BLOG TOUR - The Matchmaker's Lonely Heart

TOUR BLURB

Join the virtual book tour of THE MATCHMAKER’S LONELY HEART, Nancy Campbell Allen’s highly acclaimed historical novel, September 6-19, 2021. Thirty popular on-line influencers specializing in historical romance, mystery/suspense, and inspirational fiction will join in the celebration of its release with a spotlights, exclusive excerpts, and reviews of this new Victorian-era novel set in London, England.

DESCRIPTION:

London, 1885

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.

PURCHASE LINKS
AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | BOOK DEPOSITORY | BOOKSHOP | GOODREADS

ADVANCE PRAISE

"Allen pairs a matchmaker and a detective in this charming Victorian romance. Allen expertly combines mystery and romance into a fast-paced tale complete with plenty of surprises and a central relationship founded on mutual admiration and respect. Readers are sure to appreciate the strong, well-shaded heroine and twisty plot." —Publishers Weekly

"Allen's chaste tale of Victorian romantic suspense will also appeal to historical mystery readers, and it would be great for mother-and-daughter reads. This has great appeal for teens who like historical fiction laced with mystery and romance." —Booklist

“I was immediately drawn into the characters’ lives and enjoyed the unraveling of the mystery and the development of the romance.” —Mystery and Suspense Magazin

MY THOUGHTS:

 

Title:   The Matchmaker's Lonely Heart

Author:  Nancy Campbell Allen

Publisher:  Shadow Mountain Publishing

Genre:   Historical Romance; Historical Fiction

Format:  Kindle ARC

No. of Pages:   336

Date of Publication:   September 7, 2021

My Rating:   4 Stars

From advice columnist to deputy detective. Detective Michael Baker is investigating a murder and it soon becomes clear that Amelie Hampton has more that a bit of curiosity regarding the victim's husband, Harold Radcliffe. Reluctantly, the detective allows Amelie to share in the case, albeit as minimally as possible. 

Amelie works for her aunt, Sally Hampton, on The Marriage Gazette to offer advice, offering words of wisdom concerning matters of the heart. She is now excited to find herself working alongside the detective and looks at it as a great adventure. What fun this book was! I laughed out loud more than once in this story.  

However, while danger ratcheted up, it slowly proves clear that Amelie and Michael are attracted to one another. However, there are barriers with regard to their growing feelings. For one thing, Amelie has a prospective suitor and he is definitely turning her head. Michael has his own reasons for not being willing to follow through with how he feels. A game of cat-and-mouse ensues, but only one of them gets the cheese.

This cozy mystery really delivered. The slow romance, minor intrigue and engaging characters all worked together to create an enjoyable read. I believe that this book is the first in a new series. Amelie and Michael work well together and I would love to see the pair of them in future stories. 

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Nancy Campbell Allen is the author of fifteen published novels and numerous novellas, which span genres from contemporary romantic suspense to historical fiction. In 2005, her work won the Utah Best of State award, and she received a Whitney Award for My Fair Gentleman. She has presented at numerous writing conferences and events since her first book was released in 1999. Nancy received a BS in Elementary Education from Weber State University. She loves to read, write, travel, and research and enjoys spending time laughing with family and friends. She is married and the mother of three children.

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