To Capture His Heart by Nancy Campbell Allen – Review

Tags

5 stars, Book Review, mystery, Nancy Campbell Allen, romance, Victorian England

Review of To Capture His Heart

To Capture His Heart features Eva Caldwell, photographer, in the Victorian era.  A successful independent woman in a male-dominated profession and male-dominated society is sure to draw attention.  Some of that attention comes from Nathan, who belongs to her circle of friends, but has not let on that he is attracted to her. 

Nathan Winston’s mother is throwing a week-long party in the county and needs a photographer.  Eva fits the bill for the job.  Plus they can pretend they are a couple to avoid Mom’s matchmaking designs.  It just happens that Mrs. Winston is very supportive of independent women like Eva, so she is perfect for the party.

Lots of things happen at the party.   The relationship between Eva and Nathan begins to change from pretend to capturing each other’s hearts.  But other things start to go terribly wrong at the party.  Mean girls try to make things difficult for Eva.  And Eva’s very charming young assistant, Sammy, gets into trouble while worming his way into everyone’s heart. 

This book is about good people: independent women, and the men that support them.  It includes information about the evolving technologies of photography and the slowing changing Victorian society.  To Capture His Heart is tied to The Matchmaker’s Lonely Heart (review here), but both books stand alone.  If you are looking for a delightful wholesome historical romance, Nancy Campbell Allen has lots to offer.

Through Netgalley, the publisher provided a copy of this book. My review is my honest opinion.

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About To Capture His Heart by Nancy Campbell Allen

Seaside, England, 1886

Eva Caldwell is an accomplished and well-known photographer who often works with the local constabulary to assist in documenting crime scenes, which means she also often works alongside the handsome and charming detective, Nathan Winston. She appreciates his intellect and how he treats her like an equal, but Eva’s heart is still healing from a past relationship, so, for now, she decides to keep her feelings for Nathan a secret.

One evening, Nathan arrives on her doorstep asking for a personal favor. Would Eva be available to photograph his mother’s legendary, week-long dinner party and matchmaking event? The catch is that Eva would also have to pretend they are courting in order for Nathan to avoid the many single women seeking his attention.

Though wary of the charade, Eva agrees. Spending a week with the two things she loves most—her detective and her camera—sounds simple enough. And if she wants to imagine that Nathan’s pretend courtship of her is real, well, what’s the harm in that?

But when a criminal from Nathan’s past threatens revenge on the detective, Nathan must be extra vigilant to keep his mother and the rest of the partygoers safe. He confides in Eva, and as the two work together to solve the mystery and apprehend the criminal, they find that they might capture more than they expected—each other’s heart.

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The Matchmaker’s Lonely Heart by Nancy Campbell Allen – Review

Tags

5 stars, book club, Book Review, mystery, Nancy Campbell Allen, romance, Victorian England

About The Matchmaker’s Lonely Heart by Nancy Campbell Allen

Amelie Hampton is a hopeless romantic, which makes her the perfect columnist to answer lonely heart letters in The Marriage Gazette. When Amelie plays matchmaker with two anonymous lonely hearts, she also decides to secretly observe the couple’s blind date. To her surprise, the man who appears for the rendezvous is Harold Radcliffe—a grieving widower and a member of Amelie’s book club.

Police detective Michael Baker has been struggling ever since his best friend and brother-in-law died in the line of fire. Because he knows the dangers of his job, he has vowed never to marry and subject a wife and family to the uncertainty of his profession. But when he meets Miss Hampton, he is captured by her innocence, beauty, and her quick mind.

When a woman’s body is pulled from the river, Michael suspects the woman’s husband—Harold Radcliffe—of foul play. Amelie refuses to believe that Harold is capable of such violence but agrees to help, imagining it will be like one of her favorite mystery novels. Her social connections and clever observations prove an asset to the case, and Amelie is determined to prove Mr. Radcliffe’s innocence. But the more time Amelie and Michael spend together, the more they trust each other, and the more they realize they are a good team, maybe the perfect match.

They also realize that Mr. Radcliffe is hiding more than one secret, and when his attention turns toward Amelie, Michael knows he must put an end to this case before the woman he loves comes to harm.

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Review of The Matchmaker’s Lonely Heart

From the beginning of this story, sparks fly between Amelie and Michael.  Though at first, the sparks at not the romantic kind.  More like sparks cause by friction.  Their first meeting, in the rain, while they are both spying on the same person, leads to less than ideal first impressions.  But they agree to work together even if their goals do not align.  While Amelie wants to prove Mr. Radcliffe is a good person, Michael feels he may be a murderer.

What follows is a story of discovery of personalities.  While they both figure out who Mr. Radcliffe is, they also get to know each other.  The romance is slow and comfortable.

Amelie, the heroine, is very young and a little naïve.  So, not my favorite type of heroine.  But she is a fast learner, so as the story progresses, she becomes more interesting.

The author used admirable restraint with Michael.  She could easily have made the hero either more charming or more antagonistic.  But the low key detective makes a great hero as a man of honor, intelligence and grace.

All through the story, the reader pretty much knows who the bad guy is.  What keeps the reader interested is watching Michael and Amelie prove the guilt of someone who seems to be a just grieving widower.  Mystery is woven into the story since you never know where the bad guy will strike next. 

The Victorian England setting is light on historical details, so the mystery is the focus of the story.  For avid readers, there is a book club in the story.  The meeting and its members add interest and provide a little humor.

The Matchmaker’s Lonely Heart is perfect for readers of historical fiction who like a little romance with their mysteries. Thanks to the publisher who provided a copy through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

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Brass Carriages and Glass Hearts (Steampunk Proper Romance, #4) by Nancy Campbell Allen – Review

Tags

5 stars, Book Review, Cinderella, fairy tale, Nancy Campbell Allen, romance, series, Steampunk, vampires, werewolves

About Brass Carriages and Glass Hearts by Nancy Campbell Allen

Emmeline O’Shea is determined to save the world—single-handedly, if necessary. A strong voice for societal reform, she is the natural choice to deliver a key speech at the end of the International Shifter Rights Organization’s week-long Summit in Scotland.

But when a death threat arrives at Emme’s home, she is immediately placed into protective custody, watched over by none other than her personal nemesis, Detective-Inspector Oliver Reed. The two have crossed paths many times, with disastrous results, but now they will have to work together in order to reach the Summit before midnight of the last day in order to ensure legislation is passed to protect the Shifter community.

As unseen enemies close in around Emme and Oliver, they struggle to reach Edinburgh by any means necessary, only to find Emme’s vindictive stepsister, Oliver’s vampire brother, and a dangerous political minefield awaiting them in Scotland.

Even more difficult is their own refusal to admit that the fiery animosity that once burned between them might be turning into the heat of romantic passion. Could a straitlaced policeman determined to uphold the law and an outspoken activist willing to break the rules ever find true love? Or will all their dreams shatter like glass when the clock strikes midnight?

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Review of Brass Carriages and Glass Hearts

You know the story, don’t you?  The evil stepmother and stepsisters try to keep Cinderella from happiness but their plot is foiled by a fairy godmother.

In this steampunk retelling of Cinderella, the role of the prince is played by a policeman, Oliver, and Cinderella is played by a social activist, Emme.  In this case, Emme’s mother remarried so there is a stepfather and two stepsisters.  Yes, the role of the fairy godmother is filled too, and there is a carriage and a ridiculous pair of shoes.

I loved this story.  Mainly, I enjoyed the relationship between Oliver and Cinderella.  What starts out as contentious becomes friendly and then affectionate and then so much more.  With just a little ongoing contentiousness to keep things real.  These two characters are good for each other and great for the story!  Many people contrive to keep Emme from reaching the International Shifter Rights Summit.  The dangerous adventures of Emme and Oliver make for a suspenseful story and a thrilling reading experience.

Brass Carriages and Glass Hearts is the fourth book in Nancy Campbell Allen’s Steampunk Proper Romance series. I’ve enjoyed the entire series so I can tell you that each book stands alone, though successive books do reference events and characters of previous books. Read one, or read them all!

Through Netgalley, the publisher provided a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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