This is a new to me author and I have not read the first book in the series. I feel there is either an abundance of historical romance-mysteries lately or I just keep stumbling across them. Either way, it was a nice read with likeable characters (and caricatures like in the case of the heroine's mother), a good amount of steam and good pacing. That being said, it wasn't a memorable read. Except for the premise of the story, I'll probably remember it because it was bonkers.

This book was so entertaining. I was drawn into the story from the beginning and was involved until the end. The characters were complex and interesting. I found the story to be well paced and engrossing throughout the whole book. I was invested in the couple throughout the book and felt all the emotions through both the highs and lows of the story. If you want an entertaining and well written book this is it for you.

Maybe I would've liked it better if I read the first book first, but I liked the story and the concept was really cool.

This book was a slow burn in such a good way. When I first sat down to read it I wasn't sure if I could get into it, but a couple of chapters was all it took to work its magic. The book played out like a dramatic mini-series in my head and I loved how it all played out.

Amanda Bartlett, the Countess of Kingston is a young widow with two young boys. She currently resides in her own house where her mother has seen it fit to move in since Amanda became a widow. Amanda's life is entirely directed by others around her and she leads a somewhat boring life to say the least. There is also the fact that she is expected to eventually re-marry to the guardian of her sons. He is the most boring man and literally makes a woman feel as much heat as frostbite.

All of that changes with the simple act of a mixup when buying a book for her son's birthday. This mishap brings Major Langley Stanhope into her life and the sparks between the two of them are undeniable. Ugh the slow burn between the two of them left such a charge between the words on the page.

The only thing I didn't love about this book, was that the physical descriptions of the characters didn't seem enough to give me a good visual of what they looked like. I still have no idea if I found Major Stanhope attractive or not, but I've given up. Clearly, Amanda finds him attractive and he is more than willing to show her everything her life has been missing.

Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington Books for an eARC of this book. My review of this title is of my own opinion,

She was his assignment. He was her opportunity for adventure.

One Thing Leads to a Lover is a lovely story of a gentle and proper widow that finds herself involved in a case of espionage and can't help but fall for the brave but insecure spy assigned to the case.

Amanda was a 32yo widow of a man she admired but never loved. With her kids growing up and about to leave for school, she struggled to accept the imminent empty nest and the dullness of her life.

Inadvertently getting involved in a case of espionage, Amanda was approached by Major Langley Stanhope, the agent placed by the Crown to investigate the case and protect Amanda's family.

I love Amanda so very much! She was strong and brave but did not hide from her fears and insecurities.

It was special to see her undying respect for her mother despite their disagreements. In time, she understood her mother's motives and avoided making the same mistakes with her sons.

Stanhope is my kind of hero! Who can resist a man who is good with kids? Not me. He was sweet, troubled, and loyal. He had me after a few pages.

The relationship between them was sensual and romantic. They felt very right together.

My favorite side characters were Amanda's sons, Jamie and Philip. They were so different, and yet, so lovely. I'm also hoping that Mrs. Drummond, a determined widow who worked for the spies, will have a book of her own in the series.

The book has a great combination of romance, adventure, family, and friendship.

My favorite so far in the series!

Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

*This review will be posted on https://lureviewsbooks.com on 04/07/2021*

Opposites attract more than trouble in the latest captivating Regency romance from Susanna Craig.
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.
Langley Stanhope, an intelligence officer and master mimic is known as the Magpie. He needs to retrieve the code book that has fallen into Amanda's hands. The mistaken delivery has put them both in grave danger.
The book is lost. Can they find the code book in time to escape disaster.
Susanna Craig has written a interesting story. She delights in a fast-paced, intrigue-filled plot. I will eagerly anticipate future installments."
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley.
This in no way affected my opinion of this title which I read and reviewed voluntarily.

For Crown and Country, that is the maxim that Major Langley Stanhope has lived his life by. A spy in His Majesty's Service he's on the hunt for an elusive codebook. He's almost got his hands on it when disaster strikes. His operative has been discovered, followed. And worse, must ditch the book, swapping it out with another's, before the precious codebook could fall into enemy hands. Now it is up to Stanhope to retrieve it... a task that is more difficult than it first appears.

All Lady Amanda Bartlett, the dowager Countess of Kingston, wanted to do that early morning was purchase a book on geometry for her eldest son for his twelfth birthday. She never expected to be plowed into by a man in a non-descript greatcoat nor did she expect to discover that the bookshop had wrapped the wrong book, a french cookbook whose proportions are all wrong, by mistake. Ah well, she'll sort it out tomorrow. But nothing is ever easy as it seems.

When she and Langley meet, sparks fly. The kind of sparks that she's never experienced before. But with those sparks comes danger, and possibly, quite possibly, love.

---

I'd had the pleasure of reading the first book in this series and enjoying it greatly. So when the opportunity arose for me to read the second, I jumped on it. I am so glad I did. This book is wonderful... quite possibly better than the first, if possible.

First the spy portion of the series truly comes into its own in this series. The whole book is one lovely hunt for not only the codebook but also the people who so desperately want to recover it. There's some great foreshadowing and twists and turns leading up to a wonderfully satisfying conclusion. I quite loved it.

Additionally I absolutely loved the characters and their character arcs. Which were tied inexorably to the main plot, but also added depth and enjoyment to the book. Amanda, our heroine, starts off very much a wallflower. She is not a merry widow and is being suffocated under the indomitable wills of both her mother and her sons' guardian, who she suspects wants to marry her, She longs for something more, an adventure. And she finds what she wanted with Langley. As for our hero, he's a wonderful chameleon but with a core of not really knowing where he belongs. He lives outside of society never really fitting in anywhere even as he has identities everywhere. He's intelligent, roguish, caring, closed off, and so much more. I loved that he wasn't overly muscled or unwilling to get his hands dirty. He wears spectacles and has a classical education, but he's also equally at home on the streets of London. The side characters were also well done, particularly Amanda's sons. I loved Jamie and Pip and part of me wants their story when they are old enough to find love.

In all this was a lovely book to spend a weekend reading, and I give this:

Five Stars

I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley

I really enjoyed this one! I liked it WAY better than book 1. I think amanda and Langley were a great team. I really liked her kids. I wish there had been a bit more with her mother and resolving the issues they had. Seems her mom wouldn’t have gone from being so overbearing to loving Langley in one day.
But all in all a great one
Cant wait for book 3!

I enjoy a good historical mystery romance novel. I mean what’s there not to love. One Thing Leads to a Lover had the perfect set up for that kind of novel. With it being the second novel in Susanna Craig’s Love & Let Spy Series it doesn’t require you to have read the previous novel. I did. Let me say that they are not the same at all. Who’s That Earl definitely hung out more in the romance section than the mystery section and One Thing Leads to a Lover was more in the mystery.

Characters:
I enjoyed that the main character, Lady Amanda Kingston, was a window with two children. It’s not often that you get a historical romance with a character like that. Especially one that rings more true to the society of then. She knew her limitations in the world being a woman, and while she began her character arc it was never outlandish. I wish that there had been a bit more depth to Amanda, but even without it the addition of her children in the novel gave her enough levels of interest for me. The budding romance between Amanda and Langley was cute. I enjoyed their interactions and felt like it was nicely played out with the rest of the story!

Major Langley Stanhope’s long time spy with a past was interesting too. I really wish that there had been more to him. I felt like I never really knew what was going on with him. His past was a little shaky and I wanted more on that for sure. I didn’t know where to put him in the realm of everything. I liked that he had the beginnings of a tragic past but it wasn’t pushed any further besides a scene or two. Plus I didn’t see what his overall purpose was in regards to the mystery. Like I know what it was, but his job was more vague.

Plot:
I had a couple of problems with the plot as well. One being that the whole spy network and job situation felt completely unreal. That’s not how intelligence is or was collected. If it were there’s no doubt as to how much information would be given up if people just waltzed into spy networks (even if you’re the love interest!!) and definitely not being involved with the creation of plans. I didn’t understand the whole Hopkin’s situation either. It was very muddled and unclear how information was being spread. A little more ante on the mystery would have been great!

Long Story Short
Do I recommend this book? Yes. It’s not incredibly deep and doesn’t delve into the characters as much as I would want, but it is a rather fun read. I'd honestly give it a 3.5/5 rating if half stars were available. It reminds me a bit of A Lady’s Formula for Love by Elizabeth Everette. Very similar plots, but with key differences. So if you liked that one, this one is right up your alley! I wish I could have liked this one more, but it was good enough. I am very curious as to how the rest of the series is going to go and look forward to those releases as well!

Release date April 6th

The second book in the Love and Let Spy series.

Amanda is the widowed Countess of Kensington. On her way to get her son a book for his birthday, a spy switches books with her before he can be caught with it. Major Langley Stanhope is told to use his talent as a mimic (nicknamed Magpie) to get the book back from Amanda. When the book is suddenly in someone else’s hands Amanda and Langley find themselves working together to protect Amanda and her sons. But will their fiery attraction cause even more danger?

Another great read! This book was fun, funny, sexy, and intriguing. The series is truly a new favorite of mine. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series.

*I was provided an ARC by Netgalley and the publisher for my honest review.

Amanda Bartlett, widowed Countess of Kingston, has led a somewhat dull life. She had a respectable society marriage, birthed an heir and a spare, and always followed her mother's guidance to "mind her step." When a mysterious book comes into her possession, she's more than a bit excited for the unexpected consequences. Sir Langley Stanhope is a major, an intelligence officer, and a master mimic. He's tasked with retrieving said book. But when it ends up in someone else's hands, Langley has to protect Amanda and her sons from danger.

This is the second book in the Love and Let Spy series. Craig is a new-to-me author, so I have not read the previous book. Except for the epilogue, which sets up the next book, this story can stand alone.

I was attracted to the cover and the premise of this novel. I liked how it started, with "simple" book mix-up. Amanda didn't know she needed an adventure in her life, but she was excited to get involved when it fell into her lap. I enjoyed this book, but the tone felt too light for me. The intrigue was light - not particularly dangerous or desperate - and the romance was light too - feeling more like an attraction of convenience than a deeper romance. The chemistry was there but, overall, I wanted more showing than telling. I would definitely try this author again in the future.

Tropes: Widow, Spy/Govt Work, Class Difference, Protector

* I received an ARC and this is my honest review. #OneThingLeadsToALover #NetGalley

I adored the cover for this book - it drew me to the story and a new-to-me author. Amanda had a very typical upper-class, British regency wedding. She married a man twice her age, had two children with him (an heir and a spare) and then he died. After that, her mother moved in and the man she shares guardianship with kind of take over her life. She's a devoted mother and all around good person - but she has never done anything but play it safe and live the life others want her to. On her way home from buying a book for her son's birthday, an encounter with a stranger leaves her with a mysterious book. That book turns out to be a french code book, the British government has been desperately trying to get ahold of. Langley Stanhope, Army Major, Spy, Mimic, and recently knight of the realm, is sent to retrieve the book and he and Amanda are quickly drawn into each other.

Amanda seems to see through Langley's disguises and Langley seems to bring out Amanda's independence. I loved watching them together and enjoyed seeing how they both grew together. I also loved seeing the shades of grey of the book. The guardian is something of a villain - but not quite as bad as you might think. He's mostly just selfish. Amanda also isn't infallible in her child rearing either. I loved that all the the characters were very human and not at all caricatures. Even Amanda's mother, who had that potential, has a lot of depth.

There were areas where I would have liked some more character development - I would have liked Amanda to stand up to her mom and the guardian. Or at least to her staff - but she was definitely headed in that direction.

But overall, I definitely recommend and I am very interested to see where this series goes!

I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, but these opinions are all my own.

I really love this series! Fun, slow burn romances with plenty of tension and intrigue. One Thing Leads to a Lover follows Amanda, a widow with two young sons and an overprotective mother who shares guardianship of her children with one of her late husbands friends. A rather dull man (it's literally part of his name which was funny) who intends to make her his bride. But Amanda is tired of having her behavior constrained and is excited by the prospect of a small adventure where unforeseen circumstances throw her in the path of an intelligence officer who serves the crown.

I really enjoyed this entire story. The romance was just lovely and seeing both the hero and heroine open up and become more fully themselves was a delight. I love the intrigue of a mystery plot here too, as it allows for external conflict that the couple must work together to solve. Not to mention, one always enjoys a forbidden kiss to avoid being discovered snooping in the wrong place. I also thought this very deftly navigated the push-pull of motherhood where you might have both a desire to protect your children and a desire to form your own identity independent of simply being a mother. This author's writing really works for me and I look forward to more in the series! I received an advance copy for review via netgalley. All opinions are my own.

One Thing Leads to a Lover is the second novel in the Love and Let Spy Series. This wonderful sophomore novel introduces us to Amanda, the windowed Countess and Major Langley an unlikely pairing if there ever was one. Amanda has an overbearing mother and a family friend who has guardianship over Amanda's two boys. After a chance encounter on the streets, Amanda ends up with a very valuable code book. Major Langley, having lost the code book has to find a way into Amanda's life and figure out how to get the book back.

While this book wasn't as engaging as the first one (which I couldn't put down), it was still a fantastic book that was very entertaining! There is a fantastic mix of mystery and romance. I loved the connection the two main characters had. I loved how much Amanda's character developed through the novel and how she found her voice. The author did a great job balancing Amanda finding her voice, but also keeping true to the time period in which she wouldn't have complete control and authority.

One of the best thing of this series is how the books are intertwined. Many times a series is more like a stand alone and the thread that connects them is so thin. I love that the author actually devotes chapters to what connects this series together. I love that we get to know more background about the characters and how these books are related.

I will definitely be reading the next book!

Finding adventure and love lead Amanda to decide of her own path and future and fight for her family and happiness without doubt or fear, with the help of a sexy dashing military spy...

"Til tomorrow night, Lady Kingston. Don’t look for me. I’ll find you.” Excitement surged through her, like flames roaring up a chimney. “Really?”

One thing leads to a lover is the second instalment of a regency spy romance serie by Susanna Craig and oh, it was exciting, compelling and sexy!
After picking up a french cookbook and not the mathematic treaty she wanted, Amanda becomes entangled into a plot against one of the agent of the crown. The agent Magpie is tasked to retrieve the cookbook in order to save his friend and repair a mistake of the past... Hence begins the drama plot. As you can easily guess, retrieving the cookbook will not be easy as it changes hands and will involve late night plotting in a library with kisses against a desk, late night kissing in a Lord house while a ball is going on to avoid being caught, late rainy night meeting in gardens to secretly discuss plans of action in fine white chemises (the choice of clothes in this situation, amazing thinking from both our heroes) and afternoon sexy times in the countryside to allow children to be kidnapped and create additional drama... Our two heroes really did everything they could (not) to successfully retrieve this code book and that was such a delight! Susanna Craig wrote a strong chemistry between the two heroes and quality passionate scenes, where you are seduced by Magpie's accent foreplay as much as the delicate undressing of all the layers Amanda wears (a correct description of regency lingerie is so sexy).

Amanda is a widow and a mother of two. Her first marriage lacked passion and since the death of her husband, she lives in a very secluded and dull world that she is resenting more and more (the threat of another mariage is also an unwelcomed prospect). At first, Amanda appears to be neither very brave, confident or assertive. However, as the story enfolds and she slowly opens up to the world outside her quiet domestic life and to the excitement and thrill of Magpie's character, her bright spirit strengthens itself and she shows a fierceness unsuspected. Feeling quite exhausted of lockdown and curfew measures, i deeply connected with Amanda thoughts and feelings of wanting more, of being restricted... And i found myself craving for that surprising turn of event of a stranger to subvert everything and taking me on a thrilling adventure.

What a seducing stranger Magpie was, with his little glasses, his accent and his old age of thirty eight years. His character was quite well written as i can't quite put him in a classic romance hero category... except maybe tortured hero who wants to be forgiven for his wrong doings? Being a military spy, doing sexy accents and having a tortured soul is a great combination for any romance hero but here is the real thirst trap are the well thought, amazing executed rescue plans of his :

“Kiss. Me.” He almost growled the command the second time, no opportunity to explain his plan as the door swung inward. For once, she didn’t babble or ask questions. She did as she was told.

Besides two enjoyable romances heroes and the comedy aspect to the romance they bring, Susanna Craig also adds depth to her story, with more delicate and thoughtful scenes when writing about Amanda and her wants and thoughts of life (i adored all of Amanda's scenes in her garden) or about her characters thinking they don't deserve forgiveness or love... It was a delightful sparkly romance! It will be out on and i strongly encourage you to add it your to be read list!

ARC kindly provided by netgalley.

After catching the historical romance craze with Bringing Down the Duke and Bridgerton, of course I had to request this on NetGalley! Lucky for me, I was approved for a copy.

If you enjoyed Bringing Down the Duke and Evie Dunmore, you’ll absolutely enjoy this one. Amanda is a widow with two boys, but her mama still controls a lot in her life. When she accidentally receives the wrong package for her son’s birthday, she is thrust into a new world full of adventure.

Amanda is a great character, and boy is that Langley a hottie! Amanda loves her boys and wants what is best for them. But she’s also very clever and intelligent herself. Langley has a checkered past, but is noble and heroic. There’s a good amount of steam if that’s what you’re here for. 🔥🔥 There weren’t any cringe synonyms for anatomy that I remember either! A fairly compelling plot tied together the story and explains how the characters are brought together. Is it a little contrived? Maybe. But it’s so charming and the characters so likeable that it’s easily forgiven.

MYSTERY AND INTRIGUE COUPLED WITH ROMANCE

With the first book in this series I expressed my disappointment that the 'spyness' of the book was practically non-existing. It seems that Craig had it all bottled up for this book, because she certainly brought it here! However, there was one thing that... confused me. And I am not certain whether it is a 'plot hole' or just me, who missed some vital information. No matter what, it bothered me and lessened the reading experience for me...

👍 What I Liked 👍

Mystery: The first book in this series was so light on the mystery and intrigue that these two books hardly feel like they belong together. Because here the mystery was cranked up to the max! I enjoyed the intrigue, the subterfuge, the lies and the hidden agendas. It was nice to see a plot that went beyond romance.

Langley: Langley was a really great hero, I actually liked how insecure he was. It was different than other HR heroes. I really found it relatable how he tried to blend in to the scenery, tried hard not to stand out and be recognized. And how he struggled with figuring out, who he really was underneath all the disguises. And I liked that he wore glasses 😅

👎 What I Disliked 👎

Hopkins: The character Hopkins and his part in this story made no sense to me. How did he get warnings out to the others? How did he know, that it was Amanda, whom he had switched books with? How could he reveal her name to the ones who kept him locked up? How could they find out, that he had revealed Amandas name to his captors? I am so confused about this, and it felt like some major plot holes. But maybe I just missed something? If anyone has the answers, please let me know.

I really enjoyed Susanna Craig’s Who’s That Earl last year, so I was very much looking forward to One Thing Leads to a Lover. This isn’t an opening to say I was disappointed, but I think I would definitely say it comes second in my enjoyment of it.

The book follows the widowed Amanda and an intelligence officer, Langley, who is sent to retrieve a codebook that was planted on her by another officer in a desperate attempt to keep it out of the hands of enemies. This brings them together and, when the book goes missing, Amanda insists on helping him regain it.

First of all, I definitely liked this book. Alright, so less than I did Who’s That Girl, but it was still a book that I sat and devoured in a few hours. I found it easy to root for the characters, and the mystery part of the story was engaging. But something about it didn’t click in the same way as the first.

I think the problem was that, after a point, the mystery took a back seat to the romance at one point, and I got just a bit bored. I was waiting for things to happen again for a fair while, and I think that’s the main reason I gave this only 3 stars. There was a lull when I didn’t want there to be one.

But, given both this book and the previous, I think it’s fair to say that Susanna Craig is an author I very much enjoy, and will continue reading.

Thoroughly enjoyable from first page to the last. What’s a widow to do when she finds herself in the midst of spies, espionage, and kidnappings over a highly valuable code book? Why succumb to danger and intrigue of course. And sexual escapades, even though it takes her eyes off the prize for a bit, she and her sons know how to fight for their cause. Not to worry, HEAs happen for mature maternal widows too!

As a fan of Regency Era stories, it was refreshing to have a widowed woman in this era navigating society and her own role within it. Normally you end up with the judgemental matron of the family who controls the entire romantic life of her children, and this was no exception. I don't know if a resolution between Amanda and her mother was necessary (let alone realistic for this era). The relationship dynamic was satisfyingly slow burning and worthwhile. I need to track down the other book in this series! It was a unique take on the era and I loved it!



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