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Families of Dorset #1
Wyndcross
Kate Matcham needs a fortune or a husband. She wants neither. With a tainted inheritance in the balance, she receives one offer to become a scoundrel's mistress and another offer of a marriage of convenience. Before resigning herself to a choice, she accepts the invitation to visit a childhood friend, considering it a last hurrah before embarking on a bleak future.
The visit goes sideways when she falls for the gentleman her friend intends to marry, a man well out of Kate's league--and one who seems to be hiding something. Smuggling has overtaken the county, and it seems that everyone is complicit in the trade that killed her father.
One by one, her options dwindle as she struggles against her strengthening feelings for a duplicitous man, a determination not to hurt her friend, and keeping the promise she made long ago: to stand up to the people who killed her father.
The visit goes sideways when she falls for the gentleman her friend intends to marry, a man well out of Kate's league--and one who seems to be hiding something. Smuggling has overtaken the county, and it seems that everyone is complicit in the trade that killed her father.
One by one, her options dwindle as she struggles against her strengthening feelings for a duplicitous man, a determination not to hurt her friend, and keeping the promise she made long ago: to stand up to the people who killed her father.
250 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 245 reviews
March 1, 2021
I am sad to say that
this was a weird book.
Maybe it's just me but this book didn't make me feel anything.
I really can't remember a part of it that picked my attention or something that impressed me.
I think its main problem was the passive feeling it was giving off. I was reading about events, people and pasts that I couldn't actually see affecting the main characters.
~The main heroine had a sad past but I couldn't really see the way it had sculpted her into being a different person. She simply had a past she kept on talking about, about a loving father and a bad stepfather, about sisters we never see and that don't really occupy her thoughts, about a home and an uncle she never goes to see even when she is some streets away. Her thoughts seemed to me too simple and dim? When she was being insulted we didn't feel her pain, when she was sad we didn't hear her thoughts. It was as if everytime something happened to her (or someone did something to her) she was forgetting about it some pages later. REALLY, she had suspicions about someone? Everything would be back to normal the next time they talk. And then she will have new suspicions and then she will forget about them too.
~The hero was TOO DIM. In the beginning he seemed interesting as a MC but then the heroine kept on commenting about the twitch of his mouth, the twitch of his eye, the glint in his eye, the curve of his mouth, the playful look on his face, the hidden smile... really we get it, he is in a good mood and he tries to hide it. So, the depth of his character stopped at that conceeded happiness. Even when he showed that part of him that seemed altruistic, it was forgotten. We get to see shots of him doing suspicious things and nothing that endear him to us. The author doesn't really dig a little deeper into his character.
I won't say anything more for I think I may be too strict.
Overall, It was a book that is surely better than some and it's a safe choice if you want a clean romance. Yet, it lacks the spice that would make it have a character of its own and not simply be a random book.
Maybe it's just me but this book didn't make me feel anything.
I really can't remember a part of it that picked my attention or something that impressed me.
I think its main problem was the passive feeling it was giving off. I was reading about events, people and pasts that I couldn't actually see affecting the main characters.
~The main heroine had a sad past but I couldn't really see the way it had sculpted her into being a different person. She simply had a past she kept on talking about, about a loving father and a bad stepfather, about sisters we never see and that don't really occupy her thoughts, about a home and an uncle she never goes to see even when she is some streets away. Her thoughts seemed to me too simple and dim? When she was being insulted we didn't feel her pain, when she was sad we didn't hear her thoughts. It was as if everytime something happened to her (or someone did something to her) she was forgetting about it some pages later. REALLY, she had suspicions about someone? Everything would be back to normal the next time they talk. And then she will have new suspicions and then she will forget about them too.
~The hero was TOO DIM. In the beginning he seemed interesting as a MC but then the heroine kept on commenting about the twitch of his mouth, the twitch of his eye, the glint in his eye, the curve of his mouth, the playful look on his face, the hidden smile... really we get it, he is in a good mood and he tries to hide it. So, the depth of his character stopped at that conceeded happiness. Even when he showed that part of him that seemed altruistic, it was forgotten. We get to see shots of him doing suspicious things and nothing that endear him to us. The author doesn't really dig a little deeper into his character.
I won't say anything more for I think I may be too strict.
Overall, It was a book that is surely better than some and it's a safe choice if you want a clean romance. Yet, it lacks the spice that would make it have a character of its own and not simply be a random book.
July 7, 2019
It’s a rare day when I find a new author I can rave about, but here we are. Martha Keyes’ first full-length Regency romance manages to tick all the boxes - engaging characters, believable situations and a truly authentic setting. The dialogue is sparkling with wit in the best tradition of Georgette Heyer, and the characters all speak and behave in a credibly Regency manner. Awesome.
Here’s the premise: Kate Matcham is in a difficult situation. Her father died trying to stamp out smuggling in Dorsetshire, and her mother remarried a man in trade. Kate’s spending most of her time with her widowed aunt in London, but she’s aware that, with younger sisters growing up, she’s expected to marry well. Her options are limited, though - a marriage of convenience, an offer of a less savoury sort, or the slight possibility of a fortune from her less-than-respectable step-father. She doesn’t want any of them. But then she receives an unexpected invitation to stay with a childhood friend very near to her old home. The only problem? The charming young man she finds herself falling for is earmarked for her friend.
I adore a character who makes me laugh, and William, the aforementioned charming young man, has the most glorious sense of humour. He brings out the best in Kate, and their verbal sparring matches are a delight. There are some other fun characters, too, and (with a couple of minor exceptions) the bad guys are not so much wicked as flailing about trying to do their best, albeit in a fairly misguided way.
The smuggling subplot is not an original one, and the resolution there was fairly melodramatic, but it never felt outrageously contrived and the characters behaved (on the whole) in keeping with their characters. I say ‘on the whole’, because I got a bit twitchy about William keeping Kate in the dark, especially when it’s clear at this point that he’s in love with her. Knowing her history and character, and knowing how dangerous the situation was, not telling her put her at great risk. I would have liked a bit more passion from him, too, especially at the end when they’ve been through some difficult times together. Sweeping her into his manly arms wouldn’t have gone amiss at that point. Sometimes Regency restraint can be carried a tad too far!
As for Kate, she did a great deal of agonising and it took her a long time to realise what was going on with William, both on the smuggling front and emotionally. There’s that Regency restraint again. I’m not a huge fan of hand-wringing heroines, but with Kate it was very understandable, given her background and her presumed unsuitability to marry William, who is the heir to an earldom. But when the two of them did finally manage to set aside that pesky Regency restraint for five minutes and sort themselves out, it was well worth the wait.
On the historical accuracy front, I have virtually nothing to grumble about. The only Americanisms I spotted were a couple of gottens and one or two times Kate gazed ‘out the window’. There were a couple of anachronisms. ‘Empathy’ was first recorded in 1895 and ‘surreal’ in 1936. Trivial stuff. In every other way - dialogue, manners, setting - the author’s grasp of the Regency is very assured, and the wit and sparkle that flies between Kate and William reminded me very much of Georgette Heyer. A wonderful read, highly recommended. Five stars.
Here’s the premise: Kate Matcham is in a difficult situation. Her father died trying to stamp out smuggling in Dorsetshire, and her mother remarried a man in trade. Kate’s spending most of her time with her widowed aunt in London, but she’s aware that, with younger sisters growing up, she’s expected to marry well. Her options are limited, though - a marriage of convenience, an offer of a less savoury sort, or the slight possibility of a fortune from her less-than-respectable step-father. She doesn’t want any of them. But then she receives an unexpected invitation to stay with a childhood friend very near to her old home. The only problem? The charming young man she finds herself falling for is earmarked for her friend.
I adore a character who makes me laugh, and William, the aforementioned charming young man, has the most glorious sense of humour. He brings out the best in Kate, and their verbal sparring matches are a delight. There are some other fun characters, too, and (with a couple of minor exceptions) the bad guys are not so much wicked as flailing about trying to do their best, albeit in a fairly misguided way.
The smuggling subplot is not an original one, and the resolution there was fairly melodramatic, but it never felt outrageously contrived and the characters behaved (on the whole) in keeping with their characters. I say ‘on the whole’, because I got a bit twitchy about William keeping Kate in the dark, especially when it’s clear at this point that he’s in love with her. Knowing her history and character, and knowing how dangerous the situation was, not telling her put her at great risk. I would have liked a bit more passion from him, too, especially at the end when they’ve been through some difficult times together. Sweeping her into his manly arms wouldn’t have gone amiss at that point. Sometimes Regency restraint can be carried a tad too far!
As for Kate, she did a great deal of agonising and it took her a long time to realise what was going on with William, both on the smuggling front and emotionally. There’s that Regency restraint again. I’m not a huge fan of hand-wringing heroines, but with Kate it was very understandable, given her background and her presumed unsuitability to marry William, who is the heir to an earldom. But when the two of them did finally manage to set aside that pesky Regency restraint for five minutes and sort themselves out, it was well worth the wait.
On the historical accuracy front, I have virtually nothing to grumble about. The only Americanisms I spotted were a couple of gottens and one or two times Kate gazed ‘out the window’. There were a couple of anachronisms. ‘Empathy’ was first recorded in 1895 and ‘surreal’ in 1936. Trivial stuff. In every other way - dialogue, manners, setting - the author’s grasp of the Regency is very assured, and the wit and sparkle that flies between Kate and William reminded me very much of Georgette Heyer. A wonderful read, highly recommended. Five stars.
June 28, 2019
4.5 Stars for a fantastic debut novel!
I still can’t believe this is the author’s first full-length novel. I’m not sure what I expected going into it, but this book had a lot more twists and unexpected turns and kept me reading far into the night!
I really liked the protagonist, Kate. She is sensible and kind, and doesn’t believe too much in love or in marrying just to secure her place in life. From the very beginning I was intrigued and wanted to know more and better understand what would happen to Kate. This was a fantastic regency romance, yet there was so much more to it than the usual high society of the London ballrooms. The plot continued to thicken and change as the story progressed and I loved the sweet romance and toe-curling moments between her and a certain character.
There was some added suspense, which honestly kept me guessing til the end, and I loved how it added to the book. There were a few grammatical errors here and there, but nothing too great to detract from the story. I really wish there would have been an epilogue, as I would have loved to hear more about how certain characters ended, but the ending was still swoony and satisfying.
I really hope we get to see more books by this author soon! Definitely a book I enjoyed and will read again in the future!
**I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
I still can’t believe this is the author’s first full-length novel. I’m not sure what I expected going into it, but this book had a lot more twists and unexpected turns and kept me reading far into the night!
I really liked the protagonist, Kate. She is sensible and kind, and doesn’t believe too much in love or in marrying just to secure her place in life. From the very beginning I was intrigued and wanted to know more and better understand what would happen to Kate. This was a fantastic regency romance, yet there was so much more to it than the usual high society of the London ballrooms. The plot continued to thicken and change as the story progressed and I loved the sweet romance and toe-curling moments between her and a certain character.
There was some added suspense, which honestly kept me guessing til the end, and I loved how it added to the book. There were a few grammatical errors here and there, but nothing too great to detract from the story. I really wish there would have been an epilogue, as I would have loved to hear more about how certain characters ended, but the ending was still swoony and satisfying.
I really hope we get to see more books by this author soon! Definitely a book I enjoyed and will read again in the future!
**I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
March 18, 2020
This was a clean sweet true to regency period story. Some authors take a lot of liberty with the time period and other stay pretty true to the manners, expectation's and feel of the time. Keyes does a good job of sticking close to what it must have been like. Kate was a good solid character. She was very unteathered and felt almost homeless the whole book. You really felt for her but her calm attitude and strength lead to me really liking her. Ash or William was just what she needed to shake her out of her world of comfort and remind her not to take life so seriously. This was a nice story with a really well done bit of excitement at the end that actually worked well and was believable.
February 28, 2020
Great plot, no ending
I really enjoy the style of writing and a very good plot. I was very disappointed that there were lots of loose ends that never got wrapped up and after 270 odd pages of build-up, it's supposedly wrapped up in two to three pages. There was so much more that could have been added to the happily ever after to wrap up questions throughout the book. I was very disappointed with the ending. I really like this author and I hope in the future she makes the endings a little more comprehensive and satisfying.
I really enjoy the style of writing and a very good plot. I was very disappointed that there were lots of loose ends that never got wrapped up and after 270 odd pages of build-up, it's supposedly wrapped up in two to three pages. There was so much more that could have been added to the happily ever after to wrap up questions throughout the book. I was very disappointed with the ending. I really like this author and I hope in the future she makes the endings a little more comprehensive and satisfying.
January 19, 2023
Contrived is the word that comes to mind with this novel. The dialogue between hero and heroine feels so incredibly forced.
It felt to me as if the author had read a lot of jane Austen and tried to copy her style. It hasn’t worked.
I had great hopes for it at the start as she seemed to understand the time period and write well however her characters thought they were wittier than they actually were and there were parts that were incredibly boring.
What really ruined it for me was the point where the heroine dismissed the three books she was given (when she injured herself as she is incredibly accident prone- eye roll) as silly romances.
I hate to break it to you Miss Keyes but you have just insulted every single one of your readers. We all happen to love our silly romances and that is why we picked up YOUR book.
The unwritten rules are that any character EXCEPT the heroine may diss the romance genre as a “silly” romance and then usually be set right by the events of the novel or the romantic protagonists.
I won’t be reading another of this author’s works.
It felt to me as if the author had read a lot of jane Austen and tried to copy her style. It hasn’t worked.
I had great hopes for it at the start as she seemed to understand the time period and write well however her characters thought they were wittier than they actually were and there were parts that were incredibly boring.
What really ruined it for me was the point where the heroine dismissed the three books she was given (when she injured herself as she is incredibly accident prone- eye roll) as silly romances.
I hate to break it to you Miss Keyes but you have just insulted every single one of your readers. We all happen to love our silly romances and that is why we picked up YOUR book.
The unwritten rules are that any character EXCEPT the heroine may diss the romance genre as a “silly” romance and then usually be set right by the events of the novel or the romantic protagonists.
I won’t be reading another of this author’s works.
July 13, 2019
This was a great read! It was full of intrigue, adventure, and romance.
July 25, 2019
This book was exactly what I wanted it to be. The story was compelling with just the right amount of anticipation and adventure. I enjoyed the witty banter between the characters. As with most Regency novels, it's not surprising who ends up with whom, but there were enough surprises throughout the novel to make it hard to put down. I definitely recommend this book!
February 20, 2020
This was an enjoyable book! I did feel like it was lacking a little bit in romance throughout and then the ending was like boom! I understand for the plot it kind of needed to be this way, but I would have liked a little bit more throughout. It was interesting and fun to read. And I plan on reading the other books in the series!
did-not-finish
February 4, 2020DNF at 48%. I’m bored and there are too many other books to read. Maybe someday I’ll revisit this one.
June 3, 2024
I have a hard copy of this book and forgot to leave a review after finishing it. I know I loved it. I just don’t remember any details. I read these books all out of order and it didn’t take away from my enjoyment at all.
August 22, 2019
I came across Martha Keyes thanks to Kindle Unlimited and I am so grateful for that! She crafts intriguing stories that draw you in, and she has a special knack for writing interactions between main characters that feel real and entertaining. This book had a premise based on smuggling and the ending was a tad dramatic and reminded me slightly of a Julie Daines book I have read but I'm still giving it five stars because it blew me away regardless and I intend to buy a physical copy for my shelves!
Kate was a very admirable character. She was kind to her core but also rather stubborn. She was also fairly extroverted in that she seemed capable of conversing well with others and making them feel at ease. William was funny and charming and I just adored his character. The interactions between the two of them really made me laugh out loud at times, and I even read the ending to my husband and earned laughter from him and that is a total WIN haha! The author also did a fantastic job building secondary characters throughout the book and I'm really looking forward to reading about many of them in future books!
Keyes gave just enough information to keep you guessing through the book, and though I do think William should have informed Kate of his involvement (due to his knowledge of her hatred of smuggling), I still appreciated the twists and turns in the plot due to that omission.
Kate was a very admirable character. She was kind to her core but also rather stubborn. She was also fairly extroverted in that she seemed capable of conversing well with others and making them feel at ease. William was funny and charming and I just adored his character. The interactions between the two of them really made me laugh out loud at times, and I even read the ending to my husband and earned laughter from him and that is a total WIN haha! The author also did a fantastic job building secondary characters throughout the book and I'm really looking forward to reading about many of them in future books!
Keyes gave just enough information to keep you guessing through the book, and though I do think William should have informed Kate of his involvement (due to his knowledge of her hatred of smuggling), I still appreciated the twists and turns in the plot due to that omission.
April 15, 2020
Precursor: three stars means I liked it.
I think it had great potential, had some good dialogue, and was witty. The hero is swoon worthy and I love a klutzy heroine -they're so relatable!
What I didn't love: this book needed a stronger editor. I'm not a huge fan of uncommonly used words repeated multiple times (eg. postulate) within a story. I find the repetition distracting. I also couldn't stand one of the supporting characters. I'm sure he was written that way intentionally, however I got to the point where I wanted to skip parts he was in. I don't mean this to sound negative (I'm thinking I'm failing).
I would definitely read this author again as the good weighs out what doesn't quite work for me.
I think it had great potential, had some good dialogue, and was witty. The hero is swoon worthy and I love a klutzy heroine -they're so relatable!
What I didn't love: this book needed a stronger editor. I'm not a huge fan of uncommonly used words repeated multiple times (eg. postulate) within a story. I find the repetition distracting. I also couldn't stand one of the supporting characters. I'm sure he was written that way intentionally, however I got to the point where I wanted to skip parts he was in. I don't mean this to sound negative (I'm thinking I'm failing).
I would definitely read this author again as the good weighs out what doesn't quite work for me.
June 28, 2019
What a lovely, sweet, clean Regency Romance! It was just what I was looking for!
Martha Keyes introduces us to a riveting story that involves compelling main characters with great chemistry, underlay with mystery, devious third parties, smuggling, and some action towards the end.
For the most part, Wyndcross developed at a good pace, enthralling me since the beginning. It helped that the chapters were neither too long nor too short, but the perfect length.
Our heroine, Catherine Matcham, better known as “Kate”, is in a dire situation. For the last two years, she had been living in London with her aunt Fanny. Her position in society is not envy-inducing, as her late father, a tradesman, was murmured for opposing vehemently to smuggling in Dorset. Because she didn’t have a brother to inherit her father’s estate, all went to his uncle. Her mother later remarried a man who, to put it mildly, doesn’t evoke the most heart-warming emotions on Kate. In fact, she doesn’t want anything to do with him or his fortune. Pressure by the need to obtain independence from him, she must make a good match, but so far, it’s been fruitless. Proof of that is her two failed Seasons.
However, her situation takes a turn during one of the many social engagements of the ton, where she gets a rather indecent proposal from Sir Lewis. When the situation with this “gentleman” is getting a little bit uncomfortable and out of hands, a handsome stranger comes to her aid. There’s instant chemistry among them (I have to say that I LOVE them together!). At the end of the night, the only thing she knows about him is that his name is William, a very helpful fact, taking into consideration that so must be named half of the male population during that period.
Unbeknown to Kate, while sparks fly during their first encounter, her mischievous aunt spread the word to the incurable gossiper Charlotte Thorpe that her niece is to inherit a large fortune. I liked this misunderstanding, especially because I thought it resembled a little to Georgette Heyer’s Arabella and Austen’s Northanger Abbey.
This is where the Crofts comes in, an old acquaintance of Kate. Aware of the rumors circulating around, Miss Clara Croft and her mother invites her to stay at their estate at Dorset. She accepts right away, eager to visit again the place she lived as a child before her father’s death.
During an invigorating ride through the beautiful hills of Dorset, she finds the handsome stranger or, more precisely, he catches her instead in her endeavor to write some letters. Their reencounter was highly amusing, so I won’t spoil it.
But she soon finds out that the handsome stranger is Lord Ashworth, heir to an earldom, and the man her friend Clara and her mother has set their claws on. Kate tries to suppress her burgeoning feelings for him out of loyalty to her friend, but she is unable to do so. Their attraction for each other is so palpable. She’s drawn by his generosity, his chivalry, and even his teasing nature.
What Kate is unaware of it’s that Mrs. Croft has plans for her too. She’s not only set her mind to marrying her daughter with Lord Ashworth but also her son Henry with Kate under the misguided belief she’s an heiress. The truth is that the Crofts are facing a time of crisis, mostly due to Henry’s debts.
Things get interesting when Henry decides to rebel against her mother’s antics. With the reluctant help of his sister, they concoct a plan to solve their problems. A plan that could get them in hot waters.
To complicate matters, there is a great possibility that William is involved in smuggling. This brings contradicting feelings in Kate. It’s against her principle to fall in love with a man partaking in the same practice that took her father’s life.
I loved how their romance blossomed in a natural and believable way. There was some swoon-worthy moments, especially the final scene. It was so simple, yet so powerful. It was simply spectacular. Kate and William are one of those couples that leave you wishing for more. I hope we get to see them in future installments. But the important thing is that everything is resolved at the end, and they get their HEA.
About the other characters, I have to say that I abhorred the despiteful trio: Henry, Clara, and their mother. They were calculating, cold, and only care about appearances. But they actually portrayed the behavior and preoccupations of people from upper classes during the Regency.
I want to know more about the Cosgrave’s sister, as well as William’s sister, Lady Anne. I’m looking forward to seeing them in other books! Also, I love Kate’s aunt, Fanny, mostly because she was amusing, like out of a Heyer’s book. I’m thinking about Lady Amabel from False Colours.
Overall, I give this story 4.5 out of 5 stars. Although the pace was good as I mentioned at the beginning, I felt that it dragged a little bit more in the middle. But to be fair, I don’t think the author is at fault, but the essence itself of Regency Romance: the upper ranks spend their life uneventfully. You can try to disguise this fact under an interesting plot, but there’s only so much an author can do. However, things picked up at the end, and I enjoyed it very much. Among other aspects, I wish it had been more descriptive in some scenes, mostly about other people’s appearance, and that it had included more chapters from William’s perspective.
As a final thought, I’ll definitely read more books from Martha Keyes in the future! She’s a promising historical romance author, and I can’t wait to see how she gets better with every book she publishes.
***I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Martha Keyes introduces us to a riveting story that involves compelling main characters with great chemistry, underlay with mystery, devious third parties, smuggling, and some action towards the end.
For the most part, Wyndcross developed at a good pace, enthralling me since the beginning. It helped that the chapters were neither too long nor too short, but the perfect length.
Our heroine, Catherine Matcham, better known as “Kate”, is in a dire situation. For the last two years, she had been living in London with her aunt Fanny. Her position in society is not envy-inducing, as her late father, a tradesman, was murmured for opposing vehemently to smuggling in Dorset. Because she didn’t have a brother to inherit her father’s estate, all went to his uncle. Her mother later remarried a man who, to put it mildly, doesn’t evoke the most heart-warming emotions on Kate. In fact, she doesn’t want anything to do with him or his fortune. Pressure by the need to obtain independence from him, she must make a good match, but so far, it’s been fruitless. Proof of that is her two failed Seasons.
However, her situation takes a turn during one of the many social engagements of the ton, where she gets a rather indecent proposal from Sir Lewis. When the situation with this “gentleman” is getting a little bit uncomfortable and out of hands, a handsome stranger comes to her aid. There’s instant chemistry among them (I have to say that I LOVE them together!). At the end of the night, the only thing she knows about him is that his name is William, a very helpful fact, taking into consideration that so must be named half of the male population during that period.
Unbeknown to Kate, while sparks fly during their first encounter, her mischievous aunt spread the word to the incurable gossiper Charlotte Thorpe that her niece is to inherit a large fortune. I liked this misunderstanding, especially because I thought it resembled a little to Georgette Heyer’s Arabella and Austen’s Northanger Abbey.
This is where the Crofts comes in, an old acquaintance of Kate. Aware of the rumors circulating around, Miss Clara Croft and her mother invites her to stay at their estate at Dorset. She accepts right away, eager to visit again the place she lived as a child before her father’s death.
During an invigorating ride through the beautiful hills of Dorset, she finds the handsome stranger or, more precisely, he catches her instead in her endeavor to write some letters. Their reencounter was highly amusing, so I won’t spoil it.
But she soon finds out that the handsome stranger is Lord Ashworth, heir to an earldom, and the man her friend Clara and her mother has set their claws on. Kate tries to suppress her burgeoning feelings for him out of loyalty to her friend, but she is unable to do so. Their attraction for each other is so palpable. She’s drawn by his generosity, his chivalry, and even his teasing nature.
What Kate is unaware of it’s that Mrs. Croft has plans for her too. She’s not only set her mind to marrying her daughter with Lord Ashworth but also her son Henry with Kate under the misguided belief she’s an heiress. The truth is that the Crofts are facing a time of crisis, mostly due to Henry’s debts.
Things get interesting when Henry decides to rebel against her mother’s antics. With the reluctant help of his sister, they concoct a plan to solve their problems. A plan that could get them in hot waters.
To complicate matters, there is a great possibility that William is involved in smuggling. This brings contradicting feelings in Kate. It’s against her principle to fall in love with a man partaking in the same practice that took her father’s life.
I loved how their romance blossomed in a natural and believable way. There was some swoon-worthy moments, especially the final scene. It was so simple, yet so powerful. It was simply spectacular. Kate and William are one of those couples that leave you wishing for more. I hope we get to see them in future installments. But the important thing is that everything is resolved at the end, and they get their HEA.
About the other characters, I have to say that I abhorred the despiteful trio: Henry, Clara, and their mother. They were calculating, cold, and only care about appearances. But they actually portrayed the behavior and preoccupations of people from upper classes during the Regency.
I want to know more about the Cosgrave’s sister, as well as William’s sister, Lady Anne. I’m looking forward to seeing them in other books! Also, I love Kate’s aunt, Fanny, mostly because she was amusing, like out of a Heyer’s book. I’m thinking about Lady Amabel from False Colours.
Overall, I give this story 4.5 out of 5 stars. Although the pace was good as I mentioned at the beginning, I felt that it dragged a little bit more in the middle. But to be fair, I don’t think the author is at fault, but the essence itself of Regency Romance: the upper ranks spend their life uneventfully. You can try to disguise this fact under an interesting plot, but there’s only so much an author can do. However, things picked up at the end, and I enjoyed it very much. Among other aspects, I wish it had been more descriptive in some scenes, mostly about other people’s appearance, and that it had included more chapters from William’s perspective.
As a final thought, I’ll definitely read more books from Martha Keyes in the future! She’s a promising historical romance author, and I can’t wait to see how she gets better with every book she publishes.
***I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 27, 2024
This is my first book by this author and I just love love LOVED it! Haven’t read a good regency novel since Sarah M Eden and Rebecca Connolly! So excited there are more in the series.
December 9, 2022
4.5 stars. Cute, sweet read
November 14, 2023
3.35 stars
This was just a nice read, nothing deep or historical. There was a bit of excitement towards the end which I really enjoyed. The hero was everything you'd want in a hero, the heroine actually reminded me of another Katie I know😏 which, of course, is exactly the way one would want their heroine😉
This was just a nice read, nothing deep or historical. There was a bit of excitement towards the end which I really enjoyed. The hero was everything you'd want in a hero, the heroine actually reminded me of another Katie I know😏 which, of course, is exactly the way one would want their heroine😉
August 12, 2024
Martha Keyes is a new favorite for me. Really enjoyed this story! Mostly romance (always clean) but with enough intrigue to be interesting.
April 6, 2025
Perfect in every sense…
Oh my word, this was absolutely amazing and so wonderfully romantic. Lord Ashworth is to die for, yet the story had some twists I was unsure about. Kate, is a heroine I adore and only more kisses would have made this book even more enjoyable. Loved it.
Oh my word, this was absolutely amazing and so wonderfully romantic. Lord Ashworth is to die for, yet the story had some twists I was unsure about. Kate, is a heroine I adore and only more kisses would have made this book even more enjoyable. Loved it.
June 29, 2019
I enjoyed this story. I liked Kate and I loved William. The two together were so fun in their banter and humor. I think each character was written so that we would love who we were supposed to love and dislike those we should as well. I suppose I might have more mixed feelings about the aunt. I think she was supposed to be lovable but I think she was just a troublemaker.
I thought the first half of the book was maybe a little slow but the second half seemed to whiz by quickly until I couldn't believe it was already over.
The book combined romance and intrigue. There were some twists I didn't expect and some things I expected didn't happen at all.
I questioned authenticity on some points such as if smugglers had killed Kate's father why wouldn't they have just killed Kate right away to keep her quiet. Seems like it would be a no brainer rather ask "What should we do with her?" Not that I wanted her to die mind you. And it kinda needed to play out like it did but I'm not sure it was realistic. Also I don't think the smugglers would have spoken so openly in front of her, using names etc. But these little things didn't take away from the story.
I would like to have known what came next for the Crofte family members. Did scandal ruin Clara's prospects? What happened to her brother? Was the family socially ruined?
Overall I thought it was a good regency read.
No sex or language
Some violence with the smugglers, perilous situations
I thought the first half of the book was maybe a little slow but the second half seemed to whiz by quickly until I couldn't believe it was already over.
The book combined romance and intrigue. There were some twists I didn't expect and some things I expected didn't happen at all.
I questioned authenticity on some points such as if smugglers had killed Kate's father why wouldn't they have just killed Kate right away to keep her quiet. Seems like it would be a no brainer rather ask "What should we do with her?" Not that I wanted her to die mind you. And it kinda needed to play out like it did but I'm not sure it was realistic. Also I don't think the smugglers would have spoken so openly in front of her, using names etc. But these little things didn't take away from the story.
I would like to have known what came next for the Crofte family members. Did scandal ruin Clara's prospects? What happened to her brother? Was the family socially ruined?
Overall I thought it was a good regency read.
No sex or language
Some violence with the smugglers, perilous situations
January 15, 2021
This book is a Regency England romance with a bit of mystery and suspense. Kate's pride dictated that she wouldn't accept money from her stepfather, but others thought that she would inherit a large fortune from him. People pretended to be her friend while wanting to use her, but she thought the best of them (until the end). Kate was adventurous and suffered many minor mishaps. I found it mildly annoying that she thought it was funny to blame anyone but herself for these mishaps. Despite that, Kate was a likable character who tried to be a loyal friend.
The hero was honorable and wanted to do the right thing regarding the smuggling occurring in the area. He enjoyed the humorous exchanges he had with Kate even though he knew her connections made her an unsuitable potential spouse. Kate debated between marrying someone who was a good friend or working for a living since she realized the hero was unlikely to marry her (especially as she was told he was promised to her friend). At the end, Kate uncovered some smuggling and was determined to do the right thing even though that put her in danger. There was some suspenseful moments while the hero tried to save her while also stopping the smuggling, which was trickier than it sounds. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable novel.
The hero was honorable and wanted to do the right thing regarding the smuggling occurring in the area. He enjoyed the humorous exchanges he had with Kate even though he knew her connections made her an unsuitable potential spouse. Kate debated between marrying someone who was a good friend or working for a living since she realized the hero was unlikely to marry her (especially as she was told he was promised to her friend). At the end, Kate uncovered some smuggling and was determined to do the right thing even though that put her in danger. There was some suspenseful moments while the hero tried to save her while also stopping the smuggling, which was trickier than it sounds. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable novel.
January 25, 2020
This is my first book by author Martha Keyes. I love the premise of the story, guests at the country house interact, females encouraged to fish for possibly wealthy husbands, conniving mothers, flirting, secrets of other hearts desires. It’s all the usual fodder for Regency England game playing. The intrigue thrown into this one is always fun, smuggling.
It all happens at the friend’s family home in Dorset. Young Kate Matcham finds herself falling for her friend’s possible fiancé. The friend knows she’s supposed to cozy up to the guy her mother has targeted her for, but she can’t because she loves another. Much is going on at the house and much is going on in secret.
I can’t say I really enjoyed this story until the last hundred pages when the plot thickens and becomes more interesting. There were parts I got really bored with, like the scene involving the phaeton and the landau, way too drug out and confusing. Overall, I did like Kate and William and was curious as to how it was going to play out. (The Shakespeare quotes were fun!)
I have the second book in the Dorset series and will read it next. Curious to see if I like it any better…
It all happens at the friend’s family home in Dorset. Young Kate Matcham finds herself falling for her friend’s possible fiancé. The friend knows she’s supposed to cozy up to the guy her mother has targeted her for, but she can’t because she loves another. Much is going on at the house and much is going on in secret.
I can’t say I really enjoyed this story until the last hundred pages when the plot thickens and becomes more interesting. There were parts I got really bored with, like the scene involving the phaeton and the landau, way too drug out and confusing. Overall, I did like Kate and William and was curious as to how it was going to play out. (The Shakespeare quotes were fun!)
I have the second book in the Dorset series and will read it next. Curious to see if I like it any better…
December 28, 2023
Im conflicted on this one. I really did not feel a connection to the book and the clumsy theme of the main character got on my nerves. However, it was not bad enough for me to put it down. There were also quite a few spelling errors so it knocked a star off for me.
July 1, 2019
What a delightful Regency read! After reading so many of this subgenre lately that had stilted language that was trying to affect a historical tone, it was a pure pleasure to read an author who not only knew how to properly do a faux historical dialogue but also wrote it in such a clever and witty way. Right from the start, I loved the banter between William and Kate. This book has several levels going on, including a subplot about smuggling and an arc that is built on many layers of deviousness and deception. I found the characters to be well drawn. This book was just a great read if you love well written Regency, like I do.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
Read my other reviews at https://www.readingfanaticreviews.com.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
Read my other reviews at https://www.readingfanaticreviews.com.
April 28, 2025
I enjoyed it but it’s kind of a mess. If I’m not mistaken this is Martha Keyes debut novel. I’ve read several of her books, and I’m actually pretty sure I’ve read this before. Ive found Martha Keyes to be hit or miss. This one feels like a miss, mostly because she ends it so abruptly I was left feeling no satisfaction, either with the duplicity of the Cross family or the romance. I don’t even remember if he kissed her. Clean romance is one thing but absolutely zero sexual tension is another. But if you like the smuggling trope you might enjoy it. I’m obviously in the minority where Martha Keyes is concerned.
October 29, 2020
Smuggler’s Cove
This is one of the first regency novels I’ve read that included smuggling. It was interesting and educational. Kate and William were adorable. Poor Kate always seemed to be caught in embarrassing situations. I loved her ability to laugh at herself. I enjoyed William’s levity and loyalty. I want to see more of his sister, Lady Anne!
This is one of the first regency novels I’ve read that included smuggling. It was interesting and educational. Kate and William were adorable. Poor Kate always seemed to be caught in embarrassing situations. I loved her ability to laugh at herself. I enjoyed William’s levity and loyalty. I want to see more of his sister, Lady Anne!
March 4, 2023
Four stars because it is a perfect fluff read. This is the first book in the delightful “Families of Dorset” series by Martha Keyes. If you are looking for a fun, light romance in audiobook, you might enjoy this. The narrator is great and the romance is clean and enjoyable. This is a book you can easily put down but still enjoy returning to.
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July 19, 2024Positives: very clean romance.
Challenges: I picked it up, put it down, picked it back up weeks later and forgot the whole first half of the book but was determined to finish, so it wasn't all making sense to me with the characters and who was who. So I can't blame the book for that. But the vibes on the first 75% were SLOW regency problems (matches! staying in your station! I miss my horse!) and the last 25% was a little fast-paced, almost action-ish, communication problems. .I finished the book a little confused but I think it was more me reading late at night, after not reading it consistently.
Challenges: I picked it up, put it down, picked it back up weeks later and forgot the whole first half of the book but was determined to finish, so it wasn't all making sense to me with the characters and who was who. So I can't blame the book for that. But the vibes on the first 75% were SLOW regency problems (matches! staying in your station! I miss my horse!) and the last 25% was a little fast-paced, almost action-ish, communication problems. .I finished the book a little confused but I think it was more me reading late at night, after not reading it consistently.
May 4, 2024
This was so cute! I needed a good romance and this hit the spot. Kate and William's relationship felt so natural and I found myself rooting for them from the start. I liked seeing how things grew between them and between Kate, Clara, and everyone else. It was a sweet book and as always with Martha Keyes, absolutely perfect.
March 28, 2024
I really liked it! It was intriguing! I had no idea how it was going to end. It was hard to put down. However, the editing is horrible! So, so many errors. I've never read a book with so many. I would give it a 4.5 if I could. Just because the misused pronouns and lack of punctuation made it hard to understand at times.
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