The Marriage Method

 

The Marriage Method (The Crinoline Academy #2)- Mimi Matthews

Berkley

Release Date: November 25, 2025

Rating: 📚📚📚📚

Synopsis: Well removed from London’s more curious eyes, the Benevolent Academy for the Betterment of Young Ladies strives toward one clandestine to distract, disrupt, and discredit men in power who would seek to harm the advancement of women—by appropriate means, of course.

When intrepid newspaper editor Miles Quincy starts to question the school’s intentions, the Academy appoints Penelope “Nell” Trewlove, one of their brightest graduates, to put this nuisance to rest. An easy enough mission, she supposes. Or it would be, if Miles wasn’t so fascinating—too fascinating to resist—and if Nell’s visit to London didn’t perfectly coincide with the murder of one of Miles’s reporters. 

When the inexorable claws of fate trap Nell and Miles in a compromising situation, they agree to an arrangement that will save their reputations while enabling them to investigate the story that led to a man’s death, as well as the surprising chemistry between them . . .

___________________________________________

When Nell ventures to London to stop newspaperman Miles Quincy from asking questions about her beloved Academy, she has no idea she'll end up married to him. But one feral cat, a crinoline skirt, and a judgy reverend mean marriage between Miles and Nell becomes necessary. They thought they would be saving their reputations, but events quickly lead to investigating kidnappings and murder- where relying on each other as equals is the only way they'll solve the crimes.

Book 2 of Mimi Matthews' latest Crinoline Academy pulls Nell from the Academy she'd never meant to leave and lets her put her theory into realy world practice. I love how Matthews shows us both sides of Nell- the strong and confident woman who knows she's been trained to take on anything as well as the emotional one who's facing upheavals she never anticipated. She never doubts what she can do and (even when it sends poor Miles into fits of the vapors) she does what's needed. One of my favorite scenes is when Nell and Effie (Rules for Ruin) go into Whitechapel searching for a missing girl and come out successfully- leaving their husbands furious for the danger they were in and having to admit they were completely capable of protecting themselves. Miles took a little teaching to understand who Nell was, I think largely because while he knew women could be hurt by men, it didn't seem to occur to him that they would learn to protect themselves. When he finally understands what the Academy is and who Nell is, the partnership they develop is one that may prove unstoppable.

Each book in the Crinoline Academy can be read alone, but Book 2 is probably fleshed out a little (as is Effie's walk-on role) if you read Rules for Ruin first. A fun, slow burn romance and mystery—with cats!

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

 

The Stolen Crown

 

The Stolen Crown: Treachery, Deceit & the Death of the Tudor Dynasty- Tracy Borman

Hodder & Stoughton

Release Date: November 4, 2025

Rating: 📚📚📚📚

Synopsis: In March 1603, Queen Elizabeth I, the last Tudor monarch, lies dying at Richmond Palace. The queen's ministers cluster round her bedside, urging her to name her successor - something she has stubbornly resisted throughout her reign. Almost with her last breath she whispers that James VI of Scotland should succeed her. She dies shortly afterwards and the throne of England passes peacefully from Tudor to Stuart.

Or so we've been led to believe . . .

But, as enthralling new research shows, this is not what happened. In the years that followed, history was literally re-written on the orders of James VI to hide the Elizabeth went to her grave without formally naming an heir. The notion of an approved succession from Tudors to Stuarts is little more than an elaborately constructed fiction.
And so James's rule in England began with a lie - a lie that went on to have devastating consequences. The Stuart regime rapidly descended into turbulence and uncertainty, conspiracy and persecution, witchcraft and gunpowder - culminating in the destruction of the monarchy in the English Civil War.

________________________________________

Tracy Borman (Henry VIII and the Men Who Made Him) is one of my favorite historians, so I was very excited to get her new take on Elizabeth I's succession. We've all been taught that she named James VI of Scotland her heir as she lay dying and the crown peacefully transferred over to him. But Borman's new book reports on work done by the British Library, showing that this is a story James ensured was passed around well into his reign- in order to keep him on the throne.

The Stolen Crown follows Elizabeth I's reign with the focus solely on how it reflected on who she would name her heir. Over the decades Elizabeth was pressed to marry and have children of her own, and/or to name successors to the crown. The chaos of the Wars of the Roses were still fresh enough in people minds that they didn't want to go through that again, and there were multiple candidates with potential claims of varying strength (despite Henry VIII doing his best to kill them all off while he was in power). Who rose or fell in Elizabeth's favor, moving nearer or farther to the throne, might surprise some readers. 

I was surprised by how active in the succession Eilzabeth's council became in the last few years of her reign, though in retrospect it does make sense. The fact that they managed to keep their dealings a secret from Elizabeth is perhaps the greater surprise. Did they, or did she let them think so? I learned more here about James than I'd ever known before- and while all of it fascinating, none of it to his advantage! It was really interesting to learn that in trying to firm up his claim on the throne once he had it, James is perhaps one of the people largely responsible for the image of "Good Queen Bess" that we still have today.

Brilliantly researched, engagingly written, The Stolen Crown is a must read for history lovers!

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

 

Winston and the Windsors

 

Winston and the Windsors: How Churchill Shaped a Royal Dynasty- Andrew Morton

Hanover Square Press

Release Date: October 21, 2025

Rating: 📚📚📚📚

Synopsis: Few figures in British history have been so deeply and consequentially involved with the British royal family as Winston Churchill. Churchill was unique in his helping to shape not only a single reign but an entire royal dynasty.

However, it was by no means a seamless relationship. At times, the royals treated him with suspicion and contempt; at others they were avuncular, competitive and cheering. Yet whether he was playing the role of antagonist to the royal family or that of trusted confidante, the Prime Minister's influence was central to the twentieth-century history of the monarchy. This is drama of the first order, at times thrilling and always compelling.

Winston and the Windsors marks the first dual biography of Winston Churchill alongside the royal family. Having unearthed much under-appreciated archival material – including diary entries, postcards and letters to and from Kings, Queens and princes – Morton presents a meticulously researched biography of a royal house and a beloved Prime Minister.

______________________________________________

I've read many books on Winston Churchill, but this is the first I've read that focuses specifically on his relationship with the royal family- not as The Monarchy, but as individuals. In following his career there are certainly cases where his influence did help shape the monarchy's path, particularly during World War II, but it was the individual stories I found most interesting.

  

Churchill was born during the reign of Queen Victoria and his parents were close friends with her eldest son, the Prince of Wales and future King Edward VII. While I knew Edward and Churchill's mother Jennie had a close friendship, I'd never known how close the relationship between Edward and Winston was. Even after becoming king, Edward took the time to offer nearly parternal advise and praise to young Winston- something he never received from his own father. That section was perhaps my favorite to read for the new knowledge I gained and the stories it shared. 

As a rising politician Churchill frequently clashed in his thoughts and policy ideals with the reigning monarch (especially George V!) and Morton includes notes and diary entries from George V with his thoughts on Churchill that were less than complementary at times. But each man was able to separate politics from the personal and it was fascinating to watch their developing relationships on different fronts.

Much of the information covering the Abdication Crisis, Winston's relationship with David (Edward VIII) and George VI wasn't new but still presented well. And within the context of the book it put a different spin on things I already knew. Morton goes deeply, if briefly into Churchill's relationship with Queen Elizabeth II and I greatly enjoyed that section- again the context of the book helped me see things I knew as well as new information (maybe just new to me) in new and interesting ways.

Winston and the Windsors is more than a new biography of Winston Churchill. It is a biography of the Windsor family and the monarchy throughout the first part of the 20th century, and the huge part that Churchill played in keeping it a strong institution in trying times. Anyone interested in Churchill, the British royal family, and 20th century Briish history should read the carefully researched and entertainingly written book.

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

Miss Winter in the Library with a Knife

Miss Winter in the Library with a Knife- Martin Edwards

Poisoned Pen Press

Release Date: October 7, 2025

Rating: 📚📚📚📚

Synopsis: Six down-on-their-luck people with links to the world of crime writing have been invited to play a game this Christmas by the mysterious Midwinter Trust. The challenge seems simple but Solve the murder of a fictional crime writer in a remote but wonderfully atmospheric village in north Yorkshire to win a prize that will change your fortunes for good.

Six members of staff from the shadowy Trust are there to make sure everyone plays fair. The contestants have been meticulously vetted but you can never be too careful. And with the village about to be cut off by a snow storm, everyone needs to be extra vigilant. Midwinter can play tricks on people's minds.

The game is set - but playing fair isn't on everyone's Christmas list.

__________________________________________________

If you enjoy closed circle mysteries, puzzles, and a take on the locked-room mystery, Miss Winter in the Library with a Knife is going to be right up your book aisle. In this entertaining take on the Golden Age mystery books, Martin Edwards (whose nonfiction books on the development of the mystery genre are not to be missed!) has given readers a snowbound group of six people gathering together in a tiny village over Christmas for a murder mystery weekend. Each have ties to the crime writing world and each have recently had their careers take a nosedive. Their invitation promises the game's winner will have a life-altering change in fortune. But as people begin to die, the survivors must discover: are the deaths accidents? Is one of their group willing to kill to win the game? What secrets are their hosts hiding? And can any of them survive this traditional English country house Christmas?

I'm a huge Golden Age mystery fan, locked room puzzle fan, and Clue fan- so everything about Miss Winter in the Library with a Knife jumped out as a book I wanted to try. Martin Edwards name checks plenty of Golden Age writers and tropes, and invites the reader to solve the puzzle along with the six characters in the book- which is quite entertaining. It's a mystery within the mystery, because of course, what's a snowbound group to do in a mystery book except also try to stay alive and work out who's killing them off one by one? You get the story from different perspectives, but the most entertaining one (for me) was washed-up crime writer Harry Crystal. Harry and his books (all titles are riffs on famous mystery novels you may have heard of) are washed up, his wife and daughter have left him, and the world- pretty much including Harry- have written him off as a perpetual loser. But from the beginning Harry feels like there's something else going on in Midwinter and secrets he may be the only person left out of. He's the least likely to win, but can he surprise everyone and save the day? 

If you like classic snowbound mysteries, Midsummer Murders, puzzles, and humor with your whodunits, give Miss Winter in the Library with a Knife a try! The perfect read when you're inside and the snow is falling outside. 

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review

You Make It Feel Like Christmas

 

You Make It Feel Like Christmas- Sophie Sullivan

St. Martin's Griffin

Release Date: September 23, 2025

Rating: 📚📚📚

Synopsis: Maisie Smart doesn’t look back. Not on the choice she made to be a photographer, and not on the one-night stand she had six months ago. But sleeping with a professional hockey player who bolted the morning after is a whole new level of embarrassing. Now she’s about to spend the week at Tickle Tree Farms with her family this Christmas—and then the universe throws a Grinch in her festive plans.

Nick King is a mess. After a significant injury benches him, he has more time to dwell on his anxieties and the one-night stand he can’t get out of his head. With the holidays around the corner, he figures visiting his sister and nephew at their Christmas tree farm will be a good way to sort himself out. That’s impossible when he learns Maisie is there, still beautiful and justifiably angry about the way he left. But Christmas is the time for second chances, and the forced proximity may help Nick and Maisie unwrap feelings neither of them can walk away from twice.

_______________________________________________

Six months after her only one-night stand, photographer Maisie has sworn off men and ready to get in the holiday spirit with her family at a tree-farm family get-away. So imagine her surprise when her one-night stand turns out to be the tree-farm owner's brother, in town for the holidays! Nick King is a NHL player dealing with issues, injuries, and hoping a week visiting his sister will make his future clearer. He regrets walking out on Maisie after their night together, so getting to see her again and maybe have another chance is just what he wants. It might not make the future clearer, but when feelings get involved, it gets important to make it right.

I wasn't sure I could handle a Christmas book so early in the year, but Sullivan got me in the mood right away with her delightful descriptions of Merry, Washington- a little town that takes Christmas very seriously. Seeing it through Maisie's photographer's view in particular drew me right in. There were fun sibling dynamics, both serious and flirty momens between Maisie and Nick, and a good core of friends having each other's backs. 

The last part of the book went back to Seattle and left the Christmassy vibe behind, changing things up until it almost read like a different book. I got it from the plot "how does this relationship work in real-life" idea, but it was dissapointing after the fast-paced, delightful first half. I also wish Nick and Maisie had talked more about what was going on between them towards the end instead of each feeling like they had to get themselves straight before coming together, when they've spent the book telling each other that they see (and care for) each other with what the other sees as "flaws".

I enjoyed how realistically complicated both Maisie and Nick, but particularly Nick, were. They both have things going on in their lives, neither is "perfect", but they love what they do and understand that prioritizing life around what makes them happy is the most important thing. Maisie comes from a family of overachieving academics, doctors, and lawyers but sher herself has struggled in school and probably has a learning disability. She developed coping mechanisms for what sounds like dyslexia and focused on what she found joy in: photography. Her parents treat it like a hobby, even though she has a thriving business, and some of the talks her mom dumps on her about "reaching her potential" (as her mom sees it) are deeply cringe-worthy. The rest of her family and friends support her, but that lack of parentla support is a big deal.

Nick has been sidelined with a knee injury and been convinced to see a therapist for anxiety. I thought the author did a really great job representing panic attacks/anxiety and talking about mental health issues in the book. As someone who deals with this myself I thought it was great seeing one of the side stories being mental health in professional sports, men's health, and general awareness.

A fun holiday, hockey rom-com that reminds us we're all special to someone, no matter how we see ourselves.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review

The Story of Tudor Art

 The Story of Tudor Art: A History of Tudor England Through Its Art And Objects- Christina J. Faraday

Apollo

Release Date: September 25, 2025

Rating: 📚📚📚📚

Synopsis: The volatile years of England's Tudor dynasty (1485–1603) and the five monarchs who ruled England during this period continue to fascinate and intrigue. Thanks to the paintings of artists like Hans Holbein, we have very definitive ideas about the appearance and personalities of Henry VII, Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary I and her successor Elizabeth I. It is through their eyes of artists that we still see the dynasty which ruled England for just over a century. Yet, iconic though they are, when it comes to Tudor art, portraits – and monarchs – are far from the whole story.

Throughout the sixteenth century, images and objects were employed for political, religious, social and scientific ends, by a greater range of people than ever before. The Church and the royal court, archbishops, monarchs, and courtiers, were some of the most important patrons, commissioning artists in painting, tapestry, print and other materials, to convey particular messages and promote them as individuals and office-holders. But in this period too, the 'middling sort', professional men and women, increased in power, wealth and influence. They also wanted to promote themselves, and used not only art, but also a plethora of other objects to do so.

In this novel and unique exploration of England's Tudor dynasty, Christina Faraday uses the art of the era – both images and objects - as a means of investigating every facet of the period. As well as deconstructing sometimes familiar portraits of Tudor kings, queens and noblemen, Faraday will bring a forensic eye to bear on a broad and heterogeneous array of artefacts – charters, clocks, cushions, coins, devotional artworks, furniture, jewels, manuscripts, miniatures, sculptures, scrolls and tapestries – thereby providing the reader with a vivid and detailed feel for the political, social, economic and cultural texture of sixteenth-century England.

___________________________________________________

When we think about Tudor art we automatically think portraits. It's only recently that I've started to read about Elizabethan architecture and tapestries and I definitely wanted to read more. Christina Faraday's book took these topics- and so much more!- and put them in fantastic context.

Well-researched and well-written, this book touched on everything from tapestries and paintings to the beginnings of importing Chinese ceramics vs English pottery. How did art change from Henry VII to the end of Elizabeth I's reign? Why? The global movements and context for art, artists, patrons, and collectors created changes in types of art, symbolism, and so much more. The scope of the book means that Faraday isn't able to get into deep dives on every single type of art for every decade of the Tudor dynasty but her broad strokes and quick dives to give us illustrative examples are incredibly helpful to understanding the progression of art over time. Set up by monarch it is easy to see the progression of different types of art or symbols over time, why certain things were done or stopped being done. 

If you're interested in Tudor history, art history, or both, Faraday's The Story of Tudor Art is an absolute must read!

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review

Ghost Business

Ghost Business (Boneyard Key #2)- Jen DeLuca

Berkley Publishing

Release Date: September 9, 2025

Rating: 📚📚📚

Synopsis: Boneyard Key, Florida, is the only home Sophie has ever known. Her love for its supernatural history has flourished into a career, as she guides the one and only ghost tour through the town’s can’t-miss haunted spots. And while her bank account isn’t full by any means, her heart is. Or at least, it was.

But there's a newcomer in town. The son of a Fortune 500 businessman, former theater kid Tristan has grown his tours from a fraternity fundraiser to a multicity ghost tour conglomerate. It’s doing well, but not well enough—if he can’t prove that he’s solidly in the black by the fall, Dad’s going to pull his funding, spelling the end of his career. Boneyard Key, with its haunted reputation, seems like the perfect place to boost his bottom line.

When the two ghost tours clash, Sophie’s expletive-filled rant goes viral, and the rivals strike up a deal. Whoever has the most successful business by summer’s end stays, while the loser must ghost. But the more Tristan comes to appreciate Boneyard Key, the more Sophie comes to appreciate Tristan, and what starts as begrudging respect becomes something spicier. Can they put their feuding businesses aside to make room for a chance at love, or is Boneyard Key too small for two ghost tours?

____________________________________________

Welcome back to Boneyard Key, Florida! It's the most haunted town in Florida and Sophie has been running ghost tours for almost 6 years. She's working hard to make it an interesting mix of town history and homage to the local ghosts and telling everyone's stories correctly is important to her. Which is why when Tristan Martin blows into town and sets up a rival ghost tour, using stories that have nothing to do with local history,  she's not happy. They agree to a deal: whoever has the most successful business at the end of summer keeps the tours. But in a small town you can't avoid anyone, and outside of work hours, Sophie and Tristan find they might enjoy each other's company more than they want to admit.

I wasn't too sure about Tristan at first. He was the brach, cocky newcomer who spoke without thinking, proposing a challenge to Sophie and thinking only of himself. But the more time we spend in his head and the more vulnerable we get to see him, the more I warmed up to him. He doesn't have it easy with a dad who can't wait to pull funding and crush his start-up business, who looks at numbers instead of people or circumstances. Tristan loves dealing with people, he loves acting, and is deeply sensitive and hurt by his father's rejections. So he's prepared to do anything to prove his father wrong. But he picked the wrong town to keep pretending ghosts aren't real and some of the locals are prepared to let him know they aren't thrilled he's getting the stories wrong! Watching him discover that ghosts are real was a lot of fun, both the shock and then the awe.

Sophie is a fun and relatable character I enjoyed getting to spend more time with after Haunted Every After. Her devotion to getting the stories she tells right really hit a note for me. This is her home and she wants to share it andher love for it with the tourists who visit. So her reaction to Tristan coming in to profit on the town's reputation is pretty understandable. I also liked seeing more of Libby and Cassie and meeting a few more locals- especially seeing everyone come together when they need to.

The pace ran medium to slow in some spots and while I enjoyed the characters, their relationship was a little on and off for me. The spark and chemistry is there right at the beginning  and all the yearning and grappling with an enemies to lovers aspect worked, but I wish they'd talked more. Their problems didn't get sorted until the very last second. I did like how they made things work, but they weren't working together to solve problems the way you would in a relationship. I won't spoil the ending here, because they do obviously make it work, but it just felt like they weren't on the same page for the important stuff, figuring it out together. And that would have made it stronger I think.

Not as strong as Haunted Ever After or the Well Met series, but a fun return to Boneyard Key. Plenty of funny lines and lots of good friendships. A good, fun read.

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