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Supposed Scandal #6
A Most Unfortunate Happenstance
Will the storm that brought them together be the scandal that tears them apart?
Captain John Calder has finally secured the means and standing to propose to the woman he has dreamed of since the day they met—and a house party offers the perfect opportunity to become reacquainted with her.
But a violent storm on the road to Blackwell changes everything. The cold and damp strike John down with a sudden and violent return of the ague.
Evelyn Blackwell, traveling to her family’s estate to secure a suitor for her disgraced cousin, is caught in the same storm and forced to take refuge alone in an abandoned shepherd's croft. The door flies open to reveal a fevered stranger who promptly collapses at her feet. She keeps vigil through thunder, darkness, and delirium, certain he may not survive.
But he does survive and in the morning light, they promise to leave as strangers, hopefully never to see each other again, bound only by the secret of a shared night together.
However, days later, John arrives at Evelyn’s house party. Now they must spend weeks together while Evelyn balances arranging a match for her cousin with memories of that night—memories John does not share.
The longer they spend in each other’s company, the more Evelyn wonders if her cousin’s happiness can come only at the cost of her own—and whether the storm that brought her and John together has set her heart on a course to be broken apart.
Captain John Calder has finally secured the means and standing to propose to the woman he has dreamed of since the day they met—and a house party offers the perfect opportunity to become reacquainted with her.
But a violent storm on the road to Blackwell changes everything. The cold and damp strike John down with a sudden and violent return of the ague.
Evelyn Blackwell, traveling to her family’s estate to secure a suitor for her disgraced cousin, is caught in the same storm and forced to take refuge alone in an abandoned shepherd's croft. The door flies open to reveal a fevered stranger who promptly collapses at her feet. She keeps vigil through thunder, darkness, and delirium, certain he may not survive.
But he does survive and in the morning light, they promise to leave as strangers, hopefully never to see each other again, bound only by the secret of a shared night together.
However, days later, John arrives at Evelyn’s house party. Now they must spend weeks together while Evelyn balances arranging a match for her cousin with memories of that night—memories John does not share.
The longer they spend in each other’s company, the more Evelyn wonders if her cousin’s happiness can come only at the cost of her own—and whether the storm that brought her and John together has set her heart on a course to be broken apart.
310 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 24, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
June 29, 2026
What a pleasure to read this book! I was drawn in from the very first pages where the most unfortunate of situations have brought two unlikely individuals together. Most of the book is centered on the tensions between Captain Calder and Evelyn after the night they accidentally spent together unchaperoned.
The Captain had been suffering from a severe fever and delirium while Evelyn cared for him. This was a traumatic, yet brave, situation where Evelyn did everything she could to care for him through his sickness. She was focused on keeping him alive and terrified that he would die. It was a brutal storm they both were stuck in and his sufferings were a lot for her to handle. But come the next morning, he can't really remember anything, and just wants to leave without much ado about anything. She disagrees and wants her parents to see what happened, but his forceful refusal leaves her alone.
Little do either of them know, they are both on their way to the same house party.
Weeks of spending time together at this house party for Evelyn's cousin, brings these two back together and now they must determine how to survive their emotions and feelings for one another. Especially because the Captain has arrived with the express intention of proposing to Evelyn's cousin. This draws out through the entire book and left me with a tension surrounding how this would play out. It kept me turning every page quickly to see how this would unfold!
Captain Calder and Evelyn are perfect for one another with their strong personalities and intense feelings and interests. There are so many fun and laughable moments as Evelyn works hard to keep Captain Calder away from her cousin because she believes he is not good enough to court her cousin. After he spent the night with her and treated her like a plague by running away, Evelyn doesn't think too highly of him.
But as time goes on, she starts to realize her preconceived notions of him were not accurate and he actually is a wonderful man. That's when the heartbreak begins and she starts to realize she should let the two of them be together and get out of their way. Even if her own hearts has to be broken in the process.
I felt for Evelyn in this one as she was doing everything in her power to protect her cousin. The house party they're all at was specifically for her cousin to meet some of the men and maybe find a suitor. But Evelyn is spending most of the time trying to keep Calder away from her cousin which leads to lots of funny and romantic moments between the two of them.
A wonderfully written story featuring lots of misunderstandings and even more romance than I could have imagined!
The Captain had been suffering from a severe fever and delirium while Evelyn cared for him. This was a traumatic, yet brave, situation where Evelyn did everything she could to care for him through his sickness. She was focused on keeping him alive and terrified that he would die. It was a brutal storm they both were stuck in and his sufferings were a lot for her to handle. But come the next morning, he can't really remember anything, and just wants to leave without much ado about anything. She disagrees and wants her parents to see what happened, but his forceful refusal leaves her alone.
Little do either of them know, they are both on their way to the same house party.
Weeks of spending time together at this house party for Evelyn's cousin, brings these two back together and now they must determine how to survive their emotions and feelings for one another. Especially because the Captain has arrived with the express intention of proposing to Evelyn's cousin. This draws out through the entire book and left me with a tension surrounding how this would play out. It kept me turning every page quickly to see how this would unfold!
Captain Calder and Evelyn are perfect for one another with their strong personalities and intense feelings and interests. There are so many fun and laughable moments as Evelyn works hard to keep Captain Calder away from her cousin because she believes he is not good enough to court her cousin. After he spent the night with her and treated her like a plague by running away, Evelyn doesn't think too highly of him.
But as time goes on, she starts to realize her preconceived notions of him were not accurate and he actually is a wonderful man. That's when the heartbreak begins and she starts to realize she should let the two of them be together and get out of their way. Even if her own hearts has to be broken in the process.
I felt for Evelyn in this one as she was doing everything in her power to protect her cousin. The house party they're all at was specifically for her cousin to meet some of the men and maybe find a suitor. But Evelyn is spending most of the time trying to keep Calder away from her cousin which leads to lots of funny and romantic moments between the two of them.
A wonderfully written story featuring lots of misunderstandings and even more romance than I could have imagined!
July 11, 2026
Book Review - A MOST UNFORTUNATE HAPPENSTANCE
4.5 ⭐️
You really can’t go wrong with an Esther Hatch book! This is the fourth(?) one I’ve read now, and it’s only solidified that she’s one of my favorite proper romance writers.
This book is charming, swoony, fun, and filled with heart. And it has the miscommunication trope done right, in my opinion. Overall, a very sweet and enjoyable read.
A word on content: there are some more swoony moments, so if you’re not bothered by some heavy yearning, noticing, and kisses, etc. then you’ll probably really enjoy this one. All romance is clean.
Thank you, Esther, for an advanced copy of this book to read early. Glad to have it on my shelf :)
4.5 ⭐️
You really can’t go wrong with an Esther Hatch book! This is the fourth(?) one I’ve read now, and it’s only solidified that she’s one of my favorite proper romance writers.
This book is charming, swoony, fun, and filled with heart. And it has the miscommunication trope done right, in my opinion. Overall, a very sweet and enjoyable read.
A word on content: there are some more swoony moments, so if you’re not bothered by some heavy yearning, noticing, and kisses, etc. then you’ll probably really enjoy this one. All romance is clean.
Thank you, Esther, for an advanced copy of this book to read early. Glad to have it on my shelf :)
July 9, 2026
Stranger and mistaken identity? Check!
A crazy storm in the night that forces the main characters to be in the same space? Check!
A kiss that is incredible? Check!
Meeting that stranger again at your home and house party? Check!
That stranger doesn't remember most of the details of your initial meeting? Double Check!
The stranger thinks he's in love with your cousin?Check! Or rather scratch that one off the list!
Scheming with ways to make him avoid your cousin? Check, Check, Check, Check!!!!
Developing feelings for that stranger? A Million Checks!
Y'all, this book was UNPUTDOWNABLE for me! I loved everything about it. Esther Hatch is an author who hooks me from the beginning of her books and just doesn't let go! I devoured this one and have loved thinking about the different scenes and characters. It left me smiling and so happy! I love a good clean Regency romance full or heart and humor! And this one delivered in all the ways!
Evelyn and John weren't expecting any of what happened to happen. And their journey was utterly delightful! I was laughing so many times over both of their antics. They are both very smart and clever and aren't afraid to use those skills and their wit to outsmart the other. Not only did I love all of the pranks and moments of scheming, but I loved the moments when they start to realize that they like each other and want to spend more time together. But of course that creates conflicting feelings since John is there to develop his relationship with Evelyn's cousin. Uhoh! That's not good! *Giggles*
Get ready for delightful banter and delicious chemistry! This is up there in my favorites by this author! And one I would highly recommend reading! It's part of a multi-author series that I've been enjoying the books of. So check those out if you're looking for more great Regency reads!
Content: Clean. Some sweet kisses but nothing further. Some talk of John coming back from war and some PTSD but not in a graphic way.
I received a copy from the author. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.
Happy Reading!!!
A crazy storm in the night that forces the main characters to be in the same space? Check!
A kiss that is incredible? Check!
Meeting that stranger again at your home and house party? Check!
That stranger doesn't remember most of the details of your initial meeting? Double Check!
The stranger thinks he's in love with your cousin?
Scheming with ways to make him avoid your cousin? Check, Check, Check, Check!!!!
Developing feelings for that stranger? A Million Checks!
Y'all, this book was UNPUTDOWNABLE for me! I loved everything about it. Esther Hatch is an author who hooks me from the beginning of her books and just doesn't let go! I devoured this one and have loved thinking about the different scenes and characters. It left me smiling and so happy! I love a good clean Regency romance full or heart and humor! And this one delivered in all the ways!
Evelyn and John weren't expecting any of what happened to happen. And their journey was utterly delightful! I was laughing so many times over both of their antics. They are both very smart and clever and aren't afraid to use those skills and their wit to outsmart the other. Not only did I love all of the pranks and moments of scheming, but I loved the moments when they start to realize that they like each other and want to spend more time together. But of course that creates conflicting feelings since John is there to develop his relationship with Evelyn's cousin. Uhoh! That's not good! *Giggles*
Get ready for delightful banter and delicious chemistry! This is up there in my favorites by this author! And one I would highly recommend reading! It's part of a multi-author series that I've been enjoying the books of. So check those out if you're looking for more great Regency reads!
Content: Clean. Some sweet kisses but nothing further. Some talk of John coming back from war and some PTSD but not in a graphic way.
I received a copy from the author. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.
Happy Reading!!!
June 29, 2026
Goodness, it has been ages since I read a Esther Hatch book that had me feeling the feels.
This was a delight. Our female lead was raised to be a lady but also succeed in the qualities of a male (due to her army father's training). So, she can shoot (bullet or arrow), be outspoken, not interested in marriage. On her way to her cousin's house, her family is hindered by the storm. They allow her to go out and find a nearby hunting cabin and stay there until it clears. Only issue is that the ML is also on his way to the same place, destined to rekindle a thing he had with her cousin. He doesn't make it either, and takes refuge in the cabin as well. Cue them meeting, only him not quite clear of his surroundings.
The story basically is her having feelings for her patient (and a kiss he shared with her) and figuring out that he has feelings for her cousin, and also some misinterpretations due to his not quite sober situation. He is confused because he doesn't quite recall meeting her, and doesn't quite understand the anger / dislike.
The situation is something that isn't done as often and it's fun watching her hold out against him, belittle and cause issues for him while during the course of these three weeks. He goes from being put off by her to downright falling for her. There are other issues, other suitors and problems, but you have to read the book.
All in all, I really enjoyed this one and recommend it for anybody looking for adversaries to lovers.
This was a delight. Our female lead was raised to be a lady but also succeed in the qualities of a male (due to her army father's training). So, she can shoot (bullet or arrow), be outspoken, not interested in marriage. On her way to her cousin's house, her family is hindered by the storm. They allow her to go out and find a nearby hunting cabin and stay there until it clears. Only issue is that the ML is also on his way to the same place, destined to rekindle a thing he had with her cousin. He doesn't make it either, and takes refuge in the cabin as well. Cue them meeting, only him not quite clear of his surroundings.
The story basically is her having feelings for her patient (and a kiss he shared with her) and figuring out that he has feelings for her cousin, and also some misinterpretations due to his not quite sober situation. He is confused because he doesn't quite recall meeting her, and doesn't quite understand the anger / dislike.
The situation is something that isn't done as often and it's fun watching her hold out against him, belittle and cause issues for him while during the course of these three weeks. He goes from being put off by her to downright falling for her. There are other issues, other suitors and problems, but you have to read the book.
All in all, I really enjoyed this one and recommend it for anybody looking for adversaries to lovers.
June 27, 2026
Most excellent. I loved this book! The writing is highly engaging and the plot compelling. I love a trapped-in-a-storm, forced-proximity, one-takes-care-of-the-other trope. This one starts with a bang, and then moves to miscommunication and enemies-to-lovers. Though those are two tropes I DON’T love, they’re handled really well and weren’t at all frustrating for me.
I appreciate that both hero and heroine are strong and highly capable characters. Their romance is developed really well, and though the book timeline is short, nothing felt rushed or abbreviated. I could definitely see myself reading this one again in the future.
Highly recommended!
Content:
There is no foul language, sex, or violence. There are a few heated scenes, but the romance is limited to mildly descriptive kisses. There is no real mention of faith or God.
I appreciate that both hero and heroine are strong and highly capable characters. Their romance is developed really well, and though the book timeline is short, nothing felt rushed or abbreviated. I could definitely see myself reading this one again in the future.
Highly recommended!
Content:
There is no foul language, sex, or violence. There are a few heated scenes, but the romance is limited to mildly descriptive kisses. There is no real mention of faith or God.
July 20, 2026
mistaken identity??? a house party??? yeah obviously it was exquisite
June 24, 2026
Another Swoon Worthy Story
I have three favored authors, and Esther Hatch is. #1. The consistently excellent and swoon-worthy quality of her books has me hooked! This book did not let me down!
Capt Calder and Evelyn's romance is so sweet, fun, and fresh. I feel like the story is spread across a believable space of time and the supporting characters are mischievous and loveable. I love how Evelyn values her loyalty to her cousin and is faithful to their friendship. Charlie is such a cute addition, a fun character that really shows how well Captain Calder would have loved his siblings. I was so happy for the reunion of siblings at the end!
Altogether, I loved it, will buy it asap, and recommend it (along with all her other books). 5/5 STARS
I have three favored authors, and Esther Hatch is. #1. The consistently excellent and swoon-worthy quality of her books has me hooked! This book did not let me down!
Capt Calder and Evelyn's romance is so sweet, fun, and fresh. I feel like the story is spread across a believable space of time and the supporting characters are mischievous and loveable. I love how Evelyn values her loyalty to her cousin and is faithful to their friendship. Charlie is such a cute addition, a fun character that really shows how well Captain Calder would have loved his siblings. I was so happy for the reunion of siblings at the end!
Altogether, I loved it, will buy it asap, and recommend it (along with all her other books). 5/5 STARS
July 12, 2026
What makes a great romance? Kissing is a great start, and this book delivers a wonderful one right at the beginning! But you will find so much more than that in A Most Unfortunate Happenstance by Esther Hatch.
This story is a clean, sweet Regency romance with zero steam, making it perfect for readers who love a proper historical love story. The main characters are two incredibly strong, stubborn people (growing up, my dad always called me "determined," so I relate!). Both arrive at a two-week-long house party with competing agendas. Evelyn Blackwell is on a mission to ensure her cousin, Harriett, finds a husband, and she will do anything to make that happen. Meanwhile, Captain John Calder will do anything to get back to Harriett, believing she has been waiting for his return from the war. [1]
When Evelyn and John secretly cross paths, it forces them into a delicious forced proximity trope. Trapped together at the same estate, they share incredible banter as they try to keep their secret meeting quiet. Their constant miscommunications and misunderstandings lead to endless humorous moments for the reader. Some of my absolute favorite scenes involved late-night library meet-ups, sharp dinner-table banter, strategic seating-arrangement maneuvers, and, of course, a thrilling shooting competition.
Seriously, I never wanted that shooting chapter to end! I actually went back and reread it before moving on to the next chapter because the chemistry and tension between Evelyn and John were just that good.
So, who fell first? You will have to read this darling romance to see how they finally come together and to find out exactly what "most unfortunate happenstance" sets everything in motion!
If you love sweet Regency romance packed with forced proximity, hilarious misunderstandings, and unmatched banter, this book is an absolute must-read!
****I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, NetGalley, book tours, and or authors. A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.****
This story is a clean, sweet Regency romance with zero steam, making it perfect for readers who love a proper historical love story. The main characters are two incredibly strong, stubborn people (growing up, my dad always called me "determined," so I relate!). Both arrive at a two-week-long house party with competing agendas. Evelyn Blackwell is on a mission to ensure her cousin, Harriett, finds a husband, and she will do anything to make that happen. Meanwhile, Captain John Calder will do anything to get back to Harriett, believing she has been waiting for his return from the war. [1]
When Evelyn and John secretly cross paths, it forces them into a delicious forced proximity trope. Trapped together at the same estate, they share incredible banter as they try to keep their secret meeting quiet. Their constant miscommunications and misunderstandings lead to endless humorous moments for the reader. Some of my absolute favorite scenes involved late-night library meet-ups, sharp dinner-table banter, strategic seating-arrangement maneuvers, and, of course, a thrilling shooting competition.
Seriously, I never wanted that shooting chapter to end! I actually went back and reread it before moving on to the next chapter because the chemistry and tension between Evelyn and John were just that good.
So, who fell first? You will have to read this darling romance to see how they finally come together and to find out exactly what "most unfortunate happenstance" sets everything in motion!
If you love sweet Regency romance packed with forced proximity, hilarious misunderstandings, and unmatched banter, this book is an absolute must-read!
****I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, NetGalley, book tours, and or authors. A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.****
July 5, 2026
I loved this book! 💯❤️
It’s been a while since I’ve enjoyed a Regency novel this much, so reading this made me very happy.
Esther Hatch’s books are always among my favorites because she always manages to give her main characters such exquisite chemistry!
This story had me hooked from the very first page, and the first encounter between Evelyn and the Captain is unusual, confusing, and very romantic.
I loved the entire development of their relationship—from strangers to acquaintances with a secret, to rivals, to friends, and finally to unwitting lovers.
I swoon over the romantic scenes the author writes; everyone should know that Esther Hatch is the best at writing kisses!!! 🫠
As for the characters, Evelyn Blackwell is awesome—brave, determined, and not at all the typical Regency young lady. I loved her!
Captain John Calder is an exemplary and tender man, and the poor guy was so confused for most of the story! IYKYK
I laughed and smiled like a fool while reading this book, especially at the ending, which was so sweet and perfect.
I highly recommend this book! 💘
You will find:
🤌🏻 She takes care of him
🤌🏻 Unknown identities
🤌🏻 Secrets and misunderstandings
🤌🏻 House Party
🤌🏻 Forced proximity
🤌🏻 Both are competitive
🤌🏻 Forbidden attraction
🤌🏻 Battle of wills
🤌🏻 Swoony moments
It’s been a while since I’ve enjoyed a Regency novel this much, so reading this made me very happy.
Esther Hatch’s books are always among my favorites because she always manages to give her main characters such exquisite chemistry!
This story had me hooked from the very first page, and the first encounter between Evelyn and the Captain is unusual, confusing, and very romantic.
I loved the entire development of their relationship—from strangers to acquaintances with a secret, to rivals, to friends, and finally to unwitting lovers.
I swoon over the romantic scenes the author writes; everyone should know that Esther Hatch is the best at writing kisses!!! 🫠
As for the characters, Evelyn Blackwell is awesome—brave, determined, and not at all the typical Regency young lady. I loved her!
Captain John Calder is an exemplary and tender man, and the poor guy was so confused for most of the story! IYKYK
I laughed and smiled like a fool while reading this book, especially at the ending, which was so sweet and perfect.
I highly recommend this book! 💘
You will find:
🤌🏻 She takes care of him
🤌🏻 Unknown identities
🤌🏻 Secrets and misunderstandings
🤌🏻 House Party
🤌🏻 Forced proximity
🤌🏻 Both are competitive
🤌🏻 Forbidden attraction
🤌🏻 Battle of wills
🤌🏻 Swoony moments
July 3, 2026
Even though I knew how A Most Unfortunate Happenstance would end, it still surprised me with some twists and unexpected turns along the way. Just when I thought I knew where the story was headed, another complication would appear, making it impossible to put down.
Who doesn't love a good house party setting, and this one delivered plenty of forced proximity, lingering glances, and delicious tension. Evelyn and John's shared secret about the stormy night in the abandoned shepherd's croft created an undercurrent of suspense from the moment they reunite, and their witty banter made every interaction entertaining.
I loved watching Evelyn's creative attempts to keep John away from her cousin, Hattie. I found some of her antics hilarious—even if poor John most definitely did not! Some of my favorite things were when she locked John's door, the shuttlecock game, and the shooting match. Their back-and-forth had me smiling more than once.
And because this is an Esther Hatch novel, the romance certainly didn't disappoint. She has earned her reputation as the queen of kissing scenes, and once again delivers swoony, heartfelt moments that perfectly capture the growing feelings between her characters.
Filled with humor, heart, memorable characters, and plenty of romantic tension, A Most Unfortunate Happenstance is a delightful Regency romance that kept me eagerly turning the pages until the very end. I received an early copy from the author. All opinions in this review are my own.
Who doesn't love a good house party setting, and this one delivered plenty of forced proximity, lingering glances, and delicious tension. Evelyn and John's shared secret about the stormy night in the abandoned shepherd's croft created an undercurrent of suspense from the moment they reunite, and their witty banter made every interaction entertaining.
I loved watching Evelyn's creative attempts to keep John away from her cousin, Hattie. I found some of her antics hilarious—even if poor John most definitely did not! Some of my favorite things were when she locked John's door, the shuttlecock game, and the shooting match. Their back-and-forth had me smiling more than once.
And because this is an Esther Hatch novel, the romance certainly didn't disappoint. She has earned her reputation as the queen of kissing scenes, and once again delivers swoony, heartfelt moments that perfectly capture the growing feelings between her characters.
Filled with humor, heart, memorable characters, and plenty of romantic tension, A Most Unfortunate Happenstance is a delightful Regency romance that kept me eagerly turning the pages until the very end. I received an early copy from the author. All opinions in this review are my own.
June 28, 2026
Favorite parts:
- The Shepherds Croft
- Beginning of the house party
- Locking a door
- In the Rain (shuttlecock and battledore)
- At the waterfall
- Touring Applewood
- In the Library
- At breakfast with her parents
- In General Blackwood's study
- The Epilogue
Oh. My. Goodness! This book was absolutely fantastic! I had such a hard time putting it down to be a responsible adult and parent - it was SO good!
The push and pull between Evelyn and the Captain were the best! The parts of their rivalry were so much fun to read and at times had me laughing out loud!
I love how the story progressed from strangers to enemies to lovers. Esther did such a good job at bringing you into the story and wanting to know what would happen next. Also, (like always) the kissing scenes were fantastic.
I received a complementary advanced copy. This is an honest review and all opinions are my own.
- The Shepherds Croft
- Beginning of the house party
- Locking a door
- In the Rain (shuttlecock and battledore)
- At the waterfall
- Touring Applewood
- In the Library
- At breakfast with her parents
- In General Blackwood's study
- The Epilogue
Oh. My. Goodness! This book was absolutely fantastic! I had such a hard time putting it down to be a responsible adult and parent - it was SO good!
The push and pull between Evelyn and the Captain were the best! The parts of their rivalry were so much fun to read and at times had me laughing out loud!
I love how the story progressed from strangers to enemies to lovers. Esther did such a good job at bringing you into the story and wanting to know what would happen next. Also, (like always) the kissing scenes were fantastic.
I received a complementary advanced copy. This is an honest review and all opinions are my own.
June 26, 2026
I’m such a huge fan of Esther Hatch, and A Most Unfortunate Happenstance absolutely did not disappoint! Esther has a gift for writing historical romances that are full of wit, humor, and sparkling chemistry, making it nearly impossible to put the book down.
One of my favorite things about this story was its fresh, unique plot. It felt different from the typical historical romance, and the characters were such a delight to follow. Evelyn was an especially wonderful heroine—strong, intelligent, and quick-witted without ever losing her warmth or likability. I found myself rooting for her from the very beginning.
If you’re a fan of historical romance with memorable characters, clever banter, and plenty of heart, I would happily recommend this book!
One of my favorite things about this story was its fresh, unique plot. It felt different from the typical historical romance, and the characters were such a delight to follow. Evelyn was an especially wonderful heroine—strong, intelligent, and quick-witted without ever losing her warmth or likability. I found myself rooting for her from the very beginning.
If you’re a fan of historical romance with memorable characters, clever banter, and plenty of heart, I would happily recommend this book!
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July 19, 2026Are those angels singing above? Was this possibly the miscommunication trope done… right?
I do believe Esther Hatch is crawling her way into my favorite authors list after If You’ll Have Me, A Proper Scoundrel, and now, A Most Unfortunate Happenstance.
(Though personally, the first two are my favorites ehehe).
Okay so while there was miscommunication in this book, it was severely more entertaining than other miscommunication books that have made me want to chuck the book across the room.
It is of course, still not my favorites trope, but it was still a very swoony and cute read.
The first and last few chapters had me like: 😏😮👀😍
4.3 ⭐️
I do believe Esther Hatch is crawling her way into my favorite authors list after If You’ll Have Me, A Proper Scoundrel, and now, A Most Unfortunate Happenstance.
(Though personally, the first two are my favorites ehehe).
Okay so while there was miscommunication in this book, it was severely more entertaining than other miscommunication books that have made me want to chuck the book across the room.
It is of course, still not my favorites trope, but it was still a very swoony and cute read.
The first and last few chapters had me like: 😏😮👀😍
4.3 ⭐️
June 26, 2026
What a book y'all.
I have thoroughly enjoyed every Esther Hatch book I've read, and A Most Unfortunate Happenstance was no exception. It is so good!!
This book has everything you could want in a Regency romance book. It's got a competent, determined heroine and a kind hearted, swoony hero. Enemies to lovers vibes. A shepherd's croft. Top notch banter. Matchmaking parents. A house party. Lawn games. Target shooting competition. The swooniest kissing scenes. How could you not love this story?!
Y'all definitely need this book in your lives so add it to your TBR list pronto. Trust me friends. It is one you don't want to miss!
Many thanks to the author for the early copy; all thoughts are my own.
I have thoroughly enjoyed every Esther Hatch book I've read, and A Most Unfortunate Happenstance was no exception. It is so good!!
This book has everything you could want in a Regency romance book. It's got a competent, determined heroine and a kind hearted, swoony hero. Enemies to lovers vibes. A shepherd's croft. Top notch banter. Matchmaking parents. A house party. Lawn games. Target shooting competition. The swooniest kissing scenes. How could you not love this story?!
Y'all definitely need this book in your lives so add it to your TBR list pronto. Trust me friends. It is one you don't want to miss!
Many thanks to the author for the early copy; all thoughts are my own.
July 10, 2026
All the stars!!! This book! 🫠🫠🫠 I think I had a perma grin on my face the last 5 chapters and plenty spread through out the rest of the book! This one is so much fun! If you have read any of this authors other books this should not surprise you. The tension and banter and all the ways Evelyn tries to make Captain Calder suffer are just so so good and I enjoyed every second of it!
Miss Evelyn Blackwell is the daughter of a General and she was raised as if she was a son. Stubborn, commanding, a crack shot and not afraid to do what needs to be done in difficult situations. But she is also loyal and kind to those in need and Captain John Calder comes across her when he is very much in need. After a night caring for him they part the next day as strangers until their paths cross again at a house party.
Captain Calder really is the best and unfortunately Evelyn can’t help but noticing but he is there to court her cousin!
He just wants a simple life and a family as he returns after war to repair his families neglected estate and Evelyn will do anything to keep her cousin away from him after his worthiness is put into question.
I couldn’t put this one down- I am currently writing my review at 3am 😴 all these amazing books lately are really bad for my health but I would definitely recommend this one! It has sizzling chemistry with only kisses and Esther Hatch really knows how to write them 😅🥵🔥
Things I loved no spoiler edition
👗🫣
🗝️
🏸🏸
🥀
📚💋🔥
🍳🥞
💦
I was given an advanced copy by the author all thoughts are my own. This one is part of a multi author series and I have read a few of them but they can be read in any order and I have missed a few and it didn’t take away from this story at all.
Miss Evelyn Blackwell is the daughter of a General and she was raised as if she was a son. Stubborn, commanding, a crack shot and not afraid to do what needs to be done in difficult situations. But she is also loyal and kind to those in need and Captain John Calder comes across her when he is very much in need. After a night caring for him they part the next day as strangers until their paths cross again at a house party.
Captain Calder really is the best and unfortunately Evelyn can’t help but noticing but he is there to court her cousin!
He just wants a simple life and a family as he returns after war to repair his families neglected estate and Evelyn will do anything to keep her cousin away from him after his worthiness is put into question.
I couldn’t put this one down- I am currently writing my review at 3am 😴 all these amazing books lately are really bad for my health but I would definitely recommend this one! It has sizzling chemistry with only kisses and Esther Hatch really knows how to write them 😅🥵🔥
Things I loved no spoiler edition
👗🫣
🗝️
🏸🏸
🥀
📚💋🔥
🍳🥞
💦
I was given an advanced copy by the author all thoughts are my own. This one is part of a multi author series and I have read a few of them but they can be read in any order and I have missed a few and it didn’t take away from this story at all.
June 30, 2026
3.5, quick and fluffy regency romance read
July 18, 2026
This was so sweet!!! I enjoyed watching these two battle it out and fall in love. The library was such a good scene! I did miss the more comidic side of Esther with this one. It's more serious then her others.
This had some awesome kisses!!! Proper romance
This had some awesome kisses!!! Proper romance
July 12, 2026
3 stars. I stopped reading A Most Unfortunate Happenstance at 27%, and although I may come back to it one day, I wanted to write down why I lost the motivation to continue.
This book appealed to me immediately because I had previously enjoyed another novel by Esther Hatch, and because it uses one of my favourite romance tropes: two characters spend a memorable night together, believe they'll never meet again, and then unexpectedly reunite at a house party where the hero is pursuing another woman. I absolutely love that setup.
Unfortunately, this story hasn't developed in the direction I was hoping for.
With this trope, I generally expect the heroine to develop stronger feelings for the hero than he has for her, while he remains focused on another woman. The emotional payoff comes from watching the heroine quietly pine for him until he gradually realises that she's the woman he truly wants. In this case, John doesn't even remember much of their night together because he was delirious with illness, which seemed like it would make that eventual realisation even more satisfying. I expected him to have forgotten the kindness and qualities Evelyn showed while caring for him, only to rediscover them later.
Instead, the foundation of the romance didn't deliver what I thought it promised, and what I got simply didn't work for me.
Their night together should have been the emotional heart of the story, but I found it surprisingly flat. Because this is a closed-door romance and John is seriously ill, the evening is naturally quite restrained, which is perfectly appropriate. The problem wasn't the lack of steam—it was the lack of emotional impact.
The single kiss, which could have been incredibly touching, fell flat for me. Evelyn believes John is dying and thinks he has mistaken her for his wife, so she allows him to kiss her believing he is saying goodbye to the woman he loves. On paper, that's a wonderfully emotional premise. In execution, however, I felt almost nothing.
More generally, the writing never really evoked any emotion for me. By 27%, I still felt no romantic or sexual undercurrent between John and Evelyn. At this stage they're closer to enemies than lovers, which is perfectly fine, but even enemies-to-lovers stories usually have some spark simmering beneath the surface. Here, I never sensed that connection.
John himself is pleasant enough, but so far he hasn't been portrayed as the sort of hero who completely sweeps me off my feet.
Evelyn initially seemed very promising. Having been raised by a general who treated her almost like a son, she has supposedly grown into an unusually capable and independent young woman. Unfortunately, during the night that is meant to establish her character, I never really saw those qualities put to meaningful use. She mostly came across as flustered and uncertain while trying to keep John warm and talking through his fever. I wanted to see more competence, more emotional intimacy, or simply something memorable that would make John's later failure to remember the night genuinely painful. Instead, the entire sequence felt strangely unconvincing and failed to build any romantic tension for me.
Once the story reaches the house party, things became even more frustrating.
Evelyn doesnt realise she misunderstood John's fevered ramblings. She had assumed he was travelling to reunite with his wife, when in reality the "May" whose name he mumbled is his younger sister, while the woman he has long believed himself devoted to is Evelyn's cousin, Hattie. Who he intends to make his wife.
Evelyn jumps to conclusions that I simply didn't find convincing. She decides John, who she now knows isn't married, is secretly in love with a woman called May. But also thinks he has been conducting some sort of secret understanding with Hattie for 6 years, so she distrusts him now, and begins treating him with suspicion and hostility. Rather than sympathising with her, I found her reasoning forced. It should have been convincing, but the way the story was told didn't give her enough reasons to jump to these conclusions. It felt like sour grapes. Especially since she supposedly worshipped and trusted her father, who has known John for years during war, but she decides she knows better and that John must be a snake.
Her behaviour made her increasingly unlikeable to me. Nastily telling John, her father's friend and guest, that he should quietly leave the house party, interfering where it wasn't really her place, and constantly judging him made her come across as rude, overbearing, manipulative and unnecessarily unpleasant. Instead of feeling sorry for her, I simply found myself frustrated by her.
The writing style itself also became a major obstacle.
Everything felt much more drawn out than it needed to be. Scenes that could have been established in a few pages stretched on with lengthy descriptions and repeated internal reflections. The opening sequence, where the family's carriage is delayed by a storm and Evelyn is sent to shelter in a nearby croft, felt heavily over-explained considering it mainly exists to get the hero and heroine together.
Likewise, Evelyn's repeated worry over her father's injured leg quickly became repetitive. After the fifth or sixth reminder, it no longer deepened her character or demonstrated her concern—it simply felt as though the same point was being made over and over again.
Ultimately, I read romance to feel something. I especially chose this book because I adore this particular trope, and I was hoping for the quiet angst of a heroine watching the man she cares about pursue another woman before he eventually realises what he has overlooked.
Instead, I found a heroine who rapidly turns into a overbearing, sanctimonious and stupidly naive shrew, judging and mistrusting the hero, a romance that lacked emotional chemistry, and a writing style that never drew me deeply enough into the story to make me want to persevere.
For now, I've decided to set the book aside. I haven't ruled out returning to it someday, and if I do, my opinion may well change. But at 27%, I simply no longer had enough faith that the story was going to deliver the emotional experience I had been hoping for.
This book appealed to me immediately because I had previously enjoyed another novel by Esther Hatch, and because it uses one of my favourite romance tropes: two characters spend a memorable night together, believe they'll never meet again, and then unexpectedly reunite at a house party where the hero is pursuing another woman. I absolutely love that setup.
Unfortunately, this story hasn't developed in the direction I was hoping for.
With this trope, I generally expect the heroine to develop stronger feelings for the hero than he has for her, while he remains focused on another woman. The emotional payoff comes from watching the heroine quietly pine for him until he gradually realises that she's the woman he truly wants. In this case, John doesn't even remember much of their night together because he was delirious with illness, which seemed like it would make that eventual realisation even more satisfying. I expected him to have forgotten the kindness and qualities Evelyn showed while caring for him, only to rediscover them later.
Instead, the foundation of the romance didn't deliver what I thought it promised, and what I got simply didn't work for me.
Their night together should have been the emotional heart of the story, but I found it surprisingly flat. Because this is a closed-door romance and John is seriously ill, the evening is naturally quite restrained, which is perfectly appropriate. The problem wasn't the lack of steam—it was the lack of emotional impact.
The single kiss, which could have been incredibly touching, fell flat for me. Evelyn believes John is dying and thinks he has mistaken her for his wife, so she allows him to kiss her believing he is saying goodbye to the woman he loves. On paper, that's a wonderfully emotional premise. In execution, however, I felt almost nothing.
More generally, the writing never really evoked any emotion for me. By 27%, I still felt no romantic or sexual undercurrent between John and Evelyn. At this stage they're closer to enemies than lovers, which is perfectly fine, but even enemies-to-lovers stories usually have some spark simmering beneath the surface. Here, I never sensed that connection.
John himself is pleasant enough, but so far he hasn't been portrayed as the sort of hero who completely sweeps me off my feet.
Evelyn initially seemed very promising. Having been raised by a general who treated her almost like a son, she has supposedly grown into an unusually capable and independent young woman. Unfortunately, during the night that is meant to establish her character, I never really saw those qualities put to meaningful use. She mostly came across as flustered and uncertain while trying to keep John warm and talking through his fever. I wanted to see more competence, more emotional intimacy, or simply something memorable that would make John's later failure to remember the night genuinely painful. Instead, the entire sequence felt strangely unconvincing and failed to build any romantic tension for me.
Once the story reaches the house party, things became even more frustrating.
Evelyn doesnt realise she misunderstood John's fevered ramblings. She had assumed he was travelling to reunite with his wife, when in reality the "May" whose name he mumbled is his younger sister, while the woman he has long believed himself devoted to is Evelyn's cousin, Hattie. Who he intends to make his wife.
Evelyn jumps to conclusions that I simply didn't find convincing. She decides John, who she now knows isn't married, is secretly in love with a woman called May. But also thinks he has been conducting some sort of secret understanding with Hattie for 6 years, so she distrusts him now, and begins treating him with suspicion and hostility. Rather than sympathising with her, I found her reasoning forced. It should have been convincing, but the way the story was told didn't give her enough reasons to jump to these conclusions. It felt like sour grapes. Especially since she supposedly worshipped and trusted her father, who has known John for years during war, but she decides she knows better and that John must be a snake.
Her behaviour made her increasingly unlikeable to me. Nastily telling John, her father's friend and guest, that he should quietly leave the house party, interfering where it wasn't really her place, and constantly judging him made her come across as rude, overbearing, manipulative and unnecessarily unpleasant. Instead of feeling sorry for her, I simply found myself frustrated by her.
The writing style itself also became a major obstacle.
Everything felt much more drawn out than it needed to be. Scenes that could have been established in a few pages stretched on with lengthy descriptions and repeated internal reflections. The opening sequence, where the family's carriage is delayed by a storm and Evelyn is sent to shelter in a nearby croft, felt heavily over-explained considering it mainly exists to get the hero and heroine together.
Likewise, Evelyn's repeated worry over her father's injured leg quickly became repetitive. After the fifth or sixth reminder, it no longer deepened her character or demonstrated her concern—it simply felt as though the same point was being made over and over again.
Ultimately, I read romance to feel something. I especially chose this book because I adore this particular trope, and I was hoping for the quiet angst of a heroine watching the man she cares about pursue another woman before he eventually realises what he has overlooked.
Instead, I found a heroine who rapidly turns into a overbearing, sanctimonious and stupidly naive shrew, judging and mistrusting the hero, a romance that lacked emotional chemistry, and a writing style that never drew me deeply enough into the story to make me want to persevere.
For now, I've decided to set the book aside. I haven't ruled out returning to it someday, and if I do, my opinion may well change. But at 27%, I simply no longer had enough faith that the story was going to deliver the emotional experience I had been hoping for.
August 1, 2026
ℝ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘: 4.5 ★
𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕍𝕚𝕓𝕖: Witty, full of delicious secret-keeping, slow-burning romantic tension, and deeply satisfying character growth.
𝕄𝕪 𝕋𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕤: At this point, Esther Hatch has firmly earned a spot as one of my go-to historical romance authors. Whether she's writing Regency or Victorian stories, she has an incredible ability to create romances filled with longing, emotional tension, and wonderfully developed characters. Whenever I find myself in a reading slump, she's one of the first authors I turn to because I know she'll remind me why I love this genre. I'm so happy to say this book didn't disappoint.
I loved how Evelyn and John's story began. Their first meeting and the events that unfolded during the house party immediately drew me in, and from there I was completely invested in seeing how everything would unfold.
As always, Esther Hatch excels at building romantic tension. The yearning between these two was exactly what I'd hoped for. So much of their relationship is shaped by misunderstandings, unspoken feelings, duty, and secrets, making every interaction feel layered with emotion.
There was a brief stretch in the middle where the pacing slowed a little for me, though I suspect that was intentional. It gave the characters time to wrestle with their circumstances and allowed the emotional tension to simmer before the story reached its payoff.
Another highlight was Evelyn's family. I loved seeing how supportive they were, especially in their care for both Evelyn and Harriet. Their relationships added warmth and depth to the story and reminded me that this wasn't just a romance. It was also about family, loyalty, sacrifice, and learning when to let others help carry your burdens.
One of my favorite parts was watching everyone around Evelyn and John recognize the feelings between them long before they were willing to admit them themselves. Their attempts to ignore the obvious, often out of obligation or misplaced selflessness, created some wonderfully entertaining and emotionally charged moments.
By the time all the secrets came to light and everything finally unraveled, the emotional payoff absolutely delivered. Esther Hatch once again proved why she's one of my favorite authors for readers who love slow-burn romance done well.
𝕃𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕕 𝔽𝕠𝕣:
* Beautiful slow-burn romance filled with yearning and emotional tension.
* Wonderful character growth for both Evelyn and John.
*A compelling mix of family dynamics, secrets, and sacrifice.
ℂ𝕠𝕟𝕥𝕖𝕟𝕥:
𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲:Kisses only.
𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗴𝗲:None.
ℝ𝕖𝕒𝕕/𝕃𝕚𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕟 𝕚𝕗 𝕐𝕠𝕦 𝕃𝕚𝕜𝕖:
If you love Regency romances with delicious slow-burn tension, mutual yearning, witty dialogue, family-centered stories, and clean romance, this is an easy recommendation. It's especially perfect for readers who enjoy emotionally restrained love stories where the biggest moments come from what the characters don't say, and where the eventual payoff feels genuinely earned.
𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕍𝕚𝕓𝕖: Witty, full of delicious secret-keeping, slow-burning romantic tension, and deeply satisfying character growth.
𝕄𝕪 𝕋𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕤: At this point, Esther Hatch has firmly earned a spot as one of my go-to historical romance authors. Whether she's writing Regency or Victorian stories, she has an incredible ability to create romances filled with longing, emotional tension, and wonderfully developed characters. Whenever I find myself in a reading slump, she's one of the first authors I turn to because I know she'll remind me why I love this genre. I'm so happy to say this book didn't disappoint.
I loved how Evelyn and John's story began. Their first meeting and the events that unfolded during the house party immediately drew me in, and from there I was completely invested in seeing how everything would unfold.
As always, Esther Hatch excels at building romantic tension. The yearning between these two was exactly what I'd hoped for. So much of their relationship is shaped by misunderstandings, unspoken feelings, duty, and secrets, making every interaction feel layered with emotion.
There was a brief stretch in the middle where the pacing slowed a little for me, though I suspect that was intentional. It gave the characters time to wrestle with their circumstances and allowed the emotional tension to simmer before the story reached its payoff.
Another highlight was Evelyn's family. I loved seeing how supportive they were, especially in their care for both Evelyn and Harriet. Their relationships added warmth and depth to the story and reminded me that this wasn't just a romance. It was also about family, loyalty, sacrifice, and learning when to let others help carry your burdens.
One of my favorite parts was watching everyone around Evelyn and John recognize the feelings between them long before they were willing to admit them themselves. Their attempts to ignore the obvious, often out of obligation or misplaced selflessness, created some wonderfully entertaining and emotionally charged moments.
By the time all the secrets came to light and everything finally unraveled, the emotional payoff absolutely delivered. Esther Hatch once again proved why she's one of my favorite authors for readers who love slow-burn romance done well.
𝕃𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕕 𝔽𝕠𝕣:
* Beautiful slow-burn romance filled with yearning and emotional tension.
* Wonderful character growth for both Evelyn and John.
*A compelling mix of family dynamics, secrets, and sacrifice.
ℂ𝕠𝕟𝕥𝕖𝕟𝕥:
𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲:Kisses only.
𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗴𝗲:None.
ℝ𝕖𝕒𝕕/𝕃𝕚𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕟 𝕚𝕗 𝕐𝕠𝕦 𝕃𝕚𝕜𝕖:
If you love Regency romances with delicious slow-burn tension, mutual yearning, witty dialogue, family-centered stories, and clean romance, this is an easy recommendation. It's especially perfect for readers who enjoy emotionally restrained love stories where the biggest moments come from what the characters don't say, and where the eventual payoff feels genuinely earned.
July 2, 2026
Oh my goodness! A Most Unfortunate Happenstance has to be my new favorite Esther Hatch book! I absolutely devoured it, & then immediately had to read it again. I adored Captain Calder & Evelyn. From their stormy first meeting to the delightful house party, this was one witty, swoony, romantic, fun ride!
On the way to the house party for her cousin Harriet, a storm strands Evelyn’s family carriage, forcing her to spend the night in a broken-down shepherd’s croft. She’s not alone though & soon after her arrival, finds herself caring for a handsome captain burning with fever. By morning, after he’s mostly recovered, they realize the impropriety of the situation, vow never to speak of it again, & part as strangers. Unfortunately, they both arrive at the same house party. Though Evelyn remembers every moment of that night, Captain John Calder has no memory of it. As he begins pursuing Harriet, Evelyn can’t forget the things he said or the assumptions she made. Determined to stop him from proposing to Harriet, she tries to forget the unforgettable night they shared.
After six long years fighting for his country, John has kept the hope of Harriet close to his heart. Despite the storm & his recurring ague, he’s determined to reach the house party to propose. Though he remembers little of the night at the croft, he can’t forget the beautiful woman who cared for him. He’s baffled when she seems to despise him & thwart him at every turn, yet the more time they spend together, the harder she is to ignore.
I absolutely loved John & Evelyn. Because of Evelyn’s assumptions, she comes up with some delightfully creative ways to keep John away from Harriet. I loved the locked door, their battledore & shuttlecock game, & the shooting match. The attraction between them sizzles beneath the surface. John falls first, but once Evelyn realizes how honorable he is, she’s not far behind. I loved the waterfall, visiting Applewood, the library (and that kiss!), & breakfast with the General. So many moments will live rent free in my head!
Highest recommendation! While part of a series, this kisses only Regency reads perfectly as a standalone. I received an advanced copy from the author, but also borrowed in Kindle Unlimited. All opinions are my own & voluntarily provided.
On the way to the house party for her cousin Harriet, a storm strands Evelyn’s family carriage, forcing her to spend the night in a broken-down shepherd’s croft. She’s not alone though & soon after her arrival, finds herself caring for a handsome captain burning with fever. By morning, after he’s mostly recovered, they realize the impropriety of the situation, vow never to speak of it again, & part as strangers. Unfortunately, they both arrive at the same house party. Though Evelyn remembers every moment of that night, Captain John Calder has no memory of it. As he begins pursuing Harriet, Evelyn can’t forget the things he said or the assumptions she made. Determined to stop him from proposing to Harriet, she tries to forget the unforgettable night they shared.
After six long years fighting for his country, John has kept the hope of Harriet close to his heart. Despite the storm & his recurring ague, he’s determined to reach the house party to propose. Though he remembers little of the night at the croft, he can’t forget the beautiful woman who cared for him. He’s baffled when she seems to despise him & thwart him at every turn, yet the more time they spend together, the harder she is to ignore.
I absolutely loved John & Evelyn. Because of Evelyn’s assumptions, she comes up with some delightfully creative ways to keep John away from Harriet. I loved the locked door, their battledore & shuttlecock game, & the shooting match. The attraction between them sizzles beneath the surface. John falls first, but once Evelyn realizes how honorable he is, she’s not far behind. I loved the waterfall, visiting Applewood, the library (and that kiss!), & breakfast with the General. So many moments will live rent free in my head!
Highest recommendation! While part of a series, this kisses only Regency reads perfectly as a standalone. I received an advanced copy from the author, but also borrowed in Kindle Unlimited. All opinions are my own & voluntarily provided.
July 22, 2026
“You asked me how I could come here seeking to court one woman and end up falling in love with Evelyn so quickly instead… I ask you—how could I have resisted doing anything but that?”
I really loved this.
Meeting a sick man and caring for him during a storm, him turning up at a house party intent on proposing to your cousin, and falling for each other anyway… sounds messy, right? It absolutely was, but in the best way.
I thought Evelyn’s no-nonsense demeanor was perfection when mixed with Calder’s easily ruffled nature. She equally confused and amused him and always kept him on his toes. Miscommunication to this extent usually drives me absolutely mad, but in this case, I felt like it actually helped unravel and reveal how perfect these two were for each other because they were constantly trying to fight how obviously they were drawn to each other. I also just thought this book was a unique take on a regency romance and I read a lot of them. I loved how these two verbally sparred, denied their attraction while begrudgingly taking care of each other at every turn, and how they connected in meaningful ways despite their efforts to remain indifferent. This was definitely one of my favorite Ester Hatch books I’ve read. The chemistry and tension was palpable, but not in a way I’ve read before! I can’t even really describe it. The push and pull these two had was just right…
“No, John, I’ve come here to tell you that you were right.” I let out a shaky breath. “I could get used to you saying that.” “Your name?” “That too.”
There were some parts that I didn’t like such as Mrs. Wickerton’s entire character being unnecessary and obnoxious and some parts felt a bit repetitive and slow, but the heart of this book was the connection between Calder and Evelyn and that was pretty perfect.
Some of my favorite parts were the clouds, the shooting, the thorn, Calder’s interactions with Charlie, and the library, obviously.
If I had to describe this book with one quote it would be, “I hadn’t been able to control his breathing when he was feverish, but at least I had some control over it now.” Well, I’ll say… 🫠
I really loved this.
Meeting a sick man and caring for him during a storm, him turning up at a house party intent on proposing to your cousin, and falling for each other anyway… sounds messy, right? It absolutely was, but in the best way.
I thought Evelyn’s no-nonsense demeanor was perfection when mixed with Calder’s easily ruffled nature. She equally confused and amused him and always kept him on his toes. Miscommunication to this extent usually drives me absolutely mad, but in this case, I felt like it actually helped unravel and reveal how perfect these two were for each other because they were constantly trying to fight how obviously they were drawn to each other. I also just thought this book was a unique take on a regency romance and I read a lot of them. I loved how these two verbally sparred, denied their attraction while begrudgingly taking care of each other at every turn, and how they connected in meaningful ways despite their efforts to remain indifferent. This was definitely one of my favorite Ester Hatch books I’ve read. The chemistry and tension was palpable, but not in a way I’ve read before! I can’t even really describe it. The push and pull these two had was just right…
“No, John, I’ve come here to tell you that you were right.” I let out a shaky breath. “I could get used to you saying that.” “Your name?” “That too.”
There were some parts that I didn’t like such as Mrs. Wickerton’s entire character being unnecessary and obnoxious and some parts felt a bit repetitive and slow, but the heart of this book was the connection between Calder and Evelyn and that was pretty perfect.
Some of my favorite parts were the clouds, the shooting, the thorn, Calder’s interactions with Charlie, and the library, obviously.
If I had to describe this book with one quote it would be, “I hadn’t been able to control his breathing when he was feverish, but at least I had some control over it now.” Well, I’ll say… 🫠
July 17, 2026
Aaaaaagggh this entire book SWEPT ME AWAY.
I’m in love with the way that John and Evelyn meet. It’s disastrous and delightful. Tender yet terrifying. Hilarious and haunting. You’re left with all sorts of questions and my mind went to a million different ways the rest of the story could play out. All of which were inferior to what actually happens. 😏
Evelyn is immediately likeable. She’s the daughter of a general and has been shooting and marching since she was a little girl. I love her relationship with her dad. I love the confidence she radiates and her SCHEMING IS BRILLIANT. I was laughing out loud so many times at her audacity and cleverness. She’s protective of those she loves, and Captain Calder is the threat she must eliminate.
Captain Calder has no idea what to do with the storm that Evelyn Blackwell is. She’s blown in and disrupted all his plans, and he can’t stand it. He has no idea what she’s going to do next and always seems one step behind her. Definitely a losing battle for him. 😂
I love Captain Calder’s heart. I love the deep longing he feels for a family. I love his honor, his stubbornness, his forthrightness.
Aaah, I loved everything about this book. The enemies-to-lovers tension, the plotting, the secrets, the unknown. I appreciated that Evelyn comes from warm, loving family whose parents aren’t cruel and abusive; she treasures them and their love is so endearing. That’s a rarity in many of the regency era books I’ve read (not hating on the family drama - totally get it makes for great stories and character growth, just refreshing to see the opposite).
EASILY a top read for me! 10/10 no notes!!!
✨ Gems ✨
The croft 🤭
“I’m not going to leave you”
Battledore 🤣
Dual POV 💞
The forfeits 👀
A certain sermon 😂
Shooting 😏
THE LIBRARRRYYYY
Harriet 🤍
I’m in love with the way that John and Evelyn meet. It’s disastrous and delightful. Tender yet terrifying. Hilarious and haunting. You’re left with all sorts of questions and my mind went to a million different ways the rest of the story could play out. All of which were inferior to what actually happens. 😏
Evelyn is immediately likeable. She’s the daughter of a general and has been shooting and marching since she was a little girl. I love her relationship with her dad. I love the confidence she radiates and her SCHEMING IS BRILLIANT. I was laughing out loud so many times at her audacity and cleverness. She’s protective of those she loves, and Captain Calder is the threat she must eliminate.
Captain Calder has no idea what to do with the storm that Evelyn Blackwell is. She’s blown in and disrupted all his plans, and he can’t stand it. He has no idea what she’s going to do next and always seems one step behind her. Definitely a losing battle for him. 😂
I love Captain Calder’s heart. I love the deep longing he feels for a family. I love his honor, his stubbornness, his forthrightness.
Aaah, I loved everything about this book. The enemies-to-lovers tension, the plotting, the secrets, the unknown. I appreciated that Evelyn comes from warm, loving family whose parents aren’t cruel and abusive; she treasures them and their love is so endearing. That’s a rarity in many of the regency era books I’ve read (not hating on the family drama - totally get it makes for great stories and character growth, just refreshing to see the opposite).
EASILY a top read for me! 10/10 no notes!!!
✨ Gems ✨
The croft 🤭
“I’m not going to leave you”
Battledore 🤣
Dual POV 💞
The forfeits 👀
A certain sermon 😂
Shooting 😏
THE LIBRARRRYYYY
Harriet 🤍
July 2, 2026
This delightful book started on a dark and stormy night where two strangers are finding shelter from the rain. Captain John Calder riding by horse, coming home after 6 years and Miss Evelyn Blackwell by carriage with her parents and young brother to their home to host a house party. The carriage becomes stuck in the mud and General Blackwell twists his knee. To provide space for her father to keep his leg straight, Evelyn is the one selected to walk back to shelter in the shepherd’s croft. She took a pistol and her dry robe and night clothes with her. She settled in with a fire going when a stranger stumbled into the croft looking pale and acting delirious and shaking. With a start like this I was hooked! Evelyn tries to take care of the stranger with what she has, hoping he does not die. After the night John only remembers an angel who cared for him and hoped he didn’t scare her. When both arrive at the house party, they recognize each other and remembered stories Eveyln’s father had told them. This accidental night became a secret between them, and they had promised not to tell anyone about it. This book is loaded with humor and the banter of Evelyn and John. I also loved the tender scene of Evelyn’s family and how John longed for that in his life. There is a sense of respect, honor, some misunderstanding and trying to do the right thing that helped drive the story to a glorious satisfying end. I have always loved books written by Esther Hatch, but this one seemed to be at its own level of superb! I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves romance, humor, banter, excellent character development and wonderful ending to a great story. I was given an arc and the opinions are my own. Five full stars!
Review of advance copy received from Author
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The feeling of knowing you just finished a book that will be a forever favorite... there is nothing better! 🥹❤️
Esther has officially written my new favorite book of hers and has quite definitely written one of my top favorite reads of 2026! The pure tension, banter, longing, and forced proximity make this such a standout story in the historical romance genre! Every page had me wanting just one more chapter, and before I knew it, I was at the end wishing I could experience it for the first time all over again.
The pacing was perfect, the emotional moments landed exactly when they needed to, and I loved watching every piece of the story come together.
Evelyn is a strong, capable, dependable, caring, and kind FMC who is doing all she can to help her friend and cousin Hattie, find a suitable match. She is determined to see her plans through, and after everything they've been through, she's promised herself she won't keep secrets from Hattie again—not this time. But that promise is tested when circumstances completely outside of her control force her into an impossible situation. I loved watching her navigate the conflict between doing what she believes is right and following her heart.
John was everything I hoped he would be and more. He truly is strength personified. Returning home from the war, he's determined to restore his estate and prove that he's become the man he always hoped to be—the man worthy of the woman who believed in him six years earlier. Beneath his quiet confidence is such a loyal, honorable, and caring man!
The connection and chemistry between John and Evelyn is absolutely tangible. When I tell you every scene with these two is FIRE... I mean it. 🔥 The tension is off the charts, the banter is perfection, and the longing between them had me kicking my feet the entire time. Watching them go from strangers, to enemies, to something so much more was everything I wanted, and Esther developed their relationship so beautifully that every step felt earned!
Some of my favorite moments were the shepherd's croft, the official introductions, the shooting competition, General Blackwell's interactions with John, Charlie's quips (I adored him 😂), the waterfall, the library, Evelyn's parents, the epilogue... and SO much more! There were so many little moments that made this story feel alive and made me fall even more in love with these characters.
This book has heart, humor, incredible chemistry, characters you can't help but root for, and a romance that will stay with me for a long time. Without a doubt, this is one of my favorite books of the year and one I'll be recommending over and over again. This is the kind of historical romance that reminds me why I fell in love with the genre in the first place!!
Thank you to the author for my advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The feeling of knowing you just finished a book that will be a forever favorite... there is nothing better! 🥹❤️
Esther has officially written my new favorite book of hers and has quite definitely written one of my top favorite reads of 2026! The pure tension, banter, longing, and forced proximity make this such a standout story in the historical romance genre! Every page had me wanting just one more chapter, and before I knew it, I was at the end wishing I could experience it for the first time all over again.
The pacing was perfect, the emotional moments landed exactly when they needed to, and I loved watching every piece of the story come together.
Evelyn is a strong, capable, dependable, caring, and kind FMC who is doing all she can to help her friend and cousin Hattie, find a suitable match. She is determined to see her plans through, and after everything they've been through, she's promised herself she won't keep secrets from Hattie again—not this time. But that promise is tested when circumstances completely outside of her control force her into an impossible situation. I loved watching her navigate the conflict between doing what she believes is right and following her heart.
John was everything I hoped he would be and more. He truly is strength personified. Returning home from the war, he's determined to restore his estate and prove that he's become the man he always hoped to be—the man worthy of the woman who believed in him six years earlier. Beneath his quiet confidence is such a loyal, honorable, and caring man!
The connection and chemistry between John and Evelyn is absolutely tangible. When I tell you every scene with these two is FIRE... I mean it. 🔥 The tension is off the charts, the banter is perfection, and the longing between them had me kicking my feet the entire time. Watching them go from strangers, to enemies, to something so much more was everything I wanted, and Esther developed their relationship so beautifully that every step felt earned!
Some of my favorite moments were the shepherd's croft, the official introductions, the shooting competition, General Blackwell's interactions with John, Charlie's quips (I adored him 😂), the waterfall, the library, Evelyn's parents, the epilogue... and SO much more! There were so many little moments that made this story feel alive and made me fall even more in love with these characters.
This book has heart, humor, incredible chemistry, characters you can't help but root for, and a romance that will stay with me for a long time. Without a doubt, this is one of my favorite books of the year and one I'll be recommending over and over again. This is the kind of historical romance that reminds me why I fell in love with the genre in the first place!!
Thank you to the author for my advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
June 25, 2026
Evelyn Blackwell and Capt. John Calder meet in a most unique way. John suffers from the ague and getting caught in a downpour brings on a relapse. Evelyn helps him through a very rough night of fever and delirium and in this state John says things that Evelyn can only assume certain things about his life. But, assumptions aren’t always correct. I love how Evelyn and John meet again at her family’s house party and she pulls some pretty crazy tricks on John.
I loved the developing relationship between John and Evelyn throughout the story. John is clueless as to why Evelyn despises him, and it was so funny watching Evelyn try to keep him away from her cousin, Hattie due to her incorrect assumptions. I loved the twist at the end of the house party.
The part of the story that made me sigh, “Awwww!” was when John takes Evelyn on a tour of his neglected estate. His absence because of the war has shown the passage of time, but John plans to repair the estate. Covers being removed from the furniture and a special room was perfection. I could easily see this taking place, and I loved every minute of the revealing of the possibilities of the restoration of the estate as well as Evelyn’s continued faith in John.
Things you’ll love:
war veteran
lost glove
forced proximity
secrets
house party
shenanigans
outdoor and parlor games
target competition
smoldering bows
Applewood
I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy historical fiction and/or clean romance. This will be a book that I want to read again and again.
I received a gifted copy of the book from the author. All opinions are my own.
I loved the developing relationship between John and Evelyn throughout the story. John is clueless as to why Evelyn despises him, and it was so funny watching Evelyn try to keep him away from her cousin, Hattie due to her incorrect assumptions. I loved the twist at the end of the house party.
The part of the story that made me sigh, “Awwww!” was when John takes Evelyn on a tour of his neglected estate. His absence because of the war has shown the passage of time, but John plans to repair the estate. Covers being removed from the furniture and a special room was perfection. I could easily see this taking place, and I loved every minute of the revealing of the possibilities of the restoration of the estate as well as Evelyn’s continued faith in John.
Things you’ll love:
war veteran
lost glove
forced proximity
secrets
house party
shenanigans
outdoor and parlor games
target competition
smoldering bows
Applewood
I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy historical fiction and/or clean romance. This will be a book that I want to read again and again.
I received a gifted copy of the book from the author. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I adored this story and these lovely characters! This is a standalone story in the Supposed Scandal series, that is all set in Derbyshire.
Evelyn was so fun! She reminded me of my sister, with her protective nature, her keen eye and strong personality. She was determined to support her cousin and equally determined that her unfortunate situation with Captain Calder be left in the past. I admired her care for her family and it was sweet how close they were. I adored John! He was so honorable and genuine. He genuinely wanted a family and a home. I loved how through the story, he is peeled back. John was equally as determined as Evelyn and he was able to match her intensity. Both of them were capable and had strong opinions.
I loved seeing Evelyn and John get to know one another. Neither was expecting the other and there was some initial clash because of misunderstanding and assumptions. It did not feel blown out of proportion and fit with the characters, especially seeing it through their POV’s. Both John and Evelyn got to see the other’s strength and kindness towards those at the party. I also enjoyed the side character! Harriet is a sweetheart and I loved the Blackwells! Overall, this was such a lovely historical romance! I flew through it. It has only kisses and some mention of sickness and injuries.
I received an ARC.
Evelyn was so fun! She reminded me of my sister, with her protective nature, her keen eye and strong personality. She was determined to support her cousin and equally determined that her unfortunate situation with Captain Calder be left in the past. I admired her care for her family and it was sweet how close they were. I adored John! He was so honorable and genuine. He genuinely wanted a family and a home. I loved how through the story, he is peeled back. John was equally as determined as Evelyn and he was able to match her intensity. Both of them were capable and had strong opinions.
I loved seeing Evelyn and John get to know one another. Neither was expecting the other and there was some initial clash because of misunderstanding and assumptions. It did not feel blown out of proportion and fit with the characters, especially seeing it through their POV’s. Both John and Evelyn got to see the other’s strength and kindness towards those at the party. I also enjoyed the side character! Harriet is a sweetheart and I loved the Blackwells! Overall, this was such a lovely historical romance! I flew through it. It has only kisses and some mention of sickness and injuries.
I received an ARC.
July 12, 2026
A beautiful, original story of love between a young man who survives a war to meet his beloved but instead, in the country house gathering of his General, he is repeatedly hampered by his bossy daughter!
Young Captain John Calder returns home after the Napoleonic Wars with a dream to restore his house in its former glory with the aid of his betrothed, Harrier Pryor who has been waiting for him for 6 long years. On his way to a party in the country house of General Blackwell, a sudden rainstorm causes a resurgence of ague, a fever he contracted during the harsh days of war. He makes it to a croft where he collapses in front of a young lady who dressed in her nightrail, nurses him to health. After a night of deliriums and a shared kiss, they part ways only to find themselves in the same country house as the candidate groom for the hand of the cousin, the woman who thought that he was engaged to and as the daughter of the General. Evelyn Blackwell is overprotective of her cousin especially after the subconscious confessions made during their night in the croft. Close proximity of the bickering two brings them together and fall for each other in the sweetest of ways.
I loved the story. Esther Hatch has the gift to write sweet romances full of emotion! I love the lovemaking scene in the bench by the waterfall; the way John proposed to Evelyn! My heart skipped some beats!
Young Captain John Calder returns home after the Napoleonic Wars with a dream to restore his house in its former glory with the aid of his betrothed, Harrier Pryor who has been waiting for him for 6 long years. On his way to a party in the country house of General Blackwell, a sudden rainstorm causes a resurgence of ague, a fever he contracted during the harsh days of war. He makes it to a croft where he collapses in front of a young lady who dressed in her nightrail, nurses him to health. After a night of deliriums and a shared kiss, they part ways only to find themselves in the same country house as the candidate groom for the hand of the cousin, the woman who thought that he was engaged to and as the daughter of the General. Evelyn Blackwell is overprotective of her cousin especially after the subconscious confessions made during their night in the croft. Close proximity of the bickering two brings them together and fall for each other in the sweetest of ways.
I loved the story. Esther Hatch has the gift to write sweet romances full of emotion! I love the lovemaking scene in the bench by the waterfall; the way John proposed to Evelyn! My heart skipped some beats!
June 28, 2026
"If you think I haven't been tormented by that kiss simply because I couldn't remember it, you don't understand the power of my imagination."
If I could give this book more than five stars I would. This story is completely enchanting, I loved every minute of it!
I love the friendship and loyalty between the cousins. I love the organic development of feelings between Evelyn and John. The chemistry between them is palpable and the writing is so good that the lightest touch of the smallest finger creates the most delicious tension and yearning.
This story is refreshingly delightful. The spunk, the candor, and the sweetness all combine to create a charming tale that I unabashedly devoured. I will definitely be re-reading this one!
Favorite Quotes:
"You'd better leave before I take the time to thank you for caring for me as you did. Because it won't be with words."
"Being on the same side as Miss Blackwell was far more pleasant than being her enemy."
"I plan to court you, Miss Blackwell, and I won't be discreet about it."
"Toy with me, love me, kick me out of her home and hate me, I had no control over what she would do next. I was utterly at her mercy."
"You didn't only awake Applewood from a long slumber. You woke me as well."
If I could give this book more than five stars I would. This story is completely enchanting, I loved every minute of it!
I love the friendship and loyalty between the cousins. I love the organic development of feelings between Evelyn and John. The chemistry between them is palpable and the writing is so good that the lightest touch of the smallest finger creates the most delicious tension and yearning.
This story is refreshingly delightful. The spunk, the candor, and the sweetness all combine to create a charming tale that I unabashedly devoured. I will definitely be re-reading this one!
Favorite Quotes:
"You'd better leave before I take the time to thank you for caring for me as you did. Because it won't be with words."
"Being on the same side as Miss Blackwell was far more pleasant than being her enemy."
"I plan to court you, Miss Blackwell, and I won't be discreet about it."
"Toy with me, love me, kick me out of her home and hate me, I had no control over what she would do next. I was utterly at her mercy."
"You didn't only awake Applewood from a long slumber. You woke me as well."
Review of advance copy received from Author
A MOST UNFORTUNATE HAPPENSTANCE
(Supposed Scandal Series, Book 6)
by Esther Hatch
@authorestherhatch
••I give 5 stars!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
-I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
~A storm brought them together but, will it be the scandal that tears them apart?…
-Oh my goodness my friends, A MOST UNFORTUNATE HAPPENSTANCE, is such a charming book gem for the heart and soul! It is in and out, pure delight! Filled so beautifully with witty banter, delightful humor, forced proximity, such swoon, and of such heart! This dear story that had me smiling, laughing, and sighing at! From the first couple of sentences, I was immediately captivated and drawn into this story. The pages flew and my heart soared with such happiness as I read along. Oh how this story sparkles with such goodness within. Seeing dear characters rise above twists and turns, and obstacles had my full attention. It was seeing them risk everything for their own happiness that was so satisfying and heartwarming! The antics, awkwardness, sparks of chemistry, and dynamics were such a sweet bonus. @authorestherhatch has done it again with such a wonderful story worth the attention, time, and read! My goodness, those library scenes were extra awesome! Don’t miss out on this dear book treasure! It’s simply fantastic and has taken up space in my reading heart passport for good. Well-done!📚💯
•Content: No language, “scandal of sorts”, illness, scheming/antics, death of loved ones (off page, mentioned on page), struggling estate, no violence, kisses only!
#amostunfortunatehappenstance
#supposedscandalseries
#authorestherhatch
#wellworththeread
#allaboutthebestreads
(Supposed Scandal Series, Book 6)
by Esther Hatch
@authorestherhatch
••I give 5 stars!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
-I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
~A storm brought them together but, will it be the scandal that tears them apart?…
-Oh my goodness my friends, A MOST UNFORTUNATE HAPPENSTANCE, is such a charming book gem for the heart and soul! It is in and out, pure delight! Filled so beautifully with witty banter, delightful humor, forced proximity, such swoon, and of such heart! This dear story that had me smiling, laughing, and sighing at! From the first couple of sentences, I was immediately captivated and drawn into this story. The pages flew and my heart soared with such happiness as I read along. Oh how this story sparkles with such goodness within. Seeing dear characters rise above twists and turns, and obstacles had my full attention. It was seeing them risk everything for their own happiness that was so satisfying and heartwarming! The antics, awkwardness, sparks of chemistry, and dynamics were such a sweet bonus. @authorestherhatch has done it again with such a wonderful story worth the attention, time, and read! My goodness, those library scenes were extra awesome! Don’t miss out on this dear book treasure! It’s simply fantastic and has taken up space in my reading heart passport for good. Well-done!📚💯
•Content: No language, “scandal of sorts”, illness, scheming/antics, death of loved ones (off page, mentioned on page), struggling estate, no violence, kisses only!
#amostunfortunatehappenstance
#supposedscandalseries
#authorestherhatch
#wellworththeread
#allaboutthebestreads
July 3, 2026
📚✨ BOOK REVIEW ✨📚
Title: A Most Unfortunate Happenstance
Series: Supposed Scandals, Book 6
Author: Esther Hatch
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📝 My Thoughts: Witty, Winsome, and Wonderful!
Oh, my heart! If you love witty Regency romances that start with a literal bang (or in this case, a massive storm and a delirious, feverish man), you need this book on your radar immediately. The story kicks off with Captain John Calder and Evelyn Blackwell getting stranded in the same shepherd's croft. The tension is instant, the banter is top-tier, and the chemistry is absolutely electric! Evelyn is fierce, independent, and knows her way around a pistol, while John is the brooding, honorable soldier trying to fight off a raging fever. The dynamic between them when they realize they have to face each other again in polite society is pure gold.
💖 Why I Loved It:
The character depth is incredible. Evelyn is not your average shrinking violet, and John is so incredibly devoted and protective. The author does a phenomenal job building up the "forced proximity" trope in the beginning, leading into a delicious secret-sharing dynamic once they are under the same roof at a house party. It is funny, heartwarming, and gave me all the butterflies!
🔖 Favorite Quote:
"To love and be loved in a place called home."
📌 Final Verdict:
A masterfully written Regency romance that will take up permanent residence in your brain. Perfect for fans of sweet historical romance, sharp wit, and strong heroines.
#HistoricalRomance #Bookstagram #RegencyRomance #EstherHatch #BookReview #RomanceReader #SupposedScandals #FiveStarRead
Title: A Most Unfortunate Happenstance
Series: Supposed Scandals, Book 6
Author: Esther Hatch
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📝 My Thoughts: Witty, Winsome, and Wonderful!
Oh, my heart! If you love witty Regency romances that start with a literal bang (or in this case, a massive storm and a delirious, feverish man), you need this book on your radar immediately. The story kicks off with Captain John Calder and Evelyn Blackwell getting stranded in the same shepherd's croft. The tension is instant, the banter is top-tier, and the chemistry is absolutely electric! Evelyn is fierce, independent, and knows her way around a pistol, while John is the brooding, honorable soldier trying to fight off a raging fever. The dynamic between them when they realize they have to face each other again in polite society is pure gold.
💖 Why I Loved It:
The character depth is incredible. Evelyn is not your average shrinking violet, and John is so incredibly devoted and protective. The author does a phenomenal job building up the "forced proximity" trope in the beginning, leading into a delicious secret-sharing dynamic once they are under the same roof at a house party. It is funny, heartwarming, and gave me all the butterflies!
🔖 Favorite Quote:
"To love and be loved in a place called home."
📌 Final Verdict:
A masterfully written Regency romance that will take up permanent residence in your brain. Perfect for fans of sweet historical romance, sharp wit, and strong heroines.
#HistoricalRomance #Bookstagram #RegencyRomance #EstherHatch #BookReview #RomanceReader #SupposedScandals #FiveStarRead
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