I've been in a reading mood lately. I'm making more of an effort to not be as engaged on my phone and work through my to be read, the infamous never ending TBR. I was looking for something a little outside my normal preferences, and I'm not typically one for Regency novels (I have some strong feelings on Bridgerton that I'll not go into here), but am glad for stepping outside my comfort zone. All's Fair in Love and Treachery by Celeste Connally was a nice break from the world for a bit.

All's Fair in Love and Treachery is the second in the Lady Petra Inquires series. If you haven't read the first novel, there's enough context and background given that the reader is able to keep up, however if you don't want spoilers for the first book go and read that first as you'll definitely have some big events in the first book addressed in the second. Lady Petra is a nosy aristocrat in Victorian London, dealing with her own grief with having lost someone she loved. Lady Petra throws herself into solving the mystery of the murder of a matron at an orphanage. The killer it is believed may be connected to a group that is attempting to overthrow the monarchy.

I will say, the author did appear to have really researched the era and her thoroughness shows. I flowed between enjoying Lady Petra as a character to loving her intelligence and resourcefulness. She was very human, and this was actually a really good balance to be from one minute annoyed with the character to the next admiring her. One struggle I had with the novel was the number of characters being introduced and their involvement in the story. I would have to come out of the story a bit to track backwards and remember their role. However, if you like Regency era stories, and plucky heroines this is a great book for you.

Please be advised that I received an Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I will read any kind of Regency era book ever because i feel like i was born in the wrong century. I did not read book 1 so i hope it's not too terrible that i started with book 2. The first half of the book was a bit slower than i would like. I actually had to put it down and come back to it a few times. In the second half, i enjoyed the twists. I thought the characters were witty & strong & in the end-i would say it was an okay read.

I love a good historical romance and this hit the spot! It was a perfect mix of that Bridgerton charm and the mystery aspect of Agatha Christie that’s so classic. It had a really good aspect of suspense, and I loved the London setting. I will say that the pacing of it felt a little off and made it difficult to keep track of/stay interested.

I really wanted to love this book/series. Bridgerton crossed with Agatha Christie sounded right up my alley. I liked this book (and the one that came before it) well enough, but I don't love them. They're solid, cozy stories with a likable cast of characters. The writing's decent as well. I just found the stories kind of boring, I think. This wasn't a page turner kind of book for me, but I can see how the overall tone and setting would really appeal to other readers.

I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.

Thank you Minotaur and NetGalley for the DRC of All's Fair in Love and Treachery! All opinions in this review are my own.

Unfortunately, I think the first book in the series is stronger. It took me awhile to get into the second mystery and there are a lot of characters to keep track of. However, I am still interested in continuing with this series.

Thank you, NetGalley, for this book.

This book is a sequel to Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord which I also got from NetGalley. I randomly selected Act Like a Lady to read and was so pleasantly surprised by how fun it was. Petra is such an outstanding character.

In an effort to make sure I’m staying on top of all the series I’m reading, I made a point to read this one and loved it equally. This time we see Petra trying to solve the mystery of the death of a headmistress at an orphanage. She’s also balancing her social life and trying to stop the undoing of the entire monarch.

Many plot lines are happening in this book, but they all work toward the ending. Petra hears some gossip about the death of her fiance (not a spoiler, he was dead in book one also), and gathers her closest friends and trusted allies to find the answers to all the mysteries in this book. Highly enjoyable!

This book is such a fun mix of mystery, romance, and Regency drama! Lady Petra is a total BOSS BABE, and the twists kept me hooked the whole way through. If you love Bridgerton vibes with a side of suspense, this one’s for you! 🌟🌟🌟🌟

✨ Publication date: November 12, 2024✨

All’s Fair in Love and Treachery is the second book in the spicy regency mystery series by Celeste Connally.

Lady Petra finds herself in the middle of another mystery with her friends and lover Duncan Shawcross but this time, Duncan appears to be on the wrong side of the law.

As news of Britain’s victory against Napoleon and promise of celebration in the streets of London, Petra is engaged by the Queen directly to help solve a crime at the all girls Orphanage.

Meanwhile, Duncan disappears from Petra bed and is hiding secrets from her. Petra has known Duncan her entire life and while she trusts him, cannot figure out why he’s not being honest with her.

As rumours of a revolution against the monarchy loom over the celebrations and Petra investigates the orphanage, connections start coming together and it’s clear the two are connected.

Both investigations collide and Petra has to decide if she can trust the man she has come to love to restore London and the Orphanage from the hands of criminals.

I really enjoyed this second instalment of the Lady Petra inquiries. I love the chemistry and connection between Petra and Duncan and really enjoy the side characters, the authenticity of the time period and the steamy storylines. This is a 4 star read for me.

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

#NetGalley #celesteconnally #allsfairinloveandtreachery

In this fun new Regency mystery novel, raiders follow Lady Petra Forsyth who, rather than celebrating Napoleon’s surrender, wants to solve the mystery of her fiance’s death three years earlier instead. Certain that he was murdered by her half-Scottish secret paramour Duncan Shawcross, Petra is left only with a confusing riddle about memories in Duncan’s absence and instead focuses on an assignment from Queen Charlotte herself -- the death of the matron of the Asylum for Female Orphans. Discovering a tie between a radical group of aristocrats and the matron’s death, Petra soon discovers a plot against the monarchy itself. Facing her past and present as well as threats toward love and of war, Petra and the readers are running out of time to solve both cases. With a fascinating historical setting and great stakes in this historical mystery, readers will find Petra to be an interesting and engaging lady detective protagonist, while the historical ties and elements are well-developed and exciting. The mysteries themselves are unique and fascinating, which readers will enjoy, and Celeste Connally has balanced the two mysteries (and Petra’s personal life) very well throughout the novel. Well-written and exciting, readers will love this Regency mystery and its high stakes for Petra and the kingdom.

This book was so much fun! Lady Petra is so spicy! I love the mysteries and the characters. There are a LOT of characters, so if that isn’t your thing, be prepared! I can’t wait for more!

I love me some Lady Petra, she does not take anyone's crap or suffer fools. This is one of my favorite series and I can't wait to see what happens in the next installment. Celeste Connolly has now made it to my always-read list!

While I'd read the first book, I didn't really remember the characters well. I enjoyed some of the historical aspects, but there was not a whole lot of a mystery so if you read it, be aware it is more of an adventure through London. I found enough unbelievable that it was distracting. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC #sponsored

Lady Petra is enlisted to investigate the murder of an orphanage matron who might be linked to a radical plot against the monarchy. With her (possibly) traitorous lover missing, Petra must use all her cunning to expose a conspiracy and save innocent lives.

This fast-paced and emotional novel is full of intrigue. It’s clever and fun to read. Lady Petra is a strong character, and I love the dynamic between her and Duncan. I recommend reading the series in order. I enjoyed the audiobook narration.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Although I'm not the biggest fan of mystery novels, I think a strength of the Lady Petra Inquires series is that it appeals to multiple demographics. I like the historical setting, the romance is cute, our main character is fun to follow, and the mystery itself is pretty good. While these novels are not new all time favourites of mine, I think they're quite solid, competent stories. I'd definitely recommend them if you're a fan of mysteries or historical fiction!

I have mixed feelings on this book. I loved the premise and loved how intelligent and feisty Petra, the main character was. I also loved that there were different mysteries to solve. The scenes in the orphanage were especially well done.

On the other hand, there were a lot of characters and it was hard to figure who is who. I found it hard to connect with the plot and characters. I’m usually a lover of historical mysteries but this one just didn’t do it for me.

I really wanted to love this book since I read it was a mix between Bridgerton and Agatha Christie. I even got the audio book to listen to and read a long, but I just had a really hard time getting into it. Maybe it was because I didn't read the first book in this series...I'm just not sure. But if you have read book 1, Act like a Lady, think like a Lord, then definitely give this one a shot too!

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Publication date: 12 November 2024

This book was such a fun read! If Clue and Bridgerton had a baby, it would be this book. The characters were witty, and the plot twists were everywhere. It's a great read for the fall.

Tropes:
💜Historical Fiction
💜Mystery/Thriller
💜Romance

"All's Fair in Love and Treachery" is a fun blend of romance and drama that keeps you guessing. The story follows Petra, who finds herself caught in a web of love and deceit, making choices that challenge their heart and morals.

While I have not yet admittedly read book 1 when I received this book I did still enjoy the story. This book reminded me of a historical mystery with Bridgerton like vibes to it. I did not find it too difficult to jump into this series without having read the first one and think you could easily start here as well. I found myself really enjoying Petra’s bold personality and the way she challenged the “social norm” of the regency era.

This was definitely different from many of the books I’ve read this year which was nice to step out of my comfort zone some on. I think one big thing I struggle with was all the plot lines happening at once and keeping the characters straight. I do think had I read the first book in the series maybe that would have made it easier.

Overall, "All's Fair in Love and Treachery" is a captivating read for those who enjoy a mix of heartfelt romance and plot twists and historical mysteries.

Thank you so much to Net Galley and Minotaur Books for a digital ARC of this book! All opinions are my own and I’m leaving this review voluntarily.

I loved the first book in this series and was glad to see Lady Petra return in All’s Fair in Love and Treachery.

This book got off to a slow start for me. I know it was necessary for the plot to work to keep Duncan “off-screen” for a part of the story, but I would have liked more of Duncan.

A slow start and some initial confusion aside, this book picks up midway, resulting in an engaging mystery with satisfying twists and well-woven threads.

I had fun in reading this enjoyable pastiche that mixes historical fiction and cozy mystery. It features a clever and strong-willed heroing, a solit and tightly knitted plot, humour
It's a lot of fun and i recommend it
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine