The Staffymum's Book Nook: REVIEW: The Wishing Well by Natalie Kleinman

Friday, 4 August 2023

REVIEW: The Wishing Well by Natalie Kleinman

The Wishing Well by Natalie Kleinman

Genre: Historical fiction, Regency romance

Read: 3rd August 2023

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 5th May 2023

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Is Harriet ready to face her future?

England 1818

Ever since the deaths of her fiancé and her father, Harriet Lambert has thrown herself into the management of her family’s estate to cope with her grief. Though time has eased her sorrow, she has had little opportunity to once again pursue romance.

But when she is called on to accompany her younger sister, Amabel, to London for her introduction into respectable society, Harriet finds herself caught in a flurry of social engagements. And when she meets Major Brew Ware at a soirée, the two form an immediate connection.

Having experienced tragedy at an early age, Brew understands the significance of Harriet’s loss. With their shared interests and honest approach, their friendship continues to flourish as the season wears on.

Though no man has turned her head since she lost her fiancé, Harriet is aware that her affection for Brew is growing stronger. And as she tentatively considers her future, she must now decide whether she is prepared to take another chance on love…

THE WISHING WELL is a historical romantic tale set in Regency England, with a spirited and courageous heroine at its heart.

MY THOUGHTS:

This is the third of Natalie Kleinman's regency romances I have read and once again it is a heartwarming tale that is an easy read, moving at a gentle pace. There really isn't a lot to say about the story because, while they are wholly enjoyable and a perfect way to while away a few hours, they are also predictable. But that isn't a bad thing. Sometimes you are comforted in knowing what's coming. That's the beauty of these gentle reads.

Harriet Lambert has had her season. She came out, met and became betrothed to John Downing after a short courtship in which both had fallen madly in love. Unfortunately, it was at the time of the Napoleonic War in France and no sooner had they become engaged than she had lost him on the battlefields at Waterloo. And then in the months after that lost also her beloved papa.

Now three years have since passed, the war has ended and the time has come for Harriet's younger sister Amabel (which I thought was a typo at first) to experience her first season and coming out ball. Along with their mother Louisa Lambert, the sisters make their way from their country estate in Kent to the capital where dresses are ordered, bonnets are purchased and arrangements are made for Amabel's coming out to society.

At one of the first soirees, the sisters meet lifelong friends Major Brew Ware and Gil Carstairs, having returned from France after the former making his fortune after the war's end. It isn't long before Gil has won the heart of young Amabel and Brew finds himself a gentle companion in Harriet. Whilst Amabel and Gil are as obvious in their devotion, Brew and Harriet aren't at all sure of the other's feelings.

Added to this is Brew's family drama. He and his father have been estranged for some fifteen years and with his sister also in London to make her coming out debut, it seems he is to cross paths with his father once again.

So while Amabel and Gil are love's young dream, neither Harriet nor Brew were seeking love. And yet they find it in each other.

A heartwarming read as regency romances always tend to be. The characters were well developed and interesting...especially the man with the vivid striped waistcoats...lol It was refreshing not to have someone plotting against anyone and aside from one bad apple that made a small appearance it was just a really satisfying read.

I must say, mail in those days (considering they had to go by horse mail coach) makes a far quicker journey than it does today going from one county to another, when I have trouble sending something two suburbs away!

I would like to thank #NatalieKleinman, #Netgalley and #SapereBooks for an ARC of #TheWishingWell in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Natalie’s passion for reading became a compulsion to write when she attended a ten-week course in creative writing some sixteen or so years ago. She takes delight in creating short stories of which more than forty have been published, but it was her lifelong love of Regency romance that led her to turn from contemporary romantic fiction to try her hand at her favourite genre. Raised on a diet of Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer, she is never happier than when immersed in an age of etiquette and manners, fashion and intrigue, all combined into a romping good tale. She lives on the London/Kent border, close to the capital’s plethora of museums and galleries which she uses for research as well as pleasure. A perfect day though is when she heads out of town to enjoy lunch by a pub on the river, any river, in company with her husband and friends.