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The Belle and the Blacksmith: A Victorian Sports Romance
A marriage of convenience. A dangerous game. A love worth fighting for.
When Minnie Draper’s father offers her hand in marriage to settle his debts, the sharp-minded shipping heiress faces a future she never chose. Enter Tommy Ward, the football club’s resident prankster, who boldly claims Minnie is already promised to him to protect her from a loveless match.
Their hastily arranged marriage of convenience is meant to be temporary, but danger has other ideas. As they work together to expose a criminal network, playful banter turns into heated glances, and pretend vows spark into something real.
In a world of ruthless wagers and hidden crimes, can a lighthearted footballer and a determined heiress turn a desperate bluff into a love worth fighting for?
When Minnie Draper’s father offers her hand in marriage to settle his debts, the sharp-minded shipping heiress faces a future she never chose. Enter Tommy Ward, the football club’s resident prankster, who boldly claims Minnie is already promised to him to protect her from a loveless match.
Their hastily arranged marriage of convenience is meant to be temporary, but danger has other ideas. As they work together to expose a criminal network, playful banter turns into heated glances, and pretend vows spark into something real.
In a world of ruthless wagers and hidden crimes, can a lighthearted footballer and a determined heiress turn a desperate bluff into a love worth fighting for?
284 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 14, 2025
13 people are currently reading
15 people want to read
About the author
Ellie St. Clair
209 books374 followersEllie St. Clair writes heartwarming Regency romances with spirited heroines, swoon-worthy heroes, and happily ever afters. Her passion for history shines through in richly drawn characters and romances brimming with irresistible tension.
A former journalist with an incurable love of history, she is the author of popular series such as Remingtons of the Regency and The Bluestocking Scandals. She lives in Saskatchewan, Canada, with her husband and three children.
When she isn’t crafting romantic tales or keeping up with her kids, she’s mainlining coffee, sweating it out on her Peloton, valiantly attempting to keep her plants alive, planning her next dog rescue, or dreaming of lake escapes.
Ellie loves corresponding with readers, so visit her website, email her, sign up for her newsletter or join her Facebook group for exclusive content, giveaways, and sneak peeks at upcoming books.
Contact her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/elliestclair, and sign up for her mailing list at http://www.elliestclair.com/subscribe.
A former journalist with an incurable love of history, she is the author of popular series such as Remingtons of the Regency and The Bluestocking Scandals. She lives in Saskatchewan, Canada, with her husband and three children.
When she isn’t crafting romantic tales or keeping up with her kids, she’s mainlining coffee, sweating it out on her Peloton, valiantly attempting to keep her plants alive, planning her next dog rescue, or dreaming of lake escapes.
Ellie loves corresponding with readers, so visit her website, email her, sign up for her newsletter or join her Facebook group for exclusive content, giveaways, and sneak peeks at upcoming books.
Contact her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/elliestclair, and sign up for her mailing list at http://www.elliestclair.com/subscribe.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 6, 2025
When Minnie Draper’s father gets into debt with Manchester’s underworld lord he offers her hand in marriage to settle his debts. Blacksmith Tommy Ward, the football club’s resident prankster, has been smitten with Minnie since they first met & boldly asks her to marry him & they run away to Gretna Green.
Their hastily arranged marriage of convenience is meant to be temporary, but danger has other ideas. As they work together to expose a criminal network, playful banter turns into heated glances, and pretend vows spark into something real.
The third book in the series whilst it could be read on its own previous characters do appear & of course there’s action from the football team. Another very well written book which starts at a stroll & ends at a sprint. I’ve love happy go lucky Tommy throughout the series & loved how he was so caring & protective of Minnie. Minnie has also appeared before as a minor character but she came into her own in this book. I loved the chemistry between them & also how their feelings deepened. Then there’s the threat to the Draper family & to Tommy. I loved how the rest of the team supported Tommy & had his back, there were a couple of surprises & I look forward to the next book. A captivating, engrossing book which I read in a couple of sittings
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own
Their hastily arranged marriage of convenience is meant to be temporary, but danger has other ideas. As they work together to expose a criminal network, playful banter turns into heated glances, and pretend vows spark into something real.
The third book in the series whilst it could be read on its own previous characters do appear & of course there’s action from the football team. Another very well written book which starts at a stroll & ends at a sprint. I’ve love happy go lucky Tommy throughout the series & loved how he was so caring & protective of Minnie. Minnie has also appeared before as a minor character but she came into her own in this book. I loved the chemistry between them & also how their feelings deepened. Then there’s the threat to the Draper family & to Tommy. I loved how the rest of the team supported Tommy & had his back, there were a couple of surprises & I look forward to the next book. A captivating, engrossing book which I read in a couple of sittings
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own
January 5, 2026
4.5/5 After winning back to back FA Cup championships, Manchester Central is back for another season. Ever since the last season when Minnie and Tommy were introduced though, they’ve only been able to think about each other. Despite being from different classes and not crossing paths except for football - the attraction never faded.
I really enjoyed this one. It didn’t seem as football heavy as the other two but was also still well balanced between the plot and romance.
It features one of my favorite tropes, marriage of convenience, and is an example of why I enjoy it so much. Their marriage occurs early on and they spend most of the book vulnerable. Learning about one another, whether to be honest about their feelings, and if their relationship can last after the threat is gone. Which I can never read enough of.
I also really liked how the safety of marriage was deconstructed. In a lot of HR, marriage is the answer for women. The idea that it provides a layer of protection and safety for the heroine. However, here that has gone out the window and doesn’t deter the villain much. Initially, this is obviously infuriating as it highlights how women were pawns for men. But it was an intriguing dynamic because Tommy isn’t a powerful peer, he’s good with pranks but isn’t able to make it all disappear for Minnie.
Minnie is a strong heroine though who doesn’t accept any of these plans for her life and will do all she can to live life her way.
Overall, it was intriguing with lovable and vulnerable MC.
The Belle and the Blacksmith is the third book in the Scores and Scandals series.
There are four open door encounters.
I really enjoyed this one. It didn’t seem as football heavy as the other two but was also still well balanced between the plot and romance.
It features one of my favorite tropes, marriage of convenience, and is an example of why I enjoy it so much. Their marriage occurs early on and they spend most of the book vulnerable. Learning about one another, whether to be honest about their feelings, and if their relationship can last after the threat is gone. Which I can never read enough of.
I also really liked how the safety of marriage was deconstructed. In a lot of HR, marriage is the answer for women. The idea that it provides a layer of protection and safety for the heroine. However, here that has gone out the window and doesn’t deter the villain much. Initially, this is obviously infuriating as it highlights how women were pawns for men. But it was an intriguing dynamic because Tommy isn’t a powerful peer, he’s good with pranks but isn’t able to make it all disappear for Minnie.
Minnie is a strong heroine though who doesn’t accept any of these plans for her life and will do all she can to live life her way.
Overall, it was intriguing with lovable and vulnerable MC.
The Belle and the Blacksmith is the third book in the Scores and Scandals series.
There are four open door encounters.
November 21, 2025
This is my 45th book by Ellie St. Clair. I picked up 1 book in late 2017, then 2 more in 2018 and then not again until May 2022. She is quickly becoming a favorite.
As some of you know, I'm quite a Regency snob and this series is set WAY later than that and WAY too modern for my tastes but this series has been really good. I really liked Minnie and Tommy's story. I liked the intrigue of this one. I loved that Minnie took it upon herself to make her life what she wanted it to be, not what her dad wanted. I like all the characters from the past books. I don't read book excerpts or book descriptions anymore but hope the next book is Jonny's story. That will definitely be interesting. Overall a really good read.
As some of you know, I'm quite a Regency snob and this series is set WAY later than that and WAY too modern for my tastes but this series has been really good. I really liked Minnie and Tommy's story. I liked the intrigue of this one. I loved that Minnie took it upon herself to make her life what she wanted it to be, not what her dad wanted. I like all the characters from the past books. I don't read book excerpts or book descriptions anymore but hope the next book is Jonny's story. That will definitely be interesting. Overall a really good read.
November 8, 2025
Ellie St. Claire’s The Belle and the Blacksmith is an absolute delight and a brilliant continuation of the series. The characters are exceptionally well-crafted, with depth and authenticity that make them easy to connect with. The slow-burn romance is masterfully done, creating a delicious tension that keeps you turning pages eagerly.
The plot is both exciting and engaging, filled with twists that enhance the story without feeling forced. It’s beautifully paced, allowing the characters and their relationships to develop naturally. The happy ending is deeply satisfying, leaving a warm, lasting impression.
If you love richly drawn characters, a well-paced slow-burn romance, and a storyline that keeps you hooked until the very end, The Belle and the Blacksmith is a must-read. Highly recommend!
November 11, 2025
Tommy Ward is the team's prankster; we met him in the first two books. He is fun loving and takes nothing seriously. He is a charmer and has never met a lady who didn’t fall for him till he met Minnie at a dinner party held by Colin and Lily. Her beauty had him tongue tied for the first time in his life. Now he looks for her at the games and when the ladies Lily and Emmaline are around. When he overhears that her father is planning to sell her to an unknown man to pay his gambling debts he is outraged! He doesn’t know what to do but knows he must save her. Minnie also finds out what her father has done with this gambling and planning on using her. When Tommy offers to marry her to stop the gangsters from taking her, she agrees. What follows is a fast trip to Gretna Green. I loved how the blacksmith and his sister were with them. Both say it is a marriage of convenience to stop her father's plan. Ah, both of them have many feelings for each other. As they fight to save Minnie, along with keeping Lily and Emmaline safe too, Rhys and Colin help with the danger. Lots of action in this book between evil and the games, plus the growing passion for Minnie and Tommy. Both have doubts and fears that need to be overcome if they can find what they want most. This book touches on class differences, finding and trusting someone and the true meaning of team players. Truly a great read and one that will have you sighing and holding your breath to see what will happen. I couldn’t put it down, read it straight through. There is a lot more to our new player, Jonny and the new lady, Ada, then we’ve been told. We are given hints to the next book, and it sounds very exciting too. I can’t wait. I received an ARC from the author and wish to thank her. This is my honest opinion and am freely giving it.
November 13, 2025
Each story in the series, builds with characters from the previous stories. This can be a standalone, but I think you will enjoy the journey more if you start with book 1.
Story has many villains and that includes the father. He tries to dig himself out debt by selling his daughter to anyone. He's the worse villain of all because he doesn't care what happens to his loving daughter. I wanted the mother of the h to discover what her husband did, also the partner of her father.
The H comes in to save the day. He is known to be a player with the ladies. As soon as he comes to help the h, he changes his action. Only has eyes for the h.
There is a spark from both of them and their romance builds slowly. I loved the part of the story when they journey to Scotland. Lovemaking within marriage - heat level 4.5 out of 5.
I enjoyed the honest dialogue between the MC and how the H's friends came to their aid. The H was thinking of doing something to hurt his team. I loved the author didn't use a cookie cutter plot and the H told what trouble he was in.
No cheating, no cliffhanger, HEA, romantic and steam. Story ended at 96% on my e-reader. I received ARC and all opinions are my own and freely given. (ljb)
Story has many villains and that includes the father. He tries to dig himself out debt by selling his daughter to anyone. He's the worse villain of all because he doesn't care what happens to his loving daughter. I wanted the mother of the h to discover what her husband did, also the partner of her father.
The H comes in to save the day. He is known to be a player with the ladies. As soon as he comes to help the h, he changes his action. Only has eyes for the h.
There is a spark from both of them and their romance builds slowly. I loved the part of the story when they journey to Scotland. Lovemaking within marriage - heat level 4.5 out of 5.
I enjoyed the honest dialogue between the MC and how the H's friends came to their aid. The H was thinking of doing something to hurt his team. I loved the author didn't use a cookie cutter plot and the H told what trouble he was in.
No cheating, no cliffhanger, HEA, romantic and steam. Story ended at 96% on my e-reader. I received ARC and all opinions are my own and freely given. (ljb)
November 7, 2025
When Minnie Draper’s father ends up in debt to gangsters after he gambles and can’t repay them, he offers Minnie’s hand in marriage as payment. Tommy Ward, a charming blacksmith with a golden heart and a mischievous grin, learns about the plan and wastes no time asking Minnie to marry him instead. She agrees, and Tommy whisks her away in a carriage to Gretna Green. What begins as a marriage of convenience quickly turns into a swoon-worthy romance, complete with criminal schemes, football camaraderie, and witty banter that could soften steel. Tommy’s protective nature and Minnie’s quiet resilience create a love that’s anything but fleeting. The story is fast-paced, flirty, and fiery! I devoured it like a halftime pie and already wish for extra time with this couple. I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader's Copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own.
January 22, 2026
Somehow Ellie St Clair keeps pulling me into type of romance that I'm not usually leery of: sports romance..
I was up all night reading this book.. because I was just intrigued by the story..
Tommy and Minnie both marry as convenience to save her from a unwanted marriage after her father practically sold her to the most dangerous person in the underbelly of Manchester..
but what was a marriage of convenience and protection turns into marriage of love and passion.. these two characters had the best chemistry from the beginning to the end..
The fact that Minnie stood up to her dad and her mom for her man because they thought she married beneath her, was beyond amazing..
I loved seeing the team come together to help Tommy and Minnie in their time of need..
I can't wait to read the final book in this series.
I was up all night reading this book.. because I was just intrigued by the story..
Tommy and Minnie both marry as convenience to save her from a unwanted marriage after her father practically sold her to the most dangerous person in the underbelly of Manchester..
but what was a marriage of convenience and protection turns into marriage of love and passion.. these two characters had the best chemistry from the beginning to the end..
The fact that Minnie stood up to her dad and her mom for her man because they thought she married beneath her, was beyond amazing..
I loved seeing the team come together to help Tommy and Minnie in their time of need..
I can't wait to read the final book in this series.
November 2, 2025
This story is filled with action both on the football field and off. When Tommy discovers what Minnie’s father has planned for her, he makes her an offer which surprises them both. What starts off as a marriage of convenience becomes much more when Minnie & Tommy are in danger. How they discover what is happening in the underbelly of Manchester and set out to stop it, makes this a book you do not want to miss. This book grabbed my interest from the very beginning, and I couldn’t put it down. I loved the final chapters.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
November 13, 2025
I love this series. The author does a great job weaving past characters into each new story without the need to read each of the prior books. So it can be a standalone yet, I rarely recommend that because I personally like to embrace the entire series. The characters have depth even the villains so the reader can fully immerse themselves into the story. I'm looking forward to the next one.
November 14, 2025
Another good story in this series! I enjoyed how the sparks fly between Minnie and Tommy. The story has intrigue and mystery to add to the great characters and sweet love story. The plot moves forward and keeps it interesting for the reader. I greatly enjoyed this one!
December 10, 2025
Minnie and Tommy’s story had plenty of romance, villains, and of course, witty banter to entertain the reader. Great addition to this series.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews