Stephanie Laurens

This anthology showcases three Regency-era novellas about characters from each author’s respective series, but you don’t need to be familiar with the full-length novels to understand and enjoy this book.

In “Lost and Found” by Stephanie Laurens, Reggie’s uncle is on his deathbed and that means big changes are coming to Reggie and the Carmarthen family. Soon enough, he’ll become a viscount and then an earl. When news of this hits the ton, all the matchmaking mamas and their daughters will chase after him for marriage. Reggie, a resolute bachelor, decides to find his own wife before they do. When he stumbles upon Anne Ashford in a heated discussion with another man, he comes to her rescue. After all, she’s his best friend’s sister and they’ve known each other for years. For the first time, he sees her in a different light. When they have to work side by side to help unite a sweet orphan with his long-lost family, loves blooms between them.
This is a sweet story and I liked it, but it was a little slow and the POV shifts were confusing.
3 Stars

In “The Matchmaker’s Bargain” by Elizabeth Boyle, Amanda finds herself stranded in a storm and takes shelter in the home of a mysterious old woman. She unknowingly drinks a potent tea and pays for the woman’s services. In the morning, she learns she has to find her heart’s desire and be married in a few days. Desperate to finally live her life on her terms, she enlists the help of Jemmy Reyburn, the old woman’s neighbor and Amanda’s unrequited love from years past, to help her escape the town unwed.
Jemmy doesn’t remember Amanda, but he’s entranced by her now. After serving in the war against Napoleon, he’s no longer the arrogant rake she remembers. He’s bitter, scarred, and has a bum leg. He’s given up on living until Amanda brings the light back into his world. As the town gathers to see her married, he soon realizes he wants her for himself, but can he convince her to give him a second chance and stay in Bromley Hollow?
Jemmy is definitely troubled, but he’s so kind and comes out of his shell around Amanda. She’s torn between what her heart wants and what she knows is polite decorum. They both find themselves and grow as characters throughout the story. I think Amanda’s parents are by far some of the worst parents I’ve ever read in a book. I really sympathized with the poor woman and the life she’s led. The story is well-written with no stray POV shifts. This is a wonderful story and my favorite in the anthology.
5 Stars

In “The Third Suitor” by Christina Dodd, Harry is on holiday in a sleepy English coastal town to relax after risking his life abroad serving his country. He’s bored and thinking about his next mission, whatever that might be, when he finds a young woman sneaking through the garden outside his rented cottage. Jessie is in hiding from a persistent suitor and beseeches Harry for his help. Friendship quickly blossoms between them, and Harry scares the man away. When he finds out she has three unwanted suitors (Jessie and her unwatchful chaperone are on holiday to meet to meet and pick from the men), he’s determined to help her out of the dreadful matches. Things heat up between them, but he’s a man with a past and his secrets could get her killed.
This is a great story and I love the characters. Harry is dashing and mysterious, Jessie is smart and brave, and the chemistry between them sizzled the pages. Though well-written, there were a few POV shifts. I felt a little lost during the climax. In my opinion, the beach scene could’ve used more description. I had a hard time picturing the cliff and the boulders, but maybe that’s just me.
4 Stars

Book Overall
4 Stars
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Barbara’s rating: 3.5 of 5 Stars

A funny thing happened on the way to the proposal. Drago Helmsford, Duke of Wylde, must marry before his thirty-fifty birthday. (Yes, it is another of those stories where an otherwise loving father messes up his kid’s life by including really asinine things in his will – and this time, for really asinine reasons). His parents were a love match, but he never thought he’d have one as well, so upon advice from his Aunt Edith, he decides to propose to Alison Melwin. He met her once and she was quiet, shy, unassuming, and shouldn’t cause any trouble. The night before he is to propose, he and his friends really tie one on – rip-roaring-drunk. So, he passes out the next day on his way to propose – out cold – on a lonely stretch of road. Only to be rescued by a lovely young lady. And to repay her good deed – well – the two of them are discovered as she’s helping him into his cottage (actually upstairs to his bed). Not only discovered, but he just happened to be kissing her when his aunt, her companion, Alison, and Alison’s mother walked in. OOPS. He doesn’t know who the young woman who rescued him is, but the only way to save her is to announce their betrothal. Then, he finds out she is a Cynster. OMGoodness!

Meg Cynster is approaching her tenth season and is in the country assessing what she wants to do with the rest of her life. Obviously, she won’t be a wife and mother because she’s never found even one gentleman who remotely interested her. While she’s out gathering herbs, she comes across a man who appears dead, draped across the seat of a very expensive curricle. She doesn’t know him, but the two farmhands who are also there, but can’t handle his horses, tell her which cottage he is staying in. Even totally passed out drunk he’s handsome and appeals to her. The real trouble starts when she gets him to the cottage and no one is there. How can she get a man who is twice her size into the cottage alone? She cannot leave him outside with a storm on the way. Then, he kisses her – and she lets him.

With an agreement for a pretend betrothal, they go about fooling friends and family alike – until they aren’t fooling. But then, there are the attacks. Is someone trying to harm Meg? Or is it Drago they are after? Neither of them has any enemies – none. So, who could want to harm either of them? Why?

For me, it was an okay read, but I probably wouldn’t read it a second time. While it was written in the typical Laurens style, it was slow-moving with very little excitement. Even the attacks were over before they’d started. Mostly, it was descriptions of the many entertainments they attended and the political affiliations they were making. I really liked Meg and Drago and some of the supporting characters such as his mother and Alison. I loved that there were so many Cynsters who made appearances – from Devil and Hooria to the more recently married cousins. Meg’s brother Toby also gets a bit of page-time in this story and that is nice because his book is next. At the end of this book, there is a synopsis of several other Laurens books and one of those was Devil Cynster’s book – the first of the series. I read the sample chapter of that book and it made me realize that the author has changed her writing style over the years. The first chapter or so of that book was fast-paced, and exciting, and made me want to read it again. Perhaps I’m wrong, but the style just seems different now.… (more)