A traditional Regency romance, drawing room rather than bedroom.Caroline Milburn and her younger sisters live in two cramped rooms, struggling to survive by their skills in lace making and weaving. When their previously unknown grandfather drowns on the Brig Minerva and bequeaths them a cottage in the country, their lives seem set to improve. But where will the daughters of a linen draper fit … draper fit into rural life, now that they are better off? How will Caroline find husbands for her younger sisters? Why have purses of money been buried in the garden? And why are the neighbours so interested in them?
Charles Leatham was happy in the army, where all he had to do was to follow orders. With both his older brothers dead, he’s forced to return home and he knows where his duty lies – he must marry, and soon, to secure the inheritance. He doesn’t care who he marries, but why is his step-mother so keen to pair him with the ill-bred linen draper’s daughter? She’s a termagant and a shrew, but he always follows orders so he resigns himself to the inevitable. At least she’ll be grateful for the offer… won’t she?
This is a complete story with a HEA. Book 2 of a 6 book series.
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Three orphaned sisters, Caroline 23, Lin 20, and Poppy 15, receive an unexpected inheritance that lifts them out of their recent poverty and back into the merchant class. Everything about this book reads like a fairy tale, including all three sisters being happily married or engaged by book’s end. Still it was a fun read.
I am having a hard time getting through this book. It is the book I am currently reading and it has such a slow-moving plot that I am having to force myself to keep reading it.
A very nice Jane Austin look alike with original turns and mostly great plot with beginning character development.
I enjoyed reading it. Good characters
Kept reading to see if what I wanted to happen would happen. 4 1/2 stars for me.
I enjoyed these hard working sisters, each different, yet they loved and cared for each other.
I love historical 19th century in a Jane Austen style! A beautiful book!
It took awhile to get to romantic part but it was worth it!
Although Regency is sometimes sorely trying this was diverting. Always glad to see female characters displayed in variety of talents and wisdom. Good character is the same in any society but is not often easily discerned by those wishing to model after the better examples.
I can not wait to read more form this author. I really enjoyed every page of this book. It was well written and an excellent read.
Heartwarming
Love reading this series!
Great read. The oldest sister took on great responsibility to keep her family together. Looking forward to the next book by this author.
I enjoyed reading this story very much. It describes how the three sisters – with Caroline on center stage – adjust to their much improved financial situation in a new village. Everyday village life is described with household tasks, social visits which repeatedly interrupt said tasks, and Sundays with the exchanging of news after services.
Charles is willing to marry “anyone but Mildred” and lets himself be lead by his step-mama, as questionable as her choice at first seems to him. He’s about to be confronted with several surprises.
There’s good dialogue, a bit of war-of-words between Charles and Caro at the beginning of their relationship, and a bit of mystery regarding buried treasures to be unraveled.
Her sisters were a little selfish.
I enjoyed this book enough that I bought the other books in the series.
This books confirms again what a good storyteller Mary Kingswood is. In this series more stories will follow and I look forward to reading them.
Caroline Milburn and her two sisters have adjusted to their reduced circumstances since the death of their parents. Orphans at 22, 20 and 15, the girls receive a surprise visit from a lawyer that will change their lives forever.
Charles never expected to have to leave the army but the untimely death of both his older brothers changed his life forever also. Now he must marry.
The book is identified as a mystery, but it’s not a typical mystery. No murders, thefts, runaways, just the mystery of who the girls really are, why do they suddenly have money available to them and what is the reason the neighbors are so interested in them. And why is Charles’ mother so set on his marrying Caroline even though they obviously don’t like each other. The story is full of the usual issues – finding husbands for the younger girls (Caroline, of course, has no intention to marry), dealing with their new situation – but the author approaches the concerns in her own unique style. Her characters are richly and realistically drawn and I loved all of them, Charles’ mother in particular.
I received an ARC of the book through BookFunnel. The opinion is my own, although I’m sure others will agree with me that this is an excellent gentle read.
Caroline Milburn and her younger sisters live in two cramped rooms, struggling to survive by their skills in lace making and weaving. When their previously unknown grandfather drowns on the Brig Minerva and bequeaths them a cottage in the country, their lives seem set to improve.
Charles Leatham was happy in the army, where all he had to do was to follow orders. With both his older brothers dead, he’s forced to return home and he knows where his duty lies – he must marry.
I know I’m always in for a treat with the author’s books & I’m loving this series. The characters have plenty of depth, & the story flows extremely well but it is the attention to detail that makes the author’s books so good, you really feel part of the Regency era. The way Charles & Caroline’s relationship developed made for an entertaining read , a mystery thrown in & I was one very happy reader
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read