Lucian is having way too much fun. Diantha is from an eccentric family, that to her does not take life seriously enough.. Having both something to learn from the other, they are attracted to each other. Can they both compromise for their mutual happiness? I received an ARC from NetGalley and Avon for my honest review.

"The Devil's Charm" by Megan Frampton
A fun, entertaining read with some heat!!!

A wonderful distraction...

I'm in like but not in love. Everything about this book (the suspense, the sdialogue) was just...meh? I did like how Lucian saw and appreciated Diantha for who she was, but I would have loved it if she wasn't painted so much in the extremes. She begins by clinging to safety and avoiding any and all risk, and flips on her head later in the book. It pulled me out of it a bit. I think I would have liked her character development more if she had ended up somewhere in the middle and finding a balance.team, the rapport, the dialogue) was just...meh?

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Lord Lucian Blackwood is a charming rogue who avoids responsibility whenever possible. He’s become quite the expert. His philosophy is that life should be enjoyed not spent in a stuffy office. Because of this, he’s often misunderstood. When he meets and kisses Lady Diantha Courtenay he suddenly realizes he wants more than the frivolity in which he lives his life.

Diantha has always been the responsible one in her family. While they mean well, her parents and sister always involve themselves in some hare-brained scheme, which she always has to pull them out of. She longs for her independence and the day she can finally stop worrying about their financial wellbeing and start living her own life. When the opportunity to work on a project that could prove to be lucrative presents itself, she jumps at the chance. It doesn’t matter that the person she’ll be working alongside of is not only the son of her father’s enemy, he’s also the handsome rogue she kissed at her friend’s wedding. The two cannot deny the sparks that fly between them, but can they have a relationship when their families are sworn enemies?

This was absolutely delightful, and I enjoyed every minute of it. Where to begin? Diantha was a strong and intelligent FMC who has a lot of love for her eccentric family. She takes on the responsibility of caring for her family’s finances and accepts them for who they are, even if she doesn’t agree with any of their whims. When she meets Lucian, who she jokingly refers to as Lucifer because he is the epitome of temptation, there’s an instant attraction. She secretly longs for adventure, but doesn’t want to shirk her responsibilities. She settles on planned spontaneity, which Lucian respectfully acknowledges.

Lucian is a lovable cinnamon roll. Miscast as a rake, he is actually a sweetheart who loves to live life to the fullest as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone. He’s respectful of Diantha opinions and wishes. He accepts her for who she truly is, and she does the same. I loved seeing their relationship blossom. It was great to see them working together to invest in the right scheme for the factory.

The major theme in this novel is that there is so much more to people than what they present on the surface. Every character is complex, from her flighty parents and sister, to his staid brother and stern father. We get to see other sides of each, and Ms. Frampton did a wonderful job in creating fully embodied characters. I absolutely loved this book; I couldn’t put it down, yet at the same time wanted to savor it. Frankly, I didn’t want it to end. Pick it up if you’re in the mood for a light hearted, spicy historical romance with a plucky heroine and a charming, cinnamon roll hero.

This book was cute. Nothing really stands out from this book too much for me. It's a quick read. Not too much spice (wish there was more) and there wasn't really a big antagonist or too much of a hurdle for the two leads to end up together.
Honestly, the best character from this book is the sister.

Lady Diantha Courtenay is the quintessential oldest daughter, who prides herself on being the sensible and reliable one in an unconventional family. But for one night, she wants to just do what she wants and ends up in a coat closet with the son of her father’s nemesis. Lord Lucian Blackwood is a charming rake-about-town who excels in nothing so much as delegating, but the second he sees Lady Diantha, he’s stopped in his tracks. They’re pushed together again when they have to work on their parent’s behalf to settle a co-owned factory – with a side project to help getting kissing out of Lady Diantha’s system.

The Devil’s Charm was a very fun, romp-y historical romance. Both characters are really enjoyable, you can see almost right away that Blackwood is undervalued by his family for his ability to put the right person in the right job, and Diantha is seen as stuffy by her family and undervalued for her ability to keep them from “eel days”. I liked the Romeo-and-Juliet star-crossed lovers vibes and how the same comet had such a drastic effect on both their lives. I really loved that they kept meeting at the British museum for trysts (they make out in a sarcophagus?!), and how frustrated they both became when they were thwarted by other people being in this public space. Overall, a good choice for those looking for a light-hearted Victorian romance.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon/Harper Voyager for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I love a good family feud trope, and Lucian and Diantha are two lovers who fight against their attraction due to an old family feud, but circumstances bring them together so that they cannot keep denying what’s between them. As the spare and the proper lady clash, they slowly realize that their love may be more important than an old grudge. Megan Frampton’s dialogue is as fresh and clever as ever, and don’t sleep on this excellent regency romance.

Two people who shouldn't get along, but certainly do. Lady Diantha is the level-headed member of her family that tries to keep the rest of them together and their lives afloat. Lord Lucian seems like the affable second son that doesn't have anything serious in his life, but that's not all true. Their fathers had business together before a falling out and Diantha and Lucian are left to resolve the final piece of their dissolvement and that has them spending a lot of time together and things get heated between them. It's a fun romance to read and I'd be interested in reading more of this new series.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.

The Devil’s Charm is the first book in Megan Frampton’s Heirs and Spares series.
Lord Lucian Blackwood, the carefree second son of the Duke of Waxford, is accustomed to charming women and winning at cards. At a friend’s wedding, he unexpectedly kisses Lady Diantha Courtenay, the daughter of his father's enemy. Despite her proper demeanour, Diantha is drawn to Lucian, leading her to a moment of recklessness. The next day, she resolves to uphold her reputation, only to discover they must work together on a project aimed at mending their families' feud. As they work together, they both find it hard to balance their growing feelings with their responsibilities.
This is an enjoyable first in series. Diantha and Lucien are likeable characters and I enjoyed their banter. Diantha is the sensible one in her family and I liked how she strived to finally just do something for herself. Lucien starts off living fairly aimlessly but working with Diantha he realises that there is worth in doing things for the greater good. What I liked is that they balanced each other out.
The cover is gorgeous and this was a fun read. I received an advanced review copy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Megan Frampton hasn't been on my radar until recently and I'm happy for it. This was a little bit slow by my tastes but it's promising and the writing was excellent. Besides, is the first on a new series, so i hope I can read the rest if the series. In the mean time, I'll read her backlist

Thanks to the publisher for the advanced copy

Megan Frampton’s The Devil’s Charm is a solid historical romance with a dash of intrigue but it doesn’t quite live up to its full potential. Set in the Regency era, the novel follows Lucian, a charming rogue with a dark past, and Diantha, a determined and intelligent woman who is far more than just another damsel in distress.

Frampton excels at crafting witty banter between her leads, and the chemistry between Lucian and Diantha is palpable. Their verbal sparring adds a delightful spark to their developing relationship, and the push-pull dynamic keeps the reader engaged.

Additionally, the secondary characters feel somewhat underdeveloped. With more attention to these elements, the world of "The Devil’s Charm" could have felt richer and more immersive.

In the end, The Devil’s Charm is an enjoyable read for fans of historical romance, especially those who love a dashing rogue. While it doesn't break new ground, Frampton's signature wit and the central couple's chemistry make it a pleasant diversion, even if it doesn’t leave a lasting impression.

I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This was book 1 in a new series. It was actually fairly good in the beginning but it got really slow. I liked it but was not over the moon.

The Devil's Charm was exactly that, charming!

I absolutely loved the romance between Diantha and Lucian. They brought out the best in each other which is really sweet and romantic. I also thought they had fantastic chemistry right from the start. These two just complimented each other. I couldn't get enough scenes with them together. I mean look at that gorgeous cover? These two look so happy!

The steamy scenes are great here. As I said before, these two had fantastic chemistry and it showed during the love scenes.

I loved Diantha's eccentric family. They were such fun side characters and I can't wait to (hopefully) read their stories too.

I thought the plot was interesting. I liked the twist towards the end of the book. What a surprise!

A charming, fun and romantic read! Would recommend!

This story was just ok for me I'm sad to say. I felt it dragged toward the last especially. Pass on this one.

Lady Diantha is the sensible daughter of an earl, whose eccentric family drives her up the wall. She's spent most of her life trying to keep her family afloat. While Lord Lucian is a second son who defies his father's desires for him to be stop being a rake and be more serious. When they meet at a friend's wedding, sparks fly.

First, I love the cover. They look so happy and he doesn't look cold at all.

Second, I liked the twist at the end. It wasn't what I expected, but it was very satisfying.

Third, I liked how Diantha and Lucian bring out the best in each other.

loved this so much. the relationship between the hero and the heroine is so well done and developed. looking forward to more in this series and hoping maybe Drusilla will get her own book, she was fun!

THE DEVIL’S CHARM by Megan Frampton is the first in a new series called Heirs and Spares, starring Diantha, the daughter of an eccentric noble family who is the only sensible and responsible one of the bunch, and Lucian, the second and only fun-loving son of a highly starched and stiff necked Duke. Their families have long been at odds, but when Diantha and Lucian meet at a party, sparks fly. Then they must work together to resolve a long standing issue between their families, while also dealing with the attraction between them.

First off, can I just say that this cover is SO CUTE?? They look so happy!! And that’s a major theme of the book. I really enjoyed that Lucian was not a typical rake. His father believed him to be a wastrel and someone who couldn’t do anything, but he had a particular set of skill his father just didn’t value—he was good at determining what people are good at. While Lucian doesn’t really like nose to the grindstone type work, he can see what others around him are good and crucially, what they enjoy, because he has taken the time to know them and learn about them as his friends. I just found that personality trait so refreshing.

This was a fun read. I was nervous about the interloper Lucian’s father sends to keep an eye on him, but that was thankfully resolved without a lot of trouble. I did think Lucian and Diantha’s positions flipflopped a little fast at the end, and they didn’t appreciate that they had taken on traits that the other had valued earlier, but I did like their declaration of love and the resolution. 4.5 stars.

Heat level: 2.5 (one could scoot by parts of ch 21 and 26)

An absolute gem! I'm such a huge fan of Megan Frampton and this book was no exception. Romantic, sweeping, and delicious on every single page!

The Devil's Charm by Megan Frampton is nothing short of fantastic! As one of my favorite authors, Frampton once again showcases her incredible power to tell a story that resonates deeply with her readers. The characters are so well-drawn, the plot is captivating, and every page feels like it's filled with emotion and wit. Frampton has a way of weaving romance, tension, and charm that keeps you fully engaged from start to finish. This novel is a true testament to her storytelling abilities, and I was completely enthralled the entire way through. Absolutely a must-read!

“I just want what I just want”. Diantha, laughter of an eccentric Earl, has fashioned herself to be the proper member of her family. She takes care of the finances and any problems that arise. One night at a wedding ball, she decides to do what she wants, and that is to be kissed. Enter Lucien, second son to a Duke. He is known to be somewhat of a rake and enjoys the finer things life has to offer. Diantha and Lucien find themselves in a coat closet and he delivers what she wants. But Diantha discovers once is not enough. What a charming story of two people finding themselves and their HEA despite warring fathers. A most enjoyable read.