Review - - Pride Comes Before a Fall

Pride Comes Before a Fall

by Virginia Heath

Miss Prentice's Protegees - Book 3

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Release Date: July 28, 2026

Reviewed by PJ

Despite his many responsibilities, there is nothing Leopold Sloane, the 11th Duke of Debden, takes more seriously than the safety of those he loves. When one of his sisters is injured at a protest rally, he drags his family to Bath for the summer to keep his reckless and rebellious siblings out of harm’s way. The only flaw in his plan is his overwhelming but inexplicable attraction to the new chaperone he has hired to watch out for them. An outspoken conundrum of a woman who soon causes him more trouble than both his sisters combined...but who calls to his soul regardless.

From the moment Portia Kendall read her first revolutionary pamphlet beneath her bedcovers at Miss Prentice’s School for Girls, she realized that her true calling was to make the world a fairer place for the masses downtrodden by the aristocracy. A calling that led her to Equitas, a radical newspaper that champions reform. But as Portia discovers, writing doesn’t pay the bills. To make a living, she must push aside her principles and serve the very people she criticizes weekly in her column. A temporary position as a chaperone in the home of a pompous duke seems like the perfect way to earn enough to follow her heart. Unfortunately, the duke who hires her seems to be more dashing and noble than pompous and soon begins to call to her heart too—as much as she tries to deny it. But dare she risk her principles for love or will her pride always come before a fall?

PJ's Thoughts:

Pride Comes Before a Fall follows another graduate of Miss Prentice's School for Girls as she makes her way into the world, tumbling into unexpected love along the way. While this third book of the series has some humorous scenes, overall it's tone is decidedly more serious than the previous two. 

There's some snappy banter between Portia and Leo as well as chemistry but there's also plenty of conflict. Leo is an overprotective brother who believes his way is always the right way. Portia is a political reformer who pens opinion pieces for an underground newspaper taking the aristocracy to task for rampant inequality and unfair treatment of those citizens without the rights of the "quality." 

Both are obstinately set in their ways which leads to some tense situations and more than a few frustrating points in the book where I was tempted to give up on them but they do, eventually, unbend enough to finally work things out. 

Complicated family dynamics also play a part in the ongoing evolution of the main characters. Leo's mother was one of my favorite characters. I loved how she took her son to task and also how she supported and advocated for Portia. 

While the humor wasn't as pronounced in this book (no laugh out loud moments for me), there was considerable depth as Leo and Portia needed to grow as characters, opening their minds, hearts, and willingness to compromise before they could claim their happy ending. 

While Pride Comes Before a Fall isn't my favorite of the series, it's still a solid read with complex characters, intriguing history, complicated family dynamics, and a hard-won happy ending. 

Review - - Nearly a Bride

Nearly a Bride

by Sabrina Jeffries

Lords of Hazard - Book 2

Publisher: Kensington Books

Release Date: April 28, 2026

Reviewed by PJ

After more than a decade separated from his home and family, the Earl of Heathbrook returns to his London townhouse to face a new test: reclaiming guardianship of his younger brothers. His reputation as a rakehell, it seems, has followed him from detention inside Napoleon’s France and caused his own father to block Heathbrook’s rightful custody in his will. However, the clever rogue concocts a plan to restore respectability and rescue his siblings . . . by finding a “fiancée” with no strings attached.

Giselle Bernard is not looking to wed an earl with a wild past. All she seeks is a connected nobleman who can legally secure her new life in England and head off a mysterious stranger’s threats. Posing as Heathbrook’s bride-to-be would surely benefit them both. But as revelations come to light—the ill-fated young affair that left Heathbrook embittered, and the mademoiselle’s own guarded secrets—their engagement charade may unexpectedly blossom into a promise to love, honor, and cherish . . .

PJ's Thoughts:

Imagine being a 17-year-old forced to accompany your father on a trip to France then spending the next eleven years detained, then imprisoned, by Napoleon. It's the type of experience that leaves a person fundamentally changed, not to mention the changes to everyone and everything left behind in England. That's the premise of this new series from Sabrina Jeffries who has created two books, so far, that have been hard to put down.  

This second book in Jeffries' new trilogy kept me engaged from start to finish. I admit, fake engagement is one of my favorite romance tropes and it's done so well in this book. Giselle and Heathbrook are on equal footing when the deal is struck which, for me, made it even more enjoyable. Each needs the other, neither wants a permanent relationship, and, oh, how much fun it is when those pesky romantic feelings enter the picture.

I really enjoyed the different relationships in this book, those among friends, family, and couples. There are more than a few twists that impact those relationships as well as the progression of the story. But I also enjoyed how the evolution of the relationships revealed facets of individual characters. Giselle's deepening bonds with Heathbrook's brothers, in particular, not only gave readers additional insight in her character but helped Heathbrook repair his sibling relationships as well as open his eyes to possibilities between him and Giselle. 

I love character growth in a book and in this one, Heathbrook has a boatload of growing to do. It was immensely satisfying to watch his evolution and the results of it upon his family, his relationship with Giselle, and his overall outlook upon life. By the end of the book, I was firmly in his corner and cheering the person he had become. 

If you enjoy historical romance with secrets, complicated family dynamics, witty banter, slow-burn romance, a bit of a mystery, surprising twists, and a hard-won happy ending, give Nearly a Bride a try. I thoroughly enjoyed it. 

Review - - The Last Lady B

The Last Lady B

by Eloisa James

Publisher: Gallery Books

Release Date: May 12, 2026

Reviewed by PJ

In the depths of winter, Lady Genevieve Hughes, her pet piglet, and her septuagenarian husband travel to a haunted abbey in the Scottish Highlands. Evie is excited to meet a ghost (perhaps one of her husband’s three previous wives), but didn’t expect the funny, quirky guests to become the friends she’s never had. And she certainly didn’t imagine meeting Sir Godric Everly, a sardonic, witty solicitor who loathes her husband.

Yet as secrets and lies turn Evie’s world upside down, Sir Godric becomes the one person whom she can trust.

When ghosts, multiple wills, and a shocking marriage certificate bring Lord Burnsby’s past crashing into his present, Burnsby promptly dies, leaving Evie free to remarry…though as a virgin wife, now a virgin widow, she is more unnerved by the marriage bed than a spectral visit.

More importantly, she has to figure out whose identity is false, whose vows are dishonorable, whose truths could destroy her reputation—and where her heart belongs.

PJ's Thoughts:

It's rare for an author I've been reading for 20 years to surprise me but that's exactly what Eloisa James did...and in a very good way. I've read everything this author has published. The Last Lady B, in my opinion, is one of her best. 

The point of view is written in first person, a departure from past James books but very effective in this book. Evie's mind is such a fun place to be! The plot is fast paced, keeping me on my toes from start to finish. While I had no idea how Evie and her true love would ever get their HEA, I was truly hooked and eager to turn each page to discover what awaited around the next corner of this twisty tale and, let me tell you, I did NOT see some of those twists coming! Underpinning the twists are plenty of humor, conflict, witty dialog, social commentary, endearing chemistry, awkward physical intimacy (so well written!), and family of the heart.  

I really enjoyed the characters. They are all (good and bad) expertly developed with organically depicted evolutions that I found believable and relatable. I wanted to be friends with them (well, most of them) but especially Colette and Genevieve (Evie). I love that Colette is so quintessentially French, confident, outspoken, and loyal to those she loves. And, Evie. I really enjoy that she is firmly "of her time" throughout much of the book. It makes her evolution that much more satisfying...and fun. 

Whether you're an Eloisa James fan or new to her books, I enthusiastically recommend picking up a copy of The Last Lady B. I loved my first reading of this engaging Gothic romance. I know it won't be my last.

*ARC received from publisher via Edelweiss+

Fair and unbiased opinions

Review - - Can't Get Enough of the Duke

Can't Get Enough of the Duke

by Lenora Bell

The Thunderbolt Club - Book 2

Publisher: Avon

Release Date: April 7, 2026

Reviewed by PJ

War hero Deckard Payne, Duke of Warburton, made a battlefield promise to become guardian to orphan Analise Crewe. He certainly didn’t agree to marry the girl! But that’s exactly what happens when he’s forced to wed her to save her honor.

The last thing Analise wants is a loveless marriage to a brooding—albeit handsome—duke who lives in a gloomy castle and keeps his doors—and his heart—tightly locked. He’s determined to keep her at arm’s length—but she’s not easily deterred when there’s a tough case to crack.

Warburton never wanted a wife. Especially an inquisitive and far-too-pretty whirlwind who upends his regimented life. Her sunny, winning ways charm everyone she meets and soon she’s unearthing buried secrets, plotting love matches, and shining light into even the darkest of hearts…his own.

PJ's Thoughts:

Do you enjoy a lively guardian/ward trope? How about grumpy/sunshine? Scandal-forced marriage of convenience? Age gap (it's the Regency, not that unusual)? Sparkling banter? A bit of danger? You'll get all that and more in Lenora Bell's newest book, Can't Get Enough of the Duke. 

To be honest, I couldn't get enough of Analise. If anyone in this book should be grumpy and disillusioned, it's her. Yet she's the one who lifts the spirits of everyone around her. Yes, she's young and a bit naive, impetuous, and too curious for her own good but her heart is in the right place. I adored her. I want to be friends with her. I want to bask in the sunshine of her indomitable spirit. And, let's face it, so does the duke...even if it takes him the majority of the book to realize it. 

Dex (the duke) needs some sunshine in his life. This man is darkness personified. Still struggling with the horrors of the battlefield, physical and emotional wounds, and the pain of personal betrayal, he's encased his heart in ice that shows no signs of thawing. It feels like his rigid rules are the only things holding him together, until little Miss Sunshine comes along and threatens to blow everything to smithereens. I do love watching those "I will not fall prey to love" heroes come apart at the seams. 

If you like spice, you'll get plenty in this book, including a hero who tries to take command in all areas of his life, especially the bedroom. It feels a bit imbalanced in the beginning, especially with the age difference, but it doesn't take long for inexperienced Analise to grow into her own power and even the playing field. 

As an added bonus, there's a book within this book. Analise is an author who has written a fantasy romance with a cursed dragon whose emotional evolution coincidentally parallels that of her own dragon-like Duke of Warburton. A passage from her book begins each chapter of this book and sets the stage for what's to come. I can't be the only reader who found herself just as invested in the outcome for the dragon as the outcome for the dragon-like duke. 

Do you enjoy age-gap romances?

Have you read Lenora Bell? 

The books in Bell's The Thunderbolt Club series are inspired by beloved musicals. Can you guess which musical inspired Can't Get Enough of the Duke?

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, April 9 will received a signed, paperback copy of You're the Duke That I Want, book one in The Thunderbolt Club series.

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

Review - - The Governess's Guide to Spells and Managing Misfit Marquesses

The Governess's Guide to Spells and Managing Misfit Marquesses

by Amy Rose Bennett

The Parasol Academy - Book 2

Publisher: Kensington Books

Release Date: March 31, 2026

Reviewed by PJ

 

Hermina Davenport can hardly believe the audacious exploit she is about to attempt. To protect an orphaned young viscount, the prim and proper governess feels she has no choice but to break the rules of the Parasol Academy Handbook! When the lad’s guardian, a ruthlessly ambitious explorer, ensorcelled by the evil Fae Queen, spirits him away on a dangerous North Pole expedition, Mina employs an invisibility spell to snatch him from the ship. But a magical misfire whisks Mina and her charge onto a different vessel, that of a ruggedly handsome Irishman—a strapping prizefighter from Dublin’s backstreets—and Mina finds she’s at sea in more ways than one . . .

Phineas O’Connell, Lord Kinsale, can no more explain the arrival of this English Rose than he can adapt to his newly-inherited title—though his disgruntled pet pug clearly has “thoughts” about the fair stowaway. But their enchanted encounter sparks an irresistible offer: Phinn enlists the polished Miss Davenport to transform this misfit marquess into a mannered gentleman ready for his seat in Parliament. No magic required, just enticingly intimate lessons in etiquette and elocution to smooth all his rough edges including a stammer. . .

But when enemies—both earthly and supernatural, past and present—threaten, a confrontation begins, where Mina’s nondescript umbrella is just one of her powerful weapons . . .

PJ's Thoughts:

Check your disbelief at the door and embrace the faery magic in this newest book from Amy Rose Bennett. 

I've lost track of the number of times I've watched Mary Poppins, which could be why I'm so thoroughly enjoying this new series from Bennett. I want to be friends with these graduates of The Parasol Academy who are tasked with protecting London's children. How could I not? They are kind, dedicated to their charges, pragmatic, and surprisingly adept at fending off villains. They also come equipped with intriguing spells and magic pockets. I do love a good pocket and, really, wouldn't a spell come in handy on occasion? I especially like the closet teleportation one, even if it does go wonky now and then, landing you in the master cabin of someone's ship. How else are you supposed to meet a hunky Irish marquess who just might end up being the love of your life? 

And let's talk about that newly-minted marquess. Say hello to Phinn, Lord Kinsale, my new book boyfriend, a tall, muscular, rugged, former boxer from the streets of Dublin. He's woefully ignorant of the ways of the Ton, doesn't know how to dance, and has a stammer. He's also kind, caring, dedicated to improving the lives of the poor, protective of those in his care, and smitten with his new governess. I say "his" because in addition to teaching the two young boys in his home, Mina is also teaching Phinn what he needs to know to effectively navigate society as well as deliver speeches in Parliament. Maybe "never been kissed" Mina would like a few lessons as well? I love the slow-burn chemistry between these two, how they slowly become friends while the growing yearning simmers beneath the surface. I love how gentle Phinn is once he realizes what he thought about Mina isn't actually what is truth, how he always verifies consent, even in the throes of his own desire. And, I love how he embraces all that she is without blinking an eye, ready to go to battle to keep his little family safe. 

If you're in the mood for a feel-good historical romance with humor, heart, a bit of adventure, slow-burn cross-class romance, an opinionated dog (who communicates with a certain governess), Fae magic, and a swoon-worthy happy ending, check out The Governess's Guide to Spells and Managing Misfit Marquesses. It's a delight.  

Review & Giveaway - - A Bride for Marcus

A Bride for Marcus

by Anne Gracie

Devil Riders - Book 6

Publisher: Gracie Enterprises

Release Date: March 25, 2026

Reviewed by PJ

Marcus, the handsome Earl of Alverleigh, is London’s most eligible bachelor—yet he’s vowed never to marry for love. Bitter experience taught him it only brings pain.

Tessa, his lively childhood friend, is now twenty-four and twice widowed, left destitute by her ruthless brother and the laws that prevent women from financial control. Fiercely independent, she refuses to be controlled again—until she’s on the brink of a third forced marriage.

Marcus rescues her with a practical offer: a sensible marriage between old friends. No passion, no risk—just safety and companionship. Tessa hesitates—her freedom is precious—but scandal forces her hand.

On their honeymoon, can the guarded earl and spirited widow rediscover each other? Will laughter, old memories, and long-buried affection bloom? And can what started as practicality and duty become something tender and true?

PJ's Thoughts:

When one has waited 14 years for a certain pivotal side character's story to be told, one approaches that long-awaited book with high expectations and no small amount of trepidation. One then also stays awake reading until 2:00 AM because she can't bear to go to sleep until said character's long overdue and well deserved HEA is secured. Trepidation? Erased. Expectations? Exceeded. Happy ending? You bet! 

Gracie has infused some of my favorite tropes into this heartfelt story. There's childhood friends reunited as adults, friends to lovers, scandal, marriage of convenience (to neutralize said scandal), found family, and meddling, matchmaking relatives. 

All of the tropes are brought to life through the thoughts and actions of beautifully developed characters. That's one of Anne Gracie's strengths. Her characters - both main and side - are multi-layered and realistically portrayed, never failing to elicit emotional reactions in me, whether positive or negative. She does make the villain(s) in this book truly villainous which, of course, renders their eventual downfall especially delicious. Also, I do love an irascible older relative who meddles for all the right reasons, especially if she doesn't show her hand while doing it. And, bonus, not only do we get a Daisy Chance cameo in this book, we also get her hunky Irish husband!

As for Marcus and Tessa, these two had me in their corner from their first encounter as children. I enjoyed their journeys, both individually and as a couple. It was so much fun to watch Marcus's heart soften and open to love and to cheer Tessa on as she finally claims her agency. Together, they balance one another perfectly and fill all those heart holes that had been so empty before. 

Whether you're a long-time Gracie fan or new to her historical world, A Bride for Marcus is written in such a way that you can easily jump in with this book and not miss a beat. 

Have you read Anne Gracie before?

Do you have a favorite book or series written by her?

What secondary character's book are you still waiting for?

Three randomly chosen people who post a comment before 11:00 PM, March 27 will each receive an e-book copy of A Bride for Marcus. 

Review - - The Heir of Whitestone

The Heir of Whitestone

by Catherine Coulter

Publisher: Kensington

Release Date: February 24, 2026

Reviewed by PJ

When Alex Ivanov was 12, someone tried to kill him. Now, 11 years later, they still want him dead.

England, 1842. Queen Victoria reigns, Buckingham Palace is overrun with rats, and the streets of London are filled with intrigue.

Alex Ivanov is a brilliant young innovator, designing cutting-edge train engines. But Alex has a secret—he isn’t really Alex Ivanov. As a boy, he was pulled from the Thames, presumed drowned, with no memory of who he was. Rescued and raised by the formidable Ryder Sherbrooke, Alex has built a new life, but his past is catching up with him.

Lady Camilla Rohman has problems of her own. Trapped by a scheming stepmother and a family determined to see her married off, she is as clever as she is desperate. When fate throws her into Alex’s path, their connection is undeniable.

But as their whirlwind romance turns into marriage, danger follows. On their honeymoon, a series of deadly attacks make one thing clear—someone wants Alex dead. As they race to uncover the truth, old enemies and long-buried secrets come to light, leading them to a shocking revelation that will change everything…

PJ's Thoughts:

A new Catherine Coulter historical romance with a Sherbrooke tie-in? I couldn't get to this book fast enough. 

It's been many years since I read a Coulter historical and, admittedly, I had forgotten the ins and outs of her particular style of writing. It was disjointed at times, with sudden veers into secondary storylines that felt a bit superfluous, and slow sections that made it too easy to set the book aside, but the main couple - plus Ryder Sherbrooke (The Hellion Bride) - kept my interest engaged and the pages turning.

Alex and Cam were so easy to root for. I became emotionally invested in them from the very start and that attachment never wavered. I loved Cam's internal strength, cleverness, and determination to take matters into her own hands in the face of toxic family dynamics. Also, how she saved that same family when adversity came to call.

Alex was equally appealing. I adored him and loved how smitten he was with Cam, coming to love her because of her unique qualities not in spite of them. I also loved his relationship with Ryder. As a fan of the original Sherbrooke books, it made my heart so happy to watch Ryder as the voice of wisdom in a paternal role. I wish Sophie (his wife) had been part of the story as well but references in the book reassured readers that they continue to be happy, in love, and giving hope and home to abandoned and abused children. 

The mystery that threaded through the book was a mixed bag. While I figured out certain aspects of it early on, there were others that eluded me until the reveal. It all built to a final climax which felt a bit rushed and left questions that I had unanswered. Others may feel differently but I guess I just like all my loose threads tied. 

The romance, however, was a complete delight. I thoroughly enjoyed it and turned the final page confident that Cam and Alex had found their happily ever after, in more ways than one.      

Review - - Remember That Day

Remember That Day

by Mary Balogh

A Ravenswood Novel - Book 5

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: January 6, 2026

Reviewed by Hellie

 

Winifred Cunningham, the adopted daughter of a portrait painter, hopes that her new close friend, Owen Ware, will soon ask for her hand in marriage. But when Owen introduces Winifred to his elder brother Nicholas, the late Earl of Stratton’s second son, the slow burn between them begins.

Nicholas is a cavalry colonel—a hardened soldier whom Winifred at first despises. She finds him intimidating and cruel-looking, while he finds her strange and startlingly forthright. During a summer at Ravenswood, however, Nicholas and Winifred are unwillingly thrown together on several occasions, until they realize the passion that drives their disagreements is not due to dislike—it is because of attraction.

Winifred still awaits Owen’s proposal, and Nicholas has made his intention to marry his commanding officer’s daughter quite clear. With allegiances to other marriage prospects and brotherly bonds at risk, not to mention the age difference between them, Nicholas and Winifred know it would be wholly improper to pursue a romance...

And yet, romance is irresistible. Perhaps even inevitable.

Hellie’s Heeds

Remember That Day is a wondrous slow burn where chemistry is as important as mutual respect and friendship. Mary Balogh has been doing this for a while, and as she always does, she proves why she is the queen of sly wit, flawed but loveable characters, and the kind of romance that would make Jane Austen give her quill of approval. This is also the fifth book in the Ravenswood series, but it has the delightful surprise of combining the beloved characters from The Wescott series. 

The hero, Nicholas, is a military man (I kept thinking of Colonel Brandon when I read him–the cruel mouth, the wounded leg, the sensitivity and intense longing!)--and he is paired with the beloved adopted daughter of the Cunninghams, Winifred, who upon meeting him, professes she doesn’t like killers. Or war. Winifred is a beguiling blend of Marianne (hey, I love Sense & Sensibility) and her whimsy and longing for her own love, but more of Eleanor’s pragmatic attitude, especially when it comes to her looks and how good her prospects really are. Unfortunately, both of them are rather attached to other people when they meet: him to the General’s daughter, who has already lost two military fiancees in war, and her to Nicholas’s brother, Owen, who is passionate about making a difference in the world and is Winifred’s best friend, but he doesn’t seem to see her in the way she wishes he would. 

Balogh gives us the best of all possible settings: a country house party, complete with an annual summer fete with trinkets, contests, and the like. All the proximity between Nicholas and Winifred soon makes each of them realize: maybe they have chosen wrong. But they are both honorable, good people; and it’s only through honest communication that the ending we all hope for comes to be. Throw in scenes and vignettes with some characters we have been wondering about since we’ve seen them last, marveling at Balogh’s way of phrasing and creating emotion, and I turned the last page, smiling in pure happiness. 

The only warning I give is that reading this book will likely make you want to reread all the rest of the series…including the Westcotts. But I don’t think that’s a bad thing.

Review - - Marked as a Lyon's Marchioness

Marked as a Lyon's Marchioness

by Wendy LaCapra

The Lyon's Den Connected World

Publisher: Dragonblade Publishing, Inc.

Release Date: January 14, 2026

Reviewed by PJ

She sought marriage.
He sought pleasure.
Love had other plans.


When scandal threatens to force her sister into a disastrous marriage, Miss Eliza Wainwright makes a desperate, daring nighttime visit to the Black Widow, owner of London's most notorious gaming hall. All Eliza needs is a respectable husband to restore her family's standing—instead, she finds herself drawn to the arrogant yet enigmatic Marquess of Redver, who comes to know her only as The Blackbird.

Redver’s carefully crafted façade hides explosive family secrets. But during a masked encounter with The Blackbird, he discovers not only pleasure and passion, but unexpected solace. When she refuses to see him again, him being of the same ilk that ruined her sister, his walls begin to crumble.

As hidden truths emerge and disguises fall away, will Redver and Eliza be destroyed? Or can Redver convince his perfect match he is worthy of her heart?

PJ's Thoughts:

So, there are apparently 100+ books, written by multiple authors, in the Lyon's Den Connected World. This was my first. It is also Wendy LaCapra's first entry in this fictional world. Jumping in at this point did not diminish my enjoyment of Eliza's and Adrian's journey at all. Much of the credit for that is due to LaCapra's fully developed, multi-layered characters as well as her flowing, nuanced storytelling. She never disappoints.

At 249 pages, this is a quick read that still packs a punch. The spice - which also includes a bit of mystery and hidden identity - is in the opening pages of the book and sets the stage for everything that follows. I found the pace to be a bit slow in those early chapters but once the layers of Eliza and Adrian - especially Adrian - began to slowly peel away and I started to understand them more, I really got into their characters and their bumpy, sometimes humorous, sometimes mysterious, sometimes heart-tugging journey from adversaries to friends to lasting love. I became emotionally invested in their friendship, their deepening feelings, their individual growth and healing, and the slow realization (I do love it when the lead couple are the last to realize they're in love) that they have found the person they want to share their life with. The story picked up pace after those first few chapters and I was happily flipping pages, eager to discover what would happen next until the satisfying conclusion.

Secondary characters played pivotal roles in the book, including Eliza's four sisters, Adrian's friends and family, and a mysterious woman (at the center of this fictional world) who owns a gaming house and apparently meddles in the romantic lives of her clients. At least, she did in this romantic journey.

I hope LaCapra has plans to write stories for at least some of Eliza's sisters because I'm nowhere near ready to say goodbye to these characters.

Spotlight, Excerpt & Giveaway - - The Marriage Method

The Marriage Method

by Mimi Matthews

The Crinoline Academy - Book 2

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: November 25, 2025

Well removed from London’s more curious eyes, the Benevolent Academy for the Betterment of Young Ladies strives toward one clandestine goal: to distract, disrupt, and discredit men in power who would seek to harm the advancement of women—by appropriate means, of course.

When intrepid newspaper editor Miles Quincey starts to question the school’s intentions, the Academy appoints Penelope “Nell” Trewlove, one of their brightest graduates, to put this nuisance to rest. An easy enough mission, she supposes. Or it would be, if Miles wasn’t so fascinating—too fascinating to resist—and if Nell’s visit to London didn’t perfectly coincide with the murder of one of Miles’s reporters.

When the inexorable claws of fate trap Nell and Miles in a compromising situation, they agree to an arrangement that will save their reputations while enabling them to investigate the story that led to a man’s death, as well as the surprising chemistry between them . .

Excerpt

Gloved hands folded neatly in her lap, she waited for Mr. Quincey’s questions. But he didn’t give voice to them. Not immediately. He only looked at her with a pensive frown, as though something about her person prevented him from pursuing his logical course.

“Forgive me,” he said at length. “Mrs. Royce failed to mention that you were lately bereaved. Had I known of your loss, I would never have pressed you to—”

“I am not bereaved,” Nell said.

“No?” He swept a glance from her black-veiled hat to her lusterless black mourning dress with its tight-fitting bodice and wide, untrimmed skirts. “You can doubtless understand my confusion.”

Nell would have thought it plain enough. “I travelled alone from the Academy. I preferred to do so unmolested.” She paused, adding, “Widows are generally accorded a degree of respect not offered to unaccompanied young ladies.”

Mr. Quincey didn’t bat an eye at her explanation. She suspected he was a man who wasn’t easily surprised. “In other words, it’s a disguise.”

Nell’s expression tightened. Leave it to a man to reduce a woman’s desire to protect herself to a childish pantomime. “It’s a practical necessity,” she said.

“I see. And do all teachers at Miss Corvus’s Academy for the Betterment of Young Ladies employ such arts? Or is it only you who…” His words died away as she pushed back her veil.

Ah. Perhaps he was capable of being surprised after all.

Nell met his gaze, a hint of a challenge in her own. She wasn’t vain. Neither was she guilty of false modesty. She knew herself, both her weaknesses and her strengths. “Feminine ingenuity isn’t limited to the staff room at the Academy,” she informed him. “Though, I assure you, it’s in no short supply there.”       

Mr. Quincey collected himself in a blink—so quickly Nell wondered if she’d imagined the look of masculine alertness that had flared in his eyes on first seeing her face. Clearing his throat, he very slowly and very methodically returned his pen to the brass holder on his desk. “Something else Mrs. Royce failed to mention.”

“What might that be?”

“How young you are.”

Nell stiffened at his tone of disappointment. She wasn’t used to anyone implying that she was lacking in wisdom or experience. Quite the reverse. In times of crisis, people generally looked to her for guidance. During Miss Corvus’s recent illness, Nell had all but been running the school. “Is my age of importance to your inquiries?”

“Only as it pertains to your tenure,” he said. “You can’t have been in your position long.”

“I have been employed as a teacher for five years, sir.”

He sat back in his chair, frowning at her again with an attitude of impatience. One would think she had wasted his precious time. “Mrs. Royce led me to believe you had been present at the Academy’s founding, nearly twenty years ago. It’s why I consented to meet with you instead of pursuing an interview with Miss Corvus herself. I had anticipated your providing certain information about the institution’s origins.”

Nell at once grasped the cause of his irritation. He’d wrongly presumed she would be a much older woman. One who had spent the whole of the past eighteen years teaching at the charity school. “Mrs. Royce did not mislead you.”.

“Not only Mrs. Royce,” he replied. “You, as well, Miss Trewlove. Your letters gave me to understand that you had decades of experience at Miss Corvus’s Academy.”

“I do,” she said. “Or nearly that long. I was one of its earliest students.”

Understanding registered on his face. He stared at her with renewed attention. “You were an orphan?”

Nell’s chin ticked up a notch. “That’s correct.”

There was no shame in it. Not as far as she was concerned. It was just as she often told her girls. One wasn’t accountable for the circumstances of one’s birth, only for the choices they made and the actions they took. It was that which defined a person, not pedigree.

“As are all the students at the Academy?” Mr. Quincey asked.

“To a one,” she said. “They come to us from all over the county. I flatter myself that we do our best for them.”

“Your best being…?”

She lifted one shoulder in an artfully casual shrug. “We feed them, house them, and provide them with an education that will best help them meet their potential.”

Mr. Quincey narrowed in on the word with single-minded precision. “Their potential for what, exactly?

Nell’s mouth curved in a slow smile. She comprehended the unspoken crux of his question. He believed the Academy was a home for dangerous revolutionaries. Budding feminists and crusaders for equality, willing to go to any ends to achieve their goals, even if that meant destroying the occasional man who got in their way.

He wasn’t wrong.

 

Excerpted from The Marriage Method by Mimi Matthews. Copyright © 2025 by Mimi Matthews. Excerpted by permission of Berkley. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher. https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/727469/the-marriage-method-by-mimi-matthews/

 

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