To Spark a Match

September 11, 2023
Turano (A Match in the Making) captivates with a historical romance that finds its quirky heroine caught between a secret investigation and matchmaking season in 19th-century New York. Accident-prone Adelaide Duveen (“I’m the lady who suffers mayhem on a frequent basis”) spends her time devouring spy novels and rescuing stray cats instead of seeking a rich husband. At 23, she’s on the verge of accepting her “fate as a confirmed spinster.” After suffering a wardrobe malfunction at a dreary high-society dinner party, she bumps into handsome Gideon Abbott lurking in the house’s library. When Gideon admits he’s working undercover to investigate the potentially dangerous admirer of an enigmatic opera singer; Adelaide offers to help. Gideon’s not sure he wants her involved, however, and he convinces his elegant friend Camilla to reintroduce Adelaide to high society. As Camilla works to transform the “mad cat lady” into a “diamond of the first water,” it remains to be seen whether Adelaide will be the hit of the season or if she’ll find her way into trouble first—especially as Gideon’s case reveals itself to be thornier than it seems on the surface. Turano charms with her offbeat characters, and she has a knack for funny, flirty dialogue (Adelaide: “Discretion is my middle name.” Gideon: “Your middle name is Winifred, after your maternal grandmother”) that keeps the plot ticking along. Turano’s fans will find this irresistible.

September 15, 2023
Adelaide Duveen is all too familiar with her marital prospects going up in flames, figuratively and literally. From being catapulted by a rogue bustle to provoking the ire of hostile swans during a dinner party, Adelaide's mishaps always end with Gideon Abbott begrudgingly coming to her rescue. When her latest calamity provides a necessary cover for Gideon's private investigation firm, he recruits his matchmaking friend to help Adelaide recover from the social fallout. But what begins as self-improvement turns dangerous when Gideon's case crosses into Adelaide's new social circles, igniting unexpected desire within the burning protectiveness Gideon feels for Adelaide. Turano delivers a rousing second installment in her the Matchmakers historical inspirational romance series set in New York's Gilded Age, following A Match in the Making (2023). This is a delightful novel about individuality and unexpected love that balances humorous hijinks and the intrigue of criminal activity within the rare book world. It shimmers with spunk and stars a most admirable leading lady whose unapologetic acceptance of herself is what refreshingly captivates her hero's heart.

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