Tag: New Release

I’m welcoming The Dressmaker’s Secret Earl by Susanne Dunlap to the blog #blogtour #RegencyRomance #BookReview

Here’s the blurb

A marriage of convenience to a scoundrel? Not if Augusta can help it.

The impoverished daughter of a baronet, Augusta has no intention of being bartered away like a prize horse. Instead, she flees to London, determined to forge her own path as a modiste.

But fate has other plans. On her very first day in the city, she crosses paths with a brooding earl—one burdened with a clubfoot and a reputation nearly as scandalous as the proposal she ran from. His captivating sister, Mariana, is not only Augusta’s employer’s best client but harbors a secret ambition of her own: to marry the one man society deems wholly unsuitable.

Drawn into Mariana’s reckless schemes of masquerades, cross-dressing, and Whig intrigue, Augusta soon finds herself entangled in more than just scandal—she’s losing her heart to a man who embodies everything she swore to escape.

But the earl has secrets of his own. Is he truly the rogue society believes him to be?

And when Augusta’s past comes calling, will her newfound independence—and her heart—survive?

A charming, fast-paced Regency romance perfect for fans of Bridgerton and the sweetly adventurous love stories of Maggie Dallen and Jenny Hambly.

Book Trailer

https://youtu.be/7l9IhkRwPEI

Purchase Link

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dressmakers-Secret-Earl-Double-Dilemma-Romance-ebook/dp/B0DWMGDP6L

https://www.amazon.com/Dressmakers-Secret-Earl-Double-Dilemma-Romance-ebook/dp/B0DWMGDP6L

My Review

The Dressmaker’s Secret Earl is a Regency romance with a difference. Our main female character, Augusta, is strong-willed and determined to live a life free from the marriage union her aunt has arranged for her with an awful man who only wants her for her money. Our male main character, George, is doing his best to live by his rules, which aren’t necessarily what society expects from him, and he does his utmost to avert suspicion that he’s not the rake they believe him to be.

Add to this Mari, the earl’s sister, and someone who fast becomes Augusta’s only friend in London, and we’re set for an exciting journey through London society and some of its less salubrious locations, as all three endeavour to forge the lives for themselves that they desire.

The Dressmaker’s Secret Earl is a fast-paced tale of Regency London with main characters the reader quickly feels invested in. Fans of the genre will certainly enjoy it, as will those who are looking for something a little different, perhaps with more historical detail and a more varied stage for our main characters to occupy than might be expected.

Meet the author

Susanne Dunlap is the award-winning author of over a dozen historical novels, as well as an Author Accelerator Certified Book Coach in fiction, nonfiction, and memoir. Her love of history began in academia with a PhD in music history from Yale. Her novel THE PORTRAITIST won first prize in its category in the 2022 Eric Hoffer Book Awards, and was a finalist in the CIBA Goethe Awards and the Foreword Indies Awards. THE ADORED ONE: A NOVEL OF LILLIAN LORRAINE AND FLORENZ ZIEGFELD, won first place in its category in the 2023 CIBA Goethe Awards for Late Historical Fiction. Today, she lives, coaches, and writes in beautiful Biddeford, Maine.

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I’m delighted to welcome a returning Helen Golden to the blog with her new book, I Kill Always Love You. #bookreview #cosymystery #blogtour

Here’s the blurb

A perfect sunny getaway with no drama. Or so they’d hoped…

BREAKING NEWS Woman Taken in for Questioning in Death of Actress’ Husband

Police in Portugal this morning told reporters that a woman is being questioned in connection with the murder of the film producer Jason ‘JT’ Kenda, who was married to award-winning actress Ariella St Gerome.

Mr Kenda, who was found dead in the swimming pool of the couple’s villa, was initially thought to have died following an accident, but now police believe the American was killed intentionally. The villa is next door to where Lady Beatrice, the Countess of Rossex, is currently holidaying with family and friends at the villa of TV’s Sir Hewitt and his wife, Lady Grace.

Who can say no to Lady Grace? When the daughter of Lady Grace’s housekeeper is suspected of murder, her ladyship requests that Bea and her friends prove the maid’s innocence. But with time running out, can they navigate the tangled web of lies, betrayal, and hidden motives before an innocent woman is imprisoned for a crime she didn’t commit? Because even on holiday, the sleuthing never stops!

Purchase Link

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Always-Right-Royal-Investigation-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0D768B2VL

https://www.amazon.com/Always-Right-Royal-Investigation-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0D768B2VL

My Review

I Kill Always Love You is a fun addition to Helen Golden’s Right Royal Investigation mystery series. I’ve read all the books in the series so far, including all the short stories. I adore spending time with Lady Bea and Perry, and this time, we also have help from Simon and Richard, not to mention Isla.

I’ve come to expect well-plotted stories from this series, and I Kill Always Love You doesn’t disappoint. Did I work out what had happened? Not quite all of it because there were many red herrings and interesting side stories alongside the mystery of what really happened. I certainly appreciated the careful plotting and piecemeal revelations, even if I do wish Perry would buy himself a decent pair of running shoes.

A firm addition to this charming series. New readers will not be disappointed.

Check out my reviews for the other books in this fabulous series.

Spruced Up For Murder

For Richer, For Deader

Not Mushroom For Death

A Dead Herring

A Cocktail to Die For

A Death of Fresh Air

Meet the author

Hello. I’m Helen Golden. I write British contemporary cozy whodunnits with a hint of humour. I live in small village in Lincolnshire in the UK with my husband, my step-daughter, her two cats, our two dogs, sometimes my step-son, and our tortoise.

I used to work in senior management, but after my recent job came to a natural end I had the opportunity to follow my dreams and start writing. It’s very early in my life as an author, but so far I’m loving it.

It’s crazy busy at our house, so when I’m writing I retreat to our caravan (an impulsive lockdown purchase) which is mostly parked on our drive. When I really need total peace and quiet, I take it to a lovely site about 15 minutes away and hide there until my family runs out of food or clean clothes

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I’m sharing my review for The Viscount’s Pearl by Melissa Addey #regencyromance #blogtour #bookreview

Here’s the blurb


He’s a carefree rake who wants a marriage of convenience.

She’s an awkward spinster who doesn’t want to marry at all. 

Fate has other plans in store for them both. 

Laurence enjoys his dalliances with the married ladies of society, and thinks marriage is only a matter of convenience. He’s on the lookout for a practical woman accustomed to society. Frances is an odd and awkward young woman, more at home gathering shells on the beach than in the ballrooms of London, hoping to stay a spinster forever.

When the two meet in Margate, will their initial dislike of one another turn into something important?

While Laurence finds his life growing shallow, Frances wonders if love might be worth making a bold move for. Can she find her way into Laurence’s heart, and will he undertake to love her, just the way she is?

A warm-hearted Regency romance, full of historical detail and emotional discovery, as two opposites find they might just attract. The Season has begun, the ton is gathered… who knows what the tides will bring for Laurence and Frances.

Purchase Links

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0DW3RNQNT

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0DW3RNQNT

My Review

The Viscount’s Pearl by Melissa Addey is a charming and thrilling Regency romance with a difference.

Our main character, Frances, is her mother and father’s despair, about to start her fourth scandalous season with no match. She’s outspoken, easily overwhelmed by society’s expectations and also entirely assured of her own mind. And it doesn’t involve marrying when she already has a fortune to her name. The only person who seems to understand her is her aging godfather, who happens to be Laurence’s uncle.

In contrast, Laurence is entirely at home amongst society’s expectations of him, until his uncle asks him to think again about his plans for the future, which he finds himself doing whether he wishes to or not.

Laurence and Frances are engaging main characters, but it is Frances who perhaps shines a little brighter. I adored that the author never worked to soften Frances’ awkwardness. Rather Laurence must work to accommodate her if they’re ever to be happy together.

This is both your usual regency romance and also not. But it is a joy to read and thoroughly enjoyable, and I admire the author for accurately portraying Frances as who she is and for maintaining consistency.

Check out my review for Lady for A Season, the first book in the Regency Outsiders series. And, check out my reviews for Melissa Addey’s Roman books, From the Ashes and Beneath the Waves.

Meet the author


I grew up and was home educated on an Italian hill farm. I now live in London with my husband, two children and a black and white cat called Holly who enjoys the editing process as there is so much scrap paper involved.

I mainly write historical fiction, inspired by what I call ‘the footnotes of history’: forgotten stories or part-legends about interesting people and places. I have a PhD in Creative Writing, for which I wrote The Garden of Perfect Brightness and an academic thesis about balancing fact and fiction in historical fiction. 

I like to move from one historical era to another, finding stories to share, like a travelling minstrel. So far I’ve been to Ancient Rome, medieval Morocco, 18th century China and Regency England. Join me on my travels: browse my books. 

If you’d like to know more about me and my books, visit my website www.MelissaAddey.com where there are free novellas, book trailers, interviews, videos of research trips, info for book clubs and more. 

Connect with the author


www.MelissaAddey.com 

Check out my review for From The Ashes, Melissa Addey’s Roman-era historical fiction set around the events of Vesuvius and the building of the Colosseum.

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It’s happy publication day to The Viscount’s Forbidden Flirtation by Sarah Rodi #historicalromance #newrelease #blogtour #Mills&Boon

Here’s the blurb

Lieutenant Colonel Ezra Hart finds himself in urgent need of a wife—inheriting the viscountcy relies on it! But while he’s dutifully spinning the Season’s jewels around Society’s ballrooms he finds himself desiring the one woman he shouldn’t covet…

French émigrée Seraphine Mounier is as beguiling as she is vivacious, but Ezra knows she has no interest in the marriage mart. What’s worse, she represents the very enemy he fought at Waterloo. As an undeniable connection sparks, resisting Seraphine seems one battle Ezra’s destined to lose!

Purchase Links 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Viscounts-Forbidden-Flirtation-Season-Historical-ebook/dp/B0DFDTH464

https://www.amazon.com/Viscounts-Forbidden-Flirtation-Season-Historical-ebook/dp/B0DFDTH464

Meet the author

Sarah Rodi has always been a hopeless romantic. She grew up watching old, romantic movies recommended by her grandad, or devouring love stories from the local library. Sarah lives in the village of Cookham in Berkshire, where she enjoys walking along the River Thames with her husband, her two daughters and their dog. She has been a magazine journalist for over 20 years, but it has been her lifelong dream to write romance for Mills & Boon. Sarah believes everyone deserves to find their happy ever after. You can contact her via @sarahrodiedits or sarahrodiedits@gmail.com or at sarahrodi.com

Author image for Sarah Rodi

Connect with Sarah

I’m excited to be taking part in the cover reveal for The Matchmaker’s Mare by Hywela Lyn #coverreveal #blogtour #romance

Here’s the blurb

When Megan Johnson inherits an old cottage in the Welsh countryside, she seizes the opportunity to cut ties with her past life, after a broken romance. Her nearest neighbour, a horse trainer, is also something of an enigma. Single dad Glyn Phillips does his best to balance his love of horses and hard work, with his devotion to his son. When he meets his new neighbour, he knows he should resist any attraction. A feisty pony mare which mysteriously appears on his land adds to his problems, but another, larger problem lies ahead. Two matchmaking spirits find their carefully laid plans may not go as smoothly as they hope.

Book cover image for The Matchmaker's Mare by Hywela Lyn showing a chestnut horse galloping towards the reader with a small cottage in the background and shimmering yellow lights.

Pre-order Links 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Matchmakers-Mare-Hywela-Lyn-ebook/dp/B0DYF6L15C

https://www.amazon.com/Matchmakers-Mare-Hywela-Lyn-ebook/dp/B0DYF6L15C

Publication Date: 5th May

Meet the author

Award-winning author, Hywela Lyn spent most of her life in Wales, whose beautiful landscapes and wealth. of myths and legends inspired her to write. A horse and dog lover, she weaves romantic Science Fiction adventures and fantasy romances set in Wales, past and present. She loves dreaming up characters who overcome the odds, and go on to find deep and enduring love. However difficult the journey, in the end love will always win. She  hopes her stories will truly take you ‘out of this world’.

Her penname, Hywela Lyn is a combination of her first two names. (She has always been known by her second name ‘Lyn’ and thought it was time her Welsh first name was used as well!) She is a member of The Romantic Novelists’ Association, and her local writing group, Chiltern Writers. Beloved Enemy, the third book in her Destiny Trilogy, was shortlisted in the Paranormal category of the prestigious Romantic Novelists Association RoNA awards and was a Runner up in the RONE Awards in 2017. When not writing or reading, she can usually be found outdoors with horses or her little dog – or just eating chocolate!

Author image for Hywela Lyn

I’m super excited to announce the special 5th birthday edition of The Last King, available now

Back in 2020, I finally wrote a book I’d wanted to write for a long time – the story of Mercia’s last king, Coelwulf II (although, I think I should have spelt his name as Ceolwulf but hey ho). The book I eventually wrote has spawned my most successful series to date and has also given readers The Eagle of Mercia Chronicles, featuring a younger version of Coelwulf’s very outspoken fellow warrior Icel.

The book I wrote was also very different to how I thought it would be. Indeed, it’s not one book, but a series 10 books long, and featuring a cast of lovable, foul-mouthed rogues who are as loyal to one another as they are to the horses they ride. I’ve spoken before about why the characters are so sweary, and I know not everyone enjoys that element of the books, but hey, these men are who they are. But, thank goodness for Coelwulf’s aunt, who keeps a wary eye on them all and can occasionally make them a little more polite.

The first eight covers for The Last King series by MJ Porter
The Last King/The Mercian Ninth Century

I’ve long wanted to celebrate the occasion of five years since releasing the book, and I’ve had many thoughts about it over the last few years, but when it finally happened, it was very unexpected, and the cover design came from someone I’d asked to work on some sprayed edges to jazz the cover up a little. It is very understated, but I think that makes it all the more special. BookVault can incorporate sprayed edges, a design on the endpapers, super high-quality white printing paper, as well as a ribbon to keep track of your reading. There are also new chapter headings, but at heart, this is The Last King, as it was released on 23rd April 2020, at a time when we were all looking for the means to distract ourselves from the horrors of the Pandemic and distract us we all did, even me. I find writing Coelwulf and his allies (and enemies) enormous fun and also very comforting. I know these characters, and they do live in my head rent-free, and I really don’t mind at all.

The Ninth Century Mercian series covers for all 9 books

So, let’s check out the designs for this special edition, which will only be available directly from me. I don’t plan on releasing it widely, and depending on demand, I will limit it to 100 printed copies.

Image shows a pale blue and grey cover with the words The Last King and a stylised sword on the cover image.
The jacket

The jacket again
Mock-up of the front cover and sprayed edges design
The new chapter heading images
The amended map to fit the endpapers of the book

What it looks like in ‘real’ life

The front cover
The original cover
The inside jacket
Title page
Original map
The prologue with chapter heading images
The sprayed edges
The back cover
The inside back cover jacket
The original cover
Side-by-side comparison with the original hardback version

Each book will be signed by me, and I’ll include some goodies with it as well. But to get a copy, you must order it via my SumUp shop. I will be offering discount codes to readers who order The Last King for The Last Warrior edition, too.

Order Link

SumUp Store

I made a little video, but this was for the proof before I decided to add the map end papers, which is why they’re missing.

Visit The Mercian Ninth Century Series page for all the details about the series, and links to other blog posts.

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I’m delighted to be reviewing You Know the Drill by Dr Bill – The Private Musings of a Dentist #blogtour #non-fiction

Here’s the blurb

Welcome to my life.  The life of a reluctant dentist.  This book charts the course of a nervous student dealing with people from all walks of life, from exploding angry abscesses to exploding angry people, both in and out of the chair.

When I was a wet-behind-the-ears school sixth former, it seemed like a really good idea to go to university and study the teeth, gums and mouth.  I’m still trying to work out why I thought that was a good idea.

The definition of a dentist mentions competencies in biomedical knowledge, surgical dexterity, and critical thinking. What it fails to include is being an unpaid therapist, getting splattered in pus, coaxing nutters out from under the dental chair, having the police storm your surgery, and dealing with patients who think a crown is something you put on your head, then try and sue you when you say otherwise.

Written as a form of therapy – to offload on paper – this book gives a frank account of life both in and out of the surgery.  So, take a seat in the waiting room and I’ll see you shortly in Chapter One…

Purchase Links

Amazon UK

Amazon US

My Review

So, I hate the dentist (not the person – the idea of it). I’ve had a few nasty experiences with dentists who should perhaps have paid a little more attention to patient care than they did. However, I’ve found a new dentist and he’s lovely and very, very thoughtful. I decided to read this book as a means of understanding what it’s like for the actual person who is the dentist as opposed to the patient, gripping the armrests and leaving imprints in the dentist’s chair. I’m so glad I did. I can’t say it’s going to make my next trip any easier, but I will certainly be a little calmer about the whole thing – probably until the bloody drill comes out:)

This is a delightful collection of stories, from training to working as a dentist. Some of them are funny. Some of them are sad. Some of them are bloody outrageous. All of them paint the picture of a professional working under some very trying circumstances (including during Covid), and sometimes not. I also appreciated the explanations about how the system works in the UK and what dentists are actually doing when they look in your mouth. I was very glad I wasn’t the one in the dentist’s chair for some of the procedures described.

Fans of the dentist and those who aren’t (i.e. me) will enjoy this collection of tales and musings. And, I promise, there are no LAs involved in reading it.

Meet the author

Dr Bill is a reluctant dentist who lives with his kind partner and a neurotic cat.  This is his first book.  There may be another.  This depends on whether Dr Bill’s patients are gracious sweethearts who give him nothing to write about, or cantankerous bastards who provide the fodder for written revenge!

Author image for Dr Bill showing their cat.

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It’s my turn on the blog tour for Love & Laughter (and other disasters) – A midlife romcom by Elora Canne #blogtour #bookreview #romance #novella

Here’s the blurb

Life in Pelican Cove is about to be disrupted when felines and big feelings move into the neighbourhood, along with the newcomers.

Meryl starts having unsolicited feelings for local yogi, Louis, aka Captain Underpants. She valiantly fights the moral dilemma of falling in love ‘at her age.’ However, she’s secretly enjoying the new experience, until her grown-up daughter casts doubt in her mind.

In a spontaneous act of defiance, Meryl decides to engage in the friendship of a secret admirer, Gardening Pop, via a local gardening forum as well. They share misguided messages of blooms as their friendship blossoms.

Meanwhile, Louis, Captain Underpants, finds himself in a love triangle of his own, when yogi, Glenda, makes her move on him. Glenda elicits the help of her close friend, Antoinette, and the two go off on a relationship101 Girls Only Weekend Getaway. There, they literally stumble upon sizzling trail guide, Andy. Soon, Glenda discovers she has no need to poach Louis after all.

Will Meryl still be interested in Louis’ suave moves? Or, has Gardening Pop plucked at her heartstrings?

This laugh-out-loud romcom novella brings out the best and the worst in the people of Pelican Cove, in a tangle of love and laughter, and other disasters.

Purchase Link

https://books2read.com/u/m00xoV

My Review

Love and Laughter (and other disasters) is a charming second-chance love story set in Pelican Cove, Australia. Our main characters all manage to entangle themselves with either doubt or overconfidence, which leads to many dilemmas for those involved, especially poor Louis, as they work out their feelings for one another.

This was a lovely tale, light-hearted and fun and sure to appeal to fans of the genre.

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I’m reviewing Murder At Merivale Manor by Ella Strike #blogtour #historicalmystery #bookreview

Here’s the blurb

A cozy dinner party, a playful game… and a very real murder.

London, 1923

Kitty Goring seems to have it all—lavish nights at London’s finest clubs, elegant soirées, and a parade of charming bachelors vying for her hand. But despite the glamour, Kitty longs for something a little more… thrilling. 

In a bid for excitement (and to avoid her mother’s constant reminders that she really ought to be searching for a husband), Kitty dreams up the perfect diversion. A playful mock robbery at her family’s grand estate, Merivale Manor. It’s all meant to be fun—until one of the guests turns up very much dead.

With a real killer on the loose in quaint little Hampstead Village, Kitty’s keen instincts kick in. Forget matchmaking—Kitty’s determined to unmask the culprit before anyone else falls victim. With a sharp wit and a flair for mischief, she dives headfirst into the investigation. But getting to the truth won’t be easy, especially with the brooding Detective Inspector Henry Burton underestimating her at every turn.

Murder, mystery, and a dash of romance—Kitty’s got her hands full in this charming whodunit!

Murder at Merivale Manor is the delightful first book in the Kitty Goring Investigates historical cozy mystery series. 

Author’s note

London in the 1920s is a glamorous and exciting city, but danger and death are never too far behind. Join Kitty Goring and her group of Bright Young Things in the adventure of a lifetime, as they race to catch a killer who lurks amongst them.
Each book in this series is a cozy period mystery that features our plucky heroine, aided in her investigations by a gang of eccentric and lovable characters.

Purchase Link

https://mybook.to/ZRrM

My Review

MMurder at Merivale Manor is the first book in the Kitty Goring Investigations series of historical mysteries set in the 1920s.

This first book introduces us to Kitty, a headstrong woman with a varied collection of friends and associates and a somewhat overbearing mother. The family is somewhat down on its luck but still working to keep up appearances. One of those is the need for Kitty’s brother to marry well to recover the family fortunes.

But, as ever, all is not as it appears when a woman keen on Kitty’s brother is unexpectedly murdered at the local fete. Feeling guilty about a silly game Kitty initiated that seems to have led to Jane’s death, Kitty is determined to investigate and find the culprit.

This is a fun, quick read, and readers of the genre will enjoy discovering who the true culprit was.

Meet the author

Ella Strike, cat lover and author of historical cozy mysteries, lives in London with her husband and twins. When she’s not penning murder mysteries or drinking copious amounts of Earl Grey, you can find her with her nose buried in a book or listening to true crime podcasts as she cooks.

Her stories are a mix of history, a dash of intrigue, and a whole lot of cozy, old-world charm.

Author image for Ella Strike showing a cartoon type character.
Image shows the list of blog hosts for the Murder at Merivale Manor blog tour organised by Rachel's Random Resources

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I’m delighted to share my review for Murder in Covent Garden by Anita Davison #bookreview #blogtour #historicalmystery #newrelease

Here’s the blurb

Nobody should be in the market… for murder!

Even though its famous opera house has shuttered its doors for the war, Covent Garden remains one of the most exciting, bustling areas of London. It’s where Hannah Merrill and Aunt Violet have their bookshop and, in spite of the recent spate of burglaries in the area, it’s generally thought to be a good neighbourhood.

So Hannah is surprised when she sees a fellow shopkeeper – a jeweller named Jacob Cornelis – having a heated argument with a stranger. Especially when the next day Cornelis is found dead in his shop, apparently the victim of another burglary.

But what shocks Hannah more is when she meets the policeman supposedly there to investigate the crime. Because he is none other than the man who Hannah saw arguing with Cornelis the day before.

Hannah knows it’s up to her and Violet to investigate. But they don’t know they’re about to uncover a secret underworld of theft, murder and blackmail. And they must act fast, before the Covent Garden Killer strikes again…

A gripping and unputdownable Golden Age cozy crime mystery, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, Helena Dixon and Verity Bright.

Purchase Link

https://mybook.to/MurderCoventGarden

My Review

Murder in Covent Garden has everything we’ve come to expect from a Miss Merill and Aunt Violet Mystery – a crime to solve, Hannah determined to discover the truth, and of course, Aunt Violet being her usual enigmatic self in World War 1 era London.

This time Hannah manages to get her herself into all sorts of difficult situations, which she somehow manages to escape from, as well as more than her fair share of possible perpetrators. Again, the ending wasn’t expected, and I always appreciate that.

Check out my reviews for Murder in the Bookshop, Murder in the Library and Murder at Midwinter Manor.

Meet the author

Anita was brought up in London, a city with a history that has always fascinated her and influenced her first attempts at writing. Her first three novels featured a 17th Century West Country family on the losing side of the Monmouth Rebellion of 1685. Other previous work includes an Edwardian Cosy Mystery series featuring amateur sleuth, Flora Maguire set in early 20th Century London and Cheltenham. Anita’s most recent work is the Miss Merrill and Aunt Violet Mysteries set in WWI from Boldwood Books. 

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