Helpful Score: 2
I really enjoyed this book, the stories were all very sweet and the editor kept a good pace for each one. They flowed and were concise. As advertised on the back of the book, they were supposedly more racy than your typical Regency. But only a few of the stories were sexually explicit. I noticed more that they tended to feature slightly older heroines and sometimes there were children; this is rare in most Regency books I read. And while I acutely dislike Romances with kids in them, all of these were handled smoothly and didn't take away from the plots. There was a Twilight Zone moment about half way through where I had been reading a Fourth story (in a row!) with a blond heroine and a green eyed hero, being slightly output, it was luckily rectified after those four simultaneous stories. I wrote a synopsis of each story as I read, I've edited them to read as an enticing snippet. Fun!
Desperate Measures - Candice Hern
Lydia schemes to make her brother's friend, Geoffrey, jealous and notice her. But when her scheduled accomplice doesn't show up at the ball... and Geoffrey arrives, she spontaneously tells him she pines for the Rake Lord Tennison!
Upon a Midnight CLear - Anna Campbell
Lord Kinvarra helps a couple from a carriage wreck only to discover his estranged wife! When her companion runs off she is stuck in the snow at the mercy of her husband, is there any compassion there?
The Dashing Miss Langley - Amanda Grange
Annabelle Langley picks up her niece for a trip to the Country, they are stranded by rain at an Inn where she finds her ex-fiance. Warily separating again they soon discover they share a destination.
Cynders and Ashe - Elizabeth Boyle
Ella Cynders creates a fairy gown for a Matron's daughter, who then refuses it. So she uses an invitation and attends the Masquerade wearing the gown, the same Masquerade she went to five years ago. Under the guise of her mistress, who was eloping. She also meets her the same man she fell in love with at first sight again.
His Wicked Revenge - Vanessa Kelly
Lady Marissa Paget meets up with her first love thirteen years after her father had cast him out onto the street and forced her to marry another.
Lady Invisible - Patricia Rice
Major Lucas Sumner comes home to find a wife and mother for his daughter. He discovers the Hoyden daughter of the town Squire has a lot to teach them both.
The Piano Teacher - Anthea Lawson
Widow Diana Wavely's piano tutor, for her step-daughter Samantha, is replaced by the handsome Nicholas Jameson. She is encouraged by her friend Lucy to "take him on..."
Stolen - Emma Wildes
Lady Sabrina Pearson has to steal her Father's notes back, with the help of childhood friend Stephen Hammond. He has plans for the merry adventure she leads him on, but will feelings be set aside when the original thief plots against them?
Her Gentleman Thief - Robyn DeHart
Annalise Petty rides to her wedding, but her carriage is stopped by a highwayman. Protecting her sister and escaping marriage to a boring man, who acquired her at a ball she chaperoned, she goes with the highwayman instead.
The Weatherly's Ball - Christie Kelley
Tessa and Garret shared a night together at a ball, ruining her. After he never offered for her and was presumed dead, she married an old Lord. Years later she sees Garret at the same ball.
The Panchamaabhuta - Leah Ball
A war widow, Francis, is stranded at an Inn transporting a ruby ring named The Panchamaabhuta. An interesting man, Jared White, steals the ring from her along with a kiss - she decides to steal it back.
Angelique - Margo Maguire
Her Father died leaving a pittance for her and her Aunt - and to top it off she has to go to the Duke of Heyworth, her former philandering fiancee, to get it! He waits for her, to explain, and watch the show of his beloved hellcat.
Like None Other - Caroline Linden
No. 12 George Street us where Emmaline Bowen lives, next door at No. 14 resides her fascinating neighbor: Captain Quentin Lives. After finally making up his mind to finally call on his neighbor, he is instead connived by her Mother into throwing a dinner party.
Catch of the Season - Shirley Kennedy
The very correct Lord Melton proposes to Julia; her family is shocked when she doesn't accept right away. Julia thinks he is like kissing paper. Once she meets his rakish, vibrant younger brother on the estate will she keep the Catch of the Season?
French Intuition - Delilah Marvelle
Gwendolyn comes to the ball in hopes to see her estranged husband, but finds out that Lord Westbrook has stolen a stocking and told her husband of her infidelity. Asking his Uncle for help, he delivers her husband bound and blindfolded. Is her ready to listen to her side of the story?
A Suitable Gentleman - Sara Bennett
Clarina Howitt rescues James Quentin's hat after it is blown away by the wind. He makes her laugh when she is resigned to a staid life with her hypochondriac Aunt. After meeting her again he feels an urge to slip her from under her Aunt's thumb, but the other reason he is Bath may ruin it.
Gretna Green - Sharon Page
Trevelyan Foxton walks into modiste Madame Desjardin's shop to question her as a Bow Street Runner about a girl she assisted to Gretna Green, and who has now disappeared. He also wants to ask the childhood friend from the slums about her secrets, like why she ran away from him and about her daughter.
Little Miss Independent - Julie Templeton
Adelaide Bruce see Lord Drayton after five years; she is now grown up, but he is a scarred war veteran. While he is believing he should burn in Hell for the thought he has about his friend's little sister, she hopes to get close to the man she always admired.
Devil's Bargain - Deborah Raleigh
Having been ruined by Lord Spaulding and consequently wed, Amelia has taken charge of her life and hosts an elegant party. But her husband crashes the party looking to rectify their marriage in name only on their one year anniversary.
Kindred Souls - Barbara Metzger
Mildred Cole stews in a tiny cottage with her Aunt Marisol after the Incident. Her 25th birthday comes and word from their solicitor that her father passed away six months ago. They pack up and arrive to the family estate and a harsh welcome. Discovering she has a fortune, Mildred also discovers the man she thought dead, Viscount Driscoll.
(This was the only dud in the whole book, jumbled and barfy.)
Remember - Michele Ann Young
Charlotte, the widow Madame Beauchere, hopes to set her father free from prison by snaring a husband, but the boy's family who she hopes to marry instead hires Gerard Arnfield to stop her. Have they met their equal?
Moonlight - Carolyn Jewel
Phillipa helped the Earl of Dane, a family friend, and six years her junior, throw a party. The more he sees of her he becomes more entranced, even though she is to marry the priggish Captain Bancroft. But how she feels when he kisses her!
An Invitation to Scandal - Lorraine Heath
Nicholas Wynter, the impoverished Earl of Harteley accepts an unusual invitation from an unknown woman. Arianna Vernon happens to be the well-off daughter of a courtesan, she is looking for a champion.
Desperate Measures - Candice Hern
Lydia schemes to make her brother's friend, Geoffrey, jealous and notice her. But when her scheduled accomplice doesn't show up at the ball... and Geoffrey arrives, she spontaneously tells him she pines for the Rake Lord Tennison!
Upon a Midnight CLear - Anna Campbell
Lord Kinvarra helps a couple from a carriage wreck only to discover his estranged wife! When her companion runs off she is stuck in the snow at the mercy of her husband, is there any compassion there?
The Dashing Miss Langley - Amanda Grange
Annabelle Langley picks up her niece for a trip to the Country, they are stranded by rain at an Inn where she finds her ex-fiance. Warily separating again they soon discover they share a destination.
Cynders and Ashe - Elizabeth Boyle
Ella Cynders creates a fairy gown for a Matron's daughter, who then refuses it. So she uses an invitation and attends the Masquerade wearing the gown, the same Masquerade she went to five years ago. Under the guise of her mistress, who was eloping. She also meets her the same man she fell in love with at first sight again.
His Wicked Revenge - Vanessa Kelly
Lady Marissa Paget meets up with her first love thirteen years after her father had cast him out onto the street and forced her to marry another.
Lady Invisible - Patricia Rice
Major Lucas Sumner comes home to find a wife and mother for his daughter. He discovers the Hoyden daughter of the town Squire has a lot to teach them both.
The Piano Teacher - Anthea Lawson
Widow Diana Wavely's piano tutor, for her step-daughter Samantha, is replaced by the handsome Nicholas Jameson. She is encouraged by her friend Lucy to "take him on..."
Stolen - Emma Wildes
Lady Sabrina Pearson has to steal her Father's notes back, with the help of childhood friend Stephen Hammond. He has plans for the merry adventure she leads him on, but will feelings be set aside when the original thief plots against them?
Her Gentleman Thief - Robyn DeHart
Annalise Petty rides to her wedding, but her carriage is stopped by a highwayman. Protecting her sister and escaping marriage to a boring man, who acquired her at a ball she chaperoned, she goes with the highwayman instead.
The Weatherly's Ball - Christie Kelley
Tessa and Garret shared a night together at a ball, ruining her. After he never offered for her and was presumed dead, she married an old Lord. Years later she sees Garret at the same ball.
The Panchamaabhuta - Leah Ball
A war widow, Francis, is stranded at an Inn transporting a ruby ring named The Panchamaabhuta. An interesting man, Jared White, steals the ring from her along with a kiss - she decides to steal it back.
Angelique - Margo Maguire
Her Father died leaving a pittance for her and her Aunt - and to top it off she has to go to the Duke of Heyworth, her former philandering fiancee, to get it! He waits for her, to explain, and watch the show of his beloved hellcat.
Like None Other - Caroline Linden
No. 12 George Street us where Emmaline Bowen lives, next door at No. 14 resides her fascinating neighbor: Captain Quentin Lives. After finally making up his mind to finally call on his neighbor, he is instead connived by her Mother into throwing a dinner party.
Catch of the Season - Shirley Kennedy
The very correct Lord Melton proposes to Julia; her family is shocked when she doesn't accept right away. Julia thinks he is like kissing paper. Once she meets his rakish, vibrant younger brother on the estate will she keep the Catch of the Season?
French Intuition - Delilah Marvelle
Gwendolyn comes to the ball in hopes to see her estranged husband, but finds out that Lord Westbrook has stolen a stocking and told her husband of her infidelity. Asking his Uncle for help, he delivers her husband bound and blindfolded. Is her ready to listen to her side of the story?
A Suitable Gentleman - Sara Bennett
Clarina Howitt rescues James Quentin's hat after it is blown away by the wind. He makes her laugh when she is resigned to a staid life with her hypochondriac Aunt. After meeting her again he feels an urge to slip her from under her Aunt's thumb, but the other reason he is Bath may ruin it.
Gretna Green - Sharon Page
Trevelyan Foxton walks into modiste Madame Desjardin's shop to question her as a Bow Street Runner about a girl she assisted to Gretna Green, and who has now disappeared. He also wants to ask the childhood friend from the slums about her secrets, like why she ran away from him and about her daughter.
Little Miss Independent - Julie Templeton
Adelaide Bruce see Lord Drayton after five years; she is now grown up, but he is a scarred war veteran. While he is believing he should burn in Hell for the thought he has about his friend's little sister, she hopes to get close to the man she always admired.
Devil's Bargain - Deborah Raleigh
Having been ruined by Lord Spaulding and consequently wed, Amelia has taken charge of her life and hosts an elegant party. But her husband crashes the party looking to rectify their marriage in name only on their one year anniversary.
Kindred Souls - Barbara Metzger
Mildred Cole stews in a tiny cottage with her Aunt Marisol after the Incident. Her 25th birthday comes and word from their solicitor that her father passed away six months ago. They pack up and arrive to the family estate and a harsh welcome. Discovering she has a fortune, Mildred also discovers the man she thought dead, Viscount Driscoll.
(This was the only dud in the whole book, jumbled and barfy.)
Remember - Michele Ann Young
Charlotte, the widow Madame Beauchere, hopes to set her father free from prison by snaring a husband, but the boy's family who she hopes to marry instead hires Gerard Arnfield to stop her. Have they met their equal?
Moonlight - Carolyn Jewel
Phillipa helped the Earl of Dane, a family friend, and six years her junior, throw a party. The more he sees of her he becomes more entranced, even though she is to marry the priggish Captain Bancroft. But how she feels when he kisses her!
An Invitation to Scandal - Lorraine Heath
Nicholas Wynter, the impoverished Earl of Harteley accepts an unusual invitation from an unknown woman. Arianna Vernon happens to be the well-off daughter of a courtesan, she is looking for a champion.
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