Thank you to Netgalley, the publishing house and the author for the opportunity to read a complimentary advance reader copy of this book in return for a review based upon my honest opinion.

This was a wonderful anthology with four stories that when read form a unified storyline. I enjoyed this book, but my favourite was the first story by Susanna Kearsley. I enjoyed how each author moved the story of the watch along and kept the flow going so well. Even though anthologies aren’t usually my type of book, this one was well worth reading.

The story of a cursed watch as it travels thru time written by four different authors. The story held true through all sections, but some were better than others.
Goodreads

I'm not usually a great fan of anthologies, but I was sorely tempted by this one of historical fiction, particularly when I saw the calibre of the writers included in 'The Deadly Hours'.
Each story follows on chronologically, and is centred around a cursed watch—known as La Sirene—the deadly portent for evil. I was impressed by the idea of having a common historical thread that linked the stories together —it was a terrific narrative device.
Susanna Kearsley’s 'Weapon of Choice' in 1733 begins the tale, followed by Anna Lee Huber’s 'In a Fevered Hour' (1831 Edinburgh) and, Christine Trent’s 'A Pocketful of Death' (London, 1870). The stories conclude with C.S. Harris’s 'The Siren' in 1944, during the Second World War, Reintroducing characters from previous novels was also a treat, but I do not believe it would take away from the enjoyment, for a reader who has not read the previous novels.
Each story is so strong and immersive that I was quite compelled to continue reading. In fact, I was disappointed each story was over, all too soon.

Executed To Perfection.....
Clever anthology weaving a story through time with a top class line up of authors. Tales are seamlessly woven, and exquisitely told. An ambitious premise which has been executed to perfection. First rate.

Four authors seemingly seamlessly collaborate in a series of novellas dove tailing one into the other about a golden watch cursed for some, good for some and the stories that entail all as a result of this looted watch.

It is unbelievable how four different authors could write these stories each one bewitching (for want of a better word). I am a fan of all these authors so it was of particular interest to me how they would combine to produce a single story and did they produce one which held my interest from the first page to the last.

History, mystery, lives of survival and hope from 1733 Italy to 1831 Edinburgh the stories criss crossed Europe and so many lives. Each life detailed and engrossing and then going on to the next chapter.

For those who like historical fiction, this is a must read.

What a powerhouse group of historical suspense and mystery authors! I took one look at the author line up and it was a done deal, but then to see that a few of the novellas were for favorite series made it an even more exquisite anticipation.

The Deadly Hours is an anthology of four separate stories down through time that all focus on a legendary cursed watch, Le Sirene. Each author wove a tale around the watch and even referenced the history told in the earlier stories to add to the watch’s lore. Each had their own writing flavor and captivating tale-telling ways. While I think I got more out of the stories because I’d already read a few of the previous books, I think these will work for newcomers just fine.

Susanna Kearsley opens the anthology with her suspenseful ‘Weapon of Choice’ that was set in the early seventeen hundreds and is a follow-up story to A Desperate Fortune’s historical couple who are on a mission to protect a Jacobite duke and war hero from an English assassin when they encounter a pirate and the strange timepiece he carries that was made from cursed pirate gold.

Next, Anna Lee Huber picks up the narrative reins in her Lady Darby series mystery set in the 1830’s that took place in the interlude between Gage and Keira’s wedding and their delayed departure for their honeymoon. ‘In A Fevered Hour’ has the Edinburgh crime king, Bonnie Brock Kincaid, needing the detecting pair to find a cursed watch that has brought a plague to Old Town.

But, the watch isn’t done changing hands and arrives in Victorian London where author, Christina Trent, has it figure into an atmospheric Lady of Ashes story, ‘A Pocketful of Death’ when Violet Harper, funeral director, is fulfilling a commission for a newly minted lord who wants all his deceased relations moved into the freshly build family mausoleum and encounters a cursed watch that seems to be predicting murders on a prestigious London neighborhood street and a mad woman swears she is seeing ghosts.

In a WWII era Kentish village, CS Harris has a museum curator and an MI5 operative on the dark, bloody trail of a German spy and an uncanny golden watch that has a cursed reputation in ‘Siren’s Call’.

I loved how these stories were seamless in how that tied to one another and yet painted a rich tapestry of history in each time and place. Christina Trent was the only new to me author, but I plan to add her works to all three of these other brilliant authors who I seek out each new release. Historical mystery fans, series and author fans, and those who love a good atmospheric tale shouldn’t hesitate to get to this one as soon as you can

I have read novellas before (a few), and since it had been a while since my last historical fiction binge, I picked this one up.
It is a collection of four novellas, written by authors whose work I have not had the fortune to read earlier. This last part is something I will remedy when time permits. It was so engrossing that I actually read the entire book on my phone, something I hardly ever do. There is a running theme through the different 'times' of the four stories. It revolves around a cursed timepiece. In all but the last narrative, we meet characters who seem to have a running storyline already, and this is just one of them. Given the method of introducing their situations, I did not feel like I was missing something by not having followed their earlier adventures.
In the first story by Susanna Kearsley, we meet a strong silent man who is an assassin for the good side. He is travelling on an important mission, and due to bad weather, his progress seems to have halted. I say 'seems' because the bulk of the story is spread out over the days that he is landlocked and how fate seems to unfold around them. His awe and adoration of his wife were very vivid, and she steals the show by the end of the story. I really enjoyed the writing the most in this one as well as the imagery.
We move on to another time and place. This time a woman and her newlywed husband are approached for a strange assignment. The man who approaches them demanding their help has a history with the couple. Anna Lee Huber wrote a very spunky heroine who has an equally active husband, and they still manage to make it work. The story starts off with a strange premise but wraps up satisfactorily. The characters are more energetic and the emotions a little more complicated in this story.
The next jump is a few decades into the future, and an unlikely candidate picks up the watch from its resting place. We have a female undertaker who is helping a newly titled many reintern his family in a bigger plot. This unleashes multiple strange occurrences which come together quite well towards the end. This focuses more on the mystery angle than that of the watch, although it is a lurking presence in the background. This novella was written by Christine Trent.
Finally, we land in 1944, and the war is on. The watch moves more into the background in this story by C.S Harris, although it is a driving force in the development. This is once again a mystery with the lead couple being exciting characters. It is a case of investigation with the watch (hopefully) now at rest and the curse no longer a threat to the populace.

I received this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review.

Susanna Kearsley is one of my favorite authors. I had not previously read anything by C.S. Harris, Anna Lee Huber, or Christine Trent - but I will after this anthology.

Each author takes a different leg of the story surrounding La Sirène, the cursed pocket watch. Each life it touches is surrounded by misfortune. Collectors covet the watch, others disbelieve the curse, but everyone is entranced with the piece as it's lost and found through time.

Upon a little research, I've found each of the authors have used a beloved character from their novels.

Susanna Kearsley: Mary, the wife of an inquiry agent, Hugh Dundas
C.S. Harris: the museum curator, Rachel Townsend-Smythe
Anna Lee Huber: the sleuth Lady Darby
Christine Trent: the undertaker Violet Morgan

It's not necessary to be familiar with the previous stories or characters. This is a stand-alone anthology. But I now want to read more stories about each of these women.

Besides the characters, one of my favorite things about this book was the thread of finding the watch after the last person thought they'd disposed of it. For the curse to be lifted, the pocket watch would need to go through a series of events. I kept wondering how the next one would work out. It's a delightful twisty tale of intrigue, suspense, murder, haphazard French, and ominous legends.

I would be hard pressed to choose a favorite.

I highly recommend this book, but only if you want a fun adventure.

I found myself becoming more invested the larger the story became. The way the stories interconnected was very artful and highly enjoyable.

I picked up this anthology mainly because of C.S. Harris and Susanna Kearsley, but I was more than happy to get an introduction to a couple of new to me authors.

This is one of the better anthologies I’ve read in the last several years. Each story flowed smoothly into the next and these author’s voices worked very well with each other. The common theme is of a cursed watch, La Sirene, which is introduced to readers in Susanna Kearsley’s Weapon of Choice in 1733, then next appears in Anna Lee Huber’s In a Fevered Hour in 1831 Edinburgh amidst a strange plague, then onto London in 1870 in Christine Trent’s A Pocketful of Death surrounded by dead bodies, and then finally the English countryside in June of 1944, during the Second World War, in C.S. Harris’s The Siren.

Each story was well written and I truly enjoyed each author’s voice and take on how La Sirene has wreaked havoc on its owners through time. I was a tad disappointed to find out the C.S. Harris story wouldn’t involve any of her characters from the very well known, and much loved, Sebastian St. Cyr series, but I was charmed none the less. I think readers of Historical Mystery will be familiar with quite a few of the characters from the other three stories.

The best part? I’ve now added Anna Lee Huber’s Lady Darby Mysteries and Christine Trent’s Lady of Ashes series to my library hold list. I can’t wait to dive in!

The Deadly Hours is a multi-author anthology featuring four new historical novellas which revolve around a watch known as La Sirène. The timepiece, made from gold stolen from a church during a deadly raid, is said to be cursed as a result of the bloodshed surrounding it. But is the artifact truly to blame for the misfortunes which befall its owners or are their own actions responsible for their misadventures?

Weapon of Choice by Susanna Kearsley

Setting: Portofino, 1733

Grade: B+           Sensuality: Kisses

Hugh and Mary McPherson from Kearsley’s book A Desperate Fortune are on a sea journey when their vessel is forced to seek a port of shelter during an atypically harsh storm. Originally, the only other guests at the seaside inn are Anna O’Connor and her husband Edmund whom Mary is acquainted with from her previous adventures, but they are soon joined by a mysterious man named Douglas. Well, not so mysterious to Anna who knows he is - an assassin sent to kill the Duke of Ormonde. Since Hugh is supposed to be joining the Duke’s party as his bodyguard  this is an awkward enough situation, but the circumstances become perilous when the Duke himself, miles from where he is presumed to be, suddenly appears at the lodge.

Kearsley’s writing is lyrical and her tale redolent with the history of the era. While this story involves characters established in a previous novel, the author does an excellent job of giving us a clear sense of their priorities, personalities and relationships as well as creating a narrative which is complete in itself and doesn’t require the reader to have knowledge of prior events. Weapon of Choice makes an excellent beginning to our anthology, giving us a clear history of the watch’s origins and initial owners.

In a Fevered Hour by Anna Lee Huber

Setting: Edinburgh, Scotland 1831

Grade:  B+          Sensuality: Kisses

Kiera Darby and her husband Sebastian Gage had planned to honeymoon in England’s Lake District immediately after their wedding but the trip has been delayed since Gage’s testimony is needed in the trial of a poisoner the two had recently helped bring to justice, which is why they have the misfortune to be at home when Bonnie Brock Kincaid comes calling and rants almost incoherently about a cursed watch before passing out in their drawing room. Concerned about Mr. Kincaid’s criminal gang, who are sure to blame them for their boss’s sudden unexplained illness, Kiera and Gage race to find out the truth behind their unwanted guest’s ravings.

This is a smoothly written, action-filled story that is easy to follow even if you, like myself, have not read the other books in the Lady Darby mystery series. The author does an excellent job of giving the reader a strong sense of her protagonist’s personalities and establishing the relationships between all her characters in the short space she has. It’s a strong enough story that I find myself eager to read the previous novels .

A Pocketful of Death by Christine Trent

Setting: Edinburgh, Scotland 1870

Grade: C-          Sensuality: Kisses

Violet Harper, heroine of the Lady of Ashes series, is a female undertaker, a rare breed in her era, but she is possessed of an iron will and an enormous sense of self, both of which aid her in forging a path in her peculiar profession. Currently, she is employed in moving Lord Ashenhurst’s dead relatives from the unfashionable Greyfriar’s Kirkyard to the new family plot at Abney Park Cemetery, a job which involves her standing around while her business partner does the actual back breaking labor of digging up the dead. At one of the grave sites they find a peculiar item, a watch wrapped in a pair of gloves which Violet then takes to her employer. Alas, the watch proves to be quite troublesome, causing all manner of havoc in his lordship’s neighborhood, which Violet winds up investigating.

This tale is both anachronistic and illogical. It seemed rather ridiculous to me that someone would involve their undertaker in the resolution of crimes. I was also confused by the fact that Violet was dealing with Lord Ashenhurst rather than with his secretary or man of affairs regarding the reburial of his ancestors, since this seemed the sort of detail that would have been that man’s purview. Additionally troubling was that Violet flatly refused to use the tradesmen’s entrance, a point which I could somewhat sympathize with but still found irritating since such things were the custom of the era when dealing with the nobility.  And finally, the heroine didn’t seem to actually have to work at her job, unusual for the middle-class of any time period. These technical issues repeatedly pulled me out of the story and I didn’t enjoy it as a result.

Siren’s Call by C.S. Harris

Setting: New Godwick, Kent, England, 1944

Grade:  A-          Sensuality: Kisses

Rachel Townsend-Smythe arrives at her friend Major Crosby’s doorstep to find he’s been murdered. Surprisingly, when the police are called, the investigation is handled not just by the local constable but also by two men from Scotland Yard who just happen to be in the area. Or so they say. Rachel distinctly hears the younger of the two, Jude Lowe, mention their search for a German spy. When she questions him about it, he responds with several inquiries of his own before admonishing her not to mention what she has seen or heard as she goes about the rest of her day. She leaves having no intention of ever speaking to him again but on her way home discovers an ornate wooden box which held her late friend’s favorite collectible - the watch case for a legendary timepiece known as La Sirène.  It is empty, with only an impression on the fabric to indicate what it once held. Rachel knew the Major had been searching for the other components of the fabled relic and can’t help but wonder uneasily if that’s the reason for his demise. As a museum curator she’s aware of just how far some antiquarians will go to obtain the objects of their desire. When she brings the issue to Jude’s attention he is at first dismissive of the tale she tells, even while he finds himself fascinated by the storyteller. But as those associated with the watch begin to die, he wonders if perhaps Rachel might be right after all and La Sirène might be at the heart of his investigation.

Siren’s Call achieves an excellent balance between romance and mystery, blending the two factors into a deeply satisfying whole. Rachel’s independence, charming manners, compassionate nature and cleverness make her a terrific heroine and the brave, quietly patriotic, heroic Jude is a perfect foil for her. The tale does a fantastic job of capturing the history of the era but also showing how Jude and Rachel are more open minded regarding issues like immigration and homosexuality than the villagers around them. I liked that the author addressed what was typical of the time while also showing her characters’ rising above the more questionable norms of the period. The author also does a nice job of capturing the appropriately slow burn romance between her two leads. She managed to convince me of their HEA even though they barely had time to build upon their relationship. While the ending is a tad ambiguous in regards to the ultimate fate of La Sirène, this narrative still served as a terrific ending to the watch’s saga.

I don’t read many anthologies because I’m not a big fan of short stories, but the majority of tales in this set were of high quality and well worth perusing. If you enjoy novellas, are a fan of any of these authors, or interested in getting a taste for their writing before committing yourself to a full length novel, The Deadly Hours is definitely worth picking up.

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Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Poisoned Pen Press for this Advanced Reader Copy and the opportunity to review “The Deadly Hours.” All opinions are my own.

This collection of short stories uses a common theme – a golden watch – to weave together a series of stories by a group of historical mystery authors that will leave you wondering: is it possible for an inanimate object to have power? You may think so, after reading “The Deadly Hours.”

First up is “Weapon of Choice,” written by Susanna Kearsley. Here we meet “La Siréne,” the beautiful watch that is going to be the source of triumph and tragedy for the characters that populate these stories. The year is 1733, and plots are rife in England to see “The Old Pretender” on the throne. It never worked, of course. He died in Rome in 1766. Assassination is in the air, and while our protagonists Hugh MacPherson and his wife Mary work to prevent that, “La Siréne” calls to those who want her. The author twists and turns the tale, a cat and mouse game of preventing death while explaining how the watch came to be cursed – and how her story has gained mythic proportions. Our heroine, Mary may steal the show in this one, but “La Siréne” has her day.

Next up is “In a Fevered Hour,” a Lady Darby novella by Anna Lee Huber. Lady Darby and her husband Sebastian Gage are well known to historical mystery readers, and they make a formidable team. Certainly, the team is tested in this novella, as they are tasked to find the watch and get rid of it before it causes more damage. Again, that threat of supernatural power – is it possible? Do you believe it yet? They don’t believe it, until half of Edinburgh starts to come down with the symptoms of poisoning. Of course, our dynamic duo solve this, not without some trouble, which they do seem to get into a lot; fans will recognize the signs. And our watch disappears again. For good? Not on your life. We have two stories to go! About those poisonings -- an author acknowledgement mentions an outbreak of spotted typhus occurrence in 1831. From this (our author and her research!) an imaginative mind takes (fictional) flight.

Our third story, “A Pocketful of Death,” written by Christine Trent, features Mrs. Violet Harper, who is an undertaker. Quite the profession, all part of the “Lady of Ashes” series, set in the Victorian period. Mrs. Harper has been commissioned to rebury some members of the Ashenhurst family, and the watch is found in the cemetery, quite by happenstance. Oh, dear. While this is happening, gruesome murders are taking place all over town – is the watch wreaking her havoc again, readers? Strange people populate these pages, a few acting above their station, and Ms. Trent knows how to write about these stations, definitely. Someone finally bring up that the watch may be cursed. Because things are happening that only happen, well, you know. Our series heroine figures out what’s going on, and has the watch leave her hands – not without some worry, but it is sorted out, of course.

Our final connection awaits us, in “Siren’s Call” by C.S. Harris, which brings us up to 1944 and wartime Kent. Rachel Townsend-Smythe is part of the local scene, and one of her friends is Major Crosby, who has a hobby collecting clocks and watches – and he has managed to acquire the outer watchcase of “La Siréne” – can misfortune be far behind? No, not hardly. Mysterious radio communications are occurring that draw in MI5 operatives (one handsome one) hunting for a German spy. And what’s the German spy hunting for? That thing that has as its motto “I am the only master of my time.” And the reason for that hunting is perhaps the most elaborate motive behind all the stories. This story is my favorite, as it says so much about war, and the toil it takes about people. There is some violence in “Siren’s Call” – be warned – but it sets up the author’s “war is hell” scenario precisely. The author’s command of her narrative is very striking.

At last, we have an ending. The watch has reached its final end. Perhaps. You will have to decide for yourself. Will it continue to cause havoc? Is it possible? The common theme is entertaining in itself, and readers will enjoy this glimpse at the characters in each story, as they use their individual intelligence and cunning to bring about satisfactory endings.

I absolutely love the concept of this historical mystery story collection!! A cursed gold watch causes trouble as it passes from owner to owner over more than a century. Four owners -- four outstanding stories!

All of these writers (Susanna Kearsley, C.S. Harris, Anna Lee Huber and Christine Trent) were new-to-me authors. Not new as in I haven't heard of them...but new as in I haven't read anything by them. I have books from all four on my TBR list, but haven't gotten to them yet. This collection of stories made me move all those books closer to the top of my list!

The stories start in 1733 and the watch makes it way to Edinburg, London and Kent over the years, with the fantastic ending coming in 1944. I love how all of the stories are so different, but all tied together by the gold watch.

Normally I read books like this slowly, really savoring the differences in the stories, the awesome background story of the watch, and the plot nuances of each novella. I also take time to research the authors and add lots of new books/stories to my TBR stack. But because I was reading to write a review in a timely manner (All this covid19 stuff has my job revved up to insane, so my reading and writing time is really taking a hit this year), I had to hurry and spend much less time than I normally would on such a lovely book. BUT, I solved this problem -- I pre-ordered my own copy of the audio book and I'm going to listen to my heart's content as slowly as I choose and then add lots of lovely books to my TBR stack after each tale is completed.

Even with the somewhat rushed review read, I loved these four intertwined historical mystery stories. I couldn't pick a favorite -- all are wonderful stories. Well written, with interesting characters and period appropriate plots. I can tell I am going to enjoy reading more by all four writers! I'm on the lookout for more story collections woven together by a plot point like a cursed item -- that really added something extra to my reading enjoyment!

Awesome read!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Poisoned Pen Press. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

It's not a secret that I am a bit of a Susanna Kearsley fangirl, and I have been for a long time. It was therefore inevitable that when I saw that there was going to be a short story collection that included one of her stories, of course I was going to want to read it. It didn't matter that I hadn't read any of the other authors.



It was only until later that I actually realised that this story includes characters from The Firebird, A Desperate Fortune and also The Rose Garden, which means that it was super cool to revisit these characters.

In A Weapon of Choice, a young couple with Jacobite connections are on their way to Italy to meet the Duke of Ormonde and protect him from an assassin. Before they can reach their destination they are caught up in a massive storm and forced to take refuge in Portofino, along with two other groups of travellers. Before the storm is over, a man will be dead.

One of the travellers is in possession of La Sirene, a watched that has been been cursed after being crafted from gold sacked from Cartagena. It is engraved with a mermaid, and the outer case has a ship in a storm, and it is inscribed with the motto "Je suis le seul maître de mon temps" , which means I am the only master of my time. Legend has it that whoever has the watch will be cursed with bad luck, until the curse is lifted. The only way for that to happen is that the watch must pass through the four elements: water, earth, air and fire.


The next time we see the watch we are in Edinburgh in 1833. In Anna Lee Huber's story In a Fevered Hour, a mysterious illness is sweeping Edinburgh and Lady Darby and her new husband find themselves investigating at the behest of a master criminal. For a short story, this had quite a lot going on and This is part of the Lady Darby series. Normally I don't like to jump in a series part way through, but I enjoyed this story and I would be more than happy to read more.

We then move forward to Christine Trent's story A Pocketful of Death, set in the 1870s. When lady undertaker Violet Harper is commissioned to move the bodies of a newly minted noble family into their new crypt. In one of the graves, she finds a watch so she returns it to the family. It isn't long before there are a number of deaths in their street. Is it because of the curse or is there something else at play? Once again this is part of an existing series which I haven't yet





The final story is called The Sirens Call by CS Harris and is set in a small coastal town in England. The Home Office has observed that there have been a number of coded messages sent to the Germans from the area around the town and so two officers are sent to investigate. When Rachel Townsend-Smythe find her long time friend Major Crosby dead, she notices that one of his prized possessions is missing: a gold watch. As the finger of blame is pointed at various people in town, Rachel helps one of the investigators to find the truth. While I haven't read this author before, I have had the first book in the Sebastian St Cyr series sitting on my bookshelf for many years. Maybe I should actually read it!



I enjoyed following the watch through time and it's a good premise for a short story collection, although it did take a minute to adjust to each new story. While I picked up the book for Kearsley, I stayed for the other stories!

I really enjoyed this anthology surrounding a cursed pocket watch. The four authors stories woven together made a riveting tale. The stories themselves could stand on their own but when brought together made for great entertainment. With romance and mystery combined in each story this book has a lot of breath and depth to it. I highly recommend it to all.

There are a lot of series out there now with multiple authors, and I'm really enjoying a lot of them.
Having the same concept in novella format is a great way to have a complete story while getting to sample multiple authors. I love the idea that the stories are not dependent on one another, but are sequential chronologically and are connected by the common element of a particular curse pocketwatch.
I think all of these stories for me were 3 or 4 stars. I especially enjoyed Anna Lee Huber's story, because it involves one of her series characters, Lady Darby. Not only did I get to sample Ms. Huber's writing, but got a preview of her Lady Darby series as well. It definitely made me want to check out more of the Lady Darby series.
Solid historical fiction writing, the stories are just the right length, and the connecting element of the watch made for a most interesting read.

How awesome to have four stellar author's within one book passing the story from one to the next. It flows really well. Each story is its own with the watch being what connects them. Highly recommend. Happy reading!

I gave this title my best shot because I generally enjoy historical mysteries, but didn't find any of the plots satisfying enough to keep me turning pages. The pieces are competent, but not captivating.

Just look at the list of authors of The Deadly Hours. Anna Lee Huber, Susanna Kearsley, Christine Trent and C.S. Harris. Anyone who reads historical mystery has likely read at least one of these authors. As it happens, three of these authors are on my shelf. So this is a book that went to the top of my TBR list.

The four stories are connected by a cursed watch. Each author put their own spin on the curse. Because these authors solve mysteries, rely on facts and believe that the evidence will point to a human culprit, the validity of the curse is constantly questioned. But it never really goes away. I was fascinated and entertained by all four stories.

Since I have read the entire Lady Darby series, I must single out Anna Lee Huber’s contribution. In A Fevered Hour features a series favorite character Bonnie Brock Kincaid. Readers have been asking for more of this shady character, though I’m not sure this version of Kincaid is what they expected. This time Kincaid is dealing from a position of weakness which is going to be quite uncomfortable for the man. Nevertheless, he manages to get on Gage’s nerves while convincing Kiera to help him. Lady Darby fans, I promise you will enjoy this one (and the rest of the stories too)!

Through Netgalley, the publisher provided a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Included as a top pick in bimonthly September New Releases post, which highlights and promotes upcoming releases of the month (link attached).

4.5 stars to WEAPON OF CHOICE by Susanna Kearsley:

MY HEART. What a perfectly paced and satisfying novella. It is 100% fan service and it is glorious. The entire novella is from Hugh’s POV and the couples we see are Hugh/Mary (A DESPERATE FORTUNE), Edmund/Anna (THE FIREBIRD), and Daniel/Eva (THE ROSE GARDEN). It definitely works as a stand-alone (I’ve only read A DESPERATE FORTUNE and was able to follow along easily).

Longer review to come near release date and after I’ve read the other novellas. I simply couldn’t resist reading the SK novella once I sampled the first few pages.

Disclaimer: I received a free e-ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review