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The Scandalous Lady Mina
A Victorian enemies to lovers, forced proximity romance
Setting sail with the enemy…
and a reckless temptation!
Lady Wilhelmina, once the darling of the ton, fled England in shame after jilting her fiancé. Following a decade in disgrace, Mina’s returning to Society’s ballrooms on a luxury steamship…and encounters her ex-fiancé’s distractingly handsome cousin, Max Cavendish—her once friend, now enemy!
Max’s guard is up, yet being in close quarters with Mina sparks a wave of dangerous attraction that makes him want to discover the truth behind the scandal. Wealthy engineer Max is used to being in command of his world and his emotions, but his complicated feelings for Mina are making him feel decidedly out of control…
From Harlequin Your romantic escape to the past.
Setting sail with the enemy…
and a reckless temptation!
Lady Wilhelmina, once the darling of the ton, fled England in shame after jilting her fiancé. Following a decade in disgrace, Mina’s returning to Society’s ballrooms on a luxury steamship…and encounters her ex-fiancé’s distractingly handsome cousin, Max Cavendish—her once friend, now enemy!
Max’s guard is up, yet being in close quarters with Mina sparks a wave of dangerous attraction that makes him want to discover the truth behind the scandal. Wealthy engineer Max is used to being in command of his world and his emotions, but his complicated feelings for Mina are making him feel decidedly out of control…
From Harlequin Your romantic escape to the past.
- GenresHistorical Romance
270 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 23, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
May 26, 2026
Ten years ago, Mina Davenport left London in scandal and broke a Cavendish's heart. The trouble is, the wrong Cavendish is still furious about it. When Max discovers she's aboard his ship, hired without his knowledge by his own uncle, the rage is immediate. Unfortunately, for him and his heart, the thaw is much faster than he expected. And whew... the make-out sessions are hot.
Forced proximity on a transatlantic crossing does what forced proximity does, and the bickering-into-something-more dynamic is the driver. Septimus, Max's uncle and opera impresario, is a genuinely entertaining secondary character; he is a bit manipulative and gently underhanded beneath the bon vivant surface, which makes him more interesting than his charm suggests.
The weaker element is craft, not story. POV shifts between Mina and Max without clear delineation, and the past/present transitions are inconsistent. Neither problem is fatal, but both require more reader effort than they should. (Note: the ARC formatting on Kindle was terrible, so some of this complaint may have been due to that issue.)
Mina's self-worth arc is the emotional center of the book. She believes she doesn't deserve Max nearly to the end, but the grand gesture that closes things is the right amount of swoony convincing. The epilogue is a little basic by comparison, but the landing matters more than the coda.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin for the ARC.
Forced proximity on a transatlantic crossing does what forced proximity does, and the bickering-into-something-more dynamic is the driver. Septimus, Max's uncle and opera impresario, is a genuinely entertaining secondary character; he is a bit manipulative and gently underhanded beneath the bon vivant surface, which makes him more interesting than his charm suggests.
The weaker element is craft, not story. POV shifts between Mina and Max without clear delineation, and the past/present transitions are inconsistent. Neither problem is fatal, but both require more reader effort than they should. (Note: the ARC formatting on Kindle was terrible, so some of this complaint may have been due to that issue.)
Mina's self-worth arc is the emotional center of the book. She believes she doesn't deserve Max nearly to the end, but the grand gesture that closes things is the right amount of swoony convincing. The epilogue is a little basic by comparison, but the landing matters more than the coda.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin for the ARC.
August 10, 2026
I absolutely loved this historical romance and following the journey of Lady Wilhelmina (Mina). Mina left England after abandoning her fiancé. She left a sour taste in the mouth as she fled.
After returning 10 years later, with the betrayal and secrets lingering, we had Max who is the fiancé cousin. I couldn't take the burning tension the author gave us! Amazing job keeping me on my toes throughout. If you love enemies to lovers, historical romance and forced proximity this is for you!
After returning 10 years later, with the betrayal and secrets lingering, we had Max who is the fiancé cousin. I couldn't take the burning tension the author gave us! Amazing job keeping me on my toes throughout. If you love enemies to lovers, historical romance and forced proximity this is for you!
June 19, 2026
I have been a big fan of Lara Temple’s writing for many, many years, she was one of the first M&B authors that I reviewed on the blog, I loved her work from that very first book and have been an avid reader of every one since, so I was both incredibly excited (new Lara Temple book, woo-hoo!!) and sad as this could be her last with M&B as they are discontinuing the line (booo, sobs!). Though I do have everything crossed that there will be at least one more story from her (please, pretty please with cherries on top!!)
But, yes, it’s a little bittersweet.
I have to admit that it took me a while to fully settle into this one, the first part felt disjointed and a little cluttered, I struggled with what was going on initially with the connections between the characters, it felt busy and not as seamless as I would have expected which made reading a little hit and miss, and resulted in taking me longer then usual to read it, that soon passed and once I got past the hump in the road everything fell into place and it felt like a old school Lara Temple love story again.
It’s no secret that enemies-to-lovers is my all-time favourite trope. I love that the characters have to work so much harder for their HEA, and that is certainly the case for Mina and Max. There is a lot of history between them, a lot of hard, raw emotion, anger and angst, misunderstandings and secrets, all of which Mina and Max must wade through before the healing can begin.
Mina has had a pretty sh*te start, once upon a time she was the darling of society, she is in her element, about to marry and all of a sudden it all goes wrong, her life she knew is ripped out from under her alng with the perdon ashe thought she was and to make matters worse she is branded a villian, a scandal and flees with her life in tatters.
I do feel for Mina; she doesn’t deserve the hardships that are suddenly thrust upon her; she is hurt and lost, all because of others. This story really emphasises how we carry our pasts with us for the rest of our lives, and how it takes years and huge amounts of courage (and possibly therapy) to finally face your own past. That’s what happened with Mina; she had to suffer because of her parents, people who should have cared for her and shielded her from scandal, which was of their own doing.
Honestly, I detested her parents with a passion; her father was a selfish cretin who thought children were for nothing else but to be used for his own gain and her mother….well, she is an awful, spiteful, cruel and manipulative woman and the poorest excuse for a mother. Honestly, I’ve disliked some characters in my time, but those two…..grrrrr!!
And breathe!
Now, all those years later, after fleeing England under a cloud and leaving behind a trail of scandal and unrest, she is working in New York to make ends meet. Then, literally out of the blue, she is offered the chance to return to England and start again. Easier said than done when the person employing you is the relative of your ex-fiancé, but Uncle Septemus is great fun, so no worries there, but the man who you thought was a friend and ended up being your enemy is also aboard the same ship.
Hmmm, not the great start to a new life!
Mina is a really likeable young woman, she is so deep within herself, hidden away inside the shell her parents and her past have put her in, and it does take a lot of strength and courage for her to leave the safety of that shell. I applaud her, and my heart absolutely went out to her, but I do think her difficult past did shape her to be the compassionate, kind and brave woman she essentially is.
Max, well, as much as I want to say that I adored him, I couldn’t; he was very stand-off-ish, yes, I know he is very close to his family, and I applaud him for just how much he feels for their hurts, but really, there is a limit to how much you can take offence or hold a grudge on anothers account (hmm, pot and kettle springs to mind as I do tend to do the same, ah well!). But with our Max, it isn’t merely the fact that Mina broke his cousin’s heart, but also that for years he harboured deep feelings of his own for her, resulting is way too many complex and confusing emotions battling one another.
I have to meet Max’s uncle, Septimus, the man who has employed Mina; he is a hoot, completely eccentric, a little bolshy and outrageous, definitely pantomime over the top at times, but utterly charming. His loud eccentricity is adorable and a perfect buffer for Mina and Max’s drama. In my eyes, he is the glue that holds it all together until Max and Mina find their feet.
Apart from a bumpy start, I did really enjoy Mina and Max’s journey. It’s not the easiest; it’s fraught with so much tension and unresolved issues, and secrets need to be revealed but the slow building love story is hugely satisfying, the quick banter between them is edgy add in that they are stuck onbaord a ship with no escape (that is, unless one pushes the other overboard, LOl!) it’s fun, challenging and ultimately romantic!
But, yes, it’s a little bittersweet.
I have to admit that it took me a while to fully settle into this one, the first part felt disjointed and a little cluttered, I struggled with what was going on initially with the connections between the characters, it felt busy and not as seamless as I would have expected which made reading a little hit and miss, and resulted in taking me longer then usual to read it, that soon passed and once I got past the hump in the road everything fell into place and it felt like a old school Lara Temple love story again.
It’s no secret that enemies-to-lovers is my all-time favourite trope. I love that the characters have to work so much harder for their HEA, and that is certainly the case for Mina and Max. There is a lot of history between them, a lot of hard, raw emotion, anger and angst, misunderstandings and secrets, all of which Mina and Max must wade through before the healing can begin.
Mina has had a pretty sh*te start, once upon a time she was the darling of society, she is in her element, about to marry and all of a sudden it all goes wrong, her life she knew is ripped out from under her alng with the perdon ashe thought she was and to make matters worse she is branded a villian, a scandal and flees with her life in tatters.
I do feel for Mina; she doesn’t deserve the hardships that are suddenly thrust upon her; she is hurt and lost, all because of others. This story really emphasises how we carry our pasts with us for the rest of our lives, and how it takes years and huge amounts of courage (and possibly therapy) to finally face your own past. That’s what happened with Mina; she had to suffer because of her parents, people who should have cared for her and shielded her from scandal, which was of their own doing.
Honestly, I detested her parents with a passion; her father was a selfish cretin who thought children were for nothing else but to be used for his own gain and her mother….well, she is an awful, spiteful, cruel and manipulative woman and the poorest excuse for a mother. Honestly, I’ve disliked some characters in my time, but those two…..grrrrr!!
And breathe!
Now, all those years later, after fleeing England under a cloud and leaving behind a trail of scandal and unrest, she is working in New York to make ends meet. Then, literally out of the blue, she is offered the chance to return to England and start again. Easier said than done when the person employing you is the relative of your ex-fiancé, but Uncle Septemus is great fun, so no worries there, but the man who you thought was a friend and ended up being your enemy is also aboard the same ship.
Hmmm, not the great start to a new life!
Mina is a really likeable young woman, she is so deep within herself, hidden away inside the shell her parents and her past have put her in, and it does take a lot of strength and courage for her to leave the safety of that shell. I applaud her, and my heart absolutely went out to her, but I do think her difficult past did shape her to be the compassionate, kind and brave woman she essentially is.
Max, well, as much as I want to say that I adored him, I couldn’t; he was very stand-off-ish, yes, I know he is very close to his family, and I applaud him for just how much he feels for their hurts, but really, there is a limit to how much you can take offence or hold a grudge on anothers account (hmm, pot and kettle springs to mind as I do tend to do the same, ah well!). But with our Max, it isn’t merely the fact that Mina broke his cousin’s heart, but also that for years he harboured deep feelings of his own for her, resulting is way too many complex and confusing emotions battling one another.
I have to meet Max’s uncle, Septimus, the man who has employed Mina; he is a hoot, completely eccentric, a little bolshy and outrageous, definitely pantomime over the top at times, but utterly charming. His loud eccentricity is adorable and a perfect buffer for Mina and Max’s drama. In my eyes, he is the glue that holds it all together until Max and Mina find their feet.
Apart from a bumpy start, I did really enjoy Mina and Max’s journey. It’s not the easiest; it’s fraught with so much tension and unresolved issues, and secrets need to be revealed but the slow building love story is hugely satisfying, the quick banter between them is edgy add in that they are stuck onbaord a ship with no escape (that is, unless one pushes the other overboard, LOl!) it’s fun, challenging and ultimately romantic!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4 Stars
The number of people of the ton who believe they are entitled to play fast and loose who the lives and emotions of others astounds me. When it is your own parents it is even worse. Lady Wilhelmina (Mina) Davenport, had grown up thinking she was one thing only to find out at 19 she was something totally different. To find out in such a cruel, spiteful and manipulative way was even worse. Her father only used his children to dig him out of whatever hole he had dug for himself at the time. Her mother, well she was a different type of petty, selfish and cruel woman. All in all her parents should have been neutered and each died alone...preferably with some horrible ailment that lingered.
It saddened me that she carried the damage from her parents for 10 years before she was able to drum up the courage to explain the pain she caused upon finding out what she was. Granted, things ended up the way they ultimately should have been and blessing came from the pain, but it meant Mina had to go through harder times than she deserved. Those harder times did help her come into her own brand of strength and courage that lead her to be the forthright person she wascwhen she returned to England.
Max Cavendish had watched Mina devastate his cousin, Peter, and he was finding it hard to give her any quarter upon meeting up with her 10 years later. He was also struggling with his own guilt of having had feelings for her as well. He never told anyone about his feelings, but they were potentially bordering on love. He stuck to his engineering and pushed his feelings deep in a box somewhere.
Their conversations were stilted and often dry and cutting. They each held their secrets close and each refused to break the cycle of secrecy and lies. Occasionally there were times where they would let their guard down long enough for a bit of truth and emotion to slip. Those times were wonderful.
The secondary characters were lovely. Max's uncle Septemus was a perfectly flighty man that countered both Mina and Max. He was just enough over the top to be able to get away with some shenanigans that helped loosen things up more and more. Anne Seymour Garfunkel is a lovely, precocious and very bright young lady of 10. She enjoys engines, of any type, and her biggest wish while aboard the ship they were all on was to see the engines in petson. Max helped to arrange that and was a hero to both Anne and Mina.
I found the story a bit bogged down for the first 15- 20%, but it seemed to get it's sea legs after that and it was wonderful. I have read other stories by Ms. Temple and that is why I continued to read the book. I look forward to reading more books by Ms. Temple.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book through NetGalley and the publisher. All thought are my own and freely given.
The number of people of the ton who believe they are entitled to play fast and loose who the lives and emotions of others astounds me. When it is your own parents it is even worse. Lady Wilhelmina (Mina) Davenport, had grown up thinking she was one thing only to find out at 19 she was something totally different. To find out in such a cruel, spiteful and manipulative way was even worse. Her father only used his children to dig him out of whatever hole he had dug for himself at the time. Her mother, well she was a different type of petty, selfish and cruel woman. All in all her parents should have been neutered and each died alone...preferably with some horrible ailment that lingered.
It saddened me that she carried the damage from her parents for 10 years before she was able to drum up the courage to explain the pain she caused upon finding out what she was. Granted, things ended up the way they ultimately should have been and blessing came from the pain, but it meant Mina had to go through harder times than she deserved. Those harder times did help her come into her own brand of strength and courage that lead her to be the forthright person she wascwhen she returned to England.
Max Cavendish had watched Mina devastate his cousin, Peter, and he was finding it hard to give her any quarter upon meeting up with her 10 years later. He was also struggling with his own guilt of having had feelings for her as well. He never told anyone about his feelings, but they were potentially bordering on love. He stuck to his engineering and pushed his feelings deep in a box somewhere.
Their conversations were stilted and often dry and cutting. They each held their secrets close and each refused to break the cycle of secrecy and lies. Occasionally there were times where they would let their guard down long enough for a bit of truth and emotion to slip. Those times were wonderful.
The secondary characters were lovely. Max's uncle Septemus was a perfectly flighty man that countered both Mina and Max. He was just enough over the top to be able to get away with some shenanigans that helped loosen things up more and more. Anne Seymour Garfunkel is a lovely, precocious and very bright young lady of 10. She enjoys engines, of any type, and her biggest wish while aboard the ship they were all on was to see the engines in petson. Max helped to arrange that and was a hero to both Anne and Mina.
I found the story a bit bogged down for the first 15- 20%, but it seemed to get it's sea legs after that and it was wonderful. I have read other stories by Ms. Temple and that is why I continued to read the book. I look forward to reading more books by Ms. Temple.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book through NetGalley and the publisher. All thought are my own and freely given.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Tropes: enemies to lovers; forced proximity; MFC with a past
Steam level: 3
3.5 stars squeaked up. Because Harlequin is phasing out their HR line (sigh...), I felt compelled to check out this Gilded Age-set ARC for old times' sake.
The rundown: MFC Mina ends up having to sail to England with her nemesis, MMC Max. She jilted Max's cousin Peter a decade earlier, and Max has never forgiven her for it.
What I liked:
--Solid world building/descriptions. Behavior and dialog seem pretty true to the period.
--MFC Mina is strong and resourceful. Once you realize fairly early on her reasons for jilting Peter, it's easy to be sympathetic.
--Nice job with the sexual tension. The steamy scenes are effective.
--The storyline gets off to a bit of a slow start, but picks up speed. I thought the final few chapters and epilogue were excellent.
--Most of the sparring is very witty (although it's not particularly deep).
--The quality of the writing overall is very good.
On the fence about:
--The flashbacks. Not excessive, and a few are very effective at establishing how the MC's felt about each other. In fact, there were times I felt the glimpses into the past were more emotionally gripping than the scenes set in the present.
--Uncle Septimus. At times funny, at times annoying, often very crass.
--The nicknames. Lots of "Minnie"ing and "Maxie"'ing. May or may not be your cup of tea.
Not a big fan of:
--Max, for a large amount of the book. He spends so much time feeling jealous of/protective of Peter I started wondering if they had a bromance going on. And he takes a few nasty shots at Mina at the beginning (idc if you didn't like someone's dead dad, you don't need talk about the guy the way Max did). Plus lots of body language like blocking her doorway, crowding, etc. Kind of a blockhead at times. I know Max is one of those straightforward engineering types, but it would have been great to see him come emotionally undone.
--At times the banter got old. I just wanted the MC's to have an adult conversation. and level with each other.
--Minnie's lack of agency. For someone who's strong, she's manipulated a lot. I didn't like how her Big Secret came out.
Overall: well-written and enjoyable but I never felt completely drawn in to the main characters' relationship.
I read an advanced reader copy of this book and this is my honest, voluntary review. Thanks to the author, Harlequin, and Net Galley for this opportunity. This book will be releasing April 28.
Steam level: 3
3.5 stars squeaked up. Because Harlequin is phasing out their HR line (sigh...), I felt compelled to check out this Gilded Age-set ARC for old times' sake.
The rundown: MFC Mina ends up having to sail to England with her nemesis, MMC Max. She jilted Max's cousin Peter a decade earlier, and Max has never forgiven her for it.
What I liked:
--Solid world building/descriptions. Behavior and dialog seem pretty true to the period.
--MFC Mina is strong and resourceful. Once you realize fairly early on her reasons for jilting Peter, it's easy to be sympathetic.
--Nice job with the sexual tension. The steamy scenes are effective.
--The storyline gets off to a bit of a slow start, but picks up speed. I thought the final few chapters and epilogue were excellent.
--Most of the sparring is very witty (although it's not particularly deep).
--The quality of the writing overall is very good.
On the fence about:
--The flashbacks. Not excessive, and a few are very effective at establishing how the MC's felt about each other. In fact, there were times I felt the glimpses into the past were more emotionally gripping than the scenes set in the present.
--Uncle Septimus. At times funny, at times annoying, often very crass.
--The nicknames. Lots of "Minnie"ing and "Maxie"'ing. May or may not be your cup of tea.
Not a big fan of:
--Max, for a large amount of the book. He spends so much time feeling jealous of/protective of Peter I started wondering if they had a bromance going on. And he takes a few nasty shots at Mina at the beginning (idc if you didn't like someone's dead dad, you don't need talk about the guy the way Max did). Plus lots of body language like blocking her doorway, crowding, etc. Kind of a blockhead at times. I know Max is one of those straightforward engineering types, but it would have been great to see him come emotionally undone.
--At times the banter got old. I just wanted the MC's to have an adult conversation. and level with each other.
--Minnie's lack of agency. For someone who's strong, she's manipulated a lot. I didn't like how her Big Secret came out.
Overall: well-written and enjoyable but I never felt completely drawn in to the main characters' relationship.
I read an advanced reader copy of this book and this is my honest, voluntary review. Thanks to the author, Harlequin, and Net Galley for this opportunity. This book will be releasing April 28.
August 13, 2026
Ah, the Set is not one to forgive. Poor Lady Mina is 10 years out from a scandal of her own making and she is still not forgiven nor forgotten. Her ability to hold her head high despite the gossip makes her an ideal escort for a soft-hearted ingenue about to hit the operatic stage. Unfortunately, this means she will be forced to endure the anger of her stilted fiance's family.
Mina holds her own in the story. She is full of poise and gracefully avoids begging for anyone's good will. She guides young Eliza with kindness and realism. I wanted her to find her happy ending, so she made a good cornerstone for the story.
Septimus, Max's uncle and Mina's employer, is the unsung star of his own show and he standout player in this story. He is full of an artist's disdain and misplaced enthusiasm. He brings much of the humor and emotional drive to the story. It is no wonder that he's mentioned in nearly every review - he's an absolute delight even when he's being manipulative.
I struggled more with Max. Although he seems logical about his concerns, his dead-set refusal to look at a situation from all sides and make space for forgiveness hit me as a "red flag" - but maybe he will learn from the experience. Isn't that what we all fantasize about these rough-edge men in books?
The sexual tension is strong but not overly erotic. It's a good example of Harlequin heat. I enjoyed the romance despite some structural and character hiccoughs. Yes, it's a little hard to follow at times and I got lost in point of view more than once, but it's overall a fun story with well-structured characters.
Mina holds her own in the story. She is full of poise and gracefully avoids begging for anyone's good will. She guides young Eliza with kindness and realism. I wanted her to find her happy ending, so she made a good cornerstone for the story.
Septimus, Max's uncle and Mina's employer, is the unsung star of his own show and he standout player in this story. He is full of an artist's disdain and misplaced enthusiasm. He brings much of the humor and emotional drive to the story. It is no wonder that he's mentioned in nearly every review - he's an absolute delight even when he's being manipulative.
I struggled more with Max. Although he seems logical about his concerns, his dead-set refusal to look at a situation from all sides and make space for forgiveness hit me as a "red flag" - but maybe he will learn from the experience. Isn't that what we all fantasize about these rough-edge men in books?
The sexual tension is strong but not overly erotic. It's a good example of Harlequin heat. I enjoyed the romance despite some structural and character hiccoughs. Yes, it's a little hard to follow at times and I got lost in point of view more than once, but it's overall a fun story with well-structured characters.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
6 stars!!!!!!
Uh oh. Mina has just discovered that her arch nemesis, with whom she has some serious history, and baggage, is on her voyage from New York to London. He's everywhere, blocking doors, arguing, and stirring up some serious FEELINGS. How can she do her job and plow through her life if HE'S there?!? So she was engaged to his cousin. So she ran off in spectacular fashion. That was ten years ago. And no one cares about the past. Or do they???
The banter. The chemistry. The incredible tension! This book had me up late at night, pulling me between different timelines as plot twists and revelations were revealed. The writing was exceptional. The longing top notch. The love scenes were spicin'! All of the characters popped right off the page. I'm OBSESSED. This will be one of my favorite reads of the year. It'll be a fun re-read I come back to again and again. I read this on my kindle, and highlighted ridiculously good line after ridiculously good line. I'd write more, but now I need to go into Lara Temple's backlist and start binging!!!
Content warnings: recovering from an accident (accident happens before story begins)
I'd like to thank Harlequin, Netgalley and Lara Temple for the eARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Uh oh. Mina has just discovered that her arch nemesis, with whom she has some serious history, and baggage, is on her voyage from New York to London. He's everywhere, blocking doors, arguing, and stirring up some serious FEELINGS. How can she do her job and plow through her life if HE'S there?!? So she was engaged to his cousin. So she ran off in spectacular fashion. That was ten years ago. And no one cares about the past. Or do they???
The banter. The chemistry. The incredible tension! This book had me up late at night, pulling me between different timelines as plot twists and revelations were revealed. The writing was exceptional. The longing top notch. The love scenes were spicin'! All of the characters popped right off the page. I'm OBSESSED. This will be one of my favorite reads of the year. It'll be a fun re-read I come back to again and again. I read this on my kindle, and highlighted ridiculously good line after ridiculously good line. I'd write more, but now I need to go into Lara Temple's backlist and start binging!!!
Content warnings: recovering from an accident (accident happens before story begins)
I'd like to thank Harlequin, Netgalley and Lara Temple for the eARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Harlequin for the e-ARC.
With the end of the Harlequin Historical line on the horizon, I've intentionally been requesting any and all historical romances that pop up on NetGalley that strike my appeal. The premise is always what reels me in, and this book was no different.
Late Victorian era, check.
Enemies to lovers dynamic, check.
Glamourous Transatlantic travel, check.
A dash of yearning fools, check.
While the pacing suited the story setting - slower in the beginning to mirror the drawn out days of travel aboard the massive steamship, a bit faster once all the characters arrived in England - the plot conflict felt dragged out and repetitive. The character development unfortunately wasn't strong enough to overcome the weak points in the plot. Max and Mina just sort of circled around one another, talked AT one another, and failed to develop a believable or engaging romantic relationship arc. The time jumps into their shared past did little to enhance their character or romantic arcs. This story just didn't feel all that memorable or compelling by the end of 250+ pages.
With the end of the Harlequin Historical line on the horizon, I've intentionally been requesting any and all historical romances that pop up on NetGalley that strike my appeal. The premise is always what reels me in, and this book was no different.
Late Victorian era, check.
Enemies to lovers dynamic, check.
Glamourous Transatlantic travel, check.
A dash of yearning fools, check.
While the pacing suited the story setting - slower in the beginning to mirror the drawn out days of travel aboard the massive steamship, a bit faster once all the characters arrived in England - the plot conflict felt dragged out and repetitive. The character development unfortunately wasn't strong enough to overcome the weak points in the plot. Max and Mina just sort of circled around one another, talked AT one another, and failed to develop a believable or engaging romantic relationship arc. The time jumps into their shared past did little to enhance their character or romantic arcs. This story just didn't feel all that memorable or compelling by the end of 250+ pages.
August 10, 2026
I love discovering a new-to-me author who completely exceeds my expectations, and this book did exactly that. 💕
I’m so glad I requested this one because it turned out to be such a great read.
This is an enemies-to-lovers romance - a classic trope - but it’s executed so well. The chemistry between Max and Mina felt natural, and both characters were believable and easy to root for.
I also loved that much of the story takes place aboard a steamliner. Having Max and Mina confined together added another layer of tension and made their relationship even more compelling.
One of my favourite parts was seeing both Max and Mina interact with Anne, a young fellow passenger. I loved how they encouraged her interests and supported her passions - it added a really heartwarming touch to the story.
There’s a little bit of spice, but nothing that will have you wanting to skip pages if that’s not usually your thing. 😂
Overall, this was a fantastic read. Lara Temple kept me engaged from beginning to end, and the ending was both satisfying and well-earned. I especially liked that Mina was able to reconnect with several people from her past, which gave the story a lovely sense of closure.
I’m so glad I requested this one because it turned out to be such a great read.
This is an enemies-to-lovers romance - a classic trope - but it’s executed so well. The chemistry between Max and Mina felt natural, and both characters were believable and easy to root for.
I also loved that much of the story takes place aboard a steamliner. Having Max and Mina confined together added another layer of tension and made their relationship even more compelling.
One of my favourite parts was seeing both Max and Mina interact with Anne, a young fellow passenger. I loved how they encouraged her interests and supported her passions - it added a really heartwarming touch to the story.
There’s a little bit of spice, but nothing that will have you wanting to skip pages if that’s not usually your thing. 😂
Overall, this was a fantastic read. Lara Temple kept me engaged from beginning to end, and the ending was both satisfying and well-earned. I especially liked that Mina was able to reconnect with several people from her past, which gave the story a lovely sense of closure.
Review of advance copy received from Author
The Scandalous Lady Mina is a Victorian historical romance with a nautical theme.
Mina has been engaged by Septimus Cavendish to teach Eliza, his latest opera diva, the ways of London society before he launches her onto a new stage. Years ago, Mina fled England amid a scandalous family situation. Now her new teaching role takes place during a transatlantic crossing.
Also aboard the ship is Max Cavendish, Septimus’s nephew and cousin to the man Mina once jilted. He fears that Mina’s arrival back in England will upset his cousin anew. However, beneath Max’s anger is confusion as he battles his own supressed feelings for Mina.
I enjoyed the setting for this story, especially the parts set on the ship as it crossed from New York to Liverpool. This is almost an enemies-to-lovers romance; Max and Mina certainly have their share of arguments; however, they had previously been friends before Mina abruptly left.
The build-up to the end is intense and had me reading late into the night, but it was worth the wait!
Mina has been engaged by Septimus Cavendish to teach Eliza, his latest opera diva, the ways of London society before he launches her onto a new stage. Years ago, Mina fled England amid a scandalous family situation. Now her new teaching role takes place during a transatlantic crossing.
Also aboard the ship is Max Cavendish, Septimus’s nephew and cousin to the man Mina once jilted. He fears that Mina’s arrival back in England will upset his cousin anew. However, beneath Max’s anger is confusion as he battles his own supressed feelings for Mina.
I enjoyed the setting for this story, especially the parts set on the ship as it crossed from New York to Liverpool. This is almost an enemies-to-lovers romance; Max and Mina certainly have their share of arguments; however, they had previously been friends before Mina abruptly left.
The build-up to the end is intense and had me reading late into the night, but it was worth the wait!
August 6, 2026
Lady Wilhelmina, known as Mina, is an intriguing character with a past. Having fled Emgland some years before, she finds herself on a prestigious liner, steaming towards her mother country against her better wishes. Her skills at knowing how to behave in polite society have prompted her employment to mentor a talented but naive singer who it is hoped, will take society by storm. When Mina meets up again with Max, Mina feels her control of her destiny to be under threat as past secrets are just below the surface.
I enjoyed getting to know Mina who has an independent streak and the ability to survive on her own. A helpless female she certainly is not! When the reason for her broken engagement and abandonment of her country becomes known, you realise that she has tried to protect feelings and take some of the blame on herself. Max has also tried to bury his feelings and concentrated on keeping up appearances but in the end, you sense his sincerity and kindness.
In short: second chances
Thanks to the publisher
I enjoyed getting to know Mina who has an independent streak and the ability to survive on her own. A helpless female she certainly is not! When the reason for her broken engagement and abandonment of her country becomes known, you realise that she has tried to protect feelings and take some of the blame on herself. Max has also tried to bury his feelings and concentrated on keeping up appearances but in the end, you sense his sincerity and kindness.
In short: second chances
Thanks to the publisher
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Lady Wilhelmina, once the darling of the ton, fled England in shame after jilting her fiancé. Following a decade in disgrace, Mina is returning to Society’s ballrooms on a luxury steamship…and encounters her ex-fiancé’s distractingly handsome cousin, Max Cavendish—her once friend, now enemy! Max’s guard is up, yet being in close quarters with Mina sparks a wave of dangerous attraction that makes him want to discover the truth behind the scandal.
A well written, engrossing romance. I started by liking Mina but grew to love her as her backstory was revealed. I liked Max eventually but I wanted to shake him for being so protective of Peter. I liked the chemistry between them & how they grew to love each other. Enemies to lovers is my favourite trope & this didn’t disappoint
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own
A well written, engrossing romance. I started by liking Mina but grew to love her as her backstory was revealed. I liked Max eventually but I wanted to shake him for being so protective of Peter. I liked the chemistry between them & how they grew to love each other. Enemies to lovers is my favourite trope & this didn’t disappoint
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own
July 28, 2026
Mina fled England many years ago after jilting Peter Cavendish. Now she's headed back to England, engaged by Peter's Uncle Septimus to help his latest opera protégé. What she wasn't banking on was running into Peter's cousin Max, who was once her friend but is still angry about her jilting Peter and is convinced she's up to no good. Sparks fly between the pair, but Mina is keeping a secret and doesn't want anyone, especially Max, discovering the truth.
The Scandalous Lady Mina was a brilliant mix of sweet romance and steamy moments, making it completely addictive.
I enjoy forced proximity when it's done well, and this book does it well! I loved the setting of the ship, enough room to feel like Mina and Max are trapped together but without the feeling of claustrophobia.
I loved Mina and Max. Mina had dealt with a lot in her life, including terrible parents and lots of letdowns, but she still supported herself and found a way through. Max was grumpy and mean to Mina, yet with a soft side that would shine through. He irked me a little, though, letting his ego lead the way and not even trying to believe that Mina wasn't the terrible person he believed her to be, even though there was plenty of evidence to say otherwise.
If you love steamy historical romances featuring forced proximity, then I'd highly recommend this to you.
The Scandalous Lady Mina was a brilliant mix of sweet romance and steamy moments, making it completely addictive.
I enjoy forced proximity when it's done well, and this book does it well! I loved the setting of the ship, enough room to feel like Mina and Max are trapped together but without the feeling of claustrophobia.
I loved Mina and Max. Mina had dealt with a lot in her life, including terrible parents and lots of letdowns, but she still supported herself and found a way through. Max was grumpy and mean to Mina, yet with a soft side that would shine through. He irked me a little, though, letting his ego lead the way and not even trying to believe that Mina wasn't the terrible person he believed her to be, even though there was plenty of evidence to say otherwise.
If you love steamy historical romances featuring forced proximity, then I'd highly recommend this to you.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Rating: 5 stars ⭐️
I absolutely adored this book. I had been stuck in a terrible book slump, unable to finish anything, but this book helped me break free from it.
This is a second chance romance, and I was instantly captivated. Minnie’s pain and yearning were incredibly relatable, and I found myself drawn to her character from the very beginning. However, it took me a while to warm up to Max. I genuinely enjoyed the other characters who enriched the story. The UST and banter were top-notch. I wanted Minnie and Max to get together a little sooner purely because I wanted to read more about them as a couple.
Thank you to the publisher for providing the ARC
I absolutely adored this book. I had been stuck in a terrible book slump, unable to finish anything, but this book helped me break free from it.
This is a second chance romance, and I was instantly captivated. Minnie’s pain and yearning were incredibly relatable, and I found myself drawn to her character from the very beginning. However, it took me a while to warm up to Max. I genuinely enjoyed the other characters who enriched the story. The UST and banter were top-notch. I wanted Minnie and Max to get together a little sooner purely because I wanted to read more about them as a couple.
Thank you to the publisher for providing the ARC
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Recommended Read
Septimus Cavendish, opera impresario, when he sees Lady Mina Davenport (who he’d always liked) in New York decides to meddle, even though ten years previous she caused a huge scandal within his family. Believing he knows best, he manipulates her (and his nephew) and hires her to coach his new star in how to go about in society. A tumultuous ocean crossing is followed in London by scandal and upset. Will Mina, who made an unselfish choice before, be able to do so for a second time?
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Septimus Cavendish, opera impresario, when he sees Lady Mina Davenport (who he’d always liked) in New York decides to meddle, even though ten years previous she caused a huge scandal within his family. Believing he knows best, he manipulates her (and his nephew) and hires her to coach his new star in how to go about in society. A tumultuous ocean crossing is followed in London by scandal and upset. Will Mina, who made an unselfish choice before, be able to do so for a second time?
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 1, 2026
On a luxury steamship, Mina encounters former friend Max, her ex-fiancé's cousin. Despite his reservations, Max is drawn to Mina, sparking a dangerous attraction.
This is a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance. Mina is likable from the beginning, while Max is a little more difficult to get to know, given his initial animosity toward her. But as the story progresses, he softens and becomes devoted to her. The ending swoony and satisfying.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
This is a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance. Mina is likable from the beginning, while Max is a little more difficult to get to know, given his initial animosity toward her. But as the story progresses, he softens and becomes devoted to her. The ending swoony and satisfying.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
the romantic aspects worked later on, and that part worked, but at the beginning I wasn't a huge fan of our FMC Mina. It also felt a little bit rapid, even for a friends-to-enemies-to-lovers romance. Still, it ended really well. 3.25 stars, tysm for the arc.
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Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Mina, having jilted her fiance, runs off to America. Down on her luck, her ex-fiancé's uncle finds her and convinces her to sail back to England. She soon realizes that her old friend turned enemy, Max, is also on the ship. They try to deny their attraction. I received an ARC from NetGalley and Harlequin for my honest review.
May 12, 2026
DNF. Sometimes an enemies to lovers trope is done really well. And sometimes it just feels like bickering.
Thank you to netgalley for the ARC. Opinions are my own.
Thank you to netgalley for the ARC. Opinions are my own.
June 4, 2026
4.5 stars.
Really liked the writing here. The characters felt very real and they complemented each other wonderfully. The story was both intriguing and sweet. Really enjoyed my time with this.
Really liked the writing here. The characters felt very real and they complemented each other wonderfully. The story was both intriguing and sweet. Really enjoyed my time with this.
July 28, 2026
If you love historical romance like I do this is definitely one for you!
Lady Wilhelmina, known as Mina, fled England after very publicly jilting her fiancé. Once the darling of the ton she began a new life in the America’s. When she is approached by Septimus Cavendish to be a campion for his new rising star she finds herself thrust back into the ton. However Septimus is the Uncle to Peter who she jilted and she soon finds herself coming face to face with Max Cavendish her one time friend and cousin to Peter……….
I became totally invested in the relationship between Mina and Max and absolutely loved both these characters. The undercurrent of attraction between them is obvious from the outset and the way their story developed was, in my opinion, written in such a way that it kept me totally engaged. I actually thought that all the characters were very individual, some quite quirky, and enjoyed the interactions between them.
Lady Wilhelmina, known as Mina, fled England after very publicly jilting her fiancé. Once the darling of the ton she began a new life in the America’s. When she is approached by Septimus Cavendish to be a campion for his new rising star she finds herself thrust back into the ton. However Septimus is the Uncle to Peter who she jilted and she soon finds herself coming face to face with Max Cavendish her one time friend and cousin to Peter……….
I became totally invested in the relationship between Mina and Max and absolutely loved both these characters. The undercurrent of attraction between them is obvious from the outset and the way their story developed was, in my opinion, written in such a way that it kept me totally engaged. I actually thought that all the characters were very individual, some quite quirky, and enjoyed the interactions between them.
August 9, 2026
The Scandalous Lady Mina by Lara Temple is a Victorian enemies to lovers romance with forced proximity.
As a main female character I found Mina to be a determined and forthright character. Having had parents who failed her in the most deplorable ways, her resilience was a real testament to her strength of character. When events ten years earlier caused her to end her engagement to second son Peter Cavendish in order to protect his reputation, it was not entirely altruistic because she had developed feelings for his cousin Max.
A chance meeting ten years after the broken engagement, with Septimus Cavendish, the uncle of both Peter and Max, in New York, resulted in her being employed by Septimus to act as a guide for his young operatic protégée to prepare her for being introduced in society in London. Once on the transatlantic passenger ship, she finds that not only is she travelling with her employer, she is also in unavoidably close proximity to her nemesis Max. Once good friends, their friendship ended when she ended her engagement and fled.
I loved the back and forth between Mina and Max, although miscommunication was prevalent between them because Max was unaware of the truth behind Mina’s exit from his life ten years earlier. I loved the way their romance developed throughout the story, and their chemistry was incredible. It was fantastic to see the growth that Mina made as Max helped her to see that punishing herself for the actions of her parents was unfair when she was not to blame for any of the scandal.
A special mention should go to my favourite secondary character, a young girl travelling with her family on the ship. Anne was intelligent, inquisitive and always full of questions. Her love of engineering was encouraged by both Mina and Max. Her parents found Anne’s differences incomprehensible, but with encouragement were able to see just how gifted their daughter was, and that she needed to be encouraged and not stifled.
This slow burn romance was sparky and steamy, and made me want to keep coming back to it.
As a main female character I found Mina to be a determined and forthright character. Having had parents who failed her in the most deplorable ways, her resilience was a real testament to her strength of character. When events ten years earlier caused her to end her engagement to second son Peter Cavendish in order to protect his reputation, it was not entirely altruistic because she had developed feelings for his cousin Max.
A chance meeting ten years after the broken engagement, with Septimus Cavendish, the uncle of both Peter and Max, in New York, resulted in her being employed by Septimus to act as a guide for his young operatic protégée to prepare her for being introduced in society in London. Once on the transatlantic passenger ship, she finds that not only is she travelling with her employer, she is also in unavoidably close proximity to her nemesis Max. Once good friends, their friendship ended when she ended her engagement and fled.
I loved the back and forth between Mina and Max, although miscommunication was prevalent between them because Max was unaware of the truth behind Mina’s exit from his life ten years earlier. I loved the way their romance developed throughout the story, and their chemistry was incredible. It was fantastic to see the growth that Mina made as Max helped her to see that punishing herself for the actions of her parents was unfair when she was not to blame for any of the scandal.
A special mention should go to my favourite secondary character, a young girl travelling with her family on the ship. Anne was intelligent, inquisitive and always full of questions. Her love of engineering was encouraged by both Mina and Max. Her parents found Anne’s differences incomprehensible, but with encouragement were able to see just how gifted their daughter was, and that she needed to be encouraged and not stifled.
This slow burn romance was sparky and steamy, and made me want to keep coming back to it.
July 13, 2026
🩷 Blurb-
Lady Wilhelmina, once the darling of the ton, fled England in shame after jilting her fiancé. Following a decade in disgrace, Mina is returning to Society’s ballrooms on a luxury steamship…and encounters her ex-fiancé’s distractingly handsome cousin, Max Cavendish—her once friend, now enemy!
Max’s guard is up, yet being in close quarters with Mina sparks a wave of dangerous attraction that makes him want to discover the truth behind the scandal. Wealthy engineer Max is used to being in command of his world and his emotions, but his complicated feelings for Mina are making him feel decidedly out of control!
🩵 Review -
This had everything that I could want in a historical fiction romance and more- a historical place setting, enemies to lovers and forced Proximity. This was such an enjoyable read. From the very first page I was hooked and I kept reading until the end as I wanted to know what happened. I loved Mina's character and the chemistry that she had with Max was off the charts. I highly recommend it and I look forward to reading more by the author.
💜 Thank you to Rachel's Random Resources, the author Lara Temple and the publisher Mills and Boon/ Harliquin romance for my arc ebook copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Lady Wilhelmina, once the darling of the ton, fled England in shame after jilting her fiancé. Following a decade in disgrace, Mina is returning to Society’s ballrooms on a luxury steamship…and encounters her ex-fiancé’s distractingly handsome cousin, Max Cavendish—her once friend, now enemy!
Max’s guard is up, yet being in close quarters with Mina sparks a wave of dangerous attraction that makes him want to discover the truth behind the scandal. Wealthy engineer Max is used to being in command of his world and his emotions, but his complicated feelings for Mina are making him feel decidedly out of control!
🩵 Review -
This had everything that I could want in a historical fiction romance and more- a historical place setting, enemies to lovers and forced Proximity. This was such an enjoyable read. From the very first page I was hooked and I kept reading until the end as I wanted to know what happened. I loved Mina's character and the chemistry that she had with Max was off the charts. I highly recommend it and I look forward to reading more by the author.
💜 Thank you to Rachel's Random Resources, the author Lara Temple and the publisher Mills and Boon/ Harliquin romance for my arc ebook copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
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