Wendy Lyn Watson

Barely makes it onto the angst shelf, really, but the heroine had just enough self-doubt to warrant it. The heroine's chubbiness is not a central part of the story like I prefer, but still, man, this hit on a lot of my favorite tropes!

A great re-read, but the bulk of the book is focused on the mystery potline. It's a great story, but I prefer my spinster heroine romances to focus on angsty insecurity, and this doesn't quite make the most of it, IMO, though there is excellent set-up! A great read overall. (3.5 stars)… (meer)

Overall a good book, combining history, mystery, and romance. This is the story of Mirabelle Fitzhenry, known to her family as Mira. Orphaned at a young age, she is raised by her aunt and uncle who have a daughter also called Mirabelle Fitzhenry, Bella for short. Mira's Uncle George is a terrible gambler and loses so badly one night that he has to agree to to give Mirebelle's hand in marriage to his opponent's son who is a rumored murderer. While Blackwell is expecting the charming socialite Bella, he instead finds himself saddled with the bookish Mira whom he didn't know existed. With tensions rife, the Fitzhenry family goes to the Blackwell estate for the wedding. While Mira finds herself quickly falling for Blackwell's son, Nicholas, she stands by her logic and is determined to find out the truth behind the rumors of the three murders attributed to Nicholas before their wedding.

**I received a copy of the novel from NetGalley.**… (meer)