Never Blow a Kiss

By: Lindsay Lovise

Narrated by: Ella Lynch, Rupert Channing

In this delightfully witty Victorian romance, a governess spy running away from her past falls for an ex-soldier turned railroad magnate—perfect for fans of Manda Collins and Bridgerton!

The utterly charming Emily Leverton has a dark past and is determined to leave it behind in her respectable new role as a governess. But when she is recruited by a secret network of governesses who spy on the ton, it may just be a way to redeem the dark secrets of her past.

An ex-solider turned railroad magnate, Zach hunts killers for the Metropolitan Police by day and dutifully attends balls at night. In neither world has he met a woman with the brazenness to mock him. So when a saucy governess blows him a kiss he is determined to catch her, never expecting that when he does he will find an intelligent, quirky woman hiding more than her true name.

As Zach peels back the layers of Emily’s lies, he falls for the street-wise woman who handles a dagger like a pro and kisses like a mistress. But when his affair with Emily intertwines with his hunt for a killer, he discovers Emily is hiding an explosive secret—one that could destroy them both.

©2024 Lindsay Lovise (P)2024 Forever

Critic reviews

"Edgy and enticing...Lovise is sure to win fans with this."—Publishers Weekly, Starred review

“The kind of fast-paced, sexy historical romance I love to lose myself in.”—Manda Collins, bestselling author of A Governess's Guide to Passion and Peril

“Gripping and fresh...Will have you hooked until the last page!”—Amalie Howard, USA Today bestselling author of Never Met a Duke Like You

Noodles

Good story that keeps you listening. Most mystery readers will know "who done it" immediately but still a good story and fun little ride till the end.

truly enjoyed this book

this was really good. I like strong characters 10/10. the romance was good the storyline was good and the ending was great.

Tough Smart Heroine and Great Hero

This was an amazing first outing and I can’t wait for the next one. Would like to have had a bit more description about the what the characters looked like. Fun plot and great characters. I hope Lovis writes tons of historical mystery/romance novels and this is a great set up for a long series — ONE CRITICISM — please try to stay away from clearly 20/21st century phrasing. I’m not usually a stickler for language in historical romances (I see other reviewers complain about historical inaccuracies a lot). I don’t expect to be reading perfect historically accurate romance novels, but some of the phrases were so obviously modern that it was jarring — it took me out of the moment and spoiled the reverie that results as one swoons through a great historical romance novel. Examples: “Ouch. That was cold.” When describing someone being nasty — why couldn’t you say, for example, “Goodness. That was rude.” ? Another one was when the heroine tells the readers a couple of times “I have impulse control issues” — why couldn’t you just say “I have trouble controlling my impulses.”? Then there was the discover that someone was not the bad guy — “Raoul was not their guy” — you could have said it in many ways that would not be in so jarringly a modern idiom. Last example, that, for me, spoiled a very exciting denouement when the heroine says, as she is explaining to the bad guy what drew the hero to our heroine and she says it is because “I’m a violent street bitch” — I kid you not!!! LL — if you can get rid of these much too modern phrases you will be inarguably one of the brightest new lights in historical romance.

Had me till the end!

Love strong intelligent women who hold their own! The MMC was just adorable may I get a copy pls. Loved the banter 😂 Plot flowed well, I was so stressed when the action happened and so intrigued by the mystery and how it unraveled 👏. Great tension build up and between characters. I CANT WAIT FOR THE NEXT ONE OFFICIALLY ONE OF MY FAVORITE SERIES NOW 🕊️

sweet and interesting

the main character is so fierce, smart and funny it's hard not to love her! this book kind of surprised me with how much I liked it. the end was unexpected and the story moved at a good pace. the narrators are perfect!