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Friday, September 8, 2023

Review of The Last Eligible Bachelor by Ashtyn Newbold

The Last Eligible Bachelor is the third book in the Seasons of Change series

The series is written by several authors who each write separate books in the set.

Thus far, I have found that these books could easily be read as stand-alone books if a particular story appeals to you. Since the series is historical Christian romance fiction, which is my favorite genre, I have chosen to read the entire series and I started with the first book. However, they do not even require being read in order since the characters in the books are all different. They are related in theme only.

None of the books have had a huge emphasis on religion. Rather, they are simply clean reading without any violence, gore or explicit sexual content.

I have previously read, and reviewed, books written by Ashtyn Newbold. I really enjoy the humor and witty conversations in her novels, which has now placed her in a category of favored authors for me.

Synopsis of The Last Eligible Bachelor

When Sophia Sedgwick is invited to a private party of "acceptable" young socialites to vie for one eligible bachelor, she is not interested in going. However, her parents insist on her attendance. It is a month long event, requires traveling across England to the hostesses estate, and living there for the duration. Sophia doesn't know anyone who will be there, including the matchmaking hostess, and they have never met her. She devises a plan that will allow her to spend the month with her friend, while still satisfying her parents. After all, they need never know that the "Sophia" in attendance is not her. She will send her personal maid in her place.

The Last Eligible Bachelor: A Regency Romance (Seasons of Change Book 3)Check PriceDue to her father's recent arrest, Tillie Sherbrooke and her mother are now household staff on the estate of friends who took pity on them after their downfall from society. They certainly did not want to see them homeless. Tillie becomes Sophia Sedgwick's personal maid. At first, that is a difficult position for Tillie since she had previously known Sophia as an equal. Sophia seems to have no problem relegating Tillie to the lower class. She tells Tillie that since she was born and raised a lady, she is the perfect stand-in for her. When Tillie is hesitant to play along, Sophia threatens to have both her and her mother removed from their positions and home. Tillie reluctantly agrees to the plan. Sophia further instructs her to simply attend and make sure she did not appeal to the bachelor.

Mr. Hill is immediately drawn to Sophia (Tillie) because she is kind and less conceited than the other women he has already met. She makes it clear she is not seeking a husband. She would suit his purposes perfectly. She would allow him to distance himself from the match-matching and overtly flirtatious women in attendance. He devises a plan that will allow him to fulfill his obligations without having to commit to one of the other women. He proposes that he and Sophia (Tillie) pretend to court each other until the end of this ridiculous party. Tillie is reluctant to agree. After all, she is supposed to be Sophia. Anything she does will be attributed to Sophia. However, when she discovers that Mr. Hill is related to someone who has the power to change her life drastically, she agrees to his plan.

With this alliance, the two interact with each other without reservation or pretense and they become friends.

As I previously stated, this is a romance novel, so you can probably surmise what happens next. But I assure you, there are surprises. I found this to be a very enjoyable read. The witty characters humored me greatly. I anticipated a happy ending, therefore the novel did not make me feel stressed or overly anxious. However, when I was 80% of the way through the book, even though I was very sleepy, I refused to give in to rest until I had finished the book. So, be forewarned, you might not be able to put this book down until you have reached the end.

Previously Reviewed from the Seasons of Change Series

A Forgiving Heart

Books by Ashtyn Newbold Previously Reviewed on ReviewThisReviews.com

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Friday, August 25, 2023

Book Review of A Forgiving Heart (Seasons of Change Book 2)

Seasons of Change is a historical Christian romance book series that is written by multiple authors. The books do not share the same characters. They simply share the same theme.

A Forgiving Heart by Kasey Stockton could easily be read as a stand alone book and is one I would recommend even if you do not wish to commit to the entire series. The main character is quite believable. She does, indeed, possess a forgiving heart, but not in a way that seems beyond reason. While she has forgiven childhood mistreatment by other children, it is clear she still struggles with the memories of the selfish adult who was filled with anger and took it out on her.

This is a book that has stayed with me for days. I realize it is fiction, but the injustices are all too real. Children can be cruel, and people who should be looking out for you, often take advantage of their power. Even if our own lives have been easy, comparatively speaking, I think we all need the opportunity to consider how others may well have very painful pasts. Just telling someone they need to forgive someone seems trite and unsympathetic. Giving them time and room to work through something step by step is a more thoughtfully considered response. That is the reminder this book offered me, while also entertaining me with a romantic story.

I will warn you in advance. This is not a light reading romance. There is a pervasive evil throughout the story, starting with the uncle and continuing with someone viewed as a friend. Perhaps, that is another life lesson we should all be reminded of. People are not always who or what they seem.

A Forgiving Heart Synopsis

A Forgiving Heart
(Seasons of Change Series)Check PriceKate Kingston is now an adult, content with her life as a teacher. When an attorney arrives one day at the school to inform her of her uncle's death and her inheritance, she is thrown back into her past. A past she would prefer to leave behind.

When she was 4, her parents were killed. Her uncle moved into the ancestral home in Larkfield and sent her to live with strangers. When she returned to Split Tree Manor at the age of 9, he treated her as a house servant and would not let her go outside. When she was not working in the house, she had to remain in a room with a hired woman. The one day she did manage to slip out, she was assaulted by two male neighbors while trying to defend a smaller boy. When she returned home, she was switched by her uncle for disobedience. Finally, at 12, she was sent off to school, which turned out to be a much needed reprieve.

Kate returns to Split Tree Manor, where her only real memories are dominated by her cruel uncle. She was simply too young when her parents died to remember Split Tree Manor as anything other than an unhappy place. But, this was her father's home. As the older brother, her father had inherited Split Tree Manor. Unbeknownst to her, Uncle Bartholomew was only managing her inheritance until she reached the age of 20. She had been 20 for six months, yet her uncle did not contact her or inform her of her inheritance. Had he not died, she would not have known that she was the rightful heir of Split Tree Manor in Larkfield.

Kate doesn't return alone. She takes an ally with her. Alice James, the cook from the school, is thrilled with the opportunity to become Larkfield's cook. She is also joined by another married friend, Emily Nielsen, whose husband is away at war. Her hope is that these two friends can help her establish a home and re-enter society, a place where she belonged by birth, but was previously denied.

Shortly after her arrival, she meets Martin Evans who reveals that he is the younger boy from that day long ago and how he has always remembered her as his valiant defender. He wishes to repay her kindness, but he also expresses his interest in courting her.

One afternoon, when Emily doesn't return home from horseback riding, Kate and the house staff set out to find her. Kate is not the only person who finds Emily unconscious. Sir Peter Evans is there and he is carrying Emily to his own horse. Kate does not recognize Peter as one of the boys from years ago, nor does she realize he is the owner of Evanslea, but she had seen him several times recently. She acquiesces to his plans and allows him to carry Emily away while she tends to Emily's horse.

As the days pass, Kate finds unexpected friendship with one of the brothers and isn't quite sure why she is hesitant to get too close to the other one. There is something there that she doesn't quite understand or trust.

Once I started reading this book, I could not put it down. I stayed up late into the night reading. After a few hours sleep, I awoke ready to start reading again, forgetting any work I was supposed to do that day. It is an excellent book that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys a combination of romance and mystery.

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