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.”
Discussion Questions
Which character in the book did you like best? What was it that attracted you to them?
Peter and Meg fall in love with each other very soon after they meet. Do you believe in love at first sight? Why or why not?
Peter became friends with Jethro Hunt whilst studying together at school and the friendship lasted into adulthood. Are you still friends with people you went to school or college with? What do you think has made those friendships survive?
What Christmas traditions do you have in your family? Have these been passed down through the generations or have you created your own?
If you spend your time trying to outdo others, you’ll always be disappointed. Would you agree with this statement? Why or why not?
Meg still trusted Peter, even after he’d told her he couldn’t marry her. Why do you think she was able to do this?
What a relief it was to stop pretending she was someone she wasn’t. She hadn’t realised how exhausting it had been. In what circumstances are you tempted to wear a mask? Do you think it is always a bad thing? Would you agree it is exhausting to pretend to be someone you’re not?
Friends helped each other to do what was right. Have you ever tried to help a friend to do what was right? How successful were you?
He had to trust that God was still in control of his life, even if it didn’t feel like it. Does Peter’s declaration of faith resonate with you? In what circumstances has your faith been tried? If you don’t have a faith, how do you cope when life seems out of control?
All kinds of mischief can result if people form assumptions and don’t bother to find out if there’s any truth in them. How can we guard ourselves from making false assumptions about people?
Women of Weymouth
Women of Weymouth
prequel novella
Women of Weymouth 1
