An all-new anthology featuring novellas from acclaimed Regency historical authors Janna MacGregor, Shana Galen, and Minerva Spencer. Bond Street is famous for its elite clubs, fashionable shops and successful businesses. Now meet the bachelors who’ve made Bond Street their domain. Are these gentlemen as lucky in love as they are in business?
Love by the Letters, by Janna MacGregor: A comedy of errors, Portia helps her sister write a love letter and then she delivers it to Bea’s beau, at least that’s what she tried to do, but the wrong man gets it. What she goes through to try to get the letter back gets her into some sticky situations, but after everything, she’s found the man of her dreams. I thought some of the situations that Portia got herself into were a bit silly and unlikely, but it all worked out, with a fun twist at the end.
How to Brew a Perfect Kiss by Shana Galen: Thomas Gaines is a successful businessman, and his success is all the more sweet because he escaped from a life of slavery in America to England, where slavery is illegal. When Raeni Sawyer is hired at his new coffee and tobacco shop in London, he’s taken with her, even as he wonders how she came to be in London with nothing. He finally learns that she is the mulatto daughter of a plantation owner who has escaped to freedom in London from Jamaica. She was robbed of her money and belongings as soon as she came to London, and is need of some help. Of course there is some conflict and a bit of danger, but I was happy to see this unique couple figure out how to make it all work, since they were made for each other. This was definitely my favorite of the three stories, I loved it.
A Second Chance for Love by Minerva Spencer: Justin Taylor and Oona Parker have both had their share of troubles, but Justin has managed to rise above his past and become a wealthy man. When he sees Oona again, he decides to get revenge for what he thinks she did to him long ago. Poor Oona has fallen on hard times and is just scraping by, trying to raise her daughter alone and taking what work she can find. When Justin proposes that she pose as his mistress for a week and offers a great deal of money, she can’t turn it down. It doesn’t hurt that she’s always been attracted to him, and it seems that the attraction was mutual. If Justin can get over the past, they just might have a future.
I received an advanced reader copy of this book in return for my honest review.
How To Brew A Perfect Kiss- Former slave Thomas Gaines has made a new life for himself and become a successful businessman in England. Now he’s opening his first London shop and everything is going swimmingly until the new serving girl turns his world upside down.
Raeni Sawyer has grown up in between. Living on her father’s plantation in Jamaica she wasn’t a slave, nor was she free. But when her father reveals plans to sell her to his friend, she escapes to England. She knows her father will send men after her but she hopes to establish a new life, especially when she meets a kind, handsome man, her new employer, Mr. Gaines. But with men hunting her, she refuses to put Thomas in danger; despite their feelings for each other, she knows she must leave.
This was a quick, cute read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I’ll be back to review the others when I’ve caught up some more on my ARCs.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Shana Galen has done it again with this historical novella depicting a romance between two people of color and the terrible injustice they faced growing up and even during their adulthood. Bravo!
Well done ladies! It’s no surprise that the three of you have created some amazing stories.
A very nice change to have heros that find no need of a title to be successful, only luck and a lot of hard work. Their ladies are definitely up to the task of keeping up with them. I would be the last person to ever say that the three of you not do this again. I see more bachelors on Bond Street in the future.
Congratulations!!!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.
Love by the Letters by Janna MacGregor
Portia Bellingham had had three disastrous Seasons, she had given up on finding a match, but she doesn’t want her sister Beatrix to suffer the same fate. They’re very wealthy but merchants are not good enough for the ton. As a birthday present, Portia will help Bea get her man. So Portia dictates a somewhat scandalous letter, which Bea writes but embellishes a tad. The plan is a very simple one: deliver the letter to Bea’s love, Mr. Hugh Merritt, and hope her sister’s wish comes true. Portia is to slip the letter into the handsome man’s cost pocket, the one with the blue coat. But which one? Uh-oh. Portia puts the love note in Gabriel St. Aulyn’s cost pocket instead. Now, to retrieve it…
Love by the Letters is a quick, light read, with some twists. It’s a fun if somewhat predictable story, but it felt rushed. I think this is Janna MacGregor’s first novella, and it is a tricky format to master. It is well written, but I feel it would have been better to flesh out the romance rather than have Gabriel’s extensively detailed backstory because the love seemed to come out of nowhere. If felt a little unbalanced, but I loved the characters.
I give 3 stars.
How to Brew a Perfect Kiss The Survivors: a Novella by Shana Galen
When Raeni Sawyer’s father, an English plantation owner in Jamaica, sold her, she ran away to England. She was almost at the end of her rope when she found employment as a greeter and server at Bond Street Coffee & Tobacco, Thomas Gaines’ brand new establishment. Even though her mother is a slave, this is not a type of work Raeni is accustomed to, and Thomas seizes the opportunity right away. Raeni can do his books while he tries to get to know the beautiful and mysterious woman better.
At last, Thomas Gaines’ story! Even though I was impatiently waiting for this story, Shana Galen captured my attention right from the start with her realistic and vivid depiction of Bond Street, its atmosphere and activities. This novella is very romantic but also very informative as we learn of various aspects of slavery and the black population who thrived in nineteenth century London. Once again, Shana Galen has written a compelling romance steeped in history and with secondary characters so intriguing that fans might beg for additional novellas. I’m thinking perhaps Madame Renauld, Alice, and two brothers…
I give 5 stars.
A Second Chance for Love by Minerva Spencer
Once upon a time, Justin Taylor and Oona Parker had the same employer. Justin, a randy groom at the time, was let go and he suspects Oona was responsible for losing his position. But the bad boy did good, and then he sees Oona by happenstance after ten years. She has not been so lucky; she needs money? He can give her some if she accepts to pose as his mistress for a week.
I have read Minerva Spencer’s previous three books, and because she writes those sweeping sagas, I wondered how she would fare with this shorter format. I am surprised and delighted to say that this is my favourite book of hers! It’s really a condensed novel, with fully fleshed out characters, a meaty story, great dialogues, a wonderful romance, and superb secondary characters; I loved Mrs. Cantrell and I hope we get to see more of her in the future.
I give 5 stars.
Overall rating: 4.3 stars, rounded up to 4.5 because of the excellence of the two latter novellas.
Bachelors of Bond Street
by Janna MacGregor, Shana Galen, Minerva Spencer
Release date 10/11/2019
Publisher Kydala Publishing
An all-new anthology featuring novellas from acclaimed Regency historical authors Janna MacGregor, Shana Galen, and Minerva Spencer. Bond Street is famous for its elite clubs, fashionable shops and successful businesses. Now meet the bachelors who’ve made Bond Street their domain. Are these gentlemen as lucky in love as they are in business?
My review
I know writing novellas is not an easy exercises, to pour an entire story and bring to life characters in a limited among of page is a difficult task.
But these three authors demonstrated how it can be done perfectly with talent, with one themed location, Mrs MacGregor, Galen and Spencer sampled three couples all very different, each with a different goal.
LOVE BY THE LETTERS
Janna MacGregor
https://www.facebook.com/JannaMacGregor/
When a misaddressed letter brings together two persons whom might never have meet …
It was such a lovely read of a whirlwind romance between two bookish persons whom recognize in the other their other half.
From the very first sight, Portia and Gabriel have a sizzling attraction. So much, from their first meeting, they know deep inside the other is the one but when family got in the way what are they up to do.
Portia is the obedient daughter, she endured, as there is no other term, three failed seasons and still no prospect in view and many, many ridicule. So to prevent the same heartache to her younger sister, she is ready to help attain her own dreams.
Instead, she meets the one man that filled all the empty place in her heart.
Gabriel is no rake, still, he can’t stop thinking about the mysterious young miss who barged in his shop with the strangest demands and acts so unexpectedly. In less time needed to read a book, he knows he has found the one woman fated for him.
Hopefully if it is not too late.
OMG the last minute twist, I was so angry at Portia’s father I did see it coming. While in some way, there were clues spread all along the story.
It was such a lively consuming tale of a love which has found its recipient.
HOW TO BREW A PREFECT KISS
Shana Galen
https://www.facebook.com/ShanaGalen/
When a young woman on the run finds shelter with the one man she could love, do they have a future together…
First I must thanks Kristy Birch, as she might have a bit insisted for the author to give Thomas his own story.
It is not often I read about the colored people inhabiting London in the past.
Mrs Shana Galen offered Thomas and Raeni a lovely tale with a new beginning.
Thomas, in spite of his upbringing, was able to reshape himself in a successful business owner.
It even made him a person more able to see and understand to others in need. Why he immediately take Raeni under his wing, this and the instant chemistry he has felt when he has first seen her.
When his past could have made him bitter and wary of white men, he is a man who see people for who they are, regardless of people’s colors. He acknowledges only each one usefulness.
Raeni, contrary to Thomas, had never known what was her place in her home. Why she escaped when one too many decision was made for her.
She is courageous and generous as it might not have been easy to run to the unknown in a foreign country, yet even when left with nothing, she still try to help others as poorer as herself.
I just loved to see this foray in London’s life from the colored people side, as I have never read about it. I was not aware there were so many colored persons this early in time, and life might not have been easy for them, even if success smiled at them.
A SECOND CHANCE FOR LOVE
Minerva Spencer
https://www.facebook.com/MinervaSpencerAuthor/
When facing the woman he labeled as his old nemesis, can he let the past go …
What a tale, it had me go through aplenty of emotions, angst, sadness, cheer and pain.
Mrs Minerva Spencer has delivered a moving story of two people whom paid dearly for their past mistakes.
At first I very disliked Justin, he was so conceited at first, flaunting his wealth at her face when she nearly at his knees.
I hoped to see him grovel.
Thé, during their road-trip, their shared time together opened his eyes to his errors.
From there, he redeemed his actions for me until his inability to express plainly what he has in sight, misleading Oona on his intentions.
I do admired Oona, she has not an easy life as society is harsh with fallen woman, still she does her best and work hard, even harder than the others.
Justin’s unexpected offer is misguided, she is certain of that but it might secure herself means to live a quiet life for year.
She is a far better woman than me as she forgave Justin’s ill-actions without a fuss. Not even requiring apologies.
This was one hot read, at time I needed to fan myself.
Justin and Oona are like oil and water, he takes and gives only if he is amiable to it when she gives a lot and ask for few. He is rough and does not make amends for it, but it is what made him successful. She is fair and kind, but can have a firm hand if necessary, why she won’t make twice the same mistakes.
Their heartwarming sensual story will have you glued to the pages until the very last drop of ink.
5 stars
I was granted an advance copy by an author but purchased my own.
Here is my true and unbiased opinion
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