The Lost Countess that Counted Stars

by Patricia Haverton

It was a wonder, the way she found herself. Not in her name, but in his arms...

Merial Hanraham has no recollection of who she is.

Found unconscious in a dinghy with nothing but a mysterious coffer, she is taken on board by a crew of British sailors heading to England.

Christopher Buckthorn, son of the Duke of Heyerdahl and proud captain of the “Valkyrie”, never expected to find a woman with no memories floating in the middle of the ocean. Especially not one as stunning as Merial.

Amidst old superstitions turning the crew against her and pirates constantly on their tail, Merial and Christopher must piece together the fragments of her returning memories.

And the key to the truth might just lie in a riddle carved on the mysterious coffer; a single word to unveil not only Merial’s true identity but also the name of the person hunting her…


*If you like powerful Dukes, loving Duchesses and a marvelous depiction of the majestic Regency and Victorian era, then The Lost Countess that Counted Stars is the novel for you.

This is Patricia Haverton's 5th novel, a historical Regency romance novel of 80,000 words (around 400 pages). No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a sweet happily ever after.

Genres: Historical Romance

375 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 26, 2020

About the author

Born the oldest of three children, Patricia Haverton grew up believing that she'd follow in her father's footsteps and pursue a career in science. However, her worldview changed when she decided to explore her British mother's roots. The trip to her ancestral lands solidified her conviction that she had found her true calling in the romanticism of the Era of Kings and Queens.

A hopeless romantic and a firm believer in the idea of soulmates, Patricia changed the course of her life and decided to get her degree in Creative Writing and Psychology. As she jokingly says ever so often, "she lives in the past now, where love shows the way and Dukes save the day!"

When she's not weaving tales of love that prevails, Patricia enjoys spending time with her husband, roaming the British countryside, where they have been living in for the past decade.

Now would be the time to let yourself go and experience the true magic of the Regency Era! Let your imagination run wild, live amazing adventures through the eyes of brave heroes! Like the legendary wise wizard, Patricia will be your guide!

Reviews

[Emma · Rating 2 out of 5]

The opening of the story is full of fear, fire and danger. Then we jump to a dingy on the sea. A lot of time was spent describing the day to day minutia of the crew, Lady Merial and the captain Lord Christopher. It covered the many. many superstitions sailors had. One being a woman on the boat was bad luck. The story covered the deeply swaying of approval of the sailors one day and something would happen and they would blame Merial for it. As courageous as Merial was she was intensely sensitive when something happened between the crew and herself. At time she felt she was the cause of the problems. Christopher was a comfort and provided the reassurance she needed. Although she had lost her memories, Christopher told her it would take time for them to return and they would. Merial almost gave up all hope. Christopher was the second son of a duke, owned the ship the Valkyrie and was a stern but fair captain. He knew his men and how to deal with them. The weeks at sea on their way to London, Merial had an education in the superstitions of the crew, how Christopher handled infractions by the men and also about mercy. Merial life was threatened more than once. The sailors who threatened her threw themselves overboard instead of hanging. The threats against her life on board eliminated they sailed into London Harbor. Christopher took Merial to his parents’ home in Mayfair where she was greeted warmly. There was this wooden box called a coffer that was with her when she was found unconscious floating in a dingy on the sea. Merial still did not know the importance of it. While in London she recognized nothing. She was told of the death of her parents and that her uncle now held the title. She did not know how very close her death was when she returned to her home and to her Uncle Edward. This is an interesting story. Like I mentioned earlier too much of the book was spent on the day to day minutia and not enough on the romance between Merial and Christopher. There were several lovable secondary characters. Henry, an exotic cat who could predict trouble before it came. He was also a great rat catcher. Then there was the Maurice the cook from France who made every meal delicious. There was also the first mate Mr. Mayhew who feared women and sailor Jack who was finally won over by the goodness of Merial. There are others but none as memorable as these. I give this a 3.5-star rating. Like I said this is a different look of nobility out of their normal setting of balls, soirees, outings etc. Based on their personality how they adapt to their circumstances being at sea for weeks dodging pirates, storms and sea creatures. I believe the story livened up for me towards the end. This book is okay. I feel there is room for improvement.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Knuckling their brow! What does that mean? I had never heard that phrase before but it seemed that every man in th book were constantly knuckling their brow. My only complaint. It seemed to be in every page. There was finally a time when Merial copied the look of Christopher knuckling her brow at him. That was funny. Otherwise it for old quickly.

Lady Merial Hanraham has been found unconscious in a dingy by Christopher Buckthorn, son of a Duke captain of the Valkyrie, as merchant ship on it's way back to England from America. Merial only remembers her name and has nightmares of escaping a fire. That is it.

Christopher is intrigued by her. The crew, not so much. They are a superstitious crew that believe having a woman on a ship brings has luck. How will they treat Merial? Will they make her walk the plank? It was interesting learning the superstitious says of sailors. And how a woman in Regency England has to be aware of proper behavior even under Merial's unusual circumstances.

The interaction Merial and some crew members were very tense and she was a bit too easy at letting some behavior and acts of violence against her not be punished too strongly. Could have gotten herself killed.

Still, it was a very enjoyable read. Sometimes I got too wrapped up in the storyline. Which I sometimes do. I received an ARC of this ebook to read and write an honest review. I also purchased a copy of the published book from Amazon. Looking forward to book six.

[Space Cowgirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Lady💃💋 and the Sea Captain🐺⛵

Regency Era Romance💕, Adventure, and Mystery💀🔥.

Surviving a deliberately set 🔥fire in a London inn that kills her parents, Merial is then taken to a ship to set sail for America. A few weeks later, she is found unconscious, abandoned in a small dingy by the English merchant vessel Valkyarie⛵. Her captain is Lord Christopher Buckthorn🐺🍆⛲💪🔪, second son of the Duke of Heyerdahl. They are three weeks out from returning to England.

Merial has a bad bump on her head, and she has no memory of anything but her name. Bits and parts of the fire🔥 and the fleeing🐎⛵ come back to her but it makes no sense.

Unfortunately, the noble👺 responsible for Merial's parents deaths, knows she is still alive and still wants to kill her! He doesn't know where she is, though.

Lord Christopher🐺⛵ is falling for Merial💃💋, and he also wants to help her find her relatives. He knows by her dress and manner, she is a peer also, but he doesn't recognize her family name.

The time spent on the ship ⛵brings them together💕.

ARC Provided by Bookfunnel🌀
I also got the ebook with KU.

This was a thrill ride from start to finish!

[Kaye · Rating 5 out of 5]

ONE TANTALIZING TANGLED WEB!!!
Wildcard! Patricia unleashes one amazing, enthusiastic, chart topping dynamo, revving up the thrill and forging full speed ahead, throwing this little gem into the eye of the storm, breaking it down, blowing it into a tailspin with an astonishing culmination. A raging tempest of surprising events and daunting circumstances, takes you on one wild ride, fusing this little gem together seamlessly. Combating intense drama, unnerving tension, chilling danger, electrifying suspense and mystifying intrigue, riding the rails and ducking heat, catapulting this baby to staggering heights. Add distress, turmoil and perplexing situations along with a boatload of trouble, dodging dark dastardly deeds, blasting this jewel to life brilliantly. Meting out striking, well rounded scenario's, that punch dead center with such exuberance and style, testing our characters in ways they could have never anticipated. The characters are authentic and realistic with depth and qualities that transform into amazing personalities. The attraction and chemistry sizzles from the pages, alluring and mesmerizing, until you feel the electrifying hum, running rampant through your veins. Blundering through the trials and tribulations, along with the shocking twists, unexpected turns and crisp lines, testing our characters in ways they could have never anticipated. The scenes are abundantly detailed and descriptive it gives you a full understanding and realism that flows through smoothly. Remarkable job Patricia, thanks for sharing this little treasure with us.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Merial Hanraham escapes from a burning inn with the help of two servants. They get on a ship and head for America but they are attacked by priates. One of the servants puts her in a dinghy with a coffer and sets her adrift. Christopher Buckthorn, son of the Duke of Heyerdahl and captain of the “Valkyrie” rescues her. She knows her name and later she remembers her father's name but she has no memory of what happen. She doesn't know why she was in a dinghy. They are sailing to England. There are adventures at sea. The sailors believe in superstitions and this puts her life in danger. We have intrigue, drama, suspense, danger, turmoil, murder, romance, twists and turns that will keep you turning pages to the end. Who is behind the murders? Will she get her memory back? Will Merial and Christopher fall in love? The plot is well constructed, Characters are fleshed out and the story flows. It is well written.
I voluntarily received a copy of this book and I'm voluntarily posting a review. My opinion is entirely my own.

[Kathy Brickert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely read!

I enjoyed this story very much, especially the cat Henry! Of course the human characters were pretty great also! I was happy to see So much of the story takes place on the ship and it made it seem so teal! Great job! Great read!

[Gwen Hight · Rating 5 out of 5]

The List Countess that Counted Stars: A Historical Regency Romance Novel

This is a very good and enjoyable story about a young woman that loves her memory after the trauma of losing her parents and a raid on her ship by pirates.She is rescued by Christopher and they fell in love and even though they had many trials they survived.This author is talented as she makes her characters so real an emotional and use good plots.This is a good read

[Aud · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The Lost Countess that Counted Stars” by Patricia Haverton
This story was a lot of fun to read. I received an ARC from the author with the request for an honest review. I must admit I got weary of the amount of time spent at sea, although I must also admit there was nary a boring moment in this whole story. And, all ends well as all novels should. Happy Reading ! !

[Karen Cash · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucky charm

Muriel ended up being a lucky charm for the ship and her captain.
Glad the uncle was captured for his crimes. Extended epilogue gives everyone a nice happy ending.

[Bonnie Klein · Rating 5 out of 5]

Patricia has served up a delicious tale full of suspense and mystery. Rich characters navigate the deep waters of the Atlantic while dangers lurk onboard. I loved this book. It moves at a nice measured pace as the story develops, but is never dull. I never guessed the previous events until the final outcome. Wow!

I don’t want to spoil anything, so suffice it to say that I recommend this book. Patricia Haverton is a master storyteller.

[Shane Deiley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really sweet.

I've always found that historical fiction moved slowly, mirroring the pace of the time. It allows smaller things to be more significant and build.

Clean read.

[Cindy C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lost Countess that Counted Stars takes off into a deceitful web of danger and deception with a murderous villain slinking in the background in this action-packed novel that has a incredible strong plot, wonderful characters, and great dialogue that bring this together perfectly. The book starts out with a shocking beginning that hooks you and you can't put the book down until the end. Merial just escaping with her life from a fire at an inn that kills her parents is found later in a dinghy alone in the middle of the ocean. Rescued by Christopher, captain of the Valkyrie, Merial has no memory of her past. Aboard the Valkyrie her crew are superstitious and believe sharks following a ship and an dead albatross dropping dead out of the sky are bad omens of what's to come, a ship cursed with a woman aboard! With a "lucky" black cat aboard ship who can foretell storms and raiding pirates! With Christopher protecting Merial against a disgruntled crew and murading pirates is trying to help Merial remember her past. With their passions building in this heart pounding story full of drama, secrets, turmoil, trials and tribulations while the suspense builds, tensions escalate and all twist and turns abound that makes for one outstanding story! Patricia Haverton has written a novel that is a must read!

[Marti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Falling in love on the high seas

What an interesting story! Although I did not anticipate it, the bulk of the story took place aboard Christopher’s ship the Valkyrie. The Prologue put some background information in place, and throughout the book, there were small scenes to remind the reader that this was a mystery that needed to be solved.

Having come across Merial unconscious floating in a dinghy in the Atlantic, Christopher finds she is only in possession of a unique puzzle box and has no memory of how she came to be there. Throughout the rest of the trip to England, the author details daily life on board a fleet sailing vessel, along with the superstitions sailors held and the dangers that lurked, with our hero and heroine experiencing much of the aforementioned items. Of course, Merial and Christopher grew to love each other, but the climax was not reached until they were back in London. Numerous secondary characters played large supportive roles (the first mate and French chef particularly) which helped move the story along, as well as giving additional views on what was happening.

I thoroughly enjoyed the story taking place primarily on board the ship. It makes the story a bit more unique. The Epilogue available through the author web site was a firing ending to the HEA.

[Candy Briggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Merial Hanrahan is woken from a deep sleep by banging at her door. She is rushed out and she with the servants rush to a ship heading for America. Her parents are dead and she does not know what to do. Her parents arranged for her to go to her aunts. Then Pirates attack and she is thrown into a dinghy. She is being shot at and bangs her head and forgets just about everything.
Lord Christopher Buckthorn, the second son of Duke Heyerdahl, owns his own ship, the Valkyrie. He
loved the sea, wind blowing in his hair the sounds of the sea washing under the ship's hull. He rescues her and the suspicions begin. When she tried to sleep, nightmares came and scared her almost to death. So many things happened during their voyage. From meeting Henry to Pirates to
sailors trying to kill her. It is like a rollercoaster but the reading is smooth and even-paced. The characters are quite amazing and realistic. The author has done a marvelous job with the details of the tale. It is entertaining and interesting. I highly recommend this lovely novel.
I received this ARC from the author and voluntarily reviewed it.

[Angie Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

An unknown countess found alone in a small dingy with a small wooden coffee with her. Lord Christopher Buckthorn, captain of the Valkyrie takes Lady Merial Hanrahan under his care despite of his ship of suspicious sailors. With no memory of who she is other than her name she befriends the crew and becomes one of them working along side the ships cook Gauthier. As danger and nightmares seem to plague Merial the closer they get to London the closer she and Christopher become. Can they solve the mystery of who she is and why she has nightmares of a fire or will she be killed before they find out the truth? A winding, mysterious tale that will leave you on edge till the end.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

A memory lost! Is a love found

Merial was on the run,being swept
A way to save her life, from the fate
That befell her parents by the hand
Of her greedy uncle
Out to sea thrown in a dinghy boat
She is rescued by Captain Christopher ,with no memory save her name, her and her Captain fall
In love at sea, but fate is fickle and
Soon bad luck begins to befall
The ship and her crew, they believe a woman aboard ship is bad luck
But Merial wins them over
But the story doesn't end there.
They still need to find the truth
And there search begins in England
This is a high Seas adventure, and
I highly recommend you take the voyage to get to the truth
Thank you ❤

[The Mysterious Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Regency Period tales, especially when they’re period appropriate, and I have a “soft spot” for powerful Dukes. (I’m still quite a bit miffed that the love of my life is not secretly a Duke.) i also love it when an author had an imaginative take on things and runs with it. That’s certainly the case with Merial and Christopher’s tale in Patricia Haverton‘s The Lost Countess that Counted Stars: A Historical Regency Romance Novel. Read the publisher’s and you’ll get a sense of what I’m writing about. This is superb stuff. Wonderfully told and with really perfectly crafted complex but real characters with an exciting romantic plot. Highly recommended.

[Tam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved that this story did not follow the typical, historical romance 'formula'. It was a very unique tale that immediately drew me in. Not only is this a very well-written book with wonderfully-interesting characters, but the suspense builds at just the right pace as the story unfolds.

*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this story!

The authors created a wonderful story. I loved how strong and vulnerable both of the main characters were. I loved the different setting in the Valkyri and all the adventures they had to go through, while their love slowly flourished. Once I started to read I couldn't put it down! I will be dowloading more books from the authors for sure.

[Shirley Hamlod · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of how Christopher and Merial meet is interesting. Both have to overcome lots of dangerous obstacles to finally be together. It has humour and sadness. Their adventures make you wonder what is going to happen next. Another deep and dark mystery needs to be solved and the question is will they survive once it’s solved? A thrilling read.

[MELISSA · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay

A good enough read that I finished the story (finally with some skimming). I liked Christopher and Merial and their HEA. I began to wonder if I were on the interminable voyage home with the, however. So many descriptive scenes on board I despaired of ever arriving in England and the rest of the story.

[Joyce Neigebauer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice reading

I do love a good book about sailing the high seas and having pirates. That having no memories of what happened and keeping the name of the person who was responsible for the death of her family. Great reading and keeping you in the edge of your seat.

[Frances Hudson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review

Enjoyed this book very much. Different from usual regency romances, being mostly set aboard sailing ship. Gave reader an insight into the challenges faced aboard a merchant sailing ship as well as the love story of main characters. Liked the little twists in the tale

[Tom Prejsner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Romance

Thank you for sharing these wonderful romance novels series books. Please keep writing more of these wonderful books. Thank you

[Lyn Sweetapple · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well done. Nice mystery.