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A Return Engagement
Previously appeared in the anthology Royal Bridesmaids.
A delightful novella from #1 New York Times bestselling author Stephanie Laurens.
Everyone's eyes are on a royal couple, but there is more behind the scenes than they'll ever know.
Lady Nell Daughtry is certain her sister will be a perfect princess, if only she gets the reluctant bride safely to the church to marry Prince Frederick of Lautenberg.
But what she doesn't know is that, in the wedding party, she's been paired with her former fiancé, Robert Knightly … and now she'll be face-to-face with the man who walked away.
A delightful novella from #1 New York Times bestselling author Stephanie Laurens.
Everyone's eyes are on a royal couple, but there is more behind the scenes than they'll ever know.
Lady Nell Daughtry is certain her sister will be a perfect princess, if only she gets the reluctant bride safely to the church to marry Prince Frederick of Lautenberg.
But what she doesn't know is that, in the wedding party, she's been paired with her former fiancé, Robert Knightly … and now she'll be face-to-face with the man who walked away.
62 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 27, 2013
124 people are currently reading
425 people want to read
About the author
Stephanie Laurens
208 books5,593 followersStephanie Laurens was born in Sri Lanka, which was at the time the British colony of Ceylon. When she was 5, her family moved to Melbourne, Australia, where she was raised. After continuing through school and earning a Ph.D. in Biochemistry in Australia, Stephanie and her husband moved to Great Britain, taking one of the last true overland journeys from Katmandu to London.
Once in London, Stephanie and her husband both began work as research scientists in Kent. They lived in an area surrounded by history. Their own cottage was built in the 16th century, while next door were the protected ruins of an early Roman villa, and nearby was a 14th century castle.
After four years in England, Stephanie and her husband returned to Australia, where she continued to work in cancer research, eventually heading her own research laboratory. One evening Stephanie realized that she did not have any more of her favorite romance novels to read. After years of thinking about writing her own novel, during nights and weekends for the next several months, she began crafting her own story. That manuscript, Tangled Reins, was the first of her books to be published. After achieving a level of success with her novels, Stephanie "retired" from scientific research and became a full-time novelist. Her novels are primarily historical romances set in the Regency time period.
Stephanie and her husband live on peaceful acreage on the outskirts of Melbourne. If she isn't writing, she's reading, and if she's not reading, she's tending her garden.
Once in London, Stephanie and her husband both began work as research scientists in Kent. They lived in an area surrounded by history. Their own cottage was built in the 16th century, while next door were the protected ruins of an early Roman villa, and nearby was a 14th century castle.
After four years in England, Stephanie and her husband returned to Australia, where she continued to work in cancer research, eventually heading her own research laboratory. One evening Stephanie realized that she did not have any more of her favorite romance novels to read. After years of thinking about writing her own novel, during nights and weekends for the next several months, she began crafting her own story. That manuscript, Tangled Reins, was the first of her books to be published. After achieving a level of success with her novels, Stephanie "retired" from scientific research and became a full-time novelist. Her novels are primarily historical romances set in the Regency time period.
Stephanie and her husband live on peaceful acreage on the outskirts of Melbourne. If she isn't writing, she's reading, and if she's not reading, she's tending her garden.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
May 3, 2016
A Return Engagement is a short story that was originally published in the anthology, Royal Bridesmaids. It’s a sweet, romantic, second chance romance that will leave you with a contented sigh.
If, however, you want steam and explicit sex scenes in your historical romance reads, you might be disappointed. Fans of Ms. Laurens’ writings know that she can pack a passionate punch when it comes to between the sheets times, but those scenes were skipped in order to build a solid story and keep it novella length. It worked for me, but might not work for everyone.
An ARC was provided by Avon Books. In appreciation I’m giving them an honest review.
If, however, you want steam and explicit sex scenes in your historical romance reads, you might be disappointed. Fans of Ms. Laurens’ writings know that she can pack a passionate punch when it comes to between the sheets times, but those scenes were skipped in order to build a solid story and keep it novella length. It worked for me, but might not work for everyone.
An ARC was provided by Avon Books. In appreciation I’m giving them an honest review.
January 17, 2019
Enjoyable
While I liked this short story, I found it was lacking in depth and emotion. Nell’s reaction to seeing the man who jilted her all those years ago was rather sedate, and her mother’s reaction was down right blasé.
I loved the addition of the panic attacks as I have never come across characters afflicted with this in a Regency or historical romance, but the way Robert reacted upon discovering it was a family affliction was, once again, very subdued. You would think he’d be dumbstruck at this knowledge.
Then at the end where they make up and Nell is presented with the truth that she too had suffered from panic attacks, and that was why Robert pulled away was amusing yet I didn’t get any real sense of this being earth shattering news as you might expect.
A great concept that suffered for being a short story in my opinion.
2.5 🌟
While I liked this short story, I found it was lacking in depth and emotion. Nell’s reaction to seeing the man who jilted her all those years ago was rather sedate, and her mother’s reaction was down right blasé.
I loved the addition of the panic attacks as I have never come across characters afflicted with this in a Regency or historical romance, but the way Robert reacted upon discovering it was a family affliction was, once again, very subdued. You would think he’d be dumbstruck at this knowledge.
Then at the end where they make up and Nell is presented with the truth that she too had suffered from panic attacks, and that was why Robert pulled away was amusing yet I didn’t get any real sense of this being earth shattering news as you might expect.
A great concept that suffered for being a short story in my opinion.
2.5 🌟
March 1, 2020
Pretty good. She's not explicit in the sex scene. I appreciate that.
June 27, 2023
Very short novella. Okay story but the main couple wasn’t as interesting as the side characters. I would have rather followed the prince and the sister
October 20, 2025
A Love that is meant to be
A love that was nine years in the making. An come what ever will happen, is one to last a lifetime to be shares and treasured by Nell and Robert.
A love that was nine years in the making. An come what ever will happen, is one to last a lifetime to be shares and treasured by Nell and Robert.
July 26, 2014
(Original post at Doing Some Reading)
I have been waiting to read this novella from Stephanie Laurens. More like, waiting to read the whole anthology in which it was published with! But still this works to my liking.
This was a fast, short, and loving romance. It’s vastly different from her usual works of hot sexy alpha males, saucy strong heroines, and very steamy love scenes. And I know because I have a whole bookshelf full of Laurens’ works!
Lady Cornelia Daughtry, Nell, has positioned herself as her sister’s companion and chaperone during her sister’s preparation for her wedding. She’s in charge of keeping her sister on track and from wedding nerves of any kind. Least to other’s knowledge the ladies of her mother’s blood line all carry a curse. The Vayne curse. Every Vayne lady has befallen to its failing upon their wedding week, leaving them with nerves, panics, and jilting runaway thoughts. So to keep her sister from it’s grips she has vowed to stand near to prevent it from ruining the wedding. She is also partnered up with her long lost love. Whom she planned to keep clear of if anything is to be done.
Robert Knightly is on diplomated work preparing for his friend Fredrick’s wedding and surprise to see Nell attending to her sister’s needs, or more like hiding something from drastically ruining the wedding plans! When he learns of its curse within the family, he couldn’t help but think of nine years past when Nell herself had shown signs of its curse. Now that he’s older and wiser, he’s even more determined to never let her go again, even if the curse comes creeping back.
This was a very different experience for me reading this type of romance from Laurens but I really enjoyed it.
Though we didn’t get into a lot of the character developments that Laurens is great at we still saw a lot of their personality through their actions, words, and thoughts. I was also very surprise that she didn’t have any of her very descripted and long love scenes. Although they were nice in some of her novels and not in others, I though it was very well, unused in this novella.
I know that that’s the whole point of novellas, that they have to be short but I thought it was great that Laurens didn’t add her steamy love scene because, come on, we know what goes on already. A tumble of naked bodies and bedsheets are all we need to get our fantasies and imaginations going. Well, some of the time. Teehee ;)
Anyways, I loved it. It was quick and romantic. Though there wasn’t much romance I’m afraid, it was still a great quick read to pick up.
That’s it! Sweet is what I was looking for. And I’ll place this romance in that category.
This eARC was provided by the publisher at Avon via Edelweiss.
I have been waiting to read this novella from Stephanie Laurens. More like, waiting to read the whole anthology in which it was published with! But still this works to my liking.
This was a fast, short, and loving romance. It’s vastly different from her usual works of hot sexy alpha males, saucy strong heroines, and very steamy love scenes. And I know because I have a whole bookshelf full of Laurens’ works!
Lady Cornelia Daughtry, Nell, has positioned herself as her sister’s companion and chaperone during her sister’s preparation for her wedding. She’s in charge of keeping her sister on track and from wedding nerves of any kind. Least to other’s knowledge the ladies of her mother’s blood line all carry a curse. The Vayne curse. Every Vayne lady has befallen to its failing upon their wedding week, leaving them with nerves, panics, and jilting runaway thoughts. So to keep her sister from it’s grips she has vowed to stand near to prevent it from ruining the wedding. She is also partnered up with her long lost love. Whom she planned to keep clear of if anything is to be done.
Robert Knightly is on diplomated work preparing for his friend Fredrick’s wedding and surprise to see Nell attending to her sister’s needs, or more like hiding something from drastically ruining the wedding plans! When he learns of its curse within the family, he couldn’t help but think of nine years past when Nell herself had shown signs of its curse. Now that he’s older and wiser, he’s even more determined to never let her go again, even if the curse comes creeping back.
This was a very different experience for me reading this type of romance from Laurens but I really enjoyed it.
Though we didn’t get into a lot of the character developments that Laurens is great at we still saw a lot of their personality through their actions, words, and thoughts. I was also very surprise that she didn’t have any of her very descripted and long love scenes. Although they were nice in some of her novels and not in others, I though it was very well, unused in this novella.
I know that that’s the whole point of novellas, that they have to be short but I thought it was great that Laurens didn’t add her steamy love scene because, come on, we know what goes on already. A tumble of naked bodies and bedsheets are all we need to get our fantasies and imaginations going. Well, some of the time. Teehee ;)
Anyways, I loved it. It was quick and romantic. Though there wasn’t much romance I’m afraid, it was still a great quick read to pick up.
That’s it! Sweet is what I was looking for. And I’ll place this romance in that category.
This eARC was provided by the publisher at Avon via Edelweiss.
August 29, 2013
Originally reviewed at http://smexybooks.com/2013/08/review-...
Lady Nell Daughtry has arrived with her family to help get her sister down the aisle and safely married to Prince Frederick of Lautenberg. It’s not that her sister doesn’t want to marry Frederick, she adores him and wants to be his wife one hundred percent. Unfortunately, her family suffers from a family phobia certain ailment that causes them to undermine themselves before their big day. Basically, they freak out and run away. Nell is there to make sure this does not happen. She, however, never expected to be faced with her own failed engagement.
Nine years ago, Robert Knightley was convinced Nell loved him as much as he loved her but when she began to grow distant and pull away from him, he decided to cut his losses and walked away from her. Now the diplomatic envoy to Lautenberg, Robert is shocked to see Nell appear with the wedding party but soon decides that they can behave as adults. His job is to oversee everything in the wedding goes smoothly.
Nell tries to hide her sister’s increasing panic attacks, but Robert notices and confronts her, demanding the truth. She tells him everything and soon they make a pact that places them in close quarters for the rest of the week. As Nell and Robert reconnect, confidences are shared and both realize that they have been given a second chance to correct the mistakes they made ten years ago.
A Return Engagement was previously released in the anthology, Royal Bridesmaids. Now, released on its own as a novella, Stephanie Laurens brings us a sweet story about true love and second chances. Nell never understood why Robert just walked away from her and their relationship. She was expecting a proposal and instead was left with a broken heart. I enjoyed meeting Nell and Robert. I liked we were dealing with two older, more mature characters. Their romance flourishes beautiful amidst the main storyline in a slow manner, giving us and them time to realise their mistakes and unfounded assumptions. The ending gives us our happily ever after in a cute and delightfully sweet manner.
RATING: B
Lady Nell Daughtry has arrived with her family to help get her sister down the aisle and safely married to Prince Frederick of Lautenberg. It’s not that her sister doesn’t want to marry Frederick, she adores him and wants to be his wife one hundred percent. Unfortunately, her family suffers from a family phobia certain ailment that causes them to undermine themselves before their big day. Basically, they freak out and run away. Nell is there to make sure this does not happen. She, however, never expected to be faced with her own failed engagement.
Nine years ago, Robert Knightley was convinced Nell loved him as much as he loved her but when she began to grow distant and pull away from him, he decided to cut his losses and walked away from her. Now the diplomatic envoy to Lautenberg, Robert is shocked to see Nell appear with the wedding party but soon decides that they can behave as adults. His job is to oversee everything in the wedding goes smoothly.
Nell tries to hide her sister’s increasing panic attacks, but Robert notices and confronts her, demanding the truth. She tells him everything and soon they make a pact that places them in close quarters for the rest of the week. As Nell and Robert reconnect, confidences are shared and both realize that they have been given a second chance to correct the mistakes they made ten years ago.
A Return Engagement was previously released in the anthology, Royal Bridesmaids. Now, released on its own as a novella, Stephanie Laurens brings us a sweet story about true love and second chances. Nell never understood why Robert just walked away from her and their relationship. She was expecting a proposal and instead was left with a broken heart. I enjoyed meeting Nell and Robert. I liked we were dealing with two older, more mature characters. Their romance flourishes beautiful amidst the main storyline in a slow manner, giving us and them time to realise their mistakes and unfounded assumptions. The ending gives us our happily ever after in a cute and delightfully sweet manner.
RATING: B
December 31, 2013
A Return Engagement ini sebuah novella, jadi critanya lumayan singkat. Temanya tentang CLBK (Cinta Lama Bersemi Kembali) #halah
Menceritakan tentang Cornellia (Nell) Daughtry yang menjadi semacam Wedding Organizer untuk adik perempuannya yang bertunangan dengan seorang pangeran, tanpa tahu kalau mantan kekasih Nell, Robert Knightly berteman baik dengan si pangeran tsb. Robert juga ditugaskan untuk jadi partner Nell di pernikahan tsb dan otomatis mereka harus selalu kemana-mana bareng untuk mengawal pasangan calon pengantin. Anak perempuan keluarga Daughtry rupanya punya kepercayaan kalau mereka dikutuk agar selalu mengalami serangan panik setiap kali akan menikah, dan ini terjadi pada adik perempuan Nell sehingga Nell pun lumayan repot jagain adiknya supaya gak kabur sebelum pernikahan selesai. Well, Robert dulunya ditunggu-tunggu dengan penuh harap karena ada gelagat akan melamar Nell, namun bukannya melamar, Robert justru menjauh dan memutuskan hubungan. Di akhir cerita, ketahuan kenapa hubungan Robert-Nell berakhir.
Jujur, saya gak merasakan chemistry di antara Nell-Robert. Mungkin karena di sepanjang cerita cuma diceritakan gimana proses persiapan pernikahan adek Nell, dan bukan tentang kilas-balik hubungan Nell dengan Robert dulunya. Lumayan boring dan flat. Padahal ciri khas tema CLBK adalah tentang bagaimana cinta yang pernah ada bisa kembali dipersatukan, dan di cerita ini saya merasa gak mendapatkan hal ini. Mendadak Robert pengen balikan sama Nell, dan gitu aja. Kurang greget.
Maunya sih 2 bintang, tapi saya maklumi saja karena ini adalah sebuah Novella yang ditulis secara singkat. Mungkin inilah penyebabnya kenapa cerita ini kurang berasa chemistrynya. IMO
Menceritakan tentang Cornellia (Nell) Daughtry yang menjadi semacam Wedding Organizer untuk adik perempuannya yang bertunangan dengan seorang pangeran, tanpa tahu kalau mantan kekasih Nell, Robert Knightly berteman baik dengan si pangeran tsb. Robert juga ditugaskan untuk jadi partner Nell di pernikahan tsb dan otomatis mereka harus selalu kemana-mana bareng untuk mengawal pasangan calon pengantin. Anak perempuan keluarga Daughtry rupanya punya kepercayaan kalau mereka dikutuk agar selalu mengalami serangan panik setiap kali akan menikah, dan ini terjadi pada adik perempuan Nell sehingga Nell pun lumayan repot jagain adiknya supaya gak kabur sebelum pernikahan selesai. Well, Robert dulunya ditunggu-tunggu dengan penuh harap karena ada gelagat akan melamar Nell, namun bukannya melamar, Robert justru menjauh dan memutuskan hubungan. Di akhir cerita, ketahuan kenapa hubungan Robert-Nell berakhir.
Jujur, saya gak merasakan chemistry di antara Nell-Robert. Mungkin karena di sepanjang cerita cuma diceritakan gimana proses persiapan pernikahan adek Nell, dan bukan tentang kilas-balik hubungan Nell dengan Robert dulunya. Lumayan boring dan flat. Padahal ciri khas tema CLBK adalah tentang bagaimana cinta yang pernah ada bisa kembali dipersatukan, dan di cerita ini saya merasa gak mendapatkan hal ini. Mendadak Robert pengen balikan sama Nell, dan gitu aja. Kurang greget.
Maunya sih 2 bintang, tapi saya maklumi saja karena ini adalah sebuah Novella yang ditulis secara singkat. Mungkin inilah penyebabnya kenapa cerita ini kurang berasa chemistrynya. IMO
December 24, 2016
Lady Nell will do anything to successful see her younger sister marry a prince including working with the man who broke her heart, Robert. Years ago they unsuccessfully attempted an engagement of their own but for now they need to put their feelings on the backburner while they make sure that Nell's sister walks down that aisle. But close proximity and plotting brings their feelings back to the forefront. Will they be able to complete their plans without losing their hearts? Sweet, quick read.
January 26, 2015
There is nothing redeemable about this female character. She is entirely unlikable. All of the female characters are pretty bad, but Nell is unbelievably awful.
The story is ridiculous and stupid.
This author has, in the past, published things that were worth reading. This is NOT one of them.
The story is ridiculous and stupid.
This author has, in the past, published things that were worth reading. This is NOT one of them.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 10, 2014
An offering from Ms. Lauren's that was not graphic in its intimate scenes! Short & sweet story. For some reason, something at might seem outlandish for other authors (like a family curse that exaggerates bridal nerves), seems almost run-of-the-mill for Ms. Lauren's. :)
July 10, 2013
A very cute, short, and sweet story. The romance wasn't too heavy handed so the story just came together perfectly!
September 11, 2013
Cute and sweet, but definitely more short story length (approx 40 pgs) vs a novella (which probably ought to approach 100p).
September 27, 2025
very good novella as part of the anthology Royal Bridesmaids.
July 29, 2013
Quick sweet regency romance.
August 27, 2013
Disappointed in this. Found the "curse" to be silly and a bit offensive. Review to come.
October 10, 2013
Disappointed in this one. Not as good as others by this author.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews