Falling For Mr. Townsbridge

Sweet and Silly Regency Romance This is an unusual Regency romance because it features an upstairs/downstairs couple. When the third son of a viscount comes home from helping diplomats in Lisbon, he is surprised by the better food quality at home and then swiftly becomes enamored of the cook herself. She's French and has been taught how to cook and bake by her grandfather who was a chef at a fancy house in France. They engage in some fun antics (like the kitchen scene), and the hero comes to realize that he truly enjoys his time with her and feels like he can be himself. But the social structure is certainly against marriage between the nobility and servants. She knows it is hopeless as well, yet they are both very attracted to each other. The little moments between them were often silly and sweet, and they certainly kept me reading. I really enjoyed this story. It is relatively low angst, or at least, the more angsty moments resolved rather quickly. SPOILER The only thing I had a hard time believing was how quickly and easily everyone in his family accepted their relationship. After the hero and heroine struggled so mightily with their feelings and what to do about them, it felt like a bit of a denouement to have the family be so supportive so fast. END SPOILER By the way, if you prefer your romances to be more sweet than steamy, it is relatively sweet with only kisses before the end. There is one steamy scene at the end of their wedding night that you could skip if you prefer not to read those kinds of scenes, although it was a nice one that fit the characters. All in all, I found this simply delightful. I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.

She has a dream but… A young woman who is an excellent cook has a dream but also secrets and this is Eloise's story. William a bit of a jerk at times also played a major part in Eloise’s life. This charming tale was so entertaining with wonderful interaction between Eloise and William. Athena is a character I would love to meet in real life she was wonderful. This quick tale will put a smile on your face I am happy to recommend it. I did receive a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.

Sophie Barnes has written a 5-star book. William has just gotten back home and is told by his sister Athena that their mother has hired a new cook and that he will be surprised with her cooking. Once he taste the food he wants to meet the new cook. Eloise is down in the kitchen getting her list ready for the next day when Williams comes into the kitchen. She is not what William was expecting and there was an instant attraction to her. When he tells his brothers Charles and James about her, they tell him to leave her alone. If they are even seen talking to each other, their class would think that she was him mistress. He has tried to stay away from her but he can't. Eloise gets a letter telling her that her grandfather is sick and may not make it and William hears her crying to his sister Athena. William tells her that she must go to see him. She gets to her home in France just in time and she is able to talk to him before he passes away. The time she is gone, William decides to buy a house after hearing about how Eloise wants to open her own cooking school. When he gets home one night, his mother is happy and he finds out that Eloise is back. The next morning her waits for her to go to the market and he goes with her and after getting what she needs he asks her to let him show her something. He takes her to the house he bought and when he tells her his plan she rejects it and him. She goes back to his mothers and gives notice as of that moment and she leaves. When William gets there he is told that Eloise is gone. His mother has talked to Athena and finds out that Eloise and William had been talking and now his mother wants to talk to him. Once he tells her and Athena what he said to her, they both let him have it. He spends the next two weeks looking for her but she is nowhere to be found. His brother Charles, tells him that he and his wife has been invited to a house party and wanted to know if he would like to go. He agrees to go but once there wished he had not. He is surprised when he taste the first course, it tastes just like Eloise's cooking. He goes down to the kitchen and finds her there. She tells one of the other employees to escort Mr. Townsbridge back upstairs but William tells her that he has been looking for her for the last two weeks and that he messed up. William tells Eloise how he feels and he hopes that she will give him another chance. Can William get Eloise to forgive him for the things he said to her and give him another chance? Will Eloise be able to get past the social difference between her and William and stay with William? This was a wonderful short story and I would recommend it to anyone. I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.