Hazelhurst: Eine süße Regency-Romanze (Familien von Dorset 4)

Families of Dorset #4

by Martha Keyes

Es begann als Vernunftehe, doch die Liebe hat alles andere als Bequemlichkeit daraus gemacht.

Gerade erst aus der demütigenden Annullierung der Liebesheirat, die sie sich immer gewünscht hatte, zurückgekehrt, stimmt Lady Anne Vincent dem Vernunftbündnis zu, das ihr Vater arrangiert hat. Sie hofft, dass diese Ehe von höflicher Gleichgültigkeit geprägt sein wird und sie vor dem Schmerz schützt, den sie nur zu gut kennt.

Tobias Cosgrove ist nicht für die Ehe gemacht, so freiheitsliebend, wie er ist. Und doch muss er als einziger Sohn heiraten. Er ist daher erleichtert, als sein Vater ihm die ruhige, besonnene Lady Anne Vincent als zukünftige Frau präsentiert, denn er ist überzeugt, dass sie ihn nicht mit Bedürftigkeit oder Hysterie bedrängen wird, wie es so viele andere junge Frauen in der Gesellschaft tun.

Doch als Lady Annes Vergangenheit an ihre Tür klopft, sind sie und Tobias gezwungen, sich zu fragen, ob eine Vernunftehe wirklich die Art von Ehe ist, die sie sich wünschen.

Genres: Regency, Romance, Historical, Audiobook, Historical Romance, Clean Romance, Marriage Of Convenience

227 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 26, 2024

Reviews

[Sally Britton · Rating 5 out of 5]

It has taken me far too long to get to this book on my TBR list. I LOVE a good marriage of convenience story - and this one was BEYOND good. I immediately fell in love with Anne and Tobias. Sweet Anne, duped by a miserable scoundrel, and wonderful Tobias, making the world a better place for those around him!

This book is devoid of scandalous scenes, though a scandal necessitates the heroine marry a man she barely knows. While they first agree to have a marriage wherein they operate independent of one another, Anne's gentleness attracts Tobias, while his charm and ability to make her laugh makes Anne yearn for his company.

The hero and heroine are trying so hard to protect themselves from heartbreak that they made MY heart hurt a bit while reading. If you love happily ever afters and characters who are sincerely GOOD, you will adore this romance. I didn't want to put it down until the very last page.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this is my first Martha Keyes book. I enjoyed it, it is also one of my favorite types of books. Regency arraigned marriage story's. If it were not for this I would probably give it 3 stars because the leading man was hard for me. He was just such a fop. He does get better but I keep picturing him as such a dandy. The writing was well done. The story was very good. The love story was built piece by piece and you got to watch it all unfold. This is a series but you can read each book without reading the others. Chaste romance with a couple kisses and no mention of sex. No religious references.

[Jamie Bee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing Installment

I have read other books in this series, Isabelle and Cecilia, and I have honestly enjoyed this author's writing style. I believe I said in the reviews of those two books that I thought that this author knew how to write a proper Regency. Unfortunately, this book missed the mark for me. While I could empathize with the heroine after her disastrous annulled marriage, I never truly felt like I got to know her or the hero on the level that I need to enjoy a story. Their marriage of convenience takes place quickly. Even in Regency books that use this trope, we typically get a sense of attraction or feel a chemistry between the hero and heroine, but nothing was like that here. Even though they're both genial people—neither is unkind toward the other—there's no spark, and it feels like there is no potential for that for far too long. I felt like I kept waiting for something to happen between them (or even outside them) that would bring them closer. Instead, each seems to be happy to live their own lives separate from each other. To me, that just isn't a romance. The hero and heroine have to be in at least relative proximity—not him going out to hunt all day every day with a friend and dine with that family—so that the relationship, even if somewhat tortured at first, can start to build. That just didn't happen here. All this just went on so long that I never really bought them as a couple. How unfortunate, really, as I was really looking forward to this book by this author.

I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.

My book blog: https://www.readingfanaticreviews.com

[B. D. Mann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hazelhurst is my first experience with Martha Keyes's work and I am impressed. I found Tobias to be an outstanding and admirable hero and Anne Vincent to be a loving and well-developed heroine. The story itself was completely believable and well-constructed. Other reviewers have outdone themselves in outlining the storyline so I will simply state that if you lean toward Regency works, I can heartily recommend this story for an enjoyable reading experience. Five-Stars!

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hazelhurst was a genuinely wonderful story. When I first started reading this book, I immediately felt such sympathy for the main character Anne, but I worried that I wouldn't like this story as much as I have enjoyed the other novels in the series because I was afraid I wouldn't be happy with how things turned out for Anne and Tobias given the way their story began. I was truly surprised with how much I grew to love both characters and the way the author masterfully developed their relationship. I can't even imagine what facing something like this would have been like for Anne especially given the time period. Tobias was the perfect match for her, bringing her out of the gloom and helping her to rise to the person she was inside. At the same time, Anne gave Tobias a reason to be more than what he was aiming for. The characters in this story are inspiring and fun. The plot was full of humorous moments that I thoroughly enjoyed; fun with paint, mud, and the waves...such great romance scenes! While there is a definite deeper level in this story about forgiveness, moving forward and true love, the tone wasn't too heavy or overbearing, but captivated my attention and I read this in one sitting. I am so glad the author wrote Anne and Tobias's story and I highly recommend this novel.
I received and advance reader's copy of this novel and of my own choice am leaving a review with my honest opinion.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

While Hazelhurst wasn’t flashy or flamboyant, I found it to be a realistic portrayal of what a marriage of convenience could be like when both participants aren’t very invested in being more than acquaintances in the beginning. So many stories portray marriages of convenience with one of the spouses invested, while the other is not; or where one is antagonistic and the other is not. While there was no immediate spark or attraction, I found this book to be an accurate portrayal of a possible scenario for a marriage of convenience to play out. Comfortable, slow to build and at first unassuming, the spark does eventually kindle into a flame, and the marriage eventually becomes a solid, loving relationship.
Well done, Miss Keyes, in choosing a fresh take on a well known theme!

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

[Marilee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this may be my new favorite book by this author, and that is saying something because I have enjoyed every single one of her books! Anne agrees to a marriage of convenience to Tobias after she is abandoned by the man she loved. Tobias agrees to marry Anne because he knows he has to marry someday and is certain Anne will not expect a love match.
However, as they get to know each other, feelings develop and they are forced to find their way through Anne's tangled past that threatens their future. It was so fun to see a couple laugh and joke so much together as they fell in love but didn't know how to let the other know. "Perhaps it was time to let him know that this marriage of convenience had become terribly inconvenient." This will definitely be one I read over and over again.

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a sweet story! It's a marriage of convenience where both spouses are happy to marry each other and remain just friends. It was nice to not have the angst of a forced marriage. Both characters were lovable. Tobias, who would have rather stayed a bachelor if his father hadn't intervened, struggles to take on the role of husband, preferring instead to keep playing with his friends. Anne has had a terrible misfortune happen to her and this marriage is a welcome escape, but she doesn't want to lose her heart (again). They find some common interests, and these are what makes the story intriguing. I really enjoyed it!

[Lyssa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just couldn’t get into this one. I didn’t like that they didn’t talk. I really didn’t like that Anna lied. Her kindness was to the point of foolishness. And I don’t view it as a virtue when it’s at the possible expense of others, like her husband or family for example.

[Lu · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely story with sunny characters!

Tobias and Anne were so charming! A marriage of convenience between two optimistic, lively, and honorable people. I loved every page!

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 this book was not my favorite in the series, but still was was a fun escape read. I really enjoy Martha Keyes stories - clean, interesting and with the expected happy endings.😉

[Paty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I totally loved this story! It was sweet and emotional!
I think it was because of the characters and the way their plights felt so real. I was truly moved by Anne's situation, after being deceived in her non existent first marriage. She was subject to criticism and less likely to make a good marriage match, so her father offered her at the first decent opportunity, which turned out to be Tobias Cosgrove, the brother of a childhood friend, who seemed so lighthearted and superficial, that he seemed the best prospect to marry without her heart being in risk of breaking again. So she and Tobias (who has also being forced to marry and also thinks Anne is the perfect match who will never fawn over him and want to keep him beside her) agree that their marriage will be in name only and they will both mantain their independence and freedom, while a friendly camraderie.
But is it truly possible to live together and keep their relationship just friendly? It seems like it for Anne, as Tobias spends his day hunting on a neighboring estate. And Tobias thinks things are going well. Until he starts to see that Anne is lonely and needs a bit of companion, that's when they truly start to get to know each other. And like what they discover...
But it's not until Anne's deceiving ex unexpectedly appears that Tobias starts to wonder... and feel jealous and excessively protective. Is Anne's heart at risk of deceiveing once more? Can she still harbor feelings for the man who used her?
You'll have to read it to find out! I'll just say that I really got immersed in this story. The characters touched me and I loved how their feelings changed and how they discover things about themselves along the way.
It was a heartwarming story with an inspiring message about forgiveness, trusting God and one another.
I really couldn't put it down. I love arranged marriage stories and this was a truly good one.
I definitely recommend it!

[Pauline Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this straight after book 3 of the series, Cecilia, and here we have another book with a fascinating premise: three months after marrying for love, Lady Anne Vincent discovers that her supposed husband was a bigamist. She isn’t married at all, and her future options are limited. She daren’t risk her heart in another love match, so when her father proposes a marriage of convenience for her, she accepts without demur. Tobias Cosgrove (brother of Cecilia and her sisters) knows he must marry, as the son and heir, but a marriage of convenience may be just the ticket, allowing him to continue his free-wheeling ways without interference.

Naturally, what starts out as a marriage of cool self-sufficiency, both leading their own independent lives and hardly meeting except by accident, gradually becomes something more. I liked the way they inched oh-so-gradually towards a deeper relationship, as she begins to feel the loneliness of her life, and he begins to appreciate the value of a friend at home. Along the way, there are outbreaks of slightly over-the-top high spirits, which serve to break down the reserve between them, and times when they talked as adults. I particularly enjoyed the scene where they sat together in the bedroom - very powerful and memorable. It helps that they’re both sensible, likable characters that the reader can totally root for.

But of course it can’t all be plain sailing, as Anne’s past returns to haunt her and the fragile rapport between Anne and Tobias is in danger of splintering. I wasn’t entirely convinced by these later episodes, with all the melodramas and misunderstandings, but by that time I was too invested to worry about it, and the ending was just perfect.

A lovely traditional Regency with two very sympathetic characters, and the author’s assured grasp of the Regency era. Highly recommended. Five stars.

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another enjoyable addition to Keyes Ladies of Dorset series. Whilst this could be read as a stand-alone novel, there are references made to all the key characters from the previous books in the series. I’m not certain if there will be any more additions to this series (hopefully there will) but if not, this was a perfect ending to it. A clean read with a feel good ending.
I was provided an ARC copy by the author. This has in no way influenced my review. I can happily recommend this series to anyone who enjoys reading clean Regency Era Romance.

[Ashlee (bookswithnopictures) · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the characters were sweet and I enjoy this trope, I think I wanted more meat to the story. I have no issue with the way Anne and Tobias's story and romance developed. I liked the Gillian role and how Martha used his path of destruction as a way for Tobias and Anne to rescue other women. It was sweet. However, I'm left with a lot of questions about Anne's experience in her relationship with Anthony and how others view her. I think her character could have used a bit more definition and angst.

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

I could not get into this one. I love an arranged marriage trope but the husband isn’t someone I like. He doesn’t even try on a basic level. I’m sure that’s uploaded to change as you get into the book. But I’m not up for continuing to read. Boring.

[Pria · Rating 2 out of 5]

It started off great but alas, it fizzled out.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the fourth Families of Dorset book. I believe it is also the final book in the series, and this was a lovely conclusion, a sweet story about two people learning to help heal each other's wounds and the pain of those around them too. The heroine is Anne, sister of William from the first novel in the series, and the hero is Tobias, brother of Isabelle and Cecilia from books 2 and 3. I loved them both, and I especially loved them together.

Anne's life had come crashing down around her, but though she was still hurting herself, she was not insensitive to the pain of others. Instead, she would do her best to relieve it. Neither did she minimize the pain of others. For example, Tobias thought that the pain he suffered from his father's treatment was nothing compared to what Anne endured from her father, but Anne made no such comparisons. Instead, she did what she could to erase her husband's pain.

After briefly meeting Tobias in the previous books, it was nice to see him fleshed out here. Most of this story took place after he was married, and I appreciated seeing the way marriage caused him to grow. I was especially impressed to see him get to know himself better, feeling certain emotions heightened as never before, and discovering parts of his personality (including undesirable parts) that he hadn't realized existed in him. It was very realistic for someone newly married, but it's not something I see much in fiction.

Despite being part of a series, this could be read on its own, but the characters in the other books are wonderful too, so if possible I suggest checking them out as well.

Please note: while I did receive an E-ARC to read and review in advance of publication (Thank you SourceOrigin!), I enjoyed this enough that I pre-ordered my own copy.

[Maggie | TheeReadingRedhead · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lady Anne Vincent was happily married until she was duped by the man she loved. After her humiliating annulment, she agrees to an arranged marriage that her father has set up. She is to marry Tobias Cosgrove. Tobias, as the only son in his family, must marry though he'd much prefer to remain independent. When he hears about Anne's situation and that she is hoping for a marriage of cordial indifference, Tobias thinks that their marriage of convenience could be the best thing for both of them. Tobias could remain independent and Anne is in no danger of getting her heart broken again. However, after spending time together, feelings begin to change. Their marriage of cordial indifference may not be in the plans, especially when Anne's past shows up in her new present.

This is the fourth book in the Families of Dorset series. I really enjoyed this series as a whole but this is one of my favorites of the series because of the marriage of convenience trope. I liked how Tobias and Anne's personalities meshed. They both went into the marriage with good intentions and respect for one another. I loved the scenes where they grew closer like with the painting and getting stuck in the mud. I also loved how protective Tobias was of Anne when it came to her past. Overall, a lovely marriage of convenience romance and a great ending to a great series.

**Note: I do want to mention that I listened to this as an audiobook and the lady who narrated was different from other books in the series and spoke very slowly. I turned the speed to the 1.25 to 1.5 range and it helped a lot.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hazelhurst was yet another enjoyable installment in the Families of Dorset series. I appreciate getting to know secondary characters from other books I've read, so I was pleased to see that Anne (the hero's sister in Wyndcross, Book 1 in the series) and Tobias (the brother of Isabel and Cecilia, who each have their stories told in Books 2 and 3) were the main characters in Hazelhurst. There was a mystery and some exciting action involving a wicked and manipulative villain, and I found myself caught up in the story, reading it far more quickly than my usual pace and staying up far too late to do so. I am fond of marriage of convenience stories as well, so it was delightful to witness the evolution of their relationship, even through the agitating tension caused by miscommunication and misunderstanding. My only challenge was that I found the romance slightly difficult to believe, given the limited interaction between the main characters. From the conversations and events, I could easily accept growing affection and admiration, but love and devotion required an extra leap of faith for me. Otherwise, this was a well-written story with pleasant characters and the epilogue was quite satisfying for fans of this series.

*I received an ARC of this book, and this voluntary review is my honest opinion.*

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Verified ARC Reader
Great Story - loved the characters

Hazelhurst is book 4 in The Families of Dorset Series and is a great addition to this sweet series.
I felt the pain and humiliation of Lady Anne Vincent as the book opens to a missing husband after a short time of marriage. When her brother discovers the truth about her husband, Anne is devastated and returns to her home a broken woman. Living with an overbearing father who constantly brings her failures up is wearing her down so when he chooses another husband for her, she agrees to marry again. This time she has no feelings involved and a marriage of convenience will give her a chance to make a new home away from her family.

Tobias Cosgrove didn't plan on marriage but when his father arranges one for him with Lady Anne Vincent he agrees to the arrangement after meeting her. She agrees to a marriage of convenience with neither party demanding any affection from the other. As they settle into married life at Hazelhurst, he goes about his life as if he didn't have a wife.

When something from the past comes back, it may bring these two closer or totally tear them apart.

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

[Laura B · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a marriage of convenience story, which are my favorite type of sweet, clean Regency romances, however the execution on why Lady Ann and Tobias were married was rather weak. Lady Ann was fresh from a humiliating annulment, and Tobias’ parents were fine with it? I didn’t understand why.

My other complaint was Lady Ann’s character was not well developed, and, to me at least, her behaviors were not consistent with her thoughts or feelings. I didn’t know which to believe, her thoughts or her actions, and there was no spark nor chemistry between her and Tobias. In the beginning of story, a friend of Tobias remarked that Tobias was in fact falling in love with his wife. How was that possible? He avoided her like the plague, spending all his time at his friend’s house. It just didn’t make sense.

Also, Martha Keyes tried to make the conclusion of the suspense exciting, but the writing of it lacked depth. This novel was short, at being only 190 pages, and one would think it would be fast paced, but it didn’t feel as such. I think it may have been just me, but I expected more from this book. 2**½*

[Joann L · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lady Anne Vincent thought she was marrying for love, but she found out that her marriage was not even legal, as her “husband” was married to another before her. Given the strike to her reputation for an annulled marriage, her father has arranged a new marriage for her to a family acquaintance, Tobias Cosgrove. Anne agrees to this marriage of convenience and hopes she will have peace and independence. Tobias Cosgrove always knew his parents would arrange a marriage for him, and he feels that a marriage of convenience with Anne will suit him just fine; he would be free from his overbearing parents and free to do whatever he liked. As they come to know each other, will a marriage of convenience be enough for either of them? Will Anne be able to overcome her bruised heart and trust again, and will Tobias be willing to give up his freedom?

Hazlehurst was a very pleasant read for me. I really enjoyed Anne’s caring character, and overgenerous spirit. There are twists, turns, surprises, and a villain, making for an interesting read. A sweet, and longed for, happily ever after was the icing on the cake. It is a clean read, which is a big plus in my book.

[Leann Arave · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 1/2 stars
Hazelhurst by Martha Keyes
I love Anne and Tobias’s story. We have been hearing about Tobias for quite some time, (the other books of the series-Families of Dorset). Lady Anne is a sweet caring girl, who has been wronged by a man that deceived her. Her father has made an arrangement for marriage to preserve their family name.
Tobias he’s a good man but has always been a bit self absorbed and never wanted to give up his independence.
So the two decided to marry and honor each other‘s independence. Does love prevail?
This is a wonderful story of two people growing and caring for each other and those who are in need around them. I love how the author interweaves her stories with people that are struggling and in need of love and support. This is a clean regency romance, and is well worth your time to read. The characters are wonderful as is the story. It is part of a series, Families of Dorset, but does not need to be read in order and can be read as a standalone. I have read books 2 and 3, but I realized that I somehow missed book 1, so now I’d like to go back and read that one. Happy Reading!

[Μαρία Ν. · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all,I would like to say that I have never read a book by Ms.Keyes until now.Also,I am not into regency romances,but I have read Jane Austen's work.However,I found myself really enjoying reading Tobia's and Anne's story."Hazelhurst" is the 4th book of the "Families of Dorset" series and as expected there were references to people from the previous books,but even if you have never read the previous books-like me-you can still easily get into the story.It is a really sweet and clean romance,so don't expect any adult stuff happening but also don't assume it is kid-friendly.The author has done a great job researching the period that she is writing for.At times I was like "This reminds me of a situation in this Jane Austen book".The writing skills of the author matched her quality of research.It truly felt like reading a recency novel from the past.The main couple,Tobias and Anne,are adorable and I really liked them.Their philanthropy also made them stood out to me.The miscommunication between them got a bit of annoying as everything would have been solved sooner if they accepted their feelings and just told each other how they felt.However,it makes sense that it wouldn't be so easy to do just that when Lady Anne had her heart broken with her previous marriage and Tobias tries to escape the tyrrany of his parents and doesn't want to be met with a tyrranic wife soon after marriage.I do not have much to say about the supporting characters,except that most of them added to the idyllic atmosphere of the book.Most of them were friendly and nice and I liked that.Finally,Lady Anne's ex-husband was a really good villain,very entertaining to read.He was very charming and manipulative.

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

[Carolyn McClellan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I found the h and H to be quite likable and enjoyed their increased level of maturity as their relationship progressed.

After being duped by a bigamous scoundrel, Lady Anne Vincent finds herself abandoned and scandalized when her brief marriage is annulled. Embarrassed and ashamed she readily agrees to marry a man of her father's choosing to avoid bringing further shame on her family. Her intended spouse, Tobias Cosgrove, has no wish to be married but agrees to his father's demands in an effort to keep peace in the family. Both he and Anne agree to a marriage of convenience but soon find themselves attracted to each other. When Anne's ex sends his real wife and babe to her for saving, the story becomes even more interesting. All in all I thought it was a delightful read.

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

[Ayah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book.
I liked the exploration of the hero Tobais; the good natured guy who uses humor instrument of goodwill and sincerity but also as an emotional weapon and his ultimate shield. The character development he had into realizing the chinks of his armor without taking away from the strengths of that personality.

I liked how Annie was portrayed as soft spoken and vulnerable without being a hesitant wilting flower and her strength was very much in her composure, morality and kindness. Her introspection on, and scenes with, the villain was well done.

Their union was neither in the stereotypical exaggerated formality/indifference or bitter enemies trope, but the development was well paced and covered nuanced topics without being heavy. A healthy dose of easy camaraderie, emotional awkwardness and discovery; coupled with sheer lighthearted shenanigans that resulted in the the couple being covered in water, mud, or bright blue paint.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s nearly 2:00 AM and once again I am just finishing the latest addition to Martha Keyes’ Families of Dorset series. I was truly excited to discover that this one would tell the story of Anne, a favorite character from the first book of the series. And then to have her matched with Tobias, the rather charming brother of Isabel and Cecelia, was just icing on the cake! This was a marriage of convenience story but was altogether delightful and had a rather remarkable side story included. I also enjoyed getting to know more background of both of these families who were a big part of this Families of Dorset series... and I do love that Ms. Keyes usually seems to include an epilogue!

I highly recommend this book and I look forward with hope to the possibility of this also being released in audio version.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can a marriage of convenience become something more?
The twists start from the start for poor Annie as a bride of just three months what her brother comes to find out and tell her would shatter anyone. In the end, all the blame for what happened was placed on her shoulders and she was made to feel even more humiliation. Now she was being forced into an arrangement that suits her family, auction off you may say. What I found in this story was some very realistic events and emotions being played out. All the characters were so interesting and there was such drama at the end. This was a very good story that I highly recommend. I did receive a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.

[Jeanie's Kindle · Rating 4 out of 5]

When is a marriage not a marriage? When one party is already married and the spouse is alive and well. Especially true in the nineteenth century England. Finding her marriage a farce and her husband vanished with her dowry Anne is not only ruined but heartbroken.
Her father arranges a marriage for her with a wealthy but untitled gentleman who is pleasant and she agrees.
Tobias has always been a jokester and never to be taken seriously. With a stern father he was determined not to be like he laughed at the world. Now with both sisters married, it was time for him to settle down and produce a heir. Marrying Lady Anne in a marriage of convenience should allow them to be themselves and eventually produce the heir required.