Can't Wait for Painting the Summer

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released as well. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. Find out more here.

Painting the Summer (Return to Inglewood, # 1)

By: Sally Britton

Expected Publication: Pink Citrus Books (March 31, 2023)

? pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction

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*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Amazon description--A farmer's daughter doesn't belong in high society, even if she is a talented artist. And a gentleman training to take over the family estate can't afford distractions. But when the two of them meet, their whole world shifts. Can they overcome their fears, or will love remain out of their reach?

Caroline Clapham isn’t a world renown artist—she’s simply a farmer’s daughter possessed of natural talent with a paintbrush. Talent that her mentor, the Countess of Inglewood, is happy to foster for a summer at her beautiful seaside estate. Caroline’s friends, including a persistent suitor, warn her that the season will end and she will return home as insignificant as ever, and will have to settle for a life far less grand than she imagines. But that won’t stop her from pursuing her dream, or finding a new friend in the handsome Mr. Everly.

Mr. Edward Everly is preparing to take the reins from his father. Everything about their home and family will fall under his care, including the land, their tenants, and all the responsibilities of a gentleman—including marrying the girl his parents have chosen for him. Overwhelmed and uncertain about his new role, Edward stumbles upon a beautiful artist in the woods. As he comes to know Miss Clapham, her way of looking at the world restores his confidence and makes his heart light. Before summer’s end, he cannot imagine a life without her.

Friends and family alike have warned against Caroline and Edward’s relationship. Edward has a role to fill, and he needs a companion who is up to the task. If Caroline leaves behind a life of finer things, she risks losing more than just her dreams of painting. Will she choose to remain in the world in which she grew up, or take the steps necessary to prove herself a worthy match for Edward?

***

The Return to Inglewood novels are a continuation of the stories in Sally Britton's Inglewood series, following the children of the heroes and heroines of Inglewood. This series can be read out of order and without reading Britton's previous books. All books in the series are sweet romance with no steamy content.

What are you guys waiting on this week? Let me know!

Reforming Lord Neil - Review

Reforming Lord Niel (Inglewood, # 5)

By: Sally Britton

Publication: May 16th 2020 by Blue Water Books

256 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction

Source: Personal Kindle Library

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*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--An arrogant lord cut-off by his family. A penniless widow in desperate need. In their reduced circumstances, can love save them both?

Lord Neil Duncan, third son of the Marquess of Alderton, finally angers his father enough to be cut off from the family. Neil believes it is only a matter of time before he is reinstated, but time is passing slowly and he needs to eat. His so-called friends have abandoned him, no one else trusts him, and it is not until he comes upon a young widow that he finds someone who needs his help as badly as he needs hers.

Teresa Clapham has been without a husband's provision and protection for over a year. Supporting her mother and daughter on the pittance her brother-in-law provides has required her to stretch every farthing. When Lord Neil arrives at her doorstep proposing he work for her to earn his keep, she sees possibility in the man everyone else has deemed an arrogant good-for-nothing.

As Lord Neil works for the first time in his life, Teresa sees in him a tender heart long repressed by his family's expectations - a heart that causes her own to open once more. But her brother-in-law Frederick Clapham is less charmed by Teresa's new servant. When Lord Neil discovers the secret Mr. Clapham has been keeping, he must decide whether to embrace the man Teresa believes him to be, or fall back on the privileged lifestyle he's always known.

Neil has been a side character in this series from the beginning. He has been the villain you loved to hate in book 1, and through each subsequent book the reader wonders how much more there is to his character. He never faulted Hope for the curicle accident that his sister did in book 2. He looked out for Millicent in book 4 when his sister was determined to use her only for her own pleasure. So we have to wonder what his true heart and soul is like.

At the beginning of Reforming Lord Niel his father cuts him off from the family. It seems as if he had decided on this action and provoked Neil into an argument in order to execute his plan. I'm not sure if he saw Neil as a liability to his political aspirations, or if he found out that he was not Neil's natural father. Either way, Neil discovers he has fewer friends than he once believed. Practicality leads him to the place he ends up.

Teresa is a widow and mother. Her husband, Henry, apparently gambled away her dowry and left her penniless. Although she did inherit a farm from another relative. Teresa, her mother, and her daughter live on and work the farm themselves. They can't afford help, and winter is quickly approaching. When Lord Neil offers his labor in exchange for staying in the hay loft of her barn and eating meals with her family, she accepts. Of course these two develop feelings for one another. I feel like to say much more than this would be spoilers.

I liked that Neil didn't always have the best character. It's not like he had some pure motives when he approached Esther back in book 1. But he also was not seeking to destroy her marriage either. He was lonely and following in the footsteps he'd witnessed from both his father and mother. Through his hard work on the farm, he develops a deeper and stronger character. He becomes a truer version of himself--who he always was capable of being. Nicholeen Peck quotes someone else, "Work is the antidote to a sick character." And while I don't necessarily believe that to always be the case, it certainly does help teach life lessons and guide. Work is a producer of natural consequences.

Favorite quotes:

-It seemed he would forever attempt friendly relationships with the wrong people.

-"Mr. Duncan, we cannot judge others so harshly. Perhaps a misplaced cushion is the only tragedy they have ever known. They have nothing greater to measure it against."

-"Any woman will tell you, Mr. Duncan, that their children come into this life with personalities."

-"I have learned to be still when nothing I say or do can change the outcome."

I love a good redemption story. And Lord Neil did a wonderful turn around from where he started in the series to where he ended up. I enjoyed his journey. I loved Teresa, and her daughter. The whole story was just wholesome and heart warming. Reforming Lord Neil gets 4 Stars. Have you read Reforming Lord Neil? What did you think? Let me know!

Engaging Sir Isaac - Review

Engaging Sir Isaac (Inglewood, # 4)

By: Sally Britton

Publication: February 26th 2020 by Blue Water Books

280 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction, Regency

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*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--She swore she would win the baronet’s heart in order to break it, never dreaming she would lose her own in the process. Millicent Wedgwood will never obtain her rightful place in Society, which means she will never have an advantageous reputation, marriage, or fortune. All because Millie's sister eloped years before. But there is a chance to rise above that disgrace if Millie will take part in a dare. If she can win the baronet who insulted Lady Olivia, and then shatter his heart, she will earn back her position in Society with Lady Olivia’s sponsorship.

Sir Isaac Fox returned from war with one less arm and a weight upon his soul. Where once he easily charmed Society, he now prefers to remain quietly alone at home. With a failing estate to manage, Isaac is determined to be more responsible and less foolhardy, which leaves no time for romance. Certainly no time for the infuriatingly enchanting Miss Wedgwood.

When Millie realizes her game has put her own heart in jeopardy, she risks losing everything she has so desperately sought to replace in her life. And though Isaac refuses Millie's advances, he cannot deny her charm. But falling for Miss Wedgwood would mean reentering society and losing the peace he has found since the war. Can they find a way to heal their hearts together? Or will Millie's deception ruin them both?

Isaac was introduced as a character in book one, as all of the other characters that have ended up with their own books in this series. Through the previous three books he has been morose at worst and merely happy for his friends and family at best. He's been sad and down. And well, that's understandable given the state he returned home from the war in. He was a happy guy before the war and was often engaged in society with parties, dinners, and balls. And apparently he enjoyed them. But he doesn't see much joy in them anymore.

Millie's family has faced society's scorn since her sister broke off an engagement with a duke's son to run off and marry a solicitor. Millie's mother has been pushing her to find a way back into society's good graces by concocting a scheme for Millie to become friends with a daughter of a Marques. Only this young lady has drama and hate in her heart, it seems--most of which is directed towards Sir Isaac, who once spurned her advances. She wants revenge and tasks Millie with finding out any means of ruining Sir Isaac.

I liked that Millie actually confides in Sir Isaac much sooner than I expected about the predicament that she's in. Their relationship was fun to read as it developed. I did find the excuse about using Edith's help to launch Millie back into good society a bit flimsy. But I'm no expert on the ins and outs of regency society. It just felt like an excuse to keep the conflict resolution from being too easy.

I wasn't sure I liked the way the climax was leading. But ultimately, Sally Britton handled the situation differently than I was expecting which I appreciate. And that kept it from being too obvious.

Favorite quotes:

-Millie was used to facing life's difficulties alone. She would manage. She had no other choice.

-"Misery seeks its own, miss," Sarah had said when Millie voiced her confusion. "People can't accept that they're the only ones unhappy. They're jealous, and waste their time trying to make others feel the same, when really they ought to put their energy into fixing their own problems."

Engaging Sir Isaac hasn't been my favorite of the Inglewood series, but I did enjoy it and didn't want to stop reading. I read it quickly given everything that was going on in real life. I liked Isaac from the moment he was introduced back in Rescuing Lord Inglewood, and Millie was a good match for him. She brought out all of his good sides. Engaging Sir Isaac gets 3.5 Stars. Have you read Engaging Sir Issac? What did you think? Let me know!

Saving Miss Everly - Review

Saving Miss Everly (Inglewood, # 3)

By: Sally Britton

Publication: November 3rd 2019 by Blue Water Books

274 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction, Regency

Source: Personal Kindle Library

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*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Pretending she's her twin gets complicated when Hope is shipwrecked with a handsome castaway. When rescue comes, will she risk her heart to confess the truth or will they part forever?

Pretending to be her sister, Hope Everly finds an adventure at last. The Caribbean's warm waters and tropical islands fulfill nearly all her dreams. When an excursion to visit another island with a naturalist expedition is interrupted by a storm, Hope is stranded on a desert island where she and her fellow castaways are dependent on a handsome stranger for their survival.

Alejandro Córdoba, trapped and alone on the island long enough to give up all dreams of rescue, knows nothing of what has become of his war-torn homeland or his family. When he finds the beautiful Miss Everly washed up on the shore, along with her companions, he does not know if their arrival is a blessing or a curse.

Hope's behavior, acting one way with Alejandro and another with her friends, further confuses things when they begin to fall in love. If rescue ever comes, will telling Alejandro the truth mean losing him forever?

Sometimes, I find myself enjoying an author through multiple books, and even though I've yet to be disappointed by them, I still find myself dreading when specific characters are set to have their own stories. Hope was one of those characters. She's impulsive, loud, and generally goes against society's expectations in search of adventure. I am not a Hope. I'm more of a Grace. So I wasn't sure if I was going to like reading from Hope's perspective. But I did. Of course, I did. Sally Britton hasn't let me down yet. Granted, Hope pretending to be Grace for much longer of the book than Grace pretended to be Hope may have helped me because she was trying to force herself to behave in a way that wouldn't give away her identity.

I loved this story. Hope longs for adventure. Her heart calls to it. So even though being shipwrecked isn't ideal, what grander adventure could she happen upon? And to top it all off, there's a handsome stranger who has been shipwrecked on the very same island a year longer than Hope. He rescues her from the water and at first, you believe they are the only two on the island. How romantic! But then they find some of Hope's other shipmates, the friend she was traveling with and her brother who happens to have designs on courting Grace.

Alejandro as I said was shipwrecked an entire year before Hope's same situation. He's learned the island. He's created a shelter, dug a well, and determined which foods are edible and which are not as well as which animals to steer clear of. Alejandro has also lost his hope of being rescued. Good thing Hope is the one delivered to his island.

Hope and Alejandro have a pretty instant connection, but their relationship is slow-building. There are a lot of imagined obstacles that prevent the couple from declaring their feelings or attempting to pursue anything sooner. Sometimes I got frustrated with them, because what if rescue never did come? I found more sense in them drawing closer rather than pulling away from each other. But this was a journey that kept me turning the pages to find out what was going to happen next.

Favorite quotes:

-Her heart pounded against her chest, her breath caught, and the world shifted to make room for something she instinctively knew would change her.

-Disasters could hardly be mended by losing control of one's emotions.

-How did her sister always maintain calm composure in the face of such stupidity?

-"My heart has not ceased to reach for yours."

-Hardship tended to make people act more themselves, not less.

Hope's story couldn't have been any better if you ask me. Sally Britton did a wonderful job crafting the perfect adventure and the perfect hero for our heroine. Hope didn't frustrate me in the way I expected. And Sally Britton had me turning pages and trying to stay up late to finish this book. I wanted to know all the answers to all the questions. Saving Miss Everly gets 4 Stars. Have you read Saving Miss Everly? What did you think? Let me know!

Discovering Grace - Review

Discovering Grace (Inglewood, # 2)

By: Sally Britton

Publication: August 13th 2019 by Blue Water Books

224 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction, Regency

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*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--To avoid being sent across an ocean, Grace switches places with her sister. The only man aware of their deception? A dear friend, and her secret love.

Grace Everly has no desire to set sail for the Caribbean, unlike her adventurous twin sister, Hope. Thanks to her sister’s irresponsible behavior and subsequent banning from the journey, Grace’s father decides to send her in Hope’s place. Desperate to remain where things are familiar, Grace proposes an unthinkable plan: that she and sister switch places. They only have to keep up the act long enough for Hope to board a ship in London. When the man who has stolen Grace’s heart learns of their secret, things get more complicated.

Jacob Barnes, soon to be ordained a vicar, has known Grace and Hope his whole life. Though close to both sisters, he’s dreamed of courting Hope for months. When he realizes his friends have switched places, putting the woman he admires out of his reach, he agrees to help with the subterfuge despite his bruised heart. As he watches Grace stumble in her acting abilities, attempting to change who she is, he realizes how much she means to him. But how does he tell her, without risking their friendship?

The deception puts their relationship to the test. As Grace hides her heart and her identity, Jacob examines his feelings, and no one in their community will be happy when the truth is discovered.

Ugh, you guys! I did it again! I am finally sitting down and forcing myself to write my review of Discovering Grace 20 days after I finished it. My real problem is that I don't currently have a regularly scheduled time to sit down at the computer. Real-life has been random and sporadic. And the time I used to sit down at the computer desk has been filled with painting and getting the house back in order from our renovation that feels like it will never end. Besides that, with Husband working from home now, I don't even have a computer desk that I feel like I have access to during the day. Oh well, I'm rambling at this point. Let's get into the book.

Grace is the quiet twin. She is subdued. She's happy to be behind the scenes and let her sister, Hope, take center stage. Hope prefers the attention and adventure anyway. Grace is often the mastermind and Hope gets to take the credit because she becomes the face of whatever Grace has thought up. Of course, up until now, that has never been a problem. Hope is impulsive and in your face. She's outspoken and loud. She's dramatic and fun. And when Hope gets the two sisters into a pickle with their father, Grace has to mastermind again. Hope was set to go on a trip with some friends and while Grace was heartbroken to be separated from her sister, she all out panics when their father told them they will be switching places.

On top of all that, there's Jacob. Grace has been in love with Jacob for as long as she can remember. The problem is that Jacob can only see Hope. And he's also heartbroken that Hope will be leaving. Jacob has always been close to both sisters, and he realizes where no one else does that Grace is pretending to be Hope. He's angry for a couple of reasons. 1) He wanted more time with Hope. Ultimately, he'd hope to make his interest known and perhaps begin courting Hope. And 2) He's going to become a clergyman, and he doesn't feel like he can support the deception that Grace is currently trying to pull off. Yet he won't leave her alone.

I don't feel like there's much to say beyond this that won't spoil the story. I found Grace and Jacob's journey to each other to be enjoyable. Jacob was a little slow on the upswing, but I appreciated the way Sally Britton handled the situation. I wasn't sure how I could be okay with the switch of affection from one sister to the other, but she wrote it in a way that made sense. And I loved that she didn't spell it out word for word for the reader. (**Highlight for spoiler: Basically, Jacob loved the aspects he thought were Hope's characteristics like her altruism while he disliked her tendency to buck societal norms. And the altruistic tendencies that he thought he loved about Hope were actually ideas that Grace had and executed herself while allowing Hope to be the face and get the credit. At the same time, Grace never struggled with chaffing against society like her sister.**end spoiler.)

Favorite quote:

-Pretending to be someone else was tiresome.

I'm a little torn about Hope's book. On the one hand, Sally Britton has done a great job of pulling me into her stories quickly and hooking me. On the other hand, I struggle with characters like Hope at times. Ultimately, I'm putting off reading her story for now because I have too many other review books that I need to read first.

I enjoyed Discovering Grace almost as much as I enjoyed Rescuing Lord Inglewood. Jacob and Grace had a nice journey to each other. Unrequited love can be a favorite trope. Discovering Grace gets 3.5 Stars. Have you read Discovering Grace? What did you think? Let me know!

Rescuing Lord Inglewood - Review

Rescuing Lord Inglewood (Inglewood, # 1)

By: Sally Britton

Publication: May 21st 2019 by Blue Water Books

232 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction, Romance, Regency

Source: Personal Kindle Library

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*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--All he wants is someone he can trust. All she wants is to belong. But when compromising circumstances force them together, do they have a chance at finding love? Silas Riley, Earl of Inglewood, is known among his peers in Parliament as the man made of stone. As a wealthy peer, there are few he trusts with his friendship. He guards his heart and his honor with vigilance, and when an accident nearly takes his life, he’s faced with a situation which threatens his standing in society.

Growing up in the shadow of her older brother, Esther Fox’s acceptance in his circle has been indifferent at best. So when she ends up in a compromising situation as she saves the life of her brother’s dearest friend, the Earl of Inglewood, she is forced to marry him to save her own reputation. Once again, she finds herself accepted only because of the situation, and not because she is truly wanted.

Neither are prepared for a loss which further complicates their new relationship. With such a difficult beginning, can they ever hope to understand one another, let alone find love?

Rescuing Lord Inglewood starts off exactly there...where Esther rescues Silas by pushing him out of the way of a falling statue. The gossip that flies around concerning this incident was a stretch for me. In some ways, I could see it happening. And in other ways, it was beyond comprehension that this particular situation could be turned into something scandalous. Regardless, Sally Britton did choose to include a second situation that truly forced the marriage.

Esther is used to being left behind. Her brother was five years older than her, and even though she constantly followed him around, he was also constantly telling her she couldn't come and play with him and his friends because she was either too small or too young. Her mother dies after remarrying. Esther's brother eventually enlists in the military and goes off to war leaving her to live with her stepbrother and his wife. More than anything, Esther feels like she's constantly being left behind by those she cares about while they go off to their own whims and adventures and left out of the planning and say over her own life. And her marriage to save her reputation isn't much different.

Silas is best friends with Esther's brother, Isaac. And he was one of the friends always running off and leaving Esther behind. Silas is used to taking charge. His parents died when he was young leaving him an earl. His grandmother came to take care of him, but he was often on his own and had to learn to take control. He has spent a lot of time keeping others away and guarding himself and his emotions.

Silas wouldn't exactly have chosen the way his and Esther's marriage happened, but he was the first one to be open to the idea. Esther and Silas had a slow build to their relationship starting with trust and moving brick by brick into creating something special. I liked how they had complicated issues to work through and not just being unsure about the other's feelings.

The side characters made for a fun extended family of sorts, and I can't wait to carry on the series and read about each one of them.

Favorite quotes:

-"For the moment," she said, her fingertips brushing the polished surface of the desk, "my sorrow is at rest. That is the way with mourning. It is like a thunderstorm, drenching you one moment and the next turning into a misty fog."

-"What matters is living without regrets, and loving without fear. I wish to make every moment we have together count."

Rescuing Lord Inglewood was my first book by Sally Britton. And now I want to read them all. I enjoyed the complexity of the story and the character's backgrounds and conflicts. I loved the slow-building romance between Esther and Silas. I even enjoyed the existing friendships as well as the newly formed ones. I can't wait to continue the series. Rescuing Lord Inglewood gets 4 Stars. Have you read Rescuing Lord Inglewood? What did you think? Let me know!