This was a fun, unique read. Picture a British Regency National Treasure and you get Secret of The Sonnets!
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Robert is a Marquess but what good is the title if he’s homeless and thrown in debtor’s prison from debts of his family? He is searching for every last coin when he receives a letter asking about an obscure connection to William Shakespeare. If he can find a document, maybe his money troubles will alleviate.
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What he finds instead is a beautiful, smart and quick witted young woman, a sense of adventure in a treasure hunt with clue hunting and some action and danger.
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Miranda is much like her namesake from Shakespeare’s The Tempest. She’s sweet and kind, smart but not street smart. She learns the hard way about trusting others but is determined to make a name for herself as a scholar first, being female second.
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I don’t know much about the sonnets and it was hard not to look it up but I loved Samantha’s recap at the back of what is real and fictional. I’m excited there will be another book by Hastings following a Shakespeare plot.
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This book had some insta love that I didn’t love, I was more invested in the adventure but by the end, I enjoyed the sweet romance. I still wonder about Antony.
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I received an e-arc copy from Net Galley and the publisher. These are my own thoughts and opinions.
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Content: some violence and action

This is a unique historical romance about a young woman named Miranda, who is a scholar in a time when it’s very unpopular for a woman to be a scholar. I have a love of Shakespeare’s sonnets and loved how the author used them throughout the book. Miranda finds a connection between Shakespeare’s lost manuscripts and a young marquess. As they work together to solve the mystery of the lost manuscripts they build a good friendship that turns to love. There is action, romance and mystery all in this book that make it hard to put down.

This is a pretty new author to me, as I'd only read one other book by her for a book club sometime last year. I haven't read Shakespeare since high school so I didn't remember much about his sonnets but that didn't hinder my enjoyment of this beautiful romance.

I loved Miranda's family as they were unusual for that period in time--her father was a scholar with Miranda, ever the bluestocking, following in his footsteps, and her mother supporting them both in their pursuits. I find It's one of the things I loved about this story. Miranda and her father have a deep love of Shakespeare's works and quoted from his plays and sonnets quite often.

Robert on the other hand is trying to dig his family out of debt left by his father's mismanagement, and his clueless mother is far from helpful in the matter. She's one of the few characters in the book that I didn't like--her obliviousness about the family's financial situation irritated me every time she appeared. I wondered how Robert would finally put an end to her frivolous spending and was thrilled when he finally put his foot down and did what needed to be done!

These two, although not very similar in interests, fit well together. I really liked how well Robert got along with Miranda's family--I felt he fit right in. I really liked how Robert and Miranda's working together progressed into them having feelings for each other. I thought it came across as very believable and something a lot of people can relate to. I love mysteries so I really enjoyed the mystery Miranda and Robert were trying to solve.

I think fans of slow-burn romance and mysteries will like this book. I received a complimentary copy from the publisher Covenant Communications via NetGalley. All thoughts expressed in this review are my own.

Such a delight. I loved the Shakespeare woven through the book. The romance was magical. It was such a fun book to get lost into. The characters were real and believable and the story line clear and intriguing! Loved every second of it!

I wasn’t sure if I would like this book since I’m not a huge Shakespeare fan but I was wrong- it was really good!
I loved the main character. She was smart and self confident and had an awesome family. I loved that her parents supported her and encouraged her in her academic pursuits.
I wasn’t sure if it would end happily, but I was happy with the ending.

Secret of the sonnets was a nice surprise. This is the first book I have read by Samantha Hastings so I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I found I really enjoyed this book. It has a unique story line with the perfect blend of mystery and romance.

The main characters are Robert and Miranda. Miranda is smart, kind, and a little sassy. She is very educated and has been spending her time researching Shakespeare. Robert is a perfect gentleman. He is protective, sweet, and considerate. Not only did he inherit his fathers title of marquess but also his mountain of debt. His time is spent trying to save his family’ home. I loved these two as a couple. They have a lot of chemistry and shared some fun, witty banter

Robert and Miranda end up on an adventure together to find the lost manuscripts of Shakespeare., Miranda for the scholarly pursuit and Robert in the hopes of paying off his father’s debts. This adventure proves more dangerous than they realized.

This is a fun read with a lot of great quotes from Shakespeare!

Set mostly in Winkfield, England in 1812. Miranda Hatch and her father are trying to find the lost manuscripts of Shakespear, their research leads them to Lord Robert Hamilton who is the 12th Marquess of Marsworth.
Lord Hamilton has no interest in literature or Shakespear but is desperately in need of finding a way to repay his father’s debts so that he can keep his family home.
A historical mystery with a fun romance. I loved the way Miranda’s family interacted and their use of Shakespear quotes. The pace was fast and there was lots of action.
Miranda has no interest in finding a husband, she only wants to find a document that with Shakespear’s signature.
Lord Hamilton has no interest in finding a wife to help pay his debts so when Miranda tells him he may have a valuable document with William Shakespear’s signature he happily gets involved with Miranda and her parents as they search through his family documents.
This was a regency romance about families, inheritance and the lost Shakespear Manuscripts. I loved it.

Samantha's books are always fun. She has found the perfect recipe for historical romance with tone, setting, and comedic relief. I enjoyed listening to Miranda and Robert's adventure on their search for William Shakespeare's sonnets.

Miranda is an educated woman, far more than the other women in society at the time. I loved the banter between her and her parents, especially her father, and thought it was a beautiful portrayal of a supportive upbringing. She was not limited by her gender and time and I thought Samantha did a wonderful job of writing her. I wish I could meet Miranda in real life and have her tell me all about Shakespeare! Sonnet quotes and all!

Robert was so sweet. I felt for him and his situation after his father passed. His mother was very typical of a spoiled brat and I struggled with her so much! I'm glad Samantha gave him some sisters that understood his position and supported them in the best way they could. I liked that Samantha portrayed his struggle between needing to marry due to his position but that he also found himself so enamored by Miranda that as he got to know her more, the more he fell for her.

This book has adventure, sweet romance, and the perfect setting. I definitely recommend it to anyone looking for their next regency romance because this is top notch!

*Thank you to Netgalley, Covenant Communications, and the author for the opportunity to review an e-arc. All thoughts are my own*

Secret of the Sonnets was an absolute delight! This was the second Samantha Hastings book I’ve read, and I would love to read more from her. Her books are lighthearted and fun, and this one often brought a smile to my face and had me trying to solve the mystery!

Miranda Hatch is a scholar and as she is 26, she is considered to be a spinster. She intends to find the lost works of William Shakespeare, rather than a husband. She discovers a connection between the Bard and the local dashing marquess, and so she sends a letter requesting access to papers that might secure her academic success. She is quite a charming character, and she and her father often work together. He encourages her to pursue her academic dreams.

Lord Robert Hamilton finds himself in dire straits as he risks losing his ancestral home which he has come to inherit after his father’s passing. His father unfortunately made some very poor decisions, and his mother has frivolous spending habits, and Robert must wade through it all. With the weight of everything laying upon him, he could care less when he receives a letter from an M Hatch requesting access to ancestral papers. After thinking things through though, he realizes that there may be some financial benefit to the request. To his surprise, M Hatch turns out to be the lovely Miss Miranda. The pair soon find themselves drawn into a centuries-old mystery. They are not only drawn together by their common goal, but also by a growing attraction. Unfortunately, there is someone else seeking the papers and they will stop at nothing to get what they want.

I love Miranda! She is so smart and funny, and I love the relationship she has with her parents, especially her father. He is so encouraging, and I love how he and Miranda would quote Shakespeare to each other. I love how she put the pursuit of academics and her love of learning above societies expectations. I also loved watching the friendship with Robert blossom.

Robert was also a very likeable character. I loved that he was so honorable and trying to make everything right after his father’s misdeeds. I enjoyed his partnership with Miranda, and watching their relationship develop. There was great banter between them and it was so fun watching him join her on her quest.

I loved the combination of a mystery and a sweet historical romance. I definitely recommend!

This is a new-to-me author. I loved this book! Regency romance with a mystery thrown in. I love Miranda and how witty, clever, and confident she is. Robert is honorable, humble, and kind. Their chemistry was believable and enjoyable. I'm not very knowledgeable about much of Shakespeare's works, but I loved reading the sonnets at the beginning of each chapter. I look forward to reading more from Samantha Hastings!

I loved the unique plot in this book! Miranda and her father have a great love (bordering on obsession) for literature and especially all things Shakespeare. Her self-confidence is admirable, and she is comfortable with herself and finds joy and laughter in life, reminding me a bit of Elizabeth Bennett. She has a lovely family dynamic with her mother and father. They are impressed with Robert as a gentleman and although he doesn’t share their literary interests, there is a connection of congeniality and sense of humor that makes him fit right in. I enjoyed how naturally their relationship progressed. There is a sense of tension as Robert has limited time to pay the debts left by his father, and the presence of a saboteur lingers in the background, leaving the reader in suspense as to when he will meddle with our characters. I was intrigued by the details I learned about Shakespeare and couldn’t wait to see if they would actually make a discovery.

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.

This is more than a Regency romance. It also explores the controversy over who wrote the sonnets published by William Shakespeare.

Miranda Hatch is a strong, intelligent, independent woman. She is sarcastic, loves books and scholarly writing, and doesn’t feel the need for a husband even though she is almost 26 years old. Her goal in life is to find the missing manuscripts of William Shakespeare and become a well-known scholar as a result.

Robert Hamilton’s dad recently died but all he inherited was debt. If he doesn’t quickly find a way to earn a lot of money his family is likely to lose their estate, leaving his mom and youngest sister Eugenia homeless. He is under a lot of stress and his family is a mess. Younger brother Frank is a soldier and of no help since he gambles all his money away. His married sisters Cassandra and Anne are bossy and tiresome with 6 kids between them. Robert’s mom is the most aggravating because she acts oblivious to their money situation. She is manipulative and spends like crazy even though her home might be taken away in a few months. He needs a large dowry to save his estate and is matched with Adelaide Gunther, his best friend’s sister, but he doesn’t love her in that way. He’s torn between marrying the woman he loves or saving his family's estate. Without it he would have an empty title and no skills to provide income.

Sir Antony Foakes wants Shakespeare’s documents also. He wrote a book with Miranda and published it with only his name listed, even though most of the ideas were hers.

I loved the way Miranda made her own choices regardless of what society thought she should do. I was impressed she didn’t back down when snubbed by Robert’s friends and family because they are from unequal classes in society. I couldn’t help but feel sorry for Robert and the difficult situation he was in. I was only expecting this to be a historical romance, so the danger and mystery surprised me. I don’t think you need to be a fan of Shakespeare to find the question intriguing of who actually wrote his sonnets. This is a new author to me and one I would read again. Thanks to Covenant Communications and NetGalley for a temporary digital copy to use for my review.

If you love historical mysteries, you will want to make time to read Secret of the Sonnets by Samantha Hastings. It’s a great way to start your new year! Ms. Hastings is a new-to-me author and I really enjoyed her writing style, witty conversation, and balance of mystery and romance.

In Secret of the Sonnets, readers are introduced to Miranda Hatch a twenty-six-year-old spinster scholar with a particular interest in William Shakespeare’s sonnets. Her research leads her to a possible piece of correspondence between Shakespeare and the ancestor of a nearby marquess, Lord Robert Hamilton. Miranda writes to Robert and asks if he has any family papers that could be from Shakespeare’s time. Her letter comes at a good time, since Robert is trying to sell anything of worth to save his estate from the debts his father incurred before his death. Gathering what papers he can, Robert visits the Hatch family, hoping he has something of worth that could save his heavily mortgaged home. During his visit, they uncover a clue that might lead them to Shakespeare’s lost manuscripts. It doesn’t take long before Robert and the Hatch family are drawn into a web of intrigue. The closer Miranda and Robert get to finding the manuscripts, the closer they become as a couple who may have a future together—but an enemy is waiting to come between them and are ready to do whatever it takes to keep the secret for themselves.

I have always loved Shakespeare’s plays and this book has a surprising twist on some of the controversy that surrounds him as an author even today. Readers will be riveted to the page as Miranda and Robert try to untangle a centuries old mystery regarding the Bard. Not only is the author skilled at weaving the clues to the mystery into the story, she also expertly entwines a tender romance with Shakespearean discussions and references that are delightful and charming. Our hero and heroine were intelligent and believable, and the supporting cast felt real with their quirks and nuances, adding an extra layer of depth to this imaginative and clever story.

But this treasure hunt is about so much more than Shakespeare’s secrets as Miranda and Robert begin to see that perhaps the treasure is each other. However, with danger surrounding them and Society’s expectations a heavy weight to bear, can they really find a way to be together? Readers will definitely want to set aside enough time for this book because they won’t want to set it down.

This story is amazing!
I have enjoyed reading about a woman scholar and "hearing" She and her father quoting Shakespeare.
The premise is unique, the plot is very interesting and I love the suspense that involves the MC.
Miranda and Robert have a little rough meet cute but I like the development in the relationship
The characters are very well written and funny at times depending of the moment in the book.
Samantha Hastings has done a good job in the research for this book.
I recommend reading it!
Thanks Netgalley for the ARC and to Covennant communications!

I loved Miranda’s wit. I laughed out loud a few times. I also really liked Robert. The two made a great pair. I really did not care for Robert’s mother. I thought she acted like a child. Overall I enjoyed the book and would highly recommend it.

"As much as I would like to use my gifts in marriage," Miranda lied, "I have been on the shelf for so long that the neighbors have started to refer to me as a library."

I was so excited to read this book when I saw that it was by Samantha Hastings. It did not disappoint! I loved Miranda and Robert from the get go.

Miranda is the daughter of a scholar with dreams of becoming a notable scholar herself. Shes incredibly intelligent and witty. Robert is the new Marquess of Marsworth and is riddled with debt. While Miranda is well read, Robert is more into horses and sports. They are the definition of opposites attract and I am here for it!

Their relationship was so fun to watch develop! They had great flirty banter. I caught myself constantly giggling. This book really had it all. Adventure, action, sweet romance, witty banter, and a literary treasure hunt!

Secret of the Sonnets is a must-read for those who enjoy stories set in the Regency era! Author Samantha Hastings uses wit and humor to tell of the search for some of William Shakespeare's lost papers, and I can't think of two better characters to be involved in the hunt! Miranda Hatch and Lord Robert Hamilton couldn't be more different but together, they are a force to be reckoned with. I loved the bantering interaction, their increasing awareness of each other, and the amazing chemistry that's both sweet and tantalizing. Will Miranda continue to believe that she doesn't "desire to be helpmeet or an obedient wife"?

Hastings is a new-to-me author and I love the way that she developed this story. She began each chapter with one of Shakespeare's sonnets and included many historical references to add to my interest, but I was totally captivated by the intrigue and romance! Secret of the Sonnets is a delightful story and I recommend it to all who enjoy Regency romance.

I received an advance reader copy from the author and publisher. There was no obligation for a favorable review. These are my own thoughts.

I liked this book. I liked all the fun quotes from Shakespeare. I think the main character was very sure of herself. The scenes that made me laugh the most was at the beginning when she kept shutting down the rector by quoting Shakespeare and with her dry wit. I loved the relationship with her parents and it was a fun to see her relationship progress with Robert. It was fun solving the mystery of where the lost papers of Shakespeare disappeared to. And I always love a HEA.

A beautifully written book with some romance and mystery. If you like your books with depth and meaning this one will captivate you. I so enjoyed reading about Robert and Miranda, a slow but sure romance in the making. Recommend this one for your reading list!

Twenty six year old Miranda Hatch is a scholar and might also be considered a spinster, but she is determined to find the lost manuscripts of William Shakespeare. When she discovers a connection between the Bard and Lord Robert Hamilton, the local dashing marquess, she pens a letter requesting access to papers that might secure her academic triumph.
Robert is drowning in debt and hope that Miranda can uncover documents with Shakespeare’s signature but in the meantime, he finds himself captivated by her wisdom, kindness and genuine nature. As they spend time together, tracking down the papers, he wonders if he can have it all, but more importantly, a future with Miranda.
This story was so sweet, and I loved both Miranda and Robert, as a couple. Miranda is such a clever and witty woman, with no other issue than to help Robert. Her sincerity is what captivates Robert, but also had me, cheering for their happily ever after. Robert seems quite removed from the nastiness of the Ton, but I loved his youngest sister and her fiancée, who were a wonderful support for Robert and Miranda. This was such a lovely romance, with the thrill of the mystery adding to the storyline. Overall, a great read!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.