He must wed to keep his dream alive.
Her dream will die if he doesn’t choose her.
Lord Beaumont has only one love in his life—horses. Constantly upbraided by his overbearing mother, Beau’s desperate to break free from her control and prove himself by breeding a winning racehorse.
Eliza Merry has secretly loved the reckless Viscount ever since she was a girl. Forced to restrain her unruly behaviour to attend the London season, the timid, tongue-tied lady she becomes is nothing like the lively girl she is inside.
Compelled to seek a wife to realise his inheritance, to pay for his horses and keep his dream alive, Beau is drawn to the adoring Eliza, who sees in him a kindred spirit. She believes he’s the one man who can make her happy and accept her as she really is.
As love blossoms between them, it seems as if they’ll both get what they want—but Beau has a secret that threatens to shatter Eliza’s faith in him. And secrets have a nasty habit of coming out at the most inconvenient times…
Set in London and Hampshire in 1811, 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, faith-based romance, with witty dialogue, a Georgette Heyer-inspired plot, a heroine who masquerades as a man, and a cameo appearance of Jane Austen.
The third 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
Lord “Beau” Beaumont
Eliza Merry
Anthony Warren
Harriet Whitlow
Earl of
Harting
Countess of
Harting
Countess of
Castleford
Earl of Castleford
Charlotte
Merry
William
Merry
Alicia
Merry
Christopher Merry
Duchess of Wessex
Hetta
Merry
Charles Whitlow
Lady Frances Whitlow
Explore the history behind the story
Reviews of A Single Obsession
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“Wow! What a fantastic romp that was! By the time I got to the end I was ‘obsessed’ with A Single OBSESSION. You will enjoy it too. Not only is there a Jane Austen cameo (I wish there was more of her), but the characters are three dimensional. You HAVE to read the entire series.”
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“The settings are authentic and convincing, the storyline compelling and the characters powerfully portrayed. I loved Beau and Eliza, even with - or maybe because of - all their foibles.”
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“This is an exceptionally well-researched Regency romance.”
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“If you love reading Georgette Heyer or Jane Austen you are sure to enjoy this book. ”
Discussion Questions
Which character in the book did you most relate to and why?
Eliza and Beau both liked horses. Do you think it is necessary for couples to share the same interests for a relationship to work? Why or why not?
Eliza recalls her mother’s words reminding her to be thankful. What sayings do you remember from your childhood which have stayed with you and been helpful?
Mrs Merry asks Eliza if Beau shares her faith, whether he loves her, and whether she trusts him. How would you rank the answers in order of importance in a marriage and why?
Georgiana states that true love keeps no record of wrongs and asks Eliza whether she really loves Beau, because she won’t forgive him for hurting her. Do you think it is harder or easier to forgive those people you love the most?
Eliza is slow to forgive Beau for hurting her, because she’s afraid of being hurt again. Do you think we should always forgive? When is it right to protect ourselves from being hurt again?
Mrs Allett reveals that Lady Harting was very unhappy in her marriage to Beau’s father. Did this make you feel more sympathetic toward her? Why or why not?
Anthony admits to being in love with Eliza. How did this make you feel? Do you think he deserved her more than his best friend?
Beau kept telling Eliza he loved her, but she wouldn’t believe him. He realised he needed to show her. What makes you feel loved?
Beau struggled with the idea of family because of the way he had been brought up by his mother and stepfather. How has your experience as a child impacted your view of family life?
Eliza disapproves of Beau lying to his mother, but then questions whether her masquerade as Mr Robson was lying as well. What do you think?
The pain in her heart did not go away, but she grew more content as she dwelt on what she had rather than on what she lacked. Can you think of a time when you’ve found this to be true?
The Merry Romances
The Merry Romances 1
The Merry Romances 2
The Merry Romances 3
The Merry Romances 4
