What do you think?
Rate this book
Hawthorne House #0.5
A Lady of Esteem
Miss Amelia Stalwood may live in London at her absent guardian's townhouse, but she's never actually met any nobility, and instead of aristocrats, her closest friends are servants. Quite by happenstance, she's introduced to the Hawthorne family and their close family friend, Anthony, the reformed marquis of Raeburn. They welcome her into their world, but just as she's beginning to gain some confidence and even suspect she may have caught Anthony's eye, she's blindsided by an unexpected twist in her situation accompanied by nasty rumors. Will she lose her reputation when the world that has only just accepted her turns its back on her, or will she rest in the support of the friends who've become like family and the man who's shared his faith and captured her heart?
A Lady of Esteem is an e-only novella that gives an exciting introduction to Kristi Ann Hunter's new Regency romance series about the aristocratic Hawthorne family! Includes an extended excerpt of Kristi's debut full-length novel, A Noble Masquerade.
A Lady of Esteem is an e-only novella that gives an exciting introduction to Kristi Ann Hunter's new Regency romance series about the aristocratic Hawthorne family! Includes an extended excerpt of Kristi's debut full-length novel, A Noble Masquerade.
Audio CD
First published July 1, 2015
797 people are currently reading
2477 people want to read
About the author
Kristi Ann Hunter
24 books1,648 followersKristi Ann Hunter graduated from Georgia Tech with a degree in Computer Science but always knew she wanted to write. Kristi is an RWA Golden Heart contest winner, an ACFW Genesis contest winner, and a Georgia Romance Writers Maggie Award for Excellence winner. She lives with her husband and three children in Georgia. Find her online at www.kristiannhunter.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 528 reviews
August 20, 2018
2.5/Confusa. ¿Está es la primera obra que escribió Hunter? Es decir, y de modo muy general, la trama está bien, pero a mi entender le falta profundidad; hasta los momentos 'religiosos' me parecen metidos con calzador. Es decir, si quieres resaltar la fe de uno de tus protagonistas, tienes que hacerlo desde el principio y no esperar hasta el final de la obra para hacerlo, ¿no? Con todo, seguiré con la serie.
February 19, 2017
A short, enjoyable novella introducing the Hawthorne House series and siblings through the eyes of a friend of theirs. In places it was rushed, with a couple of surprising coincidences, and a few times it drops out of Regency-era speech, but otherwise it's really good! A nice intro to the series. I also liked the depth of character shown by these two, especially Amelia's interest in the servants.
May 16, 2016
Kindle freebie May 2016. I wasn't expecting the very strong religious content in this Regency romance novella. The hero is a former rake, now a devout Christian trying to live down his past; the heroine a socially inept young woman who has been raised in isolation, and whose only friends have been the servants.
It's okay if you like that kind of thing, it was just too implausible for me. It's not very deep (in fairness, few books in this genre are). Probably the biggest problem was that I didn't find either the hero or the heroine particularly appealing.
It's okay if you like that kind of thing, it was just too implausible for me. It's not very deep (in fairness, few books in this genre are). Probably the biggest problem was that I didn't find either the hero or the heroine particularly appealing.
April 27, 2017
Charming!
I really enjoyed this one. I was hooked from the start, Amelia is such a fun heroine and finds herself in embarrassing situations and making endearing faux pas. The former Raeburn Rake, Lord Anthony is captivated by her, and their interactions are so fun. Amelia feels more comfortable with the servants than she does with the ton, and I enjoyed her relationship with them and thought they played a fun role in the story. Anthony was a likable character, I liked that his transformation was refreshing. It seems so many times in regencies the guy only changes after meeting the heroine (and I have a hard time believing they've actually changed). I liked in this case, he had changed on his own and had been reformed for a few years.
This is a novella and pretty lighthearted, I felt the end wrapped up a tad quickly and would have liked another chapter or two to wrap things up. But overall, was very satisfied with the story and of course loved the characters. A fun regency and one I'd definitely read again.
Content
Romance: Clean
Language: None
Violence: None
Religious: Mild
Series: Hawthorn House, Prequel book
Source: Purchased
I really enjoyed this one. I was hooked from the start, Amelia is such a fun heroine and finds herself in embarrassing situations and making endearing faux pas. The former Raeburn Rake, Lord Anthony is captivated by her, and their interactions are so fun. Amelia feels more comfortable with the servants than she does with the ton, and I enjoyed her relationship with them and thought they played a fun role in the story. Anthony was a likable character, I liked that his transformation was refreshing. It seems so many times in regencies the guy only changes after meeting the heroine (and I have a hard time believing they've actually changed). I liked in this case, he had changed on his own and had been reformed for a few years.
This is a novella and pretty lighthearted, I felt the end wrapped up a tad quickly and would have liked another chapter or two to wrap things up. But overall, was very satisfied with the story and of course loved the characters. A fun regency and one I'd definitely read again.
Content
Romance: Clean
Language: None
Violence: None
Religious: Mild
Series: Hawthorn House, Prequel book
Source: Purchased
May 1, 2018
The story was going so so well until in a moment of conflict, the H just turned tail and ran away like a coward, leaving the h to face the fallout from the blood-thirsty ton! But the h stood up for herself in front of everyone so she won my respect.
Loved each of the supporting characters and it was so much fun to see how the servants whom Amelia had befriended were taking revenge on her behalf😂😂 Also enjoyed how they were conspiring to set her up with the marquees.
Really good for a novella. The love story was a bit formulaic but enjoyable.
Loved each of the supporting characters and it was so much fun to see how the servants whom Amelia had befriended were taking revenge on her behalf😂😂 Also enjoyed how they were conspiring to set her up with the marquees.
Really good for a novella. The love story was a bit formulaic but enjoyable.
February 28, 2023
What a fun introduction to the characters of Hawthorne House! I listened to this on audio since it was a quick listen and short novella that introduces us to Amelia and Anthony. Lots of regency vibes!
Amelia Stalwood lives in London but she has never really met any nobility or anything - her closest friends are servants. Her paths cross with the Hawthorne Family and their close family friend, Anthony, former Raeburn Rake. Anthony is very interested in her and I loved their interactions, especially when they first meet, I was laughing! Just as she is starting to get comfortable, she's blindsides by some unexpected changes and nasty rumors....the story took off here.
I enjoyed seeing Anthony's transformation and the ending was wrapped up really nicely. Amelia was such a great character too! Very entertaining read and I am excited to dive into book 1 of the official series!
Amelia Stalwood lives in London but she has never really met any nobility or anything - her closest friends are servants. Her paths cross with the Hawthorne Family and their close family friend, Anthony, former Raeburn Rake. Anthony is very interested in her and I loved their interactions, especially when they first meet, I was laughing! Just as she is starting to get comfortable, she's blindsides by some unexpected changes and nasty rumors....the story took off here.
I enjoyed seeing Anthony's transformation and the ending was wrapped up really nicely. Amelia was such a great character too! Very entertaining read and I am excited to dive into book 1 of the official series!
March 11, 2023
Great prequel! And I loved already knowing the characters from the first book😊
May 15, 2018
A Lady of Esteem, a novella by Kristi Ann Hunter, is a sweet Christian Regency romance. It's an introduction ("0.5" on Goodreads) to her Hawthorne House series, and it's only available in ebook format. The prologue is set in 1803 Suffolk, England, and chapter one jumps to 1812 London, which places it firmly in the Regency era.
4 1/2 stars
Miss Amelia Stalwood, an orphaned gentleman's daughter, becomes the ward of Lord Stanford, a distant relation, at the age of ten. He is extremely absent-minded (to the point that I wondered whether he had dementia or some other mental illness) and isn't very interested in Amelia. When she turns eleven, he finally provides a governess for her and ships her off to his London townhouse and leaves her there for years. She has not been nurtured and cared for all her life . . except by the servants.
Anthony Pendleton, Marquis of Raebourne, has recently returned to London. He's been holed up at his country estate for two years and is now seeking a wife. He's a rake turned Christian and abstains from behaviors that once defined him.
What I liked:
*I really loved the hero, the heroine, and the secondary characters. I think it was a beautiful set up for the characters in the rest of the Hawthorne House series.
*The prose. There were many excerpts that I found delightful. "Lady Miranda gracefully kicked Lady Georgina in the shin. Amelia's eyes widened. How long would it take to learn how to do such an uncouth thing with ladylike grace? Who would take the time to develop such a strange talent?"
What I didn't like:
*I liked the Christian references, but some of them felt too modern for the period. Admittedly, this is mostly a gut feeling. I did a bit of reading, and the Anglican church was predominant in the Regency period. It appears that attending church was a tradition and not much thought was given to how to live their lives. Amelia attended St. George's at Hanover Square, while Anthony attended Grosvenor Chapel. These are both Anglican churches, and the sentiments they both express in this story do not seem likely to me to be Anglican-based. They sound more like Evangelicals/Protestants/Methodists, which were emerging during this period, but the Anglican church was government sponsored, and from what I can see, was much more likely to be attended by aristocrats.
Random note: I haven't read books 1 & 2 yet, but apparently, book 2 is a variation on book 1 from an alternate POV.
I agree with one reviewer who said that this book did not feel like a novella. It was the first book by this author I've read, and I enjoyed it a lot. It won't be the last! I recommend it to fans of clean Christian Regency. I give it 4 1/2 stars!
4 1/2 stars
Miss Amelia Stalwood, an orphaned gentleman's daughter, becomes the ward of Lord Stanford, a distant relation, at the age of ten. He is extremely absent-minded (to the point that I wondered whether he had dementia or some other mental illness) and isn't very interested in Amelia. When she turns eleven, he finally provides a governess for her and ships her off to his London townhouse and leaves her there for years. She has not been nurtured and cared for all her life . . except by the servants.
Anthony Pendleton, Marquis of Raebourne, has recently returned to London. He's been holed up at his country estate for two years and is now seeking a wife. He's a rake turned Christian and abstains from behaviors that once defined him.
What I liked:
*I really loved the hero, the heroine, and the secondary characters. I think it was a beautiful set up for the characters in the rest of the Hawthorne House series.
*The prose. There were many excerpts that I found delightful. "Lady Miranda gracefully kicked Lady Georgina in the shin. Amelia's eyes widened. How long would it take to learn how to do such an uncouth thing with ladylike grace? Who would take the time to develop such a strange talent?"
What I didn't like:
*I liked the Christian references, but some of them felt too modern for the period. Admittedly, this is mostly a gut feeling. I did a bit of reading, and the Anglican church was predominant in the Regency period. It appears that attending church was a tradition and not much thought was given to how to live their lives. Amelia attended St. George's at Hanover Square, while Anthony attended Grosvenor Chapel. These are both Anglican churches, and the sentiments they both express in this story do not seem likely to me to be Anglican-based. They sound more like Evangelicals/Protestants/Methodists, which were emerging during this period, but the Anglican church was government sponsored, and from what I can see, was much more likely to be attended by aristocrats.
Random note: I haven't read books 1 & 2 yet, but apparently, book 2 is a variation on book 1 from an alternate POV.
I agree with one reviewer who said that this book did not feel like a novella. It was the first book by this author I've read, and I enjoyed it a lot. It won't be the last! I recommend it to fans of clean Christian Regency. I give it 4 1/2 stars!
January 20, 2016
Age Appropriate For: 15 and up for some romance
Best for Ages: 15 and up
It was a Sunday and I just wanted something light and quick to read. While I am a lover of long books, there are times that I just want something quick. I saw this one, and a good friend had liked it, so I read it. Wow! I don’t think I have laughed or enjoyed a novella like this in a long time.
Amelia is an adorable, spunky, klutzy heroine whom you cannot help but love. She is also loving and kind and has a strong faith. She reminded me a lot of my friend Jessica P., which made me love her even more. Anthony was a fun character as well and a good match for Amelia.
The setting was so much fun! It feels like a Jane Austen with London, balls, pretty speech, and dramatic situations. It was so enjoyable I wanted to spend more time in the setting.
The story, while short, was well written and perfect. So many novellas feel like drawn out short stories or novels crammed into fewer words. This story didn’t feel like either. I applaud Hunter on her skill and looking forward to reading more of her work.
I highly recommend this book for those who like Jane Austen, romance, and novellas.
Best for Ages: 15 and up
It was a Sunday and I just wanted something light and quick to read. While I am a lover of long books, there are times that I just want something quick. I saw this one, and a good friend had liked it, so I read it. Wow! I don’t think I have laughed or enjoyed a novella like this in a long time.
Amelia is an adorable, spunky, klutzy heroine whom you cannot help but love. She is also loving and kind and has a strong faith. She reminded me a lot of my friend Jessica P., which made me love her even more. Anthony was a fun character as well and a good match for Amelia.
The setting was so much fun! It feels like a Jane Austen with London, balls, pretty speech, and dramatic situations. It was so enjoyable I wanted to spend more time in the setting.
The story, while short, was well written and perfect. So many novellas feel like drawn out short stories or novels crammed into fewer words. This story didn’t feel like either. I applaud Hunter on her skill and looking forward to reading more of her work.
I highly recommend this book for those who like Jane Austen, romance, and novellas.
December 3, 2015
This is a very fun, very fast read and I really enjoyed it a lot! :)
(Wish I had time to write a full review, but I must get back to packing...)
(Wish I had time to write a full review, but I must get back to packing...)
November 22, 2017
Cute novella! Definitely not as enjoyable to me as the full novels, but I enjoyed the banter between the characters, especially between the Hawthorne siblings.
February 20, 2021
Fun novella
A delightful prelude to the characters in Noble Masquerade. I flew through this in short order, I enjoyed it so much.
A delightful prelude to the characters in Noble Masquerade. I flew through this in short order, I enjoyed it so much.
October 6, 2017
Great story and a nice introduction to the characters of the series!
November 6, 2016
3.5 stars
A pleasant Christian romance read, perfect for when you want something light with a dash of fun. Lord Raebourne is a reformed rake, having become a Christian. To keep himself from slipping back into his old wicked ways, he is on the hunt for a suitable bride. Miss Amelia literally falls into his arms arousing his curiosity when she refuses to answer his questions and flees from him. Her strange background and upbringing provide much of the interest in this story. This is an clean romance, with likeable characters, caring family banter and a twist or two at the end.
A pleasant Christian romance read, perfect for when you want something light with a dash of fun. Lord Raebourne is a reformed rake, having become a Christian. To keep himself from slipping back into his old wicked ways, he is on the hunt for a suitable bride. Miss Amelia literally falls into his arms arousing his curiosity when she refuses to answer his questions and flees from him. Her strange background and upbringing provide much of the interest in this story. This is an clean romance, with likeable characters, caring family banter and a twist or two at the end.
March 20, 2022
This was soooooo cute!
Amelia the wee bit of sunshine and Anthony the ex-rake who really doesn't seem the type.
This book just flew by.
It's a faith romance, but not overly preachy at all.
Anthony lead a life of cards, women and wine before he was forced to leave London for France by the angry husband of one of his paramours. Since then he has changed his ways but still feels guilt for his past behavior. There are a couple OW wannabes who give the story a little angst but not too much.
Amelia has grown up raised by servants, forgotten in an aging house in London.
She meets Anthony by accident and keeps running into him time and time again. Perhaps due to a little match making by the servants?
She also makes friends with the family that fills out the rest of this series' MCs.
The story moves too fast but is evenly paced. SO it comes across as a little shallow, but makes up for it in entertainment.
A safe clean read
Amelia the wee bit of sunshine and Anthony the ex-rake who really doesn't seem the type.
This book just flew by.
It's a faith romance, but not overly preachy at all.
Anthony lead a life of cards, women and wine before he was forced to leave London for France by the angry husband of one of his paramours. Since then he has changed his ways but still feels guilt for his past behavior. There are a couple OW wannabes who give the story a little angst but not too much.
Amelia has grown up raised by servants, forgotten in an aging house in London.
She meets Anthony by accident and keeps running into him time and time again. Perhaps due to a little match making by the servants?
She also makes friends with the family that fills out the rest of this series' MCs.
The story moves too fast but is evenly paced. SO it comes across as a little shallow, but makes up for it in entertainment.
A safe clean read
October 26, 2017
I only wish it was a full length novel! I love most of the characters, except the "villains". :P The relationship between Amelia and the servants is endearing. And I am so excited to learn that the Hawthorne brothers are going to get their own stories! :D
July 12, 2023
Read my full review and content guide HERE: https://penspagesandpulses.wordpress....
4.5 stars
I guess I forgot to post my review on Goodreads.
A Lady of Esteem is a prequel to Kristi Ann Hunter’s Hawthorne House series. It is a sweet novella about the importance of seeing each person as of divine worth, no matter their social standing.
Amelia is kind to everyone around her. I admire how she takes time to get to know everybody with whom she interacts. It is obvious that she is well-loved for this trait. She longs for a family, security and stability.
Anthony has not led a perfect life. He’s made some mistakes, but he wants to change. Even though he has tried to repent of his mistakes, he still does not feel totally absolved of his sins. He admires Amelia’s goodness and consideration for others.
4.5 stars
I guess I forgot to post my review on Goodreads.
A Lady of Esteem is a prequel to Kristi Ann Hunter’s Hawthorne House series. It is a sweet novella about the importance of seeing each person as of divine worth, no matter their social standing.
Amelia is kind to everyone around her. I admire how she takes time to get to know everybody with whom she interacts. It is obvious that she is well-loved for this trait. She longs for a family, security and stability.
Anthony has not led a perfect life. He’s made some mistakes, but he wants to change. Even though he has tried to repent of his mistakes, he still does not feel totally absolved of his sins. He admires Amelia’s goodness and consideration for others.
December 17, 2015
Fun, clean and unputdownable read!
I really enjoyed this novella but kept finding myself thinking I wish it were longer! Loved the idea of redemption and forgiveness and that it is available to everyone. Amelia was a fun heroine who was forgotten by everyone in her family and as such she was able to befriend the servants of all the aristocracy in London, endearing them to her. I loved watching the little things that the servants did behind the scenes or very discreetly that were meant to encourage and help Amelia.
Anthony was a rake of a gentleman who has learned to reform because of his reputation being in question. I thought all the encounters between him and Amelia were fun and lighthearted.
Great prequel to a series! I downloaded this for free from Amazon and there is a couple chapters for the first book in the series... I made the mistake of reading it, because I enjoyed the novella so much, and then found myself hooked on wanting to read it. Don't start reading it late because it is addicting. A noble masquerade is in my reading queue and I can't wait to finish it now that I've started reading the excerpt.
Enjoyed this great, clean, fun read. There was no suggestive content and I loved the book even more due to that!
Happy Reading!!!
I really enjoyed this novella but kept finding myself thinking I wish it were longer! Loved the idea of redemption and forgiveness and that it is available to everyone. Amelia was a fun heroine who was forgotten by everyone in her family and as such she was able to befriend the servants of all the aristocracy in London, endearing them to her. I loved watching the little things that the servants did behind the scenes or very discreetly that were meant to encourage and help Amelia.
Anthony was a rake of a gentleman who has learned to reform because of his reputation being in question. I thought all the encounters between him and Amelia were fun and lighthearted.
Great prequel to a series! I downloaded this for free from Amazon and there is a couple chapters for the first book in the series... I made the mistake of reading it, because I enjoyed the novella so much, and then found myself hooked on wanting to read it. Don't start reading it late because it is addicting. A noble masquerade is in my reading queue and I can't wait to finish it now that I've started reading the excerpt.
Enjoyed this great, clean, fun read. There was no suggestive content and I loved the book even more due to that!
Happy Reading!!!
March 25, 2016
I seriously wish they would publish this one as a very thin paperback, because I would LOVE to have my own printed copy of this!!
SO cute! I absolutely adored the characters, principal, secondary, and background (those servants knew what they were doin'!), and the story was utterly charming. Great application of God's forgiveness and love.
SO cute! I absolutely adored the characters, principal, secondary, and background (those servants knew what they were doin'!), and the story was utterly charming. Great application of God's forgiveness and love.
April 12, 2019
A nice novella. It did its job, making me interested in reading the full-length novel. Some parts of the story seemed rushed, but I'm hopeful that the novel won't have that problem.
July 18, 2022
3.5⭐
un relato sencillito que se lee muy bien y que nos presenta a la familia Hawthorne. Odio a Georgina, no se si mejorara con los libros
un relato sencillito que se lee muy bien y que nos presenta a la familia Hawthorne. Odio a Georgina, no se si mejorara con los libros
May 4, 2021
I loved the redeeming themes of this darling little novella.
March 16, 2016
{{This is a Goodreads Only Review! Meaning, this review will not be posted on 'Books for Christian Girls'. }}
About this book:
“Miss Amelia Stalwood may live in London at her absent guardian's townhouse, but she's never actually met any nobility, and instead of aristocrats, her closest friends are servants. Quite by happenstance, she's introduced to the Hawthorne family and their close family friend, Anthony, the reformed marquis of Raeburn. They welcome her into their world, but just as she's beginning to gain some confidence and even suspect she may have caught Anthony's eye, she's blindsided by an unexpected twist in her situation accompanied by nasty rumors. Will she lose her reputation when the world that has only just accepted her turns its back on her, or will she rest in the support of the friends who've become like family and the man who's shared his faith and captured her heart?
A Lady of Esteem is an e-only novella that gives an exciting introduction to Kristi Ann Hunter's new Regency romance series about the aristocratic Hawthorne family! Includes an extended excerpt of Kristi's debut full-length novel, A Noble Masquerade.”
Series: Book #.5 in the “Hawthorne House” series. (Review of Book #1, “A Noble Masquerade”, Here!)
Spiritual Content- Prayers; Bible reading; Talks about God, sin, forgiveness & the work of God; ‘H’s are capital are capital when referring to God; Scriptures are mentioned; Mentions of Prayers; Mentions of Church going; Amelia has sheer joy from holding a Bible; Anthony tries to believe he’s a new creation like the Bible says.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: an ‘idiot’; Anthony curses then apologizes for doing so; Wanting to hit someone; Mentions of drinking, drunks & revelry (& mentions of when Anthony used to do/be both); Mentions of betting, cards & gambling; A couple mentions of dueling.
Sexual Content- four hand kisses, two head kisses, a barely-above-not-detailed kiss & four semi-detailed kissess; Wanting to kiss; A mention of stealing kisses; Touches & Hand holding (semi-detailed); Blushes & Butterflies; Noting & Staring; Anthony used to be a cad & a flirt, many mentions of it, but he has changed; A mention of trying to conceive a son & sea bathing; A mention that Anthony could have “a string of debauched virgins and a passel of illegitimate children” but “he would still have his pick of other women” (the old Anthony); A couple mentions of (rumored) affairs & illegitimate children; Mentions of loose women, mistresses & schemes (barely above-not-detailed); Mentions of virtue & reputations; Love, falling in love & the emotions.
-Amelia Stalwood, age 20
-Anthony Pendleton
P.O.V. switches between them.
Set in 1812 (Prologue set in 1803)
159(-ish) pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- Two Stars
Older High School Teens- Three Stars
My personal Rating- Three Stars
I have to say, I’m impressed with the writing, it was very well done and made me feel like I was there. But, that can be a bad thing as well, like with the kisses & mentions of Anthony’s past. Even though this isn’t a fairytale story, I was reminded of two different princesses. Amelia was wanting so bad to hold a Bible and read it for herself, that when she did get to, she was so happy and joyful. Similar to “The Merchant’s Daughter” by Melanie Dickerson with that. Amelia is very sweet and kind, like Cinderella in the live-action that came out this year. Overall, this novella was pretty clean, though a bit too many kisses for a short book.
View many reviews like this one Here:
http://booksforchristiangirls.blogspo...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
About this book:
“Miss Amelia Stalwood may live in London at her absent guardian's townhouse, but she's never actually met any nobility, and instead of aristocrats, her closest friends are servants. Quite by happenstance, she's introduced to the Hawthorne family and their close family friend, Anthony, the reformed marquis of Raeburn. They welcome her into their world, but just as she's beginning to gain some confidence and even suspect she may have caught Anthony's eye, she's blindsided by an unexpected twist in her situation accompanied by nasty rumors. Will she lose her reputation when the world that has only just accepted her turns its back on her, or will she rest in the support of the friends who've become like family and the man who's shared his faith and captured her heart?
A Lady of Esteem is an e-only novella that gives an exciting introduction to Kristi Ann Hunter's new Regency romance series about the aristocratic Hawthorne family! Includes an extended excerpt of Kristi's debut full-length novel, A Noble Masquerade.”
Series: Book #.5 in the “Hawthorne House” series. (Review of Book #1, “A Noble Masquerade”, Here!)
Spiritual Content- Prayers; Bible reading; Talks about God, sin, forgiveness & the work of God; ‘H’s are capital are capital when referring to God; Scriptures are mentioned; Mentions of Prayers; Mentions of Church going; Amelia has sheer joy from holding a Bible; Anthony tries to believe he’s a new creation like the Bible says.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: an ‘idiot’; Anthony curses then apologizes for doing so; Wanting to hit someone; Mentions of drinking, drunks & revelry (& mentions of when Anthony used to do/be both); Mentions of betting, cards & gambling; A couple mentions of dueling.
Sexual Content- four hand kisses, two head kisses, a barely-above-not-detailed kiss & four semi-detailed kissess; Wanting to kiss; A mention of stealing kisses; Touches & Hand holding (semi-detailed); Blushes & Butterflies; Noting & Staring; Anthony used to be a cad & a flirt, many mentions of it, but he has changed; A mention of trying to conceive a son & sea bathing; A mention that Anthony could have “a string of debauched virgins and a passel of illegitimate children” but “he would still have his pick of other women” (the old Anthony); A couple mentions of (rumored) affairs & illegitimate children; Mentions of loose women, mistresses & schemes (barely above-not-detailed); Mentions of virtue & reputations; Love, falling in love & the emotions.
-Amelia Stalwood, age 20
-Anthony Pendleton
P.O.V. switches between them.
Set in 1812 (Prologue set in 1803)
159(-ish) pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- Two Stars
Older High School Teens- Three Stars
My personal Rating- Three Stars
I have to say, I’m impressed with the writing, it was very well done and made me feel like I was there. But, that can be a bad thing as well, like with the kisses & mentions of Anthony’s past. Even though this isn’t a fairytale story, I was reminded of two different princesses. Amelia was wanting so bad to hold a Bible and read it for herself, that when she did get to, she was so happy and joyful. Similar to “The Merchant’s Daughter” by Melanie Dickerson with that. Amelia is very sweet and kind, like Cinderella in the live-action that came out this year. Overall, this novella was pretty clean, though a bit too many kisses for a short book.
View many reviews like this one Here:
http://booksforchristiangirls.blogspo...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
March 14, 2016
I downloaded this e-book on my e reader awhile ago, but never read it. But, as I recently acquired the first book in the series that this story is a companion to, I decided to go ahead and give it a go.
First, can I just ask, why did I wait so long to read this little story? It was such a delight! From the first chapter, the story is filled with one fun situation after another (with some seriousness in between), and I never really was sure what exactly would happen next. In fact, the story took one turn that had me eagerly reading for more to see how things would unfold... I like some regency tales that have more of a serious tone, but I found it lovely that the author gave somewhat of a comedy with this little book.
Most of the characters in this story were very amusing, too. I think the majority of the cast are the stars of the upcoming novels in the Hawthorne House series, and they were distinct, interesting, and lovable enough that I indeed would like to read more about them. And, of course, the hero and heroine of this little tale were interesting, as well. If I could describe their romance, I think the best words to use would be "awkward cuteness."
While I wish the story could have been a bit longer, I found- with its humor, wit, and faith- to be an overall sweet read, and a wonderful introduction to the series it precedes. (Plus, I liked that it reminded me some of Jen Turano's books.)
I give "A Lady of Esteem" by Kristi Ann Hunter a rating of four and a half, somewhere between liking it and being great. So, yes, I do plan on reading more, and am so I'm glad I decided to get the next book.
Oh, and in case you did not know, this little e-book is FREE, and and can be downloaded at both Amazon and Barnes and Noble. So treat yourself and give this book a try (hint, hint). I know I'm glad that I did.
You may want to know- there is kissing.
First, can I just ask, why did I wait so long to read this little story? It was such a delight! From the first chapter, the story is filled with one fun situation after another (with some seriousness in between), and I never really was sure what exactly would happen next. In fact, the story took one turn that had me eagerly reading for more to see how things would unfold... I like some regency tales that have more of a serious tone, but I found it lovely that the author gave somewhat of a comedy with this little book.
Most of the characters in this story were very amusing, too. I think the majority of the cast are the stars of the upcoming novels in the Hawthorne House series, and they were distinct, interesting, and lovable enough that I indeed would like to read more about them. And, of course, the hero and heroine of this little tale were interesting, as well. If I could describe their romance, I think the best words to use would be "awkward cuteness."
While I wish the story could have been a bit longer, I found- with its humor, wit, and faith- to be an overall sweet read, and a wonderful introduction to the series it precedes. (Plus, I liked that it reminded me some of Jen Turano's books.)
I give "A Lady of Esteem" by Kristi Ann Hunter a rating of four and a half, somewhere between liking it and being great. So, yes, I do plan on reading more, and am so I'm glad I decided to get the next book.
Oh, and in case you did not know, this little e-book is FREE, and and can be downloaded at both Amazon and Barnes and Noble. So treat yourself and give this book a try (hint, hint). I know I'm glad that I did.
You may want to know- there is kissing.
October 27, 2016
WOW. So that completely blew my expectations out of the water.
This book was so. stinkin'. good. It was full of hilarious lines (I laughed out loud at least 4 or 5 times, I kid you not), amazing characters, poignant themes, and an adorable romance to boot. THIS BOOK HONESTLY MADE ME SOOOO HAPPY. <333
The characters all felt so incredibly real and fleshed out. And trust me, that's a remarkable feat, considering it's only a novella. Miranda and her siblings acted like real siblings, what with their glares, snarky comments, and playful banter. OH, AND THEY CRACKED ME UP, JUST SAYIN.'
And let's not forget Anthony and Amelia. They were just the cutest, okay? Their relationship felt natural and not at all rushed. And...and...I JUST LOVE THEMMMMM. THEY BELONG TOGETHER.
This story was the bestest. If you're looking for a clean, hilarious, adorable read (with some powerful themes intermixed), then look no further than this gem.
(Oh, and can we talk about that cover? Because it is beautimous. ^_^)
This book was so. stinkin'. good. It was full of hilarious lines (I laughed out loud at least 4 or 5 times, I kid you not), amazing characters, poignant themes, and an adorable romance to boot. THIS BOOK HONESTLY MADE ME SOOOO HAPPY. <333
The characters all felt so incredibly real and fleshed out. And trust me, that's a remarkable feat, considering it's only a novella. Miranda and her siblings acted like real siblings, what with their glares, snarky comments, and playful banter. OH, AND THEY CRACKED ME UP, JUST SAYIN.'
And let's not forget Anthony and Amelia. They were just the cutest, okay? Their relationship felt natural and not at all rushed. And...and...I JUST LOVE THEMMMMM. THEY BELONG TOGETHER.
This story was the bestest. If you're looking for a clean, hilarious, adorable read (with some powerful themes intermixed), then look no further than this gem.
(Oh, and can we talk about that cover? Because it is beautimous. ^_^)
October 29, 2015
A fun novella. I'm very interested in reading Kristi's next book to see what happens with Miranda. I liked the characters in this book and for being a short read, it was great.
June 19, 2020
Great introduction to the series
This is a delightful introduction into the world of the Hawthorne House. An embarrassing first meet is always a lot of fun and with Amelia feeling more comfortable with the servants and Anthony being a reformed rake, this encounter was highly entertaining.
There is a Christian element to this story, which added to the story, but of course, it was the natural progression of the relationship that really stole my heart. This story was endearing, funny, and sweet and really sets the reader up for the series.
Content: mild romance; mild religion
This is a delightful introduction into the world of the Hawthorne House. An embarrassing first meet is always a lot of fun and with Amelia feeling more comfortable with the servants and Anthony being a reformed rake, this encounter was highly entertaining.
There is a Christian element to this story, which added to the story, but of course, it was the natural progression of the relationship that really stole my heart. This story was endearing, funny, and sweet and really sets the reader up for the series.
Content: mild romance; mild religion
December 6, 2017
4.5 stars.
This was so adorable!
I was instantly drawn into the story by Hunter's unique and quirky characters. I ADORE Amelia! Probably because she's rather like me . . . (#utterlygraceless) Her character arc throughout the story was so sweet to see. Anthony was also quite fantastic.
The humor throughout was spot-on, and had me laughing out loud and choking on my salad. (Don't read funny books while trying to eat lunch . . . it's dangerous.) Story-wise, I really enjoyed it, and didn't want to put it down! The theme of forgiveness and love was so well done, and almost made me tear up. Just perfect!
I docked a half star off because some bits of dialogue and description\situations struck me as historically inaccurate. Also, there were a few things with the attraction between the two MCs that bugged me a bit. For example: "She felt the heat from his arm through her glove." Like . . . REALLY!? He has a shirt and a jacket on, and you have gloves on, and you can feel his body heart through those three layers? Come on . . .
But aside from all of that, it was still a ton of fun, and I'm so glad I read it! Go grab a copy and enjoy!
CONTENT NOTE: The MC has a rather scandalous background; he was well-known for being a playboy. But nothing overmuch is described at all. There's also a few chaste kisses, but other than that, it's perfectly clean! Recommended for ages 15+.
This was so adorable!
I was instantly drawn into the story by Hunter's unique and quirky characters. I ADORE Amelia! Probably because she's rather like me . . . (#utterlygraceless) Her character arc throughout the story was so sweet to see. Anthony was also quite fantastic.
The humor throughout was spot-on, and had me laughing out loud and choking on my salad. (Don't read funny books while trying to eat lunch . . . it's dangerous.) Story-wise, I really enjoyed it, and didn't want to put it down! The theme of forgiveness and love was so well done, and almost made me tear up. Just perfect!
I docked a half star off because some bits of dialogue and description\situations struck me as historically inaccurate. Also, there were a few things with the attraction between the two MCs that bugged me a bit. For example: "She felt the heat from his arm through her glove." Like . . . REALLY!? He has a shirt and a jacket on, and you have gloves on, and you can feel his body heart through those three layers? Come on . . .
But aside from all of that, it was still a ton of fun, and I'm so glad I read it! Go grab a copy and enjoy!
CONTENT NOTE: The MC has a rather scandalous background; he was well-known for being a playboy. But nothing overmuch is described at all. There's also a few chaste kisses, but other than that, it's perfectly clean! Recommended for ages 15+.
December 4, 2015
One thing about novella's is that I usually find them too short! :) This was a typical, 1800s book set in London. A love blossoms between Lord Raebourn and Amelia, a girl unlike the rich girls in those days. Pretty typical :)) Also, another thing about novealla's that I don't like is that the relationship moves really fast. But the characters in this book were so fun and Lord Raebourn and Amelia were so nice that I enjoyed this book a little more than I usually would of this time frame.
July 13, 2015
Sometimes the tone doesn't quite suit the Regency period, but it sparked with zest and verve and there was a general chemistry between the main characters--- one that snapped, crackled and popped: pretty impressive considering the author only had a novella's space to work with!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 528 reviews