To Capture His Heart

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ALLEN, NANCY CAMPBELL

TO CAPTURE HIS HEART

Seaside England, 1886

Eva Caldwell is an accomplished and well-known photographer who often works with the local constabulary to assist in documenting crime scenes, which means she also often works alongside the handsome and charming detective, Nathan Winston. She appreciates his intellect and how he treats her like an equal, but Eva's heart is still healing from a past relationship, so, for now, she decides to keep her feelings for Nathan a secret.

One evening, Nathan arrives on her doorstep asking for a personal favour. Would Eva be available to photograph his mother's legendary, week-long dinner party and matchmaking event? The catch is that Eva would also have to pretend they are courting in order for Nathan to avoid the many single women seeking his attention.

Though wary of the charade, Eva agrees. Spending a week with the two things she loves most -- her detective and her camera -- sounds simple enough. And if she wants to imagine that Nathan's pretend courtship of her is real, well, what's the harm in that?

But when a criminal from Nathan's past threatens revenge on the detective, Nathan must be extra vigilant to keep his mother and the rest of the partygoers safe. He confides in Eva, and as the two work together to solve the mystery and apprehend the criminal, they find that they might capture more than they expected -- each other's heart.

My Review:

Swoonalicious!

A friends to more romance trope with villainy afoot, set at country house party? Yes please!!!! Oh, there's also a bit of mama matchmaking going on so our hero and heroine must pretend to be besotted with each other to avoid all the shenanigans. Only there's no pretence needed because they are...except neither knows the other is...well, it's complicated. Bwahahaha!

Funny and endearing and exciting with a dash of ominous danger! All combine to make this an enchanting, breezy read. The banter! The toe-curling kisses!! The subtle longing glances across a crowded room!!! The not so subtle -- audacious in fact -- winks from our irrepressible hero!!!! Fans and fainting couches are necessary accruements for this deliciously captivating read.

But there's a sinister twist to this tale as well and, luckily, our heroine is no shrinking violet. Love how Nathan and Eva work together to solve the mystery. She is  a crime scene photographer, after all. And I love the way Nathan's instinct to protect is tempered by his appreciation for Eva's capabilities. It helps that his mother supports the suffragette movement and has raised his four sisters to be strong, independent thinkers. Eva fits in well! 

This is the second book in the Matchmaker's series, but it can be read as a standalone. The series features three cousins who have moved to London to live with their independent and very unique aunt. The first book was about Amelie and some of those characters spill over into this one but not in a way that would be confusing to a new-to-the-series reader. I'm excited to discover what's in store for Charlotte next. Hopefully we won't have long to wait! Don't even have a title though, let alone a release date. Ack!

Goal Update: #5 Diversify my reading, #6 Stay current with a series

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback or ebook copy -- winner's choice.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of  To Capture His Heart, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday November 12 2022 . Offer open to International Readers. 

My Fair Gentleman

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RANDOM RETRO READ DAY!

ALLEN, NANCY CAMPBELL

MY FAIR GENTLEMAN

In this Regency twist of My Fair Lady, Jack would rather be at sea than fixing the mistakes of his grandfather, the late Earl of Stansworth. Instead, he finds that inheriting his grandfather's wealth and title -- and securing the welfare of his sister and mother -- means joining the ranks of high society and living with the aristocracy.  Luckily, Ivy Carlisle, the granddaughter of a dear friend of Jack's late grandmother, is willing to teach him etiquette and properly introduce him into society. Jack soon learns that his challenge isn't surviving his new lifestyle but surviving the conspiracies against him -- as well as keeping himself from falling madly in love with his new tutor.

My Review:

published in 2016

Squueeeeppp!!! This is me squealing and eeping over another swoon worthy Regency Romance. I love, love, looovvvveee, the way the author flipped this My Fair Lady retelling. Making Jack the commoner plucked out of the streets...er, the sea...who must pass as the aristocratic gentleman he really is. And Ivy, in the role of Professor Higgins takes on the monumental task with as much diligence but with so much more heart.

Honestly, the banter and barbs -- be still my heart! The way Jack is at first annoyed and then intrigued by Lady Ivy and the way he loves to push her buttons and set her sputtering. Squeal! So much to love. Meanwhile Ivy is just as captivated by Jack, though she has every intention of preparing him for his entrance into society and then slipping back into the shadows where she's more comfortable. But fate intervenes and what ensues is a scrumptious romance with a hint of mystery and ominous danger.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback or ebook copy -- winner's choice.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of My Fair Gentleman leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add your email to a comment, remember to use AT AND DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday November 6 2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck! 

The Matchmaker's Lonely Heart

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ALLEN, NANCY CAMPBELL

THE MATCHMAKER'S LONELY HEART

Set in Victorian London from the Queen of Mystery Romance.

Amelie Hampton is a hopeless romantic, which makes her the perfect columnist to answer lonely heart letters in the Matrimonial 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 bookclub.

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 captured by her innocence, beauty and her quick mind.

When a woman's body is pulled from the river, Michale suspects the woman's husband -- Harold Radcliffe -- of fowl play. Amelie refuses to believe that Harold is capable of such violence but agrees to help, imagining that it will be like one of her favourite 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 to Amelie, Michael knows he must put an end to this case before the woman he loves comes to harm.

My Review:

So.

Much.

Fun.

Seriously hilarious (and, yes that's an oxymoron but it fits!) From the laugh-out-loud meet-cute to the amateur sleuthing to the dangerous undertones -- The Matchmaker's Lonely Heart delivers the perfect reading getaway! And I haven't even mentioned the romance yet!

Witty dialogue, an intelligent heroine (who happens to have two equally intelligent cousins who I hope are featured in their own stories sometime soon), a detective who can't afford to be besotted but he is (I love how rattled he gets at times!) and a truly odious, conniving villain made this  a rabid listening frenzy for me, enhanced all the more by Justine Eyre's captivating narration.

Victorian romance + cozy mystery = one sublime read!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a paperback or ebook copy -- winner's choice

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Matchmaker's Lonely Heart, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add your email to a comment, remember to use AT AND DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday October 16  2021. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!