Tropes: Class difference, fish out of water; MFC has secrets
Steam level: 1-2
2nd book in the series; fine as a standalone.

3.5 stars I ultimately bumped up based on the strength of the prose and research. The writing flows well, and the topic of what life was like at that time for a woman married to a soldier and “following the drum” presents plenty of food for thought. The struggles working-class people faced during wartime were horrifying and heartbreaking, highlighting the wide divide between the haves and have-nots. The scenes involving MFC Vanessa’s and MMC’s brother Crispin’s experiences are emotionally moving. I thought Crispin was an especially interesting character with quite a lot of depth.

As a historical romance, however, this book falls rather flat, and not because there is little steam save a dollop near the end. Other than in flashbacks, the MC’s spend barely any time together; in fact, in the first half I wondered if their relationship was what the author wanted to write about. The non-linear timeline interferes with the enjoyment a reader normally derives from a couple’s first meeting and how the early stages of their romance unfold. We don’t really know the depth of their immediate attraction, which is important when you consider that Crispin was the one who rescued Vanessa from dire straits and he expected MMC Jasper to protect her. Instead, Jasper crossed a rather large line, regardless of the fact that Vanessa was a widow. The reader is left wondering how much of his feelings for her come from lust and youthful infatuation, as Jasper seems consistently less mature than Vanessa.

Another thing that bothered me is that Vanessa had experienced a terrible tragedy right before her rescue and was so emotionally and physically depleted it’s hard to imagine she would have wanted to take up with Jasper so soon. There needed to be more scenes of sexual tension between the MC’s to create chemistry and more scenes showing their lives melding after the rescue. As it is, Vanessa has more chemistry with Crispin.

Bottom line: as historical fiction, I give this 4 stars. As a HR, I give it 3.

I wasn't super excited about this story. Usually I can get through a book in a day or two, this one took me some extra time. It just didn't hold my interest and I didn't feel the love and connection between the couple. I honestly felt like she had a closer connection to the brother Crispin.

This was a strong sequel in the Taverstons of Iversley series, it had that historical romance element that I wanted and enjoyed getting back into this. The characters had that overall feel that I was looking for and worked well with the time-period. I enjoyed the way Carol Coventry wrote this and am excited for more.

This is not only a beautiful romance; it is the sweet story of the Iversley family and second in the Taverstons of Iversley series. Although Holding Onto Love is second in the series, it can be read as a stand-alone book. Yes, I enjoyed reading Counting On Love first, but just enjoy the series. You will love it!

Vanessa has had to make difficult life choices that have made her a strong female who is independent, brave and beautiful in heart and spirit even before she became Jasper’s mistress. Jasper, now the Earl of Iversley, made the idiotic mistake of not following through with the most important request she had made in agreeing to be his mistress. Vanessa wanted to know when he would begin his search for a countess so she could back out gracefully from their relationship. Finding out through the rudeness and gossip of the ton hurt her tremendously. It is not something of which she will forgive Jasper easily. She decides to disappear and makes sure he will not be able to find her. Her personal journey has been hard but now is even harder due to loving Jasper as she does.

I loved how Ms. Coventry takes us back in time throughout the book to allow us to understand more about why and how Vanessa and Jasper each came to the place that brought them together. We get to see and understand more about their lives, their past, and their difficulties. Their love is solid but still there is so much to overcome. Vanessa builds a comfortable life hidden away in a little village with people who work hard. She does everything she can to help her little village. Rather than beautiful balls in beautiful gowns, this romance tells of the hardship brought on by war and hard lives. Do not misunderstand – you will thoroughly enjoy this story of people who do what they need to do to help and support each other as you root for them to do well.

Back to the earl, Jasper finally hits rock bottom before his brother, Crispin, pulls him through the muck to realize no one is more important to him than Vanessa. There is a beautiful HEA following Jasper’s groveling, which he does well.

The Taverstons of Iversley is a fantastic series! You will love each and every member of the family, along with the sweet secondary characters that will charm you. I am, definitely, looking forward to Crispin’s story and how Ms. Coventry will reveal his secrets. And, what type of lady will capture his interest.

(I will post this review on Amazon on release day).

The was an interesting take on regency romances, because it focused on the middle and lower classes, which usually is not done. Usually they are all balls and such. But this story is about a war widow who becomes the willing mistress of a Lord. Even though she knows this will make her a piranha of “good” society, she figures she loves Jasper enough to be willing to go through with it.

But, when he becomes an earl, on the death of his father, she knows she can’t continue, and so moves to the Lake District, and tries to be the war widow that she is, living in a small village, trying to help her neighbors where she can, with whatever money she has.

One cleve thing she does is order boots made for herself, form the local “factory” that employs war veterans, that can’t do regular work any more.
Yes, this is still a love story, and yes, she still wishes things could be different and she could marry the earl, but it is the other bits of the story that are far more interesting, that will likely continue into the next two books in the series. There is a war profiteer, and the work of some of the other brothers of the earl, that might be a spy for the crown.

Great fun. And I look forward to reading the rest of the romances in the series. The author has done their homework, and thrown in bits of history that I had to look up, to make sure I understood the campaigns in the Napoleonic wars that she was writing about.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book is being published on the 17th of December 2024.