Miss Hastings' Excellent London Adventure

Brazen Brides #5

by Cheryl Bolen

Having never left Upper Barrington in her twenty years, orphan Miss Emma Hastings is overjoyed when the uncle she's never met invites her to come live with him in London. Everything about living in the Capital lures her. She doesn't even mind sharing her seat in the mail coach with a gargantuan man whose belly rests on his lap. Even when her uncle fails to meet her at the posting inn in London, she's too exhilarated over the city's sights and sounds to be worried. After many hours pass and her uncle does not collect her, she determines to lug her trunk behind her as she struggles through London's streets at night to find her uncle's home.

Spurned by his mistress and vowing to never love again, Adam Birmingham, whose family is the richest in Britain, decides to get very drunk. As he's staggering home, he takes pity on a very small young lady who's lugging a very large trunk behind her. In the rain. Her destination is the home of his next-door neighbor, but no one answers the bell. Adam is compelled to ask the young woman to spend the night at his home. Promptly after showing her the chamber in which she'll sleep, Adam passes out on her chaise. It's not until the following morning he remembers that the lady's uncle has died.

When Adam learns that Emma cannot return to Upper Barrington and that she has nowhere to go, he offers marriage to the hysterical lady. His heart is so shattered, he will never love again. Why not make this helpless orphan happy? Soon after they wed, they become convinced that someone has forged her uncle's will--and likely murdered her uncle. Their resolve to bring the murderer to justice jeopardizes Emma's life. Knowing she's in danger brings out Adam's protective instincts--and something far deeper, something he'd thought to never feel again. . .

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Regency Romance, Marriage Of Convenience, Historical, Chick Lit, Regency

270 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 29, 2017

About the author

Since being named Notable New Author for 1997, Cheryl Bolen has published more than 35 books with Kensington/Zebra, Harlequin, Love Inspired Historical, Montlake, and independently. She has broken into the top 5 on the New York Times and hit the USA Today bestseller list. Her 2005 One Golden Ring won Best Historical, Holt Medallion, and her 2011 My Lord Wicked was awarded Best Historical in the International Digital Awards, the same year her Christmas novella was chosen as Best Novella. Her books have been finalists for other awards, including the Daphne du Maurier, and have been translated into eight languages. She’s also been the number 1 bestselling historical romance author in Germany.

She holds a bachelor's degree in journalism and English from the University of Texas and a master's degree from the University of Houston. Her favorite pursuits are reading diaries of dead English women, traveling to England, and watching the Texas Longhorns play football and basketball. She and her recently retired professor husband are the parents of two sons. One is an attorney, the other a journalist.

Website: www.CherylBolen.com
Blog: www.cherylsregencyramblings.wordpress.co
Facebook: http://fbl.ink/Facebook

Reviews

[Sissy's Romance Book Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

' Miss Hastings Excellent London Adventure' by Cheryl Bolen is book Four in the "Brazen Brides" series. This is the story of Miss Emma Hastings and Adam Birmingham, and this can easily be a standalone book.
Emma is an orphan who has been living with her elderly Aunt when she gets a letter to come stay with her Uncle and learn to take over his business. When she heads to London he fails to meet her and when she tries to make her way to his house she meets Adam. Adam has been drinking due to being upset that his mistress who he thought he was in love with up and left him to marry. Adam takes Emma home with him after they find her Uncle's house empty. Later the next day they find that he has passed away and that he has left nothing really to Emma his next of Kin. Adam feels protective of Emma and has offered his help further to look into the matter. But an even bigger step is what he does next to make sure she has someone.
Another great story by Ms. Bolen!
"My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read."
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[AnnMarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Miss Hastings' Excellent Adventure is the fourth book in the Brazen Brides series by Cheryl Bolen. The book can easily be read as a stand alone one.

Emma Hastings has left her very elderly aunt's home in Upper Barrington to join her Uncle in London. He wants to teach her how to run his very successful company, the Ceylon Tea Company, so that he can retire and travel, leaving his home and company in good hands.

Emma is distraught when her uncle doesn't meet her at the posting inn when she arrives. After spending the whole day and into early evening waiting for him, she realises that she will have to try to find his home by foot. She can't afford a night at the inn, and she can't afford to take a hackney. It's during the very long walk, made worse by rain that Emma meets Adam Birmingham.

Adam is very drunk, and broken hearted after the woman he was in love with married somebody else and moved from London. Drunk as he is though he is shocked to see a well bred, gentle young lady walking through the rain dragging a large portmanteau behind her. The gentleman that he is, drunk or not, comes to her rescue, and he offers to see her to her Uncle's home. Which to both of their surprise is right next door to where he lives.

Emma's uncle's home is in darkness, nobody is there, not even a servant. Adam can't leave Emma on the street of course, so he invites her to stay the night in his home. It's only while he is showing her to her room for the night that he remembers that Emma's uncle is dead.

It turns out that not only is he dead, but he is supposedly meant to have written a new will leaving everything he owns to his office clerk! Not Emma, not even his partner in the company. Emma is distraught, she doesn't care about the money, but without her Uncle, and no place to live she doesn't know what she can do to survive. That's when Adam decides to ask her to marry him. He vows never to marry for love because of his heartbreak, so why not marry Emma and help her out of a dreadful situation?

They marry, and despite the excitement that has already occurred in the story, it just gets more intriguing. Emma and Adam both believe the new will to be a forgery, and they set out to prove it, not knowingly putting Emma's life at risk. Adam married Emma to give her a home, and to look after her, protect her, little did he know just how much protection she would need! Can he keep her safe, can they find out who forged the will, and was Emma's uncle's death of natural causes or was it murder????

I have read many regency romance books by many different authors, and although they can be wonderful and earn 5 star ratings, Cheryl Bolen is in a league of her own when it comes to writing in that era. She is the Queen of regency romance in my opinion. Her description of London, of it's homes, of the balls, the aristocracy, the poor, of everything relating to that time period is exceptional. A reader can picture the scenes so easily and imagine themselves amongst the characters in the story. This book, like all of her others, was pure perfection. It had just the right amount of humour amongst the skulduggery, the romance was beautiful, not just between Emma and Adam, but also his siblings and their spouses that are in this book also. Cheryl can write a steamy love scene, but this book is a sweet romance, with the intimacy behind doors. Beautifully done, and still allowing the reader to know just how much the couple come to love and lust for each other. I loved that not only was this book a romance, but that I was kept captivated from beginning to end wondering if the villain of the book would get his comeuppance before causing any more harm to Emma. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and recommend it wholeheartedly. I just wish I could give more than 5 stars!!!

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced readers' copy of this book.

[Marti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Miss Hastings’ Excellent London Adventure by Cheryl Bolen was a surprise. I had downloaded the book knowing nothing about the book, but the title grabbed my attention. The book is the fifth in the series. (And yes, I did go back and download the others). I was charmed by the storyline. Miss Emma Hastings left Upper Barrington and moved to London to join her Uncle. He was going to help her learn about his business and help her have a future. Only when she got off the mail coach, he was not there to help her. So determined to find her way Emma dragged her trunk toward her uncle’s house.

Adam Birmingham, drunk as he was, recognized a lady dragging a trunk. He offered to help her and ended up giving her a place to stay that night. The next day, Emma discovers her uncle has died suddenly and her great aunt (who sent her to her uncle) also died. Now Emma is all alone and has nothing. Adam decided to marry Emma to help save her and love doesn’t matter (since his heart is already broken).

However, as easy as the solution seems there is more happening including murder, kidnapping and theft. Now the bigger problem might be keeping Emma alive. A charmingly sweet story - totally improbable - but sweet nonetheless. Miss Hastings’ Excellent London Adventure by Cheryl Bolen was a sweet read.

[Sandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found Emma a bit irritating with her habit of thinking every new experience was wonderful, and Adam was so wonderful. Also the giggling, that was annoying. I always wonder how men in these stories are so muscular when they appear to do no exercise.
Overall a decent enough read but a bit average.

[Ronnisha Carter · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dumb

This was so stupid no woman is this weak or this shy. I mean grow a pair, she just let this man she didn't know take over her entire life

[RoloPoloBookBlog · Rating 5 out of 5]

Miss Hastings’ Excellent London Adventure by Cheryl Bolen
Book #4: Brazen Brides Series
Source: Author
My Rating: 5/5 stars
My Review:

Emma Hastings is having the most miserable and the best day of her life . . . . ever! She has finally gotten to leave the small town of Upper Barrington, the stifling home of her elderly aunt, and has arrived in London! The long ride in the mail coach hasn’t dampened her spirits, but her missing uncle is causing her some concern. As night falls, Emma realizes her uncle not only isn’t coming to collect her, but she must make her way to his home, across London, alone if she is to have a safe place to sleep.

Adam Birmingham is staggering home from a night of drinking away his sorrows when he stumbles upon the lovely and lost Emma Hastings. As luck would have it, Emma’s uncle is Adam’s neighbor and Adam is more than strong enough to carry Emma’s belongings. When no one answers Emma’s knock, Adam has no choice but to take her in for the evening. Thanks to his drunkenness, it isn’t until the next morning that Adam recalls, Emma’s uncle has recently passed away. Though he didn’t present himself in the best light the previous night, Adam has every intention of helping Emma in her now dire time of need.

The friendship between Adam and Emma is instantaneous and given the circumstances of each, Adam feels it acceptable and even beneficial to propose marriage to Emma. For Adam, Emma is a friendly girl who adores being in London. She is kind and without his help would be utterly lost in the world. For Emma, the news she receives the day after arriving in London is devastating. Her uncle has passed and the promises he made to her concerning his home and business have been negated by the reading of his will. In the space of a few minutes time, Emma’s future and security have been ripped from her. Though she is stunned by his proposal, Emma understands her circumstances are, in fact dire and if she is to survive, she must marry Adam.

Adam and his family are among the wealthiest in all of England which makes a quick marriage far easier to come by. As Emma’s grief begins to fade, she settles into life with Adam and they both begin to ask questions regarding her late uncle. Too many things about his death just don’t make sense and with Adam’s help Emma is determined to get to the truth of the matter. It doesn’t take long for either to determine foul play was involved and who the fiend behind the grisly murder is. Unfortunately, Adam and Emma lack sufficient proof to bring the man to justice so they set about finding the proof they need and in doing so, bring a great deal of trouble and danger down on themselves.

The Bottom Line: Here’s the thing I LOVE about historical fiction, given the time and place, it is completely acceptable for a man to propose marriage to a woman he has known for 24 hours and even more acceptable and logical for her to accept!! Emma and Adam are absolutely perfect for one another. Her bright spirit, quick wit, and love of life are the perfect balance for Adam’s less enthusiastic personality. Adam is happy to help Emma and as their investigation deepens so do their feelings for one another. In all, Miss Emma Hastings and her handsome husband do indeed have an excellent adventure and they take the reader right along with them. There are moments of kindness, tenderness, humor, and danger and Emma and Adam are joined by Adam’s family both natural and extended. The added characters, the plot, and the quick dialogue all make this read entirely enjoyable!!

[Eileen Dandashi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two people, Miss Emma and Adam, are both spontaneous in nature. Both are also compassionate, intelligent, and sensitive to another’s feelings. Circumstances bring these two together with surprising results producing a read diverting in every aspect. Author Cheryl Bolen’s plot pulls the reader into a Regency read with a bit of suspense, a bit of mystery involving two characters who fall into working together to solve a mystery, and gain much more.

Miss Emma Hastings had been brought up by her austere aunt in a small town of less than 100 residents, so when she had the chance to live with her uncle, she was ecstatic. A young woman of 20, polished enough, with an innocent and trusting spirit, is put into a situation which could have ended worse than it did.

None of it was her fault. Her Uncle Simon never came to the inn to collect his niece. Waiting for hours did no good. Her adventure in London starts when she leaves the inn, just on the border where the east and west end converge. Lucky for her, the weather is terrible and few on the street. She dare not stop until she comes into a better neighborhood.

Lucky for her, she meets a man who is so drunk he can hardly stand, but kind nevertheless. He proceeds to help the young lady to her uncle’s. But perhaps it was Miss Emma helping him walk the street. Said man is Adam Birmingham, one of the wealthiest men in England, but at this time, one of the most unhappy.

Lucky for her he happens to be her uncle’s neighbor.

Some words of wisdom from her aunt:

“Never trust a man. All they’re interested in is their vile needs.”

“Once lost, a lady’s good reputation can never be regained.”

Adam is a man of excesses. Excess in love, excess in misery, excess in protectiveness. He loves to madness a beautiful opera singer, Maria. She dumped him and married a man of the peerage. Adam isn’t of the peer—money aplenty, however. It seems Maria needed a titled gentleman.

Emma is excessive in her hyperbole. Either she’s excessively miserable or excessively happy. Her exuberance in London makes Adam happy. Her misery gives Adam an opportunity to try to make her happy and pulls out the protective streak in the man. Adam acts a little crazy when he offers to marry Emma in less than 24 hours after meeting her. I sometimes get the impression Adam is a little shallow, but love begins changing him. His attraction to Maria was due in part in his pride to be seen with her and have other men covet his place.

As Emma and Adam's relationship grows, so does the depth of Adam’s feelings. Emma, once gowned and treated as a woman, becomes a lovely woman, one Adam is proud to escort. Once he has that, he wishes he could have a friendship like his married brothers. Once he has that, he wants the physical relationship which both Emma and Adam decided against before they married. Emma, embroiled in danger, is a catalyst to Adam's feelings. His ideas of a convenience marriage change 180 degrees, producing our happily ever after and Emma is more than happy to fall in with his plans!

[Kay Hudson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The fourth installment in Cheryl Bolen’s Brazen Brides series, Miss Hastings’ Excellent London Adventure, begins with Miss Emma Hastings’ arrival in London.

Emma has never met her Uncle Simon, but they have corresponded for years, and he wants her to join him in the Ceylon Tea Company, of which he is a proprietor. She’s eager to accept his offer, to escape her sheltered life with an elderly aunt in Upper Barrington, and to see London. In all her twenty years, she’s never had such an adventure.

But when she steps off the mail coach at the George Tavern, it’s raining, she has no money, she’s burdened with an enormous portmanteau containing all her possessions, and the uncle who has invited her to live with him is nowhere in sight.

Emma is a very determined young woman, if perhaps not as cautious as she should be, so she sets off on foot to find her uncle’s house on Curzon Street. She arrives, soaking wet and exhausted, in front of a dark, clearly unoccupied house. This adventure is not going well.

But along comes the neighbor, clearly drunk, but with a kindly air about him, offering help.

Adam Birmingham has been drowning his sorrows. His mistress, a beautiful opera singer named Maria, has run off with—and married!—an Italian Count. Surely she was The One, and he will never find another woman to love, never have a happy marriage like his brothers, Nicholas (His Golden Ring) and William (Oh What a (Wedding) Night).

Soused as he is, Adam invites Emma to spend the night in his house. As if that weren’t improper enough, he falls asleep on the chaise in her bed chamber! After hearing her story the next morning, Adam sees a new project for himself: If he’s doomed to be miserable, why not make someone else happy? Why not take care of this poor little country girl he found standing alone in front of the house next door? And since he’s already compromised her reputation, why not offer her a marriage of convenience?

Emma the country mouse and Adam the wealthy bachelor are an unlikely match, but together they set out to solve the mystery of Uncle Simon’s fate. As they investigate, they also come to suspect that a marriage of convenience might not be so convenient after all.

As always, Bolen gives the reader a delightful look at Regency London, this time from the wide-eyed viewpoint of a respectable but not at all aristocratic young lady from the countryside. Along the way Emma holds her own, meeting characters from Bolen’s earlier books and making a place for herself in their world.

[Janet Denise Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

FRESH OPENED EYES WHEN YOUR BEST FRIEND WAS KIDNAPPED & ALMOST KILLED CAN SEE TRUE LOVE

4.5 STARS to Cheryl Bolen for Miss Hastings' Excellent London Adventure (Brazen Brides Book 4) another winner in that series. I left off .5 because after her excellent beginning she took Emma back to a unknowingly view of the sexes to the point she was even embarrassed for Adam to even see her legs, and just minor things that one would think a girl from a small small village away from London in farm country would be just a bit more knowledgeable about things, even if she was still pure. Adam Birmingham finds Emma on a rainy night while he is drunk and bemoaning the fact he had lost the love of his life, Marie ( mistress of a few years, not her 1st or only man) an actress opera singer walking home as she was trying to locate her uncle who had lived next door to him, until 4 days prior he had died. Adam offers her a place for the night not wanting to inform her of the death til morning, and that starts the beginning of their wonderful close friendship. Emma lets Adam know he is her best friend as they go around London seeing Solicitors, sneaking into her Uncle's house and going to the place he used to have Half Ownership of, though there may be more to her feelings than that. Adam just knowing that Marie was the love of his life and that he would never love another decides to ask Emma to marry him after finding out her Uncle's Will has been changed, after he buys her new clothes and things he finds the rakes of the Ton envy him if not more than with Marie. Intrigue is abound in this thrilling read that not only has romance and family life but is stuffed with murder, poisonings, kidnapping X 2, deadly dangerous midnight escapes and forged papers. All this is enough to get the emotional wheels spinning and just add to that Adam slowly has an inner battle with himself concerning his love of his life Marie to his brothers & their loving wives, then little by little he examines his feelings for Emma and these things are by themselves worth reading Cheryl Bolen's BBB-4 for if nothing else, I say it all is great.
WARNING: 16 & Up

[Sandy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a 2 1/2 to 3 for me. It wasn't badly written and had a passable mystery but there were just so many issues.
1. Emma drags a suitcase from the sketchy side of town in the dark and makes it without any trouble. But later in a much nicer area she's abducted in the light of day? I never understood why she was abducted in the first place. It just drew way too much attention to the culprit and the way it was done made no sense.
2. Why is she a brazen bride? Because she traveled to London alone and later stupidly tried to drag a suitcase through the London streets at night? She's smart, mostly sensible and kind but we're mostly told/shown how shy she is and completely inexperienced. Brazen is the last word I would use to describe her.
3. The murder mystery - it's not much of a mystery as we clearly know who did it and why basically from the beginning. What's a complete mystery is why they never chose to involve the police or say a special investigator. Adam and his family are loaded, they totally could have afforded it.
4. Too many side characters. If you read the previous books you might like this but frankly I found Fiona and Sophia to basically be interchangeable. Same with William and Nick.
5. A lot of nothing happens. They take 2 days to ride to York and 2 days back - to spend a half day in York. Brief descriptions of the carriage ride, the inn, etc with no real development of characters or plot except a thrown in abduction (which is just weird in the timing and location - why abduct someone halfway to York to bring them all the way back to London?)
6. It's a sweet story and they get along pleasantly but there's no real passion and there's no real development. He treats her like a lost puppy and she acts like one for more than half the book. Then he can't live without her and she idolizes him. And Emma's obsessed with his former lover and agonizes over whether he'll ever love her - mind you, they've been together maybe the span of 2 weeks total in this book.

I liked Adam and his brothers but again, just too many issues that kept me out of the book and only ok writing.

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

After losing her parents, Miss Emma Hastings was raised by her Aunt Harriett in Upper Barrington. Her aunt is getting on in years and is not well so her Uncle Simon has arranged for her to take a post chaise to London to live with him. But when she arrives where they were to meet and he fails to show, she decides to walk to his home if she can find it.

Adam Birmingham has recently been jilted by Maria, the woman he loves, and is drinking his woes away at Whites. When he leaves the establishment for home, he is quite drunk. Along the way, he happens upon Emma and she asks him for directions to her uncle’s home. It turns out that Adam’s neighbor is her Uncle Simon who owns the Ceylon Tea Company that Emma will be learning to manage.

Upon arrival at her uncle’s house, she learns that he has recently passed away and no one is at his home. Thus, she agrees to stay at the Birmingham’s. The next day she heads to visit her uncle’s solicitor, Mr. Wycliff. She is shocked to find her uncle had just made a new will leaving everything to his clerk, James Ashburnham, with a mere 250 pounds left to her annually. She also learns that her Aunt Harriett has just passed away. The whole thing does not sound right and Emma and Adam fear that her uncle, who had been very healthy, may have been murdered.

Feeling sorry for her, Adam decides to marry Emma and it will be a marriage in name only. Even though Adam is a very wealthy man, Emma does not wish to accept him, but finally agrees.

Now, they must find out what happened to her Uncle Simon, but someone out there doesn’t want them to learn the truth.

This is a sweet romance complete with a mystery. As with all of Cheryl Bolen’s books, it is a clean story that I thoroughly enjoyed and recommend to other readers.

Copy provided by the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Julie Barrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Miss Hastings' Excellent London Adventure by Cheryl Bolen
Although this is part of a series I was not left out in the dark at all.
This book starts out with Emma Hastings and she's on her way to meet her uncle so one day she will take over the business.
Problem is he never shows so she enters the tavern and asks where the West End is as she's not familiar with her surroundings.
They tell her and also that no woman should be out at night alone on the streets.
Story also follows Adam Birmingham and his brother Nick and other family members. Adam is drinking himself silly over the Italian Opera singer he was in love with that doesn't want me... he leaves a tavern, heading home. He meets Emma and he accompanies her to her uncles to find out he is not in.
She spends the night at Adam's house and he remembers why the uncle won't be answering the door. He takes her under his wing and they visit the solicitor to find out more details where she learns more information on family matters.
It's all so hopeless at this point you wonder how she will ever survive, alone and on her own.
This is a lot of action and what I really liked was that there is a huge mystery that Adam gets help from his brothers to help solve. Love how the brothers wives help her with fashion and make her feel welcome.
Love the romance, travel and dire circumstances that it all leads up to. Love the mystery ride as I took my husband on one last Saturday!
You'd not go wrong reading this book. I don't even have to know what the book is about to appreciate and enjoy Cheryl's books.
Received this copy from the author and this is my honest review.

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a sort of silly fun read with a main character whose curse is excessive cheerfulness. It’s kind of charming, in a way, but also gets a little annoying in a Pollyanna like way at other times. Adam marries her spontaneously to get over a broken heart, since he’s never going to fall in love with anyone else anyway. It’s a diverting read, and there are funny parts, but the characters don’t feel really fleshed out. The mystery is a good one, though. I don’t regret reading it or feel like it was wasted time—it was entertaining and escapist, which are the minimum standards I look for. I didn’t feel jolted out of it at any point and the writing was smooth. One typo really jumped out—anglels for angels. I don’t know if it’s part of a series where each sibling has their story? It sort of felt that way. I do like series like that. I wouldn’t say it’s a tumble over yourself to read it book, but I don’t think it’s a waste of time, either. Emma’s naïveté is sort of endearing, and I wish I could be that excited about life. I can also imagine John Oliver doing a review of this book—“And that’s the part of the Thames where all the dead bodies wash up?” Emma asked enthusiastically.

[Marty Tool · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fourth book in series, yet can be a standalone. Entertaining historical with a side murder mystery and fraud thrown in. Emma as the heroine is a kind, very small town girl excited to move to London. She has never been out of her little town, so when her uncle invites her to come move into his home the possibilities seem endless. When no one meets her at the coaching station she decides to walk pulling her trunk behind her. In the dark and rain she meets the hero, Adam, drunk and brokenhearted, he guides her to her uncle's home since he is a neighbor, where he realizes the neighbor he never met died several days before. He takes her to his house to dry out and warm up and will tell her of her uncle in the morning. Simple plan, but begins the adventure of Emma's life and ultimately Adam's as well. Lots of adventure, and action with a good romance and mystery.

[Tialisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Easy Enjoyable Read

I had all but given up on the historical romance genre until I stumbled upon Ms. Bolen. I had read one too many rape abduction and abuse books that had defenseless women falling for their abusers. Cheryl Bolen has managed to write strong female leads in an era where females had little voice. Her leading men are gallant and gentleman and each character is distinctly different and many of the books are intertwined. I seldom sit and read anymore however I have begun reading these books before going to bed and I love falling asleep with the images Cheryl Bolen elegantly writes fresh in my head.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Miss Hastings Excellent London Adventure author Cheryl Bolen is book 4 in the "Brazen Brides" series. It can be read as a stand alone book. Miss Emma an orphan and wealthy Adam meet and what follows is an adventure-mystery and an unconventional romance. I throughly enjoyed this book, my first time reading Cheryl Bolen and I just ordered books 1, 2, and 3 in this series. It is an easy read, not to many supporting characters to try and keep track of. I read it in 3 days and happy I just happened to buy it on a whim.

[Aud · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Miss Hastings' Excellent London Adventure" (Brazen Brides book 4) by Cheryl Bolen
I pulled this story out of my TBR stack and couldn't put it down. It is a fun sweet clean romance with (at least for this reader) a new suspense twist. Emma (Miss Hastings) is such a lovable character… and the rest of the cast grows on you too. I read this as a stand alone and I am a bit curious as to what I missed in the first three books of this series..
By now you know I loved this story. Happy Reading ! !

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely

I enjoyed this story and I especially liked the drunken, sulky, but kind Adam at the beginning. Emma was the perfect naïve, sheltered, but intelligent you lady. What dropped this from a 4 to a 3, was the fluctuation in their character development; great on occasions but sadly rather 2D on others. The whole Maria business was never really used to the development of their relationship nor to the story’s advantage. Emma was brave enough to ask questions then she wasn’t.
Still, it was a lovely read and I do recommend it 👍🏻

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Miss Emma Hastings has been sent to London to learn about her Uncle Simon's business. Her troubles start when her uncle fails to meet her. So her adventures begin, and thankfully she meets and is helped by Adam Birmingham. I didn't take to Emma initially as she is driven to some hysteria, and also continually speaking in hyperbole. But she grew on me.
An entertaining, easily read, romance and mystery with some very likeable characters.
Received an Advanced Reader Copy

[Cynthia Houser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent London Adventure

This is another fabulous book by Cheryl Bolen! I really enjoy her style of writing. This book sucked me right from the beginning. I didn't want to put it down. Emma is an orphan, who comes to London to live her uncle. She meets Adam, and the story only gets better. The characters are wonderful; you feel like you could be part of their lives. Great series.

[Anne M. Witkonis · Rating 1 out of 5]

I haven't read a historical romance (aka bodice ripper) in years, so I thought, what the heck, I will try one again. And it was HORRIBLE! Even if one is capable of suspending reality, this one was completely unbelievable, with humans thinking and acting in ridiculous ways. The thing is, the premise was good, but the whole book was bad. I wanted to finish, so I skipped many paragraphs, and it didn't matter. Don't waste your money.

[Miriamgreen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read twice, not terrible but goopy, too much repetition of wealth
the last unmarried bro takes pity on young country woman dragging portmanteau, how does one do this if it doesn't have wheels
decides to marry, seems her uncle was murdered and will changed
meanwhile she stumbles through society while husband falls to her charms
the main problem of the book is the cover, if the heroine really looked like that, you can't really picture the story. no offense, just a bad cover.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Another great story in this fun series.

Adam- owns the bank and is heartbroken that his mistress dumped him.
Emma- a country mouse who came to live with her Uncle to learn how to run the company.
I enjoyed reading this captivating story that is fantastically written with charismatic characters and an intriguing plot/storylines. Some parts had me laughing out loud others a tear or at the edge of my seat. Their story has a wonderfully sweet HEA !

[Shelby Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

is love really blind?

A stunning book of a marriage of convenience that go all kind of wrong! Arriving in London at her uncles request, Emma is not met at coaching inn, so tries to find her uncle. Instead a drunken Adam, hear broken tells her he lives next door to her uncle! Will take her to him, but no one home, offers her a room at his house, told her uncle died a few days before! Now fun starts!

[Patricia Schuette · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet adventure

Emma arrives in London to live with her uncle and he doesn't pick her up. She has to walk in the rain to his house. Along the way she meets a man (drunk) who has just lost his love. Turns out he lives next door to her uncle. What she doesn't now the uncle has died and his employees have gone.

[Carmen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nope

I thought this would be a fun murder mystery however i found both Adam and Emma especially to be unbearable. She is so shy and timid and wowed by everything and is in no way Brazen yet is up for a murder mystery? And Adam is in love with his mistress and will not touch his wife (insert eye roll here).

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 4, Adam and Emma

Adam, the last Birmingham brother meets his match. He has rescued a poor distressed young lady, walking the streets lost in the rain. Of course he will never love again since being dropped by his beloved opera singing mistress. But then the bedraggled Emma really needs him. A very nice, clean romance.

[Zena · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a romantic who-done-it that will keep you guessing and turning the pages. It has an excellent and very strong cast with romance, kidnappings and a mystery to be solved.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am happy to rate it within the top three of Cheryl Bolen's other stories.
Do yourself a favor and read it - its worth it!

[Krystina · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say...

Except best one of the series. Loved it! Excellent plot, flowed exceptionally well. I giggled, I laughed, and I gasped in shock. Loved the characters and their development as well. It was somewhat plausible for this type of story, yet also very sweet. Totally tugged at my heartstrings.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another entertaining adventure with these Brazen Brides!

Emma is a delightful, charming heroine with a little more pluck and intelligence than you initially think. She quickly blossoms and is transformed as events swiftly become dangerous around her. Amusing scenes intermingled with intrigue make this romance a page turner.