Dating during Regency, as difficult as dating in current times…

Synopsis

A dashing tale of romance from a bestselling author of Regency Romance.

She is under pressure to find a husband she doesn’t want. 

He keeps to the fringes of society because of family constraints. 

Will the written word be enough to bring two lost souls together? 

Lady Edith Longdon is an heiress, in danger of being classed a spinster, and disillusioned with the fops, dandies, and fortune hunters surrounding her in society. Deciding it’s time to take her future into her own hands, she devises a foolproofway of finding someone she can love. She’s convinced nothing could go wrong… 

Lord Ralph Pensby, overwhelmed by a sense of obligation, and with no one he can turn to, is adrift from those around him…

Two people drawn together, both on a journey which will affect them in ways they could never have foreseen. Secret correspondence, mistrust and confusion, not to mention cads of the highest order, make this novel a fast-paced, heart-warming story, with appealing characters and a strong sense of time and place. 

Perfect for lovers of all things Regency. 

My review

Lady Edith, despite being of an age of 22, is on the verge of being seen a spinster. It’s not acceptable of being of that age and not be married.
She wants to marry out of love, and instead of waiting for the man, she decides to place an ad in the newspaper, trying to find her perfect match.

Meanwhile she gets to know her brother’s friend Lord Ralph Pensby. He is determined to never get married, as he has a secret he doesn’t want anyone to burden with.

This story takes place in the past, but it could be taken place today. Edith is struggling with society’s standards. She wants to find her perfect man, and takes desperate measures. She writes an ad in a newspaper, which can be compared to the modern dating apps.
Obviously the replies that she receives are not all that well – intentioned!
But putting her despair of finding a man apart, she is woman knowing what she wants and does not settle for less.
She stands her ground and is not afraid to speak her mind. Which is very progressive for that time!

Lord Ralph Pensby seems a detached man, but the more you read, the more you get to really know him. Behind his mask, he is actually this caring man, who would give up his own happiness if it would mean he could have his loved ones longer with him.
Feeling that he cannot rely anyone with his problems, he starts writing Edith without letting her know who he is.
By writing the letters, he finds a way to vent about his struggles. And Edith, having no clue who she is replying, is giving her support, which means the world to Ralph.

I liked this story because the struggles Edith is having are still up to date. Trying to find the love of her life, in a world where not everyone is having the best intentions.
But I loved how she was staying true to herself. If you have to change yourself to please someone, he/she is just not worth it.
It shows that something you have to be patient and that there is a lid to every jar…