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Timeless Regency Collection
A Holiday in Bath
Three brand new Regency Romance novellas by Julie Daines, Caroline Warfield, and Jaima Fixsen
TRIAL OF THE HEART by Julie Daines
Marianne Wood has been summoned to Bath to testify against the man who killed her family. She dreads coming face to face with the monster of her nightmares, but finds surprising comfort under the care of a charming barrister, Harby Northam. Despite his kindly attentions, Mr. Northam is a shrewd and discerning man of law with an awful secret. Marianne is put to the test as she deals with the evil of her past and her growing affection for the mysterious Mr. Northam.
LORD EDMUND’S DILEMMA by Caroline Warfield
Lucy Ashcroft doesn’t share her stepmother’s belief that she might find a husband during her sojourn in Bath, but she does enjoy a respite from a household full of half-siblings and a younger sister preparing for her London Season, something Lucy can’t even dream about. In Bath, she enjoys the company of the elderly ladies in her aunt’s circle, and happy to be out from under her stepmother’s watchful and speculating eye. But when Lucy meets Lord Edmund Parker, all of her expectations for a quiet, unassuming holiday suddenly change.
THE ART OF KISSING IN THE PARK by Jaima Fixsen
Caroline Trenholme is not pleased with Bath, the fussy, antiquated resort of the shabby-genteel. She ought to be in London, finding a man—not here, coddling her irrational grandmother. In the park, she crosses paths (literally—this is Bath, after all) with a nameless, mannerless rogue, intent on stealing a kiss. As if his proposition weren’t insult enough, even her dog seems to like the man better. It's impossible! Especially once she suspects she might like him too…
300 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2017
157 people are currently reading
400 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 142 reviews
July 16, 2017
I love the Timeless Regency Collections, so fun to have three stories and to try new authors. They're perfect when you just want a quick escape. I loved that this collection takes place in Bath, I've always found this to be a fun regency setting. I think all three authors were new to me, and I really enjoyed trying their stories and will be checking out their other books. I found each story to be engaging and unique, I liked the characters and plots and would recommend this collection to any regency fan.
Content: Clean romance, mild language, mild violence
Source: Review Copy
Content: Clean romance, mild language, mild violence
Source: Review Copy
April 17, 2018
I loved this novella collection! Each story was set in Bath, England during the Regency era, and it was so fun to learn historical details about that location. The first story by Julie Daines was full of drama, intrigue, and emotional turmoil (without being melodramatic). The friendship and affection that develop between the vulnerable Marianne and protective Mr. Northam balances out the darker parts of the story, and I loved how everything wrapped up. The second story by Caroline Warfield was a delight, and since I haven't read anything by this author before I'm looking forward to seeking out her other books. Lucy's sweet and compassionate nature make her a perfect match for the charming Edmund who is looking to turn his life in a direction different from his parents' expectations. The last story by Jaima Fixsen has plenty of kissing as the title implies, and while I liked the characters, their relationship seemed too based on physical attraction. It was still a fun story and finished the collection off nicely.
(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)
(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)
May 26, 2017
I'm going to review these as I read them...
Trial of the Heart - Julie Daines
Marianne Wood has been summoned to Bath to testify against the man who killed her family two years ago. She is surprised to meet the barrister, Harby Northam. She was expecting an older, stouter man wearing a wig, and instead finds a tall, young, fit barrister. She enjoys her time with him, but sees how easily and often he can change his face and his mood as he reads other people to get his way. As she meets the people he has helped, she thinks him to be a charming, but shallow, man. But as this case develops, she learns things about him that show a deeper side to him.
Content: Clean, talk of a murder and attempted rape (no details given)
Lord Edmund's Dilemma - Caroline Warfield
Lord Edmund Parker has lived his life ignoring his dreams and passions while trying to please his parents. Until the night that he meets Lucy Ashcroft, who is in Bath visiting her Aunt Imogene. The more time he spends with Lucy, the more determined he is to pursue not only the woman he loves (who is well below his station), but also the profession he is passionate about (which is also well below his station).
Content: Clean, mild swearing
The Fine Art of Kissing in the Park - Jaima Fixsen
At 24, Caroline has lost her fiance in a prank-gone-bad, and finds herself without purpose, place or presence -- and even worse, a spinster. So she goes to Bath. Jack Edwards is a country physician, currently staying with friends in Bath while he recovers from an illness. Falling in love with Jack is easy, but he's outside the social circle Caroline was raised to belong to. Caroline must choose between unhappily living the life she's always known or taking a huge risk for happiness.
Content: Clean, mild swearing
Overall Rating: 4.5 stars
Trial of the Heart - Julie Daines
Marianne Wood has been summoned to Bath to testify against the man who killed her family two years ago. She is surprised to meet the barrister, Harby Northam. She was expecting an older, stouter man wearing a wig, and instead finds a tall, young, fit barrister. She enjoys her time with him, but sees how easily and often he can change his face and his mood as he reads other people to get his way. As she meets the people he has helped, she thinks him to be a charming, but shallow, man. But as this case develops, she learns things about him that show a deeper side to him.
Content: Clean, talk of a murder and attempted rape (no details given)
Lord Edmund's Dilemma - Caroline Warfield
Lord Edmund Parker has lived his life ignoring his dreams and passions while trying to please his parents. Until the night that he meets Lucy Ashcroft, who is in Bath visiting her Aunt Imogene. The more time he spends with Lucy, the more determined he is to pursue not only the woman he loves (who is well below his station), but also the profession he is passionate about (which is also well below his station).
Content: Clean, mild swearing
The Fine Art of Kissing in the Park - Jaima Fixsen
At 24, Caroline has lost her fiance in a prank-gone-bad, and finds herself without purpose, place or presence -- and even worse, a spinster. So she goes to Bath. Jack Edwards is a country physician, currently staying with friends in Bath while he recovers from an illness. Falling in love with Jack is easy, but he's outside the social circle Caroline was raised to belong to. Caroline must choose between unhappily living the life she's always known or taking a huge risk for happiness.
Content: Clean, mild swearing
Overall Rating: 4.5 stars
July 8, 2017
I do not think you could go wrong to pick up any book in the Timeless Romance Collections. It really doesn't matter which genre it is in. They are all excellent. This book happens to fall into the Regency collection, a particular favorite genre of mine.
This collection contains three books that are set in Bath, England. There are scenes that you would expect, going to the Pump Room and partaking of the waters, trips to the Dr, older ladies who like to help younger ladies in the romance department, etc. But this book also unique content. I enjoyed that it wasn't all about nobility. Yes, some of the main characters were members of the gentry, but romance was not centered on wealth and power. (Although it was mentioned.)
The surprises for me was the young lady coming to Bath to testify in the murder trial against the man who killed her parents and narrowly missed raping her. (It doesn't go into detail, she tells non-graphically what happened to her.) A son chooses to become a Dr instead of fulfilling his family expectations for a career in the Church. And last, a grandmother encourages her granddaughter to kiss, but not go too far in enjoying the pleasures of a potential suitor. Like I stated above, it was unexpected, but a lot of great entertainment.
This book will leave you giggling, feeling outraged, and hoping that the characters will overcome their obstacles with the one they love.
Source: I received a complimentary ebook from Ebooks for Review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
This collection contains three books that are set in Bath, England. There are scenes that you would expect, going to the Pump Room and partaking of the waters, trips to the Dr, older ladies who like to help younger ladies in the romance department, etc. But this book also unique content. I enjoyed that it wasn't all about nobility. Yes, some of the main characters were members of the gentry, but romance was not centered on wealth and power. (Although it was mentioned.)
The surprises for me was the young lady coming to Bath to testify in the murder trial against the man who killed her parents and narrowly missed raping her. (It doesn't go into detail, she tells non-graphically what happened to her.) A son chooses to become a Dr instead of fulfilling his family expectations for a career in the Church. And last, a grandmother encourages her granddaughter to kiss, but not go too far in enjoying the pleasures of a potential suitor. Like I stated above, it was unexpected, but a lot of great entertainment.
This book will leave you giggling, feeling outraged, and hoping that the characters will overcome their obstacles with the one they love.
Source: I received a complimentary ebook from Ebooks for Review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
May 23, 2017
It was a delight to be part of this collection, and the stories by Caroline Warfield and Jaima Fixon were completely charming!!
July 31, 2023
6/12/2019:
Overall, 4 1/3 stars!
It's so tempting to bump it up to 5, but I'm going to stick with my rounding-down rule!
6/8/2019:
Trial of the Heart by Julie Daines (5 stars)
Marianne Wood, a lady turned governess, has a tragedy in her past. Her parents were murdered by Bartholomew Hayter, and she escaped the same fate by the skin of her teeth. For the last two years, Marianne has been looking over her shoulder, plagued by fear ever since.
Mr. Northam, a barrister, summoned Miss Wood to come to Bath to identify Mr. Hayter as the murderer. "His whole case depends on your [Marianne's] testimony."
Some nods to Austen noted. A reference to Romance of the Forest. I think Mr. Northam might be a nod to Jeremy Northam. And the following quote which smacks of Elizabeth speaking to Lady Catherine DeBourgh:
So this is what you meant by equal footing. I am a gentleman's son and you are a gentleman's daughter?"
6/9/2019: Miss Wood, a vulnerable, but brave heroine and Mr. Northam, a competent, persuasive, and somewhat mysterious hero make this a very enjoyable story. One of my Goodreads friends noted that this collection is "different." I completely concur! I really enjoyed this story.
Content: Some reference to drinks/spirits, particularly of the medicinal kind.
6/10/2019:
Lord Edmund's Dilemma by Caroline Warfield (5 stars)
To start off, just a humorous note. The first line of this story reads, "Six bewigged musicians played on, oblivious to the cream of Bath society parading about....." I thought the narrator said BIGWIG musicians, which struck me. Is that Regency-appropriate vocabulary? It turns out it was just my deafness at fault! :-) Anyway...
New Regency fact for me - apparently, paying for a subscription was necessary to drink that nasty water from the Pump Room in Bath. "... she made her way toward the counter that provided a glass of the famous spa waters to those able to afford a subscription...."
This story looks at the poor and needy. I really liked this atypical look at the Regency period.
Lucy is a heroine any reader can get behind. So kind. My favorite type of heroine. Lord Edmund Parker likewise. But he needed a bit of bravery to realize his dreams, which Lucy helped to supply him with. Loved this story.
6/12/2019
I'm sad to have finished this collection. Thankfully, I'm really enjoying the next book that I've started. :-) I'll finish my notes on the book below...
The Art of Kissing in the Park by Jaima Fixsen (4.5 stars)
Caroline is a 24-year-old spinster with a 20,000 pound dowry. She had been engaged for three years when her fiancee died. She's now in Bath with her grandmother.
Jack Edwards is a (good) doctor. He and Caroline meet over her dog, who decides to go missing. He finds the dog, and when Caroline asks for it back, he asks for a kiss.
I loved this story except for the fact that the characters don't follow Regency manners for PDAs. And somehow, it's written in such a way that I enjoyed it anyway. That's an indication of the skill of the author. I'm not deducting any stars for this out-of-period issue because the characters acknowledge that they aren't following society's rules.
However, I did find it frustrating when the main characters' no-strings-attached flirtation ends up with both of them attached. Which I will take half a star off for, because in real life - and in a book in my opinion - this is just not a good basis for a romance! (Of course it works out in this story, but this kind of behavior is just playing-with-fire!)
All three of these atypical stories are clean, but I wouldn't want my 13-year-old daughter to read the last one. I love the Timeless historical romance collections! I want another one right now. They make me happy!
Overall, 4 1/3 stars!
It's so tempting to bump it up to 5, but I'm going to stick with my rounding-down rule!
6/8/2019:
Trial of the Heart by Julie Daines (5 stars)
Marianne Wood, a lady turned governess, has a tragedy in her past. Her parents were murdered by Bartholomew Hayter, and she escaped the same fate by the skin of her teeth. For the last two years, Marianne has been looking over her shoulder, plagued by fear ever since.
Mr. Northam, a barrister, summoned Miss Wood to come to Bath to identify Mr. Hayter as the murderer. "His whole case depends on your [Marianne's] testimony."
Some nods to Austen noted. A reference to Romance of the Forest. I think Mr. Northam might be a nod to Jeremy Northam. And the following quote which smacks of Elizabeth speaking to Lady Catherine DeBourgh:
So this is what you meant by equal footing. I am a gentleman's son and you are a gentleman's daughter?"
6/9/2019: Miss Wood, a vulnerable, but brave heroine and Mr. Northam, a competent, persuasive, and somewhat mysterious hero make this a very enjoyable story. One of my Goodreads friends noted that this collection is "different." I completely concur! I really enjoyed this story.
Content: Some reference to drinks/spirits, particularly of the medicinal kind.
6/10/2019:
Lord Edmund's Dilemma by Caroline Warfield (5 stars)
To start off, just a humorous note. The first line of this story reads, "Six bewigged musicians played on, oblivious to the cream of Bath society parading about....." I thought the narrator said BIGWIG musicians, which struck me. Is that Regency-appropriate vocabulary? It turns out it was just my deafness at fault! :-) Anyway...
New Regency fact for me - apparently, paying for a subscription was necessary to drink that nasty water from the Pump Room in Bath. "... she made her way toward the counter that provided a glass of the famous spa waters to those able to afford a subscription...."
This story looks at the poor and needy. I really liked this atypical look at the Regency period.
Lucy is a heroine any reader can get behind. So kind. My favorite type of heroine. Lord Edmund Parker likewise. But he needed a bit of bravery to realize his dreams, which Lucy helped to supply him with. Loved this story.
6/12/2019
I'm sad to have finished this collection. Thankfully, I'm really enjoying the next book that I've started. :-) I'll finish my notes on the book below...
The Art of Kissing in the Park by Jaima Fixsen (4.5 stars)
Caroline is a 24-year-old spinster with a 20,000 pound dowry. She had been engaged for three years when her fiancee died. She's now in Bath with her grandmother.
Jack Edwards is a (good) doctor. He and Caroline meet over her dog, who decides to go missing. He finds the dog, and when Caroline asks for it back, he asks for a kiss.
I loved this story except for the fact that the characters don't follow Regency manners for PDAs. And somehow, it's written in such a way that I enjoyed it anyway. That's an indication of the skill of the author. I'm not deducting any stars for this out-of-period issue because the characters acknowledge that they aren't following society's rules.
However, I did find it frustrating when the main characters' no-strings-attached flirtation ends up with both of them attached. Which I will take half a star off for, because in real life - and in a book in my opinion - this is just not a good basis for a romance! (Of course it works out in this story, but this kind of behavior is just playing-with-fire!)
All three of these atypical stories are clean, but I wouldn't want my 13-year-old daughter to read the last one. I love the Timeless historical romance collections! I want another one right now. They make me happy!
July 22, 2017
A HOLIDAY IN BATH is a fabulous addition to the Timeless Regency Collection! Characters who come alive, intense story-lines, and sweet endings are sure to entertain fans of the genre. This is definitely a recommended novella collection!
TRIAL OF THE HEART by Julie Daines: This story completely surprised me with its suspense and mystery. I wasn't expecting that aspect, nor the intensity of the story. This story literally grabbed me and didn't let go until the climatic end. I also adored the characters, particularly Marianne. Loved it!
LORD EDMUND’S DILEMMA by Caroline Warfield: This story was utterly charming. I loved the way Edmund slowly falls in love and then is frustrated that he has to get things in order before he can proceed. It played out in such a way that it really tugged on so many emotions. I also loved Edmund and how he has to figure things out. Another story I loved!
THE ART OF KISSING IN THE PARK by Jaima Fixsen: Oh my gosh! This story! It made me laugh, sigh, and even made me sad. I loved how I felt like the characters and story was so deep in so few pages. I also loved that it wasn't the usual man having to run after the girl, which added a nice twist. This was a fantastic story to finish up this collection!
In the end, was it what I wished for? Yes! I loved all three stories in this collection from beginning to end. I particularly felt the authors did a great job in developing their characters in so few pages. If you're looking for some historical novellas with some intensity and fun, definitely grab this one!
Content: Clean
Source: I received a complimentary copy through ebooksforreview.com, which did not require a review nor affect it in any way.
TRIAL OF THE HEART by Julie Daines: This story completely surprised me with its suspense and mystery. I wasn't expecting that aspect, nor the intensity of the story. This story literally grabbed me and didn't let go until the climatic end. I also adored the characters, particularly Marianne. Loved it!
LORD EDMUND’S DILEMMA by Caroline Warfield: This story was utterly charming. I loved the way Edmund slowly falls in love and then is frustrated that he has to get things in order before he can proceed. It played out in such a way that it really tugged on so many emotions. I also loved Edmund and how he has to figure things out. Another story I loved!
THE ART OF KISSING IN THE PARK by Jaima Fixsen: Oh my gosh! This story! It made me laugh, sigh, and even made me sad. I loved how I felt like the characters and story was so deep in so few pages. I also loved that it wasn't the usual man having to run after the girl, which added a nice twist. This was a fantastic story to finish up this collection!
In the end, was it what I wished for? Yes! I loved all three stories in this collection from beginning to end. I particularly felt the authors did a great job in developing their characters in so few pages. If you're looking for some historical novellas with some intensity and fun, definitely grab this one!
Content: Clean
Source: I received a complimentary copy through ebooksforreview.com, which did not require a review nor affect it in any way.
June 6, 2017
This was a really cute anthology of Regency novellas. I liked the setting of Bath and how differently each author dealt with it.
My favorite story was the first one, by Julie Daines, since the premise was so different. I also enjoyed the other two stories. and I'd recommend this anthology to anyone who likes sweet Regency romances that read quick.
My favorite story was the first one, by Julie Daines, since the premise was so different. I also enjoyed the other two stories. and I'd recommend this anthology to anyone who likes sweet Regency romances that read quick.
May 21, 2017
Another great collection of Regency Stories.
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May 28, 2017
A holiday in Bath was a lighthearted and sweet book. Perfect for the upcoming summer! It consists of three short and verse diverse stories:
Trial of the heart by Julie Daines
4 stars, this book was very original and I liked the fact that there was more action in this book, while it was still sweet as well.
Lord Edmund's Dilemma by Caroline Warfield
3,5 stars, sweet story about choosing against your destiny and deciding what you really want. The part I enjoyed most was him helping in the hospital, because of this their relationship felt natural.
The fine art of kissing in the park by Jaima Fixsen
4,5 stars, after the death of her betrothed Caroline is shipped of to live with her grandma in Bath, but maybe there is still hope for her. This book was my favorite and I really enjoyed it!
Something that bothered me a bit was the fact that there were some mistakes in the book. On page 12 it says: 'No one else need die because of ...' and on page 145: 'Robert looked away, walking shakily to the window', but Robert was a person who had just died and she was conversing with her brother Kit, so I believe his name must be here instead.
*I received a free ebook in exchange for an honest review*
Trial of the heart by Julie Daines
4 stars, this book was very original and I liked the fact that there was more action in this book, while it was still sweet as well.
Lord Edmund's Dilemma by Caroline Warfield
3,5 stars, sweet story about choosing against your destiny and deciding what you really want. The part I enjoyed most was him helping in the hospital, because of this their relationship felt natural.
The fine art of kissing in the park by Jaima Fixsen
4,5 stars, after the death of her betrothed Caroline is shipped of to live with her grandma in Bath, but maybe there is still hope for her. This book was my favorite and I really enjoyed it!
Something that bothered me a bit was the fact that there were some mistakes in the book. On page 12 it says: 'No one else need die because of ...' and on page 145: 'Robert looked away, walking shakily to the window', but Robert was a person who had just died and she was conversing with her brother Kit, so I believe his name must be here instead.
*I received a free ebook in exchange for an honest review*
June 21, 2017
Trial of the Heart by Julie Daines
Marianne Wood has been summoned to Bath to testify against the man who murdered her family. She is nervous but wants to see justice served. When the barrister, Harby Northam, opens her carriage door Marianne finds he is not who she was expecting. King eyes and a gentle smile convince her she can put the next foot in front of her. Northam is a man who can change his mood as he reads people to get his way. This bother Marianne but as things progress she begins to see him in a new light.
I love a good Regency in Bath. This story is full of fun and surprises. It is a cute romance that grabs the reader’s attention. The characters are very likable and you begin to wonder what is going to happen next.
Lord Edmund’s Dilemma by Caroline Warfield
Lord Edmund Parker has many dreams and hopes for his future. His problem is he is a third son with parents who have set his path ahead of him. While visiting his mother in Bath he runs into Lucy Ashcroft who is visiting her aunt. Edmund is drawn to Lucy and desires to spend more time with her. He learns he can follow his heart and dreams with Lucy by his side.
A cute quick read full of love and hope. Lucy is kind, caring, and wants to see those around her happy and comfortable. She helps Edmund discover he can follow his dreams to make them a reality. I very much enjoyed this story.
The Fine Art of Kissing in the Park by Jaima Fixsen
Caroline has become a spinster. She has no purpose and decides to head to Bath. While there she meets Jack Edwards, a country doctor, who is recovering from illness. Soon Caroline runs into a big dilemma. She falls in love with Jack who is below her social status. Now she is faced with a decision between being in her unhappy life or risking all for happiness.
I found this story to be an entertaining read. The characters of Caroline and Jack were enjoyable. Caroline is fun and witty while Jack is just adorable. A very delightful read.
*Please note I received a copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Marianne Wood has been summoned to Bath to testify against the man who murdered her family. She is nervous but wants to see justice served. When the barrister, Harby Northam, opens her carriage door Marianne finds he is not who she was expecting. King eyes and a gentle smile convince her she can put the next foot in front of her. Northam is a man who can change his mood as he reads people to get his way. This bother Marianne but as things progress she begins to see him in a new light.
I love a good Regency in Bath. This story is full of fun and surprises. It is a cute romance that grabs the reader’s attention. The characters are very likable and you begin to wonder what is going to happen next.
Lord Edmund’s Dilemma by Caroline Warfield
Lord Edmund Parker has many dreams and hopes for his future. His problem is he is a third son with parents who have set his path ahead of him. While visiting his mother in Bath he runs into Lucy Ashcroft who is visiting her aunt. Edmund is drawn to Lucy and desires to spend more time with her. He learns he can follow his heart and dreams with Lucy by his side.
A cute quick read full of love and hope. Lucy is kind, caring, and wants to see those around her happy and comfortable. She helps Edmund discover he can follow his dreams to make them a reality. I very much enjoyed this story.
The Fine Art of Kissing in the Park by Jaima Fixsen
Caroline has become a spinster. She has no purpose and decides to head to Bath. While there she meets Jack Edwards, a country doctor, who is recovering from illness. Soon Caroline runs into a big dilemma. She falls in love with Jack who is below her social status. Now she is faced with a decision between being in her unhappy life or risking all for happiness.
I found this story to be an entertaining read. The characters of Caroline and Jack were enjoyable. Caroline is fun and witty while Jack is just adorable. A very delightful read.
*Please note I received a copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
June 13, 2019
Not a bad read.
The first story, Trial of the Heart by Julie Daines I quite liked. A bit melodramatic at times but all in all a good read.
The second story, Lord Edmund's Dilemma by Caroline Warfield was my favorite of the three.
The third story, The Fine Art of Kissing in the Park by Jaima Fixsen was I thought a bit silly in parts. It could almost have been a modern story. There was some good writing here but a traditional Regency story it most certainly was not.
Not a bad collection. I hadn't read any of the authors before. I don't think I'll read any of the other compilations though.
The first story, Trial of the Heart by Julie Daines I quite liked. A bit melodramatic at times but all in all a good read.
The second story, Lord Edmund's Dilemma by Caroline Warfield was my favorite of the three.
The third story, The Fine Art of Kissing in the Park by Jaima Fixsen was I thought a bit silly in parts. It could almost have been a modern story. There was some good writing here but a traditional Regency story it most certainly was not.
Not a bad collection. I hadn't read any of the authors before. I don't think I'll read any of the other compilations though.
May 9, 2017
Just when you think that the Regency story has been told several times, another author gives you a whole new spin on it. Actually, we get 3 new spins on a Regency story. I really enjoyed the three novellas included in this latest Timeless Romance collection. I never tire of the diversity of the collections, the authors and the writing. I keep coming back for more of these and love them!
The authors included in this group of novellas are, Julie Daines, Caroline Warfield and Jaima Fixsen. I've read and own several books by Julie Daines and was really excited her novella was part of the series. I'd also recently read Jaima Fixsen's novel The Reformer and enjoyed her writing. Caroline Warfield is a new to me author and I'm definitely going to be looking for more of her works in the future.
Instead of telling you about each novella individually I think I'll do my little bit where I give you several words of things you'll find within this collection and hopefully that will intrigue you enough to take a chance and enjoy this collection. Each novella can be read in one sitting and are quite captivating.
Scandal, rank, society, ruin, Bath, dogs, late night excursions, spinsters, the waters, arranged marriages, parliament, kissing, trees, long walks, moonlight, terror, tea, inquest, family, death, politics, drunken stupor, leaves, governess, parks, mysterious strangers, doctors, grandmama, aunts, safety, prison, gentleman, running, escaping, jewelry, controlling mothers, luncheons, barrister, swoony moments galore.
Ok readers, that's all the clues and hints I'll give you but I will stress again that this had 3 stories that weren't quite the conventional, same Regency story you've read. Lots of danger, intrigue and mystery(some scandal too).
Content: Overall I would say this is a clean read. There are some attacks with a knife and some murder(not graphic and the murder happened in the past) and talk of an attempted rape(just says her clothing was ripped by a knife and nothing further). The final story does have some mild innuendos about being discreet in kissing and if the female character had been a widow then she would have been able to have a quiet daliance with the other character. Nothing more than kissing happens in the stories though.
I received a copy from the publisher. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.
Happy Reading!!!
Merged review:
Just when you think that the Regency story has been told several times, another author gives you a whole new spin on it. Actually, we get 3 new spins on a Regency story. I really enjoyed the three novellas included in this latest Timeless Romance collection. I never tire of the diversity of the collections, the authors and the writing. I keep coming back for more of these and love them!
The authors included in this group of novellas are, Julie Daines, Caroline Warfield and Jaima Fixsen. I've read and own several books by Julie Daines and was really excited her novella was part of the series. I'd also recently read Jaima Fixsen's novel The Reformer and enjoyed her writing. Caroline Warfield is a new to me author and I'm definitely going to be looking for more of her works in the future.
Instead of telling you about each novella individually I think I'll do my little bit where I give you several words of things you'll find within this collection and hopefully that will intrigue you enough to take a chance and enjoy this collection. Each novella can be read in one sitting and are quite captivating.
Scandal, rank, society, ruin, Bath, dogs, late night excursions, spinsters, the waters, arranged marriages, parliament, kissing, trees, long walks, moonlight, terror, tea, inquest, family, death, politics, drunken stupor, leaves, governess, parks, mysterious strangers, doctors, grandmama, aunts, safety, prison, gentleman, running, escaping, jewelry, controlling mothers, luncheons, barrister, swoony moments galore.
Ok readers, that's all the clues and hints I'll give you but I will stress again that this had 3 stories that weren't quite the conventional, same Regency story you've read. Lots of danger, intrigue and mystery(some scandal too).
Content: Overall I would say this is a clean read. There are some attacks with a knife and some murder(not graphic and the murder happened in the past) and talk of an attempted rape(just says her clothing was ripped by a knife and nothing further). The final story does have some mild innuendos about being discreet in kissing and if the female character had been a widow then she would have been able to have a quiet daliance with the other character. Nothing more than kissing happens in the stories though.
I received a copy from the publisher. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.
Happy Reading!!!
The authors included in this group of novellas are, Julie Daines, Caroline Warfield and Jaima Fixsen. I've read and own several books by Julie Daines and was really excited her novella was part of the series. I'd also recently read Jaima Fixsen's novel The Reformer and enjoyed her writing. Caroline Warfield is a new to me author and I'm definitely going to be looking for more of her works in the future.
Instead of telling you about each novella individually I think I'll do my little bit where I give you several words of things you'll find within this collection and hopefully that will intrigue you enough to take a chance and enjoy this collection. Each novella can be read in one sitting and are quite captivating.
Scandal, rank, society, ruin, Bath, dogs, late night excursions, spinsters, the waters, arranged marriages, parliament, kissing, trees, long walks, moonlight, terror, tea, inquest, family, death, politics, drunken stupor, leaves, governess, parks, mysterious strangers, doctors, grandmama, aunts, safety, prison, gentleman, running, escaping, jewelry, controlling mothers, luncheons, barrister, swoony moments galore.
Ok readers, that's all the clues and hints I'll give you but I will stress again that this had 3 stories that weren't quite the conventional, same Regency story you've read. Lots of danger, intrigue and mystery(some scandal too).
Content: Overall I would say this is a clean read. There are some attacks with a knife and some murder(not graphic and the murder happened in the past) and talk of an attempted rape(just says her clothing was ripped by a knife and nothing further). The final story does have some mild innuendos about being discreet in kissing and if the female character had been a widow then she would have been able to have a quiet daliance with the other character. Nothing more than kissing happens in the stories though.
I received a copy from the publisher. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.
Happy Reading!!!
Merged review:
Just when you think that the Regency story has been told several times, another author gives you a whole new spin on it. Actually, we get 3 new spins on a Regency story. I really enjoyed the three novellas included in this latest Timeless Romance collection. I never tire of the diversity of the collections, the authors and the writing. I keep coming back for more of these and love them!
The authors included in this group of novellas are, Julie Daines, Caroline Warfield and Jaima Fixsen. I've read and own several books by Julie Daines and was really excited her novella was part of the series. I'd also recently read Jaima Fixsen's novel The Reformer and enjoyed her writing. Caroline Warfield is a new to me author and I'm definitely going to be looking for more of her works in the future.
Instead of telling you about each novella individually I think I'll do my little bit where I give you several words of things you'll find within this collection and hopefully that will intrigue you enough to take a chance and enjoy this collection. Each novella can be read in one sitting and are quite captivating.
Scandal, rank, society, ruin, Bath, dogs, late night excursions, spinsters, the waters, arranged marriages, parliament, kissing, trees, long walks, moonlight, terror, tea, inquest, family, death, politics, drunken stupor, leaves, governess, parks, mysterious strangers, doctors, grandmama, aunts, safety, prison, gentleman, running, escaping, jewelry, controlling mothers, luncheons, barrister, swoony moments galore.
Ok readers, that's all the clues and hints I'll give you but I will stress again that this had 3 stories that weren't quite the conventional, same Regency story you've read. Lots of danger, intrigue and mystery(some scandal too).
Content: Overall I would say this is a clean read. There are some attacks with a knife and some murder(not graphic and the murder happened in the past) and talk of an attempted rape(just says her clothing was ripped by a knife and nothing further). The final story does have some mild innuendos about being discreet in kissing and if the female character had been a widow then she would have been able to have a quiet daliance with the other character. Nothing more than kissing happens in the stories though.
I received a copy from the publisher. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.
Happy Reading!!!
June 22, 2017
Trial of the Heart by Julia Daines-5 stars
I loved this novella and I loved Harby and Marianne. They meet when he summons her to Bath to testify against the man responsible for killing her family and injuring his client. It was a very well written and slightly twisty story. It was a great choice to start the collection.
Lord Edmund's Dilemma by Caroline Warfield-4 stars
I enjoyed this novella's storyline of a third son not willing to except the expectation of a career as a clergyman. I liked Edmund, Lucy and all the supporting characters.
The Fine Art of Kissing in the Park by Jaima Fixsen-3.5 stars
I feel like anything I say about this novella is a spoiler so I will simply say it was an enjoyable story with likeable characters.
I loved this novella and I loved Harby and Marianne. They meet when he summons her to Bath to testify against the man responsible for killing her family and injuring his client. It was a very well written and slightly twisty story. It was a great choice to start the collection.
Lord Edmund's Dilemma by Caroline Warfield-4 stars
I enjoyed this novella's storyline of a third son not willing to except the expectation of a career as a clergyman. I liked Edmund, Lucy and all the supporting characters.
The Fine Art of Kissing in the Park by Jaima Fixsen-3.5 stars
I feel like anything I say about this novella is a spoiler so I will simply say it was an enjoyable story with likeable characters.
May 12, 2017
I love reading these anthology collections! The Timeless Regency Collection's are some of my favorite and this group of authors provided such a reading treat! I don't think I've read anything by Caroline Warfield before so it was fun to be introduced to an author new to me.
I loved all three of these books. Although all three were set in Bath during the same time period, each book had a very different feel to it. The authors writing styles were distinct and that made me happy. These are novellas, so each book is a quick read. I read through them one right after the other but this is a great book to pick up if you only have a couple of hours to dedicate to reading something. A quick romantic fix.
I really loved this one!
Content: Some kissing
- I received this book free. A positive review was not required and all opinions express are my own.
I loved all three of these books. Although all three were set in Bath during the same time period, each book had a very different feel to it. The authors writing styles were distinct and that made me happy. These are novellas, so each book is a quick read. I read through them one right after the other but this is a great book to pick up if you only have a couple of hours to dedicate to reading something. A quick romantic fix.
I really loved this one!
Content: Some kissing
- I received this book free. A positive review was not required and all opinions express are my own.
July 30, 2017
This book is 3 books in one. Each story takes place in Bath, with all three stories being independent of each other.
The first book, Trial of the Heart is by Julie Daines. Marianne Wood is a young woman who has no family. She was born well, but she works as a governess. She has been summoned to Bath by a Mr. Harby Northam who is a young barrister. Marriane has never met him before but he wrote her a letter explaining that"Bartholomew Hayter is locked up and secured behind bars."
"For two years, she'd been looking over her shoulder, afraid of seeing his face in the crowd. For he was always in her dreams. Her nightmares."
Bartholomew Hayter, robbed her families coach and murdered her mother, father and brother, sparing only her, but not before he promised that he would come back for her.
While staying in bath, Marianne is put up in the home of Mrs. Strumpshaw. With the help of Mr. Northam, Marianne must speak as a witness at the trail. It will take great courage and bravery to face her families killer, which includes her nightmares, survivors guilt and terror that the killer will be let free.
This was one of the better short stories, or novella, that I have read. The characters were well explained, detailed. This is not an usual occurrence with novellas, so I was pleased to find such a good story. It was fun to read about Bath. I love Bath. The author simply explained the town, without much detail, but it was a good thing to concentrate on the characters for this story. The writing was good but there were some minor errors in this novella.
The second book, Lord Edmund's Dilemma is by Caroline Warfield. Lucy Ashcroft is visiting her Aunt Imogene in Bath. Her aunt has some friends that Lucy helps take care of. Mrs. Wellbridge, "Martha, the Dowager Countess of Brookfield", Mrs. Anna Moffat and Lady Hardy.
Lucy is a bit older and she "found herself a wallflower." Her stepmamma has sent her to Bath so that her family can prepare her younger step-sister for her coming out.
Lord Edmund Parker is a younger son of the Marchioness of Waringford. They have come to Bath to get away from London, for a time. His parents intend him for the church and have educated him accordingly. However, Edmund is not interested. Instead, through his education, discovered medicine. He would like to explore the world of medicine but that is highly improper for a son of his breeding to go into trade.
While both parties are out drinking the famous waters of Bath, they spot each other. Edmund decides to explore into who Lucy is and asks Lady Brookfield for help. She agrees to introduce them. From there, Edmund and Lucy get to know each other. Lucy takes Edmund to the local doctor who runs a free clinic for the poor. From here, the characters make choices about what they want to do with their lives and how they want their lives to turn out.
This story included a short epilogue, which was cute. There was an incident where the characters introduced themselves and this came off as more American than the British of the time. I liked this story as well. It was fun for me to read about Edmund and to read about his struggle to become a physician, in a world that didn't fully accept the profession. Medicine was new and the ton didn't support their kind in trade, of which it was considered. For me, this topic was something new and enjoyable to read about.
The third book, The Fine Art of Kissing in the Park is by Jaima Fixsen. Grandmama or Dowager Countess of Lynher has come home to her place in London. Christopher (Kit) and Caroline Trenholme live there. Caroline also has a dog, Ormonde. Caroline is engaged to Sir Robert and has been for 2 years. He is a a titled man working for a seat in the cabinet, as is Kit. Caroline's family is quite political and they are Tory's. Caroline has been bred to marry into the world of politics, but that was before Sir Robert made a rather strange choice and died...suddenly.
Now, Grandmama and Caroline are off to Bath to rest. There, Ormonde meets Jack. Jack Edwards is visiting Bath as part of his recovery. He has just survived Flu. He works as a physician. This novella takes the reader through the fun of Caroline and Jack meeting for the first time and their subsequent meetings after that.
This was my favorite of the three. I have read only one other book by this author, and it wasn't nearly as funny or easy to follow as this one. I really enjoyed the characters and their path to decide for themselves.
Julie Daines, is an author who seems to have clean romances all with the same sort of time frame. She is one to watch for, imho.
Caroline Warfield is one I am confused about. Most of her books are not clean. Perhaps she is moving away from the bodice rippers but I'm not sure.
Jaima Fixsen is another author to look for. I have read another book by her and she really knows her English politics. She seems to keep her books clean and her setting within the same era.
Overall, I would definitely recommend reading this book for those who enjoy Bath and Victorian England. I enjoyed all the novellas, which, as some of you may know, I don't read novellas. Most of them are not worth the time invested, but I can say that all three of these books are well written and worth the time.
Content: all the stories are clean, except for one instance of the word ass.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
The first book, Trial of the Heart is by Julie Daines. Marianne Wood is a young woman who has no family. She was born well, but she works as a governess. She has been summoned to Bath by a Mr. Harby Northam who is a young barrister. Marriane has never met him before but he wrote her a letter explaining that"Bartholomew Hayter is locked up and secured behind bars."
"For two years, she'd been looking over her shoulder, afraid of seeing his face in the crowd. For he was always in her dreams. Her nightmares."
Bartholomew Hayter, robbed her families coach and murdered her mother, father and brother, sparing only her, but not before he promised that he would come back for her.
While staying in bath, Marianne is put up in the home of Mrs. Strumpshaw. With the help of Mr. Northam, Marianne must speak as a witness at the trail. It will take great courage and bravery to face her families killer, which includes her nightmares, survivors guilt and terror that the killer will be let free.
This was one of the better short stories, or novella, that I have read. The characters were well explained, detailed. This is not an usual occurrence with novellas, so I was pleased to find such a good story. It was fun to read about Bath. I love Bath. The author simply explained the town, without much detail, but it was a good thing to concentrate on the characters for this story. The writing was good but there were some minor errors in this novella.
The second book, Lord Edmund's Dilemma is by Caroline Warfield. Lucy Ashcroft is visiting her Aunt Imogene in Bath. Her aunt has some friends that Lucy helps take care of. Mrs. Wellbridge, "Martha, the Dowager Countess of Brookfield", Mrs. Anna Moffat and Lady Hardy.
Lucy is a bit older and she "found herself a wallflower." Her stepmamma has sent her to Bath so that her family can prepare her younger step-sister for her coming out.
Lord Edmund Parker is a younger son of the Marchioness of Waringford. They have come to Bath to get away from London, for a time. His parents intend him for the church and have educated him accordingly. However, Edmund is not interested. Instead, through his education, discovered medicine. He would like to explore the world of medicine but that is highly improper for a son of his breeding to go into trade.
While both parties are out drinking the famous waters of Bath, they spot each other. Edmund decides to explore into who Lucy is and asks Lady Brookfield for help. She agrees to introduce them. From there, Edmund and Lucy get to know each other. Lucy takes Edmund to the local doctor who runs a free clinic for the poor. From here, the characters make choices about what they want to do with their lives and how they want their lives to turn out.
This story included a short epilogue, which was cute. There was an incident where the characters introduced themselves and this came off as more American than the British of the time. I liked this story as well. It was fun for me to read about Edmund and to read about his struggle to become a physician, in a world that didn't fully accept the profession. Medicine was new and the ton didn't support their kind in trade, of which it was considered. For me, this topic was something new and enjoyable to read about.
The third book, The Fine Art of Kissing in the Park is by Jaima Fixsen. Grandmama or Dowager Countess of Lynher has come home to her place in London. Christopher (Kit) and Caroline Trenholme live there. Caroline also has a dog, Ormonde. Caroline is engaged to Sir Robert and has been for 2 years. He is a a titled man working for a seat in the cabinet, as is Kit. Caroline's family is quite political and they are Tory's. Caroline has been bred to marry into the world of politics, but that was before Sir Robert made a rather strange choice and died...suddenly.
Now, Grandmama and Caroline are off to Bath to rest. There, Ormonde meets Jack. Jack Edwards is visiting Bath as part of his recovery. He has just survived Flu. He works as a physician. This novella takes the reader through the fun of Caroline and Jack meeting for the first time and their subsequent meetings after that.
This was my favorite of the three. I have read only one other book by this author, and it wasn't nearly as funny or easy to follow as this one. I really enjoyed the characters and their path to decide for themselves.
Julie Daines, is an author who seems to have clean romances all with the same sort of time frame. She is one to watch for, imho.
Caroline Warfield is one I am confused about. Most of her books are not clean. Perhaps she is moving away from the bodice rippers but I'm not sure.
Jaima Fixsen is another author to look for. I have read another book by her and she really knows her English politics. She seems to keep her books clean and her setting within the same era.
Overall, I would definitely recommend reading this book for those who enjoy Bath and Victorian England. I enjoyed all the novellas, which, as some of you may know, I don't read novellas. Most of them are not worth the time invested, but I can say that all three of these books are well written and worth the time.
Content: all the stories are clean, except for one instance of the word ass.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 10, 2023
A collection of novellas set in or mostly in Bath. None are particularly historically accurate. I have a map of 19th-century Bath on my wall so I could have followed along with the characters but all I got from this story was mostly the usual places of Pump Room and Royal Crescent. There's some place known as "the park" which I think means the parkland outside the Royal Crescent maybe?
The first story, Trial of the Heart by Julie Daines features a young lady come down in life. Marianne Wood comes to Bath to testify against the man who killed her family. For the last two years she's looked over her shoulder at every turn, fearing the man has come to kill her. She can't sleep and her nightmares intensify after visiting Bartholomew Hayter in jail. Her barrister, Mr. Harby Northam is kind and charming but Marianne begins to see how he can be ruthless enough to get what he wants. Which is the real Mr. Northam and what is he hiding? Will Marianne survive her night terrors long enough to testify against Mr. Hayter? Can she ignore her growing attachment to Mr. Northam and return to her life as a governess?
I did NOT like this story. It was super dark and creepy. Who wants to read about a sadistic killer in a Regency romance? Not me. I figured out Mr. Northam's secret so that came as no surprise. I really liked both the characters and was rooting for them to get together but the story around them was just so dark.
Marianne is sweet, kind and treats everyone like an equal. Her chaperone, Mrs. Strumpshaw, is from a lesser background but kind and motherly. Marianne treats Mrs. Strumpshaw as an equal. In her mind, they are because Marianne is now a governess and not the young lady she once was. Mr. Northam is cheerful, kind but somewhat thoughtless. He never dreamed the affect seeing the murderer would have on Marianne and never considered her at all. She was a means to an end and not a person who may be traumatized by seeing her family killed in front of her! He can be a bit ruthless too. He says he knows how to play the game and that leaves Marianne wondering what that means exactly. I think he does show her his true self but with others, that may not be the case. Mr. Shadwell, the lawyer for the defense, is slimy and nasty. He'll do anything to get his client free, even badmouthing Mr. Northam, twisting the truth to suit his ends. The murder is downright chilling and sadistic.
The second story, Lord Edmund's Dilemma by Caroline Warfield, is lighter but still tinged with a little bit of a darker note than I would like. Lucy Ashcroft serves as a companion to her elderly aunt and the other old ladies of Bath who can't afford their own subscription to the Pump Room. She's happy to help but embarrassed to be seen with so many glasses of water. When Lord Edmund Parker bumps into Lucy in the Pump Room, he's smitten. His mother doesn't approve. As the third son, Edmund is expecting to marry an heiress. He's training to become a clergyman and his father is pulling strings to make him a Bishop. Edmund is torn between duty and desire? What can he do?
I really liked this story even if it didn't seem very accurate. Lucy is a bit too bland and incredibly perfect for my tastes. Her stepmother and her father don't seem to treat her very well and continually make her a drudge, favoring her stepsister. Lucy doesn't really want to go home and do all the work of helping stepmama with the children but what choice does she have? Yes Cinderella, you have choices. Can she stay with Aunt Imogene in Bath? While there's not much social life for young adults, Lucy seems to be doing OK. She and Aunt Imogene contrive to help an impoverished widow eat without wounding her pride. Lucy also helps out in unexpected ways. I liked Edmund a lot though. His mother is super nasty and snobby. I don't know how he turned out so well. Nanny? Edmund is practically a saint. He wants to do good works within the community but isn't quite sure how to go about it. He's torn between doing what is expected and doing what he wants. I kind of understand how he feels.
This sweet romance was my favorite of the collection.
The Art of Kissing in the Park by Jaima Fixsen is about a young lady of 25 sent to Bath with her Grandmama after the death of her fiancé and no new one on the horizon. When her dog runs away, she meets a mysterious man who asks her for a kiss! Dr. John Edward is a humble man. He has never done anything so roguish as beg a lady for a kiss. He usually leaves the mischief up to his sister. What could have come over him? When his friend and hostess, Henrietta, discovers his attraction to Caroline, she schemes to bring them together. Grandmama cautions Caroline against losing her heart. A temporary flirtation and a little pawing will do for now but she must remember her place. Caroline agrees but finds herself growing more and more attracted to John. What can she do about it?
I really didn't like the meet cute. The stolen kiss ended up being funny but I didn't like that he even asked. I expected the story to be about a rake at least and thought there's be some witty banter but the romance involved a lot of clandestine kissing, kidding with tongues and petting. Yuck. I didn't get LOVE between them. John is a wonderful man. His past was difficult and he's haunted by some recent guilt he can't escape. He's a little more of a fleshed out character than Caroline. She's been treated like an ornament her whole life by her uncle and her brother only cares about her to advance his political career and act as hostess when he entertains. Her fiancé, Robert, is dull and boring. He seems to consider her a friend or worse - a sister. There's no romance there either. Then it turns out Caroline didn't know him well at all because he was an idiot who caved in to peer pressure when drunk and paid the price. So much for respectability.
Ormond was a naughty puppy. He's not well trained even after 18 months and needs a firm but kind voice to guide him. Caroline is not that person. She claims to love him but doesn't do anything to train him. The one character I loved was Grandmama. She's a hoot. She comes from an earlier generation when women spoke their minds and were less squeamish discussing lust and sex. She hates her grandson and probably her son too. She lets her displeasure be known at every turn. She does seem to like Caroline but even Grandmama believes Caroline should marry well. Caroline believes it herself after being told so for so many years.
I wanted an epilogue to see what happened next!
Content warnings
Arson
murder
prison visit
attempted murder
medical trauma
PTSD
kissing with tongues
discussion of what an unmarried lady can and can not do with a gentleman
The first story, Trial of the Heart by Julie Daines features a young lady come down in life. Marianne Wood comes to Bath to testify against the man who killed her family. For the last two years she's looked over her shoulder at every turn, fearing the man has come to kill her. She can't sleep and her nightmares intensify after visiting Bartholomew Hayter in jail. Her barrister, Mr. Harby Northam is kind and charming but Marianne begins to see how he can be ruthless enough to get what he wants. Which is the real Mr. Northam and what is he hiding? Will Marianne survive her night terrors long enough to testify against Mr. Hayter? Can she ignore her growing attachment to Mr. Northam and return to her life as a governess?
I did NOT like this story. It was super dark and creepy. Who wants to read about a sadistic killer in a Regency romance? Not me. I figured out Mr. Northam's secret so that came as no surprise. I really liked both the characters and was rooting for them to get together but the story around them was just so dark.
Marianne is sweet, kind and treats everyone like an equal. Her chaperone, Mrs. Strumpshaw, is from a lesser background but kind and motherly. Marianne treats Mrs. Strumpshaw as an equal. In her mind, they are because Marianne is now a governess and not the young lady she once was. Mr. Northam is cheerful, kind but somewhat thoughtless. He never dreamed the affect seeing the murderer would have on Marianne and never considered her at all. She was a means to an end and not a person who may be traumatized by seeing her family killed in front of her! He can be a bit ruthless too. He says he knows how to play the game and that leaves Marianne wondering what that means exactly. I think he does show her his true self but with others, that may not be the case. Mr. Shadwell, the lawyer for the defense, is slimy and nasty. He'll do anything to get his client free, even badmouthing Mr. Northam, twisting the truth to suit his ends. The murder is downright chilling and sadistic.
The second story, Lord Edmund's Dilemma by Caroline Warfield, is lighter but still tinged with a little bit of a darker note than I would like. Lucy Ashcroft serves as a companion to her elderly aunt and the other old ladies of Bath who can't afford their own subscription to the Pump Room. She's happy to help but embarrassed to be seen with so many glasses of water. When Lord Edmund Parker bumps into Lucy in the Pump Room, he's smitten. His mother doesn't approve. As the third son, Edmund is expecting to marry an heiress. He's training to become a clergyman and his father is pulling strings to make him a Bishop. Edmund is torn between duty and desire? What can he do?
I really liked this story even if it didn't seem very accurate. Lucy is a bit too bland and incredibly perfect for my tastes. Her stepmother and her father don't seem to treat her very well and continually make her a drudge, favoring her stepsister. Lucy doesn't really want to go home and do all the work of helping stepmama with the children but what choice does she have? Yes Cinderella, you have choices. Can she stay with Aunt Imogene in Bath? While there's not much social life for young adults, Lucy seems to be doing OK. She and Aunt Imogene contrive to help an impoverished widow eat without wounding her pride. Lucy also helps out in unexpected ways. I liked Edmund a lot though. His mother is super nasty and snobby. I don't know how he turned out so well. Nanny? Edmund is practically a saint. He wants to do good works within the community but isn't quite sure how to go about it. He's torn between doing what is expected and doing what he wants. I kind of understand how he feels.
This sweet romance was my favorite of the collection.
The Art of Kissing in the Park by Jaima Fixsen is about a young lady of 25 sent to Bath with her Grandmama after the death of her fiancé and no new one on the horizon. When her dog runs away, she meets a mysterious man who asks her for a kiss! Dr. John Edward is a humble man. He has never done anything so roguish as beg a lady for a kiss. He usually leaves the mischief up to his sister. What could have come over him? When his friend and hostess, Henrietta, discovers his attraction to Caroline, she schemes to bring them together. Grandmama cautions Caroline against losing her heart. A temporary flirtation and a little pawing will do for now but she must remember her place. Caroline agrees but finds herself growing more and more attracted to John. What can she do about it?
I really didn't like the meet cute. The stolen kiss ended up being funny but I didn't like that he even asked. I expected the story to be about a rake at least and thought there's be some witty banter but the romance involved a lot of clandestine kissing, kidding with tongues and petting. Yuck. I didn't get LOVE between them. John is a wonderful man. His past was difficult and he's haunted by some recent guilt he can't escape. He's a little more of a fleshed out character than Caroline. She's been treated like an ornament her whole life by her uncle and her brother only cares about her to advance his political career and act as hostess when he entertains. Her fiancé, Robert, is dull and boring. He seems to consider her a friend or worse - a sister. There's no romance there either. Then it turns out Caroline didn't know him well at all because he was an idiot who caved in to peer pressure when drunk and paid the price. So much for respectability.
Ormond was a naughty puppy. He's not well trained even after 18 months and needs a firm but kind voice to guide him. Caroline is not that person. She claims to love him but doesn't do anything to train him. The one character I loved was Grandmama. She's a hoot. She comes from an earlier generation when women spoke their minds and were less squeamish discussing lust and sex. She hates her grandson and probably her son too. She lets her displeasure be known at every turn. She does seem to like Caroline but even Grandmama believes Caroline should marry well. Caroline believes it herself after being told so for so many years.
I wanted an epilogue to see what happened next!
Content warnings
Arson
murder
prison visit
attempted murder
medical trauma
PTSD
kissing with tongues
discussion of what an unmarried lady can and can not do with a gentleman
July 16, 2017
This collection of stories is all tied together as the heroines travel to Bath to find adventure, romance, and their destinies. Rich in history and setting, the reader is transported back in time. Fun scenes, drama, and romance, with plucky young women and the men who can’t stay away from them fill the pages of these stories.
In Trial of the Heart by Julie Daines, governess, Marianne Wood is left with scars from the horrific accident which killed her family. “She owed it to her family to try to bring them justice.” This story is my favorite of the group. I appreciate that all is not flowers and roses here in Bath. Sorrow and heartache bring Marianne and barrister Harby Northam together. As he crusades on her behalf, she gets a glimpse into his noble heart. He finds her to be “a woman of beauty, gentle goodness, and strength.” I admired Marianne’s bravery as she faced her “greatest fear” with dignity and grace.
In Lord Edmund's Dilemma, sweet, selfless Lucy Ashcroft catches the eye of Lord Edmund Parker. Yet beneath his proper speech, and titled name, beats the heart of a true philanthropist. His heart is leading him down a path of service and selflessness much to the dismay of his family and his inherited duty. The Circle is utterly delightful and whimsical with their “minor complaints” and ailments. Glimpses into the less savory elements of Bath and the plight of the forgotten elderly provide a nice relief to the formality and elegance of the elite.
I found The Fine Art of Kissing in the Park to be scandalously refreshing and frank. This fun, frivolous romp combines a feisty young heiress with a “rakish fellow who ransomed dogs for kiss and couldn’t be trusted.” Take on shockingly risqué grandmama and several illicit rendezvous, and this couple is on the brink of becoming the fodder for gossip or worse. While their heads tell them it will never work, their hearts yearn for something unplanned, unexpected, and utterly wonderful. “Duty to her name and her brother would chart her through life…” Yet the question remains, can Caroline let Jack go without a fight?” “She missed him with her kidneys and her littlest fingernail.”
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are uniquely my own.
In Trial of the Heart by Julie Daines, governess, Marianne Wood is left with scars from the horrific accident which killed her family. “She owed it to her family to try to bring them justice.” This story is my favorite of the group. I appreciate that all is not flowers and roses here in Bath. Sorrow and heartache bring Marianne and barrister Harby Northam together. As he crusades on her behalf, she gets a glimpse into his noble heart. He finds her to be “a woman of beauty, gentle goodness, and strength.” I admired Marianne’s bravery as she faced her “greatest fear” with dignity and grace.
In Lord Edmund's Dilemma, sweet, selfless Lucy Ashcroft catches the eye of Lord Edmund Parker. Yet beneath his proper speech, and titled name, beats the heart of a true philanthropist. His heart is leading him down a path of service and selflessness much to the dismay of his family and his inherited duty. The Circle is utterly delightful and whimsical with their “minor complaints” and ailments. Glimpses into the less savory elements of Bath and the plight of the forgotten elderly provide a nice relief to the formality and elegance of the elite.
I found The Fine Art of Kissing in the Park to be scandalously refreshing and frank. This fun, frivolous romp combines a feisty young heiress with a “rakish fellow who ransomed dogs for kiss and couldn’t be trusted.” Take on shockingly risqué grandmama and several illicit rendezvous, and this couple is on the brink of becoming the fodder for gossip or worse. While their heads tell them it will never work, their hearts yearn for something unplanned, unexpected, and utterly wonderful. “Duty to her name and her brother would chart her through life…” Yet the question remains, can Caroline let Jack go without a fight?” “She missed him with her kidneys and her littlest fingernail.”
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are uniquely my own.
August 8, 2025
This book was an anthology so it held 3 Regency era stories.
The first one was Trial of the Heart by Julie Danes. I give it 3 stars. It was a bit sad and the whole of the story was about healing. Which given that it takes place in Bath, England, is understandable. But it was also about being attacked, so it was not that heartwarming. Seeing as I was reading this book while on vacation in Bath, I was hoping for a bit more of the warm fuzzies.
Story 2 was called Lord Edmund's Dilemma by Caroline Warfield. I give it 2 stars. Her wording was difficult to follow at times because her word choice felt jarring and disconnected. The story line was about a man who is visiting Bath with his family, but wants to become a doctor. The girl he falls in love with must be willing to be a doctor's wife with all that entails. And they have to get past his spiteful/hateful mother too. Again, not that heartwarming.
Story 3 was The Fine Art of Kissing in the Park by Jaima Fixsen. I give it 4 stars. This one made me laugh out loud several times, especially right at the beginning! This is definitely a heartwarming story, although there are times it lags. But overall, this was my favorite story in this anthology. The main character is a woman who has a dog and is expected to accompany her grandmama to Bath after her own life doesn't pan out as expected. I love the first encounter she has with the main male character/love interest. Their interactions are filled with excitement. And I love how her relationship with her grandmama develops over their time together in Bath.
In all 3 stories, places in Bath are explored, streets wandered, and sights explained that you will see today in Bath. That made it fun because of being there myself at the time of the reading. If you have to pick only one of these 3 stories to read, however, pick the last one. It definitely gives happiness and joy, and will add to your vacation experiences.
The first one was Trial of the Heart by Julie Danes. I give it 3 stars. It was a bit sad and the whole of the story was about healing. Which given that it takes place in Bath, England, is understandable. But it was also about being attacked, so it was not that heartwarming. Seeing as I was reading this book while on vacation in Bath, I was hoping for a bit more of the warm fuzzies.
Story 2 was called Lord Edmund's Dilemma by Caroline Warfield. I give it 2 stars. Her wording was difficult to follow at times because her word choice felt jarring and disconnected. The story line was about a man who is visiting Bath with his family, but wants to become a doctor. The girl he falls in love with must be willing to be a doctor's wife with all that entails. And they have to get past his spiteful/hateful mother too. Again, not that heartwarming.
Story 3 was The Fine Art of Kissing in the Park by Jaima Fixsen. I give it 4 stars. This one made me laugh out loud several times, especially right at the beginning! This is definitely a heartwarming story, although there are times it lags. But overall, this was my favorite story in this anthology. The main character is a woman who has a dog and is expected to accompany her grandmama to Bath after her own life doesn't pan out as expected. I love the first encounter she has with the main male character/love interest. Their interactions are filled with excitement. And I love how her relationship with her grandmama develops over their time together in Bath.
In all 3 stories, places in Bath are explored, streets wandered, and sights explained that you will see today in Bath. That made it fun because of being there myself at the time of the reading. If you have to pick only one of these 3 stories to read, however, pick the last one. It definitely gives happiness and joy, and will add to your vacation experiences.
May 23, 2017
I was given a free copy for my honest review. I was surprised by how quickly the story was over! I even double checked the length to be sure I wasn't reading a novella. I truly would have given this five stars but the climax and ending were almost in the same breath making me wish for more. Maybe that was what the authors were going for? I was impressed with the depth into human nature and the show of how traumatizing tragic events can haunt us. I was also greatly pleased that evil was presented as a choice and not genetic. I strongly believe that how we are raised makes a big impact in our future. They both have much to learn to forgive but were not forced to do it right now. True forgiveness takes time and healing beyond that "ah, ha" moment of letting go. Now I just sound like cryptic psychology babble. Bottom line... She is guarded and he is masked, yet they overcome to find their "Happily Ever After". This is not your typical vintage "ton" romance story and gave me a refreshing break.
May 8, 2017
What a delightful Timeless Regency Collection! Each story is sure to bring a smile and maybe a sigh to the reader.
I've only read one author in this collection but I enjoyed the other two stories and they gave me a look into those writing styles.
I'd recommend this book to any reader/lover of regency romance!
Trial of the Heart by Julie Daines
"The coach moved at snail's pace through the crush of carriages and pedestrians making their way through the streets of Bath."
Lord Edmund's Dilemma by Caroline Warfield
"Six bewigged musicians played on, oblivious to the cream of Bath society parading about the pump room or sitting in a manner designed to their au courant attire to best advantage."
The Fine Art of Kissing in the Park by Jaima Fixsen
"The house in London belonged to Grandmama, but the place looked more like Christopher's every year."
I've only read one author in this collection but I enjoyed the other two stories and they gave me a look into those writing styles.
I'd recommend this book to any reader/lover of regency romance!
Trial of the Heart by Julie Daines
"The coach moved at snail's pace through the crush of carriages and pedestrians making their way through the streets of Bath."
Lord Edmund's Dilemma by Caroline Warfield
"Six bewigged musicians played on, oblivious to the cream of Bath society parading about the pump room or sitting in a manner designed to their au courant attire to best advantage."
The Fine Art of Kissing in the Park by Jaima Fixsen
"The house in London belonged to Grandmama, but the place looked more like Christopher's every year."
June 4, 2017
This review is for Julie Daines "Trial of the Heart.":
Sometimes I get tired of the Regency Formula and want to see a bit more depth in a story. Of course I like happily-ever-after, but I enjoy the heart break and struggle. Morbid of me, I know, but it's when the author can nail the clever triumph over such trials that gets me.
Daines story centers around a young woman, Marianne, whose family has been brutally murdered. Years later, when she is summoned to Bath to testify against the villain, she is only able to face him with the help of a charming barrister, Mr. Northam. Yet Mariannes strength surprises Northam, and with each shared moment, their friendship deepens.
With twists that delighted me, this is no predictable Regency. It's a bit darker. A bit deeper. Daines continues to grow and develop as a writer and I love to see this kind of work from her. Highly recommended.
Sometimes I get tired of the Regency Formula and want to see a bit more depth in a story. Of course I like happily-ever-after, but I enjoy the heart break and struggle. Morbid of me, I know, but it's when the author can nail the clever triumph over such trials that gets me.
Daines story centers around a young woman, Marianne, whose family has been brutally murdered. Years later, when she is summoned to Bath to testify against the villain, she is only able to face him with the help of a charming barrister, Mr. Northam. Yet Mariannes strength surprises Northam, and with each shared moment, their friendship deepens.
With twists that delighted me, this is no predictable Regency. It's a bit darker. A bit deeper. Daines continues to grow and develop as a writer and I love to see this kind of work from her. Highly recommended.
April 8, 2020
A sweet, fluffy, feel good set of Regency novellas. It’s not my normal fare, but it was a lovely escape from the world and constant COVID-19 news, for a few hours. Each of the stories was well written, with likable characters, loads of handwringing, advice from others, and happy endings.
May 9, 2017
Another Timeless Regency Romance collection – Yay!! I’m always so excited to read these! I have discovered so many great authors through these collections. I add two more to that list with this one.
Trial of the Heart by Julie Daines – 5 stars
I loved this story! The romance is sweet, and the suspense is gripping. Marianne is shy and hesitant but extremely brave. Mr. Notham is a very talented barrister. He is confident and sure of himself. He is also very kind and caring. I was so happy with the way things worked out for them! And the proposal made me smile.
I haven’t read Julie Daines work before. Now I’m excited to read more!
Lord Edmund’s Dilemma by Caroline Warfield – 5 stars
This was such a sweet story! Lucy and Edmund are the kindest people! They care about others and want to help those they can. They are kindred spirits and a perfect match! Edmund was so drawn to Lucy and just couldn’t stay away. It was so cute! I could feel Edmund’s struggle as he fought between his family’s expectations and his dreams. It was great to watch him decide what he wanted to do, and the role Lucy played in that.
Caroline Warfield is also a new author to me. I will be reading more of her work!
The Art of Kissing in the Park by Jaima Fixsen – 4 stars
I enjoyed this story! I loved the way Caroline and Jack met. Score one for Caroline! :) Her dog, Ormonde’s role in the story was very fun. Grandmama was a riot! She shocked Caroline, but in the end helped her have the courage to follow her heart.
This novella contains some innuendo, and Grandmama expresses her opinion that dalliances for widows are acceptable, and implies affairs are too.
I received a free copy of the book, which I voluntarily reviewed. I have given my honest opinion.
Trial of the Heart by Julie Daines – 5 stars
I loved this story! The romance is sweet, and the suspense is gripping. Marianne is shy and hesitant but extremely brave. Mr. Notham is a very talented barrister. He is confident and sure of himself. He is also very kind and caring. I was so happy with the way things worked out for them! And the proposal made me smile.
I haven’t read Julie Daines work before. Now I’m excited to read more!
Lord Edmund’s Dilemma by Caroline Warfield – 5 stars
This was such a sweet story! Lucy and Edmund are the kindest people! They care about others and want to help those they can. They are kindred spirits and a perfect match! Edmund was so drawn to Lucy and just couldn’t stay away. It was so cute! I could feel Edmund’s struggle as he fought between his family’s expectations and his dreams. It was great to watch him decide what he wanted to do, and the role Lucy played in that.
Caroline Warfield is also a new author to me. I will be reading more of her work!
The Art of Kissing in the Park by Jaima Fixsen – 4 stars
I enjoyed this story! I loved the way Caroline and Jack met. Score one for Caroline! :) Her dog, Ormonde’s role in the story was very fun. Grandmama was a riot! She shocked Caroline, but in the end helped her have the courage to follow her heart.
This novella contains some innuendo, and Grandmama expresses her opinion that dalliances for widows are acceptable, and implies affairs are too.
I received a free copy of the book, which I voluntarily reviewed. I have given my honest opinion.
June 20, 2017
I didn't anticipate liking the suspense of the first story but I did. A young woman is brought to Bath to testify against the man who killed her family. The prosecutor intrigues her and yet she believes he's only manipulating people to get his way. Eventually she discovers more about the man in prison and the prosecutor as well as her own strength. Continuing the story would be enjoyable.
The second story was engaging in that it didn't deal with as much emphasis on nobility but more on compassion toward others. What does happen to all those who can't receive quality medical care due to their rank and lack of any finances? Who cares for those society casts off? Also an enjoyable pairing of personalities and plot.
I did not like the third story. It began well with interesting characters and a plot twist I didn't expect when the main woman's fiancé accidentally dies. After the mourning period the lady meets a gentleman in a park and he proposes a kiss to which she responds by having him kiss her dog. Hilarious and very well-played. Afterward their interactions are less so as they engage in many non-committal make out sessions. It felt like a contemporary story clad in regency costumes (but I have the same opinion about Downton Abbey so that comparison may be a compliment by those who like that). The end redeemed the story a little in that he asked her to calm down, to get to know his neighborhood, family and lifestyle before hauling off to a hasty elopement, mad with hormones. Thank goodness.
The second story was engaging in that it didn't deal with as much emphasis on nobility but more on compassion toward others. What does happen to all those who can't receive quality medical care due to their rank and lack of any finances? Who cares for those society casts off? Also an enjoyable pairing of personalities and plot.
I did not like the third story. It began well with interesting characters and a plot twist I didn't expect when the main woman's fiancé accidentally dies. After the mourning period the lady meets a gentleman in a park and he proposes a kiss to which she responds by having him kiss her dog. Hilarious and very well-played. Afterward their interactions are less so as they engage in many non-committal make out sessions. It felt like a contemporary story clad in regency costumes (but I have the same opinion about Downton Abbey so that comparison may be a compliment by those who like that). The end redeemed the story a little in that he asked her to calm down, to get to know his neighborhood, family and lifestyle before hauling off to a hasty elopement, mad with hormones. Thank goodness.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 23, 2018
Rounding up from 2.5 stars. This is the first Timeless collection that I haven't really loved that much. I was quite disappointed in it. It is too bad that it didn't suit my taste because I was rather looking forward to stories being in Bath instead of London.
The first, Trial of the Heart by Julie Daines, was more of a drama than a romance and I never really felt the romance come to life even at the end. I've read a number of her other works and liked them much better.
The second, Lord Edmund's Dilemma by Caroline Warfield, was an okay story but had some language including Deity and descriptive passionate kisses. I tired of the moodiness of both the main characters but did appreciate Edmund's willingness to walk away from his family's demands to the career and woman of his choice.
The third, The Fine Art of Kissing in the Park by Jaima Fixsen, had an interesting premise but didn't do it for me either. It included Deity language and innuendo and making out in the woods. It wasn't descriptive enough to tell us what happened but afterward talked about the disarray of her dress and hair making her have to hide from people who happen upon them and makes reference to the "bruise" on his neck he has to hide.
In a nutshell, I wanted to like this book far more than I actually did.
Sex: innuendo, passionate kisses, make out sessions
Language: some, included Deity
Violence: flashback references to rape and the family's murder. Attempted murder, emotional torture, violent but deserved death
The first, Trial of the Heart by Julie Daines, was more of a drama than a romance and I never really felt the romance come to life even at the end. I've read a number of her other works and liked them much better.
The second, Lord Edmund's Dilemma by Caroline Warfield, was an okay story but had some language including Deity and descriptive passionate kisses. I tired of the moodiness of both the main characters but did appreciate Edmund's willingness to walk away from his family's demands to the career and woman of his choice.
The third, The Fine Art of Kissing in the Park by Jaima Fixsen, had an interesting premise but didn't do it for me either. It included Deity language and innuendo and making out in the woods. It wasn't descriptive enough to tell us what happened but afterward talked about the disarray of her dress and hair making her have to hide from people who happen upon them and makes reference to the "bruise" on his neck he has to hide.
In a nutshell, I wanted to like this book far more than I actually did.
Sex: innuendo, passionate kisses, make out sessions
Language: some, included Deity
Violence: flashback references to rape and the family's murder. Attempted murder, emotional torture, violent but deserved death
July 16, 2017
3.5 stars
The title A Holiday in Bath was not particularly accurate. The stories did all take place in Bath, but it was not all assemblies, balls, and morning calls. Personally, I like reading about "society" even though the odds are that I would have been a tenant's daughter or a maid, if I was lucky. It was refreshing to read about different aspects of life in this collection. My husband would have liked that there were characters with (gasp) jobs! There were barristers and physicians, when the "typical gentleman" in these stories is usually a land owner.
The first story was Trial of the Heart by Julie Daines. Marianne Wood has come to Bath to testify against Bartholomew Hayter, the man who robbed and murdered her parents. This requires facing down the demons of her past. She has the help of barrister, Harby Northam, and hopefully his friendship too.
Second was Lord Edmund's Dilemma by Caroline Warfield. Lucy Ashcroft is in Bath staying with her aunt (or maybe great aunt). She helps the older set, and is simply abundantly kind. Lord Edmund Parker might be a touch above her in station, but he is drawn to her kindness, despite his mother's very vocal objections.
Third, and my favorite, was The Fine Art of Kissing in the Park by Jaima Fixen. Jack Edwards meets
Caroline in the park when her dog runs away. He offers to give the dog back, if she will give him a kiss. What followed was a whole lot of mischief, wit, and sweet clandestine meetings.
The title A Holiday in Bath was not particularly accurate. The stories did all take place in Bath, but it was not all assemblies, balls, and morning calls. Personally, I like reading about "society" even though the odds are that I would have been a tenant's daughter or a maid, if I was lucky. It was refreshing to read about different aspects of life in this collection. My husband would have liked that there were characters with (gasp) jobs! There were barristers and physicians, when the "typical gentleman" in these stories is usually a land owner.
The first story was Trial of the Heart by Julie Daines. Marianne Wood has come to Bath to testify against Bartholomew Hayter, the man who robbed and murdered her parents. This requires facing down the demons of her past. She has the help of barrister, Harby Northam, and hopefully his friendship too.
Second was Lord Edmund's Dilemma by Caroline Warfield. Lucy Ashcroft is in Bath staying with her aunt (or maybe great aunt). She helps the older set, and is simply abundantly kind. Lord Edmund Parker might be a touch above her in station, but he is drawn to her kindness, despite his mother's very vocal objections.
Third, and my favorite, was The Fine Art of Kissing in the Park by Jaima Fixen. Jack Edwards meets
Caroline in the park when her dog runs away. He offers to give the dog back, if she will give him a kiss. What followed was a whole lot of mischief, wit, and sweet clandestine meetings.
May 8, 2017
This was a collection of enjoyable reads all set in Bath. The first one Trial of the Heart was my favorite. It has mystery and romance. Marianne lost her family when the family coach was set on fire. She is summoned to testify against the vile man who attacked them. Mr. Northam makes Marianne feels safe for the first time in years. He seems to put on many faces and Marianne wonders what is real.
Lord Edmund's Dilemma is a fun story about young Lucy who is visiting her aunt in Bath and helping her with her group of friends referred to as "the circle". She meets Lord Edmund and the two start a friendship. Lord Edmund's mother thinks Lucy is too far below Edmund. Is there a way for Lucy and Edmund to be together?
The Fine Art of Kissing in the Park is the story of Caroline who has been a treated as a pawn by her brother and uncle to further their careers. When she is sent to Bath to spend time with her grandma, she meets Jack. Jack and Caroline know there is no future for them but they can't seem to stay apart from each other. Can the two overcome the odds and get their happily ever after?
I love that I can read a story in one seating without taking all day. I love the Timeless Regency Collection books.
Lord Edmund's Dilemma is a fun story about young Lucy who is visiting her aunt in Bath and helping her with her group of friends referred to as "the circle". She meets Lord Edmund and the two start a friendship. Lord Edmund's mother thinks Lucy is too far below Edmund. Is there a way for Lucy and Edmund to be together?
The Fine Art of Kissing in the Park is the story of Caroline who has been a treated as a pawn by her brother and uncle to further their careers. When she is sent to Bath to spend time with her grandma, she meets Jack. Jack and Caroline know there is no future for them but they can't seem to stay apart from each other. Can the two overcome the odds and get their happily ever after?
I love that I can read a story in one seating without taking all day. I love the Timeless Regency Collection books.
June 6, 2017
Trial of the Heart: I am a fan of Julie Daines, so it’s no surprise that I liked this story. It was different than most of the other Regency collections in that its plot is a murder trial. My heart went out to Marianne as she had to face her family’s murderer. To me personally, it’s a good book when you feel for the characters when they are just that, characters.
Lord Edmond’s Dilemma: I hadn’t heard of Caroline Warfield and was pretty pleased with her story. There was unnecessary swearing which for me always takes points off. However, the story was cute. Lucy is spending time in Bath with her aunt and all of her aunt’s aging friends. Edmond is intrigued by Lucy, but his mother doesn’t approve at all. Edmond must decide if he wants to follow the path his family has set for him or the path his heart longs for.
The Fine Art of Kissing in the Park: I was skeptical of this book because I’m already wary of the author Jamia Fixsen. SPOILERS: I was getting into the book when out of nowhere the main character’s grandma asks her if she’s slept with a man and then encourages promiscuous behavior like it was expected. I stopped reading and won’t read any more of Fixsen’s writings. I was disappointed that this story was included in one of the Timeless Regency Collections.
Lord Edmond’s Dilemma: I hadn’t heard of Caroline Warfield and was pretty pleased with her story. There was unnecessary swearing which for me always takes points off. However, the story was cute. Lucy is spending time in Bath with her aunt and all of her aunt’s aging friends. Edmond is intrigued by Lucy, but his mother doesn’t approve at all. Edmond must decide if he wants to follow the path his family has set for him or the path his heart longs for.
The Fine Art of Kissing in the Park: I was skeptical of this book because I’m already wary of the author Jamia Fixsen. SPOILERS: I was getting into the book when out of nowhere the main character’s grandma asks her if she’s slept with a man and then encourages promiscuous behavior like it was expected. I stopped reading and won’t read any more of Fixsen’s writings. I was disappointed that this story was included in one of the Timeless Regency Collections.
May 6, 2017
-Trial of the Heart-
Oh my, this story set my heart pounding! The suspense! This thriller certainly kept my attention! So well written, I loved it! Definitely worthy of a 5-star rating!
-Lord Edmund's Dilemma-
A sweet regency story of riches to rags. A new author for me, I very much enjoyed this story and would read more from this author. Another 5-star read.
-The Fine Art of Kissing in the Park-
I enjoyed the humour in this last story. The characters were a lot of fun too.
Oh my, this story set my heart pounding! The suspense! This thriller certainly kept my attention! So well written, I loved it! Definitely worthy of a 5-star rating!
-Lord Edmund's Dilemma-
A sweet regency story of riches to rags. A new author for me, I very much enjoyed this story and would read more from this author. Another 5-star read.
-The Fine Art of Kissing in the Park-
I enjoyed the humour in this last story. The characters were a lot of fun too.
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