Seasons of Love sees five of Emily Murdoch’s regency romance novellas brought together for the very first time in this beautifully moving collection. A MICHAELMAS WAGERRufus Lovell has been thrust unexpectedly into riches with nothing too big to gamble on – even marriage. So when a tipsy party joke becomes a wager on Rufus’ marriage, he knows he should said no.But Juliana Honeyfield, the … Honeyfield, the unwitting and unknowing focus of the gamble, is not the simple and malleable young woman that Rufus’ friends take her for.
Will it be possible for Rufus to charm the winning Juliana or does he owe her the truth about his initial interest in her?
A CHRISTMAS SURPRISE
Every year for thirty years Lord Robert, the Viscount of Marchwood, throws a Christmas Ball.
But this year the Marchwood Christmas Ball holds extra importance as his daughter, Lady Audrey, has just turned 18 and it is time for her coming out.
With the Marchwood family fortune all but gone, Lord Robert is keen to secure her a prosperous match.
But when a handsome, masked stranger threatens to steal Audrey’s heart, will it prove to be a good or bad Christmas Surprise.
A VALENTINE’S SECRET
Jonathan Brodie, the only son of Sir Roger and Lady Brodie, has lived in the village of Maplebridge his whole life.
Penelope, the daughter of the local florist, was adopted by the Baldwins when she was just a baby.
They could not be more different and yet, one blustery January morning, their paths collide in a chance encounter that is destined to change their lives forever…
A JUNE WEDDING
Victoria Walsingham’s heart will only ever belong to Isaac Quinn, the son of the Duke of Daventry, but their opposing social standings force them apart.
However, when her brother unexpectedly inherits the title of the Earl of Cheshire, Victoria’s life is transformed and she is thrown into high-society.
But when Victoria finally returns home in the hope of reconciling with Isaac, an invitation is waiting for her to the wedding of Mr Isaac Quinn and a Miss Hestia Royce.
With time running out, will Victoria ever get her happy ending?
A HARVEST PASSION
When teacher Leo Tyndale moves to the small English town of Sandercombe after five years in India, he does not expect that his time at the local school will be a long one.
But a brief encounter with the beautiful – and fiercely independent – Hestia Royce soon has him changing his mind.
But Hestia is an outcast in the town after leaving Sandercombe a year ago to be married, only to return without a husband to a place abuzz with speculation.
Will they ever be able to admit their feelings for each other?
Or will society deny them their happily ever after?
***
Each of these books are sweet Regency romances with happily ever afters and no cliffhangers.
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seasons are out of order in the kindle addition good quick reads
Many likeable characters, some I thought needed more personal character. With the strictures of the times I feel not so many people would rebel to the extent of some of the characters. Too many wrong words (where instead of were) made reading confusing at times. Nothing to offend readers and many HEAs so did complete the book, but not inclined to read more by the author. Gave it 3 stars.
The last story in the collection was a little weird.
Just the perfect read for a relaxing summer into fall afternoon.
A CHRISTMAS SURPRISE – Lady Audrey finds herself in a rented Scottish castle for her father’s annual Christmas ball. She knows and understands that it is his attempt to match her with the best possible husband, even as rumours abound that his finances are running out. However, Lady Audrey is no shrinking violet and in an attempt to keep a modicum of control over the situation, she suggests that they hold a masked ball, which her father agrees to. The problem with masks is that they can veil both good and bad intentions, but in the process Lady Audrey finds that the answer to her dreams has been right in front of her without even realising it. This is a well written albeit short story with all the elements of a good romance.
A VALENTINE’S SECRET – Jonathan Brodie meets Penelope in her adoptive parents florist shop. He is immediately smitten and a tender romance between the young couple begins to bloom. Unfortunately they meet resistance from Jonathan’s boorish father, the baron Sir Brodie but that does not deter Jonathan one bit. In fact, when he realises that Penelope’s origins are unknown, he sets out to discover how she came to be the daughter of Mr and Mrs Baldwin. However, it backfires on him when he comes to understand that he has overstepped the mark. Having spent my own life as a “fixer” of other people’s problems, I learned the hard way that sometimes one can go too far and this I had a certain sympathy for Jonathan. The bottom line is that most people just want to be accepted for whom they are. Apart from Sir Brodie, I enjoyed the rest of the characters in this clean romance, as well as the sweet storyline.
A JUNE WEDDING – As best friends and childhood sweethearts, Victoria Walsingham is devastated when Isaac Quinn lets her know that she isn’t enough. Isaac has to marry for money and family duty and even though Victoria’s fortunes change, Isaac is roped into a marriage that he doesn’t want. Although the story is sweet, I despaired of Isaac and his inability to stick to his resolutions. Victoria is a stronger and more dynamic character and although Isaac did eventually make a decision regarding his future, I felt it was too little, too late.
A HARVEST PASSION – Jilted at the altar, Hestia’s loss is Leo’s gain. Whilst Hestia is embittered and angry, resenting the fact that she can never really be in control of her own future, Leo is cut from a different cloth to which she is accustomed. Having spent five years in India, Leo’s views on life are open-minded and although he keeps on having to apologise to Hestia for his bumbling efforts to befriend her, Hestia certainly doesn’t make it easy for him. When he makes her an offer she cannot refuse, Hestia finally comes to terms with her disappointment and realises that she is the only one who can ultimately make a choice regarding her future happiness. A clean romance with awkward characters that touch one’s heart.
All four books in this series are sweet and clean and are standalones with happy endings. I received a copy of this book as a gift and this is my honest and voluntary review.