Ladies of Devon Series by Kasey Stockton

In February I decided to add nothing but clean historical romance to my pick it for me list, and the first book in this series, The Jewels of Halstead Manor, was one of them. My friend Melissa ended up choosing it for me. I had never read anything else by this author so I was looking forward to seeing if I liked her writing style. I'm pleased to say that not only did I like her writing style, but I ended up reading all but the last book in the series in February, and that one I read at the beginning of March. I was really in the mood for this type of book I guess, and in a way I still am. I've been reading more romance these last couple of months and thoroughly enjoying it. 

Anyway, back to this book. It pulled in right from the very beginning and I had a hard time putting it down. It had just the right blend of romance and mystery that I love in these types of books. Of course the mystery centers around the jewels in the title. There was great chemistry between the characters. The romance had just the right amount of sweetness and longing to it. I especially loved the supporting cast of characters here, that befriended Giulia, and I wanted to know more about each of them. Each subsequent book in the series is about a different one of the supporting characters and how they find love, so I was hooked. The rest of the books had less of a mystery element to them but I enjoyed all the books in this series. The last book was my least favorite. I wasn't as crazy about the story line or the love interest in that one, but it was still good. It also takes place ten years after the other books. In some ways I thought that was a good thing because I got to see how the families of the characters from the previous books had grown. I've put my ratings and the descriptions for each book down below.

 

 

  

The Jewels of Halstead Manor (Ladies of Devon #1) by Kasey Stockton

 

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Category: Adult
Genre: Romance, Clean Romance, Historical Romance, Regency
Content: Clean

 

She can only stay as long as the invalid needs her... so he makes it his business to need her forever.

When a cryptic invitation brings Giulia Pepper to her uncle's remote estate in Devon, she arrives in dire need of a benefactor, only to discover that her uncle never sent her any invitation—nor does he want her there. Forced into a corner, Giulia must contrive a way to convince him to allow her to remain, just long enough to figure out where to go next.

Nicholas never asked for an earldom, but when an aged lord arrives at his door and tells Nicholas that he is next in line for the title, he willingly goes to Halstead Manor to learn the role. But someone isn’t pleased with the heir, and after a gunshot wound in the arm, Nicholas must discover who is out to get him.

When Giulia stumbles—literally—over a fallen man on the lane to Halstead, she has her she can stay at Halstead and nurse her uncle's heir back to health. But as mystery builds and danger mounts, will Giulia and Nicholas be able to solve the puzzle before the Earl forces Giulia to leave for good? And furthermore, can they manage to work together without losing their hearts in the process?

 

The Lady of Larkspur Vale (Ladies of Devon #2) by Kasey Stockton

 

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Category: Adult
Genre: Romance, Clean Romance, Historical Romance, Regency
Content: Clean

 

She wants to forget she ever knew him; he just wants her.

Mabel Sheffield is too tall, or so she believes. It one of the reasons she has given up on finding a husband and instead embraces her role as a spinster, dedicating her days to managing her grandmother's estate and her seven-year-old sister. But when Liam MacKenzie shows up at her house to stay for the summer, she's unsure if she can keep her resolve. The problem: he's the other reason she's a spinster.

Book two in the Ladies of Devon series, The Lady of Larkspur Vale is a childhood friends-to-lovers and second chance romance story. It is a clean Regency romance that continues telling the story of the four women who make up a literary society in Devon and form a lasting friendship.

 

 

The Lady Widow of Falbrooke Court (Ladies of Devon #3) by Kasey Stockton

 

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Category: Adult
Genre: Romance, Clean Romance, Historical Romance, Regency
Content: Clean

 

Can true love break the curse?

Amelia Fawn is cursed—or so she believes. How else can she explain each of her husbands' deaths within the first year of marriage? So after the ton names her the Black Widow and warns eligible men to stay clear, Amelia vows never to marry again. Not even if she falls in love.

Charles Fremont has loved Amelia Fawn his entire life. But after enduring countless rejections and watching her get married three other times, he's finally had enough. He swears a vow to never ask anything from her again. Even if it kills him.

Book three in the Ladies of Devon series, The Widow of Falbrooke Court, is a clean Regency romance continuing the story of the four women who make up a literary society in Devon and form a lasting friendship.

 

 

  

The Recluse of Wolfeton House (Ladies of Devon #4) by Kasey Stockton 

 

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Category: Adult
Genre: Romance, Clean Romance, Historical Romance, Regency
Content: Clean

 

She is holding out for her soul mate; he believes it’s him.

Hattie Green is five and twenty, unmarried, and growing tired of waiting for fate to hand her a soul mate. But when her sister-in-law arrives for a visit with the intent of helping her find a husband by any means necessary, Hattie digs in her heels—for everyone knows that fate cannot be forced.

The Duke of Bentley has gone to extreme measures to ensure his privacy and seclusion far away from Society—the distance is imperative if he wants to keep his family name free of scandal. So when his lovely neighbor breaks through his carefully constructed barriers and piques his interest with their shared affection for painting, Bentley agrees to give her lessons on the condition that they keep them secret.

As their clandestine meetings grow increasingly more difficult to hide, Bentley realizes that he must make a choice. Is it worth sacrificing his carefully guarded privacy for the woman of his dreams?

Book four in the Ladies of Devon series, The Recluse of Wolfeton House is a clean Regency romance that continues telling the story of the four women who make up a literary society in Devon and form a lasting friendship.

 

 

 

 

The Smuggler of Camden Cove (Ladies of Devon #5) by Kasey Stockton

 

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Category: Adult
Genre: Romance, Clean Romance, Historical Romance, Regency
Content: Clean 

 

Pippa Sheffield has a penchant for trouble. She doesn't ask to be thrown into slippery situations, but they tend to find her. She has worked at maintaining good behavior—she owes that much to her sister—until her new neighbor, William Blakemore, moves in. Come to find out, he is nothing but trouble.

Book Five of the Ladies of Devon takes place ten years after the four friends in the literary society each find their soul mates. Mabel's sister is all grown up, and ready for her own adventure.