Lady Avely's Guide to Lies and Charms is an excellent sequel to Lady Avely's Guide to Truth and Magic in this fantasy mystery romance series set in the Regency period.

Judith, Lady Avely, is an appealing middle aged heroine whose ability to tell if someone is lying is very helpful in solving mysteries. She is also aided by Marigold, her Vampiri companion.

In this story, she and the handsome Duke who she loved but left many years ago, finally have a chance to rekindle their romance if they can figure out who manipulated him into killing a man many years ago causing him to flee the country.
I very much enjoyed the slow burn relationship between Dacian and Judith and the magic in the book - the ability to cast illusions, move objects, and discern truth is fascinating and well integrated into the story. The Vampiri companions are also a unique aspect of the world Oaks has created.

This series is a spin-off of the Lady Jewel Diviner series, which features Judith's children, but can be read separately. While the events in this book are completely wrapped up, there is a bit of a cliffhanger ending leading into book 3.

Thanks to NetGalley and the author for the review copy.

Another delightful adventure with Judith and Dacian! This story starts with a flashback that takes us to the events that Dacian talked about at the end of the first book in the series. Someone tricked Dacian into stumbling upon what he thought was an assignation between Judith and Lord Garvey. He lost control of his ability to move objects and threw Garvey into a statue, killing him. He fled the country afterward to escape prosecution for misusing his abilities.

In reality, he saw an illusion. A different woman was with Garvey. Now, Judith and Dacian need to track down who was behind the events of nine years ago. The authorities are still after Dacian, after all.

Despite the serious stakes, there's a lot of humor as Judith and Dacian go undercover with their little vampire friends who help them with them magic (it's part of this fantasy world). We also get some touching scenes with Robert, the illegitimate son of Judith's late husband. All in all, a charming, fun adventure with a nice dash of romance.

This is a spin off series, but one that stands alone beautifully. There's mention of Judith's children, who are in the first series, but her character doesn't rely on being a mother. It's wonderful to see a mature character in the lead role!

And how cute is that cover?

📖: Lady Avely's Guide to Lies and Charms (Matronly Misadventures #2)

✍️ By: Rosalie Oaks- I read Lady Avely's Guide to Truth and Magic and gave it 5 ⭐. ***You need to read book #1 first***

🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley, Parkerville Press, and Rosalie Oaks for this ARC 💚! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions expressed are my own.

🗓️ Publication Date: 11-13- 24 | Read: 11-17-24

Genre: Historical, Mystery, Gaslamp Fantasy

Tropes: slow burn romance, midlife age heroine, 2nd chance romance, vampiri, magic, forced proximity, gothic/haunted house, a quest/journey companions, found family, secret identity

🌏Setting: Regency England

⚠️ TW: murder, kidnapping

☝🏾POV: 3rd person single

💭 Summary: After nine years Judith and Dacian reunite to clear his name from the accidental death of Lord Charles Garvey. Dacian thought Judith was compromised by Lord Garvey at a house party and attempted to save her. He used his powers and Garvey hit his head on a statue of Apollo and died. He and Biscuit faked a duel, left Garvey for his family to find, and Dacian fled to Spain. He didn't contact Judith in those nine years, but their feelings for each other haven't changed.


🚺Heroine: Lady Judith Avely-a Discerner-able to detect lies

🚹Hero: Duke of Sargen/Dacian-an Impactor-able to strikes blows

🎭 Side Cast

✓ Robert Steer-Judith's deceased husband Nicholas's illegitimate son
✓ Wooten-Dacian's vampiri companion
✓Marigold-Judith's vampiri companion
✓Lord Anthony Triskett/Biscuit-Dacian's childhood friend
✓ Selina Pelling/Southcott- was engaged to Lord Garvey as a child
✓ Lady Isobel Vosse- had an affair w/ Dacian, still wants him
✓Mrs. Harriet Bollopher-Lord Charles Garvey's ex mother-in-law, Georgina's paternal grandmother
✓Georgina-Lord Garvey's daughter from his 1st marriage
✓Lord Charles Garvey-was engaged to Selina Pelling but was too old for her
✓Lord Kenneth Garvey-made Duke after his brother's death, his mother favored Charles over him
✓Yvette Belfleur- a new vampiri who hides the identity of her companion
✓Musors Custos-The Guardians of the Musing punish those who misuse their Gifts.

🤔 My Thoughts: This was a novel with amateur sleuthing, misdirection, suspects, deduction, and supernatural phenomena. Judith and her gang tried to clear Dacian's name and find the actual killer. Judith and Dacian were at odds because they were setup to push each other away. I didn't care for the constant squabbling because it became redundant. Judith and Dacian did the dance of will they/won't they in the last book. Robert got to use his magic to bemuse, and I laughed out loud at "Mr. Fortnew's" moustache. I fear Robert may betray Judith down the line because of his loyalty to his mother, but I'm just guessing. It ends on a cliffhanger but is a nice setup for book #3.

🌶️: Spice 2/5
😭: Emotion 3/5
❤️: Couple 3/5
⭐️: Rating 3.5/5