Chelsea Bobulski

Utterly romantic & charming! A Deal With a Debutante swept me away & I loved every moment! This is my first book by Chelsea Bobulski & I can’t wait to read more. The witty repartee, beautiful Edwardian setting, endearing characters, & engaging romance had me quickly turning the pages.

I adored Calliope Hart! She’s an American Heiress whose mother is determined to marry her off to an English nobleman & impress New York High Society. Thrust into the haughty, exclusive London ton, Calliope show more longs to return to her friends & her budding writing career in New York. But, when a charming Earl offers her a deal she can’t refuse, she agrees to give him a chance, though she’s adamantly opposed to marrying him.

The Earl of Hayward, Edward Chase is desperate to save his estate & those who depend on him. Grudgingly, he attends a ball to find an American heiress to save him from financial ruin. Though rejected outright by Calliope, he feels an undeniable spark & devises a plan: he’ll show her the best of London (which her history loving heart desires), & she’ll visit his estate & seriously consider his proposal.

I loved this story! Edward’s such a kind, patient, passionate man who falls pretty quickly for Calliope. From their first disastrous meet-cute, to that unforgettable opera scene (IYKYK), to horseback riding, & fishing in the pond, I adored that sizzling chemistry between them. Calliope brings Edward back to life & I adored her endearing, free spirited personality. Their witty banter had me grinning from ear to ear & those passionate kisses made me swoon in delight. I also loved Edward’s family. His Scottish relatives kept me laughing out loud.

Of course, there’s a fly in the ointment, & Calliope’s heart is put through the wringer as she must choose between following her heart or a safe, predictable path. I was on pins & needles, hoping she’d choose Edward, right up to the end.

The audiobook is a must-listen. The narrator was fantastic & really brought this delightful story to life. Highly recommend & can’t wait for the next book! I received an advanced copy with no expectation of a positive review. All opinions are mine alone & provided voluntarily. show less

A high 3.5 stars, close to 4.

I felt this book was a step up from the first in the series; the plot pacing and character development felt tighter and more on point. And, I mean, I adored the entire Jane Austen subplot (even if the Keira Knightley version got watched a few times haha! But I do agree that the cinematography in that was well done, its high point ).

Another review mentioned how the characters talked older than they actually are, and I also feel that's on point (maybe why I liked show more it better, they read almost like early-20s characters, haha).

The occasional language was still present, just like in the first book, and the main reason the book didn't get 4 stars from me. It just isn't something I expect or look for in a Christian read; I'd almost (_personally_) prefer it be marketed as a clean read, and find the pleasant surprise of church and God-talk being incorporated ... but you can't please everyone on everything. :) It's still a really solid read, with plenty of mic-drop moments and quite a bit of action, particularly near the end.

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own. show less

I am absolutely thrilled with Haven, a new imprint of Baker Publishing. This is my second book from Haven and both have been gold. This is also my introduction to Chelsea Bobulski and her writing; she has gained another fan with her perfectly timed, flawless writing style and her ability to bring her characters to life.

I loved being transported to 1908 New York, London, and Hampshire. The Gilded Age felt like anything was possible for the wealthy upper crust of American society, though the show more English aristocrats had the opposite problem of desperately trying to preserve their way of life. I loved the fond childhood memories Calliope held and the lovely friendships she had with the other American debutantes looking for titled English husbands. Calliope had spunk, mischief, and stubbornness that paired amazingly well with her physical beauty, loyalty, and compassion. Edward was a dashing hero who hid his passionate and empathetic spirit under a stiff upper lip and heart bound to duty. They started out as adversaries but developed a sweet and fun friendship through shared interests and then became more even as forces, within and out, tried to tear them apart.

I cannot wait to read the next book in the series about Rose and her possible (mis)match of an aristocrat.

I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Haven via Interviews & Reviews and NetGalley. I was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own. show less

This book was quite interesting. I read the whole series out of order (2, 4, 1, 3) but did not feel that I missed anything and recommend that the reader choose the order as well. This book happens during the same time as the fourth without giving away any spoilers.
I have only ever seen the theme of wedding planning in a handful of YA novels so the setting felt unique. I do wish that I could have seen a bit more of the actual planning though.
August and Isla did a very good job of challenging show more each other to follow their dreams. I really enjoyed seeing August as he worked in the kitchen.
This may be a small spoiler, but I cannot believe that everyone acted as if August's father's behavior was normal. I was like...umm...something is wrong here.
Besides for that, this was a solid read that I would recommend to teens.

4 Stars

Content: occasional language (d***, a**), verbal abuse, emotionally involved with someone else while in a relationship, kissing

*I received a copy of this novel from the publisher. All thoughts are my own and a positive review was not required. show less