An Uncommon Courtship
Hawthorne House #3
By Kristi Ann Hunter

Lord Trent Hawthorne has seen both his sisters married and has plans to marry for love himself - someday. But someday has come and he won't be marrying for love - in fact he has barely ever met the woman he is now to call wife. But when an accident strands them together unchaperoned he feels it is only honorable to offer to wed Lady Adelaide Bell saving her reputation from scandal.

But Trent hasn't the slightest idea of how to be married with his father's death years ago and he isn't sure whom he can ask for advice. His older brother Griffin has managed to avoid the traps society has set for him so he can't turn to him for advice.

Determined to come up with a plan Trent determines to court his wife after they are married - a most unusual situation and one that may create problems of its own. Can Trent's plan bring him the marriage he thought he would have or will it be a trial for the rest of his life.

And what about Adelaide - what are her feelings about the situation she now finds herself in. Adelaide has never had a London season always left behind when her family took part in the festivities of the season. Adelaide was forever second sister and her mother let her know this always through her neglect and inattention. And her marriage to the younger brother of the Duke of Riverton is about to bring her the not so welcome attention of her mother and London society.

An Uncommon Courtship is about to begin and the outcome is uncertain, though for better or worse Trent and Adelaide are married... But will there be commonality or love?

This is the third book Hawthorn House series and to be honest this was my least favorite book in the series (a little too much marriage interaction for my reading comfort level). But the basic story was very good as one gets to learn more about Trent and his greatest fear - becoming duke and losing his brother just as he lost his father. I like Lady Adelaide she is an admirable person as she makes her way through her new situation and life.

The previous books would be okay for most mid teens to read but this one would be more suitable for older teens or young adults - as a teen this would not have been a book on my approved list - but I'm still a big fan of G movies (just saying). I'd say this would be a PG or low PG-13 if it was a movie.

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher with no expectation of a review positive or otherwise. All opinions expressed are my own.

Those stupid mushrooms. It’s all their fault Lord Trent Hawthorne and Lady Adelaide Trent were forced into a marriage neither of them wanted. Now they have to figure out how to make the relationship work, though they are only acquaintances. Both are scared and unsure, but with God and a very uncommon courtship, they may just be able to fall in love.

An Uncommon Courtship by Kristi Ann Hunter was a sweet, historical romance. Set in London in the early nineteenth century, it is filled with colorful imagery of the society and customs of the time period. Although, there are some instances in which the characters blatantly disregard society’s rules, such as with the overly forward servants in Trent’s home. Those servants and the other characters who acted outside of societies rules presented some of the funniest situations in the novel. That and the relationship between Trent and his brother. There was no side-plot of danger, as in some books of this genre, but there was definite depth to the story. Adelaide endured much neglect and nitpicking from her parents, which was sad to read, but she surmounted those problems beautifully. The plot centered on the romance, of course, as the two characters struggled through starting a life together with no knowledge of each other. Both of them made their share of mistakes borne from fear and miscommunication. But it was lovely to watch them fall in love. I must admit I was a bit addicted to the story as I read it, going so far as to corner my friend with a description of the first half of the story. She wasn’t too happy that I left her hanging—only because I wasn’t finished.

I really enjoyed An Uncommon Courtship and look forward to reading other books from Kristi Ann Hunter. I recommend it to fans of inspirational, historical romance.

I received a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.

Being forced to marry someone to protect your reputation is an odd way to begin married life, but being forced to marry due to an accident that left one party injured seems a little bit ridiculous. Yet, these were the norms of "polite and high society" back in the day and for our characters, Lady Adelaide and Lord Trent it is just the beginning of a painful process that they have to somehow live with for the rest of their lives.

Fortunately, they are determined to make the marriage work. While I found Lord Trent's idea of courting his wife, endearing, I started feeling incredibly uncomfortable at the antics of both charcters once they consummated their marriage. It seemed as if the author was trying to get the reader to laugh, but it left me feeling awkward. It was as if something needed to be contrived to move the book along, for there was very little intrigue or action in it.

Aside from that. the mother of Adelaide was a nasty creature who added some drama to the story while she tried to continue to control Adelaide to do her bidding. Fortunately Adelaide grows a backbone and the end result is very satisfying.

The faith of Lord Trent is central to making his marriage work and I was quite pleased with how he proved himself to be an honourable God-fearing man. Overall, I enjoyed this book and give it four stars.

Marriage is difficult, and in this book that is putting it mildly. Trent and Adeline; yes, they are about swoon worthy. Absolute adorable couple. Their courtship is a great read. However, there is more to this book than that just that. It's clean and committed, and Christian as far as the read goes. I have absouluty enjoyed this series so much, and this installment isn't an exception. I'm so glad to have been able to read it. Marriage takes many adjustments and following along with this couple while they walked through them was quite nice. Some large hurdles had to be dealt with, and I loved how the author handled them. It's a great read for a rainy day. I'd be glad to give this 5 stars.

My copy came from Net Galley and Bethany House. I wasn't required to leave a review, I'm leaving one of my own free will. My thoughts, and comments, opinions are all my own.

" Bravado can only carry a woman so far before reality intrudes with crushing abruptness."

Lady Adelaide Bell is certainly not known for bravado, her quiet, unassuming beauty has kept her nearly invisible from society, primarily as a result of her mother's determination to display Adelaide's older and more accomplished sister, desperate to improve her own standing by marrying her daughters to rich, titled husbands. Her mother's scheming seems to pay off when Adelaide's uncommon affection for gathering mushrooms in obscure locations, produces the desired nuptials; Adelaide finds herself married to the young lord next door; Trent Hawthorne, a handsome, carefree younger brother of the Duke, who has no idea what to do with a wife, should he even want one.

Lord Trent Hawthorne always dreamed that he would marry the love of his life, but along the way God intervened and gifted him with someone totally unexpected; the quite lovely, but very lonely Lady Adelaide. Clumsily attempting to navigate a marital relationship with a virtual stranger, he improvises a plan which surprises everyone, especially Adelaide, when he decides to "court" his wife. Obviously, Trent has a lot to learn about love.

This sometimes endearingly awkward story is more than entertaining, since who could have imagined that a love affair and pineapples would have anything in common? Kristi Ann Hunter has once again proven herself to be a writer who can take Regency romance to an entirely new level.

I received a copy of this book from Net Galley. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

The characters in this entire series have been wonderful and this book might be my favorite yet! The story is complex, romantic, and full of emotions. I thought the whole story comes together in a beautiful yet real way. Learning to trust, let go and love are themes that everyone can relate to. Loved this book!

The latest book in The Hawthorne House series is here! woot woot! We’ve had a chance to read both of his sister’s stories and now it is Trent’s turn. Squeee!

Ok, thoughts? Loved it, of course. I know that it’s the publisher that makes the covers, but HOLY MOLY her covers are beautiful. That is, honestly, half of the battle right there. I could go on about how her characters are always entertaining, well rounded and lovable, but I especially love how they are deep. They really love God and these books are not just just clean or overall “religious”. They have true and deep relationships with God that are obvious throughout. I LOVE THAT!

Adelaide and Trent are married in an effort to protect her reputation since they were trapped alone together. As they muddle through their awkward marriage, I often times want to smack Trent in the head for being such a guy. ha! As they work through their after-marriage courtship, you will find yourself rooting for them and falling more in love with the Hawthorne family.

Pick it up! It’s a great read.

Thanks for this great read in exchange for my thoughts. As always, this is my honest opinion. Here’s to many more!!

Beautifully crafted on love and marriage in God's eyes.

"You can't hum while holding your nose." (146)

Now, did you know that "you can't hum while holding your nose?" The things I learn from books are quite the conversation starter! This one, I'm happy to say I got it from An Uncommon Courtship by Kristi Ann Hunter. It is the third full novel of the Hawthorne House series, and it features one of my favorite characters of the series, Lord Trent Hawthorne. As some of you know, I'm a tad bit obsessive, even coining the term #myTrent on social media and risking the wrath of another wonderful character, a Duke, might I add, Griffith. However, I've never shared that I was a bit scared to read An Uncommon Courtship. Yes, I was ALL over it and couldn't get my hands on it, but what if Trent turned out not what I expected? What if I don't care for the lady he marries? What if...yes, a lot of that. However, after reading it, my Trent continues to be my Trent, and I find Lady Adelaide perfect for him.

Lord Trent had been a pivotal supporting character in the first two novels and the prequel of Hawthorne House series. He's the funny, dashing and sarcastically loyal brother, friend and highly sought bachelor. Perfect on the outside and seemingly in the inside. In An Uncommon Courtship, the author gave him depth - a vulnerability that makes him human, and not just someone in the pages, but fills this character with soul, and I love it. He makes mistakes, he needs a slap on the back of his head at times, and he needs to be reprimanded my his mother, Lady Blackstone. He isn't perfect, and that makes him perfect. "God doesn't make mistakes" and I don't think the author made any when it came to bringing Trent to life.

Enough on Trent, but lets jump to other characters. Lady Adelaide is funny. She's awkward. Her childhood and the manipulation of her mother evokes sympathy, as well as a desire to see her rise above it all. The one thing that I wish was how she found strength to face her mother needs to be a little bit more dramatic since even I wanted to slap her mother and sister! Yet, in reality, it made sense. Lady Blackstone was another character that piqued my interest from An Uncommon Courtship. Her matron-ship was spot on, and the scene when she first met Lady Adelaide was precious. The appearance of all the previous major characters in the first two and half books highlighted An Uncommon Courtship and will make fans of the series extremely thrilled. That being said, you do not need to read the other books to understand this one. However, I would highly recommend you do, since it gives a lot of back story to the characters that plays a role in this book. And last, but certainly not least, is the Duke himself. Griffith is the older brother of Trent, and at times, is also the fatherly figure Trent refers to since their father's passing when he was six. Griffith's protectiveness of his family is endearing and definitely a character I look forward to a happy ending in his own story, The Inconvenient Beauty (coming later this year). I would love to see more of his point in the many hilarious and touching moments in An Uncommon Courtship further in his own book. The boys of Hawthorne House have truly claimed a spot in my heart, and when they join together to give Trent marriage advice, priceless. When it's Griffith's turn, I'm sure more laughter and inspirational insight will bring that book to life as well.

I know this is getting a tad bit long, but I feel I need to give my Trent its due diligence in expressing how elated I am of his marriage and finding love. That last family dinner scene is truly my favorite. I can't give any away, but that, my dears is classic Trent, in love.



This review first appeared on Just Commonly blog.


Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. I was not required to write a positive review, and have not been compensated for this. This is my honest opinion.

This definitely moved me with the sweet romance and family driven closeness and loyalty! It has a wonderful ending that makes your heart sing for all involved. A few people who got their just desserts after being so cruel made me want to cheer! I would have liked a little more banter between the two – but it didn’t detract from the story at all. It was a beautiful learning experience for both Trent and Adelaide after being thrown into a marriage neither was expecting. I loved Trent’s family and their fierce loyalty! Watching their love grow and learning some lessons of my own made this a bookshelf keeper. I adored the feeling and passion this author puts into her words to paint a beautiful story. I can’t wait for the next story!

An Uncommon Courtship is a delightful Regency novel with a twist. Lord Trent is the second son, who is quite contenting letting the rest of the world think he will never grow up and that he will not be responsible. Lady Adelaide has lived in her sister's shadow until she finds herself engaged and married to the second son. It's not the match either of them had hoped for, but Trent decides to court her anyway. The story tells how that courtship flows, after all what could go wrong when he decides to court his wife? As you would expect, a lot does. Kristi Ann Hunter has quickly become one of my go-to regency authors. Her books are filled with great characters, fun plots, and enough depth to keep me reading. An Uncommon Courtship is perfect for those who love Jane Austen England or a richly layered historical.

Kristi has done it again. She always delivers with a five star,must read book as a fan of the era and the charters I am overjoyed to read the latest from Kristi.

I was caught up in this book almost from the first page. I read it in only a matter of hours because I couldn't put it down. I loved the characters and the message it brings. I am a succor for stories about couples being forced to marry and then figuring out how to live together and love each other. I loved the descriptions of marriage and the effort that goes into making a marriage work and what Love really is and what it isn't. I think it is a message a lot of people need to be reminded of while "courting" and married. A marriage takes work and it isn't always twitterpated infatuation. Trent and Adelaide were a lovely couple who overcame the bumpy beginning to create a strong relationship. I loved getting to see it unfold.

While this book isn't graphic it certainly goes into the physical side of marriage a bit more than I would have liked to read in a "clean romance."

This was the first book of Kristi Ann Hunter I have read and I understand that this is part of a series of books. While it would have been nice to know the background stories of the other couples in the story. Not having read those doesn't make this one any less enjoyable. I will just have to find and read those other books that come before this one. I sure hope there is one more book in the series so we can see the Duke find his Duchess.

Trent Hawthorne follows through on his promise to marry the girl with whom he was trapped in a cellar, even though he doesn't know her. After the wedding he rushes them to his London home, but is rarely ever there. When Trent's brother, Griffith suggests that Trent should court his new wife, Trent decides to take more of an interest in his new bride.

Adelade is used to being ignored as the second daughter of Lady Crampton, always in the shadow of her beautiful sister, Helena. Adelade loves to read and knows many facts that others would never think to learn, but she knows little about playing the games of society, and social graces.

I love how Trent's mother comes to visit Adelade, and get to know her new daughter-in-law, willingly teaching her how to move about in London society. Adelade is kind and genuine, quickly making friends among Trent's household and among her new peers.

I think my favorite part was watching Trent come to admire and respect Adelade, from trying his best to avoid her to anticipating her company. I liked his respect for marriage, and his willingness to try to get to know Adelade, and his protectiveness over her. Griffith is a good brother and friend, and though he has good ideas, he doesn't know much about courting a woman either, as he is unmarried.

I was so happy to see Trent get his own story, and I like how he grows over the course of unexpected events. This is a well written read, and I loved the interaction between Adelade and Trent as they discover their new life together. I really liked Griffith, and hope that I get to read his story soon!


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and testimonials in Advertising."

An Uncommon Courtship
Kristi Ann Hunter


Buy This Book
There is a difference between reviewing a book and just reading it and I have never been quite as aware of that difference as I was while pondering the review for An Uncommon Courtship. There was so much I enjoyed about this book, there were so many times I was simply delighted by the author’s adept skill at turning certain tropes on their head – but there were moments of frustration too. I had to find a grade that fell somewhere between “I absolutely loved it” and “It was thoroughly enjoyable but”. Hopefully, the B+ I have given it lets readers know that this is a wonderfully charming – but slightly flawed – novel.

Lady Adelaide Bell loves mushrooms. Loves them so much in fact that she on occasion risks life and limb (mostly limb) to hunt for them in the old ruins on the Duke of Riverton’s estate. Her hunts had always been successful and accident free– until one fateful day.

Lord Trent Hawthorne wouldn’t call himself overly curious but when he sees a horse at the old ruins on his brother’s estate he stops to investigate. While the floor had handled Adelaide’s slight weight quite successfully the same could not be said for his and the two were plunged into the cellar with painful consequences. Forced to spend the night in damp discomfort with only mushrooms to eat, they emerge with tarnished reputations. Trent, sprained ankle notwithstanding, hobbles into Lord Bell’s study and offers for Adelaide, determined his careless actions not destroy her future marriage prospects. The betrothal contract is agreed upon between the men, the banns are read and a short time later two near strangers find themselves celebrating a wedding.

This is where I think the author makes her first mistake. We hear this backstory in snippets from the conversation that takes place between Trent and his brother, Griffith, at the wedding breakfast, because having experienced the actual event would have given readers much more insight into the characters. As it is, our first introduction to them as a couple is after they are already married and leaving the wedding party for Trent’s townhouse. We have no clear understanding of how they passed the night of the accident, we just know they didn’t have sex. But did they talk? It seems not, since Adelaide feigns sleep on the carriage ride to London unable to think of anything to converse about with her new husband.

The next day doesn’t go much better and that’s because the two spent the wedding night apart. Adelaide wakes up very embarrassed, wondering just why that was and blaming herself for it. What had he thought when he came to her room and found her sleeping with the blankets pulled all the way to her chin? Nothing actually because he had never been to her room. He had hoped, expected in fact, that she would simply go to sleep, as he did, and now the two find themselves facing breakfast after a non-starter wedding night. It’s as awkward as they both feared it would be.

Concerned that “This marriage (might) ruin every breakfast for the rest of his life” and being a man very fond of his morning repast, Trent stumbles upon a plan to save his marriage: He will move to his brother’s house and court Adelaide, much as he would do if they had just met. He packs his bags, promises to be back to take her for an afternoon ride and leaving behind a very bewildered bride, heads to Griffith’s.

One of the things I absolutely loved about this novel was the author’s attempt to show us just how tricky and uncomfortable a marriage between two strangers can be. Trent and Adelaide do not know each other at all. Given that marriages contracted for reasons such at this were not uncommon in this era, this reader very much appreciated the effort take to show how disconcerting and difficult such a union would actually be.

While the couple might have courted in the weeks leading up to the wedding, that doesn’t happen because Adelaide’s mother found it more important to buy her daughter a trousseau than to let her get acquainted with her future husband. Adelaide allowed it because the one term that could be used to define her is “dutiful daughter”. That sounds contrived but the author does such a fabulous job of developing her characters that you realize that each of them is behaving in precisely the manner their personalities lead them to. Adelaide’s mother is a social climber who puts appearance and rank above relationships; it is no stretch to think she would give her daughter’s coming marriage no thought beyond the clothes needed to impress in her new role. Adelaide has spent her whole life accommodating the rest of her family and it makes perfect sense that she would agree to the scheme. Trent is so easy going that he essentially lets life happen to him and is surprised by how that laissez-faire attitude winds up working against him in his new life situation. It takes both him and Adelaide a while to find their footing, backbone and wits and begin to take charge of their situation.

Fortunately, they are such cheery, congenial and captivating characters that their naïveté and occasionally spineless and dunderheaded behaviors are made up for by their growth. It helps that the author gives us good cause for some of the more slap-sticky moments, such as Trent’s cluelessness about sex. He is fatherless, with an unmarried older brother and had apparently learned all he knew about the subject by listening to conversations in school and in his clubs. While it borders on unbelievable that any man would be that oblivious regarding conjugal relations, his devotion to his faith, his obvious curiosity regarding the subject, and his desire for his wife keep the situation from being completely ludicrous.

I should point out that this tale contains more sexual details than most inspirational novels. We are there at the beginning of Adelaide and Trent’s first time, stay for the brief portion when they start undressing and hear some mild details regarding how the evening went afterwards. It’s very, very tame stuff and totally appropriate given we are dealing with a couple already married many weeks at the time of the consummation.

Two other things kept this comedic tale from being farcical: the secondary characters and the author’s clear understanding of historical norms. Trent moving out of his marital home within a week of the marriage places Adelaide in a very awkward social situation. Fortunately, his mother realizes that and takes steps to correct the situation as best she can. His sisters also come to Adelaide’s aid and having the family acknowledge what is peculiar and work to rectify it helped me to accept it as a plausible situation. I also appreciated how the author takes pains to show us how some of the things in the life of the Hawthorne family are unusual –from familiarity with servants to an insistence on love matches – and how the family adheres to enough societal rules to allow their eccentricities to be socially acceptable. It’s always a problem for me when I read a romance where standards of an era are ignored and everyone just accepts it. The author does a good job here of acknowledging what’s off kilter, how that affects the characters and why it might have happened and been tolerated.

The love story is best described as sweet and slow. The two principals are so very amiable and endearing that it is a forgone conclusion that they will have no choice but to love each other once they know each other and that is precisely what happens. I also really appreciated that the characters, once they became a couple, were the sort that brought out the best in each other and supported each other. That kind of relationship helps me believe in the HEA.

An Uncommon Courtship was a pleasure for me to read, often bringing a smile to my face. While I felt the writing could have been a bit smoother and some of the issues within the tale pushed my suspension of disbelief, it was a fun, enjoyable read overall. I would wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone looking for a lighthearted romance with a genuine love story at its heart.

There are numerous things and I could and probably will say about this book. And so many other things I would love to say, but I wouldn’t want to spoil it for anyone. First off, I have to say that Kristi Ann Hunter is quite possibly my favorite Regency romance author. Why, you ask, would I say that? Because her books make me laugh! I so rarely find stories set during that time period that are humorous to the point I’m laughing out loud and people are giving me strange looks. Every time I pick up one of Ms. Hunter’s books, I immediately want to just binge read all of her books, and then stalk her author page for news of when the next one will be releasing. That is how much I enjoy her stories overall and this one was quite possibly her best, yet.
As always, Ms. Hunter did an excellent job with the details and descriptions, transporting me to London and dropping me amid a most unusual household and the swirl of the Ton during the Season. I loved the unique servants sticking up for Adalaide and lecturing Trent for how he was handling his new and rather unexpected marriage. I’m always a great fan of marriage of convenience stories and this one definitely ranks among my very favorites. I so enjoyed how much depth this tale has and the consideration that goes into Trent and Adalaide figuring out how to make their marriage work.
Adalaide is a unique character and one I quickly fell in love with. She is sweet and kind and sees things in a different light, which was sometimes amusing, other times it caused me to pause and think. She’s also rather shy and quiet in the beginning, as well as a bit awkward and I really enjoyed seeing her come into her own and learn to stand up for herself and her marriage. I also had to laugh at how she always inadvertently loses a glove, or trips on a hem, or bobbles her glasses. The little quirks made it very easy for me to relate to her and often had me smiling.
Trent is a character that I’ve gotten to know a bit over the past books and I’ve been eagerly anticipating. He’s the younger son, the one no one really expects much of, and is very easygoing. Until he finds himself married to a virtual stranger. Trent has watched his sisters and his brother’s best friend find love and marry and expected the same for himself. Instead, he finds himself being forced to learn what love truly is and how to intentionally love someone. This aspect was definitely one of my favorite things about the story, because of how much time is spent on the topic. I so enjoyed watching Trent learn to see beyond his assumptions of what love is supposed to look like and what his vows before God mean. And the fact that he gets advice from Anthony, Ryland, Colin, and occasionally Griffith just made me smile. They get so much enjoyment from razzing him that it’s hard not to, though they honestly do share very sound advice and I found myself making note of several things. I loved the journey both Trent and Adalaide go through as they learn how to truly be married and not just two people sharing a house and breakfast. They both grow in so many subtle ways and I appreciated that Ms. Hunter took the time to show them falling in love and becoming better versions of themselves, rather than simply telling me “they lived happily ever after.”
I’ve mulled it over and I honestly can’t think of a single negative comment. From the first page to the last, I greatly enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys Christian historical fiction that is chuckle inducing, but also causes you to stop and think and examine an idea in a unique light.

There is a difference between reviewing a book and just reading it and I have never been quite as aware of that difference as I was while pondering the review for An Uncommon Courtship. There was so much I enjoyed about this book, there were so many times I was simply delighted by the author’s adept skill at turning certain tropes on their head - but there were moments of frustration too. I had to find a grade that fell somewhere between “I absolutely loved it” and “It was thoroughly enjoyable but”. Hopefully, the B+ I have given it lets readers know that this is a wonderfully charming – but slightly flawed – novel.

Lady Adelaide Bell loves mushrooms. Loves them so much in fact that she on occasion risks life and limb (mostly limb) to hunt for them in the old ruins on the Duke of Riverton’s estate. Her hunts had always been successful and accident free– until one fateful day.

Lord Trent Hawthorne wouldn’t call himself overly curious but when he sees a horse at the old ruins on his brother’s estate he stops to investigate. And pays for it with his life - or at least his future. While the floor had handled Adelaide’s slight weight quite successfully the same could not be said for his and the two were plunged into the cellar with painful consequences. Forced to spend the night in damp discomfort with only mushrooms to eat, they emerge with tarnished reputations. Trent, sprained ankle notwithstanding, hobbles into Lord Bell’s study and offers for Adelaide, determined his carless actions not destroy her future marriage prospects. The betrothal contract is agreed upon between the men, the banns are read and a short time later two near strangers find themselves celebrating a wedding.

This is where I think the author makes her first mistake. We hear this backstory in snippets from the conversation that takes place between Trent and his brother, Griffith, at the wedding breakfast, because having experienced the actual event would have given readers much more insight into the characters. As it is, our first introduction to them as a couple is after they are already married and leaving the wedding party for Trent’s townhouse. We have no clear understanding of how they passed the night of the accident, we just know they didn’t have sex. But did they talk? It seems not, since Adelaide feigns sleep on the carriage ride to London unable to think of anything to converse about with her new husband.

The next day doesn’t go much better and that’s because the two spent the wedding night apart. Adelaide wakes up very embarrassed, wondering just why that was and blaming herself for it. What had he thought when he came to her room and found her sleeping with the blankets pulled all the way to her chin? Nothing actually because he had never been to her room. He had hoped, expected in fact, that she would simply go to sleep, as he did, and now the two find themselves facing breakfast after a non-starter wedding night. It’s as awkward as they both feared it would be.

Concerned that “This marriage (might) ruin every breakfast for the rest of his life” and being a man very fond of his morning repast, Trent stumbles upon a plan to save his marriage: He will move to his brother’s house and court Adelaide, much as he would do if they had just met. He packs his bags, promises to be back to take her for an afternoon ride and leaving behind a very bewildered bride, heads to Griffith’s.

One of the things I absolutely loved about this novel was the author’s attempt to show us just how tricky and uncomfortable a marriage between two strangers can be. Trent and Adelaide do not know each other at all. Implications are made that this often happened in that era and the effort taken to show how perplexing and perilous that could be were much appreciated by this reader.

While the couple might have courted in the weeks leading up to the wedding, that doesn’t happen because Adelaide’s mother found it more important to buy her daughter a trousseau than to let her get acquainted with her future husband. Adelaide allowed it because the one term that could be used to define her is “dutiful daughter”. That sounds contrived but the author does such a fabulous job of developing her characters that you realize that each of them is behaving in precisely the manner their personalities lead them to. Adelaide’s mother is a social climber who puts appearance and rank above relationships; it is no stretch to think she would give her daughter’s coming marriage no thought beyond the clothes needed to impress in her new role. Adelaide has spent her whole life accommodating the rest of her family and it makes perfect sense that she would agree to the scheme. Trent is so easy going that he essentially lets life happen to him and is surprised by how that laissez-faire attitude winds up working against him in his new life situation. It takes both him and Adelaide a while to find their footing, backbone and wits and begin to take charge of their situation.

Fortunately, they are such cheery, congenial and captivating characters that their naïveté and occasionally spineless and dunderheaded behaviors are made up for by their growth. It helps that the author gives us good cause for some of the more slap-sticky moments, such as Trent’s cluelessness about sex. He is fatherless, with an unmarried older brother and had apparently learned all he knew about the subject by listening to conversations in school and in his clubs. While it borders on unbelievable that any man would be that oblivious regarding conjugal relations, his devotion to his faith, his obvious curiosity regarding the subject, and his desire for his wife keep the situation from being completely ludicrous.

I should point out that this tale contains more sexual details than most inspirational novels. We are there at the beginning of Adelaide and Trent’s first time, stay for the brief portion when they start undressing and hear some mild details regarding how the evening went afterwards. It’s very, very tame stuff and totally appropriate given we are dealing with a couple already married many weeks at the time of the consummation.

Two other things kept this comedic tale from being farcical: the secondary characters and the author’s clear understanding of historical norms. Trent moving out of his marital home within a week of the marriage places Adelaide in a very awkward social situation. Fortunately, his mother realizes that and takes steps to correct the situation as best she can. His sisters also come to Adelaide’s aid and having the family acknowledge what is peculiar and work to rectify it helped me to accept it as a plausible situation. I also appreciated how the author takes pains to show us how some of the things in the life of the Hawthorne family are unusual –from familiarity with servants to an insistence on love matches – and how the family adheres to enough societal rules to allow their eccentricities to be socially acceptable. It’s always a problem for me when I read a romance where standards of an era are ignored and everyone just accepts it. The author does a good job here of acknowledging what’s off kilter, how that affects the characters and why it might have happened and been tolerated.

The love story is best described as sweet and slow. The two principals are so very amiable and endearing that it is a forgone conclusion that they will have no choice but to love each other once they know each other and that is precisely what happens. I also really appreciated that the characters, once they became a couple, were the sort that brought out the best in each other and supported each other. That kind of relationship helps me believe in the HEA.

An Uncommon Courtship was a pleasure for me to read, often bringing a smile to my face. While I felt the writing could have been a bit smoother and some of the issues within the tale pushed my suspension of disbelief, it was a fun, enjoyable read overall. I would wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone looking for a lighthearted romance with a genuine love story at its heart.

4.5 stars

Ms. Hunter has quickly become one of my favorite authors and I have been super excited and anxiously awaiting this book.

I hadn't reread the other books to set myself up for this newest one, so I can say that it stands alone well enough, but would probably feel more complete with having recently read the previous stories.

The pacing of the story fluctuates. It immediately pulled me in and there were times I could not put it down, but then there seemed to lengthy lulls, just chunks of the story where pretty much nothing happened.

I loved that the story didn't revolve around the "wedding night" but rather a quest to understand what love actually is (with a sound Biblical foundation) and a determination to live it out.

Though I related more naturally with the outspoken Hawthorne lades, I found Adelaide's disposition sweet and refreshing. I certainly felt for her over her past neglect, her craving to have proper relationships with her mother and sister, a desire for a close knit family, and ultimately feeling pulled in opposite directions. I understood why she felt confused about how God wanted her to handle her relationships. I found Adelaide's quirks charming and appreciated Trent's failings and honest feelings, even when they weren't fair.

There were a couple of minor things that bothered me- it seemed like some minor issues were resolved, and then resurfaced just to induce insecurity and keep the story suspenseful. (view spoiler) Thankfully, these instances were few and they were forgotten quickly enough, but I felt the story would have been a lot stronger if there hadn't been needless worries heaped on top to try to make things worse.

On the whole, the characters are so warm and witty, and their dreams so genuine and relatable that you just want to be part of this (growing) tight knit family unit, where you're safe, protected, accepted, and loved. Thankfully, living vicariously through their stories allows you to be. I can't wait for the next one!

Fantastic addition to the Hawthorne House series! I've been waiting for Trent's story, and it did NOT disappoint. Adelaide is a delight, and it was such fun to watch Trent mature throughout their story.

Well done, Kristi.

Despite his charm, wealth, and good looks, Trent is a top-notch gentleman above reproach. Trent's most endearing qualities are his chivalry, humor, innocence, faith, and purity of heart.

Quiet Lady Adelaide Bell is a little on the quirky side but she's the last woman anyone would expect to need a marriage of convenience to preserve her reputation. Fortunately, marriage should give Adelaide some much-needed distance from her mother's constant schemes.

The Hawthornes make me want to travel to regency England for a visit! I adore this fun, Godly, supportive, loving family!

I requested the opportunity to read and review this book through the Bethany House Blogger Review Program and NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own.

An unconventional and realistic exploration of what life can be for newlyweds. A lovely gospel perspective on marriage without being preachy.