Esther Hatch

A Proper Facade is just like the intense game the two main characters engage in, chess. Esther Hatch creates a swoon worthy, slow burn, chess match with two opponents who share one thing in common, a desire for true love. Take a proper, well controlled Duke & a young miss who wants the same passionate love her parents experienced & watch the sparks fly.

Miss Mercy Rothschild only wants to marry if she can marry for love. Her parents have always given her time & freedom, but this Season show more they’re encouraging her to marry & marry well. When she first meets the Duke of Harrington, she doesn’t realize his identity. While he’s intrigued by her, she finds him a bit stiff and boring. He’s the ideal choice of her parents, but Mercy has other ideas. She concocts a plan to try to foist him on someone else. But as she gets to know the real Nicholas, she might have to change her plans before it’s too late.

Nicholas Kendrick, Duke of Harrington is determined to follow the proper rules of courtship. He carefully controls his passions so as to never cause scandal. When he meets Mercy, she begins to put cracks in that carefully crafted facade. But, while he only wants to protect her reputation and court her properly, she wants passion. Will he be able to win Mercy over or is she too immature to appreciate what’s right before her eyes?

This book was one fabulous rollercoaster of a ride with moments that made me want to throw the book & others that made me want to hug it. It’s definitely a slow burn and just like chess, it takes patience to get to the payoff. Once you get there though, the wait is well worth it! I loved these two opposites! I especially enjoyed the growth Mercy undergoes. Both she and Nicholas take lessons from the other and come to meet in the middle. Mercy learns that uncontrolled passion has bitter consequences & Nicholas finds that there’s definitely a time to express his deep feelings. The library scene was my favorite! There’s also a villainess in the story & I loved seeing her get her comeuppance.

For those familiar with the series, you’ll love seeing familiar characters like Lord Bryant again. *sigh* If this is your first book in the series, it can definitely be read as a standalone. Highly recommend to Regency romance fans! It’s a sweet Regency with kissing only. I received an advanced complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own and voluntarily provided. 4.5 to 5 stars! show less

All the stars for this amazing book! Esther Hatch is an auto-read author, & with this book, she’s truly outdone herself. From the snippets of David’s journal to the reverse age gap, his closely guarded secrets, & the entirely unique storyline, this book grabbed my heart & wouldn’t let go. The humor, wit, delicious romance, the tension of a fake-wish-it-was-real relationship, & the heart-stopping suspense at the end kept me devouring the pages. Trust me, this is one fantastic Victorian show more romance!

After her father’s death, Anna Atwood & her mother return to Breckenridge, a place where they once spent a carefree summer eight years earlier. Now facing dire financial straits until her 27th birthday, Anna hopes to find peace & escape her unwanted suitor, Mr. Green. In a delightful re-meet-cute, she encounters David Tate, the boy she spent that memorable summer with. No longer the sickly, small youth she remembers, David is now a confident, handsome man who warms her cheeks with a glance & makes her skin sizzle with the barest touch. When Mr. Green follows them to Breckenridge, David proposes a fake engagement, but as time goes on, Anna finds she doesn’t want their pretend relationship to end.

Through David’s brief journal entries at the start of each chapter, we learn of his troubled, dark childhood & the bright spot Anna was for him. Even during their eight years apart, her memory remained a beacon of hope. Though David longs to claim Anna as his wife, the dastardly Lord Murphy stands in their way. With the odds stacked against them, will they find a way to be together?

I absolutely loved this story. Early on, I adored the easy, charming relationship between Anna & David. The humor & sizzling attraction pulled me right in. Watching their friendship & shared memories transform into an achingly beautiful romance filled with sweet, searing kisses & flutter-inducing touches was a joy. The story takes a more serious turn as David’s secrets are revealed, & my heart broke for the abuse he endured as a child. I loved meeting his siblings & can’t wait to read their stories.

This is one book that’ll definitely stay with me for a long time & I can’t wait to reread it! Highly recommend! I received an advanced copy from the publisher with no expectation of a positive review. All opinions are completely my own & provided voluntarily. show less

There are very few authors who can rival Esther Hatch in writing kissing scenes! Get ready to swoon, sigh, and laugh as you read this fun modern day romcom. One Small Secret oozes charm, wit, and romance with a unique plot and sweet Christmas story that’ll warm your heart.

Cadence is back from three years of working in Vietnam. She was sent there by the irresistibly handsome Rueben Palmer, her former childhood friend/rival now millionaire boss. While she still likes to keep tabs on her old show more friend, she doesn’t see why every woman in the office is in love with him. When she literally bumps into him, the sparks fly. Cue the witty banter and hilarious situations.

On top of reconnecting with her old rival, Cadence is surprised by an unexpected pre-Christmas gift. She’s now caring for her little nephew who everyone thinks is hers. When Rueben pays a visit on Christmas Eve bearing gifts, the attraction sizzles between them. Will an unexpected gas station gift purchased from a mysterious older female clerk (who looks a lot like Mrs. Claus) carry a little Christmas magic to bring these two together?

I loved this story! It had a fresh, fun plot that really drew me in and kept me hurriedly flipping the pages. Not only were there amazing kissing scenes (just kissing), but I loved the history between these two and how past misunderstandings were resolved. Having this book take place during the holidays was just icing on the cake! I loved Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve in New York, and all the adorable scenes with Axley. (Don’t you just love it when you have a cute guy acting so tender & sweet with a baby?!)

I’m looking forward to more romcoms from Esther Hatch! This is definitely one funny, creative Christmas romantic comedy you don’t want to miss. Though it’s part of the Gift Wrapped series, each book is meant to be read as a standalone. I received an advanced complimentary copy from the author. All opinions are my own and voluntarily provided. show less

Another delightful, romantic read from Esther Hatch! This novella originally appeared in a Timeless Romance Anthology, but now gets a beautifully updated cover and some additional content. I enjoyed this cute story of childhood friends, second chance love, humorous situations, misunderstandings and more!

Harrison Chase has been in love with his childhood friend Christine Stone for years. As the son of her steward though, he didn’t feel worthy until he could make something of himself. When show more he left six years ago, he revealed his secret love for her in a letter which he never posted. Now a successful business man and about to run for a seat in Parliament, he’s put aside his past longings. That is until an overly dutiful housekeeper accidentally posts his letter. Harrison returns to his childhood home to try to intercept the letter before Christine sees it.

Christine’s estate is in trouble. Determined to help any way she can, she’s applied for a governess position, but she needs to intercept the possible acceptance letter before her brother sees it. When she sees Harrison again, her love for Harry which has never wavered returns full force and she begins to hope for perhaps a different future. But, Harry has changed. He’s much more serious and formal. Hoping to get him to smile more, she reminds him of some of the childhood antics they once enjoyed including skipping rocks. Harrison is charmed by Christine and all his love for her comes back, but what happens when the letters are delivered? And when Christine learns he’ll be fighting for the repeal of the Corn Laws that will destroy her family’s estate, is there any hope for a future together?

Christine and Harry were so darling! I loved the otter incident, getting caught in the rain, their banter, and skipping rocks. Christine is such a fun, sunny character and I enjoyed the way she brought Harry out of his seriousness. It’s a delightful, quick, clean Victorian era novella that can easily be read in a day. Highly recommend! I received an advanced complimentary copy from the author, but also purchased a copy through KU. All opinions are my own and I was not required to provide a positive review. show less