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Advertisements for Love #2
The Bashful Bride: Advertisements for Love, Book 2
A friend's newspaper advertisement for a groom nets the most famous actor in London, Arthur Bex. Shy heiress Ester Croome proposes to elope with the handsome man, who she's secretly loved for two years, in order to escape an impending engagement arranged by her overbearing family.
Trying to outlive the shadow of his villainous uncle, Bex needs to marry quickly - to a woman of good character. And smart, beautiful Ester fits the bill. But a harrowing trip to Gretna Green and dangerous abolition rallies prove to be a more treacherous stage than either imagined. Infatuation and a mutual love for Shakespeare might not be enough to bind a couple looking to outrun the chains and secrets of family and the past.
Each book in the Advertisements for Love series is
* The Bittersweet Bride
* The Bashful Bride
Trying to outlive the shadow of his villainous uncle, Bex needs to marry quickly - to a woman of good character. And smart, beautiful Ester fits the bill. But a harrowing trip to Gretna Green and dangerous abolition rallies prove to be a more treacherous stage than either imagined. Infatuation and a mutual love for Shakespeare might not be enough to bind a couple looking to outrun the chains and secrets of family and the past.
Each book in the Advertisements for Love series is
* The Bittersweet Bride
* The Bashful Bride
Audible Audio
First published May 10, 2018
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About the author
Vanessa Riley
45 books1,636 followersI'm Vanessa Riley, and I write Historical Fiction of dazzling multi-culture communities of the 1750s to 1830s, The Revolutionary Years. I write for readers who treasure and share with friends books that showcase women, power, strong sisterhoods, and love.
Web: https://vanessariley.com
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Web: https://vanessariley.com
IG: https://www.instagram.com/vanessarile...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
May 28, 2018
"Hopefully, all you see is a girl going with a boy to Gretna Green to marry and live happily ever after."
Ester's father wants to marry her off to someone of his choosing. Problem is, Ester doesn't like the man chosen. He is a far too interested in all the ladies. Her friend, Frederica, is looking for a husband by advertising for one in the paper. When they realize one of the respondents is Arthur Bex, Frederica "gives" him to Ester. Ester has crushed on and admired Arthur for 2 years. They come to an understanding and elope to Gretna Green to get married.
Ester I both liked and didn't at times. She was immature at times and judgmental. I did like her growth throughout the book. I thought her relationships with her mom and dad were a highlight for me and showed that she didn't know everything, but made assumptions anyway. They and she finally talk and she realizes she was very unfair. And she didn't know everything. Her fear of Arthur getting hurt or killed made her controlling. I admit to be being very annoyed that it took so long for her to accept that part of him.
It does take her until the end of the book to fully accept and conquer her fear.
Arthur I really liked. However, he held on to his secret for too long. He had so many opportunities to come clean to Ester. So many. And didn't. I remember reading and thinking, "just tell her dammit!." Multiple times. Because, knowing his backstory, one understands why he does what he does now.
And lastly, if you couldn't tell from the cover, Ester is black (Blackamoor) and Arthur is white. I haven't read a historical romance with a woman of color as the main character. That perspective adds a whole new dynamic to the story. It takes place in 1820 and even though slave trade was outlawed in the mainland, it wasn't in the colonies. Slavery was so pervasive in the attitudes and opinions of the time.
Ester had to always plan her outings, where to go, what to wear. She not only was female, she was female and black. Arthur, on the other hand, got judged on his profession (actor), but never his skin color or his sex.
I loved the author's note at the end. I will be checking out her back-list. I'm interested in Theodosia's story (1st book). Frederica's story is next!
eARC courtesy of Entangled Publishing, LLC and NetGalley
Releases today May 28, 2018
the prequel novella-A Bittersweet Moment is free in the Kindle store now.
Ester's father wants to marry her off to someone of his choosing. Problem is, Ester doesn't like the man chosen. He is a far too interested in all the ladies. Her friend, Frederica, is looking for a husband by advertising for one in the paper. When they realize one of the respondents is Arthur Bex, Frederica "gives" him to Ester. Ester has crushed on and admired Arthur for 2 years. They come to an understanding and elope to Gretna Green to get married.
Ester I both liked and didn't at times. She was immature at times and judgmental. I did like her growth throughout the book. I thought her relationships with her mom and dad were a highlight for me and showed that she didn't know everything, but made assumptions anyway. They and she finally talk and she realizes she was very unfair. And she didn't know everything. Her fear of Arthur getting hurt or killed made her controlling. I admit to be being very annoyed that it took so long for her to accept that part of him.
It does take her until the end of the book to fully accept and conquer her fear.
Arthur I really liked. However, he held on to his secret for too long. He had so many opportunities to come clean to Ester. So many. And didn't. I remember reading and thinking, "just tell her dammit!." Multiple times. Because, knowing his backstory, one understands why he does what he does now.
And lastly, if you couldn't tell from the cover, Ester is black (Blackamoor) and Arthur is white. I haven't read a historical romance with a woman of color as the main character. That perspective adds a whole new dynamic to the story. It takes place in 1820 and even though slave trade was outlawed in the mainland, it wasn't in the colonies. Slavery was so pervasive in the attitudes and opinions of the time.
Ester had to always plan her outings, where to go, what to wear. She not only was female, she was female and black. Arthur, on the other hand, got judged on his profession (actor), but never his skin color or his sex.
I loved the author's note at the end. I will be checking out her back-list. I'm interested in Theodosia's story (1st book). Frederica's story is next!
eARC courtesy of Entangled Publishing, LLC and NetGalley
Releases today May 28, 2018
the prequel novella-A Bittersweet Moment is free in the Kindle store now.
May 18, 2018
This is the first book by Vanessa Riley that I've read and I can see why she has won awards. She is most definitely a unique voice in historical romance, one that we need because nobody else tells the stories she does.
It's a learning experience for me reading a Blackamoor heroine and witnessing via the written word the prejudices they encountered (and still continue to do so). I am not a stranger to multicultural relationships as I am in one and I also write about the subject, but I still felt for Bex and Ester.
The characters were drawn clearly and I love the themes of family and friendship alongside romantic love. I also love being educated on the part of history that I am not aware of, that we were not taught in school in my country, but which is important to form a complete picture of the world.
If I have a complaint, it's that I find the push and pull a bit too much, but I can attribute it to the fact that Ester is quite young and sheltered. I also had to adjust to the language, especially the way the characters address each other in full names. Again, something that is probably cultural. Apart from those, The Bashful Bride is an engrossing read.
*Note: I requested and received this book from Entangled Publishing via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and reflects my personal opinions.
It's a learning experience for me reading a Blackamoor heroine and witnessing via the written word the prejudices they encountered (and still continue to do so). I am not a stranger to multicultural relationships as I am in one and I also write about the subject, but I still felt for Bex and Ester.
The characters were drawn clearly and I love the themes of family and friendship alongside romantic love. I also love being educated on the part of history that I am not aware of, that we were not taught in school in my country, but which is important to form a complete picture of the world.
If I have a complaint, it's that I find the push and pull a bit too much, but I can attribute it to the fact that Ester is quite young and sheltered. I also had to adjust to the language, especially the way the characters address each other in full names. Again, something that is probably cultural. Apart from those, The Bashful Bride is an engrossing read.
*Note: I requested and received this book from Entangled Publishing via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and reflects my personal opinions.
March 6, 2021
I love when I learn new things in reading that I’ve never heard of before. I learned what a Blackamoor is. It’s a black African or a very dark skinned person. I loved how Vanessa dove right into this stories, and didn’t shy away from the racism that Blackamoor people encountered, especially the time period that this story is set in.
I love VR’s distinct writing style, and the distinction that she has as a historical romance author. Multicultural or interracial romances are definitely this author’s forte. I can’t wait to read the rest of her books.
I love VR’s distinct writing style, and the distinction that she has as a historical romance author. Multicultural or interracial romances are definitely this author’s forte. I can’t wait to read the rest of her books.
May 25, 2018
I was so excited to read this book – a shy black heroine, a white abolitionist hero, an interracial marriage of convenience – everything was in place, and I was primed and ready to enjoy it. But do you what I don’t like? Immature heroines and heroes with secrets. And so, sadly, when this book wasn’t irritating me, I found myself rather disappointed.
I tried to make allowances for Ester, because she is young and sheltered. Although part of me did think it took a lot of effort on her part to be quite so naive when she’d lived above her father’s warehouse until she was fifteen, and frequently stole her mother’s scandal sheets to read. She’s spoiled and rather self-absorbed, but she is only twenty. She’s also incredibly strident and self-righteous in her opinions and always convinced that she knows exactly what’s going on as she passes judgement on everyone around her.
Her father had an affair five years ago? Clearly he’s a lying monster who is beyond all realms of trust. Her mother forgave him? Then she’s weak. Ester will never be that weak. She is shy, but she is strong and she’ll never marry a philanderer like the man her father has lined up for her (which is fair enough, actually). Besides, she’s in love with Arthur Bex, the actor about whom she knows nothing but decides to run off with on the spur of the moment because he’s Arthur Bex! Swoon, sigh. Deep, deep sigh.
It was actually the first meeting between the two of them that made me realise Ester might not be the heroine for me. Up until then I was growing to like her, but I cringed through their whole conversation. I know she has a crush, but the way she reacted to everything he said by saying things like, “Arthur Bex is speaking to me!” was beyond awful. Thinking it is one thing, but she was saying these things aloud and Bex thought she was being witty – half-witted, maybe – it made him seem like a raging egomaniac.
Thankfully that half-wit phase passed quite swiftly, but it was followed by the trip to Gretna, which was interminable. She was miserable, he was miserable, I was miserable. They have the same conversation over and over and over again about whether they should get married, whether she’s ready for the climb down in comfort, whether they should turn back, but what about her reputation, what about her parents, they hardly know each other, they shouldn’t marry, oh, but they want to marry, maybe, perhaps, oh, but her reputation… and so on. That’s the trouble with a long road trip between two strangers – they had nothing else to talk about. And when they weren’t talking, they were rehashing the same thoughts – Ester about her parents, Bex about that secret he was keeping.
I was pretty annoyed with him for keeping his secrets, especially after Ester explicitly told him that the one thing she can’t bear is dishonesty and secrets. However, as the book progressed, I didn’t blame him as much since she couldn’t be trusted to understand the nuances of the truth and instead always jumped to the worst possible conclusion, because Ester knows best!
The thing is, I actually appreciated the fact that they don’t fall madly in love immediately and that there were second thoughts about what they were doing. It’s just the way it was rehashed over and over with no real progress. And then when they were married, neither of them seemed willing to bend. Ester claimed to have loved Bex for years, yet she immediately wanted to change the most important things about him, while he still wasn’t on board with the whole honesty thing. They’re a terrible match, and to be honest by the end I couldn’t see how they would work in the long term.
Which is a massive shame, because away from their romance, this is a really good book. The inclusion of the abolitionist movement, the hardships of travelling beyond London for anyone who wasn’t white, the plight of young Jonesy with his harelip, the way black people weren’t allowed to move into certain areas of the city, the horror of the slave trade and the way it still continued even after the Slave Trade Act of 1807, the strength of Ester’s mother – the research is all there and woven in well. True, the historical tone wasn’t always particularly accurate (Not today, Satan!), but on the whole it does a really good job of conjuring up the time without too many anachronisms.
So even though this book sadly didn’t live up to my expectations, I’ll still be on the lookout for more from this author. I just wish I could have liked this one and it's romance more.
(ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley.)
I tried to make allowances for Ester, because she is young and sheltered. Although part of me did think it took a lot of effort on her part to be quite so naive when she’d lived above her father’s warehouse until she was fifteen, and frequently stole her mother’s scandal sheets to read. She’s spoiled and rather self-absorbed, but she is only twenty. She’s also incredibly strident and self-righteous in her opinions and always convinced that she knows exactly what’s going on as she passes judgement on everyone around her.
Her father had an affair five years ago? Clearly he’s a lying monster who is beyond all realms of trust. Her mother forgave him? Then she’s weak. Ester will never be that weak. She is shy, but she is strong and she’ll never marry a philanderer like the man her father has lined up for her (which is fair enough, actually). Besides, she’s in love with Arthur Bex, the actor about whom she knows nothing but decides to run off with on the spur of the moment because he’s Arthur Bex! Swoon, sigh. Deep, deep sigh.
It was actually the first meeting between the two of them that made me realise Ester might not be the heroine for me. Up until then I was growing to like her, but I cringed through their whole conversation. I know she has a crush, but the way she reacted to everything he said by saying things like, “Arthur Bex is speaking to me!” was beyond awful. Thinking it is one thing, but she was saying these things aloud and Bex thought she was being witty – half-witted, maybe – it made him seem like a raging egomaniac.
Thankfully that half-wit phase passed quite swiftly, but it was followed by the trip to Gretna, which was interminable. She was miserable, he was miserable, I was miserable. They have the same conversation over and over and over again about whether they should get married, whether she’s ready for the climb down in comfort, whether they should turn back, but what about her reputation, what about her parents, they hardly know each other, they shouldn’t marry, oh, but they want to marry, maybe, perhaps, oh, but her reputation… and so on. That’s the trouble with a long road trip between two strangers – they had nothing else to talk about. And when they weren’t talking, they were rehashing the same thoughts – Ester about her parents, Bex about that secret he was keeping.
I was pretty annoyed with him for keeping his secrets, especially after Ester explicitly told him that the one thing she can’t bear is dishonesty and secrets. However, as the book progressed, I didn’t blame him as much since she couldn’t be trusted to understand the nuances of the truth and instead always jumped to the worst possible conclusion, because Ester knows best!
The thing is, I actually appreciated the fact that they don’t fall madly in love immediately and that there were second thoughts about what they were doing. It’s just the way it was rehashed over and over with no real progress. And then when they were married, neither of them seemed willing to bend. Ester claimed to have loved Bex for years, yet she immediately wanted to change the most important things about him, while he still wasn’t on board with the whole honesty thing. They’re a terrible match, and to be honest by the end I couldn’t see how they would work in the long term.
Which is a massive shame, because away from their romance, this is a really good book. The inclusion of the abolitionist movement, the hardships of travelling beyond London for anyone who wasn’t white, the plight of young Jonesy with his harelip, the way black people weren’t allowed to move into certain areas of the city, the horror of the slave trade and the way it still continued even after the Slave Trade Act of 1807, the strength of Ester’s mother – the research is all there and woven in well. True, the historical tone wasn’t always particularly accurate (Not today, Satan!), but on the whole it does a really good job of conjuring up the time without too many anachronisms.
So even though this book sadly didn’t live up to my expectations, I’ll still be on the lookout for more from this author. I just wish I could have liked this one and it's romance more.
(ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley.)
June 1, 2018
This is book two in the ‘Advertisements for Love’ series, and I have to say that this one is so far my favourite. It’s thrilling, real and romantic with such a swoon-worthy hero!
Ester Croome has been told by her parent’s in no uncertain terms that she is going to marry a womanizing lothario, who just by chance is the heir to a great business and whose marriage to Ester’s father would mean both families would become an awfully lot more well off. But, Ester has been in love with another man for two years, since she sat next to the brilliantly handsome actor; Arthur Bex. She doesn’t want to settle down into an unloving marriage like her parent’s, she wants to do more her dream has always been to become an actress along Mr Bex.
Ester in a unhappy and unhealthy household, she is being walked over by her bullying father and mousy mother. She is being controlled and manipulated by her father, underneath that unhappy and somewhat forlorn persona, I think that she has real fire. She has a passionate, caring and considerate nature and when she is with Arthur her true self shines through.
When her best friend Frederica places an advertisement in the paper for a husband, she begins writing to the man who has answered when the day comes for Frederica and ‘Mystery Man’ to meet, thing’s don’t go to plan as Frederica’s ‘man’ is actually Arthur Bex and he is under the assumption that Ester is the woman he has been writing to. To say that Ester is excited to be talking to her idol is an understatement, she sees this as her perfect opportunity to finally be rid of her of commanding and manipulative parent’s, she goes against her nature and does something so unexpected; She proposes to elope with Arthur.
London actor Author Bex is trying to move out of the shadow of his family history, an history that Arthur is deeply ashamed of having in his families’ past, and now because of it he is trying to make amends. To do so and make the changes to help, he needs a wife. Which is when he answered the advertisement, little did he realize that he wouldn’t only find himself a woman who he relates to and wants to help in his campaign for abolition, but he also finds his soul mate.
Arthur is a good man, he has a passionate and caring soul who fights for what he believes in, he believes in justice and rights and freedom. He isn’t your regular hero, I found him to be really quirky he has a great personality fun as well as serious, he is a principled and moral man. He is guilt ridden though for his family history and especially his evil uncle, which explains why he fights so hard for and why he is so serious.
This series is getting better and better and I am looking forward to seeing where Riley takes it and what comes next. The Bashful Bride is an emotional story that will tug at your heartstrings, it takes you on a real journey. Riley has put her heart and soul into this, you can feel the emotion through her words, and how deeply personal this story is. It’s raw, intriguing and beautifully written.
A wonderful addition to this lovely series.
Ester Croome has been told by her parent’s in no uncertain terms that she is going to marry a womanizing lothario, who just by chance is the heir to a great business and whose marriage to Ester’s father would mean both families would become an awfully lot more well off. But, Ester has been in love with another man for two years, since she sat next to the brilliantly handsome actor; Arthur Bex. She doesn’t want to settle down into an unloving marriage like her parent’s, she wants to do more her dream has always been to become an actress along Mr Bex.
Ester in a unhappy and unhealthy household, she is being walked over by her bullying father and mousy mother. She is being controlled and manipulated by her father, underneath that unhappy and somewhat forlorn persona, I think that she has real fire. She has a passionate, caring and considerate nature and when she is with Arthur her true self shines through.
When her best friend Frederica places an advertisement in the paper for a husband, she begins writing to the man who has answered when the day comes for Frederica and ‘Mystery Man’ to meet, thing’s don’t go to plan as Frederica’s ‘man’ is actually Arthur Bex and he is under the assumption that Ester is the woman he has been writing to. To say that Ester is excited to be talking to her idol is an understatement, she sees this as her perfect opportunity to finally be rid of her of commanding and manipulative parent’s, she goes against her nature and does something so unexpected; She proposes to elope with Arthur.
London actor Author Bex is trying to move out of the shadow of his family history, an history that Arthur is deeply ashamed of having in his families’ past, and now because of it he is trying to make amends. To do so and make the changes to help, he needs a wife. Which is when he answered the advertisement, little did he realize that he wouldn’t only find himself a woman who he relates to and wants to help in his campaign for abolition, but he also finds his soul mate.
Arthur is a good man, he has a passionate and caring soul who fights for what he believes in, he believes in justice and rights and freedom. He isn’t your regular hero, I found him to be really quirky he has a great personality fun as well as serious, he is a principled and moral man. He is guilt ridden though for his family history and especially his evil uncle, which explains why he fights so hard for and why he is so serious.
This series is getting better and better and I am looking forward to seeing where Riley takes it and what comes next. The Bashful Bride is an emotional story that will tug at your heartstrings, it takes you on a real journey. Riley has put her heart and soul into this, you can feel the emotion through her words, and how deeply personal this story is. It’s raw, intriguing and beautifully written.
A wonderful addition to this lovely series.
May 14, 2018
This book was SO GOOD!
Vanessa Riley, the author, has really outdone herself. I'm not a big fan of historical romance but Vanessa's books are delightful and make me want to read more books by her brilliant mind!
"The Bashful Bride" was a sweet, tender, riveting romance filled with danger, dashed dreams, hope fulfilled, suspenseful moments and A LOT of HEART.
The characters were likable, their background was believable and the dialogue was beautiful.
The author knows how to build tension and leave the readers wanting more at the end of each scene.
I kept turning the pages until I finished this story in one sitting!
Even if you're not a fan of historical romance, read this book by Vanessa Riley. It will captivate your heart!
Vanessa Riley, the author, has really outdone herself. I'm not a big fan of historical romance but Vanessa's books are delightful and make me want to read more books by her brilliant mind!
"The Bashful Bride" was a sweet, tender, riveting romance filled with danger, dashed dreams, hope fulfilled, suspenseful moments and A LOT of HEART.
The characters were likable, their background was believable and the dialogue was beautiful.
The author knows how to build tension and leave the readers wanting more at the end of each scene.
I kept turning the pages until I finished this story in one sitting!
Even if you're not a fan of historical romance, read this book by Vanessa Riley. It will captivate your heart!
May 27, 2018
Yet another Vanessa Riley book that I love, The Bashful Bride! How can't you fall in love with a storyline with Bex and Ester in it?!
What a guy! Bex was the kind of guy that could have truly been mean and terrible, but he chose to live above what could have made him a lesser man. Ester, Ester, Ester! She's a strong woman who knew she didn't want to be forced to marry someone she didn't love so she took it into her own hands. Not a typical storyline so I'm sure you'll enjoy it!
If you like abolition reads, 18th century, historical romance, not the run-of-the-mill kind of romance read for sure, but guaranteed to keep you turning the pages!
I received a copy of the book from the publisher. All thoughts and comments are my own!
What a guy! Bex was the kind of guy that could have truly been mean and terrible, but he chose to live above what could have made him a lesser man. Ester, Ester, Ester! She's a strong woman who knew she didn't want to be forced to marry someone she didn't love so she took it into her own hands. Not a typical storyline so I'm sure you'll enjoy it!
If you like abolition reads, 18th century, historical romance, not the run-of-the-mill kind of romance read for sure, but guaranteed to keep you turning the pages!
I received a copy of the book from the publisher. All thoughts and comments are my own!
May 2, 2018
Arthur Bex is every thing Ester Croome imagines she would want in a man. However she finds out she will wed on her 21st birthday when overhearing her dad speaking about a womanizer Charles Jordan who is of little interest to Ester.
Being devastated, Ester isn't sure what to do. One of her closest friends will marry soon through newspaper responses to meet a husband. When Ester happens to hear the voice of her crush, the famous actor, Arthur Bex, she thinks she is dreaming.
Arthur Bex, also known as Oliver Arthur Bexeley, has so many secrets due to his very traumatic childhood watching very violent acts being done by his caretaker, his uncle the captain of a notorious ship. He wants to right wrongs but he doesn't know how. He doesn't trust that his secret will be easy for any woman to understand, however he has no one besides his trusted lopsided assistant to help him get through his days. He wants a wife who he can trust. Especially see how Phineas, a crazed reporter would like to share any infamous stories of this actor with the tabloids.
Not revealing the details of Arthur's childhood could cause a lot of mistrust as he finds one to marry but he must elope. He never imagines what the future will hold.
This novel brought many very strong, willful characters together in a very dividing time. The story shared about abolition and ending slavery is courageous and based on true history occurrences. This writer writes well beyond her years and time in this fivr star novel.
Being devastated, Ester isn't sure what to do. One of her closest friends will marry soon through newspaper responses to meet a husband. When Ester happens to hear the voice of her crush, the famous actor, Arthur Bex, she thinks she is dreaming.
Arthur Bex, also known as Oliver Arthur Bexeley, has so many secrets due to his very traumatic childhood watching very violent acts being done by his caretaker, his uncle the captain of a notorious ship. He wants to right wrongs but he doesn't know how. He doesn't trust that his secret will be easy for any woman to understand, however he has no one besides his trusted lopsided assistant to help him get through his days. He wants a wife who he can trust. Especially see how Phineas, a crazed reporter would like to share any infamous stories of this actor with the tabloids.
Not revealing the details of Arthur's childhood could cause a lot of mistrust as he finds one to marry but he must elope. He never imagines what the future will hold.
This novel brought many very strong, willful characters together in a very dividing time. The story shared about abolition and ending slavery is courageous and based on true history occurrences. This writer writes well beyond her years and time in this fivr star novel.
May 30, 2018
Ester and Bex
When her dear friend places a matrimonial advertisement and discovers that her correspondent is the man Ester has obsessed over for two years, she steps aside and lets Ester take her place.
The shy and retiring Ester takes the bull by the horn and literally seizes the day. This story takes us on a journey to Gretna Green the hard way. Along the way, Ester's mettle is tested. She's been the coddled spoiled daughter of an affluent textile merchant her entire life. She was shielded from the vagaries and hatred her skin color engendered. It is an eye opening journey that calls upon her to rise to the challenge. Rise is exactly what she does. Her marriage allows her to grow up overnight and become a true help mate to the man of her dreams.
Vanessa Riley incorporates true history into this fictional tale and weaves a fantastic love story. There are no weak characters in this series. They are all drawn with precision and allowed to shine in their own time. I can't wait for the next in the series.
When her dear friend places a matrimonial advertisement and discovers that her correspondent is the man Ester has obsessed over for two years, she steps aside and lets Ester take her place.
The shy and retiring Ester takes the bull by the horn and literally seizes the day. This story takes us on a journey to Gretna Green the hard way. Along the way, Ester's mettle is tested. She's been the coddled spoiled daughter of an affluent textile merchant her entire life. She was shielded from the vagaries and hatred her skin color engendered. It is an eye opening journey that calls upon her to rise to the challenge. Rise is exactly what she does. Her marriage allows her to grow up overnight and become a true help mate to the man of her dreams.
Vanessa Riley incorporates true history into this fictional tale and weaves a fantastic love story. There are no weak characters in this series. They are all drawn with precision and allowed to shine in their own time. I can't wait for the next in the series.
December 30, 2018
Ester Croome is the heiress who doesn't want to marry her father's choice. Bex is a famous stage actor that Ester has been infatuated with for two years. They run away to Gretna Green to try to solve their problems, but of course it's not that easy. This is a sweet romance that carefully deals with the real issues of racism, the abolition of slavery, and issues of class. I was often surprised by Ester having both awareness of her race and possible issues that might arise outside of her social and economic circle, and then her surprise when confronted with it. Bex, too, was both realistic and idealistic. It is this idealism that plants the hope. I appreciate reading historical romance that deals with more facets and facts of the time period, I enjoyed it and will look for more by Vanessa Riley.
I received an ARC ebook via Net Galley. All opinions are my own.
I received an ARC ebook via Net Galley. All opinions are my own.
May 19, 2018
Ester Croome is a Blackamoor woman in regency England whose father has just arranged a marriage between herself and a man she finds objectionable (mostly because she knows him to be a womanizer). To avoid the arranged marriage she elopes with Arthur Bex, a Shakespearean actor who has been answering advertisements in the newspaper looking for a match. But various obstacles stand between them and a successful marriage: Ester's objecting family, Bex's involvement in the dangerous abolition movement, and secrets from Bex's past.
I liked both Bex and Ester. One interesting element of their relationship was that while they agree to the elopement on their first meeting, they're both plagued with doubts, which seems more likely than them just being gung-ho about it all the way. I loved all of Ester's insecurities because of her family--her worries that someday her husband might cheat on her, her resolution not to be "a couch wife" who just sits back and lets her husband do as he will but to be actively involved in their life. And I also liked that in the areas where she seems the most self righteous, she ends up taking a step back and admitting she might be wrong.
(Also, Ester's infatuation with Bex because he's such a good actor with a golden voice is adorable.)
On the other hand, it often felt like this book kept on going back over the same ground. The trip from London to Gretna Green is covered in great detail, and Ester and Bex both keep on going back and forth and back and forth on whether this is a good idea, whether they should turn back, etc etc. While it's realistic, it's the sort of internal struggle that I'd rather see more in brief than drawn out. In fact, the book is two thirds over by the time Ester and Bex actually get married, and while some of that time is spent on reasonable considerations and interesting interactions with Ester's family, a lot of it feels like filler.
However, those parts still provide valuable character insight I suppose, and the last third is fun, wrapping up all threads left hanging and providing a plot about Bex's involvement with abolitionists. Speaking of which, one highlight of this book is how it examines racial relations in the time period: the prejudice often shown against even Ester, who is Blackamoor but relatively wealthy and well-to-do, and the hostility towards the abolition movement. To be honest, this element was what interested me in this book initially, and it certainly followed through. So the multicultural element was good.
Overall, I'd say it comes across as more historical than many historical romances, and the relationships are interesting, but it does drag at parts. I'd recommend but with qualifications.
I received an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I liked both Bex and Ester. One interesting element of their relationship was that while they agree to the elopement on their first meeting, they're both plagued with doubts, which seems more likely than them just being gung-ho about it all the way. I loved all of Ester's insecurities because of her family--her worries that someday her husband might cheat on her, her resolution not to be "a couch wife" who just sits back and lets her husband do as he will but to be actively involved in their life. And I also liked that in the areas where she seems the most self righteous, she ends up taking a step back and admitting she might be wrong.
(Also, Ester's infatuation with Bex because he's such a good actor with a golden voice is adorable.)
On the other hand, it often felt like this book kept on going back over the same ground. The trip from London to Gretna Green is covered in great detail, and Ester and Bex both keep on going back and forth and back and forth on whether this is a good idea, whether they should turn back, etc etc. While it's realistic, it's the sort of internal struggle that I'd rather see more in brief than drawn out. In fact, the book is two thirds over by the time Ester and Bex actually get married, and while some of that time is spent on reasonable considerations and interesting interactions with Ester's family, a lot of it feels like filler.
However, those parts still provide valuable character insight I suppose, and the last third is fun, wrapping up all threads left hanging and providing a plot about Bex's involvement with abolitionists. Speaking of which, one highlight of this book is how it examines racial relations in the time period: the prejudice often shown against even Ester, who is Blackamoor but relatively wealthy and well-to-do, and the hostility towards the abolition movement. To be honest, this element was what interested me in this book initially, and it certainly followed through. So the multicultural element was good.
Overall, I'd say it comes across as more historical than many historical romances, and the relationships are interesting, but it does drag at parts. I'd recommend but with qualifications.
I received an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 28, 2018
2.5 stars
I just finished this book and I'M STRESSED-
This is so hard to review.
First of all, this book opened wonderfully. I love how Bex and Ester met, and it was adorable how Ester couldn't string a coherent sentence in Bex's presence because she's been crushing on him for two years. I even enjoyed the horrible road trip these two made to Scotland in order to elope. The banter is great, and Bex is really the hero of my heart, he charmed both me and Ester.
The only thing that didn't work for me turned out to be Ester, and since she's, well, the heroine, it really affected my enjoyment. I can't pinpoint exactly when it went wrong for me, because I truly adored her in the beginning. She was innocent and sweet, but also stubborn and determined to escape what would have been a horrible arranged marriage. But Ester also had this one-track mind of how things should be and if anything didn't go her way (read: Bex and his abolitionist efforts) then BYE. Her persistence in trying to get Bex to abandon the cause he had devoted his life to also didn't really sit well for me.
And then there was her reaction to Bex and his Past. I was a bit stressed when Bex didn't tell Ester about the truth of his past upfront because I knew it was going to be a source of conflict and I wasn't looking forward to it. But after what happened post-confession, I understood a bit of Bex's hesitation to open up about his past. It was a MAJOR conflict and there wasn't enough pages to deal with the aftermath, IMO, and in the end, I was left to wonder if Bex would be better off without her. Because really, she made him miserable and still the poor guy jumped through hoops to win her back, and she wouldn't even give him the chance to properly explain himself.
Overall, I came for the romance and I was disappointed that it didn't work out for me, but I liked Vanessa Riley's writing and I'm still going to check out her other works. This book just unfortunately didn't do it for me.
E-ARC is received thanks to the publisher via Netgalley.
I just finished this book and I'M STRESSED-
This is so hard to review.
First of all, this book opened wonderfully. I love how Bex and Ester met, and it was adorable how Ester couldn't string a coherent sentence in Bex's presence because she's been crushing on him for two years. I even enjoyed the horrible road trip these two made to Scotland in order to elope. The banter is great, and Bex is really the hero of my heart, he charmed both me and Ester.
The only thing that didn't work for me turned out to be Ester, and since she's, well, the heroine, it really affected my enjoyment. I can't pinpoint exactly when it went wrong for me, because I truly adored her in the beginning. She was innocent and sweet, but also stubborn and determined to escape what would have been a horrible arranged marriage. But Ester also had this one-track mind of how things should be and if anything didn't go her way (read: Bex and his abolitionist efforts) then BYE. Her persistence in trying to get Bex to abandon the cause he had devoted his life to also didn't really sit well for me.
And then there was her reaction to Bex and his Past. I was a bit stressed when Bex didn't tell Ester about the truth of his past upfront because I knew it was going to be a source of conflict and I wasn't looking forward to it. But after what happened post-confession, I understood a bit of Bex's hesitation to open up about his past. It was a MAJOR conflict and there wasn't enough pages to deal with the aftermath, IMO, and in the end, I was left to wonder if Bex would be better off without her. Because really, she made him miserable and still the poor guy jumped through hoops to win her back, and she wouldn't even give him the chance to properly explain himself.
Overall, I came for the romance and I was disappointed that it didn't work out for me, but I liked Vanessa Riley's writing and I'm still going to check out her other works. This book just unfortunately didn't do it for me.
E-ARC is received thanks to the publisher via Netgalley.
May 25, 2018
A sweet, tender romance fulled with wonderful characters and suspenseful moments. Ester Croome is set to marry a man her father has picked out when she has her 21st birthday. The man is a known rake and Ester holds little interest for the marriage. She has held a crush for Auther Bex, a well known actor who has many secrets and problems of his own. When she sees an advertisement in a newspaper, they meet and as one thing leads to another marry! But there is so much more to this story. Both had so many insecurities and Bex especially had trust issues. Can they find their happy ever after based off their short acquaintance and secrets each holds? This story contains a lot of history not touched upon that often and I really enjoyed that aspect of the story. It made me do more research. This was the first book I have read by this author and I look forward to many more!
June 5, 2018
Ester Croome has led a sheltered life and knows little about the gritty side of 19th century London. But when she comes face to face with the famous stage actor she’s been infatuated with for years, shy Ester makes a bold proposal. Arthur Bex is a successful actor and a passionate abolitionist in search of a wife. When he meets Ester, he is immediately smitten. He and Ester elope to Gretna Green but neither understand how dangerous it is to love in the time of abolition. Vanessa Riley’s THE BASHFUL BRIDE was a gripping and beautifully told story. Definitely put this one on your list!
May 25, 2018
This is the second book in the Advertisements for Love series, though it can be read as a standalone. I loved Theodosia’s book, so I was excited to ready about her friend, Ester, a young black woman whose father made his wealth in textiles. While I didn’t like this book as much, it still had a lot of the moments and themes that make me love Ms. Riley’s books. Like her previous book, while it’s not overtly Christian, there are Christian themes in the book. The main thread running through this book is one of forgiveness: of learning to forgive others for supposed or actual hurts, and of learning to forgive yourself.
When Ester finds out her father has arranged a marriage for her – to a man known to be a womanizer – she’s frantic to get out of it. So, when the suitor who’s answered her best friend’s marriage ad turns out to be Arthur Bex, the Shakespearean actor she’s had a crush on for years, she jumps at the chance to elope with him to Gretna Green that very night. Bex is taken with the young woman, and has reasons of his own for wanting a wife. But between family opposition, Bex’s role in the dangerous abolition movement, and family secrets, can their chance at love survive?
There’s a bit of a fairytale vibe to Ester’s story. Ester remembers living over her father’s warehouse when his business was just getting started, but now lives in a mansion complete with servants, so there’s a definite rags-to-riches air. There’s also a few continued references to 5 minutes after midnight. Ester tells her friend that fairy tales end at midnight, but anything that goes on after is real – a silly fancy that encapsulates Ester’s character.
I have mixed feelings about this book. The main issue was that I was just horrifically frustrated with Ester. She is young (nearly 21) and about as sheltered as a young black woman could be in 1820s London. Halfway through the book, Ester and Arthur were still rehashing the “should we marry/ shouldn’t we marry” thing, and it just felt so repetitive. I’m not saying it was unreasonable for Ester or Arthur to have doubts – they did decide to get married after two cups of tea! – but it gave a very negative spin to the relationship with all they reasons they shouldn’t get married – and even some why they should – being negative. Every time it seemed like they were making forward progress, something would come up that would send both of them back to the “let’s not get married!” conversation again.
Ester’s other character flaw – and one I found easier to understand – was that she struggles with forgiveness, expecting everyone to forgive her but being unwilling to forgive others. Recently, she found evidence that her father had been unfaithful to her mother, and ever since, she’s been cold to him. Even more so, she looks down on her mother as weak for forgiving him. Her father’s actions since – acting genuinely contrite – she views as her mother being bought off with expensive gifts and parties. She calls her mother a “couch woman” – someone who’s just willing to wait around for her husband to come home. With Arthur, she wants him to give up his abolitionist rallies as too dangerous – she doesn’t want to sit at home worrying about him and wondering if he’ll come home at all. She fails to recognize how important that work is to Arthur, and struggles to forgive him when he continues the work after their marriage. Eloping with Arthur gets her pretty much disowned by her family (she left during her mother’s party without leaving a note or anything, so her family feared she was dead or kidnapped), and it takes nearly 3/4s of the book before she starts understanding exactly how much she’s wronged her family and Arthur.
As for things I liked, I was fascinated by Bex’s work with the abolition movement, as it’s something I haven’t read much about before, and horrified by his family secrets. When they ignored their doubts about their relationship, I liked Bex and Ester’s attempts to build a marriage based on the affection they felt for each other, and I liked their banter.
Overall, I think this would be more of a 3.5 star read for me, but I’m rounding up to 4 just because I did truly enjoy it. I’m looking forward to Frederica’s story!
I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
She closed her eyes, forgetting the noisy inn and even Bex’s honey voice and said, “‘The very instant that I saw you did my heart fly to your service, there it resides to make me a slave to it.’”
“No. No one is a slave, or they shouldn’t be. No, you have choices. I want to be your choice, Miss Croome.”
When Ester finds out her father has arranged a marriage for her – to a man known to be a womanizer – she’s frantic to get out of it. So, when the suitor who’s answered her best friend’s marriage ad turns out to be Arthur Bex, the Shakespearean actor she’s had a crush on for years, she jumps at the chance to elope with him to Gretna Green that very night. Bex is taken with the young woman, and has reasons of his own for wanting a wife. But between family opposition, Bex’s role in the dangerous abolition movement, and family secrets, can their chance at love survive?
There’s a bit of a fairytale vibe to Ester’s story. Ester remembers living over her father’s warehouse when his business was just getting started, but now lives in a mansion complete with servants, so there’s a definite rags-to-riches air. There’s also a few continued references to 5 minutes after midnight. Ester tells her friend that fairy tales end at midnight, but anything that goes on after is real – a silly fancy that encapsulates Ester’s character.
I have mixed feelings about this book. The main issue was that I was just horrifically frustrated with Ester. She is young (nearly 21) and about as sheltered as a young black woman could be in 1820s London. Halfway through the book, Ester and Arthur were still rehashing the “should we marry/ shouldn’t we marry” thing, and it just felt so repetitive. I’m not saying it was unreasonable for Ester or Arthur to have doubts – they did decide to get married after two cups of tea! – but it gave a very negative spin to the relationship with all they reasons they shouldn’t get married – and even some why they should – being negative. Every time it seemed like they were making forward progress, something would come up that would send both of them back to the “let’s not get married!” conversation again.
“Why did you marry me? Do you love me?”
He didn’t know how to describe what he felt—part gratitude, part hope, part glad to be chosen—that she cared so much for him. He stood up, pulling her to her feet. “I care for you more than myself. Perhaps that is love. I know what it cost for you to go through with this wedding and to even jump through that window. Your reasons for saying yes matter less to me, only that you did say it.”
She hooked her hand about his neck and draped her head against his bum shoulder. “What does matter to you, Bex?”
“You. You do, Ester.”
Ester’s other character flaw – and one I found easier to understand – was that she struggles with forgiveness, expecting everyone to forgive her but being unwilling to forgive others. Recently, she found evidence that her father had been unfaithful to her mother, and ever since, she’s been cold to him. Even more so, she looks down on her mother as weak for forgiving him. Her father’s actions since – acting genuinely contrite – she views as her mother being bought off with expensive gifts and parties. She calls her mother a “couch woman” – someone who’s just willing to wait around for her husband to come home. With Arthur, she wants him to give up his abolitionist rallies as too dangerous – she doesn’t want to sit at home worrying about him and wondering if he’ll come home at all. She fails to recognize how important that work is to Arthur, and struggles to forgive him when he continues the work after their marriage. Eloping with Arthur gets her pretty much disowned by her family (she left during her mother’s party without leaving a note or anything, so her family feared she was dead or kidnapped), and it takes nearly 3/4s of the book before she starts understanding exactly how much she’s wronged her family and Arthur.
As for things I liked, I was fascinated by Bex’s work with the abolition movement, as it’s something I haven’t read much about before, and horrified by his family secrets. When they ignored their doubts about their relationship, I liked Bex and Ester’s attempts to build a marriage based on the affection they felt for each other, and I liked their banter.
Overall, I think this would be more of a 3.5 star read for me, but I’m rounding up to 4 just because I did truly enjoy it. I’m looking forward to Frederica’s story!
I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
May 25, 2018
The Bashful Bride (Advertisements for Love #2) by Vanessa Riley is an interesting and unique story of secrets, abolitionist, romance and so much more. While, 2nd book in the ADVERTISEMENT FOR LOVE, it can be read as a stand alone. See THE BITTERSWEET BRIDE, book 1.
Well written in Ms. Riley's uniquely thought-out writing style. Based on factual historical events, THE BASHFUL BRIDE, will swept you away into another world. I enjoyed Arthur Bex, a famed actor in London and Ester Croome, a shy heiress' story. Ester and Bex's story is harrowing, dangerous, romantic and challenging. The storyline is unpredictable, intriguing and challenging. Ms. Riley did an amazing job with this incredible, sweet romance.
I received a complimentary copy, however, all opinions are my own.
Well written in Ms. Riley's uniquely thought-out writing style. Based on factual historical events, THE BASHFUL BRIDE, will swept you away into another world. I enjoyed Arthur Bex, a famed actor in London and Ester Croome, a shy heiress' story. Ester and Bex's story is harrowing, dangerous, romantic and challenging. The storyline is unpredictable, intriguing and challenging. Ms. Riley did an amazing job with this incredible, sweet romance.
I received a complimentary copy, however, all opinions are my own.
May 30, 2018
I think this is my favorite Vanessa Riley book yet!
May 20, 2018
On the surface it’s a riveting melodrama about an heiress eloping with a famous actor. These two theater nerds geek out about Shakespeare all the way to Scotland; she blushes a lot, it’s cute :) But once you consider he is involved in the abolition movement, she is navigating societal expectations of what does it mean to be a black woman, class differences and family secrets... things get complicated.
Ever since their first meeting at an inn where our hero is recruiting people to join a political rally, the dynamic between the characters was electric and the emotional descriptions had a sweet flow to them. Ester admires his art and Bex pampers her by preparing baths since it’s important to her. This novel is a pure delight that put Vanessa on my ever expanding list of auto-buy authors and I am thankful.
Ever since their first meeting at an inn where our hero is recruiting people to join a political rally, the dynamic between the characters was electric and the emotional descriptions had a sweet flow to them. Ester admires his art and Bex pampers her by preparing baths since it’s important to her. This novel is a pure delight that put Vanessa on my ever expanding list of auto-buy authors and I am thankful.
August 30, 2018
the bashful bride is not your standard regency fare. picking up the stories of london's 'blackamoor' population in the early nineteenth century, riley gives voice to people whose stories haven't been written. based on historical fact, you can see the meticulous research that builds the regency world her characters inhabit.
the story here is simple, ester croome is about to be married off by her father to a man she considers to be abhorrent. she doesn't like the way he treats women and knows that he is a philanderer even before they are to be married. when she accidentally runs into arthur bex, an actor who's golden voice she is in love with, he's leading an abolitionist meeting and planning to meet his possible future wife. he'd been exchanging letters via an advertisement, not knowing this was ester's friend. but ester is in more dire need of a husband that frederica, so arthur and ester decide to elope.
the drive to gretna greene and the prejudices they face on their journey are intricately detailed. arthur treats ester honorably, respectfully, he doesn't see the color of her skin first, he sees the person she is. and he is halfway in love with her. but he's also holding back secrets. he's not just plain arthur bex, he's also oliver arthur bexeley, nephew of a slave trader. given his abolitionist leanings, he doesn't want the truth about his past to be revealed. from the age of 6 he lived aboard his uncle's boat, and when he discovered his uncle throwing black men overboard to defraud his insurance, he turned on his uncle and testified against him. guaranteeing that he would be hung for his crimes. it's not a pretty story and is based on real events.
and these details are what make the book so fascinating to read. arthur is a complex, interesting character. i wish ester had been a little more interesting. i would have liked her to have a richer inner voice because it felt like there was too much black and white in her world and not enough shades of gray. i just found her stances to be so unyielding, big on ultimatums when a softer touch might have solved the problems she encounters in a more satisfying manner.
**the bashful bride will publish on may 28, 2018. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/entangled publishing (amara) in exchange for my honest review.
the story here is simple, ester croome is about to be married off by her father to a man she considers to be abhorrent. she doesn't like the way he treats women and knows that he is a philanderer even before they are to be married. when she accidentally runs into arthur bex, an actor who's golden voice she is in love with, he's leading an abolitionist meeting and planning to meet his possible future wife. he'd been exchanging letters via an advertisement, not knowing this was ester's friend. but ester is in more dire need of a husband that frederica, so arthur and ester decide to elope.
the drive to gretna greene and the prejudices they face on their journey are intricately detailed. arthur treats ester honorably, respectfully, he doesn't see the color of her skin first, he sees the person she is. and he is halfway in love with her. but he's also holding back secrets. he's not just plain arthur bex, he's also oliver arthur bexeley, nephew of a slave trader. given his abolitionist leanings, he doesn't want the truth about his past to be revealed. from the age of 6 he lived aboard his uncle's boat, and when he discovered his uncle throwing black men overboard to defraud his insurance, he turned on his uncle and testified against him. guaranteeing that he would be hung for his crimes. it's not a pretty story and is based on real events.
and these details are what make the book so fascinating to read. arthur is a complex, interesting character. i wish ester had been a little more interesting. i would have liked her to have a richer inner voice because it felt like there was too much black and white in her world and not enough shades of gray. i just found her stances to be so unyielding, big on ultimatums when a softer touch might have solved the problems she encounters in a more satisfying manner.
**the bashful bride will publish on may 28, 2018. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/entangled publishing (amara) in exchange for my honest review.
June 3, 2018
Received in exchange for a honest review.
There wasn’t a moment when I didn’t love Bex. He was not what I expected. Kind, caring, trying to atone for the sins of his family but also believing passionately in a cause and putting himself out there for it. When he decides he wants a wife he puts a ad in the paper. Little did he know what that ad would bring him.
Ester. She is quiet and loyal to her parents. She isn’t really living in reality alot. You see this as her and Bex journey to Gretna Green and they return as well. She doesn’t have the luxuries she did when with her parents. She is a loyal friend and kind but stubborn and to set in her ways.When she feels wronged watch out as Bex finds out. She almost blows off love and the love of an amazing man because of her stubbornness and what she perceives as a wrong. So glad her mom set her straight.
Upon meeting Ester, Bex is intrigued. He loves her passion and kindness. The situation isn’t ideal but they learn about one another on the trip to Gretna Green. They fall in love and we see Bex wanting to open up completely about his past but is afraid to. He is afraid she will do as others and walk away. His past is painful and sad but you see that he was a very brave young man and should be proud of what he did despite the consequences to himself and his family. He took his past and used it to help others and this was something Ester could not understand. her love was with limits because of her fear he would be hurt.
I love how they don’t have an instant love but begin as strangers and find out about one another along the way. They become friends first and fall in love from there. We see the man that Bex is and he is a man that can stand proud. Even when him and Ester aren’t on solid ground he shows us his character’s strength when he goes into that building. This also has us see Ester’s feelings and what really matters for them and that is love.
The story is a nice slow build of emotions and friendship between our two main characters. One has alot of growing up to do and it is her mother that helps her see that and show her the way. Bex helps her grow and love but her mother helps her mature. A wonderful tale of love, family, honor and friendship.
There wasn’t a moment when I didn’t love Bex. He was not what I expected. Kind, caring, trying to atone for the sins of his family but also believing passionately in a cause and putting himself out there for it. When he decides he wants a wife he puts a ad in the paper. Little did he know what that ad would bring him.
Ester. She is quiet and loyal to her parents. She isn’t really living in reality alot. You see this as her and Bex journey to Gretna Green and they return as well. She doesn’t have the luxuries she did when with her parents. She is a loyal friend and kind but stubborn and to set in her ways.When she feels wronged watch out as Bex finds out. She almost blows off love and the love of an amazing man because of her stubbornness and what she perceives as a wrong. So glad her mom set her straight.
Upon meeting Ester, Bex is intrigued. He loves her passion and kindness. The situation isn’t ideal but they learn about one another on the trip to Gretna Green. They fall in love and we see Bex wanting to open up completely about his past but is afraid to. He is afraid she will do as others and walk away. His past is painful and sad but you see that he was a very brave young man and should be proud of what he did despite the consequences to himself and his family. He took his past and used it to help others and this was something Ester could not understand. her love was with limits because of her fear he would be hurt.
I love how they don’t have an instant love but begin as strangers and find out about one another along the way. They become friends first and fall in love from there. We see the man that Bex is and he is a man that can stand proud. Even when him and Ester aren’t on solid ground he shows us his character’s strength when he goes into that building. This also has us see Ester’s feelings and what really matters for them and that is love.
The story is a nice slow build of emotions and friendship between our two main characters. One has alot of growing up to do and it is her mother that helps her see that and show her the way. Bex helps her grow and love but her mother helps her mature. A wonderful tale of love, family, honor and friendship.
May 28, 2018
4.5 Stars
It's a great story and id beautifully interwoven. All the characters are great and I think the author has given them very interesting pasts, which has given them more depth. I really liked the characters in this novel.
Ester Croome is a sheltered young girl who judges her parents harshly based on what she knows. When her father decided to arrange a marriage for her she rebels. In her rebellion she eloped with someone she admires a lot, but he is not someone she knows well. There is very little that she actually knows about Bex, but to her it doesn't matter. She just wants to marry someone of her choosing rather than her father's. Soon she is going to realise that not everything she knows is true, and there is a lot that she doesn't even know....
Bex's past haunts him. However, he is determined to do better in the present as well as the future. He has secrets that he wants to keep well-hidden. But there are people who are becoming more and more interested in his past. So, he decides to find a bride. Someone who trusts him and vouches for him when the time comes. He is willing to settle with any level-headed woman, who believes in the cause he fights for. When he finds Ester he think that his prayers have been answered. She seems like the person he could build a happy life with... but he doesn't realise that sometimes things get complicated and logic becomes overrated...
They both are in over their heads, but will they survive in this world without losing their sanity is a different story entirely.
I really enjoyed it and would recommend to anyone who loves historical romance. However, it's not usual story about the ton. It shows an entirely different side on London in early 1800s.
It's a great story and id beautifully interwoven. All the characters are great and I think the author has given them very interesting pasts, which has given them more depth. I really liked the characters in this novel.
Ester Croome is a sheltered young girl who judges her parents harshly based on what she knows. When her father decided to arrange a marriage for her she rebels. In her rebellion she eloped with someone she admires a lot, but he is not someone she knows well. There is very little that she actually knows about Bex, but to her it doesn't matter. She just wants to marry someone of her choosing rather than her father's. Soon she is going to realise that not everything she knows is true, and there is a lot that she doesn't even know....
Bex's past haunts him. However, he is determined to do better in the present as well as the future. He has secrets that he wants to keep well-hidden. But there are people who are becoming more and more interested in his past. So, he decides to find a bride. Someone who trusts him and vouches for him when the time comes. He is willing to settle with any level-headed woman, who believes in the cause he fights for. When he finds Ester he think that his prayers have been answered. She seems like the person he could build a happy life with... but he doesn't realise that sometimes things get complicated and logic becomes overrated...
They both are in over their heads, but will they survive in this world without losing their sanity is a different story entirely.
I really enjoyed it and would recommend to anyone who loves historical romance. However, it's not usual story about the ton. It shows an entirely different side on London in early 1800s.
April 22, 2018
On the whole, I enjoyed reading this book but there were some things that felt too forced, too coincidental to feel right and natural. I really liked the characters though, female characters with an inner strength and confidence, strong flawed male characters that are essentially good and trustworthy despite their faults and weaknesses. The heroine's fixation on someone she had never really met but just, well, fan-girled over Regency style was a bit irritating though, all circumstances considered.
This book is set in 1820, at a time when the British anti-slavery movement had led to the passing of a Bill for the abolition of the slave trade 15 years prior but the fight to abolish the slave trade in other countries as well was still underway. The so-called blackamoors had been a part of the English society for ages then but even those with money and power still weren't fully accepted by society.
This is a subject not often mentioned in historical romances so this was as unexpected as the hero's involvement with the abolitionists and the dangers he faces due to this involvement. No change ever came without sacrifices and people willing to fight for it. I loved that this book draws attention to this time and the people of color in those times and their struggles to be accepted.
All in all, this is a book that kept me entertained and interested, made me look up and google things so I enjoyed reading it despite the fact that some things weren't completely convincing.
This book is set in 1820, at a time when the British anti-slavery movement had led to the passing of a Bill for the abolition of the slave trade 15 years prior but the fight to abolish the slave trade in other countries as well was still underway. The so-called blackamoors had been a part of the English society for ages then but even those with money and power still weren't fully accepted by society.
This is a subject not often mentioned in historical romances so this was as unexpected as the hero's involvement with the abolitionists and the dangers he faces due to this involvement. No change ever came without sacrifices and people willing to fight for it. I loved that this book draws attention to this time and the people of color in those times and their struggles to be accepted.
All in all, this is a book that kept me entertained and interested, made me look up and google things so I enjoyed reading it despite the fact that some things weren't completely convincing.
May 13, 2018
My review is 3.6 stars.
I'm very fond of reading books from this genre, 'Historical Romance' because this genre feels like a classics. There were sections in the book that I didn't like and there were sections in the book that I liked so I have some mixed reactions about the book. The book is set in the 18th century, in the moment of the anti-slavery. So as per the plot, I would like to say that author chose a very strong one. But I'm little, a bit disappointed to say that author didn't do complete justice to that strong plot.
The knowledge author showed regarding that era & the movement and all the little details were good and I like that. But there were scenes that I don't like. I would definitely say that the author took the risk to choose this kind of plot & in a way she tried to achieve her goals on portraying the love story in the background of that anti-slavery moment. On a level, she did that but I'm not fully satisfied.
Apart from that, I liked the way the author wrote and the scenes she wrote, the dialogues she wrote was nice and intriguing. Both the main characters 'Bex' & 'Ester', were engaging.
I liked the book but I would definitely be feeling pleased if I could say that I loved the book.
I would like to thank you, Publisher, for letting me read this book.
I'm very fond of reading books from this genre, 'Historical Romance' because this genre feels like a classics. There were sections in the book that I didn't like and there were sections in the book that I liked so I have some mixed reactions about the book. The book is set in the 18th century, in the moment of the anti-slavery. So as per the plot, I would like to say that author chose a very strong one. But I'm little, a bit disappointed to say that author didn't do complete justice to that strong plot.
The knowledge author showed regarding that era & the movement and all the little details were good and I like that. But there were scenes that I don't like. I would definitely say that the author took the risk to choose this kind of plot & in a way she tried to achieve her goals on portraying the love story in the background of that anti-slavery moment. On a level, she did that but I'm not fully satisfied.
Apart from that, I liked the way the author wrote and the scenes she wrote, the dialogues she wrote was nice and intriguing. Both the main characters 'Bex' & 'Ester', were engaging.
I liked the book but I would definitely be feeling pleased if I could say that I loved the book.
I would like to thank you, Publisher, for letting me read this book.
August 8, 2018
Ester Croome was an heiress who was a Blackamoor or at least part of african descent. She had been secretly in love with Arthur Bex for two years. Arthur was a successful author who had dark hair and blue eyes and was a different race from Ester. Ester's parents had been very successful in the textile industry in London at the time and her father had arranged Ester's marriage to a known philanderer. Ester was determined not to marry Charles Jordan but in order to escape the arrangement, she would have to find a husband, elope and make it fast because her father wanted her married by the end of the month when she turned 21.
Through a twist of fate, Ester became the equivalent of a mail order bride, only it was done through the newspaper and the groom was none other than Arthur Bex. While they were wildly attracted to one another, the difference in race presented a possibly insurmountable problem because of the times in which they lived. Also, Arthur had a secret that could destroy him and anyone associated with him. Would they be able to form a lasting relationship or were they doomed from the start?
This was a clean and well written book. This author is new to me but I enjoyed her portrayal of the story. I was given an arc copy to read by NetGalley and I offer a review without restraint.
Through a twist of fate, Ester became the equivalent of a mail order bride, only it was done through the newspaper and the groom was none other than Arthur Bex. While they were wildly attracted to one another, the difference in race presented a possibly insurmountable problem because of the times in which they lived. Also, Arthur had a secret that could destroy him and anyone associated with him. Would they be able to form a lasting relationship or were they doomed from the start?
This was a clean and well written book. This author is new to me but I enjoyed her portrayal of the story. I was given an arc copy to read by NetGalley and I offer a review without restraint.
March 2, 2024
Star 3.5 The review contains spoilers.
As one reviewer stated a prodigal's daughter theme. I enjoyed the first book more than this book. I appreciated Ester's life lessons, however, I did not care for her.
Arthur Bex is not off the hook either. I like men with principles and the ability to withstand snide remarks. Unfortunately, Author kept missing opportunities to dispel trust issues.
Another star reduction is the mother's backstory. It's confusing.
I'm enjoying the series and I hope the author add more stories to the series about Black Londoners of the Regency-era. The author mentions a bustling neighborhood existed of approximately 10,000 Blacks contributing to the Regency's economy. In the first book, we get a glimpse of the life in that part of town. However, I wanted to know more about the beat of the neighborhood; even if it meant taking liberties to make up the surrounding lifeforce.
According to the author's research, during the time period, Blacks also posted advertisements for a marriage of convenience in newspapers. And she mentioned, marriage was how the population became absorbed into the culture. Interestingly, history has no surprises.
Beautiful romances with strong content material.
As one reviewer stated a prodigal's daughter theme. I enjoyed the first book more than this book. I appreciated Ester's life lessons, however, I did not care for her.
Arthur Bex is not off the hook either. I like men with principles and the ability to withstand snide remarks. Unfortunately, Author kept missing opportunities to dispel trust issues.
Another star reduction is the mother's backstory. It's confusing.
I'm enjoying the series and I hope the author add more stories to the series about Black Londoners of the Regency-era. The author mentions a bustling neighborhood existed of approximately 10,000 Blacks contributing to the Regency's economy. In the first book, we get a glimpse of the life in that part of town. However, I wanted to know more about the beat of the neighborhood; even if it meant taking liberties to make up the surrounding lifeforce.
According to the author's research, during the time period, Blacks also posted advertisements for a marriage of convenience in newspapers. And she mentioned, marriage was how the population became absorbed into the culture. Interestingly, history has no surprises.
Beautiful romances with strong content material.
May 26, 2018
Miss Ester Croome's friend has advertised in the paper for a husband. Tonight is when she will meet him for the first time, so she needs Ester to be her chaperone and support. Ester is unfortunately a little distracted by events at home, and her fascination for a famous actor.
Mr Arthur Bex is an avid abolitionist, because of his past. He uses his famous voice to persuade others to take up the cause. He needs to feel there is someone in his life who will believe in him when the truth comes out.
This is a story about a mixed race romance in a difficult time .
Secrets have a way of coming to light no matter how hard you try to bury them. There is some danger for our characters to face and a lot of prejudice .
You can quite easily read this as a stand alone, but it is part of a series so you will meet characters from the other books.
A sweet clean romance.
Mr Arthur Bex is an avid abolitionist, because of his past. He uses his famous voice to persuade others to take up the cause. He needs to feel there is someone in his life who will believe in him when the truth comes out.
This is a story about a mixed race romance in a difficult time .
Secrets have a way of coming to light no matter how hard you try to bury them. There is some danger for our characters to face and a lot of prejudice .
You can quite easily read this as a stand alone, but it is part of a series so you will meet characters from the other books.
A sweet clean romance.
June 2, 2018
I have pivoted back and forth like a seesaw on what to rate this at. I have finally went to four stars instead of the three I was going to do. Why? It is a read that will stay with you in your mind. One that the characters the biracial relationship as well as the historical overtures through out the book itself. The writer is a very talented author that is able to capture and hold her audience. I would not say this should be a historical romance more like a historical reading. While there are elements of romance there is also what I call a lot of reverb.... going over same ground to much. Even with those things , I was pulled into the story and learned to look at things in a different manner for those times. I enjoyed the read and would read it again. This review is my own and done on a voluntary basis. I was given the ARC through netgalley.
May 28, 2018
I did find the first half to be at quite a slow pace but I was glad I continued to read on as once they had almost reached Gretna Green the story proceeded at a good pace with plenty of activity. It became a captivating read. I did like the character of Arthur Bex, he had such strong convictions and stuck to them, regardless of his own reputation. I fluctuated between liking Ester for her strength of character in certain situations and then being frustrated with her, for her stubbornness and dithering as to whether she wanted to marry or return home. Her mother was a brave, strong woman, much to be admired. This book highlighted the prejudice of the day towards those of a different race. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
June 7, 2018
The books in this series are stand alone, but I found that I believe more enjoyable when read in order. Vanessa Riley brings to life a time period and culture from a time period that is rarely written about. She does so in this beautiful tale of love, where people are willing to do anything for another person’s care and devotion.
However, there are also forced marriages, evil uncles, and controlling parents to add to the mix, along with racial prejudices. This novel is both entertaining and educational, all wrapped in a well written package. Check this one out!
This was obtained through Netgalley. The opinions contained herein are my own.
However, there are also forced marriages, evil uncles, and controlling parents to add to the mix, along with racial prejudices. This novel is both entertaining and educational, all wrapped in a well written package. Check this one out!
This was obtained through Netgalley. The opinions contained herein are my own.
May 29, 2018
I have been given a review copy of this title through NetGalley and I have voluntarily decided to give my opinion. This is the second book in the Advertisements for Love series and it can be read as a standalone title. In this story you are introduced to Arthur Bex and Ester Croome and I loved getting to meet them. I really enjoyed getting to see their journey and the struggles they had to go through.
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