Some Regency reads...

 I don't get a lot of time for reading - like most writers, I suspect - and so am quite selective in my choice of books. During April, I set aside time, just before lights out each night, for catching up with a couple of books from two of my favourite authors - Lara Temple and Virginia Heath.  

The Earl She Should Never Desire, published by Harlequin Historical-Mills&Boon Historical, is a gentle, witty, slow-burn sexy story about Lily, a war widow, and Marcus, an aristocrat resigned to marrying the 'ideal' wife - sweet, undemanding Anne - before his 35th birthday. 

 

Well, like all best laid plans, that goes out of the window when Anne's sister Lily comes to London. When the two meet, the attraction is instant and overpowering, and the valiant attempts on both parts to resist is doomed from the start. 

I loved Lily. She is a strong heroine with a selfless heart and she never gives way to self pity despite all she's suffered. Marcus was gorgeous, of course, and I loved his humour and his sensitivity, which didn't at all belie the strong and passionate man below. 

The author's knowledge of the period really transports the reader to Regency London and the sparking repartee between the characters was lovely and brought them vividly to life. The story itself has so many layers and so much to discover that it could be read over and again with equal enjoyment and satisfaction. 

 

Never Fall For Your Fiancée also has a plan that's gone awry, leaving the dashing and well-meaning Hugh desperately trying to put it all together again before his mother comes to meet his 'fake fiance' and only getting more and more entangled.  The imaginary Minerva of the last two years becomes a real Minerva - ie  'fake fiance II - ' and is roped in to help, bringing her two sisters, Diana and Venus (Vee) along for the ride. The resulting chaos had me chuckling throughout the book and when 'fake mother-in-law' Lucretia appears, she almost stole the show!

A real page turner with sparkling dialogue and pacy narrative, the author weaves all the complications so skillfully that the reader never gets lost but only wonders what on earth can go wrong for Hugh and Minerva next!  Read it and you'll find out!