An Unconventional Countess: A Regency Historical Romance

An Unconventional Countess is the first book by Jenni Fletcher in her newest series, Regency Belles of Bath which is set around a biscuit shop in Bath. I’m a big fan of Ms. Fletcher’s writing and this book was absolutely fantastic! I can’t wait for Henrietta and Sebastian’s story! Annabelle “Anna” Fortini owns and operated one of the finest biscuit shops in Bath. Anna dislikes and believes all aristocracy are not to be trusted, even though she is the granddaughter of a Duke. Anna’s mother was disowned from her family years ago when she ran away and married an Italian footman for love… Captain Samuel Delaney has been back in England for four months on sick leave. Now that his injury has recovered, he’s still not able to go back to the Navy. His life is on hold waiting to see if he will be inheriting an earldom, that he really doesn’t want. Feeling bored, melancholy, and homesick for his ship has Samuel going with an old friend to “Belles of Bath”. What an absolutely fabulous couple and setting! From the moment this couple first meets, you sense an attraction between them, although neither one is looking for a relationship, they are drawn to each other. For Anna, she’s been running the family business ever since her father died and helping to take care of her ailing mother. The business is a tiring job and although she is grateful for what she has, she can’t help but sometimes feel trapped at the never-ending work. She is an intelligent, capable, strong-willed and very direct young woman. She was a wonderful character and I loved her personality from the start! As for Samuel, he’s a handsome, kind and honorable man who just wants to return to his ship. He never wanted or expected to inherit an earldom and is struggling with the wait not knowing what the outcome will be. I loved watching this couple get to know each other and learn to trust and love one another. Ms. Fletcher did an outstanding job with Samuel & Anna’s story! As always, her writing is flawless with wonderful secondary characters and a storyline that had me struggling to put this book down. I also have to make a special mention to Samuel’s grandmother, Lady Jarrow, she was a fabulous secondary character who deserves her own story! An absolutely fantastic start to this series that I highly recommend!