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Love in the Moonlight: A Regency Romance All Hallows' Eve Collection

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7 Delightful Regency All Hallows’ Eve stories – be swept away by love.
(7 full books plus previews of another seven as a bonus!)
Healing Lord Barton - Lady Sybilla Barrington full of guilt, has shut herself away to write, rather than face society. She is sure that no man could ever accept her deeds and expects to spend her life alone. Lord Barton Seddon is unsure of his sanity, haunted by the things that he suffered during the war. Horses are his only solace. Months, alone, seem the best answer. When horses bring them together, in a place haunted by ghosts of a tragic love, can they find healing together, or will their personal demons drive them apart?

The Earl’s Secret - Miss Madalene Montclair and her mother accept the charity of the Countess of Wrotham and her son, Gabriel Hatcher, the Earl. All Madalene wants is a friend, and a home. Gabriel seems the perfect eligible young man. But he is often absent, and his moods are mercurial. It is obvious to Madalene that something is not right at Wrotham Manor – secrets and past griefs hide in the shadows. Can Madalene and Gabriel find their way past gossip and bitterness, and allow themselves to love?

The Devil’s Book - Miss Ruby Barnet, a good person, is happy in the household of the Earl of Bain, and in love with a footman. Until the day that everything changes. The Earl of Bain knows no hope, after years of misery, for the bargain he made long ago was a curse. Then he finds a maid in the library, who can touch the book. A book of improbable quality, and uncanny nature, beautiful on the surface, cursed at its core. Will Ruby’s essential goodness be enough to defeat a curse? Will the Earl have the strength to break free, even at the cost of his life? And will the promises she makes cost Ruby the love of her life?

A Bonfire to Remember - Georgina Smithwood has always thought that her friend, Lady Anna, was the perfect match for her brother. But now Anna seems to be completely smitten by the worst possible man. A man known to be a rake, and with sisters who are full of nastiness. Is Lady Anna really blind to his faults? Or is something more sinister happening? Is Anna’s home haunted, or is it something far worse? Will Anna find a solution to her father’s problems, in time to save herself? Or will she be tied to the wrong man forever?

The Duke’s Heroic Herbalist - Nathaniel Talbot, heir to the Duke of Warbleton, must find a way to increase the estate’s income, to cover his ailing father’s losses. In desperation, he turns to séances, seeking advising spirits. In the process he meets, and falls for, Lady Beatrice – but will she be able to convince him of the truth? Will his trust in a friend be betrayed, at the risk of lives? Or will he see the truth in time to save the woman he loves?

The Superstitious Earl Finds Love - Eveline is trapped in a village where nothing changes and everyone is happy with that. With one friend and no way to meet any gentlemen from elsewhere, her life seems doomed. The Earl of Darlington visits the village, to see local customs on All Soul’s Day, but Eveline’s meeting with him goes badly. Will she free herself from despair? Will the Earl see through the surface, to the woman within? Will she, thinking nothing else is possible, marry the wrong man? Or will love triumph in the end?

The Bride of Stirling - Sophia is now Mrs Sophia Stirling. Her hand in marriage was the only thing that her father could offer the doctor who saved his wife’s life. Sophia is intrigued by her new husband. He is handsome, but confusing – sometimes warm, sometimes cold, rude and sullen. When Dr Vincent Stirling arrives at his home with a new bride the manor seems even colder and darker than its master, and the staff are unwelcoming. Will the haunting spirits at Stirling Manor destroy their marriage, or will love find a way to redress the pains of the past?

660 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 9, 2017

96 people are currently reading
37 people want to read

About the author

Arietta Richmond

198 books359 followers
Arietta Richmond has been a compulsive reader and writer all her life. Whilst her reading has covered an enormous range of topics, history has always fascinated her, and historical novels have been amongst her favourite reading.

She has written a wide range of work, from business articles and other non-fiction works (published under a pen name) but fiction has always been a major part of her life. Now, her Regency Historical Romance books are finally being released. The Derbyshire Set is comprised of 10 novels (7 released so far). The ‘His Majesty’s Hounds’ series is comprised of 17novels, with the fourteenth having just been released.

She also has a standalone longer novel shortly to be released, and two other series of novels in development.

She lives in Australia, and when not reading or writing, likes to travel, and to see in person the places where history happened. 

Be the first to know about it when Arietta’s next book is released!

Sign up to Arietta’s newsletter at
http://www.ariettarichmond.com
When you do, you will receive two free subscriber exclusive books -
‘A Gift of Love’, which is a prequel to the Derbyshire Set series, and ends on the day that ‘The Earl’s Unexpected Bride’ begins, and ‘Madame’s Christmas Marquis’ which is an additional story in the His Majesty’s Hounds series

These stories are not for sale anywhere – they are absolutely exclusive to newsletter subscribers!

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5 stars
24 (30%)
4 stars
14 (17%)
3 stars
23 (29%)
2 stars
10 (12%)
1 star
7 (8%)
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
Profile Image for Clara.
4 reviews
November 6, 2017
Fair

Some of the stories are very good some of them you read just to get finished with. Most of them are fair and written well though
Profile Image for Lesley.
2,454 reviews17 followers
October 27, 2017
A boxset to read at All Hallows’ Eve. 3.6*
Each of these stories has a ghostly element to it.
Healing Lord Barton by Arietta Richmond - A slow and gentle story. 4*
Both Lord Barton and Lady Sybilla need to heal from the events of the past and their attachment to each other grows over a bonding of horses and daily rides, uncovering mysteries at Dartworth Abbey and a tragic love affair from the past that affects individuals in their present.
The Earl’s Secret by Catherine Windsor - A quick story with a HEA. 3.5*
Not sure that I believed this story as there were too many inconsistencies. At the very beginning of this book, Madalene comes across as a petulant six-year old instead of nineteen but this behaviour did not last. Madalene is suddenly betrothed without an offer seemingly taking place, and someone is hidden for twenty years with only two members of the household knowing about it.
The Devil’s Book by Isabella Thorne - A short horror story. 5*
An evil book that consumes it’s owners and a girl with a pure heart.
A Bonfire to Remember by Kelly Anne Bruce - Two HEA’s. 4*
A most enjoyable story with two friends finding love, dropping a star due to the number of typos.
The Duke’s Heroic Herbalist by Alyce Healey - Fortune and reputation saved. 4*
Lady Beatrice Stewart uncovers a dastardly plot and a charlatan and love with an impulsive Duke’s son. (Don’t understand the title as she never gave the Duke any of her herbal preparations).
The Superstitious Earl finds Love by Katherine Keats - Festivities and divination. 4*
A young woman who want to broaden her horizons comes face to face with her shortcomings but eventually finds her HEA. (Again an inappropriate title as it was a Mr Byrd who was superstitious).
The Bride of Stirling by Lenora Levon - Appalling 1*
The so called hero, a medical doctor, abuses vulnerable women “Yet, if the situation presented itself, he would still touch his female patients inappropriately, as they lay in their sick beds and have his way with their feverish bodies if they seemed willing”. Apparently the desire to do this was why he became a doctor and though he’s rather ashamed of it, he cannot change his way of life!!!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from one of the authors. I was not compensated for my review, and I was not required to write a positive review. The opinion expressed here is my own.
Profile Image for Reah N..
503 reviews19 followers
October 14, 2023
This book had seven short stories. Six of them were great, clean, slightly spooky, romantic reads. The seventh was twisted, sick, and horrible and none of it had any justification whatsoever. It completely ruined this entire read for me.

This last tale, The Bride of Stirling, was one of the most messed up stories I have ever read. It told the story of a doctor who chose his profession because, in his words, it would frequently give him full access to touch the female body. . He admitted to having his way with feverish female patients and continuing these affairs with them for many years. And then, this story proceeded to show how he supposedly “healed” by marrying and lusting after his wife. There was never any regret shown for any of his wrongdoings. Every single aspect of this story was so wrong that it was almost painful to read. And this entire story justified him and his actions.

As for the rest of the stories in this collection, they weren’t quite as lustful and dark as the cover made them seem. Instead, they felt like classic (slightly overdone) clean historical romances, each accompanied by a preview of another book from this author. These contained the standard miscommunications, falling in love at first sight, and lustful kisses, with some darker elements (think hoaxes, séances, ghosts, smuggling of opium). But there was nothing in them specifically that stood out or held my interest.

There are so many other historical romance collections, that, in my mind, there’s really no need to read a collection that contains as sick a story as the last story in this collection. Try instead A Season in London, Calico Ball or Widows of Somerset, to name a few.

Here’s a list of the stories in this novel, in order, as well as a (slightly longer) alternative for each.
Story name: Healing Lord Barton by Arietta Richmond.
Instead try: Loving Lieutenant Lancaster.

Story name: The Earl's Secret by Catherine Windsor and Preview of The Earl's Desire
Instead try: Glimmer of Hope or A Lily in Disguise

Story name: The Devil's Book by Isabella Thorne and a preview of The Mad Heiress Meets the Duke
Instead try: A Name Unknown

Story name: A Bonfire to Remember by Kelly Anne Bruce and a preview of The Duke's Heart
Instead try: Longing for Home

Story: The Duke's Heroic Herbalist by Alyce Healey and a preview of The Duke's Ignoble Imposter
Instead try: Against the Tide

Story: The Superstitious Earl Finds Love by Katherine Keats and a preview of Xmas with the Duke
Instead try: Edward and Amelia

Story: The Bride of Stirling by Lenora Levon and a preview of A Gentleman's Unexpected Choice
Instead try: any other historical romance. Like, seriously. A Life Once Dreamed is a good place to start.

Content:

Affairs, illegitimate children, lustful kissing, smuggling of opium, talk of throwing a woman into the river to drown, mental illness, ghosts, and Christian services, including on All Souls Day.

The Duke's Heroic Herbalist included scenes with seances and raising the dead. A man testified to have been lifted above this terrestrial world, where he conversed with the angels in glory and witnessed them eating, drinking, reading, working, and living in houses much like ours. The story of Endor summoning the prophet Samuel was mentioned a few times. And, their actions were justified with stories from the Bible. Prayers to the saints, prayers on behalf of the dead that their sufferings might be eased - these are no different in substance from what we do, except that here the dead talk back.

The Bride of Stirling included more mature content than the rest, including a doctor going into the field because it would it would frequently give him full access to touch the female body, having his way with feverish patients, and refusing to listen to his new wife’s desire for more time before being together. (Though, once he came into her bed, this same wife was quickly won over). He spoke about his love of nuzzling up with female bodies and obsessively lusted after his beautiful wife.
Profile Image for Vera mallard.
459 reviews12 followers
October 18, 2017
THIS COLLECTION HAS SEVEN BOOKS BY SEVEN DIFFERENT AUTHORS. I CHOOSE TO REVIEW THE DEVIL'S BOOK BY AUTHOR ISABELLA THORNE. A GREAT BUY FOR A TOTAL OF 660 PAGES OF READING PLEASURE FOR THE FANTASTIC PRICE OF .99.


STORY-LINE LOVE IN THE MOONLIGHT: THE DEVIL'S BOOK BY ISABELLA THORNE:

Miss Ruby Barnet, maid at Hobson Reach, is in love with Thomas Putnam. Putnam's a footmen at Hobson Reach; they hope to marry in the future. They steal moments for conversations at very opportunity; hoping Missus McTavish, head housekeeper, does not catch them. Saving as much as they can, they hope to buy a small house and piece of land.

Dusting in the Earls' library Ruby spies a beautiful open book on the Earl's desk; written in a mysterious language which seems to move. This strange hypnotic book fascinates Ruby; it seems to call to her. She's caught holding the book by the Earl. He's amazed she's sitting in his chair holding the book. The Earl believes she could be the one to lift the book's curse on his family; she's the only one who has ever touched it with bare hands. He tells Ruby the book's evil. He has Ruby wrap the book in layers of brown paper; telling her to send it to his solicitor. Believing he will die soon, he ask Ruby to promise she will burn the book after his death. So begins a mystery which will enfold Putnam, Ruby, the Earl's pregnant wife, and the Earl's brother.

What hold and curse does this book have on the Earl of Bain's family? Will Ruby burn the book as she promised? My Regency romance book reviews of Love In the Moonlight: The Devil's Book follows.

CHARACTERS, PLOTTING, DEVELOPMENT:

Author Isabella Thorne created a tale of curses, an evil book, romance, and family dynamics. I found Ruby a strong character with moral fiber. Determined to carry out the Earl's wishes, she's willing to lose what she wants most. The family dynamics included in this tale show jealousy, greed, and the willingness to do anything to process this evil book.

The Earl's brother's a real piece of work; an evil selfish man you will love to hate. I felt sorry for the Earl, even though, he had lived a life ruled by the book. I could feel his love for his wife and his fear for her and his coming child. The Countess proves she's a strong woman; determined to destroy the book as the Earl wanted.

I loved Putnam's character. Even though he had left the household, he returned to save Ruby; proving his steadfastness and love for her.
MY OPINION:

I found Thorne's writing flowed well and her scenes transitioned smoothly. As a result, this book is an easy, short, entertaining read. Authors can not develop in-depth characters or plots in a short book to the same extent they can a novel. However, Thorne skillfully created a story which kept me entertained. Her characters are believable, realistic, and full-bodied. With an exciting ending, Thorne brought the story to its finale. As well as, resolving the problem of the book in an action packed scene. With several plot threads to bring together, Thorne skillfully wove them all together to form a solid story.
LOVE IN THE MOONLIGHT: THE DEVIL'S BOOK RECOMMENDATION: STARS 4

FINALLY, PLEASE NOTE

Additionally, I borrowed this book from Kindle Unlimited and received a copy of this book from the author. I chose to voluntarily review the book with an honest Regency romance book reviews. Lastly, book reviews of any novel are dependent on the book review author’s opinion. Consequently, all book reviews on-line and on my blog, are my opinions. In addition, the no one affects my voluntary romance book reviews.
101 reviews
October 18, 2017
A beautifully written collection of regency romances. I loved them. These authors embody all the best of this genre. There's something for everyone in this collection. I enjoyed the mystery, suspense, romance, drama and humor. I read this collection one book after the other and didn't want to put them down. I received a free copy of this collection and happily and voluntarily choose to leave a review.

Healing Lord Barton
5 STARS
Again a wonderful book written by Ms. Richmond. Bart and Sybilla have so much in common, but both believe themselves unworthy of love. I thoroughly enjoyed reading of their discoveries of themselves, each other, and their families. There's drama, suspense, humor, romance and a touch of mystery, along with a strong plot line and characters. Also the thread that winds through this book, connecting it to the others in the series, remains unbroken. I can't ask for anything more in a book. Brava Ms. Richmond!! I received a free copy of this book and happily and voluntarily choose to leave a review.
170 reviews3 followers
October 22, 2017
This is a wonderful set of seven stories by seven authors that take place in the Regency era. Each story is different, but they all have a happy ending. Besides love and romance, you will find: mysteries; secrets; a curse; smugglers; danger and more. You will meet characters of different social classes, including a maid, a footman, a doctor, earls, dukes and other members of the ton. I enjoyed all the stories and would recommend this set to everyone because there are wonderful characters and plots and they are clean reads. I received a complimentary review copy. This is my honest review.
2,072 reviews13 followers
October 15, 2017
I loved this All Hallow’s Eve Collection! The stories are full of secrets, misunderstandings, intrigue, devil’s magic, haunted houses, spirits, despair, love, romance and much more. Each author puts her own spin on All Hallow’s Eve but all the stories have a happily ever after. Seven wonderful books in one collection, what more could you want. I highly recommend this set of Regency Romances!
Profile Image for Frances Law.
1,123 reviews14 followers
November 9, 2017
An interesting collection!

I have to say that each of these books was good in its own way. The only one that I didn't particularly like was the last one the Bride of Stirling. It was very strangely written. Good if you like a little spookiness in your reading.
1,280 reviews10 followers
December 16, 2017
A boxed set of books for Halloween stories. Some seemed to run on forever but all in all a good read for the money. I especially liked The Devil's Book by Isabella Thorne. It moved and held your attention.
Profile Image for Phylis Collins.
2,847 reviews8 followers
December 17, 2017
Love in the Moonlight by Arietta Richmond is a excellent adventure. The cha terms will draw you in. Very enjoyable. My free opinion. Thanks
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews

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