Laura's Reviews: The Inns of Devonshire by Sally Britton, Annette Lyon, and Deborah M. Hathaway (Book Tour)

The Inns of Devonshire is a “timeless Regency collection” of three novellas. Reading these three novellas was like drinking a cup of tea on a fine autumn day. They were all three soothing, wonderful stories. All stories had a connection with an inn.

The Seventh Star Inn by Sally Britton is the story of Miss Susan Baxter. She is an aging spinster at the age of twenty-eight and is living with her mother, the widow of the late vicar. They love their small town and are intrigued when they learn the news that their new landlord has come to town and is staying at a neighboring inn. Collin Stonecraft is a widower with a young daughter that has recently come into a fortune. As he visits the property he has inherited, will he learn the value of living in a small village? For Austen fans I felt like this was a story where a young Miss Bates received a happy ending.

The Truth About Mr. Blackmore by Annette Lyon is a Cinderella type story. Leigh lives at

an inn with her aunt and uncle. She would like to leave, but they tell her she needs to work off her debt. When a mysterious new traveler arrives, will Leigh be able to find a kindred spirit?

The Coachman’s Choice by Deborah M. Hathaway is the story of a coachman, Mr. Northcott who loves his job, but dreams of being able to call a place home. Mary Thorne helps her mother run an inn, but has no use for fliriting coachman. As sparks fly between the two will they be able find what they are looking for in life?

I greatly enjoyed these three stories and read through them quickly. Each is an independent story. The story is long enough to develop the characters and the romance. I enjoyed that the stories were more with the working class or lower middle class and their concerns. It was different than a typical Regency romance and I loved it.

Favorite Quote:

“She had the essentials for life, but not the essence of living.”

Overall, The Inns of Devonshire is a wonderful collection of charming Regency romance novellas. I highly recommend it to fellow lovers of Regency Romance.

Book Source: Review Copy for being a part of the Book Tour put together by Laurel Ann Nattress of Austenprose.

QUICK FACTS

· Title: The Inns of Devonshire: Timeless Regency Collection (Book 18)

· Authors: Sally Britton, Annette Lyon, & Deborah M. Hathaway

· Genre: Regency Romance, Historical Romance, Inspirational Fiction

· Publisher: Mirror Press (October 5, 2021)

· Length: (300) pages

· Format: Trade paperback, eBook, & audiobook

· Tour Dates: October 4-17, 2021

BOOK DESCRIPTION

Three novellas, three times the romance, and three times the love . . . in this brand new Timeless Regency Collection

The Seventh Star Inn, by Sally Britton

After years of looking after one another, Susan Baxter and her mother view their neighbors in Totnes as family. When a new landlord inherits the leases on their homes and businesses alike, Susan dreads knowing her world could change at the whim of a stranger. But when she meets Collin Stonecroft and his inquisitive daughter, her feelings shift quickly from cautionary to hopeful. Collin has lived in the confines of London boarding houses all his life, and he’s determined to give his daughter more. They check into the Seventh Star Inn with plans to return to London as soon as possible, but both find Miss Baxter and her local history lessons far too enchanting to leave behind. When Susan learns of Collin’s proposed changes to her beloved neighborhood, will she be able to help him see that some things are perfect the way they are?

The Truth about Mr. Blackmore, by Annette Lyon

Leigh’s life at the Old Grey Inn is drudgery broken by flights of fancy thanks in part to novels by Simon Blackmore. When Mattias McGrady comes to the inn for a fortnight, Leigh captures his attention. A relationship develops, and she dreads the end of his stay, which will mean a return to an unhappy life. An urgent letter to Mattias leads to him inviting Leigh to an event that stands to change both of their lives forever. If all goes well, Leigh will have a life of her choosing after all. But half-truths and lies have a way of complicating matters. When their plans go awry, Leigh loses her reputation and Mattias almost surely loses his career. Can either of them find happiness?

The Coachman’s Choice, by Deborah M. Hathaway

Ever-reliable Mary Thorne has helped her widowed mother run The Golden Mermaid Inn for years. She spends her days greeting guests, ensuring the inn runs smoothly—and dodging flirtatious remarks from passing coachmen. But she’s far too busy to pay any attention to such men, even the enticingly attractive Mr. Northcott. Known far and wide for his horsemanship, punctuality, and dallying reputation, Robert Northcott relishes his life as a coachman, especially his freedom to flirt with numerous women from inn to inn, all without the messy details of commitment. There’s just one woman who's immune to his charms: the lovely, single landlady of The Golden Mermaid. Robert is determined to win Mary over, just as heartily as she is determined to keep her distance from him. But his carefree life is threatened when his pursual of Mary becomes more than just a game...

ABOUT THE SERIES

Since 2015, Mirror Press has been publishing the Timeless Regency Collection, a curated anthology of novellas and short stories set in early 19th century England. Featuring bestselling authors from the historical romance genre, the series has hit the USA TODAY bestselling list and charted at #1 at Amazon.com. Learn more about the series and other anthologies published by Mirror Press at their website.

AUTHOR BIOS

Sally Britton is a wife, mother, and author who loves the world of romance, received her BA in English from Brigham Young University, and reads voraciously. She started her writing journey at the tender age of fourteen on an electric typewriter, and she’s never looked back.

Sally primarily lives in Oklahoma with her husband, four children, and Izzie the Aussie Shepherd. She loves researching, hiking, and eating too much chocolate.

Annette Lyon is a USA Today Bestselling author. She's won a Whitney Award (2010) and is an eight-time recipient of Utah's Best of State medal for fiction and short stories. She's the author of more than a dozen novels, even more novellas, a cookbook, a grammar guide, and some 120+ articles. She's worked as a professional editor for publishers and bestselling authors and graduated cum laude from BYU with a degree in English.

Deborah M. Hathaway graduated from Utah State University with a BA in Creative Writing. As a young girl, she devoured Jane Austen's novels while watching and re-watching every adaptation she could. She finds inspiration for her novels during her travels with her English husband to the United Kingdom, where she draws on the beauty of the country in such places as Ireland, Yorkshire, and her beloved Cornwall. Be sure to sign up for Deborah's Newsletter to stay updated on new releases, free and discounted Clean Romance novels, and more!

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | GOODREADS | BOOKBUB

TOUR BLURB

Join the virtual book tour of THE INNS OF DEVONSHIRE, a collection of novellas by bestselling authors Sally Britton, Annette Lyon, & Deborah M. Hathaway, October 4-17, 2021. Thirty-five popular on-line influencers specializing in Regency romance, historical romance, and inspirational fiction will join in the celebration of the release of the 18th book in the bestselling Timeless Regency Collection with a spotlights, exclusive excerpts, and reviews of this new anthology set in Regency England.

Oct 04 Fire and Ice (Review)

Oct 04 Austenprose (Excerpt)

Oct 04 Timeless Novels (Review)

Oct 05 Lu Reviews Books (Review)

Oct 05 Beauty in the Binding (Spotlight)

Oct 05 For Where Your Treasure Is (Excerpt)

Oct 06 Probably at the Library (Review)

Oct 06 Our Book Confessions (Review)

Oct 06 Bookworm Lisa (Review)

Oct 07 Literary Time Out (Review)

Oct 07 Reading with Emily (Review)

Oct 08 Bringing Up Books (Review)