With two elder sisters making their ways in the world, Honoria Staunton feels left behind. She decides that leaving Longstone village is the only way forward and boards the first train to London, knowing it means reconciling with her grandfather and marrying whichever suitor he has selected for her.Due to a handshake agreement by his late parents, Philip, Marquess of Hardingstone, is duty-bound … duty-bound to wed his guardian’s daughter. He journeys to London with a heavy heart, struggling to prepare for this inevitable betrothal, while the effervescent beauty seated across from him represents everything he’s ever wanted in a partner—and the future he is unwilling to compromise on.
The two travelers hatch a mad scheme to marry each other, but find their engagement is anything but convenient. When family and responsibilities stand in the way of love, will Philip and Honoria have the strength to go through with their plan?
Romance Heat Level: Warm (3.5 out of 5)
more
At some point in life, one had to take a stand and chose the best path available. Unfortunately for Honoria, since her two older sisters had married and the one man she thought would be her husband rejected her, the path to take was to have her grandfather choose a husband for her and she was determined to find her destiny.
But as fate sometimes steps in, Honoria ends up seated across from Philip, Lord Hardingstone, who was going to London to do his duty and marry Lady Florina Chapman, whom his parents had betrothed him to when they were young. Although he like Florrie, she was not the one for him.
As the two strike up conversation, which is wonderful in itself, they seem to be in the same position of marrying someone they truly do not love. At least, Honoria does not know who that person will be yet, but as she talks to Philip, she realizes she does want a choice!
They concoct a scheme to present themselves as betrothed to each other and the journey begins! A delightful story that had me smiling and in love with the hero and heroine, anxious for them to find their happy ending!
I have thoroughly enjoyed every book that I have read by Allyson Jeleyne! This one was like a breath of fresh air flowing through the Victorian romance genre!! I liked both Honoria and Phillip and felt for them both, looking at a bleak future with having arranged marriages in their immediate futures. Their solution was not original but the author does a wonderful job making it appear that way. An excellent book, all around!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Allyson Jeleyne writes a really wonderful tale of two strangers meeting on train headed towards their destinies, when fate intervenes.
I enjoyed the story immensely. The characters were so likeable and charming, Honoria in her innocence and strength and Philip, Marquess of Hardingstone in his honorable and sweet characteristic. They hatch a scheme to save one another from arranged marriages by becoming betrothed.
The story was entertaining and humorous at times but of course the path to true love is never easy and they have to deal with their family obligations.
Thank you so much Allyson for such a lovely, sweet romance.
Loved These Characters
I have read both previous books about the Staunton sisters, and I’ve enjoyed getting to know this family. The author has created three very different romances, which I appreciate. Honoria, the heroine, is immediately sympathetic. She feels like she has lived in the shadow of her more clever and more beautiful sisters, and she has been spurned by the young man in the village she has had an attraction to for a long time. She decides to go to London and allow her estranged grandfather to arrange a marriage for her; she’s given up on love but wants to fully experience life with a husband and family. The author does a good job showing throughout the book how alone and separate the heroine feels and how she just wants someone to care about her and see her as more than her previous role. She wants to be seen and understood. Despite these vulnerabilities, she comes across as very strong and decisive, especially for a Victorian-era woman.
Her life changes on a dime on the train to London. A young man happens to be in her train car, and soon they strike up a conversation. It turns out he’s heading to London to finalize his arranged marriage, but he is not happy about it. They decide to save each other from arranged marriages by becoming betrothed, though he gives her an out if she meets someone she truly loves.
I absolutely adored the hero, Philip. He is simply a total sweetheart who is often taken advantage of by others because he is just so kind-hearted, compassionate, and decent. The heroine charms him in so many ways with her strength, bravery, candor, and humor. They also get along easily right away, amusing each other and having a generally good time. They’re actually a super sweet couple together, and I enjoyed reading every scene that had the two of them in it. I actually found myself not wanting to come to that dark moment that needs to happen in a romance because I just adored him so much and them as a couple. This is a fantastic Victorian romantic read. You don’t really need to have read the other two books in the series to fully appreciate it. It stands well on its own. But you might be curious about the other two sisters’ stories after you read Honoria’s.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
Allyson Jeleyne author of An Inconvenient Engagement, #3 has written is a charming tale of love with pleasant surprises and a happy ending.
#readersblog, #historicalromance, #mustreadseries
My full review is on my blog:
https://quirkybookreads.wordpress.com
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This book is about the third Staunton sister, Honoria. Her sisters have all found husbands and now it is her turn. Unable to find one on her own, she is resigned to go to London and let her grandfather find a suitor for her. On the trainride there, she meets Philip, and they have an instant connection to each other – only he has a commitment to someone else. As they chat, Philip suggests they become engaged so that they do not have to go through with their prior commitments. Both being honorable people, that will be harder for them than they thought. This story has a great plot and many surprises along the way to keep you guessing. This was a fun and enjoyable read and I have loved reading about the Staunton sisters and how they achieve their HEAs. I am looking forward to more of Ms. Jeleyne’s books to come!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The third book in the Staunton Sisters series a well written story with a very good storyline, the story flows smoothly from page to page. This is Honoria Staunton and Philip, Marquess of Hardingstone’s story of them meeting on a train to London. Both of them have been told to marry someone else and as they come to know each other they decide to become engaged. I enjoyed seeing this story come together. I recommend this series. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
ONE REFRESHING SPIN
Leaping lizards! Allyson delivers one spun debacle, weaving treads of hope for a brighter future and inspiration to see it through with this delightful treat, praying for acceptance and sanctuary, standing strong through so much adversity, wrapping this baby up sleek, shiny and tight. Throw in drama, tension, turmoil, misgivings, intriguing suspense and intense situations, you have one incredible adventure. Surprising circumstances and vexing mishaps, swirl with the taxing trials and heartfelt tribulations, spinning alongside the startling twists and stunning turns, putting our characters through their paces, testing them in ways they could have never imagined. Twixt, twined and combined, showcasing the soaring ups and agonizing downs, breathtaking in it’s simplicity and inspiring in it’s depth, drawing our characters closer than they could have ever anticipated. Satisfaction rocks this jewel, bringing it home with such intensity and precision, riding roughshod and imparting one block busting dynamo, propelling this baby to life beautifully. The attraction and chemistry spirals as each layer is peeled back exposing an intense emotions, binding them to one another perfectly. The characters, interactions and charged atmosphere along with qualities and traits that add depth and diversity, blending into genuine charismatic personalities. The scenes are abundantly descriptive with colorful details that blend and flow, creating a majestic backdrop that’s so rich and lively it feels like you can just reach out and touch it. Remarkable job Allyson, thanks for sharing this little jewel with us.
Honoria Staunton’s sisters have all found a husband. She advertised herself as a companion or governess, then advertised for a husband. But nothing came of it. So now Honoria feels she needs to go to London and let her Grandfather Dawsen find a suitor for her. At this point, she didn’t care if he turned out to be old or young or even had a half dozen children! She was off to find her destiny!
On the train, she meets Philip, Marquess of Hardingstone, who is everything she could want in a husband. But he has a commitment, a promise made when they were children, to marry his guardian’s daughter, Lady Florina Chapman (“Florrie”), even though she is more like a sister to him. Lord Edlingham, Florrie’s father, had raised him and put him through school on the condition that, when the girl came of age, they would become engaged. That would be in two days.
Philip and Honoria began to chat with each other. He thought she was name-dropping to impress him and did not really know the people she mentioned. So he teased her. He was shocked that she was going to London to have her grandfather arrange a marriage. He told her of his own arranged marriage and that it was not a pleasant thing. He encouraged her to let her grandfather introduce her to people, but she should have a choice to love someone who could appreciate her. She is convinced he is right, but feels her grandfather will insist she become engaged. So Philip suggested they become betrothed, then neither of them can be forced to marry someone they don’t want to marry. His reputation might be stained, but he was willing to do it. And they could call it off later if they changed their minds. But he promised he would be good to her, a fair and respectable partner, and would never hurt her. He has means enough to support her for the rest of her days. Then he teased her that, as the wife of a marquess, there will be no need to drop names as she did earlier in order to impress strangers since their calling cards would be ample proof of who they are!
But with both of them being honorable, and when family and responsibilities weigh heavily on them, will Philip and Honoria have the strength to go through with their plan to marry each other? Or will they decide to honor their original commitments?
A meeting on a train.
Did you know that meeting on a train could change your life? Well, that is what happens to Honoria and Philip in this delightful tale by Allyson Jeleyne. I was hooked from page one the characters were such fun. Honoria thinks the only person to want her is her Grandfather Dawsen. Her feeling is based on the fact her first love did not share the same feeling. So off she goes to London in the hope he would help her find a husband. Philip was also on his way to London forced to return because of an impending engagement. I found this piece such a pleasure to read it was enjoyable if you pick this one up I am sure you will love it too. I did receive a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.
The last of the Staunton sisters finds her husband. This was a beautiful ending to this series. Honoria decides to go to London and have her Grandfather help her find a husband, but on the trip there she finds one herself. And she finds a Marquess who is kind, generous, and easy going. But it was always expected that he would marry a woman he grew up with and considers a sister, not a wife. So Honoria’s and Phillip’s betrothal will create a lot of hurt feelings and anger. But Honoria’s family is all together again, and it is up to her to do the same for Phillip. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review
I was a little challenged about how to rate this book. On the one hand I thought it was a nice romantic read. There was a strong heroine and a dashing hero and they had a lovely romance. On the other hand, it just didn’t seem to fit as a Regency romance based on the lack of conventional norms displayed by the heroine. I just don’t believe that her independent actions would have been tolerated, accepted or forgiven by the Ton. There were also a lot of repetitive observations that better editing could have caught. There is a HEA.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel from the first page until the very last. It has been a very rare occurrence that I could just pick up a book and read it in one day; but, I was captivated by these characters and their amazing love story instantaneously.
I really enjoyed this book. It was entertaining and full of surprises. I love how strong and sure of herself the heroin is, Honoria fit the lady character well. Sweet adorable Phillip who stifled and felt useless by his guardian broke free to be with Honoria and found purpose and love. Great story.