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The Sisters of the Aristocracy #1
The Tale of Two Barons
What will you discover when you read between the lines?
Jeffrey Althorpe is in need of more income for the struggling Sommers barony. As a peer of the realm, he’s not allowed to work, but if he’s able to earn money from a book he’s written – anonymously, of course - no one will be the wiser. A dowry would be easier, but then he would have to find a woman willing to marry a baron.
While her brother, the Earl of Everly, is away on one of his lengthy expeditions, Lady Evangeline is left behind in London to spend her days creating exquisite embroideries and reading books. She's about to buy 'The Story of a Baron' at The Temple of Muses when Lord Sommers suddenly appears. He’s intent on buying the very same book, but there's only the one copy.
Desperate to discover what changes his publisher might have made to his story – without letting on he’s the author – Jeffrey suggests they read it together. Evangeline's sterling reputation could use a bit of scandal, she decides, and so she agrees to Lord Sommer's proposal.
As the two read 'The Story a Baron', Evangeline realizes some of the characters and settings are just a bit too familiar. And a bit too close to home. Was she the inspiration for the baron’s secret love, a bold, brash woman whose reputation is in tatters?
With her own reputation suddenly in question, Evangeline finds her life imitating art. How can the book have a happy ending when she wishes she’d never purchased 'The Story of a Baron'?
Jeffrey Althorpe is in need of more income for the struggling Sommers barony. As a peer of the realm, he’s not allowed to work, but if he’s able to earn money from a book he’s written – anonymously, of course - no one will be the wiser. A dowry would be easier, but then he would have to find a woman willing to marry a baron.
While her brother, the Earl of Everly, is away on one of his lengthy expeditions, Lady Evangeline is left behind in London to spend her days creating exquisite embroideries and reading books. She's about to buy 'The Story of a Baron' at The Temple of Muses when Lord Sommers suddenly appears. He’s intent on buying the very same book, but there's only the one copy.
Desperate to discover what changes his publisher might have made to his story – without letting on he’s the author – Jeffrey suggests they read it together. Evangeline's sterling reputation could use a bit of scandal, she decides, and so she agrees to Lord Sommer's proposal.
As the two read 'The Story a Baron', Evangeline realizes some of the characters and settings are just a bit too familiar. And a bit too close to home. Was she the inspiration for the baron’s secret love, a bold, brash woman whose reputation is in tatters?
With her own reputation suddenly in question, Evangeline finds her life imitating art. How can the book have a happy ending when she wishes she’d never purchased 'The Story of a Baron'?
340 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 29, 2014
197 people are currently reading
343 people want to read
About the author
Linda Rae Sande
126 books426 followersA self-described nerd and lover of science, Linda Rae spent many years as a published technical writer specializing in 3D graphics workstations, software and 3D animation (her movie credits include SHREK and SHREK 2). An interest in genealogy led to years of research on the Regency era and a desire to write fiction based in that time.
A fan of action-adventure movies, she can frequently be found at the local cinema. Although she no longer has any fish, she follows the San Jose Sharks. She makes her home in Cody, Wyoming. More information about her books can be found at www.lindaraesande.com.
A fan of action-adventure movies, she can frequently be found at the local cinema. Although she no longer has any fish, she follows the San Jose Sharks. She makes her home in Cody, Wyoming. More information about her books can be found at www.lindaraesande.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
May 21, 2015
I don’t remember regencies quite like this!
I recall regencies from years ago where there were lots of ladies and lords, uptight dresses and formal parties, with very little hand holding, or anything equally as racy. Those ideas are still firmly entrenched in this regency romance but there’s also a fresh wind blowing through the stuffy sitting rooms of yester year. Or at least there is in this lighthearted romp through English dance halls and bookstores. It’s been awhile since I picked up a historical romance from that era and this one proved to be a great re-introduction.
Set in the early 1800’s of proper English society, Lady Evangeline Tennison is feeling the pressure of her advanced age. Shockingly, she is in her twenties and not married! With her brother off on adventure after adventure, marriage prospects are not helped by her absent chaperone and champion. While Eva’s adventures lean more towards new book day at the local bookstore (some things never change) she is delighted to bump into Lord Sommers, Jeffrey Althorpe, on her most recent excursion. Tussling over the lone copy of a new book, they agree to share and arrange a series of meetings to read together. A simple premise made ever so intriguing as the words they read together come to life, mirroring the couple’s own experiences.
The voices in this first book of a new series reveal that social norms may have been rigid but men and women had the same thoughts and desires regardless of what it says on the calendar. What hasn’t changed though is the love and use of language in books describing this era. While there is definitely a lot of talking, and I do mean a lot, words are used as a loving caress when a touch or a hug would be considered scandalous. What wouldn’t probably be worthy of a mention in a modern novel takes up sentences if not paragraphs here.
“Ah, but you were sitting thigh to thigh, right out in public, for anyone to see…”
“It was rather exciting at first,” she acknowledged, “But nothing to write to my brother about,”…
What is new though is how these very prim conversations share the pages of other, less regent, thoughts.
“Still covered by the bodice of her gown, her breast seemed to swell as his lips lowered onto her engorged…”
Yes, there is definitely a lot more of that than I ever remember in a Barbara Cartland of old. An intense attraction along with a less then rigid adherence to society rules and you have a fun romance, no matter what the century.
I recall regencies from years ago where there were lots of ladies and lords, uptight dresses and formal parties, with very little hand holding, or anything equally as racy. Those ideas are still firmly entrenched in this regency romance but there’s also a fresh wind blowing through the stuffy sitting rooms of yester year. Or at least there is in this lighthearted romp through English dance halls and bookstores. It’s been awhile since I picked up a historical romance from that era and this one proved to be a great re-introduction.
Set in the early 1800’s of proper English society, Lady Evangeline Tennison is feeling the pressure of her advanced age. Shockingly, she is in her twenties and not married! With her brother off on adventure after adventure, marriage prospects are not helped by her absent chaperone and champion. While Eva’s adventures lean more towards new book day at the local bookstore (some things never change) she is delighted to bump into Lord Sommers, Jeffrey Althorpe, on her most recent excursion. Tussling over the lone copy of a new book, they agree to share and arrange a series of meetings to read together. A simple premise made ever so intriguing as the words they read together come to life, mirroring the couple’s own experiences.
The voices in this first book of a new series reveal that social norms may have been rigid but men and women had the same thoughts and desires regardless of what it says on the calendar. What hasn’t changed though is the love and use of language in books describing this era. While there is definitely a lot of talking, and I do mean a lot, words are used as a loving caress when a touch or a hug would be considered scandalous. What wouldn’t probably be worthy of a mention in a modern novel takes up sentences if not paragraphs here.
“Ah, but you were sitting thigh to thigh, right out in public, for anyone to see…”
“It was rather exciting at first,” she acknowledged, “But nothing to write to my brother about,”…
What is new though is how these very prim conversations share the pages of other, less regent, thoughts.
“Still covered by the bodice of her gown, her breast seemed to swell as his lips lowered onto her engorged…”
Yes, there is definitely a lot more of that than I ever remember in a Barbara Cartland of old. An intense attraction along with a less then rigid adherence to society rules and you have a fun romance, no matter what the century.
August 30, 2016
This book was ok. I had a few problems with it. It had some historical inaccuracies. For instance, there was a death and everyone was saying that they expected the widow would be marrying the deceased man's twin brother. In the time the book is set, it was illegal to wed your brother's widow. My other problem with the book was the dual storylines. I did not need to read the book that the couple were reading together. It got repetitive when the stories ran so parallel to each other. Also, it got confusing bouncing back and forth between the fictional couple and the couple reading the book, when they were so similar and the storylines were virtually the same. The last half of the book was better, otherwise I wouldn't have even given it 3 stars.
August 29, 2016
Great book
Great book. The story about the Baron and the Lady reading the book is riviting. I kept wanting to read more and more.
Great book. The story about the Baron and the Lady reading the book is riviting. I kept wanting to read more and more.
January 9, 2018
Jeffrey and Evangeline and Matthew and Geraldine
An anonymously written tome, The Story of a Baron, has the reader yo-yoing between perspectives. What is real? Who is real?
Jeffrey Althorpe has secretly written a book about his own imagined romance with a girl he has become infatuated with, yet doesn't really know. Because of this very book, he comes to know her and learns that he likes her very well indeed.
Evangeline is a sweet, lonely and lovely bluestocking who has unknowingly garnered the baron's attention. So much so that he has made her the heroine in his book. Over the course of a week's encounters they get to know one another and naturally sparks fly.
I find Linda Rae Sande's books to be just the right type of quirky for me. This story was no exception. Her characters are very likable and you just want them to succeed.
What I like most is that she has so many to explore and I have not even scratched the surface yet.
An anonymously written tome, The Story of a Baron, has the reader yo-yoing between perspectives. What is real? Who is real?
Jeffrey Althorpe has secretly written a book about his own imagined romance with a girl he has become infatuated with, yet doesn't really know. Because of this very book, he comes to know her and learns that he likes her very well indeed.
Evangeline is a sweet, lonely and lovely bluestocking who has unknowingly garnered the baron's attention. So much so that he has made her the heroine in his book. Over the course of a week's encounters they get to know one another and naturally sparks fly.
I find Linda Rae Sande's books to be just the right type of quirky for me. This story was no exception. Her characters are very likable and you just want them to succeed.
What I like most is that she has so many to explore and I have not even scratched the surface yet.
August 14, 2016
What I was expecting is a real bodice-ripping book with a gorgeous woman and a hunky guy. It wasn't like that but it was still good.
Jeffrey Sommers is a baron down on his luck with debt that's not actually his. In an attempt to increase his coffers, he writes a book about a man and a woman of the aristocracy, modeling his characters from people he knew and places he frequented. He doesn't put his name down as the author and merely uses the name, Anonymous.
On release day, he rushes to the book store to buy the first copy. He desperately wants to see what changes his publisher has made. When he arrives at the store, he finds the book in the hands of a woman who has every intention of buying it.
He tries to bargain with her, telling her he will buy her another copy if he can have the one she has. She refuses. They decide to read the book together.
Evangeline is a part of the ton and finds the book, "A Story of a Baron". Pegged as a "bluestocking" (an intellectual or literary woman. Yes, I looked it up), she thinks she will never marry because basically everybody thinks she's boring.
As Lord Sommers and Lady Evangeline read this book, she starts making connections between her brother, who is an adventurer, and herself. She eventually draws the conclusion that Matthew Winters is actually Jeffrey Sommers.
This is a cleverly written tale and I would have given it five stars but the ending dragged and there were a few typos. The story overall was very good, the plot never wavered, and it was just fun to read.
It made me laugh sometimes, especially when Sommers would think, "I'm going to hell". I don't know why but that cracked me up!
*This book was a free download.
Jeffrey Sommers is a baron down on his luck with debt that's not actually his. In an attempt to increase his coffers, he writes a book about a man and a woman of the aristocracy, modeling his characters from people he knew and places he frequented. He doesn't put his name down as the author and merely uses the name, Anonymous.
On release day, he rushes to the book store to buy the first copy. He desperately wants to see what changes his publisher has made. When he arrives at the store, he finds the book in the hands of a woman who has every intention of buying it.
He tries to bargain with her, telling her he will buy her another copy if he can have the one she has. She refuses. They decide to read the book together.
Evangeline is a part of the ton and finds the book, "A Story of a Baron". Pegged as a "bluestocking" (an intellectual or literary woman. Yes, I looked it up), she thinks she will never marry because basically everybody thinks she's boring.
As Lord Sommers and Lady Evangeline read this book, she starts making connections between her brother, who is an adventurer, and herself. She eventually draws the conclusion that Matthew Winters is actually Jeffrey Sommers.
This is a cleverly written tale and I would have given it five stars but the ending dragged and there were a few typos. The story overall was very good, the plot never wavered, and it was just fun to read.
It made me laugh sometimes, especially when Sommers would think, "I'm going to hell". I don't know why but that cracked me up!
*This book was a free download.
June 15, 2015
To start, I have to say the cover is a little bit stereotypical cheesy romance novel cover. The book was SO much better than this cover.
The parallel stories of the book in a book had me falling in love with the story two times over. It was very cleverly set up with chapters of "real life" and chapters the characters were then reading. I love the stories in the historical era of the nobility classes. Dukes, Earls, Barons, Viscounts.... the gowns and ladies in waiting... all of the balls with the ladies and their dance cards... it all has an immediate romance to it in my mind. It also makes it very easy to write a story of innocence, but with a serious underlying sexual tension. Reading as Jeffrey and Evangeline tiptoe around their attraction (and occasionally letting it boil to the top) made for a fun page-turner. I can't wait to see who Lord Sommers next anonymous novel will be about!
I can imagine it would be a real turn on to read a steamy romance novel at the same time, while sitting next to, the man you're attracted to. Might have to convince Nick to read a book with me to test it out. lol
The parallel stories of the book in a book had me falling in love with the story two times over. It was very cleverly set up with chapters of "real life" and chapters the characters were then reading. I love the stories in the historical era of the nobility classes. Dukes, Earls, Barons, Viscounts.... the gowns and ladies in waiting... all of the balls with the ladies and their dance cards... it all has an immediate romance to it in my mind. It also makes it very easy to write a story of innocence, but with a serious underlying sexual tension. Reading as Jeffrey and Evangeline tiptoe around their attraction (and occasionally letting it boil to the top) made for a fun page-turner. I can't wait to see who Lord Sommers next anonymous novel will be about!
I can imagine it would be a real turn on to read a steamy romance novel at the same time, while sitting next to, the man you're attracted to. Might have to convince Nick to read a book with me to test it out. lol
May 4, 2016
I tried, but I just couldn't get into this story. Maybe I'll try again in a few weeks (or months).
April 12, 2018
I was given a code for one of the authors audiobooks for an honest review after my husband mentioned to her that I loved reading/listening to historical romances.
Narrator 4/5:
I'm not sure how I feel about this narrator. When I first heard him speak, I imagined him narrating for a National Geographic episode, that's just the kind of voice he has. One area I question in his narrating skills relates to his method of narrating the characters thoughts. I don't know what he does exactly, but his voice has a far away sound (if that makes sense). This was the first time I've heard a narrator do something like this. While it's different, for me, I think it pulls me out of the story. Edit: After listening to the entire story, I'm still on the fence with this narrator. Overall, he did a great job with the variety of character voices.
Story 2/5:
Oh, where to start. I love historical stories. With that being said, I had a hard time getting into the story. While I wouldn't say this was a bad story, per se, it didn't hold my attention very well. I get Jeffery wrote his book about Evangeline and her life basically, but with all the similarities between them and the characters in his story, it was just too much. It's like there was nothing surprising about the story at all. The fact the story starts off with Evangeline picking out Jeffery's book in the store, after he specifically went in search of said book, only to have the story in the book (once they start reading together) start off in the exact same way...yeah, not a fan because it screamed unoriginality! It's not like that had already happened in the past. It made me wonder why the author started Jeffery's book off like that.
What was with the constant mentioning of Evangeline's butler and his baritone voice. I'm sure after it was mentioned the first tens times the reader could easily imagine him talking without the author having to repeatedly mention it. The same with the reference to eating cake. I forgot the exact phrase, but it got annoying.
Similarly, the repetitiveness between the story the characters read together and that of their own lives--I don't think that helped the story overall.
Narrator 4/5:
I'm not sure how I feel about this narrator. When I first heard him speak, I imagined him narrating for a National Geographic episode, that's just the kind of voice he has. One area I question in his narrating skills relates to his method of narrating the characters thoughts. I don't know what he does exactly, but his voice has a far away sound (if that makes sense). This was the first time I've heard a narrator do something like this. While it's different, for me, I think it pulls me out of the story. Edit: After listening to the entire story, I'm still on the fence with this narrator. Overall, he did a great job with the variety of character voices.
Story 2/5:
Oh, where to start. I love historical stories. With that being said, I had a hard time getting into the story. While I wouldn't say this was a bad story, per se, it didn't hold my attention very well. I get Jeffery wrote his book about Evangeline and her life basically, but with all the similarities between them and the characters in his story, it was just too much. It's like there was nothing surprising about the story at all. The fact the story starts off with Evangeline picking out Jeffery's book in the store, after he specifically went in search of said book, only to have the story in the book (once they start reading together) start off in the exact same way...yeah, not a fan because it screamed unoriginality! It's not like that had already happened in the past. It made me wonder why the author started Jeffery's book off like that.
What was with the constant mentioning of Evangeline's butler and his baritone voice. I'm sure after it was mentioned the first tens times the reader could easily imagine him talking without the author having to repeatedly mention it. The same with the reference to eating cake. I forgot the exact phrase, but it got annoying.
Similarly, the repetitiveness between the story the characters read together and that of their own lives--I don't think that helped the story overall.
March 3, 2017
This book is about a baron. The title clearly states it's the story of a baron. What it doesn't tell you is it's also a story about A LOT of earls. By a lot, I don't mean two or three. I was beginning to wonder if the heroine's brother belonged to a special club that only other earls could join. She knew a lot of earls. Did I mention the heroine's brother is an earl? In case you forget that fact while you're reading, Evangeline is frequently referred to as "the earl's sister" even when simply saying Evangeline would have made more sense. In Chapters 5 and 24, she's called "the earl's daughter" and "the daughter of an earl." Yes, if her brother is an earl, one can conclude her deceased father was also an earl.
Lady Evangeline and Lord Sommers meet in a bookstore. This is their second meeting. They both have come to purchase the same book, "The Story of a Baron." There's only one copy on the shelf and she gets it first. Lord Sommers wants to read the book badly, and tries to persuade her to let him buy it so he can read it first. After all, he's the anonymous author, and he couldn't have possibly gotten his publisher to send a copy of his own book to his home. It makes perfect sense for the bookstore owner to put what we are led to believe is the only copy on the shelf on the second floor of this store. He knew Lord Sommers would be coming in to purchase the book that morning, so he wouldn't dream of keeping a copy under the counter for him. It would have been too simple to tell Lord Sommers he had a box of the books BEFORE he left the store with Lady Evangeline.
I had to suspend every sense of reality and common sense to read Chapter 22. Lord Sommers calls on Lady Evangeline at 9 o'clock at night. Her butler admits him even though it's past calling hours. These two co-readers just had to know what happened during the book characters' ride in the park! Really? The scene where she pretends to be asleep so she can grope him and let him fondle her...very original, I must admit. There's no way this man was not a virgin! What sexually-experienced man has an orgasm from being fondled through his pants? And no woman sleeps through having her breasts groped and suckled! This young lady might have been a virgin, but she was not that innocent. The fact that she said, "Please, don't stop," tells me she wasn't asleep. But we're supposed to believe all of this happened while she was sleeping. And the butler had coincidentally also fallen asleep across the room.
So, there's a story within a story in this book. We read what transpires with the hero and heroine in their real lives and what the hero has imagined about them in his novel. At times, I found the Lord Sommer's story more entertaining than what was actually happening with Jeffrey (Lord Sommers) and Evangeline.
Lady Evangeline and Lord Sommers meet in a bookstore. This is their second meeting. They both have come to purchase the same book, "The Story of a Baron." There's only one copy on the shelf and she gets it first. Lord Sommers wants to read the book badly, and tries to persuade her to let him buy it so he can read it first. After all, he's the anonymous author, and he couldn't have possibly gotten his publisher to send a copy of his own book to his home. It makes perfect sense for the bookstore owner to put what we are led to believe is the only copy on the shelf on the second floor of this store. He knew Lord Sommers would be coming in to purchase the book that morning, so he wouldn't dream of keeping a copy under the counter for him. It would have been too simple to tell Lord Sommers he had a box of the books BEFORE he left the store with Lady Evangeline.
I had to suspend every sense of reality and common sense to read Chapter 22. Lord Sommers calls on Lady Evangeline at 9 o'clock at night. Her butler admits him even though it's past calling hours. These two co-readers just had to know what happened during the book characters' ride in the park! Really? The scene where she pretends to be asleep so she can grope him and let him fondle her...very original, I must admit. There's no way this man was not a virgin! What sexually-experienced man has an orgasm from being fondled through his pants? And no woman sleeps through having her breasts groped and suckled! This young lady might have been a virgin, but she was not that innocent. The fact that she said, "Please, don't stop," tells me she wasn't asleep. But we're supposed to believe all of this happened while she was sleeping. And the butler had coincidentally also fallen asleep across the room.
So, there's a story within a story in this book. We read what transpires with the hero and heroine in their real lives and what the hero has imagined about them in his novel. At times, I found the Lord Sommer's story more entertaining than what was actually happening with Jeffrey (Lord Sommers) and Evangeline.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 8, 2024
Lord Sommers, Jeffrey Althorpe is a Baron in need of money for the book he wrote anonymously about a baron. Lady Evangeline Tennison is in London and enjoys embroidery and reading. She goes to the Temple of Muses and wants to purchase “The Story of a Baron” and Lord Sommers also wants the same book but there is only one copy. Jeffrey wants to know if his publisher had made any changes to his book and suggests to Evangeline that they read the book together. Meeting over the weeks to read the book together, Evangeline sees some similarities of the woman in the story and wonders if Jeffrey wrote the book about her. Jeffrey and Evangeline grow fondly of each other. I really enjoyed this historical romance novel.
November 26, 2018
The Story of a Baron
This was really fun! Two love stories in one book! This was a delightfully imaginative novel. I preferred the story of Eva and Baron Simmers to Matthew and Geraldine,but both stories were fascinating. I often found myself laughing at their foibles. I will be reading more of this series.
This was really fun! Two love stories in one book! This was a delightfully imaginative novel. I preferred the story of Eva and Baron Simmers to Matthew and Geraldine,but both stories were fascinating. I often found myself laughing at their foibles. I will be reading more of this series.
December 20, 2018
Lord Sommers and Lady Evangeline are reading a book together.The Story Of A Baron By Anonymous. The Anonymous person is sitting right next to Lady Evangeline,but she does not know this. YET!!! Too many scenarios sound familiar to her while reading this book. Almost as if the story was written about her. She really questions her self why she wanted to buy this book in the first place? I received this book for free from Ebook Discovery. I volunteered to review it and this is my honest review.
June 27, 2017
The author has a knack of making witty and funny turn into sexy and all of it done with such effortless grace and style. Or maybe it is the other way around ~ turning sexy into witty and funny? Either way, the result is always rollicking good fun. A very Good Read. Vastly entertaining.
August 20, 2019
Audible Romance Package
AUDIOBOOK: Read 20 August 2019
9hrs 14min
Narrator: Michael Troughton his voice is to dreamy putting me to sleep.
Very boring!! After a couple of hours in, just couldn't finish it.
AUDIOBOOK: Read 20 August 2019
9hrs 14min
Narrator: Michael Troughton his voice is to dreamy putting me to sleep.
Very boring!! After a couple of hours in, just couldn't finish it.
December 5, 2017
Great read!!
May 25, 2018
Enjoyable
Very enjoyable story of two people who belong together and the book that helps them along. A beautiful love story!
Very enjoyable story of two people who belong together and the book that helps them along. A beautiful love story!
November 15, 2018
Creative
I loved the unique concept of reading two stories in one. A very fun read - though I would forget at times remembering who was who :-)
I loved the unique concept of reading two stories in one. A very fun read - though I would forget at times remembering who was who :-)
November 30, 2018
The reading can get confusing with the back and forth between the story and the book that they are reading.
February 16, 2019
I have not read a book like this before.
Two simultaneous and similar storys in one book. It was difficult to keep the character names straight. I loved the bookstore meeting.
Two simultaneous and similar storys in one book. It was difficult to keep the character names straight. I loved the bookstore meeting.
March 19, 2017
I liked this story very much. Not what I expected. Enjoyable. 4*
March 11, 2017
Excellent book
This book was really good and interesting, once I started I couldn't stop reading. I recooks you read it. Great!
This book was really good and interesting, once I started I couldn't stop reading. I recooks you read it. Great!
December 18, 2016
Overall well-written with likable characters and an untypical storyline.
Evangeline is not a very demanding young woman, just a bit lonely. Her older brother and guardian, the Earl of Everly, has left her without a companion or sponsor so she has a very limited social life while in London. She spends most of her time reading, so what luck she happens to (again) meet an eligible gentleman while looking for a book in her favorite book shop. What is not explained is how she knows of this new book ("she spotted the book she was hoping to find").
The chapters include chapters of Jeffrey's novel of the same title, however, the chapters are clearly titled - see Chapter 6 of the preview, in which they read chapter 1. At times I had to go back and re-read a section to make sure which actions belonged to Jeffrey and Evangeline, and which to Matthew and Geraldine, the characters of Jeffrey's novel, so I would recommend reading this within a short time frame - not over weeks.
Evangeline is not a very demanding young woman, just a bit lonely. Her older brother and guardian, the Earl of Everly, has left her without a companion or sponsor so she has a very limited social life while in London. She spends most of her time reading, so what luck she happens to (again) meet an eligible gentleman while looking for a book in her favorite book shop. What is not explained is how she knows of this new book ("she spotted the book she was hoping to find").
The chapters include chapters of Jeffrey's novel of the same title, however, the chapters are clearly titled - see Chapter 6 of the preview, in which they read chapter 1. At times I had to go back and re-read a section to make sure which actions belonged to Jeffrey and Evangeline, and which to Matthew and Geraldine, the characters of Jeffrey's novel, so I would recommend reading this within a short time frame - not over weeks.
June 29, 2025
Baron Sommers, Jeffrey has admired lady Evangeline, Eva from afar, but with the state of his finances feels unable to support a wife, even though he realises he very much wants one. To help his finances he anonymously writes a novel about a Baron and the ton (what else does he know?) where everything is the opposite of real life. On the day the book is published he goes to his favoured book store, to find only one copy on the shelves, and Lady Evangeline is reading it. Jeffrey wanted to own one of the first print, and to see if the book has been published as he wrote it, so they agree to read the book together.
So a book within a book is born.
We meet several characters from other books in the series, and hear previous plots from a different point of view. It all works quite well.
A few differences between facts from previous books, and one glaring inconsistency in the plot of this one does distract from overall enjoyment as I found myself looking for more, so not as involved in the plot as is like.
One of the few of this authors books to feature one couple make that real couple there is of course the second couple in the book.
So a book within a book is born.
We meet several characters from other books in the series, and hear previous plots from a different point of view. It all works quite well.
A few differences between facts from previous books, and one glaring inconsistency in the plot of this one does distract from overall enjoyment as I found myself looking for more, so not as involved in the plot as is like.
One of the few of this authors books to feature one couple make that real couple there is of course the second couple in the book.
December 3, 2018
A story within a story, this lighthearted Regency romance has a well thought out plot and is very entertaining. I personally found the number of characters confusing and considering so many names in the parallel stories were close in nature, I had a problem at times differentiating between them. The romance between Jeffrey Althorpe and Evangeline Tennison built slowly and the ancillary characters in this book played an important role in the storyline. Although humourous, the book nevertheless has depth and the stories of the two barons both portray the mores of the era. It leaves one feeling grateful for the hard-won rights and privileges we enjoy today. There are some steamy passages in this book but they do have their place. Although this book is part of a series and some of the characters overlap, it is nevertheless a standalone and comes to a happy and satisfying conclusion. I purchased and read this book some years ago, but also received a review copy from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily post this review. This is my honest review.
November 27, 2018
A sweet regency romance about Jeffrey the struggling baron-turned-author and Evangeline the bluestocking almost-spinster. It was an interesting idea that this couple would read a book together that Jeffrey had based on real people that they both knew. Pair that with the notion of propriety of actions between unwed individuals, and you have opportunity for the “plot to thicken”. I did mostly enjoy the story and how the plot progressed. I found at times the shared chapters in the book that the pair read only minimally kept my interest- I wanted to see/hear more about the ACTUAL couple. All in all, still a good read. I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily review this book. This is my honest review.
May 25, 2015
I enjoy historical romances, I like being taken back in time with Barons and lords and the Ton. I thought this books plot was interesting and very unique but felt although it was a good read I wanted more, I wanted something great. I enjoyed the characters, especially Lord Sommers. I thought he was quit crafty and a interesting character but felt in parts it was too much information and description and not enough what matters between the two main characters, sometimes the information shared didn't need to be. I thought it hunter out in parts though and again it was a good read just not great. 3.5 stars
Review by Nanee at upallnightreadallday.blogspot.com
Review by Nanee at upallnightreadallday.blogspot.com
December 20, 2018
This book is a story in a story. It's interesting and fun to read.
Lord Sommers is a baron who is in need of money to fund his barony and to foot his bills. He decided to write a book and publish it anonymously in order to generate income. When the book was published, he went to the bookstore to get a copy in order to see how the book turned out. While there he met Lady Evangeline who also wants to purchase the same book but unfortunately there's only one copy. They decided to read the book together and one thing leads to another. "I received this book for free from eBook discovery. I voluntarily review this book. This is my honest review ".
Lord Sommers is a baron who is in need of money to fund his barony and to foot his bills. He decided to write a book and publish it anonymously in order to generate income. When the book was published, he went to the bookstore to get a copy in order to see how the book turned out. While there he met Lady Evangeline who also wants to purchase the same book but unfortunately there's only one copy. They decided to read the book together and one thing leads to another. "I received this book for free from eBook discovery. I voluntarily review this book. This is my honest review ".
April 18, 2016
The Story of a Baron by Linda Rae Sande is a fairly short read. This historical romance would be perfect for those with limited time for reading. The Story of a Baron is well written with lovable characters. Ms Sande has delivered drama, humor and sexy bits in Jeffrey and Evangeline's story. I enjoyed this book and would be happy to read more from Linda Rae Sande in the future. The Story of a Baron is book 1 in the Sisters Of The Aristocracy series but can be read as a standalone. This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.
August 30, 2016
Uncaged Book Reviews:
You not only get the story of Lord Sommers and Lady Evangeline, but you also get the story of the couple in the book itself. And I was drawn to both, I read their book along with them, and read their story, and I enjoyed both. Now, I did read this book, the 1st in this series after I read the 2nd one, The Passion of a Marquee. I had no issues, these can be easily read as standalones, although you do see a lot of characters roaming around that were a part of the other books in the series. Highly recommended for historical lovers.
You not only get the story of Lord Sommers and Lady Evangeline, but you also get the story of the couple in the book itself. And I was drawn to both, I read their book along with them, and read their story, and I enjoyed both. Now, I did read this book, the 1st in this series after I read the 2nd one, The Passion of a Marquee. I had no issues, these can be easily read as standalones, although you do see a lot of characters roaming around that were a part of the other books in the series. Highly recommended for historical lovers.
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