Book review : A Christmas Promise by Anne Perry

A Christmas Promise by Anne Perry

GENRE: #Victorian-Christmas-novella #cozy-mystery
My rating: ★★★★☆

I just finished reading "A Christmas Promise" by Anne Perry, and while it's technically a Christmas story, it's less about tinsel and carols and more about those truly important human values we should all be striving for, things like friendship, loyalty, compassion, and good old human warmth. You know, the "stuff that _really_ matters", not just at Christmas but all the time.

This is a mystery story, but not your typical one with detectives and police.
Nope, we've got the murder of a man and the disappearance of a donkey being investigated by two super-poor little girls!
One is driven by her love for the missing donkey and her dead uncle, and the other by pure compassion and friendship.
They bravely face the dark, cold, and scary streets of Victorian London, which is quite something!

__ **THE PLOT IN SHORT**__

London, Victorian era.
It's three days before Christmas, and the East End slums are freezing. That's where thirteen-year-old Gracie Phipps meets Minnie Maude Mudway, who's only eight years old! Minnie Maude is determined to find Charlie, the donkey who belonged to her Uncle Alf. Gracie's shocked when she finds out that someone brutally murdered Uncle Alf _the day before_ and stole his rag cart, along with poor Charlie! Now, Minnie Maude is set on saving Charlie, no matter what, and Gracie decides to help her. Uncle Alf was a ragpicker, and the suspicion is that he had something valuable hidden on his cart. Someone was so desperate that they were willing to kill to get their hands on it!

________ **************** ________

- MY OPINION -

I did have a little bit of a struggle while I was reading. The dialogue, which is mostly between working-class people, isn't in standard English. It's all contracted words and spelled phonetically – you have to listen to the sound of the words to understand! I guess it's a kind of dialect.

Being Italian, and with English not being my first language, I was a bit thrown at first! But I got used to it, and it didn't stop me from enjoying the story.

Even though there wasn't a traditional investigation, the story kept me in suspense and totally curious about who the culprit might be.
And little Minnie Maude’s constant worry about Charlie, her four-legged friend, really got to me. I'm a big animal lover, so it made me even more anxious to find the poor donkey! I was right there with her, hoping and praying for a happy ending.

I'm often a little disappointed by short stories, because they don't always have time to really delve into the characters and themes. But this author did an amazing job of creating a vivid setting and making me feel deeply connected to those little girls.

I've had Anne Perry's Christmas stories on my TBR pile for ages, and I feel bad admitting I let my own prejudices hold me back.
She committed a pretty serious crime when she was younger, and it shocked me. Even though religion teaches us to forgive and give people a second chance, I just couldn't get past it.

It's not my place to judge her as a person, but I'm honestly happy I was able to appreciate her talent as a writer. I'm definitely going to read more of her Christmas stories and her longer mystery novels, and I highly recommend you give them a try too!

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Book review : Christmas in Stickleback Hollow by C.S. Woolley | Christmas Cozy Mystery with a Dash of Romance

Christmas in Stickleback Hollow
The Mysteries of Stickleback Hollow Book #11
by C.S. Woolley

GENRE: #CozyMysteryRomance #ChristmasNovella

My rating: ★★★★☆
Real rating 3.8 rounded up to 4 stars

Really charming Christmas short story! It’s part of a light mystery-romance series set in Victorian England. Even though this is #11 in the series, you can totally enjoy it on its own.

Don’t worry about the bunch of characters (I actually think there are a lot for a short story, but they’re all from the series and somehow manage to celebrate Christmas Eve together). I never got confused about who’s who or what their connections are. The author did a great job sparking my interest in their lives and making me curious about what happened before and what might come next, so much so that I’m now diving into the whole series, starting at book 1!

__ QUICK PLOT SUMMARY __

Lady Sarah is an orphan who grew up in India and is now in England, living under the care of the owner of Grangeback Estate. He’s away dealing with political and military stuff, so it’s up to her to run the house staff and plan the Christmas party. It’s a tough gig emotionally—not just because her guardian is gone, but also because her lover ran off after they lost their baby. While all this is happening, the folks in the house and the nearby village of Stickleback Hollow rally around her, both as friends and to figure out what happened to two missing girls. The mystery leads to a murder tangled up with politics, old enemies of Lady Sarah, and the girls’ disappearance.

***** _____________ *****

MY THOUGHTS

___ THE MYSTERY ___

If you made it through the plot summary, you’ve probably noticed there’s a lot packed in here—too much for a short story to fully explore.

The Christmas party is just a brief pause between the wild events of the last book and what’s coming next. The mystery itself is light, but the author’s smart. She gives us a little puzzle to solve (a man’s murder) while hinting at a bigger conspiracy with plenty of clues and sneak peeks that leave you wanting way more.

__ CHARACTERS AND ROMANTIC SUBPLOT __

There’s a big cast, so they don’t get super deep development here, but each one has a standout trait that sets them apart and shows their feelings for the others.
Even without deep dives, you can’t help but form opinions about them, pick favorites or not, and hope for their futures. In just a few lines, we step into their world and start to care, laughing, worrying, and celebrating alongside them.

We get glimpses of Lady Sarah’s past romance with the gamekeeper and hints of a new suitor, making you wonder who she’ll pick. Meanwhile, other love stories bubble up among the village youth, along with their dramas.

By the end, I was hunting down all the earlier books because the little breadcrumbs the author left weren’t enough, in fact I want all the adventures this series has to offer.

__ HISTORICAL NOTES BY THE AUTHOR __

I’m a sucker for historical tidbits, and I didn’t expect any in a light short story like this. But surprise! At the end, the author briefly explains the European political scene and how it caused Irish and Eastern Europeans to migrate to England.

There’s even a real ambassador character, with some background from the author.
Nothing is random here, the vicar is inspired by the author’s research too.

I also liked the nod to the Victorian Christmas tree tradition, brought from Germany and popularized by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. English readers might already know this, and I first saw it in the TV show *Victoria*, but it’s great that even fun, light books connect to real history. That definitely boosted my rating.

__ CHRISTMAS VIBES __

I hate it when a book has “Christmas” in the title but doesn’t really feel Christmassy. No worries here, this one’s packed with that warm, lively holiday spirit.
You get all the classic preparations: seasonal foods, mistletoe hunting, kids decorating with the grown-ups, and a friendly dog wagging its tail to make everything feel cozy and family-like.

So, a solid 5/5 for Christmas atmosphere, which matters a lot to me in a holiday story.

__ ONE SMALL CRITIQUE __

I’m Italian, so maybe it’s just me, but sometimes the vibe felt more like an American TV show than England. Even the village name, Stickleback Hollow, didn’t sound very English—it reminded me of Stars Hollow from *Gilmore Girls*.

Also, even though the story ends on a happy note, there’s a hint that a beloved character will die in the future, which bummed me out.
The author started the series out of order, so we already know from earlier books this character’s fate. No hope of seeing him again, sadly.

__ TO WRAP UP __

I found this a really pleasant read and would recommend it for the Christmas feel alone.

As for the mystery, it’s more for those like me who want to explore a new historical mystery series with a dash of romance. If you’re after a real suspenseful thriller, you’d be better off with the full-length novels, they offer a deeper, more gripping adventure.


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Book review : A Holiday by Gaslight by Mimi Matthews | Heartwarming Christmas Novella

A Holiday by Gaslight by Mimi Matthews

GENRE: #VictorianChristmasNovella #clean-romance
My rating: ★★★★★

I loved it!!
It deserves a full 5 stars because it's a sweet love story, full of Christmassy atmosphere and somehow connected to real historical facts, events, and fashions of the Victorian era.

Before telling you about my feelings about reading it,
here are a few words ABOUT THE PLOT:

Sophie Appersett's father is nearly bankrupt due to his ambition to renovate his manor with all the modern conveniences of the Victorian era, starting with gaslight.
Therefore, he has accepted the courtship of Sophie by Ned Sharpe, a very wealthy young man thanks to his trade, but not of the noble class.

Sophie is willing to sacrifice her happiness to help the family, but after two months of courtship by the charming, yet silent and shadowy Ned, she no longer feels at ease and decides to break off the engagement. But something shines through his hurtful and harsh words...
Perhaps she is mistaken about his lack of feelings for her? And will he be able to win her sensitive heart?

___________ ********* ____________

MY OPINION:

I loved everything about this short (but thankfully not _too_ short) Christmas story set in a Victorian setting.

____ MAIN CHARACTERS:

I find Ned and Sophie to be a truly well-matched pair, although the initial lack of communication might make our heroine _seem_ otherwise.

• NED managed to make me fall in love. Sure, he's tall and handsome, but what touched my heart was his almost childish desire to behave exactly as etiquette dictated, just to make a good impression on the girl who had struck him from the first time they met.
  
  I was touched by his hurt feelings, as a boy who grew up working, who is now a very rich young man, but knows perfectly well that he will never be accepted and valued equally by people of aristocratic rank who mistakenly believe themselves better than the working class.
  
  I was struck by the delicacy with which he approached Sophie – the kind gestures, the smiles, a candid kiss first, then with more passion... he was very sweet even in the moments when he withdrew into himself and was worthy of our heroine from the beginning to the happy ending.
  
  
• SOPHIE is the classic beauty who doesn't believe she's as beautiful as her spoiled and pampered younger sister, for whom she sacrifices herself, skimping on her clothes and other things, so that her sister can have a fantastic season in London marrying a titled man.
  
  Even though she agreed to marry a wealthy merchant to help her family, she's not at all interested in the life of the noble circle and certainly doesn't judge her suitor disparagingly. Rather, she's disappointed by the lack of warmth and communication that the silent Ned has shown her over two months of formal communication, strictly following the strict rules of good society.
  
  

What I liked most about her is the courage she showed in taking a step back from her decision and, ignoring the rules, coming forward, demanding honesty and complete openness from him so they can get to know each other better.
Sophie is not only a good daughter but also a good sister. She knows perfectly well how spoiled and often insensitive her sister is, yet she continues to protect and help her.

A classic trope of Renaissance and Victorian romances, that of the bitchy, selfish, and self-centered sister.
I confess that even though it's Christmas, for once I would have liked to see the younger sister, the spoiled one, considered by everyone to be the prettiest, _not_ have a happy ending, but be punished, while the heroine enjoys true happiness.
Mimi Matthews, the author, is kinder than I am and has given the story a happy ending even for the undeserving sister.

The growth of Ned and Sophie's feelings for each other is gradual, but I enjoyed it, and it moved me.

____ HISTORICAL CONNECTIONS:

I love historical fiction, but let's face it, in Regency or Victorian romances, there's usually little or nothing historical, except the descriptions of hairstyles and clothing.
The pleasant surprises of this story were the small connections to the real situation of the time: modernization with the advent of gaslight and running water, the death of Prince Albert and the custom of Christmas trees he introduced, the marriages between the titled poor and the nouveau riche.
You'll find some further explanation in the author's historical notes.

_____ CHRISTMAS ATMOSPHERE:

5 stars also for this unexpected aspect (I hate it when they put the word "Christmas" or something related in the title, but then there's nothing Christmassy about it, except that the story takes place during the Christmas season).
Here you'll find the decorations, the hikes through the snow to find mistletoe, the games among the guests, the Christmas ball, and the sleigh ride.
It's a short story, so unfortunately everything is described briefly, but it's enough to let the reader savor a sweet and sparkling Christmas atmosphere.

_____ FINAL VERDICT:

A decidedly Christmassy clean romance and highly recommended.
This is my first time reading Mimi Matthews, but I can't wait to read more by this author!

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Book review : The Secrets of a Moonlit Night by Elisa Braden | Victorian Romance

The Secrets of a Moonlit Night
by Elisa Braden

GENRE : #VictorianGhostRomance #novella

My rating: ★★★☆☆
I'd actually give this one a 3.5!

This was a super quick and pleasent read, easily finished in just a few hours.

___ THE PLOT:

Elizabeth Nightingale, a governess with a swindler's past, finds her world shifting. When her neighbor shows up at her doorstep on a rainy day, she's not rattled by the scars on the left side of his face. What does unnerve her is that he immediately sees through her efforts to hide her good looks and realizes she's keeping a secret.

Meanwhile, architect Thomas Warwick is busy renovating an ancient abbey, which is challenging enough without dealing with village gossip, workmen spooked by ghosts, and curious neighborhood kids. Things get even more complicated when he finds himself trapped in his cellar with the bewitching governess from next door.

As they battle a blazing attraction neither expected, Thomas and Elizabeth must learn to trust each other. But can two hearts with so many past scars find a match made in moonlight? Or will the abbey's haunted history threaten a love that's just beginning?

_________*********________

___ MY OPINION ___

Overall, this was a nice read, even if it wasn't particularly memorable. Of course, I didn't expect too much from such a short story. It felt like it lacked a bit of coherence at times, but then again, trying to weave together so many different elements into just a few pages – lively children, a ghost, two main characters with painful pasts, and open-door love scenes – is definitely no easy feat!

Personally, I would have preferred a shorter opening scene, especially the conversation with the children. It was starting to bore me a little, and I was almost ready to give up on the story right there.
A few more pages, though, could have really helped flesh out the ghost's connection to the story. That was probably the least satisfying and least plausible part for me.

The sudden lack of inhibition due to drunkenness also felt a bit forced. However, overall, I really liked the couple in love. This makes me think that if this short story didn't fully showcase the author's skills, a longer novel probably would. So, I'll definitely be giving this author more chances!

Something important, at least for me: the sex scene was explicit but thankfully never vulgar, which I genuinely appreciated.
Honestly, if it had been otherwise, I probably would have given this only 1 star.
The way the male character approached the act of love – slowly and delicately – not only made the moment really enjoyable but also kept the tension high, both for his beloved and for me as a reader.

I really, really loved Thomas and Elizabeth as a couple.
He's a bit introverted and incredibly respectful towards her, but can be fiery when the moment calls for it.
She, on the other hand, is a bit cynical about the world, yet deep down she just yearns for true love, a place where she can unleash her passionate nature and reveal an almost childlike sweetness.
In my opinion, they're a perfectly matched couple who, despite their rather unbelievable 'insta-love,' completely captivated me. Even though it was a short story, these characters are still on my mind even now that I've moved on to another book.

To wrap things up, while you might find more exciting or original stories out there, this one still gave me a few hours of fun, passionate, and sweet reading all at once.

I'd recommend it for those times when you have a few free hours and haven't quite decided which long novel to dive into yet.

Thank you for stopping by and reading my thoughts! :-)

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Book review : A Deadly Affair by Carla Simpson

A Deadly Affair
Angus Brodie & Mikaela Forsythe book 1
by Carla Simpson
GENRE : #Victorian era cozy mystery

My rating: ★★★★☆
Actually 3,8 stars rounded up to 4.

Victorian mystery with a hint of romance and humor.
I liked it, but I wasn't crazy about it. Since it doesn't particularly stand out from numerous other "historical mystery-romance" series, whether set in the Victorian era, the Regency period, or the 1920s, I can't rate it higher than a 3.8, rounded up to 4.

________ PLOT IN SHORT________ London, 1889. Mikaela Forsythe's sister is missing, and her sister's maid has been found murdered. While the police prove inefficient (if not disinterested) in looking for clues, Mikaela promises herself to find her sister alive and bring the culprits to justice.

Directed by her aunt to hire private detective (and former police inspector) Angus Brodie, Mikaela refuses to be sidelined during the investigation. Intelligent, stubborn, cunning, and skilled in self-defense, she will give Brodie a hard time trying to keep her safe.

During the investigations in the darkest places, frequented by shady individuals, clues will emerge that lead to something much bigger: a possible conspiracy? And against whom? It will be up to this unlikely couple, and their faithful friends, to find out and act accordingly.

___________________ * * *_____________________

MY OPINION

--> I'm giving 4 full stars mainly for the characters (both main and secondary), the subtle romantic vein, and the pleasantly humorous style of the story.
However, the mystery itself is worth only 2.5 stars: it's neither compelling nor original, and the resolution is unsatisfying.

Maybe if I had read it a few years ago, before reading so many other similar series, I would have appreciated it more; I might have even found it great.

Having read it after already enjoying so many similar books, I couldn't feel as involved as I would have liked.
However, for those who love light mysteries, it is, as a whole, a pleasant read, useful for escaping daily worries and reviving your good mood, thanks to the witty dialogues and some kisses that will delight the most romantic readers.

______ MAIN CHARACTERS_____ They are adorable, even if they follow the usual clichés:

SHE is an extraordinary woman whose intelligence, curiosity, and desire for action are supported by wealth. This has allowed her to have an education, to travel far and wide, and to live adventures without caring about conventions – something that an intelligent and enterprising, but poor, woman could not have done. (Hmm... maybe I'm a little tired of "super-mega-brilliant-and-rich" heroines. It would be interesting and nice to read more often about quick-witted working-class women who can't resist the urge to investigate!).
Oh, I almost forgot: like all "brave and canny" female protagonists, she is obviously also stubborn. If the male character tells her "not to do" something, it's guaranteed that she will do it – something a bit unbearable for me, but obviously hilarious and effective in the dynamics of the stories.

HE, as always in this kind of reading, is the professional. In this book, he works independently as a detective, but he has the experience he acquired as a police inspector. As always, he has good instincts, he is capable and charming, he is introverted with a tormented past and, naturally, at the beginning, he doesn't give much credit to the "pushy woman."
But then, fascinated by her smartness and resourcefulness, he has to change his mind.
Irony, respect for women, right ideals, honesty, and courage complete the figure of the hero of the story, and I cannot deny that he fascinates me too.

So, in conclusion, the protagonists are amusing and even though their actions and reactions are predictable, their lively and ironic dialogues not only made me smile a lot while reading but also encouraged me to turn the pages to see how their bickering and mutual attraction progressed.

The "good" SIDE CHARACTERS are quite original, also nice, ironic and ready to do their best to help our two favorites.
The author manages to express the nature and mentality of each of them in a lively and fun way.

----> THE ONLY FLAW AMONG THE CHARACTERS: the villains, who usually have an equally important role in mysteries, here are portrayed in a few scenes, have few lines in the whole book and are completely ignored by the author.
I think this has taken away a lot of suspense and pathos from the story.
I hope that in the next books both the mystery and the villains will be more impressive.

___ A BLOOMING ROMANCE ___ Throughout the story, I had the impression that the author focused more on the relationship between the two characters and their interaction with their friends who work with them (including the cute dog) than on creating an intricate and compelling mystery.

Throughout the narrative, the bickering feels like a veiled courtship.
Despite coming from different backgrounds, the two characters are similar in some respects (cleverness, stubbornness, sense of justice, pride and desire to assert their autonomy)and clearly feel an attraction to each other.

To confirm this, book #1 in the series gives us a beautiful first kiss, something that usually happens in the subsequent volumes of a mystery-romance series.
"Clean" kiss, but unexpected and pleasant to read, which, together with another final surprise, invites readers to follow the development of the relationship in the next books.

_____ THE MYSTERY_____ As I said previously, this is, in my opinion, the weakest part of the book.
I didn't find it well-thought-out; I didn't encounter any major twists, and even the explanation of the mystery left much to be desired.
----> Perhaps this gap could have been filled with an interesting historical element (as in the fantastic "Lady Emily" series by Tasha Alexander), but unfortunately, apart from knowing that we are in the Victorian era and that Jack the Ripper was active, there are no historical connections. The fact that the monarchs are mentioned and their offspring make a brief appearance is not enough to make the whole thing historically relevant.

Anyway, a nice, light read to spend your leisure time.
----> Clean language, no sex scenes and no gruesome descriptions make the book suitable for all ages.

Thanks for reading my opinion, and please be lenient with my English; it's not my first language.

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Book review : Mrs. Holloway's Christmas Pudding by Jennifer Ashley

Mrs. Holloway's Christmas Pudding
A Below Stairs Mystery Novella #6.7
by Jennifer Ashley
GENRE: #Christmas-cozy-mystery #historical-mystery

My rating: ★★★★☆
Actually 3.8 rounded up to 4 stars

A short and very enjoyable Christmas mystery novella.

This short story is part of a mystery series ( indeed book #6.7 ) set in England at the end of 19th century, but it's perfectly readable as a standalone.

The peculiarity of the series is that the main character is not part of the rich and noble society, but is the cook in an aristocratic house, which is why the title of the series is:
" A Below Stairs Mystery Series".

___PLOT__ December 1882
When Cook Kat Holloway is blamed when a dinner guest mysteriously takes ill after eating one of her meals, she sets out to prove she had nothing to do with the gentleman’s sickness.

Helped by her closest friends, she investigates the patient's family and acquaintances, thus discovering that there are many who have a valid motive to kill.

In the meantime, Kat must also manage to prepare an impeccable Christmas meal and who knows what Christmas Day will hold for her together with her daughter and Daniel who cares so much about her...

________ ******** ________

Even though I hadn't read the previous books (which were mostly longer novels), I still managed to enjoy the story and understand the role of each character. The author was in fact very good at describing their personality and what binds them to the protagonist.

As I already said, the story is short and can be read in a couple of afternoons, but it is intriguing enough to make you want to read all the other books and find out more about the various CHARACTERS:
- Kat, a skilled cook, single mother with a great love for her daughter who is raised by another family.
- Daniel, her friend and lover, skilled in disguises and undercover operations and her young son James, affectionate and kind, skilled and cunning like his father.
- The terrible, grumpy and overbearing landlady and Lady Cinthia, her niece, modern, friend of Kat and kind to the servants, loves dressing as a man and is reckless.
- The rest of the staff under the stairs and other friends who never fail to help Kat in the investigation.

The final part of the story is reserved not only for the solution of the case but also for a sweet and convivial Christmas atmosphere, thus giving the reader that touch of goodness and magic that each of us seeks when approaching a story set at Christmas.

Thanks for reading my opinion and please be lenient with my English as it is not my native language.

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Book review : Ghostly Lover by Mary Lancaster

Ghostly Lover
Crime and Passion Book #4.5
by Mary Lancaster
GENRE : #historical-mystery-romance
#Halloween-read
My rating: ★★★☆☆


Real rating : 2.5 rounded up to 3.

A short story, included in the Passion & Crime series (of which I really liked books #1 and #2 and  I will soon also read #3 + the short Christmas story) written by the author exclusively for Halloween.

The protagonist couple is the common thread throughout the series, Griz and Dragan in fact met in book #1 and after falling in love and getting married they continue to be present as a couple of amateur detectives.

In this short story they will have to shed light on a suicide that they suspect to be a murder and put a ghost to rest.

--PLOT IN SHORT---
Late 1800s, England.
  Dragan finds himself a guest with an aristocratic friend, whose stately home is built right next to an old ruined castle (belonging to the friend's family), which is said to be haunted by a female ghost.

The reason why Dragan was invited is to shed light on the death of his friend's girlfriend, but the only suspects are the family and the servants.

Unable to unravel the mystery on his own, Dragan invites his wife Grizelda to join him and she also brings their recently born child with her.

To complicate matters, the presence of the ghost in love with Dragan.

---------*******----------
The premises for a good Halloween story are all there but for many reasons the story didn't engage me and I didn't like the Dragan and Griz couple as much as in past books.

Since it is a short story I will be concise and essential in my personal opinion on the story:

1) I usually like the Dragan and Griz couple both as a romantic couple and as characters considered individually: both do not like conventions, they are in love and used to sharing everything but without being nauseatingly saccharine or ridiculous.

Unfortunately in this story the writer has transformed Griz into a clingy, petulant, jealous wife and in my opinion also rude in her manners and in asking investigative questions.
I didn't like it at all.

2) The plot is weak and this is obviously also due to the fact that it is a short story and not a novel, so there is no time to delve into situations, characters and investigations.

But the problem isn't just this, there are many things that don't make sense at all:

- Dragan is called to investigate and then once on site, the whole family is hostile to him and everyone insists that it was a suicide or an accident (BUT THEN WHY DID YOU CALL HIM?????)

- There is no investigation except a couple of questions asked rudely by Griz.

- The ghost seems to be included in the story only to make a connection with the Halloween holiday but seems to have nothing to do with everything else in the plot.
The ghost is seen at the beginning of the story, then at the end and is sent away in the blink of an eye in a very simple, easy and ridiculous way for a story.

The motivation for the murder doesn't make much sense, the motive and the culprit are ridiculous.

It's all very hasty, full of contradictions and not at all engaging.
All the supporting characters are unlikable and don't even seem to be part of the story itself.
They are extras who are given dialogue without content and without meaning.

The only reason why I gave 2.5 rounded to 3 stars (which for me means passable but not among those I would reread or recommend) is that I like the Dragan and Griz couple in the novels and the novels in the series are well written and very satisfying underneath all points of view (mystery, romance, ending).
If I had read this story without first reading the other books, my actual rating would have been 2 stars.

I 100% recommend the novels in the series, but don't waste your time with this short story.

Thanks for reading my opinion and please forgive my English since it's not my language.

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Book review : A Cold Highland Wind by Tasha Alexander

A Cold Highland Wind
Lady Emily Mysteries book 17
by Tasha Alexander
GENRE : #historical-cozy-mystery

My rating: ★★★★☆
Actually 3,8 stars rounded up to 4.

An old castle in Scotland, an ancient Celtic festival and a murder!
In parallel, a story dating back 200 years earlier, when people were afraid of witches and every woman was at risk of being accused of witchcraft!

Since the month of October is the month of Halloween and I'm too weak to read anything horror, this seemed like the right read to get into the right spirit, while remaining in my comfort zone.

___PLOT___ Lady Emily, her husband Colin Hargreaves and their three children are on holiday at Cairnfarn Castle in Scotland, guests of Jeremy, Duke of Bainbridge, Emily's dear childhood friend.The atmosphere is cheerful and lively, also thanks to a folklore event of Celtic origin that is being celebrated. Music, dancing, rum punch...everything is going well until Jeremy's gamekeeper is found dead and horribly disfigured.

In the same village approximately 200 years earlier, ancient rituals, phrases that could seem like magic formulas and people foreign to the village were not welcome and the risk of being accused of witchcraft was around every corner or rather behind every slothful and manipulative person.

____********_______********____


EMILY and COLIN _ the 2 MAIN CHARACTERS __ 
Reading a book in this series every now and then is like meeting up with a couple of my old friends.
I like them both either considered separately or as a couple.

COLIN: handsome and charming, intelligent and always loving and with great consideration for his wife, but also always responsible, thoughtful and realistic.

EMILY: always loving and admired towards her husband, but also independent in her choices and stubborn in pursuing her goals, beautiful and sweet with her husband, but sometimes a little too reckless and not inclined to follow his judicious advice.

Parents of 2 biological children and one of their wards, always careful in raising them, leaving them free to follow their passions but not without a certain discipline. Despite having been married for a decade, this couple does not lack romance and sentimental outpourings.

I love the fact that although the series is titled Lady Emily, in reality, the investigation is the work of both of them and there is great chemistry between them.

In the first books of the series, they acted separately and Lady Emily was always in the foreground and her husband was more of a secondary character, as time passed and the series grew, I can say that both are protagonists and I like this a lot.

__ ALREADY KNOWN SIDE CHARACTERS __ 

Bainbridge's two quirky aunts add a humorous touch to the story.
They are two spinster sisters, very old but with a lively brain and an adventurous spirit, they know everything about everyone and don't mince their words.

Jeremy is a loving nephew, a loyal friend and a duke who, despite self-deprecatingly calling himself useless, actually cares for the people of the village and does his duty with great sensitivity.

I like all these characters because together with Emily and Colin's 3 children, they help create a "cozy" atmosphere and bring more than a smile to the reader's face.

__ SETTING AND OTHER CHARACTERS ___ 
I haven't read all the books in the Lady Emily series, but I've read 11 of them including this one and I have to say that unlike the others, the setting here is barely intuitive.

There are usually detailed descriptions of both the location where the story takes place and historically important buildings and monuments, as well as the atmosphere.
Here, apart from the wind from the moors, you can't really breathe the air of the Highlands and the small Scottish village... nothing evocative or suggestive in my opinion and  this is one of the two things that lowered my rating for the book .

____MYSTERY___

----> In 1905 : Halfway through the book I thought I was so clever and had guessed the truth, but it wasn't like that and above all the culprit was really really unexpected!!I had a lot of fun making conjectures and hypotheses and until the end I was on tenterhooks, I couldn't wait to find out who the murderer was and several times I was tempted to go and peek at the back of the book, but I resisted!

Well done Tasha Alexander, the solution to the mystery was truly something I never expected.
A little more disappointing and hasty was the solution to a parallel mystery, also in 1905, connected to the murder.

----> In 1676: Up to 70% of the book, the protagonist of the story, set in the 18th century, kept me in suspense: her first-person narrative is full of suspense, the characters around her are ambiguous in their speeches, mysterious in their arguments and I really feared that the story would end in a dramatic way.

So the writer achieved her aim here too (to create an atmosphere of uncertainty, anxiety and deep emotion... but then without revealing the details everything was resolved in a way that was perhaps a little too easy, I don't know how to explain... .
I was expecting something more impressive and  this is the second thing that lowered my rating for the book.
Anyway, I was happy with the happy ending for the characters in this story.

__ HISTORICAL PART  ___ 
Unlike the other books I read in the series, here there are no historical notions or real-life historical characters except for the fact that the character of the mystery set in 1676 is inspired by two real-life black women, about whom the writer talks to us briefly in his notes at the end of the book.

Another historical reference is the witch hunt and the witch hunters who, in order to prove the fake, invented and falsified the evidence, you will also find a brief mention of this in the author's notes.

*****
This is one of the few series that I usually read in no particular order, each book in the series can be read as a standalone, but if you read them starting from the first one you will be able to enjoy better Emily's personal story (her engagement , marriage, children and all the recurring characters who contribute to creating a cheerful and pleasant atmosphere).

Thanks for reading my opinion and as always I ask you to be lenient with my English since it's not my native language.



If you want to know more about OTHER BOOKS IN THE SERIES, you can read some reviews here :

BOOK #2 : A Poisoned Season

BOOK #3 : A Fatal Waltz by Tasha Alexander

BOOK #4: Tears of Pearl

BOOK #5: Dangerous to Know

BOOK #13.5 : Upon the Midnight Clear ( Christmas novella )

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Book review : Letters to a Lover by Mary Lancaster | Victorian Blackmail, Love & Spice! 💖🕵️‍♂️

Letters to a Lover
(Crime and Passion Book #2)
by Mary Lancaster

GENRE: #HistoricalMysteryRomance #VictorianEra #SuspenseRomance
📍 Setting: Victorian London | ⏳ Era: 1852 (15th Century)

My rating: ★★★★★

5 FULL STARS WELL DESERVED! 😃✨

A wonderful, enchanting light read! I deeply loved it from the very first page to the absolute last one.

This is an amazing recommendation for anyone looking for a refreshing light read with a perfectly well-balanced mix of: a cleverly constructed mystery, a passionate romance filled with tender kisses, and clean, yet exciting and masterfully distributed lovemaking scenes throughout the narrative.

🎩 THE SETTING | MID-19TH CENTURY VICTORIAN LONDON

Even though the plot is devoid of heavy, over-explainy historical details, the author beautifully conveys the authentic atmosphere of the era. She achieves this through the vivid events of high social and private life, and through the characters' unique way of thinking and acting. The style is never too frivolous like in some saccharine romances, nor too bleak like in darker mystery series. It hits the absolute sweet spot!

📜 THE PLOT IN SHORT | SECRETS AND BLACKMAIL

1852, Victorian London. Eric and Azalea, the Viscount and Viscountess of Trench, have been married for eight years. Theirs was originally a grand, passionate love story. However, their marriage faltered three years ago following Azalea’s severe postpartum depression, which she tried to fight by plunging into an unbridled, frenetic recovery of her social life.

One day, after being caught by Eric while playfully spilling tea over the head of an overly persistent suitor, Azalea receives a terrifying blackmail letter: either she pays a large sum of money, or her private letters to a secret lover will be publicly exposed.

Azalea still loves Eric deeply and has absolutely no memory of writing such letters or having any lovers. However, she suffers from mysterious memory lapses and cannot fully trust her own mind. Desperate, she decides to seek help from her sister Grizelda and her Hungarian husband, Dragan, who have successful amateur investigation experience from a past murder case.

Eric also still loves his wife fiercely, but he cannot help but suspect that she might actually have a lover. When he decides to secretly follow her, he uncovers the entire blackmail mess. The blackmailer turns out to be far more dangerous than he appears at first. While all four of them team up to trap the criminal, sweeping adventure, dark mystery, intense courtship, and loving passion become ineluctabiliy intertwined!

✉️🎩🌹 ** MY THOUGHTS ** 🌹🎩✉️

📖 READABLE AS A STANDALONE | THE "CRIME & PASSION" SERIES

This novel is fully readable as a standalone, but it is surely much more enjoyable if you read Book #1 (“Mysterious Lover”) first! The co-protagonists of this book are the main heroes of that first installment, and reading it will give you a wonderful, deep introduction to Azalea and her family background.

👥 THE MAIN CHARACTERS | UNDER THE ARISTOCRATIC MASK

The main protagonists are Azalea and Eric, and I liked them immensely!

Superficially observed (as they appeared in the first book and in the opening chapter of this story), they might seem like haughty, superficial nobles. But as we peel back the layers, discover their inner thoughts, and get to know their deepest feelings, we realize what genuinely good people they actually are—unfortunately caged in a rigid world of rules and behaviors dictated by high aristocratic society.

We discover an Azalea who is much more unsure of herself beneath her own wealth and striking beauty, and very much in need of the unconditional love and support that only a devoted husband can provide.
We see how she beautifully rediscovers, through the pure happiness of her sister's marriage, how much more satisfying spontaneity is when you let yourself be guided by true feelings rather than the artificial rules imposed by society.

Azalea, being the daughter of a Duke, grew up somewhat spoiled and never paid much attention to the internal wounds of others. However, thanks to her current crisis and her desperate desire to win back her husband, we see her mature deeply and open her heart not only to Eric but to everyone around her.

On the other hand, we discover a generous Eric, who is not only boundlessly compliant with his wife, but also incredibly kind toward less fortunate people.
He is a sweet Eric, yet deeply passionate and hot-blooded, fighting tooth and nail to rediscover that rare complicity that two happy spouses should share.

The kisses that Azalea and Eric exchange are initially tender and then turn absolutely fiery! After almost losing each other, they find themselves in the exact same conditions as two fresh lovers at the beginning of a romance: the love burns intensely, but a thousand uncertainties remain. Yet, they possess the advantage of knowing each other intimately, and when their passion finds its outlet in making love, they know exactly how to complete each other in a perfect, breathtaking way.

In addition to the romance and character depth, I also highly appreciated the fact that the couple actively participates in the investigation! In fact, even though Griz and Dragan are the official amateur investigators of the series, in this specific plot the protagonist couple does not hesitate to act personally in the dangerous plans designed to circumvent and capture the criminal.

Sweet kisses and intimate sex scenes (I repeat: clean but equally sensual) alternate pleasantly with gripping action scenes, complete with thrilling chases, punches, and dramatic stabbings!

🕵️‍♂️ THE CO-PROTAGONISTS | GRIZ AND DRAGAN

Griz and Dragan are the official investigators of the series, and the main leads of Book #1.

Both are beautifully introverted and completely different from the rest of the aristocracy (Griz because she is shy, preferring books and culture over high-society balls; Dragan because he comes from a country torn apart by revolution and war, where he worked generously as a dedicated doctor). They are now happily married and continue their lovely eccentricity by completely ignoring social etiquette, living their love spontaneously, and pursuing their own passions and hobbies with zero fear of other people's judgment.

They are a beautiful couple who gave us magnificent romantic moments in the first book (though only sweet kisses!) and pure wit and courage in throwing themselves into dangerous situations.
They remain in the background of this specific novel, but they are always a pleasure to follow. I absolutely loved the natural chemistry that was created between them and the Azalea-Eric couple!

🔍 THE MYSTERY | A TIGHTENING WEB

As regards the mystery, I didn't even try to speculate or guess the culprit because I simply had no idea who the villain could be! When I finally had the right intuition, it was toward the very end, exactly when the protagonists reached the same conclusion thanks to the answers they uncovered during their cross-examinations.

The mystery apparently starts in a very simple way with a single blackmail letter, but it thickens and becomes increasingly intriguing as the story progresses. There are excellent small action sequences, great scenes of pure suspense, and that initial blackmail quickly escalates into the risk of a cold-blooded crime!

💖 THE ROMANCE | AN UNBREAKABLE INVISIBLE THREAD

Although the two main characters have already been married for eight years and have emotionally distanced themselves from each other for the last three, we can beautifully perceive, right from the very beginning, the invisible thread of deep feeling that still binds them together.

The story opens with an unpleasant crisis which, ironically, turns out to be a magnificent opportunity for them to interact and find each other again. First, through a polite, tension-filled courtship, and then by revealing their deepest fears and vulnerabilities with an open heart. This beautifully gives way to warm, well-measured kisses and, finally, to a physical passion that completely rekindles, bringing brand-new energy and pure happiness to their lives.

This is a clean historical romance featuring at least 3 or 4 scenes of passionate hot kisses and 2 beautifully written lovemaking scenes that are never vulgar. The descriptions remain elegant, yet they equally evoke warmth, deep desire, and an exciting atmosphere for the reader. They never feel fake or overly saccharine like in some other books, but are entirely plausible in reality.

| ✒️ Bespoke Romance Distribution: I highly appreciated the fact that the kisses and lovemaking scenes are masterfully distributed throughout the entire narrative arc.
Personally, I don't like it when absolutely nothing happens for half the book, then there is a single romantic scene, and then nothing more until the final page.

| ⏳ Razor-Edge Suspense: In this specific story, you will only have to wait for about a couple of opening chapters, but after that, you will experience the delicious suspense of a romance on the razor's edge the entire time, packed with all the satisfaction of seeing things transform for the better, exactly as every reader desires!

🏁 IN CONCLUSION | THE PERFECT BALANCE

• A True Double Focus: The narrative is exceptionally well-focused on the mystery, exactly as a good historical mystery should be (where, usually, the romantic part is far too tepid or completely non-existent), and yet it is equally well-focused on the love story between the two spouses, just as a top-tier romance novel should be (where, often, there are no puzzles to solve, or if there are, they are barely outlined, predictable, and unsatisfactory).
Here, Mary Lancaster hits a home run!

• Relatability Across Centuries: The characters are not trivial at all; in fact, they deeply reflect the exact same internal marital problems of today's modern couples. Despite the huge differences in time periods, they beautifully mirror the organic feelings, doubts, and struggles of people today.

• A Flawless Delivery: We have 3 major, well-developed narrative pillars tied together by a perfectly adequate and satisfying ending! This is exactly what, in my opinion, makes this book an absolute must-read for anyone who loves this genre. According to my personal tastes, the rating is 5 full, well-deserved stars.

It goes without saying that I will most definitely continue reading the other books in this series (which currently includes one more full novel and a couple of lovely short stories—one dedicated to Christmas and one for All Saints' Day!).


Thank you all so much for reading my opinion! Happy reading, fellow bookworms! ✨📖

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BACK TO THE BEGINNING | READ BOOK #1:

👉 BOOK #1

"Mysterious Lover" by Mary Lancaster — Click here to read my full review!

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Book review : Raffles: The Amateur Cracksman by E.W. Hornung

Raffles: The Amateur Cracksman
by E.W. Hornung
Classic short stories collection
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I read this book about 3 years ago and have reread the stories in it over the last 2 days.

I have always been fascinated by stories of gentleman thieves, but except for having seen an old black and white film with David Niven and Olivia De Havilland from 1939, I had never heard of Raffle.
I found this book by chance and since it was super discounted I grabbed it immediately. Wow, how lucky, it was a nice breath of joy.

It has been a great read, each story very quick to read, light and ironic.
The main character, a gentleman thief, not only is fascinating but could also be a magnificent character in a contemporary adventure book or in a TV series suitable for the whole family.
So if work keeps you too busy and you don't have too much time to focus on a longer and more challenging read, this little book will relieve all your stress.

The set is Victorian-era London. The two characters ( yes , actually we have a couple of main characters) Raffle and Bunny love a comfortable and luxurious life but they don't like working that much, so their choice is theft.
The couple is the usual cliché: one very intelligent and full of charm, the other a little clumsier and less skilled, but always a very good friend and a good supporting shoulder for the first one.
As I said, it's the usual cliché of books and films of all time, but they know the same way how to steal your heart.

I liked all the stories, only the last one left me a little sad... but I can't tell you anything otherwise I would ruin your enjoyment of reading.

A nice curiosity is that the author, EW Hornung, was the brother-in-law of none other than Arthur Conan Doyle (author of Sherlock Holmes and his trusted Dr. Watson).

Thank you for reading my opinion and if you found any errors in my text, please forgive me, English is not my native language.

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Book review : The Paid Companion by Amanda Quick

The Paid Companion
by Amanda Quick
My rating: 4,8 rounded up to 5 stars.
I loved it!
(Here on the left the new paperback cover, below the old one)

A historical mystery-romance where both the mystery-investigative part and the romantic and sensual part are equally well developed and both have the same weight in the story.

___THE PLOT IN SHORT__ The story begins with Elenor's sudden change of fortune: the greedy and hateful step-father has lost everything due to a bad investment and while he died of a stroke, his stepdaughter finds herself thrown out of the house by creditors , with only her clothes in an old trunk of her actress grandmother.
The only chance of survival is to roll up your sleeves and find a job through an agency.

The rich Arthur, Earl of St. Merrin, fresh from a year of gossip about the escape of his girlfriend with another man, has decided to find a fake girlfriend, turning to an agency that employs desperate women looking for a job as a companion. In fact, at the moment he is not interested in falling in love, because his goal is to find his uncle's killer.

Elenor will prove to be much more than a banal cover for his investigations, with her intelligence, in fact, she will help St. Merrin in unraveling a tangled mess of secret identities and harmful obsessions.
_______________________

Like many romances, the "historical" setting is purely superficial.
In fact there is no historical part with historical references and events, the reader only knows, thanks to some elements, that we are probably in the Regency era, but after the defeat of Napoleon or in the Victorian era, before the advent of electricity..
I consider it a "point against" because I love historical references, however the narration was so compelling in the two themes it focused on (the love story and the solution to a mystery, as well as the capture of a killer), that I turned one page after another with great enthusiasm.

I must admit that I was pleasantly surprised, I didn't expect it.

__MYSTERY and LOVE STORY __ I use to read many historical mystery-romances, but they are usually focused more on investigations, while in the background a certain complicity and attraction develops in a "very light way" between the 2 main characters or, in the case of a romance, the development of a feeling of love and passion is in close-up, while a "weak" mystery manages to give a little suspense to the whole story.
This is not the case, indeed this author managed to enthuse the reader on both fronts: investigative and romantic.
It's truly well-crafted and suspenseful mystery and the love story offers just as many twists, with funny scenes alternating with sensual moments.


It's my first book by Amanda Quick and if you need a light but engaging read, I recommend it.

___ THE CHARACTERS ___ I liked both main characters, because the author managed to balance the emotional traits that characterized them well.
Perhaps a woman who always thinks of the good of others seems a little far-fetched, but this is the only thing that is a little over-emphasized.
Other characteristics such as stubbornness and decision, willpower and resilience, anger and playfulness in speeches, feelings of altruism and passion, intelligence and business sense, are never too intense or too forced either in Arthur or in Elenor and this is important because otherwise they might have been unpleasant.

Then there are Bennet and Margaret, two positive secondary characters who support our heroes and add lightness and joy to the story.

A swirl of other minor characters, whose attitudes serve to describe what life was like for both high society and poor workers in the 19th century.

The whole story is made more interesting also thanks to the fact that the killer is not the only "bad guy" in the story. In fact, even if in a more subtle way, over the course of events, a couple of really mean characters will contribute to complicating things.

Nothing of what happens is taken for granted and during the narration there are various small mysteries that are revealed.
This makes the reading lively and encourages the reader to go on to read the next chapter.

The language is fluent and is clean, but there are at least 3 sex scenes, described in detail, but not vulgar, nothing that an adult doesn't already know.

Happy ending guaranteed in all respects:
no villain goes unpunished and every good person gets his reward.

---> I put both the NEW PAPERBACK COVER and the OLD PAPERBACK COVER.
???? Which one do you like best???
In my opinion neither of the two does justice to the story... the first makes you imagine something boring, the second leads you to imagine something too frivolous.

ONE CURIOSITY OF MINE: How much weight do book covers have on your read choices?

I admit that the cover is the first thing that attracts me, I value it highly and it affects my enthusiasm in selecting a reading. If, by chance, I hadn't read the enthusiastic reviews of this mystery-romance, I would never have chosen it because the covers didn't entice me (for the two reasons I wrote above).

Thank for reading my review and please forgive my English, it's not my native language.

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Book review : Dangerous to Know by Tasha Alexander

Dangerous to Know
by Tasha Alexander
Lady Emily Ashton Mysteries book #5
GENRE : #historical-cozy-mystery

My rating: ★★★★☆
Actually 3,7 stars rounded up to 4.

Another mystery very hard to solve, this time set in wonderful Normandy ( France ).

I love to read the "Lady Emily mystery series", because it leads me through the most beautiful places in Europe and through the history, art and real-life historical figures of its charming regions, cities and towns, in the late Victorian era and later in the series in the early 1900s.

__ PLOT IN BRIEF __ 1892. After a disastrous honeymoon in Constantinople, where Lady Emily risked her life and lost the child she was carrying, she is now convalescing, accompanied by her husband Colin, at her mother-in-law's residence in Normandy .
Here Emily not only meets characters of the caliber of Monet and Maurice Leblanc, but she meets the fascinating thief Sebastian and comes across a terrible murder and perhaps even a ghost.

___THINGS I LOVED ___

As you may have guessed from the plot, there's a lot of stuff in this installment #5.

The mystery begins immediately with the gruesome discovery of a corpse, in which the killer's modus operandi brings to mind London's famous Jack the Ripper.
The discoveries regarding the victim's past, however, lead to different paths and Lady Emily, still very sad and sensitive for the loss of the child, finds herself facing other difficult issues: mental disorders and the shame that family members often felt when someone he was affected by it in his family.
The etiquette of good society and the terrible pressure that women underwent at that time in not being able to show their feelings and suffering, the lack of freedom in expressing themselves and the absurd submission that was imposed on wives by their husbands... and despite Emily's modernity and the declared equality of the 2 spouses within the marriage declared by Colin, we will see that this couple in love will also have big problems in this regard.

In addition to the murder, from the beginning of the story, we meet the supporting characters, among which the famous Claude Monet, impressionist painter who had just married his lover of many years Alice Hoschedé and the writer Maurice Leblanc, father of Arsène Lupin and who was then still a young journalist.

Tasha Alexander, the author, allows us to have tea with the famous painter in his beautiful home in Giverny, and it is fantastic to find ourselves immersed in the beautiful gardens that Monet loved so much. We breathe in the enchanting atmosphere of the village of Giverny with its half-timbered houses and rolling hills.
No less enchanting is the atmosphere of the medieval towns of Rouen, in which Lady Emily recalls that Joan of Arc was burned.
Not much is said about personal life of Maurice Leblanc, but is good to watch him to take part from time to time in this investigation.
The author also makes the reader understand that Leblanc was inspired by the friendly and charming gentleman thief Sebastian Capet (fiction obviously, in fact Sebastian is a fictional character) to write the his future novels starring the legendary Arsène Lupin.

As I already said, each historical mystery in the Lady Emily series is a journey through history and different places, interesting to visit and that will make you want to travel right away!
The descriptions range from landscapes to city streets, from historical events to the traditional gastronomy of the place, from habits and customs to the fashion of the time and place.
This does not prevent the author from creating complicated puzzles in each book in which it is really difficult to guess the culprit.

__LITTLE THINGS I LIKED A LITTLE LESS ___

Perhaps the thing that made me lower my rating for the book was the prolonged argument between Emily and her husband Colin. Not because the discussion itself bothered me, on the contrary, I liked seeing the couple with problems of misunderstanding, more similar to reality than a perfect sappy relationship that doesn't exist in any couple in the world...

What bothered me was Colin's unexpected arrogance and his alternation: imposition and "I love you", imposition and prohibitions and then again "you know I love you"... Wow, it really made me nervous and it made me even more angry with Emily, who, despite being dissatisfied, was trying to submit to this... true at the time it was like that, but it really made me nervous and even if they finally made peace... I wasn't satisfied with the motivation.
I like Emily's independent spirit and wish she had done more to be respected.

Another thing that had a negative impact on my rating was the presence of what was believed to be a ghost... Tasha Alexander often includes fake ghosts in her short stories (I have read all those published in the series) and it is a topic which I don't like very much and if it can fascinate me once, if it is repeated in several books of the same series, it tires me.

___ SOMETHING I WOULD LIKE MORE IN THE SERIES ___

The only topic I would like to see more often and I could never get bored is actually a side character: Sebastian, the thief with refined taste... I love him!
He is charming, gallant, always ready with a joke and unpredictable, even if he may look predictable.
He appears for the first time in book #3 (A Fatal Waltz, set in Vienna), where it is impossible not to fall in love with him. He reappears here and will reappear in book #12 ( Death in St. Petersburg ), which I read last year and I highly recommend it, it's a great read.
I already know that Sebastian will not appear in more books than those named by me ( among those already published), but I hope to have the pleasure of his presence in future books in the series.

I've read many books in this series out of chronological order and although the stories are connected to each other by Lady Emily's personal life, they all are readable as a standalone.

Clean language, no sex or kissing scenes, no violence, no gruesome descriptions.
Therefore a historical mystery also suitable for the youngest and those who love cozies.
If you choose to read the book, I hope you will enjoy it the same as me.

Thank you for reading my review and please forgive my bad English, because it is not my native language.

If you want to know more about PREVIOUS BOOKS, you can read my reviews here :

BOOK #2 : A Poisoned Season

BOOK #3 : A Fatal Waltz by Tasha Alexander

BOOK #4: Tears of Pearl

BOOK #13.5 : Upon the Midnight Clear ( Christmas novella ) BOOK #17 : A Cold Highland Wind




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Book review : Tears of Pearl by Tasha Alexander | Opulent Harem Intrigues & Vivid Victorian Mystery! 🕌

Tears of Pearl
by Tasha Alexander
Lady Emily Ashton Mysteries book #4

GENRE: #HistoricalCozyMystery #DualTimelineStory #VictorianEra
My rating: ★★★★☆
(Actually3.5 stars, rounded up to4!)

A highly intricate and atmospheric Victorian mystery!

📜 THE PLOT IN SHORT:

Lady Emily and Colin Hargreaves, esteemed diplomats of the British Empire, are finally married. They can't wait to escape the rigid expectations of London and enjoy a relaxing, magnificent honeymoon in an exotic paradise. Their choice falls on the breathtaking, historic city of Constantinople.

Of course, as is often the case with cozy mysteries, plans don't go as expected. On their very first night in the ancient city, a young harem girl is found brutally strangled in the courtyard of the Sultan’s lavish Topkapi Palace.

An English official working at the local embassy happens to be present and recognizes the tragic victim as his long-lost daughter, who was kidnapped twenty-four years earlier. Heartbroken and desperate, he begs Emily and Colin to find her killer. As a woman, Emily gains exclusive access to the strictly forbidden, cloistered world of the harem. However, she soon discovers that behind those mysterious, opulent walls, no one is safe from a ruthless predator.

As the body count rises under the Turkish sun, Emily must rely on her sharpest wits, putting her own life at great risk—with potentially catastrophic consequences.


__________ ****************** ___________

😊 MY OPINION:

| 🕵️‍♀️ THE MYSTERY: A TWISTED WEB OF FALSE LEAD

Tasha Alexander is incredibly skilled at leading the reader down a specific path, making you believe you’ve predicted the outcome, only to completely pull the rug out from under your feet!

With each passing chapter, more characters enter the scene, expanding the web of suspects. Every single hypothesis you formulate as a reader ultimately turns out to be wrong. The author layers the clues so cleverly that you won't fully figure out the culprit or the motive until the final pages.

| 🗺️ VIVID SETTINGS: BEYOND THE SHORES OF ENGLAND

One of the aspects I enjoy most about this series is that Lady Emily's adventures frequently take place outside of Victorian England.
The historical descriptions of exotic locations, magnificent imperial buildings, local customs, and deep-rooted traditions are so vivid and sensory that you feel like you are standing right there beside the characters.

Furthermore, the author does a wonderful job of maintaining a rich, living universe.
In each installment, there are meaningful nods to Emily's past adventures and recurring characters. Whether they are directly involved in the active investigation or simply drop by through a letter or a courtesy call, it makes Emily's life feel authentic, grounded, and incredibly real.

| 👤 CHARACTERS: GRIPPING PORTRAITS AND RECKLESS CHOICES

The characters are exceptionally well-defined, each endowed with distinct, realistic personality traits—both positive flaws and heroic virtues.

While I generally love Lady Emily’s independent and fiercely intelligent character, I must admit she irritated me quite a bit in this book. She rarely listens to Colin’s well-considered advice and frequently acts on impulse.

To make matters more tense, Emily is pregnant in this novel. While she initially struggles with mixed emotions about the pregnancy, she repeatedly and recklessly puts herself in highly dangerous, life-threatening situations, risking the baby's safety. Her stubbornness felt a bit irresponsible this time around!

| 👉 WHY I GAVE IT 3.5 STARS: CIRCULAR NARRATION & REALITY CHECK

Ultimately, this mystery didn't captivate me as deeply as previous books in the series, for two main reasons:

1) Circular Pacing:
While the intricate mystery is highly enthralling at first, the narrative begins to stretch out without any real resolution, which became quite frustrating.

To my taste, the story went round and round in circles, padding the middle section instead of building momentum.
I actually found myself skimming the final chapters quickly, losing that personal"recitative" tone I usually use to fully immerse myself in a novel, simply because I couldn't wait to just reach the conclusion.

2) The Dark Reality of the Harem:
When I was a little girl, my mother used to read me the magical tales of Aladdin's lamp and Ali Baba. I grew up fascinated by beautiful women in colorful veils and sultans with magnificent turbans.
However, the historical reality of the harem is far from a fairytale.

These women were prisoners, stripped of their freedom and torn from their families. Living in constant rivalry for the sultan's favor made genuine friendships nearly impossible.

Facing this bleak reality within the plot stripped away the exotic romance of the setting for me. It left a bittersweet taste, reminding me of why the modern Middle East remains a fascinating place to read about, but one I would be highly reluctant to travel to in real life.

| 🏁 FINAL VERDICT: A MUST-READ FOR COZY MYSTERY LOVERS

Overall, I highly recommend Tears of Pearl to all fans of historical cozy mysteries! 🕌✨

If you are looking for a captivating historical tale with clean language and no graphic or violent crime scenes, this is the perfect addition to your reading shelf.

While it might not be the absolute best book in the series due to its pacing, it is an essential piece of the puzzle for another huge reason: it adds beautiful depth to "Emily and Colin’s married life"! 💍💑

As I mentioned before, every single book in this series works wonderfully as a STANDALONE (I for one have always read them completely out of order!). However, getting to know the background of their private lives and watching their personal evolution makes every subsequent adventure so much more interesting. Trust me, their personal lives are going to evolve in many beautiful ways as the series moves forward!


So, grab your virtual passport and let yourself be swept away by the colors and secrets of Constantinople. It is a journey well worth taking! 🗺️📖💖



👉 Curious about Lady Emily's PREVIOUS ADVENTURES? Read my full reviews here:

🔹 BOOK #2: A Poisoned Season
🔹 BOOK #3: A Fatal Waltz
🔹 BOOK #5: Dangerous to Know
🔹 BOOK #13.5: Upon the Midnight Clear (Christmas Novella)

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