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The Lovelocks of London #1-3
The Lovelocks of London: The Collection
From the ballrooms of Regency London to the farthest reaches of the Scottish Highlands, the Lovelocks will risk everything to pursue their hearts’ desires.
The beloved Mr. Lovelock has died, leaving his vast fortune to his widow and daughters. These exceptional (and exceptionally wealthy) women soon find themselves fending off dissolute rakes, unscrupulous villains, and greedy fortune-hunters.
But the Lovelock women know their worth, and it has naught to do with money. No matter the cost, they seek out meaningful lives, free from compromise.
Yet, all of them still crave companionship, passion, and that which can’t be bought—love.
Harry, the eccentric daughter with a genius for mathematics, discovers peace and pleasure in her marriage-of-convenience with an impoverished earl ( Convergence of Desire ).
An attractive, young duke-to-be tempts the widowed Catherine Lovelock into a tempestuous tryst, but she insists the affair must be short-lived. He’s too far above her in rank, whilst also being too far below her in age. But the man of a thousand secrets won’t give up until he wins her affection ( Clandestine Passion ).
And youngest daughter Arabella, impulsive and daring, claws her way out of a ruinous scandal, only to find herself entangled with the man of her girlhood dreams ( A Perilous Flirtation ).
This ebook collection includes all three full-length novels in Felicity Niven’s debut series The Lovelocks of London , as well as a never-before-published bonus short story. In Love’s Labor Lasts , Harry and her husband Thomas from Convergence of Desire face their greatest challenge yet—the birth of their first child.
The beloved Mr. Lovelock has died, leaving his vast fortune to his widow and daughters. These exceptional (and exceptionally wealthy) women soon find themselves fending off dissolute rakes, unscrupulous villains, and greedy fortune-hunters.
But the Lovelock women know their worth, and it has naught to do with money. No matter the cost, they seek out meaningful lives, free from compromise.
Yet, all of them still crave companionship, passion, and that which can’t be bought—love.
Harry, the eccentric daughter with a genius for mathematics, discovers peace and pleasure in her marriage-of-convenience with an impoverished earl ( Convergence of Desire ).
An attractive, young duke-to-be tempts the widowed Catherine Lovelock into a tempestuous tryst, but she insists the affair must be short-lived. He’s too far above her in rank, whilst also being too far below her in age. But the man of a thousand secrets won’t give up until he wins her affection ( Clandestine Passion ).
And youngest daughter Arabella, impulsive and daring, claws her way out of a ruinous scandal, only to find herself entangled with the man of her girlhood dreams ( A Perilous Flirtation ).
This ebook collection includes all three full-length novels in Felicity Niven’s debut series The Lovelocks of London , as well as a never-before-published bonus short story. In Love’s Labor Lasts , Harry and her husband Thomas from Convergence of Desire face their greatest challenge yet—the birth of their first child.
1020 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 13, 2025
25 people are currently reading
13 people want to read
About the author
Felicity Niven
11 books337 followersSign up for Felicity Niven's newsletter and to receive a free prequel novella to the series The Lovelocks of London at https://www.felicityniven.com/reviews....
Felicity Niven is a hopeful romantic. Writing Regency romance is her third career after two degrees from Harvard. And you know what they say about third things? Yep, it’s a charm. She splits her time between the temperate South in the winter and the cool Great Lakes in the summer and thinks there can be no greater comforts than a pot of soup on the stove, a set of clean sheets on the bed, and a Jimmy Stewart film on a screen in the living room.
Felicity Niven is a hopeful romantic. Writing Regency romance is her third career after two degrees from Harvard. And you know what they say about third things? Yep, it’s a charm. She splits her time between the temperate South in the winter and the cool Great Lakes in the summer and thinks there can be no greater comforts than a pot of soup on the stove, a set of clean sheets on the bed, and a Jimmy Stewart film on a screen in the living room.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
April 10, 2025
This collection is lovely. It includes 3 full novels and a short story - but don't forget to grab the prequel novella When Ardor Blooms, which is soooo cute. It's a newsletter freebie when you sign up at Niven's website.
(I'll be updating as I read. So far I have given books 1 and 2 a read through, though I have read them prior. It will be my first read book 3 and the short story so I'm excited!)
Convergence of Desire - 4 stars
Clandestine Passion: 4 stars
A Perilous Flirtation - 4 stars
Love's Labor Lasts was an absolutely adorable short story about Harry and Thomas having their first child. It was really sweet seeing Harry's fears and how their relationship had solidified since we left them in their story. Also Kudos for being the first novel I've read that supported a wet nurse. (5 stars)
My full reviews of the individual books can be found here:
Convergence of Desire
Clandestine Passion
A Perilous Flirtation
(I'll be updating as I read. So far I have given books 1 and 2 a read through, though I have read them prior. It will be my first read book 3 and the short story so I'm excited!)
Convergence of Desire - 4 stars
Clandestine Passion: 4 stars
A Perilous Flirtation - 4 stars
Love's Labor Lasts was an absolutely adorable short story about Harry and Thomas having their first child. It was really sweet seeing Harry's fears and how their relationship had solidified since we left them in their story. Also Kudos for being the first novel I've read that supported a wet nurse. (5 stars)
My full reviews of the individual books can be found here:
Convergence of Desire
Clandestine Passion
A Perilous Flirtation
March 7, 2025
The Lovelocks of London are a perfect example of a series that is best served by being in a collection like this. The Lovelock women are each unique and non-traditional, and finds the perfect (and also very non-traditional) partner for their well-earned HEA. The most traditional of them, Mary, has her story in the wonderful prequel novella When Ardor Blooms available on the author's website. Niven is an ambitious and talented author, unafraid to explore ideas and themes that a lesser writer might shy away from. This collection is intricately plotted, but each thread is woven into a satisfying conclusion without a single one being dropped.
The backbone of the collection is Tommy and Harry in Convergence of Desire, the "mathematician and whoremaster" who enter in to a chaste marriage of convenience and find their way over mental and emotional hurdles into love. This was Niven's debut novel, and is written with complete confidence in the reader and the writer's own abilities. Throughout the Lovelock collection, the family orbits Tommy and Harry, coming to their home for gatherings and celebrations, and it's only through them that the other couples meet.
Harry's mother Catherine, a young and beautiful widow, falls in love with a Duke many years her junior in Clandestine Passion. Jamie the Duke is Tommy's best friend, I told you they are the linchpin! They both have secrets they are concealing about their pasts and presents, and need to work on finding the love and respect that is eclipsed by their white-hot mutual attraction. I never really bought "insta-lust" as a trope, until Niven wrote it here.
The youngest Lovelock daughter Arabella is ruined and abandoned in A Perilous Flirtation, and flees to Scotland to start over away from London society. Why Scotland? One might also ask why the particular hometown of a certain Dr. Alasdair Andrews who she met through Harry and Tommy. In fact it's her sister who pulls some strings to bring these two together, and through a long roadtrip Alasdair and Arabella learn to listen to each other and work to overcome preconceptions and class differences.
This collection also includes the delightful Love's Labor Lasts, a chance to check in with our faves Harry and Tommy, as well as the others as their first child is born. Harry, who has never found human emotions easy to parse, has concerns around motherhood, and Tommy is one hundo here for Harry no matter what. It's lovely to see how their HEA has evolved and their closeness grown. Through their relationship, these characters have evolved and grown together, exactly as we would wish.
This collection is a fantastic place to read a series from a historical romance author with a lot of big ideas, and a lot to say. The Lovelock family will grab your attention and stay in your thoughts long after you've finished reading. Highly recommend.
The backbone of the collection is Tommy and Harry in Convergence of Desire, the "mathematician and whoremaster" who enter in to a chaste marriage of convenience and find their way over mental and emotional hurdles into love. This was Niven's debut novel, and is written with complete confidence in the reader and the writer's own abilities. Throughout the Lovelock collection, the family orbits Tommy and Harry, coming to their home for gatherings and celebrations, and it's only through them that the other couples meet.
Harry's mother Catherine, a young and beautiful widow, falls in love with a Duke many years her junior in Clandestine Passion. Jamie the Duke is Tommy's best friend, I told you they are the linchpin! They both have secrets they are concealing about their pasts and presents, and need to work on finding the love and respect that is eclipsed by their white-hot mutual attraction. I never really bought "insta-lust" as a trope, until Niven wrote it here.
The youngest Lovelock daughter Arabella is ruined and abandoned in A Perilous Flirtation, and flees to Scotland to start over away from London society. Why Scotland? One might also ask why the particular hometown of a certain Dr. Alasdair Andrews who she met through Harry and Tommy. In fact it's her sister who pulls some strings to bring these two together, and through a long roadtrip Alasdair and Arabella learn to listen to each other and work to overcome preconceptions and class differences.
This collection also includes the delightful Love's Labor Lasts, a chance to check in with our faves Harry and Tommy, as well as the others as their first child is born. Harry, who has never found human emotions easy to parse, has concerns around motherhood, and Tommy is one hundo here for Harry no matter what. It's lovely to see how their HEA has evolved and their closeness grown. Through their relationship, these characters have evolved and grown together, exactly as we would wish.
This collection is a fantastic place to read a series from a historical romance author with a lot of big ideas, and a lot to say. The Lovelock family will grab your attention and stay in your thoughts long after you've finished reading. Highly recommend.
March 13, 2025
This series holds a special place in my bookish heart. I'm always trying to turn contemporary readers on to historical romance any chance I get. Starting with Convergence of Desire of course because it's my favorite.
And that short story with Harry and Thomas at the end! Love's Labor Lasts. Oh my gosh! Tears in my eyes with how sweet these two are together.
I'll never stop recommending Felicity to my friends or anyone who will listen. 🥰🤭
And that short story with Harry and Thomas at the end! Love's Labor Lasts. Oh my gosh! Tears in my eyes with how sweet these two are together.
I'll never stop recommending Felicity to my friends or anyone who will listen. 🥰🤭
March 13, 2025
ARC REVIEW!! (Thanks Felicity!)
Having read the whole Bed Me series and needing my Niven fix I was going to start Convergence of Desire but I was given the opportunity to ARC read the box set, it was kismet!
Convergence of Desire- Rake & neurodivergent math genius MOC- after over hearing Thomas propose to Harry’s stepmother and get rejected Harry proposes to Thomas. Harry just wants to be left alone to do the calculus and what better way than to marry someone that wants nothing to do with her? Loved this! I love how slowly Tommy becomes obsessed with Harry and she’s completely oblivious.
Clandestine Passion - Harry’s stepmother and Thomas’ bff. Hello historical reverse age gap! Catherine and James are completely obsessed with each other! Catherine is having trouble admitting her passion because of trauma she dealt with in her younger actress days. Jamie is the heir to a dukedom after his brother dies, he’s bored with his life waiting for his father to die so he becomes an agent of the crown “unofficially”. I loved that he was acting like a drunk and no one was the wiser.
A Perilous Flirtation - Harry’s half sister/Catherine’s daughter and Dr. Andrew’s (Harry’s doctor and friend) 🚨 VIRGIN HERO ALERT 🚨 We know right away towards the end of book 1 they’re going to be together. Their book spans a few years and they finally get their HEA
Loves Labor Lasts - Accompanying novella to Convergence of Desire, shows Harry and Tommy’s birth of their first child and a peek into their lives after the baby is born.
I love Felicity Nivens’ writing and the characters she creates. They’re so nuanced and real. I’m so happy The Lovelock ladies are altogether in a box set. My only advice would be to read Loves Labor Lasts after Clandestine Passion because everything happens before A Perilous Flirtation.
Having read the whole Bed Me series and needing my Niven fix I was going to start Convergence of Desire but I was given the opportunity to ARC read the box set, it was kismet!
Convergence of Desire- Rake & neurodivergent math genius MOC- after over hearing Thomas propose to Harry’s stepmother and get rejected Harry proposes to Thomas. Harry just wants to be left alone to do the calculus and what better way than to marry someone that wants nothing to do with her? Loved this! I love how slowly Tommy becomes obsessed with Harry and she’s completely oblivious.
Clandestine Passion - Harry’s stepmother and Thomas’ bff. Hello historical reverse age gap! Catherine and James are completely obsessed with each other! Catherine is having trouble admitting her passion because of trauma she dealt with in her younger actress days. Jamie is the heir to a dukedom after his brother dies, he’s bored with his life waiting for his father to die so he becomes an agent of the crown “unofficially”. I loved that he was acting like a drunk and no one was the wiser.
A Perilous Flirtation - Harry’s half sister/Catherine’s daughter and Dr. Andrew’s (Harry’s doctor and friend) 🚨 VIRGIN HERO ALERT 🚨 We know right away towards the end of book 1 they’re going to be together. Their book spans a few years and they finally get their HEA
Loves Labor Lasts - Accompanying novella to Convergence of Desire, shows Harry and Tommy’s birth of their first child and a peek into their lives after the baby is born.
I love Felicity Nivens’ writing and the characters she creates. They’re so nuanced and real. I’m so happy The Lovelock ladies are altogether in a box set. My only advice would be to read Loves Labor Lasts after Clandestine Passion because everything happens before A Perilous Flirtation.
March 13, 2025
These days I rarely want to read anything other than historical romance because there’s something about it that just hits. And there’s something especially satisfying about coming across an HR book (or even better, a series) that surprises you by doing something different and makes you completely rethink what the genre is capable of. Felicity Niven’s latest release, The Lovelocks of London Collection, does exactly that, and I will be talking about it at length to everyone in the foreseeable future. It is superb.
I got an ARC of the Collection and devoured the entire thing in a matter of days, which is pretty rare for me - I tend to read a book, get distracted, and eventually come back to the series.
The Collection features three full-length books, each previously published individually, and a bonus story only available in the Collection. Let me tell you, I feel very silly for not having read these stories before.
First up is Convergence of Desire, Felicity’s debut novel, which now ranks up there as one of my favorite romances of all time. Sarah Maclean recently said on the Culture Study podcast that there’s something special about an author’s debut - it’s when an author is at their most vulnerable and their most honest as a writer. I loved every story in this collection but CofD particularly stands out for how raw (emotionally, not technically - Felicity’s writing is impeccable) it is and for how much we see these characters grow. Harriet “Harry” Lovelock is a neurodivergent heiress who just wants to be left alone to her numbers. She’s a mathematics genius who’s determined to solve a problem that many men have been unable to do but the traditions and expectations of the ton and accompanying season are getting in her way. She proposes a marriage of convenience to Thomas Drake, an aristocrat and insatiable rake, who shuns commitment but must find a solution to all of his financial problems. Somehow, they make a perfect match, though it takes time for their relationship to grow from acquaintance to friends to romantic partners. Felicity does an amazing job at establishing the tension between the two and making us wonder “how the heck are these two ever going to get their HEA?” But she does it. Spectacularly.
Next is Clandestine Passion, which tells the story of Harry’s 45 year old stepmother Catherine and Thomas Drake’s best friend, James Cavendish. Yes, there is a considerable age gap but it works. Catherine, a former actress and widow still coming out of half-mourning, doesn’t think she wants to find love (or passion) again and instead looks for stability and security. James, who becomes the heir to a dukedom after his older brother dies, doesn’t care for tradition and siring his own heirs once he sets eyes on Catherine. Again, Felicity creates tension and angst beautifully, not to mention the heat between these two!
The last full length book in the Collection is Perilous Flirtation, the story of Arabella, Catherine’s daughter, and Scotsman Alasdair Andrews, doctor and friend to Harry. The two meet for all of 10 minutes, experience love (and lust) at first sight, but don’t make contact again for several years. It’s clear (to everyone else) that they want each other but a series of events and differences in worldly experience prevent them from coming together straight away. It’s another absolute delight of a book.
The bonus story, “Love’s Labor Lasts” lets us see Harry and Thomas preparing for the arrival of their first child, which really is wonderful after seeing the development of the two in Convergence of Desire.
Once I finished the Collection, I immediately ran out to get the other stories featuring the Lovelocks, the novella When Ardor Blooms (tells the story of the eldest Lovelock daughter, Mary and Viscount David Vaughan), and Harry’s Christmas Present, which takes place before Perilous Flirtation. Two more stories I’d highly recommend!
The Lovelocks of London Collection is out now on ebook and is available in Kindle Unlimited as a single borrow. Go read it immediately! I know I’ll be reading the rest of Felicity’s available works in the very near future!
I got an ARC of the Collection and devoured the entire thing in a matter of days, which is pretty rare for me - I tend to read a book, get distracted, and eventually come back to the series.
The Collection features three full-length books, each previously published individually, and a bonus story only available in the Collection. Let me tell you, I feel very silly for not having read these stories before.
First up is Convergence of Desire, Felicity’s debut novel, which now ranks up there as one of my favorite romances of all time. Sarah Maclean recently said on the Culture Study podcast that there’s something special about an author’s debut - it’s when an author is at their most vulnerable and their most honest as a writer. I loved every story in this collection but CofD particularly stands out for how raw (emotionally, not technically - Felicity’s writing is impeccable) it is and for how much we see these characters grow. Harriet “Harry” Lovelock is a neurodivergent heiress who just wants to be left alone to her numbers. She’s a mathematics genius who’s determined to solve a problem that many men have been unable to do but the traditions and expectations of the ton and accompanying season are getting in her way. She proposes a marriage of convenience to Thomas Drake, an aristocrat and insatiable rake, who shuns commitment but must find a solution to all of his financial problems. Somehow, they make a perfect match, though it takes time for their relationship to grow from acquaintance to friends to romantic partners. Felicity does an amazing job at establishing the tension between the two and making us wonder “how the heck are these two ever going to get their HEA?” But she does it. Spectacularly.
Next is Clandestine Passion, which tells the story of Harry’s 45 year old stepmother Catherine and Thomas Drake’s best friend, James Cavendish. Yes, there is a considerable age gap but it works. Catherine, a former actress and widow still coming out of half-mourning, doesn’t think she wants to find love (or passion) again and instead looks for stability and security. James, who becomes the heir to a dukedom after his older brother dies, doesn’t care for tradition and siring his own heirs once he sets eyes on Catherine. Again, Felicity creates tension and angst beautifully, not to mention the heat between these two!
The last full length book in the Collection is Perilous Flirtation, the story of Arabella, Catherine’s daughter, and Scotsman Alasdair Andrews, doctor and friend to Harry. The two meet for all of 10 minutes, experience love (and lust) at first sight, but don’t make contact again for several years. It’s clear (to everyone else) that they want each other but a series of events and differences in worldly experience prevent them from coming together straight away. It’s another absolute delight of a book.
The bonus story, “Love’s Labor Lasts” lets us see Harry and Thomas preparing for the arrival of their first child, which really is wonderful after seeing the development of the two in Convergence of Desire.
Once I finished the Collection, I immediately ran out to get the other stories featuring the Lovelocks, the novella When Ardor Blooms (tells the story of the eldest Lovelock daughter, Mary and Viscount David Vaughan), and Harry’s Christmas Present, which takes place before Perilous Flirtation. Two more stories I’d highly recommend!
The Lovelocks of London Collection is out now on ebook and is available in Kindle Unlimited as a single borrow. Go read it immediately! I know I’ll be reading the rest of Felicity’s available works in the very near future!
March 8, 2025
Felicity Niven - Lovelocks of London: The Collection
This book collects all three of Felicity Niven’s first historical romance books in one collection, plus a bonus short checking in with the MCs of book one, whom I happen to find the most endearing. The setting is Regency London/Great Britain in the late 1810s and early 1820s. While each book could be a standalone, reading them in this collection is the best way to experience the Felicityverse.
Book 1: Convergence of Desire
Harriet "Harry" Lovelock is a brilliant mathematician obsessed with solving Fermat's Conjecture. Her intense focus has led her to become malnourished and socially withdrawn. When the handsome Lord Thomas Drake is rejected by her stepmother—whom he needs to marry to secure an heiress and save his cherished estate, Sommerleigh—Harry sees an opportunity to escape the constraints placed upon unmarried women of means in Regency London.
There's drama and no shortage of sizzle in this slow-burn marriage of convenience romance.
Book 2: A Clandestine Passion
This engaging reverse age gap romance features 45-year-old widow Catherine and 28-year-old secret agent Jamie. With a more adventurous tone than the previous book, I enjoyed the epistolary elements and the steamy tension. There’s added angst this time, with Jamie as a charming hero and Catherine grappling with her desires. I’m curious about the villain’s motives, but overall, I love this author’s fresh voice and writing style.
Book 3: A Perilous Flirtation
In the final book of the Lovelocks of London series, Arabella and Alasdair finally get their happily ever after. They fell for each other when she was 17, but a scandal forces Arabella to hide in a remote Scottish village, where she builds a new life.
Years later, their paths cross again, leading to a journey filled with beloved tropes: a Scottish hero, only one bed, a road trip romance, being stranded in a snowstorm, a virgin hero, and a fake marriage.
The author skillfully depicts their growth, turning adolescent infatuation into a meaningful partnership as they traverse most of Great Britain and solve a mystery tied to Arabella’s past. Even the antagonist gets a HEA; surprisingly, I'm not mad about it.
Bonus: Love’s Labor Lasts
This little gem is such a treat for long-time fans of the Lovelock family. Tommy and Harry are awaiting the birth of their first child. Tommy‘s devotion to Harry and Harry’s willingness to examine her quirks are touching.
Felicity Niven is one of the first writers of historical romance who really ignited my passion as a reader of this genre. Her characters are atypical but not unbelievable, and the plotlines are inventive but not preposterous. I first read these books three years ago and have now read them all at least three times. I suspect The Lovelocks of London will be an annual reread for me—like checking in with an old friend.
Not included in this collection is the excellent prequel novella When Ardor Blooms, but it’s free on the author's website, where you’ll find trigger warnings and information about the rest of the Felicityverse.
Each story contains some open-door-explicit content.
Thanks to the author and Bletherskite Books for a complementary advance review copy. All opinions are my own.
This book collects all three of Felicity Niven’s first historical romance books in one collection, plus a bonus short checking in with the MCs of book one, whom I happen to find the most endearing. The setting is Regency London/Great Britain in the late 1810s and early 1820s. While each book could be a standalone, reading them in this collection is the best way to experience the Felicityverse.
Book 1: Convergence of Desire
Harriet "Harry" Lovelock is a brilliant mathematician obsessed with solving Fermat's Conjecture. Her intense focus has led her to become malnourished and socially withdrawn. When the handsome Lord Thomas Drake is rejected by her stepmother—whom he needs to marry to secure an heiress and save his cherished estate, Sommerleigh—Harry sees an opportunity to escape the constraints placed upon unmarried women of means in Regency London.
There's drama and no shortage of sizzle in this slow-burn marriage of convenience romance.
Book 2: A Clandestine Passion
This engaging reverse age gap romance features 45-year-old widow Catherine and 28-year-old secret agent Jamie. With a more adventurous tone than the previous book, I enjoyed the epistolary elements and the steamy tension. There’s added angst this time, with Jamie as a charming hero and Catherine grappling with her desires. I’m curious about the villain’s motives, but overall, I love this author’s fresh voice and writing style.
Book 3: A Perilous Flirtation
In the final book of the Lovelocks of London series, Arabella and Alasdair finally get their happily ever after. They fell for each other when she was 17, but a scandal forces Arabella to hide in a remote Scottish village, where she builds a new life.
Years later, their paths cross again, leading to a journey filled with beloved tropes: a Scottish hero, only one bed, a road trip romance, being stranded in a snowstorm, a virgin hero, and a fake marriage.
The author skillfully depicts their growth, turning adolescent infatuation into a meaningful partnership as they traverse most of Great Britain and solve a mystery tied to Arabella’s past. Even the antagonist gets a HEA; surprisingly, I'm not mad about it.
Bonus: Love’s Labor Lasts
This little gem is such a treat for long-time fans of the Lovelock family. Tommy and Harry are awaiting the birth of their first child. Tommy‘s devotion to Harry and Harry’s willingness to examine her quirks are touching.
Felicity Niven is one of the first writers of historical romance who really ignited my passion as a reader of this genre. Her characters are atypical but not unbelievable, and the plotlines are inventive but not preposterous. I first read these books three years ago and have now read them all at least three times. I suspect The Lovelocks of London will be an annual reread for me—like checking in with an old friend.
Not included in this collection is the excellent prequel novella When Ardor Blooms, but it’s free on the author's website, where you’ll find trigger warnings and information about the rest of the Felicityverse.
Each story contains some open-door-explicit content.
Thanks to the author and Bletherskite Books for a complementary advance review copy. All opinions are my own.
March 13, 2025
This series is like your favorite treat — you can't read just one. Having them all in a collection grants you permission to indulge. Although each book has their own theme, they effortlessly blend together making you feel part of their universe, and completely invested in what follows from one book to the next.
Book 1: Convergence of Desire
A delicious slow burn, marriage of convenience between two complete opposites. Harry is a neurodivergent mathematical genius looking to escape any and all social obligations. Tommy is a destitute, rake-about-town, desperately seeking an heiress. They enter a contractual agreement ruling out love and fidelity. It's a beautiful journey watching them both learn to recognize what love is. A perfect level of angst that's tempered with wit and pure sweetness.
Book 2: Clandestine Passion
The title of this book is so fitting! Age gap, forbidden, secrets, and guilt are only a few hurdles Kate and Jamie must jump to find their HEA. It's a heart wrenching story as we witness Jamie's pursuit and Kate's struggle to deny their attraction. I was glued to this story with its excellent character growth, slow acceptance of love, and dash of intrigue.
Book 3: A Perilous Flirtation
Second chance romances are my least favorite. But a second chance by Felicity!? Absolutely perfect! Alasdair is so sweet, stoic and principled but maybe a tad bit cowardly? I really enjoyed watching him grow and learn to stop fighting with himself. Arabella broke my heart as she looked for love in all the wrong places and paid the price. My frustration level was a bit high watching these two struggle with their worthiness but found it incredibly rewarding when they finally gave in.
Bonus: Love's Labor Lasts
This novella is the cherry on top! I loved getting the chance to revisit Harry and Tommy and witness the lasting strength of their love. Harry's anxiety over becoming a mother was completely relatable and Tommy's reassurances were so touching. A perfect conclusion to a brilliant series.
I highly recommend this collection for its diverse, endearing characters, realistic emotions and unique plots. Felicity's writing style is such a comfort for me. I expect and she delivers a beautifully worded, engaging, well paced, fresh take on historical romance that I find hard to put down. There's something for everyone in this collection and in everything she writes.
I was honored to receive an early copy from the author (thank you!) All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Book 1: Convergence of Desire
A delicious slow burn, marriage of convenience between two complete opposites. Harry is a neurodivergent mathematical genius looking to escape any and all social obligations. Tommy is a destitute, rake-about-town, desperately seeking an heiress. They enter a contractual agreement ruling out love and fidelity. It's a beautiful journey watching them both learn to recognize what love is. A perfect level of angst that's tempered with wit and pure sweetness.
Book 2: Clandestine Passion
The title of this book is so fitting! Age gap, forbidden, secrets, and guilt are only a few hurdles Kate and Jamie must jump to find their HEA. It's a heart wrenching story as we witness Jamie's pursuit and Kate's struggle to deny their attraction. I was glued to this story with its excellent character growth, slow acceptance of love, and dash of intrigue.
Book 3: A Perilous Flirtation
Second chance romances are my least favorite. But a second chance by Felicity!? Absolutely perfect! Alasdair is so sweet, stoic and principled but maybe a tad bit cowardly? I really enjoyed watching him grow and learn to stop fighting with himself. Arabella broke my heart as she looked for love in all the wrong places and paid the price. My frustration level was a bit high watching these two struggle with their worthiness but found it incredibly rewarding when they finally gave in.
Bonus: Love's Labor Lasts
This novella is the cherry on top! I loved getting the chance to revisit Harry and Tommy and witness the lasting strength of their love. Harry's anxiety over becoming a mother was completely relatable and Tommy's reassurances were so touching. A perfect conclusion to a brilliant series.
I highly recommend this collection for its diverse, endearing characters, realistic emotions and unique plots. Felicity's writing style is such a comfort for me. I expect and she delivers a beautifully worded, engaging, well paced, fresh take on historical romance that I find hard to put down. There's something for everyone in this collection and in everything she writes.
I was honored to receive an early copy from the author (thank you!) All thoughts and opinions are my own.
March 22, 2025
I love anything Felicity Niven writes, and this new collection is a great way to read all about the Lovelock family at one time. The collection includes Convergence of Desire, Clandestine Passion, and A Perilous Flirtation. Each book centers around one of the Lovelock women and her love. All of the stories are woven together, and I loved reading more about all of the characters throughout the collection. Each story has lots of longing, angst, steam, and a happy conclusion.
This new collections includes a new short story about Harry and Thomas/Tommy, Love's Labor Lasts, about the birth of their first child. This couple, a seemingly unlikely match, are just totally gone for each other and the birth is a tense and also joyous time. Catherine and Jamie come to the estate to help with the birth, and their presence adds levity and emotional support to the new parents.
The Lovelocks of London is a wonderful historical romance collection. Grab it and you will devour these delightful stories about this lovely family.
Thanks to Felicity Niven and Bletherskite Books for this complimentary ARC of The Lovelocks of London: The Collection. All opinions are my own.
This new collections includes a new short story about Harry and Thomas/Tommy, Love's Labor Lasts, about the birth of their first child. This couple, a seemingly unlikely match, are just totally gone for each other and the birth is a tense and also joyous time. Catherine and Jamie come to the estate to help with the birth, and their presence adds levity and emotional support to the new parents.
The Lovelocks of London is a wonderful historical romance collection. Grab it and you will devour these delightful stories about this lovely family.
Thanks to Felicity Niven and Bletherskite Books for this complimentary ARC of The Lovelocks of London: The Collection. All opinions are my own.
March 11, 2025
I think I can begin to understand Harriet Lovelock’s frustration at being unable to express herself and capture her elusive thoughts, because I have been thinking about what it is exactly that makes Felicity Niven’s books work so well for me, and I just can’t pinpoint it. The masterful writing, the dry wit and the creative plots contribute to it, surely, as do the obvious care and love she has for her characters, the fact that her books never read as contemporaries in Regency disguise, or the masterful plotting, which is especially evident when you read three full books and a novella basically in one go. I think the closest I can come to an answer is the fact that, although the focus is always on couples, and men complete their own journeys, Ms Niven actually seems to like and empathize with her imperfect, fallible heroines, which I don’t think is always the case in romance, especially in historical romance, where women often read as mere props helping brooding men learn to love or some such rot. This collection, focusing on two sisters and their (step)mother (with a small, but wonderful showing by a sister we already got to know in her own novella), is, of course, primarily about romantic love and features three couples in the pursuit of their happily ever after, but is also a wonderful showcase for the love and fraught relationships between sisters, daughters and mothers. The Lovelocks have quickly become one of my favourite historical romance families.
Convergence of Desire, 4 stars
Ah, Tommy and his elf queen. This was a masterclass in slow burn, a beautiful and touching story about a rake and an intimidatingly brilliant eccentric. The progression of the relationship between Harry and Thomas is gorgeous, believable, and incredibly sensual, despite the fact that they act on it fairly late in the novel. I was on the verge of tears at multiple times during the book, and was pleasantly surprised to see how brave Felicity was with her flawed protagonists, not only by making the potentially controversial decision to include consensual non-monogamy, but also with everything that went down in that heartbreaking scene in the library. However, I was left a little overwhelmed by how much seemed to go down in the second half of the novel, which was surprisingly violent and tense. I didn’t dislike it, but it was a shift from the hitherto character-focused plot. That also might be due to the fact that I inhaled the book, so upon a more leisurely reread, I might bump this up to 5 stars.
Clandestine Passion, 3.5 stars
I enjoyed the romance in this one, but it didn’t resonate with me nearly as well as the romances in the other two books did. Jamie and Catherine were interesting protagonists, but the spy storyline didn’t really capture me. However, I enjoyed seeing an older heroine, and cackled every time she mentioned her "lust demon". I also very much enjoyed the parts of the story focused on Catherine’s relationship with her daughters. Catherine/Kate/Mama Katie was a compelling heroine to read about, but her insta-lust relationship with the faux rake Jamie fell a bit flat for me.
A Perilous Flirtation, 5 stars
I adored the Not-Stupid Alasdair and Dauntless Arabella. I was immediately intrigued by the good doctor when we met him in the first book, and he didn’t disappoint. I love a level-headed, hard-working, modest, smart and kind hero. I also adored his heroine, and, again, the bravery of Ms Niven with this storyline. To actually see the ruination of the heroine on page is not very common, in my experience. The discourse around female desire and the obsession with virginity was fascinating, and I really liked that it was the heroine who was haunted by the (perceived) sins of her parents, for once. It was Arabella who has been hardened by her experience, but not to the point of being cynical or jaded, and Alasdair who was the romantic one, willing to learn and deal with his own prejudice. This was just swoonworthy.
Love’s Labor Lasts, 5 stars
Flawless. This novella was so sweet and so poignant, with Harry and Thomas nervous and excited about the birth of their first child. The parts dealing with Harry’s anxiety about becoming a mother and connecting with her baby, as well as the possibility of the baby being "difficult" like her were beautiful, touching and relatable. Catherine once again gets to be the best mama bear, and the equally hot and hilarious finale, in which Harry finds herself unable to heed doctor’s orders, was just chef’s kiss perfect. I was also glad to see I could relate to the dauntingly brilliant Harry at least in the sense that placating us with coffee and cakes is the way to go.
Huge thanks to Felicity Niven for the ARC.
Convergence of Desire, 4 stars
Ah, Tommy and his elf queen. This was a masterclass in slow burn, a beautiful and touching story about a rake and an intimidatingly brilliant eccentric. The progression of the relationship between Harry and Thomas is gorgeous, believable, and incredibly sensual, despite the fact that they act on it fairly late in the novel. I was on the verge of tears at multiple times during the book, and was pleasantly surprised to see how brave Felicity was with her flawed protagonists, not only by making the potentially controversial decision to include consensual non-monogamy, but also with everything that went down in that heartbreaking scene in the library. However, I was left a little overwhelmed by how much seemed to go down in the second half of the novel, which was surprisingly violent and tense. I didn’t dislike it, but it was a shift from the hitherto character-focused plot. That also might be due to the fact that I inhaled the book, so upon a more leisurely reread, I might bump this up to 5 stars.
Clandestine Passion, 3.5 stars
I enjoyed the romance in this one, but it didn’t resonate with me nearly as well as the romances in the other two books did. Jamie and Catherine were interesting protagonists, but the spy storyline didn’t really capture me. However, I enjoyed seeing an older heroine, and cackled every time she mentioned her "lust demon". I also very much enjoyed the parts of the story focused on Catherine’s relationship with her daughters. Catherine/Kate/Mama Katie was a compelling heroine to read about, but her insta-lust relationship with the faux rake Jamie fell a bit flat for me.
A Perilous Flirtation, 5 stars
I adored the Not-Stupid Alasdair and Dauntless Arabella. I was immediately intrigued by the good doctor when we met him in the first book, and he didn’t disappoint. I love a level-headed, hard-working, modest, smart and kind hero. I also adored his heroine, and, again, the bravery of Ms Niven with this storyline. To actually see the ruination of the heroine on page is not very common, in my experience. The discourse around female desire and the obsession with virginity was fascinating, and I really liked that it was the heroine who was haunted by the (perceived) sins of her parents, for once. It was Arabella who has been hardened by her experience, but not to the point of being cynical or jaded, and Alasdair who was the romantic one, willing to learn and deal with his own prejudice. This was just swoonworthy.
Love’s Labor Lasts, 5 stars
Flawless. This novella was so sweet and so poignant, with Harry and Thomas nervous and excited about the birth of their first child. The parts dealing with Harry’s anxiety about becoming a mother and connecting with her baby, as well as the possibility of the baby being "difficult" like her were beautiful, touching and relatable. Catherine once again gets to be the best mama bear, and the equally hot and hilarious finale, in which Harry finds herself unable to heed doctor’s orders, was just chef’s kiss perfect. I was also glad to see I could relate to the dauntingly brilliant Harry at least in the sense that placating us with coffee and cakes is the way to go.
Huge thanks to Felicity Niven for the ARC.
March 9, 2025
I’ve been wanting to read Felicity Niven’s work for a while, so I was thrilled when I saw her whole “Lovelocks of London” series would be available as a collection!
While the exquisite writing is consistent throughout all three books (and one short story), the stories themselves are all incredibly different. There’s something for every type of romance reader here, and so many important topics tackled with love and optimism.
Book 1, “Convergence of Desire,” was maybe my favorite — a slooooooow burn marriage of convenience story as Tommy falls for his autistic, wealthy bride Harry, and she learns to love him just as much as she loves the calculus. Harry’s forthrightness and brilliance were beautifully displayed, and I loved seeing the way these two very different people found a path to love that really worked for them.
Book 2, “Clandestine Passion,” is more of a spy romp. Catherine is determined to get back an embarrassing portrait painted by her evil ex, and Jamie is the much younger man who leads a double life that she can’t know about. She’s absolutely feral for him and I loved the way this book flipped the friends-to-lovers trope and made them go lovers-to-friends — they couldn’t keep their hands off each other but by the end of the story I felt like they’d have a solid nonsexual relationship too.
Book 3, “A Perilous Flirtation,” features innocent Arabella who has been ruined in a carriage and runs off to Scotland. Luckily there’s a hot Scottish doctor to bring her back to her family, and keep the steamy carriage scenes going. There’s also 1820s medical talk (which I totally nerded out over; I love when a book sends me down a rabbit hole) and some comeuppance for the evildoers that was delightful. I also loved that this book started with the ruination and its repercussions — I feel like most historical romances I’ve read have the ruined girl marry her ruiner, but in this one she sutures his colon instead, and it’s beautiful.
The short story, “Love’s Labor Lasts,” is a very cute little addition to the collection. Set between Books 2 and 3, it focuses on the birth of Harry’s first child and all her and Tommy’s concerns about being good parents. As a mom myself, I can confirm that everything about this felt so authentic — the frustration with the enormous belly, the worry that you’ll do things “wrong”, the raging hormones, the desperate horniness.
I truly loved this collection so much that I immediately signed up for Felicity’s email list to get the prequel novella, “When Ardor Blooms” — Mary and her husband are bit characters throughout the other books and I’m so eager to see how they fell in love too! I can’t wait to read even more from Felicity Niven; she’s definitely going to be one of my auto-buy authors from now on!
Thank you to Felicity Niven for this ARC collection!
While the exquisite writing is consistent throughout all three books (and one short story), the stories themselves are all incredibly different. There’s something for every type of romance reader here, and so many important topics tackled with love and optimism.
Book 1, “Convergence of Desire,” was maybe my favorite — a slooooooow burn marriage of convenience story as Tommy falls for his autistic, wealthy bride Harry, and she learns to love him just as much as she loves the calculus. Harry’s forthrightness and brilliance were beautifully displayed, and I loved seeing the way these two very different people found a path to love that really worked for them.
Book 2, “Clandestine Passion,” is more of a spy romp. Catherine is determined to get back an embarrassing portrait painted by her evil ex, and Jamie is the much younger man who leads a double life that she can’t know about. She’s absolutely feral for him and I loved the way this book flipped the friends-to-lovers trope and made them go lovers-to-friends — they couldn’t keep their hands off each other but by the end of the story I felt like they’d have a solid nonsexual relationship too.
Book 3, “A Perilous Flirtation,” features innocent Arabella who has been ruined in a carriage and runs off to Scotland. Luckily there’s a hot Scottish doctor to bring her back to her family, and keep the steamy carriage scenes going. There’s also 1820s medical talk (which I totally nerded out over; I love when a book sends me down a rabbit hole) and some comeuppance for the evildoers that was delightful. I also loved that this book started with the ruination and its repercussions — I feel like most historical romances I’ve read have the ruined girl marry her ruiner, but in this one she sutures his colon instead, and it’s beautiful.
The short story, “Love’s Labor Lasts,” is a very cute little addition to the collection. Set between Books 2 and 3, it focuses on the birth of Harry’s first child and all her and Tommy’s concerns about being good parents. As a mom myself, I can confirm that everything about this felt so authentic — the frustration with the enormous belly, the worry that you’ll do things “wrong”, the raging hormones, the desperate horniness.
I truly loved this collection so much that I immediately signed up for Felicity’s email list to get the prequel novella, “When Ardor Blooms” — Mary and her husband are bit characters throughout the other books and I’m so eager to see how they fell in love too! I can’t wait to read even more from Felicity Niven; she’s definitely going to be one of my auto-buy authors from now on!
Thank you to Felicity Niven for this ARC collection!
March 13, 2025
The Lovelocks of London: The collection
This is the first series of Felicity Niven’s book. Lucky for us, it’s now in a Collection set. I have read all her books but for those who haven’t yet, it’s the best way to start. Convergence of desire is the first one: Harriette and Thomas. Harry Lovelock I wants to prove she can solve the theorem that no men so far as ever solved. Thomas Drake, the Earl Drake is a Rake with a capital R and he needs money and he need it fast…Second books is Clandestine Passion: Catherine and James. Catherine Lovelock a healthy widow and stepmother to Harry. James Cavendish, heir to the Duke of Middlewich and Thomas’s best friend. But he is 17 years younger than Catherine. These two will have an affair, but it is just that? Third book is A Perilous Flirtation: Arabella and Alastair. Arabella Lovelock is Harry’s half sister and Catherine’s daughter. Betrayed and seduced by a unknown man , she decides to run to Scotland . Dr Alastair Andrews , secretly in love with her, decided to go to Scotland to bring her back to London. But a big snowstorm arrives and they are stuck together. Will this closeness makes them realize how they feel for each other’s?
And surprise! Love’s Labor Lasts: a bonus story!! Harry and Thomas first pregnancy!! And yes it’s a challenge for Harry and Thomas. This story should be read before A Perilous Flirtation but that’s just my opinion.
If you love characters that are not the « Norm » in historical romance, with flaws, but so easy to love, this is the author you need to read. She’s my number one author in the historical romance. Congrats Felicity and please continue to make such great stories 🥰
This is the first series of Felicity Niven’s book. Lucky for us, it’s now in a Collection set. I have read all her books but for those who haven’t yet, it’s the best way to start. Convergence of desire is the first one: Harriette and Thomas. Harry Lovelock I wants to prove she can solve the theorem that no men so far as ever solved. Thomas Drake, the Earl Drake is a Rake with a capital R and he needs money and he need it fast…Second books is Clandestine Passion: Catherine and James. Catherine Lovelock a healthy widow and stepmother to Harry. James Cavendish, heir to the Duke of Middlewich and Thomas’s best friend. But he is 17 years younger than Catherine. These two will have an affair, but it is just that? Third book is A Perilous Flirtation: Arabella and Alastair. Arabella Lovelock is Harry’s half sister and Catherine’s daughter. Betrayed and seduced by a unknown man , she decides to run to Scotland . Dr Alastair Andrews , secretly in love with her, decided to go to Scotland to bring her back to London. But a big snowstorm arrives and they are stuck together. Will this closeness makes them realize how they feel for each other’s?
And surprise! Love’s Labor Lasts: a bonus story!! Harry and Thomas first pregnancy!! And yes it’s a challenge for Harry and Thomas. This story should be read before A Perilous Flirtation but that’s just my opinion.
If you love characters that are not the « Norm » in historical romance, with flaws, but so easy to love, this is the author you need to read. She’s my number one author in the historical romance. Congrats Felicity and please continue to make such great stories 🥰
March 22, 2025
The Lovelocks of London collection is a fantastic series of historical romances. The series focuses on the strong Lovelock women, daughters Harry and Arabella, along with their stepmother/mother Catherine. Every story in this collection is a treat for romance readers!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
It includes Convergence of Desire, Clandestine Passion, and A Perilous Flirtation, all of which have been previously released.
Convergence of Desire is Thomas and Harry’s book. It features a marriage of convenience and one of the best depictions of a neurodivergent FMC that I’ve seen in historical romance. And, I adore a MMC who ultimately will do anything for his wife, even before he realizes she’s the love of his life.
James and Catherine’s book is Clandestine Passion. It has an age gap where she’s older, along with spies and intrigue too.
A Perilous Flirtation has Arabella and Alasdair getting snowed in! With only one bed! Is there any question that it’s great?!?
The bonus is that this collection also includes a brand new short story, Love’s Labors Lasts, which features Harry and her husband Thomas from book 1. I love seeing this glimpse of familiar characters as they get ready for the birth of Thomas and Harry’s first child. The story shows how they’ve all grown and changed for the better since the beginning of the series.
If you love historical romance, Felicity Niven is a must read author. The Lovelocks of London collection is a great series, and I can’t recommend it enough.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this collection. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
It includes Convergence of Desire, Clandestine Passion, and A Perilous Flirtation, all of which have been previously released.
Convergence of Desire is Thomas and Harry’s book. It features a marriage of convenience and one of the best depictions of a neurodivergent FMC that I’ve seen in historical romance. And, I adore a MMC who ultimately will do anything for his wife, even before he realizes she’s the love of his life.
James and Catherine’s book is Clandestine Passion. It has an age gap where she’s older, along with spies and intrigue too.
A Perilous Flirtation has Arabella and Alasdair getting snowed in! With only one bed! Is there any question that it’s great?!?
The bonus is that this collection also includes a brand new short story, Love’s Labors Lasts, which features Harry and her husband Thomas from book 1. I love seeing this glimpse of familiar characters as they get ready for the birth of Thomas and Harry’s first child. The story shows how they’ve all grown and changed for the better since the beginning of the series.
If you love historical romance, Felicity Niven is a must read author. The Lovelocks of London collection is a great series, and I can’t recommend it enough.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this collection. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
March 11, 2025
I’ve been a huge fan of Felicity Niven since her very first book. I’m delighted to reveal that that first book and its two sequels are now available together in one collection on Kindle and Kindle unlimited.
Even if you’ve never read Regency era romance before, you will love this series. The characters are vibrant and relatable even as they exist in their own time period. I love the spicy romance in all three books. They are beautifully written.
Here’s a snippet of my reviews for each book included in the collection:
Convergence of Desire: I’ve read a lot of regency romance in my day, and I’m happy to say this book is definitely a standout in the genre! The introduction of Harry, a neurodivergent female main character in that time period was an interesting plot point and made the story fresh.
Clandestine Passion: (My favorite!) I loved this book because Catherine was 45 years old, which is my age. It was a refreshing change from the usual 17-year-old heroine stereotype. There’s plenty of spice (age gap! forbidden romance!), espionage, and a great ending.
A Perilous Flirtation: The character development of Arabella and Alasdair is well done—their relationship is beautiful, and the spicy scenes are just right. I liked the way the author twisted the normal tropes and made Alasdair the less experienced one.
Love’s Labor Lasts: This is a sweet short story detailing the birth of Harry’s (book one) first child. Her logical mind approached childbirth in exactly the way I imagined she would. And Thomas was sweet and so lovable.
Thank you to @felicitynivenauthor for my gifted digital review copy.
Even if you’ve never read Regency era romance before, you will love this series. The characters are vibrant and relatable even as they exist in their own time period. I love the spicy romance in all three books. They are beautifully written.
Here’s a snippet of my reviews for each book included in the collection:
Convergence of Desire: I’ve read a lot of regency romance in my day, and I’m happy to say this book is definitely a standout in the genre! The introduction of Harry, a neurodivergent female main character in that time period was an interesting plot point and made the story fresh.
Clandestine Passion: (My favorite!) I loved this book because Catherine was 45 years old, which is my age. It was a refreshing change from the usual 17-year-old heroine stereotype. There’s plenty of spice (age gap! forbidden romance!), espionage, and a great ending.
A Perilous Flirtation: The character development of Arabella and Alasdair is well done—their relationship is beautiful, and the spicy scenes are just right. I liked the way the author twisted the normal tropes and made Alasdair the less experienced one.
Love’s Labor Lasts: This is a sweet short story detailing the birth of Harry’s (book one) first child. Her logical mind approached childbirth in exactly the way I imagined she would. And Thomas was sweet and so lovable.
Thank you to @felicitynivenauthor for my gifted digital review copy.
March 13, 2025
One of my favorite series!
This is The Lovelocks of London series + a bonus short story--all in one place. For KU readers, this means you can get Convergence of Desire, Clandestine Passion, and A Perilous Flirtation and only take up one KU space! Genius.
I've been raving about Felicity Niven for two years now! The Lovelocks of London is where I started with this author, and it's where I'd recommend you start, too!
• Convergence of Desire: unputdownable, marriage of convenience, neurodivergent heroine, angst, & the calculus
• Clandestine Passion: widow, age gap, she's older, the sweetest fake rake on earth, & he's a spy
• A Perilous Flirtation: road trip, so much kissing, only one bed, pining their pantaloons off, virgin hero, & he's a doctor
• Love's Labor Lasts: (New and only available through this collection) I loved this short story (sort of like a bonus epilogue) giving us a glimpse into motherhood for Harry from Convergence of Desire. Pregnancy and postpartum are very much *my thing* so a romance novel that incorporates this time in any way is something I always love to read about.
Highly recommend!!!
.
.
@wearecompletelybooked
This is The Lovelocks of London series + a bonus short story--all in one place. For KU readers, this means you can get Convergence of Desire, Clandestine Passion, and A Perilous Flirtation and only take up one KU space! Genius.
I've been raving about Felicity Niven for two years now! The Lovelocks of London is where I started with this author, and it's where I'd recommend you start, too!
• Convergence of Desire: unputdownable, marriage of convenience, neurodivergent heroine, angst, & the calculus
• Clandestine Passion: widow, age gap, she's older, the sweetest fake rake on earth, & he's a spy
• A Perilous Flirtation: road trip, so much kissing, only one bed, pining their pantaloons off, virgin hero, & he's a doctor
• Love's Labor Lasts: (New and only available through this collection) I loved this short story (sort of like a bonus epilogue) giving us a glimpse into motherhood for Harry from Convergence of Desire. Pregnancy and postpartum are very much *my thing* so a romance novel that incorporates this time in any way is something I always love to read about.
Highly recommend!!!
.
.
@wearecompletelybooked
March 14, 2025
I was so excited to read this series as I had heard so many good things about it. Individual book reviews below.
Convergence of Desire
Harry and Thomas! What a couple!
I loved this book. Mathematical genius Harry and complex Thomas. Their path to love was a twisty one, but so gentle.
Clandestine Passion
I loved this story of Kate and “her Jamie”. It was very much instalove for them, however, they had lots of obstacles to overcome while getting to know each other more deeply.
With a dash of intrigue and subterfuge, Clandestine Passion is delightfully different from the more domestic Convergence of Desire.
A Perilous Flirtation
A solid ending to The Lovelocks of London Series. This is the story of little sister Arabella who has always been underestimated because she is the youngest of her sisters. She and Alasdair fell in love/lust at first sight but due to “circumstances” things never went further.
The two years of pining is excellent as they slowly make their way back to each other! We then have a roadtrip and almost claustrophobic forced proximity while they work towards their HEA.
Felicity Niven’s writing is excellent once again.
Love's Labor Lasts
It was so much fun to revisit Harry and Thomas upon the birth of their first child.
We get a beautiful peek into their relationship again. Backup is provided be Catherine, Jamie and Alistair.
Thank you Felicity Niven for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
Convergence of Desire
Harry and Thomas! What a couple!
I loved this book. Mathematical genius Harry and complex Thomas. Their path to love was a twisty one, but so gentle.
Clandestine Passion
I loved this story of Kate and “her Jamie”. It was very much instalove for them, however, they had lots of obstacles to overcome while getting to know each other more deeply.
With a dash of intrigue and subterfuge, Clandestine Passion is delightfully different from the more domestic Convergence of Desire.
A Perilous Flirtation
A solid ending to The Lovelocks of London Series. This is the story of little sister Arabella who has always been underestimated because she is the youngest of her sisters. She and Alasdair fell in love/lust at first sight but due to “circumstances” things never went further.
The two years of pining is excellent as they slowly make their way back to each other! We then have a roadtrip and almost claustrophobic forced proximity while they work towards their HEA.
Felicity Niven’s writing is excellent once again.
Love's Labor Lasts
It was so much fun to revisit Harry and Thomas upon the birth of their first child.
We get a beautiful peek into their relationship again. Backup is provided be Catherine, Jamie and Alistair.
Thank you Felicity Niven for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
March 13, 2025
The Lovelocks of London
I really love Felicity Nivens writing! The Lovelock family is wonderful and this series is amazing!
This collection includes the books: Convergence of Desire, Clandestine Passion and A Perilous Flirtation. Each book focuses on a woman from the Lovelock family and her search for and finding love and acceptance.
As an absolute highlight, we get a novella that revolves around the birth of the first child of Harry and Tommy (The main characters from the first book) and we meet the Lovelock family again.
The entire collection is brilliantly written, you feel like a part of this family and miss them as soon as you read the last page.
Fortunately there is also the „Bed me“ series by Felicity Niven, so you can read more from the author right away.
I really love Felicity Nivens writing! The Lovelock family is wonderful and this series is amazing!
This collection includes the books: Convergence of Desire, Clandestine Passion and A Perilous Flirtation. Each book focuses on a woman from the Lovelock family and her search for and finding love and acceptance.
As an absolute highlight, we get a novella that revolves around the birth of the first child of Harry and Tommy (The main characters from the first book) and we meet the Lovelock family again.
The entire collection is brilliantly written, you feel like a part of this family and miss them as soon as you read the last page.
Fortunately there is also the „Bed me“ series by Felicity Niven, so you can read more from the author right away.
March 6, 2025
This collection of books about my favourite histrom family is simply perfect. It is uninterrupted bliss reading through their wonderful stories, and with the additional novella we're able to see right into Harry's heart and mind, which adds to the romance. Perfect for all histrom lovers, and also those who are new to the genre. I was lucky enough to be given the opportunity to read this collection as an ARC reader.
March 13, 2025
This beautifully written collection of three historical romance stories set in late 1810 and early 1820s, which also includes a bonus story of the Lovelock family, were all very entertaining and delightful. There is a free, beautiful prequel novella that begins this journey for free on the authors website. I really enjoyed these and highly recommend reading them all!
June 9, 2025
This anthology is AMAZING.
The short story that is included, Love’s Labor Lasts was so sweet and emotional, i was ugly crying while reading it.
What am I going to do with my life now that I finished all the books in this series???
The short story that is included, Love’s Labor Lasts was so sweet and emotional, i was ugly crying while reading it.
What am I going to do with my life now that I finished all the books in this series???
March 23, 2025
Romance writers have historically done a good job of creating communities in/for their stories, which center around connected characters. Felicity Niven’s writing stands out because her communities are well developed, despite being inhabited by characters who are diverse. Make no mistake, they read like family members, but reading the novels back to back illustrates how their chronologies are interwoven, like real people living real lives.
“And, then, he laid back and rested in her shade” defines the relationship of Harriet Lovelock and Thomas Drake in Convergence of Desire, the first story in the box set. Forget those names! They quickly become Harry & Tommy, and they are normal, imperfect, absolutely endearing characters, {and while a reviewer shouldn’t have favorites, Harry & Tommy are mine}. Harry is solidly STEAM and “the” calculus [her interest works historically]; she’s also on the deep end of the spectrum, but in a credible way for an era when the word had not yet been imagined. Harry comes from a family, loving but not stifling stepmother and [half] sisters, all of whom become heroines of their own stories. The minor plot of a former actress, mothering an autistic stepchild by teaching her how to ACT in social situations is particularly satisfying. No one wants to change Harry!
In their own ways, by nature/lack of nurture, Harry & Tommy are both flawed and emotionally stunted beyond their control, and their romance is part self discovery/part relationship building, fomenting an exquisite narrative. Ironically, theirs is a slow burn despite one of them being “uninterested” and the other a nymphomaniac — but the polar distance in their libidos creates a burn with unique beauty, worth the wait. Tommy is paradoxically a “man’s man” who is emotional and sensitive, qualities that intrigue Harry. Much before they attempt to voice their love, they’re showing it to each other by their actions. The novel is its most poignant when that all comes together: “‘You see, I really can’t do without you.’ Thomas then began to sob.” By the epilogue, the reader is clear is that this couple is solid, happy, and well-matched.
Although Love’s Labor's Last is the final story in the set as a continuation of Harry & Tommy stories, it is referenced here. The novella continues their story even as it moves them to the next phase of a relationship —> from marriage to parenthood, and it validates the strength of their union; it offers insight into how their love is maturing. The calculus is still on Harry’s brain. Tommy is even more emotional. The novella continues the love language unique to these characters, established in Convergence: “I swear you’re the devil, Tommy. You know I can’t resist your thigh.” Readers who wanted them to burn faster in the first story will enjoy the spice of the last chapter. Niven’s writing offers readers character driven stories in which the plots are believable but not too modern; the characters are more than likable and putting the books down is difficult.
The second novel is Clandestine Passion; in it readers meet the most confident of the couples but also the most mysterious. The story is solidly romance but with just enough intrigue to keep the pace fast. Here readers encounter Catherine — Mama Katie as Harry calls her — and Tommy’s friend, James Cavendish. The tone of the novel is remarkably different from the first: at various times humorous, angst-y, or enigmatic. As the story progresses, they become Kate & Jamie, and if Convergence is a slow-burn, Clandestine is incendiary. By roughly sentence 10 of the first chapter, Kate is captivated by Jamie: “And those gorgeous, soft gray eyes crinkling at the edges when he laughed. And he seemed to laugh frequently.” A few sentences down, she notes his “melodious” voice. She has a rather fun way to signal her satisfaction in amorous episodes, which might induce a chuckle. For all the spicy joyfulness their romance evokes, it is because of Catherine readers meet the most unredeemable villain of the set, one of a pair of truly heinous cads. The ways those characters’ stories play out is satisfying! The interplay of romance and conspiracy enhance Kate & Jamie’s growing love.
More important than the ugliness of those rakes is the depth of womanhood that Kate brings to the romance; she is a mature heroine, no longer maiden and seemingly past the mother stage of life. She has no doubt that a long term relationship between herself and the younger James can only be fleeting. She realizes as a peer, he needs an heir, and at her age that’s not an option, but her passion for him is mighty. Among the main characters, she is the only to have experienced a happy marriage, but she sees little opportunity for that experience to be repeated with Jamie.
Readers may get both a laugh and a bit of childhood reminiscence in Jamie’s frequent use of “upsidaisy,” which he casts as a distraction. The word is a mask Jamie wears skillfully. He is much more — all good — than he seems, and he is as besotted with Kate as she is with him, but he’s oblivious when he first admits to himself, while looking at her, that she is his “breathtaking perfection.” Their journey to love has some serious roadblocks, but those aspects of the story substantiate the love match readers witness in the novel’s epilogue.
The last of the full novels is also the sweetest, Arabella and Alasdair’s story, A Perilous Flirtation. Like the other offerings, it is peopled by complex characters with realistic, sometimes heartbreaking realities. The power of Niven’s writing makes those realities not just readable but necessary to the story. In the moment, readers may feel sympathy or even anger for Arabella or Alasdair; some of the injustices either experiences are infuriating. In a way that is delightful and unexpected, their story combines the STEAM of Convergence with the intrigue of Clandestine. How the science+mystery can enhance the romance to the extent it does escapes me, but it does! The secondary characters are developed to the fullest in this novel, and the trajectory of those secondary plot lines enhance the main story but are pleasing in their ends, too.
Alasdair, a staid Scot doctor, exemplifies the axiom, still waters run deep. Despite being, or maybe because he is a doctor, he also exemplifies the arcane beliefs of men and science, regarding women’s libido. Their relationship is bogged down by those misguided beliefs AND by the mores of a society that value people for their economic class and women for their inexperience. In each novel, Niven uses the traits of the lovers as a means to develop their romance. Here Alasdair’s stoicism paired with his mistaken ideas about women’s sexuality creates an ever intensifying burn of the characters for each other. At the pinnacle of their emotional conflict, Arabella’s strength and pragmatism shines: “To hear it from you…Let me just say that is the unkindest cut of all. And this idea that somehow someone could repair my honor by hurting the man who hurt me — it makes me ill.” In that moment Arabella affirms Alasdair’s importance to her, the silliness of society’s rules for women, her own agency, and the toxicity of revenge. When they finally acknowledge their love for each other, the satisfaction — theirs and the readers — is sublime. Alasdair’s early stoicism gives away to the same kind of poignancy as Tommy’s declarations.
The most difficult part of writing a review for me is NOT gushing. The review must be accurate, fair. I am grateful for the ARC because it was the only way to read Love’s Labor’s Lost, but in this case I did I already own and read the paperback versions, and I had done so more than once and will again.
In the end, my summary could simply be: I love the Lovelocks of London. Niven’s fictional characters have presences in each others’ lives and novels at a master level of organization and creativity. The novels stand alone well, too. There are other stories about them that readers can enjoy if they subscribe to Nevin. Harry & Tommy may be my favorite couple, but my all time favorite of the Lovelock stories is their Christmas short story.
“And, then, he laid back and rested in her shade” defines the relationship of Harriet Lovelock and Thomas Drake in Convergence of Desire, the first story in the box set. Forget those names! They quickly become Harry & Tommy, and they are normal, imperfect, absolutely endearing characters, {and while a reviewer shouldn’t have favorites, Harry & Tommy are mine}. Harry is solidly STEAM and “the” calculus [her interest works historically]; she’s also on the deep end of the spectrum, but in a credible way for an era when the word had not yet been imagined. Harry comes from a family, loving but not stifling stepmother and [half] sisters, all of whom become heroines of their own stories. The minor plot of a former actress, mothering an autistic stepchild by teaching her how to ACT in social situations is particularly satisfying. No one wants to change Harry!
In their own ways, by nature/lack of nurture, Harry & Tommy are both flawed and emotionally stunted beyond their control, and their romance is part self discovery/part relationship building, fomenting an exquisite narrative. Ironically, theirs is a slow burn despite one of them being “uninterested” and the other a nymphomaniac — but the polar distance in their libidos creates a burn with unique beauty, worth the wait. Tommy is paradoxically a “man’s man” who is emotional and sensitive, qualities that intrigue Harry. Much before they attempt to voice their love, they’re showing it to each other by their actions. The novel is its most poignant when that all comes together: “‘You see, I really can’t do without you.’ Thomas then began to sob.” By the epilogue, the reader is clear is that this couple is solid, happy, and well-matched.
Although Love’s Labor's Last is the final story in the set as a continuation of Harry & Tommy stories, it is referenced here. The novella continues their story even as it moves them to the next phase of a relationship —> from marriage to parenthood, and it validates the strength of their union; it offers insight into how their love is maturing. The calculus is still on Harry’s brain. Tommy is even more emotional. The novella continues the love language unique to these characters, established in Convergence: “I swear you’re the devil, Tommy. You know I can’t resist your thigh.” Readers who wanted them to burn faster in the first story will enjoy the spice of the last chapter. Niven’s writing offers readers character driven stories in which the plots are believable but not too modern; the characters are more than likable and putting the books down is difficult.
The second novel is Clandestine Passion; in it readers meet the most confident of the couples but also the most mysterious. The story is solidly romance but with just enough intrigue to keep the pace fast. Here readers encounter Catherine — Mama Katie as Harry calls her — and Tommy’s friend, James Cavendish. The tone of the novel is remarkably different from the first: at various times humorous, angst-y, or enigmatic. As the story progresses, they become Kate & Jamie, and if Convergence is a slow-burn, Clandestine is incendiary. By roughly sentence 10 of the first chapter, Kate is captivated by Jamie: “And those gorgeous, soft gray eyes crinkling at the edges when he laughed. And he seemed to laugh frequently.” A few sentences down, she notes his “melodious” voice. She has a rather fun way to signal her satisfaction in amorous episodes, which might induce a chuckle. For all the spicy joyfulness their romance evokes, it is because of Catherine readers meet the most unredeemable villain of the set, one of a pair of truly heinous cads. The ways those characters’ stories play out is satisfying! The interplay of romance and conspiracy enhance Kate & Jamie’s growing love.
More important than the ugliness of those rakes is the depth of womanhood that Kate brings to the romance; she is a mature heroine, no longer maiden and seemingly past the mother stage of life. She has no doubt that a long term relationship between herself and the younger James can only be fleeting. She realizes as a peer, he needs an heir, and at her age that’s not an option, but her passion for him is mighty. Among the main characters, she is the only to have experienced a happy marriage, but she sees little opportunity for that experience to be repeated with Jamie.
Readers may get both a laugh and a bit of childhood reminiscence in Jamie’s frequent use of “upsidaisy,” which he casts as a distraction. The word is a mask Jamie wears skillfully. He is much more — all good — than he seems, and he is as besotted with Kate as she is with him, but he’s oblivious when he first admits to himself, while looking at her, that she is his “breathtaking perfection.” Their journey to love has some serious roadblocks, but those aspects of the story substantiate the love match readers witness in the novel’s epilogue.
The last of the full novels is also the sweetest, Arabella and Alasdair’s story, A Perilous Flirtation. Like the other offerings, it is peopled by complex characters with realistic, sometimes heartbreaking realities. The power of Niven’s writing makes those realities not just readable but necessary to the story. In the moment, readers may feel sympathy or even anger for Arabella or Alasdair; some of the injustices either experiences are infuriating. In a way that is delightful and unexpected, their story combines the STEAM of Convergence with the intrigue of Clandestine. How the science+mystery can enhance the romance to the extent it does escapes me, but it does! The secondary characters are developed to the fullest in this novel, and the trajectory of those secondary plot lines enhance the main story but are pleasing in their ends, too.
Alasdair, a staid Scot doctor, exemplifies the axiom, still waters run deep. Despite being, or maybe because he is a doctor, he also exemplifies the arcane beliefs of men and science, regarding women’s libido. Their relationship is bogged down by those misguided beliefs AND by the mores of a society that value people for their economic class and women for their inexperience. In each novel, Niven uses the traits of the lovers as a means to develop their romance. Here Alasdair’s stoicism paired with his mistaken ideas about women’s sexuality creates an ever intensifying burn of the characters for each other. At the pinnacle of their emotional conflict, Arabella’s strength and pragmatism shines: “To hear it from you…Let me just say that is the unkindest cut of all. And this idea that somehow someone could repair my honor by hurting the man who hurt me — it makes me ill.” In that moment Arabella affirms Alasdair’s importance to her, the silliness of society’s rules for women, her own agency, and the toxicity of revenge. When they finally acknowledge their love for each other, the satisfaction — theirs and the readers — is sublime. Alasdair’s early stoicism gives away to the same kind of poignancy as Tommy’s declarations.
The most difficult part of writing a review for me is NOT gushing. The review must be accurate, fair. I am grateful for the ARC because it was the only way to read Love’s Labor’s Lost, but in this case I did I already own and read the paperback versions, and I had done so more than once and will again.
In the end, my summary could simply be: I love the Lovelocks of London. Niven’s fictional characters have presences in each others’ lives and novels at a master level of organization and creativity. The novels stand alone well, too. There are other stories about them that readers can enjoy if they subscribe to Nevin. Harry & Tommy may be my favorite couple, but my all time favorite of the Lovelock stories is their Christmas short story.
March 11, 2025
I absolutely adore this collection of the love stories of three Lovelock women all in one glorious edition. These books are so well written and each wonderful in their own way. Each book is seamlessly integrated with the others at the beginning of the second and third books but is in the perspective of the new MFC. I have wanted to read these books since forever and having them all together in one place is wonderful. There’s also a novella to complete the collection.
Book 1- Convergence of Desire is a slow burn marriage of convenience between a poor manwhore earl Thomas and a wealthy neurodivergent non titled woman Harriet who likes to be called Harry. This story has serious laugh out loud moments. I just adore Harry, she speaks her mind no matter how filthy it is. I feel Ms Niven writes the character of Harry with great sensitivity. My mind was opened to the difficulties faced by neurodivergent people that I’m sure they still face today. Thomas has an innate sense of understanding and compassion for Harry. Harry becomes such a changed person for the better by Thomas’ love for her. This book was pure joy to read.
Book 2- Clandestine Passions is a reverse age gap love story between Harry’s stepmother Catherine and Thomas’ best friend James, heir to the Duke of Middlewich and a secret agent. James brings out pure lust in Catherine that got her in trouble years ago. She wants calm so considers marrying another. James is obsessed with Catherine and wants to marry her. The two need to find a way for Catherine to find calm with James before she has to walk away. The passion between the two is intense.
Book 3- Perilous Flirtation is a second chance love story between Arabella Lovelock and Dr Alistair Andrews. A chance ten minute encounter between the two in Convergence of Desire finds them both in love with each other but both are unsure how the other one feels and circumstances stop them meeting again for years. Alistair is friends with Thomas and Harry. Arabella was taken advantage of by someone she thought she loved but was wrong. She runs away to Scotland to start afresh. After a letter from a friend arrives while he is away, Alistair finds himself knocking on Arabella’s door just a few miles from where he was staying in Scotland. The chemistry between the two is wonderful to read but the confidence of worth of the two for each other means there are many misunderstandings between them before they finally realise they were meant to be together.
There’s also a novella, Love’s Labour Lasts which looks at Harry and Thomas awaiting the arrival of their first child which is a great short read.
There is plenty of steam in this collection. Ms Niven has a great talent for drawing a reader in completely and I didn’t come up for air until I finished the collection. It is a fantastic piece of genius writing that I just couldn’t put down. Each story had a perfectly paced plot and lots of interaction between the main characters and secondary characters. This collection has already been put onto my read again list. I hope there are further collections made of books from a series into one large collection, so much easier to read than trying to find the next book in the series when it’s already there on the next page.
I recommend this collection to everyone who reads historical romance books.
I received a special copy from the author. I’m voluntarily leaving this review.
Book 1- Convergence of Desire is a slow burn marriage of convenience between a poor manwhore earl Thomas and a wealthy neurodivergent non titled woman Harriet who likes to be called Harry. This story has serious laugh out loud moments. I just adore Harry, she speaks her mind no matter how filthy it is. I feel Ms Niven writes the character of Harry with great sensitivity. My mind was opened to the difficulties faced by neurodivergent people that I’m sure they still face today. Thomas has an innate sense of understanding and compassion for Harry. Harry becomes such a changed person for the better by Thomas’ love for her. This book was pure joy to read.
Book 2- Clandestine Passions is a reverse age gap love story between Harry’s stepmother Catherine and Thomas’ best friend James, heir to the Duke of Middlewich and a secret agent. James brings out pure lust in Catherine that got her in trouble years ago. She wants calm so considers marrying another. James is obsessed with Catherine and wants to marry her. The two need to find a way for Catherine to find calm with James before she has to walk away. The passion between the two is intense.
Book 3- Perilous Flirtation is a second chance love story between Arabella Lovelock and Dr Alistair Andrews. A chance ten minute encounter between the two in Convergence of Desire finds them both in love with each other but both are unsure how the other one feels and circumstances stop them meeting again for years. Alistair is friends with Thomas and Harry. Arabella was taken advantage of by someone she thought she loved but was wrong. She runs away to Scotland to start afresh. After a letter from a friend arrives while he is away, Alistair finds himself knocking on Arabella’s door just a few miles from where he was staying in Scotland. The chemistry between the two is wonderful to read but the confidence of worth of the two for each other means there are many misunderstandings between them before they finally realise they were meant to be together.
There’s also a novella, Love’s Labour Lasts which looks at Harry and Thomas awaiting the arrival of their first child which is a great short read.
There is plenty of steam in this collection. Ms Niven has a great talent for drawing a reader in completely and I didn’t come up for air until I finished the collection. It is a fantastic piece of genius writing that I just couldn’t put down. Each story had a perfectly paced plot and lots of interaction between the main characters and secondary characters. This collection has already been put onto my read again list. I hope there are further collections made of books from a series into one large collection, so much easier to read than trying to find the next book in the series when it’s already there on the next page.
I recommend this collection to everyone who reads historical romance books.
I received a special copy from the author. I’m voluntarily leaving this review.
March 15, 2025
The Lovelocks of London Collection Overall
For the first time, Felicity Niven’s debut trilogy is available as a boxed collection. I first read these novels years ago, fell in love with them, and promptly added Niven to my auto-buy list. Revisiting them now, I’m happy to say that I love them just as much as I did then. Additionally, the collection includes a novella, Love’s Labor Lasts, which revisits the couple from the first novel as they prepare to welcome their first child. To top it off, there’s a fascinating historical notes section at the end that’s absolutely worth a read. Below is my short take on each of these captivating, witty, and propulsive stories:
The Convergence of Desire
This novel breathes new life into the marriage of convenience trope, chronicling the love story between two polar opposites who strike a bargain to meet their distinct needs. Harry, the neurodivergent, amateur mathematician FMC, seeks a respectable way to pursue her passion for mathematics. Her personal growth throughout the story is deeply moving, as is Thomas’s transformation—from a dissolute rake in need of financial rescue into a man worthy of Harry’s love. What starts as a celibate union evolves into an emotional, beautiful, and (eventually) steamy romance. Its unique premise and masterful execution make this my favorite of the series.
A Clandestine Passion
This emotionally charged romance deftly combines a class difference and age gap, making both integral to the story’s heart. Catherine, a wealthy widow and former actress, is a loving stepmother and mother to her daughters. James, the heir to an dukedom, is her son-in-law’s best friend—a flirtatious rake often in his cups. Both characters carry secrets and struggle against their explosive chemistry. Niven explores themes like purity culture and the fulfillment that comes with self-acceptance, creating a story brimming with insight. The spy subplot stands out as one of the best I’ve ever read, seamlessly driving character development. There’s also a lovely epistolary section.
A Perilous Flirtation
This novel starts with one of the most deftly drawn and devastating scandals I’ve ever encountered, laying the groundwork for Arabella’s journey to rebuild her life. Facing public disgrace, Arabella reunites with her long-time crush, Alisdair, her sister’s Scottish doctor. Set against the backdrop of Regency double standards, this story brims with compelling tropes like forced proximity, carriage journeys, and a fake marriage. Alisdair—a Scottish virgin and genuinely kind soul—helps Arabella rediscover her faith in love while she teaches him about passion. Their romance is a slow, steady burn filled with longing and yearning. The epilogue is immensely satisfying, offering closure for major and minor characters while teasing future stories.
Love’s Labor Lasts
This charming novella offers a tender glimpse into Harry and Thomas’s life as they await their first child. Catherine and James also make an appearance, blissful one year into their marriage. I adored seeing how well-matched these couples are, the heartfelt portrayal of motherhood in its various forms, and the enduring passion between Harry and Thomas amidst life’s changes. Sweet, touching, and yes, spicy, this novella is a perfect conclusion to the series.
I received an ARC for free and am leaving this review voluntarily
For the first time, Felicity Niven’s debut trilogy is available as a boxed collection. I first read these novels years ago, fell in love with them, and promptly added Niven to my auto-buy list. Revisiting them now, I’m happy to say that I love them just as much as I did then. Additionally, the collection includes a novella, Love’s Labor Lasts, which revisits the couple from the first novel as they prepare to welcome their first child. To top it off, there’s a fascinating historical notes section at the end that’s absolutely worth a read. Below is my short take on each of these captivating, witty, and propulsive stories:
The Convergence of Desire
This novel breathes new life into the marriage of convenience trope, chronicling the love story between two polar opposites who strike a bargain to meet their distinct needs. Harry, the neurodivergent, amateur mathematician FMC, seeks a respectable way to pursue her passion for mathematics. Her personal growth throughout the story is deeply moving, as is Thomas’s transformation—from a dissolute rake in need of financial rescue into a man worthy of Harry’s love. What starts as a celibate union evolves into an emotional, beautiful, and (eventually) steamy romance. Its unique premise and masterful execution make this my favorite of the series.
A Clandestine Passion
This emotionally charged romance deftly combines a class difference and age gap, making both integral to the story’s heart. Catherine, a wealthy widow and former actress, is a loving stepmother and mother to her daughters. James, the heir to an dukedom, is her son-in-law’s best friend—a flirtatious rake often in his cups. Both characters carry secrets and struggle against their explosive chemistry. Niven explores themes like purity culture and the fulfillment that comes with self-acceptance, creating a story brimming with insight. The spy subplot stands out as one of the best I’ve ever read, seamlessly driving character development. There’s also a lovely epistolary section.
A Perilous Flirtation
This novel starts with one of the most deftly drawn and devastating scandals I’ve ever encountered, laying the groundwork for Arabella’s journey to rebuild her life. Facing public disgrace, Arabella reunites with her long-time crush, Alisdair, her sister’s Scottish doctor. Set against the backdrop of Regency double standards, this story brims with compelling tropes like forced proximity, carriage journeys, and a fake marriage. Alisdair—a Scottish virgin and genuinely kind soul—helps Arabella rediscover her faith in love while she teaches him about passion. Their romance is a slow, steady burn filled with longing and yearning. The epilogue is immensely satisfying, offering closure for major and minor characters while teasing future stories.
Love’s Labor Lasts
This charming novella offers a tender glimpse into Harry and Thomas’s life as they await their first child. Catherine and James also make an appearance, blissful one year into their marriage. I adored seeing how well-matched these couples are, the heartfelt portrayal of motherhood in its various forms, and the enduring passion between Harry and Thomas amidst life’s changes. Sweet, touching, and yes, spicy, this novella is a perfect conclusion to the series.
I received an ARC for free and am leaving this review voluntarily
March 13, 2025
Oh to be able to read these books for the first time and discover the wonderful world of the Lovelock women all over again. Ms Niven has gathered up her first 3 novels and a bonus short story for new and old readers and it is such a treat to have them all together in this collection.
Book 1: Convergence of Desire is one of my favorite books of all time as it deals with fidelity, autism in a marriage of convenience that breaks all the rules of conventional historical romance. Harriet “Harry” just needs time to work on solving a mathematical theorem but having to go to balls and garden parties just keep getting in the way. Thomas, Earl of Drake needs a rich wife. Can a marriage of convenience to this odd young lady be the key to solve his financial woes?
Harry and Thomas are the stars of this collection and we get to see them interact with everyone throughout the series.
Book 2: Clandestine Passion. Can you have 2 great loves in one lifetime? Widow Catherine Lovelock has had a good life. She had a wonderful marriage to a successful man who brought into her life 2 wonderful stepdaughters and gave her own lovely daughter. She never expected she might fall in love again and especially not with a reckless rake who likes his drink too much and is 17 years younger!!
Oh, but he brings her so much passion! James “Jamie” Cavendish is not what he seems. But as the heir apparent to the Duke of Middlewich he has a role to play. If only he was falling hopelessly in love with his best friend’s Mother-in-law!! Again Ms Nivens plays with romance taboos and flips the “May/December” romance trope on its head.
Book 3: A Perilous Flirtation. What happens when 2 people have unrequited love for each other? Sounds like an easy situation to fix, right? Well not when he thinks he’s too far below the other to even broach the subject and both of them are too shy to know how to go about it. Arabella knew Dr Alasdair Andrew’s was the man for her from almost the minute she met him. But one life altering mistake changes her life forever and makes Arabella leave her home and security for the wilds of Scotland. Alasdair has never forgotten Arabella and is tasked with bringing her back to her family. Will it take a snowstorm to finally get these two together?
The last “Book” in this collection is a new short story where we get to see how Harry and Thomas deal with the coming and birth of their first child in “Love’s Labor Lasts” which is a beautiful and heartwarming story that I think a lot of women who have given birth can relate to. It was a wonderful ending to this collection.
I had had the privilege of reading all these books when they first came out and Ms Niven was kind enough to include me in a ARC of this collection for my unbiased review. But before she did that I knew that I would be buying this collection so that I could relive the stories again.
If you’re new to these books I encourage you to sign up for Felicity’s newsletter to receive the novella “When Adore Blooms” which features Mary, the eldest of the Lovelock daughters and is chronologically the first in the LoveLock family saga.
Book 1: Convergence of Desire is one of my favorite books of all time as it deals with fidelity, autism in a marriage of convenience that breaks all the rules of conventional historical romance. Harriet “Harry” just needs time to work on solving a mathematical theorem but having to go to balls and garden parties just keep getting in the way. Thomas, Earl of Drake needs a rich wife. Can a marriage of convenience to this odd young lady be the key to solve his financial woes?
Harry and Thomas are the stars of this collection and we get to see them interact with everyone throughout the series.
Book 2: Clandestine Passion. Can you have 2 great loves in one lifetime? Widow Catherine Lovelock has had a good life. She had a wonderful marriage to a successful man who brought into her life 2 wonderful stepdaughters and gave her own lovely daughter. She never expected she might fall in love again and especially not with a reckless rake who likes his drink too much and is 17 years younger!!
Oh, but he brings her so much passion! James “Jamie” Cavendish is not what he seems. But as the heir apparent to the Duke of Middlewich he has a role to play. If only he was falling hopelessly in love with his best friend’s Mother-in-law!! Again Ms Nivens plays with romance taboos and flips the “May/December” romance trope on its head.
Book 3: A Perilous Flirtation. What happens when 2 people have unrequited love for each other? Sounds like an easy situation to fix, right? Well not when he thinks he’s too far below the other to even broach the subject and both of them are too shy to know how to go about it. Arabella knew Dr Alasdair Andrew’s was the man for her from almost the minute she met him. But one life altering mistake changes her life forever and makes Arabella leave her home and security for the wilds of Scotland. Alasdair has never forgotten Arabella and is tasked with bringing her back to her family. Will it take a snowstorm to finally get these two together?
The last “Book” in this collection is a new short story where we get to see how Harry and Thomas deal with the coming and birth of their first child in “Love’s Labor Lasts” which is a beautiful and heartwarming story that I think a lot of women who have given birth can relate to. It was a wonderful ending to this collection.
I had had the privilege of reading all these books when they first came out and Ms Niven was kind enough to include me in a ARC of this collection for my unbiased review. But before she did that I knew that I would be buying this collection so that I could relive the stories again.
If you’re new to these books I encourage you to sign up for Felicity’s newsletter to receive the novella “When Adore Blooms” which features Mary, the eldest of the Lovelock daughters and is chronologically the first in the LoveLock family saga.
April 8, 2025
If you love slow-burn and high angst mixed with heat in the latter half, then this collection is for you. I like to read in order, and The Lovelocks works so well as a collection. I love the family dynamic and how each book builds from the one(s) before. Where more time is given to the full arc of each character, and not necessarily always focusing on the romantic moments of the couple together, it gives the collection almost an epic family saga vibe that is bigger than each book alone.
Niven has gained an excellent reputation for richly-depicted and engaging characters, who are not your usual MCs or the usual type of relationships found in HR---which I love and can definitely be found here. I liked how the collection has the through line of Lady Huxley's balls being pivotal moments for each character and how some cameo characters carry through too. It ties them well together in those small details. Information is very commingled within the books, so best read in order, or even better in this collection.
Convergence of Desire
I am on the spectrum and I love reading about characters like myself in HR. Each person's neurodivergence is different, but I feel that Harry's issues and how she grows and adapts was realistic and handled well. It was sweet how their relationship, which was strictly transactional at first, develops through understanding each other's needs and boundaries and then just growing comfortable with each other and wanting each other's company. Admittedly, Thomas seemed a bit scummy at first and was practically a s*x addict, but it worked to make his change that much more profound. I liked how we saw his gradual change. His a-ha moment is so touching in that he realizes his own feelings but still knows it is best to let Harry have time and come to him. There are so many tender as well as hilarious moments in this story.
Clandestine Passion
Overlaps with Book 1. There, we just saw the loving and protective mother side of Catherine. In this book, we get to see her inner turmoil. I like the reverse age-gap story and how he is the one who has to convince her to give their love a chance. This one took a moment for me to get into it, though. The focus is more on the plot, with MCs having little on page time together, and what few moments they have seemed more focused on lust than love for a good portion of the story. Also, both characters have a lot of secrets and hold things back from the other (and Jamie acts like a drunken boob half the time). It comes together in the end, and I really loved the epistolary section and the longing they have for each other.
A Perilous Flirtation
Works well in this collection, as we get to know Alasdair mostly in Book 1, and he doesn't appear here until quite a ways in. Normally it would bother me that the couple doesn't interact until far in, but since the stories all flowed together in the collection, it worked fine here---even making Arabella a richer character to see her whole story on page and not have it as just something that happened before the couple's story. She starts off young and naive and grows so much through the story. I liked Alasdair, too. He is not your typical hero, in that he is just a smart, shy, good man and good friend focused on his good work. He needs Arabella to be the one to drive things between them, and boy does she. They do sometimes have misunderstandings, but not the usual "big" ones. It's just a natural progression of people learning and sharing more about each other and their feelings. Their story has some interesting twists, plus I love a road trip interrupted story.
I have to give a shout out to Mary (who has her own novella as a newsletter bonus). She gives Arabella "the talk" and also promotes "self-love" as nothing to be ashamed of. I loved this scene. It is possibly one of the most succinct, accurate, and accepting s*x talks I have read in a romance book.
And I have to know...Does Rebecca Dalrymple get her own HEA?!?
Love's Labor Lasts
A perfect novella to round out the collection, focusing on Harry processing the daunting task of motherhood and how it affects her and Tommy's love-life also.
Note: With all the books in this collection, it is worthwhile to read the author's content warnings.
Thank you to the author for an ARC of this collection. These are my honest opinions.
Niven has gained an excellent reputation for richly-depicted and engaging characters, who are not your usual MCs or the usual type of relationships found in HR---which I love and can definitely be found here. I liked how the collection has the through line of Lady Huxley's balls being pivotal moments for each character and how some cameo characters carry through too. It ties them well together in those small details. Information is very commingled within the books, so best read in order, or even better in this collection.
Convergence of Desire
I am on the spectrum and I love reading about characters like myself in HR. Each person's neurodivergence is different, but I feel that Harry's issues and how she grows and adapts was realistic and handled well. It was sweet how their relationship, which was strictly transactional at first, develops through understanding each other's needs and boundaries and then just growing comfortable with each other and wanting each other's company. Admittedly, Thomas seemed a bit scummy at first and was practically a s*x addict, but it worked to make his change that much more profound. I liked how we saw his gradual change. His a-ha moment is so touching in that he realizes his own feelings but still knows it is best to let Harry have time and come to him. There are so many tender as well as hilarious moments in this story.
Clandestine Passion
Overlaps with Book 1. There, we just saw the loving and protective mother side of Catherine. In this book, we get to see her inner turmoil. I like the reverse age-gap story and how he is the one who has to convince her to give their love a chance. This one took a moment for me to get into it, though. The focus is more on the plot, with MCs having little on page time together, and what few moments they have seemed more focused on lust than love for a good portion of the story. Also, both characters have a lot of secrets and hold things back from the other (and Jamie acts like a drunken boob half the time). It comes together in the end, and I really loved the epistolary section and the longing they have for each other.
A Perilous Flirtation
Works well in this collection, as we get to know Alasdair mostly in Book 1, and he doesn't appear here until quite a ways in. Normally it would bother me that the couple doesn't interact until far in, but since the stories all flowed together in the collection, it worked fine here---even making Arabella a richer character to see her whole story on page and not have it as just something that happened before the couple's story. She starts off young and naive and grows so much through the story. I liked Alasdair, too. He is not your typical hero, in that he is just a smart, shy, good man and good friend focused on his good work. He needs Arabella to be the one to drive things between them, and boy does she. They do sometimes have misunderstandings, but not the usual "big" ones. It's just a natural progression of people learning and sharing more about each other and their feelings. Their story has some interesting twists, plus I love a road trip interrupted story.
I have to give a shout out to Mary (who has her own novella as a newsletter bonus). She gives Arabella "the talk" and also promotes "self-love" as nothing to be ashamed of. I loved this scene. It is possibly one of the most succinct, accurate, and accepting s*x talks I have read in a romance book.
And I have to know...Does Rebecca Dalrymple get her own HEA?!?
Love's Labor Lasts
A perfect novella to round out the collection, focusing on Harry processing the daunting task of motherhood and how it affects her and Tommy's love-life also.
Note: With all the books in this collection, it is worthwhile to read the author's content warnings.
Thank you to the author for an ARC of this collection. These are my honest opinions.
April 3, 2025
Convergence of Desire. Clandestine Passion, and A Perilous Flirtation in a bundle.
Book 1 Lord Thomas Drake is in need of a rich wife and bankers daughter Harriet “Harry” Lovelock wants to marry so she can spend her time working on her mathematics. This is a marriage of convenience romance.
I wasn’t sure about this one but I’m glad I pushed through the opening few chapters. The story, like Harry , bloomed as things progressed. Since they’d agreed not to consummate their relationship, Harry sends Thomas off to his women at his favorite brothel. Then things change.
Harry is clearly somewhere on the spectrum but Thomas treasurers her. She is also severely anorexic, something Thomas does something about. Love conquers all.
Pay attention to the TWs on tauthor’s website.
Slow burn intimacy with two intimate scenes late in the story.
Book 2 Lord Drake’s friend James Cavendish, Lord Daventry pursues The widowed Catherine Lovelock, who happens to be the Mama Katie, stepmother to Harry, from book 1. This is a reverse age gap romance. James is 18 years Catherine’s junior.
There’s lots of angst and misconceptions as Catherine wrestles with the ghosts of her past and James struggles to convince her he’s serious about loving her.
I think I enjoyed this more than the first book, if possible! Catherine and James had solid stuff to deal with; his work for the crown and her with the stigma of being so much older than her lover. How far will James have to go to prove his love?
This is a lovely, sexy story. My personal favorite of the series.
Book 3 is a forced proximity story was the hardest for me as it starts with the ruination of Harry’s younger sister & Catherine’s daughter, Miss Arabella Lovelock. (Despite her being infatuated with Dr Alasdair Andrews, a Scots physician and Friend to Harry and Thomas from book 1.)
Years later Alasdair and Arabella meet again when he is asked to escort her home from the remote Scottish village she’d fled to. A snowstorm forces them to seek refuge at a manor that belongs to the aristocrat who’d ruined her.
Arabella and Alasdair must overcome their individual hangups that have kept them from acting on their mutual desire and attraction. I’m unsure I understood Arabella’s logic for hiding from her mother that drove her to Scotland after her ruination. In her mind, her mother needed to be punished with her absence, I guess. In some ways, Arabella and Alasdair are their own worst enemies.
Bonus story is an enjoyable look back at the birth of Harry and Thomas’s child.
Book 1 Lord Thomas Drake is in need of a rich wife and bankers daughter Harriet “Harry” Lovelock wants to marry so she can spend her time working on her mathematics. This is a marriage of convenience romance.
I wasn’t sure about this one but I’m glad I pushed through the opening few chapters. The story, like Harry , bloomed as things progressed. Since they’d agreed not to consummate their relationship, Harry sends Thomas off to his women at his favorite brothel. Then things change.
Harry is clearly somewhere on the spectrum but Thomas treasurers her. She is also severely anorexic, something Thomas does something about. Love conquers all.
Pay attention to the TWs on tauthor’s website.
Slow burn intimacy with two intimate scenes late in the story.
Book 2 Lord Drake’s friend James Cavendish, Lord Daventry pursues The widowed Catherine Lovelock, who happens to be the Mama Katie, stepmother to Harry, from book 1. This is a reverse age gap romance. James is 18 years Catherine’s junior.
There’s lots of angst and misconceptions as Catherine wrestles with the ghosts of her past and James struggles to convince her he’s serious about loving her.
I think I enjoyed this more than the first book, if possible! Catherine and James had solid stuff to deal with; his work for the crown and her with the stigma of being so much older than her lover. How far will James have to go to prove his love?
This is a lovely, sexy story. My personal favorite of the series.
Book 3 is a forced proximity story was the hardest for me as it starts with the ruination of Harry’s younger sister & Catherine’s daughter, Miss Arabella Lovelock. (Despite her being infatuated with Dr Alasdair Andrews, a Scots physician and Friend to Harry and Thomas from book 1.)
Years later Alasdair and Arabella meet again when he is asked to escort her home from the remote Scottish village she’d fled to. A snowstorm forces them to seek refuge at a manor that belongs to the aristocrat who’d ruined her.
Arabella and Alasdair must overcome their individual hangups that have kept them from acting on their mutual desire and attraction. I’m unsure I understood Arabella’s logic for hiding from her mother that drove her to Scotland after her ruination. In her mind, her mother needed to be punished with her absence, I guess. In some ways, Arabella and Alasdair are their own worst enemies.
Bonus story is an enjoyable look back at the birth of Harry and Thomas’s child.
March 25, 2025
I don’t know how to convince you to read this exquisite collection; I can only tell you what they mean to me...
A simple book recommendation by Julia Quinn convinced me to blindly order ‘Convergence of Desire’ back when it was first released, and I’ve been a die-hard Felicity Niven fan ever since. Her writing – unconventional, original, witty, humorous, delectably steamy, raw, honest and delightfully refreshing – rekindled a nearly forgotten passion for reading.
Her stories take my breath away!
I’ve read them countless times, and they remain every bit as enthralling as the first time – and yes, I reread them all over again over the past two weeks. I took my time with them, savouring them like fine wine, immersing myself in all the emotion, revelling in the meticulous detail. To me they are exquisite masterpieces that pull all my heartstrings and I get so invested, I feel like I’m part of the family!
Thank you Felicity for dreaming up this wonderful world, and sharing your stories with us!
One collection – three novels, two short stories and a novella.
The Lovelock women: four unique female leads, all related by blood or marriage, and all strong, passionate, determined and perfectly flawed in their own special way.
Four gentleman, three lords and a doctor, and all equally imperfect, driven and creative. They need to work for their brides, and even though attraction sometimes happens at first sight, none of these romances are simple or straightforward.
Find my reviews for each of the novels here:
Convergence of Desire
Clandestine Passion
A Perilous Flirtation
Bonus short: Love's Labor Lasts
And just to be clear: ‘When Ardor Blooms’ and ‘Harry’s Christmas Present’ are not part of ‘The Lovelocks of London Collection’, even better, they are available for free through a newsletter subscription.
A simple book recommendation by Julia Quinn convinced me to blindly order ‘Convergence of Desire’ back when it was first released, and I’ve been a die-hard Felicity Niven fan ever since. Her writing – unconventional, original, witty, humorous, delectably steamy, raw, honest and delightfully refreshing – rekindled a nearly forgotten passion for reading.
Her stories take my breath away!
I’ve read them countless times, and they remain every bit as enthralling as the first time – and yes, I reread them all over again over the past two weeks. I took my time with them, savouring them like fine wine, immersing myself in all the emotion, revelling in the meticulous detail. To me they are exquisite masterpieces that pull all my heartstrings and I get so invested, I feel like I’m part of the family!
Thank you Felicity for dreaming up this wonderful world, and sharing your stories with us!
One collection – three novels, two short stories and a novella.
The Lovelock women: four unique female leads, all related by blood or marriage, and all strong, passionate, determined and perfectly flawed in their own special way.
Four gentleman, three lords and a doctor, and all equally imperfect, driven and creative. They need to work for their brides, and even though attraction sometimes happens at first sight, none of these romances are simple or straightforward.
Find my reviews for each of the novels here:
Convergence of Desire
Clandestine Passion
A Perilous Flirtation
Bonus short: Love's Labor Lasts
And just to be clear: ‘When Ardor Blooms’ and ‘Harry’s Christmas Present’ are not part of ‘The Lovelocks of London Collection’, even better, they are available for free through a newsletter subscription.
April 4, 2025
Aaaah, this series!! You need to imagine my hands are at my face, Macaulay Culkin (The Scream?) style as I try and express to you how much I like this series. It's good. It's so, so good.
It's also - and I think this is important to note - not like a lot of historical romances I read. The MCs are totally unlike any I've ever read before. This is particularly the case in Convergence of Desire, with its Autistic FMC and prostitute visiting MMC. In Clandestine Passion our FMC doesn't want to be sexually eager, and the MMC puts the work in to meet her where she is at (love this!!) It's the opposite in A Perilous Flirtation, where the FMC has to show the MMC just how capable of eagerness she can be. If you can get past the (consensual) cheating of Convergence of Desire, it's probably A Perilous Flirtation which is the most challenging - our FMC has been deeply wronged and is able to grow past it. I don't think I could do what Arabella does. But maybe I'm just petty.
Love's Labour Lasts is a lovely little addition to the story. It's nice to get back into Harry and Thomas's heads again, and it was incredibly touching to see how they adjust to early parenthood. I can utterly relate to the feeling of looking at this small human you've suddenly got and not feeling up to the task of picking them up even, let alone guiding them into adulthood.
I do wish When Ardor Blooms was included in this series. I get it's a newsletter freebie, but Niven has lots and lots of additional content associated with the newsletter and it feels to me that this story belongs with the others. It's the only thing I thought was missing here. Especially once you reach A Perilous Flirtation. So if you're reading this, go sign up and then read it in between books 2 and 3 (I think?).
This series is very devourable, enjoy!
I read an advance copy of this book. My thoughts are very much my own.
It's also - and I think this is important to note - not like a lot of historical romances I read. The MCs are totally unlike any I've ever read before. This is particularly the case in Convergence of Desire, with its Autistic FMC and prostitute visiting MMC. In Clandestine Passion our FMC doesn't want to be sexually eager, and the MMC puts the work in to meet her where she is at (love this!!) It's the opposite in A Perilous Flirtation, where the FMC has to show the MMC just how capable of eagerness she can be. If you can get past the (consensual) cheating of Convergence of Desire, it's probably A Perilous Flirtation which is the most challenging - our FMC has been deeply wronged and is able to grow past it. I don't think I could do what Arabella does. But maybe I'm just petty.
Love's Labour Lasts is a lovely little addition to the story. It's nice to get back into Harry and Thomas's heads again, and it was incredibly touching to see how they adjust to early parenthood. I can utterly relate to the feeling of looking at this small human you've suddenly got and not feeling up to the task of picking them up even, let alone guiding them into adulthood.
I do wish When Ardor Blooms was included in this series. I get it's a newsletter freebie, but Niven has lots and lots of additional content associated with the newsletter and it feels to me that this story belongs with the others. It's the only thing I thought was missing here. Especially once you reach A Perilous Flirtation. So if you're reading this, go sign up and then read it in between books 2 and 3 (I think?).
This series is very devourable, enjoy!
I read an advance copy of this book. My thoughts are very much my own.
March 14, 2025
The Lovelocks of London immerses you into the loves of the Lovelock women.
Convergence of Desire tells of Harry (Harriet) who is focused on completing a mathematical proof. Harry is so focused on her work that she is willing to devise a marriage of convenience to get her peace and quiet to work. Harry’s sights are set on the rake, Thomas Drake. Thomas has a need for money for his deteriorating estate and Harry has money from her late father. What ensues is two unconventional people learning to love one another.
Clandestine Passion tells of Catherine, Harry’s stepmother. Catherine is attracted to Jamie, the heir to a dukedom. Jamie is a friend of Thomas Drake. Jamie is trying to find his place in the world. Catherine as the older woman tries to resist the passion that she feels. Jamie is not subtle in his attraction. As Catherine and Jamie navigate London, country house parties and their feelings for one another, there is espionage at play.
A Perilous Flirtation tells of Arabella, Harry’s half-sister and Catherine’s daughter. Arabella has a chance meeting with Dr. Alasdair Andrews, Harry’s physician. Both fall in love at first sight, but don’t know how to appropriately contact one another. Arabella is compromised and flees the London ton. Later, when Harry is expecting a child, she asks Dr. Andrews to deliver a letter to Arabella. Through this letter delivery, a carriage ride ensues along with a snowed-in country house party. All of which bring Arabella and Alasdair closer.
Lastly, this collection includes the new short story Love’s Labor Last. This story brings us back to Harry and Thomas awaiting the birth of their first child. Then continues with the birth and weeks following the child’s birth, showing that our two unconventional lovers continue to support and love one another.
Convergence of Desire tells of Harry (Harriet) who is focused on completing a mathematical proof. Harry is so focused on her work that she is willing to devise a marriage of convenience to get her peace and quiet to work. Harry’s sights are set on the rake, Thomas Drake. Thomas has a need for money for his deteriorating estate and Harry has money from her late father. What ensues is two unconventional people learning to love one another.
Clandestine Passion tells of Catherine, Harry’s stepmother. Catherine is attracted to Jamie, the heir to a dukedom. Jamie is a friend of Thomas Drake. Jamie is trying to find his place in the world. Catherine as the older woman tries to resist the passion that she feels. Jamie is not subtle in his attraction. As Catherine and Jamie navigate London, country house parties and their feelings for one another, there is espionage at play.
A Perilous Flirtation tells of Arabella, Harry’s half-sister and Catherine’s daughter. Arabella has a chance meeting with Dr. Alasdair Andrews, Harry’s physician. Both fall in love at first sight, but don’t know how to appropriately contact one another. Arabella is compromised and flees the London ton. Later, when Harry is expecting a child, she asks Dr. Andrews to deliver a letter to Arabella. Through this letter delivery, a carriage ride ensues along with a snowed-in country house party. All of which bring Arabella and Alasdair closer.
Lastly, this collection includes the new short story Love’s Labor Last. This story brings us back to Harry and Thomas awaiting the birth of their first child. Then continues with the birth and weeks following the child’s birth, showing that our two unconventional lovers continue to support and love one another.
March 18, 2025
This collection is what kicked off my love of Felicity Niven and her unique characters and pairings. Have you ever read a book and wanted to read the next in the series but had to wait? This is straight up binge city! The Convergence of Desire was my first Felicity Niven novel and it got me hooked. The Lovelock ladies are an irreplaceable force and none more so than Harriet, who is neurodivergent and finds her comfort in the care of Thomas, who incidentally has a thigh which becomes her favourite pillow. The growth of their relationship after their marriage from scandal was such a beautiful journey with some serious laugh out loud moments. Then we have the "naughty" book with James and Catherine, Harriet's stepmother, who is 17 years his senior. There were some hot and heavy scenes between these two, but despite the shock factor, I would say the first one is still my favourite. I also just re-read Arabella and Dr. Andrews book, and realized I liked it a bit more than last time and while annoyed with Arabella's childish grudge against her mother, I also have determined that she is still quite young... And my annoyance with Dr. Andrews stems from him being so innocent to the intimacies of couples despite being a doctor. Oooh and the icing on this cake is the short story that takes place during the birth of Harry and Thomas's first child. It's not long but it managed to tug some heartstrings (and maybe a tear?) during one of the climactic scenes. Definitely a great way to end this series and get you more excited for Mary's novella, which is available to subscribers (hint hint). Can't wait for the Bed Me anthology... Or really, Felicity's next book!!
Steam: 🔥🔥
Heart Flutters: ❤️❤️
Steam: 🔥🔥
Heart Flutters: ❤️❤️
March 5, 2025
THE LOVELOCKS OF LONDON – THE COLLECTION – A REMARKABLE FIRST SERIES
This series was Felicity Niven’s first foray into Historical Romance. Now, a Collection, the Lovelocks of London tells the engrossing stories of Catherine (Kate), Harriet (Harry), and Arabella Lovelock, a mother and her two daughters. Set in Regency England these are three stories of strong and amazing women. I loved each book individually and the collection as a whole is an amazing saga.
Convergence of Desire was Niven’s first book, and what a debut it was. Each main character’s growth and the two's collective journey to their HEA are poignant and believable. It is a remarkable dual journey.
A Clandestine Passion has it all – an age-gap romance where the FMC is 17 years older than the MMC. Intrigue and espionage. An epistolary siege: “To Kate, who holds my heart in her fist and ruthlessly crushes it ---“.
A Perilous Flirtation has a flirtation so perilous that the FMC is “ruined” in the 18th Century sense of the word. There is also an original seduction line if I ever read one: If two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? Ecclesiastes.” And the road trip to end all road trips where each of the main characters undergoes their journey.
Love’s Labor Lasts is the newly released short story that reunites us with Kate, Harry, and their two husbands when Harry gives birth to her first child. We see how far Harry has come in her ability to love and relate to her family. And, it’s great to revisit these characters.
It’s a wonderful Collection and representation of Felicity Niven’s work.
This series was Felicity Niven’s first foray into Historical Romance. Now, a Collection, the Lovelocks of London tells the engrossing stories of Catherine (Kate), Harriet (Harry), and Arabella Lovelock, a mother and her two daughters. Set in Regency England these are three stories of strong and amazing women. I loved each book individually and the collection as a whole is an amazing saga.
Convergence of Desire was Niven’s first book, and what a debut it was. Each main character’s growth and the two's collective journey to their HEA are poignant and believable. It is a remarkable dual journey.
A Clandestine Passion has it all – an age-gap romance where the FMC is 17 years older than the MMC. Intrigue and espionage. An epistolary siege: “To Kate, who holds my heart in her fist and ruthlessly crushes it ---“.
A Perilous Flirtation has a flirtation so perilous that the FMC is “ruined” in the 18th Century sense of the word. There is also an original seduction line if I ever read one: If two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? Ecclesiastes.” And the road trip to end all road trips where each of the main characters undergoes their journey.
Love’s Labor Lasts is the newly released short story that reunites us with Kate, Harry, and their two husbands when Harry gives birth to her first child. We see how far Harry has come in her ability to love and relate to her family. And, it’s great to revisit these characters.
It’s a wonderful Collection and representation of Felicity Niven’s work.
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