Well, I am finding more and more that my random story choices is teaching me quite a lot about my personal tastes. This book has reinforced that I enjoy my Regency romance and my stories with a strong faith element SEPARATELY. I feel like I am looking for something very specific when I pick up a Regency romance, a sweet story with gentile people, maybe not EXACTLY period correct but most often at least period close…

With The Nanny Arrangement by Lily George you do get some of the period feel, a lot of the romance of the era, but I found the way faith was included – bible studies, and the situations the two main characters are in – often alone, unchaperoned was a bit too much for me. But the imagery was lovely, the characters well thought out and the story interesting. I just found I had to suspend my Regency sensibilities at times (not to say I am educated in perfect Regency era rules and regulations, but I do love the genre and have read pretty much everything I can get my hands on).

The Nanny Arrangement is not the first in a series, but focuses on the middle sister of 3 who helps her younger sister run a hat shop. The elder has married up and is happy in her home but still in contact. The younger two do not get along overly well without the third to balance them out. Cue the needy gentlemen, known to the elder and her husband as a good friend. His estranged (badly married) sister has perished leaving her only child – a daughter. In order to solve everyone’s problems Becky, the middle sister, becomes the nanny.

There is a lot more than simple romance going on. Paul Holmes has lost his faith, and is not reconciled to his sister’s death or her daughter’s appearance in his life. Becky is unsure of her future as she longs for more than her place in the hat store and has been newly jilted (or at least the man in question never realized her interest). All in all a fun read just more of a faith story than a period piece. I can recommend a second book by the same author – Healing the Soldier’s Heart which is a bit more in the period correct feel. But both have great merits! 

The first in the Fielding Brothers Saga by Marie Higgins, Love Me Always is a Regency era novel marketed as an Inspirational Romance. There is murder, mystery and a touch of faith. I have read other reviews that describe this book as something of a study of opposites and I have to agree… you have the young Catherine who is the only daughter of a religious widower who seems absolutely convinced that she killed her mother… and then on the other side the noble Fielding Family with the ill Duke Grant and his nephews. With a major focus on Nicholas, the oldest. 

We have an arranged marriage between Grant and Catherine against her will, the confusion over MULTIPLE deaths starting with Catherine’s mother. There is the love between Nicholas and Catherine that seems not to be, and all of the confusion in between. If you enjoy a good mystery, there is definitely this element in the book. My only complaint is that the motives of ONE of the main characters was rather simple (to me, and apparently some other reviewers) to discern early on. Now the solving of the mystery… that was a bit of a surprise. I think I will look for the others in this series! Marie Higgins has a great style to her writing and a good grasp of the era! 

Love Me Always

In the fine tradition of Regency Romances A Lady’s Point of View by Jacqueline Diamond begins with a simple misunderstanding blown out of proportion due to the unrealistic expectations of the Ton and goes from there. The main focus of the story is the two Linley sisters, Meg (who has lamentably weak eyes) and Angela (the pretty younger sister without a massive dowry). Their widowed mother Mary has brought them to London for the Season in a continued attempt to marry off first Meg and then Angela.

 The first misunderstanding occurs at a ball where poor Meg who is not to wear spectacles in public in fear of further destroying her chances of an advantageous match (for they are NOT wealthy) does not see Beau Brummel and misses his acknowledgement thus slighting a highly influential personage. In order to give Angela a chance to find a match and hopefully save the family for debtor’s prison Meg pens an apology to Brummel and leaves London and there our real story starts.

I do not want to give away too much of the plot but there are some terrific elements, a reclusive Lord with two children… a governess position… the malicious countess… and of course balls, romantic moments, proposals! If you enjoy a good Regency romance SLIGHTLY more current in its romantic moments but by no means garish or explicit (these are true misses after all) then this book is a terrific read for you. 

A Lady’s Point of View