Cosy magical mystery set in historical times -also with pocket vampires (I mean who wouldn't love them). This book is perfect for snuggling up in front of a fire with a hot chocolate on a cold evening. This is my first Roasalie Oaks book and it didn't dissapoint. I have recently found out it is in fact a spin off, but I couldn't tell as it was an easy read.

I was surprised how much I enjoyed this book. It has everything; Skulls, murder, magic, Greek/Roman literature and vampires. Lady Avely and the Duke's flirtatious bickering while looking for a murderer had me reading on well through the night. I will admit, it does take a lot for me to scream with excitement at the end of a book. Needless to say, this book had me screaming so loud I woke up my three dogs.

I love the character of Lady Avely/Judith. She is not the usual late teens/early-mid twenties you see in most mystery novels. Judith is 40, a widow, and has two grown children that have left the home. She has recently been appointed a title, money, as well as a property. Because of her recent change in status and monetary gains, she wants to do what is right and tie up things that have been weighing heavy on her since her husband’s death over a decade ago. On the way to her destination to the Sargent estate, she hears that one of the staff has been murdered and there are sightings of a floating skull that has everyone at the estate terrified. Given her ability to tell if someone is telling a lie (I will get into that in a bit) she feels she needs to solve this mystery alongside Duke of Sargent, Dacien, regardless of their history and how they left things 9 years ago.

This book is a definite slow-burn when it comes to the romance, but with a crime to be solved, I can understand the need of good buildup especially with how the book end. There are many characters throughout the book but the one who stood out for me was Robert. I would like to know a bit more about Robert as a character, and possibly his upbringing and his friendship with Lewis. Hopefully, we are able to learn more about them throughout the rest of the series.

Not sure if I should’ve read some of the author’s previous novels prior to this one, but I felt that there should've been more information about the character's magical abilities. I feel that if I knew the specifics of each gift and the origins/history of them, as well as their relationship with the vampiri, I would’ve given this 5 stars.

It’s left on a slight cliffhanger, hence the screaming at 1am, but it can be read as a standalone. The author’s writing is witty and she’s able to write Avely’s emotions towards the Duke so well that at certain points I was getting misty eyed. Looking forward to reading the second in the series that will be released later in the year and I already have a hold for the first three volumes of the Lady Diviner series at my local library.

This book would be perfect for readers of Deanna Rayburn, India Holton and Manda Collins.

I received an ARC from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review

Title: Lady Avely’s Guide to Truth and Magic (Matronly Misadventures Book 1) by Rosalie Oaks

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Stars

I received this book in exchange for an honest review via Netgalley.

I really enjoyed this!

I read this in one sitting. Super interesting all the way through.

Lady Judith Avely possesses a unique gift for divining the truth, yet ironically excels at deception. Seeking to absolve a guilty secret, she journeys to the estate of the exiled Duke of Sargen. However, she is taken aback to encounter the duke himself, now even more captivating than in his youth. The duke, dealing with a haunted house complete with floating skulls and mysterious incidents, enlists Judith's help to uncover the culprit. Together, aided by a tiny vampiric companion and copious amounts of drinking chocolate, they delve into the eerie mystery.

But amidst the investigation, the duke's improper remarks and a slow-burn second-chance romance add complexity to their alliance. Set in a magical version of Regency England, "Lady Avely’s Guide to Truth and Magic" offers a gothic cozy mystery filled with bats, skulls, and cocoa, featuring a mid-life heroine navigating love, lies, and the supernatural.

Lady Judith Avely and the Duke of Sargen are brought to life with depth and complexity. Judith's gift for discerning lies adds an intriguing layer to her character, while the duke's haunted past and undeniable charm captivate both Judith and readers alike.

The author's writing style is enchanting and evocative, transporting readers to a bygone era filled with mystery and magic. The pacing is brisk yet atmospheric, keeping readers on the edge of their seats as they unravel the secrets of the haunted estate.

I must warn you that this is a VERY slow burn romance with no spice, but a very captivating read. I will definitely be reading the next instalment in this series!

This book was so refreshing. It has a little mystery, magic, romance, and humor. The main character is a woman in her forties and it's so nice to see such a cool character as an older woman. I would definitely recommend any read this book. I look forward to the next one

A middle-aged widow reconnects with an old flame to solve a murder in Regency England, with a healthy dose of fantastical elements to round out what would otherwise be a fairly run-of-the-mill cozy mystery. This is the first book in an off-shoot of Oaks' Lady Diviner series, which worried me going in, but I can confirm there's no need to have read the first series to thoroughly enjoy this one. I was quite pleased with the world-building - 100 pages of magic explanation would have been egregious in a book this length, but I didn't feel like I was being thrown in the deep end either.

Fun read - ideal rating would be 4.25.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book! Although this book is the start of a new series by this author, it's also linked to a previous series. I didn't realize that going in, but this book works just fine without needing to read the previous series. This story ticked all my boxes for and enjoyable read: mid-life main characters, second chance romance, slow-burn romance, and historical romance. Added points for taking place in an alternate version of England where magical powers exist! I enjoyed the story but felt it dragged a bit from time to time. It also relied very heavily on the trope of misunderstanding [especially between Lady Avely (Judith) and the Duke of Sargen (Dacian)], but I think maybe that was intentionally tongue-in-cheek given Lady Avely's "proficiency" for spotting the truth. This book also ended on a cliffhanger, to set the stage for the next book in the series. So this is not really a standalone but the current story was wrapped up well in this book. I have not read Rosalie Oaks before, but am looking forward both to the next installment in this series and to going back and reading about Judith's daughter in the Lady Diviner series.

Cute! This series is sort of a mystery/fantasy/regency romance all rolled into one. Maybe it's just me, but it was a better mystery and romance than fantasy novel. The magic system, and what vampiri do for their blood bonded, was never particularly clear to me. However, the romance is first rate and, while the main characters detective skills left much to be desired, I enjoyed this book. (Note: Apparently this is a sequel sister series to another, but I had no problems reading this one. It's possible that the magic system was more thoroughly explored in the first series.)

This is a really cute book and I am going to figure out how to read the other series that Oaks has. I was a little annoyed at some of the capitalization in this book and can't figure out why because I haven't minded it in other books. I am also not a fan of time skips but that only happened in the first half of this book and I was very relieved.

Judith Avely has only recently been given the rank of marchioness for her husband's service to the crown. Unfortunately, after his death, she also discovered something else about him and she is returning to Sargenet, the estate of the Duke of Sargen, to try to heal that secret. Being able to use her new title will work to her advantage as she doesn't want anyone to know who she is.
The first night at the inn, she not only encounters a vampiri, she also sees, and is seen by, the Duke. It seems that he is recently returned after nine years abroad to deal with the rumors of a haunting on his estate and the death of a footman. He could use her Gift of Discernment (being able to hear a lie) to help ferret out the truth of what has been going on while he is gone.
I loved the lay out of the main characters but thought we could have learned more about some of the side characters, especially the ones that come into play at the end of the book. It is hard to do when there are so many characters that we will probably see in future books so Oaks was trying to paint them all equally.

Matronly Misadventures #1
Four stars
This book came out February 16, 2024
Followed by Lady Avely's Guide to Lies and Charms
ARC kindly provided by Parkerville Press and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

My goodness, what a fun story. The whole concept of Gifts, Bemusement, and Vampiri is unique. This story follows Judith, Eleanor's mother (Lady Jewel Devinor), as she assists the Duke of Sargen in solving a murder in his household. I found Judith to be a strong main character trying to unravel the mystery as well as right some perceived wrongs she felt committed by her late husband. I have read previous books by Rosalie Oaks and love her writing style. It has been a while though, so it took me a bit to remember and understand how magic works in her world. The romance was there, although very light and sweet. I am invested in this cast of characters and look forward to reading the next in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Parkerville Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed this cozy historical mystery that read like a game of Clue with the addition of hidden magical powers, tiny spunky vampires, floating skulls, and spiced drinking chocolate. It was refreshing for the main character to be in her 40s. While this style of book doesn’t leave me on the edge of my seat, the twists and turns (and surprising moments of humor!) kept me reaching to open this book whenever I had the chance.

I look forward to reading more by Rosalie Oaks!

Regency-era mystery, yes please - second chance romance -well just chuck me back in time and call me M'Lady. I adored this book, it kept me on my toes and the twists and turns were very well placed. I am looking forward to reading what Oaks does next.

Lady Avely's Guide to Truth and Magic (Matronly Adventures Book #1)

By Rosalie Oaks- never read author

Rating: 5/5  

📃 Page Count: 370

🌎Setting: England

Publication 2/16/24,  Read 2/16/24

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Parkerville Press for this ARC 💜 ! I voluntarily give an honest review and all opinions expressed are my own.

Genre:
*Regency Romance
*Mystery/Thriller
*Sci Fi
*Gaslamp Fantasy

Tropes:
*2nd chance romance
*slow burn romance
*magic/Gifted" : Discernor-can detect lies, Illusor-can create illusions, Impactor-very violent/strong
*gothic mansion-Sargenet
*vampiri-need a blood companion, can fly/turn into bats

Summary: Lady Judith Avely is travelling to Sargen to reconcile her guilt over a long held secret. The Duke of Sargen (Dacian) is her deceased husband (Nicholas) best friend, and someone who broke her heart. While at this rumored haunted house, a footman is murdered. The duke asks Judith to use her Gift of Discernment to find out who did it.

The characters:
FMC Lady Judith Avely-mid 40s, widowed 12 years ago but was married for 20 years, has 2 adult children Elinor and Peregrine. She has the gift of discernment and can tell a person is lying when they talk. She has a sorted past w/ the duke and her husband. Marigold Cultor is her blood companion and vampiri.

MMC Duke of Sargen/Dacian-48, just returned after 9 years away. Had to flee the country after killing someone. He is an Impactor and can kill people very easily and violently. He flirts with Judith, bringing back memories from 23 years ago between them. Wooten is his blood companion and vampiri.

Lord John and wife Lady Mary +their 3 sons-Lord John is Dacian's younger brother

Lady Agatha-The Duke's sister

Robert- a "special" footman

Lewis- a "special" steward

Miss Atkinson-the Governess for the boys

My Thoughts: I got this strictly for it's cover which is so beautiful. I was happily surprised by this mystery, regency, romance. The chapters flip back and forth from the present and the past when Judith, Nicholas, and Dacian all met -23 years ago. I loved the love triangle, secret hookups, and spooky atmosphere.  From bleeding walls, deadly books, and skulls it's a great ride!

In an alternate Regency period England a 40-ish widow gets caught up in investigating a magic infused murder mystery alongside an old flame. Given the premise and what other reviewers have said about this book I was expecting to thoroughly enjoy it, but somehow it just failed to click with me. I'm not a fan of stories that constantly jump back and forward in time as this one did every few chapters (at least in the begining). Mostly, I just couldn't bring myself to really get involved in the story or care for the characters and the longer I read, the less invested I became. While some will undoubtedly enjoy the book, it just wasn't for me

3.75/5 stars (rounded up)

Lovely, cozy regency-inspired mystery story, with a dash of fantasy and second-chance romance.

What I liked: our FMC is a matron/widow in her early 40s, and has a pretty pragmatic view of the world. I loved Marigold Cultor, the little vampire/fae creature who comes to be Lady Avely's companion. The mystery was well done - simple but with an enjoyable amount of twists and turns. There are some cute moments between Lady Avely and the love interest, including moments of humor.

What I didn't like: it ends on a cliffhanger, but the cliffhanger felt forced - while I appreciate the goal of setting up the next story, it really just feels like the book ends suddenly. The magic system, while simple, is not really ever explained. I also found the language to be a bit too flowery at time, or trying too hard to be regency-esque, which disrupted the flow for me.

Overall, a cute book and enjoyable read. Perfect for a rainy or snowy day curled up on a couch with a cup of hot chocolate.

Thank you to NetGalley and Parkerville Press for allowing me access to the e-Arc.

4.5 stars

I really enjoyed this book. It was so entertaining. It’s a cozy mystery Victorian Era vibe. It also has supernatural abilities characters which is a bonus. I love the fact that the main character is a widow. She wants to investigate a murder that has occurred. She befriends a tiny vampire that will aid her. There is so much drama and intrigue that keeps the plot going.

I highly recommend it!!

I am absolutely besotted with Lady Avely's Guide to Truth and Magic by Rosalie Oakes, BESOTTED. Full disclosure, I have actually had the arc since the 2 Feb and have read it twice already!

I adore cozy mysteries, and usually read from Victorian to early 1900s but in recent times have been trying contemporary times and back to Regency and this one is an absolute gem (not least for the gorgeous cover!)

This book is gold. The aristocracy have a litany of paranormal abilities that assist them in their lives, strength, exceptonal memory, lie detectors, but this is not just restricted to the MC's but also some of their staff (well someone must keep up the standard while one os a little indisposed from exertion!)

The vampires! I just can't, they are a BRILLIANT little group of side characters (I would totally give a home to a few of them)

The writing is simply outstanding, the storyline compelling, at once dramatic and comedic and the perfect blend of both. The character development is truly wonderful and this is a series I shall be adding to my physical collection because it is just that good. I will be seeking out more books from this phenomenal author

Absolutely flipping wonderful

I received an arc for free and my review is left voluntarily. All opinions are my own and happily given

Lady Judith Avely is looking to right a wrong from the past. Begrudgingly, that leads her to the now perhaps haunted estate of an old flame, The Duke of Sargen. Having the magical ability to know when people are not telling the truth, The Duke enlists her help to solve a mysterious murder. Now, in their forties, Judith and The Duke might have a chance of rekindling their lost connection.

This was such a fun read that you won’t want to put down. There’s so much humor, most from a spunky vampiri but also in the banter between the couple themselves. I do wish we had a few more heated moments between our couple but I get it, it’s a slow burn. What’s most refreshing to see is the main characters not in their teens or twenties. Judith has lived a life now widowed and with two grown children but that doesn’t mean it’s a life nearly done and she can’t find love again.

Read this in a cozy chair wrapped in a throw with hot cocoa at arms reach.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

A wonderful cozy mystery with a magical Georgian setting. The relationship between the main characters was so well developed it was heart wrenching at times, and their banter brightened every page. I loved that they were older protagonists (both in their 40s I think), they read true to age and a refreshing break from the norm.

I was truly left guessing as to who the culprit was and what other mysteries were going on. All the characters were well fleshed out. The magic system is very unique but I found it easy to get my head around. There wasn’t any info dumping, all the information was given to us when needed in small doses.

There were a couple of odd comments about a side characters size which felt unnecessary. Also the pacing slowed a bit in the middle once the flash backs stopped but I was still gripped to continue reading.

That ending! You can’t just leave it like that! I need the next book right away!

I found Lady Avely's Guide to Truth and Magic a serviceable mystery. It has the romance and fantasy of Gail Carriger's Soulless series, with the mystery of Geniveve Cogman's The Invisible Library books. Unfortunately, it is not as strongly focused as either of those two series.

Where there are similarities, they can be found in the writing of dialogue, the back and forth between the romantic leads, and the articulation of the manners and rules of Oaks' Regency period. Where this book differed is in its introduction and conclusion. Unlike the previously mentioned series where the magic and supernatural elements were clearly and cohesively articulated at the outset, this introduction does not provide a clear introduction to the supernatural of the world.

A second problem is the conclusion, this book feels unfinished. Where the story ends is more of a pause than a conclusion and without access to the next tale in the series it is an unsatisfying ending. I believe this could be remedied by releasing both books together but baring that I would recommend interested readers wait until the conclusion is published and pick up both at the same time. I think this is a huge problem, as I do not know that I will want to read the sequel. While the book was mildly entertaining, given the wait I may forget about it and move on to other books.

For me this means the book was largely forgettable and exists in the shadow of other series. It is not bad, but I will not seek out this author in the future. If you are looking for romance/mysteries in this genre this would not be my first recommendation.

Finally, thank you to #NetGalley for allowing me to read the ARC of Lady Avely's Guide to Truth and Magic by Rosalie Oaks.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Rating: 4.5/5

This book had me hooked from the start. It's everything I love; whimsy, and a slowburn romance set in a historical setting. Its mystery was intriguing with many twists and turns. Lady Avely's past held a mystery of it own, revealed in flashbacks that showed more and more about her character, and others. Though I have not read the original series, this holds up well as my introduction into this world, and the worldbuilding and magic system were easy to grasp. I'm very interested in the sequel, as well as getting my hands on the original series!