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The Gentleman Was Right
Once relentlessly cheerful, Edward has been a tad peevish lately. Traveling to his brother’s cottage is meant to prove his usefulness to the earldom and restore his good humor. Upon arrival, he discovers two unexpected houseguests pretending to be his cousins and immediately finds himself wanting to help. Offering to marry the oldest might be impulsive, but it feels right in a way nothing else does. Is the craziest thing he’s ever done also the smartest?
Fleeing an unwanted betrothal to a man she used to love, Violet is not prepared for Edward’s offer of marriage. Determined to solve her own problems, she declines, but holding onto her resolve is more difficult than she anticipates. The chemistry she shares with Edward is shockingly intense and his patience and kindness are unwavering. Can she trust her own judgment enough to trust him with her heart?
The Gentleman Was Right is the second in the Greydon series. While it can be read as a standalone, Edward is a prominent secondary character in The Earl Was Wrong and readers may appreciate meeting him in that story first.
Fleeing an unwanted betrothal to a man she used to love, Violet is not prepared for Edward’s offer of marriage. Determined to solve her own problems, she declines, but holding onto her resolve is more difficult than she anticipates. The chemistry she shares with Edward is shockingly intense and his patience and kindness are unwavering. Can she trust her own judgment enough to trust him with her heart?
The Gentleman Was Right is the second in the Greydon series. While it can be read as a standalone, Edward is a prominent secondary character in The Earl Was Wrong and readers may appreciate meeting him in that story first.
238 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 29, 2024
4 people are currently reading
57 people want to read
About the author
Britt Belle
5 books82 followersI began reading romance novels in high school. Julie Garwood, Judith McNaught, Jude Deveraux, Amanda Quick and Johanna Lindsay were the first authors I loved. I have always devoured historical romance, but I also enjoy contemporary romance. In recent years, I have embraced sports romance (because it combines two of my favorite things: sports and love stories!).
I am an ex-collegiate volleyball player with an undergraduate degree in history, a former elementary school teacher, and the mother of three daughters. My husband and I spend our free time transporting our girls to dance rehearsals, bantering about sports, and eating entirely too much Mexican food.
I am an ex-collegiate volleyball player with an undergraduate degree in history, a former elementary school teacher, and the mother of three daughters. My husband and I spend our free time transporting our girls to dance rehearsals, bantering about sports, and eating entirely too much Mexican food.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
January 5, 2025
Lovers of a madcap, romcom-type book may well enjoy this book. Belle references her "fondness for ridiculousness" in her foreword, and it shows. Edward is at loose ends now that his brother Sebastian is fully in Earl and Family mode, so he goes to investigate potential overspending at one of the earldom's estates. There he sees sisters Violet and Isabelle, who have been pretending to be distant cousins and staying at the cottage under false pretenses for six months.
Throughout this book, it seems like characters think and act in ways solely for plot reasons, and not for character motivation, consistency, or emotional resonance. My kindle notes got more and more unhinged as characters proposed in minutes ("Ok, calm down"), were worried they would fall in love in a day ("Calm down"), worried they would be judged for their inexplicable actions ("Umm then make better choices"). Meanwhile Violet lost me completely, she demands complete honesty from Edward, then lies to him throughout, she won't tell him her Big Secret that Basil didn't really love her when it was an arranged marriage to her father's business partner so....not that singular. And she VERY dramatically both Refuses To Love Again and insists on being actively mean to Edward to make sure of it and also weird super aggressive in bed in a way that was frankly Not Hot and would not have flown with the reader if positions were reversed. My notes with Violet progressed from "she seems stupid" (she was wondering if Basil wanted to marry for for business reasons, he literally said that), "shallow," "she seems horrible." "she's not being fair," "what happened to honesty," to "WTF."
Poor Basil, right hand man to Violet's father, fulfilling her father's wish by marrying her. Romancing Violet because that's what she wanted, but not in love. I mean, maybe he shouldn't have gone to third base with her, but whatever. Through the whole book he's just patiently waiting for her to work though her little tantrums of running away, and keeping the business afloat "He still intended to marry her, but it truly seemed as if he'd wait patiently for her to be ready." A business Violet seems singularly uninterested in; "It's your inheritance, I assumed you knew how it functioned." Honestly, I was on his side, "I have never treated you with anything other than kindness. I courted you and complimented you. And then when your father dies, I told you I'd wait as long as you needed." He's the most sympathetic possible villain, and apparently Violet thought so too, as she continued to find him attractive, well mannered, and compelling throughout, even once she married someone else. Maybe she and Basil just should have had a clarifying conversation about expectations when they first got engaged, and been the stars of this show instead of dragging her poor sister all over and involving poor Edward at all.
I thought Belle did a great job with the first book of this series. Ultimately this book was frustrating and annoying to me, but my tolerance for whimsy is fairly low. I received this book as an arc.
Throughout this book, it seems like characters think and act in ways solely for plot reasons, and not for character motivation, consistency, or emotional resonance. My kindle notes got more and more unhinged as characters proposed in minutes ("Ok, calm down"), were worried they would fall in love in a day ("Calm down"), worried they would be judged for their inexplicable actions ("Umm then make better choices"). Meanwhile Violet lost me completely, she demands complete honesty from Edward, then lies to him throughout, she won't tell him her Big Secret that Basil didn't really love her when it was an arranged marriage to her father's business partner so....not that singular. And she VERY dramatically both Refuses To Love Again and insists on being actively mean to Edward to make sure of it and also weird super aggressive in bed in a way that was frankly Not Hot and would not have flown with the reader if positions were reversed. My notes with Violet progressed from "she seems stupid" (she was wondering if Basil wanted to marry for for business reasons, he literally said that), "shallow," "she seems horrible." "she's not being fair," "what happened to honesty," to "WTF."
Poor Basil, right hand man to Violet's father, fulfilling her father's wish by marrying her. Romancing Violet because that's what she wanted, but not in love. I mean, maybe he shouldn't have gone to third base with her, but whatever. Through the whole book he's just patiently waiting for her to work though her little tantrums of running away, and keeping the business afloat "He still intended to marry her, but it truly seemed as if he'd wait patiently for her to be ready." A business Violet seems singularly uninterested in; "It's your inheritance, I assumed you knew how it functioned." Honestly, I was on his side, "I have never treated you with anything other than kindness. I courted you and complimented you. And then when your father dies, I told you I'd wait as long as you needed." He's the most sympathetic possible villain, and apparently Violet thought so too, as she continued to find him attractive, well mannered, and compelling throughout, even once she married someone else. Maybe she and Basil just should have had a clarifying conversation about expectations when they first got engaged, and been the stars of this show instead of dragging her poor sister all over and involving poor Edward at all.
I thought Belle did a great job with the first book of this series. Ultimately this book was frustrating and annoying to me, but my tolerance for whimsy is fairly low. I received this book as an arc.
February 5, 2025
This is my first book from Britt Bell, and it definitely won’t be my last!
Featuring two characters, Edward and Violet, who are both searching for something to complete themselves. Edward needs to feel needed and useful. Ever since his older brother has returned and taken over the role that he stepped into in his absence he’s felt a drift. Violet on the other hand, needs truth and reassurance after having her heartbroken by the man she is betrothed to.
… betrothed to??? But if she’s betrothed, how does Edward fit into the picture? Violet has been trying to break off her engagement. It seems the only solution is to marry another. Thankfully, Edward is ready and willing to step up for this lovely stranger who is captivated him!
Full of lovely family dynamics and personal growth for the characters, this book was easy to step into and feel like you knew the characters forever! I had an immediate connection to Edward and the stubborn Violet. The characters were well rounded and felt very real, making it easy to root for them.
I enjoyed tagging along on Edward and Violet’s romance and seeing their much deserved happily ever after!
Featuring two characters, Edward and Violet, who are both searching for something to complete themselves. Edward needs to feel needed and useful. Ever since his older brother has returned and taken over the role that he stepped into in his absence he’s felt a drift. Violet on the other hand, needs truth and reassurance after having her heartbroken by the man she is betrothed to.
… betrothed to??? But if she’s betrothed, how does Edward fit into the picture? Violet has been trying to break off her engagement. It seems the only solution is to marry another. Thankfully, Edward is ready and willing to step up for this lovely stranger who is captivated him!
Full of lovely family dynamics and personal growth for the characters, this book was easy to step into and feel like you knew the characters forever! I had an immediate connection to Edward and the stubborn Violet. The characters were well rounded and felt very real, making it easy to root for them.
I enjoyed tagging along on Edward and Violet’s romance and seeing their much deserved happily ever after!
December 21, 2024
Cute, fairly clever storyline, and good funny moments. I enjoyed reading about a regency woman finally inheriting! I didn’t connect to Violet as a character, she was a bit all over the place, which I guess worked for her story? But I didn’t care for it. Enjoyed hearing more of Edward … and will read the next to hear about Belinda. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 31, 2024
3.5 ⭐️
Edward is feeling useless now that his big brother Sebastian is back and able to retake the role of head of the family. And Edward's okay with that; he just wishes he didn't feel so bored and melancholy. To escape this feeling, he decides to investigate an increase in spending at a random cottage no one has visited in years that resides in the family. When he discovers Violet and her sister Isabelle posing as distant cousins staying at the cottage, he surprisingly isn't angry. Instead (like such a Nice Guy), our boy just wants to get to the bottom of the pair's misfortune so he can help them- thereby being useful again. But Violet's been independent and taking care of her sister for too long, and she's not interested in revealing. her secrets to Edward- even if he is dreamy on the eyes. But then all of five minutes pass and this puppy dog convinces our stoney girl to tell him what's going on. So she admits she's running from her ex-betrothed who won't take no for an answer. Edward feeling an intrinsic need to protect and is positively thrilled with the prospect of being useful again, offers marriage. And boy, what a fun start to this story!
This has:
✨ Artist MMC
✨ Black cat FMC
✨ Marriage of convenience
✨ Cinnamon roll hero
✨ He falls first
This story had me on a rollercoaster of emotion, largely because I found Violet to be both frustrating, but also so valid in all of her emotions (it hit a little too close to home). Her decisions and motivations are largely dominated by her feelings of fear and running away from the prospect of falling in love again. And when she opens up internally about her broken heart, it's hard not to feel for our girl and understand how these walls got built up so high. Which brings me to the highlight of this story- Edward. Honestly, a true cinnamon roll hero, he's just trying to make everyone happy and in doing so often pushes his own feelings aside. His insistence that he would love Violet, even if she couldn't love him back yet was so hot and so perfect for our girl. In every moment I found Violet infuriating, Edward came through in making me better understand her as a character and also providing constant reassurance to our girl.
Some spoiler-y things/thoughts:
This is most definitely the story of a sweet boy who falls for a guarded and heartbroken girl, and as she starts to fall she gets scared and tries to push him away. But he won't allow that for long- and THANK GOD for that! This book's ending was truly sweet and I did so love the character development for our girl Violet. While I found her endlessly annoying at first, when I looked through the lens of a broken-hearted girl with her walls up, I was more endeared to her. Edward also saves her character in so many ways and them together is what truly makes this book something worth reading! While I do think reading the first book would have made me more invested in the characters (especially in better understanding the past relationship of Sebastian and Emmaline), I still think this could be read as a standalone.
Thank you to the author for a copy of the book, for an honest review!
Edward is feeling useless now that his big brother Sebastian is back and able to retake the role of head of the family. And Edward's okay with that; he just wishes he didn't feel so bored and melancholy. To escape this feeling, he decides to investigate an increase in spending at a random cottage no one has visited in years that resides in the family. When he discovers Violet and her sister Isabelle posing as distant cousins staying at the cottage, he surprisingly isn't angry. Instead (like such a Nice Guy), our boy just wants to get to the bottom of the pair's misfortune so he can help them- thereby being useful again. But Violet's been independent and taking care of her sister for too long, and she's not interested in revealing. her secrets to Edward- even if he is dreamy on the eyes. But then all of five minutes pass and this puppy dog convinces our stoney girl to tell him what's going on. So she admits she's running from her ex-betrothed who won't take no for an answer. Edward feeling an intrinsic need to protect and is positively thrilled with the prospect of being useful again, offers marriage. And boy, what a fun start to this story!
This has:
✨ Artist MMC
✨ Black cat FMC
✨ Marriage of convenience
✨ Cinnamon roll hero
✨ He falls first
This story had me on a rollercoaster of emotion, largely because I found Violet to be both frustrating, but also so valid in all of her emotions (it hit a little too close to home). Her decisions and motivations are largely dominated by her feelings of fear and running away from the prospect of falling in love again. And when she opens up internally about her broken heart, it's hard not to feel for our girl and understand how these walls got built up so high. Which brings me to the highlight of this story- Edward. Honestly, a true cinnamon roll hero, he's just trying to make everyone happy and in doing so often pushes his own feelings aside. His insistence that he would love Violet, even if she couldn't love him back yet was so hot and so perfect for our girl. In every moment I found Violet infuriating, Edward came through in making me better understand her as a character and also providing constant reassurance to our girl.
Some spoiler-y things/thoughts:
This is most definitely the story of a sweet boy who falls for a guarded and heartbroken girl, and as she starts to fall she gets scared and tries to push him away. But he won't allow that for long- and THANK GOD for that! This book's ending was truly sweet and I did so love the character development for our girl Violet. While I found her endlessly annoying at first, when I looked through the lens of a broken-hearted girl with her walls up, I was more endeared to her. Edward also saves her character in so many ways and them together is what truly makes this book something worth reading! While I do think reading the first book would have made me more invested in the characters (especially in better understanding the past relationship of Sebastian and Emmaline), I still think this could be read as a standalone.
Thank you to the author for a copy of the book, for an honest review!
February 9, 2025
Edward Grey, an Honorable indeed!
The Honorable (Lord) Edward Grey needed to do something more apart from his painting. He wanted to support his brother Sebastian, the Earl of Greydon in his business undertakings. When his brother Sebastian wondered about sending his secretary? to investigate some disturbing expenditures by the housekeeper of a cottage Sebastian owned Edward decided to investigate.
He didn’t expect to find in residence two sisters masquerading as his cousins, Violet and Isabelle Shaw. The mystery of the extra monies being spent is explained, but not why these strangers are sheltering at the cottage
Edward, very much struck by their story, offers marriage to Violet. A marriage that would turn out to be passionate, but can Edward gain Violet’s love? And that’s what Edward wants.
Quite a lovely story. Edward’s a gem. Violet is hurt and feels betrayed. Healing takes place through Edward’s patience and trustworthiness.
I felt for Edward as he tries to prove himself worthy to Violet.
I was disappointed in Violet for not giving the rotter, her former fiancé Basil, more of a serve. She was done with him but seemingly powerless to be effective. That anger fortunately for me fizzled away, even as Basil just kept turning up unexpectedly and ambushing Violet.
Really!
A Booksirens ARC
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
The Honorable (Lord) Edward Grey needed to do something more apart from his painting. He wanted to support his brother Sebastian, the Earl of Greydon in his business undertakings. When his brother Sebastian wondered about sending his secretary? to investigate some disturbing expenditures by the housekeeper of a cottage Sebastian owned Edward decided to investigate.
He didn’t expect to find in residence two sisters masquerading as his cousins, Violet and Isabelle Shaw. The mystery of the extra monies being spent is explained, but not why these strangers are sheltering at the cottage
Edward, very much struck by their story, offers marriage to Violet. A marriage that would turn out to be passionate, but can Edward gain Violet’s love? And that’s what Edward wants.
Quite a lovely story. Edward’s a gem. Violet is hurt and feels betrayed. Healing takes place through Edward’s patience and trustworthiness.
I felt for Edward as he tries to prove himself worthy to Violet.
I was disappointed in Violet for not giving the rotter, her former fiancé Basil, more of a serve. She was done with him but seemingly powerless to be effective. That anger fortunately for me fizzled away, even as Basil just kept turning up unexpectedly and ambushing Violet.
Really!
A Booksirens ARC
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
December 23, 2024
Mister Sunshine and his brooding bride
A charming strangers-to-lovers marriage of convenience. Their attraction is instant, but this lady, for better or for worse, won’t go down without a fight.
They meet when Edward goes to investigate why his brother’s seaside cottage is suddenly running up bills, and discovers two young women, Violet and her sister, posing as his cousins. Once he gathers a few morsels of her secret, he wholeheartedly wants to save her. He’s the perfect sunshine to her dour grump, and - after running once again - she reluctantly agrees that being saved by him may not be the worst thing that could happen.
Violet is headstrong and single minded, and I do understand where she comes from, but she had to grow on me - and by the end of the book she does redeem herself. She was supposed to marry her father’s right hand man - she loved him, but when he told her he loved someone else, she ran. And she’s so focused on solving her problems by herself, she fails to notice how she hurts those who love her.
Edward on the other hand is a gem! He’s a second son and caring brother who lost his purpose after his elder brother finally learned to be a family man. Loyal, warm and loving he’s this adorable golden retriever making everything better for everyone around him.
While this was a fun and entertaining read with some nice steam, it lacked the pizzaz and magic of the first book for me. The story meandered along, every obstacle easily conquered, and it felt a little tame when there was plenty of opportunity to give it that little extra zing.
Honestly though, the first book - The Earl Was Wrong - was pretty brilliant and a tough one to top, and I’m eagerly looking forward to the next book in this series!
A charming strangers-to-lovers marriage of convenience. Their attraction is instant, but this lady, for better or for worse, won’t go down without a fight.
They meet when Edward goes to investigate why his brother’s seaside cottage is suddenly running up bills, and discovers two young women, Violet and her sister, posing as his cousins. Once he gathers a few morsels of her secret, he wholeheartedly wants to save her. He’s the perfect sunshine to her dour grump, and - after running once again - she reluctantly agrees that being saved by him may not be the worst thing that could happen.
Violet is headstrong and single minded, and I do understand where she comes from, but she had to grow on me - and by the end of the book she does redeem herself. She was supposed to marry her father’s right hand man - she loved him, but when he told her he loved someone else, she ran. And she’s so focused on solving her problems by herself, she fails to notice how she hurts those who love her.
Edward on the other hand is a gem! He’s a second son and caring brother who lost his purpose after his elder brother finally learned to be a family man. Loyal, warm and loving he’s this adorable golden retriever making everything better for everyone around him.
While this was a fun and entertaining read with some nice steam, it lacked the pizzaz and magic of the first book for me. The story meandered along, every obstacle easily conquered, and it felt a little tame when there was plenty of opportunity to give it that little extra zing.
Honestly though, the first book - The Earl Was Wrong - was pretty brilliant and a tough one to top, and I’m eagerly looking forward to the next book in this series!
December 30, 2024
Ahhh 😍 this is the fourth book I've read by Britt and I think it's my favorite one yet!
We share a similar appeal with historical romance, the following is apart of the dedication- "My brain allows for more melodrama in historical romance than any other subgenre of romance and I think my fondness for ridiculousness is readily apparent in this book." This one had the perfect amount of ridiculousness without being unbelievable like some can be.
I loved getting to see the characters from book 1 again, they played great supporting roles without taking over. Edward was everything I hoped he would be 😍 he may have been a little thoughtless with his decisions but they were always made with good intentions.
Violet and her sister, Isabelle, were great additions to the cast of characters we already adore! I do admire Violet for being creative in her tough situation and trying her best to get things right as single woman in the early 1800s.
With a touch of the lovely regency romance drama and a great group of characters, this is definitely one of my favorite historical romances!
We share a similar appeal with historical romance, the following is apart of the dedication- "My brain allows for more melodrama in historical romance than any other subgenre of romance and I think my fondness for ridiculousness is readily apparent in this book." This one had the perfect amount of ridiculousness without being unbelievable like some can be.
I loved getting to see the characters from book 1 again, they played great supporting roles without taking over. Edward was everything I hoped he would be 😍 he may have been a little thoughtless with his decisions but they were always made with good intentions.
Violet and her sister, Isabelle, were great additions to the cast of characters we already adore! I do admire Violet for being creative in her tough situation and trying her best to get things right as single woman in the early 1800s.
With a touch of the lovely regency romance drama and a great group of characters, this is definitely one of my favorite historical romances!
January 11, 2025
'Once relentlessly cheerful, Edward has been a tad peevish lately. Traveling to his brother’s cottage is meant to prove his usefulness to the earldom and restore his good humor. Upon arrival, he discovers two unexpected houseguests pretending to be his cousins and immediately finds himself wanting to help. Offering to marry the oldest might be impulsive, but it feels right in a way nothing else does. Is the craziest thing he’s ever done also the smartest?
Fleeing an unwanted betrothal to a man she used to love, Violet is not prepared for Edward’s offer of marriage. Determined to solve her own problems, she declines, but holding onto her resolve is more difficult than she anticipates. The chemistry she shares with Edward is shockingly intense and his patience and kindness are unwavering. Can she trust her own judgment enough to trust him with her heart?'
______________________________
The Gentleman was Right is the second book in Brit Belle's Greydon series and is a historical romance.
I really liked Edward from reading the first book in the series so I was looking forward to reading this one. He's a bit of a golden retriever. Just a genuinely kind and caring character across both books. Even if he is a bit reckless in the choices he makes. Violet was more of a struggle for me. I didn't actively dislike her character, but she was a bit all over the place and kind of problematic in that she demands specific behavior from others, but then behaves in a completely contradictory fashion. She's a character that highlights that sometimes who the villain is depends solely on who is doing the telling. Not to say that I think Basil is in the right, but I think that both share responsibility for the situation they find themselves in. I thought Basil was painted as far more villainous than was warranted, which I found made the resolution of that conflict to be pretty anticlimactic. When it comes down to it though, her not being a perfect character and the story playing off the gray area made it more compelling.
This book is the second book in the Greydon series, but it can also serve as a standalone. Edward is however the brother of the MMC from book one so he and his family feature a lot in that book. So although not necessary, I do think it would add to your enjoyment of this book to read the series in order. I plan to continue with the series and I believe Belinda's story will be next. Also I'm really loving the cover art for this series so far.
_____
I would like to thank BookSirens and the author, Brit Belle, for sharing an eARC of The Gentleman was Right. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Fleeing an unwanted betrothal to a man she used to love, Violet is not prepared for Edward’s offer of marriage. Determined to solve her own problems, she declines, but holding onto her resolve is more difficult than she anticipates. The chemistry she shares with Edward is shockingly intense and his patience and kindness are unwavering. Can she trust her own judgment enough to trust him with her heart?'
______________________________
The Gentleman was Right is the second book in Brit Belle's Greydon series and is a historical romance.
I really liked Edward from reading the first book in the series so I was looking forward to reading this one. He's a bit of a golden retriever. Just a genuinely kind and caring character across both books. Even if he is a bit reckless in the choices he makes. Violet was more of a struggle for me. I didn't actively dislike her character, but she was a bit all over the place and kind of problematic in that she demands specific behavior from others, but then behaves in a completely contradictory fashion. She's a character that highlights that sometimes who the villain is depends solely on who is doing the telling. Not to say that I think Basil is in the right, but I think that both share responsibility for the situation they find themselves in. I thought Basil was painted as far more villainous than was warranted, which I found made the resolution of that conflict to be pretty anticlimactic. When it comes down to it though, her not being a perfect character and the story playing off the gray area made it more compelling.
This book is the second book in the Greydon series, but it can also serve as a standalone. Edward is however the brother of the MMC from book one so he and his family feature a lot in that book. So although not necessary, I do think it would add to your enjoyment of this book to read the series in order. I plan to continue with the series and I believe Belinda's story will be next. Also I'm really loving the cover art for this series so far.
_____
I would like to thank BookSirens and the author, Brit Belle, for sharing an eARC of The Gentleman was Right. This is my honest and voluntary review.
January 8, 2025
The Gentleman Was Right is the second book in the Greedy series by Britt Belle. Although I hadn’t read the first book, I found this story enjoyable and easy to follow without prior knowledge of what transpired earlier. That said, I prefer reading books in sequence and have already picked up the first book to dive into next.
Edward is feeling adrift now that his brother Sebastian, the Earl, has returned home with his new bride. While his brother was away, Edward took charge of their younger sisters, giving him a sense of purpose. With Sebastian back, however, Edward feels displaced. So, when Sebastian decides to send his man of business to investigate increased expenses at their seaside cottage, Edward volunteers for the task, hoping the trip will lift his spirits and give him a renewed sense of purpose.
Upon arriving at the cottage, Edward is surprised to find two houseguests pretending to be his cousins. Among them is Violet, a woman determined to break off her engagement to Basil, a man who once had her heart but shattered her trust with his actions. Edward, moved by her plight, impulsively offers to marry her to solve her dilemma.
Violet, however, refuses his proposal, determined to resolve her problems on her own. Still, Edward’s supportive nature and unwavering kindness make him increasingly difficult for her to resist. He is attractive, endlessly patient, and undeniably charming—a true hero with a heart of gold. The chemistry between them is undeniable, and it becomes a question of how long Violet can resist his warmth and goodness.
That said, Violet’s character could be frustrating at times. Her confusion about what she truly wanted and her inability to forgive herself for trusting Basil often led to reactions that felt contradictory. On the other hand, Edward was a shining star throughout the story. His empathy, respect for the women in his life, and quiet strength made him an absolute joy to root for.
When Edward and Violet finally marry, Violet struggles to guard her heart, convinced she can keep her feelings out of their arrangement. But who could resist a man like Edward? Watching Violet evolve, find her courage, and ultimately admit her love for Edward was deeply satisfying.
This is a heartfelt marriage-of-convenience story filled with ups and downs, misunderstandings, and growth, but love triumphs in the end. Edward’s relationships with his sisters, as well as the mending of his bond with Sebastian, added another layer of warmth to the narrative. I especially enjoyed the moments with his sisters and am eager to read their stories, particularly Belinda’s.
The dynamic between Violet and Edward—a brooding bride and a sunshine groom—was a refreshing reversal of the typical grumpy-sunshine trope, adding a unique charm to the story. Britt Belle has crafted a touching and uplifting romance that lingers long after the last page. Fans of the series are in for a treat, and I, for one, can’t wait to see where she takes us next.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 20, 2024
thanks to the author for a copy of this ebook and this is my freely given opinion.
This is book 2 of the series, and while it may be helpful to read book 1 to get a bit of the backstory of the Greydon family and Edward's relationships with his siblings, I feel this can be read and appreciated on it's own as well.
Edward is feeling at loose ends, underappreciated, generally useless and at a loss of what to do, when he finds out about a conundrum that his older brother, the Earl, has at one of his remote properties. Edward jumps at the chance to travel to the cottage in question to work out the issues and get away from London and his family for a bit.
He travels to the cottage, expecting to find a felonious housekeeper, and is surprised at what he discovers.
Violet Shaw felt trapped, betrothed to a man whom she felt betrayed her. But when she finds herself unable to oust him from her life, after he firmly embeds himself in her home, and taking over her dead father's business, she takes the only recourse she feels is left to her, takes her younger sister and runs away. They find refuge in a far off cottage, and manage to live there for months, undetected, styling themselves as cousins of the owner, the Earl of Greydon. But their ruse is at an end when they find themselves meeting Greydon's brother who is there to investigate.
Edward, a man who appears to love nothing more than to help, when he discovers the plight of the sisters, offers to help, by marrying Violet, but his offer is so unexpected and shocking that Violet rejects him. Especially since her trust and faith in men in general is eroded.
However, in the end, when she considers the choices she thinks she has, to gain control of her life and inheritance, she takes Edward up on his offer, for a marriage, but with the caveats of truth, honesty, and for him to not expect love from her, since she no longer has a belief in or trust of love.
I quite liked this story - I felt at times that Edward and Violet could be my husband and myself, because Edward is such a sweet, helpful, upbeat nice guy and Violet is quick to rile and irritable, like me. A rather sweet steamy story with marriage of convenience themes, and a FMC who wants to take control over her own life, with a MMC willing to cede the control to her, but also willing to take emotional risks.
3.5 stars out of 5
This is book 2 of the series, and while it may be helpful to read book 1 to get a bit of the backstory of the Greydon family and Edward's relationships with his siblings, I feel this can be read and appreciated on it's own as well.
Edward is feeling at loose ends, underappreciated, generally useless and at a loss of what to do, when he finds out about a conundrum that his older brother, the Earl, has at one of his remote properties. Edward jumps at the chance to travel to the cottage in question to work out the issues and get away from London and his family for a bit.
He travels to the cottage, expecting to find a felonious housekeeper, and is surprised at what he discovers.
Violet Shaw felt trapped, betrothed to a man whom she felt betrayed her. But when she finds herself unable to oust him from her life, after he firmly embeds himself in her home, and taking over her dead father's business, she takes the only recourse she feels is left to her, takes her younger sister and runs away. They find refuge in a far off cottage, and manage to live there for months, undetected, styling themselves as cousins of the owner, the Earl of Greydon. But their ruse is at an end when they find themselves meeting Greydon's brother who is there to investigate.
Edward, a man who appears to love nothing more than to help, when he discovers the plight of the sisters, offers to help, by marrying Violet, but his offer is so unexpected and shocking that Violet rejects him. Especially since her trust and faith in men in general is eroded.
However, in the end, when she considers the choices she thinks she has, to gain control of her life and inheritance, she takes Edward up on his offer, for a marriage, but with the caveats of truth, honesty, and for him to not expect love from her, since she no longer has a belief in or trust of love.
I quite liked this story - I felt at times that Edward and Violet could be my husband and myself, because Edward is such a sweet, helpful, upbeat nice guy and Violet is quick to rile and irritable, like me. A rather sweet steamy story with marriage of convenience themes, and a FMC who wants to take control over her own life, with a MMC willing to cede the control to her, but also willing to take emotional risks.
3.5 stars out of 5
December 31, 2024
I never know if my idea of how many stars to give matches other folks’, so to be clear, for me, 3 stars is a good rating.
0 stars is bad
1 is eh
2 is 🤷🏻♀️
3 is good
4 is great
5 is perfection
Anyway, I adored Edward from the beginning of The Earl Was Wrong (which I loved), and I liked the way this book gets into how that kind of personality—needing to be needed, needing to help, constantly cheerful and sweet—can be problematic, but without ever turning Edward into a victim.
I was less impressed with Violet, and not because she was grumpy. I didn’t like her, but I don’t believe that protagonists must be likable to be engaging. My discomfort is difficult to explain. She seems too irrational, even for a romance novel character. I know she was meant to be, but I think it went a bit too far.
The reason I marked this review as a spoiler is this question: I am very curious to know what the author wanted readers to feel about Basil. Maybe I read too much regency romance…I am certain that his behavior would have been considered fairly benign and perfectly normal for that era, and I think some writers of this genre would have him as their hero without changing a thing. 😅 I don’t condone his behavior, but I do feel sorry for him. I think Belle dropped enough hints that we can assume that he loves Violet in his way, and he very much loved her father and wanted to do right by them both. I would love to see him get his own book and a redemption arc. Maybe I am not as mad at him as Violet is because I don’t believe it is impossible or even unusual to love, in the romantic sense, two people at the same time. Near the end, Violet reflects that, “she had let Basil win for too long, and because she had, she hadn't appreciated herself like she deserved.” It seems to me that Violet was letting her anger at Basil win; Basil didn’t even know there was a game.
Anyway, I liked it, can’t wait for Belinda’s story, very pleased that Belle has a unique take on this genre.
0 stars is bad
1 is eh
2 is 🤷🏻♀️
3 is good
4 is great
5 is perfection
Anyway, I adored Edward from the beginning of The Earl Was Wrong (which I loved), and I liked the way this book gets into how that kind of personality—needing to be needed, needing to help, constantly cheerful and sweet—can be problematic, but without ever turning Edward into a victim.
I was less impressed with Violet, and not because she was grumpy. I didn’t like her, but I don’t believe that protagonists must be likable to be engaging. My discomfort is difficult to explain. She seems too irrational, even for a romance novel character. I know she was meant to be, but I think it went a bit too far.
The reason I marked this review as a spoiler is this question: I am very curious to know what the author wanted readers to feel about Basil. Maybe I read too much regency romance…I am certain that his behavior would have been considered fairly benign and perfectly normal for that era, and I think some writers of this genre would have him as their hero without changing a thing. 😅 I don’t condone his behavior, but I do feel sorry for him. I think Belle dropped enough hints that we can assume that he loves Violet in his way, and he very much loved her father and wanted to do right by them both. I would love to see him get his own book and a redemption arc. Maybe I am not as mad at him as Violet is because I don’t believe it is impossible or even unusual to love, in the romantic sense, two people at the same time. Near the end, Violet reflects that, “she had let Basil win for too long, and because she had, she hadn't appreciated herself like she deserved.” It seems to me that Violet was letting her anger at Basil win; Basil didn’t even know there was a game.
Anyway, I liked it, can’t wait for Belinda’s story, very pleased that Belle has a unique take on this genre.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 30, 2024
Thanks to BookSirens and Britt Belle for the free ARC of this book.
If you're looking for a delightful, light Regency romance to distract you for a few hours, you will probably enjoy The Gentleman Was Right. This is book two of The Greydon Series but can be read as a standalone– I have not read book one and was just fine jumping into the story.
Violet Shaw and her sister Isabelle are hiding out at a cottage owned by Lord Greydon so Violet can avoid marrying Basil, her late father's business partner. When the expenses suddenly increase at the cottage, it causes Lord Greydon to question the change and he sends his younger brother, Edward, to investigate. Edward has been the main caretake in his family for years, but now that his brother is married and he is no longer responsible for his younger sisters, he is feeling unmoored and needs a project. He goes to the cottage, finds the Shaw sisters there and when he hears about Violet's dilemma, offers to marry her instead.
This is a truly fanciful Regency– the author says so in her note at the beginning– so as long as you suspend reality, you will have a good time. Edward is a total cinnamon roll and kind to his core. He treats all the women in his life with such care that any woman would be lucky to have him. In a twist on the usual historical romance trope, Violet is the one who refuses to fall in love! She will not mix marriage with feelings, but that's before she and Edward get together. Their chemistry is just too much and she succumbs.
A few things I really enjoyed:
- The sex scenes are well done, although this book does violate a Rule of Romance (the hero MUST go down first. In this book the heroine did first).
- The plot moves quickly. You will not be bored by the pace of the conflict.
- Violet's ex, Basil, is an asshole but no one in this book is truly toxic. They're just not for each other.
- The Grey family was delightful to read.
Overall, this was a lovely, sweet Regency romance.
If you're looking for a delightful, light Regency romance to distract you for a few hours, you will probably enjoy The Gentleman Was Right. This is book two of The Greydon Series but can be read as a standalone– I have not read book one and was just fine jumping into the story.
Violet Shaw and her sister Isabelle are hiding out at a cottage owned by Lord Greydon so Violet can avoid marrying Basil, her late father's business partner. When the expenses suddenly increase at the cottage, it causes Lord Greydon to question the change and he sends his younger brother, Edward, to investigate. Edward has been the main caretake in his family for years, but now that his brother is married and he is no longer responsible for his younger sisters, he is feeling unmoored and needs a project. He goes to the cottage, finds the Shaw sisters there and when he hears about Violet's dilemma, offers to marry her instead.
This is a truly fanciful Regency– the author says so in her note at the beginning– so as long as you suspend reality, you will have a good time. Edward is a total cinnamon roll and kind to his core. He treats all the women in his life with such care that any woman would be lucky to have him. In a twist on the usual historical romance trope, Violet is the one who refuses to fall in love! She will not mix marriage with feelings, but that's before she and Edward get together. Their chemistry is just too much and she succumbs.
A few things I really enjoyed:
- The sex scenes are well done, although this book does violate a Rule of Romance (the hero MUST go down first. In this book the heroine did first).
- The plot moves quickly. You will not be bored by the pace of the conflict.
- Violet's ex, Basil, is an asshole but no one in this book is truly toxic. They're just not for each other.
- The Grey family was delightful to read.
Overall, this was a lovely, sweet Regency romance.
January 9, 2025
A sweet and lighthearted grump-sunshine, marriage of convenience story with added „he falls first“ trope and a touch of "Taming of the Shrew" vibes, some twists and a few steamy love scenes. Edward is a lovable cinnamon roll hero who I instantly fell in love with because of his loving, caring, supportive and resilient nature. Violet is brusque, aloof, rude and distrustful as she doesn't want to be hurt by a man again and therefore keeps Edward at arm's length, although the chemistry between them is strong from the start. I really liked that Edward didn't give up and accepted Violet as she is.
For years Edward Grey has looked after the country estate, his mother and his sisters in the absence of his older brother Sebastian, the Earl of Greydon, but now Sebastian is back in their lives and Edward feels bored and redundant. So he offers to help Sebastian find out why the expenses of his seaside cottage have increased exponentially and travels there.
Violet Shaw has fled London with her younger sister after her unfaithful ex-fiancé continues to insist on marrying her and controlling her inheritance. They pose as cousins of the Earl of Greydon and go into hiding in his cottage. When Edward arrives, she cannot believe that he is not angry and kicks them out, but instead, to help her, offers to marry him. Violet is attracted to him, but she is not prepared to trust a man and have her heart broken all over again, although little by little Edward manages to break through her icy armor with his kindness and support…
If you like heartwarming opposites attract romance novels with swoon-worthy heroes and jaded heroines, you are sure to enjoy this book.
I received a free ARC of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and left voluntarily.
For years Edward Grey has looked after the country estate, his mother and his sisters in the absence of his older brother Sebastian, the Earl of Greydon, but now Sebastian is back in their lives and Edward feels bored and redundant. So he offers to help Sebastian find out why the expenses of his seaside cottage have increased exponentially and travels there.
Violet Shaw has fled London with her younger sister after her unfaithful ex-fiancé continues to insist on marrying her and controlling her inheritance. They pose as cousins of the Earl of Greydon and go into hiding in his cottage. When Edward arrives, she cannot believe that he is not angry and kicks them out, but instead, to help her, offers to marry him. Violet is attracted to him, but she is not prepared to trust a man and have her heart broken all over again, although little by little Edward manages to break through her icy armor with his kindness and support…
If you like heartwarming opposites attract romance novels with swoon-worthy heroes and jaded heroines, you are sure to enjoy this book.
I received a free ARC of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and left voluntarily.
January 7, 2025
The Gentleman Was Right is as ingratiating as its hero, Edward. He’s a people pleaser. He’ll do anything he can to make everyone around him happy—including impulsively asking a woman he’s known for less than a day to marry him.
That would be Violet, who with her sister Isabelle has been living in one of Edward’s brother’s homes. I must give points to Belle for the premise of this book—Edward is sent to find out why the costs of living have increased suddenly at one of his family’s estate houses, and the heroine is a squatter! I think that’s something you don’t see every day in historical romance.
If Edward is impulsive, Violet is a wild combination of both impulse and caution. She leaps to do something when she feels threatened, like what caused her to come to the cottage and what causes her to leave. But she’s incredibly uncertain about revealing everything about her situation to Edward. And I didn’t quite get that, as Edward amply demonstrates how he’s willing to assist her. Violet also assumes a lot instead of talking to people, which could be a bit frustrating.
Belle includes a number of surprising twists in this book. Characters didn’t do what I expected, and there were actions taken that surprised me from both the hero and heroine. And points to Isabelle, who truly came across to me as a girl in her late teens.
This was such a fun book to read. I was compelled to read it in the same way that Edward’s impulsivity and kindness drove him to his actions!
That would be Violet, who with her sister Isabelle has been living in one of Edward’s brother’s homes. I must give points to Belle for the premise of this book—Edward is sent to find out why the costs of living have increased suddenly at one of his family’s estate houses, and the heroine is a squatter! I think that’s something you don’t see every day in historical romance.
If Edward is impulsive, Violet is a wild combination of both impulse and caution. She leaps to do something when she feels threatened, like what caused her to come to the cottage and what causes her to leave. But she’s incredibly uncertain about revealing everything about her situation to Edward. And I didn’t quite get that, as Edward amply demonstrates how he’s willing to assist her. Violet also assumes a lot instead of talking to people, which could be a bit frustrating.
Belle includes a number of surprising twists in this book. Characters didn’t do what I expected, and there were actions taken that surprised me from both the hero and heroine. And points to Isabelle, who truly came across to me as a girl in her late teens.
This was such a fun book to read. I was compelled to read it in the same way that Edward’s impulsivity and kindness drove him to his actions!
January 18, 2025
Well written, full of drama, romance, love, mistakes, lies, mystery, emotions, society and family. Violet and Isabelle have run away from her family home as Violet decides not to marry her fiance. She finds out that he has another love and family. She tries to break it but off but is told no because of the promises to her father. Basil, her fiance, moves into her home bringing his mother along and still running the family business. So they run and find a cottage by the sea and pretends to be the cousins of the Earl. Edward, is the brother of the Earl, who is sent to find out why the housekeeper is spending 3 times the money for the upkeep of the cottage. Once there he finds that Violet and Isabelle have been living there and hiding. When asked, Violet finally tells him about what she knows and that she has been trying to break the engagement. He offers to her her by marrying her himself and then removing Basil from her home. She tries to solve this issue without Edward's help only to have Basil refuse to break the engagement. The only thing left for her to do is marry Edward. Edward is the sunshine to her brooding character. Edward and Violet do have steam between them but need to work on their feelings and earn their happily ever after. Would love to read more about the other characters- Isabelle and Belinda plus the new baby. Would recommend this story to others.
I received this story and leave this unbiased, honest review.
I received this story and leave this unbiased, honest review.
January 9, 2025
I've lowered my rating of The Gentleman Was Right from 4 stars to 3 stars. At first impression, it's an enjoyable historical romance book with an even plot and no big dramatic events - the characters have it pretty easy in their love story. And for some that might be enough.
However, as often, I have a bone to pick with the characters. For a romance book, I didn't feel enough chemistry between the two main characters, and their super fast relationship progression (and Violet's slightly weird, questionable and somewhat aggressive sexual advances) just didn't work or feel believable. Violet and Edward went from zero to one hundred really fast and just didn't convince me.
I do have to mention Sebastian, the supposed villain of the story, as well. Violet, the self-proclaimed lover of honesty and truth, keeps the reason of her broken engagement with Sebastian from her now husband Edward (and the reader) for a very long time. Unnecessary long time. Because of this the tension builds and you almost believe that Sebastian did something unimaginably bad, maybe stole her inheritance or abused her in any kind of way. Well, spoiler alert: . Basically, he did nothing of the villain sort and that false tension is just there for the plot reasons. Like many other events happening in this book. They are all just plot moving devices, often not entirely connected or enhancing the characters or their traits.
So yes, while I am biased and will always enjoy a little regency romance just because of the historian vibes, and while there are many enjoyable and promising premises in this book, it is exactly that: a promise and a potential. An easy read to get you through your reading slump, if you need one.
I have received a free advanced copy of this book and I am leaving a voluntary honest review.
However, as often, I have a bone to pick with the characters. For a romance book, I didn't feel enough chemistry between the two main characters, and their super fast relationship progression (and Violet's slightly weird, questionable and somewhat aggressive sexual advances) just didn't work or feel believable. Violet and Edward went from zero to one hundred really fast and just didn't convince me.
I do have to mention Sebastian, the supposed villain of the story, as well. Violet, the self-proclaimed lover of honesty and truth, keeps the reason of her broken engagement with Sebastian from her now husband Edward (and the reader) for a very long time. Unnecessary long time. Because of this the tension builds and you almost believe that Sebastian did something unimaginably bad, maybe stole her inheritance or abused her in any kind of way. Well, spoiler alert: . Basically, he did nothing of the villain sort and that false tension is just there for the plot reasons. Like many other events happening in this book. They are all just plot moving devices, often not entirely connected or enhancing the characters or their traits.
So yes, while I am biased and will always enjoy a little regency romance just because of the historian vibes, and while there are many enjoyable and promising premises in this book, it is exactly that: a promise and a potential. An easy read to get you through your reading slump, if you need one.
I have received a free advanced copy of this book and I am leaving a voluntary honest review.
February 4, 2025
A mystery of unexplained habitants in a charming country home is certainly what caught my interest when I was considering whether to read this novel or not. I found Edward to be a very open and dare I say progressive for his time, although I sometimes wondered where his abundance of patience and curiosity when it comes to Violet came from. I found Violet to be a less likable character overall and found her lack of trust and flightiness to be fairly frustrating at times. Also her behavior during the spicier scenes left me a little bit confused as far as where her confidence and decision-making came from and how/why it was manifesting the way that it was. Thankfully Violet does undergo character growth which makes her more likable in the end, for me at least. Edward's lack of immature reactions to Violet's behavior was refreshing in that it prevented what could have been a lot of easy drama in the novel. The background characters, including all of the sisters definitely added to the feel-good experience of reading this novel.
I would recommend this book to someone who enjoys a steadfast, patient, and understanding male lead and can tolerate a bit of drama and flightiness on the side of the female lead.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I would recommend this book to someone who enjoys a steadfast, patient, and understanding male lead and can tolerate a bit of drama and flightiness on the side of the female lead.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 4, 2025
3.75
I wish this was longer and we had spent more time with the MCs in the cottage! I feel like there’s a whole chunk of time that is missing between the departure to London and when they go to the dance. I wish we had gotten a few more days of them connecting and being thrown together by FMC’s sister before the Thing that Happens and takes them to London! Same goes for the epilogue - it felt more like a teaser for book 3 than a real epilogue to Edward and Violet’s story. I can only hope we’ll see them more in the next one to get our fix. I also felt that FMC’s background story and the “villain” was very half baked and could have been thought through more and executed better.
Although book 1 is arguably the tighter and more cohesive plot, the chemistry, steam AND regular scenes between the MCs are all so good (and Edward is such a Good Beta Hero Lover Boy) that I still had to give it a near 4 star. With a few changes this could have been a 4 or even 5 star read.
I have high hopes for Belinda who has been set up as a blunt but scared, asexual(?) young woman who really deserves to find some type of HEA even if it is non traditional. Will Belle be veering into queer HR? I hope so. It seems promising that perhaps Jane and Louisa may get their own stories eventually too and I’m curious to see if they are more present moving forward as the characters age up.
I wish this was longer and we had spent more time with the MCs in the cottage! I feel like there’s a whole chunk of time that is missing between the departure to London and when they go to the dance. I wish we had gotten a few more days of them connecting and being thrown together by FMC’s sister before the Thing that Happens and takes them to London! Same goes for the epilogue - it felt more like a teaser for book 3 than a real epilogue to Edward and Violet’s story. I can only hope we’ll see them more in the next one to get our fix. I also felt that FMC’s background story and the “villain” was very half baked and could have been thought through more and executed better.
Although book 1 is arguably the tighter and more cohesive plot, the chemistry, steam AND regular scenes between the MCs are all so good (and Edward is such a Good Beta Hero Lover Boy) that I still had to give it a near 4 star. With a few changes this could have been a 4 or even 5 star read.
I have high hopes for Belinda who has been set up as a blunt but scared, asexual(?) young woman who really deserves to find some type of HEA even if it is non traditional. Will Belle be veering into queer HR? I hope so. It seems promising that perhaps Jane and Louisa may get their own stories eventually too and I’m curious to see if they are more present moving forward as the characters age up.
January 7, 2025
Since his brother’s return, Edward has been out of sorts and responds eagerly to the opportunity to discovers why the housekeeper at one of his brother’s estates is spending more money. On his arrival, he discovers two unexpected houseguests pretending to be his cousins. Surprising Violet, he offers to help her and her younger sister, as he realises that they are experiencing considerable misfortune. Fleeing an unwanted betrothal to a man she used to love, Violet is not prepared for Edward’s offer of marriage. Determined to solve her own problems, she declines, but holding onto her resolve is more difficult than she anticipates. Violet finds herself attracted to Edward but she is still uncertain whether she can trust him with her heart.
Whilst the premise of the story had me engaged, I found the character of Violet quite confusing with her expectations of Edward, quite different from how she behaves herself. Edward is a sweet and at times, naïve character. Not having read the first book, I am interested to go back and understand the back story to this family; however, this book is a standalone story.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Whilst the premise of the story had me engaged, I found the character of Violet quite confusing with her expectations of Edward, quite different from how she behaves herself. Edward is a sweet and at times, naïve character. Not having read the first book, I am interested to go back and understand the back story to this family; however, this book is a standalone story.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 29, 2024
Britt Belle is cementing herself as a writer of fun and fresh historical romances. This book is charming.
Edward first appeared in Sebastian’s book and I couldn’t wait to see his own adventures. He’s a delightful MMC, who battles with his desires and impulsivity - and wanting to be useful beyond simply being the heir (and potential spare). He’s imperfectly lovely.
Violet was at times immensely frustrating, but I liked how she slowly re-evaluated her own feelings. Learning to trust yourself is arguably more important than trusting others, and it was satisfying to see her battle with that.
Although it was immensely enjoyable, I would have liked a more rounded-out conclusion. It felt a little rushed, and I have some questions (especially about the nature of Basil and Mr Shaw’s business). Some of the tension fizzled out a little for me, which was a shame. It’s a shorter novel, and I feel like I often feel this way with more concise stories. All in all, though, this is very sweet and very fun, and I’m looking forward to seeing what Belle does with the rest of the family!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Edward first appeared in Sebastian’s book and I couldn’t wait to see his own adventures. He’s a delightful MMC, who battles with his desires and impulsivity - and wanting to be useful beyond simply being the heir (and potential spare). He’s imperfectly lovely.
Violet was at times immensely frustrating, but I liked how she slowly re-evaluated her own feelings. Learning to trust yourself is arguably more important than trusting others, and it was satisfying to see her battle with that.
Although it was immensely enjoyable, I would have liked a more rounded-out conclusion. It felt a little rushed, and I have some questions (especially about the nature of Basil and Mr Shaw’s business). Some of the tension fizzled out a little for me, which was a shame. It’s a shorter novel, and I feel like I often feel this way with more concise stories. All in all, though, this is very sweet and very fun, and I’m looking forward to seeing what Belle does with the rest of the family!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 16, 2025
This is a delightful Regency romance that blends humor, heart, and just the right touch of chaos. Edward, once the cheerful younger brother, is in need of a purpose—and finds it in the most surprising of ways: by impulsively proposing to a complete stranger.
Violet, on the run from a complicated past, is no damsel in distress. She’s smart, self-reliant, and understandably wary of another man trying to “fix” things for her. But Edward isn’t your typical hero—he’s endearingly awkward, endlessly patient, and refreshingly earnest.
Their slow-burn romance is full of sparkling dialogue and genuine emotion, with just enough tension to keep the pages turning. Though it’s part of a series, this one stands well on its own. Perfect for fans of character-driven historical romance with a modern emotional edge.
I received a complimentary copy from BookSirens and am voluntarily leaving my review.
Violet, on the run from a complicated past, is no damsel in distress. She’s smart, self-reliant, and understandably wary of another man trying to “fix” things for her. But Edward isn’t your typical hero—he’s endearingly awkward, endlessly patient, and refreshingly earnest.
Their slow-burn romance is full of sparkling dialogue and genuine emotion, with just enough tension to keep the pages turning. Though it’s part of a series, this one stands well on its own. Perfect for fans of character-driven historical romance with a modern emotional edge.
I received a complimentary copy from BookSirens and am voluntarily leaving my review.
December 25, 2024
Younger brother to an earl, Edward is feeling pretty purposeless after his brother comes back to the family estate. He’s happy to have the chance to do something useful, so he goes to investigate increased expenditures at his brother’s seaside cottage. When he gets there, Violet and her sister have been pretending to be family cousins and staying there to avoid her fiance. The ever-helpful Edward quickly offers marriage as a solution and gets soundly rejected. It’s clear that Edward is smitten and hopes that true affection and love with develop, but Violet is exceedingly wary after the betrayal from her fiance. We eventually end up with a fairly straightforward marriage of convenience plot with Edward trying his best to win Violet over and Violet doing her best to avoid engaging any feelings. Predictable but enjoyable read.
January 15, 2025
3.5 rounded to 4 stars.
This is book 2 in the series. I enjoyed this book a lot. We follow Edward while he tries to help his brother take care of some possible money mishandling at one of this properties. While there, he meets Violet and her sister, who are posing as the Greydon's long lost cousins. The way Edward handles the situation is not how one would generally think to, but it works out for the best.
I adore Edwards character. I did not much care for Violet. The plot of the book is feasible, however; I felt like there were a lot of liberties taken that would be acceptable now versus in the period this was set.
I do hope there is a book 3 and 4, regarding the eldest sisters of Sebastian and Violet.
Thank you for the copy, this is my honest opinion. Please be aware of any trigger warnings, as your mental health is most important.
This is book 2 in the series. I enjoyed this book a lot. We follow Edward while he tries to help his brother take care of some possible money mishandling at one of this properties. While there, he meets Violet and her sister, who are posing as the Greydon's long lost cousins. The way Edward handles the situation is not how one would generally think to, but it works out for the best.
I adore Edwards character. I did not much care for Violet. The plot of the book is feasible, however; I felt like there were a lot of liberties taken that would be acceptable now versus in the period this was set.
I do hope there is a book 3 and 4, regarding the eldest sisters of Sebastian and Violet.
Thank you for the copy, this is my honest opinion. Please be aware of any trigger warnings, as your mental health is most important.
February 10, 2025
I found The Gentleman Was Right by Britt Belle a very charming read, with just the right amount of steam. Edward and Violet are wonderful and complex characters. Violet, who had found her fiance was not who she thought he was, wants to be independent and free of him. She is proud, strong and brave, but she is also ashamed for allowing herself to be misled by a deceitful man. Edward wants some purpose in his life. He also wants to find love and happiness. He is protective of his family and of Violet. He is kind, trustworthy and honest.
I was very engrossed in the story, of how Basil's lies would affect Violet and Edward's relationship. I was anticipating a great breakdown between them, but I was very happy with its conclusion. The story is captivating and the supporting characters are wonderful. I love Belinda and am looking forward to reading her story.
I was very engrossed in the story, of how Basil's lies would affect Violet and Edward's relationship. I was anticipating a great breakdown between them, but I was very happy with its conclusion. The story is captivating and the supporting characters are wonderful. I love Belinda and am looking forward to reading her story.
December 27, 2024
The storyline of Violet and her sister secretly living in the Greyson cottage by the sea as stowaways was an excellent intro to the story. Then Edward heading over to find out what was going on... sign me up. Edward is the original sweetheart. I love really, truly nice guys in romance. Violet has had a rough past with a guy who's a toad and she's on the run from him. It would be completely understandable if she has trust issues and believes initially that Edward is too good to be true. But I'll admit, that sometimes I wanted to shake her to get her to wake up and see what's right in front of her face!
This story is beautifully written and open door. I'll be interested to see where Belinda's story goes.
Thank you to the author for the ARC. Opinions are my own.
This story is beautifully written and open door. I'll be interested to see where Belinda's story goes.
Thank you to the author for the ARC. Opinions are my own.
December 31, 2024
This was a sweet and unpredictable plot to be honest.
Violet is this insecure girl who finds herself in a position where she believes she needs to run away in order to escape a forced marriage of convenience.
Edward is this perfect gentleman who is bored with no real prospect in life who fell in love with Violet at first sight and find his purpose helping her find freedom.
I was expecting to be charmed by their relationship and their story but honestly I was lightly entertained by it. I don’t regret reading it and I appreciate this ARC but it wasn’t a book I loved.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Violet is this insecure girl who finds herself in a position where she believes she needs to run away in order to escape a forced marriage of convenience.
Edward is this perfect gentleman who is bored with no real prospect in life who fell in love with Violet at first sight and find his purpose helping her find freedom.
I was expecting to be charmed by their relationship and their story but honestly I was lightly entertained by it. I don’t regret reading it and I appreciate this ARC but it wasn’t a book I loved.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 14, 2025
I can't decide if I liked this or not. I liked Edward, loved the little that we saw of Belinda, but for the most part did not like Violet. She was self absorbed and callous of everyone and everything else. And dishonest while demanding honesty from others. Was she in a difficult situation? Yes. Was she betrayed? Yes. Did she behave like a spoiled child as a result? Yes. Hence my being torn. She is somewhat redeemed in the end but… In any case, it was well written despite my dislike of Violet - normally that would have caused me to DNF a book, but it didn't.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 19, 2025
I think this writing style is not my thing. I like to know a lot about the day and the life of my characters. I like to know what they are doing and why they aren't together talking about things. What is keeping them from talking? This book had a lot of movement issues. It was odd. They were talking and having tea and then it was the next morning. What the heck happened in between? Did he move his stuff in? Details can be over done but this book needed some. I think the whole book happened with in a couple of weeks. She goes from a really withdrawn, shutdown personality to a lustful loving bride a little too quickly.
This is an adult read with a couple of sex scenes.
This is an adult read with a couple of sex scenes.
December 20, 2024
I was invested in what was going on in this historical romance novel. I had enjoyed the first book a lot and was excited to get back into this world. The characters continued to feel like they were a part of this world, and had that overall romance element that I was hoping for. Britt Belle has a strong writing style and was engaged with everything that was going on. I'm excited to read more in the Greydon series and from Britt Belle.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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December 28, 2024I really wanted to like this book more than I did. I just wasn't able to accept the basic premise. Edward was a saint among men. He discovered a woman living like a squatter on his brother's property. Violet should have been kissing Edward's feet for not having her arrested or even thrown out. He then recklessly proposed a marriage of convenience without her having given him the slightest encouragement. Everything worked out in the end, but I kept on thinking that poor Edward could have done so much better.
I received a free ARC from BookSirens and this is my honest review.
I received a free ARC from BookSirens and this is my honest review.
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