Oh my goodness, I’ve found another favorite author! This was so good! I liked Rebecca from the first pages and Nicholas from the first paragraph. The characters were fully fleshed-out and fun; they felt like real friends. I laughed, cried, stewed, and sighed. I haven’t had a book make me feel this many emotions in a long time. Truly, I loved this one and am excited to read other books from this author!

Rated PG for romance
—no language
—no violence
—clean romance (clean but with the right amount of spice)

I received this ebook free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

My Rating: 4 Stars

Confident and daring Rebecca Rowley has carefully crafted a plan that will simultaneously bring her lifelong happiness and get to the bottom of her family's fifteen-year-old fallout with her father's former business partner. However, as Rebecca begins to investigate her father's old business journal and in the meantime becomes acquainted with principled and dashing Lieutenant Avery next door, she finds that her carefully laid plans begin to unravel. In order to make sense of her heart and her family, she must learn what it means to truly love and truly forgive.

At a Glance: I liked this book a lot. The writing is delightfully witty--it had me laughing throughout the whole story! There is situational humor and no end of witty banter between all characters. Joanna Barker's writing is fluid and engaging. She weaves a story that is both light and deliberate in tone, much like Rebecca Rowley's personality. I found the characters are well-developed and believable. I had a hard time putting it down!

Themes explored here include deception versus truth, fidelity to commitments, and judging individuals by their goodness of heart, rather than their mistakes.

Content Guide:
Sex & Affection--A couple shares a few meaningful kisses, a married man suggests he enjoys marital intimacy, a woman dresses with a low neckline to attract a man's attention, a woman wears a dress with a low neckline to a dinner party, a woman unintentionally attracts a man's gaze toward her bosom because a piece of paper is accidentally poking out of her stays.
Language--None
Drugs, Alcohol, & Substance Use--Wine is consumed.
Violence & Crime--None

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley.com. All opinions are entirely my own.

I've been on a Joanna Barker kick since I got a couple of her books for my birthday. So when I saw Otherwise Engaged available for review, I requested it immediately. And it just so happened that I had the opportunity to keep reading once I got started on this one. And I'm glad that was the case because I did not want to put it down.

Rebecca has recently returned home from a trip to Brighton where she secretly accepted the proposal of a man who she's certain her family will not approve of due to some secret history between their two families. The two have a plan to uncover the falling out between their families so they can convince each family to forgive and forget and thus they will be able to move forward with marriage with the blessings of their families. But finding information isn't so easy

Meanwhile, Rebecca saves the new neighbor's sister from drowning in a lake. Her initial meeting with Lt. Avery is unconventional, to say the least. The two don't get off on the best foot, but Nicholas is intent on making amends for his harried and rude behavior at their meeting. The two feel safe with each other knowing that Rebecca has a beau and is therefore not interested in Nicholas. And Nicholas has plans to return to active duty in the Navy and isn't planning on marrying anyone. They take advantage of comfort with each other to share burdens, passions, secrets, and time. The build between them was mesmerizing, and I found myself holding my breath with anxiety over these two characters.

Olivia is Nicholas' half-sister that he's recently become responsible for since the death of Olivia's mother six months earlier. Olivia comes off like an angry child. She's surly and sassy. She's brutally honest. But she's also hurt and grieving. You can't help but feel for her and therefore fall in love with her. I would love to read her story one day.

The other side characters came off the page just as much. I loved Rebecca's relationship with her mother and her brother. Between the three, there is genuine love and affection. Even though they mourn the loss of Rebecca's father, it's easy to envy their family dynamic.

Favorite quotes:
-“Once I’ve set my aim, I never miss.”

-You challenge me. You understand me. You take me as I am and, yet, make me wish to be better.”

-“I never thought I would surrender myself so easily or so willingly. But you have captured me, Rebecca Rowley, and I have no desire to escape.”

Ah! Otherwise Engaged is all the good things. I don't always enjoy love triangles, but I do enjoy characters realizing that they've outgrown a relationship and someone else is a better fit for them. Nicholas and Rebecca have a wonderful journey. I loved how well they knew and understood each other. Nicholas particularly had a good read on Rebecca. I can see myself re-reading this one someday which says a lot about my feelings these days. Otherwise Engaged gets 4.5 Stars. Have you read Otherwise Engaged? What did you think? Let me know!

4.5 stars rounding up. Engaging Regency romance. Rebecca is proper but with a reckless wild side. She returns to her mother and brother from Bath with a secret. Rebecca is engaged to someone who might not be welcomed by her family. Coming home she is looking for ways to share her news with her family. She settles into her community which includes meeting her new neighbor, Lieutenant Nicolas Avery and his surly younger sister Olivia.

Rebecca confides in Nicolas about her romance and they set into developing a friendship. There were many scenes that are humorous and natural. It was easy to see their relationship growing. One especially well written has Nicolas watching Rebecca ride her horse in soaring freedom and comparing it to the feeling he feels on the seas.

Rebecca isn't perfect. She is self absorbed and impulsive. But how many twenty years old aren't? Everything is from Rebecca's POV. The side characters are fully developed (except for fiancé Edward) and likable. It is wonderfully refreshing to enjoy a romance where the only content warning is for kissing. I will look for other books by author Joanna Barker.

Thank you to NetGalley, Covenant Communications and the author for a ARC ebook in exchange for a honest review.

This was a light-hearted Christian romance, light on the Christian. It was entertaining and I enjoyed reading it very much.
It was a good, clean read and not at all preachy. It flowed well, and the characters were pleasingly developed and mostly realistic.

I had not read anything by Joanna Barker previously and look forward to her next book.
I received this book through Netgalley in exchange for my own, honest review.

A sweet regency with everything you’d expect from a book from that time period. The kissing scenes were on fire and I appreciated the character arcs through the progression of the story.

Otherwise Engaged by Joanna Barker 5 stars

This is my first Joanna Baker book but it won’t be my last. I truly enjoyed the story of Rebecca. Her secret engagement with Edward, bareback riding and her unique acquaintance with the Avery’s are some of the exciting elements of the story.

I felt frustration, anticipation, thrill, laughter and happiness while reading her story. I love the camaraderie between Rebecca and Nicholas. I look forward to some serious and numerous funny conversations and interactions. I like the Rowleys too and now I want to read Julia and William’s back story.

They have flaws and I love reading how they overcome them. It’s a fun book to read and I feel like I know them all now.

Thank you #netgalley and Covenant Communications for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Christian | Historical Fiction | Romance

This was so well done. Normally I do not really go for the whole 'I already have someone but I am going to accidentally fall in love with someone else" idea. The woman or man come off fickle and messy. This worked and it worked because the author got you so into her head and thoughts that you completely understood this girl and all her choices. It was so well done and very character driven. I really enjoyed this heroine. I understood her and her motivations. I liked her spirit and dang I liked how they fell in love. I normally like a lot more tension but this was so well done and felt so real I loved it. I hope Olivia gets her story next:} I would love to see her fall in love:}

4.5*  Joanna Barker has crafted a romantic tale of a woman who is discovering who will make her happy.  Rebecca Rowley thinks she knows who she wants to marry, but because of various obstacles, keeps her engagement a secret.  I was emotionally invested in her struggles and growth, and I was curious to see how everything would work out for her in the end.  As she meets and befriends a new neighbor and they grow closer, I enjoyed the laugh out loud as well as tender moments.

I received a complimentary copy of this book.  Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I loved the banter between Rebecca and Avery. I feel like he knows her, almost right from the beginning, better than she knows herself. And he uses little tricks, and a well placed comment here and there to help her. I like that he calls her out on her engagement. I love how she responds. Clean, sweet romance.

Thank you to Covenant Communications and NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review. These opinions are my own.

My heart is full. That was my first thought after finishing this novel. The second was that I needed to pre-order the paperback immediately.

For about 65% of this, I thought it was a nice, sweet book. But then, all of a sudden, I couldn't stop reading it. I had to get everything resolved and everyone in their proper place. It's funny how you can be so scared about not getting your happy ending when you're reading a romance novel. You know it's coming, but you don't know exactly how it's coming. I was on the edge of my seat with my heart beating out of my chest from anxiety for about an hour until finally everything was okay.

I must say, I was prepared to hate Edward. I suspected him of the worst, and I have to hand it to Joanna Barker for tricking me. He was totally fine, and I ended up really liking him when everything came to light! Rebecca had a few lessons of her own to learn, and I see that I'm not exempt from that myself. I wanted to shake some sense into her, but I can understand completely how her feelings could get confusing. It's easy to be objective when you're not the one involved in the mess. Nicholas was absolutely wonderful. The best. A paragon even. And his journey with Olivia was precious and heartwarming.

It was hard to choose a favorite quote, but I ultimately settled on this, from Rebecca to Nicholas:

"You challenge me. You understand me. You take me as I am and, yet, make me wish to be better."

Joanna Barker's characters are well rounded and deep. I loved this story. As Rebecca Rowley faces her decisions and how life has changed her opinions she grows to know her own heart. And of course, who doesn't love a happily ever after.

I really enjoyed this book. My attention was drawn in from the beginning. I loved how Rebecca and Nicholas met. I liked how their friendship developed. Rebecca did lack some maturity but I liked how the author shows her growth. Overall a great book and I highly recommend it.

I don't think I've read Ms Barker before, but now I will read more.

Absolutely loved this story. Lt. Avery is quite wonderful. He sees people for who they are. Rebecca is a young woman with secrets. They become friends, and the sparks start! I never write a spoiler, so I can just say read this story. You'll fall in love with someone too!

This is one of those historical romances where you have an idea of how it is going to end but getting there is the story.

Rebecca Rowley is not exactly the most ladylike young lady in all of England. She likes to ride bareback and she has a mind of her own. She has no qualms about jumping into a lake in her riding habit to rescue the downing neighbor girl, Olivia Avery. And that is how she meets Lieutenant Nicholas Avery, Olivia’s older brother.

But Lieutenant Avery isn’t the one who has captured Rebecca’s heart. That has already been won by Edward Bainbridge, the son of her father’s previous associate. And she is secretly engaged to him. It is kept secret because there is some feud between the Rowley and Bainbridge families that neither Rebecca nor Edward know the cause.

Rebecca and Edward are apart for now, each trying to figure out what happened between the families so as to convince their mothers to agree to the engagement.

In the midst of all of this searching for answers, Rebecca discovers that she is enjoying spending time with Nicholas and they make a truce to be friends. But are they just friends?

Add to this Olivia adjusting to living with her half-brother after the recent death of her mother and Julianna, Rebecca’s sister in law, with her pregnancy, and you end up with an entertaining story.

So, yes, I pretty much knew how the story was going to end but I enjoyed the twists that lead to that ending. If you enjoy clean historical romance, you will likely love this novel.

This book was a wonderful read! Rebecca and Nicholas's will keep you turning the pages to see what happens next. This is a book you don't want to miss. I loved it! Thank you Covenant Communications via NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

This was such a delightful read! Thanks netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. I really enjoyed reading about Rebecca and Nicholas’s story. I was engrossed with the story from the beginning, and could not put the book down. It was nice to read a different take on a regency love story where the heroine is choosing between two guys.

Could not put this book down. It's been a good long while since I had such trouble taking breaks from reading a book to go to bed. I couldn't wait to see the story unfold. I adored Rebecca and her family and felt I understood them and their characters even though I have not read the other books in this series. I will definitely be reading them next. This romance was swoon worthy and clean which is a hard balance that Barker achieved perfectly. The main characters are so witty and I so enjoyed reading the dialogue between them. I did laugh out loud quite a few times. I 100% recommend for your next read but just make sure you have time to read it all in one sitting since you will probably have trouble putting it down.

Otherwise Engaged by Joanna Barker, 262 pages. Covenant Communications, 2020. $17.
Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Coming home secretly engaged is not ideal, but Rebecca has to figure out how to soften her family so they will accept her fiance. But that is not the only secret she keeps. When the new neighbor starts discovering those things Rebecca is hiding, he becomes a friend and confidant, only confusing further Rebecca’s heart.
Rebecca is a charming character, making enough relatable bad decisions that I wanted desperately for her to find peace and happiness. However, her intended was never far from my thoughts, and I worried constantly about how Barker would build his character in a satisfying way and, simultaneously, disentangle the mess Rebecca was getting herself into. I should not have been so concerned; Barker is a skillful writer, and I enjoyed everything about reading the story she tells of Rebecca.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Otherwise Engaged is a fabulous book! It is a clean and wholesome romance for those of us who do not like explicit content. It is also a historical fiction which is one of my favorite genres.

This is the first book I have read by Joanna Barker, but it will not be the last! She is a phenomenal writer that includes vivid descriptions of people and surroundings. I was barely into the first chapter of "Otherwise Engaged" when I noted how much I loved this author’s captivating descriptions. I could easily envision the people and places in my mind’s eye.

I also enjoy the touches of humor Barker includes throughout the book. Several times I laughed out loud at the witty repartee between characters.

All of these exceptional elements made this a thoroughly enjoyable book which I would highly recommend.

Synopsis of Otherwise Engaged
England - 1822
Rebecca Rowley has just returned home from Brighton. She has a big announcement to share with her family. One that she knows her family will not be excited to hear. Rebecca is engaged to Edward Bainbridge, whom she just met while in Brighton.

She had heard the Bainbridge name before. Their fathers had been business partners years before. The reasons for the dissolution of that partnership had always been a secret that the parents never shared with their children. Neither Rebecca nor Edward knew why they couldn't be together. They agreed to find out the secret and, together, try to get their families to leave the past in the past, forgive and forget whatever was necessary, so they could be married with the acceptance and support of both families.

Rebecca had another secret. She loved to ride her horse, Stella, but she enjoyed riding bareback. She knew her family would disapprove of her riding in such an unladylike and dangerous way. So, she would leave the estate with Stella saddled, then remove the saddle when they reached a secluded meadow. Together, they would run like the wind, free and unencumbered by restraints.

After one of their unconventional rides, Stella heard someone crying for help. She and Stella immediately responded. A child was drowning. Rebecca ran into the water and swam to the girl, whose dress was caught on an underwater tree branch. Once Rebecca freed her, she pulled her to safety on shore where they were joined by the child's very angry adult half-brother, Lieutenant Nicholas Avery. This was definitely not the best way to meet new neighbors, especially since Rebecca was soaking wet and anyone could see that her nearby horse was not wearing a saddle. This stranger now knew one of her best-kept secrets.

Rebecca soon learned that Nicholas Avery was his sister, Olivia's, guardian. Her mother had recently died and their father had died a few years before. Nicholas barely knew Olivia since she was a much younger step-sister. He had been in the navy all of her life and had only seen her a few times. He wasn't always sure how to handle Olivia. As a navy lieutenant, he knew how to make men obey his orders, but was clueless about how to deal with his little sister. Rebecca stepped in to try to help.

Over the next few weeks, Rebecca and Nicholas became friends. She confided in him and he kept her secrets, plus he enabled her to pursue activities that were otherwise not considered acceptable for a lady in society. Rebecca's mother thought Nicholas would make the perfect suitor for her, but Nicholas knew Rebecca was otherwise engaged.


Conclusion

I immediately adored the free-spirited Miss Rebecca Rowley. I applauded her desire to take on difficult tasks and live life on her own terms, not by wealthy society rules that stifled women. I was tickled by Lieutenant Nicholas Avery’s independent little sister, Olivia, who clearly had a mind of her own. I loved the witty quips of Rebecca’s family, as well as her conversations with Nicholas, and the jocular repartee they shared with each other.

There are some authors who leave me wondering how they do it. How they write so well that they capture my attention. How they describe their characters with such detail that I feel as if I know them, that they are close friends who have shared every confidence. How they weave a story that captivates me to the point of tears, laughter and even anger.

Joanna Barker has done just that, and more, in “Otherwise Engaged”. I have no doubt that I will miss Rebecca, Nicholas, and even Olivia in the upcoming weeks.

I received an advance copy of "Otherwise Engaged" to review from NetGalley. I would like to express my appreciation Netgalley, to the author, Joanna Barker, and the publisher, Covenant Communications, for this opportunity.

The review above was published on 9/18/2020 on ReviewThisReviews. It was copied and pasted here per the Netgalley request.