Review excerpted from my blog post over at FanSciHist (https://fanscihist.wordpress.com/2020/02/27/an-unconventional-countess-by-jenni-fletcher/)

My Rating: 4 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.


__________________


Number of titles I have read by this author: 1

Love story speed: Medium burn

Relationship dynamics: The Landlocked Naval Officer (H) / The Biscuit Maker (h)

Sexual content: A smidge; “on-screen” and semi-explicit

Triggers: Sexual assault (not rape); Familial estrangement

Grammar/Editing: This ARC had significant formatting issues, as is typical with Harlequin ARCs.

Review: This is a quick-paced novel set in 1806 in Bath, Derbyshire, and Yorkshire. The research seems mostly well-done, with the exception of one anachronism, the word ponytail, which was not the name for a hairstyle in 1806.

Anna is prejudiced against and distrustful of all of the aristocracy because of family history. She is prickly, feisty, and straight forward as a character. Samuel is a reluctant heir, also caused by his upbringing. While he can be a “typical man,” he is also honour-bound and forthright. Their relationship actually develops quite smoothly – until it blows up way out of proportion before becoming calm again. It actually becomes a bit dramatic. The supporting characters are mostly quirky and fairly well-developed. Samuel’s grandmother, particularly, is quite a likable old dragon. I look forward to the next book in the series.

Biscuit version: Mostly sweet, sometimes overdone, but never too crispy to consume. Mostly common ingredients with a few anomalous flavours thrown in.



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

When I started this book, I didn't know what to expect. This was an interesting story that at some points made me want to laugh out loud at the characters and their antics. Every once in awhile, the scolding that Annabella gave to the Lord was a distraction to the story. But his grandparents made up for it whenever they appeared in the story. I would recommend this book because I enjoyed reading it and didn't really want to leave the characters.

4.5 stars rounded up.

Captain Samuel Delaney is in limbo, stuck on land until the matter of his inheritance is settled. He is getting bored and restless, which is the only reason he agreed to accompany his old friend Ralph Hoxley to Belles of Bath - a bakery, so Ralph could flirt with the shopgirl. Ralph tells him he needs Samuel to distract the “other” girl.

The “other girl” is Annabelle Fortini, the owner of the shop and she is not happy about Ralph’s interest in her assistant Henrietta - nor is she too happy about Henrietta’s return interest. Henrietta is young and Anna is all too aware of how aristocrats view shopgirls - so regardless of how handsome the man sent to flirt and distract her is, she will not back down.

Samuel is fascinated by Anna and for the first time in months is enjoying himself. She makes her opinion of the nobility clear and he thinks they will never see each other again, much to his disappointment. But when they meet again a few days later and he enlists his grandmother - the very formidable Baroness Jarrow to help, nothing between them will ever be the same again!

This was a very well written, sweet story with a very interesting and entertaining plot. It is set in Bath and features a very opinionated, independent woman and a charming beta hero. There is no real villain and the story does have a bit of a “Pride and Prejudice” feel, but it is a very entertaining story with mild love scenes, wonderful characters, biscuits, deception, secrets and a lovely HEA. Personally, I found Anna to be a little annoying - thus the 4.5 stars _ but I did love the story and I would happily recommend it. And I will definitely be awaiting the next book in the series!

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me.*

This is the first book I've read by Ms. Fletcher and it was an enjoyable read. The moment Captain Samuel Delaney walks into Annabelle Fortini's biscuit shop she's captivated by the handsome man. For the first time in a long while Anna is open to pursuing a relationship with Samuel. He's everything she's looking for--honorable, respectful and attentive, but when he confesses that in their first meeting he was tricking her so his friend could talk to her assistant, Anna is determined to dismiss him from her life. Except, Samuel is also smitten with the shop owner and vows to do everything in his power to win her back.

I loved that this book wasn't set in London amidst the glittering ballrooms, but in the quaint city of Bath. I adored Samuel--a man with his own secrets he doesn't want to share with Anna, but even though Anna has an aversion to the aristocracy, Samuel eventually tells her about his potential inherited title of Earl. I thought Anna's character was a little too rigid about her views on the aristocracy and it made her a touch unlikeable in the beginning. Of course, the one who stole the book is Samuel's grandmother with her outspoken and bold ways. She was a hoot!

Series: Regency Belles of Bath #1
Publication Date: 1/21/20
Number of Pages: 288

This was a delightful start to a new series. I loved all of the characters, especially the main characters, Anna and Samuel. There is a wonderful chemistry between them and you just know that they belong together. The story was well-written, well-plotted, and fun to read.

Annabelle (Anna) Claudia Teresa Fortini is famous – in Bath – and well – actually it is her biscuits that are famous. Her biscuit shop, Belle’s, was started by her mother (the daughter of a duke) and father (a footman). The shop prospered and they did well for themselves. They weren’t rich, but they weren’t wanting. Anna spent many very happy hours with her father – baking the biscuits. After her father passed away and her mother couldn’t work in the shop anymore, it all fell on Anna’s shoulders. She’s happy with her life and has no intention of changing it.

Anna isn’t a fan of the aristocracy. Her mother is the daughter of a duke who totally disowned her when she married the footman. There was never any contact between them again. Anna doesn’t trust anyone in the aristocracy – especially the males. When a ‘gentleman’ starts paying attention to Anna’s young assistant, Anna does what she can to keep them from interacting – and she does a pretty good job of it. At least she does a good job of it until the day when the ‘gentleman’ comes into the shop with a friend. She knows the friend is there to distract her, but she has no choice, he’s a customer and she has to spend the time to serve him.

Captain Samuel Delaney is the gentleman who was enlisted to distract Anna while his acquaintance flirted with the shop assistant. It doesn’t take long for Samuel to begin to feel guilty about what he’s done because he realizes that his friend doesn’t have good intentions toward the young lady. He’s also intrigued by the woman he’s supposed to distract. She is plain-spoken, intelligent, and curious and makes no secret of it.

Samuel’s life is in limbo at the moment. He ran away and joined the navy when he was sixteen and now, ten years later, he is a Captain. One of the youngest in the fleet. He was recently injured in the battle of Trafalgar and is confined to land and at the same time, he’s been informed that he may be the next Earl of Staunton. The former earl has died, but the wife is expecting. If the child is a girl, Samuel will inherit the title. Samuel doesn’t have any more use for the aristocracy than Anna does even though he is the grandson of a baron and an earl. His father’s family disowned and disinherited his profligate father and included Samuel in that even though he was only an innocent child. Samuel has made a life for himself – he’s successful and prosperous – he has no desire to become an earl.

I love how Samuel and Anna came to trust each other, but it wasn’t easy. Anna was super mistrustful and Samuel did some things that cost him Anna’s trust. While their relationship moved steadily forward, they had many setbacks and obstacles to overcome. It was lovely to watch them come to their HEA.

I really loved Samuel’s maternal grandparents – his grandmother was a force all to herself. I also loved the setup for the next book which will feature Anna’s brother Sebastian.

I hope you’ll enjoy the read as much as I did.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is a lovely little story of a slow burn romance where situations aren’t nearly as bad as they seem. These situations could lead to grave melodrama, and they do, but that’s followed by the characters stopping to consider their actions and reactions, to consider others’ point of view, and to decide to do better. It was quite lovely to watch the two leads mature throughout the story.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.