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The Mating Habits of Scoundrels #5
Never Seduce a Duke
In USA Today bestselling author Vivienne Lorret's latest romance, a young lady engages in a steamy flirtation with a bespectacled, studious duke while on holiday, only to return with more than just memories...
After being jilted, Margaret Stredwick has sworn off men and marriage. What she needs is a holiday. But a detour along the way takes a surprising turn that leads Meg to him. And soon she starts to wonder if she should indulge in one grand flirtation before she's firmly on the shelf.
The instant Lucien Ambrose, Duke of Merleton, finds a strange woman touring the halls of his ancient estate, he knows the minx is up to something. So, when a family heirloom is stolen, it's clear who the culprit is. She may tempt him beyond reason, but he isn't about to let her get away, even if he has to chase her across the continent.
Meg never imagined that anyone would mistake her for a notorious thief, known for seducing men to distraction. It's the most thrilling thing ever! She eagerly plays along. . . until she finds herself falling in love with a man who has no idea who she really is. And by the time she returns to her ordinary life, she discovers that her grand flirtation won't be a secret for long. Apparently, she brought home an unexpected souvenir...
After being jilted, Margaret Stredwick has sworn off men and marriage. What she needs is a holiday. But a detour along the way takes a surprising turn that leads Meg to him. And soon she starts to wonder if she should indulge in one grand flirtation before she's firmly on the shelf.
The instant Lucien Ambrose, Duke of Merleton, finds a strange woman touring the halls of his ancient estate, he knows the minx is up to something. So, when a family heirloom is stolen, it's clear who the culprit is. She may tempt him beyond reason, but he isn't about to let her get away, even if he has to chase her across the continent.
Meg never imagined that anyone would mistake her for a notorious thief, known for seducing men to distraction. It's the most thrilling thing ever! She eagerly plays along. . . until she finds herself falling in love with a man who has no idea who she really is. And by the time she returns to her ordinary life, she discovers that her grand flirtation won't be a secret for long. Apparently, she brought home an unexpected souvenir...
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 21, 2023
109 people are currently reading
934 people want to read
About the author
Vivienne Lorret
37 books1,312 followersUSA Today bestselling author VIVIENNE LORRET writes fun and steamy Regency historical romances. She lives in the Midwest where she coaxes words out of giant mugs of tea and attempts to jot them down before they can escape. For her entire catalog of books, including the Liars’ Club, her latest series from Avon, please visit www.vivlorret.net
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 265 reviews
April 25, 2024
✨Glasses stay on during sex 😤✨
At the end of the last one, this book was teased with this iconic poem and I swear I JUMPED on NetGalley:
First, Dorothy Parker is a queen I love the reference. Second, truly the book delivered on everything promised. Not only was our heroine obsessed with his glasses, but also this was truly more than I bargained for. It was weird and definitely unhinged, but I thoroughly enjoyed myself and had to fight the urge to share quotes. The book was entirely nutty but that’s my brand so I’m going to give you a brief overview because while I did love it, I was very much confused about what I got myself into.
✨
A Brief Summary
So the book summary says a family heirloom was stolen from Lucien but it’s so much MORE. Basically Lucien’s family was obsessed with Arthurian legends and believed this recipe book they had was filled with legit magical recipes (to make you stronger, live longer etc). Lucien is desperately trying to feel connections to his ancestors so he’s testing a bunch of recipes. Meanwhile, Meg is on a grand tour with her sister-in-law’s loony tunes aunts, who happen to be in the business of stealing recipes.
WELL Meg ends up at Lucien’s estate and runs into him—quite literally. He’s wearing an apron and his glasses are totally dirty, as he’s just been testing recipes. As soon as she’s all pressed up on him, he’s like “GREAT SCOTT the recipe WORKS because I’m feeling all strong and my senses are heightened.” Of course, he was just horny. The way I laughed.
Then after their meet cute, he realizes that the recipe book has been stolen and follows Meg around on her tour, slowly winning her heart and quickly winning mine. He thinks she stole the book and she’s like no but also if I say yes he’ll keep following me and he. is. hot. so I see only pros here.
The second half of the book takes place two years post their summer affair. The end was dramatic and I greatly appreciated the chaotic medieval vibes.
✨
The Couple
Okay was I absolutely obsessed with Lucien’s hyper-analytical way of speaking? Absolutely. He felt like a historical romance version of Bones. I just could not get over how he was like I must understand and excel at everything so let me go become a sex god real quick 😭 I was expecting him to be a bit bumbling in the bedroom but LORD was I wrong. He had urges and he knew what to do with them.
Meg was honestly just so relatable. She just wanted to find her soul mate and have a little summer loving before she accepts her spinster fate and if that isn’t me… I also loved when she shifted to just full on trying to flirt Lucien into her bed. I really liked Meg a lot. She stood up for herself many times and knew what she deserved. I liked seeing Brandon’s cameo since he was her brother (I also love some good overprotective sibling vibes).
✨
The Steam
Lorret did such a great job proving that Lucien and Meg were meant to be together. There was so much more to Lucien’s character than I first thought, and Meg was my relatable queen. Their first time together was intense and whenever there’s a non-missionary losing one’s virginity scene, I give bonus points.
Their sexual tension throughout the book was marvelous and there was a very good hate sex finger-bang scene. His analytical speak in the bedroom was A+. However, I do think we needed a final scene after his last proposal.
✨
The End
Overall, Lucien and Meg together really solidified my five stars. The last half of the book kind of threw me, but I embraced the chaos and ate up the drama. Lorret is such a fun and clever writer. Her humor is so great and I don’t think she’s talked about enough in the histromcom sphere. I can’t wait for the next book and hope we get Pell’s story too!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🌶🌶🌶.25/5
A Note
It doesn’t really feel like part of the series but yolo I guess. I really do love Vivienne’s writing style and I’m happy that this third act didn’t fumble the pass because most of her books I’ve read prior to this just messed up near the end and I got ✨angry✨ like real bad.
I will warn that this book takes a drastic turn around 55% so just go with it. I can maybe see some people being like WUT but it worked for me. It definitely won’t be for some but part of the twist is referenced at the end of the summary I guess lmao. So if that’s not your thing… I’d suggest not reading the book.
Thanks so much to the publisher for an eARC via NetGalley. All opinions are honest and my own.
At the end of the last one, this book was teased with this iconic poem and I swear I JUMPED on NetGalley:
When a debutante makes passes
at a duke who wears glasses,
she just might end up with more
than she ever bargained for!
First, Dorothy Parker is a queen I love the reference. Second, truly the book delivered on everything promised. Not only was our heroine obsessed with his glasses, but also this was truly more than I bargained for. It was weird and definitely unhinged, but I thoroughly enjoyed myself and had to fight the urge to share quotes. The book was entirely nutty but that’s my brand so I’m going to give you a brief overview because while I did love it, I was very much confused about what I got myself into.
✨
A Brief Summary
So the book summary says a family heirloom was stolen from Lucien but it’s so much MORE. Basically Lucien’s family was obsessed with Arthurian legends and believed this recipe book they had was filled with legit magical recipes (to make you stronger, live longer etc). Lucien is desperately trying to feel connections to his ancestors so he’s testing a bunch of recipes. Meanwhile, Meg is on a grand tour with her sister-in-law’s loony tunes aunts, who happen to be in the business of stealing recipes.
WELL Meg ends up at Lucien’s estate and runs into him—quite literally. He’s wearing an apron and his glasses are totally dirty, as he’s just been testing recipes. As soon as she’s all pressed up on him, he’s like “GREAT SCOTT the recipe WORKS because I’m feeling all strong and my senses are heightened.” Of course, he was just horny. The way I laughed.
Then after their meet cute, he realizes that the recipe book has been stolen and follows Meg around on her tour, slowly winning her heart and quickly winning mine. He thinks she stole the book and she’s like no but also if I say yes he’ll keep following me and he. is. hot. so I see only pros here.
The second half of the book takes place two years post their summer affair. The end was dramatic and I greatly appreciated the chaotic medieval vibes.
✨
The Couple
Okay was I absolutely obsessed with Lucien’s hyper-analytical way of speaking? Absolutely. He felt like a historical romance version of Bones. I just could not get over how he was like I must understand and excel at everything so let me go become a sex god real quick 😭 I was expecting him to be a bit bumbling in the bedroom but LORD was I wrong. He had urges and he knew what to do with them.
Meg was honestly just so relatable. She just wanted to find her soul mate and have a little summer loving before she accepts her spinster fate and if that isn’t me… I also loved when she shifted to just full on trying to flirt Lucien into her bed. I really liked Meg a lot. She stood up for herself many times and knew what she deserved. I liked seeing Brandon’s cameo since he was her brother (I also love some good overprotective sibling vibes).
✨
The Steam
Lorret did such a great job proving that Lucien and Meg were meant to be together. There was so much more to Lucien’s character than I first thought, and Meg was my relatable queen. Their first time together was intense and whenever there’s a non-missionary losing one’s virginity scene, I give bonus points.
My favorite thing about the scene was when Meg was ready to get mounted because that’s what she’d seen some NSFW horses do, so she started to bend over and offer up her hindquarters 😭
Their sexual tension throughout the book was marvelous and there was a very good hate sex finger-bang scene. His analytical speak in the bedroom was A+. However, I do think we needed a final scene after his last proposal.
✨
The End
Overall, Lucien and Meg together really solidified my five stars. The last half of the book kind of threw me, but I embraced the chaos and ate up the drama. Lorret is such a fun and clever writer. Her humor is so great and I don’t think she’s talked about enough in the histromcom sphere. I can’t wait for the next book and hope we get Pell’s story too!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🌶🌶🌶.25/5
A Note
It doesn’t really feel like part of the series but yolo I guess. I really do love Vivienne’s writing style and I’m happy that this third act didn’t fumble the pass because most of her books I’ve read prior to this just messed up near the end and I got ✨angry✨ like real bad.
I will warn that this book takes a drastic turn around 55% so just go with it. I can maybe see some people being like WUT but it worked for me. It definitely won’t be for some but part of the twist is referenced at the end of the summary I guess lmao. So if that’s not your thing… I’d suggest not reading the book.
Thanks so much to the publisher for an eARC via NetGalley. All opinions are honest and my own.
February 21, 2023
3.5 stars
This was a fun read in such an annoying way.
📖 Lucien thinks that Meg stole his family heirloom from him.
📖 Lucien chases her across Europe.
📖 She denies stealing from him saying that she’s not who she think she is.
📖 He doesn’t listen (yes he’s the kind of guy who thinks he’s always write with his hyper analytical way of thinking and speaking) and kept on sticking with her till he could get his book back.
📖 She would think “fine I can’t change his mind.” “why even trying? Let him think what he want.” “why not have a fun holiday and enjoy flirting with him”
And you can guess the rest. All the miscommunication, annoying choices were made, the frustration, as I said, such an annoying fun time. Also, the thief was pretty obvious, for such a smart guy Lucien was so oblivious.
Huge Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this copy.
“You see, he thinks I stole something from him.”
“His heart?”
This was a fun read in such an annoying way.
📖 Lucien thinks that Meg stole his family heirloom from him.
📖 Lucien chases her across Europe.
📖 She denies stealing from him saying that she’s not who she think she is.
📖 He doesn’t listen (yes he’s the kind of guy who thinks he’s always write with his hyper analytical way of thinking and speaking) and kept on sticking with her till he could get his book back.
📖 She would think “fine I can’t change his mind.” “why even trying? Let him think what he want.” “why not have a fun holiday and enjoy flirting with him”
And you can guess the rest. All the miscommunication, annoying choices were made, the frustration, as I said, such an annoying fun time. Also, the thief was pretty obvious, for such a smart guy Lucien was so oblivious.
Huge Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this copy.
November 4, 2022
3.5 stars
“You see, he thinks I stole something from him.”
“His heart?”
This was a fun read in such an annoying way.
📖 Lucien thinks that Meg stole his family heirloom from him.
📖 Lucien chases her across Europe.
📖 She denies stealing from him saying that she’s not who she think she is.
📖 He doesn’t listen (yes he’s the kind of guy who thinks he’s always write with his hyper analytical way of thinking and speaking) and kept on sticking with her till he could get his book back.
📖 She would think “fine I can’t change his mind.” “why even trying? Let him think what he want.” “why not have a fun holiday and enjoy flirting with him”
And you can guess the rest. All the miscommunication, annoying choices were made, the frustration, as I said, such an annoying fun time. Also, the thief was pretty obvious, for such a smart guy Lucien was so oblivious.
Huge Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this copy.
“You see, he thinks I stole something from him.”
“His heart?”
This was a fun read in such an annoying way.
📖 Lucien thinks that Meg stole his family heirloom from him.
📖 Lucien chases her across Europe.
📖 She denies stealing from him saying that she’s not who she think she is.
📖 He doesn’t listen (yes he’s the kind of guy who thinks he’s always write with his hyper analytical way of thinking and speaking) and kept on sticking with her till he could get his book back.
📖 She would think “fine I can’t change his mind.” “why even trying? Let him think what he want.” “why not have a fun holiday and enjoy flirting with him”
And you can guess the rest. All the miscommunication, annoying choices were made, the frustration, as I said, such an annoying fun time. Also, the thief was pretty obvious, for such a smart guy Lucien was so oblivious.
Huge Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this copy.
February 19, 2025
Summary:
I am officially DNF-ing Never Seduce a Duke at 60%, and it’s a 1-star read for me. Where do I even begin? The book started off fine—nothing spectacular, but I was intrigued. Lucien seemed interesting, and Meg being bold was refreshing. The subplot was fine, and I was settling in for what I thought would be a decent read. And then it happened. They sleep together ONE TIME—let me make that clear—ONE TIME. He is so into it he obviously blasts his erectoplasm right in her lady bits, and then they pass out. Chaos ensues. Meg finds out shes pregnant, and the book immediately jumps to two years later. This all happens before we even have time to process what just happened. Then obviously the book jumps straight into everyone’s favourite trope—miscommunication hell and bonus! surprise pregnancy.
Characters:
Lucien: Lucien might actually be one of the dumbest heroes I’ve ever read. Yes, Lorret set him up to be all studious but no one with actual brains does this. He spends two years searching for Meg because he’s still confident she is caught up in his family’s missing recipe book (eye roll), yet despite knowing her first name, the full names of her companions, and countless other details! He somehow cannot find her. Meanwhile, Meg has been writing him constantly to tell him about their surprise daughter, and what does he do? Oh, he just doesn’t read the letters. They weren’t lost. They weren’t stolen. They were right there, but he waves them off as “fortune hunters” pretending to be pregnant with his child. Because obviously, he’s never put his population paste in anyone before! Oh wait—he did. In the one woman, he’s been supposedly searching for FOR TWO YEARS! But why bother looking at the letters when we need to drag this miscommunication mess out for as long as humanly possible? Then, somehow, without reading the letters, he figures out where she lives and storms in, acting like a total ass. I was done.
Meg: Meg started off promising. She was bold, independent, and willing to take control of her own life. But after the time jump? I just couldn’t deal. She spends two years writing to a man who never writes back, and when he finally shows up, she makes every single wrong decision. She does not tell him about the child. No, no talking to him would have been far too easy and simply made the book too good. It felt like all of her agency was just tossed out the window to keep the plot limping along.
Overall Thoughts:
This book might work for some people, but for me? A one-time penis colada cocktail leading to pregnancy and two years of miscommunication is where I draw the line. It got to a point where I started actively hating the characters, and I refuse to punish myself by reading something that makes me this frustrated. The entire plot could have been resolved in five pages if either of them had two brain cells to rub together, but instead, we got a time jump of nonsense. I cannot recommend this, and I will be recovering for the foreseeable future.
Rating:
★☆☆☆☆ (1/5 stars)
I am officially DNF-ing Never Seduce a Duke at 60%, and it’s a 1-star read for me. Where do I even begin? The book started off fine—nothing spectacular, but I was intrigued. Lucien seemed interesting, and Meg being bold was refreshing. The subplot was fine, and I was settling in for what I thought would be a decent read. And then it happened. They sleep together ONE TIME—let me make that clear—ONE TIME. He is so into it he obviously blasts his erectoplasm right in her lady bits, and then they pass out. Chaos ensues. Meg finds out shes pregnant, and the book immediately jumps to two years later. This all happens before we even have time to process what just happened. Then obviously the book jumps straight into everyone’s favourite trope—miscommunication hell and bonus! surprise pregnancy.
Characters:
Lucien: Lucien might actually be one of the dumbest heroes I’ve ever read. Yes, Lorret set him up to be all studious but no one with actual brains does this. He spends two years searching for Meg because he’s still confident she is caught up in his family’s missing recipe book (eye roll), yet despite knowing her first name, the full names of her companions, and countless other details! He somehow cannot find her. Meanwhile, Meg has been writing him constantly to tell him about their surprise daughter, and what does he do? Oh, he just doesn’t read the letters. They weren’t lost. They weren’t stolen. They were right there, but he waves them off as “fortune hunters” pretending to be pregnant with his child. Because obviously, he’s never put his population paste in anyone before! Oh wait—he did. In the one woman, he’s been supposedly searching for FOR TWO YEARS! But why bother looking at the letters when we need to drag this miscommunication mess out for as long as humanly possible? Then, somehow, without reading the letters, he figures out where she lives and storms in, acting like a total ass. I was done.
Meg: Meg started off promising. She was bold, independent, and willing to take control of her own life. But after the time jump? I just couldn’t deal. She spends two years writing to a man who never writes back, and when he finally shows up, she makes every single wrong decision. She does not tell him about the child. No, no talking to him would have been far too easy and simply made the book too good. It felt like all of her agency was just tossed out the window to keep the plot limping along.
Overall Thoughts:
This book might work for some people, but for me? A one-time penis colada cocktail leading to pregnancy and two years of miscommunication is where I draw the line. It got to a point where I started actively hating the characters, and I refuse to punish myself by reading something that makes me this frustrated. The entire plot could have been resolved in five pages if either of them had two brain cells to rub together, but instead, we got a time jump of nonsense. I cannot recommend this, and I will be recovering for the foreseeable future.
Rating:
★☆☆☆☆ (1/5 stars)
March 2, 2023
So this one started out SUPER cute and fun and on the bonkers side. Meg Stredwick is taking a tour of the continent with her sister-in-law's aunts*, but on the way they stop at the Duke of Merleton's estate. There, they steal a dessert recipe, meet the duke, and then take off. The same evening, the duke loses a precious book and he assumes that it was stolen by the fetching young lady, whereupon he sets out in pursuit.
From then until about the halfway mark, the book is a romp of a road trip romance. The duke finagles his way into traveling with the ladies; Meg embraces the role of seductress; really, all goes swimmingly for a charmingly bonkers romance.
Until. Until a true villain appears, our lovers are separated for TWO. YEARS., and a whole bunch of lying and miscommunication commences. Look, we understand that when you write a book with a ton of Arthurian references, it can be fun to embrace the mythos. On the other hand, why does such a sweet book have to go a little on-the-nose with the antagonists?
We're still giving it four stars, because it was super entertaining and (mostly) really fun. We just wish we could have loved the whole thing as much as we did the first half.
*You may remember them from previous books in the series for their flirtatious, recipe-stealing ways.
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.
From then until about the halfway mark, the book is a romp of a road trip romance. The duke finagles his way into traveling with the ladies; Meg embraces the role of seductress; really, all goes swimmingly for a charmingly bonkers romance.
Until. Until a true villain appears, our lovers are separated for TWO. YEARS., and a whole bunch of lying and miscommunication commences. Look, we understand that when you write a book with a ton of Arthurian references, it can be fun to embrace the mythos. On the other hand, why does such a sweet book have to go a little on-the-nose with the antagonists?
We're still giving it four stars, because it was super entertaining and (mostly) really fun. We just wish we could have loved the whole thing as much as we did the first half.
*You may remember them from previous books in the series for their flirtatious, recipe-stealing ways.
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.
July 6, 2023
⭐⭐⭐
3 stars.
➕ What I liked :
That the hero is bespectacled.
A big part of the book takes place in a continental road trip setting.
Somewhat interesting side characters.
(Especially the aunts Mauve and Myrtle.)
The heroines family.
(Supportive and understanding.)
Some funny parts with the aunts.
The hero was Not a rake/womanizer.
➖ What I disliked:
Too much misunderstandings and too many assumptions, but also too much miscommunication.
Too many secrets/lies.
The plot was a little bit disjointed and jumbled.
The story was a little too long/verbose.
Both main characters were immature and especially the hero because he did not really listen to the heroine.
The hero needed to do a little bit of groveling/apologizing but did not do that and was somewhat oblivious in a willful way.
The toxic/psychopathic half-sister.
There was no real closure/resolution about the villain in the story… some comeuppance but no real closure.)
Rather generic/formulaic character description (appearance.)
Both main characters needed some depth, but especially the heroine.
Too much push and pull from the hero.
The romantic build up and chemistry was underwhelming and lacked depth.
3 stars.
➕ What I liked :
That the hero is bespectacled.
A big part of the book takes place in a continental road trip setting.
Somewhat interesting side characters.
(Especially the aunts Mauve and Myrtle.)
The heroines family.
(Supportive and understanding.)
Some funny parts with the aunts.
The hero was Not a rake/womanizer.
➖ What I disliked:
Too much misunderstandings and too many assumptions, but also too much miscommunication.
Too many secrets/lies.
The plot was a little bit disjointed and jumbled.
The story was a little too long/verbose.
Both main characters were immature and especially the hero because he did not really listen to the heroine.
The hero needed to do a little bit of groveling/apologizing but did not do that and was somewhat oblivious in a willful way.
The toxic/psychopathic half-sister.
There was no real closure/resolution about the villain in the story… some comeuppance but no real closure.)
Rather generic/formulaic character description (appearance.)
Both main characters needed some depth, but especially the heroine.
Too much push and pull from the hero.
The romantic build up and chemistry was underwhelming and lacked depth.
August 10, 2023
This author is not for me. I don't like her plot construction or find her characters endearing. This was a lie galore. I hate when lies upon lies pile up to create an extremely unnecessary conflict. The hero was sweet though.
December 9, 2022
Margaret Stredwick is off on holiday with her aunts-by-marriage, but first they make a stop at the country home of Lucien Ambrose, Duke of Merleton. The reclusive duke is suspicious to her presence in his home, especially when a family heirloom is stolen. Lucien is determined to get his property back, even if it means following the ladies across the continent! Meg's declarations of innocence fall on deaf ears, so she decides to play along in a grand flirtatious adventure that has unexpected consequences.
This is the fifth book in the Mating Habits of Scoundrels series. Margaret is the sister of book three's hero, Brandon, Marquess of Hullworth. I would recommend reading book three where Meg's family is introduced, as well as her sister-in-law Ellie's fliratious, recipe-stealing aunts.
I loved that Meg got her own book, and that the aunts made another appearance to bring in some fun. I struggled a bit with the hero though, who was a dry character that I don't think got enough character development. There were some abrupt moments that gave me a "wait, what?" feeling and I had to reread a few spots. There was meant to be a cat-and-mouse element, but it lacked punch and was really just Lucien following Meg and hurling accusations. This book was a bit of a roller coaster but, in the end, I did enjoy it. Give it a try if you like grumpy/sunshine pairings, couple that spend a lot of on-page time together, and a little bit of legend sprinkled in.
Tropes: Jilted, Opposites Attract, Road Trip, Revenge, Mistaken Identity, Secret Baby
Steam: 2
This is the fifth book in the Mating Habits of Scoundrels series. Margaret is the sister of book three's hero, Brandon, Marquess of Hullworth. I would recommend reading book three where Meg's family is introduced, as well as her sister-in-law Ellie's fliratious, recipe-stealing aunts.
I loved that Meg got her own book, and that the aunts made another appearance to bring in some fun. I struggled a bit with the hero though, who was a dry character that I don't think got enough character development. There were some abrupt moments that gave me a "wait, what?" feeling and I had to reread a few spots. There was meant to be a cat-and-mouse element, but it lacked punch and was really just Lucien following Meg and hurling accusations. This book was a bit of a roller coaster but, in the end, I did enjoy it. Give it a try if you like grumpy/sunshine pairings, couple that spend a lot of on-page time together, and a little bit of legend sprinkled in.
Tropes: Jilted, Opposites Attract, Road Trip, Revenge, Mistaken Identity, Secret Baby
Steam: 2
February 22, 2023
Since the man she loved married someone else, Margaret Stredwick has decided marriage isn’t for her. To nurse her wounded heart, Meg goes on holiday and after meeting a surprisingly intriguing man, she wonders if she should have one grand flirtation whose memories will carry her through her spinsterhood.
Lucien Ambrose, the Duke of Merleton, is instantly suspicious when he encounters an unknown woman in his ancient home. When a family heirloom turns up stolen on the same day as the stranger’s visit, Lucien immediately suspects her. He may find her inconveniently tempting, but he’s not about to let her get away, even if it means following her on a tour of the continent.
Meg never dreamed she might be mistaken for a scandalous thief and seductress, but she’s thrilled enough to play along, up until she realizes she’s falling in love with a man who doesn’t know her true identity. Unfortunately, when the holiday is over and Meg is settling back into her routine, it quickly becomes apparent that she’s brought something back from Italy that means she won’t be able to keep her flirtation a secret for long.
There is so much going on with this book that I don’t quite know where to begin, but I did appreciate the completely bonkers plot and found the continental road trip setting of the first half of the book to be quite interesting. The aunts, Maeve and Myrtle completely stole the show for me with their matchmaking, recipe thieving antics as well. I’ve been looking forward to Meg’s story for quite some time and this was just not quite what I was expecting/hoping for her.
I’m pretty torn about this book because there were a lot of aspects that I liked but also tons of things that annoyed me to no end. Firstly, this story was extremely long and began to just feel drawn out. There were a couple of places that seemed like natural conclusions for the story and then I’d look down at the percentage on my kindle and realize I still had lots of book left to go. I think for me there was a bit too much detail about Meg and the aunts’ travels and interactions during them between Meg and Lucien in which their relationship doesn’t really change. It’s mostly a lot of Lucien accusing Meg of theft and refusing to see her beyond the assumptions he presupposed. Meg’s reasons for not being wholly truthful with Lucien and allowing his misapprehension to continue were pretty flimsy and this part of the book just felt drawn out and didn’t hold my attention well. There just seemed to be a lot of superfluous book here and lost opportunities for this to be so romantic if Lucien had abandoned his wrongful assumptions and set out in a genuine pursuit of Meg.
Our poor hero, Lucien, bless him, is so erudite that he winds up being completely obtuse most of the time. He spends all this time with Meg, getting to know her despite this pseudo secret between them, though it’s only even a secret because he refuses to believe her, and yet much of these interactions and quality time between them occurs off page. I was also a bit thrown off by the two year jump forward in the timeline. This seemed like a very unnecessarily long separation, especially a few months would’ve sufficed just as well for the plot. It was also frustrating that despite this separation, once Lucien and Meg are reunited, he almost immediately goes right back to accusing her of thieving the book. It’s as if no time has passed, but not really in a good way and it made me feel a bit like I was rereading something I’d already seen in previous chapters, just with the addition of the secret baby element, which only made for another secret that was drawn out longer than necessary. That last frustration, however, could also just be because I’m not a fan of the secret baby trope.
Lucien just cannot see the forest for the trees, and it takes him entirely too long to figure it out so when they do come back together, the story is still plagued with frustrating miscommunication and there’s still way too much being left unsaid. Lucien’s persistent refusal to listen to reason just made him seem like a petulant child after a while. Though the villain was a bit obvious, I did like that aspect, though I wish this plot device had been enacted sooner.
Despite the length of this book, the ending somehow felt simultaneously drawn out and rushed. Lucien could’ve done much more apologizing to Meg for how much time was wasted thanks to his willful obliviousness. The villain was dealt with quickly and the ultimate resolution there was never revealed on the page, leaving it as a loose end I remain curious about even now. However, for all my complaints and frustrations, I did absolutely adore Meg’s family and their treatment of her. They gave her nothing but support and didn’t try to force her into anything she wasn’t ready for or that would possibly bring her unhappiness. It was especially refreshing to see this supporting dynamic from her brother even after he’d learned who had fathered Meg’s child. Though some logistics were left a bit open for interpretation as far as their daughter, I did like seeing Meg and Lucien finally come together to create their own family, as well as him and his family being welcomed into the fold by hers. I found that aspect of the story to be quite heart warming and I’m glad to have read this story and seen a satisfying conclusion to this utterly unique series.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Blog link: https://mustreadalltheromance.blogspo...
Lucien Ambrose, the Duke of Merleton, is instantly suspicious when he encounters an unknown woman in his ancient home. When a family heirloom turns up stolen on the same day as the stranger’s visit, Lucien immediately suspects her. He may find her inconveniently tempting, but he’s not about to let her get away, even if it means following her on a tour of the continent.
Meg never dreamed she might be mistaken for a scandalous thief and seductress, but she’s thrilled enough to play along, up until she realizes she’s falling in love with a man who doesn’t know her true identity. Unfortunately, when the holiday is over and Meg is settling back into her routine, it quickly becomes apparent that she’s brought something back from Italy that means she won’t be able to keep her flirtation a secret for long.
There is so much going on with this book that I don’t quite know where to begin, but I did appreciate the completely bonkers plot and found the continental road trip setting of the first half of the book to be quite interesting. The aunts, Maeve and Myrtle completely stole the show for me with their matchmaking, recipe thieving antics as well. I’ve been looking forward to Meg’s story for quite some time and this was just not quite what I was expecting/hoping for her.
I’m pretty torn about this book because there were a lot of aspects that I liked but also tons of things that annoyed me to no end. Firstly, this story was extremely long and began to just feel drawn out. There were a couple of places that seemed like natural conclusions for the story and then I’d look down at the percentage on my kindle and realize I still had lots of book left to go. I think for me there was a bit too much detail about Meg and the aunts’ travels and interactions during them between Meg and Lucien in which their relationship doesn’t really change. It’s mostly a lot of Lucien accusing Meg of theft and refusing to see her beyond the assumptions he presupposed. Meg’s reasons for not being wholly truthful with Lucien and allowing his misapprehension to continue were pretty flimsy and this part of the book just felt drawn out and didn’t hold my attention well. There just seemed to be a lot of superfluous book here and lost opportunities for this to be so romantic if Lucien had abandoned his wrongful assumptions and set out in a genuine pursuit of Meg.
Our poor hero, Lucien, bless him, is so erudite that he winds up being completely obtuse most of the time. He spends all this time with Meg, getting to know her despite this pseudo secret between them, though it’s only even a secret because he refuses to believe her, and yet much of these interactions and quality time between them occurs off page. I was also a bit thrown off by the two year jump forward in the timeline. This seemed like a very unnecessarily long separation, especially a few months would’ve sufficed just as well for the plot. It was also frustrating that despite this separation, once Lucien and Meg are reunited, he almost immediately goes right back to accusing her of thieving the book. It’s as if no time has passed, but not really in a good way and it made me feel a bit like I was rereading something I’d already seen in previous chapters, just with the addition of the secret baby element, which only made for another secret that was drawn out longer than necessary. That last frustration, however, could also just be because I’m not a fan of the secret baby trope.
Lucien just cannot see the forest for the trees, and it takes him entirely too long to figure it out so when they do come back together, the story is still plagued with frustrating miscommunication and there’s still way too much being left unsaid. Lucien’s persistent refusal to listen to reason just made him seem like a petulant child after a while. Though the villain was a bit obvious, I did like that aspect, though I wish this plot device had been enacted sooner.
Despite the length of this book, the ending somehow felt simultaneously drawn out and rushed. Lucien could’ve done much more apologizing to Meg for how much time was wasted thanks to his willful obliviousness. The villain was dealt with quickly and the ultimate resolution there was never revealed on the page, leaving it as a loose end I remain curious about even now. However, for all my complaints and frustrations, I did absolutely adore Meg’s family and their treatment of her. They gave her nothing but support and didn’t try to force her into anything she wasn’t ready for or that would possibly bring her unhappiness. It was especially refreshing to see this supporting dynamic from her brother even after he’d learned who had fathered Meg’s child. Though some logistics were left a bit open for interpretation as far as their daughter, I did like seeing Meg and Lucien finally come together to create their own family, as well as him and his family being welcomed into the fold by hers. I found that aspect of the story to be quite heart warming and I’m glad to have read this story and seen a satisfying conclusion to this utterly unique series.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Blog link: https://mustreadalltheromance.blogspo...
March 17, 2023
Book 5 in The Mating Habits of Scoundrels series by Vivienne Lorret. This is the finale in the series.. and the second book I’ve read from this author.
The newly jilted Margaret “Meg” Stredwick has decided to tour the continent with her matchmaking + recipe stealing Aunts to sow her wild oats before settling down as a spinster. They come across the Duke of Merleton’s Castle—Caliburn Keep, to picnic, tour the grounds, and to ask for a inside tour (where the Aunts plan to pilfer a few recipes).. AND to possibly run across the Duke as to meet their niece. Meg and the Duke do meet and there is a spark, but they blow it off. While there, the gem-covered book of recipes (kept in a locked vault) goes missing. The recipes are famous for being served to King Arthur and every knight at his round table. Our hero Lucien, the Duke of Merleton, a bachelor and a hermit, is a whip-smart scientist of sorts that spends his time testing recipes from his family’s famous book. These are supposed legendary recipes.. with the power to imbue a knight with valiance and a maiden with steadfast love. There’s also a sad story behind the book. Lucien is on a quest to recover it from Meg whom he feels stole it. He thinks she’s the famous thief.. Lady Avalon.. and joins/follows them during their sojourn through France, Germany, and Italy. There’s a SURPRISING TWIST plus a mystery to solve that turns deadly. This story is quite different from other HEA’s I’ve read. I found it enjoyable although I felt the misunderstandings went on a little too long. 💙 4 stars — Pub. 2/21/23
The newly jilted Margaret “Meg” Stredwick has decided to tour the continent with her matchmaking + recipe stealing Aunts to sow her wild oats before settling down as a spinster. They come across the Duke of Merleton’s Castle—Caliburn Keep, to picnic, tour the grounds, and to ask for a inside tour (where the Aunts plan to pilfer a few recipes).. AND to possibly run across the Duke as to meet their niece. Meg and the Duke do meet and there is a spark, but they blow it off. While there, the gem-covered book of recipes (kept in a locked vault) goes missing. The recipes are famous for being served to King Arthur and every knight at his round table. Our hero Lucien, the Duke of Merleton, a bachelor and a hermit, is a whip-smart scientist of sorts that spends his time testing recipes from his family’s famous book. These are supposed legendary recipes.. with the power to imbue a knight with valiance and a maiden with steadfast love. There’s also a sad story behind the book. Lucien is on a quest to recover it from Meg whom he feels stole it. He thinks she’s the famous thief.. Lady Avalon.. and joins/follows them during their sojourn through France, Germany, and Italy. There’s a SURPRISING TWIST plus a mystery to solve that turns deadly. This story is quite different from other HEA’s I’ve read. I found it enjoyable although I felt the misunderstandings went on a little too long. 💙 4 stars — Pub. 2/21/23
February 18, 2023
Never Seduce a Duke is the fifth book in The Mating Habits of Scoundrels series, and it’s an entertaining addition to the series. The meet-cute has total Pride and Prejudice vibes, as the pair meets when Meg is touring Lucien’s ancient and enormous home. I love how they meet, and it’s easy to see why Lucien would mistake Meg for the thief who stole his priceless and ancient recipe book, which has been passed down in his family since the times of King Arthur.
The first half of the story takes place mostly on the road, as Meg and her aunts are vacationing. It’s a fun road trip romance with Lucien chasing Meg across countries, determined to unmask the truth. Then, the setting becomes more stationary, as a bit of time has passed, and Meg and Lucien’s lives have changed. I have to say, I preferred the first half. I haven’t read many historical romances with a road trip, and it was a fun and unexpected backdrop for the story and for Meg and Lucien’s romance.
Meg and Lucien have a ton of chemistry, but so much stands in their way, including trust issues, miscommunication, mistaken identity, secrets, and more. Even though they don’t trust each other and there doesn’t seem to be a future for them, Meg and Lucien are drawn together over and over again. It’s interesting to see Lucien fight his feeling since he thinks Meg is a thief. But she proves difficult to resist. It’s also fun to see the inexperienced Meg try to flirt and entice Lucien, who is kind of clueless. Their interactions and conversations are comical and endearing and filled with angst and sexual tension.
Lucien’s cousin Pell is another fantastic character. He’s so funny and charming, and I love how he banters with Lucien. I’m hoping Pell will be a protagonist in one of the future books in the series because I would love to learn more about him, and I have a feeling his romance would be super swoon-worthy. And the aunts and their never-ending search for recipes are hysterical as always. They’re lovable and meddlesome and as clueless as they are discerning.
I also really like the inclusion of the Arthurian legend. However, I did think Lucien was too stubborn in his determination to find the book. His refusal to see that Meg isn’t the thief he thought she was got frustrating at times, as was his intense focus on retrieving the book, even when it was to the detriment of himself and others. It made sense, given his personality and analytical mind, but it still irked me. And the miscommunication and secret Meg kept from Lucien are not my favorite. Otherwise, it’s an enjoyable and sometimes steamy historical romance. Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
The first half of the story takes place mostly on the road, as Meg and her aunts are vacationing. It’s a fun road trip romance with Lucien chasing Meg across countries, determined to unmask the truth. Then, the setting becomes more stationary, as a bit of time has passed, and Meg and Lucien’s lives have changed. I have to say, I preferred the first half. I haven’t read many historical romances with a road trip, and it was a fun and unexpected backdrop for the story and for Meg and Lucien’s romance.
Meg and Lucien have a ton of chemistry, but so much stands in their way, including trust issues, miscommunication, mistaken identity, secrets, and more. Even though they don’t trust each other and there doesn’t seem to be a future for them, Meg and Lucien are drawn together over and over again. It’s interesting to see Lucien fight his feeling since he thinks Meg is a thief. But she proves difficult to resist. It’s also fun to see the inexperienced Meg try to flirt and entice Lucien, who is kind of clueless. Their interactions and conversations are comical and endearing and filled with angst and sexual tension.
Lucien’s cousin Pell is another fantastic character. He’s so funny and charming, and I love how he banters with Lucien. I’m hoping Pell will be a protagonist in one of the future books in the series because I would love to learn more about him, and I have a feeling his romance would be super swoon-worthy. And the aunts and their never-ending search for recipes are hysterical as always. They’re lovable and meddlesome and as clueless as they are discerning.
I also really like the inclusion of the Arthurian legend. However, I did think Lucien was too stubborn in his determination to find the book. His refusal to see that Meg isn’t the thief he thought she was got frustrating at times, as was his intense focus on retrieving the book, even when it was to the detriment of himself and others. It made sense, given his personality and analytical mind, but it still irked me. And the miscommunication and secret Meg kept from Lucien are not my favorite. Otherwise, it’s an enjoyable and sometimes steamy historical romance. Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
January 15, 2023
He was a rational man, always in complete control of his responses. Yet, for reasons that defied logic, her unexpected kiss had done something to him. Shaken him. Rattled him. Or perhaps even rearranged every cell in his body.
3.75 stars
This book has me so conflicted! On one hand, I LOVED the chemistry and banter between Lucien and Meg! Brainy yet slightly clueless heroes are my weakness in historical romances, and Lucien was such a brilliant yet socially awkward specimen. I loved how Meg understood and accepted Lucien's quirks, and their courtship was so swoony despite it being built on lies and distrust. However, one of my biggest pet peeves in romance is a long separation on-page between the two MCs, which happens here between Lucien and Meg. I don't mind a bit of a breakup separation because that usually leads to a great grovel, but I feel like the back-and-forth between them went on too long. Nonetheless, I really enjoyed the drama and angst towards the end and continue to look forward to more from Viv♡
Tropes: summer fling, brainy hero, spinster heroine, mistaken identity, surprise baby, misunderstanding/miscommunication, 2-year separation, will they/won't they, second chance romance, slight OM drama (no cheating), STEAMY🔥
*ARC provided by Netgalley, and I voluntarily reviewed it*
May 8, 2023
This was the fifth book of this series and it was a good read! I enjoyed Meg’s story and loved that the aunts (the Parrish sisters) were in this book! This book reads almost as 2 books, the first half is about Meg’s travels across the continent while getting to know Lucien. The second half takes place 2 years later! I did have my suspicions early on who the culprit and was surprised that the characters didn’t figure it out sooner. Overall it was a quick, fun read!
August 10, 2023
Tropes:
~hidden identity
~widower hero
~surprise pregnancy & also then secret child
~time hop of 2 years
~second chance
I love Lorret’s writing style but this ended up having multiple tropes that are my least favorite, so it just wasn’t the book for me. I wasn’t expecting the surprise pregnancy halfway through and then a 2 year time hop that made the second half of the book a second chance romance. But if someone likes those tropes, they’ll probably enjoy this!
~hidden identity
~widower hero
~surprise pregnancy & also then secret child
~time hop of 2 years
~second chance
I love Lorret’s writing style but this ended up having multiple tropes that are my least favorite, so it just wasn’t the book for me. I wasn’t expecting the surprise pregnancy halfway through and then a 2 year time hop that made the second half of the book a second chance romance. But if someone likes those tropes, they’ll probably enjoy this!
Want to read
July 7, 2022They really said CLINCH COVER and I respect that.
November 30, 2023
A Solid 3.45 Stars
I am a long-time fan of Vivienne Lorret's particular brand of historical romance, with Ten Kisses to Scandal being, bar none, one of my favourite romances of all time. That said, my one complaint that carries for almost all her books is that she never strikes the right tone or pace for the final act. This has been my gripe with all of The Mating Habits of Scoundrels series and unfortunately it remains the same here. It's a pretty emotionally turbulent story, and I really just wanted more follow-through or one big scene where everything is discussed and apologies are shared and a clear declaration of feelings is shared. Instead we get sort of a passive scene with some emotion but also a lot of jokes and everything is resolved too precipitously. And I love Lorret's quirky humor, but sometimes a scene needs to be without it and just needs emotionally fleshed out. Then again, this is probably more a symptom of Avon than anything else.
This may seem like I wasn't super happy with this book, but actually I really enjoyed it. It felt quite a bit outside Lorret's typical formula as story-arcs go, but with her familiarly odd-ball FMC and MMCs. Lucien and Meg were a great match in terms of intellect and chemistry. I loved that the first half of the book takes place on the Continent, and that there were lots of twists and turns that I genuinely didn't expect. There is a lot of humor, spice, and a hint of mystery that is well paced.
Definitely recommend this for someone wanting something light, fluffy, and silly but also lovely all at once. Generally that is Vivienne's MO, so dive in! I am kind of done with this series though... let's move on now lol
I am a long-time fan of Vivienne Lorret's particular brand of historical romance, with Ten Kisses to Scandal being, bar none, one of my favourite romances of all time. That said, my one complaint that carries for almost all her books is that she never strikes the right tone or pace for the final act. This has been my gripe with all of The Mating Habits of Scoundrels series and unfortunately it remains the same here. It's a pretty emotionally turbulent story, and I really just wanted more follow-through or one big scene where everything is discussed and apologies are shared and a clear declaration of feelings is shared. Instead we get sort of a passive scene with some emotion but also a lot of jokes and everything is resolved too precipitously. And I love Lorret's quirky humor, but sometimes a scene needs to be without it and just needs emotionally fleshed out. Then again, this is probably more a symptom of Avon than anything else.
This may seem like I wasn't super happy with this book, but actually I really enjoyed it. It felt quite a bit outside Lorret's typical formula as story-arcs go, but with her familiarly odd-ball FMC and MMCs. Lucien and Meg were a great match in terms of intellect and chemistry. I loved that the first half of the book takes place on the Continent, and that there were lots of twists and turns that I genuinely didn't expect. There is a lot of humor, spice, and a hint of mystery that is well paced.
Definitely recommend this for someone wanting something light, fluffy, and silly but also lovely all at once. Generally that is Vivienne's MO, so dive in! I am kind of done with this series though... let's move on now lol
January 27, 2023
Food for thought!
Well here’s a jolly romp from England over to France, Germany down the Rhine, then across the alps to Italy and then fleeing back to England, all to escape a maddened boulanger, whose recipes the aunts have filched. Margaret Stredwick has decided to take a holiday on the continent to get over her broken heart. Accompanied by her two madcap, recipe gathering aunts. Enroute they stop at the Duke of Merelton’s castle, Caliburn Keep. Supposedly said the aunts to view the gardens, in reality to steal recipes from the family recipe book reputedly to harken back to King Arthur. Of course things go amiss. Meg smacks into the Lucian Ambrose, the seventh Duke in a darkened corridor. He later thinks she’s a certain mysterious Lady Avalon who’s stolen the family book of recipes, and pursues her across Europe. All good fun, the whimsical bordering on the inane, in this enemies to lovers, rationalism vs romanticism trope. Although I must admit to being exasperated by both the Duke and Meg, and my goodness, by those cunningly, conniving aunts. Superlatives don’t do them and their light fingered ways with recipes any justice. I had already decided who the thief was way before it happened but not the depths of chilling planning involved, the madness of it all. Still an enjoyable read if one suspends any belief in the accuracy of the characters interactions.
An Avon and Harper Voyager ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
Well here’s a jolly romp from England over to France, Germany down the Rhine, then across the alps to Italy and then fleeing back to England, all to escape a maddened boulanger, whose recipes the aunts have filched. Margaret Stredwick has decided to take a holiday on the continent to get over her broken heart. Accompanied by her two madcap, recipe gathering aunts. Enroute they stop at the Duke of Merelton’s castle, Caliburn Keep. Supposedly said the aunts to view the gardens, in reality to steal recipes from the family recipe book reputedly to harken back to King Arthur. Of course things go amiss. Meg smacks into the Lucian Ambrose, the seventh Duke in a darkened corridor. He later thinks she’s a certain mysterious Lady Avalon who’s stolen the family book of recipes, and pursues her across Europe. All good fun, the whimsical bordering on the inane, in this enemies to lovers, rationalism vs romanticism trope. Although I must admit to being exasperated by both the Duke and Meg, and my goodness, by those cunningly, conniving aunts. Superlatives don’t do them and their light fingered ways with recipes any justice. I had already decided who the thief was way before it happened but not the depths of chilling planning involved, the madness of it all. Still an enjoyable read if one suspends any belief in the accuracy of the characters interactions.
An Avon and Harper Voyager ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
March 7, 2023
I reviewed this title for Fresh Fiction. My full review can be found at this link: https://freshfiction.com/review.php?i...
October 1, 2022
3 Stars!! This is the 5th book in ‘The Mating Habits of Scoundrels‘ series and can be read as a standalone book. This is the first book in said series that I’ve read. I wanted to love this but I couldn’t get past how all the problems they seemed to have was because of their lack of communication. The bad guy was kinda easy for me to pick out and I kept getting frustrated that nobody else seemed to notice. For such a smart guy, Lucien, the main male character, seemed to be kinda dumb, or oblivious. And Meg was getting on my last nerve with always keeping important information to herself. All in all an entertaining book that did tick me off enough to vent to my Mom about it. However I love when just reading a book stirs up emotions, good or bad.
*I received this at no charge & I voluntarily left this review.*
*I received this at no charge & I voluntarily left this review.*
December 23, 2022
I was so excited to see that Meg would be getting her own book, but sadly I didn't love this one. It started off really promising and the set up was very fun and interesting. Who doesn't love a hero with glasses?? Unfortunately, the book relied too heavily on miscommunications and lying by omission. I grew more and more frustrated as truths were withheld, but was still enjoying the back and forth banter between Meg and Lucien until I hit the 55% mark. At that point I nearly threw my kindle across the room. What occurs and the trope that's used might not bother other readers, but it's one of my least favorite. I was so incredibly angry and upset for (and at) Lucien for all that he missed. My frustration hit an all time high when Meg still refused to come clean with the biggest secret of all. The "twist" was heavily foreshadowed, making the final drama feel very over the top. I did enjoy seeing Brandon and Ellie again (my favorite couple of the series) and though the book was overall enjoyable, it missed the mark for me.
CW: murder of parents (past), death of loved ones (past), poisoning, theft
Tropes: road trip romance, opposites attract, mistaken identity, rivals/enemies to lovers, secret baby
*I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book*
CW: murder of parents (past), death of loved ones (past), poisoning, theft
Tropes: road trip romance, opposites attract, mistaken identity, rivals/enemies to lovers, secret baby
*I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book*
March 2, 2023
It comes down to this: you simply cannot build a good romance when one of the two leads spends the entire first 80% of the book believing the other lead stole something from them.
Anyway, this was just not for me. Not the book I thought I was getting, and just entirely too much. Also, the villain was so painfully obvious that it was irritating that no one else could see it. (On top of that, this is a story with heavy King Arthur elements and her name was Morgan. I was shocked, shocked I tell you.)
A disappointing end to a series I had enjoyed a lot to this point. I simply wanted more for Meg's story.
Anyway, this was just not for me. Not the book I thought I was getting, and just entirely too much. Also, the villain was so painfully obvious that it was irritating that no one else could see it. (On top of that, this is a story with heavy King Arthur elements and her name was Morgan. I was shocked, shocked I tell you.)
A disappointing end to a series I had enjoyed a lot to this point. I simply wanted more for Meg's story.
February 10, 2023
(3.5 Stars) I’ve been waiting for Meg’s story. Margaret Stredwick is the sister to the MMC in the third book of the series. She believed she was fated to marry her childhood neighbor and her hopes are dashed when he jilts her and marries another. She is only 22 ready to be away from the marriage mart. She takes a journey to the continent with two beloved matchmaking aunts. Before they leave England they tour the house of Lucien Ambrose, the Duke of Merleton. She gets separated from her aunts and ends up meeting the elusive Duke who is upset she is inside his home.
After meeting Meg, Lucien realizes a family treasure has gone missing. Thinking it must be Meg, he and his cousin set off to follow them to various stops on their continental tour. Meg knows she isn’t the thief but enjoys flirting with Lucian about the possibility of being a seducing stealer. Lucien's character is supposed to be very scientific. And I love that he wears spectacles. But he is rather clueless as to anything other than what he is sure is the only truth.
This book is a disappointingly a little bonkers. The first half is fun and I like both MCs. But a little over half way there is an almost two year time jump setting up a second chance for the two to be together. Again there are misunderstandings and miscommunications. Lucien is still hurling accusations but is drawn to Meg. She tells him that she has written to him many times and instead of returning to his estate to verify he chooses to stay to prove her a liar. (He spent the last two years out of the country.) I still like Meg and she is more than understanding of Lucien given all that has happened. But for a supposedly smart man Lucien can’t seem to see any possibility that isn’t his narrative. And that weakens him in my eyes as a hero. There is a lot of talk of King Arthur and you can guess the villain from the name alone.
I had high hopes for this book to be as good as the last few in the series but the storyline misses on a few marks. It is still entertaining and has delightful moments but some parts didn’t works as well for me. Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
After meeting Meg, Lucien realizes a family treasure has gone missing. Thinking it must be Meg, he and his cousin set off to follow them to various stops on their continental tour. Meg knows she isn’t the thief but enjoys flirting with Lucian about the possibility of being a seducing stealer. Lucien's character is supposed to be very scientific. And I love that he wears spectacles. But he is rather clueless as to anything other than what he is sure is the only truth.
This book is a disappointingly a little bonkers. The first half is fun and I like both MCs. But a little over half way there is an almost two year time jump setting up a second chance for the two to be together. Again there are misunderstandings and miscommunications. Lucien is still hurling accusations but is drawn to Meg. She tells him that she has written to him many times and instead of returning to his estate to verify he chooses to stay to prove her a liar. (He spent the last two years out of the country.) I still like Meg and she is more than understanding of Lucien given all that has happened. But for a supposedly smart man Lucien can’t seem to see any possibility that isn’t his narrative. And that weakens him in my eyes as a hero. There is a lot of talk of King Arthur and you can guess the villain from the name alone.
I had high hopes for this book to be as good as the last few in the series but the storyline misses on a few marks. It is still entertaining and has delightful moments but some parts didn’t works as well for me. Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 27, 2023
I think Vivienne writes some of the best characters. Not only do I like the hero & heroine, but I loved the Aunts & Lucian’s cousin, Pell. I actually wouldn’t mind a book about Pell. Good plot, too. I liked traveling with these characters & watching Lucian and Meg banter back & forth. Another thing Vivienne is good at…is sexual tension. Such a good story ♥️
dnf
February 19, 2025DNF at 23%
I’ll be honest, I don’t think I read the blurb past “spectacled, studious duke.” Didn’t get to the whole part about him suspecting she was a notorious thief — and certainly didn’t get to the last line that suggests she gets pregnant (nothing whatsoever in the book about that yet; they haven’t kissed or anything) (I genuinely didn’t know this was in the blurb until I went back mid-review to check something).
There’s also a zaniness with the aunts and the King Arthur and the legendary “magical” recipes that I’m bouncing off of.
I’ll be honest, I don’t think I read the blurb past “spectacled, studious duke.” Didn’t get to the whole part about him suspecting she was a notorious thief — and certainly didn’t get to the last line that suggests she gets pregnant (nothing whatsoever in the book about that yet; they haven’t kissed or anything) (I genuinely didn’t know this was in the blurb until I went back mid-review to check something).
There’s also a zaniness with the aunts and the King Arthur and the legendary “magical” recipes that I’m bouncing off of.
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March 8, 2023dnf @ 43%
I really wanted to enjoy this but sadly I have to give up. This book was difficult to read, there were multiple times throughout the book when I couldn't focus, my attention was wandering, and I would forget chunks of what I was reading. It didn't help that I wasn't invested in the characters or the plot. The plot wasn't as fun as I thought it would be and was quite boring. Our heroine Meg also felt flat, and I was confused why she was enamored with the Duke. Now the Duke? He was incredibly boring, stubborn, and a know it all. Maybe he's not my type of hero but I was getting to a point where I couldn't stand him.
I wish I could have enjoyed this more than I did but sadly I did not. I do want to give this author another try because I did like another book in this series.
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Thank you to the publisher for gifting me an advance reader copy. All thoughts are my own
I really wanted to enjoy this but sadly I have to give up. This book was difficult to read, there were multiple times throughout the book when I couldn't focus, my attention was wandering, and I would forget chunks of what I was reading. It didn't help that I wasn't invested in the characters or the plot. The plot wasn't as fun as I thought it would be and was quite boring. Our heroine Meg also felt flat, and I was confused why she was enamored with the Duke. Now the Duke? He was incredibly boring, stubborn, and a know it all. Maybe he's not my type of hero but I was getting to a point where I couldn't stand him.
I wish I could have enjoyed this more than I did but sadly I did not. I do want to give this author another try because I did like another book in this series.
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Thank you to the publisher for gifting me an advance reader copy. All thoughts are my own
February 21, 2023
Wild romp of a book. I've come to expect this from Lorret's books, and this one certainly didn't disappoint. Who knew I needed a thief hunt, fake seductress, holiday flirtation, secret baby, Arthurian legend romance? And somehow it works. I enjoyed the first half of the book, where they travel across Europe flirting and falling in love. But I *really* loved the second half of the book, where they're both coming together and learning how to be a family despite all the mistrust between them. Both characters read as neurodivergent to me, and they definitely struggled with their trust problems. Both naturally trust easily, but are very wary and uncertain of themselves because they've been hurt by this before. I despised the villain for using this to manipulate Meg and Lucien both, and my heart ached for them. I think my only real complaint was how obvious the villain was.
March 8, 2023
The magic word is recipes. The Parrish sisters collect recipes, even if they have to steal them. Visiting the home of the Duke of Merleton, Caliburn Keep, Meg Stredwick and the Parrish sisters search for recipes down in the kitchen. At the same time, someone steals the family's most prized possession, a cookbook hundreds of years old, illuminated with gold and encrusted with precious gems. Accusations that Meg is the thief known as Lady Avalon, and a trip through the continent, bring the duke and Meg to a night of passion. But the book stands between. An enemies to lovers romance that turns into flames and a long, weary journey of the duke's constant accusations against Meg.
Heat level 3.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.
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Heat level 3.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.
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February 14, 2023
I’ve been waiting for Meg’s story for awhile and it did not disappoint! I really thought I had this story figured out but that last 20% of the book had a number of twist and turns I didn’t see coming.
Meg is getting over a heartbreak by going on a grand adventure with her favorite aunts. Before they leave England they visit the home of a very anti-social Duke. There seems to be a spark when Meg and Lucian meet but Lucian only goes after Meg thinking she stole something from him. Meg let’s him think that to get more time from him.
However, Meg seems to get more than she bargained for and her adventure sets both on a very different course.
Meg is getting over a heartbreak by going on a grand adventure with her favorite aunts. Before they leave England they visit the home of a very anti-social Duke. There seems to be a spark when Meg and Lucian meet but Lucian only goes after Meg thinking she stole something from him. Meg let’s him think that to get more time from him.
However, Meg seems to get more than she bargained for and her adventure sets both on a very different course.
March 13, 2023
Vivienne Lorret's The Mating Habit's of Scoundrels series has been one that I have absolutely adored. Never Seduce a Duke is the fifth installment in this series and this one took me for a ride and I was definitely invested throughout and loved the little twist in the middle which left me a bit shocked. Lorret's writing is fun, well paced and accessible. Her characters are interesting and relatable. If you are looking to check out Lorret's writing I think this is a really fun place to start and this book can definitely be read as a standalone.
Our heroine Meg, has been jilted for the last time, and she decides to let herself take her own happiness into her own hands. I love that we see Meg decide to make the best out of her situation. She embraces her more bold and flirtatious side with joyful abandon, and I absolutely adore her for this. The hero, Lucien is a bespectacled and studious and quickly endears himself to me. These two might start out with a little misunderstanding around the thief of his family heirloom, but they soon can't keep their hands off each other. Lorret really builds their chemistry and relationship through charming and fun interactions. I loved watching these two fall in love with each other. Their physical relationship is sensual and sexy and really shows the depth of their feelings and how quickly they sparked. I love that together these two really seem to balance each other out and as they learn to work past misunderstandings it can be seen that a strong root will hold them together. This novel has some fun and intrigue which I will not allude to so you can enjoy the excitement on your own.
I would highly recommend this novel, I really enjoyed everyone moment and I loved our hero and heroine to pieces! Vivienne Lorret is a must read author for me and you will not be disappointed!
Thank you so much to Avon Books and NetGalley for an eARC, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Our heroine Meg, has been jilted for the last time, and she decides to let herself take her own happiness into her own hands. I love that we see Meg decide to make the best out of her situation. She embraces her more bold and flirtatious side with joyful abandon, and I absolutely adore her for this. The hero, Lucien is a bespectacled and studious and quickly endears himself to me. These two might start out with a little misunderstanding around the thief of his family heirloom, but they soon can't keep their hands off each other. Lorret really builds their chemistry and relationship through charming and fun interactions. I loved watching these two fall in love with each other. Their physical relationship is sensual and sexy and really shows the depth of their feelings and how quickly they sparked. I love that together these two really seem to balance each other out and as they learn to work past misunderstandings it can be seen that a strong root will hold them together. This novel has some fun and intrigue which I will not allude to so you can enjoy the excitement on your own.
I would highly recommend this novel, I really enjoyed everyone moment and I loved our hero and heroine to pieces! Vivienne Lorret is a must read author for me and you will not be disappointed!
Thank you so much to Avon Books and NetGalley for an eARC, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
March 29, 2023
This was a fun book to read for sure. VL can be a hit or miss for me at times, but this is one of my cat nip tropes, so I was all in! There were some funny moments with mr. serious man of science and ms. pretending to be a mysterious woman to get her man. This can easily be read as a standalone.
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