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Little Foxbury #1
The Reluctant Countess
Diana Tilney hates the very idea of marriage—married women are virtually owned by their husbands and have no freedom. But when her sister and brother-in-law die and leave their daughters in Diana’s care, Ned Faulkes, the new earl, needs her with them, in Swanstead, their palatial home.
For her nieces’ sake, Diana agrees to a marriage of convenience. Ned swears he doesn’t want an heir, and that it will be a marriage in name only. He’s being honest: his first wife died in childbirth and he never wants to put a woman in that position again.
A woman who rejects marriage, a man who rejects intimacy…can they trust each other enough to make a real marriage together?
For her nieces’ sake, Diana agrees to a marriage of convenience. Ned swears he doesn’t want an heir, and that it will be a marriage in name only. He’s being honest: his first wife died in childbirth and he never wants to put a woman in that position again.
A woman who rejects marriage, a man who rejects intimacy…can they trust each other enough to make a real marriage together?
88 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 15, 2025
6 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 15, 2025
An historical romance novella from a new to me author.
Diana Tilney is an independent woman with sufficient means to remain unmarried and she likes it that way. But when her sister and brother-in-law die and leave their daughters in Diana’s care, Ned Faulkes, the new earl and their guardian, needs her with them, in Swanstead, their palatial home. Will a marriage of convenience be the answer?
This was a quick fun read which I really enjoyed as the total opposite of the mysteries and detective stories I had been reading. The characters are likeable. Diana and the Earl have an entertaining relationship with each other and the two young girls are sweet. I will keep this author in mind for future occasions when I need something light in between the heavier stuff!
Diana Tilney is an independent woman with sufficient means to remain unmarried and she likes it that way. But when her sister and brother-in-law die and leave their daughters in Diana’s care, Ned Faulkes, the new earl and their guardian, needs her with them, in Swanstead, their palatial home. Will a marriage of convenience be the answer?
This was a quick fun read which I really enjoyed as the total opposite of the mysteries and detective stories I had been reading. The characters are likeable. Diana and the Earl have an entertaining relationship with each other and the two young girls are sweet. I will keep this author in mind for future occasions when I need something light in between the heavier stuff!
June 3, 2025
Diana Tilney was grieving after the sudden loss of her sister Caroline and husband Sebastian, and their two small daughters, Dora & Vicki, were shattered. Caroline had decreed Diana as their guardian, but when Ned Faulkes, now Lord Faulkes in Seb's place, declared the girls needed to live at Swanstead, their family home, Diana was torn. Was a marriage of convenience the answer? Diana had always vowed never to be "owned" by a man; never to marry - but this was different, wasn't it?
The Reluctant Countess is the 1st in the Little Foxbury series by Aussie author Elizabeth Leydin (aka Pamela Freeman) and I enjoyed it very much. An historical romance novella set in England in regency times, I'm looking forward to more in this series. Highly recommended.
With thanks to the author for my digital ARC to read and review.
The Reluctant Countess is the 1st in the Little Foxbury series by Aussie author Elizabeth Leydin (aka Pamela Freeman) and I enjoyed it very much. An historical romance novella set in England in regency times, I'm looking forward to more in this series. Highly recommended.
With thanks to the author for my digital ARC to read and review.
May 31, 2025
I loved this one so much I think it might be my favourite Elizabeth Leydin so far, it is moving, filled with emotions, fabulous characters and a wonderful setting, come along for a visit to Little Foxbury.
Diana Tilney is a strong independent woman living in a man’s world and marriage is something that Diana is not going into and has made it clear to most people, but when her sister and her husband are lost in a boating accident and leave their two daughters, Vicky and Dora in the care of Diana and Ned Faulkes the new Earl, there are a few matters that need to be settled.
Ned never expected to be the Earl he was happy with his life, a widow who is determined to not marry again but now there is the welfare of his nieces that needs to be taken care of and he wants them back in the family home, Swanstead but he has to convince their Aunt Diana that it is the right thing to do.
They decide on a marriage of convenience for the children’s sake, Diana has strict rules as she will not be controlled by a man and Ned doesn’t want an heir after his first wife died in childbirth but can they control the feeling sand chemistry that is growing within both of them the more they get to know each other?
MS Leydin has a beautiful voice for writing regency’s she takes me back to that time and makes me feel like I am sitting in a drawing room with the characters in her story and this is one that I highly recommend, a short quick read that ticks all of the boxes for a fabulous regency romance, I am looking forward to more in this series.
My thanks to the author for my digital copy to read and review.
Diana Tilney is a strong independent woman living in a man’s world and marriage is something that Diana is not going into and has made it clear to most people, but when her sister and her husband are lost in a boating accident and leave their two daughters, Vicky and Dora in the care of Diana and Ned Faulkes the new Earl, there are a few matters that need to be settled.
Ned never expected to be the Earl he was happy with his life, a widow who is determined to not marry again but now there is the welfare of his nieces that needs to be taken care of and he wants them back in the family home, Swanstead but he has to convince their Aunt Diana that it is the right thing to do.
They decide on a marriage of convenience for the children’s sake, Diana has strict rules as she will not be controlled by a man and Ned doesn’t want an heir after his first wife died in childbirth but can they control the feeling sand chemistry that is growing within both of them the more they get to know each other?
MS Leydin has a beautiful voice for writing regency’s she takes me back to that time and makes me feel like I am sitting in a drawing room with the characters in her story and this is one that I highly recommend, a short quick read that ticks all of the boxes for a fabulous regency romance, I am looking forward to more in this series.
My thanks to the author for my digital copy to read and review.
May 29, 2025
A lovely story. Loved it!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews