Before I Found You: A Regency Romance (A de Courtenay Novella Book 3)
by Sherry Ewing
de Courtenay (3)
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Description
A quest for a title. An encounter with a stranger. Will she choose love? Miss Miranda de Courtenay has only one goal in life: to find a rich husband who can change her status from Missto My Lady. But when a handsome stranger crosses her path at a Valentine's Day ball, her obsession with titles dims. Might love be enough? Captain Jasper Rousseau has no plans to become infatuated during a chance encounter at a ball. He has a new ship to run, passengers to book, and cargo to deliver. But one show more look into a young lady's beautiful hazel eyes, and he becomes lost. Does love at first sight really exist? Their paths continue to cross until they are both stranded in Fenwick on Sea. Their growing connection is hard to dismiss, despite Miranda's childish quest for a title at all cost. But what if the cost includes love? Before I Found You first appeared in the Bluestocking Belles' 2021 box set Storm & Shelter. It is now available for individual sale. show lessTags
Member Reviews
Fieldnotes:
Fenwick on Sea, Regency - 1815
1 Title-Obsessed Young Miss with a Talent for Scandal
1 Non-Titled Merchant Captain (Half-French)
1 Shocking Lack of Introductions!
2 Rejected Overtures
1 Unscrupulous Rival
Sabotage!
1 Terrible Storm
1 Convergence on The Queen's Barque Inn featuring Cross-Pollination
1 Gossip Sheet Reporter
Appalling Lack of Consideration for Reputations
Kidnapping!
Fisticuffs!
Embracing in Public!
The Short Version:
Miranda de Courtenay has one overarching objective - she wants - nay, *needs* to marry a title. After all, she is currently the only one of her siblings without an honorific, and her 20-year-old self just can't handle her elder siblings having something she doesn't. Apparently, the young lady is so fixated on show more what she wants that she has (in previous novellas) made some rather questionable decisions and weathered more than her fair share of scandals.
I really wanted to like Miranda, but her obsession with a title for the sake of having a title (rather than wealth, or having some ambition related to the title) was extremely tiresome. Despite her being immediately drawn to merchant captain Jasper Rousseau (to the point of ignoring societal niceties like introductions before dancing a waltz - the SCANDAL), she immediately dismisses him out of hand once she learns that he's untitled and instead runs off after someone who claims to be titled but is clearly a MISCREANT - listen to your maid! She also flings herself into danger just to make sure Jasper is safe at one point (so at least she's affectionate, if reckless). She's just a very self-absorbed, very dramatic 20-year-old with messed-up priorities. And I may be a tad too old for her nonsense.
On the whole I liked Jasper and wanted the two of them to get together, but there wasn't really much of an obstacle other than his lack of title, which just wasn't good enough a reason for me to forgive Miranda throwing him away (not once, but multiple times!). I'd happily read more in the series, though. show less
Fenwick on Sea, Regency - 1815
1 Title-Obsessed Young Miss with a Talent for Scandal
1 Non-Titled Merchant Captain (Half-French)
1 Shocking Lack of Introductions!
2 Rejected Overtures
1 Unscrupulous Rival
Sabotage!
1 Terrible Storm
1 Convergence on The Queen's Barque Inn featuring Cross-Pollination
1 Gossip Sheet Reporter
Appalling Lack of Consideration for Reputations
Kidnapping!
Fisticuffs!
Embracing in Public!
The Short Version:
Miranda de Courtenay has one overarching objective - she wants - nay, *needs* to marry a title. After all, she is currently the only one of her siblings without an honorific, and her 20-year-old self just can't handle her elder siblings having something she doesn't. Apparently, the young lady is so fixated on show more what she wants that she has (in previous novellas) made some rather questionable decisions and weathered more than her fair share of scandals.
I really wanted to like Miranda, but her obsession with a title for the sake of having a title (rather than wealth, or having some ambition related to the title) was extremely tiresome. Despite her being immediately drawn to merchant captain Jasper Rousseau (to the point of ignoring societal niceties like introductions before dancing a waltz - the SCANDAL), she immediately dismisses him out of hand once she learns that he's untitled and instead runs off after someone who claims to be titled but is clearly a MISCREANT - listen to your maid! She also flings herself into danger just to make sure Jasper is safe at one point (so at least she's affectionate, if reckless). She's just a very self-absorbed, very dramatic 20-year-old with messed-up priorities. And I may be a tad too old for her nonsense.
On the whole I liked Jasper and wanted the two of them to get together, but there wasn't really much of an obstacle other than his lack of title, which just wasn't good enough a reason for me to forgive Miranda throwing him away (not once, but multiple times!). I'd happily read more in the series, though. show less
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44+ Works 192 Members
Series
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Common Knowledge
- People/Characters
- Miranda de Courtenay; Jasper Rousseau; Hugo Danville; Adrian de Courtenay; Celia; Nicholas Lacey (show all 11); Grace de Courtenay; Josephine Meadows; Eugenia Fynlock; Lady Felicity Belvoir; Theodosia Conroy
- Important places
- Bath, Somerset, England, UK; Fenwick on Sea, UK
- Dedication
- For Carol & Jude
I couldn't do all this without the two of you. Your friendship means the world to me. Thank you for all your love and support over the years!
And
To author Elizabeth Essex for her kindness in... (show all) sharing her knowledge of all things nautical! - First words
- Captain Jasper Rousseau surveyed the crowd, wishing he could be anywhere other than this ballroom full of Bath Society.
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- Genres
- Fiction and Literature, Romance
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- Reviews
- 1
- Rating
- (3.50)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 2
- ASINs
- 1
