One Thing Leads to a Lover is the second book in Susanna Craig’s Love and Let Spy series. Book 1, Who’s That Earl, was so cute and I adored the romance. So I had super high hopes for this second book in the series...and I was not disappointed!

One Thing Leads to a Lover follows Major Langley “Magpie” Stanhope, whom we met briefly in the first book, as he attempts to retrieve an important book that has accidentally fallen into the hands of Lady Amanda Kingston, a widow with two rambunctious sons. I don’t always like when a love interest has children in a romance book, but I think it really worked well! I liked Jamie and Pip! They had strong personality and helped move the story forward in places. I liked the way the author seamlessly incorporated the love story into a fun action plot.

Speaking of the love story, I really loved Langley and Amanda together! Their dynamic was fun and flirty but also full of caring and sweetness. I loved getting to learn more about Langley’s background and how that has affected him in adulthood. Amanda’s story is kind of unique from other historical romances I’ve read. She is a widow from a marriage to an older man that was arranged and not a love match. However, they seem to have had a caring friendship and she was truly grieved at his passing. I think that is such a novel way to go with her past. In the beginning I was nervous about her as a heroine because I get like she had no backbone, but I’m happy to say she grew so much over the course of the book!

Some other random things that I liked in the book:
-Langley has glasses! YES, A HERO WEARING GLASSES Y’ALL!!
-It was also very interesting to see the dynamic between Langley and Fanny, a woman who works within the same spy ring as him. I hope she gets her own story one day! I loved her cynicism and snarky personality.
-I love that the leader of the spy ring is a meddling matchmaker type. It’s so funny.

This series is such a treat!

The second book in the Love and Let Spy series from Susanna Craig sets up with a switched code book that forecasts the introduction of the dutiful widow Amanda to Magpie, Major Stanhope of the Underground intelligence offices…

Lady Amanda is looking for some excitement and the Magpie is just following orders and trying to atone for past mistakes. They are thus together when the code book in her possession goes missing and her help is need to retrieve the book.

There was so much about this book that I loved! Firstly, Amanda as the widow in her 30’s wanting to have a little excitement after alway being told to keep in line. Her new experiences are fun to read and it’s so nice to have a more mature heroine with some life experience to give some weight to the character. Next, you have the Magpie, Major Stnahope; his character is many layered and his ability to mimic makes for some fun situations. And lastly, the espionage and the search for the code book was a lot of fun and kept me guessing as I was reading.

This was a great historical romance with an intriguing plot! I was also pleased by the teaser in the epilogue for the next spy to fall in love! I can’t wait!

One Thing Leads to a Lover by Susanna Craig is scheduled to release April 6th, 2021.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Kensington Book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

#OneThingLeadstoaLover #SusannaCraig #Netgalley #pinkcowlandreads

First I think this cover is cute but is not the exact fit for this story. Truthfully I did not like the heroine in the first few chapters. I understand it was apart of her character growth but she was such a pushover I could not stand her. She does come into her own which was nice to see. I enjoyed the spy aspect. It was a solid storyline. I liked our Hero Langley. He wore spectacles which is a plus for me personally. He let Amanda grow while still wanting to protect her in a good balance. We also have two children of Amanda which I think are well written. It is hard to have children who are written realistically and do not make the story stilted. The two boys are apart of the story but not in every scene and they are not written as angels or complete brats. They seem to be normal kids that have little parts. We get some steamy scenes that are a bit quick and not too graphic. A good build up to them though which is my favorite. Overall I think this is a solid historical romance with a great mystery and intrigue.

As the book started I wasn’t sure whether this cast of characters would appeal to me. The author does an excellent job of drawing the reader in to Magpie’s story and Amanda’s challenges. I enjoy that a “book” was involved in all the trouble. I enjoy how so many of the characters perspectives on their lives and situations shifted in the book and how they were open to changing based on the new perspective.
It’s a bit thrilling and a bit romantic. It’s funny that a general of spies is in the matchmaking business.
This is an enjoyable read.

I was attracted by the book cover, but not so much to the whole story.
There were elements I'm not fond of- mysteries, danger, controlling mother...

I liked the attraction between the main characters, this was new-to me author, reading flow was quick, I just wasn't attracted to the story.

Amanda Bartlett is the widowed Countess of Kingston. She married at nineteen and gave the Earl two sons before he passed away. The three years since his death, she has lead a simple and quiet life. It is beginning to feel tedious. When a mysterious book lands in her possession the last thing she expected was to meet the fascinating man trying to find it.

Major Langley Stanhope, as known as the Magpie, is searching for the book that has fallen into Amanda's hands. With the book in her possession, it puts her family in danger and he also has to figure out who the traitor is. Langley doesn't think the life he leads would be suitable for the delicate lady but he underestimates her daring and the desire they both share for one another.

This one is so good. I liked both of these characters and the tension was good too. It had me turning pages waiting for them to finally give in.

Thanks to Kensington Books/Lyrical Press, NetGalley and the author for this ARC to review.

In true llama fashion, I picked up the first book in this series because of the interesting cover: the bold neon title juxtaposed with the women in regency dress. The book itself was just as fun as the cover suggested, so I was excited to pick up this one, and even more happy that it’s just as delightfully funny and quick-paced. While this is the second in the series, this book can easily be read as a stand-alone.

Langley is one of General Scott’s intelligence officers, known as the Magpie for his ability to take on different personas. Plucked from a childhood on the streets, he’s uneasy with his new title, especially since he views the mission that got him that ennoblement as a complete failure. He’s eager to get himself back in the good graces of his fellow officers, and how better than to retrieve a lost code book as quickly and efficiently as possible. But he didn’t count on the Countess of Kingston. Amanda’s life is dull. Widowed with two young sons, her life is hemmed by both her mother, anxious to keep her safe, and her children’s guardian, Lord Dulsworthy. When a mix-up leads to her getting a French cookbook instead of the math treatise she wanted for her son’s birthday, she initially thinks nothing of it – until Langley shows up and her life gets a little bit more exciting. With Amanda and her sons in danger and an unexpected but undeniable attraction, can they retrieve the code book before it falls into enemy hands?

“And I still want to help, Major Stanhope. I want to do something.” His expression didn’t budget. “Please. You haven’t the first idea how dull my life is.”
It was an incredibly foolish, childish thing to say, the sort of excuse Philip would give for rule-breaking, for scrambling up one of the tall trees in the square when his grandmother wasn’t looking.”


You know that scene in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast where Belle sings “I want adventure in the great wide somewhere?” That’s Amanda. Though her mother raised her with the constant reminders that she has to stay within the bounds of propriety, she’s always wanted to push them, though her biggest deviation was paying a clergyman to teach her subjects her ladies’ finishing school wouldn’t. Her biggest worries are preventing the boys’ guardian from sending her quiet and bookish older child off to boarding school and gently dissuading the same man’s marital advances. When Langley contacts her and reveals the importance of the supposed cookbook, it’s exactly the adventure she’s been looking for, and much to Langley’s surprise, she insists on helping. When circumstances lead to him pretending to be the boys’ tutor in order to protect the family, it’s even harder to deny the attraction between them. Langley is suffering under a heavy burden of guilt, but even he can’t resist Amanda’s enthusiasm for adventure. The relationship between the two of them built slowly but wasn’t lacking in chemistry, and they made an excellent team.

“So which is it to be today, my lady? The gentleman, or the rogue?”
He’d made his peace with what she wanted from him—or told himself he had.
But her answer stole his breath.
“You.” Her throat rippled beneath his lips as she swallowed and said it again. “You.”


The only link between the books in the series is General Scott, who’s determined to play matchmaker for his spies. It’s an absolutely silly premise but it still worked for me. I think the mystery plot of this book worked out much better than the previous book’s, though the villain was still pretty transparent. And while I missed the gothic novel interludes, Amanda’s boys were pretty good comic relief as well. The pacing worked perfectly for me and made it a lighthearted and humorous read, while still leaving plenty of time for establishing Amanda and Langley as people and as a couple.

Overall, I liked this book even more than the first, and I can’t wait to see what happens with Lord and Lady Sterling in the next one!

I received an advance review copy of this book from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

If you are in the mood for a light mystery with a pretty steamy romance, "Older" hero and heroine (in their 30s, not "older" to me, by any means, but is so when the typical age of a heroine in a historical romance is often 18),then check out One Thing Leads to a Lover.

Amanda Bartlett is a widowed Countess with two young boys. It was refreshing to read of a mature heroine, though Amanda was still under the thumb of a controlling mother and the appointed "guardian" of her children. As the book progresses, she finds her voice and her calling for adventure.

Major Langley Stanhope is an intelligence officer for the Crown, and an accomplished mimic, known as the Magpie. He had an interesting backstory, that thankfully provided enough information without bogging the story down.

The book starts off with a bang and some action as Amanda and Stanhope's lives become intertwined because of a French "cookbook," really a codebook the Crown needs.

I liked Amanda and Stanhope's interactions when he was in various disguises and Stanhope's scenes with Amanda's children. I wish the mystery was a little more developed. Even though we're told the stakes are high, it never really felt like they were in danger. A bit too many coincidences.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and the ending scene in the epilogue definitely caught my interest in the next book in this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an Advanced Readers Copy of this book. All opinions are my own and freely given.

One Thing Leads to a Lover is the second book in Susanna Craig’s Love and Let Spy Series.

Amanda is the young widow of the Earl of Kingston, and the mother of two boys. She feels as she done only with her life what her over protective mother has told her to do and has found her life to be some what dull. Amanda is ready for an adventure but maybe not one quite as dangerous as the one she finds herself on with intelligence officer Major Langley Stanhope.

I really enjoyed Amanda and Langley’s romance and the seeing Langley interact with her two sons was a plus. Also, this story line had so much more “spy-ness” and it was very interesting!

What I love about this series is that it is written in a way you don’t have to read the others to know what’s going on and you can read them as a stand-alone. Craig sets up the next novel in an epilogue!

*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read an eARC of this story. All opinions are my own.

When young widowed mother of 2, Amanda, Countess of Kingston, finds herself in possession of a mysterious book, she finds her dull life thrown into chaos. Major Langley Stanhope, otherwise known as ‘magpie’ for his gift of mimic, is assigned to retreive the code book. But of course, nothing goes according to plan, and when the code book goes missing, he has to protect Amanda and her sons, and he and Amanda are thrown together in a race to find the traitor.

The 2nd book in the ‘Live and Let Spy’ Series, this is a stand alone, although it is set up in the epilogue of the first book, so it’s helpful to read that first. I like the premise of the series, with the General playing matchmaker behind the scenes.

Amanda seemed flighty and was a pushover, especially with her mother. The instant attraction between her and Langley was almost unbelievable, especially given the circumstances of him being in disguise much of the time, She apologized to him after finding him breaking into her garden in the middle of the night before she knew who he was. Stranger danger Amanda! There was a little chemistry between the characters, but since the plot was so chaotic, it didn’t play out as much as it could have.

My abosolute favorite thing about this book: Major Stanhope wears glasses. More historical romance heroes should wear glasses!

This book itself was fun escapism, but all in all, it just felt too chaotic.

Amanda Bartlett, widowed Countess of Kingston, is a woman beyond reproach. Married at nineteen, she dutifully provided the Earl with an heir and a spare before his death three years ago. Since then, Amanda has lived a simple, quiet life. Major Langley Stanhope, an intelligence officer and master mimic known as the Magpie, needs to retrieve the code book that has fallen into Amanda’s hands. The mistaken delivery has put them both in grave danger.
The second book in the series & it’s easily read on its own. I loved Stanhope who was a complex character, I liked Amanda who started off as a bit of a wet blanket but grew in confidence throughout the book. I loved the chemistry between the pair, which just grew & grew. James & Philip were delightful. I thoroughly enjoyed this romance with the added mystery of the book mix up, it was a well written entertaining read that kept my interest all the way through & I look forward to the next book in the series which was ‘set up’ in the epilogue
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Thank you NetGalley


I was expecting to like this book, I requested because it reminded me to a Taylor Swift's lyric (specifically from Me!).

I liked it is a love story with an amazing adventure, the protagonist is quite simple but not simple itself, she had live the life she had to until she was finally able to live the live she wanted for herself.


The character are so human that is impossible to don't feel attached to them at some point.


I liked it I highly recommend it.

Now that was an adventure! Lady Kingston is not your typical “bored widow”. Her life is pleasant but dull. She doesn’t long for scandal, but at this point it seems as if literally anything happening would be an adventure. And with the arrival of Major Stanhope after a seemingly innocent book mix-up, she may get more than she bargained for.

This book was a lot of fun. I genuinely liked Amanda - she’s very relatable. But there were some loose threads left hanging at the end, separate from the set up for the next book in the epilogue, that left me a little frustrated. All in all, I feel like this is a grand improvement on book one.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I have mixed feelings about this story. On the one hand, I enjoyed the relationship between Amanda and Langley, and I liked Langley's relationships with his fellow spies and with Amanda's children. On the other hand, I found Amanda's relationship with her (controlling and overprotective) mother oppressive to read about, and I felt like this overshadowed the first half of the book... and then sort of faded away later, without any sort of conversation or change of heart or anything to explain why it was all fine now.
Similarly, while I enjoyed the spy plot setup, on reflection, I have no idea what the code book was for, who it was who wanted it or why, or, indeed, why any of this was important. Which is to say... the setting of the book was very vague, and I am not quite sure whether this was Napoleonic Wars or later. It really felt like set-dressing for the central romance, which is fine, but given how important the code book was to the denouement, I'd have liked to know a bit more about it.
In conclusion, a perfectly enjoyable read, but a bit disappointing on reflection.

Synopsis: Amanda Bartlett, widowed Countess of Kingston, is a woman beyond reproach. Married at nineteen, she dutifully provided the Earl with an heir and a spare before his death three years ago. Since then, Amanda has lived a simple, quiet life. A life that, if she were honest, has become more than a trifle dull. So when an adventure literally drops into her lap, in the shape of a mysterious book, she intends to make the most of it—especially if it brings her closer to a charismatic stranger. . . .

Major Langley Stanhope, an intelligence officer and master mimic known as the Magpie, needs to retrieve the code book that has fallen into Amanda's hands. The mistaken delivery has put them both in grave danger and in a desperate race to unearth a traitor. It's also stirred an intense, reckless attraction. Langley believes the life he leads is not suitable for a delicate widow, but it seems he may have underestimated the lady's daring . . . and the depths of their mutual desire. . . .

Review: I've only recently found Susanna Craig's book and only read the previous story in this series, but her characters are interesting and well rounded, but not flawless. The first third of the book I just kept hoping for Amanda to lose it and go off on her mother, George, and society in general. In the end, she doesn't do that, but she does slowly get her independence back and I loved her all the more for it. Magpie was a interesting character and really embodies what a spy would be good at. I loved that he carried pain in his past but didn't let that stop him from trying to be the best person he could be.

Will she finally find her inner strength in time...

Oh my!
I do not mind a demure heroine if she finds her voice along the story, and one thing is sure, what a doormat Amanda is.
She gave people leave to walk on her without a fight and now despite her inner thoughts, she let them box her and decide for her again and again.
For the first third of the story I was upset at her for accepting dullness as her life’s goal.
So sad.
By minding her steps, she buried herself in a life of no expectation, no adventure, no passion, only safety and predictability.
Until a mix up with a parcel changes everything and disrupt her tern and boring existence.
Yet she is not one to take charge, like everything else she leaves others solve her problems.
But slowly, she get to finally see that safeness is more than boring, and for once get things for herself.
I loved Langley, with a little help from fate his life was upturned and it took advantage of it to become the better version of himself.
With such a bad beginning in life, he had quite a journey to be get to where he is today.
He used his mastering of disguise to help his country when he could have followed a different path more easily rewarding but less legal and right.
At time I felt a bit lost in the subplot, not really understanding how could the villains pinpoint to Amanda when it was for what I thought a game of hazard.
Their romance is sweet but lack a bit of sparks.
3.75 rounded up.

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 onscreen lovemaking scene.

I have been granted an advance copy by the publisher, here is my true and unbiased opinion.

Amanda, Countess of Kingston, leads a dull life. Her overprotective mother and the guardian of her two boys tend to control much of her life. Things are about to change with a cookbook that is not a cookbook. A Magpie that is not a bird. Codes and spies for the Crown and the French during the war in France are in a game for who wins. When Amanda and her sons are in danger, only one man can protect and love them. A fast paced steamy romance that keeps you in suspense. I would not pass this one up to read!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

When I started reading this book, I didn’t know that it’s part of a series! Despite all that, I was still able to follow the story.

The book is about a widow with two lively young sons (and a super interfering mother), who got in the middle of an intriguing situation involving spies and secret codes. The plot is interesting enough, and I kept reading because I want to find out what happened to the codebook. However, I can’t help but feel like it was a bit slow and lacking in a few places- I wish we got to know more about the Major’s back story and had more interactions with the two boys (Jamie and Pip sound like great characters!).

Overall, it’s a pleasant enough book (3.5-4 stars).

A widowed countess’s dull life gets a lot more exciting in One Thing Leads to a Lover. Amanda Bartlett, Countess of Kingston, has always done her duty, acted the perfect lady, and never put one toe out of line. Then a mysterious French cookbook winds up in her possession instead of the geometry book she had purchased and her life is upended. For the book in question is a codebook both the French and the English would kill to get their hands on. Enter Major Langley Stanhope, known by his fellow spies as the Magpie. Langley needs to get his hands on the book, but what should have been a simple exchange gets a lot more complicated. Langley fears Amanda and family are now in danger, but if he expects the well-bred lady to simply idly stand by, he’s in for a shock.

One Thing Leads to a Lover is a fun and engaging read, thanks to author Susanna Craig’s delightful storytelling. Amanda and Langley are both incredibly likeable characters who are at a crossroads in their lives. Amanda loves her sons and her mother, but her life is beginning to feel suffocating. She takes charge of her life and I loved watching her break out of the rut she’s in. She’s a kind and caring person; definitely the kind of character you’d like to be friends with, were she real. Langley is a master mimic, but only Amanda sees the true man. An orphan taken in from the streets and raised to be a gifted spy, Langley has an interesting backstory that I loved diving into. He also is haunted by a mistake he made and I definitely wanted him to find peace. Langley fits right into Amanda’s family and I adored watching him with her sons. Separately and together, Amanda and Langley are endearing and I was rooting for them every step of the way. Their chemistry is fantastic and their romance made me smile. They made an excellent team as they worked together to catch a traitor and get the codebook before it could fall into enemy hands. I felt like the pages of this book flew by and I hated whenever I had to put it down.

One Thing Leads to a Lover is the second book in the Love and Let Spy series but it can easily be read as a standalone. The series is tied together by the matchmaking General Scott who is determined to help his agents find love. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed both books in this series so far and I cannot wait to get my hands on the next Love and Let Spy novel!

4 stars

The second book in Susanna Craig's Love and Let Spy series, One Thing Leads to a Lover is the exciting story of a widow looking for excitement and the master mimic that is assigned to her when a mix-up leads to her obtaining an important codebook.

I had read the first book in this series (Who's That Earl) in preparation for reading this and thought it was fine if a little lacking in thrills. This installment, however, delivered on both the excitement and the romance that I look for in a Regency era spy series. We get some great scenes of Amanda trying to insert herself into the investigation, much to Langley's chagrin. We get a story where I actually question people's involvement and motives (in the first book, it was abundantly clear who the bad guy was). We do get a little bit too much insta-love for my taste, but there are enough steamy scenes to counterbalance it. The epilogue sets up the next story beautifully and I have a feeling that it is going to be the best one in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review!