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The Ashbrooks
A True Gentleman
They say reformed rakes make the best husbands. They were wrong.
Ten years ago, Tabby Russell married the man of her dreams, but when he returns to his dissipated habits, she realizes too late that there’s no going back on her wedding vows. Penniless and desperate, Tabby has no other choice but to become a lowly housekeeper and nurse to an irritating and overbearing sailor.
Captain Graham Ashbrook adores the navy, but when a French cannonball leaves him broken, Graham finds himself trapped at his sister’s estate, desperate to heal himself and reclaim the life he loves—at any cost.
But when his sister hires an intriguing nurse to watch over him, Graham finds himself wondering if life on land might not be so bad. Even if the lady in question is determined to keep him at arm’s length…
Ten years ago, Tabby Russell married the man of her dreams, but when he returns to his dissipated habits, she realizes too late that there’s no going back on her wedding vows. Penniless and desperate, Tabby has no other choice but to become a lowly housekeeper and nurse to an irritating and overbearing sailor.
Captain Graham Ashbrook adores the navy, but when a French cannonball leaves him broken, Graham finds himself trapped at his sister’s estate, desperate to heal himself and reclaim the life he loves—at any cost.
But when his sister hires an intriguing nurse to watch over him, Graham finds himself wondering if life on land might not be so bad. Even if the lady in question is determined to keep him at arm’s length…
Kindle Edition
First published October 9, 2018
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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 214 reviews
November 25, 2018
This is second in a series and the couple from the first are important and present in this one. You don't have to have read it for this to be enjoyed but you'll probably feel like you're missing out if you don't read the other one first.
This was much better than the first, though what little problem I had with it is similar in that it's about the leading man being a flaming idiot. Graham spends most of the first half of the novel wallowing in denial, insisting that a life outside the navy has no meaning. So he indulges every quack surgeon he can find who claims he can be restored and just gets weaker and weaker as his body takes abuse after abuse trying to fix what can't be fixed. I found it frustrating because it's all emotion and denial and I have little respect for that kind of self-deception.
I can see what Nichols is doing with this section, though, and that almost redeems it for its own sake. The contrast is between Graham and Tabby's useless husband, Joshua. Joshua is all about self-deception and Tabby has paid the price in their slide down the economic and class ladder. Further, she has seen his promises broken and has become jaded as he continues to wallow in his own misery while denying that anything has happened that he can't mend in short order. That's a similarity that does Graham no favors, least of all in Tabby's eye.
So it was beyond awesome to see Graham start turning corners, starting with listening to Tabby and internalizing what she says in ways that have entirely eluded her husband. Seeing them grow in mutual respect, friendship, and eventually love was both heartwarming and heart breaking because you know that she simply is not free and there's nothing she can do to change that.
So this is a challenging read because you have to trust the author that things can work out. I mean, you know that because this is a romance. So watching them fall in love is accompanied with the knowledge of hard times ahead. I was very gratified to find that Nichols doesn't cave to sloppy emotionalism or making excuses and that both characters found cheating absolutely abhorrent. And I particularly liked that as soon as they became aware of the impossible conflict, they both took active steps to prevent putting themselves in impossibly tempting situations for their own sake (and not just because "people will talk").
I'll leave the rest for you to discover and with the assurance that, in my opinion at least, Nichols does very well with keeping the story realistic and without showing any signs of manipulation in getting to a very fine ending. I was fully engaged with both lead characters all the way through (well, with Graham once his head started straightening out some) but that ending absolutely buried the needle on the ole feelzometer.
So I'll end with this as a strong 4½ stars that I'm rounding up. Yeah, Graham was hard to take in the first half and the looming rough patch was hard to anticipate in the second. But I just loved them both so much and I loved getting to the happy place and that ending came in and sealed the deal. And yeah, I'm not even going to gripe about the poor copy editing that was only marginally better than in the first book while I'm at it.
A note about Chaste: This is very chaste with just a kiss and a particularly sweet one, at that.
This was much better than the first, though what little problem I had with it is similar in that it's about the leading man being a flaming idiot. Graham spends most of the first half of the novel wallowing in denial, insisting that a life outside the navy has no meaning. So he indulges every quack surgeon he can find who claims he can be restored and just gets weaker and weaker as his body takes abuse after abuse trying to fix what can't be fixed. I found it frustrating because it's all emotion and denial and I have little respect for that kind of self-deception.
I can see what Nichols is doing with this section, though, and that almost redeems it for its own sake. The contrast is between Graham and Tabby's useless husband, Joshua. Joshua is all about self-deception and Tabby has paid the price in their slide down the economic and class ladder. Further, she has seen his promises broken and has become jaded as he continues to wallow in his own misery while denying that anything has happened that he can't mend in short order. That's a similarity that does Graham no favors, least of all in Tabby's eye.
So it was beyond awesome to see Graham start turning corners, starting with listening to Tabby and internalizing what she says in ways that have entirely eluded her husband. Seeing them grow in mutual respect, friendship, and eventually love was both heartwarming and heart breaking because you know that she simply is not free and there's nothing she can do to change that.
So this is a challenging read because you have to trust the author that things can work out. I mean, you know that because this is a romance. So watching them fall in love is accompanied with the knowledge of hard times ahead. I was very gratified to find that Nichols doesn't cave to sloppy emotionalism or making excuses and that both characters found cheating absolutely abhorrent. And I particularly liked that as soon as they became aware of the impossible conflict, they both took active steps to prevent putting themselves in impossibly tempting situations for their own sake (and not just because "people will talk").
I'll leave the rest for you to discover and with the assurance that, in my opinion at least, Nichols does very well with keeping the story realistic and without showing any signs of manipulation in getting to a very fine ending. I was fully engaged with both lead characters all the way through (well, with Graham once his head started straightening out some) but that ending absolutely buried the needle on the ole feelzometer.
So I'll end with this as a strong 4½ stars that I'm rounding up. Yeah, Graham was hard to take in the first half and the looming rough patch was hard to anticipate in the second. But I just loved them both so much and I loved getting to the happy place and that ending came in and sealed the deal. And yeah, I'm not even going to gripe about the poor copy editing that was only marginally better than in the first book while I'm at it.
A note about Chaste: This is very chaste with just a kiss and a particularly sweet one, at that.
August 15, 2023
"Little in my life is what I had planned or hoped it to be, but allowing myself to be defined by it is a guaranteed path to misery.”
A True Gentleman (2013, M. A. Nichols), first in the The Ashbrooks series by M. A. Nichols, is a Regency romance set in London of 1805, Kent in 1816, and Bristow in 1817. The novel is a standalone story. I wanted to read this book because I really enjoyed Flame and Ember , the first book in the series.
Rating: 5 stars
The author has made the full audiobook for A True Gentleman available on YouTube.
The heroine: In the prologue, the reader sees that Tabitha Granger, 20, loves Joshua Russell, a gentleman in society's eyes, who is not a true gentleman in character. Tabby's father resists giving his consent for their marriage, as Joshua has a terrible reputation. In the end, he gives in to Tabby's insistent claims that "He has no desire to gamble anymore, and he has been attending church services every Sunday… He gave up drink… Surely, that is a sign of a changed man."
The prediction: Horatio Granger's warning to Tabby turns out to be truly prophetic: "But changing for someone else is not a true change. Reformation can only come from within, independent of what others think. It is one thing for him to be inspired by your good example, but everything he has done has been to win your good opinion. What happens if he decides your good opinion is not enough?" Amen to that!
The husband: Joshua Russell does indeed revert to his old ways soon after his marriage to Tabby. Their marriage weakens, and though Tabby upholds her vows, she loses respect for him. After eleven years of marriage, Joshua's profligate ways drive them from their home with creditors at their backs. They must sell their home, pay off their debtors, and after all that, they also need income. Joshua is too proud to turn to good honest work, because… well, because he's a gentleman!
The solution: Tabby, who is now an older and wiser 31-year-old, steps up to the task and becomes a housekeeper-nurse in order to provide for her family - most importantly, for her four-year-old son Phillip. "She was not the first genteel lady forced into service."
"Now that she was formally employed, there was no going back. Her reputation was gone. Genteel no more."
The patient: A year ago, Captain Graham Ashbrook was seriously injured during a battle on his ship, and has been "cast ashore by the Navy to rest and recuperate." Tabby describes him as "domineering and demanding, yet introspective and open to criticism."
Christian elements: Tabby is a Christian, but this is not at the forefront of the story, nor is this book Christian fiction. But the values perpetuated by Tabby are very much in line with Christian doctrine. There is the occasional reference to breathing a prayer, or some such thing. "Sending out a silent prayer, she hoped that she would know what to say to him in that moment." Once, Tabby thinks of her parents in "eternal paradise."
The author warned me in advance that the whole premise of the story is the relationship between a married woman and an unmarried man. This gave me pause, I'll admit. I was pretty sure I wasn't going to like it. However, M. A. Nichols writes it deftly, so even though it would not have been a book I would have picked up independently, I was able to accept the premise and look forward to seeing how it would end. In the end, I realized it was more of a journey. Not so much a story about a relationship between a single man and a married woman, but a journey of how they become friends and eventually have a happily ever after.
Is it clean/chaste? Yes, though the subject matter of a married/unmarried pair is a touchy one, it was amazingly well done. Ms. Nichols very skillfully managed to make this story truly a very innocent one. I went into the book with skepticism, and was impressed that the author pulled it off. It feels like a sleight of hand, honestly! Hats off to her for accomplishing such a feat.
There is some swearing in it. A few examples below:
*"By the stars in heaven, he was going to…"
*"A string of words came to his mind that would have Mina boxing his ears…."
*"His dashed body was no more healed than it had been….."
"Captain Ashbrook let out a curse and let his head fall back onto the pillow."
"None of the blasted colors go where I want them to."
"Fiend, seize it, woman!"
What I liked:
*The story makes me think just a bit of Jane Eyre. The stories are not the same, but the following aspects are parallel:
*Grumpy Mr. Rochester/Captain Ashworth
*A Jane Eyre spoiler:
*A similar level of isolation from society
*Penniless Jane Eyre/Tabitha Russell.
(I learned later that the author was inspired by Jane Eyre! A True Gentleman is definitely NOT Gothic, though!
*The writing itself. There are tidbits here and there, which I thoroughly enjoyed. That's my favorite thing about reading! One of my favorite quotes:
Tabby: "I am not a child."
Mr. Granger: "Only children say that."
What I didn’t like: Or, alternatively, what I expected to dislike:
In theory, I would never want to read a story with an already-married heroine. However, I think of this story more as a journey - from point A to point B, and it's very chaste. M. A. Nichols is a skilled author indeed!
***********
Warning: In this book, there is a reference to events near the end of Nichols' first book, Flame and Ember, that reveals part of what happened. Readers may want to read that book first, but it's not necessary.
The bottom line: This was a Regency romance that I thoroughly enjoyed -- much to my surprise! I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical romance. I look forward to reading more by this author. Book three, please!
Disclaimer: I read this book during its editing stage, so some quotes may not be accurate to the final copy. Also, as I believe Ms. Nichols addressed the issues I found, I am going on the assumption that the final copy does not have errors.
A True Gentleman (2013, M. A. Nichols), first in the The Ashbrooks series by M. A. Nichols, is a Regency romance set in London of 1805, Kent in 1816, and Bristow in 1817. The novel is a standalone story. I wanted to read this book because I really enjoyed Flame and Ember , the first book in the series.
Rating: 5 stars
The author has made the full audiobook for A True Gentleman available on YouTube.
The heroine: In the prologue, the reader sees that Tabitha Granger, 20, loves Joshua Russell, a gentleman in society's eyes, who is not a true gentleman in character. Tabby's father resists giving his consent for their marriage, as Joshua has a terrible reputation. In the end, he gives in to Tabby's insistent claims that "He has no desire to gamble anymore, and he has been attending church services every Sunday… He gave up drink… Surely, that is a sign of a changed man."
The prediction: Horatio Granger's warning to Tabby turns out to be truly prophetic: "But changing for someone else is not a true change. Reformation can only come from within, independent of what others think. It is one thing for him to be inspired by your good example, but everything he has done has been to win your good opinion. What happens if he decides your good opinion is not enough?" Amen to that!
The husband: Joshua Russell does indeed revert to his old ways soon after his marriage to Tabby. Their marriage weakens, and though Tabby upholds her vows, she loses respect for him. After eleven years of marriage, Joshua's profligate ways drive them from their home with creditors at their backs. They must sell their home, pay off their debtors, and after all that, they also need income. Joshua is too proud to turn to good honest work, because… well, because he's a gentleman!
The solution: Tabby, who is now an older and wiser 31-year-old, steps up to the task and becomes a housekeeper-nurse in order to provide for her family - most importantly, for her four-year-old son Phillip. "She was not the first genteel lady forced into service."
"Now that she was formally employed, there was no going back. Her reputation was gone. Genteel no more."
The patient: A year ago, Captain Graham Ashbrook was seriously injured during a battle on his ship, and has been "cast ashore by the Navy to rest and recuperate." Tabby describes him as "domineering and demanding, yet introspective and open to criticism."
Christian elements: Tabby is a Christian, but this is not at the forefront of the story, nor is this book Christian fiction. But the values perpetuated by Tabby are very much in line with Christian doctrine. There is the occasional reference to breathing a prayer, or some such thing. "Sending out a silent prayer, she hoped that she would know what to say to him in that moment." Once, Tabby thinks of her parents in "eternal paradise."
The author warned me in advance that the whole premise of the story is the relationship between a married woman and an unmarried man. This gave me pause, I'll admit. I was pretty sure I wasn't going to like it. However, M. A. Nichols writes it deftly, so even though it would not have been a book I would have picked up independently, I was able to accept the premise and look forward to seeing how it would end. In the end, I realized it was more of a journey. Not so much a story about a relationship between a single man and a married woman, but a journey of how they become friends and eventually have a happily ever after.
Is it clean/chaste? Yes, though the subject matter of a married/unmarried pair is a touchy one, it was amazingly well done. Ms. Nichols very skillfully managed to make this story truly a very innocent one. I went into the book with skepticism, and was impressed that the author pulled it off. It feels like a sleight of hand, honestly! Hats off to her for accomplishing such a feat.
There is some swearing in it. A few examples below:
*"By the stars in heaven, he was going to…"
*"A string of words came to his mind that would have Mina boxing his ears…."
*"His dashed body was no more healed than it had been….."
"Captain Ashbrook let out a curse and let his head fall back onto the pillow."
"None of the blasted colors go where I want them to."
"Fiend, seize it, woman!"
What I liked:
*The story makes me think just a bit of Jane Eyre. The stories are not the same, but the following aspects are parallel:
*Grumpy Mr. Rochester/Captain Ashworth
*A Jane Eyre spoiler:
*A similar level of isolation from society
*Penniless Jane Eyre/Tabitha Russell.
(I learned later that the author was inspired by Jane Eyre! A True Gentleman is definitely NOT Gothic, though!
*The writing itself. There are tidbits here and there, which I thoroughly enjoyed. That's my favorite thing about reading! One of my favorite quotes:
Tabby: "I am not a child."
Mr. Granger: "Only children say that."
What I didn’t like: Or, alternatively, what I expected to dislike:
In theory, I would never want to read a story with an already-married heroine. However, I think of this story more as a journey - from point A to point B, and it's very chaste. M. A. Nichols is a skilled author indeed!
***********
Warning: In this book, there is a reference to events near the end of Nichols' first book, Flame and Ember, that reveals part of what happened. Readers may want to read that book first, but it's not necessary.
The bottom line: This was a Regency romance that I thoroughly enjoyed -- much to my surprise! I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical romance. I look forward to reading more by this author. Book three, please!
Disclaimer: I read this book during its editing stage, so some quotes may not be accurate to the final copy. Also, as I believe Ms. Nichols addressed the issues I found, I am going on the assumption that the final copy does not have errors.
May 26, 2020
A different and more rare story line where the h's married to another for much of the book. (This is no spoiler as readers come to know of it pretty soon.) The prologue has the young h cajoling her father into allowing her to marry her rakish beau.
December 29, 2018
2.5 stars. I definitely didn't enjoy this one as much as I did the first one of the series. The life lessons were doled out with too heavy a hand and it wasn't that fun reading the repetitive inner monologue of the heroine. She definitely chose poorly in the husband department, and I felt compassion for her plight. Truly I did. However, what I didn't want to do was read about her refusal to wallow in self pity. Constantly. Guess what? It might seem weird, but to me, telling yourself not to wallow is a kind of wallowing if you do it often enough.
But anyhoo, enough with the negative. Moving onto the positive, I liked the safety in this story.
This was also a clean story (no intimate scenes) and there was no OP drama. The hero was not a rake and was actually a very honourable man. Even though he spends a good half of the book being ridiculous about the loss of his Navy career, he still wasn't nearly half as bad as Simon, the hero in the first book. Overall, this story featured MCs that I really admired. However, the telling of the story was humdrum and didn't highlight the plot to its best advantage. The epilogue also left me feel unsatisfied. I really wanted to like this more.
But anyhoo, enough with the negative. Moving onto the positive, I liked the safety in this story.
This was also a clean story (no intimate scenes) and there was no OP drama. The hero was not a rake and was actually a very honourable man. Even though he spends a good half of the book being ridiculous about the loss of his Navy career, he still wasn't nearly half as bad as Simon, the hero in the first book. Overall, this story featured MCs that I really admired. However, the telling of the story was humdrum and didn't highlight the plot to its best advantage. The epilogue also left me feel unsatisfied. I really wanted to like this more.
August 31, 2023
I devoured this book. You would think school wasn't even in session, but there you have it...finished in two nights (and really, less than that, because it's not dark outside yet).
It's a Regency era book that doesn't include one ball. The heroine is courageous and strong and has to put up with a lot of stuff because she is a woman of integrity. I admire her so much and she isn't real. But I do love her story.
The hero grows into his role.
I gave this a 5 because of the reality and the originality and I'm so glad of a guaranteed happy ending because in real life, I'm not so sure.
It's a Regency era book that doesn't include one ball. The heroine is courageous and strong and has to put up with a lot of stuff because she is a woman of integrity. I admire her so much and she isn't real. But I do love her story.
The hero grows into his role.
I gave this a 5 because of the reality and the originality and I'm so glad of a guaranteed happy ending because in real life, I'm not so sure.
July 8, 2019
Lies
She believed him and sealed her life to him... that was just the beginning of the lies. This is a well crafted tale of three people and the consequences of their choices. The bad guy isn’t always unlovable and sometimes hard decisions are seemingly impossible. Life happens and how we move forward is what can bring us joy.
She believed him and sealed her life to him... that was just the beginning of the lies. This is a well crafted tale of three people and the consequences of their choices. The bad guy isn’t always unlovable and sometimes hard decisions are seemingly impossible. Life happens and how we move forward is what can bring us joy.
March 29, 2020
Sweet Romance
This book is the second book in Nichol's Regency Love Series. I enjoyed it as much as the first, maybe more. I enjoyed seeing Mina and Simon again. I love them. Simon cracks me up. This book centered on Captain Ashbrook, Mina's brother. I am enjoying this series so much. I'm starting the third book now.
This book is the second book in Nichol's Regency Love Series. I enjoyed it as much as the first, maybe more. I enjoyed seeing Mina and Simon again. I love them. Simon cracks me up. This book centered on Captain Ashbrook, Mina's brother. I am enjoying this series so much. I'm starting the third book now.
October 24, 2023
Kisses-only Regency. Gave these 4 stars.
"Flame & Ember" by this author featured Mina & Simon.
I'm happy to report Simon matured considerably over
the years.
Mina's bro., Graham, a Royal Navy Capt., received an
injury to his right arm & leg, when a French cannon-
ball hit his ship. Mina & spouse Simon hosted him
after his surgery. Graham wanted badly to resume
his Navy career of nearly 15 years.
Tabby at age 20 assured her father, her love Joshua had
changed, he gave up drinking and gambling. Eleven yrs.
on, Tab & Josh had to sell their abode b/c of so many
creditors. And needed to provide for 3YO old son Phillip.
Josh declined to get a job. Tabby sought employment.
These 3 lived in a rented tiny cottage.
Mina hired Tabby to be housekeeper/ nurse for Graham
who resided in Mina's dower house. Tabby had never
been a servant. While serving Graham, his cook Mrs.
Bunting, was kind enough to teach Tab to cook & bake.
Graham acted crude/ rude toward anyone who helped
him. He assumed Tabby a widow. She encouraged the
hero to be more active and to get some sunshine. She
stood up to him when he refused help or medicine.
I enjoyed the bantering of the leads. And deep convos
too. Joshua owed moneylenders & that put his wife and
child in danger. At times he disappeared & re-appeared.
Tabby and Josh had 1 thing in common-their son. Tabby
felt torn between her obligation to Josh & her growing
affection toward Graham.
A clean love story.
"Flame & Ember" by this author featured Mina & Simon.
I'm happy to report Simon matured considerably over
the years.
Mina's bro., Graham, a Royal Navy Capt., received an
injury to his right arm & leg, when a French cannon-
ball hit his ship. Mina & spouse Simon hosted him
after his surgery. Graham wanted badly to resume
his Navy career of nearly 15 years.
Tabby at age 20 assured her father, her love Joshua had
changed, he gave up drinking and gambling. Eleven yrs.
on, Tab & Josh had to sell their abode b/c of so many
creditors. And needed to provide for 3YO old son Phillip.
Josh declined to get a job. Tabby sought employment.
These 3 lived in a rented tiny cottage.
Mina hired Tabby to be housekeeper/ nurse for Graham
who resided in Mina's dower house. Tabby had never
been a servant. While serving Graham, his cook Mrs.
Bunting, was kind enough to teach Tab to cook & bake.
Graham acted crude/ rude toward anyone who helped
him. He assumed Tabby a widow. She encouraged the
hero to be more active and to get some sunshine. She
stood up to him when he refused help or medicine.
I enjoyed the bantering of the leads. And deep convos
too. Joshua owed moneylenders & that put his wife and
child in danger. At times he disappeared & re-appeared.
Tabby and Josh had 1 thing in common-their son. Tabby
felt torn between her obligation to Josh & her growing
affection toward Graham.
A clean love story.
January 25, 2022
I personally do not care whether a romance is “clean” or “spicy,” as long as the writing is good, the characters are interesting, the plot is believable and character-driven, and the author engages my emotions. This book does all that in spades while falling into the squeaky clean category. I stayed up half the night to finish this book because I couldn’t put it down. I will say that the moralizing was a tiny bit heavy-handed and the hero and heroine just a touch too saintly, but only a bit and a touch. In fact, I ended up being more invested in a happy outcome for them because they were so honorable and principled. A wonderful read.
July 14, 2019
ATG
Perfect storyline! Not one thing that detracted from the story, and what a story! I could not put down the book until the ending. So many switchbacks, but all believable. Thank you for writing a story that compairs with true life.
Perfect storyline! Not one thing that detracted from the story, and what a story! I could not put down the book until the ending. So many switchbacks, but all believable. Thank you for writing a story that compairs with true life.
June 18, 2022
I know I read it 2mo ago but even after reading the blurb I don't remember the story. 😩 But i am sure it was just an ok read.
January 29, 2024
3-4⭐️
I listened to this and found the narrator excellent. But as the story went on I started to flounder. The last part wasn’t believable for me and I wanted someone to have chemistry.
I listened to this and found the narrator excellent. But as the story went on I started to flounder. The last part wasn’t believable for me and I wanted someone to have chemistry.
April 16, 2020
I finished this book earlier this afternoon so it is still fresh in my mind.
Wow, just, wow. I am standing here applauding M. A. Nichols for not just one massive great novel [Bk 1 in this series], but a second massive novel that surpasses a level of greatness I haven't seen matched. It's going to rub some folks the wrong way, and I understand. And I do realize that these books contain no sex or intimacy to garner even an ounce of chemistry between characters, but what it does do eloquently is give us a worthy character study in BOTH Captain Graham Ashbrooke and Tabitha "Tabby" Russell. How they intricately weave a bond together, an awkward friendship then eventual companionship as Tabby seems to have more common sense but also is more world-weary than a man who has sailed many seas. She teaches him a thing or two about how to live life now, without being a "Captain".
Many people will have a big problem with Tabby being married thru 75% of the book, but it's done reservedly so there is no need to outcry "cheating". And really...get over yourselves. Such is life. People are married. Some people are single. Wait until you get involved in the story to truly understand the situation before making a judgment call.
Once again, a heroine to respect and admire. But we also get to see Mina again - five years or so down the line. Her dear sea captain brother, Graham, is recouping at her home with Simon. A cannonball blew apart the ship he was on, sending splinters of wood throughout his skin but also injuring his right arm and leg. Graham is desperate - I mean DESPERATE - to return to the sea so he is constantly putting himself under a surgeon's knife to remove as much of the wooden shrapnel that still embeds in his skin making him unable to function or move properly.
The side story with Mina and Simon is that after five years of marriage they are still childless, but shockingly around this time, Mina is carrying a baby, but it is a delicate situation that scares BOTH Simon and Mina to death. Plus, they have to deal with the bigger child in Graham, who is nothing but a foul-speaking grump, who yells and growls as he is always in pain.
The book actually opens on Tabby, 11yrs prior, when she is newly in love with a worthless man, Joshua, who gambles and drinks all his monies away. She believes he has changed, but her dear father knows differently. Except Tabby is adamant not just about her deep love, which is ardent and true, but she knows the man she loves had a bad reputation but he has shown he can change. Her father approves of the marriage despite misgiving and wow...I liked him because he showed he deeply adored Tabby to such an extent he approved of the marriage but still shed a lone tear at how sad this made him. His advice was sound and Tabby won't ponder this until it is too late. Much, much too late. And it is not until Tabby has her own joy and happiness coming for her that she fully understands what her father meant at the time.
Next chapter is present, 11yrs later and Tabby is having to give up her house, after Joshua has accrued so much gambling debt they have to sell nearly everything, possibly handing the house over to renters or maybe someone will outright buy it, as it still has good enough land around it. They have a 4yr old son, Phillip, between them and he is lovely and adorable. Not so childish to be annoying because Tabby constantly has to make the Sun shine even when the darkness overtakes their lives. They will have to move into town and take a smaller dwelling, possibly live in a shack of some sort because they are so broke it's not even funny. And yet, Joshua still finds money schemes to earn cash and then tries to gamble for more cash, but then drinks it away, too. It's a never-ending cycle of mistrust and deception. Tabby is going to seek out employment, knowing full well she was once a lady of leisure, but now she has to seek a job of servitude. She finds one with Mina.
Tabby arrives at Simon & Mina's home ready and willing to serve as just a scullery maid - 3 days a week, but Mina comes up with the bright idea of Tabby quite possibly not just being the housekeeper to the small Dower cottage they just moved Graham to, but also his nurse-maid. Mina recalls having seen Tabby...or Tabitha, during their "seasons" of coming out to look for husbands, so she considers Tabby a friend rather than a servant, which will come in handy a few times. But Tabby also knows her place, and will often sacrifice her own enjoyment and pleasure to stay Downstairs with the other serving staff.
At first, Graham and Tabby clash. Both are headstrong, both are stubborn...but Tabby really wishes Graham would stop looking at what he doesn't have anymore, but what he has as of right that moment. He wants to go back to sea, be a Captain again, but he needs to know the injury done to him is permanent and he may not be able to return, no matter how many surgeries he attempts to correct and make himself PERFECT one again.
I loved Tabby's strength of character. Not only does she dole out smart advice, but she also practices what she preaches and lives by a code of conduct befitting a woman born into society who is now sent to the dregs. She is, literally, surviving on her own, with her son and a deadbeat worthless husband she gives plenty of chances to until it...absolutely becomes the death of him.
When Tabby arrives, many on staff and in the household [Simon, Mina, and Graham] think she is a Widow. And, unfortunately, Tabby knows no difference to what they assumed until it is too late. They have no idea Joshua is still alive and Tabby is suffering still to this day, this very minute.
There will come a huge wake-up call for Graham, too. He will put himself thru another fatal surgery to remove the wood splinters, but he will nearly lose his life and scare Tabby into realizing she has grown to care for this stupid man.
Mina & Simon will also have a couple of scares with Mina's first pregnancy, but Tabby will come over to the main house and offer her services as nurse-maid and close confident to Mina in her time of desperate need. It is made very clear to readers that Tabby has suffered greater losses being married to Joshua than just what we see on the surface, which makes her an even more appealing heroine. She went thru it, she suffered, she made sacrifices and she moved on...looking toward hope and a brighter future. She also stopped having a belief in Joshua changing...but he kept giving her ounces upon paltry ounces that he WOULD CHANGE...but eh, he loses his life at the hands of his own failures.
This is a mighty slow burn of the slowest of burns. Graham will fall in love as will Tabby but eh, the fact of Joshua still being around sours their bond. Tabby will take her little family to make a better life once Joshua gets a new job...but then...tragedy strikes, but this still doesn't cause Tabby an ounce of fear. She swallows her pride and moves on. Especially since she has some modicum of worry that Graham has moved on and possibly hates her for lying.
Once again... Mina's special Rosewood Cottage is brought into play...and again, Graham is allowed to make his feelings of Tabby known and they have a moment together but plan to allow her time to grieve properly...Graham is going to do some teachings for awhile [almost a year] at the Royal Naval Academy because Tabby always taught him he didn't have to be a Captain of a sailing vessel to still show people he loved the sea.
They do eventually get their HEA and it is so well-deserved, especially as Tabby went through hell and back for this relationship with Graham...and she damn well deserves this huge pile of happiness on her way. Another heroine that makes this a 5-star read for me, but yeah... that's just weird little ole me...
Wow, just, wow. I am standing here applauding M. A. Nichols for not just one massive great novel [Bk 1 in this series], but a second massive novel that surpasses a level of greatness I haven't seen matched. It's going to rub some folks the wrong way, and I understand. And I do realize that these books contain no sex or intimacy to garner even an ounce of chemistry between characters, but what it does do eloquently is give us a worthy character study in BOTH Captain Graham Ashbrooke and Tabitha "Tabby" Russell. How they intricately weave a bond together, an awkward friendship then eventual companionship as Tabby seems to have more common sense but also is more world-weary than a man who has sailed many seas. She teaches him a thing or two about how to live life now, without being a "Captain".
Many people will have a big problem with Tabby being married thru 75% of the book, but it's done reservedly so there is no need to outcry "cheating". And really...get over yourselves. Such is life. People are married. Some people are single. Wait until you get involved in the story to truly understand the situation before making a judgment call.
Once again, a heroine to respect and admire. But we also get to see Mina again - five years or so down the line. Her dear sea captain brother, Graham, is recouping at her home with Simon. A cannonball blew apart the ship he was on, sending splinters of wood throughout his skin but also injuring his right arm and leg. Graham is desperate - I mean DESPERATE - to return to the sea so he is constantly putting himself under a surgeon's knife to remove as much of the wooden shrapnel that still embeds in his skin making him unable to function or move properly.
The side story with Mina and Simon is that after five years of marriage they are still childless, but shockingly around this time, Mina is carrying a baby, but it is a delicate situation that scares BOTH Simon and Mina to death. Plus, they have to deal with the bigger child in Graham, who is nothing but a foul-speaking grump, who yells and growls as he is always in pain.
The book actually opens on Tabby, 11yrs prior, when she is newly in love with a worthless man, Joshua, who gambles and drinks all his monies away. She believes he has changed, but her dear father knows differently. Except Tabby is adamant not just about her deep love, which is ardent and true, but she knows the man she loves had a bad reputation but he has shown he can change. Her father approves of the marriage despite misgiving and wow...I liked him because he showed he deeply adored Tabby to such an extent he approved of the marriage but still shed a lone tear at how sad this made him. His advice was sound and Tabby won't ponder this until it is too late. Much, much too late. And it is not until Tabby has her own joy and happiness coming for her that she fully understands what her father meant at the time.
Next chapter is present, 11yrs later and Tabby is having to give up her house, after Joshua has accrued so much gambling debt they have to sell nearly everything, possibly handing the house over to renters or maybe someone will outright buy it, as it still has good enough land around it. They have a 4yr old son, Phillip, between them and he is lovely and adorable. Not so childish to be annoying because Tabby constantly has to make the Sun shine even when the darkness overtakes their lives. They will have to move into town and take a smaller dwelling, possibly live in a shack of some sort because they are so broke it's not even funny. And yet, Joshua still finds money schemes to earn cash and then tries to gamble for more cash, but then drinks it away, too. It's a never-ending cycle of mistrust and deception. Tabby is going to seek out employment, knowing full well she was once a lady of leisure, but now she has to seek a job of servitude. She finds one with Mina.
Tabby arrives at Simon & Mina's home ready and willing to serve as just a scullery maid - 3 days a week, but Mina comes up with the bright idea of Tabby quite possibly not just being the housekeeper to the small Dower cottage they just moved Graham to, but also his nurse-maid. Mina recalls having seen Tabby...or Tabitha, during their "seasons" of coming out to look for husbands, so she considers Tabby a friend rather than a servant, which will come in handy a few times. But Tabby also knows her place, and will often sacrifice her own enjoyment and pleasure to stay Downstairs with the other serving staff.
At first, Graham and Tabby clash. Both are headstrong, both are stubborn...but Tabby really wishes Graham would stop looking at what he doesn't have anymore, but what he has as of right that moment. He wants to go back to sea, be a Captain again, but he needs to know the injury done to him is permanent and he may not be able to return, no matter how many surgeries he attempts to correct and make himself PERFECT one again.
I loved Tabby's strength of character. Not only does she dole out smart advice, but she also practices what she preaches and lives by a code of conduct befitting a woman born into society who is now sent to the dregs. She is, literally, surviving on her own, with her son and a deadbeat worthless husband she gives plenty of chances to until it...absolutely becomes the death of him.
When Tabby arrives, many on staff and in the household [Simon, Mina, and Graham] think she is a Widow. And, unfortunately, Tabby knows no difference to what they assumed until it is too late. They have no idea Joshua is still alive and Tabby is suffering still to this day, this very minute.
There will come a huge wake-up call for Graham, too. He will put himself thru another fatal surgery to remove the wood splinters, but he will nearly lose his life and scare Tabby into realizing she has grown to care for this stupid man.
Mina & Simon will also have a couple of scares with Mina's first pregnancy, but Tabby will come over to the main house and offer her services as nurse-maid and close confident to Mina in her time of desperate need. It is made very clear to readers that Tabby has suffered greater losses being married to Joshua than just what we see on the surface, which makes her an even more appealing heroine. She went thru it, she suffered, she made sacrifices and she moved on...looking toward hope and a brighter future. She also stopped having a belief in Joshua changing...but he kept giving her ounces upon paltry ounces that he WOULD CHANGE...but eh, he loses his life at the hands of his own failures.
This is a mighty slow burn of the slowest of burns. Graham will fall in love as will Tabby but eh, the fact of Joshua still being around sours their bond. Tabby will take her little family to make a better life once Joshua gets a new job...but then...tragedy strikes, but this still doesn't cause Tabby an ounce of fear. She swallows her pride and moves on. Especially since she has some modicum of worry that Graham has moved on and possibly hates her for lying.
Once again... Mina's special Rosewood Cottage is brought into play...and again, Graham is allowed to make his feelings of Tabby known and they have a moment together but plan to allow her time to grieve properly...Graham is going to do some teachings for awhile [almost a year] at the Royal Naval Academy because Tabby always taught him he didn't have to be a Captain of a sailing vessel to still show people he loved the sea.
They do eventually get their HEA and it is so well-deserved, especially as Tabby went through hell and back for this relationship with Graham...and she damn well deserves this huge pile of happiness on her way. Another heroine that makes this a 5-star read for me, but yeah... that's just weird little ole me...
December 8, 2019
This Regency romance features Tabby and Graham. Graham is Mina’s naval captain brother from book 1 that she wrote to over the years. He has been severely wounded in the Napoleonic wars and is living with Mina and Simon as he tries to recover and heal, so he can head back out to sea—the only life he wants. He undergoes many surgeries, striving for the impossible—a totally healed body. Each surgery just leaves him more infirm and depressed.
Tabby married the man of her dreams against her father’s wishes 11 years ago. At first, she felt her reformed rake truly changed. But when life threw hardships their way, her husband returned to drink and gambling, whittling away at her dowry and his other assets until they are at the mercy of charitable relations. And still her husband refuses to go into trade, thinking that beneath him (though receiving charity isn’t). Tabby, needing an income and stability for her son, lowers herself from lady to servant to work for Mina and Simon. She is given the arduous task of caring for Graham, who is surly and mean to all those who help him.
So begins a lovely tale of forbidden romance as they get to know each other and she realizes not all men are fickle and deceitful as her husband. This author creates powerful stories that make you want to ignore the present and get lost in imagination. The characters are deep and strong, and the twists and heart-tugging moments are awesome. The romance is always clean, but delicious. I loved this book, as I did the first one. It’s a refreshing story.
Tabby married the man of her dreams against her father’s wishes 11 years ago. At first, she felt her reformed rake truly changed. But when life threw hardships their way, her husband returned to drink and gambling, whittling away at her dowry and his other assets until they are at the mercy of charitable relations. And still her husband refuses to go into trade, thinking that beneath him (though receiving charity isn’t). Tabby, needing an income and stability for her son, lowers herself from lady to servant to work for Mina and Simon. She is given the arduous task of caring for Graham, who is surly and mean to all those who help him.
So begins a lovely tale of forbidden romance as they get to know each other and she realizes not all men are fickle and deceitful as her husband. This author creates powerful stories that make you want to ignore the present and get lost in imagination. The characters are deep and strong, and the twists and heart-tugging moments are awesome. The romance is always clean, but delicious. I loved this book, as I did the first one. It’s a refreshing story.
December 19, 2020
At 648 pages this well-told story was much longer than the usual 200–300-page novels I normally read. The series description states that each book of the series is a stand-alone work; however, I found that having first read “Flame and Ember,” the first book of the series, greatly enhanced my transition into this story. There were six major characters from book one who were re-introduced in this story. Knowing their backstories greatly enhanced my reading pleasure in this work. My strong recommendation is to read these two books in sequence.
Since one of the five-star reviewers published an outstanding story description, I will not add to her commentary. The storyline was not only interesting but also entertaining and captivating. Though not an expert about the Regency Period, I was convinced that the author knew a bit about life in that period. When it became apparent that the heroine, Tabby, who was married to a derelict of a husband, had developed feelings for our hero, Graham, I became almost obsessed as to how the author would bring them together. I was very pleased with the author’s completely believable solution to the problem. I found that the romantic element was handled with tact and gentility. I got so caught up in the story that I lost track of time as I read. Five-Stars!
Since one of the five-star reviewers published an outstanding story description, I will not add to her commentary. The storyline was not only interesting but also entertaining and captivating. Though not an expert about the Regency Period, I was convinced that the author knew a bit about life in that period. When it became apparent that the heroine, Tabby, who was married to a derelict of a husband, had developed feelings for our hero, Graham, I became almost obsessed as to how the author would bring them together. I was very pleased with the author’s completely believable solution to the problem. I found that the romantic element was handled with tact and gentility. I got so caught up in the story that I lost track of time as I read. Five-Stars!
January 18, 2021
I’m sorry but this book was such an awful read. There was barely any romance in it—at least to my standards. There’s no chemistry between the MCs. Their relationship is that of a sickly person and their caretaker.
I was also distracted the whole time because the heroine would leave her son with his drunkard of dad for three days because of her work. Yes, I was worried about a fictional child. :’)
And when at 78% she decided to take his husband back after he squandered all her hard-earned money she made for some spirits—I just about had it. Fun fact, when his son was literally dying, he literally used the money she gave him to get himself a drink, instead of getting meds like she asked. What a model husband.
I was also distracted the whole time because the heroine would leave her son with his drunkard of dad for three days because of her work. Yes, I was worried about a fictional child. :’)
And when at 78% she decided to take his husband back after he squandered all her hard-earned money she made for some spirits—I just about had it. Fun fact, when his son was literally dying, he literally used the money she gave him to get himself a drink, instead of getting meds like she asked. What a model husband.
October 31, 2018
A True Gentleman (Book 2) By M.A. Nichols
Four stars, very lengthy book..1st center around Ashbrook, then Tabby and her life..No sensually, and you knew the outcome of Tabby's husband Joshua...The way he was living eventually it was death.. Especially is its going to have a romantic ending.
Four stars, very lengthy book..1st center around Ashbrook, then Tabby and her life..No sensually, and you knew the outcome of Tabby's husband Joshua...The way he was living eventually it was death.. Especially is its going to have a romantic ending.
March 12, 2023
This was my first book by M.A. Nichols and the author claims her books stand-alone but they are part of an overall Generations of Love series. A True Gentleman is actually book 2 in that series, but also book 1 (as advertised on Amazon) in the Ashbrooks Family Tree. After reading about the author's other books, I wish I had read Flame and Ember first because Simon and Mina from that book are the main supporting characters in A True Gentleman and I could tell I was missing part of their backstory. I feel a bit jipped that there isn't a clear reading order for those like me who like to read a series in order. The author offers a timeline, and family tree, but again, no defined reading order, not even on her website.
Let's dive in. We first meet Tabitha "Tabby" Granger when she is pleading with her father to marry her love, Joshua Russell. While her father delivers heavy-handed life lessons and wisdom, Tabby is determined and gets her way. Fast forward ten years and we see her marriage in tatters. When they have no choice but to sell the Russell family home and downsize to a very small two-room cottage, Joshua refuses to let his ego take a hit, preferring to rely on the charity of family and friends rather than do actual work to support Tabby and their 4 year old son, Phillip. With no other option, Tabby goes to work and becomes a housekeeper/nursemaid for a grumpy naval sea captain who is recovering from injuries courtesy of a French cannonball.
Captain Graham Ashbrook is his own little pity party with lots of cursing (off page) and surliness as he tries to recover enough from his injuries and surgeries to where he can get back to his ship. As if the life lessons at the beginning of the book weren't dished out heavily enough, we get more doses from Tabby as she tries to help Graham realize that he won't be healed enough to go back to ship life and he needs to see the blessings in what he has with his capabilities.
When Tabby and Graham reach a level of friendship and respect, feelings start to grow. But Tabby keeps hers in check since she is trying to trust her husband's many promises of becoming a better man, father, and husband. But Graham assumes Tabby is a widow and allows his feelings to continue to grow. When he learns the truth, his world shifts and his dreams for a future with Tabby and Philip fall apart.
So, if you boil this all down, this is a story about a relationship between a married woman and an unmarried man, but rest assured there is no cheating and Tabby actually makes plans to remove herself from the situation when she realizes her feelings. This is considered a romance, with a happily ever after so you know the author has to work it all out to get there, and she does that pretty well. My big issue with the story is that it took the long route to get there. This a very slow burn only because you don't get much of the romancey things one usually gets in a growing romance. Tabby stays faithful to her cad of a husband even though she has long fallen out of love with him. Everything she does is for her son Phillip. But Joshua's story was always the same and Tabby granted him way too many "get out of jail free" passes. Joshua is a liar, a cheat, a drunk, and has no regard for the welfare of his family, but in that day and age, what else could Tabby really do? I admit I was waiting for something to happen to Joshua because how else could this story have a romance, let alone any kind of happily ever after? I really loved Mina and how she and Tabby became friends. I also loved that Mina gave Tabby a place to seek refuge and even some money to stash away in case she should need it. When tragedy does strike, I loved when Mrs. Engle tells Tabby “It is no sin to be happy that your life has become less complicated.” Never were truer words spoken. I also loved that Graham goes to Tabby as soon as he hears she is free. Tabby wasn't sure if she should seek him out because maybe he had moved on, so for him to show up at her doorstep with love in his eyes and a very chaste kiss, well... it was about time!
Honestly, I didn't get the ending I wanted in this story. For all the buildup, pages and pages of introspect, and tolerating all of Joshua's crappy treatment of his family, the ending just didn't satisfy. Joshua met his end justifiably, but I wanted so much more between Tabby and Graham. I wanted the romance that never really happened. After Tabby sees Graham's book at the bookstore, there is no further mention of his writings - something she had encouraged during his recovery when he needed something to do. No sweet cuddles in front of the fire, reading his book together with Phillip, no walks in the garden talking about their future, there was just nothing romancey. I felt like this book told a story, a journey, really. But not a romance.
I give this book 3.5 stars, rounding down to 3. I knocked off an additional half a star because this was not really a romantic book. The writing is excellent, but don't expect a great romance. Steam level is very chaste - one kiss. And while the premise of a romance blossoming between a married woman and an unmarried man may sound touchy to some, you do have to read it to fully appreciate its presentation. I will explore other titles by this author in the future but the very slow burn in this book makes me hesitate to jump into another one right away.
Let's dive in. We first meet Tabitha "Tabby" Granger when she is pleading with her father to marry her love, Joshua Russell. While her father delivers heavy-handed life lessons and wisdom, Tabby is determined and gets her way. Fast forward ten years and we see her marriage in tatters. When they have no choice but to sell the Russell family home and downsize to a very small two-room cottage, Joshua refuses to let his ego take a hit, preferring to rely on the charity of family and friends rather than do actual work to support Tabby and their 4 year old son, Phillip. With no other option, Tabby goes to work and becomes a housekeeper/nursemaid for a grumpy naval sea captain who is recovering from injuries courtesy of a French cannonball.
Captain Graham Ashbrook is his own little pity party with lots of cursing (off page) and surliness as he tries to recover enough from his injuries and surgeries to where he can get back to his ship. As if the life lessons at the beginning of the book weren't dished out heavily enough, we get more doses from Tabby as she tries to help Graham realize that he won't be healed enough to go back to ship life and he needs to see the blessings in what he has with his capabilities.
When Tabby and Graham reach a level of friendship and respect, feelings start to grow. But Tabby keeps hers in check since she is trying to trust her husband's many promises of becoming a better man, father, and husband. But Graham assumes Tabby is a widow and allows his feelings to continue to grow. When he learns the truth, his world shifts and his dreams for a future with Tabby and Philip fall apart.
So, if you boil this all down, this is a story about a relationship between a married woman and an unmarried man, but rest assured there is no cheating and Tabby actually makes plans to remove herself from the situation when she realizes her feelings. This is considered a romance, with a happily ever after so you know the author has to work it all out to get there, and she does that pretty well. My big issue with the story is that it took the long route to get there. This a very slow burn only because you don't get much of the romancey things one usually gets in a growing romance. Tabby stays faithful to her cad of a husband even though she has long fallen out of love with him. Everything she does is for her son Phillip. But Joshua's story was always the same and Tabby granted him way too many "get out of jail free" passes. Joshua is a liar, a cheat, a drunk, and has no regard for the welfare of his family, but in that day and age, what else could Tabby really do? I admit I was waiting for something to happen to Joshua because how else could this story have a romance, let alone any kind of happily ever after? I really loved Mina and how she and Tabby became friends. I also loved that Mina gave Tabby a place to seek refuge and even some money to stash away in case she should need it. When tragedy does strike, I loved when Mrs. Engle tells Tabby “It is no sin to be happy that your life has become less complicated.” Never were truer words spoken. I also loved that Graham goes to Tabby as soon as he hears she is free. Tabby wasn't sure if she should seek him out because maybe he had moved on, so for him to show up at her doorstep with love in his eyes and a very chaste kiss, well... it was about time!
Honestly, I didn't get the ending I wanted in this story. For all the buildup, pages and pages of introspect, and tolerating all of Joshua's crappy treatment of his family, the ending just didn't satisfy. Joshua met his end justifiably, but I wanted so much more between Tabby and Graham. I wanted the romance that never really happened. After Tabby sees Graham's book at the bookstore, there is no further mention of his writings - something she had encouraged during his recovery when he needed something to do. No sweet cuddles in front of the fire, reading his book together with Phillip, no walks in the garden talking about their future, there was just nothing romancey. I felt like this book told a story, a journey, really. But not a romance.
I give this book 3.5 stars, rounding down to 3. I knocked off an additional half a star because this was not really a romantic book. The writing is excellent, but don't expect a great romance. Steam level is very chaste - one kiss. And while the premise of a romance blossoming between a married woman and an unmarried man may sound touchy to some, you do have to read it to fully appreciate its presentation. I will explore other titles by this author in the future but the very slow burn in this book makes me hesitate to jump into another one right away.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 19, 2021
I love Graham and Tabby's story, and I hope you do, too!
September 1, 2025
I really struggled with this one, my first from this author. Typical regencies tend to have a main female MC and a main male one. The thing about this book though is the female MC is married for 93% of the book while the main male MC falls in love with her. I couldn't get behind the emotional affair storyline or root for them.
I felt for Tabby in the sense that she is in a difficult situation, especially in that day and age, not only because she is married to a drunkard but especially because they have a child. So I want to see her have a better ending yet struggled as well because it is made so clear at the beginning how she set herself on this course and has had to reap the unpleasant consequences. I can see why she doesn't speak of her husband to her employer and how she could enjoy spending time with Graham but I'm not sure I understand why a conversation never happened about availability before becoming emotionally involved with each other.
Even if I changed the story in my head to assume Tabby is a widow from the onset and is reflecting back on a difficult first marriage and trying to provide for her son I still didn't get behind the characters in this story. A lot of the time it seemed more Simon and Mina's story, which ironically I don't actually want to read anymore. It also introduces Ambrose, who also doesn't come across as someone I want to read about, though I have his book. Another minor note, but one that bothered me, tabby is a type of cat and every time the female MC is referred to by that name (Tabby) that is what came to mind for me.
I love the cover and ships and for some reason hoped being on one would feature in the story but the focus for the male MC is on how he is having to give up being a ship captain and remain on land. An overall letdown for a title I had looked forward to trying.
"Of course people can change, but doing so for someone else is not a true reformation. Such things can only come from within, independent of what others desire of you. It is one thing for him to be inspired by your good example and alter himself because he wishes to be better, but everything he has done has been to win your good opinion. What happens if he decides it is no longer worth the sacrifice?" pg 5 (I'm with her father on this one, she promptly ignores him and states she'll marry with or without his blessing)
"You may choose to ignore them, but there are always reasons to be happy just as there are always reasons to be miserable. I am not saying you need to be grateful for the hardships you are facing, but you can choose to see the goodness and blessings that come with it. Joy in life is a matter of choice, not circumstances." pg 86
"I cannot make you anything, Joshua. If you wish to change, you must do so yourself. No one can do it for you." pg 235
I felt for Tabby in the sense that she is in a difficult situation, especially in that day and age, not only because she is married to a drunkard but especially because they have a child. So I want to see her have a better ending yet struggled as well because it is made so clear at the beginning how she set herself on this course and has had to reap the unpleasant consequences. I can see why she doesn't speak of her husband to her employer and how she could enjoy spending time with Graham but I'm not sure I understand why a conversation never happened about availability before becoming emotionally involved with each other.
Even if I changed the story in my head to assume Tabby is a widow from the onset and is reflecting back on a difficult first marriage and trying to provide for her son I still didn't get behind the characters in this story. A lot of the time it seemed more Simon and Mina's story, which ironically I don't actually want to read anymore. It also introduces Ambrose, who also doesn't come across as someone I want to read about, though I have his book. Another minor note, but one that bothered me, tabby is a type of cat and every time the female MC is referred to by that name (Tabby) that is what came to mind for me.
I love the cover and ships and for some reason hoped being on one would feature in the story but the focus for the male MC is on how he is having to give up being a ship captain and remain on land. An overall letdown for a title I had looked forward to trying.
"Of course people can change, but doing so for someone else is not a true reformation. Such things can only come from within, independent of what others desire of you. It is one thing for him to be inspired by your good example and alter himself because he wishes to be better, but everything he has done has been to win your good opinion. What happens if he decides it is no longer worth the sacrifice?" pg 5 (I'm with her father on this one, she promptly ignores him and states she'll marry with or without his blessing)
"You may choose to ignore them, but there are always reasons to be happy just as there are always reasons to be miserable. I am not saying you need to be grateful for the hardships you are facing, but you can choose to see the goodness and blessings that come with it. Joy in life is a matter of choice, not circumstances." pg 86
"I cannot make you anything, Joshua. If you wish to change, you must do so yourself. No one can do it for you." pg 235
May 15, 2020
I love M.A. Nichols books and this one is not the exception. I love Tabby and Graham and their story so much. Tabby is a practically perfect individual, yet not an annoying way. She is perfect in a way that makes you love her even more. Graham may have had a few faults in the beginning, but he overcame them magnificently. Even those few initial faults he was an amazing person and gentlemen down to his core from the very beginning of the book. One of the main things I liked about this book was despite both Tabby and Graham's strong feelings for each other they both did what was right and never acted on those feelings until it was appropriate. If they had acted on their feelings much earlier than they had it would have ruined the book, and the characters for me. I also really liked seeing Mina and Simon in this book. It was just like a great epilogue for them and we got to really see how they have both changed for the better because of their marriage. Though even though they played huge roles in this book it is not necessary to read the first book before the second. You will understand the story perfectly fine even though there are a decent amount of references to the first book, though not to say that you shouldn't read the first book. The first one is just as stellar as the second. This was another winner of M.A. Nichols and I would definitely recommend.
March 28, 2020
A Sweet Regency Romance
What is a woman to do when the man she marries is not the man she thought would be her life love in a time of no divorce? That is the premise of this story. Tabby, a wide-eyed innocent girl fell in love with a rogue, drunk and gambler. She thought he had changed his strips but no. From lady of the manor to servant is howTabby tries to provide for her son and keep her marriage together. Enter Graham, an injured naval officer trying to recover from his horrible injury. Tabby is his nurse and companion. Their story takes many dips and turns as they develop an attraction that is forbidden. Though they never physically break Tabby’s marriage vows, she realizes she does not love her husband but is stuck with him.
The ends and outs of their situation makes for an enjoyable read and emphasizes how hard women had to work to survive when society was so rigid in Regency England. Tabby is a wonderful character, strong and willing to do anything to protect and provide for her young son. Graham is also a strong character but this is more Tabby’s story than his.
Part of a series about the Ashbrook family siblings and their loves.
What is a woman to do when the man she marries is not the man she thought would be her life love in a time of no divorce? That is the premise of this story. Tabby, a wide-eyed innocent girl fell in love with a rogue, drunk and gambler. She thought he had changed his strips but no. From lady of the manor to servant is howTabby tries to provide for her son and keep her marriage together. Enter Graham, an injured naval officer trying to recover from his horrible injury. Tabby is his nurse and companion. Their story takes many dips and turns as they develop an attraction that is forbidden. Though they never physically break Tabby’s marriage vows, she realizes she does not love her husband but is stuck with him.
The ends and outs of their situation makes for an enjoyable read and emphasizes how hard women had to work to survive when society was so rigid in Regency England. Tabby is a wonderful character, strong and willing to do anything to protect and provide for her young son. Graham is also a strong character but this is more Tabby’s story than his.
Part of a series about the Ashbrook family siblings and their loves.
April 9, 2019
I gave this only four stars because of the turmoil inside while trying to figure out how the main conflict was going to be resolved. Tabby is not free and in order to be so, you either have to kill off her husband or have some other miracle come to pass...and the author did such a good job of making you like Joshua, the husband, and wanting him dead and out of the picture. Turmoil. I don’t like having to want to kill people off, but at the same time wanting to.. so for me the plot was just harder— but I’d give it 5 stars because of the way the author did make me feel that way and how it ended up just as it could have.
I liked how both Tabby and the Captain were faithful to their vows, they both had strong characters and I appreciated that.
I still enjoyed the slow and steady story and how the characters build and you get to know them well.. my heart ached for their situation, and was happy with how it all turned out
I liked how both Tabby and the Captain were faithful to their vows, they both had strong characters and I appreciated that.
I still enjoyed the slow and steady story and how the characters build and you get to know them well.. my heart ached for their situation, and was happy with how it all turned out
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 19, 2018
* SPOILERS OF "FLAME AND EMBER" BELOW *
I positively detested Simon in "Flame and Ember", and his behavior ruined that book for me, but as Nichols writes so well I thought I'd give this novel a chance. I'd glad I did; this book is wonderful. All the characters are well-drawn, and their behaviors and motivations are believable. The intelligent heroine, Tabitha, cleverly "manipulates" the gruff hero into doing what is needed for his physical and emotional rehabilitation. You can't get a better name for a hero than "Graham Ashcroft", either. The romance is clean. Thankfully, there is no insta-love, which makes no sense to me, anyway. This novel is superbly written and well-edited. It was also nice to see Simon completely transformed from the jerk he was for most of the last book. I look forward to the next installment of this series.
I positively detested Simon in "Flame and Ember", and his behavior ruined that book for me, but as Nichols writes so well I thought I'd give this novel a chance. I'd glad I did; this book is wonderful. All the characters are well-drawn, and their behaviors and motivations are believable. The intelligent heroine, Tabitha, cleverly "manipulates" the gruff hero into doing what is needed for his physical and emotional rehabilitation. You can't get a better name for a hero than "Graham Ashcroft", either. The romance is clean. Thankfully, there is no insta-love, which makes no sense to me, anyway. This novel is superbly written and well-edited. It was also nice to see Simon completely transformed from the jerk he was for most of the last book. I look forward to the next installment of this series.
August 4, 2020
A pleasure to read. Young love is often foolish, but marriage to a alcoholic is no joke. It is a horrible plight and a horrid life for the sober partner. The verbal abuse, the shame, the excuses. Alcoholics are often quite charming and it is easy to believe their lies over and over again. Many people love them and fall into the same trap as Tabby. Joshua chose to be weak and make excuses. One drink was too many, one hundred was never enough. He added gaming and debts to his consumption until they only had pain and nothing else left.
Tabby took a job in service to feed her family and Joshua took her money over and over again. While acting as a housekeeper and caregiver for Captain Ashbrooke she learned to care for him. Because her marriage was so awful she failed to mention she was married. The captain developed feelings for her and was sad to learn her husband was alive and still in her life.
There seemed no resolution to their unrequited feelings for each other.
Tabby took a job in service to feed her family and Joshua took her money over and over again. While acting as a housekeeper and caregiver for Captain Ashbrooke she learned to care for him. Because her marriage was so awful she failed to mention she was married. The captain developed feelings for her and was sad to learn her husband was alive and still in her life.
There seemed no resolution to their unrequited feelings for each other.
August 7, 2020
I was surprised at how much I liked this, and I ended up liking it very much indeed. Major props to the author for what seemed to me a realistic and unsentimental picture of a married woman's life in that era. Spoiler, of a sort: The book has one or two (brief, thankfully) bursts of violence that were totally unexpected, and therefore all the more effective, and terrifying. I also appreciated Tabby and Graham's unswerving allegiance to their sense of morality and honor. Thought that might feel a bit got- a- stick- up- your- ass priggish, but no, it felt right. Kudos to M.A. Nichols! I want to read more .
December 1, 2018
I opened this book looking for a fluffy regency romance... and came away with the resolve to be a better person. Wow! Well written, inspiring, and so true to life that I was blown away.
The older I get, the more marriages I see fall apart. I have seen real-life Joshuas in action. And the kicker is that they aren't villains. Not really. Selfish, yes. Martyr complexes? Certainly. But the potential to change is there if only they could muster up the will and hard work necessary to make it happen. Like the Captain.
And then we have Tabby. I aspire to be Tabby. That woman holds to her commitments even when others fudge on theirs. She engineers her own happiness in the face of harrowing circumstances. The girl refuses to sink into bitterness and despair. RESPECT!
The older I get, the more marriages I see fall apart. I have seen real-life Joshuas in action. And the kicker is that they aren't villains. Not really. Selfish, yes. Martyr complexes? Certainly. But the potential to change is there if only they could muster up the will and hard work necessary to make it happen. Like the Captain.
And then we have Tabby. I aspire to be Tabby. That woman holds to her commitments even when others fudge on theirs. She engineers her own happiness in the face of harrowing circumstances. The girl refuses to sink into bitterness and despair. RESPECT!
September 11, 2019
A lovely, clean romance
I love M.A. Nichols writing style. All of her characters have depth and are very interesting. The life situations that occur are realistic and the actions of the main characters show principled people dealing with their hearts' wishes and life challenges with great integrity. This is the 2nd book in the Regency Love Book series. Even though it is a stand-alone book, reading the first book in the series gave me insight into the story. It was also lovely to visit again with Mina and Simon. I am loading book three in the series now. Enjoy!
I love M.A. Nichols writing style. All of her characters have depth and are very interesting. The life situations that occur are realistic and the actions of the main characters show principled people dealing with their hearts' wishes and life challenges with great integrity. This is the 2nd book in the Regency Love Book series. Even though it is a stand-alone book, reading the first book in the series gave me insight into the story. It was also lovely to visit again with Mina and Simon. I am loading book three in the series now. Enjoy!
January 3, 2020
Don't I wish that this situation was just an occurrence in an entertaining novel and not the circumstance that many a young woman finds herself in. Love does not conquer all, and the happily ever after as found in Beauty and the Beast is more often than not just wishful thinking. The price of blind love as paid by Tabby and many others can be very exacting. Although I suspected the eventual outcome, I still found myself wishing that true and lasting reformation could have been a possibility and that the frog could have been transformed into a true prince. Alas, Joshua's true character and weaknesses persisted in rising to the surface. Young women beware and be wise!!
July 1, 2019
This was a wonderful read. The drama and excitement of a new love was just inspiring. Tabby has an awful time of her marriage. She has a drunken husband. The only bright spot is her adorable son Phillip. Graham is a crabby wounded seaman that needs a firm hard to make him see what is life is like now. These two are star crossed lovers till Tabby finally gets a bright sliver of hope in her home life.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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