A Courtship in Covent Garden

by Kayla Lowe

Forbidden love in the heart of Regency London…

Timothy Ashcroft is tired. Tired of the endless expectations of London's high society. Tired of pretending to be someone he's not. All he wants is something real, something that makes him feel alive. But the demands of his family and his title weigh him down like chains.

Then he meets Emma Woodley—a charming, sharp-witted florist with a spirit that is as wild and untamed as the flowers she arranges. She’s nothing like the women of the ton, and Timothy is drawn to her like a moth to a flame.

What starts as an innocent friendship soon turns into something more—something neither of them expected. They’re like fire and ice, pulling together in a world that won’t allow it. The ton would never accept their love, and society’s rules are more than just obstacles. They’re threats.

But just when Timothy is ready to throw caution to the wind, everything changes. He discovers a secret about his birthright, one that could tear him away from Emma forever. Caught between the love he’s found and the duty he’s been born into, Timothy must decide what kind of man he wants to be.

But Emma’s no fool. She’s been burned before, and Timothy’s secret may be too much for her to bear. What if it’s all a lie?

If you love a Regency romance full of heart, wit, and plenty of twists, you won’t want to miss this first book in the Charms of Chaste Court series.

Each book in this clean and wholesome Regency romance series is a standalone, so you can read them in any order.

Genres: Regency, Romance, Historical Fiction

94 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 9, 2024

About the author

Award-winning author Kayla Lowe writes women's fiction that explores complex themes with sensitivity and depth. Kayla’s books delve into the intricacies of relationships, self-discovery, and resilience. From cozy love stories interspersed with a bit of faith to heartwarming tales of friendship and suspenseful novels of empowerment and heartbreak, her books illustrate the struggles specific to women.

When she’s not churning out her next novel, you can find her with her feet in the sand and a book in her hand or curled up on the couch with her dogs.

Go to www.authorkaylalowe.com for a free book!

Reviews

[Jasmine (Jazzie) [Jesus Loves You!!] · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was amazing! I was able to relate with both of the main characters fairly well.
As someone who was named after a flower and been fond of them for as long as I can remember, I really liked Emma, I especially loved all the different insights about flowers and other things that she said throughout this book.
Like Timothy, I understood his weariness over having to play the same parts over and over again all too well. But he was amazing nonetheless, and so was their story!

The worst part is that this story had to end! I wish it was longer, a few pages, at minimum, to give me more time with this delightful, wonderful, amazing story and characters!!

*I received a free copy of this book from the author for my honest review. A positive review was not required. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Maris McKay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This sweet romance follows the relationship between Timothy and Emma, two people in Regency England of very different social classes. After not enjoying the last Regency romance I read (by a different author), this one was a welcomed and enjoyable read. I really liked how the author handled the two characters' differences in social situations. Neither of them are ignoring it, but they're also navigating it like reasonable adults.

One thing to note is that this is a very short novel (print length would be 104 pages). The pacing didn't feel rushed, but there are definitely places where I felt like the author could have included more details or scenes. This didn't really bother me, but since I liked the book I wouldn't have minded it being a little longer.

[Kayci Taylor · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was meh for me, I think mainly because it’s only 154 pages and the story couldn’t get deep in such a short span. It felt rushed and surface-level instead of letting the story and characters unfold. Too bad, because it’s a good premise.

[R Evans · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a brief novel but it had really good use of language. The storyline is fine, even if unlikely. Most lords are so up themselves they would not notice a girl selling flowers. Girls selling flowers rarely got an education to converse freel6 with a lord. More could have been mad3 of the hero findn8ngnout he was a duke.

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

[Kayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an ok novella. The story felt a bit rushed. Like a bunch of scenes that the author really wanted to write, but it was missing some connective tissue. The final conflict comes out of nowhere, and Emma's response is jarring and out of character from what was built up about her.

I did like the characters and the setting, and I think if it had been a bit longer and the world/conflict fleshed out a bit more, it would have been much more enjoyable for me.

[Sven · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was a bit too prosy to many descriptive words and sentences.

We get to hear about Timothy's background, but nothing about Emma. The build of the relationship was fairly believable and I think Timothy's resolve was good.

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

[Katie Powers · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cute quick read! Love a clean romance and this was perfect for a couple hours at the beach. A good mix of dialogue and scene setting, some drama and two adorable characters. A love story for anyone.

[Lyn D Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this magical love story with such lovely characters that show anyone can find romance in unlikely places, and most of all, true love can overcome any obstacles. I highly recommend reading!

[Anca Bulgariu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet romance

Sweet romance, nice characters.
They appreciate the true values of society.
The social title makes you just someone important... but when you don't have cultural background... you have nothing.

[Evi · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️ Het idee van het verhaal is leuk, maar doordat het verhaal zo kort is mis je diepgang en voelt het gehaast. Het boek was denk ik leuker geweest als het dus wat langer was. Maar wel oké om even tussendoor te lezen.

[Jada · Rating 2 out of 5]

2⭐️
Gorgeous writing but very surface-level plot and characters. Emma annoyed me, she felt too perfect to be real or relatable.

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a charming regency novella. I found myself rooting for the couple as they navigated the ton and its expectations. Well they defy the odds and demands?

The author's writing style is very flowery. It paints a pretty picture, but I had to read a few sentences and paragraphs twice. It is fitting for the genre, however. It just took me a little time to settle into another space and time. It was like going from Vampire Academy to Bridgerton with my latest reads. Both very enjoyable yet very different.

This book will appeal to fans of regency and romance in general. It's a very pleasant read.

I received an advanced review copy and am voluntarily leaving a review.