Cerise DeLand

Have tissues handy for this lovely Regency romance collection set around the Harvest Festival in Reabridge, Cheshire, England in 1815 which varies from family-friendly to NC17, so parental guidance is advised.

MOONLIGHT WISHES AND MIDNIGHT KISSES by Collette Cameron: Have a tissue handy the afternoon it will take for this family-friendly Regency wounded warrior tale.

THE MORNING LIGHT by Caroline Warfield: Allow about two hours for this PG tale of a war-wounded doctor, his deserted daughter, and the midwife who sought a cure.

A HARVEST BLESSING by Rue Allyn: Allow two and a half hours for this PG15 romance between refugee Charite Estelle Benetia Marmont du Pessac and retired Captain Thomas Paul Owen.

COMING HOME by Mary Lancaster: Have a tissue handy for this two-and-a-half-hour romp as 24-year-old Lady Lorna Gaveston, assisted by Captain David Buckley, evades gazetted fortune hunter Edgar Winthorpe.

UNDER THE CHAMPAGNE MOON by Alina K. Field: Allow an afternoon for this PG15 tale of orphaned refugee Fleur Hardouin.

THE QUIET HEART by Elizabeth Ellen Carter: Allow an afternoon for the PG15 tale of widow Veronica Petersham who has come to fulfill the dying request of one of her soldier patients.

A LOVE BEYOND TIME by Sherry Ewing: Allow three hours for this PG15 second chance romance.

THE WIDOW'S HARVEST HOPE by Cerise DeLand: Allow two hours for this NC17 second chance with the resolution of a mystery.

LOVE IN ITS SEASON by Jude Knight: Allow about two hours for this PG15 romance between 24-year-old farrier Gwenillan Hughes and 35-year-old veteran Captain Jack Wrath.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.… (more)

The Lyon’s Perfect Mate by Cerise DeLand
The Lyon’s Den Series

Mrs. Dove-Lyon does it again…she impresses me with her matchmaking acumen and the results are once again…perfection!

What I liked:
* Mrs. Dove-Lyon: Intriguing woman in disguise, manipulative, cunning, wise, and rather wonderful. I would LOVE to know her backstory
* Priscilla Catherine Taunton: survivor, difficult childhood, finally comes into her own after inheriting and setting things right, suffers from PTSD whether she knows it or not, even tempered, wise, giving, wealthy, and someone I would love to have as a friend
* Valerian Sanders Anderleigh, Viscount Mannington de Broke: came into title unexpectedly, Captain and fighting for 8 years, spent time away from home, returns to empty coffers and everything in disarray with hopes to put all right again
* The way Cilla dealt with her last stepmother…loved that!
* Val’s wisdom when it came to pleasing women even though his pride led to some difficult times for him
* The courtship honeymoon shared by Cilla and Val
* The communication between Val and Cilla
* Cilla’s ability to tame Val’s temper…usually
* The way Val’s family was “handled” in a wise and positive manner
* Evers: an extraordinary butler ;)
* All of it really…left me feeling good at the end of the story

What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like
* Thinking about what Cilla experienced growing up and what Val saw at war

Did I like this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Definitely

Thank you to NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars… (more)

I enjoyed this story of how two strong-willed people learned that a little compromise can open a world of unexpected love. The story begins with a prologue introducing Priscilla. After a miserable childhood where two stepmothers physically and emotionally abused her, Cilla has reached the age where she has complete control of her inheritance from her father. After learning a little about what she'd been through, I loved seeing her take control of her life. She has big plans for changing her future.

Six years later, we are introduced to Val, Viscount Mannington de Broke, home from the war and newly come into the title. His late father and now deceased older brother beggared the estate with their spendthrift ways, his stepmother and her two daughters continue to do so, and his younger brother, Tom, not only burned through his yearly allowance by March, he also lost a considerable amount of money gambling at the Lyon's Den. Val is furious to learn that young Tom is expected to marry Mrs. Dove-Lyon's choice of a woman to clear his debt. As a man protective of his family and family name, Val rushes off to confront Mrs. Dove-Lyon and ends up as the bridegroom-to-be. His reaction to the identity of his bride-to-be was telling - he remembered her as a child and resolved to help her change and blossom.

The initial meeting between Val and Cilla did not go as either expected. I enjoyed the back-and-forth between them as each jockeyed for their requirements. I liked their honesty with each other and the sense of humor that was also evident. Both traits bode well for their marriage.

One of the things I liked about Val is his sensitivity to Cilla and what she's been through. His respect for her is evident in how he treats her. He has the patience to wait for her to get to know him rather than pushing for everything at once. His main failing is pride, which makes it difficult for him to accept more than the bare minimum of the funds she makes available. Cilla likes, admires, and respects Val, but her insecurities make it difficult for her to believe he would be interested in anything more than their initial agreement. I liked their time together for their honeymoon as they got to know each other. Their attraction was evident, and the passion they shared brought them closer.

But their marriage has its growing pains. Cilla's desire to help her new family runs up against Val's pride and drives a wedge between them. Each must decide if their marriage is worth fighting for and if they can find a way to meet in the middle. I liked the self-reflection that showed neither was blameless in their difficulties and that if they wanted that elusive happiness, each must make some changes. I liked the ending, especially catching up with them a few years later.

The secondary characters added extra depth to the complications of their marriage. As usual, though unconventional, Mrs. Dove-Lyon's talent for making matches remains unchallenged. I liked the firmness she used in her dealings with Val. The brief appearance of Cilla's second stepmother at the beginning of the book gives a brief glimpse of Cilla's treatment at her hands. Val's younger brother, Tom, is young and foolish, which is exactly what Mrs. Dove-Lyons needed to accomplish her plan. Cilla's influence on Val helped him handle Tom with more patience and understanding. Val's stepmother and stepsisters could have been a thorn in everyone's sides, but Cilla's experience enabled her to be the bridge between them and Val. I liked the secondary story involving Natalia.

#netgalley… (more)

Laurel Devereaux and Hadley Sherbourne, Viscount Grey were in love and engaged to be married when his manipulative father promised him in marriage to a girl in his home village. He broke off the engagement with Laurel and went home to deal with his father and his proposed marriage. Unable to break the agreement, he had to wait for their fathers to pass, so the contract would be void and the young woman was able to marry her love and he could return to Laurel. Laurel was devastated and miserable for two years before Hadley arrived back in her life, determined to win her back and her forgiveness.

This was a simple second chance romance with just the right amount of angst to keep it real, but not painful. I enjoyed Laurel; she made no excuses for the way she still felt about Hadley and his ability to win her back. Hadley was determined and persistent in his pursuit. I did think that some of the more intimate scenes were a little hokey, but I was able to look past them for the most part.

Historical Romance, Regency Era, Country Life, Season/Marriage Mart, Beta/Cinnamon Roll Hero, Groveling Hero, Titled Hero, Experienced Heroine, Orphan Heroine, Runaway/Jilted Heroine, Second Chance Romance, Three Star, Two Flame
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