Top Ten Books To Read if You Are in the Mood for Regency

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

As a general rule I'm not much of a Regency reader but I have found several that I really enjoy! Regency has been gaining popularity lately (mainly due to Downton Abbey) so I thought I'd share some of my favorites with you!

#1. The Maid of Fairbourne Hall by Julie Klassen

#2. The Painter's Daughter by Julie Klassen
(I have loved every Julie Klassen I've read but these are my favorites!)

#3. A Noble Masquerade by Kristi Ann Hunter

#4. Whispers on the Moors Series by Sarah E. Ladd

#5. The Ransome Trilogy by Kaye Dacus

#6. Forgotten Castles Series by Jamie Carie

#7. The Daughters of Bainbridge House Series by Laurie Alice Eakes

#8. The English Garden Series by Lori Wick

Some Bonus Edwardian Faves!

Ladies of the Manor Series by Roseanna M. White

Edwardian Brides Series by Carrie Turansky

The Forgiven Duke by Jamie Carie

About the Book

Tethered by her impulsive promise to marry Lord John Lemon - the path of least resistance - Alexandria Featherstone sets off toward Iceland in search of her parents with a leaden heart. A glimpse of her guardian, the Duke of St. Easton - the path less traveled by - on Dublin’s shore still haunts her.
Will he come after her? Will he drag her back to London, quelling her mission to rescue her treasure-seeking parents, or might he decide to throw caution to the wind and choose Foy Pour Devoir: “Faith for Duty,” the St. Easton motto. The Featherstone motto Valens et Volens: “Willing and Able,” beats in her heart and thrums through her veins. She will find her parents and find their love, no matter the cost.
The powerful yet wing-clipped Duke of St. Easton has never known the challenge that has become his life since hearing his ward’s name. Alexandria Featherstone will be the life or the death of him. Only time and God’s plan will reveal just how much this man can endure for the prize of love.


My Thoughts

The way book one in this series, The Guardian Duke, ended made me want to immediately start this one. I was not disappointed. I loved the fact that this book was set mostly in Iceland which is an uncommonly used country. This author has a knack for the interesting and unexpected as well as an ability to keep her main characters apart for ages. Gabriel and Alex were once again rarely in the same place, except toward the end. And while this had to happen for the plot to work, it's kinda annoying not to be able to watch the hero and heroine interact. The fact that Gabriel's hearing still fluctuated added layers to the story and really helped give a good look at his emotions. All in all it was another great story from Jamie Carie that left me anxious to read book three, A Duke's Promise



About the Author
Jamie Carie is the author of Snow Angel, a ForeWord magazine Romance Book of the Year winner, USA Book News National “Best Books 2007” Awards winner, and 2008 RITA Awards® Best First Book finalist. Her third novel, Wind Dancer, was a 2010 Indiana State Library Best Books of Indiana finalist. She lives with her husband and three children.

I received a free ebook copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Guardian Duke by Jamie Carie

About the Book
The Guardian Duke is award-winning novelist Jamie Carie’s most exciting story yet, a uniquely arranged Regency-era romantic adventure where hero and heroine know each other through written letters but have yet to meet.
Gabriel, the Duke of St. Easton, is ordered by the King to take guardianship over Lady Alexandria Featherstone whose parents are presumed dead after failing to return from a high profile treasure hunt. But Alexandria ignores this royal reassignment, believing her parents are still alive and duly following clues that may lead to their whereabouts. Gabriel, pressured by what are actually the King’s ulterior motives, pursues her across windswept England and the rolling green hills of Ireland but is always one step behind.
When they do meet, the search for earthly treasure will pale in comparison to what God has planned for both of them.

My Thoughts
I really enjoyed this first book in The Forgotten Castles Series! The author had intriguing ideas and executed them pretty well. There were some very different unique aspect of this book that ended up being cool. First off the whole idea of having the Duke go deaf. Genius! It gave so many more layers to the story and helped pull of the second interesting thing. Which was not having the characters meet officially. Gabriel and Alexandria went an entire 320 pages with one dance not knowing who each other was and one far of glimpse. To be able to do this and still keep the readers rooting for the couple is a difficult task but Jamie Carie seemed to handle it with ease. I loved Gabriel's determination to keep her safe at all costs and Alexandria's unwavering belief that her parents are still alive. I also really like the fact that a chunk of this book was set in the beautiful country of Ireland. Oh and I can't help but give a shout out to Montague the father-like admiral who was quick to take Alex under his wing, and to Baylor the blundering giant with a heart of gold! All that to say this was a great book that left me eager to pick up Book 2: The Forgiven Duke!

About the Author
Jamie Carie is the author of Snow Angel, a ForeWord magazine Romance Book of the Year winner, USA Book News National “Best Books 2007” Awards winner, and 2008 RITA Awards® Best First Book finalist. Her third novel, Wind Dancer, was a 2010 Indiana State Library Best Books of Indiana finalist. She lives with her husband and three children.

I received a free ebook copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.