He never forgot her… him…
When Erienne Stone defied her family and fled her life of privilege, she never expected to be reunited with the man who’d abandoned her more than a decade before. But Lucy, Duchess of Claringdon, is a hard woman to say no to, even when Erienne’s heart is in danger of breaking all over again.
A meddling matchmaker may be the key to their second chance…
After a decade of pain and heartache, can two star-crossed lovers trust the truth in their own hearts?
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How wonderful! This is the perfect story of second chances. While it takes 14 years for them to get their HEA, it was time Collin needed to come into his own. There was a lot he had to overcome, but he did it in spectacular form. They also had to find a way through the maze her parents created through their expectations for Erienne and what she could do for them.
Thank goodness for Lucy, the Duchess of Claringdon and her matchmaking ways. She brings Collin and Erienne into close proximity and sparks start to fly from the banked embers in their hearts. I adored Lucy and her husband and their roles, they added a lightness and humor to the story.
Ms. Bowman breathes depth and spirit into her characters. While this is a novella, it feels like a novel, there were no holes or details left unattended. I am grateful that more time was NOT spent on Erienne’s parents, I feel I would have been hard pressed to find any real way to show them in a favorable light.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I like the second chance trope and I think the Duchess as a matchmaking emp!oyer plot element is fun. The characters were well-drawn but perhaps a bit cookie cutter predictable. I am tired of the “I’m just going to remain a spinster for the rest of my life so I want one night of passion with the man of my choice” attitude that moves the plot in so many Regency romances these days. I feel short -changed as a reader when this is offered up as a substitute for working together to overcome real conflict in the relationship building process.
I’m an absolute fan of Valerie Bowman’s novels, so it’s no wonder I liked the book.
The big problem of the book? It’s a short story, that’s it.
But how do you refuse to know a new second-chance novel?
Collin and Erienne (I liked her name) have known each other for many years, and were in love.
She was the daughter of a proud Baron, who would not accept this romance because of the kind of family Collin had.
With such resistance, Collin decided to abandon everything, including Erienne’s love, and followed his father’s career by becoming a military man.
Against her father’s wish, Erienne chose to go to work as a governess.
Only many years later, when he was forced to take a vacation, as General, Collin meets Erienne again, and he is scared to see she working as governess.
But even more frightening, it is the determination of his sister-in-law, the Duchess, to play the matchmaker for them.
As I said, too pity the book is short.
4 stars
This was a fun, second chance novella addition to the Playful Brides series.
Erienne Stone met Collin Hunt when they were children but by her teenage years they fell in love. Too bad Erienne’s family thought that Collin wasn’t good enough for their daughter. When Collin came back from the army to see Erienne, her father told him to go away and that someone of his stature should leave her alone. The next time Collin tried, he was told that the 18 year old Erienne moved to Shropsbury with her husband, the Viscount. Dejected, Collin threw his life into his work and 14 years later he is a General.
Feeling abandoned by Collin, Erienne goes to Shropsbury to be a governess. The only person she wanted to marry was Collin so if she couldn’t have him, she’d be happy being a spinster. After 14 years working for the same family, Erienne must find a new governess job. When Mrs. Griggs refers her services to the Duke of Claringdon’s house, Erienne is unsure of this because that is Collin’s brother Derek. When Derek’s wife, Lucy finds out who she is, she wants to play matchmaker and bring Collin and Erienne back together. Lucy hires Erienne, not realizing that Collin is on his way to their place. Guess Lucy’s matchmaking ways are moving faster than she thought.
I just love a second chance story. Both Collin and Erienne were wronged by Erienne’s parents and the funny part was neither of them could ever get over the other. They really were destined to be together. I really enjoyed what these two went through to get to their happy ending. I really even liked both of these characters. It was just sad that it took them so long to find their way back to each other.
If you’re looking for a quick and sweet read, this book is for you.
I’m not always found of second chance romance but I liked how the author managed to rekindle the lovers.
I do loved Erienne more than Collin, she was the one who stayed true to her sentiments while he let his uncertainties been misguided by others and never tried to understand and accept Erienne’s love for him has nothing to do with wealth and position.
It was a cute story with some flashbacks to help the reader see from where Collin and Erienne come from and why they are here at this stage of their life.
The meddling duchess of Claringdon is a funny and very driven woman never taking no as an answer and following her own path.
This was not an angsty read, despite those years apart, their shared feelings never left them, I would just have loved they get a real discussion and sort out the true of why they were told this or that.
As for the declaration scene, it was sweet but felt awkward as it was set in a stranger house.
Mr. Hunt, I Presume by Valerie Bowman is book 10.5 in the Playful Brides Series. This is the story of Collin Hunt and Erienne Stone. I have read the previous books (and loved them!) but feel you can make this a standalone book if you wish to do so. Collin and Erienne about 14 years ago were young and in love but then Collin step away to do the right thing…which set in motion hurt and distrust. Now all this time later he is taking a break from the military to go to his brother’s country estate. There he meets Erienne again…but can he walk away this time. Erienne was crushed when Collin didn’t choose her and has since went into the work life of being a Governess. When her ‘kids’ are to old for one she goes to take a new job within the Hunt family. Although she knows it is risky to be so close to Collin’s family, but she wants to see what is happening with Collins….besides the money being offered for the job is more than she can turn down.
So in love with their story and this second chance at love.
Mr. Hunt, I Presume (Playful Brides, #10.5) by Valerie Bowman Another great story by Valerie.. I’m enjoying this series (PLAYFUL BRIDES) Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me preview this book. Collin Hunt(never though he was good enough…and let her go) Erienne(has always loved Collin and never married) Lucy the “matchmaker” sees a change to bring them back together… there are tears, laughs and steamy times all leading to a HEA. Can’t wait for the next book.. NO OTHER DUKE BUT YOU.
To be honest, when I started reading this book I didn’t know it was a novella. I figured it out somewhere in the middle when I saw how fast I’m progressing through the book.
Anyway, I think it would be better if it was a whole book because I think some parts of the book were rushed, especially the ending. Since they were separated for 14 years I expected more resentment or emotions from the heroine but it all quickly evaporated when they met again and fell into each other arms.
While this was a cute novella with good writing, I definitely wanted more. So, yeah, I’ll follow Ms. Bowman future books (this was my first by her) but this one just didn’t hold the appeal.
3 stars.
ARC provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Slovenian review and full post here: https://slovenianbookworm.wordpress.com/
When General Collin Hunt is ordered to take a much-needed holiday, he resigns himself to rest and recreation at his brother, the Duke of Claringdon’s country estate. But when the only woman he ever loved and selflessly gave up shows up as his sister-in-law’s Lucy’s governess, his carefully ordered life is turned inside out.
When Erienne Stone defied her family and fled her life of privilege, she never expected to be reunited with the man who’d abandoned her fourteen before.
A meddling matchmaker may be the key to their second chance.
I love The Playful Brides series especially the matchmaking Lucy. All the other books in the series are full length novels. I still loved this novella, which I read in a sitting as I couldn’t put it down. A captivating, engrossing second chance romance. Collin & Erienne are well portrayed & certainly deserved their HEA, selflessness & then deceit parted them but luckily for them Lucy gets the bit between her teeth & orchestrates some of the events. A lovely addition to the series
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
This was a well-written historical romance. Erienne Stone knew General Collin Hunt when they were young. They were in love, but they were separated and never expected to see each other again. They unexpectedly cross paths again when she begins work as a governess at an estate and he goes to visit his brother at his brother’s country estate. This book can be read as a standalone story, though it is part of the Playful Brides series. I enjoyed this novella and look forward to reading more books in the series.
Erienne Stone is one tough heroine. She doesn’t bow to her family’s pressure as a young woman, preferring to work as a governess than not marry the man she loves. Meanwhile, Collin Hunt believes his sweetheart has married a titled lord. Both go off to live 14 years of useful, productive lives — alone. She teaches young children and he is a spy. Now, her charges are grown up and Miss Stone becomes a governess to the family of Collin’s older brother, the Duke of Claringdon. When the two meet, despite the misunderstanding and lies of Miss Stone’s mother, they quickly realize that love it was and love it remains. Of course, even in a novella, the course to true love has its ups and down. But these two are remarkably unbitter despite the wasted years. Their happy ending is particularly sweet — and well-deserved, and the Duchess of Claringdon can chalk off another match made in, if not heaven, in meddling. (I received a copy of this book from NetGalley; opinions are mine.)
I wasn’t crazy about this book. I did try to remind myself of the era and take that into considerations. So we meet Collin who was in love with Erienne but for some reason since his father was a drunk they kept saying or thinking that he was not good enough for her? What that was your dad not you! but anyhoo it is what it is. So he goes to the military and she becomes a governess? Yeah didn’t get but again it happens, so she is working for his sister in law who has too much time on her hands besides taking care of her children which she should have done instead of being a busybody, again sorry for rant. So as I was saying Erienne is working for sister in law and they meet again, but they are wishy washy and she doesn’t admit her feelings or realize them til an almost death experience and then its like of my god, yeah no..And then he in a dramatic fashion waits to go after her when she is in an interview, why then? you had other more appropriate times? But whatever..again it is so so..
Rcvd an ARC at no cost to author..(netgalley) Voluntarily reviewed with my own thoughts and opinions.
My rating is 3.5 stars rounded up to 4
This is a lovely second-chance romance novella. It is well-written, but I felt it was a bit rushed and I didn’t feel as if I were ‘finished’ with it at the end. I loved the storyline, I liked the main characters, I adored the secondary couple, and the children were wonderful. I just felt like there were chunks of story that were missing or things progressed much too fast. Too fast? Consider the scene during their first dinner and then moving to the library. I don’t want to say too much and spoil it, but when you read it you’ll see what I mean.
I loved that we got to spend time with Lucy and Derek again. Catching up with them and seeing their love and their life as a married couple was wonderful and their two children were a great addition to the story. It was nice to see that Derek has resigned himself to Lucy’s matchmaking and just loves her to distraction. This time, Lucy is matchmaking for Derek’s brother, Collin and their childhood neighbor Erienne Stone. I would have thought that Collin’s story would have come earlier in the series since Lucy and Derek were the featured H/h in the first book, but maybe it took a while to find just the right lady for him.
Collin and Erienne had a relationship of some sort when they were younger. You learn what that relationship was in bits and pieces as you move through the story. It is a story of family betrayal and feelings of unworthiness that cost these two fourteen years of being miserable and apart. Neither of them ever married.
Collin Hunt and his two brothers are basically ‘from the wrong side of the tracks’. Their father was put out of the army because of his overindulgence in alcohol. Their father was also cruel to them because he was training them to be soldiers. Both Collin and Derek were very good at soldiering. Derek’s success earned him the title of Duke of Claringdon for his heroism during the war and Collin is now a general and a high ranking member at the Home Office. Most of Collin’s career can’t be mentioned because he spent his time as a spy.
Erienne defied her parent’s marriage expectations and left home to become a governess. Now, fourteen years later, the children she was caring for are grown and it is time for her to move on to her next family. When the agency sets her up with an interview with the Duchess of Claringdon, she doesn’t feel she can turn it down. She’s truly surprised at herself when she finally – after much persuasion by the Duchess – accepts the job. She’s torn – she wants to know about Collin, but she’s afraid she can’t handle actually seeing him.
It really is a nice story, but I think I could have lived with a little less backstory if it bought me more time with the couple in the ‘now’. More time for me to know them and them to know each other and especially more time for a less abrupt ending. There was a distinct lack of conversation and discussion between them. They just go straight to lust and remain there. The proposal is entertaining but certainly lacks romance. As I read, I thought “What, this is it?” and it was.
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“I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion.