I enjoyed this book through I think the hero’s character arc could’ve used a little more building out in the first half (and the misunderstanding middle felt a little too over the top to be believed—hit that man over the head with a rock)but I really enjoyed that Torie couldn’t read.

So many historical heroines have a little “not like other girls” about them because of the way we perceive the past. Women were barred from higher education and their mental capacity poo-pooed, but THIS heroine is different! She’s a bluestocking and thinks fashion is silly and Of Course can converse on any topic. But Torie isn’t like that. It is never explicitly stated in the text but she cannot read and has something akin to dyslexia, where the words run off the page. And as a result everyone thinks she’s a fool. But she’s not, she is brilliant at her chosen art. She’s also never “fixed” or miraculously taught. She just has people read to her.

The children were also the bright part of this book; they were hilarious and I enjoyed them on page so much. I just think that the book felt a bit uneven arc-wise for the main characters. It took a while to get going and then all of the heavy character stuff came later. But an enjoyable read.
3.75 stars.

Heat level: 4

Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this arc.

Victoria Sutton will not lust after her sister’s fiancé. No matter how handsome he may appear to be. He’s terribly mean, well suited to her beautifully cruel sister, and she’s thought more than once how lucky she is that he’s betrothed to Leonora and not her. She won’t sacrifice her happiness for a loveless marriage, and she could never be with a man like him. Her sister likes to list off all the reasons Torie isn’t suited for marriage, but no one could predict how Leonora would react when the Viscount suddenly becomes the guardian of his niece and nephew. As much as Leonora likes to boast that she’s the more sought after woman, it couldn’t be clearer that Torie is more fit for motherhood.

Viscount Dominic Kelbourne is a man obsessed. Nobody has after described him as being lovestruck until his wife steals his heart. She’s feisty, eccentric, and his perfect match. She also refuses to marry him. He doesn’t know the first thing about raising two (absolutely wild) children, but he won’t be doing it alone. Not if he can help it.

These books are laced with something addicting. I couldn’t put this one down. I couldn’t stop giggling. I had actual BUTTERFLIES reading this book. To the point where my stomach physically hurt. This man is so attractive!!! And Torie is the cutest human ever. I was so immediately invested in these characters and desperately needed them to find their happily ever after.

All the characters were fun in their own way but the kids really stole the show. Because, of course, Dominic couldn’t just gain custody of your run of the mill kids… Instead he got two absolute characters! The twins are obsessed with death and hilariously misbehaved.

I love how Dominic became a champion for his wife and wouldn’t stand for anyone making fun of her. This book had great disability rep for dyslexia, in a time where there wasn’t a word for it. It was so interesting to see how Torie was treated, and the way her struggles were handled. I especially liked that it doesn’t stop her from being successful.

I want to extend a huge thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for the copy of this eARC. It was excellent and reminded me why I love historical romance so much. I truly enjoyed this book and cannot wait to read more from this series. I loved that even though we know which characters are endgame from the start, it was still a fascinating journey to see how the plot drives them together. I need more YESTERDAY, but I’m so happy that I have plenty of Eloisa James books to catch up on while I wait.

I love an Eloisa James book so I was thrilled to get approved for an ARC. This book started out with a “how will they get together” story with Lenora being engaged to Dom, and sister Torie being our female lead. Once Lenora is finally dispatched off to her unhappy marriage, Dom realizes he chose the wrong sister, and ends up engaged to Torie. Then we move to a “who will fall first” story, with couple troubles because of some not understanding each other. He’s a yeller/insulter when he’s upset because of his father and his job. She’s illiterate and sensitive about it, so takes things personally easily.

I enjoyed the addition of the twins as cute side characters that brought Torie and Dom together. They were beneficial to the story.

Hopefully Clara’s story is coming soon and I hope her mouse bag continues to stab random strangers.

Editing note: Chp 28, a line ends with an “XX” which has no meaning in the text.

Eloisa James is always a comfort author for me and as soon as I saw this book I requested immediately because I am nothing if not a lover of the man chest cover (and it’s a scene from the book!!!)

I don’t usually like the sibling’s fiance angle but this worked perfectly for me because Dom doesn’t really even like his fiance, and he’s not sad about her eloping with another man (he kind of intended to break it off anyway). So him pursuing Torie, who he had much more of a relationship with, made sense and worked for me.

There’s something about Dom’s fiery personality and Torie’s take no shit attitude that was so freaking delightful. Their chemistry crackled. Their banter was amazing. The way the co-parented Dom’s twin niece and nephew was hysterical. I really loved them as a couple. And ADORED the four of them as a little found family. The scenes with all of them together were so funny and so sweet. Plus these were some of the hottest, most sensual sex scenes I’ve read in a hot minute in a historical romance and I have missed that heat greatly in my stories lately. What made this even more special is the way James approached Torie’s illiteracy. You can tell she’s used to it and shrugs it off/deprecates herself before anyone else can. And as someone that has lived a life of “you’re an idiot” and “you’re stupid” being hurled at me in my formative years, I react the same way Torie does. Knock yourself first before someone else can do it, that way you can control it. And I appreciated that Dom has to realize that his wife may not be able to read or write, it that’s not the measure of someone’s intelligence.

There were a few things that I wanted…a little more of? I wanted a little more of Dom’s backstory with his father’s abusive treatment explained more. We essentially just get a small sprinkle of his dad calling him a fool and chastising him for not being “manly enough”. And I wish there had been more of a resolution with Torie’s sister (who I wish Torie hadn’t defended so much because she was pretty horrible).

But all in all, I really enjoyed the start to a new series and am so excited to see what else this series brings!

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own!

Eloisa James does it again. She is a master of her craft! I always look forward to reading anything new by her.

Dominic suddenly got his dead sister’s twins to raise but his betrothed elopes with anther man. What’s a man to do with two wild children? Well, he decides to marry her sister, that’s what. After all, she loves the ‘eccentric’ twins, who’ve never experienced love or even a kind nanny. And, as an added benefit, he begins to realize how desirable Torie is.

Torie is dyslexic and can’t read or write- but she can paint. She is fun loving - a cheerful and interested wind in the lives of the twins and gradually in Dominic’s as well. He and they blossom in her care.

Due to her dyslexia people call her foolish and ignorant. She’s actually wise and intelligent. Instead of through reading, her education is a result of her ability to totally recall everything ever said to her- a sort of eidetic memory, only auditory not visual. Oh, and she’s a sensual knockout!

Dominic is also a knockout, darkly handsome and b.u.i.l.t, built. He’s a bellowing force to be reckoned with in the House of Lord as he campaigns for an anti-slavery bill. However, he labors under the legacy of his abusive father calling him a fool. He’s at first haughty and bad tempered. Though he’ll challenge anyone who makes disparaging remarks about Torie, he unwittingly makes her feel ignorant and foolish. On the other hand, Torie trips his ‘foolish’ triggers as well.

Dominic and Torie seem to be completely incompatible except in the bedroom. He awakens her sexually and those scenes are hot! They go at it like bunnies (funny/ironic because that’s what Torie paints). And we are along for the sensual ride. You know- or you’re gonna find out- just how sensual an Eloisa James book can be.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Eloisa James does it again. I adore her writing style. This story was well paced, had plenty of spice, and used just enough humor to keep me enthralled.

Viscount Dominic Kelbourne wanted the perfect society wife; biddable, intelligent, and proper. He thought he found her, until she jilted him for another man when she found out he became the guardian to his twin niece and nephew. So Dominic had to pivot and find someone else to be the mother of his new family.

Lady Victoria “Torie” Sutton was horrified that her sister jilted Dominic. Especially since she had grown so attached to the twins and would miss being their aunt. When she asked Dominic’s permission to say goodbye to the twins he was shocked. Why should she say goodbye? The twins loved her. Besides, he had gotten used to having her in the nursery, getting into debates about the Odyssey with her, and occasionally sharing meals together.

Dominic decided that it wouldn’t do to have Torie say goodbye to the twins. And in fact, she would make a good wife and mother for him and the twins. Now he just had to convince her. Unfortunately for Dominic, Torie wanted a love match. She didn’t want to be a glorified nanny so she refused him. It was just too bad for Torie that Dominic loved a good challenge.

These characters played the grumpy/sunshine trope well. But they were also incredibly nuanced. Torie was seen as addle-minded because she couldn’t read. But she was quite intelligent and talented. And Dominic was grumpy and feared, but he was honest and fought for what he believed in. They had their faults, but became aware of them and improved upon them.

The twins were uninhibited and had some of the funnest scenes that made me giggle. I hope they show up in future stories.

Also, the chemistry between these two was explosive. The Viscount definitely had a way with words and the spice was spicing.

As per usual, I immensely enjoyed Eloisa James’ writing and will gladly look forward to reading whatever she writes next.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for releasing this arc to me in exchange for an honest review.

While not as fun as her Wilde siblings series, this is still a classic Eloisa James, with a sharp but kind heroine, a hero who needs to get it together, and a lot of side character antics. James manages to make children in a romance not totally annoying and in fact rather charming, and their centrality to the plot actually makes sense. I didn't know how she would pull of some of the family dynamics, and these pieces felt a bit weak at times, but overall a solid outing.

I enjoyed this book so much that I'm giving a rare 5 stars. The plot was good, the characters were interesting, the way things unfolded was believable. The ending was a pleasant surprise, didn't see that coming. I finished in 2 days.

Torie wants to marry for love as all our heroines do but is attraction love? Her decision to try & be happy no matter what happens is one that we all can make & I applaud her for her attitude. Her statement about ladies having a market value is spot on & something a lot of ladies knew back then. Torrie thinks her market value is bargain basement which is a product of the culture that values what we now think is meaningless. Embroidery skills do not make you a lady. Dom is shocked by passion & powerful lust; it takes him a while to equate his feelings to love & then is shocked even more. His marriage is so far from what he thought he wanted that he's thrown for a loop. He's looking an arrangement that will help his political career, a perfect hostess that can throw parties & dinners and then leave him alone. Politics is what he cares about most & the right lady is essential. A couple from another book in a previous series shows up and it's nice to know they're happy. Much of the plot can't be told here because it would ruin the story for other readers.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance reader copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

#Netgalley #ViscountinLove #AccidentalBrides #EloisaJames #Avon #HarperCollins

Eloise James can be hit or miss for me. But I really enjoyed Viscount in Love.

It has some of my favorites in historical romance with marriage of convenience that evolves into a real relationship, flawed characters that grow and change, and precocious orphans who do not care how they are perceived and who turn the world upside down for all the adults.

But I beg you to reconsider this cover, yes it was from a scene in the book but this book is so much better than this cover will give it credit for.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Eloisa James is always an auto read for me, and this one did not disappoint. I loved the afterword and the insight into Eloisa's life/reason for writing what she did, almost as much as the story itself.

Eloisa James has a knack for delivering a spicy romance that actually features realistic characters that readers can really care about. This, her latest book, is no exception -- except it is even spicier than usual. I look forward to recommending this to her many, many faithful readers.

I felt like this wasn't quite sure what type of book it wanted to be. A "cozy" historical? Yes, it was low conflict. Sexy historical? Yes. Quirky orphans and topical modern issues like dyslexia and toxic parenting and slavery? Yes. I liked it a lot, and it was expertly written but also a lot of personalities squirming in one book and it... was a lot.

I adore! While I am a noted Eloisa James completist and fan, I think this book might be one of her best!

I love Torie, she's such a fun lead and I love the disability rep. I love her good nature and kind heart, and how unconventional and special she is. I also love how she thinks, we get so much great point of view from her. Dom is also great, I found him very funny and only a bit of an ass. I like men who are humbled by their wives, and Dom is certainly thrown for a loop!

Strong recommend, a great read and very fun. I particularly love the HEA, which felt very earned.

Eloisa James continues to prove she's an expert in her craft. This story has so many great elements: funny, cute kids, an eccentric, complex and flawed but charming heroine, and a grumpy yet somehow still endearing Hero.

Dominic and Torie had me rooting for them from the first sentence. I liked how Torie's inability to read and write was revealed from the very beginning and was weaved in as part of her life and personality. So many easy trope opportunities that James handily sidesteps for a far more interesting take on these characters and their journey.

Four strong stars.

*I received a review copy from the publisher/author via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.*

Delicious. And then, sneakily, heartfelt. James has here two (understandably) withholding, self-protective main characters whose journey of discovery in less able hands would be frustrating. But their attempts, successes, near-misses, and failures all have this gentle way of pushing the reader to be invested in the story.

Also, full disclosure. I despise children in romance novels. They are typically too cloying, too smart, or too stupid. But in James' world, these children and their role in the story is just enough to enhance the plot but not so much that it pulls focus. Indeed the children add to this world where all the characters push against the rigid roles and rules they have been slotted into. In this way James pulls in dialogues about neurodivergency, learning challenges, gender discrimination, and debates around slavery in the UK which only add to the complexity and texture of the novel.

This book was absolutely awesome. For me Eloisa James is a hit or a miss. Some books I have LOVED and some not so much. So when I started reading this book I did not know where it would fall. I adored this book. I loved everything about it from the characters, the plot, the kids and the two main characters. In fact I could not put it down. I really loved it so much.

There are three main characters in this book.
1. Dominic, he is a Viscount, and he has been engaged to Leonora for over two years
2. Leonora is Dominic's fiancée, and she has been delaying the wedding. When Dom's wild younger sister dies and leaves two children behind. He wants to push the wedding up so she can help with the kids.
3. Victoria/Torie is Nora's sister. She is a painter and cannot read or write.

Torie has a big handicap, and she embraces her differences and is very honest about it. In a way it makes her a more gentle, honest and well-respected person. It also makes her more accepting, and she has a very kind heart. When Nora is upset about the children, Torie embraces them and I fell very hard for her.

I received a complimentary kindle version of this book and am voluntarily leaving my review.

Nora wants to marry Dom, but she wants to hand the kids over to Torie and make her their nanny. But she has a life, but she also falls very hard for the kids. Will she fall for Dom too or will he marry Nora? Well, I am not spoiling it.

This book was fantastic. Maybe the best historical I have read in a long time. It had a lot of heart, romance, hot scenes and I loved the plot. I could not wait to see what would happen next.

HR doesn’t burn any brighter and desire doesn’t run any deeper than when Eloisa James takes the helm, opens the throttle, and takes us readers along for a breathless ride as she breaks the romance barrier; again and again. Simply loved Dominic and Torie. I couldn’t put it down.