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Midsummer Eve at Rookery End (Regency Rakes and Rebels Book 1) Kindle Edition

3.6 out of 5 stars 104 ratings

A delightful anthology of Regency romance short stories.



Midsummer Eve is the traditional time for love divination, when gentlemen and ladies can hope to meet their true love.


Lord and Lady Allingham hold a lavish ball every year at their country estate to celebrate this ancient custom. These five elegantly crafted tales of love and passion take place in this romantic setting in Regency England.


The Virtuous Courtesan - A valuable portrait sparks a series of events that culminate in Lord and Lady Allingham’s extraordinary first meeting.


Siren's Daughter - Following her disagreeable aunt's demise, Deborah King attends the midsummer ball where she encounters Sir Benedict Catesby. Can Deborah and Sir Benedict overcome past bitterness and let love triumph second time around?


Blue Figured Silk - The handsome Marquess of Shaftesbury is renowned as a rake and a gambler. When the Marquess arranges an assignation with an attractive widow in the garden, his encounter does not turn out as he expected...


A Scandal at Midnight - Young governess Verity Brook accompanies Miss Amelia Gardiner to Rookery End and receives a shocking letter. Verity must act to avoid a scandal, but the only person she can turn to is the arrogant Sir Tristan Millforte - the nonpareil Amelia is to marry.


Love’s Thorne - A wily valet lends a helping hand when Captain Simon Russell’s future happiness is at stake.

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Product description

From the Back Cover

Midsummer Eve at Rookery End (The Complete Collection)
An anthology of five Regency short stories

The Virtuous Courtesan - A valuable portrait sparks a series of events that culminate in Lord and Lady Allingham's extraordinary first meeting.

Siren's Daughter - Following her disagreeable aunt's demise, Deborah King attends the midsummer ball where she encounters Sir Benedict Catesby. Can Deborah and Sir Benedict overcome past bitterness and let love triumph second time around?

Blue Figured Silk - The handsome Marquess of Shaftesbury is renowned as a rake and a gambler. When the Marquess arranges an assignation with an attractive widow in the garden, his encounter does not turn out as he expected...

A Scandal at Midnight - Young governess Verity Brook accompanies Miss Amelia Gardiner to Rookery End and receives a shocking letter. Verity must act to avoid a scandal, but the only person she can turn to is the arrogant Sir Tristan Millforte - the nonpareil Amelia is to marry.

Love's Thorne - A wily valet lends a helping hand when Captain Simon Russell's future happiness is at stake.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01BXS84DM
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Midsummer Hill Publishing
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ 18 Feb. 2016
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ 2nd
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 603 KB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 189 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 2 ‏ : ‎ Regency Rakes and Rebels
  • Customer reviews:
    3.6 out of 5 stars 104 ratings

About the author

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Elizabeth Hanbury
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Elizabeth Hanbury is a best selling author of warm and witty Regency romance for UK and US publishers.

A member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association and Society of Authors, Elizabeth drinks too much tea and is addicted to cake, long walks and anything that makes her laugh. She lives in a village in the heart of England and writes whenever she can sneak away to her desk.

Visit her website at www.elizabethhanbury.com to find out more.

Customer reviews

3.6 out of 5 stars
104 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers enjoy this collection of Regency romance tales, finding them light and enjoyable. The writing quality receives positive feedback, with one customer highlighting the witty dialogue.

7 customers mention ‘Romance’7 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the romantic tales in this collection, describing them as light and enjoyable, with one customer particularly appreciating the premise of love at first sight.

"...you only have time for a brief escape and I really enjoyed this series of Regency set tales...." Read more

"...Just a bit of fun really. The premise is love at first sight and it seems to work reasonably well here...." Read more

"...Midsummer's Eve at Rookery End has a beautiful title and engrossing collection of stories too...." Read more

"Gentle and enjoyable romance. Could be read by a youngster or 100 yr old - no bodice ripping here !" Read more

5 customers mention ‘Enjoyment’5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book enjoyable, with one describing it as a delicious interlude.

"...These are well written and complete in themselves." Read more

"...I enjoyed the collection thoroughly!" Read more

"...I normally don't read short stories, I read these by her and enjoyed every one." Read more

"A delicious interlude..." Read more

3 customers mention ‘Writing quality’3 positive0 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, with one mentioning its witty dialogue.

"...the action taking place at a lavish Midsummer Eve Ball, with lots of witty dialogue and period atmosphere...." Read more

"...These are well written and complete in themselves." Read more

"...Romantic and beautifully written." Read more

Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 12 January 2011
    I'm a big fan of short stories, they're just the thing when you only have time for a brief escape and I really enjoyed this series of Regency set tales. They have a unifying theme, the action taking place at a lavish Midsummer Eve Ball, with lots of witty dialogue and period atmosphere. My particular favourite was Blue Figured Silk and involved a Rake. Or is he?
    5 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 22 April 2014
    I have just found this author. I enjoyed these little short stories. Just a bit of fun really. The premise is love at first sight and it seems to work reasonably well here. These are well written and complete in themselves.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 9 December 2013
    It must be very difficult to write a novella. I'm more given to a full length story, but given I have already read some of Miss Hanbury's full lenth novels, A Midsummer's Eve at Rookery End has a beautiful title and engrossing collection of stories too.

    This edition has five stories and the last was my favourite, although all of them are strong in detail, character development and Miss Hanbury's trademark wit.

    I enjoyed the collection thoroughly!
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 4 September 2015
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Gentle and enjoyable romance. Could be read by a youngster or 100 yr old - no bodice ripping here !
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 20 December 2016
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    I am a fan of this author and although I normally don't read short stories, I read these by her and enjoyed every one.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 2 July 2015
    Disappointed, as I had expected something along the lines of Georgette Heyer. The stories are too brief to allow any real character development or plot twists.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 2 November 2013
    Was recommended by a friend to me and though new to this style of book, I thought the stories were well done. First and last stories were the best.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 23 March 2013
    This is poorly researched, full of anachronisms and not worth considering. Set against Georgette Heyer, it really is rubbishy stuff.
    One person found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • J. Gunnar Grey
    4.0 out of 5 stars tight, logical, delightful short stories
    Reviewed in the United States on 6 May 2012
    Three delightful short stories, with well-rounded characters, traditional Regency plotlines, and all taking place at the same Midsummer's Eve ball. These are the tight, logical sort of stories where you know the writer knew what she wanted to say prior to writing: there's no flailing around, no extraneous characters, and no writing herself into a corner then having the characters do something silly to get themselves out. The first story did require a bit of getting into on my part (not my normal literary fare) but once author Elizabeth Hanbury hit her stride, my enjoyment was real. Definitely an author I'll follow.
  • Misuzmama
    5.0 out of 5 stars A yummy midnight snack
    Reviewed in the United States on 14 July 2013
    A perfect combination of five short stories when your craving a regency romance fix and are short on time. They're delicious morsels of sigh-worthy romance with oh-so-yummy heros. There is something here for everyone; love at first sight, second chance romance, the rake and the nobody, the governess and the arrogant lord, and (my favorite!) the tongue tied hero. Love, love, love how Simon (Love's Thorne) can't string together two words properly in Helen's presence. Its fun seeing the big tough military man get all flustered by an itty bitty female. Good reading!

    Recommended. I enjoyed these stories thoroughly, and wish they were longer! I want more! (yes I'm greedy that way ;0)

    Other Hanbury favorites
    The Paradise Will
    Ice Angel
    A Bright Particular Star

    Some other short story favorites
    My Darling Echo Bride by Arrangement: Wedding of the Century/ Mismatched Hearts/ My Darling Echo
    The Widow's Auction Fantasy : The Widow's Auction; Luisa's Desire; Mr. Speedy; The Awakening (A Paranormal Romance Anthology)
    The Black Beast of Belleterre Christmas Revels
    Yuletide Treasure & Gabriel's Angel A Gift of Love : Double Exposure / Just Curious / Gabriel's Angel / Yuletide Treasure / Five Golden Rings
  • Kindle Customer
    3.0 out of 5 stars Short stories, no build up
    Reviewed in the United States on 30 April 2014
    I know short stories need to move along quickly but in each of these the couple knows they are in love as soon as they look at each other. They just 'know' the other is good, kind, sweet, perfect, etc. I would have liked the story to be long enough for an arc in the storyline.

    The stories had a good premise in each of them, but there was no substance. I felt that after reading one I had basically read all of them.

    I would love for the author to pick one of the stories and make it into a full story. I do think her writings are good and she could bring a full tale to life.
  • California Mom
    4.0 out of 5 stars A trio of romances
    Reviewed in the United States on 19 April 2012
    Another freebie on my kindle. As the description states, it's three short stories that all take place at the same ball. I thought it would be a fun, quick read, and it was. The stories were about the right length - I felt like I got to know the characters and the situations, there was enough development, and they all had satisfactory endings (didn't seem rushed). I liked the governess' story the best, maybe because it seemed the most original to me. All three stories were different, but similar enough that you could imagine them happening concurrently. A sweet collection.
  • Callie
    4.0 out of 5 stars Midsummer Eve at Rookery End
    Reviewed in the United States on 6 November 2012
    These are three short regency short stories that all occur at the same ball. This was my first experience reading this author but will certainly read more.She writes in such a way you learn about the characters even for such a short story. They each had different situations one couple had known each other before. She knows how to weave her words to keep your interest and to give you the HEA finish.

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