Category: Novella

For The Love of the Viscount by Callie Hutton

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Novella, Regency Era (1811-1820)3 Comments

For the Love of the Viscount (The Noble Hearts Series #1)For the Love of the Viscount by Callie Hutton

Barbara’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: The Noble Hearts #1
Publication Date: 3/17/17
Number of Pages: 168

This is my second book by this author and I loved the lighthearted, upbeat, witty tale. Wonderfully, there wasn’t any angst, no ‘woe is me’, no conflict, no danger – just a delightfully entertaining tale. The writing was excellent and I adored the characters. It was an excellent introduction to the Smith family – Lord Henry, Earl of Pomeroy and father to Elise, Juliet, and Marigold. You’ll love Pomeroy, he is the sweetest man and most loving father – he adores his girls, but it is time for them to marry and pass on their bills to their husbands. His thought is “T’was time for others – with hefty bankrolls – to cherish them as well.”

Lady Elise Smith is very happy with her life. She’s the oldest of three sisters, her father loves her, and he allows her all of the freedoms she craves. She has absolutely no intention of marrying – ever. It isn’t that she sees marriage as a bad thing – it just isn’t for her. No husband would ever give her the freedom she gets from her father – nor would he share her interests. Yes, she is an unrepentant bluestocking. So, when her father calls them all together one morning and announces that Elise must marry before he’ll even entertain marriage offers for the other two, they, especially Elisa, are aghast! Beg, wheedle or cajole – they couldn’t change his mind.

Simon, Viscount St. George is also very happy with his life and has no intention of marrying. His title is secure because his brother is married and has a son, so no worries there. He’s handsome, charming and sought after by all of the hostesses in London – and he’s very, very adept at avoiding the marriage-minded mama’s and their offspring. He’s delighted when he attends the Cummings’ ball and sees a beautiful woman that he hasn’t met before. He’s even more delighted when he discovers how honest, intelligent and straight-forward she is – nothing like any of the other misses who are husband hunting.

Soon, Simon and Elise make a pact to pretend they are courting to protect her from men and him from the ladies who want to ensnare him. At the end of the season, he’ll go his own way and she can then convince her father that she is unmarriageable and resume her life as usual. That all works – sort of – except, they don’t count on how attracted they are to each other or how wiley her father is.

An example of the humor is during a conversation Elise has with her father. Her father says, “He is to treat you like fine porcelain.” To which she replies, “Me?” – Then her father says “Hmm, well, perhaps sturdy kitchen crockery.”

I definitely enjoyed this book and I think you will too! Happy reading!

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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.”

The Return of Lady Jane by Jess Michaels

On By TracyIn Novella, Regency Era (1811-1820), Tracy's Reviews2 Comments

The Return of Lady Jane (The Scandal Sheet, #1)The Return of Lady Jane by Jess Michaels

Tracy’s rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: The Scandal Sheet, #1

Release Date: January 8, 2019

On their wedding day, Colin, Viscount Wharton witnesses his new wife Jane betraying him with another man. On the advice of his cousin and best friend, he banishes Jane to the country.

Jane has no idea why Colin sent her away, nor has he replied to any of her letters. She has stayed in the country and made a life for herself, but when her beloved sister gives birth, nothing will keep her from returning to London. She doesn’t plan on seeing Colin during her visit, but that plan is shot when the “Scandal Sheet” reports that she is in town and ponders the reason she was exiled.

Colin learns that Jane is in town and immediately goes to see her, instead of sending her back to the country as he planned, he ends up insisting that she lives at his house while she is in town and act his wife in public. She agrees and learns that Colin might hate her, but he still desires her.

They are electric together and Jane has hope that they will finally put the past behind them and move on, but Colin struggles with his feelings, he desires her, but she betrayed him, how can he trust her? When the truth of the betrayal is revealed in a shocking twist, Jane is devastated and returns to the country. Is it too late for these two? Can love heal the wound between them or is the cut too deep?

This was a well written, nicely paced, fully fleshed out novella, it never felt rushed or incomplete, the author gives enough backstory to support the current plot and doesn’t rush the ending. The chemistry and emotion between Jane and Colin is obvious, the love scenes are smoking hot and the ending was heartwarming. I thought the title was a bit misleading, she is not, nor was she ever, Lady Jane, but formal address is a personal peeve of mine and that little error in no way diminishes the actual story. There are a couple of inconsistencies, but they will probably be corrected prior to publication, but even if they are not, they are minor and don’t really impact the story. And in the end, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would happily recommend it.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher.*