When a Lord Meets a Lady

A wonderful compilation of First in Series stories from some of my favorite authors. I enjoyed the books so much that I read each of these as a stand-alone and again in this wonderful collection. Definitely recommended.

Nice set of series starter.

How to Live Happily Ever After by Bree Wolf
This is an absolutely charming story with loads of humor and loveable characters. Agnes can’t believe Grant is serious about courting her, and certainly not about marrying her. Grant fell in love with Agnes, whom he calls Nessa, at first sight. There is one determined suitor, one confounded lady, two meddling mamas, and one sweet papa. The story is simple with a few side-steps and lots of fun. So, how do you get that happily ever after? Persistence!

In Lieu of a Princess by Meredith Bond
When Lucinda North goes to her interview to be a teacher, she is mistaken for the missing Princess Louisa. She agrees to impersonate the princess until she can be found, at which time she will the teaching position. She is in for quite a ride. Anthony, Earl of Melfield, and his mother are tasked with preparing the princess for her presentation as the heir to the throne of Aachen-Düren. What will happen when Anthony learns that the woman he has been tutoring and coming to care for is a fake? This is an enjoyable story with lovely characters, secret identities, mystery, a kidnapping and rescue, romance, and a happy ending.

Duke Of Madness by Jennifer Monroe
Agnes Rutley, Headmistress of Miss Rutley’s Finishing School for Young Women, is quite ill and has called her girls back to her side. She asks each of the women to tell her a story, the story of how they fell in love. The first story is about Julia Wallace and Matthew Colburn, 5th Duke of Elmhurst. Matthew believes that he will be mad just as his father was. He works hard and has been successful. He believes his success is due to a family heirloom pocket watch. Julia doesn’t believe in luck or superstition, but that strength and hard work determine one’s fate. After an unpleasant incident at their first meeting, the two of them become close. Will Julia be able to help Matthew conquer his fear and superstition, and Ezra? The first story in the Sisterhood of secrets, and an enjoyable read.

Daring the Duke by Charlie Lane
Tabitha, Jane, and Lillian are wallflowers who pass the time at balls by playing a game of dares. In one of the dares, Tabitha dares Arthur, Duke of Collingford, to marry her, telling him she will be the one who gains his family’s approval so that he can inherit his childhood home. Interesting, but iffy.Tabitha and Arthur are opposites. They take notice of each other, but it is not love at first sight. I love the way the romance built slowly. Both work hard, maybe too hard, to be perfect, but realize that perfect, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. The characters are all great, even Uncle Brutus, who makes the perfect villain. Tabby’s friends and sisters and Devon are fun, and Arthur’s mother is smart, caring, and gives very good advice. There is a bit of drama as it all comes together, but in the end all is well. Interesting and enjoyable story.

A Duke, Love, and Sunshine by Tabetha Waite
Iona Richards wishes to be a landscape architect. Her family disapproves. She sees an advertisement for a boarding house that invites independent women to join their society of spinsters. Will this be this move help her achieve her dream? Thorpe Covington, Duke of Rosewood, is looking for an architect to landscape the gardens around the cottage he has in Burnham-on-Sea, and possibly Rosewood Manor. He is impressed with Iona’s sketches, but doesn’t feel right to hire a woman. As he spends more time he spends around her, his admiration grows. He soon becomes enamored with her. Does Iona feel the same for him? Can she be a landscaper and a duchess? This is well-done story about independence, attitude adjustments, success, and finding love. The characters are exciting and strong. All of the ladies at the boarding house have hopes for the future, and are all ready and willing to help each other. There are few stumbles, but in the end, a happy ending.

In Want of a Wife by Rebecca Paula
Rafe Davies has been in the Navy most of his life. He is ready for a change, but isn’t sure what he wants to do. When his brother inherits an earldom, he goes to the Isle of Wight to help restore the estate. When he decides that his brother needs a change of attitude and a wife, Rafe places an advertisement for said wife, without consulting with Henry. Lily Abrams has been jilted twice. Her father and family maintain it’s her fault for being to open with her intelligence. Desperate, Lily answers an advertisement for a wife on the Isle of Wight. When Rafe arrives to escort her to Henry (and not himself) a wild, humorous, cross-country romp begins. Their journey ends with a couple of surprises. Is there a happy ending for Rafe and Lily? The way is tough and uncertain, but things have a way of working out as they should.

I have been a fan of Wolf’s authors for a long time. I have read some of this collection and the others are definitely on my radar.

Daring the Duke by Charlie Lane
Lady Tabitha Hampton, a Bluestocking who has destroyed her family’s finances must marry well to save them. Always on the sidelines at balls, she and her friends create their own fun with a series of dares. One dare will lead to her future and create the opportunity to discover all she is capable of. I loved Tabithas spirit, and the journey of self-realization. Having to overcome everyone’s expectations to find that she is already perfect in her imperfections. A few of these revelations seemed a little rushed, like we missed some little piece. But overall, I really enjoyed this tale of love for Tabitha & Arthur.

In Lieu of a Princess by Meredith Bond
A remarkable adventure! A poor, diplomats daughter mistaken for a princess. What ensues is a whirlwind adventure of impersonation to protect the crown, the chance at love and a chance to carve out a future for herself and her sister. Lucinda North is a remarkably strong woman. She has had to dig deep to find the strength to create a future for her and Sophia after their parents death. The strength of her character is written so ingrained it shines through her princess act. Despite knowing the princess as a spoiled girl who is known to shrug responsibility and demand what she wants, Lou can’t help but be herself in that act as she takes to the demands of responsibility. The slow burn of her and Anthony, Lord Melfield is sweet and tense. The mysteries surrounding the crown of Aachen-Duren hold the interest as you can't help but ask a million questions. I am grateful that the 3 stories in this series are due to come out in quick succession, or the words “cliffhanger” might have been harder to swallow. I cannot wait to see what happens next and am eager to get to know the real Princess Louisa. This story includes the sweet bloom of love, the intrigue of royal family and the mystery of who really is behind the attempts on the crown. Well-written and a delightful read.

I still need to go back to book 1 of the SEASIDE SOCIETY OF SPINSTERS SERIES and SISTERHOOD OF SECRETS SERIES as I somehow missed each of them but have greatly enjoyed the remainder of both the series. So I can still attest to the beauty of these stories in this anthology.

In Lieu of a Princess by Meredith Bond...
This is a lovely romance, I thoroughly enjoyed the story and the characters. It was easy to be captivated by Lucinda and Anthony who are determined and passionate characters. I have a feeling this new Royals and Rebels series is going to be an entertaining and adventure filled set of romances.

Duke of Madness by Jennifer Monroe...
A delightful sweet romance, I enjoyed the opposites attract storyline and the heart felt love that developed between Matthew and Julia. Both characters are strong and engaged my interest, and both in need of some luck and a lot of love.

Daring the Duke by Charlie Lane...
Opposites attract between a perfect Duke and a bluestocking, and a dare that sets them off on a wonderful journey of a true and enduring love. Tabitha and Arthur's story was so enjoyable and beautifully crafted by Charlie Lane. Daring the Duke, book 1 in The Debutante Dares series leaves you wanting a little more.

A Duke, Love and Sunshine by Tabetha Waite...
A lovely and witty romance to read, I was quickly enchanted by this story of a woman landscape architect and her Duke. Iona and Thorpe are wonderful characters and the setting of Burnham-On-Sea is divine. This romance is full of desire, longing and an attraction that can't be denied.

In Want of a Wife by Rebecca Paula...
An enjoyable story of unexpected attraction and a forever love. I liked Lily and Rafe, both are wonderful characters. I became swept away in this romance and the writing flowed beautifully towards a wonderful heart felt happy ending.

I have read the following books in this Collection and am posting my voluntary review as follows:

2. In Lieu of a Princess - Meredith Bond
Unusual theme!
The task undertaken by Lue (Lucinda) is quite mind-boggling, but she perseveres, learning new skills in the hope that she will be successful.
This character shows great strength and determinism and as the story progresses, she finds her true love.
I loved her character for all the above reasons and the story too.
It was a good starter book for the series and I look forward to the next one.

3. Duke of Madness - Jennifer Munroe
Just perfect!
This was a birthday gift and was just waiting to be read - and I'm so glad that I did.
The title intrigued me and so I had to find out what it was all about.
It is such a lovely love story and has such a very different trope to what I have been seeing lately. A school for young ladies where they learn how to conduct themselves and it looks like each lady will get to tell their story and secrets.
It began with the Headmistress requesting their presences to her sick bed some time after they go out and find their lives (and loves) and the secrets ... and stories begin.
This one was about a Duke who believes in luck and also that he will become mad, just like his father was. Julia is the young lady who bolsters his ego and helps him realise his worth and value to those around him. Of course they fall madly in love and go through the angst and pleasure while doing this and this beautiful story tells us all about what happened to lead up to their happy ever after. Sigh! Just perfect!

5. A Duke, Love & Sunshine - Tabetha Waite
The Perfect Series Starter!
Take a Duke, lots of love and plenty of sunshine and a whole lot of talent and belief in oneself and you will soon have your happy ever after - this is what Iona discovered – to her benefit!
Gosh! This was such a lovely, romantic story and it simply flowed off the pages. It was the perfect series starter and I have enjoyed and loved every single moment of it.

6. In Want of a Wife - Rebecca Paula
Perfection!
I like the way this author writes. She told a story that was interesting from the very start and it was so easy to read.
The characters have been well thought out and constructed and I just loved the way they played against each other – such a lovely game going on between them.
This was an adventure into love and this story clearly showed that you don't need to want a wife in order to land up with the perfect one.