This was a unique story that caught my attention from the beginning and I enjoyed reading till the very end. The story was well written and entertaining with wonderful plot twists that kept me interested and turning the pages. The author does a nice job of really pulling you into the story with her vivid descriptions and attention to detail. You feel as if you are experiencing it all for yourself. The characters were well-developed and interesting and I enjoyed seeing their development throughout the story. A creatively written story that held my interest the whole way through. If you are looking for a charming, proper Regency, then this is one you will definitely want to pick up. I hope to read more from this author soon!

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

Lady Loring's Dilemma
A Regency Novel (The Lorings Book 2)
by Catherine Kullmann

Lady Loring who has spent all of her adult life in a loveless cold marriage. Having been caught in acompromising position with a former true love her husband exiles to Harrogate to live with her mother in a seemly manner and forbidden access to her daughter. Lady Loring rekindles her friendship with Lord Stephen FitzCharles and he offers her a new life on the continent. Follow Stephen and Delia’s story as Delia pines for her lost daughter and how their lives evolve.

A well written book. 3.5/5

A very compelling read. Incredibly well written with wonderful descriptions. I did not realize it was part of a series, but I had no trouble keeping up. I enjoyed the characters as they were flawed but real. Will definitely look for the other book in this series. Thank you netgalley and publisher for this arc in exchange of an honest review.

Catherine Kullmann is a master of atmospheric books, where we meet characters much like ourselves in that they are making the best of what life brings them despite the odds. In her latest, Lady Loring's Dilemma, the heroine is in exile — living with her mother — after her husband catches her in compromising circumstances. Banished to Harrogate, Delia must live quietly while she waits to see if Sir Edward, her angry husband, will have her back. Most of all, Delia longs to see her daughter, Chloe, who at 16 is on the edge of becoming a woman.
Women have few choices in Regency England, something Kullman comes back to again and again in her books. Delia brought about her own downfall, although it is easy to understand why she became tempted by a neighbor — she was unable to marry her first, true love and the husband she ended up with was hardly sympathetic. And in those days, marriage was for life no matter how miserable.
Fate intervenes and Delia meets her first love, Lord Stephen FitzCharles, who still attracts her despite the passage of 20 years. She has a choice to make -- live with him and perhaps be parted from her daughter or remain in banishment limbo. Delia's choice to leave with Stephen infuriates her husband even more, and his attempt at revenge adds tension to this tale of a woman seeking to rebuild her life despite the restrictions of the day. This is a wonderfully compelling tale, with characters who are far from perfect — and more endearing because of it. This is the second in a series about the Lorings; without giving too much away, it is testament to the author's skill that the reader roots so readily for Delia in this book after the events of the first. (I received an advance reader copy via NetGalley. Opinions mine).

This is my first book from this author and I loved it. I found it to be so well written. I wasn't prejudiced by knowing any of the character's before and found Delia and Stephen interesting and intelligent character's as were the minor character's also which added to the smoothness of the story. Best of all where the locations they were described so well you could almost see them. "I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Lady Loring's Dilemma A Regency Novel (The Lorings Book 2) by Catherine Kullmann. BooksGoSocial, 2022.
This is a story about Delia Loring, her banishment from her husband’s home after twenty years in a cold marriage, her day-to-day existence with an unwelcoming parent, and her anguished longing for her daughter. And what happens following a chance encounter with her first love.

Some readers will recall Delia as a supporting character in A Suggestion of Scandal (Kullmann, 2018), where she was curtained in an unsavoury haze. Delia's is an enlightening story.

This is a positive, well written, easy to read story that shares two features I have come to expect from Catherine Kullmann’s books: First, there really is a story, it is worth telling, unique in one or more aspects, and multifaceted – there is more than one thing going on. Second, the story is supported by meaningful historical details and just enough background detail on characters and situations to make the story flow without distracting the reader. Warmly recommended.

Disclosure: I received a review copy of Lady Loring's Dilemma for free via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. #LadyLoringsDilemma #NetGalley.

Lady Loring, Delia, has been exiled to Harrogate by her cold and callous husband and must stay with her mother as punishment for a dalliance with a neighbor, and worse still that dalliance was witnessed by her teenage daughter. Initially I felt that there was no possible excuse for such appalling behavior, but as I read on, the circumstances were slowly mitigated. We learn that Delia’s husband has been cheating on her for over 20 years; has completely ignored her throughout their marriage; and for the first time in 20 years someone has paid a little attention to her. For Lady Loring the worst part of her punishment is that she has been banned from seeing or communicating with her daughter ever again.

In Harrogate Lady Loring meets a charming set of new friends—and an old friend. Sir Stephen was her first friend/love before fate (or a self-righteous mother) separated them. Stephen is a beautiful, caring man and sensitive to the needs of the women he cares about.

Slowly Delia and Stephen grow closer and their past feelings resurface. Sir Stephen is a dream-come-true hero. He lovingly helps her escape her situation and travels with her to idyllic places all the while being a gentleman, lover and friend. The secondary characters are all interesting in their own right. They enrich the story. The dialogue is intelligent and the characters express thoughts that are insightful, such as the observation that British travellers feel distinctly superior to other cultures when travelling abroad—and often seek out the company of their fellow countrymen. There were several comparisons between the British and other cultures, such as the behaviour of audiences in London opera performances versus Parisian opera performances. I found these observations throughout the book insightful.

The locations are as important as the characters. The descriptions of the time and places are fascinating. There is a church in Paris , Ste. Geneviève, whose description inspired me to google it. Even for someone who considers herself well traveled, I had never heard of this gem before and would love to visit it.

In the previous book, A Suggestion of Scandal, Lady Loring, was the “villain,” but Catherine Kullmann has flipped her around so we can understand and sympathize with her—that was an impressive feat, and it worked.

Many writers have heroes with a painful past, a vulnerability, or a longing for something unattainable that endears him to the reader, but so often writers present this in a far too heavy-handed or contrived way. Catherine. Kullmann‘s heroes are sublime in a beautifully human way that is utterly believable, poignant, and admirable.

I absolutely love ALL of Catherine Kullmann’s books. Her writing flows so smoothly that at no time do I need to stop and reread something that is unclear. I especially love that she brings in characters from previous books so we can revisit them.

I waited for this book for quite a while (and have preordered it) but I am so happy I got to read it early as an ARC! I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

#LadyLoringsDilemma #NetGalley