If you’re ever in need for a book that just makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside, you can’t go wrong with a Sally Britton regency romance. I haven’t been reading her books long (I just discovered her writing a few months ago!), but now I’m a firm fan and will be eager to snatch up any of her delightful reads whenever I get the chance.
My latest Audible listen was her book Discovering Grace, the second book in her Inglewood series, which can be read in order or as stand-alones.
To avoid being sent across an ocean, Grace switches places with her sister. The only man aware of their deception? A dear friend, and her secret love.
Grace Everly has no desire to set sail for the Caribbean, unlike her adventurous twin sister, Hope. Thanks to her sister’s irresponsible behavior and subsequent banning from the journey, Grace’s father decides to send her in Hope’s place. Desperate to remain where things are familiar, Grace proposes an unthinkable plan: that she and Hope switch places. They only have to keep up the act long enough for Hope to board a ship in London. When the man who has stolen Grace’s heart learns of their secret, things get more complicated.
Jacob Barnes, soon to be ordained a vicar, has known Grace and Hope his whole life. Though close to both sisters, he’s dreamed of courting Hope for months. When he realizes his friends have switched places, putting the woman he admires out of his reach, he agrees to help with the subterfuge despite his bruised heart. As he watches Grace stumble in her acting abilities, attempting to change who she is, he realizes how much she means to him. But how does he tell her, without risking their friendship?
The deception puts their relationship to the test. As Grace hides her heart and her identity, Jacob examines his feelings, and no one in their community will be happy when the truth is discovered.
While I still enjoyed book three of the series, Saving Miss Everly, more, there was so much to enjoy about this book as well! I identified with Grace a lot. I’ve never been one to have terrible self-esteem, but as a teenager I did at times struggle with the fact that I wasn’t like all the other girls. Like Grace, I was quiet and often considered timid and boring by my peers. But there is more to me, and more to Grace, than what those people could see.
Deep down, Grace is a woman of strong character, with a compassionate heart and many good ideas–all of which people assume her twin sister Hope came up with, and not Grace. But while Grace pretends to be Hope so that her sister can sail in her place to the Caribbean, Grace struggles with the desire to change her personality to please those around her. Luckily, our hero of the story, Jacob Barnes, comes to recognize her true value as who she was created to be.
Speaking of Jacob, you’ve gotta love a hero who’s a preacher! And he and Grace make the perfect pair! Their romance, which started one-sided (on Grace’s part), blossoms sweetly and their happily ever after is wonderfully satisfying.
4/5 Stars for this sweet, clean regency romance! The Audible version is superb, but it would also make an ideal cozy weekend read in paperback or ebook.
