Before the Season Ends
I've been trying to expand my reading horizons lately, and have (for the most part) enjoyed the change. Still it was a great treat to pick up Before the Season Ends by Linore Rose Burkard and come back to one of my favorite eras, 19th Century England.
I was intrigued from the opening lines,
Something would have to be done about Ariana. All winter, Miss Ariana Forsythe, aged nineteen, had been going about the house sighing. "Mr. Hathaway is my lot in life!"
As it turns out, Ariana's family isn't quite convinced that Mr. Hathaway, a rector in his late fifties, is God's plan for her. She soon finds herself in London for a season with her wealthy and widowed aunt. A literal run in with the scheming Lady Covington leads to an unexpected tie with the roguish (handsome, and rich) Phillip Mornay. Can Ariana's faith withstand her being thrown into the fire of London society?
Pride and Prejudice fans might argue that the Ariana/Phillip romance is a replica of the relationship between Lizzy and Darcy. Certainly, Phillip reminded me of Darcy. However, since I genuinely adore Darcy, I didn't mind the similarities one bit. And I must admit that the storyline took a turn I didn't quite expect.
All in all, I thought Before the Season Ends was a delightful read. I'm eager for the sequel, The House in Grosvenor Square to see how the story ends.
Melissa has been captivated by books for as long as she can remember. She resides in Virginia and at her blog, Breath of Life.
Thanks to the wonderful staff at Harvest House Publishers, you have the opportunity to win both books as part of our Summer Giveaway (U.S. addresses only). Leave a comment on this post if you'd like to be eligible to win this book.
Click on the banner above to enter our other Summer Fun Giveaways. All winners will be announced on June 11.
Filed under Christian, Fiction, Historical, Melissa by 
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Comments on Before the Season Ends
Brittany @ 7:42 pm
This is actually outside of my normal reading selections, so it would be great to try something new!
MJ @ 8:07 pm
These sound great!
Thanks!
mj.coward[at]gmail.com
Cheryl S. @ 9:37 pm
I'd love to read these books – please count me in!
Thanks,
megalon22[at]yahoo[dot]com
TCKK @ 10:03 pm
I would love a chance to win!
Angela C. @ 10:55 pm
I've never read anything by her. I would love to win. Thanks for the giveaway.
accoupons at gmail dot com
Holly @ 11:02 pm
I read the second and enjoyed it. I need to read this one.
Carrie C. @ 11:03 pm
These books sound very interesting and would love to read them. Count me in!
Lethea Benson @ 11:09 pm
I would enjoy these books~
Thanks!
Deanna @ 6:54 am
Trying to expand one's reading horizons can sometimes be difficult. I know. I tend to gravitate towards a certain genre.
Please count me in on this giveaway. I would love to give this book a read.
JDSG @ 6:57 am
I love books where the story line takes a turn we don't expect.
JDSG
visionquest2020 (at) msn (dot) com
LT @ 7:38 am
These sound great! Thanks for the chance to win.
Dena @ 9:24 am
These sound great to read! THANKS!
Amy Reads Good Books @ 9:45 am
Looks like these will both be fun reads. Thanks for the giveaway!
skoots1mom @ 1:28 pm
i love 19th century reads, too!
put me in please
Carolyn S @ 1:51 pm
These books sound delightful. I love stories set in 19th century England. Definitely, takes me away…
thanks so much for sharing
ceashark at aol dot com
Linda @ 3:26 pm
Definitely would love to win these books. Heard a lot about The House in Grosvenor Square, but the first one. Please enter me in the contest. Thank you. Great summer reading!
veedee @ 3:55 pm
I would love to read both books, thanks!
Debbie @ 4:59 pm
They sound great. Another author I have never heard of and never read one of her books. I hope I win, I could use some new summer reading material.
Annmarie W. @ 5:04 pm
I love to read historical fiction…I love the feeling of being "taken away" from my current life for a bit!
Angie @ 7:47 pm
any book tickles my fancy!
gaby317 @ 9:03 pm
Sounds good – evokes the Pride and Prejudice characters but doesn't quite imitate…now I'm intrigued!
gaby317nyc AT gmail DOT com
Janice @ 3:28 am
Sounds good…I want to read it too.
susan varney @ 9:22 am
i definitely want to win mverno@roadrunner.com
Framed @ 9:55 am
I'm in the mood for and Pride and Prejudice type book. I'll have to look into this one.
meredith @ 1:12 pm
My mom would love this.
Ann Fantom @ 6:47 pm
This sounds like an interesting book. Please enter me.
clemens @ 8:53 pm
throw my name in that hat. i want to win this book
Anita Yancey @ 9:31 pm
These books sound wonderful. Would love to read them. Please enter me.
Richard Deyarmond @ 11:37 pm
Sounds like a good read
jen w. @ 12:24 am
This book sounds like it's just my speed! I would love to win a copy-
Carol Lawrence @ 6:42 am
Enter me in the book giveaway,always willing to try a new genre.
Kim @ 7:51 am
I'd love this!
Kim @ 7:52 am
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Valerie Mabrey @ 9:22 am
I need some summer reading!
Jenn S. @ 9:46 am
Sounds like a good read. Count me in!
Carol G @ 9:46 am
I like Regencies, so these would probably be a good addition.
Michelle @ 10:36 am
These sound like lovely books. I'd love to win these. Thanks for the giveaway!
DeeAnn S @ 12:20 pm
Pride and Prejudice with a twist? OK – I'm hooked! Thanks.
Michaela Riedersberger @ 2:12 pm
I would love to win these! Thanks for the contest <3
michele anne @ 2:46 pm
another great giveaway…hope i win
Gail @ 3:43 pm
Sounds good, I'd like to be in for this please!
Melissa P @ 9:19 pm
I love, love, love historical novels!
Marla Taviano @ 10:14 pm
I'd love to win! Thanks!
Nicole C. @ 9:33 am
These both sound great!!
cris @ 11:40 am
my neighbor would love this (after I had a chance to read it!)
Jen @ 12:58 pm
This looks like a great book. Thanks for offering!
Dixie @ 5:12 pm
This sounds like a delightful book-and a chance to win the sequel! Count me in.
southrngal(at)gmail(dot)com
Vicky Boackle @ 9:31 pm
i would love to read these books.
KRistin @ 12:42 am
I love Jane Austen and would love to read this book!
quiltingreader @ 2:58 am
Sounds good.
Jenny Martin @ 12:35 pm
I would love to read these!
Tarah @ 1:53 pm
I'm always looking for a great read!
Susan C @ 3:25 pm
These sound fun and romantic-perfect for the beach!
GAhome2mom @ 4:00 pm
I would so love to read Before the Season. Thanks.
gahome2mom at gmail dot com
Elizabeth Sprague @ 5:01 pm
Sounds like a book I'd enjoy!
Kristin @ 5:02 pm
They sound like great reads!
Diane F @ 5:13 pm
I need some good reading for this summer!
Catherine @ 10:43 pm
Thanx for the contest
Michele @ 1:48 pm
That's a great era for a book…this looks like it would be fun to read.
Rita @ 7:17 pm
Good for my granddaughter! Thank you!
Mozi Esmes Mommy @ 7:40 pm
I really really want to read this!
Sue @ 11:19 pm
This sounds nice
sarah @ 9:49 am
enter me!
jan koontz @ 11:29 am
just to cool
Michael Capp @ 11:46 am
I'd love to win!
Kiley @ 6:59 pm
I love to read! This would be a wonderful summer read for me! Thank you so much for letting me enter!
Maria Delgado @ 7:07 pm
I have never heard of these books! It sounds like it would be great to have something new to read!
CINDY @ 7:32 pm
sounds like a great book~
Sandy Y @ 9:35 pm
This sounds like a great read!
nfmgirl @ 9:58 pm
Awesome! Please count me in. Thank you!
Pamela S. @ 11:09 pm
I like period romances so this sounds great to me. thanks for the giveaway.
Becky @ 12:37 pm
Sounds like a great book
alycep @ 4:47 pm
These would both be great for me to read for the summer and then pass them along to the assited living center-they love books, especially like these.
karen k @ 5:39 pm
Please add my name to the list…sounds like a great read. thanks.
kmkuka(at)yahoo(dot)com
Carlene @ 6:10 pm
Please include me in your giveaway.
Thanks
Carlene
iluvreading(at)verizon.net
Christina Brunetti @ 7:30 pm
I would love to read this.
Thanks,
darkfyre1(at)gmail(dot)com
Valorie @ 9:53 pm
I love historical fiction!
Janelle @ Brimful Curiosities @ 11:56 pm
Sounds like my kind of read!
Marianna @ 2:06 pm
Thanks for the chance to win!
scottsgal @ 4:54 pm
these sound wonderful – please count me in
Daniel M @ 1:18 pm
always looking for something new/interesting to read
DEBIJOT @ 9:18 pm
Always love a new book. Thanks
Heather H @ 11:26 am
I'd like to read this one for sure!
Beth @ 12:31 pm
How great that would be to win BOTH books! Thanks.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net
Andria @ 1:37 pm
I would love a chance to win. Thank you.
Elli @ 2:36 pm
sounds like a great summer read!
Susan Smith @ 10:18 pm
Sounds like a good book
Kathy D @ 10:46 pm
What a fun read…..
Christine Walker @ 11:49 pm
I would love to read this!
Erma H @ 6:35 am
I would love the chance to win this, thanks.
Deedles @ 9:37 am
Sounds like an interesting read.
Brenda Park @ 12:20 pm
These books sound like something I'd really like , but then I'd read anything!
Thanks for the chance to win!
Tammy @ 1:48 pm
I love period time books like this one
Marie @ 3:19 pm
These look great, I would love to read them!
Gabriel J. @ 5:56 pm
Great read!
Ellie W @ 7:52 pm
I've been reading mostly mystery/thrillers for a while and I need something different. Please enter me.
eswright18 at gmail dot com
Auriette @ 10:21 pm
The first romance novel I ever read was a Regency, and I have a special place in my heart for the time period.
Chrysa @ 11:57 pm
Looks great! Thanks for the giveaway!
Melanie @ 12:26 am
Being a fan of Pride and Prejudice, I really wouldn't mind reading a story that is similar to it!
angie @ 12:27 am
This sounds like a great book.
Jessica @ 2:54 am
I would also like to read these books.
Rachel Robertson @ 4:09 am
I love timepiece books as they bring you into another time and place and let you dream.
Steve M. @ 7:26 am
Saucy! Ribald!
Ann @ 8:42 am
It does sound like a wonderful summer book.
Veronica Garrett @ 10:50 am
These books sound great. I would love to win.
kathy pease @ 12:15 pm
Thanks for the GREAT giveaway
please count me in
Tammy @ 2:13 pm
These sound like great stories – thanks for the chance to win.
Brittany Rebello @ 2:18 pm
Ive been dying to read this one!
Lily Kwan @ 4:52 pm
Please enter me into the contest. Thanks!
Sandy M @ 5:32 pm
Would love to read this..great reads
Ed Nemmers @ 6:01 pm
Happy June!