This book is beautifully written by Jane Dunn and is a story of two sisters Lucie Carey and Sybella Lovatt set in the humorous time of regency. Lucie rode horses and they lived in the Shotten Hall neighborhood trespassing the grounds for the last four years. Lucie was a fair-haired beauty with blue eyes but strong too. Lucie was not only charming and pretty, she was an accomplished dancer- she knew both to waltz and play piano-forte. She was a fearless rider and could handle a team of horses. Sybella became a widow within two months of married life while in service in the peninsular war against Napolean. Captain Lovatt, Sybella's husband was wounded in the battle of Sahagun when his favorite horse was shot from under him. Leaving Sybella and their son Baby James in grief.

Once Lucie was in her neighborhood trespassing in the Shotten hall woods, and she finds Mr. Freddie Lynwood on road under a fallen tree branch, he was barely twenty. Lucie and Sybella help the young man to fix his left leg broken with Dr. Bristow's help. Young Freddie Lynwood was a handsome, well-bred earl. Sybella Lovatt spent her time in the Orchard gathering apples and honey. Sybella has been very protective of her younger sister. But Lucie and James were the people she loved the most in the world and she longed to see her sister settled with her own home and family. Sybella found her sister Lucie to be very beautiful, competent, and brave. They get to meet Mr Antony Brabazon who is Freddie's Guardian. The Carey sisters were acquainted with old Brabazon when they were small by their father. Mr . Lynwood invites the sisters to London for the season. Will their paths cross in London? What happens to their romantic relationships and flirtatious pretenses there? When they all meet is a delightful splendid read until the happy ending of the novel. Will the Carrey/Lovatt sisters find a suitable match? Will Sybella marry again as her sister Lucie wanted her to marry again and have another child? Will Lucie find a good husband with a respectable estate during the season in London as they stay with Lady Godley?

I just reviewed The Marriage Season by Jane Dunn. #TheMarriageSeason #NetGalley

The Marriage Season was a refreshing read. It had a gentle and lighthearted way about it and I really enjoyed getting to know both Sybella and Lucie. Along with a wonderful cast of minor characters. They all brought something to the story whether it was a little bit of drama, sweet friendships and of course wonderful romantic moments. A special mention though has to go to little James, he made me smile and stole every scene he was in.

The author gave me an inviting and well written story. It’s safe to say I felt as if I had been transported to Regency England. The story had a lovely amount of detail. The kind that made me think it would translate well into a period drama whether that be on film or the small screen. The romantic entanglements were sweet and at times heartfelt. I couldn’t help but root for these characters. I felt as if I got to know them and was hoping that they would achieve their happy ever afters.

The Marriage Season was an engaging, charming and heartwarming tale!

I enjoyed this visit to Regency England during marriage season. The book, however, started out in the British countryside and we met our main characters in that setting. Once we get into the marriage market in London, however, the story gets more interesting. We are transported to that era with its proprieties, rules, lavish balls, and yes, hypocrisy. I liked the fact that the two main characters were strong women. The romances are easy to see coming, but that did not deter from my enjoyment of the story. Some slight criticisms: I felt the portrayal of the child was a little overdone, and I didn’t find his dialogue believable. I also felt parts of the book moved a bit slowly.

Overall, though, this is an enjoyable romance that looks at the Regency Era marriage market with a bit of sarcasm and irony. My rating is 3.6 stars, rounded up to 4 on sites with no partial star option.

I received a free copy of this book via Rachel’s Random Resources. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

Yes!

My mom first gave me a Georgette Heyer book to read around 7th grade. I have been a big fan of hers and of regency period romances since that day many many year ago! Well, I really really loved The Marriage Season! All the little details of types of carriages, horses, what to grow at your country home, what to wear, etc etc adorn a lovely romance with characters to love (and hate) and a wonderful ending. Highly recommended.

Thank you to the publisher who lent me a time-constrained e-arc via netgalley. This review is optional and my own opinion.

Love the cover! It’s so beautiful! The book on the other hand. I was bored and had a very hard time following it.

A good read! Perfect escapism for fans of Bridgerton and regency romance. Interesting characters with well-developed personalities that most readers will feel a connection to.

I really enjoyed this delightful story. The characters were so engaging, especially young James, he was a real sweetie, and he did make me smile. Some of the things he said, I still chuckle over now. I enjoyed the descriptions of the countryside and I felt as though I was there listening to the music. The author stayed true to the social expectations of this era and highlighted the difference between town and country. There are a number of possible romances and dangerous moments as well as true friendship and loving relationships. I will look for more books by this author. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own. However I did preorder my own copy.

Authentic and atmospheric, this Regency romance takes the reader into the heart of Regency society as two young women navigate the marriage mart with all its. Intricacies, prejudices and rules. The story has few surprises but is rich in vivid historical detail and language that endears it to devotees of this genre. The romance is gentle, and the characters are historically authentic. I like the characters, ethos and romance of this story.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

I'm on a bit of a Regency roll these days, along with the rest of the world in this age of Bridgerton fever it seems, so I jumped at the chance to read The Marriage Season by Jane Dunn. As a writer moving from biography into fiction, I had high hopes that this book would be historically accurate as well as entertaining and I was not remotely disappointed.

This is the story of two sisters, young widow, Sybella, and her younger sister and ward, Lucie. The young ladies have been closeted in the country since Sybella's husband's death in the Peninsula War and Sybella has been juggling managing the family estate, parenting her toddler son and looking out for Lucy all alone. However, the time has come for Lucie to enter society and try and find a husband of her own, so the sisters head to London and the house of Lucie's godmother to do The Season.

This is a fantastic, fish out of water story with the unworldly sisters trying to make their mark in London society where they know very few people and are ill-equipped for the airs and graces of the ton. However, their beauty, charm, gumption and story sibling ties see them through, and they quickly make their mark, with a variety of charming men vieing for their affections.

Sybella had no intention of finding a beau fro herself, seemingly happy with her lot, but once she is in society again, she remembers what she has been missing in her widowhood. I had never given much thought to what happened to young widows in these times. They are mostly presented as elderly, on the shelf and resigned to a solitary life on the sidelines so it was refereshing to see a different perspective. I also loved the examination that the author makes of other aspects of Regency society you don't find explored in the novels of authors from the time such as Jane Austen. She talks of matters which could not possibly have been discussed by novelists then, particularly women, such as the approbation heaped upon individuals with 'irregular' predilections.

There are so many attractive and admirable characters in this book, that I fell in love with all of them and wanted them all to have a happy ending. As well as the sisters, Valentine and the Duke of Ely were my particular favourites, I am still hoping that all ended well for the pair of them, as if they were real people rather than characters created in ink. The author has breathed proper life and personality into every person she committed to the page here, and the book vibrates with life and emotion as a result. Jim's obsession with horses, the fastidious butler, flirtatious Lady Godley, each and every character, whether central or supporting character, resonates with the reader and enhances the world the author has built here, just as it should be.

This book is full of exquisite detail, as vivid as a picture painted in vibrant colour, and just beautifully written. The author has a gift for language, and I felt I had been transported to the setting of the novel and was living and breathing the story as it was happening. I was completely lost in the book as I was reading it, totally absorbed, which is how you know when you have stumbled upon a treasure. I loved everything about it, it has left me happy and warm and caring about the people the author has invented long after I turned the last page. Magical stuff. I can't wait for her next Regency outing.

I adored this regency love story! The characters were well-developed and the historical details made me feel like I was there with the characters. I loved the relationship between Sybella and Lucie and between Freddie and Val. The chemistry between Anthony and Sybella was fun and intriguing. And Lady Godley was a hoot! I would definitely look into other books by Jane Dunn. Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the e-ARC.

It is time for Sybella Lovatt, a widow, to find a suitable husband for her sister and ward Lucie. They go to London for the season and stay with Lucie's godmother Lady Godley. While there they experience balls and parties, meeting an interesting collection of characters. There are several promising prospects for Lucie's betrothed, but who does she want to fill that position? Who is deserving of such a position? Meanwhile, Sybella is reminded of the love the had with her Captain James and how much she misses it. There are rules to be followed, traditions to adhere to, and reputations at stake. This is a delightful tale of love with humor, compassion, and friendship.

I’ll be honest in saying it was the cover that caught my eye....
All round good book, and good characters.
Bit of a slow start but it didn’t put me off.
Got to like a bit of romance, scandal and drama to keep you reading.

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood books

An interesting read from a new author to me, however it is not the best or even in the running for the best I have read but readable I found it was a little slow build before it got to anything that was interesting. However there is plenty of scandal and drama and lot of descriptive scenes although a little it too much talk of horses did make things drag a bit. also the language was a little modern for the times room for improvement I think I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The Marriage Season by Jane Dunn

Two sisters setting out from the country in hopes of finding the stability marriage will provide for the younger one. The elder had her chance, married, and lost her captain to the war only having a young son, some letters, and memories to remind her of all she lost.

I loved the cover and the blurb with comparison to Georgette Heyer had me hoping for a rollicking good romp of a read but for some reason I found the story slow, predictable, and somewhat stilted in the telling. I had trouble warming to the romance between the characters and seeing how they ended up together. I did remind me of the prosy descriptive staid writing of a century ago without the lighter brighter more engaging feel more modern books provide.

This is a story that held promise and one that I am sure will appeal to those who prefer sedate stolid stories, but it was not engage me or make me care about the outcome. And James, the precocious toddler taken with horses seemed out of place and in the way rather than the typical adorable child of the era that was seen but not heard. Of all the characters in the book, I think the one that I cared most about might have been Valentine.

Did I enjoy this book? Not as much as I had hoped to
Would I read more by this author? Probably not

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.

2-3 Stars

If you are looking for vintage regency novel immersion, then this is your book.

The Marriage Season harks back to Georgette Heyer. Historically accurate and filled with Regency life and vernacular.

The story sees the widow Sybella Lovatt and her sister Lucie to London for the Season. These country ladies become the belles of the social season with the help of Lady Godley.

It was a lovely ride through the London season.


Thank you to the publisher for the ARC.

This was very sweet, especially if you want a closed door, historically accurate regency romance. It was a bit long but not boring. The characters came off the page and I think the historically accurate prose was excellent. I will be looking for more from this author in the future. Definitely add this one to your TBR pile!

The Marriage Season comes out next week on January 26, 2023 and you can purchase HERE.

And with that, he stood up, so tall next to Sybella and James she found herself tilting her head to meet his eyes. He bent to shake her son's hand and, taking her own, brushed her fingers with his lips. He hardly glanced at her, but she sensed an energetic force in the room. Pulling on his gloves, he opened the drawing room door for her and together they descended the staircase to the hall where he collected his coat from Samson.

In Regency England, finding a husband is the most important thing for every young woman. For young widow Sybella Lovatt, the time has come to find a suitable husband for her sister and ward, Lucie. Because they live out in the countryside, they must venture into London in time for the Season to begin. They go to stay at the Mayfair home of Lady Godley, Lucie’s godmother, to prepare for the whirl of balls, parties and promenades to begin. But the job of finding a husband is fraught with rules and tradition, all of which vex Lucie. Jostling for attention are two lords – the charming and irresistible Freddie Lynwood and the preternaturally handsome Valentine Ravenell, , Mr Brabazon, and the dangerous libertine Lord Rockliffe, with whom the brooding Brabazon is locked in deadly rivalry, are both vying for Sybella's attention. Sybella must settle Lucie’s future, protect her own reputation, and resist the disreputable rakes determined to seduce the beautiful widow. As the Season ends, will the sisters have found the rarest of things – a suitable marriage with a love story to match?

Calling all Bridgerton fans!!! If you are like me and feel like it has been WAY too long since the last season has aired, then you need this book. Grab a big bowl of popcorn and settle in, because you will not want to leave your comfy seat for a long time. This felt just like I was back in the scenes at Bridgerton. I couldn;t put it down. The author did such an excellent job with her descriptions of everything, that I felt like I was really there, watching everything play out first hand. This book was so good, and I have my fingers crossed that there may be a second one in the works. This would make an excellent series. I can not recommend this one enough.

I loved this. It took me right back to my late teens when I was reading Georgette Heyer, Jean Plaidy, Mary Stewart and other authors of this ilk. 40 years later I’m more likely to be reading books that are a lot more gruesome and twisted. Why? This was a delightful read, full of the language of the time which wasn’t always easy to understand, but I genuinely enjoyed every word and read it in an evening. Set in Regency England in Wiltshire and London it follows the fortunes of widow Sybella (Bella) Lovatt and her sister Lucie who is coming of age.

Briefly, leaving their small estate in the hands of their servants, Bella and Lucie travel to London to stay with wealthy Lady Godley, Lucie’s godmother, who is going to arrange Lucie’s coming out. She soon attracts the eye of two young men about town and two of the most eligible bachelors of the season, Freddie Lynwood and Valentine Ravenell. However, she isn’t the only one attracting the attention of the opposite sex, Mr Brabazon and Lord Rockliffe, are both setting their caps at Bella. Will either woman fall for the charms of one of their suitors?

Ok so you know from the start who will end up with who but it’s how they get there that is all the fun. Beautifully written I found this an easy read, I enjoyed the gentle nature of the times, despite all the ruffians and libertines, and the build up of the romance. Great fun, I thoroughly enjoyed it and 5⭐️ for making me relive my youth.

The marriage season is coming and it’s time for the widow Sybella to help her sister get married. So Sybella and her sister head out to London to see what’s out there.
This is a regency time period romance with great characters, scandal, drama and fun parties.

I do so love a Regency Romance (despite romance not being my usual genre) and THE MARRIAGE SEASON was a delightfully easy read that is likened to that of Georgette Heyer (whose name I know but have not actually read). This is the first I have read by this author and I chose it simply for it's era. It did take quite a while before things got interesting with a somewhat slow build that almost made me give up and move on. I do hate slow starts as much as I hate long chapters...which this book also had.

Sybella (Bella) Lovatt is a young widow, having lost her husband in the Pensinsula war against Napoleon after two months of marriage, and now the time has come for her to find a suitable husband for her younger sister and charge Lucie Carey. Suitors are scarce around their Wiltshire estate and so the sisters plan on converging on London for the season, taking up residence with Lucie's godmother Lady Godley for the duration.

Prior to the London season, Lucie happens upon a young man laying unconscious in the road under a fall tree branch. She sets her horse agallop back to their Manor to bring help which soon arrives in the form of their stablehand George. They transport the still unconscious young man back to their estate and await the doctor who diagnoses a broken leg and with George's help sets it. But as he is unable to move he is to remain at the manor for the time being. When he awakes, he introduces himself as Lord Lynwood...or Freddie, as their butler Beamish informs them. Freddie, it seems, is the ward of their neighbour Mr Brabazon who is intent on finding him a young bride.

OK, so it's a little predictable but it is a satirical romp with witty young men and disparaging rakes set between the sprawling Wiltshire countryside and busyness of Mayfair and the London Season. In a whirl of balls and parties, Bella must find the most appropriate husband for Lucie...but can she do so without opening her own heart for more heartbreak?

A delightful romp, it has to be said, but not the best I have read. As I outlined at the beginning, it was a slow build before it got interesting and the chapters were long...both of which are reflected in my rating. But there is plenty of scandal and drama and lot of descriptive scenes.

Likened to that of Georgette Heyer and Jane Austen, I'm sure THE MARRIAGE SEASON will appeal to those fans. However, as much as I enjoy Jane Austen's tales on screen I do find her writing a little difficult to wade through...perhaps that is the difficulty I had here also? Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy the story...it was too slow to start and some things I found a little drawn out. Too much description maybe? I'm not sure. I can't quite put my finger on it. I just know that although I did enjoy the the story, I didn't it quite as much as other Regency Romances.

Overall, a fairly decent read with satirical wit and a few dashing as well as disparaging characters for the women of the story to fall in love with. Perfect for fans of Georgette Heyer and Jane Austen.

I would like to thank #JaneDunn, #Netgalley, #BoldwoodBooks and #RachelsRandomResources for an ARC of #TheMarriageSeason in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

Will this season bring more than they expected…

If one thing is sure, this is a voice I want to hear again and will last.
What an outstanding double romance the author just gifted us with this bright captivating tale of two sisters taking on the marriage mart like a storm.

Lucie and Sybella are at the same time alike and entirely opposite. One has the wildness and innocence of her years while the other leaned to be more circumspect and thoughtful as life went by herself with its lot of heartaches and duties.
And now they prepare themselves for the London season, they meet unexpectedly their neighbor and his ward, two men with different ideas and behaviors.

This story is a kaleidoscope of variegated portraits as the two sisters cross path with the ton’s peers, and some of their sisters.
From the dandies to the profligates or the young bucks sawing their wild oats or those leaning on the wrong side of the bed, the sisters will discover they have to follow the rules as reputations are held by one thread all the the while learning to navigate the treacherous and muddy waters of the Beau Monde.
It was easy to determine who will be matched with whom, still the journey toward the HEAs was amusing, entertaining with some additional twists and turns and last minute reversals of situation.

Lynwood is a pleasant pretty young man, his gorgeous friend Ravenell a feast for the eyes and a kind soul, Mr Brabazon a sort of a Mr Darcy with a rake’s streak and Rockliffe his old time nemesis and a seducer.
Then there is little James (or Young Jim), Sybella’s young son, such a delight, a breath of fresh air with the truth of his words, he sees the world from what it is, a play even if it is through the lenses of a child.

As the lives of all these people become entangled, friendships are made, trusts are tested, secrets revealed, safety engaged and hearts stirred.
If it is really a debut novel, this is quite a faultless performance I can only recommend to readers seeking romances with wits.
5 stars

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 kisses

I have been granted an advance copy by the publisher and Rachel’s Random Ressources, here is my true and unbiased opinion.