What do you think?
Rate this book
Timeless Regency Collection
Josi S. Kilpack First Love Collection
The JOSI S. KILPACK FIRST LOVE COLLECTION contains the brand new historical romance novella An Impetuous Debutante, as well as three hand-picked readers' favorites of Josi's popular Timeless Romance novellas.
In this Collection:
An Impetuous Debutante:
When Veronica slips out of London hidden in a carriage seat, she believes she is escaping the expectations of society, of marriage to a man who does not interest her, and of a future chosen for her rather than one she has chosen for herself. She does not expect to find herself entangled in secret work for the Home Office, nor does she expect Geoffrey Meyers—the dependable and seemingly unremarkable friend of her brother, who has never once drawn her notice—to be part of it.
A broken carriage wheel, an unintended change of course, and a single impulsive decision draw Veronica into a world far larger—and more secretive, and more interesting—than she ever imagined. Veronica discovers that independence does not always need to be loud, nor is love always obvious at first glance. Perhaps she has underestimated everyone, herself included, and might yet find a way to chart her own course within the margins of her place in the world—and build a life she never dreamed possible.
Til’ All the Seas Gang Dry (Originally in: To Love a Governess):
It has been six years since Dina left London and David and whatever fantasy she had allowed to grow in the months of flirtation that had nearly overtaken them both. Now, David is getting married and he and his fiancé are guests at the home where Dina works as a governess. Convinced the connection they felt was nothing more than childhood fancy, Dina is taken by surprise to find that her feelings have not changed, and, she fears, David’s have not either. Still, she is determined not to interfere with the life he has worked so hard to build … until she realizes that his fiancé is not nearly as committed to him as he is to her. No one will trust her motivations for revealing the truth, not even David, and she could ruin everything she had built here, but if it spares David heartbreak, is it worth the sacrifice?
A Merry Dance (Originally in: Autumn Masquerade):
When Lila overhears her uncle talking about a man coming to look for property in the county, she doesn’t think twice, until her uncle says he hopes Lila will find enough interest to marry the man. How can she marry someone named Mortimer Luthford, not to mention that his advanced age of thirty-three, and especially since she’s already in love with her absent cousin Neville? But when Mortimer arrives, Lila has to try every trick known to women to act not interested in the rather fascinating man, which proves a very difficult façade to maintain.
Begin Again (Originally in: All Regency Collection):
Regina Weathers gives up on marrying for love the day that Ross Martin walks out of her life. Now, fifteen years later, Ross shows up at a ball and thinks he can woo Regina. But she is set on her lonely path and stitched-up heart, no matter the excuse Ross gives for his years of silence and neglect. When Ross insists he wrote many letters during his military years, Regina discovers a secret long-since buried by her father, and the revelation might be enough to thaw the coldness of her heart.
In this Collection:
An Impetuous Debutante:
When Veronica slips out of London hidden in a carriage seat, she believes she is escaping the expectations of society, of marriage to a man who does not interest her, and of a future chosen for her rather than one she has chosen for herself. She does not expect to find herself entangled in secret work for the Home Office, nor does she expect Geoffrey Meyers—the dependable and seemingly unremarkable friend of her brother, who has never once drawn her notice—to be part of it.
A broken carriage wheel, an unintended change of course, and a single impulsive decision draw Veronica into a world far larger—and more secretive, and more interesting—than she ever imagined. Veronica discovers that independence does not always need to be loud, nor is love always obvious at first glance. Perhaps she has underestimated everyone, herself included, and might yet find a way to chart her own course within the margins of her place in the world—and build a life she never dreamed possible.
Til’ All the Seas Gang Dry (Originally in: To Love a Governess):
It has been six years since Dina left London and David and whatever fantasy she had allowed to grow in the months of flirtation that had nearly overtaken them both. Now, David is getting married and he and his fiancé are guests at the home where Dina works as a governess. Convinced the connection they felt was nothing more than childhood fancy, Dina is taken by surprise to find that her feelings have not changed, and, she fears, David’s have not either. Still, she is determined not to interfere with the life he has worked so hard to build … until she realizes that his fiancé is not nearly as committed to him as he is to her. No one will trust her motivations for revealing the truth, not even David, and she could ruin everything she had built here, but if it spares David heartbreak, is it worth the sacrifice?
A Merry Dance (Originally in: Autumn Masquerade):
When Lila overhears her uncle talking about a man coming to look for property in the county, she doesn’t think twice, until her uncle says he hopes Lila will find enough interest to marry the man. How can she marry someone named Mortimer Luthford, not to mention that his advanced age of thirty-three, and especially since she’s already in love with her absent cousin Neville? But when Mortimer arrives, Lila has to try every trick known to women to act not interested in the rather fascinating man, which proves a very difficult façade to maintain.
Begin Again (Originally in: All Regency Collection):
Regina Weathers gives up on marrying for love the day that Ross Martin walks out of her life. Now, fifteen years later, Ross shows up at a ball and thinks he can woo Regina. But she is set on her lonely path and stitched-up heart, no matter the excuse Ross gives for his years of silence and neglect. When Ross insists he wrote many letters during his military years, Regina discovers a secret long-since buried by her father, and the revelation might be enough to thaw the coldness of her heart.
306 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 10, 2026
7 people are currently reading
24 people want to read
About the author
Josi S. Kilpack
66 books2,062 followers I wrote my first book while on bed rest with my third child in 1998 and haven't stopped. My most recent books have been Historical Romance through the Proper Romance line with Shadow Mountain Publishing.
I currently live in Willard, Utah with my husband, and children.
I currently live in Willard, Utah with my husband, and children.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
February 11, 2026
An Impetuous Debutante: This was a fun surprise! I enjoyed the little bit of intrigue mixed in with the Regency era for a young woman wanting her independence and trying to figure out how to fit into society and find romance all at the same time. I could easily see this short story being developed into a much longer story/full-length book. Veronica was quite the character, and I could definitely seeing her and I being friends if she was real and I had been born back in Regency England! ha ha!!
(This is a brand-new novella just for this collection, not included before in any of the previous Timeless Regency collections.)
Til' All The Seas Gang Dry: I'm not sure what the title of this novella means, other than it's mentioned at the very, very end of the story, but I don't understand the connection with the rest of the story. I enjoyed this story as well. The focus of this one is the re-connection between David and Dina after dealing with a typical Regency societal squashing of their love for one another. I enjoyed the characters and the Scottish ties throughout the story. The pacing moved along well for a short story. The final dinner where things all were resolved between David and his fiancee didn't necessarily work for me or ring true to the time period on one hand, but I did enjoy the story overall.
(This novella was previously included in To Love a Governess; however, this is my first time reading it, as I have not yet read that Timeless Regency collection.)
A Merry Dance: I previously read this in another Timeless Regency Collection (Autumn Masquerade), but it's been long enough that I didn't really remember any of it! This was another fun novella with another independent and strong young woman ahead of her time during the Regency era and trying to find the man whom she loves and blends with personality wise. I enjoyed how Lila would hide and crochet to listen to her uncle's business discussions and the silly list of attributes men like and don't like in a woman which she used to try to make Mortimer not like her, as well as her relationship with her best friend Eloise. Another entertaining and humorous short story in this collection!!
(My previous review is as follows, from 2017, in my review of Autumn Masquerade: This was a fun story with entertaining characters and story line. There was a lot of humor in this one that I appreciated, as well as how the characters began falling in love with each other. It got a bit sticky towards the end when Neville made a reappearance and Lila had to come to terms with her feeling for both men. There were many sweet moments as well, though the immaturity of Lila frustrated the situations sometimes as well. A great read!)
Begin Again: This is another novella I have read before, which was included in a previous Timeless Regency Collection (see below). I read it 10 years ago and had definitely forgotten the story and all the details. Regina ("Reggie") was a bit overly dramatic for me when she is reunited with Ross and then again when they meet in their meadow, but overall I enjoyed the concept and the sweet things Ross does to remind her of his love for her. I enjoyed Regina's relationship with her brother and his children and would have loved to see that developed even further, which was one of the aspects that could have helped build this story into a longer book, as well as their history and all the details leading up to this point in their relationship. Another enjoyable Regency novella from Kilpack!
(This story was previously included in All Regency Collection). My previous review, from 2016, in my review of that collection is as follows: A story of lost love reconnecting and how to deal with and accept misunderstandings. This was very well written, with great characters and everything developed well in a short amount of time. There was even a tiny secondary love story going on for Reggie's brother at the same time as her own. Josi Kilpack's branching out from her culinary mysteries into regency romance has been a good move for her!)
Overall, the selection of all these first love novellas from Kilpack into one compilation was very well done and enjoyable, clean romance reads!
***I received an advanced complimentary digital ebook copy from the publisher/editor in exchange for my honest review.***
(This is a brand-new novella just for this collection, not included before in any of the previous Timeless Regency collections.)
Til' All The Seas Gang Dry: I'm not sure what the title of this novella means, other than it's mentioned at the very, very end of the story, but I don't understand the connection with the rest of the story. I enjoyed this story as well. The focus of this one is the re-connection between David and Dina after dealing with a typical Regency societal squashing of their love for one another. I enjoyed the characters and the Scottish ties throughout the story. The pacing moved along well for a short story. The final dinner where things all were resolved between David and his fiancee didn't necessarily work for me or ring true to the time period on one hand, but I did enjoy the story overall.
(This novella was previously included in To Love a Governess; however, this is my first time reading it, as I have not yet read that Timeless Regency collection.)
A Merry Dance: I previously read this in another Timeless Regency Collection (Autumn Masquerade), but it's been long enough that I didn't really remember any of it! This was another fun novella with another independent and strong young woman ahead of her time during the Regency era and trying to find the man whom she loves and blends with personality wise. I enjoyed how Lila would hide and crochet to listen to her uncle's business discussions and the silly list of attributes men like and don't like in a woman which she used to try to make Mortimer not like her, as well as her relationship with her best friend Eloise. Another entertaining and humorous short story in this collection!!
(My previous review is as follows, from 2017, in my review of Autumn Masquerade: This was a fun story with entertaining characters and story line. There was a lot of humor in this one that I appreciated, as well as how the characters began falling in love with each other. It got a bit sticky towards the end when Neville made a reappearance and Lila had to come to terms with her feeling for both men. There were many sweet moments as well, though the immaturity of Lila frustrated the situations sometimes as well. A great read!)
Begin Again: This is another novella I have read before, which was included in a previous Timeless Regency Collection (see below). I read it 10 years ago and had definitely forgotten the story and all the details. Regina ("Reggie") was a bit overly dramatic for me when she is reunited with Ross and then again when they meet in their meadow, but overall I enjoyed the concept and the sweet things Ross does to remind her of his love for her. I enjoyed Regina's relationship with her brother and his children and would have loved to see that developed even further, which was one of the aspects that could have helped build this story into a longer book, as well as their history and all the details leading up to this point in their relationship. Another enjoyable Regency novella from Kilpack!
(This story was previously included in All Regency Collection). My previous review, from 2016, in my review of that collection is as follows: A story of lost love reconnecting and how to deal with and accept misunderstandings. This was very well written, with great characters and everything developed well in a short amount of time. There was even a tiny secondary love story going on for Reggie's brother at the same time as her own. Josi Kilpack's branching out from her culinary mysteries into regency romance has been a good move for her!)
Overall, the selection of all these first love novellas from Kilpack into one compilation was very well done and enjoyable, clean romance reads!
***I received an advanced complimentary digital ebook copy from the publisher/editor in exchange for my honest review.***
February 11, 2026
An Impetuous Debutante
Geoffrey & Veronica
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Super sweet! She's hiding away in his carriage to avoid constantly getting matched by her mother. But she's hid in the wrong carriage, one on a mission...and things get interesting! Brothers friend/secret identity/forced proximity with a touch of suspense and a sweet romance
Til' All the Seas Gang Dry
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️+
David & Dina
Gosh, the moment I read the backstory I knew I'd love it.They were childhood sweethearts, she's below his station, so she left without a word. But now he's back, in an arranged engagement...but words were left unsaid, and the loves still there. No worries...no cheating happens here just tons of chemistry/tension denied as long as they could stand it! Swoony!
A Merry Dance
Mory & Lila
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️+
Oh my goodness, perfection! Lila has her heart set on Neville. But her uncle has matchmaking plans of his own - Mory. So, Lila sets out to do everything to keep Mortimer at bay. Until she realizes she is the one catching feelings... and when Neville returns, things get confusing! This story was so funny and so romantic. The perfect romance! The perfect love triangle!
Begin Again
Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ross & Regina
They fell in love as kids, made plans to marry, but family and the war kept them apart. She believes he left her hanging, 15 yrs passed, he believes she moved on. Can they forgive each other & begin again?! Such a sweet second chance romance between these two! The feelings were sooo strong... I was waiting to see how they would find a way back to each other. So sweet
✨️Giving this 4.5 stars for the whole collection, rounded to a 5 star read!
I received a complimentary copy. This review reflects my honest opinion.
Geoffrey & Veronica
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Super sweet! She's hiding away in his carriage to avoid constantly getting matched by her mother. But she's hid in the wrong carriage, one on a mission...and things get interesting! Brothers friend/secret identity/forced proximity with a touch of suspense and a sweet romance
Til' All the Seas Gang Dry
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️+
David & Dina
Gosh, the moment I read the backstory I knew I'd love it.They were childhood sweethearts, she's below his station, so she left without a word. But now he's back, in an arranged engagement...but words were left unsaid, and the loves still there. No worries...no cheating happens here just tons of chemistry/tension denied as long as they could stand it! Swoony!
A Merry Dance
Mory & Lila
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️+
Oh my goodness, perfection! Lila has her heart set on Neville. But her uncle has matchmaking plans of his own - Mory. So, Lila sets out to do everything to keep Mortimer at bay. Until she realizes she is the one catching feelings... and when Neville returns, things get confusing! This story was so funny and so romantic. The perfect romance! The perfect love triangle!
Begin Again
Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ross & Regina
They fell in love as kids, made plans to marry, but family and the war kept them apart. She believes he left her hanging, 15 yrs passed, he believes she moved on. Can they forgive each other & begin again?! Such a sweet second chance romance between these two! The feelings were sooo strong... I was waiting to see how they would find a way back to each other. So sweet
✨️Giving this 4.5 stars for the whole collection, rounded to a 5 star read!
I received a complimentary copy. This review reflects my honest opinion.
February 10, 2026
If you’re looking for a quick Regency Romance fix, this is a great collection. I enjoyed the showcasing of first loves with the initial bloom of feelings.
I think my favorite was “An Impetuous Debutante”. It was fun to hear the thoughts running through Veronica’s head as her plan to stowaway in the carriage of her brother’s friend goes awry. She finds out things and people are not always as they seem.
It was fun to read “A Merry Dance” where Lila is in love with her cousin. So when her uncle tries to matchmake her with an older more mature man she does everything in her power to make him not like her with disastrous results.
The other stories portrayed second chances, trust and the importance of communication.
A sweet, clean collection that is great fun and heartwarming at the same time.
I think my favorite was “An Impetuous Debutante”. It was fun to hear the thoughts running through Veronica’s head as her plan to stowaway in the carriage of her brother’s friend goes awry. She finds out things and people are not always as they seem.
It was fun to read “A Merry Dance” where Lila is in love with her cousin. So when her uncle tries to matchmake her with an older more mature man she does everything in her power to make him not like her with disastrous results.
The other stories portrayed second chances, trust and the importance of communication.
A sweet, clean collection that is great fun and heartwarming at the same time.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This Timeless Regency Collection brings together one brand-new novella, An Impetuous Debutante, along with three reader-favorite Timeless Romance novellas. Each story offers a sweet, romantic look at those early moments when feelings bloom, mistakes are made, and love begins to take shape.
An Impetuous Debutante—Veronica is tired of London and her mother dismissing her feelings about everything, so she stows away in the seat box, of her brother's friend Geoffrey Meyers' carriage. Of course, her plan doesn't go as smoothly as she'd hoped, when a carriage wheel breaks and she discovers this Geoffrey isn't the man she thought she knew, and she quite likes that.
I loved this new novella! Veronica is quite the character and I found her inner dialogue to be quite funny. I knew Veronica's escape plan most likely wouldn't go as she'd hoped but I was just as surprised as she to discover Geoffrey's secret. I really like the element of suspense in this one.
Til' All the Seas Gang Dry—Dina and David spent summers together when they were younger, but haven’t seen each other for 6 years. They’re together again only because David and his betrothed are attending a house party where Dina is the governess.
Dina is a great character. She’s self-sacrificing, as proven when she left London to go back to Scotland six years ago. As she said, “Sometimes the right thing was not the least painful one, and sometimes you took all the pain upon yourself to spare someone you cared about from having to feel it too.” David is also a wonderful character who’s followed the path his mother laid out for him, but he wants a love that will stand through time, not a business arrangement. I really like this story but wanted a final scene with David's mother whom I really didn’t like.
A Merry Dance—Lila is trying to avoid an older gentleman her uncle is trying to set her up with. I could picture Lila hiding in her uncle's study eavesdropping and about died when I read how much lavender oil she was putting on before their luncheon date. I felt bad for her when her cousin, Neville, returned for the ball as a surprise, just when she realized she enjoyed Mortimer's company.
Begin Again—Regina Weathers' has decided she will never marry. The love of her life, Ross Martin, went to serve in the military and she hasn't heard from him in 15 years, so she closed her heart to ever finding love again. She finally recognizes the strange man at Regina's niece's engagement ball, and saying things do not go well is a bit of an understatement. Poor Regina's heart was so hurt by Ross that she decided she'd rather not marry at all. When she finally allows herself to meet with him and hear his side of the story she learns that all may not have been as it seemed.
This is a wonderful collection for Josi Kilpack fans and also a great introduction to those who are new to her historical romances.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.
An Impetuous Debutante—Veronica is tired of London and her mother dismissing her feelings about everything, so she stows away in the seat box, of her brother's friend Geoffrey Meyers' carriage. Of course, her plan doesn't go as smoothly as she'd hoped, when a carriage wheel breaks and she discovers this Geoffrey isn't the man she thought she knew, and she quite likes that.
I loved this new novella! Veronica is quite the character and I found her inner dialogue to be quite funny. I knew Veronica's escape plan most likely wouldn't go as she'd hoped but I was just as surprised as she to discover Geoffrey's secret. I really like the element of suspense in this one.
Til' All the Seas Gang Dry—Dina and David spent summers together when they were younger, but haven’t seen each other for 6 years. They’re together again only because David and his betrothed are attending a house party where Dina is the governess.
Dina is a great character. She’s self-sacrificing, as proven when she left London to go back to Scotland six years ago. As she said, “Sometimes the right thing was not the least painful one, and sometimes you took all the pain upon yourself to spare someone you cared about from having to feel it too.” David is also a wonderful character who’s followed the path his mother laid out for him, but he wants a love that will stand through time, not a business arrangement. I really like this story but wanted a final scene with David's mother whom I really didn’t like.
A Merry Dance—Lila is trying to avoid an older gentleman her uncle is trying to set her up with. I could picture Lila hiding in her uncle's study eavesdropping and about died when I read how much lavender oil she was putting on before their luncheon date. I felt bad for her when her cousin, Neville, returned for the ball as a surprise, just when she realized she enjoyed Mortimer's company.
Begin Again—Regina Weathers' has decided she will never marry. The love of her life, Ross Martin, went to serve in the military and she hasn't heard from him in 15 years, so she closed her heart to ever finding love again. She finally recognizes the strange man at Regina's niece's engagement ball, and saying things do not go well is a bit of an understatement. Poor Regina's heart was so hurt by Ross that she decided she'd rather not marry at all. When she finally allows herself to meet with him and hear his side of the story she learns that all may not have been as it seemed.
This is a wonderful collection for Josi Kilpack fans and also a great introduction to those who are new to her historical romances.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I loved all of these stories.
The first book An Impetuous Debutante was a delightful read. Veronica hides in a carriage to sneak out of London and to her country home, only to be thrown into a crazy situation with her brothers friend Geoffrey.
The second book Til' All the Seas Gang Dry Dina is a "governess" to her cousins kids and ends up being in the same proximity to David, the love of her life six years ago. It is a wonderful story of second chances, if you are willing to try again.
The third story A Merry Dance follows Lila, a woman under the keep of her Uncle, as she tries to disuade Mortimer from forming an attachment to her. Think How To Lose A Guy in 10 Days. It's a fun one, with some hilarious situations.
The last story Begin Again is about Regina, being two and thirty has made her cautious, but she thinks she loves the life she lives. Once she is face to face with Ross, whom she hasn't seen in 15 years, she questions her choices and the reality of her situation.
My only complaint is that each of these stories were not full novels. I would have loved reading about interactions they all had.
The first book An Impetuous Debutante was a delightful read. Veronica hides in a carriage to sneak out of London and to her country home, only to be thrown into a crazy situation with her brothers friend Geoffrey.
The second book Til' All the Seas Gang Dry Dina is a "governess" to her cousins kids and ends up being in the same proximity to David, the love of her life six years ago. It is a wonderful story of second chances, if you are willing to try again.
The third story A Merry Dance follows Lila, a woman under the keep of her Uncle, as she tries to disuade Mortimer from forming an attachment to her. Think How To Lose A Guy in 10 Days. It's a fun one, with some hilarious situations.
The last story Begin Again is about Regina, being two and thirty has made her cautious, but she thinks she loves the life she lives. Once she is face to face with Ross, whom she hasn't seen in 15 years, she questions her choices and the reality of her situation.
My only complaint is that each of these stories were not full novels. I would have loved reading about interactions they all had.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This is a nice collection of clean romances.
An Impetuous Debutante--This story was a little bit too insta-love for my liking, but I did like how Geoffrey respected Veronica and included her in his work, rather than excluding her.
Til’ All the Seas Gang Dry--I loved the Scottish characters and elements and the backstory of Dina and David had a history together. The big dramatic scene at the end wasn't my favorite,
A Merry Dance--Lila's schemes to make Mortimer not fall in love with her crackede up, as did the way she finally revealed her eavesdropping location. I think this was my favorite of the four stories.
Begin Again--Regina's pain and her fear to trust Ross again felt very real, and their path to reconciliation felt realistic. I loved Ross's sweet gestures but also understood Regina's hesitancy to risk her heart again. I liked seeing them finally get their happily ever after.
Overall, this was a 3.5 star read for me. Good choice when you need a quick romance fix.
I read a copy provided by the publisher. All opinions are my own.
An Impetuous Debutante--This story was a little bit too insta-love for my liking, but I did like how Geoffrey respected Veronica and included her in his work, rather than excluding her.
Til’ All the Seas Gang Dry--I loved the Scottish characters and elements and the backstory of Dina and David had a history together. The big dramatic scene at the end wasn't my favorite,
A Merry Dance--Lila's schemes to make Mortimer not fall in love with her crackede up, as did the way she finally revealed her eavesdropping location. I think this was my favorite of the four stories.
Begin Again--Regina's pain and her fear to trust Ross again felt very real, and their path to reconciliation felt realistic. I loved Ross's sweet gestures but also understood Regina's hesitancy to risk her heart again. I liked seeing them finally get their happily ever after.
Overall, this was a 3.5 star read for me. Good choice when you need a quick romance fix.
I read a copy provided by the publisher. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy
"An Impetuous Debutante" - Oh how I love a dress with pockets! As a little girl I enjoyed the idea of spies, their mini devices secretly hidden about them to help them out of difficult situations. I enjoyed this story and the growth of the Debutant in question but the ending felt really rushed. I hope Josi Kilpack fleshes this out into a full novel in the future. There is a lot of potential here.
"Til' All the Seas Gang Dry" - This story had a good pacing and heartfelt moments. Dina's self sacrifice and desire to never be a burden is keenly felt as well as her goodness. I enjoyed the touches of Gaelic and at the end the reveal of what things truly matter in a marriage partner.
"A Merry Dance" - How could I not love a story that starts with a secret hidden corner and crocheting!
"Begin Again" - The author Josi Kilpack has a talent for writing human emotion. This was a compelling story of love and loss and love again but with the reality that people change over time.
Overall I recommend this collection of short stories. Josi Kilpack is a talented author.
"Til' All the Seas Gang Dry" - This story had a good pacing and heartfelt moments. Dina's self sacrifice and desire to never be a burden is keenly felt as well as her goodness. I enjoyed the touches of Gaelic and at the end the reveal of what things truly matter in a marriage partner.
"A Merry Dance" - How could I not love a story that starts with a secret hidden corner and crocheting!
"Begin Again" - The author Josi Kilpack has a talent for writing human emotion. This was a compelling story of love and loss and love again but with the reality that people change over time.
Overall I recommend this collection of short stories. Josi Kilpack is a talented author.
February 16, 2026
This is a collection of four delightful and charming short stories. All set during the Regency romance era. You can read all of them in a day or break them up and read each story in an hour or less. They are all clean, sweet kisses, love stories.
An Impetuous Debutant:
Loved this fun and definitely impetuous story. Veronica is not one to shy away from adventures. When she stows away in her brother’s best friend's carriage, the adventure really begins..
Till” All the Seas Gang Dry:
The story is more about being selfless and giving up on your dreams for the good of others. Dina with the help of David’s mother left London for her hometown, so David could find a proper English bride.
A Merry Dance:
The dreams and desires of a young lady may not be as set in stone as she thinks they are. Love Lila’s story of finding true love.
Begin Again:
Regina, thinking her chances for love are gone, gets a second chance, if she hasn’t already pushed him away.
The stories are new or may have been published in other collections, but they are entertaining enough to read again and again.
An Impetuous Debutant:
Loved this fun and definitely impetuous story. Veronica is not one to shy away from adventures. When she stows away in her brother’s best friend's carriage, the adventure really begins..
Till” All the Seas Gang Dry:
The story is more about being selfless and giving up on your dreams for the good of others. Dina with the help of David’s mother left London for her hometown, so David could find a proper English bride.
A Merry Dance:
The dreams and desires of a young lady may not be as set in stone as she thinks they are. Love Lila’s story of finding true love.
Begin Again:
Regina, thinking her chances for love are gone, gets a second chance, if she hasn’t already pushed him away.
The stories are new or may have been published in other collections, but they are entertaining enough to read again and again.
February 12, 2026
This clean romance anthology deserves an Olympic gold medal! 🥇
From the very first page, this book blew me away! The first story started with a super fun premise and just when I imagined how the story might go - SURPRISE! A totally fresh and exciting new direction. Whoohoo! 🥳
Josi Kilpack is the master of sweet and swoony clean romance.💕
Fun fact: The very first clean romance I ever read was written by Josi Kilpack and then I devoured every book in the series (Mayfield Family Series). Her writing is what started me on this beautiful journey of clean romances and I can’t recommend her books enough!
This Timeless Regency Romance Collection is perfect for fans of sweet, clean historical love stories. 💕
From the very first page, this book blew me away! The first story started with a super fun premise and just when I imagined how the story might go - SURPRISE! A totally fresh and exciting new direction. Whoohoo! 🥳
Josi Kilpack is the master of sweet and swoony clean romance.💕
Fun fact: The very first clean romance I ever read was written by Josi Kilpack and then I devoured every book in the series (Mayfield Family Series). Her writing is what started me on this beautiful journey of clean romances and I can’t recommend her books enough!
This Timeless Regency Romance Collection is perfect for fans of sweet, clean historical love stories. 💕
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
You can’t go wrong with Kilpack
Whenever I pick up a Josie Kilpack book I know I’m in for a treat. From her Culinary mysteries with Sadie Hoffmiller to her romances, I know I’m in for a great read and this is no exception. Four wonderful stories with ups and downs, heartbreaks and romance. Each one individual and fully enjoyable. A secret identity and helping in espionage. A young love thought unsuitable, restored. A secret hiding place leading to determination to resist in spite of attraction. A love thought lost forever returns to misunderstanding and secrets. Each one is sure to please. I received an early copy and this is my honest review.
Whenever I pick up a Josie Kilpack book I know I’m in for a treat. From her Culinary mysteries with Sadie Hoffmiller to her romances, I know I’m in for a great read and this is no exception. Four wonderful stories with ups and downs, heartbreaks and romance. Each one individual and fully enjoyable. A secret identity and helping in espionage. A young love thought unsuitable, restored. A secret hiding place leading to determination to resist in spite of attraction. A love thought lost forever returns to misunderstanding and secrets. Each one is sure to please. I received an early copy and this is my honest review.
Review of advance copy
I loved every story in this collection, and thought each deserved 5 stars! I had read Begin Again a few years ago in the All Regency Collection, but I really enjoyed reading it for a second time. Each story had wonderful characters and moments of fun. Sometimes Regency stories can start to feel similar, so I loved the way An Impetuous Debutante started out. It was so funny and unique. The cover is lovely - I really like the white and blue. Now I am looking forward to reading Autumn Masquerade and To Love a Governess - two of the stories originally came from these collections. I feel like I say this a lot, but this collection is now one of my favorites!
February 13, 2026
I’ve read a lot of timeless regency collections and figured I’d give this one a try. I knew the first story was by Josi Kilpack, who is always an author I enjoy, so why not? Each story I was sucked into and was written so well. That’s when I realized they were all written by her. 🤦♀️ what a delight! I really enjoyed each story. It’s been a crazy week and I loved that each story felt full, with developed characters and storylines, and yet ended up being short. It felt like little bursts of dopamine as each story concluded.
February 16, 2026
Heroines who are courageous, mischievous, and yet vulnerable and open to learning something new. Heroines who know when to be tough and when to show tenderness. Wrap them up in beautiful regency proper romances that hint at mystery and intrigue. That's what you'll get here! Josi S. Kilpack is a talented writer that I've adored for years and will continue to love and support.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Sweet Regency novellas.
Enjoyed all four novellas. Well written. Novellas were the right length to be able to read to unwind before going to bed. :)
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Enjoyed all four novellas. Well written. Novellas were the right length to be able to read to unwind before going to bed. :)
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
It was pretty good. The last two stories I’d already read in past collections, and the other two were interesting portrayals of a gentleman spy and a Scottish scandal. Definitely good adventures for fans of historical/Regency romances!
February 17, 2026
Great stories! I’ve read a couple before, and really enjoyed them! I love these anthologies! I am able to read a good story and still have time to do all the things I need to do.
Can’t wait for more by this author!
I was given an arc of this book and let my review willingly.
Can’t wait for more by this author!
I was given an arc of this book and let my review willingly.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This is a fun collection of regency romance novellas! Perfect if you are looking for a quick read!
I received an ARC from the publisher and all opinions are my own.
I received an ARC from the publisher and all opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
A delightful collection of stories. Perfect for a cozy read that is full of romance.
February 13, 2026
Beautiful stories and characters
I could not put this book down. Each story was beautifully written and I was immersed from the start. I highly recommend it!
I could not put this book down. Each story was beautifully written and I was immersed from the start. I highly recommend it!
February 17, 2026
4 short, easy to read stories. They kept me entertained and turning the pages to find out how our love interests were going to get together.
February 12, 2026
This is a great set of Regency novellas. If you are looking for a quick get-away these are your stories.
Review of advance copy
The first story wasn’t my favorite. I’m not sure why but it didn’t hook me as much as I expected from the summary. It was still a sweet love story, just not as much what I was looking for.
The second story I really enjoyed. I loved the second chance love story even though it’s not usually my favorite. The story was well written and the characters choices made so much sense to me.
I didn’t care for the third story. I hate all things love triangle and this one gave me that vibe. Turned out to be a sweet love story but I didn’t love the main character.
The last story was good. I liked having a main character in her 30s and was intrigued to learn about what had happened in the past to get her to the present. I felt like the story flowed well and wasn’t too slow or felt rushed.
The second story I really enjoyed. I loved the second chance love story even though it’s not usually my favorite. The story was well written and the characters choices made so much sense to me.
I didn’t care for the third story. I hate all things love triangle and this one gave me that vibe. Turned out to be a sweet love story but I didn’t love the main character.
The last story was good. I liked having a main character in her 30s and was intrigued to learn about what had happened in the past to get her to the present. I felt like the story flowed well and wasn’t too slow or felt rushed.
February 10, 2026
An Impetuous Debutante (4⭐️)
Well if this wasn’t the quickest read but so sweet and intriguing! I loved Veronica’s boldness and sassiness and it was just a fun little snippet of a story!
Til’ All the Seas Gang Dry (3⭐️)
Alright this one threw me a bit. It was sweet but I had a hard time loving all the characters. I liked Dina but she frustrated me for a lot of it. I don’t feel like I got enough of her and David. He seemed sweet but I don’t feel like his character was fully fleshed out. It’s always hard with a novella so I’m thinking maybe I just didn’t use time to feel involved with everyone for this one.
A Merry Dance (4⭐️)
This one was a very sweet read. I loved how Lila grew and matured as the story went on. It was a pleasure to watch her interactions with Mortimer and that she lost some of her prejudices as the story went on. Gordon was such a charming addition to this story. What a lovely horse.
Begin Again (3⭐️)
This one was a super quick book. While the story was cute it was so quick I didn’t feel invested enough in their relationship. I wasn’t sure yet if I felt like their love was as believable as it felt so long ago.
All in all I enjoyed this anthology! Thank you for allowing me to read it. All thoughts and opinions are my own!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This collection of four novellas is a delightful read. Here is my review of each of the four tales.
An Impetuous Debutante
Geoffrey is Veronica’s oldest brothers best friend. With 9 years age difference, he has never seen her as anything but a silly girl. When Veronica has had enough of London and the men her mother makes her keep company with, she stows away in Geoffrey’s carriage seat box but soon finds that Geoffrey is much more than meets the eyes. ADELIGHTFUL blend of romance and suspense!
Til all the seas gang dry
David and Dina are wonderful characters filled with honesty and integrity. Their second chance romance is filled with emotion as David’s mother tries to keep them apart.
A Merry Dance
Lila and Mortimer’s story is filled with humor, adventures and delightful twists and turns.
Begin Again
Ross and Reggie are such interesting characters and their second chance romance is filled with emotion and regrets.
An Impetuous Debutante
Geoffrey is Veronica’s oldest brothers best friend. With 9 years age difference, he has never seen her as anything but a silly girl. When Veronica has had enough of London and the men her mother makes her keep company with, she stows away in Geoffrey’s carriage seat box but soon finds that Geoffrey is much more than meets the eyes. ADELIGHTFUL blend of romance and suspense!
Til all the seas gang dry
David and Dina are wonderful characters filled with honesty and integrity. Their second chance romance is filled with emotion as David’s mother tries to keep them apart.
A Merry Dance
Lila and Mortimer’s story is filled with humor, adventures and delightful twists and turns.
Begin Again
Ross and Reggie are such interesting characters and their second chance romance is filled with emotion and regrets.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I had already read Til all the seas gang dry and loved it and all these others, for me new, stories are just as lovely.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews