At Love's Bidding

At Love’s Bidding by Regina Jennings is the second book in the Ozark Mountain Romance series and it is set in 1873. Miranda Wimplegate is used to staying in the shadows. She does not like being the center of attention and you can tell from the dull clothes that she wears in colors that will make her blend in with her surroundings. Miranda works at her family's auction house Wimplegate Auction House (not very original) in Boston, Massachusetts. The family sold a painting that was not supposed to be in the auction (so who put it there). Miranda and her grandfather, Elmer Wimplegate (who seems to be having memory issues) go to Pine Gap (where the purchases mailed the painting) to retrieve the painting which will protect the reputation of show more their auction house. In order to ensure that they get the painting, the purchase the auction house in Pine Gap (sight unseen). What they do not know is that the auction house caters to animals (and whatever else anyone wishes to sell).

Wyatt Ballentine is the manager of the sale barn at the auction house in Pine Gap. He has been saving up to buy it and is upset when he finds out that the owner sold it to outsiders. Wyatt is hoping he can convince Miranda and Elmer that this is not the business for them and get them to sell the auction house to him. Wyatt does not anticipate Miranda and her determined nature. Miranda will have her hands full with keeping an eye on her grandfather (who is getting worse each day), looking for the painting, and not letting Wyatt know what she is looking for in the auction house. I think Miranda and Wyatt are in for an adventure!

At Love’s Bidding is a cute novel. I liked the main characters (especially Wyatt) and the setting of Pine Gap. There are some interesting people in this delightful little town. At Love’s Bidding is fun and easy to read. I give At Love’s Bidding 4 out of 5 stars (I liked it). I liked seeing Miranda grow and blossom during the course of the novel. At Love’s Bidding can be read without having enjoyed the first book in the series. I look forward to the next book in the Ozark Mountain Romance series.

I received a complimentary copy of At Love’s Bidding from NetGalley and The Book Club Inc. (and the publisher) in exchange for an honest review. show less

Living in a small town where many people are cattle owners and cattle auctions happen frequently, although I have never been to one, I could easily place myself in the setting of this book. Of course Pine Gap may be a bit smaller than the town I live in, but relatable all the same.
Miranda, a young woman from a fine Boston family, finds herself traveling across country with Grandpere after their auction house accidentally sells a family heirloom that wasn't intended for sale. Poor Grandpere, once a fine man, full of wisdom and discretion, God honoring, is now slightly off kilter and making some very questionable choices. Meanwhile, the auction house they thought they had purchased in attempt to recovery the portrait is not at all what show more they had in mind. And they have no idea whatsoever how to auction cattle.
Wyatt the auction house manager has always dreamed of bigger things, only to find that his one and only dream has been sold out from under him to some city slickers who are completely clueless.

This book is full of twists and turns, a bit of sass, and a bit of romance. And of course some very lovable characters. I totally enjoyed the angle that Regina took on the grandfather with onset dementia or Alzheimers and Miranda's loving actions towards him as well as the respect she continued to show him even when he was not in his right mind. My grandmother had dementia, so I could certainly relate to the content.

This is the first book I have read by Regina, but I certainly will be enjoying more of her books. I love her lighthearted sense of humor. her wit, and how she concocts her stories. She was creative and although the book was somewhat predictable, it was also full of twists and turns to make you wonder. She did a wonderful job of involving my emotions and evoking different feelings in regards to the characters and their actions. I can't wait to read another one of her books.

I received this book from Bethany House in exchange for my honest opinion. show less

I find At Love's Bidding rather captivating. It moves along smoothly, and I found it hard to put down once I began reading. I found myself easily relating to Miranda, who went from being rather timid and desiring to be "invisible" to becoming bolder, and standing up for herself. It is also touching, how Miranda tenderly and patiently cared for her grandfather, who exhibits signs of dementia. I would certainly recommend this book.

This was the first book I've read by Regina Jennings, and I hope to read more.

Wonderful! I did not want to put this book down. I loved the comedy and the romance in this historical fiction. It would be hard to go from working in a prestigious Boston auction house to an auction barn. Miranda had to do this to help her family find a painting that they sold inadvertently by her grandfather. This book had many happy points and some sad points. Miranda and Wyatt were great characters that belong together. I received this book from the author and bookfun.org for a fair and honest opinion.

Paths are about to cross when the Wimplegate’s Auction House accidently sells a family heirloom that was not supposed to sold as part of the LeBlanc families belongings. Actually the grandfather Wimplegate is aging, and we meet head on the loosing of a love one while they are still alive with dementia.
Miranda Wimplegate decides to help her grandfather track down the lost portrait and they head to the Missouri Ozarks, and try and save their business with the recovery. You will find several chuckles and laughs as they see the new auction house they bought, and then some of the priceless antiques, not, that grandpa buys.
We meet Wyatt and again a chuckle as they try and dress him as if he is in Boston Ma, where their Auction House is. We show more do travel the beautiful countryside, and wonder if the two opposites in Miranda and Wyatt could possibly attract.
There is danger, and then there is not fitting in with your family, and the journey to find your roots.
It took me awhile to get through this book, and the epilogue at the end didn’t seem to give more information about the story I had just read, which was a bit of disappointment.

I received this book through Litfuse Publicity Book tours, and was not required to give a positive review. show less

I liked the interactions between the characters and how they had to handle being in an unfamiliar situation. I know I would probably feel like a fish out of water if I had to go from the city of Boston to the Missouri Ozarks during this time and would have no idea how to get myself out of what they found themselves in charge of.
I would recommend this to anyone who would like a lighthearted read.
I received a copy of this from the publisher to review.

My first book that I read by Regina, was A Most Inconvenient Marriage. Because I enjoyed it so much I wanted to read more. At Love's Bidding was the sixth book, and it was no disappointment. I was pleasantly surprised to learn more about some of the characters in A Most Inconvenient Marriage. I had forgotten it too was part of the Ozark Mountain Romance Series. I love the way Regina incorporates love, laughter and sometimes tears into her stories. I would highly recommend this book. It would make a good summer read.