Skip to main content

The Last Word

Where one story ends, another begins.

1861. Miss Lucinda Leavitt is shocked when she learns the author of her favorite serialized novel has died before completing the story. Determined to learn how it ends, Lucinda reluctantly enlists the help of her father’s young business partner to track down the reclusive author’s final papers.

Mr. David Randall is overwhelmed by his workload. He's eager to prove to the world—and to himself—that he's capable of following in his late father's footsteps. He doesn’t have the time for this endeavor, but Lucinda is not the type to take no for an answer.

Their search for the elusive Mrs. Smith and the rightful ending to her novel leads Lucinda and David around the English countryside, but the truths they discover about themselves—and each other—are anything but fictional.



A Junior Library Guild selection.

"Witty, spirited, and utterly swoon-worthy. ... Filled with fierce feminism, impeccable period detail, and a charming romance that's sure to stay with readers long after the last word." ―Addie Thorley, author of An Affair of Poisons

"Hastings’ debut is a charming period piece with all the romance and scornful nods to high society any Austen fan will love. Lucinda moves beyond the cliché of being a young woman who chafes at the restrictions of a sexist world, as she’s elevated by her true passions―numbers and accounting. The Last Word is the perfect read for anyone who wants to spend a few hours in Victorian England in the company of a girl who understands that the entire country is being led by a Queen." ―Booklist

Refreshing ... Lucinda, a young Victorian woman with a modern sensibility well ahead of her time, has plenty of pluck and determination. Hastings' breezy prose and crafty plotting will leave readers racing to uncover her own last installment.” ―BookPage



Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Review: A Golden Fury by Samantha Cohoe

  A GOLDEN FURY by Samantha Cohoe Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A perfect read like for fans of Addie Thorley’s AN AFFAIR OF POISONS. Thea and her mother are alchemists, but just before they’ve completed the philosopher’s stone her mother locked her out of their lab and went mad. Thea is sent back to England to a father who doesn’t know she exists and only her notes and her letters from Will. Both her father and Will want her knowledge, but who can she trust? And is the stone cursed? Thea is a passionate and intelligent heroine that is sure to appeal to modern readers. She is naive at times, but her heart is always in the right place. The setting is as explosive as the alchemy; beginning in Revolutionary France and then to England on the brink of war. I loved the references to Mary Wollstonecraft’s VINDICATION OF THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN. There’s a strong feminist streak that I adored.

Kindle Daily Deal: A NOVEL DISGUISE by Samantha Larsen

A NOVEL DISGUISE ebook is a Kindle Daily Deal for $1.99 only 11/15/23! Read it at this incredible price . “Rich with detail about life in the 18th century . . . Wildly enjoyable.” —Publishers Weekly “Class differences, prejudice, and the lack of women’s rights drive this enjoyable mystery.” —Kirkus Reviews “Memorable characters and deftly crafted (and surprising!) plot twists make ‘A Novel Disguise’ a riveting read from cover to cover” —Midwest Book Reviews “A clever play on Regency-style novels . . . [It] will interest fans of Bridgerton.” —Historical Novel Society “A crazy fun read . . . Everything in this debut book will make you a fan.” —Cozy Mystery Book Reviews “A perfect beach read.” —Red Carpet Crash #KindleDailyDeal #ANovelDisguise #CrookedLaneBooks @crookedlanebooks #Cozy #CozyMurderyMystery #Mystery #HistoricalFiction #Historicalmystery #LadyLibrarianMystery #Kindledeal #ebookdeal #ebooksale #SamanthaLarsen #SamanthaHastings

Book Review: Queen Bee by Amalie Howard

Queen Bee by Amalie Howard *Can you find the 5 bees that I added to the graphic?  Amalie Howard has created a delightful mashup of Regency England and a modern high school romance. Her diverse cast is endearing and empowering. Their clothes might be so 1817, but their speech is very modern. One can’t help but root for Ela as she extracts her revenge on the mean girl, “Queen Bee.” Set in the 1810s, the stakes are much higher. Lady Ela loses everything because of Poppy’s lies. Her good name/title. Her home. Her father. She comes to London under a new name and means to make everyone who betrayed her pay—Machiavellian style. Including the marquess who broke her heart. Themes of accountability and forgiveness and weaves seamlessly through the story. This charming historical romcom is the perfect Bridgerton for teens (and adults)!