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Essentially Sweet Romance #1
The Lavender Thief
A laugh-out-loud cozy rom-com with a twist of mystery and a heart full of charm!
🏆 Foreword Indies Finalist
Stephanie Pierce likes life neat, quiet, and under control. Her keys have a proper place, her apartment is spotless, and a few drops of lavender can smooth out almost anything. Then she comes home from work, finds her apartment manager dead in the stairwell, and her carefully ordered world starts coming apart.
Detective Mark Wellborn is not part of Stephanie’s plan. He is six-foot-two of broad shoulders, blue eyes, roughened jawline, and calm authority—the kind of man who can command a crime scene, free a stiletto from a staircase, and leave Stephanie so flustered she can barely form a sentence. The more often he shows up, the worse it gets. Because Mark is not just dangerously competent. He is distractingly handsome, relentlessly observant, and entirely too good at looking at Stephanie like she is the only woman in the room.
But Richard’s death is only the beginning. When the case turns to murder, Stephanie realizes someone has been slipping into the safest corners of her life. Things are moved in her apartment. A white van keeps reappearing. And the more Mark tries to protect her, the clearer it becomes that Stephanie is tangled in something far more dangerous than one bad night in a stairwell.
Now Stephanie is caught between a killer she cannot see, a life that no longer feels safe, and a detective who is equal parts comfort and complication. Falling for him would be reckless. Ignoring him may be impossible. And if she wants to keep her heart, her dog, and her beautifully organized life intact, she will have to trust the one man who sees straight through her.
The Lavender Thief is a clean, no-spice romantic comedy suspense with murder, mishaps, essential oils, one very attractive detective, and a lovable goldendoodle.
Spice 2 (sizzling kisses)
Thriller 4 (suspenseful but cozy)
Dog 10 (certified scene-stealer)
🏆 Foreword Indies Finalist
Stephanie Pierce likes life neat, quiet, and under control. Her keys have a proper place, her apartment is spotless, and a few drops of lavender can smooth out almost anything. Then she comes home from work, finds her apartment manager dead in the stairwell, and her carefully ordered world starts coming apart.
Detective Mark Wellborn is not part of Stephanie’s plan. He is six-foot-two of broad shoulders, blue eyes, roughened jawline, and calm authority—the kind of man who can command a crime scene, free a stiletto from a staircase, and leave Stephanie so flustered she can barely form a sentence. The more often he shows up, the worse it gets. Because Mark is not just dangerously competent. He is distractingly handsome, relentlessly observant, and entirely too good at looking at Stephanie like she is the only woman in the room.
But Richard’s death is only the beginning. When the case turns to murder, Stephanie realizes someone has been slipping into the safest corners of her life. Things are moved in her apartment. A white van keeps reappearing. And the more Mark tries to protect her, the clearer it becomes that Stephanie is tangled in something far more dangerous than one bad night in a stairwell.
Now Stephanie is caught between a killer she cannot see, a life that no longer feels safe, and a detective who is equal parts comfort and complication. Falling for him would be reckless. Ignoring him may be impossible. And if she wants to keep her heart, her dog, and her beautifully organized life intact, she will have to trust the one man who sees straight through her.
The Lavender Thief is a clean, no-spice romantic comedy suspense with murder, mishaps, essential oils, one very attractive detective, and a lovable goldendoodle.
Spice 2 (sizzling kisses)
Thriller 4 (suspenseful but cozy)
Dog 10 (certified scene-stealer)
173 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 5, 2024
About the author
Elysian Hunt
12 books35 followersWriting across multiple pen names, Elysian Hunt has sold more than 1.4 million books, won multiple awards, and been a best seller many times over. With over 35 novels in print, she enjoys many genres as long as they are fast-paced and engaging.
She never wanted to be a writer, but she couldn’t ever find that one book, the perfect one for her. So, she wrote it, and the rest is history. With fresh story ideas churning and a deep love for sharpening her writing skills, Elysian’s work gets better with time.
There are a few things you can count on with her rom com and cozy mystery books: sweet romance, happily ever after’s, and don’t forget the dogs! Fall in love with vivid characters, intriguing settings, and mysteries that will keep you turning the pages.
She never wanted to be a writer, but she couldn’t ever find that one book, the perfect one for her. So, she wrote it, and the rest is history. With fresh story ideas churning and a deep love for sharpening her writing skills, Elysian’s work gets better with time.
There are a few things you can count on with her rom com and cozy mystery books: sweet romance, happily ever after’s, and don’t forget the dogs! Fall in love with vivid characters, intriguing settings, and mysteries that will keep you turning the pages.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
November 23, 2024
The story starts out as one of those books about dog owners who are crazy about their pets and find true love because of something to do with the dog.
The hunk enters the pages and the girl shivers.
Then all of a sudden it’s a commercial for essential oils - or rather some kind of pyramide game.
Next there’s a neck breaking hostage situation, jada jada… and we’re back to the pyramide game.
I finished the book, hoping for it to come together in the end, but no.
I can’t recommend it, unless you have a burning desire to start selling essential oils.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The hunk enters the pages and the girl shivers.
Then all of a sudden it’s a commercial for essential oils - or rather some kind of pyramide game.
Next there’s a neck breaking hostage situation, jada jada… and we’re back to the pyramide game.
I finished the book, hoping for it to come together in the end, but no.
I can’t recommend it, unless you have a burning desire to start selling essential oils.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 23, 2026
Started off cute and hopeful, but i’m now 99% sure this was an AI written advertisement for essential oils and Christianity.
September 19, 2025
The narrator is AWFUL. It’s not narration but just reading out loud. No different voices for different characters. No inflection, no feeling. Just bland ok I’m reading this in front of my class vibe. Bad.
The writer also had some bad moments of describing characters and using g fat phobic terms. She honestly said, my best friend is so beautiful she could be a model even though she’s over weight. Cringey and not ok. She references weight a few times for different characters. I will not read another book by her and absolutely never listen to another audiobook from the “narrator”.
Oh and like other reviewers have said - it’s so essential oil pitch heavy. Pass pass pass.
The writer also had some bad moments of describing characters and using g fat phobic terms. She honestly said, my best friend is so beautiful she could be a model even though she’s over weight. Cringey and not ok. She references weight a few times for different characters. I will not read another book by her and absolutely never listen to another audiobook from the “narrator”.
Oh and like other reviewers have said - it’s so essential oil pitch heavy. Pass pass pass.
July 29, 2025
I listened to the audiobook, the narrator was not my favorite. This felt like one big ad for essential scents. All the essential oil talk took away from what might have been a good mystery. It felt like that was all the FMC was focused on.
July 17, 2026
Why was this book trying to convince me to use/buy/sell essential oils all the way through?
July 21, 2026
The exact definition of why BookBub books are normally free or on sale.
August 31, 2025
The premise sounded interesting but by the end, the story got lost in all the preaching about the benefits essential oils. While I occasionally use oils and part of the plot resolution pertains to them, there was way more lecture than plot when the essential oils were concerned. The characters were okay and the beginning of the book was quite interesting, but I just can’t get past the rest.
June 9, 2026
What in the MLM advertisement did I just read? Besides being a native essential oils marketing ad, the book was horrible. Plot holes galore, undeveloped characters, and insta love that came with insta hurt when they didn't automatically understand each other after only knowing each other for 3 days.
April 23, 2026
I'm not sure if it was the voiceover for the audio book, but this was such a boring read. I felt like I was listening to elementary girls complain and describe their life and dog. Could not get past the second chapter.
Did Not Finish
December 18, 2024DNF at 20% I felt like I was reading an essential oil infomercial, which was annoying.
April 28, 2025
not impressed with the audio reader.
very little inflection in the reading
very little inflection in the reading
June 16, 2025
Free on chirp. Dumb plot.
February 3, 2026
How about some lite, earthy reading? Here we have lite romance, lite murder mystery, lite dog lover and lite aromatherapist. In other words, nice, cozy reading.
I am not a fan of romance in books. If it's part of the description I move on. I'm not sure what compelled me to put this on my book shelf other than the fact that it has aromatherapy as a central theme. I have worked with essential oils for 30 or more years and it's not a common topic, so my curiosity must have been piqued.
It turned out to be a fun book to read. It wasn't too intense in any direction, but had enough substance to keep me engaged. The main character was a woman who was easy to identify with. She carried the story well, along with her best friend and her little dog. Right off the bat, though, she stumbles over a dead body and then the detective turns out to be pinup quality.
The attraction is mutual and he turns out to be a nice guy and a good cop. The only thing that pushed the plausibility factor was him saying he'd been a cop for years and he had made detective, but he's only 25 years old. Between academy, probation and earning the qualifications to become detective it's a bit hard to swallow. My son is a police officer and he's 26, so of course I compare the two and our fictional detective seems older than his stated years. But that's easy enough to overlook.
I like the cute romantic bits and that they didn't get too heavy or get carried too far. I absolutely hate play by play sex scenes.
There was just enough danger and just enough surprises to keep me interested and turning the pages. For a bit of lite reading to escape the day this is the perfect book.
I am not a fan of romance in books. If it's part of the description I move on. I'm not sure what compelled me to put this on my book shelf other than the fact that it has aromatherapy as a central theme. I have worked with essential oils for 30 or more years and it's not a common topic, so my curiosity must have been piqued.
It turned out to be a fun book to read. It wasn't too intense in any direction, but had enough substance to keep me engaged. The main character was a woman who was easy to identify with. She carried the story well, along with her best friend and her little dog. Right off the bat, though, she stumbles over a dead body and then the detective turns out to be pinup quality.
The attraction is mutual and he turns out to be a nice guy and a good cop. The only thing that pushed the plausibility factor was him saying he'd been a cop for years and he had made detective, but he's only 25 years old. Between academy, probation and earning the qualifications to become detective it's a bit hard to swallow. My son is a police officer and he's 26, so of course I compare the two and our fictional detective seems older than his stated years. But that's easy enough to overlook.
I like the cute romantic bits and that they didn't get too heavy or get carried too far. I absolutely hate play by play sex scenes.
There was just enough danger and just enough surprises to keep me interested and turning the pages. For a bit of lite reading to escape the day this is the perfect book.
April 8, 2025
Stephanie’s life is upended one day as she walks up the stairs to her third-floor apartment and finds a dead body along her route. A kind man with no obvious signs of a homicide, “The Lavender Thief” is the story of a girl and her furry best friend who stumble into a life altering discovery. Coping with her discovery, Stephanie turns to her relaxing Essential Sense oils as the police investigation, and hot responding officer, threaten to further upend her life.
I’ve never read anything quite like author Elysian Hunt’s series opener as the power of oils and the loyalty of woman’s best friend lead the charge. Ever by her side, the furry and loveable Bugle provides Stephanie the perfect protector, unwavering sidekick, and romantic pull to keep this story moving full tilt - even if her heel has other ideas. Housing horrible bosses, hunky law enforcement, and female friendships, “The Lavender Thief” is a suspenseful romance that hits all the right notes.
The Essentially Sweet Romance series promises to showcase more of Hunt’s passion for oils, dive deeper into the loveable characters she’s crafted, and investigate more mysterious crimes along the way. Readers instantly fall for Stephanie, Bugle the Goldendoodle, and the handsome, blue-eyed Mark as this cozy crime mystery ensnares you in its folds.
I’ve never read anything quite like author Elysian Hunt’s series opener as the power of oils and the loyalty of woman’s best friend lead the charge. Ever by her side, the furry and loveable Bugle provides Stephanie the perfect protector, unwavering sidekick, and romantic pull to keep this story moving full tilt - even if her heel has other ideas. Housing horrible bosses, hunky law enforcement, and female friendships, “The Lavender Thief” is a suspenseful romance that hits all the right notes.
The Essentially Sweet Romance series promises to showcase more of Hunt’s passion for oils, dive deeper into the loveable characters she’s crafted, and investigate more mysterious crimes along the way. Readers instantly fall for Stephanie, Bugle the Goldendoodle, and the handsome, blue-eyed Mark as this cozy crime mystery ensnares you in its folds.
November 24, 2024
Have you ever had a day that made you want to curl up with coffee and essential oils? Me too, but all I get is a body in the stairwell, and a handsome detective who makes putting a full sentence together an impossibility.
Someone is after my beloved essential oils. Or are they after me? The real question is, will I survive long enough to make that detective fall for me?
I enjoyed this book very much. It has suspense, thrill, romance, murder, friendship and everything you need in a book. I thought it is going to be a detective romnace but it turned into a murder mystery and then it turned to a suspense thriller with stalker threat, later theiving bombing and what not. You would never expect what is coming for you in the book. I was amused at the turns it took. Also if you love essential oils or want to know about it, it has a lot for you to learn about them 🤩✨
This is a laugh out loud, cozy romance, with an amateur sleuth x hot detective, and a heartwarming HEA ending!
Thank you @booksirens for this eARC copy 🤗
Someone is after my beloved essential oils. Or are they after me? The real question is, will I survive long enough to make that detective fall for me?
I enjoyed this book very much. It has suspense, thrill, romance, murder, friendship and everything you need in a book. I thought it is going to be a detective romnace but it turned into a murder mystery and then it turned to a suspense thriller with stalker threat, later theiving bombing and what not. You would never expect what is coming for you in the book. I was amused at the turns it took. Also if you love essential oils or want to know about it, it has a lot for you to learn about them 🤩✨
This is a laugh out loud, cozy romance, with an amateur sleuth x hot detective, and a heartwarming HEA ending!
Thank you @booksirens for this eARC copy 🤗
June 16, 2025
I listened to this since it was offered for free from Chirp. I was looking for a light story, and this fit the bill. Overall, I would give this book a 3.5*, but have rounded up. Normally, I read mysteries or police procedurals, so it was more noticeable where this story was lacking. For example, when they referred to the Witness Protection program, WITSEC, they kept spelling it out, W-I-T-S-E-C. Due to the series' theme, there was a wealth of information about essential oils. Another reviewer referred to it as a Ponzi scheme that the characters were involved in, related to the essential oil business, and I found it to be a bit too much.
August 5, 2026
It's a cozy and comfortable read without any spice. A 3.5 stars read for me.
It was different from what I usually read and a good In Between Book for a calm moment. Obviously we love Bugle the dog for pulling Stephanie around and always being excited. I loved the little mystery at the end and honestly, didn't expect the thief to be who he was.
It's a very lovable romance even if it felt like someone was doing a commercial for Essential Oils between the romance and mystery. It's a rather short book compared to the three hundred and four hundred pages usually but if you need a good, clean romance for a change, do it!
It was different from what I usually read and a good In Between Book for a calm moment. Obviously we love Bugle the dog for pulling Stephanie around and always being excited. I loved the little mystery at the end and honestly, didn't expect the thief to be who he was.
It's a very lovable romance even if it felt like someone was doing a commercial for Essential Oils between the romance and mystery. It's a rather short book compared to the three hundred and four hundred pages usually but if you need a good, clean romance for a change, do it!
November 2, 2024
The Lavender Thief is Book 1 in the Essentially Sweet Romance by Eylsian Hunt. The Lavender Thief is a cozy mystery and the story is fantastic. I think the characters are interesting and well written. The story is excellent… there is an interesting mystery, excellent characters, and surprising twist and turns. I thought the romance between Stephanie and Mark is romantic and left me wanting more of these characters. Give this new author a try and you will not be disappointed. I received an arc for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.
July 22, 2025
Not a book that I would typically read, but for a change of pace, and something different, I started this one…. To my surprise, it was really good, with many humorous moments. Plus, I now know way more about “essential oils “ than I care to ever admit… (Chapter 8, however, was way too long and the storyline sort of lost its charm… It would have been better to break it into 2-3 chapters and kept the plot going with more quirky and humorous scenes.)
Overall, it’s a pretty good story from a very talented author. RECOMMENDED
Overall, it’s a pretty good story from a very talented author. RECOMMENDED
July 19, 2026
A cute cozy mystery with a clean romance between a young woman, Stephanie, with OCD and the local detective, Mark, who keeps showing up as her life begins to spiral. After finding her apartment manager dead in the stairwell, Stephanie's life begins to unravel in little ways. Her golden doodle, Bugle, steals every scene and her best friend, Beck, is one of those best friends that everyone should have in their lives. Plenty twists, a storyline that moves quickly and resolves dramatically. Enjoyable.
July 29, 2026
I enjoyed The Lavender Thief. It was an unusual approach and different read from many romances. The characters engaging and the pup adorable. I am a Young Living Essential Oils enthusiast (Lemongrass, Tea Tree, Orange and Thieves) so was excited to see the inclusion of this as a business opportunity for the characters. Looking forward to reading The Peppermint Villain and The Lemon Gunman. two other great essential oils.
November 5, 2024
A really great read for a nice Sunday afternoon. Such a wonderful sweet Romance with a little mystery thrown to keep it entertaining. Steph and Bugle are fun and easy to love and Mark is a great cop. Also learn about essential oils which is an added bonus.I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 17, 2026
The Lavender Thief is a delightful blend of romance, humor, and mystery. The charming characters, witty dialogue, and cozy atmosphere made it an enjoyable read, while the light suspense kept the story engaging. A fun, feel good rom com that's perfect for fans of sweet romances with a touch of intrigue.
January 17, 2025
Essential oil and a thief mystery
This was a great book. I am also into essential oils, specifically essential oils from Young Living only. I loved the characters, the plot, and the sweet romance.
This was a great book. I am also into essential oils, specifically essential oils from Young Living only. I loved the characters, the plot, and the sweet romance.
July 1, 2025
A good audio performance. Likable characters and an interesting storyline. While I liked the essential oil bent, there was a bit much of it sounding more like a sales pitch.
Overall, a pleasant read with a sweet HEA.
Overall, a pleasant read with a sweet HEA.
March 17, 2026
Great book
This is one of the best books I've read in a while. This combination of Rom Com and suspense makes you want more. I've now read all of this series and they get better and better.
This is one of the best books I've read in a while. This combination of Rom Com and suspense makes you want more. I've now read all of this series and they get better and better.
June 10, 2026
Romance, suspense, and lots of oil!
I don’t get to read as often as I’d like. With that being said, I finished this book in two days. It had the right amount of flirty banter without being vulgar, but the storyline suspense was what kept me going. There’s a lot of oil talk that I skipped through, but other than that, it was equally as sweet as it was thrilling for this easy read.
I don’t get to read as often as I’d like. With that being said, I finished this book in two days. It had the right amount of flirty banter without being vulgar, but the storyline suspense was what kept me going. There’s a lot of oil talk that I skipped through, but other than that, it was equally as sweet as it was thrilling for this easy read.
July 20, 2026
Hard to get chores done.
If you start this book you had better have time to read. I got hooked on this story from the moment I started. It has a great plot, an adorable dog, a hero man and a woman trying to keep him safe as well. I will have to continue the series.
ENJOY!
If you start this book you had better have time to read. I got hooked on this story from the moment I started. It has a great plot, an adorable dog, a hero man and a woman trying to keep him safe as well. I will have to continue the series.
ENJOY!
July 22, 2026
Loved it!
I have absolutely loved this story. Its a fun Rom Com with a serious crime as the main story. Its not too convoluted so you can follow along quite easily. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the story.
I have absolutely loved this story. Its a fun Rom Com with a serious crime as the main story. Its not too convoluted so you can follow along quite easily. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the story.
November 5, 2024
Pure fun!
I enjoyed this so much. Can't wait for the rest of the series! This book left me smiling and happy!
I enjoyed this so much. Can't wait for the rest of the series! This book left me smiling and happy!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews