An Evening at Almack’s (Timeless Regency Collection, #12)

Sweet, clean regency romance collection…

This collection has some of my favorite regency writers so I was excited to read it.

The Heart’s Choice by Sally Britton
I liked both Mattie and Oliver. (Beatrice I was not so fond of as she seemed to think the whole world revolved around her but even she was able to push others toward happiness in the end). Mattie and Oliver were both caring people. I liked how they both treated her father who suffered from dementia. The outcome of the novella was predictable but it was an enjoyable read. Kind of a second chance romance since they first knew one another in their youth.

My Unfair Lady by Elizabeth Johns
First off, that is a clever title. I enjoyed the interaction between Lord Deverell and Rua. I was amused with the war of wits between them and that they were both aware of what was going on rather than the joke being on just one of them. And of course their war of wits could only lead to love.

Six Wishes by Sarah M. Eden
This novella was the sad one. I felt such heart ache through out as the family prepared themselves to lose their beloved daughter/sister. This one was also a second chance romance since the sisters find themselves befriended once again by the neighbor of their youth whom they hadn’t seen since the death of his parents 5 years earlier. The care for the ailing Angelina touched my heart as did their desire to grant her six wishes in experiencing a London Season. And I loved how having learned that time is often short Angelina pushed Felicity to forget the usual timidity in expressing feelings and grasp for happiness while she could. The happily ever after is there in the story but it is underlined with the grief of losing loved ones through out.

No sex, language or violence

Book 1, The Heart’s Choice – Oliver Bolton has finally stabilized his property enough for him to travel to London to seek a bride during the Season when he encounters the Rayment sisters whom he knew in his youth. He’s always had a crush on the younger sister, but the elder sister, Mattie, seems determined to keep him away from her. Mattie has given up on finding a match for herself, but she’s determined to secure a match for her sister, but just not to Oliver. Their personalities would never work out. Yet, if it means putting herself in his path, then that’s what she’ll do. What follows is a sweet, second chance tale where the main characters slowly realize their feelings for each other.
My rating – 5 stars

Book 2, My Unfair Lady – Lord Deverell must fulfill a bet made to his friends and that means helping introduce a young, country lady to society. What he doesn’t expect is for her to catch him in his game! Rua Postlethwaite may have grown up in the country, but having grown up with brothers, she understands the games men play and she’s the target of one. What follows is a hilarious battle of wits that develops into true emotions.
My rating – 5 stars

Book 3, Six Wishes – Felicity Bandbury is determined to fulfill her terminally ill sister’s final wishes to have a Season in London, even if modified. While there, she sees their childhood friend, William Carlisle. When William realizes the purpose of the sisters being in London, he determines to help as much as possible. What he doesn’t expect is to find healing from his own grief from losing his parents. This is a bittersweet story. Wrapped around the romance is the knowledge that the one sister is dying.
My rating – 4 stars.

Romance – PG / Kisses
Language – PG / clean
Trigger Warning – death / grief
My rating – 5 stars

Overview: Three stories just meant for those “Calgon, take me away!” times, when you want to escape into a different time and place. Each book is by a different author. Book 2 is humerous, and if you want to finish on a high note, you might leave it for last. Book 3 is a real tear-jerker, so grab your hankies before sitting down with it .
For those wanting a bit of information about each book, I have made the following comments:

Book 1- (Sally Britton)
Poignant story of 26 year old Matilda and her younger sister Beatrice as they navigate the tricky waters of London society. Matilda has settled into caring for estate matters as her father’s health (mental faculties) has declined, while Beatrice flits from one suitor to the next, without regard for the consequences to the young men. When Oliver, a young man, raised by their estate manager, returns hoping to pursue Beatrice, Matilda finds herself trying to protect Oliver from heartbreak and finds herself in quite pickle—she somehow has fallen in love with him! Will Oliver see beyond Beatrice’s beauty? Will Matilda successfully hide her own feelings, putting them aside for her sister?
A short story that I did not want to end and will not be quickly forgotten.

Book 2 (Elizabeth John’s)
A delightful bite of a book! Rua lost her parents then one of her brothers to the Napoleonic Wars. Before dying, her brother obtained a promise from a fellow soldier to see that his sister comes to London for a season. Rua lands into a household with another young woman just coming out and where one of the sons and his group wager on various aspects concerning Rua: obtaining a voucher to Almack’s, and gaining permission for Rua to waltz. And who better to set up than the calm, collected practically confirmed bachelor of the group, Deverell. And off we start on a humerous adventure with our little country bumpkin, Rua, who has a game she is playing as well!

Book # 3 (Sarah M. Eden).
Touching story of how grief drove a man from the home and friends he had loved in his youth. Then, with death facing one friend, he was able to face the past, in order to claim his future.
used his strength to come to their aid, to make the last days of a friend memorable. The lesson he learned: do not hold back from expressing love, as life is fleeting.

I was given a copy of this book. I am voluntarily reviewing it.