Book Review: Falling for a Duke

Goodreads Summary

From the publisher of the USA TODAY bestselling & #1 Amazon bestselling Timeless Romance Anthology series in Clean & Wholesome Romance, comes FALLING FOR A DUKE.

Three brand new Regency Romance novellas by Rebecca Connolly, Nichole Van, and Janelle Daniels

ON THE DUKE’S ERRAND by Rebecca Connolly. Lord David Chambers has one goal—to put his father’s Scotland estate to rights. Even if it means leaving in the middle of the London Season and avoiding the matchmakers. As the second son of a duke, David looks forward to facing the wilds of Scotland, and trying to make something of himself and prove his worth to his father. But David’s not prepared for the censure he receives from the local Scottish gentry, especially Ceana Shaw, the baronet’s daughter who not only mistakes him for the duke himself, she seems determined to think the worst of David. 

VINGT-ET-UN | TWENTY-ONE by Nichole Van. Eliza Mail had found the perfect place to live out her days as a young widow, away from the pain of her past and lost love. Seemingly by chance, Eliza’s childhood neighbor, Liam Trebor, Duke of Chawton, comes to her village for a visit. Eliza hasn’t seen Liam in over five years, and his presence panics her. Will he reveal what he knows to her friends and neighbors, destroying her current life? Eliza must avoid Liam at all costs, but he seems equally determined to flush her out of hiding. What happens if Eliza’s past does not stay where it belongs . . . in her past? 

I KISSED A DUKE by Janelle Daniels. Madeline Maybury will do anything to be invited into the inner circles of the ton. She takes on a challenge from a high society lady to kiss the Duke of Hargrave. When she finds Ethan alone and explains that she needs to kiss him, instead of turning her away, he’s amused. He also obliges. Madeline believes she can report back and achieve all of her ambitions. Instead, she’s given an even greater task. Once she accomplishes it, she realizes that the Duke of Hargrave is a very different man than she expected, and she’s in grave danger of falling in love.

Review

I sure am a sucker for these Timeless Regency stories. I have lost count of how many I have read (except not really because I  can always look on Goodreads 😜). There were three stories in this edition and each was better than the last. 

The first story was On the Duke's Errand by Rebecca Connolly. I haven't read any of her books but I'm sure I will in the future. I found this to be a sweet story. I loved how fiery Ceana was and David made me laugh multiple times. I hadn't really read a Regency dealing with land ownership and tenants and all the issues that can arise with that, so while this story was different, I enjoyed learning some new things.

The second story was Vingt-et-Un by Nichole Van. I have read two of Nichole's books and I absolutely love her writing! I loved this story, even though it wasn't all sunshine and rainbows. It had the common misunderstanding trope often found in Regency but I enjoyed this story nonetheless. Eliza and Liam were so great. I would love to read more about them. 

The third story was I Kissed a Duke by Janelle Daniels. I haven't read any of her books either, and this story convinced me I need to. I hadn't read a Regency that involved some of what happened in this story (I don't want to give anything away :)) and it was pretty entertaining. Madeline and Ethan were also great characters that I would love to read more about. 

A free copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: A Holiday in Bath

Goodreads Summary

From the publisher of the USA TODAY bestselling & #1 Amazon bestselling Timeless Romance Anthology series in Clean & Wholesome Romance, comes A HOLIDAY IN BATH. 

Three brand new Regency Romance novellas by Julie Daines, Caroline Warfield, and Jaima Fixsen 

TRIAL OF THE HEART by Julie Daines 
Marianne Wood has been summoned to Bath to testify against the man who killed her family. She dreads coming face to face with the monster of her nightmares, but finds surprising comfort under the care of a charming barrister, Harby Northam. Despite his kindly attentions, Mr. Northam is a shrewd and discerning man of law with an awful secret. Marianne is put to the test as she deals with the evil of her past and her growing affection for the mysterious Mr. Northam. 
LORD EDMUND’S DILEMMA by Caroline Warfield 
Lucy Ashcroft doesn’t share her stepmother’s belief that she might find a husband during her sojourn in Bath, but she does enjoy a respite from a household full of half-siblings and a younger sister preparing for her London Season, something Lucy can’t even dream about. In Bath, she enjoys the company of the elderly ladies in her aunt’s circle, and happy to be out from under her stepmother’s watchful and speculating eye. But when Lucy meets Lord Edmund Parker, all of her expectations for a quiet, unassuming holiday suddenly change. 
THE ART OF KISSING IN THE PARK by Jaima Fixsen 
Caroline Trenholme is not pleased with Bath, the fussy, antiquated resort of the shabby-genteel. She ought to be in London, finding a man—not here, coddling her irrational grandmother. In the park, she crosses paths (literally—this is Bath, after all) with a nameless, mannerless rogue, intent on stealing a kiss. As if his proposition weren’t insult enough, even her dog seems to like the man better. It's impossible! Especially once she suspects she might like him too… 

Review

As always, this Timeless Regency installment was such a pleasure to read! I've read a handful of novellas set in Bath and they all make me want to visit someday. The first story wasn't all light and fun but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I would be interested in reading more stories that deal with some darker issues like this one did. The second story is tied with the third story for my favorite of the collection. Bath is full of doctors, some not exactly experts, and of course there is the Pump Room where the visitors partake of the famous waters. I loved the leads in this story and the connection they share. The third story was wonderful. The grandma was probably my favorite character even though the leads are great as well. She just said the darndest things. I can't wait for more from Timeless Regency!

This book was provided for free in exchange for an honest review. 

Book Review: A Season in London

Goodreads Summary

From the publisher of the USA TODAY bestselling & #1 Amazon bestselling Timeless Romance Anthology series in Clean Romance, comes A SEASON IN LONDON.

Three brand new Regency Romance novellas by Elizabeth Johns, Heather B. Moore, and Rebecca Connolly.

POOR RELATIONS by Elizabeth Johns
As a ‘poor relation,’ Emma Standrich has already pre-empted her dismal Season by applying for a governess post. Her aunt and cousin are kind enough to sponsor her, but in truth, Emma is just waiting for it to all be over. Emma’s grief over the death of her brother while in military service casts a pallor on everything else in her life. When Colonel Shelton, the man who was her brother’s superior, asks her to dance at her first ball, Emma is more surprised than anyone. But she has questions for him, and soon she’s caught up in an intrigue she wasn’t expecting—both of the heart and the mind.

EDWARD & EMILY by Heather B. Moore
As a second son, Edward Blackwood never anticipated becoming heir to his family estate, or the need to find a wife and secure that inheritance. But with the death of his older brother, Edward is thrust into a life he never wanted. When his mother encourages him to be kind to his long-time neighbor Emily Foster, a girl he’d hardly paid attention to while growing up, Edward realizes that returning home might not be such a set-back after all.

A SPORTING SEASON by Rebecca Connolly
Daphne Hutchins is no simpering female who aims for a husband with a fortune. In fact, she’d be more than happy to live her life free of the heartache that men seem to bring. So when she sets out to play the fool in front of the ton during her first Season in order to send all eligible men running, she’s quite unprepared for James Woodbridge. Bored, but with a sense of family duty, James arrives for the Season, anticipating going through the expected motions befitting any gentleman. What he isn’t prepared for is Daphne Hutchins and the way she completely upends his heart.

Review

I love these Timeless Regency anthologies! This version focused on, you guessed it, Seasons in London, which I find the whole idea behind Seasons fascinating. The first story, Poor Relations was exciting and had some mystery to it. Emma was more rational than her cousin, but both women were good characters. Colonel Shelton was also great. The story is a good fit for a short story and wraps up nicely. The second story, Edward and Emily was so sweet! Emily has what could be seen as an unusual talent for the day but Edward does, too, so they were perfect for each other! I would have liked this story to be longer, but I am satisfied with what I got. The last story, and my favorite one, was A Sporting Season. I would love a full length version of this story! Daphne was such a great character who had been through something difficult two years prior. This Incident, as it is referred to in the book, has influenced how she feels about having a Season. We meet James early on and I instantly loved him! Both he and Daphne have a sense of humor I just loved. Seeing their relationship develop was a treat!

A copy of this book was provided for free in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: A Country Christmas

Goodreads Summary

From the publisher of the USA TODAY bestselling & #1 Amazon bestselling Timeless Romance Anthology series in Clean Romance, comes A COUNTRY CHRISTMAS. 

Three brand new Regency Romance novellas by Josi S. Kilpack, Carla Kelly, and Jennifer Moore. 

SAINTS AND SINNERS by Josi S. Kilpack. When Neville Franklin’s best friend Burke wants to wager who can kiss Eloise first, Neville puts a stop to it. Eloise has been his friend since childhood, and, well, she’s off-limits. Especially to Burke. As Burke pursues Eloise and claims that she has a tendre for him, Neville becomes more and more protective of the girl he grew up with. On the night of the Christmas ball when Eloise appears in a dress that clearly shows that she is no longer a girl, but a beautiful woman, Neville realizes that his protective feelings toward Eloise have turned into something greater. But now, Neville’s best friend stands in his way.

THE CHRISTMAS ANGLE by Carla Kelly. Sailing Master Able Six is on half-pay with the British navy, biding his time during the uneasy Peace of Amiens and the resumption of war. Meanwhile, he’s invited to teach young pupils at the home of a vicar outside of Plymouth. There, he unexpectedly meets Meridee, the spinster sister-in-law of the vicar. From the moment Able sees Meridee, he’s entranced. When she asks him about his past and discovers his remarkable yet troublesome gift, he realizes he’s finally found someone who can care for all of him. Sadly, Able’s low station and half-pay gives him no way to provide for a wife. Meridee’s lack of dowry and dependence on relatives makes their union impossible at best. But isn’t Christmas a season of hope?

THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS by Jennifer Moore. Archie Clawson wants nothing more than to give Jane the perfect Christmas. Since her troubled childhood, she’s not experienced a Christmas with all the trimmings. To top off the perfection, he also plans to ask her to marry him on Christmas Eve. But as he and his friends, including Jane, travel to his country home, they are caught in a snowstorm and discover that notice of their arrival did not get through to the house staff. Worried over the disappointment he must be causing Jane and the complete shift in their planned Christmas, Archie fears that he’s misinterpreted her kindness towards him and lost her favor forever. 

Review

Reading this Christmas collection was the perfect way to get in the Christmas spirit! The first and last stories featured characters from other Timeless Regency stories, so it was fun to read about these characters again. The first story, Saints and Sinners featured Neville and Eloise, who were in the Autumn Masquerade collection. I loved that they were friends and knew each other well. The second story was pretty unique. The Christmas Angle (no that's not a typo) is about Able Six teaching the young sons of a vicar some math, hence the "Angle" part. I don't think I've come across a Regency story about sailors or a man teaching students. Usually its women doing the teaching. Able and Meridee's relationship was so tender and sweet. The last story, The Perfect Christmas, featured characters from the Spring in Hyde Park collection. This story focused on Archie and Jane and I love them together. Christmas festivities don't go exactly as planned but turn out perfectly! 

A copy of this book was provided for free in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Summer House Party

Goodreads Summary

From the publisher of the #1 Amazon bestselling A Timeless Romance Anthology series in Clean Romance.

Join three bestselling Regency Romance authors, Regina Scott, Donna Hatch, and Sarah M. Eden, for three new novellas in SUMMER HOUSE PARTY.

A ENGAGEMENT OF CONVENIENCE by Regina Scott: Kitty Chapworth is nearly a spinster, and an orphan living on the charity of her uncle, with nothing to recommend her for the marriage mart. Her primary purpose is relegated to acting chaperone for her cousins until she can see them successfully married. Kitty remains focused on her duty even though she knows her future is bleak. When Quentin Adair returns from a long ten years working in Jamaica and proposes a wild charade to Kitty, she agrees, although the plan might reawaken her old feelings for Quentin. Can a reformed rake convince the perfect chaperone to overlook propriety for love?

A PERFECT MATCH by Donna Hatch: Genevieve attends a summer house party hosted by her best friend who can't wait to introduce her to a gentleman she wants to marry, Christian Amesbury. After meeting him, Genevieve determines Christian is perfect . . . for her. Torn between loyalty to her best friend and the yearnings of her heart, Genevieve must first escape the attention of a powerful lord who's obsessed with her and who tries to rob her of any hope for a happily ever after.

THE PAUPERS’ HOUSE PARTY by Sarah M. Eden: It’s a rare event that Edward Downy and his brother are invited to a house party by a member of the ton. But when they arrive, Edward quickly realizes this house party is different than any other. All invited guests are quite destitute, fallen members of Society barely hanging onto their homes. The hosts of the house party, the Warricks, then make a stunning announcement—they intend to gift all their properties to one fortunate guest. As the guests race to impress the Warricks, Edward finds a fast friend in Agatha Holmwood, who shares his same aversion to the horrible expectations. But their growing fondness for each other only makes the game more painful. 

Review

While I didn't love this collection, I still enjoyed it. This collection focused on house parties, which I find so interesting. I sometimes wish I could go back in time for a while and just live in the Regency period. 
The first story was A Engagement of Convenience by Regina Scott. Kitty and Quentin have some not so pleasant history. Their mutual backstory was interesting and really added to the story. Kitty was a strong heroine, even though her life was hard, and Quentin was a great hero. I wish I could see what their life together was like after the book ended. 
The second story was A Perfect Match by Donna Hatch. This novella is actually a prequel of sorts for one of Donna's other novels, which I hope to read someday. Genevieve was such a good friend and heroine. She wanted to help her friend find love but she also found it in the process. I would have liked to know more of Christian's story, but I guess I will learn more of him if I read the novel that takes place after this story. 

The final story was The Pauper's House Party by Sarah M. Eden. She is one of my favorite authors, so I was looking forward to this one. The idea of having a house party in which all the attendees are on the poorer side of high society was  new to me, and I liked it. This would have been fun as a full length novel. I appreciated Agatha's wit and humor and Edward was great. 

I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Spring in Hyde Park

Goodreads Summary

From the publisher of the #1 Amazon bestselling A Timeless Romance Anthology series in Clean Romance.

Join three bestselling Regency Romance authors, Jennifer Moore, G.G. Vandagriff, and Nichole Van, for three new novellas in SPRING IN HYDE PARK:

A HAPPY ACCIDENT by Jennifer Moore. Jonathan Burles father has just died, making him the new Marquess of Spencer and the most sought after bachelor in London. An unfortunate accident leads to a forced marriage to Maryann Croft, a young woman who possesses no title, and an unexpected secret. With the unstable beginning to their marriage, finding love together seems impossible.

THE DISDAINFUL DUKE by G. G. Vandagriff. Lady Saphronia Huffington has always thought of herself as plain next to the beauty of her sister, Lady Lavinia. So when her sister becomes engaged to Lord Gilbert Caldwell and Saphronia is paired for wedding events with his brother, the granite-faced Duke of Mayfield, who is known to prefer beauties, she sharpens her wit. Thus begins a lengthy sparring contest during which the Duke realizes Saphronia is anything but plain.

AN INVISIBLE HEIRESS by Nichole Van. Miss Belle Heartstone has everything money can buy—houses, servants, carriages, clothing, jewels. A husband, however, is proving much harder to, ehr . . . purchase. Colin Radcliffe, the newly minted Marquess of Blake, is in desperate need of funds—preferably of the wife-free variety. When circumstances draw the two together, Blake might be the only man able to see beyond the Belle’s outer façade, and fall in love with the woman inside. 

Review

This was such an enjoyable read! The Timeless Regency collection always makes me so happy. This collection had three novellas, and, I am happy to say all three of them were 5-star reads! I never wanted theses stories to end. 

A HAPPY ACCIDENT was excellent, but if I had to choose, this was my least favorite novella, but I still really liked it. It was just missing a certain je ne sais quoi. This story has the commonplace theme in Regency of misunderstandings, but everything is resolved in the end. 

THE DISDAINFUL DUKE was probably my favorite of the novellas, and I wanted so badly for it to be a full length novel. There is character development and it seemed like the story kept a good pace.

AN INVISIBLE HEIRESS was a great story with the sweetest friendship. Belle was such an interesting character, and her emotion was written so well it felt like I was her. The ending was so sweet I'm surprised I didn't get a cavity ;). 

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 

Book Review: A Midwinter Ball

Goodreads Summary
From the publisher of the #1 Amazon bestselling A Timeless Romance Anthology series in Clean Romance. 

Join three bestselling regency romance authors, Heidi Ashworth, Annette Lyon, and Michele Paige Holmes, for three new regency romance novellas in A MIDWINTER BALL. 

MUCH ADO ABOUT DANCING by Heidi Ashworth. Two years have passed since Lord Northrup declared his intentions for Miss Analisa Lloyd-Jones and forbade any other man to court her. Angry at the neglect, Analisa stopped reading his letters, never even breaking the seals. Tired of waiting, Analisa joins the house party at Mrs. Smith’s famous country home, determined to find a beau. When Lord Northrup unexpectedly joins the party, Analisa discovers she is no longer repulsed by the man who first laid claim to her hand.

SWEETER THAN ANY DREAM by Annette Lyon. Olivia Wallington is firmly established as a spinster, but that doesn’t stop her from dreaming about the perfect man. Ever since her father’s death, Olivia has been forced into seclusion by her mother. When her brother and his wife come for a visit, they discover the extent to which she lives under their mother’s thumb. With their help, Olivia sneaks out to attend a local ball, where she meets Edward Blakemoore. For a few divine moments, all of her dreams seem possible. But even someone like Mr. Blakemoore would be hard pressed to get past Mrs. Wallington’s fortress of protection—or past Olivia’s pride.

AN INVITATION TO DANCE by Michele Paige Holmes. Lady Ella has been isolated on her father’s estate since her mother’s death as her father travels the world. When Alex Darling arrives with a letter from her long-dead fiancé, and a demand that she travel to London for a series of engagements, Ella thinks her father instigated the strange demands and agrees. In London, she discovers the truth behind her fiancé’s death, and that new love might be possible in the arms of the most unexpected man. 

A free copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.
These anthologies of Regency romance are becoming one of my favorite things to read! They are always clean reads, so it's nice to know that you won't run across anything inappropriate.

The first novella in this collection was Much Ado About Dancing. This was my least favorite of the three, but I still liked it. The whole story takes place during a house party, and the whole idea of it was interesting. Analisa was a likable heroine, and I liked seeing her grow as a character. I could see where she was coming from, not giving Lord Northrup a chance to really explain himself, but her decision to try to understand him was admirable. While I don't like that Lord Northrup tried to scare away all of Analisa's suitors when they were younger, I did like the man he became. Also, when we found out the reasoning behind his actions, we see him in a new light. Overall, a good read.

The second novella is Sweeter Than Any Dream. I really liked Olivia. Ever since her father died, her mother and aunt have been kind of horrible to her. When her brother and his wife come and visit, she is able to go to a ball where she meets Edward, whom she had had a run in with before. I also like Edward. He was so kind and understanding, and he was a schoolfriend of Olivia's brother. A really cute story.

The final novella is An Invitation to Dance. I liked this story, and Ella, the heroine. By the time the story starts, Ella's fiance has been dead for 10 years. Finding out the story behind this was interesting. I liked how Ella wasn't the usual type of society girl. She liked to be outdoors and riding horses. Alex was great and I loved getting to know him and how he knows Ella. I felt the story ended a bit abruptly, so I would've liked to see a bit more to the story. This was probably my favorite story of the bunch.