3/5. Releases 1/23/2024.

Vibes: plucky meets growly, "Miss Scarlet and The Duke", mystery, and Grace Callaway but make it tamer

Scrappy widow Emily Loverton is recruited into a spy network of governesses who make it their mission to collect secrets about the ton's elite. However, she runs into a snag when she catches the attention of the wealth and self-made Zach... just as he's on the hunt for a killer.

So. This did genuinely remind me of Grace Callaway (albeit with a lot less heat, though this is sexy and open door) which is always a good thing. The heroine is sassy and fun, the hero is like "oh my God woman will you just sit STILL" which is also enjoyable. But, and I hate to say this because I really dislike when people nitpick over this... it does have a very modern feel. To the point that even for me, it was a little much. And it really isn't so much Emily's job, or the vigilante stuff, and it obviously wasn't the sex. It was something in the writing style.

Which is why I think this will totally appeal to a ton of people. It just didn't quite work for me.

Quick Takes:

--Emily and Zach do have a really fun little interplay this is very romcom-y, and that's good because there is actually some pretty dark content here. Aside from the, you know, murders, Emily has a bit of a tragic backstory, and a really shitty past with her late husband. There's a bit of "relearning to love" in all of that, as well as a solid amount of "teaching her that sex can be healthy and fun", which I always like. I feel that Lovise treated the abuse with a gentle hand, but if that does trigger you, be on the lookout.

--I really appreciated that Emily and Zach aren't aristos. It's actually kind of rare to find a historical in which neither one of the leads is a true blueblood. It added to a sense of like.. understanding between them. And it made Zach hotter, for the record.

--What I really couldn't get into, like I said before, was the true modernity of the dialogue and writing. At points, it really felt like I was reading about a pair of twenty-first century leads, and I truly, REALLY hate to say that because it is one of my least favorite, often inaccurate critiques of historical romance novels.

But Emily and Zach do go back and forth with some pretty "today" verbiage. There are descriptions that just feels so incredibly... now. I don't want to give away too much, but there was a moment when the term "butt cheeks" was used... And look dude. I'm not a historian. For all I know, that was used at some point in the nineteenth century. Never say never. However, that took me out of the entire scene, (and I'll be honest--I don't super love that phrasing in contemporaries either because it does feel pretty immature to me, but that's a taste thing) and I couldn't really stop thinking about it for the rest of the book.

I actually don't know how much I blame the author for that, though? To me, it kind of read like she was trying her best to write a good historical romance with some mystery (and in a lot of ways she succeeded) but perhaps was not... enmeshed in the subgenre? Which is okay! I don't think you need to be an expert on the history of historical romance to write a solid historical. But I do kind of have questions, and at the end of the day that issue really could've been handled by an editor that was like "let's make this sound a little more antique". Easy fixes, honestly, but noticeable to the reader.

--All this being said, if you enjoy a fun, fast-paced (because it is very fast-paced) romance with some mystery, this could definitely work for you. I can see MacLean fans who want something a little less mired in the historical enjoying this. I can see people who like Grace Callaway but want something lower heat enjoying this.

The Sex:

That said, while this isn't high heat, I wouldn't call it low heat either. There are some good sex scenes (aside from that one word choice). I really enjoyed reading Emily learning about oral sex. To me, there's a real guilty pleasure to a "widow knows some sex but not good sex" book, and this did that well.

While it wasn't for me, I don't want to suggest that Never Blow a Kiss was bad. With a few tweaks, I think it could be a lot stronger. That said, there is an audience for this, and I'm sure they'll get a kick out of it.

Thanks to Netgalley and Forever for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Absolutely stunning debut!

4.5 Stars!!

This book has everything I’ve been loving about historical romance! Working class main characters, a mystery, secrets, and so much more! The author did a fantastic job balancing everything that occurred in the book and tying it all together.

Zach and Emily have excellent chemistry, their banter is top notch, and the way that Zach absolutely falls over himself for her is just *chefs kiss*. And don’t even get me started on the nick name he gives her. *swoon*

I absolutely cannot wait to read the next book in this series (and more from the author)!

This is the best book I have read in a very long time. It was a little slow in the first chapter, but once you get past that, the action is quickly put into motion. There is a serial killer on the loose, and the two main characters are in the thick of it.
Emily is part of a governess spy system run by a woman called The Dove. She is training, and placing women such as Emily in specific aristocratic families to let her know if they hear or see anything suspicious. Emily grew up surrounded by criminals, and became one of them. Her mother sold her into marriage to a criminal, who is now assumed dead. He was on his way to Australia to con people in Australia, but the ship sank..
Zach, a former soldier, rich beyond measure due to good investments, is a police investigator in charge of finding the "Evangelist," who is murdering prostitutes.
Both are involved in the investigation, but Emily doesn't realize it. She doesn't let Zach know what she is doing.
This is almost a slow burn even though they share a kiss quite early in the story. Emily is very hesitant to do anything because of her past, plus she has what she keeps referring to as her "Big Secret." While there is great attraction, it takes a little while into the book before they act upon it. However, once they do admit feelings for one another, it becomes very intense. It adds to the story because their relationship is in the midst of the investigation. They didn't always take each other so seriously. The notes they sent each other were funny...not amusing, but really funny. No details because I don't want to spoil the fun in them.
I refuse to give any spoilers because there is no way to describe it without revealing important details. This reminds me of an Agatha Christie novel. Everyone has a role in the story, both minor and major. Even what seems like an innocuous dance with a random aristocrat becomes not so innocuous.
I was completely enthralled throughout the story, and felt a part of it. At one point, I startled someone near me when I got excited and yelled to them when I thought I figured out something, but found out I didn't. I was both disappointed but excited at the same time. It only meant there was more to solve.
There was a lot of humor, a lot of action, and a lot of jaw dropping.
The intimate scenes were graphic, but tastefully written.
I really loved the story, and was surprised when I realized who the main character of the novel really is. No, that's not a spoiler.
This is the first in the series, and the next governess has been introduced in this story. She seemed innocuous too.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Emily Leverton, Has so many secrets she wants kept hidden.

The Dove owner of Perdita’s Governess Agency, governess spies,

Zachariah Denholm, Detective Constable, wealthy playboy with a policing hobby,

OMG I have found a new author that has that special talent of making qwerky so fun. She had blended strong characters that come from humble origins into people you would want in your corner. The mystery, suspense, intrigue melding with romcom is so awesome you can see yourself as one of the characters. She does not give subtle hints of who the bad person is, she makes you wait for the surprise reveal. And boy was I shocked!

Emily just wants a quiet life with the security of a roof over her head and something to eat. She is hiding from her past.

Zach is the son of a poor butcher that enlisted in the military and made Colonel and then used the money to buy stocks in the railroad which made him one of the riches men in London. As a hobby he helps the metropolitan police solve crimes.

A string of vicious murders are being committed and it is baffling the police. Can you help solve the mystery while keeping secrets? Then this is for you!

I am not normally a big fan of historical romance, but this book pulled me in right from the start. Emily is pretending to be a governess, faking her way through when she finds a note that changes her life. “The Dove”, is part of a secret society of governesses and she promises to help Emily if she will agree to be part of her network of governess spies. While Emily is doing her work for the Dove, she meets Zach, a self made rich man and a policeman. Zach is tasked with trying to identify and stop a serial killer. As the chemistry between Zach and Emily heats up, so does the case. This was a fast paced, exciting story, with a great romance. I loved everything about this story, and am so excited that this is the start of a series! I cannot wait to read the next book! I received an ARC, and this is my honest review.

I thought this one was a lot of fun! I loved Emily from the moment we met her, and I loved how she went about her Governess job. I also really like Zach, and how he was a self-made man, who still wanted to help the police solve a string of murders.

I liked both Zach and Emily together, they have great chemistry and I enjoyed their banter. I also found myself really invested in the case Zach was working on, and I loved everything that went along with the investigation. There is alot of intrigue and some great suspensful moments, along with the romance and smexy scenes. Im excited to see what next for this series!

Never Blow a Kiss was a fast paced and delightful romance novel. I enjoyed the mystery more than I thought I would. Emily is a fantastic main character and I really enjoyed the focus on her self-reliance. Her strength really shines through in the story and I’m glad she got an HEA with Zack!

Thank you #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Never Blow A Kiss is the story of a woman named Emily determined not to be bound by the rigid rules of society. In her adventures, she meets a railway magnate who is intrigued by how a supposed governess has come to know so many street skills. As Zach and Emily stumble into each other on the streets of London, they soon realize they have a similar goal- uncover who is responsible for the murders of multiple women. Zach and Emily must work together to survive the cutthroat society of the ton and identify the killer who lurks in shadows.

Never Blow A Kiss is a delightful romance with a compelling mystery at its heart. Lovise displays plenty of clever writing as she blends regency romance with a more modern heroine. Emily is a strong and heartfelt character, who will do whatever she needs to achieve her goals. While she’s had some rough life experiences, Emily never lets fear or convention stop her. Emily and Zach have good chemistry and truly understand each other based on similar life experiences. I really enjoyed their romance!

As far as the mystery, there was a good amount of suspense and red herrings about who the real killer was. I definitely appreciated the twists and final reveal! I liked the Secret Society aspect and hope to see more stories about other ladies from this book. Fans of Bridgerton, Sarah MacLean, and readers seeking regency romance with modern twists should check out Never Blow A Kiss.

Thank you to Lindsay Lovise, Forever, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For publisher: My review will be posted on Instagram, Goodreads, Amazon, Storygraph, and Barnes & Noble etc

Never Blow a Kiss is Lindsay Lovise’s debut novel. The story follows governess Emily Leverton (not her real name) as she tries to fake her way through her governess duties, glean information about the ton for the leader of a governess spy network (led by a mysterious woman known as The Dove), and hide her real identity. Emily also has a “Big Secret” (written in capitals and referenced often). Of course, we don’t learn what she’s hiding from her past, besides an odious husband presumed lost at sea, until near the end of the novel. Early in the novel, Emily meets a wealthy policeman, Zach, who’s investigating a serial killer roaming London. Sparks fly between him and Emily, complications occur, many characters are introduced, and duty is ignored in the name of love. This novel tried to do a lot. Some of it was more successful than others.

I wasn’t quite sure what to make of this novel. It had a bit of a rom-com feel but was also big on the mystery-crime-drama at its centre. My biggest qualm with this book was that the characters behaved like they were from the 21st century which is forgivable to a certain extent if done well. However, the writing was also very modern. There were turns of phrases and words that were so contemporary that they took me out of the historical setting of the novel. I can overlook a bit of this, but it was pervasive and hard to get past which diminished my overall reading enjoyment.

A very large part of the novel surrounds the mystery of the serial killer dubbed The Evangelist. I would’ve preferred more of a focus on the romance between Zach and Emily (it is in the historical romance category, after all) and because it was lacking, it was hard to believe in the relationship between them. We were told about their feelings, but we didn’t get to see the relationship build and develop through actions. Overall, though, the chemistry just wasn’t there for a fully believable romance despite the steamy elements. Zach’s sense of duty was impressive until he forgoes it completely to follow Emily out of London where the serial killer is still at large! The inconsistencies in his character grated and made it hard to believe in him fully. Emily’s character was more consistent and sympathetic; she had a difficult past and it was easy to feel sympathy for her situation. The side characters, and there are a lot of them, were fairly flat, especially the villains, of whom there were many.

I’m not a big fan of the mystery-historical romance mash-up, but if you are, you might enjoy this novel. It is written in a straightforward and simple style and is a quick, easy read. Give this a try if you like the book description, enjoy trying to figure out who the serial killer is (although you figure it out pretty quickly), and like a contemporary feel to your historicals. I don’t plan to read any further in this series.
I received an advanced reader copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.

\\\\\ 4.5 \\\\\

I thought this one sounded quite interesting but I never imagined I'd love it like that! It was so good!!

I think historical romances mixed with a bit of mystery are one of my favourite things. I get so invested in the story and cannot seem to put the book down. It's the best of both worlds because you get to know the characters and enjoy their romance but you also are on the lookout for a murderer on the side. I mean, of course I'll be hooked with that. Even though the mystery part of the book was quite dark, the fun tone and banter of our main characters made for a lighter read, so that's probably why I enjoyed it so much. It was a real page turner. And it was interesting that we sometimes got a chapter from a side character POV, brought a fresh perspective to the story and I liked it!

Now, about our characters. From that first meeting, it was just amazing every time they got together and they were so fun to follow. Let me tell you that first kiss was fire. And then, the notes they wrote to each other made me unconditionally happy! I enjoyed their instant understanding of each other and how they fast went from strangers, to friends, to more than friends. They could read each other so easily thanks to both their backgrounds being so similar and it made their relationship even more precious. It also served well when there were some problems in their relationship, they solved it so quickly I had no time to be mad at someone, haha. These two characters were easy to understand for me, and I could see why they would react a certain way or hide certain things.

I'm really intrigued by what's to come next, this Dove character is so captivating, I cannot wait for the next book.

Before ending, I'll just say that Noodles is the best nickname ever.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

So amazing!! I am glad that I got to start this one and not end up somewhere in the middle of the series. Historical fiction is a love child of mine and I loved this book page after page. This was well paced, sexy, and I loved the female characters. I can not wait to read more from this author and this series. A+

Never Blow a Kiss is a fresh take on the typical Victorian Era romance, exchanging the Lord and Lady of traditional stories for the wealthy son of a butcher and the lying, thieving bastard daughter of a gentleman and a prostitute.

Emily Leverton, former slum child and capable thief, begins her second life as a governess with the goal of surviving and bettering her circumstances. When she's intercepted by the mysterious Dove, she changes course and determines that she will use her street skills for good, spying on London's elite families in hope of holding the highest members of society to the same standard of justice they impose on the lowly and the poor.

Zach Denholm may not be a peer, but he is wealthy enough to draw the attention of some of the ton's most desperate families in search of mercenary matches for their daughters. He is not interested in their simpering and flirtation. He just wants to use his detective skills to solve crimes, until he crosses paths with the intriguing Miss Leverton.

Lindsay Lovise delivers a spicy Victorian Era romance where the heroine demonstrates agency in her work, her love life, and her rescue from peril. She has also set up a world that you will be excited to explore further as The Dove continues to enlist governesses in her mission to hold the powerful accountable. She incorporates humor in Zach and Emily's banter and smoldering tension through their honest conversations about their potential affair. It's fun to read a historical romance where neither of the main characters are members of the elite and the rules governing their behavior are less rigid.

This book is a strong fit for those who love a feminist approach to historical romance and those who love on page intimate scenes.

Thank you to Forever publishing and NetGalley for proving a digital ARC copy for review!

Overall I liked the premise of Never Blow a Kiss—it’s somewhat unusual in historical romance to have two main characters that are not originally from aristocratic ranks (although the MMC has been elevated). I also really liked the idea of a secret group of governess spies who infiltrate the haute ton in order to right the wrongs of Society and hold those that are seeming above the law accountable for their crimes. However, I didn’t feel like we really got enough of the “syndicate”—Emily was barely part of it before she met/became involved with Zach. I think it would have worked better for me to have had a bigger time jump between prologue and chapter 1, to have had her been a spy for longer. The other thing that did not quite work for me was that the relationship between Emily and Zach went from zero to 60. It felt a little too quick for me, and I would have preferred to see it develop a little more slowly (but that may just be a personal preference). I am also of the opinion that Zach did not do enough groveling at the end—again, my personal preference likely at play.

While this one did not totally work for me, I am definitely interested in continuing with this series as what I assume is book 2 is set up at the end and seems very intriguing!

Thanks to Netgalley for an e-ARC; all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Such a good story and entertaining romance. Lots of action, great chemistry, a secret spy network of governesses, an ex-soldier hero and so much more. Both Emily and Zach have made their way through poverty and hardship. I liked their connection and how they make their way to their happily ever after. A great start to new series.

Oh my heck! This book is so good. I almost burnt dinner while reading. I was so immersed that I did not hear the timer beeping. Governesses as spies. Yes, please. This book has romance, spice, mystery and suspense. So good. I am so glad that this is a series and I cannot wait for book two. I'll be anxiously awaiting it.

I fell in love with the characters instantly! I'm sure that there are some nitpicks that I could have, but overall I'm giving this a five stars because of the following reasons:

- Ridiculously fun and well-paced
- The dynamics between the characters are amazing, especially for a debut
- There's just enough depth without being too much
- The worldbuilding is just enough that makes me want to know more, especially about this society of women
- I stayed up reading it, and that means I give it an automatic five stars. Especially since it pulled me out of a slump.

This started out so rough for me, I wasn't sure if I was going to get through it. The early scenes were so cheesy and almost ridiculous and a lot of the dialogue was just cringey and stilted. Then—it got better. I actually got really into the romance and all the sexual tension and the little mystery was fun too. It ended up being an enjoyable story and I was able to overlook any other flaws that were tripping me up initially. So I actually liked it after all. Just goes to show you sometimes you have to give books a little extra chance.

There were things I really liked about this book, but there were others that were not for me.

Emily is a governess, but she was not really trained to be a governess. She grew up in poverty. She talks herself in to a position. Then a veiled woman invites her to become a completely different type of governess. It will be an adventure. That is exactly a perfect path for Emily. She has courage and very little fear.

Emily has intelligence and a sense of humor. She also is extremely conscious of being responsible for the children in her care. She goes above and beyond to protect those children.

I am a fan of Emily.

She meets Zach. He is a policeman but he is also extremely rich. He grew up in poverty and joined the army. While in the army he won a great deal of money playing cards. Then he took that money and invested in railroads. He is now extremely wealthy. He is a policeman because he likes the work. And he is very good at the work.

Zach is quite a hero. He has served his country and even though he could now become a gentleman of leisure he continues to work as a policeman. . He is obsessive about finding criminals. He has a good sense of humor. He also is a man who has tunnel vision when it comes to something or someone he wants.

I liked Zach.

What I did not like was the fact the plot was not very original. I felt there were scenes that had been in many other books. It was deja vu all over again.

The writing itself is well done. The characters are well done. This author is talented. But, I would have liked more originality in the situations involving Emily and Zach and their relationship.

A reader will enjoy meeting Emily, Zach and the secondary characters in this story.

I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley. I am voluntarily writing this review and all opinions are completely my own.

This historical romance had NO business being this good. I love pretty much all historical romances. It's hard to mess up poofy dresses and gallant men who know their way around London - BUT .. the idea that our heroine has had to fight for the life she's had sucked me in right away. I will be watching out for Book 2 in this series and reading ASAP!!

The romance in this first book of the series is great - but I never forgot that there was also a mystery running in the background? Totally didn't see the ending coming until it was right in my face, and then it all made sense!!! All parts of this story wrapped up so well!!

**P.S. I'm pretty sure I know who the second book will be about, and I'm desperate for her story!!

NOTES:
- Strong heroine
- 🌶️🌶️/5 - Spicy elements but nothing to detract from the plot - super balanced/open door elements!

<i>**Thank you to Forever & NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR 🖤</i>

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The first in a series and what a great start. I enjoyed this book from beginning to end and read it in one sitting.
The year is 1832, the Victorian era where men and even woman could make something of themselves.
Emily is a wonderful character, born in the slums, but has raised herself up to become a Governess. She is hiding many secrets that come out very slowly, and in the epilogue, we find out a secret even she doesn't know.
Meanwhile, Zachary has also pulled himself out of poverty, and after a decade as a soldier he invests in railroads and becomes very rich. But he becomes bored so he joins the relatively new Metropolitan police, and is on the trail of a serial killer.
Zachary and Emily are a dynamic couple with the ability to understand each other due to their upbringing. I loved the ending as many characters got their comeuppance. The ending and epilogue have me eager for the next book, but it will be a long wait. 2025!!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the EARC. This is my honest review.