When dashing, determined bachelor Rafe Townsend, and beautiful, impetuous Lauren Alcott are trapped into an engagement by their powerful business magnate fathers, their attraction suggests there may be pleasurable compensations to matrimony after all. Until an outing together puts a damper on their future. Lauren is appalled when Rafe refuses to help two women whose boat has overturned on a river. Stripping her outer clothing, she dives in to rescue them herself—delighting a nearby reporter. Soon newspapers and scandal sheets have labelled Rafe as “less than heroic,” for all of London to see, while Lauren is viewed by many as brazen.
The first in a new series, I must admit I wasn’t enamoured of either Lauren nor Rafe at the start of the book but the more I read the more I grew to love them & the more I enjoyed the book. A well written book with action & adventure as well as romance. I read the book in two sittings & devoured it towards the end. I loved Jims who stole the book for me. There were some ‘upright' characters who I would have loved to have had their comeuppances. A fun, entertaining, enjoyable read
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Hero Wanted is an unlikely but entertaining story that is equal parts adventure and love story. It’s one of those books where you have to just settle in for the ride, checking your reality meter at the gate.

The Alcot and Townsend families are both owners of shipping companies in need of cash. The fathers hatch a plan to marry their children - Lauren Alcot and Rafe Twonsend - thereby releasing Lauren’s inheritance from her mother and using the cash to save their merged business. Unfortunately, Lauren can’t stand Rafe and she breaks off the engagement when he refuses to rescue two drowning women. Lauren plunges in the river (half-stripped of her clothing) to do the job herself. She calls him a coward, he questions her modesty, and the engagement is over. Or so they think!

A reporter witnessed the scene at the river and now all of London is calling Lauren the “Angel of the River” and seeing Rafe as “one of those who merely watched her heroism”. The reporter also commented on Lauren’s

“brazen exhibition of nakedness that her fiancé seemed to find as appalling as she found his cowardice”.

Both of their reputations are in tatters. Lauren and Rafe meet and agree to present a different story to the world - the reporter got it wrong, it was a mere misunderstanding, they are still in love and engaged. They will keep up the pretense for a few months, long enough for the scandal to blow over. Their plan is to appear in public together every day and make London believe their polished-over story.

Their time together, where each chooses a different outing each day, proves to be educational for both. Rafe is still puzzled by Lauren’s impulsiveness but now he gets to see her kindness, cleverness, and self-possession, while Lauren starts to see that there is more to Rafe than she originally thought. It’s looking like they’ll be able to stand each other’s company for a few months and fool the London gossips. And then they get kidnapped.

Yep, kidnapped. And not once but twice! Lauren also almost drowns (twice) and has to be saved (twice) by Rafe. Lauren rescues street urchins; Rafe attempts to quiet a mob at the docks; Lauren and Rafe set their kidnapper’s ship on fire and save the cargo; their fathers’ warehouses at the docks get burglarized; a government official tries to undermine the merger and the engagement; and the dratted reporter follows their every adventure as Lauren goes from “Angel of the River” to “Angel of the Streets” to “Angel of London”. Like I said - a befuddling ride.

But here’s the thing - I totally enjoyed it. I liked Lauren immediately. She knows what she wants and is determined to make a difference in the world. She is also aware of her duty to her family and does an admirable job balancing her needs and her family’s requirements of her. She is willing to see a different side of Rafe, willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. Rafe took a little longer to warm up to - he definitely comes across as a self-righteous prig. But, we learn (a little late in my opinion) that there is a reason Rafe didn’t jump into the river at the start of the story. Luckily for the story, we see a warmer, kinder side of Rafe fairly early on.

The romance works well because all these crazy adventures throw Rafe and Lauren together in many different circumstances and they wisely spend their time getting to know each other and working together to solve problems. And even though their adventures are sometimes bonkers, Lauren and Rafe are entirely sane and reasonable people. After such a dismal start to their romance, the final product is unexpectedly believable.

This book came to me at just the right time - I was in the mood for something fun and adventurous. If you’re not feeling like a romp through Victorian England is for you right now, then maybe leave it for now. But, if you are looking for a fast-moving, rollicking adventure (and you’re willing to just go with it), pick Hero Wanted up and have some fun!

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Rafe Townsend and Lauren Alcott find themselves trapped into an engagement by their powerful business magnate fathers. Rafe is totally not hero material when he refuses to jump in the water to save tow ladies whose boat turned over. Lauren to the rescue and calls Rafe a coward and calls off the engagement. I love this story the whole event makes it into the tabloids and they are forced to continue their engagement and spend time together. One event or disaster after another they soon discover they may have misjudged each other neither is what they appeared to be selfish, arrogant self-centered, brazen, hoyden and hopeless romantic. I have voluntarily read and reviewed the excellent book.

I truly love stories that start off as a hate - love relationship. Definitely the case here! Lauren and Rafe parents are in the shipping and import/export business and what better way of merging their businesses than to marry off their children. The problem is they really don’t like each other. Trying to get to know each other better leads to many misadventures, some funny situations and the spark of romance. The story is action packed and well written. I can’t wait to read the next book.

Will their initial misgivings drive them apart or get them closer ...

I added the author’s name to my never ending list of authors to not miss with her previous release Anyone But A Duke. And this new one does not miss its mark. So I happily let myself be sucked by the pages. Even despite a full day of work, I managed to read this book at light speed.
It was such an enthralling, gripping and enchanting tale about two persons who collide with their own views and expectations only to realize they are not so different.
I love a strong woman who acknowledges the limitations of her strength. And Lauren is no meek creature, still she is no Valkyrie, she uses her brains to dig her way, and sometime a dash of her feisty temper and she never gives up.
She is also a romantic at heart, so when her betrothed shows no heroic disposition, she does not see how they could go further and does not hide her contempt.
Rafe is quite a workaholic, and does not think he should change in any way, content with his life as it goes. His goals are set on the future and what wealth his marriage would bring to the two families now merging into one business. So he entered his betrothal with his eyes set on the final goal not the prize he would gain with his wife, she is pretty much an impediment he has to overcome. So when she calls him names, he is happy to let her go.

From there we jump straight into the heat of the moment, with meddling sire’s figures Series on keeping them together. They see no harm, only the final line.
And while Lauren was in her right to question her upcoming union, she will learn people are not always whom they present to the world. How one harsh judgment can be proved wrong in many ways without a man jumping in muddy waters. While Rafe is in for one hell of a ride with his impulsive but so kindhearted fiancée.
And despite their differences and the gap between their tempers, his coolness is well matched with her pluckiness.
So do not sulk your own pleasure and follow Rafe and Lauren on their bumpy journey to their HEA.
5 stars

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 open doors but without description lovemaking scene.

I have been granted an advance copy by the publisher Kensington Books, here is my true and unbiased opinion.

❤️❤️❤️❤️
💋

Complex plot with twists and turns, but very satisfying and entertaining to read.

Always a good read from Betina , this one is very good with some excellent characters and addictive storyline.

Very addictive.

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

4 1/2 STARS****
Lauren Alcott and Rafe Townsend find themselves engaged in a business merger by their fathers. Lauren is looking for Ivanhoe, Rafe's never heard of him. When a reporter labels Lauren The Angel for saving two ladies that were drowning, everything between Lauren and Rafe starts to fall apart, until circumstances show their true strengths and they start to see each other in a new light. Never a dull moment as these two find adventures they never expected.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

I loved this book! Its hilarious, romantic and packed with action. The chemistry was sizzling, though still PG-13.
Right from the beginning we are introduced to a great heroine. Lauren Alcott is feisty, intelligent, compassionate and brave.
The hero though is deliciously horrible! When I started reading this book, I skipped through the blurb- It’s Bettina Krahn and I knew I wouldn’t be bored, so didn’t catch the male lead’s name and wondered within the first few chapters when he would make an appearance!
I kept thinking Rafe Townsend is just the bad example against whom the hero would shine or perhaps the villain in the story! He is tall, fair, wealthy, educated and handsome BUT also indifferent to others especially Lauren, arrogant, spoiled, opinionated and worst of all, a coward! He is a bad date- fiancé! He doesn’t care about Lauren beyond the fact that she’s nice looking, drones on and on his favorite subjects, doesn’t rush to be heroic (that boat scene!) and even thinks people in trouble deserve it (he called the two women who almost drown “feckless”)!
Instead of applauding Lauren for her heroism or even grudgingly accepting that she did the right thing and saved two women from drowning, he scolds her for stripping down to her drawers in public. She calls him a coward and pushes him in the water! The entire episode is witnessed by a journalist who publishes the tale in her favor and causing Rafe embarrassment. Their two dominating fathers who had brokered their engagement- it was basically an important business deal sweetened with the two families joining in matrimony- discover this and force the two to mend reputations.
I thought Lauren would run away or bump into the real hero then, but no, it was going to be Rafe! So, I settled down to see how the author would make this sorry excuse of a man redeemable in my eyes. He refused to help two drowning women!! They started meeting in public and his transformation wasn’t instant. She gave him her favorite novel, he kept trying to get rid of it. He took her to an exhibition and then ignored her while he tinkered with the machines! And every excursion was being secretly spied on by the same journalist so there were more tales of Lauren the “angel of London” opposed to her sullen betrothed.
Lauren also wasn’t the perfect heroine. She could hold her own with Rafe, the remarks between them were funny, but she did have this tendency to be impulsive, judgmental and a slightly narrowed view of the world. She was a romantic, wanting a man like those she had read about in her books- a “heroic knight”- and kept shoving those ideals on Rafe- the book she wanted him to read being about her favourite hero. She wanted to be seen as more than an empty-headed female and demanded that from those around her. It made her appear as pushy but was perfect for Rafe.
Everything about this book was hilarious and wonderful. I was laughing and smiling throughout. I liked how the author made the two characters so real. They both grew as people, looked at the world from the other’s point of view, developed tender feelings for each other that soon bloomed into real love. I loved how Rafe became the man deserving of Lauren and she the only woman for him.
All the characters were a joy to read. The autocratic tycoon fathers, the story hungry journalist, the villainous smugglers and even Rafe’s best friend- all came together to keep one turning the pages as we went from funny moments to thought provoking realizations and adventure upon adventure! This book had a tightly written plot, everything falling into place eventually and I recommend it highly. I also can’t wait to read the next book in the series.

**I received a free copy of this arc from Netgalley and the publisher for a fair and honest review. **

After a horrible couple of weeks this was exactly what I needed to cheer me up a little bit. A fast-paced and action packed enemies to lovers with a great cast of characters, delightful banter, a touch of mystery and some social commentary perfect to binge in two sittings.

This was my first Betina Kahn but it certainly won’t be my last.

I had a lot of fun with this read. It was filled with action and adventure, and it kept me engaged from the very beginning. I mostly read it in one sitting. I have read a few by Krahn at this point, and her stories tend to be a bit of a romp. This one did not disappoint in that area!

It starts with an inauspicious beginning. Rafe and Lauren have been betrothed by an arrangement made by their fathers. They are spending some time together rowing on the river, both out of obligation for their betrothal rather than actual desire to spend time together. They are polite and talk mundane topics, not really trying to learn about each other or show their real selves. Then, they notice a crises with two women and a flipped over boat and some apparently real character traits come to light in how they handle the situation. After that, it's one adventure after another that breaks down their defenses and gets them to see how well they work together.

Once they got past those defenses, the chemistry leaped off the page. I found Rafe to be a very compelling hero, which was surprising after the beginning when he was rather loathsome. And I liked that Lauren was a strong heroine who thought she knew her own mind, but then she grew with more understanding. I would say that I was a bit disappointed that the intimate scene was mostly closed-door, because I was expecting it to be scorching.

The historical context was interesting with a good deal of focus on unrest and disparity between classes. Lauren and Rafe were both heirs to shipping families, and it was not a good time for the shipping industry with high & rising tariffs. Gossip columns were also a big feature, but they are a frequent device used in HR.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I think I read this book at the right time. It suited my mood, and it was a good diversion to the news of the day, while finding ways to relate to current day. That is something that I like finding in historical romance, relatable to situations to the present.

*<i>Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review this book. Views are my own.

When you meet these two you say no way should these two get together, but as they start working around each other or with each other attraction starts sizzling and they realizes they are more alike than they thought and getting to see them getting to know each other will be much fun for us..Enjoy!

I loved this premise. The idea that you need to get to know your betrothed, that they may not be the perfect hero of your books, but that there’s a good man underneath. And that woman you’re about to marry may have many layers if you look hard enough. So sweet. I do wish the book spent more time with leads (Rafe and Lauren) being alone more. This is a pretty clean book, ie no sex, so readers should go in knowing that. For my personal tastes, I rate this 3 1/2 overall. The premise is a solid 5 star, but I wish it had had more intimacy in it so the reader could watch the relationship grow in that way, too.

I received an ARC of this book, however, that did not influence my rating.

4.5 Stars Rounded-Up! This book is heartwarming, full of romance, adventure, twists and turns, entertaining, and much more! Whenever I picked up "Hero Wanted", I was whisked away on a journey that had me hooked from the first page to the last.

This is the first book in Betina Krahn's new series, and I absolutely can't wait for, what I hope will be, many more! Her writing style and storytelling is so vivid, visceral, and jumps off of the page. Her characters all feel like such real people, and I could envision each moment, place, and scene. I can only imagine the amount of research Ms. Krahn must have done for the various aspects of this book, as everything felt so true and authentic to the era.

Lauren Alcott is such a strong, caring, brave, intelligent, and selfless woman who puts others before herself. She is unafraid to go against what the society around her deems to be proper behavior, and sees that, sometimes, one must act following their heart.

Rafe Townsend is a caring, kind-hearted man, and there is quite a bit more to him than initially meets the eye. At first seemingly selfish and with his mind focusing on the wrong things, never could he have imagined what entering into a plot with Lauren (due to both of their fathers' plannings) could lead to.

(Possible Spoilers):
I actually did not find myself rooting for Lauren and Rafe to end up together from the start (I quite disliked Rafe in the beginning). However, as the story progresses, so does their relationship, and I began to see exactly why they are perfect for each other. Both Lauren and Rafe grow throughout the book, and come to compliment one another quite well. As the reader, you learn why they do and do not take certain actions, and as you begin to understand their backstories more, it becomes clear that they bring out the absolute best in each other, which is beautiful to read.

The opening scene of this book...just WOW! You are immediately thrown into the action, and I found myself flipping the pages quite quickly to see what would happen next! However, I did feel at times that the pacing of the book did not quite keep up. Even with this said, it in no way affected my enjoyment of the novel in any way.

If you enjoy Historical Romance, I highly recommend this book! I could not wait to see how everything worked out, and I hope we see many of these characters in future novels in the series.

Thank you so much to Kensington Books and NetGalley for the ARC of this book, and to Kensington Books for sending me a physical ARC as well, I so enjoyed it! All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This was an enjoyable romance with an interesting conflict! The pirate storyline was one i hacer seen in a while.

I loved this book! Both the hero and the heroine were engaging and the author didn't give away the issues too soon. I stayed up all night reading this because I just had to see how everything was resolved.

Delightfully romantic!

Hero Wanted is the perfect book for the closet romantic and lovers of a feisty heroine. I adored Laurence's wit and character. The book full of intrigue and suspense and a great dose of love.

In a world where values and ideals in marriage are watered down, I loved how Hero Wanted ensures that the hero has all the qualities that the heroine wants in a reasonable manner while maintaining it's romance culture.

A sweet read.

Lauren is a headstrong, independent young lady and a hopeless romantic. She dreams of finding a hero, but instead she was forced to be the heroic one, coming to the rescue of two drowning women when her fiancé refused to jump in to help. Subsequently to this, any good opinion Lauren had for Rafe (courtesy of his impressive looks) took a cold dunking, and Rafe himself was horrified by her unladylike act and her exposed body parts. Well, admittingly he was also somewhat secretly awestruck by said body parts. However, the young couple is told in no uncertain terms by their fathers, both respected businessmen. that they have no choice but to continue with their engagement and arranged marriage for the viability of their respective family businesses are at stake. They dutifully go about town trying to keep up the image of a couple in love but get caught up in mayhem and kidnapping, and suddenly, they find themselves depending on one another for survival. Heroism is called for once again - this time by both of them.

This was my first book by this author and the book started well enough. However, the plot got bogged down by intricate details of the business merger, industrial unrest and dodgy dealings. The romance got seriously sidelined which was a pity. They fell for each other too quickly after the initial fallout. I'm really not convinced Rafe rose to the occasion and made up for his initial craven and egotistic behaviour.

I received a complimentary copy of Hero Wanted in exchange for an honest review. This was one of the best books I've read in a long time. This novel was well written, and had a unique plot with realistic characters. The author did a great job developing Lauren and Rafe's relationship, and included several secondary characters that didn't detract from the main characters. What I liked most is the innuendos between Lauren and Rafe as their relationship developed. Overall, great job. I'll definitely be looking for more from this author.

A romance that starts with a couple who want nothing to do with one another although their fathers wish them betrothed. A headstrong woman and a seemingly ungallant man agree to agree in public. With a few stolen kisses and an adventurous courtship splayed in the newsprint, this couple just might build a relationship. A sweet story but not enough sizzle.

Copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley

Race and Lauren are engaged but it is an arrangement to join the two shipping companies each family owns. Lauren thinks Rafe is dull. He thinks she is out of control-especially when she strips down to her petticoat to jump in a river and save 2 women floundering. After the rescue, she calls him a coward and breaks off their engagement. All of this is witnessed by a freelance newspaper reporter who dubs her an angel. How Rafe and Lauren navigate their re-engagement as they come to know one another and fall in love is a great treat! Lots of twists and turns and intrigue and action!