Book 2 of 2 - A Regency Romance, I suggest reading book one first. It was a Quaker love story. Not my usual genre. There was much I didn’t understand.

Bliss Bennet does it again in the Audacious Ladies of Audley series, it had a strong overall feel to it and had that historical element that I was looking for. The overall story was told perfectly and thought the romance element worked overall. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and how they worked in this universe.

5 stars

Excellent story. Bathsheba is our heroine. A friend in both senses to Ash. Ash has just been found to be the heir to an earldom, knocking his cousin Noel off top spot. Ash and Sheba were informally engaged. The next stage was to ask permission to wed from the Quaker elders. Unfortunately Noel comes along and to tell Ash the news and get him to return with him to London to meet his grandmother. Sheba is the only one to call out the relatives in the poor way they have treated Noel. Sheba wasn't an easy heroine. She has a strong conviction of her faith and the cause against Slavery. A realistic historical tale. Really like this authors writing often learn something new!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Not for me, even though this book seems easy to read, nothing wrong with that. It is just that the three main characters are hardly appealing, Ash with him being a bit bland or meek, then the other two being so awfully headstrong... Yup, enemy to lovers is what I expect, but I cannot make myself to read on, everyone clashing with one another...

I don't know how to rate this book. It is a beautiful book with incredible writing. I loved both Sheba and Noel. I even see some of Sheba in myself. The issue is the first book in this series: Not Quite a Marriage, book one in The Audacious Ladies of Audley series. You really need to read the first book to get a real understanding of the the events in this book because they are both happening in the same timeline. It was really interesting to see some of the same scenes in both books but with different perspectives. I'm so glad I didn't skip the first book because I probably would have been a bit lost in this one.

HOWEVER. Reading book one set me up for some expectations that really were not fulfilled in this one. How ironic. Not Quite a Marriage was one of the best books I've ever read. Truly a masterpiece. It tugged at my heartstrings and I cried several times, even during the sex scenes. My god, the feelings!!!! But just as open door the first book was, this one was firmly closed. In fact, even at the end we didn't even get a door at all. Was it because Sheba was a quaker? Surely after they were married wouldn't it be tasteful if it's "sanctioned"? It just really disappointed me.
Thank you to netgalley for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

Quaker...

I didn't know that there were Quakers in England, but I do enjoy Bliss Bennet's writing so I gave it a shot. This novel contains a lot of religious themes. Bathsheba wants to make change in England and part of her plan to do that is to wed her friend, Ash. That plan quickly goes awry when Noel shows up. He is Ash's cousin and assumed he would inherit the title of Earl. He is arrogant and entitled but not titled. The title goes to Ash. Hence, Bathsheba clashes with Noel and there is definitely no wedding between Bathsheba and Ash. But Noel? Maybe.

DNF at 50%. I’m sure others will like this book, but it’s not for me. It’s Christian fiction, which I don’t read.

While I appreciate Sheba’s anti-slavery stance, beyond that, she’ seems preachy and judgmental to me. The plot for the first half of the novel is driven by Sheba loudly expressing her opinions about things she knows nothing about, without regard for anyone else’s needs or perspectives. Maybe that’s part of her character arc, but it overwhelms the story.

Also, the prologue with the bull shows a lack of understanding of bovine behavior. Bulls are dangerous animals. They’re not pets.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.