Member Reviews

Another great episode in the saga of Lady Georgiana Rannoch, featuring all of the players you have grown to love.

I liked this because it seems that things are beginning to improve for Georgie - she is taking charge and handling things, and being the heiress to Sir Hubert means that she finally has a home! I really hated seeing her drift about with no security, and relying on the random charity of those around her.

Was this review helpful?

Having renounced her place in the line of succession to the throne, Georgie is finally planning her wedding to Darcy. Of course, the road to the altar couldn't possibly be smooth. Finances remain a problem, and house hunting is causing additional stress. Fortunately, a former step-father writes to tell Georgie that she is his heir, and offers her the use of his home. On arriving, Georgie finds that things are not at all as they should be, and must deal with servant problems that go far beyond her worst fears. But Georgie channels her inner Queen Victoria and carries on! Meanwhile, Georgie's beloved grandfather and her self-absorbed gold digging mother are also planning weddings... and of course something throws a spanner in the works of both of those. As with the rest of the series, I found this delightful. While it could be read as a stand-alone, I encourage readers to read the rest of the series, so as not to miss out on the relationships between the characters. Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

Was this review helpful?

As the wedding to her Darcy approaches, Lady Georgiana encounters more obstacles as she heads alone to take ownership of the castle she is to eventually inherit from one of her mother's former husbands. There she faces a stubborn crew of ne'er do wells who have replaced the competent staff she knew as she grew up there. Ever the sleuth, she finds crime where others might have missed, and puts herself at risk once again, having to prove to herself that she can competently deal with the crisis. There's not a lot of Darcy O'Mara in this novel, which is a loss, but plenty of rogues to keep the reader guessing. If you're read the rest of the series, you know there's humor, crime detection and a bit of romance to keep you reading to see if these two will ever make it down the aisle.

Was this review helpful?

I’m gonna say it. I love Rhys Bowen. Her Molly Murphy & Royal Spyness series are just delightful. I started with the Molly Murphy series and blew through those so quickly….I anxiously await the next one (book 17!). Molly is a spunky Irish Immigrant living in turn of the century NYC and I just love the character so much!

But, the reason I’m here is because Net Galley & Berkley Publishing gave me the opportunity to read the latest in the Royal Spyness series (book 12!) coming out August 7.

untitled.png

Four Funerals and Maybe a Wedding by Rhys Bowen

It was kind of fun reading this book with less than a week to go before the next Royal Wedding (Harry & Meghan forever!). Lady Georgiana Rannoch is 35th in line to the throne and engaged to the dreamy Darcy O’Mara. While related to royalty, she is not wealthy and at the beginning of the book living in her friend’s house using her maid. Trying to find an apartment/house that both her and Darcy could afford was proving to be difficult. Luckily, one of her mother’s former husbands (of which she has plenty), who happened to raise Georgie for a time, names her his heir. He happens to be a world traveler and offers her and Darcy his grand estate for their use. He only asks for space when he’s home from his various travels.

She readily jumps at the chance. Prior to the wedding she decides to go up and start getting the house in order. Upon arrival, she finds a curious set of employees, all different from those that previous worked under her stepfather. They don’t seem to be the usual sort of servants, and Georgie tries her hardest to whip them into shape and get the house back in tip top shape. Her old maid, Queenie (her of the “Bob’s your uncle) comes on board, and her mother comes to stay as well. Mysterious happening occurs, and a very Jane Eyre situation rears it’s head. I thought I knew what part of the mystery was, but the end was still a surprise with a twist.

The wedding itself between Darcy and Georgie gets rushed at the end, I would’ve liked to see more of the wedding itself. BUT, the mystery of the book was great, and I still enjoy the characters very much.

I can’t wait for the next one! See where Darcy and Georgie go now they are married. Maybe duel spy missions?

Was this review helpful?

This is another charming installment to this series, sure to please long-time readers. While it's not an ideal starting point new readers should be able to jump right in! It has the same plucky heroine and lovely historical tidbits as the other installments. It was wonderful to see most of the gang together again. the only complaint (small annoyance?) was the ending felt a tad rushed ( I was sure they'd miss being married AGAIN). This book is just what you can expect from the Royal Spyness Series.

Was this review helpful?

I am new to this series -- and I was absolutely delighted with this book. I was at no disadvantage for not having read the prior titles, because the author fills everything in so well. Having said that, I actually can't wait to start at the beginning and read them all straight through. It's always fun to find a new series that is already well along -- now I don't have to wait!

Was this review helpful?

Best book of the series! As soon as I finished I already wanted to read it again. It's finally wedding time and as expected things aren't going as planned. A letter from Georgie's ex stepfather allowing her use of his house is a welcome surprise. It was fun seeing Georgie manage a house and find a bit of backbone while dealing with the difficult staff. Of course all is not well at the house so there are plenty of things to get to the bottom of. I loved that her mom was a significant part of this book, seeing their relationship grow was one of my favorite parts. Queenie is back! I hadn't realized how much I missed her and the craziness that comes with. All in all another excellent book by Rhys Bowen.

Was this review helpful?

This is an enjoyable read. Lady Georgiana is feisty and delightful and this 12th episode in the series does not disappoint.

Was this review helpful?

This new entry in the A Royal Spyness Mystery series is as fun filled as ever. Lady Georgiana Rannoch must plan for her wedding after stepping aside in the line of succession to the British crown in order to marry Darcy O'Mara. With no money and a traveling fiance, she accepts the offer of her one time step-father to live in the home that she so loved as a child. However, with an absentee owner, the estate has all new staff that don't quite come up to snuff. A lively cast of characters and unexplained events make for an entertaining escape.

Was this review helpful?

In the twelfth book in the Royal Spyness series, Georgie has gotten permission from the King and Queen to renounce her right of succession (she's only 35th in line to the throne, after all) so she can marry Darcy in the Catholic Church. While planning her wedding and trying to avoid inviting every minor royal in Europe, Georgie and Darcy are having no luck finding a decent London flat they can afford. They are rescued when Georgie's former stepfather writes from Chile and offers her the use of the grand estate she'll one day inherit. This device sends her to the country and into the central mystery of the book. When she arrives at Eynsleigh, Georgie finds the formerly well-run estate in a mess, with a completely different staff than she remembers and she sets out to take charge and get to the bottom of the strange goings-on.

I love this series, even though it's completely implausible. The characters are fun, and all my favorites are back for this installment: Georgie's mother, her grandfather, and of course, Queenie. If you're a major Darcy fan, I'm sorry to say he's not around too much. However, it was great to see both Georgie and Queenie being more competent and less accident-prone than usual and even Georgie's mother makes herself somewhat useful for a change. It's nice to see a little character growth and some new directions opening up at the end of the book, so I'm hopeful there will be another installment.

Recommended for fans of the series. New readers will enjoy it, but would benefit from reading the books in order.

Was this review helpful?

This is one of the best of an excellent series. Bowen has produced so many great stories, and in this series she really hits her stride with a perfect main character, Georgiana, who has royal connections but is poor, clumsy, and suffers from a low opinion of herself, and who is also very kind and sweet. The royal connections mean that Georgiana is surrounded with great settings and conniving aristocracy. Georgiana's beloved Darcy is still involved with mysterious government assignments, but their long engagement is coming to fruition with an actual wedding date set in this story. Bowen has built up the suspense of their engagement through all the past stories, and now the question is whether Georgie and Darcy can actually manage to tie the knot, as well as solve the mysteries surrounding recent deaths. Fans will eat up this delectable entry. New fans should pick up the first book and read on! It's hard to put these down. Bowen's novels are so well written, with exceptional characterization and plots.

Was this review helpful?

Finally Georgiana and Darcy are planning their wedding and searching for a suitable place to live on a modest income. Luckily Georgie's godfather steps in and offers them access to his house since he is rarely in the country to enjoy it, and she moves to the country to ready the house. All is not right, and Georgie finds servants acting inappropriately, missing artworks and silver, and a madwoman living in the unused wing. All the usual characters appear to help her out and the mystery is resolved satisfactorily. This is a quick, light read ending with the long awaited wedding if Georgie and Darcy. Series fans will love it.

Was this review helpful?

I always look forward to Georgie's adventures and this one did not disappoint. Very clever plot and finally a happy ending. #netgalley #fourfuneralsandmaybeawedding

Was this review helpful?

Lady Georgiana Rannoch, thirty-fifth in line to the throne of England, is finally going to give up her place and marry the Catholic Darcy O'Mara. One of her past stepfathers offers a country house for the couple to live in after the wedding. Nothing is as it should be at Eynsleigh - a surly butler, an incompetent cook, and a resident ghost for starters - and Georgie must untangle the lies and evasions before she finds her happily ever after. Usually a series ends when the couple weds, but since Molly Murphy Sullivan is still investigating in Bowen's other series, I'll hope to see more Her Royal Spyness adventures.

Was this review helpful?

In this, the latest installment of the popular Her Royal Spyness series, Georgie is finally getting married...but first, there's a mystery or two to solve. When a kind benefactor offers the use of his home to Georgie, she discovers there is more than meets the eye at the lovely estate. Add in a few other complications and you have the makings of a very fine read indeed. This was an extremely enjoyable book with a satisfying ending-highly recommended.

Was this review helpful?

I always love spending time with Georgie, and this installment was no exception. An engaging mystery, a new setting, and a happy ending made this one extra delightful.

Was this review helpful?