Tag: Regency Romance

The Best of Friends + Giveaway

Daria Mullins just accomplished the seemingly she successfully convinced her parents to grant her one final London Season. Though their concession comes with certain expectations, Daria is determined to enjoy every moment alongside her dear friends, the Huntresses, as they make their annual foray into the Marriage Mart.

Toss Comstock has no interest in marriage. His only purpose in London is to enjoy his Bachelor Season before he’s forced to follow whatever path his elder brother deems best. But his plans are quickly turned upside down when he strikes a bargain with the lovely Miss Mullins at the Debenham Ball. The longtime acquaintances discover that they share the maddening affliction of familial pressures, leading them to hatch an outlandish they will engage in a friendly competition. Whoever participates in the most activities their family would disapprove of will be crowned the winner. But amid the fun and games, Daria and Toss never imagined that true love would become the ultimate prize.

My Review:

I’m in a tilt-a-whirl swoon of epic Regency Bibliophile Delight! There’s just something about a Sarah M. Eden novel that makes me giddy with anticipation before I read it and happy sighing afterwards…though there’s a bit of melancholic woe mixed in because it’s all over. But that’s okay because I still have her backlist to tackle so I won’t be Eden-less for long!

‘The Best of Friends’ is a delightful romance between…no spoiler here…friends! We get more than a glimpse of a London Season and attend some wonderful parties — oh my, the games! We need to revive these genteel home parties. Why have they gone out of fashion?!

Love Daria and Toss together — the banter! The teasing! The tenderness! And they both have horrid families who do not have their best interests at heart. Love the central theme of being true to yourself and the encouraging friends who support them along the way.

And, happy dancing (!), those friends! You might have met one or two…or ten(!) in previous books by this author which will just add to the fun. In fact the Duke of Kielder has A MOMENT, well more than one actually, but there’s one in particular that had me in stitches. And I’m sure I enjoyed it all the more because I listened to the audible edition narrated by Luone Ingram who does the Duke’s growl so very well. 🙂

No worries if you’re not familiar with the Jonquil or Lancaster families or the Huntresses — ‘The Best of Friends’ reads brilliantly as a standalone too. Though, be forewarned, it will likely send you into a deep dive of Sarah M. Eden’s backlist. I’m heading there now!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a print or ebook copy. Winner’s choice.

US – available in print or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada – available in print or ebook or audible (if available) — winner’s choice

International – ebook copy if you have a US Kindle account.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of  The Best of Friends, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday June 1 2024.

A Winter by the Sea + Giveaway

When the Duke and Duchess of Kent rent neighboring Woolbrook Cottage for the winter, the Summers sisters are called upon to host three of the royal couple’s male staff in their seaside house. But they soon realize they’ve invited mysterious secrets and the sweet possibility of romance into their home.

Meanwhile, Emily Summers approaches a local publisher in hopes of fulfilling her dream of becoming an author. When he turns her down, his dashing competitor promises to consider her novel if she will first write a new Sidmouth guidebook for him. Emily accepts and begins researching with the help of the Duke of Kent’s handsome private secretary. But a surprise visitor from her past shows up at Sea View, leaving Emily torn between the desires she used to hold dear and her budding dreams for the future.

Return to the Devonshire coast with the Summers sisters, where loyalties are tested, secrets come to light, and new love emerges.

My Review:

If I had to describe Julie Klassen’s writing style in one word it would be ‘layered.’ Characters with layered backstories — and not just the MCs but secondary ones as well. Historical elements layered through the story in exacting detail. A plot with enough layers to keep a reader riveted right to the end.

And all that means ‘A Winter By the Sea’ was an immersive read for me. Kinda felt like I was binge-watching a BBC period drama like ‘Larkrise to Candelford’ or ‘Cranford.’ And wouldn’t it be wonderful if some enterprising producer decided to put some of Julie Klassen’s novels on the screen?!

The character-driven plot leaves plenty of time to explore relationships in this quaint seaside village. And, of course, there is romance — a delicious one despite a brief nod to the dreaded — gasp — love triangle! But it was gently done and almost painless. 🙂 And…eeeeepppp!!!…our hero is a man of faith who loves to read! Be still my heart!

‘A Winter By the Sea’ is divinely captivating and utterly addictive.

Of note: This is the second book in the ‘On Devonshire Shores’ series and, while it could be read as a standalone, I think it would be better to read the books in order. You’ll understand the Summers sisters circumstances better and some of the ‘whys and wherefores’ in this story. Would still make total sense as a standalone, you’d just have a richer read if you start with ‘The Sisters of Seaview.’

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

WINNER MAY CHOOSE BETWEEN BOOK #1 SISTERS OF SEA VIEW OR BOOK # 2 WINTER BY THE SEA — PLEASE STATE WHICH BOOK YOU WOULD LIKE TO WIN IN A COMMENT OR IN YOUR EMAIL. THANK YOU.

This giveaway is for a print or ebook copy. Winner’s choice.

US – available in print or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada – available in print or ebook or audible (if available) — winner’s choice

International – ebook copy if you have a US Kindle account.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of one of the On Devonshire Shores novels, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday May 11 2024.

In the Shelter of Hollythorne House + Giveaway

A young widow faces an uncertain future . . . until an unexpected encounter with her first love gives her heart a second chance in this Regency romance set on the Yorkshire Moors.

England, 1817—Charlotte Grey thought she had seen the last of Anthony Welbourne. Knowing her father would never consent to his only daughter marrying a man he deemed beneath their family’s station, Charlotte bid her final farewell to Anthony and vowed never to turn back. Instead, she honored her father’s wishes by marrying the wealthy Roland Prior.

Determined to put his love for Charlotte in the past, Anthony chose to immerse himself in a life full of meaning—first as a soldier fighting a war overseas, then as a member of William Walstead’s watchmen, a rugged band of men dispatched to deal with perilous situations. Fearless and persistent, he makes it his life’s focus to fight for those who can’t fight for themselves.

When Charlotte’s husband dies unexpectedly, she quickly realizes how blind she’d been to his nefarious ambitions and how many people he’d angered on his relentless quest for wealth. To protect her infant son, Henry, from those who wish him harm, she and the baby flee to Hollythorne House, her childhood home. There Charlotte comes face-to-face with her former love, who has been sent as one of the hired watchman to protect her and Henry until the details of her late husband’s estate are settled.

Anthony’s presence brings back feelings she never expected to have again, and she struggles to trust his intentions. Are the watchmen really looking after Charlotte as they claim—or are they looking to make trouble for Roland’s estate and heir? Despite the constant reminders of their past, Anthony must remain focused on the task he was hired to do. But when new threats emerge and the past collides with the present, both must decide what they are willing to risk for the chance to right old wrongs and carve out a new future . . . together.

My Review:

Eeeeepppp!!!! Regency Romance with a Gothic-y mystery feel! Totally captivated me all the way through!

Ladd has created a sense of foreboding that carries throughout the story and set me on edge as I worried over Charlotte and baby Henry. Loved the air of mystery that shrouds our hero and heroine, stirring an already complicated situation into something much more ominous.

We’re given a tantalizing glimpse of what might have been, courtesy of the attention-grabbing prologue and then the story starts in earnest five years later when everything has changed for Charlotte and Anthony…and not necessarily for the better. Cue shivery thrills of anticipation as I settled in to find out how all will be made right!

Love the period details deftly woven into the story. Still fuming over the lack of control women had — even in the lives of their own children! And the family Charlotte has married into is vile — which leads to dire threats against poor wee Henry!

Which makes it opportune, if inconvenient, for Anthony to come swooping back into Charlotte’s life as he is hired on as one of her guards. Treachery, deceit and danger follow…as does an epic Second Chance Romance! Thrilled me right down to my toes from start to finish!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a print or ebook copy. Winner’s choice.

US – available in print or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada – available in print or ebook — winner’s choice

International – ebook copy if you have a US Kindle account.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of In the Shelter of Hollythorne House, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday April 27 2024.

Children of the Shadows + Giveaway

Detective Daniel Swann and debutante Juliette Thorndike once again team up to solve a dangerous mystery–while trying to keep their growing romance secret.

Someone is preying upon the street children of Regency London. They seem to think no one will notice when urchins go missing–and even if they are noticed, who will care?

Daniel needs to do something about the missing children. But with recent revelations about his past and an unexpected, somewhat unwelcome inheritance to deal with, this is a terrible time to dive back into the seedy underbelly of the crime world. Nevertheless, he’s still a Bow Street runner, and his partner Lady Juliette is sensitive to the plight of these wayward youngsters. They’re on the case, searching shadowed alleys and coal-drenched streets to find the missing.

But the tangle of expectation and the dynamics of power cannot be easily ignored, even if there are children in danger. When Daniel’s past threatens to overwhelm his future, he will need a miracle and the help of his friends to both apprehend the villain and unravel his tangled family web. And it may be that his new responsibilities demand that he leave the children of the shadows to their terrible fate–or lose everything.

Erica Vetsch’s popular Regency mystery series concludes with a bang, sure to satisfy readers who have hung on every page since book one.

My Review:

Of Note: because I think the Thorndyke & Swann Regency Mystery series should be read in order, the giveaway will be for one of three books. Look for more details in red underneath the Giveaway Opportunity heading.

Still fan-girling over this series. It’s the perfect blend of Regency and mystery with enough cloak and dagger stuff going on to keep an avid reader on the edge of her seat all the way through. Plus, the romance has heated up in this third book, though it’s not without some unique challenges. We can’t make things too easy for Daniel and Juliette, can we? 🙂

You definitely want to read the books in this series in order because the first two contain quite a bit of back story on our characters plus there are some over-arcing issues that carry on into this third novel. Daniel is a Bow Street Investigator and Juliette is apprenticing in the family spy biz (for the Crown, of course!) which makes things very interesting…and somewhat complicated. As does the mystery unique to this third novel. I hesitate to say much more for fear of posting spoilers so I’ll end with this:

A page-turning extravaganza of lush storytelling and layers of intrigue made ‘Children of the Shadows’ an unputdownable read.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

Winner’s choice of any of the three Thorndyke & Swann Regency Mysteries:

#1 The Debutante’s Code

#2 Millstone of Doubt

#3 Children of the Shadows

PLEASE INDICATE WHICH BOOK YOU WOULD LIKE TO WIN IN YOUR COMMENT OR EMAIL

This giveaway is for a print or ebook copy. Winner’s choice.

US – available in print or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada – available in print or ebook or audible (if available) — winner’s choice

International – ebook copy if you have a US Kindle account.

If you would like a chance to win one of  Thorndyke & Swann Regency Mysteries, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday March March 16 2024.

DON’T FORGET TO ADD THE TITLE YOU WOULD LIKE TO WIN IN YOUR COMMENT OR EMAIL.

Beauty and the Baron + Giveaway

Random Retro Re-Read

A penniless maid determined to save her father, a broken baron bent on isolation, and the undeniable draw between them that will lead to happiness—or disaster. 

Rose Sinclair has run out of options. With her father in prison and their bookshop sold to pay his debts, she has no choice but to turn to Henry Covington, the Baron Norcliffe. But the baron has more than earned his harsh reputation, and Rose must face his wrath in order to save her father—and herself.

Since the deaths of his parents, Henry Covington has isolated himself from society, ensuring the solitude of his estate with his deliberate callousness. However, when the beautiful Miss Sinclair appears on his doorstep, begging for a chance to repay her father’s debt to him, a moment of weakness finds him offering her a position—as a maid in his own house.

They both soon learn that first impressions are not to be believed. Henry is surprised—and intrigued—by Rose’s optimistic charm, while Rose slowly uncovers Henry’s true self, his compassion concealed behind the pain of loss and betrayal. But when a shadow from Henry’s past returns, their newfound hope is tested. They must decide for themselves who to trust—and what they will risk for their happily ever after.  

Beauty and the Baron is a Regency retelling of Beauty and the Beast. It is a sweet/clean romance novella, and is Book 1 in a series of Regency retellings. The stories can be read in any order.

My Review:

published in 2019

I was crazy excited over this Regency Beauty and the Beast retelling when I first read the story. I recently discovered it on audible for an excellent price so I couldn’t resist revisiting these characters, this time listening to Janna Fox’s wonderful narration. Such a sweet, timeless story!

—

Squuueeeeee — I just discovered a new-to-me favourite Regency author! Thank you Good Reads friends for leading me to Joanna Barker. My fainting couch got a real workout with this one — partly from me jumping up and down as I shrieked my ecstatic pleasure to the world. Because, not only is Beauty and the Baron a scrumptious Regency romance, it’s also a retelling of Beauty and the Beast! Squeeeep!!!

Grinning like an idiot writing this as I remember all the good bits which is basically the whole book. An impoverished, genteel lady with quiet strength and such a kind heart. A seething, embittered baron who has become so jaded by the world that he keeps it at bay with his foul humor. The way Rose softens him by slow degrees, gently showing him a different way to live. Be still my heart! So many happy swoony bits!

But there’s treachery afoot and a mystery to solve before we get to “…and they lived happily ever after.” I had so much fun spotting the fairy tale elements Barker wove throughout the story. Her unique twists made this timeless story feel fresh and new.

Toe-curling romantical bliss!

Side note: While not a Christian Fiction selection, Beauty and the Baron is a clean read that also inspires with sweet gems like this: “Kindness matters most when it’s hardest to give.”

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a print or ebook copy. Winner’s choice.

US – available in print or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada – available in print or ebook or audible (if available) — winner’s choice

International – ebook copy if you have a US Kindle account.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Beauty and the Baron , leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday February 3 2024.

Three Little Matchmakers + Giveaway

1817, Staffordshire, England

Caroline Dempsey, a loving governess, and Henry Graves, an impassive earl, fall prey to the matchmaking machinations of three newly orphaned children who determine to forge a new family for themselves, no matter the havoc their plans cause.

My Review:

Of Note: originally appeared in the 2017 Regency Bride Collection published by Barbour.

So much fun! This is on the short side for a novella but it is oh, so sweet! Lovely characters who come alive — from the innocently conniving children to the austere Earl and devoted governess. So — eeeepp — grumpy/sunshine trope in full swing at the start of this story.

Caroline and Henry have a history right back to childhood (when one might have harboured a secret crush on the other) but time and personal difficulties have kept them apart and make them strangers when they meet up once again in order to create a stable home for Henry’s orphaned nieces and nephew.

And, oh my, these children! Imaginatively enthusiastic in their pursuit of a happily ever after for them all. Spurred on, no less, by the wild tales of Henry and Caroline’s misspent youth! Our hero and heroine don’t stand a chance…thankfully.

Heartwarming and funny with some serious undertones too.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback and is available to any reader, any where — so, yay, another International Giveaway!

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Three Little Matchmakers , leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday February 10 2024.

Manor for Sale, Baron Included + Giveaway

Random Retro Read

She has everything Lord Farnsworth wants, including his manor.

Lord Farnsworth would rather rot in debtor’s prison than sell the one place that feels like home to him—his mother’s manor. That is, until he meets the woman who wants to buy it. Sally Duncan is beautiful, intelligent, and as rich as a baron—a rich baron, not a cash-strapped one like Lord Farnsworth. She’s the solution to every one of his financial problems and is bewitching to boot. All he needs to do is sell her his beloved manor and then charm her to the altar, and the manor will be his again. Simple, right?

But nothing is simple when Sally starts tearing apart his ancestral home and renovating it in a way no one would consider tasteful. She is wreaking havoc on everything, but he cannot give up on owning his mother’s estate again, nor can he imagine anyone but Sally as his wife.

And so he sticks with his plan.

What a horrible mistake.

My Review:

published in 2021

I’ve had my eye on this book for a long time. The playful cover art and the clever title initially drew my attention . Plus, I kept hearing great things about the story so I have no idea why it took me so long to finally hit the ‘Buy Now’ button on Audible! But I did and then flew through Noah Wall’s entertaining narration, laughing all the way.

In a word, this book is: BRILLIANT! From the banter to the side characters to the oh so charming dunderhead of a hero! Bless his heart, he means well…more or less…but he hadn’t counted on Sally being so…Sallyish! 🙂

Strong heroine, kinda clueless (but not totally) hero, delightfully clashing wills, lots of playful moments, some toe-curling kisses and, well, there’s plenty to swoon over when it comes to ‘Manor for Sale, Baron Included.’ I definitely won’t be waiting as long to dive into the rest of the series!

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a print or ebook copy. Winner’s choice.

US – available in print or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada – available in print or ebook or audible (if available) — winner’s choice

International – ebook copy if you have a US Kindle account.

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Manor for Sale, Baron Included , leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday January 27 2024.

A Noble Masquerade + Giveaway

RANDOM RETRO REREAD

Lady Miranda Hawthorne acts every inch the lady, but inside she longs to be bold and carefree. Entering her fourth Season and approaching spinsterhood in the eyes of society, she pours her innermost feelings out not in a diary but in letters to her brother’s old school friend, a duke–with no intention of ever sending these private thoughts to a man she’s heard stories about but never met. Meanwhile, she also finds herself intrigued by Marlow, her brother’s new valet, and although she may wish to break free of the strictures that bind her, falling in love with a servant is more of a rebellion than she planned.

When Marlow accidentally discovers and mails one of the letters to her unwitting confidant, Miranda is beyond mortified. And even more shocked when the duke returns her note with one of his own that initiates a courtship-by-mail. Insecurity about her lack of suitors shifts into confusion at her growing feelings for two men–one she’s never met but whose words deeply resonate with her heart, and one she has come to depend on but whose behavior is more and more suspicious. When it becomes apparent state secrets are at risk and Marcus is right in the thick of the conflict, one thing is certain: Miranda’s heart is far from all that’s at risk for the Hawthornes and those they love.

My Review:

published in 2015

I was inspired to revisit this series after reading The Hawthorne House novella collection. This time I listened to the audible edition and was just as captivated by this story and these characters!

—

Thrilled me to my toes. I adore Regency novels — but Regency novels full of tongue-in-cheek humour is in a category all its own. Stupendous. And not the genteel laughter kind of humour — more like the snorting guffaw kind. Very unladylike. Miranda’s mother would so not approve, but I snorted and chuckled my way through A Noble Masquerade with complete abandon.

This is the kind of book that you want to make last. I found myself putting it aside in order to savor the delight of the read. I’d play over a scene, twist it around in my mind, imagine where the plot was heading and only when I couldn’t stand the suspense any longer, I’d pick up the book and start reading again. It took my three days to read this book. Three days!!!!! (says the woman who usually reads a book a day.)

Captivating plot, delicious intrigue, and an endearing, funny, outlandish romance that will keep you alternately laughing and swooning — honestly, what more could you want in a story?

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback and is available to any reader, any where — so, yay, another International Giveaway!

If you would like a chance to win a copy of A Noble Masquerade , leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday January 20 2024.

A Heart Worth Stealing + Giveaway

Little Sowerby, England, 1802

Miss Genevieve Wilde—a magistrate’s daughter and independent heiress—is determined to meet life’s challenges all on her own, just as her late father had taught her. So when her father’s pocket watch is stolen, she will do anything to get it back, especially when the local authorities prove incompetent.

Upon reading an advertisement in the paper, she takes a chance and contacts a thief-taker to find the watch. It’s a choice Ginny regrets when former Bow Street officer Jack Travers arrives on her doorstep. He is frustratingly flirtatious, irritatingly handsome, and entirely unpredictable, and Ginny wonders if she’ll be able to resist such a man.

But after Ginny discovers that the missing watch is just a small part of a larger, more frightening plot against her, she needs Jack’s help more than ever. To protect her home and her reputation, the two enter into a risky charade—pretending Jack is her cousin so he can begin his investigation, starting with the household staff. As they work together to unravel the mystery, Ginny finds herself falling fast for her charismatic thief-taker, leaving her heart in just as much danger as her life.

My Review:

Eeeeeeppp!!! Trixi told me that I should read more Joanna Barker and this book would be a great place to start so I did, because I’m obedient like that when I get a book referral from a kindred reading spirit. 🙂 Now I’m passing along the recommendation — if you enjoy Regency romance with an air of mystery and more than a few toe-curling kisses, then ‘A Heart Worth Stealing‘ is a book worth reading!

I totally swooned my way through this novel courtesy of Jack Travers and his unorthodox ways — including his sometimes outrageous flirtations. He keeps Ginny all in a dither and I’m afraid that often looks like she’s a short-tempered shrew which totally delights Jack to no end. Such great dynamics! And both hero and heroine have great back stories that play a part in the way they approach life, and specifically this investigation.

The mystery had a wee bit of a Gothic vibe with Ginny reluctantly playing the damsel in distress (though she’s no shrinking violet.) But her home and life are threatened and she needs Jack’s streetwise ways to help her set things to right. I will say that I picked out the villain early on but that didn’t diminish my enjoyment of the evolving plot.

I listened to the audible edition and enjoyed Elizabeth Knowelden’s narration and highly recommend the audio book to readers who also enjoy listening to their favourite stories.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

ebook available to anyone, anywhere who has a .com (US) Kindle account

US — paperback or ebook — winner’s choice

Canada — paperback or ebook (via a gift card to Canadian Amazon) or audible edition with audible.ca account

If you would like a chance to win a copy of A Heart Worth Stealing, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday December 2, 2023

A Return to Hawthorne House + Giveaway

Random Retro Read

Always a Lady

Despite the fact that her daughter is not cooperating, Caroline, Duchess of Riverton is determined to ensure every one of her children marries someone they love as much as she loved their late father. William, the widowered Earl of Blackstone, is delighted to have his days of escorting daughters approaching an end. The last thing he expects is to find himself drawn to a woman who is just starting such a journey. Are they each too set in their ways to grasp this chance to have a second love?

A Lady of Esteem

Miss Amelia Starwood may live in her absent guardian’s London townhouse, but she knows far more about associating with servants than aristocrats. When she bumps into Anthony, reformed Marquis of Raebourne, it starts a string of events that change her life forever. As the two of them try to navigate London in ways they’ve never done before, will they be able to hold onto love?

The Lady’s Maid

When Lydia Smith began her career as a parlor maid, she knew love and marriage wasn’t likely in her future. Dreaming about the boy next door as she dusted seemed harmless until he started working as the new valet under the same roof. When Finch needs her help with a special project, will it give them a chance to defy expectations and find love or ruin their happiness forever?

My Review:

published in 2022

An absolutely charming collection of novellas set at the beginning of the author’s ‘Hawthorne House’ world. These stories are so good I’ve been inspired to reread all the books in the series…soon!

‘A Return to Hawthorne House‘ is intriguing and playful and with enough swoonable banter to keep your fainting couch actively engaged. And I love the variety Hunter provides — a lovely combination of upstairs/downstairs — and even one ‘mature’ romance which made for an engrossing read. The characters are delightful, the dialogue witty, the angst gentle but still impactful and each happily ever after is blissfully satisfying. I’m reminded of how much I loved this series and I’m eager to get started on my rereads.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

This giveaway is for a gently read paperback copy and open to any reader, anywhere in the world — so, yay, another International Giveaway!

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of A Return to Hawthorne House, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easier for me to spot. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday December 2 2023. Offer open to International Readers.