Saturday, April 8, 2017

A Lesson in Love & Murder


GIVEAWAY

MCMILLAN, RACHEL
A LESSON IN LOVE & MURDER

From political danger to personal drama, life is about to get explosive...

The legacy of literary icon Sherlock Holmes is alive and well in 1912 Canada, where best friends Merinda Herringford and Jem Watts continue to develop their skills as consulting detectives.

The city of Toronto has been thrown into upheaval by the arrival of radical anarchist Emma Goldman. Amid this political chaos, Benny Citrone of the Royal North West Mounted Police arrives at the detectives' doorstep, requesting assistance in locating his runaway cousin -- a man with a deadly talent.

While Merinda eagerly accepts the case, she finds herself constantly butting heads -- and hearts -- with Benny. Meanwhile, Jem has her hands full with a husband who is determined to keep her out of harm's way.

As Merinda and Jem close in on the dange they've tracked from Toronto to Chicago, they uncover a sinister plot to assassinate presidential candidate Theordore Roosevelt. Will they be able to save the day and resolve the troubles threatening their future happiness before it's too late?

Independence, love, and lives are at stake in A Lesson in Love and Murder, the gripping second installment of the Herringford and Watts Mysteries series.

My Review:

Kind of retro because it was published earlier in 2016 and the next book in the series is due out this May. :-)

Lemony Snicket meets Murdoch Mysteries and collides with Due South -- a pretty lethal combination!

Merinda and Jem are back solving mysteries and giving the men in their lives conniptions. Just as it should be for these forward-thinking, turn-of-the-century women. This is the second book in the series and I do think it's beneficial to read A Bachelor Girl's Guide to Murder first. You'll get a better feel for character dynamics and catch up on their lives. Like the fact that Jem is now an enamored newlywed facing marital challenges as she merges her life with her husband's (the dishy but somewhat brooding Ray DeLuca.)

And hold onto your hearts, ladies, because there's a Mountie in our midst. And he's perfect in every way -- think Benton Fraser of Due South fame (if you're familiar with the 1990s TV series.) The perfect foil for Merinda though my heart ached for poor Jasper and his unrequited love. So much scope for emotional angst.

 McMillan's campy humour and rapid-fire dialogue carry us through a fast-paced plot filled with intrigue and action. And surprisingly sobering in places. I was really happy to find a stronger faith thread in this book too.These characters won't be the same after this Chicago experience and I'm anxious to see what happens next in their lives. Luckily I won't have long to wait. :-)

Giveaway Opportunity:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of A Lesson in Love & Murder please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you post a comment and add your email address please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday April 9 2017. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!


22 comments:

  1. I got 3 of Rachel's ebooks for my kindle free they are Herringford and Wattsmystery shorts if anyone else would be interested. 😊 So of course this looks good to me. Thanks for the chance to win. iamabho at gmail dot com 😀🙌

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    1. Yes, she comes out with an ebook novella in between books. Sadly I don't read ebooks so haven't read the novellas but you can follow the books if you haven't read the novellas...mostly...sometimes the author provides footnotes to explain a reference to one of the novellas. Good luck, Linda.

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    2. That's neat that she does that I put all the full books on my wish list too 😊
      Thank You

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  2. Sounds wonderful! I have always loved a good mystery. Thank you for the opportunity to win a copy.

    Blessings,
    Cindy W.
    countrybear52 AT yahoo DOT com

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  3. I know you don't like reading on your computer or digital devices, but all of the in-between novellas are free right now on amazon. I've only read the first book, but my reading neurosis demands that I read the novellas, as well. I'm afraid it's my innate fear of missing out on something. :-) I love that you mentioned a stronger faith thread in this one. Maybe that is her whole agenda - to show the evolving or maturing of the characters' faith.
    tlhcoupon(at)hotmail(dot)com

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    1. I'm sorry to be redundant. I read the other comments mentioning the novellas after I wrote my own. :(

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    2. LOL -- I know -- it kills me that I can't read the novellas and so many authors are doing this now. It's not just that I don't like ebooks it's that physcially -- both in trying to sit at my computer for any length of time and in looking at the screen is just so uncomfortable...and downright painful...that I can't. It's my poor scrambled brain having hissy fits. Hopefully she'll settle down sooner than later. :-) But until then I'm strictly a book reading gal. Good luck, Terrill.

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    3. I refuse to read at a desktop or laptop computer, but only because it's a boring and not as comfortable. Yet, I'm completely addicted to my Kindle.

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  4. Bachelor Girl's Guide to Murder is on my to-be-read list. Would love to read this one, too!

    mindyhoungATmsnDOTcom

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    1. It's a really unique series -- nothing else out there quite like it. Good luck, Mindy.

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  5. I've read the first and enjoyed it. I really like the female sherlock spin. :)

    ~Amada
    amada_chavezATyahooDOTcom

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    1. I'm not a huge Sherlock fan but I like Merinda. :-) Good luck, Amada.

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    2. OH KAV say it ain't so! ;) I do like the changes Rachel made for her character and I LOVE Jem to! I'm also happy to hear about the faith thread, I needed a bit more in the last one.

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    3. Bwahahaha -- it's true. I don't like Sherlock books or movies or the series. I know...I'm so strange, but there it is. And I love Jem. She might be my favourite character...though the mountie was fun. :-)

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    4. Oh good I'm glad the mountie is loveable. I was so worried/upset when I figured she wasn't placing her with Jasper! :'( I just LOVED him, but in some ways I can see it not working either.... I really can't wait to read it now!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH! :D

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  6. I'm with you, I don't like ebooks. They hurt my eyes and I like holding the physical book. TY
    leliamae54(at)aol(dot)com

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  7. I got the three free novellas, too. But I haven't read them yet. I have just started getting the free books on my iPad. I normally like holding a "real" book. But to get all those free from Amazon-- I am retired and have a "no" budget for books. Would love to win this latest book. The whole series sounds great. And I DO like Sherlock, especially Benedict Cumberbatch. But a favorite is the Jeremy Bret PBS series! Used to like Murdoch Mysteries but they were too politically correct for the time period!

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  8. Oops forgot the email address again. paulams49ATsbcglobalDOTnet. Thanks!

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  9. Great review, KAV! This series is on my MUST read list. Thank you for the chance.

    psalm103and138@gmail.com

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  10. I've heard wonderful things about Rachel's "Sherlock Holmes" type books! I *think* I have "A Bachelor Girl's Guide to Murder" on my Kindle, winning this would motivate me to move these up my TBR pile :-)

    teamob4 (at) gmail (dot) com

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