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Love from London #2
Lord Salisbury's Ledgers on How to Woo a Wife
England, 1825.
A man whose head has never been turned…
The Marquess of Salisbury loves women. After all, they’re pleasing to look at, they smell nice, and most of them raptly agree with everything he has to say…Why in the name of chilled syllabub would Percy be in a hurry to choose one and settle down?
A lady who desires the power to choose…
Miss Adelaide Warrington didn’t want to be put in charge, but now that she is, she certainly isn’t going to flippantly hand the responsibility over to the first high-handed Lord who walks through the door… Especially when said Lord seems very used to getting his own way.
If she just wouldn’t make it so difficult to woo her…
If he would just stop trying to make so many changes…
Thrust together under unwanted circumstances, Percy and Adelaide must decide whether true love is worth surmounting the obstacles threatening to keep them apart.
Lord Salisbury’s Ledgers on How to Woo a Wife is a clean, inter-connected stand-alone regency romance with suspense and humor. If you like strong women, fast-paced action, slow burn romance, ridiculous gifts, and happily-ever-afters, then you’ll love this romantic comedy romance!
A man whose head has never been turned…
The Marquess of Salisbury loves women. After all, they’re pleasing to look at, they smell nice, and most of them raptly agree with everything he has to say…Why in the name of chilled syllabub would Percy be in a hurry to choose one and settle down?
A lady who desires the power to choose…
Miss Adelaide Warrington didn’t want to be put in charge, but now that she is, she certainly isn’t going to flippantly hand the responsibility over to the first high-handed Lord who walks through the door… Especially when said Lord seems very used to getting his own way.
If she just wouldn’t make it so difficult to woo her…
If he would just stop trying to make so many changes…
Thrust together under unwanted circumstances, Percy and Adelaide must decide whether true love is worth surmounting the obstacles threatening to keep them apart.
Lord Salisbury’s Ledgers on How to Woo a Wife is a clean, inter-connected stand-alone regency romance with suspense and humor. If you like strong women, fast-paced action, slow burn romance, ridiculous gifts, and happily-ever-afters, then you’ll love this romantic comedy romance!
346 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 12, 2022
About the author
Jill M. Beene
18 books227 followersBe sure to follow me on Goodreads to get every update! I live in sunny California with my handsome husband and my slobbery English Mastiff, Rupert. I've always loved stories and wanted to write novels. When I'm not getting words on the page, I'm walking my dog or cooking something (hopefully) delicious. Feel free to ask me a question or connect with me here, but you can also find me on Instagram or my website, JillMBeene.com. I so appreciate my readers! Thank you!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 120 reviews
March 4, 2023
I only managed to get to 74% before I got too fed up with this. The miscommunication trope is so annoying and I didn't understand the Lord Salisburys plan at all. It was BS. Then somehow addie gets the idea in her head that the guy is engaged, even though his sisters said it wasn't possible. Literally everyone in this book was telling these 2 people that they're in love with each other and yet these 2 people are so in their head that they don't believe it. If that's your thing, this book is for you.
October 27, 2025
Jill is the queen of banter and humor with her beautiful characters and stories!
March 2, 2026
⭐️ 2.5 stars ⭐️
I enjoyed about 60-70% of this book. The last % truly didn’t need to exist.
The amount of miscommunication was beyond aggravating—back and forth miscommunications until, by the time they actually had a forthright conversation, I just didn’t care anymore. Addie went from compelling to just plain stupid. Percy went from swoony hero to buffoon.
Of course, it didn’t stop there. After the miscommunication is *finally* solved, we get an extremely convoluted plot thread surrounding the villain (which kinda comes out of nowhere). We are ~told~ of his reasonings for evolving into this insane antagonist, but we aren’t really ~shown~. The whole thing ends up feeling a bit ridiculous, unbelievable, and like a desperate attempt to extend the page count.
This book could’ve been one of my favorites with some thorough editing. For instance, I’m not really sure she needed to have so many sisters—two of them were hardly present, and it made it really hard to keep track of who’s who (not to mention all the suitors!). The villain plot was superfluous and should’ve been cut or moved up. The constant straining to have a miscommunication made both the leads sound like idiots.
Idk, I get extra frustrated by a book that had incredible potential but ended up ruining itself.
EDIT: Forgot to mention that there were *several* times where Addie mentioned Percy picking her up like she weighed no more than a child. Sorry, but I can’t root for your relationship when you’re constantly referencing being a child during romantic moments 🥴
I enjoyed about 60-70% of this book. The last % truly didn’t need to exist.
The amount of miscommunication was beyond aggravating—back and forth miscommunications until, by the time they actually had a forthright conversation, I just didn’t care anymore. Addie went from compelling to just plain stupid. Percy went from swoony hero to buffoon.
Of course, it didn’t stop there. After the miscommunication is *finally* solved, we get an extremely convoluted plot thread surrounding the villain (which kinda comes out of nowhere). We are ~told~ of his reasonings for evolving into this insane antagonist, but we aren’t really ~shown~. The whole thing ends up feeling a bit ridiculous, unbelievable, and like a desperate attempt to extend the page count.
This book could’ve been one of my favorites with some thorough editing. For instance, I’m not really sure she needed to have so many sisters—two of them were hardly present, and it made it really hard to keep track of who’s who (not to mention all the suitors!). The villain plot was superfluous and should’ve been cut or moved up. The constant straining to have a miscommunication made both the leads sound like idiots.
Idk, I get extra frustrated by a book that had incredible potential but ended up ruining itself.
EDIT: Forgot to mention that there were *several* times where Addie mentioned Percy picking her up like she weighed no more than a child. Sorry, but I can’t root for your relationship when you’re constantly referencing being a child during romantic moments 🥴
March 3, 2026
LOVED this book just as much as Mr. Pickwicks!
March 6, 2023
As before, Beene writes the best dialogue and banter! Another set of intriguing characters.
Adelaide is the oldest of 5 sisters. They are all beautiful and charming (this being a Romance). Their odious cousin has inherited the estate and is now in the process of having them thrown out of their cottage because Adelaide refuses to marry him. We don’t blame her. But wait! A Marquess has bought their cottage and land without knowing much about it because the offer was so good. Well, surprise! Percy arrives at the cottage and finds it inhabited! So what does he do? Instead of throwing them out, he essentially adopts them and promises them that they will be presented in society so that they can marry. That’s 5 young ladies. So, ok, this is romance and it’s a relief to see these nice girls saved. This is one of the plot points that are a bit fairy tale even for Regency.
Percy manages to stay real because he’s well drawn and likeable even though he makes mistakes. But then he discovers emeralds in the fields! Now there have never been emeralds mined in England, and let’s face it, this is a bit over the top as plot. But the author doesn’t dwell on it, and it makes Percy’s generosity a bit more understandable. His handling of it is very believable and I had to appreciate his competence.
So the essence of the story is the romance of Adelaide and Percy which is very enjoyable. Addie stresses a lot, but at 20 with 4 sisters to look after, who can blame her? Percy is a force of nature who loves to laugh and who is smitten by Addie.
The villain is very black. Perhaps he has an opium addiction because he is extremely impulsive, or becomes so over time. Still the characters and their interactions are so much fun and so believable that I was entranced. I’m very much looking forward to the story of Candace, one of Percy’s sisters.
Note to author: carriages typically would have two to four horses. 8 horses would pull something extremely heavy. Regency readers can be nit picky (who me?) about accuracy. Just saying.
Adelaide is the oldest of 5 sisters. They are all beautiful and charming (this being a Romance). Their odious cousin has inherited the estate and is now in the process of having them thrown out of their cottage because Adelaide refuses to marry him. We don’t blame her. But wait! A Marquess has bought their cottage and land without knowing much about it because the offer was so good. Well, surprise! Percy arrives at the cottage and finds it inhabited! So what does he do? Instead of throwing them out, he essentially adopts them and promises them that they will be presented in society so that they can marry. That’s 5 young ladies. So, ok, this is romance and it’s a relief to see these nice girls saved. This is one of the plot points that are a bit fairy tale even for Regency.
Percy manages to stay real because he’s well drawn and likeable even though he makes mistakes. But then he discovers emeralds in the fields! Now there have never been emeralds mined in England, and let’s face it, this is a bit over the top as plot. But the author doesn’t dwell on it, and it makes Percy’s generosity a bit more understandable. His handling of it is very believable and I had to appreciate his competence.
So the essence of the story is the romance of Adelaide and Percy which is very enjoyable. Addie stresses a lot, but at 20 with 4 sisters to look after, who can blame her? Percy is a force of nature who loves to laugh and who is smitten by Addie.
The villain is very black. Perhaps he has an opium addiction because he is extremely impulsive, or becomes so over time. Still the characters and their interactions are so much fun and so believable that I was entranced. I’m very much looking forward to the story of Candace, one of Percy’s sisters.
Note to author: carriages typically would have two to four horses. 8 horses would pull something extremely heavy. Regency readers can be nit picky (who me?) about accuracy. Just saying.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 15, 2023
started out promising
A spunky heroine and a likable hero who saves the heroine and her sisters from poverty. Unfortunately the story turned ridiculous (an emerald mine in a England), no research into the period (6 year old at the dinner table with guests, first name bases after just having met) and so so boring.
A spunky heroine and a likable hero who saves the heroine and her sisters from poverty. Unfortunately the story turned ridiculous (an emerald mine in a England), no research into the period (6 year old at the dinner table with guests, first name bases after just having met) and so so boring.
January 6, 2026
Another unique book in this series. I loved it! It was a different twist on a Regency novel and extremely enjoyable!
Amazon synopsis:
England, 1825.
A man whose head has never been turned…
The Marquess of Salisbury loves women. After all, they’re pleasing to look at, they smell nice, and most of them raptly agree with everything he has to say…Why in the name of chilled syllabub would Percy be in a hurry to choose one and settle down?
A lady who desires the power to choose…
Miss Adelaide Warrington didn’t want to be put in charge, but now that she is, she certainly isn’t going to flippantly hand the responsibility over to the first high-handed Lord who walks through the door… Especially when said Lord seems very used to getting his own way.
If she just wouldn’t make it so difficult to woo her…
If he would just stop trying to make so many changes…
Thrust together under unwanted circumstances, Percy and Adelaide must decide whether true love is worth surmounting the obstacles threatening to keep them apart.
Lord Salisbury’s Ledgers on How to Woo a Wife is a clean, inter-connected stand-alone regency romance with suspense and humor. If you like strong women, fast-paced action, slow burn romance, ridiculous gifts, and happily-ever-afters, then you’ll love this romantic comedy romance!
Amazon synopsis:
England, 1825.
A man whose head has never been turned…
The Marquess of Salisbury loves women. After all, they’re pleasing to look at, they smell nice, and most of them raptly agree with everything he has to say…Why in the name of chilled syllabub would Percy be in a hurry to choose one and settle down?
A lady who desires the power to choose…
Miss Adelaide Warrington didn’t want to be put in charge, but now that she is, she certainly isn’t going to flippantly hand the responsibility over to the first high-handed Lord who walks through the door… Especially when said Lord seems very used to getting his own way.
If she just wouldn’t make it so difficult to woo her…
If he would just stop trying to make so many changes…
Thrust together under unwanted circumstances, Percy and Adelaide must decide whether true love is worth surmounting the obstacles threatening to keep them apart.
Lord Salisbury’s Ledgers on How to Woo a Wife is a clean, inter-connected stand-alone regency romance with suspense and humor. If you like strong women, fast-paced action, slow burn romance, ridiculous gifts, and happily-ever-afters, then you’ll love this romantic comedy romance!
March 2, 2024
3.5 stars
This was a cute and fluffy romance that I enjoyed. I found it randomly and had to have it right away bc Regency romance is 1 of my favorite subgenres.
I didn't love some things like how modern the characters sounded sometimes, repetitive word usage ("arched an eyebrow", "frowned", "winced", "blushed", "felt as if"), and plot points. For the writing, some good editing is needed. Characters don't have much depth to them, and I couldn't tell any of the other female characters apart. The repetitive words were distracting, and the way the characters jumped to first-name basis was dizzying.
I also didn't love the romance. Slow-burn to me is when characters take a long time to realize they have feelings for each other. These two were head over heels in the first few chapters but didn't get together until near the end. Them revealing their feelings to the other person was also not a big event which I wanted.
The climax was so ironically anticlimactic. Spoiler: she was kidnapped by the antagonist, her wrists bound, and he was going to force her to marry him so he could steal her dowry. Literally the next scene is her love interest finding her stumbling out of the carriage where she was being held, a brick in her hand, and the kidnapper ALREADY unconscious. Like... what a blue-balls moment!! I wanted to see her take matters into her own hands and rescue herself!! Instead, the focus was placed on her and Percy's interactions afterwards.
It wasn't a bad book by any means, but I think it could've been so much better. I wanted some unique storylines; this felt too much like a carbon copy of Pride and Prejudice and Bridgerton. The concept was interesting, but execution needs some work. I wouldn't say no to picking up another one of Beene's work, considering there's one published before this in the same world, but I'm hoping she gets better and better with future books.
This was a cute and fluffy romance that I enjoyed. I found it randomly and had to have it right away bc Regency romance is 1 of my favorite subgenres.
I didn't love some things like how modern the characters sounded sometimes, repetitive word usage ("arched an eyebrow", "frowned", "winced", "blushed", "felt as if"), and plot points. For the writing, some good editing is needed. Characters don't have much depth to them, and I couldn't tell any of the other female characters apart. The repetitive words were distracting, and the way the characters jumped to first-name basis was dizzying.
I also didn't love the romance. Slow-burn to me is when characters take a long time to realize they have feelings for each other. These two were head over heels in the first few chapters but didn't get together until near the end. Them revealing their feelings to the other person was also not a big event which I wanted.
The climax was so ironically anticlimactic. Spoiler: she was kidnapped by the antagonist, her wrists bound, and he was going to force her to marry him so he could steal her dowry. Literally the next scene is her love interest finding her stumbling out of the carriage where she was being held, a brick in her hand, and the kidnapper ALREADY unconscious. Like... what a blue-balls moment!! I wanted to see her take matters into her own hands and rescue herself!! Instead, the focus was placed on her and Percy's interactions afterwards.
It wasn't a bad book by any means, but I think it could've been so much better. I wanted some unique storylines; this felt too much like a carbon copy of Pride and Prejudice and Bridgerton. The concept was interesting, but execution needs some work. I wouldn't say no to picking up another one of Beene's work, considering there's one published before this in the same world, but I'm hoping she gets better and better with future books.
Did Not Finish
November 4, 2025DNF 8%
I stopped right after this quote at 8%
“An image popped into his mind, one of Adelaide with her chestnut curls strewn across the pillows in the great bed in his Devon manor. It was early morning, and she was smiling at him just like that, and reaching up for another kiss. Percy shook his head to clear it of the thoughts and took a step back. Not that the small distance helped, of course. Now that the image had popped into his mind, it was very difficult to shake. In fact, his imagination quickly went to work on filling in what she might look like in such a situation from the neck down. “
So shallow. Percy hadn’t even known Adelaide for a full day, I’m not going to waste my time reading further.
I stopped right after this quote at 8%
“An image popped into his mind, one of Adelaide with her chestnut curls strewn across the pillows in the great bed in his Devon manor. It was early morning, and she was smiling at him just like that, and reaching up for another kiss. Percy shook his head to clear it of the thoughts and took a step back. Not that the small distance helped, of course. Now that the image had popped into his mind, it was very difficult to shake. In fact, his imagination quickly went to work on filling in what she might look like in such a situation from the neck down. “
So shallow. Percy hadn’t even known Adelaide for a full day, I’m not going to waste my time reading further.
August 11, 2023
I loved it!
This was a lovely story. It was different and had plenty of twists in the plot to make it interesting. Great characters! I’m hooked and looking forward to the next installment in the series!
Rating: G, clean
This was a lovely story. It was different and had plenty of twists in the plot to make it interesting. Great characters! I’m hooked and looking forward to the next installment in the series!
Rating: G, clean
February 7, 2026
Another fun, regency read.
I loved reading Percy’s story! Jill writes such fun characters and does an amazing job at writing a beautiful love story with just the right amount of drama. Can’t wait to read the next one!
I loved reading Percy’s story! Jill writes such fun characters and does an amazing job at writing a beautiful love story with just the right amount of drama. Can’t wait to read the next one!
July 30, 2025
Just as great as the first! I was laughing, smiling and kicking my feet!
February 22, 2026
Just felt a bit bored with this one. it just seemed to go on and on. It was an okay story but The install Love at the beginning was silly to me. Then they were kept apart most of the book:(
July 4, 2023
I've liked a couple books by this author in the past. This one fell flat for me. There are several tropes in this book that rub me the wrong way.
This rag to riches story was a shallow one. The boy gives the girl more than she could ever imagine. She pretends to be upset for a minute about not being consulted. The boy is smitten. The girl falls in love. Then she decides he loves someone else but continues to spend his money and feel "trapped". Things dragged on and on and then, wedding.
A real turn off for me is complaining about corsets. Corsets are equivalent to bras and you don't see every contemporary novel complaining about bras. I'm so sick of this same conversation in too many historic romances. Stop.
This rag to riches story was a shallow one. The boy gives the girl more than she could ever imagine. She pretends to be upset for a minute about not being consulted. The boy is smitten. The girl falls in love. Then she decides he loves someone else but continues to spend his money and feel "trapped". Things dragged on and on and then, wedding.
A real turn off for me is complaining about corsets. Corsets are equivalent to bras and you don't see every contemporary novel complaining about bras. I'm so sick of this same conversation in too many historic romances. Stop.
December 17, 2022
A delightful and lovely romance
I started reading this book last night and had to force myself to stop reading to get any sleep at all. It is now early evening the next day, and I am both happy and sad. Happy, because I really enjoyed this book. Sad, because I finished it already.
Adelaide is strong, independent, graceful, kind, loving, and scared. She is the oldest of five sisters, who lost their parents years earlier, and were under the "protection" of their distant cousin, Marbory, the current Viscount of Hartgate. The cousin is foul and indecent, and in an attempt to punish Adelaide and her sisters, he accidentally sends them the help, protection, security, and love they had been missing for the last few years.
Percy is an honorable gentleman, and he instantly recognizes that Marbory had hoped to ruin the sisters with a dastardly deal. Percy is instantly taken with Adelaide because even though she is scared, she is strong, fierce, and brilliant. He comes up with a plan to woo her, and it is nearly toppled by misunderstandings from both Percy and Adelaide.
The whole story is a delightful journey. It has laughter, frustration, revelations, conflict, and most importantly, love. We are even reintroduced to Edward and Eleanor, as well as other characters from 'Mr. Pickwick's Guide..", as the books are interconnected.
There will be more stories to come from this enjoyably engaging series, as hinted at the end of this book, and I most assuredly look forward to them.
I started reading this book last night and had to force myself to stop reading to get any sleep at all. It is now early evening the next day, and I am both happy and sad. Happy, because I really enjoyed this book. Sad, because I finished it already.
Adelaide is strong, independent, graceful, kind, loving, and scared. She is the oldest of five sisters, who lost their parents years earlier, and were under the "protection" of their distant cousin, Marbory, the current Viscount of Hartgate. The cousin is foul and indecent, and in an attempt to punish Adelaide and her sisters, he accidentally sends them the help, protection, security, and love they had been missing for the last few years.
Percy is an honorable gentleman, and he instantly recognizes that Marbory had hoped to ruin the sisters with a dastardly deal. Percy is instantly taken with Adelaide because even though she is scared, she is strong, fierce, and brilliant. He comes up with a plan to woo her, and it is nearly toppled by misunderstandings from both Percy and Adelaide.
The whole story is a delightful journey. It has laughter, frustration, revelations, conflict, and most importantly, love. We are even reintroduced to Edward and Eleanor, as well as other characters from 'Mr. Pickwick's Guide..", as the books are interconnected.
There will be more stories to come from this enjoyably engaging series, as hinted at the end of this book, and I most assuredly look forward to them.
April 28, 2026
Because I so enjoyed the first book in this series, I immediately started reading the second. It is just as delightful. In the last story, Percy plays second fiddle to the Duke of Devonshire. In this one, Percy shows his stuff, and Edward (the Duke of Devonshire) aids him in his quest for a marriage partner.
The villain of the story sells a farm to Percy for less than its value because he assumes that Percy will tell the five women living there to move to the streets because he owns the property now. However, Percy doesn't. He's immediately captivated by the eldest daughter, Miss Adelaide Warrington, who has been managing the family's finances since the death of her father and stepmother. They are nearly destitute, and Adelaide fears Percy. However, he decides to move the ladies to London, where three of them are old enough to marry. Percy foots the bill for all the clothing, lessons, and governesses.
One thing Percy is aware of is the impropriety of his speaking for the eldest daughter while he is the acting guardian for the young ladies under his roof. Therefore, he convinces the Duke of Devonshire and his wife to sponsor the ladies, so he can woo Adelaide. This is a fun story with lots of banter. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Usually, I do not read two consecutive stories together, because I become weary of the overlap. But not with these two stories. Delightful.
Love from London – Total of 6
1. Mr. Pickwick's Guide to Marriageable Young Ladies (2020)
** 2. Lord Salisbury's Ledgers on How to Woo a Wife (2022)
3. Lady Waldrey's Gardening Almanac for Cultivating Scandal (2025)
The villain of the story sells a farm to Percy for less than its value because he assumes that Percy will tell the five women living there to move to the streets because he owns the property now. However, Percy doesn't. He's immediately captivated by the eldest daughter, Miss Adelaide Warrington, who has been managing the family's finances since the death of her father and stepmother. They are nearly destitute, and Adelaide fears Percy. However, he decides to move the ladies to London, where three of them are old enough to marry. Percy foots the bill for all the clothing, lessons, and governesses.
One thing Percy is aware of is the impropriety of his speaking for the eldest daughter while he is the acting guardian for the young ladies under his roof. Therefore, he convinces the Duke of Devonshire and his wife to sponsor the ladies, so he can woo Adelaide. This is a fun story with lots of banter. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Usually, I do not read two consecutive stories together, because I become weary of the overlap. But not with these two stories. Delightful.
Love from London – Total of 6
1. Mr. Pickwick's Guide to Marriageable Young Ladies (2020)
** 2. Lord Salisbury's Ledgers on How to Woo a Wife (2022)
3. Lady Waldrey's Gardening Almanac for Cultivating Scandal (2025)
May 2, 2026
📚✨ BOOK REVIEW ✨📚
Title: Lord Salisbury’s Ledgers on How to Woo a Wife
Series: Love from London, Book 2
Author: Jill M. Beene
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📝 My Thoughts: Witty, Wise, and Wooing
This story is a total delight! We follow Adelaide, a farm girl turned marchioness who is trying to save her family, and Percy, a hero who is absolutely desperate to prove he is worth the trouble. The vibe is pure Regency charm mixed with high stakes. It is a sweet, lighthearted escape that keeps the pages turning.
💖 Why I Loved It:
The banter between Addie and Percy is absolutely adorable! I also really enjoyed getting to know all the new characters introduced in this installment. They added so much life to the story, and I am already crossing my fingers that we get to read their individual stories in the future.
While I was secretly hoping to see Duchess Eleanore pregnant in this one, she is not but there is still so much to love about the dynamics in this book.
🔖 Favorite Quote:
"You and I have both experienced things that many in society will not. We both have experienced poverty and now, plenty. In the years to come, do not lose that perspective, no matter how many jewels you own." (Duchess Eleanore to Adelaide)
📌 Final Verdict:
If you love witty Regency romance with great character growth and a dash of modern flair, you are going to have a great time with this one! It is a strong recommendation for anyone who wants a reliably enjoyable, charming read.
#Bookstagram #BookReview #RegencyRomance #JillMBeene #HistRom #EnemiesToLovers #ReadingCommunity #BookishLife #RomanceReaders #Bibliophile #NewRelease #HistoricalFiction
Title: Lord Salisbury’s Ledgers on How to Woo a Wife
Series: Love from London, Book 2
Author: Jill M. Beene
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📝 My Thoughts: Witty, Wise, and Wooing
This story is a total delight! We follow Adelaide, a farm girl turned marchioness who is trying to save her family, and Percy, a hero who is absolutely desperate to prove he is worth the trouble. The vibe is pure Regency charm mixed with high stakes. It is a sweet, lighthearted escape that keeps the pages turning.
💖 Why I Loved It:
The banter between Addie and Percy is absolutely adorable! I also really enjoyed getting to know all the new characters introduced in this installment. They added so much life to the story, and I am already crossing my fingers that we get to read their individual stories in the future.
While I was secretly hoping to see Duchess Eleanore pregnant in this one, she is not but there is still so much to love about the dynamics in this book.
🔖 Favorite Quote:
"You and I have both experienced things that many in society will not. We both have experienced poverty and now, plenty. In the years to come, do not lose that perspective, no matter how many jewels you own." (Duchess Eleanore to Adelaide)
📌 Final Verdict:
If you love witty Regency romance with great character growth and a dash of modern flair, you are going to have a great time with this one! It is a strong recommendation for anyone who wants a reliably enjoyable, charming read.
#Bookstagram #BookReview #RegencyRomance #JillMBeene #HistRom #EnemiesToLovers #ReadingCommunity #BookishLife #RomanceReaders #Bibliophile #NewRelease #HistoricalFiction
May 3, 2026
Well...that could have gone better. This is the story of a -too good to be true- aristocrat (this IS a romance after all, who inherits a property that has 5 sisters still living on it. The seller is the dastardly cousin who hopes to kill to two birds with one stone. He wants the sisters thrown off the property (his own cousins!) and to sell a worthless property to his dreaded enemy as a needle in his side. Things don't work out for our villain when the Lord takes an interest in the eldest sister Addie, and takes the sisters under his wing. That was only the first in preposterous scenarios that seemed to pile up and take away the enjoyment of the story. This is too bad because I liked both main characters very much but the improbabilities of the story were just TOO much. The emeralds just laying around on the property was just an unnecessary detail to swallow. I get that the author wanted to jab back at the villain by making the worthless property somehow worthy but....really? There were too many hard to swallow events like how instantly the sisters were taken on by a stranger. Not just provided for (money was no object here) but the total family immersion. Too bad because I wanted to like this better but the tropes got in the way.
May 22, 2023
Uhg, I wrote a long review then Goodreads crashed and didn’t save it… so here’s a quick recap
I really liked this one.. it was witty and the characters stayed true to themselves throughout the book- there were a couple miscommunications throughout the story, but they didn’t last long. This is one thing I don’t like to hold the story when I read books- but this book was ok with it. It’s still not my favorite to read about the thoughts of the miscommunication over and over, but in this case it was overcome within a few chapters and then there was still a good portion of the book left to enjoy the closeness of the main characters. There are also a lot of other fun courting and connections happening with the other characters that lends to a fun read
I would rate this (in my standards) a pg 18 as there is reference to an almost rape, has a few swear words in it, and some witty insinuating flirtatious remarks
I do want to read about Candace next! And I didn’t read the first book about the Duke and Duchess, so I’ll be going back to read that one
I really liked this one.. it was witty and the characters stayed true to themselves throughout the book- there were a couple miscommunications throughout the story, but they didn’t last long. This is one thing I don’t like to hold the story when I read books- but this book was ok with it. It’s still not my favorite to read about the thoughts of the miscommunication over and over, but in this case it was overcome within a few chapters and then there was still a good portion of the book left to enjoy the closeness of the main characters. There are also a lot of other fun courting and connections happening with the other characters that lends to a fun read
I would rate this (in my standards) a pg 18 as there is reference to an almost rape, has a few swear words in it, and some witty insinuating flirtatious remarks
I do want to read about Candace next! And I didn’t read the first book about the Duke and Duchess, so I’ll be going back to read that one
July 26, 2023
a little too modern in its melodrama
I should like to damn this with faint praise, but find I'm not up to the task of wittily shredding it.
It is reasonably standard stock regency fair, and likeable enough.
The most aggravating thing about this book was the modern sensibilities that snuck in.
A young miss gets rescued from genteel poverty by a wealthy benefactor under no obligation to her or her family and is more resentful than grateful?
unlikely!
A miss who then snaps at him for the attempts to secure her comfort and provide for her sisters?
hmm
maybe reread Jane Austen for a lesson on the sort of attitude nicely brought up young girls demonstrated?
and the things they would and wouldn't say.
I ended up giving up at 20% because of the heroine, but if I hadn't just come off a glorious novel from Mariana Zapata then I could've finished it more comfortably.
As it is, I'm going to leave this and spend my time on search for a new book, or reread any of Loretta Chases books!
good effort but some more research required please
I should like to damn this with faint praise, but find I'm not up to the task of wittily shredding it.
It is reasonably standard stock regency fair, and likeable enough.
The most aggravating thing about this book was the modern sensibilities that snuck in.
A young miss gets rescued from genteel poverty by a wealthy benefactor under no obligation to her or her family and is more resentful than grateful?
unlikely!
A miss who then snaps at him for the attempts to secure her comfort and provide for her sisters?
hmm
maybe reread Jane Austen for a lesson on the sort of attitude nicely brought up young girls demonstrated?
and the things they would and wouldn't say.
I ended up giving up at 20% because of the heroine, but if I hadn't just come off a glorious novel from Mariana Zapata then I could've finished it more comfortably.
As it is, I'm going to leave this and spend my time on search for a new book, or reread any of Loretta Chases books!
good effort but some more research required please
August 28, 2025
Contain SPOILERS.
TAGS: Dual POV, clean, regency, debutant, first season, sponsored, nobles, destitute ladies, love at first sight, letters, what is the opposite of ''forced proximity''?, marriage mart, splurging on dress
It is a well written book, it just it feels a bit... too easy. What I mean is the MMC is a deus ex machine galore. With all the ''you must know the person before making your mind to marry them'' in the book, their romance seem to lack deeper connection. He fell first and hard, it took him 2 days to decide he wanted her as wife and he just up and leave to give her time for her to know him through letters. There is so much you can do with this plot line and the story suffered for it. I prefer a good old story of chance meetings to get to see the MCs interact together and slowly fall for each other.
I still gave it 3 stars because it is well written and is cute.
TAGS: Dual POV, clean, regency, debutant, first season, sponsored, nobles, destitute ladies, love at first sight, letters, what is the opposite of ''forced proximity''?, marriage mart, splurging on dress
It is a well written book, it just it feels a bit... too easy. What I mean is the MMC is a deus ex machine galore. With all the ''you must know the person before making your mind to marry them'' in the book, their romance seem to lack deeper connection. He fell first and hard, it took him 2 days to decide he wanted her as wife and he just up and leave to give her time for her to know him through letters. There is so much you can do with this plot line and the story suffered for it. I prefer a good old story of chance meetings to get to see the MCs interact together and slowly fall for each other.
I still gave it 3 stars because it is well written and is cute.
September 20, 2025
Adored!
I absolutely loved this book! It was the sweetest friends to lovers that I’ve read in a while. I LOVE the way that Jill Beene writes her heroines. They are absolutely loveable- sweet, headstrong, witty, and brilliant. They are never helpless. They know their worth.
Addie and Percy were such a sweet couple. I loved how Percy was smitten from the beginning, and he made decisions to favor Addie and her sisters. He was funny but also super sweet. He was so noble, and Addie was a fantastic match for him! The man was head over heels for her!
One of my favorite moments was when she received a book from him with HIS COMMENTS in the margins!!!
“He’d shared his thoughts on nearly every passage. She slammed the book against the urge to skip ahead and just read his notes.”
Content: kisses only, some swearing (use of the word ba***** - but it was well deserved 😂), references to an attempted S/A but nothing described on page.
I absolutely loved this book! It was the sweetest friends to lovers that I’ve read in a while. I LOVE the way that Jill Beene writes her heroines. They are absolutely loveable- sweet, headstrong, witty, and brilliant. They are never helpless. They know their worth.
Addie and Percy were such a sweet couple. I loved how Percy was smitten from the beginning, and he made decisions to favor Addie and her sisters. He was funny but also super sweet. He was so noble, and Addie was a fantastic match for him! The man was head over heels for her!
One of my favorite moments was when she received a book from him with HIS COMMENTS in the margins!!!
“He’d shared his thoughts on nearly every passage. She slammed the book against the urge to skip ahead and just read his notes.”
Content: kisses only, some swearing (use of the word ba***** - but it was well deserved 😂), references to an attempted S/A but nothing described on page.
January 10, 2026
── .✦ Addie wanted to bury her face into his shirt and inhale. But he wasn't hers, and sniffing gentlemen in such a manner was generally discouraged.
~
˗ˏˋ˗ˏ 4.25 🌟 ● 🫑
~
It really do be time to read regency romances for me! A new year, and some stories from the 1820s.
Once again, this story followed a strong lady and a pathetically down-bad man.
A country miss and a reformed rake (sort of? So we were told, anyway.) The eldest daughter and the eldest son.
I ate this tf up, like i did with Pickwick's Guide. I will probably start book 3 early, given i am in the mood, and starting/finishing a new series within the first month or two sounds like a good start.
Love the suspense aspects that have turned up at the ends of both this one and the last as well. Like an added little zing to the story.
~
˗ˏˋ˗ˏ 4.25 🌟 ● 🫑
~
It really do be time to read regency romances for me! A new year, and some stories from the 1820s.
Once again, this story followed a strong lady and a pathetically down-bad man.
A country miss and a reformed rake (sort of? So we were told, anyway.) The eldest daughter and the eldest son.
I ate this tf up, like i did with Pickwick's Guide. I will probably start book 3 early, given i am in the mood, and starting/finishing a new series within the first month or two sounds like a good start.
Love the suspense aspects that have turned up at the ends of both this one and the last as well. Like an added little zing to the story.
January 15, 2026
Despite some minor issues that editing would have caught, I enjoyed the first book in this series.
This one, not so much. Had I read this book first, I doubt I would have continued with the series. Or the author.
Among the issues that kept rudely jerking me out of the story were anachronisms, wrong-word usage (ie, dove is a bird, not the past-tense of dive; phase instead of faze), frequently using subjective I instead of the correct objective me. These and other issues would have been caught by a professional editor. It's truly a shame, because this book was about Percy, whom I thoroughly enjoyed in the first book. I was so looking forward to his story.
I hope the author updates/revises this book after sending it to an editor. I would definitely read it again, hoping to enjoy it as much as I had earlier anticipated.
This one, not so much. Had I read this book first, I doubt I would have continued with the series. Or the author.
Among the issues that kept rudely jerking me out of the story were anachronisms, wrong-word usage (ie, dove is a bird, not the past-tense of dive; phase instead of faze), frequently using subjective I instead of the correct objective me. These and other issues would have been caught by a professional editor. It's truly a shame, because this book was about Percy, whom I thoroughly enjoyed in the first book. I was so looking forward to his story.
I hope the author updates/revises this book after sending it to an editor. I would definitely read it again, hoping to enjoy it as much as I had earlier anticipated.
March 16, 2026
What a lovely series
This is book 2 in a series. It can stand completely alone, but as I always do, I think you will gain optimum enjoyment from reading the first book so that you know everyone's story.
Jill Beene weaves an intriguing plot line with characters who are witty and charming. While I will admit that Adelaide's early insecurities occasionally got on my nerves a tiny bit, in the end it all comes right and I find myself better able to understand the root of her worries.
There is appropriate suspense and the story is more social parlor than bedroom, which is just what I like. There is enough romance to be interesting but not so much that you wouldn't hand the book to a teen or young adult to read. I am now going to download book 3 because my intrigue for that storyline has grown as I read this book.
This is book 2 in a series. It can stand completely alone, but as I always do, I think you will gain optimum enjoyment from reading the first book so that you know everyone's story.
Jill Beene weaves an intriguing plot line with characters who are witty and charming. While I will admit that Adelaide's early insecurities occasionally got on my nerves a tiny bit, in the end it all comes right and I find myself better able to understand the root of her worries.
There is appropriate suspense and the story is more social parlor than bedroom, which is just what I like. There is enough romance to be interesting but not so much that you wouldn't hand the book to a teen or young adult to read. I am now going to download book 3 because my intrigue for that storyline has grown as I read this book.
April 28, 2026
This was a delightful story. I loved the banter between the two MCs. It was also great to expand the world a bit, and meet characters that I presume will be in subsequent books. I also would feel the same as the FMC going from rags to riches. Her insecurities made her human. The MMC’s responses made him more human too.
While I understand that it was more believable for the villain to not be counted out until the very end, I could have done without the last appearance. However, it did work, and added more tension to the overall story. I just wasn’t a fan of him popping up so much. Honestly, the FMC’s own thoughts and insecurities served as a villain unto themselves.
Better than the first. Excellent second entry. On to the next. I only wish I could add a half a star more. Not quite a 5Star read for me, but a good solid 4.5.
While I understand that it was more believable for the villain to not be counted out until the very end, I could have done without the last appearance. However, it did work, and added more tension to the overall story. I just wasn’t a fan of him popping up so much. Honestly, the FMC’s own thoughts and insecurities served as a villain unto themselves.
Better than the first. Excellent second entry. On to the next. I only wish I could add a half a star more. Not quite a 5Star read for me, but a good solid 4.5.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 16, 2023
There are two ways to go about this review and I can’t pick which one so I will say both.
1: This book is the equivalent to the egg ick. certain parts I rlly enjoyed (egg loving phase), but most of it made me scrunch my nose because I couldn’t stand it (ick phase).
2: This book is the equivalent to watching the screensaver box move around on a tv screen. Most of the time it is just frustrating to watch it get so close to the corner. When it does finally hits the corner, it’s amazing.
Love at first sight, confused heroin troupe, anndddd a weak villain… Not my favorite that’s all.
“Think about this, what is the most exciting thing that can happen on TV or in movies, or in real-life? Somebody has a gun.” -Michael Scott
1: This book is the equivalent to the egg ick. certain parts I rlly enjoyed (egg loving phase), but most of it made me scrunch my nose because I couldn’t stand it (ick phase).
2: This book is the equivalent to watching the screensaver box move around on a tv screen. Most of the time it is just frustrating to watch it get so close to the corner. When it does finally hits the corner, it’s amazing.
Love at first sight, confused heroin troupe, anndddd a weak villain… Not my favorite that’s all.
“Think about this, what is the most exciting thing that can happen on TV or in movies, or in real-life? Somebody has a gun.” -Michael Scott
November 26, 2025
Lord Salisbury
From the moment I opened this book, I was completely immersed in its captivating narrative. The author's skillful storytelling and richly developed characters drew me in immediately, creating an unforgettable reading experience. Each character felt remarkably lifelike, with depth and nuance that kept me thoroughly engaged throughout the story. The plot unfolded with such compelling momentum that I found myself unable to put the book down. The writing style was both elegant and accessible, making the reading experience both enjoyable and thought-provoking. Without hesitation, I would enthusiastically recommend this book to anyone seeking an exceptional literary journey that promises to entertain, inspire, and leave a lasting impression.
From the moment I opened this book, I was completely immersed in its captivating narrative. The author's skillful storytelling and richly developed characters drew me in immediately, creating an unforgettable reading experience. Each character felt remarkably lifelike, with depth and nuance that kept me thoroughly engaged throughout the story. The plot unfolded with such compelling momentum that I found myself unable to put the book down. The writing style was both elegant and accessible, making the reading experience both enjoyable and thought-provoking. Without hesitation, I would enthusiastically recommend this book to anyone seeking an exceptional literary journey that promises to entertain, inspire, and leave a lasting impression.
May 13, 2026
Good read
The societal norm that silences young women, preventing them from reporting sexual assaults due to potential damage to their reputation, represents a deeply troubling and systemic form of oppression. This pervasive cultural attitude not only perpetuates victim-blaming but also creates an environment where survivors are forced to choose between seeking justice and protecting their social standing. The profound psychological and emotional toll of such a restrictive social framework can have long-lasting traumatic consequences for victims, effectively protecting perpetrators and maintaining a cycle of gender-based violence and institutional discrimination. This book shows how unfair this was to women of their time.
The societal norm that silences young women, preventing them from reporting sexual assaults due to potential damage to their reputation, represents a deeply troubling and systemic form of oppression. This pervasive cultural attitude not only perpetuates victim-blaming but also creates an environment where survivors are forced to choose between seeking justice and protecting their social standing. The profound psychological and emotional toll of such a restrictive social framework can have long-lasting traumatic consequences for victims, effectively protecting perpetrators and maintaining a cycle of gender-based violence and institutional discrimination. This book shows how unfair this was to women of their time.
September 30, 2023
I really enjoyed this book! It was a quick read with a good amount of romance, friendship, and drama without being too heavy. There was a good bit of miscommunication between the characters, but thankfully it was used only to move the story along and then moved on from, where in some stories, the miscommunication is carried on to the end and when it is resolved, so is the story. This is not the case with this one— this story is fully fleshed out, with characters that have dimension and more to drive the story than just a simple love story.
This was my first from this series but I would consider going back and reading the first since I enjoyed this one!
This was my first from this series but I would consider going back and reading the first since I enjoyed this one!
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