Reading the Viscount

Courting a Curious Lady #5

by Lexi Post

Painfully shy Lady Sophie is happy to blend in among the other shepherdesses at her friend’s Twelfth Night ball, at least until she gets lost in the corridors and a laughing stranger sweeps her into his arms and kisses her. Horrified, she runs away, enticed back to the ball only by a change of costume. But there’s something in her new costume that has her feeling as confident as the heroine of her favorite play, giving her the bravery to experience yet another kiss from the full-of-life Lord Tamworth. Unfortunately, the next morning, she must hide from him and return to her life at school.

Lord Tamworth has vowed not to wed until after he turns thirty, as he has secret plans that must be in place before he can settle on a wife. So when he kisses an innocent shepherdess, he’s driven to apologize, only to end up committing yet another faux pas. Determined to start his new life free of encumbrances, and to once again see the lady with the softest lips and keenest intelligence, he takes extraordinary measures.

Upon returning to the Belinda School for Curious Ladies, Sophie’s shocked to learn Lord Tamworth will be a guest teacher. Determined to avoid him, she’s surprised when he seeks her out again and again for advice. The more she’s in his company, the more she can read between the lines, and it’s clear to her, if not to him, that there can be no happy ending to her story.

Note: This series is part of Dragonblade's Flame line, so this is a scorching-hot read with open-door steam.

254 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 25, 2026

About the author

Lexi Post is a New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of romance inspired by the classics. She spent years in higher education taking and teaching courses about the classical literature she loved. From Edgar Allan Poe's short story “The Masque of the Red Death” to Tolstoy’s War and Peace, she's read, studied, and taught wonderful classics.

But Lexi's first love is romance novels. In an effort to marry her two first loves, she started writing romance inspired by the classics and found she loved it. From hot paranormals to sizzling cowboys to hunks from out of this world, Lexi provides a sensuous experience with a “whole lotta story.”

Lexi is living her own happily ever after with her husband and her cat in Florida. She makes her own ice cream every weekend, loves bright colors, and you will never see her without a hat.

To sign up for Lexi's updates go to http://bit.ly/LexiUpdate

Reviews

[Jenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I voluntarily read and reviewed this advanced copy via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I have been enjoying reading Lexi Post's books the past few years, especially the ones that recreated the magic of Little Women. The Courting a Curious Lady collection is an offshoot of that series and focuses on retelling Jo's Boys, which I have not read. These books are a bit hit or miss for me, but I can always find something to enjoy. In Reading the Viscount, this story features shy Sophie who is kissed on accident at a costume party by the hero. She's one of 8 shepherdesses at the event, how was he supposed to know? This novel had a strong start as I did love Sophie because we're both shy little misses who love getting lost in a good book. Unfortunately, there was a huge lull as the couple had to circle back to each other through various miscommunications. It was so stale from 20-60%. I found myself skimming a lot. In the end, I loved this sweet couple, but wished they had a tighter, more focused courtship. I think there may be one more Curious Lady and I can't wait to Read it!

[Lyn D Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

This fifth bookbin the Courting a Curious Lady series was a sweet retelling of Jo's Boy's historical romance. A Twelfth Night ball and an unexpected kiss led to an entertaining love story with strong passion, steamy physical experiments, a near death scare, and a shocking life alternating secret. The characters were interesting. I enjoyed the banter and the path to a happy ending.

[The Romantic Rush Blog · Rating 3 out of 5]

Been a minute since I picked up a historical, but the premise to this sounded cute, so I grabbed it up. Reading the Viscount starts with such a charming premise. Sophie, shy and book-loving, ends up getting kissed entirely by accident at a costume party where she is one of eight shepherdesses. That opening had me immediately curious, and I really did like Sophie right away. There is something very relatable about her quiet nature and her love of books, and her shyness.

Unfortunately, the momentum did not really hold. Once the story settles into its middle stretch, everything slows down quite a bit as Sophie and the hero, Tam, spend a lot of time circling each other through miscommunications and delays that start to feel repetitive. I found myself skimming more than I would have liked just to get to some "meat."

When things finally do come back together, there is a sweetness to them as a couple that is hard to ignore. Sophie and Tam work in a soft, bookish kind of way, especially when they are bantering or bonding over shared interests. Their chemistry is more gentle than fiery, and while I kept wanting a little more spark between them, I still ended up rooting for their happy ending.

Characterwise, it is a bit uneven. Sophie is written as very timid in some moments, then unexpectedly forward in others, which did not always feel fully grounded for the time period. Tam has that attempted blend of cinnamon roll and rake energy, but I never fully bought into him as a scholar in the way the story seemed to want.

There were also a couple of plot choices that pulled me out a bit. One involving a prank that could have had serious consequences, and another where Tam’s resolution with Sophie’s father felt a little too convenient to land as truly romantic. But overall, this is a perfectly pleasant historical romance if you are in the mood for something light, low angst, and easy to move through. It has cute literary touches, a soft love story, and a generally cozy tone, but I do think it needed a tighter focus on the central relationship's development.

[Fanosse23 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lady Sophie attends a Twelfth Night ball and shares an unexpected kiss with a mysterious young lord who mistakes her for someone else. Christopher Crauford, the Viscount of Tamworth, is a man with a plan—focused on preparing his estate and postponing marriage until after he turns thirty. But as the saying goes, the best-laid plans often go awry. After an impulsive kiss at the masked ball, he is determined to discover the lady’s identity so he can offer his apology.

I loved Lord Tamworth’s determination to uncover Sophie’s identity, and once he does, the story truly comes alive. Sophie, though shy by nature, blossoms in Tam’s presence, revealing a vibrant side of herself that feels unexpected yet believable. Watching their connection deepen as they gradually open up to one another was immensely satisfying, and their dynamic felt natural and complementary.

Their journey is filled with heartfelt moments, passionate chemistry, the tension of a prank gone terribly wrong, and a secret that threatens to change everything. I found myself pulled into both their heartaches and triumphs, feeling Sophie’s inner conflict as she struggles to do what she believes is right, and admiring Tam’s unwavering resolve to fight for their happiness.

Overall, this story is a delightful mix of romance, tension, sizzling chemistry, passion, and emotional growth. It leaves you with a sense of hope and warmth as Sophie and Tamworth navigate twists of fate to claim their love. Fans of heartfelt historical romances with a dash of intrigue will find this an enchanting and satisfying read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing for this free advanced copy - this is my honest and voluntary review; all opinions are my own.

[Lia Anshar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lady Sophie is naturally shy and prefers to stay out of the spotlight, but her quiet night takes an unexpected turn when she gets lost in the corridors, only to be swept into the arms of a stranger and kissed out of nowhere.

That stranger is Lord Tamworth, a viscount who has sworn he will not marry until he turns thirty.
He must first finalise important personal plans before he can even consider settling down with a wife, so when he accidentally kisses an innocent young woman, he hurries to make amends only to stumble into another awkward mistake. Unable to get the lady with the soft lips and sharp mind out of his thoughts, he goes to great lengths to see her again.

Sophie is later surprised to learn Lord Tamworth will be joining the Belinda School for Curious Ladies as a guest teacher. Though she intends to avoid him, he keeps seeking her out for advice. As they spend more time together, Sophie begins to understand his true character, yet worries their story may not have a happy ending.

I found Sophie very relatable; her quiet nature, love of reading, and inexperience with romance made her feel real, and I was immediately drawn into the story.

The bond between Sophie and Tam is particularly lovely. Their connection develops gently, built on shared interests and lighthearted conversation rather than high drama, making their romance feel warm and sincere.

Overall, Reading the Viscount is a charming historical romance ideal for anyone seeking a light, low-angst story. It is filled with a tender love story and an overall cozy, comforting tone.

Thank you to Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with the review copy.

[Winnifred D. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tropes: opposites attract; mentor/student
Steam level: 2-3

3. 25 stars. This is cute overall, with fun literary references, and it may sound superficial but I love the cover. The writing style and dialog are pretty true to the period. There isn't a lot of angst; MFC Sophie's money-grubbing parents are the biggest obstacle to the HEA. Sophie and MMC Tam's relationship is sweet for the most part, although it was missing a bit of spark for me.

Character-wise it had its ups and downs. Sophie flipflops between being super timid and sexually forward (too much so for an unmarried miss during that time period really). Tam is a combo cinnamon roll/rake (I never really bought him as a scholar). The best scenes are when they're bantering. Mrs. Boyd--the cook and Sophie's confidant--was the most likable secondary character for me.

A couple of plot points seemed off: the "trick" Rose played on Tam that could have had deadly consequences, and how Tam convinced Sophie's dad to give permission for them to marry. Not exactly romantic.

Bottom line: this is a pleasant enough read if you like steam, low angst, and lots of literary references. I was looking for more from the main characters' dynamic.

This is my honest, voluntary review of an advanced reader copy of this book. Thanks to the author, Dragon Blade, and Net Galley for this opportunity.

[Catlou · Rating 4 out of 5]

4+ Stars ⭐⭐⭐🌟 READING THE VISCOUNT is a delightful tale that draws you in from the beginning and keeps you thoroughly involved until the end. Sophie may seem like a shy bookworm, but those closest to her readily see her inner strength. From her first unexpected encounter with Christopher Crauford, the Viscount of Tamworth, Sophie begins a series of firsts that lead you on a heartwarming, exciting, and at times heart-aching journey that captures your interest and keeps you enthralled from start to finish. The frustration of the circumstances this couple eventually finds themselves in, and the anticipation of finding a resolution, are easily felt, leaving you with feelings of anxiousness as well as hope. Sophie’s heartache as she struggles to do what she believes is the right thing, and Tam’s willingness to take the risk to fight for what he knows to be right—the only acceptable outcome—add a deep emotional level to this story that will stay with you long after the last page is read. I guarantee you will find this couple, if not your favorite of the series, at least one of your most favorite. I know I certainly do!

[PJ S · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for this ARC.

I'm not a historical person, particularly not so much into the historical romance. But this one came across my path and I thought I'd give it a try as a sort of palate cleanser between some other books I've got right now. (I haven't read anything else by this author, including not having read any others in this series. But I don't think I missed anything by reading this as standalone.)
I wouldn't call this a bodice ripper by any means. Just a cute story about a young girl who catches the eye of a somewhat scampy lesser-class gentleman. He takes a position as a teacher at her school, and the rest is history.
The book came VERY close to instant-love, but ultimately I feel like it stayed mostly believable. The plot twist/crisis was very mild, but that's okay because I wasn't expecting thought-provoking literature.
If this pops up as a KU or similar opportunity, it's worth the 2-3hr of read time.

[Shuvai · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading the Viscount (Courting a Curious Lady #5) by Lexi Post.
A delightfully charming Regency romance with a beautifully shy heroine. Painfully introverted Lady Sophie is perfectly happy blending into the background at a Twelfth Night masquerade — until a chance encounter in the corridors leads to a stolen kiss from the dashingly confident Lord Tamworth. Horrified, she flees — but not before her costume gives her just enough courage to let it happen twice.
When Lord Tamworth reappears at her school as a guest teacher, avoiding him proves impossible. Sophie can read between the lines better than anyone — and what she reads terrifies her. Because a happy ending for a girl like her seems impossible to imagine.
Witty, warm, and scorching hot. A NYT bestselling author delivering a "whole lotta story" — Lexi Post at her very best.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley. Lady Sophie goes to the Belinda School for Curious Ladies. She is very shy and only really feels comfortable with her students she is in school with. By accident she meets a viscount at a masquerade ball. She is dressed like so many other there that until he kisses her he does not know it is the wrong lady. He tries to find her again so he can apologize. Then he volunteers to sub at the school for two weeks. Sophie hears he is not wanting to marry for two years so she tries to stay away but the both love books and each other. Will life work out for them? there are secrets that get in their way. This is part of a series but can be read a a stand alone book.

[Gabby Cropper · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC from NetGalley

I came across this and was interested because i remember reading and enjoying historical romance in high school. It’s been years since I’ve read any and didn’t know what to expect. It was a cute and tame story. A shy FMC. They both love books. This isn’t a spicy story at all and that surprised me since it seems to be the norm these days. A simple cute little romance. I enjoyed it for what it was.

[Cherie S · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the premise of this story, and the characters were OK but for some reason I just couldn't get into this story.
Their romance story which was a disappointment.
This is just an OK read for me.

[Kleio · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love a bookish heroine but the characters and world building felt a little flat.