To Suit a Suitor

by Paula Kremser

Julia North is nearing the end of her third London season and has just been jilted. Again! All she wants is to leave London and its eligible gentlemen behind. When the opportunity to leave for two months comes her way, Julia jumps at the chance. But her mother will only let her leave on the condition that she choose Julia's next suitor, and her mother isn't nearly as picky as Julia would like. Against her better judgment, Julia makes the promise and leaves town, only to run into Henry Chamberlain. Julia is warned that his heart is locked up tight, but she doesn t need to be warned away from him; Julia has been jilted enough to know that his flirtatious smiles can't be taken seriously. With time running out, a change of mind and a change of heart is their only chance for the joy that only true love can bring.

Genres: Regency, Romance, Clean Romance, Historical Fiction, Historical Romance, Historical, Fiction

256 pages, Perfect Paperback

First published November 1, 2016

About the author

Paula Kremser focused on a career in science for a few years after graduating from Brigham Young University. Several years later when she moved with her young family to England, Paula seized the opportunity to focus on her love of the Regency Era. The enchantment of the aristocracy and the fascinating stories from every stately home she visits have been both research and inspiration for her first novel, Sophia. Paula lives with her husband and four children in a charming village nestled in the Chiltern hills in Buckinghamshire.

Reviews

[Katie (hiding in the pages)]

What in the world is wrong with Julia? Julia and her younger sister must be wed before their mother can remarry, but after three London seasons, she's still single. Men are mysteriously driven away and she wants to know why. When a cousin needs help for a couple of months, Julia jumps at the chance to escape London and finds solace in the quiet countryside...and she also finds Henry, the catch of the area.

Why is it unobtainable things are always desired the most? Those are exactly the sentiments of both Julia and Henry. Neither feels they have a chance with the other and when a few twists and turns cause some jealousy, the real fun begins. I love that the reader gets to see Julia after she's fed up with trying to please society and we get to see who she really is. She doesn't care about offending--she's just going to state her mind and follow her heart. I cannot imagine living in a time when there's so much pressure to marry, whether there's love or not. I feel this story paints a vivid picture of that pressure and the result, in this case, is pure romance and entertainment.

I love that this story has a few predicable surprises because they add life to the plot. The conflicts are very believable and the feelings are realistic, yet the story is a lot of fun. There are a few sentiments of other favorite period tales--a silly sister, a gentle and sweet romance, misunderstandings, and more. This is a great read for any Regency lover.

Content: mild, clean romance.

*I received a copy from the publisher for review. All thoughts and opinions are given voluntarily and are my own.*

[Aimee]

I really enjoyed this gentle regency by Paula Kremser. It was romantic and the characters were vivid and very typical to this regency genre. The overbearing, pushy and slightly snooty mother, a rich young bachelor sought after by every young girl around, a young woman caught up in the society games and wishing for an escape. It all played out like a lovely movie in my head.

I wouldn't say there were any surprises waiting for me in this book but I did like the overall theme of being yourself and allowing others to come to know and love you for who you really are. Don't try to be someone you are not to impress others.

If you love regency romance, you should pick this book up. It was so sweet!

Content: Clean

-I received a copy of this book from the publisher for free. A favorable review was no required and all opinions expressed are my own.

[Shauna]

So many great books out there--and this is definitely one of them!
Flirting, courting, secret meetings, broken engagements-- it's all in this delightful tale of romance with its ups and downs of being in love. ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT! Lots of fun scenes in this book! You heart and mind will enjoy every page! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS ONE!

[Donna]

At last

I've read so many duds lately, it's been refreshing to read this one. There were even some humorous parts. Thank you.

[Lisa (Bookworm Lisa)]

I remember pulling petals off of flowers as a child and saying the well know phrase, "he loves me, he loves me not". In some ways this book reminded me of the childhood game. Not that the characters are childish, just that they sent mixed signals to each other and left the other wondering of their true desires.

To Suit a Suitor is a sweet regency romance. The characters have been hurt before and are unsure about relationships. They take each other by surprise and do not know how to react. There are meddling mother's who want their children to be marries. One mother has selfish ulterior motives. I always enjoy regency books set in the country away from London. This book had that and more.

This book is clean with kissing. The characters had depth. I loved reading about their learning to trust their heart process. There are moments that had me giggling and moments when I wanted to throw something at the main characters. This book is entertaining and a light read. It is perfect when you need a regency fix.

[Chalon Linton]

There were a few mistakes in this book that unfortunately bump this from a 5 star to a 4 star rating for me. However, I did enjoy the plot and the characters, although at times they seemed a bit naive. Kremer uses some words repetitiously, but I still enjoyed the escape provided by To Suit a Suitor.

[Cary Kreitzer]

Reminded me a lot of edenbrooke which is a favorite of mine! But still full of unexpected twists and different messages to be completely it's own story. What I liked about this story more than edenbrooke is how much more believable it was for her to not truly recognize how much he loved her.

[Kirsi Johnson]

This is the first book that I've read by Ms. Kremser; I'm happy to report that it won't be the last. A clean, regency read, this story is about overcoming past heartache and learning that being yourself is the best path to happiness. Two thumbs up!

[Heather Chapman]

This was excellent! I loved her first book, but this was even better. Paula has a gift, and I'm so thankful I get to be a benefactor of it! Can't wait to read more!

[Melissa’s Bookshelf]

I really enjoyed this latest book from Paula Kremser. In this story, Julia and her sister must get married before their mother can remarry. Julia has been jilted three times and can't figure out what is wrong with her. When she decides to go to the country to be a companion to her cousin, Julia meets Henry who has issues of his own. These two have to decide if they can overcome the past and their own insecurities to fall in love. I liked the characters and the twists and turns of the story. I'd happily recommend this fun, clean, regency read to my daughter.

[Anna]

I really like Julia and her relationship with Henry. It would have been nice if the author had shown us a little more of the 'under-her-mothers-thumb' Julia we are told she was before the story began so we could better understand the contrast. The books is also slightly to quickly resolved. But all in all a lovely little romance.

[Richelle]

I really enjoyed this book! I love Henry and Julia is a gem. Watching their attraction blossom amidst all that is going on around them was fantastic. Henry is one of my favorite leading men for sure. Definitely a great read.

CONTENT:
Romance - Sweet and Clean ❤
Violence- None
Language - None

[Julia]

I'm on a regency romance kick and I really liked this one. The main character is named Julia and I identified with her wit and will. I love the descriptions of old fashioned love stories because it makes me want to pay attention more to the details and senses of my own life. Like when was the last time I saw eyes shining??

[Jennybug]

This was a proper regency romance. They are just so much fun to read. This was no exception. It was a nice quick enjoyable read. It left me wishing that I could go horseback riding out in the country. It would be so much fun to go back in time, when a man used to check out a ladies ankle.

[Kathryn]

Clean, fast, regency romance about the lengths a widowed mother will go to marry off her daughter so she can marry.
Julia, the older daughter thinks there is some flaw in her that keeps suitor from proposing and is desperate for an escape London when a distant cousin requests a temporary companion, she volunteers. She and cousin Martha hit it off right away.
When Julia isn't trying to catch a husband that is when catching a fly leads her right to him.

[lisa c allen]

Very Enjoyable!

I liked the characters in this book, they had some depth to them and I wanted to know what was going to happen next! What a relief to find a clean romance, that has people acting with some intelligence as they face the issues of that time.

If you need a little vacation, read this book! I found it stress relieving as well, to contemplate the long walks that our heroine was taking as she faced challenging circumstances. This is Mrs. Steve Allen reviewing this book.

[Amy]

Cute story with a happily ever after

[Heidi Pack]

it's terrible to love an author's work so much, only to see that there are only two novels available! she is witty and fun and sneaks good morals into her tale without being obvious.

[LAWonder10]

What was wrong with Julia? She was as attractive as any other girl, but this was her third season and still no respectable proposal. She had lost three suitors within a four month period. It was humiliating. Now her sister is engaged in her first season!
Her mother is delighted by her sister's engagement but more determined that Julia must stop being so picky and just get married. Until her daughters were married, Marianne North could not pursue her dreams and she wasn't getting younger.
Forlorn, Julia grabbed a "door" of opportunity when a letter from her mother's deceased husband's cousin requested her companionship for two months until her new companion became of age and could be with her. Julia's mother was writing a letter of refusal, due to the up-coming wedding, but Julia saw it as her chance to get away from the scrutiny. Julia finally convinced her mother to let her go by consenting to allow her mother to arrange a marriage for her when she returned...What had she done!
Her time with her "aunt" was very pleasant.   She could easily envision a life living with her aunt. How could she convince her aunt to keep her instead of her having to return to London. She couldn't bear the thought of marrying for convenience.
She was sure in an areas her "aunt" lived, it would be too small for any eligible bachelor to live. However, there was the Baron Henry who had multiple women chasing him, for them to only leave with broken hearts. The few times they had met had been strange. Just as she thought there was hope, devastating  events occurred. Her future was possible doomed.
The characters are very real and the background scenes were portrayed well. The Book Cover and Title were a perfect fit and very eye-catching.
This was a very well-written story and earns a Five Stars rating.
*This book was gifted me but in no way influences less than an honest review, of which I have given.

[Melanie]

Julia's mother has a personal reason for pushing Julia (and her sister) to marry as quickly as possible. However, Julia doesn't seem to have much luck with men. She doesn't mind too much but is under incredible pressure from her mother to get married. An opportunity comes along for her to leave London for a couple of months. In her desperation to leave, she makes a rash agreement with her mother, with a plan in mind to not have to abide by its terms. While she's gone, she meets Henry, the local sought-after bachelor, and is determined to not get involved with him.

This was a quick, fun read! Julia is an easy character to like. Her mother is overbearing and her sister is flighty. Julia is kind and seriously confused as to why men keep dumping her--she doesn't try to make that happen, but does find that she's not sad when it does. Henry is also easy to like. I loved how their relationship developed, starting with their first humorous meeting.

I enjoyed all the characters in this book, even the ones that were more difficult to like. Not everything went smoothly and there were some kinks along the way to a satisfying ending. This is a perfect read for anyone who enjoys clean regency romance!

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, which did not affect my review in any way

Mel's Shelves

[Patti]

For those of us who enjoy Regency England escapades, “To Suit a Suitor” is a delightful story. It’s just the light fun read I needed after an intense war trilogy.

Julia North is a young lady in the midst of her third season. She seems to have a dark cloud of bad luck that hangs over her quest to find a suitable husband. Feeling defeated, she has given up on herself and accepts assignment as a companion for a lady relative in the country for two months. Anything to get away from the torture of London’s ton and the pressure of her mother to get married a.s.a.p. As it stands now, the clock is ticking as Julia’s widowed mother will not be able to remarry until both her daughters are securely married; only then will her intended agree to marry. (He doesn’t want the burden of dowries, parties, balls, responsibility, etc.) So it’s not the girls’ happiness mom wants, its just find anybody and get it done fast so she can do her own selfish thing.

The best thing for Julia is to escape to the country. But on the way there, she has an encounter with a handsome young man who witnesses her lightning fast hands as she catches a horse fly. The rest of the story goes on from there…

I liked the way the story added threads to the plot as it progressed. It was well done and kept my attention. I liked Julia’s forthright way of talking, which is refreshing in Regency tales. Even the fickleness of both Henry & Julia gave the story interest. All in all, it is a fun story.

[Jill]

I read this book twice and enjoyed it both times. Clean regency romance set in London and the country.

The mother in this book is an absolute nightmare, oh my word I couldn't tolerate the woman - which is just as the book was designed. Well done. In order to secure her own marriage, her secret fiancé demands she marry off her two daughters first so they will have no claim on his estate as have earlier children of precious marriages.

And so we begin to watch Harriet and Julia navigate the world of the London marriage mart at the force of their mother. Any man will do just hurry up. But Harriet and Julia have other plans.

Julia manages to arrange to be a companion for a cousin in the country to escape her mother's pressures to marry. And there she meets, by accident, the eligible bachelor of the town. But he's had a tragedy and Julia's cousin warns her away from him.

There you go. A quick read with both predictable and unpredictable twists. Just the way I enjoy a good story: comfort and surprise.

[ChamberBooks]

This was a cute and sweet book! It's a small book so it was easy to read and I finished it pretty quickly. I enjoyed the characters and storyline but because it was short, I felt like there was a bit missing. But it's mainly because I wanted more of the characters to get a better sense of their character. There wasn't an antagonist but it was short so its to be expected, and honestly I prefer it that way so for me I didn't mind at all!

I've also been wanting a chill read as I've been in a bit of a reading slump. This was such a nice chill read that it definitely helped me out of my slump...which is a huge bonus on this books behalf!

Overall, this was one of those sweet "you gotta be you" storylines that I really enjoyed! Overall this was a great read, if you enjoy simple historical romance novels then this is for you!

*This book was given to me by the publisher but all thoughts are my own!

[Laura]

With her mother trying to force her hand, Julia struggles to find a suitor she is willing to marry. Her beautiful younger sister is engaged--leaving Julia feeling on the shelf in her 3rd season. I loved Julia's personality. She isn't a door mat, but she isn't so headstrong that she was unrealistic. She jumps at the chance to go visit her cousin. She would rather work as a companion than be paraded in front of men who know her mother is desperate to marry her off.
Henry is everything a hero should be: kind, good looking & broken hearted. All the local young ladies are hoping they will be the one to mend his broken heart. When Julia shows up and acts completely uninterested in him, Henry isn't sure what to make of the situation.
I enjoyed the story-both Julia's and her sisters. A cute and easy read.

[PAMpublish]

This Regency romance with a novel title and lovely cover manages to evolve into a full-length book surrounding a rather simple, but creative plot and setting. Julia's mother is intent on marrying off her two daughters related to a condition of marriage to a lord. Problem is that despite being attractive, after three seasons, she hasn't one marriage proposal. Visiting a distant relative, she is able to act herself and bumps into an unattainable royal who is attracted to her but not without issues. This novel maintained my attention throughout and is recommended to a reader who enjoys a twist to the ordinary Regency agendas.

[C. Richter]

Cute Romance

I liked this book alot. I wasn't sure I would at first because I tend not to like heroines that are bossy, outspoken & so sure they are always right, etc. ...but this story's heroine turned out not to be like that afterall once she left London & her Mother's influence. It's well-written, has no glaring spelling or weird proofing errors, the characters are well-rounded, it has an engaging plot, and witty banter. Ticks all the boxes for me. I can recommend this book very highly. 😊

[Rachel]

Julia's mother is determined to get Julia married as soon as possible, but it seems that Julia cannot keep a suitor interested for very long. Julia is tired of being in London and being forced be on the prowl, she hatches a plan to visit her father's cousin in the country; it will be a nice break for her. Then she meets Henry during the most embarrassing moment and they become fast friends.

Great book!

[Tammy L. Bethune]

Clean, yes! Exciting? Riveting Regency read? Not so much

Clean Regency read - yes! peril, suspense, & excitement? Nope…Beautiful Henry who is so good looking everyone can’t but help love him…Julia who can’t seem to keep a suitor much less get a proposal - why? Some parts not accurate to the time period (an elopement & no one is overly concerned - secret meetings w/o chaperones etc)

[Heather Green]

This has a distinct Austen feel. I really liked the characters and how Henry let himself be "caught" at the end. The dialogue between the mc's was entertaining as were the situations Julia found herself in everytime Henry was around. I didn't like it as well as Sophia, but it was clean and worth the read. I'd probably read it again.

[Maddie]

Very fast read, that kept me laughing! Every time Henry or Julia was upset I could physically feel their pain as if it was my own. That's how you know that this is a good author, making you experience the same joys and anguish that the characters do. Henry was adorable, every guy should be like him.