Book: Miss Tavistock’s Mistake
Genre: Clean and Wholesome Regency Romance/Romantic Comedy
Series: The Brides of Mayfair, Book 1

Release Date: June 4, 2020

Author: Linore Rose Burkard

Can Miss Tavistock’s mistake ever be undone?

Young Miss Tavistock is promised in marriage to Captain Rempeare by the wish of her dearly departed papa. But the captain’s been at sea for a decade. When she finally meets him, tempestuous sparks fly, and she impulsively adopts a daring false identity. Going by “Lady X,” she vows never to marry such an infuriating man.

Captain Gabriel Rempeare is prepared to fulfill his duty and marry Miss Tavistock—if only he can clap eyes on her. One circumstance or another keeps them apart, though he cannot seem to avoid the maddeningly lovely Lady X. When fate throws them together in London, Miss Tavistock discovers the real nature of the captain, and regrets her subterfuge. But can such a noble man forgive deceit? Or has her mistake already cost her everything?

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts

I didn't always like the Regency Romance genre but since picking up a Linore Burkard book I have truly enjoyed them. She definitely writes this genre well and does in such a wholesome way you can't help but falling in love with them. This is the first book in the Brides of Mayfair and I can't wait for the next one and see who the story will be about!

This story is about feisty Feodora Tavistock, who loses her parents tragically when returning to England after living in America since she was an infant. Now she is in the care of her uncle the Duke. She is promised to her cousin Gabriel who becomes a captain in the Navy. Feodora now known as Margaret has grown up pretty much alone except with her companion who is really like a surrogate mom to her.

The love story between Gabriel and Margaret is quite comical! Margaret is not happy that the captain has not visited in all these years so when he finally says he is coming and cancels that becomes the breaking point for her. She decides to head to London and have a coming out season. However, Gabriel does show up and since she is so miffed at him completely fibs on who she really is. This turns into a snowball effect for her until she has to come clean.

I really enjoyed this story and it was nice to step into a different era if only for a little while. I did kind of want to know what happened to her parents. It almost felt like there was a little bit of unresolved issues there and also why she was in America since she was born and not in England but nothing was referenced to that and perhaps it wasn't supposed to. If you are looking for a light fun read then definitely grab this one!

My Rating: 4 Stars/ Really Liked it!

(I received a copy of this book as part of Celebrate Lit Tours. I was not required to post a positive review. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.)

About the Author

Linore Rose Burkard is a serious watcher of period films, a Janeite, and hopeless romantic. An award winning author best known for Inspirational Regency Romance, her first book opened the genre for the CBA. Besides historical romance, Linore writes contemporary suspense (The Pulse Effex Series, as L.R. Burkard), contemporary romance (Falling In), and romantic short stories. Linore has a magna cum laude English Lit. degree from CUNY which she earned while taking herself far too seriously. She now resides in Ohio with her husband and family, where she turns her youthful angst into character or humor-driven plots.

More from Linore

Miss Tavistock experiences a frightening crush at the Prince Regent’s palace (Carlton House) toward the end of the book which leads to a romantically pivotal scene. But many readers don’t know that what happened that day at the palace really happened.

Here’s the scoop:

The fete in June of 1811 was the Prince of Wales’ first real chance to celebrate his becoming Regent in February of that year in the lavish style he loved.

Like Miss Tavistock, many in the haut ton anxiously coveted invitations. At first reserved only for the peerage and their offspring, by the time of the event, more than 2,000 invitations had been issued to all classes. The details in the story regarding the enormous preparations really happened, and much, much, more.

Since our heroine was not able to garnish an invitation to the actual grand banquet, the extraordinary magnificence of the décor, food, and costume of that night had to be excluded from the book. But it was an unprecedented display, and both amazed and perplexed the guests.

The prince was so happy with his lavish spectacle that he wished to share it with the public. The unruly crowd described in the book happened on the third day following the banquet. It was reported that more than 30,000 people tried to crowd their way in that day. Men and women lost hats, bonnets, coats, shawls, shoes, and even their under clothing. London papers afterwards claimed there were great tubs at Carlton House filled with all the lost items. Our beleaguered heroine escapes with only her shoes and bonnet missing, but her stockings and gown are torn. Perfect situation to be rescued from!

Contemporaries both praised and harshly criticized the affair. It was described as “an assemblage of beauty, splendor and profuse magnificence,” by admirers, but as one of the princes’ “greatest follies and extravagances,” by detractors.³

If you’re not previously familiar with the Prince Regent (later George IV), this might give you an idea as to why I sometimes find him too irresistible a figure to leave out of a Regency novel. His extravagance, flamboyance and tempestuous lifestyle are just too ripe fodder to ignore. Though he doesn’t appear in Miss Tavistock, I have numerous scenes in my first Regency series where he interacts with Phillip Mornay, ‘the Paragon,’ and hero of the books.

NOTE: This post is an abbreviated account of the event, which is included in more detail at the back of the book.

Question: Have you ever been trapped in a crowd? What was it like?