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The Kingsleys
Flame and Ember
A heartbroken man, a frustrated spinster, and a marriage of convenience that proves quite inconvenient.
Simon Kingsley is in desperate need of a wife. After years of searching, he finally found love. Unfortunately, she wed another, and now, it’s time to settle for someone with whom he can share his life. Love is no longer an option for a man whose heart is irrevocably broken.
Mina Ashbrook longs to marry for love but knows she’s too old, too plump, and too plain to catch a gentleman’s eye. And a marriage of convenience is better than being a spinster sister living off her brother’s charity. Simon may not love her now, but Mina knows there’s hope—if she can convince him that love comes in many forms.
Will Mina find a way to heal Simon’s heart? Or will the shadows of the past keep them from finding happiness together?
Simon Kingsley is in desperate need of a wife. After years of searching, he finally found love. Unfortunately, she wed another, and now, it’s time to settle for someone with whom he can share his life. Love is no longer an option for a man whose heart is irrevocably broken.
Mina Ashbrook longs to marry for love but knows she’s too old, too plump, and too plain to catch a gentleman’s eye. And a marriage of convenience is better than being a spinster sister living off her brother’s charity. Simon may not love her now, but Mina knows there’s hope—if she can convince him that love comes in many forms.
Will Mina find a way to heal Simon’s heart? Or will the shadows of the past keep them from finding happiness together?
266 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 27, 2018
2031 people are currently reading
1381 people want to read
About the author
M.A. Nichols
37 books476 followersBorn and raised in Anchorage, M.A. Nichols is a lifelong Alaskan, though she briefly ventured south to get a fancy bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University and a master’s degree from Utah State University—neither of which had anything to do with why she became an author, but they kept her alive while launching her publishing career.
As a child she despised reading, but thanks to her mother’s love and persistence, she saw the error of her ways and developed a deep and abiding obsession with books. Currently, she writes sweet historical romance and fantasy, but as a lover of many genres, she plans to explore more in the future.
As a child she despised reading, but thanks to her mother’s love and persistence, she saw the error of her ways and developed a deep and abiding obsession with books. Currently, she writes sweet historical romance and fantasy, but as a lover of many genres, she plans to explore more in the future.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 376 reviews
June 30, 2024
CHAPTERS 1 THROUGH 29:
Heroine to hero: I love you.
Mother-in-law to heroine: You cow.
OW to heroine: If that's your man, if that's your man, if that's your man, he wasn't laaaaaast night.
Hero to heroine: Go away, I love the OW.
CHAPTER 30:
Hero to OW: You know, you're a bit of a skank after all.
Hero to mother: I won't invite you to my home if you don't at least pretend to respect my wife.
CHAPTER 31:
Hero to anyone who'll listen: I haz sad now.
CHAPTER 32:
Hero to heroine: I don't know where to begin with all the apolo...
Heroine: I WILL COME BACK TO YOU!
FIN
Heroine to hero: I love you.
Mother-in-law to heroine: You cow.
OW to heroine: If that's your man, if that's your man, if that's your man, he wasn't laaaaaast night.
Hero to heroine: Go away, I love the OW.
CHAPTER 30:
Hero to OW: You know, you're a bit of a skank after all.
Hero to mother: I won't invite you to my home if you don't at least pretend to respect my wife.
CHAPTER 31:
Hero to anyone who'll listen: I haz sad now.
CHAPTER 32:
Hero to heroine: I don't know where to begin with all the apolo...
Heroine: I WILL COME BACK TO YOU!
FIN
November 5, 2018
I had a hard time with this story, though parts of it were engaging enough. Mina, for example, pulled me right in as an aging (she's thirty when the story picks up) spinster who is, as she terms it, "frumpy". She doesn't put herself forward much, and that doesn't help. I really liked her conversations with Simon because it becomes clear that she's kind and intelligent and not so much shy as she is unwilling to dissemble. Kindness and honesty together means that she's mostly quiet in social gatherings and that means she's used to being overlooked. So it was charming to see Simon find her engaging and interesting because she enters into his enthusiasms and they have much in common. Nichols does an outstanding job making that "frumpiness" real and present throughout the book and not something that a makeover or positive thinking overcomes. I really liked that.
Offsetting this is that Simon is an utter moron, emotionally speaking. Nichols tries to make the case that he mistakes lust (mostly obsessive attraction) for love. Which makes him all kinds of shallow and that doesn't go away for much, much too long. The problem with this setup is that his expectations of love aren't at all shallow and involve all the deeper expectations of binding two lives together in common cause for long-term contentment. So if love were architecture, it's like if you mistake the foundation for the façade but are still aware of all the weight it'll have to bear to actually work. It doesn't hold together is what I mean because any idiot can see that if you build a second story with nothing but a façade you're going to end up with rubble. His ruminations are just that shaky.
But that's only the start of him being an idiot. He's also way too clueless for my liking when it comes to supporting Mina against all the rubs in her way. Like when the nasty housekeeper kicks up a fuss and he tells Mina he doesn't see why they should disrupt things. Or when . And the problem is that if he weren't such an idiot, the book would have been half it's current length so it feels a lot like the author forced him to be an idiot so there'd be a story.
The thing is, there's a lovely romance buried under all that, even so. I just loved Mina and their friendship that became more is outstanding. I buy how well they gelled into a real team. It's a real tragedy that Nichols didn't have a better source of conflict than Simon being an idiot. Oh, and antagonists that were so two-dimensionally unpleasant. That got a bit over the top, too.
So I'm ending this with three stars that you'd think it wouldn't deserve for all my gripes above. Particularly when I add "poor copy editing" to the list. There were lots of issues (mostly dropped words, but some added and one or two near-homophones). So be aware that I couldn't put this down and stayed up way later than I intended to finish it so it's better than the above might suggest.
A note about Chaste: While they get married well before the halfway point, Simon's idiocy includes that they don't sleep together. It's a strong point in the story and contributes, as you'd expect, to their relationship issues. It's also way more believable than all the other nonsense tied up in his stupidity. Which is kind of weird now I think on it. The couple kisses were outstanding, though.
Offsetting this is that Simon is an utter moron, emotionally speaking. Nichols tries to make the case that he mistakes lust (mostly obsessive attraction) for love. Which makes him all kinds of shallow and that doesn't go away for much, much too long. The problem with this setup is that his expectations of love aren't at all shallow and involve all the deeper expectations of binding two lives together in common cause for long-term contentment. So if love were architecture, it's like if you mistake the foundation for the façade but are still aware of all the weight it'll have to bear to actually work. It doesn't hold together is what I mean because any idiot can see that if you build a second story with nothing but a façade you're going to end up with rubble. His ruminations are just that shaky.
But that's only the start of him being an idiot. He's also way too clueless for my liking when it comes to supporting Mina against all the rubs in her way. Like when the nasty housekeeper kicks up a fuss and he tells Mina he doesn't see why they should disrupt things. Or when . And the problem is that if he weren't such an idiot, the book would have been half it's current length so it feels a lot like the author forced him to be an idiot so there'd be a story.
The thing is, there's a lovely romance buried under all that, even so. I just loved Mina and their friendship that became more is outstanding. I buy how well they gelled into a real team. It's a real tragedy that Nichols didn't have a better source of conflict than Simon being an idiot. Oh, and antagonists that were so two-dimensionally unpleasant. That got a bit over the top, too.
So I'm ending this with three stars that you'd think it wouldn't deserve for all my gripes above. Particularly when I add "poor copy editing" to the list. There were lots of issues (mostly dropped words, but some added and one or two near-homophones). So be aware that I couldn't put this down and stayed up way later than I intended to finish it so it's better than the above might suggest.
A note about Chaste: While they get married well before the halfway point, Simon's idiocy includes that they don't sleep together. It's a strong point in the story and contributes, as you'd expect, to their relationship issues. It's also way more believable than all the other nonsense tied up in his stupidity. Which is kind of weird now I think on it. The couple kisses were outstanding, though.
April 26, 2019
Marginal 3 star MOC story.
SPOILERS AND SYNOPSIS
Give me a hard core, mustache twirling, villainous bad boy any day of the week over a milk-toast weak H that doesn't want to hurt the heroine!
Said beta hero who tears up at the drop of a hat, wants a MOC to a "friend" since he lost the love of his life to a man of higher standing. Oh, but he'll hold his dear one in his heart like a flame...shoot me now.
The heroine is a plump and plain spinster. She's quite happy to be on the shelf. In fact her dream is to move to her little cottage so she doesn't have to deal with the BS of London society. Her now dead but loving father, brother and well meaning but annoying SIL all know better for her and feel that any man is better than no man.
The H swoops in for a MOC, and when I say MOC let me emphasize the Convenience part. Poor form, when he falls asleep his wedding night because he's thinking of his twue love and is too tired. So he has low testosterone on top of everything else. What was a charming friends to lovers story went south for me at this point, and the heroine was not much happier. It's not like she wanted hot sex 'cause she didn't know what that was, but being treated like the ultimate wallflower her wedding night didn't please her either.
Their "friendship" improves. She deals with a horrible and haughty housekeeper; is shunned by some of the local beeyotches because she's too plain and other crapola.
The arrival of the H's horrible family with the love of his life in tow heats up the story, but the hero sank even more in my estimation. At every given moment the OW bats her blue eyes, and he's off and running. No actual cheating, but oodles of emotional cheating. Secret babies and emotional cheating aren't big triggers for me, but this was a pretty bad case. Like the Scarecrow, if the H only had a brain.
I could while away the hours
Conferrin' with the flowers,
Consulting with the rain;
And my head I'd be a scratchin'
While my thoughts are busy hatchin'
If I only had a brain.
One line too many is crossed and the heroine lays it on the line what an idiot he is and leaves. He is outraged at her lack of trust (intelligence) but slowly wakes up to what a snake the OW is. Relatives and OW are dealt with.
HEA because the H does realize what he has in the heroine, but too much tearing up BY THE HERO, and the incredibly impractical fact that a Regency marriage was left unconsummated drove me crazy.
Nice writing and no sex for those looking for a clean romance.
SPOILERS AND SYNOPSIS
Give me a hard core, mustache twirling, villainous bad boy any day of the week over a milk-toast weak H that doesn't want to hurt the heroine!
Said beta hero who tears up at the drop of a hat, wants a MOC to a "friend" since he lost the love of his life to a man of higher standing. Oh, but he'll hold his dear one in his heart like a flame...shoot me now.
The heroine is a plump and plain spinster. She's quite happy to be on the shelf. In fact her dream is to move to her little cottage so she doesn't have to deal with the BS of London society. Her now dead but loving father, brother and well meaning but annoying SIL all know better for her and feel that any man is better than no man.
The H swoops in for a MOC, and when I say MOC let me emphasize the Convenience part. Poor form, when he falls asleep his wedding night because he's thinking of his twue love and is too tired. So he has low testosterone on top of everything else. What was a charming friends to lovers story went south for me at this point, and the heroine was not much happier. It's not like she wanted hot sex 'cause she didn't know what that was, but being treated like the ultimate wallflower her wedding night didn't please her either.
Their "friendship" improves. She deals with a horrible and haughty housekeeper; is shunned by some of the local beeyotches because she's too plain and other crapola.
The arrival of the H's horrible family with the love of his life in tow heats up the story, but the hero sank even more in my estimation. At every given moment the OW bats her blue eyes, and he's off and running. No actual cheating, but oodles of emotional cheating. Secret babies and emotional cheating aren't big triggers for me, but this was a pretty bad case. Like the Scarecrow, if the H only had a brain.
I could while away the hours
Conferrin' with the flowers,
Consulting with the rain;
And my head I'd be a scratchin'
While my thoughts are busy hatchin'
If I only had a brain.
One line too many is crossed and the heroine lays it on the line what an idiot he is and leaves. He is outraged at her lack of trust (intelligence) but slowly wakes up to what a snake the OW is. Relatives and OW are dealt with.
HEA because the H does realize what he has in the heroine, but too much tearing up BY THE HERO, and the incredibly impractical fact that a Regency marriage was left unconsummated drove me crazy.
Nice writing and no sex for those looking for a clean romance.
November 29, 2024
Another angsty friend-zoned moc that could have been so much better
Still, a 3.65*.
The H is nice but such a beta bustard. He kills with his distant kindness. (Now I'm aligned with why the unrepentant cruelty of alpha-holes is preferable.)
The story is nice but so slow.
The romance(?) is naaaice but so tepid.
Thank God for the evil family and the ow!
Still, a 3.65*.
The H is nice but such a beta bustard. He kills with his distant kindness. (Now I'm aligned with why the unrepentant cruelty of alpha-holes is preferable.)
The story is nice but so slow.
The romance(?) is naaaice but so tepid.
Thank God for the evil family and the ow!
August 12, 2023
"I may not marry for love, but marrying a bubble-headed twit is not particularly appealing, either."
Flame and Ember (2018, M. A. Nichols) by M. A. Nichols, first in the Regency Love series, is a Regency romance set in an unspecified year.
Ms. Nichols is one of my Goodreads friends - I read her reviews to get book ideas for other family members. Since I'm a fan of Regency romance, she wanted to get my impression on Flame and Ember, which is her first Regency!
(Note: While I have used quotes in my review below, please be aware that it's possible that the quotes I used are no longer perfectly accurate.)
Rating: 5 stars (based on plot alone, as I do not know what the final copy looks like)
The heroine: Wilhelmina Ashbrook lives in her brother's household. After being mistress of his house for some time, Mina lost her job upon his marriage, so to speak. To top it off, Mina's sister-in-law "Louisa-Margaretta simply had no idea how condescending and insulting it was to have a girl roughy twelve years her junior elevated to the position of chaperone. Anyone with sense considered Mina far too spinsterly to need such protection, but that did not matter to the Ashbrooks. Much to Mina's chagrin."
Mina would still like to have a family of her own, which is looking impossible at this point. At 30, she has previously had many unsuccessful seasons with no suitors to show for it. "Society had long ago rejected her as a debutante." When Louisa-Margaretta (and yes, the book does indicate that the name seems pretentious) attempts to redirect an invitation to dance toward Mina, I was reminded of (a more polite version of) Mr. Elton in Jane Austen's Emma . " 'That does sound delightful,' he said [to Louisa-Margaretta], making Mina blush even further, 'but I promised Mr. George Orbrook I'd join him in the card room if you were unavailable.' " Later during the ball: "No one around her ever seemed to see her. It wasn't even a blatant snub. That would require someone noticing her first."
The hero: In the prologue, Simon Kinglsey is infatuated with Miss Susannah Weston. He proposes to her, is rejected, and learns that she has just become engaged to someone that she had only known for a couple of weeks! In despair, Simon thinks, "Love may exist, but it was not meant for him." Two years later, Simon is still affected by the sight of Susannah - now a married woman - and decides it's time he got married. "I doubt I will find love, but there is no reason I cannot find a helpmate."
Christian elements: This is not at all Christian fiction, but I found that the morality in the story is well in line with Christian principles. Which made it a joy to read.
Is it clean/chaste? Yes!
What I liked: This book's heroine is atypical. She is particularly unique in that her "figure didn't have a good advantage." And later: Mina's "overabundant figure appeared to advantage standing; sitting only made her look heavier and frumpier than she was." Mina is competent and wants to be independent. I love her character.
What I didn’t like:
*It takes Simon a long time to realize he loves Mina. (This isn't a spoiler - it's a Regency romance, after all.)
*I gave Ms. Nichols a list of whatever issues I found in her second draft, and I know that she made revisions after that point. So I can't speak to how neatly drafted the final copy was, but I'd imagine it's pretty good. Apart from any issues I shared with the author, the writing was a pleasure to read. Coincidentally, my son recently read Ms. Nichols' book The Drogue and liked it a lot.
***********
The bottom line: This is a delightful Regency, and I can't believe it's Nichols' first one. I recommend this book to fans of Regency romance and those who enjoy a romance with an unusual heroine. If Ms. Nichols publishes another Regency, I'd definitely like to read it.
Flame and Ember (2018, M. A. Nichols) by M. A. Nichols, first in the Regency Love series, is a Regency romance set in an unspecified year.
Ms. Nichols is one of my Goodreads friends - I read her reviews to get book ideas for other family members. Since I'm a fan of Regency romance, she wanted to get my impression on Flame and Ember, which is her first Regency!
(Note: While I have used quotes in my review below, please be aware that it's possible that the quotes I used are no longer perfectly accurate.)
Rating: 5 stars (based on plot alone, as I do not know what the final copy looks like)
The heroine: Wilhelmina Ashbrook lives in her brother's household. After being mistress of his house for some time, Mina lost her job upon his marriage, so to speak. To top it off, Mina's sister-in-law "Louisa-Margaretta simply had no idea how condescending and insulting it was to have a girl roughy twelve years her junior elevated to the position of chaperone. Anyone with sense considered Mina far too spinsterly to need such protection, but that did not matter to the Ashbrooks. Much to Mina's chagrin."
Mina would still like to have a family of her own, which is looking impossible at this point. At 30, she has previously had many unsuccessful seasons with no suitors to show for it. "Society had long ago rejected her as a debutante." When Louisa-Margaretta (and yes, the book does indicate that the name seems pretentious) attempts to redirect an invitation to dance toward Mina, I was reminded of (a more polite version of) Mr. Elton in Jane Austen's Emma . " 'That does sound delightful,' he said [to Louisa-Margaretta], making Mina blush even further, 'but I promised Mr. George Orbrook I'd join him in the card room if you were unavailable.' " Later during the ball: "No one around her ever seemed to see her. It wasn't even a blatant snub. That would require someone noticing her first."
The hero: In the prologue, Simon Kinglsey is infatuated with Miss Susannah Weston. He proposes to her, is rejected, and learns that she has just become engaged to someone that she had only known for a couple of weeks! In despair, Simon thinks, "Love may exist, but it was not meant for him." Two years later, Simon is still affected by the sight of Susannah - now a married woman - and decides it's time he got married. "I doubt I will find love, but there is no reason I cannot find a helpmate."
Christian elements: This is not at all Christian fiction, but I found that the morality in the story is well in line with Christian principles. Which made it a joy to read.
Is it clean/chaste? Yes!
What I liked: This book's heroine is atypical. She is particularly unique in that her "figure didn't have a good advantage." And later: Mina's "overabundant figure appeared to advantage standing; sitting only made her look heavier and frumpier than she was." Mina is competent and wants to be independent. I love her character.
What I didn’t like:
*It takes Simon a long time to realize he loves Mina. (This isn't a spoiler - it's a Regency romance, after all.)
*I gave Ms. Nichols a list of whatever issues I found in her second draft, and I know that she made revisions after that point. So I can't speak to how neatly drafted the final copy was, but I'd imagine it's pretty good. Apart from any issues I shared with the author, the writing was a pleasure to read. Coincidentally, my son recently read Ms. Nichols' book The Drogue and liked it a lot.
***********
The bottom line: This is a delightful Regency, and I can't believe it's Nichols' first one. I recommend this book to fans of Regency romance and those who enjoy a romance with an unusual heroine. If Ms. Nichols publishes another Regency, I'd definitely like to read it.
June 12, 2021
Most of the story took place in London 1811. Contained
a faux hero, with a middle name: obtuse.
Simon portrayed the hero & Mina the heroine. Neither
Simon's father nor his mother honored fidelity. So poor
Simon did not have a + model of real married love. Mina
ran her household until her brother married, then she felt
purposeless.
Simon proposed a MOC w/ Mina after knowing her only
6 wks. He thought Mina smart, a good conversationalist
but dowdy/ unattractive. Simon obsessed on his beautiful
"love" Susannah who wed another man. He thought of her,
ad nauseam. I wanted to say "get over it!"
Simon invalidated Mina's concerns RE his horrid house-
keeper. Mona fired this woman and replaced her yet it
took Simon 1 week to realize this!
The 2 leads drew closer & then the H's birth family and
Susannah and her family showed up unannounced
around the 66% mark. The story went steadily downhill
from there. Simon flirted with Sus & could not see her
manipulative nature. Duh, Simon, tacky when both parties
are married to another person to flirt like this! Duh, other
people in the room can see you 2 flirt!
Simon described himself as a "lackwit." I agree. He spent
most of the story indifferent to Mina, he seldom defended
her from verbal attacks. No consummation by story's end.
Simon loved (VS hated?) himself and was too selfish and
immature to love a real woman.
Mina had BFF Thea whose spouse Frederick served as the
real man in the story.
a faux hero, with a middle name: obtuse.
Simon portrayed the hero & Mina the heroine. Neither
Simon's father nor his mother honored fidelity. So poor
Simon did not have a + model of real married love. Mina
ran her household until her brother married, then she felt
purposeless.
Simon proposed a MOC w/ Mina after knowing her only
6 wks. He thought Mina smart, a good conversationalist
but dowdy/ unattractive. Simon obsessed on his beautiful
"love" Susannah who wed another man. He thought of her,
ad nauseam. I wanted to say "get over it!"
Simon invalidated Mina's concerns RE his horrid house-
keeper. Mona fired this woman and replaced her yet it
took Simon 1 week to realize this!
The 2 leads drew closer & then the H's birth family and
Susannah and her family showed up unannounced
around the 66% mark. The story went steadily downhill
from there. Simon flirted with Sus & could not see her
manipulative nature. Duh, Simon, tacky when both parties
are married to another person to flirt like this! Duh, other
people in the room can see you 2 flirt!
Simon described himself as a "lackwit." I agree. He spent
most of the story indifferent to Mina, he seldom defended
her from verbal attacks. No consummation by story's end.
Simon loved (VS hated?) himself and was too selfish and
immature to love a real woman.
Mina had BFF Thea whose spouse Frederick served as the
real man in the story.
June 19, 2021
The story for this book had been bouncing around in my head for a while before I finally wrote it down, and it turned out far better than I ever thought it could be. It's definitely made me realize that I need to be writing more sweet historical romances!
December 27, 2018
This was engagingly written and I couldn't help but root for the heroine of this story. However, the hero left much to be desired. Unfortunately, there's no nice way to say this: he was an idiot. His inability to fully realize his own feelings for the heroine was understandable, and I would have been able to tolerate it had it not lasted past the 80% mark. The fact that his wife, the heroine, was proved on more than one occasion to be an excellent judge of character (while he was not) should have clued him in earlier on to what was really going on in his home. And while I really enjoyed the chapter where the heroine basically says that she's done being a doormat and tells her husband every true thing she'd been storing up inside, I wished that it had happened earlier on. There was also definitely not enough groveling and I wish that the author had given us more of the MCs' HEA. An epilogue would not have gone unappreciated.
Overall, despite the anger-inducing angst, I really enjoyed this author's writing style and found it a pleasure to read. I also appreciated how clean this was and how the hero was really decent and faithful, albeit clueless, man.
Overall, despite the anger-inducing angst, I really enjoyed this author's writing style and found it a pleasure to read. I also appreciated how clean this was and how the hero was really decent and faithful, albeit clueless, man.
February 1, 2024
4.5 STARS
September 26, 2018
3.5 Stars
I have to admit that I'm having a hard time deciding how to rate this book. While I absolutely adored Mina and her strength, I honestly didn't care for Simon all that much. Even though he was obsessed with another woman, I did like him for the first part of the book. His relationship with Mina was starting to move from friends to something more. But then his family showed up and it went downhill from there.
I honestly can't see how he could go from pretty much adoring her and spending all kinds of time with her, to ignoring her and making her feel like crap. He then had the audacity to get mad when she finally stood up for herself to everyone... including him. I have a hard time believing that he was that naive and dare I say, stupid? A person would have to be pretty blind to not see what everyone else was seeing.
Yes... I get that he was a flawed character but his actions went a little too far in my opinion. And honestly? I do not think that he deserved Mina. Maybe if we had less of the drawn out visit from his dreaded, evil family and more of him actually doing anything and everything to win Mina back, I would have a different opinion of him. But alas, the book just ended and he didn't grovel enough for me. Haha.
Now, don't get me wrong, I did not dislike the book. I actually enjoyed it and it was because of Mina. She's not your typical heroine and while the odds where constantly stacked against her, she always managed to come out on top. She has got to be the sweetest, most loving and caring individual ever. After going through everything she did in her life, she had every right to be bitter and hateful but she wasn't... not even a little bit. She was an amazing heroine and the reason why I kept reading the book until the very end.
And she'll be the reason why I read the next book in the series. Maybe Simon will be amazing and win me back over to his side? Hmmm. I'm also looking forward to reading Graham's book.
Nominated for a 2018 Swoony Award, vote here http://bit.ly/2CWYB9U
I have to admit that I'm having a hard time deciding how to rate this book. While I absolutely adored Mina and her strength, I honestly didn't care for Simon all that much. Even though he was obsessed with another woman, I did like him for the first part of the book. His relationship with Mina was starting to move from friends to something more. But then his family showed up and it went downhill from there.
I honestly can't see how he could go from pretty much adoring her and spending all kinds of time with her, to ignoring her and making her feel like crap. He then had the audacity to get mad when she finally stood up for herself to everyone... including him. I have a hard time believing that he was that naive and dare I say, stupid? A person would have to be pretty blind to not see what everyone else was seeing.
Yes... I get that he was a flawed character but his actions went a little too far in my opinion. And honestly? I do not think that he deserved Mina. Maybe if we had less of the drawn out visit from his dreaded, evil family and more of him actually doing anything and everything to win Mina back, I would have a different opinion of him. But alas, the book just ended and he didn't grovel enough for me. Haha.
Now, don't get me wrong, I did not dislike the book. I actually enjoyed it and it was because of Mina. She's not your typical heroine and while the odds where constantly stacked against her, she always managed to come out on top. She has got to be the sweetest, most loving and caring individual ever. After going through everything she did in her life, she had every right to be bitter and hateful but she wasn't... not even a little bit. She was an amazing heroine and the reason why I kept reading the book until the very end.
And she'll be the reason why I read the next book in the series. Maybe Simon will be amazing and win me back over to his side? Hmmm. I'm also looking forward to reading Graham's book.
Nominated for a 2018 Swoony Award, vote here http://bit.ly/2CWYB9U
December 31, 2022
Hero was an idiot
I swear that if he did one more thing to hurt Mina I would have thrown the book across the room. He was such a moron. His family and that wretched woman Susannah, his true and only, love was a conniving manipulator. Just an awful person. Mina was everything good. He didn't know what he had til it was gone and then Susannah showed her evil side to him and gave him some home truths he needed to hear. Awful person just awful! I loved that the servants were so devoted to her and realized her worth. Good story. Made me cry and I can't wait to read another book by this author!
I swear that if he did one more thing to hurt Mina I would have thrown the book across the room. He was such a moron. His family and that wretched woman Susannah, his true and only, love was a conniving manipulator. Just an awful person. Mina was everything good. He didn't know what he had til it was gone and then Susannah showed her evil side to him and gave him some home truths he needed to hear. Awful person just awful! I loved that the servants were so devoted to her and realized her worth. Good story. Made me cry and I can't wait to read another book by this author!
May 1, 2020
I love these kinds of stories. I was really hoping this would hit the spot for me but it fell flat. The main character just got drug threw the mud at every turn. There was no upside or lightness. Just when you think this might change she gets the worst blow of all. It just felt like such a heavy story. There was lots of repetitions of thoughts and feelings and that is something that is just not ok with me. It's just filler and it needs to stop. If you say you are ugly and frumpy and then you think it to yourself you never need to say it again in the book. We heard how you feel about yourself and don't need it in every other chapter. Oh well. I did like the end how she Finally stands up for herself and that it all wasn't resolved easily. This is a chaste regency romance.
December 21, 2020
It’s sad because I feel like the author cared so little for the heroine. As the reader, we were treated to pages over pages of the Hero’s inner monologue about how the heroine’s beauty paled in comparison to his former lover—which would have been fine had the author given us the chance to forgive him.
But no, the Hero only noticed the error of his ways (flirting with his former lover in front of his wife, completely disregarding her) about 90% through the book, even then he was acting like the victim. He didn’t even grovel before the heroine immediately forgave him.
This saddened me because the heroine deserved better. Lazy writing.
But no, the Hero only noticed the error of his ways (flirting with his former lover in front of his wife, completely disregarding her) about 90% through the book, even then he was acting like the victim. He didn’t even grovel before the heroine immediately forgave him.
This saddened me because the heroine deserved better. Lazy writing.
February 24, 2019
OK...to start off...I need to give full disclosure on this book. #1 My sister wrote this book AND #2 I REALLY don't like romance novels, in particular regency romance. I"m not really even a huge fan of Jane Austen. So - even though my sister wrote this over a year ago, I hadn't read it (sorry sis). It's just not my thing. But, this book has started to take off a bit, its been nominated for an award....and I'm starting to feel really guilty that I hadn't read it. Then she did the brilliant thing of getting it onto Audible. So, I thought I'd give the audio book a try. I tend to sometimes reserve audiobooks for times when I know I need to read a book, but I'm worried I won't finish it. And, ya know...I was completely surprised that i really and truly actually liked it...more than just like it. The narrator did a fabulous job too. I whipped through it in one day and thoroughly enjoyed the ride. It was well written, funny, sweet and entertaining and clean. It's just a fun story with a happy ending. And, I really enjoyed that it wasn't a typical romance book...maybe that's why I actually liked it.
May 8, 2022
This book gave me, literal, life. I've been digging and searching for a Historical Author who can capture what I love most about this time period. This heroine was everything I needed to read because it's pretty much how I would see myself in this time period. I want to gush but I also don't want to give so much away that the book doesn't become like it was for me a wonderful gift being unpacked from one chapter to the next.
I have found I do like my Historical Romances to sometimes not rely too heavily on sex and sexual intimacies, especially since it would've been such a disservice to Mina who marries a man deeply enamored of another and if they would've introduced the marriage bed...sheesh, what a sloppy mess of emotional and mental anguish that would've needlessly added. There comes a time, much later in the book where the married couple seems to be growing closer...some hands held, some kissing, but eh, it doesn't go where you'd think. But there was an attempt...hehe, but Mina was so much smarter than her libido...thankfully!!
Wilhelmina or "Mina" is pushing 30, and she's exhausted from searching for a husband. She has been taking care of her family's estate and her brother Nicholas is the one who supports her. Mina has three brothers, Nicholas, Graham, and Ambrose. Pretty soon she knows Nicholas will be on the search for a wife and she will be pushed aside...and this is what happens. We get to bear witness to how Mina runs her family's household and then suddenly by the next chapter, she loses control to a wife 12yrs younger than her, married to Nicholas. She is a...wretched thing, because she treats Mina deplorably, much like a pet, feeding her scraps of emotions and sentiment as if she hadn't controlled that estate with the will of seven men. Mina feels more than useless, she is made worthless, especially since her sister-in-law thinks the tender from a man who is so stuck to his Mother's side is Mina's best outcome to get married.
Then in alternate chapters, we meet Simon Kingsley. Simon is a bit of Beta-hero and a fool in love with a woman who has played the game so well between suitors that she had led Simon astray in thinking he has any shot in proposing. Which he does and soundly gets rejected, but Simon still, somehow, hangs onto this silly worship of Susannah...and he won't ever let go, even when married to Mina. This is what sours him as a good male MC, to a certain extent.
What I did enjoy was the instant dressing down he gets very near the end of this book, when he almost loses the love of his life - in Mina. Watching Simon have his eyes wide opened by how nasty Susannah could be, once you stripped her of everything said worthy of her as a wife. Sure she is beautiful, sure she is poised, sure she is near perfection, but when you get down to her bones...man she is a nasty piece of work. And she thought she had Simon by the ball-sack and sadly, so did he. Until he wisened up.
The saddest part about this whole entire situation is...Mina has absolutely no control over her own life, even as the older sibling to her 3 younger brothers. She had nurtured and mothered them, she has ruled that household they grew up in and now...with Nicholas left in charge, he cannot even bother to comply with her deepest want. Give her her paltry inheritance from her grandmother and let her go live in her precious Rosewood Cottage, where she knows she can live happily and contentedly. Except, Nicholas will not allow this to come forth, so he traps her in this household where he eventually brings in a worthless wife, who gives him children but not an ounce of happiness or joy.
Even when Mina is at her lowest, Nicholas still will not see past his blinders...and he nearly demands Mina seek a husband...just to get married and settled. Like he thinks she is no good for anything but being some other man's wife. Countless times Mina is subject to privately accounting her worth in life, her full purpose and she can never find it shackled to a brother and sister-in-law who cannot see past the marriage market. As if a woman's worth is merely found as wife and mother. Mina does have some reprieve by writing her grievances to her dearest brother, Graham who is a sea captain; they seem close as best friends, too.
Simon however, is like a dog with a bone, and once rejection sets in he is like a brokenhearted dog with a bone. He sets his sights upon Mina, while she is also being pursued by a Widower who cannot seem to shake his mother who wants him to remarry more than he does. The Widower has SEVEN children, the youngest being 3-months old and all Mina can see if she accepted this man's proposal is a prison-like life of servitude, but to a man who has no more care for his SEVEN children than the want of a wife to love and cherish. This is why Simon's consistent pursuit of her is wanted, desperately. Simon offers her an OUT, of huge relief. Especially since he makes it very apparent that his proposal will not bring love into a marriage with him, for his heart belongs to another and it was trampled.
What I loved about Mina was despite the unhappiness and not joyous days, she had hope for a better future. She had some idea Simon would grow cold in his emotions for Miss Susannah and turn to see this wife by his side and fall in love. Baby steps? Mina has the patience of a saint. But sadly she was almost there - in love with Simon - from the moment they wed. What I deeply regretted for Mina was the constant denials of feelings and deepest desires for love and acceptance, of finding her purpose to be felt by this NEW PERSON who took her in. She never asks for much, but yet she keeps giving and giving and giving until there is nothing left and then...pow! sucker-punched! And boy do I mean sucker-punched to the gut until she is chased away from her own husband as he fawns and flirts with Susannah right in front of Mina's face. She can no longer bear it so she tells Simon WHAT FOR and trounces off to leave him be to his precious world and his precious society and his precious Susannah. She is DONE with him and she travels to her precious Rosewood cottage as she always wanted from the beginning.
This is why I adored Mina to such a degree. She toughed that bullshit out and she constantly gave Simon one opportunity after another and he was shifting and changing, but for every step forward...there were five steps back until Mina gave over to the world and said... "Have at it? You Suck!" and she went and started her new life at her tiny cottage.
Okay, so I know I make Simon appear cowardly and weak, but he isn't. He is a good husband to Mina and at least he doesn't find Mina appalling ugly. He does still contrast and compares her to Susannah which was so unfair, especially since Susannah turned him down and sought a richer man...until she wanted Simon again and tried to drag him back into her web with an offer of an affair. It took Simon a long, long, long time to wake up, but he did...and he was appalled and I loved watching him peel back layers upon layers of the fog he'd been behind for months until he saw what he had done and how he shamed himself as a gentleman and how he had rejected a woman who genuinely loved and adored him...who respected him and wanted to care for him. There was an awesome grovel and apology... Simon in tears was something I had no idea would make ME tear up when I'd been raging against him since he was an utter idiot for the wrong woman.
I can almost say this gave me heavy Austen vibes...but it also gives itself its own due by creating its own world and making you feel like a welcomed guest...or another family member. I have never met a more truer and authetic heroine than Mina Kingsley and she deserves the full 5-stars of this book for her role alone. I want to believe we had women of her caliber in this time period, because this is exactly how I would've been like I had been born in the Regency Era.
I have found I do like my Historical Romances to sometimes not rely too heavily on sex and sexual intimacies, especially since it would've been such a disservice to Mina who marries a man deeply enamored of another and if they would've introduced the marriage bed...sheesh, what a sloppy mess of emotional and mental anguish that would've needlessly added. There comes a time, much later in the book where the married couple seems to be growing closer...some hands held, some kissing, but eh, it doesn't go where you'd think. But there was an attempt...hehe, but Mina was so much smarter than her libido...thankfully!!
Wilhelmina or "Mina" is pushing 30, and she's exhausted from searching for a husband. She has been taking care of her family's estate and her brother Nicholas is the one who supports her. Mina has three brothers, Nicholas, Graham, and Ambrose. Pretty soon she knows Nicholas will be on the search for a wife and she will be pushed aside...and this is what happens. We get to bear witness to how Mina runs her family's household and then suddenly by the next chapter, she loses control to a wife 12yrs younger than her, married to Nicholas. She is a...wretched thing, because she treats Mina deplorably, much like a pet, feeding her scraps of emotions and sentiment as if she hadn't controlled that estate with the will of seven men. Mina feels more than useless, she is made worthless, especially since her sister-in-law thinks the tender from a man who is so stuck to his Mother's side is Mina's best outcome to get married.
Then in alternate chapters, we meet Simon Kingsley. Simon is a bit of Beta-hero and a fool in love with a woman who has played the game so well between suitors that she had led Simon astray in thinking he has any shot in proposing. Which he does and soundly gets rejected, but Simon still, somehow, hangs onto this silly worship of Susannah...and he won't ever let go, even when married to Mina. This is what sours him as a good male MC, to a certain extent.
What I did enjoy was the instant dressing down he gets very near the end of this book, when he almost loses the love of his life - in Mina. Watching Simon have his eyes wide opened by how nasty Susannah could be, once you stripped her of everything said worthy of her as a wife. Sure she is beautiful, sure she is poised, sure she is near perfection, but when you get down to her bones...man she is a nasty piece of work. And she thought she had Simon by the ball-sack and sadly, so did he. Until he wisened up.
The saddest part about this whole entire situation is...Mina has absolutely no control over her own life, even as the older sibling to her 3 younger brothers. She had nurtured and mothered them, she has ruled that household they grew up in and now...with Nicholas left in charge, he cannot even bother to comply with her deepest want. Give her her paltry inheritance from her grandmother and let her go live in her precious Rosewood Cottage, where she knows she can live happily and contentedly. Except, Nicholas will not allow this to come forth, so he traps her in this household where he eventually brings in a worthless wife, who gives him children but not an ounce of happiness or joy.
Even when Mina is at her lowest, Nicholas still will not see past his blinders...and he nearly demands Mina seek a husband...just to get married and settled. Like he thinks she is no good for anything but being some other man's wife. Countless times Mina is subject to privately accounting her worth in life, her full purpose and she can never find it shackled to a brother and sister-in-law who cannot see past the marriage market. As if a woman's worth is merely found as wife and mother. Mina does have some reprieve by writing her grievances to her dearest brother, Graham who is a sea captain; they seem close as best friends, too.
Simon however, is like a dog with a bone, and once rejection sets in he is like a brokenhearted dog with a bone. He sets his sights upon Mina, while she is also being pursued by a Widower who cannot seem to shake his mother who wants him to remarry more than he does. The Widower has SEVEN children, the youngest being 3-months old and all Mina can see if she accepted this man's proposal is a prison-like life of servitude, but to a man who has no more care for his SEVEN children than the want of a wife to love and cherish. This is why Simon's consistent pursuit of her is wanted, desperately. Simon offers her an OUT, of huge relief. Especially since he makes it very apparent that his proposal will not bring love into a marriage with him, for his heart belongs to another and it was trampled.
What I loved about Mina was despite the unhappiness and not joyous days, she had hope for a better future. She had some idea Simon would grow cold in his emotions for Miss Susannah and turn to see this wife by his side and fall in love. Baby steps? Mina has the patience of a saint. But sadly she was almost there - in love with Simon - from the moment they wed. What I deeply regretted for Mina was the constant denials of feelings and deepest desires for love and acceptance, of finding her purpose to be felt by this NEW PERSON who took her in. She never asks for much, but yet she keeps giving and giving and giving until there is nothing left and then...pow! sucker-punched! And boy do I mean sucker-punched to the gut until she is chased away from her own husband as he fawns and flirts with Susannah right in front of Mina's face. She can no longer bear it so she tells Simon WHAT FOR and trounces off to leave him be to his precious world and his precious society and his precious Susannah. She is DONE with him and she travels to her precious Rosewood cottage as she always wanted from the beginning.
This is why I adored Mina to such a degree. She toughed that bullshit out and she constantly gave Simon one opportunity after another and he was shifting and changing, but for every step forward...there were five steps back until Mina gave over to the world and said... "Have at it? You Suck!" and she went and started her new life at her tiny cottage.
Okay, so I know I make Simon appear cowardly and weak, but he isn't. He is a good husband to Mina and at least he doesn't find Mina appalling ugly. He does still contrast and compares her to Susannah which was so unfair, especially since Susannah turned him down and sought a richer man...until she wanted Simon again and tried to drag him back into her web with an offer of an affair. It took Simon a long, long, long time to wake up, but he did...and he was appalled and I loved watching him peel back layers upon layers of the fog he'd been behind for months until he saw what he had done and how he shamed himself as a gentleman and how he had rejected a woman who genuinely loved and adored him...who respected him and wanted to care for him. There was an awesome grovel and apology... Simon in tears was something I had no idea would make ME tear up when I'd been raging against him since he was an utter idiot for the wrong woman.
I can almost say this gave me heavy Austen vibes...but it also gives itself its own due by creating its own world and making you feel like a welcomed guest...or another family member. I have never met a more truer and authetic heroine than Mina Kingsley and she deserves the full 5-stars of this book for her role alone. I want to believe we had women of her caliber in this time period, because this is exactly how I would've been like I had been born in the Regency Era.
March 28, 2020
I don't know how I came about this book, but I am so glad I did. This is a new to me author and I really enjoyed the story. This is a marriage of convenience and that is one of my favorite tropes. The characters are so likeable and you just root them on to find love and happiness. This is the first in a series and I look forward to reading the next installment.
October 26, 2024
this was so solid, it hits everything, MoC, she falls first but he falls harder, OW drama, a plain and preserving heroine, a grovel
March 19, 2019
Mina would like to have married, but at nearly thirty, she was off the shelf and resigned to spinsterhood. With her father‘s death, and her presumed inheritance, she looked forward to living that spinster life at the cottage in the country her grandmother had left her years before.
Her beloved father felt Mina needed to work harder to find a husband, so all she was left was a dowry that couldn’t be touched until she was married. She was to live her life with her brother in their childhood home, with a sister-in-law who tried to set her up with any possible unmarried man.
I re-read the following and felt I gave too much of the plot away in the rest of the review. But I like to give a synopsis for my memory of the book later on. I don’t suggest reading on if you want the book to be a surprise...
This was a very well written Regency book that I loved tucking into in the evenings. Mina had such moments of happiness with Simon, and such satisfaction in running his home, and seeing the staff happy, that to her life was acceptable. The encouragement Simon began to see as his estate turned into a real home was something I enjoyed reading, looking forward to more growth toward more appreciation for Mina, if not true love.
Of course conflict has to come in the lengthy visit from his critical mother and catty sisters. But the kicker was that they also invited their new neighbor and her husband..none other than the beautiful Susannah! Reading about how both Mina and Simon were going to get through those weeks was not to be put down.
Not a Christian themed book, but it was clean. An attempted (but failed) seduction was the only thing not sqeeky clean. Nothing graphic. The male character handled it very well.
I enjoyed reading Flame and Ember.
Her beloved father felt Mina needed to work harder to find a husband, so all she was left was a dowry that couldn’t be touched until she was married. She was to live her life with her brother in their childhood home, with a sister-in-law who tried to set her up with any possible unmarried man.
I re-read the following and felt I gave too much of the plot away in the rest of the review. But I like to give a synopsis for my memory of the book later on. I don’t suggest reading on if you want the book to be a surprise...
This was a very well written Regency book that I loved tucking into in the evenings. Mina had such moments of happiness with Simon, and such satisfaction in running his home, and seeing the staff happy, that to her life was acceptable. The encouragement Simon began to see as his estate turned into a real home was something I enjoyed reading, looking forward to more growth toward more appreciation for Mina, if not true love.
Of course conflict has to come in the lengthy visit from his critical mother and catty sisters. But the kicker was that they also invited their new neighbor and her husband..none other than the beautiful Susannah! Reading about how both Mina and Simon were going to get through those weeks was not to be put down.
Not a Christian themed book, but it was clean. An attempted (but failed) seduction was the only thing not sqeeky clean. Nothing graphic. The male character handled it very well.
I enjoyed reading Flame and Ember.
November 2, 2019
I honestly don't know how I feel about this book.
On one hand, I liked Mina. As the story progresses, you can't help but root for her. Her bashfulness, kindness and compassion was lovely to read. However I did feel that she had some almost 'immature' moments. I can definitely understand that she is a bit insecure as she has been overlooked her whole life, but she shouldn't have put up with the horrible behaviour from the villains, and also the 'hero' in the story. This leads to my main dislike of the novel: Simon. He was a bit of a stubborn fool at the beginning, but I thought that I would warm up to him, but I didn't. Every time he seemed to be becoming a better person, he would ruin it by thinking of the other lady, or doing something foolish, like siding with the catty housekeeper. I thought that surely at the end of the novel I would like him, but was proved sadly wrong. He had broken Mina's trust, and mine too many times for me to be happy for him. He was so rude to Mina, he literally flirted with the girl who was tormenting his wife while Mina was right there! He had too many heartless moments for me to truly like him. Sure, he had his good moments, when he'd give Mina flowers, but then in the next moment he'd turn around and say that his heart belongs to another. Although I understand that humans mess up, I feel like he broke Mina's heart a few too many times.
Well, enough about what I didn't like... there were some redeeming factors, and they were Thea, Frederick and Lady Lovell. They were delightful characters; a joy to read and very entertaining. They were so supportive of Mina, and they were truly great friends.
Overall, I enjoyed the heroine, but disliked Simon. Since he is one the most important parts of the book, I honestly didn't enjoy the novel all that much. There were also some historical inaccuracies such as language used, but since this was the author's first Regency novel, understandable. There were also some grammatical errors.
I will say that the story hooked me in initially, but there were too many unlikable aspects. I rarely write negative reviews, but wanted to share my thoughts.
On one hand, I liked Mina. As the story progresses, you can't help but root for her. Her bashfulness, kindness and compassion was lovely to read. However I did feel that she had some almost 'immature' moments. I can definitely understand that she is a bit insecure as she has been overlooked her whole life, but she shouldn't have put up with the horrible behaviour from the villains, and also the 'hero' in the story. This leads to my main dislike of the novel: Simon. He was a bit of a stubborn fool at the beginning, but I thought that I would warm up to him, but I didn't. Every time he seemed to be becoming a better person, he would ruin it by thinking of the other lady, or doing something foolish, like siding with the catty housekeeper. I thought that surely at the end of the novel I would like him, but was proved sadly wrong. He had broken Mina's trust, and mine too many times for me to be happy for him. He was so rude to Mina, he literally flirted with the girl who was tormenting his wife while Mina was right there! He had too many heartless moments for me to truly like him. Sure, he had his good moments, when he'd give Mina flowers, but then in the next moment he'd turn around and say that his heart belongs to another. Although I understand that humans mess up, I feel like he broke Mina's heart a few too many times.
Well, enough about what I didn't like... there were some redeeming factors, and they were Thea, Frederick and Lady Lovell. They were delightful characters; a joy to read and very entertaining. They were so supportive of Mina, and they were truly great friends.
Overall, I enjoyed the heroine, but disliked Simon. Since he is one the most important parts of the book, I honestly didn't enjoy the novel all that much. There were also some historical inaccuracies such as language used, but since this was the author's first Regency novel, understandable. There were also some grammatical errors.
I will say that the story hooked me in initially, but there were too many unlikable aspects. I rarely write negative reviews, but wanted to share my thoughts.
September 3, 2025
Very, very good book. You want to smack the hero. Some parallels to Mansfield Park. I listened to this on YouTube. it was a reread, which I rarely do, so consider this a compliment to the author. VERY angsty in portions. Clean.
December 3, 2019
Wow! I’ve had this book forever on my kindle and wish I’d read it way sooner. It was amazing! It’s a Regency marriage of convenience story that evolves into love and a happy ending, of course (it’s romance!). But oh what a lovely heart-tugging ride to get there. Seriously, I couldn’t put this book down once I started. It captivated me completely. Mina (Wilhelmina) is a 30ish-ages spinster who longs to live on her own and not be under her brother’s thumb (and his annoying bride who has usurped her authority in the house, although she’s 11 years younger). She knows with her pudgy build and lackluster looks she won’t attract a man to marry her, even though, like most women, she longs for a love story. When she overhears Simon and his friend talking about her at an event where she is the lonely wallflower again, she is humiliated, since she has always thought him handsome and honorable. He has never even noticed her before, but his friend’s words about her sting. When he runs into her later and apologizes, a tentative friendship blooms between the two.
Simon needs to marry to have a helpmeet to help him run his estate. His heart has been forever broken by Susanna, who married another. He knows he can never love another, and even after 2 years, still pines for the impossible. But as he gets to know Mina, he thinks it possible to have a cordial friendship and partnership with her. So they marry, with him content with friendship, and Mina longing for more. I won’t spoil the rest, but it’s riveting. One of the best marriage of convenience turning into love I’ve ever read. The characterization and romance between the two is super deep, which made it so fulfilling in the end. This is one I will reread in the future. I’m supremely impressed and plan to look up more by this author.
Simon needs to marry to have a helpmeet to help him run his estate. His heart has been forever broken by Susanna, who married another. He knows he can never love another, and even after 2 years, still pines for the impossible. But as he gets to know Mina, he thinks it possible to have a cordial friendship and partnership with her. So they marry, with him content with friendship, and Mina longing for more. I won’t spoil the rest, but it’s riveting. One of the best marriage of convenience turning into love I’ve ever read. The characterization and romance between the two is super deep, which made it so fulfilling in the end. This is one I will reread in the future. I’m supremely impressed and plan to look up more by this author.
July 31, 2022
I love a good character-driven story. It is my reading bread and butter. Particularly when it is as well done and balanced as M.A. Nichols writes them.
As with any good character-driven story the plot is slow moving and minimal—enough to move the story along, just as it should be. The emphasis is on the characters, their flaws and development. First, you have to explain and explore those flaws satisfactorily. They have to be believable. Next, you have to strike the right balance in character arc. Resolve things too quickly, and it’s incredibly unbelievable. Drag things out, and the reader develops character apathy. And, of course, this is all so subjective. Every reader has a different idea of what is too fast or too slow or of what will adequately explain a character’s stupidity. This story exploring Mina and Simon hit all my sweet spots. In my opinion, it’s pretty near character-driven perfection. I loved it and look forward to reading more stories from this author.
As with any good character-driven story the plot is slow moving and minimal—enough to move the story along, just as it should be. The emphasis is on the characters, their flaws and development. First, you have to explain and explore those flaws satisfactorily. They have to be believable. Next, you have to strike the right balance in character arc. Resolve things too quickly, and it’s incredibly unbelievable. Drag things out, and the reader develops character apathy. And, of course, this is all so subjective. Every reader has a different idea of what is too fast or too slow or of what will adequately explain a character’s stupidity. This story exploring Mina and Simon hit all my sweet spots. In my opinion, it’s pretty near character-driven perfection. I loved it and look forward to reading more stories from this author.
January 8, 2019
Frustrating
3 stars because of Mina and her friends. She deserves every star.
People often mistake lust for love. When these characters make a marriage of convenience, the man hopes to one day have a happy home. However, this otherwise clever man is AN IDIOT when it comes to his outstanding wife. When her friends Thea and Frederick kick him in the shins and lay him flat on the muddy ground I was right there with them.
She is a more forgiving woman than I. He would have had to work a great deal harder to regain my respect. Buffoon.
3 stars because of Mina and her friends. She deserves every star.
People often mistake lust for love. When these characters make a marriage of convenience, the man hopes to one day have a happy home. However, this otherwise clever man is AN IDIOT when it comes to his outstanding wife. When her friends Thea and Frederick kick him in the shins and lay him flat on the muddy ground I was right there with them.
She is a more forgiving woman than I. He would have had to work a great deal harder to regain my respect. Buffoon.
September 20, 2022
There’s a lovely romance buried somewhere under a lot of stubbornly obtuse characters, repetitive inner monologues, and poor copyediting.
June 8, 2023
It’s a bit difficult to write a review on this book. The premise was interesting and there were some sweet moments but I wish Mina had a bit more self respect. While she was smart, witty and sweet, it was so sad reading all the emotional turmoil she had to endure.
Simon on the other hand was an idiot. For someone so determined to remain loyal to his wife and not repeat the mistakes of his parents, he had a hard time showing it. He stupidly misunderstood lust/attraction for love and caused so much unnecessary angst. I wanted to like this book more but his idiocy dragged on way too long and I found him undeserving of sweet Mina.
Content: Clean
Simon on the other hand was an idiot. For someone so determined to remain loyal to his wife and not repeat the mistakes of his parents, he had a hard time showing it. He stupidly misunderstood lust/attraction for love and caused so much unnecessary angst. I wanted to like this book more but his idiocy dragged on way too long and I found him undeserving of sweet Mina.
Content: Clean
September 16, 2025
Absolutely loved this marriage of convenience story! Felt bad for Mina through most of it but it has a happy ending. The writing was great.
December 7, 2025
This is the first book in a series, but I, as so often, first read another book in the series, the second book called A true gentleman, and loved it so much that I had to read the other books about these Ashbrook siblings. This book is about the older sister who at age 30 is well on her way to a neverending spinsterhood, not being as beautiful as many others she never catches any gentleman's eye. But through not so flattering ways she becomes friends with a gentleman who has himself given up on a lovematch and has turned his mind to the idea of a marriage of convince and as he asks for her hand she agrees. Will there be a possible happy ending for them?
This is such a sweet story and I love Mina! I love the thought that love is not just a feeling that we have no control over, something that just comes from desire, but something that is growing out of goodness and caring. Who wants a partner just based on outer attraction?! Don't we all want someone that feels like our safe haven, someone that will stand by us no matter what, someone that will make us a better us than we otherwise would be? Even though I do love a wellwritten lovestory even when the persons are young and beautiful, I so much appreciate this story where the beauty of a person is in the eye of the beholder and based on all the goodness of their heart. This story touched my heart in ever such a tender way and I thank the auther for it.
This is such a sweet story and I love Mina! I love the thought that love is not just a feeling that we have no control over, something that just comes from desire, but something that is growing out of goodness and caring. Who wants a partner just based on outer attraction?! Don't we all want someone that feels like our safe haven, someone that will stand by us no matter what, someone that will make us a better us than we otherwise would be? Even though I do love a wellwritten lovestory even when the persons are young and beautiful, I so much appreciate this story where the beauty of a person is in the eye of the beholder and based on all the goodness of their heart. This story touched my heart in ever such a tender way and I thank the auther for it.
August 28, 2018
Frustrating
While I appreciated M.A. Nichols taking a stab at showing what real love is rather than lust, I had so little respect for either main character by the end off the book that I came away feeling deflated. Mina continuously allows everyone around her to treat her horribly without standing up for herself, and despite Simon being "easy to talk to" she won't communicate her feelings on anything important until the end. Simon on the other hand is an idiot from the get go and it just goes down hill from there. While this is probably more true to life, it is not a satisfying read. He doesn't care about Mina and never seems to stand up for her or even have common decency at times. Aside from all that, several editing issues made it hard to even understand what was going on at times. I do think Ms. Nichols had promise as a writer and I'm sure she'll continue to get better. I appreciate it being a clean read and a realistic progression of love despite my lack of respect for either main character by the end.
While I appreciated M.A. Nichols taking a stab at showing what real love is rather than lust, I had so little respect for either main character by the end off the book that I came away feeling deflated. Mina continuously allows everyone around her to treat her horribly without standing up for herself, and despite Simon being "easy to talk to" she won't communicate her feelings on anything important until the end. Simon on the other hand is an idiot from the get go and it just goes down hill from there. While this is probably more true to life, it is not a satisfying read. He doesn't care about Mina and never seems to stand up for her or even have common decency at times. Aside from all that, several editing issues made it hard to even understand what was going on at times. I do think Ms. Nichols had promise as a writer and I'm sure she'll continue to get better. I appreciate it being a clean read and a realistic progression of love despite my lack of respect for either main character by the end.
October 25, 2024
Yessssssss I love the angst! Regency Meal Girls! Chubby heroine! Groveling! Right up my alley! I liked this enough to forgive it being squeaky freakin clean.
Stands up to reread, though really I think Simon needed to work a little harder, he was pretty awful to Mina even if it was largely unintentional. Also, I was a bit confused that Mina could be so insecure yet also so certain that Simon would come to love here. Still, a great read for my tropes!
Stands up to reread, though really I think Simon needed to work a little harder, he was pretty awful to Mina even if it was largely unintentional. Also, I was a bit confused that Mina could be so insecure yet also so certain that Simon would come to love here. Still, a great read for my tropes!
July 5, 2018
Loved this sweet book!
I absolutely loved this story. Mina's good kind heart grows stronger as she learns to stand up for herself. Simon is blind to the world around him but has a heart of gold. It is wonderful watching him grow to see things as they are.
I smiled, laughed, cried. My heart ached and healed right along with Mina.
I absolutely loved this story. Mina's good kind heart grows stronger as she learns to stand up for herself. Simon is blind to the world around him but has a heart of gold. It is wonderful watching him grow to see things as they are.
I smiled, laughed, cried. My heart ached and healed right along with Mina.
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