A Betrothed's Betrayal: Lockstone Hollow Mystery Book 1 Author Deb Marlowe
Book Review
4.5 out of 5 stars!
"Chin up, my dear. You are a lioness, whatever comes, you will conquer it. And likely put a bow on it." - Patrick
"There is little in life that is not improved by just the right bow." - Lisette
Lady Lisette Britwhistle has been whisked away to the countryside. Having dealt with so much loss she's ready for something to brighten her spirits. Her brother knew his sister better than anyone and, in his passing, he gifted her practically an entire village?! Lisette cannot deny she needed a project or ten to keep her busy and to not be alone. Lockstone Hollow will prove to be just the thing Lisette needed and regardless of the naysayers, the village may have needed Lisette just as much if not more.
The idyllic scene and fairytale story may come to a jarring halt though when a man is murdered. Lisette will be at the heart of the case since the man was her ex-fiancé! She will have to navigate through lies and truths of the village and try solving the mystery before the grumpy constable throws her in jail! Will her judgment be clouded by the new bonds she is forming?
"To me, bows represent both beauty and bonding." - Lisette
I think I'm on a little bit of a Regency kick, not to mention cozy mysteries are just nice. You get that mystery and wonderment of whodunit but in a calm tone. Love my thrillers and suspense reads but cozy mysteries set in a small town/village are a breath of fresh air before diving into another read that has your heart rate up!
Lisette is a colorful character herself! Don't let the author's description of "a cast of colorful local characters" fool you into thinking Lisette is not. She's an independent lady who speaks her mind and has no qualms verbally jousting. Well-read and intelligent she causes some Regency Era ladies to clutch their pearls and wave fans harder. But Lisette has a unique skill of understanding and reading people. She's someone who truly has never met a stranger, only friends.
The amateur sleuthing and interactions between the ladies and the constable were great. We get some fun comedic moments! Lisette will not sit by and wait for the constable to arrest the wrong person or her. He may even have to begrudgingly enlist the help of Lisette and her newfound posse since his gruff manner isn't getting him any closer to the truth. Lisette was already a bit of a celebrity before taking up residence in the village being a Duke's sister and all that. But now people wish to gauge her character.
This read does contain language of the times. Grief and wearing mourning attire, death and understanding of how a man was murdered, no gory details. Cozy read but there are some darker things mentioned or discussed. One being why Lisette ended things with her betrothed and normalcy surrounding things done to wives. Some violence, a struggle/fight, and moments of fear. Understanding of a small town and the gossip mill, feel good moments, found family, sisterhood, and fun rivalry.
"Oh! You've done it! You've used my first name, and the world still stands. The earth did not crack open and swallow us whole. Well done!" - Lisette
"I take it back." - Royce
We have a slow burn romance possibly blossoming. But the fun part is Lisette is caught between two men! A carpenter who is handsome and agreeable though she can get him to make grunts at her antics. He also supports her and has her back even if he may also sneak up on her to throw her off tilt. Or the constable who challenges her constantly and seems to love nothing more than to bicker. He is good looking, but will he always see her as a thorn in his side and a suspect? Nothing scandalous happens in this read. Just tensions and attractions building.
The banter is something I truly loved about this read and how the author wrote it. Weaving in insults with proper society talk while dishing back witty comebacks. The author also did a fantastic job keeping the reader immersed in the era with no modern slang or modern customs. You felt like you were truly standing in a Cotswold village in the middle of the Regency Era!
I loved all of the cast of the village and honestly cannot wait for the next book! Even the "villains" of the village were well written, and I have to confess by the end of the read Mrs. Bixby was my favorite. But don't tell the baby goats that or you will break their hearts! HEA for this installment but more to come for Lockstone Hollow and continuation of particular character plotlines!
Enjoy the read and don't forget to give the author some stars!
Thank you, NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op!
Lockstone Hollow Mystery Series (2 book series) Kindle Edition
A Betrothed's Betrayal | Barnes & Noble®
Comments