Forever Delighted

by Virginia Taylor

Feuding families, two lovers, one choice, wife or mistress.The disreputable Earl of Delmore, tossed out on his ear by his latest mistress, has decided to rusticate. During his first day of fishing, he catches the vicar’s step-daughter, Miss Anna Winters on his hook . . . in more ways than one.Despite knowing his family despises hers because of her wretched father’s complicity in a plot to kill the king, Anna can’t resist the lure of the handsome Earl. In no way acceptable as his wife, she offers to be his mistress.Although dangerously tempted, the dastardly rake refuses her offer. Better to have loved and lost than never to have ruined a fascinating woman.

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

269 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 3, 2024

About the author

Virginia is a full time writer who used to be a nurse/midwife, a scenic painter and designer, a renovator of heritage houses, and still is an avid gardener. She is also a bad driver, an unenthusiastic cook and a reader of all things bookish.

Reviews

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thoroughly enjoyable and warm-hearted historical romance!

[Caroline · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book reads like a Bridgerton romance, sharing the same names and places and to a large extent even the same plot. It was a fine read, but I'm overall pretty disappointed. It's very unoriginal and the language is SO weird at times, mixing modern and historical in a way that reads very, very wrongly. It definitely did not need to be 260+ pages.

[Butter Bagel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm pretty terrible at history but I thought it would be fun to read something from a different time period. I can't speak for the accuracy, but it was well written and transported me to the past.

I liked both Anna's and Delmore's characters. They both had separate arcs that I really enjoyed.

The ending fell a little flat for me. The story climaxed when Delmore decided to turn his life around and then present Anna with a marriage proposal. But there were a bunch of filler chapters where we have to read Delmore getting permission from his mother, from Anna's mother, then trying to convince Anna he's actually serious, and finding the right time to announce so to not offend anyone... it killed the momentum. I suppose this was just how marriage worked back then, but it did make the romance feel a bit less romantic when so much of their relationship depended on how well they were accepted by society.

Also, this book was advertised as being super steamy, but there were only 2 sex scenes, lasting probably 5 pages total of intimacy. There's plenty of tension, but if you're picking this up for an explicit read, you'd be disappointed.

I'm glad I read it, but I don't think I'll pick up another one right away.

[Lyn D Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

This first book in The Spring of Love series was a heartwarming, captivating, and unique historical romance. A Vicar daughter, a best friend, her half sister, her best friends rake of a brother, and some family members made for an entertaining love story that was full of humor and wit. The characters were delightful and interesting. I really liked how a humorous fishing encounter led to a drastic change in lives. I highly recommend reading!

[PollyAnna Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Calder & Anna

Sweet. I love the imagery of Calder catching Anna on his fishing hook...and not letting her go that flows from their meet-cute on throughout their story. I especially love the fact that he refuses to accept Anna as his mistress. In spite of his lifestyle prior to meeting Anna, Calder proves he is redeemable.

[Sven · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first book by this author and it was good. There's a rakehell of an Earl and Anna, a vicars daughter and his families enemy. She wants him, he resists her, but for how long??
A compelling story of love.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Stacy Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surprising fun

Anna believes she is "on the shelf". Fated to never marry, she is putting her energies into her younger step-sister's Debut Season. Then Anna meets their neighbor, a notorious rake!

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never too old

A case of never say never. Never think She means that you will forever be a spinster. Where love is found, love is hooked. It's just a matter of finding the right catch.

[H.M. Irwing · Rating 5 out of 5]

Too good

Loved everything about this book. The dry humour and yummy wit. The lead characters and even all the other characters. I hope there's a book about Jeremy too one day. He deserves his happy ending too.

[Brenda Geddes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very nice and awesome loved it

[William E.Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

Calder and Anna

This was a very good book and it kept my interest until the very end. This was a love story between Calder and Anna.

[Renee · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a sweet story, nothing spectacular, perfect if someone wants a low stakes read. I enjoyed the banter between the main characters.

[Aj · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story and romance, interesting characters. Class difference and feuding families... What could go right for our couple. A good mix of steamy and heartfelt journey to love.