I do so love a Regency Romance (despite romance not being my usual genre) and THE MARRIAGE SEASON was a delightfully easy read that is likened to that of Georgette Heyer (whose name I know but have not actually read). This is the first I have read by this author and I chose it simply for it's era. It did take quite a while before things got interesting with a somewhat slow build that almost made me give up and move on. I do hate slow starts as much as I hate long chapters...which this book also had.

Sybella (Bella) Lovatt is a young widow, having lost her husband in the Pensinsula war against Napoleon after two months of marriage, and now the time has come for her to find a suitable husband for her younger sister and charge Lucie Carey. Suitors are scarce around their Wiltshire estate and so the sisters plan on converging on London for the season, taking up residence with Lucie's godmother Lady Godley for the duration.

Prior to the London season, Lucie happens upon a young man laying unconscious in the road under a fall tree branch. She sets her horse agallop back to their Manor to bring help which soon arrives in the form of their stablehand George. They transport the still unconscious young man back to their estate and await the doctor who diagnoses a broken leg and with George's help sets it. But as he is unable to move he is to remain at the manor for the time being. When he awakes, he introduces himself as Lord Lynwood...or Freddie, as their butler Beamish informs them. Freddie, it seems, is the ward of their neighbour Mr Brabazon who is intent on finding him a young bride.

OK, so it's a little predictable but it is a satirical romp with witty young men and disparaging rakes set between the sprawling Wiltshire countryside and busyness of Mayfair and the London Season. In a whirl of balls and parties, Bella must find the most appropriate husband for Lucie...but can she do so without opening her own heart for more heartbreak?

A delightful romp, it has to be said, but not the best I have read. As I outlined at the beginning, it was a slow build before it got interesting and the chapters were long...both of which are reflected in my rating. But there is plenty of scandal and drama and lot of descriptive scenes.

Likened to that of Georgette Heyer and Jane Austen, I'm sure THE MARRIAGE SEASON will appeal to those fans. However, as much as I enjoy Jane Austen's tales on screen I do find her writing a little difficult to wade through...perhaps that is the difficulty I had here also? Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy the story...it was too slow to start and some things I found a little drawn out. Too much description maybe? I'm not sure. I can't quite put my finger on it. I just know that although I did enjoy the the story, I didn't it quite as much as other Regency Romances.

Overall, a fairly decent read with satirical wit and a few dashing as well as disparaging characters for the women of the story to fall in love with. Perfect for fans of Georgette Heyer and Jane Austen.

I would like to thank #JaneDunn, #Netgalley, #BoldwoodBooks and #RachelsRandomResources for an ARC of #TheMarriageSeason in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

Will this season bring more than they expected…

If one thing is sure, this is a voice I want to hear again and will last.
What an outstanding double romance the author just gifted us with this bright captivating tale of two sisters taking on the marriage mart like a storm.

Lucie and Sybella are at the same time alike and entirely opposite. One has the wildness and innocence of her years while the other leaned to be more circumspect and thoughtful as life went by herself with its lot of heartaches and duties.
And now they prepare themselves for the London season, they meet unexpectedly their neighbor and his ward, two men with different ideas and behaviors.

This story is a kaleidoscope of variegated portraits as the two sisters cross path with the ton’s peers, and some of their sisters.
From the dandies to the profligates or the young bucks sawing their wild oats or those leaning on the wrong side of the bed, the sisters will discover they have to follow the rules as reputations are held by one thread all the the while learning to navigate the treacherous and muddy waters of the Beau Monde.
It was easy to determine who will be matched with whom, still the journey toward the HEAs was amusing, entertaining with some additional twists and turns and last minute reversals of situation.

Lynwood is a pleasant pretty young man, his gorgeous friend Ravenell a feast for the eyes and a kind soul, Mr Brabazon a sort of a Mr Darcy with a rake’s streak and Rockliffe his old time nemesis and a seducer.
Then there is little James (or Young Jim), Sybella’s young son, such a delight, a breath of fresh air with the truth of his words, he sees the world from what it is, a play even if it is through the lenses of a child.

As the lives of all these people become entangled, friendships are made, trusts are tested, secrets revealed, safety engaged and hearts stirred.
If it is really a debut novel, this is quite a faultless performance I can only recommend to readers seeking romances with wits.
5 stars

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 kisses

I have been granted an advance copy by the publisher and Rachel’s Random Ressources, here is my true and unbiased opinion.

This Georgette Heyer fan loved this book as it's an original and well written Regency romance featuring interesting characters and a compelling plot.
I rooted for the characters, had fun and enjoyed the story.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

The Marriage Season by Jane Dunn is a delightful Regency romance that's a little different to similar tales I've read, for the story is not just of a young woman trying to find a husband but of a widow deciding if she is perhaps prepared to love again, and her small son, James, or Jim as he likes to be called.

As much as Lucie and Sybella are fabulous creations, as are the men they encounter, it is little Jim and his love of 'prancers' that truly steals the show, and why not? That said, the story of Lucie and Sybella is delightful and well-told. Yes, it contains the twisting storylines we might expect, but the author has also littered the narrative with some delightful, period-specific words, which make the story really sparkle. And it's not just young Jim and his roguish words that bring that charm.

I really adored The Marriage Season. Yes, it was fairly obvious what was going to happen, but that's not truly the charm of the story but rather the detours the reader is taken on along the way, and of course, young Jim and his love of prancers is a true delight.

My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my review copy.

The Marriage Season by Jane Dunn is a delightful, regency era novel that is heartwarming and charming

Story Recap:
Sybella Lovatt knows that it is time to find a husband for her sister, Lucie, and she decides to take her to London, and participate in The Season, in order for her to find a suitable husband.

Lady Godley, Lucie’s godmother hosts the women in her Mayfair home. Sybella and Lucie try to navigate the complicated process of finding a husband for Lucie, going to balls and parties. The women must find the right men amongst the disreputable rakes and unsuitable men of the Ton, making their goal more difficult than they first imagined. Can Sybella find a suitable match for Lucie?

My Thoughts:
I enjoyed this light, regency-era romance. I loved being in London during “the season with Sybella, Lucie, and Sybella’s adorable son, James. There were the usual season events, of parties and balls, and several gentlemen have shown interest in Lucie, and even Sybella. I loved the beautiful descriptions of Regency London, and the characters of Sybella and Lucie were both well-developed and charming.

The book did drag just a bit in the middle, where some of the descriptions became a bit too much, however, it was worth it to get to the ending where we had more action and story. The romances were a bit predictable, but I was fine with that as the journey was excellent. If you’re a fan of regency romances, you’ll enjoy The Marriage Season.

Recommendation:
I highly recommend The Marriage Season to anyone who enjoys historical romance. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Marriage Season by Jane Dunn takes you back to Bridgerton Era with its story. There is everything in the plot, Love, Rivalry and Emotions. For me the book was a very different experience as I normally don't read romance. Especially, I loved the characters. The female characters are strong and they know their life is not easy. Also, they are not taking things for granted. I really enjoyed the book.

Definitely 4 stars for the book. Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for providing me an opportunity to read and review the book.

I really enjoyed this regency romance.Two sisters on a hunt for love fun well written,drawn in by the lovely cover and the authors writing.#netgalley #boldwoodbooks

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC copy of this book!

Overall enjoyed this escape into regency England in the middle of winter. This one comes with two romances, one for each sister that matched where they are in life stages (one a window, one a new bride).I felt pieces of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice in her, perhaps because of the English countryside background for parts of the book. It's a good read for someone wanting a light escape into 18th English aristocracy, but for whom Bridgeton is a bit to saucy.

This was just another run of the mill regency romance. I guess I was expecting more based on the beautiful cover but it was pretty formulaic and predictable. It is an ok mindless read but the toddler incessantly repeating horse colors and the inconsistency of the sister's demeanors gets annoying after awhile. The focus of the book also changes a little too much. You start off with one sister then change to the other, leaving the first to fritter away her life in a "love" triangle and then briefly pop into another characters life for a bit.

It was just ok.

I tried to read this one, but I honestly just couldn’t get into it.
I think the writing style was just not for me.
What I have read was well written, just not for me sorry.

This was an odd book.

The little child felt unruly, Lucie felt incredibly stupid, no one seemed to be following any of the norms of the time but kept getting away with things. It was a bit bland and relied entirely on a miscommunication trope.

I love a good historical romance, and the Regency is one of my favorite historical periods, so I was excited to be given the opportunity to read this book. Then I discovered that Jane Dunn wrote one of my mother's all-time-favorite nonfiction books (Elizabeth I and Mary, Queen of Scots), so I was doubly intrigued to see what her fiction writing was like. The novel is sweet and cozy and beautifully-written, and is therefore a very enjoyable read. It has a very dream-like quality, though, which made me feel slightly detached from the action. That combined with the very fast way the plot is advanced and then wrapped up all at once in the last quarter of the novel also made me feel a bit distant from the characters. Overall, I would recommend it, but it didn't engage my emotions the way other historical romances have.

Why did I request The Marriage Season from NetGalley? Probably because I was looking for something different. I have only read the first Bridgerton book in terms of Regency Romance, but I do love historical fiction, so I took a chance. I received an Advanced Reader’s Copy of the book from NetGalley and Boldwood Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

It was clear from the beginning of the book that I would be struggling, and I found that to be true. Whilst accurately portraying life in Regency England, there were so many unfamiliar words I had to look them up. If you read these sorts of books, you might be well-versed with many of the words, so YMMV when reading this book. But because I constantly felt like I was looking up word definitions, it broke up the flow of the story.

The other problem I had was one character in particular, the young son of one of the main characters. He’s probably the most precocious 2-year old since I read the Amelia Peabody mystery series by Elizabeth Peters. His actions and words defy anything I’ve ever experienced with a toddler, either my own or friends and family. He was just not believable.

And what’s up with the obsession with horses in this book? I love horses as much as the next gal, but all this horse talk, and descriptions of horses got old pretty quickly. It really dragged the book down for me, as I found myself skimming through the book because of this. If you love conversations about horses ad nauseam, this might be the book for you.

Lastly, the slow burn to be found in a Regency romance did nothing for me. I didn’t particularly care for either romance presented. They bored me. Maybe it’s because I don’t normally read this type of romance, I don’t know, but I didn’t get the warm fuzzies while reading this book. I was bored with the romance.

Bottom line, if you like Regency Romance books and don’t mind an annoying toddler and endless talk about horses, this might be the book for you. But it wasn’t for me.

This is a Regency England read which brings to light the how important it is to marry well. So in this book expect a bit of scandal, a bit of drama and and plenty of game playing to win the husband prize!

With some great characters this story has been well researched and the writing is great, with a flow that keeps you reading. It takes you on the journey with Lucie to find a husband which I enjoyed. There is romance, a bit of humour and plenty of eligible bachelors to choose from!

A great read and one I really enjoyed and would recommend. Great period to write about and interesting subject of finding a husband.

This was a charming Regency romance, of a young widow and her sister in their hunt for a husband. I enjoyed reading this one and seeing how the romances developed, it's certainly perfect for those who enjoy Regency romance books. And that cover just sets it up nicely.

The Marriage Season is a light hearted story that will make you laugh out loud and keep the pages turning.

I loved both couples and yes I guessed correctly but it was fun to see which direction the couples would take.

Jane Dunn's writing is so descriptive you actually feel that you are attending one of those glamourous parties.

This is not usually my genre but I will say I thoroughly enjoyed this Regency Romance and will certainly read more of Jane Dunn's books.

Highly recommend you pick up your copy.

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for a very enjoyable read.

The Marriage Season is the story of two country sisters who head into London with the ton, hoping to find the younger sister a match.

When I first glanced the cover of this novel, I was excited, because I thought there was a Black protagonist. I was thrilled about more diversity in Regency lit. However, this is not the case--just an interesting cover design choice--but I won't have been the only person to be let down by this.

I enjoy this period of historical fiction and this subgenre, but as a whole, this novel reads as if the author was rushing to fill a quota of Regency jargon. It felt like a vocabulary exercise where she wanted to show off all of her newly acquired words. And, again, I say this as someone who reads Regency pieces. Plus, it also felt like is she was getting paid by the adjective. It was difficult to wade through so much prose to find a plot, and the unnatural dialogue for the purpose of exposition.

This did not wind up being a book for me, but I thank Net Galley for the advanced copy of this manuscript to review.

"The Marriage Season" is a quintessential Regency romance, with its beautiful debutante; less beautiful but resourceful sister, who happens to be a widow; love interests for the deb; disapproving guardian; society scoundrel; a precocious toddler; and completely clean story. The reader will know how the plot will work itself out, although there were one or two plot developments that were more modern. I had trouble with the frequent use of French phrases, and I would have liked more conflict with the villain. Still, this is a gentle, easy book that will appeal to Regency romance fans.

The Marriage Season by Jane Dunn is a regency romance designed to appeal to fans of Bridgerton. Sybella Lovatt is a young widow with a little boy who never had a chance to meet his father, a proud soldier who served in the Hussars. Keen to find a suitable husband for her younger sister, and ward Lucie, she takes them both to London for the season where they soon find themselves caught up in a whirl of parties and promenades. Unsurprisingly Lucie is not the only one to make an impression on the social scene and soon both sisters are being pursued, though the attentions of some of their admirers may be less than honourable.
This could have been charming book , though I will say that there was something of an obsession with horses throughout, which grew to be quite distracting as the book continued, and became almost as annoying as Sybella's precocious son. Both Sybella and Lucie were likeable characters, unfortunately the love interests were a little less interesting and the outcome of the story was entirely too easy to predict.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an early copy for an honest review.

This was sadly not for me. I love historical romances, period dramas, etc.. unfortunately, this for nothing I thought it would be. There was some much talk about horses I couldn’t take it anymore. When they weren’t riding them, they were talking about them, they were watching them, grooming them and on we go.

I also didn’t really like the love interest, he was just cocky and didn’t have a lot of substance. The likability the characters need to have in a period romance is so high, so when they aren’t that likable.. it takes the fun out of the story.

Sadly this wasn’t what I wanted it to be