A Delightful Arrangement

By Cecilia Gray

In the spirit of Georgette Heyer, this delightful Regency romp offers a humorous and heartwarming tale… The whole series was freaking adorable and fun. —Shari, the Delighted Reader

Phillip has a duty to marry Francesca. He has always protected his former neighbor and childhood companion, and now that she is of marriageable age, he will give her what she needs most—a real home where she is welcome and wanted.

Unfortunately for him... she is finished with being dutiful. After years of being an obedient daughter to a hateful father, Francesca jumps into her first Season. Francesca is ready to dance every dance, flirt with every bachelor, and snatch what she wants most—a man she loves who will make her swoon.

Unfortunately for her... he now sees making her swoon as his duty, too. And Phillip takes his duties very seriously.

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ABOUT THE GENTLEMEN NEXT DOOR SERIES

The complete series of novellas is available now! Don't miss The Gentlemen Next Door, because sometimes a lady in need of love need look no further than next door. Each of these shorter, sweet stories can be enjoyed as a standalone, but if you love one, then you'll probably love the entire series.

Book 1: A Delightful Arrangement
Book 2: An Illicit Engagement
Book 3: A Dangerous Expectation
Book 4: A Flirtatious Rendezvous

Characters you meet in The Gentlemen Next Door also appear in the Kiss A Belle series, which features longer novels. While each story can be enjoyed as a standalone, you may want to read them all. Books 1–3 occur concurrently and can be read in any order; Books 4 and 5 follow respectively.

Book 1: Kiss Me After
Book 2: Kiss Me Darkly
Book 3: Kiss Me Sweetly
Book 4: Kiss Me Softly
Book 5: Kiss Me Again

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MORE PRAISE FOR THE GENTLEMEN NEXT DOOR

I can't wait to read the next one. That is how addicting this series is. —Lady Armstrong, Netgalley

These books are like a Snickers bar... a satisfying snack for the romantic's proverbial sweet tooth. —J. Yaggi, Netgalley

This is a charming, sweet tale with vibrant, believable characters and witty, humorous dialogue. Ms. Gray has outdone herself with this poignant, character-driven novella. —Joyously Retired Teacher, Amazon.com

Captures your attention from the first page. —The Lady Reads @ Amazon

A wonderful book and a great read. —Bunny's Review

This is a delightful story, well-written, historically accurate and intriguing. —B.S. Andrews @ Amazon

• Language: English
• Publisher: Gray Life, LLC
• Release date: Feb 14, 2016
• ISBN: 9780983858072

Cecilia Gray

Cecilia Gray lives in the San Francisco Bay Area where she reads, writes and breaks for food. She also pens her biographies in the third person. Like this. As if to trick you into thinking someone else wrote it because she is important. Alas, this is not the case. She’s rather enamored of being contacted by readers and hopes you’ll oblige at [e-mail] or any of her social media sites: http://ceciliagray.com http://ceciliagray.tumblr.com http://youtube.com/ceciliagraybooks http://twitter.com/ceciliabooks http://facebook.com/ceciliagray http://eepurl.com/fs4zk (newsletter)

Reviews for A Delightful Arrangement

[katsmiao · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I LOVE Cecilia Gray. And I love the cover of this book. I was thrilled to get this book and couldn't wait to start reading.

Since it's very very very short, reading didn't take long. And it wasn't as good as her other books, which I LOVED. Did I mention I LOVED them?

This one is just too short....you just kinda get into the story and it's done. Of course a happy ending, and not really long enough to detour, so just pretty much straight line to the happy ending. When I got to the end I really wanted to read about the sister....

[bookworm_lisa · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is a short and sweet read. This novella takes less than an hour to read and is entertaining. Because it is a novella, there is not much opportunity for character development. If you need a romance fix and don't have a lot of time, this would be perfect. I would only recommend to adults because of sexual content.

[igjoe · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This book was a fun, short, effortless read. However it felt rushed and would have been much better as a full length novel. It touches briefly on the past and situations of the main characters, but doesn't fully develop. I also feel that the book was only about the sexual encounter and the rest was merely the background that was rushed through in order to get to the wedding night. I hate to give bad or even mediocre reviews, but this one was just so-so.

[halo776 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Francesca and Phillip have grown up as childhood friends and neighbors. So, it should come as no surprise that their fathers have arranged a marriage between them. Phillip, ever mindful of his duty as an earl's heir, is willing to marry the woman he has always liked. Theirs would be a nice, happy marriage between friends. Francesca, however, longs for more. She's determined to have a Season and wants to fall in love. She's especially looking forward to meeting someone who can make her "swoon." Phillip makes her an offer: they will keep their engagement a secret while she has the Season she's dreamed of; if she finds someone else who makes her swoon, he will "cry off," and the engagement will be over. However, Phillip has every intention of being the very one to make Francesca swoon. He will stop at nothing to prove that romance can, indeed, exist between friends. This was a short read. In fact, I read it in one sitting. It moved so quickly that I didn't want to put it down. The chemistry between Francesca and Phillip sizzles, but I liked that she didn't give in too easily. She holds out for what she wants and is rewarded in the end. Phillip is a likable hero. He is honorable, loyal, and duty-minded, but he is oh-so-romantic, too. His response to Francesca when she says, "Don't say it if you don't mean it" at the end of the novella is absolutely perfect. I can't imagine a better way to spend a couple of hours than with Francesca and Phillip.

[aeisen_3 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I love this story. It was a cute, quick romance. The only bad thing about the story was it ended too quick. I would have loved a full book with these characters.

[shyalwayz · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I received this book as an ARC.Lady Francesca Warrington is coming out of a three year mourning of the her mother's death. She excepts to have at least one season that was not granted her during her three years of mourning. As she is coming out of her morning she finds out that is already engaged to the neighbor's son, her mother's best friend's son, and her best friend, Phillip. Franny is so upset cause no one told her this until the very last day of her mourning and she thought she was going to be free of her father and that life. But will she??Lord Phillip March is the gentlemen next door. He grew up with Franny and know everything about her. He has known about the arrangement for awhile and just assume that she knew. When things come to ahead, how will he deal with it? Will the go through with the arrangement or there be an out clause?I am enjoying reading this series by Cecilia. At first I didn't know what to think, but I couldn't not put the books down once I started reading them. I'm only into book two of the four part series but I can't wait to read the next one. That is how addicting this series it. I recommend this author, book, and series to others. I would re-read this book

[laray_8 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

 Received through LibraryThing Member Give AwayWhen I first saw how short this story/novella was I wondered how Ms. Gray could possibly get a good romance in so few word, but she did it. It was very enjoyable. Phillip had always been there for Francesca, but he found himself having to prove he could be just a good a husband as he had been a friend. Francesca’s desire to swoon battled her desire NOT to swoon for Phillip. The interaction between the two was comical and very entertaining. They are undoubtedly meant for each other.