Once Upon a Time in Bath (The Brides of Bath #7)

REGENCY:  Lord Appleton has never lost his head at the gaming tables, yet in a single night he cannot remember, he has gambled away his fortune, and now his debts are being held by a vile man who seeks Appleton’s sister’s hand in return for the I.O.Us. Reluctant to sacrifice his sister, he determines to do whatever he must to pay his debts, including marry the peculiar heiress that has just arrived. Miss Dorothea Pankhurst has arrived in Bath to aid her ailing father. Toting her four cats about, she is ignorant of Society ways and incredibly grateful when Lord Appleton and his sister befriend her. When Dorothea and Appleton learn that the young dealer from the gambling house where Appleton played has been murdered, Dorothea insists on answers. With a marriage to consider and a killer to catch, Appleton and Dorothea have plenty to bring them together, but someone in the shadows has plans of their own.

An intriguing mix of regency romance and light mystery, “Once Upon a Time in Bath” is a wonderful stand-alone story where the romance develops gradually, the characters are quirky but believable, and the mystery provides traction for the plot. While the answers to the mystery are revealed to the reader early on, the natural progression of solving it by the characters is engrossing and provides depth for the romance that engages the reader and makes them want more.  Although this story is far from unique, the largest flaw is the lack of finesse typically associated with regency romance. However, lovers of romantic comedies and cozy mysteries will find plenty to enjoy in this romp of a romance!

Sarah E Bradley