This book was enjoyable and it’s a well-written historical romance - very Jane Austen writing style. I usually love that writing style but for some reason, I had a hard time with it in this book. I also had a hard time connecting with the characters, so that may have been it. It was fun and flirty and the plot kept moving it just didn’t hit for me. There’s an air of espionage and sneakiness that kept me reading though.

I liked that Leo wasn’t a rake or a womanizer; he was just a gentleman who was ready to settle down on his own free will instead of an unforeseen circumstance that made him marry. I loved the conversations Isabella and Leo had, and how genuine their connection felt.

Lady Isabella Ashby lost her husband two years ago, she's still young, but doesn't want to marry again. Before moving back to her family in Yorkshire, she has a bucket list of erotic fantasies she intends to tick off. She selects the dashing Captain Leo Winterton to help her in this endeavour, not knowing that Leo has been in love with her for two years.

The style is like the classics written during the Regency era, which means lengthy descriptions and sometimes very circumnavigating dialogues. It's a story about letting go of grief and erotic self-discovery far more than romance and the way to the Happy Ending feels like a sub-plot rather than the main focus of the novel.

Generous 3 stars. I had read book #2 in the serious as an arc and found the writing clunky and overly detailed to the point of becoming disinterested, and hoped it just needed editing. I think it’s just the author’s style, which isn’t my personal favorite. This book, which can be read as a standalone, is about a young widow who doesn’t want her “last time” to be her last time. She makes a list of all the sexy time things she wants to do one last time and ropes a guy into helping her thru the list. Unbeknownst to her, he’s been in love with her, so he takes one for the team and helps her out. While the is open door, the overly detailed writing skips these parts. At best, this is a library rental if you want regency sexy times.

Thank you Boldwood Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Loving books in this era ! Kind of hard to get into but still a decent read ! I liked the female lead charachter and her strong personality .

Isabella, the widowed Lady Ashby Mauleverer is out of mourning for her beloved Ashby and preparing to retire from society, but before she does, she wants one last adventure and has made a list of things she wants to accomplish – a list that could ruin her. To complete her list, she will need help and has decided that Captain Leo Winterton is the perfect man for the job! Isabella has no desire to remarry nor fall in love, but she isn’t quite ready to wither away, and despite her grief, she longs for a connection and hopes that Leo can be that man.

Captain Leo Winterton has been in love with Isabella for years, but she was happily married, so he suffered his unrequited love in silence. But when Isabella approached him with her request for his help with her “list”, he is torn between the opportunity to finally be with the woman he has loved from afar and his sense of propriety. He also knows that he could be setting himself up for further heartbreak as Isabella has made it clear that love and marriage will play no part in her future. Will he risk his heart for the chance to change her mind?

This was an interesting story, not quite what I was expecting, as it was more emotional that I thought it would be. Isabella’s journey to let go of the grief of losing her beloved Ashby and finding herself was the focus of this book. Which is fine, but it does seem to make the romance seem like a secondary plot point, rather than the primary story. This book is full of emotion, self-discovery, unrequited love, a bit of steam, wonderful secondary characters, a bit of angst, a second chance at love, and finally a HEA. Overall, I liked this story, but not quite as much as the previous books and I while I would recommend this title, I don’t think I would read it again. This is the third book in the series, but it could be read as a standalone title with no problems.

3, maybe 3.5 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. *

Feisty widow ready to reclaim her life and the Captain she’s convinced herself can help her with her “sex list”. Bit a cinnamon roll hero who is content to let her lead. High steam and spice with a variety of encounters. A lot of mixed emotions, assumptions and a few lies from two hard-headed individuals who refuse to let themselves find their HEA for a frustratingly long time… Nice long story that provides story and emotion along with the spice. Satisfying ending that makes me want to read further.

I received a complimentary ARC copy from NetGalley. This is my unbiased review.

I love Emma Orchard's previous novel set in the same universe, A Duke of One's Own, but this one didn't hit the same way. Perhaps it's because there were no gothic elements and the other novel had the reformed rake trope which is one of my favourites. If you love regency romances and Bridgerton you'll still definitely enjoy this book and I look forward to the next novel in this series.

Thank you again to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for this ARC.

If you’re looking for a Georgette Heyer–style novel but with more spice, this book is for you. It’s lighthearted and fun with relatable characters and tons of sensual tension. I loved the chemistry between Leo and Isabella—I just wish there had been more interactions between them that didn’t involve Isabella’s list or their physical relationship.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

This is the next book in a Regency series written by new author Emma Orchard. If you are a Bridgerton fan or like books in the Georgette Heyer style with a little more spice, you will love this series and indeed this book.
Lady Isabella Ashby is a young widow, married to Ash who died in her arms after Waterloo. She has suffered from her loss and now, after a couple of years, feels ready to go out into society again. However there are certain things she misses and she decides to find some unwary male to help her reclaim them before returning to Yorkshire and a celibate life. She has no intention to remarry and wishes to remain faithful to her late husband’s memory.
When she meets Captain Leo Winterton she has found her perfect accomplice for a no strings attached relationship. But, unbeknownst to Isabella, Leo has harboured feelings for her for a long time which will lead to some complications in her plan and lots of confusion and misery on both sides.
I liked the way this novel, set in past times but written in the 21st century, examined issues such as infertility ,mental health and of course grief. These are timeless themes that deserve to be mentioned.
Be warned that there is a lot of spice in the books and particularly in this one where Isabella has a list of actions she wants her lover to “experience” with her. There is not as much intrigue in this book as in the earlier ones- there are no villains as such which makes the story much simpler. I recommend this for a light hearted and fun Summer read.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my advance copy.

It has felt like months reading this book, not sure why. It started well, with the bereaved Lady Ashby setting out to find a man! In modern parlance, she was after a fling before retreating to Yorkshire.

The list concept was good fun, but got a bit lost as the story developed… however, I almost stoped reading as there was just too much spice 🌶️… almost for the sake of it on some occasions.

Parts of this book read well, others dragged. I normally devour ‘Regency’ romances, and have read the previous book in this series, but there were way too many long sequences that went on for too long. Lots of side characters, but that wasn’t too confusing, just the spicy scenes seemed to take far too long…

3*, just too many gratuitous 🌶️ scenes!!

What the Lady Wants is the third book in a series called the Runaway Heiress. The book can be read as a stand alone. Emma Orchard is a new author for me and was a fun find.

Lady Isabelle Ashley was happily married to her first and only love. Then he died in a battle and she was overwrought and inconsolable. She knew she would never love another person like she did her husband. However, she knew that she wanted more physical intimacy and being an organized person wrote a list. She had convinced her family that she needed to stay with family for a bit longer in a season. In reality, she was looking for a lover to accomplish the items on her list.

Captain Leo Winterton was who she chose to help her with the list. Only he had a secret that she didn’t know, he was in love with her! Together they explore her list and each other. Not wanting their time to end, they both go to the same house party to “finish” up the list. However, with all secrets, the truth will eek out. All the secrets come out and choices are taken away from them. How will they move forward?

What the Lady Wants does not have a complex storyline as most of the story is about Leo and Ashley. Emma Orchard has written a fun historical romance.

Though part of a series, this can be read as a standalone.
Can one know what they want for the rest of their life? Lady Isabella Ashby has decided at the age of 22 and recently widowed, that she will never marry again.
What the Lady Wants is a very entertaining and spicy read. LOTS of steamy moments!
I loved the chemistry between the main characters, Isabella and Leo. The banter between them was fun and made me laugh out loud a few times.
Once I started reading this book, I was intrigued as to where the author was going with the story, Though the dialogue does seem to drag on a bit, I still enjoyed reading What the Lady Wants.
The story does contain infertility issues as well as mental issues.
Thank you NetGalley, Boldwood Books and Rachels Random Resources for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC

This is my second Emma Orchard book and I find her stories really entertaining. They're quick, easy read with fun romances and lot of spice. I'd recommend it for anyone who enjoys a good regency romance, lokking for a good time

This is fun romp. Historical fiction, friends to lovers, some steam.
Characters aren't fully developed and sometimes the writing is a bit wandering.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for access to this eARC.

I didn't actually finish this one, unfortunately.
I was already put in the beginning my the whole conniving-to-seduce a friend thing. I don't know. I just didn't like Isabella much. So I made it about 20% and then just gave up.

I may try it again at some point. I gave it 2 stars because the writing was fine. It was just the plot for me.

In "What the Lady Wants," Emma Orchard weaves a captivating tale set against the backdrop of Regency England, where Lady Isabella Ashby finds herself at a crossroads after the loss of her husband. Determined to reclaim a sense of adventure before retiring to a quiet life in Yorkshire, Isabella devises a scandalous list of experiences she wishes to indulge in one last time. Enter Captain Leo Winterton, a close friend harboring a secret love for Isabella. When she enlists his help to fulfill her daring desires, their friendship evolves into a passionate entanglement that defies societal norms.

Orchard skillfully navigates the complexities of grief, desire, and societal expectations, painting a vivid picture of a woman rediscovering her agency and a man torn between duty and love. The chemistry between Isabella and Leo is palpable, their interactions charged with longing and forbidden attraction. As they navigate the precarious waters of their unconventional arrangement, Orchard deftly explores themes of love, loyalty, and the transformative power of genuine connection.

"What the Lady Wants" is a delightful blend of romance and intrigue, with well-drawn characters and a plot that keeps readers engaged until the satisfying conclusion. Emma Orchard's storytelling prowess shines through in this tale of love found in unexpected places, making it a must-read for fans of Regency romance and complex, heartfelt narratives.

3/5 Spicy friends to lovers historical romance

I received an advance copy through NetGalley. This is my first book from the author, and I’m not sure she is for me. I ended up skipping a lot of descriptive sections which didn’t really add to the story. There were a lot of side characters, that it felt hard to keep up. Now the FMC was just confusing, her feelings changed very quickly and she kind of messed the MMC around a lot. It’s nice to see a spicy historical romance, but not at the expense of the story telling, which felt rushed in terms of the sudden development of feelings.

Tropes: widow wants a fling; cinnamon roll MMC
Steam level: 3-4

3.5 stars I couldn’t quite round up. Tbh I was conflicted by this book. The cartoony cover implies this will be fairly low-steam and romcom-ish, while the writing style is on the old-school side (think Mary Balogh/Georgette Heyer), but the spice is spicy. Sometimes I felt the writing flowed well, with touches of sadness and wry humor that felt organic, at other times it seemed overdone and wordy, particularly in the last 25%, when I found myself skimming. The scenes of genuine warmth between the MC's are what almost made me round up to 4 stars; I liked their chemistry. And I appreciated how the topic of MFC’s mental illness was handled at the beginning–not many HR’s go there. But there isn't a lot of plot, once you get into the meat of the story and MFC's desire to fulfill the lusty items on her list, and somehow I felt the chemistry drained out of the relationship with the angst that got tossed in toward the end.

Overall: MC’s have chemistry and the plot has potential, but too much focus on style without quite enough substance.

I read an advanced reader copy of this book and this is my voluntary review. Opinions are my own. Thanks to the author, publisher, and Net Galley for this opportunity.

After experiencing a breadown (2 years) from her husbands death, Isabella is ready for pleasure, before she retires as a widow. She comes up with a list of experiences and recruits Leo, who she knows via family to help her realize her wishes.

Leo has been in love with Isabella for a while, and is happy to help hoping that she in turn may reciprocate. The couple do eventually get their hea.

The book was steamy, but beyond that seemed a little lacking in building the emotional side of the relationship. Emma's writing style also requires some patience as it does get prosy and verbose. A decent read.

What the Lady Wants by Emma Orchard is a delight. It is a must-read for fans of female friendships, unorthodox heroines, titilating couples, and sweet happily-ever-afters. Fans of regency romance may guess some of the plot points as they move through the story but only because they are what we know and love about the genre. The story manages to be sweet and sexy and stand on its own amidst a vast sea of competition.

None of the characters fall flat or feel out of place. I was left wanting to know more about them all. So, you can imagine I was thrilled to find at the end of the story an excerpt from Emma Orchard's subsequent book, A Duke of One's Own, which teases getting to know more of the interesting characters who populate this one. I, for one, await it eagerly!

I am so grateful to Emma Orchard, Boldwood Books, and NetGalley for sharing this fun, frisky, and ultimately heart-warming story with me.