Maggie Blackbird

Today, I’m hosting author Kate Ellington’s latest release Teacups and Temptations, a historical romance. Be sure to read my review. And don’t forget to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway.

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Title: Teacups and Temptations
Series: N/A
Author: Kate Ellington
Genre: Historical Romance
Length: (fill in)
Release Date: November 18, 2024
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Blurb: Molly Merriwether readily accepts an invitation to Waverly Hall, eager for adventure and amusement with her best friend. She never expected to be left unchaperoned with three intriguing young gentlemen for weeks.

Roger Bailey, recuperating in more ways than one, avoids Molly until her kindness and humor tempt him to deepen their acquaintance.

Molly lands in one unlikely escapade after the next with Roger and soon considers him a friend—perhaps more—but the barriers he puts up make it impossible to truly know him. Has she only imagined those tender looks in his eyes?

For a chance at love, Molly will need to bare her innermost self and trust someone more deeply than she’s ever dreamed possible.

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Molly finished her tea and turned to Caroline. “Perhaps we should take some time to discuss our options. Alone.”

“Yes, I think we’d better,” Caroline said, setting her cup down.

Benedict rose. “We’ll step out so you can talk.”

Fred settled deeper into his chair as if hoping not to be noticed, but after a sharp look from Benedict stood and followed him out of the room. Mr. Bailey took Penny by the collar and left, closing the door behind him.

As soon as it clicked shut, Molly replenished their teacups. “Would you ever have dreamed we’d find ourselves in such a pickle?”

“Absolutely not. I imagine this means we need to leave.” Caroline sighed a sigh that sounded like it had been waiting years to get out.

Molly lifted one shoulder. “I don’t know…we’re already here and, as Fred said, it isn’t as though we’re alone in the house.”

“I’ve the feeling Fred would say anything to get us to stay. He seems the type of man to enjoy bending the rules.”

“I have the same feeling.” After glancing at the door, Molly whispered, “What do you think of Benedict?”

Caroline shifted on the sofa so she was facing Molly. “It’s too soon to say.”

“Do you think we should move to the inn?” Molly held her breath as she awaited Caroline’s answer.

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I love historical romance.  It’s my fave sub-genre in romance, and what introduced me to the world of romance in the first place.  So when the opportunity came to review this book, I said yes.  Kate Ellington is a new author to me and an excellent writer.

As the blurb states, Molly and her BFF are off to Waverly Hall to meet Caroline’s would-be-suitor.  In the time of the Regency, of course, they are chaperoned, but the chaperone ends up sick at the local Inn where they are staying, and the girls are left to continue the journey on their own with the assumption the would-be suitor’s parents will be present.  But that all goes wrong LOL.

I liked Molly.  Scandal could ruin a family.  I mean they could be ostracized.  The father.  The mother.  Any other children.  So the decision Molly makes to stay at Waverly Hall shows me how reckless she is, since they are given the opportunity to leave but the staff are present to act as chaperones and keep the girls’ reputations intact.  Or so the girls assume.

The novel is full of many adventures that Molly sweet-talks Caroline into undertaking. The heroine is full of life and wishes to breathe in all that it has to offer before she must go to London for the Season to find a husband.  But Molly had no desire to.  She has no desire to embrace anything her mother wants for her.

Then there is Roger.  Brooding.  Quiet.  And full of many secrets.  I enjoyed how he and Moly didn’t hit it off at first and she had to work hard to get him to open up.  They made a true pairing of grumpy/sunshine.

This is a slow-build romance with Molly having lots of hurdles to overcome.  But she’s bold and determined, something I really liked about her.  And also helpful, since she does a wee bit of matchmaking for her BFF and a maid.

There are times when the novel does get heavy with internal monologues, but it didn’t dissuade me from continuing on reading.  I enjoyed all of the characters and wished to see them all get a HEA.

This is a fun Regency romance with a sweet doggie to steal your heart.  Do yourself a favour and get a copy.  The author does a great job taking you back in time to a period of romance and courtship.

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Kate grew up in a woodsy New England town where summer days at the lake seemed to last forever. She read her first historical romance at age eleven when a teacher challenged her to find a book in the library written by an author she’d never heard of. Thus began a life-long love of love stories.

After graduating from college with an art degree she settled in the Pacific Northwest, where she currently resides with her family.

Kate wrote her first romance when she was sixteen, then set her pen down for years until another story floated into her head out of the clear blue sky. She jotted it down, just for fun, but soon it took on a life of its own.

Follow Kate: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

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