Lord Fenton's Folly

By Josi S. Kilpack

Lord Fenton is a gambler and a dandy, and he will be stripped of his wealth and position unless he rises to his responsibility—one of which is to marry. Far from being a giddy groom, Fenton chooses the unobjectionable Alice Stanbridge simply because he had known her as a young girl and his mother feels Alice would make a good wife.

Alice, however, has harbored feelings for Fenton since their first meeting years ago, and his proposal is a dream come true. Not only would a match with the most-eligible bachelor in London secure her future, but it will also give her a place of distinction and admiration. Had anyone admired Alice for anything before now?

When Alice learns that she is not only an unwanted wife, but a demanded one, however, she closes her heart. Only when Lord Fenton faces the greatest trial of his life does he begin to find love beyond the folly. Could a great love come from a beginning such as this?

The historical regency “proper” romances are one of my guilty pleasures, and I can’t help but blow through them for a shot of warm fuzzy goodness. I was especially excited about this one because of Lord Fenton’s funny cameos in Kilpack’s other regency romance “A Heart Revealed” and was looking forward to seeing the comedic Fenton meet his match (pun intended). This was an unpleasing read for me. I’m going to give a few spoilers in the following so stop reading if you don’t want to know. Usually there is some kind of moral hang up that happens preventing the romance from progressing. This is the case for Fenton, who has an issue with intimacy because of the transgressions of his father. I had a really hard time reading this because of that. I disliked reading it, and it didn’t feel like a true ‘proper’ romance because of it. As I’ve always stated however, I am highly sensitive and don’t care for anything of a sexual nature in my books. A good kiss is okay, but other than that makes me uncomfortable.

I give it a 2.75 out of 5

A Heart Revealed

By Josi Kilpack

Amber Marie Sterlington, the Rage of the Season in Regency-era London, has her pick of men, and she knows what she wants most in a husband: a title and a fortune. Why would she ever marry for something as fickle as love? And why would she ever look twice at Thomas Richards, a third son of a country lord?

But when Amber’s social standing is threatened, the character of her future husband becomes far more important than his position. After a public humiliation, she finds herself exiled to Yorkshire. Alone except for her maid, Amber is faced with a future she never expected in a circumstance far below what she has known all her life. Humbled and lonely, Amber begins to wonder if isolation is for the best. Who could ever love her now?

It’s very difficult to enjoy a book when you don’t like the main character. I had a hard time relating to or even feeling sympathy for Amber. She’s a brat. She’s totally vapid and doesn’t have one thought for someone else, she’s too fixated on her beauty and her ability to snag a rich husband. Even when things go horribly wrong for her and she has to start rethinking her life, I still held a grudge against this lady. I found myself latching on to the interesting facts I was learning about the disease that Amber has and the family history we learn as we read. I enjoyed reading this book, but I wasn’t sucked in or feeling any warm fuzzies at the romance. Thomas was way too good for her. I liked the maid better.

I give this a 3 out of 5

Lady Emma's Campaign

By Jennifer Moore

She would follow him through peace and war.

London, 1811

The London Season is ushered in with a thrilling flurry of invitations, gowns, and parties. But despite her status as belle of the ball, lovely socialite Emma Drake simply cannot fathom becoming entangled with any gentleman of her acquaintance. For in truth, since childhood her heart has belonged to Captain Sidney Fletcher, a man of the sea—and her brother’s best friends. Emma knows that Sidney’s directive to free the Spanish city of Cadiz from French occupation will be dangerous, but when word arrives of his capture, she is frantic. Determined to aid her brother in Sidney’s rescue, she hides aboard his ship and sets a course to Spain. But the realities of war are a far cry from the drawing rooms of London, and Emma finds the man she loves a mere shadow of his former self. When a series of events leaves them trapped together behind enemy lines, Emma and Sidney must embark on a journey fraught with danger—from a bloody hunt for Spanish treasure to the battlefields of war-torn Spain, new threats lurk around every turn. As their flight becomes increasingly perilous, Sidney and Emma must trust each other with their lives—but can they trust the other with their heart?

It’s hard to find a good clean romance that is written well with believable characters and an entertaining plot. I enjoyed Jennifer Moore’s first book Becoming Lady Lockwood enough that I picked this up at the library as soon as it came out. While it was fun to see old faces, I had a hard time liking Emma. She’s sheltered and she screams far too much. Perhaps it’s because when I’m truly terrified I can’t speak. I was reminded of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. I swear all that blonde woman did was scream in a high-pitched and very annoying way. I inadvertently pictured her as I read about Emma’s experiences in the midst of a war. Sure, she gets better, but there is that first picture to contend with. It made me not like her and I only minimally was able to overcome that. It’s always hard to root for a relationship when you don’t like one of the characters. Sidney was much more agreeable, though he became a fairly stereotypical protective male. Though I did appreciate the gesture that was made toward explaining PTSD. It was a fine read, just not one of my favorites. Will I read Ms. Moore’s next book? Probably. This was just a case of not liking the character versus the writing or overarching plot.

I give it a 3 out of 5

Becoming Lady Lockwood

By Jennifer Moore

Amelia Beckett is delighted to be a widow. Married by proxy to a man she’d never met, Amelia recognizes that a fortuitous entry into widowhood frees her from meddlesome chaperones and matchmakers. Heiress to her mother’s sugar plantation in Jamaica, she happily anticipates working I a man’s world, with the additional credibility of her new title: Lady Lockwood. But with the arrival of Captain Sir William Drake, her plans quickly go awry…

William has traversed the Atlantic with one purpose. If he cannot prove that Amelia’s marriage to his brother was a fraud, she will be entitled to a sizeable portion of his family’s estate. He is determined to return this duplicitous “Lady” to London for an official hearing, and he carries with him a letter that will ensure her cooperation…

Left with no choice, Amelia joins the captain on his return voyage to England, and the two quickly find that ship life does not allow for evasion. Amelia and William are ceaselessly thrown together, and amidst fierce storms and ocean battles, what began as antipathy seems to be evolving quite unexpectedly. But as they draw ever closer to their destination, will the impossibility of their circumstances shatter any hope of a future together?

I happened to overhear a conversation where this book was mentioned in tandem with Sarah Eden and of course I had to see what was up. Another proper romance? Yes indeedy. If you’re looking for a fun adventure with a warm fuzzy romance and a few laughs, then you’ll love Becoming Lady Lockwood. Amelia is an honest person, having been raised in Jamaica and away from the false faces and courts of London. She’s not afraid of work and she genuinely likes people and wants to be useful. When she meets Captain William Drake, she thinks he’s a horrible and mean sort of man, but when they are thrown together out of necessity on a ship sailing for London, she quickly sees that the Captain is the best sort of man there is. Captain William Drake tries his best to dislike Amelia, but when he sees what kind of woman she is, he can’t help being drawn to her. With sea battles, court battles, and family issues galore, will William and Amelia find a way to be together? This was a lovely addition to the genre of proper romances, and taking place on a ship was a creative endeavor and fun trip for this reader. I enjoyed nearly every moment (minus a few harrowing moments of death and mayhem). I am excited to add another author in my go-to for a fluffy romance when needed. Well written and well-researched.

Content warning: There is some violence in this book. It takes place in wartime and the ship is boarded and many people die. It’s not overly gory but the death toll and resulting nightmares on Amelia’s part had me a little discomforted. If you don’t mind violence then you should be fine.

I give it a 3.5 out of 5 

Glimmer of Hope

By Sarah M. Eden

Stunning Miranda Harford once had the world at her feet. She was young carefree, and desperately in love. But when her new husband left for London without her, her world fell apart. Devastated by his abandonment, Miranda fled their home, taking residence at her husband’s rarely visited countryside estate. For three years, she lived alone. But now, as the holidays draw near, an unexpected visitor arrives…

Carter Alexander Harford, Seventh Viscount Devereaux, is a man driven to succeed. His work is his life, and the position of Prime Minister of England is within reach. But in truth, Carter is a man haunted by lost love. Estranged from his beautiful wife, Carter is shocked to find Miranda—the woman he loved and who he believes left him—in residence at his country home. As plans for a holiday party move forward, the uneasy couple realizes that to avoid further scandal, they must keep up appearances in a charade of marital happiness. Thrust together by fate, it quickly becomes clear that they have both been living beneath a conspired cloud of misunderstanding. As family, career, and social pressures threaten to keep them apart, can love have even a glimmer of hope?

Another book by Sarah Eden, this one is a Christmas book and one of the more emotionally twisting ones that I’ve read. Miranda is such a sweet character and I found myself connecting with and loving her character. Carter has obviously been hurt and the way he acts around and treats Miranda shows it. He is confused at why she left him four years previously, and is even more disturbed by the fact that after being around her he realizes he still loves her. Miranda tries to protect herself from old feelings when she sees her husband who she believes abandoned her, and remembering the love they used to share has been torture for her. Can the two ever be reconciled after the hurt they both experienced? Will they ever understand what happened four years ago? This is a kind of torturous love story. It’s about a husband and wife estranged from one another, and for the majority of the book, you don’t know why and neither do they. When everything comes to light it is heartbreaking. I would’ve liked to have had a little more than a glimmer of hope at the end of the book. Don’t get me wrong, things are good and the ending is fine, but the trip through had me frowning and screaming at the two characters to just flipping talk to each other! Ah, the stress of it all. This is a good story and book, but the tone was less lighthearted than I look for in a regency romance. I want to be happy and have warm fuzzies flying around my stomach at the end, but in this book I found myself sighing at the end in a sort of sad way.

I give this one a 3.25 out of 5- above average, but not happy enough.

For Elise

By Sarah M. Eden

In the sprawling gardens of their neighboring estates, childhood friends Miles and Elise spent countless pleasant days together in the spirited adventures of youth. They were inseparable—until Elise vanished without a trace. Miles searched, but Elise could not—or would not—be found…After years spent laboring on the family plantation in the West Indies, Miles Linwood is shocked by the unexpected news: he has inherited his distant cousin’s estate and the title of Marquess of Grenton. Miles’s return to England is tarnished by only one thing—he is still haunted by Elise’s mysterious disappearance. So when he glimpses a woman with a starling resemblance to his lost friend, he’s shaken to the core. This is no mere shadow of the past: it is truly Elise. But his dear friend has changed—to the point that he questions whether it is really her, though he knows it is. Accustomed to rescuing Elise from childhood escapades, Miles takes her and those in her care back to his estate, even as he struggles to understand her fear and mistrust. As their friendship and feelings slowly blossom again, the shocking truth of their separated years is revealed, and Miles realizes more than ever that he must protect Elise. She slipped away once, and he cannot lose her again.

I’ve become quite the fan of Sarah Eden, she’s my go-to author for a quick little romance jaunt that I don’t have to worry about content. This is her newest novel and I was pleased to be able to get a hold of it so quickly. Miles was a great character, though his past actions felt very out of step with his overall character, though it was explained. Elise is a tragic sort of heroine and I found myself dreading finding out what happened to her, because I was sure of it from a very early point in the novel. Which leads me to my only real problem with the book: I just have an issue with what happened to Elise, because it’s something of a personal nightmare that I hope never happens to anyone. This fact colored my read of the novel and I just wasn’t able to be objective about it, and ended up feeling rather sad than happy toward the end like I’m accustomed when reading a regency romance. If you’ve read Eden’s books you’ll know that she chooses a difficulty to give her characters like child loss, widowed, abuse, etc. This one was just not for me.

It still gets a solid 3.5 out of 5 because it was good despite my personal issues.

Newt's Emerald

By Garth Nix

After the Newington Emerald is stolen at the height of a conjured storm, eighteen year-old Lady Truthful Newington goes to London to search for the magical heirloom of her house. But as no well-bred young lady can hunt the metropolis for a stolen jewel, she has to disguise herself as a man, and is soon caught up in a dangerous adventure where she must risk her life, her reputation... and her heart.

Balancing twin roles as a young lady coming out in her first season and as an intrepid young man up against an evil sorceress isn’t easy, but Truthful has to manage it. Her father’s life and even the fate of England may depend upon her recovering the Newington Emerald!

This is a fun little romp of a story, mixing regency with magic and there’s a little bit of Twelfth Knight in there as well. I enjoyed reading about Truthful’s first foray into society as both young woman and young man, and her relationships with the people she meets. It’s a cute little tale of magic, mystery and romance, something which I didn’t think I’d be seeing from Garth Nix, but it lends itself well to his dry wit and creative ingenuity. I enjoyed myself thoroughly while reading and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good fantasy mixed with history.

I give it a 3.75 out of 5

Kiss of a Stranger

By Sarah M. Eden

When Crispin, Lord Cavratt, thoroughly and scandalously kisses a serving woman in the garden of a country inn, he assumes the encounter will be of no consequence. But he couldn’t be more mistaken—the maid is not only a lady of birth, she’s the niece of a very large, exceptionally angry gentleman, who claims Crispin has compromised his niece beyond redemption. The dismayed young lord has no choice but to marry Miss Catherine Thorndale, who lacks both money and refinement and assumes all men are as vicious as her guardian uncle. Trapped between an unwanted marriage and a hasty annulment, which would leave his reputation tainted and Catherine’s utterly ruined, Crispin begins guiding his wife’s transformation from a socially petrified country girl to a lady of society. Their unfolding relationship reveals encouraging surprises for both of them, and privately, each of them wonders if theirs may become a true marriage of the heart. But their hopes are dashed when forces conspire to split asunder what fate has granted, and as a battle of wits escalates into a life-threatening confrontation, will it be possible for Crispin and Catherine to live happily ever after?

Sooooo, here’s another regency romance by the lovely Sarah Eden. This is, I guess, a kind of addendum to the world of the Jonquil brothers books, as Crispin is a close friend and honorary Jonquil brother. Crispin’s story goes at a fast clip, and also advances in a backward sort of way. It reminded me of the TV movie Love Comes Softly, because Crispin marries Catherine, and it takes a while for them to fall in love. Crispin is proud and hard-headed and had me frustrated at times with how silly he is when dealing with his ‘wife’. Catherine is so timid and fragile that he has to walk on eggshells and figure out how to treat her so she won’t run away or think he’ll hit her. This is actually a good story for showing how marriages and love can grow as you learn about your spouse and how to read their moods and figure out what makes them happy. I enjoyed the slow way that Crispin and Catherine fall in love, one good turn at a time with plenty of steps backward. This was also a good read, though I liked As You Are and Drops of Gold better.

I give it a 3.5 out of 5

As You Are

By Sarah M. Eden

A horse breeder by trade, corbin Jonquil is more at home in the stables than in the ballroom of his sprawling estate. Corbin is the quietest of the Jonquil brothers and has always faded into the background, contentedly unnoticed. When a mysterious young widow, Mrs. Clara Bentford, moves into the neighborhood, however, Corbin quickly comes to realize that being noticed has its advantages. But how to catch the eye of the lady? According to his brothers, Corbin need only make a few simple changes to transform himself into the object of any woman’s desire—dubious advice, indeed. Following a series of misadventures, Corbin and Clara slowly lower the facades behind which they’ve been hiding, leaving Corbin shocked by the horrors that haunt the woman he’s coming to care for so ardently. When the menace of Clara’s past threatens to tear them apart and tensions mount, will the couple have the courage to fight for the promise of forever?

I have now read a fair few of Sarah Eden’s books, all of which are proper romances set in the regency era. This, however, has been my favorite. I think it is because anyone who feels introverted and shy will immediately connect with our main character Corbin Jonquil, a man who while being shy and unassuming, is also warm, gentle and unfailingly kind and loyal. Okay, maybe I was a little in love with Corbin too—and isn’t that what makes for the best romances? Clara was a fun character and love interest for Corbin, because she is humble but strong and feminine. She is very motherly and I think that is part of why Corbin starts to fall for her. I liked that this one was about second chances as much as first love. It was also hilarious in the fact that Corbin just didn’t know how to get Clara to notice him because he’s spent most of his life trying to blend into the background. His brothers don’t help matters and give him the worst advice! I just loved the goodness and gentleness of their love story and I highly recommend this story for those who enjoy regency romances. This is a part of the Jonquil brothers series, but can be read as a stand-alone.

I give it a 4 out of 5

Sorcery and Cecelia

By Patricia C. Wrede and Caroline Stevermer

Since they were children, cousins Kate and Cecelia have been inseparable. But in 1817, as they approach adulthood, their families force them to spend a summer apart. As Cecelia fights boredom in her small country town, Kate visits London to mingle with the brightest lights of English society. At the initiation of a powerful magician into the Royal College of Wizards, Kate finds herself alone with a mysterious witch who offers her a sip from a chocolate pot. When Kate refuses the drink, the chocolate burns through her dress and the witch disappears. It seems that strange forces are convening to destroy a beloved wizard, and only Kate and Cecelia can stop the plot. But for two girls who have to contend with the pressures of choosing dresses and beaux for the debuts, deadly magic is only one of their concerns.

The tone of this book reminded me of my favorites by Diana Wynne Jones, the dry wit and subtle way the characters insert themselves into one another’s lives and the love story unfolds in the most delightful way possible. This novel is written in a series of letters between cousins Kate and Cecelia, of course the letters are very prose-positive so it’s more of a perspective switch than letters. Whenever there is a perspective switch almost always there ends up being one character that I favor over another, and Kate was who I was more anxious to read about. Cecelia had the stronger personality, but Kate’s story was more intriguing because of her gentle personality and the big fiasco she is caught up in. Part of the fun of reading this is seeing how Cecelia and Kate’s stories come together in the end. This is the story of two intelligent women working together to save the people they love. It’s a fun romp of a tale and one I’d recommend if you enjoy regency romances with a mix of magic and fantasy. Top notch.

P.S. This book was previously published as The Enchanted Chocolate Pot. It is the result of two lovely authors writing letters to each other in real life making a story out of their combined imaginations.

This gets a 4 out of 5 above average and great fun.

Blackmoore

By Julianne Donaldson

Kate Worthington knows her heart and she knows she will never marry. Her plan is to travel to India instead—if only to find peace for her restless spirit and to escape the family she abhors. But Kate’s meddlesome mother has other plans. She makes a bargain with Kate: India, yes, but only after Kate has secured—and rejected—three marriage proposals.

Kate journeys to the stately manor of Blackmoore determined to fulfill her end of the bargain sooner rather than later and enlists the help of her dearest childhood friend, Henry Delafield. But when it comes to matters of love, bargains are meaningless and plans are changeable. There on the wild lands of Blackmoore, Kate must face the truth that has kept her heart captive. Will the proposal she is determined to reject actually be the one thing that will set her heart free?

I was pretty excited for this second novel from Ms. Donaldson, who debuted with “Edenbrooke”, a light-hearted, adventure-esque, clean romance. This second book promised to be more ‘realistic’ and I found myself hopping to get a copy. Now let me start by saying, holy smokes, the writing is beautiful. It was poetry. The imagery and the descriptions were deep with feeling. I was quite taken with this story, the characters were fleshed out and believable, the plot was fun, and I appreciated that the main character was able to figure out her folly in the end. I’ve always been a sucker for the ‘boy next door’ romances. Now on the other hand, the little portion of the book where she goes to the beach and he’s swimming nude made me squirm. That was so harlequin I was irritated. That doesn’t happen in regency romance, and the guy isn’t all debonair if by some strange chance it does. Irritating. Also, the end could’ve used a little more hope, happiness, you know. It let me down for a book I was otherwise in love with. I felt like it was a little too ‘real life’, come on, a little bit of fairy-tale is okay for the ending! That said, it was lovely and I’d like to say well done Ms. Donaldoson, keep them coming!

I give it a 4 out of 5

Sense and Sensibility

By Jane Austen

The Dashwoods have just lost their beloved husband and father, have been forced to move away from their beautiful home, and have little to recommend themselves to men for their future comfort besides their beauty and personality. Marianne is the romantic, untempered, unfettered. Eleanor is ever practical and reserved. When they both gain and lose love, will they find it again? Can this new life of theirs be endured?

Finally. I have wanted to read this for years. I’m in love with the movie with Alan Rickman as Colonel Brandon and have been dying to read the novel. As with all of Jane Austen’s novels, the heroine’s win the day at the end and while they wade through pain and despair, everything turns out great. I was a bit disappointed in Edward’s character. He seemed kinda…whiney. Oh well, my favorite character was good. I feel a little ashamed to admit this though, I don’t think I’ll ever read it again. I like the movie and TV versions better! There I said it. Persuasion and Pride and Prejudice are top notch books though. Even though Colin Firth is awesome as Mr. Darcy, you can’t beat reading the book.

I give it a 3 out of 5

Drops of Gold

By Sarah M. Eden

When her father dies and leaves her completely destitute, Marion can think of only one thing to do—make a new life for herself. Commencing a life of duplicity, Marion transforms herself into Mary Wood—governess. In possession of a forged letter of recommendation and cloaked in the anonymity of her new identity, she enters a life of self-imposed servitude as teacher and caretaker of young Miss Caroline Jonquil of Farland Meadows. Her idyllic daydream vision of life at the Meadows is dashed when she finds a child desperately in need of hope and a cold and sorrowful home haunted by the past. With her characteristic sunny disposition, Marion casts her spell upon the household and slowly brings to life the long-forgotten joy of those within.

Layton Jonquil is a man tormented by the lies surrounding the death of his late wife, but he cannot deny his growing attraction for the beautiful governess whose goodness and optimism have touched his dormant heart. Their connection grows ever stronger, and despite the impropriety of harboring feelings for a servant, Layton’s heart whispers that this is the woman he’s destined to love. But when Layton’s fears about the past become too much to bear and the falsehoods in which they are entangled threaten to shatter his and Marion’s blossoming attachment, will true love conquer all?

 

This is my first book by Sarah M. Eden, and I can tell you this, it will not be my last. This was exactly what I was needing when I read it: sweet, innocent, and lovely. “Fluff” as I endearingly call it.  There are times in life when I just want a good and proper romance, nothing steamy (which I abhor), just something polite and warm. I loved reading about Marion and Layton and the sweet little 4-year-old Caroline. This was a nice short read that I enjoyed and was happy to find that this is the second book in a sequence about the Jonquil brothers. I look forward to reading the others. I think it shall become my guilty pleasure. It isn’t classical literature, but it sure gave me a good feeling when I finished it and made me smile in the reading. There’s a lot to be said for that.

 

I give it a 3 ¾ out of 5- above average for a proper little romance.