Lily

Chase Family #5

by Lauren Royal

England, 1677

Lily Ashcroft is far and away the most conventional member of her eccentric family. Though she fell for dashing Oxford professor Lord Randal Nesbitt at the tender age of sixteen, she buried her feelings in deference to society's expectation that her older sisters marry first. Four years later, her sister Rose has now set her sights on Rand--and though it breaks her heart, what else can Lily do but help her beloved sister land the man of her dreams?

What no one considers are Rand's feelings on the matter. He's been nursing a secret affection for sweet, compassionate Lily ever since their first meeting. But Rose is just as beautiful and shares his academic interests. Now he finds himself caught between two lovely sisters--the one he's expected to wed and the one who's captured his heart...

~~~~~
Book Two of Lauren Royal's Flower Trilogy
Special Author's Cut Edition (fully revised in 2012)
A full-length novel of 100,000 words (about 400 printed mass-market book pages)
R-rated content: Steamy love scenes!
Originally published by Penguin Putnam (Signet)

This Author's Cut Edition e-book has been completely revised from the original and includes Bonus Material: an Author's Note, a preview of Lauren's next book, and a link to an online contest where you can enter to win a piece of jewelry featured in one of Lauren's books.

Rose Award Nominee!

CONNECTING BOOKS

While LILY can be read as a stand-alone novel, many readers enjoy reading it as part of a series. All of my books feature Chase family members, Ashcroft family members, or both. Should you wish to read them in chronological order, this is the sequence:

THE JEWEL TRILOGY
1666 - AMETHYST (Colin Chase)
1667 - EMERALD (Jason Chase)
1668 - AMBER (Kendra Chase)

THE FLOWER TRILOGY
1673 - VIOLET (Ford Chase & Violet Ashcroft)
1677 - LILY (Lily Ashcroft)
1677 - ROSE (Rose Ashcroft)

THE TEMPTATIONS TRILOGY
1815 - LOST IN TEMPTATION (Alexandra Chase)
1816 - TEMPTING JULIANA (Juliana Chase)
1817 - THE ART OF TEMPTATION (Corinna Chase)

ALSO AVAILABLE

FOREVERMORE (A Jewel Trilogy Novella set in 1677)
THE JEWEL TRILOGY - all three books in a specially priced boxed set
THE FLOWER TRILOGY - all three books in a specially priced boxed set
THE TEMPTATIONS TRILOGY - all three books in a specially priced boxed set

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Historical Fiction, Ebooks, Regency, Regency Romance

384 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 1, 2003

About the author

FALL IN LOVE WITH A HISTORICAL ROMANCE BY LAUREN ROYAL!

LAUREN ROYAL is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of humorous historical romance. Her “truly enchanting” novels have won many awards including Booklist's “Top 10 Romance of the Year,” and they’ve earned raves from reviewers including Publishers Weekly, who calls her “an impressive talent.”

All of Lauren's books are complete, stand-alone stories, and yet they are also all connected—because they all feature her beloved “outrageously funny, loyal, compassionate, and unconventional” Chase family!

Lauren writes steamy historical romance on her own and sweet/clean historical romance with her daughter, Devon Royal. Lauren lives in Southern California with her family, two constantly shedding cats, and a stupendous collection of fuzzy socks. When she's not busy writing, she enjoys singing along (off-key) to Hamilton, dancing (badly), and (wasting time) watching HGTV.

Want great free and 99¢ books sent to your inbox on select Fridays? Sign up for Lauren's Book Club newsletter at http://royall.ink/Newsletter

Become an honorary Chase cousin (and get a FREE historical cookbook)! Join Lauren's Chase Family Readers Group on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/ChaseFamilyReaders

Visit Lauren’s website at LaurenRoyal.com, where you can learn about the real people and real places in her books, enter a contest to win jewelry, and see the ever-growing branches of the Chase Family Tree.

Join Lauren on Facebook...

Readers Group: facebook.com/groups/ChaseFamilyReaders
Facebook Page: facebook.com/LaurenRoyal

Reviews

[Bree Wolf · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this delightful historical romance, Lily and Rand fall in love in a matter of weeks (well, technically Rand has been in love with Lily for four years, but let’s not get nitpicky!). While Lily first holds back because she promised her sister Rose not to compete for Rand’s heart (that was before she knew she cared), Rand knows from the very beginning that Lily is the one for him.

Ultimately, this is a love story of two people overcoming outward interference and obstacles placed in their path by others, holding on to their love in the face of great opposition. At times, their quest to be married seems doomed, and it appears only too easy to give up. Still, Lily and Rand also have wonderful allies on their side. Rand’s friend Kit as well as Lily’s family are thrown in the mix, their unique personalities and delightful interference bringing a lot of humor to this at-times heart-wrenching story. Kudos to Lily’s parents! Loved them!

[〰️Beth〰️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good but...

To me this book is weak for the series. I just found Lily too passive and the book too long.

[Edwina " I LoveBooks" "Deb" · Rating 2 out of 5]

This review is from: Lily (Flower Trilogy, Book 2) (Kindle Edition)
Rand and Lily's story starts out pretty good but goes down hill about a quarter into the story. Rand has proposed marriage to Lily and she has excepted. They tell all her family friends, they have a betrothal party. They have sex and than Rand gets an unexpected letter from his father saying his older brother is dead an Rand is now is Heir pose to be a Marquess and he now holds the title of Earl. This is were the story goes off track. The father who is a Marquess has a ward and Margery and she was too married the elder brother Alban before he was killed. Well she hated the elder brother and fell in love with their neighbor a rich Baron and becomes pregnant with the Barons child. They want to married but the Marques refuses the match and declares Margery much marry his eldest son Alban. Alban finds out the Margery and Bennett the Baron are going to elope so he decides to kill him. In the attempt to kill Bennett, Alban is killed. With all that said. Rand goes home after 8 years of not seeing his cruel father and brother. He takes Lily with him and introduces her as his betroth and the father refuse their marriage. Now that is heir Alban is dead making Rand the new heir, He must marry Margery. The Marquess need Margery's lands and wealth to sustain his own estates. Without her wealth he will go bankrupt. What bothered me is that Margery was a commoner, but rich and Lily was the daughter of a very rich and powerful Earl. Her whole family is close to the King and has the kills ear. So What the F___ is this about. The Marquess cannot sopt them from marrying, plus they are 20 and 28 yrs old adults. Rand is now going to marry Margery becasue the fathers say if they don't marry he will have Bennett hanged for killing his son. The story gives all the power to the Marquess and Lily and her family and Rand come across as just a bunch of Defeated Losers!! Well all works out in the End of the story, which didn't come soon enough for me. It got so tedious I had to start skimming it. I gave the story 2 stars becasue L. Royal does a good job with the historical settings of the book, but than the story line is more 21st century very modern. Betrothals were binding and legal during the time period of this book and Lily parents had the right to shove that bit of fact down the Marquess throat. But of course they didn't which made the story very frustrating to read and very boring. Lily and Rand do get their HEA after overcoming considerable problems. I Can Not Recommend the Flower series at all. The first two books Violet and Lily have been disappointing. I will try to read Rose because I got the series as a bundle package. At this point I am sure I won't even finish Rose, if it goes the way of the first two stories. Sorry!!

[Elis Madison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lily is the youngest of three sisters, and she's the caretaker type, not just of the people in her life but of every critter she encounters. She loves animals, and they love her. If you've ever seen the Disney classic Snow White, where bunnies and birds and other cute critters follow her around and fold her clothes, that's Lily.



Lord Randal Nesbitt attends the christening of Lily's sister's twins (more than attends, actually—he's the godfather and Lily's the godmother). Rand is a linguist and Lily's older sister Rose is next in line to marry and she happens to also have a gift for languages. It seems like a match made in heaven and scheming Rose stakes her claim. She makes Lily promise to help her get Rand.



Rand was attracted to Lily when he met her four years ago but he backed off because she was only 16. Now, once he wraps his bachelor mind around the idea of matrimony, it's Lily he wants.

Lily resists, trying to keep her promise. And when she FINALLY (eyeroll) realizes that:

A. she shouldn't have made the promise,
B. promise or no, Rand isn't interested in Rose, and
C. she (Lily) has a right to be happy, too…

…it's not that easy.

There's a bit more to this one than the first in the series, in that Rand's older brother Aldon died and left Rand with a nasty mess—a tangle that legitimately threatens his love for Lily. But the real villain of this piece never sets a foot onstage, and the other villain—well, he's not a sweetheart but he doesn't stand a chance against someone like Lily.



I liked this better than Violet because the obstacles to the romance went past naval-gazing (how can I be sure he loves me, I can't be in love I want to be a free man/woman) nonsense. This book also includes one of my favorite anecdotes about Charles II. I was frustrated because the really suspenseful stuff takes place offstage and it really is all about the romance, but I'll give it 4 stars.

[Romanticamente Fantasy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Queen - per RFS
.
A sedici anni si è troppo giovani per innamorarsi? È quello che ha pensato Lily, quando ha incontrato quattro anni prima Lord Randal Nesbit.

Il bel professore di Oxford, ora ventottenne, aveva provato gli stessi sentimenti ma li aveva sepolti, a causa della giovane età della ragazza. Dopo quattro anni i due si rincontrano al battesimo dei gemelli di Ford Chase e Violet Ashcroft e qui, la fiamma si riaccende più viva che mai.

Che fare se a intralciarli c’è la sorella di Lily che si crede innamorata di Randal e, le strappa una promessa impossibile da mantenere?

“Quattro anni sono tanti per sognare.” Lily diede a Rand un’altra occhiata veloce, poi sorrise alla sorella maggiore “Immagino che lui sia un tipo indimenticabile.”

Rose le scoccò un’occhiataccia. “Tu non sei interessata a lui vero?”

Lily promette a Rose di aiutarla a conquistare il ragazzo, in virtù di un patto che le tre sorelle Ashcroft avevano fatto, per difendersi dagli intrighi matrimoniali della loro eccentrica madre.

Questo personaggio è meraviglioso! Mum Chrystabel, insieme al suo amatissimo marito, mi ha divertito moltissimo; il loro bellissimo rapporto di coppia è intrigante e non ha risparmiato qualche scena piccante.

“Purtroppo la nostra Rose non è mai stata tipo da riflettere prima di parlare. Ma non ama veramente Rand e Lily invece sì, ed è per questo che mi preoccupo che Lily … hmm … Joseph?” Una mano stava scivolando sotto l’orlo della sua camicia da notte, “Quella non è la mia schiena.”

In questo divertente scenario, non mancano gli amici inseparabili della dolce Lily: uno scoiattolo, una gatta e un passero. L’amore per gli animali e il desiderio di costruire un rifugio per tutti loro sono i tratti distintivi di Lily.

Il povero ragazzo dovrà contendersi le attenzioni della sua amata con queste creature e nei momenti più impensabili e ciò, mi ha fatto inevitabilmente sorridere.

In questo quadro bucolico purtroppo, spuntano fuori le vere complicazioni, che arrivano dal passato di Randal o meglio dalla famiglia dimenticata e allontanata dolorosamente dal bel professore.

Nella seconda parte del libro, il clima è più misterioso, i protagonisti si trasferiscono nella tenuta del padre di lui e qui dovranno risolvere un mistero, che mi ha talmente incuriosito da farmi divorare le restanti pagine di questo bel libro. Le emozioni che ho provato leggendolo sono state contrastanti, dal divertimento alla sensualità, dalla rabbia alla disperazione.

L’ambientazione è il sud dell’Inghilterra nel 1677, in queste immense tenute degli aristocratici dell’epoca, dove si respira il fascino della spensieratezza e delle convenzioni.

Un romance storico che ha tutte le qualità che cerco quando scelgo un libro del genere. Sicuramente consigliato!

[Shereen Ramcharan-Palmer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a automatic page turner but a nice followup in the series

The storyline was too similiar to Violet's. The intimate moments and the girl saving the boy from financial ruin. I enjoyed the twists and the antagonists in the plot.

[Mackenzie Neal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was cute!! I think the thing keeping Lily and Rand apart was really creative and different.

[Tisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lady Lily the youngest of the Ashcroft's daughters has compassion and caring for all living creatures. They come to her for companionship. So it shouldn't be surprising that Lily wants to use her inheritance to create a rescue haven for her friendly animals.

Though compared to her older sisters Lady Lily Ashcroft is downright conventional. She fell for her sister Violet's husband Ford's best friend the dashing Oxford professor Lord Randal Nesbitt at the tender age of sixteen. She buried her true feelings to follow society's expectation that her older sisters marry first. Four years later, her sister Rose has set her sights on Rand. Lily promised to keep her emotions of Lord Randal out of the love she had for Rose. She was willing to sacrifice her desires for the man for the sake of her sisters.
Though it takes two people to be attracted to each other. Lord Randal Nesbitt doesn't have feelings for the middle sister. His passion lies with Lady Lily. Can he convince her that they are meant to be together, without destroying the Ashcroft's sisterly bond? Or will the Matriarch chrysanthemum Ashcroft lay a hand in steering Lily a push to her true love Lord Randal.

When Rand accepts an invitation to stay at the Ashcroft's’ country house, he has no idea what he’s getting himself into. He's been nursing a secret affection for sweet, compassionate Lily ever since their first meeting. Though, Lady Rose is beautiful & shares his academic interests. Lord Randal finds himself in a love tringle between two lovely Ashcroft sisters—the one he's expected to wed and the one who's captured his heart...

Once Lord Randal finally falls for his passion for Lady Lily, he now has to deal with an ultimatum from his father. Two marry his foster sister. A promise his father made to his friend and the daughter who has been under their guardianship since she was 10. Neither one of them want to be married to each other. They love others. Unfortunately, his father has a blind spot when it comes to his deceased first son who died in a murder. The accused happens to be the man that Lord Randal foster sister is in love with and is carrying their child.
Lord Randal's father has always been hard on him. He has blamed him for his mother's death because of childbirth. Which is why Lord Randal has always tried to prove his worth to this father. To win his love. Now that he has made something of himself, as an Oxford Professor, his father says he has to follow his duty and take the place of his deceased brother who would have been required to marry their ward.

What his father will not except is that his brother Alden was a despicable, hateful, malicious human. He was abusing, dangerous. Now between Lord Randal, Lily & Rose, they have to find a journal then decipher it to prove that Lord Bennett wasn't out in killing rightful heir. but in fact it was self defense because his brother was out to kill him instead.

Can Lily, find the proof with the help of a bloodhound, her sister Rose to win the man she loves.
Read and find out the love story of Lady Lily & Lord Randal Nesbitt.

I have said it before, I love the CHASE & the Ashcroft families. They have passion, intelligence, independence & fight for what they believe in. Cannot wait to read the next generation in this family saga.

[Thom Swennes · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Love occurs when something in one person recognizes something basic and true in another.”
To describe the Ashcroft family as eccentric would be too simple and too vague. Unconventional may be true but, there again, doesn’t really do the individual members proper justice. Extraordinary, idiosyncratic, amazing, and quirky can all be applied in mass to describe this talented, beautiful, and loving family. Every member has his or hers individual interests and talents. Lord Joseph Ashcroft, Earl of Trentingham, is the proud head of the family. He has a green thumb and absolute passion for gardening. His wife, Lady Chrystabel Ashcroft (nee Trevor) has an interest in extracting the essences from flowers and producing perfumes. She also has an extraordinary perception of people and a true interest and knack for pairing couples romantically. Violet Chase (nee Ashcroft) is married to Ford Chase, Viscount Lakefield, and is remarkably intelligent; not really a quality widely coveted in the England of King Charles II, but one that her husband finds remarkably appealing. Rose Ashcroft is interested and accomplished in linguistics and has a natural affinity to singing and flowers. Lily, as third and youngest daughter, is an accomplished musician and an uncanny, almost Dr, Doolittle, relationship with animals. The Ashcroft’s family motto: “Interroga Conformationem,” Question Convention seems to fit this remarkable family admirably.
Now that the daughters have all been properly introduced, it can’t have escaped you that their mother has blessed them with names of common, simple, yet beautifully unique flowers. The beauty and personality of each girl is a reflection of their names.
Twenty-year-old Lily has long been a secret admirer of her brother-in-law’, Ford Chase’s best friend, Lord Randal Nesbitt, Viscount Lakefield. When she discovers that her elder sister Rose has similar interests, she reluctantly relinquishes her desires of a meaningful relationship with this handsome lord and leaves the way open for her sister. Twenty-eight-year-old Lord Randal has other plans and desires, all directed at the youngest Ashcroft daughter, Lily. A battle is raging within Lily, honor-bound to keep her hasty promise not to lay claim to Rand, and her desire to finally consider her own feelings and find happiness.
This is a light and engaging period romance that combines solid and interesting characters, interacting with historic personages of the past and sizzling passions to form a worthy work of historical fiction. Pudenda and genitals are not hidden under clothes, covers, or shadows but put prominently and unashamedly on display for the world to see. This story achieves the standard I have come to expect from Lauren Royal. GOOD SHOW LAUREN!

[Louise Hay · Rating 2 out of 5]

As the author claims, this is a sweet and clean story. A combination of Snow White and Cinderella. There were a few things that bothered me, though.

The story was set in 1677, but there were few things that seemed to indicate that time period; it could have been in 1877. The language was too modern. I very much doubt that a proper young English lady in 1667 would tell her sister to "Stuff it." There are some references to Cardinal Wolsey when they visit Oxford, but that would have been appropriate to any time period.

This kind of reads like a YA novel. Maybe I missed that in the original story description. Lily's charm with animals is pretty much unbelievable. I could believe rescuing animals that needed help. I am skeptical that a cat, a bird, and a squirrel would follow her wherever she went, even hours away. I rather doubt she could charm a Mastiff at first sight when those Mastiffs were trained as fighters.

It's a little too squeaky clean. I see a very easy solution to the Marquesses' dilemma: He could marry young Margery himself. That would not make Margery happy, of course, but he would not care about that and would settle once and for all the matter of the Marquess' financial stability.

The magic of historical fiction, especially romances, is to suspend reality and live in the land of happy endings. That's why we read historical fiction. Reality is definitely suspended in this book. This story was cloyingly sweet.

[Lynne Shear · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, intelligent and kind, Lady Lily is a gentle soul with a passion for rescuing animals, who then return the favour by staying faithful to her. Although she became very attracted to the very tall and very handsome Lord Randal, with his gorgeous grey eyes.
They had met previously, four years earlier, when Lily was just sixteen and Rand, who is close friends with Ford, her brother-in-law, thought she was to young to start a relationship with.
Now they have met again and Lily is rather taken with Rand, and he with her, but unfortunately, her elder sister Rose has declared her interest in Rand, and has made Lily promise to help her win him over. Now gentle Lily is torn between the love and loyalty she holds for her sister and the growing love between her and Rand.
But Rand's past is about to catch up with him, a darkness regarding his childhood and earlier life, which now threatens to keep him and Lily apart, and so this romantic adventure begins.
As usual Lauren Royal captures your interest from the beginning to the end of this book, as she takes you on a romantic journey that twists and turns.
This book is beautifully written, full of emotion, humour and passion. Lauren is a master of romantic books set in the Restoration period when Charles II was on the throne. You will not be able to put it down. I absolutely loved it, as I do all her books.

[Jess | The_Book.Dragon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lily Ashcroft has promised her elder sister Rose that she can be married before her. An easy promise to make, especially when Rose announces that she has her sights set on Lord Rand- an Oxford professor the family met 4 years ago. Only problem? Rand has never forgotten Lily, and when their paths seem to increasingly cross, he is alarmed to find himself falling in love with her. Love was never part of Rands plan and because of her promise to Rose, Lily is hesitant to let him close. But good intentions never stand a chance against a love that was fated. Just when it seems that happily ever after could be possible, family duty shows its unforgiving hand. A story of love and the reassurance that no matter what obstacles are shoved into your path, your heart will always find a way.

-He falls first
-Strong family ties
-Animal side kicks
-Open door- mild to moderate detail
-Gentle animal lover x studious professor
-Historical romance

This was the epitome of a passionate historical romance. Out of the entire Chase Family series, I found that this story’s emphasis on love and partnership was the strongest. From the start you were rooting for Rand and Lily, and I found myself keeping my fingers crossed that they would find their way to a HEA. Another fun edition to the series, if you’re looking for a book with no delay in the romance this one is for you.

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fell in love with Lily Ashcroft shortly before i read three chapters into this book. She is wise, strong, committed to family, and she is a bit funny. Lily has an older sister who causes strife in her life but she keeps family number one(sadly, in today's world, family means little when it comes to honor and love.)

As you read, you will meet a man, Lord Randal Nesbitt, who has two women in love with him. (Personally, I never had this problem.) His Lordship is hiding several facts but you will have to read and find out what they are.

The book may be a little slow in places but I don't see how the author could change much to speed it up; the reader needs all the background on the characters to feel the emotions of each one. Also, the descriptive is excellent and it allows the reader to fall into the story.

This is the type and style of Historical Romance I hope many guys the will choose to read. I really enjoyed this episode of Chase Family and higher recommend you read.

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing, especially after how much I loved the introduction to Lily’s family in the last book about her sister Violet and Ford Chase.

This pair was just dull and this book ridiculously long considering that nothing really happened for much of it. Or, at least nothing that really felt like tension. Rose was made out to be so evil in the first part of the book that the reader cannot sympathize with the sisters’ pact at all. Then Rose does a complete 180 in how she treats Lily with limited explanation as to why this would occur - she just has a change of heart. But the really difficult aspect of this story is that Rand and Lily are so completely uninteresting and their attraction to each other so unbelievable. They have nothing in common, and seemingly nothing to talk about. There is zero chemistry here, no lively banter.

I hope Rose’s story goes back to what I had come to expect from the author.

[Miranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another beautiful love story, do you believe in love at first sight? I do! Lily and Rand were meant for each other from the beginning. How could a sister ask of you to stay away from someone who already has feelings for you, and ask that you help her win him?? That’s messed up,Love is a tricky thing but it never works out if you claim to win their hand in marriage before you truly know them.. you just don’t do it! Silly Rose. The way Rose acts in the beginning I’m happy Lily won Rand, but to throw in that twist where Rand is set to marry Margery, whom he grew up with seeing her as a sister! I must say that was a little messed up. All works out for Lily, almost to good to be true which is why I couldn’t rate the full 5 stars. Overall good story so I’m willing to give another Lauren Royal book a try!

[Voirrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This whole series is good light entertainment. Having read about Violet a while ago, I have now caught up on her sisters.

We have the dilemma of Lily - desperately in love with the young academic she met at her sister's wedding, but caught by both the convention that sisters should marry 'in order' and a promise to her older sister that she would help her catch her preferred partner.... the same young man.

And poor Rand, wanting to marry one sister, being pursued by the other, and then getting a letter that changes his whole life completely. Add to this a dash to prove someone innocent of murder and the whole story is really rather exciting!

[Heather Button · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every time I think I’m not going to enjoy one of these Chase family stories or I know just what’s going to happen, I am pleasantly surprised with what the author has in store for her characters. This story of Lily and Rand was certainly no exception.

Lily is an animal lover and the youngest sister of the noble Trentingham family. When her oldest sister Voilet marries Ford Chase, she meets Rand Nesbit, one of Ford’s lifelong friends. At 16, she’s too young for him to consider but he notices her. Four years later they meet again and all bets are off as he pursues her and she tries desperately to keep her promise to her sister Rose to stay away from Lord Rand.

[Stacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was surprised to like this one more than I thought I would. I think it was the family dynamic and world building. The whole story is pretty slow, but it wasn't too painful. I didn't read book 1. The plot twists work. The basic story was too convenient. All the ends are tied up too nicely. The family drama was settled in unrealistic ways and way to fast. The story is predictable. But the story was still primarily a romance. I want more to a story. This is more of a 2-2.5, and I am feeling generous today, so I gave it 3 stars.

[Barbara "Cookie" Serfaty Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Scandal of Lord Randal (Chase Family Series Book 6)

The love story of Lady Lily and Lord Randal. Lily is about to come into her fortune and she dream of opening a animal shelter. Lord Randal best known as Rand, a Oxford Professor and has been in love with Lily since she was sixteen. After his brother is kill Rand is the heir to the Marquis. His father plan to marry him to his ward to keep her estate in the family but she is in love with someone else. Will they both get their dream and love one? Great story.

[Lita · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book more than the two previous ones in this series. Rand and Lily were perfect for each other and the angst wasn't too bad. While I prefer the spicier novels over the sweet ones, I did feel too much was devoted to the sex scenes as it started to feel like filler material. The sexual tension on the other hand was spot on. I enjoyed this one a lot and actually read it straight through in one sitting finishing up around 1:45 a.m. this morning. I don't sacrifice my sleep for any old story but this one too good to put down.

[Virginia Tican · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another well~written story following Violet. A masterful build up of suspense during the hunt for Alban's diary. It was a good ride, full of endearing characters: matchmaking mamas, naughty ditties, a smart and compassionate heroine, a lonely and independent hero, a loving family then we also have the not so lovable ones... All of them help bring this nicely crafted book to life and take the reader to another place and into another time.

[Elizabeth Myles · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading Violet, I was really looking forward to Lily and Rand’s story. It didn’t disappoint! It was so cute and sweet, and took so many twists and turns that I wasn’t expecting. I liked both MCs very much, and thought Lily’s “menagerie” that followed her around was hilarious. Now I’m looking forward to Rose’s story. So far she hasn’t been my favorite Ashcroft, but I enjoy being “won over” by characters, so I’m really interested to see what happens w/her and Kit :).

[Leta McCurry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an entertaining historical read about two sisters of marrying age in Regency England. The plot revolves around the fact that Rose, the more frivolous one, asks Rose, the more serious one, to help her in gaining the attention of a young, eligible male, Rand. The problem is, Rand has ideas of his own and refuses to be pushed into the slot Rose has set up for him, husband. There is plenty of conflict between the sisters and between Rand and both the sisters. Good read.

[Maddie · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading the synopsis I thought this book would have more fire from both of the girls. And at least last throughout half of the book, which was not the case. Quick read and good characters. But there wasn't much pizaz towards the end of the book. Felt like the author just had to add something else to make it longer

[Virginia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Delightful Book

A story about a couple finding love. Then all the many obstacles that are thrown at them to keep them apart: a stern unloving father, a dead brother, a promised marriage to the heir. On the other side, a sweet girl from a loving family, who never gives up hope.

[Debbie Borthwick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and love that the story doesn't end when you'd expect it to. It is a large book that keeps you guessing and hoping for a happy ending.
The only thing, the book I have is called 'The Baron's Inconvenient Bride', the cover is the same but why does it have 2 names?
I do recommend this book, I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

[Blue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engaging characters who come alive

I simply disagree that Rand runs to get away. That's one interpretation; mine is that he's an introvert who needs the physical & psychic space to order his thoughts. Why don't you, yes YOU... check it out to see what you think after you've met him?!

[Tahshae Catching · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ms. Royal never lets readers relax I mean when I think something is going one way she flips it. I still love her characters and she makes readers feel connected to them. I’m happy that she continues to expand on the family. Margery I cannot stand. She always wanted Rand to commit and then hits him with another secret.

[AmazingJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lily Ashcroft & Randal Nesbitt Journey to HEA was Absolutely Wonderful, Amazing & Romantic.
I am so Happy to read how a small Young Lady Lily could handle all the Mastiffs owned by Rand's Father.
Unfortunately Rown, Lily's Brother didn't have much lines on this Story. I really enjoyed his & Jewel's characters on Violet's Book.
The Story was still Fantastic.

[Stephen Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another wonderful story in a great series

This is another wonderfully written story in a great series. The plot is full of emotional twists and turns. The characters are beautifully portrayed, with the strength to overcome their obstacles. This is a great book that would suit anybody who loves steamy historical romances that has a bit of mystery.