A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Heirs: A Regency Era Romance

by Trisha Messmer

He agreed to save her reputation. His heart wasn't part of the bargain.
Victor Pratt may be heir to a viscountcy, but his heart belongs to canvas and color–not courtship. Dodging his mother's attempts to marry him off, he concocts a a faux courtship with the one woman who needs his help as much as he needs a pleasant diversion.

After a humiliating debut, Juliana Merrick, half-sister to a duke, finds herself the subject of whispered ridicule. When Victor proposes his plan to restore her reputation, she reluctantly agrees–never expecting his kindness to upend both their lives.

In a gesture of friendship, Juliana arranges a commission for Victor to paint portraits of her brother's family, hoping to help him gain the recognition his talent deserves. As brush meets canvas, their sham attachment begins to feel disconcertingly real.

But Victor chases a ghost from his past, leaving Juliana to grapple with falling for a man who may never love her back . . .

352 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 17, 2025

About the author

Trisha Messmer always had an obsession with reading, starting at the tender age of four (or so her mother told her).

Finding some of the things she read lacking-or at least not ending the way she thought they should-she started making up her own stories. They lived within her vivid imagination for a long, long time until one day they broke free and put themselves on a page. Sometimes things really do take on a life of their own.She hopes you enjoy her musings as much as she enjoyed writing them, If they make you laugh, sigh, or even cry, she would love hearing about it. Sign up for her newsletter and receive free exclusive VIP content of supplemental material.

Contact her on Facebook or on her website.

Reviews

[Rosie Trzewik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again Trisha Messmer writing will transport you into the past. The rigid ways of the Ton, the gossipy upper class and of course belittling those beneath them. But there are exceptions in the Ton and they are trying to better themselves. Victor Platt is such a person, not really caring about one day being the heir to a Viscountcy. Devoting his time to his art hoping to get a commission to paint portraits for a Duke with the help of Juliana the Duke’s half-sister. Who he met at a house party a year ago and now again at her come out ball. Unfortunately for Juliana the Ton really doesn’t accept her since she is a commoner, they barely tolerate her. And when the gossip rag Mudraker seems to enjoy embarrassing Juliana with untruths or exaggerations of which Victor is a part of. Trying to help her he comes up with a plan. A false courtship, which also will hopefully keep his medaling matchmaking mother out of his life. Of course things only gets worse, and the challenge is to discover who is the Mudraker writer? Who has been feeding that person information? So with the help of friends from previous books traps are laid. And the rouse of a fake courtship takes a turn.
I throughly enjoyed this book/series. I would suggest to read the previous books as there are quite a few characters making an encore appearance. Thank you to the author and publisher for this ARC. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

[Kim Mears · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 3rd book in the series and features the sister of the Duke from the first book.

Poor Juliana doesn't have a great coming out as a sly debutane embarrasses her. Victor is the sister of a character from another series who had his heart broken. They end up engaged after the sly debutante spreads a lie about Juliana after mistakenly thinking Victor has drawn her in a riskey manor. Victor seems to still be hung up on the person who broke his heart, will he finally realise his feelings for Juliana before it's too late.

I am enjoying trying to work out who the person behind the gossip sheets. I have a few ideas but keep changing my mind with each book.

Looking forward to the next book in the series now.
I would thoroughly recommend reading this book and the other books in the series.

[Fanosse23 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trisha Messmer's "London Ladies’ League" series continues to enchant, and this latest installment is no exception. Within its pages, Messmer weaves a tapestry rich with the intrigue and splendor of historical romance—misguided societal rules, whispered gossip of the Ton, cherished characters from past volumes, steadfast friends, and delightfully meddlesome family members. It's a world where society’s fickleness changes as swiftly as fashion trends, and every whispered secret carries the weight of scandal.

Enter Victor Pratt, a brooding artist with a heart anchored in his canvases, determined to resist his mother’s relentless matchmaking. Love is the last thing on his palette. Then there’s Juliana Merrick, the spirited half-sister to a duke, navigating the sharp edges of Ton disapproval due to her commoner status. Drawn to Victor’s quiet intensity, she agrees to a mutually beneficial charade: a fake courtship designed to preserve her reputation and divert his mother's ambitions. Perfect—until emotions, like rogue brushstrokes, blur the lines of their arrangement.

Victor, haunted by the ghost of a lost love, believes his heart is fortified against new affections. Yet, Juliana’s warmth, authenticity, and unpretentious charm seep into his guarded soul. Their connection deepens amidst a backdrop of intrigue—anonymous gossip columns, clandestine informants, and unexpected alliances with familiar faces from previous escapades.

The emotional journey is as vivid as Victor’s artistry. Frustration bubbles as he grapples with his denial, blind to the truth that his past love wasn’t his destined match. Juliana’s silent heartache is palpable, knowing his lingering attachments cast shadows over their growing bond. The unraveling mystery of the Mudracker, the spirited antics of Lydia and Lord Felix, and the surprise interventions from unlikely quarters create a story that’s both heartwarming and exhilarating.

In the end, "London Ladies’ League" isn’t just a story of love found amidst societal constraints—it’s a masterclass in the messiness of the human heart. Messmer paints with words as Victor does with oils, capturing the delicate interplay of hope, heartbreak, and the irresistible pull of true affection. Prepare to be charmed, frustrated, and ultimately swept off your feet.

This series is absolutely enthralling—I’m completely hooked! I’m eagerly looking forward to the next book and can hardly wait to immerse myself in it. The only downside is the agonizing wait!

A thoroughly enjoyable read! I received an ARC copy of the book from the author, and I am leaving this review voluntarily, all thought and opinions are my own.

[Marion Löw · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am totally in love with this slow-burn romance. It's very well written, fast-paced with fake engagement, engagement by scandal and class disparity tropes, some twists, LOL moments, a touch of mystery and suspense, intrigue, complications, light steam and a whole cast of very likable characters you've come to know and love from the author's previous installments and the "Hope Clinic" series.
Juliana is a great heroine with a lot of heart and brains who, despite her lowly background, tries to do her brother Drake proud but is met with social rejection. Victor is an emotional, sensitive cinnamon roll hero who wants to make his way as a painter and is still mourning his love, who married someone else.
I really liked their friendly relationship, their mutual understanding, support and acceptance and how the relationship slowly developed despite obstacles and misguided feelings. The strong bond and support between Juliana's family and friends (protagonists of the previous books) is also heartwarming.

Juliana Merrick, the half-sister of Drake, the Duke of Burwood, tries to adapt to her new circumstances and make Drake proud of her. But her disastrous debut makes her the laughing stock of society. One of the few people who sticks by her is Victor Pratt, to whom she has been attracted for some time. In return, she wants to arrange a commission for the sensitive and likable artist to paint portraits of her brother's family.
Victor, the son of a viscount, is not interested in the superficial, indolent societal life. He would rather pursue his career as a painter in order to leave a lasting legacy. Victor tries to ignore his mother's matchmaking attempts with appropriate society ladies, especially as he is still in love with the woman who broke his heart when she chose someone else.
But when an unpleasant rumor about his sketches of Juliana appears in the Muckracker, Victor does the honorable thing and asks for Juliana's hand in marriage to protect her reputation and at the same time prevent his mother from any further matchmaking attempts. Together with the Ladies' League and their friends, they try to find out who is behind the rumors and the newspaper...

All in all a captivating romance with endearing characters, heart, humor, a touch of suspense and a little spice that I am happy to recommend!

I received a free ARC of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and left voluntarily.

[Bridget Love to read Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

We have Victor Pratt heir to a Viscount and Miss Juliana Merrick who were introduced but have vastly different first impressions!
Juliana is struck my the handsome, polite artist and interested. Victor is interested because she reminds him of a lost love!
Adalyn is someone he almost proposed to but she loves another! Love married and started a family with Lord Nash at the encouragement from Honoria no less! There are several moving pieces in this rocky road to a HEA!
It starts with Victor spending time with Juliana and he starts to see what a lovely, intelligent equestrian she is. She proves her skills yet again in this story to save another child!
Juliana is kind genuinely but she’s not stupid she quickly realizes that Victor is not over his past. She hopes that their sham engagement can become real but she’s not sure!?
When one thing after another causes Juliana public embarrassment it does not seem she a commoner would be a good match!
Then there is spiteful Lydia and Lord Felix both are obnoxious awful people who would be a much better match then constant confusion they try to reek! The Mudracker plays a large part in this rocky romance ad it consistently pants the couple in a dim light but their adversaries shine!
There are all kinds of surprises as Drake welcomes a new successful family member that must have his own story sooner than later!
There are some very helpful allies of Victor which will come as a complete shock! Even aiding Victor and Juliana to reconcile quite nicely!
But someone has a vendetta against Drake the Duke of Burwood and when the couple is injured it definitely delays their nuptials!
Whew can there even be a wedding when a death stops everything in London! One of the planted rumors came true at least partway! You won’t want to put this book down! I stayed up way late! As always this couple will stay with you long after the last page! The epilogues help to think of Victor as totally redeemed and loving! Bravo
I received an ARC copy for my unbiased opinion!

[Holly Brown-Horsler · Rating 5 out of 5]

The 3rd book in the London Ladies League series follows Juliana and Victor's story. Juliana is the commoner half-sister of a duke, and Victor and aspiring artist and heir to a viscountsy. Juliana is pretty much enamored with Victor from the get-go. Victor, on the other hand, is a little slower due to the fact that he's still hung up on a lady he once courted, who turned down his proposal and married another man several years before.

The Muckraker scandal sheet is at the heart of many of the events that follow which force Victor and Juliana into an arranged sham courtship and engagement, which eventually leads to Victor opening his eyes, truly falling for Juliana, and of course, the inevitable happily ever after. I wont spoil the read by giving all the details but it was undoubtedly a very enjoyable read, that I would definitely recommend.

The mystery surrounding the identity of the individual behind the Muckraker continues to be an ongoing under-thread, the same as in the other books in the series. Whilst many possible culprits are explored, we are still no closer to an answer as yet.

As much as I really enjoyed the romance as it unfolded, and the mystery of course, my favourite parts were actually the returns of some of the characters from the other London Ladies League and Hope Clinic books. Priscilla and Nash were definitely the stand outs for me (I genuinely hope we get to see more of Nash in future books). Whilst you don't necessarily need to read the other books to follow the events, I would highly recommend them. They're not only really great stories in their own right, but the impact of the returning characters is undoubtedly heightened due to the extended knowledge and context the other books provide. Give them a read. You wont be disappointed.

[Catherine A · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another fine addition to the London Ladies’ League series. It features the 22 year old half-sister of the Duke of Burwood, Juliana Merrick, and Victor Pratt, heir to Viscount Cartwright. Juliana struggles to find suitors and she is secretly attracted to Victor. Victor’s feelings are complicated by a prior attraction. A friendship develops into a fake engagement. Then Victor’s artistic skills come to the attention of Burwood and he is commissioned to paint the Duke’s family starting with Juliana. Will their friendship deepen into something more as they spend time together? And if so, will they overcome the fear of rejection and admit their feelings to each other? It is very difficult to risk rejection by revealing your feelings to someone. Of course, the Muckraker publication reeks havoc throughout and the London Ladies League inches closer to discovering who is responsible.

I enjoyed this installment. Like the rest, it is nicely written and certainly entertaining. The familiar characters are wonderfully developed and the relationship updates are nicely integrated. Juliana’s character is extremely relatable to most women, especially slightly shy ones. I will be watching for the next story and waiting for the conclusion to the Muckraker saga for sure.

I received an Advanced Reader copy and I am voluntarily leaving this review.

[Sonia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was excited to begin reading this book because it features a group of characters that I've gotten to know over past several years. This time around the story features Victor and Juliana. Both characters were instantly relatable. Victor shares a dragon of a mother with former FMC Priscilla and Juliana is the awkward half-sister of the new Duke of Burwood. She also bears an unfortunate resemblance to Adalyn, Victor's former love interest. Making things even more sticky is The Muckraker. Once again, the lives of the Londoners are being picked apart within the pages of that salacious publication.
This book has a lively pace as it follows the development of Victor and Juliana's relationship as well as the investigation of the Muckraker mystery. Fans of the Duke of Ashton and the morally gray Lord Nash will be pleased to see their active participation in the current story.
In order to properly enjoy this book and the others in the London Ladies' League series, I strongly recommend beginning with the previous Hope Clinic stories. I've been reading Historical Romance for many years and these books are definitely among the best in regard to story and character development. I received a free ARC from the author and StoryOrigins. This is my honest review.

[Lilpep · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this third installment of the London Ladies League, we meet Juliana and Victor. Juliana is having a difficult time fitting into London society. Half sister to the newly minted Duke of Burwood, she, herself, is a commoner. Add in the minor catastrophes that seem to follow in her wake, and we have a struggling miss.  Victor, while a peer, is saddled with a meddlesome mother bent on marrying him off sooner rather than later. He vehemently opposes the idea as he still carries a torch for Adalyn, now Lord Nash's wife. Even though their initial interactions are adversarial,  circumstances bring Victor and Juliana together in a fake courtship to combat the salacious Muckraker scandal sheet.


Once again, Ms. Messmer gives us an entree to Regency England society, where the slightest misstep can have disastrous results. Her characters are complex and deeply emotional.  The story unfolds beautifully, with enough drama to keep you eagerly turning the pages. I couldn't wait for the HEA and stayed up way past bedtime. While this story can be read as a stand-alone, many of the supporting characters are from previous books. Do yourself a favor and read those books as well. 

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author writes stories from both her heart and her imagination. There is never a book of her's that I haven't plugged into with great anticipation and there is never a time that I have been disappointed. In book three of this amazing series, Julianna needs to both improve her status in society and separate herself from her horrid mother. Victor on the other hand, can't seem to get over his broken heart. So they form the normal fake courtship which leads to frustration, heartache and hope.
Now, this may sound like the normal run of the mill historical romance but I promise you, it is not in any way run of the mill or normal. Besides these main characters, one of my all time favorite characters, Nash, is back on the scene. He adds his own special uniqueness as well as other characters in secondary roles. If you want to read quality writing by an author who angst over every word, thought, concept and page then this is the author to read. Her skills are amazing, the creative process is unparalleled, the stories are captivating, emotional, real and fully engaging. You don't want to miss out on even one of these stories.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this to be an entertaining read. Juliana found it difficult to fit into society as she hadn’t known this life before her half brother become a duke. Victor Pratt, heir of a viscount was being pressurised to marry by his mother. What a dreadful person she was, little wonder her husband had previously banished her to their estate in Lincolnshire. For their mutual benefit Victor and Juliana agree to a fake engagement. There are people against it and of course, The Muckraker who keeps up with the gossip in the news sheet that shows Juliana in a bad light. I liked the inclusion of previous characters, especially Nash. There is romance although it doesn’t run smoothly and the mystery of who is the Muckraker is being narrowed down to a few suspects. I received a copy via Story Origin and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own,

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this book better than the two others in the series so far. Perhaps that is because it includes both art and horses, both of which I like. The main characters seem good hearted, and willing to change and learn. Victor realizes he can fall in love again. Juliana overcomes her mother's criticism. Not too much gambling or too many dances. Some things are left unresolved, perhaps for the next installment.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing story! The characters are rich and full. The story is very engaging. The emotions are true and read well. Juliana is a sweetheart of a character. She is sweet, yet full of spunk. She may be a commoner, but she has such a beautiful heart as she tries to navigate the Ton. Victor grows so much in this story. My only disappointment is that I want to for sure who the Muckraker is.

[Suze82 · Rating 4 out of 5]

deserving more
Both Victor and Juliana´s stories broke my heart, everybody deserves to follow their heart, to do things that make you thrive and to be loved, but the ton´s rigid rules often stifle you instead of making you rise and some people actually enjoy seeing others suffer and add to their misery.

[Karen Carpenter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely story

I don't know why there needs to be a shooting or kidnapping in these stories but it seems standard anymore.
Being caught where they should be and righteous anger would have been enough to accomplish the delay needed to set up the timeline.
Anyway a HEA for all, well not really someone has to pay.

[Nancy T Vega · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Fall/A Meeting/A Horse ride/Love..

Set up with falls in society Juliana feels like a failure but someone is to blame. And as she sees Victor at first as a friend she becomes more in love with him. It takes some time for him to realize that but when she is almost ambushed their lives are just theirs & theirs alone. But who is the culprit??

[Denise Tocci · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the novel slowly 1 because I didn't want it to end and 2 my god all our old friends are here. So many memories of the characters of the first season as I call it.come rolling back.Lots of info on the villian or villains and a great love story..Great novel can't wait for next book whose turn?

[Pamela Barbee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each story in this series just keeps getting better and better. This story has well defined characters, an interesting plot which includes prejudice of classes, scandals, rejection, fake courting, romance and of course, love.

[Brenda Geddes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nicely done

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

At least the way they get together was novel.