I've previously read SUITORS AND SABOTAGE by Cindy Anstey. I guess these two books are actually in kind of a series of sorts? But, I really don't think you have to read these in order. I read book 3 (Suitors and Sabotage) and didn't miss anything? I also think in Carols and Chaos, that there are some familiar characters from the previous book, but I easily could have read this without reading any of the other books.
An amazon summary, "1817. The happy chaos of the Yuletide season has descended upon the country estate of Shackleford Park in full force, but lady's maid Kate Darby barely has the time to notice. Between her household duties, caring for her ailing mother, and saving up money to someday own a dress shop, her hands are quite full. Matt Harlow is also rather busy. He's performing double-duty, acting as valet for both of the Steeple brothers, two of the estate's holiday guests.
Falling in love would be a disaster for either of them. But staving off their feelings for each other becomes the least of their problems when a devious counterfeiting scheme reaches the gates of Shackleford Park, and Kate and Matt are unwittingly swept up in the intrigue.
Full of sweetness, charm, and holiday mischief, Carols and Chaos―a standalone companion novel to Suitors and Sabotage―is perfect for readers who like their historical fiction with a side of romance and danger." AMAZON LINK OF JUSTICE
Kate is a lady's maid at Shackleford Park and Matt is the valet for the Steeple brothers (the stars of last book). Kate and Matt enter a flirtation of sorts, where they both know it shouldn't go past flirtation, but they find each other very tempting. ...and by tempting, I mean like people gossip over a kiss, and there are lots of things in their world that are very defined by etiquette and their roles within a situation define how they act.
Anyways, as Kate and Matt have a flirtation, Matt's friend Johnny gets swept up in a flirtation of his own. He's trying to woo Camille, and he's desperately trying to find gifts to give to her younger sisters to stay within the confine of their roles without being too forward. However, Johnny sold a tin ring to a fellow in town, and it turns out the schilling he received was fake. So Johnny sets off into town to find the 'thief' who traded him a fake schilling for his ring.
...but Johnny doesn't come back in the morning.
Matt being concerned for his friend, and Kate being a local who knows everyone, set off into town to find Johnny, or really, what happened to Johnny.
Carols and chaos indeed.
That's enough summary.
I enjoyed this story; it was a fun romantic romp but also tons of like scooby doo levels of "I hope we solve this mystery!". It was in the same vein of Suitors and Sabotage, the world building was still great, the tone was still good, and I loved the romance even more in this book. The end kind of wrap up was simply adorably and I liked it. I liked it better than Suitors and Sabotage and it also felt more realistic? I don't know, I really liked Kate's mother for reasons I still don't understand. ... yeah, that's all I got!
Happy reading!
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