Review: Summer House Party (Timeless Regency Collection) by Regina Scott, Donna Hatch, Sarah M. Eden

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Join three bestselling Regency Romance authors, Regina Scott, Donna Hatch, and Sarah M. Eden, for three new novellas in SUMMER HOUSE PARTY.

AN ENGAGEMENT OF CONVENIENCE by Regina Scott
Kitty Chapworth is nearly a spinster, and an orphan living on the charity of her uncle, with nothing to recommend her for the marriage mart. Her primary purpose is relegated to acting chaperone for her cousins until she can see them successfully married. Kitty remains focused on her duty even though she knows her future is bleak. When Quentin Adair returns from a long ten years working in Jamaica and proposes a wild charade to Kitty, she agrees, although the plan might reawaken her old feelings for Quentin. Can a reformed rake convince the perfect chaperone to overlook propriety for love?

A PERFECT MATCH by Donna Hatch
Genevieve attends a summer house party hosted by her best friend who can't wait to introduce her to a gentleman she wants to marry, Christian Amesbury. After meeting him, Genevieve determines Christian is perfect . . . for her. Torn between loyalty to her best friend and the yearnings of her heart, Genevieve must first escape the attention of a powerful lord who's obsessed with her and who tries to rob her of any hope for a happily ever after.

THE PAUPERS’ HOUSE PARTY by Sarah M. Eden
It’s a rare event that Edward Downy and his brother are invited to a house party by a member of the ton. But when they arrive, Edward quickly realizes this house party is different than any other. All invited guests are quite destitute, fallen members of Society barely hanging onto their homes. The hosts of the house party, the Warricks, then make a stunning announcement—they intend to gift all their properties to one fortunate guest. As the guests race to impress the Warricks, Edward finds a fast friend in Agatha Holmwood, who shares his same aversion to the horrible expectations. But their growing fondness for each other only makes the game more painful.

My Review

Sigh! A wonderful Regency escape awaits you with these three novellas with a similar setting but wide variety of plots.

An Engagement of Convenience was a story of reunited unrequited love... but this time Quentin falls for the young lady on her way to spinsterhood. I loved that Kitty kept her head on her shoulders and didn't naively take the easy way out. She genuinely cares for Quentin and his welfare, but is more hesitant in giving her heart a second time when he didn't value it the first time he held it.

A Perfect Match is a prequel to Donna Hatch's full length novel A Perfect Secret. Because I knew what trauma Genvieve's future holds, I read this story with more trepidation, which I think robbed me of some enjoyment. She and Christian continuously held themselves back from each other for various reasons, but in the end they recognize and accept that they are meant for each other.

The Pauper's House Party was my favorite of the group for the unique plot and vibrant characters. It's difficult for Edward and Agatha to be in desperate circumstances and have this golden carrot dangled in front of them at the cost of their dignity, but for the sake of their families' future. Their solidarity quickly turns to attraction and hope, even when the future doesn't seem to allow for them to be together. They both have hard choices to make, but their honor and compassion take priority, even when it leads to happily ever after for someone else...

(Thank you to Ebooks for Review for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)