Book Review

Today's book review is Summer House Party by Regina Scott, Donna Hatch, and Sarah Eden. Since historical romance is my favorite genre, I was really looking forward to reading this one!

Regina Scott is a new author to me and her novella, An Engagement of Convenience, is first up in the anthology. Kitty Chapworth has been relegated to being her cousin's chaperone and successfully diverts a fortune hunter suitor from stealing her cousin away in the night. At the same moment, however, their neighbor, Quentin Adair returns from Jamaica and steals Kitty's breath away. When he proposes a pretend betrothal, she agrees, but they have a difficult history to overcome. Will Kitty ever find true love for herself?

I really enjoyed this one and thought the characters were well-drawn. I wish there had been a little bit more depth, but for a novella, the writing style and plot drew me in. I will definitely look for full-length novels from this author.

The second story was A Perfect Match by Donna Hatch. I don't think I've read any other books by Donna Hatch, but her name is familiar to me. In her story Genevieve's friend has fallen desperately in love with Christian Amesbury and invited him to her summer house party. Genevieve wants to be supportive of her friend's grand romance, but the more she is around Christian, the more her feelings for him grow. Genevieve is in an impossible situation, wanting her friend's happiness, but can she set aside her own?

This story had a wonderful plot and I enjoyed Christian as an artistic hero. Somehow, however, the pacing seemed off. I did find out this is a prequel novella, so maybe that's why, since it's part of a larger story. I will definitely have to look it up to find out more of Genevieve and Christian!

The last story was The Pauper's House Party by Sarah Eden. Sarah is one of my favorite authors and she does not disappoint. Edward and his brother Tom have been invited to a house party where the estate an an income is up for grabs. Everyone on the guest list is in distressed circumstances and they are all vying for the chance to have such a prize. Edward meets Agatha at the party and they are both appalled at the manner in which the "winner" will be chosen. Their mutual distaste brings them together in a strange way, but what if one of them wins the game? Will it change things for them?

I loved the witty repartee between these two and how Agatha's dialogue made me laugh out loud. Their growing feelings for each other put a wrench into the house party plans, but this story is a wonderful way to end the anthology and shouldn't be missed!

You can buy your copy here

Here's the back copy:

Join three bestselling Regency Romance authors, Regina Scott, Donna Hatch, and Sarah M. Eden, for three new novellas in SUMMER HOUSE PARTY.

AN ENGAGEMENT OF CONVENIENCE by Regina Scott: Kitty Chapworth is nearly a spinster, and an orphan living on the charity of her uncle, with nothing to recommend her for the marriage mart. Her primary purpose is relegated to acting chaperone for her cousins until she can see them successfully married. Kitty remains focused on her duty even though she knows her future is bleak. When Quentin Adair returns from a long ten years working in Jamaica and proposes a wild charade to Kitty, she agrees, although the plan might reawaken her old feelings for Quentin. Can a reformed rake convince the perfect chaperone to overlook propriety for love?

A PERFECT MATCH by Donna Hatch: Genevieve attends a summer house party hosted by her best friend who can't wait to introduce her to a gentleman she wants to marry, Christian Amesbury. After meeting him, Genevieve determines Christian is perfect . . . for her. Torn between loyalty to her best friend and the yearnings of her heart, Genevieve must first escape the attention of a powerful lord who's obsessed with her and who tries to rob her of any hope for a happily ever after.

THE PAUPERS’ HOUSE PARTY by Sarah M. Eden: It’s a rare event that Edward Downy and his brother are invited to a house party by a member of the ton. But when they arrive, Edward quickly realizes this house party is different than any other. All invited guests are quite destitute, fallen members of Society barely hanging onto their homes. The hosts of the house party, the Warricks, then make a stunning announcement—they intend to gift all their properties to one fortunate guest. As the guests race to impress the Warricks, Edward finds a fast friend in Agatha Holmwood, who shares his same aversion to the horrible expectations. But their growing fondness for each other only makes the game more painful.