BOOK REVIEW: Valentines From Bath: A Bluestocking Belles Collection by Jessica Cale, Sherry Ewing, Jude Knight, Amy Quinton & Caroline Warfield

Valentine's Day may have come and gone for this year but Valentines from Bath is exactly what's needed if you're still craving some romance reading.

Synopsis

The Master of Ceremonies announces a great ball to be held on Valentine's Day in the Upper Assembly Rooms of Bath.

Ladies of the highest rank--and some who wish they were--scheme, prepare, and compete to make best use of the opportunity.

Dukes, earls, tradesmen, and the occasional charlatan
are alert to the possibilities as the event draws nigh.

But anything can happen in the magic of music and candlelight as couples dance, flirt, and open themselves to romantic possibilities. Problems and conflict may just fade away at a Valentine's Day Ball.

Beauty and the Bounder by Jessica Cale. He's a liar and a fortune-hunter... and exactly what she needs.

The Earl Takes a Wife by Sherry Ewing. It began with a memory, etched in the heart.

The Beast Next Door by Jude Knight. In all the assemblies and parties of Bath, no-one Charis met could ever match the beast next door.

The Umbrella Chronicles: John and Emma's Story by Amy Quinton. A serious-minded, scientific man of learning seeks a complex and chaotic practitioner of all things superstitious who will upend his well-ordered life.

Candles in the Dark by Caroline Warfield. Doug Marsh and his candles bring light to many, none more than Esther. They may light the Assembly Rooms even as his love lights her life.

My Thoughts

Five popular romance writers, known collectively as the Bluestocking Belles, have each penned a love story for this anthology showcasing their unique style and the reasons why they are considered to be some of today's most popular romance writers.

Each delightful story culminates with the magical Valentine's Day Ball in Bath and features couples that are seemingly mismatched whether due to their age, social class, physical appearance, beliefs or wealth.

There are the obligatory misunderstandings and denial of feelings that threaten each couple's happy-ever-after, but in true romance fashion these are overcome, some in ingenious ways.

I'm not a great fan of anthologies and rarely read them, but I was captivated from the start by Valentines from Bath and happily immersed myself in this book for a couple of hours. It was a pleasure to read. There is nothing better than a happy ending, or rather five, to lift the spirits and soothe you at the end of a hectic day in real life. Fans of Regency romances will find this appealing and hopefully will enjoy it as much as I did.

Thank you to Caroline Warfield for a complimentary copy of this book.