The Diamond of Bristol by Arlem Hawks Lieutenant Derrick Owens has always been on his own and wants to keep it that way, but when he saves a shipmate’s sister from a horrible dance partner, Corah Bradford’s sweet temperament and friendly nature make her hard to resist. Unable to find a suitable husband in Bristol who she can also love, Corah is entangled in a wager to secure Derrick’s company for an evening. Despite their reluctance to let go of their convictions, their easy friendship turns to something more. But with war on the horizon and Corah bound for the marriage mart in London, they both must discover what’s truly important—love or their previous expectations.
Women of a Certain Age by Josi S. Kilpack Over the years, Colletta Markshire has been the driving force in helping young women make their match during the Season in London. Rachel is her lucky thirteen and Etta has every expectation that she will be a triumph ... except that things are not going to plan. Rachel has not taken to London and is determined to grow an acquaintance with a young man not at all the thing. The young man's father, Wynn Firth, is nearly as distracting as Etta's worries, and in every way she felt sure she would never feel distracted again. When Rachel disappears, Etta has little doubt what’s happened and she and Wynn set out together to find the young couple before word gets out. Hours in a carriage with a handsome man can be even more distracting, however, and Etta finds herself entertaining ideas she never thought to have. Etta gave up on love years ago ... and yet, as Women of a Certain age can attest, it is never too late to change one’s mind and change one’s future.
A Most Unsuitable Suitor by Sarah M. Eden Drowning in debt, Julian, Lord Wesley spends an evening of shared misery with his closest friend at their club and makes a startling discovery: someone has placed a wager that Lady Charlotte Duchamps will not marry before her 21st birthday, with Julian himself receiving £1000 if she does not. Lady Charlotte suddenly finds herself the subject of a great deal of attention from Lord Wesley, a vague acquaintance with a questionable reputation. With Julian and Charlotte both attempting to solve mysteries and wreak chaos, betting on the possibility of love might just prove the most risky wager of all.
Timeless Regency Collections: AUTUMN MASQUERADE A MIDWINTER BALL SPRING IN HYDE PARK SUMMER HOUSE PARTY A COUNTRY CHRISTMAS A HOLIDAY IN BATH FALLING FOR A DUKE A NIGHT IN GROSVENOR SQUARE ROAD TO GRETNA GREEN WEDDING WAGERS AN EVENING AT ALMACK'S A WEEK IN BRIGHTON TO LOVE A GOVERNESS WIDOWS OF SOMERSET A CHRISTMAS PROMISE A SEASIDE SUMMER THE INNS OF DEVONSHIRE TO KISS A WALLFLOWER
Timeless Victorian Collections: SUMMER HOLIDAY A GRAND TOUR THE ORIENT EXPRESS THE QUEEN'S BALL A NOTE OF CHANGE A GENTLEWOMAN'S SCHOLAR
Timeless Georgian Collections: HER COUNTRY GENTLEMAN A LADY'S WAGER
From the publisher of the USA TODAY bestselling & #1 Amazon bestselling Timeless Romance Anthology series in Regency Romance: A Lady's Wager is a Timeless Romance Anthology® book
Timeless Romance Anthology® is a registered trademark of Mirror Press, LLC
Yay for a Georgian collection from Timeless Romances! I love these collection so much. So many reasons why, but one of the biggest reasons is that they are all clean. I never have to worry about what content will be within these novellas. I always know I can share and recommend them to others and not worry about any content warnings. Sometimes I find new to me authors that I enjoy continuing to read their works. And most of the time the collections include authors that are my favorites. I always know I'll find some great stories, wonderful characters and sweet and clean romance with happy endings waiting within these pages. Below are my thoughts for the three novellas included in this collection. They are all fabulous and this collection has definitely been raised to one of my favorites from Timeless Romance!!! All the hearts and stars for it!!!
~The Diamond of Bristol by Arlem Hawks~ 5* ~ I loved the premise of this story. Lots of great giggles while I read it. Especially the first meeting between Corah and Derrick. And their subsequent meetings were just as great. I loved the sweet friendship that started and watching how it developed further. Of course Derrick makes some mistakes in their non-courtship but the pull between them can't be denied. I loved it all! Especially the ending. Good job Derrick!!!
~Women of a Certain Age by Josi S. Kilpack~ 5* ~ This is my favorite of the three novellas in this collection. They're all really well done but I loved this one most. I loved how it is focused on an older character and that the author has been doing that in several of her recent books. She's helping sponsor a niece during the season so we see some of the niece's season and husband hunting and romance happening. But the main focus is on the aunt who is sponsoring her. She has been married and widowed twice and her opinion of marriage and love is not necessarily the best. She loves helping these young debutantes in their search for a husband and being happy but has decided she is perfectly content and happy with her well secured life. I have to say that I loved the banter between these two characters. They've started off their time together this season with a bit of a misunderstanding (not the right word but it'll have to do so I don't spoil anything). I loved watching them take responsibility for their words that aren't the kindest and apologize. Oh and that carriage ride. Be still my heart. I just adored it so much! I think I'll be coming back and reading it again and again!
A Most Unsuitable Suitor by Sarah M. Eden~ 5* ~ These two main characters were delightful. Julian and Charlotte find themselves connected together by a bet. Charlotte of course doesn't know about the connection other than the fact that Julian keeps showing up and acting a little annoying when she's trying to connect with possible suitors and show them in good light for her father. I truly loved the banter and friendship that developed in this novella. Sarah M. Eden has such a great sense of humor and it truly comes through in her characters. I love that so much! I also love the goodness of Julian. I can't say anything more than that without giving spoilers and I really don't want to give you any spoilers because this is a fun story to let unfold as it does. *Happy sigh* I loved these two and their story!!! This author delivers another fabulous and sweet love story for us readers!!!
Content for all three novellas: Clean.
I received a copy from the publisher. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.
Absolutely adored this amazing collection! Containing some of my favorite authors, A Lady’s Wager showcases three unique novellas each with their own creative spin on a wager. It’s one of my favorites with something for everyone.
The Diamond of Bristol by Arlem Hawks- To help her cousin, Corah Bradford agrees to a bet sponsored by one of society’s wannabe hostesses involving the gentlemen of the ton with embarrassing consequences if she fails. In a darling meet cute, she’s rescued by one of her brother’s shipmates who poses as her brother and offers creative insults. From there, a fun friendship develops with the promise of more. But, as an orphan unsure of his fortune, will Derrick pursue this diamond of Bristol, or return to the sea? Arlem Hawks has a gift for creating unique characters who really tug on your heartstrings and immediately draw you in. For such a short story, it was rich with detail and sets up the whole collection beautifully.
Women of a Certain Age by Josi Kilpack - This story really grew on me as I kept reading. Josi Kilpack takes a somewhat unlikable character in the beginning and turns her into a sympathetic woman who you end up cheering for! Etta Markham is a twice widowed lady of the ton who’s successfully sponsored 12 young ladies and taken on her niece as lucky number 13. Unfortunately, Etta’s niece seems to be attracted to a wholly unsuitable young man with a father who discombobulates her. Wynn Firth (who I kept picturing as Colin Firth lol) has known real love and sets out to convince Etta that her views on marriage, while practical, are all wrong. I loved the witty banter & watching Etta change. It was also fun to seeing a middle aged character find a second chance at love.
A Most Unsuitable Suitor by Sarah M. Eden - This is a witty, fun story with a lovable yet poor Lord Julian Wesley whose spendthrift father has left him scrambling to keep his estate solvent. When a friend points out a wager on their club’s books where he stands to benefit, he immediately seeks a way to win the bet. Lady Charlotte Duchamps, the unwitting subject of the bet, is being pressured by her father to find a match. Julian only stands to benefit from the wager if Charlotte remains unmarried by her 21st birthday. While trying to discover who made the bet and prevent Charlotte from marrying an unsuitable man, Julian adopts a truly awkward persona. I found myself frequently laughing out loud with this story. I loved how Charlotte and Julian end up working together and find love. It’s the perfect ending to a fantastic collection that will leave you wanting even more.
Highly recommend! It’s one of Timeless Romance Anthologies best collections. I also love that these clean, well written stories are recommendable to everyone. I received an advanced complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own and I was not required to provide a positive review.
I always love reading any of the Timeless Romance Collections. This Georgian collection was written by three of my favorite authors. I have loved all of their previous works and knew before reading that I would be delighted with each story.
Each of the stories in this book are different but clean and full of a wonderful romance. I especially liked how the characters were of different ages. Being on the "older" side, I particularly enjoyed Women of a Certain Age by Josi Kilpack. It's nice to read that you can still fall in love over the age of 40. Haha!
If you haven't read one of the Timeless Romance Collections before, then you are in for a real treat. The collections are fantastic reads for busy people who don't have time to read a whole book in a sitting. You can read each novella in a short time. I so enjoyed each story and feel that Romance readers will feel the same way.
A Lady's Wager (Timeless Georgian Collection Book 2) Pub Date: February. 7.2023 Pre-order available now Pages: 303
I don't usually read collections of short stories but I am a huge fan of each of these authors work. All the stories had sweet, wholesome romances, history settings & a great fast read.
The Diamond of Bristol by Arlem Hawks ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
◇Fast paced ◇Well written ◇Swoon worthy moments ◇Wholesome Romance ◇ Lieutenant Derrick Owens & Miss Corah Bradford 🤍
Arlem Hawks has this beautiful talent of balancing history, heart, love & strong characters into a delightful story! The way she weaves all the themes & how it's all so engaging is truly a talent. There are very few authors I have seen do this successfully! The Diamond of Bristol even though it's a short story it felt very whole, had great character development & a sweet, believable romance! Some of my favorites by Arlem Hawks. ◇Georgana's Secret (Mulan Trope!) ◇Beyond the Lavender Fields Both five star reads & have reread them often! Highly recommend them🙌🏽
Women of a Certain Age by Josi S. Kilpack ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
◇Well written ◇Sweet moments ◇30+ year leads
I love how Josi S. Kilpack writes about older characters. There isn't anything wrong with stories of the leads being in their 20s, there is a place for them. That being said as I am getting older I also enjoy seeing stories of characters my age and older. Women of a Certain Age Was a very enjoyable read, loved how the characters knew what they wanted & voiced it!
Some of my old time favorites by Josi S.Kilpack, highly recommend 👌🏽
◇The Valet’s Secret(Proper Romance) ◇Rakes and Roses(Mayfield Family Book 3) Both five star reads & I reread them both often!
A Most Unsuitable Suitor by Sarah M. Eden ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ◇Sweet Story ◇Wholesome Romance
Sarah M Eden was the author that got me into the Regency Romance genre & I'll always be greatful for that. A Most Unsuitable Suitor was a lovely short read! Some of my favorites by Sarah M Eden. ◇Friends and Foes (The Jonquil Brothers Book 1) ◇Wyoming Wild (Romance Western)
I was send an ARC E-copy in exchange of an honest review. All thoughts, opinions & review is my own!
This Georgian collection of timeless romance novellas was the perfect pick me up on a rainy day. It was easy to read and kept me page turning. The Diamond of Bristol by Arlem Hawks was a sweet romance that kept me on my toes. What would Derrick do? Would he fall for Corah? Would he choose her? Would she choose him? Although a minor character, I loved Corah’s grandfather. His quiet attentiveness to her was so heartwarming.
Women of a Certain Age by Josi Kilpack was so fun! Etta was such a great character; she is the queen of matchmaking and is working on her thirteenth match. She just wants to see her niece settled securely. What she didn’t plan on was Mr. Firth and how he would upset the balance of her life. This story was full of surprises and that always makes for a great story!
A Most Unsuitable Suitor by Sarah M. Eden was an easy and fun read. It starts off with a wager made by an unknown person about Lady Charlotte marrying by a certain time or Lord Wesley will received £1000. And Lord Wesley desperately needed that money. So began an interesting and amusing journey for Lord Wesley and Lady Charlotte. I was rooting for Lord Wesley throughout the book. His true character shone through and I just adored his personality.
All three novellas were wonderful and caught my attention straight away. I love books that are not work. Books that are just easy like Sunday morning. These are those kind of books! If you enjoy sweet historical romance then this is just the ticket for you! I received a copy of this book for free; all thoughts and opinions are my own.
The Diamond of Bristol by Arlem Hawks Corah only participates in the wagers before the balls for her cousin’s sake. Much to her dismay, she already knows no man in Bristol is the one for her. But when an unknown gentleman pretending to be her brother swoops in to save her from an unpleasant companion, Corah is intrigued.
Women of a Certain Age by Josi S. Kilpack Etta has guided many young women through society and secured successful matches for each. She has no qualms that Rachel, her number 13, will be any different. That is until Mr. Firth and his son show up and throw her carefully cultivated life of kilter.
A Most Unsuitable Suitor by Sarah M. Eden Lord Wesley has been avoiding the ton in order to prove he is different from his gambling father and grandfather while also trying to figure out a way to restore his estate amidst the mess he was left. When he and his friend discover a wager in the betting books involving Lady Charlotte and himself, one that would end with him receiving £1000, he can’t help but try to have it end in his favor. He didn’t, however, factor in how he would feel about Lady Charlotte.
This is a great collection of novellas! I enjoyed each one! I laughed and got teary while I was reading this book. These are three wonderful authors, and I look forward to reading more from each of them!
I received an advanced copy from the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
A captivating addition to the Timeless Romance series! This collection is set in the Georgian era, and each story included some historical details that showed the differences of this time period. They also have a wager built into the plot somehow, but the authors and characters made the stories unique. I was able to connect emotionally to the characters as they navigate society, expectations, and love. I appreciate that the length of each story is longer than a novella, so we get to delve in a bit deeper, but I can also get to the happy ending more quickly than a full length novel, which is a perfect way to relax at the end of a long day! These collections are some of my favorites to re-read for that exact reason.
Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.
I LOVE these collections, especially the historical ones. We're back in the Georgian era which means hoops under dresses and powdered wigs for both women and men. I always get stories by my favorite authors and sometimes I discover a new author. All the stories are sweet romances and I know the characters will get a happily ever after.
The Diamond of Bristol by Arlem Hawks ~ I loved the meet-cute between Derrick and Corah. Derrick was such a fun character and Corah was far more patient with her cousin and the wager she got them involved in than I would be. One of my favorite scenes with Corah singing at the break of dawn in the park. Will Derrick choose Corah or the sea? Will they be able to work something out?
Women of a Certain Age by Josi Kilpack ~ I loved that this was story about someone who was older and had been widowed not once, but twice. Etta is sponsoring her niece and was certainly set with her ideas about what marriage should be. I loved the trip in the carriage--it was interesting to watch Etta's interactions with Wynn and see her slowly open up to him. This has a definite enemies to lovers vibe which is one of my favorite tropes.
A Most Unsuitable Suitor by Sarah M. Eden ~ Thanks to his grandfather and father, Julian has inherited a title, an estate, a mound of debt and a reputation he doesn't deserve. When he and a friend find a £1,000 wager involving Julian and Lady Charlotte on the books he believes he's found a way to help save his estate. I loved all of Julian's "awkward" moments (a couple made me giggle out loud) and his developing friendship with Charlotte. I didn't see the twist at the end coming.
I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.
I tried something new-to-me with this collection and I couldn't have been happier with how it turned out! I listened to the audiobook as I read along with the ebook and it made my experience in these pages so much richer. Let me just say that I adored and loved every single one of these stories!
I was highly entertained with THE DIAMOND OF BRISTOL. Corah is caught up in wagers set about by another young lady in her circle and a rescue from Lieutenant Derrick Owens resulted in such a darling story full of flirtatious hope and wonder.
WOMEN OF A CERTAIN AGE had multiple layers to devour and digest. Etta is a mentor to young girls entering the scene, yet her continuous run-ins with an annoying and charming man ensue in a delightful story that brought a tear to my heart. Such a sweet, sweet tale!
An accidental discovery of a bet leads to mystery and swoon in A MOST UNSUITABLE SUITOR. I loved the events that resulted from the sudden attention Charlotte gets from someone simply unsuitable. These were great characters set in an enjoyable plot, and they finished out this collection quite nicely.
Content: mild romance in all
*I received complimentary copies in both ebook and audio. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*
I did not know what to expect from this book, but seeing the authors, I was not worried! I was pleasantly surprised by the originality! How do these ladies do it? I loved all three of the storylines! Each one so unique, natural and fun! I loved it!
I got an ARC and an Audiobook of these! Enjoyed them both!
“A Lady’s Wager” is a wonderful collection of three Georgian Era novellas. I very much enjoyed reading each one! “The Diamond of Bristol” by Arlem Hawks is the first novella in the collection. The story is beautifully written and has great emotional depth! Getting to know the characters was a lot of fun. The “Little Bingo” scene was so entertaining and enjoyable to read! I really liked seeing how much Corah cares about her cousin Melinda and the strong friendship the two share. Both Corah and Derrick are kind, compassionate, brave, and sweet characters. Derrick’s sense of humor and wit is delightful! The dialogue between Derrick and Mr. Haltwhistle is great.
“‘Mr. Haltwhistle sniffed. ‘I find it difficult to believe the Royal Navy would stoop to commissioning so offensive a welp as you.’” ‘Offensive welp?’ The stranger snorted. ‘I see you forgot your wit at home this evening.’”
It was great to see Corah and Derrick’s emotional journey of finding each other and realizing the true depth of their feelings. The characters are very well written and three dimensional, the writing style is smooth and I enjoyed the pacing of the plot. Very well done!
“Women of a Certain Age” by Josi S. Kilpack is the second novella in the collection. The story is written with beautiful detail in regard to the setting, characters, and clothing. This helps the reader to clearly visualize what is happening in the story. The characters are so endearing! I love Etta’s bravery and strength as well as her kind-heartedness. It is great to see how much she cares about the debutantes that she is in charge of helping. Wynn is such a great character! His kindness and compassion are great qualities. The dialogue between Wynn and Etta was always interesting to read. The author has done great work creating backstories for both of the main characters. The romance between Wynn and Etta was so sweet! Also, I really like Reed! He seems like such a nice person. I hope he and Rachel end up together. Lovely story!
The third and last novella in the collection is “The Unsuitable Suitor” by Sarah M. Eden. The plot and wager situation were very interesting! I really like the characters! Charlotte and Julian were so much fun to get to know. I enjoyed seeing how much Charlotte’s father cares about her and how kind-hearted he actually is. Charlotte is a bright and kind character. Julian is responsible and sweet. They make a great couple! I love how much Julian annoys Lord Duncan! Their dialogue was so much fun to read. The romance between Julian and Charlotte is lovely. Such a sweet story!
I highly recommend reading “A Lady’s Wager”! All three novellas are beautifully written and feel complete. Which I'm sure is especially difficult when writing novellas! I look forward to re-reading the collection again soon. Thank you very much to Arlem Hawks for sending me a digital copy of “A Lady’s Wager” to read and review honestly.
I really enjoyed this anthology, especially new-to-me author Arlem Hawks. It made me laugh (I particularly enjoyed the creative name calling) and cry, and I was sad when it was done. I'm always excited when a new anthology comes out, as I know they are clean, well written, and manage to feel like full stories (which is hard for me to find in most novellas). Definitely recommend!
Няма начин сборник , в който се съдържа новела на Сара Идън да не ме привлече. Тя пише с остроумие и героите й са привлекателни и забавни. В A Lady's Wager се случи отново.
This Georgian Collection has three talented authors, giving each story a unique style and feel. They approach love from different viewpoints and circumstances, with a fun spin on a wager. They’re entertaining novellas, quick reads, and a nice escape.
THE DIAMOND OF BRISTOL by Arlem Hawks. Corah is caught up in wagers set about by another young lady in her circle, and a rescue from Lieutenant Derrick Owens resulted in such a sweet love story, as their friendship turns into something more.
WOMEN OF A CERTAIN AGE by Josi S. Kilpack. I love romances with older couples, and Etta and Wynn showed the sweetness and loveliness of finding love a little later in life. Twice widowed Etta has helped twelve debutants secure successful matches during their Season in London, and she has no concerns that her niece Rachel, number 13, will be any different. Her carefully cultivated life and her guarded heart are in for a change when Mr. Firth and his son show up from the country. Loved it!
A MOST UNSUITABLE SUITOR by Sarah M. Eden. Lord Wesley has been trying to prove he is different from his gambling father and grandfather while also trying to figure out a way to restore his estate from the financial mess he was left. When he and his friend discover a wager in the betting books involving Lady Charlotte and himself, one that would end with him receiving £1000, he can’t help but try to have it end in his favor. But with his honorable heart and growing feelings for Lady Charlotte, will he be able to go through with it?
Sometimes it is hard for me to rate anthologies but this one is an easy five stars! I enjoyed each of these sweet Georgian romances that each related to wagers in some way.
Arlem Hawks - The Diamond of Bristol - Super cute story!! Lieutenant Owens poses as Cora's brother to save her from an unwanted suitor but their lives quickly become entangled by a series of wagers. This swoony romance gave me all the feels (as Arlem's always do) and the epilogue was perfection!
Josi Kilpack - Women of a Certain Age - Witty story about a twice-widowed woman who thinks she is done with marriage...and the handsome widower who stirs up feelings she thought she was done with years ago. Romantic and swoony with great moments of growth and self-realization, I enjoyed this one from first page to last.
Sarah Eden - A Most Unsuitable Suitor - This stand-alone novella (not connected to Sarah's other works) was just adorable. Lord Wesley determines to slow down Lady Charlotte's suitors in order to win some much-needed money from an old wager he finds on the betting books. So many clever and witty lines and I loved the main characters so much. Definitely a five star read for me!
I received a complimentary copy but a positive review was not required.
It’s rare that you read a collection of short stories and every one of them gets a 5 star rating, but all three of these were fantastic and one you should read. It's like going to a dessert bar and having more then one delicious treat. Please, may I have some more?
The Diamond of Bristol- Arlem Hawks This was such a fun story! Corah Bradford reluctantly becomes part of daring wagers and crazy consequences that involve men of the Ton. When she needs a bit of help in escaping an unwanted potential suitor, Derrick Owens comes to her rescue. I loved his insults, especially, “ Unhand her, you blithering, addlepated son a blunderbuss.”
Women of a Certain Age- Josi S. Kilpack I love that the matchmaker, Etta Markshire, meets her own match,Wynn Firth. Etta is challenged on her assumptions of people’s character and what she thinks are important “trappings and fripperies” as they are called by Wynn. Seeing Etta change throughout the course of the story was a terrific ending. It’s a refreshing change to see older main characters have their own love story.
A Most Unsuitable Suitor- Sarah M. Eden Lord Julian Wesley is smothered in debt from his spendthrift predecessors and looking for a way to make his estate once again solvent. How fortuitous that he should stumble upon an old wager involving Lady Charlotte Duchamps that can help him. I absolutely loved the way that Julian goes about trying to thwart Charlotte’s outings with potential suitors by being “awkward”. At one point in the story I was laughing so hard I was asked by my husband if I was okay. I love the twist in the story and Lord Julian’s exemplary character. Lady Charlotte got the best part of the wager when it comes to love.
I received a complimentary copy of the book. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
A Timeless Romance Georgian series revolving around wagers?
You better believe I'll be reading it!
Arlem Hawkes is such an auto-buy author for me. She can do no wrong in my eyes with her writing and Corah Bradford is a new favorite character of mine-for so many reasons :) When a man she has never met pretends to be her brother what could go wrong. This is a MUST READ!
Up next is Women of a Certain Age by Josi Kilpack. Josi does such a great job representing older characters and letting them find love. I am always moved by her stories and am so glad to have read this one!
Last but never least is Sarah M Eden's contribution. When a man finds his wager in the betting books could bring in some much needed money he will do whatever it takes to make that happen. Making sure a certain woman doesn't marry within the next 4 weeks shouldn't be that hard to handle...should it?
I'd wager fans of historical romance will find all 3 of these stories entertaining and worth the read!
Thanks to the authors for the copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.
A fun multi author historical collection featuring women in caught wagers. Collections like these are a great way to sample an author's writing style, and this collection has some of the best voices in historical romance.
The Diamond of Bristol / Arlem hawks Final rating 5/5
My favorite of the collection, The diamond of Bristol is about a young woman who is forced to accept a wager to save her sister from embarrassment. Corah and her love interest, naval officer Derrick Owens, have great chemistry and banter. I was impressed with the range of emotion in this story, especially since its a novella.
Women of a certain age / Josi S. Kilpack Final Rating 4/5
While this story did not follow the wager theme, I still enjoyed it! I really appreciated the fact the main character’s were older, and had been in relationships before. Coupled with a fresh plot, this story felt the most realistic and was highly entertaining.
A most unsuitable suitor / Sarah m. Eden Final Rating 3.5/5
The one that most followed the theme of a lady being caught in a wager, Sarah M. Eden creates a historically immersive novella with memorable characters. I found myself skipping a few parts, only because I favor Eden’s voice in other genres, but I found the ending and premise to be great!
I loved all three of these stories. All three authors included women who could think for themselves even while limites by their surroundings. The creative insults were amazing and the third story with the awkwardness was so fun. Just right with humor and interaction that just works. Great stories, fun chemistry, people you'd like to meet and enough about the time period to make you want to know more. Worth the read.
After talking with a friend about some of Sarah Eden’s books, I was longing to read another of her stories. I found this one and was not disappointed in the least. Eden uses so much wit and feeling is her stories that even this novella felt like a full story. I grew to love the characters and even cried at the end. I need to find time to read the other two stories in this book because I enjoy those authors as well. For the moment I have other things I am juggling. I look forward to more!
I haven't read many of Arlem's stories, but thought this was cute. Corah and her sister getting roped into wagers (dares) to complete during the next event held that they'll all be at. If they don't fulfill the wager, then there's a price that must be paid (one that is intended to embarrass you); if not fulfilled, then you're shunned by the ladies of the ton. Lieutenant Derrick Owens shows up to rescue Corah during one of the wagers she's trying to complete and things just go from there. It was a cute story and definitely fulfilled the anthologies namesake "A Lady's Wager." However, there was something lacking in the story for me that I can't place my finger on. Hence why I would give this story itself 4.0/4.5 stars.
WOMEN OF A CERTAIN AGE by Josi S. Kilpack
I've read a few of Josi's stories and they're kind of a hit or miss for me. This one was more on the hit side. Many stories always have the main characters in the 20s and 30s, but this one had the main characters in their 40s-50s. So it was a nice change from what most authors do. You have Etta who's been married twice in loveless marriages, and has helped 12 young ladies find a suitable, "good" match and is helping her 13th (as well as her niece). Then you have Lord Winthrop who was happily married with children and hasn't been to London for years, but all of a sudden shows up and throws Etta off balance. Sadly, I couldn't understand/find what the "wager" was in the story (unless it was something like does 'true love' exist?); so I'm not entirely sure how it fits into the anthology. However, I enjoyed the story and growth done by Etta. So I would give this story itself 4.5 stars.
A MOST UNSUITABLE SUITOR by Sarah M. Eden
Julian discovers a bet in the betting book at his club where HE (Lord Westley) is the recipient if the Lady in question does not marry by her 21st birthday. He needs the money and wants to repair the ruined reputation of his title/estate. So he decided that he will try to stall any marriage from happening just until AFTER the Lady's birthday in order to collect his reward. Charlotte is in her fourth season and knows that her father is going to pick someone for her to marry by the end of the season. So she tries to navigate him to the men that she feels she could tolerate a life with. But things become a bit difficult when the handsome Lord Westley is nearby and makes things very awkward all the while losing her heart to him and knowing nothing can come of it. I've read stories by Sarah and have enjoyed each one, and this one did not disappoint. I enjoyed Lady Charlotte and Julian (Lord Westley), and the banter they would have together...I especially enjoyed the awkward moments Julian created as they made me laugh (and cringe)...best one was the Italian "languisha" that he said a few times, drawing out the syllables each time, and making Charoltte laugh. This story definitely includes a wager and a bit of a mystery as an added bonus. I would give this story itself 5.0 stars.
Another lovely collection of stories for the Timeless Georgian Series, A Lady’s Wager is a fun treat to read! I enjoyed all of the stories and had such a good time visiting Georgian England! The Diamond of Bristol by Arlem Hawks This was my first story from Hawks and I guess I need to read more of her books, because this was such a sweet story! Derrick was so fun1 I loved his quick wit and the enjoyment he had in life. Corah was so sweet! I loved how she cared for her family.They were so sweet together! I loved how they seemed to get each other so quickly, I appreciated how realistic they both were about their situations, none of their reasonings seemed out of place. They needed to decide if love was worth it for them. The story moved along pretty quickly, as expected of a novella, but I do feel like you get to know Derrick and Corah quickly. they draw you into the story. Women of a Certain Age by Josi S. Kilpack This one was really sweet! I appreciate how she writes stories about older couples. It is fun to see a different perspective on things. This was also a very engaging story. Col;etta’s role in Society was really interesting and I enjoyed seeing the different spin. She had made a life for herself and was thrown off by Wynn. Her ideals and motives are clear from her POV. I felt like I understood her from the first few scenes. She was trying to look out for the girls she supported. I appreciated Wynn’s intentionality. It was fun to also see Rachel’s journey. I felt sorry for her as she tried to find her place in London. Overall, this was a really engaging story. I was invested in Etta’s journey and hopeful for her and Wynn. She was a little stuck in her ways and how she expected her life to be. She had to overcome them to figure out what she truly wanted for her life. A Most Unsuitable Suitor by Sarah M Eden I really liked the characters here! Julian and Charlotte were interesting, witty, and I loved reading about their interactions. Julian was funny, comfortable with himself, and trying to overcome the stigmas from his family’s reputations. I appreciated his even temper and his quick wit. He and Franklin were really fun together too! I really enjoyed their banter. I really liked Charlotte! She was intelligent and trying to keep some semblance of control in a place where it was difficult to have it. It was fun to see them as they tried to navigate Society and the possibilities of love!I liked how Charlotte’s family was really trying to look out for her.
Overall, I really enjoyed this collection. All of the stories were engaging and interesting. I would definitely recommend this to those who enjoy historical romance!
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, I was not required to write a positive review.
This collection was beautiful. I loved all the stories. I thought these authors did a fantastic job. Thank you Arlem Hawks and Timeless Romance collections for the ARC. All thoughts are my own.
The Diamond of Bristol by Arlem Hawks This story was about women who place wagers on whether they can get a young man to dance with them or go on carriage rides. A Navy man doesn't believe he is capable of love because of his profession. Yet when a young lady is forced it's a wager involving him they find that love just might be possible...
Women of a Certain Age by Josi S. Kilpack This one! Might be my favorite out of the three. I loved the feistiness of Etta Markshire. The match making is a fun part of this story. Wynn Firth's son and daughter are good friends with Rachel (niece of Etta). Etta is most displeased to see her niece possibly making an "unsuitable match." Then of course she starts to get to know Wynn Firth! I thought that having an older protagonist was a lot of fun. These stories don't get told very often and there needs to be more.
A Most Unsuitable Suitor by Sarah M. Eden This one was a bunch of fun and such a unique idea for a story. I enjoyed the dual perspective of Charlotte and Julian/Franklin. This was a great story about unexpected love.
A Lady's Wager contains three fun stories for readers. The Diamond of Bristol shares a sweet romance that starts with a common acquaintance. This was an entertaining read and the story moved quickly for me. The situations the characters found themselves was humorous and the author did a good job at describing the scenes. Woman of a Certain Age's characters were older compared to the typical romance demographic, and I found it to be a refreshing romance. The author does a good job at weaving the story, and I enjoyed the twists and turns throughout the story. I liked that she wrote something that seemed uniquely different from anything else in the genre. I didn't feel like this had a strong "wager" theme in the story, but I did like the character driven aspect. A Most Unsuitable Suitor was a very creative use of the theme. I think Eden wove the theme into her story the most and the relationship between the characters merged from the wager. I felt like it was a very strong and well thought out story. Overall, these were entertaining, light reads that fans of the romance genre will find to be enjoyable.
Please note that I received a free ebook to review, however, this is my honest opinion.
Another excellent collection! If you are ever in need of sweet stories that are quick to read, I definitely recommend you pick up anything by Timeless Romance! These are perfect if you don’t have much time but still crave something sweet and enjoyable to read to help take you away from everyday life for a little bit.
The Diamond of Bristol By Arlem Hawks
Enjoyed this sweet novella. Derrick and Corah made a great couple. I enjoyed all the outings and time they spent together! This was a nice story to help us imagine the life of a naval officer and the difficulties being in such an occupation brought to families.
Women of a Certain Age By Josi S. Kilpack
Very much enjoyed this novella! Focusing in on a couple with a bit more experience in life. While our hero was definitely looking for a new romance, our heroine was not. But it came about gradually and surprised them both! Romance is never just for the young! No matter your age, true love is attainable.
A Most Unsuitable Suitor By Sarah M. Eden
Another awesome novella! I loved the wager, how this brought our characters together, and especially the twist and turn of events at the end! Julian and Charlotte were wonderful characters and their story was a delight to read.
I received an advanced copy of this collection. I was not required to leave a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The Diamond of Bristol by Arlem Hawks Corah and Derrick are sweet and entertaining characters. Derrick is a lieutenant in the Royal Navy. Corah is fully engulfed in the marriage mart. She will be heading to London shortly if she doesn’t find a husband in Bristol. I loved this story. The characters are fun and entertaining. The story has some great twists and turns and a great happily ever after. Women of a certain age by Josie S Kilpack The title of this book was very intriguing. I really enjoyed the twists and turns. Etta was quite the lady, a bit overbearing at times, but she thought she knew how to be a matchmaker. Reading about all the pomp and circumstance that was fashion in the late 1700s was interesting, so glad it didn’t stick around. A surprise ending made for a entertaining read. A Most Unsuitable Suitor by Sarah M Eden Julian and Charlotte‘s were the most unlikely matches. But I loved their banter and wit. Each story had a wager involved, this one was unique and I enjoyed how it played out. Charming characters and sweet story. All 3 stories were entertaining and fun to read. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Wasn’t really into the first story ( by Arlem Hawks).
Pretty disappointed by the second. Josi Kilpack is one of my favorite writers. And I like that she writes love stories of all ages, not just 18-21. But I didn’t find the stunt by our love interest funny at all. I thought it was the most unkind, ungentlemanly act and I could not get over it. I didn’t like the insta attraction, especially given I liked nothing of his character. And Etta’s thoughts and actions just grew worse and worse over the course of the story.
A most unsuitable suitor, story #3 by Sarah Eden was my favorite. There was plenty of humor and chemistry. Though I would have preferred if our characters didn’t start with insta attraction / a mentioned history of unaccountable attraction to the other, but it’s a fast paced novella so what can you do? Opportunities for The Big Misunderstanding and drama were passed on for openness and honesty. Loved it.