Counting on Love by Carol Coventry

Tracy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: The Taverstons of Iversley, #1

Release Date: September 14, 2024

Lady Georgiana Stewart, the daughter of the Duke of Hovington, is preparing for her second season and knows that her parents are expecting her to find a husband this year after refusing 16 proposals in her first season. This year there is a rumor that Jasper Taverston, the heir to the Earl of Iversley is looking for a bride and has set his sights on Georgiana. Too bad she doesn’t feel anything for him beyond friendship. When Jasper is called home to attend to his ailing father, Georgiana and her cousin Alice Fogbotham are invited to his family’s country estate, presumably so Jasper can continue his courting. At first, Georgiana resigns herself to accepting Jasper, but when she meets his younger brother Reginald, she knows that she can’t marry Jasper. And when she helps him sort out a problem and he praises her intellect, she falls hopelessly in love with the wrong brother.

Reginald Taverston is the youngest (and most brilliant) son of the Earl of Iversley, when his mistress dumps him, he is happy for an excuse to retire to the country, but not happy at the reason. His father suffered a stroke a year ago and has now taken a turn for the worse. His family expects him to pursue a career in the church, but that is not where is heart is, he would rather continue his Greek translations at Cambridge and wonders how he can break this news to his family. In the meantime, he agrees to help Jasper get the estate’s accounts in order before the steward arrives and to help entertain his houseguests – neither is going well. First, he can’t seem to balance the accounts and when Georgiana offers to help, he falls head over heels in love with the one woman he can’t have.

This was a new to me author, whose writing style I enjoyed. In my personal opinion, the book moved a bit slow at points, the love scenes are barely lukewarm and there were a lot of characters to keep track of, but overall, it was an interesting story with likable characters and the author did a nice job of setting readers up for the next book in what appears to be at least a four-book series. While not perfect, it was a very entertaining read and a book I would happily recommend, and I am looking forward to reading the next installment.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *