Mina Crawford's family is poor but respectable, yet barely making ends meet when her brother gets caught cheating and it leads to him having a duel with Simon Loughton, the Earl of Creswick. Mina knows she is better at dueling, so she dresses up in men's clothes to take his place. after besting Simon in the duel, Simon admires her bravery and hires her to work as his secretary. Forced proximity changes their relationship from an employer-employee to something more.

It is unfortunate that a plot device wasn't resolved when Simon is mysteriously threatened that some of his friends may be his enemies.

Normally, I truly enjoy this author's books, but this one didn't quite work for me.

I just reviewed A Matter of Temptation by Stacy Reid. #AMatterofTemptation #NetGalley

From dueling to loving … 🪁

Oh my!
I have loved the author’s talent with words for some years now so when I am able, I jump on the occasion to read her work.
Still I do not think she wrote an as much emotional and sensuous story than this one since The Scandalous Diary of Lily Layton.

I believe Simon would today be recognized as fitting the wide spectrum of the Asperger Syndrome. Intellectually a genus, emotionally reserved if not aloof. He meddles among his peers only when it suits him and pursues only what interests him.
Until Mina literally crash into his world and awakens a part of himself he never knew existed until this moment.
With his withdrawn view of society, he analyzes everything and sees people for whom they are and what they do not for the place their birth put them in. Why he is such an ardent defender of all beings’ rights.
Thus he approaches Miss Crawford’s effect on himself methodologically and intellectually as he would any challenge. First he hires her. But as she raises his body’s temperature with her smile, no smile is allowed, but she has also good arguments to attain his endeavor so she will accompany him.
But when her life is threatened while in his vicinity, he feels compiled to protect her.
Mina let her wild side take the better of her, but her one adventure turned bitter, since she has retired from society and lives a half existence, limited by her family’s circumstances and her past scandal fearing the aftermath of the full extent of it were to be known.
So when her twin brother got himself caught in a dire situation, she jumps in the moment and gives free rein to her wildness knowing she has the means to save him.
She just never expected it would her straight into the home of a man she has heard about and admired from very afar. She is enthralled by his intellect, his devotion to his causes and his very progressive view of their world, she understands he is not like the average person, he needs to be cognitively challenged, idleness is not for him and her smiles affect him.
But never would she have tried to reach him out if she had not looked at death in the eyes. It put her whole life under a desperate light, why she seeks to give it a different perspective with less restraints and more enjoyments.

I just adored witnessing Simon’s awakening, from a man of restraint, temperance, discipline and controlled behaviors to one as driven as he can be in the gestion of his parliamentary affairs but focused on one living being, a woman who fires his blood and destroys all reserve in him, a woman he lives and breathes for.
With her unconventional hero and the woman who matches his peculiarities the author achieves a poignant masterpiece of sensuousness and wittiness.
5 stars

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 hot hot hot

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

I mostly listen to audiobooks while I multitask, so just sitting to read something with my eyes sometimes feels a little tedious, and I end up setting it aside after a bit to do other things. But I had access to this as an ebook ARC, and I've really enjoyed other books by this author, so I couldn't pass it up. And I pretty much read the whole thing straight through. lol. It's an interesting premise, the characters and hurdle to their relationship are complex, they're well suited to each other, the emotions felt believable, and there's good steam. Pretty much winning all around. I've become quite tired of the main hurdle in romances just being the characters getting in their own way, and acting like children, or having lust and not much else, or denying that they actually hold any affection for the other long into the book and the like. This book was a tonic to all of that. I'm quite picky and don't throw around a lot of 5 star ratings, but I give this book one pretty easily.

Thank you to NetGalley and Enchanted Pub for this earc

This book has such a strong beginning: sister is trying to save her twin brother from dying in a duel. Broody viscount with brains. Such a great set up

But somehow, this book lost me half way through. The relationship between Simon and Mina should have been exactly what I like: a little bit of office romance, a little bit of strong woman finds herself a man who can appreciate her. But the writing just didn’t give me what I wanted

One thing I’m going to say, is that steamy scenes in this book very pretty hot!

I auto-read anything Stacy writes. She is that good. I have read most of her books and found every single one of them to be fantastic. However, this story was a little off for me. For me, the real gist of the story was how Simon grew from a grumpy no-social skills man to a less grumpy no-social skills man. I know that doesn’t sound like much growth but for Simon it definitely is a change. It was refreshing to read a story that does not conform to the norm. Yes, things are played out a little differently but the same ol’ same ol’ is boring. All of that being said, this is not my favorite Stacy Reid story because it kind of felt unfinished. I don’t know if this is a start to a new series as there are a couple of friends that could probably have interesting stories.

A Matter of Temptation begins with Mina going in her brother's place to a duel. Duels are illegal but they still occur. Her brother was about to be caught cheating but before he can be, he accuses the Earl of the same forcing a duel. Mina disguises herself as a man and wins the duel. The Earl is shocked as he has never been beaten before and no less by a woman. He is so amused that he offers her a job as his secretary and she boldly accepts. As she shows up for work he realizes she is unique and unlike anyone else he has ever known.

Mina has a secret scandal that she has tried to keep quiet. But the truth will be discovered by the Earl's grandmother in her attempts to find him an acceptable bride. Will they be able to free Mina from her past mistakes or will they be miserably separated from each other.

This is the first book Stacy Reid I have read, I was pleasantly surprised at how well the story is written. It didn't follow the normal romance plots. I enjoyed watching the relationship grow. These characters are wonderfully strong as well as very interesting. It was a wonderful afternoon read, full of entertaining and fearless characters who know what they want and are unwilling to settle for less. Fabulous!

2.5 stars

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

A Matter of Temptation focuses on Mina Crawford who, along with her twin brother, is in a bad way with money. When her brother's bad decision forces him to challenge the powerful Earl of Creswick to a duel, Mina decides to go under disguise in his place and win the duel herself. It's not long before the Earl, Simon, recognizes her and decides that she be his secretary. Being in such close proximity with Simon, Mina is faced with the decision to give in to her heart's desires or keep hold of a certain secret that could ruin everything.

I won't lie, the first half of this book was actually pretty good! I loved their first meeting at the duel so much. Their chemistry was there and I was just very excited to see their romance grow as she started working for him. Unfortunately, that chemistry fizzled out quite quickly to me. I feel as though the attraction was too immediate which caused me to not really care about this couple. I didn't mind either character, but they surrendered to their attraction too soon for me to continue being invested in their relationship for the latter half of the book. I became bored quite quickly after they decided that they were interested in one another which just makes me question why I'm even reading what I'm reading lol. When interest in the romance is gone, all I had left was her scandal and the politics as a subplot, which just made everything even more boring. I just didn't care enough for this story overall.

I was so excited to try another Stacy Reid, but I think that this one didn't work for me the way I wanted it to. Hopefully her next one interests me more!

He reached out and touched her cheek. “I love laughing with you.”
Such simple words, yet they slammed into her heart with the force of a hammer, for it sounded like he’d never had reason to laugh before.

I’ve seen a few people describe this as an Enemies-to-Lovers story, but I didn’t see it that way myself. The story begins with Mina finding out that her brother Anthony has challenged Simon, the Earl of Creswick, to a duel over a game of cards. Mina is angry that the Earl agreed to the duel instead of trying to defuse the situation but being more level-headed (and better with a rapier!!!) than Anthony, she decides to take his place in an effort to get him out of the mess he’s made. Simon had his own reasons for accepting the duel and, once he discovers Mina’s ruse, he surprises her by offering her a position as his secretary which (after some adorable haggling) she accepts.

What follows is a very emotional and character-driven story about two people slowly falling in love despite knowing they can’t/shouldn’t be together. I am an absolute sucker for this type of Catch-22 situation, where characters realize their feelings relatively early on, but the very things they love in one another are the reasons they feel they must let the other go. A real angsty conundrum!

The best part of this book, hands down, was the hero, Simon. He has a world to change, and doesn’t have time for petty distractions like emotions, fun, or women. My favourite scene was early on when Serious, Stuffy Simon actually (view spoiler) to avoid feeling feelings. That all changes when he meets Mina and discovers parts of himself that he hadn’t known existed. It was a joy to watch him realize he can also be Sweet, Spontaneous, Sexy, Slightly-Morally-Ambiguous Simon.

As much as I enjoyed the emotional roller-coaster of this book, I wish there was more detail given to what was going on outside of their relationship. For example, a few things I wish were addressed:
(view spoiler)

I somehow lucked out and received this book as my first ever ARC, which was given to me in exchange for an honest review.

What can I say, I love Stacy Reid!

This book was everything I want. Wilhelmina (Mina) was ruined 6 years ago and lives a lonely life in the country on her family’s estate, working with her twin brother to keep their finances afloat. When her brother runs afoul of Simon, Earl of Creswick, who is unimpeachable and known for his brilliance, Mina takes her brothers place at a duel and defeats Simon with rapiers. And that’s just the beginning.

Simon and Mina were two fantastic protagonists. Simon was such a fun character to read. He is a brilliant mind who approaches all problems —even his own— with tenacity, honesty, and refreshing self awareness.

Plenty of spice, love these two characters!

This was a lovely story; great characters and an epic love story. There was a point in the middle of the book where it dragged a bit: I get it, they are in lust and can’t live without each other but can’t marry for their own reasons. Luckily love overcomes all. 5 stars.

*Thank you to Entangled, NetGalley, and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.*

This book was a winner from start to finish for me. There was never a dull moment and it was a delightful surprise.

I was having trouble falling into a historical romance this month but I should have known that Stacy Reid was up to the task. She always manages to create a story that grips me right from the jump and doesn't let go.

When Mina goes to face a duel in place of her brother. She ends up facing Simon, the Earl of Creswick, and winning. He is shocked by her daring and skill when he discovers she's a woman. And what does he do when he unveils the truth? He hires her as his secretary to help him in his lead up to presenting a bill before parliament. And to keep her close at hand for the long days of work, he demands that she stay at his estate so they can work long hours.

His strange ways of dealing with people may make him seem standoffish and rude to some people, but Mina finds him intriguing and desirable in ways she can't explain. Simon finds feelings and desires being awakened for the first time and pleasures that he once thought not worth his time are starting to sound too good to resist.

Mina was a strong, fierce heroine and I loved her on every page. Simon was a man with hidden depths and watching him sink into his feelings and own them so fully was breathtaking. I loved how determined he was once he fell for Mina and how he was ready to move mountains and not take no for an answer when making her his.

Also.. the steamy times were top notch. Simon may not have been interested in intimacy before Mina... but he is a scholar by nature and he proves that a little research can go a long way.

5 stars
3 on the spice scale

Oh my, the more I read the deeper I fell into Simon and Mina's love story. Their romance was full of passion, want and desire. Their love once unleashed couldn't be diminished. I loved Simon's gruff nature and his awakening to love, and Mina's strong and wilful character. I loved the clever dialogue and the steam level was scorching hot. This is one of those enduring, soul mate forever love stories. So beautifully written and I felt truly nurtured to be a part of this gorgeous journey with them.

Mina and Simon are such wonderful characters! Stacy Reid does a fabulous job of making the reader feel like they are all in the same room watching the story unfold. When a challenge is issued., Mina knows the only way to save her brother is to fight in his stead. Too soon Simon realizes he has fought a woman, and this wonderful story takes root from there.

Readers will enjoy every page of this book.

A Matter of Temptation checks a lot of those romance novel boxes. The setup is solid, the leads have great chemistry, and there's just enough of a hint of a scandal hanging over things to keep the story interesting. There's also tons of actual historical content, which helps flesh out the world of the story.

Mina and Simon are, in some ways, opposites, with Mina's vibrant personality helping to draw Simon out of his well-ordered shell. The moments where they both let their guard down - ranging from lovely walks by the sea side to some more romantic scenes - were among my favorites in the book, because the connection between them worked so well. Their chemistry also helped to elevate the classic setup - a ruined girl with a secret and a man she fears to bring scandal upon.

My biggest qualm with this book was that some of the interactions - particularly on Simon's end - felt very abrupt. He would suddenly voice an opinion or a thought or make a plan that didn't entirely match up with what we'd known about him up to that point. On the one hand, I appreciate that these moments were meant to demonstrate his growth, but on the other, the effect of reading them was jarring. I think the story could have used a little bit of smoothing out in order to reach its full potential.

All in all, though, a very enjoyable read!

3.75/5

Maybe 3.5 stars

Seven years ago, Miss Wilhelmina “Mina” Crawford, the only daughter of Viscount Crawford, was the toast of the ton, but a foolish infatuation and a subsequent ill-advised elopement to Scotland left her marred by scandal and ruined, ending all hopes for a HEA. But ruin hasn’t stopped Mina from expanding her mind or helping her brother manage their failing estate. So when her brother confides that he is to take part in a duel with their neighbor, Simon Loughton, the Earl of Creswick, Mina insists on taking his place, even going as far as to drug him. And not only does she manage to best the earl in the duel, but he quickly realizes who she is and offers her a position as his secretary.

Simon is brilliant and uses that brilliance to better the country, he is a well-respected politician and it is even whispered that he may one day be prime minister. He was intrigued when he was bested by Mina and even more so after realizing that she was a woman, prompting him to act out of character and hire her as his secretary. He quickly discovers that Mina is not just a pretty face, she is intelligent, funny, and brings balance to his life. He tells himself he must remain aloof and resist her charms but soon learns it is impossible and gives into temptation.

They become lovers, neither expecting anything more than an affair, but when love finds them, will they have a HEA or will Mina’s past scandal keep them apart.

I have mixed feelings about this book, on one hand, it is an interesting story and Simon is not your typical rakish hero (which was refreshing) and Mina is not your standard-issue “ruined maiden” – they both exceeded expectations and broke the stereotype. But on the other hand, the book had some historical mistakes that make parts of the story implausible, if not impossible. There was also a threat that seemed important, that completely fizzled out and seemingly got forgotten, which I found a bit bewildering. Then there is the twist at the end which opened up the angst floodgates – OMG – the book was chugging along and then I was hit with a revelation that changed the entire tone of the book and one that I was pissed about – in the end t, all’s well that ends well – but I was still upset and felt betrayed by the author. I don’t want to spoil the book, but for me, there is an unforgivable plot twist and even though another twist sets things to rights, I was not happy, which ruined what seemed to be one of the most believable and beautiful soulmate-type love stories I have read in a long time. So, Simon and Mina will stay with me for a long time and their love is epic – I just wish their journey hadn’t taken the path it did to find their HEA.

*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.*

This was an enjoyable historical romance with boss/employee trope. I liked that Simon was a women's rights advocate and also advocated for the disenfranchised. He was passionate about his work and tirelessly worked in lobbying efforts. I never really thought about the fact that those qualities could be so sexy :)

Simon and Mina had great chemistry and the sex scenes in this book were deliciously steamy. I did feel like the story dragged at some parts, but it was an overall entertaining book.

Steam level: 🔥🔥🔥
⚠️: attempted robbery, partner abuse, mention of death of a parent

This author's stories are always so good and it's a true delight to read them. I absolutely adored Mina's character, you can't help but giggle at her antics. She's exactly what Simon needed and ooooh boy, those passionate moments had me needing a cold shower! lol

This is a story of two people who are complete opposites and yet when they come together it's like they were made for each other. It's also a time when women's rights were being fought for as well as getting all men, no matter what station in life, would be allowed to have a vote. I found it all quite interesting.

I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

Apparently a historical office romance was everything I never knew I needed.

I thought I would just read a couple of pages of this when I couldn't fall asleep just before midnight, but I ended up reading this straight through and not falling asleep until 2:30. It was totally worth it. I couldn't possibly put this down.

I just totally adore Stacy Reid's writing style and how she makes me care for characters so quickly and so deeply. I knew this was going to be a five star read the moment Simon and Mina had the discussion over her terms of employment. I didn't stop smiling for the rest of the book. I loved how thoroughly they complimented each other and it truly seemed like there was no one else for either of them. It's no secret I love an anti-hero, but sometimes it's nice to read about two really sweet and good people who find each other and don't ever let go.

It's rare in a romance that I love both characters so much and I don't connect to one more than the other. They were both just so precious and I wanted to see them both happy. Simon couldn't have been more adorable when he was protecting Mina. The feelings he felt for her were brand new to him and I loved that he told her every single time he felt something he hadn't felt for anyone else. Can you imagine? I loved that he was willing to throw everything away for her, but she couldn't let him do that.

The tension and pining between these two was just off the charts hot. Their first kiss was so perfect. His dedication to learning how to please her was perfect. Mina's constant teasing and flirting and then the 'oh shit' moment after when they both wanted to ravish each other...perfect.

Pick this up if you love laugh out loud witty banter, grumpy/sunshine, characters that care about social justice issues, a small amount of side characters, and tons of intimate sweet and spicy interactions.

Some specifics that I also adored: Mina besting him in a duel and chess, the no smiling rule, a piggyback ride while Mina is dressed as a man, the caring for each other that they both did when they were cold, hurt, etc., their ice cream dates, Simon flying a kite, Simon being afraid of Mina dying and then squeezing the breath out of her, Simon chasing after Mina when she's riding a horse in the rain, Mina being surprised Simon wants to comfort her after her secret is revealed, every single time Simon fired Mina.

Thank you to Netgalley and Entangled for an Advanced Review Copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Wow. Just wow. Stacy Reid is incredible. I've never read a book of hers that didn't feel tailor-made for me. This book is sooo good! I feel like Reid has been reading my diary or something. A genius grump and the ray of sunshine he falls for? My dream scenario. Also, Reid is the queen of giving me butterflies in my stomach. The sexual tension is so thick, you can cut it with a knife.

Simon and Mina are the type of couple I instantly root for. He falls in love almost immediately, and even though it took Mina a little bit to figure it out, once she does, she immediately admits her love, too. One of the most refreshing things about this novel was that pretty much from the get-go, neither one tries to deny their love for each other. They don't try to rationalize their feelings, or try to fight the attraction. Nope. They're all in. I loved that. This romance is very low angst, and the third-act conflict wasn't a nightmare. I like that in my HRs. Not that this novel is light and fluffy. It's not. But the fact that the MCs were in love from pretty much the beginning, the sort-of darker parts of the novel feel easier to deal with.

Simon is a grump who went to college at 12. Yes, you read that right. He was 12 years old. He's a genius politician, and because he's an earl, he plays an active part in politics. He has literally never loved anyone before Mina. Even his sexual encounters were more perfunctory than pleasure. But when he realizes he loves her, he's all in. He's the sweetest, most romantic man in the world. He surprises her with things and makes her feel like the most special woman in the world. Mina hangs the moon, in Simon's eyes. Also, he's got Dom-like tendencies, so he commands her a lot when they're having sex, and it's amazing. Reid really did an excellent job with the love scenes. Even their normal, daily interactions made my stomach flutter.

And Mina? She's an amazing, badass heroine. She beats Simon in a fencing duel, is sex-positive, and manages to put her needs out there for Simon to accept. She isn't shy in the least, and I loved that. Don't get me wrong, she's not an over-the-top character. She had just the right amount of sweet and spice, in my opinion. She isn't shy about her desires and actively and joyously adores being with Simon and all of the sweet things he does for her.

The crux of the story is the "big mistake" Mina made in her youth, and I thought Reid used it in a way that was completely realistic. It wasn't over-the-top, and yet it had an impact on the story. I think a lot of HR authors don't get that finesse just right, but Reid always manages to made a sexy, emotional story with being weighed-down by it. The story deserves 5 wonderful stars!!!

**Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for giving me this Advanced Copy to read for an honest opinion and review!**

Stacy Reid seldom misses the target, I must say that this is another of her great books.

Our heroine is Mina, an impoverished woman shunned from society due to a past scandal that will never let her be.
She's an extremely kind soul and spends her days teaching to children and running her brother's household.
The same brother who will find himself in a duel against Simon, the Earl of Creswick, our hero.
To preserve her brother's safety, and knowing she's a far better fencer than her brother is, Mina dresses up as his brother and goes to fight the duel.

Simon is an extremely intelligent man, he's a bit cold, but extremely interested in social reform and desperately wants for his bill to pass.
After the duel, out of respect, Simon hires mina as his secretary.
After all what could go wrong?

This book is not only very romantic but is also a lot of fun, at one point Simon bans Mina from smiling because he's clearly affected by her and doesn't want to be.
And oooh the banter between these two.

I truly recommend reading it.