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The Roses of Feldstone
Standing before Feldstone Manor, site of so many happy memories, Rose Davenport feels nothing but dread. Her family’s annual visit to the stately home was once brightened by her friendship with the earl’s youngest son, William, but everything changed the day his elder brother was disinherited and William became heir to his father’s earldom. From that moment, William made it clear he has no interest in continuing an acquaintance with Rose. Heartbroken, she sets out to prove that she will simply not be ignored—or outdone—by the arrogant future lord of the manor. When his elder brother marries for love, William’s entire life changes in an instant. He does not have the same option to marry whom he chooses, and he must let go of the feelings he has harbored for his dear friend, Rose. He steels himself against her annual visits, determined to keep his feelings for her a secret. But when he makes the hasty promise to marry within six months, he never dreams that his actions will lead Rose to impulsively undertake the same challenge.
165 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2018
128 people are currently reading
1430 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 395 reviews
September 2, 2018
There might be a decent story here but the author's complete ignorance of Regency custom and law is getting in the way of my finding it. Some points the author might have found with even cursory research:
* An earl cannot disinherit his heir from the title. Not possible. Titles are royal grants and messing with the inheritance is a big, fat hairy deal. I don't know what it'd take to change the inheritance in Regency England, but at the very least it'd be a matter before the House of Lords and it'd have to be based on something serious, like treason. The girl being Spanish, and probably Catholic, might have been enough if he could reasonably have become king (and thus head of the Church of England). Might. There's some weird loopholes about that in the royal line. But it still would have had to go through the House of Lords to actually change titles to William from his older brother.
* Rank means having a title. Rose's mother didn't have to subtly "include their family in a reference to those with rank." Her father is a baronet. They have rank. That's what it means.
* There is literally zero impediment for the son of an earl to marry the daughter of a baronet (whether fifth, first, or seventy-first born). Zero. Since the families like each other, they'd likely be delighted. It might not be seen as "a brilliant match" but there is no way on earth that William would feel compelled to treat a woman he cared for even a little bit brutally because his attachment to her would be in any way inappropriate. It isn't inappropriate. At all.
* There's no way an eighteen year-old has finished two seasons. Seriously. You don't come out at sixteen. Just. No. Seriously, how do you write for this period and not know this? Or maybe I'm wrong. Okay I'm wrong. (see Sherwood's comment below).
So there's two reasons I'm abandoning this at 30%. First, William is being cruel. Nothing excuses this guy's behavior to Rose. You don't do that to people you respect, let alone love. You just don't. And Rose's continuing feelings for him two years in to his brutal treatment makes it hard for me to respect her (because she obviously doesn't respect herself). Second, the reason for his brutality is that he can't marry her. So he's being brutally cruel to someone he supposedly loves for an impossibility. With something this serious, it would pay to get the details right. Hatch doesn't seem to have tried.
Despite the single star, this isn't a complete waste. The writing is decent, the descriptions good, and Rose is interesting and well-drawn even if I don't like how willing she is to give William the time of day. But Hatch needs to do the research or select a different era if she wants to be taken seriously. Oh, and find a hero who isn't being a complete jerk in order to manipulate someone he cares for.
A note about the publisher: This is another by Covenant. So the eBook price is bonkers. At this point, I'm beginning to wonder if my library is doing me a favor by giving me access to these titles.
* An earl cannot disinherit his heir from the title. Not possible. Titles are royal grants and messing with the inheritance is a big, fat hairy deal. I don't know what it'd take to change the inheritance in Regency England, but at the very least it'd be a matter before the House of Lords and it'd have to be based on something serious, like treason. The girl being Spanish, and probably Catholic, might have been enough if he could reasonably have become king (and thus head of the Church of England). Might. There's some weird loopholes about that in the royal line. But it still would have had to go through the House of Lords to actually change titles to William from his older brother.
* Rank means having a title. Rose's mother didn't have to subtly "include their family in a reference to those with rank." Her father is a baronet. They have rank. That's what it means.
* There is literally zero impediment for the son of an earl to marry the daughter of a baronet (whether fifth, first, or seventy-first born). Zero. Since the families like each other, they'd likely be delighted. It might not be seen as "a brilliant match" but there is no way on earth that William would feel compelled to treat a woman he cared for even a little bit brutally because his attachment to her would be in any way inappropriate. It isn't inappropriate. At all.
* There's no way an eighteen year-old has finished two seasons. Seriously. You don't come out at sixteen. Just. No. Seriously, how do you write for this period and not know this? Or maybe I'm wrong. Okay I'm wrong. (see Sherwood's comment below).
So there's two reasons I'm abandoning this at 30%. First, William is being cruel. Nothing excuses this guy's behavior to Rose. You don't do that to people you respect, let alone love. You just don't. And Rose's continuing feelings for him two years in to his brutal treatment makes it hard for me to respect her (because she obviously doesn't respect herself). Second, the reason for his brutality is that he can't marry her. So he's being brutally cruel to someone he supposedly loves for an impossibility. With something this serious, it would pay to get the details right. Hatch doesn't seem to have tried.
Despite the single star, this isn't a complete waste. The writing is decent, the descriptions good, and Rose is interesting and well-drawn even if I don't like how willing she is to give William the time of day. But Hatch needs to do the research or select a different era if she wants to be taken seriously. Oh, and find a hero who isn't being a complete jerk in order to manipulate someone he cares for.
A note about the publisher: This is another by Covenant. So the eBook price is bonkers. At this point, I'm beginning to wonder if my library is doing me a favor by giving me access to these titles.
August 8, 2018
Such a great Regency story that reminded me a bit of my favorite (Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson) in that both main characters are head-over-heels in love with each other but don't know that the other feels the same way, because of familial and social constraints and misdirection. Rose is understandably frustrated with William, and I couldn't fault her for goading him at times. The author struck a good balance between showing William and Rose's friendship as it once was so the reader would know what Rose is grieving, and exposing the two sides of William- his gruff and often rude behavior to Rose and his true nature that is kind, thoughtful, and struggling to suppress his romantic feelings for her. The pace was steady which helped prevent the angst from bogging down the narrative, and I enjoyed both London and countryside settings. I appreciated the historical details of the plight of the young London chimney sweeps and Rose's compassion for them instead of disregarding the circumstances she can't ignore. A must-read for fans of sweet Regency romance!
(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)
August 8, 2018
***4.5 stars***
I love a book that makes me feel good and has depth to it. I found both of these aspects in The Roses of Feldstone.
Rose is a character that I loved. She is smart and unassuming. She was born to privilege, but treats everyone with kindness and compassion. (Unless there is a suitor she wants to avoid, then she just hides.) She treats tenants, servants, and abused chimney sweeps as if they were friends. No one is beneath her notice or concern. She is strong and knows how to speak her mind, even when her thoughts could get her into trouble. She is great at banter and holding her own against her childhood friend, William.
William is more of a troubled character. He will inherit his father's title and estate after his brother left in scandal. He is cautious and more concerned with everyone else with little regard to his own welfare and emotions. Rose was the perfect nemesis and love interest for him. She remembers the boy who showed her great kindness.
This book has more than romance. For one, there is a deeper meaning to the Roses in the title. I love it when the title is well thought out and plays a part in the plot of the book. Also, the author adds a bit about the abuse of chimney sweeps in London. The story of a young boy forced into the trade is heartbreaking. Child labor laws were a blessing.
I enjoyed every moment I spent in the pages of this book. It is well worth the time to read. It does contain some kissing.
Source: I received a complimentary copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
I love a book that makes me feel good and has depth to it. I found both of these aspects in The Roses of Feldstone.
Rose is a character that I loved. She is smart and unassuming. She was born to privilege, but treats everyone with kindness and compassion. (Unless there is a suitor she wants to avoid, then she just hides.) She treats tenants, servants, and abused chimney sweeps as if they were friends. No one is beneath her notice or concern. She is strong and knows how to speak her mind, even when her thoughts could get her into trouble. She is great at banter and holding her own against her childhood friend, William.
William is more of a troubled character. He will inherit his father's title and estate after his brother left in scandal. He is cautious and more concerned with everyone else with little regard to his own welfare and emotions. Rose was the perfect nemesis and love interest for him. She remembers the boy who showed her great kindness.
This book has more than romance. For one, there is a deeper meaning to the Roses in the title. I love it when the title is well thought out and plays a part in the plot of the book. Also, the author adds a bit about the abuse of chimney sweeps in London. The story of a young boy forced into the trade is heartbreaking. Child labor laws were a blessing.
I enjoyed every moment I spent in the pages of this book. It is well worth the time to read. It does contain some kissing.
Source: I received a complimentary copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
August 6, 2018
I love when I find a great Regency Romance that’s fun, clean, romantic and just an all around great read. This one fits all of those things!
I loved Rose with all of her quirks. She gets sick riding in a carriage. Rose loves her namesake roses. She even gets mad at William for his having removed her favorite ones. There are so many great things to love about her! I really loved seeing the backstory between Rose and William through her eyes. It made me a bit sad to see how they went from being great friends, to completely ignoring each other. I also loved the compassion she had for everyone around her, even if she didn’t know them. The way Rose took to the small boy stuck in the chimney really touched me.
I wasn’t sure what to think of William for a good portion of this book. I wanted to like him, because of the things Rose thought about from their past. But I had a hard time reconciling her memories of him to the reality of how he treated her. He was hard and unkind. I was glad to see him start to change back, but hoped it would last.
There are so many fun and well-written characters in this one. I love Rose’s mom. She made me laugh several times. There’s a certain scene with a hat that comes to mind. Rose’s sister Elizabeth was another character I loved. I loved “seeing” the two sisters together, they’re what I imagine a perfect sister relationship to be. Then there’s the men that Rose meets at all the balls. There are several that just made me laugh.
I loved the plot of this one. It’s well written, not at all stuffy and boring like some Regency Romances can be. I can’t wait to read more books by this author!
I loved Rose with all of her quirks. She gets sick riding in a carriage. Rose loves her namesake roses. She even gets mad at William for his having removed her favorite ones. There are so many great things to love about her! I really loved seeing the backstory between Rose and William through her eyes. It made me a bit sad to see how they went from being great friends, to completely ignoring each other. I also loved the compassion she had for everyone around her, even if she didn’t know them. The way Rose took to the small boy stuck in the chimney really touched me.
I wasn’t sure what to think of William for a good portion of this book. I wanted to like him, because of the things Rose thought about from their past. But I had a hard time reconciling her memories of him to the reality of how he treated her. He was hard and unkind. I was glad to see him start to change back, but hoped it would last.
There are so many fun and well-written characters in this one. I love Rose’s mom. She made me laugh several times. There’s a certain scene with a hat that comes to mind. Rose’s sister Elizabeth was another character I loved. I loved “seeing” the two sisters together, they’re what I imagine a perfect sister relationship to be. Then there’s the men that Rose meets at all the balls. There are several that just made me laugh.
I loved the plot of this one. It’s well written, not at all stuffy and boring like some Regency Romances can be. I can’t wait to read more books by this author!
August 7, 2018
This book was such a pleasant surprise. Debut author, Esther Hatch, has created a fantastic story with vivid characters who stand out in personality but not without their flaws. The back and forth between Rose and William was enough to drive me crazy in the best of ways. I was ready to scream out in frustration with them and then . . . oh, well, I cannot give too much away but let's just say that my tummy was all a flutter and I got goosebumps on my arms. That's a good sign of happy things. But then. Frustration again. There were so many great moments in this book that created a perfect movie in my head. I love when that happens.
I really had a good time reading this book. It was so good. I am so excited about Esther Hatch and hope to read many, many more books from her in the future.
Content: clean, some kissing
- I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
I really had a good time reading this book. It was so good. I am so excited about Esther Hatch and hope to read many, many more books from her in the future.
Content: clean, some kissing
- I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
August 15, 2018
I admit, that cover totally drew me in and even made me overlook the price tag (and really for that price it should at least be available to loan out), which I don't usually do for new-to-me authors. But seriously, I love this cover! This was a sweet regency romance, flowed well and had likable characters. It's my understanding that this is Ms. Hatch's first book and I was impressed. I know I could never write half as well. While it was a sweet and likable story, there was just something missing for me. I think the characters could have been developed a little better, especially William. He seems like a nice guy, but never really won me over. Maybe its the whole plot of both H/h being in love with one another for the entire book but neither knows, and it's totally obvious to the reader, but not our lead characters. Rose and William do share some yummy kisses though, so that was nice!
Overall, it was a nice read and one I think most people will enjoy. I look forward to reading more from Ms. Hatch.
Content: Squeaky clean, HEA
Overall, it was a nice read and one I think most people will enjoy. I look forward to reading more from Ms. Hatch.
Content: Squeaky clean, HEA
August 31, 2018
While this book took me a few chapters to get into it, it was a really fun book to read!! By the end, I was laughing at some of the banter Rose and William had!
Rose was friends with William growing up until they weren’t friends! It just appeared that William became unkind with Rose. Then Rose would just say things to annoy him because she didn’t know why he was ugly with her.
Background is that William’s older brother married a woman from another country and out of their social cast. William’s father disinherited his brother and William became the new heir. William’s father expected William to marry with only the highest class! William’s mother became despondent and became kind of bed ridden over the loss of her older son. William will do whatever it takes to make his mother better.
Rose now 18 finds herself wishing for the old William back. She also comes across several things that make her think he does care for her after all. But because their communication is just ridiculous and neither really says anything for sure, you don’t know why William is acting ugly to her! Then there are moments when he is kind to her and Rose gets whiplash over it! And her feelings for him become a tangled mess.
I loved and laughed over how it was all resolved! Because the two are really good for each other! They are good hard working and very caring people who don’t really care about social class!
In some ways, this book reminds me of Pride and Prejudice.
If you like books with social classes, petit fours, apples, climbing trees to get the apples, dancing, ridiculous hats, banter, roses and rose gardens, fat cats, chimney sweeps, and laughter than this book might be for you!
Rose was friends with William growing up until they weren’t friends! It just appeared that William became unkind with Rose. Then Rose would just say things to annoy him because she didn’t know why he was ugly with her.
Background is that William’s older brother married a woman from another country and out of their social cast. William’s father disinherited his brother and William became the new heir. William’s father expected William to marry with only the highest class! William’s mother became despondent and became kind of bed ridden over the loss of her older son. William will do whatever it takes to make his mother better.
Rose now 18 finds herself wishing for the old William back. She also comes across several things that make her think he does care for her after all. But because their communication is just ridiculous and neither really says anything for sure, you don’t know why William is acting ugly to her! Then there are moments when he is kind to her and Rose gets whiplash over it! And her feelings for him become a tangled mess.
I loved and laughed over how it was all resolved! Because the two are really good for each other! They are good hard working and very caring people who don’t really care about social class!
In some ways, this book reminds me of Pride and Prejudice.
If you like books with social classes, petit fours, apples, climbing trees to get the apples, dancing, ridiculous hats, banter, roses and rose gardens, fat cats, chimney sweeps, and laughter than this book might be for you!
December 5, 2018
I wrote some escapism fluff for you... I hope you enjoy it!
February 14, 2019
Loved this book! I got lost from the first few pages and could not put this down. This was very well written with wonderful characters you can relate to in a time when things were not easy and one must play by the rules of society and family politics. The pacing was great and I loved the twists that were thrown in throughout the book.
November 24, 2018
I forgot how much I love a well written regency romance and I absolutely could not put this book down! The characters came alive and I felt their emotions: despair, hope, frustration, love, lust. I highly recommend!
August 2, 2018
Fun new Regency.
I loved this premise:
But when he makes the hasty promise to marry within six months, he never dreams that his actions will lead Rose to impulsively undertake the same challenge.
And it did not disappoint.
I loved this premise:
But when he makes the hasty promise to marry within six months, he never dreams that his actions will lead Rose to impulsively undertake the same challenge.
And it did not disappoint.
October 16, 2018
Can I just say that I adored this book? I loved Rose. William I wasn't too happy with for a while. But the further that I read into the book, more information was brought to light and made all the pieces fall into place.
With a time limit in place for William to secure a bride (his own time limit to hopefully help his mother's health), many entertaining scenes occur. Misunderstanding abound, hidden feelings and emotions come to light, past promises enlightened, heartache and uncertainty constantly present, but most especially the realization of losing what one loves most will cause characters to make some very hard but very important decisions.
So many aspects that made this a great novel. The characters, the storyline, the setting, the slow reveal of the characters' history, meddling parents, social events...it's all here in this book.
I loved the inclusion of the roses and how everything played out in regards to Roses. The social events were fun to read about. But Rose, I just loved her character. She was so sweet, even through her heartache and the not knowing why things were the way they were. I loved her kindness towards Williams' mother. I loved her coming to understand her own mother better. And most especially, I loved her love story. I couldn't stop smiling while reading/listening to this one. I was hooked that I ended up finding it on my Deseret Bookshelf app and listened while I was driving and unable to have the book in my hands.
Content: Clean. Some kisses but nothing further.
I received a copy from the publisher, Covenant Communications, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.
Happy Reading!!!
With a time limit in place for William to secure a bride (his own time limit to hopefully help his mother's health), many entertaining scenes occur. Misunderstanding abound, hidden feelings and emotions come to light, past promises enlightened, heartache and uncertainty constantly present, but most especially the realization of losing what one loves most will cause characters to make some very hard but very important decisions.
So many aspects that made this a great novel. The characters, the storyline, the setting, the slow reveal of the characters' history, meddling parents, social events...it's all here in this book.
I loved the inclusion of the roses and how everything played out in regards to Roses. The social events were fun to read about. But Rose, I just loved her character. She was so sweet, even through her heartache and the not knowing why things were the way they were. I loved her kindness towards Williams' mother. I loved her coming to understand her own mother better. And most especially, I loved her love story. I couldn't stop smiling while reading/listening to this one. I was hooked that I ended up finding it on my Deseret Bookshelf app and listened while I was driving and unable to have the book in my hands.
Content: Clean. Some kisses but nothing further.
I received a copy from the publisher, Covenant Communications, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.
Happy Reading!!!
September 8, 2018
I absolutely adored this story! There were so many things about this novel that I want to gush about, but it would be so unfair of me to spoil this novel for anyone who hasn't read it yet because it really is so delicious. So... I'm going to tell you all the non-plot spoilery things that I can and urge you to purchase a copy for yourself to enjoy.
Both William and Rose were written so perfectly. I loved their chemistry and all their conversations. Their voices were distinct and their diction clever. I loved the family dynamics and how they played an important role in each character's arc. Everything was woven together so perfectly in this book, I just couldn't put it down!
One of my favorite things about this novel was the setting description. Feldstone was so clear in my mind that it became an important character. It was so lovely, and I felt as if I were visiting the countryside.
I also enjoyed how the author pulled in unique details and historical facts of that time period into the story. I hesitate to say exactly which details, as I don't want to give anything away, but it really was so satisfying to feel like I actually stepped back in time for an evening. And yes, only one evening because that's all it took for me to gobble Roses of Feldstone up!
I can't wait to read more from this author! I highly recommend this book. <3
Both William and Rose were written so perfectly. I loved their chemistry and all their conversations. Their voices were distinct and their diction clever. I loved the family dynamics and how they played an important role in each character's arc. Everything was woven together so perfectly in this book, I just couldn't put it down!
One of my favorite things about this novel was the setting description. Feldstone was so clear in my mind that it became an important character. It was so lovely, and I felt as if I were visiting the countryside.
I also enjoyed how the author pulled in unique details and historical facts of that time period into the story. I hesitate to say exactly which details, as I don't want to give anything away, but it really was so satisfying to feel like I actually stepped back in time for an evening. And yes, only one evening because that's all it took for me to gobble Roses of Feldstone up!
I can't wait to read more from this author! I highly recommend this book. <3
August 6, 2018
From cover to cover, The Roses of Fledstone by Esther Hatch is a delightful story that readers will thoroughly enjoy. From page one, Hatch catches the attention of readers with her enjoyable characters and true to the time period feel of the story. A fun, sweet, pleasant, light, and quick read, Hatch’s novel is one that will give readers warm fuzzies throughout the entire tale. Readers that enjoy regency romance novels will definitely adore this story!
Genre: historical, regency, romance
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Publication date: August 1, 2018
Number of pages: 224
A review copy of this book was provided by Covenant Communications. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are my own.
Genre: historical, regency, romance
Publisher: Covenant Communications
Publication date: August 1, 2018
Number of pages: 224
A review copy of this book was provided by Covenant Communications. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are my own.
September 25, 2018
Thanks to NetGalley and Covenant Communications for this read in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions contained herein are my own.
Esther Hatch is an unfamiliar author and I thought the story was well-written and pleasant to read. Will I read another of her novels? I would say yes, although I was a bit disappointed with this one after reading such a catching description.
The characters, William and Rose have been friends since childhood, however because of the failings of his older brother, he is next to inherit the Earldom. Because of his brother’s shortcoming, his father demands that he make a match worthy of the family that includes marrying a peer of his station, and he must do it within 6 months to also please his mother. Rose is a woman who is self-assured, strong and knows that she has been in love with William since she was 15-years of age. Her dilemma, she is not considered a peer of the ton, however her beauty affords her the choice of making a suitable match.
I had a hard time connecting with the characters and the underlying plot of the story. It appeared to drag a little too long and was a bit weak in some areas, especially William’s interactions with Rose without explanation. There were too many times Rose felt heartbroken and I didn’t really read into why other than William not given an explanation as to why he was being so standoffish. The true explanation of William’s actions went on way too long. I believed there should have been some sort of twist added in the middle for the two to really fight to be together rather than me feeling that it was coming close to an end. I did enjoy the whit where I found myself smiling when I thought the story was about to change.
My summation: This was a clean regency historical romance that was pleasant to read that needs a bit touching up here and there in the story. Esther Hatch did a nice job of presenting a clean romance. The plot was a bit slow and could have concluded a lot earlier. There were times when I became a bit bored due to the miscommunications and the lengthy pretense of not caring.
2.5 Stars (rounded 3-Stars)
Esther Hatch is an unfamiliar author and I thought the story was well-written and pleasant to read. Will I read another of her novels? I would say yes, although I was a bit disappointed with this one after reading such a catching description.
The characters, William and Rose have been friends since childhood, however because of the failings of his older brother, he is next to inherit the Earldom. Because of his brother’s shortcoming, his father demands that he make a match worthy of the family that includes marrying a peer of his station, and he must do it within 6 months to also please his mother. Rose is a woman who is self-assured, strong and knows that she has been in love with William since she was 15-years of age. Her dilemma, she is not considered a peer of the ton, however her beauty affords her the choice of making a suitable match.
I had a hard time connecting with the characters and the underlying plot of the story. It appeared to drag a little too long and was a bit weak in some areas, especially William’s interactions with Rose without explanation. There were too many times Rose felt heartbroken and I didn’t really read into why other than William not given an explanation as to why he was being so standoffish. The true explanation of William’s actions went on way too long. I believed there should have been some sort of twist added in the middle for the two to really fight to be together rather than me feeling that it was coming close to an end. I did enjoy the whit where I found myself smiling when I thought the story was about to change.
My summation: This was a clean regency historical romance that was pleasant to read that needs a bit touching up here and there in the story. Esther Hatch did a nice job of presenting a clean romance. The plot was a bit slow and could have concluded a lot earlier. There were times when I became a bit bored due to the miscommunications and the lengthy pretense of not caring.
2.5 Stars (rounded 3-Stars)
January 26, 2021
'Standing before Feldstone Manor, site of so many happy memories, Rose Davenport feels nothing but dread. Her family’s annual visit to the stately home was once brightened by her friendship with the earl’s youngest son, William, but everything changed the day his elder brother was disinherited and William became heir to his father’s earldom. From that moment, William made it clear he has no interest in continuing an acquaintance with Rose. Heartbroken, she sets out to prove that she will simply not be ignored—or outdone—by the arrogant future lord of the manor. When his elder brother marries for love, William’s entire life changes in an instant. He does not have the same option to marry whom he chooses, and he must let go of the feelings he has harbored for his dear friend, Rose. He steels himself against her annual visits, determined to keep his feelings for her a secret. But when he makes the hasty promise to marry within six months, he never dreams that his actions will lead Rose to impulsively undertake the same challenge.'
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The Roses of Feldstone is a stand-alone, clean historical romance by Esther Hatch.
I picked up a copy of this book because I have enjoyed other books by Esther Hatch I have read in the past and this story would have had promise if the author had made any effort to follow historical fact. I was quite disappointed. I expect there to be some suspension of belief when reading historical romance, but this book didn't follow any of the rules of the day that should have guided this book and correcting this would have only required a quick internet search by either the author or the editor to remedy. Also I must say that all the characters in the book were some serious DRAMA LLAMAS, over-reacting to everything. The book is a whole bunch of angst strung out across too many pages with characters behaving like children.
As for some of the inaccuracies, you can't disinherit an heir to a British title just because your child didn't follow the path you wished. This would have been a matter for the House of Lords with lot of legal ramifications and hurdles, not just a father trying to punish his son because he didn't marry well. If Feldstone wasn't an entailed property, then yes, a father could leave the property to his younger son, but never the title. Unless the eldest son has died or been legally declared insane none of this book is the least bit feasible. Maybe it's petty of me, but I just couldn't get past this issue. This then ruined the whole book for me becuse every aspect of the plot was based upon this faulty understanding of the British peerage. Another huge point of conflict was that Rose wasn't elevated enough for William to marry, but her father is a baron so she's still the daughter of a peer and therefore a good match. But I'd also stopped paying attention due to my anger with the book, so maybe her father was actually a baronet...and then forget what I just said.
I was truly disappointed by this book. I will read more by Esther Hatch in future, as I typically enjoy her books and I see that many others enjoyed this book, but I would not recommend it to anyone who wants some accuracy in their historical fictions/romances.
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The Roses of Feldstone is a stand-alone, clean historical romance by Esther Hatch.
I picked up a copy of this book because I have enjoyed other books by Esther Hatch I have read in the past and this story would have had promise if the author had made any effort to follow historical fact. I was quite disappointed. I expect there to be some suspension of belief when reading historical romance, but this book didn't follow any of the rules of the day that should have guided this book and correcting this would have only required a quick internet search by either the author or the editor to remedy. Also I must say that all the characters in the book were some serious DRAMA LLAMAS, over-reacting to everything. The book is a whole bunch of angst strung out across too many pages with characters behaving like children.
As for some of the inaccuracies, you can't disinherit an heir to a British title just because your child didn't follow the path you wished. This would have been a matter for the House of Lords with lot of legal ramifications and hurdles, not just a father trying to punish his son because he didn't marry well. If Feldstone wasn't an entailed property, then yes, a father could leave the property to his younger son, but never the title. Unless the eldest son has died or been legally declared insane none of this book is the least bit feasible. Maybe it's petty of me, but I just couldn't get past this issue. This then ruined the whole book for me becuse every aspect of the plot was based upon this faulty understanding of the British peerage. Another huge point of conflict was that Rose wasn't elevated enough for William to marry, but her father is a baron so she's still the daughter of a peer and therefore a good match. But I'd also stopped paying attention due to my anger with the book, so maybe her father was actually a baronet...and then forget what I just said.
I was truly disappointed by this book. I will read more by Esther Hatch in future, as I typically enjoy her books and I see that many others enjoyed this book, but I would not recommend it to anyone who wants some accuracy in their historical fictions/romances.
August 9, 2018
I was really intrigued when I read the back copy of this new regency romance novel, The Roses of Feldstone. This is a new author as well, so I was hoping the story lived up to my expectations.
We first meet Rose who used to be friends with William, the younger son of an earl, but who now pushes that friendship away in order to needle and provoke him. William isn't any better, he's quite curt with Rose and doesn't seem to want to have much to do with her. The first part of the book is spent with them trying to outdo or ignore the other and reminiscing about how it used to be. Then Rose goes back to London to find herself a husband, just as William is also searching for a wife. That's when the build between them really ramps up and the story takes an interesting turn. No spoilers here, though!
I thought the author did a wonderful job with characterization. All of her characters are well-drawn and three-dimensional and the misunderstandings and miscommunications were all realistic to the time period. The hero of the story frustrated me, however, especially with his behavior during several beats of the romance. Since the book is completely in Rose's point of view, we can only guess at his feelings, and some of his overtures are very subtle, too subtle perhaps, and a bit confusing in some parts. But this is not a negative. On the contrary, the author was able to engage me emotionally and I truly felt for Rose and William and wanted to see how it would play out and if we would indeed get a happily ever after. In the book, Rose and William's romance is compared to a dance where they draw close and then away and that definitely describes their journey to a T. (Oh and one other thing the author is very good at, is the kissing scenes. *sigh* Butterflies!)
So, if you like regency romance, with great settings, a story with some twists and turns, and relatable characters, you'll want to try Ms. Hatch and The Roses of Feldstone.
Originally reviewed at http://ldswritermom.blogspot.com
We first meet Rose who used to be friends with William, the younger son of an earl, but who now pushes that friendship away in order to needle and provoke him. William isn't any better, he's quite curt with Rose and doesn't seem to want to have much to do with her. The first part of the book is spent with them trying to outdo or ignore the other and reminiscing about how it used to be. Then Rose goes back to London to find herself a husband, just as William is also searching for a wife. That's when the build between them really ramps up and the story takes an interesting turn. No spoilers here, though!
I thought the author did a wonderful job with characterization. All of her characters are well-drawn and three-dimensional and the misunderstandings and miscommunications were all realistic to the time period. The hero of the story frustrated me, however, especially with his behavior during several beats of the romance. Since the book is completely in Rose's point of view, we can only guess at his feelings, and some of his overtures are very subtle, too subtle perhaps, and a bit confusing in some parts. But this is not a negative. On the contrary, the author was able to engage me emotionally and I truly felt for Rose and William and wanted to see how it would play out and if we would indeed get a happily ever after. In the book, Rose and William's romance is compared to a dance where they draw close and then away and that definitely describes their journey to a T. (Oh and one other thing the author is very good at, is the kissing scenes. *sigh* Butterflies!)
So, if you like regency romance, with great settings, a story with some twists and turns, and relatable characters, you'll want to try Ms. Hatch and The Roses of Feldstone.
Originally reviewed at http://ldswritermom.blogspot.com
August 21, 2018
A great Regency Romance novel! This book has fun characters, especially the main character, Rose. I loved the side stories and how seamlessly they fit into the main characters' plot line. It's really well written with a satisfying ending!
September 25, 2018
Stunning regency era read! As a brand new author on the scene, it leaves me extremely excited to see what she has coming next. Perfectly paced, and the anticipation will have you desperately turning the pages of this beautiful novel.
So descriptive, but not overly so. The characters each contribute in a way that embellished the scenes in which they appeared. I loved the fact that despite reading similar plot lines in historical fiction prior, it felt original. Both Rose & William were easy to emotionally connect with. You achieve that as an author, and you have yourself a winner!
Thank you to Netgalley & Covenant Communications for a complimentary eARC. This is my honest review.
So descriptive, but not overly so. The characters each contribute in a way that embellished the scenes in which they appeared. I loved the fact that despite reading similar plot lines in historical fiction prior, it felt original. Both Rose & William were easy to emotionally connect with. You achieve that as an author, and you have yourself a winner!
Thank you to Netgalley & Covenant Communications for a complimentary eARC. This is my honest review.
September 6, 2018
This book was a delight from beginning to end. A perfect regency romance, with totally engaging characters and perfect tension throughout. I thoroughly enjoyed it!!
January 20, 2019
I should have reviewed this book a couple of months ago but it seems it fell through a cyber crack and I'm just now getting to it. First of all, I love the cover and yes, I do judge a book by it's cover, and the blurb about the book.
Rose and William have been childhood friends and she loved visiting Feldstone Manor. Notice the past tense "loved". Rose no longer loves visiting Feldstone Manor because it seems William is no longer her friend and has even had the roses that used to grace the entrance to the manor pulled up, and replaced with stone lions. Why is William no longer her friend? Why is he so cold to her? I wondered that too and grew impatient with his cold/hot behavior towards Rose.
William is the younger son, who typically isn't the one that inherits the house and all the responsibilities that go with it. But when his older brother disgraces the family by marrying a woman from another country for love (the shock and horror of it all!), their father disowns him and William instantly becomes the heir and all the obligations that go with it suddenly fall upon his shoulders.
I liked Rose and how she was kind to everyone. The part involving the young chimney sweep that got stuck in the chimney really showcased her kindness and concern for those others thought not worth thinking about. I understood how she sometimes goaded William because she didn't understand why he was being standoffish towards her and he wouldn't explain himself--it sounds like something I would do. 😏
I wasn't sure how to feel about William at times. Quite often I was upset with him and wanted to slap some sense into him, other times part of the "old" William would peek out and I felt bad for him--that he now had the burden that should've been his older brother's. To me, that didn't excuse his treatment of Rose.
There were humorous moments with Rose and her sister at the hat shop, and those outrageous sounding hats. One of my favorites was the Petit Fours and now whenever I see or eat them I think about having 4 of them. 💗 There's also meddling parents thrown in the mix because what's a Regency romance without them?
This is a clean regency romance with only kissing. Thanks to Covenant Communications and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book. All thoughts in this review are my own.
Rose and William have been childhood friends and she loved visiting Feldstone Manor. Notice the past tense "loved". Rose no longer loves visiting Feldstone Manor because it seems William is no longer her friend and has even had the roses that used to grace the entrance to the manor pulled up, and replaced with stone lions. Why is William no longer her friend? Why is he so cold to her? I wondered that too and grew impatient with his cold/hot behavior towards Rose.
William is the younger son, who typically isn't the one that inherits the house and all the responsibilities that go with it. But when his older brother disgraces the family by marrying a woman from another country for love (the shock and horror of it all!), their father disowns him and William instantly becomes the heir and all the obligations that go with it suddenly fall upon his shoulders.
I liked Rose and how she was kind to everyone. The part involving the young chimney sweep that got stuck in the chimney really showcased her kindness and concern for those others thought not worth thinking about. I understood how she sometimes goaded William because she didn't understand why he was being standoffish towards her and he wouldn't explain himself--it sounds like something I would do. 😏
I wasn't sure how to feel about William at times. Quite often I was upset with him and wanted to slap some sense into him, other times part of the "old" William would peek out and I felt bad for him--that he now had the burden that should've been his older brother's. To me, that didn't excuse his treatment of Rose.
There were humorous moments with Rose and her sister at the hat shop, and those outrageous sounding hats. One of my favorites was the Petit Fours and now whenever I see or eat them I think about having 4 of them. 💗 There's also meddling parents thrown in the mix because what's a Regency romance without them?
This is a clean regency romance with only kissing. Thanks to Covenant Communications and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book. All thoughts in this review are my own.
July 8, 2018
I read this one in just two days, it was so great! I loved the true-to-the-era feel of the book, felt like I was a fly on the wall throughout the story. This is one of my very favorite pure romance books ever. A nice plot that was easy to read and hard to put down. Can’t wait to read more of this author’s books!
June 26, 2022
I read Hatch's second book first and I think that may have given me extra high expectations for this one because that second book is phenomenal!! Now, in this book, Hatch exhibits wonderful writing and an interesting plotline. I enjoyed Rose's character but was so angry with William for the first half of the book! Can't wait to read more from Esther!
November 13, 2018
Content: Clean
September 15, 2018
I honestly couldn’t put this book down! I was transported to a a beautiful place!!! I found it interesting how much I related to Rose when I was her age. The author captured what it’s like to be young and in love and insecure! Such a great story. I couldn’t wait to see how it all transpired hence being up until 2 in the morning to finish it.
January 7, 2019
I have not enjoyed a romance this much since reading Julianne Donaldson's Edenbrooke, and that's saying something. The tension was high throughout the novel and I loved both of the characters so much that I couldn't wait for them to be together. This was truly a pleasure to read and I wish her next book was out already!
September 1, 2018
Esther Hatch has been added to my list of all time favorite authors! I loved this book! It seriously gave me the shivers reading it because it was so delicious!! I couldn’t put it down, the tension between the two main characters was so agonizing in a good way. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a great clean romance with a great plot! It’s going on my re-read list😍😍😍
August 9, 2018
I love a good clean romance and The Roses of Feldstone kept things fun and interesting throughout the book. There was good chemistry between the main two characters and once I started reading I didn't want to put it down.
August 20, 2018
Romance is not my genre, but this was a really great book. I'm not just saying that because the author is my friend either. It was funny and witty and had more depth and plot twists than I was anticipating.
August 7, 2018
Rose's once fond memories of Feldstone Manor and of it's heir, William, were no longer pleasant. When pressure was put on William to become engaged within six months, Rose decided to earnestly become available to another suitor in the "ton". She would not appear as "the rejected one"!
This first novel of Esther Hatch's debut is a delight to read. Although mostly predictable, it is well-written with a few "twists".
It reinforces some of the hurt, pressure and expectations were put on those in the elite "class" of society, in not only England but many counties, were expected to endure, without regards to either the man's or woman's personal feelings.
What I felt it lacked was substance. It felt slightly drawn out. Additionally, although the ending was complete, it occurred too abruptly
The characters were very endearing and captivated the reader.. The scenes were portrayed well
The Book Title and Cover image were attractive, eye-catching and chosen well.
*This book was gifted me with no expectations for a positive review. This is my honest review.
This first novel of Esther Hatch's debut is a delight to read. Although mostly predictable, it is well-written with a few "twists".
It reinforces some of the hurt, pressure and expectations were put on those in the elite "class" of society, in not only England but many counties, were expected to endure, without regards to either the man's or woman's personal feelings.
What I felt it lacked was substance. It felt slightly drawn out. Additionally, although the ending was complete, it occurred too abruptly
The characters were very endearing and captivated the reader.. The scenes were portrayed well
The Book Title and Cover image were attractive, eye-catching and chosen well.
*This book was gifted me with no expectations for a positive review. This is my honest review.
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