My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it
Synopsis
A MATCH FOR PRINCESS POMPOUS by Sarah M. Eden
Matchmaker
Adelaide Northrop may be embarking on her greatest challenge yet. Miss
Odette Armistead has been dubbed “Princess Pompous” by Society’s elite,
and Odette’s parents are desperate to see her married off to a
respectable gentleman. When Adelaide first meets Odette, she is
expecting a young lady who fits the pompous description. Instead,
Adelaide discovers that Odette is far from conceited, but has chosen to
wear a mask in a desperate attempt to hide her love for a gentleman who
has been chosen for someone else. It seems that Adelaide has far more
than matchmaking to accomplish.
CONFECTIONS AND PRETENSE by Annette Lyon
Anne
Preston dreams of opening her own dessert shop some day and saves every
spare penny she earns working at Gunter’s Tea Shop. She makes ice cream
molds to perfection, bakes and decorates cakes, and hopes to one day be
an independent shop owner. When an American man orders an ice, Anne is
immediately taken with Davis Whitledge, but he is far above her station
in life, so she tries to forget about his cordiality. Soon, she finds
herself in a dangerous situation when confronted by two troublemakers,
and Davis happens to be nearby. He sends the scoundrels on their way,
but this only makes Anne more of a target. He doesn’t understand London
ways, and his generosity has the potential to steal Anne’s dreams, or to
make them soar.
LITTLE LONDON by Heather B. Moore
Ellen
Humphreys has never had a Season, has never danced the waltz, and will
likely never do so while confined to watching over her ill mother at
their country estate. Therefore, Ellen creates her own Little London,
and imagines all the gentleman she’d dance with and all of the
friendships she’d have with other young ladies, if only she were allowed
to have a Season. When Quinn Edwards, the Marquess of Kenworth, comes
upon her quite by happenstance while Ellen is imagining herself in a
London ballroom, she is mortified about her playacting. But a chain of
events is set off from this one meeting that has Ellen questioning if
her reputation would ever survive a Season or another encounter with the
marquess.
My Review
The Timeless Romance collections are my favorite way to escape! I just read the stories one right after the other. It's like having a box of See's Candy chocolates all to yourself... I enjoyed each of the stories- the characters that come to life so quickly, the amazing Regency setting, the satisfying plots that can be devoured quickly. Once again, each story is unique even though they share the theme of Grosvenor Square, and it was fun to see how they each tied it in. I loved the knowing matchmaker in Sarah Eden's story and hope to see her in some future novellas! In Annette Lyon's story we learn more about the famous Gunter's Tea shop and the history was fascinating. I liked that there was an American that flouted the strictures of the ton when he befriended Anne. The last story by Heather B. Moore was my favorite since I felt like it had the most romance ;) Ellen's imagination was endearing and the way she and Quinn met was so lovely. It was fun seeing how they reconnected amid her embarrassment and his attraction and the way Quinn's brother helped their relationship progress.
(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)
Books in the Timeless Regency Collections:
AUTUMN MASQUERADE
A MIDWINTER BALL
SPRING IN HYDE PARK
SUMMER HOUSE PARTY
A COUNTRY CHRISTMAS
A SEASON IN LONDON
FALLING FOR A DUKE
A NIGHT IN GROSVENOR SQUARE
ROAD TO GRETNA GREEN
Books in the Timeless Victorian Collections:
SUMMER HOLIDAY
A GRAND TOUR
THE ORIENT EXPRESS
