I'm not finishing this. DNF at page 50ish. I was willing to suspend my belief that a well off society girl cooks and cleans and the whole biscuit thing, ( American vs British English), but I hate the main male character.

The misogyny with Christian CONSTANTLY lusting and discussing Sarah's body, wanting a wife to "sire" an heir, and calling women females is really gross to me. That and the fact that he has to be the smart and strong one and her the little domestic one with the hot body or whatever makes me feel like I'm unable to continue this one.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this. I will not, however, be posting my review anywhere else besides Goodreads. I don't want to embarrass hurt the authors reputation or anything.

The Legendary Lord by Valerie Bowman is the sixth book in the Playful Brides series. I had previously read The Untamed Earl in this series and had enjoyed it so I was looking forward to this one too. Plus, the cover art for this one is pretty stunning, isn’t it?

The Legendary Lord follows the relationship of Sarah Highgate and Christian Forester, Viscount Berkley. They meet when Sarah flees from an unwanted betrothal and winds up in Christian’s hunting lodge in Scotland. Sarah agrees to let Christian help her get safely back into society with no damage to her reputation. In return, she will help make him into a legendary lord who is capable to finding a wife. But, what happens to their friendly agreement when the sparks begin to fly?

The Legendary Lord was mostly a light-hearted romance. Sarah is a sweet character who always tries to please people even if it means going against what she actually wants. Thus explaining her unhappy betrothal that she does not know how to break. Christian has been better known as a ladies friend instead of someone who is capable to wooing a lady. He is honest and kind but also incredibly shy in front of women. Except for Sarah. Immediately, there is a trust with Sarah that turns into friendship but, there is also heat with them. I felt that their relationship was very natural and that the feelings and chemistry that develop were real. They challenged each other and brought out the best in each other.

I enjoyed the first half of The Legendary Lord because there was alot of character building and as a reader I could feel the chemistry becoming strong between Sarah and Christian. Unfortunately, the second half kind of left me wanting more. It was filled with misunderstandings and resistance that just could have honestly been solved with one simple conversation. While I understand Valerie Bowman may have been trying to build things up between the characters but, I just felt like it was being strung along too much; and I don’t like that as a reader.

There are also appearances by some of the other characters in The Playful Bride series which were nice to see again. It was not confusing if you didn’t know their full history and it was fun to watch them try to get Sarah and Christian together. All in all, if you’re looking for a simple Regency romance The Legendary Lord may be perfect for you. While it missed the mark for me in a couple of parts, I’m still glad I read it.

Unfortunately, I didn’t engage with the characters and found the plotline too simple. I don’t post negative reviews, so have declined comment.

I loved Christian and Sarah's first meeting, they both definitely made an impression on each other! Then what follows is a lovely blossoming friendship along with a few sparks that begin to appear the more time they spend together. The Legendary Lord is a wonderful story full of charm that whisked me completely away! I have to mention the secondary characters as they are pretty brilliant in their own right all bringing something extra special to the story.

Even though this book is part of a series don't let that put you off although to be honest I would be more than happy to read all of the characters stories at some point in the future. The Legendary Lord was the perfect book to spend a few hours with and I couldn't wait to see if there would be a happy ever after for this pair.

With love, friendship and a few mishaps along the way this book was a pleasure to read!

THE LEGENDARY LORD - Valerie Bowman

#6 in the Playful Brides series

GREAT CHARACTERS - 4 stars

Plot - 4 stars - Lord Berkeley has a reputation of being everyone's friend and has been unable to find a suitable wife. But when a high-born lady shows up at his hunting cabin in a snowstorm, he begins to think she might be the one. And to avoid scandal, he asks for help from Lucy and Cassandra and Jane, infamous for creating complicated and outrageous plots.

Writing - 4 stars - Bowman has the snack for getting my attention right from the first page. It's partly because this is such a fun series, and the characters are already familiar and like old friends. But it helps that she is able to create entertaining situations and pleasant characters that draw you in to root for their success.

Characters - 4 stars - In previous books, Christian Berkeley seemed reserved and awkward around women, but as we get to know him better, we discover that he is warm and helpful and just a great guy. He's very appealing on the surface, but he has a complex character that makes it understandable that he is not yet married. Sarah is seemingly the typical ton belle, but she is also intelligent and non-judgmental and wants to break free from her parents' strict rules. These characters are great together, with a quiet chemistry that grows as they get to know each other better.

Title - 4.5 stars - The title refers to Christian's desire to become the most sought-after gentleman of the season, a "legend." With Sarah's help, he hopes to achieve that reputation.

Cover - 3.5 stars - It's white, which I suppose represents the snowstorm where they met, but other than that, it's pretty typical of this genre.

Overview - 4 stars - This series continues to be very pleasant and enjoyable. Although we are now branching out to secondary characters, there is still a strong presence of Lucy, Cassandra, and Jane--the original heroines of this series. And that's a good thing since they are so much fun and so outrageous that there's always a lot of action and entertainment surrounding them. I loved the two main characters this time and enjoyed revisiting with old characters. The story was typical but nice, and the witty repartee and conversation kept things moving forward quickly and pleasantly. I will definitely continue with this series.

I really liked this story! The biggest reason was that the setting for most of the story was not at a traditional Ton event like a ball or night at the opera. Christian and Sarah got to know each other away from the prying eyes of the gossiping women that can, at times, interfere with a budding romance.

Although they were each attracted to the other, they each had their reasons for thinking that the other would not suit. Because of this, they developed a friendship that then lead to their falling in love. I really enjoyed watching the the two of them falling in love!

We also get to visit some old friends from the the books in the Playful Brides series and I always enjoy catching up with old friends!

I can't wait for the next book in the series, Never Trust a Pirate, which stars Cade Cavendish.

Not sure what happened to my first review. So I re read the book just to freshen my mind and I’m pretty sure this current review isn’t too far off my first.

The Legendary Lord ⭐️⭐️⭐️

When Christian Forester, Viscount Berkeley, flees the stuffy ballrooms of London for his Scottish hunting lodge, the last thing he expects to find ensconced before his fire is an incredibly beautiful woman. But the plight of lovely young Sarah Highgate, who has run away from an unwanted betrothal, inspires an eminently practical exchange. He’ll safeguard her reputation with the ton while she advises him how to best attract a proper bride…

As the undisputed belle of the season, Sarah has enchanted plenty of suitors. Still, she isn’t interested in marriage, especially not to the pompous bore her father has chosen for her. But her hasty escape seems reckless now that she’s estranged from her family and has no one to count on besides Christian. Turning the luckless lord into such a catch has another unplanned consequence for Sarah: Has he run away with her heart?

I am torn by this book, in the first half, at the lodge, Sarah appears to be somewhat self reliant nearly fearless. Yet the second half the Sarah we met seems to melt into the background.

I enjoyed that Sarah and Christian have time to develop their relationship rather than jumping each other in the first 4 pages. Anyway.....while this was enjoyable it made the book a slow read at times and I found it hard not to let my mind wander.

This is a stand alone book that happens to be part of a series. Having read other books in the series by now, I also enjoyed seeing characters from those books come and go.

I received this ARC for free in exchange for my honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you NetGalley!

Christian was Viscount Berkeley and was outside his small hunting lodge and someone was in his lodge. He pushed the door in with his boot and had his pistol drawn. Christian was in a bad mood, he was tired and dirty and had spent the last night on the road. All Christian really wanted was some food and a warm fire. Instead first he had to get rid of the thief. When he further opened the door he saw this room was empty but there was a fire in the grate, a woven rug he didn’t recognize and a boiling pot. It was obvious someone was here other than the caretaker Mr. Fergus. There was also the vague smell of lilies which meant a woman. An uninvited unwanted woman. He had left London to get away from women. In Scotland Christian was just Christian. No pomp and circumstance at the hunting lodge and Christian liked that. Then Fergus number two - the dog- came in and lead Christian to his bedroom. Christian looked in and there was a woman in his bed. Sarah knew someone was in the house with her. Mr. Fergus had assured Sarah she would have no problem with Master Christian as he was a gentleman. But then she pointed the sword which was his at Christian but he disarmed her and said it was his home and his sword. Sarah admitted this was her third night at the lodge. Fergus had taken her chaperone Mrs Goatsocks into town as she needed medical attention. Sarah said she was the daughter of the Earl of Highfield. Sarah felt this man was no gentleman especially saying he would throw her out in the snow. Sarah’s parents had set her up to marry a popular and well connected man. Sarah had tried to have feeling for this man but all he seemed to be able to talk about was himself. Sarah got the idea to go to her father’s cabin but ended up at the wrong one. Christian had been looking for a woman to marry but the women he considered would always turned into just friends. Sarah needs help getting back to London without a scandal as she doesn’t want to hurt her parents. Sarah agrees to help Christian find a wife if he can get her to London. Sarah and Christian develop feelings but Sarah is already engaged. But Sarah has already agreed to turn Christian into the Legendary Lord.
I liked this story but how did an Earl’s daughter learn how to cook. This story did make me smile at times. I loved the romance of this story and how it built up. This was an easy read with a good plot. I liked how Sarah didn’t back down from Christian when he found her in his bedroom. Then Christian and Sarah came up with a conclusion for both her and Christian’s problems. Some things and expressions were too modern though. I liked the characters a lot and the ins and outs of this story and I recommend.

Christian Forester, Viscount Berkeley, is always the groomsman, never the groom. After helping a number of his friends find happiness, Christian is determined that next season, he will be the one walking down the aisle. Imagine his shock when the belle of the season, Lady Sarah Highgate, practically falls into his lap… Or rather, his Scottish hunting lodge. Sarah’s the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen, but for once Christian isn’t uneasy around a woman and it’s not too long before it’s all too easy for him to imagine Sarah as his. There’s just one problem: she’s engaged to another man.

Sarah has been raised to do one thing: marry well. But the announcement of her betrothal a narcissistic marquess leaves her feeling like the walls are closing in around her. On impulse, Sarah flees to Scotland and winds up in the wrong house. Fortunately for her, Christian is a gentleman, and when he agrees to help save her reputation she offers to make him the most sought-after bachelor in London. But the longer she’s around Christian, the more Sarah regrets her decision… Because the new “catch of the season” has already caught her heart.

Valerie Bowman has a light, effervescent style that makes the pages of The Legendary Lord fly by. It’s a fast-paced, engaging story that I hated to put down, even when reading it a second time. I was so excited to see Christian get a book of his own. He’s long been a good friend to many a Playful Brides protagonist and it was time for him to find a love of his own. He and Sarah hit it off immediately, and the unconventional setting of the first part of the book means they get to know each other far better than they would have had they been in London. Both Christian and Sarah are kind, likeable people who charmed me from the start. They’ve got natural chemistry and the scenes with just the two of them (not including an adorable dog) in Scotland made it easy to fall into their burgeoning romance, which made me eager to see them end up happily married.

It wouldn’t be much of a story if there were no obstacles in Sarah and Christian’s path, and to me, this is where The Legendary Lord faltered slightly. The obstacles in and of themselves were understandable. Once they return to reality (aka London), there are the problems of Sarah’s engagement, her strong sense of duty, and the fact that Christian isn’t one to make waves. But my pet peeve in romance is a hero and heroine who are mostly passive when it comes to getting their happily ever after. It bothered me a bit that I felt like – if it weren’t for their friends (Lucy Hunt in particular) – Christian and Sarah would never have ended up together. On the one hand, their actions (or lack thereof) did give others a chance to repay Christian for the kindnesses he’s done them, and I appreciated that. On the other, I wanted to see Sarah and Christian fight a bit harder for each other because it was a bit unsatisfying to feel like things could have very easily gone a different way if not for Lucy and co.’s interference. That being said, I still thoroughly enjoyed The Legendary Lord. Ms. Bowman’s writing never fails to entertain me and I was thrilled to see Christian finally find love. I cannot wait to see what comes next in the Playful Brides series, for there are a few characters whose stories I am dying to read.

An Heiress on the run , A man of few words.

Lady Sarah Highgate a pampered daughter to the Earl of Highgate has flown the coup. She's running from an unwanted engagement to the Marquees of Branford -a pompous man- on the way to her father's hunting lodge her maid sprains her ankle she is transported to the village thus leaving Sarah alone in a strange mans home , the Viscount's Berkley.
Unknown to Christian that a lovely woman has taken up residence in his home
He's taken aback with the lovely image that greets him in his room and in his bed no less! Being the gentleman he is courteous and listens to her explanations . For the first time in his life he doesn't stutter in the presence of a beautiful woman ....and beautiful she is!
They come to an agreement of sorts he helps her avoid scandal and she in turn helps him become popular to catch a wife. Until the KISS ,will destiny play out and throw them in the right direction? Or will they succumb to the rules and let a life of happiness pass them by?
Witty dialogue and entertaining events make an enjoyable read though sometimes the reader will find that the story played out to long.

Received an ARC from NetGalley , all views and opinions are my own and in no way have they been influenced by the author or publisher .

Very nice storyline, loved the characters, many are from other Valerie Bowman books. Christian and Sarah have wedding issues. Christian wants a wife but can't find one, Sarah has a fiancé she doesn't want. They first meet when she mistakenly breaks into his hunting lodge in Scotland. When they are snowed in, they form a friendship of sorts. She agrees to make him a legend of him when they return to London. Then he will be in demand and be able to select a wife. Sarah plans on just accepting her fate, hoping that her intended will not spend much time with her. Mutual attraction makes their plans go a bit awry. After returning to London, both seek to keep to their plans. Will they ever put aside those unacceptable plans and get together. Maybe, with a little help from their friends. I have other books by Ms. Bowman and have found all including this one most enjoyable reads.

A lovely Regency romance, sparkling with wit and humour.
Christian and Sarah make a delightful couple right from their first meeting. Sarah is young and full of cheer and has plenty of ideas to help Christian make a match in society. It left me tingling with anticipation for what was to come when the pair made their way back to London.

I haven't read any of the other books in the series but it certainly didn't prevent me from thoroughly enjoying this one. This is a series I will enjoy reading from the beginning.

I couldn't put this book down and I would definitely recommend it to all Regency romance fans.

I received this from Netgalley/ Publisher in exchange for an honest review. I honestly could not put this down. I had a smile on my face for most of the book. It was just a fun read but toward the end Sarah was getting on my nerves. I mean go for your HEA already!! I can't wait to start the next one.

This was a great book I loved that she tries to help him become husband material... It also made me laugh how he comes to his lodge to find her. These characters had a great chemistry and help each other fall in love.

Did anyone stumbled upon Sarah's backbone? If you did please return it to Lord Berkeley's estate. It was lost around the time she returned to London.

If she were pretty much any other heroine she would have found the guts to say no to her parents. I would have loved to see Sarah that ran off to avoid marrying a man she didn't want to. She had the "guts" to ask Christian if he loved her, but this is the only thing she demanded for herself.

This is the first book in the series I got the chance to read, but I loved Lucy, Cass and Alexandra, so I am wondering if I should read their books. I am adding them to my TBR list. I also would like to see how Christian was acting before he met Sarah. The one who wasn't confident, stammered and wasn't able to charm a lady. That and the fact that men are usually blind and in need of a pushing from someone else in order to do the right thing are the only reasons I am not complaining about him.

I hope Meg will get a book. I would like to read her story.