Emily Sullivan

Emily Sullivan's next in the series about the Atkinson sisters is a great read, and I think I enjoyed it more than the first book. This time it's Alexandra's turn: Alex is the super-responsible sister upon which the whole family relies. She's also the true powerhouse behind her father's financial management company, which is remarkable in a time where wealthy women weren't respected for having careers. When Lucien, the son of the family's coachman and a trained chef, re-enters her life, she show more and her father see the opportunity for her to gain respect amongst the company's male clients by faking an engagement. But what happens when Lucien actually is enamored of Alex's younger sister Freddie? I enjoyed this one, this is part of a series and while characters from previous books make an appearance, this story works fine as a standalone (although for peak enjoyment I'd suggest reading Phoebe's story first). I felt for Alex, the responsible and dependable sister that everyone takes for granted, and yet she keeps trudging along. But Lucien makes Alex feel seen, which is so lovely and satisfying. There were minor sub-plots that added some tension and an element of danger (one of which will not get resolved until a future book, so be patient). Alex was five years older than Lucien, which was a nice change of pace to have an age gap going the other way. The book is written with dual 3rd-preson POVs, which I always think is a good idea since it rounds out the story much better than a singular POV. This book is great for fans of opposites-attract, fake dating, mini age gap romances with open-door scenes and an HEA. This review is based on a complimentary eARC, all opinions are my own. Publishes September 9, 2025. show less

4.5 Stars
I adore the first book in this series, so I couldn't wait to read this second novel, and it's as good as its predecessor. The MC leaves Corfu and returns to London crossing paths with her former employer that abruptly left at the end of Book 1. Minnie also becomes reacquainted with her extended family, while investigating another murder. This murder hits close to home. The story arc delves into Mrs. Harper's past as well as Mr. Dorian's while introducing many new loveable show more characters. I also liked how the search for her late husband's past was incorporated. Nice character development and the writing flowed so well that I finished reading well before I wanted the story to end. I'll be looking forward for the next one to continue this series. For historical cozy mystery fans.

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3.5/5 stars!

The hero is a spy and he encounters the heroine during a party while he's on assignment. The heroine is resolved to ignore the hero due to her experience of being hurt by trusting the wrong man. Yet the two became closer after another encounter, yet their secrets are keeping them from truly opening with each other. How can they overcome this hurdle as the pair falls in love in this story?

I enjoyed this second book in this series more than the first book. I liked both the hero and show more the heroine together and as individuals, flaws and all. This book also had a nice set of secondary characters. However, the progression of the story was too slow for my taste. It also needed some more details in certain parts of the story for my personal preference. Overall, it's an enjoyable addition to the series and I look forward to reading more Emily Sullivan books in the future.

**Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. All opinions and thoughts in the review are my own.** show less

“A Death on Corfu” by Emily Sullivan is a cozy historical mystery. Minnie, a widow with two kids and a shrinking bank account, gets a surprise when a famous, scandalous mystery author moves in next door to focus on his new book. Despite his moodiness, she agrees to be his typist. When a local maid is murdered, they work together to sift through the fraught relationships and history of the small Greek island.
I loved the setting of late 1800s Greece—the lush landscapes, the food, the show more intricate clothing, and the small-town culture with its rivalries. There’s also some interesting commentary on the wealthy English who settle there, bringing both jobs and injustices.
Following Minnie and Stephen (the author) as they tracked clues was fun, even though the murderer seemed pretty obvious early on. There’s a big plot hole about a possible pregnancy that I can’t explain without spoilers. Some loose ends might be tied up in future books, and hopefully, the plot hole will be addressed too. My favorite character is Minnie’s aunt, who we hear about throughout and finally meet towards the end. Hopefully, she will be around a lot in the next book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the digital ARC. show less