Allegra Brown is the orphaned poor relation acting as a governess to her younger cousins. She told them about her conveniently absent and fictional fiance, the pirate Captain L'Amour. Mr. John Sharp is a stickler and lover of order, fearsome in the courtroom but not in the kitchen. He's nothing like a pirate, but can he still find a future with Allegra?

This is the second book of the Siren's Retreat quartet, a series of four novellas taking place at the Brighton inn. Erica Ridley wrote this and the fourth novella, while Grace Burrowes wrote the other two. (I couldn't find her novels on Netgalley, only Erica Ridley's ) I enjoy Erica's other work, so I was eager to see how it translated to linked novellas.

This was as sweet as one of the desserts that John wanted to make. He left a perfectly good law practice to chase his dream of becoming a chef, and a kitchen disaster of Epic proportions drove him from London entirely. Allegra had invented a fantasy love, and her cousins accepted her stories to a point. It's funny to read their reactions to John, imagining him as a pirate, and trying to figure out ways to leave the two alone together. They had an immediate physical attraction, grew to like each other, and were more than happy to support each other's dreams. As with every romance, that's a perfect happily ever after.

Thank you to Netgalley for my eARC copy in exchange for my honest review.

If you love a good insta love novella then this is for you!! This one fell a little short in the excitement for me but it’s still a lovely sweet romance.

Allegra is the Fanny Price in her family, but her cousins are much nicer!! She has developed a fake fiancé and when John shows up he is the perfect fantasy come to life.

I think there is a definite audience for this book and the series in general. I suggest giving it a shot, it’s short and sweet and great for a relaxing afternoon.

A lovely lighthearted regency romance with an engagingly sweet couple, John goes along with Allegra’s story not knowing what he is letting himself in for, but it’s great how they both rely on each other.. I just wish we could have seen her awful uncle get his comeuppance too.

This was a fun, breezy read. The pacing of the book didn't leave much room for the deep character development, but that is what I enjoyed about it the most. The two cousins are great side characters and I wished I got their own stories to read.

The writing is captivating and entertaining, the plot flows well, and it will have you smiling throughout.

Allegra Brown is counting down the days until her 30th birthday. On that auspicious day she will receive a small inheritance and she can finally be out from under her uncle’s mean thumb. In addition to being an exceptional pianist, Allegra has a wild imagination, and she has been telling stories to her cousins about her fictional fiancé, the dashing and daring pirate Captain L’Amour.

John Sharp, lawyer extraordinaire, has a dream of owning his own tea shop. After a disastrous attempt in London, he has made his way to Brighton to adjust his meticulous plan. He inadvertently confirms that he is indeed the infamous Captain L’Amour in a chance encounter with Allegra and her cousins. Just how far will John and Allegra take this deception?

I had so much fun reading this novella. Allegra and John were immediately taken with each other and had no trouble perpetuating the story of Captain L’Amour. In fact, it provided a handy cover for both of them to behave differently than they normally would have. They supported each other in their respective dreams and the chemistry between them was great. I loved the completely outrageous stories about the illustrious captain and her cousins’ attempts at giving them private time together.

I can definitely recommend this for historical romance lovers. Erica Ridley just has a magical way of making novellas work.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A really enjoyable book to read. Interesting characters, good story and plenty of drama. The main character Allegra is kind and thoughtful towards her cousins so it is nice to see that she gets happiness at the end. l thoroughly recommend that you read this book.

I am voluntarily posting an honest review after reading an advance reader copy of this story.

A rare 5 stars! I'm judicious with my stars, not everything is excellent, so a 5 means I loved every moment of it. We start with a Banbury tale from our heroine, told for the best of reasons, a nursery tale for inquisitive children. Unfortunately, or is it fortunately, the tales take on a life of their own, growing to outrageous proportions. Our hero is afraid of his own shadow, he's learned that plans are guaranteed to succeed and winging it is a recipe for disaster. When an unstoppable force meets an immovable object, it leads to a whole lot of fun and plenty of laughs, especially for the reader. I'm not giving away any fun filled moment in this review, you'll want to explore the story for yourself. Here's hoping that book 3 is as enjoyable as #2.

#AnAffairByTheSea #Siren's Retreat Quartet Book 2 #Netgalley #WebMotion #EricaRidley #romance #historicalromance

I received a copy by Netgalley via the author; this is my honest review.
-John & Allegra's story is endearing, fun, and face-palming at times.
-I loved Portia & Dorcas, sisters and cute cupids in their own rights.
-Lovely references to baking and cooking.
-I so wish John had found something fishy about her uncle's meddling.
-Except for Mrs. C., no one shows up in this book from the previous one, so it's totally standalone, with no need to have read the previous one.

What a fun story! It is Cinderella in a twisted way. Instead of step sisters there are cousins. No wicked stepmother but a nasty bit of an uncle. But oh what a prince there is in John. I like the vision Allegra has of her new life that is within her sights. Even John wants to remake his life. This was a delightful story with a nice happy ending. Loved it!

Another one for the keeper shelf by Erica Ridley. She is a strong author that always gives her readers the full value of her perspective.
The heroine is an aging spinster, 29, about 2 months from her inheritance. She was orphaned at 12 and her uncle took her in. She was there when her oldest cousin was a babe and the next year her second cousin was born and she loves bother of them. Her aunt passed away about a year later and the heroine was mother, nurse, governess, doctor, mentor and companion to her cousins. An unpaid one, no matter what hat she wore. Her clothing was scrap bag clothes and she would take the bodice of one dress, the skirt of another, the right arm of another and the left of another and create her own unique and quirky style. Her cousins were dressed in the best of everything. She has been given 2 months to marry off her cousins because their father is too cheap to give them another season. The hero is a barrister who has finally saved enough money to become what he always wanted, a chef. And he wants a tea or coffee shop. He was going to take over a business in London, but it burnt to the ground the first day he showed up to work because of a comedy of errors. He decides that his luck would be better if he started from scratch. He walks with a limp and his favorite waistcoat is blue/green. He also needs a haircut. He is walking in Brighton, looking for his shop to rent, when he is almost run over. He is almost run over because, before the heroine came to her uncle's house, she met a privateer, who loved the heroine deeply, yet was unable to come get her because everytime he travelled, something happened. Since the heroine was 12 when she went to live with her uncle, there was no way of meeting a man who would wait for her to grow up. And the hero is the spitting image of her imaginary fiance, right down to the limp from a missing foot and the waistcoat in the color if the sea. Both are extremely shocked at each other, since he is imaginary and she is wearing a dress with mismatched sleeves, bodice and skirt.
This story is so well written. One of this author's hallmark's is that she writes so well that the reader can read swiftly, yet understand every nuance of the story and can't put it down. The story is not too wordy and the reader does not get caught up in the details. The character development is very apparent but makes sense. The author makes sure that everything she puts down has a part. The supporting characters and setting details are well written and bring to the story a wholeness that other authors can't. I recommend reading this book, and will probably recommend the next book also, once it comes out. I give it 5 stars and will make room on my keeper shelf.

We get a leading lady just trying to get to her 30th birthday so she gets some freedom but she loves her cousins who she has been serving for years. She has told them a fun story about a sea pirate Caption as her boyfriend and to all their surprise one is in their carriage path. He matches her image she told the girls but he is a lawyer turn chef. This is a super cute story of them figure out that they are a match and the process to get what they both want and need. This is such a cute town with the sea/beach and all the side characters. This is such a cute series as well!

4 stars
2.5 steam

Thanks to the author for a copy of this one.

It is a good month for historical romance! After enjoying Darcy’s Rigid Duke, I moved to Erica Ridley’s Affair By the Sea. Allegra is a very strong and resilient women. Very spirited and loyal to her two cousins, to ensure they have the best season and catch a true love match. She had told her cousins the tale of her very absent fiancé, the pirate Captain L’Amour. And then they accidently almost overrun the dashingly handsome Mr. Sharp. Who looks exactly like the captain that Allegra had described.

Both Allegra and John could profit from the little white lie that John is the famous Captain L’Amour. But of course, they will encounter all kind of funny situations. Per usual for Erica, a funny heartfelt story, which warms your heart. I’m looking forward to the rest of the Quartet!

Five out of five stars from me and a special thank you to Netgalley for providing the arc.

We always buy Erica Ridley for our library. Our patrons adore her. She writes the perfect blend of romance, wit, and plot.

Absolutely delightful.

I was invested just a few pages in and all the way through. Ridley wrote a sweet and funny romance with two brilliant, lovable leads, neither of which I could find fault with. Even the side characters are hilarious.
The stakes are kind of high but the tone was light, there was no unnecessary break up, and the "villain" was believably... not absolved but explained and didn't end up being a total tyrant.

John is a solicitor turned chef, Allegra is a governess with a love for the pianoforte and I loved that that was so believably them. In many romance novels characters tend to have "their thing", their hobby or interest or passion, but it doesn't truly feel like a part of them, just something to make them for human. But here it feels real.

Ridley uses romance tropes, mainstays, "reasons", perfectly.

This is a cute series that centers around an inn at Bath called The Siren's retreat. If you sleep a night there with an open heart, you will find love.
In this story Allegra and her 2 cousins Dorcas and Portia are staying there for the summer. During their first week there, the we y practically run over and kill, John. He barely escapes with his life as he jumps out of the way of the out of control horses.
John looks exactly like the description of Allegra's fictious suitor. Dorcas and Portia assume it is her suitor come to collect Allegra.
And so the story begins.
It was a cute story but I thought a little fantastical. I thought the stories about Allegra's suitor we're so outrageous that no one would believe them. But it ended very nicely, so 4 stars.
I want to thank Netgalley for the opportunity to review this book.

For years governess Allegra has entertained her charges with stories of her fictional sea-captain lover. After a misunderstanding, disgraced solicitor-turned-chef John agrees to play the role for the summer. Afterward, they'll go their separate ways—unless they fall in love for real.

This book has all the humor, charm, and vivid characters I expect from Erica Ridley. It's a quick, fun read that will melt your heart.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

A summer in Brighton draws many from London. Allegra Brown has been a governess and chaperone to her two cousins. All she dreams of is coming into her inheritance when she turns thirty by the end of the summer and the freedom to choose her own life. Making up a suitor named Captain
L' Amour, the dreaded pirate, was a small measure to feed her imagination and convince her cousins some one loved her. When John Smith is mistaken for the pirate he plays along. Enchanted by Allegra, he is hesitant to pursue her, He can't afford a wife and open his tea room and fulfill his dream of being a chef. Her unpredictable personality opens up possibilities and an agreement is made between them to stay together.
Her cousins are a handful, but sweet and adore Allegra and only want to see her happy. John is so uptight until Allegra teaches him he doesn't always have to go by the book.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

An utterly swoony, charming story, An Affair by the Sea was a quick and fantastically enjoyable read.

I’m looking forward to reading more of this series.

This is such a fun and delightful quick read! I absolutely enjoyed being in a coastal setting, which has a nice small town feel. Erica Ridley's writing is fun and light hearted, perfectly bringing to light this fake-courting romance, with mistaken identity. This novella is perfectly paced for a quick and charming read and a great way to spend an evening.

Allegra, was orphaned young, she is a pianist with a big imagination, and for the past many years been acting as governess to her two cousins while awaiting their come out in society and the minuscule dowery she hopes will provide her independence on her thirtieth birthday. With the arrival of a dashing young man, Allegra's cousin's mistake him for her fictional long lost lover and they hope for her to marry as well. John Sharpe has left his courtroom career for the comforts of the kitchen, he has big dreams of being a chef and opening his own tea house and believe's Brighton will be the perfect location. When he is mistaken for Allegra's long lost beau, he decides to help her and in the process is charmed by her dreams and imagination.

Allegra is such a fun and delightful character, she is strong and bold, and her imagination carries her throughout her life and provides her with optimism and hopes for the future. John Sharpe is also very optimistic, he has worked hard to earn money in order to realize his dreams. I think that Allegra and John see with in each other a soul mate who has goals and dreams that mean everything to them. They are so very charming together in such a sweet and caring way. John sees Allegra's talent for the piano and provides her with time to explore and image. Allegra also finds ways to help John test out and realize his dream as well. These two learn that by working together they can help provide each other with the support they need. Their romance is sweetly beautiful and it is a low angst romance that puts an easy smile on your face. This novel is also fairly low heat but it works well with this story and with these characters that I did not feel the absence of wanting a higher heat level.

I would definitely recommend this novel, especially if you love a sweet historical romance, that does not take place in London and is about two people working together to help each other make their dreams and wishes a reality! I am definitely looking forward in continuing on in this charming novella series.

I received an advanced reader's copy of An Affair by the Sea by Erica Ridley via NetGalley.

Lovely story in a seaside setting. Allegra's and John's meet-cute was funny. The progression of their romantic relationship was delightful. I loved that both characters created a change in the other as far as how they viewed themselves and what they thought they were capable of. It was wonderful to see them supporting each other's dreams and encouraging each other.

This was a beautifully written romance with endearing characters.