found the families in the story to be interesting and each character brought something special to it. It was great that the author chose to give a woman a male choice of careers and her soon to be husband stood by her decision to be an investigator and the two of them worked well together. There was so much history and depth to the characters it truly made for a good read I enjoyed.
I’m looking forward to reading others in this series, but am glad they can be read as stand alone.

I enjoyed this very much, what a pleasant way to spend a few hours! Flora is set on securing a proposal from Holcroft and needs to charm his family first. When invited to spend time with them in their house, she makes sure she’s memorised everything there is to know about cabbage and Dresses to Impress only to find a body amongst the staff.

I think Flora is my favourite heroine in this series. She’s more carefree than Bea and I really loved her first mystery and their meet cute. They’re really good here too. The ending is so sweet as well. This series is so solid.

My endless thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

I am a HUGE fan of Flora and was ready for her to have her own book! Yay!

She spins time at the Holcroft family estate - and the family is not happy to have her.

The best part - I really enjoyed her interactions with her parents - it was time for more development and it was well done.

I am a huge fan of the Hyde-Clare mystery universe so was thrilled to find one more story!

Great story - BUT! Start with volume 1 of Bea’s story!

(")"you must stop doing this!" she wrote desperately. It was not the response any author anticipated. [....] "You must stop making me like your books more. The feeling is already so overwhelming that I can scarcely wait for the next installment to be published and to disappear into my reading nook."(")

Jokes aside - Please don't.

My first Flora-book, yay! If you, dear review reader, are now awaiting a gushing, giddy, bubbling fan-girl review - please hold. For I will be concise this time. It won’t be a Haiku but it won’t be Mann either.

Flora not surprisingly turns out to be exactly a character or the glimpses of character that we get throughout Bea’s books. What is surprising, are her efficient intelligence (show you have some only if and when the situation is either too tumultuous or too dear that the fact can be noticed) and her self-imposed commitment to the non-existent investigator code.

One of the other gems of the story is Aunt Vera (or here: Mama). It would be so exhilarating to be able to trace what is going on in her mind. Before and after a (non-related) death, preferably.

Although, finding a murderer is a serious business, Flora, with her efficient intelligence and investigative commitment, makes it seem rather as a necessary errand before going to the haberdasher for that ribbon that matches the shade of the eyes of her beloved exactly. And Seb loves her for it (sight) and you will too, dear reader, you will too.
Apropos Seb. He fits rather well with the array of the new-ish siblings-in-law on the Hyde-Clare orbit. Now only Russell is missing a smart partner (in crime?) that will manipulate him into his own happiness. Together they will be a big and happy family that could change the Regency world if it only set its collective mind to it.

No more spoilers from me, as this exquisite Regency rompy-but-insightful meeting-the-laws-drama awaits you now (lucky you!). So, get your fanciest shawl with that amber and amaranthine pattern that I know you have, a hot beverage and enjoy the calm joy of settling in in this funnily comfortable mystery.

Thanks Book Whisperer and netgalley for the arc. Much appreciated. Opinions are my own.

I love the Bea-universe in all of its forms and facets, period. No series makes me laughs so, think hard and be impressed by how formidable the characters are.

The banter is always witty and brilliant, the investigation insightful and never boring.

In this particular book it is Flora that takes center stage with a Sebastian somewhat absent through most of the story, I love this couple and hope we will get to see more of them.

But it is Vera Hyde-Clare that really was a surprise this time, she is always making me giggle with the way she is trying to be "Mrs. Halfway", but always fails miserably in her effort to be invisible to her betters. We get to see a different side of her in this book and it is refreshing.

Whether the next will be a Bea story, a Verity story or a Flora story, I am eagerly waiting for it!

I received an advance copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily, thanks to the author for it.

Ms Messina's novels are always delightful. She captures the period perfectly. Poor Flora has to endure the very worst of Sebastian's family as she waits for Be to arrive for the visit in the country. And her mother is just herself, rambling and insulting people without meaning to-as she does. If only Flora could put some tape across her mother's lips... Finally, the Steward is murdered and Flora can find a purpose! Something to show Sebastian's family her worth! Not that murder is a good thing, but in this case-Flora wins the day!
Fun and delightful as always.

I really enjoyed this book of the Beatrice Hyde-Clare mysteries and, really, more than the Bea books, because the author in this book doesn't spend whole pages giving internal monologue that Bea seems to go through on every encounter with everyone. And it was very rewarding to have Vera, Flora's mother and Bea's aunt, become a little more human and less of a caricature of the ineptly mean-mouthed harridan. The mystery was adequate, but it was more of a delight to see Flora solve the problem with input and insight from other characters. So I feel I must give this one more stars than the last Bea book, which just about turned me off as to reading more of her story because of the over-abundance of internal thoughts on every little thing. So kudos to the author for this one. I recommend, and I voluntarily leave this review. #NetGalley #AHighlyCourageousAdventure.

A Highly Courageous Adventure by Lynn Messina is the second Flora Hyde-Clare mystery. Set in the Regency period, this new series is a spinoff from the author's Beatrice Hyde-Clare series. Flora is a cousin of Beatrice, who has now become the Duchess of Kesgrave. Flora's development as an investigator of murders seems to parallel that of Beatrice.

In this book, Flora and family are visiting the family of Flora's beau, Sebastian Holcroftcroft. She starts out trying to impress Sebastian's father, but is failing, Sebastian's mother and sisters show that think poorly of her and her family But when the Holcroft family's land steward is murder Flore begins to investigate. Despite several false starts, and some ridicule from the Holcrofts and her own family Flora gradually earns respect and support. Along the way Flora's parents, especially her mother Vera, begin to show a different side and earn some respect that is not apparent in other books in either series.

Although this is part of a series and related to another series it can be read as a standalone. There are places in the book where it is important to keep track of the quotation marks as actual dialog is embedded in paragraphs with Flora's thoughts and comments to herself. Those who listen to the book using the Kindle Assisted Reader may find that confusing at times, and tempted me to downgrade to three stars.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy. This is my voluntary, honest review.

Thanks so much to NetGalley for the free Kindle book. My review is voluntarily given, and my opinions are my own.

This was the first book that I have ever read by this author, and my issue is that now I have to find time to read all the other books! Really loved it. Will say, though, although it is a stand-alone book, and I had no issues at all jumping into the series, this book gives major spoilers for the previous book. As in told you who the murderer was. I really hate when authors do that, unless it's something you really can't help, like the person is a recurring character. At least there was a bit of plot development as far why, but just be warned.

Definitely would recommend, although I am not sure how I feel about Sebastian. Giving off some red flags. Mostly green, but some red. Although I guess for the period of time she is living in, that's still pretty good.

I really enjoy Lynn Messina’s series-from the Verity Lark to the Beatrice Hyde-Clare to this Flora Hyde-Clare, the first I’ve read but not the last. All these Regency era cozies are a fun, detailed read that drops you right in the middle of that era with Ms Messina’s deft handling of her descriptions of fashion, traditions and more for the time.

Thanks to Netgalley, Book Whisperer and Ms Messina for this ebook to read. All opinions are my own.

This is the second book in Flora's series. Now that Bea is married. Flora has taken over solving murders.
While Flora and her family are guests of her beau Sebastian's family, their land steward is murdered.
Flora immediately starts investigating.
The story is interesting, witty, laugh out loud funny at times, and has a wonderful cast of secondary characters from Sebastian's snooty family to Flora's mother, whose comments are hysterically funny and mostly inappropriate.
I can't wait for the next book in the series.
I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley, and these are my opinions.

enjoyed the character of Flora a lot. She was spunky and fun and a little flighty also. I liked the way the story unrolled. It was fun and seemed like the way someone like Flora would really go about solving the mystery. This was a fun and enjoyable book.

3.5 stars

A highly entertaining Regency cozy which often strays into over the top and outrageous prose, but with humor and tongue in cheek.

I have not read the related series but Flora Hyde-Clare is a strong main character. Her forthrightness and her wacky family add to the generally madcap mood.

Flora and family are visiting her beloved Sebastian's family in hopes of moving forward to a betrothal. The murder of a controversial steward working for his family gives the couple an assignment - to solve the crime. Unfortunately the suspects include his parents and sibling but that doesn't deter the determined duo.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

First book I've read from Lynn Messina and boy, did I laugh. There were so many places of tongue-in-cheek experiences and dialogue that I found myself giggling quite a bit. Was the story all silliness? No. There were some very serious, nearly depressing parts which ended up being balanced out by the reveal of the truth at the end. I'll have to see if the library has book one in this series as well as determine if it has the originating series of the Beatrice Hyde-Clare Mysteries. A most enjoyable Regency cozy mystery.

My interest has been aroused in these lighthearted period fiction mysteries.

I received an ARC; this is my honest review.

Lynn Messina’s A Highly Courageous Adventure delivers another delightfully witty and fast-paced escapade in her trademark Regency mystery style. The story charms from the opening pages, propelled by a heroine whose inner monologue is as incisive as it is chaotic. We are granted full access to her lively stream of thoughts as she navigates a murder investigation with equal parts intelligence and irreverence.The humor sparkles throughout, rooted in her sharp wit and complete disregard for the social expectations of her time. Messina artfully balances the tension of the mystery with the comedy of a woman constantly two steps ahead of propriety—and occasionally herself. The pacing is wonderfully brisk; the heroine barely has time to breathe before another wry observation or outrageous deduction bursts forth, keeping readers thoroughly entertained.While the story’s whirlwind energy occasionally leaves little room for emotional pauses, it’s precisely that pace that makes it such a fun and animated read. A Highly Courageous Adventure is a smart, buoyant romp that proves once again why Lynn Messina remains a favorite among fans of sharp historical humor and clever whodunits.

II am enjoying this spin-off series focused on Flora Hyde-Clare. It is quite funny and interesting to see a different perspective of the Hyde-Clare family members apart from Bea's. I think it has made me a bit more fond of Vera Hyde-Clare to see her through her daughter's eyes, who has empathy for her anxious nature. I love seeing Flora grow into a confident adult who knows what she wants and is willing to fight for it. I enjoyed seeing her parents begin to see her in a new light and stand up for her and her abilities (as much as they are able). Sebastian's family members are also interesting and add so many different dynamics, and reading about the interactions had me flipping back and forth between anger and amusement. I am very much looking forward to what Flora & Sebastian will do next in their relationship and how their families come along for the ride.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book