Customer Reviews

The Best Intentions

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Rejoice--Candice Hern is back with her best one yet!

Miles Prescott, Earl of Strickland, always welcomes his sister Winifred for visits home to Epping Hall, but this time, in addition to her husband and sons, she is also bringing along two distant cousins: one young lady just about to make her debut, and her chaperone, a widow. Miles knows that whatever matchmaking plans Winifred has won't be easy to thwart. He asks his friend and neighbor, Joseph Wetherby, to also join them to make the numbers even. Miles, a widower, knows that he should remarry to provide his daughters with a mother and also to try to beget an heir, but a chit just out of the schoolroom isn't what he had in mind--perhaps the widowed chaperone...?

Hannah Fairbanks does not want a Season in London, nor to become a lady. Though she is nearly twenty, she is interested only in her studies of ancient architecture. The only reason she agrees to go to Epping Hall is to visit the nearby St. Biddulph's, a church built in Saxon times. She will never be a charming beauty like her older sister Charlotte and she doesn't wish to marry, so why must she learn all those rules of proper behavior--why can't she just be herself?

Hannah steals the show with her innocent, delightful enthusiasm for historic buildings, keeping children amused, and making people smile. It is a joy to join her on this leg of her journey of self-discovery. The romances (yes, more than one) build slowly, but build they do in sometimes surprising ways. Ms. Hern has a special knack for creating a marvelous blend of incredibly true-to-life, sympathetic characters; touching scenes and emotion; and subtle humor. THE BEST INTENTIONS will send Candice Hern to the top of the Regency charts.

Kimberly Borrowdale Under the Covers Book Reviews

Lady Winifred Tyndall sends a letter to her brother the Earl of Strickland inofrming him of her plans to visit with him with her children and her husband's two cousins. Miles Prescott's, Earl of Strickland, is in his early 30's widowed with two daughters and imediately senses his sisters plans to wed him off to one of them.

The very proper Lady Charlotte Abingodon is a widow and is accompanied by her nineteen year old sister Miss Hannah Fairbanks. Miss Fairbanks is fun, bookish and interested in architecture and is very different from her stuffy and ladylike sister. The Earl must choose which of the sisters would be the best mother for his daughters and then realizes his own heart in the process.

Came across her books as it was a recommendation on my kindle. Its a good regency story with clean romance(only passionate kisses)

I won't even try to write a better review, I couldn't improve on what's been written. I just wanted to add my vote for a great book with an incredible price. Best 99¢ book I have yet seen!

Candice Hern has written a feel-good Regency romance with likeable characters--Hannah Fairbanks who just wants to be herself and Miles Prescott who reluctantly needs to remarry to provide a mother for his daughters. It takes a while for these two to realize that they belong together.
The story is told sweetly and with a touch of humor.

How many of us have literally stumbled across the man of our dreams? or, fallen prostrate at his feet? or never been looking the epitome of a pretty woman whenever we chanced to meet? All of that and more happens to our heroine. The lovely Miss Hannah Fairbanks is more interested in studying the local Saxon period architecture than marrying. And what happens? The handsome and wealthy hero, he has two beautiful little daughters, falls in love and asks her, not her picture perfect sister, to marry him. Lucky Duck! Here's the thing though. Hannah had to actually get out of the house in order to meet her knight in shining armor. And you know what else? He fell in love with her true self, not the perfect debutante her sister wanted her to portray. This was a delightful read. I wasn't ready for it to end.

This is a very fine example of Regency romance.

The earl, after recovering from the death of his beloved wife, is resigned to the idea of looking for a new wife to provide a mother for his two small daughters. His interfering, matchmaking sister arrives with Charlotte, a beautiful widow, and her clumsy, outspoken younger half-sister, Hannah. Although Miles, the earl, is irritated with the whole arrangement, preferring to find his own bride, he considers that it makes little difference as he will remarry only to have a mother for his children and begins to court Charlotte.

Charlotte has almost given up on trying to turn Hannah into a lady fit for marriage. Hannah prefers to spend her time poking around in old churches and has no interest in husband-hunting.

All of the characters are strongly delineated. They are complete and emotional. The dialogue is concise and interesting. Chuckles are scattered throughout.

If you haven't read this story on paper, be sure to read the e-book.

I couldn't wait to start reading this book. The Earl of Strickland made his first appearance in The Garden Foley and I was disappointed that he didn't get his women. Half-way through it, I wanted to choke him. I knew which sister he needed and he wasn't co-operating with my wishes at all.
Lesson for you - a book is good, when you want to choke someone that is non-existent, even though you like him.
Dont miss this one.

The Earl needs a mother for his daughters. Everyone including Charlotte, thinks that Charlotte would be the perfect wife. She has a younger sister that is considered to be awkward & immature. Charlotte is forever trying to change her sister Hannah, because she fears no one would ever offer to marry her as she is. Even Hannah is not expecting to ever be wed. She falls out of the carriage at the Earl's feet to start with, but watch how things take a turn in this book. I was a little surprised at first. I was sure I knew where this story was heading, but found out I was wrong. It is a good book, though. Worth the time to read it, & watch the changes go into effect. Charlotte is not as sophisticated as she puts on to be. I think you will enjoy this book.

I haven't read Candace Hern before, but this is a sweet and amusing little book. It's well written, and the author clearly knows her history, which is a nice change from the majority of regency romances written today. The characters are not terribly complex, but neither is the plot a complete cliche, and if you don't mind your romances without sex, reading it is an easy and pleasurable way to spend a couple of hours.

I just want to say what a delightful read this was! I have been on the hunt for new authors or better yet authors I was not familiar with but I enjoyed and have a nice back list, Ms Hern fit that criteria.

You don't have to have read the other book in this series to thoroughly enjoy these characters. There are lovely twists of the unexpected here, the characters are well developed and fun to be with. Enjoy a romp with a lovely Regency writer. I won't even address the 1 star review, Ms Hern's writing does remind me of a modern Georgette Heyer. If I have one complaint it would be that the story ended too soon. I can't wait to read the larger stand alone book from Ms Hern.

At this price point it is well worth the money to find a new author or better yet revisit an author you enjoyed. Happy reading now.