Review: Saving Miss Everly by Sally Britton

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Pretending she's her twin gets complicated when Hope is shipwrecked with a handsome castaway. When rescue comes, will she risk her heart to confess the truth or will they part forever?

Pretending to be her sister, Hope Everly finds an adventure at last. The Caribbean's warm waters and tropical islands fulfill nearly all her dreams. When an excursion to visit another island with a naturalist expedition is interrupted by a storm, Hope is stranded on a desert island where she and her fellow castaways are dependent on a handsome stranger for their survival.

Alejandro Córdoba, trapped and alone on the island long enough to give up all dreams of rescue, knows nothing of what has become of his war-torn homeland or his family. When he finds the beautiful Miss Everly washed up on the shore, along with her companions, he does not know if their arrival is a blessing or a curse.

Hope's behavior, acting one way with Alejandro and another with her friends, further confuses things when they begin to fall in love. If rescue ever comes, will telling Alejandro the truth mean losing him forever?

My Review

Marooned on a tropical island is not the setting or plot I expected when I picked up this Regency romance, but the author took me to a place and situation outside the norm and it was all the more interesting because of it. While most of Hope's companions try to maintain society's manners and strictures, Hope's more adventurous spirit embraces the situation and appreciates the freedom and connection she feels with Alejandro. I didn't get the best impression of Hope in the previous book, Saving Grace, so it was nice to be able to get inside her head and see what is driving her impetuousness. I think Alejandro is the perfect match for her, and their unusual "courtship" fits their standout personalities. I was satisfied with the way their relationship difficulties resolved in the end, when it didn't seem like a happily ever after was possible. I recommend reading this series in order (although they could be read as stand alones) and I can't wait for the next one!

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

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Don't miss the other books in the Inglewood series . . .

(Available for pre-order)

Review: Penny's Yuletide Wish by Sally Britton

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

When Penny and Robert meet again on Christmas Eve, will their childhood love bloom into something more? They only have the Twelve Days of Christmas to find out.

Robert Ellsworth, born the son of a wealthy gentleman, is now a mere steward in the service of another. While his position brings him satisfaction, it does not make him much of a matrimonial catch. It hardly matters, as Robert’s heart has long belonged to his childhood friend. When a chance meeting brings them face to face on Christmas Eve, he cannot bring himself to hope that she feels the same.

When she lost her parents years before, Penelope Clark also lost contact with her dearest friend. Visiting the community where she grew up, Penny is taken aback by how handsome Robert has grown, and how little her girlhood infatuation has diminished. But when a Christmas Ball leads to a mistletoe kiss him, she finds herself as much in love as ever before. Unfortunately for her, Robert confesses his heart already belongs to a mysterious woman.

Through the Twelve Days of Christmas, Penny and Robert each make a wish for the other’s happiness. Will they realize only confessing their hearts will grant those wishes before their time together is spent?

My Review

This novella is perfect for holiday reading! It feels closer to a novel than short story, I think because of the full arc of the plot and characters. I admired Robert from book six in the Branches of Love series, Courting the Vicar's Daughter, and how he stepped into the role of steward and helped repair much of the damage done by Harry's father and the previous steward. I love when supporting characters get their own story! Robert and Penny are reunited after a long time apart and it was lovely to see their friendship renew. They both harbored feelings for the other in the past, and now that they are in a position to pursue romance, they each feel unworthy of the other, not realizing that they are actually a perfect match in circumstance as well as affection. I thoroughly enjoyed all the Christmas traditions of the era as Penny and Robert fall in love and their friends help them towards their happily ever after.

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

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Don't miss the other books in the Branches of Love series . . .

Review: Timeless Regency Collection: An Evening at Almack's by Sally Britton, Elizabeth Johns, Sarah M. Eden

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

THE HEART'S CHOICE by Sally Britton
To keep her family from scandal, Mattie Rayment needs to marry off her flirtatious younger sister before the Season ends. Vouchers for Almack's are her best hope to secure a suitable match. When the Rayments cross paths with Oliver Bolton, the nephew of their steward, his interest in the younger sister threatens all her plans. It is up to Mattie to steer Oliver away, but before long she finds herself losing her heart to him, unsuitable match or not.

MY UNFAIR LADY by Elizabeth Johns

A lost bet. An underestimated country bumpkin. Who will win in this war of wits? Why, love, of course! Rua Postlethwaite has lived a sheltered, content life in the country until she is orphaned and forced to find work or make a hasty marriage. Her neighbors come together to try to help her have a successful Season after she receives an unexpected offer to go to London. Lord Deverell is the quintessential bored aristocrat with too much time, money, and handsomeness. When he loses a wager over a game of billiards, he finds himself doing more than dancing attendance on a nobody from Yorkshire. 

SIX WISHES by Sarah M. Eden

Felicity Bandbury has come to London with one aim in mind: give her dying sister the Season of her dreams. But it is a tall order for a young lady who knows nothing of Town or Society. She enlists the help of their neighbor and childhood friend, William Carlisle. He’s not been home in years, not since the sudden loss of his parents. Felicity’s request offers him the hope of healing from his own grief as well as a connection to home he desperately needs. Can two grieving souls find room in their hearts for love?

My Review

I love the Timeless Regency Collections! Each of the stories has a common element, but they always end up so unique from each other. I love discovering new-to-me authors and always enjoy the stories from my favorites. I felt like these three had great character development and plots that were interesting. I had known about Almack's from other books I've read in the genre, but I learned some new tidbits from this one as well! It is a perfect example of the nuances of the various levels of Society, the ton, and their rules- both known and unspoken.

I especially liked Sally Britton's story, with Oliver being drawn to one sister initially but after a deeper look, realizes who would make the better match. Their mutual admiration brings nice chemistry to their relationship, even while they are each working on an agenda that sometimes puts them at odds.

My Unfair Lady brings elements of humor as Rua enlivens a group of friends with some borderline antics as she and her friend seek to trick the men after learning she is the subject of a wager. It is an entertaining story but the characters were a bit two-dimensional.

Six Wishes by Sarah Eden brought depth with the bittersweet elements of bringing happiness to Felicity's sister and helping William overcome his long held grief for his family. The genuine friendship between Felicity and William develops into something more as they support and encourage each other through their times of emotional hardship.

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)