The Tale of Two Barons

Linda Rae Sande

Oct 2018 · The Sisters of the Aristocracy Book 1 · Twisted Teacup Publishing

About this eBook

A sensual tale of a book, a baron, and a bride-to-be

In need of income for the struggling Sommers barony, Jeffrey Althorpe arranges for the publication of a book he’s written–anonymously, of course. A dowry would be easier, but then he would have to find a willing wife.

While her brother is away on an expedition, Lady Evangeline is left behind to spend her days creating exquisite embroideries and reading books. She's about to buy The Story of a Baron when Lord Sommers suddenly appears, intent on buying the very same book—but there’s only one copy. 

Desperate to discover what his publisher might have done to his story—without letting on he’s the author—Jeffrey suggests they read it together. Evangeline's sterling reputation could use a bit of scandal, so she agrees.

As the two read the book, Evangeline realizes some of the characters are a bit too familiar and the settings are a bit too close to home. Was she the inspiration for the baron’s secret love, a bold, brash woman whose reputation is in tatters?

With her own reputation suddenly in question, Evangeline finds her life imitating art. How can the book have a happy ending when she wishes she’d never purchased The Story of a Baron? 

Ratings and reviews

The synopsis tidily summarizes the plot. Overall well-written with likable characters and an untypical storyline. Evangeline is not a very demanding young woman, just a bit lonely. Her older brother and guardian, the Earl of Everly, has left her without a companion or sponsor so she has a very limited social life while in London. She spends most of her time reading, so what luck she happens to (again) meet an eligible gentleman while looking for a book in her favorite book shop. What is not explained is how she knows of this new book ("she spotted the book she was hoping to find"). The chapters include chapters of Jeffrey's novel of the same title, however, the chapters are clearly titled - see Chapter 6 of the preview, in which they read chapter 1. At times I had to go back and re-read a section to make sure which actions belonged to Jeffrey and Evangeline, and which to Matthew and Geraldine, the characters of Jeffrey's novel, so I would recommend reading this within a short time frame - not over weeks.

A story within a story, this lighthearted Regency romance has a well thought out plot and is very entertaining. I personally found the number of characters confusing and considering so many names in the parallel stories were close in nature, I had a problem at times differentiating between them. The romance between Jeffrey Althorpe and Evangeline Tennison built slowly and the ancillary characters in this book played an important role in the storyline. Although humourous, the book nevertheless has depth and the stories of the two barons both portray the mores of the era. It leaves one feeling grateful for the hard-won rights and privileges we enjoy today. There are some steamy passages in this book but they do have their place. Although this book is part of a series and some of the characters overlap, it is nevertheless a standalone and comes to a happy and satisfying conclusion. I purchased and read this book some years ago, but also received a review copy from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily post this review. This is my honest review.

The storyline had potential, but the author's storytelling was boring and filled with A LOT of unnecessary sentences/paragraphs. There were so many characters crammed into the story, but none enough to move, hook, or make me care. I definitely will not read the next two books in the series.

About the author

 A former technical writer, Linda Rae Sande’s interest in the Regency has resulted in over twenty books set during that era. When she’s not writing, she can frequently be found at the local cinema enjoying the latest action-adventure movie. During the winter, she follows the local junior hockey team and is a fan of the San Jose Sharks. She makes her home in Cody, Wyoming. Read more about her books on her website: www.lindaraesande.com.