Perfect in Every Way (Manors & Mysteries 2) by Kristen Ashley-review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date February 17, 2026

Historical fiction writer, Vivienne Dupree, is hoping to unravel the mystery of her WWII soldier, great-grandfather’s doomed love affair with the lovely Lady Harmony. A woman he met convalescing at the sweeping English country estate, The Downs.

Vivienne jumps at the invitation to spend time at this magnificent property, doing so with unfettered access to family papers.

What she doesn’t expect is to come face-to-face—and immediately go head-to-head—with Battle Talyn, the ludicrously handsome, imposing, ridiculously arrogant Duke of Burleigh.

From the start, Vivi and Battle match wits, but it doesn’t take long for Vivi to realize something is amiss at The Downs. She dives into her research to figure it out, at the same time Battle launches a campaign that Vivi doesn’t quite understand.

The game is on, and a mystery is afoot.

What kept the doomed lovers apart all those years ago? What’s happening in the ballroom? Is there a curse on The Downs?

And what does all of this have to do with Battle and Vivi?

•••••

REVIEW:PERFECT IN EVERY WAY is the second instalment in Kristen Ashley’s contemporary, adult MANORS & MYSTERIES erotic, slightly paranormal, romance series. This is historical fiction writer, American Vivienne Dupree and Battle Talyn, Duke of Burleigh’s story line. PERFECT IN EVERY WAY can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary.

Told from first person perspective (Vivienne) PERFECT IN EVERY WAY follows American born, historical fiction written Vivienne Dupree as she has tasked herself with researching her family history, a history connected to the Talyn family, and the Duke of Burleigh. From the outset, the eccentric Talyn family welcomes Vivienne as one of their own but Battle Talyn struggles with opening up the castle, and his family, to the possibility of betrayal. Hoping to uncover the truth about her late great grandfather and his affair with a British aristocrat, Vivienne goes on the hunt for the secrets left behind but finds herself falling for Battle Talyn, a man whose protective nature will reveal a side to the Duke no one knew existed.

Meanwhile, the reader gets a peak into the lives of the Talyn sisters: Prudence, Temperance and Chastity, each of whom has placed their life on hold for the sake of one of their own.

The world building follows several pathways as Vivienne is up close and personal with the management of the lives of the Talyn siblings: their interests and eccentricities, their secrets and heart breaks, and the precipitating factors beneath Battle’s need for control.

The relationship between Battle and Vivienne begins as. a professional meeting but will quickly turn into something more. Battle struggles to keep the family’s privacy, as Vivienne continues to dig into the past. As Battle and Vivienne begin to dance around their attraction to one another, someone else is determined to rip them apart. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

We are introduced to the quirky Talyn sisters: Prudence, Temperance and Chastity, as well as the family butler Fitzgibbons, housekeeper Patsy; PhD student Christian, Hamish, and Battle’s embittered ex Chelsea.

PERFECT IN EVERY WAY is a story of family secrets, obsession, heart break and acceptance. The slow building, character driven premise is detailed, intriguing, entertaining and captivating; the romance is seductive; the characters are determined and whimsical.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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Kristen Ashley was born in Gary, Indiana, USA. She nearly killed her mother and herself making it into the world, seeing as she had the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck (already attempting to accessorise and she hadn’t taken her first breath!).

Kristen grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana but has lived in Denver, Colorado and the West Country of England. Thus she has been blessed to have friends and family around the globe. Her posse is loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write.

Kristen was raised in a house with a large and multi-generational family. They lived on a very small farm in a small town in the heartland and existed amongst the strains of Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon and Whitesnake (and the wardrobes that matched).

Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music, clothes and love was a good way to grow up.

And as she keeps growing up, it keeps getting better.