Category: Christmas

Sophia’s Spirited Spinster’s Society by Charlotte Stone

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Christmas, Regency Era (1811-1820)Leave a comment

Sophias Spinsters SocietyJPGBarbara’s Rating 4 of 5 stars
Series:  The Spinster’s Society #4
Publication Date:  11/15/17

This is the fourth book in the Spinster’s Society series by author Charlotte Stone.  I have to say that I love the tales themselves – they are interesting and have a different take on things.  The characters are fun and I enjoy seeing the repeat characters and watching them grow as friends and individuals.

I’m not sure how much research this author actually does on the Regency period, but if you are a purist for forms of address (they are so simple who wouldn’t get those right), social norms, etc. these books will definitely ring your bell.  For instance – a character has been hiding the fact that she is, in fact, a Viscount’s daughter.  Whenever that is revealed, a big deal is made that she is now referred to as Madam and not Miss.  Say what!    In FORMAL written correspondence she would be addressed as Madam, but, in speech, she would be addressed as or referred to as Miss.

Sophia has been a very interesting character throughout the books so far and it was great to see that she finally got her story.  She and her father aren’t in the normal areas of society.  They are the avant-garde before there was such a thing.  Sophia is an intelligent, bright, lively, passionate, caring young lady.  She’s totally dismayed at her strong attraction to Morris because she knows that the illegitimate daughter of a tailor can never hope for a future with a Duke.

Morris is just as attracted to Sophia as she is with him.  At first, he thinks he’ll pursue her and sate his attraction and then be on with his life.  No woman ever rebuffs him – but Sophia does.  He pursues her – until he is the one who is totally in love. However, she won’t believe it because she thinks his goal is to marry a Lady.

It is fun that we actually get two love stories in this book.  There is the main story with Sophia and Morris, but there is also a love story for Morris’ mother and Sophia’s father.

It is also fun to see the ladies of the Spinster’s Society lead the Men of Nashwood on a merry chase.  The gentlemen plot to get the ladies to marry them

Definitely a fun read.

Please check out my reviews at:

Blog: https://flippinpages.blog/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/flippinpagesweb.wordpress/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FlippinPagesRev

“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.”

Our reviews for the previous books in this series:
Book 1 – Lady Lorena’s Spinster’s Society
Book 2 – Alice’s Shameless Spinster’s Society
Book 3 – Genie’s Scandalous Spinster’s Society

The Earl Who Loved Her by Sophie Barnes

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Christmas, Novella, Regency Era (1811-1820)Leave a comment

The Earl Who Loved Her (The Honorable Scoundrels, #2)The Earl Who Loved Her by Sophie Barnes

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: The Honorable Scoundrels #2
Publication Date: 11/14/17

This second book in the Honorable Scoundrels is a great read. The series centers around three impoverished sisters. Their great-grandfather was a Viscount and they are the wards of the Duke of Snowden. However, they have never met the Duke and he has made no effort to contact them or provide for them in the year since their father passed away. They are totally on their own. Josephine, the oldest at twenty-six has employment as a bookkeeper. Louise, the middle sister left just yesterday to take employment as a governess (that was the first book in the series – see my review here). This novella features Eve, the youngest at twenty. The two older sisters want very much to give Eve the season they never got to have and are working hard to do just that.

Eve’s childhood friend, Margaret, has invited Eve to spend the Christmas holidays at Amberley Hall. Eve is hesitant to leave Josephine all alone during the holidays, but Josephine encourages her to go because of the contacts and exposure to eligible bachelors. Eve understands how very hard her sisters are working for her and how very much they want her to marry well, so she agrees to make the journey.

Eve’s mail coach made excellent time on the trip to Amberley Hall and arrived about half an hour early – before Margaret’s coach was to meet her. So, Eve decides to walk. It is dusk and Eve heads toward the lights in the distance. When she arrives – she finds she is at the wrong house. Her destination lies six miles in the other direction and the roadways have now turned to ice. Neither man nor beast can make the trip. This means she must spend the night in the home of the bachelor who lives there.

There is an instant attraction between Eve and Bryce Harlowe, the Earl of Ravenworth. He collects, books, coins and . . . . . . flowers. He is also rusticating at his estate – for the last three years – because he’s being shunned by society for a scandalous transgression. He’s really a kind and lovable man and you come to feel his pain as you get to know him. He and Eve make a great pair and their journey to an HEA isn’t a smooth or easy one.

The characters are fully developed and very robust and that is something that is hard to do in a novella. The book is interesting and filled with twists and turns. When you finish, you feel as if you have read a full-length novel rather than a shorter novella. It is excellently done. The plot is solid, the characters are full and the romance is convincing. Well done Sophie Barnes!

Please check out my reviews at:
Blog: https://flippinpages.blog/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/flippinpages…
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FlippinPagesRev

“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.”