Author: Barbara

Avid reader/reviewer of historical romance and historical mysteries.

Maura’s Special Spinster’s Society by Charlotte Stone

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Regency Era (1811-1820)12 Comments

Maura's Special Spinster's SocietySeries: Spinster’s Society #10
Publication Date: 7/31/18

Just a note:  If you want to read this book, you will not find it on any vendor, Goodreads, Bookbub, etc. until the release date.  I have no clue why the author does this, but you cannot pre-order or read the blurb — nothing before release date! 

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is the final book for the original ten members of the Men of Nashwood, and I had assumed the final book of the series. However, the author inducted five new members into the Nashwood group, so I assume we’ll either have five more books in this series or we’ll have a spin-off series. This author isn’t very communicative, so I have no idea of what might be next.

We’ve watched Maura and Julius bicker back-and-forth for a number of books, so we knew they’d be paired up. I’m glad we finally got to Julius’ story and I’m glad his story was the last one. The same goes for Maura. She’s been there since the beginning and they probably have the most interesting and disturbing backgrounds. We learned Julius’ big secret in the last book and now we learn Maura’s.

I’m still not sure what it is about these books that hold my attention – but they do. They are all totally improbable and totally period incorrect. These people, no matter their rank, would have been totally ostracized from polite society. I’m usually a stickler for toeing the line to be period correct – but for some mysterious reason – I just suspend my disbelief and enjoy the story. Maybe it is because they are so blatantly incorrect.

Maura has been visited by a ghost since she was eleven years old and she spent ten years in Bedlam because of it. In this book, we learn who her ghost is, how he visits her, and why. We also learn some of the horrendous ‘treatments’ she was subjected to in Bedlam – and she was treated kindly – God help those other poor souls.

After three years abroad, Maura’s father is coming home. He is the one who placed Maura in Bedlam – and as soon as he left the country, her mother went and got her. Three years of freedom has been a wonderful thing – but with her father on the way home, they all know she’ll soon be back in Bedlam. When the others find out about his return, they start looking for ways to keep her away from him and away from Bedlam.

At the same time, they are looking for ways to keep Maura out of Bedlam, they are also learning more about the Ghost. Can a man who has been dead for over ten years possibly have any bearing on the present? He sure can – read it to find out how and why.

Julius Hext, the Marquess of Darvess, had a horrible childhood that included his mother trying to murder him so that his uncle could inherit Julius’ title. Needless to say, Julius has serious, serious trust problems and he feels that he is unlovable. If his own mother couldn’t love him, who could. The ONLY people in the world he trusts are the Men of Nashwood because they saved his life and have bound themselves together to protect him and their secret ever since.

Julius is a flirt – but he’d never even think of marrying for love. Frankly, he’d never consider marrying at all. Well – unless he needed to do it to save Maura from her father. Then, he’d go for a marriage in name only with her living on her own in one residence and him in another. But then, he finds she has other options – there are other very eligible men willing to marry her. NO! He is the only one who can protect her.

There is a delightful epilogue set five-years out and I was so happy to see that. We get to catch up with all of the couples and their families and see how they are doing. We also learn that they are going to induct five new members to the Men of Nashwood.

This is a fun read and I hope you enjoy it!

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“I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher.”

Brave New Earl by Jane Ashford

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Regency Era (1811-1820)2 Comments

Brave New Earl (The Way to a Lord’s Heart)Brave New Earl by Jane Ashford

Barbara’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

3.5 stars rounded up to 4
Series: The Way To A Lord’s Heart #1
Publication Date: 8/7/18

Ashford’s prose is charming and witty. The plot is unique, but certainly not period accurate. I really had to work at suspending my disbelief before I could begin to enjoy the read. The characters were likable.

I am assuming this is supposed to be a Regency romance, but there were few signs relating it to any period. The one sign was that ‘the war was over’. I’m not saying that there should always be an indicator, but it would be nice to know, for sure, what period the author intended. The entire premise of this book is inaccurate for any of the earlier time periods. The father actually owned his wife and children – just as if they were a piece of land or livestock. So, there would be no way that anybody could barge into his home and threaten to take his child from him – and threaten to call the magistrate if he didn’t comply. We also had a single young woman staying in a home with two unmarried males – without a chaperone. The chaperone was provided later, but not in the beginning. So, the book is unique and interesting, but totally improbable. So, just suspend your disbelief and enjoy the book.

Both of our main characters are very, very broken people. Benjamin was devastated by his wife’s death during childbirth five years ago and he sank into a very deep and dark depression. He couldn’t even look at his son because he looked so much like his mother. Jean is learning to cope with life on her own after both of her parents have died. She had a horrendous childhood and she is still lancing the boil that was her mother.

Miss Jean Saunders sweeps into the home of Benjamin Romilly, the Earl of Furness, like a tiny tornado. Jean is a distant cousin to Benjamin’s late wife and she has heard that their child is being mistreated, totally ignored and not properly cared for at all. She has coerced his late wife’s parents into agreeing to take the child in – all she has to do is go collect him. You can imagine Benjamin’s reaction when this total stranger barges into his home – where absolutely no visitors are welcome.

Jean is quickly followed by Benjamin’s uncle – yet another totally unwelcome guest. Benjamin sees no one. He sits in his library staring at the large portrait of his deceased wife and drinking. What are all of these people doing populating his entryway? Then, there is a loud whoop and a mostly naked five-year-old boy painted in red paint dashes in wielding a tomahawk.

Jean won’t take no for an answer when it comes to the welfare of this delightful, incorrigible, highly intelligent young boy. Either she will take him or his father will take proper care of him. It is fun to watch these two dance around each other – each brings out the other – until they find they are in accord.

The HEA is sweet, but I have to wonder if he would mourn Jean as much as he did his first wife. I know people can love more than once in a lifetime – but – I also think there is only one soulmate. So, if the first wife was the soulmate, then what does that really leave for Jean. She can’t even give him his heir – he already has that too. I don’t know – I know he loves her, but . . .

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“I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher.”