Maia Chance

Beauty, Beast and Belladonna is a mystery full of fairy tale lore.

I'm not gonna lie, this book just did not sit well with me. I can't quite put my finger on why I didn't enjoy it because it had everything I love: murder mystery, fairy tales, splash of potential romance, and historical mumbo jumbo.

Our lead, Ophelia is engaged to a total dufus (He reminds me of Gaston, if we are talking fairy tale references). While she's at this lovely palace like place, a horrendous murder happens and it's most likely due to a beast (from the Beauty and the Beast fairy tale, of course). Ophelia and the gorgeous Professor Penrose try to solve the mystery of this brutal murder.

I felt that a lot of this book just did not need to be there. Half of the content felt like filler to me and left me very bored. I wanted to have more juicy information on the murder or Ophelia and Penrose potentially flirting more. I got neither. There was lots of drama filled random scenes that just left me aching for some more action.

I did really love the descriptions and history in this book. I found that's where this book shined for me. Unfortunately, that positive didn't outweigh the negatives. I was still utterly bored with this book. I'm sure there are many more people who will absolutely love it - I'm the kind of reader that needs constant action and movement.

Overall, this is a cozy mystery that would be great for some tea and a warm fire. Cozy mystery lovers should and will flock to this book. It is a wonderful gem, it's just not fast enough for me. I'd highly recommend this book if you love sweet, historical novels.

Two out of five stars.… (altro)

Lola Woodby finds herself in straitened circumstances when her husband dies. He leaves behind more debts than assets, and there's nothing left to support Lola's life of highballs, chocolates, and detective novels. Lola and her cook Bertha flee to the one place Lola can think of: her husband's secret love nest, which she accidentally learned about several years into her unhappy marriage. When Lola is approached by a chorus girl who wants her to retrieve a certain sensitive item from the home of one of Lola's high-society acquaintances, Lola's first impulse is to say no, but Bertha spots an opportunity for their future, establishing themselves as discreet lady detectives. When a murder takes place during the house party they're attending, though, will Lola and Bertha find themselves in too deep?

I loved the concept of a 1920's mystery featuring a down on her luck society lady, but this book just didn't hold my attention the way I had hoped. I also didn't care for how the mystery was resolved. I won't be continuing on with the series.… (altro)