What do you think?
Rate this book
A Regency Love #3
An Orchestrated Marriage
Theodosia Selina Amesbury comes from a wealthy family, but they lack a title. Rawden Beresford is a future marquess, but his family is in dire need of financial assistance following certain bad investments. So the arranged marriage between the two families is deemed as quite appropriate and sought after, that is, for everyone except Theodosia and Rawden.
Theodosia wants a loving marriage, like her friends have. And on a fateful evening, at a masquerade, she meets a stranger who ignites a fire in her she can't control.
But the date for the wedding is set and all she can have with him are a few encounters, aided by a friend, before her life as she knows it is set to end.
Warning: There are explicit romantic scenes. For mature audiences (+18).
--------------
Excerpt
Theodosia Selina Amesbury had to take very deep breaths to remain calm and not tell her parents what she was really thinking.
Sure, she had been out for three seasons and had not been successful—she had not been courted and no one appeared particularly interested in changing that.
But that didn’t mean that the idea of an arranged marriage to a complete stranger enticed her. She knew that the problem could be her appearance: she was almost six feet tall, slim, and had dark brown hair that refused to stay in place when a chignon was set on her head. She also had very big round dark green eyes, a somewhat wide nose and a wide mouth with plump lips. She was also pale, yet her love of gardens and propensity of forgetting things often meant a slight tanned hue to her high cheekbones. Her lack of a significant other could also be explained by her personality: she liked to be informed about what was happening, she was obsessed with Evelina, and she cried when she attended the opera. She also had opinions and had a tendency of voicing them, whether they were suitable or not.
Ugh, if only her family had a title.
But no.
So what were they doing?
Marrying her off to the eldest son of a marquess because of certain bad investments that the nobleman had done.
“When am I to meet my betrothed?” Theodosia could hardly hold back her contempt.
“He is currently returning from a journey to Scotland, so the banns will be read starting this Sunday and hopefully you will meet before the wedding,” her mother, a beautiful, calculating woman, told her. “And you’d best read some of the conduct books I bought for you before you meet him.”
“What’s his name?” she was bored already.
“Rawden Beresford,” her mother answered.
“Lady Theodosia Beresford,” she stated her future name and grimaced.
“Marchioness,” her mother couldn’t stop herself.
Theodosia wants a loving marriage, like her friends have. And on a fateful evening, at a masquerade, she meets a stranger who ignites a fire in her she can't control.
But the date for the wedding is set and all she can have with him are a few encounters, aided by a friend, before her life as she knows it is set to end.
Warning: There are explicit romantic scenes. For mature audiences (+18).
--------------
Excerpt
Theodosia Selina Amesbury had to take very deep breaths to remain calm and not tell her parents what she was really thinking.
Sure, she had been out for three seasons and had not been successful—she had not been courted and no one appeared particularly interested in changing that.
But that didn’t mean that the idea of an arranged marriage to a complete stranger enticed her. She knew that the problem could be her appearance: she was almost six feet tall, slim, and had dark brown hair that refused to stay in place when a chignon was set on her head. She also had very big round dark green eyes, a somewhat wide nose and a wide mouth with plump lips. She was also pale, yet her love of gardens and propensity of forgetting things often meant a slight tanned hue to her high cheekbones. Her lack of a significant other could also be explained by her personality: she liked to be informed about what was happening, she was obsessed with Evelina, and she cried when she attended the opera. She also had opinions and had a tendency of voicing them, whether they were suitable or not.
Ugh, if only her family had a title.
But no.
So what were they doing?
Marrying her off to the eldest son of a marquess because of certain bad investments that the nobleman had done.
“When am I to meet my betrothed?” Theodosia could hardly hold back her contempt.
“He is currently returning from a journey to Scotland, so the banns will be read starting this Sunday and hopefully you will meet before the wedding,” her mother, a beautiful, calculating woman, told her. “And you’d best read some of the conduct books I bought for you before you meet him.”
“What’s his name?” she was bored already.
“Rawden Beresford,” her mother answered.
“Lady Theodosia Beresford,” she stated her future name and grimaced.
“Marchioness,” her mother couldn’t stop herself.
42 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 13, 2020
7 people are currently reading
2 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
July 8, 2020
This book pulled me in and kept me entranced till the end. The feelings of love, hate, and pain coming out in waves making you want to cry while you read. This was such a beautiful book! I loved the characters wholesomeness!
May 24, 2020
Theodosia Amesbury parents have arranged a marriage for her to Rawden Bresford with her dowry to provide financial relief to Rawden family. All of Theodosia close friends have happy loving marriages that she longs for but she fears that her marriage will not be the case because she is not to meet him until the wedding.
At a masquerade ball Theodosia, using her middle name Selina, meets a tall mysterious stranger, Brook, and immediately fall for him. As the wedding is in less than a week, with the help of her friends she arranges one last assignation with Brook so that she will have a memory of true love after she is married to a stranger. The wedding provides a surprise and we end with an HEA,
This is the second of Ms. Barly’s “Regency Love” series that I have read and I highly recommend her work. Her books are pleasant and make the reader happy with the surprise endings. Don’t miss this one.
At a masquerade ball Theodosia, using her middle name Selina, meets a tall mysterious stranger, Brook, and immediately fall for him. As the wedding is in less than a week, with the help of her friends she arranges one last assignation with Brook so that she will have a memory of true love after she is married to a stranger. The wedding provides a surprise and we end with an HEA,
This is the second of Ms. Barly’s “Regency Love” series that I have read and I highly recommend her work. Her books are pleasant and make the reader happy with the surprise endings. Don’t miss this one.
June 5, 2020
This is the third novella in the Regency Love series. I have read the first two and loved them, so I was really looking forward to this one. It did not disappoint! Theodosia and Rawden became engaged, each for their own beneficial reasons, however neither is too happy about it. Throdosia meets a mystery stranger at a masquerade ball, and becomes intrigued. The mystery man is also attracted to her. But Theodosia is already engaged - what can she do? This was a very fun and entertaining book, and the storyline caught my interest from the start. I have really enjoyed the novellas in this series and I can't wait to see what Ms. Barly has in store next!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 16, 2020
A mystery lady behind a mask.
For Theodosia, the idea of an arranged marriage to a complete stranger did not entice her. Perhaps with luck, she will meet her betrothed before the wedding. Rawden the said betroth was not all the happy either but he was trying to have a bit of fun before the horrible event took place. When out to have fun Rawden meets a mystery lady behind a mask things start to become interesting. This was such a fun book to read. Mercy is ever so naughty. So far this one has been my favorite one in this series. I adored it! I did receive a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.
For Theodosia, the idea of an arranged marriage to a complete stranger did not entice her. Perhaps with luck, she will meet her betrothed before the wedding. Rawden the said betroth was not all the happy either but he was trying to have a bit of fun before the horrible event took place. When out to have fun Rawden meets a mystery lady behind a mask things start to become interesting. This was such a fun book to read. Mercy is ever so naughty. So far this one has been my favorite one in this series. I adored it! I did receive a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.
June 2, 2020
Theodosia's family has money but no title where Rawden has a title but lacks money. Their family arranges their wedding but they have never met and will not until the wedding. She wants to marry for love so when she meets a mystery man at a ball she is intrigued and the mystery man is also attracted to the woman he met at the ball. Guess you can figure it out when they meet at the alter to find they have found love and the mystery is no longer a mystery.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 9, 2020
This is book three in the A Regency Love series. The last of the bachelors is getting married, Rawden and his is an arranged marriage. He does his best to avoid meeting his future wife until she walks down the aisle. Theodosia's parents have found her a husband. She meets a man and decides she wants one night for her own. Can one night have a forever? This is a short, sweet story that also provides a little update on previous books characters. Enjoy!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 1, 2020
I've read several books written by Josephine Barley; she has done an excellent job at writing a good short story; she is becoming one of my favorite authors. I can’t wait to read more of her books.
The story line caught my attention at the very beginning and kept me interested throughout the entire book.
I loved the characters.
I received a free copy of this book via booksprout and I’m voluntarily leaving a review.
The story line caught my attention at the very beginning and kept me interested throughout the entire book.
I loved the characters.
I received a free copy of this book via booksprout and I’m voluntarily leaving a review.
June 13, 2020
Theodosia’s parents have chosen a husband for her due to her inability to get one herself. However, she meets someone at a masquerade, someone who steals her heart that very first night.
An enjoyable story about two people who have no idea what was coming upon them. I do really like this series and I highly recommend it.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
An enjoyable story about two people who have no idea what was coming upon them. I do really like this series and I highly recommend it.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 3, 2020
An Orchestrated Marriage is the third novella in A Regency Love series. I loved this novella.
Theodosia and Rawden each decide to secretly enjoy a dalliance with strangers before their arranged wedding. Can an arranged marriage between two unwilling people ever be happy?
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Theodosia and Rawden each decide to secretly enjoy a dalliance with strangers before their arranged wedding. Can an arranged marriage between two unwilling people ever be happy?
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 17, 2020
This is a fun sweet story. When Rawden and Theodosia meet there's an instant attraction, but both are to be married soon. Even though they both know that nothing can come of their relationship, they choose to spend time together, cherishing the memories they make. Both are shocked by what happens at the end.
July 16, 2022
Masked lovers
They hid behind masks, fearful of discovery because each was getting married soon. Leastwise, she could not risk discovery. The scandal had to be avoided. On their wedding day, they got the best gift ever - each other. Rawden and Theodosia fought for their happiness, even if they didn't know they were creating memories with each other. A really good story.
They hid behind masks, fearful of discovery because each was getting married soon. Leastwise, she could not risk discovery. The scandal had to be avoided. On their wedding day, they got the best gift ever - each other. Rawden and Theodosia fought for their happiness, even if they didn't know they were creating memories with each other. A really good story.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews