In Which Margo Halifax Earns Her Shocking Reputation

Halifax Hellions #1

by Alexandra Vasti, Mhairi Morrison (Narrator)

The Halifax Hellions are the most scandalous, outrageous, ungovernable ladies in London. From the day of their debut—in which Matilda smoked a cheroot and Margo tied a cherry stem in a knot with her tongue—they’ve turned the ton upside down.

But when Matilda elopes with a dangerous aristocrat, Margo must stop her twin before this new misadventure becomes a permanent marriage. For help, Margo turns to her brother’s best friend—because if anyone can get them to Scotland in time, it’s starchy solicitor Henry Mortimer.

Henry Mortimer has precisely one secret in his otherwise buttoned-up he’s been in love with Margo for seven wonderful, agonizing years. When she turns up at his doorstep, soaked to the skin and desperate for his help, he cannot turn her down. A week alone in a carriage with the object of his desires an arm’s length away? Surely he can survive that. He hopes.

But the road to Scotland is paved with disasters—caves and crashes and the bloody rain that keeps forcing Henry to hold a damp, shivering, dreadfully tempting Margo in his arms. Only an unstoppable force could drag the truth of Henry’s affection from his lips. Unfortunately for him, Margo Halifax has yet to be stopped.

Genres: Romance, Historical Romance, Historical, Novella, Historical Fiction, Audiobook, Friends To Lovers

Audible Audio

First published September 19, 2022

About the author

Alexandra Vasti is a British literature professor by day and USA Today bestselling romance writer by night. After finishing her PhD at Columbia University, she moved to New Orleans with her family. Her books have received starred reviews from Publisher's Weekly, Booklist, Library Journal, BookPage, and Kirkus, and have been featured in The New York Times, NPR, Entertainment Weekly, People, and elsewhere.

Reviews

[Clace]

4.25!

Don't be fooled by the cute cover, this book is the sluttiest book I've read 🧍This is also the start of mt Historical Romance obsession because it was soooo good!!

I'll keep this review short as well because the book was very tiny as well. I think I read it in 2-3 hours. It was so hooking. Very fast-paced, and it gives you what it promises. There is yearning, there is angst; the brother's best friend trope never disappoints. When he's been yearning for her for years?? 🙂‍↕️ Henry being the introvert and Margo the extrovert was my favorite part!! Omgg forced proximity and stolen glances AHHHH!! I know there are a lot of tropes, but they're so well incorporated in the book 🙏 Also, I love how steamy and scandalous this was 😭

Henry, the man that he is!! so sweet but also filthy in bed 😭 the way he would describe Margo and the entire interaction in the beginning, him contemplating whether to go with her or not, having a convo with her cloak LMAO I was having so much fun with that. Margo, going after her sister, so determined. She quite literally gets what she seeks. The cabin sequence 🥵 she was so hot in that. I loved her personality, and honestly, I wish the book were longer so we could get more of it.

The romance was sweet. It was also VERY HOT! Like, omg this novella is steamy, but it was like the perfect amount of steam. The book in general was so well written that even the sex scenes didn't disappoint 😭 if you need a cute, steamy historical romance novella- this book is for you!!! I honestly feel like this is a perfect start for Historical romance for anyone.

All in all, amazing!!
___
I have three hours till new years, and I think I can fit another book. This sounds short, scandalous, and fun 🙂‍↕️ it's also my first historical romance book?!?

[captain raccoon.]

came for:
- the road trip with the brother’s starchy virgin best friend

stayed for:
- the experienced queer fmc
- seven years of being in love/horny pining (HENRY MORTIMER THE MAN THAT YOU ARE)
- friends to lovers
- only one bed
- only one cottage
- only one horse
- the freckle obsession
- “i am a sensible and rational person except when i am near you and then i become insensible and irrational oh god help me”

because yES.

also, margo embarking on the aforementioned road trip with cheese in her reticule? that’s my wife right there.

a fucking delight.

[ellie]

i did not expect this to make me cry on a random Wednesday afternoon but here we are.

”I bring irises to Number Twelve because they’re the color of your eyes. I didn’t take the position with Chatham’s in Bath because I didn’t want to move—not if you were in London. I buy the fruit-sellers out of cherries all summer long because they make me think of you, and most of the time I think of nothing else.”

get you a man who loves you so painfully as Henry Mortimer loves Margot Halifax<3

the unrequited love. the pining. the tension. the angst. for a novella, this was so fleshed out and wonderful. i was thoroughly convinced of Henry and Margot’s relationship— the delivered in such a limited space.

Henry fr is the biggest blushing simp he made me wanna cry😭😩

[Merry (Wants to Read RL getting in the Way)]

This novella is available from the authors website. I think this maybe her first book. The pluses were the writing and descriptions were enjoyable. The sexy parts were good. I am not sure what period the story takes place but since horses and carriages are in use, I am assuming Regency. The characters are what I would call Modern Historical Romance. The characters act and speak as though they are empowered woman of the 20th century as many of the actions would not have been in keeping with the time period.

[PlotTrysts]

Is this book basically a flawless HR novella? Well, yeah. What'll you get?⁠
⁠
So much pining!⁠
Brother’s best friend ⁠
It’s always been you ⁠
Virgin hero⁠
Friends to lovers ⁠
Road trip romance⁠
⁠
And as if that weren't enough, an added dash of "it’s getting cold out there, let’s take off all our clothes."⁠
⁠
If we had one criticism (it's not a criticism, it's a wishlist) it's that this scorching hot novella didn't have one final spicy scene after our couple took a little bath!⁠

19-Word Summaries:
⁠
Laine: What constitutes “too ruined” for twins who have been deliberately scandalous? Eloping or hooking up with brother’s best friend?⁠
⁠
Meg: Look, Henry hasn’t been saving himself for Margo, he just hasn’t found anyone else who can compare, OK guys?⁠

[Tracey]

Alexandra Vasti's "In Which Margo Halifax Earns Her Shocking Reputation" is a delightfully witty, steamy historical romance novella which features charming characters, humor and an unexpected twist. I especially enjoyed the unusual contents of Margo's reticule. Mhairi Morrison does a wonderful job bringing the characters to life.

[Ali Lockhart]

Hot Mess Express Margo is on a quest to save her sister from potential happiness and recruits stuffy Henry to help. Henry, who starts off as a helpless shrug, stiffens his backbone and other parts as their journey deepens. Ever had sex amongst the loamy soil? Henry has. Ever seen a woman who thought herself very worldly tumble wide-eyed into love? You’re about to. What happened to the sister? I guess you’ll have to stay tuned. At one point Henry informs Margo that he likes it when she begs and my entire nervous system shut down.

[Becky (romantic_pursuing_feels)]

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot/Storyline: 📖📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥
Humor: Yes! It’s delightful!
Perspective: Third person from both the hero and heroine

(These are all personal preference on a scale of 1-5 (yours ratings may vary depending what gives you feels and how you prefer you sex scenes written, etc) except the Steam Scale which follows our chart from The Ton and Tartans Book Club )

Should I read in order?
This is the first of Vasti’s Halifax Hellions series (and free when you sign up for her newsletter! Check it out here

Basic plot:
Margo is on a mission to stop her twin from ruining her life, and convinces Henry to help her find them on the way to Gretna Green.

Give this a try if you want:
- Late Regency time period (around 1821)
- Mostly countryside setting on the way to Gretna Green
- Solicitor hero
- Unrequited love
- Brother’s best friend
- Delicious angst
- Opposites attract
- Hero loves first
- Novella length (goodreads has it about 90 pages)
- Virgin hero
- Road trip romance
- Left handed heroine!
- Bisexual heroine
- Medium steam – 2 full scenes within a short page count

Ages:
- Hero is 28 and heroine is 25

My thoughts:
Oh this novella was SUCH A DELIGHT! I really just fell right into it immediately and gobbled the whole thing up. Even being so short, I found it suffering from none of my complaints I sometimes have about shorter stories. It had humor! It had pining! It had angsty emotional pull that tugged my heart! All under 100 pages. It was amazing.

I am always a sucker for hero loves first and have really been loving unrequited love from the hero and it’s here in spades. Henry has loved Margo from afar for so long and seeing them come together really warmed my heart. Henry is a solicitor, a family friend, more stoic in personality, quiet. And Margo is the hurricane of chaos that has upended his life. I adored how opposite they were and how they came together so completely. The magnetic pull these two had had my heart singing and happy. And I still felt like we had a decent background on these characters even with it being so short. I just love them both so much.

Alexandra Vasti has solidified her place on my permanent TBR with this debut novel. So excited for Matilda’s novel coming out later this month!

Quotes/thoughts:

Our introduction to Matilda (Margo’s twin) and I knew I was in love already with the writing

Henry spotted Matilda first. It was difficult to miss her. She was sitting atop the pianoforte, swinging her legs in time to a lively Scottish reel being banged out by one of Spencer’s idiot Harrow friends. She had an unlit cigar clenched between two fingers, and she waved it at them as they entered.
---
Margo’s cloak lay in a wet heap on the floor, accusing him with its presence.
“No,” he said to the cloak, “don’t try to make me feel guilty. I didn’t make her run out into the rain without even your pitiful protection.”
Jesus. He was talking to a cloak.
---
He knew her, knew her blind loyalty as well as he knew the freckles that bracketed the curve of her mouth and her terrible left-handed penmanship.
---
That was Henry’s rigid abdomen she’d just encountered? For all she’d been weeping into his shirtfront not so very long ago, she hadn’t realized his torso was quite so...taut.
“God only knows how many men you’ve attempted to persuade to accompany you on this mad journey,” he said, “but yes, it’s me.”
---
He possessed a particular amount of restraint, and when he was around Margo, he used it liberally. He did not stand too close to her. He didn’t profess his undying love. He didn’t fantasize about peeling her out of her frock and discovering where exactly on her body her freckles stopped.
---
She pointed at cows out the window, and invented names for them. Repeatedly.
Henry loved it, of course, because he was deranged.
---
He could see the freckles that dotted her neck and the brief expanse of skin above her bodice.
He wanted to kiss each one.
---
“I-” he said. “I-”
She grinned. She thought he might be blushing. He was mildly scandalized – what a delight he was – if only she could persuade him to come back! She nudged the sheet down her hip a little further, baring at least ten more freckles. He seemed to like them.




Content warnings:

- Carriage accident on page


Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:

45% - kisses, breast play, fingering for her, oral for her, missionary
68% - kisses, fingering for her, doggy style sex (outdoor!)
97% - alluded to sex

[sil ♡ the book voyagers]

ʚ🍓ɞ A ROAD-TRIP HISTORICAL ROMANCE NOVELLA WITH YOUR BROTHER'S BEST FRIEND?

When Nick (@theromancefiend) first talked about it, I was easily charmed. I wanted to know more about this author and her books. But in order to get this book, I had to sign up for her newsletter, and you know me, I am SO LAZY. Especially with signing up for stuff. But you know what? If Nick said it was fab, I believe her. So, I signed up and got this book. Soon after, Alexandra released the second book in the Halifax Hellions and that's also free by signing up, so I already had both. PERFECT.

I don't regret one thing.

This little novella is wonderful. It's a historical romance featuring a scandalous wealthy heiress who needs to retrieve her twin sister (the twin sister decided to elope and she's going after her before a bigger scandal happens) and she asks her brother's quiet and shy best friend for help. And so this road-trip begins.

If you're into heroes that constantly pin after the main character? READ THIS. He has been in love with Margo for seven years, but he has stayed quiet about it, because he feels that he isn't worth it. But this trip is definitely the opportunity to see if she feels the same. Only one bed? Only one COTTAGE? Yes. They have to take cover when it starts to rain and she starts to feel the cold and he carries her so she doesn't? HENRY, YOU ARE THE GREATEST, THE BESTEST, THE CUTEST.

This book is pretty steamy too, so if you want your books with a little bit of spice, read it.

[Hannah B.]

This was so cute I’d totally read a full book between them 🥺 I also think a full book could’ve interwoven the twins stories even more, but either way I’m excited for Matilda’s book!!

[Inna]

DNF @ 17% Could be fun, but I’m not feeling it. Also, I feel like a virgin hero paired with an experienced unmarried heroine in historical times is just a little over the top. Why even have this written as a historical if those are the characters? Plus, he’s been in love with her since they first met, so it’s just depressing that he pines from a distance FOR YEARS and she doesn’t look his way.

[Jillian]

Margo Halifax must stop her twin sister’s elopement and solicits aid from Henry down-bad Mortimer, who talks to cloaks because he’s gone batty after quietly pining for Margo these last 7-years. They head to Scotland with her reticule of cheese and he listens to her name cows while fantasizing of removing her dress with his teeth. When the carriage crashes, the only-one-horse becomes only-one-bed, which at last relieves Henry of his besotted cockstand and begets a lovelorn declaration that launched me off the precipice of bliss. Are reserved, semi-chaste gentlemen on the verge of expiring from unrequited adoration my new favorite romantic hero? Am I starting to not only tolerate, but actually fancy the term “apex” just because Alexandra Vasti wrote it? Can cheese get too wet? It does not signify. I am wrought with pleasure.

[Samantha]

⭐⭐⭐⭐
4 stars.


➕ What I liked :


Road trip romance.


A hero that is Not a aristocrat/nobleman but a working man (Solicitor)

Not a naive or inexperienced heroine.

Inexperienced hero.

Interesting main characters.

OK plot.

OK steam.

Good romantic build up and chemistry.

Bisexual heroine.

Funny/witty moments.

Opposites attract.











➖ What I disliked:

A little too anachronistic in many places of the story.

Somewhat formulaic characterization of the hero.
(The characterization of the hero in this book is a little bit too reminiscent of the hero in the book: The Chemistry of Familiar Objects.
They have different professions but other than that they are a little bit too reminiscent/similar of each other.)

Somewhat rushed ending even for a novella.

[Ginger]

3.5/3.75 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Ebook format 📖

Good start to a new romance series!
I like Alexandra Vasti's writing and her characters are fun to read about. The dialogue is good and the spicy level is excellent.

Definitely plan to continue the series and I'm looking forward to the next adventure with Margo's twin sister, Matilda!

[Cristina Elena | LaaA]

In the delightful novella entitled “In Which Margo Halifax Earns Her Shocking Reputation” the listeners are introduced to Margo Halifax, a spirited young woman in London who, along with her scandalous sister Matilda, lives a life defying societal norms. When Matilda plans to elope in Scotland, Margo sets out to stop her, accompanied by her friend Henry Mortimer, a lovelorn solicitor. Their journey is filled with humor, romance, and unexpected twists as they race against time to “save” Matilda from marriage.

The audiobook is a charming and quick listen that will appeal to fans of historical romance, particularly those who enjoy the Bridgerton series. The narrator, Mhairi Morrison, brings the story to life with her engaging performance, although some listeners may find it necessary to adjust the playback speed to fully understand her delivery. One of the novella's strengths lies in its well-crafted characters and believable character development, despite its brevity. Margo Halifax is a refreshingly unconventional heroine, fearless and endearing, while Henry Mortimer is portrayed as a perfectly imperfect love interest. Their dynamic and chemistry drive the plot forward, leading to satisfying and swoon-worthy moments that avoid popular clichés and cheese.

Author Alexandra Vasti succeeds in delivering a straight-through purposeful plot with humor and romance woven seamlessly throughout. The story strikes a balance between light-heartedness and depth, offering readers a brief yet fulfilling escape into Regency-era England. The introduction of the Halifax twins sets the stage for future installments, leaving readers eager to explore more of Vasti's world and characters.

Overall, the audiobook version of "In Which Margo Halifax Earns Her Shocking Reputation" excels in delivering a delightful historical romcom experience, with its engaging narration and entertaining storyline, it's a must-listen for fans of the genre. I eagerly await the audio adaptation of Vasti’s next stories!

Special thanks to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and the editorial team for giving me the opportunity to review the ARC in audiobook format and to you, my reader, for taking the time to read this honest personal book review.

If you are interested in other of my book reviews, make sure to follow me on GoodReads! #InWhichMargoHalifaxEarnsHerShockingReputation #NetGalley #LifeLongLearning

[Madison Warner Fairbanks]

The Halifax Hellions by Alexandra Vasti
Historical romance novellas.
The Halifax twins, proper society young ladies decided to rebel against society rules telling them what they couldn’t do. That was seven years ago and their behavior and antics have been written in all the scandal sheets since then. And they are totally fine with that.

Novella 1
In Which Margo Halifax Earns Her Shocking Reputation.
While used to scandal, Margo is shocked when her sister runs off with an older man to Scotland. Apparently to get married! Margo is determined to stop Matilda from making a permanent mistake that can’t be fixed so she begs help from her brother’s best friend, solicitor Henry Mortimer. He claims he can’t get away from work but he can’t actually resist her plea. He’s been in love with Margo since her debut so, of course, they end up in a carriage together, chasing after her sister. Those close confines together plus lots of hours together takes a toll on Henry. He’s ready to kiss her speechless and proclaim his love. Whether they catch up to her sister or not.

[Alιce ♥♠]

fun & fast-paced regency romcom 🤗

[Jassmine]

This book should have been perfect for me, but sadly... it was kind of cringe? I don't think writing ever ruined a book for me quite as much, but it really did here.

What this book has?

- Besotted proper virgin hero (28) who has been in love with the MC for 7 years (sounds like a winner, right?)
- Bisexual female sexually experienced MC who is gleefully dismissive of social rules and society
- Forced proximity
- Historical setting (although, very inaccurate, but in a way that I didn't actually mind that)

So why it didn't work?
- The sex scenes were bad, meaning generic. If you promise me a virgin hero I'm here for adorably clumsy sex, not for a sex god. And I don't care which goes where, I care about the emotions! I didn't really feel that here. I felt like the author was trying, but... it didn't really work out.

- I officially hate the word "quim", idk. I googled it and it actually seems pretty appropriate to use it here, but... it just doesn't give me the right feelings. The worlds the author uses for the heroine's vulva are honestly all kind of cringy, although "cunny" takes the cake. Like cute cunt, you get it? I mean, I don't love the word cunt either, but I feel like that one is at least plain and honest, cunny is just... wtf?! Props to the author though, for experimenting with the word choices, I really appreciate that. Names we give to things (and body parts...) are important and I think it's conversation worth having. Sadly, it didn't work for me here. It might for other people though.

- The same cringe writing projected also into the not-sex scenes. Some word choices were just WEIRD and it took me right out of the book.

- I kind of liked the characters at the beginning but it felt to me like the more we got into the story, the more cardboard they became 🤷🏽‍♀️

- The initial lusting part of the story is very... stereotypically physical. This isn't really insta-lust/love because they knew each other for ages, but I prefer when the lust feels personal and when it focuses on the things that aren't usually sexualised. Here... at the beginning the hero thinks something about the lines that "he can't be with her in the carriage because her tits would bounce into his face the whole time" ugh... not... really, sexy? At least to me, again, this is really about personal preference. And she thinks the whole time, how fit and hard his body is, which... again, not very sexy to me, especially since she's using him as a pillow.

The takeaway from this it that Alexandra Vasti clearly isn't an author for me and I won't be reading more by her. It seems that the next book is sort of Bluebeard retelling with BDSM, which honestly... I'm not that interested in and I can't take more of this writing. (I'm bad at not finishing series, so I'm just persuading myself here to drop it, don't mind me...)

A lot of people clearly loved this though and I don't feel like it's a bad book, so... if the things I talked about wouldn't bother you, then go for it! But I can't really recommend it...
2,5⭐ rounded up (edit: 6.3.) down, because looking back at this, I read so many great three star reads in February and this book just doesn't reach them at all.

[Miki’s⚠️ Safety Reviews & Rants⚠️]

DISAPPOINTED! Another non virgin virgin!


Ok I specifically went into reading this because the hero was a virgin and the h was NOT.

‼️Now I know everyone has their own hang ups but I love REVERSE situations to what we normally get in a romance.
So I SPECIFICALLY read this BECAUSE she was experienced and he was not.

‼️Now another thing AND THE MOST IMPORTANT to me. She did NOT love him or even see him romantically BUT HE DID!!! He has loved her for 7YEARS!
He definitely Could have acted on it. Tried at least to get her attention or swoon her off her feet. But he CHOSE NOT to cause of their rank difference. ALTHOUGH HE ADMITS she wouldn’t care about that!

‼️SO we find out he is a NON VIRGIN VIRGIN😡
He has done it all except intercourse!!!!! And ALL AFTER BEING IN LOVE WITH THE h!!!!

‼️So this is my hard line! No way. Instead of pursuing the h and manning up you let her be w OP and you to go off to explore OW.

‼️Here are quotes. I just can’t.
Give us a faithful Virgin or don’t bother cause to me this IS NOT romantic.
It makes him a beta and his VIRGINITY is only a TECHNICALITY.

‼️Also can I just say men’s virginity is far diff to me than a woman’s. It’s just is. So the fact that he has done everything but intercourse just isn’t a big in at all to me. And he was highly experienced with his pleasuring the h.


This was after they had sex for the first time and he explains he was a “technical” virgin.
”I’d not performed that particular act. I had—I was not—I was not entirely new to the experience.”

It was suddenly very important to impress upon her that he had not been a complete novice in sexual relations. Jesus. Had he seemed a complete novice? “There are preliminary acts. Which I had, of course, engaged in. Before, er, last night.”

“Yes, I’m not surprised. You seemed—” She appeared as lost for words as he was. “You seemed not to, er, require a map.”

😡”He had not precisely intended to pursue a lifestyle of celibacy. At twenty-one, when he’d first met Margo, he’d been bookish and shy—no opportunities to indulge in fleshly pleasures had presented themselves, and he had been too reticent to seek them out. And after he’d met Margo—He’d never met anyone who held a candle to her. He’d tried, several times, to disengage his interest from Margo, to make himself admire someone else, but all to no avail. After those failures, he’d taken a passive tack. Surely, he’d thought, surely someday his heart would abandon its hopeless fixation on her.”

[RLbooks (in and out)]

3.5 stars

This is one of two novellas on the author’s website following a pair of twins. Margo (h) and her twin have quite the reputation that they’ve cultivated for being wild, shocking, and unladylike. They’re still accepted at social events due to being heiresses. Margo’s twin has shocked even her though by eloping with an older man, who has some interesting sexual interests, so Margo enlists her brother’s best friend to help her chase after them. She doesn’t know that Henry (H) has been in love with her for years or that the forced proximity is going to push some limits and lead to realizations. Written in third person, dual POV. No ow/om drama and h is not a virgin but H is.

Henry was a very likable and sweet hero who didn’t feel good enough since he’s only a barrister, but who remained devoted in the background as a friend. Margo was less likable for me simply because her chaotic energy was just not my cup of tea. I liked her intentions, just not how she often went about things and how she jumped headfirst. I felt sympathy for the questions about her identity as a Halifax Hellion and with her twin running off though. But she has Henry, who’s supportive and caring. Including when an accident happens and they’re soaked to the bone, needing urgently to get warm. Which leads into this being a steamy book with a couple of scenes despite it being shorter in length.

The author’s writing style and pacing made the book flow really well, I flew through the pages. However, another reviewer pointed out how modern it felt and I agree, I don’t see how the twins would have still been accepted in society with the antics described.

Pretty much the whole book is them on the road chasing after the sister, which I won’t spoil. There is an impassioned declaration, questioning how to move forward, and an emotionally tense scene that caused me to shed a couple tears. The book ends in a HFN/HEA and even though this is a novella, I wanted just a couple more pages in an epilogue. What about their brother (who was in Wales when both twins went on the lam and whose best friend is now with his sister)? What will their daily life look like? How about their wedding? I’m going to try the sister’s book too because I’m curious.

[Irina (trying to catch up)]

She loved Henry Mortimer, and she needed to tell him so.
    Unfortunately, the rapidity with which she had come to this conclusion outmatched Henry’s walking pace from the waterfall back to the village, and he was not presently available for her declaration.

When her twin sister elopes to Scotland with an infamous Marquess, Margo Halifax asks her brother's best friend, Henry, to go after Matilda with her. The stiff, shy solicitor has been secretly in love with the inappropriate woman for years and reluctantly agrees to accompany her on the road trip. After a carriage accident, they end up in a crofter's cottage. It's quite cold and raining, of course, so they are soaked and chilled and shivering, and there's no way to avoid undressing and warming each other, and fate takes its course.

My first book by Vasti, and a decent one. The plot/romance is a bit shallow (no surprise here, it's a novella of about 130 pages), but the heroes are likable and the writing style is pretty amusing. All in all, it's a cute and entertaining book – if you're willing to ignore the anachronism.

It's actually one of those very modern HR books. The heroine in particular is way ahead of her time. At 25, she's not only known for her antics and disregard for the rules of society. She's also unmarried, but loves pleasure and has had liaisons with a girl at school, two widows, and a footman. A conversation with Henry also sparks her interest in spanking and other (mild) BDSM practices. All of this is dropped rather casually, as if it's pretty normal, but it's not, especially not in the 1820s, so it felt somewhat disturbing.

I'm going to read Margo's twin sister's book next, though I'm afraid I might have the same issues with submissive Matilda and the Marquess swinging a riding crop.

3.5

[Nabilah]

It wasn't a bad read. Just a bit too modern for my tastes. Furthermore, a promiscuous young lady (besides a courtesan, mistress or prostitute) in a historical setting isn't my thing because it isn't very plausible in my opinion.

[Lady Nilambari Reads HR]

In-Which-We-Learn-Margo-Is-More-Than-A-Handful

- New to me author
-Loved the writing & the plot
- Margo was difficult to digest, authentically speaking
- Henry was a marshmallow

[Kaylene (I wanna read but work &#x1f634;)]

I was completely charmed.

If you don't mind the utterly modern characters plonked into a "historical" setting then this is a fun time - but you have to take that into account.

For all that this was a novella and I absolutely enjoyed it. I think it helped that Margo and Henry knew each other for years.

Margo and Matilda are the shocking Halifax twins or rather the Halifax Hellions known for shocking society and disregarding all of its rules. Margo is so unpredictable and quite reckless - when her sister elopes and leaves for Scotland she has to follow to rescue her.

Enter Henry Mortimer - her brothers best friend, steady, dependable and completely gone for Margo.

The two of them race to find Matilda and along the way find each other instead.

A good quick read to temporarily kick me out of the slump I'm in!

[book bruin]

What an amazing novella! I’m so annoyed with myself for sleeping on this series. Alexandra Vasti packed a lot into this one and I fell in love with Henry and Margo right away. There are tropes galore (the pining is next level!!) and a reveal towards the end had me giddy and smiling like a fool. I was also very pleasantly surprised by the level of steam! *fans self* I wish it had been longer so the ending wouldn’t have felt quite so rushed, but I really loved this one and can’t wait to read the other books!

[GigiReads]

Cute little romp. Novellas are tricky for me because I always want more. In this case I was much more interested in the delicious starchy do gooder Henry than in the scandalous Margo and the focus was squarely on her.
There just wasn't enough space to develop him and them more. Excellently written with a very modern voice which was a tad too modern for me at times. For fans of Eva Leigh and Joanna Shupe.

Tropes
Road trip
Pining hero

⭐⭐⭐💫/5
🔥🔥🔥/5

[Karla C]

Well this was a perfect read on a rainy autumn day. Absolutely love a pining starchy hero and Henry was that and was a super horny one. Margo was such a fun and funny heroine, with right mix of whimsy, pluck, and depth. Adored them both and the heat was also 🔥🔥🥵

I can’t wait to read more of Alexandra Vasti’s works (especially Matilda’s story!)

[Katie (Romance Novel Quotes)]

Love this book, love this heroine, love this new voice in histrom. 💜

[shaira ✨]

ahh to have a man be this devastatingly horny in love with a person the way henry is for margo halifax 🔥

reading this book felt like drinking ice cold water on a hot summer day. and it’s been hot for quite some time now, mind you. and by hot, what i actually mean is, i haven’t read something this refreshingly good in ages 😭

the romance glutton in me relished every morsel of this “pining hero” / “in love with her for years” / “will do anything for her” / “friends to lovers” sub trope-y goodness 🥵

seeing both of characters very visibly crave and pine for each other, featuring some top tier one bed forced proximity goodness at the crux of it all *nobody pinch me*. i just can’t get over how this man was so fixated with his love for her that he waited years to lose his virginity to her and the way he was dtf right from the get-go — man manifested this and can’t help but feel mad respect for the level of dedication. love a man who know what he wants and goes for it, consequences be damned 🤌🏽

i also enjoyed reading about margo so much. normally i find this kind of heroine a bit flighty and silly but i realised i would probably do the exact same things if i were in her position—

run off to the country side alone with my brothers hot friend whom i have some pre-existing feelings for? check. have hot dreams about aforementioned brothers hot friend, seduce said hot friend with my eyes/facial expressions and end up in an inn with one bed, only to bring the seduction to a raunchy x-rated climax? check. confess my love for said hot best friend whom all but admitted would move heaven and earth for me and elope with him to scotland? check. at this point queen isn’t just margo, she is margeux 💅

even tho this was only ~100 or so pages long, the chemistry between these two was hot and electrifying and oh so .. primal (esp the way henry described his needs 🔥). urgh alexandra vasti did such a wonderful job at convincing me how hot these characters were for each other and ye best believe i’m going to hire her to write my very own romance story 🥹

[nitya]

Road trip plus pining male love interest plus brother's best friend PLUS forced proximity??

Say no more 😌

Also, I really liked the subversion of virginity here, don't see it much in historical romance (experienced female x male virgin anyway).

(And definitely reading book two after this)

Content warning: sex scenes, death of parents (mention), carriage accident