Before the days of Tinder and Bumble and whatever other dating apps there are nowadays (I’ve lost count), people had to meet their partners in-person or be match-made with the help of friends and family. Admittedly, I’m only 22 and therefore born into the generation of people who use online dating apps as their main source of meeting new people, but I was lucky enough to meet my partner in person. But I’ve also known others who met their partners through dating apps and there are members of my family who met their partners through mutual friends.

Despite being a highly successful matchmaker, Amelie Hampton has yet to be blessed by Cupid himself. Instead, her efforts are focused on helping her clients find their own one true love. But when Amelie is recruited by the police to help in solving a gruesome murder, things seem to be turning around for her love life. That is, if she can keep her feelings straight for her new “boss”, Michael Baker.

The Matchmaker’s Lonely Heart is sickeningly sweet; Nancy Campbell Allen managed to marry (heh, get it?) romance and mystery into a lighthearted and easy read for anyone who likes their fluff with a little bit of teeth to it.

It would be easy to fall into certain romance tropes with the setting that the novel is in: toxic relationships, damsels in distress, overbearing men, but Allen manages to avoid these tropes while weaving in others that turn this love story into something a lot more wholesome and modern. Amelie is never really shamed for her job or her lack of experience in dealing with crime (past the times , she never once loses her independence even as she begins to fall in love. She has her own ways of solving her problems, even if her methods are unorthodox by the police’s standards.

The title is a bit of a misnomer—although that is not really something that I consider a flaw—I don’t particularly feel that it is Amelie who is lonely, but rather her counterpart, Michael. I also do wish that considering Amelie’s job is featured rather prominently in the title that we explore her job a little more, I did find her interactions with her clients rather amusing, but once the murder happens, we moved away from her job rather quickly in order to focus on Michael’s.

Nevertheless, Amelie and Michael’s relationship had me smiling over the two days that it took me to finish this book and I genuinely squealed when they managed to get their shit together and confess their feelings for each other. I really do recommend this book for anyone who needs something light on their TBR as we go into the colder seasons.

This was a wonderful read with an interesting plot. I really enjoyed the flow the author has with her writing and the way she can weave a story. It was fun to follow the characters as they tried their hardest to catch a killer.

The one thing that threw me slightly, was the way the characters meshed. At times they didn't seem to work well together and they seemed awkward. I couldn't tell what the main character, Amelie's character really was. Was she a a naive young woman jumping at every opportunity for adventure because she didn't know better, or was she a sassy strong woman who knew exactly what she was doing? I wasn't quite sure.

Either way, where the characters failed to excite, the plot picked up to fill the space. I really enjoyed reading this book and hope to read something more by this author.

My review will be live on my blog Book Confessions on 9-11-21.

This book was so entertaining! Amelie is so naïve, but in this book it is endearing and funny. I loved her optimism and determination.

My favorite parts of the book were her interactions with Detective Michael Baker. The banter was spot on, and their adventures were so hilarious. I do think that they stretched propriety just a bit for the time period, but I'm not complaining!!

The mystery element was fairly predictable, but I didn't mind because I felt like the whole point was the character development of both Amelie and Michael.

If I had a complaint, it's just that sometimes the character growth seemed a bit too sudden. Otherwise, I found myself struggling to put this book down!

Thanks to Shadow Mountain, NetGalley, and the author for the chance to read this book early in exchange for my honest opinions!

Will their partial view of the suspect keep them apart …

I discovered the author last year with one of her steampunk release, and I swore it would not be my last read.
I am bad at following all the authors I like, too many to keep track. So when I saw this one advertised, I definitely marked it on my schedule.

I thought Amelie a hopeless romantic, whom she is, so much it biases her view of people and blinds her to a cad hidden under a gentleman’s suit. But my opinion of her was altered as I knew instead of her who the villain was. So I had to adapt to her pace as she slowly acknowledges even if it is unwillingly at first that things are not all rosy and grasps one step at a time that the man of her dreams is no hero.
All the while realizing, she had during this time of revelation walked along with an other fellow more worthy of her affections.
She is no amazon, yet her analytical mind is an asset as she with ease synthesizes and pieces together the clues and informations they had dug to woven the tale behind the villain’s deeds.

Michael through his upbringing and occupation is more circumspect and jaded about people and their motivations. Wounded by life’s unfairness, he is much determined to never fall prey to this fickle and impeding sentiment love is. Yet no one is master of its heart. So what began as an investigation for murder with the usual first suspect as the spouse’s victim, turns quickly into something more when he begins to react more strongly than his should to his newly appointed accomplice. A young Miss who awakens feelings he wants to deny himself.

I enjoyed watching them fall for one another, it is no hurried realization, they slowly dig their way into one another’s heart. They do not fight it and once acknowledged, they accept their sentiments whatever were their initial feelings about love and its cost.

I do hope to see more of them again in the future with their friends and relations.
5 stars

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 kisses

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

Sometime you just need a good Regency book to get you through and this fit the bill perfectly. Certainly not life changing, but I'll give this 5 stars for just being adorable.

Amelie answers letters sent to The Marriage Gazette. She's a hopeless romantic, but sometimes goes a little overboard when it comes to her matchmaking. When she stalks a couple she set up, it is clear she has become a little too invested in her clients. What a surprise when a man she has been pining over in private turns out to be the date- and the notorious Harold Radcliffe.

When she is run to ground by Detective Michael Baker, she is coerced into allowing Baker to come to her bookclub where Radcliffe would be present. What commences is an adorable story of falling in love with the wrong man and the right man. She unwittingly puts herself in danger as well as she does her best to help Detective Baker.

Loved this story. It was cute, it was clever, it was just what I needed after reading some heavy books. I need more of Nancy Campbell Allen in my life!

Thanks to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Wowzers! This is my first read by this author, but it will definitely NOT be my last. The writing is excellent, the plot is tightly woven and cohesive, the characters are exceptional, and there is excitement galore. There are several characters in this book that I would love to see in future books, but there is no mention that this book is part of a series – bummer.

Detective Michael Baker is part of Scotland Yard’s newly organized Criminal Investigation Division. Michael is a no-nonsense man who has vowed he will never marry. Not Ever. He’s seen what grief does to those left behind when a law officer dies in the line of duty and he would never inflict that pain on anyone he loved. His father died in the line of duty as did his best friend and brother-in-law. No, he’ll never leave those he loves to cope with the grief and life after he is gone.

Michael is called to the banks of the Thames because a dead body has been found. A beautiful young woman whose life ended much too soon. Michael finally learns she is the wife of solicitor Mr. Harold Radcliff and undertakes the sad task of having the newly bereaved husband identify the body. Something just doesn’t seem right about Radcliff’s reactions. He does all of the correct things – but they just don’t ring true for Michael. Then, when Radcliff refuses to allow an autopsy – Michael is really interested in having one done. When Radcliff thwarts Michael’s wishes and whisks the body away to her family plot, Michael knows he’ll have to find other means to figure out what happened to Marie Radcliff.

Amelie (that is AHmelie) Hampton and her two cousins, Charlotte and Evangeline are all working toward becoming ‘women of independent means’ by living in their aunt’s ‘boarding’ house and working at her newspaper, the Marriage Gazette. Amelie is neither smooth nor polished, but she is a hopeless romantic who firmly believes in finding her knight in shining armor. She performs a bit of matchmaking through her work at the Marriage Gazette – probably much more than her aunt Sally knows. She’s coordinated a potential match and is anxious to see how it is going. She’s met the lady but has no idea who the man actually is, so she hides outside the tea shop where her two matches are to meet – just so she can assure all is going well. But … Oh! No! … the man who shows up is Mr. Harold Radcliff, a man for whom Amelie has a bit of a tendre.

While following Radcliff, Michael sees a young woman spying on Radcliff and another young woman. Hmm – Could this be an accomplice of Radcliff? Michael determines to follow her and confront her. After scaring her nearly to death and getting her story, Michael enlists her aid. Oh! She’ll aid him alright. She’ll prove to Scotland Yard Radcliff is totally innocent.

I loved watching Michael and Amelie – first working at cross-purposes, and then united. Their own feelings for each other developed slowly and the realization came even slower. But, goodness, when that realization did happen.

I definitely recommend this book and I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I did. It is exciting and the resolution of the mystery will have your heart in your throat. I would really love to see future books with Charlotte, Evangeline, Aunt Sally, Detective Winston, director Ellis – and even Michael’s widowed sister, Clarissa.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Amelie writes an advice column and loves to match couples on the side. When Detective Michael Baker comes to her for help with one of his cases, she’s thrilled. It will be just like one of the mystery novels she reads, right?

The chemistry between Amelie and Michael was delightful. The mystery and romance were well timed. I couldn’t put it down! I have a list of characters I want to read about next and I really hope this will become a series!

I loved this heartwarming and mysterious story. A young woman is found floating in the Thames, dead. Her husband, Harold Radcliff does not want an autopsy. Her mother supposedly would be aghast about it. He takes her back to Paris where her family lives and has her buried. Amelie Hampton has seen him in her book club meetings. She can't believe he would hurt anyone. But then she is infatuated with him.
Detective Michael Baker gets the case. She is young, blond, green eyes and has a necklace saying, "To my darling Marie'. She also has a large gash across her forehead. Winston, his new partner, was an excellent artist and he was quick. The detective's sister was a widow and lived with their brother and her daughter.
The tale moved fast and the excitement was high. There was so much information for the detectives
to collect. But Michael had a very good guess who did it but he needed proof. The characters were wonderous and her cousins were funny and very helpful. Her Aunt Sally had taken her in and was her main support. In the background were the Regency period and all that went with it. It was fun to read about all the ends and outs of this period. I do recommend this fantastic novel and hope it keeps you as wrapped up in the book as it did me.
I received this ARC from Net Galley and voluntarily reviewed it.

This book is light hearted and fun plus who doesn’t love a good murder mystery? While this is certainly a fun read, I found the book to be slow in pacing and the story arc took a while to get in to. I absolutely adored the idea and wish we had more stories like these!

This book was really fun and interesting. I wouldn't ever pick out a murder mystery to read, but I appreciate how this book brought together the murder mystery with romance and put it all into the Victorian era. It made it similar enough to what I like to read for me to enjoy it while simultaneously being different enough to make it give me a break from what I normally read and keep things fresh. So I really liked that. I also liked the characters; Amelie and Michael are very different and yet they worked well together. I was also intrigued by secondary characters whom I hope to see more of in future books. Fun book for a quick escape.
I read an ARC provided by the publisher via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

3.5 stars

I'm kind of torn on how to review this book. The story line was great (the murder mystery, intrigue, etc). I absolutely LOVED the side characters (especially the cousins). My main gripe was the main female lead...she was so stuck in her beliefs (wishes?) that she wouldn't accept anything contrary to what she thought even when other options or proof right in front of her.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Such a fun read! The spunky reporter trying to be taken seriously and her excitement on the case were contagious. Loved the H and his desires to protect, though sometimes I wanted to shake him. The mystery was compelling and drove the story at a quick pace.

This is a terrific read! Nancy Campbell Allen is becoming one of my favorite authors. These characters completely came to life for me. Not only the main characters but the supporting characters too. I can't wait to read the next book in this series there are so many terrific characters that could be leads in the next story. Michael and Amelie are entertaining together and I felt their emotions so fully. I was completely drawn into the challenges they faced and their feelings for one another. I can't wait for more!

Yes - read it! I am not a mystery type person but very much enjoyed this book. I liked the characters - people you can really get behind. I liked the twists and turns in the story. Just a plain old enjoyable read!

I received an advanced reader copy from Netgalley & Shadow Mountain Publishing to prepare for this honest review.

I loved how the romance and the intrigue we're interwoven. I think even men would love this book. I can't wait for it to come out.

This is a fantastic Victorian romantic suspense story! I don’t usually enjoy suspense, but there’s something about the way this author writes it. She makes it so believable. This had a slow build up, but then it grabs you and doesn’t let go.

Amelie answers correspondence for her aunt’s magazine The Marriage Gazette. She particularly enjoys matching couples and watching them get their happily ever after. When she is surreptitiously watching a couple she matched anonymously in their first interaction, she is surprised to find that, not only is she acquainted with the fellow, but she is not the only one watching. Detective Michael Baker was suspicious of this fellow when he handled the questionable death of his wife and is now doubly so as he sees him moving on to find another one so quickly. He gets more than he bargained for as he enlists Amelie’s help. But, as they learn to trust each other, they find that they are stronger together.

I loved everything about this novel. The Victorian setting is perfection. The characters are vibrant. The writing pulls you in. It’s a very satisfying romantic suspense read.

Synopsis: Amelie Hampton is a hopeless romantic, which makes her the perfect columnist to answer lonely heart letters in The Marriage Gazette. When Amelie plays matchmaker with two anonymous lonely hearts, she also decides to secretly observe the couple’s blind date. To her surprise, the man who appears for the rendezvous is Harold Radcliffe—a grieving widower and a member of Amelie’s book club.

Police detective Michael Baker has been struggling ever since his best friend and brother-in-law died in the line of fire. Because he knows the dangers of his job, he has vowed never to marry and subject a wife and family to the uncertainty of his profession. But when he meets Miss Hampton, he is captured by her innocence, beauty, and her quick mind.

When a woman’s body is pulled from the river, Michael suspects the woman’s husband—Harold Radcliffe—of foul play. Amelie refuses to believe that Harold is capable of such violence but agrees to help, imagining it will be like one of her favorite mystery novels. Her social connections and clever observations prove an asset to the case, and Amelie is determined to prove Mr. Radcliffe’s innocence. But the more time Amelie and Michael spend together, the more they trust each other, and the more they realize they are a good team, maybe the perfect match.

Review: I adored this book. Amelie and Det. Baker are such a fun duo, and as they learned more and more about the mystery I was so quickly pulled into the story. I knew Mr. Radcliffe was a scoundrel from the start, but to see how his story unfolded was compelling. I loved the relationships between Amelie and her cousins and Michael and his partner. More often than not, when I read a historical romance it's always about dukes, countesses, and princes and this was such a fun change of pace. Amelie is an Independent Woman of Means which means she works and works hard. It was nice to read a different story set in this timeline I felt like I knew so well.

They also realize that Mr. Radcliffe is hiding more than one secret, and when his attention turns toward Amelie, Michael knows he must put an end to this case before the woman he loves comes to harm.

London, 1885--During a time of surging societal changes, naive Amelie Hampton has joined the ranks of respectable working women and is employed at The Marriage Gazette, where she corresponds with readers and occasionally tries her hand at matchmaking. She longs for the day when she meets her true love and her lofty romantic ideals color her outlook on life.

Grouchy Detective Michael Baker does not possess a natural affinity for tact, but he does have a strong intuition. This aids him when a young woman’s body is pulled from the Thames and he cannot rest until he discovers the circumstances leading to her death.

After a chance meeting, Amelie agrees to help Michael gather information on a suspect. As they become more and more involved in the case, they begin to develop a relationship deeper than camaraderie--which is a beautiful surprise to both of them. However, all is not roses and daydreams, as the villain is watching them closely and intends to have the last word.


This book was full of surprises for me. I read it much faster than I thought I would (mostly because I got hooked and couldn’t put it down!), there were more moments of peril than I anticipated, and I didn’t get bored with the book the whole time I read--thus my quick reading time.

The characters in this book are dynamic and evolve as the story progresses. Amelie is naive but wants to jump into adventure when the opportunity arises. Detective Baker is naturally impatient but is aware of it and tries to become more gentle. In addition to those changes, Amelie becomes less naive, and yet maintains a perspective of optimism, while Detective Baker learns to open his burdened heart to the possibility of happiness. The protagonists are likable and relatable, and the villain is particularly dis-likable. In my opinion, that is an indication that Nancy Campbell Allen took the time to craft her characters.

Another surprise this book held was that it is relatively violent. There are not any graphic or distasteful details, but I was surprised at how much violence did happen. It is not excessive, it is just something I didn’t anticipate and something to keep in mind depending on the audience.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this book. I loved how the plot drew me in and wouldn’t let me step away. The story rolls without stalls or slumps. The characters have depth. This is a well-crafted story.

This appears to be the start of a new series for the author, and this book starts it off with a bang! Nancy Campbell Allen is the queen of the Proper Romance series, and in her newest book, she shines. We’re introduced to the new strong working young ladies of Victorian London, and presumably, the men in law enforcement who love them. This book was a delight from start to finish, and I cannot wait to find out what happens next.

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

Where to begin with this one. I didn’t even read the full synopsis before I started this book. I LOVE Nancy Campbell Allen’s steam punk proper romance series and knew I needed to read this one. Whoa! This book is so fun, and so different. This book MUST be on your fall read list. It’s a little bit spooky and a little bit terrifying in such a fun suspenseful way! This book kept me up turning pages, but still let me sleep once I finished. If you have read the steampunk series it’s maybe a tiny bit more suspenseful than those, but just as AMAZING.

Amelie is so funny. I imagine I would be just like her if I found myself placed in the middle of a murder mystery. I love that she relies on what she has learned from reading. Again, she handles things just as I would. It’s humorous and adds a nice balance to the suspense. Michael Baker is a great grumpy hero! His exasperation with Amelie really sold this book for me. It was perfect!

This book twists and turns that it almost felt like a historical version of the board game Clue. If you like suspense, romance and comic relief you should definitely check out this book! There are murders involved in this book, but not explained in great detail. On a scale of 1 to hunger games (10), it’s possibly a 1.5. This is an excellent, excellent book and will now be part of my yearly fall lineup!

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.