By The Light Of The Setting Sun

A Gentleman's Heart #1

by Laura Rollins

Adam Drake, Earl of Linsfield, has spent years ensuring his brothers’ futures. But an uneasy feeling tugs at him. His young step-sister, neglected by her father, is in need of his care and protection. After traveling to Bath, he finds her unhappy and her father resistant to his help.

Lady Elizabeth Vaughn faces a dire choice: support her family, or risk losing everything they hold dear. Time ticks relentlessly on as her father’s health declines, despite the efforts of Bath’s finest physicians. After four failed London Seasons, marriage remains an elusive salvation. The family curse is to blame, according to her aunt—it states no lady from their lineage shall marry for love. But if Elizabeth doesn’t marry, what other options are there?

An unconventional meeting between Adam and Elizabeth sparks an instant friendship. As they help each other find solutions, their hearts soon become entwined as well. Yet, when Adam is faced with the choice of saving either his step-sister or Lady Elizabeth, will their love endure this ultimate test?

Set in Regency England, By The Light Of The Setting Sun is a clean and wholesome romance and the first in a new series by author Laura Rollins. Filled with witty characters, humerous escapades, and swoony moments, this book is sure to delight.

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

252 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 10, 2023

About the author

Some books have been previously published as L.G. Rollins


Laura Rollins has always loved a heart-melting happily ever after. It didn’t matter if the story took place in Regency England, or in a cobbler’s shop, if there was a sweet romance, she would read it.
​
Life has given her many of her own adventures. Currently she lives in the Rocky Mountains with her best-friend, who is also her husband, and their four beautiful children. She still loves to read books and more books; her favorite types of music are classical, Broadway, and country; she loves hiking in the mountains near her home; and she’s been known to debate with her oldest son about whether Infinity is better categorized as a number or an idea.

Reviews

[Kristalyne, love.lovely.books love.lovely.books · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Blackwell Manor was properly haunted at last.”

I fell in love with this book from the first line. It is so intriguing with such a unique storyline. I really enjoyed the mystery element, the family curse, and the haunted Manor. This book isn’t necessarily spooky, but it definitely has a really fun fall feel to it.

Alex is such a sweet and charming gentleman. He sets off to Bath on family business. Little does he know he will meet the lovely lady Elizabeth, who is beautiful and brave! Their meet cute is adorable and I loved every single moment of them together. The romance in this story is so swoony, it had me melting. I adore these two, and there are so many other amazing characters to love in this book!

Read for:
🤍The setting in Bath, England
🤍Autumn time
🤍the fireplace
🤍Swoon worthy romance
🤍Band of brothers you will love
🤍The family
🤍Themes of hope and light

This is a wonderful regency Romance that just pulled me in and I didn’t want to leave. It was a joy reading from page one to the very end! I absolutely loved it and I already want to go back and re-read all of my favorite parts! Don’t miss this amazing book! It’s the perfect fall or anytime of the year read!

[Naomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, my heart is officially on break as it has been broken, put back together, hopeful, in love, and broken all over again. This book has ALL the feels!!

I had the privilege to read By The Light Of The Setting Sun by Laura as part of her ARC team. I don't know how she did it, but I was entranced by this story of hope, curses, and family connections like no other!

As this book came out today, I will try for no spoilers, but I mean it when I day RUN to get this book. I will not sleep tonight because of this amazing book hangover. I mean, how do I move on?!

Elizabeth's family is cursed, and the future is uncertain. She is not sure if she continues to hope for a better future or give into the bleak night. With an aunt who is certain they are all cursed and a father who is ill, will Elizabeth hold on to hope?

Alex is certain there is evil in the world, and he knows who to blame. However, it isn't so simple when a little girls life and happiness hang in the balance. He has some impossible choices ahead of him, but the responsibility on his shoulders and his heart are pulling him down. What choice will he make when his heart and responsibility come to a head?

Laura did a phenomenal job in painting a tale of hope. I think we all need some hope in our lives, I sure do. What a hauntingly uplifting story of family and the ghost that haunt them.

[Pam Carroll · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read another review prior to reading the book that commented how it needed editing. I ignored it because the premise sounded fun but in hindsight, I agree that the book would have benefited content and grammatical editing.

I debated between 2 and 3 stars. There were a couple of scenes that flowed beautifully, despite others which seemed to drag on and on.

I'll start with what I struggled with. We see a lot of repetition in the first 2/3rds of the book.

- Elizabeth's father has seizures and they're hiding how ill he is from society (I really felt this could have been said once or twice as opposed to the nearly fifteen times it was mentioned).I don't see how it actually advanced Alex and Elizabeth's storyline.
- Aunt Margaret is sad about not being married - verging on the depressing because it consumes all their conversations and ultimately her personality within the story. It's not enjoyable to read her scenes and she's in a lot of them.
- A lot of forced mystical encounters which just seem out of place for the setting because they don't have an eerie feel at all. It seems out of place because you want to feel spooked but all of them are lighthearted and you can't take them seriously.

I don't think Alex and Elizabeth's character development was properly flushed out. Oddly enough, Mr. Silvanus felt like the best character in the book - his intentions were flushed out, he felt truly sinister and most of his scenes aligned with his character and were interesting. I honestly looked forward to the chapters with him in them because you felt the plot was about to advance and Aunt Margaret and Elizabeth spend all of their time just dreaming about being married. I also felt like Lily's lack of character development was a huge miss. She had so much potential to draw people in around her and I was really surprised that the first chance Alex has time to be with her at the picnic that he spends all his time talking with Elizabeth. It felt so out of place. It also seemed like a miss that Mr. Silvanus had no reaction at all to Alex suddenly showing up at the picnic. He has forbidden Alex from seeing his daughter but then when he runs into them...no reaction? It didn't appear well thought-out.

I did like the overall premise of the book (minus the haunted/mystical elements which I just felt didn't work) that Alex is saving a young child from neglect and putting her own needs before his own. I also liked that Mr. Silvanus had a sinister lean to him and we were able to think through with the characters how they would save Lily. The love story didn't do much for me but I kept reading for Lily and to see her rescued from her situation. I liked her last scene in the epilogue. I also felt the brothers added a lot with their humor and camaraderie. 2.5 stars

[Holly (IG Hollys_Book_Musings) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this one! Perfect for fall and spooky season, but also anytime of the year!

Content:
Kissing only

[Emma | meadowroselibrary · Rating 5 out of 5]

"𝑰 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌...𝒉𝒐𝒑𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒂 𝒔𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒖𝒏. 𝑰𝒕'𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒇𝒖𝒍, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒊𝒕 𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒔 𝒈𝒐𝒍𝒅𝒆𝒏 𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈. 𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒊𝒕 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒃𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂 𝒇𝒆𝒘 𝒎𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒈𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚, 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒃𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒔𝒆𝒕𝒔 𝒊𝒏. 𝑨𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕, 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒎𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒅 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒇𝒆𝒍𝒕 𝒐𝒓 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒏. 𝑭𝒐𝒓, 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔, 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒎𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒚 𝒐𝒏 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒉𝒐𝒑𝒆 𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒖𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒐𝒖𝒔𝒍𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒄𝒉 𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝒘𝒂𝒍𝒌."

This book was the most perfect Fall-ish vibes book. 🥰 The setting, the feel, everything just screamed it, just what I wanted.
And the romance, the story...it was beautiful. 🩷 I loved the close relationship Elizabeth had with her aunt Margaret, the fun they had, the near squalms they got into. The "ghost" theme was so funny and perfect, I loved it!
Alex always put family first over everything else in his life, whether it was his sister he strived to save, or his close brothers, he never let anyone down. 🩷
It was so much fun going back to the first one and reading from the beginning how this whole series starts! (I read the second and third first...😂) But they could still easily be read as standalones. I can't wait to read about the rest of the family! 🩷

"𝑰𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒂𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒖𝒏𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒈𝒐𝒏𝒆, 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒂 𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒑𝒊𝒄𝒌 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒓𝒐𝒂𝒅. 𝑺𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒎𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝒃𝒊𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒉𝒐𝒑𝒆 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒃𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆. 𝑻𝒓𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒂𝒕𝒉 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒔𝒂𝒘 𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒖𝒏. 𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒆 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏."

[Tricia Anson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Swoony Reads Society book club win! I read this on a plane ride in one sitting and enjoyed every minute. Starting with a hilarious meet-cute, this story has a touch of mystery, banter, great depth, and supportive, fun family. It’s a perfect fall read.

[Sandra Barker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a nice entertaining British period romance book. The main characters are Lady Elizabeth and Alex, Lord Linsfield. Elizabeth has already had 4 seasons in London without an offer for marriage, which is hard to understand when she is beautiful and intelligent. Alex, as head of his father's estate, has been busy with taking care of his property and his four younger brothers after the deaths of his father and mother. There is an issue with Alex trying to get custody of his young step-sister who is being neglected by her self-centered father. The story is clean and plays out as one might expect, but it's interesting to watch the interaction of the characters, who were both very likable.

[Shayla Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I give this book ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️(6/5 stars)

1809, Regency England

“Amidst the autumn leaves, there appears to be a rumored ghost sighting at the Blackwell Manor,” in the neighboring town of Bath… What a fun way to set stage for this charming tale. Choosing between the choice of duty to family or devotion of heart…Either choice has and will have a significant impact!

Alex Drake, Earl of Linsfield is quite a handsome, protective, humorous, driven, steady person who has spent so many years ensuring his younger brother’s successes. Now, it his young step-sister Lily, who has been neglected by her own father, who is in need of his care and protection. His objective is to help her at any cost, despite Lily’s father who resists all attempts to help, nor the beautiful and engaging lady who keeps crossing his path, bringing him great joy, a “balm for his own worries and guilt.”

Beautiful, as well as fearless, curious, and witty is endearing Lady Elizabeth Vaughn, who faces her own worries, but would “rather be the one to speak of hope and possibilities and lift some of the weight on their shoulders.”

“Hope is like a setting sun. It’s beautiful, the way it sends golden light over everything. But it can only be seen for a few moments, and generally, only just before the darkness sets in. After that, you must hold on to the memory of what was felt or seen. For, while the world is in darkness, you must rely on what hope illuminated previously to know which way to walk. If you reassess after pick the wrong road. So you must trust that little bit of hope from before. Trust the path you saw at the time of the setting sun. And trust the light will rise again.”

This dear book is such a sweet delight!! It is a heartwarming story with a lovely bright focus on hope, amidst the worries of life. Filled with twinkling wit, vivid imagery, and unforgettable characters. This book is well worth-reading!!!

[Dev G · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautifully written story about keeping hope when you’re going through darkness.

Lady Elizabeth Vaughn has been holding onto the hope of finding a true love match even though she’s had four disappointing Seasons. As an only child and with an ill father, she is running out of time. If that weren’t bad enough, she’s cursed too. According to her beloved Aunt Margaret, the reason neither of them are married is due to a curse put upon them by a woman who was scorned by their ancestor.

Elizabeth and Margaret’s relationship is a beautiful one of understanding and love and a bit of fun. I loved seeing these two women root for one another and support each other even when it involves some questionable shenanigans.

Alex Drake, Earl of Linsfield has had the world on his shoulders since his beloved mother passed. He’s seen to the future successes of his younger brothers and now he’s hoping to rescue his young step-sister from a neglectful father.

Alex and Elizabeth meet under unique circumstances and feel a connection and ease from the start. As their paths continue to cross, their relationship blossoms into a beautiful friendship as they help each other and encourage one another to keep hoping for what they desire most. Along the way, Alex and Elizabeth find a love beyond what either had ever hoped for.

Can Alex rescue his sister and win Elizabeth’s heart? Can Elizabeth overcome her curse and find love with Alex? They both must hold onto hope to light the way and carry them through.

I received an advanced free copy and am voluntarily leaving my honest review. Many thanks to the author.

[Brittney (booksta.britt) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a sweet story! I really loved this one! It has a bit of mystery in it as well. I love how Elizabeth gets another chance at love even though she has been out many seasons. She thought it was hopeless but Alex seen her. I appreciate that Alex is a family man and will protect them at all cost. This was an excellent read & I am excited for book 2!

[Mara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Could the Vaughn family truly be cursed from finding love? That would explain why Elizabeth Vaughn has not found a match after four seasons. Even promising relationships have ended for various reasons. What are the odds she'd find someone while in Bath? Alex Drake, Earl of Linsfield, has come to Bath because he worried about his very young step-sister. He has no intentions of becoming involved with any young ladies while there.

Elizabeth and Alex are so cute together!! Neither one planned to find love while in Bath but love often comes when you least expect it. I loved their meet-cute and all the witty and flirtatious banter between them. I loved how they became friends first and then fell in love as friendship is a wonderful foundation for a happy marriage. That first kiss! Such a swoony romance.

I loved the dual POV and the scene of Elizabeth and her Aunt Margaret breaking the family curse was so funny. I loved how much Alex cared for his younger sister even though they aren't related by blood; she deserved someone in her life who would love and care for her.

This was the perfect time of year to read this book with its abandoned, and possibly haunted, house, and a family curse! I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

“ Blackwell Manor was properly haunted. The neighborhood had expected it to happen well before now, seeing as the house had been most perfectly suited for a ghost thee two decades at least.”
Author Laura Rollins is a new to me author and this was a fantastic introduction to her writing. She has characters who draw you into the story, not only the main characters (Elizabeth and Alex), but also those that are secondary to create a world I didn’t want to stop reading. If this had been a mini series on TV, I would’ve binge watched all of it!

The theme of hope was so interesting because of the way that everyone saw it in their lives. Some saw hope as something that could never be achieved, while Elizabeth said, “…you once called hope a ‘painful kind of beauty. No matter how painful gets, I am determined never to give up. This is who I am. Despite disappointment, evidence to the contrary, or even a family curse, I will always give hope a fighting chance.” This really resonated with me!

Here are just some of the many things I loved about this story:
the family curse and measures to end it
humor
the extended family
a creepy, greedy character
love of family
the ghost of Blackwell Manor
the ending <3

I highly recommend this book to readers of all ages. There were so many amazing characters that I am hoping we will get to see a HEA for Aunt Margaret. I’d also love to see more of Alex’s brothers. They were perfect in helping thwart the plans of a horrible man.

I received a copy of this book. I was not expected to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

[Krystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Perhaps you have already guessed. But coming to know you, Lady Elizabeth, has proven to be one of the best occurrences of my life."
Adam is on a mission- to discover what is at the heart of the letters his brother has been receiving from his half sister- letters where she expresses her unhappiness and that hint at neglect from Adam's stepfather. Elizabeth and her family have come to Bath, hoping the waters will help her father's ailment. Watching him suffer physically, and with something that at this time was hidden for fear of what others would think, has taken a toll on her family. Add in a rumored haunted house and a family curse and you have this wonderful new love story from Laura Rollins that is perfect for the Fall season!
I thoroughly enjoyed this story! Adam and Elizabeth had a couple of funny meet cutes and watching them navigate their growing feelings for each other among difficult circumstances made for sweet reading. I enjoyed the mysterious components, and Adam's brothers, as well as, Elizabeth's aunt, were delightful secondary characters. I loved the theme of hope and how it played out through the story! I was also so excited to see a hint of the second story coming in this series!
"I think...hope is like a setting sun. It's beautiful, the way it sends golden light over everything. But it can only be seen for a few moments, and generally, only just before the darkness sets in. After that, you must hold on to the memory of what was felt or seen....So you must trust that little bit of hope from before....And trust the light will rise again."
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

[McKenna Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

By the Light of the Setting Sun is an engaging blend of mystery, family secrets, and supernatural elements, set in a slightly haunted manor. The story, includes a family curse and is atmospheric and perfect for fall, with a subtle sense of dread that keeps the suspense alive without being too spooky.

The haunted manor setting is richly described, adding to the eerie ambiance, while the mystery unfolds at a steady pace, offering twists that keep readers hooked.

I really enjoyed Alex’s character, he is a sweet and charming gentleman, heading to Bath on family business, unaware that his life is about to change. There, he meets the lovely Elizabeth, a beautiful and courageous woman. Their adorable meet-cute had me hooked, and every moment between them was a delight. The romance in this story is so swoon-worthy. I absolutely adore these two, and the book is filled with many other wonderful characters to fall in love with!

Overall, it’s a gripping, moody read that’s perfect for those who enjoy mysteries, romance and a supernatural touch.

What to expect:
🍂 Autumn Vibes
🧙 Family Curse
🧍‍♂️ Protective Older Brother
👻 Ghost sightings
🚫 Fearless FMC
🎩 Regency era

Quotes:
"Blackwell Manor was properly haunted at last.”

“Hope was like the last rays of a setting sun, that piece you held on to during the dark night until morning came again."

"The room around them seemed to fill with a kind of electricity. He could feel it in the air, along with the sweet and spicy smell of her perfume. His heart beat faster, and he wanted nothing more than to lean in and capture her lips with his own."

[Marilee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my word, I absolutely loved this one! So fantastically creative!

Elizabeth has already had four London seasons with no offers and is starting to believe that her aunt's claim of a family curse about never finding love has some merit. That is, until she meets Lord Linfield...

Alex came to Bath to check on his young stepsister, not find a wife but the more time he spends with Elizabeth, he is more intrigued by her intelligence, wit, and bravery. When circumstances force him to choose between his stepsister's safety and pursuing a future with the woman he has fallen for.

What to Love:
Regency era
Strangers to friends to more
Dual POV
Brave, intelligent heroine
Fall vibes
Rumored ghost sitings
Reluctant spinster
Witty and flirty dialogue
Breaking the curse
Aunt Margaret
The first kiss!!
The entire last chapter

This book seriously had me hooked by the end of the first page! This book is not scary in any way, but I loved the spooky fall vibes with family curses and haunted manors. Seriously so creative how it all came together!

Lizzy and Alex were both such endearing characters and oh, what a sigh-worthy romance! I am so excited for the rest of the series and all the stories of Alex's brothers.

I have read every book by this author and this is now one of my top favorites from her! If you have never read a Laura Rollins book, this is the perfect one to pick up!

I received a complimentary copy but a positive review was not required.

[Jodi Jensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished Laura Rollins’s By the Light of the Setting Sun. It is perfect for the fall because it has all the elements of a Regency romance that I love as well as a haunted house and cursed family. It was a delight to read.
Lord Alex Linsfield came to Bath to check on his stepsister. While snooping around his step father’s home, Alex is caught by Lady Elizabeth Vaughn, who is staying in Bath for her father’s health. After this initial meeting, Alex and Elizabeth continue to run into each other in the most unexpected places. The story that follows is full of family, mystery, friendship, and romance.
Alex and Elizabeth were so good together. I loved how their friendship formed and how they interacted with one another. They weren’t afraid of speaking their mind, nor were they afraid of apologizing to the other. It was so good.
As much as I loved Alex and Elizabeth, I also loved the supporting characters of Alex’s brothers and Elizabeth’s aunt. Alex’s brothers were the perfect complement to Alex—brothers who tease and challenge and make you want to be better. I can’t wait to read their stories. Elizabeth’s aunt, Lady Margaret, was fabulous. I loved how their relationship was so sister-like. Their midnight escapades were so good. Elizabeth was such a good sport to go along with Lady Margaret. I hope Laura gives Lady Margaret her own story too.
I enjoyed every minute of reading this sweet story. It is the perfect beginning to the new A Gentleman’s Heart series.

[Connie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun Regency romance. I enjoyed the autumn setting and old-fashioned superstitions that created funny, awkward situations and leant a fun Halloweeny atmosphere. I particularly enjoyed the theme of hope. It was interesting to see how different characters viewed hope and what that conveyed about them.

Elizabeth Vaughn has recently moved to Bath with her parents and an aunt because of her father’s precarious health. This situation has left both her and her single aunt anxious about their future should her father die. The obvious solution is to find husbands, but Aunt Margaret is convinced that the females of their family are cursed to remain single. Alex Drake has felt a strong sense of familial duty after the death of his parents. While he didn’t like the man his mother chose to marry, he now feels the responsibility to ensure the stepdaughter she cared for is thriving. But things go south when he learns the suspicious dealings of his stepfather.

I enjoyed this book. The superstition aspects don’t ever get out of hand or too gothic in feeling. I think they are meant to be more silly and light. One thing I didn’t particularly care for was the epilogue. While it was nice to see the happily ever after of the main characters, it seems to act as a teaser for the next novel in the series as it’s the only part of the novel that takes the perspective of one of the side characters.

[Elsa · Rating 5 out of 5]

After 4 unsuccessful seasons, Lady Elizabeth's hope of making a match is dimming. Will she follow in her Aunt's footsteps and spend years waiting for the right man to come along and offer for her or is it time to accept her spinsterhood and try to find a way to help her family in case her Father's health deteriorates even further?
Adam is in Bath trying to check on his young stepsister's well-being but his rotten stepfather won't let him even see her. Is something sinister going on? While trying to figure things out, and stop his stepfather's interest in Lady Margaret, he meets that Lady's niece, Lady Elizabeth. Can he warn her about his stepfather without her being upset with him? What about his own happiness? Must that take a backseat to caring for his family?
This is a cute, clean read. The beginning talks of ghosts and I didn't want to read anything with a supernatural aspect but it was safe. There was a bit of talk about a supposed curse and trying to end it and some superstition about finding your true love, but nothing felt too creepy to me, thankfully. Otherwise, this was an interesting story and had some humorous parts. Looking forward to more in this series. I like this author's storytelling and would recommend this and other books by her.

[Kim Griffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

By the Light of the Setting Sun by Laura Rollins is a sweet clean dual point of view Regency romance that had me rooting for the hero and heroine from the moment they met! Lady Anna and Alex, Earl of Linsfield, cross paths in an unusual manner (you’ll have to read to find out!). They soon develop a close friendship, but Anna has no illusions that it will become more, since she is under the family curse.

Family is a priority for both Alex and Elizabeth, and their response to difficulties is a beautiful example of caring for and putting others before ourselves, as they both go to great extremes and risk their own happiness for family in need.

With a house believed to be haunted, a family curse, chants, and games to tell the future, it fits with the obsession of the mystical during that time period. Though it is never really scary and none of them amount to anything, I would have liked to have seen those things put in more of a negative light.

Some of the obstacles in the lives of the main characters seem impossible to overcome, but Laura wraps everything up in a way that is surprising, perfect for them, and allows love to win out.

[Kim Capps · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a super fun read and kind of a different style to the regency books that I have read. And it was refreshing. Felt like I got to know more about the other characters than just the FMC and MMC. Loved the family unit and bond that was a main theme in this story from both MCs. Loved the niece and aunt (Elizabeth and Margaret) dynamics as they support and encouraged each other, even when it comes to breaking the family curse. I think my favorite part was the Linsfield brothers band together to help the eldest brother, Alex, fulfill the family duties to their stepsister and when it came time to chase after the women he fell in love with. Made my heart warm to read about the family bond. I’ll forever see candles in a different way and I’m on a quest for my own definition of hope. 🕯

How would Lord Linsfield describe hope? “I think hope is like a seedling. It’s the first glimpse of a desired future.” He watched as she mulled over he’s words— he could see in her eyes how her mind turned them around and around. “And what of you?” he said at length. “Tell me what you think of when you say hope?

[Kayla Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay. This beautiful book encompasses hope in such a way that it will leave you smiling and ready to read the next story. Ahh. Happy sigh. This story did have a spooky vibe and so it was perfect.

Elizabeth Vaughn was kind of a spit fire in her own right, but she was such a tender hearted soul at the same time. Her love for her aunt knew no bounds and with her father’s ailing heath she is faced with a difficult decision.

Alex Drake learns some distressing news about his young step-sister’s neglected life and he is determined to change that, though his dastardly step-father makes it almost impossible.

I loved the spooky Haunted Blackwell Manor. The scene when Elizabeth first comes upon it made me so nervous and scared (but I’m a wimp). The way hope shone through this whole story brought tears to my eyes.

You’ll Find:
☀️A Surprising Meet-Cute
☀️A Haunted Manor with a Ghost
☀️A Family Curse
☀️Dancing
☀️Mystery
☀️The Sweetest Brothers
☀️Heartfelt Moments

✨Favorite Quote: “I suppose the sight of me dirty and on all fours was not the best way to convince you of my honesty.”

Thank you Laura for another beautiful story! I couldn’t have enjoyed myself more while reading.

[Gypsi · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this Regency romance, Alex is concerned for the wellbeing of his stepsister, eight year old Lily and determined to remove her from the stepfather he detests. Elizabeth has just finished her fourth unsuccessful season in London, and is visiting Bath with her family, in hopes of improving her father's health. Alex and Elizabeth meet in a most interesting situation, and a friendship is quickly formed, which turns to something warmer. Duty, however, is uppermost in his mind, and Alex worries that he can't have Elizabeth's heart and still have Lily's safety.

This is a charming and well-written novel, with characters that I cared for immediately. There were funny moments alongside the more serious issues, and the plot was nicely paced. I was startled and amused at Rollins' use of the word "updo" (first recorded in the 1930s), but otherwise the feel and atmosphere of the era was nicely done. The romance was sweet, the resolution satisfying, and the book a pleasure overall. I will certainly read more by this author.

[Rebecca Curtis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lady Elizabeth has come to Bath after her fourth season in London proved to be one devoid of any potential for her future. The declining health of her father however, has Lizzy feeling the weight of responsibility towards her family acutely.

Alex, Lord Linsfield, arrived in Bath determined to ensure the proper care of his stepsister Lily. When the circumstances he finds her in are less than ideal and his worry only escalates, Alex proceeds to plot to take care of her, but that focus is interrupted when he meets Lady Elizabeth.

—
A beautiful novel, written with such great detail and descriptions that it makes an excellent read during the October month. The haunting of the ghost, fall picnics and a family curse waiting to be broken…all you need to make this a stellar book is an old abandoned manor…oh wait, it has one of those as well.

A fabulous read. I am so happy to have been able to be part of the advanced reading team, and highly recommend it!

[Carissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so excited about the announcement of a new Laura Rollins series! I absolutely love her books and let me tell you, this is going to be a great series! This family is absolutely wonderful! And we’ve only met three of the brothers so far 😝.

This book starts us off with Alex, the eldest son, and a sweet young woman named Elizabeth. Their first meeting completely set the stage for how the rest of the book was going to go and I loved it! They were a great match for each other and I loved the humor, trust, and immediate friendship between them. The many escapades they find themselves involved in was quite fun as well. But my favorite part is the end involving lights and an old house. Beyond that, I won’t spoil anything!

This is a good start to the series and now I can’t wait for the next brother up! Benedict will have a fun tale no doubt!

I received an advanced copy of this book from the author. I was not required to leave a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[MK · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was special. It started off with a really fun first line that worked it’s fun theme of haunting and curses lightly through the story.

“Blackwell Manor was properly haunted at last.”

Many characters faced challenges that made them question hope. Hope is different for everyone. I remember my own struggle to understand hope during my young adult years. It brought back those thoughts and feelings in a nostalgic way as each character shared their different views on hope, based on their life experiences.

“Hope can be a painful kind of beauty”

“…in darkness, you must rely on what hope illuminated previously to know which way to walk.”

I loved that this book captivated me by the storyline, made me laugh with the hint of supernatural, and made me think and feel with the challenges various characters faced. It was a beautiful book that I thoroughly enjoyed reading.

[Jessica McAvoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elizabeth and her aunt remain unmarried after multiple seasons. Aunt has been single longer and starts to be courted by Gibbs, a fortune hunter. Alex show up to take custody of his step sister after leaning that Gibbs is neglecting her. Alex is so focused on getting to Lily that he doesn’t really court Elizabeth enough for her to understand his feelings for her. He and his brothers find out that Gibbs is keeping Lilly because of her maternal grandfather’s inheritance and he is bribing people in Bath. Alex convinces Gibbs to leave for Northumberland and take a stipend from him. Elizabeth leaves to be a governess, but before getting far Alex lights all the windows of the haunted house to calls his love home. They get married.

It was fine. Nothing super amazing, nothing super annoying. I am holding out hope for a better ending for the aunt.

[Luci Jamison · Rating 5 out of 5]

clean romance

A haunting, a curse and a villain written into a gothic tale worth reading several times over.

The author creates a world in which she invites the reader into the lives of her characters and their families and friends.

The heroine is hopeful despite many heartaches. The hero is loyal to family at cost to himself.

I think the author was a bit kinder to the villain than I would have been ( ha ha). It it holds to the perspective of the hero.

I look forward to reading the next book in the series when it comes out!

[Our Book Confessions · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the characters the author created and the connections she developed. I loved their unconventional meetings, and the slow friendship they created.

But most of all, I loved the focus on hope.

I kept thinking of that line from Penelope: “It’s not the power of the curse, it’s the power you give the curse.” I loved how Laura drew on that idea and the tension the curse created contrasted with their varied ideas about hope.

Laura created beautiful familial relationships and characters we want more and more of. Benedict’s story has already pulled me in, and it was just an epilogue!

[Kimberly Keagan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a big fan of Laura Rollins. Like in her other books, she created likeable characters for this story and the amount of romance on the page is perfect. I enjoyed the secondary characters and look forward to seeing them in future books.

The reason I didn't rate this with five stars is that I found the premise a bit far-fetched. There are some problems that remain unresolved and one that is fixed neatly (too neatly) by the hero's brothers.

That being said, it's a quick and entertaining read and worth your time if you're a fan of sweet Regency romance!

[Abi · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5⭐️

Estuvo bien. Es de lectura ligera y la relación entre Alex y Lizzy me parece re tierna e íntima.
Todo lo de la maldición ocupó demasiado espacio y cada vez que parecía que la trama se iba a poner más interesante, la autora eligió la opción más aburrida, menos riesgosa. Podría haber dado para más.
El epílogo me gustó y no me gustó (bue). Banco que anticipe algo de la historia de Benedict, pero me habría gustado que estuviera dedicado a darle un mejor cierre a Alex y Lizzy.
En fin, igual me voy a leer el resto de la serie, a ver qué tal.