Member Review

This is the third of Natalie Kleinman's regency romances I have read and once again it is a heartwarming tale that is an easy read, moving at a gentle pace. There really isn't a lot to say about the story because, while they are wholly enjoyable and a perfect way to while away a few hours, they are also predictable. But that isn't a bad thing. Sometimes you are comforted in knowing what's coming. That's the beauty of these gentle reads.

Harriet Lambert has had her season. She came out, met and became betrothed to John Downing after a short courtship in which both had fallen madly in love. Unfortunately, it was at the time of the Napoleonic War in France and no sooner had they become engaged than she had lost him on the battlefields at Waterloo. And then in the months after that lost also her beloved papa.

Now three years have since passed, the war has ended and the time has come for Harriet's younger sister Amabel (which I thought was a typo at first) to experience her first season and coming out ball. Along with their mother Louisa Lambert, the sisters make their way from their country estate in Kent to the capital where dresses are ordered, bonnets are purchased and arrangements are made for Amabel's coming out to society.

At one of the first soirees, the sisters meet lifelong friends Major Brew Ware and Gil Carstairs, having returned from France after the former making his fortune after the war's end. It isn't long before Gil has won the heart of young Amabel and Brew finds himself a gentle companion in Harriet. Whilst Amabel and Gil are as obvious in their devotion, Brew and Harriet aren't at all sure of the other's feelings.

Added to this is Brew's family drama. He and his father have been estranged for some fifteen years and with his sister also in London to make her coming out debut, it seems he is to cross paths with his father once again.

So while Amabel and Gil are love's young dream, neither Harriet nor Brew were seeking love. And yet they find it in each other.

A heartwarming read as regency romances always tend to be. The characters were well developed and interesting...especially the man with the vivid striped waistcoats...lol It was refreshing not to have someone plotting against anyone and aside from one bad apple that made a small appearance it was just a really satisfying read.

I must say, mail in those days (considering they had to go by horse mail coach) makes a far quicker journey than it does today going from one county to another, when I have trouble sending something two suburbs away!

I would like to thank #NatalieKleinman, #Netgalley and #SapereBooks for an ARC of #TheWishingWell in exchange for an honest review.

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