All’s Fair in Love and Treachery AUDIO by Celeste Connally is the second in a series featuring Lady Petra Forsythe as a self-described sleuth who finds answers but often gets in the way of others as she does so. Queen Charlotte has asked Lady Petra to make inquiries regarding the suspicious death of an orphanage’s matron. So, Lady Petra, unable to refuse, starts asking questions and observes and gets herself tangled up in more than she can handle. Her current lover, Duncan Shawcross, is nowhere to be found but is looking more and more guilty of high crimes, including the death of her betrothed three years earlier. He tells her to trust him but she knows she will be unable to do so without proof. It all gets quite complicated.

Petra is a wonderful character: bright, clever, and beautiful. Duncan is a government agent and as we are all aware, oft times they cannot be trusted. There appears to be a plot to overthrow the monarchy. And something is going to happen during the three-day celebration following winning of the war with Napoleon. Things are hectic and many people believe they know more than they do, which does nothing but complicate things. Someone tells Petra some unpleasant things about her dead betrothed and that adds fuel to her fire. An exciting listen, full of twists and turns and red herrings. With the current popularity of the Regency time period, it is the perfect read.

Eilidh Beaton is the narrator and she makes Lady Petra sound like a valley girl, which is not entirely a bad thing. The audio version is excellent, holding the listener’s attention for many enjoyable hours. I read and listened both and believe I prefer listening, which is not always the case for me.

I was invited to read All’s Fair in Love and Treachery by St Martin’s Press and to listen by MacMillan Audio. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #StMartinsPress #MacmillanAudio #CelesteConnally #EilidhBeaton #AllsFairInLoveAndTreachery

I really enjoyed this second book where we follow Lady Petra as she works to uncover another mystery. I felt the plot was well developed and the twists were not at all what I was expecting, but I liked how they tied into the first novel.

Title: All’s Fair in Love and Treachery
By: Celeste Connally
Pub. Date: November 12, 2024

Summary:
Lady Petra has been rocked by startling news: her lover has disappeared, and her husband's death may have occurred under circumstances different from what she initially believed. At the same time, Queen Charlotte has firmly instructed Lady Petra to look into the mysterious death of the matron at the local orphanage. As Lady Petra begins her investigation, she uncovers a handful of potential suspects. However, as the truth begins to unfold, she is stunned by the unexpected revelations surrounding her lover. Will she uncover the truth?

Review:
I had hoped this could be enjoyed as a standalone novel, like some books in a series, but it actually starts by picking up the cliffhanger from the first book. Since the characters were unfamiliar to me, it was challenging to piece together who was who and what was happening. I’d recommend reading the first novel—maybe even re-reading it if it’s been a while—to refresh your memory on the characters. Going into this book without prior knowledge of the first one doesn’t work well for these particular characters. I found the two separate mysteries a bit confusing. However, the ending was written in a way I personally preferred. If you enjoyed the first novel and like this author’s style, I’d say it’s worth continuing the series.

Thank you Celeste Connally, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

#Allsfairinloveandtreachery
#celesteconnally
#stmartinspress
#reluctantreaderreads
#advancedreadercopies
#NetGalley

Hello! Firstly, thank you very much to Netgalley for an ARC of All's Fair in Love and Treachery. I really appreciate having had the opportunity to read this second book in the series. I did not read the first, but I do not think it is necessary to have read these books in sequence. However, that said, after having read Book 2, I do want to go back and read Book 1. While All's Fair in Love and Treachery took a few chapters to 'get going,' I was fully engaged and engrossed after that. I think Lady Petra is a very clever heroine, and I really love Duncan. He reminds me of the old-time swashbuckler with derring-do thrown in for some good measure. I think the interaction and chemistry with Lady Petra and Duncan are perfect, and the backdrop of the mystery only adds to the allure of the novel. I definitely recommend All's Fair in Love and Treachery. Thank you! :)

This book was cute, and I liked the characters. I was so disappointed when the murder was discovered... ( I don't want to give it away) because I really liked that character. The relationship between the FMC and MMC was adorable. Overall, I liked this book, but I was hoping for something a little more. It was cute and cozy kind of read.

Thank you Net Galley ARC

If you, like me, haven't read book one (Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord), I think you'll be okay starting here. Lady Petra is a solid character whose relationship to the world she inhabits is established; none of the frequent, and to me off-putting, Regency trope of "marriage or bust" that all the Bridgerton books reinforce so very fully. It's been a long time since the best Regency writer of all time, Georgette Heyer, poured her champagne prose into the flutes that served my readerly soul. Author Connally does not sit that high in my writers' tier list. To be fair, there are almost no other writers that high in my estimation, in genre or out. This unpleasant trope is present in Heyer's writing but is borne up from the yeasty sludge of my twenty-first centurion's disapproval by the prose it's crafted in.

The comparison to Dame Agatha is apt. The puzzle to be solved here had faint echoes of Death in the Clouds, one of her strange 1930s Poirots. If you've read it, you know what the thrust of this book will be. The preservation and/or restoration of Ma'at is the matter of all mysteries, so the ultimate resolution of the story is a foregone conclusion. Which mystery requiring Lady Petra's attention, personal or "professional," will be the one that knits a rent in the social fabric?

The accustomed repurposing of class-based access and modern storytelling's need for a female character to have agency unthinkable in the time period of the story is done deftly here. In part this is due to Lady Petra's age and status as a not-quite widow, but still suitably linked to a male authority figure that it needn't be discussed or thought about...a dead-in-the-war fiancé is a useful device in this world. Her current love interest can be elided from public suspicion because he knew her in childhood, so their connection can be acceptably explained away without the need to resort to scandal. As he is both absent in flesh and central in fact to the submystery in the book, this is a fact much traded on.

Any book set in historical times has a hurdle to leap in the way it handles the realities of its time period versus the narrative needs of a twenty-first century novel. Lady Petra lusts after Duncan, who's hunkiness is permaybehaps over-established, but in private, as would be the case for women of the era who are not Lady Caroline Lamb. Lady Petra's freedom to act due to her distant connection to Queen Charlotte feels a bit overly modern but needs must when the plot-devils drive.

They drive hard in here, with a lot of characters doing a lot of things they oughtn't to do. The ideas of the story are complex, possibly convoluted, and center on the way the world is changing due to the recently-completed Napoleonic wars that have organized English society for decades. At war's end, there is little appetite for going back to the way things were for anyone disadvantaged in that earlier day. The cork's out of the bottle. Now how does society change?

Lady Petra and her fellows are figuring it out. There is a lot of upheaval to come, as history tells us, but this book is set when the shapes of the upheavers are still shadowy. The change that is inevitable in any highly unequal society is as yet unformed but its energy is very much present in every detail Lady Petra uncovers on the Queen's errand. It was fun piecing together the next few years from what happens in the story's present...a big reason I enjoy the historical-mystery genre when it's well done. Plus: doggos!

I needed this kind of escape now. If you're in need of a series that makes story-sense, and is in hailing distance of historical sense, here's you a choice worthy of your time and treasure.

While all of London is celebrating Napoleon’s surrender, Lady Petra is busy investigating the murder of the matron of an orphanage for girls. She struggles to focus after the discovery that her lover, Duncan, may have been involved in the death of her fiancé three years prior. Added to the mix is a group of radicals planning to violently overthrow the monarchy. With the help of her friends, Petra must find the truth to save lives and her own heart…

This was a fun historical mystery, full of political intrigue, an interesting cast of characters, and multiple suspects.

Petra is smart but fallible, making her relatable. Her friends have their own skills and connections, and never hesitate to jump into the fray. Duncan is loyal and honorable even when under scrutiny for his past deeds. He and cares deeply for Petra, respecting her inquisitiveness instead of balking at her lack of faith. Petra and Duncan’s romance added a dash of heat and tender affection to the story without overtaking it.

Thanks to NetGalley and Minortaur Books for the ARC.

This whole series is SUCH a fun read! I recommend both Book 1 and this new installment. If you love Bridgerton, you'll love the antics of Petra and Co. This newest installment, All's Fair in Love and Treachery dives alot into Petra's past and how that is affecting the future. The mystery has alot of twists to it. This book drove away the time change seasonal blues.
Thanks #NetGalley and #St Martin's Press for the ARC.

Picking up right where Act Like a Lady, think Like a Lords cliffhanger ended, were thrown back into Lady Petras world. Knowing now of her lovers involvement in her fiancé's death, were immediately ready to solve another mystery except now the Queen has also requested her assistance on another investigation.

We learnt more about her kate fiancé, Emerson and who he was as a man. Much faster than the first book, and a bit more confusing with extra persons - this is a whirlwind of mystery as both storylines lines are happening at the same time, but a good read nonetheless!

Dear Fellow Reader,

It is that time of year that generally time moves faster than we can imagine. There is so much to do, speeding from Halloween to Thanksgiving to Christmas/Hanukkah. I went to Walgreens a few days before Halloween, and they were setting up Christmas. I’m not ready! With Thanksgiving so late this year, Christmas/Hanukkah will be here quickly.


I find it interesting that Advent Calendars have become a big thing. I can remember years ago looking around forever to find one for my kids. Now it feels like every company has one. There are beer ones, Lego ones, jelly ones, tea ones, and the ever-popular, chocolate ones. Who would have guessed?

This week’s book is a historical mystery with a female sleuth. It is the second in the series. I reviewed the first book, Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord, (https://cecooney.com/2023/11/14/act-like-a-lady-think-like-a-lord-by-celeste-connally/) almost exactly a year ago. This book follows the first as it is a Regency-era mystery. I still do not know if it follows the Recency-era writing style completely.


In All’s Fair in Love and Treachery, we find Lady Petra in a quandary. She has received a note informing her that her lifelong friend and current love, Duncan Shawcross, actually murdered her fiancé and love, Emerson, Viscount of Ingersoll. And Duncan Shawcross has disappeared. How can she confront him about the allegation if she can’t find him? With her mind in a whirl, she decides that she needs to concentrate on the task that Queen Charlotte has given her. The Asylum for Female Orphan’s matron has died, and the Queen wants to know what happened. As Lady Petra starts investigating, she finds that her mission will lead her in the path of her love where she can confront him and then become involved in ferreting out a band of radicals that want to destroy the monarchy.

This story is full of twists and turns, which I think make the story move along quickly and keeps your interest. We are introduced to new characters in this story that help Lady Petra and some who do not help. How can she tell the difference? Was Lady Petra’s love, Emerson, really her love? Was he who she thought he was?

I enjoyed the story. It is an entertaining light read.

In this sequel to 𝐀𝐜𝐭 𝐋𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝐋𝐚𝐝𝐲, 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝐋𝐨𝐫𝐝, Lady Petra finds herself tasked by Queen Charlotte to look into the connection between the death of Mrs. Huxton, the matron of the Asylum for Female Orphans, and the threats against the royal family. The task is a welcomed distraction from some suspicions she has surrounding her friend and now lover Duncan Shawcross. Lady Petra is known for not conforming to societal rules, especially after her fiancé death (which happened in the previous book). As the investigation into the dual mysteries intertwined, Lady Petra’s uses her society standings, her connections/friendships and her cleverness to make leeway in her search for answers.

This was a fun historical mystery with a Bridgerton-esque flair! I really enjoyed how the protagonist, Lady Petra stepped out of the societal expectations of the Regency era. I didn’t find it difficult to dig in to this series, having not read its first novel in the series. There is quite a few characters and many directions taken throughout the novel, which at times got a bit overwhelming. Overall a nice break from my usual genres with a fun and bold protagonist!

Rating: 3.5/5

✵𝖬𝖺𝗇𝗒 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗇𝗄𝗌 𝗍𝗈 𝖲𝗍. 𝖬𝖺𝗋𝗍𝗂𝗇’𝗌 𝖯𝗋𝖾𝗌𝗌, 𝖬𝗂𝗇𝗈𝗍𝖺𝗎𝗋 𝖡𝗈𝗈𝗄𝗌 & 𝖭𝖾𝗍𝖦𝖺𝗅𝗅𝖾𝗒 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝗀𝗂𝖿𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗆𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝖠𝖽𝗏𝖺𝗇𝖼𝖾𝖽 𝖱𝖾𝖺𝖽𝖾𝗋’𝗌 𝖢𝗈𝗉𝗒 𝗂𝗇 𝖾𝗑𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗇𝗀𝖾 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝗆𝗒 𝗁𝗈𝗇𝖾𝗌𝗍 𝗋𝖾𝗏𝗂𝖾𝗐.✵

All's Fair in Love and Treachery is book two in the Lady Petra Inquires series by Celeste Connally.
I really enjoyed book one Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord.
Which was no surprise that I loved the second book also.
This was exactly what I needed it was fun and interesting. I sat down and read in one day.
Very well written and engaging. If you are a fan of historical fiction, don't pass this one up.

Thank You NetGalley and Publisher for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

This mystery had all of the action I could have wanted alongside a fun cast of characters. The dynamic between Lady Petra and Duncan is so fantastic and I wish we got to see a little more of it. I really enjoyed that I felt like every page had a purpose in moving one of the plot lines forward or adding to the overall development of the characters. I appreciate that we get a look at how multiple people view Petra and her role in the ton not just her own perspective. I thought there was a great balance between the historical references and language with the overall story. Celeste Connally finds a way to balance serious topics and feminism with more light hearted moments.

I was missing more of the romance between Duncan and Petra, a personal preference to have more romance in a regency book, I felt like there was a bit of an unexpected info dump from a tertiary character that threw off my reading experience at the end.

Lady Petra is back at it again! I loved Celeste Connally’s first book with Lady Petra. She’s an independent woman, in a time where women couldn’t be independent. She’s brash and brazen and doesn’t let anything stop her. I love the character and her motley crew of friends and dogs. This book picks up right where the first one ended and Lady Petra has found herself investigating the murder of the head of a children’s orphanage.

The only reason I’m giving this 4.5 stars instead of 5 is because all of the action takes place in the span of a couple days. I would’ve loved to get more background and have more time for the plot to develop. In the first 24 hours Lady Petra has been given her orders, questioned most of the involved people and gone to a dinner party until 1am.

Overall thank you so much to NetGalley, Celeste Connally and the publisher for this second installment, I can’t wait for the next one!

Set in early 1800 England, this series is rich in suspense and historical mystery.

Lady Petra, friend to the Queen and many high ups in Parliament is asked by the Queen to investigate the death of a matron of the Asylum for Female Orphans.

At the same time the death of her fiance 3 years ago revives and she finds ties to his best friend who is involved with.

A wonderful journey to find out questions with a lot of characters to keep you guessing!

All's Fair in Love and Treachery by Celeste Connally is a frolic through regency London. We meet Lady Petra again directly after the events of the previous book, Act like a Lady, Think like a Lord. This time, Petra has been recruited by Queen Charlotte to help solve a mystery that may or may not be connected to a rebel organization that wants to overthrow the monarchy. As Petra investigates, she must decide who to trust and confront questions that have her rethinking her past. Connally does a great job of keeping the momentum from book one going and this story is just as immersive, mysterious, and fun. I love this series so much. All the stars!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the ALC and to Minotaur Books for the physical and digital ARCs of All’s Fair in Love and Treachery by Celeste Connally. All opinions are my own.

This is book two in the Lady Petra Inquires series. It picks up right where book one (Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord) leaves off. I would recommend reading them in order because you will miss out on some background information, and there will be spoilers for book one if you don’t.

I didn’t enjoy this book as much as I did book one, but it wasn’t a bad story. I don’t read a lot of mystery books, so I may not be the best judge of whether or not this was a good mystery book.

I found the plot of this story to be confusing at times. I also had a hard time keeping straight all of the new characters. It may be easier reading the physical book than the audio, but the audiobook narrator wasn’t bad. She did a pretty good job differentiating the characters.

There was a bit more romance in this book than the previous book, which I did enjoy. One thing that I did not like as much were some of the secrets that were revealed about characters from the previous book.

Overall, I would say to give this book a try if you enjoyed the first book in this series.

I didn’t read the first book so I feel as though I was at a disadvantage in terms of understanding some of the story line. But regardless of that it was an interesting feminist historical mystery book , the second in the series.

I was quite excited to read this when I heard the description. I was not, unfortunately, aware this was a second book in a series. I must get better at that lol. I feel I would have enjoyed it more if I had read the 1st book, however I do love historical romance, with murder & mystery to boot. A good time. I’ll have to go back & read the first book

ALL’S FAIR IN LOVE AND TREACHERY is the second book in the Lady Petra Inquires series by Celeste Connally. I loved the first book in the series and was so excited to receive an advance copy of this one. With the first book ending with a teaser, the author picks up right where she left off, which provides for continuity. That said, since it’s been a long time since I read that first book, I had a hard time keeping the characters straight for a while. (Hint, if you can, read these back-to-back or at least read the first one before you start this one.) However, once I figured out the characters, it became easier to follow along. Ms. Connally has created a compelling character in Lady Petra Forsyth. She’s charming, but also an independent woman willing to take on a dangerous mission for her queen. I loved the feminist tone of the book and it worked well with the storyline.

The multi-faceted plot had numerous twists and turns. At times, I didn’t see how they would fit together, but by the conclusion, everything was explained in a highly satisfactory manner. There’s also an element of romance that adds to the appeal and it’s woven into the mystery effortlessly. If you enjoy Regency history mysteries, Ms. Connally has crafted all the elements necessary to love this book!

I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.