Our Dear Miss H. Is on the Case is actually the second book in a series by Violet Marsh. I didn't happen to read the first book but I think this one holds up well as a standalone. While there is definite crossover with characters from the first book and the mmc for this book is the fmc from that book's twin brother, you get enough explanation of who they are and how they are linked that you understand the bones of their story. That said, I will probably go back to read it as I'm interested to see where everything began.

I enjoyed this book and thought the story and the relationship build were both well done. I loved all of the characters and while I would have liked a little bit more romance in here, I still found myself enjoying the book. If you're looking for a new historical romance with representation around disability, some interesting characters, and action/adventure, consider checking this one out.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review.

Miss H is the second book in Marsh's unnamed series about a group of loveable, quirky friends in 1700s England who solve crimes and save each other from unsavory marriages. The group includes a menagerie of hilarious spunky pets which get the addition of a rooster in this book!

This is the sweet love story of aspiring archeologist Georgiana and club-footed Marquis Alexander who fall in love despite their families forcing them into a marriage contract for nefarious purposes. As they search for Georgiana's missing cousin and stolen artifact, they uncover sinister plots that take them around the countryside courting danger and passion at cock fights, sea caves and dungeons.

I love that the men in Marsh's books are just as much feminists as their lady loves and support their progressive views for the times. Yes, ladies should be able to work and hold property and have a say in who they marry, of course! It's not even a debate with these loveable heroes.

My one complaint is the same as it was in the first book. Marsh is a TEASE! Just know there is no spice, not even in the epilogue. After creating heart-pounding chemistry between these characters, there is little payoff. It looks like this series is definitely going to be in the sweet category. Don't get your hopes up for bedroom passion. Marsh leaves it to your imagination.

The set up for book three teases a romance between a new Duke and Charlotte's coffee shop/bar owner cousin Hannah as they search for his missing mother and sister and I'm in for another cozy romance adventure!

This was so fun! I really loved her knowledge of artifacts and the caper they went on. Also, they had some fantastic chemistry! I can’t wait to read another book by this author.

This book follows Miss Georgina Harrington, who is secretly an archaeologist, after her cousin, with whom she entrusted the presentation of her discoveries, goes missing. She suspects foul play and finds herself investigating his disappearance with the help of his friend, Alexander Lovett, in this humorous historical rom-com mystery.

Neither Georgina nor Alexander wants to acknowledge the feelings blossoming between them, but their respect for each other is apparent from start to finish. Their banter is witty and charming, and they seem to attract entertaining animals at every turn.

The collection of characters in this story felt well-developed, and the unravelling mystery was clever. This novel is fast-paced and laugh-out-loud funny.

I think historical romance readers will adore this novel and quickly fall in love with the main characters, just as I did.

This histfic rom has humor and spice but not enough oomph to capture my heart. Other readers who love historical HEAs may likely enjoy it more than I.

Georgina Harrington got a love of archeology from her father. But after his passing, she struggled to be taken seriously. A single woman in the eighteenth century didn’t have a voice. But she loved to read and write up her research, and she even had some land that her father had left her where she digs. But because she isn’t taken seriously, she used her cousin Percy’s name. The two of them acted like he was the historian and archeologist. He was the writer and researcher. And when Georgina uncovered a crown in her dig, it was Percy who took it to London and showed it as if he’d been the one to discover it.

But then, Percy didn’t come back.

A couple of days could be fine. He was known to disappear for a day or two. But as the days pass, Georgina grows increasingly worried about his safety. She has to go to London to look for him, but she can’t just go by herself. Her brother and his wife decide to go to the city, so Georgina has a reason to travel to London, but she needs to figure out how to investigate once she gets there. Percy’s best friend, and generally irritating person, Alexander Lovett, is also concerned about his friend and the one person willing to take Georgina seriously. He is in on the fact that she is the one doing all the work Percy is taking credit for, so he’s listening to her worries with the seriousness it deserves.

But Alexander knows things. For one thing, he knows about a coffeshop that not only allows women into their secret room, he knows that they could help Georgina find a disguise that would help her move through the streets of London safely. And once she is in disguise, as a man, of course, then Alexander can take her to the bars Percy has known to frequent in London. He introduces her to the female boxer who taught him some helpful moves, and when she sees a cockfight about to take place, he helps with the distraction that allows her to set the chickens free, particularly the fluffy white one that surely wouldn’t have survived its fight.

Eventually Georgina and Alexander find enough clues to figure out who was behind Percy’s kidnapping, but trying to rescue him is a whole new level of danger. And when they find out just how powerful the men are who have stolen her crown, and they realize what their next steps are, it will be up to Georgina, Alexander, and their friends from the London coffeeshop who have to work fast to stop a truly diabolical plan that will level many important English families.

Our Dear Miss H. Is on the Case is a smart historical rom com that allows the women of the times to be as adventurous and swashbuckling as the men. The writing is sparkling with witty banter as the two main characters find their way from enemies to friends to almost-lovers. There is even a heroic dog wiling to break into estates for turnips, a trash-talking parrot, and a fluffy chicken who starts a whole new fad among the rich and influential in historic London.

I listened to Our Dear Miss H. Is on the Case on audio, narrated by Marisa Calin, who does an amazing job with this story. She brought these characters to life and drew me into the adventure and the romance of this novel. This book is just fun.

Egalleys for Our Dear Miss H. Is on the Case were provided by Forever, and a copy of the audio book was provided by Hachette Audio, both through NetGalley, with many thanks, but the opinions are mine.

A cute & quirky historical romance. It has mystery, humor, and swoon-worthy romance. I thought the characters were fun and some of the situations were really funny.
It was a little more “open door”/flirtatious than I was expecting so I took some stars off for that.

A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

Historical romances with mysteries are quickly becoming a favorite of mine and no one does them quite like Violet Marsh. I loved Georgina and Alexander so much. Alexander was definitely one of my favorite characters in the previous book so I was excited to see him get his HEA. I also felt like this book just brought so much more depth to him and he was just truly the best historical romance book boyfriend. I also love a good female MC that knows she's smarter than everyone else and is just trying to prove it. This had so many twists and turns while remaining lighthearted and fun. I'm excited to see what Marsh does next.

ARC/ALC BOOK REVIEW

Our Dear Miss H. Is On the Case by Violet Marsh

Thank you Forever for the free eARC of this book! And to Hachette Audio for the ALC!

SYNOPSIS: “Georgina Harrington should never have trusted her feckless cousin Percy with her most precious archaeological discovery. But no one would take her academic work seriously if they knew it was hers and not her male cousin’s. When Percy goes missing, only Georgina realizes that he is truly in danger. And to find him, she must rely on the help of his infuriating but incredibly attractive best friend.

Although Alexander Lovett is always up for an adventure, he vows to keep his distance from Georgina, who is on his insufferable parents’ list of suitable brides for a future duke. He’s a grown man who can pick his own wife, thank you very much. But he’s surprised to find himself falling for Georgina’s surprisingly bold initiative and independent thinking that save them from more than one deadly scrape. Yet as a simple kidnapping grows into a threat to the monarchy, their smoldering attraction might be snuffed out before it ever has a chance to ignite.”

REVIEW: This book was an enjoyable read, with all kinds of whimsy! I love when a story makes you smile, while also having emotional depth. It blends historical romance with a touch of mystery.

The characters are adorable, and there's just enough drama to keep things interesting without getting too heavy. I liked Alexander as a leading man. He’s not your typical perfect romance hero, and that made him feel real, and relatable in many ways.

I love an audiobook with a brilliant narrator, and Marisa Calin was no exception. Her performance was so enjoyable, and it really brought the story to life.

I haven’t read the first one yet, but I plan to return to it!

Publisher: Forever, Hachette Audio
Pub date: 3/25/25 – OUT NOW!

Georgina Harrington is a spinster antiquarian. Digging on her own property, she's making some very exciting finds. When her cousin goes missing with one of her discoveries, the first person she asks for help is his best friend Alexander Lovett. The best place for information is the Black Sheep. Known for boxing matches between women, Georgina is fascinated to also discover women are the owners of the establishment. A cock fight disrupts their search creating a new trend for the peerage and a close companion is a scruffy dog that loves turnips. A little humor never hurts. Their search for clues, reveals more to her cousin Percy's disappearance. The plot thickens. For two people who don't seem to fit Georgina and Alexander discover they have more similarities than differences to be a couple. Mild descriptive sex.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book from NetGalley.

I liked that this story had real stakes but didn’t feel bogged down...there's was balance. The pacing worked. It starts with a missing cousin and ends up unraveling something much bigger, but it never loses sight of Georgina and Alexander’s relationship building. There’s a sweetness and tenderness to their connection that’s grounded in mutual respect. The chicken subplot added humor, and I loved the commentary on the expectations placed on both women and men in this time period.

This witty romcom mystery is a rollicing adventure. Set in the eighteenth century, Violet Marsh has created a comedy of manners that combines romance and wit with comment on societal expectations of the time. While most of the characters in this novel are one dimensional, the main characters are delightful and complex. Georgina Harrington is an archivist at heart. Nothing interests her more than continuing her father's work, unearthing treasures on her inherited land. But as a woman, she has gone from the "care" of her father to that of her half brother, who has a tight control on her estate. She is frustrated by her inability to live on her own lands, let alone control her own funds. Women scholars are not taken seriously, and so she must rely on her male cousin to present her work as his own. When Percy goes missing, she must search for him but needs to rely on the help of his exasperating but attractive best friend. Alexander is the more complex character. Marsh weaves in the society's expectation of the perfect male heir with Alexander's physical deformity. Alexander deals with his physical disability with style, becoming a sportsman despite his reliance on a cane. He must overcome not just physical pain, but hide the rejection and abuse from his father that ensued. Over the course of their search, the two become more and more attracted to each other. But this is a sweet love story with just a little spice. There are a few compromising situations and racy ideas, but nothing explicit. The mystery to find Percy becomes an adventure fraught with peril. The story is complete with disguises, carriage chases, gun play and dungeons. What starts as a mystery, soon becomes melodrama. But it is told with such wit and whimsey that readers will giggle through the whole story.

I alternated between text and audiobook advanced copies that I received from the publisher through NetGalley. The audiobook, narrated by Marisa Calin, is charming. She is a delightful actress, whether she is voicing, women, men or even roosters. This is one novel that is even "better as an audiobook."

readers will want to know that although the book wasn't labeled as part of a series, it is actually a sequel to last year's Lady Charlotte Always Gets Her Man. There are references to a few past events that made it obvious that this was a continuation. But as is the case in many series of this nature, this is a seperate love story which happens to have some of the same characters. The book can be enjoyed as a stand-alone novel, but I loved this one so much that I plan to read the first book some time too.

wow a historical romance in the mix finally!

this was an advanced copy I got that is already out to read… yes i’m behind on ARCs!

I have never read a book from this author before. The best way I can describe this book is both chaotic yet also a little slow. There was a lot going on with a ton of characters and evil family members on both sides. A kidnapping plot. Lost treasure. A LOT. Also learning self defense, and dressing up like a man to go undercover, and potentially running into pirates.

I almost DNFed this one but I did end up reading until the end. I think it took about until 35% for it to pickup. Overall my rating is as follows…

2.5 out of 5 stars

thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the copy!

The first chapter was the best one in this book. Percy and the dog were the best characters. I couldn’t seem to like Alexander or Georgina. They weren’t the worst characters, but I didn’t warm to them. Some parts were full of action and other parts were too slow. I felt like this was trying to be quirky but serious at the same time and it didn’t work. I’m not sure this author is right for me in this genre.

I so enjoyed this slow-burn romance with a side of mystery adventure. Proudly independent spinster, academic, and archeologist, Miss Georgina Harrington, and Alexander Lovett, Marquess of Heathford, find themselves unlikely and reluctant partners when they learn that their families have schemed behind their backs to arrange their marriage, and Georgina's cousin and Alexander's best friend, Percy, has disappeared without a trace and in possession of Georgina's greatest archeological find. Are the two events somehow related?

The forced proximity trope works wonderfully here as they find themselves falling for each other in spite of their preconceptions about what love is, and what they believe they want in a romantic relationship. Their romance is absolutely endearing, heartfelt, and honest. I was rooting for them both from the very beginning. You know that their devotion and passion for each other is going to be pure and unfettered until the end of their days.

I really enjoyed the author's previous novel, Lady Charlotte Always Gets Her Man, and this one takes place in the same London universe, which centers around the Black Sheep coffeehouse and its regular customers. Lady Charlotte Talbot is, in fact, Alexander's twin sister. I loved spending time with Charlotte and Matthew, rebellious Lady Calliope, stage actor and playwright, Mr. Powys, the pirate's daughters who own the Black Sheep, and their animal companions, Pan the profane parrot, and Banshee, the capuchin monkey.

This novel employs another hilarious avian through-line, which begins when Alexander and Georgina utilize a rooster they rescued from a cock fight to distract from their clandestine investigative efforts to locate Percy. Together, they convince the ton that carrying fowls around as companions is the latest stare of fashion. I laughed out loud every time a new chicken or rooster appeared on the page.

The book was paced and plotted well, and the characterizations were wonderful. I loved how earnest and gentle Alexander is with Georgina, and how much he truly admires her accomplishments. He is not threatened by her intelligence whatsoever, and goes out of his way to give her every opportunity to shine and to claim the credit she often denies herself. Alexander is the definition of a green flag man and partner. Georgina is one lucky lady!

The found family dynamic continues in this book and helps to build the sense of warmth and joy that the Black Sheep fosters. I am excited to read the next book! Will it be Lady Calliope and Mr. Powys?

Thank you NetGalley and Forever for the opportunity read and review this novel prior to publication. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated in any way for this review.

This book was sweet. Some scenes were a bit sill and there wasn't enough of a romance plot/spice for me. The slow burn didn't work for me. This is a cute story for people who want a mystery and a bit of romance.
Thank yo to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A fun historical romance that was full of interesting characters. I love the premise and I would say it pushed this book a bit more towards cozy mystery than the typical historical romance. I appreciated the commentary on gender roles, society expectations, and disability which added even more to a generally entertaining book. While definitely over-the-top, that was half the fun and the found family is full of ridiculous (in the best way) characters that added hilarity and another layer of cozy to the story.

What a fun and fast paced historical romance for our dear Miss H!

Georgina and Alexander are both outcasts in their respective families but driven in their passions for life. Georgina was relegated to living with her cold step brother and sister in law while pursuing a secret career of archeological discovery. Alexander was born noble but with a deformity refused to accept he cannot be successful in "sport".

When Georgina's cousin who is Alexander's friend goes missing we get our cast of characters on the case. This was so fun to read that I devoured it while laughing and falling in love with most of the cast.....Alexander's parents are terrible 😒

If you enjoy books with animals in them pick this up, they are a cast in itself. All I can say is "Making Chickens a fashionable pet" 🤣🤣

I'm looking forward to continuing this fun series...can't wait to see what comes next ❤️

I loved so much about this story- the characters, the title, the cover, and especially the trendy chickens! It's a wild ride through Georgian England, and author Violet Marsh doesn't shy away from addressing the harsh realities of life in this era. It's definitely the first romance book I've read that references the Jacobite Rebellion more than once! Georgina (Miss H.) is bright and logical, and the story is just as much about her and Alexander's growth as it is the romance. Read this book if you like found families, animal sidekicks with grand Roman names, and enjoy suspense and intrigue in your romance books. I'll be on the lookout for the third installment in this series!