✔️ really enjoyed this story - lot of witty dialogue and a cute romance
✔️ loved the sisterly love and dedication between Clarissa and Izzy
✔️ I don’t know why but the character of Millie totally reminds me of the character Nellie in the Little House on the Prairie series ( and I haven’t thought about this series in decades 🤷‍♀️) my fav quote “And my mama is second cousin to a duke.” 😂

BOOK REVIEW: The Rake's Daughter by Anne Gracie
Series: The Brides Of Bellaire Gardens | Book 2
2022 Publication Date: July 26

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐

T.I.M.E. Best Books By Genre | Historical Romance
T.I.M.E. Most Anticipated Books Of 2022

CONNECT WITH A BOOK | T.I.M.E. SIMPLE LIVING TIP
When you think of the love you wish for your life, start your list with the love of a good sister...

T.I.M.E. BOOK REVIEW: Discovering a new favorite historical romance author (and favorite historical romance series) always makes my summer shine with new reading possibilities. So, welcome Anne Grace to my reading list... Anne? Your books will always make my book bag shine!

As much as I loved this story of rakish romance featuring a spirited strong female character unabashedly standing toe to toe with her challenges and desires to carve out the life she would love on her own terms, the true star of this story is the love between two half-sisters that forge ahead together like two tigresses… Sisters forever, ladies!

Perfect for readers looking for an historical romance with a romance that sizzles (🌶 (Mild Spicy) and filled with angst galore equally partnered with tons of wit and stellar gumption.

Loved this reading adventure and can’t wait for the story to continue in Book 3!…✨😎✨

Pages: 368
Genre: Historical Romance
Sub-Genre: Enemies To Lovers Romance
T.I.M.E. Jalapeno Rating:️ 🌶 (Mild Spicy)
Time Period: 1808 - 1818
Location: Hampshire | London (England)

IF YOU LIKE THIS BOOK THEN TRY…
Book: The Scoundrels Daughter by Anne Gracie (The Brides Of Bellaire Gardens | Book 1)
Movie: Hobson’s Choice

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Leo, the new Earl of Salcott, returns to England to find that he has been named the guardian of an heiress, Clarissa, after the death of her father. Clarissa has also brought her half-sister, Isobel, with her who is of questionable background as her illegitimate half-sister. Leo is obligated to support Clarissa. But Isobel is not a part of that obligation.

Adding to that complication... Clarissa and Isobel are completely devoted to each other. And Clarissa refuses to be separated from Isobel either in residence or in entering society.

Leo is frustrated with the situation as he tries to figure out what to do with Isobel. He can't just leave her on the streets and she is constantly getting into mischief. But the more time he spends with her, the more he realizes that she is a sweet and caring person... And can expertly match his wit and intellect as well.

But the challenges abound as he tries to find a way to secure Clarissa's future while still protecting Isobel. That is if he can keep his head -- and his heart -- clear of Isobel's mischievous charms.

The Rake's Daughter is a touching story of love and family set in the Regency era. Anne Gracie does an excellent job of creating characters that are easy to fall in love with and a story that will keep you turning the pages... and lingering in your heart and mind long after you turn the last page.

BOOK CLUB DISCUSSION:
Family is more than just blood relations. Family can be who we choose to be in our lives and who loves and supports us unconditionally.
True love doesn't always follow societal norms or expectations. With a mind of its' own, true love is often challenging but always worth fighting for.
We all have the potential for greatness, we just need to be given a chance to shine.

BOOK QUOTE:
"We are going to experience as much as we can. And when the axe falls... so be it." - The Rake's Daughter by Anne Gracie

--------------------

All my book reviews can be seen at This Is My Everybody | Simple Living | Denise Wilbanks at thisismyeverybody.com/blog/what-book-should-i-read

♡ Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the complimentary ARC; all opinions provided are my own.

If you like dynamics where the hero is frequently stodgy & judgmental & the heroine sets him straight by blistering his ears you might really enjoy Anne Gracie’s The Rake’s Daughter.

Said heroine—Isobel “Izzy” Burton—is the standout of this romance for me. Not one to fade into the background & definitely not one possessing a shy, retiring nature, Izzy is a lot of fun to watch, particularly as she corrects the opinions of the aforementioned hero, Leo, Lord Salcott.

Izzy is the illegitimate child of a rake & she comes into contact with Leo after her horrible rake father dies, leaving her & her legitimate half sister Clarissa to be charges of Leo. Clarissa is his ward; Izzy is the potential walking-scandal, frustrating woman who won’t listen to him.

The book started off strong for me. I’m often a big fan of a dumb dumb lead who espouses silly/maddening opinions at the beginning of the book & who comes to their senses by the end. But Leo keeps espousing those opinions too late for me, not to mention jumping to unflattering conclusions about Izzy too late, & then when he stops their relationship moves too quickly. The love declaration seems not totally believable to me, just because of those pacing quibbles.

The bravery & the sheer entertainment of Izzy—all things that are appreciated & noted by Leo—are great, as is the relationship between the sisters. But while the book does try to explain how Leo’s past affects his offensive & simplistic views toward women, in general I often found him unsympathetic & not terribly likable (even close to the conclusion). With that being said, in the final pages Leo comes to his senses, double-checking with Izzy how things work out between them, and I appreciate his conscientiousness in that moment.

This was my first book by Anne Gracie and I really enjoyed parts, but I wish that the middle & end matched the potential of the beginning. But a big hurrah! for Izzy. Hopefully she’ll continue to keep Leo on his toes ; ).

3.5 ⭐️. Out 07/26.

Please check out CWs from a trusted reviewer before beginning.

A romance novel is, first and foremost, about the romance. And though Anne Gracie’s The Rake’s Daughter is indeed a romance novel, it’s the kind that manages to be about more than the main couple. Instead, The Rake’s Daughter is about two sisters as much as it is about a couple, and that’s what makes the book interesting.

Not that the romance doesn’t work, it does. There’s just a sense that the romance isn’t the only thing that works that I didn’t think I’d appreciate as much as I did. In one of the high points of the book, you know the one, where you expect the hero to come to the defense of the heroine, we get not just that …but a sister sticking up for a sister. And it all works very well.

There’s, of course, a level of suspension of disbelief required to make this happy ending work, but this is a romance novel, not a historical novel. What we want is a happy ending, interesting characters and great dynamics. If, perhaps, people didn’t behave quite this way back in the day, were as forgiving or understanding as they end up being or care for each other as openly, well, we don’t want to hear about that. That is very much not the point.

As always, at the end of The Rake’s Daughter, I was left with this feeling that I’d gladly would have taken 5 more chapters of just pure fluff. Hopefully, Clarissa gets her own book next, and we can get that in the background. But that’s a good sign. If you get to the end of a romance novel and don’t want more from the main couple, then the romance novel didn’t work.

But I also wanted more of Isobel and Clarissa. I have a sister, and though our age difference is greater that the sisters in this book, I can relate to the level of care and loyalty that exists between them. I’d fight a war for my sister, and at times Izzy and Clarissa feel like they have fought a war and come out the other side — together.

The rest isn’t unimportant. Leo and his issues — which he honestly gets over pretty decently, and without the need for any high drama or duels, are secondary. If only all Regency heroes could fix their own issues by just thinking about what they did wrong, or, at worst, talking to a friend. But even if that, at times, feels too easy, it doesn’t matter. hat’s not where the drama is coming from, and that’s more than okay.

Isobel is happy. So is Leo. Not just regular happy, either. Incandescently happy. And, as for Clarissa …well, I want to believe she’ll get her turn. And her sister (and her new brother in law) will be there every step of the way.

The Rake’s Daughter by Anne Gracie is available today wherever books are sold

Anne Gracie has a special way with words and this is another book written in her special style, it is filled with wonderful characters, it is witty, filled with emotions, I melted into this story and just loved it so very much, come along and meet Leo and Izzy you are sure to be left smiling.

Leo the new Earl of Salcott has just arrived back in England after a year away travelling, only to find that he is now the guardian of a rake’s daughter, Clarissa and she is an heiress to boot this is not going to make his life easy, being part of the social ton is not Leo’s style, to make matters worse this young lady has a half -sister Isobel who is beautiful but her birth will never meet the Ton standards, how on earth is he going to manage to find Clarissa a husband?

Clarissa and Izzy are determined to make their come out together and Leo is at his wits end trying to make them see reason and stop a scandal, he decides on a trip to his country estate leaving them with his Aunt Olive, Lady Scattergood who is a little eccentric surely some time at home will make them see reason, but no they take matters into their own hands and launch themselves into society and on Leo’s return the sparks fly, especially between Izzy and him, he is finding it harder and harder to ignore the beautiful Izzy.

Leo has had a tough childhood which makes him the man he is today and of course Izzy’s childhood although happy with Clarissa has a lot of heartache in it but these two are pulled together from the start and when love happens nothing is going to stop it. Izzy shows such strength and courage throughout this one and Leo, what can I say he is such a great hero caring and loving and I love the way Izzy gets under his skin and he under hers.

This story is funny at times, emotional and above all else a fabulous story, a must read, filled with awesome characters, come and meet Lady Scattergood and Mrs Price-Jones and Milly they add so much to the story, I laughed, smiled and cheered them on in this one and can’t wait for Clarissa’s story. I highly recommend this one, don’t miss out.

My thanks to the author for my copy to read and review.

The Rake's Daughter by Anne Gracie, book two in her The Brides of Bellaire Gardens series, is a captivating story, that is sweetly romantic with a calming and comforting pace, creating a lovely read, perfect for a quiet afternoon. The story focuses on the relationship and sisterly bonds of Clarissa and her illegitimate half-sister Isobel, as they survive a difficult life with their father, with an unbreakable and non-judgmental bond as they grow up together. After the death of their rake of a father, they find themselves under the guardianship of Leo, a new Earl, who is not sure that launching both young ladies into society is a good idea.

This story is an examination of Izzy and Leo seeing their own value beyond what society says about your parents and their marital status when you are born. This is also a slow and sweet journey of two people, drawn to the each other and who must learn to love themselves before they are able to fully open themselves up to another person. A beautiful strength of this novel is really between Izzy and Clarissa, who both love each other so strongly and always want the best for the other. I love that they are true sisters and they will not let others dictate their relationship to each other. I really enjoyed watching Leo learn how to open himself up to Izzy and to look beyond his prejudices towards things in his past that were affecting his views as to what his future could be.

Anne Gracie has created an enchanting romance that was an enjoyable read, a wonderful story of the ones who can’t help but to fall in love with wanting and being in love. I highly recommend The Rake's Daughter to other readers.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

3.5 Stars
Recently returned to England, Leo Thorne, the new Earl of Salcott, discovers he's been thrust into the role of guardian to an heiress, the daughter of Sir Bartley Studley, a notorious rake. Even worse, his wealthy ward has brought her half-sister, the beautiful but penniless Isobel, with her. Leo must find Clarissa a suitable husband, but her illegitimate half sister, Izzy, is quite another matter. However, the girls are devoted to each other and despite the risk of scandal if Izzy’s parentage is discovered, they refuse to be separated. To Leo’s frustration, nothing will convince them otherwise. Even worse, sparks fly every time Leo and Izzy interact. Called away to his country estate, Leo instructs the young ladies to stay quietly at home. But when he returns, he's infuriated to discover that Izzy and Clarissa have launched themselves into society — with tremendous success!
The second book in the series but it’s easily read on its own, I loved the bond between Clarissa & Izzy & I loved the verbal bantering between Leo & Izzy, which was the highlight of the book for me. However whilst there was chemistry between Leo & Izzy I couldn’t quite believe that they fell in love & wonder if Leo will always be so changeable. A well written fun read, which I thoroughly enjoyed even though I had reservations about the HEA
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Another success - a lovely, lovely historical romance - by Anne Gracie! A twist on falling for the wrong, most inappropriate person - I loved watching Leo fall for Izzy in spite of their differences and their conflicts. Brava, Anne! Another really good story with great characters!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Rake’s Daughter is captivating as it focuses on sibling bonds almost as closely as the romance. I loved the bond between Clarissa and Isobel. The sister’s relationship blooms in an unescapable situation with a horrid father. The girls survived through loyalty and love.

Isobel, the illegitimate half-sister of Clarissa, escapes a horrible fate by the bold determination of a shy little girl. The girl’s bond has been forged in fire, and nothing can come between them. Isobel launches herself into society for Clarissa’s sake. I loved how Isobel faced her situation and embraced the good that could be found in all the bad.

Leo, the Earl of Salcott, learns he has been designated Clarissa’s guardian; of course, Isobel comes with Clarissa. There were times when Leo’s attitude and actions were coarse and coldhearted. I had a bit of difficulty warming to Leo, but as the book neared its conclusion, I saw a lot of depth in Leo.

The tension between Leo and Isobel is palpable. The love/hate relationship creates a fiery, passionate connection. I love that Isobel gave as much as she took from Leo. The plot had a steady pace and picked up speed at the halfway point. I enjoyed the secondary characters of Leo’s aunt and the girl’s chaperone; both brought levity to a serious situation. The Rake’s Daughter is the second book in the Brides Of Bellaire Gardens series. Anne Gracie has created an enchanting romance that was a joy to read!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book through Netgalley and the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Rake's Daughter is the second book in The Brides of Bellaire Gardens series by Anne Gracie. This is a fun twist on a regency romance. Leo, the Earl of Salcott, learns he's the new guardian of an infamous rake's daughter, and it's up to him to launch Miss Clarissa Studley into London society in hopes of finding her a suitable husband. What he isn't expecting is for her beautiful illegitimate half-sister, Isobel. The two are inseparable with causes lots of drama. There are some excellent moments as this story unfolds, and the ending is sure to leave you wanting more.

Stubbornness takes first place!

Half sisters join together at a very young age to thwart their pleasure seeking, selfish father who has neglected the girls. Isobel, Izzy, is his natural daughter whom he refuses to acknowledge. However his eight year old daughter Clarissa, normally a biddable child had other ideas.
Then there’s the unaware Josiah Leonard Thorne, sixth Earl of Salcott who discovers upon his father’s death that he has been appointed guardian to Sir Bartley Studley’s daughter Clarissa. Despite his protestation that the intended guardian was meant to be his father seeing as Studley and his father had been of the same age, the Will stated the “sixth” earl. Clarissa it seems is an heiress. Leo undertakes to give her a season and hopefully fire her off. It’s only when Clarissa arrives that he discovers there are two sisters, and shock horror! they both demand to be presented, including vouchers for Almack’s. That’s not going to happen, not on Leo’s watch. If the ton ever learns of Izzy’s background they would be unforgiving about having this social pariah foisted upon them.
Leo didn’t bargain for the girls’ powers of persuasion, and the way they quietly moved people around like chess pieces to reach their desired outcomes. Izzy’s abilities to make things happen are Machiavellian. Nor did Leo bargain for his attraction to a woman who’s background would never be accepted in polite society. Marriage to someone like Izzy is quite out of the question. The divide between respectability and non acceptance yawns wide. Of course this is where I heartedly dislike Leo, but then he’s a product of his time. Just want put it out there—he often disappointed!
There are some excellent moments as this story unfolds, and then others when I just didn’t engage. The fun and often tense times did out-way the ho hum moments.

A Berkley Group ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

Anne Gracie has a lovely way with words and she is able to always craft a charming and comforting read. The Rake's Daughter is the second installment in Gracie's The Brides of Bellaire Gardens and it is a perfect way to spend an afternoon. Gracie's writing is delightfully accessible and her plot is crafted with delight and lighthearted moments while being character driven by a variety of personalities.

When Izzy is left on her father's doorstep as a young illegitimate child, she never expected to find her true family, but her sister Clarissa refuses to give her up and these two form an unbreakable and non judge-mental bond as they grow up together. Year later, after their rake of a father's death, they find themselves under the guardianship of Leo, a new Earl, who is not convinced that launching both young ladies into society will be a good idea. When Leo is called away to his country estate, Izzy and Clarissa find the perfect opportunity to launch themselves into society on their own terms and to great success.

This novel becomes the exploration of both Izzy and Leo seeing their own value past what society says about your parents and their marital status when you are born. This is also a slow and sweet exploration of two people who are drawn to the other and must learn to love themselves first before they can fully open themselves up to another person. A beautiful strength of this novel is really between Izzy and Clarissa, who both love each other so strongly and always want the best for the other. I love that they are true sisters and they will not let others dictate their relationship to each other. I really enjoyed watching Leo learn to open himself up to Izzy and learn to look past his prejudices towards things in his past that are coloring his views of what his future could be. This novel is sweetly romantic with a calming and comforting pace that creates a lovely low angst read, perfect for a quiet afternoon.

If you are a fan of sweet and calmly romantic historical romances, Anne Gracie is a fantastic author to check out. Her novels are always gently comforting and bring a smile to your face. Definitely check this novel out if you are a fan of Mary Balogh's work and have never checked out Anne Gracie, I think you will definitely find another must read author for yourself.

This book was a mixed bag for me.

I absolutely loved the powerful sisters, Izzy and Clarissa, who had each other's backs. Clarissa wouldn’t let anyone disparage, or treat her half-sister differently. I was more drawn to Clarissa’s story, so I was a little disappointed that Izzy was going to be the heroine in this book.

The Earl, Leo, was a bit ho hum for me. Also, the forbidden love tope got old fast and I could have used a little more action.

Overall, a pleasant historic romance with some strong female characters.

3.5 rounded up

3.5 stars, rounded up

The last thing Josiah Leonard “Leo” Thorne, the sixth Earl of Salcott expected to hear upon his return from an extended tour of Europe was that he has inherited the wardship of the daughter of one of his father’s debauched friends! It is clear that Sir Bartleby Studley intended Leo’s father to be the guardian of his daughter but accidentally named Leo instead. And if that was not bad enough, he learns that Miss Clarissa Studley will be arriving with her illegitimate sister Isobel “Izzy” (who Sir Bartleby warned him about), in a matter of days. Aside from the fact that his London house is being renovated, as a bachelor, there is no way he can have two unmarried women living with him! He speaks to his Aunt Olive, Lady Scattergood, and asks if the girls could stay with her, she agrees but makes it clear she will not be able to launch them into society since she rarely leaves her home. He is relieved and believes that once the girls arrive, he will set down the rules, find Clarissa a husband, pay Isobel to disappear, and then get back to his well-ordered life.

Clarissa and Izzy have been inseparable for the last ten years, ever since her mother died and she was practically left on Sir Bartleby’s doorstep. Sir Bartleby refused to acknowledge Izzy and wanted to send her to an orphanage, but Clarissa stood up to him and demanded to keep her sister, and she did! But out of spite, Sir Bartleby refused to leave Izzy any kind of support when he died and even wrote a letter saying she wanted to be a courtesan! When they arrive, Leo is immediately attracted to Izzy, which bothers him, since he believes she is an immoral woman. He takes them to his aunt and explains to them that only Clarissa will be given a season and that because of her “irregular birth” Izzy is not allowed to mingle with the ton, he then asks to speak to Izzy alone and offers her a house and modest annuity to leave and never see Clarissa again – an offer that she flatly refuses. The girls are immovable, they will not be separated and they will both have a season. Leo refuses to even consider it and won’t let them attend any gatherings until they agree that Izzy cannot take part. But when he is called away, the girls launch themselves, to great success and when he returns, there is nothing Leo can do except go along with it. He then revises his plan, he will marry off both girls before the ton realizes they have been duped, but that is easier said than done when it is clear that he wants Izzy for his own!

I liked this story, but I didn’t love it, it is well-written and paced well, but I found the relationship between Leo and Izzy a bit hard to believe, especially as Leo was so changeable in his interactions and feelings for Izzy. Overall the book was entertaining and the relationship between Clarissa and Isobel is heartwarming and lovely, the secondary characters are wonderful and the reader gets to revisit Alice, Lord Tarrant, the girls, and Daisy Chance, as well as meeting a host of new characters, there are secret kisses, scandal, warmish love scenes, a bit of heartache and finally a HEA including an epilogue. This is the second book in the series, but it could certainly be read as a standalone title with no problems.

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

You win some, you lose some. The Scoundrel's Daughter won me over and I was rather ecstatic that I already had this one waiting for me ... and it lost me ... and I lost most of a Saturday hoping it would redeem itself. Leo is the worst on so many levels and I just can't give extra stars for the supposed strength of the female characters when all sense seemed to go out the window. Hopefully the third has a main couple (or two) that I could actually be happy about. This was a swing and a miss for me.

Will he let his wronged first impression taint their relationship…

I know the author is part of the cream of the cream in the historical romance genre, yet it is only my second read by her as I reentered this world through the back door.

As I have not read the first book, I checked if I would have missed something about the history of the main characters but this book really stands alone.
The prologue is a delight, told from the heroine’s sister’s view. I do hope she will be featured sometime later as a main character.
After Cinderella, an Ugly Duckling story could be lovely.

This is more than a simple romance between the poor girl swept of her feet by the prince, it is also a beautiful sisterhood story, one where the elder sacrificed everything she could have for the sake of her abandoned sibling, with a heavy price at the end, full rejection from their father, who was more a cad and blackguard than a rake as he is the true villain of this tale.

Isobel is Cinderella with a backbone, she has no need of a fairy godmother, she makes things appear by her own will with the help of her half-sister. She is more than thankful as if not for Clarissa’s interference, she would have ended up at the workhouse.
She is no demure damsel awaiting her Prince Charming, she is fully aware her position is temporary and she has to do with the best she can gain. Why she wants to make the most of the time she is allowed.

Leo at first appears aloof and quite haughty but it is only a facade to mask his awkwardness among people, even more as he is dazzled by Isobel’s beauty. He is a man who has spend his youth righting his father’s mistakes, not partnering in the ton’s amusements. So finding himself the guardian of a young woman accompanied by her illegitimate sister, he easily falls in the trap of society’s strictures, this woman is to be estranged from his ward as quickly as possible.
Why he is in for a surprise when both young women fight him tooth and claws to stay together.

Their relationship that began with distrust turns into a battle of wills and a fight of attractions. They are unable to halt the pull they feel for the other yet they both believe they are wrong for one another. Isobel has no interest in wealth or grandeur, she just longs to belong, to have a real home, not four walls and a roof, but a place to be and to stay. Something Leo at first did not understand, assimilating her to any fortune hunter, when she seeks something lasting beyond someone’s will.

I loved the bunch of side protagonists, all entertaining and full of fire.

The author offers us a sweet revisit of the renowned fairytale with a dash of Jane Austen for the prejudiced hero and the prideful heroine.
4.75 stars

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 onscreen lovemaking scenes

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

The Rake's Daughter is a romance reminiscent of a traditional Regency. Izzy and Clarissa are half sisters - one legitimate, one illegitimate - who are fiercely loyal to each other. When their father dies, the new Earl of Salcott is named ward of Clarissa, the legitimate daughter. Leo is a perfect romance hero: young, sexy, principled, with a wounded soul from past encounters with women. Of course, he just can't stay away from Izzy, whose presence in Clarissa's life is a potential scandal.

On its surface, the book is a low-angst romance on the sweet side (although there are some kisses and one intimate scene). It does have some hidden depths, with Izzy interrogating exactly why she is less respectable than her sister and the double-standard applied to "rakes" vs. "fallen women." Leo runs a bit hot and cold, which is as frustrating for the reader as it is for Izzy. The final denouement, though, is fun and feels appropriate for both characters. On a final note, we're hoping that Clarissa's romance is next in line!

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.

This is my first Anne Gracie book and it's the second in a series. You don't have to read the first book to enjoy or understand this one. I'm not sure I'll remember this one in another week though.

It's the story of two sisters - one legitimate, one illegitimate who are left to a reluctant guardian after their horrible father dies. Leo, the Earl of Salcott has no idea what to do with the two headstrong sisters, Clarissa & Izzy, who refuse to let the circumstances of Izzy's birth separate them. They want to be introduced to society and find good husbands, but will society accept them if the truth of Izzy's illegitimacy gets out? Leo is instantly attracted to Izzy and their enemies-to-lovers romance is the subject of this installment in the series.

There are some great secondary characters - Leo's dog-crazy aunt who allows the girls to live with her and draw her out of her hermitage and a zany widow-turned-chaperone who is like a Mary Poppins of man-trapping. They are great comic relief and will hopefully get stories of their own or turn up in later books?

I found the love scenes a bit lackluster and too few. I wouldn't call it steamy, maybe just "sizzly" or "half-open door." There wasn't much in the way of plot, villainy or adventure to be had. It was a very vanilla romance.

I loved the sisterhood in this. And the annoying meddling neighbor. The idea that the 2 sisters didn’t understand that one could have a debut and the other couldn’t was unrealistic however. The love interest was a bit too buttoned up and went from denying his feelings to completely in love a little too quickly. Would love to see another book with the other sister and the friend.

I really enjoyed this story of two (half-) sisters who are sent to London to look for husbands after their father dies. I wouldn't have called the father a "rake" since "rake seems to be more positive in these books, but he was an awful person who barely cared for his legitimate daughter, and actively maligns his illegitimate one. When he dies, care of his legitimate daughter, Clarissa, is given to the son of a friend (by mistake) and his illegitimate daughter, Isobel comes along as they are inseparable. As they try to come out in society, Lord Salcott does on some level the minimum he needs to to get them married off. They had been sequestered in their previous life in the country so they work against him to get as much society as they can before Isobel's status is discovered. Isobel ends up charming a lot of the ton, and Lord Salcott as well. He is kind of a wishy washy character and the admission of his love for Isobel is not done that we'll, but overall I liked the characters, liked the story and loved (on some level) Milly, the obnoxious neighbor who keeps coming by and saying she'll "tell her mother on them'.

It was a great story and even though he outwardly was pretty awkward and rude, Leo did love Isobel and she him and that finally came out in the end. I'd love to see what happens with Clarissa finding her own husband and it would be amazing if Gracie, the author, did a book about Mrs. Price-Jones, their chaperone who was out trying to find her own husband after she was widowed.