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The Heiress Hunters #1
A Shop Girl's Guide to Wooing a Lord
Not yet published
Expected 9 Jun 26A down-on-her-luck shop girl and the son of an earl find they have more in common than they’d think—including sexual chemistry they can’t resist—in this fresh Regency romance by Shana Galen.
Tamsin Archer might just be having the worst year of her life. And that’s saying something, considering her father is dead, her mother was maimed at work, and her family regularly sleeps under London’s bridges. But when her younger siblings go missing, Tamsin decides it’s time to step up and fight.
Desperate times call for desperate measures, and Tamsin’s more than willing to take a few risks to reunite with her siblings. But while disguising herself to sneak into homes and steal from the rich, Tamsin is caught by Garrett Kildaire, an earl’s second son and the biggest threat she’s faced yet. Thinking quickly, Tamsin strikes a Garrett will get her into the exclusive places she needs to continue her search, and she’ll give him what he wants—her.
Garrett knows he must be careful—being seen with a woman of a lower class could be the nail in the coffin for his family’s tenuous social standing. But resisting their chemistry proves impossible, and soon there’s much more between them than their bargain. But there are eyes everywhere, and as more focus lands on Tamsin and Garret, the unlikely pair wonder if their red-hot connection means giving up everything—and everyone—they’ve ever known.
Tamsin Archer might just be having the worst year of her life. And that’s saying something, considering her father is dead, her mother was maimed at work, and her family regularly sleeps under London’s bridges. But when her younger siblings go missing, Tamsin decides it’s time to step up and fight.
Desperate times call for desperate measures, and Tamsin’s more than willing to take a few risks to reunite with her siblings. But while disguising herself to sneak into homes and steal from the rich, Tamsin is caught by Garrett Kildaire, an earl’s second son and the biggest threat she’s faced yet. Thinking quickly, Tamsin strikes a Garrett will get her into the exclusive places she needs to continue her search, and she’ll give him what he wants—her.
Garrett knows he must be careful—being seen with a woman of a lower class could be the nail in the coffin for his family’s tenuous social standing. But resisting their chemistry proves impossible, and soon there’s much more between them than their bargain. But there are eyes everywhere, and as more focus lands on Tamsin and Garret, the unlikely pair wonder if their red-hot connection means giving up everything—and everyone—they’ve ever known.
336 pages, Paperback
Expected publication June 9, 2026
About the author
Shana Galen
109 books1,578 followersShana Galen is three-time Rita award nominee and the bestselling author of fast-paced, witty, and adventurous Regency romances. Kirkus says of her books, "The road to happily-ever-after is intense, conflicted, suspenseful and fun," and RT Bookreviews calls her books “lighthearted yet poignant, humorous yet touching." She taught English at the middle and high school level off and on for eleven years. Most of those years were spent working in Houston's inner city. Now she writes full time. She's happily married and has a daughter who is most definitely a romance heroine in the making.
Want to know more? Visit Shana's website at http://www.shanagalen.com and sign up to be notified when Shana has a new release http://bit.ly/ShanaGalenNews
Want to know more? Visit Shana's website at http://www.shanagalen.com and sign up to be notified when Shana has a new release http://bit.ly/ShanaGalenNews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
April 2, 2026
When I saw a cartoon cover and a flippant title, I thought I'd get a romcom. This story is so much better than that. This beautiful story follows Tamsin Archer, living in grinding poverty in Victorian London, as she falls in love with Garrett Kildaire, an Irish aristocrat whose family is facing financial troubles. Tamsin is not a shop girl and she isn't wooing Garrett. She and her other are living over the coffeehouse where they work and Tamsin is constantly, brutally abused by the owner's wife. Later, she and her mother sleep on the floor of a pawn shop. Tamsin's siblings have been sold to a chimneysweep and Tamsin's trying to buy them back.
Garrett's parents have decided that the youngest of four siblings and only girl in the family must marry for money. Only after a while do the brothers realize that they could marry heiresses (that's the usual way - the women needed a dowry). Garrett and his brothers have to take part in the season and he stumbles upon Tamsin stealing some items at a ball and becomes obsessed with her.
The love story is lovely, as Garrett throws himself into helping Tamsin, both by feeding her and in searching for her siblings. He eventually gives up the heiress hunt for true love.
Shana Galen doesn't shy away from describing poverty and abuse here. Some may find it difficult to read, but Tamsin's resilience is also inspiring and uplifting. She's truly a heroine you root for. I look forward to seeing the rest of the Kildare's stories, but I have a feeling Tamsin and Garrett's will be my favorite!
Garrett's parents have decided that the youngest of four siblings and only girl in the family must marry for money. Only after a while do the brothers realize that they could marry heiresses (that's the usual way - the women needed a dowry). Garrett and his brothers have to take part in the season and he stumbles upon Tamsin stealing some items at a ball and becomes obsessed with her.
The love story is lovely, as Garrett throws himself into helping Tamsin, both by feeding her and in searching for her siblings. He eventually gives up the heiress hunt for true love.
Shana Galen doesn't shy away from describing poverty and abuse here. Some may find it difficult to read, but Tamsin's resilience is also inspiring and uplifting. She's truly a heroine you root for. I look forward to seeing the rest of the Kildare's stories, but I have a feeling Tamsin and Garrett's will be my favorite!
April 17, 2026
Too insta lust for me, but I know some readers will dig it. It was the lack of resolution to the financial conflict that frustrated me. I wanted to know HOW they’d figure it out, not just that they assumed they would. Given the title and cover, I expected more romcom energy. She’s not even a shop girl.
The class difference was covered well and I like some grittiness in my historicals, but I just struggled to connect with these two and believe they’d actually make it work. Garrett just seems like a generic mostly good guy. Tamsin and her backstory had a little more depth.
I think I can guess the long game, but I’m a sucker for a series about brothers, so I’ll read the next one. I think this was a case of yes to this author, but just not yes to this couple.
I received an arc from NetGalley
The class difference was covered well and I like some grittiness in my historicals, but I just struggled to connect with these two and believe they’d actually make it work. Garrett just seems like a generic mostly good guy. Tamsin and her backstory had a little more depth.
I think I can guess the long game, but I’m a sucker for a series about brothers, so I’ll read the next one. I think this was a case of yes to this author, but just not yes to this couple.
I received an arc from NetGalley
May 10, 2026
💍 💐 A Shop Girl’s Guide to Wooing a Lord 💐 💍
6 star read! I am definitely in my regency romance era!
A mix of freaking hilarious MCs but also heartbreaking life situations. Oof life before labor and child labor laws 💔💔
Both Tamsin and Garret had such sweet families! And both of them were actually so funny!
Definitely a slow burn but it was perfect for this book and the situation they found themselves in.
🎩What to Expect
• Shop girl FMC
• Aristocrat MMC
• Class difference
• Forced alliance
• Regency romance
• Slow burn
_ _ _ _
📅 Pub Date: June 9, 2026
📝 Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
6 star read! I am definitely in my regency romance era!
A mix of freaking hilarious MCs but also heartbreaking life situations. Oof life before labor and child labor laws 💔💔
Both Tamsin and Garret had such sweet families! And both of them were actually so funny!
Definitely a slow burn but it was perfect for this book and the situation they found themselves in.
🎩What to Expect
• Shop girl FMC
• Aristocrat MMC
• Class difference
• Forced alliance
• Regency romance
• Slow burn
_ _ _ _
📅 Pub Date: June 9, 2026
📝 Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Do you ever get caught up on something small in a novel that just keeps picking at you while you read?
The marketing department for this novel definitely grabbed my attention with the title of this book. But… upon reading we find out that Tamsin Archer works at a coffee house… so she’s not a shop girl (in the sense that I feel the title implies). Which seems so minor but it’s in the title. I know A Coffee House Girl’s Guide to Wooing a Lord does not roll off the tongue. And she doesn’t work at the coffee house for the entirety of the novel. AND although Garret is from a title family (Earl of Glenister) he is the second son and therefore technically not a lord. WHICH he mentions more than once in the book. A Coffee House Girl’s Guide to Wooing a Sir also just doesn’t roll off the tongue marketing wise. Why do these things grab my attention? I feel like they wanted a catchy title but it also doesn’t fit with the themes of the book.
I loved the Kildare family. Making the brother’s be on the hunt for heiresses to protect their sister from having to save the family through an advantageous marriage. Why not make the men do the work? Which they decided to do and I liked that a lot. How the brotherly rivalry continued throughout the book truly made me smile.
It’s important to note that the majority of the novel for the FMC Tamsin and her family is very realistic to the time period and social class to which she is bound. Unfortunately, I am the kind of reader who likes my books to be an escape from the harshness of reality. The world sucked then and it sucks now. I wish I could say that I was not triggered by the abuse that Tamsin experienced by her employer, but I was. Tamsin’s strength of character in her fight to find and reunite with her siblings made me champion her as a character. The realities of how she and her mother were trying to not only survive but to pay to get her siblings back in a time which definitely would have had them failing.
Tamsin and Garret gave me a bit of insta love vibes. Tamsin’s wariness of Garret’s assistance in helping her find her siblings and what he might want in return was again a very realistic facet of the time. Having a man wish to help you for the sake of helping you no strings attached? Come on! But I feel like Garret continually had to defend himself and explain that he was helping her for the sake of helping her. And it showed in his actions. His love of his own siblings and to help right a wrong in whatever way he could were his motivating factors. And if she happened to bestow some kisses on him, because she wanted to, well that just was a perk. He made sure she was the one who initiated anything and asked permission.
There was so much of this book that I struggled with and I know we are in an era of novels which expose the harsh realities that existed (and continue to do so). I should be a better reader. Maybe with my current mental health issues, this was not the time for me to read a book with such realities in it. I want to know what happens to the brother’s so I am hoping that maybe I will be in a better place mentally when the next book is published.
I was gifted an eARC from the publisher.
The marketing department for this novel definitely grabbed my attention with the title of this book. But… upon reading we find out that Tamsin Archer works at a coffee house… so she’s not a shop girl (in the sense that I feel the title implies). Which seems so minor but it’s in the title. I know A Coffee House Girl’s Guide to Wooing a Lord does not roll off the tongue. And she doesn’t work at the coffee house for the entirety of the novel. AND although Garret is from a title family (Earl of Glenister) he is the second son and therefore technically not a lord. WHICH he mentions more than once in the book. A Coffee House Girl’s Guide to Wooing a Sir also just doesn’t roll off the tongue marketing wise. Why do these things grab my attention? I feel like they wanted a catchy title but it also doesn’t fit with the themes of the book.
I loved the Kildare family. Making the brother’s be on the hunt for heiresses to protect their sister from having to save the family through an advantageous marriage. Why not make the men do the work? Which they decided to do and I liked that a lot. How the brotherly rivalry continued throughout the book truly made me smile.
It’s important to note that the majority of the novel for the FMC Tamsin and her family is very realistic to the time period and social class to which she is bound. Unfortunately, I am the kind of reader who likes my books to be an escape from the harshness of reality. The world sucked then and it sucks now. I wish I could say that I was not triggered by the abuse that Tamsin experienced by her employer, but I was. Tamsin’s strength of character in her fight to find and reunite with her siblings made me champion her as a character. The realities of how she and her mother were trying to not only survive but to pay to get her siblings back in a time which definitely would have had them failing.
Tamsin and Garret gave me a bit of insta love vibes. Tamsin’s wariness of Garret’s assistance in helping her find her siblings and what he might want in return was again a very realistic facet of the time. Having a man wish to help you for the sake of helping you no strings attached? Come on! But I feel like Garret continually had to defend himself and explain that he was helping her for the sake of helping her. And it showed in his actions. His love of his own siblings and to help right a wrong in whatever way he could were his motivating factors. And if she happened to bestow some kisses on him, because she wanted to, well that just was a perk. He made sure she was the one who initiated anything and asked permission.
There was so much of this book that I struggled with and I know we are in an era of novels which expose the harsh realities that existed (and continue to do so). I should be a better reader. Maybe with my current mental health issues, this was not the time for me to read a book with such realities in it. I want to know what happens to the brother’s so I am hoping that maybe I will be in a better place mentally when the next book is published.
I was gifted an eARC from the publisher.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A Shop Girl's Guide to Wooing a Lord is Shana Galen's latest installment in her Regency Era romantic series called Heiress Hunters. Though the heroine, impoverished coffee shop handmaiden, Tamsin Mary Archer is the focus of this installment, it is the family of the hero, Gearoid "Garrett" Kildare, who is the basis of Galen's new series.
Early in the book, the author gives the reader the impression that the hook will resemble Pygmalion and My Fair Lady, given that Garrett is the second son of the Earl of Glenister, an estate set in Ireland. Tamsin is a street peddler when first introduced. Selling violets to the wealthy theater goers in London. While soliciting passerbys to purchase her flowers, she is pushed to the ground and only Garrett notices her. Helping her onto her feet and even purchasing some violets for his little sister Mariah. The encounter sparks Tamsin's infatuation with the kind gentleman.
At this point, Galen reveals that the Kildare's are on the verge of bankruptcy. Ending any correlation to George Bernard Shaw's classic romantic tale written in 1912.
Garrett's father seeks council from his children: Liam, Garrett, Killian, Daire, and Mariah, along with his wife, the Countess of Glenister, regarding how to keep up their assets and lifestyle. Garrett comes up with the idea that the Earl's sons can each marry an heiress to maintain their family's estate. A steep departure from the usual historical romantic milieu of women being the gold diggers.
The author develops a well crafted plot, bringing Tamsin and Garrett together to rescue her little brother Charlie and little sister Joanna from being in servitude to a chimney sweeper. The story takes a Charles Dickinson spin, shedding light on the social injustices and child cruelty prevalent in the slums of London. Reflecting Oliver Twist, an orphan brought into servitude to street gangs. And Nicholas Nickleby, a young man who takes on the role of provider to his family after his father dies. Tamsin takes on the role of provider after her father and step-father each die, and her mother becomes maimed after sustaining an injury working as a washerwoman.
Slices of harsh reality and strife are woven into the story, giving it credibility. The reader can easily imagine a girl like Tamsin had existed, as assuredly as Oliver Twist or Nicholas Nickleby could have. Although Galen is diligent about capturing the cockney accent, she does not disengage from using modern language. The children call their mother "mama" when they would have said "mum." The Countess and Mariah would have been addressed as "milady."
¬
The modern language and expressions do not diminish the prevailing theme of upholding family values, and that family is the foundation of one's life. This theme is demonstrated throughout the story, and will likely reoccur throughout the series. It is the thread that binds the series and draws readers into the tales.
Early in the book, the author gives the reader the impression that the hook will resemble Pygmalion and My Fair Lady, given that Garrett is the second son of the Earl of Glenister, an estate set in Ireland. Tamsin is a street peddler when first introduced. Selling violets to the wealthy theater goers in London. While soliciting passerbys to purchase her flowers, she is pushed to the ground and only Garrett notices her. Helping her onto her feet and even purchasing some violets for his little sister Mariah. The encounter sparks Tamsin's infatuation with the kind gentleman.
At this point, Galen reveals that the Kildare's are on the verge of bankruptcy. Ending any correlation to George Bernard Shaw's classic romantic tale written in 1912.
Garrett's father seeks council from his children: Liam, Garrett, Killian, Daire, and Mariah, along with his wife, the Countess of Glenister, regarding how to keep up their assets and lifestyle. Garrett comes up with the idea that the Earl's sons can each marry an heiress to maintain their family's estate. A steep departure from the usual historical romantic milieu of women being the gold diggers.
The author develops a well crafted plot, bringing Tamsin and Garrett together to rescue her little brother Charlie and little sister Joanna from being in servitude to a chimney sweeper. The story takes a Charles Dickinson spin, shedding light on the social injustices and child cruelty prevalent in the slums of London. Reflecting Oliver Twist, an orphan brought into servitude to street gangs. And Nicholas Nickleby, a young man who takes on the role of provider to his family after his father dies. Tamsin takes on the role of provider after her father and step-father each die, and her mother becomes maimed after sustaining an injury working as a washerwoman.
Slices of harsh reality and strife are woven into the story, giving it credibility. The reader can easily imagine a girl like Tamsin had existed, as assuredly as Oliver Twist or Nicholas Nickleby could have. Although Galen is diligent about capturing the cockney accent, she does not disengage from using modern language. The children call their mother "mama" when they would have said "mum." The Countess and Mariah would have been addressed as "milady."
¬
The modern language and expressions do not diminish the prevailing theme of upholding family values, and that family is the foundation of one's life. This theme is demonstrated throughout the story, and will likely reoccur throughout the series. It is the thread that binds the series and draws readers into the tales.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Tamsin Archer will do anything to keep her family together and fed, even stealing from wealthy nobles. Her luck takes a turn when she is nearly caught by Garrett Kildaire, a handsome noble who she never thought to see again. Tamsin is wary of his promise to help her locate and rescue her missing siblings. She knows better than to lose her heart to Garrett since they come from different worlds. Will Tamsin be reunited with her siblings? And can she bring herself to part ways with Garrett once they are safe?
Gearoid “Garrett” Kildaire is the second son of an Irish lord. When his father reveals their family’s monetary troubles, he comes up with a solution. Garrett proposes that he and his brothers marry wealthy heiresses to help restore their dwindling finances. He never anticipated Tamsin or her dire situation. He knows he should pursue a rich bride, but he wants to help Tamsin more. Will Garrett choose to sacrifice his love for Tamsin to save his family from financial ruin?
My heart went out to Tamsin. She is such a resilient and remarkable woman. Tamsin has endured starvation, poverty, and unimaginable hardships – things people tend to overlook to feel better about themselves. I admire how she never once gave up hope of reuniting with her younger siblings. Every risk that Tamsin took was for their benefit and their handicapped mother.
Garrett surprised me. At first, he comes off as a carefree nobleman who delights in cavorting with his friends and little else. I love Garrett’s willingness to step up when his family needed him. He refused to allow his younger sister to sacrifice her future for him and their brothers. What I like the most about Garrett is how his world expanded once he met Tamsin. He glimpsed into her world, and it changed him for the better.
A SHOP GIRL’S GUIDE TO WOOING A LORD is the first book in Shana Galen’s upcoming new series, THE HEIRESS HUNTERS. This story is my first introduction to Galen’s works. I know she is a popular author (and having seen other readers gush about her books). I just never gotten around to trying out one of her stories until now. And boy, it did NOT disappoint! I practically devoured this book in one setting. I even rearranged my daily “to-do” list so I could finish. I am looking forward to the next installment of this series!
What I like the best about this series (so far) is the Kildaire family and their Irish roots. It is no secret that I am a sucker for anything Irish or Scottish when it comes to books. And I especially love how each Kildaire brother has a Gaelic name. That is the first thing I noticed about the family!
Gearoid “Garrett” Kildaire is the second son of an Irish lord. When his father reveals their family’s monetary troubles, he comes up with a solution. Garrett proposes that he and his brothers marry wealthy heiresses to help restore their dwindling finances. He never anticipated Tamsin or her dire situation. He knows he should pursue a rich bride, but he wants to help Tamsin more. Will Garrett choose to sacrifice his love for Tamsin to save his family from financial ruin?
My heart went out to Tamsin. She is such a resilient and remarkable woman. Tamsin has endured starvation, poverty, and unimaginable hardships – things people tend to overlook to feel better about themselves. I admire how she never once gave up hope of reuniting with her younger siblings. Every risk that Tamsin took was for their benefit and their handicapped mother.
Garrett surprised me. At first, he comes off as a carefree nobleman who delights in cavorting with his friends and little else. I love Garrett’s willingness to step up when his family needed him. He refused to allow his younger sister to sacrifice her future for him and their brothers. What I like the most about Garrett is how his world expanded once he met Tamsin. He glimpsed into her world, and it changed him for the better.
A SHOP GIRL’S GUIDE TO WOOING A LORD is the first book in Shana Galen’s upcoming new series, THE HEIRESS HUNTERS. This story is my first introduction to Galen’s works. I know she is a popular author (and having seen other readers gush about her books). I just never gotten around to trying out one of her stories until now. And boy, it did NOT disappoint! I practically devoured this book in one setting. I even rearranged my daily “to-do” list so I could finish. I am looking forward to the next installment of this series!
What I like the best about this series (so far) is the Kildaire family and their Irish roots. It is no secret that I am a sucker for anything Irish or Scottish when it comes to books. And I especially love how each Kildaire brother has a Gaelic name. That is the first thing I noticed about the family!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A Shop Girl’s Guide to Wooing a Lord follows Tamsin Archer, a determined young woman scraping by in poverty in Regency London after her father’s death and her mother’s disabling injury. Forced to provide for her family, Tamsin works in a coffeehouse, endures abuse, and eventually resorts to stealing to try to buy back her younger siblings, who were sold into servitude to a chimney-sweep. While committing a theft at an aristocratic gathering, she is intercepted by Garrett Kildaire, the second son of an Irish earl whose family faces financial insolvency. Garrett, raised with duty and expectation, is torn between the plan to marry an heiress to rescue his family’s estates and his growing compassion and attraction to Tamsin. The two form an uneasy bargain—Garrett will help Tamsin search for her siblings in exchange for her compliance with his demands—but their alliance soon deepens into genuine love. Alongside rescue attempts and social obstacles, the novel does not shy from depicting the harsh realities of urban poverty and child exploitation, while charting Tamsin’s resilience and Garrett’s moral growth.
Historical romance readers will appreciate this book for its fun blend of emotional stakes, social detail, and a family-centered series hook. The novel pairs a strong, resourceful heroine with a conflicted noble hero whose duties and affections collide, creating some steamy romantic tension. The Kildaire family dynamic promises more interconnected stories, and the brothers’ quest to save their estate provides an engaging structural premise. Galen grounds the romance in period issues—class divisions, child labor, and estate finances—so readers who enjoy romances with realistic social context will find the stakes feel meaningful rather than purely ornamental. The writing balances steamy chemistry with great character development: Tamsin’s courage and Garrett’s willingness to change lend emotional payoff to the romance, while the darker scenes of poverty add weight that amplifies the characters’ eventual triumphs. For readers who favor heart, family loyalty, and historically flavored conflicts alongside a satisfying love story, this novel delivers. I really enjoyed this book and I am looking forward the the next books.
The book is set to be released on June 9, 2026. Thanks to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for an advance reader copy.
Historical romance readers will appreciate this book for its fun blend of emotional stakes, social detail, and a family-centered series hook. The novel pairs a strong, resourceful heroine with a conflicted noble hero whose duties and affections collide, creating some steamy romantic tension. The Kildaire family dynamic promises more interconnected stories, and the brothers’ quest to save their estate provides an engaging structural premise. Galen grounds the romance in period issues—class divisions, child labor, and estate finances—so readers who enjoy romances with realistic social context will find the stakes feel meaningful rather than purely ornamental. The writing balances steamy chemistry with great character development: Tamsin’s courage and Garrett’s willingness to change lend emotional payoff to the romance, while the darker scenes of poverty add weight that amplifies the characters’ eventual triumphs. For readers who favor heart, family loyalty, and historically flavored conflicts alongside a satisfying love story, this novel delivers. I really enjoyed this book and I am looking forward the the next books.
The book is set to be released on June 9, 2026. Thanks to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for an advance reader copy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Shana Galen’s A Shop Girl’s Guide to Wooing a Lord was quite unexpected. Truthfully, I did not read the premise for more than a minute before adding the novel to my list, as it was temporarily classified as a ‘Read Now’ option on NetGalley. Benevolent male protagonists and class differences are two elements to which I always will be drawn. I assumed the novel would be rather breezy and the economic inequalities would be glossed over for the most part. However, as I began my read, I immediately was struck by emotion (which is definitely not uncommon for me), as the inhumane manner in which Tamsin was treated while selling violets and her despair were quite palpable. Though such a reaction did not occur again, it quickly became evident that this was not the typical historical romance.
Despite the fact that the characters were well developed and contained multitudes, I did not connect to them as much as I wanted to do so. In my estimation, this was not the fault of anyone, much less Galen— it was simply because I was too focused on the issues with which Tamsin and Garret grappled. Would Tamsin find a moment of respite in a life full of unfortunate and unfair circumstances? Would her thievery befall her? Would Garret find an heiress who would capture his attention and save his family from future ruin? Much of the novel kept me guessing, to the point at which I was a bit confounded when all the unanswered loose ends were quickly tied up and the novel reached its end. Perhaps it’s just me, but I expected a lengthier story with more plot-based conflict— Garret finally meeting a worthy heiress and having to go through the motions of being betrothed to her, but feeling utterly bereft at the thought of going through with the marriage and Tamsin being caught by the magistrate for stealing, or at the very least, having to contend with Snoozer once more.
All in all though, A Shop Girl’s Guide to Wooing a Lord was a pleasant read— the imagery was one of the best parts, as I genuinely could picture each scene, location, and action down to the most minute detail.
Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this novel!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received this book for free from Netgalley. That did not influence this review.
Shana Galen has a new series coming out: The Heiress Hunters. Book 1 is A Shop Girl’s Guide to Wooing a Lord.
The heiress hunters are the sons of the Earl of Glenister. When they learn of the family’s impending bankruptcy, and of their parents’ reluctant decision to marry off their fifteen-year-old sister to a significantly older wealthy lord to salvage their estates, the sons decide that one of them will have to marry an heiress instead. Being brothers, they turn it into a competition. Garrett Kildare, the second son, is determined to be the one to save the family. The only problem is, the heiresses he has been introduced to leave him cold.
Tamsin Archer is an impoverished commoner who lives with her twice-widowed mother in a tavern where their labor is exploited by the owner and where Tamsin is beaten by the owner’s wife. If this situation isn’t hopeless enough, Tamsin has two younger step-siblings who were sold to a man named Snoozer who runs a company of chimney sweeps. Tamsin has to turn over the little money she earns in order that they might be fed. She’s trying to save up to buy them back, but the price is forever out of reach. And so, she begins stealing. At an aristocrat’s party, she is caught mid-robbery by Garrett.
Tamsin knows what a kind person he is, because she met him once, years before. He bought violets from her when she was a desperate flower girl. She is even more desperate now. She manages to run off, but Garrett is determined to find her. When he does, and learns her story, he wants to help.
Unfortunately, Garrett is also sticking to his plan to marry an heiress. He falls for Tamsin, but he can’t marry her. She’s a commoner and she’s poor. Tamsin in turn has been in love with Garrett since her flower girl days, but she also knows the class difference is insurmountable.
Or is it?
This steamy Regency Romance is a fun read that introduces spirited protagonists to root for as well as a host of brothers who will no doubt continue the hunt for heiresses. (And a sister who’ll get her own story, I hope!)
Shana Galen has a new series coming out: The Heiress Hunters. Book 1 is A Shop Girl’s Guide to Wooing a Lord.
The heiress hunters are the sons of the Earl of Glenister. When they learn of the family’s impending bankruptcy, and of their parents’ reluctant decision to marry off their fifteen-year-old sister to a significantly older wealthy lord to salvage their estates, the sons decide that one of them will have to marry an heiress instead. Being brothers, they turn it into a competition. Garrett Kildare, the second son, is determined to be the one to save the family. The only problem is, the heiresses he has been introduced to leave him cold.
Tamsin Archer is an impoverished commoner who lives with her twice-widowed mother in a tavern where their labor is exploited by the owner and where Tamsin is beaten by the owner’s wife. If this situation isn’t hopeless enough, Tamsin has two younger step-siblings who were sold to a man named Snoozer who runs a company of chimney sweeps. Tamsin has to turn over the little money she earns in order that they might be fed. She’s trying to save up to buy them back, but the price is forever out of reach. And so, she begins stealing. At an aristocrat’s party, she is caught mid-robbery by Garrett.
Tamsin knows what a kind person he is, because she met him once, years before. He bought violets from her when she was a desperate flower girl. She is even more desperate now. She manages to run off, but Garrett is determined to find her. When he does, and learns her story, he wants to help.
Unfortunately, Garrett is also sticking to his plan to marry an heiress. He falls for Tamsin, but he can’t marry her. She’s a commoner and she’s poor. Tamsin in turn has been in love with Garrett since her flower girl days, but she also knows the class difference is insurmountable.
Or is it?
This steamy Regency Romance is a fun read that introduces spirited protagonists to root for as well as a host of brothers who will no doubt continue the hunt for heiresses. (And a sister who’ll get her own story, I hope!)
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Review of an ARC provided through NetGalley
If you’re looking for an accessible gateway into historical romances, look no further than Shana Galen’s A Shop Girl’s Guide to Wooing a Lord.
This story follows Tamsin Archer, who is already carrying the weight of poverty and family tragedy when her younger siblings suddenly go missing, pushing her into increasingly desperate choices to find them. While stealing from the wealthy in disguise, she’s caught by Garret Kildare, the second son of an earl, who unexpectedly chooses to help rather than condemn her. Their uneasy partnership develops against the backdrop of rigid class divisions, adding tension as their growing attraction complicates both their goals and their positions in society.
Despite Galen not disengaging from modern language, she weaves a story that deals with a lot of heavier topics that I feel sometimes are shied away from in this genre especially when it concerns topics of wealth and class. Tamsin’s father was impressed into the Navy and killed, her mother being widowed twice over and maimed in a work accident, her brother and sister being sold to Snoozer to work as chimney sweeps. Alongside this is Garret’s family, though they are of the upper echelons of society, are still down on their finances while already being frowned upon by London society because they are Irish. I appreciate the fact Galen faced these problems head on and made them such an integral part to the romance that blooms between Tamsin and Garret.
I did enjoy this book, although I wish there was a bit more plot-driven conflict with both Tamsin and Garret’s own personal conflicts I mentioned above that prevailed throughout the story, but especially Garret’s. I was expecting more of a ‘he finds an heiress but not go through with the marriage because of Tamsin’ situation, but nevertheless I did enjoy it. It was a fun read, and I thank Berkley Romance for letting me read an advanced copy!
If you’re looking for an accessible gateway into historical romances, look no further than Shana Galen’s A Shop Girl’s Guide to Wooing a Lord.
This story follows Tamsin Archer, who is already carrying the weight of poverty and family tragedy when her younger siblings suddenly go missing, pushing her into increasingly desperate choices to find them. While stealing from the wealthy in disguise, she’s caught by Garret Kildare, the second son of an earl, who unexpectedly chooses to help rather than condemn her. Their uneasy partnership develops against the backdrop of rigid class divisions, adding tension as their growing attraction complicates both their goals and their positions in society.
Despite Galen not disengaging from modern language, she weaves a story that deals with a lot of heavier topics that I feel sometimes are shied away from in this genre especially when it concerns topics of wealth and class. Tamsin’s father was impressed into the Navy and killed, her mother being widowed twice over and maimed in a work accident, her brother and sister being sold to Snoozer to work as chimney sweeps. Alongside this is Garret’s family, though they are of the upper echelons of society, are still down on their finances while already being frowned upon by London society because they are Irish. I appreciate the fact Galen faced these problems head on and made them such an integral part to the romance that blooms between Tamsin and Garret.
I did enjoy this book, although I wish there was a bit more plot-driven conflict with both Tamsin and Garret’s own personal conflicts I mentioned above that prevailed throughout the story, but especially Garret’s. I was expecting more of a ‘he finds an heiress but not go through with the marriage because of Tamsin’ situation, but nevertheless I did enjoy it. It was a fun read, and I thank Berkley Romance for letting me read an advanced copy!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!💖
First of all: I do not usually read historical romance. Of the 200+ books I read last year (mostly romance and fantasy), I think… two were historical. It’s just not normally my cup of tea. However the synopsis for A Shop Girl’s Guide to Wooing a Lord sounded way too delightful to ignore, and to my absolute shock and joy… I loved it. So thank you, Shana Galen, for proving me wrong and humbling me in the best way.
Right out of the gate, I loved that this book is clearly setting us up to spend time with the entire Kildaire family. This is the first in what I’m assuming is a series (please say yes) where the four Kildaire brothers , and maybe even a sister?? are all attempting to save their crumbling family fortune by marrying rich. Hence the series name: Heiress Hunters. The brothers all seem delightful, and Garrett is our first brother up.
Garrett and Tamsin’s romance is giving forbidden love with a side of financial distress. She’s nearly homeless and of a lower class, he’s a lord (a very broke one, but still). Their chemistry was fun, sweet, and surprisingly emotional, but what really worked for me is that there are actual stakes outside of the romance. Tamsin is desperately trying to find her missing siblings, who were sold to a horrifying, crooked chimney sweep (I know, I was not emotionally prepared either). That plotline adds real urgency and heart to the story and pushes the romance forward instead of making it feel flimsy or instalove-y.
Overall, this was charming, emotional, and way more engaging than I expected from a genre I usually side-eye. Consider me officially invested in the Kildaire brothers’ romantic and financial recovery journeys. I will absolutely be back for the rest of this series.
First of all: I do not usually read historical romance. Of the 200+ books I read last year (mostly romance and fantasy), I think… two were historical. It’s just not normally my cup of tea. However the synopsis for A Shop Girl’s Guide to Wooing a Lord sounded way too delightful to ignore, and to my absolute shock and joy… I loved it. So thank you, Shana Galen, for proving me wrong and humbling me in the best way.
Right out of the gate, I loved that this book is clearly setting us up to spend time with the entire Kildaire family. This is the first in what I’m assuming is a series (please say yes) where the four Kildaire brothers , and maybe even a sister?? are all attempting to save their crumbling family fortune by marrying rich. Hence the series name: Heiress Hunters. The brothers all seem delightful, and Garrett is our first brother up.
Garrett and Tamsin’s romance is giving forbidden love with a side of financial distress. She’s nearly homeless and of a lower class, he’s a lord (a very broke one, but still). Their chemistry was fun, sweet, and surprisingly emotional, but what really worked for me is that there are actual stakes outside of the romance. Tamsin is desperately trying to find her missing siblings, who were sold to a horrifying, crooked chimney sweep (I know, I was not emotionally prepared either). That plotline adds real urgency and heart to the story and pushes the romance forward instead of making it feel flimsy or instalove-y.
Overall, this was charming, emotional, and way more engaging than I expected from a genre I usually side-eye. Consider me officially invested in the Kildaire brothers’ romantic and financial recovery journeys. I will absolutely be back for the rest of this series.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
3.5 stars/5 stars
The title immediately caught my eye for this book, and I knew I had to read it. The titular shop girl, Tamisin Archer, really makes this book. She's extremely down on her luck, exhausted, starving, and desperately trying to save her siblings while also looking out for her mother, but my god, she won't give up, and she'll come up with twisty plot after absurd stratagem to try and make things happen. Now, obviously a lot of these plans don't work out, or require some help from Garrett Kildare, second son of an Irish earl, to make actually happen, but Tamisin is a persistent main character that you root for through all her hardship and strife.
On the other end of the spectrum is our male lead, Garrett Kildare. I have to say that I found Garrett kind of a twit in the beginning. Now, I'm not against twits as male leads (Cotillion's Freddy is one of my favorite romance leads ever), but it did somewhat bother me that despite his own family being in dire straights and relying on either him or his brothers to marry a rich heiress, he never takes it seriously until the end when it provides a bit of romantic drama. I will say that he does get better as the book progresses and he gets to know Tamisin, understands the harsh reality of her life, and wants to help, and you never doubt what Tamisin sees in him or why their relationship develops at a fast clip.
This is a rather fast-paced romance, although I would say it's developed fairly well. The smut scenes are pretty good, but it's the smaller sweeter moments where they help each other out and listen to each other's darkest moments that really sell the couple here.
In general, I look forward to reading the next book in this series since the Kildaire family was a delight to meet, and I hope to see Tamisin cameo there again too.
3.5 stars/5 stars
The title immediately caught my eye for this book, and I knew I had to read it. The titular shop girl, Tamisin Archer, really makes this book. She's extremely down on her luck, exhausted, starving, and desperately trying to save her siblings while also looking out for her mother, but my god, she won't give up, and she'll come up with twisty plot after absurd stratagem to try and make things happen. Now, obviously a lot of these plans don't work out, or require some help from Garrett Kildare, second son of an Irish earl, to make actually happen, but Tamisin is a persistent main character that you root for through all her hardship and strife.
On the other end of the spectrum is our male lead, Garrett Kildare. I have to say that I found Garrett kind of a twit in the beginning. Now, I'm not against twits as male leads (Cotillion's Freddy is one of my favorite romance leads ever), but it did somewhat bother me that despite his own family being in dire straights and relying on either him or his brothers to marry a rich heiress, he never takes it seriously until the end when it provides a bit of romantic drama. I will say that he does get better as the book progresses and he gets to know Tamisin, understands the harsh reality of her life, and wants to help, and you never doubt what Tamisin sees in him or why their relationship develops at a fast clip.
This is a rather fast-paced romance, although I would say it's developed fairly well. The smut scenes are pretty good, but it's the smaller sweeter moments where they help each other out and listen to each other's darkest moments that really sell the couple here.
In general, I look forward to reading the next book in this series since the Kildaire family was a delight to meet, and I hope to see Tamisin cameo there again too.
January 12, 2026
I really enjoyed this latest book by Shana Galen (of whom I was already a fan). It's not your standard Regency novel, IMHO. The main character is Tamsin, who has been working to help feed her family ever since her stepfather died and her mother lost an arm working in a laundry. She is trying to sell violets and ends up meeting Garret, who randomly helps her up and gives her a shilling for her violets,, causing Tamsin to fall in love with Garret. Over the next 2 years she looks at he and his family from afar.
When Tamsin is at a ball trying to steal items to pawn to rescue her half brother and sister who had been sold to a chimney sweep by the family that takes advantage of Tamsin and her mother's labor, she sees Garret again and kisses him. This causes him to be curious about her, and try to find "the thief". When Garret discovers Tamsin is essentially starving he becomes on some level her guardian angel, and tries to help her find her brother and sister.
Meanwhile, Garret's family is about to lose all their money so he and his brothers are trying to find heiresses to marry to save his own family. I loved Tamsin and Garret, and was so happy to see Tamsin's mother have a HEA, and for Tamsin's lot to improve with Garret's help and also her own change of luck and fate and hard work.
I'm sure there is some suspension of disbelief you need to have in order to believe this story could have happened as it did, but the characters were wonderful, and it was ultimately an uplifting, story of class difference, the plight of the poor and also children in that time period, and also how the rich are encouraged to live their lives to keep up appearances.
I received an advanced copy and am giving an honest review.
When Tamsin is at a ball trying to steal items to pawn to rescue her half brother and sister who had been sold to a chimney sweep by the family that takes advantage of Tamsin and her mother's labor, she sees Garret again and kisses him. This causes him to be curious about her, and try to find "the thief". When Garret discovers Tamsin is essentially starving he becomes on some level her guardian angel, and tries to help her find her brother and sister.
Meanwhile, Garret's family is about to lose all their money so he and his brothers are trying to find heiresses to marry to save his own family. I loved Tamsin and Garret, and was so happy to see Tamsin's mother have a HEA, and for Tamsin's lot to improve with Garret's help and also her own change of luck and fate and hard work.
I'm sure there is some suspension of disbelief you need to have in order to believe this story could have happened as it did, but the characters were wonderful, and it was ultimately an uplifting, story of class difference, the plight of the poor and also children in that time period, and also how the rich are encouraged to live their lives to keep up appearances.
I received an advanced copy and am giving an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
On my radar | historical romance, class divide, and a heroine fighting for her family
Historical fiction and historical romance are genres I absolutely love and A Shop Girl's Guide to Wooing a Lord by Shana Galen is exactly the kind of story within that world that draws me in immediately. The Regency setting, the class divide, the tension between duty and genuine human connection, all of it wrapped in a story that has real emotional stakes. This is one I am very much hopeful people will love.
Tamsin Archer is having the kind of year that most people would not survive. Her father is dead, her mother was injured at work, her family sleeps under London's bridges, and her younger siblings have gone missing into the hands of a chimney sweep operator. She is not sitting with any of that. She is fighting. And fighting in this case means disguising herself and stealing from the wealthy to get her family back. When she is caught by Garrett Kildare, the second son of an Earl with his own complicated reasons for needing a financially advantageous match, she expects to be turned in. Instead he offers to help her.
That is such a rich starting point. What I find compelling about this premise is how it uses the class divide not just as backdrop but as something the characters genuinely have to navigate and reckon with. Tamsin is not swooning at Garrett's title. She is wary because she has learned that good luck does not come without a cost. That hard won caution in a woman who has every reason to trust nothing is the kind of character foundation I find deeply interesting in historical fiction.
Historical fiction and historical romance are genres I absolutely love and A Shop Girl's Guide to Wooing a Lord by Shana Galen is exactly the kind of story within that world that draws me in immediately. The Regency setting, the class divide, the tension between duty and genuine human connection, all of it wrapped in a story that has real emotional stakes. This is one I am very much hopeful people will love.
Tamsin Archer is having the kind of year that most people would not survive. Her father is dead, her mother was injured at work, her family sleeps under London's bridges, and her younger siblings have gone missing into the hands of a chimney sweep operator. She is not sitting with any of that. She is fighting. And fighting in this case means disguising herself and stealing from the wealthy to get her family back. When she is caught by Garrett Kildare, the second son of an Earl with his own complicated reasons for needing a financially advantageous match, she expects to be turned in. Instead he offers to help her.
That is such a rich starting point. What I find compelling about this premise is how it uses the class divide not just as backdrop but as something the characters genuinely have to navigate and reckon with. Tamsin is not swooning at Garrett's title. She is wary because she has learned that good luck does not come without a cost. That hard won caution in a woman who has every reason to trust nothing is the kind of character foundation I find deeply interesting in historical fiction.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A down-on-her-luck shop girl and the son of an earl find they have more in common than they thought—including sexual chemistry they can’t resist—in this fresh Regency romance by Shana Galen.
Tamsin Archer might just be having the worst year of her life. But when her younger siblings go missing, Tamsin decides it’s time to step up and fight. Desperate times call for desperate measures. While disguising herself to sneak into homes and steal from the rich, Tamsin is caught by Garret Kildare, the second son of an earl. Much to Tamsin’s surprise, Garret doesn’t want to turn her in. He wants to help her. Though Tamsin’s wary, the unlikely pair form an alliance that quickly muddies their class differences.
I absolutely adored A Shop Girl's Guide to Wooing a Lord. The writing was clever and refreshing. As someone who has struggled with Historical Romance in the past, I'm happy to report that this writing style is right up my alley. The story had a great flow to it and was easy to get swept up in.
I loved Tamsin’s devotion to her family and her willingness to do whatever it takes to save them. I always really appreciated Garrett's willingness to help someone below his stature. Together, these two should not have worked. They were complete opposites, yet I looked forward to each interaction.
All in all, a solid 4-star read. Fans of slow-burning regency romances with class differences and an unlikely alliance will definitely want to check this book out. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
*I was provided an ARC copy of this book via the publisher & NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review*
Tamsin Archer might just be having the worst year of her life. But when her younger siblings go missing, Tamsin decides it’s time to step up and fight. Desperate times call for desperate measures. While disguising herself to sneak into homes and steal from the rich, Tamsin is caught by Garret Kildare, the second son of an earl. Much to Tamsin’s surprise, Garret doesn’t want to turn her in. He wants to help her. Though Tamsin’s wary, the unlikely pair form an alliance that quickly muddies their class differences.
I absolutely adored A Shop Girl's Guide to Wooing a Lord. The writing was clever and refreshing. As someone who has struggled with Historical Romance in the past, I'm happy to report that this writing style is right up my alley. The story had a great flow to it and was easy to get swept up in.
I loved Tamsin’s devotion to her family and her willingness to do whatever it takes to save them. I always really appreciated Garrett's willingness to help someone below his stature. Together, these two should not have worked. They were complete opposites, yet I looked forward to each interaction.
All in all, a solid 4-star read. Fans of slow-burning regency romances with class differences and an unlikely alliance will definitely want to check this book out. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
*I was provided an ARC copy of this book via the publisher & NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review*
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was a great slow burn with good spice historical romance. There were multiple layers to the book, with an adventure and rescue plot going on as well as the two of them wrestling with attraction while knowing there is a huge class divide between them. I also really enjoyed the look at working class London and learning more about the reform that was desperately needed and how chimney sweeping worked. The pacing also worked great, keeping the story constantly moving along. I also absolutely loved their not meet cute!
One element I feel wary of in Historical Romances is when there is a huge class difference between the main characters. It can be tricky to resolve that while still feeling accurate to the time period. I’ve never seen Bridgerton, but I know the recent season had the MMC asking the FMC to be his mistress. That same element happens in this book. Which I understand to be reasonable to the time period (in this book, Garret really needs to marry someone wealthy to save his family) but of course the modern feminist in me gets a little angry about that! Still I thoroughly enjoy this book and the characters. Even if Garret was a little dense sometimes!
The rest of the characters making up the world were also delightful and it seems easy to assume that we will be getting books for the rest of his brothers (and I hope his sister too!). I love getting started in a new series where I genuinely want to follow each character along their journey.
Spice - Medium - Good spice, could read and skim it.
Thanks Net Galley and Berkely for the ARC.
One element I feel wary of in Historical Romances is when there is a huge class difference between the main characters. It can be tricky to resolve that while still feeling accurate to the time period. I’ve never seen Bridgerton, but I know the recent season had the MMC asking the FMC to be his mistress. That same element happens in this book. Which I understand to be reasonable to the time period (in this book, Garret really needs to marry someone wealthy to save his family) but of course the modern feminist in me gets a little angry about that! Still I thoroughly enjoy this book and the characters. Even if Garret was a little dense sometimes!
The rest of the characters making up the world were also delightful and it seems easy to assume that we will be getting books for the rest of his brothers (and I hope his sister too!). I love getting started in a new series where I genuinely want to follow each character along their journey.
Spice - Medium - Good spice, could read and skim it.
Thanks Net Galley and Berkely for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
A Shop Girl’s Guide to Wooing a Lord introduces Tamsin, a determined young woman doing everything she can to reunite her family after being torn apart by circumstance. Supporting her injured mother while trying to earn enough to buy back her siblings, Tamsin’s resilience and independence shine throughout the story. Garrett, the son of an earl, crosses her path and is immediately drawn to her strength and spirit. While he is meant to be pursuing an heiress to save his own family’s financial situation, his growing connection with Tamsin quickly complicates his plans. Their banter is lively and engaging, and the contrast between their worlds adds depth to their relationship.
As someone who has always loved historical romance, this story really stood out to me. It balanced humor and heartbreak beautifully, and I found myself deeply invested in Tamsin’s journey. Her desire to build a better life for her family was incredibly moving, and Garrett’s internal conflict added emotional weight to the romance. The story is a low-stakes, character-driven read with a satisfying slow burn, strong development, and well-placed historical detail that enhances the setting without overwhelming the narrative.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more from Shana Galen. This is a charming and heartfelt historical romance that will appeal to readers who enjoy banter, low angst, and feel-good happily ever afters.
A Shop Girl’s Guide to Wooing a Lord introduces Tamsin, a determined young woman doing everything she can to reunite her family after being torn apart by circumstance. Supporting her injured mother while trying to earn enough to buy back her siblings, Tamsin’s resilience and independence shine throughout the story. Garrett, the son of an earl, crosses her path and is immediately drawn to her strength and spirit. While he is meant to be pursuing an heiress to save his own family’s financial situation, his growing connection with Tamsin quickly complicates his plans. Their banter is lively and engaging, and the contrast between their worlds adds depth to their relationship.
As someone who has always loved historical romance, this story really stood out to me. It balanced humor and heartbreak beautifully, and I found myself deeply invested in Tamsin’s journey. Her desire to build a better life for her family was incredibly moving, and Garrett’s internal conflict added emotional weight to the romance. The story is a low-stakes, character-driven read with a satisfying slow burn, strong development, and well-placed historical detail that enhances the setting without overwhelming the narrative.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more from Shana Galen. This is a charming and heartfelt historical romance that will appeal to readers who enjoy banter, low angst, and feel-good happily ever afters.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was an eventful story, with a young woman down on her luck, struggling to make her way in the world, trying to help her handicapped mother, and retrieve her two missing siblings. Tamsin Archer encounters a young Irish nobleman, Garret Kildaire, who is kind to her and she follows him home to peek at the lovely family life in his household. Two years later, she runs into him again under not so honest circumstances, which leads to him trying to assist her and her trying to maintain her expectations, knowing that he is quite above her station. He is supposed to be trying to marry an heiress, so he also knows nothing can come of any feelings he may have for the plucky and determined Tamsin. This doesn’t stop Garret from trying to help her, and this throws them together frequently, which causes all sorts of complications, of course. As the story progressed, I liked that Garret goes from a carefree young man, hanging out with his friends, to learning that there are many people living perilous lives, with not enough food to eat or a place to lay their heads, and mistreated by those more powerful, which greatly concerns him. I enjoyed this couple and their budding relationship, but didn’t see how all of the obstacles in their way could be overcome. Once again, my favorite author came through and figured out a way for things to work out for Tamsin and Garret. I’m so looking forward to reading more stories featuring the other members of Garret’s family.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book!
I really enjoyed the last Shana Galen book I read, and I enjoyed this one as well. The main characters do feel very young, like teen/YA protagonists. There is some fairly explicit sexual content, though, so I would be reluctant to recommend this to teen readers (although as a teen I know I read much more explicit stuff.) I did like both characters and their perspectives. They grew up very differently, and that showed in their outlooks and reflections, but you could see that their personalities were compatible.
I think this is the third book I've read this year where the male love interest At least here he doesn't keep harassing her about it and just accepts her first answer. He was consistently respectful towards her, from their very first meeting. The romantic conflict (class difference) made sense and caused tension, but they also each had their own individual struggles and quests that were engaging and provided some action, drama, historical context, and humor. There's also good setup for the next books in the series, which I look forward to reading.
I did find a few typos, but it's an arc so hopefully those will get fixed.
Content Warnings:
Moderate: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Trafficking, Classism
Minor: Ableism, Torture, Death of parent, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail
I really enjoyed the last Shana Galen book I read, and I enjoyed this one as well. The main characters do feel very young, like teen/YA protagonists. There is some fairly explicit sexual content, though, so I would be reluctant to recommend this to teen readers (although as a teen I know I read much more explicit stuff.) I did like both characters and their perspectives. They grew up very differently, and that showed in their outlooks and reflections, but you could see that their personalities were compatible.
I think this is the third book I've read this year where the male love interest At least here he doesn't keep harassing her about it and just accepts her first answer. He was consistently respectful towards her, from their very first meeting. The romantic conflict (class difference) made sense and caused tension, but they also each had their own individual struggles and quests that were engaging and provided some action, drama, historical context, and humor. There's also good setup for the next books in the series, which I look forward to reading.
I did find a few typos, but it's an arc so hopefully those will get fixed.
Content Warnings:
Moderate: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Trafficking, Classism
Minor: Ableism, Torture, Death of parent, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I enjoyed this story but was not in love with it. It read pretty quickly. I think in part I'm learning that regency books may not be for me. I love the Bridgerton TV series, but haven't been vibing super hard with regency books recently. My biggest complaint is that while our FMC is in her mid twenties (yay for having non-teen protagonists!), I'd generally forget this. Even in the prologue, I assumed she was maybe 17? The prologue happens 2 years prior to the story. Throughout, she still read as ~17 to me. This led to some very awkward sex scenes - they felt very out of place given how young the FMC was written. There were also some instances of 'I never saw how other girls could fall in love/be desperate to be with their man, but MINE is different/special' to the realization that he is in fact not all that different (all within a singular chapter).
There were a lot of interesting details about the time period. While this was a quick read, it didn't leave me feeling compelled to try other books from the author.
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book!
There were a lot of interesting details about the time period. While this was a quick read, it didn't leave me feeling compelled to try other books from the author.
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Tamsin Archer and Garrett Kildaire are from two very different classes. Their paths first crossed years earlier when Tamsin was selling flowers outside the theater to make money to feed herself and her family. When their paths cross again, Tamsin instantly recognizes Garrett, but he doesn’t remember her from before; he only knows she is a thief that kissed him, and he most find her. Once Garrett learns the truth, he insists on helping Tamsin get her brother and sister back. Can two people from different classes find a way to happiness together?
I truly enjoyed this book!! I thought it was a lot of fun, very entertaining and so very delightful!! I loved how the heroine was from the lower class and the hero was the second son. I liked how Garrett and Tamsin worked together to find her siblings while trying to deny their feelings for each other, because of their class differences. I thought both Garrett and Tasmin were very likable characters and the secondary characters were absolutely delightful. I loved how they overcame their class differences and were able to find their happily ever after together. I highly recommend this book!!
I truly enjoyed this book!! I thought it was a lot of fun, very entertaining and so very delightful!! I loved how the heroine was from the lower class and the hero was the second son. I liked how Garrett and Tamsin worked together to find her siblings while trying to deny their feelings for each other, because of their class differences. I thought both Garrett and Tasmin were very likable characters and the secondary characters were absolutely delightful. I loved how they overcame their class differences and were able to find their happily ever after together. I highly recommend this book!!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Book Title: A Shop Girls Guide to Wooing a Lord
Series: The Heiress Hunters #1
Author: Shana Galen
I haven't read a good historical romance in a while. This book was so cute.
Tamsin has been down on her luck longer than she want to admit. She will do anything to be able to support her and her mom and get her younger brothers and sisters back. After a rich man was nice to her years ago she never forgot it and when she see's him again she can't help falling for him.
Garrett has trauma from his time in the Military and now he has to find an Heiress to help his families financial situation. After catching a thief at a ball he gets the surprise of his life when he realizes its a woman and not a man. When he finds out why she is stealing he wants to help her find her sibling.
The more time Garrett and Tamsin spend together the more their feelings grow...but Garrett needs an heiress not someone below his station who his parents won't accept. Will he be able to stay away or will Tamsin make the decision her him.
I can't wait for the next book. I was just as invested in the side characters as I was Garrett and Tamsin.
#TheHeiressHuntersSeries #ComingSoon #ashopgirlsguidetowooingalord #ShanaGalen
Series: The Heiress Hunters #1
Author: Shana Galen
I haven't read a good historical romance in a while. This book was so cute.
Tamsin has been down on her luck longer than she want to admit. She will do anything to be able to support her and her mom and get her younger brothers and sisters back. After a rich man was nice to her years ago she never forgot it and when she see's him again she can't help falling for him.
Garrett has trauma from his time in the Military and now he has to find an Heiress to help his families financial situation. After catching a thief at a ball he gets the surprise of his life when he realizes its a woman and not a man. When he finds out why she is stealing he wants to help her find her sibling.
The more time Garrett and Tamsin spend together the more their feelings grow...but Garrett needs an heiress not someone below his station who his parents won't accept. Will he be able to stay away or will Tamsin make the decision her him.
I can't wait for the next book. I was just as invested in the side characters as I was Garrett and Tamsin.
#TheHeiressHuntersSeries #ComingSoon #ashopgirlsguidetowooingalord #ShanaGalen
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
It has been a while since I have read a regency romance, and I am once again reminded why this genre isn't for me. While the romance and plot were decent, I just could not get behind the leads. Gearoid(Garrett) is the second son of an Irish lord whose family has been struggling financially, which leads him and his brothers to make a bet on who can marry a wealthy heiress to restore their family's wealth. Tamsin is the eldest of a family who's on the brink of homelessness. She has endured a lot of tragedy and is supporting her family on her own.
I did like the whole forbidden romance aspect due to the class differences. The author did a good job exhibiting the mistreatment and exploitation of the working class through Tamsin and how she is treated by society.
My greatest gripe with this story is how Tamsin and Garret were acting as characters. They would just behave so irrationally that it just took me out of the story completely, like how she kissed him in one of their first interactions or how he asked her to be his mistress.
I do think this book has an audience, it just didn't fully work for me.
Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley for the ARC
I did like the whole forbidden romance aspect due to the class differences. The author did a good job exhibiting the mistreatment and exploitation of the working class through Tamsin and how she is treated by society.
My greatest gripe with this story is how Tamsin and Garret were acting as characters. They would just behave so irrationally that it just took me out of the story completely, like how she kissed him in one of their first interactions or how he asked her to be his mistress.
I do think this book has an audience, it just didn't fully work for me.
Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Shana Galen has a real winner with A Shop Girl's Guide to Wooing a Lord. This regency romance has everything you could want in a historical and much more. I adore how kindness is at the heart of this novel. Garrett's kind gestures to Tamsin made my heart melt, and the way Tamsin's world changed in one brief moment gave me hope.
When Tamsin learned of her ability to fix the automaton, she blossomed from a downtrodden miss into a kickass woman who no longer has to take abuse from those who think themselves better than her. The way Garrett encourages Tamsin shows the utmost respect, and his pride in her shows.
My criticism lies in the way the author tries to portray a rakish, irresponsible side of Garrett that contradicts his actions. That side feels forced and out of character. Another problem I have is with the title. Tamsin is not a shopgirl in any form of the word.
All in all, the book is great. I really enjoyed it. Aside from those two minor conflicts, the story was exceptional.
When Tamsin learned of her ability to fix the automaton, she blossomed from a downtrodden miss into a kickass woman who no longer has to take abuse from those who think themselves better than her. The way Garrett encourages Tamsin shows the utmost respect, and his pride in her shows.
My criticism lies in the way the author tries to portray a rakish, irresponsible side of Garrett that contradicts his actions. That side feels forced and out of character. Another problem I have is with the title. Tamsin is not a shopgirl in any form of the word.
All in all, the book is great. I really enjoyed it. Aside from those two minor conflicts, the story was exceptional.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Berkley and Netgalley for this e-arc!
3.5 stars
Anytime a book mentions a lord and a lady I am so there. I love a good historical romance and I am so happy to see more of them coming back. This book is so much more than a little romance it is tragic and gut wrenching and showed the realities of living in non-present day. Tamsin is trying to buy back her siblings who have been sold and Garret is being forced to look for a wealthy heiress to marry to save his family from ruin when they meet and Garret agrees to help Tamsin. While I liked the romance between Garret and Tamsin it was insta love and I felt like it needed to be more drawn out. I loved Garret and Tamsin's characters toward their families the most. Tamsin will do whatever it takes to save her siblings and Garret will do whatever it takes so that his sister isn't sold off in an arranged marriage that is more than likely to be unhappy and more. Overall, was a fun read and different from what is out there right now which was refreshing.
3.5 stars
Anytime a book mentions a lord and a lady I am so there. I love a good historical romance and I am so happy to see more of them coming back. This book is so much more than a little romance it is tragic and gut wrenching and showed the realities of living in non-present day. Tamsin is trying to buy back her siblings who have been sold and Garret is being forced to look for a wealthy heiress to marry to save his family from ruin when they meet and Garret agrees to help Tamsin. While I liked the romance between Garret and Tamsin it was insta love and I felt like it needed to be more drawn out. I loved Garret and Tamsin's characters toward their families the most. Tamsin will do whatever it takes to save her siblings and Garret will do whatever it takes so that his sister isn't sold off in an arranged marriage that is more than likely to be unhappy and more. Overall, was a fun read and different from what is out there right now which was refreshing.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
While I enjoyed this title for what it was I felt it was missing something.
This was a story of two people from two different worlds---the aristocracy & the lower classes & it just doesn't quite gel.
Garrett is the second son of an Irish Lord who has discovered his family's fortune has run out & someone must marry a rich debutante when he runs into thief/heroine Tasmin trying to escape out of a window at a ball he's attending. She kisses him in her attempt to escape & thus our wooing begins.
Our heroine is plucky & strong willed & our hero is mostly kind, if not a bit ignorant to the ways of the wider world (which considering he's been in the navy was a bit surprising) Everything wraps up a bit too neatly which was somewhat annoying hence the missing something. I didn't feel any real conflict.
It wasn't bad or good--just meh.
Thanks to netgalley and Berkley for a review copy.
This was a story of two people from two different worlds---the aristocracy & the lower classes & it just doesn't quite gel.
Garrett is the second son of an Irish Lord who has discovered his family's fortune has run out & someone must marry a rich debutante when he runs into thief/heroine Tasmin trying to escape out of a window at a ball he's attending. She kisses him in her attempt to escape & thus our wooing begins.
Our heroine is plucky & strong willed & our hero is mostly kind, if not a bit ignorant to the ways of the wider world (which considering he's been in the navy was a bit surprising) Everything wraps up a bit too neatly which was somewhat annoying hence the missing something. I didn't feel any real conflict.
It wasn't bad or good--just meh.
Thanks to netgalley and Berkley for a review copy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Garrett Kildaire, second son of an earl, has received some bad news. His family is broke, like so broke that unless something drastically changes, they will have to sell their land and their belongings at the end of the season, in a few short months. His parents propose that his youngest sister, Mariah, marry a rich old peer to save the family. His brothers are opposed to this plan and so they decide they will each try to woo a wealthy heiress to save the family from financial ruin. With this in mind, he of course falls in love with Tamsin Archer who has even worse luck than Garrett. Her father was impressed by the British Navy and died, her stepfather died in a dock accident, her mother lost an arm in a factory accident, her younger brother and sister was sold by their landlord to a chimney sweep human trafficker, and she and her mother are one misstep away from living under a bridge. Tamsin has been desperately trying to raise the funds to buy her siblings freedom but no matter what she does, her goal seems to be sliding further and further away.
Garrett and Tamsin have a meet cute during a failed robbery (Tamsin was doing the robbing) and spend the rest of the book trying to deny their attraction to each other; Garrett because he needs an heiress, and Tamsin because she needs to focus on saving her siblings, not the peer that she fell in love with because he was kind to her two years ago. The tension between Garrett and Tamsin is very thick, and they can’t stop seeking each other out. Garrett is a bit of a rake in the beginning but you can see that he is a really kind person throughout the book (including the incident that forced him to leave the navy) and he genuinely wants to help Tamsin, not just get in her pants. Tamsin is an interesting female lead because she felt so different from most FMCs in historical romance. Tamsin felt like a real working class girl, tough as nails, smart, fiercely loyal to her family and she was not doing needlepoint in her spare time. Stereotypical leads are maybe feisty but more like riding horses feisty, not robbing houses and fighting kidnappers feisty.
I liked this book a lot. I feel like a lot of romance novels, the leads are either nobility or daughters of wealthy merchants that have been training to marry up. Occasionally you’ll get a down on their luck lead but she’s almost always educated and from “good” families. I liked how this book made the class (and wealth) disparity feel like a true barrier to their relationship, rather than a conflict between them. There are serious issues in this book, such as poverty, abuse, human trafficking, but there is also humor to balance it, a lot of it coming from Garrett’s brothers. Garrett’s brothers are also on quests to find an heiress during the events of this book so I’m curious to read the rest of the series.
This isn’t a fluffy rom com romance novel but a slightly grittier traditional historical romance with a satisfying HEA and if that is your thing, you will enjoy it as much as I did.
4 out of 5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC.
Garrett and Tamsin have a meet cute during a failed robbery (Tamsin was doing the robbing) and spend the rest of the book trying to deny their attraction to each other; Garrett because he needs an heiress, and Tamsin because she needs to focus on saving her siblings, not the peer that she fell in love with because he was kind to her two years ago. The tension between Garrett and Tamsin is very thick, and they can’t stop seeking each other out. Garrett is a bit of a rake in the beginning but you can see that he is a really kind person throughout the book (including the incident that forced him to leave the navy) and he genuinely wants to help Tamsin, not just get in her pants. Tamsin is an interesting female lead because she felt so different from most FMCs in historical romance. Tamsin felt like a real working class girl, tough as nails, smart, fiercely loyal to her family and she was not doing needlepoint in her spare time. Stereotypical leads are maybe feisty but more like riding horses feisty, not robbing houses and fighting kidnappers feisty.
I liked this book a lot. I feel like a lot of romance novels, the leads are either nobility or daughters of wealthy merchants that have been training to marry up. Occasionally you’ll get a down on their luck lead but she’s almost always educated and from “good” families. I liked how this book made the class (and wealth) disparity feel like a true barrier to their relationship, rather than a conflict between them. There are serious issues in this book, such as poverty, abuse, human trafficking, but there is also humor to balance it, a lot of it coming from Garrett’s brothers. Garrett’s brothers are also on quests to find an heiress during the events of this book so I’m curious to read the rest of the series.
This isn’t a fluffy rom com romance novel but a slightly grittier traditional historical romance with a satisfying HEA and if that is your thing, you will enjoy it as much as I did.
4 out of 5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I think I let the cover of this book mislead me into thinking the tone would be lighter.
It doesn't shy away from dark issues if the times that affected the lower classes, and serves as a great history lesson, but it wasn't what I was looking for in a book.
While the characters were decently formed, I didn't find myself terribly endeared to them, and thought their romance felt a bit rushed.
By the end of the book I was much more interested in the horse-obsessed Lady Callista. If she gets her own book I'm sure to read it, as she's a very intriguing character.
The writing was solid, as expected, but this one unfortunately just didn't fit my tastes. This is much more suited to fans of dickensian historicals who also want a heavy emphasis on romance.
Thank you to Berkley and Netgalley for the ARC.
It doesn't shy away from dark issues if the times that affected the lower classes, and serves as a great history lesson, but it wasn't what I was looking for in a book.
While the characters were decently formed, I didn't find myself terribly endeared to them, and thought their romance felt a bit rushed.
By the end of the book I was much more interested in the horse-obsessed Lady Callista. If she gets her own book I'm sure to read it, as she's a very intriguing character.
The writing was solid, as expected, but this one unfortunately just didn't fit my tastes. This is much more suited to fans of dickensian historicals who also want a heavy emphasis on romance.
Thank you to Berkley and Netgalley for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
If you like a good class difference trope, as I do, this story is likely a good fit for you. I don't think I've ever read a trope quite like this one and I enjoyed the originality of it. Garret had a pretty dark backstory from his time in the Navy, and I enjoyed it when he was finally able to open up to Tamsin and she was willing to listen to him and find some common ground. This was hard won communication, and I really enjoyed seeing it these two finally get it together. Both characters were flawed and they had real obstacles between them, but I loved seeing Garret's big Irish family expand to include Tamsin without question or concern for her lower-class status. This was an intriguing beginning for a new series and I'm excited to see what's next.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5 stars: This historical romance featured two leads with very different backgrounds and goals choosing each other against all odds including their own assumptions. The cast was very insular; multiple brothers only danced or chatted with the same few girls, and the focus was definitely family, not friends. The MMC had an Irish and an Anglicized name, so I was surprised that there weren't other Irish elements or historical tidbits added. But in general the setting was built out in a balance of accessibility and accuracy. I liked that the spicy elements were easily identifiable so they could be skipped for those who prefer that. Overall this was a nice historical read with strong familial bonds!
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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