Sweet regency with depth
350266
I ADORED this book, especially after I realized there was not just ONE beautifully sweet regency story included, but TWO!! Deborah Hale did a fantastic job endearing her characters to me - I was amazed at how relatable the characters felt. This was a wonderfully sweet and clean book, I'd rate it G or PG for sweet kisses and vague allusions to untoward advances. I am so excited to have discovered Deborah Hale and look forward to reading more of her books, especially from the Glass Slipper Chronicles!
4732186
In A GOOD ROGUE IS HARD TO FIND, Book 2 in Kelly Bowens Lords of Worth series, a common lady teaches an entitled duke a moral lesson and inspires him to be a better person. Their romance is charming, sweet, and sensual. Though the novel skims the topic of privilege and the dialogue at times is preachy, the narrative is humorous, lighthearted, and fast-paced.

Will, the Duke of Worth, first encountered the heroine, Jenna, at a ball a year ago and was immediately entranced by the mysterious, unknown beauty. When Will embarks on a mission to rein in his eccentric mother, whom he has been largely ignoring, he discovers that his mystery woman is the dowager duchesss paid companion Jenna. He decides to move into the dower house to watch over his mother and find out what Jenna is really up to. What Will doesnt know is that Jenna is conspiring with his mother in a crusade to reimburse merchants who were fleeced and impoverished by aristocrats who don't pay their bills and thus treat merchants even less than servants.

Wills attempts to uncover the truth are disrupted by his attraction to Jenna. He is thoroughly smitten and finds her irresistible. Though Jenna is determined to keep him at arms length and doesnt believe she can trust him with her secrets, she cant deny her attraction to him either. Yet, slowly, she opens up to him, and he begins to see the world through her eyes. Jenna is a strong and independent woman whos not afraid to take risks for the good of others. Despite the public perception that Will doesnt care about anything except his stables and horseracing, he does have a conscience and a good heart. His only flaw is that hes been ignorant of the ways aristocrats abuse their power and privilege.

Because its obvious Will is kindhearted, I had difficulty believing that he wouldnt have been open to the idea of enforcing aristocrats to pay their bills. He didn't seem arrogant or bad-mannered enough. Hes clearly intelligent, honorable, and not at all abusive. Hes not a rake, he doesnt have bad habits, and he makes sure his estates are running smoothly. Hes just more interested in his horseracing enterprise than his responsibilities in governance. I don't believe that he wouldnt have been willing to be educated about his peers corrupt practices. I think if his mother and Jenna had talked to him and educated him, he would have come around. He could have found a better way. As his mother points out, if he took up his seat in the House of Lords, he could represent the merchants whom aristocrats have been fleecing and assist his mothers and Jennas crusade through legal reform.

In the end, he supports their unethical, and in my opinion, dishonorable, methods of extracting payment from aristocrats. I was disappointed that the duke didn't strongly argue his side. He didn't promise to work in Parliament on behalf of their cause, and he didn't suggest a compromise or propose an ethical solution. Though their method is certainly fast and effective, there are other ways to get restitution, for instance, organizing, peaceful protest, and reform. Instead, Jenna turns an honorable gentleman into a good rogue.

*This review is based on an eARC I received from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
7082
***Received from publisher via NetGalley for an honest review***

 After reading the blurb, I thought this would be a Cinderella type Regency romance that explores the ins and outs of London society with a newly discovered heir/heiress as the lead. It wasbut not really. While this does have that theme, theres so much more to this story than that.

Its about Isabel and Sebastian. She is a neglected Viscountess who, on the heels of her husbands death and displaying very little despair over it, finds and brings to Branstone House the new Lord Somerton, Sebastian Alder. He is the stepson of a reverend from a small village, an English Captain who lost his wife to the French, and has no idea who the Somertons are as he has no memory of his  real father. She is struggling to move toward fulfilling her dream but the memory of her unhappy marriage haunts her. He appears to fit right into his new role but there are secrets that come with it, secrets that do not want to be brought to light.

I loved reading about Sebastian and Isabel. The attraction and romance between them developed throughout the entire story and it was beautiful to watch because it felt natural. Every part of their relationship, going from being strangers to acquaintances, from friends to wanting to be more than friends, and eventually to lovers. By the way, Ms. Stuart, thank you so, so much for writing their lovemaking toward the end of the story instead of before. Reading it then was so worth the wait!

To be honest, the suspense is what kept me reading. Dont get me wrong. I wanted Sebastian and Isabel to have their happy ending, but I was more interested in peeling back the multiple layers of mystery surrounding the Somerton name and house. Finding out the answers one at a time, that there was so much more than meets the eye, is what compelled me to keep turning the page.

This is a well-paced, detail oriented novel that might be slow for some but was perfect for me. Ive not read anything by Ms. Stuart before, but I guarantee this won't be the last and Ill be looking for whatever she writes next.
2245032
Death Comes to London
Kensington Books

By Catherine Lloyd

_____________________________________

Ease into the London Season with this enjoyable Regency England mystery. Dress for a social gathering at the ever important Almacks, be privy to the sweet interplay between protagonist Lucy and her friend Robert, then listen carefully during a scandalous and shocking scene overheard by all.

While there are heated moments and rising action, the overall tone of this story is proper and reserved, and steps back from any emotional turmoil or passion, which seems just right for this time period, as if formally served on a tray with the morning post. The casual placement of exposition and subtle bits of foreshadowing are a welcome quiet at times. But then the pace quickens and swirls through a lakes murky depths, whips atop a window ledge, bubbles into a darkened room of herbals and powders, then splashes a deep blood red onto a crisp new gown. The resolution of the murder does not resolve the changing relationship between Lucy and Robert nor the hurt surely to follow in the next book. We can only wait patiently over tea to find out how those two will proceed.
2695565
Miss Elizabeth Armistead was raised in India. She is betrothed to Duncan, a soldier who is soon to return from India to England. She has always abhorred being seen only as a beauty, hence her betrothal to a blind soldier. Mr. Collin Lloyd-Jones is an oh so very proper Englishman from a wealthy family. His honor and feelings have taken a hit after crying off his engagement to a young woman who betrayed and humiliated him. He is understandably stiff and a bit suspicious of any pretty face to the point of paranoia. Sparks fly and attraction erupts when Collin and Elizabeth cross paths.

Miss Armistead Makes Her Choice by Heidi Ashworth is a very clean and well written Regency romance. The author is a master of the period dialogue and social behavior, which makes the plot and the twists more believable. I feel that the ending was a bit rushed as compared to the beginning, but all is forgiven with the sweet HEA. I do wish the author would have included an epilogue, but oh well, it is still a good read that's suitable for all ages.
989964
A nice combination of Regency era aristocratic themes and just a touch of lightly witch-friendly wise woman traditions.  I found it to be a pleasant read for those who like a strong, modern-ish heroine and a sturdy hero with just enough issues to be interesting (without being too flawed).
1548147
An exhausted earl returning to his family seat for Christmas seeks shelter at an inn after his horse casts a shoe. He is surprised to find that many changes have taken place since he last stayed there and that the young woman who now runs the inn is struggling to maintain the business and feed her siblings. Both the earl and the young innkeeper are remembering their losses as Christmas draws nearer, but each begins to draw comfort from the other as the days quickly pass in this sweet, Regency set tale. Olivia Ritch has crafted a warm, feel-good story suitable for all ages. The only thing that detracted from this little holiday-themed gem was the use of a few words not in use in the Regency period, but I enjoyed this story very much.
4408166
Boy meets girl, girl meets boy but the sparks which ignite lead to a delightful journey of regency boldness, quirks, giggles and moments one wishes they could shake the character upon the page. Characterization defines this work from others without dousing the reader in a bucket of flippant nostalgia. Individual personage increases the wealth of regency romance. So enduring i would enjoy another book exploring the development of this family.
3745070
This was my first regency by Gale Buck, and having read so many regencies I have to say that Mutual Consent is one of the better ones. The heroine is admirable, her aunt and her mother-in-law enjoyable, and her father makes a thoroughly convincing villain. The story is well-fleshed out, and characters are gracefully given depth.
I do believe, though, that the issue of abuse by the heroine's father was too lightly dealt with, or not very clear, especially when the hero accidentally hits her during a fit of drunkenness - I feel as if we sort of lightly skimmed through the consequences of abuse. I think that she loses the fear of her husband, and forgives him, way too easily after the beating. While it is obvious that he is gruffly apologetic, and that she is a strong heroine, I don't see how she could recover so fast.
I also agree with another reviewer - I would have loved to see a bit more squirming done by the hero before the end of the book. There was, however, one line that made me clap my hands and squeal a little - when one of his acquaintances (they were gathered to take action against the Villainous Father) insulted the heroine, he very clearly (and sternly, mind you!) turned to him and said loudly, "That is my wife, sir." Not a very cutting remark in these times, but really! What a declaration! The implications were verrry clear, and he must have known that by the same time tomorrow the ton would be buzzing with the fact that he was supportive of the heroine and would not tolerate any slander. Declaration of love? Never clearer. Sigh.
I like how there is slight mention of the marital bed. I'm all for clean regencies, they're honestly the best (Heyer, my heroine) but if a book can brush the subject without waxing lyrical about relations like some of the 'modern regency authors' do, (i.e. the throbbing and ridiculously explicit descriptions of body parts), that's good too. Honestly, conjugal relations are a big part of the marriages of the ton. They were supposed to be marrying money or for heirs, after all. I don't see how it can be skirted, especially for marriages of convenience, and I like how it was handled in this book.
All in all, an enjoyable read, and worth the 4 bucks. Good for curling up on a lazy afternoon, when you feel the need to get your regency romance groove on.
1042885
Turning to the Victorian Era, Jane Goodger brings a lovely story with her new title The Spinster Bride. Full of the banter, social restrictions and laden with wonderful secondary characters that build the scene and the world beautifully.

Charles Norris is not a prime candidate for the aspiring Mamas of the new debutantes. As the second son of a Viscount, he has been out of England pursuing his own path, only to return with a wound and a desire to marry.  Capturing the attention of the latest it girl debutante of the season, Charles is dismayed and angered when she marries another.  He will be married, in spite of his rather unusual household, and he wants to marry now.

Lady Marjorie has been out for several seasons, her dragon-like mother has decreed that she will only marry a titled man, befitting her status as the only daughter of an Earl.  With no real solid prospects, this is Marjories final season before firmly being put on the shelf.  Adhering to the social conventions of her time, Marjorie is aware of her tenuous position, and while not chafing against her mothers decree or behavior, she is also determined to protect her younger brother, the Earl from the harsh realities of life.  For George needs her protection as he is not quite right, and is truly her only Achilles heel.

When Charles twists Marjories protective nature about her brother to meet his own ends, and enlist her in his plans to find a wife in lieu of demanding repayment of a gambling debt, Marjorie is both intrigued and a willing participant, thinking the journey fun and amusing. What none but the reader expect is Marjorie and Charles starting to find qualities to admire in one another, to the detriment of Lady Penwhistle (her mother).

Goodger has created a courtship that is fun and intriguing, while slowly peeling back layers that display Marjories curious nature and Georges propensity for kindness and acceptance to all. Both are rare qualities for the era  titled men are secure and cloistered in their beliefs to be as generations before had done, and the women are not encouraged to seek out more. With insets from Marjories mother about her own failed courtship and the angry and judgmental woman that emerged from that pain, Lady Penwhistles story becomes a nice counterpoint to the developing relationship between Marjorie and Charles, and allows readers to understand just why she acts as she does.

And Marjorie and Charles are wonderful together: their interactions and her honest approach as a facilitator removes Marjories hesitation to address Charles honestly and frankly, unlike a flirtation would.  Charles ability to encourage and even delight in Marjories company, and his easy acceptance and offer of friendship to George are points in his favor, and ones that have Marjorie learning to look to her own desires and ignore expectations that are foisted upon her.

With a solid connection and several moments to laugh as Marjorie opens up and boldly asks questions and makes demands, her development and their courtship are wonderful to watch, and feel very organic and possible.  A wonderful story to spend an afternoon with as you travel into Victorian England with this couple!

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
4462356
A fun, engaging,  and sweet book. The standard Regency plot is intriguingly varied and the characters are appealing.  A good read!
2413790
Gervais, Earl of Huntley, plans to marry only when he is coerced into producing an heir for his future marquisate, which is to say, not in a long while. The recent marriages of his friends (fellow heroes of Ella Quinn's previous books) had him wanting to escape England for a while. So, why not tour the Continent and visit his Aunt Horatia in Italy as well?

Upon arriving at Horatia's residence, he sets eyes on Horatias goddaughter, the most beautiful woman he had ever met  Lady Caroline Martindale, who is repelled by his touch, but her frosty demeanor only makes him more intrigued by her. While Gervais is curiously ready to abandon his bachelor state and court her, Caro simply wants him to go away. Yet, when a powerful, determined suitor (stalker) comes to claim Caro, she and Gervais must embark on a journey together to Paris, en route needing to get married, with Gervais the difficult challenge of convincing his bride to give him a chance.

If you're in want of a fast-paced book, then look no further. Time in this novel is shaped like a U, fast paced in the beginning and end, but slower in the middle to allow for more character interactions. This technique is nicely utilized here, as Caro and Gervais are quickly thrust together with only each other on whom to depend. Gervaiss ploys to melt his Ice Maiden are coupled with his wishes to protect her, and under his care, Caros true self slowly emerges. For years, Caro was repulsed by a mans touch, after being raped by a scoundrel (this is known early on). She repressed herself, lost the joys of life, only to be brought alive by Gervaiss rakish charm and caring heart. Of course, her being a chocoholic and Gervaiss Food Temptation plan must have helped. ;-)

The characters, while not overly complex, are a delightful treat in this Regency romance. The most remarkable aspect of Ella Quinns writing is her focus on a greater scale of characters, such as the giving the widowed Horatia her own secondary romance, and painting the villain as a kind father, making me wonder if the villain might possibly be redeemed at the end of the book.

In essence, this book feels like one of Heyers Regencies, set in a more exotic locale and with a distinctly European flair that suits both its setting and the characters, and enliven those readers who have found Regency England de trop.

Side note: If you're feeling hungry, you can go look up some of the recipes mentioned in this book, and satisfy your physical hunger as well as your hunger for great reads.

*Review copy courtesy of the publisher for an honest review
3225753
WARNING!: SPOILER ALERT: Review mentions a few plot points.

This sweet romance centers on the story of Felicity, a headstrong young woman who defies the conventions of Regency England to run off with a (male) friend to live an adventurous life in Italy. The story drops you right in the middle of the action, with Felicity overhearing a murder plot. Fearing what will happen next, Felicity disguises herself as a boy and plans to return to England with her friend in order to escape a man she no longer trusts. But the ship captain, the clever Hugh Mountbank, is an acquaintance, and he sees through her subterfuge immediately.

What follows is a series of dramatic escapades as Felicity and Hugh find themselves allied (sort of) to help keep Felicity's family safe. As they are continually thrown together, both characters explore their attraction to the other. The only question is whether they will drop their guard enough to defeat a mutual enemy.

There's a lot to like in this novel. Felicity is a wonderful character: lively and unconventional, but adamant about defending her loved ones from her own follies. While some of her actions seem a little too extreme to be believed for the time...such as when she runs off to the continent with her rakish friend, unchaperoned for much of the time. While the reader is told that Felicity's and Adam's friendship is never more than that, by the standards of the time, she'd be completely ruined anyway, even though her family works to cover up the most embarrassing details of her actions.

That said, such behavior fits Felicity's personality very well. She is portrayed as rather heedless of the consequences of her actions, and it takes the repeated advice of several family members (as well as the intervention of Hugh) to get her to be a little circumspect. And her spunk is refreshing -- she helps dispose of a body and gets into a physical confrontation with a baddie because she isn't a shrinking violet, which I really appreciated. The hero, Hugh, is a bit overbearing at first, partly because we see him through Felicity's distrusting eyes. But he grows more likable and multifaceted as the story progresses. By the end, their attraction feels very realistic.

There were a few issues with the novel. First, it really plunges the reader into the middle of a few situations, where some explanation would have helped a lot. The author references characters and events that happened in the past (I believe in other books in the series), so if you haven't read them, you just have to keep the names straight until you catch up.  Also, there are a ton of secondary characters (mostly siblings, aunts, and uncles)...and it seems like nearly all of them were or are still deathly ill with some unnamed ailments. These issues are a bit vexing, but the novel is a fast-paced, sweet and enjoyable read with some intrigue, and the unusually vibrant main characters set it apart.
909888
A thoroughly fun Regency romance, with a ghost story thrown in.
I so enjoyed this little ebook. Unlike most romances that have some kind of evil person trying to keep the hero and heroin apart, this one has a ghost and a family curse that conspite to bring them together. The characters are all likeable (even the ghost) and well drawn, the romance is fraught with misunderstandings on both sides (as usual) and the paranormal aspect is well drawn. It is a quick read and well worth the time.
2495445
The Dancing Master is the first book by Julie Klassen that I have read. I thoroughly enjoyed this peek into Regency England. I love historical fiction and this is one of the eras that I especially enjoy reading about.

The setting is a quaint, little town named Beaworthy. Julia Midwinter and Alec Valcourt are the main characters. Alec has relocated to Beaworthy with his mother and sister after some sort of scandal has obviously forced them out of London. He plans to open a dancing and fencing school in Beaworthy. But therein lies a problem. Dancing is no longer tolerated in this little town.

Julia could be viewed as a spoiled little rich girl at the beginning of the novel. I suppose this would be accurate, however, I actually still liked Julia, even when she was acting out. I felt so sorry for the hurt she internalized from a father who didn't want anything to do with her. Her acting out and flirting made sense to me when looked upon with the knowledge of this insecurity she carried around with her.

The author did such a wonderful job of creating deep and interesting characters. I really enjoyed the flashbacks in the book. In these scenes, we have the opportunity to see the past through Julias mothers eyes as it is happening. It opens little windows into the story and hints at the underlying scandals that rocked their family.

The Dancing Master is a well-written novel. The romance is sweet and light, yet definitely grows throughout the story. Main characters and side characters are all very interesting. I really enjoyed the way the author was able to unfurl the mysteries one little bit at a time throughout the story, letting me know just enough to keep me wondering and reading on. The descriptions of the dances were beautiful and I felt that I could really see them dancing. After reading this book, I am looking forward to reading more of Julie Klassens novels.

I received a complimentary copy of The Dancing Master from Bethany House in exchange for an honest review, which I have given.
1884724
In this sweet Regency romance, Jonathan Brodie meets Penelope in her adoptive parents florist shop. He is immediately smitten and a tender romance between the young couple begins to bloom.  Unfortunately they meet resistance from Jonathan's boorish father, the baron Sir Brodie but that does not deter Jonathan one bit.  In fact, when he realises that Penelope's origins are unknown, he sets out to discover how she came to be the daughter of Mr and Mrs Baldwin.  However, it backfires on him when he comes to understand that he has overstepped the mark.  Having spent my own life as a "fixer" of other people's problems, I learned the hard way that sometimes one can go too far and this I had a certain sympathy for Jonathan.  The bottom line is that most people just want to be accepted for whom they are.  Apart from Sir Brodie, I enjoyed the rest of the characters in this clean romance, as well as the sweet story line that can be read in an evening.
1536459
While looking for something Regency to read, but not necessarily a romance, I ran across this series A Kurland St. Mary Mystery. To start my journey on this voyage I found the first book, Death Comes To The Village, which was published Nov. 2013. I was pleasantly surprised that this was not yet another quirky mystery, yet not such an in-depth mystery that I had to spend weeks trying to put everything together. For Regency romance enthusiasts, youll love that this reads like a vintage romance- think Pride and Prejudice.

Our main characters are Major Robert Kurland (think Mr. Darcy), a landowner and career military man who was wounded at Waterloo and uses his acerbic attitude to distance himself from the general population while professing himself a confirmed bachelor. Miss Lucy Harrington (think Miss E. Bennet), the Village Rectors eldest daughter of six who has a mind of her own, loves the freedom of movement she is afforded in Kurland St. Mary but has an outspoken personality for female of this time.

In the first book, Lucy aids Major Kurlands recovery by bullying and cajoling while they solve a mystery of a missing servant and a mysterious shadow. In the newest book, Death Comes To London, Lucy is trailing the Marriage Mart with her beautiful sister Anna and her best friend, widower Mrs. Sophia Giffin. While the wonderfully written bickering between Major Kurland and Lucy continues, yet another murder has taken center stage for these two Regency sleuths and force them into an unwitting partnership where others see courtship.

This series is filled with the delightful happenings of everyday life of the middle-class. Ms. Lloyd uses eloquent language, thoughtful details in scenes and moves the story along in a moderate pace that readers will enjoy. Of the main and reoccurring cast youll find yourself drawn in and wishing there was no way out. Like Darcy and Elizabeth, youll be enchanted with Robert and Lucys non-courtship, but as time moves on, time will tell if there is romantic hopeand I cant wait!