Amelie Hampton writes for the Marriage Gazette, offering love and relationship advice. Detective Michael Baker is trying to solve the murder of a woman, who he suspects died by her husband's hand.

When Detective Baker recruits Amelie, Amelie originally tries to prove Mr. Radcliffe's innocence, but soon she begins questioning if Radcliffe is who he says he is.

All in all, this was a fun adventure! I enjoyed the plot and the mystery, and could not put this down. Also, I have a feeling some of the side characters might have their own stories, which I'm looking forward to.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for this eARC! I really appreciate the opportunity to read this!

I really enjoyed this book as shy Amelie goes from crushing on the charming Mr. Ratcliffe to working with police detective Michael Baker to gather evidence to prove Mr. Ratcliffe actually murdered his wife. This was clearly the first book in what will be a series about Amelie and her two plucky cousins as they find romance while exploring the professional opportunities for young women in late 19th century London.

The one quibble I have is with the historical timeline. The blurb for the book tells us that it takes place in 1885 but that doesn’t line up with some little details dropped in such as that women have been going to medical school for three decades. It is more like two decades. And they refer to taking fingerprints from pieces of evidence (though they never seem to actually take the fingerprints). I think that is too early for the British police to have been using fingerprints. And the medical details from the body of Ratcliffe’s wife are just unbelievable. It has been at least two months since her death when the police finally dug up her body and conducted an autopsy. But the doctor can detect the bruises on her neck indicating she had been choked and identify that she had been drowned in lavender-scented bathwater. I just doubt that such details would remain that long to be detected. And besides, her body was fished out of the Thames and examined on the spot. Wouldn’t they have detected the bruises on her neck at that time?

Besides those quibbles, I really enjoyed the story and would happily read the sequels.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

The Matchmaker’s Lonely Heart by Nancy Campbell Allen brings plenty of mystery, intrigue, and atmosphere to a tale that is part historical mystery, part police investigation, and part romance. It’s the first book in the Proper Romance Victorian series. Set in and around London in 1885, the main characters are Amelie Hampton, Harold Radcliffe, and Detective Michael Baker. When a dead body of a young woman is found in the Thames River, these three meet and the sparks fly in more than one way.

Amelie is an independent but somewhat lonely woman working for her aunt at The Marriage Gazette. She answers lonely heart letters, writes the occasional essay, and does some matchmaking through the personal ads. Her character comes through strongly as naïve, hard-working, intelligent, impatient, and outspoken, but she has successfully matched more couples than the rest of the staff combined. She does show some growth during the course of the book, but also makes some ill-advised choices along the way. Harold is charming and good looking, but he’s somewhat harder to get to know. Michael is hard-working and calm. A cast of secondary characters provides support, conflict, and interest.

The author did a great job of transporting me to a different time and place. Quotes from different publications that were at the beginning of each chapter provided additional insight into the times and how women were perceived and treated. While this is not a time I would want to live in, it was fun to visit and spend time with Amelie and her friends, family, and acquaintances. While the plot was clever, suspenseful, and perfectly paced, it was the characters and situations that developed that kept me reading. However, I did wish that a red herring or two were thrown in the mix so that the villain wasn’t known so early in the book. Danger, suspense, and some twists crop up before you get to the heartwarming and satisfying ending.

I was immediately drawn into the characters’ lives and enjoyed the unraveling of the mystery and the development of the romance. Themes include death, relationships, poverty, treatment of orphans, corruption, assaults, romance, family, institutionalization of those with certain disabilities, and much more.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, which was suspenseful, engaging, and atmospheric. In both of the books I have read by this author, I had a connection with the writing style that I found relatable, vivid, and irresistible. I can’t wait to find out which of the secondary characters will show up in future books in the series. I recommend this to those that like historical mysteries with some romance.

Shadow Mountain Publishing and Nancy Campbell Allen provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently expected to be September 7, 2021. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.

This was a fun murder mystery set in regency times. I enjoyed the mystery while at least knowing some answers. There were a few surprises but for the most part you know the murderer. There is some suspense but not terrifying. Amelie has such a feisty spirit and is so brave. The romance was cute and it was fun watching them get to know each other better. The character growth is spot on and the story development while semi predictable was nice.

This story was absolutely diverting. I loved how unique it was. I also loved the mystery aspect. People should read this story because it is unique within it's genre. Michael is a delight and I loved watching his character grow and develop throughout the story. I'm excited to see if there are more stories in this world because it is thrilling!

I didn’t quite know what to expect when starting this book but was pleasantly enraptured with this story. While there were circumstances that could have been better explained (Amelia’s job at the Gazette, the history of her family, the Notorious Hamptons) I enjoyed the characters, the murderous plot and the romance, although I did find the love declaration abrupt. All other emotional scenes were very proper so the love declaration seemed out of place. While this is a stand alone, there was enough character development of Amelia’s cousins to warrant their romantic stories as well. I loved the cover.
This is a new to me author who I will definitely be looking out for in the future!

This book has left me speechless and all smiles. It was absolutely incredible. The characters, the mystery, the romance! I got swallowed up into this wonderfully spun story and my goodness, I wish there was more. I want an Agatha Christie sized series of Michael and Amelie solving crime together. What fun that would be!

Detective Michael Baker is working a dead end investigation. Everywhere he turns he cannot find evidence to prove his gut instinct, that Harold Radcliffe murdered his own wife.

Miss Amelie Hampton is a matchmaker for her Aunt Sally’s newspaper, the Gazette. She studies the characteristics and facts about each anonymous person and matches the ones who would suit. With a good track record of success I’ll add. When her friend signs up to be matched, Amelie’s curiosity gets the better of her, and she spies on the couples “blind date”. Only to find the man her friend has been matched with is, Harold Radcliffe, a man from her book club and one she is growing more and more interested in for herself.

Of course, like any good detective would do when he has no leads. Michael follows Mr.Radcliffe to his date, only to find a suspicious woman watching the couple as well.
And thus begins an incredibly entertaining friendship, partnership and relationship.

I promise you will want to read this one. If you enjoy murder mysteries, romance, and humour, this is for you. Go grab a copy and cuddle up with this wonderful book.

Thank you NetGalley and Shadow Mountain for the complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Content: PG-13
Romance: Some kissing.
Violence: It’s a murder mystery- there’s murder, recounting of crimes, threats made, a very creepy bad guy, etc. No worse than your average murder mystery you’d see on TV. Not gruesome.
Language: none.

I really enjoyed this book. I hope the other two cousin's get their own stories. Detective Baker comes off as harsh as first but as the story unfolds you can’t help but become a fan. I loved how Amelie blossomed in the story. I could not book the book down until the mystery was solved. I highly recommend this book.

This is the first book I have read by Nancy Campbell Allen, and I really enjoyed it! It was a perfect blend of suspense, mystery, and romance. The story has good pacing. I was entertained throughout.

Amelie is the perfect female lead in this story. She is strong and independent. While at the beginning of the story she may come across as being naive, she quickly adapts to any and all situations. Michael was the perfect suitor for her. Supportive without being overbearing.

I also liked the cousins and Sally. All great characters to get to know.

I would definitely recommend this book! Thank you NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for the ARC.

Nancy Campbell Allen has woven a delightfully suspenseful historic romance.  The plot thickened as the intrepid heroine was allowed to work alongside the hero in a world that was slowly opening to women.  I enjoyed the strong women around her and their opinions and support of each other as they pushed boundaries and began making their way as independent women of means.  The insightful characters drove the story and made it an intriguing ride!

I received a complimentary copy of this book.  All opinions expressed are completely my own.

Can we just take a moment and applaud Nancy Campbell Allen for creating a beautiful murder mystery? How does one create a balance of romance and murder? I don’t even understand how she did it, but it was absolutely delightful. I was given an ebook copy in exchange for my thoughts (thank you, netgalley) and now I’m just counting down the days until I can purchase my physical copy. This book is going on my shelf of favorites.

The romance was perfectly sweet and a slow burn that you just kept thinking, “oh my gosh, just kiss.” The chemistry these characters had is what romance readers dream of. There were so many lines that I highlighted, many that I’m hoping will make the final edit. There’s one thing for certain, the author delivered a stomach flipping, heart fluttering romance.

As for the mystery and murder, the whole time I’m trying to figure it out. I was lucky enough to have a friend who read this the same time as me and it was the PERFECT buddy read. We were constantly texting each other “where are you at??” The suspense was real! I didn’t know how things would work out. And a sure sign of a good suspense is when you’re asking yourself “is he in the room with her?!?”
It had a little bit of a Sherlock Holmes vibe with it being Victorian and our Michael Baker is a detective, that’s not to say it didn’t hold its own. I loved the mystery and suspense that was tied into the romance.

Truly, do yourself a favor and preorder this one. It has been one of my favorite reads this whole year out of the 115 that I’ve read. Come September, I will be doing another read through, I have to see this beauty edited.

Romance with a mystery is not what I have read a ton of. However, Nancy Campbell Allen has made me really enjoy this genre just as she did with her steampunk series. I enjoyed that while the reader gets an early indicator on the most likely suspect is there is still twists and suspense to stay very much interested to the end. I felt there were great hooks and intrigue to keep you turning pages. The author did well in drawing me into the story & imagery as to be able to picture oneself living the story right along with the characters. I'm not quite sure but I believe this was a time period were more woman were living independent from their families and worked. This was woven into the story seemesly and in the background. It's nice to get a bit of history with the story. I found the h endearing and the H dashing! I do hope this is a series and the two female cousins get their story. I'd even love a Winston and Aunt Sarah book. All the characters were enjoyable and I'd love to read more of them.

The Matchmaker’s Lonely Heart is a fun romp through a murder in Victorian London.

This was a very fun read, and I loved the idea behind the story. The chemistry was great, and while at times the writing took me a bit to warm up to, I really got into it about halfway through the book.

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

My head is still reeling from this one. 🤯🤯 I am sooo glad I was given an advanced copy of this book because it is an absolutely MUST read! My friend was sweet enough to buddy read it with me and that made the twists and turns that much better. There were so many times that I had no idea where the story would go and it kept me up late falling for the just one more chapter trick.

This is a murder mystery with some good, slow burn romance and I was there for it. I’m still giddy after reading the ending and thinking of Michael and Amelie together. Like, WOW! 😍😍

I’m not usually one to go for suspense because I can’t handle not knowing. Anyone else have that problem? This was perfectly mysterious without being too gory. Plus, I LOVED that the characters didn’t act in the typical way. They were mostly level headed which made it that much more enjoyable to read. This was a five star read in my book!

I liked the characters in this book. The good were really good and the bad were downright evil. It doesn't take long to learn who the bad guy is but how it will be proved is the mystery of the entire book. How someone so creepy, slimy and evil can be as charming as he is, I have no idea. The book is a romance but I think the mystery was the bigger part of the story. Amelie was a lot naive and easily taken in but she was also bold and fearless. Sometimes I wasn't sure if her bold decisions were made because of her naivety or fearlessness. She did stuff I would never do. I liked Michael and his calm manner. And I liked all the secondary characters.

Sex: no
Language: no
Violence: yes
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book through Netgalley and voluntarily chose to review it.

#TheMatchmakersLonelyHeart #Netgalley

A creepy story. that will capture you from page one.

Amelie Hampton has led a lonely life, working for The Marriage Gazette, being a matchmaker. Her life is definitely lonely, until she decides to follow a young lady to the one she was matched with. To Amelie's surprise, it is none other than Harold Redcliffe, a man from her book club group; a man that Amelia would like to be matched with herself.
Detective Michael Baker, is in the middle of a case, trying to find evidence that a man killed his wife. He keeps finding himself, mixed up with an inquisitive young lady, who is determined to get in his way.

I love romances, cozy mysteries, and police procedurals. This book ticks all the boxes. The romance and the mystery were delightful to get into. The dynamic between the grumpy detective and the matchmaker advice columnist was so *chef's kiss". I finished it too fast, and with a smile on my face. I immediately recommended it to a friend, with a caveat that it would only be available in September. I did notice when I sent her the Amazon link that an ebook version wasn't available in my country (I could only see paperback and Audible on Amazon) so I'm glad I was able to get an ARC. Hope this becomes available to international readers!

I love this book!
It was an enjoyable, unique read.
I’d recommend it for anyone looking for an easy, short romance to help them through a slump or maybe just on a rainy afternoon!

MURDER/THRILLER
Victorian, England

Detective Michael Baker of Scotland Yard is unexpectedly forced to work with advice columnist Amelie Hampton of the Notorious Branch of the Hampton family to follow up on a case he believes has not been fully resolved.

Detective Nathaniel Winston is his partner and one I found interesting and mysterious, leaving plenty of room for a story of his own.

Amelie has 2 cousins: Charlotte and Evangeline who each possess strengths that make the trio a force one can not help but admire and want to know better. They are also showcased in a way that highlights the value of women in society during a time when women were barely given any regard.

Harold Radcliff - VILLIAN extraordinaire! I will not give much away here, but he is slick and creepy!

Tea Quote: "The bus stopped in front of an old inn that boasted a dining room serving the "best tea westward of India." Michael looked at the sign and grinned at Amelie. "We must have a cup of that tea.""

The story grew in a steady climax with several twists, turns and increasing danger. The growing romance was sweet. I don't usually reach for this type of book & truthfully did not realize what I was in for. But, if you like a strong murder mystery, with a bit of romance, this book is well-written.

I gave it 3 stars=I liked it overall, maybe I would recommend it depending on the person.
NetGalley (Would you recommend?): 1= No, 2=Not Really, 3=Maybe, 4= Yes, 5=Strongly
GOODREADS STAR RATINGS: 1= Did not like it, 2= It was ok, 3=Liked It, 4= Really liked it, 5=It was amazing

I received an eBook from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion without further expectation or compensation.

The Matchmaker’s Lonely Heart is the best book I’ve read in many moons.

Not only does Allen make sure you fall in love with each of her characters, her book is infused with such mystery and intrigue that it’s a wretch to set down.

Amelie was darling. Her and her cousins are who I’d like to be if I lived in this time period; a Woman of Independent Means ;)

The premise behind this story is very unique. Amelie, a columnist at the Marriage Gazette embarks on an investigation of one of her clients with a handsome detective from Scotland Yard. I was immediately engaged in the story, and the author’s impeccable writing style kept me so for the entire book.

Romance and Mystery fans alike will adore this novel.

Thank you @netgalley and @shadowmountainpub for providing me with an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

Content Rating: Suspense, Murder