searchingforhappilyeverafter's reviews
79 reviews

Step aboard the RMS Provence, and get ready for a thrilling sea voyage, full of secrets, mystery, hidden identities, and a splash of swoony romance!

A Tempest at Sea picks up right where the last book ended, with

Charlotte Holmes in hiding after feigning her own death to escape from Moriarty.

Charlotte has just received a tempting offer from an agent of the crown. The mission is that in exchange for locating a dossier that the crown is searching for, she will receive protection and the chance to return to a normal life. While searching for the dossier, Charlotte ends up on the same sea voyage as her friends and finds herself in the midst of a murder investigation.

Sherry Thomas’s latest installment in the Lady Sherlock series is masterfully crafted. The murder mystery and all the twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat.

Since Charlotte can’t risk exposing her identity, she isn't able to conduct an investigation herself and has to work behind the scenes to solve the murder as quickly as possible. As a result, Lord Ingram takes a larger public role in solving this case, and so we get more of his POV. Everyone who follows me on social media probably knows by now that my heart and soul belong completely to Lord Ingram Ashburton.

So it is not surprising how much I loved this book, especially the tender moments that Ash and Charlotte share. I love that they are each growing and changing in subtle ways and understand each other so well. Their romance is progressing very nicely and in a way that makes sense for them and their circumstances. The last line of this book hit me right in the feels.

The entire Lady Sherlock series is phenomenal! With outstanding writing, wonderfully nuanced character development, brilliantly crafted mysteries, and a deliciously slow-burn romance, I highly recommend reading this series. Unfortunately, now there is a magnifying-glass-shaped void in my life. Book eight can’t get here fast enough.

Thank you to Berkley and Net Galley for the eARC.

Willkommen im Hotel Wallner 

Diana Biller’s Hotel of Secrets was my first read of the new year, and it was just wonderful. It’s an exciting tale of romance, spies, and mystery, and it has a delightful cast of characters. 

Viennese hotelkeeper Maria Wallner wants to restore her family’s hotel to its former glory. However, assassination attempts and other mysterious incidents keep getting in her way. And most distracting is the American agent, whose stern and sexy mouth makes her want to him drag into the nearest linen closet. 

Eli Whittaker is a guest at the hotel, and he is there on a case to find out who has been selling American codes. But upon arrival, he is swept up in Vienna’s dazzling ball season and a swoonworthy romance, all while trying to unravel the secrets. 

Hotel of Secrets sparkles with Biller’s brilliantly crafted plot and well-developed characters, interspersed with detailed Austrian history and political intrigue. 

It's no secret that Biller's Moore family is my favorite fictional family. The Wallners and their friends, while different from the Moores, are equally endearing. The way Maria and Eli get to know each other and fall in love is such a heartwarming journey. I loved the character development. Eli goes from stern and starchy secret agent to soft and gooey orchid knight. It was so fun to watch him open up to Maria and her family and learn how to laugh. The hotel’s forced proximity causes some delicious banter-filled moments and lots of swoony tension between the two main characters. It was a joy to see them both realize that love is a miracle. I also really enjoyed the relationship arcs between Maria and her family, especially her mother. 

One of my favorite aspects of this book is the unique and simply magical setting of a hotel in 19th-century Vienna. The Hotel Wallner is as pivotal to the story as the main characters. And the exquisite Viennese backdrop adds an extra layer of beauty to this romance. 

Last, but not least, the way this book addresses sexuality and consent is perfect. In this book, the FMC is more experienced than the MMC (celibate), and some of the secondary characters are queer. Everything is really well done and respectful of all the characters’ experiences and choices.

What you can expect in this swoonworthy story: 
- M/F romance 
- Delicious banter 
- Eli's sexy mouth 
- Hilarious meet cute 
- Forced proximity 
- Eli's sexy mouth 
- Competency kink 
- He reads books on how to please her 
- Eli's sexy mouth 
- Viennese hotel setting 
- Thrilling mystery 
Oh and did I mention Eli's sexy mouth? 

Thank you to NetGalley and SMP for the ARC.