Nothing exciting ever happens in the small town of Inverley. Miss Arabella Seton is a spinster who lives with her brother and his wife, contributing to their household by selling her seascape and landscape paintings during tourist season and spending her free time with her best friend and neighbor, Caroline Reeve (and her family). Caroline Reeve has been raising her siblings since their parents died, and stays too busy to do much of her own wishes, but she has her best friend, Caroline. Neither dare reveal their deeper, romantic desires for the other. Until one night, doing dishes when one kiss changes everything. Something else is about to change everything. Caroline’s family are now the inheritors of a baroncy, land, and a fortune. The sudden thrust into society isn’t all roses, however, and Caroline will have to keep her siblings in line long enough to make sure their cared for, all while asking herself if her feelings for Arabella are worth putting herself first.

This was a fun read. Historical fiction is hit or miss for me, but make it sapphic, and it’s usually a hit. I love a good spinster, and these two spinsters (and their friends) stole my heart. I loved the conflict that Caroline’s sudden fortune created as well as the two having to face a lot more than if they were man and woman. I was rooting for them, and I loved Caroline’s brothers and sisters, even Arabella’s brother and his wife. There were a couple of solid villains to root against, and it was an overall good time. Definitely recommend.

I had a lovely time reading this book, although I discovered historical fiction is not my favorite genre sapphics in any time period make reading all the more fun

A lovely, sweeping romance. It reminded me absolutely of the great romantic novels of the time period. Scandal and scoundrels, and two lovers who grow together. I loved it, and can't wait for the next.

I don't typically read historical romances but this story changed my mind. Arabella and Caroline are life long friends until they become more. Throw in siblings, family dynamics, new found wealth and you have a humdinger. This was a fabulous read and the author captured the essence of the 19th century woman.

This book was given to me by Netgalley for an honest review.
Truthfully, it took me a bit to get into but overall, I enjoyed it. I felt that the novel depicted the main characters, Arabella and Caroline, quite well in the fact that they are both women of their time 19th century - women who are in some way the breadwinners of their family and taken for granted. Women who are expected to give and give without little ways of a chance asking for something for themselves, lest they been seen as selfish creatures. This is especially so for women who weren't of the upper class .I loved how Caroline didn't lose herself in the newfound wealth her family came into. And I loved how Arabella still tried to do her best to be there for all those she loved in her life, while keeping pieces of herself only for Caroline to know. I also found myself researching some of the activities they did during the novel, as I was doubtful they existed. To my surprise, they were commonplace back during the 19th century, like the bathing machines. The passion between the characters was there to an extent, but truth be told, I felt some scenes were a bit forced for them. I am probably one of the few people that felt they made better friends than lovers. I came in looking for a regency type novel but with lesbians and this book delivered. I think I will try some more f/f novels from this time period and see how they fare. It had some elements I felt one of my other friends who love historical f/f content would enjoy and I have recommended it to read as well. I will not forget this book anytime soon. Thank you for allowing me the chance to read and enjoy this book!

3.5 stars

A regency romance! Enough said. Lovers of this genre can certainly pick this one up.

A friends-to-lovers romance about Arabella, a spinster who is living with and for her brother and his family, on one side and the impoverished Caroline Reeve. As in the title, Caroline and her large family of siblings have to deal with the complications that arise when the suddenly inherit a large fortune.

The story focusses on Caroline and her siblings and details their misadventures for a significant part of the book. I wish they had spent more time focusing on the romance between the MCs. Nevertheless, the book proceeds fairly rapidly and gives a satisfactory conclusion.

Received a copy from BSB through Netgalley for the review

Famine to feast. Friends to lovers. What more could one ask?

A tad more chemistry, perhaps, but it isn't difficult to believe that two women, lifelong friends - one a painter, one unexpectedly in charge of all her siblings after their parents died - who have always been close would be able to inch that "close" gap to nothing.

Arabella is the artist, living with er brother and his very pregnant wife, painting and selling a bit here and there, and generally fine with life,if starting to chafe a bit at what else may be out there in the world for her. Caroline, riding herd on her siblings, can only imagine what her life could be once all the kids are grown and gone on to their own lives.

Enter a courier, with good news: the Reeves have inherited not a vast fortune, but certainly more than they've ever sen in their lives. Caroline, ever the worrier, frets that someone will turn up, laying a greater claim to the monies than her little clan has. This turns out to be unfounded, although she now finds herself the unwelcome spot of attention in a pool of fortune hunters. She's more concerned about getting her sisters properly married - without allowing them to tarnish their reputations in the process.

It's a fun read, and if you know the typical arcs of these stories, you'll find no surprises, really. It was fun watching Caroline saving her siblings from themselves, often with help from Arabella and others. Not a bad way to spend a couple of hours.

Three and a half stars,rounded to four.

Thanks to Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for the reading copy.

A lovely friends to lovers historical romance who both have been so supportive of their family they forgot about their own needs and wants. It was quite a good and enjoyable read even though I am usually not a fan of historical romances.

Special shoutout to the lovely seaside town as it made me want to go on a little trip to such a quaint town.

I received an ARC in return of an honest review.

This is a friends to lovers novel involving two best friends. Arabella wants her independence from her brother and wants to focus on her art and Caroline is too busy making sure her family is cared for without looking after herself or her happiness. There are many ups and downs in this book but their romance shines through and they get through anything together. Overall this is a good story for fans of sapphic historical fiction.

I just want to preface this by saying that I discovered that historical romance is not the genre for me. I read her Duchess to Desire by Jane Walsh and I enjoyed it, but I think that I just get bored. I have no complaints about the Inconvenient Heiress, I enjoyed the writing, the plot made sense, and I like the characters. I think people that are fans of historical romance, especially queer historical romance would love this book. I would give this a 5 star because it was a good book, and if I was more partial to historic romance, this would definitely be one my favorite reads of the year.

This is such a lovely sapphic romance!! It's lifelong friends to lovers, which I love, but I feel like it hits different with queer relationships. The PINING...also because it's historical the stakes are high, the emotions are high, each of them thinks it's unrequited but they can't bear to lose their friend...mm. And as Caroline's situation changed, it put stress on her relationship with Arabella in a really interesting way, which made for some really compelling development between the two of them.

They also each developed independently really solidly, as each of them were dealing with their own stressors in their own lives. Arabella's arc was particularly poignant, and I loved seeing her grow into herself.

The setting of a tourist destination seaside town was so picturesque, the families were very different but each felt really well developed and complex (as were the respective heroine's relationships to their families), and I enjoyed the friends, but my main criticism is how underutilized they were. They were present in the beginning, but then they largely disappeared, and when they were present they functioned as solely sources of advice for C&A. I wanted to get to know them! I enjoyed them every time they were on the page!

Overall, a charming romance with great independent development for each of the heroine's, and I'm excited to see where this series goes.

CW: Homophobia, sexual content, pregnancy

The Inconvenient Heiress by Jane Walsh is a queer historical romance set in the small seaside town of Inverley.

This is a Regency romance with all of the elements you expect in such a novel, only with two gentlewomen as the protagonists. Ms. Walsh has become an expert at penning these tales and it shows in this book.

Miss Arabella Seton, an artist living with her brother and his wife in Inverley and Miss Caroline Reeve, the eldest in a family of six children have been friends since childhood. For Arabella, though, friendship doesn’t begin to touch the true feelings she has for Caroline. For Caroline, life is quite complicated since after her parents died, as the eldest child, she is charged with raising her younger siblings. This is not easy since the family is all but impoverished. Then the Reeve family suddenly and unexpectedly inherits a fortune.

I enjoy reading romantic novels from this period, and the author has the Regency style down pat. The setting, the characters, the clothing, and the language style are all authentic to the time period. Even the way the two women (spinsters as they are known) are treated in society is true to this age. I admit the way women are treated is something I sometimes have a little trouble with when I read these stories, but it is true to life. The story and romance in this book is really lovely, and I especially liked the epilogue in the tale. It is quite heartwarming.

If you are a lover of historical romance during the Regency period involving a love story between two women, then you should try this book.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.

A lovely historical sapphic tale of famine to fortune, a dash of debutants and suitors, and a sweet HEA that made me smile. I'm a fan of this author and have read many of her works. This is a softer style of writing- nothing jarring or too unwholesome. I did think there was a lack of passion between the MC's- I needed a little bit more dialogue or chemistry initiating moments between them that solidified their love, but still a sweet read.

It murders my spirit reading historical fics when I am reminded of the the oppressiveness of society toward women and am very glad to be living in the present.

I loved the epilogue. The entire concept made me smile and laugh- it was the quintessential cherry on top of an enjoyable read.

This was my first time reading a book from Jane Walsh and I enjoyed the storyline it was an interesting historical sapphic romance.I loved the relationship between Caro and Arabella and how the relationship from childhood friends to lovers .

Overall I loved the writing, the setting, and the characters,I will definitely be reading more from this author.

A rompy historical romance, with a little fire. The Inconvenient Heiress is a friends to lovers story featuring two confirmed spinsters, they are only in their twenties, who are hopelessly and secretly in love. Caroline has devoted her whole life to raising her younger siblings, her one guilty pleasure is the time she gets with her closest friend Arabella.

After her family is given a life changing fortune Caroline must figure out how to guide them in to proper society, and Arabella has to decide whether risking their friendship is worth claiming the love of her life.

I really enjoyed the friendship and love between Caroline and Arabella. They both go out of their way to make it each other happy, and support the other. There is also a fun little mystery as well. I’m not sure how historically accurate it is, but the story is a lot of fun.

It was quite a treat, beautifully crafted and I very much enjoyed the story. The main characters were great. Another one to be added to your collections. I recommend.


Thank you NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books.

I enjoyed this book! This was my first time reading a book from Jane Walsh so I didn’t know what to expect coming in. I was interested most of the time while reading. The pacing was slightly slow and the plot lost me at times. But for the most part I enjoyed it. Also the characters were great too.

Sweet historical romance about falling in love with your best friend.

Pro:
MCs who care deeply about each other
The language is suitable for a historical romance
Talented MC working for her dream

Con:
Pacing - The pacing seems off, it's slow in the beginning and then at the tipping point of the book it's all of a sudden too fast.
A bit predictable - The plot surrounding the heritage is a bit predictable.

All in all, the romance part of this book is sweet and good, but the book has a few cons that for me reduced the rating.

This review is based on NetGalley ARC provided in exchange for an honest, unbiased opinion.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
This is a sweet historical sapphic romance. I liked the main romance, especially as it’s friends to lovers. Arabella and her dreams for independence and her artistic dreams really spoke to me, and I generally liked Caroline and her complex relationships with her family. It was also sweet seeing the development of the bond between the two with all the changes going on around them.
But I wasn’t super invested…there was a lot going on, but it wasn’t super fleshed out. And the pacing felt odd, with a lot of anticlimactic moments, and false lead ups to what I thought was meant to be the ending.

Sweet and just lovely

Arabella and Caroline have been friends since they were young, but now when Caroline is responsible for her siblings and no one expects her to marry, finds herself inheriting a fortune. Arabella worries when fortune hunters start coming to meet Caroline that she might marry, meaning Arabella would lose her love forever.

I enjoyed every moment of this. Those forbidden feelings and moments Arabella and Caroline shared were magical but when everything changed for Caroline and she had to contemplate marriage my heart broke for them both. I was completely invested in them being together and so being on that emotional rollercoaster with them, especially Arabella I could only hope they might get their chance.

It was terribly worrying for Caroline, to be thrown into situations she was unprepared for and not know what to do for the best meant she needed Arabella’s friendship more than ever, but the thought of everything changing for them was just awful for them both. I loved every moment they had together, from the more intimate ones, to the ones alone where realisation hit or moments of clarity provided them the answers they needed to do what was best for them.

I really enjoyed this story and hope Arabella and Caroline will be in future stories of Jane’s because she has a real talent for delivering exciting regency romances that are rich, loving, and deeply sentimental.