Guest Review by Monique Daoust
Mr. William Lane came to Bath from London to secure a business matter. While debating on whether he should drink the local waters, he meets Mrs. Clara Sommersby. Clara has thrived since her husband's passing, and she enjoys her independence. She likes the very serious and dedicated Mr. Lane, but has not considered remarrying; she will not have a man dictacte how to manage her affairs, and besides William is too young for her. Clara and her friend Eleanor, the Dowager Duchess of Lyonsdale, cannot resist their matchmaking impulses and Clara takes upon herself to match William to her neighbour's overlooked daughter Harriet. But it is soon apparent to everyone that this is not the way things are going.

Charming, enchanting, captivating: this is what MRS. SOMMERSBY'S SECOND CHANCE is! On the surface, this is a very simple story - boy meets girl - but beneath the surface, there is so much going on! There's the age difference: Clara is 45 and William 37, and it was not well regarded at the time the story is set. There are class differences, which are not immediately apparent, and Society's preoccupations with appearances. William and Clara come very different backgrounds, but they are fundamentally very much alike: they have worked hard for what they have and intend to succeed in their future endeavours. They are also very different: he is reserved and often far too serious while she is bubbly and gregarious, yet they complement each other so well. They also have tragic backstories, and I thought the author gave an unusual spin to Clara's marriage. Clara and William were just so lovely, I couldn't wait to see them together, but oh the obstacles the reader knows they will encounter!

It is refreshing to have a Regency romance with older characters: William is 37 and Clara 45, and especially with the woman being older. I loved how everyone behaved according to their age, from the Dowager Duchess to nineteen year-old Harriet. There are so many wonderful characters in this story! The irrepressible Dowager, who threatens to steal the show, and whose interactions with Clara are simply delightful; William's friends, the Earl of Hartwick and the Duke of Lyonsdale, are fabulous and they have wonderful exchanges that made me laugh quite a few times. Even Clara's dog, Humphrey, was perfect; not too cute, just a normal, mischievous puppy. I thought it absolutely marvellous that both Clara and William earned my respect with their actions; there is no telling here, gentle readers, only showing. Clara is an admirable heroine; she knows what she wants and she takes the appropriate measures to make it happen.

The attraction between Clara and William is palpable right from the start, with none of those endlessly hardening and tightening body parts. You feel that shimmering moment of awareness when they look at each other that first time when they realise that they cannot ignore what is happening. Ms. Benson possesses an impeccable sense of time and place, of history and customs; I felt I also was in 1820 Bath for a little while.

MRS. SOMMERSBY'S SECOND CHANCE is so intelligently crafted, I felt secure that nothing stupid would occur, but I wondered how Clara and William would react when the conflicts arose. There was no lack of communication, but there were things that had remained unsaid between them because there was no need for some details to be discussed until they naturally came up, and to witness the characters deal with the issues like reasonable adults was a joy to behold. MRS. SOMMERSBY'S SECOND CHANCE is a grand love story with the most perfect ending one could wish for; oh my heart!



I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's part of a "series" by Laurie Benson and is the finale of the series.

I loved the descriptions of Bath and Regency life.

“Mrs. Sommersby’s Second Chance” by Laurie Benson is the story of a widow who unexpectedly gets a second chance at love. As the owner of a hotel, Clara has built a comfortable life for herself in Bath. When she meets an appealing gentleman named Lane, her ideas about second chances at love change. However, Lane has secrets of his own. As the two characters discover an affection for each other, they also confront their own demons from the past. Then Lane and Clara must decide whether to join forces as business partners and as lovers.

I really liked the characters in this book, and the plot moved along at a pace that kept the reader’s attention. I appreciated the historical details of the time period and the author notes at the end. The two main characters are both mature adults, well past the age of simpering misses and first seasons of entry into society. This idea sets the book apart from many other historical romance stories, and may appeal to those who enjoy reading about older people who have some polish and maturity of thought. However, readers should be warned that the book contains detailed scenarios that describe the sizzling relationship between Clara and Lane. I think these details underscore the passion the main characters develop for each other and increase the aura of sexual tension, but are not necessary to the plot development. In some ways, these scenes seem to detract from the story. The same ideas could have been portrayed without the sexual details.

I received this book from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

What first drew me to this novel, quickly became tedious. Clara is older than Lane by 8 years. And while that may not seem like a lot to the average reader, the author made it a point to constantly bring it up to the point that Clara seemed to obsess not only over her "advanced age", but also on the fact that she was older than the man showing an interest in her.

I also feel like no matter how well guarded a secret Clara kept her ownership of the hotel, any businessman worth his salt would have known, it not that she was the owner, but that her cousin was in fact, not the ower.

I wanted to like this couple, and I did. But I wanted MORE from them. I wanted more of the passion that we could see simmering beneath the surface and less of the tepid conversations that we got. Even Humphrey seemed less than what he could be as a puppy (honestly what dog listens so well during the first training session that they take him out without a leash when to date, he's taken off at every chance)?

I enjoyed the way some of the characters from prior novels were mentioned in this one, but in some aspects, they seemed to dominate the scene more than our hero and heroine. Even the "surprise" I think the author has planned for two of the other background characters was so plainly obvious that it fell flat. At least to this reader.

However, I have seen from other works what this author is capable of. And while this novel was middle of the road for me, I will read more from this author.

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

Widow Clara Sommersby has a secret and no desire to remarry. For years Clara was helpless to control her husband’s spending and recklessness with their finances, but since her husband passed away, she secretly purchased a hotel in Bath and hired her cousin Philip Edwards to be the manager. Through smart choices and hard work, she has turned it into a very popular and profitable venture, one she will not risk losing control of by marrying again!

William Lane meets Clara in the Pump Room while trying the waters. He has recently purchased a coffee house with his friend Hart, the Earl of Hartwick and they learned that there is hot mineral spring in the basement. Now after visiting the Pump Room and seeing how many people “take the waters” he believes that they could convert the coffeehouse into a spa, that is if he can find investors and can convince the owner of the hotel next door to sell to him. Lane has secrets of his own and while he is completely enchanted by Clara, he doesn’t believe he has time or room in his life for a serious relationship.

Clara and Lane end up meeting again when he comes to her rescue while she is out walking her puppy, Humphrey. Lane has a way with puppy and offers to train him. Thus begins their friendship. Clara is convinced she is too old for Lane and Lane is convinced that he has no time for a relationship, but it doesn’t stop them from desiring each other – even as Clara tries to match-make Lane with her young neighbor. When Lane makes it clear the only woman he is interested in is Clara, she begins to wonder if it possible to have a second chance at love or if the cost is too high.

This was a very sweet story of two people with secrets and hurts in their pasts that make it hard for them to trust their feelings. The book is very well written, flows nicely, has wonderful secondary characters, sweet love scenes (a couple of kisses and only one very mild, very vague sex scene) and a very lovely HEA. This is the final book in the series, but it can easily be read as a stand-alone.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an e-ARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher.*

2.5 . I've not read any previous historical romances by Benson, but was drawn to this when I saw it on Netgalley because of its 40+ year-old protagonist, widow Clara Sommersby, who apparently spent her time matchmaking for her nieces in earlier installments in the series. Clara's a bit lonely in Bath, now that those nieces have wed and left her, despite keeping company with a lively new puppy and an older witty dowager duchess. She meets William Lane at the pump room, not knowing that the newcomer has come to town not for his health but to pursue a business project—turning a coffeehouse he's just purchased into a spa. But he needs to also buy the hotel next store to the coffeehouse in order to have enough room for his plans. And guess who just happens to own said hotel?

Clara invested in the hotel after the death of her husband; she relies upon it for the financial security her husband was not able to provide, and is not at all likely to sell, even though she must keep her ownership a secret in order to keep her standing in society. Lane, in contrast, was raised in the London Foundling Hospital, and is proud to be in trade. The two are initially drawn to one another despite their differences, and each starts to anticipate seeing the other whenever they go out in public, even though Clara initially tells herself that she's matchmaking for a younger neighbor, not herself.

A few of the plot turns were rather contrived/improbable for my tastes (Wouldn't an intelligent businessman investigate who owns a property before he seeks investors to help him buy it? Wouldn't a man raised in the Foundling Hospital speak in a way that sounds different from his aristocratic business partners? Why did Clara make such a self-sacrificing gesture toward book's end, when the story up until that point made no reference to Lane's desire for such a sacrifice?). Lane and Clara's relationship seemed based mostly on physical attraction; the two didn't seem to have much in common besides it. Their conversations are fairly dull, not at all lively or witty.

Twenty-first century readers are likely to appreciate Lane's respect for Clara's right to make her own decisions, especially those related to the "male" world of business, though.

Although this is book #4 in the series, it is definitely a standalone read. That said, I think I might have liked it even more if I had read the first three books. Clara is a very likable character and although she is eight years older than William Lane they are an ideal match. How refreshing to see an older heroine get her romance on with a younger man. Romance blossoms in this book and the reader wears a smile through the entire 288 pages. I kept rooting for William and Clara. Side characters add just the right secondary plot.
You can't go wrong with this delightful romance.

Mrs. Sommersby’s Second Chance is the final book in The Sommersby Brides series by author Laurie Benson. I’ve been waiting for Clara’s story since Ms. Benson first mentioned it many months ago. Although I’m sad to say goodbye to these characters, I can’t think of a better or more perfect ending for “The Sommersby Brides” series than for Aunt Clara to get her HEA!

Mrs. Clara Sommersby has been in all the previous books in this series. She is a loving and devoted Aunt, who has been there for all three Sommersby sisters since they were young. She has been a widow for a long time and has no desire to remarry and lose her independence.

Mr. William Lane is a new character for us. Lane is a successful self-made businessman in Bath on a business opportunity. He is a friend and business partner to the Earl of Hartwick. “Hart” is a well known and loved character from a previous book and series.

Oh my, I absolutely loved every single thing about this book! Ms. Benson truly did an outstanding job on this story. I always enjoy seeing an older hero/heroine. Clara is actually older than Lane in this story which is a refreshing change, Clara is 45 and Lane is 37. Clara is a well-loved character from the previous books and it’s nice to finally get to find out more about her background and to see her as an independent, successful woman, not just a companion to her nieces.

As for Lane, what a perfect choice for Clara! I love that he’s immediately attracted to her. The fact that she is older than him, never really was an issue in his eyes, and made me love him even more!  Growing up as an orphan in a Foundling Home has made him feel like he never belonged anywhere, until Clara.

Ms. Benson truly pulled out all the stops on this final book in the series. It was pure perfection from beginning to end. Beautiful, well-written and perfectly paced story, with characters that grab your heart. The secondary characters were fabulous, especially an adorable, mischievous pup named Humphrey. It was wonderful to get to see the Sommersby sisters one more time, along with Hart, Sarah, the Dowager Duchess of Lyonsdale and a few other characters from previous books. Although I really hated to see this series end, I finished the book with a big smile on my face. I have enjoyed this series tremendously, and I look forward to seeing what Ms. Benson has for us in the future! She’s definitely an author to follow! Highly recommend!

Since we ran our feature on Seasoned Romances a few weeks back, I’ve been keeping an eye out for romances featuring more mature heroines, who seem to crop up less frequently in historical romances than in other sub-genres. I was pleased to learn that Laurie Benson’s Mrs. Sommersby – eponymous heroine of the final book in her Sommersby Brides series – is an independent widow in her forties. Having spent the previous books in the series seeking out suitable matches for her beloved nieces, in Mrs. Sommersby’s Second Chance, she gets her own happily ever after with a handsome and successful businessman eight years her junior.

William Lane has travelled to Bath in order to pursue an investment opportunity and goes to the famed Pump Room to do a bit of research. He owns the coffee house next door to the popular Fountain Head Hotel (where he is staying while in the city) and recently having discovered the existence of an underground (and capped off) hot spring in the coffee house’s cellar, intends to make the hotel’s owner an offer to purchase the establishment so he can develop both properties into a spa. Bath may not be the magnet it once was for members of the ton, but the new and upcoming middle classes are visiting in increasing numbers and Lane is keen to attract a wealthy investor or two.

In the decade since she was widowed, Mrs. Clara Sommersby has discovered she possesses sound business sense and the ability to make shrewd decisions. Married for a number of years to a man who was hopeless with money, they were on the verge of financial ruin when he died, and Clara is determined never to find herself in such a position again. After her husband’s death, she decided to invest the money she had left rather than dwindle into the life of a paid companion or dependent relative, and purchased the Fountain Head Hotel. For the sake of her reputation as a gentlewoman, Clara keeps her ownership of the hotel a secret, and the day to day management is undertaken by her cousin, Mr. Edwards.

She and Lane meet in the Pump Room, where she observes him closely scrutinising his glass of mineral water and after they catch each other’s eye, they strike up a conversation about the health benefits of the spring water and the hot baths. There’s a definite frisson of attraction between them but they are separated before they can learn each other’s names or how they might find each other again.

Both Lane and Clara find themselves dwelling on that meeting over the next few days, and luckily for them, fate – in the form of Clara’s boisterous puppy, Humphrey – brings them together once more when Lane is able to help untangle Clara from a too-long leash and some bushes when her dog becomes a little too enthusiastic on his walk. From then on, both of them find themselves consciously looking out for each other at the various events and entertainments they attend; even though Clara insists she’s too old for Lane, and that she has no intention of marrying again and surrendering her hard-won independence to a husband, she can’t deny her growing attraction to and desire for him.

Mrs. Sommersby’s Second Chance is a low-drama, character-driven romance between a mature couple who have a lot in common, despite the personality and class differences lying between them. Clara isn’t titled, but she moves in the best social circles while Lane is a foundling – an illegitimate orphan – who is in trade; she’s outgoing and bubbly while Lane is perhaps a little too serious – yet they have both worked hard for what they have and are determined to succeed in their future ventures. The chemistry between them simmers nicely, the romance evolves subtly and naturally as their friendship deepens and while the single love scene near the end is fairly brief, it doesn’t lack heat. The reader knows from the start that there’s conflict on the horizon and wonders how Clara and Lane will handle it, and I was pleased when Ms. Benson wisely opted not to put them through some big bust up when they find out the truth – that Clara is the owner of the hotel key to Lane’s business plans, and that he is the man behind the purchase offer. After their initial shock, they talk things through and find a way forward together – but then, a couple of chapters before the end, an eleventh-hour conflict is inserted which is based purely on an assumption made by Clara which has very little foundation and is certainly not rooted on something Lane has ever said. So I had to knock a grade point or two off for that, which is a shame, as it was the only false note struck in the book.

Mrs. Sommersby’s Second Chance is a charming historical romance featuring an engaging secondary cast and a pair of attractive, down-to-earth leads. If you’re looking for a story devoid of overblown drama and characters who act their ages rather than their shoe-sizes, it’s definitely worth checking out.

Good book that is a bit different than the usual Regency romance. We have two people that are older, Clara, who is 45, and Lane, who is 37. Neither of them are in the upper echelons of society, though both have friends who are. It also takes place in Bath instead of London, which was a nice change of pace. Bath is frequently mentioned, but I rarely get a good feel for the area in those books. Here most of the action takes place away from the Pump Room setting.

I liked both Clara and Lane. Clara is a widow who has a bit of a reputation as a matchmaker. She is also independent, personable, and an astute businesswoman. Because of the financial problems encountered during her marriage, she is determined never to give another man that kind of power over her livelihood again. Due to the stigma against women in business and the need to maintain appearances, Clara's ownership of her hotel is secret. She has employed a male cousin to manage it for her, but she retains control over it.

William Lane, who prefers to be called Lane, is a self-made man. Raised in a London Foundling Hospital, he was determined from an early age to make something of himself. He is reasonably wealthy, with investments in many businesses. He is in Bath to start another one. Having discovered a hot spring under the coffeehouse he just purchased, he wants to expand from a coffeehouse into a spa featuring the waters from that spring. To do so, he needs to buy the hotel next door.

I loved the meeting between Clara and Lane. He is at the Pump Room investigating the waters as research when Clara teases him about the intensity of his gaze. He is immediately intrigued by her, with his thoughts being on the somewhat racy side. Clara is intrigued by him also but recognizes that she is older than he and instead plots to match him with the daughter of a neighbor. William is far more interested in Clara and is determined to pursue her for himself. He is helped along the way by Clara's little dog Humphrey, her friend the Dowager Duchess, and even the girl that Clara tried to match him with. Clara fights her attraction and growing feelings for Lane, feeling that her age makes her unsuitable for a man who is young enough to want children.

Both Lane and Clara have insecurities that make it difficult for them to see any permanence to a relationship between them. Clara has her age and her reluctance to trust any man to respect her need for independence. Lane's background has him believing that he isn't good enough for her and feeling that is reinforced when he has to deal with aristocrats who look down on him. There was a heartbreaking scene at a dinner one night that made me tear up for Lane's hurt. I loved Clara's reaction and what it meant to him.

Clara and Lane's relationship goes along quite nicely as they grow closer. I liked that they could share their pasts without fear of judgment. There was a good amount of respect between them, and I loved that their maturity made it possible for them to talk through any problems that came up. But there was one issue that was left hanging until near the end, and that was the attempt to purchase the hotel. Clara's secret was so well kept that it took most of the book for it to come out. When it did, there was shock and dismay on both sides. It was interesting to see how it all played out, with doubts, fears, and emotions all tangled up. There were times I wanted to shake Clara because of how she would push him away. The ending was fantastic. I loved the extraordinary thing that she did for him and how it brought him back to her side. It warmed my heart to see him finally break through her fears.

The secondary characters were great. Humphrey, the dog, was adorable, not too sweet with just the right of puppy mischief in his actions. I liked how the Dowager Duchess encouraged Clara, along with that hint of matchmaker competitiveness. Clara's nieces made me laugh when her hotel ownership came out, and their support of her no longer hiding it. I also liked Juliet's efforts to make Clara see that there was nothing wrong with loving Lane. I liked Lane's friend and partner, Hart, especially the way he would give Lane a hard time about his people skills.

Since we ran our feature on Seasoned Romances a few weeks back, I’ve been keeping an eye out for romances featuring more mature heroines, who seem to crop up less frequently in historical romances than in other sub-genres.  I was pleased to learn that Laurie Benson’s Mrs. Sommersby – eponymous heroine of the final book in her Sommersby Brides series – is an independent widow in her forties.  Having spent the previous books in the series seeking out suitable matches for her beloved nieces, in Mrs. Sommersby’s Second Chance, she gets her own happily ever after with a handsome and successful businessman eight years her junior.

William Lane has travelled to Bath in order to pursue an investment opportunity and goes to the famed Pump Room to do a bit of research.  He owns the coffee house next door to the popular Fountain Head Hotel (where he is staying while in the city) and recently having discovered the existence of an underground (and capped off) hot spring in the coffee house’s cellar, intends to make the hotel’s owner an offer to purchase the establishment so he can develop both properties into a spa. Bath may not be the magnet it once was for members of the ton, but the new and upcoming middle classes are visiting in increasing numbers and Lane is keen to attract a wealthy investor or two.

In the decade since she was widowed, Mrs. Clara Sommersby has discovered she possesses sound business sense and the ability to make shrewd decisions.  Married for a number of years to a man who was hopeless with money, they were on the verge of financial ruin when he died, and Clara is determined never to find herself in such a position again.  After her husband’s death, she decided to invest the money she had left rather than dwindle into the life of a paid companion or dependent relative, and purchased the Fountain Head Hotel.  For the sake of her reputation as a gentlewoman, Clara keeps her ownership of the hotel a secret, and the day to day management is undertaken by her cousin, Mr. Edwards.

She and Lane meet in the Pump Room, where she observes him closely scrutinising his glass of mineral water and after they catch each other’s eye, they strike up a conversation about the health benefits of the spring water and the hot baths.  There’s a definite frisson of attraction between them  but they are separated before they can learn each other’s names or how they might find each other again.

Both Lane and Clara find themselves dwelling on that meeting over the next few days, and luckily for them, fate – in the form of Clara’s boisterous puppy, Humphrey – brings them together once more when Lane is able to help untangle Clara from a too-long leash and some bushes when her dog becomes a little too enthusiastic on his walk.  From then on, both of them find themselves consciously looking out for each other at the various events and entertainments they attend; even though Clara insists she’s too old for Lane, and that she has no intention of marrying again and surrendering her hard-won independence to a husband, she can’t deny her growing attraction to and desire for him.

Mrs. Sommersby’s Second Chance is a low-drama, character-driven romance between a mature couple who have a lot in common, despite the personality and class differences lying between them.  Clara isn’t titled, but she moves in the best social circles while Lane is a foundling - an illegitimate orphan - who is in trade; she’s outgoing and bubbly while Lane is perhaps a little too serious - yet they have both worked hard for what they have and are determined to succeed in their future ventures.  The chemistry between them simmers nicely, the romance evolves subtly and naturally as their friendship deepens and while the single love scene near the end is fairly brief, it doesn't lack heat. The reader knows from the start that there’s conflict on the horizon and wonders how Clara and Lane will handle it, and I was pleased when Ms. Benson wisely opted not to put them through some big bust up when they find out the truth – that Clara is the owner of the hotel key to Lane’s business plans, and that he is the man behind the purchase offer.  After their initial shock, they talk things through and find a way forward together – but then, a couple of chapters before the end,  an eleventh-hour conflict is inserted which is based purely on an assumption made by Clara which has very little foundation and is certainly not rooted on something Lane has ever said.  So I had to knock a grade point or two off for that, which is a shame, as it was the only false note struck in the book.

Mrs. Sommersby’s Second Chance is a charming historical romance featuring an engaging secondary cast and a pair of attractive, down-to-earth leads.  If you’re looking for a story devoid of overblown drama and characters who act their ages rather than their shoe-sizes, it’s definitely worth checking out.

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Review excerpted from my blog post over at FanSciHist (https://fanscihist.wordpress.com/2019/06/09/mrs-sommersbys-second-chance-by-laurie-benson/)

My Rating: 3.5 stars

Library recommendation: Recommended for public library historical romance collections.

Warning: Hereafter, you chance spoilers. I will try never to reveal major plot points, but to review any book, you must reveal some parts of the story.


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Number of titles I have read by this author: 1

Love story speed: Insta-attraction; slow-ish burn

Relationship dynamics: The Self-Sufficient Widow (h) / The Self-Made Foundling (H)

Sexual content: A smidge; not terribly explicit

Triggers: Descriptions of childhood neglect (of H)

Grammar/Editing: This ARC suffered from a number of errors, principally run-together words and paragraphs, which seem to be a regular problem with Harlequin ebook ARCs.

Review: The pacing of this novel is very even and steady. The historical setting seems accurately described, although the time period is largely implied via circumstances rather than explicitly stated.

Clara is a thoroughly self-sufficient and intelligent woman who, though widowed and childless, is determined to live her best life and enjoy the company of her nieces. Lane is an astute businessman who, though coming from humble beginnings, manages to hold his own even among the upper class. Their relationship is largely fun and funny, and at times quite poignant, although the plot is a little dry in places and there were times when the relationship between Clara and Humphrey the dog seemed to be going more places than the relationship between Clara and Lane. The supporting characters are well-developed, and many are featured in the other books in the series, but the inclusion of some characters seemed more like cameos for the benefit of regular readers of the author than appearances that were strictly necessary to the plot.

Dog Training version: Sit. Stay. Go. No, I said STAY. No, Go. No, stay. Good boy.



Full disclosure: I received a free advance review copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.