True of Heart by Martha Keyes

True of Heart by Martha Keyes ISBN-13: 979-8670606516 ebook: 332 pages Released: September 15th 2020

Source: Rented ebook.

Book Description from Goodreads:
Miss Ruth Hawthorn helps support her fatherless family the only way she can: doling out love advice in a local newspaper column under an assumed name, The Swan. When she receives a lucrative request for an in-person consultation from someone signed "O," her brother persuades her to go to London with him, teaching him what he needs to know in order to survive the short appointment. But when "O" moves up the time of the rendez-vous and Ruth's brother is nowhere to be found, she is forced to take matters into her own hands.

Philip Trent, Lord Oxley, knows precisely which woman will best fill his late mother's shoes as the viscountess—now all he needs is a little help winning her over, swarmed as she is by suitors. Ashamed of his ineptitude with women but determined to succeed, Philip secretly enlists help. The youthful, bespectacled Swan seems like the last person capable of providing such help, but Philip finds in the young man both a friend and a confidant, with a surprising understanding of love.

Philip's choice of woman is proving more difficult than anticipated, though, and Ruth's ongoing disguise and frequent meetings with him are taxing her conscience—and her heart. With more secrets than Ruth can manage and a heart long since lost to her most important client, she faces the threat of discovery and ruin—a prospect somehow eclipsed by the heartbreak she will face when those secrets are inevitably discovered by the man she loves. True of Heart is a sweet Regency retelling of Shakespeare's classic, Twelfth Night.


My Review:
True of Heart is a Regency romance inspired by the Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night." I honestly wasn't sure how the author was going to pull off a man falling in love with a woman that he thinks is a man, but this was very well written and it worked for me. Ruth is forced to pretend to be a man to tutor Philip (who's very nervous around women) on how to win a highly desirable marriage match. Philip's comfortable around her and becomes good friends with her, so he's shocked to later find that she's a woman. He then begins to question if he's been looking for the wrong things in marriage.

The main characters were engaging, complex, and reacted realistically to events. I loved how the friendship and respect grew between Ruth and Philip and then developed into love. The historical details were woven into the story to give it a very Regency feel. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this well-written, humorous novel.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

The Fateful Marriage by Elizabeth Bailey

The Fateful Marriage by Elizabeth Bailey ISBN-13: 978-1913518295 ebook: 353 pages Publisher: Sapere Books Released: March 23rd 2020

Source: Rented ebook.

Book Description from Goodreads:
1791, England. Lady Ottilia and Lord Francis Fanshawe are holidaying in Tunbridge Wells when they stumble across the scene of a horrific accident. While visiting the High Rocks, a local tourist spot, a young woman falls to her death from the top of the climb. It soon becomes clear that the woman is linked to the infamous Dowager Viscountess Lady Wem – an indomitable matriarch visiting Tunbridge with her extended family. The young woman was at the centre of a scandal – Lady Wem’s grandson, Daniel, eloped with her three years prior.

As Lady Fan is introduced to the family her suspicions are aroused. Was the fall a devastating mishap? Or could the woman have been pushed? Lady Fan must unravel dark family secrets in her quest for the truth…


My Review:
The Fateful Marriage is a mystery set in 1791. This novel is the 6th in the series, but you don't need to read the previous novels to understand this one. This story didn't spoil the whodunit of the previous books.

This was a clue-based mystery. Since the witnesses were also potential suspects and were being bullied by other members of their extended family, there was some difficulty discovering what happened. Lady Fan asked plenty of questions and used her observational skills, but she also got help from her husband and niece. I spotted the critical clue at the same time that Lady Fan did.

The characters were interesting, and I cared about what happened to them. Historical details were woven into the story to create the feeling of a specific time and place. There was a couple of uses of bad language. There were no sex scenes. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable novel.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Poppy Redfern and the Fatal Flyers by Tessa Arlen

Poppy Redfern and the Fatal Flyers by Tessa Arlen ISBN-13: 9781984805829 Paperback: 320 pages Publisher: Berkley Released: December 1st 2020

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
It is the late autumn of 1942. Our indomitable heroine Poppy Redfern is thoroughly immersed in her new job as a scriptwriter at the London Crown Film Unit, which produces short films featuring British civilians who perform acts of valor and heroism in wartime. After weeks of typing copy and sharpening pencils, Poppy is thrilled to receive her first solo script project: a fifteen-minute film about the Air Transport Auxiliary, known as Attagirls, a group of female civilians who have been trained to pilot planes from factories to military airfields all over Britain.

Poppy could not be more excited to spend time with these amazing ladies, but she never expects to see one of the best pilots die in what is being labeled an accident. When another Attagirl meets a similar fate, Poppy and her American fighter-pilot boyfriend, Griff, believe foul play may be at work and they investigate.


My Review:
Poppy Redfern and the Fatal Flyers is a mystery set in October 1942 in England. This is the second book in the series. You don't need to read the previous novel to understand this one, and this book didn't spoil whodunit from the previous book.

The mystery was clue-based. Poppy immediately suspected poison and kept looking for some exotic poison, never considering some very simple alternatives. At least Griff had some sensible alternative suggestions (and a secret investigation of his own). However, it seemed like most of the story was learning the various backgrounds of the Attagirls and learning about what they did. Which fit as part of the investigation and filming project, but it meant that there weren't that many clues to the actual mystery. It wasn't difficult to solve once Poppy remembered a certain clue, but there was no proof. I enjoyed the story until the end, when Poppy set up a person they think will be the next target so she's in a situation where she might be murdered, but they give her no warning nor do they try to protect her. It's not even clear why they think this will flush out the murderer. Then a simple whodunit suddenly got complex as she and Griff accused multiple people of multiple crimes, some of which happened years in the past and sometimes with little proof. It didn't leave me feeling very satisfied.

There was a fair amount of bad language. There was no sex.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

The Sheriff's Surrender by Susan Page Davis

The Sheriff's Surrender by Susan Page Davis ISBN-13: 978-1602605626 Kindle: 323 pages Publisher: Tea Tin Press Released: December 18th 2016

Source: Free ebook.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Gert Dooley can shoot the tail feathers off a jay at a hundred yards, but she wants rancher Ethan Chapman to see she’s more than a crack shot with a firearm. When the sheriff of Fergus, Idaho is murdered, Ethan is named his replacement. The women in town are scared to think a murderer is loose among them, so Gert forms the Ladies' Shooting Club to teach them how to protect themselves, their homes, and their families.

Ethan didn’t ask to be named sheriff, but he accepts the position and takes on the investigation of the former lawman’s mysterious death. Now he’s between a rock and a hard place—being pressured by the town’s women to restore order and safety to Fergus, and being pressured by the men who insist Ethan disband the upstart Ladies’ Shooting Club. Another murder sends Ethan to Gert and her ladies for help in the investigation. But will the Ladies’ Shooting Club unmask the murderer before he strikes again?


My Review:
The Sheriff's Surrender is a humorous Christian romance (with the mystery) set in 1885 in Idaho. Ethan and his friend tried to solve a murder even though they had no training and only a few clues. The women of the town went to Gert to learn how to shoot to protect themselves, which some of the men don't like. Ethan faced pressure from these men to stop the gun practice but the women pressured him to allow them to help patrol the town until the murderer was caught. These women were capable, interesting characters that started to bond despite their many differences. The light humor came from these differences and amusing situations. Ethan and Gert admired each other's character and worked well together.

My only problem with the story is that some things were left unresolved. Gert figured out whodunit (which is eventually guessable from the clues) and several women were involved in the showdown. We're not told exactly who did what in the critical moments. Even though there were witnesses, two women remained in jail at the end, one of whom claimed to have helped. I don't understand why this was left unclear and unresolved. There was no sex about language. Overall, I recommend this enjoyable novel.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Bound in Shallows by Stephanie Black

Bound in Shallows by Stephanie Black ISBN-13: 9781524415242 Paperback: 320 pages Publisher: Covenant Communications Released: November 2nd 2020

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
It’s the week before her wedding, and Natalie Marsh doesn’t have a moment to spare. But when a potential donor requests a meeting regarding Natalie’s mental health clinic, the soon-to-be-bride makes time for the conversation—especially since that donor is tied to a tragedy in the life of Natalie’s fiancé, Gideon: eight years ago, Gideon’s roommate Travis died of a drug overdose. Now Travis’s mother wants to honor his memory by helping others avoid the same fate. It is a noble request that soon turns into a nightmare.

As wedding celebrations ensue, old friends renew acquaintances. But what begins as a party of wedding guests becomes a cast of suspects when the discovery of a bloodstained knife puts them all under the spotlight. Things are taking a deadly turn, leading Natalie and Gideon to a horrifying realization: all those years ago, Travis didn’t overdose—he was murdered. And his killer is willing to take deadly action to silence anyone who suspects the truth.


My Review:
Bound in Shallows is a suspense/mystery novel. This book is the fourth in a series, but it works as a standalone. Not only does Natalie have to deal with solving a murder while preparing for her wedding, but a potential donor threatens to drastically change her clinic or get Natalie fired if she refuses to cooperate. Talk about stress!

Natalie and Gideon were kind, honest, engaging characters, and I cared about what happened to them. They asked good questions and passed on any clues or information to the police even when that information might make them look guilty. There were enough clues that I was able to guess whodunit, but it was also possible that a second character could have done it so I wasn't sure until nearly the end.

There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this suspenseful mystery.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

A Lady Compromised by Darcie Wilde

A Lady Compromised by Darcie Wilde ISBN-13: 9781496720870 Hardcover: 304 pages Publisher: Kensington Publishing Released: November 24th 2020

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description from Goodreads:
Rosalind is pleased when she's invited to Cassel House to help her friend, Louisa, prepare for her upcoming wedding. But that's not the only event on her agenda. The trip will also afford Rosalind the chance to see Devon Winterbourne, the newly minted Duke of Casselmaine. Devon and Rosalind were on the verge of betrothal before the infamous Thorne family scandal derailed their courtship. Now Rosalind wonders if there's a chance their love might reignite.

Devon is as handsome as Rosalind remembers and it's clear the attraction they once shared hasn't waned. But their time together is interrupted by one crisis after another--not the least of which is an awkwardly timed request for help from Louisa's friend, Helen Corbyn.

Not long ago, the untimely death of Helen's brother, William, was ruled a suicide, but few people truly believe he took his own life. Helen needs to know what really happened--especially since she's engaged to the man some suspect of secretly killing William.

While Rosalind desperately wants to help, she fears her efforts might cast a pall over Louisa's nuptials, not to mention her reunion with Devon. But when another untimely death rocks the ton, Rosalind has no choice but to uncover the truth before more people die...even if her actions threaten her future with Devon.


My Review:
A Lady Compromised is a mystery set in 1817 in England. Though, this book was as much about deciding on her future and the focus of her romantic interest as it was on solving the mystery. This is the fourth book in the series. You don't need to read the previous books to understand this one, and this one didn't spoil the previous mysteries.

This was a clue-based puzzle mystery. Rosalind (and those helping her) asked good questions and collected information. Rosalind was clever, but it took a bit to get those who knew important information to disclose it. Whodunit was guessable but not obvious. The characters were interesting and reacted realistically to events. The historical details were usually woven into the story. The author clearly researched the manners and etiquette of the time, and she gave an info dump about table manners at one point (which was interesting to me but wasn't really necessary to the story).

There was no sex. There was occasional use of bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting mystery.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

To Steal a Heart by Jen Turano

To Steal a Heart by Jen Turano ISBN-13: 9780764235313 Paperback: 352 pages Publisher: Bethany House Released: November 17th 2020

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
After a childhood as a street thief, Gabriella Goodhue thought she'd put her past behind her until a fellow resident at her boardinghouse is unjustly accused of theft. In the middle of breaking into a safe that may hold the proof to prove her friend's innocence, Gabriella is interrupted by Nicholas Quinn, the man she once considered her best friend—until he abandoned her.

After being taken under the wing of a professor who introduced him into society and named him as heir, Nicholas is living far removed from his childhood life of crime. As a favor to a friend, Nicholas agreed to help clear the name of an innocent woman, never imagining he'd be reunited with the girl he thought lost to him forever.

As Gabriella and Nicholas are thrown together into one intrigue after another, their childhood affection grows into more, but their newfound feelings are tested when truths about their past are revealed and danger follows their every step.


My Review:
To Steal a Heart is a romantic comedy set in 1886 in New York City. The characters got into silly situations, mainly involving Gabriella and her friends from the boardinghouse wearing disguises or otherwise doing unusual activities while investigating various cases. Nicholas had taken on too many of the values of the high-class social circle he now moved in, and Gabriella reminded him about how other people lived and that they had value. Nicholas became a better person due to Gabriella's influence. They supported each other and others who faced injustice. They made a good team. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this humorous novel.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.