4.5 Stars. I was a bit concerned by this book because of the poorly photoshopped dog on the cover, but I shouldn’t have worried. This book follows Prudence as she seeks the assistance of Leo, Lord Savage, in stealing back the items meant for her inheritance after a scandal finds her disowned. She agrees to be his mistress in exchange for his help but the pair find themselves falling for each other rather thank keeping things a business arrangement.

I loved the humor sprinkled throughout the book in the witty writing which served as a counterbalance to the serious undertones of the book. I enjoyed seeing Prue and Leo grow interact, especially on their capers to retrieve Prue’s inheritance, and their feelings blossom. The descriptions were a delight to the senses providing vivid descriptions of everything from the carpet to the wall paper to the clothing. One thing I did not enjoy was that Prue’s scandal is revealed as a sexual assault but it is never resolved and her assailant does not face any consequences. While this would likely be historically accurate, historical romances are fantasy stories where women triumph and I needed more triumph. Yes Leo was kind and patient toward Prue when it came to intimacy, but this was also done for his benefit as a way to ensure she wasn’t carrying another man’s child. This didn’t run the story for me but I wished for more.

I am really excited for Meg’s story as it was teased in the epilogue. Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I LOVED THIS BOOK!

I stayed up all night to finish and practically read this one in one sitting. I’m just obsessed, can’t get enough and I’m now going to scrounge for more books by Vivienne Lorret because clearly I have been missing out on a gem!

Regency romance is one of my comfort genres. It’s where I go where I need a heart book, a happy place to dwell for awhile, and this one fit the bill and gave me all the happy vibes I crave from a regency.

We had a couple thrust together due to unusual circumstances, Prue is thought to be ruined, she’s been kicked out of her family home and all of her inheritance has been given away to members of the ton. She decides as she’s ruined anyway, she’s going to steal it all back.

But, it may be helpful if the Marquess of Savage (YES, SAVAGE) takes her as mistress and helps along the way.

It’s a little different in this regency that Prue agrees to be Leo’s mistress, but when we discuss Prue and her agency, I actually enjoyed that she was willing to take from life what she wanted and get what mattered to her.

Leo is a Rake, but it is a classic “I hate everyone but you” scenario where Prue sees through him to the man he is beneath his trauma. He is kind to her, and he saw within Prue a woman different from every other he’d ever known. She doesn’t want to take from him, but only wants the quiet calm of a life that was taken from her.

This one was exactly what I needed and I loved it so much. From the fun banter, the hilarious snap backs between our main characters, and the hijinks of literally stealing from the ton, don’t let this one off your radar!

Thank you to Avon Harper Collins and Netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange of an honest review.

This was a very good read. I enjoyed the story and I genuinely liked Prue and Leo. Their chemistry was solid, and I found it very easy to root for them. I thought the writing was nicely done and I found the storyline engaging, even if it did bog down a bit in the middle. Not going to lie, I did have a couple issues with it but still a quite enjoyable romance.

Book #4 in The Mating Habits of Scoundrels series. This is my 1st book by Vivienne Lorret.

*chefs kiss* This beautiful, tender, second chance romance melted my heart. I couldn’t stop swooning over our hero, Leo the Marquess of Savage, who by the end of this book does a total 360 into the man we’d all choose for our own!!

Leo is a heartless, notorious rake that changes out his mistresses every four months (he has serious TRUST ISSUES which sets the tone for his character throughout the book). But my oh my.. when he meets our heroine Miss Prue Thorogood on a lone country road littered with sheep, his life will never be the same again!! Poor Prue has been disinherited by her father due to an indiscretion with a male partygoer during her debutant ball. Oust from her home, she’s now living in London for one set purpose.. to steal her family’s valuables back that were given away by her step-mother. She eventually lands at Leo’s doorstep after an invitation to become his mistress.

Leo has his own heartwrenching backstory too which is later revealed to Prue. Speaking of Prue.. I LOVED and ADORED her character! She’s an eclectic individual that follows her own path, not what is expected of women in that time period. She’s a spunky, strong, courageous woman with a witty sense of humor and a smart head on her shoulders.

There’s also fantastic side drama that involves two very deliciously deceptive individuals who are manipulating situations in order to bring Leo and Prue down. Vivienne Lorret has written a phenomenal story that I highly recommend to all HEA readers. I had so much fun reading it!

*Thanks Avon and Harper Voyager via NetGalley for the ARC! All opinions are my own.

In this fantastic fourth installment of The Mating Habits of Scoundrels series, Pru, a ruined debutante who has lost everything decides to make a bargain with Leo, a notorious rake. Vivienne Lorret has created such a delightful and charming series revolving around debutante's who are friends with each other and support each other through their ups and downs. Watching each of these women get their HEAs is wonderfully fun and amusing. Lorret's writing is extremely engaging, it has a lightness and allure that easily draws the reader in. Her characters are crafted with care and they all feel well rounded and dimensional. Lorret's plotting is crafted with humor, seriousness, lightness and sensuality, all working hand in hand to create the perfect backdrop for a romance.

Each of these novels has had an endearing and unique meet cute between the romantic couple which really starts the novels off on a great foot. In the case of How to Steal a Scoundrel's Heart, which deals with Pru being splashed with mud as Leo's carriage rolls by her. These two might start off on a bit of a contentious foot, but quickly engage in a scandalous offer put forth by Leo. I really loved watching the relationship between Pru and Leo grow from attraction to a depth of understanding and love. Leo believes himself to be heartless after he was betrayed by a past fiance, so he has vowed to never trust and love again. But of course Pru will put him to the test with her kind heart and her true perception of who Leo truly is. These two have wonderfully chemistry, which Lorret takes great advantage of! This novel has a really great level of steam which helps the reader to see how these two are opening themselves up to the other and learning to trust.

This is a must read for any historical romance lover! Vivienne Lorret is definitely a gem in the genre and this series has been a fantastic one, I have enjoyed each novel in the series and I am so excited for the next one!

This book, Lord Savage is probably my favorite. Readers, if you loved Sebastian from the Devil In Winter, then you need to give Lord Savage a shot.

Our heroine Prudence is a woman scorned. Ruined by a so-called gentleman, she is the reason the previous heroines in this series started on their book writing and researching paths. These ladies were determined to find a way to warn other women, to help protect them from the situation Prudence finds herself in. Yet, she’s a woman with justice in mind. She’ll lie, cheat and steal to get it and what better way than to enter into a bargain with the type of man believed to be a spawn of Satan.

Psst… I loved Prudence for her sheer determination and strength. No matter the villain or the outcome she’s motivated to succeed.

Our hero, Lord Savage, Leo, is not hero material. He’s only motivated by his own interests and preferably women with experience. Yet our dear Prudence rouses his interest. Before long Leo is breaking his own rules in this quest to seduce her for real. Though someone from his past is trying to ruin everything.

There was, or is, something magical about this story. Lorret ensnared me from chapter one and I couldn’t help but literally inhale this book like a ravenous Kirby. From the chemistry between Prudence and Leo, both of their heartbreaking backstories, and to how they rise together. The best relationships in romance are how hero and heroine make each other better versions of themselves, and the journey towards this HEA was so worth it.

Overall, like I said before if you’re a fan of Chase or Kleypas then you need to get reading Lorret.

~ Landra

Leo Ramsgate, Marquess of Savage, keeps his heart locked away from everyone. He takes one mistress after another for a period of 4 months each time--no more, no less. That way, he can walk away with a clear conscience at the end of the affair. When a chance meeting of Prudence Thorogood on a muddy road changes the way he views his affairs, he's determined not to let the innocent beauty into his heart. Pru was at her wit's end the night she knocks on Leo's door. She's ruined, her father has abandoned her and she's scorned by Society. However, she's determined to get back her family heirlooms and Leo is the man to help her. All she has to do is not lose her heart to the scoundrel.

This book starts off great. I loved Pru's fire and determination in deciding her own future now that she's been ruined. Leo was the perfect scoundrel but with an innate sense of honor. I really enjoyed how he tried to win Pru's trust before bedding her. I thought the middle dragged a little, but I kept with the story and was glad I did. There are a few twists and turns in the story, but eventually, Leo and Pru find their HEA.

Oh my, how I loved the characters in this book and enjoyed reading it. The chemistry between the two main characters, Pru and Leo, jumped off the page. Prudence Thorogood is a disgraced and penniless debutante who has been kicked out of her father’s home. Leo Ramsgate, the Marquess of Savage, is known for his hedonistic pleasures and penchant for frequently changing mistresses. Pru is determined to somehow retrieve her mother’s inheritance which her father gave to her stepmother to dispose of it. Leo is intrigued by Pru when he and a soon-to-be ex-mistress offer her a ride to London in his carriage. Pru initially stays with friends but she knows that won’t work long-term as her “scandal” will eventually impact their lives and how they are received by the ton. She accepts an offer made by Leo to become his mistress as he is willing to help her recover her mother’s inheritance. But becoming his mistress is a slow-moving process between the two of them. There is a lot of humor involved. Leo at times was almost snarky. But how I loved him! This author does descriptive prose well, whether about the descriptions of a carriage, something that happens, or seduction. When Leo first kissed Pru, wow! And her response to him, double wow. “This man was a spell caster. A sorcerer. A veritable devil. And, try as she might, she couldn’t resist him.” Both these two try to guard their hearts. They’re afraid of loving one another. It doesn’t help that there are others that are out to spoil the burgeoning romance between Leo and Pru. Loved this author’s writing style. I was totally engrossed in the work and loved, loved the main characters. I thank NetGalley for an ARC, which in no way affects my rating of 5 stars, with a 4-4 ½ steam level.

Vivienne Lorret writes wonderful books. How To Steal a Scoundrel's Heart has a hero with so much patience for a "ruined" heroine. Leo was so caring and thoughtful. The story was fun and entertaining. I definitely recommend this book.

I was provided with an advance reader copy. These opinions are my own voluntarily given.

Due to a rake, the heroine's reputation was ruined, and she was left with nothing after polite society kicked her out. Trying to get back the possessions that she lost, the heroine ends up meeting the hero during this endeavor. Intrigued, the hero offers the heroine a scandalous proposition to help her regain them. The two embark on a relationship that had strict rules but in which they both end up falling in love with each other.

This is a solid Vivienne Lorret book that introduces a rakish hero and a ruined heroine. Though not my favorite heroic type, this hero wasn't so bad at all. The heroine faced a lot of adversity and made a decision that was right for herself in her views. There was also a nice batch of secondary characters, though a couple of them needed a bit more details about them. It has a great beginning and ending, but the middle part definitely felt lagging from the others. In my eyes, it would have been nice to have some more details in certain parts of the story but overall, it's a good romantic read.

**Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. All opinions and thoughts in the review are my own.**

This was a well-written, entertaining book. It was steamy, held my interest and I wanted to find out what would happen. I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more books by this author.

This is my first Vivienne Lorret and I was able to jump right into Prue & Leo's story. The fallen girl meets rake is a story that has been told before but this book is a lot of fun (thanks a lot to dog shenanigans and a theft subplot) and Leo is one of the best rake characters I have read in awhile. Prue may be fallen from grace but she still has self-respect and never turns into a damsel in distress.The relationship between Prue & Savage is the central part of this novel and is something I love and it works well here. You see their relationship change and how they grow as people as they arrive at their HEA.


Many thanks to Avon, Harper Voyage & Netgalley for the ARC

CW: Emotional abuse; parental abandonment; cheating; pregnancy

If there is one thing I can count on from Vivienne Lorret, it’s that her books will be fun. How to Steal a Scoundrel’s Heart is no exception. I liked this one – but wow, did it go in a direction I did not expect towards the end. Vivienne Lorret kept me on my toes with what would happen with Leo and Prue’s relationship on their journey towards a happily ever after.

After being ruined, Prudence Thorogood has lost everything, including her inheritance. But she’ll do anything to get her inheritance back, even if it means committing larceny. However, she finds herself ill-suited to theft rather quickly and accepts an offer from Leo Ramsgate, Marquess of Savage, to become his mistress in exchange for him getting her inheritance back. Leo, a known scoundrel, has set rules for his mistresses. His affairs last only four months as he refuses to let his heart get involved. But when it comes to Prue, he’s tempted to break his own rules for her. Meanwhile, Prue is determined to live out her life in the country after getting her inheritance but finds herself slowly giving up her heart to Leo, even though he may never love her back.

The chemistry between Leo and Prue was amazing. As soon as they met, it felt like these two were made for each other. The conversation between them flowed so easily and naturally – it felt like they had known each other for years and were old friends. While Prue approaches Leo to be his mistress, they have a much deeper relationship that goes beyond the bedroom. I loved how when they’re together, the expectations and boundaries of society fall away. There is no place for guilt or shame between them; they can just be themselves.

And for a scoundrel and devoted bachelor, Leo sure doesn’t act like one. He’s so far gone for Prue from the first time he meets her yet is afraid to admit it. I mean, he gives her a nickname right off the bat and throws all his rules out the window for her! I also loved how he’s willing to go at the pace Prue needed with their relationship. She had a negative experience the first time she slept with someone which made her view sex as something to be endured. He takes the physical aspect of their relationship slowly (despite the fact she’s his mistress) and teaches her about passion and desire.

When it comes to the characters, I adored both Prue and Leo. They both have some heavy baggage that they bring into a relationship. For Prue, she’s been abandoned by her family and always treated as an afterthought. Her father, aunts and stepmother constantly belittled her and made her feel like she could do nothing right. Her family cut her out of their lives when she was caught in a compromising situation. To top it all off, they gave away her inheritance. She’s constantly been told she’s inadequate, not perfect and can do nothing wrong. Despite this, she’s somehow the most caring and kind-hearted person. She puts her friends’ feelings above her own and just wants to reclaim what’s hers and live a simple life out in the country. She’s brave, bold, confident and has this air of grace. Her inner strength is amazing, and she surprised me a lot.

Leo was one of my favorite characters in this book. He’s charming, funny, broken and loveable. He plays the role of a scoundrel because he has been hurt too many times in the past by those who are supposed to love him. Both his mother and his ex-fiance caused some damage that made him put up walls when it comes to his relationship. His father was also a piece of work, so Leo has strict rules and contracts when it comes to his mistresses. He’s afraid to let anyone in too closely, and at the first sign of deeper feelings, he’s out. He doesn’t want to be hurt. Prue up-ends all that for him, and he’s willing to do whatever it takes to keep her safe and make her happy. He doesn’t even realize he’s doing it half the time – he’s so far gone for this woman, and I loved it!

Outside Prue and Leo, we have a FANTASTIC villain character in Viscount Marlow. Like seriously, this man is a scheming, terrible, smarmy VILLAIN. He even gives a villainous monologue at one point. At one point, I found myself yelling at Prue not to trust this man as he’s just that manipulative. We also get a great scheming woman with Lady Sutton, Leo’s would-be mistress. Lady Sutton and Viscount Marlow together cause a lot of drama, and it feels so over the top but it is so freaking fun to watch.

Lorret kept me on my toes while reading when it came to the plot. Just when I thought I knew where this book would be going, she took it in a different direction around the 60% mark. And then the ending was WILD! I honestly did not see any of it coming and found myself devouring this book to see what would happen next. The final act of this book gave me old-school romance vibes as we get a dramatic evil plot that throws the drama into the relationship, and I’m here for it.

How to Steal a Scoundrel’s Heart was another fantastic entry in The Mating Habits of Scoundrels series! And this is not the last book like I thought it was! I’m a little hesitant about Meg’s book given what’s revealed in the epilogue, but I’m glad we’ll get to spend more time with all these characters. The series is so dang fun, and I definitely recommend picking them up!

Quick side note – what’s up with the poorly photoshop dog on the cover? There is literally no dog in this until the very end. Prue does use the phrase “Oh Pekingese” as a curse, but there is no physical dog that plays a significant role in the story. It’s a very odd choice for the cover and so distracting!

Thank you to Avon/Netgalley for the ARC. All thoughts, ideas and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

RELEASE DATE: May 24th 2022
SERIES: The Mating Habits of Scoundrels Series #4
GENRE: Historical Fiction
How to Steal a Scoundrel's Heart is the fourth book in The Mating Habits of Scoundrels Series. It’s not necessary to read the previous books to enjoy this one. It is a lover to friend trope. I really enjoyed reading this book.

I adore any reformed rake story and I was having a great time reading this one. It's a pairing of a Rake who is reformed by a very naive and ruined society darling.

This had a beautiful slow burn buildup and plenty of satisfying characterization as well. Enjoyed it a lot and look forward to more from this author.

Will he realize in time not all can be contained and put in box …

I loved the previous book, with a heroine sharing my name, of course she could only be amazing 😉
Prue was introduced to me there, the poor fallen woman, ill used and abandoned.
Worth she is not only ruined but rejected by her family, those who should have protected her, they only see her as an impediment, a blemish on their name.
I loved her, for all the ill-treatments she faced, her lowly opinion of herself and her very naivety, she is honest and straightforward.
A woman who decided to no more let others direct her life, she wants to regain control of it, whatever the means or the journey to reach her goal.
Alone she tried with her wits and too gentle persona to try to recoup what had been spilt by others to personally wound her. But when she realizes her presence harms her friends and her talents are not much useful in her present activity of stealing back what she feels is hers, she accepts to weight on Savage’s impulsive offer.
Acknowledging by association she hurts her friends et won’t ever regain her reputation, why not agree to a four months contract, as at the end, she would still be ruined. So why not use it to get back what was hers as Savage offered his help with a price. She is such a resilient, thoughtful, uninterested young woman. Why she is a mystery to Leo. He can not put her in a box, not greedy, not lustful, not longing for more she needs. And despite the ill-abuse she already suffered, she is ready to face her worst fears because she knows in her soul, Savage will never wound her willingly.
Savage lives by his own rules, why he enters only in ready set agreements with his paramours, four months, loyalty the length for their understanding, no expectation beyond the term of their contract.
But Prue from the beginning has unsettled all his well crafted rules, he offered impulsively, she refuses to be shivered in rich, she does see her worth not her passionate side. She is as much a project than a conundrum.

I loved them together, from the beginning, they are at easy together, honest and caring, yet when she shared, he holds back. This way, he gives ammunitions to his enemies to come between them and tear them apart when it is easy for anyone to see how much he cares, how he can’t stand to see her disparaged by their peers, how he wants to lavish her in rich and silk.
Only the parties interested are blind to the signs.
While it was easy to see where the plot would lead them, I loved the journey and how the characters flawed as they were interacted and slowly reached the other, seing past their walls and beyond their mask.
An other lovely unconventional first meeting romance.
5 stars

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 hot

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

I love Vivienne Lorret books and How to Steal a Scoundrel's Heart was definitely another great book! The characters are well developed, the story is engaging, and of course, the romance was perfectly done. If you're looking for a new book to pick up, look no further.

This is a book four of The Mating Habits of Scoundrels series and while you probably don't HAVE to read the first three, I highly recommend you do. Not only because you are introduced to the other characters mentioned, but also because they are good!

I really love this series by Vivienne Lorret. I love the friendships between the women. I love how witty all of these stories are. I think perhaps the snarky banter and fun conversations might be the very best part of this whole series. I love how determined the heroines are in creating an unconventional future.

This book begins when Prudence decides to become Leo's mistress in order to reclaim her inheritance. I don't know that I have read many mistress trope romances and I am not sure that it's ever going to be a favorite, but the personality and heat that was between the two main characters gave so much more depth and life to this story that it worked.

Wow, this was wonderful!
I had high expectations going into this, but my gosh, this blew them out of the water.
This is about a ruined heiress, a cold-hearted rake and the bargain they struck in order to get her inheritance back.
I loved watching two broken people find themselves through love. Lorret did a great job of showing each character’s struggles and journeys. I was always engaged and didn’t want to pause reading.
I will say that if you’ve read the previous book you’ll know the heroine’s backstory. However, it is rehashed a bit in this one so I don’t think if you go into this one first you’ll be totally lost.
Lorret created a truly beautiful and wonderful story. I will definitely have to reread it sometime soon.
* Thank you to the publisher and author for an advanced reader’s copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own*

This was my second Vivienne Lorret book (I started with The Wrong Marquess and still need to go back and read books one and two, and then probably the rest of her backlist) and I really enjoyed it! 4.5 stars, rounded up because I loved most of it and empathized with Prue and Leo. (Possible minor spoilers below, moreso towards the end of the review)

Admittedly, I started off slightly wary of Prue because I couldn’t get a good read on her character in The Wrong Marquess. However, I quickly warmed up to her because, while naive due to her conservative and sheltered upbringing, she showed early on that she’s got a determined and fierce heart, as she loves her friends and Aunts Maeve and Myrtle dearly, and she’s such a warm person despite being verbally abused by her own father and stepmother, as well as the jerkwad behind her ruination from the previous book.

The way her character was set up made a lot of sense; she’s guarded and insecure after her past experiences with her ex-lover (the biggest asshole, I hate him) and her remaining family (who I also hate) who so coldly disown her after sending her away to the countryside. I love that she’s got her own backbone and desires of securing an independent life through reclaiming her inheritance, as well as her wish to protect her dearest friends (however misguided that was, considering how loyal her friends are as well and how much they love her and want to help).

I was also reserving judgment for how to feel about Leo; we got a small glimpse of his character in The Wrong Marquess, and while I kind of liked him and thought him charming, I wasn’t sure how he would be around Prue. My worries were quickly put to rest, though, as it’s clear from their initial exchanges and banter that they have an ease between them and chemistry that makes it feel as though they’re already friends. I love that Leo’s captivated by Prue right off the bat and that you can tell he’s going to be in deep very quickly. My favorite kind of romance hero. And his code of honor, while it does get tediously overused in his state of denial later on in the book, is respectable; refusing to be like his father, Leo is generous with his mistresses, loves his mother figure of Lady Babcock (their relationship is so sweet, though we only got to see some glimpses into it), and takes extra care to honor his word.

Due largely to a childhood and later young adulthood in which he had little control over his life and the way the people around him acted and how that impacted him, Leo subconsciously desires control in all aspects of his current life by the time we meet him in the book. He refuses to get attached to anyone, believing himself to be heartless—perhaps partially internalizing his past mistresses’ words, and strictly follows the contracts he sets forth with his mistress of the time and holds others to the same expectations. It’s a defense mechanism that he doesn’t even realize or want to face, owing to past betrayal by those closest to him. I really felt for Leo and his locked cabinets, including to that of his heart.

More spoilery content below—

Leo’s immediate warmth with Prue and outrage at everyone who’d ever been cruel to her, including the jerkwad who must not be named (but if you’ve read book three you’ll know), made me hopeful for their relationship. He delivered on treating Prue well, doting in ways that the maids and other staff of the house recognized, especially when it came to making sure she was sexually satisfied, but also in ensuring she would be comfortable after her past traumatic experience.

My largest issue with him was his inability to communicate his issues with Prue not telling him things such as riding in a carriage with Marlow (this is later on, maybe 3/4 of the way through); I understood why he didn’t trust easily, but given how much he cared and felt he knew Prue, it was frustrating for him to fall into old patterns and skepticism, believing the worst of her (especially when he knew what Marlow was like!). Similarly, Prue supposedly trusted Leo but let her insecurities overshadow everything when it came to that major third act conflict, and I just wanted to yell at them both. That split before they came back together made me scream at Leo lol. I love him, but I remember clearly thinking multiple times throughout the book that he’s such a fool, deluding himself like this *shakes head*. A lovable fool with a good heart beneath it all, but a fool nonetheless. And his code of honor where he didn’t cut off Sutton, even though she’s clearly taking advantage of him? Even after she’s got a new lover who should instead foot the bill?? I get that you don’t want to be your father, but that got so ridiculous. I yelled at Leo then too.

The plot line about retrieving Prue’s inheritance was a lot of fun, and I enjoyed getting to see how they nabbed a few of the items together (the sword—the sexual tension of that scene was *chef’s kiss*), but it did take a background seat in the latter half of the book. I liked that we did get to see Leo and Prue open up to each other and banter and understand each other in ways that others hadn’t; for instance, Leo being shocked by how well Prue understood his motivations and how he became the scoundrel he was after learning about his past was one of my favorite things. And of course the sexual chemistry was amazing and rounded out a lovely romance.

In the end, their reunion was sweet and so full of hope and love that I smiled as they got their HEA. Leo did give a good speech then. He can be quite the romantic when he wants to be, this dummy. I love the story of how he got Your Majesty. Adorable. And that peek into their blissful lives in the epilogue warmed my heart.

Thank you to Netgalley & Avon for the ARC!