A Matter of Temptation by Stacy Reid

A Matter of TemptationA Matter of Temptation by Stacy Reid

Tracy’s rating: 3/3.5 of 5 stars

Series: A Matter of Temptation, #1

Release Date: June 28, 2022

Seven years ago, Miss Wilhelmina “Mina” Crawford, the only daughter of Viscount Crawford, was the toast of the ton, but a foolish infatuation and a subsequent ill-advised elopement to Scotland left her marred by scandal and ruined, ending all hopes for a HEA. But ruin hasn’t stopped Mina from expanding her mind or helping her brother manage their failing estate. So when her brother confides that he is to take part in a duel with their neighbor, Simon Loughton, the Earl of Creswick, Mina insists on taking his place, even going as far as to drug him. And not only does she manage to best the earl in the duel, but he quickly realizes who she is and offers her a position as his secretary.

Simon is brilliant and uses that brilliance to better the country, he is a well-respected politician and it is even whispered that he may one day be prime minister. He was intrigued when he was bested by Mina and even more so after realizing that she was a woman, prompting him to act out of character and hire her as his secretary. He quickly discovers that Mina is not just a pretty face, she is intelligent, funny, and brings balance to his life. He tells himself he must remain aloof and resist her charms but soon learns it is impossible and gives into temptation.

They become lovers, neither expecting anything more than an affair, but when love finds them, will they have a HEA or will Mina’s past scandal keep them apart.

I have mixed feelings about this book, on one hand, it is an interesting story and Simon is not your typical rakish hero (which was refreshing) and Mina is not your standard-issue “ruined maiden” – they both exceeded expectations and broke the stereotype. But on the other hand, the book had some historical mistakes that make parts of the story implausible, if not impossible. There was also a threat that seemed important, that completely fizzled out and seemingly got forgotten, which I found a bit bewildering. Then there is the twist at the end which opened up the angst floodgates – OMG – the book was chugging along and then I was hit with a revelation that changed the entire tone of the book and one that I was pissed about – in the end, all’s well that ends well – but I was still upset and felt betrayed by the author. I don’t want to spoil the book, but for me, there is an unforgivable plot twist and even though another twist sets things to rights, I was not happy, which ruined what seemed to be one of the most believable and beautiful soulmate-type love stories I have read in a long time. So, Simon and Mina will stay with me for a long time and their love is epic – I just wish their journey hadn’t taken the path it did to find their HEA.

*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.*

Release Blitz for A Wallflower’s Guide to Becoming a Bride by Eva Devon, Tamara Gill, and Stacy Reid

A Wallflower’s Guide to Becoming a Bride
Eva Devon, Tamara Gill, & Stacy Reid
Publication date: October 14th 2021
Genres: Adult, Historical Romance

A Wallflower’s Kiss by Eva Devon

Lady Ophelia is the last of her sisters to be unmarried! She knows she has to find a husband, but she’s been on the shelf for three seasons. When she finds a mysterious guide in Hatchards she forms a plan!

It just so happens that her brother’s best friend is happy to help her practice the instructions in the guide. Until they’re caught of course! Can the guide lead to happy ever after, or will scandal ruin Lady Ophelia’s chances?

A Brazen Agreement by Tamara Gill

Miss Sutton Howard needs to marry, and soon, there are only so many years a lady can endure the title of Wallflower. After a disappointing first season and the many that followed, her sixth will be her last and most successful. The Wallflowers Guide will ensure her season ends well. All she needs to do is find a gentleman suitable to be her husband.

Logan Carleton, Earl Jersey, knows it’s time to find a wife, if only the one woman he had lost through no fault of his own several years ago, wasn’t still on the market and complicating his life in London. Their bickering is no use, and before they cause another scandal, they must work together to gain what they both desire, spouses, just not with each other.
But when two people are thrown together with an entwined history, complications arise, along with desires that may not be smothered a second time no matter how hard they try.

A Duke at Midnight by Stacy Reid

Miss Sarah Bellamy hopes to meet a gentleman at midnight, before she settles into the respectable and lonely life of a governess to two little girls. And her dreams come true. In the dark of the night, she is willingly seduced by a devastatingly handsome gentleman.

One night of bliss to discover he is not only a Duke but her future employer. A difficult adjustment to be so near and yet so far from the man of her dreams. She tries to suppress all hopes of more but finds herself inexorably drawn to the one man she knows she cannot have…

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A Brazen Agreement by Tamara Gill

When decidedly on the shelf, a lady must sometimes take matters into her own hands and throw rules aside and do what one must to gain a husband.

Sutton raised her brows. Well, what did that mean? Was the guide giving her permission to misbehave? She pursed her lips in thought before the sound of another patron talking nearby caught her attention. Sutton slammed the book closed and quickly slid it back under the bookcase just as a couple passed her farther down the aisle. Sutton left the store, walking back to Hanover Square with determined strides, her maid hard on her heels. One must take one’s life into her own hands if one were to gain a husband.

Which would mean she had to be determined and go after what she wanted. She stopped on the footpath in thought. Did she like any gentleman enough for her to behave in such a way? To act instead of waiting for the gentleman to always come to her?

Sutton started off again, stepping around a large gentleman before slamming directly into a wall of muscle. She stumbled back, her footing beyond redemption before she landed with an oomph on the flagstone path. “Oww,” she complained, stopping herself from rolling a little and rubbing her behind in a most unladylike way. She glanced up, about to give a set down to the oaf who had run into her before the words dried up in her mouth. The horrified sight of Lord Jersey met her eyes. Logan Carleton. Of course, it was him she had slammed into. No one else would get in her way like that man did.

Ass that he was.

A Duke at Midnight by Stacy Reid

“Are you suddenly shy?” she asked in a tone rich with warm amusement. “I assure you, I am aware ladies and gentlemen alike attend masquerade balls to indulge in their wicked sides, the sides they would normally leave to languish and collect dust motes.”

Detecting the wistful hunger in her voice, Robert was struck with the sudden desire to fulfill her needs. And perhaps in doing so he might fulfill some of his needs, soothing the chill of loneliness that had lived with him for five years. “Should I confess it to you your sensibilities will be shocked.”

Her soft laugh was one of curiosity and want.

“I daresay no one has ever tried to shock them before. Please do your worst; I am made of stern stuff.”

Robert was becoming increasingly charmed. “I am glad I listened to my cousin, or I would have missed meeting you.”

“Clearly you procrastinate to spare my sensibilities. My good sir, I came here tonight to find a rake like you.”

“And you are so certain I am a rake, hmm?”

“A gentleman would have returned inside the instant I sat unwittingly in the dark beside him,” she said huskily.

“Very well then,” he drawled. “Will you be my lover for the night?”

Her sigh was one of relief and pleasure. There was no hesitation or doubt in her. Here was a woman who knew what she wanted and was about to take it.


Author Bio:

USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR, Eva Devon, was raised on literary fiction, but quite accidentally and thankfully, she was introduced to romance one Christmas by Johanna Lindsey’s Mallory novella, The Present. A romance addict was born. She devoured every single Lindsey novel within a few months and moved on to contemporary and paranormal with gusto. Now, she loves to write her own roguish dukes, alpha males and the heroines who tame them. She loves to hear from her readers. So please pen her a note! evadevonauthor@gmail.com

Tamara is an Australian author who grew up in an old mining town in country South Australia, where her love of history was founded. So much so, she made her darling husband travel to the UK for their honeymoon, where she dragged him from one historical monument and castle to another.

A mother of three, her two little gentlemen, a future lady (she hopes) keep her busy in the real world, but whenever she gets a moment’s peace she loves to write romance novels in an array of genres, including regency, medieval, and time travel.

Tamara loves hearing from readers and writers alike. You can contact her through her website at http://www.tamaragill.com.

USA Today Bestselling author Stacy Reid writes sensual Historical and Paranormal Romances and is the published author of over twenty books. Her debut novella The Duke’s Shotgun Wedding was a 2015 HOLT Award of Merit recipient in the Romance Novella category, and her bestselling Wedded by Scandal series is recommended as Top picks at Night Owl Reviews, Fresh Fiction Reviews, and The Romance Reviews.

Stacy lives a lot in the worlds she creates and actively speaks to her characters (aloud). She has a warrior way “Never give up on dreams!” When she’s not writing, Stacy spends a copious amount of time binge-watching series like The Walking Dead, Altered Carbon, Rise of the Phoenixes, Ten Miles of Peach Blossom, and playing video games with her love. She also has a weakness for ice cream and will have it as her main course.

To be the first to hear about my new releases, get cover reveals and excerpts you won’t find anywhere else, sign up for my Newsletter @ https://www.stacyreid.com/#newsletter/

Sign up now for chances at free books, fun stuff, secret book info and more at evadevonromance.com


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