What a delightful regency romp!

Marsh has created some of the most interesting and ‘contemporary minded’ regency characters in Charlotte and Matthew, with a fun coffee house setting, an action-packed scheme to take down a notorious criminal, and swooning forbidden slow-burning tension.

Charlotte is essentially betrothed to Lord Hawley, despite the mysterious circumstances that led to his previous two wives early deaths. She bucks against societal norms by secretly investing a portion of her late aunt’s inheritance into a local coffee house co-owned by her distant cousins. She is attempting to secure her own financial freedom while covertly investigating Hawley’s possible criminal ties in attempts to avoid the execution of the marriage contract. Unbeknownst to Charlotte, her brother, Alexander, and his best friend, Matthew (and Hawley’s estranged younger brother) are also conducting their own secret investigations to protect Charlotte from the marriage as well. Eventually their plans collide, and they must work together in order to successfully carry out their secret plans. The forced proximity of the mission ignites a friendship and then forbidden romance between Charlotte and Matthew. Matthew is a third-born son and has spent his adulthood training as a surgeon, studying the floral/fauna of the colonies, and illegally rescuing indentured servants/human trafficking victims. Can the two of them outwit Hawley and buck the traditions of societal expectations to reach for a happily every after??

I loved these characters, and the ‘found family’ vibes from the Black Sheep coffee house! There is a hilarious parrot, high-stakes schemes, fun banter, and intelligent conversations around the injustices of the period including slavery, indentured servitude, and the treatment of women as property. Charlotte and Matthew’s romance had many roadblocks, including some egregious family trauma, but they were easy to root for and their chemistry was fire! This romance is low-steam, but includes several on-page (mostly clothed) trysts!

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever publishing for my e-arc. I will be featuring this book on my IG feed next week!

Lady Charlotte Always Gets Her Man is a standalone that has all the makings for the beginning of a series. This was a new to me author and I enjoyed the twists and turns of this mid-18th century HR. I haven’t read many set in the 1700s but liked the historical tidbits that was available throughout. It was interesting the differences in the style of dress and weapons from this time period to Regency.

I really enjoyed this overall and while I don’t want to mention any spoilers, the secret life that the MMC has is interesting and there’s a great author’s note at the end. It did start a bit of a slow start but the pace picked up in the second half. Both MC are lovable with the MMC having a more transformative journey. Matthew had been harshly bullied by his older brothers and treated as an outcast most of his life. And while he’s made his own life by becoming a doctor and studying and publishing for natural science he has to stand up against his oldest brother and also decide he’s worthy of love and happiness. The FMC is strong and once she trusts Matthew is steadfast in her feelings for him. They had both known each other in childhood but the heroine didn’t really know the hero and hadn’t seen him in several years so she was hesitant at first because he’s the brother to the villain. A lot of side characters are introduced that could have had a story worth telling from their past or future romance stories.

There are no encounters, open door or fade to black. There are several kisses, a few fantasized thoughts, and the words to a bawdy ditty.

An advance ecopy of this book was provided by Forever publishing via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

A cute brothers best friend romance with a villainous fiance , highwayman and lot of intrigue

Looking forward to more from this series ( I’m just assuming it’s a series based on the ending )

A sweet love story and interesting side characters and a villain to catch but the book felt way too long at times. I think this one may be the first book in a series and I would definitely read more about these characters

This book had me hooked right from the beginning. I not only wanted to follow along with the developing romance between Charlotte and Matthew's romance, but also with Charlotte's bid for independence and the investigation into Hawley. I was actually less interested in Matthew's "secret life" - given the way he thought of it (prior to us knowing what was going on) I was expecting it to be something along the line of espionage. Given who Charlotte's cousins were and that she had gone into business with them I would have thought he would know she would have been proud to be associated with him. I'm still a little foggy on exactly how she ended up getting shot without it seeming completely obvious as to what she was doing. She also seemed to recover from that injury pretty quickly - and didn't her mother wonder where she was all night? I liked that Charlotte hadn't grown up being in love with Matthew and that came to see him as the man he was through his studies and interests. It gave me confidence that theirs was the type of relationship that would last. The investigation into Hawley ended up being a little more interesting than the resolution (which I thought came about a little too easily). That being said, I did absolutely love Charlotte's confrontation with Hawley at the masked ball - it was perfection and he definitely had it coming. And of course I can't wait to find out what Alexander did with Percy and a certain gold-plated helmet.

This was a cute historical romance. Not only did I enjoy Charlotte and Matthew as a couple, but I was also rooting for Banshee and Pan. The villain aka Matthews's brother is pretty stereotypical Villian. Who is rumored to be behind more than a few bodies, including those of his last two wives so it's no wonder once she found out she was betrothed to him Charlotte impulsively ran away. Apparently, Matthew is not only an adorable cinnamon roll but has some hidden depths that were surprising and made me love him all the more. I enjoyed seeing Charlotte get what she wanted and loved her relationship with her brother.

I thought this took some fun turns, some surprising, and kept me entertained throughout the story.

This book was nice - it wasn't great but it wasn't terrible either. The plot was interesting, and found myself drawn in to the story but I felt the characters were a little wishy-washy. Charlotte herself was the source of much frustration, although I did come to like her in the end.

Overall I think this is a good book to read when you want romance with very little spice, and a bit of a thriller plot.

3.5 stars rounded to 4

A woman who wants out of her imminent engagement with a villain and a man with a goal to find proof of the same villain’s crimes. The heroine is smart and insightful while the hero is not only a brilliant doctor, naturalist but also a justice seeker. The parrot and the monkey adds some comedic element to the story whereas friends provide support for their plans. It definitely is wonderful when a plan comes together and they find their HEA. The end of the story hints at the next one in series! Lovely read and can’t wait for the next in series!

The good: Mystery storyline was well done, especially with the added conflict of the attraction between Charlotte and Matthew while trying to solve the same thing.

The bad: Very little romance. It took a back seat, and when it did hit, I was cringing through all of it. The flow of the writing was not good - big, inconsistent jumps between chapters were disorienting.

The ugly: Vocabulary was trying too hard, like a caricature of a period piece. And the book felt like it was getting longer and longer. With only a few chapters left, I felt ready to set it aside forever.

This quote from the book sums it up best: "The whole episode felt like a farce."

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

3.5 stars rounded up!

Lady Charlotte Always Gets Her Man is a historical romance novel set around 1700s. Lady Charlotte is betrothed to a man whose other two wives have mysteriously died. Charlotte teams up with her brother and his best friend, who is also the brother of the man Charlotte is engaged to, to stop this engagement. Charlotte may also have another romance blooming with her brothers best friend.

This was a good book. I’m not the biggest historical fan but I did enjoy this one. The characters were all fun and like able, there were even some fun animals throughout. I also enjoyed the different clothing described and the historical setting. I loved the coffeehouse and the different characters we met there. Charlotte was a brave and fun main character that was fun to follow. Matthew was also a great character and their relationship was a good one to root for. I do wish we got some more background on their relationship growing up because I feel like we lacked on the chemistry just a bit. It didn’t feel like they had a history together but rather a new romance. I would’ve liked that explored a bit more.

My biggest problem was the tone of this one. It is described as a rom com but it actually had a lot of serious topics. There was just a bit of disconnect for me with the light tone and the dark topics. I would’ve either made the tone a little more serious or would’ve made the topics a bit lighter.

All in all, this was a good historical romance that was fun to read. The tone was just a bit off for me but I still liked it. Thanks so much to netgalley and Forever for the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

3.7 Stars
One Liner: A decent read

Lady Charlotte Lovett has no intention of marrying Viscount Hawley, not when rumors say he killed his previous two wives. The only way to get out of the engagement is to prove his crimes. That’s easier said than done.
Mathew Talbot is Hawley’s younger brother and an odd one out in society with a love for animals. He is a surgeon and prefers to spend time with animals than humans. When Charlotte decides to investigate his brother’s unsavory past, Mathew has to keep her away from danger as well as his own secrets. Moreover, his heart seems to grow fonder of Charlotte, but a future with her is not easy.
The story comes in the third-person POV of Charlotte and Mathew.

My Thoughts:
Well, this isn’t your typical historical romance. It is a blend of adventure, mystery, comedy, and romance. The content is darker, too.
Random bits of comedy are inserted to keep things light. This may or may not work for everyone. I did like Pan the Parrot and Banshee the Monkey. I needed that light tone.
We already know who the villain is (the dude is a cardboard cutout with zero personality, but okay!), so we need to see how his villainy will come to light. The parents are one dimensional too, the typical ton who only cares about appearances and titles.
What saves the book is the friendship/ relationship between Charlotte, Mathew, Alexander, Hannah, and Sophia. Alexander is Charlotte’s twin and someone with great potential. Mathew has his demons to fight but is an endearing character.
The focus is more on the coffee-room culture and the dynamics between the rich and the not-rich, titled and untitled, etc. There are few liberties taken, but we can get the essence of the setting.
The found family trope is rather heartwarming to read. I also like how the book discusses colonization, slavery, gender and racial discrimination, etc., without weighing down the plot. It helps that the plot is straightforward (despite the pretense of mystery).
The prose gets too prose-y (I like purple but not purple prose), and the vibes are modernish. This can be off-putting for some readers. I didn’t mind much as I’ve read such writing. It seems to be a trend anyway.
The romance begins in the last quarter and has kissy-kissy scenes. However, it is low on steam. I found that it suits the storyline and characters. It may not be enough for some readers.
There’s no miscommunication, though people keep secrets from each other for a long time. It makes sense in a way, so can’t complain much.
We also get an epilogue with a lead for the next book in the series. Naturally, I will read it. Despite the excessive prose, the pacing is decent enough to finish the book in a couple of days.

To summarize, Lady Charlotte Always Gets Her Man is an entertaining book if you want a mash of genres and a light read that doesn’t tax your brain (only if you don’t think too much about some elements). The author’s note is informative. Don’t miss it.
Thank you, NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing), for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
*********
Other links will be updated later.

This book is a little bit of a hot mess. Modern, disjointed writing combines with a lackluster "mystery" and caricatures of characters (Very Evil Viscount, Mary Sue Heroine, Humble But Hot Hero, etc) to make what essentially is a historical Scooby-Doo episode. There are a lot of random exotic animals that get more page time than the villain, everyone is So Good at everything, and every potential obstacle in a historical setting is conveniently removed and forgotten about (e.g. her overbearing mother, chaperones, etc) when Charlotte needs to run around the city or go on an trip. There's also not really a mystery here- they have decided from page 1 that Hawley killed his past wives and then they basically don't even have to work to prove it. I wish the romance or banter could have saved it, but none of the characters have a consistent enough personality to get attached or root for them. This is an unserious, conveniently plotted book that's for the very casual historical reader.

Retail reviews post on release date.

“I have esteemed you since I first laid eyes upon you in the foyer of your parents’ house. You were so full of life that you made something in me come alive—and that part of me has lived for you ever since.”

When Lady Charlotte learns that her parents have betrothed her to the cold, ruthless, and twice widowed-under-mysterious-circumstances Viscount Hawley, self-preservation prompts her to take any action necessary to extricate herself from the marriage contract. Ultimately she finds herself marshaling a team of unlikely allies in her quest for independence, including the Viscount’s half-brother and her childhood friend, Dr. Matthew Talbot. Sparks of every kind start to fly as Charlotte, Matthew, and their friends race against the clock to outsmart the dangerous Hawley before she is forced to walk down the aisle.

This sweet Georgian-era romance is simply fun, and a pleasure to read from start to finish. I love the plotlines, and that both Charlotte and Matthew are involved in their own secret intrigues that weave together so tightly throughout the events the story. Charlotte’s independent, fearless nature is so perfectly balanced by Matthew’s quiet, humble strength. They are such a great match, and I think the author does a wonderful job developing their chemistry through their slow-burn romance. I love all of the supporting characters, and that the Black Sheep is a microcosm of the British social strata. I also really enjoy the author’s sense of humor, and it translates so well on the page through Pan’s outbursts. I love that he appears at the masquerade ball with a little eyepatch!

Usually, my criticism with romance novels written within the last 5 years is that they are entirely too long. Here, the biggest drawback for me was that the book wasn’t long enough! I kept feeling that there were important bits of the story that were missing, and that would have made for even better character development. For example, I wanted to know more about why Matthew’s father held his bizarre beliefs about the fae; why Hawley hated Matthew given that Matthew was never a threat to him or his birthright; and why Hawley hated Alexander.

I am hoping that this novel is the start of a series about patrons of the Black Sheep, because I would love to read Alun Powys and Lady Calliope’s enemies to lovers romance next!

Thank you Netgalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the opportunity to read and review this novel. All opinions are my own.

This book had all the elements i typically love: mystery, romance, historical setting, but for some reason fell a bit flat for me. While there were series elements (murder, abuse, etc.), the characters never addressed each others traumas to one another, which felt odd to me. I liked this story but it felt like the development got edited down.

Tropes: brother’s best friend; unwanted engagement; opposites attract; murder mystery
Steam level:1 (a few kisses)
3.25 stars.

This book wasn’t really for me, however, there were some aspects I liked:
–Well researched with a fun riff on the coffeehouses that existed in 1700’s-1800’s England.
–The MC’s are likable. Matthew is a prime example of a cinnamon roll hero, smart and slightly awkward but still attractive. Charlotte is intelligent and outspoken (if pretty anachronistic).
–The writing is solid.
–Lots of snappy dialog.
–Fun cast of characters.
–Some chuckles and quirkiness. But if you don’t like irreverence in your HR’s, you might not like this. Think low-steam Tessa Dare or Charlie Lane.

What I was on the fence about:
–Anachronisms and Americanisms abound. Mostly for humorous intent, but I did feel like I was reading a contemporary rom-com set in Regency England.

Things I didn’t like:
–Back to the humor. When it veered toward the frenetic, with lots of characters and attendant noise, my attention strayed.
–Purple prose, whether it was meant to be humorous or not.
–OTT stereotypes. MFC’s parents are the stock, social-climbing “let’s force our daughter to marry despite the fact that the man has multiple wives who mysteriously died and he’s obviously a bully” types (MFC’s mom is particularly annoying. Nasty fictional Regency-era mom characters have definitely become a pet peeve of mine).
–The villainous fiance is not only OTT, but so much of the plot hinges on the mystery aspect, the fact that the reader has no doubt that this guy is capable of terrible things within the first few chapters is a definite weakness.

Overall: I like the writing style and some of the humor, but felt it was a tad too overdone. For a book that relies pretty heavily on the mystery aspect, with low steam, there needed to be more subtlety or red herrings to consistently keep my attention.

I read an advanced reader copy of this book and this is my voluntary review. Opinions are my own.

This book was pretty all over the place...it didn't really work as a mystery and it didn't really work as a romance. It gave the vibe of "throw everything at the wall and see what sticks." Needed some more editing at the very least.

A romp of a comedic romantic mystery featuring the dynamic Lady Charlotte. who flees her engagement because she's pretty sure he's a murderer and finds herself linked up with Matthew, her putative fiancé's brother. These two make a good pair. The dialogue is snappy. the characters well rounded, and the storytelling pulls you in. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

Thank you netgalley and publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review and opinions.

Lady Charlotte Always Gets Her Man, is about a high society lady in the 1700s whose parents arrange for her marriage to a noblemans son. Problem is his last 2 wives both died under suspicious circumstances, being chalked up to accidents. Charlotte along with her twin brother, Alexander, Matthew-her future brother in law, and several other friends they set out to expose his horrendous truths and free Charlotte.

I really enjoyed this one. I feel that the author did a really good job of developing the characters. The plot was well thought out and timed well. There were a few instances where I felt like some of the information could have been cut short, but it ultimately didn't take away from the story. I wish there would have been a bit more justice at the end in regards to his previous 2 wives, like why he killed them or even how is father reacted to his arrest.

The end points to a sequel with the same characters which I looked forward to reading if that's the case.

Lady Charlotte Always Gets Her Man is really twofold. She is on the trail of a murder suspect, but along the way falls in love with the suspect’s younger brother. This book is a slow burn sweet romance. The hero, Matthew Talbot has just returned from overseas to learn that his older brother is engaged to the woman that he has been in love with for years. But….he has some misgivings, and not just because he has always been in love with Charlotte.
Matthew is more of the shy hero, who stumbles and stutters whenever Charlotte is about, while Charlotte is the opposite. Forthright and outspoken. Which is fine if you like that, I prefer my hero’s to be bossy and domineering. But that’s just me. The animals in the story make it worth turning the pages! The parrot and the monkey had me laughing out loud.
This book is more a mystery then a romance. I thought. But the romance is definitely there. It’s more of a slow burn than hot and spicy. The romance doesn’t really get going until the last part of the book, I’d say about a good 70% in. The secondary characters really are what make the story go more than the hero and heroine.
Violet Marsh is a new to me author, but one I’ll be on the look out for in future for the animals in the story alone.

This was such a wonderful, entertaining read!
Lady Charlotte is such a strong character whose parents are planning to betroth her to a Viscount whose first two wives died under mysterious circumstances.
The Viscount's brother Matthew, a doctor has just returned from a journey and is also investigating his brother.
Charlotte's brother Alexander and Matthew have been friends since childhood.
The interaction between Charlotte and Matthew is interesting and at times complicated.
I loved all the secondary characters, and the parrot and monkey will have you laughing out loud.
There was so much going on in this book, that it was highly entertaining and at times laugh out loud funny.
I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley and these are my opinions.