My Fair Viscount by Jess Michaels

Tracy’s rating: 3 of 5 stars

Series: Scandal Sheets #4

Release Date: July 9, 2019

David Shaw is the new Viscount Shaw and totally unprepared for the role. He was raised in the seedier parts of London by his mother after being abandoned by his father. But now his cousin Richard Shaw has found him and insists that he take his position in society, in fact, he has hired a comportment tutor to prepare him.

Rose Higgins teaches comportment to young ladies and is surprised to learn that her new student is a man – a very attractive man. She declines the job, but Richard makes her an outrageous financial offer and promises no one will learn that she was involved with David. The money is too much to pass up and she finally consents.

When Richard introduces them, two things are very clear, one – they are attracted to one another and two – David wants no part of learning to “fit in”.

The book is short and moves along relatively quickly, David and Rose are likeable leads and did have a believable chemistry between them, but there is not a lot of substance to this story, the love scenes felt somewhat gratuitous and there were things that just didn’t make sense to me. I didn’t hate this book, but I would not read this novella again.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher.*

Lady No Says Yes by Jess Michaels
Tracy’s rating: 3 of 5 stars

Series: The Scandal Sheet, #3

Release Date: May 7, 2019

Lady Sophie aka Lady No is starting her fourth season and the Scandal Sheet wonders if this will be the season that Lady No will finally say yes. Sophie’s aunt and guardian Lady Louisa challenges her to make this the season she says yes. Sophie has a deep-seated fear of love, she was young when her parents died, but vividly remembers their relationship. She is terrified of loosing herself and as a result, she holds everyone at bay, never letting anyone close enough to touch her heart. She is also a very wealthy heiress and doesn’t believe that any man would want her, just her fortune.

Rowan Sinclair is the youngest son of the late Earl of Terrington and the earl’s second wife. He has a reputation as a rake and a wastrel, but the truth is, he is an artist. His father has been supporting him by giving him an allowance for years, but now that he is gone, and his elder brothers have found a loophole in the late earl’s will and have gleefully cut him off. Rowan doesn’t know what to do, he has not made enough of a name for himself to have his art support him and has no other form of income. When he learns that the very rich Lady Sophie has begun saying yes to suitors, he wonders if she is the answer to his problems. Will a little help from her aunt, Rowan sets out to woo and win her. But to his surprise, it is Sophie who wins him and not because of her fortune!

Sophie is terrified of Rowan and what he makes her feel, she resists him at every turn, but he doesn’t give up and worms his way in to her heart. But when the truth of his courtship comes out can he convince her his love is true? Or will her past prevent her from accepting love?

I liked this story, but I didn’t love it and I don’t think I would read it again. There is a lot going on in a very short novella and some plot points just didn’t work for me. The biggest being Sophie’s fear of love, she is in her fourth season – so roughly, 22 years old and her parents died 15 years ago – so she was around 7 years old – but she understood the dynamics of her parents relationship?? Sorry, that is just too much of a stretch for me. The writing is good and the love scenes are steamy, but with so many plots and sub-plots, it does feel a little rushed and I would be hard-pressed to tell you why they are in love. I wish this book had been a bit longer and the characters given more time together to develop their relationship.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an e-ARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher.*