This is part of The Castlebury series and is the fourth installment. All the books have been quite enjoyable so far and this one also did not disappoint. Lady Carlotta has a secret passion for writing play scripts in her journal and hopes to have them performed one day. Well that day comes sooner than she thought when her journal goes missing one day and she later realizes one of her plays is indeed being performed, but someone else is claiming the credit, London's most popular playwright, Thatcher Goodrich. He finds Carlotta's playwright at a time he is most desperate and claims it as his own, never expecting the true creator to ever show up. Carlotta not only shows up, but she gives him a piece of her mind and demands that he give her work back. When His Majesty requests another play, Thatcher has no choice but to work with Carlotta to create one as he seems to have difficulty creating new work on his own. But when they are together they seem to be doing more arguing than writing. They will need to put their differences aside if they are to come up with a play that will please His Majesty. Along with their struggle to get along and create a masterpiece, they also had danger befall them. Amidst their arguing, it was clear how strong the chemistry was between them and it was entertaining to see them fall in love.
I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing and am voluntarily leaving my review.

Such a great read! Highly recommend this one.

Many thanks to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

A lady playwright, Lady Charlotte's precious journal is missing. It contains all her ideas and thoughts for a play. Playwright Thatcher Goodrich is renowned for his successful plays. Writer's block puts him in a panic, until he finds Charlotte's journal. Desperate, he makes a few changes and produces her play. It may be a hit, but Charlotte isn't willing to let his theft go unpunished. Her brother-in-law's solution is for them to collaborate for the next play for King William. Their tempestuous relationship and dangerous threats, may be the finish of their partnership, until they find love with each other.
Mild descriptive sex.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book from NetGalley.

Rivals To Lovers 3,5 stars

I had just finished the previous book in the series and was looking forward to this part, but I have to admit that I was a little disappointed. The storyline itself was nice with enemies to lovers, forced proximity tropes and the relationship between Lottie and Thatcher was passionate from the start, but more out of anger and hate than attraction and it developed very slowly. Compared to the previous books, the love scenes started off promisingly, but surprisingly ended behind closed doors. I didn't like the characters very much, even though I could understand their behavior due to their vulnerability and ambition, but neither of them was willing to compromise or admit their mistakes. The unexpected twists, suspense and danger were intriguing, although rather short compared to other scenes.

Since the book features some characters from previous books and the Revivalists are once again part of the plot, I don’t recommend to read the book as standalone.

Lady Carlotta "Lottie" Castlebury, the youngest Castlebury sibling, loves the theatre and even writes her own plays in her journal. She hopes to become a recognized female playwright. When Lottie loses her journal, she is devastated. But then she recognises her scenes and words in a play being performed at her brother-in-law Rainville's theatre, supposedly the latest and best work by Thatcher Goodrich, whose work she used to admire but whose quality, in her opinion, has diminished considerably of late.

Thatcher is the youngest son of an impoverished baron. With a great deal of discipline and self-control, he became one of the most important and the king’s favourite playwrights. But for some time now he has been suffering from writer's block. When he accidentally comes across a journal containing a great play, he passes it off as his own. The play is a great success. After the premiere, however, Thatcher is attacked by a young lady who claims that he stole her journal and her play, and who also turns out to be the theatre owner’s sister-in-law. Naturally, Thatcher cannot admit his betrayal. When the King insists on another new play, Rainville demands that Thatcher and Lady Lottie write it together. During their forced cooperation, sparks of anger and passion fly between the two, and neither of them realise the danger they are in...

If you enjoy historical romance novels with strong, emancipated female characters and lots of bickering, you will like this book!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This is a cute story about two playwrights - Lottie and Thatcher. Lottie loses her beloved journal, which has all of her plays and thoughts about everything in it. Thatcher finds it, not knowing who it belongs to. He's been suffering from writer's block, and this journal is a breath of fresh air for his creativity. He battles with his conscience, but ends up doing something dastardly. They are thrown together to write a new play commissioned by the king.
These two are adorable together and have no fear, Thatcher ends up groveling appropriately, as he should. It's great to see two lonely people find each other and they have so many common interests. Another great story in the series.!
Thank you to netgalley for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

Lottie Castlebury is leading a secret life. According to the ton, she is the daughter and now sister to the current Duke of Castlebury. She spends most of her alone time writing plays that she hopes to one day have performed. Lottie loses her most current work and is unable to recover it after an exhaustive search. She is appalled to witness it being performed at the theater with the inhouse playwright given credit for it. Lottie confronts the playwright and after her brother in law, the Duke of Rainville, who owns the theater observes them, he requests Lottie and Thatcher, the playwright, work together to construct the next play the Prince has requested. Lottie and Thatcher have an explosive chemistry unbeknownst to them and they spend alot of time arguing as opposed to working on the play. Thatcher is having difficulties coming creating new works and relies heavily on Lottie for inspiration. Will they be able to put their differences aside to create the next masterpiece their sovereign is requesting? Will Lottie receive the credit for her work even though it goes against the grain for a gentlewoman to work, an especially in the theater? London's Leading Lady was a great 4th act to the series and I am looking for the next installment to revisit Lottie and the cast of characters produced by Ms. Seasons.

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

Clash of the Playwrights

She lost her journal in the park, so he considered it fair game and stole it. He had writers' block, so finding her journal saved him. However, when Lottie watched one of his plays, she realized that the thief stole her journal. Now, her brother-in-law wanted her to work with Thatcher because the king wanted a new play. Neither expected to fall in love, nor did they anticipate the danger that stalked them. Something in Lottie's original angered a dangerous group of noblemen, and they were intent on murder. Would Lottie and Thatcher survive the peril? Should they survive, could they resolve their differences? If you like historical romance with a dash of suspense, you might enjoy this story.

An historical romance that takes us into the world of playwrights. Of course they can only be men because a woman can't possibly write one. L.o.l.
Our heroine spends a lot of this story absolutely furious. She is very independent and intelligent. Our hero has an important lesson to learn before he is as worthy as he thinks he is.
Some danger and scandalous behaviour.
This is part of a series, but aside from meeting some of the characters from the other stories, you can easily read this on it's own.
Good fun.

The fourth book in the series of exceptional women and their strength to change society. This is Lottie's story. An aspiring play write who must go up against the most well know play write of the time, Thatcher. Set in the theatrical world, these two must collaborate on a play for the king. An indepth look at how writers struggle with writes block. The ethical view of plagiarism which can easily be translated into the use of AI, in today's modern times and a bit of history on the Revivalist that plagued London. The story can definitely stand alone and be engaging all by itself. My recommendation however is to read them all in order, as each female main character defines how we became more equal in society, plus some of the secondary characters have backgrounds that lend substance to the story. Well done.

London's Leading Lady is the fourth book in The Castlebury's series.

Lady Carlotta Castlebury loves the theatre. Lottie loves it so much that she writes her own scripts in hopes that she will see her dreams comes true. But walking one evening she loses her journal. It is found by Thatcher who claims it as his own. Thatcher Goodrich is struggling to come up with a play for the King and uses Lottie's journal.

Thatcher & Lottie argue for a good part of the book, but their leap from enemies to love is too quick and hard to believe. Neither was a likeable character for me until the end of the story. This the first in the series that I have read. If I had started at the beginning, I might have felt differently.

Thank you NetGalley. Carlotta had a notebook she carried with her and wrote in it as something came to her mind. She went out to Hyde Park and unknown to her there was a tear in the case she carried her notebook in and it slipped out with out her knowing it.
Thatcher was a well known play write but he was in a slump and just knowing would come to his mind on the idea for the next play. When out walking in Hyde Park he found the notebook and took it home. There was the idea he needed and had no idea who it was from.
Carlotta going to the theater with her family sees her play. She raises a fuss with him. The King wants them to work together on another play. He has a hard time working with her. He is beaten up one night after leaving a pub about what was in the play Carlotta wrote but does not tell them it wasn't him. They fall in love and he confesses where he got the play.

Having read the previous novels in this series, I was looking forward to this romance but found it difficult to get into. The main characters were difficult to relate to, although I did feel empathy for Lady Carlotta when she discovered that Thatcher had not only found her diary but had claimed her hard work as his own. Although they iron out their differences, the book is not without tension as the Revivalists once more raise their ugly heads. The story comes to a lovely conclusion as Thatcher learns his lessons well and Carlotta gets the recognition she longs for. I received a copy of this book as a gift through Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.

I discovered Jennifer Seasons this year and I've really enjoyed learning about the Castleburys. Each sibling is so unique and brings something to the table. I was especially excited to read Lottie's story because she's my favorite offspring. We have a lot in common, such as being the youngest of the family and passionate about theater. London's Leading Lady ended up being disappointing because our couple bickered like children for 75% of the novel. When they finally decided to act like adults, their love scenes were rushed and glossed over. I could feel that bedroom door slam in my face through the pages.

I wished we could have seen some more maturity from these two, especially from a book less than 200 pages. If you're going to write a book this short, let's move this relationship at top speed. Despite my minor frustration, I do love this author's writing style. It was spectacular to see a heroine as a playwright. I often spend my weekends at the theater and I've seen over 20 plays this year. I haven't completely written off this author just yet. I know she's got at least one more Castlebury romance left in the chamber, Bow Street Baron. I'm going to stay positive and give one last curtain call once London's Leading Lady has left the stage.

3.5 stars
Lady Carlotta Castlebury secretly adores the theatre, she even writes play scripts in her journal, her most precious possession. One fateful afternoon in Hyde Park she loses the journal then discovers soon after that the latest theatrical performance on Drury Lane sounds remarkably like her play. London’s most popular playwright, Thatcher Goodrich is taking the credit for the play. When His Majesty wishes another play, Thatcher must pen another with her.
The fourth Castlebury sibling to find love, an enjoyable quick read. I struggled to like both Thatcher & Lottie they were at loggerheads for most of the book & whilst I believed they were in lust I struggled to believe they were in love. The book is a bit uneven in pace but does pick up towards the end when danger appears. It could be read on its own but as it’s about siblings previous characters do make appearances.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own

I read the previous book in this series and struggled with the pacing, but the plot and the characters were interesting. I’m sorry to say I struggled with this book as well. The pacing was better and the baseline of the plot was interesting, but the writing felt chaotic, repetitive at some points, and the story got lost, the characters were all over the place and I just couldn’t get into it.
It’s probably just me not feeling this author’s style, but I think I’m going to pass on her books in the future.

Tropes: enemies to lovers
Steam level: 3
Part of a series; works best if you've read the previous books.

2.5 rounded up. This is a quick read with a cute premise and I enjoyed the humor, but it's too insta-lusty and unrealistic for my taste. For the most part I liked the MMC, despite his poor decision-making; the author does a nice job with his vulnerable side. Thought the MFC was underwritten and came across as rather spoiled and silly. There is a bit of action toward the end that perks up the pacing and some spicy steam.

This passionate love story is something that make me dream and enjoy. Wonderfully writen, lovely characters, captivating from the very beginning to finish.

Thatcher is a playwright with a difficult writers block when he finds Lottie’s journal.
Lottie writes ideas and plays in her special journal when she discovers it has been lost.
The two of them come together in Rhodes theater and clash over their originality and words.
Their clash leads to kisses and a beautiful love scene.
Easy fun read, another Castlebury romp.