"A Stranger at Fellsworth" by Sarah E. Ladd

Annabelle Thorley must make a decision. Her father has passed away amidst rumors of underhanded business dealings, and her brother's gambling debts are sinking the family further into ruin. Now her brother is leaning on her to marry a rich but repulsive - and possibly abusive - man. With her choices diminished to being forced into marriage or running away, Annabelle chooses to be brave and seek out her mother's brother for asylum. As a school superintendent at far away Fellsworth, surely he will keep her safe and help her start a new life.

Fortune seems to smile on Annabelle as she makes the acquaintance of Owen Locke, a gamekeeper from the Fellsworth area who knows her uncle and seems like an honorable man. Annabelle begs his help and his secrecy in making an escape before her choices are made for her.

Owen is a hardworking man who wants to become a landowner with better hopes for the future than his current lowly occupation. A widower with a young daughter, he's faithful and loyal to what he believes is right. Seeing the situation that Annabelle is in, Owen agrees to help her travel to the safety of her uncle's care. 

Warmly received by her Uncle Edmund and trying to settle in as an under teacher at Fellsworth, Annabelle is relieved but also challenged by her new less than privileged status. She's cheered by new acquaintances and also the steady friendship of Mr. Locke. But her past is not ready to release her yet. Her brother is looking for her, determined to use her for his own schemes.

This is quite an adventure story! It has plenty of action and a cast of characters who draw you in with the strength of their courage. I was quite captivated and had a hard time putting the book down. This is another great Regency novel by Sarah Ladd!

I received my copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.

"Her Dearly Unintended" by Regina Jennings

Katie Ellen likes to keep things orderly and within her control. One thing she can't control - Josiah Huckabee and his strange behavior towards her. Once she thought he must have been sweet on her, but ever since their kiss at the church picnic two years ago he's seemed distant and skittish. A series of Ozark mountain gully washers leaves Katie Ellen stranded while her parents are out of town, but she's not alone. Josiah managed to be on her side of the creek before the bridge washed out, as well as a stranger whose intentions are quite questionable.

Determined that no one is going to hurt Katie Ellen, Josiah tells the stranger that she's his wife. He wants to make her his wife pretty soon anyway, even if she is contrary and stubborn as all get out. Can they manage to keep up the charade of being married long enough for the stranger to be on his way? 

This novella is short and amusing, though I wouldn't say it's the author's best work. It's a fun premise, and it's nice to read Josiah's story after having gotten to know him in the Ozark Mountain Romance series. Those are novels I'd recommend for fans of funny historical fiction.