Category: Novella

Mr. Hunt, I Presume by Valerie Bowman

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

Mr. Hunt, I Presume (Playful Brides, #10.5)Mr. Hunt, I Presume by Valerie Bowman

Barbara’s rating: 3.5/4 of 5 stars

Series: Playful Brides #11.5
Publication Date: 2/8/19
Number of Pages: 120

My rating is 3.5 stars rounded up to 4

This is a lovely second-chance romance novella. It is well-written, but I felt it was a bit rushed and I didn’t feel as if I were ‘finished’ with it at the end. I loved the storyline, I liked the main characters, I adored the secondary couple, and the children were wonderful. I just felt like there were chunks of story that were missing or things progressed much too fast. Too fast? Consider the scene during their first dinner and then moving to the library. I don’t want to say too much and spoil it, but when you read it you’ll see what I mean.

I loved that we got to spend time with Lucy and Derek again. Catching up with them and seeing their love and their life as a married couple was wonderful and their two children were a great addition to the story. It was nice to see that Derek has resigned himself to Lucy’s matchmaking and just loves her to distraction. This time, Lucy is matchmaking for Derek’s brother, Collin and their childhood neighbor Erienne Stone. I would have thought that Collin’s story would have come earlier in the series since Lucy and Derek were the featured H/h in the first book, but maybe it took a while to find just the right lady for him.

Collin and Erienne had a relationship of some sort when they were younger. You learn what that relationship was in bits and pieces as you move through the story. It is a story of family betrayal and feelings of unworthiness that cost these two fourteen years of being miserable and apart. Neither of them ever married.

Collin Hunt and his two brothers are basically ‘from the wrong side of the tracks’. Their father was put out of the army because of his overindulgence in alcohol. Their father was also cruel to them because he was training them to be soldiers. Both Collin and Derek were very good at soldiering. Derek’s success earned him the title of Duke of Claringdon for his heroism during the war and Collin is now a general and a high ranking member at the Home Office. Most of Collin’s career can’t be mentioned because he spent his time as a spy.

Erienne defied her parent’s marriage expectations and left home to become a governess. Now, fourteen years later, the children she was caring for are grown and it is time for her to move on to her next family. When the agency sets her up with an interview with the Duchess of Claringdon, she doesn’t feel she can turn it down. She’s truly surprised at herself when she finally – after much persuasion by the Duchess – accepts the job. She’s torn – she wants to know about Collin, but she’s afraid she can’t handle actually seeing him.

It really is a nice story, but I think I could have lived with a little less backstory if it bought me more time with the couple in the ‘now’. More time for me to know them and them to know each other and especially more time for a less abrupt ending. There was a distinct lack of conversation and discussion between them. They just go straight to lust and remain there. The proposal is entertaining but certainly lacks romance. As I read, I thought “What, this is it?” and it was.

Please check out my reviews at:
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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 w

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!

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

“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.”