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The Worthingtons #6

by Ella Quinn, Tamara Chovanová (Translator)

Záverečný, šiesty diel bestsellerovej regentskej série Elly Quinnovej s názvom Musíte mi veriť je plný vášne, dobrodružstiev a vtipných zápletiek. Spoznáme v ňom mladšiu sestru Augustu Viversovú, ktorú namiesto manželstva láka šíry svet.

Staršie sestry lady Augusty Viversovej si našli dobrých manželov, ktorých ľúbia, ale Augusta je presvedčená, že pre manželstvo by sa musela vzdať štúdia jazykov a geografie a nemohla by cestovať. Keď sa Augustina mama postaví proti jej rozhodnutiu študovať na jedinej univerzite v Európe, na ktorej môžu študovať ženy, je nútená zúčastniť sa na večierkoch a báloch usporadúvaných počas londýnskej spoločenskej sezóny. Večierky ju nebavia, až kým nestretne svetobežníka lorda Phineasa Cartera-Woodsa. No Európa čaká...

Phineas študoval architektúru na celom svete, ale jeho najväčším objavom sa stala Augusta. Ako by mohol odolať dáme, ktorá má rada mapy, cudzie jazyky a ďaleké krajiny? Augusta však túži po štúdiu, nie po vydaji. Keď sa Phinn dozvie, že príbuzní ju pozvali na výlet do Európy, rozhodne sa tajne pripojiť k ich skupine. Chce Auguste ukázať, že aj v spoločnom zväzku možno nájsť vzrušujúce dobrodružstvo. No keď im cestu skrížia nebezpečné prekážky, Phinn dostane príležitosť dokázať Auguste svoju lásku..

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

368 pages, Hardcover

First published February 26, 2019

About the author

USA Today bestselling author Ella Quinn’s studies and other jobs have always been on the serious side (political science professor and lawyer). Reading historical romances, especially Regencies, were her escape. Eventually her love of historical novels led her to start writing them.

She is married to her wonderful husband of over thirty years. They have a son and two beautiful granddaughters, and a Great Dane named Lilibet. After living in the South Pacific, Central America, North Africa, England and Europe, she and her husband decided to make their dreams come true lived on sailboat for three years. After cruising the Caribbean and North America, she completed a transatlantic crossing from St. Martin to Southern Europe. She's currently living in Germany, happily writing while her husband is back at work, recovering from retirement.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Blog ~ Instagram ~ BookBub

Reviews

[Barbara Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Series: The Worthingtons #6
Publication Date: 2/26/19
Number of Pages: 320
4.5 Stars rounded up to 5

WOW! There is a lot packed into this excellent, well-written, historically accurate book. I see discussions on the internet about an author not being able to make a book historically accurate and still have an interesting historical romance for today’s reader. Well, this author has done that, so maybe those others should just take lessons from Ms. Quinn.

One of the fabulous things in this book is catching up with all of the characters from previous books. Most of them make cameo appearances of one sort of another and it is lovely to visit with them. Another great thing is learning what it was truly like to travel during that time. Talk about a logistical nightmare! Then consider all of the things you have to take with you – especially for a trip outside of England. I loved the details of the trip and watching the romance grow as they progressed along the route. Additionally, I really liked the way Augusta was portrayed – she was a bluestocking in that she was very, very intelligent and interested in learning, but she was also a lady who liked fashions, shopping, etc. (all those lady things) rather than dressing in dull, drab gowns, having unkempt hair, and ink all over her fingers.

Lady Augusta Vivers wants a husband and children – but she wants them after she gets her university degree. There are only two or three universities that will admit women and the closest one of those is in Padua, Italy. She’s done all of her research and she’s even corresponded with the university there and they will admit her. Now, all she has to do is convince Matt, her brother and guardian to allow her to go. Her mother, however, puts a wrench in the works and demands that Augusta has at least one season before they even consider it. Augusta doesn’t figure that is a problem – “From what she had seen at the country assemblies, most men would rather talk about themselves. She would simply let them.” How wrong she is! Because she doesn’t interrupt them and just listens to them without comment, they think she adores them and the proposals come pouring in!

Lord Phineas Carter-Wood is a world traveler and scholar. He is also the apparent heir to his brother’s title. He doesn’t want to be, but his brother doesn’t seem to be able to sire anything but girls. Because of that, Phinn’s brother is wanting Phinn to marry and start his nursery. Phinn understands that the title needs to continue, but he doesn’t want to be the one to provide that continuation. However, he gives in and attends a few balls, soirees, and musicales with his sister-in-law in order to look over the crop of ladies on the marriage market. Imagine his surprise when he meets one that doesn’t bore him and actually carries on an intelligent conversation with him. How intriguing!

Augusta manages to create a stir (read that as mini-scandal) in the ton and is allowed to travel – chaperoned of course – to Paris. It is her plan to then head on to Padua to enter the university. Phinn doesn’t want to lose her and manages to attach himself to their traveling party. He wants to use the trip across Europe to convince her to marry him, but she is one stubborn wench!

This was a really fun read. It is filled with humor, danger, and a wonderful slow-burn romance. Try it, you’ll like it!

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"I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher."

[Tracy Emro · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lady Augusta Vivers is brilliant, reads and speaks several languages, corresponds with some of the most educated people in Europe and is lovely to boot. Her mother is expecting her to join the marriage mart and put her studies behind her - Augusta has nothing against marriage, someday. But her dream is to attend university and attain her degree. She has even gone as far as to apply and has been accepted to a university in Italy, now all she has to do is convince her mother and her brother to agree! Her mother is adamantly opposed and only agrees to consider it if Augusta agrees to a London season. She agrees and ends up being the most desired debutante of the season - much to her dismay.

Lord Phineas Carter-Woods is newly returned to London from Mexico, where he furthered his studies in architecture. Now he is back and his brother expects him to marry and secure an heir. His brother is the Marquess of Dorchester and the father of four daughters. Phinn doesn't want to marry now, he wants to travel Europe and continue his studies, but agrees to attend the season and see if he can find a woman who suits. And he does in the form of Lady Augusta.

Phinn thinks it seems simple and straightforward - woo the girl, marry her, get an heir and then travel - but nothing about Augusta will be easy. When he is rejected and learns that she is going to travel to Paris, he decides to follow her and convince her they would be perfect for each other.

This was a very informative story, I learned a lot about Regency Era travel, including the luggage, coaches, accommodations and the state of the roads. And as fascinating as all that was - and it was - I felt like I was reading a Regency Era travel documentary rather than a romance novel. I think would have enjoyed this book better as a novella rather than a full length novel as less than half of the story centered on the relationship between Augusta and Phinn. I thought both Augusta and Phinn were likeable, but Augusta seemed incredibly dense regarding men and Phinn seemed stuck in the "friend-zone" with no means of escape. They do of course work everything out in the end, but by the time they finally worked it out, I was not really interested anymore.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher.*

[Lyn Sweetapple · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good book with her intelligence being a major part of the story.

[One chapter more · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book tells a story of Lady Augusta, who, before she gets married, wants to attend the University. Unfortunately do pursue her dream she would have to move to Italy and fight many obstacles on her way. What if one of those obstacles is her own heart?

Unfortunately I do not have good news- I think I might have called this book the most boring book of February 2019. 80% in and there was still no action, no element of surprise and reader, or in this case me, found oneself bored to the moon and further. Don't get me wrong- the writing was beautiful, I could even say carefully calculated but that was the only positive thing about this book.

I would make this story a little bit different. What if the author didn't say anything about the plans of Lord Phineas following Lady Augusta? What if they met up 'accidentally' in Paris instead? We have an element of surprise and I think it would make the story more interesting.

I also had difficulties with the relationship between our characters. For me Lady Augusta was blind and silly? You could easily see that she was very young- even though marriageable age. Wouldn't you think twice why is someone spending so much time with you without getting anything back? Exactly- 'friend zone' like I haven't seen before.

I believe author wanted just to 'go safe' and was afraid to play with the story a little bit. I think that's what I was mostly missing in this plot- courage to go out of the comfort zone of the safe writing. Having such a topic, especially of a women in XIX century trying to attend a University? This could have easily become one of the most fascinating stories if executed correctly.

Having a little bit of action at the very end of the book did not save the whole novel, however I will appreciate trying to rescue the situation. Last 10% of the story should have been the whole book and it would have been more engaging, nevertheless I am leaving this book with 3 stars.


Thank you Netgalley for supplying me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Lisa Camara]

Lady Augusta just wants to go to university in Italy. She's not ready to wed. Enter Phineas Carter-Wood, world traveler. He also does not want a wife holding him back from the things he wants to do. It is a shock to himself when he falls in love with Augusta and is determined to have her as his wife.

I liked this book fine. It is well written, and a fun story.

The negative is that it is part of a series, so the author is constantly replaying the other characters back stories and it kind of annoyed me. I get that she wrote books starring all these characters, but I feel like it takes away from the story a bit.

Overall, I did enjoy the story.

3/5 stars.

**I received a copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review.**

[Caitlyn Lynch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lady Augusta is a polymath with an insatiable curiosity for learning languages. Having sought out tutors to teach her everything she can, she hankers to attend university, which really wasn’t an option for women in the Regency era, at least not in England. Having done her research and used her connections as an earl’s sister, Augusta might, just might, be able to get admitted to university in Padua, Italy… if she can avoid her mother’s determination to marry her off and get her family’s permission to go.

Phinn is the younger brother of a marquis with four daughters, and his brother needs him to get married to provide an heir. Phinn has a fascination with architecture, though, and desperately itchy feet; having just returned from Mexico, he wants only to be off again, this time to Europe.

On the face of it, Augusta and Phinn are a perfect match, something their families realize early on, and so does Phinn. Augusta, though, understandably fears he’ll want her to settle down and start popping out babies immediately, so does her best to friendzone him.

It was somewhat frustrating that Augusta didn’t just tell Phinn about her wish to attend university, but it was obviously a plot point that needed to happen as otherwise there would have been no conflict in the story. Phinn was obviously the kind of man who would move heaven and earth to see Augusta achieve her dreams - and without giving away too many spoilers, that’s exactly what he eventually does.

One thing I really liked about this is that the romance isn’t a case of insta-love - the characters develop a really deep friendship first, and their ‘getting together’ occurs close to the very end of the book - but that wasn’t without its problems, in that the first part of the book really dragged. I seemed to have been reading for ever, checked, and I wasn’t even halfway through the book yet. At 320 pages, I think it could probably have been cut to about 240 and would have been a much better, tighter read.

Overall I enjoyed this, especially Phinn as he happily acknowledged that Augusta was definitely the smartest person he knew and supported her dreams. Well researched, there are some great sections travelling through early nineteenth-century Europe, but it was just a bit slow and frustrating, especially in the first half. Four stars.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for review through NetGalley.

[Athanasia ♥︎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally a health relationship in historical romance ❤️❤️❤️

Phineas and Augusta are the most fitting pair I have read about in a while. Both thirst for knowledge, freedom, and unconsciously, love. I especially love Augusta's journey to obtain a university degree as well as the travels that took place. Also, the fact that Phineas was her match both intellectually and in her reluctance to love and be loved. Also, Phineas's understanding of her dreams and the way he protected her (even if he also did it for selfish reasons) was so endearing! They were so adorable!


Tags:
Historical Romance⚔️🏰🐲
Virgin FMC ♍🌮💦
Slow burn 🕯🪔 🧯
Simp MMC🙌😻
Possessive MMCs💞 💓 💗
Miscommunication😵‍💫⚠️
Angst😐😑😬
Learning intimacy💁👌😍
Mitual pinning ❤️‍🩹💔
Weapon use 🗡 ⚔️🔫
Travel 🗺️🧭🌍
Spicy 🤤😳 🥵
HEA🔔🤵🏼👰🏼

[JoRead · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve enjoyed other books in the series by this author, and while Lady Augusta and Phin was a fun pair to read about I didn't feel the romance took center stage. That said, I did liked the fact that they travel part of the continent, giving us another glimpse of life besides England at the time.
Normally it wouldn’t bother me but for some reason the fact that we get to revisit the lives of ALL characters from previous books in the series did prevent me from fully enjoying this story. There were times that I thought there were too many characters at one place and it was hard for me to keep track of them all. I also felt the pace of the whole was way too slow with too much historical detail, sometimes even more than what I thought necessary for the story to move forward.
This is a friends to lovers, slow burn, slow pace romance that I’m sure others will enjoy more than I did.

** I received this book at no cost to me and I volunteered to read it; this is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher **

[Monique · Rating 4 out of 5]

He had never met a woman like her

Lady Augusta Viviers had made up her mind that she would study at the university in Padua, Italy, and that was final. When she informs her brother, the Earl of Worthington who is also her guardian, and her mother of the fact, the former is livid, the latter distraught. Her brother somewhat comes around, but her mother insists Augusta must marry and forget her silly notions of higher learning. Lord Phineas Carter-Woods' brother, the Marquis of Dorchester, also wants Phineas to wed soon, to ensure that the title is secure. Phinn has no intention of getting married in the immediate future. But Helen, Phinn's sister-in-law, is determined to help the family cause, and she introduces Augusta, a scholar, to Phinn, an architect. Helen knows they will be perfect for each other. They are, but how could they ever reconcile their futures, so at odds with married life? Would they even want to alter their plans?

The premise is not be the most original, but historical accuracy goes a long way in this sixth installment of The Worthingtons. As much as I love the series, the sheer number of characters is becoming a bit overwhelming. The series is looking more and more like a family saga than interconnected standalone novels. There are so many characters that it's hard to remenber who's what to whom. All the introductions and keeping up with everyone weigh down the narrative, and could easily discourage a new reader. If you feel it might be the case, do not worry too much about getting lost; simply concentrate on the main characters and you'll do fine.

The romance between Augusta and Phinn progresses quite slowly, partly because they don't want it to happen.They, too, realise they are ideally suited, but the timing is all wrong. The story itself could have easily been a novella, were it not for the fact that the author treats us to our own Regency Grand Tour, as we leisurely stroll about in Paris, Germany, Hungary, Austria, before reaching Italy. Ella Quinn has done more than her homework: her knowledge of European culture and history is most impressive and her descriptions vibrant. It does take a long time for the romance to unfold, but the road to the happily ever after is a delightfully educational one.

Augusta and Phinn are both very appealing characters, and I love that there was no unpleasantness of any sort; the romance is utterly charming. Ms. Quinn is her usual eloquent self, the dialogues are particularly witty, everything feels entirely genuine. In fact, in two instances, maybe even a tad too realistic. I was surprised that the "dangerous obstacles" of the book description consisted of little more than a rather bizarre episode towards the end. However, Phinn's grand gesture was worth the time it took to reach the destination, and made it all worthwhile.



I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I give 3 1/2 stars

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lady Augusta Vivers is thirsty for knowledge, rather than marriage as most ladies her age are, and wants to go to university instead. She just has to convince her brother Matt, the Earl of Worthington, to agree. In the meantime, she must go through with her come out season to please her mother.

Lord Phineas Carter-Wood travels the world studying architecture and only plans to be in London for a month, just long enough to plan his next trip and to appease his brother, a marquis with four daughters and a growing concern over his lack of an heir. He is determined not to settle down and marry, but meeting the intelligent and multilingual Augusta has him rethinking a bit.

Each is interested in and drawn to the other, but both are leery of jeopardizing their European travel plans. Given their connection and shared interests, it's too bad neither is looking for marriage. But soon Phinn begins to really see the toll the lack of an heir is taking on his brother and sister-in-law and decides he really should marry and he doesn't want to miss out on his chance with a woman he'd be happy with. He just has to convince Augusta. But when she refuses him and leaves for Paris with her cousins, Phinn decides he must follow and try to convince her that he's the right man for her.

Rant and maybe spoilers begin here: The book began to drag on a bit for me towards the middle with the main characters just spending more time together without much really happening other than their travels. Augusta frustrated me in not being more honest with Phinn up front; if anyone would've supported her studies, it would've been him. They could've made up a plan together quite easily with more communication and less single mindedness. There were many scenes that served more as a bit of filler, albeit well-written and very well-researched filler, but didn't really do much to advance the plot. I began to get a bit frustrated with how often Augusta's superior intelligence is mentioned, because if she'd employed a bit more of that intelligence she would've realized Phinn did indeed love her. It was just hard to believe that someone so intelligent could be so naive and unobservant. The apparent obsession gentlemen everywhere had with meeting her got a bit old too, although this device did at least serve to bring her and Phinn together more.

Really the whole thing just got a bit tedious and almost repetitive in her arguments against Phinn, then when she does start to notice him as a man, the first thing was that he has all his teeth. Honestly. I liked Augusta at first but the more time I spent with her the more she annoyed me. Overall, this was an extremely well-written and thoroughly researched book and the travel aspect was great, but the overall pacing and plot itself just fell a bit short for me.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Blog link: https://mustreadalltheromance.blogspo...

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even the Worthington least likely to wed may find her perfect match . . .

Marriage has worked out quite nicely for her older sisters, yet Lady Augusta Vivers is certain it would end her studies in languages and geography, and stop her from travelling.

Phineas has studied architecture all over the world, yet Augusta is his most intriguing discovery yet. How can he resist a woman who loves maps and far-off lands? But her longing for all things foreign hinders any hope of courtship. When he learns her cousins have offered a trip to Europe, he secretly arranges to join their party.

The last thing Phineas expected to find was the love of his life. He is much more interested in his travels than some giggly young lady making her come out.

Augusta wants only to go to university. She knows if she marries that wish will come to an abrupt end.
This is the tale of two very intelligent and equally unlikely people who discover along a very bumpy way that love and ones other wants can both be had at the same time.

I enjoyed yet another Ella Quinn, Worthington family story. I have read all of this series including six full length novels and two novellas.
Although not as comical as most of this series there is still some humor and the expected requisite animals involved in this the sixth book in this ever engaging series.
I gave Phineas and Augusta's story 4.65 of 5.0 stars for storyline and characterization. I do recommend reading these books in order to get the whole scope of the family but all of these books can be read as a standalone. The only drawback is the interconnecting character stories.
I received a complimentary digital ARC of this book to read. This in no way affected my opinion of this title which I read and reviewed voluntarily.

[Sissy's Romance Book Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

Believe in Me by Ella Quinn is book 6 in The Worthingtons Series. This is the story of Lady Augusta Vivers and Lord Phineas Carter-Wood. I have read (and Loved!) the other books in this series, but feel you can make this a standalone book if you wish to do so. We do get to catch up with some of the previous characters so that is always a bonus to any book.
Augusta has her mind set on continuing her studies and wants to attend one of the few colleges that are for women. But her mother has set a rule down that Augusta must at least attend one season of the Ton. Phineas is the heir to his brother's Title since his brother just has daughters, so he is being pressured to attend a Season to find a wife. Phineas agrees to try know that none will really catch his interest but then he meets Augusta who does. Augusta is intrigued with Phineas but she still has her eye on the prize of college. When a small scandal hits she gets to leave the Ton but Phineas is making sure that he goes along want to show her that she can have the best of both worlds...but danger of course set it path toward them too.
I have so enjoyed this Series! I am such a big fan of Ms. Quinn's writing. I try to read everything she writes...never disappointed in her stories...Loved them!

[Pelusa Rivera]

I tend to enjoy Ms. Quinn's books and while I did enjoy to the point I kind of wish we cut out all the travelling, but that is just my opinion and let me explain why. So we have Lady Augusta who rather go to the university and travel than marry which is kind of unheard of in that era and I say more power to her, unfortunately Augusta has to convince her brother and mother but while she does that she still has to have her season. She meet Lord Phineas Carter-Wood who needs and heir but he is not really looking forward to getting married but he meet Augusta and she would be the one he is interested in and the one who could change his outlook on marriage since she is smart. Then here we have all the travelling and if Augusta would just think she would realize that Phineas is just the one who would understand her and give her her dream. So yes I enjoyed but could have avoided many pages.

Rcvd an ARC at no cost to author..(netgalley) voluntarily reviewed with my own thoughts and opinions.

[Tween 2 Teen Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was fun. It was also INCREDIBLY slow burn. While a slow burn can be nice, this took a bit too long for my tastes. That said, I absolutely LOVED the main character and how the characters fell in love for each others brains before their bodies.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Believe in Me is Book 6 in The Worthington series and works well as a stand alone. There are a lot of characters that the reader might not know but this isn't a deterrent to Phinn and Augusta's story. Lady Augusta is in love with learning. She knows several languages, and longs to study at university, something not available to women except at one university in Italy. She convinces most of her family to allow her to study, but only after one more season. Lord Phineas Carter-Woods - Phinn - is the heir presumptive to his brother who has 4 daughters. He wants to go to the continent to study architecture, but promises one more effort to see if he can find a wife. Phinn and Augusta grow close in friendship and along the way, discover that friendship and having things in common, is the best way to love and happy ever after. Quinn's writing reminds me of a BBC production and I can see it all through her careful and historically accurate details. I enjoyed the details about aristocratic travel during this period of history, and feel like I learned something about travel during the time. I also appreciated a story about a heroine who didn't want children first, she wanted to learn and see the world, and needed to find a way to try to do that. Add in the hero that gets that and is willing to accommodate it and do what needs to be done to make her happy, and you have a winning combination. The conflict is mostly internal and emotional, there is no dramatic event or misunderstanding to overcome. In that way, the pace is slower, but it is almost more relatable. Phinn and Augusta just need time and Quinn gives them and their story, the time they need. Grab a cuppa and curl up for this warm read..

I received an e-ARC from the publisher via Net Galley. All opinions are my own.

[Lesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Polyglot Heroine 3.5*.
The heroine is a bluestocking (an educated, intelligent woman) but that fact is concealed from the ton lest she ruin her marriage prospects. Not sure why this would be the case as 1) she doesn’t want to marry this season as she wants to study in Padua (a university chosen because it once accepted a woman) and 2) she would never be happy with any man who didn’t embrace her intellect, so what would be the point of concealing it. There had obviously already been talk as Phinn’s sister-in-law had identified Augusta as a potential match for him based on her knowledge of languages and geography before she even took her place in Society, so her mother must have been extolling her daughter’s accomplishments even if no other gentleman appears to have known about it. Never having read any previous books by this author I did find the plethora of characters rather confusing and was often unsure which were friends and which were family, and if the latter how they they were related to the heroine. Perhaps a family tree or character list that the reader could refer back to would help. I also found the book overly long and felt it needed tightening or alternatively more action, to stop the readers attention from wandering. The author obviously has a lot of historical knowledge but at times the book read like a early C19th travel journal.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars,
3.5 stars
I have enjoyed the previous stories that I’ve read in this series but this one was just too slow paced at the beginning for me. I did enjoy it from half way through and found it fascinating to read how people with money travelled across Europe. Augusta was an extremely intelligent lady and Phineas was able to appreciate her knowledge and brilliant mind. He was an exception to most of the gentlemen of this age, in that he encouraged Augusta to continue with her studies. Their relationship developed slowly and they were friends first of all. I loved the way Phineas did everything he could to fulfill her dreams. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Asha - A Cat, A Book, And A Cup Of Tea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like a heroine who knows her own mind, and luckily, Regency romance provides me with a fair few young ladies with interests outside catching a husband…

Believe in Me is the fourth book in this series, but as with most historical romance, you don’t really need to read them in any order, as each story is fairly self-contained. This is the story of Augusta, a woman who loves learning, especially geography, and who is determined not to be trapped into a marriage that would force her to settle down and give up her dreams of attending university in Padua (the only university that would even think of admitting a woman!). Our hero, Phineas (Phinn) needs a wife – but he’s fallen for Augusta, and will have to convince her that marriage doesn’t mean the end of her dreams.

I really liked that Phinn fell unashamedly and wholeheartedly for Augusta very early on in the book, and thus the story was not one where the characters dithered about not recognising their attraction, but rather, it focused on Phinn helping Augusta to achieve her goals in order to simply make her happy. This allowed her time to realise that having a husband wouldn’t ruin her life, and of course, once she realises that, she’s able to realise that there’s a perfect man waiting for her… The romance is a fairly slow burn, and it’s fun to watch the other characters feeling like they want to knock Augusta and Phinn’s heads together. I imagine them pushing them together like ‘now KISS’!

I really enjoyed the look at different places in Europe – so often we’re limited to London, or to a country estate, and you never really think much about the continent other than the occasional mention of Napoleon. Here, we got to see a lot of the practicalities of travel. I did think that the travelling sections were a little bit over-done, perhaps as part of Augusta’s bluestocking nature – it did feel rather as if the author was showing off her research rather than getting on with the story. But, it worked in allowing some unusual situations to crop up in which our love interests could be alone together, with more freedom than if they’d been in London.

I enjoyed this one! I liked that the author had made an effort to break out of the formulaic patterns you see so often, and that Phinn and Augusta were both fairly unusual main characters. It gets rather silly towards the end, but the Happy Ever After put a smile on my face, and it’s a lot of fluffy fun. Four out of five cats.

[🦉Maggie Whitworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

❤️❤️❤️❤️
💋💋
This is one to really make you think of how far society has progressed in the last 100 years or so .
It’s astonishing really that women still were not allowed to have a University education , and that social strictures were so tight , All because women were believed to be less able to learn or weaker .
Ella has written a really great book , the descriptions are excellent and so vivid , from the coaches to the countryside, to the castles and yachts and restaurants, all so wonderful you can really see it all in your head whilst reading .
It’s a lovely romantic tale of a woman who wants not everything, just her own choices, her own life and to achieve a university degree , falling in love is not one of her options , that doesn't mean she can stop it happening .
Loved the book
I received an advance copy of this book and chose to submit a review

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this latest novel in the Worthington series. You don’t have to have read the books in order or to have read them all to enjoy this delightfully unique family. Each person has his or her own personality and yet they work together as a supportive whole.
When Lady Augusta Vivers states her intention to be admitted to and to graduate from the University in Padua, her family is a little surprised. Her intelligence and quest for knowledge has never been questioned, but for a young woman to travel to Italy and to pursue a higher education takes them a moment to adjust to. Her brother seems like he is willing to consider it. Her mother is adamantly opposed. In an effort at compromise, Augusta agrees to participate in the events of the Season and to see if anyone suits her for marriage. Augusta has no intention of getting married and giving up her dreams, but to keep the peace, she will try. She doesn’t expect to find a man who listens to her and seems to appreciate her intelligence.
Lord Phineas Carter-Woods knows that he has to find a woman and get married so he can produce the heir his brother needs. His brother has only been able to have daughters so far and after four, he fears that he won’t have a son. Phin wants nothing more than to continue his travels and to study architecture around the world. He agrees to make a real effort to find a wife with the agreement of his brother that if he is not successful, Phin can leave to travel Europe. Phin doesn’t expect to encounter Augusta or to find her so compelling.
With neither Phin nor Augusta willing to settle for marriage and to give up what they want, their relationship has some hurdles. Fortunately, events transpire to keep throwing them together and the others in their lives help them along. I loved watching them start as friends and then grow that relationship.
Ms. Quinn did her research into how difficult it was for women to be educated in this time period. Universities were not allowing women to attend and the one school that did was downgraded to a college. Women were thought to only be extensions of their husbands and without husbands, they had little identity on their own. Ms. Quinn shows how that caused issues for some women and how others had to be supported by their families.

[Elodie’s Reading Corner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first read of Ella Quinn’s work, and I do loved it.
It is not a read to be rushed, everything is to be savored, from the details of the landscapes, the customs and traditions, the different ways of traveling and the smooth progression of the romance.
Lady Augusta Vivers is one really unusual woman, she drove her way in life only to acquire more and more knowledge, thus why she now wants to attend college, but only very few universities in Europe accept women, and only is this one woman is very exceptional. But to convince her family to agree to her trip on the continent, she must enter the marriage mart and remain unmarried by the end of the season.
Lord Phineas/Phinn Carter-Wood is himself trying to deflect too the thorns of the marriage minded mamas. He knows it is duty to marry to fill his family’s need of an heir but he would very much prefer stay celibate to enjoy traveling as much as it pleases him.
So they meet and even if they are the perfect half for each other, they are unable to see it at first, each one driven by its own expectations.
Hopefully Phinn is a very stubborn man, he will never force himself upon Augusta but he won’t remain immobile when the only woman is of importance for him is leaving him behind.
They are both so pigheaded they were unable to see each one falling in love with the other, both suffering when depressed by thinking their feelings were not returned.
It was cute to see them fall for another, suffering silently when they thought they were not being seen.
And I do loved to see a strong heroine who will not let her dreams being walked by even for love. She has plans, she can adjust them but will not gave up what she always dreamt for. Plus Phinn is her perfect soulmate, once he understood what Augusta was looking for, he made himself a mission to help her reach her goal.
That they were surrounded by a group a nice meddling people, was a sweet and funny addition to the story.
In all, a wonderful entertaining read, soft in steamy scenes, with a great bunch of characters too happy to settle down but at the same time, so ready to help them to get the answer they need to hear.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

**I received a ARC through the publisher on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
This was the first book in the series that I read, but I don't think that took away from my enjoyment of the story. Overall, I did enjoy this book. Augusta and Phinn are good leading characters and their relationship and interest in one another is believable. However, I tired of hearing how every eligible male to meet her ends up wanting to marry her – the parts involving her more melodramatic suitors took away from the overall credibility of the story. The stories of their travels through Europe added a unique spin to the story, but I felt they slowed the pace and sometimes felt more like filler than integral pieces of the plot. Also, I was never sure what point the dog and cats they pick up along the way was supposed to serve.

This book can also serve as a reminder of how far we have come in terms of dating – it could have been over in 50 pages if the characters had been allowed to have an open and honest conversation about their feelings rather than conforming to the rules of polite society. Although, I could have smacked Augusta upside the head for not recognizing how much Phinn felt for her – as though someone who is just a good friend would follow her to Europe and make sure she was able to do everything she dreamed of while there. The events leading up to the HEA bordered on the ridiculous, but were certainly original.

[Norah Gibbons · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book to read through NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. Believe in me by Ella Quinn is book 6 in her Worthingtons Series. You could read it as a stand-alone however I have enjoyed reading the other books in the series and characters from those books figure prominently in this one as it is a book about family. The story is story the friends to lovers trope with quite a bit of behind the scenes meddling by the family members. Lady Augusta Viviers has no desire to marry as she would like to pursue her education further and attend University at Padua. Reluctantly she agrees to attend the season at her mother’s behest with no intention of making a match as she does not see marriage and children being compatible with her goals. Lord Phineas Carter-Wood has also reluctantly agreed to attend the season and is supposed to be looking for a wife as his brother has only 4 daughters and no heir so it is up to him to carry on the line. Phin doesn’t see marriage as compatible with his plans to travel and explore architecture but as he comes to know Augusta is rapidly changing his mind on the subject. I did enjoy reading this book but found it difficult to achieve a willing suspension of disbelief around the circumstances of their wedding. It struck me as unnecessarily melodramatic. Mild Steam. Publishing Date February 26, 2019 #BelieveInMe #EllaQuinn #NetGalley #KensingtonBooks #ZebraRomance

[Lori D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another exciting addition to the Worthington's series! When an intelligent young lady wants to further her studies and go to university, why would her family stand in her way? Well first it was in Italy and second Lady Augusta's mother was set on her having a season and getting married. She does agree to the one season but makes no plans to encourage any men which would mess up her plans to travel. Now, just has to convince her brother she will be fine and very careful while away.
Lord Phineas had come home to England to visit his brother after his latest travels out of the country. He is being pressured to marry and produce a male heir due to his brother and his wife only having girls. He was anxious to start traveling again but committed to stay until the end of the season and look for a potential wife..
Sound perfect together? Both love to travel, are extremely intelligent and will be out in society!
As it turns out, these two do meet and end up traveling together and getting to know each other.
Ella Quinn has an extraordinary knowledge of the history and culture that is dynamic and you will feel as if you are seeing the sights as our couple travel through many countries before reaching Italy. She is a wonderful wordsmith drawing the characters out and taking them on a journey of discovery and most of all, their feelings which slowly develop.
Such a delightful story with lovable characters and sparkling banter that will have you smiling at the end!!

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book tells the story of Lady Augusta Withers, the Worthington who spends her time learning as much as she can about languages and geography. Her mother worries about how such a learned lady will find a husband, but even with this concern she forces Augusta to undergo a season, rather than heading directly for university in Italy. Augusta is sure she won’t find a man who interests her until she meets Phineas Carter Wood, a man who is focused on learning about architecture, but who also has to find a wife and have a child ASAP. As they end up in the same traveling party throughout Europe, maybe they will find a way to bring their lives together.
The highlights of this book include the characters and the setting. I liked how the same crazy, big, loud and loving Worthington family is present in this book. You have to love all the different personalities, though for me I really liked how Augusta was so focused on education in a time when that just wasn’t done, how Phinn was shocked at first but then supportive in every way he could be and how Grace quietly and calmly ensures things turn out as they should.
I also felt like the setting details added to this book. It was a delightful tour of Europe and actually seemed quite realistic.
The ending of the story was lovely!
This is a great read and I’d recommend it to anyone who has ever dreamt of going on The Grand Tour.

[Natalya Kayory · Rating 1 out of 5]

I want to start by saying I was willing to meet this book where it was.
Having read one and a half other Ella Quinn books, I knew that I was in for a slow and somewhat boring read in terms of—problem, solution, problem, solution all the way until the end, and the weird relationship Ms. Quinn appears to have with historical accuracy—more on that later. I’m just trying to say that’s not why I found this book egregiously bad.

Like, if this was a Cobalt Fairy book free on Kindle Unlimited, it would be one thing. But what from what I can tell, Ella Quinn is a professionally published author, and I have no idea how this book can support that notion.

The story: Augusta Vivers is a regency debutante, but her interests are actually of the more intellectual variety—she speaks a dizzying number of languages (off the top of my head, French, Old French, Punjab, Nahuatl, German, Slovenian, Italian, and Spanish, and of course English, but there were probably more) and is in general Very Smart. I’m not exactly sure what else she's good at, if anything—but she has her heart set on going to university in Italy. This part confuses me a little bit because it’s never discussed what she plans to study (although this book was really boring, so it was losing me by the last chapters). Every one of the few women who held a doctorate pre-1800 got it in philosophy, law, or medicine, none of which she appears to really have an aptitude for. Linguistics wasn’t a major back then. The reason why it’s hard to tell is that Augusta (and Phinn) are constantly said to be very smart, always saying things to each other that are So Much More Interesting than insipid Small Talk that Other People make in social situations, but we never actually see much of their intelligent dialogue? Occasionally Phinn talks about his travels, but more often than not we have vaguely flirty banter that we are informed took place in another language, because they both speak so many. I get it. It’s difficult to write intelligent Regency characters because it’s not always clear how much modern knowledge about things like science they knew, and you don’t want to have them saying something the reader thinks is totally correct, but you also don’t want them saying something that wasn’t invented til 1978, you know? But I think Ms. Quinn could have tried a little harder, or tweaked things so that Augusta only had one intellectual passion. As it is, I felt like everyone kept telling me how brilliant Augusta and Phinn are, and I basically never saw it. Phinn also knew some languages, not as many, but his intelligence seemed to revolve around the fact that he had been to Mexico, which is also true of many spring breakers but not necessarily an endorsement of their intelligence.

Okay, so Augusta is going to make her début, but she’s really really really smart, way too smart for all of the stupid guys who live in Regency England and aren’t the hero! And she wants to go to university, not get married. But she does want to get married, just not right now. We don’t really know why she wants to go to university, other than that she’s really smart and that’s what smart people do, which wasn’t even true at this time, there were lots of educated women who did not go to university—the vast majority. And her motivation to not marry is university. That’s not super interesting to me.

Luckily, Augusta is extremely beautiful, fashionable, and rich, not like an ugly old blue stocking. Which I actually liked. I’m kind of sick of historical plain girls in gray feeling superior to girls with updos just because they read, it just comes off as whiny. But she comes off as a Mary Sue to me in some ways—not only does she speak every single language ever known, and is the Smartest Person Ever, but every single man in London and Europe is in love with her. It’s explained that she's polite and noncommittal and that just makes men go wild I guess. Sure Jan.

Phinn is a younger son whose older brother, a Marquess, has only girls, and for some reason he and his wife need Phinn to get married and have a son RIGHT NOW. I can understand the impulse itself, but Augusta and other characters continue to place so much arbitrary importance on the immediacy of the request. Augusta and Phinn are attracted to each other (because they’re the only Smart People ever and they can have Deep Conversations (or we are told they have them)) but Augusta knows Phinn needs a wife and baby NOW, and she wants to delay marriage to go to university, and that is the whole reason why they have to stay apart. There is no real urgency to waiting a few years to marry. Most men married later in life than women anyway—there isn’t really as much of a biological reason why they would need to marry sooner, and the brother is young and in robust health as well. If I’m writing this book, I would have made the brother in very poor health, or done away with the brother before the story starts, so that Phinn is the new Marquess, and his widowed sister in law is putting pressure on him to marry and extend the title. I feel like that gives it a little more reason to marry right this second.

This is kind of a slow burn romance, as another reviewer said, and it is indeed very slow. But the interactions that Augusta and Phinn have on their first night meeting are the same as at the end of the book, although by the end of the book they’re also having sex. The only difference is that they spend the first quarter of the book thinking, "Do i love (them)? No, that would ruin all my plans! It could never work with (them)!" But they hang out together all the time and just act like close friends. Phinn, still stubbornly resisting the idea that he is in love with Augusta for seemingly no reason (he has no internal conflict over love) decides to propose to Augusta because he likes her and knows he will grow to love her. Augusta is upset because other people have proposed and she doesn’t want to get married. Immediately afterwards, Phinn realizes he is in love with Augusta, so IDK why he didn’t do that before he proposed. This part has a lot of interactions leading up to the proposal and the love epiphany but I didn’t really see the love grow—it was more them noticing how hot the other one was and agreeing with all the things they had thought the first time they met the other. I know dark secrets are overused in Regency but I feel like that’s for a reason—learning a heavy thing or tragic backstory about someone's past signifies a deeper level of friendship and trust which is a hallmark of a deepening relationship. Augusta and Phinn have seemingly nothing to them that they don’t immediately learn about each other, which is that they’re both smart and think lots of other people are dumb I guess.

Anyway, Phinn decides the only way to convince Augusta is to follow her to Europe, where she is off to attend Italian university, though she lies to her disapproving mother and says she is just going to France for a month. It seems unfathomably cruel, in a time when letters can take months to go across the world and travel is difficult and dangerous, and women are incredibly vulnerable, to do this to her mother and the rest of her unknowing family so that Augusta can fulfill the whim we don’t know why she has. And it’s fine if Augusta does have a character flaw like that. But it’s never really explored. The mom is seen as totally in the wrong for objecting that her single daughter be in a foreign country to do something like ten women have done in the last two hundred years.

Augusta is under the impression that Phinn doesn’t love her, despite his proposal—so now the reasons they can’t be together are 1. He needs an heir to an heir NOW, and she doesn’t want to have babies yet 2. She doesn’t think he loves her because he doesn’t act like he loves her. Even though they spend all their time together, and her disdain for every other suitor is so apparent. She keeps saying he doesn’t act like he loves her, but he's rescuing her, doing a fake engagement, they dance at every ball and go on dates all the time. She just sounds dumb (or really, like she's purposely kidding herself to prolong the conflict of the story). Like, every romance we know that when the characters say they can’t be together, they’re wrong, but at least make THEM seem like they believe it.

I gotta say, I would personally be annoyed with a guy following me across Europe after I already said I didn’t want to marry him, but whatever. We then get a very, very, very long description of a huge group of rich people moving at a leisurely pace through Europe, picking up animals along the way. (Every one of her sisters has a Great Dane, so in Germany Augusta gets a Great Dane, though she doesn’t ask the guy who is in charge of their accommodations which seems rude. Then she HAS to get a specific breed of cat because all her sisters have them? So she goes and buys a cat? While they’re travelling? And then someone’s like "what about when you go to college?" And she’s like "oops I didn’t think of that" like aren’t you a genius?) speaking of which, earlier in the book Phinn can’t stop teasing this old servant who he calls 'Pickles' (his names like Picker or something) and I just want to say that if we have twenty first century sensibilities in these books about bathing and women's rights and sex and everything else, which we do, it’s so tasteless when Regency noble hero/ines are rude to or mistreat servants. Like, read the room. I don’t find it funny that you’re consistently mean to this guy who is LITERALLY your servant because...he does his job and you don’t like getting dressed up? He's too formal when upholding the formalities that keep your family rich and powerful is literally his job? Because everything in this book is 100% 21st century thinking, set in the 1800s. Augusta says it’s very lucky that her family happens to be the sort where they basically let girls do whatever they want. Yeah, it is lucky. Phinn and Augusta want ~universal suffrage~. All of the "good" characters do. And they all also explain to each other how the world they all live in works, like they’re a museum living exhibit. The attitude towards sex is ridiculous, but more on that in a minute.

Anyway, after slogging through page after page of Phinn being like "I need to show Augusta I love her and she can go to university" and then doing exactly what he’s been doing, and Augusta being like "I love him but I want to go to university", when there is no indication that Phinn would ever stop her from that except that he needs to get married NOW for no reason, we come upon a Slovenian Viscount (by the way I don’t think Slovenia has viscounts, they’re a pretty British/French thing) who, of course, like every man so far, falls in love with Augusta and gets obsessed with her, forcing Phinn to pretend to be engaged to her. Every other person on the trip has a ludicrous discussion about a 'wife kidnapping' wherein Phinn will have to make promises to Augusta about letting her go to university, which, again, he has never given any indication that he would ever not do that. And then it doesn’t matter because this stupid Slovenian Viscount kidnaps them anyway, the whole party, to his castle. But it’s okay because literally everyone in his family thinks he’s an idiot and apologizes for him. For some reason Augusta's life is still in danger, even though I see no reason why they can’t leave (his parents aren’t on his side). Augusta shoots him because she's Plucky (TM). She is put in the adjoining room with Phinn, where he proposes that to save her from the Viscount, and because he Really Loves Her now, they should get married. Somehow the idea that they should get married because they’re in a literal (apparently) physically dangerous situation convinces her that they’re marrying for love and she agrees. He picks her up and brings her towards the bed so they can have sex, because that is what you do immediately after proposing in this world. Augusta has no objection to it, even though as a Regency lady and one who has proven herself unforgivably dense in romantic areas, she would have been raised to find sex before marriage a terrible idea. Romantically, he asks her when her last period has been so that they can prevent pregnancy, a fantastic idea that doesn’t work at all (or didn’t, in the 1800s before we knew what we know today about natural fertility.) But Augusta says they can’t have sex right now because the Slovenians will want to see the physical evidence of her deflowering. WHY ARE THEY STILL IN THIS CASTLE. They have the wedding in the chapel, and everyone including Augusta has a gun, which is necessary because the stupid viscount comes in to interrupt. Once again the dad apologizes and has him put in the dungeon. There was absolutely no reason for him to act the way he did, the lack of subtly is unforgivable, why didn’t the parents, who were sympathetic to these people, wrangle him before, and WHY DID THEY NOT LEAVE A LONG TIME AGO????

And then, in possibly the worst part of anything I have ever read, Phinn and Augusta, in broad daylight, leave the chapel, barricade the door (in case the viscount escapes???), and have sex as quickly as possible so that they can prove to these Slovenians they don’t care at all about that they have consummated their marriage. I skip over the actual wording of sex scenes, but there seemed nothing grosser and less romantic than everything about this scene. Right before I started skipping, Phinn says he wishes they could have done this all night. WHAT WAS STOPPING YOU. WHY ARE YOU STILL IN THIS FUCKING CASTLE. Augusta didn’t bleed so they fake the blood on the sheet to SHOW EVERYONE. My eyes are still being subjected to a play by play of this. One of her relatives is like "oh yeah and just use birth control made of plants lol" which, ignoring the very 21st century attitude towards contraceptives, why didn’t they bring this up at the start of their journey, knowing that Augusta was ONLY not marrying Phinn at one point because she did not want to have kids? And then they leave the castle. WHY COULD THEY NOT WAIT UNTIL THEY LEFT THE CASTLE? WHY WERE THEY EVER AT THE CASTLE?????

Somehow the story is still not over. The Viscount is now happily married like a week later. Why. Finally these idiots arrive in Padua, where Augusta finds out that oops, she actually isn’t accepted to the university, she’s only allowed to attend lectures, and the guy who told her she was accepted lied so that she would translate stuff for him. Okay, they only talked in letters, but after being told what a genius Augusta is throughout the whole story she seems to not ever be able to understand anyone's true intentions ever. She seems like the type to fall for Nigerian Prince schemes nowadays. Once again, what did she think she would be studying?
And that’s all the space Goodreads is giving me. Anyway—one star.

[Sharyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was my first book by this author and it really doesn’t read well as a stand-alone. There were many Worthingtons in the book and it was confusing to me who everyone was and there were also lots of inside jokes such as a marriage list and why everyone owned a Great Dane and a Chartreux cat. Plus, I never really warmed up to Augusta. She is brilliant and a polyglot (speaks many languages) which I thought was very interesting. When Phinn meets her, he is very impressed by her and starts to fall in love a little bit. The problem is that Augusta wants to attend University before she gets married and the only University that will take a woman is in Padua, Italy. And, Phinn needs to get married and start working on an heir for his brother’s sake since they already have four daughters and they don’t want his brother’s title going out of the immediate family.

That was all well and good, until it turns out that Augusta just needs to meet a gentleman and he immediately wants to propose to her. The explanation is that she is bored by them all so she just smiles and nods and that is enough that they practically trip over each other to ask her brother for her hand in marriage. At first this was kind of funny but then it got ridiculous because this literally happened EVERY TIME SHE MET A GENTLEMAN. Come on!

So her relatives decide to take her to the continent for a while, so she can get away from society. Phinn finagled a way to join her party because he’s realized she is the only woman for him and figures eventually she’ll come to realize how great they are together. He doesn’t want to stop her from attending University, he just wants to be with her. Thus begins many many many many traveling details including travel papers and which coaches and boats to use and where to stay and... It was sadly very boring and didn’t add to the romance. In fact, I didn’t really feel the couple getting close at all. They just appeared to be good friends. And still, more gentlemen tried to propose to Augusta. It culminated in a very over-the-top farce at the end. I’m not even sure why I finished the book. I guess I was hoping it would get better.

For those of you who have read other Worthington books - are the others better? Should I have started with an earlier book?

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this novel from net galley and the publisher. Thank you!
I have read several novels by Ms. Quinn and her Worthington's saga and have enjoyed them. She does not disappoint in this next novel.
Lady Augusta Vivers is very intelligent and knows several languages. She wants to study more and could not be happier when she is accepted to a university in Italy. Now, to get everyone else on board with her plans even. She agrees to a season, even though she does not want one. She tries to discourage men, but instead receives several proposals. This was definitely not her plan! Augusta strikes up a friendship with Lord Phineas Carter-Wood, whom is being pressured to marry and produce a son, since his brother and wife have so far been unable to do so. Phinn thinks Augusta is another woman being put in his path. Boy, was he ever wrong! Augusta and Phinn discuss his travels and languages. Phinn believes Augusta has a better knack at it than him, which is unusual thinking in this time period. Phinn believes she is the perfect woman to marry him. But, Augusta has rejected so many and is still determined to go to the university. Phinn will have to get creative as he joins Augusta on her travels through Europe. Both fall in love with each other but keep in hidden. How they can they prove to each other that there love is true?

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read several novels by Ms. Quinn and her Worthington's saga and have enjoyed them. She does not disappoint in this next novel.
Lady Augusta Vivers is very intelligent and knows several languages. She wants to study more and could not be happier when she is accepted to a university in Italy. Now, to get everyone else on board with her plans even. She agrees to a season, even though she does not want one. She tries to discourage men, but instead receives several proposals. This was definitely not her plan! Augusta strikes up a friendship with Lord Phineas Carter-Wood, whom is being pressured to marry and produce a son, since his brother and wife have so far been unable to do so. Phinn thinks Augusta is another woman being put in his path. Boy, was he ever wrong! Augusta and Phinn discuss his travels and languages. Phinn believes Augusta has a better knack at it than him, which is unusual thinking in this time period. Phinn believes she is the perfect woman to marry him. But, Augusta has rejected so many and is still determined to go to the university. Phinn will have to get creative as he joins Augusta on her travels through Europe. Both fall in love with each other but keep in hidden. How they can they prove to each other that there love is true?

[Krys · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let me begin by saying that although this is book number six in the Worthington series, you don't need to have read the prior novels in order to understand this one. Having done so may increase your enjoyment in seeing some of the other characters make an appearance, but it is really not necessary.

Once again, the author manages to put together a well written and well researched novel, that is somehow once again, diminished by the Heroine. Don't get me wrong, I loved how intelligent she was. And I adored that in a time where women weren't allowed to attend university, she had made that her goal. She definitely had the "book smarts" for it. However, it grew tiresome watching go out of his way for her only to have her slap back with "I won't marry you until I've been to university!" I understand her reasoning, don't get me wrong, but had she allowed him to properly explain a lot could have been avoided. Especially considering how useful he ended up being to her when frankly, I would have left her to figure out the realities on her own.

I am also confused and irritated by the fact that her friends speak of a "bride kidnapping", only to have it nearly happen in the next chapters. Was the person in on it? It is never explained whether the person was part of their scheme or if he was truly delusional. If it was the former, then it should have been explained to her. If it was the latter? Well that was a little too convenient wasn't it?

Overall, I believe that fans of this series and this author will definitely enjoy this addition. Also, people new to the series and author that are fans of historical romance may find enjoyment in this as well. I would read more from this author.

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.