School For Love by Christina Dudley
#3 Hapgoods of Bramleigh
Historical Romance
Publisher: BellaVita Press
Published: 10.30.20
Pages: 409
Rating: 4.5 stars
Format: ebook
Source: purchased
Sellers: Amazon
ADD TO: GoodReads
GoodReads Synopsis:
Hugh Hapgood, cousin to Squire Richard Hapgood of Bramleigh, finds himself alone after the death of his first wife and scrambling to care for his three motherless children. He must see to their care and education, and yet he feels he hardly knows them. Those around him believe he should choose a second wife to assist him with the burdens of life, and, it seems, nearly everyone has just the person in mind for him! But will the fates allow Hugh to have the woman his own heart chooses?
Sophia Rose's Review:
The Hapgoods of Bramleigh continue to entertain with the hijinks that ensue when each one is on their way to the altar. Stayed and serious widower, Hugh Hapgood is no exception. The neighborhood is still buzzing from his cousin’s elopement when he gets tangled in his own romantic adventures with the aid of his mischievous children and a woman who thinks she’s plain and plainly on the shelf. Christina Dudley’s Regency era romcoms sparkle with mayhem and wit.
School for Love is the third in a connected series of historical romantic comedies that shade toward the classics written by Jane Austen or more recent classic-styled Georgette Heyer. The hero and heroine of School for Love were introduced in the previous book, A Very Plain Young Man.
Hugh, the heir to Squire Hapgood of Bramleigh, has been recently widowed. He holds to himself that he is not mourning his wife and, in fact, was stuck in an unhappy marriage for years and, even now, is stuck with her shrewish sister berating and attempting to hen-peck him into doing her bidding for his home, children, and possible second marriage. And, other neighborhood matchmaking mothers are on the catch for a wealthy son-in-law, making his decision to grab up his children and vacate to his cousin’s estate a smart one. He thought to do that cash poor family a good turn by marrying one of his cousins so she could eventually be the mistress of her family estate, but that didn’t turn out as expected. Between his middle child sabotaging his efforts and his oldest cousin eloping, he is at sixes and sevens.
It’s time to focus on building a relationship with his children and looking to their educational needs. But, when he stops looking for a match, that is when cupid laughs and sends an unexpected romance his way.
Rosemary DeWitt had her offers when she was younger and she knew the interest was in her dowry and not her personal charms. She’s given up on marriage and is focused on teaching the village girls and honing her future old-maid aunt skills. Then the Hapgood heir puts his son in tutoring with her local vicar- and partner in educating the poor villagers. She finds Hugh Hapgood an interesting man when others are put off by his serious demeanor. He thinks she’s a busybody at first because a few embarrassing misunderstandings and then his children settle on her for a future mama and the mischief begins.
School for Love is my favorite of the series so far. I adored Hugh and Rosemary. Their more mature age, yet their tentative approach to love was tender and charming. The conflict came mostly from the outside. The hilarity caused by the children and a few awkward moments added a fun balance especially when a shocking twist puts a distressing barrier between them and dialed up the drama. I had a suspicion about how they would solve the difficulty and I was right.
All in all, a light-hearted romp that delighted me thoroughly. Next, the blunt, outspoken Margaret gets her tale and I’m all eagerness to see how it comes about. Those who like sweet, humor-laced Regency romance need to try the Hapgoods of Bramleigh series.
Author Bio:
Christina Hwang Dudley is the author of clean historical and contemporary romance.
Her historical romances include the Hapgoods of Bramleigh and Ellsworth Assortment series of Regency romances, including THE NATURALIST and TEMPTED BY FOLLY.
In contemporary romance, her forthcoming PRIDE AND PRESTON LIN (Third State Books, 2024) riffs on Austen, but this time the story is set in the San Francisco Bay Area, with Asian American protagonists who hail from different ends of the economic spectrum.
Website: https://christinadudley.com/
Sophia’s Bio:
Sophia is a quiet though curious gal who dabbles in cooking, book reviewing, piano-playing, and gardening. Road trips and campouts, museums and monuments, restaurants and theaters are her jam. Encouraged and supported by an incredible man and loving family. A Northern Californian transplant to the Great Lakes Region of the US. Lover of Jane Austen, Baseball, Cats, Scooby Doo, and Chocolate.
As a lifelong reader, it was inevitable that Sophia would discover book blogs and the joy of blog reviewing. Sophia is a prolific reader and audiobook listener which allows her to experience so many wonderful books, authors, and narrators. Few genres are outside her reading tastes, but her true love is fiction particularly history, mystery, sci-fi, and romance. Though, sorry, no horror or she will run like Shaggy and Scooby.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sophia.rose.7587
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sophiarose1816
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13418187.Sophia_Rose
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