4.5 Stars
Fenella Franklin is too tall, too intelligent, and has no title. Her talents lie in numbers and a keen business mind, not in the art of flirtation. When she becomes the object of a cruel wager during her come-out in London, she vows to put off the penniless noblemen vying for her sizeable dowry. Lachlan MacNaughton has neither the temperament nor the patience to be the next MacNaughton chief, preferring to knock heads together rather than placate bickering clansmen. He readily accepts a reprieve to help with the family’s textile mill in Glasgow. A sizzling chance encounter in the rain introduces him to the new female bookkeeper. The attraction between Fenella and Lachlan sparks a passion not even two rebellious souls can deny.
This is the first book in the series & what a promising starter. I loved both Lachlan & Fenella their attraction was immediate & the more time they spent together the deeper their feelings became until disaster struck & a misunderstanding & omission totally threw their HEA into jeopardy. A well paced well written book that I read in two sittings, it took me on a plethora of emotions from laughing out loud to tears streaming down my face. An engrossing read & I look forward to the rest of the series
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Deception and Desire by Aubrey Wynne is a terrific, if a bit different, love story featuring Fenella Franklin, who is beautiful but unique: too tall for the ton; too intelligent, by far; and in love with numbers, no man. Lachlan MacNaughton is the hair to a lairdship in Scotland; a lairdship he has no desire to inherit. They meet in Glasgow, Scotland, where Fenella has fled to stay with her grandmother for a while and get away from the marriage mart in London. Lachlan has fled his home with the clan to help with the textile factory his clan owns and runs. He runs into her, literally, as she is leaving the factory, having just been hired to be the bookkeeper, and he is reporting to work. They are both astounded when they discover each other's identities.

It is always exciting when a woman, not matter what historical period, who doesn't meet society's norms finds love with a man who can accept her for who she is. Not only does Lachlan accept her, but so does his family. Fenella is smart and fiery and Lachlan appreciates that in her. A potential problem arises when Fenella realizes she must tell her mother about her love. Her mother is/was Scottish and hates all things Scottish. This turned out to be a bit anti-climactic, which was a disappointment in an otherwise terrific book. It had the potential to be highly entertaining. I recommend it.

I received a free ARC of Deception and Desire from Dragonblade, through Netgalley, in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions and interpretations are solely my own. #netgalley #deceptionanddesire

Finella Franklin is tired of London. The final straw was falling for a scoundrel who was courting her as a bet, she is ready for a change. After her father takes his revenge on her former suitor, he agrees to allow her to visit her grandmother in Scotland. Upon arrival, Finella proceeds to find a position.
Neither Laclan MacNaughton nor his brothers have the patience for numbers and are at a loss when their books continue to confound them. They advertise for a bookkeeper and are pleasantly surprised by the responding candidate.
As the love between Finella and Laclan begins to grow, so does the unrest in Scotland. As they struggle with betrayals and deceit, they also find a forever love.

Lachlan MacNaughton doesn't want to be clan chief as his grandfather wishes. When he is sent to oversee their mill business, he finally finds something he's good at. What throws him off is the hiring of a bookkeeper, but not just any bookkeeper. Fenella Franklin is a tall willowy blonde who is a whiz at numbers and doesn't realize she's a catch. After her disastrous first Season, Fenella wants nothing to do with English Society, but her mother wants her to marry a gentleman with a title. Problem is, Fenella is not the model most gentlemen want. When she meets Lachlan, she finally feels beautiful.

I enjoyed this book and thought the opening chapter was compelling. Poor Fenella. I felt so bad for her, but her father's revenge against the deceitful gentleman who played that terrible prank was at least a small consolation for her. Fenella was relieved when she was sent to Scotland to be with her grandmother for the summer. I loved the McNaughton brothers and their cousin Colin. They all looked out for each other. Ms. Wynne does a good job of highlighting the importance of family. Lachlan resists his feelings for Fenella and when he finally confesses how he feels, he learns about a secret that Fenella kept from him. Can she ever win back his love?

Enduring her ambitious mother's plans for her, Fenella has had to suffer insults and snide comments from members of the ton. She thinks her luck has turned when she attracts the attention of a charming viscount, only to discover that he is even more despicable than the rest. When her caring and protective father realises that she needs a respite, he takes Fenella to her much loved grandmother in Scotland for the rest of the season. Used to being busy, if not with attending events of the season, then assisting her father in his office, Fenella finds she has too much time on her hands and with her grandmother's approval, applies for the position of bookkeeper at the MacNaughton textile mill. Life changes dramatically for Fenella, especially when she meets the mischievous Lachlan MacNaughton. This romance is well written but also brings into focus the events of the era that led to the changes that brought about better working conditions for lower ranks in society. I loved the main characters in this book and whilst Lachlan may well have been the hero of the story, Fenella's father comes in a close second. Misunderstandings occur but ultimately the novel comes to a happy and successful close. I received a copy of this book from NetGalley as a gift and this is my honest and voluntary review.

Miss Fenella Franklin doesn't fit the current fashion. She's very smart, blonde and taller than most men. Her mother wants to move up in society and pushes Fenella into society and wants her to marry a man with a title. Her father made his fortune in trade and has no title. Fennella was tired of being humiliated and begs her father to let her live in Scotland with her grand mother.
Then you have Lachlan MacNaughton who seems happier in the family's Glasgow Mill. He told his father that his brother Ian needs to see his wife and decides to go to the Glasgow Mill and run it for a bit so Ian could go home for a bit.
Fenella is getting bored and sees an ad for an Accountant and sends a letter applying for the job and signs it as F. Franklin. While Fenella is walking in the rain runs into a gentleman [Lachlan] and he keeps her from falling. Both Ian and Colin are impressed with her skill for figures. Fenella gets hired because she has a skill with numbers not too many people have. Lachlan was surprised that his brother hired a woman. Lachlan and Fenella have feelings for each other but, Fenella has no experience in with flirting. Lachlan and his brother get invited to Fenella's grand mother for Sunday supper then one day Lachlan asks Fenella's grand mother permission to court Fenella. Fenella's grand mother tells Fenella that she neds to tell Lachlan the truth about her father being alive and about her mother not liking Scot's. During the interview an assumption was made that her father was dead. Then tragedy strikes and Ian is killed. Fenella does tell Lachlan about her father being alive and about how her mother feels about Scot's. Lachlan gets very angry and walks out. Want to know what happens?? Do Fenella and Lachland get back together?? Well you need to read this book to find out. I truly loved this book!! I was granted an advance copy by the publisher Dragonblade Publisher, for an unbiased opinion. #DeceptionandDesire #NetGalley

Deception & Desire
Fenella & Lachlan what a couple!!! Aubrey Wynne has a winner with this book!
I was stuck on a plane just the other day and I was reading this book! I came to several parts and I just burst out laughing! Okay, social distancing withstanding my seat mate asked me what I was reading. I told her of course. She stuck her nose in the air and told me with total disdain she would never be caught dead reading “smut” books because she was a Christian! I was not about to get into a religious war, I just told her she didn’t know what she was missing! Several paragraphs later, I was giggling again and she must not have been able to stand it because she asked me again, I hate to ask, but could I read the sections that have you so animated. At first, I hesitated because it was a Review copy, but I showed her several pages. It was the Golden Angel section of the book! Believe it or not, she asked for the Dragonblade Publishing site. I watched her download several different authors books because she asked me for recommendations. I wanted to ask her for her email so I could ask her later on if she liked her new “smut” books!!! 😂
But, back to Deception & Desire-this book will have you smirking-laughing-crying with rage and just plain loving these characters and this author! I have never read this author previously, but after this book, I went searching for her other titles!
I don’t want to give to much away because you truly have to experience this book for yourself.
Just know that Fenella was treated horribly by London society, but when she went to live with her Grandmother in Scotland she was accepted by the Scottish people!
She met the love of her life, Lachlan who also has his own issues fitting the proper mold his Laird Grandfather wants him to comply! The two ended up trying to fit to each other, but they had their own trials and tribulations to figure out!
So, without further ado, get your favorite drink & snack & sit down and get ready to be taken away to pages of charismatic characters that seem to leap off the pages into your world! I know you will be laughing out loud with Lachlan & his Golden Angel!!!
I received a advanced copy from Netgally and this is my own personal words & opinion!

Great story about Lady Fenella Franklin and Lachlan MacNaughton.
Fenella is not petite like so many other girls of the ton! She is too tall, too intelligent, but has a large dowry. Her sister Evie is beautiful and could have anyone.
Fenella goes to visit her grandmother in Glasgow, Scotland. There she finds a job as the book keeper for the MacNaughton Mill.
She meets Lachlan and the rest is history with a few ups and downs.
I would recommend this story!

Fenella Franklin decides to leave London, after she finds herself part of a cruel wager during her Season. She decides to turn her back on the ton and make her way to Scotland, where her maternal grandmother lives. The very apt title ‘Deception and Desire’ rings true when Fenella pursues work as a bookkeeper at the MacNaughton textile mill. Fenella literally falls into arms of Lachlan MacNaughton on the way to her interview and finds herself sharing a kiss with him. Yet when as they spend more time together, omissions about her life in London are beginning to seem like deceptions.
Fenella and Lachlan are two equally strong-minded characters, yet from when they first meet, it is apparent that there is an attraction. Theirs is a romance filled with laughter and complications. What made this an interesting read, was all of the many family members involved. It will be difficult not to find yourself immersed in all of their issues.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this book. This is my first read by this author and I am a new fan. Fenella Franklin is just the type of woman I can relate to. She will impress you from the start with her fortitude. The MacNaughton's don't what has hit them, in one case literally, when they meet the female applying for a job. Excellent story that will bring tears to your eyes at times. At the same time, Lachlan and Fenella's store is so much fun and the side stories, uncle and brother to Lachlan, bring so much more to the book. I look forward to more from this author.

Miss Fenella Franklin doesn't fit the current fashion. She's intelligent, blonde and taller than most men. Her father is only a baronet who made his fortune in trade. Her mother is pushing her into society and wants her to marry a man with a title. After being humiliated once too often she begs her father to let her go and stay in Scotland with her grandmother.
Lachlan MacNaughton is not happy as his Grandfather's second in the Clan. He would be much happier in the family's Glasgow Mill.
This is a fun historical romance with lovely characters and complicated family conflicts. You will easily get caught up in their lives.
This is the first book of the series. I will definitely read the rest.

I am currently obsessed with regency romances that are about not noble people. I love seeing a romance in a different setting.

This book was great. I loved Fenella. She’s considered too tall and too educated to be a good wife in England. I loved how the author showed awkward she felt (I’ve been there girl!) But she’s not ashamed of it. Her mother is pushing her into marriage with a noble, but Fenella wants nothing to do with that. She gets permission to live for a time with her grandmother in Glasgow.

She becomes employed at a textile mill run by the MacNaughtons. Her first meeting with Lachlan is so freaking romantic ❤️. The two have chemistry, but this is a definite slow burn. Fenella is keeping secrets and Lachlan has a few of his own.

This was a wonderful book and I will be reading more from this author. We also better find out what happens with Colin and Rose!!!

❤️❤️❤️❤️
💋💋

Passion from the beginning with these two, great to read and definitely holds the attention.

I very much enjoyed this book , I found it great reading and it had good characters who had chemistry from the outset.
Romantic and sweet first meeting in the rain , where he can’t help but Kiss her immediately set the story for and intense relationship.

I would read more from this author, and look forward to more of this series.

I received an Arc copy of this book and chose to post this review

Will a little deceit be the end of a grand love ...

I discovered Mrs Aubrey Wynne work with her Wicked Earl Club Series participation.
Why I was curious to see her own vision of the regency Scotland.
Fenella is no conventional beauty, too tall, too trusting, too clever. After having been tricked during her first season, she feels she is not at her place among the London’s society.
As a respite, she is happy to visit her grandmother in Glasgow for the summer. To fill her time, she finds an accountant job, and engage in a kind of courtship with one of the managers. Still by withholding some informations about herself, things she deemed as nothing at first, she might jeopardize her relationship.
Lachlan feels he is not made to be the laird, he so much prefers to deal with vendors or negotiators, he has the trade gene, not the patience to deal with feud, neighbors discords and so on. To breathe a bit, he takes refuge at his family’s business, with the hope to change his grandfather’s mind about who is more fit to be laird between him and his siblings.
When he meets Fenella, he instantly recognizes her for the Golden Angel sent to change his way. He is quickly smitten and knows she is the one woman for him.
Their romance is a sweet one, while their chemistry is engaged from the moment they meet, nothing is rushed, they get to know one another slowly, like a slow burn romance with scorching hot edges. Mrs Wynne with talent details their day-to-day life, their courting and how both fall for the other.
Why what appeared as the little deception at the beginning is seen as much more months later. I understand both sides, she let slip a miscomprehension and never corrected it, then she forgot to add an important detail about her family. So one plus two is a recipe for disaster when the other party has hidden nothing from the beginning. And Lachlan’s wounded pride does the rest as he is fragile, also recovering from a dramatic event.
4.5 stars

On a special note, this is the second book in a short span of time I have read about the Peterloo massacre. It seems a major event for the time with its sad consequences.

I was granted an advance copy by the publisher Dragonblade Publisher, here is my true and unbiased opinion.

This is the story of the ugly duckling turned to a beautiful swan. Fenella Franklin is tall, awkward and intelligent, the total opposite of the ideal debutante. But Fenella's mother is determined that her daughter marry a titled gentleman. When Fenella is found to be the butt of a cruel joke she feels she can take no more and convinces her father to let her go visit her grandmother. While in Glasgow Fenella gets a job to pass the time. There she meets Lachlin, a braw Scot. Although Lachlin kisses her when she bumps into him, it is not love at first sight. There are many ups and downs ahead for Fenella and Lachlin. This book will make you laugh, cry, get frustrated and cheer. This is definitely a book you do not want to start at night. You really can't put it down!

THERE WAS LITERALLY NOTHING THAT SPOKE TO ME

Historical romance novels are often hit or miss, but only rarely have I encountered such a BIG miss as this one. There was honestly nothing that appealed to me about this book. The only reason it gets two stars in stead of one is because, bad as it was, it didn't offend me.

👎 WHAT I DISLIKED 👎

Plot: It's hard to criticize something that's not there but I'll give it my best shot. I found no plot in this book whatsoever. There was no hook, nothing that set it apart from any other Historical Romance novel, nothing that was unique or exciting. It was like one long yawn.

Chemistry: Our two heroes, Fenella and Lachlan, have all the romantic or sexual chemistry og two wet rags lying next to each other on a kitchen counter. I just could not see it or feel it. There were hardy any romantic banter or interactions and suddenly they were in love.

Characters: Neither Fenella nor Lachlan (or any of the smaller characters) stood out to me in any particular way. They felt flat, stiff and lifeless - sort of like cardboard figures. Ask me tomorrow and I wont remember a single one of them.

Ending: Perhaps the ending really just bothered me because once I got to it I was completely over this book. But honestly, it felt contrived and downright laughable - like the sort of ending the author imagined a Historical Romance ought to have even though it didn't fit the mold of this book.

Fenella is an intelligent woman in a time where she is considered a bluestocking for being more knowledgeable than a man. She is tall, which is problematic when the men are shorter than her. She was deeply hurt and escapes to Scotland to be away from London society and her mother, who is pushing her to marry a man with a title. Lachlan would rather fight than compromise, but will do his duty if he is the next chief, which is what his grandfather wants. When Fenella runs into Lachlan, she is stunned by him and he by her, for he impulsively kisses her, much to her shock. As Fenella works in the mill, she has omitted a few things about her life in London to Lachlan, who is falling more in love with her. Fenella is afraid of his reaction and keeps delaying the truth to him. Lachlan's reaction to the truth will have an impact on their relationship, even though both have fallen deeply in love with each other.
I received this novel from net galley and the publisher as an ARC. Thank you! All thoughts and opinions are my own.