I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. A beautiful cover. Great historical fiction romance. Highly recommend.

A charming marriage of convenience story that rings true with an authentic Regency feel and behavior that actually sorts well with the period. I enjoyed this book a great deal.

Helena's first love was tragically killed at Waterloo and she has retreated to the country to be a companion to her mother and a devoted aunt. She doesn't believe she will love again, so has made up her mind to stay single.

Will, The Earl of Rastleigh has lost his family in tragic circumstances, as a result he knows he must marry and have children to secure the succession. Bored by the managing mamas and empty headed debutantes throwing themselves at him, he retreats to a country house party where he meets the calm and lovely Helena. Drawn to her serene demeanour and interesting conversation, Will decides to court the reserved Helena, and manages to convince her that he will respect and treat her as an equal in a marriage based on mutual respect and companionship.

As he gets to know his remarkable wife, and learns how to be a good and respectful husband (with a couple of misteps), Will realises that he wants more than respect and companionship, but is unsure how to broach this with Helena, little does he know that her heart is engaged too.

As always Catherine Kullman has delivered a well written romance, with a wealth of historical detail, she describes key events such as Waterloo, and George IV's coronation, and also weaves in a lot of the political issues of the day, such as the fight to abolish slavery, and the position of women in the eyes of the law and society, in a way that serves the plot. Really enjoyable read.

I voluntarily read an Advance Reader Copy of this book and all opinions are my own.

Ms. Kullmann is a new-to-me author, so I didn't know what to expect when I picked this up. I read the blurb and was intrigued, so I decided to give it a try. The author did a very nice job of researching the time and provided vivid details to help understand the era and visualize the story and provide a sense of authenticity. I really liked the character of Helena. She was a strong, independent woman and also kind and compassionate person. Will meets Helena while visiting family friends. While he isn't particularly keen on marrying, he does need an heir and he finds Helena quite pleasant and easy to get along with. Helena also sees him as sensible and someone she can trust, so they agree an alliance between them would be quite agreeable. What they didn't expect was to actually fall in love. This was a very sweet and charming story and the characters were endearing. This Regency was nicely written and I enjoyed reading it.

I received a complimentary copy from Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

This was a lovely slow-burn romance; excellently researched and put together. The relationship between the main characters seemed very realistic and I found myself really hoping that their relationship would turn into a deep love. I enjoyed the side characters and all the historical detail. I always come away from a Catherine Kullmann novel feeling that I've really lived and experienced the era I'd been immersed in during the story.

this was a historical fiction romance, I enjoyed going through this journey. The characters were great and I really loved getting to watch this romance happen.

Another triumph of research and accuracy from Catherine Kullmann. Her books are so evocative, so full of additional information and details that make it an immersive experience. More please x

Helena and Will were a sweet couple who had a few hurdles to step over before finding their way to true love. A bit on the staid side, but very interesting and entertaining nonetheless. Okay, I admit, it wasn’t all that dreary, there were a few dramatic episodes that liven things up a bit. It was a clean romance without much fire or steam.

Catherine Kullmann has written another wonderful Regency novel that I know I will read again. What I love about her books is the care she obviously takes in developing memorable characters and authentic settings, including the impact of the war on the various families. One of the elements I really appreciated was her depiction of the character development that Will and Helena undergo after their marriage. Although they were compatible sexually from the start, as the story unfolds we seem them making an effort to learn about each other, and they also look hard at their own shortcomings and work to overcome them. They had some honest conversations that helped move their relationship forward and as a result their marriage became a loving one – to the surprise of both. I loved seeing Helena’s improvements for the castle, and how grateful Will was when he saw the results. I was glad to see Will reach out to his heir, a young man who was drifting and needed guidance. While there were some nasty characters most of the supporting players were kind and helpful. Kullmann includes background notes on the sources she consulted for historical accuracy. I heartily recommend “A Comfortable Alliance: A Regency Novel.” I received an ARC from the author and NetGalley but I liked the book so much I decided to buy a copy.

Helena Swift was engaged to Richard Harbury. She thought, he was the love of her life. When Bonparte surrendered the first time, they joined them in Brussels.. Bonapart escaped, the men had to go back to war. A bomb exploded in front of him and schrapnel slapped into his body.. He was sent home to recover. He died about three weeks later.
Five years later, she lives a quiet life with her mother.. until she meets Will Holt, Earl of Rastleigh.. He is a kind man and does not like the ton. He does not want a debutant.
They get married Thy are two very sweet people and very caring. He married into a large family. He had been raised as a lonely boy. .There are some interesting twists to the book. Also some surprises. They have some issues to work through. The author has done such a great job with this novel. It entertains you, delights and entices. loved It and the heart warming emotions that swept you up in their arms.
I received this ARC from Net Galley and voluntarily reviewed it.

This book appears very well-researched with the author showcasing her hard work with tidbits about mundane aspects of genteel life as well as other historical details, some added to the central plot and others were less relevant. Kudos to the author for introducing the issue of women's lack of rights and financial independence in those days. The characters and dialogues were written sensitively and appropriately. But where was the romance? The protagonists marry and nothing happened for the longest time, because they immediately entered into a very comfortable allliance of sex and pleasantries. In the meantime, there was much ado about everything and everyone. There was a plethora of unrelated side plots, with a new one starting as another one was resolved. There were some strange inclusions of random conversations with random people that were then abruptly cut off, which really made no contribution to the main story or any character growth. Allusions to any romantic feelings only started in the last few chapters, rather than building up some sort of emotional tension throughout the book.

I am surprised by how much I liked this. It was really like going back in time. More understandable then a Austen novel but so like it. I felt like I had stepped back in time to visit this couple and watch thier story. This is an arranged marriage story where both parties were agreeable and friends. It was so different and so interesting. This is not like my normal book. This was reading the first year of marriage where normally you read up to the marriage. She just had such an interesting way of writing.
Sex: This does have some matter of fact sex scenes. Nothing erotic just told like the rest of the book. This is after marriage.
Drinking: There is always alcohol in these kinds of books.
Violence: NONE
No religion

A well-written, gentle Regency Romance concerning the marriage and developing relationship between an Earl ,who accepts he needs to do his duty and sire an heir to his estate, and a young woman of status and intelligence, but who still holds at least a flickering candle for her deceased not-quite-betrothed (died following action at Waterloo). Some lovely dialogue with the old pussies who can't wait for scandal, and their gentle comeuppance from the new Countess; a few scoundrels and rakes but nothing gratuitous; misunderstandings of course. Feels true to what I think of as the period, early 19th century, with characters' dialogue and dress drawing in the reader. Very pleasant read. Thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed it. A refreshing change from the usual 'girl meets earl' novel plot. I particularly liked the slow steady build of the relationships, and careful background research. It felt so much more plausible than so many of this type of book.

Not least the very naive idea that so many books promulgate that there were hundreds of Earls and Dukes in England; there never were that many and they were mostly old, and the bizarre belief the young ones would be delighted to marry a maid servant. As if!

Book rating: 3.5 stars (rounded up)

Synopsis:
Helena lost her first love to injuries sustained at Waterloo and doesn't think she will ever learn to love the same way again.  Will, the Earl of Rastleigh, knows he must marry to produce an heir but is tired of being pursued for his wealth and title.  Will is impressed with Helena's kindness and intelligence, and while he is not passionately in love with her, he asks if she'll marry him in the hopes of developing an affectionate companionship and mutual respect.  Their rushed marriage begins with a sorrowful event and Helena has a hard time adjusting to being a countess instead of a country lady.  She is a strong woman and mourns the loss of her independence.  But as they build their new life together, Helena's heart opens up to the possibility of marriage meaning something more than just a comfortable alliance.

Review:
It took me a little while to get used to the prose in the book, but once I did I really enjoyed it (thank goodness for the dictionary feature in Kindle, which I used extensively). The author did a fantastic job of using language appropriate to the Regency era, which gives it a true sense of authenticity while still being relatable.  The writing did seem a bit choppy at times, with the author moving on to a new section before fully finalizing the current section.  But I did not think it affected the flow overall.

I was surprised at how much Helena's demeanor changed as soon as she was presented as the mistress of the house, but I understand she felt she needed to establish respect from the very beginning.  It was nice to see the character development for both Helena and Will over the course of the book.

This is not a "proper" romance (one without any sex scenes) but the scenes which are included are not as detailed as a typical romance novel. However, it is definitely targeted toward an adult audience. It has everything you would look for in a noteworthy Regency novel: a strong female lead, a handsome eligible Earl who owns his own castle on the sea (swoon!), scandals waiting to be uncovered, and much more.

If you're a fan of Jane Austen and Bridgerton, be sure to give this one a read and support this lesser-known author!

Thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

#AComfortableAlliance  #NetGalley

This Regency romance came as a charming surprise. True, the writing is a bit on-the-nose, but the characters are so endearing that I didn't mind much. This is a gentle story about two people who wed without expectations for love but find it anyway, and the writer understands that while external conflict adds some excitement, the real draw is watching the leads learn and grow together. Filled with likable characters and stakes that never get quite high enough to cause actual concern, A Comfortable Alliance turned out to be a comfortable, soothing read. I'm so glad I gave it a chance to pull me in.

Thank you to Netgalley and BooksGoSocial for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.

A Comfortable Alliance by Catherine Kullman is a beautifully written historical novel set right after the Napoleonic Wars. From the start, I could tell this was a gentle read, in other words, a peaceful-evening-sitting-by-the-fire-with-a-glass-of-wine kind of book. Ms Kullman does not disappoint in her ability to transport you with her true-to-the-era dialogue and situations. The overall story is quite lovely, giving you enough romance while not being gratuitous in any way which, to me, gives credibility to the time period in which she writes. The dialogue is easy, not cumbersome, except for a few out-of-place descriptive passages which I thought a person might not ordinarily say in regular conversation. But, then again, sometimes we read with a more modern eye. I think of this book as a meandering river, flowing along with Will and Helena’s relationship as their characters develop over the course of the book – a comfortable alliance becoming a very sweet romance. The title is perfect in that respect! Along with the historical backdrop, which Ms Kullman portrays with great skill, this book is a great read for anyone wanting a well-told Regency story. Very recommended!!

This was my first Catherine Kullmann book -- but it won't be the last. I very much liked the "slow burn" of the developing feelings of the H and h. I did find the h's reluctance to wed for her particular reason a bit weak, but her doubts were ultimately overcome by her strong feelings for the H, so I will give a pass on that rather contrived excuse for angst. There was some sex after marriage, though not too lurid and sensitively presented, All in all, if you're looking for character development along with relationship development and you're NOT looking for love mostly as a result of physical attraction on as illustrated in major "steamy" hot sex scenes, then I think this is a book you will enjoy. I am definitely going to look for some more books by this author because I appreciate the way she builds characters, motives, growing emotional attraction (in addition to physical attraction), and a good story line. These are the mainstays for me in a good historical romance, and this books checks all my boxes. #NetGalley #AComfortableAlliance Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC.

It wasn't bad, but I didn't fall in love with it at any point. Glad I read it, probably won't re-read.

3.5 stars

I wil begin by thanking NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for the opportunity given to read "A Comfortable Alliance".

We follow Helena Swift, as she gets a second chance at happiness after har late fiance death due to injuries sustained at Waterloo. That chance takes the form of William Hall, Earl of Rastleigh, a man set to marry for duty above other reasons.

I must say that I enjoyed reading this book very much. We have likable characters, a well developed and researched setting and lots of important disscusions around women's rights in that time period.

As per usual, I will start with the pozitive. I feel that Helena has a complete description in regards to personality, beliefs, emotions and values, as well as "flaws". Although she tends to be on the perfect side, due to her past tragedy and her strong standing with Will and other characters, I'm inclined to very much like and understand her.
Moving on from the character, to the disccusions, I appreciated the depiction of life for a wife in that time. Many authors shy away from writing past the "happy ending" and I'm glad Catherine Kullmann didn't. She put on page things like power dynamics between married couples and differences in rights for young unmarried ladies in contrast to married ones; things like money and management of property between men and women are overtly brought up; and also we see a little bit of blacklash on wars for glory and colonialism.
Another good point in my book is for the New Year scene...really beautiful in both imagery and in showing both protagonists as a mature couple.
Speaking about mature, YES, we have a MATURE COUPLE that talk...and comunicate...and solve issues together!
Side note: the depiction of the couple is one of the best in my opinion in regards to historical romance novels. We have a quiet sort of strength in Helena that makes itself known and respected, without unrealistically ruling over her husband. We have a cold Earl that is for the first time exposed to a new side of the problem( a woman's point of view in society) without having to be emasculated or shamed for simply not thinking/seeing it.

Now, for the less good parts, I will start with the obvious one: lack of chemistry between the main protagonists. This is subjective and it may not be a problem for some readers, and definitely it doesn't have such a great impact that it takes you out of the story...in fact..only towards the last 20% I felt this.(mainly due to some plot points).
Moving to the plot...we have the major negative here...the author tried to encompass a lot of action in order to present Helena's ascent to her new status as believable as possible. This coupled with the easy way in which most of these are resolved does has an impact on overall enjoyment. :(
I appreciated the comunication in the couple, but lack of disputes is pretty much unheard of in a marriage.
Towards the end, the book got better at these things, and highlighted another strong point(the subtle way in which a scandal can be resolved in a historical romance...because, lets be real..loud declarations or another scandalous event/action is less likely to solve the current issue), but it still left me wanting more internal drama...that's it!
Internal struggle is almost missing from main characters! We need to see more of a battle with oneself when it comes to change. Helena had plent of reasons for that, but she was never showed having insecurities, second-guessing decisions or any kind of fear when a "country" lady takes such a big jump.I believe this will be the major turn-off along with the constant serene disposition from Will. He is a borderline yes-man.

But this are flaws in my eyes, and other may not see them as I do.
I recommend this book to readers in search of a drama-free historical romance with great comentary regarding women and marriage in that period.

Enjoy!