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Honeyfield Hearts #2
How to Vex an Earl
Blazing hearts battle between the beauty and the ugly duckling.
Called the most beautiful woman of the ton, Helen Honeyfield managed to escape an unwanted marriage when caught in the embrace of ugly duckling Liam Rendell. When he realized he had been tricked by the woman he’d yearned for, he vowed to one day get revenge.
Now the Earl of Fenwick, Liam has experienced a lifetime of ridicule, not only by the ton, but by his late father as well. His best revenge is ruining the reputation of the title, his father’s truest love. He stumbles across a most interesting opportunity: Helen’s father is selling his failing textile mill. Lord Fenwick jumps at the chance to buy it, knowing the ton will ridicule an earl in industry, but also that it will hurt the earldom financially. The title his late father revered will never be the same. But Liam gets more than he bargains for when he learns the mill’s women workers are organizing. And they’ve asked Miss Honeyfield to be their union representative.
At her sister’s plea, Helen agrees to be the workers’ representative, believing it will be easy to convince meek Lord Fenwick to comply to their demands. Though she isn’t exactly pleased to have to be around the odd man. But as time ticks by, both wonder if they’ve been wrong about the other. Helen always seemed to crave attention, but a reserved side emerges. Liam seemed timid but is blooming in his unusual new role. Though their magnetic pull becomes impossible to deny, love can never exist between a union representative and a factory owner.
Tropes you'll love:
Enemies to lovers
Ugly duckling
Unrequited love
Brooding hero
Take-charge heroine
Spinster
Opposites attract
Second chance
Note: This series is part of Dragonblade's Sweet Dreams line, so this is a sweet, wholesome Historical Romance where passion beyond the bedroom door is left to the reader’s imagination.
Read Free in Kindle Unlimited!
Honeyfield Hearts
Book 1 - How to Charm a Duke
Book 2 - How to Vex an Earl
Book 3 - How to Find a Lost Lord
Called the most beautiful woman of the ton, Helen Honeyfield managed to escape an unwanted marriage when caught in the embrace of ugly duckling Liam Rendell. When he realized he had been tricked by the woman he’d yearned for, he vowed to one day get revenge.
Now the Earl of Fenwick, Liam has experienced a lifetime of ridicule, not only by the ton, but by his late father as well. His best revenge is ruining the reputation of the title, his father’s truest love. He stumbles across a most interesting opportunity: Helen’s father is selling his failing textile mill. Lord Fenwick jumps at the chance to buy it, knowing the ton will ridicule an earl in industry, but also that it will hurt the earldom financially. The title his late father revered will never be the same. But Liam gets more than he bargains for when he learns the mill’s women workers are organizing. And they’ve asked Miss Honeyfield to be their union representative.
At her sister’s plea, Helen agrees to be the workers’ representative, believing it will be easy to convince meek Lord Fenwick to comply to their demands. Though she isn’t exactly pleased to have to be around the odd man. But as time ticks by, both wonder if they’ve been wrong about the other. Helen always seemed to crave attention, but a reserved side emerges. Liam seemed timid but is blooming in his unusual new role. Though their magnetic pull becomes impossible to deny, love can never exist between a union representative and a factory owner.
Tropes you'll love:
Enemies to lovers
Ugly duckling
Unrequited love
Brooding hero
Take-charge heroine
Spinster
Opposites attract
Second chance
Note: This series is part of Dragonblade's Sweet Dreams line, so this is a sweet, wholesome Historical Romance where passion beyond the bedroom door is left to the reader’s imagination.
Read Free in Kindle Unlimited!
Honeyfield Hearts
Book 1 - How to Charm a Duke
Book 2 - How to Vex an Earl
Book 3 - How to Find a Lost Lord
368 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 23, 2026
About the author
Arden Conroy
5 books11 followersArden Conroy writes historical romance with yearning and heart. She grew up in Chicago and spent her childhood attending the local museums. The first historical era to capture her attention was the 1920s thanks to Chicago's notorious entanglement in Prohibition. Her interest in history branched out from there. Arden has lived all over the United States from the Hudson Valley, NY to Tulsa, OK and many places in between. Today, she lives between Chicago and Pennsylvania with her husband and two children.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 30, 2026
Usually, when we see labor disputes or any kind of industry on the page in a historical romance, one or both of our main characters are industrialists who are part of the nouveau riche. I was really interested in seeing, from the description for this book, how Arden Conroy was going to take two characters from the aristocracy and put them in this world of manufacturing without making it seem forced. She mostly succeeded, but there were some bumps in the road.
Thanks to Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley for the complimentary ARC of How to Vex an Earl.
Helen Honeyfield was engaged to be married to the relative of a duke, a big win for her scandal-plagued family. Despite being the daughter of a baron, her father's scandalous marriage to an actress has put the family on the edge of polite society. As the eldest daughter, Helen's parents expect her to make a match that will push the family back into the ton's good graces, but Helen refuses to marry this man. He's older than her father and has no interest in her as a person, just her beauty. She turns to her brother for help, and he suggests that she get caught kissing another man. Helen uses Liam Rendell's infatuation with her to avoid this unwanted marriage, but in the process ends up hurting the very awkward Liam and ruining her own reputation.
Now it's years later, and Helen is still dealing with the fallout of that fateful decision. Meanwhile, Liam has inherited his father's title and finally grown into his looks. He wants to destroy the good name of the Earldom of Fenwick as a final blow to the father who ridiculed and tortured him, so he decides to purchase a failing factory, currently owned by Helen's father, and use it to bankrupt the title. But when he arrives in Manchester to complete the sale and take ownership of the factory, he finds that things are more complicated. The women who have worked at the factory have been mistreated for years, and they elect Helen to serve as their representative to negotiate with the new owner because, as a lady, she might have more sway. But the workers don't know about Helen's history with Liam or that he's promised to tank the factory to take down his own title. Helen wants to do right by the women she represents, but her growing attraction to Liam and the distrust most of the workers have for her are making things more complicated than she anticipated.
I requested this ARC simply because I was intrigued by the idea of a lady of the ton serving as a union representative. I didn't know anything about the series, the line this is published through at Dragonblade, or the rest of the story. Just a heads-up: this is a closed-door romance with some kissing and over-the-clothes stuff on the page, but there is nothing I'd classify as explicit. There is the threat of sexual violence on the page, though, so if that is a trigger for you, you might want to skip this one.
We're used to seeing the ugly duckling trope deployed in relation to heroines, but in this book, it is Liam who has taken a long time to grow into his looks. I really enjoyed the contrast between his story and Helen's. Liam grew up being told he was ugly and receiving nonstop negative attention from his family and social circle because of it. Helen grew up as the most beautiful person in the room, but she also received nonstop negative attention from the ton because of it. Liam can't fathom what Helen has experienced. He assumes she must have had a charmed life because of her looks, but as he watches her move through Manchester society, he sees just how hard and dangerous things have been for her.
Helen spends a lot of this book managing the emotions of the men around her. She is acutely aware that, as a woman, especially a woman with a damaged reputation, her safety relies on her ability to placate terrible men so she can extricate herself from dangerous situations. When we're in her head during those interactions, we see just how calculated she is and how she uses what she has to manipulate these men so she can get to safety. But we often see these scenes through Liam's eyes, and it takes him a long time to realize that Helen is putting on a performance in these moments. As he gets to know her better, he starts to see the little tells that indicate she's faking it.
There actually were society ladies who served as union representatives during the Industrial Revolution, both in the UK and America, so I was onboard with Helen's role in this story. I enjoyed watching Helen try to bond with the women and seeing how they understood much faster than Liam just how emotionally intelligent Helen had to be to safely move through the world. The only part of the story that really didn't make a ton of sense to me was the third-act labor plotline. I get where Arden Conroy wanted to take the story; it just felt out of character for Helen to make such a risky decision when she is so circumspect about her own safety and the safety of the women around her in every other part of the book.
I did enjoy this book and do plan to read the third novel. We have a missing hero for that story, and I want to know what happened to this man. 4 stars.
Thanks to Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley for the complimentary ARC of How to Vex an Earl.
Helen Honeyfield was engaged to be married to the relative of a duke, a big win for her scandal-plagued family. Despite being the daughter of a baron, her father's scandalous marriage to an actress has put the family on the edge of polite society. As the eldest daughter, Helen's parents expect her to make a match that will push the family back into the ton's good graces, but Helen refuses to marry this man. He's older than her father and has no interest in her as a person, just her beauty. She turns to her brother for help, and he suggests that she get caught kissing another man. Helen uses Liam Rendell's infatuation with her to avoid this unwanted marriage, but in the process ends up hurting the very awkward Liam and ruining her own reputation.
Now it's years later, and Helen is still dealing with the fallout of that fateful decision. Meanwhile, Liam has inherited his father's title and finally grown into his looks. He wants to destroy the good name of the Earldom of Fenwick as a final blow to the father who ridiculed and tortured him, so he decides to purchase a failing factory, currently owned by Helen's father, and use it to bankrupt the title. But when he arrives in Manchester to complete the sale and take ownership of the factory, he finds that things are more complicated. The women who have worked at the factory have been mistreated for years, and they elect Helen to serve as their representative to negotiate with the new owner because, as a lady, she might have more sway. But the workers don't know about Helen's history with Liam or that he's promised to tank the factory to take down his own title. Helen wants to do right by the women she represents, but her growing attraction to Liam and the distrust most of the workers have for her are making things more complicated than she anticipated.
I requested this ARC simply because I was intrigued by the idea of a lady of the ton serving as a union representative. I didn't know anything about the series, the line this is published through at Dragonblade, or the rest of the story. Just a heads-up: this is a closed-door romance with some kissing and over-the-clothes stuff on the page, but there is nothing I'd classify as explicit. There is the threat of sexual violence on the page, though, so if that is a trigger for you, you might want to skip this one.
We're used to seeing the ugly duckling trope deployed in relation to heroines, but in this book, it is Liam who has taken a long time to grow into his looks. I really enjoyed the contrast between his story and Helen's. Liam grew up being told he was ugly and receiving nonstop negative attention from his family and social circle because of it. Helen grew up as the most beautiful person in the room, but she also received nonstop negative attention from the ton because of it. Liam can't fathom what Helen has experienced. He assumes she must have had a charmed life because of her looks, but as he watches her move through Manchester society, he sees just how hard and dangerous things have been for her.
Helen spends a lot of this book managing the emotions of the men around her. She is acutely aware that, as a woman, especially a woman with a damaged reputation, her safety relies on her ability to placate terrible men so she can extricate herself from dangerous situations. When we're in her head during those interactions, we see just how calculated she is and how she uses what she has to manipulate these men so she can get to safety. But we often see these scenes through Liam's eyes, and it takes him a long time to realize that Helen is putting on a performance in these moments. As he gets to know her better, he starts to see the little tells that indicate she's faking it.
There actually were society ladies who served as union representatives during the Industrial Revolution, both in the UK and America, so I was onboard with Helen's role in this story. I enjoyed watching Helen try to bond with the women and seeing how they understood much faster than Liam just how emotionally intelligent Helen had to be to safely move through the world. The only part of the story that really didn't make a ton of sense to me was the third-act labor plotline. I get where Arden Conroy wanted to take the story; it just felt out of character for Helen to make such a risky decision when she is so circumspect about her own safety and the safety of the women around her in every other part of the book.
I did enjoy this book and do plan to read the third novel. We have a missing hero for that story, and I want to know what happened to this man. 4 stars.
May 25, 2026
How to Vex an Earl is a richly layered Regency romance that blends emotional tension, class conflict, and slow burning attraction into a deeply engaging and satisfying read. Arden Conroy crafts a story that feels both witty and emotionally grounded, drawing readers into a world shaped by reputation, pride, and hidden vulnerability.
What makes the novel especially compelling is the evolving dynamic between Helen Honeyfield and Liam Rendell. Their relationship begins with misunderstanding and emotional friction, but gradually unfolds into something far more complex and meaningful. Both characters are shaped by past wounds and social expectations, which gives their interactions emotional weight and authenticity.
The backdrop of industrial change and social tension adds depth to the romance, grounding the story in a world where personal desire and societal obligation constantly clash. This balance between emotional development and external pressure keeps the narrative engaging and thematically rich throughout.
Arden Conroy delivers a thoughtful and emotionally satisfying Regency romance that will strongly resonate with readers who enjoy enemies to lovers stories, class tension, and character driven emotional growth.
What makes the novel especially compelling is the evolving dynamic between Helen Honeyfield and Liam Rendell. Their relationship begins with misunderstanding and emotional friction, but gradually unfolds into something far more complex and meaningful. Both characters are shaped by past wounds and social expectations, which gives their interactions emotional weight and authenticity.
The backdrop of industrial change and social tension adds depth to the romance, grounding the story in a world where personal desire and societal obligation constantly clash. This balance between emotional development and external pressure keeps the narrative engaging and thematically rich throughout.
Arden Conroy delivers a thoughtful and emotionally satisfying Regency romance that will strongly resonate with readers who enjoy enemies to lovers stories, class tension, and character driven emotional growth.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley. Helen Did not know what do her parents had arranged a marriage she did not want. Her brother helped her by bring over the young man who was not as his potential in looks yet for her to be caught with so he would decline the marriage. As it happened they were kissing and the intended groom left. The man she kissed was a late bloomer and became a handsome earl. Liam had a hate love relationship with Helen over the years. His father made fun of him because he didn't like doing the "manly" things his father did. Liam is now the earl and buys a textile mill of which he knows nothing about but is learning as time goes by. Helen is also there and they are attracted more to each other. Helen becomes the union rep for hi mill though she knows nothing about it and the men won't let her in the union. This story is part learning about the mills and part their making up. Helen does vex Liam but he always gets over it.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
In this historical romance we get two people who have been badly misjudged by society and even each other for years. Our hero for his appearance as a youth and his "strange" preferences. Our heroine for her parentage and appearance.
Society has a nasty habit of judging a person by they way they look instead of who they really are.
Life is about to throw them a huge curve. Industry is taking off in this Victorian era and more of the "ton" are struggling for money. While new wealthy Industry people are coming into their own.
Our characters have to learn to cope in this new environment.
They face heartache, danger, and frustration.
Good fun.
Society has a nasty habit of judging a person by they way they look instead of who they really are.
Life is about to throw them a huge curve. Industry is taking off in this Victorian era and more of the "ton" are struggling for money. While new wealthy Industry people are coming into their own.
Our characters have to learn to cope in this new environment.
They face heartache, danger, and frustration.
Good fun.
Did Not Finish
May 30, 2026I would like to thank Netgalley and Dragonblade Publishing for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Clunky writing.
Clunky writing.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews