This was an entertaining, well-written book. It was steamy, fun and kept me reading. I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more books by this author.

Myrtle Allen has just enjoyed the family’s party at Leybourne, the country home of her brother, Lord Richard Allen, Viscount Leybourne. Having been blessed with a mathematical brain, Myrtle is very picky about any man she would marry and wants to be allowed to manage her fortune. But her brother wants her to marry and finally leave his home.

Simeon Jones grew up in the Devenaugh Home for Destitute Boys and possesses an artistic talent. Although he is a poor man, he gives what money he has to those that need it. He receives a letter from the solicitor of his adoptive mother saying she has passed away and that the woman’s daughter is now his responsibility.

When Myrtle asks Simeon to take her to London, he agrees. There, her brother tasks her with sponsoring her niece’s come-out as the girl’s mother has injured her leg and cannot undertake it. It turns out that Simeon’s ward is the same age as her niece so they pair up, thus meaning that Myrtle and Simeon spend a lot of time together. They decide to announce their “fake” engagement knowing they will break it off later. Hopefully, this will ensure that Myrtle’s brother will let her have her inheritance. But as they get to know one another better, will they be able to break it off?

This is a clever story with some bits of humor that is usual in this author’s books. I had to chuckle at the mathematic theories that Myrtle came up with as they passed right over my head. Math is not my forte. Enjoy this romp.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Simeon Jones— debonair, polished, and suave— was softhearted.

I jumped into the School for Scoundrels series with this third installment, Her Adventures in Temptation. The beginning felt a little jarring thrust into the story with Simeon at a Viscount's house to paint a portrait for the lord's wife and that said wife, tipsily trying to visit Simeon's rooms one night. The Viscount catches his wife and angrily tells Simeon to bugger off but before Simeon can, the viscount's sister, Lady Myrtle asks to travel with Simeon to London. Simeon knows it will be a recipe for disaster and reputations but with Myrtle offering to pay triple the just lost commission on the viscount's wife's portrait, he can't turn it down. What followed was an occasional story with sweet moments but mostly felt like bullet points with no surrounding story.

She would go to London and use her mathematical skills to assist ladies with their monies, hopefully helping them become more financially secure.

Myrtle wants to go to London because she wants to prove to her brother that she doesn't need to get married and can successfully make a go at running a business to help women invest and take care of their money. Myrtle is a mathematical genius, readers know this because she says it a lot and spouts some mathematical lingo and apparently that translates to also being a money management guru. There really wasn't anything flushed out and integrated with Myrtle's character regarding her mathematical skills, it felt like a bullet point for the heroine and that was the extent of it. Myrtle also lacks serious tact and is oblivious when she says comments that conventionally come off rude. I don't know if her character was introduced in the previous series books and more understanding about her would come from having read those but, starting here, she doesn't really get developed. I know she only has two friends, her niece and past governess, so I don't know if it's just lack of social integration or if she is supposed to represent on the spectrum. For me, it came off “I'm not like all those other girls”, because of thinking and saying lines like this “I have misjudged you, Mr. Jones,” Myrtle replied in a bright voice. “You are quite clever, something that is rare to find in very attractive people. Usually they are able to sail through life just being attractive.”

“Pretend to be . . . married?” she squeaked, then frowned, annoyed at her own reaction.

The previous book might have also delivered some foundation on Simeon that I ended up missing starting here. He grew up destitute in a home for boys and developed friendships with five other boys, strong enough that they got the moniker, The Bastard Five. I was disappointed that those friendships were hardly ever shown, I think it wasn't until the very later second half that the other four guys showed up to have scenes with him. Simeon is poor, why he accepts Myrtle's deal to travel with him and an artist but again, like Myrtle's mathematical mind, his painting came off more of a bullet point. There was also a random thread of him having to take in his adoptive mother's daughter but there was absolutely nothing done with it and had me head scratching what the point was.

“I’ve never found it easy to be around others, even around members of my own family. I do find it easy to be around you. And not just because you’re so easy on the eyes. If only I could marry someone like you,” she said with a sigh. And then she clapped her hand over her mouth, her eyes wide.

The romance starts to develop between these two on their journey to London and when Simeon insists they must pretend to be married to save her reputation. There's a bullet point one bed scene and some “I think I'm starting to like this person.” The first half has a first kiss between these two and then they're in London and thinking they'll never see each other again. However, Myrtle's brother is in London, angry with her but now wanting her to chaperon his daughter for her coming out because tipsy wife broke her leg. Myrtle recognizes she doesn't have the social graces to navigate the ton, so naturally, she turns to the poor, bastard artist Simeon to help her. Their fake betrothal is back on, so society doesn't question why they're spending so much time together and Simeon claims he must paint Myrtle.

Dear God. Did she know what she was getting into? Did he know what he was getting into?

For some reason, Myrtle gets it in her head that Simeon could be a successful painter if only he didn't get distracted by sex (readers don't really see evidence of him being such a ladies man) and since she really enjoyed their kiss, gets a little something for herself as she's helping out with a new plan, for one week they'll indulge in bedroom play and then one week absolutely no touching, then see which week was more productive for Simeon. I can't say this all made sense and not just randomly thrown in. Anyway, Myrtle suddenly gets porn mouth (one ex. “I want you to— to fuck me,” she said at last, the words dropping like individual bits of flame into his soul. I'm saying this did not fit the character and/with time and specific situation, not that women don't ever talk like this) and after a handie and some head from Simeon, Myrtle thinks to herself that she is in love. The bedroom scenes had definite word spice but it all felt so forced to deliver “hot” but since the characterization and relationship development wasn't there for me, I didn't feel any chemistry.

“What do you want from me, Myrtle?” he asked again, this time in a softer tone. She lifted her face to his, swallowing hard against the emotion. “I want you.”

It took a little longer for Simeon to think he was in love with Myrtle but when he does, he had a sweet moment where he tries to show Myrtle but her obliviousness ruins the moment and they have a quick breakup in the last 10% before they both realize their mistakes and deliver the HEA. Their characterization, along with the feeling of setting because their wasn't much effort to deliver it, was missing from this for me and as a consequence, I couldn't feel their romance. This was full of bullet points but not much crafting and filling out of those points.

Myrtle is an intelligent mathematician who likes cake, which unfortunately makes her too intelligent for the loads of suitors she has turned down for marriage proposals. Simeon is a painter and a bit of a rake that has just gotten entrapped in a situation at Myrtle’s brother’s house resulting in a quick exit. Hoping to escape to London where she can start her own business for women seeking accounting help, Myrtle attempts to escape with Simeon, scandal be damned. These two have to pretend to be married, share only one bed, and tempt each other with flirtatious banter as they head to London.
This book was so much fun. I laughed so much in the beginning at Myrtle’s straightforward nature and inability to hide her true opinions. “Do keep up,” became a repeat witticism between Myrtle and Simeon who dish out comedic banter for the whole first third of the novel. These two couldn’t be more opposite on paper, but as we find, their wants are so similar, and Simeon truly has the biggest heart! He gives all of his money away because he is always helping others, causing him to be ridiculously poor. Myrtle meanwhile has amassed a fortune because her mathematical prowess has helped her invest and grow her monies. When an improbable (for romance reasons) fake engagement throws them into each other’s arms, their feelings on what they want from life (to marry or not?) and from each other begin to change.
As part of their fake engagement Myrtle and Simeon decide to have a sexperiment over the duration of their time together and Megan Frampton knows how to bring the heat and intimacy. I loved seeing these two fall for each other; Simeon time and again says how much he loves Myrtle’s brain, and Myrtle first falls for his looks, but then falls for his heart. Being a loner is something they have in common and they way they quickly notice things about one another makes the second half of the book full of thoughtful gestures and kindheartedness.
This is the third book in the School for Scoundrels series and I have been along for the ride since the first, loving each story of the Bastard Five. This can be read as a standalone or even out of order, but knowing some of the other “Bastards” made it much sweeter. Myrtle definitely takes the cake in this book (ok, pun fully intended) with her personality and frankness, but Simeon lets her—a perfect example of a strong man behind a strong woman. I received this copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
4.5 stars rounded up.

Fun! This was a sweet addition to this series, the way the two MCs just got each other, from the beginning, he was her champion and she was a delight. It was clear how she blossomed under his care and affection and this really worked for me

I absolutely loved this book! It had clever dialog and plenty of steam. Bluestocking Myrtle was an unforgettable character. I always get annoyed when the FMC feels that their all-important career precludes marriage. Happily, Myrtle was smarter than that. Her mathematical mind caused her to be socially awkward and she was never able to find her niche in society. She just assumed that she would never marry because she felt that the man who would embrace her mind and not attempt to stifle her, did not exist. This is where MMC Simeon enters the equation.
Simeon was a talented artist who had always resisted serious relationships for the sake of his work. Ultimately, Simeon and Myrtle fell into what looked like an impossible situation. The dreadful unrequited love! I was crying by the time I got to the end of this book even though it had a happy ending.
This book is part of a series but I read it as a standalone. Simeon had a group of male friends--some happily married and others unhappily single. I'm looking forward to reading more of this series in the future.
I received a free ARC from NetGalley and this is my honest review.

Myrtle Allen, sister of Viscount Leybourne, is many things; a lover of cake and pretty gowns, a loving Aunt, a brilliant mathematician, and an heiress, but subtle she is not. So when she insults a suitor during a ball being hosted by her brother Richard, he has had enough and gives her an ultimatum, either find a husband or do something to – before he can finish, his tirade is cut off midsentence by a scream, sending them both to find the source. The source is Richard’s very drunk wife who was hitting on and being rejected by the artist Richard hired to paint her portrait. Richard quickly defuses the situation and demands the artist leave. Giving Myrtle the opening she needs to “do something”. She plans to go to London and start an investment consulting business for women. She plans to use her knowledge of investments and accounting to help women manage their money wisely, thus giving them access to financial independence, something she herself longs for. She convinces the artist, Simeon Jones to take her with him when he leaves, promising to pay him triple what her brother had promised him for the portrait. She is surprised to discover that Simeon is not just another wastrel, he is talented, smart, and dedicated to his craft, and he is also unbelievably handsome, charming, as well as extremely kind. She is drawn to him but knows they have no future, so with a kiss, she prepares to part forever, but a twist of fate brings them back together and pretending to be betrothed! The more time they are together, the more she wants what she can never have, or can she?


Simeon Jones is one of the infamous Bastard Five, a group of men who met as children at the Devenaugh Home for Destitute Boys, each of whom where adopted but never lost touch, meeting together as often as possible for their book club. Simeon is known as charming, talented, and a bit of a rake, his lovers are legion, and his art is amazing but he has a secret, unlike his fellow bastards was not taken in by a well-to-do family – Simeon barely keeps his head above water, especially since he has a soft-heart and often gives away his last shilling to help someone else. Which is exactly why he was at the viscount’s estate painting a portrait of his handsy wife. He has discovered his late adopted mother had a child that she gave to her sister to raise, but now the sister has passed and the Reverend of their village has sought out Simeon to take over the care of the now orphaned child. He is wondering what he can do when Myrtle demands he take her with him to London. He is not sure it is a good idea, and he is a bit overwhelmed by her, but the more time spent with her, the more he wants, and so when her brother agrees to pay him an incredible sum to pretend to be betrothed to Myrtle and help her guide her niece through her debut, he can’t say no. Soon he finds himself in love with Myrtle but knows it is hopeless, he can’t ask her to sacrifice her dreams or her fortune to marry him, or can he?

This was a well-written story of two people who at first glance appear to be complete opposites, but who have more in common than anyone could have imagined. They form a friendship, which blossoms into more than they agreed to, causing each of them to deny their true feelings, to spare the other any discomfort. The book has witty banter, a lot of cake, surprises, inspiration, debutantes, a cute dog, an annoying brother, a fake betrothal, a public jilting, steamyish love scenes, a few tears, and finally a HEA that didn’t seem possible as well as a very sweet epilogue. I liked this book, but I didn’t really feel the romance, I loved both Simeon and Myrtle individually, but together they seemed to be missing the necessary “spark”. I can’t put my finger on what it was exactly, maybe it was her social ineptitude or maybe it was the constant reminders of how many times he had been in love before, but whatever it was, it just didn’t click for me. I enjoyed the story and was happy that they found a way to be together, but I wasn’t wowed. This is the third book in the series but it could easily be read as a standalone title with no problems. I like this series and would absolutely recommend it to my fellow HR readers and will be looking forward to Fenton’s book.

3.5 stars rounded up.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.*

Myrtle is brilliant and rich. Simeon is an artist who is also a foundling. Together they journey on to London and the adventure begins. Part of a series of books about a number of men who were orphans and became friends. The author writes with humor as well as taking a look at other economics classes of the time. Well written, a bit repetitive but overall a nice afternoon read with a cup of tea.

I really enjoyed the premise of this series: 5 Orphan Bastards of various circumstances are still friends and bond together over their lives and books. Book 3 is about Simeon, who is an artist by trade and a softhearted fellow by deed. Simon wants to create great significance works of art but has to fund his work by taking portrait commissions which is how he finds himself at the country home of his newest commission for Lord Richard Allen, Viscount Leybourne. Lady Myrtle Allen, Richard’s sister is a very intelligent woman, she excels in mathematics and in the first few chapters makes the reader well aware of just how smart she is and how no one appreciates her talents , especially her brother and the 27, or was it 32 men who have proposed to her. I have to admit, that it took me about 1/3 of the book to like Myrtle. I think the author was going for a neurodivergent character but for me she was just over-boasting and annoying. Yes, she was very annoying….. until she wasn’t.
After a misunderstanding involving Richard’s lush of a wife, Simon has to make a hasty exit and Myrtle manages to convince him to take her to London with him because she wants to set up her own financial advise business for women ( incase you forgot, she’s good at maths). Then you start to think “Oh, I know where this is going, 2 people alone on the road for a few days, marriage of convenience….” Nope, they part ways in London but are intrigued by one another. Well through a weird series of events, they end up with a “fake engagement “. But the fake engagement is only to usher Myrtle’s niece through her debut and was suggested by her brother Richard.
Confused yet?
It feels like you should be.
But somehow Ms Frampton seems to pull this off into a delightful friends to lovers to love story. I really started to sympathize with Myrtle. All she really wants is someone to respect her for her intelligence and to want to marry her for more than her dowery. And if she can’t have that she would rather make her own way in the world. Simone is very attracted to Myrtle and it’s no hardship to be her fake fiancé, As someone who is passionate about his art he comes understand Myrtle’s drive as well. This is a nice love story about two people needing a friend who understands them and then realize that they want more than just that friendship.
The steam #s in this is low, but those scenes are 🔥🔥. I think that’s this book is a fine addition to the previous 2 of which I’ve enjoyed very much And I’m looking forward to find out what has Fenton all tied up in knots.
As always, I thank the author and NetGallery for allowing me to read this ARC for my honest review.

Her Adventures in Temptation is the 3rd book in the School for Scoundrels series by Megan Frampton. I really enjoyed the first book in this series and the books since have kind of been hit and miss for me. This one ended up being okay!

Myrtle is the sister of a Viscount, she has a sizable fortune, and has had 30+ proposals because of men trying to get their hands on her inheritance. But she’d rather do something else with her life and with her love for mathematics, she has a grand plan for a business…she just needs to get to London quickly! Enter, Simeon! He’s an artist who grew up in an orphanage (the series follows the hero’s friend group that he grew up with there), and he’s attending a party at Myrtle’s brother’s when the story starts. He ends up getting kicked out (for reasons), but it works out since he recently found out he’s been left a ward (his adopted mother’s 17-year old daughter) and needs to get to London to figure it all out.

When he’s told to leave the house party, Myrtle overhears and begs him to take her with him as she needs to safely get to London. They head off on a road trip/carriage ride adventure together, sharing a bed along the way at an inn. When they get to London both are kind of helping others out with the Season, him with his ward and her with her niece’s debut. Simeon and Myrtle end up saying they’re in a fake engagement with plans of their charade ending once the Season does, but feelings and their sex-experiment kind of get in the way.

This one was okay. I like the idea of this series and following heroes who grew up in an orphanage together, it brings about for some great class difference romance setups. This one just fell kind of flat, they become friends and are mostly just sweet and awkward together. Myrtle was very into math and kind of a bit quirky/awkward. There just wasn’t a lot of plot and I wanted more.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley, all thoughts in this review are my own. Her Adventures in Temptation is out January 23, 2024!

Megan Frampton always writes sweet, soft romances, and this one is no different. The hero is literally described as 'soft-hearted' in the book description. It's a nice relief from some of the ultra-alpha heroes that run amok in the romance genre.

Megan Frampton writes reliably fun and sexy romances. Here, we've got a little riff on the "opposites attract" trope: Simeon is a painter who grew up in a foundling home. Because of his status in society - not a part of the upper class but dependent upon their approbation for his professional success - he has developed a social facade. Myrtle is an awkward mathematician who just cannot fit in with society, and doesn't much care to. When Simeon is kicked off of her brother's estate, she convinces him to take her along. We take a road trip to only-one-bed town with a side of "pretend to be married," but this isn't the main point of the book. No, instead, it turns into a fake engagement while they bang it out of their systems with a sexperiment!⁠
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One of the things that we really like about Megan Frampton's books is how they take on complex family dynamics. Since her MO for books is frothy fun, these fraught families don't get too dark. But the way Myrtle and her brother and niece interact feels complicated and authentic: they love each other, but they don't understand each other. They hold each other back, but they come through with each other every now and then, too.⁠
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OK, on to the final note: Frampton knows how to write some sexy sex (read Gentleman Seeks Bride if you need proof). This book includes two fake relationships and a sex experiment, and while it's not low on the chili-pepper scale, it's also not flaming hot. We still had a great time reading it. Frampton has a place on our dependably fun shelf!⁠

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.

Miss Myrtle's experimentation....

I really adored Myrtle. She's a whip smart mathematician who loves cake. The sister of a viscount, her dowry is a vast fortune that she cannot touch, control or handle. Men! She's smarter than anyone asking for her hand, so she has a plan.

Simeon Jones is illegitimate, an orphan, an artist. He's a pretty face in a pretty package and can't say no to anyone asking for money, therefor, he has none. He was just compromised by Myrtle's sister in law and he's out money he would have gotten for her portrait. He needs money, as he now has an unkown ward to care for.

Myrtle offers up a solution for them both with contigency plans (naturally).
They pretend to be engaged.
Since they are pretending, Myrtle is curious. And Simeon can help satisfy that curiosity.
I really enjoyed this fast paced romp that takes place over the course of about a week.
Recommend.
Purchased.

I have enjoyed the previous books in the School for Scoundrels series so it was no surprise that I loved this one t00. Simeon was so much more than I expected and Myrtle is my hero. It was enjoyable watching her become Simeon's also. This book was a satisfying blend of humor, heat and a bit of adventure.

I really enjoyed the first two books in this series. This one I did not. I like the premise and the FMC’s personality is excellent. The book felt disjointed though, almost like pages were missing. There were fun and funny moments but overall not great.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.

What a fun story from Megan Frampton! The heroine in this book is neurodivergent. I don't know if the book is being marketed that way, the summary of the book gives us very little information on her but I wish I had known that prior to starting because I would have definitely dove right in very fast and very excited for it! Either way I loved Myrtle! She loves math and cake and pretty dresses but doesn't always understands the hypocritical ways of the ton, when she's someone who cannot lie and always says what she means.
On the flip side you have Simeon, who is a charming rogue and artist that due to his status as a bastard, does nothing BUT lie and charm his way through society so he won't be scrutinized for his birth.
I really loved the dynamic that pairing these two together created. They both really needed each other to grow. Myrtle needed someone to help guide her through the social aspects of the season and teach her how to fake it and Simeon needed someone who really believed in him and believed he could be more if he was honest with himself.
The protagonists were so lovable that I was really on this ride with them no matter what, and that's very lucky because I think the book's plot meandered a little. There were a lot of plots/tropes that kind of appeared and then disappeared again it felt like when the author didn't want to keep dealing with them. For example, in the beginning of the book, Simeon finds out he has a long lost young sibling and this is his motivation to take Myrtle's money in exchange for escorting her to London. Later in the book the long lost sibling shows up adds very little to the actual story (except for interrupting a spicy moment with her arrival) and then promptly leaves again saying "oh yeah and actually, my caretakers left me a huge inheritance and a house so I don't need your money" and that all just felt a little strange. Why was this plot of Simeon needing the money even introduced if it was going to be wrapped up with so little stakes? Idk, it felt strange. The entire book was riddled with little side plots like this that went nowhere.
But like I said, I really did LOVE the characters. I think character development is one of Frampton's biggest strengths. She's really set up the entire group of guys this series is centered around to be so distinct and likable and I am very excited for the next two stories because of that.

Cake and comfort = friendship and romance!

Myrtle Allen knew her own mind. She knew exactly what she did and didn’t want. She’s a highly competent and intelligent woman, with a superbly developed understanding of all things mathematical, who has so far refused 27 or maybe 33 marriage proposals.
She doesn’t want to marry a stupid man, or a man who is only interested in her wealth.
Her brother, Lord Richard Allen, the Viscount of Leybourne, controlled her fortune and he seemed to want to hand it over to any suitably dull prospect. Myrtle wants to use her fortune to help other women who’d been treated unfairly.
Now Richard has delivered an ultimatum. Find a suitable husband or else! “Do something!”
Simeon Jones, an artist, handsome and debonair, couldn’t hold on to his money. He gave it away to those in need. However he’s just received a letter that he’s now the guardian of his adoptive mother’s child who’s about to be thrown on the Parish. Simeon needs to make some money quickly in order to rescue his ward. That’s how come he’s taken a commission to paint a portrait of Regina, the Vicountess of Leybourne, Myrtle’s sister-in-law. That is, until all he’ll break’s loose! Simeon finds himself unfairly dismissed and wondering what to do next.
An opportunity for Myrtle to take Richard’s, “Do something” option?!
Myrtle manages to inveigle Simeon into taking her to London with him … and the rest is a charming and challenging story, with both awkward and humorous moments, until Love finds a Way!
An immensely enjoyable read!

An Avon & Harper Voyage ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

This was my second book by Megan Frampton. I gave the first one 3 stars and this one 3.5. It was enjoyable, but not memorable. I probably will not read more books by this author.

ARC Kindly provided by NetGalley though all thoughts are my own.

Unfortunately, I am just not gravitating towards this. The quirkiness of the heroine was cute at first but it just got to be too much. And then I was excited about their trip to London thinking they would actually go on an adventure but then the plot took a turn to setting up a debutante and it lost me. I love the writing but this one just didn't work for me.

Myrtle is the outspoken, awkward, mathematically-inclined sister of a viscount who wants to avoid marriage and start her own financial consulting agency. When the painter her brother hired is asked to leave a house party, Myrtle takes the opportunity to hitch a ride to London with him. Simeon is an illegitimate orphan who was adopted by an independent female painter and basically taught to prioritize his art above all else. However, the soft-hearted Simeon seems to give away his money to the needy at every turn and has none of it himself, causing him to take on portrait commissions he doesn’t like and to take Myrtle’s money to help her go to London. As these two spend more time together, it’s clear that they have an opposites-attract sort of chemistry. Somehow Myrtle gets caught by her brother and then forced to assist in her niece’s debut. But she has no social charm or graces, so she recruits her only friend in town, Simeon, to assist. They end up in a fake engagement to preserve everyone’s reputation, but still fall in love with each other, despite wanting so much to hold onto their independence.