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Regency Seasons #3
A Season to Remember
In Jane Charles’s Devil in My Dreams...
Devlin Bartlett was never meant to be Viscount Marston, yet he has inherited not only the title but three younger sisters, all of marriageable ages. He soon learns that thwarting the French was much easier than playing guardian to three young ladies, and decides the simplest solution is to marry them off. * Louisa Whitton needs to find a husband of her own choosing before Christmas. At her sister’s house party, she meets the perfect gentleman—thus foiling her grandfather’s plans. However, Marston refuses to even think about courting her until his sisters are wed, and he has the audacity to ask her to wait. Louisa’s grandfather will never agree, so she sets out to find the perfect substitute for Marston, forcing him to choose between his sisters’ future and his own.
~ * ~
In Catherine Gayle’s To Enchant an Icy Earl...
As the Earl of Fordingham, Tristan Cavendish has lived by the code his father beat into him for so long he’s driven everyone in his life away, including his brother. Now he is alone. Loneliness dictates he must change, so he sets out to make amends with his only sibling. Alas, his brother seems none too inclined to hear him out, and a woman who must be a vision from Fordingham’s dreams walks into his path. Now, more than ever before, he knows he must change his ways or risk driving her away as well…but how? * Calista Bartlett is on the hunt for a husband—but one who is nothing at all like the betrayer who was her former beau. When she sees the Earl of Fordingham across the room at a soiree, she knows she’s found the very man who is everything her one-time beau was not. Fordingham presents an icy façade to the world, but Calista discovers a passionate man who kisses her feverishly and warms her through to the bones. Can she ever convince him to let down his guard permanently?
~ * ~
In Ava Stone’s My Lord Hercules...
Miss Miranda Bartlett is on a mission to locate her missing friend. Determined hoyden that she is, she’ll do whatever it takes to get the answers she seeks too, even if that means dressing like a dandy, sneaking into a gaming hell, and surrounding herself with London’s worst reprobates. However, she didn’t plan on bumping into a Herculean gentleman along the way. The handsome and honorable Lord Harrison Casemore immediately thwarts her plans and seems determined to save her at every turn, making it more than difficult to accomplish her task. * Ever since Harry Casemore spotted the exotic temptress trying to pass herself off as a fop, he’s been drawn to her. He hasn’t figured out what she’s after, but he’s fairly certain he’d sell his soul if she’d just let him help her with whatever it is.
~*~
In Jerrica Knight-Catania’s A Penny For Your Thoughts... Penelope Bartlett has had a rough year, to say the least. She lost her eldest brother and her father in one fell swoop, and to make matters worse she had to miss out on her very first London Season. Now she's in the thick of the Little Season and all she wants to do is run away. It's torture to watch her siblings fall in love and she's simply not in the mood to make merry with all of them. Especially when they treat her as if she's still a little girl in leading strings. * Enter Drake Lockwell, Viscount Flitwick. He, too, is typically eager to escape crowded ballrooms and matchmaking mamas in favor of his own company in a deserted garden or library. But a chance meeting in his brother’s garden one night changes everything. Miss Bartlett is young and impetuous, yet he can't help but fall prey to her charms. Perhaps she will be the one to finally mend the hole in his heart... Or will his secrets be more than Penelope is able to handle?
Devlin Bartlett was never meant to be Viscount Marston, yet he has inherited not only the title but three younger sisters, all of marriageable ages. He soon learns that thwarting the French was much easier than playing guardian to three young ladies, and decides the simplest solution is to marry them off. * Louisa Whitton needs to find a husband of her own choosing before Christmas. At her sister’s house party, she meets the perfect gentleman—thus foiling her grandfather’s plans. However, Marston refuses to even think about courting her until his sisters are wed, and he has the audacity to ask her to wait. Louisa’s grandfather will never agree, so she sets out to find the perfect substitute for Marston, forcing him to choose between his sisters’ future and his own.
~ * ~
In Catherine Gayle’s To Enchant an Icy Earl...
As the Earl of Fordingham, Tristan Cavendish has lived by the code his father beat into him for so long he’s driven everyone in his life away, including his brother. Now he is alone. Loneliness dictates he must change, so he sets out to make amends with his only sibling. Alas, his brother seems none too inclined to hear him out, and a woman who must be a vision from Fordingham’s dreams walks into his path. Now, more than ever before, he knows he must change his ways or risk driving her away as well…but how? * Calista Bartlett is on the hunt for a husband—but one who is nothing at all like the betrayer who was her former beau. When she sees the Earl of Fordingham across the room at a soiree, she knows she’s found the very man who is everything her one-time beau was not. Fordingham presents an icy façade to the world, but Calista discovers a passionate man who kisses her feverishly and warms her through to the bones. Can she ever convince him to let down his guard permanently?
~ * ~
In Ava Stone’s My Lord Hercules...
Miss Miranda Bartlett is on a mission to locate her missing friend. Determined hoyden that she is, she’ll do whatever it takes to get the answers she seeks too, even if that means dressing like a dandy, sneaking into a gaming hell, and surrounding herself with London’s worst reprobates. However, she didn’t plan on bumping into a Herculean gentleman along the way. The handsome and honorable Lord Harrison Casemore immediately thwarts her plans and seems determined to save her at every turn, making it more than difficult to accomplish her task. * Ever since Harry Casemore spotted the exotic temptress trying to pass herself off as a fop, he’s been drawn to her. He hasn’t figured out what she’s after, but he’s fairly certain he’d sell his soul if she’d just let him help her with whatever it is.
~*~
In Jerrica Knight-Catania’s A Penny For Your Thoughts... Penelope Bartlett has had a rough year, to say the least. She lost her eldest brother and her father in one fell swoop, and to make matters worse she had to miss out on her very first London Season. Now she's in the thick of the Little Season and all she wants to do is run away. It's torture to watch her siblings fall in love and she's simply not in the mood to make merry with all of them. Especially when they treat her as if she's still a little girl in leading strings. * Enter Drake Lockwell, Viscount Flitwick. He, too, is typically eager to escape crowded ballrooms and matchmaking mamas in favor of his own company in a deserted garden or library. But a chance meeting in his brother’s garden one night changes everything. Miss Bartlett is young and impetuous, yet he can't help but fall prey to her charms. Perhaps she will be the one to finally mend the hole in his heart... Or will his secrets be more than Penelope is able to handle?
321 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 28, 2012
23 people are currently reading
151 people want to read
About the author
Ava Stone
143 books227 followersAva Stone is a USA Today bestselling author of Regency historical romance and college age New Adult romance. Whether in the 19th Century or the 21st, her books explore deep themes but with a light touch. A single mother, Ava lives outside Raleigh NC, with her son and two black and white tuxedo kitty cats. She loves classic movies, researching history, and traveling whenever she gets the chance.
Feel free to visit her at www.avastoneauthor.com and www.desolatesun.com
Feel free to visit her at www.avastoneauthor.com and www.desolatesun.com
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
July 11, 2019
Lovely collection of novellas from the Danby linked books series.
Merged review:
One of the more enjoyable linked stories as it us focused on 4 siblings.
Merged review:
One of the more enjoyable linked stories as it us focused on 4 siblings.
May 25, 2021
This anthology like the others from the Regency Seasons, is also linked- this time with four siblings. I surprisingly enjoyed them all. All the characters face a case of instalove with their other halves in stories which occur subsequently. So, though they can be read separately, they are far more enjoyable in the order published starting with Devlin, the eldest to Penny the youngest.
Jane Charles’s Devil in My Dreams...
5/5. The first of the four, this short novella is surprisingly divided into two bits. The first where Devlin arrives at his friend’s house to warn his ex-spy colleagues of an impending French threat. There he meets Louisa, the sister of his lady friend and is immediately captivated by her. They deal with the French thugs in a very satisfying manner for the reader and then move to London.
This is the second part of the book. Both the characters are aware of each other’s feelings, but Devlin is holding back because he wants to marry his sisters off first. Louisa’s response to his problem, his sisters’ characters and help and the couples eventual pairing was all very enjoyable and charming. I loved how the author was able to pack so much in this short story and so well.
Catherine Gayle’s To Enchant an Icy Earl...
4/5. I haven’t had good luck with Catherine Gayle’s stories, but I really liked this one. Perhaps because the trope of the standoffish icy lord who is on the inside desperate for love is a favourite of mine. Also, though, to give credit, the two characters and their romance was written well. I loved reading how they gravitated towards one another and both behaved in ways they normally never would otherwise and though everyone around them thought he was not for her; she was adamant to find that out for herself. The romance between Calista and Tristan was passionate and had a satisfying ending. I do wish though I got to read more of Tristan’s interactions with Wesley to read how they eventually mended their relationship, but maybe that is in the other book that I have not read yet.
Ava Stone’s My Lord Hercules...
3/5. This book of quick romance came in the case of Lord Harry more than Miranda who was in the beginning more worried about the whereabouts of her friend. The plot though was well knit, and I enjoyed reading how the two met at the gaming hell, to how Harry then went on to help Miranda. It was a short, sweet romance but eclipsed by the two stories preceding it.
Jerrica Knight-Catania’s A Penny For Your Thoughts...
2/5. I wanted to like this story. Penny showed so much promise from the previous stories about her charming, open and can’t-hold-a-secret character. Sadly, we did not see much of that here. She was impulsive and flighty though, to decide to run away with Drake after one truly short encounter without even trying to find out why her brother was against his suit. Still the story ended quickly and well. My low rating for this one is because this story didn’t add up with all the characters I had read up to now, from Devlin, Louisa to Penny.
Jane Charles’s Devil in My Dreams...
5/5. The first of the four, this short novella is surprisingly divided into two bits. The first where Devlin arrives at his friend’s house to warn his ex-spy colleagues of an impending French threat. There he meets Louisa, the sister of his lady friend and is immediately captivated by her. They deal with the French thugs in a very satisfying manner for the reader and then move to London.
This is the second part of the book. Both the characters are aware of each other’s feelings, but Devlin is holding back because he wants to marry his sisters off first. Louisa’s response to his problem, his sisters’ characters and help and the couples eventual pairing was all very enjoyable and charming. I loved how the author was able to pack so much in this short story and so well.
Catherine Gayle’s To Enchant an Icy Earl...
4/5. I haven’t had good luck with Catherine Gayle’s stories, but I really liked this one. Perhaps because the trope of the standoffish icy lord who is on the inside desperate for love is a favourite of mine. Also, though, to give credit, the two characters and their romance was written well. I loved reading how they gravitated towards one another and both behaved in ways they normally never would otherwise and though everyone around them thought he was not for her; she was adamant to find that out for herself. The romance between Calista and Tristan was passionate and had a satisfying ending. I do wish though I got to read more of Tristan’s interactions with Wesley to read how they eventually mended their relationship, but maybe that is in the other book that I have not read yet.
Ava Stone’s My Lord Hercules...
3/5. This book of quick romance came in the case of Lord Harry more than Miranda who was in the beginning more worried about the whereabouts of her friend. The plot though was well knit, and I enjoyed reading how the two met at the gaming hell, to how Harry then went on to help Miranda. It was a short, sweet romance but eclipsed by the two stories preceding it.
Jerrica Knight-Catania’s A Penny For Your Thoughts...
2/5. I wanted to like this story. Penny showed so much promise from the previous stories about her charming, open and can’t-hold-a-secret character. Sadly, we did not see much of that here. She was impulsive and flighty though, to decide to run away with Drake after one truly short encounter without even trying to find out why her brother was against his suit. Still the story ended quickly and well. My low rating for this one is because this story didn’t add up with all the characters I had read up to now, from Devlin, Louisa to Penny.
December 19, 2012
This is a set of four linked stories about a set of siblings enjoying the Little Season (fall/winter) in London. Develin and his three half-sisters are all still reeling from the loss of a father and an older brother, but life goes on, and Develin is morbidly aware of his need to be a good paterfamilia.
I found these stories sprightly and fun, and because of the differing authors, varied enough to maintain interest despite the extremely whirlwind nature of each courtship. The novellas are short, but so is the timespan, so it doesn't feel to incongruous.
All the stories are nicely edited and each one showcases a different personality type.
Read if: You want regency novellas without Christmas in them. You are looking for bite-sized romance without running all over the net. You like feisty heroines.
Skip if: You are looking for Christmas content, instant connections are going to bother you. In a short story, it pretty much has to be love at first sight.
Also read: Courtney Milan's Turner series
Courtney Milan Unveiled
Sabrina Jeffries Hellions of Halstead Hall seriesSabrina JeffriesThe Truth About Lord Stoneville
I found these stories sprightly and fun, and because of the differing authors, varied enough to maintain interest despite the extremely whirlwind nature of each courtship. The novellas are short, but so is the timespan, so it doesn't feel to incongruous.
All the stories are nicely edited and each one showcases a different personality type.
Read if: You want regency novellas without Christmas in them. You are looking for bite-sized romance without running all over the net. You like feisty heroines.
Skip if: You are looking for Christmas content, instant connections are going to bother you. In a short story, it pretty much has to be love at first sight.
Also read: Courtney Milan's Turner series
Courtney Milan Unveiled
Sabrina Jeffries Hellions of Halstead Hall seriesSabrina JeffriesThe Truth About Lord Stoneville
December 22, 2017
Three authors take on telling the stories of three siblings’ romances: Devlin, Miranda, and Penny. And for anyone who’s curious, we have a brief mention of the Duke of Danby, but no appearance. He’s a minor source of conflict in the first story.
The first with Devlin and Louisa was so annoying because Louisa was fixated on all the lies (is that the theme? Nope.) being told. Then the story shifts to her character needing to prove she doesn’t need a man for protection (Is this the theme? Nope again.). And then there is the weird ‘I can’t offer for her for I have 3 sisters to marry off’ and it’s used as a final, weak source of tension in the story. And nope, there is no real theme to the meandering tale.
The next is Miranda and Harry which is probably the best of the three, but the source of tension is now Devlin who won’t help his sister, so Harry steps up to be her hero. It was a bit unbelievable that Devlin, the spy for the crown, couldn’t (or wouldn’t) find out what happened to Miranda’s missing friend. Overall, this one wasn’t bad and had a sweet hero.
And finally the last with Penny and Drake was simply ridiculous and unbelievable. Their romance was frankly immature and sadly unbelievable. And, the source of tension was provided again by Devlin and then also by a secret — both were ridiculously executed though could possibly work if executed better.
The first with Devlin and Louisa was so annoying because Louisa was fixated on all the lies (is that the theme? Nope.) being told. Then the story shifts to her character needing to prove she doesn’t need a man for protection (Is this the theme? Nope again.). And then there is the weird ‘I can’t offer for her for I have 3 sisters to marry off’ and it’s used as a final, weak source of tension in the story. And nope, there is no real theme to the meandering tale.
The next is Miranda and Harry which is probably the best of the three, but the source of tension is now Devlin who won’t help his sister, so Harry steps up to be her hero. It was a bit unbelievable that Devlin, the spy for the crown, couldn’t (or wouldn’t) find out what happened to Miranda’s missing friend. Overall, this one wasn’t bad and had a sweet hero.
And finally the last with Penny and Drake was simply ridiculous and unbelievable. Their romance was frankly immature and sadly unbelievable. And, the source of tension was provided again by Devlin and then also by a secret — both were ridiculously executed though could possibly work if executed better.
June 21, 2016
This book was very very good as whole and stand alone. The stories about three sisters and a brother who was not ready to take on responsibility. Devlin and Louisa are from Jane Charles story, he is the big brother, he is decidedly stressed out with the new responsibilities but Louisa and her calming influence helps him immensely, they make such a perfect couple. And Miranda and Cashmere are such a perfect couple, Cashmere is the perfect foil to Miranda nature and the are from Ava Stones story. And Penny and Drake are from Jerrica Knight- Cabañas story. Peny is the youngest and a bit impulsive in rebellions. Penny and Drake are good for each other, though he omitted some truths. All's well ends well.
December 27, 2015
This is NOT a holiday collection
I have been reading Christmas romances all month. This isn't one but it is a good set of stories.
"Men certainly were odd, boisterous creatures, weren’t they? Peculiar, loud, and odiferous." Thinks Miranda.
This is a set of 3 stories of related characters by 3 different authors. If you have read The Betting Season, these are follow on stories. The main characters are siblings from the Bartlett family: Devlin, Miranda and Penelope.
The first story is a Duke of Danby story.
I have been reading Christmas romances all month. This isn't one but it is a good set of stories.
"Men certainly were odd, boisterous creatures, weren’t they? Peculiar, loud, and odiferous." Thinks Miranda.
This is a set of 3 stories of related characters by 3 different authors. If you have read The Betting Season, these are follow on stories. The main characters are siblings from the Bartlett family: Devlin, Miranda and Penelope.
The first story is a Duke of Danby story.
November 10, 2015
I didn't find this as clever or humorous as The Betting Season collection. I would of thought a retiring spy for the British realm would of been more adept & less overwhelmed by his fiesty lady & three unmarried charges. His deplorable attitude leaves plenty of room for humbling experiences.
May 8, 2014
I enjoed Phillipa story the best.
January 13, 2015
Short, sweet stories that made me laugh out loud a few times.
January 17, 2015
So so. Nothing earth shattering, but an enjoyable read nonetheless (although I did find the middle sister, Miranda, to be rather annoying!)
December 8, 2015
I liked the characters and would have been happy with a longer story here. Definitely still good though.
December 19, 2015
Average romance
A distinctly average historical romance. It is not terribly written but not truly memorable either. Passes the time! Pleasant fluff.
A distinctly average historical romance. It is not terribly written but not truly memorable either. Passes the time! Pleasant fluff.
April 25, 2016
only one story was actually interesting
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews