What do you think?
Rate this book
The Bellamy Sisters #1
Phoebe
Meet the Bellamy sisters, five young women who will do anything to save their siblings and keep the wolf from the door.
Lady Phoebe Bellamy will do anything to save her family estate—even marry the devil himself…
The Bellamy family has only four months before they’ll lose the very roof over their heads. While Phoebe’s older sisters venture out into the world to earn the necessary funds, Phoebe herself—plain, levelheaded, and responsible—stays home to care for her younger siblings and parents. But then she meets Viscount Needham, a fabulously wealthy, brand new peer, and everything changes.
When Phoebe learns that her father is determined to marry one of his daughters to Needham, she knows it's time to act. She certainly can’t imagine saddling any of her beloved sisters with the brutally handsome upstart. So, she does the unthinkable and proposes to Viscount Needham herself…
Paul Needham attended the best schools, belongs to all the proper clubs, and can buy and sell half the House of Lords and still have money to spare. And yet the ton still treats him with disdain. Marrying one of their own is the fastest way to legitimize his place in society. But that doesn’t mean that he has to like his bride. He certainly won’t ever love her. Their marriage will be nothing but a mutually beneficial business arrangement.
Except it doesn’t feel like a simple transaction when Phoebe is in his arms…
They are complete opposites with nothing in common. Class differences and prejudices divide them. Is love enough to bridge their two worlds—or are they destined for heartbreak?
Lady Phoebe Bellamy will do anything to save her family estate—even marry the devil himself…
The Bellamy family has only four months before they’ll lose the very roof over their heads. While Phoebe’s older sisters venture out into the world to earn the necessary funds, Phoebe herself—plain, levelheaded, and responsible—stays home to care for her younger siblings and parents. But then she meets Viscount Needham, a fabulously wealthy, brand new peer, and everything changes.
When Phoebe learns that her father is determined to marry one of his daughters to Needham, she knows it's time to act. She certainly can’t imagine saddling any of her beloved sisters with the brutally handsome upstart. So, she does the unthinkable and proposes to Viscount Needham herself…
Paul Needham attended the best schools, belongs to all the proper clubs, and can buy and sell half the House of Lords and still have money to spare. And yet the ton still treats him with disdain. Marrying one of their own is the fastest way to legitimize his place in society. But that doesn’t mean that he has to like his bride. He certainly won’t ever love her. Their marriage will be nothing but a mutually beneficial business arrangement.
Except it doesn’t feel like a simple transaction when Phoebe is in his arms…
They are complete opposites with nothing in common. Class differences and prejudices divide them. Is love enough to bridge their two worlds—or are they destined for heartbreak?
263 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2022
About the author
Minerva Spencer
52 books1,802 followers**I ONLY RATE BOOKS I REALLY ENJOYED**.
Before I began writing I spent time as a dock worker, a reader for the blind, a criminal prosecutor, and I taught American History on the college level for five years. My last job was running an 8-bedroom bed and breakfast, a subject I will never write about...
I like historical fiction because I enjoy escaping into the past when I relax. And I write romance because I love a happy ending and everything that happens along the way.
I came to writing late in life and I feel like I have to write fast to catch up! I work every day at a desk looking out over the Sangre de Cristo mountains, my free range birds, and my three flock protecting hounds Earl, Spot, and Rover.
When I'm not writing I'm playing with my animals, knitting, DIYing, crocheting, sewing, or watching old movies.
I also write historical romance and erotic romance under the name S.M. LaViolette and historical mystery under the name S.M. Goodwin.
Before I began writing I spent time as a dock worker, a reader for the blind, a criminal prosecutor, and I taught American History on the college level for five years. My last job was running an 8-bedroom bed and breakfast, a subject I will never write about...
I like historical fiction because I enjoy escaping into the past when I relax. And I write romance because I love a happy ending and everything that happens along the way.
I came to writing late in life and I feel like I have to write fast to catch up! I work every day at a desk looking out over the Sangre de Cristo mountains, my free range birds, and my three flock protecting hounds Earl, Spot, and Rover.
When I'm not writing I'm playing with my animals, knitting, DIYing, crocheting, sewing, or watching old movies.
I also write historical romance and erotic romance under the name S.M. LaViolette and historical mystery under the name S.M. Goodwin.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 339 reviews
March 16, 2023
3.6555 stars, rounded up.
This book was a difficult read for me. It had a large amount of angst and the author held back a lot of information from both the reader and the FMC, and that frustrated me to no end. But ultimately I loved the conclusion, the writing, the family, the drama and the details in this so I think it warrants being rounded up to four stars.
Before starting my review, I must put a disclaimer: while I do recommend this book for lovers of historical romance, angst and family drama, I know some of my friends will not enjoy this book because of the hero’s past. His mistresses are mentioned often, as a ploy to show him as experienced and desirable. This is a tool used by authors, that I personally dislike. I think you can make a hero seem masculine and virile without throwing all his past mistresses in the reader’s face. I know plenty of readers, like myself, who find this cringe worthy and prefer it not being overly (and constantly) mentioned. Truthfully, if that had been omitted, this book may have hit five star levels for me. But instead, it just made me slightly repulsed by Paul and his icky dick.
That being said, if you can skim those moments, this book is very good. I have a love/hate relationship with angst so often felt uncomfortable, but the resolution and ending were so well done that it made up for the nail biting moments. I guess it was worth the price of a manicure 💅🏼.
This story is the first book in a series about five sisters. This one follows Phoebe, the plainest and most managing, second youngest. She is a termagant; uppity, outspoken and strong, she manages her family and their home while their gambling Earl father buries them in poverty. I liked her quite a bit. She was strong and sometimes shrill (which is a misogynistic word for a woman who holds strong opinions) and she stands up for herself and tries to do what’s right. Sometimes what’s right though, comes off as snobbery, but she grows throughout this book, and learns to accept different classes and types of people based on their deeds and not their station in life. This is a big theme in this book, do not judge a person by looks or class, because the most handsome and esteemed peer can be a terrible person.
Our hero Paul, is less obviously likeable. He is described as a big ugly brute, and an encroaching vulgar cit. He holds a very new viscountcy, purchased by his late father, who made his money in coal and iron mining. Paul is rich beyond measure, he is educated, intelligent and a big bully. Luckily for the reader, Phoebe is his perfect match. She is no meek mouse and meets him toe to toe every time. There are many battles between them and it was fun to read.
Their marriage is one of convenience for her and status for him. He is very attracted to her as a person though and foregoes her prettier sisters to propose to her. I liked that he liked her spirit.
But Paul was a frustrating character and sometimes difficult to like. It may put some readers off at the beginning, because information is kept back from us about him, so he kind of looks like a selfish dick for a good part of the first SEVERAL chapters. Soon we come to learn that there is more to him, just not what that is until closer to the end.
The drama in this book is heavy, but it’s balanced with enough funny and satisfying moments to keep you going. Also for a historical, the spice levels are high. Lots of good sex scenes, with a bit of a size kink worked in. L.M. Laviolette is Spencer’s dirtier pen name, so you can expect some explicit moments 🥵.
Overall I enjoyed this read and will definitely be continuing with the series. It seems that they will all be told in congruent time, with each sisters’ story happening all during the same few months, therefore if you want to skip this, it will likely be ok. Right now only the first two books are out though so I can’t be sure until I read them. Excited to read Hyacinth’s story next as I love a historical gender bender!
This book was a difficult read for me. It had a large amount of angst and the author held back a lot of information from both the reader and the FMC, and that frustrated me to no end. But ultimately I loved the conclusion, the writing, the family, the drama and the details in this so I think it warrants being rounded up to four stars.
Before starting my review, I must put a disclaimer: while I do recommend this book for lovers of historical romance, angst and family drama, I know some of my friends will not enjoy this book because of the hero’s past. His mistresses are mentioned often, as a ploy to show him as experienced and desirable. This is a tool used by authors, that I personally dislike. I think you can make a hero seem masculine and virile without throwing all his past mistresses in the reader’s face. I know plenty of readers, like myself, who find this cringe worthy and prefer it not being overly (and constantly) mentioned. Truthfully, if that had been omitted, this book may have hit five star levels for me. But instead, it just made me slightly repulsed by Paul and his icky dick.
That being said, if you can skim those moments, this book is very good. I have a love/hate relationship with angst so often felt uncomfortable, but the resolution and ending were so well done that it made up for the nail biting moments. I guess it was worth the price of a manicure 💅🏼.
This story is the first book in a series about five sisters. This one follows Phoebe, the plainest and most managing, second youngest. She is a termagant; uppity, outspoken and strong, she manages her family and their home while their gambling Earl father buries them in poverty. I liked her quite a bit. She was strong and sometimes shrill (which is a misogynistic word for a woman who holds strong opinions) and she stands up for herself and tries to do what’s right. Sometimes what’s right though, comes off as snobbery, but she grows throughout this book, and learns to accept different classes and types of people based on their deeds and not their station in life. This is a big theme in this book, do not judge a person by looks or class, because the most handsome and esteemed peer can be a terrible person.
Our hero Paul, is less obviously likeable. He is described as a big ugly brute, and an encroaching vulgar cit. He holds a very new viscountcy, purchased by his late father, who made his money in coal and iron mining. Paul is rich beyond measure, he is educated, intelligent and a big bully. Luckily for the reader, Phoebe is his perfect match. She is no meek mouse and meets him toe to toe every time. There are many battles between them and it was fun to read.
Their marriage is one of convenience for her and status for him. He is very attracted to her as a person though and foregoes her prettier sisters to propose to her. I liked that he liked her spirit.
But Paul was a frustrating character and sometimes difficult to like. It may put some readers off at the beginning, because information is kept back from us about him, so he kind of looks like a selfish dick for a good part of the first SEVERAL chapters. Soon we come to learn that there is more to him, just not what that is until closer to the end.
The drama in this book is heavy, but it’s balanced with enough funny and satisfying moments to keep you going. Also for a historical, the spice levels are high. Lots of good sex scenes, with a bit of a size kink worked in. L.M. Laviolette is Spencer’s dirtier pen name, so you can expect some explicit moments 🥵.
Overall I enjoyed this read and will definitely be continuing with the series. It seems that they will all be told in congruent time, with each sisters’ story happening all during the same few months, therefore if you want to skip this, it will likely be ok. Right now only the first two books are out though so I can’t be sure until I read them. Excited to read Hyacinth’s story next as I love a historical gender bender!
June 28, 2022
I totally enjoyed this book. The first half had witty dialogue, great characters and laid the plot out for this book and future books in the series. Phoebe is the one that gets everything done and keeps the household running. She is pretty in an average way and realizes it. Paul made his money in business and his father bought a title before he died. The class difference is well played, and the subtle snobberies are well done. 5*for this part. Even the age difference is well done as I think Phoebe is older than her years.
There is a shift in storytelling in the 2nd half of the book which it needed. Even though it was very hot and sexy. 4* for this part. I have been enjoying Spencer's books and look forward to the next in the series. (It will be a long wait as not due out till 2023)
There is a shift in storytelling in the 2nd half of the book which it needed. Even though it was very hot and sexy. 4* for this part. I have been enjoying Spencer's books and look forward to the next in the series. (It will be a long wait as not due out till 2023)
June 27, 2022
I couldn't stop reading this! Read it all in one sitting. Gosh, I miss Minerva Spencer. 🥰🥰 I can't wait for more.
5 stars
3 on the spice scale.
5 stars
3 on the spice scale.
December 27, 2025
4 yearning ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I have finally realized what makes a story romantic!
I will get to that in a second.
I absolutely despise being spoon fed feelings, or dual POV that spells everything out all the time, so no one feels unsafe, not even for a minute that ruins a lot of yearning.
When characters are unaware of their own feelings, but we as a reader, recognize the little signs, the characters don't see. That creates yearning. For me I guess😂
Think Mr. Darcy's hand twitch. He doesn't know his attraction yet, but we saw his physical reaction to Ms. Bennet. = YEARNING. ❤️
This book has that. They don't know it yet, but we do.
This story is a masterclass in making the yearning palpable to the reader, we know a little more than the characters, not because we are told but because we are shown.
This is spicy and full of angst and I couldn't put it down. 🙌
Phoebe and her sisters are of a distinguished family, however very poor. Paul is a newly minted Earl, of great wealth but not embraced by the ton.
He will marry a sister, and their father will have money. It's a trade off. Paul is a brute and all the sisters are scared of him, Phoebe the sensible sister, proposes to marry him to spare her sisters and I suspect to get away from a rather abusive mother.
Paul is toying with her, 16 years her senior and sparks are flying between them. However Paul has one condition to the marriage, and it is that his illegitimate daughter and her mother will move in with them! 😳
No one speaks up for Phoebe, her parents don't care, because they need his money, and Phoebe feels abused and disrespected by this, as she should. It's the talk of the town and the staff.
Phoebe tries to hold her head high, but is utterly humiliated by this.
She really has no other option than to accept and so she does.
As they are married, Phoebe discovers the real difference between a husband and a wife in terms of power, in a realistic way for that time period, and she feels powerless.
When she meets the mother of Paul's daughter, it doesn't help that she is stunningly beautiful, she is also dying.
Phoebe slowly starts to suspect more mistresses and more illegitimate children could be in her future, but she also starts to find out she cares.
Paul and Phoebe are feisty together and both have trouble being vulnerable, however they can't stay away from each other but neither realizes why. ❤️
This book is a delicious journey about two people with very different upbringings, finding love in an unexpected situation, and it was so beautifully written.
First of all the dialogue was so amusing, Phoebe was delightful, feisty and temperamental without being a brat. She was clever, and intelligent and actually reflected on her own behavior and feelings. 🙌
Paul is a little more unsafe, he crossed the line many times, but he too wanted to be better and do better and the arc of his character was super well done.
So why not 5 « because it was too long. That's the only reason, the ending felt a little hurried.
Should you read it? YES!
I have finally realized what makes a story romantic!
I will get to that in a second.
I absolutely despise being spoon fed feelings, or dual POV that spells everything out all the time, so no one feels unsafe, not even for a minute that ruins a lot of yearning.
When characters are unaware of their own feelings, but we as a reader, recognize the little signs, the characters don't see. That creates yearning. For me I guess😂
Think Mr. Darcy's hand twitch. He doesn't know his attraction yet, but we saw his physical reaction to Ms. Bennet. = YEARNING. ❤️
This book has that. They don't know it yet, but we do.
This story is a masterclass in making the yearning palpable to the reader, we know a little more than the characters, not because we are told but because we are shown.
This is spicy and full of angst and I couldn't put it down. 🙌
Phoebe and her sisters are of a distinguished family, however very poor. Paul is a newly minted Earl, of great wealth but not embraced by the ton.
He will marry a sister, and their father will have money. It's a trade off. Paul is a brute and all the sisters are scared of him, Phoebe the sensible sister, proposes to marry him to spare her sisters and I suspect to get away from a rather abusive mother.
Paul is toying with her, 16 years her senior and sparks are flying between them. However Paul has one condition to the marriage, and it is that his illegitimate daughter and her mother will move in with them! 😳
No one speaks up for Phoebe, her parents don't care, because they need his money, and Phoebe feels abused and disrespected by this, as she should. It's the talk of the town and the staff.
Phoebe tries to hold her head high, but is utterly humiliated by this.
She really has no other option than to accept and so she does.
As they are married, Phoebe discovers the real difference between a husband and a wife in terms of power, in a realistic way for that time period, and she feels powerless.
When she meets the mother of Paul's daughter, it doesn't help that she is stunningly beautiful, she is also dying.
Phoebe slowly starts to suspect more mistresses and more illegitimate children could be in her future, but she also starts to find out she cares.
Paul and Phoebe are feisty together and both have trouble being vulnerable, however they can't stay away from each other but neither realizes why. ❤️
This book is a delicious journey about two people with very different upbringings, finding love in an unexpected situation, and it was so beautifully written.
First of all the dialogue was so amusing, Phoebe was delightful, feisty and temperamental without being a brat. She was clever, and intelligent and actually reflected on her own behavior and feelings. 🙌
Paul is a little more unsafe, he crossed the line many times, but he too wanted to be better and do better and the arc of his character was super well done.
So why not 5 « because it was too long. That's the only reason, the ending felt a little hurried.
Should you read it? YES!
April 16, 2024
cute & loved the angst - @Southern.Lady.Reads
I just like anything where it’s not immediate love - lust is fine but love is hard to stomach lol
I just like anything where it’s not immediate love - lust is fine but love is hard to stomach lol
December 9, 2025
4 yearning ⭐️
I have finally realized what makes a story romantic! I will get to that in a second.
I absolutely despise being spoon fed feelings, or dual POV that spells everything out all the time, so no one feels unsafe, not even for a minute 🤦♀️ it ruins a lot of yearning.
When characters are unaware of their own feelings, but we as a reader, recognize the little signs, the characters don’t see. 🙌
That creates yearning. Think Mr. Darcy’s hand twitch. He doesn’t know his attraction yet, but we saw his physical reaction to Ms. Bennet. 🟰YEARNING.
This book has that. They don’t know it yet, but we do.❤️
This story is a masterclass in making the yearning palpable to the reader, we know a little more than the characters, not because we are told but because we are shown.
This is spicy and full of angst and I couldn’t put it down.
Phoebe and her sisters are of a distinguished family, however very poor. Paul is a newly minted Earl, of great wealth but not embraced by the ton. He will marry a sister, and their father will have money. It’s a trade off.
Paul is a brute and all the sisters are scared of him, Phoebe the sensible sister, proposes to marry him to spare her sisters and I suspect to get away from a rather abusive mother.
Paul is toying with her, 16 years her senior and sparks are flying between them. However Paul has a condition to the marriage, and it is that his illegitimate daughter and her mother will move in with them! ❤️🩹
No one speaks up for Phoebe, her parents don’t care, because they need his money, and Phoebe feels abused and disrespected by this, as she should. It’s the talk of the town and the staff. Phoebe tries to hold her head high, but is utterly humiliated by this.
She really has no other option than to accept and so she does.
As they are married, Phoebe discovers the real difference between a husband and a wife in terms of power, in a realistic way for that time period, and she feels powerless.
When she meets the mother of Paul’s daughter, it doesn’t help that she is stunningly beautiful, she is also dying.
Phoebe slowly starts to suspect more mistresses and more illegitimate children could be in her future, but she also starts to find out she cares.
Paul and Phoebe are feisty together and both have trouble being vulnerable, however they can’t stay away from each other but neither realizes why.❤️❤️
This book is a delicious journey about two people with very different upbringings, finding love in an unexpected situation, and it was so beautifully written.
First of all the dialogue was so amusing, Phoebe was delightful, feisty and temperamental without being a brat. She was clever, and intelligent and actually reflected on her own behavior and feelings 🙌
Paul is a little more unsafe, he crossed the line many times, but he too wanted to be better and do better and the arc of his character was super well done.
So why not 5 ⭐️ because it was too long. That’s the only reason, the ending felt a little hurried.
Should you read it? YES!
I have finally realized what makes a story romantic! I will get to that in a second.
I absolutely despise being spoon fed feelings, or dual POV that spells everything out all the time, so no one feels unsafe, not even for a minute 🤦♀️ it ruins a lot of yearning.
When characters are unaware of their own feelings, but we as a reader, recognize the little signs, the characters don’t see. 🙌
That creates yearning. Think Mr. Darcy’s hand twitch. He doesn’t know his attraction yet, but we saw his physical reaction to Ms. Bennet. 🟰YEARNING.
This book has that. They don’t know it yet, but we do.❤️
This story is a masterclass in making the yearning palpable to the reader, we know a little more than the characters, not because we are told but because we are shown.
This is spicy and full of angst and I couldn’t put it down.
Phoebe and her sisters are of a distinguished family, however very poor. Paul is a newly minted Earl, of great wealth but not embraced by the ton. He will marry a sister, and their father will have money. It’s a trade off.
Paul is a brute and all the sisters are scared of him, Phoebe the sensible sister, proposes to marry him to spare her sisters and I suspect to get away from a rather abusive mother.
Paul is toying with her, 16 years her senior and sparks are flying between them. However Paul has a condition to the marriage, and it is that his illegitimate daughter and her mother will move in with them! ❤️🩹
No one speaks up for Phoebe, her parents don’t care, because they need his money, and Phoebe feels abused and disrespected by this, as she should. It’s the talk of the town and the staff. Phoebe tries to hold her head high, but is utterly humiliated by this.
She really has no other option than to accept and so she does.
As they are married, Phoebe discovers the real difference between a husband and a wife in terms of power, in a realistic way for that time period, and she feels powerless.
When she meets the mother of Paul’s daughter, it doesn’t help that she is stunningly beautiful, she is also dying.
Phoebe slowly starts to suspect more mistresses and more illegitimate children could be in her future, but she also starts to find out she cares.
Paul and Phoebe are feisty together and both have trouble being vulnerable, however they can’t stay away from each other but neither realizes why.❤️❤️
This book is a delicious journey about two people with very different upbringings, finding love in an unexpected situation, and it was so beautifully written.
First of all the dialogue was so amusing, Phoebe was delightful, feisty and temperamental without being a brat. She was clever, and intelligent and actually reflected on her own behavior and feelings 🙌
Paul is a little more unsafe, he crossed the line many times, but he too wanted to be better and do better and the arc of his character was super well done.
So why not 5 ⭐️ because it was too long. That’s the only reason, the ending felt a little hurried.
Should you read it? YES!
March 30, 2023
What happens when a thoroughly worthy hero and a shrew meet and bump uglies. If this is love, they’re welcome to it.
March 10, 2023
2.5 ⭐ There were parts of this that were good, but I disliked more than I liked in the end.
The setup was fun, but the follow through on every single plot thread was weak and half-hearted. Every single misunderstanding that could have been used to add some emotional weight and impact was ignored, either willfully or accidentally by having sex, until all misunderstandings were solved in the span of about three pages at the end.
The relationship was nothing. Their interactions were not sexy or fun after the first half of the book, and Phoebe was not allowed to have a single reaction to any shitty thing he did other than throwing things and immediately apologizing, or being seduced by him doing absolutely nothing and forgetting she was rightfully angry.
This was noted as an age difference romance, and while there was a difference in their ages he was 35. The book treated him like he was ancient and I have absolutely no idea why other than a lack of understanding of how humans age. So it executed it like there was a drastic age difference but there really was not.
The author either needs to get an editor or get a better one because there were so many grammatical and formatting issues it was ridiculous. The writing felt distracted sometimes, and was not consistently executed throughout even outside of the substandard story.
There were multiple instances of a character looking back in time, only to bring the story to the present time abruptly, like the author had forgotten what they were doing and suddenly remembered what they wanted the scene to be, and just didn't feel like transitioning. And there is a scene in the second half that stood out at me for it's inconsistency where Paul called his housekeeper by a nickname 3 times, and it is on the 4th time that the story declares he was surprised by using it because it was an old nickname no one ever used anymore. If the author had bothered to read any of the paragraphs immediately above where they typed that, they would have seen that the statement was not true.
Additionally, there is a very permissive additude towards rape and dometic violence in this? The female lead talks about burying the hatchet with this guy who she had earlier found out had been raping his maids (he's slightly mean to her later, so it doesn't happen, because being mean to her is worse than rape apparently) and every instance of domestic abuse is basically waved away by the victims and looked at from a lense of the perpetrator not meaning it when it is incredibly clear that they did. Penelope also hits Paul a lot, and in the last chapter gives him a bloody lip and a black eye and its meant to be played off as a cute and funny overreaction.
This just didn't feel like a book that had any care in it in the end. I will not be continuing the series.
The setup was fun, but the follow through on every single plot thread was weak and half-hearted. Every single misunderstanding that could have been used to add some emotional weight and impact was ignored, either willfully or accidentally by having sex, until all misunderstandings were solved in the span of about three pages at the end.
The relationship was nothing. Their interactions were not sexy or fun after the first half of the book, and Phoebe was not allowed to have a single reaction to any shitty thing he did other than throwing things and immediately apologizing, or being seduced by him doing absolutely nothing and forgetting she was rightfully angry.
This was noted as an age difference romance, and while there was a difference in their ages he was 35. The book treated him like he was ancient and I have absolutely no idea why other than a lack of understanding of how humans age. So it executed it like there was a drastic age difference but there really was not.
The author either needs to get an editor or get a better one because there were so many grammatical and formatting issues it was ridiculous. The writing felt distracted sometimes, and was not consistently executed throughout even outside of the substandard story.
There were multiple instances of a character looking back in time, only to bring the story to the present time abruptly, like the author had forgotten what they were doing and suddenly remembered what they wanted the scene to be, and just didn't feel like transitioning. And there is a scene in the second half that stood out at me for it's inconsistency where Paul called his housekeeper by a nickname 3 times, and it is on the 4th time that the story declares he was surprised by using it because it was an old nickname no one ever used anymore. If the author had bothered to read any of the paragraphs immediately above where they typed that, they would have seen that the statement was not true.
Additionally, there is a very permissive additude towards rape and dometic violence in this? The female lead talks about burying the hatchet with this guy who she had earlier found out had been raping his maids (he's slightly mean to her later, so it doesn't happen, because being mean to her is worse than rape apparently) and every instance of domestic abuse is basically waved away by the victims and looked at from a lense of the perpetrator not meaning it when it is incredibly clear that they did. Penelope also hits Paul a lot, and in the last chapter gives him a bloody lip and a black eye and its meant to be played off as a cute and funny overreaction.
This just didn't feel like a book that had any care in it in the end. I will not be continuing the series.
June 2, 2022
⛏ Phoebe 👑
A Wickedly Witty Age Gap Romance With Love Between the Classes
The Bellamy Sisters Book 1
✒️ Minerva Spencer as S.M. LaViolette
https://www.facebook.com/MinervaSpenc...
Release Date 05/31/2022
Publisher Crooked Sixpence Press
➪ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09KKVHRW9/...
𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗿𝗯
PHOEBE book 1 in THE BELLAMY SISTERS is a sensual, sexy, and heartwarming love story about the girl next door and the powerful, wealthy stranger who changes her world forever. Minerva Spencer's characters are witty and unforgettable and her romances are perfect for fans of Elizabeth Hoyt, Lisa Kleypas, and Meredith Duran. Meet the Bellamy sisters, five young women who will do anything to save their siblings and keep the wolf from the door. Lady Phoebe Bellamy will do anything to save her family estate—even marry the devil himself… The Bellamy family has only four months before they’ll lose the very roof over their heads. While Phoebe’s older sisters venture out into the world to earn the necessary funds, Phoebe herself—plain, levelheaded, and responsible—stays home to care for her younger siblings and parents. But then she meets Viscount Needham, a fabulously wealthy, brand new peer, and everything changes. When Phoebe learns that her father is determined to marry one of his daughters to Needham, she knows it's time to act. She certainly can’t imagine saddling any of her beloved sisters with the brutally handsome upstart. So, she does the unthinkable and proposes to Viscount Needham herself… Paul Needham attended the best schools, belongs to all the proper clubs, and can buy and sell half the House of Lords and still have money to spare. And yet the ton still treats him with disdain. Marrying one of their own is the fastest way to legitimize his place in society. But that doesn’t mean that he has to like his bride. He certainly won’t ever love her. Their marriage will be nothing but a mutually beneficial business arrangement. Except it doesn’t feel like a simple transaction when Phoebe is in his arms… They are complete opposites with nothing in common. Class differences and prejudices divide them. Is love enough to bridge their two worlds—or are they destined for heartbreak? PHOEBE is the wickedly witty and sensually steamy first book of a five-book series. Each story in THE BELLAMY SISTERS stands alone.
𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄
Can their differences bring them together or tear them apart …
I have read the author since her first series save her two first books, and she travelled me to places I would never have willingly chosen if not for her talented skill at writing unforgettable stories, even visiting dark places when I like my reads to be light.
I lost a bit track of her last releases with her many ongoing series, some too dark for me, others I learned late. I also loved her historical mystery series under S.M. Goodwin pen name. Hope there will be more of them sometime in the future.
Phoebe and Paul are two very infuriating people, she for appearing so pedantic and haughty, judging without knowing and he for taunting and keeping everyone in the dark or at arm-length, leading people to believe the worst of him.
They are no Prince Charming nor Princess Charmante, at best they are average persons, but his success and larger than life presence and her daring persona clash from the start. She awakens feelings none of the gorgeous women he met have before, he wants to protect her, bath her in gold but also ravish her even when she infuriates him.
While she at first hated his sight as the baseborn cit she decided he had to be, venting her frustration at their situation on him, when it was all their father’s making, none of the hero. She rapidly saw there were more to him than what she had chosen to think.
Sure, he likes to play with people’s nerves but both of them by holding back dug the path for others to come between them, especially him by never sharing his past, he thus leaves the door open to speculations for his young inexperienced uncertain bride. Who is also quick to jump to any conclusion because if fits most likely what she wants to believe of him instead of reflecting on her own failing and her growing feelings.
The author crafts a wonderful tale of second chance for those two after the many blows life threw at them, but they will have to work for it and overcome his past scars and her ingrained upbringing of what is or isn’t worth.
5 stars
Now the next book in this series looks so far away, I really long for it, as I did what I usually never do, I read the first chapter offered at the end of the book.
𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 hot hot hot
I have been granted an advance copy by the author, here is my true and unbiased opinion.
https://www.instagram.com/tv/CeTFm5PD...
https://www.facebook.com/429830134272...
#bookstagram #historicalromance #romance #romancebookblog #romancebookblogger #bookblog #romanceauthor #bookblogger #2022read #bookstagrammer #bookreview #romancebookreviewer #arcreader #bookquote #romancestagram #readersofinstagram
A Wickedly Witty Age Gap Romance With Love Between the Classes
The Bellamy Sisters Book 1
✒️ Minerva Spencer as S.M. LaViolette
https://www.facebook.com/MinervaSpenc...
Release Date 05/31/2022
Publisher Crooked Sixpence Press
➪ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09KKVHRW9/...
𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗿𝗯
PHOEBE book 1 in THE BELLAMY SISTERS is a sensual, sexy, and heartwarming love story about the girl next door and the powerful, wealthy stranger who changes her world forever. Minerva Spencer's characters are witty and unforgettable and her romances are perfect for fans of Elizabeth Hoyt, Lisa Kleypas, and Meredith Duran. Meet the Bellamy sisters, five young women who will do anything to save their siblings and keep the wolf from the door. Lady Phoebe Bellamy will do anything to save her family estate—even marry the devil himself… The Bellamy family has only four months before they’ll lose the very roof over their heads. While Phoebe’s older sisters venture out into the world to earn the necessary funds, Phoebe herself—plain, levelheaded, and responsible—stays home to care for her younger siblings and parents. But then she meets Viscount Needham, a fabulously wealthy, brand new peer, and everything changes. When Phoebe learns that her father is determined to marry one of his daughters to Needham, she knows it's time to act. She certainly can’t imagine saddling any of her beloved sisters with the brutally handsome upstart. So, she does the unthinkable and proposes to Viscount Needham herself… Paul Needham attended the best schools, belongs to all the proper clubs, and can buy and sell half the House of Lords and still have money to spare. And yet the ton still treats him with disdain. Marrying one of their own is the fastest way to legitimize his place in society. But that doesn’t mean that he has to like his bride. He certainly won’t ever love her. Their marriage will be nothing but a mutually beneficial business arrangement. Except it doesn’t feel like a simple transaction when Phoebe is in his arms… They are complete opposites with nothing in common. Class differences and prejudices divide them. Is love enough to bridge their two worlds—or are they destined for heartbreak? PHOEBE is the wickedly witty and sensually steamy first book of a five-book series. Each story in THE BELLAMY SISTERS stands alone.
𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄
Can their differences bring them together or tear them apart …
I have read the author since her first series save her two first books, and she travelled me to places I would never have willingly chosen if not for her talented skill at writing unforgettable stories, even visiting dark places when I like my reads to be light.
I lost a bit track of her last releases with her many ongoing series, some too dark for me, others I learned late. I also loved her historical mystery series under S.M. Goodwin pen name. Hope there will be more of them sometime in the future.
Phoebe and Paul are two very infuriating people, she for appearing so pedantic and haughty, judging without knowing and he for taunting and keeping everyone in the dark or at arm-length, leading people to believe the worst of him.
They are no Prince Charming nor Princess Charmante, at best they are average persons, but his success and larger than life presence and her daring persona clash from the start. She awakens feelings none of the gorgeous women he met have before, he wants to protect her, bath her in gold but also ravish her even when she infuriates him.
While she at first hated his sight as the baseborn cit she decided he had to be, venting her frustration at their situation on him, when it was all their father’s making, none of the hero. She rapidly saw there were more to him than what she had chosen to think.
Sure, he likes to play with people’s nerves but both of them by holding back dug the path for others to come between them, especially him by never sharing his past, he thus leaves the door open to speculations for his young inexperienced uncertain bride. Who is also quick to jump to any conclusion because if fits most likely what she wants to believe of him instead of reflecting on her own failing and her growing feelings.
The author crafts a wonderful tale of second chance for those two after the many blows life threw at them, but they will have to work for it and overcome his past scars and her ingrained upbringing of what is or isn’t worth.
5 stars
Now the next book in this series looks so far away, I really long for it, as I did what I usually never do, I read the first chapter offered at the end of the book.
𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 hot hot hot
I have been granted an advance copy by the author, here is my true and unbiased opinion.
https://www.instagram.com/tv/CeTFm5PD...
https://www.facebook.com/429830134272...
#bookstagram #historicalromance #romance #romancebookblog #romancebookblogger #bookblog #romanceauthor #bookblogger #2022read #bookstagrammer #bookreview #romancebookreviewer #arcreader #bookquote #romancestagram #readersofinstagram
June 28, 2022
Interesting story in many aspects. Review to come...
February 12, 2026
A 3.5 though I love how Spencer/LaViolette sees the ugliness of immovable class and rank, and especially the often fatal burden that system placed on women.
There was a lot about this I really liked. Phoebe was great. Though only 20, she had to grow up fast. Each of her three sisters and she found ways to keep a roof over all of their heads and their younger brother's while their selfish father gambled away his family's property and spent what little was left on his own comforts. He eventually plotted to sell the entailed land that would pass down to his son to sustain his own lavish lifestyle while his children wore rags and ate meager rations. (I liked the material about breaking entail, but I am a legal nerd. There was not much of that.) Phoebe's mother was also selfish, but lived a miserable life with a man she hated, who had married her for her family's money. They are not the only women who suffer at the hands of the titled patriarchy here. There are a lot of stories that ring true and really bring home the point. Phoebe marries to save her family, but finds love, passion, and a way to help others along the way. The hero is kind of an imperious asshole, but a noble imperious asshole who tries to save everyone and who loves smart and plain Phoebe. There were parts of this that dragged for me, and there was a point where Phoebe's willingness to believe anyone but her husband (who did show warmth, devotion, and candor and earned some level of trust) grew completely unbelievable. But the love was real and hard won, the sex was smoking, and the side characters really worked (other than the wicked stepbrother who was a little too much). I will be moving on to the next sister's book, Hyacinth, I think, and I am looking forward to it.
** I was not a fan of the audiobook narrator, Gabrielle Baker. Her voice was lovely, but her delivery was wooden. I was disappointed to find she reads all the books in the series. Hopefully, she will show more signs of life in the next one.
There was a lot about this I really liked. Phoebe was great. Though only 20, she had to grow up fast. Each of her three sisters and she found ways to keep a roof over all of their heads and their younger brother's while their selfish father gambled away his family's property and spent what little was left on his own comforts. He eventually plotted to sell the entailed land that would pass down to his son to sustain his own lavish lifestyle while his children wore rags and ate meager rations. (I liked the material about breaking entail, but I am a legal nerd. There was not much of that.) Phoebe's mother was also selfish, but lived a miserable life with a man she hated, who had married her for her family's money. They are not the only women who suffer at the hands of the titled patriarchy here. There are a lot of stories that ring true and really bring home the point. Phoebe marries to save her family, but finds love, passion, and a way to help others along the way. The hero is kind of an imperious asshole, but a noble imperious asshole who tries to save everyone and who loves smart and plain Phoebe. There were parts of this that dragged for me, and there was a point where Phoebe's willingness to believe anyone but her husband (who did show warmth, devotion, and candor and earned some level of trust) grew completely unbelievable. But the love was real and hard won, the sex was smoking, and the side characters really worked (other than the wicked stepbrother who was a little too much). I will be moving on to the next sister's book, Hyacinth, I think, and I am looking forward to it.
** I was not a fan of the audiobook narrator, Gabrielle Baker. Her voice was lovely, but her delivery was wooden. I was disappointed to find she reads all the books in the series. Hopefully, she will show more signs of life in the next one.
July 11, 2022
I enjoyed this one the second time around too. I definitely need to write a review for this one. Not a perfect book but there is definitely a lot to like here. I can't wait for the next book in the series.
August 20, 2023
The Showdown 😡
(This is a shorter review template for my rage rants).
What in the hell was this book?
Romance? No, I do no think so.
The H was a narcissist. A megalomaniac. A S.O.B of astronomical proportions.
Every time Phoebe (the h) had any human reaction to the BS the hero enacted on, she was made to feel guilty.
Not that she was any better. Throughout the story we see some growth on her character because she thinks it is permissible to forgive this douche who kept raping his maids 😐.
WHAT THE F**K
She also kept whinnying about things there were silly and kept her mouth shut when things were serious.
Also there is a scene that is basically assault on Paul (H). But that is okay! His black eye is supposed to be funny.
Ha ha.
I hated the guy but the way THAT was brushed off… 🤬
Also the H kept going back in time to his mistresses and other such commentary. We get it, you are a hot piece of turd! 💩 NOW SHUT THE HELL UP!
…
What is worse is that I checked out the second book of this series from my library… I-
I am afraid is going to be more of the same…
Yay 🫠.
Romance Safety:
Not safe IMO. The sex didn’t feel safe, any time the heroine had an opinion about something she was shut down by the hero; I can see the way this could turn into the bedroom. Not good! But there is no outright cheating (even if there are a lot of cheating complacent thoughts). Overall, a disgusting book full of disgusting characters.
————————————————————————————
Overall star rating : 1 ⭐️- There is a spot in hell just for this book.
(This is a shorter review template for my rage rants).
What in the hell was this book?
Romance? No, I do no think so.
The H was a narcissist. A megalomaniac. A S.O.B of astronomical proportions.
Every time Phoebe (the h) had any human reaction to the BS the hero enacted on, she was made to feel guilty.
Not that she was any better. Throughout the story we see some growth on her character because she thinks it is permissible to forgive this douche who kept raping his maids 😐.
WHAT THE F**K
She also kept whinnying about things there were silly and kept her mouth shut when things were serious.
Also there is a scene that is basically assault on Paul (H). But that is okay! His black eye is supposed to be funny.
Ha ha.
I hated the guy but the way THAT was brushed off… 🤬
Also the H kept going back in time to his mistresses and other such commentary. We get it, you are a hot piece of turd! 💩 NOW SHUT THE HELL UP!
…
What is worse is that I checked out the second book of this series from my library… I-
I am afraid is going to be more of the same…
Yay 🫠.
Romance Safety:
Not safe IMO. The sex didn’t feel safe, any time the heroine had an opinion about something she was shut down by the hero; I can see the way this could turn into the bedroom. Not good! But there is no outright cheating (even if there are a lot of cheating complacent thoughts). Overall, a disgusting book full of disgusting characters.
————————————————————————————
Overall star rating : 1 ⭐️- There is a spot in hell just for this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 16, 2023
4.25 stars. I enjoyed the banter and story and had a few chuckles but a few things bothered me. It started off great but kind of bothered me by the end.
The wastrel families- his & hers! These ungrateful adults had bad behavior and they just let them have it and gave them more! Where is the fantasy in that, huh? At least some of the board was cleared in a very convenient barn fire.
There was one spot in the story that passed me by completely- I must have missed something. Paul was all excited because Phoebe was going to try to change his mind about having an escort but it was badly handled. I am just now understanding what the author was trying to do but it was portrayed in such an off-hand manner that I didn't pick up on it at all. Apparently hanging out with Mr. Dixon was supposed to enrage our hero? Or give up on her having escorts for her safety? That part seemed very vague to me.
And the big mystery concerning mistresses and their by blows, spoiler, it was all blown out of proportion. More and more lies and misunderstandings are swirling until Phoebe gets more truth out of her horrible brother-in-law than she does her own husband. So minus points for that.
I loved hearing the POV of "My Lord" (couldn't call him Paul any more than she could!) but it seemed that he was way more intimidating, cold and harsh to look at from Phoebe's POV than what we were treated to in his, so it was hard to reconcile the 2.
Highlights, I would have more if I had had continuous Wi-Fi (sigh):
For Sale: Three Females of Various Ages and Appearances.
Maidenheads guaranteed intact. Inquire Within.
As her perception of him starts changing:
He was, Phoebe realized, the most masculine man she had ever encountered.
and
Without realizing what she was doing, Phoebe nuzzled her cheek into his warm palm.
Phoebe cut him a startled glance. "How efficient you are, my lord."
Paul tried not to preen.
The wastrel families- his & hers! These ungrateful adults had bad behavior and they just let them have it and gave them more! Where is the fantasy in that, huh? At least some of the board was cleared in a very convenient barn fire.
There was one spot in the story that passed me by completely- I must have missed something. Paul was all excited because Phoebe was going to try to change his mind about having an escort but it was badly handled. I am just now understanding what the author was trying to do but it was portrayed in such an off-hand manner that I didn't pick up on it at all. Apparently hanging out with Mr. Dixon was supposed to enrage our hero? Or give up on her having escorts for her safety? That part seemed very vague to me.
And the big mystery concerning mistresses and their by blows, spoiler, it was all blown out of proportion. More and more lies and misunderstandings are swirling until Phoebe gets more truth out of her horrible brother-in-law than she does her own husband. So minus points for that.
I loved hearing the POV of "My Lord" (couldn't call him Paul any more than she could!) but it seemed that he was way more intimidating, cold and harsh to look at from Phoebe's POV than what we were treated to in his, so it was hard to reconcile the 2.
Highlights, I would have more if I had had continuous Wi-Fi (sigh):
For Sale: Three Females of Various Ages and Appearances.
Maidenheads guaranteed intact. Inquire Within.
As her perception of him starts changing:
He was, Phoebe realized, the most masculine man she had ever encountered.
and
Without realizing what she was doing, Phoebe nuzzled her cheek into his warm palm.
Phoebe cut him a startled glance. "How efficient you are, my lord."
Paul tried not to preen.
July 18, 2022
Phoebe is one of the younger children in a near-destitute aristocratic family, and she takes it upon herself to marry Viscount Needham, a man who made his money in trade and has newly come into his title. Gross, etc.
Needham (or Paul, which I hate to say because that's my dad's name), is taken with Phoebe because she's mouthy and a little rude and that's what he's into. There's a pretty big age gape (she's 20, he's mid 30s), but it never really felt like they were on unequal ground.
I like how Spencer creates unconventional characters and is able to circumvent my expectations. I like that she has canonically plain characters but I'm not bored by that description because their partner is so hot for them.
Needham's brother is the source of most of the conflict of this book, and I didn't want retributive justice, but I was also a bit taken aback by how willing Needham was just to pay him to go away. This only solves Needham's problem! His brother would still able to commit violence to more vulnerable parties who don't have the ability to pay.
But! I read it in a day. It's hot, an interesting read, and currently on KU.
Needham (or Paul, which I hate to say because that's my dad's name), is taken with Phoebe because she's mouthy and a little rude and that's what he's into. There's a pretty big age gape (she's 20, he's mid 30s), but it never really felt like they were on unequal ground.
I like how Spencer creates unconventional characters and is able to circumvent my expectations. I like that she has canonically plain characters but I'm not bored by that description because their partner is so hot for them.
Needham's brother is the source of most of the conflict of this book, and I didn't want retributive justice, but I was also a bit taken aback by how willing Needham was just to pay him to go away. This only solves Needham's problem! His brother would still able to commit violence to more vulnerable parties who don't have the ability to pay.
But! I read it in a day. It's hot, an interesting read, and currently on KU.
July 15, 2022
Hmmm. I gave this one 3 stars because it has some decently written steam and angst but 3 stars was pretty generous given that the overall story development just didn't work. Lots of repetition, could have used a bit more editing- the characters were kind of all over the place and the language didn't flow, it was a strange mix of contemporary and regency language that just didn't work. The characters couldn't decide what they wanted to do- the mother was very contradictory. There was a lot of emphasis on the looks of the hero and the heroine. The author couldn't decide if they were plain or pretty and fixated on it throughout the story.
August 6, 2026
3.5 🌟
This book offers the weird feeling of being infinitely readable but also utterly forgettable.
I enjoyed the banter between Paul and Phoebe, I enjoyed the class difference and the way it played out in the book.
I love that Phoebe is like legit, omg he's so ugly, I have to protect my sisters from him and also he's a cit.
And Paul is like, ugh she's such a snobby little aristocrat but damn is she fiery.
It was fun seeing their relationship play out and the fact that he riles her up on purpose and her own little attempts at malicious compliance.
I felt the second half wasn't as tight as the first half though and just felt a bit wobbly plot wise.
I ENJOYED this but I wanted more, the second half felt kind of without depth for me considering what we heading towards in the first half of the story in terms of their relationship.
This book offers the weird feeling of being infinitely readable but also utterly forgettable.
I enjoyed the banter between Paul and Phoebe, I enjoyed the class difference and the way it played out in the book.
I love that Phoebe is like legit, omg he's so ugly, I have to protect my sisters from him and also he's a cit.
And Paul is like, ugh she's such a snobby little aristocrat but damn is she fiery.
It was fun seeing their relationship play out and the fact that he riles her up on purpose and her own little attempts at malicious compliance.
I felt the second half wasn't as tight as the first half though and just felt a bit wobbly plot wise.
I ENJOYED this but I wanted more, the second half felt kind of without depth for me considering what we heading towards in the first half of the story in terms of their relationship.
December 18, 2022
❤️
This is the first book in the new Bellamy siblings series. It is an absorbing, well-written book with believable, fast-paced dialogue and strong characters. Be sure to clear your calendar before starting because it’s unputdownable!
The Bellamy family has fallen into genteel poverty, the father, the Earl of Addiscombe, is an inveterate gambler and the family’s situation is worsening. Because of this their stately home is being leased out to an extremely wealthy manufacturer and new peer, Paul, Viscount Needham, and the family has moved into a much smaller property nearby. All the siblings have talents. The middle sibling, twenty-two year old Phoebe is the carer, she has a strong, managing personality and she ensures the family and servants always have enough to eat, she negotiates more time to pay the unpaid bills and deals with all household matters. She knows her father wants to marry one of his daughters to the new tenant and doesn’t want one of her sisters being forced into marrying the brutal looking new peer so she proposes to him herself.
The Bellamy parents dislike each other intensely, both mother and father are selfish and self-serving. Despite this, or because of it, the six siblings (five sisters and one brother) are close and care for each other - I particularly love the brother, Doddy’s, adorable character and hope Ms Spencer gives him a book of his own.
The main characters, Paul and Phoebe, are not described as physically prepossessing - Paul is described as big and ugly, Phoebe as small and dab; nevertheless there is a sizzling sexual chemistry between them from the start.
A delightful read, filled with wonderfully drawn, well-rounded characters and amusing and entertaining banter.
This is my second reading of this book and I loved it both times. I read anything written by SM LaViolette and her pseudonyms Miranda Spencer and SM Goodwin and get withdrawal symptoms if I have to wait too long between new books; therefore, I reread her older books to keep me going.
… Read this again for the umpteenth time. I just love Minerva Spencer books and my views (above) haven’t changed about this story. I’m again reading my way through the Bellamy sister’s stories, until Dauntry’s story is released - I just immerse myself in their world.
Another reread! Love, love, love this book!
This is the first book in the new Bellamy siblings series. It is an absorbing, well-written book with believable, fast-paced dialogue and strong characters. Be sure to clear your calendar before starting because it’s unputdownable!
The Bellamy family has fallen into genteel poverty, the father, the Earl of Addiscombe, is an inveterate gambler and the family’s situation is worsening. Because of this their stately home is being leased out to an extremely wealthy manufacturer and new peer, Paul, Viscount Needham, and the family has moved into a much smaller property nearby. All the siblings have talents. The middle sibling, twenty-two year old Phoebe is the carer, she has a strong, managing personality and she ensures the family and servants always have enough to eat, she negotiates more time to pay the unpaid bills and deals with all household matters. She knows her father wants to marry one of his daughters to the new tenant and doesn’t want one of her sisters being forced into marrying the brutal looking new peer so she proposes to him herself.
The Bellamy parents dislike each other intensely, both mother and father are selfish and self-serving. Despite this, or because of it, the six siblings (five sisters and one brother) are close and care for each other - I particularly love the brother, Doddy’s, adorable character and hope Ms Spencer gives him a book of his own.
The main characters, Paul and Phoebe, are not described as physically prepossessing - Paul is described as big and ugly, Phoebe as small and dab; nevertheless there is a sizzling sexual chemistry between them from the start.
A delightful read, filled with wonderfully drawn, well-rounded characters and amusing and entertaining banter.
This is my second reading of this book and I loved it both times. I read anything written by SM LaViolette and her pseudonyms Miranda Spencer and SM Goodwin and get withdrawal symptoms if I have to wait too long between new books; therefore, I reread her older books to keep me going.
… Read this again for the umpteenth time. I just love Minerva Spencer books and my views (above) haven’t changed about this story. I’m again reading my way through the Bellamy sister’s stories, until Dauntry’s story is released - I just immerse myself in their world.
Another reread! Love, love, love this book!
May 31, 2022
The Bellamy family has gradually sunk into poverty as the head of the household the Earl of Addiscombe is an addictive gambler. He’s sold all unentailed property & lands apart from the run down manor where his family now lives, he even leases his principal property Wych House to Viscount Needham. While Phoebe’s older sisters venture out into the world to earn the necessary funds, Phoebe herself—plain, levelheaded, and responsible—stays home to care for her younger siblings and parents. When Phoebe learns that her father is determined to marry one of his daughters to Needham, she knows it's time to act. She certainly can’t imagine saddling any of her beloved sisters with the brutally handsome upstart. So, she does the unthinkable and proposes to Viscount Needham herself.
The start of a new series & we meet the six Bellamy siblings, five sisters & a delightful brother Doddy. I loved this book it had strong characters, was fast paced, had wonderful dialogue & an attraction that just grows & grows. Once again the author has nailed it Paul & Phoebe are like chalk & cheese but oh my the chemistry! Their verbal bantering is also beautifully done. Everyone makes assumptions about Paul, he's the upstart bit of rough or is he?. I was drawn in from the very first page & finished it with a smile on my face. Roll on book two. I highly recommend this delicious read & would advise starting early in the day as once started you won’t want to put it down
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
The start of a new series & we meet the six Bellamy siblings, five sisters & a delightful brother Doddy. I loved this book it had strong characters, was fast paced, had wonderful dialogue & an attraction that just grows & grows. Once again the author has nailed it Paul & Phoebe are like chalk & cheese but oh my the chemistry! Their verbal bantering is also beautifully done. Everyone makes assumptions about Paul, he's the upstart bit of rough or is he?. I was drawn in from the very first page & finished it with a smile on my face. Roll on book two. I highly recommend this delicious read & would advise starting early in the day as once started you won’t want to put it down
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
May 26, 2022
Phoebe Bellamy takes care of her family. With four sisters, a brother and her parents, she makes sure there is enough to feed them and the last three servants on a meager allowance. Any repairs to be made are juggled with bills that are due. Bills her father, the Earl of Addiscombe, continues to make to drive the family even more in debt. One of the last sources of income is leasing Wych House. Paul Needham is a viscount, but first and foremost he is a businessman and at five and thirty, unmarried. When he leases the Wych House, the subject comes up of Needham marrying one of the Earl's daughters. Phoebe makes the first move to propose, before he proposes to any of her sisters. He accepts. What they think will be a marriage of convenience, becomes one full of passion, misunderstandings, more passion and complications from family and business. Paul may not be handsome, but his gentleness and kindness are what make him exceptional.
HEAT LEVEL 5
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book gifted by the author.
HEAT LEVEL 5
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book gifted by the author.
July 2, 2025
When I read Historical Romance, I know it's not even close to the real thing - if our MCs really behaved like most people at the time, we wouldn't find them appealing. However, I really like it when the author attempts to give us a good flavor of the time, which is what I think we got here.
The book has two settings: hers and his. The first part is set in her family's country seat, which the hero is leasing. He's constantly belittled because he's a merchant - nobody really cares about his title - even though he's saving their bacon. Her mother is dreadful and even the heroine keeps thinking of him as vulgar (because he earns his own money!) He brought his mistress and natural child to live with him and that caused a large hubbub for most of the book because yes, it's a very big fucking deal!!! Then they go visit his hometown and the reader learns more about his factory, the relationship with his family and how he grew up. I think the plot with the half brother was compelling enough that we didn't need the sabotage and kidnapping sub plot, specially since we don't actually get to see the details of when he saves her.
Some of the issues in the book could have been solved with a conversation but the hero has a tendency of keeping his wife uninformed of important things, so no wonder she misinterprets them. In fact, although she has a temper, she's very aware that she's in his power and sometimes attempts to see things from his POV, which I found very commendable. Although his behavior was infuriating, it made sense for the hero: he was the man in charge and not used to explaining himself to anybody.
I really liked that they were both average looking people. He's described as ugly, she as plain. Also, the author had her cake and ate it too by giving the hero traits that would be hot today but that were looked down back then: he's large and brawny which is hot for the reader but seen as coarse and brutish by the aristocratic characters, because it pointed to his working class heritage. He chastises himself for his "poor breeding" because he went all out during her first time: "you shouldn't treat your virginal wife as your mistress!" The poor man can't help but give his wife multiple orgasms (the horror!!) but he's aware that most aristocratic men would enjoy their "base desires" only with their mistresses.
Totally listening to the second book in the series.
The book has two settings: hers and his. The first part is set in her family's country seat, which the hero is leasing. He's constantly belittled because he's a merchant - nobody really cares about his title - even though he's saving their bacon. Her mother is dreadful and even the heroine keeps thinking of him as vulgar (because he earns his own money!) He brought his mistress and natural child to live with him and that caused a large hubbub for most of the book because yes, it's a very big fucking deal!!! Then they go visit his hometown and the reader learns more about his factory, the relationship with his family and how he grew up. I think the plot with the half brother was compelling enough that we didn't need the sabotage and kidnapping sub plot, specially since we don't actually get to see the details of when he saves her.
Some of the issues in the book could have been solved with a conversation but the hero has a tendency of keeping his wife uninformed of important things, so no wonder she misinterprets them. In fact, although she has a temper, she's very aware that she's in his power and sometimes attempts to see things from his POV, which I found very commendable. Although his behavior was infuriating, it made sense for the hero: he was the man in charge and not used to explaining himself to anybody.
I really liked that they were both average looking people. He's described as ugly, she as plain. Also, the author had her cake and ate it too by giving the hero traits that would be hot today but that were looked down back then: he's large and brawny which is hot for the reader but seen as coarse and brutish by the aristocratic characters, because it pointed to his working class heritage. He chastises himself for his "poor breeding" because he went all out during her first time: "you shouldn't treat your virginal wife as your mistress!" The poor man can't help but give his wife multiple orgasms (the horror!!) but he's aware that most aristocratic men would enjoy their "base desires" only with their mistresses.
Totally listening to the second book in the series.
July 28, 2023
I found the heroine to be one of the most unpleasant and detestable heroines I’ve come across in a long time. Such a rank wee snob, so miserable, and so cruel to Paul.
I am also utterly fed up with the self-sacrificing heroines who take on responsibility for resolving the problems created by selfish parents and siblings. Both Phoebe and Paul have suffered as a result of absurd behaviour by their families and are left to pick up the pieces. I find these plot lines melodramatic and unbelievable.
The author writes well. I just didn’t like the heroine or the plot.
I am also utterly fed up with the self-sacrificing heroines who take on responsibility for resolving the problems created by selfish parents and siblings. Both Phoebe and Paul have suffered as a result of absurd behaviour by their families and are left to pick up the pieces. I find these plot lines melodramatic and unbelievable.
The author writes well. I just didn’t like the heroine or the plot.
September 13, 2023
Not a damn thing about this book was enjoyable.
June 7, 2022
What a great read.
I really love all MINERVA SPENCER – S.M. LAVIOLETTE books.
I loved this storyline. The characters were great. I loved Phoebe and Paul. Their chemistry was awesome. I loved when she first noticed he had to groom twice a day because of his heavy 5 o’clock shadow which I LOVE. Yum! Their sex was off the chain. Minerva Spencer is so good at writing sex scenes. Very well written.
I am really looking forward to reading more in this series.
Great read.
I really love all MINERVA SPENCER – S.M. LAVIOLETTE books.
I loved this storyline. The characters were great. I loved Phoebe and Paul. Their chemistry was awesome. I loved when she first noticed he had to groom twice a day because of his heavy 5 o’clock shadow which I LOVE. Yum! Their sex was off the chain. Minerva Spencer is so good at writing sex scenes. Very well written.
I am really looking forward to reading more in this series.
Great read.
August 16, 2023
2.5⭐️ This would be a flat out two star review if it wasn’t for the marriage of convenience trope in the beginning, and Paul’s resemblance to Sebastian Ballister in “Lord of Scoundrels.” The second half though, WTH? Quoting Paul out of context, “Did it rain locusts and toads?” Metaphorically speaking, a resounding yes.
September 15, 2023
While I enjoyed their relationship, I wished they would’ve confessed their feelings for each other way sooner. (I think it’s the last chapter when they say “I love you”)
Mind you, it wasn’t a deal breaker but I didn’t get to experience their love as I would’ve liked.
In the end, it’s a nice story, decent banter and very steamy.
Mind you, it wasn’t a deal breaker but I didn’t get to experience their love as I would’ve liked.
In the end, it’s a nice story, decent banter and very steamy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 2, 2024
I only made it to chapter 12. This book was a bit dull, and the hero had his mistress living with him and his wife the heroine.
January 27, 2023
Three and a half stars.
Phoebe Bellamy is the small, plump, ordinary sister in a family of beauties and extraordinary talents. Their father is an inveterate gambler and spendthrift who is in danger of losing everything if he can't find a tenant for the family's ancestral home.
Viscount Paul Needham might have a title, but he's only the second man to hold it and he knows that everyone regards him as 'trade', especially with his dark features and big nose, he's hardly an oil painting (which is a funny saying because often oil paintings are warts and all).
When Paul agrees to lease the dilapidated house from the Bellamys it gives the family a small respite. But Phoebe's father sees Paul's fabulous wealth and is determined that Paul should marry one of his daughters, that way he can contrive with Paul to break the entail and sell the property outright (thus robbing his son Doddy of his inheritance).
Paul is aware of Phoebe's father machinations, and delights in informing the family that his mistress and illegitimate daughter will be joining him at the house once it has been repaired, but even that isn't enough to stop Phoebe's parents from matchmaking. On his part, Paul realises that the only way to stop the aristocracy from looking down their noses at him is to marry one of them, but he doesn't have to like them. Realising that if she doesn't do something one of her sisters will be forced to marry Paul Phoebe offers herself as tribute (sorry wrong book).
Paul and Phoebe may have gotten off on the wrong foot but the sparks fly when they argue, which is near on constantly. But how long until Paul installs another mistress in the house, or more by-blows? Phoebe knows she must guard her heart before he breaks it entirely.
This felt very slow, I recall looking at my kindle and seeing I was 71% through the book and pretty much nothing had happened. They got married, they argued, Paul introduced Phoebe to physical pleasure, they argued, she gets the wrong end of the stick (gosh I'm ploughing through these old phrases today), they make love, blah, bah, blah.
Then all of a sudden the plot explodes and there is high drama and danger aplenty.
I did enjoy this, but I couldn't help drawing comparisons to the one and only Georgette Heyer who has done may similar storylines and (obviously) this is not as good, although still a good historical romance.
Read on my Kindle Unlimited subscription.
Phoebe Bellamy is the small, plump, ordinary sister in a family of beauties and extraordinary talents. Their father is an inveterate gambler and spendthrift who is in danger of losing everything if he can't find a tenant for the family's ancestral home.
Viscount Paul Needham might have a title, but he's only the second man to hold it and he knows that everyone regards him as 'trade', especially with his dark features and big nose, he's hardly an oil painting (which is a funny saying because often oil paintings are warts and all).
When Paul agrees to lease the dilapidated house from the Bellamys it gives the family a small respite. But Phoebe's father sees Paul's fabulous wealth and is determined that Paul should marry one of his daughters, that way he can contrive with Paul to break the entail and sell the property outright (thus robbing his son Doddy of his inheritance).
Paul is aware of Phoebe's father machinations, and delights in informing the family that his mistress and illegitimate daughter will be joining him at the house once it has been repaired, but even that isn't enough to stop Phoebe's parents from matchmaking. On his part, Paul realises that the only way to stop the aristocracy from looking down their noses at him is to marry one of them, but he doesn't have to like them. Realising that if she doesn't do something one of her sisters will be forced to marry Paul Phoebe offers herself as tribute (sorry wrong book).
Paul and Phoebe may have gotten off on the wrong foot but the sparks fly when they argue, which is near on constantly. But how long until Paul installs another mistress in the house, or more by-blows? Phoebe knows she must guard her heart before he breaks it entirely.
This felt very slow, I recall looking at my kindle and seeing I was 71% through the book and pretty much nothing had happened. They got married, they argued, Paul introduced Phoebe to physical pleasure, they argued, she gets the wrong end of the stick (gosh I'm ploughing through these old phrases today), they make love, blah, bah, blah.
Then all of a sudden the plot explodes and there is high drama and danger aplenty.
I did enjoy this, but I couldn't help drawing comparisons to the one and only Georgette Heyer who has done may similar storylines and (obviously) this is not as good, although still a good historical romance.
Read on my Kindle Unlimited subscription.
October 5, 2026
2.75 stars. It was OK. I recently read a later book from this series, Kathryn, and quite enjoyed it. I was intrigued by the Bellamy family and thought I would go back to the start to read more about them. Unfortunately for me, I didn't like this book as much as the other one.
I didn't mind the plot line and tropes. Class difference, with the impoverished but aristocratic Phoebe marrying a nouveau riche man who is an earl, but engaged in trade/industry. He is extremely rich, and she sees this as a way to save her beloved siblings from disaster. Fortunately, she's also oddly attracted to this very large, rather ugly man who is also much older than her. All fine, but somehow it just didn't really gel for me. There were some very steamy scenes, but even so, I didn't really feel the chemistry between the MCs. (I know, what's wrong with me?? LOL). I just didn't really connect fully with either MC. So, a reasonable storyline, with some interesting back story to boot, but on the whole it all felt a bit flat for me.
I'm aware this writer is known for steamy scenes, and sure, I don't mind a good saucy scene, but in this book, it was just a bit OTT for me. For starters, I dislike any use of the very coarse and harsh word c***, and it was sprinkled readily throughout. Ugh. Not sexy. I also disliked the way the MMC thought about when he was going to 'breed' his wife (aka have intercourse with her). Ick. Is this a fated mate fantasy book? Also, I'm not a fan of the very big man so much bigger than the tiny woman but yeah somehow they fit together. This is again, not sexy for me, though I'm sure it appeals to many. That's fine, it's just not a turn-on for me. And, I got bit tired of the ridiculous number of orgasms the MMC drew out of his bride, one after another after another. I mean, really??? Come on. A little bit of reality, please..... Yes I know it's a sexy romance book, and we all like a little bit of exaggeration to enhance the story, but it just went bit too far for me, to the point where I started to roll my eyes.
So, this book wasn't a winner for me, but it has lots of great reviews, so don't let me put you off trying it for yourself. And I'm still invested in the Bellamys, and plan to try other books in the series. Fingers crossed!
I didn't mind the plot line and tropes. Class difference, with the impoverished but aristocratic Phoebe marrying a nouveau riche man who is an earl, but engaged in trade/industry. He is extremely rich, and she sees this as a way to save her beloved siblings from disaster. Fortunately, she's also oddly attracted to this very large, rather ugly man who is also much older than her. All fine, but somehow it just didn't really gel for me. There were some very steamy scenes, but even so, I didn't really feel the chemistry between the MCs. (I know, what's wrong with me?? LOL). I just didn't really connect fully with either MC. So, a reasonable storyline, with some interesting back story to boot, but on the whole it all felt a bit flat for me.
I'm aware this writer is known for steamy scenes, and sure, I don't mind a good saucy scene, but in this book, it was just a bit OTT for me. For starters, I dislike any use of the very coarse and harsh word c***, and it was sprinkled readily throughout. Ugh. Not sexy. I also disliked the way the MMC thought about when he was going to 'breed' his wife (aka have intercourse with her). Ick. Is this a fated mate fantasy book? Also, I'm not a fan of the very big man so much bigger than the tiny woman but yeah somehow they fit together. This is again, not sexy for me, though I'm sure it appeals to many. That's fine, it's just not a turn-on for me. And, I got bit tired of the ridiculous number of orgasms the MMC drew out of his bride, one after another after another. I mean, really??? Come on. A little bit of reality, please..... Yes I know it's a sexy romance book, and we all like a little bit of exaggeration to enhance the story, but it just went bit too far for me, to the point where I started to roll my eyes.
So, this book wasn't a winner for me, but it has lots of great reviews, so don't let me put you off trying it for yourself. And I'm still invested in the Bellamys, and plan to try other books in the series. Fingers crossed!
June 3, 2024
Impoverished daughter of an Earl marries ugly, big, newly titled Viscount/merchant.
Reminded me of Kerrigan Byrne. Everyone in this book was having kids out of wedlock it was a lot.
Reminded me of Kerrigan Byrne. Everyone in this book was having kids out of wedlock it was a lot.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 339 reviews