A serious-minded earl. A romantically inclined miss.
He wants her love, but she only wants to be friends.
Determined not to follow in his profligate father’s footsteps, Lord Castleford has devoted himself to charitable works and locked away his feelings, saving them for one woman alone.
Georgiana Merry has come to London, desperate to fall in love. With her head full of romance, she dreams of a dashing hero who will capture her affections.
The reserved earl is shocked to find himself falling in love with the kind-hearted but impulsive Miss Merry, whose elopement he once foiled.
But all Georgiana wants from him is friendship. He doesn’t match up to her romantic ideal, and she refuses to settle for anything less.
Lord Castleford’s patience and ingenuity will be stretched to the limit if he is to protect the woman he loves and win her heart before his unscrupulous rival steals it away.
Set in London in 1810, this novel by the co-author of the popular Regency History blog is rich in historical detail and includes a glossary and historical notes.
This is a clean and wholesome, friends-to-lovers, faith-based romance, with witty dialogue, and a Georgette Heyer-inspired plot, including masquerades and secret letters.
The second book in The Merry Romances series, it can also be read as a standalone romance with its own happily ever after.
Characters in this book
Earl of Castleford
Georgiana Merry
Eliza Merry
Hetta
Merry
Christopher Merry
Alicia
Merry
Lord “Beau” Beaumont
Anthony Warren
Charlotte
Merry
William
Merry
Lady Augusta Hampton
Marquess of Denmead
Earl of
Harting
Countess of
Harting
Lady
Castleford
Lady Frances Merry
Sir James Maxwell
Duchess of Wessex
Duke of
Wessex
Explore the history behind the story
Reviews of A Reason for Romance
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“I never thought I’d like a character better than Mr. Knightley. Sorry Jane, but Lord Castleford is the best character I’ve seen in a long time.”
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“I especially loved the Sylph letters which were such a romantic part of the story.”
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“A Reason for Romance is a clean romance, with delightful characters, from a solid Christian worldview, without being at all preachy or overdone.”
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“The plot is reminiscent of Georgette Heyer's novels.”
Discussion Questions
Which character in the book did you like best? What was it that attracted you to them?
Lord Castleford asks Georgiana whether she would deprive the poor of help for fear that they might prove less deserving than she believed. Are you challenged by his words?
Lord Castleford and Anthony both hate their father’s infidelity but react to it in different ways. Castleford is determined to be differ-ent whilst Anthony fears he is too much like his father. What faults have you seen in your parents and how have you reacted to them? Which brother are you more like?
It is Georgiana’s fondness for the novel The Sylph that gives Lord Castleford the idea of writing her anonymous letters of advice. What books have you read that have influenced your life?
There is a strong sibling relationship between Georgiana and Eliza. The bond between Lord Castleford and Anthony is less obvious but comes out strongly when Castleford is in trouble. How do your sibling relationships or those of your children compare?
Georgiana pretends to allow Beau to court her for her sister’s sake. How did their deception make you feel? Do you think the ruse was justified?
Lord Castleford strikes Sir James in his anger and has to deal with the consequences. Have you ever been in a similar situation where you have had to deal with the repercussions of acting rashly?
A duel was considered a more gentlemanlike way of settling a dispute than fist fighting. Do you agree? Do you think Lord Castleford is right to refuse to fight? Why or why not?
Were you shocked to learn of the etiquette attached to making an apology after a blow had been given? Do you think offering the offended party your whip to strike you was a reasonable way to make recompense? Did anything else in the book shock you?
In the Sylph letters, Lord Castleford describes being in love as feel-ing that if you went out of my life, the sun would never shine so brightly again. How would you describe true love?
The Merry Romances
The Merry Romances 1
The Merry Romances 2
The Merry Romances 3
The Merry Romances 4
