It Happened One Season

Written by Stephanie Laurens, Jacquie D'Alessandro, Candice Hern and Mary Balogh

Narrated by Simon Prebble and Anne Flosnik

New York Times bestselling historical romance superstars Stephanie Laurens and Mary Balogh, along with beloved fan favorites Jacquie D’Alessandro and Candice Hern—the four authors who brought you It Happened One Night—are back with It Happened One Season. Even more inventive than their bestselling first anthology, It Happened One Season presents four love stories set during an unforgettable Regency social season—each passion-rich novella based on the same themes chosen by readers during a month-long online contest…yet each one surprisingly, delightfully unique!

This innovative anthology of four novellas with the same plot is a must-read for fans of historical romance and period pieces.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperAudio
• Release date: Mar 29, 2011
• ISBN: 9780062082664

Stephanie Laurens

#1 New York Times bestselling author Stephanie Laurens began writing as an escape from the dry world of professional science, a hobby that quickly became a career. Her novels set in Regency England have captivated readers around the globe, making her one of the romance world's most beloved and popular authors.

Reviews for It Happened One Season

[deborahj2016 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I like the concept! Like Round-Robin writing, but with extra space to give good characterization.

[ladywesley · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Nice, but fairly meh set of short stories. The improbable set-up just didn't do anything for me. The best of the lot was Candice Hern's "Fate Strikes a Bargain," which was a moving story of one soldier's PTSD.

[bkluvr4evr · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

4 short stories all with similar plot basis. This was my first time reading stories like this but because Mary Balogh was one of the authors I was will to try. She is one of my favorites. I have read many of Stephanie Laurens books as well so I thought I would try it. I was pleasantly surprise by all four stories but I would have to say that even though I enjoyed them all the best was the last which was a completly unknown reader to me Candice Hern. I enjoyed her stories the most. Now I will also look for the other books they have done this way, sampler style. Great for when you need something quick.

[reesa00 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Four novellas - all four heros are military men (or former military men) who are second sons and now must marry because their elder brothers need an heir. There are a lot of female offspring between these four families!The first novella, Stephanie Laurens' was a disappointment. I kept putting it down and it took forever for me to finish. However, the remainder of the novellas are much, much better.The remaining three plot lines all featured tortured heros and just amazing heroines. The stories were wonderful and I wished they all could have been full length novels. So, skip the Stephanie Laurens novella or at least read it last because the rest of this anthology is pretty amazing.

[bookworm2bookworm · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I reviewed this book for Romance Reader At heart website:RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS: The first anthology from these amazing ladies, IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT was so good that I was eagerly awaiting their second endeavor with IT HAPPENED ONE SEASON. With the exception of Ms. D'Alessandro, all the other authors are on my keeper shelf, and I had very high expectations, which, I have to be honest, were met.As the above blurb states, this book offers four different stories with the same plot line. All four of the heroes are military men, while our heroines are wallflowers and have been firmly ‘on the shelf’. Since this is an anthology, I’ve decided to read ‘Fate Strikes a Bargain’ first, then from there on I went to ‘Only Love’, followed by ‘The Seduction of Sebastian Trantor’, leaving ‘Hope Springs Eternal’ for last, as I’m not familiar with the author. As of right now, I intend to correct that fact and familiarize myself with said author because I truly loved her contribution to this book.In ‘Fate Strikes a Bargain’, Candice Hern gives us Nathaniel Beckwith and Phillippa Reynolds. They meet while both are in hiding from the throng at a ball. It doesn’t take Nat long to realize that this charming, if not dazzling, woman is all that he needs in a wife, so he proposes to her on the spot, even after she tells him of her disability, a pronounced limp. And while they strike a bargain, it’s a bit more difficult convincing their respective families to go along with them, so they agree to court for the remainder of the Season, just to appease their family.I loved these two, and I wished the story was longer so that we’d learn more of Nat and his Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Philippa’s coping with her disability. However, for a short story, Ms. Hern has yet outdone herself. I thoroughly enjoyed this well told, warm and compelling love story.Mary Balogh’s ‘Only Love’ was so good, it made me cry. Our hero in this tale is Major Jack Gilchrist, and our heroine Cleo Pritchard, a war widow of unremarkable looks. Both are surprised and delighted to encounter each other at a ball as they’ve had a previous encounter long ago. Cleo’s husband was his commanding officer, and Jack was the one to break the sad news of her husband’s passing. During that brief moment of despair, they shared a kiss, which neither ever forgot.Jack, aware that he has to wed as soon as possible, decides to propose to her the day after the ball.Our heroine, being a practical person, has some doubts, so she proposes a counter offer of her own to our hero. She’ll accept his proposal on one condition only: if, by the end of the Season, it’s proven that she can conceive and give him an heir.What’s a man to do when given such a proposal? Read this sweet love story in which Ms. Balogh’s superb writing held me spellbound from the beginning to the end.‘The Seduction of Sebastian Trantor’ was Stephanie Laurens’ turn in introducing us to her own war hero, Sebastian Trantor, code breaker during the wars. As with the other hero’s, Sebastian must marry posthaste to prevent his cousin “Mad Freddie” from inheriting. Tabitha Makepeace has a mystery to solve in order to capture a blackmailer. Nothing will deter this young lady, not even a locked door of a library at a ball she’s attending. And that’s how she comes face-to-face with our hero, who is himself hiding in the same library. Since the evidence she uncovers is in code, Sebastian offers her his services; but they get discovered, and in order to save her reputation, Sebastian proposes to her on the spot and in front of witnesses. Both are in accord and are planning to use their sham of ‘betrothal’ as cover while in hot pursuit of the bad guys.As usual, Ms. Laurens’ heroine is sharp and witty, and we get drawn into a story of mystery and intrigue while rooting for our hero as he tries to convince his lady love that she’s the perfect wife material for him.And now we come to the last story, ‘Hope Springs Eternal’ by Jacquie D’Alessandro.Captain Alec Trentwell is a man on a mission to tell the truth of the death of Edward Markham, our heroine’s brother. He was her brother’s commander, and eaten with guilt, feels that in voicing the truth and his part in it, he will be set free. What our hero’s not counting on is the lust that he begins to feel towards our unassuming heroine.Penelope Markham is on a verge of destitution as she finds herself fired from her governess position. She’s also an aspiring artist, with no prospects in sight because of a scandal that happened in Italy as she attempted to sculpt a nude of a man. This is where our hero Alec comes in and attempts to come clean; but instead, guilt and attraction kicks in, so he offers her a commission to paint his portrait instead. That same night, however, while attending a ball in his honor, our hero feels compelled to offer for her hand, and she accepts.I loved the way this story developed, and I fell in love with Ms. D’Alessandro’s writing. Every page was filled with feeling, and you just couldn’t help but be drawn to Alec and Penelope’s tale of conflict and true love.While we found all four couples share the same fate, we’re given four unique stories of happily-ever-after that were well-written and compelling. All four couples were very likeable, and I would be hard-pressed to choose a favorite one. I liked them all equally.Each tale was well-written with three-dimensional characters, steady pacing, and I found them each unique in their own way. All of them could well stand on their own, and I would have gladly read them if they each had a book of their own.Melanie

[tarenn_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

IT HAPPENED ONE SEASON by Stephanie Laurens,Mary Balogh,Jacquie D'Alessandro and Candice Hern is an historical romance set in Regency England.It is four different stories written by four wonderful authors each with their unique writing style.It is about four returning,second titled Lords,who are battle scarred and weary,and four shy,unattractive,spinster lady's.The four hero's need to marry to carry on the family title as the older titled brothers all have girls.When there brothers ask them to marry to ensure the succession they do so for duty,and family but soon learn that marriage with the right lady will be no difficulty.The four heroine's are shy,unattractive to some,independent,have had a few Seasons with no suitor's.They are also forthright and out spoken with strong determination and no intentions of marriage until our four hero enter the picture.What a delightful book with four short stories of love,romance,sweet sensuality,by four unique,talented authors that will have you turning pages and wanting more.This is a historical romance event that to miss. It Happened One Season will have you memorized from the first page to the last page.A must read.This book was received for the purpose of review from Net Galley and the publisher and details can be found at Avon Books,an imprint of Harper Collins and My Book Addiction Reviews.

[bookwormygirl · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A reclusive former soldier, the younger brother of a titled lord, must marry in order to ensure the succession of his family line. The heroine is shy and/or unattractive and has never had a suitor. These are the underlying threads in the four stories you'll find that It Happened One Season revolve around. The fun part - each author uses this thread and the stories they weave are all so very unique and different from one another. The Seduction of Sebastian Trantor by Stephanie Laurens - Sebastian Trantor has no choice but to find himself a wife. His older brother has just had his fifth daughter and he knows that gh is the only one that can ensure the succession of the family line. When he meets Tabitha Makepeace she is trying to break into a desk at a ball that they are both attending. He immediately knows that the feisty and clever young lady is "wife material". He just has to convince her of that.Only Love by Mary Balogh - Cleo Pritchard is making the best out of her widowhood. Her belated husband was not a very nice man and she has found that, although she is alone, she can live with that. Plus, there is always the thought of a memorable kiss she shared years ago with Major Jack Gilchrist to keep her warm at night. When by chance Cleo bumps into Jack at a ball, she fibs, giving him the impression that she is content with her life. Jack, on the other hand, can't stop thinking about Cleo and that kiss they shared. Knowing that he must find a wife, he tries to woo Cleo into that role, but Cleo knows that Jack only wants an heir and she is not sure that she can have children. It will be up to Jack to convince Cleo that his feelings for her are true and an heir is the least of his worries.Hope Springs Eternal by Jacquie D’Alessandro - Alec Trentwell is still plagued by guilt over the death of Edward Markham. In fact, he feels that to make up for it, he must take care of Edward's sister, Penelope. But Penelope is nothing like what Alec imagined. She is a beautiful woman, an artist surrounded by scandal and in dire need of funds. Since she refuses his charity, Alec commissions her to paint his portrait, but when she is threatened by more scandal and ruin he does the only thing a gentleman would.. he proposes. But how will she feel about him once she learns the part that Alec played in her brother's death?Fate Strikes a Bargain by Candice Hern - Nathaniel Beckwith is in no mood to court the young ladies and their mama's in order to find himself a bride... thus he finds himself hiding behind a strategically-placed orange tree. But to his surprise, he meets Philippa Reynolds... also hiding behind said orange tree. Phillippa is there for different reasons... she has a disability that renders her unable to walk or dance without a severe limp. Nat can't help but find himself enchanted by her friendly and kind demeanor... so he finds himself striking a bargain... an engagement. I thought the premise of these stories was so fun. I was interested in seeing if these authors would be able to use the same plot points and come up with different stories and I was not disappointed. These stories could not be any more different. I think out of the four, Fate Strikes a Bargain, was my favorite. I loved the sweet tale of a handicapped heroine and her brave hero. I also enjoyed the introduction to mostly all new authors - since I had only read Mary Balogh in the past. These four stories will leave you feeling satisfied with their enchanting heroes, delightful heroines and requisite happy ever afters. Fans of historical romance will rejoice over this wonderful anthology.