A heartbroken widower. A downtrodden companion. Their instant attraction offers hope for the future—if their secrets don’t destroy them first.
Estate manager Peter Crowley has abandoned hope of ever loving again. No woman has touched his heart since the death of his wife. Now his life is centred on the beloved daughter he’s been forced to send away to school.
Meg Harding knows nothing of love. The sole companion of a cantankerous old lady, she smiles in the face of adversity, but dreams of a better life.
Thrown into conversation on the coach to Weymouth, Peter and Meg are drawn to each other by a shared sense of humour. The downtrodden Meg revels in Peter’s kindness—and he yearns to rescue her.
Six months later they meet again. Both their situations have changed—and not all for the better.
As they share the joy of the Christmas season, their love is given a chance to flourish. But all is not as it seems. Secrets from their past cast shadows over their future and threaten to destroy them…
Set in 1810 in the seaside town of Weymouth, Dorset, this novella by the co-author of the popular Regency History blog is rich in historical detail and includes a glossary and historical notes.
An introduction to the Women of Weymouth series, this is a clean and wholesome, faith-based, standalone romance with witty dialogue and its own happily ever after.
Characters in this book
Annie Crowley
Eugenia Frampton
Meg Harding
Peter Crowley
Gilbert Barnes
Jethro Hunt
Benjamin Curtis
Lucy Day
Lord Barnes
Penelope Seymour
Explore the history behind the story
Reviews of Miss Harding’s Hope
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“The story is well-written, the plot is well-developed, and that sweet Regency atmosphere is just a cherry on top.”
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“They read like historical romances that just happen to be set in the Regency period. The extra historical relevance makes the stories seem a bit more raw and real.”
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“I was just going to read the brief sample at the top of the page! However, I was immediately pulled into the story - which I should have known would happen with a book by Rachel Knowles - and found myself ordering the book on the spot. . . and . . . I didn't do much but read until I finished the book!”
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“If you like to stock up on cosy, feelgood Christmas reads for the season, I definitely recommend this book.”
Women of Weymouth
Women of Weymouth
prequel novella
Women of Weymouth 1
