The Long-Lost Jules by Jane Elizabeth Hughes ~ a Review

by MK French

Amy Schaumann lives a quiet life as a dowdy London banker amongst pretty and vapid coworkers. When Leo shows up insisting she’s the long-lost descendant of the late Queen Katherine Parr, she’s convinced he’s a stalker. He keeps showing up wherever she is, insinuating himself into her life. Her stepsister shows up, further upending her quiet life The next thing she knows, she is getting involved in scrapes and going all over Europe as they investigate Queen Katherine’s lost baby, dodge people chasing them, and figuring out what’s happening between them.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

August 2021; SparkPress; 978-1684630899
ebook, print (352 pages); women's fiction

At first, Leo showing up is definitely crossing the line into creepy stalker tendencies. He tries to be charming, and it’s only the fact that he backs off when she asks him to and tries to help Amy that saves his character from turning me off. Then more of the mystery comes in, drawing me in and allowing me to see Amy’s point of view and what she sees in him. As much as he annoys her, she does crave excitement and a release from the drudgery of her life. The mystery of Juliette and the lost baby also draws me in as well. When we found out more about the spycraft and money laundering plot threads, I was utterly hooked.

I love the subtle glimpses of Amy’s wilder side in the beginning, and that Leo is more than the bumbling almost-stalker from the beginning. When we find out why as the novel progresses, it’s certainly a lot more fun. The spycraft and historical mystery aspects laid over the budding romance is an interesting twist, and seeing Amy think of her hero worship for her father in a new way also made her see herself and her needs in a new way. She never once backed down when she felt betrayed, which I really liked about her. She knew what she wanted and tried to go for it, and had a protective streak over family, friends and the career she worked so hard to build. Leo didn’t talk down to her about those concerns, which also increased my estimation of him, and he cared just as much about his family and career. Once that was out in the open, it was a lot more fun to read about, too.

Buy The Long-Lost Jules at Amazon

Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and a golden retriever.

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