Publication Date:
September 7, 2021
About the Author:
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.
TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | GOODREADS | BOOKBUB
MY REVIEW
A writer for her aunt’s Marriage Gazette, Miss Amelie Hampton is a hopeless romantic who has fallen for one of the newspaper’s clients, Mr. Harold Radcliffe (or should I say, Mr. Dashing?). When police detective Michael Baker approaches Amelie about an investigation on Mr. Radcliffe, Amelie agrees to go undercover to help him in order to clear Mr. Radcliffe’s name. But the closer she gets to her dashing suitor, the more questions are unearthed. Did Mr. Radcliffe kill his wife, and if so, what does he mean to do to Amelie? Can Detective Baker keep Amelie safe when she keeps insisting on putting herself in harm’s way? And will the handsome Detective Baker allow himself to fall in love with his charming deputy when his profession is to dangerous to allow for a wife and family?
This book took a couple chapters for me to become immersed in the story and interested in the characters. Once I got into the flow of it, I really enjoyed the premise. Michael Baker is a competent Victorian detective with a very soft spot for the innocent-but-shrewd heroine. Amelie is the most dyed-in-the-wool romantic out of her group of cousin-friends, and it takes her a while to realize that Harold Radcliffe has been bamboozling her with his compliments and pretty nothings. Once she does realize it, she is tenacious about stopping him. There is no real mystery in the book of who the villain is, but the unfolding of the events on how to prove he is a villain is an enjoyable read. Fans of cozy detective novels heavy on the romance will enjoy this story.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
PURCHASE LINKS
AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | BOOK DEPOSITORY | BOOKSHOP | GOODREADS
This book is on tour from September 6 through September 19. Check out the other stops along the tour and read more reviews of this delightful tale.
TOUR SCHEDULE
Sept 06 Timeless Novels (Review)
Sept 07 The Book Diva Reads (Excerpt)
Sept 07 Wishful Endings (Review)
Sept 08 Robin Loves Reading (Review)
Sept 08 A Darn Good Read (Review)
Sept 08 Storeybook Reviews (Spotlight)
Sept 08 Austenesque Reviews (Review)
Sept 09 Bookfoolery (Review)
Sept 09 The Lit Bitch (Excerpt)
Sept 10 The Bluestocking (Review)
Sept 10 Bookworm Lisa (Review)
Sept 10 The Silver Petticoat Review (Review)
Sept 11 Book Confessions of an Ex-Ballerina (Review)
Sept 11 My Bookish Bliss (Review)
Sept 11 Nurse Bookie (Review)
Sept 12 The Bibliophile Files (Review)
Sept 12 My Jane Austen Book Club (Spotlight)
Sept 13 Heidi Reads (Excerpt)
Sept 13 Reading with Emily (Review)
Sept 13 Our Book Confessions (Review)
Sept 14 Rosanne E. Lortz (Review)
Sept 14 Laura’s Reviews (Review)
Sept 14 Beauty in the Binding (Spotlight)
Sept 15 All-of-a-Kind Mom (Review)
Sept 15 Gwendalyn’s Books (Review)
Sept 15 Life of Literature (Review)
Sept 16 From Pemberley to Milton (Review)
Sept 16 Probably at the Library (Spotlight)
Sept 17 Greenish Bookshelf (Review)
Sept 17 Relz Reviewz (Review)
Sept 18 Novel Kicks (Review)
Sept 19 Historical Fiction with Spirit (Excerpt)
Rosanne E. Lortz 
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Rose. I enjoyed being in Victorian London with this couple. It reminded me of the TV series, Miss Scarlet and the Duke. Best, LA