Not your average Regency romance. Adding a Romani as a main character added a new twist to this tale. Presented new problems that just the usual class problems.
Also included a look into the plight of women at that time having no say in their own lives, and being left with a man controlling them even if he has no scruples.

SEEKING PATIENCE is an entertaining novel, well-written, with a plot that will capture a reader's attention, if he can swallow a few shots of disbelief. Patience, the title character, is plain, scarred, and has been ignored or mistreated by all the men in her life. Yet, she emerges as a sweet and caring young woman, blooming after the death of her cruel husband. Her love interest Luca is of mixed lineage, having an English father and a Roma mother. Their path to love is understandably difficult, complicated by the fact that Luca is the tribe's leader and is being actively pursued by a rival tribe. While I appreciate author Riviera's attempt to focus on the Roma people, I felt she was trying so hard to be politically correct that the characterization was shallow, and Luca, Marko and others seemed more like graphic novel characters than real people. Luca seemed to be nothing but passion and fire with very little good sense to him. Likewise, Marko, the villain,was just a foul black cloud that stunk up every scene he entered. For me, this book was too over-the-top with so much incredible melodrama and plotting. However, the writing and dialogue is skilled, so I could see others might enjoy happily suspending disbelief and plunging into the world of Patience and Luca. Three solid stars from me for the quality of the writing and the persistence of the author to follow the story to completion.

The main characters are so different from each other yet at the same time have a lot of similarity. Luca and Patience are each struggling with their own troubles. Despite social norms of the day or warnings for others, they end up helping each other through the tough times and ultimately healing their souls and growing close to each other.

This a is sweet, warm romance that is teaming with rogue, troublemaking gypsies, and pompous, devious socialites and two hurting people who get trapped in the middle.


A must read for anyone who loves a good romance with a bit of scandal.

Lady Patience is a widow who lives in near poverty. Married to a cruel man who died after being beaten, she loves on the whims of her stepson. She hears a noise and opens the door to find a badly hurt man. She brings him in to discover that he is Luca, leader of a caraway of Gypsies. He has been hurt by a rival who wants to see him dead. He is half Gypsy, half English. He believes himself to have been deserted by his father and feels resentful. While hiding in Lady Patience's house, she and Luca become involved in a relationship. She has a secret. Will he able to overcome it ? Will he stay with her or go back with his caravan? I liked the story. It was well written. The heroine was very forgiving. The hero was arrogant and very full of himself. I received this book from Net Galley and the publisher for a honest review and no compensation otherwise.The opinions expressed are my own.

After being severely beaten for his attempts to get food for his clan, Gypsy Luca is taken in and helped by Lady Patience Blakwell , a young widow who has been mistreated first by her husband and now by his ruthless son. Despite cultural pressures and pressures from her step-son, Patience cares for Luca and soon grows to love him. Luca’s gypsy heritage in a world of English prejudices threatens to keep them apart.

I have said before and will say again that I love a good romance. I was curious to see how their relationship would play out and how Patience and Luca would bridge the obvious gap between their 2 worlds. The romance was sweet with more subtle sideplots.

2 stars

Synopsis: Patience is a widowed countess who is living in the dower house on the heir's sufferance. In fact, the heir wants her to marry him, and is doing his best to encourage her by making sure that she has no money. One day, Luka, who is running from another clan and is injured, is let in to the house. Patience, in spite of her limited resources, does what she can to save him.
As Luka heals, he deals with his clan issues from afar, but has to return to help feed them and take care of them. He is torn, though, between living in the white world that he has always hated with the woman he loves, and living with the people who have always accepted him, even while they smother him.

What I liked: how Patience saw the best and made the best of everything, and tried to help however she could.

What I didn't like: there wasn't a lot of build in relationship. Basically they met and were in love, and that was it. They thought they couldn't be together because of cultural differences, but everything was solved and rosy.

Overall impression: the story was lacking, with no build in relationship between the two of them. And while Patience had faith that things would work out, she never really did anything to help them.

*I received a copy through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

An interesting look into a different part of Georgian society.



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I read the book some time ago and had to return to it in order to write a review. I really tried to get through the story, as it just did not do anything for me. The premise was interesting, a widowed countess rescuing a gypsy leader, who had wandered onto her property. However, the story just did not keep my interest. There were too many unanswered questions that distracted me from enjoying the book.

I will not delve into details but suffice it to say that the countess was definitely an unhappy woman. She had been abused by "her smooth-talking cousin"" as a young lady. Her late husband was abusive and vile. Her stepson was controlling and perverted.

Just writing that paragraph brought back my questions:

1. Why was the cousin not punished for what he did?
2. Why were they not forced to marry?
3. How did her father find the earl who agreed to marry her?
4. Did he know of her history?

So, none of those questions were answered in the book. I just had to draw my own conclusions but was that was unsatisfactory.

The dialogue between the main characters felt stiff at times and was very repetitive. The author referred to the cousin in the same term for the entire book. I wanted to know more about that situation. It laid the groundwork for the character's life and yet, there was so little information provided. There were attempts at humor with a secondary female character and a small dog. Otherwise, the tone of the tale was grim. The ending had a twist that many may have seen coming...

I just ordered, for free, the first book in the series, Seeking Catherine. I will read it with an open mind and see if it is any more entertaining. However, after reading the synopsis, I am not overly optimistic.

An interesting story. Bit different but entertaining none the less. The characters are intriguing and strong willed. The storyline well written. I was a bit disappointed in the way Lucas history played out. Would have loved to know more about him and them and the outcome of secrets that come to light. I know the story revolves around the heroine but I'm still curious about him. All in all its a nice story. I'd definitely read more by this author.

Oh .... BUY BUY BUY BUY BUY!
I sometimes get so tired of reading..... for all seems the same lately... THIS IS NOT THE SAME! I was so surprised that I was totally involved in the story from page one. I had a very difficult time rejoining the real world long enough to cook and shower! I read all day... and late into the night. I hated the fact the story ended. I want more more more! I enjoyed every character, the plot the way it is set up and the way the entire story starts , continues and ends. This author is not one of my normal ones .... However, after this... I will look for this author! So buy the book and most of all, make sure you have time to read it without a lot of interruptions. I was given this book in return for an honest review via NetGalley. My opinion is my own and done voluntarily. Regards, Anna Swedenmom

Seeking Patience is a story of trust, love, rejection, pain and GODly Direction. Luka hurt rejected Gypsy Leader by his father. You have patience widowed by a man that was not very good to her. One day Luca was hurting arrival and ends up on Patience's doorstep as a good Christian she treats him back to health and they start to fall for each other. Did they do anything about it or did that sharpening twist come into the middle of them? The only way you will find out is by getting this book and it is worth it.

This is my first Josie Riviera book and it is thoroughly enjoyable. All the elements of a good romance are here – hurt, pain, rejection, love, forgiveness and compassion. Patience is all that is right in a Christian woman, living her faith, not just talking about it. Even her servants knew of her kind, giving heart. Her giving relationship extended to her servants like they were her family, as well as, to strangers. And in turn, her servants helped protect her from her truly despicable stepson, Crispin and Luca’s enemy, Marko.

Luca, with his tall, dark good looks sees past Patience’s scar to see the beauty within her heart. He struggles with his own prejudices to over come the life he has had due to his father leaving, but he knows Patience is good for him and the right one for him. I kind of thought that Fabiana might not be giving a realistic view of what happened between his parents, but was not sure. Luca trusted her; she had helped raise him; he had no reason not to trust her.

There were times when you think Patience might give upon Luca, but she does not. She just continues to give. I loved Patience’s humble strength of character. She is not about to give in to Crispin. Both Patience and Luca had a strong secret that could, potentially, keep them apart. Their HEA comes with difficulty, but is beautiful when it comes. This is a sweetly, innocent book.

Seeking Patience is a truly charming tale enveloping the dislike, even hatred, the English had for the Romany people. The little details about them stealing to live did not help, but they are an honest, loyal people. The Romany have their own prejudices, too. Ms. Riviera did a good job of showing both sides.

Seeking Patience is a beautifully written romance with a well crafted plot. Loved this book.