Customer Reviews

It Happened One Season

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A reclusive former soldier, the younger brother of a titled lord, must marry in order to ensure the succession of his family line. The heroine is shy and/or unattractive and has never had a suitor. These are the underlying threads in the four stories you'll find that It Happened One Season revolve around. The fun part - each author uses this thread and the stories they weave are all so very unique and different from one another.

The Seduction of Sebastian Trantor by Stephanie Laurens - Sebastian Trantor has no choice but to find himself a wife. His older brother has just had his fifth daughter and he knows that he is the only one that can ensure the succession of the family line. When he meets Tabitha Makepeace she is trying to break into a desk at a ball that they are both attending. He immediately knows that the feisty and clever young lady is "wife material". He just has to convince her of that.

Only Love by Mary Balogh - Cleo Pritchard is making the best out of her widowhood. Her belated husband was not a very nice man and she has found that, although she is alone, she can live with that. Plus, there is always the thought of a memorable kiss she shared years ago with Major Jack Gilchrist to keep her warm at night. When by chance Cleo bumps into Jack at a ball, she fibs, giving him the impression that she is content with her life. Jack, on the other hand, can't stop thinking about Cleo and that kiss they shared. Knowing that he must find a wife, he tries to woo Cleo into that role, but Cleo knows that Jack only wants an heir and she is not sure that she can have children. It will be up to Jack to convince Cleo that his feelings for her are true and an heir is the least of his worries.

Hope Springs Eternal by Jacquie D'Alessandro - Alec Trentwell is still plagued by guilt over the death of Edward Markham. In fact, he feels that to make up for it, he must take care of Edward's sister, Penelope. But Penelope is nothing like what Alec imagined. She is a beautiful woman, an artist surrounded by scandal and in dire need of funds. Since she refuses his charity, Alec commissions her to paint his portrait, but when she is threatened by more scandal and ruin he does the only thing a gentleman would.. he proposes. But how will she feel about him once she learns the part that Alec played in her brother's death?

Fate Strikes a Bargain by Candice Hern - Nathaniel Beckwith is in no mood to court the young ladies and their mama's in order to find himself a bride... thus he finds himself hiding behind a strategically-placed orange tree. But to his surprise, he meets Philippa Reynolds... also hiding behind said orange tree. Phillippa is there for different reasons... she has a disability that renders her unable to walk or dance without a severe limp. Nat can't help but find himself enchanted by her friendly and kind demeanor... so he finds himself striking a bargain... an engagement.

I thought the premise of these stories was so fun. I was interested in seeing if these authors would be able to use the same plot points and come up with different stories and I was not disappointed. These stories could not be any more different. I think out of the four, Fate Strikes a Bargain, was my favorite. I loved the sweet tale of a handicapped heroine and her brave hero. I also enjoyed the introduction to mostly all new authors - since I had only read Mary Balogh in the past.

These four stories will leave you feeling satisfied with their enchanting heroes, delightful heroines and requisite happy ever afters. Fans of historical romance will rejoice over this wonderful anthology.

"The Seduction of Sebastian Tranter" by Stephanie Laurens. Military code breaker Sebastian sneaks into a library to escape the gala. Tabitha enters the library mumbling about a blackmailer's letters. Sebastian says it is a code and offers to help her catch a rat, but must pretend an engagement that he plans to make real.

"Only Love" by Mary Balogh. Cleo the Widow and Jack the Major met before the war and meet again after. His brother orders Jack to marry in order to sire the male heir he cannot. Jack wants Cleo, but she agrees to be his mistress until she proves whether she can carry a child.

"Hope Springs Eternal" by Jacquie D'Alessandro. Alex has vowed to care for Penelope, whose brother died under his command. He locates her after a scandalous work she created leaves her with her reputation tattered. He offers marriage, but needs to tell her the truth about her brother.

"Fate Strikes a Bargain" by Candice Hern. Having just returned from the war, Nathanial is told by his brother to marry and sire children so the title remains in the family. He meets Phillippa who has a severe limp and is overly protected by her loving caring family. Nathanial has his own issues from the war that haunts him, but proposes marriage.

Using the same historical theme of second son bachelors returning from the war needing to sire heirs as the title older brother has no male offspring; It Happened One Season is a wonderful collection with four engaging diverse renditions to the premise. Ironically the females make each tale as they are not diamonds to the Ton but are to the men who love them.

Harriet Klausner

I enjoyed the first anthology from these authors, It Happened One Night, and was so looking forward to this one that I bought it the day it was published. Sadly, I was pretty disappointed. None of the stories are truly bad, but none of them are truly great. I expected something better from these authors, all of whom I read frequently.

The publishers asked readers what they wanted to read (love that idea!), and the plots for the four stories are virtually identical - wounded soldier has to get married for the family's sake and finds a woman who doesn't recognize her own worth to be his bride. I really like that plot, but it reading it over four times got pretty boring. It Happened One Night asked each author to write on the same theme, but the plot structure there was much less stringent - single woman stuck at a hotel on a snowy evening. Each author was able to work their own angle on that theme in a way they weren't on this one.

The best of the bunch was Balogh's 'Only Love,' but it was pretty much just a mash-up of two of her novels - Simply Love and Irresistible (Berkley Sensation Historical Romance), both of which were done better.

If you haven't read It Happened One Night, go for that one and skip this. And if you have read that one and were anticipating It Happened One Season the way I was...well, I guess we'll have to wait till each of these authors publishes their next full-length novel.

A reclusive former soldier, the younger brother of a titled lord, must marry in order to ensure the succession of his family line. A shy or unattractive heroine who has never had a suitor. What do these plot points have in common? They were picked by readers to be the basis for the four stories in It Happened One Season. Four talented voices in historical romance have reunited to take on taken on the challenge of creating unique novellas using these elements.


"The Seduction of Sebastian Trantor" by Stephanie Laurens
After his fifth niece is born, Sebastian Trantor agrees to marry and beget himself an heir. The only problem? He can't seem to find a tolerable prospective bride. Until one night at a ball he catches Tabitha Makepeace breaking into a desk in their host's library. Tabitha's headstrong nature and determination to catch a blackmailer targeting her friends captures Sebastian's attention. And when the two are caught in the library, Sebastian saves Tabitha's reputation by claiming they're engaged. Though he tells Tabitha their "engagement" will only last while he helps her catch the blackmailer, in truth, Sebastian is sure that Tabitha is the perfect bride for him. He just has to convince her of that.

Of all the stories in the anthology, "The Seduction of Sebastian Trantor" feels the most blatantly constructed, as if the elements of the common plot were listed to be taken care of. However, once Sebastian and Tabitha's story hits its stride, the awkwardness of the setup vanishes and a fun Regency romp is left in its stead. Tabitha is endearingly quirky and Sebastian both seductive and scholarly. They make a good team as they hunt down the blackmailer and they fit equally well as a couple. While there's a bit of an awkward start to "The Seduction of Sebastian Trantor," in the end Stephanie Laurens delivers her usual entertaining brand of romance.


"Only Love" by Mary Balogh
Cleo Pritchard has been married and widowed, but she's never truly had a lover or a suitor. In fact, the only man who has ever truly "seen" her was Major Jack Gilchrist. But of course, though Cleo treasures the memory of her one brief glimpse of love, she has no delusions that Jack even remembers her.

Jack may not have remembered Cleo until he sees her once more, but once he does he can't get his mind off of her. Cleo seems so content with her life and Jack knows he should be courting some young debutante whom he can wed and bed...yet the only woman he wants is Cleo. Cleo, however, doesn't want to marry him when his sole reason for marriage is to produce an heir and she's not certain she can have children. Can Jack convince her that, no matter what, Cleo is the bride for him?

Mary Balogh had me sighing from the first page of "Only Love." Cleo is the embodiment of the average woman - one who isn't beautiful or bold or extraordinary - and her realistic take on her own life both tugged at my heartstrings and helped me become invested in her story. It's impossible not to fall into "Only Love," for you want to see Cleo come out of her shell a bit and find happiness. Jack, who is handsome and kind, is just the man to make Cleo happy. He sees the beauty in her and appreciates Cleo for all that she is. How can you resist a hero like that? By turns sweet and softly sensual, "Only Love" is a treat to read.


"Hope Springs Eternal" by Jacquie D'Alessandro
Alec Trentwell is riddled with guilt over the death of Edward Markham. As such, he is determined to keep watch over Edward's sister, Penelope. The beautiful artist is everything Alec desires and, most importantly, she seems to be desperately in need of funds. Since she won't take charity, Alec commissions her to paint his portrait. His plan hits a snag when scandal threatens to ruin Penelope. Since Alec must wed anyway, he does the one thing he can to solve her plan and his: he proposes. But what will happen when Penelope learns of the role Alec played in her brother's death?

Likeable protagonists bring life to "Hope Springs Eternal." Penelope is an endearing, straightforward heroine that seems almost tailor-made to suit Alec, the tortured soul hero. While I liked these two together, there was a lot of buildup to Alec telling Penelope how her brother died. Yet, almost from the first it's clear to readers that Alec's guilt is misplaced. This doesn't invalidate his feelings, but it does lessen the impact of "Hope Springs Eternal." I liked "Hope Springs Eternal," but something about the story just felt a touch short for me.


"Fate Strikes a Bargain" by Candice Hern
Nathaniel Beckwith has no desire to be out and about in society. Unfortunately, he has to find a suitable wife, which means the retired soldier must brush off his rusty manners and brave the Marriage Mart. Fate - and a strategically-placed orange tree - looks kindly on Nat when he meets the lovely Philippa Reynolds. With a disability that leaves her unable to dance or walk without a pronounced limp, Philippa is a perpetual wallflower. She also happens to be clever and kind, both traits which attract Nat immediately. He doesn't want to deal with the insanity that is courting a girl of the ton and she has no suitors in sight. What better solution can there be than an engagement between the pair?

If I were pressed to pick a favorite story in this anthology, "Fate Strikes a Bargain" would win, hands-down. Candice Hern charmed me from the very first page with the dynamic between Philippa and Nat. Both of them are part and yet apart from the rest of society, a fact which helps them bond rather quickly. Where most people only see Nat's military career and the fact that his son will one day be an earl, Philipa sees the man himself. Nat, too, sees beyond the surface. In Philippa's case, almost everybody - including those that love her best - sees only her disability. Nat sees her, listens to her, and, quite naturally, falls for her. I confess, Ms. Hern made me both smile and positively melt with their romance and I finished "Fate Strikes a Bargain" an incredibly satisfied reader.


Can four different authors take the same plot elements and create four very different stories? Yes. The stories by Mses. Laurens, Balogh, D'Alessandro, and Hern are all unique, entertaining tales. It Happened One Season is a wonderful anthology and fans of historical romance are sure to be delighted by this book.

Shayna
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

I bought the anthology because I'm a Mary Balogh fan but Jacquie d'Allessandro's was the best one by far.

Stephanie Laurens tale was too tall - the heroine's 'Sisterhood', the 'mission' all a bit far fetched. The heroine is described as being so beautiful you don't really understand why she is still 'on the shelf' after however many seasons and all in all it was a story I skimmed.

Mary Balogh's Only Love was a bit of a combination of some of her longer books as one of the other reviewers points out but it was quite sweet and well told. Not very memorable and not that satisfactory.

My favourite of the four was the story by Jacquie d'Alessandro in which the heroine is an artist and sister of the Hero's sergeant who died at Waterloo. The Hero feels responsible for her brothers death and looks her up to find that she is in desperate straights having lost her job through no fault of her own. The reason I liked this story is that they get married early on and you see their married relationship develop before the slight complication at the end. It was a sweet tale and more realistic that some of the others and well told.

Candice Hern's version was alright. The Hero's battle trauma was not very evident but ther heroine's disability was well dealt with.

The plot line that they were given was a bit too restrictive to allow each to vary too much in my view and it did make the stories rather repetitive. I thought 'It Happened One Night' which was a previous anthology by the same four authors worked better and seemed to give each author more scope for variation so you didn't end up with four similar stories told in slightly different ways. I think that's why I enjoyed J d'A's version most this time - partly because it was the most different of the four.

I reviewed this book for Romance Reader At Heart.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:


The first anthology from these amazing ladies, IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT was so good that I was eagerly awaiting their second endeavor with IT HAPPENED ONE SEASON. With the exception of Ms. D'Alessandro, all the other authors are on my keeper shelf, and I had very high expectations, which, I have to be honest, were met.

As the blurb states, this book offers four different stories with the same plot line. All four of the heroes are military men, while our heroines are wallflowers and have been firmly `on the shelf'. Since this is an anthology, I've decided to read `Fate Strikes a Bargain' first, then from there on I went to `Only Love', followed by `The Seduction of Sebastian Trantor', leaving `Hope Springs Eternal' for last, as I'm not familiar with the author. As of right now, I intend to correct that fact and familiarize myself with said author because I truly loved her contribution to this book.

In `Fate Strikes a Bargain', Candice Hern gives us Nathaniel Beckwith and Phillippa Reynolds. They meet while both are in hiding from the throng at a ball. It doesn't take Nat long to realize that this charming, if not dazzling, woman is all that he needs in a wife, so he proposes to her on the spot, even after she tells him of her disability, a pronounced limp. And while they strike a bargain, it's a bit more difficult convincing their respective families to go along with them, so they agree to court for the remainder of the Season, just to appease their family.

I loved these two, and I wished the story was longer so that we'd learn more of Nat and his Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Philippa's coping with her disability. However, for a short story, Ms. Hern has yet outdone herself. I thoroughly enjoyed this well told, warm and compelling love story.

Mary Balogh's `Only Love' was so good, it made me cry. Our hero in this tale is Major Jack Gilchrist, and our heroine Cleo Pritchard, a war widow of unremarkable looks. Both are surprised and delighted to encounter each other at a ball as they've had a previous encounter long ago. Cleo's husband was his commanding officer, and Jack was the one to break the sad news of her husband's passing. During that brief moment of despair, they shared a kiss, which neither ever forgot.

Jack, aware that he has to wed as soon as possible, decides to propose to her the day after the ball.
Our heroine, being a practical person, has some doubts, so she proposes a counter offer of her own to our hero. She'll accept his proposal on one condition only: if, by the end of the Season, it's proven that she can conceive and give him an heir.

What's a man to do when given such a proposal? Read this sweet love story in which Ms. Balogh's superb writing held me spellbound from the beginning to the end.

`The Seduction of Sebastian Trantor' was Stephanie Laurens' turn in introducing us to her own war hero, Sebastian Trantor, code breaker during the wars. As with the other hero's, Sebastian must marry posthaste to prevent his cousin "Mad Freddie" from inheriting.

Tabitha Makepeace has a mystery to solve in order to capture a blackmailer. Nothing will deter this young lady, not even a locked door of a library at a ball she's attending. And that's how she comes face-to-face with our hero, who is himself hiding in the same library. Since the evidence she uncovers is in code, Sebastian offers her his services; but they get discovered, and in order to save her reputation, Sebastian proposes to her on the spot and in front of witnesses. Both are in accord and are planning to use their sham of `betrothal' as cover while in hot pursuit of the bad guys.

As usual, Ms. Laurens' heroine is sharp and witty, and we get drawn into a story of mystery and intrigue while rooting for our hero as he tries to convince his lady love that she's the perfect wife material for him.

And now we come to the last story, `Hope Springs Eternal' by Jacquie D'Alessandro.

Captain Alec Trentwell is a man on a mission to tell the truth of the death of Edward Markham, our heroine's brother. He was her brother's commander, and eaten with guilt, feels that in voicing the truth and his part in it, he will be set free. What our hero's not counting on is the lust that he begins to feel towards our unassuming heroine.

Penelope Markham is on a verge of destitution as she finds herself fired from her governess position. She's also an aspiring artist, with no prospects in sight because of a scandal that happened in Italy as she attempted to sculpt a nude of a man. This is where our hero Alec comes in and attempts to come clean; but instead, guilt and attraction kicks in, so he offers her a commission to paint his portrait instead. That same night, however, while attending a ball in his honor, our hero feels compelled to offer for her hand, and she accepts.

I loved the way this story developed, and I fell in love with Ms. D'Alessandro's writing. Every page was filled with feeling, and you just couldn't help but be drawn to Alec and Penelope's tale of conflict and true love.

While we found all four couples share the same fate, we're given four unique stories of happily-ever-after that were well-written and compelling. All four couples were very likeable, and I would be hard-pressed to choose a favorite one. I liked them all equally.

Each tale was well-written with three-dimensional characters, steady pacing, and I found them each unique in their own way. All of them could well stand on their own, and I would have gladly read them if they each had a book of their own.

Melanie

This book is the result of a competition whereby fans of the four authors (Stephanie Laurens, Mary Balogh, Jacquie D'Alessandro and Candice Hern) were encouraged to submit ideas for a storyline which each author would use for a short story. The winning storyline was: the hero, a younger brother of a titled lord, had a career in the army but has lived as a recluse since returning from the war with France. The heroine is shy or unattractive and, after many Seasons, has never had a suitor. The hero's brother has only daughters and asks his brother to marry to try to ensure the succession.

This plot summary is developed by all four authors into different stories, all ending happily of course.

Stephanie Laurens' 'The Seduction of Sebastian Trantor' used the familiar theme of a fake engagement to divert attention from a potentially scandalous scene. Mary Balogh's 'Only Love' felt rather familiar - with elements of her books 'Irresistible' and 'More than a Mistress' woven together in a story of a widow receiving a second chance at love (although apparently doing her utmost to scupper the opportunity!). Jacquie D'Alessandro's 'Hope Springs Eternal' has a young lady whose rather racy artwork has caused her to be cut by polite society finding love with her deceased brother's commanding officer - a man with secrets. Candice Hern's story, 'Fate strikes a bargain', featured a disabled young lady who hasn't ever found a suitor but who may be just the thing for a retired soldier suffering mental traumas from Waterloo.

All four stories were enjoyable but I particularly liked Candice Hern's contribution. Her heroine, the disabled Philippa Reynolds, was extremely well written and the way in which she deals with her disability was impressive. Perhaps the story glossed over some of the hero's mental problems - he says he can be incredibly ratty and grumpy, but we don't really see that - but I felt this story rounded off the book very well. As usual with modern Regencies there are some errors of dialogue but nothing too appalling for this picky reader. This is a book worth picking up for light and enjoyable reads.

It Happened One Season is an Anthology with the same four Avon Historical Romance authors that wrote It Happened One Night in 2008. In It Happened One Night, there was a common theme that the authors Stephanie Laurens, Mary Balogh, Jacquie D'Alessandro and Candice Hern created. Each author wrote a story about a proper young lady free from society's constraints due to being stranded at a remote inn where she comes face to face with the one that ends up being her HEA (Happily Ever After). This time around, the publisher had readers suggest what themes they would most like to read. A winner was picked, and they had the above mentioned story lines as well as:

The hero must find a bride because and produce a male heir.

The big difference with It Happened One Season, versus It Happened One Night is that there are several requirements in the story while the previous one was more open. So for me, reading one story after another, felt too much of the same story at first. Once I put aside repetitiveness, I enjoyed the next three stories more. They were focused on the hero and heroine rather than the circumstances and changed my opinion of the book. Since these four authors are all favorites of mine, I rarely have any criticism. I'm a huge fan of historical romance so I'm never one to have much of any issues with what I read since I love a variety despite having favorite themes (beauty and the beast, marriage of convenience, etc). After a bit of a slow start with the first story, the rest pulled it up.

First up was The Seduction of Sebastian Trantor by Stephanie Laurens. Our hero Sebastian Montgomery Trantor, is very well read and indulges in hieroglyphics, which I believe is decoding hidden words through codes. He resides in an Abbey healing both physically and emotionally from the war. Sebastian's brother, Thomas, interrupts his serene life with a visit. Thomas and his wife have five children, all girls, so he tells Sebastian to marry so their cousin- a wastrel- won't inherit. Thus, Sebastian goes and attends the Season. Sebastian hides out in the library at a ball and discovers the heroine, Tabitha Makepeace searching a desk. Tabitha has discovered that engaged girls are being blackmailed and she is determined to discover who the culprit is. Sebastian and Tabitha end up working together to solve the crime. Sebastian figures a fictional engagement to Tabitha would benefit them both. He wouldn't have to attend any more balls and Tabitha could use his decoding skills to find who is blackmailing the ladies.

Tabitha feels she is a plain un-marriageable female on the shelf. Even though Sebastian lets her believe it's a fictional engagement, he plans to convince her that it would solve both their issues if they enter a marriage of convenience. Stephanie Laurens story was one of the longest in the anthology. It was adventurous and fun to read about the sleuthing. Although the HEA does happen, and they declare their love for one another, it didn't truly click with me- that spark that I usually can sense from the hero and heroine wasn't quite there. Beautiful wording by this author, very poetic, but that feeling of `real and breathtaking' when they came together just wasn't there for me.
Grade: C

The second story is Only Love by Mary Balogh. Cleopatra Pritchard, Cleo, is a young widow that was married for five years and widowed for five years. Now 27, she believes that she will never marry again, as no one wants or wanted her. Cleo also thinks she'll never have a lover. She was married to Colonel Aubrey Pritchard who was 23 years her senior. He didn't want to court her, and wanted a biddable, plain lady to minister to his needs and not be a distraction to his men. Cleo felt so plain and overweight at that time of her life, she would have married anyone. Cleo has matured and gained confidence in the past decade, but her manner and behavior can still be awkward especially around men. Cleo has spent the last 4 Seasons with no suitors. Just as Cleo is about to give up and focus on her volunteering she meets Jack Gilchrist.

Cleo had met Jack once before when she was married as he was in the Colonel's troop. Jack's brother Matthew, informs Jack that he must find a wife and marry. Although Jack's physical scars have healed, his emotional ones from the war have not. He hasn't recovered from his aversion to being in the public and loathes others calling him a hero. He saw so much devastation in the war, that when he returned, stories about him and the adoration that society subjected him to had him re-living the war over and over. When Jack sees Cleo at the ball, he's happy to see someone there he knows that isn't a young marriage minded miss.

Cleo never forgot a kiss they shared some years back, the only passionate kiss that she's experienced. Jack remembers it as well and never understood why he reacted to her that way at their one and only meeting. When together, Cleo's shyness nearly disappears. Jack blurts out a proposal, because he thinks they would suit. Mary Balogh has a way with bringing different things, people, and events into the story that bring smiles and chuckles as well as sadness- almost tears. The relationship shows in the hero and heroine's words and behavior. I thoroughly loved Cleo and Jack's story! Even now, a couple weeks after reading, I still smile when I think about them. Another huge positive of each of these stories is being able to read an Epilogue that held a beautiful future for them. Especially so with Only Love.
Grade: A-

Hope Springs Eternal by Jacquie D'Alessandro gives us the story of Miss Penelope Markham, who was involved in a scandal due to her art. Penelope is witty and often gets herself into trouble because of her carefree ways. As a gifted artist, she's been dismissed from being an art teacher and returns home where she meets the hero for the first time. Alec Trentwell served in the war with Penelope's twin brother, Edward. Penelope often wrote to Edward who shared his letters with Alec. Thus Alec felt he got to know Penelope - so much so that he feels responsible for her. Edward died in the war, but during his life he was Alec's commanding officer and best friend. Alec feels guilty for Edward's death, so he plans to tell Penelope what happened to her brother in the war and apologize. Alec then plans to spend his time secluded in the small cottage he purchased. Alec is suffering from flashbacks and nightmares about all he experienced in Waterloo and Penelope senses Alec's emotional scars.

Alec enjoys Penelope's company, so he puts off his original plan and conversation. Alec is enjoying his new life and is afraid he will lose Penelope if he tells her how Edward died. Alec is told to wed to provide a heir, and conveniently, he and Penelope are in love with each other. Despite that, he's terrified he will lose her. This story by Jacquie D'Alessandro may at times bring you close to tears. It is a beautifully emotional novella. Jacquie is presently writing contemporary romances. I dearly miss her historical romances and hope she comes back to writing more of her wonderful historicals.
Grade: B

The last story, Fate Strikes a Bargain by Candice Hern, brings us Captain Nathaniel Beckwith and Philippa Reynolds. Again following the "being required to marry and have a heir" theme, Nat's brother, Lord Dearne interferes with Nat's matrimonial plans. Philippa and Nat meet when Nat discovers her hiding in an attempt to escape the crush of a ball. Nat finds Philippa refreshingly candid and tolerant of his dark mood. Philippa's herself and her respect for his emotions leads them to having very open and frank communication. Philippa is empathic as she's dealt with her physical disability all her life. Philippa was born with a severe limp. She tolerates her over-protective parents but doesn't limit herself or let it hinder her enjoyment of as active a life as she can physically handle. But Philippa's disability often causes a sort of social ostracism. Nat sees past that much in the same way she sees past his manners (or lack thereof). While they both feel like they don't fit in with society, they realize that they fit together!

Nat can be harsh with his words, but not towards her, and Philippa is too eager for confrontation and very blunt! It was refreshing to see how they meshed. A bargain of marriage is made, though Philippa's parents force some courting where they get to know each. During this time they begin healing together, and find so many strengths between and within them. Nat had loved the army, but grew increasingly melancholy as he realized that the fighting at Waterloo had left him traumatized with nightmares and flashbacks of the battle. This is very evident through the story and emotional to read. The author details the feelings that Nat and Philippa are experiencing nicely. As their relationship grows, the bargain is sweetened! And the epilogue is bittersweet! Well worth reading. It ends up that fate and love brings Nat and Philippa together after all.
Grade: A

When the book started I thought it would end up too similar, but they end up being so unique and special stories. I hope the authors do this again!

Overall Grade: B+

IT HAPPENED ONE SEASON by Stephanie Laurens,Mary Balogh,Jacquie D'Alessandro and Candice Hern is an historical romance set in Regency England.It is four different stories written by four wonderful authors each with their unique writing style.It is about four returning,second titled Lords,who are battle scarred and weary,and four shy,unattractive,spinster lady's.The four hero's need to marry to carry on the family title as the older titled brothers all have girls.When there brothers ask them to marry to ensure the succession they do so for duty,and family but soon learn that marriage with the right lady will be no difficulty.The four heroine's are shy,unattractive to some,independent,have had a few Seasons with no suitor's.They are also forthright and out spoken with strong determination and no intentions of marriage until our four hero enter the picture.What a delightful book with four short stories of love,romance,sweet sensuality,by four unique,talented authors that will have you turning pages and wanting more.This is a historical romance event that to miss. It Happened One Season will have you memorized from the first page to the last page.A must read.This book was received for the purpose of review from Net Galley and the publisher and details can be found at Avon Books,an imprint of Harper Collins and My Book Addiction Reviews.

Advertisement met by book. I though it was a great book, especially since my two favorite authors were in one location.