3 stars!

"A Gentleman's Offer" is a historical romance following Dominic and Meg looking for Meg's missing twin sister - who Dominic is engaged to (arranged marriage) and Meg has swapped identities with. So fun! The synopsis compares the book to the Bridgerton series and it's similar because of the historical background, but otherwise very different - not a bad thing! A Gentleman's Offer reminded me a lot of Jane Austen's books and I loved the writing.

The book was fast paced and quick to get through. The adventure plot of finding Meg's sister was so fun, and the characters worked well together. The tension in their romance was great, but I would've liked for it to last a little longer before they got together. The romance was a little too rushed for my taste. I didn't feel too connected to the characters and would've liked a little more thoughts/feelings from them. I enjoyed the scandals and was kept entertained the whole book.

Overall, I thought this was fun and want to read more from this author. I think if you're in the mood for a fun, rom-com historical romance this is great, but it's not a must read!

Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I have to admit, I was skeptical about this Regency romance. I listened to What a Woman Wants and discovered that I find listening to such a spicy book deeply uncomfortable. This novel, however, was far less spicy, although I would't have minded it in a print version. I must admit that I found the premise of this romp very convoluted, but the fact that Orchard kind of acknowledges this in the references to Twelfth Night was rather refreshing. I found our two main characters quite lovable and the supporting cast quite diverse. The fact that the ending was a bit rushed is the only complaint that I can find.

If you love Bridgerton then you will love this book! The writing was very easy to read and enjoy. And the plot was very well thought out.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for letting me read this ARC.

⭐️4.5

Dominic De Lacy is informed by his mother that he is to marry Marie Nightingale— as was his father's dying wish.
However, at their engagement party, he makes a shocking discovery... the woman before him is not Marie, but her identical twin sister, Margaret Nightingale.
Marie vanished a fortnight ago and has yet to return. To prevent a scandal, their aunt, Mrs. Greystone, called upon Margaret to take her sister’s place and secretly search for her.
Having been estranged from Marie for years, Margaret has no idea where to begin. Convinced that Dominic is somehow responsible for her sister’s disappearance, she demands answers. But when she realizes he knows nothing either, she asks for his help.
Together, they set out to uncover the truth about what happened to Marie—and his fiancée.

This was my first book by Emma Orchard, and I absolutely loved it!
Her writing style drew me in from the very beginning, making it impossible to put the book down. I really enjoyed the dynamic between Margaret and Dominic, as well as the mix of mystery and adventure.
While some of the twists were easy to predict, they added to the charm of the story, making it a fun and enjoyable read.

Overall, I would definitely recommend it if you're looking for a cute and fun romance with a touch of mystery!

"The gorgeous and spicy new romance from Emma Orchard, perfect for everyone waiting for their next Bridgerton fix!

June, 1817
Sir Dominic De Lacy - one of the season's most eligible gentlemen - has recently proposed marriage... to a woman he scarcely knows. But his father's choice for him, Miss Maria Nightingale, seems amiable, and at 29, Dominic cannot live the life of a bachelor forever. He hopes he can provide a happy future for her as they learn to care for each other.

Maria, however, has other ideas. Midway through their engagement celebrations, she confesses to Dominic that she is not Maria at all, but her identical twin sister, Margaret. Maria has disappeared, and Margaret's been persuaded to take her place until she's found - and for that she needs Dominic's help. The pair quickly find they make a formidable team, but with just three weeks to avoid the biggest scandal of the season, time is against them.

But even if they find Maria, can they really hope the wedding will happen? Because, as they are starting to realise, chemistry can't be arranged - and Sir Dominic might just be engaged to the wrong Miss Nightingale..."

Eh, just live as your twin sister forever if it means happiness and you're not actually keeping a secret from your husband...

“You see, my father doesn’t approve of extensive and serious education for women.”

What can I say? I love Emma Orchard’s books. A Gentleman's Offer did not make an exception, even though it was very different from the previous ones.
The writing style is still here, bringing the reader back to the 18th century, helping to immerse us into the story. The main themes are here too: like in others E.O.’s books, you’ll find a strong FMC, feminism and diverse characters, the whole rejuvenating the Historical Romance genre, while remaining faithful to it.
In this one, however, both MC know who they are, and what they want very early in the story. The book is built around the plot, secrets, and everything that isn’t in their control, which made it pretty original regarding romances’ structures nowadays. Don’t get me wrong, I deeply love feelings and pinning, and stories based on characters’ development, but it felt fresh to read something different for once.
As I said, Meg knows who she is. She was raised by a feminist mother and isn’t afraid to say No, to impose herself –which can be complicated as she plays her sister’s role (whose story I would love to read one day). Dominic is a great character, full of green flags. This book is less spicy than the previous ones, but it is completely adapted to the story. Meg and Dominic are before all a team and their attraction is intellectual before anything else (even though the chemistry is there, as much as… boots fetish ˆˆ). I adored how Meg truly impresses him, and how he isn’t afraid to say so.
This book revolves around the notion of education, and I loved how it used the pattern of classic comedies for it. I don’t want to spoil, but what was written about Meg’s father was delicious, and some things were real food for thought.
Another great historical romance story !

Thank you to the author and Boodwood Books for the eARC via NetGalley. My opinions are my own.

Rate 4.5/5

Right from the prologue I was GRIPPED. I think period pieces set around this time tend to lend themselves to Austen influences, but the writing style, blatant references (universal truths anyone?), and scandals felt quite reminiscent of the books we love from our beloved Jane. It had the scandal of P&P, the distant paternal figure in a mix of Mr Bennett and Mr Woodhouse, and the colourful mix of personalities of our favourite heroines. The writing style was very reminiscent of Austen's novels and it took me time to get through some bits of the story. It was a very high-level romance plot with not a ton of development, but I quite enjoyed it.

My first impression of Dominic is that he was sensible and bored, resigned to a quiet, unpassionate marriage. I, like him, waited for the passion. And when it delivered, oh, it delivered. Regrettably, I haven’t read other period stories like this that feature the MMC POV, and I loved it. He was level headed, reasonable, and besotted from the start, which was an enjoyable tone of ‘will they won’t they’ throughout the adventure of finding Maria.

Meg was so fun to follow. Everything we know about Maria is through the testimony of other people, which was an interesting dynamic for twins.

"A Gentleman's Offer" fell flat for me. Some plot points felt predictable, and several characters didn't have the necessary depth or development, especially Dominic. There's also simply too much going on, which causes the overall story to drag alongside excessive dialogue.

As a fan of regency books, I enjoyed the setting of this book. The premise was good, having the sisters switch places. Meg annoyed me initially but by the end I quite liked her. I found the pace to be very slow to begin with but it did pick up towards the end, and I read it in just over a day.
I would have liked the language to be a little less formal, this put me off slightly. Fans of Austen or Bridgerton you might enjoy this.

Thanks to NetGalley and Emma Orchard for allowing me to read and review this book!

unfortunately everything about this fell flat for me. I felt like the character development was flat, the plot was unexciting, and the romance wasn't giving me butterflies. I also found some plot decisions very farfetched.

I love the premise here, but unfortunately the pacing and POV didn't connect with me and I DNF at 50%.

I am fairly new to the regency genre, and as a lover of romance this certainly had its swoon worthy moments! The synopsis excited me, and presented fun tropes I have yet to discover in the genre.

I do wish that the mystery towards the middle had lasted a bit longer-however Maria’s story was sweet. Considering the length of the book it still felt like it dragged on at points, especially since it’s on the shorter side of regency books I’m familiar with.

There are some sweet moments but I wasn’t always eager to get back to it in my off moments in the ways a book that’s really reeled you in will.

I don’t think all regency books can/should be grouped in with “if you’re a fan of Bridgerton” as I feel it does a disservice to both series. Emma is a welcome voice in a space many readers are beginning to dip their toes in thanks to the popularity of a series like Bridgerton.

A tall, well-dressed woman fleeing in the darkest night goes unremarked; the shabby carriage arrives, the heavily cloaked figure enters and a comforting voice reassures the runaway that all will be well.
Sir Dominic De Lacy was a man in need of marrying or so his mother kept telling him. He did not think so, but as she kept assuring him, his father and the reclusive Lord Nightingale had struck a bargain several years before his untimely death, he eventually gave into filial pressure, agreeing to offer for the hand of Miss Maria Nightingale.
She was considered a rare beauty, wealthy and personable, except he felt she was a marble statue, going through the motions, but offer he did and she accepted. The die was cast until the evening of their engagement party; an evening Beau de Lacy was not soon to forget as it turned what until this point in his life, was a very orderly and straight forward existence, into something entirely different.
So begins a madcap regency romp A Gentleman’s Offer, which sees the very conservative Sir Dominic De Lacy plunged headlong into an event that could result in the largest scandal of the Season, with a woman, his betrothed, who is not the woman to whom he became betrothed!
Hatred, manipulation, theft and skullduggery are all uncovered along with outright ruthlessness, as Dominic and his fiancé Margaret ‘Meg’, the twin sister of the woman he thought he was engaged to, find themselves embroiled in a terrible and what could be deadly scheme to cover-up outright theft.
Emma Orchard has created a wonderfully enjoyable regency romance with A Gentleman’s Offer, in the style of her beloved Georgette Heyer with a very modern twist, which will appeal to lovers of a very good regency romp. Great reading for a weekend of pure indulgence.

When Miss Margaret “Meg” Nightingale, the estranged daughter of Baron Nightingale, receives notice from her aunt that her recently betrothed identical twin sister, Maria, has gone missing, she agrees to come to London to take her place until she is found. But Meg is not one to stand idly by and let someone else take charge, she makes it her mission to find Maria. She informs her sister’s betrothed, Sir Dominic De Lacy of the situation and demands that he assist her in finding her sister. She is attracted to Dominic and he to her, but until they find Maria and learn why she bolted, they won’t be able to act on that attraction. When they found Maria and learned why she left should make it easier for them to be together, but finding Maria only makes it harder.

Sir Dominic De Lacy, known to the ton as Beau De Lacy due to his manners and personality, has been a happy-go-lucky bachelor, but when his mother tells him of a promise his late father made to Baron Nightingale, he agrees to marry Maria Nightingale, and after just two supervised meetings, he proposes, and she accepts. He is not really attracted to her, but since he never expected to marry for love, he accepts that this will be a typical arranged marriage and only hopes they will get on better than his own parents did. However, when he sees his betrothed at their engagement ball, he is stunned at his reaction to her and a bit relieved when he learns the truth. He agrees to help Meg find her sister but makes it clear that he won’t be marrying Maria. The more time he spends with Meg, the more he knows that she is the woman he never expected to find and the only Nightingale he will marry.

The blurb for this book, hooked me hard and reeled me in, but sadly, it failed to deliver the story I was expecting. The story has a lot going on including a twin swap, estranged families, secrets, lies, blackmail, slow-burn romance, and finally a HEA for almost everyone. I wanted to love the book, but I found Meg annoying and Dominic a bit too beta for my taste, add to that the ridiculous plot and the very wordy dialogue that caused the story to drag, and unfortunately, this book just didn’t work for me.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *

Another easy 5⭐️!

This was my first book by Emma Orchard, and it certainly won’t be my last!

Quick overview: Set in early 19th-century London, a noble gentleman gets engaged to a charming blonde young miss—only to discover she’s actually her identical twin. With the real bride missing and a scandal brewing, the two team up to find her, but sparks fly along the way.

This book was right up my alley, and I enjoyed every bit of it!

The characters were a joy—diverse, witty, and full of charm. I loved the little grumpy vs. sunshine dynamic between the leads. The writing was lyrical and beautiful, and the pacing kept me engaged from start to finish.

What I love about this genre in general is the atmosphere, and this book absolutely nailed it. The first half sets the perfect tone, then the second half is packed with action and drama! I was giggling and completely hooked from start to finish.

I was pleasantly surprised by how much action and twists filled the second half. Typically, based on my experience with this genre, these books are mostly focused on vibes and character development, but here we get a perfect mix of everything.

As a hopeless romantic, I adored every moment of the romance—it was full of tension in the best way possible, rich, immersive, and just wonderful.

If you love historical romance that perfectly blends atmosphere, action, and humor, A Gentleman’s Offer is a must-read. Highly recommend! 🩷🌸

(The release date is 03/22)

‘When had daydreams ever been logical?’

When Dominic De Lacy learns of his late fathers wish to marry Maria Nightingale, he proposes without question, despite barely knowing her. After all, she seems nice enough, and he knows that just because the marriage isn’t born out of love, doesn’t mean they can’t come to love each other. Which is why he is most surprised when in the middle of the engagement celebrations, he learns that Maria has disappeared and her identical twin sister Meg has taken her place. Together they must work to find out where Maria has gone, and why she would disappear without a word to anyone. With 3 weeks until the wedding, they must race against time to avoid a scandal that no one can escape the fallout from.

I was interested in reading this book,as it was suggested to be the fix to missing Bridgerton, however the only similarity was that they were historical romances, which to me isn't a bad thing. However I found myself never really connecting with the characters. I liked the romance between Meg and Dominic, but I just felt like it was a little bit quick in their feelings being shown, and I never really found myself rooting for them as characters.

The storyline itself to me just fell a little flat. I think Meg said it best herself that the ending felt a little anticlimactic. I was enjoying the mystery and was expecting some sort of massive fallout, or some sort of ploy to out their father as all through the book, he is described almost as some kind of monster, however they defeat him very easily, with no sense of backlash. It seemed really at odds with what we learned of him, and made the ending just not really feel like a big payoff. The big entrance, which I won't spoil, felt like I was supposed to be shocked at, but honestly it just didn’t hold that kind of weight.

It had a good plot, I enjoyed the mystery aspect, and it was something that I did want to find out, but it wasn’t shocking with any big twists. I like a mystery in a book, and trying to figure out what happens. This definitely feels more like a cosy mystery really. It doesn’t feel as though there are high stakes, and whilst most of the characters would disagree, that was something that I didn’t mind. I thought it would be a little high drama, but the story made sense, and I liked that the reveals that we got didn't seem like they were coming out of left field. There were enough cliffhangers that I wanted to keep reading to find out what happened, but not to the point where I was questioning why there were so many. I also liked the pacing of the book as well, nothing felt like it was dragged out too long, and aside from the romance for me, nothing was really rushed, which can happen a lot so it was a pleasant surprise. Each action felt like it was something the character would actually do, and whilst it was a little predictable in places, it was still a good read.

I do wish the ending had been a little more fleshed out. The whole book builds up to this sense of these 2 people doing anything they can to unravel the mystery purely for them to be together in a way that doesn’t hurt those around them, and then it skips to 10 weeks later. I’ve said it before that I’m not a big fan of time jumps, and this one just made me feel a little cheated out of an ending, in a way. I would have preferred seeing them actually having a wedding, and whether their plan actually worked, rather than having a small conversation about it 10 weeks later.

It was a good read, and one that I enjoyed.

Loved the premise of mistaken identity and swapped twins - an engagement where the girl disappears and her twin takes her place, then has to work with the very confused fiancé to find out where her sister has gone. It had shades of Twelfth Night for me (and I enjoyed the way Emma played with some quotes from the play). Definite chemistry between Dominic and Meg; a good slow build of their partnership; very much enjoyed the Tim-nice-but-Dim brother; and nice to see some diversity in there. A quick read. Thank you to Netgalley, Boldwood and the author for the ARC.

I absolutely loved everything about this book. It was a very great storyline and easy to follow. Very hard to put down once I started. Can’t wait to read more from this Author!

DNF'd after chapter 5. I was very excited about this book given how much potential the storyline had, but honestly, I couldn't get into the writing and very little captivated me.

this is my 2nd emma orchard book and this one is definitely better than the previous one but i felt it was a bit too plot heavy and i didnt get a feel for the characters as much as i would have liked. i think if half the plot twists were removed and a bit more time spent on character building this would have been perfect