I went through a rough spell with my reading and DNFd 3 books in a row. Believe it or not, DNFing (Did Not Finish) is actually pretty rare for me. I've DNF'd roughly 57 books over 11 years. But I've come to learn a bit more about what I enjoy reading and what I don't. And I'm less patient with books to see how things end up if I'm not enjoying one. I don't have time to waste reading something that I'm not liking.

Lady Helen's Misalliance was a disaster. Almost immediately, I questioned DNFing. The writing is truly terrible. I do not criticize someone's work lightly. It takes a lot to sit down and write a book. To execute a plot on paper. I haven't done it. But this book was so, so badly written. I DNF'd at 34%.

So much of the book was dialogue. When I was younger, I'd often skip descriptions and get straight to the dialogue. Or if I'm in a part that seems to be dragging on, I might skim until the next statement a character says aloud. But I almost felt like Jessica Spencer forgot that you can't write an entire book based on dialogue alone. So much of the in-between description and narration was completely missing.

And then, the real kicker is that the characters start acting like and even naming themselves as being in love without having more than two interactions between them. The first interaction is where the MC runs over the FMC with his horse. She's stunned. He is attractive. They barely talk. They then meet again where it's discussed that they shouldn't meet again for reputation purposes. I mean 15 words between the two of them might have been exchanged. And this comes from an author who writes nearly exclusively in dialogue. Yet the FMC declares herself to be in love. Then the MC's sister basically tells him that she can tell he's in love based upon some eye contact bologna.

-"Who was that?" Dora asked.
"Who do you mean?"
"The young woman who left just now. I saw you watching her. Who is she? Is she a lady?"
"Dora, what's it with these questions?"
"Are you in love with her? I think you are. Does she love you too?"
"She is Lady Helen. Lord Frampton was misbehaving with her. Dora, would you mind if we leave? We can come again tomorrow if you wish. I want to be sure that Lord Frampton is not lying in wait for Lady Helen."

You guys, I wish I was exaggerating. I couldn't take it anymore. The writing was weak. The characters had an insta-love thing based upon absolutely nothing. I can't. I can't. I can't. DNF @ 34%. Have you read Lady Helen's Misalliance? What did you think? Let me know!

A sweet read...

Lady Helen is not a diamond of the first water and she's totally fine with that. She's smart enough to want a kind man. That man is Luke Turner. Luke is not of the aristocracy, but rather, a wealthy man. Which gives him limited access but he's not ton.

Trouble with another lord brings Helen and Luke closer.

„Lady Helen's Misalliance“ wurde von Jessica Spencer geschrieben. Es handelt sich dabei um den zweiten Band ihrer Season of Love-Reihe, der unabhängig vom ersten Teil gelesen werden kann. Im Fokus dieses Teils stehen Lady Helen und Luke Turner.
Das Cover passt optisch gut ins Genre der Geschichte. Der Schreibstil ist sehr flüssig gehalten und ich habe ihm problemlos folgen können. Die Kapitel haben auch eine gute Länge. Ich weiß nicht, ob das im Englischen normal ist, da ich selten Geschichten auf englisch lese, aber irgendwie fand ich es etwas komisch, dass die Eltern von Luke und Helen mit den Vornamen genannt wurden.
Sowohl Helen als auch Luke waren Charaktere, die es mir von Anfang an angetan haben. Ich konnte mich dabei gut in die beiden hineinversetzen. Helens Mutter macht ihr die Situation nicht leicht. Scheint sie doch nur daran interessiert, dass Helen jemanden mit Titel heiratet. Alter oder Sympathie scheinen dabei keinen großen Stellenwert zu haben.
Sie begegnet Luke, einem jungen Gentleman, der es ihr direkt angetan hat. Leider fehlt ihm der Titel, um in den Augen ihrer Mutter in Betracht gezogen werden könnte. Doch dieser ist das egal. Sie hat sich auf den ersten Blick in ihren Retter verliebt und möchte mehr über ihn erfahren. Auch Luke ist ganz von ihr angetan. Doch möchte er ihr die Schande, jemanden niederen Ranges zu heiraten nicht antun und stößt sie von sich. Dabei ist er es wert. Eine Tatsache, die auch Helen genau so sieht.
Ich fand die Geschichte der Beiden sehr gelungen und sie konnte mich gut unterhalten. Einzig die Wandlung von Helens Mutter fand ich etwas komisch, da ich nicht ganz einschätzen konnte, ob sie es ernst meint oder nur mit Helen spielt.
Alles in allem eine schöne und unterhaltsame Regency-Romance, die mir gut gefallen hat.

A sweet romance with likeable characters. I felt the writing could be more developed and creative in style although enjoyed the plot.

Lady Helen realises that she will not attract many suitors during her London Season and she has come to believe that she wants a husband who is likable and worthy of respect, possesses a good character, and has a pleasant disposition. When Mr Luke Turner saves her from a near accident, she cannot stop thinking about him. To the ton, Luke is considered a Cit, his wealth precluding him from a match with a member of the ton. However, he finds himself drawn to Lady Helen and she, him, believes him to be the only man she can marry. Luke is adamant about keeping his distance for fear of endangering her place in Society. When the notorious Lord Frampton fixes his sights on Helen, Luke is the only one that Helen can trust to keep her safe.
This was a sweet love story between two very noble characters. Luke’s ability to think beyond his own happiness added greater complexity to this relationship. The author cleverly highlighted the differences in society by using these two characters from different parts of the social spectrum. Lord Frampton’s inclusion in this story added suspense to this lovely romance.
This book I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book was a decent read and could have been better with a good edit. A typical story of class differences, a selfish, unloving mother, a completely wicked villain, and a sweet hero who needs some convincing that's he the right person for Helen.

#netgalley #LadyHelensMisalliance

This was an original an emotionally fraught love story. A terrible mother, a terrible peer of the ton, dastardly agendas, parents relying to set up misappropriate alliances for their daughters, assault, murders, kidnapping, ans so much more drama, action, and excitement that kept me engaged. I enjoyed howbin the end romance and happiness were meant to be. I recommend reading!

I greatly enjoyed reading Lady Helen's Misalliance by Jessica Spencer. After focusing mainly on novels about women during WWII for the past five years I decided to read something more lighthearted. Lady Helen's Misalliance is a Regency romance novel that has much of what one expects to find in this genre - debutantes, handsome young men, society balls, gossipy old ladies, scandals and intrigue. Where this novel stand outs among the others is in the closer look at the emphasis on the differences between the nobility and the non-titled wealthy in the early 1800's. Jessica Spencer, the author, writes about the characters' thoughts on the subject of class and how they affect the decisions they make which comes across as simply getting to understand the characters better while also helping the reader to see how a person's station in life dictated with whom someone is allowed to include in their social circle. Despite getting insight into class bias during the Regency Period, the book was overall a good read. I recommend it to those who enjoy this genre.

A sweet regency story.

Lady Helen is estranged from her mother, but they reconcile during the Season to find Helen a husband, preferably a titled husband. But Helen wants to marry for love. And thinks she finds that with Luke Turner, however he's not a member of the ton and her mother disapproves - and keeps trying to get her compromised by an earl. The story is a little unbelievable and the characters are that likeable. I really enjoyed parts of the story but some was just too out there.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.

An enjoyable regency tale with nefarious villains, handsome knights in shining armour, true friends, and a guaranteed HEA. There were a few editing issues with the book, where wrong names were inserted in parts, which lead to some bits being a bit confusing, but overall it was a good story, and a well written epilogue

This was a strong regency romance novel, it had everything that I enjoyed about the genre and uses the time-period perfectly to tell a story. Jessica Spencer wrote a strong concept and was glad the overall story was everything that I wanted and expected. It was a strong sequel in the Season of LOVE series and glad I got to read this.

Absolutely beautiful book from the cover until the last page you will enjoy this romantic read. Pleasant read for regency lovers. Highly recommend this one!

This story has promise, but there are parts of it that are hurried and disjointed. There are parts of the story that could be a bigger part of the plot, ie the part about the main characters mother trying to set traps for unsuspecting suitors. The main characters character is also all over the place, on one hand she's smart and stands up for herself and then the next she's raging against a man she barely knows because he happens to point out how mismatched there social standings are. This could be a great story, but it needs more work.

Lady Helen's Misalliance elegantly captures the essence of Regency-era romance, following Lady Helen as she seeks a genuine and respectful relationship in a society obsessed with appearances. The novel beautifully portrays her deep connection with Mr. Luke Turner, a man of good character who values her for who she truly is. I loved reading this book because it emphasizes the importance of love and integrity over wealth and status, making the story both heartfelt and inspiring. The rich character development and engaging plot make it a delightful read for anyone who appreciates a meaningful and classic love story.

Virtually deserted by her party loving mother, Helen has made a life of her own at her father’s country home. Her aunt determines to bring her out in London. There is drama and rescues. The dynamics of class during the Regency era play a big role.

Get ready to fall head over heels! Lady Helen's Misalliance is a wonderful story that will sweep you off your feet! Lady Helen’s quest for real love with the charming Mr. Luke Turner is pure magic – no boring drama, just heartfelt romance and sizzling chemistry. I was totally hooked by their sweet moments and the way they fight for each other against all odds. If you’re craving a story packed with honor, passion, and timeless elegance, don’t wait – grab this book and let the love story enchant you! 💖👑✨