Lost in Lovely Books!
My Regency Reading Round-Up & the End-of-Year Frenzy
Dear readers,
This time of year, the endless rounds of field trips, concerts, recitals, and end-of-year parties always manages to fray my nerves more than Mr. Bennet’s ill-timed jokes at his wife’s expense. This week alone has had me racing around town with something to do every single day of the week related to our family’s schedule, so it’s no wonder I’ve been exhausted!
Thankfully, I always have a place to escape into the wonderful world of JAFF and Regency Romance. This month, I’ve personally been caught up in binge-reading several books by one of my favorite JAFF authors, Heather Moll. I checked my reading log and discovered that I’ve read four of her books in the last month alone!
It would take up too much space to give a complete review of each book, so I’ll just mention the highlights.
After a hasty marriage to Colonel Fitzwilliam, Elizabeth finds herself widowed and pregnant when her husband is killed on the battlefield in Spain. Returning home to England alone and poor, Elizabeth finds herself unwanted by her family and at the mercy of her brother-in-law, who wants to claim the right to her baby as his heir. Darcy takes her under his protection during her pregnancy, leading to a deep friendship between them. Readers who hate seeing Elizabeth married to someone else first should not scorn this one— it was very well written and Elizabeth’s mistrust of marriage was believable after the betrayal she suffers at the hand of nearly every man in her life. Darcy is, of course, the best man there ever was, and it is because of his constancy that she learns to trust that not every man is going to let her down and abandon her.
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Darcy and Elizabeth’s misunderstandings are resolved shortly after Hunsford, leading to their engagement. Readers who like an earlier come-together will enjoy this story, as Darcy and Elizabeth face both internal and external struggles post-engagement. Lydia’s condition, in particular, in the wake of her liaison with Wickham, brings things to a head with an exciting turn of events that left me clinging to the edge of my seat.
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After Jane and Bingley’s marriage, Elizabeth travels with them to Pemberley, where they are to stay for a two-week house party before going on to Scarborough. During this time, Elizabeth befriends another houseguest, the widowed Mrs. Lanyon, who discerns that Elizabeth still has feelings for Darcy and plays matchmaker. Troubles arise with a disastrous flood that devastates Darcy’s tenants and crops. Under the weight of responsibility for those in his care, Darcy struggles to be a gracious host. Then a woman is found murdered, and Darcy begins to suspect that one of the men under his roof may be the culprit. This exciting mystery kept me guessing til the last second! I loved how the romance between Darcy and Elizabeth unfolded even amidst all the trials as Elizabeth had a chance to show herself to be a supportive and caring friend to Darcy.
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With her father gone and three of her sisters married, Elizabeth finds herself shunted from house to house, the unwanted spinster, even at just twenty-one. Meanwhile, Darcy has taken residence at a small cottage on Netherfield’s property to care for his ailing sister, their identities hidden to protect her reputation in the aftermath of Ramsgate. After striking up a friendship with Georgiana, Elizabeth proposes a marriage of convenience to Darcy— for her sake in order to escape a life of oppression in her brother Collins’ house— and for his in order to care for Georgiana in her dying days. This was a truly beautiful story of our dear couple coming together in grief and falling irrevocably in love. Read it with a box of tissues!
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If you’re unfamiliar with Heather Moll, she writes with a clarity and understanding of Our Dear Couple’s temperaments and disposition, excellently capturing their witty banter, misunderstandings, pride, and absolute passion for each other. Her works are always grounded in historical accuracy and detail, with captivating storylines. Most, but not all, are what I would class as “open-door” romance, containing one or two tastefully done bedroom scenes, which the reader could skim over if they chose.
The Bookshop Belles Series
My other binge-read this month was the new series by Catherine Bilson and Ebony Oaten, The Bookshop Belles. Although this is not one of Catherine Bilson’s JAFF books, it is set in the Regency era, about four sisters running a bookshop in Hertfordshire with their cat. Of course, that was enough to earn an immediate buy from me! Each book features a different sister falling in love with a suitor: Estelle’s Ardent Admirer, Marie’s Merry Gentleman, Louise’s Christmas Champion, and Bernadette’s Dashing Doctor. They are all clean, closed-door romances, short and sweet little morsels that you are sure to enjoy. Check them out!
Happy Reading,
Amanda Kai
Featured author
Social justice crusader Sophia Hawkins will do anything to protect her family. When Kenneth Macleod, the new Duke of Foxworth, forges a feud against her brother, she doesn’t care how powerful he is – or that neither man wants her involvement. If he won’t abandon his revenge, she’ll take matters into her own hands.
Perhaps a little kidnapping is in order.
Kenneth would much rather be in Scotland, the gorgeous country of his mother’s ancestors, than in prim and proper England. Only the father he never knew leaves him a title, wealth, lands and the responsibility to care for it all. It’s the life he never wanted, and there’s one man to blame: the Duke of Bradenton. Now he will exact his revenge. Only something lovely, vibrant and entirely delectable stops him.
Lady Sophia is everything he wants in a woman, and the only woman he can’t have. She is beautiful, brave and brilliant, and the more she defends her brother, the more he wants her. Yet how can he forgo his revenge? He is a man accustomed to getting what he wants.
Perhaps it’s time for a little kidnapping of his own.
More options for my books
In addition to Amazon, you can now find these books on Barnes & Noble, Apple, Google Play, and my own direct sales pages.
