If you have been reading my blog for the past year or two you will have noticed I have read and reviewed a few books in The Maiden Lane series and I have enjoyed them.

Once Upon a Maiden Lane is book 12.5 in the series and it can be read as a stand-alone but if you love Historical romance I think you will want to read all the previous books because in this book you get to see some of the previous heroes and heroines.

I love this book just as much I have loved the previous books from this series that I have read. I absolutely love Mary and Henry together.

I am giving this 4 out of 5.

I didn't know I was going to choke up when I read Once Upon A Maiden Lane. Even though this is a novella, but certainly gives an emotional gut punch. I didn't know I was going to have the ugly cry when I started this, truly I did not know. You don't have to worry about reading the previous books in the series, because this definitely can standalone, but you do get to see characters from the previous books. However, this story focuses on Mary Whitsun and Henry Collins. Basically, Henry believes Mary is the long lost daughter of Albright daughter. You can see where this is going. Agh! See here is the trouble with novella, they are so short that it's easy to give things away, but I need to bite my tongue. Oh so painful.

Anyway, I love Mary. She's so sweet and can't believe that this could be her real life. Then we have Henry who finds himself falling for Mary. I mean who wouldn't; she's a lovely lass with quick wit. I need to stop right there. Towards the end I was balling like a baby, because I didn't see what was coming. Pretty good read for a quick one. Yes, it does end happily.

Copy provided by Forever

Elizabeth Hoyt does a great job in showing the division in the different echelon’s of society and how love works within those echelons. In Once upon a maiden lane we have of Mary and Henry and what a romantic story it is.

Henry is in an arranged marriage and is a sweet and caring man. He doesn’t always come off that way but he is. He thinks of his actions and how they effect others first and above his own feelings. So when he sees Mary in a bookstore not only does she intrigue him she looks like the long lost twin sister of his soon to be betrothed.

Mary is a spitfire of a girl. Brought up in a orphanage and found a place with a great family she works for, she is smart, inquisitive, independent and kind. She doesn’t take Henry seriously and rebuffs him. Heck she is beneath his station. next thing she knows, Henry and her supposed family that lost her to a kidnapping is their claiming her to be Cecilia. Henry understands this and gives her space. What I love is he gives her time, encourages her, supports her and gets to know her. He love in love with the person and not her station in society. As Mary did him as they got to know each other and she was brought into a new family.

Her life is threatened many times as is the future of Henry’s. Why? If Mary doesn’t return his affections than he is going to hurt many people but he will honor the wishes of his father. Only life gives them a twist and we see him fight for love and give up so much so that Mary will be in his life.

This is a fun, sweet and romantic story of people from different stations in life that fall in love and fight for that love. They go against all odds and choose love. the story is fast paced, fun and sweet. I love reading Henry’s thoughts and seeing his interactions with Mary and his sisters. he is always thoughtful and real. Mary is always kind hearted and understanding. Together they are each other’s best friends and rocks. It is a great sweet fun romantic story that has you smiling from the beginning to end.

in once upon a maiden lane miss mary whitsun nearly gets her fairy tale story. when she is thought to be the long-lost daughter of an earl she's transported from her life as a maidservant to a debutante with a ready-made fiancé.

it's hard to believe that any of this is happening to her, and even harder to believe how much she actually wants it to be true. especially because henry collins, viscount blackwell might just be the man of her dreams. but elizabeth hoyt doesn't tend to write straightfoward fairy tales, so while miss mary whitsun might just get the boy, it's not a certainty that he'll be the prince she expected.

mary whitsun figured heavily in the opening books in the maiden lane series, so it is nice to see her all grown up and getting her happily ever after, because in the end, even if it's not perfect, it might be exactly what she needs.

The Maiden Lane series is officially completed as far as full length novels are concerned. However, I think Ms. Hoyt plans to publish novellas now and then so lovers of this series can revisit this world.

Blurb:
Miss Mary Whitsun is far too intelligent to fall for the rakish charms of a handsome aristocrat. But when the gentleman in question approaches her in a bookshop, mistaking her for his fiancée, Lady Johanna Albright, the flirtatious encounter only raises more questions. Could Mary, a servant raised in a St Giles orphanage, actually be Lady Joanna’s long-lost twin sister? If so, Mary has been betrothed since birth—to the rakishly handsome artistocrat himself.
Henry Collins, Viscount Blackwell, is far too intrigued by Mary to let her go so easily. He’s drawn to her sharp mind, indomitable spirit, and the fiery way in which she dismisses him—ladies simply don’t dismiss Lord Blackwell. But as Mary makes her first hesitant steps into society, she can’t help but wonder if she truly has a place in Henry’s world—or in his heart.

Remember Mary Whitsun? She now works for Lord and Lady Clare as a nanny to their children. She’s content with her life and place within the Clare household. Then she is mistaken for a missing woman and her life suddenly gets crazy.

In only about 100 pages, Ms. Hoyt managed to somewhat catch readers up on Mary’s life, introduce the hero, and then set Mary on a whirlwind adventure from nanny to aristocratic lady. She introduced several new characters and brought Mary and Henry together. This Cinderella type story was a quick and enjoyable read, I even think it was written in a way that readers new to this series would find easy to follow along.

Of course the love story is rushed a bit between the Mary and Henry, but I expected that with the page count. They do have a lovely courtship and the ending and their HEA couldn’t have been more perfect. This was a sweetly romantic, sensual read with just a touch of mystery to make things interesting. Here’s to hoping we see more novellas in this series in the future.

Favorite Quote:

“You,” said Henry as he untied his neckcloth, “are more beautiful than the sun, the moon, and all the stars in the night sky.”
She could feel herself blushing. “Might that be a tad bit exaggerated?”
He knit his brow as if thinking. “No. No, I don’t think so.”

Elizabeth Hoyt's fabulous Maiden Lane series has come full circle, bringing romance into the life of orphaned Mary from the very first book and delivering a well deserved HEA to them all. With the perfect blend of Hoyt's flawless story telling and the grit, wit and chemistry between characters that make a story sing, Once Upon a Maiden Lane is a perfectly-perfect read, from start to finish.

Once again we are transported back to Maiden Lane and into the lives of the characters that we have come to love. This Novella tells the story of Mary Whitsun, an orphan who was left on the steps of the Home for Unfortunate Infants and Foundling Children in St. Giles. Mary grew up there and is now a nanny for Lord and Lady Caire's two young children.

One day Mary is in her favorite bookstore when she is pestered by a Gentleman that seems to know her by a different name. She wants nothing to do with him and leaves as quickly as she can. Henry was sure that the young lady was his fiancee, she was the exact image of Lady Joanna. It turns out that Lady Joanna was born a twin and both girls were kidnapped when they were babies, and only one of the little girls were ever found.

Mary cannot believe that she is the long-lost daughter of a lord. She has lived her life as a servant and considers herself lucky to have a position with a family whom she loves. She is thrown into the position of a Lady, and she engaged to be married to the man from the bookstore. As she becomes more sure of herself and spends more time with Henry, she finds that she can be happy if Henry is by her side.

As Henry and Mary get to know each other and spend a lot of time together, they find themselves falling in love. Just as everything is coming together for their HAE someone is trying to kill Mary, she has been shot at twice, the second time her maid was hit in the arm. Henry is determined to find the culprit who is trying to take Mary away from him.

As always Elizabeth writes a wonderful story that will pull you into her world that is filled with stunning characters, a plot that is surprising as it is mysterious with a surprising ending. This novella can be read as a stand-alone. If you have never read the Maiden Lane Series by Elizabeth I recommend that you start at the beginning. You will love this Series.

I know this series has barely ended, but I'm already grieving not getting to visit these characters every 9 months or so. This novella gives you just one more delicious taste of this awesome series and a chance to delve a bit deeper into Mary Whitsum's background. I loved the books that featured the St Giles orphanage so it was neat to revisit this setting and characters. Of course there's another great mystery-is she or isn't she?- and though it was a full length novel, there was a neck of a lot of a story crammed into a mere 130 pages.

Mary Whitsun is an orphan working as a nursemaid. When an aristocrat mistakes her for his fiancée during an outing on her day off, she thinks the man is either in his cups or making fun of her and gives him a piece of her mind.
Henry Collins, Viscount Blackwell, recognizes the girl is not Lady Joanna, but thinks she could be her long lost twin and will do everything in his power to have her received into her family. Immediately attracted by the fiery disposition of the woman who might be the one destined from birth to be his bride, he’ll stop at nothing to have her recognized as such.
Kidnap, assassination attempts and doubts make this short story of the Maiden Lane series. I really enjoyed the pace and development as well as the way it all unraveled for Henry and Mary. Though Blackwell is a man bound by his duty, he won’t let it get in the way of love.
This is a really nice short read of the genre and encompasses all the elements of the series making it romantic and entertaining without being a full novel.

I was pleased one of the Mary’s from the Home for Unfortunate Infants and Foundling Children got her own romance!

Mary Whitsun may have grown up in an orphanage, but she didn’t grow up without love thanks to Lady Caire and all the others running the home. But still, the possibility of being a lady, and having a family sounds too good to be true, yet that’s what has happened to Mary. Out on a day off she runs into the impossibly handsome Lord Henry Blackwell, and her life forever changes.

While out shopping Lord Henry Blackwell mistakes Mary for Lady Joanna the daughter of the Earl of Angrove, but quickly realizes he’s mistaken. This woman has spunk and life, and stirs up desires in him that Joanna never has. Henry thinks he must have discovered the lost Angrove twin, the twin who was to be his wife.

Mary may have been hesitant at first, but as she got to know Henry and realized he wasn’t just a pretty, spoiled aristocrat, her reservations melted. Heat and desire spark between them every time they’re close! Henry was lovely, so I knew Mary couldn’t help but fall for him.

There’s a little mystery and danger as someone is either out to kill Henry or Mary. They’re not sure of the intended target, but when it was all revealed I felt bad for Henry and Mary.

Once Upon a Maiden Lane is short on pages, but rich with passion and feeling. Elizabeth Hoyt brings her characters to life with her beautiful writing, making you feel what they feel, and always delivers a sweet, happy ending!

A copy was kindly provided by Forever via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I feel somewhat grateful that I am behind on this series, because I know that I have more goodness to look forward to. Because I am really sad that this one is ending. I have enjoyed all of the books I have read thus far, and Once Upon a Maiden Lane is no exception.

Our heroine is Mary Whitsun, whom we met as a ward of the orphanage in one of the earlier books. She is now a grown woman and living in the home of Lady Caire as a nursemaid. Things seem to be going well for Mary, despite being relegated to the serving class. She has a good home and a good position, though she must scrimp and save to purchase one of her beloved books. She has a distrust for aristocratic men, and I'm not sure what that stemmed from. Perhaps its in one of the books that I haven't read. I liked that she had wit and personality, and wasn't afraid to show it to Henry from the get go.

I just loved this hero - Henry, Lord Blackwell. As the son of an earl, the viscount is determined to do his duty and marry Lady Joanna, despite having more brotherly feelings than romantic interest. But when he finds a woman that looks remarkably like Joanna, he doesn't have any brotherly interest in her. Indeed, quite the opposite. Henry is drawn to her fire and wit, and loves the fact that she doesn't just fall at his feet like the rest of the single ladies of the ton.

I was surprised at the amount of goodness that was packed into such a short novella. Not only did we have some good banter and relationship building, but there was also a bit of mystery and drama thrown in as well. I am looking forward to the Christmas novella coming out last month, but will be sad that it's the last book in the series.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from the publisher, Forever Romance.

This is the final novella for the Maiden Lane series and it is an adorable and very sweet story that wraps up the series perfectly.

This novella takes us back to a character who has been in the series from the start. Mary Whitsun is the favorite Mary of Temperance, who is now Lady Caire. Temperance is the heroine of Wicked Intentions. She and her brother Winter ran an orphanage in St. Giles, and Mary Whitsun had been at the orphanage for a long time. She came with Lord and Lady Caire when they married and has been the Caire children's nursemaid. Set about 5 years after Duke of Desire life is about to change drastically for Mary Whitsun, when someone mistakes her to be Lady Joanna Albright.

Thought to be the lost twin of Lady Joanna, Mary is immediately enveloped in becoming Lady Cecilia Albright. Instruction for all things nobility by her mother Lady Albright and her peerless grandmother, loved instantly by her twin Joanna, Mary finally feels she has a family. But a life among gentry isn't what Mary ever dreamed of - or wanted. Even if she has begun to fall for Henry, the dashing lord to who she has been betrothed since birth and is responsible for her elevation.

I have always liked Mary Whitsun and I was thrilled for her to have a happy ending. Mary doesn't like Henry on the spot at first, and she lets her prickly side show. She loves her independence and doesn't want to be a lady, even if she doesn't really mind not being the Caire children's nursemaid anymore.

Lord Henry Blackwell is deeply devoted to his family and is charming, sweet, and a little roguish. Henry thinks Mary is hilarious, and he likes her from the start. The two of them have great chemistry and the tension builds between them, even when Mary thinks she doesn't want an aristocrat like Henry.

I love the ending of this novella, because it ties in so many characters from the original trilogy. Meaning, most of the Makepeace family, and the Reading family, but we also see the Huntington family and extensions (like Bridget and Val). We see many members of the Wakefield family (like Phoebe and James. The ending of this book is perfect because everyone is a part of it. This made me so happy and a little sad too.

It was a lovely ending to a spectacular series.

I’m not going to lie. I didn’t even read the summary for this book before one-clicking. Elizabeth Hoyt never fails to bring a delightful story, and Once Upon a Maiden Lane is no different.

Mary Whitsun has the surprise of her life when she runs into an aristocratic (and dreamy-eyed) lord who mistakes her for someone else. Someone he's betrothed too, someone who has been missing for years. But Mary casts him off as someone playing a jest. And yet...the possibilities come back to haunt her.

As I said before I didn’t even read the blurb, so I got through one chapter before the heroine’s name hit me. MARY. WHITSUN. I stopped to fist pump because it was the most exciting news ever. I’m so glad we got to see her story.

Okay, on to the review…

Mary's whole life changes in the blink of an eye, and Mary has to wonder if everything’s too good to be true. Mary’s such a great character, and she goes toe-to-toe with what she assumes is another typical rakehell of London. But Henry Collins isn’t like any gentleman she’s met before and there’s something about him that draws her in.

The structure of this book really worked for me. It wasn’t anything overt either. It was one piece revealed right after another, and before I knew it, the book was ending, and I wanted to cry because everything Ms. Hoyt writes just has this magic that keeps me engaged. The banter was delicious, and the little pings of awareness that crop up—a bit here, a bit there—had me finish the paragraph saying, dang, that was intense.

I just wish it had been a little longer. There's a lot happening and it would have made a bit more of an impact, I think, if there had been a slower buildup.

Overall, this is a short little story that keeps us in the Maiden Lane series world. This remains one of my top recommended historical romance series, and it always will. Those who love historical romance just as much will find Ms. Hoyt brings the charm, the heat, and the intensity. A winning combination.

4 stars!

A short novella about Mary Whitsun, but then weren't they all called that. I did move from book 1 t book 8 but I do recall this Mary...I think.

Mary seems to be a missing Lady, and on top of that she gets a fiance. A hot one. Lucky girl.

Since it is only a 100 pages we get to see her at her new home, with her new fiance, and with something more...drama, spoilers.

I liked Mary. I liked Henry. A good match.

Every chapter has a part of a fairytale, I usually like the, but this one, eh.

There is romance and danger. A very nice novella that did not feel too short.

3.5 Stars

I will fully admit that novellas are my guilty pleasure. I love them. You get a quick hit of exciting romance without having to invest a large chunk of your day to feed your obsession. It’s kind of like speed dating only it actually works out and you don’t just meet a bunch of weirdos who live in their mother’s basement.

I have had the pleasure of reading several of Ms. Hoyt’s full-length books so I jumped at the chance for this little read. If you’re a fan of witty humour and a strong sense of connection between the main characters, this is an author for you to add to your reading list.

Mary Whitsun has neither the time nor patience for too handsome, self-confident aristocratic men. She enjoys her simple life and limited prospects until the dashing Henry, Viscount Blackwell accosts her in her favourite bookstore and changes her life forever. Could she really be the long-lost daughter of an Earl? More importantly, could she really be his fiancée? Spending the rest of her life with a man whose very proximity makes her heart beat faster might be too much even for this strong-willed girl. Mary will take marathon dance lessons over his intense stare any day of the week. But his stare, his very existence sparks something inside her that just can’t be denied but could quite literally be the death of them both.

Ms. Hoyt jumps right in by creating an obvious and intense attraction between Mary and Henry. You feel it from the first few pages and the heat intensifies as they get to know each other better. Henry volunteers to work with Mary to teach her the ways of polite society but selfishly uses most of that time in attempts to seduce her. I like the playful way they flirt with each other throughout the story and I find that dynamic between them is what sucks the reader in.

With a novella, it can be hard to really establish a connection with any of the characters but I found myself very much enjoying Mary and Henry’s love story, brief as it might have been. I felt invested in their happy ending and that of some of the other characters featured in this edition who I am sure feature more prominently in her other books in the Maiden Lane series. You may only have a few pages to get to know your lead characters but I believe Ms. Hoyt has done a good job of revealing her strong, devilish hero and her intelligent, compassionate heroine. The only critique I have of the writing is a few choice words used that take the reader by surprise. They felt a bit out of place given the heat rating. I think the author could have gotten her point across without suddenly using the more base descriptions of the male anatomy. They didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the story but they didn’t feel like they flowed with the tone of the rest of the novella.

Overall, I think this novella is definitely worth the quick read. Whether you have read the other 12 books and novellas in the Maiden Lane series or not, it doesn’t really matter. No previous experience is required to get caught up in this fun and enticing love story. If you run out and buy all the other books in this series that you somehow managed to miss reading before, don’t say I didn’t warn you.

~ Danielle

Fans of Elizabeth Hoyt's Maiden Lane series will enjoy this brief new entry, featuring a favorite character from an earlier book: Mary Whitsun, the orphan who grew up in the Makepeaces' establishment, and who may be a long-lost peer's daughter. The novella format made the attraction between the characters slightly faster (and less believable) than Hoyt's full-length novels, but the narrative still had some twists and turns. Overall an enjoyable read.

ONCE UPON A MAIDEN LANE nearly concludes the Maiden Lane series by Elizabeth Hoyt. It is the second last novella in the series. There will be one more after this and it depressing me because I love this series so dearly.

This book is quite fun and that’s mainly due to the hero and heroine. I adored them dearly and I really wished this book was full length. Hoyt does a great job of bringing these characters to life and injecting them with personality. There’s a good amount of banter as well as sexual tension. This is especially impressive for a novella so I was very happy about that.

While both the hero and heroine grabbed my attention from the beginning, there was something especially alluring about the hero. Henry is a dream. I loved the way he flirted and teased Mary. It made for a really cute romance. Like I said, I wished there was more so I could prolong the pleasure.

If you haven’t read this series, then I would highly suggest reading the series from the beginning. It has action, romance, and a touch of the forbidden, which I think makes things very entertaining. I really enjoyed this novella and I hope you give it a shot.

Review will post around release date

Once Upon a Maiden Lane is an utterly charming read! Mary Whitsun was introduced to readers in the first Maiden Lane book, Wicked Intentions, so I was delighted that – as the series comes to a close – the now-adult Mary gets a story of her own. Mary is witty, kind, and an overall endearing heroine. Even though she has grown up under the loving care of Temperance, now Lady Caire, Mary has never had a life all her own and there’s something a bit lonely about her at the beginning of the story. That’s why she’s wary, yet hopeful, when she learns that she might have a family that has been looking for her all her life.

Mary simply shines in this story and comes into her own, though not just because of her change in status. She’s a lovely woman and I wanted her to have the fairytale life and love she so deserves. What happens I will not spoil, but since this is a romance it’s safe to say that a happily ever after is guaranteed. I absolutely adored Mary and Henry’s love story. Henry may be an aristocrat, but he’s no snob. He’s a kind, loving man with charm and good looks to spare. He and Mary had instant chemistry and I cannot count the number of times they made me smile. The two of them fit like lock and key; they have friendship, passion, shared interests, and they just simply work as a couple. As this is a novella, the timeline of the romance is a bit swift, but I didn’t mind being swept away because I was so entranced by Elizabeth Hoyt’s writing.

Once Upon a Maiden Lane can be read as a standalone and is sure to delight anyone who likes a good fairytale-like historical romance. That being said, part of what made this story so satisfying to me was getting to see or hear mention of some of my favorite Maiden Lane heroes and heroines. Temperance, for example, plays a significant supporting role and warms my heart, and of course it takes no time at all for the irreverent Duke of Montgomery to steal the page. I cannot adequately express how much I enjoyed Once Upon a Maiden Lane. It’s a heartwarming story I know I will be reading again and again and again.

"I want to learn all of you. I want you to know me in return. When I next kiss you, I want you to welcome my lips like a lover instead of a stranger."
 
A novella listed as #12.5 in the Maiden Lane series, you could still read this as a standalone. Mary grew up in the orphanage featured in the series and we've seen glimpses of her and a couple other characters before but the hero and their romance is a new introduction.
 
With some Cinderella inspiration, nursemaid Mary is identified in a bookstore by our hero Lord Henry Blackwell to be the missing Albright twin. Twin babies stolen by their nursemaid, while Johanna was recovered Cecilia was never found. Henry is taken aback by how much Mary looks like Johanna and immediately claims she is Cecilia. Now, this is a novella, so the tempo gets pushed up. Henry's immediate claim Mary is Cecilia and the family accepting it is a bit side-eyeing but the relationship Henry and Mary have, made up for it for me.
 
He looked at her, at her straight black brows and the big brown eyes regarding him so seriously, and yet with a spark of humor, and it was as if something turned over in his chest. She was playing with him, this woman.
 
I instantly felt a spark between the two, Hoyt's skill with sexual tension was evident but the friendship and sheer compatibility between the two won the show for me. Mary's guardedness but also strength paired with Henry's charm provided a delightful give and take between them.
 
"And you? Did you have a pet as a child?"
"Yes, several," he replied. "Dogs and cats. Now I've got two hounds---Mole and Timberline."
"Mole?"
"His ears are very soft," he said a tad defensively.
 
I also thought this story was laced with skillful writing moments that a top author like Hoyt can provide; showing, instead of being told, little nuances of a character make the reading so much richer. You'll also get a pretty good feel for the times (1700s) as Hoyt focuses on the clothing through Mary being dressed as a lady for the first time.
 
As I mentioned, the Cinderella story, and all it’s in and outs, has some forced and awkward moments and the ending was a tad rushed but there is an epilogue that works to soothe that (you'll see a lot of past characters show up here). This is a novella and if you're looking for a quick hit of romance warmth, Once Upon a Maiden Lane would provide that and a friendly return to the Maiden Lane world.
 
It was like a fairy tale come true.

This historical romance book was one that immediately immersed me in the story and was engrossed I hated to stop reading in order to eat!

This book about how orphan Mary accidentally meets devilishly handsome Henry, Viscount Blackwell at the local bookstore. He believes she’s the long-lost missing twin of Lady Albright. Besides adjusting to what may or may not be her new life, someone begins to take shots wherever Mary and Henry are together. The truth about if she truly is the daughter and who is shooting at them comes out but not as the reader expected.