Fabulous!!

Violet and James got married because he kissed her at his engagement ball to another person, however she decides that she never wants to see him again when she overhears him discussing how the marriage was a mistake and he wants them to go back to leading their normal lives the day after the weeding. A promise he keeps for 6 years

In that time she travels the world, has some amazing experiences and makes some lifelong friends, some of which you get to meet as the story progresses. James on the other hand grows up, stops playing around and he learns from his uncle Richard, the current Earl, and the person James will inherit from eventually

When uncle Richard dies his will forces them back together. They must live together for 3 years, make public appearances and not cause any negative scandals,  otherwise Jame's will inherit only the absolute minimum for his title and none of the houses he grew up in

They agree to follow the terms of the will but must work out how to actually live together and spend time together! Violet is a fan of very early morning horse rides in the park, James not so much but he quickly adapts (and eventually enjoys them!)

I like both Violet and James even though at times they both drove me mad! Their motivations are the same even though they don't actually believe or realise it for a long time. The reader gets a lot of information from both Violet and James' narratives very early on and feels like a bit of a secret keeper which makes their discoveries more interesting

Violet isn't your traditional society lady, although she may have started that way, and she rapidly develops into someone incredibly sophisticated and well traveled, which I really enjoyed

Victoria Alexander's writing is absolutely wonderful and she pulled me in right from the start to the extent that I didn't want to put it down! The story is fast paced and there are plenty of twists and turns to keep the readers (and the characters) on their toes!

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a slightly unconventional  historical romance which will make you laugh and keep you on your toes

This was a cute Victorian romance that managed to combine a marriage of convenience with a second chance romance. The hero and heroine have been married for six years at the start of the book, but given that they were forced into it when they were discovered kissing at a party (which may or may not have been a case of mistaken identity), they have never really spoken. The day after their wedding, Violet overheard James discussing how they should live apart and be married in name only, which she was deeply offended by, so she has spent those six years travelling around Europe - neither of them has spent so much as a day together. When James's Uncle Richard dies, he leaves a stipulation in his will that the two must reconcile - or at least appear to reconcile - for a three year period, and Violet and James are thrown together into a marriage they've both been trying to avoid.

Of course there are a lot of buried feelings to uncover, and things are not straightforward as Violet tries to reenter society in the Countess role that she rejected. I enjoy watching characters get a second chance within marriages they'd given up on, and I haven't read many, so that was really nice to read. I did think that the book was a little repetitive as the two characters tried to ignore their feelings for each other - if they'd ever actually had a frank conversation, a lot of the pining and worrying could have been avoided, and we could have had more scenes of their engaging banter. When they let themselves relax, they have a lot of chemistry and there's a real zing to their scenes, but Violet in particular is so guarded that it stifles a lot of that spark for the reader. I also thought the eleventh hour dramatic twist was totally unnecessary - we were well on our way to a happy ending at that point and this seemed engineered purely to drag things out.

That being said, this was an enjoyable read, just not quite perfect for me as I like characters to be honest with each other. Violet is a fun character to read about, and I enjoyed the control she took of her life. Three out of five stars.

Ps - the book cover shows Regency dress, Violet wears a bustle! We are in Victorian times in this book.

This was a lovely book, well written and Victorian times, were not missish about sex nor innocent - as was said - women share, even their most intimate moments....
We have independent women who are not afraid to go off and find out about the world with no men in tow or to ‘protect’ them, but are happy to take trains, ferries and other forms of transport to go to, what were then considered, tricky places to reach such as Egypt. To learn languages and to make friends - even risqué friends.
It is a romance and we do have the normal ups and downs of the genre but it is written in such a way as to make it believable that the characters would act that way.
I liked Violet from the start and gradually fell for James - the winks did it for me... I could just visualise them.. which is the sign of a good story-teller.
I look forward to reading more from Victoria Alexander.

The Lady Traveller’s Guide To Happily Ever After is written by Victoria Alexander, is the fourth book in the lady travellers society series and is published by Mills & Boon Historical. Violet Branham has been travelling the world as an independent woman. Her past is a sad and distant memory. These memories are set to become reality, however, when her late Uncle, Richard, the Earl of Ellsworth, Will is published. She is required to reconcile with her husband, James, or lose everything.

James and Violet married 2 days after they were caught kissing on the balcony at his engagement party. He claimed to have mistaken Violet for her friend and his fiancée Marie Frederick, but the damage was done and they were to be married. She overheard James telling his Uncle Richard the day after their marriage that he expects them to carry on with their separate lives and their marriage to be one of pretence. Violet is heartbroken and confronts him. She discovers that he does not love her. She spends the next 6 years travelling the world, making new friends and growing as a person. James has also grown up during this time, He wants their marriage to be a proper one. The will stipulates that they must live together as man and wife for three years without any scandal, rumours or gossip. If they succeed they will inherit Richard’s wealth, property and titles. If they fail they just inherit the title. Violet travels from Paris to Florence to Rome, with James in hot pursuit, albeit with terrible travel sickness! A lot of the rumours that James has heard about Violet are subsequently debunked. They slowly fall in love but can Violet trust her husband?

I received this book via Netgalley and Mills and Boon in exchange for a honest review. I am a #MillsAndBoonInsider #netgalley

This book was a very entertaining read both due to the very strong and believable characters and the evocative and ever changing scenery. I especially appreciated the way that the characters were able to accept the wrongdoing that had caused the original rift in their relationship and also to come to realise that they had grown into much more suitable partners. The plot device of the will clause was a clever device well used and I especially enjoyed the unveiling of the risqué statue in Florence. A very good read from start to end.

Loved this. Number 4 in a series, it can be read as a standalone. Loved the characters and the story. The dialogue sparkled and the pace was lively.

Thank you to NetGalley and to Mills & Boon Insiders for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The fourth book in the ‘Lady Traveller’s Society’ series, this reads perfectly as a standalone. The story of Violet and James, who married after a scandalous moment, to appease society. They lived apart, for the next six years, until the demise of Richard, Earl of Ellsworth, and his will. Forced to live together again, have they changed? Will they learn to be a couple? Or are they destined to lose everything?

Divided into two main parts, the first covers the reunion and the makings of a lasting romance are hinted at, but only if Violet, maintains her independence, and James puts aside his arrogance, and pride, to follow her, and find out who she truly is.

Part two follows the couple across Europe in an amusing, romantic journey to their happily ever after. The main characters are well written and reflect the opportunity of the era they live in. The three elderly matchmakers are also a delight.

The perfect late Summer read. An atmospheric journey across Europe, with gentle romance and witty dialogue.

I received a copy of this book from Mills and Boon via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

The Lady Travelers Guide to Happily Ever After is the 4th primary book in The Lady Travelers Society series by Victoria Alexander. I haven't read any of the previous books but I easily followed the story and can say that this book can be read as a standalone one. That said, now that I have read it and thoroughly enjoyed it, I want to read all of the others.

Violet Branham was caught in a compromising situation through no fault of her own and ended up having to marry. The man she married, James, was somebody she had had a crush on for the longest time. She never dreamed she would end up married to him, but she didn't mind in the slightest. That is until after her wedding night she heard him telling his Uncle that he fully expected them to live separate lives and had no intention of changing his lifestyle. In a pique of anger, she told him that she was fine with that and that she never wanted to see him again.

The next 6 years of her life she spent travelling in Europe at the expense of her husband. She matured and became a much-admired woman. James' Uncle passes away and she needs to return to England for the reading of his will. It turns out that he has always hoped that James and she would make a go of their marriage so he makes a stipulation. James won't inherit anything if he doesn't spend 3 years as a married couple with Violet, one that convinces everybody that theirs is indeed a happy, proper marriage (even if it isn't). They are both shocked but willing, albeit begrudgingly to agree to the stipulation. Their time together will be monitored by 3 dear elderly women, the ones that started the Lady Travelers Society.

What follows is a fun, romantic telling of how they cope with spending time together. How they deal with their past and how they learn how each has changed over the years. Can Violet forgive James and can they both agree that three years together is something they can manage? Can they be friends, or will Uncle Richard's hopes of them falling in love come to fruition? A lot of questions I know, and you will have to read the book to find the answers.

James and Violet are fabulous characters. Violet is such a well-travelled woman and has won many a friend during those travels. She is well rounded now and speaks many languages, a very independent woman. James was a bit of a rogue in his younger days and although he has calmed down he is still a charmer and consummate flirt. He hasn't used those skills in a long time though and enjoys using them on Violet.

The other characters, Uncle Richard and the three elderly ladies were a delight to read about too. Richard with his beyond the grave matchmaking and the cheeky loveable women make this book lighthearted and cheerful. I really did enjoy reading it and happily recommend it. There are so many lovely moments from the story that I would love to mention but that would give too many spoilers, so I shall just stay quiet and hope if you read the book you will find them as enjoyable as I did.

What an absorbing read this was! I enjoyed that the story started immediately, no slow build up to the main event. After six years apart, Violet had changed significantly. She was now more worldly wise and independent, Violet knew her way around several places abroad and had many friends. James, too, had changed, he was much more responsible and now appeared to want a real marriage with Violet, but could she trust him? There follows quite an amusing trail around various countries. This was a very entertaining read that kept my interest until the end. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Six years ago Violet was kissed on a balcony at a ball unfortunately everyone saw her through an open curtain & the handsome man was about to become engaged to someone else. So James & Violet were soon married, the morning after her wedding she overheard James & his uncle Richard talking & she decided to leave to travel. For the past six years, Violet has enjoyed the luxury of travelling the world as an independent woman, and confining her awkward past to a distant, if painful, memory. But now she has been summoned home to England over a stipulation in the will of her late uncle Richard, the Earl of Ellsworth, one that decrees her husband will lose everything unless they reconcile. She & James have no choice but to try to comply to the terms of the will.
This is the fourth book in the series but is easily read on its own although the matchmaking skills of Gwen, Effie & Poppy are a delight throughout the series. This was a lovely well written romance with plenty to make you smile. James & Violet were a delight & their verbal sparring hugely entertaining. The pace is constant throughout but is gentle in tempo. I thoroughly enjoyed it as it took me from London to Paris to Florence & Athens. James & Violets’ relationship changed & grew throughout the book with no bolts of lightning just the gradual realisation of how they felt
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The storyline was different from the norm, the characters and settings all good and in addition, I found it to be amusing in places. If you’re in the market for a historical romance, I would recommend this book.