The Fatal Unpleasantness at Netherfield by Claudia Gray

 

What book series are you enjoying lately?  “A Mr. Darcy and Miss Tilney Mystery” is one of my current favorite book series.  I eagerly await each book in this series.  The Fatal Unpleasantness at Netherfield by Claudia Gray is the fifth book in the series.  While each book could be read as a standalone, I would recommend reading the series in order to really get the character built-up, especially between Juliet Tilney and Jonathan Darcy.

Mr. Jonathan Darcy and Miss Juliet Tilney had a disastrous London season for various reasons. This has forced the couple apart and they both struggle with how to move forward with not only their investigations, but their growing feelings for each other.  Opportunity arises when a murder takes place at Netherfield Hall where Jonathan is vising his aunt and uncle.  He asks for Juliet’s help and she uses her parents absence to make her way to Netherfield.  Her grandfather and uncle want her to use the opportunity to force Jonathan into marriage.  While the Jonathan and Juliet investigate the murder, they also must deal with their feelings for each other and what it means for the future.  As the murder victims pile up, will they be able to solve the crime and how to move forward in their relationship?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       I really enjoy this series and seem to love each book even more than the previous book.

·       I enjoyed this mystery and how Jonathan and Juliet methodically investigate and solve it.

·       This series is set in the world of Jane Austen’s novels, and I love how favorite Austen characters make an appearance.  Claudia Gray writes the Austen characters so well and I love being in their world.  There are different Austen characters that pop up in each novel.  I think the regency historical detail is wonderful as well.

·       I really loved seeing the married Jane and Charles Bingley later in their life and still in love.

·       I loved seeing the forward movement in Jonathan and Juliet’s relationship.  They are a great couple!

·       Jonathan appears to be neurodivergent, and I love how he works through things to function in society.  Part of the great relationship between Jonathan and Juliet is that they love and respect each other for exactly who they are.

·       Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy was wearing on my last nerves in this one.  I hope he gets a redemptive arc in the next novel.

·       The ending is a cliffhanger – I hope the next book is out soon!

·       This story is a historical mystery, slow burn romance, and an Austenesque novel.

Overall, The Fatal Unpleasantness at Netherfield by Claudia Gray is a very enjoyable historical mystery with great characters set in the world of Jane Austen’s novels.  Come for the mystery and stay for the slow burn romance.

Book Source:  Thank-you to @claudia_gray @ireadvintage @greatreadsbookpromo for a review copy of the novel as part of the Great Reads Promo Book Tour.

How to Lose a Laird by Anna Bradley

 

Where is your current read set?

Rumors have filled the local village after Freya MacLeod’s father’s death.  Some rumors think her late father left a treasure to be found.  This rumor has caused treasure hunters to swarm the area.  Other rumors state that she and her sisters are witches.  When Freya and her sister Sorcha are accused of murder, her brother-in-law’s friend, Callum, whisks her away to his castle to save her.  Will the two find love?  Will Freya be able to return home?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       This is a historical romance set in Scotland in the 18^th century.  I love reading stories set in Scotland and in this time period!

·       I liked the back story of Callum’s father fighting in Culloden and how it impacted their family.  Callum finds himself betrothed to a woman he admires but does not love as one of the consequences.

·       This is the second book in the Cairncross Castle book series.  I did not read the first book in the series about the first sister, Cat, but this book worked fine as a standalone.  I do think the first book probably gave more details on the treasure hunt and would be worth going back to read.

·       This is the second MacLeod daughter, Freya’s, story.

·       This story had plenty of adventure and some mystery.

·       There was a lot of chaos at the start of the story, and I had to figure out what was going on.  Freya seemed to hide in the shadows, but she had a lot of great growth throughout the story.

·       Freya and Callum had great chemistry.

·       This was a forced proximity story.

·       The story was mostly slow burn, but there are a couple of open-door scenes towards the end of the novel.

·       There are miscommunications as part of the romance, which always annoys me in stories.

·       I am interested to read the next book in the series and get Sorcha’s story.

Overall, How to Lose a Laird by Anna Bradley was a fun historical romance.

Book Source:  Thank-you @kensingtonbooks @btc_books @annabradleyauthor @tlcbooktours for a review copy of the novel as part of the TLC Book Tour.

Love at First Book by Jenn McKinlay

 

Do you buy books based on book covers?  I think the cover of this book is very cute!

Librarian Emily Allen (Red) takes a job with her favorite author, Siobhan Riordan, as an assistant in a small village in Ireland.  It’s a dream come true except for having to deal with Siobhan’s cranky son, Kieran Murphy (Murphy).  He assigns her boring tasks in the bookstore and makes it apparent that he does not want her around.  Will these two learn how to get along to help Siobhan finish the last book in her beloved children’s fantasy series?

My thoughts on this book:

·       It’s on my bucket list to go to Ireland.  I loved how the main character, Emily, gets her dream trip to Ireland to mee her favorite author and work in a bookshop.  The food, people, terms, etc. from Ireland were fantastic and felt like I was taking a trip there myself.

·       I loved how Red and Murphy talk to each other in quotes from books.  It was so cute. This book had great banter.

·       This book was an enemies to lovers and a slow burn romance.

·       I liked the story of an author trying to finish up a beloved series while she can.

·       It was a very sweet and good book.  I enjoyed it.

·       I loved the characters, setting and story.  I couldn’t put this book down.

·       This was a gift from my life long best friend who enjoys the same books as me.  It’s actually our lifelong goal to take a friend’s trip to Ireland someday.

·       Emily has problems with her narcissist Mom and setting boundaries.  Being in Ireland helps with this.

·       The descriptions of the Irish food made me very hungry.

·       This contemporary romance had some spice.

Overall, Love at First Book by Jenn McKinlay was a very enjoyable contemporary romance set in Ireland. It’s a perfect St. Patrick’s day read.

Book Source:  Birthday gift from a dear friend.

The Austen Affair by Madeline Bell

 

Title:  The Austen Affair

Author:  Madeline Bell

Narrated by:  Stephanie Németh-Parker

Publisher: Macmillan Audio

Length: Approximately 10 hours and 31 minutes

Source: Review copy from NetGalley.  Thank-you!

If you could time travel to any era in a book, what era would you pick?  Regency England is one of my top picks.

American actress Tess Bright has gotten her dream part to play Catherine Morland in a new production of Northanger Abbey (based on the book by Jane Austen).  Unfortunately, her co-star, Hugh Belfour, is a method actor and very unpleasant to work with.  He does not appreciate her teen choice award or her improvisational acting style.  An electrical accident puts them back in the past to Regency England. Will they be able to find their way back to the future and will they find true love?

My thoughts on this audiobook:

·       This was a March selection for my JASNA Northwoods Book Club.  We are meeting this upcoming weekend to discuss it.

·       This was a fun and engaging novel.  It was good escapism reading.

·       The audiobook narrator was fantastic and did a wonderful job of different voices for each character.

·       I love that they met the real Jane Austen while in the past.

·       Tropes included enemies to lovers, grumpy x sunshine, and slow burn.

·       The romance was open door at the end.

·       This was a fun romantic comedy and would make a great movie.

·       Tess is dealing with grief at the loss of her mother and has been having a hard time dealing with the world after her passing.  Hugh is also dealing with grief which Tess does not realize until later in the novel.

·       I loved that Hugh and Tess had to use their knowledge of Regency England to make it in the past, although they do make mistakes which are pretty funny. 

·       I liked how minor Austen character names pop up in the text and I also enjoyed how Tess would use Austen quotes in her dialogue.

·       There was good banter between Tess and Hugh.  I loved the buildup of their romance and I could believe they would make a great couple.

·       I was sad that Hugh Belfour takes the place of his distant relative who died at Waterloo.  The real Hugh’s father, family, and fiancé all believe that Hugh has come back with a head injury.  This was an ethical quandary for me as I wanted Tess and Hugh to go back to the future, but I also wanted them to stay so that everyone wouldn’t have the pain of losing Hugh again.

·       It’s hard to believe that Madeline Bell is a debut author!  I can’t wait to see what she writes next.

Overall, The Austen Affair by Madeline Bell was an enjoyable time travel romantic comedy with great characters and an Austenesque storyline.

Faithful of Heart by Tracie Peterson

 

What are you reading this weekend?

Judith Stanford is surprised to learn that her estranged grandfather, James Ashton, wants her to travel to Minnesota to determine whether she should inherit his fortune.  She has never met the man, but he offers her a sum of money to travel that she can use to help Civil War widows and orphans.  She decides to use this money for her charities and make the trip.  She also hopes to cross paths with Dr. Roman Turner, a man she met years before who interested her as no man has done since her husband passed away.  The problem is that the only man that Roman hates is Judith’s grandfather as he ruined his father financially and caused his early death.  Can Judith and Roman work through these issues from the past?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       This was a clean read, inspirational, and Christian novel.  I enjoyed that the characters prayed throughout the novel.

·       It was fun having Judith ride in a luxurious train from Philadelphia to Minneapolis in 1870.

·       It was interesting how Judith and her grandfather had very different philosophies in life.  Judith has a life of giving and helping others while her grandfather is consumed with making more money.  He reminded me of Ebenezer Scrooge.

·       I loved the sermon in a chapter of the novel that focused on the teachings of Jesus including his greatest commandment to love your neighbor as yourself and the parable of the good Samaritan.  I have tried to live my life following these teachings however imperfectly.  I think they are very important and something that needs to be emphasized in today’s world.

·       I loved how Judith stuck to her own self and values and did not bend to her grandfather’s will.  I also appreciated that she tried to help people harmed by her grandfather.

·       Chapters were told in alternating perspectives between Judith and Roman.

·       Roman has the same values as Judith and is always helping others.  I enjoyed their relationship.

·       This novel had a theme of forgiveness.

·       I greatly enjoyed the suspense at the end of the novel.

·       I would say the tropes are slow burn and second chance romance.

·       This is the first book in a new series, Minnesota Legacy.  I’m very interested to read the next book which is about Judith’s daughter.  There is an excerpt at the end of this book.

Overall, Faithful of Heart by Tracie Peterson was a great historical romance novel with a wonderful theme of faith and forgiveness.  I enjoyed the journey of the characters throughout this novel.

Book Source:  Thank-you to @authortraciepeterson @bethanyhousefiction @greatreadsbookpromo for the review copy as part of the Great Reads Book Promotion Tour.

A Most Natural Consequence by Heather Moll

 

If you could be character from a book for one day, who would you be and why?  Elizabeth Bennet from Pride and Prejudice would be at the top of my list.

Elizabeth Bennet has traveled to Ramsgate with her mother and sisters, Kitty and Lydia, for Kitty’s health.  While in Ramsgate, they befriend a quiet girl, Georgiana Darcy, visiting the seaside with her governess. Georgiana’s brother, Fitzwilliam soon shows up to visit his sister and meets the Bennets for the first time.  When it appears that one of their sisters have run away with Mr. Wickham, Elizabeth and Darcy try to save them only to realize they now need to marry for propriety’s sake.  Will the two be able to fall in love after marriage?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       This novel is a variation of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.

·       It was a stressful week last week and ending my day with A Most Natural Consequence by Heather Moll each evening was both enjoyable and stress relieving.

·       Elizabeth and Darcy are vividly drawn and detailed. I enjoyed their interactions and chemistry.  All the characters felt very true to Austen’s original creations.

·       I loved the slow burn build up of the romance between Darcy and Elizabeth.  It was fun to see them become friends and to see that friendship turn to love.

·       There was open door romance at the end, and it felt earned after the build-up of the relationship.

·       The tropes in this novel were forced proximity, forced marriage, and slow burn.

·       The Bingleys visiting Netherfield is at the end of this novel.  I enjoyed this variation.

·       Darcy is straightforward on Wickham’s flaws.  Wickham is a terrible man.  It was hard to believe that anyone would want to marry him knowing the truth.

·       Elizabeth decides to act independently and take matters into her own hands on an issue that leads her into trouble that threatens her and Darcy’s relationship.  I was very annoyed at Elizabeth during this section of the book.

Favorite Quote:  “The qualities of her mind were equal to those of her heart and her person.  He respected her for her personal charms and for her cultivated understanding and refined taste and lively mind.  Bot those qualities and attractions had ascendancy over his heart and went far deeper than respect and admiration.” – How romantic!

Overall, A Most Natural Consequence by Heather Moll was a very engaging Pride and Prejudice variation and historical romance.  It’s a book to savor read to bring yourself to another world.

Book Source:  Review Copy from author Heather Moll.  Thank-you!

A Song in the Dark by Kimberley Woodhouse

 

Title:  A Song in the Dark

Author:  Kimberley Woodhouse

Narrated by:  Liz Pearce

Publisher: Recorded Books

Length: Approximately 11 hours and 53 minutes

Source: Thank-you to @kimberleywoodhouse @bethanyhousefiction @austenprose

for the hard copy of this book as a part of the Austenprose PR Book Tour. Audiobook was purchased from Audible.com

Do you have a favorite Christmas song?  I love so many Christmas songs.  One favorite is “I’ll Be Home for Christmas.”

Chaisley Frappier is a prodigy and a blind concert pianist.  In 1938, she travels through Europe.  While becoming Hitler’s favorite pianist, she also helps as many people as she can.  She travels with her best friend Melanie and driver Rick Zimmerman.  Rick is a spy for the British government.  As Rick and Chaisley fall in love, will their secrets drive them apart?

My thoughts on this book:

·       The book has a riveting prologue that explains Chaisley’s blindness and the loss of her parents in WWI.

·       I loved the buildup of Chaisley and Rick’s romance. It was a good slow burn romance.

·       I enjoyed the great friendship between Melanie and Chaisley.

·       This novel is a clean read and is inspirational. 

·       There are many moments of suspense throughout the novel.

·       This book was a good look into Hitler’s atrocities to the handicapped, including the blind.  He forcibly sterilized blind and disabled people to “protect” the “perfect” race.  It was horrifying to event think about. 

·       The cover of this book is beautiful.

·       I loved that Chaisley, and crew were a light during a very dark time in history.

·       There are great discussion questions at the end of the book to use for a book club.

·       Liz Pearce was a good narrator of the audiobook.

·       I read this book back in October.

Overall, A Song in the Dark by Kimberley Woodhouse is a very engaging and inspirational WWII historical fiction novel. 

The Ladies Road Guide to Utter Ruin by Alison Goodman

 

What is one of your favorite books you’ve read so far this year?  The Ladies Road Guide to Utter Ruin by Alison Goodman was my favorite read of August and is sure to be in my top ten books for 2025.

Lady Augusta (Gus) Colebrook and her twin sister Julia are in their forties and firmly on the shelf in Regency England.  They put their minds and hearts to good use by protecting vulnerable women and children.  When Lord Evan, a highwayman that captured Gus’s heart in Book 1 needs help hiding his sister Hester from his evil brother, Gus and Julia are on the case. Will they be able to hide both Lord Evan and Hester from those that pursue them?  Will they be able to clear Lord Evan’s name?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       I loved this book and couldn’t put it down!

·       This was one of the JASNA Northwoods Book Club selections for August.  We all enjoyed it!

·       This novel picks up right where the first book ended.

·       There was a great romance between Lady Augusta and Lord Evan.  It was a kisses only romance but looks between them mean everything.

·       There was a great look at social issues of the day.  It had a feminist spin on historical fiction.

·       There was a lot of action and adventure.

·       It most have been very hard for educated and ambitious women to live during such a time and to be under the control of men who didn’t appreciate them and unable to challenge themselves intellectually.

·       I would recommend reading this series in order as I think you are missing a lot if you just pick up book 2 without reading book 1.

·       Gus and Julia make an excellent pair of twin sisters to work through their adventures.  Gus is more than flamboyant and ready to plunge into adventures.  She does not care much for the feelings of others.  Julia is quieter and much more in tune with people’s feelings.  I like how they both have slow burn romance in this novel.

·       This novel has both humor and suspense.

·       I loved the character of Beau Brummel.  It’s fun to have a real person as a character in a novel.  I like how he used his societal power for good and was an ally.  I liked the silent conversations between characters.

·       I enjoyed the detailed authors note at the end of the novel.

·       I can’t wait for the next book in the series.

Overall, The Ladies Road Guide to Utter Ruin by Alison Goodman is an excellent novel with great characters, romance, and adventure all with a feminist spin.

Book Source:  Purchased from Amazon.com.

Kill Your Darlings by Peter Swanson

 

What was the last book that stunned you?

Thom and Wendy Graves live in a beautiful house by the sea in Massachusetts.  They have been married for over twenty-five years and together raised one son, Jason.  Everything looks perfect from the outside, but there are cracks in their marriage.  Thom likes to drink and have affairs.  They both share a secret from early in their relationship which holds them together.  What is this secret?  What is the heart of the problem with their marriage?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       This was a very cleverly written story and was unique.

·       I loved the references to “I Know Where I’m Going” and “Dial M for Murder” amongst other classic movies.

·       The reader really gets to know the characters backwards through time which was interesting.

·       I really wanted the details on the mystery from early in their relationship, so it was interesting to read it backwards through time and finally get those details.

·       The ending was perfect.

·       This is a toxic love story.  It was interesting that the demise of the love story was at the beginning of the novel and then it worked backwards to how their love story started.

·       The story goes from 2023 to 1982 when Wendy and Thom met at age 14.

·       This is a domestic suspense novel and a slow burn thriller.

·       Thom and Wendy are not particularly likeable characters. 

Favorite Quote: “The first attempt at killing her husband was the night of the dinner party.” This was a great first line.

Overall, Kill Your Darlings by Peter Swanson is a unique, and clever domestic suspense novel and slow burn thriller.  I enjoyed reading it.

Book Source: Thank-you to NetGalley for a review copy of this novel.

The Rules of Falling for You by Mollie Rushmeyer (Bibliolifestyle Book Tour)

 

Thank you, Partner @bibliolifestyle @bethanyhousefiction for the review copy of The Rules of Falling for You by Mollie Rushmeyer.

What is blooming in your area?  We have a lot of hydrangeas blooming around town and turning beautiful colors.

Zoe Dufour is a soon to be 30-year-old podcaster that is beginning to doubt she will find the true love that she reads about in her favorite Regency novels.  When a Regency themed singles retreat opens not far from her hometown of Minneapolis, she decides it would not only be a great topic for her podcast, but also a great place to look for love.  Her best friend’s brother Harrison is back in town and is her podcast producer.  Will sparks fly between the two?

My thoughts on the novel:

·       I loved all the Jane Austen references throughout. They were delightful.

·       I wish that A. Nathaniel Gladwin, a fictional regency era author in the novel, existed.  I want to read her novels!

·       The novel has dual narrators as it switched between Zoe and Harrison.

·       I loved the Minneapolis setting.  It’s nice to read books set somewhere else besides New York City!

·       This novel was a contemporary romcom set in a fictional regency themed singles retreat. So, there were great costumes and dancing.  I loved everything about it.

·       It was a very fun book, and I loved the humor throughout the novel. Zoe and Harrison had great banter.

·       I enjoyed the side romances between other characters as well.

·       Zoe and Eden’s friendship was also great.

·       Zoe must learn to bend her own dating rules to find happiness in life.

·       This was a clean read.

·       Great tropes in this novel – friends to lovers (or best friend’s brother to lover), forced proximity and slow burn.

·       The Rules of Falling for You by Mollie Rushmeyer was published on September 2, 2025.

Overall, The Rules of Falling for You by Mollie Rushmeyer was a sweet and delightful contemporary romcom set primarily at a regency themed dating retreat.  I loved the characters and the storyline.  It’s a fun book and I especially recommend it to all my fellow Jane Austen and regency lovers.