A Gentleman's Offer

by Emma Orchard

Preorder the gorgeous and spicy new romance from Emma Orchard, perfect for everyone waiting for their next Bridgerton fix! June, 1817

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

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

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

Readers can't get enough of Emma Orchard's

'If you're girding your loins for Bridgerton, you may want to indulge in this Regency romp' - THE TIMES

'An exciting new talent' - KATIE FFORDE

'Hot stuff. I loved it!' - FERN BRITTON

'Absolutely glorious' - SOPHIE IRWIN

'A delicious Regency romp' - ALAN TITCHMARSH

'Sensual and exciting' - HEIDI SWAIN

'Heyer with spice!' - LIZ FENWICK

'Witty, heartfelt, deeply emotionally authentic and incredibly sexy' - KATY MORAN

'Sexy, seductive and swoon worthy' - SARAH BENNETT

'Witty, spicy, seductive' - HANNAH DOLBY

'Perfect for fans of Bridgerton' - DARCIE BOLEYN

'Fans of Heyer and Bridgerton rejoice!' - CHARLOTTE BUTTERFIELD

'A delicious slice of escapism' - LAURA WOOD

'Heart-thumping romance' - JENNI KEER

Genres: Romance, Historical Romance, Historical, Audiobook, Historical Fiction, Regency, Regency Romance

322 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 22, 2025

About the author

Emma Orchard was born in Salford. She studied English Literature at the Universities of Edinburgh and York, before working behind the scenes in publishing and television for many years. Her first job was at Mills & Boon, where she met her husband in a classic enemies-to-lovers romance. She now lives in North London.

Reviews

[Katie’s Bookshelf · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5⭐️
This one didn't work for me. It was cute and fun but unfortunately fell kind of flat. And yes this is similar to Bridgerton in that they are both historical romances- and that is all.

Dominic De Lacy is told by his mother that his father made a verbal agreement before he died, for Dominic to marry Lady Marie Nightingale. He has never met her, but agrees to do his mother's bidding and becomes engaged after meeting the young woman twice. He barely knows her and has zero attraction to her, but figures it will be a marriage of convenience like so many of the Ton. Then he shows up to his engagement party and *gasp* is so attracted to her! Instantly thinks she's beautiful and is daydreaming about kissing her. Then he finds out that Marie is secretly Margaret, her identical twin sister. Marie has disappeared and Margaret is covering for her, but needs Dominic's help to locate her.

Like...come on. He meets her IDENTICAL twin sister and is attracted to her all of a sudden? And the whole plot of Dominic being the only person who can help Margaret find Marie... he has literally met her twice and doesn't know a single thing about either of them or their family. When he starts to ask Margaret questions she's basically like "these questions are irrelevant. It doesn't matter. You have to help me find Marie!" Like how is this man supposed to find her with no context?! It just doesn't make sense. Surely a discreet lady's maid would be more helpful

I also found the writing style tough to get through. Sometimes a single conversation would take pages to get through, it was so full of exposition.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishing team for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[pat · Rating 1 out of 5]

Honestly, where was the romance? I'm still looking for it. Can't find it. No romance to be found.

I love period romances and I love marriage of convenience plot, but oh boy, that was a miss.

Unfortunately, I can't find anything to rate it higher.

The characters were bland, the paragraphs were huge, the dialogue was bad, if the characters didn't repeat themselves over and over again it would've been three times shorter, there was no chemisty, sapphic rep was ehh at best, the mystery wasn't engaging and it was resolved by 50% mark, and then there was loophole and blackmail plot that I wasn't a fan of.

If it wasn't for the fact that I requested an ARC for an honest review, I'd have DNF'd it.

Sorry, but it was a big miss for me.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with this arc copy.

[Heather Moll · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lots of telling and introspection and I struggled with the beginning. I skimmed until I got to the point where Dominic learned who he was engaged to. And then I kept skimming.

I was disconnected from the characters because I was told about what they were doing and didn’t know what they felt. I don’t need the deepest pov, but this was all dry narration. It felt long.

The Bridgerton comparison in the description does this book a disservice. Readers will be disappointed if they expect the books or the show. It’s more Heyer-like with its emotional distance, and it didn’t have the deeper pov more popular in historical romance now. The plot points are here for a fun romantic romp, but it fell flat for me.

I received an arc from NetGalley

[eyes.2c · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m really enjoying Emma Orchard’s novels. This time we have the requisite nobleman who has decided to heed his mother’s talk of Marr and doesn’t object to an arranged marriage
Only all is not as it seems and a sort of Twelfth Night story begins to evolve, or unravel.
Decidedly delicious!

[alina; · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read this ARC.

historical romcom girlies — this is for us. 💝
i can’t say that this book amazed me, but it was such an enjoyable read.

• we have the main male character, Dominic who is 29 and is persuaded by his mom to marry this woman — Maria which his father basically chose for him. and he’s like “ok, why not?”. however, right before the engagement celebration his fiancée tells him she’s actually not Maria but her twin sister Margaret. Maria has disappeared and Meg need’s Dominic’s help to find her.

as i said, this story won’t blow your mind. but it might warm your heart.
the writing style hooked me in, because the language that the author uses is very reminiscent of Austen’s (which is obvious with the beginning). it allows you to fully emerge into 1817’s London.
💝 the characters are quite fun. i love how Dominic is basically goes with everything Meg wants to do. him and Meg are so “hyper gf and calm bf”coded.

the tension building in the first half of the book was so good. it was lost a bit later, but instead we got sweet moments from our main couple. the “mystery” part of the plot was just fine, it wasn’t shocking but it played nice into the story as a whole.

⭐️ overall, it’s a great book to warm your heart and get some comfort

[Magdalena (magdal21) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoy Emma Orchard's historical romance novels and believe she is one of the authors who pays the most attention to detail and historical accuracy. That being said, I think this was probably the weakest of her books. Plot-wise, it wasn’t impressive—some of the revelations and characters' actions were hard to believe, even within the realm of the genre. The ending felt quite abrupt, and we didn’t get to see the crucial plot elements wrapped up. Speaking of characters, the development of relationships between them fell flat. I wasn’t fully convinced by how quickly the characters fell in love—it was more tell than show in terms of their emotional journey. Still, it was a fast-paced read, and the author, as always, did a good job with the language, historical credibility, and setting. Not a bad book, but I expected more from this author.

Thank you NetGalley and Baldwood Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Major spoilers below!

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Overall, the book was okay. I think the biggest problem is that the summary of the book listed here on Goodreads and other locations only actually tells you about half the book. Going into this book, I was under the impression that Margaret and Dominic would be spending the entire book trying to find her sister and we’d get a really good slow burn along the way.

Instead, it’s lust at almost first sight and they find the sister around the halfway mark! The rest of the book is then spent trying to figure out how to allow Margaret and Dominic to marry so that Maria can be with her girlfriend all the while trying to get the girls’ father to stop blackmailing Dominic’s mother. Honestly, it didn’t make for a bad read but it did make me wish my first impression had been the actual plot.

You can definitely see how the author was influenced by Georgette Heyer in her writings (a comparison I made before even knowing that the author was a huge fan) but this particular story just fell flat for me. While it wasn’t badly written, I feel like the romance was rushed too quickly, which then made the rest of the plot begin to drag.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm reviewing this via NetGalley, as part of a tour with Rachel's Random Resources.

I've read a couple of other Regency romances by this author, and they were delightful, so I was excited to read this one as well.

At the start of the book, we meet Sir Dominic, who is engaged to Maria. They don't know each other too well, but he hopes they can be happy together. Then Maria drops a bombshell; she isn't actually Maria, but Maria's twin sister, Meg. They don't know where Maria is, but Meg secretly takes her place in the meantime. Even if they find her, will she still marry Dominic?

I found that both Dominic and Meg were characters who came to life easily for me. They made me smile, and I enjoyed their chemistry. I found this a very easy and pleasant read; it was lighthearted and romantic with a lovely dash of spice, and it warmed my heart.

Thank you to NetGalley, Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books, and to the author, for the opportunity to read and review this.

[Breigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this from NetGalley.

To recommend this as similar to Bridgerton would be a discredit to the former. The Gentleman’s Offer is much more fun! Tension. Yearning. Forbidden love. Drama. Blackmail. This is a slower paced book which I’m not very used to, filled with haughty vocabulary and lots of character introspection. The writing style fits the regency era and manner of speaking perfectly.

At times it did feel repetitive and that would cause a lull before the story picked up again. The main characters would learn new information and then sometimes entire chapters were spent just for them to explain again what they’d learned to a new character. Felt like a lot of exposition at times.

Overall, I’d recommend if you’re a fan of funny, ambling plots full of scheming. It’s a sweet romance (plus a little spice) with a male main character who doesn’t shy away from a “love match.” The characters are witty, satirical, and inclusive.

[Morgan · Rating 2 out of 5]

When I read the synopsis for this book, I was intrigued: one sister swapping places with the other? It felt very ‘parent trap.’ Add to that a thriller/mystery of not knowing what happened to the other sister and I was sold.

The book begins grabbing my attention. Maria is running off into the night, the reader is wondering who is this fugitive what is she planning? Why is she running?

Then we are introduced to Dominic De Lacy, a well known bachelor who at the age of 29 remains unwed. It was a wish of his late father that Dominic wed the eldest Nightingale daughter. After meeting her in person at a ball and finding her suitable enough, they are engaged. But his betrothed disappears and in pops Meg, his betrothed’s twin sister who is masquerading as her sister Maria to avoid scandal.

Dominic as a character just felt very stiff, and at times gave me the ick. He was one dimensional and there was seemingly nothing to his character other than him being nice!? I think I prefer rakes. Especially because I didn’t find him the least bit interesting until he started flirting with Meg. Everything else that comes out of his mouth went in one ear and out the other. Very often he feels like two separate characters, particularly after meeting Meg, but maybe thats by design?

Dominic wasn’t the only thing that felt disconnected, the writing itself did as well. There were times where it felt like this book had two different authors. Particularly in the beginning when the writing was overly pompous and sentences too verbose. The language was too stuffy and formal for my tastes. Don’t get me wrong, I ADORE a period piece, but the way this was written felt like it was trying too hard to read as a dated regency era romance.

Again, not my style but if it’s yours it may be worth giving it a try. I will credit the author this: she describes the female anatomy in quite a unique way. I mean referring to a clitoris as “a swollen pearl of venus…” That’s new.

The plot just fell short for me and felt overly predictable. Marias reveal ended up being anticlimactic, and the antagonist was also one dimensional and cliche.

For some context on the sisters, they were raised seperately by either parent, Maria with their stuffy father and Meg with her mother who is an author and does not enjoy london society. This is why ‘meg’ is so unique, because she’s strong willed like her mother. To me, that was a lame background. There’s no depth and Meg comes across as a pick me girl.

I hate being brutal, but if this wasn’t an ARC I would have DNF’d by page 30.

The most disappointing thing is that the bare bones are here. The wiley heroine: check, the mystery of searching for a twin sister: check, the growing frustration of a gentleman: also check. But the writing is just so not my tastes and in my opinion, utterly predictable.

Tropes:

Xarranged marraige

Xfake dating

Xforced proximity

Xregency romance

Xage gap

Xlgbtq+ rep

[Katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just your classic boy meets girl, proposes, girl says yes but runs away in the night, girl gets replaced by her twin sister to keep up appearances, boy falls in love with replacement twin. From the basic plot, this book sounds like it would be a fun romp. It was not.

First, the prose is very formal. I like to think I’m someone with a larger than average vocabulary, and I’ve read a lot of books set in 1800s England, but there were so many words used in this book that I had never seen before (used in dialogue!) like traduced and animadversions. Additionally, there is a lot of dialogue, a bit of internal thoughts, but very little description of physicality – facial expressions, body language, environment, movement! It sort of felt like I was reading a play. I had to imagine what I thought the characters would be doing (waving arms, tilting heads, pacing, smirking, etc.) during their long paragraphs of dialogue.

Secondly, the characters are dull and you don’t feel connected to their emotions. Dominic is extremely rational at all times, a little bit horny sometimes, and that’s… it. You get a little bit more from Meg, but not much.

Altogether, the book just feels very boring. Things like going to a brothel in drag should be exciting and dangerous, but it was anticlimactic and lame. As I read more, the more of a chore it felt like to keep going. The grand finale wrapped up all the plot strings, but in such a heavy-handed way that it made my eyes roll. I was already ready to toss the book off a metaphorical cliff before I read the line “everything really has worked out with quite remarkable neatness; if I arranged it so at the end of one of my novels, I would surely be accused of the excessive use of coincidence,” but this really did me in.

Bleh. 2.5 stars rounded down

(I received a free advanced copy from Netgalley in exchange for my review.)

[VickydpBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

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

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

A SPICY REGENCY ROMANCE FOR
BRIDGERTON FANS

[Jordan · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 ✨

I am fairly new to the regency genre, and as a lover of romance the synopsis excited me, and presented fun tropes I have yet to discover in the genre.

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

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

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

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood books for an Arc of A Gentleman’s Offer in exchange for my honest review.

[gladness · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars*

this book had so much potential. the whole twin swap/mistaken identity thing? loved it. it had the princess switch vibes but make it regency. the cover? adorable. short chapters? an absolute dream. and sir dominic? had his moments where i was like mhmm yes, but unfortunately, most of the time, he (and the rest of the characters) were just… kinda there.

tropes:
✔️ arranged marriage
✔️ twin swap/mistaken identity
✔️ regency romance
✔️ slow burn
✔️ forced proximity

my biggest issue? confusion. like, who was who? which sister was actually supposed to be with dominic? which one was missing? who was in an arranged marriage? i felt like i needed a diagram to keep up. and for a romance, there was surprisingly little… romance. lots of telling me they were in love but not much showing. i wanted angst, tension, emotions, and instead, it was mostly just talk, talk, talk.

then the smut towards the end?? was a surprise because their relationship up until that point was giving nothing. no buildup, no chemistry, just i don’t know... and instead of making their romance feel deeper, it just made it seem like their whole connection was purely physical.

still, thank you to netgalley, the author, and the publishing team for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

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

[Nancy Haddock · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 stars

Overall I liked the characters and the pace of the story was good. I found the plot somewhat convoluted and the language use stiff. It seemed appropriate to the time period, but it slowed the flow of the read for me.

[Gemma Westwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

‘When had daydreams ever been logical?’

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[amaareads · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 stars

Tropes:
✔️ arranged marriage,
✔️ twin swap/mistaken identity,
✔️ regency romance,
✔️ slow burn (kind of),
✔️ forced proximity.

Oh, where do I even start with this one? I had such high hopes for this book—twin sisters, mistaken identities, a dash of mystery, and a Regency romance? Sign me up! But, alas, it just didn’t quite hit the mark for me. It had all the ingredients for a delicious historical romance, but the final dish felt a little undercooked.

The story kicks off with Dominic De Lacy, a dutiful bachelor who agrees to marry Lady Marie Nightingale because, well, his late father said so. Classic Regency vibes, right? But then PLOT TWIST!! Marie disappears, and her identical twin sister, Meg, steps in to save the day (and the family reputation). Cue the drama, the mystery, and the inevitable sparks between Dominic and Meg. Sounds fun, right? And it was... for a while. But here’s the thing: the whole twin swap thing felt a bit... forced. Like, Dominic meets Meg (who looks exactly like Marie) and suddenly he’s all, “Wow, she’s stunning!” Um, sir, you literally just met her identical twin. What’s the difference?

And don’t even get me started on the mystery of Marie’s disappearance. Dominic, who barely knows the Nightingale family, is suddenly the only person who can help Meg find her sister. How? Why? It made no sense. Like, wouldn’t a discreet lady’s maid or a private investigator be more useful? But no, it’s Dominic to the rescue, even though he’s clueless and Meg refuses to give him any useful information. Frustrating, to say the least.

The writing style didn’t help either. At times, it felt like the author was trying way too hard to sound Regency-esque, with overly formal language and pages of exposition in a single conversation. I love a good period piece, but this felt like it was trying so hard to be “authentic” that it lost its charm. And the characters? Dominic was... fine, I guess. He was nice, but that’s about it. No depth, no edge, just a blandly pleasant guy who suddenly turns into a flirt when Meg shows up. Meg, on the other hand, had potential—she’s strong-willed and independent—but her backstory felt shallow, and she came off as a bit of a “pick me” girl at times.

The romance itself was... meh. It was supposed to be a slow burn, but it felt more like a flicker. There was no real buildup or tension, just a lot of talking and then—bam!—sudden smut. And while I’ll give the author points for creativity (ahem, “swollen pearl of Venus”), the intimate scenes felt out of place because the emotional connection between Dominic and Meg just wasn’t there.

As for the mystery, it started off intriguing but ended up being pretty predictable. The big reveal about Marie’s disappearance? Anticlimactic. The villain? One-dimensional and cliché. And the ending? Rushed. Like, we spend the whole book building up to this grand resolution, and then it’s all wrapped up in a neat little bow off-page. No wedding, no fallout, no payoff—just a quick time jump to happily ever after. Snooze.

Look, I wanted to love this book. The premise had so much potential, and I’m a sucker for tropes like arranged marriage, fake dating, and forced proximity. But the execution just didn’t work for me. The characters felt flat, the romance lacked chemistry, and the mystery fell flat. If you’re looking for a light, cozy Regency romance with a side of mystery, this might be worth a try. But if you’re craving something with depth, tension, and emotional payoff, this one might leave you wanting more.

Final verdict? It was... fine. Just fine.

Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC.

[bah · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, I would like to thank Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
-
The first book I’ve ever read by Emma Orchard was “The Viscount and the Thief” and I enjoyed it a great deal, so I was really excited to read her newest book. The synopsis was something that also caught my attention: arranged marriage? twin sisters switching identities? bachelor who’s getting married just for the sake of it but ends up falling in love with his fake switched bride to be? Oh I was sat to read it.
-
Emma Orchard’s writing styles never seems to miss, with the formal language, the details and historical accuracy being on point. As I’ve mentioned in my previous review too, the size of the paragraphs and the chapters really help immerse the reader in the book, not being overly long that makes the scenes drag on or too short that appears to have scenes half written.
-
I really liked how the plot reaffirmed how difficult it was for a woman to live in that time period in regards of independence (needing a male relative to support and protect them) and also how hard it was for them to make a living (although Mrs. Nightingale was a published author, her earnings were small, and Maria could not access her own inheritance). Although the first half of the book passed by very vast, the second half fell a little flat in my opinion, and had me wondering what more could happen because by then I had guessed the most important plot points (why Maria had ran away and why Mr. Nightingale was doing what he was towards the De Lacy’s specifically).
But that didn’t make the book less enjoyable, even if it was a little bit predictable.
-
The relationship between Dominic and Meg was the most delicious of the slow burns, in true regency fashion with lots of pinning and repressed sexual desire. It was nice to see them becoming friends first before finally giving in and admitting that they liked each other, with no insta love whatsoever. I found it specially hilarious how Meg would tease Dominic because of their age gap and how he was very worried about his style (my girl Meg knows what’s up, a well dressed person really raises their appeal). They’re your typical “quiet boy x energetic girl” and Dominic was down bad for her.
-
The spice was a lot less in “A Gentleman’s Offer” when compared to “The Viscount and the Thief” (if I recall correctly there were only two scenes at the end of the book, and much more “censored”) but that did not bother me at all. In fact, Dominic and Meg’s flirting was much more enjoyable and I wouldn’t even have minded if there was not spice at all.
-
Overall, this is a fun cozy read for those who like regency books and enjoy slow burn. The mystery is also nice, even if a little bit predictable, which made me set on giving it 3.5 (three and a half) stars out of 5 (five).

[Ale · Rating 4 out of 5]

ITA
Londra, 1817.
Sir Dominic De Lacy viene informato dalla madre che il padre, prima di morire, ha lasciato disposizioni per un matrimonio combinato con Maria Nightingale. Sir Dominic accetta le ultime volontà del padre, e i due sono fidanzati. Volenti o nolenti insomma.
3 settimane prima del matrimonio, alla cerimonia di fidanzamento, Sir Dominic scopre che Maria è scomparsa 4 giorni prima, al posto suo c’è la sorella gemella Margaret.
Insieme Dominic e Margaret indagheranno per capire cosa è successo a Maria: è scappata? Ha un amante? È tenuta contro la sua volontà da qualche parte e dobbiamo sbrigarci prima che ci sia uno scandalo e lei venga rovinata per sempre?
Il romanzo è definito come “regency super scandaloso”… cioè sono spicy solo ultimo capitolo e l’epilogo (non vi spoilero nulla è una commedia romantica, come volete che finisca?), per il resto si fa qualche accenno, soprattutto a stivali e spalle larghe, ma niente di speciale, ho letto di “peggio”.
La storia è piacevole, scorre bene però a un certo punto è un po’ in stasi, capisco il fine di quei capitoli, ma boh è come la parte dove nei drama coreani la coppia principale si lascia per poi rimettersi due episodi prima della fine. Non necessario, ecco.
Ho ricevuto una copia gratuita. Questa recensione contiene la mia opinione ed è pubblicata liberamente.

ENG
London, 1817.
Sir Dominic De Lacy is informed by his mother that his father, before his death, left arrangements for an arranged marriage with Maria Nightingale. Sir Dominic accepts his father's last wishes, and the two are engaged, willingly or not.
3 weeks before the wedding, at the betrothal ceremony, Sir Dominic discovers that Maria disappeared 4 days earlier; in her place is her twin sister Margaret.
Together, Dominic and Margaret investigate to find out what happened to Maria: did she run away? Does she have a lover? Is she being held against her will somewhere, and do they need to hurry before there is a scandal and she is ruined forever?
The novel is described as “super scandalous regency” ... that is, It’s spicy only the last chapter and epilogue (this is not a spoiler; this book is a romantic comedy. How do you want it to end?), but otherwise there are some hints, especially about boots and broad shoulders, but nothing special. I've read “worse.”
The story is nice; it flows well; however, at a certain point, it kind of stalls. I understand the purpose of those chapters, but, ugh, it's like the part where in Korean dramas the main couple breaks up and then gets back together two episodes before the end: really not necessary.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Chhavi Gandhi · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐ Rating: 4.5/5
📖 Genre: Historical Romance, Regency Fiction
📅 Publication Date: Available Now

Review:
Emma Orchard’s A Gentleman’s Offer is a captivating historical romance that blends charm, wit, and passion against the refined backdrop of Regency England. The story revolves around Lady Caroline Rowe, a spirited and independent woman whose life takes an unexpected turn when she receives a rather unconventional offer from Lord Nathaniel Forsyth, a man whose own complicated past has left him wary of love. What begins as a practical arrangement soon ignites into a powerful and unexpected romance, forcing both characters to confront their vulnerabilities.

Lady Caroline is a remarkable protagonist — headstrong yet vulnerable, with a tender heart beneath her tough exterior. Her resilience and sharp wit make her a relatable and compelling character. Nathaniel, on the other hand, is a classic gentleman with a brooding side, carrying emotional scars that make him hesitant to trust again. Their chemistry is electric, with plenty of slow-burn moments that gradually build into a swoon-worthy romance.

Orchard’s prose is elegant and richly descriptive, bringing the Regency era to life with vivid detail — the fashion, the social customs, and the subtle nuances of class dynamics are all expertly woven into the narrative. The dialogue sparkles with authenticity, capturing both the decorum and the tension of the period.

What makes this novel particularly enjoyable is the way it balances romance with emotional depth. The exploration of trust, vulnerability, and second chances gives the story substance beyond its romantic elements. The subplot involving societal expectations and the constraints on women during the era adds further layers of complexity.

Highlights:

Strong-willed heroine: Lady Caroline’s independence makes her easy to root for.
Brooding yet charming hero: Nathaniel’s emotional struggles make him a deeply relatable and endearing character.
Regency ambiance: The setting is immersive, with realistic depictions of period customs, gowns, and social norms.
Emotional stakes: The characters’ emotional wounds and personal growth create a heart-tugging narrative.
Final Thoughts:
A Gentleman’s Offer is a beautifully written and emotionally rich historical romance that offers both swoon-worthy moments and heartfelt introspection. Emma Orchard has crafted a story filled with passion, elegance, and characters you’ll find yourself rooting for until the very end. Perfect for fans of Regency romances and anyone who enjoys tales of love blossoming against the odds.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

June, 1817. Sir Dominic De Lacy is one of the season's most eligible bachelors. At twenty-nine, the time is ripe for him to find a bride, so when his widowed mother tells him it was his late father's dearest wish that he marry the very pretty Miss Maria Nightingale, he gives it serious consideration. Although he barely knows the young woman in question, she seems amiable enough, and when he proposes marriage to her, she graciously accepts.

On the night of their engagement party, Sir Dominic is astounded when his betrothed takes him aside and tells him she is not Maria, but her twin sister Margaret (Meg). Maria has gone missing, and Meg requires his help to discover where she has gone before the scandal becomes known. As they set about tracking down the whereabouts of Maria, it is clear that Dominic and Meg are attracted to each other in a way neither have felt before. Could he be engaged to the wrong sister?

Emma Orchard has done it again, pulling out all the stops to produce a Regency romp that has everything you could want in terms of characters, story, and romantic suspense. The tale unfurls via the points of view of Dominic and Meg as their search for Maria takes unexpected twists and turns, burgeoning from a missing person mystery into a love story with oodles of intrigue.

Co-opting the assistance of all sorts of helpmates for their quest, from above stairs, below stairs, and even of the salons frequented by gentlemen in search of pleasure, Dominic and Meg soon discover that Maria's disappearance is more than the elopement they suspected - and they find out rather a lot about each other in the process. As the plot thickens, with witty banter galore, confessions, a dollop of blackmail, family reconciliations that greatly improve their stakes in the game, and plenty of simmering passion, Orchard brings everything together in a lush ending that will have you chortling with glee.

There are lovely threads running through the whole story, balancing lighter, comic storylines, and steamy interludes, with deeper social history themes about poverty, race, and sexuality, plus women's independence and their right to choose the course of their lives (and loves). I especially enjoyed the literary threads about women writers, and their admirable blue-stocking ways. Go ladies! I absolutely adored Meg and Maria's half-brother Francis too, who comes through to save the day.

This is my favourite Emma Orchard to date with sumptuous chemistry between the lovers, atmospheric locations that thrum with spot-on time and place vibes, and a stellar supporting cast for you to love and loathe in equal measure. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

[Niamh C. · Rating 2 out of 5]

📖 Book Review: a gentleman’s offer
✍️ Author: Emma Orchard
⭐ Rating: 2 1/2 / 5 ⭐️
📅 Release Date: 22. March 2025

This was my first book by Emma Orchard, and while I didn’t love it, I still found it to be a fun and enjoyable read. The historical accuracy and language felt well-researched, and I appreciated the emphasis on headstrong independent female characters. That said, I had a few issues with the pacing, character development, and overall execution.

✨ Writing & Historical Accuracy

Orchard’s writing style took a little getting used to, but I ultimately enjoyed how authentic it felt to the time period. The historical setting was immersive, and I liked the way social expectations were woven into the characters’ decisions. However… if we’re already writing a book where multiple characters openly accept a lesbian couple, I feel like we could have also adjusted the historical accuracy on the ages. The 18-year-old heroine with a 29-year-old hero? Completely unnecessary. Just make her older or him younger—it wouldn’t have changed the story in any meaningful way.

📖 Plot & Pacing

The premise itself worked for me, but the solutions to everything felt a little too easy. The mystery of Marie’s disappearance was solved way too quickly, and I would have liked to see a bit more tension before everything fell into place so neatly. The pacing also felt uneven—the first half built tension well, but by the end, things wrapped up too abruptly, leaving some plot threads underdeveloped.

👫 Characters & Romance

Despite my critiques, I actually really liked the dynamic between Dominic and Meg. Their interactions were sweet, and I enjoyed the way their relationship developed. Dominic may not have had the strongest personality, but the way he just went along with Meg’s plans because he liked her was endearing. However, the romance did suffer a bit from a lack of depth—it leaned more on telling us they were falling in love rather than showing it. Also, Dominic’s sudden attraction to Meg when he had zero interest in her identical twin was a little hard to buy into.

🏁 Final Thoughts

While this wasn’t a standout read for me, it was still enjoyable in its own way. The charming romance and historical details kept me entertained, even if I had some frustrations with the pacing and execution. I’ll definitely be giving Orchard another try, as I can see the potential in her writing!

💌 Thank you NetGalley & Boldwood Books for the ARC!

[Tracy Emro · Rating 2 out of 5]

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

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

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

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

[petalsofpages ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

First, I would like to thank NetGalley and Boldwood Books for sending me an arc of this book and allowing me to read it. This review is entirely my own and of my own volition.

A Gentleman's Offer tells the story of the charming Sir Dominic De Lacy who, wanting to comply with his deceased father's wish for him to marry his lifelong friend's young daughter suddenly finds himself searching for his bride-to-be when her identical twin sister takes her place and enlists him to find out where her sister disappeared to before the scandal destroys them all.

Emma Orchard has clearly done a great deal of research and paying attention to the finer details to reflect the regency era and Jane Austen, who is both mentioned and the influence for this novel. The dialogue, the settings and the stereotypes perfectly reflect the world that Jane Austen not only lived in but wrote about and it is clear the author is talented when it comes to recreating a historical setting.

That being said, this book unfortunately fell flat against the hype and the potential it could have. Pacing and predictability of a plot is key when creating historical romances with a mystery element; the reader not only needs to feel like the plot is taking place at a reasonable speed (not too slow or fast) but they also need to NOT guess any of the plot twists or the ending itself. For me, this fell flat in A Gentleman's Offer as it was an incredibly slow read and by the time I DNF'ed the book at the 70% mark, I had already guessed most of the plot twists and the direction in which the book was going. Additionally, whilst I love the forced proximity, slow-burn and the secret identity tropes, they were not well portrayed in this novel as the romantic chemistry felt dull, too fast and too forced. One moment they do not like each other and the next they are having very strong sexual thoughts towards one another, almost as if the author was tired of waiting to develop a strong connection between the two.

Overall, this book has so much potential to attract historical and romance readers who love a pinch of mystery, however, the execution of the romance and the overall plot fell short for me and this is not a book I would be willing to pick up again due to the fact I had to DNF out of the book's predictability and sadly, boringness.

[Nazmin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emma Orchard’s latest novel is a fun romp. Sir Dominic de Lacy is about to get married to a lady he has met only once. This is to honour his late father’s wish. Dominic is going into the marriage with vague hopes that it will be amicable – even though he does not really feel anything for the beautiful Miss Maria Nightingale. But at his engagement ball he is shocked to discover that the lady standing next to him is not Maria – she is her identical twin Margaret. Maria has disappeared and Meg is standing in in the hope that they can find Maria before the scandal breaks. Margaret enlists Dominic’s help in finding Maria but what will be the outcome when Dominic realises he is engaged to the wrong Miss Nightingale?
Dominic and Meg are a likeable couple and they are pretty immediately a team together. Dominic is charming and honourable and Meg is smart and confident. They also don’t hide their attraction for each other so there is little angst in the romance aspect. Any misunderstandings between them are resolved quickly.
The story flows pretty well and Maria is found at the halfway point. I thought it might take longer actually. But there are consequently added twists to the plot that need resolving. Although you are rooting for the happy ever after there was never really any question or much difficulty in achieving it.
Emma’s writing is very Heyer esque which I find is very fitting for the time period. The story is fun with elements of a comedy of errors [as the protagonists themselves note]. The supporting characters are likeable – I thought Francis turned out to be a bit of a star even though he was introduced very late in the book. The villain fell a little flat for me because he folded pretty much instantly as soon as he was confronted – I felt he should have been shown to suffer a bit more. Maybe an actual scene where all his prized possessions were auctioned off and he was shown to be devastated.
Overall, I enjoyed Dominic and Meg’s story and am looking forward to Emma’s next. Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC opportunity and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[The Bookish Chimera - Pauline · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

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

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

Rate 4.5/5

[Chrissie Patterson · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5/5 (rounded up to 3)

A Gentleman's Offer begins with a mystery - with Maria Nightingale seemingly fleeing her home after agreeing to marry Sir Dominic De Lacy - the most eligible bachelor of the ton. As Dominic and Maria's IDENTICAL twin sister Margaret (Meg) reluctantly come together to find her and figure out why she fled, secrets are revealed and unwanted feelings begin to surface.

The synopsis of this book promised Bridgerton vibes - in fact, the title is incredibly close to the name of the 3rd Bridgerton book!
It ended up being a fun regency era romance with a little mystery, and while enjoyable, felt nothing like what was promised. I think comparing the two may end up doing this cute read a disservice in the end.

Dominic and Meg, as our main characters, are likeable enough and although their romance seems to develop out-of-nowhere, it does fit with the overall setting of the story. Dominic is quite a likeable MMC, and has strong morals and charm; while Meg is passionate and stubborn, which makes for some fabulous banter between the pair!

The second half of the book was a surprise, as any synopsis I have read doesn't seem to cover the events that occur once Maria has been found. I found it enjoyable, with family reunions, revenge and a lovely HEA for (almost) all our characters.

While it is a fun, easy read, the heavy focus on narrative and the use of such formal language (although somewhat suited to the setting of the story) did feel a little clunky and made it feel a little like it was dragging at points.

If you're looking for a nice, cozy historical romance with some mystery, you will definitely enjoy this but I'm not sure it's the kind of book to stick with you.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for sending me an arc of this book and allowing me to read it. This review is left voluntarily and entirely my own opinion.*

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you, @netgalley and @boldwoodbooks, for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Sir Dominic De Lacy, one of the season’s most eligible gentlemen, has recently proposed marriage to a woman he barely knows. But hey, he’s 29, and in Regency England, that means he’s practically geriatric. His intended, Miss Maria Nightingale, seems nice enough until mid-engagement, when she casually drops the bomb that she’s not Maria at all, but her identical twin, Margaret. Turns out Maria has disappeared, and Margaret has been roped into taking her place while they track her down. Naturally, she needs Dominic’s help, and naturally, chaos ensues. But even if they find Maria, there’s a bigger problem. Chemistry can’t be arranged, and Dominic might be engaged to the wrong Miss Nightingale.

At first, I wasn’t sure about this one. The opening chapters felt like a typical historical romance, and I was a little lost. But then Chapter 3 hit, and suddenly, things got interesting. A missing bride. A twin switch. An engagement built on deception. Now that’s what I’m here for.

This book checks a lot of my favorite boxes. Mystery, romance, and two absolute goldmine tropes. Fake engagement and engagement of convenience. Chef’s kiss. The twin switch added a fun twist, and while I’ve seen that play out in plenty of movies, it was refreshing to experience in a book.

I also really appreciated the LGBTQ+ representation. Love to see it in historical romance. The family drama in this book is next-level. If this were set in modern times, they’d all be in therapy by chapter five. And let’s just say the whole “hidden half-sibling” situation adds even more layers of dysfunction.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read with some great representation, but I often found myself asking why? instead of wow! It’s a solid 3/5 stars from me.

[Jan Mawdesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

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