Book Description:
After two failed social seasons, her family may think the third time will be a charm, but Emmeline Lockhart just wants to survive with her dignity (and singleness) intact. She thought she’d found her perfect match in Simon Reeves–charming, handsome, a veritable hero from a novel–until he vanished from her life without so much as a “farewell” or “my deepest regrets” (or even a vague apology scribbled on the back of a calling card). Lesson learned: never fall for a man known for his charm.
Fortunately, and unlike many of the other eligible young ladies of the ton, Emmeline has no need for a husband–because she’s already found success in her scandalous (and very anonymous) profession as an author. Why bother with matrimony when she can make her own fortune and write men exactly the way she wants them?
But fate–or the misfortune of Simon’s reckless patriarchs–has other plans. Simon’s once-proud estate is in shambles, his family fortune has been gambled away, and the younger impressionable siblings in his care are running wild across his estate (and possibly across all of England). Simon is in desperate need of a wealthy, prestigious bride . . . and a friend.
Emmeline may not fit the role of heiress, but she can certainly be a friend. Just a friend. She’ll help him find a suitable match, ensure his reputation remains intact, and keep things strictly platonic–no matter how dangerously appealing his new-and-improved sincerity and regret may be.
There’s just one small problem: the undeniable chemistry that still smolders between them. Can Emme play matchmaker for the man she’s still in love with without losing her heart all over again? And is it possible that some love stories–especially the messy, inconvenient, impossible ones–are worthy of a rewrite?
Filled with lively banter, adorable children, a frog named Blast, and swoony kisses, Sense and Suitability is the sweet Regency romance you’ve been looking for. Basham brings her signature humor to the Regency era where social strictures keep the tension tight in this second-chance, enemies-to-lovers romance.
Narelle’s Thoughts:
I enjoyed reading Sense and Suitability, a charming Jane Austen inspired romantic comedy set in Regency England. Emme is a published gothic romance author who’s hiding her identity to avoid the scandal associated with being a female fiction author.
Two years earlier, Emme’s eligible suitor from her first season abandoned her at the ball on the evening he’d promised to propose. Emme has tried to forget about Simon and she’s dealing the hilarious antics of her matchmaking aunt who’s determined to find Emme a suitable husband.
Simon left Emme behind at the ball when his life took a drastic turn that led to him inheriting the viscount title and lands from his cousin. Simon’s financial situation is challenging and his aunt has a proposed a solution. A suitable marriage would provide the finances to help Simon restore the family estate and provide for his orphaned and wayward younger siblings.
Simon returns to his ancestral home in Emme’s town. They’re drawn to each other, despite their disastrous relationship history and the impossibility of marriage and a future together. A delightful romance unfolds that includes many LOL moments, often involving the schemes of Simon’s younger siblings.
I loved the quirky side characters and how ‘Sense and Sensibility’ novel, being a contemporary romance written by an anonymous author at that time, played an integral role in the story that includes forgiveness themes. I recommend Sense and Suitability to regency romance readers who like second chances and enemies to love romcoms with matchmaking aunts, adorable children, Jane Austen inspired story elements, and relevant faith threads in the story.
Many thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.
