Cats and brides!

I just couldn't really connect with Dot and Appleton. Forrester Timothy Appleton, recently elevated to Viscount Appleton, rushes to make the aqauintance of the strange, cat loving heiress come to Bath (amazing what a new outfit does!) Miss Dorothea Pankhurst, leaving a lot to be desired. Having gambled away his entire fortune and estates to the alarming and odious Mr. Henry Wolfe (who's like a more coldly, soulless edition of the obsequious Jedadiah Slope) Appleton needs an heires like NOW! I didn't like his gaming disaster, even if things were a little off. There's such a thing as folding when things look bad, isn't there? Still for the sake of the story, which entails dark deeds, murder, near mishaps and Wolf's attempts to get close to Appleton's sister, Annie matters are not simple on any front. The plot ran along a well chartered route that although giving us a satisfactory conclusion, didn't quite grab me.

An Author Collective 20 ARC via NetGalley
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

Sweet characters, but the book just did not hold my attention. I found myself skimming through. 2 stars.

I love the cover and the first chapter and characters, but I didn't really connect with the story. I look forward to trying again.

Never one to over play at betting, Lord Forrester Appleton lost it all in one night. He doesn't remember, did he drink too much? When he's forced to find an heiress within a month to buy back his vouchers, the first name that comes up is Miss Dorothea Pankhurst, a very wealthy heiress. In Bath for her father's health, Dot and her father live in the country and have never been around society. Dot is very loving of her cats. Forrester doesn't care for them at all, but he's desperate. Then the murder of a young lady may be the key to what happened the night Forrester lost his money. The murder brings Dot and Forrester together to solve the crime and find love. A fast paced entertaining who done it romance.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

I enjoyed this book! Lord Appleton gambles away everything he owns, with a little help from Ellie and Wolf. Now he needs to marry a rich heiress. That is where Dorothea Pankhurst and her four cats come in. Dorothea or "Dot" is a country bumpkin until Annie, Lord Appleton's sister, gets hold of her. Then Lord Appleton or Forrester finds she is more than just a cat lady. With new clothes to set off her assets, Forrester soon finds Dot is beautiful, intelligent, and betrothed to him. Together they attempt to solve a murder without being the next victim. This is a great little book. I would definitely recommend it/

I received this book from Netgalley. They in no way influenced my review.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I haven't read any of the other Brides of Bath books, but I still enjoyed this book! I really appreciated that the mystery wasn't overtaken by romance, and it wasn't too graphic/grisly. Dot was a lot of fun as a protagonist, and I would love to read more books about her!

I wanted to like this book. I couldn't connect with the characters therefore made it to hard to concentrate on the book. I liked that she was different and took her cats with her places.

This is the seventh book of the series, The Brides of Bath, and although you don't need to read any of the other books in the series to enjoy this one, for those who have read them, it was very enjoyable to read about what has been going on in the lives of the characters in those books.

What I liked: I definitely enjoyed the plot, and even though we know who the villain is, it is absorbing to read how he will be caught and the harm he has done to xxx will be reversed. Poor Lord Appleton is tricked/drugged into losing his fortune. As a result, he must woo and marry Dot, Miss Dorothea Pankhurst, who is an eccentric, but kind heiress. I enjoyed seeing their slow and tender romance, and was happy that Appleton did indeed fall in love with her and wasn't just using her for her money. I loved reading about the locations they visited in Bath, as it is such a romantic city.

What I did not like: The constant emphasis of the characters' beauty. It was done to an extreme. It bothered me so much that I counted the number of times the author used the adjectives pretty, beautiful, lovely, and handsome. It was 104 times. I felt that the characters' genuine kindness would have given the reader the impression of their beauty simply by observing their actions. I also did not like the way that Dot's father bragged about her. It seemed disingenuous--not saying that he did not believe the things he said about Dot, but that they were said to "marry her off." At one point Dot says, "You did very well, Papa, but, pray, do not boast on me. Can you not see how poorly I compare to Miss Appleton?” The dialogue often did not seem authentic.

In spite of these, I ended up enjoying the book very much. There was a sweetness about the main characters that endeared them to me. I hope Ms. Bolen writes the story of Annie, Lord Appleton's sister.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."
# Once Upon a Time in Bath #NetGalley

I wanted to like this book, but there was too many things I did not like. First the way Lord Appleton went about securing Dot's hand. He pounced on her early on and secured her hand in just a matter of two weeks all to gain access to her dowry. Poor Dot never stood a chance. Appleton was the first man she'd met and while he was handsome, I do wish she had a little more backbone to want to meet more men before committing her life to him.

The whole issue of Mr. Wolf was a bit on the ridiculous side. Ms. Bolen paints him as evil without much of an explanation why except he was taunted and shunned while a young boy at Eaton. She also did not explain the obsession in ruining just Appleton and meeting his sister Annie. Did he hope to win her hand by blackmail?

Without going into any more details that spoil the story, I'll just say that I was quite disappointed in this book. I knew who the murderer even before the murder took place. It was all just too obvious. I do prefer the plot twists to have a bit more meat to them.

Easy historical romance to read, having been a long time reading the previous books in this series, it works quite well as a standalone. Enjoyable odd heroine comes to Bath with her wealth father and cats, soon meets a Lord who needs a wealthy wife quickly. As the romance moves along they solve a murder together, and the Hero grows up along the way, also falling in love with the heroine. Entertaining read and visiting many characters of the previous books. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for this enjoyable read.

Lord Appleton has never encountered a problem quite like this... After a night gambling that he barely remembers he had lost everything. Having becoming head of the family not to long ago that poses a variety of problems. With 3 sisters to care for he has to act quickly. With only a month until his complete ruination he decides the only way to save himself and his family is to find himself a wealthy heiress to marry. Luckily for him one has just arrived in Bath...
Dot, the heiress in question, has recently come to Bath with her elderly father. A country girl who grew up in isolation from the world she’s never had a friend and dresses vastly different from the ladies in society. But if she’s to ever find herself a husband then it won’t happen back home. Her reputation for being a peculiar cat lady isn’t doing her any favors. A chance meeting with Lord Appleton and his sister Annie offers a bit of hope...

A murder though does get a bit in the way of things... Murder, mystery, mayhem and marriage oh my.

So...

I did not like Lord Appleton I get that it was a different time and things were done differently but there weren’t many redeeming qualities about him. He was incredibly shallow. Dot was all innocent and naïve and he basically tricked her into falling for him. For her was there even much of a choice? She was preyed upon by the first man to cross her oath she never even got the chance to see what else was out there. The story wasn’t bad it’s just that Appleton wasn’t great and the villain in all this was ridiculous. It was never explained why he was so interested in Annie or really why he was doing all this anyway. Why single out one of your former school bullies and not the rest? Seemed like he lacked a real motive considering he murdered someone.

Not a bad story not the best characters but it was interesting. Though it was also rather predictable. It was my first read by this author. While it’s the 7th book in the series it was easy to read without knowing the various backstories of the other characters since it was focused on Dot and Appleton.

Lord Appleton may be a bit of a rake but he’s never been one to lose his head at the gaming tables. Yet he loses everything on a night of which he has no memory.

A lady with cats saves him. Who would think such a thing could happen?

An interesting story about a man who was destitute and a lady who loves her cats more than life.
I received an ARC of this book for free. This in no way affected my opinion of this book.

Forrester Timothy Appleton had recently become a Viscount and head of the house. He has three sisters unmarried and needs to dower them. Last night he had gambled away every farthing he had and his house. He felt horrible. One of his friends suggested an heiress.
Dorthea Pankhurst was known as the cat lady in Bath. She and her father came because he was ill and she hoped the waters would help. Yes, she had four grown cats, Lover Boy, Nellie, Preenie Queenie, and Fur Blossom. She had spent her whole life in the country and all she had were her cats. Even her clothes were old and tattered. But her father planned to get her a full wardrobe. He wanted her to find a husband and she was an heiress.
The characters were great. He was courtly and handsome and she was gentle and kind. They seemed to hit it off really well but there was a malicious person in the background. Henry Wolf hated Appleton.
It was a charming story. The author gave you a mystery and a love story. The book was well written, easy to read, and satisfying. Your interest is held throughout the tale. It is definitely worth the time to read.
I received this ARC from Net Galley and voluntarily reviewed it.

I did like the character of Dorothea ( Dot), newly arrived in Bath from the countryside, she was unaware of how to behave in Society. She was a little eccentric as regards to her cats but she had a very kind and caring heart. Lord Appleton and his sister Anne befriended Dot. Appleton needed to marry an heiress and was using Dot at first but he did redeem himself later. Dot was very attracted to Appleton but she did wonder if he was after her fortune. They work together to try to discover the murderer. As they work together, they get to know each other better. However, Dot has some serious questions to ask Appleton that may affect their relationship. There is also a dangerous event and another engagement. I found this to be an entertaining read that moved along at a good pace. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This story was very entertaining and fun to read. It starts with a very bad and warped man who drugs and then cheats the hero, into losing everything the hero owns. And this is because the bad man wants the hero's sister. The hero has lost everything but his personal items and those of his family. The bad man gives him 30 days to pay off the loan, but only if the hero introduces him to the hero's sister. The hero has to take the offer. The hero realizes he needs a rich bride and now. So, the hero's friend knows everything that has happened and suggests a rich merxhants daughter who is an older spinster with a cat collection. The hero feels that there are a couple of options that he could meet and determine which one he would like.
The heroine has just arrived from the country and her father is taking her shopping when the cat escapes and the hero reaches it. The hero's sister and the heroine are talking and decide to become friends and go shopping while the cat is returned home. The hero isn't impressed with her old, country outfits and the way that he can't really 'check her out'. The heroine is invited to go with them that evening and the heroine's sister lends her a dress. The hero, who was attracted to her personality and charm and wit, is taken away with how well she cleans up. Okay, no more spoilers.
The thing I liked best about this book, is that the author uses the 'ugly duckling' story but changes it all around. The hero is really a very nice guy that doesn't have any vices and the bad guy took advantage of him. The hero owns his screw up, and works to correct it without hurting anyone. I like the smart and original heroine. She was not bratty or smart mouthed or obnoxious. She was very nice. This story had many supporting characters that made sense. It was an enjoyable read that made my afternoon better and left me with a good feeling in my heart. I recommend this book and give it 5 stars.

Miss Dorothea Pankhurst (Dot) and her father have left their home in Lincolnshire and taken a house in Bath so he can take the waters for his supposedly precarious health. She has no illusions that she is a prize on the Marriage Mart because of her beauty, grace, and manners. She is, however, a very wealthy heiress and that makes her a very eligible young lady.

Lord Forrester Timothy Appleton has a major problem. Somehow, he gambled away his entire fortune and home and he doesn’t remember a single second of the gaming incident. Now he only has one solution – marry a very wealthy heiress within the month or lose everything. Fortunately, word of Miss Pankhurst’s eligibility and wealth have not circulated among the ton yet and when Appleton literally stumbles across her and one of her feline companions, it seems an answer to his prayers. He discovers that Dot is a very intelligent young lady who charms Appleton as they work together to solve the murder of the gambling den’s young dealer.

This is the seventh book in the Brides of Bath series, but as with all the others, it can be read as a standalone. It was fun to see what had been going on in the lives of the previous six Brides and their husbands, but they were all primarily background characters.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley and the author, but the review is my own, the result of staying up way too late to finish it.

Lord Appleton wakes up to discover that he has lost everything he owned and has no memory of it. He will do anything to get his home back.
Miss Dorthea (Dot) Pankhurst, is an heiress but ignorant to the ways of Society since she’s always lived on her fathers remote estate.
Their paths collide-which I found extremely funny how the author weaves these two to a mutual place.
The book centers around these two main characters trying to figure out who murdered a young lady as the two of them grow closer. But we knew who the killer was from the very beginning of the book.
Then towards the end when my heart started racing because I was so excited about what was happening and, POW! The end. What! Then a short epilogue. The story seemed so rushed at this stage. This part of the book could’ve certainly had more time. It seemed as though the author got her word count in and abruptly stopped the story. Very disappointing.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the book in exchange for an honest review.

A beautifully written romance, whereby Lord Appleton woos Dot, unwillingly, at first, because she is an heiress, and he has gambling debts. There is also a murder mystery involved. I enjoyed the book. Good historical research as well.

Forester has run into trouble while gambling. Now he has to find a way to get out of the mess he’s in. He decides Dot’s inheritance will help him out just fine. Little did he know how he would soon fall in love with her and it wasn’t for her money.

I was hooked from the very first page.

Once Upon a Time in Bath is a sweet clean romance. I loved the characterisation of the books, from the escorts to the gentry. The plot was wonderful. Cheryl Bolen created this piece with a touch of regency and wholesomeness. I loved it.