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.

Amalie works for her aunt's newspaper as an agony aunt. She spends her days matchmaking and giving advice but is hopeless at finding love herself. That is, until she meets recently widowed Mr Radcliffe. He is handsome and charming and Amalie can hardly speak when she's around him. Imagine her frustration when a blunt and annoying detective begins intervening in their blossoming relationship and investigating Mr Radcliffe's past.

I really enjoyed this story - it was easy to read and the plot held my interest all the way through. I loved the characters - I loved Detective Baker and his brittle personality at the start of the book. I loved Aunt Sally; a fiercely independent woman who is bringing her nieces up to be equally independent in a society typically dominated by men. I loved the scenes with Charlotte and Eva, Amalie's cousins, for their fierce loyalty and friendship and for showing that women can do a man's job just as successfully!

The dialogue was witty between the characters, making them feel wholly believable and I liked the way that the author included extracts from The Marriage Gazette and other period pieces at the beginning of each chapter.

All in all, a clever little mystery with an historical setting and a cast of delightful characters ♥️ what more could you want for a weekend of cosy autumnal reading!

Thank you to Nancy Campbell Allen, Netgalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for the e-arc of this delightful story!

Actually better than expected, but does not displace Beauty and the Clockwork Beast as my favorite Allen book.

Amelie gets wrapped up in a murder mystery when the man she is spying on turns out to be part of a secret police investigation. As she and Michael investigate Radcliffe, they draw closer together. But Michael's fears come into play as they fall in love, and Radcliffe turns his sights onto Amelie.

I loved the plot, great pacing and kept my interest all the way through. A little predictable, which isn't always a bad thing. The bad guy was a bad guy, and the two heroes saved the day and fell in love.

The love story, while romantic, felt a little stilted and never connected with me. I like it when the love stories are relatable and i can feel developing. I never felt the romantic connection between Michael and Amelie. While cute, there wasn't much deeper.

Good overall, the side characters were interesting but not overwhelming, and not many plot holes.

Solid 4 stars

A delightful romance mystery! A bit of swoon, a bit of peril. I appreciated the way the characters fell for each other, and there are some really good conversations/quotes about marriage I loved. Is it possible we're going to get two more books in the series? One for each cousin? I hope so. This one hints at some intriguing prospects for the other young ladies. The mystery itself wasn't exactly a whodunit, more like finding enough evidence to nab the killer. I very much enjoyed it.

Notes: clean

Thanks Netgalley for the ARC! All opinions are my own.

First sentence: My dear Miss Franklin, I can only imagine the despondency you must feel at your mother's insistence that you entertain Mr. B's suit. Of course you may continue writing to me for advice or commiseration! You and I know of your desire to marry for love, but your mother is clearly of the elder generation who prefer to err on the side of practicality. Perhaps you might consider a blunt approach, as the elderly often require direct speaking, whether due to hearing loss or lack of compassion brought on by age, one can only speculate...Letter from Miss A. Hampton

Premise/plot: Miss Amelie Hampton, our heroine, works for her aunt's paper, The Marriage Gazette. Detective Michael Baker is still haunted by the death of a young woman. He suspects her husband, Mr. Harold Radcliffe, of murder. But there wasn't enough evidence--at least without an autopsy--to continue the investigation let alone bring charges against him. But Detective Baker has his eyes on Mr. Radcliffe...which leads him directly to Miss Amelie Hampton.

Miss Hampton met Mr. Radcliffe at a book club. She's more than a little smitten with his dashing ways. But she had no idea he was "Mr. Dashing" (if memory serves) who has written into The Marriage Gazette looking for love. It is only when she is spying on Miss Franklin's first meeting with her new match (Mr. Dashing) that she recognizes him and realizes his true identity.

His date with Miss Franklin was a failure, but his interests soon turn to Amelie herself. But she's surrounded by doubters--including Detective Baker--who feel that here is a man with many, many secrets. Perhaps deadly secrets. As she grows closer to Mr. Radcliffe, she's also growing closer to Detective Baker. Soon she'll have to decide whom she trusts...

My thoughts: I really enjoyed this one! It's a blend of history, mystery, and romance. It's a straight forward story. There aren't many twists and turns; few--if any--red herrings. At least in terms of WHO is guilty of murder. There are a few surprises not related to the identity of the murderer.

I think what I enjoyed most about this one was that while the heroine was strong and feisty, she wasn't obnoxiously, over-the-top, intentionally stupid sort of strong and feisty. There were always reasons for the whys and hows of her dangerous situations. Her decisions lined up with her inner motivations and character. I did yell at her in a few places NO, DON'T DO IT. I suppose everything is relative. I've read so many books with heroines that annoy me to no end because they seem to go to all extremes to put themselves in danger. They seem incapable of making a logical, rational, common sense decision. They exist for the sole purpose of being saved by others. Amelie wasn't like that.

I also appreciated the unfolding of the romance.

This book really tugged at my heartstrings and each page left me aching for more. i am excited to have found a new author and will be keeping my eye out for more great books from her.

Thank you NetGalley for sending this arc for an honest review!

If your looking for the perfect mystery romance than you came exactly to the right place. Watching the romance unfold between the two characters of evrey typical female and a detective was so enticing and had me even wanting to solve the mystery more. The suspense between the two charcaters was just utterly perfect seeing that they had to solve a crime pushed them to limits that set them on fire.

Watching the two characters fall for each other was such a drag and a joy. They were well written and the story felt just like poetry.

I really had fun reading this book.
A matchmaker and a detective team up to solve murder.
I can’t wait for more in this series!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an arc in exchange for my honest review.

A Victorian murder mystery! This is the first book that I have read by this author and it completely captivated me. I felt immersed in the time period and loved following the intriguing investigation into a man who seemed like a grieving widower simply searching for a new love to heal his broken heart.

Right from the beginning, it was clear that Detective Michael Baker felt that Mr. Radcliffe may have been involved in his wife’s demise. It was interesting to watch as he, with the help of Amelie Hampton, began an undercover operation to find anything that could indicate that Mr. Radcliffe was guilty.

Amelie began the story as a smart career woman, yet she was definitely still very innocent in the way she viewed men. She saw only the outward appearance and the veneer that Mr. Radcliffe wore. It was satisfying to see her eyes begin to open to things that did not add up.

There was a light and gentle romance that grew throughout the pages between Michael and Amelie. It was just the right amount of romance for the story to provide a solid connection between the two and heighten the emotion and danger they found themselves in. I enjoyed this novel from start to finish.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Victorian; murder mystery; romance; Nancy Campbell Allen! Yes please!! I loved her Victorian steampunk series and based on this book I'm going to love this new series too. I've loved mysteries since I was a preteen and discovered Nancy Drew.

Amelie works for her Aunt Sally who runs The Marriage Gazette, giving advice on romance. Although single, she's successfully matched several couples. She sets up a young lady with a gentleman and spies on them from a distance to see how they're getting along. This leads to a fun run-in with Detective Michael Baker, who's also watching the couple but for completely different reasons. Detective Baker suspects the gentleman of killing his wife! It turns out the gentleman, a Mr. Harold Radcliffe, is a member of the book club Amelie attends, and a fairly recent widower. Amelie doesn't believe Mr. Radcliffe killed his wife and sets out to prove it to Detective Baker.

I loved this book. I love the Victorian era as women could have jobs other than housekeepers, maids and seamstresses; they could even have their own businesses. Amelie is spunky and doesn't always think things through before acting. I loved how close she is with her cousins she lives with in the boardinghouse. I liked Detective Baker and how he cared about his sister and her family since the death of her husband, his former partner who was killed in the line of duty. I liked the side characters who were just sketchy enough to make me wonder what they were up to, and if they were guilty.

This story had me pulled in from the beginning and kept my interest the entire time. I thoroughly enjoyed Amelie and Michael's story and can't wait to read more about Amelie's cousins, Charlotte and Evangeline. I love when I have books in a series to look forward to. I also listened to the audiobook on Deseret Bookshelf and thought the narrator was wonderful.

I received a complimentary digital copy from the publisher, Shadow Mountain, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

Normally, when I rate books like this one, a cozy historical mystery, I rely heavily on the lead protagonist's plotline to direct my rating. If I did that in case, I would have to deduct a star. The lead protagonist was extremely annoying, to begin with. Her entourage of cousins was better equipped to be the leading cast of this story than Amelie was. Amelie, a confused working woman when respectable work for women was few and far between, fancies herself a matchmaker/romantic and jumps in with both feet every time she thinks she knows what is happening. Even her naive infatuation was irritating, the way it simmered for too long a time. She should have been able to see the signs she herself was investigating!
There is no secret of the villain of this piece. What unfolds during the narrative is the antics he gets up to and how (and if) the evidence can be gathered against him. Amelie does partially redeem herself with the dedicated work she puts in to gather clues and find relevant information. The story was easy to read; the male lead Michael was a much more intriguing character to hear the thoughts of.
Overall, despite my reaction to this story, I liked the author's writing and the way the story was narrated. There was some pretty enjoyable dialogues/banter amongst everyone present. I would pick up another book by the author if I get the chance.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

From the beginning of this story, sparks fly between Amelie and Michael. Though at first, the sparks at not the romantic kind. More like sparks cause by friction. Their first meeting, in the rain, while they are both spying on the same person, leads to less than ideal first impressions. But they agree to work together even if their goals do not align. While Amelie wants to prove Mr. Radcliffe is a good person, Michael feels he may be a murderer.

What follows is a story of discovery of personalities. While they both figure out who Mr. Radcliffe is, they also get to know each other. The romance is slow and comfortable.

Amelie, the heroine, is very young and a little naïve. So, not my favorite type of heroine. But she is a fast learner, so as the story progresses, she becomes more interesting.

The author used admirable restraint with Michael. She could easily have made the hero either more charming or more antagonistic. But the low key detective makes a great hero as a man of honor, intelligence and grace.

All through the story, the reader pretty much knows who the bad guy is. What keeps the reader interested is watching Michael and Amelie prove the guilt of someone who seems to be a just grieving widower. Mystery is woven into the story since you never know where the bad guy will strike next.

The Victorian England setting is light on historical details, so the mystery is the focus of the story. For avid readers, there is a book club in the story. The meeting and its members add interest and provide a little humor.

The Matchmaker’s Lonely Heart is perfect for readers of historical fiction who like a little romance with their mysteries. Thanks to the publisher who provided a copy through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

The Matchmaker’s Lonely Heart by @authornancycampbellallen was such a fantastic read! I loved the banter and characters development between Amelie and Michael. The mystery storyline captured my attention, and the sweet touch of romance mixed in was perfect too. It totally reminded me of the PBS Masterpiece show, Miss Scarlet & The Duke, which I also loved. If you haven’t read The Matchmaker’s Lonely Heart I totally recommend it! I’ve really liked all of Allen’s books but I actually think this one might be my favorite!

Amelie, the heroine, is a young orphan who wishes to become independent like the aunt who took her in. It seems the aunt comes from a wealthy family as it’s said the suspect is after her money. Amelie writes an advice column for young women in the magazine held by her aunt, and lives in a building owned by her aunt with two of her cousins, who also lost their parents (that’s a lot of orphans in this family…). I found her naïve and full of illusions about life and people, she also tends to talk a lot when she’s comfortable, and she can act without much thought, thus putting herself several time in danger to the hero’s (and the reader’s) great displeasure.

Michael in a Scotland Yard’s detective who’s emotionally closed off after the death of his partner and brother in law, and he has decided to never marry. Of course his meeting with the heroine will change his point of view, once the bewilderment and the annoyance she inspires him fade out. I must point out the enormous patience he shows toward the heroine lol. I liked that the author shows his strong link with his sister and brother, the latter probably having Down’s syndrome.

Between our main characters the feelings are slow to come, because at first Amelie is attracted by the suspect and needs time to change her mind, and Michael thinks she’s more an endearing strangeness. However we see their relationship evolve, and I finally found their couple cute.

As for the secondary characters, the one we see the most are the heroine’s cousins, who live in the same building and work with her at their aunt’s magazine. Each has a different personality highlighted in turns, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the author writes their stories in the future.

The plot is about the investigation on a woman’s death. Michael and his new partner have doubt it’s really an accident but they cannot find enough evidences to blame the husband. When the latter seems set on Amelie several months later, she convinces Michael that accepting his courting will allow them to learn the truth, even if she does it hoping to prove the innocence of the man she finds so beautiful and distinguished. Michael accepts reluctantly, amused by the fact what the heroine’s knows about investigation comes from the mystery novels she reads, but in fact the cousins will prove to be a precious help. The investigation is not really grabbing, we’re far for a Victorian thriller, but it’s a good excuse to force the protagonists together until the beginning of the feelings.

Besides this, the author talks about some subjects without deepening them, especially women’s position in life and search for independence, or how others see people with mental disabilities and the consequences. It’s too bad because those are interesting subjects but they’re just mentioned in passing. The other point that disturbed me was the autopsy: I’m not sure it was done as systematically at this time, or if they were able to see the differences between a drowning in a river and one in a bath, especially several months after the death.

However I had a good reading time with this book and I liked the couple’s story. I think I’ll follow the author to see if she really writes the cousins’ books.

Nancy Allen Campbell is so great at penning creative, intriguing stories. Amelie has the privilege of writing for a matchmaking column, highly unusual during the Victoria Era, but also a detail that adds to the story’s charm. Detective Baker is just the sort of man to capture her heart and send sparks flying. The romance was compelling and clean. The story was well paced and held my attention. The writing is evidence of true talent and the ability to transport the reader into the story. I enjoyed the plot twists and supporting characters almost as much as the main characters. I am looking forward to more in this series. I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own, freely given.

London 1885.

Amelie is a hopeless romantic. Detective Michael Baker has vowed never to marry.

When the body of a woman is pulled from the Thames, Michael and Amelie’s paths cross but can romance bloom in the middle of a murder investigation?

Romance and mystery… perfect!

Amelie is a lovely character with the matchmaking interest of Emma Woodhouse, the sweetness of Jane Bennett and the sass of Lizzie Bennett and I loved her. She’s a strong character but at the same time, and like a lot of us, she wants to fall in love and this makes her a little naive when it comes to her own love life. Love can blind you.

Michael is a wonderfully flawed hero. He’s dealing with grief and loss and without realising it, it’s made him lonely and I believe this makes him very relatable. He certainly doesn’t count on meeting Amelie.

The supporting characters are great. Harold – well, I will let you read for yourself. Did he or didn’t he?

It is not easy to combine romance and a murder mystery. However, Nancy Campbell Allen does this effortlessly.

I loved the setting and could really see myself in Victorian London. The atmosphere that is created is so vivid.

There is not a lot more I can say without giving too much away and you know I don’t like doing that.

The Matchmaker’s Lonely Heart combines the puzzles and mystery of Sherlock Holmes with the whimsical and romantic feeling of Austen.

It’s a lush, wonderful escape from the world and I couldn’t put it down. I loved it.

Nancy Campbell Allen is a very versatile writer. This book is set in the Victorian Era. I have read books she has written that are steampunk, Historical (Civil War), Regency, and time travel. She excels at all of the genres.

This book is more of a murder mystery. Amelie Hampton and Michael Baker are on the case to solve the murder of Mrs. Radcliffe. The main suspect is her husband, who has also set his cap for Amelie. Can Amelie prove that Mr. Radcliffe is not the murderer or will Michael prove that he is?

The best part of the story is what happens between the beginning and the end! (I know, that is a very broad statement.) This story is character and mystery-driven. I loved getting to know the main characters. There are a few amazing secondary characters that I would love to read more about in future books. (Hint, hint) Amelie wants to prove that she can be an independent woman while Michael does not see a family in his future because of the precarious nature of his career.

Romance is a part of the book, but it is not the primary emphasis. I enjoyed the investigative process and how everything comes together.

Source: I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

The Matchmaker's Lonely Heart by Nancy Campbell Allen

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
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Story Notes

A delightful mystery story with plenty of good plot, excellent characters and lots of potential for future stories.

This was my first book by Nancy but it will be no means be my last. My book club chose this as our monthly read and I had a wonderful time reading it. The first pages of the story draw you in and don't let you go until you finish the last page. Amelie was a fabulous character who's determination to solve a mystery was checked only by Detective Michael Baker, an excellent character foil for her. The two of them had the best conversations and I laughed at the way they tried to circumvent each other as they worked to figure things out. Their journey to love was also good but I did wish there had been a little more about that before they really got together. That seemed a bit of a stretch based on the rest of the story. But the story definitely redeemed itself with the ending, which was just perfect. Everything worked out well but there were also some loose ends mentioned that I'm positive will be worked out in the subsequent stories. You'll certainly want to add this one to your TBR so you can enjoy a witty and complex story that will leave you hoping the next book is out soon.

I received this temporary complimentary E-book from Shadow Mountain Publishing via NetGalley. I am not required by anyone to write a positive review but am pleased to do so. I will receive no fiscal compensation for this review and the opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.

This was a stunning story of romance, mystery, and intrigue. The writing style was engaging and very atmospheric of Victorian London. I must seek more of this author’s work.
Many thanks to Shadow Mountain Publishing and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I wasn't sure I would like this book, as it seemed more of a romance than a mystery (my preferred genre). But, because I like historical novels, I decided to give it a chance. I'm glad I did! Both the mystery and romance aspects are enough to satisfy fans of both genres, but are nicely balance. One does not overwhelm the other. The mystery, while not overly complex, is intriguing enough to draw readers in. The characters, especially the young females, are well drawn, incorporating the changing roles of women in society into the characters of these very modern misses. Amelie and her cousins represent well the young working women of 1885. I went from being unsure of the book to hoping for a sequel!