How, Bubby, after writing countless Regency romances, can these Timeless Regency Collection writers keep coming up with new and fresh twists on their genre? Ellen Humphreys has never had a Season, has never danced the waltz, and will likely never do so while confined to watching over her ill mother at their country estate. Therefore, Ellen creates her own Little London, and imagines all the gentleman she'd dance with and all of the friendships she'd have with other young ladies, if only she were allowed to have a Season. When Quinn Edwards, the Marquess of Kenworth, comes upon her quite by happenstance while Ellen is imagining herself in a London ballroom, she is mortified about her playacting. But a chain of events is set off from this one meeting that has Ellen questioning if her reputation would ever survive a Season or another encounter with the marquess. Let's start, for example, with A Match For Princess Pompous by Sarah M. Eden. Who would have come up with the idea of a protagonist who is a lady of quality, "working" under the table as a matchmaker? It becomes obvious in this story that Adelaide Northrup, the matchmaker, could have her own series.
We end up, via Adelaide's skills, getting not one, but two happy endings. I shall never complain about a happy ending! Anne Preston dreams of opening her own dessert shop some day and saves every spare penny she earns working at Gunter's Tea Shop. She makes ice cream molds to perfection, bakes and decorates cakes, and hopes to one day be an independent shop owner. When an American man orders an ice, Anne is immediately taken with Davis Whitledge, but he is far above her station in life, so she tries to forget about his cordiality. Soon, she finds herself in a dangerous situation when confronted by two troublemakers, and Davis happens to be nearby. He sends the scoundrels on their way, but this only makes Anne more of a target. He doesn't understand London ways, and his generosity has the potential to steal Anne's dreams, or to make them soar. Down with the gentry and their Regency period snootfests!
Little London by Heather B. Moore begins so whimsically with the imaginations of Ellen Humphreys, a classic "poor little rich girl." How she garners the attention of a Marquess and has her life-long dreams come true is an enchanting tale. Matchmaker Adelaide Northrop may be embarking on her greatest challenge yet. Miss Odette Armistead has been dubbed "Princess Pompous" by Society's elite, and Odette's parents are desperate to see her married off to a respectable gentleman. When Adelaide first meets Odette, she is expecting a young lady who fits the pompous description. Instead, Adelaide discovers that Odette is far from conceited, but has chosen to wear a mask in a desperate attempt to hide her love for a gentleman who has been chosen for someone else. It seems that Adelaide has far more than matchmaking to accomplish. In my opinion, Heather B. Moore, Annette Lyon and Sarah M. Eden are a dream team when it comes to romance, whether in the form of anthologies or stand alone novels. They always give me so much more than I expect. May they have long lives and ever-sharpened writing pencils.
Sissy:
I really couldn't tell you. There's a reason why I'm a reader, not a writer. But it is impressive. Eden, Lyon and Moore never disappoint!
Yes, please. I thought the same thing and I really hope that Sarah M. Eden wrote this novella as a teaser to an upcoming new set of books featuring Adelaide. I'd buy those.
Next we have Confections and Pretense by Annette Lyon. The idea that an American businessman and an impoverished confections maker would fall in love in a whirlwind romance is so lovely and original. Hooray for Americans in Regency books!
Right? Davis Whitledge and his American ideals about class equality made this novella quite entertaining.
A Marquess, you know, is below a Duke and above an Earl in importance. OK, I didn't know either but Google did and that's the same thing!
Interesting fact: these three ladies are the founders of the Timeless Romance Collection anthologies. Usually only one of them contributes a story to a collection, so this anthology is rather special. I loved every word. As long as they (and their friends) keep writing these collections, I'll keep reading them.
