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The Lovelocks of London #0.5
When Ardor Blooms
A free prequel novella to the series The Lovelocks of London for the author's newsletter subscribers. It can be found on her webite.
The first love story in The Lovelocks of London series.
Even a pragmatist wants a prince.
Mary Lovelock makes her debut, and every bachelor in London wants a dance with the rich beauty. But how can she know if a suitor is grasping or genuine?
David Vaughan, the extremely proper Viscount Tregaron, wants a wife with blood so blue, it’s indigo. It is unforgivably disappointing that the most remarkable of the Season’s debutantes is Mary Lovelock, a common heiress.
When his rogue brother lays a despicable challenge before him—which one of them will bed Mary first—the viscount is compelled to act as Mary’s protector. But will he be willing to protect the lovely Mary from himself?
When Ardor Blooms is the prequel novella of the open-door Regency romance series The Lovelocks of London.
However, it can be enjoyed as a stand-alone story. It has a happily-ever-after ending and no cliffhanger. Meet Harry, Catherine, and Arabella Lovelock before they start their own love stories.
Content warnings: steamy sexual material, coarse language.
The first love story in The Lovelocks of London series.
Even a pragmatist wants a prince.
Mary Lovelock makes her debut, and every bachelor in London wants a dance with the rich beauty. But how can she know if a suitor is grasping or genuine?
David Vaughan, the extremely proper Viscount Tregaron, wants a wife with blood so blue, it’s indigo. It is unforgivably disappointing that the most remarkable of the Season’s debutantes is Mary Lovelock, a common heiress.
When his rogue brother lays a despicable challenge before him—which one of them will bed Mary first—the viscount is compelled to act as Mary’s protector. But will he be willing to protect the lovely Mary from himself?
When Ardor Blooms is the prequel novella of the open-door Regency romance series The Lovelocks of London.
However, it can be enjoyed as a stand-alone story. It has a happily-ever-after ending and no cliffhanger. Meet Harry, Catherine, and Arabella Lovelock before they start their own love stories.
Content warnings: steamy sexual material, coarse language.
80 pages, ebook
Published January 1, 2023
1 person is currently reading
175 people want to read
About the author
Felicity Niven
11 books334 followersSign up for Felicity Niven's newsletter and to receive a free prequel novella to the series The Lovelocks of London at https://www.felicityniven.com/reviews....
Felicity Niven is a hopeful romantic. Writing Regency romance is her third career after two degrees from Harvard. And you know what they say about third things? Yep, it’s a charm. She splits her time between the temperate South in the winter and the cool Great Lakes in the summer and thinks there can be no greater comforts than a pot of soup on the stove, a set of clean sheets on the bed, and a Jimmy Stewart film on a screen in the living room.
Felicity Niven is a hopeful romantic. Writing Regency romance is her third career after two degrees from Harvard. And you know what they say about third things? Yep, it’s a charm. She splits her time between the temperate South in the winter and the cool Great Lakes in the summer and thinks there can be no greater comforts than a pot of soup on the stove, a set of clean sheets on the bed, and a Jimmy Stewart film on a screen in the living room.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
November 19, 2023
Read it as a newsletter a while ago.
Glad it is available to readers now because it's so sweet and angsty.
Pasting my review here...
**(The eldest Lovelock girl, Mary's novella is available by newsletter only so sadly does not show on GR. Mary and David Vaughan, the Viscount Tregaron.)
Glad it is available to readers now because it's so sweet and angsty.
Pasting my review here...
**(The eldest Lovelock girl, Mary's novella is available by newsletter only so sadly does not show on GR. Mary and David Vaughan, the Viscount Tregaron.)
March 13, 2025
Overall: 4.5 rounded to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot/Storyline: 📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥
Humor: Yes
Perspective: Third person from both hero and heroine
(These are all personal preference on a scale of 1-5 (yours ratings may vary depending what gives you feels and how you prefer you sex scenes written, etc) except the Steam Scale which follows our chart from The Ton and Tartans Book Club )
Should I read in order?
This is the prequel novella to Niven’s Lovelocks of London series. Grab it from her newsletter sign up!
Basic plot:
Viscount Tregaron is searching for a wife of noble blood. The woman that catches his eye though is heiress and cit, Mary Lovelock.
Give this a try if you want:
- Regency time period (1814)
- London setting
- Heroine is an heiress, having her first season
- Hero is a Viscount, searching for a bride with only the best lineage
- Disability rep – hero has a limp and uses a walking stick (sometimes) due to a childhood injury
- Welsh heritage
- Novella length (with average novella steam (1 full scene))
- Class difference – the hero is a bit of a snob and wants a LADY – not a cit
Ages:
- Heroine is 20
My thoughts:
This novella was quite fun! I found Niven’s writing different and unique. And the humor was great! I found myself smirking at lots of scenes and outright laughing at some.
I will say I could have used more dialogue between David and Mary. But, there was also something romantic and subtle about their interactions – things that really fit the historical setting. The small things that spoke volumes – the sending of flowers for courting, the house calls and whether you were ‘at home’ to certain people. Purposefully leaving behind your walking stick so you have a reason to return. It was really sweet and I loved how David seemed like he had no idea he was falling until he was well and truly lost.
Overall very enjoyable! Some novellas feel rushed or end abruptly and I didn’t find that here. I am eager to read the rest of the series!
Quotes/thoughts:
Love the writing! (Rhys is not the hero here! haha)
Rhys had surely bedded half the women between the ages of fifteen and fifty in a ten-mile radius around Tregaron. At market day in Tregaron, David had become afraid to peer into the baskets carrying babies, sure that he would see his brother’s eyes or wicked grin in the face of the baby looking up at him.
I like when writers slide in research – like when our hero David is thinking of ‘Miss Lovely’ – he knows from the miss she’s not the daughter of a duke, marquess or an earl.
I adore how much he loves her freckles. I had such a grin during the first full intimate scene when he kept gasping when he found a new one.
I appreciated that the children in the epilogue weren’t exactly 9 months after their first intercourse! They had to try for a number of years before having children. I can’t recall reading one that featured this struggle in HR.
Content warnings:
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes: These are off just a bit from the actual amount of story because of a sneak peek at book 1 at the end of this novella
Plot/Storyline: 📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥
Humor: Yes
Perspective: Third person from both hero and heroine
(These are all personal preference on a scale of 1-5 (yours ratings may vary depending what gives you feels and how you prefer you sex scenes written, etc) except the Steam Scale which follows our chart from The Ton and Tartans Book Club )
Should I read in order?
This is the prequel novella to Niven’s Lovelocks of London series. Grab it from her newsletter sign up!
Basic plot:
Viscount Tregaron is searching for a wife of noble blood. The woman that catches his eye though is heiress and cit, Mary Lovelock.
Give this a try if you want:
- Regency time period (1814)
- London setting
- Heroine is an heiress, having her first season
- Hero is a Viscount, searching for a bride with only the best lineage
- Disability rep – hero has a limp and uses a walking stick (sometimes) due to a childhood injury
- Welsh heritage
- Novella length (with average novella steam (1 full scene))
- Class difference – the hero is a bit of a snob and wants a LADY – not a cit
Ages:
- Heroine is 20
My thoughts:
This novella was quite fun! I found Niven’s writing different and unique. And the humor was great! I found myself smirking at lots of scenes and outright laughing at some.
I will say I could have used more dialogue between David and Mary. But, there was also something romantic and subtle about their interactions – things that really fit the historical setting. The small things that spoke volumes – the sending of flowers for courting, the house calls and whether you were ‘at home’ to certain people. Purposefully leaving behind your walking stick so you have a reason to return. It was really sweet and I loved how David seemed like he had no idea he was falling until he was well and truly lost.
Overall very enjoyable! Some novellas feel rushed or end abruptly and I didn’t find that here. I am eager to read the rest of the series!
Quotes/thoughts:
Love the writing! (Rhys is not the hero here! haha)
Rhys had surely bedded half the women between the ages of fifteen and fifty in a ten-mile radius around Tregaron. At market day in Tregaron, David had become afraid to peer into the baskets carrying babies, sure that he would see his brother’s eyes or wicked grin in the face of the baby looking up at him.
I like when writers slide in research – like when our hero David is thinking of ‘Miss Lovely’ – he knows from the miss she’s not the daughter of a duke, marquess or an earl.
I adore how much he loves her freckles. I had such a grin during the first full intimate scene when he kept gasping when he found a new one.
I appreciated that the children in the epilogue weren’t exactly 9 months after their first intercourse! They had to try for a number of years before having children. I can’t recall reading one that featured this struggle in HR.
Content warnings:
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes: These are off just a bit from the actual amount of story because of a sneak peek at book 1 at the end of this novella
November 19, 2023
I admired the heroin, she was very intelligent and kept her dignity and her witty demeanor till the end.
March 25, 2025
Regency romance with a breath of fresh air. Simply wonderful! And it’s FREE with Felicity Niven's newsletter!
Daffodils, freckles and liquid courage.
Cellar kisses and downpour wishes.
This story is a witty whirlwind delight! It’s fun, naughty and deliciously steamy!
An unintended courtship between Mary Lovelock – pragmatist, ridiculously rich and gorgeous – and David Vaughan – carved out of ice, proud Welshman and the extremely proper Viscount Tregaron.
Every blue-blooded man is clamouring for a dance, but how can she know if a suitor is grasping or genuine? And he wants a wife with blood so blue, it’s indigo. How disappointing that the Season’s most remarkable debutante is a common heiress.
Enter Rhys, David’s rakehell brother, and his despicable challenge: which of them can bed Mary first?
Of course, David won’t stand for it, and it was simply marvellous to see this rigid man come completely undone!
Daffodils, freckles and liquid courage.
Cellar kisses and downpour wishes.
This story is a witty whirlwind delight! It’s fun, naughty and deliciously steamy!
An unintended courtship between Mary Lovelock – pragmatist, ridiculously rich and gorgeous – and David Vaughan – carved out of ice, proud Welshman and the extremely proper Viscount Tregaron.
Every blue-blooded man is clamouring for a dance, but how can she know if a suitor is grasping or genuine? And he wants a wife with blood so blue, it’s indigo. How disappointing that the Season’s most remarkable debutante is a common heiress.
Enter Rhys, David’s rakehell brother, and his despicable challenge: which of them can bed Mary first?
Of course, David won’t stand for it, and it was simply marvellous to see this rigid man come completely undone!
July 4, 2024
3.5 stars Enjoyed, mostly because she is fantastic.
I just think not enough time is spent on the resolution of the biggest obstacle to their romance, which is his determination to marry a lady with a pedigree. While I appreciated the walking stick subterfuge, the trick of the flowers, and his Freddy Eynsford-Hilling on the street where she lives, I would like to have seen a more explicit spelling out of his remorse and regret and change in heart.
I did like seeing Catherine and Harry’s introduction, though. One thing I tire of in series is when the author feels the need to spend massive amounts of time introducing characters from the next installation or characters in previous installations outstaying their welcome. That doesn’t happen here or in book one—we get fond glimpses, and the characters are lovingly included as part of the family, but the focus is on the H/h. As it should be.
I just think not enough time is spent on the resolution of the biggest obstacle to their romance, which is his determination to marry a lady with a pedigree. While I appreciated the walking stick subterfuge, the trick of the flowers, and his Freddy Eynsford-Hilling on the street where she lives, I would like to have seen a more explicit spelling out of his remorse and regret and change in heart.
I did like seeing Catherine and Harry’s introduction, though. One thing I tire of in series is when the author feels the need to spend massive amounts of time introducing characters from the next installation or characters in previous installations outstaying their welcome. That doesn’t happen here or in book one—we get fond glimpses, and the characters are lovingly included as part of the family, but the focus is on the H/h. As it should be.
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March 21, 2025now these is perfect as a novella the pacing was good which is rare cause I always felt like there should be more pages
The only thing I want is that mmc's pov when his brother reveal that thing but that's fine I can look past it
The only thing I want is that mmc's pov when his brother reveal that thing but that's fine I can look past it
Read
February 21, 2024It's always difficult for me to rate a novella, but I enjoyed this one. As expected given my experience with the author, it's touching, charming, well written and steamy.
June 30, 2025
Short but packs a punch 👌
August 1, 2023
Cos i have a thing for Welsh romance! This one is incredible
August 17, 2023
Short, sweet novella that I started at bedtime and couldn’t put down until the very end
September 14, 2023
What not to love about this book?
Felicity Niven is the one to watch. Her books are delicious! Well written plots with completing stories. I just can get enough.
Felicity Niven is the one to watch. Her books are delicious! Well written plots with completing stories. I just can get enough.
September 17, 2024
Disappointing when compared to her other work. Maybe just too short to have depth?
November 13, 2023
“When Ardor Blooms” is the first story I have read penned by Felicity Niven. This is a prequel (book 0.5) to the series The Lovelocks of London, about a family of women who find romance and love in Regency England. The eldest daughter, Mary Lovelock, is the first to venture into society. She is not of noble birth but a commoner by ton standards. Her father made boatloads of money before his death, leaving Mary with a massive dowry which tends to attract poor nobles, second sons, wastrels looking for an easy life, etc. Mary is a romantic at heart, she desires to marry for love. Opposite Mary is Viscount David Tregaron, an icy, uptight noble determined to marry a woman of impeccable noble birth and excellent breeding. His brother Rhys has a small role in the story, he is a wastrel, an unrepentant rake, a gambler, and a second son with very little money of his own. Rhys is a charmer where David is not and Mary’s money is calling to him. This is a lovely short story where opposites attract. I liked both of these characters. The couple were instantly attracted to one another, however, David tried to suppress his feelings and told himself he was protecting Mary from his brother Rhys. The more time David spent in Mary’s company, the more he realized Mary was the woman for him and the perfect Viscountess. This story may be short but it was very steamy. David was thrilled to find a very passionate and lusty soul mate in Mary. The story was over much too soon. If this is a taste of what’s to come I can’t wait to take a bite out the the next book in the series. This was a free download directly from Felicity Niven, all thoughts and opinions are my own. Thanks Felicity for the introduction to your wonderful characters and your writing style. Definitely recommended for lovers of the genre.
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April 6, 2025Nice and friendly story tone! Could not bring myself to decide upon a rating though.
I’m not against instalove/instalust in my romances, let alone in short stories – I’m in a “let love come in all form and shapes” mindset.
My problem with this story is that everyone (and thedoggoat) is more mature than MMC. Literally everyone – FMC, her stepmother, MMC’s brother, their mother with the goat (leg) and maybe even saying goat “knows better” than hero himself. Not halfway through the story David lost all possible agency and only does what others tell him to. It’s even impossible to say if he happy to give up or no, because through his POV we know only about his all-consuming lust.
So maybe he is totally fine and glad to be spare of any responsibility.
But it’s just not my type of hero, because it made him… ahem… not desirable?
Like he couldn’t even undress himself without being told to do it in the right order? And this is not the dominant dynamic scene in any other sense. Does the heroine have to think for both all the time? Ugh.
I’m not against instalove/instalust in my romances, let alone in short stories – I’m in a “let love come in all form and shapes” mindset.
My problem with this story is that everyone (and the
So maybe he is totally fine and glad to be spare of any responsibility.
But it’s just not my type of hero, because it made him… ahem… not desirable?
He started to remove his breeches.
“Your shoes, Dafydd.”
He muttered something under his breath and hopped, kicking off his shoes and stripping off his hose.
Like he couldn’t even undress himself without being told to do it in the right order? And this is not the dominant dynamic scene in any other sense. Does the heroine have to think for both all the time? Ugh.
August 3, 2023
I really appreciated that Felicity wanted to tell us the story of the first Lovelocks! Reading "Convergence of Desire" there are hints of Harry's older sister, Mary, but she is never found "in the flesh" between the pages of the book...
Thanks for not leaving a character hanging! It's something I personally don't like.
This novella was exclusive to the author’s newsletter subscribers. I don't know if she will re-propose the link, if you are interested maybe ask her.
Mary's story takes place long before Harry's. It is a prequel novella. The beautiful and pragmatic Lovelock sees her prince charming at a ball and he sees her.
However, the Viscount has convinced himself that he will only marry a woman of the highest lineage, of very noble births... our Lovelocks are rich, but they don't have blue blood in their veins.
But Mary will manage to win her prince in a succession of truly hilarious jokes and witticisms. Even the spicy scenes are not lacking.
I liked this novella!
Thanks for not leaving a character hanging! It's something I personally don't like.
This novella was exclusive to the author’s newsletter subscribers. I don't know if she will re-propose the link, if you are interested maybe ask her.
Mary's story takes place long before Harry's. It is a prequel novella. The beautiful and pragmatic Lovelock sees her prince charming at a ball and he sees her.
However, the Viscount has convinced himself that he will only marry a woman of the highest lineage, of very noble births... our Lovelocks are rich, but they don't have blue blood in their veins.
But Mary will manage to win her prince in a succession of truly hilarious jokes and witticisms. Even the spicy scenes are not lacking.
I liked this novella!
December 6, 2023
When Ardor Blooms by Felicity Niven is a free prequel novella to the series The Lovelocks of London for the author’s newsletter subscribers. It can be found on her website. It is a historical romance set in Regency-era England, featuring a wealthy heiress and a proper viscount who fall in love despite their differences in rank and background. It is a steamy, open-door romance that has a happily-ever-after ending and no cliffhanger. I loved the writing style of this author and her ability to pass the chemistry, humor and wit of the characters on to her readers. I do wish the novella would have been longer and I felt because of the length, the conflict was resolved too easily. A very entertaining, enjoyable short read.
August 30, 2023
And the winner of the Starchiest Dork Award goes to.. David, Viscount Tregaron 😆
This was a delightfully lighthearted and earnest novella. There was such a low-angst silliness to the Darcy-ish snub of our heiress heroine Mary, such an air-headed awkwardness to our snobby viscount David, that I was having a good time. Though the vibes were more ‘chuckle’ than ‘swoon’.
It was a short, fairly instalove-y prequel, free with a newsletter. What I appreciated most was the introduction to this author’s unique narrative voice. And I’m a sucker for an awkward drawing room moment—of which there were many!
This was a delightfully lighthearted and earnest novella. There was such a low-angst silliness to the Darcy-ish snub of our heiress heroine Mary, such an air-headed awkwardness to our snobby viscount David, that I was having a good time. Though the vibes were more ‘chuckle’ than ‘swoon’.
It was a short, fairly instalove-y prequel, free with a newsletter. What I appreciated most was the introduction to this author’s unique narrative voice. And I’m a sucker for an awkward drawing room moment—of which there were many!
March 9, 2025
I finished the Lovelocks of London box set and immediately had to go sign up for Felicity Niven’s newsletter so I could read the prequel novella about Mary’s engagement to the Viscount Tregaron. Such a sweet story about Mary, the classically beautiful and accomplished oldest Lovelock sister, and her beau, who is certain that he wants a blue blooded bride… but then can’t help falling for the untitled, wealthy heiress. I’m a sucker for a buttoned-up man who is made weak and messy by love, and David is exactly that. Such a delightful, quick read to round out the Lovelock family stories!
December 28, 2023
I enjoyed this - MMC David is too caught up with class to recognise the good thing that is in front of him in the form of the rich, beautiful bankers daughter Mary. Mary, is, by the way, the epitome of grace while not taking any of David's shit.
It's not the spiciest of stories - there isn't much action outside of David's imagination until the very end. I liked that there wasn't a lot of drama, just two people fumbling along.
It's not the spiciest of stories - there isn't much action outside of David's imagination until the very end. I liked that there wasn't a lot of drama, just two people fumbling along.
September 25, 2024
David, um visconde todo certinho, se apaixona à primeira vista por Mary, a filha muito rica de um banqueiro. Só que David fazia questão que sua noiva fosse no mínimo filha de um conde. Mas o homem se apaixonou pra valer e com uma ajudinha do seu irmão Rhys, um libertino cara-de-pau que adorava por uma lenha na fogueira, o David não resistiu. Gostei que a Mary fez ele correr atrás dela. O casal tem muita química e o livro da Harry, irmã da Mary, promete.
July 31, 2023
A wonderful prequel novella that sets the scene to the series The Lovelocks of London. I really enjoyed the story and developing romance between Mary and David. David is such a proper Lord who doesn't want to marry just a common heiress but of course the heart wants what the heart wants and there's that undeniable attraction between them. Very well written and enjoyed their happy ending.
July 25, 2024
Relationships like the one between Mary and David, where they both set out to despise the other even though they’re wildly attracted to each other, are always so fun. Like their each thinking, "How dare you make me attracted to you!"
August 13, 2024
Just some silly simple ,mediocre read . Not at all reflecting historical circumstances or realistic occurrence. Even short as it was I had to skim from 30% to the end ,just couldn’t stand to waste too much time with this. Needless to say I’m disappointed and not continuing anything from this author because on top of that half was sex .
April 2, 2025
Loved Harrys book (first book of the Lovelocks) so had some expectations of this one.. 🤓
But I was a little disappointed, missed the chemistry and felt that the banter between the mains was more boring than fun 😎
Also the ‘moment of clarity’ presented by brother Rhys at like 60% in the story felt rushed..
Ended up skimming from 78% onwards to read the epilogue 😇
2.8 stars ⭐️
But I was a little disappointed, missed the chemistry and felt that the banter between the mains was more boring than fun 😎
Also the ‘moment of clarity’ presented by brother Rhys at like 60% in the story felt rushed..
Ended up skimming from 78% onwards to read the epilogue 😇
2.8 stars ⭐️
March 4, 2025
A quick and fun read.
Starchy viscount David is brought low by commoner heiress Mary.
This is a freebie for Felicity Niven’s newsletter subscribers. I highly recommend that you sign up if you haven't already.
Starchy viscount David is brought low by commoner heiress Mary.
This is a freebie for Felicity Niven’s newsletter subscribers. I highly recommend that you sign up if you haven't already.
July 17, 2023
Very entertaining. A bit steamy.
She is a "Cit" a rich commoner. He is a blue blooded Viscount looking for a blue blooded bride. But he just can't stay away from her.
She is a "Cit" a rich commoner. He is a blue blooded Viscount looking for a blue blooded bride. But he just can't stay away from her.
August 16, 2023
This was a lovely little novella and a great introduction to the Lovelocks. I can't wait to dive into this series in earnest!
December 14, 2023
I liked it
I wanted it to be 3 star but gave 2 star because of the length of the story, it's mentioned it to be a novella but i wanted it to be longer.
I wanted it to be 3 star but gave 2 star because of the length of the story, it's mentioned it to be a novella but i wanted it to be longer.
December 23, 2023
Wonderful novella and a great lead up to Convergence of Desire
January 27, 2024
yeah she slayed. sucker for an ice prince (emphasis on ice, not mean). Can’t take the pride and prejudice out of the girl
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews