HIS CHRISTMAS MATCH Noah Johansen, Marquess Felding, is determined to find a wife. Each of his friends had married well, and for love, yet Noah has not found a match for himself. Despite how much he has looked amongst the ton, Noah has come to the conclusion that he will not be as lucky as his friends.Rosalind Valentine has been in love with Marquess Felding since she was in the schoolroom. … was in the schoolroom. She also knows that he will never be hers given her humble background and family secrets. As much as it pains her to watch him court another, Rosalind knows it is for the best and is determined to be content in her position as a nursery maid and companion.
Noah realizes that the lady he set to court is not the lady he wishes to be tied to for life and also begins to see Miss Rosalind Valentine in an entirely different light. Had he been looking in the wrong place for love? Had she been as close as next door? Will circumstances beyond his control keep him from making a Christmas Match?
HER MUSE, HIS GRACE
Fresh from the Caribbean, Mark Easton, the new Duke of Roxburg, returns to London to secure a bride. It’s expected of his new station, after all. Unfortunately, he knows just what will meet him once his presence in Town is known. Sycophantic and cloying debutantes at every turn and matchmaking mamas behind every potted palm. If only there was a way to know the true nature of each girl beforehand. Then brilliance strikes! Masquerading as a lowly dancing master before the season begins should give him a very clear picture of London’s eligible ladies.
Bianca Valentine has never been under the illusion that any decent man would look past her family’s secrets. So a life of independence is her best shot for a happy future. If she can provide for herself, she won’t have to be a burden on her aunt and uncle any longer. After an advertisement for an accompanist at a dancing school catches her eye, Bianca finds herself enjoying more freedom than she’s known, but it’s the new dancing master that takes her breath away and inspires the most beautiful music she’s ever written.
Her music first enchanted him, but her smile and kindness captured his heart. A masquerading duke and an accompanist is scandalous enough, but will Bianca’s secrets be too much to overcome?
WEATHERING CAPTAIN STORM
Captain Nathaniel Storm fell in love with Miss Isabella Valentine during the time of war. She followed the drum, he knew his duty. If not for the fear of making her a widow, Nate would have claimed her as his long ago.
Isabella knew Nate could never been hers, but that didn’t stop her from dreaming of what could have been if her life was as she claimed. She thought never to see him again after he was reassigned to a different regiment, which was for the best. Until he returned…
His kisses spark lightening.
Her smile is as bright as the sun.
His eyes as green as new grass.
Hers as grey as a stormy sea.
His presence and touch, are tumultuous to her soul, tossing and turning her about, wondering when it would end. Will she weather her love for Captain Storm, or will it destroy her in the end?
On the eve of Waterloo, she is nearly within his grasp, but will Isabella’s secrets make her as elusive as a rainbow after a summer rain.
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I read two of these stories when they were originally released. The Valentines are a large, rambunctious family with a colorful past. There’s always something unique about each sibling’s story. Since they are not exactly from the upper-crust of society, we get to see a more down-to-earth part of Regency life with each sibling pursuing their own interests and occupations. I’d recommend this collection for anyone who likes witty, emotional, fun Regency romances.
HER MUSE, HIS GRACE
I really enjoyed this installment in the Regency world Jane Charles has created. Many familiar characters from previous novels make an appearance.
Mark Easton has recently become the Duke of Roxburg, but he’d rather have stayed on his Barbados sugar plantation than come back to London to find a bride. He’s going to do his duty; he just hates the idea of going through the rigamarole of the Season. If he can somehow slip in undetected and observe the eligible young ladies, maybe he can discover the true nature of the ladies and find the one right for him.
After her sister marries well, Bianca Valentine is given the opportunity to enjoy the Season. That is the furthest thing from her mind. She is convinced her family’s secret means she can never marry. She just wants to pursue her music and gain a position to support herself. Playing as an accompanist at a dancing school is the perfect solution. The handsome young dancing master who has come to the school makes the job even more enjoyable.
The passion that Bianca put into her music and that Mark felt when he heard it and got to know Bianca was one of the best parts of the story. They really did make beautiful music together!
WEATHERING CAPTAIN STORM
I am fascinated by stories about soldiers during the Napoleonic Wars and how they coped with life after the war. This story does not disappoint, and we get the added benefit of seeing how women who followed the drum as nurses, officer’s wives, and camp followers fared during the war.
Isabella Valentine followed her brother, a doctor, to the war to act as a nurse. Often, she could do nothing more than read to the men, hold their hands, or write letters for them. Other times, she was called upon to help with medical procedures, and she fully experienced the horrors of war. Because of her scandalous family history, she thought she would never be able to have a husband and family of her own, so Isabella felt nursing was her way of contributing to make the world better. When one special patient, Capt. Nathaniel Storm, started to capture her heart, she knew she had to discourage him. Little did she know that Capt. Storm would not be so easily dissuaded.
After two years of trying to forget Isabella, Nathaniel is back in London and determined to get some answers. Did she really never love him? What is the secret she is trying to hide? And why is the Duke of Danby sticking his match-making nose into his business?
This novella features familiar characters from other Jane Charles stories including the many Valentine and Storm siblings and, of course, the Duke of Danby. I liked the more serious nature of this story and the veterans’ issues brought to light that are still so important to us today.
His Christmas Match
Finally Noah gets his story. A lovely story that has Noah awakening to realise there is more to Rosalind than just a childhood friend. The story had intrigue, suspense, betrayal, blackmail, and, of course, romance. We also get to know Noah’s younger sisters, I hope they get their stories too.
Noah & Rosalind’s romance seems to run into difficulties at every turn.
I enjoyed meeting the Valentines too, although we had met Benedick in the Trent novels
Her Muse, His Grace
Mark Easton has recently inherited the title of Duke of Roxburg. He has spent the last few years in the Caribbean but has returned to England. He’s worried there will be a frenzy of debutantes chasing him once the season starts. He decides to answer an advertisement to become a dancing master at Lady Acker’s Dancing School, under the name of Mr East. Lady Felding has brought her younger sisters to London for the season, however they feel uncomfortable & all three of them find ways to keep themselves occupied. Bianca Valentine applies & is successful at becoming a pianist at Lady Acker’s Dancing School.
I found this book riveting & loved that we caught up on characters from other series by the author. A gentle love story, that had me burning the midnight oil as I found it hard to put down. Mark & Bianca were very likeable, more of the Valentines’ early life was revealed.
Weathering Captain Storm
Nathaniel (Nate) Storm elder twin to Samuel, met Isabella Valentine when he was injured in the Peninsular Wars & then again a year or so later when he had a fever prior to Waterloo. Isabella worked as a nurse alongside her doctor brother, Orlando. They fell in love with each other when they first met & this hasn’t changed with time but Isabella rejected Nate because of the family secret. Two years have now passed & both are in London.
The Spirited Storms meet the Vexing Valentines & the novella is everything I hoped it would be. I again burned the midnight oil as didn’t want to put it down. I loved both Nate & Isabella, it was lovely to catch up on characters from previous books & of course the Duke of Danby had to help.
I’d read all of these stories individually & it’s great that they’ve been put together. I love the author’s books & these three stories don’t disappoint in any way. I just hope there’s more to come
I thoroughly enjoyed the Valentine’s stories! The Valentine family has a terrible secret that if exposed could ruin everyone they love. Little do they know that love will protect that secret!
First we have Rosalind and Noah. The way they navigate their way to each other against odds and jealous females was interesting to watch. I really liked how Noah’s family and friends were right on top of the situation to help him!
Next we have Mark and Bianca. I loved Mark’s “cover”! We do see a repeat visit from one we love to hate from Rosalind’s story. I liked the way Bianca’s brother was also involved in the story with his advice and warnings.
Last we have Nate and Isabella. You figure after watching 2 of her sisters fall in love with men of the ton she might have a little faith in others, but she’s still gun shy thinking those were rare love matches willing to overlook their past. I LOVED the ending to this one, I just wish we could have seen more of Nate’s brother, Sam’s love story and how his wife changed!
I was given an advanced copy from the author to read and loved it!