First Season / Bride to Be

Jane Ashford

Oct 2015 · Sourcebooks, Inc.

About this ebook

Two classic Regency romances by beloved bestselling author Jane Ashford celebrate the adventures of a London Season

FIRST SEASON

Widowed Lady Anabel Wyndham was married right out of the schoolroom and has never before experienced the delights of a London Season. She's dazzled by the attention of the fascinating Sir Charles Norbury, a man whose touch seems to melt her very soul, but a notorious rake. She's drawn to handsome friend-of-the-family Christopher Hanford and the comfort and serenity he offers. But how does one choose between two such charming suitors? Anabel is finding that love is so much more dangerous the second time around.

BRIDE TO BE

Emily Crane is the toast of the ton—and she couldn't find it more tedious. Until she encounters the darkly sensual stranger whose life she once saved and the London Season becomes infinitely more exciting. Recently returned from the wilds of South America, Lord Richard Sheldon has only contempt for tiresome London chits, but he finds himself stunningly intrigued by the dauntless Emily Crane. When the two become embroiled in a budding scandal and are forced into an engagement, they discover a passion more dangerous than any killer...

Praise for The Bride Insists:

"Another perfectly delightful Regency romance...remarkably executed." —Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

"Ashford captures readers with her keen knowledge of the era and deft writing." —RT Book Reviews, 4 stars

"Fabulous...well-written, great characters." —Fresh Fiction

Ratings and reviews

Whenever I read a book that consists of more than one story, I always find them hard to review. It is so hard to not spoil the story for others. I'll do my best though. Here goes. First Season had all the makings a good story. The elusive second chance at love. Two handsome suitors and the mystique of the illustrious ball. It had a lot to live up to. For me it failed. I did not find the characters all that interesting and the story just wasn't very good. Bride to Be is a suspenseful look at romance. A surprising reunion between two former acquaintances takes them in a direction that was never expected. This read is a more gothic regency. In my opinion the mysterious element is what gives it sex appeal and character. The character development is much stronger with Emily and Richard and the story is more interesting. The beauty viewpoint is that everyone sees thing differently. So although this read was not for me, it may be perfect for some one else. I received an ARC of this 2 in 1 in exchange for an honest review.

Ashford takes readers back in time with these two regency romances. I enjoyed how her descriptions bring the world to life without overpowering the plot. At the same time, the stories themselves are intriguing. That said, I found that BRIDE TO BE held my attention much more than FIRST SEASON did. The stories were definitely in contrast with one another. Ashford brings the stereotypes of the time to life through her characters. Heroines who are extremely passive meet heroes who need to rule and save the day. Each character’s natural personality shone through. I enjoyed how I loved some and was annoyed to no end by others. The contrast was fantastic. It also meant that there were some characters that I simply couldn’t connect with on any level. Together this duology made for an intriguing read. Ashford easily takes readers back to the Regency era for some intriguing tales. Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this work in exchange for an honest review.

FIRST SEASON / BRIDE TO BE is in fact two older book books, and there is a 16-year difference between the two, FIRST SEASON being the oldest. After a surprisingly happy marriage arranged by her family, Lady Anabel Wyndham finds herself a widow with 3 children. After 3 years, her family decides it’s about time she finally had her first Season, which she never even had, hence the title. At the first ball she attends, which is in fact a sort of rehearsal for the real thing, she makes the acquaintance of Sir Charles Norbury, a known rake, who quite fascinates her, while the man who is secretly in love with her, a Wyndham family friend, Christopher Hanford watches, forlorn. But when Charles proposes, is it too late? FIRST SEASON is a lovely Regency romance, somewhat predictable, but very well written, and a quick read. I loved how Ms. Ashford captures the visuals on the page; her writing is very descriptive and vivid. However, I liked BRIDE TO BE a lot more; it’s all a matter of preference, isn’t it? The lovely Miss Emily Crane pies a man in trouble: it seems some villains want to drown him, so Emily calls her trusted dogs and rescues the poor sod: Richard Sheldon. Richard just didn’t mention that he was Baron Warrington! It turns out someone wants to harm Richard. Richard and Emily strike up a friendship of some sort as they try to discover who wants to harm Richard. BRIDE TO BE is a lot of fun! It’s a romance but also a fast-paced mystery, with twists and turns of all sorts, as well as featuring colourful, engaging and complex characters. Emily’s parents are fabulous eccentrics, the romance is somewhat unconventional, and Ms. Ashford really succeeds at showing both Emily and Richard’s growth, individually as well as a couple. I thought the romance in BRIDE TO BE was believable in view of the obvious chemistry between the leads, and I loved the nifty little mystery! Great story! I give 3 ½ stars actually: 3 for FIRST SEASON and 4 for BRIDE TO BE. I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

About the author

Jane Ashford discovered Georgette Heyer in junior high school and was captivated by the glittering world and witty language of Regency England. That delight was part of what led her to study English literature and travel widely. She’s written historical and contemporary romances, and her books have been published all over Europe as well as in the United States. Jane has been nominated for a Career Achievement Award. Find her on the web at www.janeashford.com and facebook.com/janeashfordwriter. If you’d like to receive her monthly newsletter, you can sign up at either of those sites.