Oh, wow! Now, this is what I like.



What a shift in overall storytelling and the main characters. I'm truly flabbergasted that this is the 3rd book in a 4-book series. It should be first, but I kind of think Eaton wanted to go in the proper order of Seasons - I get it. If this book was first, I'd have been an immediate fan, but I'm actually ruminating in this and the 4th book because I couldn't stop moving on when I found out the 4th book was an immediate/sideways sequel to this one. I wanted to

Oh, wow! Now, this is what I like.



What a shift in overall storytelling and the main characters. I'm truly flabbergasted that this is the 3rd book in a 4-book series. It should be first, but I kind of think Eaton wanted to go in the proper order of Seasons - I get it. If this book was first, I'd have been an immediate fan, but I'm actually ruminating in this and the 4th book because I couldn't stop moving on when I found out the 4th book was an immediate/sideways sequel to this one. I wanted to see if it was a fluke and it wasn't, and this pleases me to no end.



I fell in love with Regina immediately [it took me a while for her best friend Kitty/Lady Katherine] but my gawd...in the middle of a ball, perpetual wallflower Lady Regina is reading a hidden copy of Mansfield Park and I was floored. Not just from her being adorably bookish for Jane Austen, but because her inner dialogue to herself is downright comical and hilarious. So Regina mainly focuses on this copy of Mansfield Park which is her favorite, and there is a sentimental reason why she loves it so much.



Anyway, Andrew, Duke of Glenmoore, spots her from across the room and she cannot believe he's actually strolling over to her because he did want to talk to her. They have a really adorable conversation and Regina isn't afraid to speak her mind, which Andrew finds unusual and endearing. He's instantly attracted to her physically. They dance and he flirts and she blushes, but when she means to try to find her copy of her precious book, she thinks she has lost it. Andrew offers himself for the rest of the night to help her locate it, and off they go to first check the very secluded library. We already know what's about to happen because the summary gave the plot away, but I wondered HOW they would get to this "compromising" situation that sets them into a forced marriage.



There has been an OW, Lady Emmeline, watching Andrew & Regina, who thinks she is a guaranteed soon-to-be fiancee of Andrew, but nah, never. Andrew realizes Lady Emmeline is THE perfect wife material, but he's still hanging out with Regina for some strange, compelling reason. When they move to the library and find Regina's book, she is so tickled and pleased she jumps into Andrew's arms and well...chemistry has been building and attraction is at the surface...and then they kiss and it's wonderful...but then, of course, here comes Lady Emmeline...having caught them in an intimate embrace. Thinking fast, Regina claims "He just proposed!"...so this is where our real story starts. It's a shame, too, because both Regina and Andrew were wonderful apart and together. Almost instantly, once Lady Emmeline exits, Andrew is more than upset with Regina that she lied and is forcing him to marry her.



So, what's said in the premise happens. After a fortnight, they got married...and Andrew left right after and has been gone 3-months. When the next chapter begins, Kitty is staying at the house with Regina and Regina is lamenting that she hasn't seen her husband since he returned 3-days ago. She is dressing for dinner and hoping he will be down there so they can finally talk. I have to say...for the night they met, Regina really had a "love at first sight" thing for Andrew, and she thought he had felt the same. He is at dinner...but he does that thing where he sits at one end of a long-ass table and she's at the other end. They have a bit of an argument at the table because Regina isn't scared to stand up for herself. She kind of wants Andrew to at the very least TALK to her, so they can settle their business...vent, fight, make-up, whatever. Andrew will constantly cock-block her at every angle she attempts, and Regina will often walk off despondent and teary-eyed.



She never loses hope and what I adored about her is she pulled up her big girl britches and she started to ask herself "What Would Elizabeth Bennett Do?" since she often thought Andrew was HER Mr. Darcy. And then a few push-and-pull moments happen before the huge accident occurs...Andrew falling off his horse and breaking his leg. Just like we have been witnessing Kitty befriend Regina in her time of need... Andrew has had a good friend beside him, his neighbor, Byron, the Duke of Wakefield. Byron finds Andrew and brings him back to Andrew's home...and this is where Regina truly steps up to be a proper wife and helpful companion to take care of her husband.



There is a wonderful, hilarious scene of Kitty being an utter Vixen to Byron that is refreshing for me to see, and caused me to immediately change my mind about Kitty, making me extremely excited for her own book.



A time jump happens because this gives Andrew and Regina moments to be around one another, since she moved his sleeping quarters downstairs, so she tends to him and they have conversations and such. So she thinks everything is really good and well...we have a moment of panic for Andrew. By now, 3wks have gone by and he is now using a cane/walking stick...and Regina has a huge confession, which Andrew shoots down - the bastard!...this sends Regina running away to her upstairs chambers. Kitty gives him a proper, and much needed, talking to...and Andrew suddenly realizes if he's not careful he will genuinely lose this wonderful, beautiful woman he has fallen in love with. He's forbidden to climb stairs but he does...and shockingly Regina opens her bedroom door to find a very winded Andrew willing to grovel and apologize for being so silly and stupid. They get the HEA they deserve...but, sadly, no Epilogue.../sad face



This story would be such a great book if it had an expanded version. I wanted to see more of Regina working on getting Andrew to want her to be his wife and possibly lean toward love, at some point. Also to use the Austen collection as an avenue into seducing her husband...hehe. But I get that Eaton wanted this a novella-length...and it still had such good memorable moments I won't soon forget.