A Lady's Lesson in Scandal by Darcy McGuire - Book Review - Blog Tour

Series: The Queen's Deadly Damsels #2 (Standalone)

Purchase Link: https://mybook.to/ladyslessonsocial

Goodreads Book Page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/214540460-a-lady-s-lesson-in-scandal

Publication Date: 12th Oct 2024

Genre: Victorian Romance

3 Stars

One Liner: Okay! Liked the first book better

Book Blurb:

Wallflower at risk of ruin…

Secret femme-fatale in training Millicent Whittenburg needs to escape her unpleasant betrothal. Taking matters into her own hands, she plans her eventual ruin! Then she can disappear from society to carry out the Queen’s deadly missions. Step 1: seduce the one man who despises marriage more than her!

However, she hugely underestimates her target. Major General Beaufort Drake. Fearsome private investigator, he’s notoriously cold and visibly battle-scarred. But Millie’s scandalously public kiss awakens a deeply suppressed desire in Drake. Instead of allowing them both to succumb to shame he does the unthinkable and offers for her hand in a convenient marriage.

Nothing prepares them for the fireworks when a fearless damsel collides with a dangerous Major General! And as their secret missions align they face their hardest test on the glittering battlefield – a week-long wedding house party where there is nowhere to escape…only new and wicked lessons to be learnt!

***

My Thoughts:

The story comes in the third-person POV of Millie and Beau (Drake). 

The book works as a standalone though the characters have met in the earlier one. Reading that is not mandatory but could help see that the MCs had a couple of conversations (banter of sorts).

This series is predominantly steamy romance (~4). The mystery and danger are a subplot and take center stage only in the last quarter. The writing has a contemporary flavor as most books in this genre tend to be.

There’s quite a lot of drama in this one – evil stepmother, shitty exes (jealousy and all that), a struggling relationship (or the lack of it) between the main characters, the mystery of the gang, etc. Some of it works.

For me, the bright spot was Billy Bright, the young lad from book one. Boy, the kid brightened up the scenes whenever he was around. Lady Phillipa, once again, makes her presence felt. I hope she gets her own book.

While the previous book also had a dark backstory for the FMC, the chosen track in this book did not appeal to me. A certain scene, especially around 15% was unexpected. What made sense in the previous book doesn’t work here since the characters and the resolutions are different. Just look at that yellow cover and the flowery design on it. I didn’t expect something this triggering to happen. What’s worse is that the person responsible doesn’t even pay for their actions. No justice! Also, after a point, the issue isn’t even discussed again.

There’s one more random piece of information about a different character that’s revealed and left hanging. Possible that it will be tackled in the next book. Since I did guess a bit from the earlier scene, I knew what the trigger would be. It might affect other readers, though.

Quite a few issues are supposed to be presumed as settled (sorted off page). This doesn’t make the ending as satisfying as it should be. I wanted a more comprehensive approach to tying up at least the major subplots. Only one gets a sort of resolution.

To summarize, A Lady's Lesson in Scandal has its moments but doesn’t appeal to me as much as the previous book in the series. I had high hopes for this since I liked both characters, but the execution wasn’t great. Hopefully, things will be better in the next book. Fingers crossed!

Thank you, Rachel’s Random Resources and Boldwood Books, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley

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About the Author – Darcy McGuire

Darcy McGuire is a high school counsellor who grew up in the wilds of New Zealand but happily settled in the Pacific Northwest. In between dodging territorial geese, gathering duck eggs, and taking the dog for long walks, Darcy loves writing about fierce female protagonists who may dodge daggers and bullets but never seem to escape Cupid’s Arrow.

Follow the Author:

Facebook: @AuthorDarcyMcGuire

Instagram: @authordarcymcguire

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/DarcyMcGuireNews

***

This has been a stop on the #ALadysLessonInScandal blog tour by Rachel's Random Resources. (@rararesources) Thanks for stopping by! 

Murder at Wintertide by Fleur Hitchcock - Book Review

Publication Date: 10th Oct 2024

Genre: Middle-Grade Mystery 

4 Stars 

One Liner: Enjoy the chilly mystery! 

Young George is excited to spend Christmas with his Dad and Grandpa at the rented house named Wintertide. When he sees a sudden light on the cliff and hears about a dead body found in the sea, George wonders if the events are connected. Isla, his cousin, seems to have the same doubts. Soon, the tweens band together to find out more and solve the mystery, not realizing that it could very well put their lives at risk. 

The story comes in George’s first-person POV in the present tense. 

My Thoughts: 

The book starts with a short prologue about a body drifting in and out of the sea in the third-person POV. Then, it switches to George’s first-person narrative in the present tense. The kid and his dad are traveling to meet their family for joint celebrations (Grandpa’s birthday and Christmas). 

There’s a bit of a mystery right in the beginning about some people arguing on the road. We slowly get more information about the family dynamics, new members, the boy’s favorite ones, etc. Since it is in his POV, we don’t always know much about the others. However, this slowly changes and the undercurrents become clearer. 

The setting is perfect for the mystery. Lyme Regis is a coastal town, a bit away from the mainline. It has high cliffs, an extensive beach, and beautiful streets. The weather alternates between windy, rainy, snowy, and chilly. Naturally, this makes the mystery more interesting. 

The other kid, Isla is sweet. George is a different kind of sweet. Both are easy to like and root for. Their contrasting personalities and the slowly budding friendship between the new cousins add a nice personal touch to the plot. Of course, there are many other personal elements since this is a family trip. 

The mystery blends archeology, history, action, adventure, danger, some attempted sleuthing, and all the things children would love. As expected, the kids get into situations that could be way dangerous in real life. At least, the adults here are not fully absent. They do try to keep the children safe, and the kids also realize they are getting into tricky stuff (even if it doesn’t stop them).

The culprit is easy to guess thanks to the subtle (and not-so-subtle) clues scattered throughout. It should keep the young readers engaged and make them guess about the whos and whys. 

There’s some light humor sprinkled at random, making George an entertaining narrator. I like the subtle change in him as things change towards the end. 

The ending is heartwarming and sweet, just as how it should be for the target age group. There are some bittersweet moments too, but hope and love do triumph over everything else. 

To summarize, Murder at Wintertide is a steady-paced mystery with young sleuths solving a crime and discovering more than what they want. This is my first book by the author, and I’m curious to read more. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Nosy Crow, for eARC.  

#NetGalley #MurderAtWintertide

A Dark and Secret Magic by Wallis Kinney - Book Review

Publication Date: 08th Oct 2024

Genre: Cozy Witchy Romance 

3.7 Stars 

One Liner: A good debut; cozy read 

Hecate Goodwin aka Kate lives in a cozy cottage near the Ipswich forest in the same compound as her family house, Goodwin Manor. As a hedge witch, she prefers solitude and the company of her black cat, Merlin. 

Suddenly, Kate is bombarded by nightmares, strange messages, her older sister Miranda, and Matthew Cypher, a man who once tricked her. Kate has to host the annual Halloween gathering while dealing with what would occur on her birthday (the same date). Matthew’s arrival complicates things as he comes from a coven that practices forbidden magic. 

However, Matthew may be the only one to help her when the truth of her dead mother’s dark magic practices comes to the front. Turns out, Kate’s mother hid many secrets. Whom should Kate trust? What should she do? 

The story comes in Kate’s first-person POV. 

My Thoughts: 

Isn’t that an adorably cozy cover? Despite the word dark in the title, the book doesn’t get too dark or dive deep into scary elements. It has a few scenes and some danger but the overall vibe is pretty much comfy. 

The setting is atmospheric, be it the forest, the cottage, the manor, or the little bits of village we get to see. I could feel the mist and the darkness of the shadows lurking around and waiting for the FMC. 

A lot of space is taken up by routine activities like cooking, eating, etc. This is another reason for the cozy vibe. The story progresses a little during these scenes but not all readers will enjoy it. 

Kate’s arc is decent (she has her flaws) but the others are pretty straightforward. Matthew gets some sort of grey shades but then we know he is the hero, so it’s only Kate and others doubting his intentions. I do wish at least the main side characters had a little more depth. 

This is a romance with some paranormal danger thrown in. While I did like the possibly enemies-to-lovers (at least for Kate) trope, the love happens too fast and some of it feels unbelievable. 

The blurb calls this a celebration of the Halloween season, which is an apt description. Shaman is a big day for the witches, and the preparations start early. There’s a lot of pumpkin as well (carving, latte, etc.). 

The pacing is steady. It may feel slower at times but I think the momentum sustains pretty well. 

An epilogue would have been nice too. It was needed as I had a few questions about some motives, etc. 

There are recipes at the end (yay) for the various dishes mentioned in the book. I like a couple of those and might try them one day. 

To summarize, A Dark and Secret Magic is a cozy witchy romance with a touch of darkness and danger. It is a good debut work (and no kitchen sink). I look forward to reading more books by the author. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Alcove Press, for eARC. 

#NetGalley #ADarkAndSecretMagic

The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern by Lynda Cohen Loigman - Book Review

Publication Date: 08th Oct 2024

Genre: Dual Timeline, Romance 

3.3 Stars (almost an outliner)

One Liner: No magic realism; not that impressed 

1987

Augusta Stern had to finally retire from her job as a pharmacist. She moves to Florida upon her niece’s advice. However, not having a busy routine makes her restless. Add to it the reentry of Irving Rivkin, the delivery boy she knew in her teenage years, disturbs her peace of mind. 

As a young girl in the 1920s, Augusta was proud of her father’s pharmacy and wanted to follow in his footsteps. Her great-aunt Esther’s arrival brings many changes in their lives, including the biggest one that leaves Augusta with many regrets. 

Sixty years later, can Augusta find a way to move on with her life and spend the remaining time in peace? What happened back then? 

The story comes in Augusta’s third-person POV in both timelines, with Irving and other POVs at random. 

My Thoughts: 

I’m more of an outliner for this. I wish I could have liked it more.

Firstly, there is no magic realism here. There’s possibly an attempt made but it is just fancy descriptions and wishful thinking. Every healer woman is not a witch nor does she work with magic even if people think otherwise. 

This is mainly a second-chance romance for characters in their 80s. While it is great to read books with senior citizens where they lead active lives, seeing the MCs act childish doesn’t really feel heartwarming. I did empathize with the FMC’s resentment to an extent. 

The side characters like Esther and Shirley could have had more development. Esther especially could have been a lot more than what she ends up here. It would have also helped create a more definite setup for magic realism. And a special yay to Jackie. Love her! 

I do like the topics chosen – women in medicine, gender bias, parental death, medical advancements, bullying, mafia, etc. However, when I realized the core of the plot rests on miscommunication (or the lack of communication), I lost interest. It’s bad enough to read 30 and 40-year-old characters making a mess of relationships. These people are in their 80s and still cannot have a decent conversation until the end! 

Also, the 1987 (present timeline) feels like it is set in the 2000s. My guess is that the age was calculated from the 1920s to decide when the present timeline should be. However, the rest of it feels more contemporary (like after 2010) except for the lack of mobile phones and social media.

The pacing dips in the middle. Though we see both timelines, there isn’t much movement in the present one.

We get the first chapter from Irving’s POV around 35% or so. By then, I was sure this would continue in Augusta’s. The sudden change pulled me out of the story. We also get a few scenes from the omnipresent third-person. The changes should have been introduced earlier. For example, having the first Irving’s chapter at 10-12% would have set the pattern for the rest of the book. 

The Jewish rep is well done without providing too much detail but making it stand out just the same. 

To summarize, The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern is a cozy read about first love, second chances, missed opportunities, misunderstandings, and women in medicine. I wish I liked it more but it is not a bad book by any means. Guess I wasn’t in the mood for it. 

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, for eARC. T

#NetGalley

Mistletoe Season by Sheila Roberts, Kathleen Fuller, and Pepper Basham

Publication Date: 08th Oct 2024

Genre: Christmas Romance Novellas 

3.5 Stars 

One Liner: Sweet! 

The book is published by the Christian wing of the publisher, so God and faith get a mention more than once in the first two stories. This is a collection of three novelettes set around Christmas and feature Mistletoe in some form. Set in wintery small towns, each story has a couple that will fall in love and a community with all the cozy vibes. All stories are Hallmark-style and can be a little too sweet for some. 

TBH, I requested this book mainly to read Pepper’s The Mistletoe Prince. Prince Arran is Ellie’s brother, mentioned a few times in Loyally, Luke. I knew I had to read his story. The other two stories were a bonus. ;) 

Return to Mistletoe by Kathleen Fuller – 3.5 Stars 

Emmy Banks loves Christmas. After all, she lives in Mistletoe, Missouri. Kieran O’Neill has lived in Ireland, renovating a castle for over twenty-five years. He returns to Mistletoe for his mother’s seventieth birthday. Kieran is Emmy’s bestie’s older brother and a childhood friend. Renewing their friendship is easy. But what happens when they want more, and Kieran has to leave the town? 

The story comes in Emmy and Kieran’s third-person POVs. 

The characters are in their 40s, a good change from the younger romances. The setting is quite beautiful with the small-town vibe (where everyone knows everyone). The Christmas theme is also done well with an abundance of decorations, the winter fair, hot chocolate, etc. The romance is okay but I cannot help but wonder if it would have been better as a slightly longer piece. Even some 4-5 pages extra would have done the trick. It is still sweet, though. 

The Mistletoe Prince by Pepper Basham – 4.5 Stars 

Prince Arran of Skymar has to spend three months in a small town in North Carolina, where his sister Ellie lives with her husband, Luke Edgewood. This ‘punishment’ is also a chance for Arran to become his former self and find out who he is if not a prince with a title. Charlie, Luke’s cousin and carpenter, is a tomboy hiding in plain sight and suffering from low self-worth. The Christmas fundraiser is her chance to prove her worth. Can the two broken hearts mend each other as the season works its magic? 

The story comes in Arran and Charlie’s third-person POVs. 

This is the longest story in the book, which means it has enough space for proper development and the traditional arc (including a sort of third-act breakup). Charlie and Arran are lovely characters and easy to root for. Luke has enough presence and adds charm to the plotline. Ellie and Penelope have a teeny scene each but that’s fine. The focus remains on the main characters and their growth. There’s a light touch of faith, similar to the other books in the Skymar series. Beautiful! 

Say No to Mistletoe by Sheila Roberts – 2.5 Stars 

Hailey Fairchild is a romance author whose love life is a mess, thanks to her Mistletoe weakness. Seems that she cannot resist men who kiss her under the mistletoe and learn her lesson late only to repeat the cycle. Of course, it all started with her crush on her brother’s best friend and the popular guy at school, Carwyn Davies. Back in her town for Christmas, Hailey is determined to break the cycle but life may have other plans for her. 

The story comes in Hailey’s first-person POV. 

This is the shortest and weakest story in the collection. While Hailey’s voice is quirky enough, I couldn’t connect with her. (Hard to when you end up calling the MC an idiot right at the beginning). There are quite a few tropes and with no space for exploration, the story feels underwhelming. It does deal with some important themes like bullying, lack of confidence, fears, etc., but the approach didn’t work for me. 

*

Since it is a Christmas-themed sweet romance collection, I’m rounding it up to 4 stars (also coz I liked the story I wanted to read). 

To summarize, Mistletoe Season is a super sweet set of three novelettes with a Christmas theme as the central point. Check out others' reviews before you decide. 

Thank you, NetGalley, HarperCollins Christian Publishing, and Thomas Nelson, for eARC. 

#NetGalley #MistletoeSeason

The Crescent Moon Tearoom by Stacy Sivinski - Book Review

Publication Date: 01st Oct 2024

Genre: Historical Fantasy (Witchy Family Drama) 

3.7 Stars 

One Liner: Introspective (irregular pacing) 

Triplets Anne, Beatrix, and Violet Quigley convert their home into a Tearoom after the untimely death of their parents. Their mother, Clara, was a witch who gave up her position for love and married a human. The teashop is what the triplets consider her legacy and a cozy place for people to find answers to questions in the tea leaves. 

With the Council of Witches expecting the sisters to take up a responsibility (with dire consequences) and an old curse being activated, they find themselves being pulled in different directions. Can the sisters retain their bond while exploring their individual identities or will the curse and the Council break them apart? 

The story comes in the third-person POV. 

My Thoughts: 

Ever since I saw the book on NetGalley, I kept hoping it would be Read Now at least for a day. I wasn’t sure if the publisher would approve my request and didn’t want to risk it. Luckily, the book did become available for a week or more. 

Not sure why I thought it would be a contemporary witchy read. It’s a historical one (set in early 1900s). However, there isn’t much about the period. The story could be set anywhere and would still work. 

The house is my favorite part of the book. Imagine a building that can clean itself, do the dishes, dust the cobwebs, and repair everything on its own. I want a house like that! The tearoom setting is beautiful and chaotic. 

The writing is a bit prosey and has a lyrical touch to it in many scenes. While this can slow down the pace, I like how the words flow. 

The sisters have different personalities making it very easy to track their arcs. Though they are triplets, Anne sounds older and more stressed out almost throughout the book. This aligns with the character development as she has somehow become the older and more responsible one after their mother’s death. 

The POV is a blend of limited third-person and omnipresent. This can be a little hard to follow. 

The book drags in the middle as the miscommunication trope stretches on. This could have been trimmed a little. That said, I understand why it had to go on. A rubber band needs to be stretched beyond its elasticity to snap. The same theory applies here. 

The concept of using flavors and scents to talk about memories, truth, lies, etc., is lovely. If only we had such lie detectors in real life too! 

Each chapter starts with a symbol and its interpretation. This aligns with the content in the chapter and provides some knowledge about tea reading (if you can remember or make note of it). 

The ending is hopeful and sweet. It establishes the need for growth and change while showing how these things don’t have to affect relationships and family bonds. 

To summarize, The Crescent Moon Tearoom is a worthy debut dealing with important themes. While there are a few niggles, I like the overall vibe and feel. Will be happy to read more books by the author. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Atria Books, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley #TheCrescentMoonTearoom