A heartbroken man, a frustrated spinster, and a marriage of convenience that proves quite inconvenient.
Simon Kingsley is in desperate need of a wife. After years of searching, he finally found love. Unfortunately, she wed another, and now, it’s time to settle for someone with whom he can share his life. Love is no longer an option for a man whose heart is irrevocably broken.
Mina Ashbrook … broken.
Mina Ashbrook longs to marry for love but knows she’s too old, too plump, and too plain to catch a gentleman’s eye. And a marriage of convenience is better than being a spinster sister living off her brother’s charity. Simon may not love her now, but Mina knows there’s hope—if she can convince him that love comes in many forms.
Will Mina find a way to heal Simon’s heart? Or will the shadows of the past keep them from finding happiness together?
Though part of the Regency Love series, each book is a standalone sweet romance and can be read in any order.
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A superb handling of the difference between infatuation and real love. Simon doesn’t promise his wife love, but he does promise respect. Then his horrible family and even nastier former beloved twist him into knots. Can he save his marriage or is it too late?
A very enjoyable read! A true page turner and keeper. Both the H and the h were great characters.
At last a story about two people that look more normal. A good story.
Very reminiscent of Georgette Heyer’s A Civil Contract, but still very good.
VERY satisfying.
this was one of the best stories I have read in a long time. True to life characters about real women.
Sometimes I wanted to smack Simon and definitely wanted to smack his family and everyone who was ever mean to Mina. Mina is so real… she is not a beauty ion the outside, it is the beauty of her inner person that shines through.
I loved this book. The characters were on a self discovery mission. They found the person they were looking for, was standing there all along.
I generally find Ms Nichols’ books to be well written, well plotted, and with enjoyable, empathetic characters.
This book had me feeling so bad for the heroine and frustrated with Simon. It was a good read that tugged at my emotions
This was an entertaining story. I spent an evening curled up with my tablet and read all of it. It was not one of the steamy books which pleased me. It showed
how much women have progressed since the era the book was set in. I liked the young woman and her struggle to live life in a way that was enjoyable to her in spite of father, brother and later husband’s dictates. I think you would enjoy it.
She is not the typical enchanting creature like most heroines we read about.
She is an average person with a personality that is warm and caring.
I liked this clean story. I usually read just during my eating times; with this book, I continued through the rest of the day.
“Flame and Ember” by M.A. Nichols
This book was free when I downloaded my copy from Amazon… the blurb caught my eye… I decided to read the first chapter to see if I wanted to keep the book. Well, less than 24-hours later I finished reading this story. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Simon & Mina. Well, maybe not all the time as there are some really heart-wrenching times and thankfully some joyous times too. IF you like sweet clean Regency romance stories… I do not think you want to willingly miss this story. That is just my personal opinion. Happy Reading ! !
This is the first book I have read by this author and I was very pleasantly surprised. This heart-warming romance tugged at the heartstrings and I felt all the anguish and pathos of Mina’s unrequited love. Simon had made up his mind about marriage after his failed attempt at winning the love of his life, but he could not have been more wrong about what he really did need in his life. When given a second chance at winning the object of his affections love, he discovers that there are some things that are more important in life than beauty and status. This book is a generally well written Regency romance and comes to a successful close.
What a fabulous story. The emotional journey that you’re taken on is so worth it. I couldn’t put it down! Thoroughly enjoyed all the way to the end.
Marginal 3 star MOC story.
SPOILERS AND SYNOPSIS
Give me a hard core, mustache twirling, villainous bad boy any day of the week over a milk-toast weak H that doesn’t want to hurt the heroine!
Said beta hero who tears up at the drop of a hat, wants a MOC to a “friend” since he lost the love of his life to a man of higher standing. Oh, but he’ll hold his dear one in his heart like a flame…shoot me now.
The heroine is a plump and plain spinster. She’s quite happy to be on the shelf. In fact her dream is to move to her little cottage so she doesn’t have to deal with the BS of London society. Her now dead but loving father, brother and well meaning but annoying SIL all know better for her and feel that any man is better than no man.
The H swoops in for a MOC, and when I say MOC let me emphasize the Convenience part. Poor form, when he falls asleep his wedding night because he’s thinking of his twue love and is too tired. So he has low testosterone on top of everything else. What was a charming friends to lovers story went south for me at this point, and the heroine was not much happier. It’s not like she wanted hot sex ’cause she didn’t know what that was, but being treated like the ultimate wallflower her wedding night didn’t please her either.
Their “friendship” improves. She deals with a horrible and haughty housekeeper; is shunned by some of the local beeyotches because she’s too plain and other crapola.
The arrival of the H’s horrible family with the love of his life in tow heats up the story, but the hero sank even more in my estimation. At every given moment the OW bats her blue eyes, and he’s off and running. No actual cheating, but oodles of emotional cheating. Secret babies and emotional cheating aren’t big triggers for me, but this was a pretty bad case. Like the Scarecrow, if the H only had a brain.
I could while away the hours
Conferrin’ with the flowers,
Consulting with the rain;
And my head I’d be a scratchin’
While my thoughts are busy hatchin’
If I only had a brain.
One line too many is crossed and the heroine lays it on the line what an idiot he is and leaves. He is outraged at her lack of trust (intelligence) but slowly wakes up to what a snake the OW is. Relatives and OW are dealt with.
HEA because the H does realize what he has in the heroine, but too much tearing up BY THE HERO, and the incredibly impractical fact that a Regency marriage was left unconsummated drove me crazy.
Nice writing and no sex for those looking for a clean romance.
A more expansive view of the meaning of love. The Heroine has to learn to value herself and the poor Hero has no idea what love is! He has only seen poor examples of it his whole life. These two have a ways to go to find happily ever after.
Not your usual heaving bosom story. Realistic people learning life’s lessons as they fall in love. There’s a lot of wisdom evidenced in this book. A less than beautiful woman and a damaged man arrive at love in a most interesting way. Enjoy!
This was a story about what true love is and telling the difference. Many regency marriages of the day and were not faithful and this did mention it and showed the negative effects and I liked that was shown. The H was flawed and dense. I wanted to kick him in the shins just as Mina’s best friend did. He had redeeming qualites and wondered if he’d come to his senses. The story held my interest. This wasn’t written exactly as a Georgette Heyer but I would say the romance was though because it wasn’t fast and formulaic. I felt the story stayed true to regency time in writing. I think the secandary characters really helped the stroy along and I will read the rest of the series.Yes, the h was insecure. I’m sure that can happen when you’re passed over for much of your life and I saw it as the character being written true to life. Her process of becoming strong was a process and I was glad for her when she did.
One always cheers for the underdog especially when she ends up winning. That is what I really liked about this book.