Her Adventures in Temptation by Megan Frampton

Tracy’s rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Series: School for Scoundrels, #3

Release Date: January 23, 2024

Myrtle Allen, sister of Viscount Leybourne, is many things; a lover of cake and pretty gowns, a loving Aunt, a brilliant mathematician, and an heiress, but subtle she is not. So when she insults a suitor during a ball being hosted by her brother Richard, he has had enough and gives her an ultimatum, either find a husband or do something to – before he can finish, his tirade is cut off midsentence by a scream, sending them both to find the source. The source is Richard’s very drunk wife who was hitting on and being rejected by the artist Richard hired to paint her portrait. Richard quickly defuses the situation and demands the artist leave. Giving Myrtle the opening she needs to “do something”. She plans to go to London and start an investment consulting business for women. She plans to use her knowledge of investments and accounting to help women manage their money wisely, thus giving them access to financial independence, something she herself longs for. She convinces the artist, Simeon Jones to take her with him when he leaves, promising to pay him triple what her brother had promised him for the portrait. She is surprised to discover that Simeon is not just another wastrel, he is talented, smart, and dedicated to his craft, and he is also unbelievably handsome, charming, as well as extremely kind. She is drawn to him but knows they have no future, so with a kiss, she prepares to part forever, but a twist of fate brings them back together and pretending to be betrothed! The more time they are together, the more she wants what she can never have, or can she?

Simeon Jones is one of the infamous Bastard Five, a group of men who met as children at the Devenaugh Home for Destitute Boys, each of whom where adopted but never lost touch, meeting together as often as possible for their book club. Simeon is known as charming, talented, and a bit of a rake, his lovers are legion, and his art is amazing but he has a secret, unlike his fellow bastards was not taken in by a well-to-do family – Simeon barely keeps his head above water, especially since he has a soft-heart and often gives away his last shilling to help someone else. Which is exactly why he was at the viscount’s estate painting a portrait of his handsy wife. He has discovered his late adopted mother had a child that she gave to her sister to raise, but now the sister has passed and the Reverend of their village has sought out Simeon to take over the care of the now orphaned child. He is wondering what he can do when Myrtle demands he take her with him to London. He is not sure it is a good idea, and he is a bit overwhelmed by her, but the more time spent with her, the more he wants, and so when her brother agrees to pay him an incredible sum to pretend to be betrothed to Myrtle and help her guide her niece through her debut, he can’t say no. Soon he finds himself in love with Myrtle but knows it is hopeless, he can’t ask her to sacrifice her dreams or her fortune to marry him, or can he?

This was a well-written story of two people who at first glance appear to be complete opposites, but who have more in common than anyone could have imagined. They form a friendship, which blossoms into more than they agreed to, causing each of them to deny their true feelings, to spare the other any discomfort. The book has witty banter, a lot of cake, surprises, inspiration, debutantes, a cute dog, an annoying brother, a fake betrothal, a public jilting, steamyish love scenes, a few tears, and finally a HEA that didn’t seem possible as well as a very sweet epilogue. I liked this book, but I didn’t really feel the romance, I loved both Simeon and Myrtle individually, but together they seemed to be missing the necessary “spark”. I can’t put my finger on what it was exactly, maybe it was her social ineptitude or maybe it was the constant reminders of how many times he had been in love before, but whatever it was, it just didn’t click for me. I enjoyed the story and was happy that they found a way to be together, but I wasn’t wowed. This is the third book in the series but it could easily be read as a standalone title with no problems. I like this series and would absolutely recommend it to my fellow HR readers and will be looking forward to Fenton’s book.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.*