Miss Erin Lambart has spent her life in Ireland, and now her mother wants her to meet and marry a nice English gentleman, all before the May Day celebration. Erin soon finds the insipid conversations and fashionably late nights tiring and wishes she could find a gentleman that enjoys talking to her and is not put off by her blue-stocking ways. Lord Jackson Bell, Marquis Guildford does not have time for the frivolities of London. His research for the Horticultural Society of London keeps him quite busy, but his mother has other ideas in mind. She’s decided he needs a wife and she is determined that this will be the season he finds one. Erin and Jack become fast friends, allies against boring conversation and soon make a pact to help each other find their perfect match. Only what if their perfect match is each other? Will they realize in time that friendship has bloomed into love or will they become star-crossed lovers married to the wrong people?
Erin is being sent to London for "the Season" to find an eligible match. Her mother is determined that her engagement be announced at the May Day festivities. Erin just wants to stay in Ireland and enjoy the Spring.
Jack's father died two years prior, and his mother is pushing him to find a wife so he can have an heir. He wants to grow his plants.
At the very first party, Erin and Jack meet and quickly become friends. The both think they know what the other wants and agree to work together to keep their mother's happy and find their mates. Each introduces the other to the "perfect match".
As they spend time together, each finds they have so much in common. But, what about the two they are supposed to be seeing?
No more clues, read the story. It is well written and a quick read. Great Job!
I have read several books by this author, and unfortunately, I find her books to be of variable quality. Some have been very poorly written, and others have been okay. I mostly found this one satisfactory and enjoyable with one big glaring exception.
I loved that the heroine was an unrepentant bluestocking and our hero actually has a scientific bent himself (though back in the day, he would have been called a natural philosopher, not a scientist). They share a love of botany. They become friends rather quickly; both of their mothers want them married, preferably to each other (although neither of them knows this), and they make a pact to help each other find the best mate. I honestly didn't see why they would jump to such a pact so quickly; seriously, why wouldn't they see if they themselves were suited? This really wasn't adequately explained (or perhaps I just didn’t like the explanation!).
What happens next is predictable, but well done, in terms of romance. The author is even able to inject some humor as these two bumble their way to their HEA. I quite enjoyed the other two characters that the hero and heroine chose for each other. I thought the ending was a bit abrupt, as I like my hero and heroine to have a kind of victory lap that the reader can also enjoy when they finally get it all together.
The one glaring error or issue that I had with his book was the science, and this drove me up a tree! The author has the hero experimenting with roses and talking about genetics and genes regarding them. Supposedly, the story happens in 1818, and Gregor Mendel, the father of the science of figuring out inherited plant traits with his pea experiment, didn't actually publish his findings until 1865. No one would have been doing what the hero was doing during the Regency era, or at least viewing it in that way, for another nearly 50 years. And the term *genetics* was not even coined until 1905, and the word *gene* was not invented until 1909. All this is easily discoverable on the ‘net in just a few minutes of googling. The author brought a level of science/natural philosophy that would not have been possible in the Regency era and used terms that were not invented until nearly a century later. That said, if you just enjoy this for the romance and the humor, not minding this easily discoverable and gaping hole about science, you may very well enjoy this sweet and humorous Regency romance.
3.5 rounded up to 4 because of good humor and characters
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
This story was very fun and refreshing. The characters were well-fleshed out and I really felt like I knew them by the end of the story.
This was the story of a blue-stocking and a closet professor coming together in a time when it was extremely unpopular to be scholarly. At first they are friends trying to help each other find a spouse, which leads to several rather funny scenes in the book. I really enjoy Elizabeth Lance's ability to bring humor into her books. Their friendship leads to love, but neither feels that the other could possibly love him/her.
The thing that I most enjoyed about this book is that the main characters grow together. Neither has very good self-esteem or very good opinions of the opposite sex and together they learn to change and grow. It was fun to experience that with them. The secondary characters were also really fun and I hope that Elizabeth goes on to write some of their stories.
Enjoy!!
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
10*s. I received an eARC copy of this book directly from the author in return for an honest review.
WOW...What a remarkably fast paced and well written story. This author is extremely good about capturing the attention of her audience and keeping us wanting more. I loved the year that this story takes place. 1818, a historical time when traditions mattered. Am absolutely marvelous love story. This is a MUST read story that will capture your heart and melt it!! Thank you, Elizabeth A Lance, for the opportunity to read this book that I will treasure forever!!
Taking us back to the year 1818, living in Ireland and being sent to London, Erin’s mother is pushing for her to find a suitor. When she meets Jackson Bell, she believes she has found a friend and confidant. What she doesn’t expect is setting him up with her friend and he setting her up with his, was going to be so difficult. Jackson knows he needs to find a wife but finding the right woman for the job is going to be something he has a hard time deciding on. This is a very cute, lovely story that Ms. Lance has given us and worth the read. The characters are adorable and easily likeable.
A wonderful story set in the 1800's where Erin's mother is trying to find her a suitable husband. She meets Jack and thinks he is the one but he doesn't want a wife until he meets Erin. Beautifully written by Ms Lance. A must read for all. Would recommend to everyone.
The bluestocking, intelligent Miss Erin Lambart does not enjoy being sent to London for "the Season" to find an eligible match because the gentlemen are boring and don’t wish to engage in conversation with a female. Her mother is firmly determined, however, that her engagement will be announced at the May Day festivities. Lord Jackson Bell, Marquis Guildford, had lost his father two years ago, and all he wants to do is work on his Horticultural Society of London research now. His mother, however, believes it is time for him to find a wife and produce an heir.
Erin and Jackson meet each other at a small soiree and quickly become friends with their common dislike of boring, insufferable conversation. They feel comfortable in knowing what each would want and make a pact to find the perfect someone for each other. They do so, Erin choosing Lady Rebecca Stratham for Jack, and Jack choosing Simeon DePaul, the Earl of Bradfordshire, for Erin. And yet as they spend time together, they find that their interests really do blend so well. No matter who Erin is around, her mind keeps returning to Jackson. The two of them might even discover they would make a perfect match if they weren’t already now seeing others. Is there a way to make this right before they end up married to the wrong person?
I absolutely loved this cute story, even though it is not difficult for the reader to figure out, because sharing their journey to the end is half the fun! Grab your copy and, with some well-placed twists and turns, see if the story turns out the way you anticipated!
This story was very fun and entertaining. The characters were well-defined and are very likeable and endearing. As the story progressed, I really got to know them and became invested in their story. Ms. Lance has a great way of describing the scenes so vividly and you really get a feel for what's going on in that scene. Erin and Jackson were a great couple, and the chemistry between them was unmistakable. This is a heartwarming and refreshing story that is sure to capture your heart. I highly recommend it!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Erin is forced to leave Ireland and go to London to find a husband among the ton. She falls for Jack. His mother and her aunt want them together but know they have to trick them. He just came into his lordship and needs to marry and have an heir. He falls for her. But instead of admitting their feelings they find someone else for the other one to date. Then those two end up falling in love with each other too. Fun and sweet read
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is a sweet historical romance between two people whose mothers are determined to find each of them spouses. While on the search Erin and Jack meet become friends, make a pact to help each other. I loved reading this book and how perfect Erin and Jack are for each other. This is a beautiful, well written story with likable characters that I cheered for throughout the story. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book.
She prefers to stay in Ireland but her mother sends her to find a husband in England. She is not happy with it all. His mother wants him to marry but he wants nothing to do with it. They make friends but will it be more? Follow them to see if they are meant for each other
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is the first book I’ve read by Elizabeth Lance and enjoyed the short love story. Erin and Jackson both have mothers trying to marry them off so they decide to help each other instead.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
** Originally write nfor Book Bliss book blog. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased and honest review**
Review: 4 stars General: This book is a well written historical with cute characters that have a long way to go before they can get their happily ever after. I think the world building was strong and easy, though a little lighter than I personally like when reading period books. I found both characters to be entertaining and endearing to follow on their journey. The plot was simple, well paced and enjoyable to read. I loved the mix of socialite with professor and the obstacles placed on them since even in today's world it would be a hard couple to pass off.
The plot was lighthearted and a cute read. I loved how everything flowed well together and the characters chemistry was palpable even when they were still learning one another.
What a sweet, historical romantic read. The author, Elizabeth A. Lance has captured the sights, sounds, and distinctive essence of living in 1818. The story begins in Ireland with the main character, Erin, being pressured to find a suitable husband. In fact, her mother takes her all the way to England for the season, so they say, to find the perfect gentleman.
I find myself getting swept up in historical romances lately and Ms. Lance whetted my appetite. I don't leave spoilers, but I highly recommend this fast read, full of sentiments of those golden days of yore.
I received The Bloom as a gift from the author for an honest review.
The Bloom is a sweet, romantic tale. I adore how the characters were written. The ladies were not mindlessly looking for husbands but for companions they could love and share meaningful lives with. I enjoyed the vivid descriptions of the Season's gathering, of eligible gentlemen, and all the elegance of the courting process during that era. Great writing, great story, a new favorite genre!