful and obedient wife and she’s definitely not that. Kate is convinced she’ll never find a man that meets her expectations, a hero, a man of noble character and firm convictions, until she meets Charles Heywood. Their meeting on a London street involves a vivacious dog and a bite on the hand, but Kate is instantly fascinated by the Navy hero and she’s determined to find out more about him. And when Charles receives a mysterious letter involving a secret and the sale of a house, Kate helps him to uncover the truth.

I loved all the books in the Somerset Stories series, but I think that Return to Satterthwaite Court is my favourite so far. I was thrilled to see the return of the protagonists of The Work of Art and Gentleman Jim, but I was much more excited about Charles and Kate’s story. I adored these two characters from the very beginning and I was so engrossed in their lives that I found it very difficult to put the book down. Charles is the silent, strong, sulking hero who, initially, may appear rude, while Kate is fierce, smart, and determined to get what she wants, including choosing a husband of her own free will. 

Entertaining, immersive, and beautifully written, Return to Satterthwaite Court is one of those books that will stay on my mind for a very long time thanks to a cast of amazing characters, lots of animals, and a beautiful romance and I already can’t wait to read the sequel, Appointment in Bath, of which we already got quite an interesting glimpse.

A huge thank you to Mimi Matthews and NetGalley for providing me with a proof of this beautiful novel.

USA Today bestselling author Mimi Matthews writes both historical nonfiction and award-winning proper Victorian romances, including Fair as a Star, a Library Journal Best Romance of 2020; Gentleman Jim, a Kirkus Best Book of 2020; and The Work of Art, winner of the 2020 HOLT Medallion. Mimi’s novels have received starred reviews in Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, Booklist, Kirkus, 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 a retired Andalusian dressage horse, a Sheltie, and two Siamese cats. To learn more, please visit www.MimiMatthews.com