This Much Is True by Vivienne Lorret

Tracy’s Rating: 2.5 rounded up to 3 of 5 stars

Series: Liars’ Club, #3

Release Date: July 1, 2025

Althea “Thea” Hartley comes from a very unusual family and has been writing plays for her family for years – at least she used to. After having her heart bruised and her confidence crushed last season, Thea is hoping to find her muse and a husband this season. Unfortunately, the only man who seems to spark her creativity is the last man she should want. It isn’t until an encounter with a highwayman that Thea puts two and two together and realizes that things are not what they seem. But despite finding her muse and love, neither is going to be easy to hold on to, because she can’t keep one without the other.

Jasper Trueblood, Viscount St. James has convinced the entire ton and his more importantly his vile uncle, the Earl of Redcliffe, that his is a dimwitted oaf, but in actuality, Jasper is cunning and brave. He has sacrificed much and tolerates the abuse of his uncle, in order to protect his aunt and cousins. Two years ago, he fell hard for Thea but she didn’t notice him, and he was in no position to court her. He still isn’t in a position to declare himself, but now that she has noticed him, nothing will ever be the same. Can he save his family and have his heart’s desire or is he just begging for heartache?

I was so looking forward to this story after having enjoyed the first two books in the series. But I just had a hard time getting into this book – I found it slow moving and became frustrated with pace and obstacles keeping Thea and Jasper apart, which felt contrived, then after dragging for so long, the story comes to a somewhat rushed ending. Obviously, there is a happy ending, but I finished the book feeling a bit disappointed with the execution and that there was no epilogue for the series finale. Overall, it wasn’t a bad read and Jasper is a keeper, but it just wasn’t the story I was hoping for. This is the third book in the series and while you could read this book as a standalone, I would recommend reading the series in order.
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*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *

The Trouble with Inventing a Viscount by Vivienne Lorret

Tracy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: The Liar’s Club, #2

Release Date: September 24, 24

For years Honoria Hartley has used her betrothal to Manford Fairfax, Viscount Vandemere to keep suitors at bay. Engaged to a missing Viscount has given her a freedom that most young women can’t even imagine, a freedom that she has no intention of giving up. Which means she needs a way to support herself, lucky for her, she is an exceptional card player and clever with disguises, thanks to her theater-loving family. But while visiting Paris, it would seem she has hustled the wrong man and gave away a bit too much information about herself, but as time passed, she thought that her narrow escape from him was ancient history, that is until he showed up at her parents’ home claiming to be her long-lost fiancé! Soon begins a game between sharps, each with their own agenda and a fierce desire to win. Too bad the rules changed mid-game and soon the love she never wanted became the only thing that matters.

Oscar Flint has lived the life of a grifter, he barely remembers his father, but swore to his mother on her deathbed that he would find him. He along with Ignatius Cardew, a friend of his mother, have been searching for him ever since. But a chance meeting in Paris with Honoria disguised as “Signor Cesario” will change his life forever. She cheated him out the winnings he needed to settle a debt incurred to Miguel Ladron, a dangerous man by Ignatius, that loss turned the attention of said dangerous man from Ignatius to Oscar. Which caused him the need to disappear, lucky for him, he found someone who told him the story of the long-lost viscount and his association with a certain swindler. Now all he has to do is convince everyone that he is the lost Viscount and lay low until Ladron gives up his pursuit of Oscar and then he can resume the search for his father, assuming he lives though this ruse. But he never anticipated that the attraction he felt for Honoria in Paris would last, or that he would long to be the man to finally win her heart. With nothing to offer what chance does he have? Good thing he is a gambling man…

Another well-written, lighthearted addition to the Liar’s Club series, this installment features the lovely middle sister Honoria and Oscar, the handsome gambler she bested in Paris. These two are clearly meant to be, it is obvious, from their first encounter, yet they have no intention of admitting that to anyone – especially themselves! This book has lies, secrets, deception, blackmail, a truly nasty villain, wonderful secondary characters, steamyish love scenes, a bit of angst, a lot of laughs, and some surprising twists and turns that will lead them to their HEA. I do wish there had been an epilogue, or at least an ending that cleaned up the loose ends. Overall, I enjoyed this story and would happily recommend it to my fellow historical romance fans. This is the second book in the series, but it could be read as a standalone title.

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