The Reluctant Chaperon by Suzan Lauder Published by Meryton Press on October 10, 2023
Genres: Historical Mystery
Pages: 150
Format: eARC
Source: Purchased
Goodreads
Amazon
The beautiful and perfect widow Lady Reddener lives an admirable life. With an estate in the country, a house in town, and a considerable fortune, the former Miss Cassandra Hales has no need for a husband to complicate her days. Why does she need a man? She has her mama and sisters, as well as her best friend and neighbour, Marcus Brand, Lord Broadmead. One and all proclaim Cassie the very picture of serenity.
However, Cecilia, Lady Hoxley, matches Cassie’s vibrant and argumentative sister Miss Alexandra “Lexie” Hales with Cecilia’s own brother, the gentle yet charming Mr. Reeve Charington. Thus, Cassie finds herself in the position of chaperon while they court. What is she to do when their constant interactions draw her towards Reeve’s allurement? Meanwhile, Lexie wishes for a husband who will challenge her in debate, and Mr. Charington seeks harmony. A problem indeed!
A recently married family friend tries her hand at matchmaking among the Hales sisters to interesting, humorous results. Suzan Lauder’s authentic Regency backdrop and her flare for comedy show forth in this breezy, light romance.
The Reluctant Chaperon is the second of the Cecilia’s Mismatches series of standalones featuring the next Hales sister to find love in spite of Cecilia’s matchmaking. This time recently widowed, Cassie, who is a sweetheart who has a kind heart and cheerful outlook on life with a soft, sensitive nature, discovers herself the chaperon and more attracted to her sister’s admirer than Lexie is. For Cecilia is attempting to pair up her own generous, happy, and friendly brother with Cassie’s hard to please, intellectual, outspoken sister.
I enjoyed Reeve Charington, a gentle cinnamon roll hero (what I think of as a beta hero), as a lovely change up to the usual dashing, witty, and commanding hero types and the same goes for Cassie who has sensibilities that give her civilities and blushes that are also something different in a romance. Reeve and Cassie are taken with each other from the start, but neither wants to disoblige his sister who is set on matching him with her sister and then Cassie would never horn in on a sister’s beau. By degrees, they get there in this softer, tender romance. Of course, it was amusing to see this second story in which Cecilia’s success is a ‘close, but not quite’ sort.
All in all, a delightful quick cozy of a read, lush with Regency backdrop and a subtly diverse work that I can recommend to sweet historical romance lovers who want an easy, fast read.
Freebie on December 18, 2023 (currently $4.99 at Amazon and in KindleUnlimited as of writing this post)
Overall rating 4.00 with 3 ratings and 2 reviews
As a lifelong reader, it was inevitable that Sophia would discover book blogs and the joy of blog reviewing.Sophia is a prolific reader and audiobook listener which allows her to experience so many wonderful books, authors, and narrators.Few genres are outside her reading tastes, but her true love is fiction particularly history, mystery, sci-fi, and romance.Though, sorry, no horror or she will run like Shaggy and Scooby.
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Glad you found this delightful, Sophia. Wonderful review!
Yes! I sure had a good time with it. 🙂
I’m not usually a fan of this type of romance where they’re enamored with a sister’s or best friend’s beau, regardless if the sister or friend isn’t well matched. It stresses me out until it all gets sorted. Happy to hear you enjoyed it, Sophia!
LOL, yes! If this was a serious drama I would skip, too. But, since it was meant to be romantic comedy and was funny, I did all right.
Sophia, I can see why you enjoyed this one.
It had me laughing a few times. A nice light-hearted one between all the serious thrillers. 🙂
Good find for a freebie. The cover looks like an old painting.
Yes, I was lucky to pounce on this one. Each book in series has a pretty gal settled in an artistic pose like this.
The lady on the cover does look Reluctant!
Ha! You’re right, Carole.
Thank you for a lovely review, Sophia – it sounds like the sort of thing I’d love to read inbetween all the sci fi and fantasy adventures:)).
Oh yes! It will make a lovely palette cleanser for serious sci fi and fantasy. 🙂
Looks like a short and sweet read, glad you enjoyed it!
Yes, it was an easy, entertaining read.