The Spinster's Swindle

Catherine Stein

Nov 2021 · Arcane Tales Book 2 · Steam Cat Press

About this ebook

Revenge is in her future. But falling for her enemy’s son is one fate this spiritualist could never have envisioned.

Playwright Maxwell Millerson would rather spend his days dreaming up stories than cleaning up his father’s messes. But a trendy renovation has the family’s gaming club on the brink of ruin, and not even Max’s imagination can conjure a way out. Desperate, he turns to the multi-talented—and alluringly audacious—Madame Xyla to help him spin gold from straw.

Lydia Weaver, professionally known as spiritualist Madame Xyla, has long sought revenge on the man responsible for her cousin’s imprisonment. When her enemy’s son visits her seance room seeking advice, Lydia leaps at the opportunity for vengeance—until Max’s easy charm and poetic words threaten to turn her plans upside-down.

As their friendship grows and they give way to their mutual attraction, Lydia and Max must weigh family duty with their hearts’ desires. And only when they confront old wounds and new feelings can a happy ending be in the cards.

Ratings and reviews

Fate walks into her parlor, the son of the man she vowed vengeance gives her the entry she needs to start her plan. Revenge for a crime against her cousin, Lydia will destroy the gaming club belonging to Max Millerson's father. Pretending to save the club, she never expected to fall in love. Once she confesses to Max her game of revenge, she will not only break his heart, but her own. A nice change for all the characters to work for a living and no connection to upper society. Includes humor and very steamy encounters. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

Great cast of characters! Madame Xyla aka Lydia Weaver like most fortune tellers can sizes up her mark in a short time but this one Maxwell Millerson may just be the one that will give her what she wants. I loved the start of book Max thanks to his father was in a bit of pickle but his challenges are just starting. I love how the author wrote this tale it was such fun to read. I do not know this author well but this will not be the last book I read of hers. Yes, I do indeed recommend this book. I did receive a free copy of this book from Booksprout and voluntarily chose to review it.

This book is brilliant! What so attracting is that you will find in every chapter the goddess’ name and its definition, the unusual spiritualist and the romantic hero. Catherine Stein’s writing has always brought my imagination into the world I have never been into.

About the author

Award-winning author Catherine Stein believes that everyone deserves love and that Happily Ever After has the power to help, to heal, and to comfort. She writes sassy, sexy romance set during the Victorian and Edwardian eras. Her books are full of action, adventure, magic, and fantastic technologies.

Catherine lives in Michigan with her husband and three rambunctious kids. She loves steampunk and Oxford commas, and can often be found dressed in Renaissance Festival clothing, drinking copious amounts of tea.