Murder at the Paris Fashion House (An Abigail Dixon Mystery Book 1) by Nancy Warren

 

A Chicago news reporter chasing her big break in jazz-age Paris, an exclusive with a renowned couture designer, and a stepmother lying dead among the silk and sequins...

Paris 1925: When news reporter Abigail Dixon trades the Chicago newsroom for the Paris fashion scene, she finds herself dazzled by the latest looks from Coco Chanel, sipping champagne at the Ritz, and interviewing a famous designer. Stepping into his luxurious atelier on Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, Abigail is ready to swoon over the exquisite gowns. The last thing she expects to find is her estranged stepmother lying dead on the fitting room floor – and Abigail framed as the prime suspect.

With only her high school French to defend herself to the debonair Inspector Henri Deschamps, Abigail must use her investigative skills to unravel a tangled web of family secrets and find the real murderer if she is to clear her name.

But over coffee and croissants one morning she reads a letter warning her that she is in grave danger and must leave Paris immediately. As Abigail swaps her très dowdy two-piece for a très chic silk chemise and a sharp bob to match, can she keep her wits about her, find the cunning couture killer, and prove her innocence so she can stay in the city that’s captured her heart?

Lose yourself in the gripping pages of this captivating and witty cozy historical mystery set in 1920s Paris. Fans of Agatha Christie, T E Kinsey and Lee Strauss will be utterly charmed by Murder at the Paris Fashion House.

This book was previously published as Death of a Flapper.

Murder at the Paris Fashion House is an addictive historical cozy mystery with an unflappable leading lady in 1920s France. Abigail has to navigate the sexism and patriarchal society to build her career in journalism. Things get off to a wobbly start when on her first day she finds her stepmother murdered and is immediately declared a suspect.

There are many elements here making it a very pleasing and fun read; the fast easy flow of the writing and dialogue, the mystery with the added help of Inspector Henri who becomes less of a threat and more of a friend, and the high fashion. Abigail gets the 'pretty woman' makeover thanks to the fashion designer she had been sent to interview and it was delightful to see her discard the dowdy look for sparkling glamour.

The mystery had me guessing and hooked until the end and I look forward to reading the second book as soon as I can. 

Buy Links

Murder at the Paris Fashion House Amazon

Death at Darrington Manor Amazon

Dark Truth: 2 (The Joe Wilde Series) by C.D. Steele

 

Dark Truth’, the second in a series of three novels, is a suspenseful mystery thriller full of intrigue that will leave you guessing right until the very end.

Private investigator Joe Wilde is hired by Tom and Marie Archer to investigate the disappearance of their six-year-old daughter Laura. 

Joe also takes on an unusual case for a client by the name of Jack Riley. Jack believes he was framed to make it look like he was cheating on his fiancée Claire Brooks. Claire has been the target of disturbing vandalism. 

As Joe helps the police investigate Laura's disappearance, he uncovers disturbing secrets concerning the Archers and some of their neighbours. 

Meanwhile the attacks on Claire become more extreme. Fearing for her life, Claire also hires Joe. As Joe continues to investigate, he puts himself in great danger.

Dark Truth is a dark and thrilling read with plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing. The opening scene had me completely hooked! The story is intricately plotted out with the threads pulling together skillfully by the end. This is a fast-paced story guaranteed to keep you turning the pages.

With it being the second book in the series I was much more familiar with Joe, and the world he inhabits. The writing was much improved with more showing rather than telling and there were fewer descriptive pieces to slow down the pace. I would like to see Joe's personality shine through less formal dialogue, making more use of contractions so the characters sound more natural and less wooden.

 

Legacy of the Brightwash (Tainted Dominion Book 1) by Krystle Matar

BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 15 finalists and one overall winner.

If you want some more information about BBNYA, check out the BBNYA Website https://www.bbnya.com/ or take a peek over on Twitter @BBNYA_Official. BBNYA is brought to you in association with the @Foliosociety (if you love beautiful books, you NEED to check out their website!) and the book blogger support group @The_WriteReads.

Book Details

 

Length: 662 pages

Genre: Fantasy, Historical Fiction

Age Category: Adult

Date Published: 18 February 2021

Amazon Links:

Canada

U.S.A.

U.K.

Goodreads

The StoryGraph

Blurb

Follow the law and you’ll stay safe. But what if the law is wrong?

Tashué’s faith in the law is beginning to crack.

Three years ago, he stood by when the Authority condemned Jason to the brutality of the Rift for non-compliance. When Tashué’s son refused to register as tainted, the laws had to be upheld. He’d never doubted his job as a Regulation Officer before, but three years of watching your son wither away can break down even the strongest convictions.

Then a dead girl washed up on the bank of the Brightwash, tattooed and mutilated. Where had she come from? Who would tattoo a child? Was it the same person who killed her?

Why was he the only one who cared?

Will Tashué be able to stand against everything he thought he believed in to get the answers he’s looking for?

Legacy of the Brightwash was the title I was most excited to read for the Novel of the Year Awards 2023.

The opening chapter with the discovery of a murdered and mutilated child sucked me into the story straight away and I couldn't wait to find out what Tashué would discover about her.

Legacy of the Brightwash is a character-driven story. It is well-written and tense. The mystery of the murdered girl is only one element of the overall story. She represents everything that has gone wrong with the controlling and regulated society in which they live. However, I was disappointed that the book turned out to be less of a detective or murder mystery story than the blurb implied. There is a heavy focus on political intrigue in which Tashué gets mixed up. 

This is quite a dark story and I felt unease for the characters who were imprisoned for being tainted and unregistered. Tashué's son being one of them. Tashué's job of enforcing the law has a massive impact on their relationship. But, as Tashué slowly digs around in political circles he discovers that the leaders are the bad guys rather than the tainted and that changes are needed in society. Tashué grapples with these new realisations and he feels guilty for upholding an oppressive regime and causing the loss of his family.

At 662 pages this is a whopper of a book and it ends on a cliffhanger. It's also a slow burn with the pacing staying relatively the same all the way through. But, with a mix of dark fantasy, mystery and romance there is something here for everybody.

About the Author

Krystle Matar has been writing for a long time, but things got serious when Tashué Blackwood walked into her life, an amber-eyed whirlwind. Her debut, Legacy of the Brightwash, is a SPFBO Finalist, an r/Fantasy nominee for Best Debut and Best Indie.

When she isn’t arguing with Tashué or any of his friends, she parents full time. She has a lot of children, too many hobbies, and one very excellent husband.

She is currently working on lots of stories set in the Dominion, is 1/4 of the Swords & Corsets Podcast, and is probably obsessively rewatching BBC’s Ripper Street and/or anything that Dennis Lehane worked on like Apple TV's Blackbird.

Felicity's War: The Stepney Girls, Book 3 by Jean Fullerton (Corvus, 2024)

 

Felicity’s War

1941. Whilst London is battered by air raids, Felicity ‘Fliss’ Carmichael has troubles of her own. Reeling from her fiancé’s betrayal, she flees to her family home at St. Winifred’s Rectory.

 Though heartbroken, Fliss finds purpose again as a journalist. On assignment, she crosses paths with Detective Inspector Timothy Wallace, who shares

her passion for truth and justice - though not necessarily her political beliefs. Despite their differences, an instant spark ignites between them.

In a city under siege, Fliss and Tim forge an unlikely bond. But can their blossoming romance endure the perils ahead?

Purchase Links

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Felicity's War is a heartwarming historical drama. I immediately liked Felicity as the main character. She is outspoken and modern thinking with a career in journalism. She takes no nonsense from anyone, especially her fiancé and I cheered for her every time she stood up for herself.

Having not read any of the previous books in the series I enjoyed this as a standalone. The story moves quickly. I enjoyed the intrigue with Felicity and DI Wallace investigating crime and black market racketeering. The romance was also a treat. It was fun watching the pair's interactions evolve from sniping at each other to caring and developing feelings.

The author writes about the period so well that I could imagine myself there trying to grapple with food rationing and having to make do. I could also picture ordinary people trying to live a normal life in the extraordinary time of air raids and blackouts. 

I flew through this book within two days. It was difficult to put down and left me with the desire to read the previous two books in the series.

Author Bio 

Born and bred in East London Jean was a District Nurse by trade working throughout East London. She had published twenty-three sagas, including the popular WW2 RATION BOOK, which like all her books is set in East London. Jean has also written her autobiography A Child of the East End, about growing up in post-war Stepney and Wapping. She is currently working on first book of her new four book WW2 series.

Social Media Links –

http://jeanfullerton.com/

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 Amazon: Jean's Amazon page

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*Terms and Conditions –UK & Ireland entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

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Strong Temptations (A Sophie Strong Mystery Book 2) by Amy Renshaw

 

Aspiring reporter Sophie Strong uncovers deadly secrets lurking in the aisles of a 1912 department store. Will she risk everything in her quest to expose a killer? 

In 1912 Milwaukee, Wisconsin, aspiring reporter Sophie Strong yearns for a thrilling undercover mission that rivals those of her idol, journalist Nellie Bly. Her dreams of adventure are dashed when her cautious editor assigns her to the seemingly mundane role of a shopgirl.

But appearances can be deceiving. What starts as an ordinary job takes a sinister turn when a fellow employee meets a tragic end. Suddenly, Sophie and her coworkers fall under suspicion. Determined to prove their innocence and driven by insatiable curiosity, she embarks on her own covert investigation. Detective Jacob Zimmer urges her to leave the pursuit of criminals to the professionals, but she can’t resist plunging into the perilous web of secrets, lies, and hidden motives. Sophie explores the shadowy corners of one of the city's most popular department stores, and each step closer to the truth lures her into more danger.

In this gripping historical mystery, Sophie Strong's relentless pursuit of justice sets the stage for a heart-pounding race against time. Will she expose the killer’s identity before she, too, becomes a victim? Perfect for fans of Rhys Bowen, Victoria Thompson, and Ashley Weaver.

Strong Temptations is a brilliantly executed historical murder mystery. As much as I loved the first book in the series, I loved this one even more. I am familiar with the characters and I anticipate all the interactions Sophie has with Detective Jacob in the hope that their friendship will develop into something more. 

I thought I had the mystery solved very early but I obviously fell for every red herring the author put in front of me because I didn't figure it out at all! 

The author builds up a lot of suspense and tense moments as there are multiple possible suspects. The sense of threat is always there when she is looking for clues or questioning her co-workers.

I thought nothing could top the dramatic scenes at the end of book one but I was blown away by the nail-biting action and heroics of everyone involved at the end of Strong Temptations. Jacob shows his mettle yet again in pursuit of justice. Determined to make that final arrest whilst making sure that the people he loves are safe.

I enjoyed every minute of this book. I have grown to love these characters and I hope there will be many more in the series to follow.

Strong Temptations is available to buy now.

Amazon

The Secret Life of a Lady by Darcy McGuire BLOG TOUR

 

Never Underestimate a wallflower!

Lady Hannah Simmons is a quintessential wallflower, unassuming, dowdy yet ignored by most. But underneath her plain exterior, Hannah is hiding a thrilling secret! Unbeknownst to the rest of the ton, she is Queen Victoria’s leading femme fatale, slipping unnoticed through the streets of London and listening to scandalous whispers from lords and ladies. But with daggers in her stockings and pistols in her pockets, Hannah's mission is to apprehend a deadly killer.

Private Investigator to the Prime Minister, damaged, yet devastatingly handsome ex-war hero Duke Robert Killian always puts duty first. However, when he finds himself competing with the intriguing Lady Hannah on the same daring task, his blood boils with frustration - and desire! Is it possible to seduce this vexing woman whose not afraid to put herself in danger and achieve the upper hand?

Hannah enjoys Killian's attempts to distract and tempt her, but she has never faced an adversary she couldn’t overthrow. And Killian has never met a challenge he couldn’t conquer...until now. The gauntlet has been thrown, can they finish their jobs and resist the temptation?

Keep your friends close…and your enemies even closer!

Purchase Link - https://mybook.to/thesecretlifesocial

The Secret Life of a Lady was great fun and a lighthearted read. The story sucked me in pretty quick and I found myself having it read in no time.

I love a good historical mystery romance so this book ticked a lot of boxes for me. I love that Lady Hannah is right, front and centre of the action, tasked with a mission by the queen herself.

She builds a relationship with Robert Killian, the Duke who is also a private investigator and finds Hannah irresistible. Things develop very quickly between them, leading to quite a steamy read that sometimes overshadows the mystery. 

The story is fast-paced with interesting side characters who will hopefully get their own books. I'm looking forward to reading more of Drake in particular. 

Author Bio 

Darcy McGuire is an award-winning New Zealand-born writer now living in the Pacific Northwest. She will write a five-part Victorian romance series for Boldwood, focused on a group of ‘Deadly Damsels’.

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With Wine Comes Wisdom (With Wine Series Book 1) by J.E. Johnson

                     What if running out of gas changed your life forever? 

Alex Kennedy — just a realtor trying to move on from her tortured past while hoping to find her purpose in life. When she runs out of gas in a neighborhood she thinks is worth saving, suddenly nothing will ever be the same.

Roman King— Tall, dark, handsome and successful. He’s every woman’s fantasy but he only has one woman on his mind—Alex. His pull to her is so strong and overwhelming he can’t help his desperate desire to protect her from everyone and everything—especially herself.

With Wine Comes Wisdom… Can two people overcome the shadows of the past to hold onto the love of their dreams? Or will old nightmares tear them apart…Intrigue, danger, new friendships, a love that could only exist between soulmates and wine, lots of wine.

559 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 14, 2024

From the opening chapter, I knew I would enjoy this book. 

So, I took my time to savour every minute, after all, you don't guzzle a fine wine. 

My first impressions of Alex were of a woman who has it all, a very successful career, a feisty, confident attitude, hard-drinking but with nice friends and the added advantage of a barman in the know and quick to serve up her usual order without any to-do. It soon becomes apparent that Alex also has a kind heart. When she runs out of gas in a run-down neighbourhood, her first instinct is to admire the beauty of the old architecture, befriend one of the residents, and lament that the people there are selling up to a developer. She decides to help however she can even if it only means helping the residents get a fair price for their properties. She wasn't expecting her new crush to be involved in tearing down the neighbourhood.

Alex has a complicated and colourful family background whereas Roman's is quieter and supportive. Roman falls head over heels for Alex at first sight. But, it becomes apparent that Alex has walls up around her and it won't be easy to navigate a romance with her. He has patience in abundance. I love how determined he is that things will work out between them. I love the slow-burn development of their relationship. It is lovely and sweet to read. The sexual tension between the characters is scorching hot and I could feel every ounce of their attraction and frustration. 

Much of the novel is taken up with Alex and Roman spending time together and getting to know each other.  

But there is also intrigue and a sense of danger permeating through the story as Roman's company is mixed up in dodgy real estate deals that will take some manoeuvring to get free from. 

Events escalate unexpectedly and a twist at the end had me reeling. 

With an unresolved storyline, I feel bereft at leaving these characters hanging until the sequel is released. All fingers and toes are crossed it won't be too long.

Buy at Amazon US

Miss Isobel and the Prince (The Triplet Orphans #2) by Catherine Tinley (2024) BLOG TOUR

Miss Isobel and the Prince

What happens when a sensible Cinderella meets a European prince? Find out in this sparkling romantic Regency story!

A royal distraction...

...for the debutante!

Given her meagre dowry and lack of known parents, Isobel Lennox must use her only London season to make a sensible match. So why, oh why is she dazzled by the dashing, handsome Prince Claudio? She's not highborn enough to be his bride--and he's certainly not ready to marry. But one mesmerizing kiss later, neither can stay away from each other!

From Harlequin Historical: Your romantic escape to the past.

Purchase Link - https://mybook.to/IsobelPrince

Miss Isobel and the Prince is a very humorous, enemies-to-lovers historical romance.

Unfortunately, they judged each other on first impressions at their first meeting. The prince mistook Isobel for a serving maid and drunkenly asked for a kiss. This did not go down well with Isobel who wasted no time reprimanding him sparking the beginning of their love-hate relationship. 

I loved all the drama surrounding the triplet's debut and Claudio's reaction when he saw them. 

Their various verbal spats at each social function after that were entertaining to read however, I got a little bit impatient with Isobela as I wanted her to let bygones be bygones and get to know the prince who was obviously smitten. 

It would take a lot for the pair to become friends when not even the queen could convince Isobel to dance with him.

Isobel's character shone through when she put aside her misgivings about Claudio and came to his rescue when there was a plot to trap him into marriage. I really loved this scene especially as it saw the downfall of a couple of scheming ladies and it marked the beginning of Claudio and Isobel's friendship and flirtation.

Things ended in nicely rounded way after a series of very dramatic events involving jealousy and a duel. I was expecting an emotional bedside illness scene with Claudio declaring his feelings but he didn't get an opportunity as his attempts to make amends were declined. Their inability to communicate properly caused unnecessary angst and delayed their happy ending. I could feel the relief of every side character when their betrothal was finally announced. The happy ending was worth the rocky road it took to get there.

Miss Isobel and the Prince is the second in the series but is a complete standalone novel. I am looking forward to reading Anna's story next and continuing with the mystery surrounding their father's identity and why their mother went into hiding with them as babies.

Author Bio 

Catherine Tinley is a multi award-winning writer of witty, heartwarming Regency Romance. Her first novel, Waltzing with the Earl, won the Rita(R) Award for Best Historical Romance 2018, and she has since won the 2021 RoNA award, the 2021 HOLT medallion, and the 2022 RoNA award for Best Historical Romance. She lives in Ireland with her family and can be reached at www.CatherineTinley.com and on social media at https://linktr.ee/CTinley

Social Media Links – https://linktr.ee/CTinley

Giveaway to Win a Signed copy of Miss Isobel and the Prince (Open INT)

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for dispatch or delivery of the prize.

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