Sherry EwingRecensioni

Fieldnotes:
Fenwick on Sea, Regency - 1815

1 Title-Obsessed Young Miss with a Talent for Scandal
1 Non-Titled Merchant Captain (Half-French)
1 Shocking Lack of Introductions!
2 Rejected Overtures

1 Unscrupulous Rival
Sabotage!
1 Terrible Storm
1 Convergence on The Queen's Barque Inn featuring Cross-Pollination

1 Gossip Sheet Reporter
Appalling Lack of Consideration for Reputations
Kidnapping!
Fisticuffs!
Embracing in Public!

The Short Version:

Miranda de Courtenay has one overarching objective - she wants - nay, *needs* to marry a title. After all, she is currently the only one of her siblings without an honorific, and her 20-year-old self just can't handle her elder siblings having something she doesn't. Apparently, the young lady is so fixated on what she wants that she has (in previous novellas) made some rather questionable decisions and weathered more than her fair share of scandals.

I really wanted to like Miranda, but her obsession with a title for the sake of having a title (rather than wealth, or having some ambition related to the title) was extremely tiresome. Despite her being immediately drawn to merchant captain Jasper Rousseau (to the point of ignoring societal niceties like introductions before dancing a waltz - the SCANDAL), she immediately dismisses him out of hand once she learns that he's untitled and instead runs off after someone who claims to be titled but is clearly a MISCREANT - listen to your maid! She also flings herself into danger just to make sure Jasper is safe at one point (so at least she's affectionate, if reckless). She's just a very self-absorbed, very dramatic 20-year-old with messed-up priorities. And I may be a tad too old for her nonsense.

On the whole I liked Jasper and wanted the two of them to get together, but there wasn't really much of an obstacle other than his lack of title, which just wasn't good enough a reason for me to forgive Miranda throwing him away (not once, but multiple times!). I'd happily read more in the series, though.½

Have tissues handy for this lovely Regency romance collection set around the Harvest Festival in Reabridge, Cheshire, England in 1815 which varies from family-friendly to NC17, so parental guidance is advised.

MOONLIGHT WISHES AND MIDNIGHT KISSES by Collette Cameron: Have a tissue handy the afternoon it will take for this family-friendly Regency wounded warrior tale.

THE MORNING LIGHT by Caroline Warfield: Allow about two hours for this PG tale of a war-wounded doctor, his deserted daughter, and the midwife who sought a cure.

A HARVEST BLESSING by Rue Allyn: Allow two and a half hours for this PG15 romance between refugee Charite Estelle Benetia Marmont du Pessac and retired Captain Thomas Paul Owen.

COMING HOME by Mary Lancaster: Have a tissue handy for this two-and-a-half-hour romp as 24-year-old Lady Lorna Gaveston, assisted by Captain David Buckley, evades gazetted fortune hunter Edgar Winthorpe.

UNDER THE CHAMPAGNE MOON by Alina K. Field: Allow an afternoon for this PG15 tale of orphaned refugee Fleur Hardouin.

THE QUIET HEART by Elizabeth Ellen Carter: Allow an afternoon for the PG15 tale of widow Veronica Petersham who has come to fulfill the dying request of one of her soldier patients.

A LOVE BEYOND TIME by Sherry Ewing: Allow three hours for this PG15 second chance romance.

THE WIDOW'S HARVEST HOPE by Cerise DeLand: Allow two hours for this NC17 second chance with the resolution of a mystery.

LOVE IN ITS SEASON by Jude Knight: Allow about two hours for this PG15 romance between 24-year-old farrier Gwenillan Hughes and 35-year-old veteran Captain Jack Wrath.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

The first 2/3rds of the stories were very strong but the last few either contradicted what we had learned about certain characters or had characters that were tangentially tied to the original family while one of the daughters, the diligent and talented Susanna, didn't get a story at all. I was especially disappointed in Patience's story.

Overall a good collection. I'll keep reading the Bluestocking Belles.

Good book. We first met Moriah in The Talons of a Lyon, where she befriended the heroine Seraphina, who was trying to regain custody of her children. At the end of that book, we learn that Moriah wants to reclaim her reputation and that Mrs. Dove-Lyon has enlisted Vincent St. John, Marquis of Saxton, to assist her. This is their story.

The story opens as Vincent endures a visit from his parents, who want him to settle down and find a wife from among the season's debutantes. But Vincent is tired of women who only see his money, his title, and what he will one day inherit. He has the example of a loving marriage with his parents and wants to find someone who sees who he is, not what he is. He agrees to attend a few balls but makes no promises about results. Then he joins his friends at the Lyon's Den that evening.

Moriah is a woman with a tarnished reputation. After her parents' deaths left her penniless and her grandfather disowned her, she was lucky to find a man who wanted to marry her. But within two years, she discovered he had a gambling problem, and his debts came home to roost upon his death. Once again, she was left with nothing and was forced to look for a benefactor to survive. Over the years, she had some that were good and others that weren't. Then her last benefactor, who had no relatives, left everything he had to her. She can now support herself and ignore society.

Then her friend Cassandra informs Moriah that she has engaged Mrs. Dove-Lyons to find her a husband and return Moriah to the society where she belongs. Their trip to the Lyon's Den that evening is eye-opening for Moriah, who sees a man who had caught her attention earlier in the day. That man is Vincent, who is somewhat the worse for wear from drinking and mistakes Moriah for one of the working girls. The encounter goes poorly for Vincent, and I loved seeing Moriah blast him. Over the next few nights, neither has been able to forget the other. It is no surprise to the reader that the man Mrs. Dove-Lyon picks for Moriah is Vincent.

The stakes tonight are that the loser of the card game must take the woman of Mrs. Dove-Lyon's choosing to a ball. He suspects that the fix is already in and that he will be the loser. To say that Moriah is unhappy with her chosen escort would be putting it mildly, and their introduction in the garden gets off to a rough start. Vincent is surprised but pleased to discover that Moriah has no idea who he is and finds himself looking forward to the ball the next night.

I enjoyed watching this relationship develop. Moriah's arrival at her first ball in many years started the tongues wagging immediately. Vincent wasted no time greeting her as the sparks continued to fly, thanks to his somewhat misplaced sense of humor. Vincent is a good man determined to help Moriah regain her place in society. I enjoyed their time at the ball and seeing the connection between them. Vincent is vocal in his support of her and is intrigued by her.

I enjoyed seeing them spend time together and grow closer, though there are some obstacles to overcome. Moriah's reputation, though, seems to be dealt with easily. Vincent's mother is not initially a fan, though Vincent quickly brings her around. I loved seeing Moriah relax in Vincent's company as her worries about her reputation damaging his faded in her growing acceptance. And most worrying, someone appears to be trying to kill her. Three unexplained accidents in quick succession have Vincent looking for whoever has a grudge against Moriah. My mind immediately went to one person as the most likely culprit. I liked Vincent's devotion to Moriah's safety as his feelings for her deepened. When the threats against Moriah come to a head, it reveals a far deeper plot against her. The resolution of this issue was fantastic, and I loved Moriah's active participation.

I loved how everything came together to help Moriah. Vincent's friends lend a hand in trying to discover who has it out for Moriah. They also provide an opportunity for Moriah to acquire another champion in her quest to restore her reputation. I loved the scene at that ball as its hostess gives her stamp of approval and shows her understanding of the challenges Moriah faced. That's not Moriah's only surprise, and I enjoyed seeing her happiness as her dreams came true. I hope to see more of them in future books.

The epilogue was a terrific setup for the next book in this subset of the Lyon's Den series. Cassandra visits Mrs. Dove-Lyon to arrange help for the next one of her friends to receive her assistance. I like Cassandra's plans to help those friends regain the lives they deserve, and I look forward to reading their stories. I expect that Cassandra will be the final recipient of Mrs. Dove-Lyon's assistance and that there is a foreshadowing of who will be her hero.

#netgalley

An uneven collection but I really enjoyed Melting Matilida and Lord Ethan's Courage, enough that I'm on the lookout for more stories with these characters. I do enjoy a collection where all the stories are connected and the Belles excel at this. The choice of the 1814 Frost Fair elevates the weaker stories, an event I wasn't aware of.

This lovely mostly NC17 collection of romances about ten orphaned ladies and their Dowager Countess stepmother doing what they can to get by will fill most of a week.

LADY DOROTHEA'S CURATE by Caroline Warfield is a lovely tale about Lady Dorothea Bigglesworth and her fondness for the curate at Pilgrim's Rest.

CONCERTO by Mary Lancaster recounts the plan of the Seahaven daughters centering on 27-year-old Lady Barbara Bigglesworth after she meets the piano tuner Mr. Jack Sutton who is over 30. PG15

THE BUTLER AND THE BLUESTOCKING by Rue Allyn pivots on the Rosetta Stone for which Lady Elizabeth Regina Bigglesworth is verifying the translation of Mr. Thomas Young.

THE FOUR-TO-ONE FANCY by Elizabeth Ellen Carter considers identical twins Ladies Ivy and Iris Bigglesworth, 18, cousins Captain John Bentley, Viscount Tyrell, and Captain James Bentley, and Crimson Lad owned by the Captains Bentley.

LORD CUCKOO COMES HOME by Jude Knight is a PG15 romp in which Captain Lord Diomedes/Dom Finchley, 28, rescues Lady Chloe Tavistock, 22, and her monkey Rosalia.

I'LL ALWAYS BE YOURS by Ella Quinn is a delightful romp involving young people thwarting the Duke of Somerset and his land grabbing plans as well as attending the reform meeting.

LADY TWISDEN'S PICTURE PERFECT MATCH by Alina K. Field, set mostly at St. Hedwig's Place, York, is two and a half hours of sheer delight.

A DUKE FOR JOSEFINA by Meara Platt starts in York and then moves to Cumbe Grange near Scarborough with laughs along the way.

A COUNTESS TO REMEMBER by Sherry Ewing is a lovely romance about Dowager Countess Patience Seahaven and her love at first sight.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

If you read the book synopsis, you know that the Earl of Seahaven desperately wanted an heir, but after 5 wives and nine daughters, he died without that heir. The stories in this anthology show the struggle they went through when they were left practically penniless and how each of them – including his young countess – found their HEAs. Each of the stories is very well written and I think you will like all of them. With this book, as with all books with this premise, I have to wonder how Seahaven, who loved his family but was old, could leave his family with NO protection. Yes, titles are entailed as are major properties, but there is also bound to be some associated wealth and/or properties that are unentailed. Anyway – that aside, the stories are great and I love how each of the ladies used their unique talents to contribute to the welfare of them all.

You’ll find each story unique and special:

Caroline Warfield’s hotel employee, Lady Dorothea (Doro), and her curate Mr. Clark find their future in Lady Dorothea’s Curate.
Mary Lancaster’s musician, Lady Barbara, and Jack Sutton play a merry tune in Concerto
Rue Allyn’s historian, Elizabeth (Bess), and Malcolm K. Marr discover hidden identities in The Butler and the Bluestocking.
Elizabeth Ellen Carter’s artistic twins Ivy and Iris, who have vowed to only marry brothers, race to find that cousins can be as close as brothers in The Four-to-One Fancy.
Jude Knight’s Chloe (A cousin to the sisters) isn’t fashionable in any way but finds that she fits very nicely with Dom Finchley in Lord Cuckoo Comes Home.
Ella Quinn’s Miss Harriett Staunton and Lord Sextus (don’t you love it) Trevor, go to great lengths to out-maneuver the Duke of Somerset in I’ll Always Be Yours
Alina K. Fields’s Lady Honoria Twisden and Major August Kellborn stirs your heart in Lady Twisden’s Picture
Meara Platt’s botanist, Lady Josefina, and the Duke of Bourne find the cure for their lonely hearts in A Duke for Josefina
Sherry Ewing’s young dowager countess, Patience Bigglesworth, and Richard, Viscount Cranfield finally succumb to fate and find their HEA in A Countess To Remember.

** Overall Rating is 4.3 **

“When a storm blows off the North Sea and slams into the village of Fenwick on Sea, the villagers prepare for the inevitable: shipwreck, flood, land slips, and stranded travelers. The Queen’s Barque Inn quickly fills with the injured, the devious, and the lonely—lords, ladies, and simple folk; spies, pirates, and smugglers all trapped together. Intrigue crackles through the village, and passion lights up the hotel.”

I believe this is the longest review I have ever written – simply because it covers 8 novellas. I will say one thing that relates to all of the stories I read in this book – they are all remarkably well filled out and that is a difficult thing to do in so few pages.

An Improbable Hero by Mary Lancaster – 4.5 STARS

This is the first time I’ve read Mary Lancaster’s work, and I’m so glad to have given it a try. The writing is excellent and I felt I really connected with the characters. That connection is something that is really hard for an author to do with such a short word count. I will definitely look for more of her books.

Simon Jarvis and Letty Lovell are an unlikely pair. Letty is young and innocent – and running away from an abusive guardian who is trying to force her into a marriage she doesn’t want. Simon is seasoned and jaded with a soul as black as the night. Yet, they are drawn together and Simon can’t do anything other than save her when her guardian shows up – and in the company of a Frenchman no less. Not a good thing while England isn’t through with Napoleon yet.

Lord Stanton’s Shocking Seaside Honeymoon – Cerise Deland – 4.5 STARS

I absolutely adored this wonderful love story between Josephine Meadows and Russell Downey, the sixth Earl of Stanton. They are absolutely made for each other even though he’s an aristocrat and she’s the daughter of a very rich merchant. Even with that disparity, they both work together for the good of England against Napoleon. She has a huge network of informants throughout Europe thanks to their business ventures and he is responsible for assuring the supply chain of men and materials for the war effort. They’ve worked together for years – each has loved the other for years, but neither would ever let the other know. This delightful tale is about their wedding – and the adventures of their non-honeymoon while they try to save one of Josephine’s informants.

The Tender Flood – Caroline Warfield – 4.5 STARS

This is a lovely tale of two lonely people who don’t realize how lonely they are until they see what is missing in their lives. Zachary (Zach) Newell was invalided out of the army when he lost his leg. Now, he acts as a coachman for his uncle’s coaching company. He has dreams for his life and his current position allows him to save toward making that dream a reality. He is a really good man – kind, caring, and honorable. His biggest love is books – he loves having them, reading them, sharing them, discussing them. Patience Abney is the daughter of an impoverished vicar – and the granddaughter and cousin of an Earl. Therein lies the rub – at least as far as Zach is concerned. He well learned his ‘place’ while he was in the army and he knows Patience is far beyond his reach. However, he’ll do all he can to help her and her students while they are stranded at the inn during this raging storm. All he has to do is keep his hands off her and remember she is by far his better. We all know how well that is going to work out for him, don’t we? Their journey to their HEA was a lovely thing and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

Before I Found You – Sherry Ewing – 3.5 STARS

Captain Jasper Rousseau is wealthy, handsome, confident, honorable, untitled, and not in any particular hurry to marry – even though his mother is constantly urging him to do so. His shipping business is flourishing – especially with the purchase of their new ship, the Legacy. To appease his mother, he is attending a Valentine’s Day ball and he’s not happy about it – until he sees – across the room …

Miranda de Courtenay is simply a ‘Miss’ and she doesn’t like that one bit. She wants a title above all else and the way to get one is to marry one. She is bold and independent and that usually keeps her in trouble of one sort or another, so her suitors aren’t exactly lining up at her door. When she meets a handsome, intriguing man at the Valentine’s Day ball, her hopes soar. Can this man be her ‘title’ and be attractive too?

Once Miranda discovers Jasper has no title, she immediately, sadly, tells him they have no future. He is very disappointed in her but assumes he’ll never see her again. Besides, he has a saboteur to deal with – someone keeps damaging his new ship. He’s sure it is his longtime enemy, Hugo Danville, but has no proof.

It is interesting to see Miranda come to terms with her jealousy over her siblings having titles while she doesn’t. I never came to care much for Miranda, but it was nice to see her learn that the heart wants what the heart wants.

This was another new-to-me author.

The Comtesse of Midnight – Alina K. Field – 3.0 Stars

Malcolm Comyn, Earl of Menteith, is frantically searching for … himself. A cousin is challenging his right to be the earl and Malcolm has to find the proof – one way or the other. He has to find the Comtesse de Fontenay because she will have the answers he needs. On his way to find her, he gets waylaid by an awful storm – and ends up rescuing a woman. Except the woman, dressed as a man, doesn’t welcome his ‘rescue’. But, OMGoodness – she is a beautiful sight.

Marielle Plessiers is the Comtesse de Fontenay, but not the one for whom Malcolm is looking. She knows of Malcolm and his story, and she’ll have to share what she knows with him. But, can she trust him? He knows she is a smuggler. She also knows she has to trust him and hopefully he can help her with the man who keeps turning up to threaten her.

This story left me feeling a bit unsatisfied because it didn’t feel finished. In the author’s notes at the end, the author tells us that we can find the answers if we read another book she has written. That is all well and good if I wanted to read another book – but – it doesn’t do a thing for making this story feel finished to me. This is another new-to-me author.

Wait For Me – Rue Allyn – 4.7 STARS

Irish Red/Eugenia/Miss Fynlock/Esme (a lady of many names) has been a privateer all of her life and the English would love to get a rope around her lovely neck. Although she was legally acting as a privateer for the Americans, the English wanted her as a pirate. Now, here she is, on English soil, on a personal mission. The trouble is, there has been a horrendous storm and she’s finding it almost impossible to get to the small seaside village of Fenwick On Sea to complete that mission. It seems she’s been slogging through the mud for days when she trips over a lump of some sort that is lying in her path. When she stoops down to do a closer examination of that lump, it turns out it is a British naval officer with whom she has a history. She knows he’d like nothing better than to get her under lock and key – but she cannot leave him out in this weather to die.

Brandon Gilroy is on a mission for the crown. A shipment of munitions, meant for the English troops fighting against the French, has gone missing and it is Brandon’s job to find it, get it to the right place, and see that the culprits are caught. When he is rescued by a pirate who could certainly be involved in the plot, he can hardly believe it because he thought she had more honor than that. Then, at the inn, he discovers even more possible culprits. How will he manage to get the information he needs to find who has the munitions?

Even though this is my favorite of the stories, it is also the one that left me with so many unanswered questions. I loved the characters – and I know they had a HEA – but I have no clue how they got there. The author’s notes said I could read an as yet unwritten book to find out the answers. That did not please me.

A Dream Come True – Jude Knight – 4.7 Stars

OH! This was the sweetest, loveliest story. I loved ALL of the characters. I loved that the village busybody/bully got her comeuppance – but I wish it had been more. I absolutely adore Daniel and the way both Barnaby and Theo deal with him. BTW – this was another new-to-me author.

Barnaby Somerville was just called to be a vicar. He loves it and can’t imagine his life doing anything else. He also loves the small seaside village in which he serves as curate for his father. The people, for the most part, are wonderful giving souls who care about each other. The exception is Mrs. Fullerton who is the self-appointed morality police of the parish. At the moment, her focus is on Barnaby’s wards, particularly his nephew Daniel who happens to be part black. According to Mrs. Fullerton, Daniel is an abomination and should be removed from the village and sent off to an orphanage so he doesn’t taint the residents. Unfortunately, Barnaby’s father feels the same way and will surely remove Barnaby from being the vicar when he learns Barnaby has taken in his deceased, disowned sister’s children. Barnaby’s income is small – very small – and he can barely stretch it to cover his own living expenses much less the addition of the two children. However, he'll do whatever it takes to keep them.

Barnaby has a small amount of skill as a healer and is quickly called upon to treat all of the injured travelers who are washing ashore from all of the raging storm wrecked ships. Although she isn’t injured, one of those rescued from a ship is Theodora (Theo) Conroy. Theo is a lovely, quiet young woman who is the lady’s maid to Lady Felicity who is also rescued. While Theo wasn’t injured from the shipwreck, she is quite ill because of travel sickness – she doesn’t just suffer from seasickness – it is any travel that sickens her. So, when she is brought off the ship, she is really quite ill. She’s also quite intrigued by the handsome, competent, caring vicar who is giving excellent care to her and all of the other passengers.

I enjoyed watching quiet, unpretentious, unassuming Theo come into her own and vociferously defend both Daniel and Barnaby. I also enjoyed watching them grow to love each other – even knowing their hearts would be broken when Theo had to leave with her mistress. It is a lovely, lovely, heartwarming read and I am sure you’ll enjoy this story.

A Kiss By The Sea – Grace Burrowes – 5 STARS

There are some really good stories in here, but this was my absolute favorite. I love the characters and felt I could fully relate to them and their situations The descriptions of village life were absolutely delightful and made me want to live in just such a place.

The Fenwick on Sea blacksmith is so much more than that, but he doesn’t want anyone to know how much more. So, Thaddeus Pennrith uses the name Thad Penn with all of his friends and neighbors there. He’s handsome, well mannered, intelligent, caring, and has an elegance about him that few have ever seen before. He’s been there for five years now and knows he’ll soon have to give it up and leave, but he is dreading that day when he has to return to his real life and responsibilities.

Lady Sarah Weatherby has finally screwed up her courage and fled a n’er do well betrothed and a manipulative, dishonest uncle. Were it not for a horrendous storm, she’d have reached her aunt’s home already. Instead, she is stranded in a seaside village with blocked roads and a coach in need of repair. Sarah is traveling incognito in hopes of preventing a scandal and to keep her uncle from finding her and taking her back to London. In this small village, she sees a life she’d never known existed. The people have real conversations, they actually like and have affection for each other, they are all productive and useful, they are all just kind, caring individuals. Sarah comes to admire them and to learn a lot more about herself as a person. And – that fine blacksmith is certainly worth admiring.

It was a delight to see Thad bolster Sarah’s self-esteem, self-worth, and self-confidence. As they came to know each other and love each other, each of them was fearful that the other might not want them if their true identities were exposed. In the end, the family confrontations only make them stronger together and makes their love burn brighter. I definitely enjoyed this read!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Such fun!! This was a delightful collection of romances that all center around members of the Ladies Society. Written by different authors they are all connected. Different flavors in one bowl. YUM!! Really well done.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

A very entertaining collection of stories. They all center around a ring that is passed down through the generations that supposedly unites lovers. All of the authors did a good job telling their stories and they ran the gamut of history etc. Would have been a 5 star rating but some of the stories were samples and not whole stories. I despise starting a book only to find out it's not all there. If I know in advance it's a little better but I much prefer reading the whole thing at one time.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

The Earl Takes A Wife (A de Courtenay Novella Book 2) by Sherry Ewing is an enchanting Regency Romance. While, book 2 it can be read as a stand alone.
Meet, Lady Celia Lacey too young for a husband, til she meets, Lord Adrian de Courtenay, man-about-town.
A quick read. Well written and well excuted. The cast of characters are enchanting and the storyline flows seamlessly and effortlessly. Once again, Ms. Ewing weaves a story that grabs the heart and keeps readers in awe.
An enjoyable and satisfying read!

"This novella was first released in the Bluestocking Belle's 2019 boxset Valentines From Bath."

"I voluntarily received a complimentary copy, however, these are my honest opinions. I was in no way required nor compensated to write a review."

Rating: 4.5
Heat rating: Sweet/Clean
Reviewer: AprilR½

These novellas all center around Valentines Day in Bath. I’m not normally a fan of Anthologies, but I thought this would give me a chance to try some new authors plus read something by an author that I love.

Beauty and the Bounder by Jessica Cale: 2.5 Stars

This was a nice, well-written story, but it holds no resemblance to life in Regency times. So, if you aren’t into period accuracy, then you would like this story.

The Earl Takes A Wife by Sherry Ewing: 3 Stars

Lady Celia Lacey – age 17 – meets Adrian de Courtenay at a house party and she’s completely smitten. When she softly asks him to ‘wait for her’, he is intrigued by the young lady who he considers too young for himself. Over the course of the next couple of years, she remains smitten and he is more and more intrigued. When he begins to understand that he wants to marry her – they are caught in a compromising position. He believes she engineered it and is very, very bitter and unforgiving.

I understand his anger – except – he knows how manipulative and deceitful Miranda (his sister) is, so why would he automatically believe her rather than the woman he loves? She tries to explain, but he won’t listen. Also – the ‘magical’ reappearance of the mistress at the end gave me a ‘say what’ moment. She couldn’t have known where Celia was going to be, nor would she have had the time to arrive there – especially with so much money. Just struck me as very unnecessary and contrived drama.

The Beast Next Door by Jude Knight: 5 Stars

It is a sure sign of a well-told tale when you read a novella and feel you have the complete story. The characters are fully developed, likable and relatable. The story is fast-paced, well written and well plotted.

Childhood friends Charis and Eric were torn apart when Eric’s mother tore from the only home he’d ever known and sent him to Italy for some horrible surgery on a disfiguring birthmark on his face. Eric had been locked away at a country estate near Bath all of his life. He was called Beast, Wreck and many worse things. It is ten years later and Eric has returned to England with every intention of reconnecting with Charis.

Eric’s mother is a real low life and she intends for Eric to marry the woman of her choice. A woman that she can control and Eric will just have to learn to live with it. Eric plans to fully thwart his mother, reconnect with Charis – and marry her.

It is a lovely read!

The Umbrella Chronicles by Amy Quinton: 4 Stars

I loved this very amusing tale of romance. Take a staid, uptight, OCD mathematician named Dr. John Edward Hartwell, and pair him with a zany heroine, Miss Emma Merryweather, who believes in all of the ‘signs’ fate sends her and you have a delightful tale. I loved both of the characters and the author did an excellent job or conveying the quirky personalities of each

Candles In The Dark by Caroline Warfield: 5 Stars

My favorite of all – well maybe tied with The Beast Next Door.

Sergeant Douglas Marsh was wounded in the fight with Napoleon and had to leave his career in the military and at about the same time, his uncle passed away and Douglas inherited the Marsh Candle Works. Luckily his aunt had worked alongside his uncle in running the candle works, so she could help him in the transition. Marsh does his best to rescue as many of the returned wounded as he can – hiring them even though he doesn’t need them at the factory and can’t really afford the wages.

Esther Hopkins made a mistake and has paid dearly for it. She’s been cast out by her family and has been existing as best she can in Bath. She’s starving and her baby is almost due. As she loses consciousness in front of a bakery while waiting for the bread the baker would normally throw away, she’s rescued by the kindest man.

The romance Esther and Doug is so very sweet. You will quickly come to love – but more – respect both of these characters for the strong people they are. BTW – I loved how they dealt with the villain who arched across several of the books.

Definitely a good read!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.