A mysterious death, a brooding detective and a curious columnist. Great book!
Amelie writes a matchmaking column for the Marriage Gazette and successfully helps with arranging matches. However, intrigued by one match, she finds herself watching through a restaurant window as one of her matches meets for the first time. Little did she know that the man in that match was one she knew and was interested in. and little did she know she was being observed by Detective Baker and would soon be questioned regarding who she was watching and why. Soon Amelie discovers that sometimes people are not as they seem. Some that appear harmless can be dangerous and that her and the ones she cares forth can be in danger. A wonderful book about facing dangers, reevaluating past decisions, and everyone working together for the good of all. I received an early copy and this is my honest review. I highly recommend this book.

I so enjoyed this! There is a reason Allen has been one of my favorite authors for 20 years:} A little mystery, a little romance and some fun characters. This Victorian setting was so fun to read. Woman were just gaining their independence. I can tell this is the beginning of at least 3 girls stories. All are working and trying to navigate the new times that are happening in England. This is a sweet romance with some kissing, a little violence does happen. This is a murder mystery. Light on the mystery, heavy on the murder.

I thought this one was well done. I loved the setting and how everything played out. Kept me engaged and turning the pages. I like the supporting cast a lot and hope Ms. Allen will make this a series and write about Amelie's cousins.

A very good read!

This is a Victorian murder mystery romance and the setting is immersive and well done.

Amelie works for her aunt as writer/matchmaker and is very keen on her independence. She's caught by detective Michael Baker watching a couple that she matched, and he asks for her help in a murder case.

Michael is pretty convinced of Harold's guilt, but proving it is not as easy. As the case evolves, so does the friendship between him and Amelie.

This is a story full of action and danger, especially as the ending nears and the stakes get higher and more personal. It's also very romantic and I loved Michael and Amelie's relationship.

Looks like it'll be a series and I'm looking forward to the next installment.

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A lighthearted Victorian romance between Amelie a lonely-hearts newspaper editor and Michael, a police detective.  They meet, when they are both spying on the same man, Michael is spying because he thinks the man is a murderer and Amelie because he is one of her lonely-heart fix-ups that she has a secret crush on.  Michael ropes Amelie into helping him investigate this man.  As they work together to discover whether the man is guilty or innocent, Michael and Amelie slowly fall in love. 

This book did a nice job of discussing the troubles of working women at that time, and the difficulties of being respected by male professionals.  The romance was well done and I loved the well-rounded and engaging cast of secondary characters.

This is a charming story that I highly recommend. A sweet romance, wonderful characters and a creepy villain!.

Two months after being called to investigate the body of a young woman found floating in the Thames, Detective Michael Baker is still haunted by the fact that he believes the woman was murdered and not a suicide and that her "grieving" husband was responsible for the death. Even though they've officially been called off the case and told to leave it be, Detective Baker spends his evenings tailing Harold Radcliffe. On one such evening, he notices a young woman watching Mr. Radcliffe having dinner with a woman. Thinking this could be a chance to learn more, he follows her to question her about her association with Mr. Radcliffe. Amelie Hampton is surprised to find that Mr. Radcliffe was the author of a lonely hearts letter and since she set him up with Miss Franklin she had wanted to see how things turned out. Detective Baker gets her to agree to introduce him as a family friend at a book club meeting the following day. Mr. Radcliffe also attends and even though she thinks Mr. Radcliffe is charming and she has a bit of a tendre for him she agrees-if only to prove him wrong.

Michael and Amelie work together and as they do, grow to appreciate each other and fall in love. And Amelie comes to see Mr. Radcliffe as he really is. But there are many twists and turns to capture the villain and to a happy ending.

I received an ARC of this book but the opinion expressed is entirely my own

This was such a fun read! It is a mystery romance, but the murder mystery is focused more on the why/how aspect of murder and bringing the guilty party to justice instead of the classic whodunit. The murderer is known almost from the very beginning, just so you know. I know some people love books where they can speculate on who the murderer could be, but that isn't what this book is about.

There is still plenty of excitement and intrigue, and there is never a dull moment in this novel. And the romance is so sweet. I love how the relationship develops. Partners in an investigation is always a fun romance trope.

I do hope this book will be apart of a series since I love so many of the side characters (I adore Amelie's cousins and am intrigued by Winston and Ellis).

Overall, this is a fun and romantic read and I am so greatful I got to review an advanced copy of this book!

I cannot find the words to express how much I enjoyed this book! I loved the storyline. The suspense was unexpected and a wonderful addition to the story. I loved how the two characters, both of whom were not necessarily looking for love, but found their perfect match with each other.

Amelie Hampton works as a columnist, giving marriage advice in her Aunt's gazette. While a hopeless romantic, she clams up and gets nervous around gentleman. And she is hopelessly interested in Mr. Radcliffe, a recently widowed man in search of a new wife. Detective Michael Baker, who was involved in the case off Mr. Ratcliffe's deceased wife, feels like there is something wrong with the man. His instincts are telling him that the man in involved with her death. Fate puts the two together and together they attempt to discover the truth behind Mrs. Radcliffe's mysterious death and find love in the process.

Amelie works for a romance and matchmaking gazette and begins to fall for a Mr. Radcliffe. Of course he has killed his wife and Amelie becomes embroiled in the ensuing murder mystery. Enter Detective Michael Baker who comes to her rescue while falling for her. The characters were well written with deep enough backstories to be interesting. The plot was not very exciting or interesting: not quite a police procedural and not quite a who-dunnit. Though it has some interesting features and was easy to read, I am not sure I would actively promote this book to my patrons. I would give this a 3 of 5.

The Matchmaker’s Lonely Heart by Nancy Campbell Allen was a fun read with a darker side than most Proper Romances. To be fair, most of Nancy Campbell Allen’s works in the Proper Romance line are a little out of the ordinary (she has several steampunk novels), but I’ve loved them all.

Detective Michael Baker works with the Yard and is investigating the death of a young woman. He is certain her husband, Mr. Radcliffe, is somehow responsible. Amelie is a woman of Independent Means and works with her aunt’s “Marriage Gazette” paper. Two months after his wife’s death, Mr. Radcliffe is a client of her aunt’s paper and Amelie has set him up on a date. She follows to spy on the date and encounters Detective Baker. After a little confusion, he asks her to help him.

I loved the development of the characters and Detective Baker’s reluctance to admit his growing feelings. His lost his work partner six months ago (who also happened to be his sister’s husband), and he really battled with the idea of whether it was even fair to pursue a woman. The relationship development in this story was well done.

The mystery held a much more central role than some do in Proper Romance books. I loved Nancy Campbell Allen’s approach to the story. There was never another suspect in the book and I’m not sure if the reader was even supposed to wonder if Mr. Radcliffe was innocent. That being said, there are layers to this story of discovering just how involved Mr. Radcliffe is and what exactly is going on with him. The story was well set up for a sequel with other characters. I really look forward to (hopefully) seeing some of these characters again!

This book was fantastic! I really enjoy this Author's books and this one was no exception. I finished this one within a day, I couldn't put it down. Amelie was the perfect character for this role. And Michael was a sweetheart! Loved them both so much! She The bad guy was for sure a piece of work, it got a little crazy toward the end, but of course it all ended nicely. I liked the mystery and trying to figure out what happened. I really hope she writes more about the other characters in this book. I couldn't recommend this more, it is definitely on my to-buy list.

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

Love blooms between unlikely couple Amelie Hampton and Michael Baker in "The Matchmaker's Lonely Heart", a charming murder mystery/romance by the talented Nancy Campbell Allen. The talkative, optimistic and naive Amelie Hampton is a romantic at heart, and pens an advice column while viewing life through rose-colored glasses. She teams up with the serious Detective Michael Baker, who vows to bring a murderer to justice, while Amelie is determined to prove his innocence. Although she quickly realizes her error (this is not a spoiler), she remains sweet and fun, albeit a bit more worldly-wise.

Brimming with engaging and well-drawn characters, this quick-paced tale is delightful. The dialogue is clever and witty. Allen's prose is lovely. There are few grammatical errors in this clean, well-edited novel. Works I've read by this author have all been stand-alone books. However, there are great secondary characters here who merit their own stories, so I hope this is the first in a series.

Thanks to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for an ARC of this wonderful novel.

The Matchmaker’s Lonely Heart by Nancy Campbell Allen is an amazing historical fiction that has it all: wonderful historical narrative, strong cast of complex characters, mystery, suspense, and a dash of romance. This book kept me captivated throughout.

I really loved everything about this book. Set in Victorian London, 1880s, we are introduced to Amelie Hampton whom works at a newspaper/matchmaking business and through several occurrences and mysterious circumstances and a surprising murder involving a client (is that all he is?) she ends up working with Detective Michael Baker to help find out if the man in question, a Harold Radcliffe, is the true guilty party or if there is something else sinister is at bay.

I really loved the combination of Amelie and Michael. Both are fascinating characters in their own right, however they compliment each other nicely. Throughout their investigation, the reader can see each working through their individual problems and pasts while evolving and growing as time goes on. They seem to help one another out literally and figuratively, and through this we can see their mutual attraction and interest growing. It was such a sweet, naturally evolving relationship, and it was really spot on.

I also loved the murder/mystery plot and investigation. It was creative, yet realistic, and flowed nicely. Both characters brought something to the table and made it a success.

I also loved the full cast of secondary characters. I really hope this is going to be part of a series, as there is so much material and potential for future books. I would most certainly read all of them.

A wonderful book that I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend.

5/5 stars

Thank you Shadow Mountain Publishing for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately (as of 3/25/21 no BB listing has been created, it will be added immediately upon creation) and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication.

I received The Matchmaker’s Lonely Heart as an ARC from Netgalley. It is my first novel by Nancy Campbell Allen and I was truly surprised by how much I liked it.

I’d also like to start this review by noting that I do not usually read Proper Romances. I think some part of my brain used to associate them with lack of conflict and plot? I’m not sure, but either way, boy was I wrong.

This book is a murder mystery romance and I did not realize how much I love that until reading this. Amelie is our heroine. She works columnist for her aunt’s newspaper. While spying on a potential couple she is playing matchmaker for. She is caught spying by Detective Michael Baker. And while her own actions were not nefarious, she soon becomes entangled into an ongoing murder investigation—the lead suspect of which was none other than the man she was matchmaking, who she also has a tendre for.

From the very beginning of their interactions, I loved Amelie and Michael together. Their relationship starts a little strained, but the progression of their relationship was extremely sweet and I loved it. Beyond the romance, the murder plot was a little predictable (we already know who the bad guy is from the beginning) but still had intrigue for all the nuances that led up to the crime. There was definitely also violence and descriptions of crime scenes and blood so if that makes you queasy, please consider before reading!

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was interesting, action-packed, but still very cute. My one complaint is that it felt like the romantic relationship progressed extremely slowly and then suddenly all at once. I would have liked a bit more of a natural progression once things got started (I know it’s vague but I don’t want to spoil anything obviously).

I loved the setting of the book. Turn of the century England-- emerging technologies, women in the workplace, and the rise of women's suffrage. If you are a fan of A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem by Manda Collins or the Dread Penny Society novels by Sarah M. Eden, I think you will love this book too!

Super cute romance about a plucky romantic who writes a lonely hearts column for a newspaper who decides to help solve a murder mystery! Amelie is so fun and positive, and maybe a little TOO trusting! Detective Michael Baker doesn't know what he's gotten himself into when he agrees to let her help! I love that this novel has romance AND suspense!

It was hard to put this one down. Despite a few flaws/ unanswered questions by the end, the story flowed well and the characters were relatable and, for the most part, likeable.

Detective Baker is determined to see justice served, even if it ruffles a few feathers in the process. I did find it confusing how Amalie continually switched from calling him Detective Baker to Mr. Baker and back again with no explanation for the changes.

Amelie is naive, and at times very foolish. Her cousins are a good counter to her naivety, and I hope to see more of them in future books.

I am a long time fan of Nancy Campbell Allen and this one doesn’t disappoint. I loved the characters. Amelia and Detective Baker were perfectly complemented and it was fun watching their relationship build. I love the mystery and suspense with a side of romance. Then when you put it in the 1800s, it makes for a perfect story! This is definitely one you won’t want to put down.

Oh, I thoroughly enjoyed this story! I loved all the characters, especially Amelie and Detective Baker.
This is a murder mystery romance in London...reminded me of Sherlock Holmes time period.
I liked how the story flowed, the characters developed, and the relationships and romance bloomed. I was entertained from beginning to end...even when I was anxious to pick up the book to read the next parts because I feared what may happen next. ;-)
We are also introduced to several other characters that I really hope get their own books! I’m guessing we will get books on the cousins, Eva and Charlotte, but I would also like one on Clarissa, Michael’s sister. Here’s to hoping some of them get paired off with Winston and Ellis, as well. ;-)

The novel by Nancy Campbell Allen is the perfect mix between mystery and romance. To say it is a cute story feels weird since it is a murder/mystery/ I loved every character in the story, the secondary characters make the story so much better. I love a strong female character in a book and this novel is full of strong progressive female characters.

Amelie is a hopeless romantic that works as a writer helping lonely hearts try to find love for the Marriage Gazette. She is also a huge fan of mystery novels. Detective Baker is work driven and not about love at all. But, this unlikely pair is thrown together when his case and her life become intertwined. When a body washes ashore, Amelie has to try to prove her acquaintance innocent and Detective Baker is trying to prove the guilt of her acquaintance. But as the two are trying to prove themselves correct they begin to see how perfect they are as a team.

This is historical fiction and this was my first novel in this genre and this was a great first read for me. The style of writing was one that flowed well and progressed every chapter. The story is written in the third person but it is viewed from other perspectives. It is all tied up at the end but I hope we get a few more novels for the other characters that we grew to love in this story.

This is a novel I will be recommending to others, especially someone who wants to read their first historical fiction. This was such a good story!

Thank you Shadow Mountain Publishing and Netgalley for the advanced copy to read and I look forward to more novels by Nancy Campbell Allen.

Oh my goodness this is my new favorite genre! Romantic suspense set in the late 1800's? Yes please!!

I read this book rather quickly but I finished it late at night and I was hearing noises in my house and totally freaking myself out, Haha.

The Matchmaker's Lonely Heart had it all: A dashing Detective as the hero, an independent heroine, and a dangerous villain. Plus the supporting characters were just as great.

The danger and suspense felt very real. Mr. Radcliffe was so perfectly charming and simultaneously slimy. The romance was subtle and sweet. Michael and Amelie made a very good team working together and their relationship came about so perfectly. I loved the supporting characters Aunt Sally, the cousins, and detective Winston too. And I just need to say how much I loved Michael's brother Alexander being a supporting character with Downs Syndrome. So sweet.

I absolutely 100% recommend this book and sincerely hope for a sequel!

Oh I simply adored this book. This was a new author to me, but one I will most certainly be seeking out now! Amelia and Michael had such wonderful chemistry, and it was a delight to watch them battle until they were both too tangled up to give up the case or each other.
I was very impressed with the world Allen built, both in terms of London itself and the characters that filled the city. The dynamic between Amelia and her family was so wonderful to read, and I dearly hope there will be more stories about these Hampton women, because I would be ordering them right now!
When it came to the mystery plot, it was fairly straightforward, and therefore a little bit predictable, but that is just so much more credit to Allen! Even though I had a fairly good idea where it was going, the way Allen wrote the mystery, and the characters caught up in it, made me desperate to keep reading.
If you love a romantic mystery, you should definitely pick up this book!

***Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***
Enjoyable characters with a slow burn romance. There was no real mystery, but a few bouts of suspense. I really hope the author writes sequels about the cousins.

This was such a fun story. There were so many underlying events happening. The mystery was good, I didn't want to put it down. The romance built slowly and realistically. The characters were well developed and fun, and the villain was truly bad.

I hope this is a first in a series of these cousins! I want more!!!!

This book had it all - romance, mystery, historical! It is set in London, late 1800’s. Amelie Hampton finds herself living with her cousins and working at The Marriage Gazette, her Aunt’s matchmaking/ advice column newspaper. Amelie finds herself swooning for Mr. Radcliffe, a recent widow with a niche for poetry. Little does she know, Mr. Radcliffe is actually a killer. Detective Michael Baker is trying to solve the murder of Mrs. Marie Radcliffe and to do so, he must get assistance from Amelie. Love also blooms during the case and Michael and Amelie fall hard for each other.
This book is a wonderful read. The setting and characters couldn’t be better for fans of a nice mystery!

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. I really enjoyed this story. I loved the intrigue and detective work along with the romance in this book. Amelie is such a fun character. I love how she can be shy but fierce. Michael is the perfect compliment to her personality. I enjoyed all of the side characters as well and would love more stories in this setting. It was well written and kept me wanting to know what was going to happen.
#thematchmakerslonelyheart #netgalley

This book was a delight! From the beginning with it's romantic advice to the interactions of the romantic pairing, this book had me laughing. It also had a villain with a dastardly plan that needed to be thwarted. I highly recommend this book.

I received an ARC and wish to thank Shadow Mountain and the author for bringing us such an awesome story.

The Matchmaker’s Lonely Heart- Nancy Campbell Allen
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

I needed a break from thrillers and when I seen this cover on NetGalley it intrigued me and I requested it and I was approved! Nothing is better than a little mystery and some romance mixed in set in the 1800’s. I did find it to be a bit slow in the beginning but then about 100 pages in I was hooked and really wanted to know how Amelie and Detective Baker were going to catch the killer he was after. The banter between the two was humorous and Amelie kept Michael on his toes. Overall a great little read and I will likely read more from Nancy Campbell Allen for a little getaway from the deep heavy thrillers I tend to gravitate too.
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Pick up your copy September 7, 2021.

Don’t worry I will remind you, because that’s right around my birthday. I think this will be a perfect birthday present for myself to add to my bookshelf.

A big thank you to @netgalley and @shadowmountainpublishing for the ARC. I very much enjoyed this one.

This was such a fun mystery romance!!! I had to stay up and finish it!!! I loved Amelie. Her witty banter and eagerness to solve the case might get her into more trouble, but she can't help it. Michael Baker has a heart of gold. A true detective who wants to get the villain. And the villain was pure evil. Total creeper!!!!! Gave me the willies!!!!!! This was one of my favorites by Nancy Campbell Allen.

This was my first Nancy Campbell Allen novel, definitely won't be the last.
The author has managed to combine my three favorite elements of a book: Historical Novel, Romance and Murder Mystery.

We follow Amelie Hampton as she works for her aunt's Matchmaker newspaper in the late 19th century and Detective Michael Baker as he hunts down a cunning murderer.
Michael catches Amelie watching his prime suspect - Harold Redcliff - outside a restaurant, making her his person of interest.

The detective convinces Amelie to assist him in the investigation. She agrees, but only to prove the innocence of Harold Redcliff, whom she secretly fancies.

When a murder occurs at a party to which Amelie, her two cousins (and BFFs), as well as Detective Baker, his partner Detective Wilson and Harold Redcliff are invited, the belief in Mr. Redcliff's innocence falters enormously for all three ladies.

Amelie puts herself in great danger with her investigation, making herself the next potential target.


I particularly enjoyed the protagonist's relationship with her cousins. The three young ladies stick together like peanut butter and jelly. The delicate bond that develops between Amelie and Michael was also delightful to watch.

I also see potential for a series here as I would love to read more of Eva and Charlotte (Amelie's cousins) as well as Michael's partner Detective Wilson and also their supervisor Ellis. With all four, we unfortunately only got a glimpse into their lives.

Hi really enjoyed this book. The relationship development between the main characters was especially sweet. I could pictured in in my head how a grumpy detective deals with what he perceives as a particularly innocent young lady. And how that young lady worms her way into his heart. Just so cute.

I was a little bit disappointed by the description of the villain. The author initially described him as very clever, but the way he reacted later in the book (writing letters to the heroine and making it obviously clear he's the villain) just seems very stupid.

But overall it was a great book that I read in a few days. Hope to get more along the lines about the cousins.

This book was amazing!

There was meddling, there was mystery, there was a slow simmering romance!

I loved our Matchmaker and super sleuth, Amelie! The author did such an amazing job of developing each and every character and bringing life to them that it felt like I was part of the novel itself. Amelie was the best part of the novel. The author wrote her in such a way that made her so life like and personable.


What do you get when you put a matchmaker with a penchant for romance novels and a detective who has lost his gumption for love together for an investigation into a murder mystery? You get an amazing story!

It was a great read from beginning to end.


I received an ARC for review.

Wow, this book was so interesting. It was really good and different than I had expected. The Matchmaker’s Lonely Heart is the first book that I have read written by Nancy Allen Campbell, however I have loved all of the Proper Romance books so I wasn’t worried.
Amelie Hampton is a hopeless romantic and she loves answering the lonely heart letters in The Marriage Gazette. Police detective Michael Baker has been struggling ever since his best friend and partner died. He knows that his job offers no promises and so he decides to never love or marry. However when a woman’s body is pulled from a river, Michael suspects that the husband, Mr. Harold Radcliffe is to blame. Amelie, knowing Mr. Radcliffe from a book club, refuses to believe that Mr. Radcliffe was capable of such a feet, but she agrees to help in order to prove Michael wrong. However as Michael and Amelie spend time together and investigate Mr. Radcliffe, they soon learn that something is terribly wrong.
Amelie was such a fun character, I really liked her little quirks. She was kind, but she was also kind of oblivious. I also liked how although she was kind of naive, she did her best to learn and to be helpful. I loved reading about her falling in love with Micheal. She thought the funniest things about him, but as she spent time with him she began to fall for him. But Amelie would have to learn that all is not as it seems, and how to trust Michael.
Micheal was such a sweetheart, he was a little rough around the edges but he was kind. Life had not been easy for him and he was jaded but he truly cared for those around him. I liked him from the beginning and it was always so much fun to read about him interacting with Amelie. However Micheal would have to learn to let Amelie in, and that love was worth the risks.
Micheal and Amelie were such a lovely couple, I liked reading about their interactions. I was pulled in by the storyline and I wanted to see what happened, was Mr. Radcliffe truly who he said he was? I also liked the side characters, Amelie’s two cousins and Michael’s partner. I am excited to see if they have their own books
The Matchmaker’s Lonely Heart was a wonderful book. I would recommend it to those who like historical books with a hint of suspense. The characters were really fun! I was so engrossed in the story, I wanted to see how it would end. It was such an interesting blend of mystery and falling in love. I wouldn’t have quite pegged this book as a mystery, but let me say that it was quite good!
The Matchmaker’s Lonely Heart is a clean historical romance.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher through Netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, a positive review was not required.

I posted my review on Goodreads and Barnes and Nobles on 04/18/2021, I will post on blog, Amazon, and Bookbub closer to release date

Cute romance with a bit of mystery all tied into one. Was a bit slow to get started and some of the British lingo tripped me up a bit but overall a good read

4 1/2 stars for this gripping story about a matchmaker and a detective who end up combining their unique skills in order to investigate a mysterious death. This felt part romance, part Agatha Christie mystery, part delightful Victorian England story. The mystery in this is not so much of a "whodunnit" but still very much captivating. I will be the first to admit I wasn't sure what to expect going into this story having read some of the author's other stories with quite different styles. Very quickly in chapter one, I became hooked by the characters and the story and did not want to put it down. Once we reach encounter a second murder scene about a third of the way through the book, the story and the mystery became so captivating I didn't want to put the book down until I saw how everything worked out and reached a peaceful conclusion. In addition to thoroughly enjoying the two main characters, there was a fantastic set of side characters that I am definitely curious to learn more about in what I hope (but have yet to hear confirmation of) will be the start of a new series by this author. The three cousins living independently in a London boarding house in particular had such a sweet, supportive, almost sisterly bond that was both heartwarming and enjoyable to read about. Each of these women were strong and intelligent and had talents to contribute to the way the story unfolded.

Can I also say that the first kiss in this story is SWOONWORTHY! I loved reading about these two characters and seeing them finally get together a good portion of the way through the story was rewarding and validating for me as a reader. I thoroughly enjoyed this story, the intrigue and murder mystery aspect, and the fabulously captivating twists and turns of the story. Definitely a book I will be mentioning to others and hyping up in anticipation for it's release in five more months.

Murder. Romance. Victorian England. Amelie Hampton is a woman of independent means. She works at her Aunt Sally’s newspaper, giving love advice. With her equally independent cousins by her side, she enjoys her work, in fact, spying on one couple she had matched. What she didn’t know was that someone was also spying on her. On her way home from watching her work in progress, she is confronted about what she knows about the gentleman she was spying on.

Detective Michael Baker didn’t like that the husband of a dead woman pulled from the river was moving on with his romantic life two months after the wife’s passing. He had reason to believe that the man, Harold Radcliffe, had something to do with her death. When he catches sight of Amelie spying on a dinner between Mr. Radcliffe and another woman, he asks her what she knows about him.

What follows is a cat and mouse game between Radcliffe and the Yard. The case gets personal as Detective Baker and Amelie fight their feelings for each other and Radcliffe turns his romantic intentions towards Amelie.

If I was able to give the book 3.5 stars, I would. I enjoyed the characters of Amelie and Detective Baker and the evil of Mr. Radcliffe jumped off the pages of the novel.

#netgalley #thematchmakerslonelyheart #shadowmountainpublishing

5/5 Stars
The Matchmaker’s Lonely Heart by Nancy Campbell Allen

This was my first Proper Romance and I LOVED it. In truth, this was a romance murder mystery! I was generously given an advanced copy from @netgalley and I’m happy to say it was the best ARC I’ve read yet!

Amalie Hampton is from the notorious side of the Hampton family. She’s a correspondent for the Marriage Gazette pairing people who write in with each other. She pairs a widower with a young girl but finds she fancies the man herself. She bumps into a detective who is investigating this specific gentleman for a horrible crime. The two create schemes to help solve the murder. But Amalie is caught between what her heart feels and what’s reality.

This novel felt very Pride and Prejudice and I loved every moment of it! This book comes out in September and I’m here to say it’s worth it.

The Matchmaker’s Lonely Heart by Nancy Campbell Allen, 326 pages. Shadow Mountain Publishing, 2021. $16.
Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Corresponding with lonely hearts that write to The Marriage Gazette is the perfect job for a romantic like Amelie. When she decides to look in from across the street as a client meets her date, Amelie is surprised to recognize the charming Mr. Radcliffe as said client’s date. Michael, a detective, is also watching the date because he is investigating Mr. Radcliffe’s involvement in a possible murder. Amelie and Michael decide to work together for the truth, each convinced they know the real character of Mr. Radcliffe.
Allen’s books are always a joy for me to read because they keep readers engaged on the surface of what is happening while still feeling that something is lurking in the background. As the something creeps closer, readers can’t help the excitement that comes from figuring out the details with the characters involved. I love the dynamic that Michael and Amelie develop through the story, and I love how real the characters became to me, especially Michael -- I knew what he was thinking even during scenes that were from Amelie’s point of view!
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

This was an entertaining read. I love when a romance has a separate mystery involved, too. I love that it gives added substance to the story. When I finished the book I found myself researching the history of women and working in the later 19th century. so props for making the story good enough to have me interested in learning more.

Wow, what a genuinely surprising read. The pairing of two seemingly opposite genres seemed like a recipe for disaster but instead propelled this love story straight into my favourites list. Amelie and Michael are the definition of opposites attract - one being all positive and bubbly, the other being cynical and serious. This leads to some great interactions between the two and the exploration of their feelings kept me coming back for more. I loved seeing how sweet Detective Baker was towards Amelie as the story progressed and how they both came to terms with what love really is. The heart of the story was of course the murder-mystery which kept the narrative flowing and provided some surprising moments. My only gripe is that the mystery was fairly one-note with the true suspect being revealed basically immediately with no twists or turns in terms of who killed the woman. However, this can be forgiven for such a lovely written romance.

I loved this storyline! Nancy Campbell Allen knows how to weave a romance and this one did not disappoint. #netgalley #thematchmakerslonelyheart

Imagine Sherlock Holmes but with romance. This book is everything!! I was brought to tears while also kept in suspense. It’s perfect for your friend who loves murder mysteries AND your friend who loves 1800s romance novels!

Can’t recommend enough!

Amalie is a writer for her aunt's paper, The Marriage Gazette. After playing matchmaker to a subscriber, she keeps an eye on the couple to see that everything goes well. Detective Michael Baker has been keeping his own eye on the male half of the couple, Harold Radcliffe, whom he suspects of killing his wife. Amalie and Michael meet and an investigative partnership is formed. This was an enjoyable romantic Victorian crime story. Not a mystery, as we know the villain at the beginning. But it is fun to watch Amalie and Michael get evidence and develop a relationship. They are interesting people individually, wth the secondary characters and Victorian setting giving more dimension to the story. I'd be interested in seeing if this becomes a series, as I'd enjoy seeing these people involved in more investigations. I also liked the cover, which initially attracted me to the book.

The Matchmaker's Lonely Heart is a slow burn romance amid mystery, murder, and mayhem. If you like historical novels with strong female characters, lots of action, and sweet but swoony romance, you will love this suspenseful novel.

I have read all of Nancy Campbell Allen's Steampunk Romances, and have thoroughly enjoyed them. This novel is certainly a departure from them, but it still contains all the wonderful plots, character development, and clever dialogue she is known for. I believe it is set in Victorian England. One thing I thought was charming was the subheadings in italics before each chapter, containing witty advice and news.

Amelie Hampton writes for her aunt's newspaper, the Marriage Gazette. Michael Baker is a detective for Scotland Yard. One evening they literally bump into each other, as both of them are investigating a certain gentleman, Mr. Radcliffe. .Michael would say they bumped into each other; Amalie would say he "ran her to the ground.' Mr. Radcliffe is being investigated by Scotland Yard for the murder of his wife; Amalie is spying upon him because one of the ladies that has written the Marriage Gazette for advice is meeting Mr. Radcliffe for dinner. Michael enlists Amalie to introduce Michael at the next book club that both she and Mr. Radcliffe attend, so that he can do an undercover operation. With this introduction, Michael can investigate him covertly, without suspecting Michael of continuing to investigate him for the murder of his wife. Amelie certainly does not see how this "handsome and urbane" gentleman could have killed his wife, but she agrees to cooperate if Michael does not tell her aunt about her clandestine activities.

Amelie, somehow never has a hatpin to keep her hat in place, and I love how the gift of a hatpin played a pivotal role in this novel. I hope that Nancy Campbell Allen continues to write about characters in this novel. Will it be Mr. Winston, or will it be Amelie's cousins or aunt?

Mystery AND Regency?!? Too good to be true.

Except it's not, because this was SO good.

I absolutely loved this read. The various elements to the plot, the way everything came together, the main character being a real person without her flaws being frustrating or annoying to read; all of it was just so good.

If I HAD to find negative feedback, it'd be that the author's voice in this novel took some getting used to. It was a different voice than some of her other books I've read, so I'm not really sure how to describe why with this novel the voice felt off. But it wasn't enough to really make a huge impact, especially as all of the rest of the writing was so good.

I will definitely be buying the hardcopy for my bookshelf.

Received as an ARC from Netgalley. This story takes place in the late 1800s and follows Amelie Hampton, a personal ad matchmaker. Due to her inquisitive nature, she unwittingly involved herself in a murder mystery. The story moves at a good pace and keeps your attention. The strongest takeaway from this read is that looks can be deceiving. We never truly know who someone is or is not.

Amelie Hampton is a writer for The Marriage Gazette with plenty of opinions about love and marriage, even if she is an unmarried miss. When Amelie gets a little over-invested in a match she set up between two anonymous readers, she decides to surreptitiously check in on their date. To her surprise, Amelie recognizes one of them as her acquaintance Harold Radcliffe. As she is leaving, Amelie is confronted by detective Michael Baker. It seems Mr. Radcliffe is under suspicion for murder. Amelie agrees to help the detective secure an introduction and is soon swept up in a dangerous police investigation, and possibly a romance.

I liked the overall story. The investigation is engaging and the villain is downright creepy. I also really like the community of characters, especially Amelie’s cousins and their Aunt Sally. They have an interesting dynamic. Even though they are blood relations, their relationship feels like found family. Within the large extended family of Nortorious Hamptons, these four have chosen each other, or more likely, Sally has chosen these particular nieces to take under her wing and guide out into the world.

Speaking of the Notorious Hamptons, I found that moniker confusing. It’s implied that they’re some sort of criminals, but from what I could tell, nothing was really explained. Perhaps we’ll learn more in a future book? I don’t know for sure if this will end up as the beginning of a series, but the narrative established potential storylines for both Eva and Charlotte, so I think it’s a distinct possibility.

Being chased by Detective Michael Baker and coerced into helping him with part of his undercover operation was likely not what Amelie Hampton had in mind when she went to see how a client’s date turned out. Matchmaker/ writer for The Marriage Gazette, Amelie can’t help getting personally involved because she loves to see women get their happily ever after.

The beginning of the book immediately drew me in and had me engaged the entire time. There were so many things to like about this story: the mystery of the murder and the smugness of the killer; capturing a murderer and seeing justice prevail; the humorous banter between Amelie and Michael, and the suspenseful plot twists.

I enjoyed reading about this Victorian period mystery and the descriptive details made me feel like I was right there. The cover was unique and was initially why I read the description of the book. I am so glad I read it. I highly recommend this book and hope there are more books to come.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book. I was not required to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I’m very familiar with this author’s work and she did not disappoint. I read a lot of historical romances and when I saw this I couldn’t help but to read it. Matchmaking and murder? All in all a cute romance and a nice story if a bit slow in the beginning.

It's 1885 in London and Amelie Hampton writes a column to answer lonely heart letters for the paper The Marriage Gazette. Wanting to ensure success for two anonymous people that Amelie has played matchmaker to, she decides to secretly watch the blind date. To her surprise, Amelie knows the man on the blind date, Harold Radcliff, who is a grieving widower and a member of her book club. Police detective Michael Baker is investigating the death of Harold Radcliff's wife. As a way to further his investigation, Michael teams up with Amelie to help solve the death of Mrs. Radcliff and they end up finding out that they are a better match than they originally thought.

This is my first step into reading 'romance' as I used to stay away from this particular genre. Wanting to read out of my comfort zone, I felt like this was a good novel to start with since it is a mix of romance and mystery. Surprisingly, I really enjoyed the story, including the romance. As someone who used to poke fun at the genre, I feel like I missed out on some great literature because I never felt like reading something different. I am glad that I picked this one up and really enjoyed Amelie and Michael's story. Much thanks to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for the ARC.

This was beautiful! I can always count on Shadow Mountain for a sweet and compelling historical romance. Nobody does it quite like them.

I don't recall every reading this author before because I thought that she wrote historical fiction, but I was wrong. She writes amazing historical romance. I was so impressed with her writing style that it brought to mind M. Louisa Locke, and that for the first third of the story, I thought the story was set in San Francisco. I kept thinking 'Is there an EastEnd or Whitechapel in San Francisco? before I realized the story was set in London. Duh!
The heroine is a Strong Independent Woman who works at her aunt's newspaper and is in charge of the match-making section. While she was checking on a recent match-up, to determine if it was going well, she realizes that the man is a recent widower from her reading group and that a man is following her as she travels home. The man is a detective and he wants to know why she was spying. The detective is the hero and he is investigating the man that she knows for the possible murder of his wife.
Well.
This book had so many supporting characters and such descriptive setting, that I felt I was one of the heroine 's cousins and was living in the story. It was so well written that it just sweeps the reader along. The story is 5 stars from start to finish with exception spelling and grammar. The supporting characters were all an addition to the story and helped it along. This may be a book that is part of a series, but it read as a stand alone story. I recommend reading this story and give it 5 stars.

Set in London, in 1855, this mystery romance features a lonely-hearts columnist and a detective who cross paths as he is following a suspect and finds her doing the same thing.
Detective Michael Baker corners Amelie Hampton to ascertain why she is spying on a couple’s dinner date, and discovers she is a hopeless romantic who sometimes follows the ladies she is trying to make a match for, hoping their assignations will end in a happily-ever-after.
Michael is on the trail of a man he suspects of killing his wife, whose body has been found in the Thames. When the husband refuses an autopsy and sends his wife’s body to relatives in France to be buried, Michael becomes doubly suspicious. Amelie is very taken with the suspect, the charming Harold Radcliffe and will not countenance that he is capable of such a crime. In fact, she believes herself in love with him, encouraging his suit, but agrees to take Michael along to her book club, feigning a friendship they don’t have, in order that Michael can keep an eye on Radcliffe.
This is a diverting, easy read, light-hearted and fun with a cosy-mystery-like subject. Here we have murder, intrigue and deception, and devious motivation all wrapped up in a charming romance. Allen’s Proper Romance novels, among them several steampunk fairy-tale themes, are always a great read, and this one is no exception.

While normally not a fan of Victorian literature which is usually too dark for me, I admit I was completely hooked by 'The Matchmaker's Lonely Heart'. This is the first book I have read by this author and I was engaged by the characters, mystery and descriptions of the era. The main characters are likeable and honorable which I thoroughly loved. Seeing Michael and Amelie's growth as the story progressed was a joy. I certainly will be looking for more from Nancy Campbell Allen.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It had mystery, suspense, and a beautiful love story. I have this on my “to be read again” shelf. Awesome book!

The Matchmaker's Lonely Heart was a quick, light read, and a great deal of fun. Recommended escapist reading!

This book was pretty near perfect. I loved everything about it, from the unique plot to the strong female characters to the nail-biting suspense to the adorable romance and dreamy detectives. It kept me on the edge of my seat for the entire book. Moreover, I love how sweetly and slowly Amelie and Michael’s relationship developed. So many good values and redeemable characters. Definitely will recommend to all my friends! So excited to hear Charlotte and Eva’s stories!

This is probably one of my favorite books I have read in quite sometime. I am pretty easy to please, but this was full of adventure, sweet romance, mystery, and tiny details that made me look outside the book for historical timelines of forensic science. I truly loved this book. Can't wait to get a physical copy of it. Nancy Campbell Allen did such a phenomenal job with The Matchmaker's Lonely Heart. I hope there are stories for more of the characters we met in this book.

The Matchmaker's Lonely Heart was a book that was so different than I imagined it would be, and I am beyond glad. It exceeded my hopes. The setting was in the later years of the Victorian era, which was a treat. Although events were London based, the story wasn't in either the country or the city of London itself. In most books, especially the regency era, we see them in one of those two locations. But thanks to the railroad, people were able to live out of the city more and commute in for their jobs, as that became more and more acceptable in society. It really was a nice thing to experience in a book.

Amelie Hampton is trying her hardest to be an independent woman and make her way through life. She is a writer at her aunts magazine with her cousins. Detective Michael Baker is in the middle of investigating the murder of a woman. He can't shake the feeling she was murdered by her husband, instead of just her committing suicide. So he keeps investigating the man, although his director doesn't want him to. When his investigating leads him to meet Miss Hampton. Amelie knows the man being investigated. As she finds out more about Michael's investigation, she comes to help him, at first to disquiet his gut about the widowed man. But the facts just don't add up. Things come to a tipping point when Amelie and her cousins attend a house party with Michael and his partner. Amelie then can't help herself and jumps into more danger little by little.

Through the investigation Amelie and Michael find they are drawn to one another more and more. When Amelie's life is threatened, Michael has to race to protect her from the true murderer.

There were times I looked at my husband and gushed about this book. But my favorite moment was when I looked at him and excitedly stated, "I just entered Clue!"

*I would add a few trigger warnings to this book. There are talks about suicide, murder (which is a major plot point), and physical violence.* There are some moments that are honestly a little freaky and gave me a little bit of apprehension to wake in the middle of the night to use the restroom. But I am a jumpy person at night anyway, so take that into consideration. However, I would highly recommend this book. It was a true adventure with such touching moments between Amelie and Michael.

Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read this book.

I loved this book! I love Ms Allen’s writing and enjoyed these characters and all the intrigue! Wow! I love these Victorian Era settings! Read this book! I am a matchmaker at heart, so I loved this premise! Amelie and Michael make a great team in all the ways!

I loved it! Amelie is clever, funny, stubborn, and brave. I grew to love her as the story progressed. Michael is smart, funny, and very protective. I loved how protective he is of his sister and brother. I loved the murder mystery. You do know the murderer from the beginning. But the process of convicting him is very intriguing. I highly recommend this book! I hope there will be more about Amelie's cousins and Detective Winston and Director Ellis.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It has twisty plots that kept you on your toes. Romance is always a plus for any book I read so while it may not be needed, it was still pleasant!

If you love chaste historical romances with a little bit of mystery mixed in, you'll love The Matchmaker's Lonely Heart. Amelie wants to be an Independent Woman of Means, and works for her aunt at The Marriage Gazette, answering the lonely hearts letters. Her parents are deceased, so she is fortunate to have an aunt who loves her and is willing to help her get on her feet.

One night, she spies on one of the women she is helping through the paper, and sees her with a gentleman she greatly admires, Mr. Radcliffe. She is acquainted with Mr. Radcliffe through a book club, but has never had the courage to approach him.

While she is spying on their date, detective Michael Baker sees her, and concludes she is part of Radcliffe's con. Baker is convinced that Radcliffe killed his wife for insurance money and is looking for his next victim. Baker confronts Amelie and forces her to introduce him to Radcliffe at their next book club meeting.

Amelie finds herself torn, as she cannot believe the romantic and gentlemanly Mr. Radcliffe could have ever done something to warrant his arrest, but she also learns to like Mr. Baker and trust his opinion (as well as the opinion of her cousin, who has disliked him from the start). And Mr. Baker may be rougher around the edges, but he is also very handsome, and earnest, and treats her as his equal.

This is a fun read. It is a mix of a cozy mystery with a chaste romance, and there are good feelings all around. This would be a perfect book to read on vacation this summer.

Thanks to Netgalley for this advance copy!

I loved this book and I am hoping this is the beginning of a series. Amelie Hampton is such a fun character. She is the perfect mix of innocence and wit. Detective Michael Baker is a wonderful mix of serious and tease. I loved when they came together to catch a murderer. I am sincerely hoping for follow up stories on Charlotte, Eva and Detective Winston.

From the publisher: London, 1885. A romance develops as a detective partners with a lonely-hearts columnist to solve a murder mystery.

The Matchmaker’s Lonely Heart is an entertaining clean historical romance. It has strong, interesting female characters and a sympathetic hero. The plot takes some unlikely twists, but nothing struck me as outlandish. The book pushes the edges of acceptable behavior for women in 1885 in a believable way and introduces societal issues like street urchins and the institutionalization of people with intellectual disabilities. The bad guy is stereotypical with no nuance, but I didn’t mind too much since the story flirts with being a gothic romance.

Although this book is not listed as the first in a series, there are a lot of side characters who could get their own stories. I look forward to future entries.

I read an advance reader copy from Netgalley. The Matchmaker’s Lonely Heart is scheduled to be published in September 2021, and it will be available for checkout at the Galesburg Public Library.

What a wonderful book and great start to this series. I loved Michael and Amelie right from the start; their chemistry was instantaneous. I really enjoyed how they grew together and admired each other as friends first. Their love snuck up on me, just like it did to them! And I love when an author can catch me off guard. The elements of mystery in this book were the perfect touch. We were also introduced to many wonderful secondary characters who I suspect will show up in the books to come. I loved Eva and Charlotte and I’m really looking forward to their stories!

The Matchmaker's Lonely Heart is a romantic murder-mystery—an unusual premise for a Proper Romance book, but I enjoyed it! The mystery wasn't quite a mystery, with only a single suspect—a particularly ruthless and cunning villain—but there was plenty of tension and suspense ramping up slowly until the action-packed conclusion. Although the sudden and rapid acceleration of the romance felt a bit too abrupt to be plausible, it was quite satisfying anyway. I do hope that this is the beginning of a series involving the heroine's cousins and aunt, perhaps with the hero's colleagues mixed in; the secondary characters were intriguing. Anyone who enjoyed the television program Miss Scarlet and The Duke, about Victorian-era London detectives, will love this story set in the same time and place, with the added bonus of a swoon-worthy romance.

I wasn’t familiar with the author so I had not idea what to expect, but I really like this book, very delightful! It’s a perfect read for a good time, very fast paced and I really loved Michael and Amelie as a couple and as single characters too! Thank you to the publisher/author for sending me an e-arc!

What happens when a detective who has sworn off love ends up partnering with a young woman who does matchmaking for her aunt's paper in order to investigate a murder? Near death situations, interviewing witnesses, discussions of Romeo and Juliet, and many cups of tea. Along with all of that piecing together of clues and close proximity, certain feeling may just grow, True the case was never very mysterious as the villain was apparent from the get go but it was still fun watching Amelie and Michael work together and get to know each other.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A cozy mystery with a little romance that builds slowly in a lovely Victorian setting. This was a cute light read. Amelie Hampton is spying on the dashing Harold Radcliffe who was recently widowed and seems in search of a new wife. There she meets Detective Michael Baker, who believes Radcliffe got away with his wife's murder and is set on bringing him to justice. They join hands in investigating the man, although at first rather reluctantly on Amelie's side. Though initially enamored of Radcliffe she grows increasingly disillusioned while drawing closer and closer to the detective.

Thanks to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for an ARC of this novel.
#TheMatchmakersLonelyHeart #NetGalley

Amelie Hampton is a matchmaker helping couples find their perfect match through the singles advertisements they place in her Aunt's newspaper. Michael Baker works for Scotland Yard and is investigating a woman's murder. Amelie and Michael end up investigating a murder together when one of the bachelors from her singles ads is suspected of being single because he killed his last wife.
Working together, Amelie and Michael fall into a quick and easy comradery and friendship. As the danger of the investigation ramps up so do their feelings for each other. This was a really charming and sweet romance. l loved the main characters and all the side characters and the mystery stayed intriguing through out. I am hoping there are more in this series and that Amelie's cousins also get the happily ever afters.

Although I really enjoyed the premise and the writing of this book, I really couldn't get through with the main characters. It was a struggle to finish and I didn't really like Amelie. I know this was supposed to be a sunshine and grumpy couple trope but Amelie sometimes crossed the line into complete naivety and I found it quite annoying, which was a challenge throughout my reading. Quite sad, since this was one of the books I was anticipating reading. Will definitely check out the author's other books though.

This book was well written, exciting and had just the right touch of romance. It was fun and easy to read
I enjoyed the relationship between the cousins and the aunt- they were all loyal to each other.
I really liked the character of Detective Michael Baker- he was a manly man, but still tender and sensitive to others needs.
On the other hand…. I hated Harold he was a money grubbing scoundrel from the start.
I liked reading about independent working women as opposed to simpering, helpless, entitled aristocrats.
This was a great read.

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

#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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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 ride that i did absolutely NOT expect.

i had never read something from the author, nor something similar so i really went into this blind, with absolutely 0 expectations, and let me tell you i was not disappointed.

this books follows Michael & Amelie, who were both spying on the same man. Michael is a detective that thinks he is guilty of killing his wife, and Amelie works at a gazette, where she sends advice, and simply wanted to see how the meeting between Radcliffe & a woman she was advising in secret went.

Michael then follows Amelie outside of the restaurant, and makes her help him with his investigation.

this was honestly so much fun to read, and while its a little predictable, i still had a great time reading this and couldn’t stop once i started; which is to say something because lately i have had no motivation whatsoever to open a book, and this definitely reminded me of why i love to read.

this book just made me love suspenses with romance set in the 1800s.

I really enjoyed this book! It was well written and the characters were so much fun. This author definitely knows how to write chemistry. I look forward to reading more from them in the future.

I received this from net galley and I loved it! It was the first book I read from Nancy and it was truly amazing. I'm excited to read her other books. This was a mystery and really well written.

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!

As a hopeless romantic, Amelie is well suited to answer lonely heart letters for her aunt's social publication, The marriage Gazette. She cannot resist secretly observing a rendezvous of one of the letter writers and is astonished to recognize a member of her book club. She is even more astonished when police detective Michael Baker demands she tell what she knows about the suspected murderer. Together, this unlikely pair must solve a murder and keep themselves safe!

I love a good mystery romance, and I was intrigued when I first read the description of this book. Amelie is just as she sounds: a naive young lady who looks for the best in the world. She also has a crush on the recently bereaved member of her book club. At times, her naivety made me roll my eyes but her heart was in the right place.

Michael Baker was a sympathetic hero. He has seen the darker side of life and given that his partner was recently killed on the job, he has a more cynical opinion of the world. Amelie's naivety often frustrates him, especially when she insists she become his deputy to solve the case. He made the most character growth, I think, in the story.

The pace of the mystery was excellent, and the suspense kept me glued to the page. However, the romance fell flat. in fact, when Michael declares he will propose to her, I was surprised because it felt like it came out of nowhere. It did not feel as though they had near enough time to know each other.

Another thing that is quite honestly me being overly picky is that if the synopsis hadn't said the story was set in 1885, I wouldn't have known. The atmosphere and details of the book are Victorian, but the Victorian era was a long time and each decade different from the last. Even a hint in regards to the fashion would have been nice.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read for the mystery and I would recommend it to readers who enjoy historical mysteries. I would honestly rate it at 4.5 stars, but that isn't an option.

I’m a big historical romance reader, so I was disappointed that I wasn’t a raving fan of this one. It was okay. Initially the writing style was particularly corny, so much so that I almost stopped reading. But I pushed myself to make it to 20%, and by that point, I was invested in the resolution. This book reminded me of a Hallmark Channel movie—goofy and relatively predictable, but you feel like you’ve invested too much time to not see it through to the end.

I will say I liked the characters! They were all strong women, even in the face of a patriarchal society. And the dynamic between the two romantic leads was pleasant. It reminded me of the PBS series Miss Scarlet and the Duke.

Overall, I believe some people will enjoy it, but it wasn’t my favorite.

For fans of The Blue Orchid Society, Ms. Scarlet and The Duke, The Thief of Blackfriars Lane, and all things Victorian Era romantic suspense!
Things I loved:
Amelie's sweet, naive innocence and determination to help
That slow burn romance though 😍🙌
Michael and his gruff attitude, trying keep everyone at arm's length
Amelie's cousins - I hope they get their own books, too!
Seriously exciting action that kept me on the edge of my seat!
This is a real winner!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Very enjoyable read! I'm a big fan of mystery and suspense, especially with romance thrown in. The characters were fun to get to know and I thought the author did well showing what actual love looks like, rather than a crush based on looks and charm. I enjoyed the process of discovery of the guilty party. I hope this becomes a series!

This is a Victorian romance that centers around a murder investigation. I really enjoyed the writing style and the characters! Amelie has two cousins she is very close to and I'm hoping each cousin gets their own book in the future. Would recommend for fans of historical fiction!

I usually think of Mrs. Allen as a romance writer, but this book (as well as her steampunk series) really combine murder mystery and romance in a magical way. I don’t think a lot of authors can do that- make readers alternate between swoony smiles and edge of their seat nail-biting. I hope she will write the cousins’ and the other detective’s stories as well…

This book has everything you’d want in a Proper Romance - strong independent woman + grumpy swoony hero + mystery and intrigue + couldn’t put it down + sweet romance!
🕵️‍♀️
Amelie loves mystery novels and can’t believe to have been sucked into living one. Although she’d prefer the man she admires not to be the suspect and the boorish detective she’s forced to drag along would give the charming man a moment of doubt.
🕵️‍♀️
Alas that’s not to be so Amelie does what she can to be useful and as a Woman of Independent Means, she sets out to solve this mystery.
🕵️‍♀️
Detective Baker is half amused by Amelie and half frustrated. He can see her naivety and doesn’t want this case to diminish that but he’s worried she’s become the next target. She comes along with two cousins who are eager to help with the case. The department won’t know what hit them.
🕵️‍♀️
I loved every minute of reading this. Cheering for Amelie and her cousins - which I hope they have their own stories too!) and seeing the pieces of the mystery come together was so fun.
🕵️‍♀️
This has been my first romantic mystery novel and I think I need to read more! Of course it’s done by Nancy Campbell Allen - and I love her books! She made a full believable world with fantastic characters and even side characters that you love. Some danger *there are some brief descriptions of violence but it’s a murder mystery novel so I’d expect that but it was tastefully done.
🕵️‍♀️
This book releases in September. Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the ebook arc copy. These are my own thoughts and opinions and I will definitely be buying a paperback copy for myself.

When I heard Nancy Campbell Allen had a new book coming out, I couldn't wait to read it! The Matchmaker's Lonely Heart was so good! It has the perfect blend of romance and mystery and I didn't want to put it down. The character development was fantastic too! Seeing Amelie go from being a naive young woman to one who was more mature and confident was so fun. I also enjoyed Michael's growth from a cynical and jaded Detective to a man who realizes there's a place in his life for love and fun. I will definitely be recommending this book to everyone I know!

This book was a murder mystery set I the Victorian period. It had the perfect blend of mystery and romance. The characters I this book were so much fun! I loved that Amelia and her cousins were strong women with a lot of spunk and personality. Michael was also a great character. He starts off a little gruff but I loved watching him change as he allows himself to fall in love.

This book started a little slow and it took me a while to get into it but it picked up its pace about a third the way in and then I was totally hooked. I didn’t want to put it down. I am really hoping for some sequels with some of the other characters! This is a book I will definitely be recommending.

"A romance develops as a detective partners with a lonely-hearts columnist to solve a murder mystery.

London, 1885.

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.

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."

I'm a sucker for romances that develop while solving crimes!

A romance develops as a detective partners with a lonely-hearts columnist to solve a murder mystery.

London, 1885

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.

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.


My Review to come closer to my tour stop

This was certainly a page-turner, and I loved Michael, Amelie, and the family and friends who made up the supporting characters. Although I want Allen to get back to the Steampunk Proper Romances, I wouldn’t mind seeing more books with these characters, maybe focusing on Eva, Charlotte, Winston, Aunt Sally, or Ellis.
As always, there were several swoon-worthy scenes and sweetness among the characters that made me smile. I like the friendship, affection, and respect among the men and women in these books, and I appreciate that Allen doesn’t lean on dumb misunderstandings and angst to drive the love drama.
The villains are usually the weak point, and that held true in this one, especially at the end. A little too much of the evil laugh and mustache twirling for me. The final scenes were still exciting and romantic, so I finished the book happy as usual.

From the delightful Victorian cover to the witty and engaging writing to the quirky characters, this book set in 1885 London has fun in spades, yet it's not over the top. Realities of Whitechapel poverty help to balance the story. I like books which aren't all syrupy happiness and joy. Life's not like that.

Amelie Hampton is an independent young woman who proudly earns her own living writing for The Marriage Gazette and also makes matches. One day she peers through a cafe window to see how a blind date is going and is shocked to discover the man is a renowned handsome recent widower by the name of Harold Radcliffe. She runs into Michael Baker that evening who happens to be a detective. They don't start off on the right foot but circumstances bring them together. Michael investigates the case of a dead woman pulled from the river and Amelie insists on helping as she has a vested interest. Detective Winston is on the case, too, which leads to Mr. Radcliffe who is chock full of secrets. We see romance and insights into family relationships as well as adventure.

Though the plot is predictable, to me the story is more about the characters and relationships. I really enjoyed Amelie's naivete and personality. The chapter blurbs are one of my favourite aspects of the book, brilliantly done, especially those of Chapters 8 and 14. Love the writers' names! And the Chapter 17 heading made me giggle.

My sincere thank you to Shadow Mountain Publishing and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this refreshing and clean escapist book!

Mystery and Romance set in Victorian London (4.5 stars)

This book delivered in so many ways!
*clever and engaging plot
*sweet romance (I could have gone for a bit more, but the end was perfect!)
*rich details (the many levels of texture from side characters, to historical details, to locations, chapter headings that captured the social views at the time..... and it all connected and felt intentional and important.)
*main Characters that are so likeable and a bit unpredictable. So fun!
*mystery and suspense without any horror

This author has become a go-to for me and I hope that there will be spin-offs from this book. I want Charlotte's and Eva's stories!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

Amelie, columnist at The Marriage Gazette, prides herself on her matchmaking skills. But when Detective Michael sees her observing a date she's set up, she is drawn into quite a different world. Michael is convinced that Mr Radcliffe murdered his wife but so far has been unable to prove it. When he notices a woman watching the man, he suspects she may be involved and accosts and questions her. But Amelie is attracted to Mr Radcliffe herself and promptly thrusts herself into the detective's investigation with the aim of proving him innocent. Unfortunately, the more time she spends with Mr Radcliffe, the more she begins to doubt him - and the more time she spends with Michael, the more she begins to reconsider her thoughts about love...

To be honest, for the first third to half of this book, it really didn't grab me. I kept reading more because I'd agreed to review than because I cared much about what happened. Somewhere along the way, though, that changed. I actually started caring about the characters and the outcome (though it was hardly a mystery - it was obvious from very early on who was going to be responsible, it was more a problem of proving it and uncovering his background). Looking back, it feels like a few things either never got fully cleared up or didn't quite make sense to me, but overall I did enjoy the last half of the story and would be willing to try more by the author. For those who are interested, the writing is generally good and the content is clean.

Note that I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review and this is my considered opinion of the book.

Nancy Campbell Allen is definitely a favorite author. Whether it’s her steampunk fairytale romances, time travel romances, or her fabulous historical series, she delivers well crafted enjoyable stories in any genre. This new Victorian era romance set in England has all the great elements: a feisty humorous heroine, a dashing police detective, a suave evil villain, a compelling mystery, and a slow build swoon worthy romance that kept me reading late into the night.

Amelie writes a matchmaking column for her Aunt Sally’s society paper, The Marriage Gazette. She’s young, unmarried, and a bit naive when it comes to love and romance; yet, she has a successful track record of matching couples. Her latest project involves Mr. Harold Radcliffe, a handsome, charming widower who also happens to be a member of her book club. Even though his wife was recently found dead in the Thames River under suspicious circumstances, Amelie still finds him sympathetic and attractive.

Detective Michael Baker has assumed a lot of responsibility since he was a child and is not looking for a wife. He’s handsome, intelligent, and dedicated to helping his brother and sister. Finding Radcliffe’s dead wife shakes him, and he’s determined to prove his suspicions that Radcliffe killed her. When he finds Amelie spying on the suave widower and his date, he thinks he may have found Radcliffe’s accomplice. Instead, he finds a beautiful, spunky, determined woman who does have connections to Radcliffe that might just help him in his investigation. As the two work together, their attraction and admiration grows. However, when another person is murdered and Amelie’s doubts about Radcliffe increase, the smarmy widower begins taking a romantic interest in her, but what are his motives and can Michael keep the intrepid Amelie whom he’s developed feelings for safe?

I thoroughly enjoyed all the characters including the side characters. Amelie and Michael were a fabulous couple whose relationship was built on mutual admiration and respect. Their banter and interactions always left me anticipating the next chapter. The villain was especially delicious and one you love to hate. The two enjoyable main characters are assisted by several delightful minor characters. There’s Amelie’s bluestocking Aunt Sally, her lovely cousins, Michael’s fellow detective and partner Nicholas, and a likable street urchin named Sammy. These engaging characters add to the charm of the story. I’m excited to see these characters’ stories developed further as the series hopefully continues.

All in all, this was a fantastic read that completely hooked me from the beginning. With rich characters, an intriguing mystery, a sweet romance, and plenty of twists and turns, this compelling story was thoroughly satisfying. Highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys historical mystery romances. I gave this 4 1/2 stars. I received an arc from the publisher through NetGalley for my honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not required to provide a positive review.

This was a delightful read of Victorian Era proportions. A little mystery and a little romance all packed into one that made this one quite diverting.

I've been watching Miss Scarlet and the Duke with my husband so I guess i've been in the mood for some mystery and female detective sleuthing. I also tend to love grittier historicals so when the book starts with a body of a young woman being pulled out of the Thames... it definitely had my attention.

Amelie is a columnist for a Matchmaking Gazette and a hopeless romantic, when she's pulled into a case over a man she's been pining for, she seeks to prove the mans innocence. She's a little naive and hasn't been hardened by the world yet so it was nice to see her growth as she realizes the dangers and realities of what actually exists by helping in the case.

Michael is a great character, hardened by his job that killed his best friend and vows to never marry to save others the heartache of his loss. When he meets Amelie his rough edges and her enthusiasm and innocence clash but in the best of ways. And as they grow closer to finding the killer, they also grow closer in matters of the heart.

Like I said...mystery, romance and adventure all in one read, and I truly hope Amelies cousins also get their own stories as well. I feel like I saw some foreshadowing in there.

Romance, whodunit, Victorian era...I'm into ALL of these things. This was quick read, well written, and very entertaining. Who knew a murder mystery romance was what I needed in my life! I love when characters have quick and banter, and this book did NOT disappoint. I need to read more books by the author asap.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

Victorian mystery / romance—the Scotland Yard Detective and a Woman of Independent Means!

I so enjoyed this! Amelie Hampton is a columnist for the Marriage Gazette, a respectable Lonely Hearts publication that introduces perspective couples. Amelie is keen to see how two people she’s put together might hit it off. So, against all the Gazette rules, she decides to observe their meeting. Imagine her surprise when the man turns out to be not the Mr. Dashing he’d presented himself as, but Mr. Radcliffe, the handsome widower who attended her book club, whose presence turns her knees to jelly and her thoughts to mush. When asked about this, Mr. Radcliffe gives Amelie a host of smooth and plausible answers to cover his subterfuge, at least to Amelie’s ears—but not for at least one of her cousins.
Detective Michael Baker notices the young woman standing outside the restaurant in the rain, for at least thirty minutes, spying on the couple. He’s here because he believes the solicitor, Harold Radcliffe may have killed his wife. He’s gathering proof. Intrigued, Michael follows Amelie to question her which turns into something not quite that simple.
After a rocky beginning Michael manages to persuade Amelie to take him to the next book club event to meet Radcliffe socially, as her guest. The book club features a host of interesting characters, including two rather risqué elderly sisters.
Somehow Michael finds himself deputising Amelie and her cousins. This is all rather hilarious as Detective Baker’s world is turned on it’s head—and much to her dismay so is Amelia’s. Amelie is absolutely committed to being a working woman, a Woman of Independent Means.
I love the depth of characterisation that Allen brings to her leads. Both Detective Baker and Amelie Hampton are well rounded, and as the plot progresses we learn so much more about them. They are alive and engaging. Similar growth happens with the secondary characters.
We watch Detective Baker’s relationship with his new partner, Detective Nathaniel Winston develop, the small moments of them becoming a team. Michael’s former partner had not only been his long time friend, but also his brother-in-law. He’d been killed in pursuit of criminal. Michael is still grieving. And now a new partner. This is a huge step! How to move forward and trust someone you don’t know. Allen really capture Michael’s hesitancy. Nathaniel slowly wins Michael’s appreciation—and he wins me!
Murder and nefarious doings lead to a highly charged last few chapters. Taut plot formation pushes the action along.
A rather unexpected Victorian romance mystery that well and truly delivered.

A Shadow Mountain ARC via NetGalley
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

The Matchmaker’s Lonely Heart is a suspenseful, engaging, historical romance. I had no idea what this book was about when I downloaded it. I knew I liked Nancy Campbell Allen writing style and wanted to read it right away. It turns out to be a murder mystery, but so much more. I love the Victorian era, when woman were a bit more independent. Amelie is one of those women. She is inadvertently pulled in to a murder investigation. Because of her love of books, she uses her fiction knowledge to get herself out of so precarious situations, and to help solve the mystery. Michael Baker is the detective in charge of the investigation. They can hardly stand to be in each others company, until they realize they can help each other. It is a slow build, but eventually there are many twists and turns. You find yourself gasping often and reading quickly to uncover the truth. There are some disturbing dialog and descriptions, in conjunction with the murder scenes, but nothing graphic. I would give Pg-13 rating. I am of the impression that there will be more books involving Amelie’s cousins. I’m looking forward to those stories.
I received a complimentary copy I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Book Review: 4.5 out 5 stars
I loved The Matchmaker's Lonely Heart by Nancy Campbell Allen. Set in Victorian England, this romantic suspense brings together humor, setting, and character in a way that creates a wonderful story. I felt transported to Victorian London and I especially enjoyed how the obsession with Egypt came into play at one of the homes in the novel. I loved Amelie Hampton! She's curious, romantic, and just sassy enough to make her endearing. The fact that she can't eat anything when she's around a man she finds attractive made me giggle. I loved Detective Michael Baker! His determination to protect the people of London and watch out for his family makes for an admirable hero. I also loved how Amelie encourages him to open his heart. This book reminded me of The Blue Orchid Society series by Jennifer Moore and I sure hope that this is only the first book in a series as it blended humor with just the right amount of intensity to keep me guessing and reading to the end.

*Thank you to the publisher and author for an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I’ve read many of Nancy Campbell Allen’s books and this might be my favorite. I am a BIG fan of witty banter in a romance and these characters were bantering it up like champs. Great chemistry between the h/h and good supporting characters. Hoping their stories are coming up - I will certainly be watching for those!

A bit of a misnomer, the title may be misleading as to the genre of the story. I’m a big fan of Nancy Campbell Allen and I was expecting the novel to be all proper romance. However, The Matchmaker’s Lonely Heart didn’t have much to do with matchmaking or loneliness other than a brief set up in the beginning and the protagonist’s supposed occupation. Readers would do well to note that this is a fun mystery whodunit caper where the protagonist (Amelie) unwittingly stumbles upon a mystery and tags along with the professionals trying to solve it. Amelie may just lose her heart in the process. Once I got over my presumptions as to how the novel should read, I enjoyed it immensely.

*3.5 stars

A really enjoyable book. The who-donnit aspect of the book didn't take itself too serious and reminded me a bit of something like Death in Paradise. However, I would like there to have multiple suspects and made it a little bit more complex mystery.

Good book that I would recommend to anyone who wants a light(ish) murder mystery with some added romance and feminism.

I love a good murder mystery! This one falls under the category of “we know who the murderer is, let’s figure out how they will put it all together and capture him,” which I don’t mind at all! It was fun trying to guess just how deep the crimes went and how they would get him in the end. I liked that Amelie and her cousins were not afraid to get involved and put their talents to good use. Each character had a very distinct personality, which I enjoyed! I wish the relationship between the main characters wasn’t quite so fast paced- I enjoyed the tension and banter and wanted more. That said, theirs is a truly sweet relationship and I loved the moments that brought them together! If reading about murder/a bit of gore makes you squeamish, maybe skip this one. It was a fun mystery to solve and left me wanting more- I hope we get to hear more from the other characters!

Thanks to the publisher for a copy, all opinions are my own.

I am amazed that this is the first book I have read by this author. It appears that she has written heaps and is very popular. Having just finished The Matchmaker's Lonely Heart I can understand why.

The book is set in Victorian London where Amelie Hampton is employed as a 'matchmaker' for the Marriage Gazette. This would be unusual for a young lady at that time but the paper is owned by Amelie's Aunt who is very much an independent woman. Amelie is a romantic with a good sense of humour and a lot of common sense. Sometimes these attributes war against each other but fortunately sense normally wins.

So the book is partly romance with a delightful situation developing between Amelie and a rather gruff policeman, Detective Michael Baker. There are also several murders and near misses even though the culprit is fairly obvious throughout. I enjoyed the humour between the two main characters and I was very happy with the conclusion. I look forward to the next book and in the meantime will also look up some other books by this same author.

I really enjoyed this book. It has everything mystery, intrigue, action, and romance. I look forward to reading more by this author. Well done

I loved this Victorian romance mystery.

Amelie writes a local romance advice column for her Aunt's newspaper. She decides to spy on one of her advice receivers on a date and is surprised to see Mr. Radcliffe, a man she may fancy. She is caught by a local Detective, Michael.

Michael is sure that the man, Mr. Radcliffe actually killed his wife that "drowned in the Thames". As the investigation goes on, Mr. Radcliffe is fine to have more secrets he's hiding. Amelie and Michael start to become friends and become really fond of one another. The blue they became closer, the more dangerous Mr. Radcliffe becomes.

Amelie is one stubborn woman (as she puts herself into the investigation) but she knows herself and she makes up her mind and just does what she feels. Though a little reckless, she is very smart.

Michael is a great detective and really smart too. He's very protective of Amelie and others.

Smartly written and very vivid in the setting.

The Matchmaker's Lonely Heart by @authornancycampbellallen

Happy Publishing Day!

I wasn't sure what to expect with this book. All I know is that I enjoyed it.

I am one of those peeps who like a little murder mystery. Not like gorey or creepy, just the mystery. The plot was great and I loved the action and the strong characters.

Though my romantic heart wanted more tension in the brooding and admiration department, I can't say I didn't cheer and smile for the lead couple. Plus that saving scene was excellently written.

I hope Mrs. Allen plans to write more of these. Maybe we can ask @shadowmountainpub for a mystery series to look forward to in the future. They made a great trend with the Proper Romance, maybe they can do the same for mystery and thriller.

Thank you @netgalley for the chance to read this one.

This was not what I expected from the title, it was so much more. I enjoyed the mystery, intrigue and danger, but my favorite was watching the relationship between Michael and Amelie transform. They were so fun together. I really enjoyed their time together. I also enjoyed the supporting characters. There were so many wonderful ones and I hope this isn't the last we see of them.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through Netgalley and this is my honest review.

3.5 stars. This entertaining story is part murder mystery and part romance. It starts off with a body being pulled from the Thames, and soon there is more than one murder to solve. The main character Amelie Hampton works for her Aunt Sally’s Marriage Gazette, answering correspondence from young ladies looking for love. She meets Detective Michael Baker when he is trailing a murder suspect whom she happened to set up on a date with one of her correspondents. Although each has different motives, they begin working together. I enjoyed their banter and Amelie’s quick wit. She is a smart girl, if a bit naive, but I never got the impression that she was actually pining for love as the title implies. She was all about working and being independent, things not so common for upper class women in Victorian England. The plot moved along at a quick pace. The supporting characters were great and I wonder if this will be a series featuring each of the cousins introduced here. It’s a sweet, clean romance though there is a little more violence than I’m used to seeing in a proper romance. If you enjoy historical mysteries then definitely check this one out. I received a free ebook from the publisher via NetGalley. A positive review was not required and all opinions are my own.

Amelie Hampton loves reading murder mystery novels so when Detective Michael Baker asks for her assistance to get close to a murder suspect she is excited to help. As their investigation comes to an end Michael must race to save Amelie before she dies at the hands of a blackmailing, wife-killer. Much like in her beloved novels, Amelie’s story will end after the killer is stopped and she marries the detective.

Nancy Campbell Allen has written another clean proper romance. I really enjoyed this Victorian London setting and hope this is the beginning of a new series.

I received a digital ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a delightful novel! I usually read regency, but a step into the Victorian era was a breath of fresh air. Amelie was a wonderful heroine. She toed the line of independence and needing a hero very well. She was perfectly capable of fighting her own battles, but to have Michael there to help just made life all the sweeter. I love how her spunk helped change Michael's perspective on many thing in his life and thoroughly enjoyed watching their romance blossom. I hope Ms. Allen makes this a series with some of the other characters being the stars of their own novels!

Thank you NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for the eARC!

So so so good! I plan to buy this in a formats. It's witty and romantic and suspenseful and exasperating and surprising and sweet and clean and all the good things!
Some may say predictable, I say a beautiful HEA that ends up exactly how I hoped.
Ther banter is on point, Amelie and Michael's relationship is adorable and the slow steady growth is what dreams are made of. I will happily recommend this book to anyone!

This book is another great add for the #ProperRomance collection. This book had a little mystery and suspense and you cant forget the love story! . I don't care how predictable the story I loved as it unfolded into a great love story. Amelie & Detective Baker are such a fun pair and I love their little moments that made me laugh.  I believe there are a few lessons to be learned along the way as well if you are a lady in the dating world.  The Radcliff character reminds us that people are not always as they seem.  I believe as Amelie says he is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. 
 
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.
I do hope for another novel in with this one that maybe goes with one of the cousins or maybe Winston.  
Thank you Shadow Mountain Publishing and Netgalley for my advanced ebook!

#TheMatchmakersLonelyHeart #netgalley #ShadowMountainPublishing #ProperRomance #advancereadercopy #bookreview #bookish #NancyAllenCampbell

This was such a fun mystery romance story set in a lush, immersive Victorian setting!

I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t typically gravitate towards mystery as a genre. It’s not one I usually find myself enjoying, so I was a little nervous when I started this book, but I was very pleasantly surprised! This story felt less like a whodunit-type story and more of a “how are these characters going to catch the bad guy” type story. I don’t know if that makes any sense, but I really enjoyed it!

I loved Amelie and Michael! I thought their banter and dynamic was fun and engaging and their characters worked really well together. I loved that Amelie grew and learned over the course of the story but her charisma and love of life were not lost as she overcame her naivety.

One of my favorite things about this book was the wonderful cast of side characters. Everyone’s personality seemed to burst off the page and make the entire story feel more real and immersive. I definitely wouldn’t complain if we were to see Amelie’s cousins each get their own story in the future!

The Matchmaker’s Lonely Heart was a delightfully pleasant surprise that I thoroughly enjoyed my time reading! If you’re a fan of mystery romance, or even if you’re not, I highly recommend giving this super fun story a try and letting Nancy Campbell Allen surprise you too! super fun story a try and letting Nancy Campbell Allen surprise you too!

The Matchmaker’s Lonely Heart was a fun, sweet romance with a twisty mystery. I enjoyed Amalie and Michael as our couple. They are super cute together and it was nice to see Amalie struggling and Coming to terms with her feelings. I do feel like the “I love yous” could have waited a bit longer, but it was a really nice scene. Though we know the answer to the mystery relatively early in the book, I liked that we got to follow them connecting the dots and figuring out the motives. I would recommend this historical mystery/romance.

This was a fun Victorian Detective Novel. I loved the inclusion of girls with jobs. I liked the development of the characters and not just the main two. I loved the cousins and the aunt as well. It is so fun to see a story that lies more in the middle class rather than the upper echelons. This lends itself to some fantastic story telling. Our detective is trying to solve a murder and our matchmaker is checking on some advice she gave. When the two stories collide, what ensues left me enthralled and turning page after page without a second thought,

I can struggle with visualizing sometimes but that was not a problem as I read the story and placed myself in Victorian London with the rest of the characters.

Amelie was a perfectly flawed heroine who was terrible at hiding her insecurities, She tried to be brave, but soon realized she was over her head. Michael is trying very hard to protect people from his job as a detective, having lost his partner to the job. The villain was as all villains should be, not entirely what he seems to the world. It takes Michael and Amelie working together with a little help from their friends to crack this case.

I received an early copy through Shadow Mountain and NetGalley and this is my honest review.

From advice columnist to deputy detective. Detective Michael Baker is investigating a murder and it soon becomes clear that Amelie Hampton has more that a bit of curiosity regarding the victim's husband, Harold Radcliffe. Reluctantly, the detective allows Amelie to share in the case, albeit as minimally as possible.

Amelie works for her aunt, Sally Hampton, on The Marriage Gazette to offer advice, offering words of wisdom concerning matters of the heart. She is now excited to find herself working alongside the detective and looks at it as a great adventure. What fun this book was! I laughed out loud more than once in this story.

However, while danger ratcheted up, it slowly proves clear that Amelie and Michael are attracted to one another. However, there are barriers with regard to their growing feelings. For one thing, Amelie has a prospective suitor and he is definitely turning her head. Michael has his own reasons for not being willing to follow through with how he feels. A game of cat-and-mouse ensues, but only one of them gets the cheese.

This cozy mystery really delivered. The slow romance, minor intrigue and engaging characters all worked together to create an enjoyable read. I believe that this book is the first in a new series. Amelie and Michael work well together and I would love to see the pair of them in future stories.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

I'll be damned!! This was unexpected and in the best of ways. Oh my. I thoroughly enjoyed the twists and turns of this mystery in there so much. The title combines the romantic elements with the crime/suspense so well, it felt like a combination of all my favorite things, in a way I did not anticipate. The couple is just to die for, and so much fun. I really hope we get more in this world, and from this author.

I liked the story but was a bit disappointed too. I really enjoyed the steampunk romance line of stories that the author did prior to this one. I didn’t connect with this story as much. Here are the issues:
It took a while for me to warm up to Amelie.
The beginning jumped around between characters, and it took a while to figure out where the story was going.
The first encounter between Amelie and Detectives Baker was awkward.
There was a feminist tone to the book that didn’t sit quite right.

I saw a number of spots where I thought there were historical inaccuracies - I looked them all up and I was wrong but it still pulled me out of the flow of the story.

As a reader I was sure from near the beginning that Harold Radcliffe was guilty of his wife’s murder so it was really hard to watch Amelie in her interactions and how certain she was that she was smarter than Mr. Radcliffe.

I liked Detective Michael Baker. I like Sally Hampton and Amelie’s cousins.
I liked the story overall. Maybe my expectations were too high but for me this only comes in at 3 stars.

Wow, people! This book is definitely going to be one of my top reads for the year! It has a bit of everything and a lot of romance! I guess you could class it as a cozy mystery romance. It reminded me of that TV show, Castle, except with reversed roles and set in Victorian London. The book is set during a time when forensic science was just starting to take off and make a real impact on criminal cases. I found it fascinating to read about! Amelie was simply adorable! And so sweet, independent and optimistic! I'm always a big fan of a broody, serious male, so Michael just hit the spot perfectly. I loved all the other characters too and sincerely hope Amelie's cousins will get their own stories soon! I found the romance storyline a touch disjointed but it all comes together nicely in the end with some very satisfying and enjoyable to read kisses! I absolutely loved this story, there was mystery, adventure, lovable characters and, of course, romance!

This Victorian romantic suspense novel focuses on a detective who never intends to fall in love and an independent young woman who works for a matchmaking newspaper. I found myself enjoying the book more and more as it went on, as it is a very slow burn, sweet romance.

The story includes a book club, a trip to the theater, an Egyptian mummy, and more. It is a fun ride, and Allen sets up some excellent side characters in the heroine's cousins, whom I assume will get their own books in time. Each of them has their own interest in traditionally masculine professions, and Allen balances their talents with the societal expectations of the time well.

I really like that the hero never tries to stifle or patronize the heroine. He wants to protect her from physical danger, but he is quick to acknowledge her competency and how she helps him. It was refreshing. This is an excellent read if you want a little mystery mixed in with your historical romance.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher.

The Matchmaker’s Lonely Heart by Nancy Campbell Allen is a Victorian Style romantic suspense novel.

Amelie Hampton is a journalist for the marriage gazette who finds herself caught up in a police investigation against a particularly handsome and charming member of her book club, Harold Radcliffe. The Detective heading up the investigation, Michael Baker, is convinced Mr. Radcliffe is responsible for the death of his wife, Mrs. Radcliffe, and is desperate to prove it. Amelie on the other hand is determined to prove that Mr. Radcliffe is innocent and agrees to enter a courtship with Mr. Radcliffe. As Amelie spends more time with these two very different gentleman she finds herself losing her heart, but which gentleman returns her affections in earnest and which is using her for his own selfish desires?

There are so many things I loved about this story! I loved the slow burn romance, the gradual unraveling of the mystery, and I especially loved the character growth.

Amelie is a very naive young woman. She always sees the best in people and has a difficult time accepting that not everyone in the world has the same good and kind intentions Amelie does. Being involved in a murder investigation causes Amelie to lose some of that naivety, but her resilience helps her maintain her optimism. I love seeing the effect she has on the very cynical Detective Baker and how she helps him choose to appreciate the joys of life instead of dreading the challenges.

Overall this is a captivating story. The characters were so relatable and lovable, the slow burn romance was so swoony and so well written. I have been loving Victorian era stories and seeing female characters have a greater level of independence while continuing to maintain the civility I love from the Regency era.

If you enjoy a good clean slow burn romance, an intriguing mystery, handsome working class heroes, and strong independent heroines you absolutely need to pick up The Matchmaker’s Lonely Heart! And trust me, once you pick it up you won’t be able to put it down!

I really enjoy the Proper Romance Line and was excited to read Nancy Campbell Allen’s latest novel. The Matchmaker’s Lonely Heart is a good addition to the line, even if it isn’t my favorite of her stories.

It was well written and I read it fairly quickly. I liked the mystery aspect and the main characters working together to solve it. I wasn’t a huge fan of Amelie though. At times she seemed so strong, and at others she came across as very young and naïve. Her name also bothered me, and when that happens I get hung up a bit instead of having a smooth read.

I enjoyed the other characters and would definitely read spin offs if the author gives Amelie’s cousins their own books.

I have such a big love for Nancy's books! I am convinced she can write in any genre and I will happily pick it up.
In this case, it's a bit of a romance, a bit of intrigue, a bit of mystery, and a whole lot of entertainment.
Amelie is an avid reader of mystery and suspense. Her enthusiasm to be embroiled in a mystery with the entrance of one Detective Michael Baker is too appealing for her to deny. His claims that a man she admires is a wolf in sheep's clothing drives her to the man's defense.
I had a lot of fun reading this book. The supporting cast is perfectly suited as a backdrop for Amelie's antics and her HEA. Amelie is both naïve and full of gumption and I can't help loving a grump and sunshine together. I'm looking forward to the next two books in the trilogy with - I'm assuming - Amelie's cousins.
Thank you to Shadow Mountain and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.

I suppose if I had any complaint about this story at all, it would be that we don't find out what year it takes place. Maybe we do and I just missed it? That's highly likely. Yes, that is a very silly complaint, but I like the know all of the little details that don't really matter in a story. I'm weird like that. The rest of it though? (You know, like the actual story...) It was hard to put down. Really, the only reason I didn't finish this book in one day is because life is in full swing around here and I actually need to get some things done. Plus, I get up way too early, so whenever I sit down to read, I tend to fall asleep, no matter how engaging the book is. I should, perhaps, get more sleep just so I can stay awake when I'm reading. :)

The author tends to write books with strong female characters, and this one was no different. Amelie was strong-willed and independent, but she was also somewhat naive, a combination that didn't always end well for her. It did introduce her to Detective Baker though, which was definitely not a bad thing.

This story had just the right amount of romance and suspense all mixed together. I found it way too easy to read "just one more chapter" even though I really needed to put the book down and get some things done. (No surprise at all where my kids get THAT trait from.) I hope we get to read future stories with some of the side characters in this book. Winston was a strong side character, still somewhat of a mystery at the end of the book. His story would be fun to read.

The Matchmaker’s Lonely Heart is a sweet, captivating read with an unputdownable quality – ultimately leading to a thrilling climax. It is also a mystery – and a pageturner full of suspense.

If you loved the recent PBS mystery series Miss Scarlet and the Duke, then you’ll likely enjoy this historical mystery that includes a bit of a love triangle between a villainous rogue and a handsome, witty detective.

I wanted to find out more about Detective Baker and the fanciful and wide-eyed Amelie from the start. Their interactions were fun to read with a believable slow-build romance – making the pair a compatible and appealing investigative duo even if Amelie’s choices and naivete could be frustrating at times.

But since Amelie reads like an older teenager – personality-wise and level of innocence – this would also be a good book for teens and adults. Still, the light-hearted crime story contains numerous romantic moments sure to please all the hopeless romantics out there who can relate to the female protagonist (a hopeless romantic herself in a Catherine Morland kind of way).

Besides the appealing love story, I particularly enjoyed Amelie’s interactions with her two female cousins (who are a bit more experienced and worldly than Amelie) and her independent Aunt Sally, who runs The Marriage Gazette. If I have any complaints, it’s that I wanted more with these characters.

So, if there is ever a sequel or a spinoff, I would love an entire series dedicated to Aunt Sally as I found her intriguing even if she was underused.

OVERALL THOUGHTS:

Overall, if you adore swoon-worthy romances with clever heroines and dashing detectives, this is the story for you. The Matchmaker’s Lonely Heart is an absolute delight and the perfect escapist read for all romantic mystery fans.

It’s a captivating book with well-crafted characters, a tantalizing mystery, and a swoony romance; just don’t expect anything serious!

ADAPTATION RECOMMENDATION
The Matchmaker’s Lonely Heart would make a fun movie! But I think it has potential as a series – just keep the romance an even slower burn!

The setup of The Marriage Gazette mixed with detectives would be such an entertaining show – a la Miss Fisher style. Each of the cousins could have their individual stories – as could the wealthy, successful aunt. I would definitely watch.

Content Note: The romance is wholesome and sweet. The book overall is PG-esque since it is a murder mystery. But nothing graphic.

Overall Rating: 4
Romance Rating: 5

This book was a bit of a slow start, especially since the heroine was not at all likeable at first. Once things really got going, her character was better, but still not my favorite in the book.

To me this book was more of a mystery with some romance included, rather than a traditional romance. Not a bad thing, and I think it worked in this case. The story was interesting, and I really enjoyed the side characters - I am hoping there will be more books so we can see them again.

Overall, I think it's a good story, and I would recommend it to both mystery and romance readers.

So I probably should have read the synopsis of the book before I started reading it... but oh my goodness I absolutely loved this book! It was fantastic, just the right amount of suspense mixed with romance. i didn't know what was going to happen. I'd read it again in a heartbeat.

An intriguing historical mystery from a new-to-me author. I look forward to more from this author!
Amelie is a bit of an anomaly. In that day and age (1880s), women were not really supposed to be working for newspaper offices. Or rather, proper, genteel women didn't. Amelie does not consider herself to be a proper young lady, and doesn't really expect to ever get married.
But...she does have a bit of a "tendre" towards a certain Harold Radcliffe. And when he turns out to be "Mr. Dashing" that had written a personals ad to the Gazette where Amelie is employed, she's just not sure what to think. Then...she's caught spying on Mr. Radcliffe by a certain handsome but gruff police detective, Mr. Baker.
Amelie agrees to join forces with Michael Baker as a means of clearing Radcliffe's name, because the detective seems to think that Radcliffe had something to do with the death of his wife.
The ensuing chase towards tracking down clues and the bad guys was quite entertaining. Lots of twists and turns, action, and even a few more murders.
If you enjoy historical mysteries, I highly recommend this one!
Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review, and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

I started reading this book without knowing much about it, and quickly realized it was different from most Victorian proper romances. After only a few pages, the story turns into a murder mystery and becomes both a cozy mystery and a clean romance with a satisfying ending.

Amelie Hampton lives with her aunt Sally and cousins Charlotte and Evangeline. She is a writer for The Marriage Gazette, her aunt Sally’s successful publication. Amelie wants to find love for herself and is flattered when Harold Radcliffe, an attractive young widower, begins pursuing a relationship with her. Detective Michael Baker crosses Amelie’s path while investigating if Mr. Radcliffe was involved in the suspicious death of his wife. Amelie helps Detective Baker with his investigation in an effort to prove Mr. Radcliffe’s innocence.

This book is well written and kept me hooked to the end. Thanks to Shadow Mountain Publishing for an ARC to use for my review.

I love this book by Nancy Campbell Allen! I loved how she expertly wove together romance and suspense. I love how it was a romance but also a mystery. I loved the characters and I hope she will write more books with these lovely characters. I loved how the main characters learned what true love was as they went through their investigation. I loved seeing the characters grow and I felt like they were friends by the time I was finished reading. I highly recommend this book to anyone.

I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, and or authors.  A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.

This was not what I expected. It's a murder mystery that's up there with the rest. Told with a great sense of humor. It is a bit of a page turner. We take working women for granted these days. In this time it was not common at all, and was socially frowned upon by the upper class. Great story, well told and engaging.

I received this book free from the publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
#TheMatchmakersLonelyHeart #NetGalley.

This book is a perfect combination of Romance and Murder Mystery! Definitely great for our cozy mystery readers as well as our avid romance readers.

I loved the entertaining conversations between Amelie and Michael. Nancy wrote the push and pull of their opposites attract romance so incredibly well. I was entertained every moment they were on the page together, and now I need to start collecting hatpins.

The who-done-it part of the mystery wasn’t necessarily mysterious, but the plot kept me guessing and the motives where ambiguous right up until the end, which was fascinating. I loved how she played with the ideology of nature vs nurture.

Nancy had delightfully humorous moments to brake up the suspense. This was definitely my kind of suspense novel, she did a great job of keeping us smiling and on the edge of our seat. She also added a depth to her characters through their shared past and family experiences that I loved.

This book is giving me a serious craving for more Victorian romance novels!

I thorough enjoyed reading this book. I hope the author will be writing more books in the future because there are some delightful side characters that I think deserve their own stories!



I was provided with an eARC of this title by the publisher through Netgalley. This is my honest review.

This is the first book I’ve read by Nancy Campbell Allen, and it won’t be the last! I greatly enjoyed The Matchmaker’s Lonely Heart, and I hope we get stories about Amelie’s cousins—and perhaps the other detectives as well. Though parts of the book were a bit slow, the last quarter is fantastic. I’m currently taking a class focused on detective fiction, so it was cool to see elements of classic detective literature plus Allen’s own talent for writing great romance and intrigue. I definitely recommend adding this book to your TBR! 4/5 stars

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

4.5 stars for this charming historical suspense with a dash of romance!

There is literally nothing bad to say about this book. If you like historical mysteries mixed with a little romance, give this one a try. The two main characters are wonderful, the female friendships are perfect, and the romance is super sweet. Can’t wait to read more by this author.

Thank you to Netgalley and Shadow Mountain publishing for an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Have you ever gone on a blind date?

Amelie is an independent woman in Victorian England working for her Aunt at the Marriage Gazette. She decides to match together two lonely heart letters at the Gazette. She knows she is not supposed to, but she spies on the date to see how it is going. She is surprised to see Mr. Radcliffe is one of the people meeting. He is a member of her book club and a recent widower. She has developed a tendre for him. She runs into Michael Baker who is trailing Mr. Radcliffe. He believes that Mr. Radcliffe’s first wife did not die by accident and is determined to figure out what happened. What happened to Mr. Radcliffe’s wife? Will Amelie find her own happy ending?

I greatly enjoyed this novel. I loved the witty banter between Detective Baker and Amelie. I also enjoyed the other characters such as Amelie’s cousins Charlotte and Eva. I hope they get their own novels. The Victorian setting was perfect. This story had it all, romance, mystery, suspense and adventure. It does take a dark turn, but I really enjoyed the ending.

I loved the quotes at the start of each chapter from different publications. They not only set a great backdrop to the times, but they made me chuckle sometimes when the characters acted in direct opposition of the quotes.

Favorite Quote:
“I do not know that absence of emotion holds any sway in a debate on human evolution. I should think Darwin’s observations prove the opposite, in fact. The more man evolves, the higher his plane of morality, the greater this depth of compassion, wouldn’t you say?”

Overall, The Matchmaker’s Lonely Heart is an entertaining Victorian romance and mystery.

This book had some good things going for it.
It was such an original tale, with a woman with being a matchmaker as her profession and a detective who goes undercover to solve a crime without his superior's permission.
I liked that Amelie was strong female character. And how Michael's heart softened during the book.
I also liked Amelie's cousins and the possibility of future stories from them.

But it really moved too slow for me. And then all of a sudden, the romance turned into love.
The last part the book moved fast and was fun to read.
But the book was not a favorite for me.

Thank you to Net Galley for allowing me to read this book. The opinions are entirely my own.

…she lost all desire for any further conversation
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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 a wife and family to the uncertainty of his profession. But when he meets Miss Hampton, he is captured by her. 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.
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𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐝: Amelie Hampton & Michael Baker’s story starts off a little messy (pun intended). I absolutely loved that they went from strangers, to a team, and now a perfect match. I definitely NEEDED more romantic/steamy moments! Definitely a page turner!

Overall, I enjoyed this novel. Grateful to the publisher for the arc. All opinions are my own.

I enjoyed getting to know the characters especially Michael but found Amelie to be a bit overly naive. Michael is a great protagonist and it was fun to get inside his head. His perspective and morals were intriguing to understand. And I loved his slow burning realizations that he has fallen in love with Amelie. However, Amelie was less likable for me. It's not an issue with her hopeless romanticism or innocence at the start of the novel. It's more that I didn't feel like she changes much during the story. She stays naive and frustratingly stubborn about going at it alone and trying to solve the mystery by herself. She doesn't listen to the wise advice of others and insists on doing what she wants. I admire her determination to solve the case and to be helpful. But a bit more self preservation would have been helpful. That being said, there is a well developed cast of characters surrounding the love interests and I would love to read more about Amelie's cousins and even get a backstory on her Aunt and Michael's detective partner.

I really enjoyed the romance between Michael and Amelie. It is a lovely, slow burning romance that develops with every page of the book. I enjoy the classic shift from begrudging colleagues to falling in love. They begin their relationship with very different opinions about each other and about love. And their feelings for each other sneak up on them in delightful ways. I absolutely love their first kiss and how intensely their feelings become in the heat of the the investigation. Michael is a fantastic hero and certain a man with high standards and deep rooted kindness. I love how her relationship with Michael changes everything Amelie thought she knew about love. I loved their happy ending.

Spoilers Ahead in this paragraph! The plot is fast paced and action driven. From the first pages, we are thrown into a murder investigation where everything does not add up quite right. Mr Radcliffe's shifty behavior is intriguing and I was nearly instantly invested in the story. It was very easy to get hooked by all the action and to read just one more chapter to see what happens next. The plot twists and turns throughout the novel. But I found the ending a bit underwhelming in it's reveal of the murderer. We are led right to the murderer from the first page of the book. I would have liked more nuance or surprise about that discovery. Perhaps an alternate suspect at the least. Additionally, I was surprised by how violent this book is. There are some rather graphic descriptions of murder victims, several descriptions of autopsies, and an extremely violent scene involving our heroine at the end (so violent that it was a bit far fetched that a happily ever after could occur!). I was a bit overwhelmed by that violence. Usually books in this collection are not quite that violent, and I wouldn't want my teenage kids reading this one without some discussion of the violence beforehand.

I enjoyed the Victorian setting but sometimes felt that the action didn't entirely fit the time period. Lately, I have been on a bit of a Victorian Era London kick so I was excited about this time period. Sometimes, the descriptions were quite lovely and I enjoyed the details. But at other moments, I felt that Allen left the Victorian Era completely. I was reminded of Thoroughly Modern Millie (which I love!) a lot while I read this book. Amelie's desire to be an "woman of independent means" was so reminiscent of Millie's opinions. Sometimes the conversation felt rather modern as well. While I understand that the Victorian Era was a time of changing ideas and opinions, there were moments when the book felt too modern and that was a disappointment. 

Overall, I enjoyed The Matchmaker's Lonely Heart. The love story is beautifully written. Many of the characters are well developed and I was easily caught in all the action. But this wasn't a stand out novel for me. The violence, main protagonist and sometimes Victorian setting were not as well done as I had hoped. Still, a fast paced and fun mystery/love story.

Nancy Campbell Allen tells a daring story of love, life, and murder in her newest novel. The Matchmaker’s Lonely Heart contains strong female characters that make you fall in love with them. Plus, there is danger and intrigue around every corner. What’s not to love?

Amelie Hampton is a woman of independent means living in London. She works as a columnist at her aunt’s newspaper, The Marriage Gazette. Amelie always knew what she wanted in a husband and had lofty, romantic ideals. Ideals that Amelie freely shared with her readers. She knew that love would hit her one day like a lightning bolt. But when a certain detective runs her aground in the park, Amelie feels nothing but ire. However, Detective Baker needs her help with an investigation. Not long after, Amelie begins to doubt her thoughts on the subject of love.

Amelie, Charlotte, Eva, and Sally are a quartet of the strongest females I’ve come across in quite some time. Usually, there is one bold woman in a novel. But these women take independence to new heights. I loved each of them desperately. Each woman wants a different life apart from the Gazette. All three fear the fallout from their chosen professions. They are about to make waves in male-dominated fields, but none of them are looking for glory. They only want to do what makes them happy.

Then we have Harold Radcliffe and Detective Michael Baker. Harold is a handsome charmer, and Michael is a down-to-earth regular guy. Both have interesting pasts, but one is horrendous and the other tragic. My loathing of Harold started from the beginning. He was a royal jerk, but the detective had my heart early on. Michael is a bit gruff, but he’s a big teddy bear inside, and he has met his match in Amelie. Their story made me laugh and cry with joy.

Alexander is a complete delight. He isn’t a prominent character, but I loved him so much. I wanted to ruffle his hair and hug him. Clarissa and Mae are also adorable. This family is the one I want to belong to. They are sweet, and I felt right at home in their quaint abode.

I award The Matchmaker’s Lonely Heart a full 5 out of 5 stars. There wasn’t a single thing I didn’t like about this novel. The writing is clear and easy to read, which is not always the case in historical London, at least for this American. This story will stick with me for quite some time. I recommend this book to all my historical romance fans. The mystery mixed with romance will leave you breathless.

Thank you NetGalley, author Nancy Campbell Allen, and Shadow Mountain publishing for giving me a free arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
5 stars
If you are looking for a story that has two strong sharp minded characters matching wits as they solve not just mysteries, but the mystery of their budding attraction to each other, then look no further than this book.
The Victorian setting for this story was so fun. It starts right at the time woman were just gaining their independence. This definitely qualifies as a Grumpy/Sunshine historical romantic suspense story. I feel completely in love with the main characters from their first meeting to the very satisfying HEA ending. I loved how both characters were so well matched not just in looks and chemistry, but also in brains and drive to solve the mystery! This book was not overly steamy, which was in step with the setting! The villain was very well developed and kept me guessing throughout most of the story due to the fact he was dashing and well spoken. The writing and the pacing held my interest until the very end. This was my first book by this author and it will not be my last! I would highly recommend this book to those who are looking to read a strong female sleuth romantic suspense with a dashing male lead.

The Victorian era is so fascinating to me and when combined with a murder-mystery, why, what could be better?

The characters fit together so well and were a quirky mix of fun. I loved how each chapters began with a piece of advice. Amelie works for her aunt's newspaper and her role is intriguing, especially for her time. When she lands herself in the middle of Michael's murder investigation, the fun really begins and I couldn't get enough of their interactions and the trouble that ensued.

Allen is a talented writer in bringing together many threads of a somewhat simple, yet simultaneously complicated plot, and weaving together an entertaining story. The slow start quickly gave way to a delightful tale with a good pacing. I was wondering at the outcome all along. The characters were wonderful and I hope they each get a story of their own.

This book was very enjoyable and I'm hoping it's the start of a new series!

Content: mild violence/death; mild romance

*I received a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*

This is my first book by Ms. Allen and I do not think it will be my last. I really enjoyed the mystery, the little romance, and the characters. I also hope we get more books featuring the cousins.


Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book for an honest review.

All the best things about mystery and romance combine in this book. It took me a minute to get to it, but it was worth the wait!

I wasn't sure I would like this book, as it seemed more of a romance than a mystery (my preferred genre). But, because I like historical novels, I decided to give it a chance. I'm glad I did! Both the mystery and romance aspects are enough to satisfy fans of both genres, but are nicely balance. One does not overwhelm the other. The mystery, while not overly complex, is intriguing enough to draw readers in. The characters, especially the young females, are well drawn, incorporating the changing roles of women in society into the characters of these very modern misses. Amelie and her cousins represent well the young working women of 1885. I went from being unsure of the book to hoping for a sequel!

This is a book that I'm going to issue a warning with. It's a warning that I've issued before with several other books, but it stands very true for this well as well... Don't read this book unless you have carved out time in your schedule to read it from cover to cover. You will not want to set it down. I'm not kidding here people! 100% serious. I couldn't put it down. Ok, well I did once or twice, but only for a couple minutes each time. Haha! It is really that good!

Nancy Campbell Allen is an author that I can't wait for her to announce new book releases! I've been eyeing this one since I first learned that it was going to be released and was so excited when I was finally able to clear my schedule and read it. See there, I knew I was going to need a day and I planned accordingly!

I loved this Victorian era novel. And can I just say, that cover, GORGEOUS!!!! It's just so creative. The newspaper ads and the coloring. All of it is just so eye catching for me. The cover designer did a fabulous job!

The characters were delightful as well. Especially Amelie, our intrepid report (well kind of), and our charmingly delightful (well kind of) Police detective Michael Baker. Hee hee! You'll have to read it to understand my little asides there. But in all seriousness, these two were truly fabulous characters. Well developed, and fabulous dialogue between them. I loved it all.

We have our devious characters as well. The ones we're not quite sure about. Are they good or not? And the sweet and lighthearted characters who add humor and comic relief. The timing of it all throughout the book was well written and delivered. I found myself holding my breath a couple times during some of the suspenseful moments. And then releasing that breath in relief and happiness that everything was working out as I had hoped.

Amelie is trying to find her place. She's a lovely character and just needs some wins in her corner. She has such a great support group that tag along with her escapades. Especially when she becomes "deputized." Hahahaha!!! Oh how I adore this book and these characters. I know I keep saying that, but it's true. Especially when I start to think about certain scenes or conversations. You're in for a real treat! This reminded me of a fun show I watched, Miss Scarlett and the Duke. Have you watched it yet? You should if you're a mystery/suspense/crime fighting fan. And DEFINITELY read this book!

Content: Clean. This is a mystery and suspense, so there are moments of mild peril as well as death and murder. But it is all done tastefully and not overly graphic. Some kisses but nothing further.

I received a copy from the publisher, Shadow Mountain, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Happy Reading!!!

This was a stunning story of romance, mystery, and intrigue. The writing style was engaging and very atmospheric of Victorian London. I must seek more of this author’s work.
Many thanks to Shadow Mountain Publishing and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Nancy Campbell Allen is a very versatile writer. This book is set in the Victorian Era. I have read books she has written that are steampunk, Historical (Civil War), Regency, and time travel. She excels at all of the genres.

This book is more of a murder mystery. Amelie Hampton and Michael Baker are on the case to solve the murder of Mrs. Radcliffe. The main suspect is her husband, who has also set his cap for Amelie. Can Amelie prove that Mr. Radcliffe is not the murderer or will Michael prove that he is?

The best part of the story is what happens between the beginning and the end! (I know, that is a very broad statement.) This story is character and mystery-driven. I loved getting to know the main characters. There are a few amazing secondary characters that I would love to read more about in future books. (Hint, hint) Amelie wants to prove that she can be an independent woman while Michael does not see a family in his future because of the precarious nature of his career.

Romance is a part of the book, but it is not the primary emphasis. I enjoyed the investigative process and how everything comes together.

Source: I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.