Laura's Reviews: The Matchmaker’s Lonely Heart by Nancy Campbell Allen (Book Tour)

Join the virtual book tour of THE MATCHMAKER’S LONELY HEART, Nancy Campbell Allen’s highly acclaimed historical novel, September 6-19, 2021. Thirty popular on-line influencers specializing in historical romance, mystery/suspense, and inspirational fiction will join in the celebration of its release with a spotlights, exclusive excerpts, and reviews of this new Victorian-era novel set in London, England.

Have you ever gone on a blind date?

Amelie is an independent woman in Victorian England working for her Aunt at the Marriage Gazette. She decides to match together two lonely heart letters at the Gazette. She knows she is not supposed to, but she spies on the date to see how it is going. She is surprised to see Mr. Radcliffe is one of the people meeting. He is a member of her book club and a recent widower. She has developed a tendre for him. She runs into Michael Baker who is trailing Mr. Radcliffe. He believes that Mr. Radcliffe’s first wife did not die by accident and is determined to figure out what happened. What happened to Mr. Radcliffe’s wife? Will Amelie find her own happy ending?

I greatly enjoyed this novel. I loved the witty banter between Detective Baker and Amelie. I also enjoyed the other characters such as Amelie’s cousins Charlotte and Eva. I hope they get their own novels. The Victorian setting was perfect. This story had it all, romance, mystery, suspense and adventure. It does take a dark turn, but I really enjoyed the ending.

I loved the quotes at the start of each chapter from different publications. They not only set a great backdrop to the times, but they made me chuckle sometimes when the characters acted in direct opposition of the quotes.

Favorite Quote:

“I do not know that absence of emotion holds any sway in a debate on human evolution. I should think Darwin’s observations prove the opposite, in fact. The more man evolves, the higher his plane of morality, the greater this depth of compassion, wouldn’t you say?”

Overall, The Matchmaker’s Lonely Heart is an entertaining Victorian romance and mystery.

Book Source: Shadow Mountain Publishing as part of the Austenprose Book Tour.

QUICK FACTS

· Title: The Matchmaker’s Lonely Heart: Proper Romance Victorian

· Author: Nancy Campbell Allen

· Genre: Historical Romance, Historical Mystery/Suspense, Inspirational Fiction

· Publisher: Shadow Mountain Publishing (September 7, 2021)

· Length: (336) pages

· Format: Trade paperback, eBook, & audiobook

BOOK DESCRIPTION

London, 1885

Amelie Hampton is a hopeless romantic, which makes her the perfect columnist to answer lonely heart letters in The Marriage Gazette. When Amelie plays matchmaker with two anonymous lonely hearts, she also decides to secretly observe the couple's blind date. To her surprise, the man who appears for the rendezvous is Harold Radcliffe―a grieving widower and a member of Amelie's book club.

Police detective Michael Baker has been struggling ever since his best friend and brother-in-law died in the line of fire. Because he knows the dangers of his job, he has vowed never to marry and subject a wife and family to the uncertainty of his profession. But when he meets Miss Hampton, he is captured by her innocence, beauty, and her quick mind.

When a woman's body is pulled from the river, Michael suspects the woman's husband―Harold Radcliffe―of foul play. Amelie refuses to believe that Harold is capable of such violence but agrees to help, imagining it will be like one of her favorite mystery novels. Her social connections and clever observations prove an asset to the case, and Amelie is determined to prove Mr. Radcliffe's innocence. But the more time Amelie and Michael spend together, the more they trust each other, and the more they realize they are a good team, maybe the perfect match.

They also realize that Mr. Radcliffe is hiding more than one secret, and when his attention turns toward Amelie, Michael knows he must put an end to this case before the woman he loves comes to harm.

ADVANCE PRAISE

"Allen pairs a matchmaker and a detective in this charming Victorian romance. Allen expertly combines mystery and romance into a fast-paced tale complete with plenty of surprises and a central relationship founded on mutual admiration and respect. Readers are sure to appreciate the strong, well-shaded heroine and twisty plot." —Publishers Weekly

"Allen's chaste tale of Victorian romantic suspense will also appeal to historical mystery readers, and it would be great for mother-and-daughter reads. This has great appeal for teens who like historical fiction laced with mystery and romance." —Booklist

“I was immediately drawn into the characters’ lives and enjoyed the unraveling of the mystery and the development of the romance.” —Mystery and Suspense Magazine

AUTHOR BIO

Nancy Campbell Allen is the author of fifteen published novels and numerous novellas, which span genres from contemporary romantic suspense to historical fiction. In 2005, her work won the Utah Best of State award, and she received a Whitney Award for My Fair Gentleman. She has presented at numerous writing conferences and events since her first book was released in 1999. Nancy received a BS in Elementary Education from Weber State University. She loves to read, write, travel, and research and enjoys spending time laughing with family and friends. She is married and the mother of three children.

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