Belle

The Daughters of Allamont Hall #2

by Mary Kingswood

A traditional Regency romance, drawing room rather than bedroom.

Belle is the plain one of the six Allamont sisters, happy with her books. When their father dies suddenly, his will leaves large dowries for his six daughters, but only if they marry in the proper order, the eldest first. With Amy betrothed, now Belle must find a husband. Reluctant to parade herself at balls and card parties, she intends to accept the offer of her cousin, James, a pragmatic but loveless choice on both sides.

Mr Burford is the village curate, enchantedly in love with the youngest Allamont sister, Hope. His income is not enough to support a wife, but he is content to wait, perhaps for years, before he dares to contemplate a betrothal. But fate and poetry and the gentle tendrils of friendship combine to overturn these careful plans, and throw their lives into confusion.

Genres: Romance, Regency, Historical Romance, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Clean Romance

240 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 22, 2016

About the author

I live in the beautiful Highlands of Scotland with my husband. I like chocolate, whisky, my Kindle, massed pipe bands, long leisurely lunches, chocolate, going places in my campervan, eating pizza in Italy, summer nights that never get dark, wood fires in winter, chocolate, the view from the study window looking out over the Moray Firth and the Black Isle to the mountains beyond. And chocolate. I dislike driving on motorways, cooking, shopping, hospitals.

The lovely lady in my avatar is Archduchess Clementina of Austria (1798-1881), Princess of Salerno, painted around 1839.

NOTE: I read Regency romances as well as write them, and I review them all on my website, or you can find them right here on Goodreads on my real-name account at Pauline M. Ross.

Reviews

[Mar Que · Rating 3 out of 5]

Я продолжаю своё путешествие по регентским романам Мэри Кингсвуд про дочерей Алламонт Холла. Если кто не помнит, отец семейства, Лорд Алламонт, скончался, оставив своим дочерям солидное приданое, но получат они его лишь в том случае, если все выйдут замуж в течении пяти лет по порядку старшенства. Теперь, когда старшая Эми успешно окольцевалась, пришёл черёд второй сестры, Белль.
Белль прагматична и гены внеземной красоты сестёр, к сожалению, решили проспустить её. Она достаточно благоразумна и понимает, что врядли в неё кто-то влюбится, особенно, когда есть младшие, более привлекательные и незамужные, сёстры. Поэтому она давным-давно смирилась с мыслью, что именно ей придётся связать свою жизнь с кузеном-однофамильцем. Но в принципе она довольна своей жизнью, вот только все книги в поместье давно прочитаны и перечитаны, а посему надо пополнять семейную библиотеку.
Роль любовного интереса выполняет городской священник Мистер Барфорд. Он умён, разделяет любовь Белль к литературе и является далеко не самым худым вариантом. Вот только есть небольшая загвоздка. Мистер Барфорд взаимно влюблён в самую младшую из дочерей Алламонт Холла - Хоуп. И да, тут снова сёстры деруться из-за мужчины, но я была к этому готова. По крайней мере треугольник Белль/Барфорд/Хоуп имеет под собой хоть какое-то обоснование, в отличие тройничка Эми/Эмблсайд/Конни из предыдущей книги. Барфорд особо не метается между девушками. Он влюблён в Хоуп, но скорее потому что знает, что она никогда не будет с ним. Она недосегаяма, очередь выходить замуж до неё довольно долго не дойдёт, и кто знает, что тогда будет? Барфорд понимает, что ему врядли что-то светит с Хоуп, а посему чувствует себя вполне комфортно в своей влюблённости. Ему легко её любить. Но вот он находит общий язык с Белль на почве их общей любви к литературе. С ней он может представить совместное будущее. Вот только Хоуп тоже влюблена в Барфорда, и, стоит признать, в этой ситуации хуже всех выглядит именно Белль, которая, по сути, увела у сестры парня.
Конфликт, конечно же, разрешаете, причем довольно быстро и безболезнено. В принципе, это было ожидаемо. В конце концов, Мэри Кингсвуд изначально писала не серьёзную семейную сагу, а милые регентские романчики. Дело в том, что Хоуп только вышла в свет, когда её отец скончался. Толком не погуляв, она снова начала безвылазно сидеть дома из-за траура. Поэтому не удивительно, что она считала Барфорда своим единстенным шансом вырваться оттуда. Но траур закончился, она снова на балу, которой, по иронии судьбы, состоялся именно в годовшину смерти папаши Алламонта. Видно, что автор хочет писать про серьёзные темы, ей душно в рамках жанра, но она не может себя пересилить. И это довольно печально, на самом деле.
Однако, не одна лишь любовная линия играет роль в сюжете. Как мы помним, у папаши Алламонта помимо дочерей есть ещё и сбежавшие сыновья. Если по истечении пятилетнего срока никто из них не вернётся (и брак с кузеном так и не состоится), то семейное поместье, Алламонт Холл, перейдёт церкви. Вот только никто не предполагал, что у папаши Алламонта родился внебрачный сын, который тоже заявил свои права на дом. Да и с семейными финансами тоже творятся какие-то странности. Мне бы хотелось, чтобы линии с бастардом было уделено больше времени, потому что сам по себе конфликт довольно любопытный. Но он решается сам собой, и помимо Белль и её матери про эту ситуацию вообще никто не знает. Даже остальные сёстры.
Я не совсем понимаю как Мэри Кингсвуд хотела структурировать серию. Конфликт с братом-бастардом разрешился в конце этой книги, преимушественно за кадром. Все значимые конфликты представляются в одной части, в ней же и решаются. Наверное, автору хотелось, чтобы книги можно было читать в любом порядке. Но в то же время, есть линии, которые идут через все книги. Одной из таких, например, является линия Грейс и её попытки открыть школу для крестьян.
Мне понравилось, что г-жа Кингсвуд продолжает раскрывать родителей сестёр и какие травмы они нанесли своим детям. Если так дальше пойдёт, то чувствую, что к шестой книге я буду в шаге от того, чтобы пойти и смачно плюнуть на могилу почившего отца семейства. Он всячески подавлял в своих дочерях чувство индивидуальности, заставляя их носить одинаковые платья и причёски. Так как сёстры довольно похожи, их часто путали. Собственно, это и произошло в прошлой книге, когда все внезапно решили, что Эмблсайд симпатизировал Конни. На самом деле, дабы никто не узнал о его чувствах к Эми, Эмблсайд пытался проводить с другими сёстрами одинаковое количество времени. Но так получилось, что он заострил своё внимание на Конни. Если сестёр часто путали, то Белль узнавали сразу, ибо она довольно некрасива, о чём ей многократно сообщали, что в конечном счёте вылилось в довольно серьёзные комплексы.
"Белль" мне понравилась намного больше первой книги. "Эми" была довольно меланхоличной из-за крайне депрессивного подтекста про девушку, над которой всю жизнь издевался отец, а потом она нашла себе такого же мужа. Эмблсайд в качестве любовного интереса мне совершенно не нравился, Барфорд на его фоне явно выигрывает, хоть я и не люблю сюжеты, где мужчина/женщина разрывается между сёстрами/братьями. Серьёзно, этот троп ещё со времён борьбы Маши и Даши за Веника в "Папиных Дочках" вызывал у меня лютую антипатию. Но в целом, я понимаю, почему г-жа Кингсвуд прибегла к нему аж два раза. Так как сёстры находятся в трауре, они практически никуда не выходят, а книгам нужна какая-то драма, помимо психологических травм каждой из героинь. В остальных книгах должно быть проще, потому что траур, как уже упоминалось, окончен.
На этом всё, а меня ждёт история третьей сестры - Конни.

Мои рецензии на: Серия "Дочери Алламонт Холла" 2/6
1. Эми 3. Конни 4. Дульси 5. Грейс 6.Хоуп

Рецензия на Livelib

[Jeannine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these books. The second oldest daughter is carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders. The abusive father is dead, their mother is neglectful, and Belle realizes their finances aren’t what they should be. Sue sets out to find their father’s mother and falls in love along the way.

Meanwhile, the younger sisters continue to be selfish and clueless about how much their older sisters sacrifice for them. Hope truly is the brat here…I can’t wait to see how she evolves over the series.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off, I did like this and the other books I've read about the Allamont Hall daughters and read them all pretty quickly. I'll just generalize my thoughts on the series in one review. I started this series with the third book "Connie," and I'm glad I did. I like the three oldest sisters, but am not enchanted by the three younger ones so far, so not going to continue reading at this time. I think I get the formula. Connie was not so likable in the first book, but came into her own in the third, and that is why I'm glad I read that one first. After reading three books with the younger sisters somewhat involved, I am not interested to know more about them. They are very catty. All the "I saw him first" angst, and "that's very cruel of you to marry the man you love and who loves you too when I want him for myself." It all just drags out the story. There's plenty of possible conflict without the sisters being at each others' throats. But I did enjoy the stories and the writing and had some good laughs. In spite of the sometimes catfighting between the sisters, there's also a lot of sisterly love. It was good to see the shy, repressed Amy inspire a great love in the first book and then to see Belle loved for her goodness and intelligence even though she's not as pretty. I did think that point was harped on a little much, but it all worked out in the end. I'm going to assume that Dulcie ends up with Drummond, Grace with Graham, and Hope with Harper, just to keep them all in alphabetical order. I may read them another day to see if I got it right. And I'll probably read some more Mary Kingswood since she gets good reviews on some of her other works.

[Lesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an old school Regency romance with no sex or modern manners and to my mind is the better for it (though I’m sure not all readers will agree).

The death of their father leaves the Allamont sisters in an unenviable position. Each sister must marry in turn or forgo their dowry; Belle is the second eldest sister and also the plainest, she has been “out” for seven years but has never had a suitor. The surprising increase to her dowry will make her more interesting to fortune hunters when her year of mourning comes to an end but Belle decides better the devil you know and proposes to her cousin even though she dislikes his character. He is surprisingly reluctant to marry her, as he also wants the Allamont estate and now there is an illegitimate son claiming the estate is his and trying to turn them out of their home. Through the trials of everyday living, (because they cannot find their father’s money) Belle grows closer to the parish curate but unfortunately he is all but promised to her youngest sister.

[Ewa ❀ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Both characters are bookworms :D

[The Library Lady · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second book in a series. The first book, about the oldest sister, Amy, was pretty bad, but I think it's because Amy is such a dull character!

[K.J. Sweeney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most of the Regency romances that you come across are of the bodice ripper, jump into bed variety. Not that I necessarily mind that, as long as it isn't gratuitous and doesn't get in the way of the story. This series is a little different, more in the style of a traditional Regency book, it relies upon the storyline. As the author herself labels them; 'drawing room rather than the bedroom.' This means that the romance has to really work and believable and the characters be interesting and well written. Fortunately, with the Daughters of Allamont Hall, this does happen and the book is very enjoyable.
This is the second book in the series, while I enjoyed Amy's story, I think that Belle's was actually better. I liked her and Mr Burford and particularly enjoyed their attempts to discover where Belle's father had squirrelled all of his money away to. I'll be interested to see how the rest of the series plays out, as at the moment I'm not that keen on the youngest two sisters. Perhaps they will improve when it's their turn to find love?
Overall this was an enjoyable read and I'm looking forward to getting stuck into the next in the series in the not too distant future.

[Arllie · Rating 4 out of 5]

SOOOO good. Clean, traditional and just perfect. It doesn’t focus on sexualised language or characters to make a statement, the plot really speaks for itself.

I cried three times reading this. I wasn’t expecting to be hit in the feels so much. I literally stayed up till one to finish it because I was rooting for Belle and Mr Burford all the way. The angst was dealt with perfectly and had just enough of it. It hurt my chest so much. The way this book dealt with the ‘love triangle’, it was done perfectly imo and by that, I mean I didn’t feel like Belle was selfish for pining after her sister’s suitor even though in any other book I might have thought exactly that. The way it was written was that it didn’t come across that way at all. Maybe because I could relate to Belle’s personality, I rooted for her. I love the trope of plain characters finding someone who loves them for them because it’s so much more real than the ‘rich beautiful woman finding rich beautiful man’ trope because the basis for that is always just physical attraction. Belle’s and Mr Burford’s attraction was emotional and intellectual and they truly bonded over their interests which is very rare in HR.

Hope was also likeable to the point where I did feel bad for her but at the same time, she didn’t seem deserving of him, either. Mr Burford was the best character out of all of them. Finally, a character that isn’t an alpha male (which is just another term for asshole apparently) or a rake! He was a bumbling, stuttering, adorable nerd and I loved everything about him. We need more of these sorts of men in HR. He doesn’t have a title or anything but he still comes across as a man.

Also I love how this book shows the different and very real perspective of the family that finds out their parent has an illegitimate child. Too many HR books, I’ve found, romanticise this and write about it in the view of the child but I’ve always wondered ‘what about the poor family who have to deal with the aftermath?’ obviously their whole life is going to be upended and those books almost always look down on them when it’s the fault of the parent and their mistress. So I really liked how this book didn’t go the sympathy route and showed that for what it truly was and how the sisters felt. I’m glad they hated the father enough to not really care—but enough to hate him a tad more haha. It was perfect! He seemed horrid, anyway, and that would explain why their mother was so indifferent. The poor woman was cheated on because he didn’t get an heir. What a dumbass.

The only thing that brought my high down a little was the part where Belle forces him to choose between her and Hope, thereby giving him an ultimatum. We, as the readers, know that Mr Burford is in love with Belle even before that but she doesn’t, so what makes her so sure that he didn’t choose her out of pressure to help her out with the money situation or something? But also, if she hadn’t have done that…he wouldn’t have chosen her which he admits he wouldn’t have? So I was a little like huh? cos that would mean he’d be okay with marrying Hope even if he wasn’t happy to make her happy lol. I guess either way at the ball he’d see that Hope would be taken by someone else and eventually he’d go back to Belle but it would be a heck of a lot more convoluted. I like this version better.

Anyway, again soooo good! Can’t wait to read more from this author.

[llamallamacallurmama · Rating 3 out of 5]

**Most of my reviews contain detailed Content Notes (including CW/TW) sections, which may include spoilers. I have tried to mark them appropriately, but please use caution.**

3.5

Audio (Joanna Stephens)

Summary: Bookish and practical Belle - the plainest of the sisters - attempts to solve the mystery of her late-father’s finances while finding herself drawn to the local clergyman (who she knows was infatuated with one of her youngest sisters)

Stats: HR - Regency, M/F, kisses only, part of a series and would be better in order (but could potentially stand alone, complete romance plot)

Notes: Belle is a much more easily enjoyed character than Amy - she’s bright, she’s active, she exerts her own agency and takes charge, without seeming out of place in her setting. The MMC also seems to suit her much better than the couple in the first book and I felt like their relationship really did develop a bit more organically and logically. The nonromance plot is a bit slow moving, and the family drama within and outside of the main romance a bit repetitive, but I did enjoy the read. I think I’ll be taking a break from the series/author after this one though - I’m a bit worried the repetition will become wearing if indulged too quickly!

OTT and Spoilery Content Notes:
Some casual misogyny/sexism from a side character, death of parent, anxious mmc with a speech impediment, some mentions of religion/scenes in church/religious figure mmc, classism (from side characters), fatphobia against a side character, distant parent/overbearing parent, infidelity between parents, both MCs about 23

[Zena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Belle must find a husband but being not as pretty as her other sisters, she has resigned herself to a loveless marriage with her cousin. She does fall in love and her intended turns out to be quite a surprise.
There is also a hunt for some boxes her father had had made which Belle suspects contains money.
The appearance of a family member who has leapt out of the woodwork at the first smell of money dismays the young lady and it falls to Belle to sort out the nightmare so that the inheritance remains intact for all of her sisters.
I love that though this is a series, it has been written so that each book can be read as a stand-alone. It is beautifully constructed with each scene conjuring up pictures in my head of exactly what is going on and of the characters but at the same time, just enough description to keep it interesting.
I also listened to the audiobook which is again narrated by Joanna Stephens and she has an interesting way of telling the story.
I received a free copy of the audiobook from the author and the review above is unbiased and honest. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I have.

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Belle and her five sisters have grown up the privileged daughters of Mr. Allamont of Allamont Hall. Their father, a tyrannical despot, dressed them alike, kept them in the schoolroom well past their majority and required recitations of Bible passages and Greek lessons daily. When he died, he left a complex will leaving all to his runaway sons, but with generous dowries set aside for each girl if the girls 1.) marry by order of age, 2.) one of them marries one of their cousins to ensure the succession in case the sons can't be found and 3.) stays in the Hall until marriage. The really puzzling thing, though, is that their dowries keep getting bigger and none of them, not even their mother, knows where the money is coming from. Then Belle, the second and most resourceful daughter, begins to find locked boxes of money hidden around her father's book room. But these boxes, one labeled for each daughter, contain only about a tenth of what the solicitor has told them is set aside for them. What is going on? Will each girl find a husband with whom she can be happy? Will they discover where the tens of thousands of pounds is coming from?

[Elizabeth S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Practical, selfless, plain Belle, sister to five beauties, is the second oldest after Amy. Due to the cruel conditions in their father's will, she must be the next to marry, so that the younger sisters, in their turn, may have their dowries. As she struggles to sort out all the debts their worthless mother has not bothered to pay, she gets help from the village curate, John Burford, who is in love with Hope, the youngest sister. Belle plans to sacrifice herself by marrying James, the worthless son of her father's cousin. James is only interested in her large dowry and the possibility of inheriting Allamont Hall.

As they are often together in an attempt to solve problems, Belle and Mr. Burford struggle with their growing mutual attraction. They both love books and spend a lot of time together sharing their opinions about them. Neither of them wishes to break Hope's heart, but when the dust clears, solutions emerge.

I get lost in every one of Mary Kingswood's immersive books, enchanted by the families she creates with her beautiful prose.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Belle and Burford.
Belle is my fav sister so far. She is practical but sweet. Burford is perfect for her. They have so much in common and just ‘click’
Reminder for future me:
Burford has been infatuated with Belle’s sister Hope for years but hasn’t been able to afford to marry. Now that the girls have a large dowry they could marry but Hope has to wait her turn being the youngest sister. Buford and Belle are thrown together when Grace (another sister) decides to start a local school and the bookish Belle works with Burford to go through his inherited books to use at the school. Of course they fall for each other but Buford is expected to offer for Hope in the future. Burford ends up inheriting a fortune from his uncles and can afford to marry now. He spends the rest of the book miserable with Hope. When Hope is invited to her first ball she is pulled in to the excitement and decides she wants to ‘live’ more before settling down. Meanwhile Burford decides that life is short and he wants to be happy and make Belle happy. He proposes at the ball. Hope looks a bit disappointed but is swept up in the attention of the other men at the ball.

[Flo · Rating 5 out of 5]

The next one in this series. Belle is quite different from Amy who rubbed me the wrong way from the beginning, but I suppose this is what happens when a father is a tyrant. Belle does not suffer at the hands of her terrible father. She loves books, is quite practical, but alas is not as pretty as her sisters. In fact, she's not pretty at all. And she is the next in line to find a husband so that all her sisters can get their dowries. She gets Mr. Burford, the village curate, to help her look for her father's missing monies and to choose books for the new schoolroom that Grace is setting up. Mr Burford has been in love with the youngest sister, Hope, to the point where he stammers whenever they talk. But slowly, Belle, begins to fall in love with him too. He does not stammer with her. And he seems quite intelligent. A lovely little book. Now on to Connie, the next book in the series.

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

With Amy, the eldest, betrothed, it is Belle's turn to find a husband. Belle prefers books to the whirl of balls and parties so intends to accept the offer of a cousin of theirs. This would solve his financial concerns, but would be a loveless match for both of them. Things get confusing when the village curate, who has been in love with her sister Hope, helps her out of friendship. That friendship is tested as are sisterly bonds when fate and a bit of poetry intervene. As enjoyable a read as Amy was and I'm beginning to see a pattern of mixed-up partners in this series so am sure the next ones will be fun, too.

[Wealhtheow · Rating 3 out of 5]

Belle is the second Allamont daughter and the only plain one in the bunch. She is intelligent, bookish, and practical. After her tyrannical father's death and her mother's rapid slide into apathetic sloth, Belle takes up the reigns of the household. Trying to piece together her father's tangled finances brings her together with the local curate, the stammering Mr. Burford. He's been hopelessly in love with her beautiful younger sister for years, but Belle and Burford soon realize they enjoy each other's company far more than any others. Meanwhile, Belle teases out more of her father's secrets; I've grown from disliking the man to outright hating him.

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful little book. Belle is the second in a series about the daughters of a very controlling father during the regency period. His sudden death not only freed the daughters of his strict rules of living but also left them to deal with life on their own with no guidance or experience. He also left them straddled by a condition that they only received their dowry if they married by age order. Belle is the sensible one. The one who figured out how to manage the money, where to even look for the money, how to receive the rents, how to handle all the business affairs of the estate. Such a big endeavor for a girl during that time period!

[Kari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Getting better

So the first book in this series was practically abysmal. However, because I have enjoyed other books by this author and I’m interested in Lady Allamonts interesting response to her husband’s death...I have continued. Belle is so far the most likable of the girls. I’m not impressed with the various lawyers and was sad to only get Willerton -Forbes’s name; but not an appearance. I do dislike the multitude of wealthy uncles dropping dead in such a convenient fashion.

[Terry Southard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Back to good after a relatively disappointing first book in the series. Belle is sensible. Her love is not a rake or a playboy - he's a curate! They both love books. What could be better?

We learn ever more about the father, and see mom spreading wings now that her hated husband is gone - but in such a way that is not very favorable to her daughters. Wow.

On to the next. I'm enjoying my little binge of Regency before I tackle some weightier books.

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this one better than the first even though some of the conflict was similar to the first one. I liked how the MCs developed a friendship over time. I liked Belle’s character. I love how she doesn’t sugar coat things and she has the balls to say, “hey someone is going to have a broken heart so make a choice already” Kisses only.

[Melody · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this one much more than the first. Belle was a lovable heroine, and John Burford a sweet hero. I really enjoyed trying to figure out how the two of them were going to end up together, especially since he seemed so in love with Belle’s youngest sister since the first book... *sigh* It was great.

5 stars.

[Dichotomy Girl · Rating 2 out of 5]

These are definitely worse than her later books (her most recent one having been the best of the ones that I've read, hence encouraging me to read more).

I think that I am gong to skip the rest of this series for now, read the last of the Sons of the Marquess series, and move towards more recent and hopefully better books.

[Lazy Lisa · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oh my...

I am shocked at how borrringgg this book is. Beyond, beyond. The plot ( not sure there was one) was like feathers in the wind. You thought you were on to it and then, boom on to something else. Just went on and on about nothing. The problem is I know Mary Kingswood is a great writer so I'm stumped as to who wrote this book. It must be ghost written. Only explanation.

[Fiona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Belle was so much better than the first book in this series, Amy - the story was more engaging and the main character appealing and likeable. My only criticism is that the plot of the story was very similar to that of Amy. Hopefully, each story is not going to feature the main male character initially seeming to favour one sister but switching allegiance by the end of the story!

[Charlotte Vania · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ending was not as rushed as Amy. I like the building of chemistry between our main characters, but I don't like the siblings rivalry especially that it comes to love. But I guess since they live within a small circle/community and faced with limited potential lovers as of now, that's bound to happen :)

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Belle, the unexceptional daughter second, takes charge of the family finances and challenges while her mother enjoys her freedom after the death of the family patriarch. In the process, Belle develops a friendship with the local curate who has admired her youngest sister, Hope, for years. Sometimes a good honest friendship is far better than a tendre from afar.

[Lillian Huffman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very Good Read

This is a very good book. I very much enjoyed the anticipation of wondering how everything would work out. You will have to read it for yourself to find out how. Clean book no sex even mentioned.

[Mary Stockwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rather boring

The book is average and I thought rather boring. It was hard for me to not let my mind wander. The plot was good enough. Just not enough intrigue or excitement for me.

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

Much better than the first in the series, perhaps because the heroine in that one was the poster child for "Insipid". The sisters have been left an odd inheritance, whereby they must marry in age order, or lose everything. Hopefully the series will continue to improve.

[Barbara Sachs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Belle is a favorite

This book is a lot of fun as more truths are revealed about the girls' father and the romance blooms and gets untangled. And I like Belle as a character especially.