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Seasons of Change #1
The Road Through Rushbury
All she needs is a little bit of change. She'll have to fight him for it.
Georgiana Paige is on the shelf after eight full Seasons in London and not a single offer of marriage. When the opportunity to act as companion to her spinster aunt presents itself, she jumps at the chance to escape the Marriage Mart and embark on a new adventure. Upon her eventful arrival in the tiny Yorkshire village, though, she finds herself confronted with a man who both piques her interest and provokes her pride.
A lowly country vicar, Samuel Derrick would do anything to keep his coarse but idyllic parish the way it is. When change arrives there in the form of multiple new tenants straight from London, he vows to fight against their meddling. He is unprepared, though, for Georgiana Paige and the way she forces herself into the inner workings of the parish. His past experience tells him to keep the woman at arm's length, but his heart—and her determination to stay involved—won't allow for it.
As the village fights against the industrialization and poverty sweeping the North, Samuel and Georgiana find themselves working to pull the village together, even as those around them seemed determined to pull it apart. But how can two people who have lived such disparate lives bring anything together when they are fighting against their own desires for change and love?
The Road through Rushbury is a stand-alone sweet regency romance novel.
Book One: The Road Through Rushbury by Martha Keyes
Book Two: (Coming soon) The Last Eligible Bachelor by Ashtyn Newbold
Book Three: (Coming soon) A Forgiving Heart by Kasey Stockton
Book Four: (Coming soon) A Well-Trained Lady by Jess Heileman
Book Five: (Coming soon) from Deborah M. Hathaway
Book Six: (Coming soon) A Haunting at Havenwood from Sally Britton
Book Seven: (Coming soon) His Disinclined Bride from Jennie Goutet
Georgiana Paige is on the shelf after eight full Seasons in London and not a single offer of marriage. When the opportunity to act as companion to her spinster aunt presents itself, she jumps at the chance to escape the Marriage Mart and embark on a new adventure. Upon her eventful arrival in the tiny Yorkshire village, though, she finds herself confronted with a man who both piques her interest and provokes her pride.
A lowly country vicar, Samuel Derrick would do anything to keep his coarse but idyllic parish the way it is. When change arrives there in the form of multiple new tenants straight from London, he vows to fight against their meddling. He is unprepared, though, for Georgiana Paige and the way she forces herself into the inner workings of the parish. His past experience tells him to keep the woman at arm's length, but his heart—and her determination to stay involved—won't allow for it.
As the village fights against the industrialization and poverty sweeping the North, Samuel and Georgiana find themselves working to pull the village together, even as those around them seemed determined to pull it apart. But how can two people who have lived such disparate lives bring anything together when they are fighting against their own desires for change and love?
The Road through Rushbury is a stand-alone sweet regency romance novel.
Book One: The Road Through Rushbury by Martha Keyes
Book Two: (Coming soon) The Last Eligible Bachelor by Ashtyn Newbold
Book Three: (Coming soon) A Forgiving Heart by Kasey Stockton
Book Four: (Coming soon) A Well-Trained Lady by Jess Heileman
Book Five: (Coming soon) from Deborah M. Hathaway
Book Six: (Coming soon) A Haunting at Havenwood from Sally Britton
Book Seven: (Coming soon) His Disinclined Bride from Jennie Goutet
245 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2020
1061 people are currently reading
1141 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 171 reviews
October 18, 2025
Georgiana had eight seasons in London, so she’s considered “firmly on the shelf.” When an opportunity arises to move to the country and live with her elderly aunt, she takes it without a second thought, happy to be done with the Marriage Mart. But the first person she meets is a man of marriageable age.
There was nothing inherently wrong with this book; it had all the right ingredients for a perfect Regency romance. There was a strong heroine and a nice enough hero, a touch of suspense, and a lovely countryside setting. So, all things considered, I should have fallen in love with it. Unfortunately, the vibes were totally off, and I didn’t feel any connection to the characters. There was no spark, no magic, I’ve already forgotten the hero’s name.
There was nothing inherently wrong with this book; it had all the right ingredients for a perfect Regency romance. There was a strong heroine and a nice enough hero, a touch of suspense, and a lovely countryside setting. So, all things considered, I should have fallen in love with it. Unfortunately, the vibes were totally off, and I didn’t feel any connection to the characters. There was no spark, no magic, I’ve already forgotten the hero’s name.
January 22, 2021
Sweet romance at its best! Wonderful characters, great dialogue.
This is my first book by this author, but it won't be my last.
Samuel and Georgiana were the kind of people you wish you could befriend. They were good, smart, loyal, and kind.
Samuel was the vicar in a tiny village, and Georgiana was the outsider that came to stay with her aunt after eight seasons in London and no offer of marriage.
Due to past experiences, Samuel expected the worse of Georgiana and her London ways but was surprised to find her thoughtful, kind, and willing to become part of his beloved village.
Their friendship and love were sweet and heartwarming—everything I love in a good romance novel.
The side characters were also relatable and lovely, at least most of them, and they brought a comforting sense of friendship and community to the plot.
I really loved this book. Highly recommended!
This is my first book by this author, but it won't be my last.
Samuel and Georgiana were the kind of people you wish you could befriend. They were good, smart, loyal, and kind.
Samuel was the vicar in a tiny village, and Georgiana was the outsider that came to stay with her aunt after eight seasons in London and no offer of marriage.
Due to past experiences, Samuel expected the worse of Georgiana and her London ways but was surprised to find her thoughtful, kind, and willing to become part of his beloved village.
Their friendship and love were sweet and heartwarming—everything I love in a good romance novel.
The side characters were also relatable and lovely, at least most of them, and they brought a comforting sense of friendship and community to the plot.
I really loved this book. Highly recommended!
February 24, 2021
Whyyyy? Why build the romance only to mar it with the annoying misunderstanding trope in the end? I'm so tired of reading novels structured this way.
May 18, 2020
3.5 stars.
This really was a cute story and I enjoyed the characters in it. It’s not a book I would read over and over but I still enjoyed it. I am also really looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
This really was a cute story and I enjoyed the characters in it. It’s not a book I would read over and over but I still enjoyed it. I am also really looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
April 5, 2025
So freaking good…
What a rollercoaster ride. I loved the characters and love story, yet there was a time I did not like certain folks for judging Georgiana on something someone else did. Not cool, man. That said, it was positively lovely and even the unfair moments were needed to make this book so great.
What a rollercoaster ride. I loved the characters and love story, yet there was a time I did not like certain folks for judging Georgiana on something someone else did. Not cool, man. That said, it was positively lovely and even the unfair moments were needed to make this book so great.
unfinished
June 1, 2020Both the plot and setting in The Road Through Rushbury is unique for a Regency romance—rural England rather than the usual glittering events of a London Season—and the hero and heroine’s relationship develops over maintaining roads, a concept I’ve never read about before. I hope to return to this later after my reading slump passes so I can finally see how everything resolves.
May 24, 2021
This book was simple, neat and well written. The author knew the background well to write a regency romance book and what appealed me the most was the simple and subtle way the story is told.
Georgiana is almost on the shelf without attracting a husband even after 8 seasons in London and decides to leave the city for good and be a companion to her aunt in a remote village called rushbury in Yorkshire.
There she meets and falls in love with the handsome young vicar Samuel who feels the same for her.
The story mainly revolves around how the village treats an outsider and upper class Georgiana and how she makes a place for herself in the small village winning the heart of one and all.
This story is beautifully written with very good dialogues and I never felt it dragging anywhere
Will look forward to more books by this author
Georgiana is almost on the shelf without attracting a husband even after 8 seasons in London and decides to leave the city for good and be a companion to her aunt in a remote village called rushbury in Yorkshire.
There she meets and falls in love with the handsome young vicar Samuel who feels the same for her.
The story mainly revolves around how the village treats an outsider and upper class Georgiana and how she makes a place for herself in the small village winning the heart of one and all.
This story is beautifully written with very good dialogues and I never felt it dragging anywhere
Will look forward to more books by this author
May 24, 2020
A beautifully written love story set in a quaint little village during the regency period. Georgiana has been in the marriage mart for several years and is ready to settle down as an old maid so that her sister Daphne can have her chance. She sees an opportunity to be a companion for her aunt and jumps at the chance. She weaves her way into the community and into the local vicars heart. I really enjoyed the development of their relationship and all that transpires.
I received a free digital copy of this book. All thoughts above are my own.
I received a free digital copy of this book. All thoughts above are my own.
April 23, 2020
This was a fun read. Set way outside of London society it was fun to see Georgiana adapt to and appreciate a completely different lifestyle using her London skills to help the village. She is very clever. I also enjoyed the vicar though their cute meet was not exactly cute. I'd call it more of a gripe and snip meet. But it didn't take them long to see the error of their ways and begin to work together. It seems that nearly everyone who acted badly in this book was brought to see their error of their ways excepting the rude and annoying Lady whose name I cannot think of at present. Even Georgiana's lout of a brother was repentant in the end. Enjoyable, mostly light read which just touches on some of the historically difficult times in England's history. This story allows you to see the difficulties from both sides of the coin. How can justice and mercy both be satisfied?
Sex: no
Language: no
Violence: Potential peril with highwayman, vandalism.
*I received an ARC of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.
Sex: no
Language: no
Violence: Potential peril with highwayman, vandalism.
*I received an ARC of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.
June 20, 2020
I think that Martha Keyes is a very good writer. I have read so many novels that follow the pattern of the genre and are not engaging enough. While still a light romance, she adds depth in her characters, and in the ways they solve their problems. She offers great insight to the difficulty of changing into the Modern Age for the English Countryside. I like that while her characters feel conflict and uncertainty she doesn't indulge in pages of the character's questions in her head, which become so dull for the reader. There is conflict but her characters deal with it in more constructive ways.
January 8, 2022
Didn't care for the hero. He was self righteous. Snarky and not to bright. He was anti progress. Anti outsiders. Anti upper-class.
The heroine was superbright. Super hard working. Could negotiate like a New York lawyer and was handy with a pistol. I liked her but I didn't believe her character would exist in that time frame.
Beyond that the story dragged and endless descriptions of the scenery did not help. A soft 3.
The heroine was superbright. Super hard working. Could negotiate like a New York lawyer and was handy with a pistol. I liked her but I didn't believe her character would exist in that time frame.
Beyond that the story dragged and endless descriptions of the scenery did not help. A soft 3.
June 9, 2023
I love so many of Martha Keyes' books but I struggled with this one.
Part of the problem came from the audiobook I am sure. I wasn't a fan of the narrator. Her voice was irritating and very slow. I sped her up to 1.5 and I never listen that fast. Then the story seemed to drag at the beginning. But I know part of it was me focusing on the reading too.
The last part of the book held my interest more but I had a difficult time connecting with the 2 main characters and feeling them connect with each other.
There wasn't anything wrong with the story, I just didn't love it. It's a clean, regency era romance between a vicar and a woman that's been out for 8 seasons.
Part of the problem came from the audiobook I am sure. I wasn't a fan of the narrator. Her voice was irritating and very slow. I sped her up to 1.5 and I never listen that fast. Then the story seemed to drag at the beginning. But I know part of it was me focusing on the reading too.
The last part of the book held my interest more but I had a difficult time connecting with the 2 main characters and feeling them connect with each other.
There wasn't anything wrong with the story, I just didn't love it. It's a clean, regency era romance between a vicar and a woman that's been out for 8 seasons.
September 12, 2020
Sweet story
This is a sweet story about finding love when least expected.
I enjoyed the characters and the setting. I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
This is a sweet story about finding love when least expected.
I enjoyed the characters and the setting. I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
November 6, 2024
A nice clean historical romance, with no jarring anachronisms, likable MCs, a love story that feels 'organic,' well done
July 24, 2020
A new Martha Keyes book is always a thrill, and this one was another excellent read, a gentle, straightforward romance set away from the usual Regency settings of London, Bath and great country houses in a very small village in Yorkshire. It has one of the best opening lines I’ve come across in the genre: ‘Ten thousand. That was the number of pins Georgiana Paige estimated she’d had stuck in her hair since her coming out eight years ago.’ And there in a nutshell is the premise for the story. After eight seasons in the marriage mart of London, Georgiana is firmly on the shelf. When an opportunity arises, she accepts her spinsterhood, abandons the London season to her younger sister and decamps to become a companion to her aunt in Yorkshire.
The setting is very different from anything she’s experienced before, and initially she encounters suspicion and outright hostility from the villagers, but she rises to the challenge and, having criticised the state of the roads in the neighbourhood, volunteers to become the local Surveyor of Roads, and see about putting them right. Her guide in this endeavour is the local vicar, Samuel Derrick, who is one of the most overtly hostile of the villagers, having developed a great dislike of selfish gentry after a bad experience, but he is gradually won over by her determination and complete lack of the arrogance he’d expected.
The romance between them is (in my view) the best kind, where they slowly get to know each other and learn to appreciate the other’s good qualities, and this element of the book is stellar. The road-building and the interactions with the mostly wholesome and apple-cheeked villagers, particularly the hard-pressed weaver family, the Reeds, I found slow going.
I also wondered a little about the seeming glamorisation of hand-crafting, when the Reeds didn’t seem to be doing too well on it, and the demonising of the industrialisation of the industry, a process which was certainly disadvantageous to many workers, but also reduced the price of cottons and woollen fabrics, and benefited many. I would have liked to see a little more discussion of the two sides of the story (and there are always two sides; industrialisation wasn’t just about profit). But instead Georgiana instantly accepts that change is a bad thing, and the local land-owners are turned into villains for wanting to develop the village a bit.
After the halfway point, things speed up considerably, and after taking several days over the early chapters, the latter ones kept me up until the small hours, just to see how the ingenious Georgiana would resolve the difficulty and get her man, because it all seemed to be impossible for a while. The ending is a bit ‘with one bound they were free’, but it didn’t matter by that point, and the romantic denouement was delightful, with a nice twist to it.
If I have a complaint at all, it’s that the two main characters were a bit too perfect. Samuel had his prejudices, but otherwise he seemed to spend his life helping the poor and preaching well-received sermons, while Georgiana seemed to have no visible flaws at all, winning over all the villagers (with the possible exception of Lady Whatsit at the big house!). She was just a thoroughly nice person, and I would have liked to see a bit more fire from her. It would have been nice to see more of the aunt, too, who seemed to be merely a convenient plot device to draw Georgiana to Rushbury and then be more or less ignored. I do think she could have done more to intervene when the crisis hit and Georgiana was obviously very unhappy.
As always with Martha Keyes, this is a beautifully written tale. My favourite line was this, of clouds: ‘inching along at the leisurely pace of clouds that had nowhere to go.’ The research was excellent (I never knew there was such a post as Surveyor of Roads), and the romance is lovely. Not the most dramatic read ever, but very enjoyable nevertheless (it reminds me a bit of Lark Rise to Candleford, where nothing much happens very slowly, but in the most pleasant way). Four stars.
The setting is very different from anything she’s experienced before, and initially she encounters suspicion and outright hostility from the villagers, but she rises to the challenge and, having criticised the state of the roads in the neighbourhood, volunteers to become the local Surveyor of Roads, and see about putting them right. Her guide in this endeavour is the local vicar, Samuel Derrick, who is one of the most overtly hostile of the villagers, having developed a great dislike of selfish gentry after a bad experience, but he is gradually won over by her determination and complete lack of the arrogance he’d expected.
The romance between them is (in my view) the best kind, where they slowly get to know each other and learn to appreciate the other’s good qualities, and this element of the book is stellar. The road-building and the interactions with the mostly wholesome and apple-cheeked villagers, particularly the hard-pressed weaver family, the Reeds, I found slow going.
I also wondered a little about the seeming glamorisation of hand-crafting, when the Reeds didn’t seem to be doing too well on it, and the demonising of the industrialisation of the industry, a process which was certainly disadvantageous to many workers, but also reduced the price of cottons and woollen fabrics, and benefited many. I would have liked to see a little more discussion of the two sides of the story (and there are always two sides; industrialisation wasn’t just about profit). But instead Georgiana instantly accepts that change is a bad thing, and the local land-owners are turned into villains for wanting to develop the village a bit.
After the halfway point, things speed up considerably, and after taking several days over the early chapters, the latter ones kept me up until the small hours, just to see how the ingenious Georgiana would resolve the difficulty and get her man, because it all seemed to be impossible for a while. The ending is a bit ‘with one bound they were free’, but it didn’t matter by that point, and the romantic denouement was delightful, with a nice twist to it.
If I have a complaint at all, it’s that the two main characters were a bit too perfect. Samuel had his prejudices, but otherwise he seemed to spend his life helping the poor and preaching well-received sermons, while Georgiana seemed to have no visible flaws at all, winning over all the villagers (with the possible exception of Lady Whatsit at the big house!). She was just a thoroughly nice person, and I would have liked to see a bit more fire from her. It would have been nice to see more of the aunt, too, who seemed to be merely a convenient plot device to draw Georgiana to Rushbury and then be more or less ignored. I do think she could have done more to intervene when the crisis hit and Georgiana was obviously very unhappy.
As always with Martha Keyes, this is a beautifully written tale. My favourite line was this, of clouds: ‘inching along at the leisurely pace of clouds that had nowhere to go.’ The research was excellent (I never knew there was such a post as Surveyor of Roads), and the romance is lovely. Not the most dramatic read ever, but very enjoyable nevertheless (it reminds me a bit of Lark Rise to Candleford, where nothing much happens very slowly, but in the most pleasant way). Four stars.
April 28, 2020
Loved this story! I don't think I have ever read a Regency where someone has had 8 seasons before being considered on the shelf. That was a shock. I think four, maybe five is the most I've read. Though it seems odd to me, I did like the maturity Georgiana displayed, even if she couldn't always hold her tongue. The banter between her and Samuel was a lot of fun. I loved watching their relationship develop and the ways they both changed for the better. This was a really fun book with a lot of emotion and I really enjoyed it. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series.
January 13, 2022
“It does one good to be obliged to confront those one dislikes or with whom one disagrees. I have often been incorrect in my own judgments, but if I never have occasion to discover it by further interaction with a person, then I remain blind—and likely to become insufferable in the estimation of my abilities as a judge of other people.”
I really never intended to cry reading The Road Through Rushbury. I'm not a big crier; I avoid it at all costs actually. However in this case, I wasn't irritated with my tears as I am in some manipulative, emotional books. Rather I was surprised and truly impressed that Keyes made me feel so deeply about these characters!
The Road Through Rushbury is proper fiction sans the ballrooms, house parties, and meddling matriarch. We have much more female autonomy in this book which I really enjoyed, and a plot that centers around utility. I absolutely loved how Keyes took the reader out of the typical setting and gave the female MC brains and a deep interest in loving all those around her - not just one guy. There are lots of things to ponder in this one and the author really shows so much wisdom and grace in building out the characters with gritty strength and also some horrible mistakes. This is a book about the precious souls around you and what YOU can do to change their life...one person at a time. That's my favorite kind of book! 4.5/5 ⭐
I really never intended to cry reading The Road Through Rushbury. I'm not a big crier; I avoid it at all costs actually. However in this case, I wasn't irritated with my tears as I am in some manipulative, emotional books. Rather I was surprised and truly impressed that Keyes made me feel so deeply about these characters!
The Road Through Rushbury is proper fiction sans the ballrooms, house parties, and meddling matriarch. We have much more female autonomy in this book which I really enjoyed, and a plot that centers around utility. I absolutely loved how Keyes took the reader out of the typical setting and gave the female MC brains and a deep interest in loving all those around her - not just one guy. There are lots of things to ponder in this one and the author really shows so much wisdom and grace in building out the characters with gritty strength and also some horrible mistakes. This is a book about the precious souls around you and what YOU can do to change their life...one person at a time. That's my favorite kind of book! 4.5/5 ⭐
October 31, 2021
I like this heroine who wields kindness as both a sword and a shield in the world. I like and understand this hero who has built walls around himself and his world to keep bad things from getting in but which has also resulted in keeping new, good things out. The story was engrossing, the characters —even the self-centered brother—were fleshed out nicely, and the writing was brisk but detailed. The resolution of the major difficulty was a bit too pat, but I’ll let it slide because I wanted it to happen. Would love to read more by this author
June 10, 2021
Missing excitement
I read this book on the heels of the first 2 books in the Tales from the Highlands” series. Even though it is a sweet story and I enjoyed the characters I felt like it was missing the excitement I loved in the Highlander Series. Always on the verge of something exciting but not quite getting there.
I read this book on the heels of the first 2 books in the Tales from the Highlands” series. Even though it is a sweet story and I enjoyed the characters I felt like it was missing the excitement I loved in the Highlander Series. Always on the verge of something exciting but not quite getting there.
June 22, 2020
This story was simple and very predictable. I didn’t feel like the main characters had enough experience together to be in love. It just didn’t feel that they knew and experienced enough to be so thoroughly in love.
July 29, 2024
This book is a bit slow and dull. I wasn't a fan of the hero. I think he was a horrible vicar. He wasn't welcoming to the heroine when she first arrived in town. Also, at the first town meeting he tried to turn the villagers against her. Only made it to chapter six.
October 18, 2023
"Father, if someone were going to offer for me, I think we can confidently say that it would've happened some time during the legion seasons I have spent in London and the many between Seasons I have spent in Brighton and Bath."
The Road through Rushbury (2020, Golden Owl Press), first in the multi-author Seasons of Change series, is a standalone Regency romance. This first story is authored by Martha Keyes, whose books I have enjoyed listening to as of late. The fact that I had already read book two, A Forgiving Heart , did not decrease my enjoyment of this one at all.
Rating: 4.5 stars
Narration: 5 stars
Is it clean/chaste? Yes
Other content issues: highwayman, vandalism
Christian elements: the hero is a vicar
The heroine: Plain Georgiana Paige is unenthusiastic about being in her eighth London Season. " 'Utterly forgettable.' Those were the words she had once overheard applied to her appearance. They had stung at the time, but there was truth to them, no doubt." Georgie feels that attempting to succeed in the Marriage Mart is fruitless at this point. So upon hearing that Aunt Sarah had recently lost her companion of twenty years, Georgiana immediately volunteered herself for the position and found herself on the road through Rushbury, a small village in Yorkshire.
The hero: Country vicar Samuel Derrick loves his town the way it is, and he does not trust outsiders, particularly members of the gentry. So when Georgiana Paige comes to town, and the two start off on rather antagonistic footing, he presumes he knows exactly what she will be like.
What I liked:
*Georgiana's love for her family shines through in her choices.
*Georgiana's adventurous journey on the road through Rushbury.
What I didn’t like:
*Samuel's prejudice against the gentry was an interesting plot element, but I found it frustrating a couple of times. I think that was what the author intended, so she succeeded.
Audiobook: The lovey narrator, Lucy Morgans, has also narrated Hazelhurst by the same author.
The bottom line: This is a great story of a heroine with a bit of a Cinderella-esque background. I recommend this book - and the series - to fans of clean Regency romances.
I continue to look forward to reading more by Martha Keyes!
Consider trying: Just Ella by Annette K. Larsen.
The Road through Rushbury (2020, Golden Owl Press), first in the multi-author Seasons of Change series, is a standalone Regency romance. This first story is authored by Martha Keyes, whose books I have enjoyed listening to as of late. The fact that I had already read book two, A Forgiving Heart , did not decrease my enjoyment of this one at all.
Rating: 4.5 stars
Narration: 5 stars
Is it clean/chaste? Yes
Other content issues: highwayman, vandalism
Christian elements: the hero is a vicar
The heroine: Plain Georgiana Paige is unenthusiastic about being in her eighth London Season. " 'Utterly forgettable.' Those were the words she had once overheard applied to her appearance. They had stung at the time, but there was truth to them, no doubt." Georgie feels that attempting to succeed in the Marriage Mart is fruitless at this point. So upon hearing that Aunt Sarah had recently lost her companion of twenty years, Georgiana immediately volunteered herself for the position and found herself on the road through Rushbury, a small village in Yorkshire.
The hero: Country vicar Samuel Derrick loves his town the way it is, and he does not trust outsiders, particularly members of the gentry. So when Georgiana Paige comes to town, and the two start off on rather antagonistic footing, he presumes he knows exactly what she will be like.
What I liked:
*Georgiana's love for her family shines through in her choices.
*Georgiana's adventurous journey on the road through Rushbury.
What I didn’t like:
*Samuel's prejudice against the gentry was an interesting plot element, but I found it frustrating a couple of times. I think that was what the author intended, so she succeeded.
Audiobook: The lovey narrator, Lucy Morgans, has also narrated Hazelhurst by the same author.
The bottom line: This is a great story of a heroine with a bit of a Cinderella-esque background. I recommend this book - and the series - to fans of clean Regency romances.
I continue to look forward to reading more by Martha Keyes!
Consider trying: Just Ella by Annette K. Larsen.
November 13, 2025
Martha Keyes has such a wonderful understanding of the human condition through her various characters. She is able to articulate the hardships and views of various people in her work. In this novel she takes on the spinster who never had any suitors or engagements during her eight year season. I was impressed with her insights. The book was slow, and it didn’t become a page turner until chapter 17. A decent book, but she has more engaging work. The book struck me as more profound rather than entertaining.
Georgianna has been through eight seasons in London without a courtship to her name. She learns that her aunt’s companion recently died. She volunteers to go to her aunt hoping for an adventure. Samuel is the local Vicar in Rushbury. He is overly suspicious of outsiders. When he encounters Georgianna she has just arrived at her aunt‘s house and is frazzled. She had to walk most of her luggage from the broken carriage, and earlier they had been held up by a highwayman. She only complains about the roads, and Samuel starts taunting her. He sees her as an outsider finding fault with his beloved hometown. Later, his friend points out that she had also had the highwayman experience. Georgianna is repentant over her treatment of Samuel. I don’t recall him ever apologizing like her, but it showed a humility in Georgianna that even though she had reasons to be upset, she didn’t use them as excuses for her treatment of Samuel. Samuel believes she will be a disengaged lady, so he is surprised when she shows up at a town meeting. She only showed up to prove him wrong about her, but then he challenges her to become the surveyor of the roads because she complained about them so much. Georgianna agreed and Samuel was obligated to take her around the roads. Their relationship grows during this time. There is a local, wealthy couple that have moved in wanting to modernize Rushbury. Specifically they have plans to build a wool mill. The local man who makes handmade wool is furious, and starts to drink. Georgianna calls on the lady and convinces them to invest in the roads. So the town shows up one day to repair the roads. Samuel is smitten. Her brother, Archibald, has been banished to Rushbury for his gambling ways. After playing low stakes cards with Samuel and the constable, he sees a man with an ax, leaving the building that has the new mill’s equipment. The next morning it is revealed that the equipment has been destroyed. The wealthy family offers a 100 pound reward. Archibald considers this a stroke of luck and turns in the man who makes the wool. The village immediately blames Georgianna. She is heartbroken that Samuel has turned away from her. She decides to leave, but before she does, she convinces the Mill owner to give the perpetrator a chance. Instead of jail, the Mill owner makes him the manager after learning of his plight. Georgianna leaves straight from the jail to London with her brother. Samuel learns of her good deed when the man returns to his family in the town. Samuel races after her and catches her in time. They get married.
Georgianna has been through eight seasons in London without a courtship to her name. She learns that her aunt’s companion recently died. She volunteers to go to her aunt hoping for an adventure. Samuel is the local Vicar in Rushbury. He is overly suspicious of outsiders. When he encounters Georgianna she has just arrived at her aunt‘s house and is frazzled. She had to walk most of her luggage from the broken carriage, and earlier they had been held up by a highwayman. She only complains about the roads, and Samuel starts taunting her. He sees her as an outsider finding fault with his beloved hometown. Later, his friend points out that she had also had the highwayman experience. Georgianna is repentant over her treatment of Samuel. I don’t recall him ever apologizing like her, but it showed a humility in Georgianna that even though she had reasons to be upset, she didn’t use them as excuses for her treatment of Samuel. Samuel believes she will be a disengaged lady, so he is surprised when she shows up at a town meeting. She only showed up to prove him wrong about her, but then he challenges her to become the surveyor of the roads because she complained about them so much. Georgianna agreed and Samuel was obligated to take her around the roads. Their relationship grows during this time. There is a local, wealthy couple that have moved in wanting to modernize Rushbury. Specifically they have plans to build a wool mill. The local man who makes handmade wool is furious, and starts to drink. Georgianna calls on the lady and convinces them to invest in the roads. So the town shows up one day to repair the roads. Samuel is smitten. Her brother, Archibald, has been banished to Rushbury for his gambling ways. After playing low stakes cards with Samuel and the constable, he sees a man with an ax, leaving the building that has the new mill’s equipment. The next morning it is revealed that the equipment has been destroyed. The wealthy family offers a 100 pound reward. Archibald considers this a stroke of luck and turns in the man who makes the wool. The village immediately blames Georgianna. She is heartbroken that Samuel has turned away from her. She decides to leave, but before she does, she convinces the Mill owner to give the perpetrator a chance. Instead of jail, the Mill owner makes him the manager after learning of his plight. Georgianna leaves straight from the jail to London with her brother. Samuel learns of her good deed when the man returns to his family in the town. Samuel races after her and catches her in time. They get married.
April 22, 2020
I absolutely love this story! I am also really looking forward to the others in the compilation... so many wonderful authors are involved in this series, and this is a great start to it. I don’t think I have ever been disappointed by any story I have read by Martha Keyes. Her character development is wonderful and the storyline and the interactions between the characters always pull me right in, making me feel like I am experiencing the events along with them. I particularly enjoyed the fact that the two lead characters initially started off disliking each other. Call me contrary if you will but life isn’t always so neat and put together as to make love at first sight (always) so believable. Instant attraction, yes! Love, though, is something very different. Plus, just because you’re attracted to someone doesn’t mean you’ll be happy about it haha
So for me, this book struck the right note, straight off.
I also really appreciated the understated grace and caring nature of our heroine and the fact that she wasn’t too proud to learn from those who had been off putting and at times condemning in their initial interactions with her.
I liked that the hero was also able to admit when he was wrong and didn’t allow his own prejudices to hold him back from acknowledging and correcting his own mistakes.
I also, really loved Burke’s character! He made me laugh so many times.
I could keep going but I don’t want to spoil the story for you. Suffice it to say that anyone who enjoys clean and wholesome Regency Era romances will love reading this.
I received and ARC from the author but am under no obligation to leave this review. I truly loved reading it and hope you will too!
So for me, this book struck the right note, straight off.
I also really appreciated the understated grace and caring nature of our heroine and the fact that she wasn’t too proud to learn from those who had been off putting and at times condemning in their initial interactions with her.
I liked that the hero was also able to admit when he was wrong and didn’t allow his own prejudices to hold him back from acknowledging and correcting his own mistakes.
I also, really loved Burke’s character! He made me laugh so many times.
I could keep going but I don’t want to spoil the story for you. Suffice it to say that anyone who enjoys clean and wholesome Regency Era romances will love reading this.
I received and ARC from the author but am under no obligation to leave this review. I truly loved reading it and hope you will too!
November 20, 2020
A beetle for your troubles?
I love Martha Keyes’ style of writing which sets a pace that is not rushed. She describes her characters in a way that is easily relatable. The small town of Rushbury is well described. The relationship between Georgiana and Samuel began to grow on me. I enjoyed their banter and how they challenged each other. Georgiana was equal to the task of helping to find ways to improve the roads through Rushbury since she had a bad experience as she traveled there. The people of the town were suspicious of her being an outsider although she was determined to remain a resident. I appreciated Georgiana’s tactful approach when dealing with the residents which endeared her to them. I was impressed with the little side story of the vicar’s garden. Samuel was having difficulty with the pests in his garden and stepped on a beetle he suspected of being the culprit. But like a beetle in a garden full of slugs, it doesn’t pay to step on the beetle thinking it was the reason for the holes eaten in the leaves when in actuality it is the beetle eating the slugs that are infesting the garden. Just as the beetle, Georgiana was trying to help the residents but ended up taking the blame for its troubles. Sadly she realized that she was not welcome and decided to return home to London. Once Samuel realized the extent with which Georgiana had helped his people he couldn’t bear to let her go. I loved the epilogue. It was a sweet ending but also a sweet beginning for Samuel and Georgiana.
I love Martha Keyes’ style of writing which sets a pace that is not rushed. She describes her characters in a way that is easily relatable. The small town of Rushbury is well described. The relationship between Georgiana and Samuel began to grow on me. I enjoyed their banter and how they challenged each other. Georgiana was equal to the task of helping to find ways to improve the roads through Rushbury since she had a bad experience as she traveled there. The people of the town were suspicious of her being an outsider although she was determined to remain a resident. I appreciated Georgiana’s tactful approach when dealing with the residents which endeared her to them. I was impressed with the little side story of the vicar’s garden. Samuel was having difficulty with the pests in his garden and stepped on a beetle he suspected of being the culprit. But like a beetle in a garden full of slugs, it doesn’t pay to step on the beetle thinking it was the reason for the holes eaten in the leaves when in actuality it is the beetle eating the slugs that are infesting the garden. Just as the beetle, Georgiana was trying to help the residents but ended up taking the blame for its troubles. Sadly she realized that she was not welcome and decided to return home to London. Once Samuel realized the extent with which Georgiana had helped his people he couldn’t bear to let her go. I loved the epilogue. It was a sweet ending but also a sweet beginning for Samuel and Georgiana.
April 29, 2020
She's Not Like Any Woman He Has Met Before
This was a beautiful story that I really enjoyed. When Georgiana Paige has a chance to leave London after going through eight seasons and not finding an interested suitor, she goes to assist her spinster aunt in the Yorkshire village of Rushbury. Life in the north is very different and the village of Rushbury is very small without many shops or commerce. This doesn't bother Georgiana, as she actually feels like Rushbury might become home.
Samuel Derrick is the vicar in Rushbury and he doesn't trust strangers that come from London. They always seem to try to change the village he loves so much. When they get bored, they always seem to leave. When Samuel is introduced to Georgiana on the day she arrives in Rushbury, the sparks fly between them. He challenges her to get involved with the towns affairs by showing up at the next vestry meeting. What he never expected from this outsider was the many ways she began to try to make the village a better place for those living in it.
Samuel and Georgiana begin to work together to help the town deal with the advance of industrialization threatening to change this small village. Will their relationship grow into something deeper or will old suspicions destroy the closeness they have found?
Wonderful characters and beautiful descriptions of the village made this story come alive.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This was a beautiful story that I really enjoyed. When Georgiana Paige has a chance to leave London after going through eight seasons and not finding an interested suitor, she goes to assist her spinster aunt in the Yorkshire village of Rushbury. Life in the north is very different and the village of Rushbury is very small without many shops or commerce. This doesn't bother Georgiana, as she actually feels like Rushbury might become home.
Samuel Derrick is the vicar in Rushbury and he doesn't trust strangers that come from London. They always seem to try to change the village he loves so much. When they get bored, they always seem to leave. When Samuel is introduced to Georgiana on the day she arrives in Rushbury, the sparks fly between them. He challenges her to get involved with the towns affairs by showing up at the next vestry meeting. What he never expected from this outsider was the many ways she began to try to make the village a better place for those living in it.
Samuel and Georgiana begin to work together to help the town deal with the advance of industrialization threatening to change this small village. Will their relationship grow into something deeper or will old suspicions destroy the closeness they have found?
Wonderful characters and beautiful descriptions of the village made this story come alive.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 4, 2020
This was a unique read. Closer to 3.5 stars for me.
Miss Georgiana Paige has had 8 seasons and nothing close to an offer of marriage. Her aunt’s companion passes away and she’s eager to get out of London.
The road to Rushbury is harder than she imagined it would be with hold ups along the way but she finally makes it there and speaks her mind to the first person to come across her - the vicar, Samuel Derrick.
Samuel isn’t keen on outsiders coming to Rushbury and trying to make changes. But they always leave so he isn’t all that shocked to find Miss Paige already disappointed with their small hamlet. He encourages her to come to the church for a town meeting and to lay her concerns there, thinking she wouldn’t come.
Georgiana has a fire lit in her, she won’t give the vicar the chance to gloat so she marches to the meeting and somehow becomes the town surveyor. An unexpected duty that I had never read before in a Regency.
The plot was predictable at times. You never got more of a description of Samuel other than him having dark brows - so I wish there was more than that and also I learned a few words I had never heard of before like glebe and cassock. 🤷🏻♀️ And this isn’t really have a satisfying kiss. They did kiss but it hardly says anything other than their lips touched but I loved the emotions of the two characters at the end so that build-up and then no kiss kind of deflated it.
Miss Georgiana Paige has had 8 seasons and nothing close to an offer of marriage. Her aunt’s companion passes away and she’s eager to get out of London.
The road to Rushbury is harder than she imagined it would be with hold ups along the way but she finally makes it there and speaks her mind to the first person to come across her - the vicar, Samuel Derrick.
Samuel isn’t keen on outsiders coming to Rushbury and trying to make changes. But they always leave so he isn’t all that shocked to find Miss Paige already disappointed with their small hamlet. He encourages her to come to the church for a town meeting and to lay her concerns there, thinking she wouldn’t come.
Georgiana has a fire lit in her, she won’t give the vicar the chance to gloat so she marches to the meeting and somehow becomes the town surveyor. An unexpected duty that I had never read before in a Regency.
The plot was predictable at times. You never got more of a description of Samuel other than him having dark brows - so I wish there was more than that and also I learned a few words I had never heard of before like glebe and cassock. 🤷🏻♀️ And this isn’t really have a satisfying kiss. They did kiss but it hardly says anything other than their lips touched but I loved the emotions of the two characters at the end so that build-up and then no kiss kind of deflated it.
February 14, 2021
Georgiana Paige arrives is a tiny village in Yorkshire to be a companion to her aunt. She 27, bored with London and its society, and close to being a spinster anyway so why not go on an adventure. Travel to the village of Rushbury is terrible as the roads are awful! They are accosted by highwaymen which tested Georgiana’s courage. She even has to walk the last mile to her aunt’s house when the coach breaks.
Georgie arrives grumpy and complaining. The rather nice-looking village vicar, Samuel Derrick, is there to receive the new young lady and he’s not impressed with her complaints. He tells her that it can’t be helped but she might consider showing up to the ‘vestry meeting’. She does in an effort to undo her grumpy beginning. This village stuck in their isolated ways will be tuff to crack!
Challenged with action and not just words, Georgie finds herself being appointed ‘Surveyor of Highways’. She’s now got the authority to do something about those awful roads other than complain. And the person to help her get started is that handsome vicar, Samuel.
This is the first adventure in the Seasons of Change series; all by a variety of authors. Martha Keyes ‘Road to Rushbury’ is a fun start! Her ‘Author’s Note’ at the end about women actually being able to participate in some of the local governments was very interesting!
Georgie arrives grumpy and complaining. The rather nice-looking village vicar, Samuel Derrick, is there to receive the new young lady and he’s not impressed with her complaints. He tells her that it can’t be helped but she might consider showing up to the ‘vestry meeting’. She does in an effort to undo her grumpy beginning. This village stuck in their isolated ways will be tuff to crack!
Challenged with action and not just words, Georgie finds herself being appointed ‘Surveyor of Highways’. She’s now got the authority to do something about those awful roads other than complain. And the person to help her get started is that handsome vicar, Samuel.
This is the first adventure in the Seasons of Change series; all by a variety of authors. Martha Keyes ‘Road to Rushbury’ is a fun start! Her ‘Author’s Note’ at the end about women actually being able to participate in some of the local governments was very interesting!
July 17, 2024
2.5 ⭐ I suppose even the great Martha Keyes can't write at the phenomenal level every time. But seeing as this was one of her earlier works, it makes sense and just speaks to how much she has grown as a writer!
This did have a unique premise for the genre which I applaud, but I needed more believable chemistry and less 'almost smiling' and lines like (after interacting only twice): “She had not come all this way only to fall in love with someone.” 🙄 Hold up, how could two interactions where they were both annoyed with each other equate to love? 🤔 Alas, I lost interest and DNF'ed around chapter 8.
Buuuut, if this is your first experience with Martha Keyes do yourself a favor and go read The Art of Victory and then quickly read book 2, her masterpiece, A Confirmed Rake. Your future self will thank you.
Please keep writing Martha, you're one of my favorite author discoveries of 2024!
Audio: decent, but particularly slow; I needed to listen at 1.5 speed
Content: kisses only
This did have a unique premise for the genre which I applaud, but I needed more believable chemistry and less 'almost smiling' and lines like (after interacting only twice): “She had not come all this way only to fall in love with someone.” 🙄 Hold up, how could two interactions where they were both annoyed with each other equate to love? 🤔 Alas, I lost interest and DNF'ed around chapter 8.
Buuuut, if this is your first experience with Martha Keyes do yourself a favor and go read The Art of Victory and then quickly read book 2, her masterpiece, A Confirmed Rake. Your future self will thank you.
Please keep writing Martha, you're one of my favorite author discoveries of 2024!
Audio: decent, but particularly slow; I needed to listen at 1.5 speed
Content: kisses only
April 22, 2020
Excellent!
I don't let my excitement to take over me when I read a book,but this is one of the exceptions.I love this book! I had zero serious problems with it while reading.Everything in my opinion was done nearly perfect.It was such a delightful read that I felt sad when I finished it.In the end I loved Rushbury as much as Georgiana did and I will genuinely miss it as well as Georgiana and Samuel.I have read many books by Martha Keyes but this one is my personal fav.The story was so engaging and the drama was perfectly tied to the story and didn't feel like it appeared out of nowhere or had no connection to the romance/plot. Now do not expect for this to be a dramatic read,actually quite the opposite.The drama is pretty light.As for the characters,the one who stood out to me was the protagonist,Mrs.Georgiana Paige.I enjoyed how witty,clever and dynamic she was and her first meeting with the vicar Samuel(Mr.Derrick) was fantastic.I loved how they teased each other at first and how they slowly opened to one another.However,not only the main characters were memorable,but also the secondary characters ,at least to me,were just as memorable (Mr.Burke,Aunt Sara,Mrs.Green,Archie and the Reed Family).Needless to say the writing was great in this one too as always.
I don't let my excitement to take over me when I read a book,but this is one of the exceptions.I love this book! I had zero serious problems with it while reading.Everything in my opinion was done nearly perfect.It was such a delightful read that I felt sad when I finished it.In the end I loved Rushbury as much as Georgiana did and I will genuinely miss it as well as Georgiana and Samuel.I have read many books by Martha Keyes but this one is my personal fav.The story was so engaging and the drama was perfectly tied to the story and didn't feel like it appeared out of nowhere or had no connection to the romance/plot. Now do not expect for this to be a dramatic read,actually quite the opposite.The drama is pretty light.As for the characters,the one who stood out to me was the protagonist,Mrs.Georgiana Paige.I enjoyed how witty,clever and dynamic she was and her first meeting with the vicar Samuel(Mr.Derrick) was fantastic.I loved how they teased each other at first and how they slowly opened to one another.However,not only the main characters were memorable,but also the secondary characters ,at least to me,were just as memorable (Mr.Burke,Aunt Sara,Mrs.Green,Archie and the Reed Family).Needless to say the writing was great in this one too as always.
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