Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Pub for this free digital copy in exchange for an honest review. This delightful book by Mary Winters is out today!!
I AM HERE for historical mystery + romance books featuring clever, independent, forward-thinking women, and that is exactly what this book includes. I was hooked from the start and thankfully I started reading it while my students were working on projects because I did NOT want to put it down!
Amelia–a former innkeeper’s daughter who is now a widow, countess, and mother to her late husband’s niece–is secretly Lady Agony–the writer of an advice column, and I love how much she loves this job and her honesty with her readers. She is also so determined to see justice served and that is admirable, even when at times she takes too many risks (but don’t they all?). Add in her best friend Kitty, and Simon–a handsome marquis and friend of her late husband–and we have a story. While it seems weird to say, I liked the fact that she was a young widow primarily because as a widow with a title and control over her husband’s fortune, Amelia has more freedom in Victorian England than she would have as an unmarried woman. I think this was a good choice to make because it takes away some obstacles she may have faced.
As far as romance goes, I would say this story is romance-adjacent lol…the set up is definitely there, lusty feelings abound, but moves have not been made yet. Normally I don’t want to wait for the romance, but in this case, I am happy to wait! Simon and Amelia seem like they would be amazing together and I’m looking forward to them figuring that out.
I’ll be eagerly awaiting the next book in this series!
The Bookish Bird 