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Merry Spinsters, Charming Rogues #4
Miss Louisa's Final Waltz
When a proud beauty weds a humble costermonger, their worlds collide with challenges and secrets that only love can conquer.Miss Louisa Highworth is celebrated not just for her stunning beauty, but also for her unwavering pride. Suitors from near and far seek her hand, only to be dismissed with a haughty demeanour that leaves them humiliated. Yet, it is the hundred-and-first suitor who would change the course of her life forever. After a heated confrontation with her exasperated father, Louisa, in a fit of anger, declares that she will marry the first man she encounters…....who happens to be a modest costermonger from the streets...This is a sweet and enchanting Regency Romance, loosely inspired by the timeless fairy tale King Thrushbeard.Escape into the world of Sofi Laporte’s Regency ton, where spinsters are merry, rakes are charming, and no one is who they seem.Other books in the Merry Spinsters, Charming Rogues Ludmilla’s Accidental LetterMiss Ava’s Scandalous SecretLady Avery and the False Butler
1 pages, Audio CD
Published November 19, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews
July 24, 2024
Sigh, I didn’t like this one. I think we were supposed to eventually empathize and understand Louisa as the story progressed, but it never happened for me. And the dinner party at the end was weird.
It’s not a bad book, just not for me. So still giving it 3 stars.
It’s not a bad book, just not for me. So still giving it 3 stars.
July 9, 2024
Another fantastic book by Sofi Laporte!
This book is part of a series and can be read as a stand alone.
Unlike SO many MC’s in this genre, our Miss Louise does not crumble at the first sign of struggle. She arrives where she lands, pulls herself up and blossoms. The main male character is mysterious, kind, very patient and handsome!! The ending wasn’t rushed and I finished it with a smile.
This book is part of a series and can be read as a stand alone.
Unlike SO many MC’s in this genre, our Miss Louise does not crumble at the first sign of struggle. She arrives where she lands, pulls herself up and blossoms. The main male character is mysterious, kind, very patient and handsome!! The ending wasn’t rushed and I finished it with a smile.
June 29, 2024
She is not as callous as her facade seems to be. She just wanted to be with the love of her life. His strategies to get her to find her home with him is worthy of a military general. In the end, I love how they found each other in a most heartwarming way. Excellent read with some heartbreaking moments, witty exchanges and funny scenes and events like how (NOT) to make white soup!
June 29, 2024
Sweet historical romance.. I loved it. Heartfelt, romantic, and lots of surprises.
November 9, 2024
hmm! this started off really strong and funny (i actually laughed out a few times) and i thought it was going in a completely different route. perhaps the tale of two classes clashing? but it got predictable and boring about half way through.
the mmc was ofc the character will and ofc one of the rejected suitors. but it would of been a good twist (as it’s only “loosely” based on king thrushbeard) if she had all these theories and he genuinely was a hard-working costermonger. i wouldn’t of minded a “a suitor paid him to marry and humiliate her but he fell in love”. also i felt no chemistry between them? they needed more chapters before his revealing. it just fell flat after a while.
the mmc was ofc the character will and ofc one of the rejected suitors. but it would of been a good twist (as it’s only “loosely” based on king thrushbeard) if she had all these theories and he genuinely was a hard-working costermonger. i wouldn’t of minded a “a suitor paid him to marry and humiliate her but he fell in love”. also i felt no chemistry between them? they needed more chapters before his revealing. it just fell flat after a while.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 12, 2024
“Your worth isn’t in your status or in what they say you are. That is a lie.”
Beautiful, proud, and heartbreakingly lonely, Miss Louisa Highworth has made quite an impact on the ton from beauty, but also for her unwavering pride, and a great dowry. Suitors from near and far have sought her hand, only to be dismissed with a “haughty” demeanour that leaves them rather humiliated. The truth is not one of them had really cared about her, about who she was, or what her desires, dreams and intentions were. Not one of them had asked, ever. No one had wanted to truly get to know the real her. The icy shell is only something she’s built around herself to protect herself.
Yet, it is the 101 suitor who will change the course of Louisa’s life forever! After a very heated confrontation with her completely frustrated father, Louisa, in a fit of anger, declares that she will marry the first man she encounters.......who happens to be a modest and far from boring costermonger from the streets...
“You’re a good one, too. A proud exterior that hides a heart of gold.“
@sofilaporteauthor what a sweet and captivating Regency Romance story! It is delightfully and precisely weaved with hidden identities, strong and endearing characters and a beautiful and clean romance. You can expect to be up and down with your emotions, delightful laugh out loud humor, witty banter, plot twists and turns, redemption, swoony moments, and finally a satisfying happily ever after. Most of all, I loved seeing the character growth in Louisa. To see her trust herself again, to see her make decisions that she wanted for herself in order to become her true self was beautiful. Even with great hardships, these characters saw things through and didn’t give up. This is a lovely story with depth that is worth reading!🙌🏻📚☺️
“I love you desperately, and I shall remind you of this daily from now on, for the rest of our lives.“
#misslouisasfinalwaltz
#sofilaporte
-I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
Beautiful, proud, and heartbreakingly lonely, Miss Louisa Highworth has made quite an impact on the ton from beauty, but also for her unwavering pride, and a great dowry. Suitors from near and far have sought her hand, only to be dismissed with a “haughty” demeanour that leaves them rather humiliated. The truth is not one of them had really cared about her, about who she was, or what her desires, dreams and intentions were. Not one of them had asked, ever. No one had wanted to truly get to know the real her. The icy shell is only something she’s built around herself to protect herself.
Yet, it is the 101 suitor who will change the course of Louisa’s life forever! After a very heated confrontation with her completely frustrated father, Louisa, in a fit of anger, declares that she will marry the first man she encounters.......who happens to be a modest and far from boring costermonger from the streets...
“You’re a good one, too. A proud exterior that hides a heart of gold.“
@sofilaporteauthor what a sweet and captivating Regency Romance story! It is delightfully and precisely weaved with hidden identities, strong and endearing characters and a beautiful and clean romance. You can expect to be up and down with your emotions, delightful laugh out loud humor, witty banter, plot twists and turns, redemption, swoony moments, and finally a satisfying happily ever after. Most of all, I loved seeing the character growth in Louisa. To see her trust herself again, to see her make decisions that she wanted for herself in order to become her true self was beautiful. Even with great hardships, these characters saw things through and didn’t give up. This is a lovely story with depth that is worth reading!🙌🏻📚☺️
“I love you desperately, and I shall remind you of this daily from now on, for the rest of our lives.“
#misslouisasfinalwaltz
#sofilaporte
-I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
July 9, 2024
Delightfully, heartbreakingly sweet
Once again, Sofi Laporte does not disappoint! With a HEA that feels like a warm hug and a satisfying third-act reveal, Miss Louisa's Final Waltz exceeded my expectations.
It's difficult to say much more without the risk of spoilers, but I'll try!
Miss Louisa isn't a spinster, although I guess technically she should be: 7 Seasons as the Incomparable, La Belle Dame sans Merci, the Ice Damsel. After rejecting her 100th suitor with a bare-handed slap in the middle of Almack's, she becomes persona non grata at Almack's. Strangely, Louisa's internal dialogue reveals that she's strangely pleased with the result.
After an ugly row about it with her father (who's been very amenable to let her choose her own husband but finally draws the line at the family's looming social exile), she vows to him that she'll marry the first (available) man to cross her path the next morning. This turns out to be Robert Jones, a costermonger (a guy who sells fresh produce from his street cart).
That's about as far as I can go without accidentally revealing too much. Suffice it to say, both Louisa and Robert are keeping secrets, both from each other and from the dear reader. If you pay very close attention, you may work some of it out for yourself as hidden motives are slowly revealed.
This is a closed-door romance narrated almost entirely by the FMC. Literally everyone gets a HEA by the end of the epilogue.
Once again, Sofi Laporte does not disappoint! With a HEA that feels like a warm hug and a satisfying third-act reveal, Miss Louisa's Final Waltz exceeded my expectations.
It's difficult to say much more without the risk of spoilers, but I'll try!
Miss Louisa isn't a spinster, although I guess technically she should be: 7 Seasons as the Incomparable, La Belle Dame sans Merci, the Ice Damsel. After rejecting her 100th suitor with a bare-handed slap in the middle of Almack's, she becomes persona non grata at Almack's. Strangely, Louisa's internal dialogue reveals that she's strangely pleased with the result.
After an ugly row about it with her father (who's been very amenable to let her choose her own husband but finally draws the line at the family's looming social exile), she vows to him that she'll marry the first (available) man to cross her path the next morning. This turns out to be Robert Jones, a costermonger (a guy who sells fresh produce from his street cart).
That's about as far as I can go without accidentally revealing too much. Suffice it to say, both Louisa and Robert are keeping secrets, both from each other and from the dear reader. If you pay very close attention, you may work some of it out for yourself as hidden motives are slowly revealed.
This is a closed-door romance narrated almost entirely by the FMC. Literally everyone gets a HEA by the end of the epilogue.
July 10, 2024
This was another delicious novel from one of my favorite “sweet” romance authors Sofi Laporte and the fourth entry in the Merry Spinsters, Charming Rogues series. The books are not connected and can be read in any order.
Pros - the characters were so, so sweet. I was a bit nervous the first couple chapters regarding our FMC’s poor little rich girl personality, but she won me over quickly. MMC was a darling. The plot was light and silly, which Laporte is very adept at that type of storytelling.
Cons - No real cons with the story overall. I don’t want to give any spoilers but will say I’m not generally a fan of miscommunication issues. This did not detract from the story and I am of the belief that Laporte is very good at pulling this off.
While this was not my favorite in the series (that award goes to Lady Ludmilla), I still couldn’t put this book down and devoured it in a day.
Overall - solid ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice level - 🌶️🌶️ (implied) behind closed doors
I received an ARC of this book for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.
Pros - the characters were so, so sweet. I was a bit nervous the first couple chapters regarding our FMC’s poor little rich girl personality, but she won me over quickly. MMC was a darling. The plot was light and silly, which Laporte is very adept at that type of storytelling.
Cons - No real cons with the story overall. I don’t want to give any spoilers but will say I’m not generally a fan of miscommunication issues. This did not detract from the story and I am of the belief that Laporte is very good at pulling this off.
While this was not my favorite in the series (that award goes to Lady Ludmilla), I still couldn’t put this book down and devoured it in a day.
Overall - solid ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice level - 🌶️🌶️ (implied) behind closed doors
I received an ARC of this book for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.
July 27, 2024
Excellent Thrushbeard retelling. I enjoyed it immensely.
July 13, 2024
A nice addition to this author's regency portfolio. I didn't fall in love with this book, but I did enjoy it. Somewhat ...
July 27, 2024
2.5 stars. It started strong, really strong, but then meandered into a complete snooze fest by the third act.
December 30, 2025
I wish more of the book had taken place in the present instead of through flashbacks
August 11, 2024
One word: sweet. 🍭
July 23, 2024
This was everything I want in a regency romance and more. It had all the humor and sweetness I’ve come to expect and then it surprised me with depth. I so enjoyed the childhood flashbacks and first love memories. It was mysterious, adventurous and sentimental. I fell in love with the main characters quickly and was impressed by how much growth we see in them both.
The pacing made for an easy and delightful read with a heartwarming ending. Sofi Laporte is my go to author for a clean, charming romance read. They always cheer me up and hold my interest. The writing is beautiful and sharp and the settings are clearly well researched. Highly recommend! I’ve read four of her books and loved them all. This one just became my favorite!
Thank you to the author for my advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review!
The pacing made for an easy and delightful read with a heartwarming ending. Sofi Laporte is my go to author for a clean, charming romance read. They always cheer me up and hold my interest. The writing is beautiful and sharp and the settings are clearly well researched. Highly recommend! I’ve read four of her books and loved them all. This one just became my favorite!
Thank you to the author for my advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review!
November 30, 2024
This rating pains me because there was so much I really loved. Until the 'reveal' this was looking like it was going to be a five star book.
So, What went wrong?
I was glad Louisa figured out Robert wasn't who he said he was, I was glad to see her not back down, she wasn't just a flighty pampered baby. But a lot of that was undone in the end. I think it all could have been fixed with one shift. Here's what I would have liked: Louisa returns from the jail. She's distraught. She had held onto hope and now there's truly nothing left. Robert is mad, where has she been all day. She finally snaps back that the real reason she never married was because she had promised her childhood love she would wait for him. And she has. For 100 suitors she waited. She tried to discourage them, making herself more and more unlovable but that didn't help because none of them were interested in her. They only wanted her money. So she didn't feel guilty when they insulted or degraded her and she responded with a slap. Maybe finally her father would let her alone. And through it all she hoped Will would come. But he didn't and now she's learned he is dead and she had hoped that if he didn't want her he at least was out living his best life. She gives a little laugh-She had for a moment thought Wilber was Will and it had hurt so bad that he'd married but she'd been happy he'd found love at least. And now to learn Will has been gone a long time. Roberts face is horrified. He understands now she wasn't ever the mean and unfeeling person he wanted to punish. Before he can confess she swoons and is sick. Wakes up in the new manor. She discovers who he is just as it was written, and she flees to the shed. How could be be so cruel...and then he grovels. Eventually she is just so happy he is alive and he confirms he's waited for her too and the Spanish women his soldiers joked about were never given a moments attention. Kissy kissy. He brings her home, the end.
Instead, he's promising to punish her for the rest of her life? Why? What did she really do that was so mean? As a child she didn't speak up quick enough but she was a kid. Does he really have cause to be so angry? The author did do a great job of keeping me guessing a bit. For a minute there I wondered if Robert was actually the bully from her childhood. I honestly almost wish he had been. But Will/Robert in the end fell sort of flat. And the bizarre dinner? Did we need a recounting of ever deed over the last few years? It dragged on. There really wasn't any surprise guests and Robert completely ruins all of Louisa's plans she'd made for their guests. He's kind of a jerk about it. I wanted Wilber to tell him how Louisa had searched for Will and sobbed. But no. In the end Robert is left with the moral high ground inexplicably. And now she's a boy mom? eh.
So, What went wrong?
I was glad Louisa figured out Robert wasn't who he said he was, I was glad to see her not back down, she wasn't just a flighty pampered baby. But a lot of that was undone in the end. I think it all could have been fixed with one shift. Here's what I would have liked: Louisa returns from the jail. She's distraught. She had held onto hope and now there's truly nothing left. Robert is mad, where has she been all day. She finally snaps back that the real reason she never married was because she had promised her childhood love she would wait for him. And she has. For 100 suitors she waited. She tried to discourage them, making herself more and more unlovable but that didn't help because none of them were interested in her. They only wanted her money. So she didn't feel guilty when they insulted or degraded her and she responded with a slap. Maybe finally her father would let her alone. And through it all she hoped Will would come. But he didn't and now she's learned he is dead and she had hoped that if he didn't want her he at least was out living his best life. She gives a little laugh-She had for a moment thought Wilber was Will and it had hurt so bad that he'd married but she'd been happy he'd found love at least. And now to learn Will has been gone a long time. Roberts face is horrified. He understands now she wasn't ever the mean and unfeeling person he wanted to punish. Before he can confess she swoons and is sick. Wakes up in the new manor. She discovers who he is just as it was written, and she flees to the shed. How could be be so cruel...and then he grovels. Eventually she is just so happy he is alive and he confirms he's waited for her too and the Spanish women his soldiers joked about were never given a moments attention. Kissy kissy. He brings her home, the end.
Instead, he's promising to punish her for the rest of her life? Why? What did she really do that was so mean? As a child she didn't speak up quick enough but she was a kid. Does he really have cause to be so angry? The author did do a great job of keeping me guessing a bit. For a minute there I wondered if Robert was actually the bully from her childhood. I honestly almost wish he had been. But Will/Robert in the end fell sort of flat. And the bizarre dinner? Did we need a recounting of ever deed over the last few years? It dragged on. There really wasn't any surprise guests and Robert completely ruins all of Louisa's plans she'd made for their guests. He's kind of a jerk about it. I wanted Wilber to tell him how Louisa had searched for Will and sobbed. But no. In the end Robert is left with the moral high ground inexplicably. And now she's a boy mom? eh.
June 9, 2025
King Thrushbeard in regency England.
I loved the King Thrushbeard fairytale as a kid. For whatever reason, I found it romantic back then. Now, of course, the whole forced marriage and justification of deception doesn’t sit right with me, but when I stumbled upon this regency remix, I thought I’d give it a shot for old times' sake. And I’m glad I did, because the author does a great job of reworking the myth to better fit (slightly) modern sensibilities.
First, Louisa has reasons for rejecting her suitors, and I could absolutely get behind them. If she was rude, it was because they were asking for it. Secondly, it’s Louisa herself, not her father, who rashly declares she’ll marry the first man she sees. That made the "lesson" angle easier to digest, even if it still felt a bit uncomfortable.
The plot itself is sweet. Louisa marries John the costermonger, who initially sees her as a spoiled brat. But they grow into a genuine friendship, and he slowly begins to admire her strength and resilience. She’s not overly fazed by the lifestyle of a costermonger’s wife, and she even starts to thrive in it. I especially loved this part of the book. Their bond was sincere and the chemistry between them was believable.
There’s a twist in the story, not the obvious Thrushbeard reveal, but another one tied to Louisa’s past, and I loved how it played out. But here's the issue. It arrives around the three-quarters mark, and after that, the pacing falls apart. The story should have wrapped up there. Instead, the last chunk drags on with a repetitive climax that essentially rehashes what’s already been resolved.
Interestingly, I felt Louisa was happier as a costermonger’s wife than when the reveal happened and her world shifted back to riches. Once her husband’s true identity is exposed, she’s suddenly backpedalling, explaining herself and justifying her actions. It was frustrating because she seemed more confident and true to herself in the simpler life. Her chemistry with “John” was far stronger than with the version of him who was preoccupied with status and importance, traits I found a bit off-putting, even if the narrative tried to justify them.
Final thoughts: If you enjoy light Regency romances with a touch of mystery, this King Thrushbeard-inspired tale is worth a read. Just be prepared for the story to feel “done” around the 75% mark. I’ll definitely revisit the beginning for the lovely romance build-up, but I won’t bother finishing it again.
I loved the King Thrushbeard fairytale as a kid. For whatever reason, I found it romantic back then. Now, of course, the whole forced marriage and justification of deception doesn’t sit right with me, but when I stumbled upon this regency remix, I thought I’d give it a shot for old times' sake. And I’m glad I did, because the author does a great job of reworking the myth to better fit (slightly) modern sensibilities.
First, Louisa has reasons for rejecting her suitors, and I could absolutely get behind them. If she was rude, it was because they were asking for it. Secondly, it’s Louisa herself, not her father, who rashly declares she’ll marry the first man she sees. That made the "lesson" angle easier to digest, even if it still felt a bit uncomfortable.
The plot itself is sweet. Louisa marries John the costermonger, who initially sees her as a spoiled brat. But they grow into a genuine friendship, and he slowly begins to admire her strength and resilience. She’s not overly fazed by the lifestyle of a costermonger’s wife, and she even starts to thrive in it. I especially loved this part of the book. Their bond was sincere and the chemistry between them was believable.
There’s a twist in the story, not the obvious Thrushbeard reveal, but another one tied to Louisa’s past, and I loved how it played out. But here's the issue. It arrives around the three-quarters mark, and after that, the pacing falls apart. The story should have wrapped up there. Instead, the last chunk drags on with a repetitive climax that essentially rehashes what’s already been resolved.
Interestingly, I felt Louisa was happier as a costermonger’s wife than when the reveal happened and her world shifted back to riches. Once her husband’s true identity is exposed, she’s suddenly backpedalling, explaining herself and justifying her actions. It was frustrating because she seemed more confident and true to herself in the simpler life. Her chemistry with “John” was far stronger than with the version of him who was preoccupied with status and importance, traits I found a bit off-putting, even if the narrative tried to justify them.
Final thoughts: If you enjoy light Regency romances with a touch of mystery, this King Thrushbeard-inspired tale is worth a read. Just be prepared for the story to feel “done” around the 75% mark. I’ll definitely revisit the beginning for the lovely romance build-up, but I won’t bother finishing it again.
February 18, 2025
3.5 stars 🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑
Genres, settings, categories, themes: historical romance (M/F), Regency England
💗 Tropes: 💗
> Hidden Identity
> Lords & Ladies
> Marriage Trope - Marriage of Convenience?
> Revenge
>
all about tropes here
POV: 3rd person, h's perspective - a note on the POV in this series - all are focused on the h's perspective; I'd like to get more insight into what the Hs are thinking
Series/Sequencing Style: 4th in an anthology series, can be read as standalone, no cliffhanger
understanding series types: dynamic, static, anthology - source 1, source 2
Format: ebook
🔽🔽🔽
Overall ratings
Heat level: 👄 1/5 mild sizzle 👄 (sex implied, but only kissing shown; closed door)
(from Ampersand’s guide to heat levels in romance novels – (0) sweet, (1) mild sizzle, (2) sensual steam, (3) spicy seduction, (4) red hot, (5) erotic)
~ Heroine (Louisa) ~ 4/5 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑
~ Hero (Robert) ~ 5/5 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕 I'm not personally into the war hero thing, but he's great
~ Plot ~ 2.5/5 🌕🌕🌗🌑🌑
~ Pacing ~ 3/5 🌕🌕🌕🌑🌑
~ Romantic connection ~ 5/5 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕
~ Writing ~ 4/5 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑
~ Reading enjoyability & fun ~ 4/5 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑
~ Depth & tone (1 light & fun --> 5 more serious, addresses heavier topics?): 1
~ Angst level: 2.5/5 - medium
~ Sadness level: 1/5 - light
🔽🔽🔽
📝 Review/Notes 📝
[while reading] Okay, 4 pages in and there's already unbelievable stuff haha - 100 men have proposed to her? A HUNDRED? That can't even be possible. Anyway, carrying on...
[post-reading] Cute & sweet. The big scene where Robert clears his name felt a bit unnecessary. As with others in the series, there’s some humor sprinkled in and it’s a quick read with a promised HEA.
🔽🔽🔽
🤠 Recommended for: light romance readers who like other Sofi Laporte books
Genres, settings, categories, themes: historical romance (M/F), Regency England
💗 Tropes: 💗
> Hidden Identity
> Lords & Ladies
> Marriage Trope - Marriage of Convenience?
> Revenge
>
all about tropes here
POV: 3rd person, h's perspective - a note on the POV in this series - all are focused on the h's perspective; I'd like to get more insight into what the Hs are thinking
Series/Sequencing Style: 4th in an anthology series, can be read as standalone, no cliffhanger
understanding series types: dynamic, static, anthology - source 1, source 2
Format: ebook
🔽🔽🔽
Overall ratings
Heat level: 👄 1/5 mild sizzle 👄 (sex implied, but only kissing shown; closed door)
(from Ampersand’s guide to heat levels in romance novels – (0) sweet, (1) mild sizzle, (2) sensual steam, (3) spicy seduction, (4) red hot, (5) erotic)
~ Heroine (Louisa) ~ 4/5 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑
~ Hero (Robert) ~ 5/5 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕 I'm not personally into the war hero thing, but he's great
~ Plot ~ 2.5/5 🌕🌕🌗🌑🌑
~ Pacing ~ 3/5 🌕🌕🌕🌑🌑
~ Romantic connection ~ 5/5 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕
~ Writing ~ 4/5 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑
~ Reading enjoyability & fun ~ 4/5 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑
~ Depth & tone (1 light & fun --> 5 more serious, addresses heavier topics?): 1
~ Angst level: 2.5/5 - medium
~ Sadness level: 1/5 - light
🔽🔽🔽
📝 Review/Notes 📝
[while reading] Okay, 4 pages in and there's already unbelievable stuff haha - 100 men have proposed to her? A HUNDRED? That can't even be possible. Anyway, carrying on...
[post-reading] Cute & sweet. The big scene where Robert clears his name felt a bit unnecessary. As with others in the series, there’s some humor sprinkled in and it’s a quick read with a promised HEA.
🔽🔽🔽
🤠 Recommended for: light romance readers who like other Sofi Laporte books
July 17, 2024
Was excited to see another Sofi Laporte book out, I always enjoy her books! I did enjoy this one, but I liked the first half better than the second. King Grislybeard may be my favorite less-popular Grimm's Fairy Tale so when I quickly saw that was the story here, I was excited to see what Laporte would do with it.
I liked the first part where they were working by their hands in the village together the best. I wish the story had stuck with that a lot longer. Once they moved into the big house and Robert had all the soldiers at his beck and command, the story was less interesting and lost tension and momentum. By the last pages, I was actually getting a bit bored.
And I didn't really like the climax of Robert clearing his name. "Will"s thievery just hadn't been made a big deal of throughout the story... We follow the character of Louisa, and she doesn't think about the potential theft until halfway through the story, and when she does, she doesn't seem concerned about it (she isn't feeling betrayed or suspicious of him or whatever, it doesn't seem to tarnish her love of him). So I assumed he was either innocent or had a good reason, and he was pretty young anyway. So therefore, making resolving this be the big climax just didn't seem warranted. I wanted something more exciting than pretty much friendly people just chatting about the past in a room, too... there was no danger in that except George sneering at him.
Also I thought it was more interesting when he wasn't Will and she had to move on (I wondered if he would turn out to be George?). I just think some more curveball would have more interesting, since him being Will was the most obvious answer. Laporte did do well with a bit of misdirection, but I wanted the real answer to be more interesting or unusual.
I liked the first part where they were working by their hands in the village together the best. I wish the story had stuck with that a lot longer. Once they moved into the big house and Robert had all the soldiers at his beck and command, the story was less interesting and lost tension and momentum. By the last pages, I was actually getting a bit bored.
And I didn't really like the climax of Robert clearing his name. "Will"s thievery just hadn't been made a big deal of throughout the story... We follow the character of Louisa, and she doesn't think about the potential theft until halfway through the story, and when she does, she doesn't seem concerned about it (she isn't feeling betrayed or suspicious of him or whatever, it doesn't seem to tarnish her love of him). So I assumed he was either innocent or had a good reason, and he was pretty young anyway. So therefore, making resolving this be the big climax just didn't seem warranted. I wanted something more exciting than pretty much friendly people just chatting about the past in a room, too... there was no danger in that except George sneering at him.
Also I thought it was more interesting when he wasn't Will and she had to move on (I wondered if he would turn out to be George?). I just think some more curveball would have more interesting, since him being Will was the most obvious answer. Laporte did do well with a bit of misdirection, but I wanted the real answer to be more interesting or unusual.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 17, 2025
I don’t know. I didn’t enjoy it. I thought the premise very clever, but halfway through I was bored. I never warmed to Louisa. I wanted the spoiled brat to get a serious lesson in humility. But no. It turned into a completely different story. I was expecting John and Bella from Our Mutual Friend. But no. Disappointing. I didn’t at all like how she mistreated her husband while pining after another man. I figured it out pretty quickly (at least the who, not the why or how) but I wanted her to have to live the life of a regular person. Instead she was coddled and pampered until she fell into a fever after mucking a dairy and milking a cow, which she didn’t even do properly. The cow, the hands, and the milk have to be scrupulously clean or the milk gets thrown out. There is a lot of detail about military life and the law. How hard would it have been to check the procedure for hand milking a cow? Sheesh. A blind woman ends up waiting on her hand and foot. Even the scene where she uses her embroidery skills irritated me because she could have taught the child a skill. She just gave her something to sell, so only improved her situation for one day. People gave her clothes and soap and food. In my first few months of marriage my husband was not nearly as understanding when he came home from a hard day’s work to no dinner on the table. Actually, he is still cranky if I don’t feed him regularly and keep clean clothes on the shelves. Housekeeping is hard. Without electricity and running water it’s really hard. None of that came through in this story. She let the fire go out, for crying out loud! Never produced one single edible meal. Never washed clothes. I’m just annoyed. However, I love this author, and the other books in the series are great fun.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 8, 2024
🥖Miss Louisa's Final Waltz🥖 by #SofiLaporte takes us on a journey of false appearances, extensive secrets, and unbreakable prides.
** I would like to express my thanks to ☆ Sofi Laporte ☆ for providing me this ARC in exchange for an honest review **
I got to a certain point with this particular author that I stopped reading the blurb of the novel and just jumped right in. OH, boyyy was this book a wild ride from start to finish. Can you imagine marrying the first person you see on the street and your parents allowing that? Woah? What a start to the novel. Throughout the novel as well the author did a great job setting up expectations, breaking them down, and then making you question yourself over and over again. I was thrown into a big loop as to “what was going on?” and “is this story actually this crazy?” The author did a wonderful job of spinning this book on its head and putting it right back up again making you guess where it would go next.
I feel this author does a great job addressing a deep subject in this story of “What in the world do I want to do with my life?” Society’s expectations of you are too harsh and following those “rules” seems disingenuous for and to yourself. Knowing what you truly want is a hard thing to figure out, and it was seen with the main character of this novel, Louisa. Watching her grow, trust herself again, and make decisions that she wanted for herself was nice to read. The MMC was a mysterious character from start to finish, and it was page turning as we tried to peel his layers back one by one. Their witty banter together was *chefs kiss. Such a cute story!!!!
** I would like to express my thanks to ☆ Sofi Laporte ☆ for providing me this ARC in exchange for an honest review **
I got to a certain point with this particular author that I stopped reading the blurb of the novel and just jumped right in. OH, boyyy was this book a wild ride from start to finish. Can you imagine marrying the first person you see on the street and your parents allowing that? Woah? What a start to the novel. Throughout the novel as well the author did a great job setting up expectations, breaking them down, and then making you question yourself over and over again. I was thrown into a big loop as to “what was going on?” and “is this story actually this crazy?” The author did a wonderful job of spinning this book on its head and putting it right back up again making you guess where it would go next.
I feel this author does a great job addressing a deep subject in this story of “What in the world do I want to do with my life?” Society’s expectations of you are too harsh and following those “rules” seems disingenuous for and to yourself. Knowing what you truly want is a hard thing to figure out, and it was seen with the main character of this novel, Louisa. Watching her grow, trust herself again, and make decisions that she wanted for herself was nice to read. The MMC was a mysterious character from start to finish, and it was page turning as we tried to peel his layers back one by one. Their witty banter together was *chefs kiss. Such a cute story!!!!
July 9, 2024
Over Louisa's many seasons, suitors have been proposing to her with increasing frequency - and she has been refusing them with increasing gusto and secret frustration. But one day, her father decides to put his foot down, and she ultimately declares she'll marry the next available man she meets. When that turns out to be a costermonger, she sticks to her bargain and is whisked off into the countryside. But the more she sees of Robert, the more she realises something is distinctly odd about him. They've both come into the marriage with secrets: as they return to the place of Louisa's fondest memories - and ultimately deepest regrets - will those secrets destroy the hasty marriage or build something better than either ever imagined?
I'd have to say that this was unlike any Regency story I ever recall reading - but definitely in a good way. Robert definitely kept me guessing, though I did guess at least parts of what was going on behind the scenes, and as for the seemingly haughty Louisa, I loved watching her gradually unfurl her many layers through the story. A tragic past turns into a mysterious present, and ultimately into a satisfactory future - and it's done with a beautiful mix of humour, tender moments and mystery. Throw in heroism, revenge, lost love, and interesting characters, and you've got all the ingredients for a great book. And the writing kept me reading far too long - in fact, I finished it in one sitting, when I should have gone to bed instead! Recommended.
Note that I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author. I was not required to write a positive review and this is my considered opinion of the book.
I'd have to say that this was unlike any Regency story I ever recall reading - but definitely in a good way. Robert definitely kept me guessing, though I did guess at least parts of what was going on behind the scenes, and as for the seemingly haughty Louisa, I loved watching her gradually unfurl her many layers through the story. A tragic past turns into a mysterious present, and ultimately into a satisfactory future - and it's done with a beautiful mix of humour, tender moments and mystery. Throw in heroism, revenge, lost love, and interesting characters, and you've got all the ingredients for a great book. And the writing kept me reading far too long - in fact, I finished it in one sitting, when I should have gone to bed instead! Recommended.
Note that I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author. I was not required to write a positive review and this is my considered opinion of the book.
July 10, 2024
Oh my what a wonderful story that is an addition to a series that has been so much fun. The story starts out with our h, Miss Louisa Highworth rejecting another suitor. She has had so many Seasons of marriage proposals and finding ways to reject the many suitors that were only after the money she would inherit. Her latest rejection was over the top as she not only verbally renounced the man but she threw her drink in his face. Her father has been very patient with her as she has rejected 100 suitors but he has had enough. When Louisa and her father argue, she vows to marry the next man that she sees. The next morning she goes outside to find only one man, a humble costermonger. She drags him into her house and with a special license she is a married woman.
That's just the beginning of the fun in this story as she now has to leave her easy pampered life to live with her new husband, Robert Jones, helping him sell vegetables in the market.
As the story continues I loved how there were so many secrets revealed as well as the real reason that Louisa would not accept any of her 100 suitors. Will Louisa discover love with the man that she married when all secrets are revealed?
This is a story that I will definitely read again. Each story in this series can be read as a stand alone story.
I received a copy of this book from the author and this is my honest unbiased review.
That's just the beginning of the fun in this story as she now has to leave her easy pampered life to live with her new husband, Robert Jones, helping him sell vegetables in the market.
As the story continues I loved how there were so many secrets revealed as well as the real reason that Louisa would not accept any of her 100 suitors. Will Louisa discover love with the man that she married when all secrets are revealed?
This is a story that I will definitely read again. Each story in this series can be read as a stand alone story.
I received a copy of this book from the author and this is my honest unbiased review.
January 6, 2025
4 STARS, POIGNANT & HEARTRENDING
A poignant & heartrending storyline with characters some of which you get to know about them from their childhood towards adulthood. This is a historical romance drama mystery of 4 STARS by Sofie Laporte of her Series: Merry Spinsters, Charming Rougues.
This is a character driven fast paced read with great characters. A Diamond & A Spinster at the same time seems to be an impossible thing to be, but not when you are beautiful & an heiress. The men of the Ton & the business world flock to win her hand in marriage. She sends them all away in embarrassment even a highly decorated military hero, one of Wellington's favored men. She called him a funny name, told her father to marry him, & told him he was a Tin Soldier. There were awful caricatures printed in the paper portraying just what she said making her Father furious & the soldiers in the field laugh at the Hero of Vitoria.
It a fast moving read & has great characters. I liked this book. I went through many different emotions during the reading of it. I did go from very sad to feeling joy. The reason I left 1 of the stars off is because I got a complete distasteful sense from the Diamond's treatment of her suitors. I totally saw the Diamond & Louisa, flip sides of t same person, almost duel personality but absolutely not.
Other than that, I absolutely enjoyed this storyline & how it unfolded. Bravo!
RECOMMEND
A poignant & heartrending storyline with characters some of which you get to know about them from their childhood towards adulthood. This is a historical romance drama mystery of 4 STARS by Sofie Laporte of her Series: Merry Spinsters, Charming Rougues.
This is a character driven fast paced read with great characters. A Diamond & A Spinster at the same time seems to be an impossible thing to be, but not when you are beautiful & an heiress. The men of the Ton & the business world flock to win her hand in marriage. She sends them all away in embarrassment even a highly decorated military hero, one of Wellington's favored men. She called him a funny name, told her father to marry him, & told him he was a Tin Soldier. There were awful caricatures printed in the paper portraying just what she said making her Father furious & the soldiers in the field laugh at the Hero of Vitoria.
It a fast moving read & has great characters. I liked this book. I went through many different emotions during the reading of it. I did go from very sad to feeling joy. The reason I left 1 of the stars off is because I got a complete distasteful sense from the Diamond's treatment of her suitors. I totally saw the Diamond & Louisa, flip sides of t same person, almost duel personality but absolutely not.
Other than that, I absolutely enjoyed this storyline & how it unfolded. Bravo!
RECOMMEND
February 14, 2025
A regency King Thrushbeard retelling? Sign me up! Thrushbeard is one of my favorite fairy tales, and this book was heading to my-very-favorites list for the first 2/3 of it (so good!). Unfortunately, the ending lost some of its magic for me… which is a pattern I’m beginning to recognize with this series/author.
This is my 3rd book by this author. I’ve found that she is exceptional at leveraging information gaps to create a gripping story… but quite weak when it gets to the actual unveiling of that information at the end. She tends to convey everything at once through long dialogue, while also overcomplicating the unveiled story. It’s not WHAT is revealed (I like an involved story) but HOW it’s conveyed (direct data dump) that I find disappointing.
That said, though this book lost its place on my-very-favorites list, I cannot bring myself to give it anything but 5 stars… especially since I stayed up till 2am finishing it. There are scenes that are hilarious (the white soup!), and I was heavily invested in discovering Robert’s identity. I couldn’t help but experience the roller coaster of emotions this book provokes, and I really did enjoy reading it.
Content:
There’s no foul language, violence, or sex. The romance is limited to lightly descriptive kissing. There is no magic. There is no mention of faith or God.
This is my 3rd book by this author. I’ve found that she is exceptional at leveraging information gaps to create a gripping story… but quite weak when it gets to the actual unveiling of that information at the end. She tends to convey everything at once through long dialogue, while also overcomplicating the unveiled story. It’s not WHAT is revealed (I like an involved story) but HOW it’s conveyed (direct data dump) that I find disappointing.
That said, though this book lost its place on my-very-favorites list, I cannot bring myself to give it anything but 5 stars… especially since I stayed up till 2am finishing it. There are scenes that are hilarious (the white soup!), and I was heavily invested in discovering Robert’s identity. I couldn’t help but experience the roller coaster of emotions this book provokes, and I really did enjoy reading it.
Content:
There’s no foul language, violence, or sex. The romance is limited to lightly descriptive kissing. There is no magic. There is no mention of faith or God.
September 25, 2025
Loved it!!
Miss Louisa's Final Waltz was such a fun book. Louisa is a diamond of the first water, has received 100 marriage proposals over the course of her several seasons, and has turned down every single one of them. She can't even be bothered to remember any of their names because they all blend together. Her father's angry and demands she marry, so Louisa tells him she'll go out the next morning and marry the first man she meets. She doesn't care who he is--rich or poor, young or old. But she really hopes he's not too old. And so she does, just to spite her father.
The story really wasn't off to an auspicious start because I actually like to LIKE the main characters. And, to me, she was just selfish and prideful and not very nice to any of her suitors. But then we find out WHY Louisa has acted that way to all of the men. And, oh, my heart!
It was a lot of fun trying to unravel just exactly who her new husband right alongside Louisa, as the story gives us all these little hints. I loved her fiery spirit! The twist near the end was epic! Loved it!!
No foul language, no sex scenes, just an intriguing plot and swoony kisses. This series is a lot of fun, and you can truly read them in any order.
Miss Louisa's Final Waltz was such a fun book. Louisa is a diamond of the first water, has received 100 marriage proposals over the course of her several seasons, and has turned down every single one of them. She can't even be bothered to remember any of their names because they all blend together. Her father's angry and demands she marry, so Louisa tells him she'll go out the next morning and marry the first man she meets. She doesn't care who he is--rich or poor, young or old. But she really hopes he's not too old. And so she does, just to spite her father.
The story really wasn't off to an auspicious start because I actually like to LIKE the main characters. And, to me, she was just selfish and prideful and not very nice to any of her suitors. But then we find out WHY Louisa has acted that way to all of the men. And, oh, my heart!
It was a lot of fun trying to unravel just exactly who her new husband right alongside Louisa, as the story gives us all these little hints. I loved her fiery spirit! The twist near the end was epic! Loved it!!
No foul language, no sex scenes, just an intriguing plot and swoony kisses. This series is a lot of fun, and you can truly read them in any order.
July 13, 2024
Louisa is done with courting. Man after man has left her disappointed. In her loneliness and frustration she marries the first man she sees in the street. A costermonger. But even then, he has too many secrets and she is not sure what to think.
And oh how I love the journey to love from there on out. Louisa’s character experiences a lot of growth in this story, an aspect that I really appreciate. The growth of her character with the mystery behind who her husband is leads to an entertaining and heartfelt romance and I could not have loved it more than I do.
Reading this romance was a pure delight, just as the other books in this series have been. Each can be read as a stand alone. With that said I highly recommend reading each one, in whatever order you want, because they are fabulous. Sofi Laporte is a master storyteller. The secrets, the romance, the laughs…it all comes together for a fantastic story you won’t want to miss.
*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher/author and all opinions are my own.
And oh how I love the journey to love from there on out. Louisa’s character experiences a lot of growth in this story, an aspect that I really appreciate. The growth of her character with the mystery behind who her husband is leads to an entertaining and heartfelt romance and I could not have loved it more than I do.
Reading this romance was a pure delight, just as the other books in this series have been. Each can be read as a stand alone. With that said I highly recommend reading each one, in whatever order you want, because they are fabulous. Sofi Laporte is a master storyteller. The secrets, the romance, the laughs…it all comes together for a fantastic story you won’t want to miss.
*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher/author and all opinions are my own.
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July 25, 2024What a darling book!!! The first three novels in this series are a hard act to follow, especially Ludmilla's. Nonetheless, Miss Louisa’s is a resounding success! It’s based on a fairy tale and it reads like a fairy tale - which works and it’s not overwrought. It’s refreshing to read a book with practically no balls, very few parlors, and mere references to gossip.
If you know the original fairy tale, then you know to expect a Grand Reveal at some point. Sofi Laport does a reasonably good job distancing her story from the source material so that it’s not a paint-by-numbers deal. The dialogue is lively and there is a good amount of banter.
On the flip side, the book could have been about ten pages shorter since the denouement was somewhat overlong and unnecessary to the plot. I had a feeling that the writer got so invested in her characters that she wanted them to get whatever it was they wished for (forgetting that she was the one endowing them with their wants in the first place).
If you know the original fairy tale, then you know to expect a Grand Reveal at some point. Sofi Laport does a reasonably good job distancing her story from the source material so that it’s not a paint-by-numbers deal. The dialogue is lively and there is a good amount of banter.
On the flip side, the book could have been about ten pages shorter since the denouement was somewhat overlong and unnecessary to the plot. I had a feeling that the writer got so invested in her characters that she wanted them to get whatever it was they wished for (forgetting that she was the one endowing them with their wants in the first place).
July 9, 2024
Once again, Ms. Laporte outdoes herself in this fabulous, wacky, and incredibly funny series of books. I’m so glad to know there is at least one more book to come! None of her characters could be described as “typical” for any other Regency novel, as their quirks and personalities set them apart from the crowd. I was captivated by the fact that Louisa had a hard time remembering faces, and also made up names for her numerous suitors because she couldn’t remember their actual names. (The only mystery there is how she could remember her made-up names, but even that was funny.) As is always true with this author’s work, her unique characters, outstanding ability to utilize humor, and sneaky plotting (it has to be sneaky since I can never figure out exactly what is going to happen in the end!) combine for a unique and most enjoyable reading experience. I liked the story so much that I read the book twice! This is my honest opinion of an ARC — good to the last drop!
December 5, 2025
I enjoyed this book, but so many problems could have been avoided
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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