This is a book that I'm going to issue a warning with. It's a warning that I've issued before with several other books, but it stands very true for this well as well... Don't read this book unless you have carved out time in your schedule to read it from cover to cover. You will not want to set it down. I'm not kidding here people! 100% serious. I couldn't put it down. Ok, well I did once or twice, but only for a couple minutes each time. Haha! It is really that good!

Nancy Campbell Allen is an author that I can't wait for her to announce new book releases! I've been eyeing this one since I first learned that it was going to be released and was so excited when I was finally able to clear my schedule and read it. See there, I knew I was going to need a day and I planned accordingly!

I loved this Victorian era novel. And can I just say, that cover, GORGEOUS!!!! It's just so creative. The newspaper ads and the coloring. All of it is just so eye catching for me. The cover designer did a fabulous job!

The characters were delightful as well. Especially Amelie, our intrepid report (well kind of), and our charmingly delightful (well kind of) Police detective Michael Baker. Hee hee! You'll have to read it to understand my little asides there. But in all seriousness, these two were truly fabulous characters. Well developed, and fabulous dialogue between them. I loved it all.

We have our devious characters as well. The ones we're not quite sure about. Are they good or not? And the sweet and lighthearted characters who add humor and comic relief. The timing of it all throughout the book was well written and delivered. I found myself holding my breath a couple times during some of the suspenseful moments. And then releasing that breath in relief and happiness that everything was working out as I had hoped.

Amelie is trying to find her place. She's a lovely character and just needs some wins in her corner. She has such a great support group that tag along with her escapades. Especially when she becomes "deputized." Hahahaha!!! Oh how I adore this book and these characters. I know I keep saying that, but it's true. Especially when I start to think about certain scenes or conversations. You're in for a real treat! This reminded me of a fun show I watched, Miss Scarlett and the Duke. Have you watched it yet? You should if you're a mystery/suspense/crime fighting fan. And DEFINITELY read this book!

Content: Clean. This is a mystery and suspense, so there are moments of mild peril as well as death and murder. But it is all done tastefully and not overly graphic. Some kisses but nothing further.

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

Happy Reading!!!

The Victorian era is so fascinating to me and when combined with a murder-mystery, why, what could be better?

The characters fit together so well and were a quirky mix of fun. I loved how each chapters began with a piece of advice. Amelie works for her aunt's newspaper and her role is intriguing, especially for her time. When she lands herself in the middle of Michael's murder investigation, the fun really begins and I couldn't get enough of their interactions and the trouble that ensued.

Allen is a talented writer in bringing together many threads of a somewhat simple, yet simultaneously complicated plot, and weaving together an entertaining story. The slow start quickly gave way to a delightful tale with a good pacing. I was wondering at the outcome all along. The characters were wonderful and I hope they each get a story of their own.

This book was very enjoyable and I'm hoping it's the start of a new series!

Content: mild violence/death; mild romance

*I received a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*

This is my first book by Ms. Allen and I do not think it will be my last. I really enjoyed the mystery, the little romance, and the characters. I also hope we get more books featuring the cousins.


Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book for an honest review.

All the best things about mystery and romance combine in this book. It took me a minute to get to it, but it was worth the wait!

Thank you NetGalley, author Nancy Campbell Allen, and Shadow Mountain publishing for giving me a free arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
5 stars
If you are looking for a story that has two strong sharp minded characters matching wits as they solve not just mysteries, but the mystery of their budding attraction to each other, then look no further than this book.
The Victorian setting for this story was so fun. It starts right at the time woman were just gaining their independence. This definitely qualifies as a Grumpy/Sunshine historical romantic suspense story. I feel completely in love with the main characters from their first meeting to the very satisfying HEA ending. I loved how both characters were so well matched not just in looks and chemistry, but also in brains and drive to solve the mystery! This book was not overly steamy, which was in step with the setting! The villain was very well developed and kept me guessing throughout most of the story due to the fact he was dashing and well spoken. The writing and the pacing held my interest until the very end. This was my first book by this author and it will not be my last! I would highly recommend this book to those who are looking to read a strong female sleuth romantic suspense with a dashing male lead.

Nancy Campbell Allen tells a daring story of love, life, and murder in her newest novel. The Matchmaker’s Lonely Heart contains strong female characters that make you fall in love with them. Plus, there is danger and intrigue around every corner. What’s not to love?

Amelie Hampton is a woman of independent means living in London. She works as a columnist at her aunt’s newspaper, The Marriage Gazette. Amelie always knew what she wanted in a husband and had lofty, romantic ideals. Ideals that Amelie freely shared with her readers. She knew that love would hit her one day like a lightning bolt. But when a certain detective runs her aground in the park, Amelie feels nothing but ire. However, Detective Baker needs her help with an investigation. Not long after, Amelie begins to doubt her thoughts on the subject of love.

Amelie, Charlotte, Eva, and Sally are a quartet of the strongest females I’ve come across in quite some time. Usually, there is one bold woman in a novel. But these women take independence to new heights. I loved each of them desperately. Each woman wants a different life apart from the Gazette. All three fear the fallout from their chosen professions. They are about to make waves in male-dominated fields, but none of them are looking for glory. They only want to do what makes them happy.

Then we have Harold Radcliffe and Detective Michael Baker. Harold is a handsome charmer, and Michael is a down-to-earth regular guy. Both have interesting pasts, but one is horrendous and the other tragic. My loathing of Harold started from the beginning. He was a royal jerk, but the detective had my heart early on. Michael is a bit gruff, but he’s a big teddy bear inside, and he has met his match in Amelie. Their story made me laugh and cry with joy.

Alexander is a complete delight. He isn’t a prominent character, but I loved him so much. I wanted to ruffle his hair and hug him. Clarissa and Mae are also adorable. This family is the one I want to belong to. They are sweet, and I felt right at home in their quaint abode.

I award The Matchmaker’s Lonely Heart a full 5 out of 5 stars. There wasn’t a single thing I didn’t like about this novel. The writing is clear and easy to read, which is not always the case in historical London, at least for this American. This story will stick with me for quite some time. I recommend this book to all my historical romance fans. The mystery mixed with romance will leave you breathless.

This book had some good things going for it.
It was such an original tale, with a woman with being a matchmaker as her profession and a detective who goes undercover to solve a crime without his superior's permission.
I liked that Amelie was strong female character. And how Michael's heart softened during the book.
I also liked Amelie's cousins and the possibility of future stories from them.

But it really moved too slow for me. And then all of a sudden, the romance turned into love.
The last part the book moved fast and was fun to read.
But the book was not a favorite for me.

Thank you to Net Galley for allowing me to read this book. The opinions are entirely my own.

…she lost all desire for any further conversation
.
.
𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬: Amelie Hampton is a hopeless romantic, which makes her the perfect columnist to answer lonely heart letters in The Marriage Gazette. When Amelie plays matchmaker with two anonymous lonely hearts, she also decides to secretly observe the couple’s blind date. To her surprise, the man who appears for the rendezvous is Harold Radcliffe—a grieving widower and a member of Amelie’s book club. Police detective Michael Baker has been struggling ever since his best friend and brother-in-law died in the line of fire. Because he knows the dangers of his job, he has vowed never to marry a wife and family to the uncertainty of his profession. But when he meets Miss Hampton, he is captured by her. The more time Amelie and Michael spend together, the more they trust each other, and the more they realize they are a good team, maybe the perfect match.
.
.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐝: Amelie Hampton & Michael Baker’s story starts off a little messy (pun intended). I absolutely loved that they went from strangers, to a team, and now a perfect match. I definitely NEEDED more romantic/steamy moments! Definitely a page turner!

Overall, I enjoyed this novel. Grateful to the publisher for the arc. All opinions are my own.

I enjoyed getting to know the characters especially Michael but found Amelie to be a bit overly naive. Michael is a great protagonist and it was fun to get inside his head. His perspective and morals were intriguing to understand. And I loved his slow burning realizations that he has fallen in love with Amelie. However, Amelie was less likable for me. It's not an issue with her hopeless romanticism or innocence at the start of the novel. It's more that I didn't feel like she changes much during the story. She stays naive and frustratingly stubborn about going at it alone and trying to solve the mystery by herself. She doesn't listen to the wise advice of others and insists on doing what she wants. I admire her determination to solve the case and to be helpful. But a bit more self preservation would have been helpful. That being said, there is a well developed cast of characters surrounding the love interests and I would love to read more about Amelie's cousins and even get a backstory on her Aunt and Michael's detective partner.

I really enjoyed the romance between Michael and Amelie. It is a lovely, slow burning romance that develops with every page of the book. I enjoy the classic shift from begrudging colleagues to falling in love. They begin their relationship with very different opinions about each other and about love. And their feelings for each other sneak up on them in delightful ways. I absolutely love their first kiss and how intensely their feelings become in the heat of the the investigation. Michael is a fantastic hero and certain a man with high standards and deep rooted kindness. I love how her relationship with Michael changes everything Amelie thought she knew about love. I loved their happy ending.

Spoilers Ahead in this paragraph! The plot is fast paced and action driven. From the first pages, we are thrown into a murder investigation where everything does not add up quite right. Mr Radcliffe's shifty behavior is intriguing and I was nearly instantly invested in the story. It was very easy to get hooked by all the action and to read just one more chapter to see what happens next. The plot twists and turns throughout the novel. But I found the ending a bit underwhelming in it's reveal of the murderer. We are led right to the murderer from the first page of the book. I would have liked more nuance or surprise about that discovery. Perhaps an alternate suspect at the least. Additionally, I was surprised by how violent this book is. There are some rather graphic descriptions of murder victims, several descriptions of autopsies, and an extremely violent scene involving our heroine at the end (so violent that it was a bit far fetched that a happily ever after could occur!). I was a bit overwhelmed by that violence. Usually books in this collection are not quite that violent, and I wouldn't want my teenage kids reading this one without some discussion of the violence beforehand.

I enjoyed the Victorian setting but sometimes felt that the action didn't entirely fit the time period. Lately, I have been on a bit of a Victorian Era London kick so I was excited about this time period. Sometimes, the descriptions were quite lovely and I enjoyed the details. But at other moments, I felt that Allen left the Victorian Era completely. I was reminded of Thoroughly Modern Millie (which I love!) a lot while I read this book. Amelie's desire to be an "woman of independent means" was so reminiscent of Millie's opinions. Sometimes the conversation felt rather modern as well. While I understand that the Victorian Era was a time of changing ideas and opinions, there were moments when the book felt too modern and that was a disappointment. 

Overall, I enjoyed The Matchmaker's Lonely Heart. The love story is beautifully written. Many of the characters are well developed and I was easily caught in all the action. But this wasn't a stand out novel for me. The violence, main protagonist and sometimes Victorian setting were not as well done as I had hoped. Still, a fast paced and fun mystery/love story.

This book is giving me a serious craving for more Victorian romance novels!

I thorough enjoyed reading this book. I hope the author will be writing more books in the future because there are some delightful side characters that I think deserve their own stories!



I was provided with an eARC of this title by the publisher through Netgalley. This is my honest review.

This is the first book I’ve read by Nancy Campbell Allen, and it won’t be the last! I greatly enjoyed The Matchmaker’s Lonely Heart, and I hope we get stories about Amelie’s cousins—and perhaps the other detectives as well. Though parts of the book were a bit slow, the last quarter is fantastic. I’m currently taking a class focused on detective fiction, so it was cool to see elements of classic detective literature plus Allen’s own talent for writing great romance and intrigue. I definitely recommend adding this book to your TBR! 4/5 stars

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

4.5 stars for this charming historical suspense with a dash of romance!

There is literally nothing bad to say about this book. If you like historical mysteries mixed with a little romance, give this one a try. The two main characters are wonderful, the female friendships are perfect, and the romance is super sweet. Can’t wait to read more by this author.

Thank you to Netgalley and Shadow Mountain publishing for an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book is a perfect combination of Romance and Murder Mystery! Definitely great for our cozy mystery readers as well as our avid romance readers.

I loved the entertaining conversations between Amelie and Michael. Nancy wrote the push and pull of their opposites attract romance so incredibly well. I was entertained every moment they were on the page together, and now I need to start collecting hatpins.

The who-done-it part of the mystery wasn’t necessarily mysterious, but the plot kept me guessing and the motives where ambiguous right up until the end, which was fascinating. I loved how she played with the ideology of nature vs nurture.

Nancy had delightfully humorous moments to brake up the suspense. This was definitely my kind of suspense novel, she did a great job of keeping us smiling and on the edge of our seat. She also added a depth to her characters through their shared past and family experiences that I loved.

Have you ever gone on a blind date?

Amelie is an independent woman in Victorian England working for her Aunt at the Marriage Gazette. She decides to match together two lonely heart letters at the Gazette. She knows she is not supposed to, but she spies on the date to see how it is going. She is surprised to see Mr. Radcliffe is one of the people meeting. He is a member of her book club and a recent widower. She has developed a tendre for him. She runs into Michael Baker who is trailing Mr. Radcliffe. He believes that Mr. Radcliffe’s first wife did not die by accident and is determined to figure out what happened. What happened to Mr. Radcliffe’s wife? Will Amelie find her own happy ending?

I greatly enjoyed this novel. I loved the witty banter between Detective Baker and Amelie. I also enjoyed the other characters such as Amelie’s cousins Charlotte and Eva. I hope they get their own novels. The Victorian setting was perfect. This story had it all, romance, mystery, suspense and adventure. It does take a dark turn, but I really enjoyed the ending.

I loved the quotes at the start of each chapter from different publications. They not only set a great backdrop to the times, but they made me chuckle sometimes when the characters acted in direct opposition of the quotes.

Favorite Quote:
“I do not know that absence of emotion holds any sway in a debate on human evolution. I should think Darwin’s observations prove the opposite, in fact. The more man evolves, the higher his plane of morality, the greater this depth of compassion, wouldn’t you say?”

Overall, The Matchmaker’s Lonely Heart is an entertaining Victorian romance and mystery.

Amelie Hampton, our delightful heroine, is convinced by her romantic nature that Harold Radcliffe, a member of her reading group and recently widowed, is the ideal partner: good looking, wealthy, in a prestigious profession and a gentleman. She believes his grief at the loss of his wife is genuine and is therefore surprised when her curiosity reveals him to be the anonymous person she has matched with another from letters sent to 'The Marriage Gazette'.

Detective Michael Baker is determined to prove Harold Radcliffe is responsible for his wife's death and has continued the investigation despite it officially being closed. His surveillance of Radcliffe brings him into contact with Amelie, who agrees to help if only to prove Radcliffe innocent. She soon becomes far too involved with the case and Harold Radcliffe than Michael likes, but he finds that she is an asset, being astute and trustworthy, but also exasperating at times.

Amelie cannot help but compare Harold Radcliffe and Michael. She finds the detective lacking in certain gentlemanly attributes and is discouraged by his sternness. As they spend more time together, her initial opinion of him changes and she warms to his strength, kindness and humour. Although not entirely certain, she believes her feelings are reciprocated until Michael makes a declaration that could end their budding romance.

Don't let the title mislead you into thinking this novel is a run-of-the-mill romance. While it does adhere to certain tropes found in romance novels, the way they are presented here take this one to another level.

Amelie is a delightful heroine. She is not combative or overly reckless as smart and independent women are often portrayed. Although she does make some unwise decisions, she realises her mistakes and does her best to honour the promises made to her family and Michael not to place herself in danger.

With Radcliffe being identified as the murderer from the start, it is easy to assume that this story would be lacking in suspense, but there are plenty of twists and turns before the dramatic conclusion is reached.

The Matchmaker's Lonely Heart is a great read for historical romance and historical mystery fans.

I started reading this book without knowing much about it, and quickly realized it was different from most Victorian proper romances. After only a few pages, the story turns into a murder mystery and becomes both a cozy mystery and a clean romance with a satisfying ending.

Amelie Hampton lives with her aunt Sally and cousins Charlotte and Evangeline. She is a writer for The Marriage Gazette, her aunt Sally’s successful publication. Amelie wants to find love for herself and is flattered when Harold Radcliffe, an attractive young widower, begins pursuing a relationship with her. Detective Michael Baker crosses Amelie’s path while investigating if Mr. Radcliffe was involved in the suspicious death of his wife. Amelie helps Detective Baker with his investigation in an effort to prove Mr. Radcliffe’s innocence.

This book is well written and kept me hooked to the end. Thanks to Shadow Mountain Publishing for an ARC to use for my review.

I love this book by Nancy Campbell Allen! I loved how she expertly wove together romance and suspense. I love how it was a romance but also a mystery. I loved the characters and I hope she will write more books with these lovely characters. I loved how the main characters learned what true love was as they went through their investigation. I loved seeing the characters grow and I felt like they were friends by the time I was finished reading. I highly recommend this book to anyone.

I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, and or authors.  A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.

This was not what I expected. It's a murder mystery that's up there with the rest. Told with a great sense of humor. It is a bit of a page turner. We take working women for granted these days. In this time it was not common at all, and was socially frowned upon by the upper class. Great story, well told and engaging.

I received this book free from the publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
#TheMatchmakersLonelyHeart #NetGalley.

This book was a bit of a slow start, especially since the heroine was not at all likeable at first. Once things really got going, her character was better, but still not my favorite in the book.

To me this book was more of a mystery with some romance included, rather than a traditional romance. Not a bad thing, and I think it worked in this case. The story was interesting, and I really enjoyed the side characters - I am hoping there will be more books so we can see them again.

Overall, I think it's a good story, and I would recommend it to both mystery and romance readers.