"For fans of Regency romances"

In 1793 the three preadolescent aristocratic heirs sign in blood the charter of the Free Fellow League, which includes amongst its rules not to marry unless there is no choice until they reach thirty. Instead Griffin Abernathy, Colin McElreath, and Jarrod Sheperdston plan to become England's greatest heroes. By 1813, three males in their mid twenties join the league while recently two of the founding fathers (BARELY A BRIDE Griffin Abernathy and MERELY THE GROOM Colin McElreath) have married.

In 1813 Helford Green, England, the new Rector displaces Sarah Eckersley and her aunt without warning. Rather than beg, Sarah heads to London to ask her childhood friend Jarrod to train her into becoming a courtesan so she can earn a living. Jarrod refuses as he knows how innocent the daughter of a village vicar is, but is willing to help her avoid an undesirable marriage. However, he never expected to fall in love with Sarah, who has always unrequitedly loved Jarrod.

Regency romance fans will enjoy the third Free Fellow League Regency romance starring two wonderful protagonists. Jarrod has been the ring leader of the bachelor club while Sarah is a sweet sensual young woman who has always left him gasping for air. The behavior of the new rector and his family appears outrageous, yet they add a social caste feel to the era. Fans will enjoy Rebecca Hagan Lee's latest fun tale even as the male members of the League in some ways seem interchangeable.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted September 10, 2004

Summary

The stubbornly single men of the Free Fellows League are slowly succumbing to the wiles of the fairer sex. And just as in Barely a Bride and Merely a Groom, one more defiant bachelor is about to fall...

On this, the seventh day of January in the year of Our Lord 1793, we, the sons and heirs to the oldest and most esteemed titles and finest families of England and Scotland, do found and charter our own Free Fellows League. The League is dedicated to the proposition that sons and heirs to great titles and fortunes, who are duty bound to marry in order to beget future sons and heirs, should be allowed to avoid the inevitable leg-shackling to a female for as long as possible...