This HaBO request is from Michael, who wants to find this romance:
I read this story a few years ago, although it may have been published a few years before I read it. It was a later book in a series. I think the series at least in part followed a group of sisters. One thing that happens in the background in an earlier book in the series is that the sister’s parents reconcile after an extended estrangement. In this book the heroine says (probably to the hero) that she is happy that her parents are back together except that she keeps walking in on her parents having sex in various rooms of the house. She says that she is considering walking around carrying a bell to give her parents some advance warning of her approach.
The book is a historical romance set in 19th century England. I don’t recall what part of that century. I remember checking a couple of Lorraine Heath’s books when I was looking for this one.
Can we HaBO?
Could be a shorter Signet Mary Balogh? Will have to look at my bookshelf.
Damn, this one rings a bell. (har)
I wish I could search the contents of my Kindleblibrary and not just the titles.
Following.
I’m also following because the Balough suggestion is both intriguing and amusing.
THIS IS SO FAMILIAR TO ME. I’m pretty sure it’s not a Balogh, But I specifically remember the bel line and the heroine’s bemusement.
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@Laura I’m not sure why I thought of Balogh! LOL
Turns out the book I had in mind was A Counterfeit Betrothal, which features light-hearted younger couple and angsty second-chance for older couple (younger heroine’s parents). Maybe I was thinking she walked in on them during the epilogue after her parents were reconciled??
@MariaF ooooohhhhh I wanna read your suggestion! I’m all in for older couples getting a second chance Please tell me “older” isn’t 35 LOL
I think I recall one of Grace Burrowes historicals having a younger character comment on the older generation’s penchant for afternoon “naps”, but I don’t think anyone actually gets interrupted.
I’ve read almost of of Mary Balogh’s books, and I’m pretty sure it’s not one of hers. Kristan Higgins has a simililar scenario in one of her most recent books, but that’s definitely a contemporary and not a historical. Hope someone recognizes it!
@Laura it’s been a while since i read it, but i think the parents are in their early 40s or late 30s? Younger heroine may not yet be 20? i’m obviously very fuzzy on the details
Original requestor here. Tried to find the book by looking at Amazon book descriptions and then doing a word search on “bell” and “parent” in books that looked somewhat promising. Didn’t find the book.
For what it’s worth the authors where at least one book description looked promising enough to do a word search are Lorraine Heath, Megan Frampton, Mary Balogh, Lisa Kleypas, Sarah Maclean and Kelly Bowen.
Authors for whom I read at least one book description are Vivienne Lorret, Mimi Matthews, Julie Anne Long, Valerie Bowman, Eloisa James, Loretta Chase, Tessa Dare, and Courtney Milan.
I think the authors I listed above should be the complete list of possible authors. And I’m pretty sure I csn eliminate Julie Anne Long and Valerie Bowman as possibilities.
Not that that helps all that much. Whatever the book is, it doesn’t seem like anything obvious to check just on the book description.
I keep thinking about this one because I know I’ve read it, or I’ve read a similar scene. Maybe it’s a minor trope?
I did try to search for it, but I’ve read so many books and so many series.
Here’s what’s coming to my mind, and I’m wondering if this resonates with the OP. (Again, may be similar scenes in different books.)
Sibling who makes comment is younger in the first few books, not old enough to be Out. When she makes the comment, she is either just starting to make social rounds or a few years away from it. She gets her own book.
Either parents reconnected, or widowed mom has a new romance.
I just re-read some Janna McGregor books, and they feature a mother who remarried and a younger sibling who gets her own book. Unfortunately, I don’t seem to own the books in which the mother had her romance (was a sub-plot of book 2 or 3 of the series, I think), so I can’t check to see if it was Daphne of the Cavensheim Heiresses who said it.
@Sara
It’s not Janna McGregor because I haven’t read anything by that author.
I think (although I can’t be completely sure) that the sibling is making the comment in her own book. It definitely is estranged parents reconciling.
Mary Jo Putney’s The Lost Lords series? Specifically the father in book 1.
@Deveau
I haven’t read anything by Mary Jo Putney.