Spring in Hyde Park
Series: Timeless Regency Collection, Book 3
By: Jennifer Moore, G.G. Vandagriff, Nichole Van / Narrated By: Sarah Zimmerman
Length: 7 hrs and 17 mins
All good; God I LOVE Regencies!!!
First let me say that for me, Spring in Hyde Park was actually two novellas as opposed to three. I say that because the third novella, “An Invisible Heiress” was actually reworked into a full-length novel which I already purchased, listened to, and liked (Seeing Miss Heartstone by Nichole Van). So I was a tad disappointed as I was so hoping to get my Regency Romance ya-yas out in a big way. But I’ll settle for whatever I can get as I’m very much shameless in that manner.
The first novella is “A Happy Accident” (by Jennifer Moore) where the new Marquess of Spencer, the hottest bachelor in town, is strong-armed into marrying Maryann Croft after an accident leads them to spend the night together in a carriage (they just dozed off after all the hubbub). Being forced into marriage, however much he may’ve liked the young woman, doesn’t sit well with Jonathan, the Marquess, but through the development of the story, he comes to see all the things he thought she’d be, and all the things he sees she is, are actually pretty darned nifty. There’s a misunderstanding, of course, and really bad weather plays its part in a big way; a secret then thunderstorms then affection then more thunderstorms—I honestly wondered about the whole weather thing until the big reveal. I liked the characters, especially Maryann, as they’re written with great affection. Jolly good way to start the audiobook off!
The second novella, “The Disdainful Duke” by G. G. Vandagriff has the on-the-shelf, practically a spinster, Lady Saphronia being paired off with her soon to be brother in law in all the pre-wedding festivities for her sister. As he looks upon her with undisguised contempt, she feels absolutely free to be as bold and outspoken as she wants to be. There is plenty of verbal jousting, and the story unfolds naturally enough that we get to see the characters truly evolve. I appreciated that in this Regency Collection they were but three novellas as opposed to many short stories—everything grows naturally from the writing.
I won’t go into “An Invisible Heiress” as I’ve already reviewed it as Seeing Miss Heartstone, but I will say that even though the story still works as only a novella, the novel shows more of the development of a true relationship between Belle and Colin Radcliffe. I’m glad Nichole Van thought enough of her characters to write them up in a grander fashion.
Sarah Zimmerman does a fine job with narration, handles the many, many characters that three longish novellas threw at her. The men don’t sound growly and odd, and the women sound intelligent and sharp-witted but kind. I must admit that, even though ‘twould appear she narrates a few more audiobooks I have in my Library, this is the first time I’ve listened to something she narrates. And I must say, I’m looking forward to hearing her narration again.
So that’s it for now—I chose Spring in Hyde Park because we just kicked off spring here in central Texas, and what better way to celebrate the season than by wallowing in sweet and pure romance? I am sooooo not complaining!
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