Darkwater Descent

The wrong discovery. The right woman. Deadly consequences.

While exploring a shipwreck in the Cayman Islands, Scottish dive master Roddy Henderson discovers a hidden underwater listening device and unwittingly places himself in the crosshairs of a ruthless Albanian crime boss–an elusive master of disguise who has evaded capture for decades. Now Roddy may be the only person who can identify him.

MI6 auditor Everly Pattinson’s mother is dying of ALS, and though Everly longs to spend every possible moment with her, the medical expenses require Everly to accept an overseas project assessing suspicious bank activity in the Caymans. Following a hunch, she takes an unauthorized risk and is caught and expelled from the island without a chance to say goodbye to Roddy, the handsome dive instructor she has fallen for. Eager to reestablish her tarnished reputation with MI6, Everly poses as a plus-one for a high-ranking British Intelligence official.

After narrowly surviving an attempt on his life, Roddy retreats to his native Scotland. There, at a glittering social event, he unexpectedly runs into Everly, on the arm of someone else–someone Roddy knows. Before she can explain, the Albanian crime boss walks through the door.

Convinced Everly deceived him from the beginning, Roddy wants nothing more to do with her. When the killer threatens the people he loves, Roddy must team up with Everly and MI6. Hunting a master of deception forces him to confront not only a deadly enemy, but also the painful past that drove him from Scotland–and the possibility that trusting Everly could either heal his deepest wounds or destroy him for good.

Review:

Roddy Henderson seems to be a Cayman Islands kind of guy with his own diving business and a laid-back attitude. Everly Pattison has arrived on the island to do a bank audit and some undercover investigative work. Neither Roddy or Everly are what they seem, which only adds to the intrigue. I loved the scuba diving excursions that Roddy and Everly went on and wished I was there too!

This was an exciting story of danger, romance, and seeing Roddy’s family and the people of the estate defeat a powerful enemy and bring him to justice.

Tropes and Tidbits:

secret identity

OCD rep

forced proximity

Scotland

nephew Sammy

humor

MI6

plot twists

This is part of the Roxburg Scions series and can be read as a standalone. It was fun to see Roddy’s sisters and their families as part of the story. I highly recommend reading this if you enjoy clean romantic suspense.

I received this book from the author. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions are my own.

Lady Wynwood's Spies

 

About the Book

Book: Lady Wynwood’s Spies, Volumes 1-3 Box Set

Author: Camille Elliot

Genre: Christian Regency Romantic Suspense

Release Date: April 23, 2024

Pride and Prejudice meets Mission: Impossible in this Christian Regency Suspense with slow-burn romance and a touch of the supernatural.

Recovered from her harrowing marriage, Lady Wynwood’s peace shatters as a nefarious secret society linked to her past emerges. She seeks the aid of Mr. Sol Drydale, an old friend with ties to a shadowy arm of the government.

They gather a circle of trusted individuals with unique skills:

• A botanist with deadly aim with a bow and arrows
• An unconventionally trained female medic and chemist in a field dominated by men
• A cat burglar who also happens to be a viscount’s son
• A spy searching for answers to the mysterious death of his brother
• An ex-soldier haunted by regret and self-loathing
• A human lie detector desperately protecting lies of her own
• The most covert phantom agent working for the Crown
• All led by a nobleman keeping dangerous secrets (who feels like he’s wrangling cats)

To protect their loved ones, they must race to stop a treasonous brotherhood, whose dark secrets could enable Napoleon to win the war.

Lady Wynwood’s Spies, volume 1: Archer

An ex-spy and a spinster botanist must find a murderer—with ties to both their families—whose uncanny alchemy could turn the tides against the war with Napoleon.

Lady Wynwood’s Spies, volume 2: Berserker

The team searches for their missing comrade before a crazed murderer finds him first.

Lady Wynwood’s Spies, volume 3: Aggressor

When French spies land on British soil to steal the ingredient for a powerful alchemical potion, Lady Wynwood’s team falls under attack from the toxins they unleash.

 Review: 

I love this series! I read the books several years ago, so it was a delight to get to read them again. They are even better the second time around! There are spies, heroes, and a maniacal villain who makes me shiver and read as fast as I can to see what other things he is planning.

Archer- Lady Laura Wynwood is an intelligent widow who is compassionate and takes in those who are in need. She has in her employ twin 11 year olds who are expert knife throwers with other street-wise talents. Her niece, Phoebe,  comes to stay with her and is quite good at observing others as well as being an expert archer and is an avid botanist. I loved seeing these four team up with Sol Drydale and his two compatriots, Micahel Coulton-Jones and Septimus Ackett as they gather evidence of a secret society and unmasking Apothecary Jack and his potent formula to make people have superhuman strength. 

Berserker- Wow! This second book in the series had me on the edge of my seat. Apothecary Jack is truly a mad and ruthless villain. He doesn't care who he hurts and delights in watching people suffer. Ms. Elliott has created a creepy, despicable and dangerous threat. Lady Wynwood, Sol Drydale and their team have their work cut out for them as they try to stop him and his super strength men.

There is enough action, suspense, questions, and chaos in this book that I couldn't put it down. The end of the book is a cliff hanger, so plan on buying the next book too! I can't wait to see how this clever and resourceful ring of spies is going to meet the threat of the Root and its use for defeating anyone who stands in Apothecary Jack's way.

Aggressor- The adventure continues in this third book of Lady Wynwood's Spies. Apothecary Jack has competition with the French as they fight over who will have control over the Root. Two of the Crown's agents are affected by this strange and powerful potion, and another of the agents is badly injured by men who are part of Apothecary Jack's crew.

I love how the young ladies and the 11 year old twins are called on to help. Each has their own skill set and each help to thwart the villainous plans that have been set into motion. I particularly loved how the bows and arrows played a key part in the confrontations of the men who affected by the Root. This was a clever and unique way of handling a dangerous situation.

While some things are made clearer, other questions are brought up that makes me excited to read the next book. This is part of a series and is not a standalone book. if you love adventure, spies, and a bit of romance, you will like this series.

TW: violence, death, brothels

Thank you for the gifted copy of the boxed set, Ms. Elliot, and Celebrate Lit. All opinions are my own.

Click here to get your copy!

 About the Author

Camy writes Christian Contemporary Romantic Suspense as USA Today bestselling author Camy Tang and Christian Regency Romantic Suspense as USA Today bestselling author Camille Elliot. She grew up in Hawaii but now lives in California, where she knits antique knitting patterns and is learning Japanese.

 

 

 

 

More from Camille

What inspired me to write the Lady Wynwood’s Spies series:

While I love Regency Romances and Jane Austen’s books, I also really love action movies. When plotting the rest of the series, especially in light of Sol’s clandestine job for the Crown, I realized that I really wanted to do a mash-up of Mission: Impossible in the Regency era.

So I created Sol’s team of agents, some who used to work for the Foreign Office as spies and some who are civilians with unusual skill sets. And, of course, there will be lots of romance for each of the team members, as well as lots of action and suspense.

What exactly is an epic-length serial novel?

Originally I had written The Spinster’s Christmas, a Christian Regency Romantic Suspense, as a stand-alone novel, and I had planned more stand-alone novels with Lady Wynwood and Sol as minor characters in each of them. However, as I began planning the series past that first Christmas book, I realized the storyline was becoming longer and more complex.

I fought it for a while because it would have been a really long series—I even tried writing the next book as a stand-alone novel, but I wrote almost 90,000 words and I hadn’t even gotten to the 25% mark in the book!

So I decided to structure the series like a Japanese light novel series, in which each book has a complete story arc, but there is an underlying story arc that runs through each of the volumes and isn’t resolved until the end.

This is similar to the serial novels being published in the U.S., but those tend to be smaller installments of around 20,000 words, while each of the volumes in my series is around 100,000 words.

I have already plotted the entire series and it will be 12 volumes, plus 3 prequel novels (The Spinster’s Christmas, The Gentleman Thief, and Lissa and the Spy). At the moment, I’m writing volume 10.

I hope you enjoy my latest Regency series!

Blog Stops

All-of-a-kind Mom, April 22

Inspired by Fiction, April 23

Books You Can Feel Good About, April 23

Melissa’s Bookshelf, April 24

Lily’s Corner, April 25

Life on Chickadee Lane, April 26

Tell Tale Book Reviews, April 27

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 28

Texas Book-aholic, April 29

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 30

Sydney Schmied Books, April 30

For Him and My Family, May 1

Blogging With Carol, May 2

Blossoms and Blessings, May 2

Book looks by Lisa, May 3

Devoted To Hope, May 4

Holly’s Book Corner, May 5

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Camille is giving away the grand prize of a Special Edition Paperback of Lady Wynwood’s Spies, Volume 1: Archer and a Regency-style ribbon bookmark!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/oUeZj/lady-wynwoods-spies-volumes-1-3-box-set-celebration-tour-giveaway

A Song Without Words

In Bath, appearances are everything and nothing is as it seems.

Bath, 1889

When a daring burglary strikes the Sherard residence in Bath, Byron Constantine returns under the name his family knows—Ambrose Sherard. Mira Blayse travels at his side, their partnership deeper than ever and a future together finally within reach. But stepping into the Sherards’ social sphere means facing expectations sharper than any blade. Winning over Byron’s judgemental sister and formidable mother may be more difficult than solving the crime itself.

Even when the thefts turn deadly.

A man’s fatal fall after a snowstorm hints at something far more sinister, and Mira soon realizes that Bath is a city built on secrets. In glittering ballrooms and musical recitals the warmest smiles might just belong to someone playing a part.

Drawn into shadowed streets and clandestine meetings beneath the ancient Roman Baths, Mira and Byron uncover a mystery rooted deeper than the Sherard break-in—one tied to hidden loyalties, rising ambitions, and the looming threat of war in Europe. Worst of all, there are signs that Circe’s reach is far from broken.

As danger mounts and political tensions rise, Mira and Byron must learn which voices to trust—because in Bath, even the sweetest music can carry a deadly refrain.

Review:

There are a string of burglaries that have Mira and Byron on the case, and this time, this one is personal. Byron’s family has had family jewels stolen, and the evidence points to an insider, but who would that be? I loved the mystery, danger, and the clues that keep you engaged until the final page.

Mira Blayse is like no other lady since she is independent, analytical, and makes a great partner for Ambrose Sherard aka the detective, Byron Constantine. There were some tense moments and even confrontations with certain members of Byron’s family, but I loved how things weren’t all they seemed to be and Mrs. Sherard is now one of my new favorites in the series. The villains are still making plans and Circe is continuing to go forward with their acts of chaos, but Byron and Mira, along with the help of others will ever be striving to bring them down. I hope there will be another book in the Constantine Capers series that I have thoroughly enjoyed. If you like political intrigue, mysteries, and a bit of romance, I highly recommend reading this book and all of the others. In order to understand all of the details of relationships and things that are mentioned from past books, it would be beneficial for you to begin with the first book and read in order. I received a gifted copy from the author through Book Sirens. I was under no obligation to write a positive review.

An Appearance of Impropriety

As the youngest female judge in LA, Mahalia Jackson has her career goals carefully aligned. But when her mentor tells her she needs to break her shell of professionalism and show a little heart by volunteering for the Junior Jurors program, her plans begin to falter.

Attorney JD Cash heads up the Junior Jurors program, a project born out of his own troubled past. He leverages his position as an attorney to fulfill God's calling on his life, supporting the orphans and widows of society who have lost beloved husbands and fathers to TransNation's eighteen-wheeled time bombs roaming America's freeways.

Mahalia's rule—never date a lawyer—is a straitjacket that tightens when she presides over the case where JD serves as a young widow's attorney. But when an earthquake leaves JD and Mahalia in a vulnerable position, her resolve begins to waver and she finds herself opening up to the sad-eyed lawyer. But online, anonymous colleagues and adversaries attempt to destroy Mahalia’s reputation and career.

A legal drama threaded with romance, An Appearance of Impropriety will show readers that real love is worth the risk.

My Review: 

I haven’t read many courtroom dramas, but I enjoyed the cases that were presented. Not only is there the lawyer, James Dean Cash, but there is also a rising in ranks judge, Mahalia Jackson. First impressions and appearances are challenged as Mahalia sees an advertising billboard of Mr. Cash before meeting him and categorizes him as an ambulance-chasing lawyer. Nothing could be further from the truth. As Mahalia is “voluntold” to assist with Cash’s Junior Jurors program, she sees that he is a compassionate man who feels called to help widows and orphans, and at-risk teens.  

Mahalia knows that she has to prove herself to be capable and competent in order to advance in her career. She has built up walls and finds it difficult to let others in. I loved seeing James stand with her in difficult times. He let her be vulnerable with no judgement. He shared his past with her so she could be comfortable and realize that he had come through awful things but did well with God’s help. 

Things to enjoy: 

elevator incident

Mahalia’s clothes

junior jurors

military vet

faith thread

I received a copy of the book through the publisher and Let’s Launch. I was no obligated to leave a positive review. All opinions are my own.

Against a Crescent Storm

Description: 

The Serbs defied the world’s most powerful ruler, and now Danilo and Maja must fight to save their people and their newly forged love before the sultan exacts his revenge.

The Balkans, 1389

Three years ago, Danilo’s people won their freedom from the hated Ottoman Empire, but with enemies on every side, the Serbs’ hard-earned peace remains fragile. Knowing the sultan will soon come for revenge, Danilo sets out to gain key allies for the coming war—and to escape the haunting grief of personal loss.

War has orphaned Maja and her brother, but they’ve moved forward from the turbulent aftermath of battle by crafting religious mosaics. Yet after being cheated and robbed, they are desperate for help. Rescue comes from Danilo, the man who once saved them from slavery to the Turks. What begins as an offer for safe escort is soon complicated by threats from a Hungarian noble who suspects them of conspiracy and from Iskandar, an Ottoman spy consumed by a vendetta against Danilo and a dangerous obsession with Maja.

As their journey grows more perilous, Danilo and Maja are drawn together by shared grief and affection. Yet upon returning home, Danilo finds that his župan, unaware of Danilo’s growing emotional entanglement with Maja, plans to use Danilo’s hand in marriage as a tool to forge a crucial alliance. Danilo is soon torn between love for Maja and loyalty to his family and people.

As tensions escalate, sabotage and vicious rumors weaken Christian unity, and hope of victory in the Balkans grows dim. Allies and enemies converge on the fields of Kosovo, where an epic battle will shape the destiny of nations for centuries to come.

Review:

Danilo seems to be there to help Maja when she needs it the most. When he finds Maja and her brother Luca, in need of assistance, Danlo takes them to the village that he calls home. I found the mosaic profession intriguing and a unique way for Maja and her brother to earn a living. I enjoyed seeing the romance develop between Danilo and Marja, and I was really rooting for them and was caught up in the scene where Maja (once again :) ) needed rescuing from their enemy. 

I appreciated the map, the glossary of terms and the list of characters that were provided at the beginning of the book for easy reference in case I needed them. Ms. Sowards also wrote a note about historical events that were based upon the story in the back of the book. Wether you are a historical fiction fan or not, you will enjoy the rich details of the story and how the characters come alive. 

Things to enjoy: 

rich details

epic battles

selfless love

danger

strong heroines

mosaic designs

plot twists

This is the third book in the Balkan Legends series. I highly recommend you read the other books before this one in order to be able to fully enjoy this story.

I received an advanced copy of the book. All opinions are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review.

The Royal Artisan

Sazana of Persia creates exquisite pottery that graces Susa's finest tables, but her master, Lord Haman, does not know her secret: Sazana is one of the Jews he has vowed to eradicate. When Haman discovers her true identity, he forces her into indentured servitude. But at Haman's sudden downfall, Queen Esther becomes the new master of the pottery workshop, restoring Sazana to her rightful place.

Yet her troubles are not over as Haman's sons are enraged by his death, and the queen assigns one of her men to root out any threats. Sazana is shocked to discover the identity of the queen's agent is none other than Jadon, the man who left her heart in ruins years ago. But despite his presence, danger still lurks, and when Sazana and Jadon become entangled in the hunt for an ancient artifact, so much more than their own hearts and lives depends on the success of their mission.

Review: 

Potter Suzana of Persia has a secret and if it would become known her life would be threatened and at the vey least she could be expelled from Master Haman’s household and pottery workshop. This provides a dangerous dilemma for Suzana as well as the bodyguard, Jadon, who has an involved past with her. I liked the “what if” story of Queen Esther, King Xerxes, and the ruthless villain, Haman, and his sons.

I enjoyed the mystery and finding the treasure that Queen Esther has tasked Suzana and Jadon to find. The political intrigue and Queen Esther’s thoughts throughout the narrative gave an interesting perspective to a story that is found in the book of Esther. 

This is the second book in the Queen Esther’s Court. It can be read as a standalone since the stories are independent of each other. Readers of biblical fiction and historical romance will enjoy this story.

I received an advanced copy of the book from the Bethany House Publishers and NetGalley. All opinions are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review.

A Scheming in Parliament

About the Book

 

Title: A Scheming in Parliament 

Series: Of Cloaks & Daggers #2 

Author: Erica Vetsch 

Publisher: Kregel Publications 

Release Date: August 26, 2025 

Genre: Regency Mystery Romance 

 Evil is masquerading in the halls of Parliament, and Sir Bertrand Thorndike is tasked with investigating from the inside. With his new position as a member of the House of Commons, he has access to the power brokers of English government. His tactic is to listen and learn, careful not to reveal his true motives, and he's quickly inducted into the mysterious Theban Club. 

Miss Philippa Cashel's mission, the Princess Charlotte Eleos School for Women in Need, is thriving with donations, and the students are learning skills to help them earn their livings in honorable ways. But when a dear friend's past is revealed by blackmail, Philippa must wrestle with the question, Is it ever right to do the wrong thing? 

Bertie's and Philippa's missions collide when Bertie uncovers a dangerous plot involving vulnerable women. He and Philippa join forces against the corruption threatening to topple England's government, all while navigating their outward reputations and inward feelings for each other.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Kregel Publications | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookBub

My Review:

Bertrand Thorndike has been given an assignment for the Crown that he’d rather avoid at all costs. He is to get involved in politics and infiltrate Parliament to determine what is happening with a particular member of the House of Commons. He finds this all new territory and rather tedious, so he must depend upon his team that includes the lovely Philippa Cashel. Pippa is familiar with the members of high society due to her past associations. I loved that Bertie and Pippa work together to make the perfect team that is needed to discover what is happening behind the scenes that threatens to topple the government and also stop human trafficking. 

Things you will love: 

Duke of Haverly

Mr. Fox

family

late night missions

danger

the school and pupils

secrets

disguises

Bow Street Runners

the rescue

This is the second book in the Of Cloaks and Daggers, and I can’t wait to read what happens with Bertie and Philippa. It is sure to be exciting! 

I received a copy of this book. All opinions are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. 

More in this Series:

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About the Author

Erica Vetsch is a New York Times best-selling author and ACFW Carol Award winner, and has been a Romantic Times top pick for her previous books. She loves Jesus, history, romance, and watching sports. This transplanted Kansan now makes her home in Rochester, Minnesota. Learn more about Erica at ericavetsch.com.

Connect with Erica by visiting ericavetsch.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a print copy of A Scheming in Parliament and a $20 Amazon gift card!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight September 3, 2025 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on September 10, 2025. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

Enter Giveaway

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

 

The Accused

 

When a popular college student is murdered, her international roommate, Anneliese, becomes a prime suspect. But law professor Margeaux Robbins doesn't believe that the quiet, lonely German girl in her class is the killer.

Chase Crandall is a burned-out defense attorney ready to extricate himself from the grind of criminal law. After he loses a client to tragedy, he's ready for an in-house corporate position.

When Chase is assigned to Anneliese's case, Margeaux is horrified. She doesn’t want him to provide legal counsel—not after what happened to his past client. And not with the evidence incriminating Anneliese.

Despite their mutual misgivings, the lawyer and professor pair up to find the killer and prove Anneliese's innocence. Will they be able to untangle the mystery—and navigate their growing interest in one another—before the wrong person is charged with murder?

My Review: 

When Anneliese, a German native college student is put on trial for the murder of her roommate, it is up to her professor, Margeaux Robbins, and her attorney, Chase Crandall, to prove that she is innocent. But, with few friends or connections with her other housemates, it was extremely difficult for Margeaux and Chase to get any answers and change the jury’s mindset. I loved being a part of the investigation. I also enjoyed the quick wrap up to the case. There is a plot twist as to who actually committed the crime. This is the second book in the Secrets to Keep series, but it can be read as a standalone. If you enjoy legal thrillers, then this will be one to read.

I received a copy of the book from the publisher, AustenProse, and NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own with no obligation to write a positive review.

There is a giveaway on Instagram for both books in the series and a $20.00 Amazon gift card too! See my post for a chance to enter! https://www.instagram.com/booklooks_lisa/