Tag: Linda Rae Sande

The Bargain of a Baroness by Linda Rae Sande

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Victorian Era (1837-1901)Leave a comment

The Bargain of a Baroness (The Heirs of the Aristocracy, #4)
Barbara’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: The Heirs of the Aristocracy #4
Publication: 1/19/21

Getting two romances in each story is one of the things I love about this author’s books. Usually, there is a primary romance and a secondary romance, but this time, because we have twins, we have a shared primary role. Normally, I believe that would leave me feeling that one or the other of the romances wasn’t fully formed, but that wasn’t the case. Henry’s romance felt a bit instant to me, but it also felt sincere – probably lust before love. If you have read books from this author’s several other ‘Aristocracy’ series, you’ll recognize friends from those books. I love that people and events are intertwined among the related series and we have followed and loved these families for multiple generations. While this is part of a series and the series is a part of several inter-related series, you can still totally read it as a stand-alone. It just amazes me that the author can keep everyone straight and not marry close relatives to each other. In this book, we enjoy Graham, the son of Emma Fitzsimmons and Thomas Wellingham (The Promise of a Gentleman), Laura, the eldest daughter of William Overby and Lily Harkins (The Desire of a Lady), along with Hannah and Henry, the twin siblings of Sophia Grandby and James Simpson. (The Pride of a Gentleman).

Romance One:

Graham Wellingham left England eighteen years ago to start a new branch of the family business in the United States. He didn’t leave because he wanted to – he left because his heart wouldn’t let him stay. Hannah, the woman he’d loved since they were in leading-strings was marrying another man. He has never gotten over Hannah – and when she is widowed – he heads back to England to hold her to a bargain she’d made with him.

Lady Hannah Simpson Harrington’s marriage wasn’t what she’d expected, but at least she’d produced a son-and-heir for her husband. She has never gotten over Graham, the love of her life and she wonders if he’ll return to England to hold her to their bargain. Her year of mourning is almost over and she hasn’t heard a word from him.

I loved the mix-ups and mishaps of them coming together. He would be at one place to find her – and she’d be at another. I love her son, Edward’s, involvement in the whole thing as well. What I didn’t get, however, is how instantly forgiving Graham was of the people who supposedly loved him, yet manipulated Hannah away from him. They caused Hannah and Graham to miss eighteen years of happiness together and, to me, that warranted a bit more than an instant acceptance of the offered apology.

Romance Two:

Henry Simpson is soon to become the Head Clerk at the Bank of England. That is quite a lofty accomplishment for a man of his age. Henry is only six and thirty, but everyone thinks he’s at least fifty because he’s a bit staid and stodgy. He has lived at home with his parents all of his life – mostly because his parents are aging and he wants to assure they are cared for and he’s there if they need him. Henry realizes it is time for him to marry – actually, far past time – but he’s never seen anyone who held his interest. Well, no one has ever caught and held his interest until he notices a beautiful young woman who enters the house across the street every Monday morning, and then she leaves every Saturday afternoon. She is lovely, poised, and … Who is she? Is she a maid? Her timing is odd – and she’s delivered by coach – but, she must be a maid. He is mesmerized and watches for her arrival and departures – and any sightings he can get of her through windows. How can he possibly be smitten by someone to whom he’s never spoken? Yet, he is.

Laura Overby comes from a large, but well-to-do, family. She expects she’ll never marry, but at least she has a way to support herself. Something other than going into service. She is a gifted portraitist and is much sought-after, so she can easily support herself with that income. Then, one day she notices the man across the street is watching her as she arrives at her client’s residence. The young, handsome man seems to always be watching her. Strangely, it isn’t disconcerting for him to be watching. She is very intrigued. She knows who he has to be because his mother comes over to tea quite often.

When Henry and Laura meet, sparks fly. Can they forge a HEA? Can Henry unbend and allow his wife to continue her work? If he can’t – can she still marry him?

I loved watching the staid Henry learn to bend and finally to reach for what he really wants in life.

I hope you will read and enjoy this book – with these two lovely romances – as much as I did.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Choice Of A Cavalier by Linda Rae Sande

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Victorian Era (1837-1901)Leave a comment

The Choice of a Cavalier (The Heirs of the Aristocracy Book 3)Barbara’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: The Heirs of the Aristocracy #3
Publication Date: 9/4/2020
Number of Pages: 342

Gosh, I love this lighthearted, fun, romantic series that always gives us at least two romances in every book in the series. Who could ask for more? If you have read this author’s books, you already love the Grandby family – they are a large, loving family with connections in all levels of society. In this story, we have romances for Thomas Grandby and his friend Christopher, Earl of Haddon. You’ll love both of them and their ladies as well.

Thomas Grandby has assumed responsibility for their investment firm since his father is wanting to retire. Thomas is getting older himself (four and thirty), but hasn’t ever had any real interest in marriage – until… Thomas’s friend, Michael Cunningham, paid a visit to Thomas to ask him to help his sister – without her knowing it. Michael needed Thomas to help his sister invest her sizeable inheritance and protect it so that their older brother couldn’t, in any way, get his hands on it since their father was showing signs of senility. Their brother, Jeremiah, is a scheming scoundrel who will go to any lengths to get at his siblings’ inheritances if his own runs short – and it is going to – shortly. With Michael’s older sisters already protected by marriage, that just leaves Michael’s inheritance and his younger sister, Lady Victoria, at risk.

Lady Victoria Cunningham is living, alone, on a large estate just outside London. Her passion, vocation, and avocation is training horses. She wears breeches and rides astride while training, but transforms into a beautiful member of society when she chooses to don a dress. Victoria was injured several years earlier and has a limp, but that doesn’t keep her from training horses and she’s very, very, very good at that.

When Thomas meets Lady Victoria sparks fly. He doesn’t care that she has been injured, he doesn’t care that she trains horses, and he doesn’t care that she rides astride. He is just smitten with who she is. Now, he has to convince her that she wants to take a chance on love and marriage – with him.

Christopher Carlington, Earl of Haddon, heir to the Marquess of Morganfield, was once a friendly, admired, sought-after member of the ton. Then, about 3 years ago, just before his fortieth birthday, something changed in him. He has become a pompous, condescending, aloof, vain, arrogant ass – although he seems totally unaware of it. All of his friends have abandoned him and today, even his brother-in-law has just walked out on him because of his behavior. As Christopher is dashing out of the fencing salon to chase after his brother-in-law, he runs into a woman with the most captivating eyes he’s ever seen. As someone with a blood phobia, Christopher faints dead away at the sight (or even thought) of blood. When he pictures the injuries he could have caused this young woman, he faints and hits his head on the pavement. Oh! A huge change comes over him. He becomes the man he once was. He just needs to convince the young lady and her family that he isn’t that pompous ass anymore.

Juliet Comber is best friends with Lady Victoria and she’s as horse mad as Lady Victoria as well. Juliet is almost on-the-shelf, but that is okay with her – until a strange man runs into her – and then he pursues her and won’t take no for an answer. He says he’s changed and she hasn’t seen any evidence at all of the pompous ass he’s reputed to be. He is definitely a good bit older than her though. Will her father allow that?

I love how besotted Christopher and Thomas are with Juliet and Lady Victoria and even more, I love how accepting they are of the ladies and their quirks.

This was a really good, fun, entertaining, and very romantic read. If you are looking for a lot of steam, you won’t find it here, but there is intimacy and sweet romance.

The book is very well-written with excellent plotting and good character development. I felt as if I came to know Thomas and Christopher and liked them very much. I felt Victoria’s embarrassment over her injury and loved Thomas’s way of dealing with it. All-in-all, a lovely read.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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