The Regency Brides Collection is everything readers could want from a novella collection…and more. I have already read it twice and would not be surprised if I find myself reading it a third time in the future. Each story is written in such a way that you find yourself rooting for the match, however much you may or may not want to, throughout their stories. Each story is different, but has the same undercurrent and values. I appreciated that while they were similar, they were each very-much their own story. Each author also does a superb job of weaving in the related faith themes without being preachy or making the story solely about that while showing how the characters’ faith gets them through certain situations and guides their decisions. Definitely recommended.

These 7 stories were all novella-length, rather than full novels, and I felt the first and last two in particular could be expanded into full length novels of promise. In general, the writing quality was reasonable, though most of them could have done with a good editor to correct the occasional word wrongly used. It is good to see fiction where I don't have to worry about the content (nothing stronger than a mild kiss is included), and some of the inspirational messages were helpful as well. Overall, I enjoyed reading the book, though more specific comments on each story are included below.

1. First comes marriage (4 stars):
Two people marry, though neither wishes to. Then he disappears for three years. After these three years, having become a Christian, he returns and tries to make amends to those he has injured by his behaviour, particularly his wife. But things aren't always straightforward...
Well written, with an intriguing storyline. I enjoyed the way they grew together once reunited, and felt that they seemed like real people. One quibble about the story: the wedding felt a bit too 'magical' - how did two people who were entirely unacquainted end up with their children in a mutually advantageous marriage apparently within a day or two? No Facebook then to help them in their hunt! I was also disappointed at the way a couple of threads were left at complete loose ends - Luke's sister's story and his father's position. Not sure whether this was leaving content for a follow-on book, but I found it offputting.

2. Masquerade melody (4 stars):
Adelaide is penniless since the death of her father necessarily left all entailed property to her uncle. As companion to her cousin. who tyrannises over her, she is in an unenviable position, having (or perceiving herself to have) no other options in life. Walter has been instructed by the Prince Regent to write an aria celebrating his (completely imaginary) part at Waterloo, but Walter is haunted by his own part in the battle and has been unable to write music since. How the two come together and each help the other to overcome their problems is an enjoyable and touching story.
The story is short and sweet, with a helpful message about relying on God, whatever the circumstances. Enjoyable twists and turns.

3. Three little matchmakers (3 stars):
Childhood friends meet again but in circumstances that make any deeper connection theoretically impossible - he is an earl, she the governess for his three new wards. But the three orphans are desperate for them to marry despite the difficulties, and will go to most peculiar lengths to manipulate those round them...
I found this one really didn't grab me - though the writing wasn't bad, the storyline seemed forced and rather ludicrous. For a start, I seriously doubt that so much eavesdropping would have been possible, for various reasons, and the kids' behaviours often seemed rather too old for their ages. Also, Henry's attitude towards his father seemed completely illogical. Some humour, some touching parts, and overall okay, but not my cup of tea.

4. The gentleman smuggler's lady (3 stars):
She's just arriving home to nurse her father when her ship is waylaid by smugglers, who steal part of the cargo. Fearing that she will be molested by drunken dockyard workers, the chief of the smugglers kidnaps her and takes her to a nearby inn where she can be safe and make her way home. Her subsequent visit to the neighbouring manor house reveals her smuggler in the person of the head of the house. Will she betray him to the Customs officer? And will he change his ways for her? As danger threatens, both face life and death decisions...
The storyline was okay, but several things felt left unfinished and/or unrealistic. Also, I didn't feel like I could connect with the characters - and the officer was just a bit too much over the top. Probably not one to re-read, at least for me.

5. When I saw his face (3 stars):
She's a widow, and has been pursued for the last six years by another man in the village. Her step-daughter has finally got married, and now she is pressed to answer his proposal of marriage. But does she really love him? And when another man comes to town who she feels an instant connection with, what will she do?
The story was okay, but felt far too predictable and trite for full enjoyment. Esther's behaviour was also far too often just illogical or unrealistic - as was Henry's at the end. The sort of story I don't mind reading once, but probably won't read again.

6. The highwayman's bargain (4.5 stars):
She's engaged to marry a man who can give her, a daughter of a poor farmer, a position in society. But her childhood sweetheart hears of it and knows that the man is a drunkard and a libertine. He kidnaps her to try to change her mind, but she refuses to listen to him. When reunited with her fiance, will she learn to rely on God rather than on her own plans for her family?
An enjoyable story, with a good message, though a somewhat predictable ending.

7. Jamie ever after (5 stars):
She's his sister's friend and has loved him for years. He was badly injured in the war, and has terrible scars and a badly damaged arm to show for it. As they face the season where each is expected to marry, she faces a would-be suitor who has declared himself willing to go to all lengths to marry her and he is unable to believe that any woman would willingly marry him, as a cripple. Will she escape? Will he ever be able to show his scars to others without expecting them to run? And will either of them get a happily every after?
Good writing, enjoyable storyline, with the threads all tied up neatly. My one quibble would be that I'd really like to see it developed into a full-length novel, but it didn't feel rushed at all, as so many novellas do.

Note that I received a free copy of the book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review and this is my considered opinion of the book.

This set was fun. And had a story for everyone!! I think my favorite stories were  First Comes Marriage by Amanda Barratt and Three Little Matchmakers by Susanne Dietze. If you love regency novels or novellas this collection is for you. I've said it before but I love the set of these types of collections, because its Novellas I can sit down read one and feel like I can stop without the I need to finish one more page or chapter feeling. I also love the mix of authors I know and finding new to me authors!
https://booksnbaubles.com/the-regency-brides-collection/

This collection is a very mixed bag.
The opening chapter of the first story was absolutely not my kind of thing, if not for having made
a commitment to review the book I would not have continued - & even then it was a close thing!
Thankfully it did improve, but it was not necessary to include that in a 'Christian' book.
The second story was of particular interest to me as I am a music-teacher, & I appreciated reading
something with that theme. (Loved the closing sentence!) Also enjoyed the choice of setting.
Loved story no. 3 !! So glad I kept on reading this book - it is getting better & better...
No. 4. Not too sure about the opening of this one, either, but the story soon drew me in.
No. 5. Nancy Moser : What a quandary : never be persuaded by a proposal without being at least 200% sure it is right! We should never settle for a 'make-do' marriage, & especially not having already
experienced a happy one. Never rush into any decision without being totally sure it is the right one.
(Isn't hindsight a wonderful thing?!) But if there is any doubt at all, take the time to be certain.
I appreciated the characters being older than is usual for these books.
Story no. 6. Very lightweight, & not a credible storyline : disappointing.
Story no. 7. 'Jamie Ever After' : Loved it! Unusual plot made a nice change. Very likeable
characters. Finished the collection on a good note.

This is a book of different stories of love, romance, good times, bad times, tragedies and temptations. All good quick reads.

This book is a wonderful collection of seven Regency era stories of faith, love and overcoming societal expectations. I enjoyed each individual tale some were filled with adventure and intrigue, others lost love found, one with three adorable little matchmakers, all filled with clean historical romance. I was thrilled to read stories from a few of my favorite authors and to discover a few new ones that I will be adding to my “to read authors” list. If you are a fan of Jane Austen and Poldark you don’t want to miss this book,

Romance? Check! Regency period? Check! Christian authors? Check! Well, then…. How could I possibly pass this one up? Not to mention that Michelle Griep and MaryLu Tyndall are two of my top five favorite authors!

"The Regency Brides Collection: 7 Romances Set in England During the Early Nineteenth Century" (2017, Barbour) is an anthology of novellas in the Christian Regency romance genre. As of this review, it's not listed on Goodreads' list of books in Barbour's "Bride Collections Series," but Ms. Griep kindly confirmed for me that it part of the series.

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Overall rating: 4.6 stars (I always round down for GR.)

(4.5+5+4.5+4.5+4.5+4.5+5)/7 =about 4.6

*All novellas in this collection are all set in Regency England and are very clean/chaste.

Be warned: this is a very long review, because I've given an individual review for each of the seven novellas. Please feel free to skim for the information you’re looking for! Barbour, if you're reading this, please allow the stories to be listed individually on Goodreads! These collections mess up my alphabetical reading scheme! ;-)
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Novella #1: 4.5 stars

"First Comes Marriage" (2017) by Amanda Barratt,
set in London, England in June 1811 (and then three years later)

The heroine: Charity Stanwood, 17, "found herself under the spell of Percy Browne." While at Vauxhall Gardens, Percy brings her to a secluded area and begins kissing her (with her consent). They're spotted by "London's most notorious gossipmonger" and … surprise, surprise… "Percy, her dashing soldier hero, had disappeared," leaving Charity's reputation in shreds.

The hero: Luke Warren, 22, newly the captain of his own ship, is due to be at sea the following morning. His father comes to him with the astonishing news that his family has "run into some difficulties." Charity's father, to whose bank Luke's father owes much money, has "offered to pay the debt out of his own pocket, in full" in return for Luke marrying Charity… in two hours. Luke does it resentfully. And then walks out of the wedding.

Christian elements: Charity and Luke both have some growing that they need to experience, and separately, during the three years following the wedding, they each mature and grow close to the Lord. "...it seemed hard to believe that he, a man who had never considered God as more than a crutch to provide comfort for the less fortunate, had given over his life in full surrender to the will of Someone greater than himself."

What I liked: Ms. Barratt realistically showed the consequences of Luke being gone for three years with no word to anyone. Also, the overall plot was wonderful.

What I didn’t like: There is some language in the Vauxhall scene which I don't appreciate in a Christian story. "The barest inhale [of Percy's scent was enough to send scorching heat eddying through her body." "Scorching heat eddying"?!?
***********
Novella #2: 5 stars

"Masquerade Melody" (2017) by Angela Bell,
set in Brighton, England in June 1819

The heroine: Lady Adelaide Langley's father passed away two years ago, and her uncle now owns her home. Her uncle offered her the position of companion to her cousin Lydia, and Adelaide accepted because it was her father's wish and because she wanted to remain in her home. Unfortunately, Lydia holds Adelaide's position over her head. "...Father might dismiss you as my lady's companion…" Lydia feels like a blend of Lydia Bennet (from "Pride and Prejudice") and one of the wicked stepsisters in "Cinderella."

The hero: Colonel Lord Walter Marlowe, Marquess of Glenmire - that's a mouthful - is at the Prince Regent's Royal Pavilion for the upcoming festivities, which is where Lady Adelaide and Lady Lydia are headed. The prince wishes him to compose an aria to be performed. But Walter lost his will to compose at the Battle of Waterloo.

Christian elements: Adelaide relies on God in her difficult situation, though a tragedy of sorts led to a loss of "a piece of her faith." Walter, on the other hand, feels that God abandoned him and his brother.

What I liked: I loved the overall musical theme. It was well done.
***SPOILER*****

And I loved that this was a very good retelling of "Cinderella."

*The description of the Royal Pavilion was wonderful to read! This is something I've never read in a Regency before.

What I didn’t like: Sometimes, a male is used as a chaperone for a man and a woman. I don't think this would have been acceptable. Granted, there was some secrecy in this case, so they were limited in their resources, but to be historically accurate, the story should have at least commented on the issue, I think. I'd take off a quarter of a star for this, but I don't do things by quarters.

********************
Novella #3: 4.5 stars

"Three Little Matchmakers" (2017) by Susanne Dietze,
The summer of 1817 in Staffordshire, England

The heroine: Caroline Dempsey, 27, has always admired and loved Henry Graves, the future Earl of Marsden. She grew up near Marsden Hall as the vicar's daughter, and was a playmate to Henry and his deceased sister Esther. She is now the governess of Esther's three children - who have come to Marsden to live there. (Note the title of the story!)

The hero: Henry Graves, 30, master of Marsden Hall, is newly the guardian of his sister's three children. Henry was great fun when he and Caro were growing up together, but is now "stoic as stone, just as the gossips claimed." He changed much eight years ago after "his unfortunate incident in London."

Christian elements: Several prayers are in the story. "God, if You hear me, help me remain as calm as possible." "Lord, help." And others. There's also an interesting discussion about whether God approves corporal punishment.

What I liked: The three children were wonderful, felt authentic, and repeatedly amused me! The author wrote that she based them off the antics of three children she knows. My favorite description of one of the children's antics: "Rupert pretended to fall so he could roll down a small knoll, staining his nankeen pantaloons." And the actual writing delighted me repeatedly. "They [Henry's wards] were a gift as much as a responsibility."

What I didn’t like: There were a few times that a word felt wrong to me, or at the very least, odd.

********************
Novella #4: 4.5 stars

"The Gentleman Smuggler's Lady" (2017) by Michelle Griep,
Cornwall, England, 1815

The heroine: Helen Fletcher, of late a governess in Ireland, is returning to England by ship because of her father's failing health. On the point of reaching land, the ship is boarded by smugglers.

The hero: Issac Seaton is stealing back something that belongs to him, which makes him not quite the typical smuggler. He and his band of men have been boarding various ships to take what rightfully belongs to Seaton, and nothing more. This time, on his very last raid, he takes one thing more: Helen. The possible outcomes for Helen under the circumstances are not safe, and so he kidnaps her to in order to protect her. The oblivious Helen is not pleased.

Christian elements: "Thank God this was his last raid." "I know in my head God is always present, but in my heart? I cannot credit it." "Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything… even in man."

What I liked: I really liked the basic plot of the story. I'm sure it's a challenge to create a hero that seems like a villian..

What I didn’t like:

*"It would be wrong to lie -- but just as devious to reveal…." Truth-telling is a sticking point for me and I think this should have been worded a bit more carefully.

*The hero looks forward to "drinking a glass of Madeira." While this may be period appropriate, I think it's better not to include alcohol in Christian fiction.
********************
Novella #5: 4.5 stars

"When I Saw His Face" (2017) by Nancy Moser,
Chancebury, England in 1807

The heroine: 41-year-old Esther Horton has raised her thoughtless stepdaughter alone since she became a widow six years ago, and she now gladly has an empty nest. She's been living in Chancebury for eighteen years and owns the local pie shop. Now romance is going to come her way.

Christian elements: "Esther had done her best… but had cried herself to sleep on many a night, praying for wisdom, patience, and peace."

What I liked: This bit of advice: "If you don't love him, tell him so. Don't be cruel and leave him hanging." I have occasionally come across people who date "just because," while feeling that they are definitely not open to the possibility of marrying in the future. This is particularly horrible when only ONE person in a couple has this perspective. Such casual dating can be incredibly damaging.

What I didn’t like: I disliked some of Esther's choices, but thankfully there were some natural consequences - as well as grace given- so that turned out fine.
********************
Novella #6: 4.5 stars

"The Highwayman's Bargain" (2017) by MaryLu Tyndall,
Hertfordshire, England, 1811

The heroine: Sophia Crew, 21, is about to make a huge transition from "the daughter of a poor yeoman farmer to the wife of a nobleman, from a life of hard work to one of ease." However, she feels "as though she'd eaten rocks that morning instead of oatmeal." Sophia needs this marriage to secure better medical care for her mother. However, "every memory of her childhood included Nash," "the son of a gentleman farmer whose land bordered theirs."

The hero: Nash, who is NOT the second son of Lord Henley, to whom she is engaged to be married. He's the "boy who had proposed to her six years ago and who, after she had rejected him, had joined as East Indiaman, never to return."

Christian elements: Sophia's father quotes a favorite verse: “I have been young and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread." Sophia "envied his [her father's strong faith in God, his belief that all things worked for good for God's people."

What I liked:

*The scenes depicting the sights of London and the inclusion bits about the customs of a masked ball
*The dialogue between the hero and heroine, especially at the end

What I didn’t like:

*“Stolen eggs taste far better."
*"...but the warmth of her body pressed so tightly against his chest…"
*In a Christian book, "Heaven's mercy" would be better off as something else. It feels like the equivalent of the expression "OMG."
*A lie by the hero

*********************
Novella #7: 5 stars

"Jamie Ever After" (2017) by Erica Vetsch,
London in 1813

The heroine: Lady Jamesina (Jamie) Everard and Polly Crofton are about to be brought out at the same time at their debut ball, courtesy of Polly's brother William Crofton, the Earl of Beckenham. On the morning of their ball, the ladies go rowing together on the St. James Canal and suffer a leak!

The hero: William's left hand and arm became deformed during the war, and he is "painfully conscious" of it. Jamie is of course, aware of the state of his hand, but does not treat him differently because of it. At the ball, William endures "the looks and deliberate 'not-looks.'" How very realistic that sounds!

Christian elements: "...No lesson learned was wasted and she'd just have to see what God had in store for her." "How immense the sea is, and how small I am, and yet, God is bigger than the sea and he still sees me."

What I liked: I loved the relationship between the hero and heroine. And I thought Ms. Vetsch did a masterful job of showing the two points-of-view and making them both relatable.

What I didn’t like: I thought the title was strange, but I won't be lowering the rating for that.

*********************
The bottom line: For those who like Christian (or traditional) Regency romances, this is a great collection. I consider all the stories to be excellent and the Christian element to be light. There are maybe a dozen errors I found in the advanced reader copy I received from Barbour, which may or may not have been fixed in the first edition.

If you're looking for casual historical romance reads, the Regency Brides Collection is for you. As a series of independent (relatively short) stories, the collection is great for busy readers who aren't necessarily looking for a novel requiring extensive immersion or concentration. While the stories tend to be extremely predictable, they're well written and full of interesting characters. The plots are cute and clean, and I particularly enjoyed "Jamie Ever After" and "First Comes Marriage". Absolutely reccomended this collection for lovers of Regency Romance!

First Comes Marriage by Amanda Barratt

3 stars

Charity is married to a complete stranger after finding herself compromised. Captain Warren is a naval captain about to go on a three year voyage, three years later the couple reunite and try to find away to forgive each other.


Masquerade Melody by Angela Bell

3.75 stars

Adelaide has had to become her cousins companion due to an unfortunate entail. Colonel Glenmire has been damaged by injuries ands loosing people in the war. Both unite to use their musical skills to free themselves.

Three Little Matchmakers by Susanne Dietze

4 stars

Caroline is a governess to her best friends children, when her best friend and her beset friends husband die, leaving the children (and Caroline) in the are of henry, her best friends brother and an old friend. The children see this as an opportunity for matchmaking and all hell breaks loose.


The Gentleman Smuggler’s Lady by Michelle Griep

DNF

A governess arrives in Cornwall to tend her ailing father. Only to run straight into a smuggler.


When I Saw His Face by Nancy Moser

DNF

A widow wonders what to do after the passing of her husband and the marriage of her stepdaughter. This is way to modern, the author only seems to remember they are writing a period price when somebody goes back to a carriage or tips a hat.


The Highwayman’s Bargain by MaryLu Tyndall

3 stars

Sophia is traveling to London to marry her rich fiance when she gets kidnapped and all sorts of secrets come to light.


Jamie Ever After by Erica Vetsch

5 stars

Jamie is a debutant in her coming out year with her best friend. She also happens to be in love with her best friends elder brother. William has been injured in the Napoleonic wars and believes no women will ever love him.

Another “collection”. I guess this teaches me a lesson after the second collection in a row – yes I do like them! And I will continue to request them. As you’d expect, these all are set in the 1800’s and involve high society, the ton, coming out, in England. That’s where the expected ends – all are quite original and interesting. There’s a lot to like – an enjoyable read right to the very end. Is there ever a sequel to a romance collection? It might be time!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the Barbour Publishing - Netgalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 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.”

“First Comes Marriage" - Amanda Barratt
London 1811

Charity Stanwood, age 17, has been well trained to be a lady. But now she has a crush on Percy Browne. Walking with him in Vauxhall Gardens, she gets caught kissing him by Lady Drucilla Blackthorne, a known gossip, who is shocked at her behavior.

Luke Ware has been summoned by his father for a talk to inform him that they have huge debts, mostly owed to a man named John Stanwood. The man has offered to cancel the debts if Luke agrees to marry his daughter, Charity, who recently became the subject of gossip. Although he is furious at his father’s request, Luke agrees. Charity is also against the marriage, but agrees to an immediate wedding. Shortly after the wedding, Luke joins the Navy and leaves town.

Now 3 years later, Luke is back and he and Charity must get to know one another. Will they be able to have a real marriage and learn to care for one another?

This is an interesting story and I enjoyed it. I gave it 4 stars.


“Masquerade Melody” - Angela Bell

Brighton - 1819

Lady Adelaide Langley, daughter of the late Lord Geoffrey Langley, Earl of Doveton, is the cousin and companion to the spoiled Lady Lydia. They are heading guests of the Prince Regent at his Pavilion. Tonight, the guests will enjoy the works of the Italian composer, Rossini, followed by singing from some of the Prince’s guests.

Colonel Walter Glenmire, a talented composer, is trying to forget Waterloo and its atrocities. The Prince has asked him to compose an aria to be performed at Season’s end glorifying the Waterloo victory.

Adelaide has to try hard to keep the conceited and arrogant Lydia happy. That night, the Prince chooses Lydia to sing while Adelaide prays he will not ask her to do so. Watching Lydia drink too much champagne, Adelaide is trying to remove her from the room when the Prince asks her to sing a song. Although terrified, she sings beautifully and Walter knows he has found his soprano for the aria he is composing for the Prince.

Walter introduces himself to Adelaide as Colonel Lord Walter Marlowe, Marquess of Glenmire. They touch one another’s hearts with their meaningful music. But, Adelaide has to be careful that Lydia does not discover what she is doing or the girl’s father will dismiss her. Sharing their pasts helps Walter and Adelaide to heal. Will she be able to perform without Lydia ruining it for her?

This was a fairly good story. I gave it 3 stars.


“Three Little Matchmakers” - Suzanne Dietze

Staffordshire - 1817

Caroline Dempsey is a governess to three children. They have arrived at Marsden Hall, home of Henry Graves, the Earl of Marsden, and uncle to the children. The children’s parents have passed away. Caroline was a childhood friend of their mother, Esther, Henry’s sister. Caroline and the children will now be living at Marsden Hall.

As a child, Caroline lived in the parson’s cottage nearby and fell in love with Henry many years ago. He had also fallen in love with her back then. When Henry says the children should be sent away to school, Caroline is shocked. The children need a family. Now, the children want them to marry so they can be a family and they won’t have to be sent away from school.

Soon, the children start playing Cupid. However, Henry’s past treatment by his father makes him think it is best to not get to close to someone. But, can the three children show them the path to love?

I think this is a delightful novel. I gave it 4 stars.


“The Gentleman Smuggler’s Lady” - Michelle Griep

Cornwall - 1815

Helen Fletcher is disembarking from the Nancarrow in Cornwall. She has left her job as a governess in Ireland to come care for her ailing father. But, she and the Captain and crew are being held at gunpoint by thieves who are stealing barrels of spirits. As the lead thief tries to grab her, she knees him. But he manages to get her on his horse and depart.

It turns out he is Isaac Seaton. He and his family have been helping her father. Isaac has been working hard for two years to pay off the family’s debts. It appears the Seatons use the money they get to help the poor - just like Robin Hood. The story follows escapades like this.

Quite frankly, I did not care for this story. Too much intrigue which made it boring for me. I gave it 2 stars.


“When I Saw His Face” - Nancy Moser

Chancebury England - 1807

Esther Horton became a widow after just 6 years of marriage leaving her with a 6-year-old stepdaughter named Petunia. Petunia has just married John and is moving away. Esther is delighted because the girl has always been selfish and irascible.

Esther runs a pie shop and does good business with it. Sadie helps her with the work there.

A man named Chester has always admired Esther and wants to marry her. While he is a nice man, he just does not appeal to her.

When her good friend’s nephew comes to town, she is quite smitten with him. But Chester loves her too and promises to be a good husband. Will she be able to choose between them?

This was a pleasant story and I enjoyed it. I gave it 4 stars.


“The Highwayman’s Bargain” - MaryLu Tyndall

Hertfordshire - 1811

Sophia Crew is leaving the humble cottage in which she grew up to wed Mr. Edward Platt, second son of Baron Henley. Her mother has been ill for some years and money from her marriage will help them get her a doctor.

Sophia has been close to Nash who is with the East India Company. Correspondence from him has been sporadic over the years. A recent letter from him necessitated her telling him that she is to be married and to not write again.

During their journey, a highwayman stops them and takes Sophia with him. It turns out to be Nash. He tells her the man she is to marry is a rogue. They talk about the time they spent together when they were growing up.

Will Sophia get back to London and marry Edward or be drawn to Nash?

This was an interesting story. I gave it 3 stars.


“Jamie Ever After” - Erica Vetsch

London - 1813

Lady Jamie Everard and Polly Crofton are enjoying rowing a boat and chatting about their upcoming season where both young ladies are to be brought out. A ball is to be held at Crofton House, home of Polly’s brother, William Crofton, the Earl of Bechenham. Jamie has a crush on William and hopes he will notice her.

When their boat sinks but they are able to get to shore, they are met by a most disapproving William.

The ball is a success but can Jamie get her wish and attract William?

This is a clever story. I gave it 4 stars.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Wow, probably my favorite collection yet! Captivating stories, I love the time period and such variety of situations! Wonderful!

This is a collection of seven novellas produced by evangelical Christian publisher (Barbour Books).
I realise there is a huge market out there for Christian romance. However that audience generally does not include me. I read the novellas & found there were some I enjoyed & others that I found myself skipping through.
First Comes Marriage by Amanda Barratt
Charity and Luke are strangers who were forced to marry three years ago, an inauspicious beginning, especially when the reluctant bridegroom immediately goes to sea with his Navy ship for three years. When he comes back, he has found God and is determined to make a go of his marriage. I disliked Luke & this coloured my feelings about the novella

Masquerade Melody by Angela Bell
Adelaide and Colonel Walter Glenmire share a love of music and disdain for elitism, this was a sweet charming story

Three Little Matchmakers by Susanne Dietze
Caroline Dempsey meets her childhood friend Henry, the Earl of Marsden, once again, but this time she is nothing more than the governess for three orphaned children placed into his care. It was the three children who stole this novella & the escapades had me laughing out loud

The Gentleman Smuggler’s Lady by Michelle Griep
Helen and Isaac harbour his unlikely secret set in Cornwall this had smugglers & Excise men but I felt it was rushed & would have benefited from being longer

When I Saw His Face by Nancy Moser
Esther a mature widow receives a proposal from an eligible bachelor & then she meets an handsome stranger. This was my least favourite & I found myself skipping through it

The Highwayman’s Bargain by MaryLu Tyndall
Kidnapped on the way to her own wedding, Sophia is shocked to find that the highwayman who took her is her childhood sweetheart, Nash, who tells her some unpalatable truths about her future husband. I disliked Nash intensely & couldn’t get through this story fast enough

Jamie Ever After by Erica Vetsch
Jamie and William face a daunting London season together This was my favourite of the collection & definitely the best was kept until last, there’s nothing like a returning, scarred war hero. A sweet romance.

These were seven well written novellas & I’m sure if you like Christian romances then these are for you

With a star-studded group of talented authors, and a central theme of love during the regency period, you can’t go wrong!

If you enjoy reading sweet love stories set during the Recency period then you will not want to miss out on picking up this wonderful book. Two of the authors in this collection were new to me, and I can honestly say that I enjoyed their stories as much as the stories written by my favorites.

Each story has it’s own dynamic cast of characters, with their own set of challenges, and a tender love story. Several of the stories I wished had been longer. But of course, there are limits to how long a story can be when it’s in a novella collection.

I would recommend this collection of stories to anyone who enjoys reading stories set during the Regency period. I give this collection 4.5 stars.

(I receive complimentary books for review from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including Netgalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own.)

Barbour Books brings us another great collection of Regency stories.

First Comes Marriage by Amanda Barratt
Young naïve Charity finds herself in a compromising situation and must marry Captain Luke Warren to save her reputation. As soon as the vows are read he returns to sea for 3 years without a word and he ignores her letters. When he finally returns, will they be able to have a real marriage or just a marriage of convenience?

Overall, I liked the main characters. However, Luke is supposed to have repented but he returns to his vices later in the story which is worrisome.

At the end of the story I was left with lots of questions, like what happens to the sister and the father.

Masquerade Melody by Angela Bell
After her father died and the estate is entailed, Lady Adelaide must become a companion to her spoiled cousin and hide her musical talents.

Colonial Walter comes back from Waterloo with a loss of faith in God after his brother’s death.

Can music help them overcome their past and provide a hopeful future?

Lydia was a mean selfish person but I didn’t like the captain deceiving her and pretending to like her.

I loved the main couple!

While this was a shorter story it felt very complete, though I would love a sequel with Quinby’s story.

Three Little Matchmakers by Susanne Dietze
Caroline, Henry and Esther all play together as children. As they grow, Caroline becomes governess to Esther’s 3 children. After Esther and her husband die, Caroline brings the children to their uncle Henry who wants to dismiss her and send the children to school. Will the children’s matchmaking attempts make them a family again?

I found it strange the Henry was so worried about becoming his father, yet he tried to copy him by being boring and stoic all the time.

I loved the stories of Caro and Henry’s past and how the children tried to recreate their adventures.

This was such a cute story!

The Gentleman Smuggler’s Lady by Michelle Griep
Isaac smuggles to regain what was stolen from him. On his last run, he meets Helen who was arriving to tend to her sick father.

Helen locks away the negatives of the world by pretending that everything is fine even though her father is dying.

After finding out his enemy is involved, will Isaac lose Helen’s trust by going against his promise to not smuggle again?

This story had a strong theme of trusting in God to provide us with what we need.

When I Saw His Face by Nancy Moser
Esther is thrilled when her step-daughter is married off and she can live a quiet life.

Chester has been waiting six years to marry Esther. She agreed that she would when her step-daughter married. Now that the time has come, will a stranger change their plans?

I had a really hard time finishing this story. Esther is everything that a Christian shouldn’t be. She is incredibly shallow and fickle. She complains about gossips, yet she trashes her step-daughter to anyone who would listen. Her step-daughter lost her father at a very young age and instead of helping her, Esther writes her off as a brat.

Instead of trying to get something out of the sermons and prayers she just tunes them out and later trashes the preacher to others.

Esther strings Chester along for six years and then only agrees to his proposal because she is afraid of losing him. Then she lies and cheats on him. Chester never had the opportunity to learn how to read. He justifies it by saying he doesn’t need to know how to read to do his work and Esther calls him an ignorant fool.

She meets a stranger and falls in “love” with him after a few days.

This story was my least favorite and I recommend skipping it.

The Highwayman’s Bargain by MaryLu Tyndall
While on her way to London to marry her fiancé, Sophie’s carriage is held up and she is kidnapped by her childhood friend who is trying to save her from marrying a moral less rake.

This was another story that had the theme of trusting in God and His time, even when life is hard.

Sophie thinks she has to choose between her parents’ health and a happy future.

I was surprised that Sophie couldn’t see her fiancé for what he was sooner and his reasons for wanting to marry her were awful.

I liked this story. I did predict the ending but still enjoyed it.

Jamie Ever After by Erica Vetsch
Jamie had been in love with her best friend’s brother William since she was a girl.

William was injured in the war and believes himself to be a shell of a man and no woman would love him.

During Jamie’s first season, William’s cousin threatens to compromise her and force her to marry him. Williams’s sister Polly begs her brother to marry Jamie and save her.

Will William be willing to believe in love and have a real marriage? Will Jamie get her happily ever after?

This story was about facing our biggest fears and overcoming them.

I loved William and Jamie and thought they were so good together. They needed each other.

I also loved the dogs in this book. Dogs seem to know people’s true selves even better than people.

This story had a great pace. I would love a continuation of it!

Overall this was a really enjoyable collection. There were a few minor hiccups but with a collection this large, that’s bound to be the case. I feel comfortable recommending this one to fellow Regency lovers. Each of the stories were unique and unrelated. That makes it easier to pick it up and read one story at a time in between larger novels. I enjoyed being drawn into the Regency world with each individual author. There were a couple stories that felt more shallow to me but overall the set falls into the 4-4.5 star category with some obvious 5 star stories. Here are some of the highlights:
First Comes Marriage by Amanda Barratt: Charity and Luke are strangers who were forced to marry three years ago.
This was such a charming story and a great start to the set. If you enjoy a story where the couple marries before falling in love, this one fits the bill! And the spiritual theme was forgiveness.

Masquerade Melody by Angela Bell: Adelaide and Walter share a love of music and disdain for elitism. There was a Cinderella type of quality to Bell’s novella that I found delightful. And her message on trusting God when things don’t go as you plan was spot on.

Three Little Matchmakers by Susanne Dietze: Caroline and Henry are thrown together by three orphans. This one was one of my favorites. Dietze is gifted at crafting an endearing story with equally endearing characters.

The Gentleman Smuggler’s Lady by Michelle Griep: Helen and Isaac harbor his unlikely secret.
Griep brings a dose of excitement with her novella!! There’s certainly a message here on judging one another and on having a benevolent heart.

When I Saw His Face by Nancy Moser: Esther is empowered to choose between two men.
I enjoyed reading about an older heroine. I struggled a bit more with this particular story but I felt at home with Moser’s writing and look forward to giving her other works a try! Moser focuses the reader on themes of understanding and following God’s specific plan for your life.

The Highwayman’s Bargain by MaryLu Tyndall: Sophia is determined not to choose a man like Nash. Tyndall treats the reader to another sweet romance. There was a great message here trusting Christ with your needs and not running ahead.
*I will note for like-minded readers, that the heroine’s salvation experience included feeling a hand on her shoulder while she was alone in the room and a gust of wind where there were no open windows. Otherwise, it was a very safe and clean story.
Jamie Ever After by Erica Vetsch: Jamie and William face a daunting London season together.
Vetsch wraps up the collection rather nicely. Jamie Ever After was another one of my favorites. Very nicely done!
~ I received a copy from Net Galley. All thoughts are my own. I was not compensated for my review.

This set of stories was amazing to read. I cried a little, smiled a little and enjoyed the tales. It is funny how mean people can be to each other. Sometimes it is hard to believe God is there. You just have to have faith. If it is meant to be , it will. The characters were amazing, kind, and deserving of love, to see their dreams come true. I loved when one of the characters was walking along a beach and her fella proposed. A very touching set of stories for all ages.

I didn’t realize, when I picked this up for review, that it was published by an evangelical Christian publisher (Barbour Books). Their mission statement is ‘to publish and distribute inspirational products offering exceptional value and biblical encouragement to the masses’.

Now, there is a huge market out there for Christian romance. That audience… generally does not include me. While I was raised a Protestant, and I do still believe in God, organized religion isn’t something I care for.

Nonetheless, I’m no quitter and I resolved to give this anthology a go. There are many ways in which one can express faith without being heavy-handed and that’s what I was looking for here; a romance where two people who share a common faith find love and comfort in each other. Some of the stories did that much better than others, and consequently I’ve decided to write a quick individual review with star rating for each.

First Comes Marriage by Amanda Barratt
A hasty marriage between a young girl compromised by a rake and a young man ordered into it by his father is an inauspicious beginning, especially when the reluctant bridegroom immediately goes to sea with his Navy ship for three years. When he comes back, he has found God and is determined to make a go of his marriage.
To be honest, this was one of my least favourite stories in the book. We never did find out exactly how the hero ‘found God’ and at the first sign of a challenge to his authority, he reverted back to being extremely dislikable. I struggled to warm to him, and Charity was a little bit too good to be true. I’m rating this one three stars.

Masquerade Melody by Angela Bell
This was a gentle, heartwarming story about a young lady living in reduced circumstances after the death of her father forced her into service to her bossy cousin as a companion and chaperone. Adelaide reminded me of a caged bird, desperate to be free with her music, and Colonel Glenmire was a perfect hero for her even if the romance in the story didn’t really become apparent until the very end. Sweetly charming. Five stars.

Three Little Matchmakers by Susanne Dietze
Caroline Dempsey meets her childhood friend Henry, the Earl of Marsden, once again, but this time she is nothing more than the governess for three orphaned children placed into his care. There were hints at abuse in Henry’s past which have conditioned him to guard his emotions, and watching his walls come down as Caroline and the children determinedly loved him was rather charming. There were some hilarious escapades - one particular one involving a sheep in the ballroom had me laughing out loud. A hardened heart has no chance with three determined plot moppets on the case. Five stars.

The Gentleman Smuggler’s Lady
If you like Poldark, you’ll enjoy this one set on the rugged Cornish coast with smugglers and excise men aplenty. While nicely written, I quibbled with a few things such as Helen’s becoming engaged immediately after her father’s death with no mourning period, and the fact that there was no real resolution with the invisible antagonist of the plot. Enjoyable but probably needed to be about double the length. Four stars.

When I Saw His Face by Nancy Moser
A widow in her forties receives a proposal from an eligible bachelor once her stepdaughter marries and moves away, but meeting a handsome stranger makes her rethink her wishes for the future.
Anyone who reads my reviews knows that I’m not a fan of either insta-love OR love triangles, and this story featured both. Honestly I couldn’t get through it fast enough, and I had to go back to it to refresh my memory when writing this review. Two stars.

The Highwayman’s Bargain by MaryLu Tyndall
Kidnapped on the way to her own wedding, Sophia is shocked to find that the highwayman who took her is her childhood sweetheart, Nash, who tells her some unpalatable truths about her future husband.
Now, I liked Sophia well enough. She was doing what she felt she had to do for her family, and was truly caught between a rock and a hard place. Nash behaved like the worst kind of (censored) (bleeping) MAN, asking her to make the biggest call of her life without any information or reassurances from him whatsoever. I genuinely wanted her to push him off the cliff at the end. Two stars.

Jamie Ever After by Erica Vetsch
Absolutely my favourite story in the bunch, this was a really strong one to end on. William, the Earl of Beckenham, has returned from war with serious scars to a fiancee who immediately cried off their marriage. Convinced no woman would ever want him, when his sister asks him to offer marriage to her best friend, in danger from a determined rake, William does so… only to finally discover that the woman who can see past his scars has been right under his nose all along.
There’s nothing better than a scarred hero and the feisty heroine who sees the real man beneath. I adored this one. Five stars.

Overall I can only say that this was a very uneven collection. Depending on personal taste, you’ll probably find at least one story in here which hits the spot for you, but I honestly doubt that anyone would really enjoy all of them, even if Christian romance is your preferred genre. For an averaged rating, I’m giving it four stars.

I am normally not a big fan of Regency romance, but I enjoyed this collections of novellas. Each selection is well written with well developed characters. I recommend this book.

Barbour Books is making their mark on the novella anthologies with the Regency Brides Collection, they have departed from their normal nine novella format to have only seven novellas in the book. This is a good thing in my mind. I just wish they'd come down to only four. From a reviewing standpoint, four seems to be my highwater mark for keeping the plots of the stories straight. That being said, this collection is quite light hearted and fun.

My favorite one of this collection includes a governess of three children and their guardian. The children's antics make the story fun and engaging.

The authors of this collection know what they are doing in preparing a full plot to go in a small package.

Five Star Collection, Two Thumbs Up, and an afternoon cup of tea while entertaining visitors.

My thanks to Barbour Books for allowing me to read and review this book.