This book is the classic historical romance about two outcasts in society who find each other. Prue is considered stained in society, and has very little income. Savage has offered Prue a chance to gain wealth if she becomes his mistress for four months. At first Prue declines, but a month later accepts the offer due to her income. In the midst of this offer, a chemistry builds between both of them. What is great about these characters is both are considered outcast in society, so they both find it difficult to trust people and themselves. As a result, they keep second guessing if the other person is authentic or has an intent. Prue's personality is very straight forward and says what she thinks which uncommon for a female in that time era. Savage is drawn by Prue's personality which he highly appreciates and at times put off guard. The storyline is well written, characters are consistently in the foreground in the story, and it is humorous.

This is an awesome book!
Pru and Leo make a stupendous couple.
Likely a ruined debutante who wants nothing but her inheritance back.
Ruined debutante Prudence Thorogood lost everything when she was ousted from polite society, including her inheritance. Now she’ll do anything to take back what’s hers… even if she has to steal it. Accepting a scandalous offer from Lord Savage seems like the perfect solution to disguise her criminal intentions from the ton. Until she discovers that there’s more to this scoundrel than meets the eye.
Leo Ramsgate, Marquess of Savage, has everything except for a heart. That organ dried up long ago after a devastating betrayal. Since then, he vowed never to trust or love again. He ensures that his dalliances are mutually satisfying, but always temporary… until he meets the reserved Miss Thorogood. Not one of his previous lovers has ever beguiled him the way she does. Not one has made him want to break his own rules. Not one has tempted him to keep her… forever.
Prue has every intention of disappearing from London after their affair ends. But her plan falters when she finds herself falling hopelessly in love with a man who may never love her in return. With time running out and so much at stake, she cannot help but wonder…
Vivienne Lorret has written another good book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.

Leo Ramsgate, Marquess of Savage, is a man lost in the mundane existence of a consummate rogue who enters into affairs using contracts and deadlines. Leo controls affairs in order to keep his wounded heart guarded; a heart wary of trust. When Leo meets the intriguing and refreshingly honest Prudence Thorogood, his cynicism wavers and his heart is at risk. And although Prue is different from any other woman he has known, can he learn to open his heart enough to trust her, or will he live to regret making himself vulnerable to love again?

Prudence Thorogood is a young woman who has been ruined and disowned in the eyes of society. She is a woman who has been told she is cold and no longer relevant; except in the eyes of her friends, who refuse to shun her. When she meets Leo she is wary of a man with his reputation, yet she finds that he is just the person she needs to gain back her inheritance, and find her way towards a self-sufficient and independent life. When Prue enters into an affair with Leo, with every intention of keeping her heart locked behind a wall, Leo’s affection slowly chips away at all that Prue thought she knew about herself, and reveals a heart that is filled with warmth, love, and a vulnerability that leaves her open to the potential for heartbreak.

The characterization of Prue and Leo was beautifully crafted through internal and external dialogue. There was such a deft use of exposition that showed the progression of the growing affection and attachment between Leo and Prue. I wish that I could share my multitude of highlights that exemplify this very fact, but alas…no spoilers.

I absolutely adored this story and could not put it down. I was wholly engaged and invested in Leo’s healing and the love that they both so richly deserved.

I highly recommend reading this book when it releases on May 24th!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this eARC thanks to Avon and Harper Voyager via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

#HowtoStealaScoundrelsHeart #NetGalley

This book hit all my must-haves! Engaging writing style, plotline with some substance, and characters that made me feel something for them.

The heroine is likable and clever. Determined without being overly proud and abrasive. She’s been burned before but is ready to join forces with the hero to achieve own ends. He’s unexpectedly drawn to her and will do anything to have her. Together, they set the ton on its ear as they each chase their own goals, and find each other’s deepest desires along the way.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author, and it’s the 4th in the series, so the beginning was a little confusing not knowing who all the characters being mentioned are. But the introduction to the two main characters was mostly from a fresh start, so it was pretty easy to get engaged with their storyline quickly. The banter between the two was entertaining, and I like how strong and independent the heroine is, but without pushing away the hero just because he’s a man. They help each other and are the better for it.

Thinking she had been compromised, Prue’s father and stepmother disown her and sell off treasured mementos that she would have inherited. They even sell a deed to a house she was to have inherited. Determined to find these sentimental items she offers to become a mistress to the scandalous Leo Savage for a few months in exchange for him helping her recover her items. She then plans to retire to the country. Despite his cold heart, Leo becomes infatuated with her and she must ultimately decide if it is him or her sentimental possessions that she wants more. I received an ARC from NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for my honest review.

There are a couple of obvious comparisons with this book - it reminded me of Julia Quinn's <i>An Offer from a Gentleman</i> and of Lisa Kleypas's <i>The Devil in Winter</i>. It does a pretty good job of living up to those comparisons while also being different enough to succeed on its own terms.

I really liked Prue and Leo (even if I wanted to make a joke about Prue being the wrong Halliwell sister), and I felt like they were well-rounded likable characters who were mostly straightforward with each other except where their personal insecurities were concerned. Though I did wish that we would see a little more closure on some of those insecurities as part of the plot - that's one of the reasons I didn't go for the fifth star.

I thought that the author did a good job of revealing their specific baggage piece by piece. The pacing in this book is also more successful than some of the others in the series because I really wanted to keep reading and to know what was going to happen next. The plot about needing to recover the parts of her inheritance helped on both of the above counts because we knew all along how many things they were chasing and how much time they had and could measure it all against that timeline.

Overall - this was maybe my favorite book of the series!

Thanks to Avon for the ARC.

My favorite book to the series so far.

Finally, we meet Prue Thorogood, the schoolfriend of the earlier books' heroines who had been banished to the country because of an imprudent kiss at a ball. Cast off by her father and stepmother, she is returning to London only long enough to reclaim the various heirlooms that her mother had left for her. Early in her journey, she meets Leo, Lord Savage, and while he's smitten from the first, he hasn't enough experience with love to recognize it. He does, however, have a lot of experience with keeping mistresses, as none last with him longer than four months before he cuts ties. He wants Prue to be his next, she declines...but rethinks the offer once he seems like her best option for rescuing her mother's heirlooms.

It's an enjoyable ride to get from their early encounters to their inevitable HEA. I definitely appreciate a hero in the dark about being in love while everyone around him already senses it. Leo did the lion's share of growth along the way, although Prue seems to be becoming more of her best self because of Leo's influence. There are a few points where better communication would have solved the problem, so if that irks you, you'll be shouting at your paperback/device at a few critical junctures. That said, there's also some satisfying groveling after the miscommunications.

Looking forward to reading Meg's story next.

I loved this book and these characters. This is a beautifully constructed story that is witty and romantic; sweet but also hot. Prue is smart and determined and Leo is a charming scoundrel who will do anything for her and has no clue why. Seeing their relationship develop was a joy.

Prudence Thorogood was disowned by her father and stepmother upon being compromised. She has spent time in the countryside residing with her pious aunt and uncle forced to “atone” for her apparent sins. When her stepmother writes to her and informs her she has sold off her belongings (heirlooms from her mother who passed) she decides to return to London and take back her rightful inheritance.On her journey to town she comes upon Lord Savage who offers her a ride. By the end of their journey he is so enamored with her that he offers her the position of his mistress. Savage only ever keeps a mistress for 4 months and requires fidelity. Prue turns him down as she has her own goals and missions that do not include being a mistress.


Despite her best attempts of covertness, Prue’s attempts at pilfering back the heirlooms isn’t going well. Realizing that her association is tainting her friend’s reputation she decides to take desperate measures– namely to seek out Savage and agree to his proposal in return for his assistance in getting back all the missing items.

Like all the other books in the series, this one is also a little bit more on the ridiculous side. It is quintessential Vivenne Lorret. The characters are great, the plot is exciting, and there’s just enough drama to keep you on your toes. Overall, I really liked the book, but there were some parts that were a bit too ridiculous. For example, Prue’s big fear and secret that wasn’t actually that big? Additionally, the book also deals with some themes of sexual assault but it’s kind of glossed over at some points and not completely acknowledged by the end of the book. It felt unresolved to me.

I did love seeing more of Reed Sterling who was the MC in the Rogue to Ruin!

Overall I would rate it about a 4.25 – It definitely delivered, but isn’t my favorite in the series.

Thank you NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager for this ARC in exchange for my fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Although I have not read the first two books in this series, I did find the third worth the read and was glad to receive the opportunity to read this fourth book. “How to Steal a Scoundrel’s Heart” (The Mating Habits of Scoundrels #4) is an enjoyable story of a rake slowly being reformed by a ruined but naïve debutante.

Ms. Prudence “Prue” Thorogood ruined by a disreputable rake, was literally shunned by society and considered an outcast by her family. She has learned that her stepmother has gambled away all of her prized possessions she’s inherited and is willing to do anything to get them back. Not wanting to burden her friends and live off their charity, she seeks the help of Leo Ramsgate, Marquess of Savage. Unfortunately, Leo’s reputation is one of ill-repute as he is a known rake who only contracts his paramours for a period of 4-months. She enters into a contract with Savage to become his mistress and hopes to move on with her life after the term and obtaining her family heirlooms. What she didn’t count on was Savage being the doing the ruin and marrying her out of honor.

This was such a delightful read and tropes I quite like…marriage of convenience and reformed rake. I enjoyed how Leo assisted Prue with retrieving her lost items that were not as important as finding herself in all of anguish she has endured. Leo has had his share of demons also. A rogue of a father and having his fiancée betray him with a former friend. Prue isn’t like all the women he’s put in a box. She helps him break down all the walls he has built of keeping himself unattached to the conniving women. I loved in the end how he protects and guards her from those that mean harm and Prue winning him over including his heart. Oh, I loved this couple although this was a sort of slow burn, well-written story that gradually got to romance and HEA. Such a fun read really loving this author’s writing style. Plan to read the first two in this series. Recommend the read.

How to Steal a Scoundrel's Heart can be read as a stand alone book but you will see characters from the previous books from the Mating Habits of Scoundrels series.

I always enjoy a good rake story (especially when Lord Savage couldn't resist staying away from Prue) and it felt empowering reading a womans journey in deciding to take control of her own future.

Vivienne Lorret has recently become an auto-buy author for me and I can't wait to own my own copy.

I enjoyed this demimonde romance! Ruined debutante Prue has had enough of the strict moralizing and constant shaming of her aunt and uncle--at whose home she has been forced to reside since a scandal a year prior caused her father to send her packing to the country. She decides to take fate into her own hands and get back her inheritance the only way she can think of: larceny.

Leo, Lord Savage, is tiring of the string of four-month commitments he makes to his long line of mistresses...but when he meets Prue, defiantly making her way to London on foot, he's captivated. They strike a deal: Prue will spend four months as his mistress, and in that time, he will make sure her inheritance is returned to her.

This was my first Lorret and I loved a lot of it! There is a VERY abrupt turn at about 60% (without spoilers, at one point Prue says to herself, "was this morning a dream?" and I thought maybe it was?) that definitely wasn't bad, but certainly could have used more lead-up. I will say, though, reading this makes me want to explore more of Lorret's backlist and has put me on a historical romance kick!

Leo is a true rogue, a serial monogamist, who has contracts with his paramours and has official 4-month endings to his liaisons. Leo is wealthy and generous to his lovers and he is handsome, so he has no trouble going from one relationship to the next. He literally picks up Prudence from the side of the road and gives her a ride to London. Hearing her story he offers to help her if she becomes his lover. Prue declines until after a time she needs help.
I found Leo to be a very misguided person. He was not a bad person just not dealing with life in a an appropriate way. Prue was desperate and he did take advantage of her desperation. That they were meant to fall in love was without question.
This is my first Vivienne Lorret book and I was pleased at her character development and the unique plot. It is number 4 in the series but can be read as a standalone novel with no trouble.

This was a really enjoyable story. I thought Leo was a really fascinating character, with his hardened, cynical heart and all the baggage from a traumatic past. Prue was an interesting mix of strong and scared, smart and naive. About three quarters of the way through, I got a little frustrated at Leo’s jealousy and fear, but overall I really liked it.

This one was just okay for me. I love historical romance as a rule, and the idea of the stolen inheritance is such a fun premise. But unfortunately the story just didn't keep me engaged.

Thank you Netgalley, Avon, and the author for the eARC in exchange for my review.

Miss Prudence Thorogood was cast out of her family and polite society when she was ruined by a charming but callus rake. Now her awful stepmother has gambled and given away precious heirlooms and a piece of property that were part of her inheritance and she's desperate to get them back, by any means necessary! She makes a devil's bargain with perma-bachelor Leo Ramsgate, Marquess of Savage, agreeing to be his mistress for a period of four months. Prue has every intention of abandoning London after their affair ends, but both she and Leo didn't expect to develop feelings for one another.

This is the fourth book in The Mating Habits of Scoundrels series. I recommend at least reading book three (The Wrong Marquess), as Prue's background is introduced in that story. Another secondary character from book three is also important for the set up of the next novel.

The beginning of their story gave me serious Devil in Winter/Lord of Wicked Intentions vibes (Kleypas and Heath). Those are pretty big historical romance shoes to fill, but Vivienne Lorret makes this story her own. Prudence lost everything and refuses to live off the charity of her friends. She's determined to steal back what she feels is hers, and then leave London behind. The marquess was supposed to be a means to an end but, instead, he ends up helping her find herself again. Leo has been burned by his past: a wastrel rogue as a father, a faithless fiancée., and a jealous former friend. As such, he keeps his attachments brief and doesn't trust...but Prue breaks down his defenses because she isn't like all the other women scheming for his money and his time. Leo protects her at every turn, and is not quite the scoundrel he's made out to be. (4.5 stars rounded to 5).

Tropes: Ruined, Reform-a-Rake, Protector

Steam: 3.5

* I received an ARC and this is my honest review. #HowtoStealaScoundrelsHeart #NetGalley

Definitely the best one of the series. I love how these two develop together. Their relationship is awesome, they have some hot moments. The only irritating part is when he sends her away towards the end. But it kinda has to happen. Otherwise, the book is awesome.

This book was a rarity for me, I didn’t want the story to end, I wanted to keep following them in their lives. They were such a fun couple.

Thank you to Vivienne Lorret and the publisher for the arc via NetGalley.

Woooooow!!! This book got all the feels for me!! Savage (what a delicious name) was sweet yet guarded. Love to see Prue's healing and strength! This is going iny top 5!! Can't wait to get caught up on the last 3 books in this series and eagerly await the next!

A good slow build romance with drama,angst,humor and misunderstandings.
Like Prue and Savage who met when Prue was not at her best but Savage couldn't get her out of his mind.
They keep meeting ,and things develops .
Enjoyed the story.
Voluntarily reviewed.

This was a good historical fiction novel. This was my first book by this author and it did not disappoint. The romance was enticing. It wasn’t spicy but still pretty hot. Lord Savage was so charming. He and Prue had chemistry right from the start. I usually don’t like instant love in books but this was handled well.

The writing style was so poetic and lyrical. It is my favorite type. Besides the story, the writing was a huge delight. I savored the words as if they were chocolates.

I really liked the meet-cute, when Lord Savage saw Prue drenched from the rain. The scene where she was covered in rose petals was cute. They had amazing banter at the start.

The book was fun to read, however, it wasn’t great. I wasn’t attached to the supporting characters such as Meg. The plot didn’t seem that new. I have seen such similar plots in other historical novels.

Overall, it was an entertaining novel. I am intrigued to try out more books by the author.
3.25/5

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.