The Imagined Attachment

by Holli Jo Monroe

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She should be reconciling herself to spinsterhood, not falling for the baronet next door…

Miss Elaine Brooke has always spent more time daydreaming than actually living. With no fortune and no suitors, she is back from school and determined to face the reality of a quiet, lonely life. But an encounter with Daniel Ashburn, her childhood best friend and lifelong infatuation, sets her dreaming again. Soon she is imagining a very different life as Mrs. Ashburn.

Sir Phillip Ashburn has an estate to manage and a troublesome brother to marry off. He won't let a penniless neighbor ruin everything by turning Daniel's head. Intent on keeping Miss Brooke away from his brother, Phillip sets out to monopolize her time. Despite their disagreements, Phillip soon begins to wonder if she is more than a problem to be solved.

As Phillip starts to question all his assumptions, Elaine realizes he isn't quite what she imagined. Could she possibly have set her heart on the wrong Ashburn?

Jane Austen meets Sabrina in this sweet Regency romance.

The Imagined Attachment is the first in The Bath Schoolmates series but can be read as a standalone.

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Book Details

Genre

Historical Romance

Subgenre

Regency (1811–1820)

Series

The Bath Schoolmates • Book 1

Audience

Adult

Bell Peppers

🫑

Profanity

2 Mild

Violence

1 None

Drugs, Alcohol, Tobacco

2 Mild

Publication Date

April 28, 2022

Language Versions

English

Narration Type

Human

Fiction Form

Novel

Sensitive Themes

Grief or loss of a loved one

Representation

Depictions of prayer, worship, or scripture, Neurodivergent representation (e.g., Autism, ADHD)

Coming of age

A sweet story of growing out of childish fairytale dreams and into a mature love. The tension between two brothers is the structure this narrative turns on. Elaine’s relationship with Philip is authentic but I thought Daniel’s character was a bit undercooked. The supporting cast is well drawn, and I really liked the friendship between Elaine and Miss Talbot. It was great to see a female friendship not deterred by romantic rivalry.

Fun, charming, Sabrina

This was a fun read, a light little romance, and I love Sabrina, so that was a plus. I would read this author again.

Delightful and engrossing!

This book is just lovely from start to finish. The author does a wonderful job of establishing the characters and setting so you feel like you are right there with them. She writes in a way that helps you picture the scenes perfectly. The dialogue is charming and witty, the pacing moves the story along in a way that makes for an easy read that you wish wouldn’t end. I agree with the “combination of Jane Austen and Sabrina” description, so fans of either/both will especially enjoy the story. At the same time it’s unique, and there is just enough of a teaser mention of the fellow Bath Schoolmates that makes me anxious to read the next in the series! An absolutely delightful debut from a talented new author.

Enjoyed Reading Imagined Attachment!

A well written sweet romance that not only held my attention it made me happy to read. I was able to visualize the setting without detailed descriptions which allowed me to use my imagination and keep my focus on the story. I am looking forward the next Bath Schoolmates book.

A great read!

[4.5 stars]I really enjoyed this book! It’s highly engaging with excellent character and relationship development. I docked it half a star because the ending became drawn out with excessive miscommunication and misinterpreted situations, but as a whole it was still most excellent.The book starts with a tangle of relationships and affections. There’s a love triangle with Philip as the grumpy and awkward 4th wheel. His attempts to steer his daydreaming neighbor away from his flirtatious brother backfire on him, as he begins to develop his own feelings for her instead. Their relationship is very well written and realistically built.I’m not one to appreciate miscommunication in romance novels, so I did start to get a little annoyed as one misinterpreted scenario was set up after another (the last 25% of the book is full of them)… But I was certainly invested enough at that point to push through, and I strongly recommend the book regardless.Content:There is no foul language, sex, or violence. The romance is limited to chaste kisses. The is no real mention of faith or God.