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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 128 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 :)
June 24, 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!!!
July 2, 2026
Audiobook update: I was especially excited when I heard this book was getting an audiobook, and I was thrilled to receive a copy. Even though I had read the book a couple of months earlier, knowing the story didn't diminish my enjoyment of the audiobook at all. In fact, the dual narration by Noah Wall and Eli Thorne added another layer to the story. They are two of my favorite narrators, and they brought so much emotion and personality to the characters. They also made Evelyn and John's banter even more entertaining—especially the battledore scene, which was even better brought to life through their narration.
Original review:
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.
Original review:
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.
June 26, 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
August 13, 2026
Review to come 🩷
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 18, 2026
Are 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 ⭐️
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.
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
October 16, 2026
I loved this book!
In an unfortunate turn of events two strangers, Evelyn and John, both get stuck on a rain storm on their way to a house party. Evelyn ends up sheltering in a shepherd’s croft in order to give her parents and brother enough room in their carriage to hunker down during the storm. John knows he shouldn’t have ventured out into the storm, but having just came home from retiring as a captain and the war, he is desperate to see a woman he knew six years earlier. A woman who, he believes, is waiting for him. However, as illness takes him over, he finds shelter in the only place near by, the same shepherd’s croft. Completely delirious from illness, the woman he sees in the croft must be an angel, and not real. Evelyn, knowing how completely inappropriate this situation is and how much it would compromise her, has no choice but to help the man who looks close to death. She spends the night attending to his needs and when he awakes the next morning, confused that the woman was actually real, he makes a quick leave, promising never to talk about the situation again. Both assuming they would never see each other again.
However, as fate would have it, the woman John believes has waited for him is Evelyn’s cousin and now they must do their best to keep their secret. The only problem is, they can’t avoid each other and both feel a magnetic pull towards one another.
Having a front row seat to their love story is amazing. This is a must read!
In an unfortunate turn of events two strangers, Evelyn and John, both get stuck on a rain storm on their way to a house party. Evelyn ends up sheltering in a shepherd’s croft in order to give her parents and brother enough room in their carriage to hunker down during the storm. John knows he shouldn’t have ventured out into the storm, but having just came home from retiring as a captain and the war, he is desperate to see a woman he knew six years earlier. A woman who, he believes, is waiting for him. However, as illness takes him over, he finds shelter in the only place near by, the same shepherd’s croft. Completely delirious from illness, the woman he sees in the croft must be an angel, and not real. Evelyn, knowing how completely inappropriate this situation is and how much it would compromise her, has no choice but to help the man who looks close to death. She spends the night attending to his needs and when he awakes the next morning, confused that the woman was actually real, he makes a quick leave, promising never to talk about the situation again. Both assuming they would never see each other again.
However, as fate would have it, the woman John believes has waited for him is Evelyn’s cousin and now they must do their best to keep their secret. The only problem is, they can’t avoid each other and both feel a magnetic pull towards one another.
Having a front row seat to their love story is amazing. This is a must read!
August 20, 2026
I was thrilled to get an audio copy of this story and the narration was wonderfully done! I loved the dual narrators and the way they brought this Regency romance to life.
This book starts off with a supposedly scandalous kiss…and then the sweet story truly begins. Captain John Caldwell and Evelyn Blackwell are caught in a perilous storm and days later at a house party, she remembers what transpired and he does not–and he seems to have his eyes set on her cousin.
Oh, the schemes, the humorous moments, and the cleverness through words and pranks had me hooked from the start and laughing throughout. These two are such fantastic characters, working through developing feelings in all the delightful scenes of a house party. The banter is utterly delicious and the chemistry swooped through my veins like a kaleidoscope of butterflies.
Esther Hatch always delivers the sweetest and swooniest of romances and this story doesn’t differ from her norm. Her writing draws me right in, and I had the loveliest time listening.
With Regency wit, swoon, strangers, mistaken identity, and a house party (I can’t say that enough–I love them!!), this is a story to be devoured.
*I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given*
This book starts off with a supposedly scandalous kiss…and then the sweet story truly begins. Captain John Caldwell and Evelyn Blackwell are caught in a perilous storm and days later at a house party, she remembers what transpired and he does not–and he seems to have his eyes set on her cousin.
Oh, the schemes, the humorous moments, and the cleverness through words and pranks had me hooked from the start and laughing throughout. These two are such fantastic characters, working through developing feelings in all the delightful scenes of a house party. The banter is utterly delicious and the chemistry swooped through my veins like a kaleidoscope of butterflies.
Esther Hatch always delivers the sweetest and swooniest of romances and this story doesn’t differ from her norm. Her writing draws me right in, and I had the loveliest time listening.
With Regency wit, swoon, strangers, mistaken identity, and a house party (I can’t say that enough–I love them!!), this is a story to be devoured.
*I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given*
October 31, 2026
John Calder is finally coming home from the war. He yearns to propose to the women who kept his spirits alive when she left him her glove 7 (was it seven? can't remember) years ago. He suffers from some vague ague (malaria?) which strikes him down on his way to a reunion with the hopefully future Mrs. Calder. Evelyn is the cousin of John's intent and when a carriage accident strands her in a shepherds croft she meets a delirious and feverish John Calder. She thinks he's dying and nurses him through the night. Alone. In a croft together. It's scandalous. He doesn't die and when they meet up at the house party both agree to say nothing. Evelyn decides to keep John from her cousin because he called another woman's name while delirious. That's it. No other reason and not even a conversation about it for explanation. I disliked Evelyn and her judgy attitude immediately. They spend copious amounts of time together while Evelyn schemes to thwart John at every turn. It got better and the narration was fine but the sanctimonious air of the heroine was a put off.
June 26, 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!
September 21, 2026
WOW. Esther my GIRL. I haven't gotten this into and excited about a book in a long time. The pacing? Excellent. The tension? Perfection. The teasing and humor and personality of these characters? I was laughing out loud over and over again. The kissing scenes? I was kicking my feet like a little girl in my excitement - delicious, babe. Tempted to read this one all the way through again right now and I just finished it. Your writing and expression of emotions pulled me in and spoke to my heart. Well done, well done. One of my favorite proper romances DEFINITELY.
June 24, 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.
June 25, 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
August 12, 2026
What a great read... or a listen. I purchased the audiobook, and this was a great addition to my day with accurate voices and a storyline that held. Characters were believeable and likeable and i enjoyed the stretch of time and dramatics involved. Clean and appropriate and so worth it
September 8, 2026
A Most Unfortunate Happenstance—G/PG
Violence: no
Language: no
Sex: no
I liked the FMC very much, but this was not my hero as she wiped the floor with him. But it is an Esther Hatch book, so you should definitely read it; it’s very good!
Violence: no
Language: no
Sex: no
I liked the FMC very much, but this was not my hero as she wiped the floor with him. But it is an Esther Hatch book, so you should definitely read it; it’s very good!
August 10, 2026
This book got like….RANDOMLY intense with their relationship at the end. It took me off guard LOL. But I liked the development of this plot, it felt very unique. Want to read more of Esther Hatch’s books after this!
July 2, 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
August 19, 2026
There were parts of this book that I really liked. Evelyn was a fun, quirky character. I loved the plot and the premise of the story. I appreciated the fact that John wanted a family, a home and children. He had good, sweet dreams and desires. I just felt like some of the scenes and elements were a little too sensual. All of the kissing toward the end of the book didn’t feel accurate for that time period or for a woman who had never kissed anyone before. Some parts of it just started to feel a little icky for me personally.
July 12, 2026
I really enjoyed this book. It’s my favorite of Esther’s since the proper scandal series. ❤️
October 31, 2026
Esther is so good at describing the moment were the main characters finally embrace the relationship! There was a moment there I was worried this was not closed door. Seriously, if men want to ever fulfill a woman’s dreams they should read the last three chapters of this book, go and do likewise. 😂
Captain John is finally coming home from the war with Napoleon. He contracted an illness that rears its head. He got stuck in a downpour, and could tell that he was starting to get sick. Evelyn was traveling home with her family when they were caught in the same deluge. Her father had left the carriage to deal with a fallen tree, but twisted his knee. I don’t remember exactly why Evelyn had to leave the carriage other than it would give her father more room to stretch out, but she leaves to find shelter in a shepherd’s croft. Not long after a delirious John stumbles into the same croft. He is clearly very sick, and Evelyn recognizes that he can’t stay in his wet clothes. She removes his wet clothes, except for his pants, and she gives him her outer garment, leaving her just in her nightgown. He is so delirious that he is calling out random names. Evelyn believes he is married to a woman named May. At one point he kisses her, and she allows it thinking it will give him comfort in a reason to continue living if he believed he was home. There are several moments throughout the night where he takes a long time to take his next breath. Evelyn is so scared for him, but he survives the night. It is much better in the morning. He did have a woman he was pursuing, Harriet. However, they’re not married. Evelyn and John think they will never see each other again. He does the honorable thing by allowing her the choice to be engaged to him, given the circumstances that they spent the night in. She immediately rejects the offer and they go their separate ways. Turns out, Evelyn’s father purchased a home in the same neighborhood as John. John was gone due to the war, and they never met each other. However, he had met her cousin Harriet. Right before he left for the war his father had remarried for a third time and relocated to America, taking John’s beloved siblings. May was his sister. Evelyn‘s father had been a commander to John in the war. Her parents decided to throw a house party and invited a few single men. Evelyn had kept secret Harriet‘s older sisters attachment to a man. He was an employee at their home, and they ended up eloping. The social fallout ostracized Harriet from society for a few few years. This houseparty was away to open society back up to Harriet and hopefully find her a husband.
When John and Evelyn see each other at the house party they realize putting that night behind them will not be as easy as they thought. Evelyn is clearly attracted to John, but not ready to own up to that. John is distracted by Harriet. He believes that she left him her glove, and that glove has given him hope and his darkest moments over the six years of war. She was also incredibly helpful to him during his period of utter loneliness when his family moved to America. Evelyn works to prevent him from having any alone time with Harriet. Harriet does not seem super torn up about it, but John is as he had a vision for what his life would look like after the war. Evelyn is getting in the way of that vision. They end up spending time together, and Evelyn is having to push your feelings down and ignore them more and more. Jon is becoming confused at Harriet utter lack of engagement with him. There is a shooting contest where Evelyn and John’s skills are comparable. John also shows Evelyn this room in his home that has a sky window. It allows Evelyn to dream of what promise that room holds. John becomes conflicted as he realizes he is starting to have some feelings for Evelyn, however, he feels loyal to the memory of Harriet. Harriet and Evelyn miscommunicate, and each thinks the other is interested in John. Harriet arranges a late night meeting between Jon and Evelyn. When she proposes it to John, he suspects that he has misread Harry at the entire time. It is at this point that you find out that Harriet accidentally lost her glove and did not intentionally mean to leave it for him. John is relieved as he can now pursue Evelyn guilt free. Once they meet in the library, John finally puts enough doubt in Evelyn’s mind that she runs to Harriet to clarify who John was supposed to propose to. Evelyn runs back to the library to admit her feelings for John where they have their second, first kiss.
The next morning, Evelyn’s father conference John over something one of the other men said at dinner. He has peace together that Evelyn may have been alone with John prior to the house party on the night of the storm. It is actually a pretty funny scene. Evelyn becomes stubborn and starts revealing all. Harriet learns that John misunderstood her missing glove. Later conversations had in the study where John confesses to the kiss but also that he loves Evelyn. Her mom intervenes, and her father encourages them to the waterfall on the property, clearly hinting at a proposal. It is an adorable scene. The book ends with John’s siblings, arriving for the marriage, and hints that they intend to stay for longer. The epilogue advances to four months after their wedding. They have brought his siblings to the shepherd croft, where they reenact the scene once the siblings give them privacy. In advances again to an unknown point in the future, but looking back at all the times they had their children stop at the croft on a trip that passed by. They remained happy.
Captain John is finally coming home from the war with Napoleon. He contracted an illness that rears its head. He got stuck in a downpour, and could tell that he was starting to get sick. Evelyn was traveling home with her family when they were caught in the same deluge. Her father had left the carriage to deal with a fallen tree, but twisted his knee. I don’t remember exactly why Evelyn had to leave the carriage other than it would give her father more room to stretch out, but she leaves to find shelter in a shepherd’s croft. Not long after a delirious John stumbles into the same croft. He is clearly very sick, and Evelyn recognizes that he can’t stay in his wet clothes. She removes his wet clothes, except for his pants, and she gives him her outer garment, leaving her just in her nightgown. He is so delirious that he is calling out random names. Evelyn believes he is married to a woman named May. At one point he kisses her, and she allows it thinking it will give him comfort in a reason to continue living if he believed he was home. There are several moments throughout the night where he takes a long time to take his next breath. Evelyn is so scared for him, but he survives the night. It is much better in the morning. He did have a woman he was pursuing, Harriet. However, they’re not married. Evelyn and John think they will never see each other again. He does the honorable thing by allowing her the choice to be engaged to him, given the circumstances that they spent the night in. She immediately rejects the offer and they go their separate ways. Turns out, Evelyn’s father purchased a home in the same neighborhood as John. John was gone due to the war, and they never met each other. However, he had met her cousin Harriet. Right before he left for the war his father had remarried for a third time and relocated to America, taking John’s beloved siblings. May was his sister. Evelyn‘s father had been a commander to John in the war. Her parents decided to throw a house party and invited a few single men. Evelyn had kept secret Harriet‘s older sisters attachment to a man. He was an employee at their home, and they ended up eloping. The social fallout ostracized Harriet from society for a few few years. This houseparty was away to open society back up to Harriet and hopefully find her a husband.
When John and Evelyn see each other at the house party they realize putting that night behind them will not be as easy as they thought. Evelyn is clearly attracted to John, but not ready to own up to that. John is distracted by Harriet. He believes that she left him her glove, and that glove has given him hope and his darkest moments over the six years of war. She was also incredibly helpful to him during his period of utter loneliness when his family moved to America. Evelyn works to prevent him from having any alone time with Harriet. Harriet does not seem super torn up about it, but John is as he had a vision for what his life would look like after the war. Evelyn is getting in the way of that vision. They end up spending time together, and Evelyn is having to push your feelings down and ignore them more and more. Jon is becoming confused at Harriet utter lack of engagement with him. There is a shooting contest where Evelyn and John’s skills are comparable. John also shows Evelyn this room in his home that has a sky window. It allows Evelyn to dream of what promise that room holds. John becomes conflicted as he realizes he is starting to have some feelings for Evelyn, however, he feels loyal to the memory of Harriet. Harriet and Evelyn miscommunicate, and each thinks the other is interested in John. Harriet arranges a late night meeting between Jon and Evelyn. When she proposes it to John, he suspects that he has misread Harry at the entire time. It is at this point that you find out that Harriet accidentally lost her glove and did not intentionally mean to leave it for him. John is relieved as he can now pursue Evelyn guilt free. Once they meet in the library, John finally puts enough doubt in Evelyn’s mind that she runs to Harriet to clarify who John was supposed to propose to. Evelyn runs back to the library to admit her feelings for John where they have their second, first kiss.
The next morning, Evelyn’s father conference John over something one of the other men said at dinner. He has peace together that Evelyn may have been alone with John prior to the house party on the night of the storm. It is actually a pretty funny scene. Evelyn becomes stubborn and starts revealing all. Harriet learns that John misunderstood her missing glove. Later conversations had in the study where John confesses to the kiss but also that he loves Evelyn. Her mom intervenes, and her father encourages them to the waterfall on the property, clearly hinting at a proposal. It is an adorable scene. The book ends with John’s siblings, arriving for the marriage, and hints that they intend to stay for longer. The epilogue advances to four months after their wedding. They have brought his siblings to the shepherd croft, where they reenact the scene once the siblings give them privacy. In advances again to an unknown point in the future, but looking back at all the times they had their children stop at the croft on a trip that passed by. They remained happy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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.
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