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Spinster House #0.5
Nunca es tarde si la dicha es buena
Hace ya veinte años desde que lord William Wattles posó por primera vez sus ojos en Annabelle Frost. Sin embargo, sus rasgos permanecen fielmente en su memoria: su belleza etérea, su inteligencia aguda, lo moderno de su actitud ante el amor… y su sensualidad. Pero Belle fue señalada por resultar «ligera de cascos», lo que no dejó a su padre otra opción que enviarla lejos para no mancillar la reputación de la familia. Ahora se ha
instalado en la casa para solteronas de Loves Bridge, un lugar donde una mujer soltera puede vivir en paz y, más concretamente en el caso de Belle, mantenerse a sí misma trabajando como bibliotecaria.
¿Acaso la hermosa y apasionada dama ha acabado por renegar del matrimonio? William no puede entender cómo una mujer como la que conoció un día acabe así. Cuando el destino le lleva a Loves Bridge, aquel amor que tanto añoraba vuelve a sus brazos. ¿Valdrá la pena dar rienda suelta a su inquebrantable deseo a pesar del terrible escándalo que les
señalará? Desde luego.
instalado en la casa para solteronas de Loves Bridge, un lugar donde una mujer soltera puede vivir en paz y, más concretamente en el caso de Belle, mantenerse a sí misma trabajando como bibliotecaria.
¿Acaso la hermosa y apasionada dama ha acabado por renegar del matrimonio? William no puede entender cómo una mujer como la que conoció un día acabe así. Cuando el destino le lleva a Loves Bridge, aquel amor que tanto añoraba vuelve a sus brazos. ¿Valdrá la pena dar rienda suelta a su inquebrantable deseo a pesar del terrible escándalo que les
señalará? Desde luego.
139 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 30, 2015
49 people are currently reading
477 people want to read
About the author
Sally MacKenzie
42 books639 followersSally MacKenzie decided to become a writer in grade school when she read one of her stories to the class. Her classmates laughed and she was hooked. She sat down immediately to pen her first novel.
Well, not exactly.
The hooked part is right--cursed might be a better description--but the sitting down and writing part came later. Much later.
Sally eventually went on to college, majoring in English, and, upon graduation, did what many English majors do--she went to law school. But she still couldn’t shake her dream of writing fiction. Midway through law school, she faced the fact that she really did not want to be a lawyer. She took a permanent leave of absence, came home to the Washington, D.C. area, and sat down to type her first novel.
Well, not exactly.
She did come home and write, but mostly she wrote regulations for the United States government’s school nutrition programs. (Ketchup as a vegetable, anyone?) When her law school sweetheart graduated, he moved to D.C. and they got married. A couple years later, the first of their four sons was born, and Sally “retired” to manage their family. She wrote a story or two and some picture book texts, all now stored away in a filing cabinet, but she spent most of her energies on baby tending which rapidly evolved into carpool driving. She became an extremely skilled scheduler, getting all four boys to soccer, basketball, baseball, track, swimming, piano, scouts, and birthday parties without ever losing one. (Okay, she did lose the youngest for a few minutes, but she found him before he’d toddled into the parking lot.) And she did more writing--school newsletters, auction programs, class plays, swim league guidance, and the acclaimed annual MacKenzie family newsletter--but no fiction.
Finally, the boys started driving (Eek!) and leaving for college. The nest was emptying and she wasn't getting any younger. The time had come to chase the dream or let it go for good, so she sat down at the computer and wrote. And rewrote. And rewrote again until she had a polished manuscript. She joined the Romance Writers of America, and when the plea went out for Regency manuscripts for the 2004 Golden Heart contest, she sent in The Naked Duke. The stars aligned. She made the final round, and one of the judging editors liked the manuscript and offered to buy it.
Yee haw!!
When not writing or obsessing over the various mysteries of book promotion, Sally can be found at the gym working hard to age gracefully, at the pool on the SLOW side of the Masters swim practice, or at one meeting or another volunteering at the helm of the summer swim league.
Here's Sally with her family--she's 5 ft. 8 in. tall, but she's short in this crowd.
Well, not exactly.
The hooked part is right--cursed might be a better description--but the sitting down and writing part came later. Much later.
Sally eventually went on to college, majoring in English, and, upon graduation, did what many English majors do--she went to law school. But she still couldn’t shake her dream of writing fiction. Midway through law school, she faced the fact that she really did not want to be a lawyer. She took a permanent leave of absence, came home to the Washington, D.C. area, and sat down to type her first novel.
Well, not exactly.
She did come home and write, but mostly she wrote regulations for the United States government’s school nutrition programs. (Ketchup as a vegetable, anyone?) When her law school sweetheart graduated, he moved to D.C. and they got married. A couple years later, the first of their four sons was born, and Sally “retired” to manage their family. She wrote a story or two and some picture book texts, all now stored away in a filing cabinet, but she spent most of her energies on baby tending which rapidly evolved into carpool driving. She became an extremely skilled scheduler, getting all four boys to soccer, basketball, baseball, track, swimming, piano, scouts, and birthday parties without ever losing one. (Okay, she did lose the youngest for a few minutes, but she found him before he’d toddled into the parking lot.) And she did more writing--school newsletters, auction programs, class plays, swim league guidance, and the acclaimed annual MacKenzie family newsletter--but no fiction.
Finally, the boys started driving (Eek!) and leaving for college. The nest was emptying and she wasn't getting any younger. The time had come to chase the dream or let it go for good, so she sat down at the computer and wrote. And rewrote. And rewrote again until she had a polished manuscript. She joined the Romance Writers of America, and when the plea went out for Regency manuscripts for the 2004 Golden Heart contest, she sent in The Naked Duke. The stars aligned. She made the final round, and one of the judging editors liked the manuscript and offered to buy it.
Yee haw!!
When not writing or obsessing over the various mysteries of book promotion, Sally can be found at the gym working hard to age gracefully, at the pool on the SLOW side of the Masters swim practice, or at one meeting or another volunteering at the helm of the summer swim league.
Here's Sally with her family--she's 5 ft. 8 in. tall, but she's short in this crowd.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
May 16, 2016
I have to be honest. I did not like the hero William, much at all. He was a selfish prick, in my opinion. He did come around slowly. He felt betrayed by his wife, but for good reason, but then he becomes a bad husband, visiting brothels and getting drunk, and when he decides to focus on his marriage, his wife has fallen into a depraved lifestyle. I know he was young, but he was old enough to know better. Then he goes into hiding in a small town, Loves Bridge. He sees his old flame, Belle, and decides he deserves to start hitting that again, and says something really mean to her when she says no, before they can do the dead. She had every right to stop things with a married man. Also, I didn't like that he was perfectly okay with cheating on his wife with prostitutes, but not with a respectable woman. I think prostitution is reprehensible. I don't think prostitutes deserve any less respect than any woman (even if they're paid sex workers), and I think less of a hero who believes that. While William does apologize for what he said to Belle, it left a bad taste in my mouth. As well as his double standards about his wife's behavior. She was acting out and he couldn't be a man and love her and commit to his marriage, even if she wasn't what he thought she was.
This novella pushed my buttons in the worst way about male and female relations and societal double standards that still exist today. The woman gets into trouble, and is forced to deal with it alone, and the man skips out blissful and free from responsibility. Young William didn't deserve Young Belle, and I'm not 100% sure that Old William does. She gave him her virginity and he goes off and forgets her, and leaves her to deal with a situation he definitely contributed to. Then when he sees her, he assumes she's going accommodate his horniness despite his wife back in town. Ugh. Belle definitely loved more than he did. I like that Belle is a normal woman with normal needs. I'm so glad that her conscience kicked in and she won't go through with sleeping with him, even if he's in a bad marriage. I think it would have been a dealbreaker if she did sleep with him while he was married. Women do have sex drives, and while she was celibate for many years, she still had those feelings. I hated that she was made to be the fallen woman by her awful father (a vicar of all things) while William goes off and sows plenty of wild oats, before and after his marriage (and going to prostitutes doesn't make it better than his wife's more public, less discrete behavior).
I'm really glad this was a free read. I would have been a lot madder if I hadn't read for free. I normally like this author a lot. I couldn't get past William's behavior and the blase' attitude about prostitution, which I know she's not alone about. It's treated as a casual thing but it's a social ill and it's a terrible life for those women (and often men and children). I would like to see more heroes who realize how wrong that it. Like another reader, the high point was the cat, Poppy, who becomes not just a matchmaker but a protector of the spinsters. I'm crazy in love with cats so that worked for me.
Having said that, if a reader wants to get a prequel for this series, it's free on Kindle. I have the Kindle, but I read this as a bonus novella with How to Manage a Marquess.
Overall rating: 2.5/5.0 stars.
This novella pushed my buttons in the worst way about male and female relations and societal double standards that still exist today. The woman gets into trouble, and is forced to deal with it alone, and the man skips out blissful and free from responsibility. Young William didn't deserve Young Belle, and I'm not 100% sure that Old William does. She gave him her virginity and he goes off and forgets her, and leaves her to deal with a situation he definitely contributed to. Then when he sees her, he assumes she's going accommodate his horniness despite his wife back in town. Ugh. Belle definitely loved more than he did. I like that Belle is a normal woman with normal needs. I'm so glad that her conscience kicked in and she won't go through with sleeping with him, even if he's in a bad marriage. I think it would have been a dealbreaker if she did sleep with him while he was married. Women do have sex drives, and while she was celibate for many years, she still had those feelings. I hated that she was made to be the fallen woman by her awful father (a vicar of all things) while William goes off and sows plenty of wild oats, before and after his marriage (and going to prostitutes doesn't make it better than his wife's more public, less discrete behavior).
I'm really glad this was a free read. I would have been a lot madder if I hadn't read for free. I normally like this author a lot. I couldn't get past William's behavior and the blase' attitude about prostitution, which I know she's not alone about. It's treated as a casual thing but it's a social ill and it's a terrible life for those women (and often men and children). I would like to see more heroes who realize how wrong that it. Like another reader, the high point was the cat, Poppy, who becomes not just a matchmaker but a protector of the spinsters. I'm crazy in love with cats so that worked for me.
Having said that, if a reader wants to get a prequel for this series, it's free on Kindle. I have the Kindle, but I read this as a bonus novella with How to Manage a Marquess.
Overall rating: 2.5/5.0 stars.
February 6, 2017
Reseña completa: http://masromance.blogspot.com.es/201...
No me ha gustado.
Un relato corto y muy frío.
Tenía muchas ganas de leerlo, pues la pareja y su historia llamó mucho mi atención en la primera entrega. Pero es un relato en el que apenas pasa nada, exceptuando unas cuantas escenas de sexo frías y sinsentido.
Una pena, la verdad
No me ha gustado.
Un relato corto y muy frío.
Tenía muchas ganas de leerlo, pues la pareja y su historia llamó mucho mi atención en la primera entrega. Pero es un relato en el que apenas pasa nada, exceptuando unas cuantas escenas de sexo frías y sinsentido.
Una pena, la verdad
March 28, 2016
Esta es una novela o relato corto que nos introduce en la serie "Loves Bridge", creí oportuno empezar por aquí y me esperaba otra cosa, fue tal la decepción que aunque me prestaron el siguiente libro creo que no lo leeré.
Al final me quedé con una decepción tal que grima me da empezar con el siguiente, a no ser que vea reseñas positivas lo dejaré aparcado.
La trama al principio parece interesante pero la autora no se esmera mucho en ella, el tiempo pasa volando y no ocurre nada de interés que te mantenga expectante. En ocasiones lo encontré todo muy adecuado, para que ocurra lo ideal para los protagonistas, muy poco realista.
De los personajes...es otro tema aparte, son planos hasta decir basta, no tienen nada, no me plantearon ningún tipo de emoción.
Al final me quedé con una tristeza por así decirlo, con un sinsabor, uf, no sé como explicarlo. Nueva autora que conozco que no me gustó en su forma de narrar y de llevar la historia.
Al final me quedé con una decepción tal que grima me da empezar con el siguiente, a no ser que vea reseñas positivas lo dejaré aparcado.
La trama al principio parece interesante pero la autora no se esmera mucho en ella, el tiempo pasa volando y no ocurre nada de interés que te mantenga expectante. En ocasiones lo encontré todo muy adecuado, para que ocurra lo ideal para los protagonistas, muy poco realista.
De los personajes...es otro tema aparte, son planos hasta decir basta, no tienen nada, no me plantearon ningún tipo de emoción.
Al final me quedé con una tristeza por así decirlo, con un sinsabor, uf, no sé como explicarlo. Nueva autora que conozco que no me gustó en su forma de narrar y de llevar la historia.
August 21, 2015
2.5 stars
The book being a prequel to a new series (I wanted to read the first book: What to Do with a Duke) and a novella, I expected a kind of a Regency England short full-of-wit story. And it initially started that way.
A heroine working as a librarian in Loves Bridge, a small village, and the love interest, a youngest son of a Duke, posing as music teacher. They had torrid yet short affair in the past, and it would seem like they would pick up where they had left off.
But then the story revealed that William, the hero, was still married. Yes, he's estranged with his wild and scandalous, wife. But the point was: he was STILL married when he met again with Belle.
I was further disappointed when William's wife conveniently died and Belle comforting William turned into a few tumble in bed, they repeated the same "mistake" by getting pregnant. It's not the pregnancy I took issue with; it's the way Belle was so careless to put herself in the same trouble she had had before. She was older now, she should have been wiser with the way of life.
I guess those issues I dislike (the cheating and the carelessness) had to happened as part of the story line, which - to my humble opinion - filled with one convenience to another. But they just left bad taste in my tongue that I could not really care about our MCs. I'm happy they finally get their happy ending, but that's about it.
The good thing in this book for me was Poppy, the cat. I think she's a sort of guardian of the Spinster House, and I so looking forward to see her further in the coming book which would be between Duke of Hart himself and the Vicar's daughter.
Note: ARC was kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The book being a prequel to a new series (I wanted to read the first book: What to Do with a Duke) and a novella, I expected a kind of a Regency England short full-of-wit story. And it initially started that way.
A heroine working as a librarian in Loves Bridge, a small village, and the love interest, a youngest son of a Duke, posing as music teacher. They had torrid yet short affair in the past, and it would seem like they would pick up where they had left off.
But then the story revealed that William, the hero, was still married. Yes, he's estranged with his wild and scandalous, wife. But the point was: he was STILL married when he met again with Belle.
I was further disappointed when William's wife conveniently died and Belle comforting William turned into a few tumble in bed, they repeated the same "mistake" by getting pregnant. It's not the pregnancy I took issue with; it's the way Belle was so careless to put herself in the same trouble she had had before. She was older now, she should have been wiser with the way of life.
I guess those issues I dislike (the cheating and the carelessness) had to happened as part of the story line, which - to my humble opinion - filled with one convenience to another. But they just left bad taste in my tongue that I could not really care about our MCs. I'm happy they finally get their happy ending, but that's about it.
The good thing in this book for me was Poppy, the cat. I think she's a sort of guardian of the Spinster House, and I so looking forward to see her further in the coming book which would be between Duke of Hart himself and the Vicar's daughter.
Note: ARC was kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 11, 2015
Sorry, but I really hated William! He's an ass. I also found the sudden deaths of everyone to be ridiculous. It was going along great but then that happened and I'm like, no.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 24, 2020
I like romance novellas, because they have less time for the Angst Cycle some novels get into where the characters keep almost getting together and then going "no!!" for like ten chapters. This one has a matchmaking kitty!
May 11, 2015
„In the Spinster’s Bed“ is part 0,5 in the “Spinster House” series by Sally MacKenzie. The book hasn’t even 100 pages so it is quite hard to write about it because the writer introduces quite a few characters and a storyline too. And there is more than sex, there is also family death and lots of other things.
But keep it easy. Belle nowadays lives in a small town under another name and takes care of a library, lives in the Spinster’s House and wants to forget her past. On the other side is Lord William Wattles who suddenly needs to flee London and his nymphomaniac wife. Maybe nymphomaniac wouldn’t be a problem if he would be involved in her affairs but he isn’t. Nevertheless he sees Belle in the library and remembers her instantly but she doesn’t want him to know her, doesn’t want him to recognize her. Of course they have a past and things didn’t end well back than.
So Belle lives in the Spinster’s House, a small cottage and suddenly there is a cat in the house. Belle has no clue how the cat was able to get into her bedroom at all. William hides under another name and plays music teacher. Nobody knows in town that they share a past because people don’t ask questions.
One things lead to another ….
Anyway … there is a lot of story in those 96 pages, too much in my opinion. MacKenzie doesn’t give the characters the time to develop, everything is very predictable in the way she describes it. And the family death (without spoilering it) was absolutely nonsensical. So why?
What I liked about the book is the role of the cat and the idea of the Spinster’s House. I couldn’t identify with Belle at all, I am not even sure I liked her because there was no time to learn things about her.
So… rating: 3***
But keep it easy. Belle nowadays lives in a small town under another name and takes care of a library, lives in the Spinster’s House and wants to forget her past. On the other side is Lord William Wattles who suddenly needs to flee London and his nymphomaniac wife. Maybe nymphomaniac wouldn’t be a problem if he would be involved in her affairs but he isn’t. Nevertheless he sees Belle in the library and remembers her instantly but she doesn’t want him to know her, doesn’t want him to recognize her. Of course they have a past and things didn’t end well back than.
So Belle lives in the Spinster’s House, a small cottage and suddenly there is a cat in the house. Belle has no clue how the cat was able to get into her bedroom at all. William hides under another name and plays music teacher. Nobody knows in town that they share a past because people don’t ask questions.
One things lead to another ….
Anyway … there is a lot of story in those 96 pages, too much in my opinion. MacKenzie doesn’t give the characters the time to develop, everything is very predictable in the way she describes it. And the family death (without spoilering it) was absolutely nonsensical. So why?
What I liked about the book is the role of the cat and the idea of the Spinster’s House. I couldn’t identify with Belle at all, I am not even sure I liked her because there was no time to learn things about her.
So… rating: 3***
April 27, 2016
Es taaaan corto que no puedo darle más puntuación, todo se resuelve demasiado rápido y no hay mucha historia más que se mueren todos para que sean felices... ¿WHAT? Pues nada, entiendo que es un .5 pero espero que los otros sean mejores
June 30, 2015
Miss Belle Frost, age 37, lives in Loves Bridge and work as the town’s librarian. She goes by the name of Miss Annabelle Franklin. The daughter of a vicar, she was thrown out of the house when it became known that she was pregnant. She and William Wattles had become lovers and when she realized she was pregnant, she did not want to tell William because she was only a vicar’s daughter. So, she kept her secret from him. Thus, she traveled to Loves Bridge to live the quiet life of a spinster under an assumed name. It has been 20 years and she is known as the Spinster House spinster. As it happens, the town has a home where a spinster can stay for life for until she marries. So, she has had a peaceful life alone and has adopted a cat.
Lord William Wattles, age 38, is the third son of a peer of the realm. His two older brothers, Albert and Oliver are married but their wives have produced only daughters. When William was younger, his father realized that he did not appear to be cut out for big things so he bought William his colors and he entered the Army. Now years later, William has married Hortense, a daughter of an Earl. Unfortunately, it turns out that Hortense is a woman hooked on partying, spirits and cocaine. Her wantonness is such an embarrassment to William that he has decided to leave town for awhile hoping gossip about his wife will soon die down. He chooses the town of Loves Bridge.
When William meets Belle, he immediately recognizes her but she tries to convince him that he is mistaken. But William knows who she is and remembers their past. When he comes to her house, their old attraction takes over. But, William is called away when his wife overdoses and dies. William returns to Loves Bridge but is called away again when his father dies.
Belle does not want to tell William about the past and her pregnancy but she fears she as become pregnant again. She feels she cannot tell him because she is still just a vicar’s daughter and he needs to marry a younger woman of higher breeding and produce an heir.
What will happen to their love and passion? Is it strong enough to keep them together?
This was a nice novella about love that remains true for a long time.
Lord William Wattles, age 38, is the third son of a peer of the realm. His two older brothers, Albert and Oliver are married but their wives have produced only daughters. When William was younger, his father realized that he did not appear to be cut out for big things so he bought William his colors and he entered the Army. Now years later, William has married Hortense, a daughter of an Earl. Unfortunately, it turns out that Hortense is a woman hooked on partying, spirits and cocaine. Her wantonness is such an embarrassment to William that he has decided to leave town for awhile hoping gossip about his wife will soon die down. He chooses the town of Loves Bridge.
When William meets Belle, he immediately recognizes her but she tries to convince him that he is mistaken. But William knows who she is and remembers their past. When he comes to her house, their old attraction takes over. But, William is called away when his wife overdoses and dies. William returns to Loves Bridge but is called away again when his father dies.
Belle does not want to tell William about the past and her pregnancy but she fears she as become pregnant again. She feels she cannot tell him because she is still just a vicar’s daughter and he needs to marry a younger woman of higher breeding and produce an heir.
What will happen to their love and passion? Is it strong enough to keep them together?
This was a nice novella about love that remains true for a long time.
June 30, 2015
This little novella is a pleasing and touching story. At first I thought it was going to be a lighthearted read, but then layers are slowly revealed with shocking little excerpts from Belle’s diary, from twenty years earlier.
The hero is married so, again, I wasn’t sure how the author would spin this tale. That, too, is revealed in a tender and sad way and creates great empathy for the hero, something I admire highly in an author.
Sometimes MacKenzie’s prose is a little brash–at one point, the hero calls the heroine a “fucking whore.” That took me out of the romance pretty quickly. But again, the author redeems William in a believable way that steers the story in the direction of a happy ending.
For my full review on my historical romance and history blog: http://bit.ly/1g65yFA
The hero is married so, again, I wasn’t sure how the author would spin this tale. That, too, is revealed in a tender and sad way and creates great empathy for the hero, something I admire highly in an author.
Sometimes MacKenzie’s prose is a little brash–at one point, the hero calls the heroine a “fucking whore.” That took me out of the romance pretty quickly. But again, the author redeems William in a believable way that steers the story in the direction of a happy ending.
For my full review on my historical romance and history blog: http://bit.ly/1g65yFA
October 28, 2015
A good kick off to the series.
September 29, 2019
⭐⭐ to In the Spinter's Bed by Sally MacKenzie
It's a novella in Spinter's Series. It's about Belle Frost or Miss Franklin of Spinster House spinster and Lord William Wattles or known as Mr.Wattles, a substitute music teacher in disguise.
Belle and William once a lover when they were very young. But as a vicar's daughter she wasn't a good match to a Duke of Benton's son. When Belle found herself carrying William's baby, her father abandoned her and she lost the baby and ended as spinster house spinster.
Now, almost 20 years later, they met again and the sparks still there. But yet they still can't be together, William already married and Belle is a spinter house spinster. But what if there's a chance? Will they be together again?
Well, not a fan of this novella. For me, William is kind of a jerk. When they were young, she just leave Belle like that, without any consideration that Belle might be carrying his child. And then he married to someone he didn't love because of his status and didn't try enough to save the marriage. I feel sorry to his wife. It's just a shame that Belle couldn't find someone other than him and of course she marries William at the end and they live happily ever after, but still....Not my favorite at all.
It's a novella in Spinter's Series. It's about Belle Frost or Miss Franklin of Spinster House spinster and Lord William Wattles or known as Mr.Wattles, a substitute music teacher in disguise.
Belle and William once a lover when they were very young. But as a vicar's daughter she wasn't a good match to a Duke of Benton's son. When Belle found herself carrying William's baby, her father abandoned her and she lost the baby and ended as spinster house spinster.
Now, almost 20 years later, they met again and the sparks still there. But yet they still can't be together, William already married and Belle is a spinter house spinster. But what if there's a chance? Will they be together again?
Well, not a fan of this novella. For me, William is kind of a jerk. When they were young, she just leave Belle like that, without any consideration that Belle might be carrying his child. And then he married to someone he didn't love because of his status and didn't try enough to save the marriage. I feel sorry to his wife. It's just a shame that Belle couldn't find someone other than him and of course she marries William at the end and they live happily ever after, but still....Not my favorite at all.
September 1, 2019
I've been a Sally MacKenzie fan for years. I devoured her Naked series and so when I saw this book on NetGalley, I knew I had to read and review. And now, several years later as I'm cleaning up my NetGalley shelf, I've finally read it.
In the Spinster's Bed is a introduction novella to the Spinster House series. A little history about the house is given over the course of the book, just enough to pique my interest in the series. But the story is a second chance story for Belle and William. They were young lovers who were torn apart and then have run into each other 20 years later.
The story itself is fine. It's a novella, so there's not a lot of time for character or plot development. I think the story would have been better if we had more of the character's history (rather than a couple flash backs) and a little more conflict. Everything resolved a little too tidy and quickly.
That said, I did enjoy the book... just wanted more. And I'm curious enough about the Spinster House to look for more in the series.
In the Spinster's Bed is a introduction novella to the Spinster House series. A little history about the house is given over the course of the book, just enough to pique my interest in the series. But the story is a second chance story for Belle and William. They were young lovers who were torn apart and then have run into each other 20 years later.
The story itself is fine. It's a novella, so there's not a lot of time for character or plot development. I think the story would have been better if we had more of the character's history (rather than a couple flash backs) and a little more conflict. Everything resolved a little too tidy and quickly.
That said, I did enjoy the book... just wanted more. And I'm curious enough about the Spinster House to look for more in the series.
October 10, 2018
Do not bother.
I wanted to like the story since second chances fascinate. But the toxic masculinity and boorish worldviews held little appeal. Even noted once with a DNF. Sadly, I did. It wasn't particularly pleasant. Neither character seemed to grown in the 20 years. Definitely not a book I'd recommend.
I wanted to like the story since second chances fascinate. But the toxic masculinity and boorish worldviews held little appeal. Even noted once with a DNF. Sadly, I did. It wasn't particularly pleasant. Neither character seemed to grown in the 20 years. Definitely not a book I'd recommend.
August 17, 2021
Cute shorter story. It seems to be a prequel to the first Spinsters novel. It’s odd that it was tacked onto the 2nd book,”How to Manage a Marquess”
July 7, 2015
Mon avis en Français
My ENglish review
I looked forward to this new Sally MacKenzie’s series. Indeed, I always have a great time with all her stories and I was curious to see what she would present us this time. This new addition allows us to have a glimpse of what awaits us in the future for this series.
We discover Belle, a young woman who was able to rebuild her life after being thrown into the street by her father when she was younger. With luck, she managed to find a job enabling her to continue her life as a single person without being dishonored in any way whatsoever. Thus she becomes the new librarian in Loves Bridge, as soon as she keeps her spinsterhood label. And, to leave her past completely behind her, the young woman even decides to change her name. Yet, her life will change completely when an old acquaintance comes to town, a man for whom her heart beat and for whom he it always beats. Unfortunately the latter is married, what can happen then?
I enjoyed discovering this introduction even if finally everything happens too fast and I struggled to hang on everything. The romance between the two is very fast too and it is true that they are not very careful about what others think of them. But really, I think the only problem is the speed of the narrative, as it fails to really embrace this resurgent relationship. But overall it’s still a nice story to follow and I admit that I am curious to read the first novel now.
My ENglish review
I looked forward to this new Sally MacKenzie’s series. Indeed, I always have a great time with all her stories and I was curious to see what she would present us this time. This new addition allows us to have a glimpse of what awaits us in the future for this series.
We discover Belle, a young woman who was able to rebuild her life after being thrown into the street by her father when she was younger. With luck, she managed to find a job enabling her to continue her life as a single person without being dishonored in any way whatsoever. Thus she becomes the new librarian in Loves Bridge, as soon as she keeps her spinsterhood label. And, to leave her past completely behind her, the young woman even decides to change her name. Yet, her life will change completely when an old acquaintance comes to town, a man for whom her heart beat and for whom he it always beats. Unfortunately the latter is married, what can happen then?
I enjoyed discovering this introduction even if finally everything happens too fast and I struggled to hang on everything. The romance between the two is very fast too and it is true that they are not very careful about what others think of them. But really, I think the only problem is the speed of the narrative, as it fails to really embrace this resurgent relationship. But overall it’s still a nice story to follow and I admit that I am curious to read the first novel now.
June 19, 2015
A wonderful start to her new series. This is a novella that has the full novel experience. It is also unique in that the two main characters are both in their late thirties and have not seen each other for over 20 years. Belle is a spinster working in a small town library and William was in an unhappy marriage. Tired of being the subject of gossip due to his whore of a wife, William decides to leave London and go somewhere remote where no one knows him. Belle has been in Loves Bridge for 20 years when her father the vicar kicked her out for being pregnant and refusing to name the father. Belle eventually winds up in Loves Bridge, changes her name and occupies The Spinster House, a house that you can only live in if you are a Spinster. A lovely story of a second chance at love. I enjoyed this book very much and wish that it was longer. Cannot wait for the next one in the series. Sally is an amazing writer who caught my attention years ago with The Naked Series, which I still have and re-read. Sally is always a must read for me.
Received ARC for an honest review.
Received ARC for an honest review.
June 30, 2015
... true love rekindled!
Sweet story of love lost and found and a mountain of personal tragedy in between.
Twenty years ago Annabelle Frost had loved Lord William Wattles, her childhood friend. A friendship that one ripe afternoon developed into a passionate relationship.
William returned to school and Belle was hustled off, banished really, to another part of England. That was then. Now William is fleeing a scandal to the very village of Loves Bridge where Belle has made a new life for herself.
The future is uncertain and fearful but the attraction between Annabelle and William is still as strong and heady as it was so long ago.
Between times the mystery of the being of Spinster House is hinted at. As is said, 'at Spinster House, a woman can enjoy the spoils of single life—or find the love of a lifetime…'
A successor to residency seems to be waiting in the wings. Then there's the mysterious cat!
A little gem showcasing the Spinster House series.
A NetGalley ARC
Sweet story of love lost and found and a mountain of personal tragedy in between.
Twenty years ago Annabelle Frost had loved Lord William Wattles, her childhood friend. A friendship that one ripe afternoon developed into a passionate relationship.
William returned to school and Belle was hustled off, banished really, to another part of England. That was then. Now William is fleeing a scandal to the very village of Loves Bridge where Belle has made a new life for herself.
The future is uncertain and fearful but the attraction between Annabelle and William is still as strong and heady as it was so long ago.
Between times the mystery of the being of Spinster House is hinted at. As is said, 'at Spinster House, a woman can enjoy the spoils of single life—or find the love of a lifetime…'
A successor to residency seems to be waiting in the wings. Then there's the mysterious cat!
A little gem showcasing the Spinster House series.
A NetGalley ARC
June 27, 2015
#0.5 in the "Spinster House" series,but can be read as a stand alone. A Novella. A quick read, which has a powerful punch. You can't help but love these characters. Second chance love is always a favorite of mine. Romance, passion and love, is always an enjoyable premise, to me, anyway.
An enjoyable and satisfying read. I look forward to the next installment.
*Received for an honest review from the publisher via Net Gallery*
**Cross-posted on My Book Addiction Reviews dot com**
Rating: 4
Heat rating: Mild
Reviewed by: AprilR, courtesy of My Book Addiction and More
An enjoyable and satisfying read. I look forward to the next installment.
*Received for an honest review from the publisher via Net Gallery*
**Cross-posted on My Book Addiction Reviews dot com**
Rating: 4
Heat rating: Mild
Reviewed by: AprilR, courtesy of My Book Addiction and More
July 9, 2015
Short and sweet, this second chance romance by Ms. Sally MacKenzie only make me love the second chance trope more and more. I love how the author uses her wit and understanding to bring these long separated souls together after their twenty years apart. Belle thinks that after twenty years apart, William will no longer remember whop sparked his interest so deeply? Nonsense! I love their merry little chase and the final HEA, just the way it's supposed to be!
Read
April 16, 2016Innuendo out the wazoo!
Read
February 16, 2016I received this book for free and was asked to remove my review.
December 13, 2017
Good introductory novella to the Spinster House series characters though it doesn't have much on why the Spinster House exists to start with. The current resident is Belle Frost, though she's known as Miss Franklin to the people of Loves Bridge. Twenty years earlier she had been kicked out of her home by her father for scandalous behavior and sent to a relative in Loves Bridge. She has served as the town librarian ever since and led a quiet life.
William shows up in Loves Bridge looking for a place to hide out for a while. He is tired of being the butt of gossip because of his wife's antics and wants somewhere to go where no one knows him. He will be plain Mr. Wattles and fill in for the music teacher while he is in Loves Bridge.
Belle and William's reunion came as a shock to both of them. Belle does her best to convince William that he has mistaken her for someone else, but he doesn't believe her. William is stunned to find the passionate girl he knew is all prim and proper. Neither can deny the sparks that still fly between them. A confrontation between them gets heated, then passionate, until Belle recalls that William is married and calls a halt. They spend the next several months doing their best to avoid each other and temptation. Then Fate takes a hand, and William is free to pursue Belle again.
I liked the development of Belle and William's relationship. Though they had been apart for twenty years, they had never forgotten each other, even as they went on with their lives. I liked seeing their backstory as it was revealed through flashbacks. I admit to being a bit disappointed in the young William's behavior when he returned to school and didn't try to contact Belle, leaving her to deal with the fallout when it happened. I liked that he realized he was wrong to kiss (and more) Belle while he was still married and avoided temptation after that. When he returns after his wife's death, there is no longer an impediment to their being together. It doesn't take long for them to fall into each other's' arms. Those times between them are intense and rekindle the feelings they had before. At this point neither is thinking of the future, until William is called home because of his father's illness.
There isn't much love lost between William and his father and two older brothers. I had the feeling that many of William's actions as a young man were directly because of how they treated him. But he certainly didn't expect the depth of the tragedy that awaited him when he arrived. I ached for William and everything that he went through. During those weeks he finally realized his feelings for Belle and that he needs her with him and in his life forever.
Meanwhile, Belle has to deal with her own unexpected circumstances. I wasn't surprised at the fix she was in, only that she had believed herself too old at all. I ached for her and her fear that she wouldn't see William again because of his new status. I loved her surprise at his sudden appearance and their joy at being together again. Poor Belle was so nervous about confessing her secret, but William's reaction was great. I loved his way of proving to her that his proposal was not being forced by honor.
William shows up in Loves Bridge looking for a place to hide out for a while. He is tired of being the butt of gossip because of his wife's antics and wants somewhere to go where no one knows him. He will be plain Mr. Wattles and fill in for the music teacher while he is in Loves Bridge.
Belle and William's reunion came as a shock to both of them. Belle does her best to convince William that he has mistaken her for someone else, but he doesn't believe her. William is stunned to find the passionate girl he knew is all prim and proper. Neither can deny the sparks that still fly between them. A confrontation between them gets heated, then passionate, until Belle recalls that William is married and calls a halt. They spend the next several months doing their best to avoid each other and temptation. Then Fate takes a hand, and William is free to pursue Belle again.
I liked the development of Belle and William's relationship. Though they had been apart for twenty years, they had never forgotten each other, even as they went on with their lives. I liked seeing their backstory as it was revealed through flashbacks. I admit to being a bit disappointed in the young William's behavior when he returned to school and didn't try to contact Belle, leaving her to deal with the fallout when it happened. I liked that he realized he was wrong to kiss (and more) Belle while he was still married and avoided temptation after that. When he returns after his wife's death, there is no longer an impediment to their being together. It doesn't take long for them to fall into each other's' arms. Those times between them are intense and rekindle the feelings they had before. At this point neither is thinking of the future, until William is called home because of his father's illness.
There isn't much love lost between William and his father and two older brothers. I had the feeling that many of William's actions as a young man were directly because of how they treated him. But he certainly didn't expect the depth of the tragedy that awaited him when he arrived. I ached for William and everything that he went through. During those weeks he finally realized his feelings for Belle and that he needs her with him and in his life forever.
Meanwhile, Belle has to deal with her own unexpected circumstances. I wasn't surprised at the fix she was in, only that she had believed herself too old at all. I ached for her and her fear that she wouldn't see William again because of his new status. I loved her surprise at his sudden appearance and their joy at being together again. Poor Belle was so nervous about confessing her secret, but William's reaction was great. I loved his way of proving to her that his proposal was not being forced by honor.
September 27, 2017
Twenty years ago, Annabelle Frost fell in love and in bed with William Wattles, the third son of the Duke of Benton, when she was in her teens. William went back to Oxford, the army, and on with his life and forgot about Belle. Belle’s father, a vicar, threw her out of the house when he discovered her pregnancy. She lost the baby, but gained a life in the Spinster House working in the small library of Love’s Bridge using the name Miss Franklin.
Part of William’s life is the unfortunate marriage to the scandalous Hortense. Her outrageous behavior has sullied his name and that of his family. He has come to Love’s Bridge to lay low for a while away from society and its gossips. He takes over the room and the role of the village’s music master while the current occupant is away caring for his ill mother.
In the Spinster’s Bed is entertaining, but not outstanding. The characters are slight and not particularly admirable. They fall into bed easily, then and now; William’s wife is an issue, but what has he done to dissuade her or develop a relationship? There is a lot of easy resolution here, but life doesn’t work that way. The novella is a light read and fleshes out the series.
Readalikes:
Christina Dodd; Julia Quinn; Julie Garwood; Sabrina Jeffries; Kat Martin; Stephanie Laurens; Karen Hawkins; Tessa Dare; Sarah MacLean.
Pace: fast
Characters: mostly likeable, not developed in depth
Story: character-driven
Writing Style: engaging
Tone: Mildly sensuous
Frame: Dornham Village, 1797; Love’s Bridge, 1816
Disclosure: Reading copy provided by the publisher. Included in How to Manage a Marquess
Part of William’s life is the unfortunate marriage to the scandalous Hortense. Her outrageous behavior has sullied his name and that of his family. He has come to Love’s Bridge to lay low for a while away from society and its gossips. He takes over the room and the role of the village’s music master while the current occupant is away caring for his ill mother.
In the Spinster’s Bed is entertaining, but not outstanding. The characters are slight and not particularly admirable. They fall into bed easily, then and now; William’s wife is an issue, but what has he done to dissuade her or develop a relationship? There is a lot of easy resolution here, but life doesn’t work that way. The novella is a light read and fleshes out the series.
Readalikes:
Christina Dodd; Julia Quinn; Julie Garwood; Sabrina Jeffries; Kat Martin; Stephanie Laurens; Karen Hawkins; Tessa Dare; Sarah MacLean.
Pace: fast
Characters: mostly likeable, not developed in depth
Story: character-driven
Writing Style: engaging
Tone: Mildly sensuous
Frame: Dornham Village, 1797; Love’s Bridge, 1816
Disclosure: Reading copy provided by the publisher. Included in How to Manage a Marquess
February 19, 2018
This story started out well, but too many convenient coincidences and a less than satisfying ending let me displeased.
William and Belle were sweethearts. He's a younger son of the duke. She's the vicar's daughter. After a steamy summer romance, he goes back to college and she's left at home with a baby in her belly. After being sent to live with a scandalous older cousin, Belle has a miscarriage. Twenty years later (Why such a long wait????), William arrives in the small village where Belle lives. He's married to a unfaithful and scandalous woman. His wife conveniently dies. Then, William's older brothers conveniently die in a carriage accident while their father lies at death's door. In one day, these three deaths make William the new duke.
What also bugged me about this story was the lack of closure with Belle's father. He's still alive and serving as the vicar on William's family's estate. The readers of this story should feel cheated. We were robbed of the opportunity to witness Belle's triumphant return to the estate (as its new duchess) to face the father who beat her and turned her out of his home when he discovered she was pregnant 20 years earlier.
I think the story would have been better if only 5-7 years had passed since they'd seen each other. Their first child should have lived. He shouldn't have married anyone else.
William and Belle were sweethearts. He's a younger son of the duke. She's the vicar's daughter. After a steamy summer romance, he goes back to college and she's left at home with a baby in her belly. After being sent to live with a scandalous older cousin, Belle has a miscarriage. Twenty years later (Why such a long wait????), William arrives in the small village where Belle lives. He's married to a unfaithful and scandalous woman. His wife conveniently dies. Then, William's older brothers conveniently die in a carriage accident while their father lies at death's door. In one day, these three deaths make William the new duke.
What also bugged me about this story was the lack of closure with Belle's father. He's still alive and serving as the vicar on William's family's estate. The readers of this story should feel cheated. We were robbed of the opportunity to witness Belle's triumphant return to the estate (as its new duchess) to face the father who beat her and turned her out of his home when he discovered she was pregnant 20 years earlier.
I think the story would have been better if only 5-7 years had passed since they'd seen each other. Their first child should have lived. He shouldn't have married anyone else.
July 10, 2020
Saya eneg sama mas-nya.
Eca-eco ga jelas. Katakanlah pernikahan mas-nya toxic tapi itu bukan alasan sih ya buat aku untuk selingkuh.
Dan mbak-nya mau aja atas dasar masih cinta (mereka berdua kekasih waktu remaja, pernah ena-ena, pisah, ketemu lagi 20 tahun kemudian 🙃)
.
.
Untungnya mbak-nya sadar waktu mau ena-ena sama masnya kalau mas-nya masih terikat sumpah pernikahan (udah hampir injury time sih sadarnya 😂) lalu mas-nya marah dong sama mbak-nya (ealah mas, padahal kamu lho yang ee).
7 bulan mereka saling menghindar, kemudian ada kabar istri mas-nya meninggal dan langsung gerceplah mereka berdua.
Saling curi-curi waktu buat begituan, biar ga ketahuan sama penduduk sekitar.
.
.
Dan akhirnya mereka berdua nikah dan hidup bahagia.
.
Sumpah malesi banget novella ini buat aku.
Bukan contoh yang baik, untuk kisah-kisah model balen yang biasanya aku suka, yang ini bikin cuih-cuih ga karuan.
Seleraaa ✌️✌️
Eca-eco ga jelas. Katakanlah pernikahan mas-nya toxic tapi itu bukan alasan sih ya buat aku untuk selingkuh.
Dan mbak-nya mau aja atas dasar masih cinta (mereka berdua kekasih waktu remaja, pernah ena-ena, pisah, ketemu lagi 20 tahun kemudian 🙃)
.
.
Untungnya mbak-nya sadar waktu mau ena-ena sama masnya kalau mas-nya masih terikat sumpah pernikahan (udah hampir injury time sih sadarnya 😂) lalu mas-nya marah dong sama mbak-nya (ealah mas, padahal kamu lho yang ee).
7 bulan mereka saling menghindar, kemudian ada kabar istri mas-nya meninggal dan langsung gerceplah mereka berdua.
Saling curi-curi waktu buat begituan, biar ga ketahuan sama penduduk sekitar.
.
.
Dan akhirnya mereka berdua nikah dan hidup bahagia.
.
Sumpah malesi banget novella ini buat aku.
Bukan contoh yang baik, untuk kisah-kisah model balen yang biasanya aku suka, yang ini bikin cuih-cuih ga karuan.
Seleraaa ✌️✌️
December 3, 2020
Loved this book which was actual 1st spinster house book. Belle and William had a wonderful few weeks together. He was bound back to Oxford and Belle at the vicarage with her father and mother. Belles mother realized she was increasing, he father beat her and kicked her out of her home. Twenty years later she is still living in Loves Bridges under an assumed name. She never thought she would see William again but they run into each other. So much emotions, when he is called home because of his wife’s accident he never thought he was gong to be burying her. But he also did not realize in just several short months he would lose both his older brothers and father within a day of each other. He is going through so much, but he is certain of one thing he wants Belle by his side for the rest of their lives. A sweet novella to read!
August 22, 2023
I needed a librarian for one of my last Ripped Bodice bingo squares and I didn't have any readily available.
So I found this one after some searching. I did like the idea of this short novel/novella - a second chance romance between a couple separated by the mores of the time. It skips over a bit in the characterization, so some dialog felt stilted and there was some slut-shaming (from characters you expected to come from, like the FMC's father who is also abusive, but also obliquely from the MMC at times, although he does kind of course correct.) Just a heads up that there's a lot of deus ex author secondary character death in this book to get to a plot resolution.
Edit: this was book 140 on the year, so I made my GR reading challenge on 8/7 - a new record for me, but I think we can chalk that up to having a lot of enforced downtime due to post-op recovery this year, lol
So I found this one after some searching. I did like the idea of this short novel/novella - a second chance romance between a couple separated by the mores of the time. It skips over a bit in the characterization, so some dialog felt stilted and there was some slut-shaming (from characters you expected to come from, like the FMC's father who is also abusive, but also obliquely from the MMC at times, although he does kind of course correct.) Just a heads up that there's a lot of deus ex author secondary character death in this book to get to a plot resolution.
Edit: this was book 140 on the year, so I made my GR reading challenge on 8/7 - a new record for me, but I think we can chalk that up to having a lot of enforced downtime due to post-op recovery this year, lol
December 12, 2023
This was a prequel for McKenzie's Spinster House series. It takes place in a house that was provided by the town for one spinster to live. In this book, Belle has been living in the Spinster House for 20 years, after she lost her love and pregnancy.
William, her former lover, just happens to meet up with her when he's hiding out from the scandals of his wife in London. They end up getting back in touch but nothing really happens until William's wife dies. Then William's father dies, and he has more opportunity to get back together with Belle.
I love second chance romances and this one is a cute setting for the series as well as a HEA for Belle and William.
William, her former lover, just happens to meet up with her when he's hiding out from the scandals of his wife in London. They end up getting back in touch but nothing really happens until William's wife dies. Then William's father dies, and he has more opportunity to get back together with Belle.
I love second chance romances and this one is a cute setting for the series as well as a HEA for Belle and William.
October 1, 2018
This story was okay, but I feel that if it were a book instead of novella, than it would have been better.
The story was too fast. I felt a little cheated that you didn't learn about William's wife and how she fell in with the wrong crowd, or what happened to Annabelle and William in the past, or how she wound up a spinster.
I would have liked to have read about they're past relationship and how and why they were separated.
The story was too fast. I felt a little cheated that you didn't learn about William's wife and how she fell in with the wrong crowd, or what happened to Annabelle and William in the past, or how she wound up a spinster.
I would have liked to have read about they're past relationship and how and why they were separated.
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