Product Details
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Title: Otherwise Engaged
- Author: Joanna Barker
- Genre: Regency Romance
- Length: 266 Pages
- ISBN-10 : 1524413704
- Publisher : Covenant Communications, Inc. (October 12, 2020)
- ***I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own***
Book Summary
She’s never been afraid of breaking the rules—until
she risks breaking her heart
Constantly
stifled by the rules of Society, spirited Rebecca Rowley enjoys finding
ways to quietly—or not so quietly—rebel. But riding bareback and
avoiding nosy neighbors are nothing compared to the thrilling secret she
is keeping from her family.
When Rebecca’s quick thinking saves the
life of a young girl, she unwittingly attracts the attention of the
child’s dashing brother, Lieutenant Nicholas Avery. As that attention
turns flirtatious, Rebecca is forced to tell him the truth: she is
secretly engaged—to the one man her family would never approve of.
Fortunately, Lieutenant Avery is a navy man with no wish to marry, or so
they both assume as they enter into a friendship. Rebecca hopes to
change her family’s mind about her betrothed, but the more she comes to
know the handsome lieutenant, the more she wonders if she promised her
hand too hastily.
After all her carefully laid plans are
shattered during a family crisis, Rebecca must force her heart to
decide. Should she stay true to the promise she made or fight for the
future she’s only just begun to imagine?
My Review
Otherwise Engaged is a sweet Regency Romance layered with humor, deception, betrayal, forgiveness, and of course some excellent kisses and romance.
Readers meet Rebecca Rowley who is a fiery beauty who relishes her independence that she exudes behind her family's back. Nothing she does is malicious, but she is tired of being babied after she had an almost fatal horseback riding accident a few years ago. Her older brother William can be stern and protective but loves his little sister. I absolutely loved that William and Juliana are in the novel as I cherished their love story in, 'The Truth about Miss Ashbourne'. It was great to see how their life was going.
Rebecca on one of her bareback horse rides saves the life of a young girl named Olivia. Then we meet the dashing Lieutenant Nicholas Avery who is Olivia's older half-brother. This meeting begins a whirlwind friendship and romance that neither Rebecca nor Nicholas was planning on. Nicholas soon becomes Rebecca's outlet for all of her secrets including riding bareback and her secret engagement to the son of her late father's old partner. The partnership ended badly and the two families are now feuding.
Nicholas became a favorite right from the beginning. This navy man seems harsh at the beginning but shows his true genuine heart as he not only takes care of his half-sister, but he also supports Rebecca in all of her somewhat crazy actions at times. When the truth comes out of Rebecca's secrets, the family is left in chaos and sadness. The last twenty pages of the book bring the whole novel full circle where truths are unearthed. There are a few scenes in particular that had my heart racing and also brought me to tears. Joanna truly knows how to write heartfelt scenes where emotions are strongly felt.
Otherwise Engaged will definitely take you on a wild ride of ups and downs. The growth that Rebecca makes is extraordinary and satisfying to read. There is one quote I want to add to my review that shows her betterment:
“This was it. This was the love I longed for. I had tried to convince myself I could have it with Edward, but now I knew that what I’d felt for him was but a shallow reflection of what love should be. Love was real and strong and brave. Love was sacrifice and compromise. Love was everything I felt between Nicholas and me, everything that had brought us together and bound our hearts as one.”
Regency readers, this is a book that you must read. I know that you will love this clean love story. Author Joanna Barker has once again written a novel full of great characters, engaging dialogue, and a story you will long remember after the turn of the last page.
Meet Author Joanna Barker
Joanna Barker was born and raised in northern California. She discovered her love for historical fiction after visiting England as an eleven-year-old, and subsequently read every Jane Austen book she could get her hands on. After graduating with a degree in English, she worked as an acquisitions editor before devoting herself full-time to writing. She enjoys music, chocolate, and reading everything from romance to science fiction. She lives near the mountains and is just a little crazy about her husband and two wild-but-loveable boys.
“Otherwise Engaged” is published by Covenant Communications. Released October 12, 2020. You can find in at Amazon, Deseret Book, Seagull Book, Barnes and Noble, etc.
Lear more about Joanna and her books HERE: www.authorjoannabarker.com
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