Scan barcode
andrea_author's review
5.0
For years governess Allegra has entertained her charges with stories of her fictional sea-captain lover. After a misunderstanding, disgraced solicitor-turned-chef John agrees to play the role for the summer. Afterward, they'll go their separate ways—unless they fall in love for real.
This book has all the humor, charm, and vivid characters I expect from Erica Ridley. It's a quick, fun read that will melt your heart.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
This book has all the humor, charm, and vivid characters I expect from Erica Ridley. It's a quick, fun read that will melt your heart.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
loganslovelylibrary's review
5.0
My first foray into Erica Ridley’s books was a smashing success!! I absolutely ADORED An Affair By The Sea. Alegra is a lovely main character and she’s such a strong and independent woman. Her romance with John was so great too and I loved that they were able to explore their passions and careers together.
hookedbythatbook's review
5.0
The writing is captivating and entertaining, the plot flows well, and it will have you smiling throughout.
Allegra Brown is counting down the days until her 30th birthday. On that auspicious day she will receive a small inheritance and she can finally be out from under her uncle’s mean thumb. In addition to being an exceptional pianist, Allegra has a wild imagination, and she has been telling stories to her cousins about her fictional fiancé, the dashing and daring pirate Captain L’Amour.
John Sharp, lawyer extraordinaire, has a dream of owning his own tea shop. After a disastrous attempt in London, he has made his way to Brighton to adjust his meticulous plan. He inadvertently confirms that he is indeed the infamous Captain L’Amour in a chance encounter with Allegra and her cousins. Just how far will John and Allegra take this deception?
I had so much fun reading this novella. Allegra and John were immediately taken with each other and had no trouble perpetuating the story of Captain L’Amour. In fact, it provided a handy cover for both of them to behave differently than they normally would have. They supported each other in their respective dreams and the chemistry between them was great. I loved the completely outrageous stories about the illustrious captain and her cousins’ attempts at giving them private time together.
I can definitely recommend this for historical romance lovers. Erica Ridley just has a magical way of making novellas work.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
allieveryday's review
4.0
Absolutely delightful.
I was invested just a few pages in and all the way through. Ridley wrote a sweet and funny romance with two brilliant, lovable leads, neither of which I could find fault with. Even the side characters are hilarious.
The stakes are kind of high but the tone was light, there was no unnecessary break up, and the "villain" was believably... not absolved but explained and didn't end up being a total tyrant.
John is a solicitor turned chef, Allegra is a governess with a love for the pianoforte and I loved that that was so believably them. In many romance novels characters tend to have "their thing", their hobby or interest or passion, but it doesn't truly feel like a part of them, just something to make them for human. But here it feels real.
Ridley uses romance tropes, mainstays, "reasons", perfectly.
I was invested just a few pages in and all the way through. Ridley wrote a sweet and funny romance with two brilliant, lovable leads, neither of which I could find fault with. Even the side characters are hilarious.
The stakes are kind of high but the tone was light, there was no unnecessary break up, and the "villain" was believably... not absolved but explained and didn't end up being a total tyrant.
John is a solicitor turned chef, Allegra is a governess with a love for the pianoforte and I loved that that was so believably them. In many romance novels characters tend to have "their thing", their hobby or interest or passion, but it doesn't truly feel like a part of them, just something to make them for human. But here it feels real.
Ridley uses romance tropes, mainstays, "reasons", perfectly.
rainelle_barrett's review
4.0
An Affair by the Sea, by Erica Ridley. How is possible for one to have fun reading a book? I believe that It has to do with the writer. This beautiful romantic love story was exceptionally charming. All the characters, except for maybe one or two were joyous and happy.
They looked for the good in people as well as for the ones that they loved, to be happy. The two that pushed this movement the most are Dorsca and Portia, Allegra’s cousins. They were so supportive of Allegra. They wanted her to live her life to be happy and in love with her betrothed. When Not-Captain L’Amour fell into the scene it was fireworks and flowers petals falling all around Allegra.
I enjoyed how the fake romance kicked off between the two. Erica brought fun entertainment and exciting fun to this love story. The story was light and witty, these elements made the story easy to read. Keeping the background story simple also added to the story being a page turner. Until next time my fellow readers… read on.
They looked for the good in people as well as for the ones that they loved, to be happy. The two that pushed this movement the most are Dorsca and Portia, Allegra’s cousins. They were so supportive of Allegra. They wanted her to live her life to be happy and in love with her betrothed. When Not-Captain L’Amour fell into the scene it was fireworks and flowers petals falling all around Allegra.
I enjoyed how the fake romance kicked off between the two. Erica brought fun entertainment and exciting fun to this love story. The story was light and witty, these elements made the story easy to read. Keeping the background story simple also added to the story being a page turner. Until next time my fellow readers… read on.
glo68's review
5.0
Smart and funny Allegra has raised her young cousins herself, despite being only ten years older than them, and has filled their life with music, joy and tales of her fictitious fiancé, a dashing and romantic pirate. She’s happy that her beloved cousins are going to believe in love, even if she knows she’ll never have a real lover. But what if the one she invented is more real than she’d ever imagined?
John is a successful solicitor who likes to be prepared for every contingency. His dream is to become a chef and own a place of his own, but after a stroke of bad luck he’s afraid of trying again. He prefers his life orderly and predictable, but little does he know that he’s about to be swept away by chaos…
Erica Ridley pens a wonderful rendition of the “opposites attract” trope, a funny, witty, refreshing novella with some veritable laughing-out-loud slapstick comedy scenes! But the romantic part is not neglected, of course, and the characters have an instantaneous attraction and great chemistry. I loved this little work of art wholeheartedly!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
John is a successful solicitor who likes to be prepared for every contingency. His dream is to become a chef and own a place of his own, but after a stroke of bad luck he’s afraid of trying again. He prefers his life orderly and predictable, but little does he know that he’s about to be swept away by chaos…
Erica Ridley pens a wonderful rendition of the “opposites attract” trope, a funny, witty, refreshing novella with some veritable laughing-out-loud slapstick comedy scenes! But the romantic part is not neglected, of course, and the characters have an instantaneous attraction and great chemistry. I loved this little work of art wholeheartedly!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
justina7cab's review
3.0
For the most part I liked it, and if goodreads had half stars I wouldn't have rated this 3.5. It was charming and at times funny, it just felt slow at times... maybe it's just that while I'm used to dramatic (tragic) inevitability, I'm not used to it in the romance genre, where I know they're going to have a HEA
mischlama's review
4.0
Es hat mich sehr an das eine Tessa Dare erinnert - ausgedachter Verlobter taucht plötzlich auf und bringt alle Pläne durcheinander...love it
lianareadsblog's review
4.0
And how much fire did the kitchen catch ?
This story is so entertaining and hilarious and interesting at the same time. I love that it's set in Brighton, aka my home. And the mix of characters was perfectly thought. Who thought that a governess will bring a courtroom man on his knees while he’s learning to cook and she’s trying to get away with her lifetime lie about a fake fiancé, and pirate at that?
Fake relationship is really my jam, and this story has everything I was looking for in a historical romance. Commoners characters with normal jobs, a very steamy chemistry that catches fire every time these two interact and a love story that will never cannot fulfil a romantic heart
Very grateful to the publisher for my review copy
This story is so entertaining and hilarious and interesting at the same time. I love that it's set in Brighton, aka my home. And the mix of characters was perfectly thought. Who thought that a governess will bring a courtroom man on his knees while he’s learning to cook and she’s trying to get away with her lifetime lie about a fake fiancé, and pirate at that?
Fake relationship is really my jam, and this story has everything I was looking for in a historical romance. Commoners characters with normal jobs, a very steamy chemistry that catches fire every time these two interact and a love story that will never cannot fulfil a romantic heart
Very grateful to the publisher for my review copy