Great chemistry and really enjoyable
4 stars

Sabrina Jeffries is back with the third, and presumably last, of the Designing Debutantes series featuring the remaining single Harper sister. While the story does technically stand alone, there are a few things (like Rafe’s prior spying on the family) that happened in the previous books and aren’t completely explained right up front. Because the other sisters and their husbands do appear, it’s probably worth having read the prior two books (A Duke for Diana and What Happens in the Ballroom) before delving into this one - just to be sure.

Verity is the most outspoken and independent of the sisters. While they all run Elegant Occasions - a business to help young women succeed in society - Verity much prefers toiling away in the kitchen and designing menus to anything else. I found it amusing that for all her free-spirited notions, she becomes quite the stickler when it comes to the young ladies in her charge. But when she’s with Rafe, she’s free to be herself and certainly doesn’t mind getting naughty with him. Overall she’s a likeable heroine and one I was certainly rooting for.

If you’re looking for the perfect hero for a historical romance then let me introduce you to Rafe. He’s a soldier / spy who is now in line for a viscountcy so he’s got that fantastic blend of gentleman that’s a little rough around the edges. He’s quite a straightforward, stoic kind of guy who doesn’t recognise the wildness in himself when it comes to Verity. I liked his attempts to delude himself into pretending he felt nothing for Verity and also felt so sorry for the wee boy Rafe still was - unloved and dreaming of a family.

Together, Rafe and Verity had wonderful chemistry. They had banter aplenty and you could definitely feel the sexual pull and tension between them. I loved them as a couple and loved their sex scenes even more. Sabrina Jeffries does write a good sex scene. And good kissing scenes, too.

There’s a sort of mystery running though the book. It’s never really truly defined but Rafe is searching for a spy for the French. This is where the book lost points with me as Rafe’s spying to determine the traitor were wishy-washy at best. And things kept on just being announced and I wondered if I’d missed that fact previously. It still all came to a mostly satisfying conclusion but I felt that things could have been a bit more solid.

All in all, I liked this series from Sabrina Jeffries and liked this book, too. It’s not my favourite of hers but she remains one of my go-to authors and her writing and historical detail remains top-notch and definitely one of the best in the business. 4 stars for this one but I still enjoyed it a lot.

We had a great time reading this book. We love historical spies and independent women, so a book that includes a spy hooking up with an independent woman in a bathing machine is totally up our alley. We also especially liked the way Verity (the FMC) knows from the beginning that something about Rafe (the MMC) just doesn't add up. For months, he's been haunting her company's events (she's a Regency event planner with her sisters!) in disguise. Verity never forgets a face, so she knows right away that Rafe is the guy who dressed up as a bush (seriously) to infiltrate a garden party. But he's denying they've ever met and seems to have the receipts to back it up...

You see, Rafe HAS been spying on them to try to discover a French agent who seems to have a connection with their family. He's decided that he's gathered as much information as he can covertly, so he'll pretend to court Verity to get into their inner circle. But soon enough his courtship starts to feel very real.

There's just something special about characters who communicate with each other: Rafe can't tell Verity what he's holding back, but by the time he proposes she knows he's being as honest as he can be. We both really appreciated the nuanced take on his profession, and the fact that when she's finally brought in on everything, Verity has a lot to add to his investigation.

We thought this was the best in the series, so much so that if you haven't read the first two, we'd recommend skipping straight to this one!

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

I really enjoy this author and this series! I was so excited to have been given Verity’s story! It was so fun and full of surprises! Verity is a force and we love her for that! I think her and Rafe were a perfect match. I also enjoyed all the drama mixed with finally finding out things from the first in the series! The sister are so wonderful! So glad they all now have stories! I can’t wait for what’s next from Sabrina!

The mystery in this book was good; I had no idea who the culprit was. The characters were great, including all of the secondary characters. I felt a bit bogged down in the details a few times as if I wanted to skim over parts. Luckily I didn’t skip anything and was able to enjoy the end of the book.

In the third installment of the swoon-worthy Designing Debutantes series, Verity, the youngest of the eccentric Harper's finds love, betrayal, and a deadly passion in Accidentally His.
Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an ARC and this is my honest review.

Rafe Wolfford, colonel, the Chameleon, and, to Lady Verity? The Phantom. A spymaster, Rafe can make himself look like anyone or anything, and no one would ever notice. Except, it seems, for a certain observant young aristocrat. But even as Rafe begins to feel for Lady Verity, their relationship starts from him wishing to trick her into revealing him information on whether or not she was the villain who'd shot his uncle. And when the killer begins anew, Rafe must decide how much he's willing to sacrifice for vengeance. Perhaps even love,,,,

I adored this book, from its style to its innate brilliance of craft! Warm, and with delightful amounts of intrigue, I assumed three different murderers, and never guessed the right one! Eliza and Diana were written well, and though Diana annoyed me, she definitely served her purpose! As for their husbands? Gold. Pure, literary gold. Those men gave the book the comedic edge it so desperately needed and gave us interesting male characters besides the MMC. The only reason I felt I could not give this book a 5/5 rating is because, at the beginning, Verity annoyed me. Ridiculously. Blatantly. She was so prickly about everything, despite the fact she knows not all men are like her ex, especially considering her sister's married two! She formed prejudices against people out of thin air because they were making imaginary insults at her. It was absolutely pathetic. And she was so self-centered, I almost screamed. But nearing the middle, the author seemed to realize she was laying the petty on a little too thick and eased up. After that, Verity was a delightful character to read about! Rafe was so adorably in love with her, even though the silly man didn't realize it. [Regency men are regency men, so I'll give him the benefit of the doubt]
But Lady Harry? Good God, I wanted to strangle the woman. Not only is her nickname for herself ridiculous [Lady "Harry?" Out of everything you could have shortened your name to, you chose....Harry?] She continuously flirted with men who obviously did not want to talk to her, and even went so far as to violate the men's privacy and spy on them nude, dragging along two other young ladies with her! And then, when Lady Verity caught her and warned her, Lady Harry, with the gall of a Southwark opera dancer, made rude comments towards Lady Verity as though she was the one who'd acted so disgustingly! Just because the people you were watching are of the opposite gender, does not mean you have the right to watch them swim when they specifically went to an enclosed area so as to avoid women, especially when they are naked! And the fact she was also spying on married men when their wives had so graciously accepted her into their house party regardless of the fact she had not been invited simply out of their own kindness? That was Satan low. Literally, 9th circle of hell, treachery low. Lady Harry, however, was the only character that awful, so just as long as you're warned before you read it, I doubt she'll bother you as much!

This book made me feel cozy, and happy, a comfort book for years to come! I loved it and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good romance, regency or otherwise, and especially for fans of Shana Galen and Tessa Dare.

A wonderful story for Verity! Quick and witty banter and a beautiful happily ever after. Rafe finally decides to try to infiltrate the Harper family after a year and a half of spying from afar. Verity has known there was someone uninvited crashing the Elegant Occasions parties. After a misunderstanding they decide to marry for convenience. Convenience turns to love.

I have been provided with a review copy of Accidentally His from NetGalley for an impartial review. This book was just so easy to get lost in. I completely got lost in the story and I just loved getting to see these new characters come together. I just absolutely love this story and I just didn’t want to put it down. I can’t wait to see what’s next from this author.

Accidentally His is the third in Sabrina Jeffries' Designing Debutantes series, and I loved the series and really enjoyed this third installment of the series.
Accidentally His is a fast, entertaining read. Verity, the third sister of the party planning debutantes, keeps seeing a mystery gentleman, but is he real or a phantom? In this book she finds out he is real, but not quite at the beginning does she know he is her phantom gentleman, but she does sense it. Her phantom is spy Rafe-- who has been quietly keeping watch on the sisters, suspecting they or someone near to them is passing secrets on to the enemy French. Rafe and Verity have a connection, an inconvenient attraction, and can they overcome the obstacles standing in the way of the them truly falling in love and being together?
This book out of the three in the series was probably my least favorite, but I still enjoyed it. I just don't like spy tropes as much as other tropes, and while I love a marriage of convenience, this one was a bit too improbable. I still liked it, but think it just didn't mesh as well as the rest of the stories, and Verity is such a great, strong character throughout her sisters' books that I felt a little deflated when Verity's story came. I do want to say that I still greatly enjoyed this book, and for the reasons that it wasn't a five star read may make it a great standalone read for someone else. The writing is good, dialogue and character relationships is fantastic and well worth a HR fan's read!!

After a year and a half of covertly investigating Osgood Harper, the Earl of Holtbury, and his family and ruling out most of the family and their connections as the traitors his Uncle was tracking before he was gravely injured, Colonel Raphael “Rafe” Wolfford knows he needs to get closer to his quarry to find the answers he needs to bring down the traitor. With the help of his spymaster, Sir Lucius Fitzgerald, Rafe is introduced to the Harper sisters at a charity event they are hosting through their company “Elegant Occasions”. His new plan is to pretend to court the youngest sister Lady Verity and get invited to the family’s house party where he will be able to move in their inner circle more easily and hopefully find the answers he needs to end this investigation. He is sure he can charm Verity into inviting him, but he is a bit alarmed when she mentions that she is sure they have met before, he is adamant that have never met, convincing himself that there is no way she could have recognized him from his previous attendance to their events, after all, he is a master of disguise and was dubbed “the Chameleon” by his fellow soldiers. He bids on and wins a custom meal designed for the winner, especially by Lady Verity, and later saves her from a former suitor and even steals a kiss, telling himself that is all for country and crown, and not because he finds her fascinating. He assures Sir Lucius that he has no intention of marrying Verity and promises no harm will come to her reputation or that of her sisters, he just wants to find the villain and stop them. But Verity is unlike any woman he has ever met and would be his perfect match in every way – too bad she will hate him when she learns the truth of his mission.

Lady Verity Harper is sure that Rafe is the person she has dubbed as the Phantom and who has been spying on the events she and her sisters have hosted. He is charming and swears he has just returned to England in the last month from the peninsula to care for his ailing uncle, Viscount Wolfford, who was a General in the military until he was injured and forced to retire. When he outbids Lord Minton, the cad who wooed her, proposed and then dumped her for her best friend when the scandal surrounding her mother broke, and later gives Minton a setdown in her defense, she is willing to give him a bit of leeway, but she will be watching him. Her suspicions grow when he attends their house party, and she tries not to be distracted by his smooth explanations or his toe-curling kisses. She is wants to believe he is who he says, but she can’t let go of the feeling that he isn’t who or what he claims. She is trying hard not to fall under his spell, but when he once again saves her from Lord Minton by claiming they are betrothed, and promises to reveal all to her once they are wed, Verity knows she has lost her heart to him, but will she ever be able to claim his?

The third and final (?) installment of the Designing Debutante series is yet another well-written, intriguing tale that wraps up the ongoing mystery of the “Phantom” very nicely. Verity and Rafe are clearly meant for each other, I loved their interactions and their clear attempts to deny the attraction growing between them. This book is filled with intrigue, spies, steamyish love scenes, secrets, lies, stolen kisses, surprising revelations, kidnapping, betrayal and finally a very sweet declaration scene leading to their HEA and a delightful epilogue. My only qualm with this book is the how the traitor is handled, it was surprising and frankly unbelievable. Other than that, I thought this was a very good story and I would happily recommend this entire series to my fellow HR readers.

4 stars

*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.*

4/5 stars
2/5 spice

Tropes:
Solider/Spy MMC
Head strong and independent FMC
Secret identity
Family secrets
Dual POV

This was a fun read and actually had me guessing until the very end who the culprit was. I loved the banter between Rafe and Verity. She was such an inquisitive and observant person, and she kept him on his toes throughout the whole book. Their chemistry was palpable... he couldn't help himself whenever they were together.

Overall, it's a fun read that can be read as a standalone even though it's part of a series. Great for those who love historical romances with a bit of mystery.

Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington Books for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and offered voluntarily.

Trigger/Content warnings:
Injury/death of a parent, sexual content, explicit language

I somehow knew this story would get to me more than the others, the build-up of anticipation was the perfect appetizer leading to this delicious main course. The beautiful banter between Verity and Rafe was a sumptuous ambrosia. I love a teasing- taunting kind of love and the humour in the relationship is what makes them such a delight. Once we move past the mystery of Verity’s phantom, we are thrown directly into the Rafe’s mystery case. That mystery arch may have been one of the most well-written bombshell’s I’ve read. I can honestly say I didn’t see it coming, which is always a pleasant surprise. I was enthralled with this story from start to finish.

I found this story to be a bit disappointing at times, less to do with the plot, and more to do with the characters themselves.

Let's start with Rafe shall we? Despite knowing Verity's past and how she was made a fool of by an ex-suitor, he still goes into his mission with the intention of trying to "woo" her even though he knows he won't offer for her. On the surface that would have been fine, however, Rafe goes to extremes with it. He flirts with her, he teases her, he does, which is fine. But then he does other things with her. Things that would absolutely ruin her if they were discovered. He does this apparently because he is attracted to her, which is understandable, but that is not how a gentleman should have behaved, especially when they carried on in all sorts of places where they could have been (and by rights should have been) caught.

Instead, Verity's ex-suitor is brought back seemingly for the sole purpose of compromising her. Which serves no purpose other than to force Rafe to offer for her (and I'm sorry no amount of him claiming he actually wanted to marry her will convince me he felt anything but lust for that woman). But instead we are told that, you know... he has deep feelings all of the sudden.

And that brings me to Verity herself. She was not what I was expecting after the two prior books. This is someone who helps run a business, A woman who is a stickler for propriety, but then gets so distracted by the thought of a man that she neglects to realize that three impressionable young ladies have disappeared, in all likelihood to go spy on men who are currently swimming naked just over the hill? A lady who is so headstrong that despite knowing the danger if she is caught decides to do whatever she pleases anyway? I guess she was so caught up in the pleasure that she didn't care how badly it would refelct not only on herself, but on the business that she and her sisters worked so hard to build. After all, how can can a fallen woman chaperone other young women with the taint of her scandal following her around? Not to mention the fact that she keeps making it a point to say how cynical she was towards all men after what happened to her in the past. But I guess Rafe is just so good-looking that she can't help herself.

Now just because I said I had more of an issue with the characters, doesn't mean that the story wasn't without its issues as well (but even these I feel are more character based than anything else).

To begin with, we are led to believe that Rafe is some sort of "super spy" having been "trained" since he was a child by his uncle (I said "trained" because up until he was older Rafe had no idea that was what was happening, he thought they were playing games). And yet, Verity was still able to identify him from all of the times he had snuck into Elegant Occasions events no matter what disguise he had been wearing. And I'm not sold on her "I never forget a face" explanation either. I also found it hard to believe that all this time Rafe has been struggling with something his uncle had said, and within minutes was able to figure it out because of Verity. Especially when the reveal had to do with a treasured piece of his childhood.

Now while I will admit that the big reveal as to who was behind things was a bit surprising, I had some issues with this plotline as well. To begin with, if Rafe had such deep feelings of love towards Verity, why didn't he tell her who it was once he had worked it out? Or at least found a way to add extra footmen or something around the house while he was away. He didn't even have to tell them the real reason, he could have just said he was worried the person may be out to cause his wife harm.

All of those things considered, I am glad that I finished with this trilogy. And even though I wasn't completely sold on this series, I do think it will work for others, and I will certainly read more from this author.

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

This is the third installment in the Harper sister's series where Verity Harper meets Rafe Wollford as he is investigating her family to find the person responsible for giving away troop movements to their French opponents. As way to get invited to events that Verity and her sister's company are arranging, Rafe decides to flirt with Verity. Verity is suspicious of Rafe after meeting him because he reminds her of an unknown male who has been showing up at their occasions and no one has been able to identify who he is. She is also not impressed by Rafe's attention due to her previous interaction with a beau which did not end as she wanted it to. As Verity and Rafe spend time together during a house party hosted by Verity's sister Diana and her spouse the Duke of Grenwood, the attraction they have for each other burns hot and they share passionate kisses and heavy petting. A well written book with a plot that wasn't easily predictable and kept this reader up until early am to determine who were the bad guys and also what was the truth about Rafe's past family history as alluded in the beginning of the story.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

Great story. Enjoyed the hero and heroine. Thought the mystery was perfectly played out (had no idea) who it was. Loved that the author didnt fall into a typical plot of spies and misunderstanding

She saved the best for last. I've thoroughly enjoyed this trilogy by Sabrina Jeffries. It's been one of my favorites from her in a number of years. Diana's and Eliza's journeys to love in books one and two had me eagerly turning pages but it's this third book - youngest sister Verity's story - that kept me happily reading until well past my bedtime. Twice.

After reading the first two books in this series, I had my fingers crossed that Jeffries would pair Verity with the elusive Phantom who kept slipping in and out of Elegant Occasions events. I was beyond curious to discover what he was up to and how that would impact Verity. I was delighted to discover he would be her hero and he did not disappoint.

I loved Rafe and Verity together. The banter, the sparks, the matching of wits, the food, the reluctance to trust (for good reasons). Following along on their journey was pure pleasure. It was beyond fun to watch Rafe be continually baffled and surprised by Verity's ability to read him, a seasoned spy. She was one smart cookie, to be underestimated at one's own risk. Thankfully, it didn't take him too long to discover that.

In Accidentally His, Jeffries has crafted an intriguing mystery within a sparkling romance that kept both main characters on their toes. She also threaded it with more than a few twists that kept them - and me - guessing well into the story as well as a depth of emotion that touched my heart. I enjoyed the roles Verity's sisters and their husbands played in this book as well as the questions surrounding Rafe's late parents. As always, family is paramount in the books of this series, helping to push the story forward with humor, conflict, and, at times, poignant emotion.

You could read Accidentally His as a standalone but for maximum understanding and enjoyment, I would recommend reading the three books in order. They are: A Duke for Diana, What Happens in the Ballroom, and Accidentally His. All three are winners in my book.

*ARC received from publisher via NetGalley.
Fair and unbiased review.

Shunned by Society due to parental misbehavior, Diana, Eliza, and Verity Harper establish Elegant Occasions. The ladies organize social events, assist debutantes to have a successful launch into Society, and do a little matchmaking. Verity is the last of the sisters to marry. She was engaged, but he went with the rest of Society. Colonel Raphael Wolfford, a soldier and a spy, has been on the trail the person passing information to the French, and shot his uncle, for a year. The clues have led him to believe the culprit could be someone close to the Harper sisters or their father. When Rafe and Verity meet, all kinds of sparks fly. Verity is independent, sassy, and smart as a whip. Rafe is intelligent and tough. He is good at what he does, great with his cover and keeping secrets. A little distrustful at first, these two will make the perfect pair. This is a well-written story that holds your attention start to finish. There are secrets galore, surprises, spies, traitors, and an entertaining romance that begins in a jumble and works its way to a happy ending.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.

Rafe Wolfford is in line to become a viscount once his uncle passes away after being shot in the head, while he was working on a mission for the government. Now Rafe, being a spy for the crown is trying to find out who shot his uncle and who is leaking crucial information to the French. Rafe's clues have brought him to the Harper family, so he has been secretly attending different events that the Harper family run through their company Elegant Occasions. Rafe catches Lady Verity Harper seeing him on multiple occasions but he doesn't believe she knows who he is, even if he can't take his eyes off of her. When Rafe decides to make himself known as the viscount heir, he figures that he will try and court Lady Verity to keep close to the Harper family. The only problem with this is that Lady Verity recognizes him as "the Chameleon", the same man she keeps seeing in different disguises. When Lady Verity calls him on it, he comes clean. Together they decide to try and figure out who is leaking the information.

The more time Rafe and Verity spend together, the more the chemistry is starting to sizzle. Verity may have no interest in getting married after what her ex-betrothed did to her, but she would like to experience certain things that Rafe can give her. When Verity's ex starts to cause problems, Rafe comes up with an idea that may help each other out...they can get married! Now Rafe just has to make Verity realize that their marriage can be a real one so they can get their happy ever after.

I loved this fun, exciting spy and lady story. Verity is no one's dummy....she can stand her ground against anyone and she loved going toe to toe with Rafe, her "Chameleon"! Rafe was an awesome stand up guy who thought he was secretive but Verity saw right through him. Together these two provided a wonderful and entertaining story sprinkled with some smexy times.

This was an entertaining, well-written book. It was steamy, charming, fun and fast-paced. It kept me reading and I didn't want to put it down. I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more books by this author.

Rafe is on a mission! He has to identify the traitor selling secrets to the French. He is convinced that Verity's family has something to do with the issue, but he can't figure out what. Verity is quite happy with her life setting up parties for eligible bachelors and bachelorettes. Her biggest issue is that she is sure someone is coming to their parties in disguise, and she has no idea why! When she meets Colonel Wolfford, she is immediately drawn to him, but does he have secrets that might destroy a relationship before it even begins?

Both Verity and Rafe have complicated family backgrounds. The author does a good job slowly rolling out details about each of them so that by the time the reader gets to the end the conclusion of each of their family dramas is fulfilling. There is more than one "bad guy" in the story but that doesn't overwhelm the romance in the story. The author gives each of Verity's sisters time in the story, but it adds to the story and makes it more complete.

I was concerned by how quickly Verity trusts Rafe. I won't give it away, but I felt like she needed someone to point out that he could be the bad guy!

This story is set in London (mostly) in 1812 (mostly). This is a romance with overtones of espionage. I think the writing is good. Although I liked the story, I think it is a light story that I think will be forgettable over time. I have read many books from this author in the past and I know I will read more in the future.

this was a little uneven read for me. both the relationship & spy plotlines had hit & miss spots during the story. overall the story flowed well and provided a pleasant way to relax if not one that had me quickly turning the page to see what was next. in some spots there was the need to remember "this is just fiction" and "the action is to get the story where the author wants it to go" is needed. in the end, the story concludes with things fairly well wrapped up and good HEA the main characters.