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?
Most readers , for whatever their reasons , may not like anthologies , but this book is certainly one they should read.
Some of my favorite authors collaborated to give us some truly wonderful stories and not with the typical dukes, earls , etc looking for their HEA.
Very nicely done !
Janna MacGregor Shana Galen Minerva Spencer
**This ARC book was gifted to me and this is my review freely given **
I enjoyed this anthology more than I thought I would. I normally find novellas leave me feeling rushed or let down because of their brevity. These were well-written stories featuring merchants (rather than aristocracy) and featured two authors I hadn’t read before (MacGregor & Spencer). Well done!
Galen’s is a sweet love story between a former slave who now owns a coffee & tobacco shop on Bond Street and a Jamaican runaway whose white father wants to sell her to another. 4/5
MacGregor’s features a love letter that lands in the wrong (right) hands. Funny and endearing and involves a bookstore on Bond Street. 4/5
Spencer’s is a second chance story with a ten-year interval between a down-on-her-luck heroine and a self-made, rough and tumble owner of a tavern. A bit spicier than the other two, and my favorite overall. 4.25/5
Great new anthology from some of my favorite authors! Can’t beat that! I really enjoyed reading about the different businesses on Bond St. as well as the men and women living their lives there. It was interesting to see things from a different point of view than I usually read about.
This was a good read. I liked that these author’s stories were centered in the same area of London for continuity. I liked the characters and plots. Will probably add these authors to my reading list.
Bachelors Of Bond Street is an anthology featuring three novellas by Regency historical authors, Shana Galen, Janna MacGregor, and Minerva Spencer. Their stories are situated on Bond Street famous for its elite clubs, fashionable shops and successful businesses where our three bachelors have made Bond Street their domain.
First story, LOVE BY THE LETTERS, by Janna MacGregor, focuses on Miss Portia Bellingham, an older but bookish sister who delivers a love letter on her sister’s behalf, but oops! The letter is slipped to the wrong coat belonging to a dashing and handsome bookseller, Mr. Gabriel St. Aulyn. He is wary of love yet finds himself enchanted by his lovely new customer who always seems to be looking for something—in the oddest places. When he finds Portia’s love letter, he realizes she’s the one for him. However, when the mistake is revealed, can either one trust fate or open their hearts to each other? Love By Letters is a delightful story with funny moments involving Portia in her search for that letter and getting caught in compromising situations.
HOW TO BREW A PREFECT KISS is Shana Galen’s story about Raeni Sawyer, a penniless runaway slave has escaped to London. She finds a job at a coffee shop on Bond Street and hopes it is the beginning of a new life. Thomas Gaines, an ex-slave, has created a new life as the owner of Bond Street Coffee & Tobacco. He meets Raeni when she spills coffee all over him. He is intrigued, and despite of her clumsiness, he sees her potential to be more. They are attracted to each other, but danger from Raeni’s past threatens to ruin their future. HOW TO BREW A PERFECT KISS is another endearing story with Shana Galen showing a different perspective of two runaway slaves seeking freedom and a future.
A SECOND CHANCE FOR LOVE is Minerva Spencer’s story of a second chance in finding love between an ex-governess and an ex-groom who once worked for the same viscount. Justin Taylor is rich beyond his wildest dreams and has everything he’s ever wanted, but he hasn’t forgotten the humiliation inflicted on him by his ex-employer, nor the woman responsible for his misery. He sees Oona Parker working at a modiste shop, but when she loses her job, he offers to pay her if she agrees to pretend to be his mistress for a week. Desperate for money, she agrees. As the story progresses, Justin begins to have second thought. Is fate giving him an opportunity for vengeance or a second chance at love? The answer lies in what really happened ten years ago toward the end of the story.
There should be an epilogue of three couples becoming friends and meeting occasionally at the coffee house since the Bachelors of Bond Street are acquainted with each other. Shana Galen, Janna MacGregor, and Minerva Spencer have done an outstanding job in creating three captivating romances on the famous Bond Street of London.
sweet stories about the men who are merchants on Bond Street and how they meet their wives
5 Stars!!! This was such a great book!! All 3 novellas were worth reading!! I definitely recommend reading these novellas! ‘Love By the Letters’ by Janna MacGregor was the first book & that was really cute! The second novella was ‘How To Brew a Perfect Kiss’ by Shana Galen & that was a unique story. The last novella was ‘A Second Chance for Love’ by Minerva Spencer. I loved all these novellas but I think the last was my favorite!! Definitely check this anthology out! So worth reading!!
*I received this book at no charge from the publisher and I voluntarily left a review.*
Love by the letters
Janna macgregor
A sweet story with a surprise at the end. Portia Bellingham helps her younger sister Bea write a love letter to a gentleman she has a crush on. When Portia tries to sneak it into said gentleman’s pocket she accidentally puts it into book store owner Gabriel St Aulyn’s pocket instead. The two get to know each other while Portia tries to get the letter back. This was a sweet story with some funny moments.
How to brew a perfect kiss
Shana Galen
Thomas is an escaped slave and now a business owner living in England and Raeni is the daughter of a white plantation owner and his mistress. Raeni escaped Jamaica when her father sold her to a friend of his to be his mistress. Raeni is sleeping in a church and has no money for food when she is given a job at Thomas new coffee and tobacco shop. Thomas is instantly smitten and makes Raeni his clerk but Raeni is in danger from the slavers her father has sent to bring her back to Jamaica. What follows is a sweet story of two people falling in love. It’s well written with likable MC’s and a touch of danger.
A second chance for love
Minerva spencer
This was my favorite one. It’s a second chance at love story about an ex-governess and an ex-groom who worked for the same viscount. While Juss, the groom, went on to do well for himself, Oona, the governess, had gone down in the world. Juss feels that Oona was responsible for Juss loosing his job and when he meets her 10 years later he decides to humiliate her by bringing her back to the viscounts home for a house party as his mistress. Oona is very poor and has just lost her job and has a nine year old daughter to support so when Juss offers her a lot of money to pretend to be his mistress she says yes. On the way to the house party it begins to snow and they take shelter with an elderly couple. While there they work out what really happened a decade ago and fall in love. I usually hate second chance romances but I really liked this sweet story.
Bachelors of Bond Street is a collection of three novellas that are based on bachelors who own businesses on Bond Street. The stories are short, but they are all well written and fun to read.
Love by the Letters by Janna MacGregor: Portia Bellingham was trying to help her younger sister win the love of her life. She was to deliver a letter from her sister to a gentleman in the bookstore. Unfortunately, she delivers it to the wrong man and then must try and retrieve it before a scandal happens. Gabriel, the bookstore owner, was enchanted by Portia but confused when he keeps finding her in his personal living areas. When Gabriel finds the love letter, he thinks Portia has written it to him and disappointed to find out otherwise. Can they get past the misunderstanding and find their HEA?
How to Brew a Perfect Kiss by Shana Galen: Raeni Sawyer had run away and found herself alone and with no money in England. She finds a position in a coffee shop, but her first day didn’t go too well! Thomas is the owner of the new coffee shop and realizes that Raeni has potential. He is impressed with her ideas for the shop and interested in her personally. He has always tried to keep his personal life separate from his business but the attraction he feels for Raeni complicates things. Can Thomas keep Raeni safe from her past?
A Second Chance for Love by Minerva Spencer: Justin Taylor wants revenge from the man who wrecked his life and the woman who he thinks caused it. Oona was trying to keep her job and provide for her daughter. She couldn’t turn down Justin’s job offer, but as they travel to a house party the truth of the past finally comes out. Justin must decide if revenge is more important than his future happiness.
This was a wonderful collection of stories that are a must read. The spice level increases with each story and the common theme of bachelors who have shops on Bond Street was carried out through each story. Each story was interesting, had great characters and fun to read. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I am a fan of all three authors in this collection, and I am happy to say they did not disappoint. Often there are side characters in books that are just so interesting that you wish would get their own story. Happily these fine authors agreed, and put together a set of stories revolving around the infamous Bond Street in London.
I enjoyed them all, but my favorite of the three was “How to Brew a Perfect Kiss” by Shana Galen. Thomas was a fun character in Galen’s “An Affair With a Spare”, and I enjoyed getting to know him and Raeni – his heroine. Their story is truly an inspiration.
The collection stands well on its own, but it is definitely worth checking out the related books as well. A must for fans of short & sweet romance!
I voluntarily read an Advanced Reader Copy of Bachelors of Bond Street and the views expressed are my honest opinions. Shana Galen, Janna MacGregor and Minerva Spencer team up with three novellas featuring three successful businessmen and their chance meeting with love.
In Janna MacGregor’s Love by the Letters, Portia Bellingham delivers her sister’s love letter the wrong person, thus meeting Gabriel St. Aulyn. Thus, she must recover it or risk having her sister ridiculed or worse, should the contents come to light. When her initial attempt results in failure, Portia must return to Gabriel’s bookshop, enabling her to get to know the bachelor better. It is then she discovers she has so much in common with him. But will their interests be enough for them to go against everything for a lifetime full of love together? This sweet novella ends with an unexpected twist that readers surely did not imagine. However, it could have been better such as delving into Gabriel’s past, or introducing the alleged fiancé 3.5/5
In Shana Galen’s How to Brew a Perfect Kiss, Thomas Gaines gets his own story. Readers first met Thomas in Shana’s Survivor book An Affair with a Spare, where he plays a prominent part of the storyline. In fact, the readers loved him so much that they demanded he gets his own story. Thankfully, Shana agreed. Thomas moved to London to open business on Bond Street. Raeni Sawyer needed money and accepted a position at his teashop, despite not having the talent for serving. After a mishap, Thomas meets the beautiful Raeni and offers her a different position, that of his clerk. Will the closeness make them realize how perfect they are for each other? I love the little details in the book such as descriptions of Bond Street as they give a realistic perspective to the novella. 5/5
In Minerva Spencer’s A Second Chance for Love, Oona Parker gets reunited with Justin Taylor by chance after they had been employed in the same household ten years earlier. Justin, who held the position of a groom, had been let go for dallying and had believed that Oona, then the governess, had been the tattletale after discovering him in flagrante delicto. Thus, after a decade, he welcomes the opportunity to carry out the revenge he always desired, despite of having done well. Thus, he offers the beautiful but impoverished Oona money to act as his mistress for a week, keeping his reason a secret. Oona, having secrets of her own, accepts. Would she regret her choice, or would this adventure lead to a lifetime of love? This novella is well written and keeps the readers in the dark of all the events until the end. 5/5
This is a delightful anthology, and I’m usually not a big fan of anthologies. Each author gave us a satisfying and engaging story of working class people, merchants or employees of Bond Street. It was refreshing to read stories not about dukes! I wanted to read this book for Shana Galen’s Survivors story but the other two authors were equally as good.
Janna MacGregor’s Love by the Letters was about Gabriel St Aulyn, owner of Bond Street’s bookstore The Hungry Mind. Miss Portia Bellingham is a rich merchant’s daughter who’s had 3 seasons and has been unable to find a husband. She being from the merchant class finds the aristocracy are not going to be enticed by her father’s substantial dowry to gain the family connection to a title. She doesn’t want them either but her parents insist. Her younger sister is going to debut soon and both want to save her the horror of a season. Portia has a gift for words and pens a love letter for her sister but the letter finds itself in the wrong handsome man’s pocket, Gabriel’s and not Mr. Hugh Merritt, his best friend. This is an engaging story of how Portia tries to retrieve the letter and they fall in love in the process. This story is a “con” as in the movie Sting and it was surprising in the end.
Shana Galen’s How To Brew A Perfect Kiss is the story of Thomas Gaines, the black merchant and former Virginia slave, from Affair with a Spare that aided the Rafe and Collette. He’s opened A new business, a Coffee and Tobacco shop on Bond Street. Raeni Sayer is the daughter of a slave and a plantation owner in Jamaica. Her Dad sold her to another plantation owner and she didn’t want to repeat the life her mother had. Her brothers are being sent to England to be educated and help her escape to England. She helped her father out with plantation business and was educated with her brothers so find she is not equipped to manual labor. After she crashes into Thomas with a loaded coffee tray during the morning rush the coffeehouse manager dismisses her but Thomas is intrigued by her and finds a position for her in the back. She takes over his filing for him and their story progresses as he finds out the utter squalor she’s living in. I adored this guardian-protector story!
Minerva Spencer’s A Second Chance For Love was a vengeance story that went sideways. Justin Taylor was a former groom that worked at the same estate 10 years ago as Oona Parker who was the governess. He was attracted to her but she balanced a difficult line between the Viscount’s family and the servants. As a governess she was in neither world and the servants didn’t like her. Both she and Juss fell on hard times after being dismissed from Viscount Venable’s Compton Abbey. He because he was tattled on about being intimate in the house with a maid and she for getting pregnant with the Viscount’s child. Juss thought she was the tattler but later finds out he was wrong and spent ten years directing his anger at the wrong person. When he stumbles on her 10 years later he’s become a wealthy merchant and she is a newly dismissed drudge working for the Bond Street Modess. He offers her an obscene amount of money for her to pose as his mistress at a house party for 7 days. Turns out it’s a plan to gain revenge on her and Viscount Venable. After being caught in a blizzard that slows down their progress giving them time to share their stories. Juss discovers his vengeance is empty and not what he wants. I really enjoyed this story of finding out things are not what you think when you take the time to discover the truth and vengeance isn’t worth it.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Love by the Letters by Jenna MacGregor
One little mistake leads to a romance that will make you giggle with the way things happen between them. They got off to a bumpy start with their first meeting, but it was clear they were perfect for each other. They are a couple that goes about things differently and won’t let anything stand between them. I loved the twist in the end with her family and didn’t see it coming at all!
Portia has a way with words and will do anything to help her sister get the man she loves. I loved how she didn’t really care about what others thought and wasn’t shy when it came to Gabriel.
Gabriel didn’t know what was missing from his life until he met Portia. He’s a good mix of going after what he wants, but also not hiding his feelings.
How to Brew a Perfect Kiss by Shana Galen
I’ve loved Thomas since he appeared in An Affair With a Spare and was excited to see his story. There is heat between instantly and not just from the hot coffee on his pants. The dangers of the past weren’t going to keep them apart.
Raeni is a strong young woman that has fled from her home and is trying to make it on her own. I loved her right away with how brave she was and how smart she was.
Thomas will never think twice about helping someone that he knows needs helps. Add in that he loves the woman and he won’t stop at anything to protect her or help her.
A Second Chance for Love by Minerva Spencer
I love a bit of enemies to lovers and a second chance at love. Neither one’s story is what the other thought and they will only realize that after striking a deal. It’s clear from that start that they weren’t going to be able to resist each other. Fate brought them together for better reasons.
Oona was shocked to see him again and wasn’t prepared to give up her secrets. She did what she had to for her future when agreeing to his deal, but her heart took over.
Juss is set on revenge, but being alone with her and telling his story makes him realize that’s not what he wants. The truth will come out and his heart will win.
copy provided for an honest and voluntary review
Great authors, good stories.
Love by the Letters
This was a nice story, but as with MacGregor’s other story I read it missed real obstacles to the HEA. Still a very enjoyable romance.
How to Brew a Perfect Kiss
Thomas was a secondary character in another book by Galen and I loved him. So seeing him getting his own romance was so good. Raeni is a wonderful heroine, proud, strong and fierce, but willing to accept help when needed. This romance is a delight to read.
Second Chance for Love
I’m normally not a fan of second chance romances, but Minerva Spencer made it work and how!
I loved Oona from the start. She made mistakes in the past and is down on her luck, but she doesn’t give up. I wasn’t sure at first what to think of Juss, but he goes through a wonderful transformation and I soon was totally hooked on this couple and their sizzling romance. Totally my favorite of the three.
Love By The Letters By Janna Macgregor 3.5 Stars
Portia Bellingham daughter of a wealthy merchant has had three disastrous Seasons & she’s given up on finding a match, but she doesn’t want her younger sister Beatrix to suffer the same fate. As an eighteenth 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. Portia puts the love note in Gabriel St. Aulyn’s cost pocket by mistake. Now, to retrieve it…
A delightful read the pace was very good & I read it in a sitting. There were misunderstandings but the attraction between the two bespectacled book lovers was apparent from the start. There was a lovely twist at the end too.
How To Brew A Prefect Kiss By Shana Galen 5 Stars
When Raeni Sawyer’s father, an English plantation owner in Jamaica, sold her, she ran away & her brothers hid her on the journey to England. She was robbed & almost at the end of her tether when she found employment at the Bond Street Coffee & Tobacco shop, Thomas Gaines’ brand new establishment. Raeni’s first day doesn’t go well as she bumps into her employer & soaks him with coffee. She does fall on her feet when she becomes Thomas’ clerk
At last, Thomas Gaines’ story! which I’ve been impatiently waiting for.
It’s not often I find a novella to be a 5 star read but this certainly was, as ever beautiful characterisations & I felt Bond Street came alive. I also loved a story about coloured ex slaves who had escaped to England & had become successful. The romance between Thomas & Raeni was lovely with the attraction being there from the start but the more they became acquainted the more it grew. A lovely read that I read in a sitting
A Second Chance For Love By Minerva Spencer 4.5 Stars
A decade ago 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 after an eventful few years the bad boy did good, and then he sees Oona by chance. She has not been so lucky; she needs money? He offers her a small fortune to pose as his mistress for a week. Oona accepts & the pair travel to a country house but on the way they are caught in a snowstorm.
A well written page turning novella with misunderstandings, presumptions & an attraction that began many years ago. I liked Justin but didn’t love him, he was ruthless & a survivor also a chancer. Oona was lovely, down on her luck but still caring. Their attraction sizzled & as they got to know each other Justin showed a softer side.
Three captivating romances which I thoroughly enjoyed, also a complete & welcome change to centre on tradesmen rather than the ton.
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
Do you love regency romances but are a bit over all the dukes and duchesses? Then I’ve got a recommendation for you!!!
Bachelors of Bond Street is three novellas that each feature a working hero AND heroine! Each story has the unique flavor and style of its author but all provide a satisfying love story and resolution.
My favorite was How to Brew a Perfect Kiss by Shana Galen, which if you read the dedication you won’t be at all surprise about ! Thomas Gaines fled slavery and had built himself up to a thriving business owner. Raeni has also fled the auction block and is just looking to get lost in the London crowds, but what she finds is love. I’ve adored Thomas Gaines from his first moment on the page in a previous book and am so beyond happy for him to get his HEA!
Love by the Letters by Jana MacGregor is a delightful love story between two book worms that will have you cheering for instant love.
Second Chance to Love by Minerva Spencer is just want it sounds like, a second chance romance between a former governess and former groom.
I sincerely hope these three collaborate again as this was a perfect anthology!
I received a complimentary review copy of this book but all opinions are my own.
Three wonderful stories by three awesome women. The stories are all the sweeter because they are about commoners who find the love of their lives. In the first a father and sister help a young lady find her one true love. The second is about freed blacks who have found success and love in London. The third is about a couple who gets a chance a decade later to resolve a misunderstanding and find love. All three stories are well written and will leave you longing to read more from these ladies.
I have just finished reading a new anthology called
Bachelors of Bond Street. There are three stories.
One each from Shana Galen, Janna Macgregor and
Minerva Spencer. My favorite is called
How to Brew a Perfect Kiss by Shana Galen.
Thomas Gaines is a successful business man.
He is opening a new shop on Bond Street.
And his newest employee is Raeni Sawyer.
He finds that she is in need of help.
Thomas has been there. He is glad to
offer help. Raeni is hesitant. She is
afraid to put Thomas in a dangerous
situation. Will she allow his help?
Does he have the resources to give
Raeni the help she needs???
Portia Bellingham and Gabriel St. Aulyn’s story enchanted me. Portia had suffered through three seasons without finding love. She’s decided that her sister Bea is not going to be humiliated in the same way. Portia writes a heartfelt love letter to Bea’s beau. The problem? It’s delivered to Gabriel, not Hugh Merritt.
Janna MacGregor’s descriptive writing shines in this novel! Loved how the romance between Portia and Gabe unfolded. I related to Portia; she never, ever thought someone would love a merchant’s daughter who wore glasses and was a bluestocking. Gabriel believed women were interested in his money, not in him. Loved that Portia expressed her feeling in the letter and Gabriel was thrilled to receive the letter.
Loved the passionate romance between the couple and the ending was fabulous! I was so invested in the romance that I never saw it coming!
How to Brew a Perfect Kiss by Shana Galen
Shana Galen features Thomas Gaines and Raeni Sawyer in a fast paced novella. Loved that Thomas is a successful businessman and owns two coffee shops. Shana Galen blends Thomas’s wish to have his Bond street coffee shop succeed with his desire for Raeni perfectly.
Raeni escaped her family’s plantation because her father was going to sell her. She suspects she is being followed and this puts the couple in danger. The chemistry between the couple sizzles, there is intrigue and an important lesson about the value of freedom.
Loved the connection between the couple-the passion, the understanding and commitment. And the ending—truly romantic—just perfect.
A Second Chance for Love by Minerva Spencer
This was a sizzling, second chance romance. Justin Taylor and Oona Parker met when they worked for Viscount Venable. Justin believed that Oona got him fired, blamed her for the consequences and is holding a grudge.
Justin is now a wealthy businessman who offers Oona a job for seven days-she’s to pose as his mistress at a house party. I enjoyed reading the couple’s journey to the house party and I knew both of them were keeping secrets from each other. Minerva Spencer writes a fabulous story for Justin and Oona—their feelings are intense, the sensuous romance is off the charts and the banter is spot on. Oona and Justin take refuge at a farmhouse during a blizzard. This visit was heartwarming and brought several surprising revelations to both of the characters.
Loved that a big piece of this story was about compassion and forgiveness — and love.
I am thrilled to recommend these novellas. Loved that the authors stayed within the same framework by featuring bachelors who owned buisneeses on Bond street. This connection plus each author’s characters worked for me. I adored Janna MacGregor and Shana Galens novels and their stories exceeded my expectaions. Minerva Spencer is a new to me author. By reading her well plotted character driven novel– I have found another author to enjoy!