Charmed in an Arranged Marriage

Love Beyond Expectations #1

by Dorothy Sheldon

In a world where power and wealth dictate matches, Lady Bella Redcliffe and Lord Edward Harrington find themselves in an arranged marriage, bonding over books and history. Can this union of minds overcome familial schemes and societal expectations?

Lady Isabella "Bella" Redcliffe, renowned for her wit and independence, is thrust into an unexpected arranged marriage with Lord Harrington. This union, orchestrated by their power-seeking fathers, leaves Bella feeling trapped, as she is not ready for marriage. However, she soon discovers a shared passion for literature and history with Edward, igniting an unforeseen spark of interest.

Lord Edward Harrington, a man of honor and subtle grace, is unexpectedly charmed by Bella's vibrant intellect and spirit. Their mutual love for history and literature, along with similar experiences of personal loss and strained parental relationships, draws them closer. Typically reserved Edward opens up under Bella's influence, revealing depths previously hidden. Their deepening bond, nurtured by shared grief and intellectual pursuits, forges a path for a unique and profound connection.

As romance blossoms between Bella and Edward, they must confront not only their differences but also the rigid expectations of their fathers. Will Bella and Edward seize the opportunity to carve their path, or will the invisible forces of society and familial scheming drive them apart? Will they grasp their chance at a shared forever, or will external circumstances ruthlessly shatter their blossoming love?


* If you enjoy captivating protagonists set amidst the elegance of the Regency and Victorian eras, then ''Charmed in an Arranged Marriage'' is the perfect read for you. This enchanting regency romance with approximately 60,000 words, promises a tale free of deceit, suspenseful endings, and culminating in a heartwarming happily ever after."

Pick up this amazing new story today!

Genres: Historical Romance, Historical Fiction

207 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 10, 2024

Reviews

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have become a huge fan of this author. I’ve loved reading historical romance since I was in junior high. Stopped for many years and then picked up a book by this author a few years ago and now once again found my love for historical romance books. This author never disappoints. This book has wonderful, well rounded characters and a good storyline. Lady Isabella Redcliffe is a very independent lady who isn’t happy when her father makes an arranged marriage for her. Then she meets her new fiance and of course he’s drop dead gorgeous. Lord Edward Harrington isn’t pleased about the marriage either but with his father pretty much black mailing him into this marriage he doesn’t have a choice. During their courting time, both Isabella and Edward find out being with each other isn’t too bad and they plan to make the best of it. That is until Edward’s cousin decides to put a stop to it and ruin Isabella. That’s all I’ll say so as not to ruin it but it’s a good, clean read.

[Cathy Ann · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF. I made it to Chapter 3 before I gave up. Nothing about this seemed believable, and I do not believe the author has a genuine understanding of the period.

[Patricia Sheppard · Rating 5 out of 5]

hide and seek with love

This is a love story with lots of human suffering. Our villain’s are almost all from one family. Catherine was a great villain. Personally I think she should have worn that awful dress that Catherine gave her to the ball smiling. Telling everyone that Catherine had insisted that she wear it. She couldn’t have danced and William would have seen Catherine for the snake she was. Both fathers would have been annoyed. As for Thomas you needed to have William run into him. Let there be an argument where William beats him up. Right now he’s in debtors prison. I think Catherine will get him out.

[Mary Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this novel, but I like regencies and heroes who are patient with the women they love. The couple in Ms. Sheldon's story meet after their parents have arranged a marriage for them. At first, Bella refuses to consider Edward as a potential husband because she is upset that her father has chosen him to be her husband without consulting her. Edward decides to teach her a lesson which soon has Bella paying more attention to him. There are fun moments in the plot, and then there are moments when others cause problems for Bella and Edward. I'll look for more books by Dorothy Sheldon.

[Shelby Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Treachery afoot!

How to manage a betrothal to a stranger! Lady Isabella has avoided getting close to any gentleman for two seasons, but her cold and arrogant father Duke makes arrangements with an Earls to have her marry his son. But Edward has no plans for marriage but his cruel father informs him if he doesn’t, his sister and aunt will pay the price. A lovely way to force a marriage , that neither want. Many trials ahead!

[Trish · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book about a rebellious woman, Isabella, and her arranged betrothal Edward. I hated the wicked woman and her wicked nephew. I especially hated it when the two were so mean to Isabella, and Edward wouldn't try to understand. A great story is boring without a problem to solve. I love Dorothy Sheldon books. She always makes the story interesting.

[Bert Kubo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful!

Enjoyed this clean regency romance novel by Dorothy Sheldon.
Lady Catherine, one of the aunts, remained true to her disagreeable form; was pleasantly surprised at a few twists.
I first became enamored with Dorothy Sheldon while reading the
Tillewood sisters series, which I also highly recommend.

[NelleRenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two powerful fathers arrange a marriage between their children. Neither of the children want to marry, but as they court, they find they have a lot in common, history and literature. As they come to better understand each other, a villain tries to break them apart. It was a nice clean read with good character development.

[Jane M Baddoo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful.

Dorothy Sheldon has broke the mold of nearly every other historical fiction. Her hero is not blessed with muscles popping from his chest. He’s ‘ not particularly handsome but an educated secret writer of ladies beloved romances. On top of that is is very fearful of being rejected by the very beautfle woman he loves. Very well plotted. Jane B

[Jeanie's Kindle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sabotage

Arranged marriages were common and generally accepted as means of closure for finding a match. Edward had not yet made a match and was his own man. His father wanted a heir for the title.
Isabella had two seasons with no match. She had turned down offers who only wanted her dowry but held little regard for her as a person. Her father wanted her married!

[Nancy Gutreich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charmed in an arranged marriage

I was very tempted to stop reading this book because I hated Lady Catherine so much. If I could have reached into this story and slapped her I would have. I wish you had them banish her from the house to live in exile and poverty because that is what she deserved.

[Ophelia Sellers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charmed in an Arranged Marriage

Dorothy has once again given us a great story with plenty of romance and a few surprises. The characters are real and lovable. I hated for the book to end.

[Carly Sorenson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfectly Arranged

What are the odds that two harden, self-centered lords who care only for business and appearances, strike an arranged marriage between their children that results in a perfect love match? Well, in this case, it was perfectly arranged!

[Lori Bodesheimer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice story

It was nice that this couple became friends even though they were going to have an arranged marriage. The story didn't end when you thought it was going to, so that was a pleasant surprise.

[Lorna J Cullember · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read!!

I feel like at times the story dragged a little, but I was amused and spellbound through the majority of this book.

I recommend this for any one who enjoys regent romances.

[Frances Curry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love comes slowly

Lovely quick read. Clean. Story draws you in and is believeable. I could actually see similar happening in the olden days. My great grandparents for one. Although minus the scandal).

Recommend.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 Stars. A sweet, low-stress regency era romance. The MFC has a bit more spunk than her societal counterparts, and I always appreciate that in a heroine. Also a clean read, which is an added bonus.

[LaRae Galloway · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good story and great chemistry between the two who are forced into a marriage together! Very enjoyable!

[Carol & Russell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A friend of mine give this book to me to read. And it was really hard to put down.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh, it was sweet but Bella was supposed to be headstrong and bold, but then she just rolls over and takes all the abuse ever from shitty relatives.

[Beckie Johnson Lowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

I absolutely loved Edward & Isabella's story, and so will you. Thanks, Dorothy, for writing another wonderful book. I can't wait for more.

[Mara Cusick · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was not only very predictable but the editing was so bad that it was extremely annoying!

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chapter 10 ? appropriateness of their riding in carriage unchaperoned
Chapter 17. He chose a passage of Shakespeare. Bella had never been fond of Shakespear. (misspelling)

[Sadie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet clean romance. It was relatively well paced. I do wish some of the plot developments and the characters were more fully developed.

[Piper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple story

Girl and boy falling in love, Sven through meddling parents. They both needed to grow up a little. Fast read

[Kristi]

dnf
too much romance that didn't get less explicit

[Bks43v3r · Rating 1 out of 5]

1 Star

I finished this book. I don't know why because I did not particularly enjoy it. Huh. Anyway, I thought about DNF'g it a few times, but I just kept right on with it. SMH. Some reviewers mentioned the editing issues. Yeah, that played a small part. I just found the story to be a bit...well...nonsensical.

Let's begin with the Prologue. I did not understand it's purpose in this book. Seems to me the book could have omitted the prologue and just started there as chapter one instead. Then there was a bit of a meet cute between the two MCs, early on. Then we move on to the forced engagement/arranged marriage. Not really forced since these two fall in love pretty quickly. The book gets pretty gushy at times with these two.

Lastly, there's a main villain who was pretty obvious and whose motivation was pretty thin/weak (IMHO). But crazy does not really need a good reason, does it? Because that is the only scenario it would have made any sense. I am not even going to get into what happens at the end. The epilogue was just a bad as the prologue. I am pretty sure folks did not do what happened. In the 1800s? Nowadays, yeah--all the time. Then? A big fat, NOPE. .First the H just happens to get a special license, no real reason-just because. So there's a quickie marriage. Secondly, they get married AGAIN a MONTH later in the epilogue. I don't get why they could not have just waited. Another thin reasoning point. Um, ok. (shrug).

. Things that made me go hmm...
1. In chapter two, Bella says that a previous suitor "might have made a decent heir to her father's dukedom." This due to the only son/brother being deceased. I am no authority. I did some Goggling though. There have been some cases of Matrilineal primogeniture; They are extremely rare. HOWEVER, none I found for a dukedom. It definitely would not have gone to a SIL. But another eligible male relative in the duke's lineage.

2. The H's sister (Ameila?) has not debut but is attending balls and able to dance waltzes? I don't think that is accurate either.

3. Did the marriage totally repair the h's reputation? Was there any fallout/repercussions? Also what about the villains? What happened with them? Nothing is stated. The reader is left to wonder.

Any who, I think this is the first Dorothy Sheldon book I have read. Besides what I have already mentioned, I did not find the story engaging. I completed the book to give it a chance. It just wasn't my cuppa. I do not plan to continue with the series.

Content:
Intimacy: Clean. Kisses only
Violence: The h is slapped in a scene.
Language: None that I recall.