The Spinster's Resolve

by Lateefa Harris

✨ #1 Amazon Bestseller in Historical Mystery and Regency Romances ✨


It is a truth universally acknowledged that spinsters make the best sleuths.
Who else has perfected the fine art of sitting quietly in the corner, sipping tea, and overhearing everything? Step into the world of Miss Grace Skye, where a fiery letter, a missing cook, and a dangerous conspiracy threaten to upend the quiet existence of an unassuming spinster—whether she’s ready for it or not.


After being thoroughly snubbed in the marriage mart for her pert opinions and mixed heritage (too English for India, too Indian for England—utterly exhausting), Grace has made peace with spinsterhood. Who needs a husband when you have books, tea, and the satisfaction of minding your own business?

Except—plot twist—her ancestral home is suddenly snatched away by a frail but wily old Duke (who probably has one foot in the grave and the other on a dance floor). Worse still, his delightfully evil steward storms in, hiking up rents, threatening tenants, and spreading fear.

But when young women start vanishing, it’s clear something far darker is at play.

Grace is done!

Like any self-respecting spinster with a bone to pick, she pens a furious, blistering, no-holds-barred letter to the elusive Duke, demanding justice.

What could possibly go wrong? Everything.

Instead of resolving matters, her letter ignites a chain of treachery, peril, and wildly unforeseen consequences. Days later, her beloved cook, Melissa, disappears without a trace—and Grace can’t shake the sickening suspicion that her strongly worded correspondence invited danger straight to their door.

Determined to set things right (and possibly prevent more kidnappings through sheer stubbornness), she embarks on a reckless quest for the truth. The only logical solution? Disguise herself as a no-nonsense old maid and do a little sleuthing.
Except… there’s one tiny problem.

Before she can even begin, she crosses paths with the man of business, Gabriel Stone—maddeningly handsome, dangerously charming, and entirely too mysterious for his own good.

Friend or foe? She hasn’t the faintest clue.

👀 Unfortunately, the spinster who notices everything… has just been noticed by Gabriel Stone himself.

Between dodging unwanted suitors, managing an estate she no longer owns, and keeping her younger sister from running off with the first charming rogue with a well-tied cravat, Grace barely has time for murder.

But when danger comes knocking, time is running out.

Will she unravel the mystery before she’s the next to disappear?

Or will she lose her home—and her heart—to the one man she cannot trust?


This madcap Regency cozy mystery is packed
✔ A fiercely determined spinster detective in disguise.
✔ A brooding hero who is both infuriating and irresistible.
✔ A slow-burn, clean romance filled with wit, tension, and longing.
✔ More twists and turns than a country dance.
✔ A blend of Regency suspense, secrets, intrigue, and scandal.
💀 Murder. Mystery. Spinster romance. Matchmaking gone awry.

Genres: Mystery, Romance, Historical Fiction, Historical, Historical Romance, Historical Mystery, Murder Mystery

372 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 9, 2025

Reviews

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Spinster’s Resolve by Latifah Harris, it’s been six months since Grace and Heather sky lost their father and even longer since Grace has been keeping the books for Sky estates. she’s been waiting on Tinder hooks for her racist obnoxious cousin Charles to let her know what to become of them because as a female she cannot inherit and he will. He’s never liked her, sister Heather nor their mom who was born in India due to the fact he is a flaming racist. it didn’t help matters when she thwarted a marriage he try to arrange with an elderly Lord. Needless to say she’s informed they must leave in two weeks as he has sold their estate proving the worm he really is. luckily for Heather Ms.M and Johnson the Butler Grace hasn’t just been resting on her Laurels hoping for the best but she was planning for the worst. She bought a little cottage on the sky estate and that’s where they move to after being evicted from their childhood home and this is when the trouble starts. The new estate manager Mr. Gibbons keeps raising rent having CD parties and soon young girls from the estate go missing. Grace writes letter after letter to Lord Armitage, the new owner that gets no response she tells the constable and other powers that be in nothing is done. Then one day her favorite neighbor Melissa Trent goes missing as well as Mr. Gibbons and this is when she meets Mr. Stone. He has come down to fix things for his cousin Lord Armitage but there is much more a foot than just finding out the truth because as soon as Grace meets him she doesn’t know if she could trust him and she definitely knows she cannot trust her heart. this is a long review but I just love this book so much and could wax on for days it was not only funny but Grace, Heather in so many other characters in this book are so lovable I just love them. I wish there would be more stories written in this world that the author has created because I really think she has picked a winner. Such a great read funny story and the swoony happy ending.#BookSirens, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview, #LatifahHarris, #TheSpinster’sResolve,

[Anna Boliker · Rating 4 out of 5]

The description promised a witty, romp-y, Regency mystery romance and it is exactly the kind of book that is right up my alley.

It started funny, it finished swoony, but the middle dragged on a bit for me. Probably because the mystery was not thaaaat grippy, the Hero (intentionally?) too pattern-fitting in his description and the reason for the disguise too flimsy. That does take out the needed credibility to keep the tension in the story. Also, the change of scenes and the descriptions of the behaviors are quite abrupt, thus making it hard to get into the Regency mood.

But I liked the Heroine. Finally, a Regency Heroine who does think ahead (because, her situation is kind of obvious, with no (amenable) direct male relations anywhere in sight, is it not?), so why don’t more of the Regency heroines plan ahead? A lot of them are destitute, but clever. Should be straight forward, right? Alas, a question of practicality remains. How did Grace manage to sort her finances and even make some investment as well as acquire property, all without help from a male? Other Regencies would have us believe that it was an impossibility back in that day… So yes, it also does add to the skepticism that makes the read a bit less enjoyable.

A funny HEA, with a lot of expectations fulfilled and a partly clipped writing style. So put your bonnets on, grab the parasols and get on that sunny terrasse for an escape read. (No pearl-clutching required)

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kelsey Dicou · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐

I was so looking forward to this book, yet I was so annoyed with it! I felt the story dragged on way too long. Both main characters were acting very foolish so many times throughout the book, and even though they explained why, I personally thought their reasons were so dumb. I will say that there were some moments that made me smile and laugh.

I tried very hard to enjoy this book, but it wasn't happening for me, which is unfortunate because I love murder mysteries.

Thank you BookSirens for my free copy of The Spinster's Resolve. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Jessica Forbes · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been a long time since I've read a Regency novel of any kind, and I thoroughly enjoyed this one! Getting to know Grace and her family was a delight, as was learning about Gabriel and his. I especially loved that Grace had thought ahead in her family's likely coming predicament when her cousin inherited her family's home. She's quite the resourceful person! And maybe it's the old history major in me, but I did appreciate the historical notes at the end. I even got to learn a few new things!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Southern Belle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I felt this was a surprisingly good debut novel, in spite of the fact that I figured out the villain long before it was revealed to the reader. The story dealt with some pretty heavy topics while keeping things light and humorous. The thing I found inconsistent is that she had been able to secure property and run her estate so long and so well in a time when women usually were not allowed to own property or run anything. However, the author displayed her intelligence and wit so much throughout the story that she made it as believable as possible. I enjoyed the hero and heroine immensely. Their chemistry was sizzling while still keeping the story clean and sweet which is my kind of regency romance. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Christin · Rating 1 out of 5]

pass

DNF…after a couple chapters, had to flip to the end. Glad I skipped. No thanks. Also didn’t appreciate the plug for Islam.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Grace Skye and her sister, Heather, live a comfortable life until their father’s death and their cousin inherits their home. Grace is a smart intuitive person who loves her family and home. She will do anything to keep her peace and protect her sister. This is a clean mystery/romance. The first several chapters of the story feel more like a prolong and seem slow to me. The hero of the story doesn’t appear till chapter 8 and thus the story truly begins. Grace and Gabriel are two forces who are always revolving around each other. Just as you think they will finally come to an understanding something happens and the scene moves on. There is mystery and witty parts but overall there isn’t much character growth. I held on to the very end because surely there would be a world shattering kiss. The author builds so much tension between the hero and heroine that there much be a great kiss, but no. He proposes and they hug… utter disappointment. This is my first book by this author, and it pains me to only give 3 stars, but I needed a kiss. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Bridget Love to read Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was unsuspected usually a Spinster is a frumpy, ill-mannered woman who is slightly shrewish!

Umm not here Grace is beautiful half Indian and staunch defender of her sister and the Islam religion!

This is a poor relation that comes way up in the world!

There are several instances of people who are in disguise!

There are many twists and turns I admire Graces resolve in planning for the future so instead of being a poor relation she made provisions!

There is murder, romance and intrigue! You will find mystery in the drawing room, the woods and various other places! There is kidnapping and several other adventures! We have an extremely early attraction between Mr Gabriel Stone who has several secrets!

There were times Gabriel blew hot then cold but he has his reasons and Grace as intelligent as she was could not see past some of his subterfuge!

The villain was unexpected and cold and merciless!

This was a wild ride and I have added a new author to my favorites! Bravo well done! Heather the younger sister surprised me hmmm thought she deserved better!?
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[ili · Rating 2 out of 5]

solidly entertaining, but very predictable plot! I also found some elements not fully fleshed out. how is Gabriel going to marry Grace despite her status? it seemed rushed. I also wanted to know more about Falcon - I was hoping he would be confirmed as Edward.

[Sherry Priddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great start to historical mystery. I enjoyed the characters, the mystery was good. I'm hoping this is a start to a great series. Will be looking for more.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Nan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful! Start to finish. I hope this author writes more books. It is hard for me to give books in this genre 5 stars. There is usually not enough there there, but this was a delight!

[Becky Durstenfeld · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. There was good character development and I liked the main characters, though I was a bit puzzled Gabriel at one point, as was Grace. The plot and mystery were well done. It was a clean book which I appreciated. I would be interested in reading more books by this author.

[Delphia Von Heeder · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Spinster's Resolve is A Regency Murder Romance by Lateefa Harris. I feel that this Regency mystery is very good. The characters are great. I think that the story builds and the last part of the book I could not read fast enough. In my opinion, the ending was perfect. I think that this mystery/romance should be on everyone's TBR list. I received an arc for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.

[Mrs LIR Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the mixed heritage background of Grace and her sisters in the early 1800.

The story is lively with a hint of mystery and danger.

The hidden identity of Gabriel the man of business of the new owner of the estate. The horrid cousin who would sell his 3 cousins to bet rid of them…..

I recommend this fast paced historic mystery that is well written.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Deborah Bird · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nothing in the plot was believable. Very predictable.

[Olivia Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Spinster's Resolve, by Lateefa Harris, is a wonderful work of fiction that you can read, enjoy and see yourself in if you use your imagination!
Set in the 1800's England, life was full of many rules and protocols that spanned all the classes. There were "rules" that just never were broken or you ended up being the gossip of the next "ton" event.

Grace Skye might just be breaking some of those rules.

When her mother died, she was thrust into the role of keeping the household in order. That meant looking after her father and her younger sister. Grace's thoughts of marriage and a family of her own were put on hold. An then the unthinkable happened! Her father passed away after suffering a stroke! Now what was going to happen with the estate and her role in running it? She has 6 months to figure something out. Her sister is only 16 and has not yet had a "coming out". Wherever will she be able to meet an eligible bachelor to wed? Are they both doomed to spinsterhood?




Grace is preparing to meet Lord Bainbridge, who being the next closest relative will now inherit the estate and make all the decisions. Grace and Heather (her sister) will be at the whiles of an uncle that really doesn't want to deal with them. He's just interested in the estate and how much profits he can make to feather his coffers, getting Grace and her sister married off and then doing as he pleased. But his plans are not going to be realized so easily.

Grace has other ideas and is using all her wiles to figure out a way forward without marrying a man she has no interest in.

This book is a really good read and I enjoyed the history lesson that Lateefa Harris gives us both at the start of the novel and more tidbits at the end as well. I was thoroughly taken in by this book and enjoyed turning page after page right to the very end.

If you are looking for an interesting read, with a great story line, this one just might fit your bill. Filled with Historical romance and some mystery to keep you guessing, this book is really enjoyable. The Spinster's Resolve is Ranked in the Top 10 Best Sellers in Historical Mysteries I know you will enjoy it too!

Well done Lateefa Harris, I look forward to reading more! Hope you enjoy this book too! Available on Kindle!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Marion Löw · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this sweet and clean mystery romance from an author new to me. The plot is very well written and is full of suspense, twists, action, danger and humor. I really liked the two main characters, the chemistry between them, their down to earth nature and the loving relationship between Grace and her sister. I found the author's notes at the end very interesting.

For years, Miss Grace Skye has run the household for her ailing father, later managing the family estate and resigning herself to her fate of becoming a spinster due to her circumstances and mixed parentage. When her father dies, her cousin inherits the family estate, sells it to the Duke of Armitage and puts Grace and her younger sister out on the street. The duke hands over the management of the estate to a dubious steward and soon rumours of wild parties begin to circulate, the tenants suffer under the new conditions and suddenly the daughters of some of the tenants disappear. Enraged, Grace writes a letter to the Duke. When suddenly the steward also disappears and the Duke's man-of-business, Gabriel Stone, turns up unexpectedly and asks Grace for help in sorting out the steward's mess, Grace reluctantly accepts, but not without mistrust of Mr Stone, who seems to have his own secrets. The more they work together, the more they are drawn to each other and the more they uncover a web of intrigue, secrets, murder, smuggling, kidnapping, corruption and secret organisations...

All in all, an exciting story with lots of twists, surprises and endearing characters that I am happy to recommend!

I received a free ARC of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and left voluntarily.

[Barbara Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Book Will One Day Be A Classic!

"The Spinster's Resolve" is a beautifully-written debut novel, written by Lateefa Harris, that, in my opinion, will one day be known as a classic of equal proportions to any novel written by Jane Austen. The title sort of threw me for a loop, so I did a little digging on the Internet. I typed in "What age was a spinster in 1817 Regency England?" I mean, Grace is only about 25 years old; I know this because she told her little sister, Heather (age 16, almost 17), that she received something on her 25th birthday. Color me so totally surprised, when I, an almost 70 year old woman, read that "A spinster in Regency England is a woman who is 18 years old and unmarried." Therefore, the book's title made sense. However, if I had written it, I probably would have titled it as "Grace's Resolve" or "Miss Skye's Determination." I absolutely loved the following characters: Grace, Heather, Mrs. Merriweather, Betsy, Gabriel, Garrett, Elizabeth, and Paul. The good guys totally outweighed the bad guys. I figured out immediately who Gabriel Stone was, and after being introduced to them during the London scenes, I figured out pretty quickly who the really bad guy murderer, kidnapper was. The storylines and plot interweaves to create a magnificent debut classic novel. This author earned 5 big fat stars for her very first novel and I can hardly wait to read a second one. I received an advanced reader's copy via BookSirens and this is my honest and voluntary review.

[Auriette · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Spinster's Resolve" is part historical romance and part mystery, and I enjoyed it 100%. One knows going in that the hero and heroine will receive their happy ending, but the mystery really kept me guessing.

After managing her family's estate for years, Miss Grace Skye finds herself and her sister forced out of their home by their scheming cousin. Accompanied by faithful servants, they begin to make a new and much simpler life for themselves. Soon, Grace is drawn back to her old home by news that young women are disappearing and tenants are being mistreated by the steward hired by the new owner, an aging duke. As she begins to investigate, she finds herself wondering whether she can trust the handsome newcomer who claims to represent the duke.

Grace, her sister, and her loyal retainers are all delightful. Gabriel Stone, the handsome newcomer, is hard to figure out sometimes, but it's easy to see why Grace starts to fall for him. The duke's family is a mix of welcoming and creepy, and the duke himself is even more enigmatic than Gabriel.

I was very impressed with how Lateefa Harris reveals clues a little at a time, allowing us to investigate right along with Grace. She creates some real cliffhangers as the plot heats up. It's a compelling read. This is the first book I've read by this author, and I'm definitely looking forward to more.

I received an advance review copy for free; opinions expressed in this review are my own.

[Luna Bruno · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everybody should know that you never mess with a spinster, especially if her name is Grace Skye.

The Skye sister’s situation couldn't be worst. Not only were they thrown out of their ancestral house by their own cousin, but now the Skye Estate is spiralling into chaos: the newly appointed steward is drowning in debts and depravity, while young girls are mysteriously vanishing. Worried for the missing girls and struggling tenants, Grace Skye, the eldest sister, writes to the new estate owner, the Duke of Armitage, to take immediate action.

However, her letter will ignite a thorough investigation that will uncover secrets going beyond the steward's negligence. Between treachery, a new season approaching, scandalous affairs, and an annoyingly fascinating yet enigmatic man, Grace will uncover the truth the ton had never known.

There were two themes that stood out to me in this book: mixed heritage and sisterhood.

🌏 The Skye sisters have constantly suffered from prejudices due to being born from an interracial marriage: their mother was Indian whereas their father English. This weighed especially on Grace, who took mostly after her mother. Nevertheless, the two sisters were always proud of their heritage, a difficult feat when both their extended family and society rejects it instead. It can't be denied how present this situation is in our time.

🤍Another aspect with which I resonated the most is the unbreakable bonding between the two sisters. The affection between them is so strong that Grace sets aside her pride for her little sister's happiness, while Heather is willing to suppress her desire to do a season in London to avoid being a burden on her big sister.

In conclusion, the reading was smooth with the characters and places well-descripted. The book reminded me of “Chekhov's gun”: my personal moral of the story is to always pay attention to the information that people share and the ones they withhold ...


P.S. I seriously need more Gabriel and Grace moments in the next volume (I love the two of them together!), and I wanted to thank the author for providing me the ARC

[Angelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Grace Skye and her sister are thrown out of their home by their greedy cousin, they pull themselves together and try to get over it. But when the estate is sold and they start hearing rumors about criminal dealings and debauchery going on at the estate, they know something has to be done. When young women in the neighborhood start disappearing, Grace knows things are worse than anyone could have imagined. She writes a letter to the duke who owns the estate. His answer is to send his man of business, Gabriel Stone, to manage the estate and investigate. The two end up working together to solve the mystery and save the town.

This is a fun read with a mystery that keeps you guessing, impeccable historical details and characters you can't help but love, except for the bad guys. They're just plain evil. The romance between Gabriel and Grace is sweet,

My only complaint is that the beginning of the book drags on for quite a while before anything really happens, other than people complaining about what's happening. Gabriel doesn't show up until Chapter 8; then the story really begins, and it is terrific. It's definitely worth the slow pace of the first 7 chapters.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Mindy B (reader_of_the_lost_arcs) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the debut romance from Lateefa Harris. Grace and her sister Heather's father has recently died, and a distant cousin is set to take over the estate. They know he's about to marry the two off to some letchers. The way they scare off the cousin and the suitor was genius.

Thanks to Grace's intelligence, common sense and foresight, they have a place to go to when the cousin kicks them out.

Soon they start hearing about nefarious goings-on at their former home. Grace decides to check it out, and meets the new steward, Gabriel. This starts a very slow burn romance. They can't deny the attraction, but Grace and Gabriel are both keeping secrets from each other.

Grace was incredibly smart and capable. She bucked all expectations put on her. Gabriel was smoldering and honesty, he needed her more than she needed him. I enjoyed their cat and mouse relationship. Hopefully this is the start to a series. Her sister provided comic relief much to Grace's chagrin.
Thank you to the author for the copy. Opinions are my own.

[Sharyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good debut novel that is a Regency romance as well as aa murder mystery. Grace and her sister Heather are part Indian and her cousin is a bigoted jerk. The beginning is very funny, with Grace disguising herself to thwart her cousins plans to marry her off. Grace has planned ahead, and some saved money to buy a cottage from a neighbor.
The author explains some Regency laws about how she could do that and how her cousin could end the entail and sell the estate.
There are A LOT of villains in this book, so Grace has to decide if the new steward, Gideon Stone, who shows up after the previous steward disappears, is also a villain.
As girls in the village disappear, and rumors of evil doings, Grace and Gideon must work together to solve the mystery.
I did guess a lot of the plot, but the character development allowed for a fun read.
There must be misunderstandings, otherwise how would the story develop.
I look forward to more books by this author. Thanks to NetGalley and Book Sirens for this copy. It is always a pleasure to review a new author.

[Jayne Butcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oooo what a story…disguises, misdirects and murder. There is a lot going on in this carefully plotted tale. Shortly after her father’s death, Grace’s cousin Charles attempted to force marry a man of his chosing, When she thwarted that, he punished them by selling the home she and her younger sister had lived in all their lives. As her father had been ill quite a while, Grace had been running the estate and had an excellent rapport with the tenants. So when young ladies went missing and the new owner, the Duke of Armitage’s steward started raising the rents and throwing lavish obscene parties, Grace took action. Mr. Stone was sent to put things to rights and he and Grace got close as they worked together. What follows is an intriguing tale filled with dashed hopes, daring rescues, despicable actions, and strong emotions. This exciting story is clever, has a diverse cast of characters, including a strong female lead, and will keep you captivated from beginnng to end. Most enjoyable!

I received an advanced copy for free and am leaving a review voluntarily

[Patricia Sheppard · Rating 5 out of 5]

chasing love

It had humor, many plot twists, surprises you will gasp out loud. Nice description of dresses. The was one point I would like to mention to the author. Remember in the book when our heroine admits to scrimping and saving money to invest? And the others were so happy. You should have written on the chickens and cow added to them eating eggs and milk in their diet. The cow and horse could have been put outside to graze the area where she should have worked to start a vegetable garden for survival. In another part where the duke finally gets the key to open the safe, he tells Emma what he found in there in a letter. He had to leave for a reason. He says to use the money to help the tenants. Since it was free money and not from the dukes estate, I thought she should have spent a lot on repairing the cottage she had moved to. While it was being repaired the duke had asked them all to move back to Skye Manor. When the repairs were finished, she could have rented it out. She was needing income.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book

it moves along quickly so love the characters and the story lines. Grace is the oldest daughter of a mixed couple who owned an estate. Once her parents died as well as the keeper of the estate, she ran the estate taking care of the tenants. Her male cousin inherited the estate though and had promised to care for Grace and her younger sister Heather. He just sold the estate and left them alone. They had to vacate their home within 2 weeks. Grace had saved coins and invested so that she could buy a neighboring cottage. She and Heather along with a few loyal servents came with them. The estate was run by a hired guy of the owner. He was a kidnapper, killer and all around scoundrel. Grace wrote a letter to the owner and a new guy to run the estate came….

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent story. The twists and turns had me convinced I got it all wrong. Grace was a selfless person with integrity and Gabriel seemed the sane way. A few red herrings and misdirections add to the entertainment of the storyline and engaging main characters. I never figured out the true villain. It looked to being an unscrupulous person in a pristine package so as to be above reproach. But in the end, when all the dirty little sides are shown to the light of day, it's not a pristine package at all. All the dirty deeds were quite scandalous. I was appalled to see who the villain was. Chilling!! Mindblown! Great story, and a real couple that couldn't be more perfect together. I voluntarily read a free copy of this book provided by book sirens and am giving an honest opinion.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this Regency cozy mystery. This checked all the boxes for me. Not only did it have villains and plot twists, but it also had clean romance and humor. I loved all of the characters, beginning with Grace and her sister, to Gabriel Stone, to the endearing staff at the Skye ancestral home. The red herrings were placed at just the right points in the story and kept me interested in seeing if I was right about who was the nefarious villain. I especially liked the exciting conclusion of the case and recommend reading this book. I hope there will be more books to follow by the author.

Mild swear words, kidnapping

I received a complimentary copy of the book through BookSirens. All opinions are my own. A positive review was not required.

[Lj · Rating 4 out of 5]

A mystery and romance set in Regency England. Although it has plenty of good points (humourous moments, interesting characters, etc), I did find the pacing was a bit slow and the story really seemed to drag along from almost the very begining. There were plenty of twists and misdirections although they all arive long after I came to suspect what would happen. The romance had sizzle while remaining sweet and clean, but again was muddied a bit by the characters sometimes had rather flimsy motives for actions that caused the required misunderstandings to keep them from declarations of love until the very end. So overall, it's a reasonably light, fun story and a good effort from a debut author, but not enthralling.

I received an ARC and voluntarily leave an honest review.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

'The Spinster's Resolve' had me hooked from the start—I raced through it thanks to the engaging writing and compelling story. The slow-burn romance between Grace and Mr. Stone is wonderfully swoon-worthy, building anticipation in the best way. Each of the characters add great depth, from Grace’s strong bond with her sister, Heather, and their companion, Mrs. M, to the entertaining side characters in their neighborhood and in Mr. Stone’s circle. The twisty mystery isn’t one you can solve early on, so if you’re patient, the payoff is worth it. I heartily recommend to fans of clean historical romance with elements of suspense.

Special thanks to BookSirens for a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.