TBR Challenge: Elizabeth Hoyt - Once Upon a Moonlit Night

Hippolyta Royle is running for her life. Pursued by hounds on a cold rainy night, the heiress flags down a passing carriage and throws herself at the mercy of the coach's occupant. Whoever this handsome traveler may be, he is her only hope to escape a terrible fate. But should he agree to escort her to safety, he's in for much more than he bargained for.
At first Matthew Mortimer doesn't believe Hippolyta's story, that she's a fabulously wealthy heiress who's been kidnapped. He assumes she's a beggar, an actress, or worse. But once his new travel companion washes the mud from her surprisingly lovely face, and they share a breathtaking kiss, there is no turning back.

Comment: Another year with the TBR challenge begins! It wouldn't feel right if I didn't participate in this challenge so once again here I am and hoping the books I choose can be good ones.

For January, as usual, the theme is short stories, whether in format or page count. I picked a novella by author Elizabeth Hoyt, an installment of the famous Maiden Lane series which I have been going through. Since this was next on the list, I waited on purpose to use it for this month's theme.

In this short novella, we finally have the story of Hyppolita Royle, a young heiress whose father made his fortune in India, where they lived for many years. Having recently returned to England, Hyppolita found some difficulty in being accepted by her circumstances and upbringing, if not for the dowry her father will certainly give her upon marriage. However, being sought due to her money isn't enough for romantic Hyppolita.

She also has to bear the bother caused by the duke of Montgomery, someone who showed interest in marrying her but whom she can't stand. Being blackmailed wasn't part of her life plans but that was precisely what led her to be chased by dogs one night and then rescued by a rude man in a coach. Thankfully, her fate seems to finally come around on a positive side...

Structurally speaking, of course this short story has all the necessary elements for it to be read and understood by a new reader or someone who only likes short stories.

However, to be truthfully about the plot and the enjoyment of this short story, I must say this story doesn't really make sense unless the previous books in the series have been read as well. And it's not only because of said enjoyment, although that is always a plus of course. But the reality is that some situations in this book, which will look to be superficially treated by some, only mean more with previous knowledge backing it up.

This said, one can obviously assume this short story or novella suffers a bit from what all the other countless similar short stories have in the past: not enough pages for such a complex plot. Adding the enjoyment factor, the sex scenes factor and the romance factor, then everything does seem a little rushed. However, for me, I was able to put aside some of those technical issues and just be entertained by reading about Hyppolita, a character that has always seemed reserved but friendly and I was looking for to see her find happiness.

The protagonists meet in a coach while the hero, Matthew, is traveling to his recently gained estate and title. He is now the earl of Paxton and he has returned from India too (convenient, I thought) where he was a scientist and researcher to fulfill what is expected of him. He isn't happy to help Hyppolita, thinks she is a prostitute but we can see his good character when he helps her anyway despite his thoughts. I think the way they "bonded" does seem very quick and the coincidences between their pasts and common preferences too much but I suppose in a short story, elements like these make things seem a little more acceptable and a final HEA more believable.

I liked them as a couple, actually. Yes, things happen very quickly between then, and there's a huge amount of possibilities in both of them which means a full length plot wouldn't be a wasted one to have. I understand Hyppolita never was a central character but she had good points to eventually become one and I hope she can still be seen in the stories to come.

The relationship between her and Matthew is quick but we are aware of the common traits which makes us believe they will be a good match even if we only see it superficially.

In terms of them being actively part of the overall plot, that isn't obvious at any point, except when other known characters intervene once or twice.

All things considered, this isn't the best story in the series, it was not the most fascinating for me but from the POV of someone who has liked the series as a whole and has liked knowing about all the characters, this short story was, indeed, a good addition to it. I'm just glad two more characters have found their HEA in this "universe".

Grade: 8/10