I love Esther Hatch and her books. Marriage of convenience trope is one of my favorites. Mercy and Nicholas are such a fun pair and I felt like Esther had such good character development in this one. Highly recommend!

I really enjoyed this story. I loved the journey I took through the pages with Mercy and Nicholas. Mercy and Nicholas both felt like they weren’t ready to get married. Nicholas because he was busy trying to prove he could take his father’s place. Mercy was busy enjoying socializing and was waiting for live to sweep her off her feet with passion and adoration. Both learned lessons on what marriage and love was all about.

I really liked Mercy's character, and while Nicolas wasn't my favorite, he did grow as well. I really liked Mercy's unselfish love. She put everyone in first, even at the risk of her own heart. She is willing to put herself wholly aside to give everyone the best chance at happiness, hopefully, including herself.
Wonderful book! Fourth in the series, but can be read as a standalone!

#BookReview : A Proper Facade by Esther Hatch

I’ve heard of the Proper Scandals series but haven’t gotten around to reading them yet. This fourth installment can be read as a standalone, but I plan to read the previous books as well. Patience's story sounds interesting.

Mercy’s parents have always indulged her, but now they’re encouraging her to find a suitable match. Despite her love of dancing, she hasn’t found anyone who captures her heart. She craves the passionate love shared by her parents and sister. When the Duke of Harrington, Nicolas, begins courting her, he’s all propriety and adherence to societal rules—not exactly passionate.

I enjoyed the story and the characters’ chemistry. I was rooting for Mercy and Nicolas to find love, but their journey took a while. The plot dragged in places, and I could do without Mercy's attempts to match Nicolas with other women. However, I was happy with her eventual realization of Nicolas' true worth. The ending was satisfying, and I’m glad they found happiness together.

Rating : 4 ⭐
Pub date : 07 May 2024

Thank you to the publisher and #netgalley for the complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

A new book from Esther Hatch is always a must-read for me. To this day, the first book in this series, *A Proper Scandal*, remains my favorite historical romance. I often find myself revisiting it to enjoy my favorite parts. I've enjoyed the other books in the series as well, so you can imagine my excitement when I discovered a new installment!

*The Proper Facade* tells the story of Patience's brother, Nicholas, and Mercy. Nicholas is a duke trying to live up to his father's legacy, while Mercy is a young lady eager to enjoy the season's dances and fall in love. I absolutely adored Nicholas's steadfastness and honesty, even with the "hiding behind a proper facade" theme that runs through the book. His voice revealed his good heart and character in such a sweet way.

However, it became increasingly difficult to read Mercy's chapters, especially as the duke's love for her grew. Initially, I liked Mercy's personality, but I started to dread her chapters as the one-sided nature of their relationship became more and more apparent. For most of the book, I saw no real connection between them. And then it rushed in the end - it just made no sense to say she cared for him when she had a plan to damage his reputation the same night - even if she wanted out of the engagement, hurting the guy that way and then claiming to be falling in love like a switch the same day won't do.

And having Nicholas be the one to run to her after everything she did—the situations she thoughtlessly put him in with the other ladies could be very damaging—just felt wrong. I wished she had been the one to grovel or at least do something redeeming to him.

Despite my issues with Mercy, *The Proper Facade* is still a nice book that I would recommend to fans of historical romance. The interactions were a lot less entertaining compared to the other books by the author, but the writing was still captivating.

I love the parallels I was able to draw between this book and Pride & Prejudice. Such a cute slow burn romance. I love that Mercy liked to rile Nicholas up. Never crossing bounds of propriety, yet keeping him on his toes. He acted very much the Duke, to the point that he hid too much of his emotion. While I was anxiously waiting for my happily ever after (ok, at least a good sizzling kiss) I was thoroughly enjoying the journey.

Nicholas Kendrick has been the Duke of Harrington for four years. After serving in the military he is scrupulous about following the rules of society. To Lady Mercy Rothschild he comes off as stiff and aloof. Mercy is surprised that the Duke has chosen to court her. He seems to want a partner who can help him politically and socially. She is looking for a great love match like her parents.

Usually I read straight through this type of book. For whatever reason, I put down this story more than once to read something else. I didn’t connect much with Nicholas. His original reason for seeking a bride is to get his mother out of the house because of her singing. I did like his honesty and conversations with his sister and brother-in-law (main couple in, A Proper Charade, May 2020). But I laughed and didn’t swoon every time he mentions his attraction to Mercy’s freckles. Mercy is more likable and is trying to please her parents by considering the Duke’s attention. I didn’t love his pushing aside showing any feelings for so long in the story. Mercy is so convinced they don’t suit she puts other women in his path. This clean romance didn’t knock it out of the park for me, but it seems others enjoyed it more.

I love this series. Nicholas is trying his best to be a better version of himself. He is trying to be perfect and follow all of societies rules. Mercy is wanting passion and a zest for life not perfect manners. This book is full of great chemistry, misunderstandings and fantastic kissing scenes (I will never think of a cravat in the same way again.) This is a must read book and series.

This is book 4 in Esther Hatch’s Proper Scandal’s series. This book follows Nicholas Kendrick, Duke of Harrington who is Patience’s brother from book two.

Mercy wants to find true love, and Nicholas is in search of a wife! He is serious and proper and she is bold and passionate. I loved their meet cute, and the ending was sweet!

This was an intriguing read.

Read for:
🤍vibrant heroine
🤍proper and guarded hero
🤍the dancing
🤍never knew what would happen next
🤍seeing beloved characters again
🤍the happily ever after

I have really enjoyed this series. Although this is not my favorite of the 4 books, I enjoyed being back in this world again.



Content: infidelity, shame from past mistakes

So many times in this book I wanted to grab Nicholas by the shoulders, shake him, and yell,
"LOOSEN UP, MAN! She's safe for you!" This is definitely slow burn, but y'all.
The wait is RICHLY rewarded.
Chapter 24.
The cravat!
Mercy as well thinks she knows what's going on, but my oh my does she find herself not only surprised by Nicholas, but by herself.
Much like the rest of the Proper Scandals series, this is a book worth reading for fans of regency reads with sizzle (but not spice).
Of course, some of our favorite characters from previous books make meaningful appearances as well.
Favorite things: cravats, caves, and chess games.

Highly entertaining and utterly swoony!

Nicholas, Duke of Harrington, decides it is time to marry and approaches it like a business arrangement, ready to check off each step of the courtship process in the proper way.

He didn't, however, count on Mercy. He doesn't realize he has chosen to court a woman who wants swoon and romance and continues to hide his feelings that simmer underneath his proper facade.

Mercy is attracted to Nicholas but he is too stiff. She wants more romance and more evidence that he feels the way about her that she does for him. Since she can't turn down a courtship from a duke, however, she hatches a plan to push Nicholas into the path of other women.

But by the time she realizes the mask Nicholas wears is very different from the man underneath, it may be too late.

What you'll love:
Victorian era
dual POV
a proper Duke
romantic FMC
slow burn
adorable meet-cute
he falls first
opposites attract
schemes and sabotage
Lord Bryant’s dating advice
dancing
THAT KISS!!!!!!!!!
character cameos
entire last chapter and epilogue

What an utterly swoony romance! Nicholas and Mercy's love story was such a emotional rollercoaster, so many ups and downs and push and pull and I loved every minute of the tension! They both drive each other a little crazy and I loved having both their perspectives.

I was completely emotionally invested in this HEA and though I wanted to rush through just to find out how it ended, I took the time to savor every second of their slow burn relationship, all leading up to the moment when Nicholas finally drops his facade and oh, what a moment that was. Esther writes the SWOONIEST kissing scenes (all while keeping things on she sweet side) and this one deserves all the fire emojis!!

Loved the characters cameos (Team Lord Bryant!) but this can easily be read as a standalone. There is a third act breakup and some miscommunication but both were done so well fit the story and the characters; neither bothered me at all!

If you are an Esther fan, you need to read this one! And if you haven't read any of Esther's books, then my advice is still the same - you need to read this! I could not get enough and Esther will always be an auto-buy, auto-read author for me!

I received a complimentary copy but a positive review was not required.

Oh, I loved this! I am full of happiness and it shows by the smile I’m still wearing as I write this. I didn’t want to put it down because I thought it was so enjoyable. It was a slow burn romance and even the side characters captivated me. I really loved Nicholas and Mercy courtship and they were both unique in their own ways. The story started much like a lot of regency romances but the writing and direction felt different. Different in a good way and I was pleasantly surprised. It’s well written with the times and I enjoyed it immensely! I highly recommend reading it.
Thanks Covenant Communications via NetGalley.

This series was probably just not my favorite of Hatch books. The romance is a slow burn which I do like, its just they feel leggy somehow, and at times the kisses too passionate for regency. Thanks netgalley for the ARC, this is my honest take on The book.

If you love clean Regency Historical Romance, then this is the book for you. Esther Hatch did a masterful job of creating characters for whom you feel their every emotion.

Releases Aug 20th. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The fourth installment of the series (I do recommend reading them in order). I did enjoy this one for the most part; however, I was surprised that I did not like some of the previous characters in the prior books of the series so much in this one. Specifically, I found Lord Bryant and Penelope (Lady Yolty) to be kind of annoying. Both, because of their secrecies, influenced Mercy, the heroine, in her actions and it was not for the better.

From the get go, Mercy came off as naive and completely ignorant of the world in which she existed in. I get young girls of the ton would have their own fantasies-- of being secreted off into a corner of a ball and being ravished by a gallant lord. but most of them would surely know the difference between fantasy and reality. I found Nicholas, the hero, to be more grounded than Mercy, and his fixation on propriety was not so dull; he did make his intentions clear. I can understand wanting passion in a partner, but that is where communication comes into play. Instead talking with Nicholas, Mercy decided to play games with his person and jeopardize not only his reputation but possibly other ladies.

That indifference did not settle right with me. I really wished it was not Nicholas who ended up pursuing Mercy in the end. I wanted it to be Mercy who went out of her way and broke away from her comfort zones to confront the person she desired and clearly loved. Nicholas confronted and grew and learned from his past experience, but Mercy was not given the same opportunity. I tire of the person who was wronged being the one to either grovel or pursue the person that wronged them. I actually want to see the person who did wrong thing make up for it.

Because of that I had to take off a couple stars. All in all, I did enjoy Nicholas a lot. He made the book for me really.
3.5 stars

ARC provided by NetGalley, and I have given my honest and voluntary review.

Three and a half stars.

Nicholas Kendrick, Duke of Harrington, had an affair with an engaged woman when he was seventeen, they were not discreet and only his late father's actions in enlisting him in the army prevented it from becoming a scandal. Nicholas' father had single-handedly rescued the family's reputation after a series of philanderers and dissolute gamblers had made them notorious. Now, with his reckless pursuit of his own desires, Nicholas came close to ruining the family's reputation again.

Once he came to see the error of his ways, particularly after his father's untimely death, Nicholas has become a model of propriety, terrified of allowing his emotions to rule his head. He has parliamentary ambitions to relieve the suffering of the Irish people and needs his fellow peers to take him seriously and award him the same respect as his father. He decides he needs a wife, preferably someone who can help him with his ambitions. Lady Mercy Rothschild fits the bill, her father holds similar political views, she is of the right sort of family, and she is a beauty to boot so Nicholas proceeds most properly with a sedate courtship, desperate to legitimise his passions within the bounds of holy matrimony.

Mercy's parents have always been kind and loving, allowing her considerably more freedoms than other girls of her age. She has strong political views and is determined to marry for love, just like her older sister and her best friend, just indeed as her parents did. Until recently, Mercy's parents supported her wishes and were content for her to find love in her own time. However, Mercy's parents have suddenly started pressurising her to consider the Duke of Harrington's suit, he might be handsome but his stilted address and serious mien are totally at odds with the passion she seeks. So, to avoid disappointing her parents Mercy looks for other suitable young ladies that he might court instead.

This was pleasantly enjoyable. However, there was a little too much of Mercy discounting the obvious about Nicholas' passions (and indeed Nicholas assuming that when Mercy pulled away from a kiss it was with revulsion) and neither of the young women Mercy tried to set up with Nicholas would have furthered his political career so from that standpoint (given that was why Mercy was against the proposal in the first place) the set-ups seemed ill thought through.

Loved the cover, very Mr Darcy views Pemberley.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

Thank you net galley for the advance reader copy of this novel. Another enjoyable read by Esther Hatch! I enjoyed the characters I. This one so much!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Steam Level: 🔥 (kissing only)

Nicholas, the Duke of Harrington, has struggled to gain respect in Parliament. When his brother-in-law suggests marriage as a solution, Nicholas decides he will find a proper lady to wed. He never anticipated a clandestine meeting with Lady Mercy. With her distracting freckles and love of dancing, she makes it hard for Nicholas to behave like a gentleman. But Mercy wants a love match filled with fire and chemistry. Can the Duke show her the man behind the proper and strict facade?

I liked the concept of this book- a proper gentleman who meets a woman that makes him want to reveal the passion hiding deep inside of him. Unfortunately, I grew frustrated, just like Mercy, with all the times Nicholas held back from showing the desire he had for her. It resulted in Mercy pushing him away and trying to pair him with other women. The miscommunication was rampant! When the fire between these two finally came out, it was a little too late for me. I will have to try another book by this author, because I definitely saw the potential for great writing. This just wasn't it for me.

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I really don't know how to explain my thoughts on this book. I loved the others in this series so I was really excited about A Proper Facade. It just didn't work for me. I felt like the characters didn't really have any depth and I felt like they lacked connection. The storyline was kind of slow as well. 😥 I am still really looking forward to other books Esther Hatch writes, this one just wasn't my favorite.

Thank you #Netgalley for this ARC of Esther Hatch’s novel.

I loved it from start to finish. What I enjoy about the author’s writing is she creates very likable characters with a great story. She also doesn’t throw in common phrasing like “leg shackled” to make it historical.

There was a great little twist at the end I absolutely did NOT expect. Great story and I highly recommend!