The disguised heroine replaced her twin brother in a duel and won. The impressed hero decided to hire the heroine as his secretary when she was seeking employment due to her family's dire financial situation. As the two work closely with each other, their attraction for each other increased and they started an affair. Both thought their relationship would not last long, never thinking that love will enter their world and change everything for them.

This is definitely a Stacy Reid book. It has the author's distinctive writing style with strong characters, sensual scenes, and happy endings. I found the first half of the story quite entertaining, but the second half dragged a bit. Therefore, the second half definitely needed more details for better transitional progression of the story. I liked the couple individually and together, though there were times that the couple had their moments...Overall, it's a solid Stacy Reid book.

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

Clever and steamy.

I really was truly entertained by Mina and Simon.
They first meet when Mina takes the place of her no good, cheating brother, in a duel. She is exceptional at the rapier and bests Simon.
Simon is bored but intrigued by Mina, when he hires her as his secretary. His very capable secretary. Who tempts with her intelligence and more. The story is very much like their first meeting, clever.

Recommend.

I loved this book! It got off to an exciting start and held my interest throughout. In fact, I finished it one one day!

The heroine, Mina, is feisty and defends her family. Literally, defends her brother by taking his place in a duel! How can you not love a heroine like that?

This is my kind of romance book because it has a feisty heroine and a hero that is strong and protective. Another plus for me was that the conflict in the story was realistic and the resolution was satisfying.

I am so thankful to TLC book tours and the publisher for introducing me to another wonderful romance author!

I really enjoyed reading the exciting book by one of my favorite authors. Ms Reid writes beautifully in making the reader enthralled from start to finish. The characters were fully developed with thoughts and feelings of their own. It was full of surprises with witty dialog which gave a good feel.
Miss Wilhelmina “Mina” Crawford is one woman who wants adventure in her dreams, but can't be herself because of a past indiscretion. Even though she helps her brother run his estate, he has money problems. So Mina decides to gain employment and get her chance. She will be a secretary of Simon Loughton, the Earl of Creswick who will take a chance on the red headed spit fire.
Mina is thrilled to living her dream of working and being the woman she was meant to be.
Between being tempted by the lovely sassy woman he hired, he is constantly wanting to be around her and wondering what Mina is doing. Both of them are drawn together by attraction, and love gives them to get their happy ever after.
I appreciate Net Galley for this ARC title in which I gave an honest review.

Steamy and intense, Simon and Mina bring all the heat!

When the "meet cute" is swords at dawn, you know you're in for a wild ride! I absolutely loved every moment of this deliciously steamy, politically charming, and effortlessly romantic story.

Simon is as buttoned-up as an earl can be and tries to keep a controlled, academic approach to everything, but he soon discovers that his feelings are beyond control.

"You tempted something to awake inside me, and I came alive for you, Mina. I love you beyond thoughts of scandal and consequences.”

Mina certainly brings scandal and consequences to the table. Her secret is huge - but she's never dishonest about it. By necessity, she keeps her cards close to her chest, and never allows Simon to think there's anything more that she can offer. But dreams have a mind of their own, and boy, do these two find the courage to dream!

There's an exquisite underlying story of social justice and reform, and how they each do what they can to support each other and work to make life better for all. Simon is a man under tremendous pressure from all sides, juggling his political alliances, family loyalties, death threats, and the enchanting Miss Crawford all while trying to figure out why his heart has chosen now, of all times, to thaw and start directing his thoughts.

Mina is just a girl trying to play the hand she was dealt. That she never resorts to being conniving or manipulative is a credit to her character, and I adored her confidence and sense of self right from the start. I loved how the author even worked in a secondary romance that, while briefly discussed, really cemented the changes for Mina and her family.

The HEA was sublime, though the dowager's approval was far too little, far too late. The resolution of the main conflict might have seemed a bit too convenient, but I loved it anyway. These are characters that I'll long remember, and the book is already on my to-be-reread list. I highly recommend it for anyone looking for a Victorian romance. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A Matter Of Temptation is yet another strong, captivating romance by Stacy Reid. This novel had all the angst and passion I expect from this author’s books. After a case of mistaken identity, Simon the Earl of Creswick is captivated by Miss Mina Crawford. Simon offers Mina employment as his secretary, an occupation forbidden by a woman. Simon and Mina’s connection is instant. The couple has enormous odds against them, including ruinous scandals and dark secrets.

Simon was an intriguing character; he was unique. Simon is brilliant yet emotionally closed off. Simon’s entire focus is on politically supporting legislation to assist the common worker and secure rights for women. Watching Simon fall in love was mesmerizing. He falls hard and irrevocably in love with Mina.

After a ruinous scandal in her first year out, Mina has hidden in the country for years. Mina is a free spirit and craves purpose and adventure. Mina is trapped and is smothering in her limited future. When Simon hires Mina, she finds meaning and much-needed intellectual camaraderie with Simon. Mina’s feeling of uselessness and lack of purpose resonated with me on a deep level.

I had one issue. The situation due to Mina’s scandal and the secret is so ruinous that she has no hope for a happy future. In reality, Simon and Mina didn’t have a chance. Happily, this is romantic fiction, so their heart-stopping, passionate romance enchanted me. The couple is pure fire together. Beyond that, their soulful connection is palpable. I rooted for this couple’s happily-ever-after!

The plot was full of heart and was hauntingly passionate. This love story is not an easy journey but is well worth reading. I am unsure if A Matter Of Temptation is a stand-alone book or part of a new series. I hope it is a series; there are secondary characters in the form of Simon’s friends, and I would love to read their stories. I can always depend on quality, passionate romance with Stacy Reid; she never disappoints.

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

If you are looking for a light and fun historical romance, you found it. But it's still full of heartache and emotions because it's a Stacy Reid novel.

This was fun and had me laughing out loud sometimes. But almost made me cry as well.

Mina is the daughter of a viscount that is living in the country since a scandal surrounds her name. Her twin brother has put himself in a difficult situation with an earl and Mina drugs him, so she can take care of it. That is how she meets our hero, Simon. Mina is a headstrong woman that has lived as half of herself because she believes it's what she must do, and it's beautiful to see her coming out of that way of thinking and fighting for what she wants.

Simon is a genius. Literally. He is smarter than everyone in the room and is very driven by logic (much like Spock). He is immediately attracted to Mina and never denies his felling. It was nice to see him working to understand his own feeling and just going along with them because it was what he wanted. And he is the kind of hero that will do anything for the woman he loves.

The only thing I would have liked to see more is the ending. I wasn't rushed or anything, but I felt like we could have had at least one more chapter just to see things unfolding instead of the author just telling was what happened. Besides that, I loved it, and I hope it's a series because I want more.

Stacy Reid is a go to historical romance author for me, I know when I open one of her books I will be swept up into her story and at the end left extremely satisfied. A Matter of Temptation is Reid's newest work and it is a wonderful addition to her previous works. This novel is a new standalone that is well paced, full of complex and dimension character and full of a beautiful love story. Reid's writing is accessible, she has a way of drawing the reader quickly into her stories and keeping them captivated to the last page.

Mina has spent the last handful of years secreted away on her family's crumbling estate after a scandalous mistake made in her youth. When she discovers that her twin brother and her financial situation is much more dyer than she expected, she decides to take up employment. Simon, the earl of Creswick, has been working on getting a reform bill that he has been championing for years to pass, and help comes in the form of Mina with her boldness, fiery determination and lighthearted humor.

Reid crafts the perfect meet cute between Mina and Simon, through a fencing duel in which Mina takes her twin's place and ultimately bests Simon. When Simon finds out he has been beaten by a woman, he knows that she will make the perfect secretary to help him with his work in parliament. I just adore the relationship that Mina and Simon build, it is one of respect, trust and understanding. They both learn that they work so well together and compliment the other perfectly, which makes their working relationship swiftly shift into a friendship that instinctively moves into a loving relationship. I love that Reid lets her characters establish a trust between themselves that can then blossom in a beautiful and heart felt relationship. I love that through the physical side of their relationship these two can really grow in their love and respect for each other. I think that Simon is an absolutely swoon-worthy hero, every step of the way he is on Mina's side and when their relationship is tested, he never wavers in his trust and feelings for her.

Stacy Reid knows how to write a romance between two people who are strong and capable on their own but when they are together they can be explosive and the perfect partner to the other. I would strongly recommend this book and all of Reid's other books, in my eyes she can do no wrong and I am always extremely excited to pick up a new or backlist book from her!

You know that feeling after reading a good book? Grab a copy of this one. Miss Wilhelmina Crawford takes her twin brother's place in a duel with Simon Loughton, Earl of Creswich. Dressed as a young man, Mina duels the Earl with rapiers, then ends up hired as his secretary. She is fascinated working for him, a powerful force in politics and his part in changing the nation. Noted as a cold harded politician, Mina's smiles start to crack his demeanor. An affair is all she can offer. Her terrible secret could destroy Simon's career. What she wants she can never have, but Simon is not willing to give up. A very passionate Victorian romance.
Heat level 5 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

This is a fabulous story. Mina is a young lady plagued by scandal who goes off to fight a duel in place of her twin brother. Simon is an Earl working to bring reform to the downtrodden masses of England. These two characters are wonderful and exciting. They employ sharp and engaging conversations that make for interesting reading. Their love story is alluring as they try to fight their attraction. Once they give in, it explodes and blossoms spectacularly.

This plot is so unique. It's even better than the synopsis implies because the start of the book reveals what an amazing intelligent, and strong woman Mina is. I have long loved historical romances, and Stacy Reid pens some of the best with female protagonists whom I admire.

In this book, Mina ends up working as a secretary to Simon, Lord Creswick, a political reformer working to pass voting legislation. I liked both characters and their chemistry. And the conflicts that kept them apart were very well conceived. I really enjoyed this story. I didn't know how it would end, and I enjoyed the journey to get there.

I highly recommend this book for all who enjoy steamy historical romance with a social conscience.

Thank you to Entangled and TLC Book Tours for this book.

4.5 stars

I'm convinced Stacy Reid is a genius. And yes, historical romances are presently my favourite book genre. I was excited to receive an ARC of this book from net galley because I'd already read a few books by Stacy Reid but I particularly enjoyed this above all others.

A Matter of Temptation tells the story of Mina, a 24-year-old spinster with zero marriage prospects and finances in dire straits. To make matters worse, her brother cheats while attempting to earn money at a game of cards and blames another player, resulting in a deadly duel challenge. Unfortunately, the dangerous man her brother crossed happened to be the powerful Earl of Creswick who is quite renowned for being a wonderful fencer...

Long story short, Mina goes in her lousy brother's stead and narrowly beats the Earl in the duel. She doesn't have time to celebrate her victory, though, because the Earl figures out the ruse and well... it makes for a very eventful first meeting for the two.

I adored Mina's journey throughout the book; she is a fascinating, nuanced character with a big heart. She is a fantastic fencer and a strong, intellectual woman who doesn't hesitate to express her ideas. She is compassionate and giving, and despite her severe circumstances, she consistently puts others before herself. Undeterred by her dire financial situation and bad reputation, Mina has a strong sense of duty and family and is not one to be bullied into accepting anything less than she deserves. Her upbeat outlook on life is hilariously in contrast with with Simon's gruff disposition. Its certainly one of the best grumpy x sunshine historical romance tropes ever.

Simon is absolutely lovable in this. He's an extremely mesmerising character, mostly because of the unexpectedness of his personality. He is a rich and very powerful influential man of his time but possesses a startlingly liberal way of thinking. He has rather modern, open-minded views on subjects including equality, women's rights, elitism, social status, and so on. I mostly loved his grumpy personality and his gruff manner. He's also never been in love or experienced any desire close to it... until Mina waltzes into his life with her rapier.

He's calm and reserved where Mina is energetic and bubbly. Rather than being a bore or overly strict, he morphs into a more hilarious (due to his dry humour) and adorable character .
He is also ridiculously intelligent: He attended Oxford at the age of 12 and has no trouble memorising lengthy passages of text. His work ethic is insane and admirable.


That said, y'all should give this a read. Its worth it.

A Matter of Temptation is a short, endearing romance. Reid has tempted me to her books by bringing tension and steamy scenes and this novel falls inline with her regency romance novels. A chance circumstance brings two people together - one believes she ruined her reputation so no man with love her and the other is cold and has no time to care about love. They both are about to see love can happen when you least expect it!

The way these characters fall in love is perfect. They both learn the means to communicate so there relationship is built on honesty so they can love deeply. A Matter of Temptation is the perfect amount of story to fall in love.

Thank you Entangled Publishing and TLC Book Tours for the complimentary copy of this novel Stacy Reid is a Regency Romance writer I will always read.

I’m sad that I didn’t enjoy this book as much as I hoped. It wasn’t engaging for me. I lost interest early on and the romance because uninteresting. I felt the overall plot wasn’t super fun and exciting to read. I got bored quickly. Some things were wrapped up or seemed too easy. This book just didn’t do anything for me unfortunately.

*Received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

4.5 stars
Mina takes her twin brothers place in a duel after drugging him because she's the better fencer and she doesn't want him to be hurt or killed. After being bested in a duel that he only intended as a humiliating lesson, Simon realizes he's been beaten by a woman and he's fascinated instead of humiliated. After a short discussion he winds up offering Mina a job as his secretary as he's been without one for a while now and she needs money.
Mina has secrets and Simon doesn't really do emotions, but Mina brings them out in him especially after they are attacked on a road trip one day, one thing leads to another and they eventually decide to become lovers.
I loved that these 2 enjoy challenging each other mentally and that's what leads to them challenging each other carnally, yes their both pretty but it's the mental stimulation that hooks them both in. I can't remember how many sinful wallflowers are left(I hope their are more) but I can't wait to continue this series!! I think this is my second favorite behind Her Wicked Marquess :D

Ever since My Daring Duke, Stacy Reid has been on fire for me. All three books in the series are 5 stars. From the first meeting between these two, sparks flew. Simon was a little stuffy and didnt appear to have any fun so Mina was a breath of fresh air into his life. Their romance and interactions was so so beautiful and romantic. The love scenes were sexy and fun. Stacy Reid is an auto buy author for me! 5 stars

“I love you beyond thoughts of scandal and consequences.”…*swoon*
Magnificent. Splendid. Beautifully written. Can I use just these four words as my book review? I ask because A Matter of Temptation is all that and a strawberry bowl of ice cream. Simply delicious. While reading this book, I kept looking at my husband thinking…why can’t you be more like Simon (lol). To say this book is perfection, is not my being whimsical…it’s truly how I felt after reading it for the 2nd time in 48 hours. I’m in love again…Thank you Stacy!

I enjoyed almost everything about this book and its characters! Simon and Mina were so vibrant and beautifully written that they felt real to me. When they were happy…I was happy. When they were in pain…I wanted to wallow in self-pity and misery too! Immediately, the story pulls us into a tale of honor, friendship, and love with words so artfully crafted that you find yourself transported into another time. There were moments of pure joy...moments of gut-wrenching heartache and moments where tears rolled down my face because I was laughing so hard. I was on a veritable rollercoaster ride of emotions that I didn’t want to get off. And the steam…there is most definitely some. Although not as hot as I like it (I like my steam scorching), it was still hot enough to singe my edges…if you know what I mean.

Miss Wilhelmina "Mina" Crawford is fearless, loyal, and compassionate. She’s also very much ruined and living her life cloistered away in the country with her twin brother Anthony, the Viscount Crawford, struggling to make ends meet with. When her brother makes an outlandish claim against the Earl of Creswick that puts his life in jeopardy, Mina sets out rectify the mistake and finds herself in an unexpected situation!

Simon, Earl of Creswick is a powerful politician. At times he can seem dull, cold, uncaring and aloof…and all of this is indeed true, until he meets Mina Crawford. After spying Mina on his lawn preparing for a duel, he does the unthinkable and offers her a job. She’s bold, honest and the most vexing woman he’s ever met. As the two work closely together, they soon realize they have more than politics in common. Simon must deal with the temptation of having a woman unlike any he’s ever know under his roof and Mina must deal with the fact that no matter how tempted she is, her ruined status will never allow for her happily ever after.
If you’ve not read anything by Stacy Reid, now is the time start. A Matter of Temptation is simply sparkles!

Mina Crawford is a determined woman with a tarnished past trying to save her estate. When she crosses paths with the Earl of Creswick and he offers her a spot as his secretary, it seems an unusual answer to her prayers. But as they grow closer, will Mina’s secrets and past mistakes catch up to her?

Im a huge fan of Stacy Reid and this book didn’t disappoint! I loved the strong heroine (a Stacy Reid staple) and found that the MMC was fun (if a little bit bossy)

Liked
-heroine that can take care of herself (big Mulan vibes in the first 30 pages)
- a social justice crusader (for the time) for a male lead (doing what’s right is very hot.)
- great pacing
- dual POV
- good level of spice
- the heroine’s a redhead (yeah I know it isn’t that important but I am a redhead and sometimes it’s nice)


Didn’t like:
- I personally thought their connection was a little insta-lovey, but loved the pacing of the book and how the romance unfolded

Wow!... can we stop for a moment to admire this book? this masterpiece that had me on the verge of myself from the first chapter and got me five stars without a doubt
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Dear book, you will be my number one book of the genre to recommend and reread a thousand times
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I loved it, I loved this book, Willemina, Simon, Anthony, and even the Dowager Countess
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Willemina, Mina Crawford spends her days in the country, keeping her head down after a misstep socially doomed her and her family. Doing the impossible to keep his state afloat, his brother makes the mistake of challenging one of the most reputable men in society to a duel
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Mina knows that her brother has no ill will and decides to take his place in the duel, after all she was better at fencing than him
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Simon Creswick feels a flash of attraction as soon as he sees the supposed Viscount Crawford ready for the duel and as the meeting continues something awakens within him
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It was not an insta love but an insta attraction that led the two to negotiate and find a meeting point. In each dialogue the two characters fight and agree, revealing that chemistry that slowly grows until the spicy scenes. Every time they spoke there were dialogues with gestures and looks that were the plus in this story. Perfect characters, perfect plot, setting perfectly build and the undying love that everyone wants to read
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Thanks to Stacy Reid and Entangled Publishing LLC for give me this beautiful book, that now is a new favorite, in exchange for my honest opinion

Let me start this review by saying I was in a reading slump and this beauty got me out of it. This book was amazing. The characters, the drama, the steam, all of it was great. The ending was so satisfactory. Mina and Simon were absolutely perfect together and their personalities just meshed so well. Honestly, I wish this book was longer, I could have read another 100 pages of them just being happy together. Stacy Reid’s writing is wonderful and at this point she has become one of my auto-buy authors, and my favorite historical romance writer.