This is a voluntary review of an advanced copy.

This is the first book that I have read in this series and after this book, I want to read the next one and get caught up on the first book!

Samantha/Miranda was hiding as a governess to escape her father (the Duke) who was trying to marry her off. She ended up at the house of Heathcliff who is friends with her sister's husband, Lucas. He is unaware of who she really is and is not happy when he finds out.

It is fun to watch the growing attraction and Heathcliff as he fights against this as he doesn't want anything to do with love after a terrible first marriage.

Lots of drama, some intrigue, and a great HEA rounds out this book!

Escaping His Grace by Kristin Vayden
Gentlemen of Temptation #2

In book two of the series we find Lilah’s younger sister on her way to Scotland to be governess to Iris, Heathcliff Marston’s ward. She is a lady masquerading as a governess and wants to be free from her father so has taken the chance her sister’s husband offered to help out his friend and finds herself teaching dancing lessons and comportment and such to a young woman soon to make her debut into society.

Heathcliff and the governess Miranda/Samantha do a bit of a dance as he thinks a dalliance might be fine with the hired help BUT when he finds she is a lady his mind begins to think otherwise...though hiss body does not. He has had one dipping of the toe into marriage and has no desire for another. This is a somewhat predictable story without too much of a ruckus occurring and a straightforward romance with a HEA.

Did I enjoy the story? Yes
Would I like to read more in the series? Yes

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington-Lyrical Press for the ARC – This is my honest review.

3-4 Stars

A story of a hidden identity to escape a tyrant of a father, that weaves a tangled tale! Samantha has escaped her father and ends up hiding under the name of Miranda, becoming a governess.. Her new brother in law has found her a position in the home of his best friend, Heathcliff ( yes I do love that name!). Iris is the ward of Heathcliff and she is suppose to get her ready for her come out.
Heathcliff has endured one tragedy after another, the last being his cheating wife and stillborn child. He tries to stay out of the spotlight and runs an exclusive gaming hell. But when he arrives home thinking the new governess will be an old curmudgeon, imagine his surprise when he finds Sam/Miranda? A beautiful lady who he cannot help but be attracted to!
But the adventure begins when he finds out who she is and that she is being hunted down by investigators hired by her father! Another lying woman!
A delightful story that runs through the gamut of emotions and takes you on a page turning read. I read the first book in this series which was just as good but this can be read as a standalone. But trust me, you will want to read this one too!! I read this through NetGallery.

This was an entertaining read. The main characters were very likeable. I liked the banter between Heathcliff and his friend, Lucas. Miranda/ Samantha’s handling of Iris, Heathcliffe’s ward, was kind and understanding. The immediate attraction between Heathcliffe and Miranda was something they both tried unsuccessfully to ignore. This is affected by certain events but can their attraction lead to something more meaningful. This was a good paced storyline and although I hadn’t read the first in the series, it wasn’t a hindrance to my enjoyment of the story. I will be interested to see how Iris’s story unfolds in the next book. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Well crafted story of hidden identity

Kristen Vayden’s Escaping His Grace is the second book in the Gentlemen of Temptation series and read well as a stand alone.
Miranda/Samantha comes to Heathcliffe incognito. As they get to know and learn they like each other, romantic feelings also grow. The story was well paced and comes to a satisfying HEA.
I received an advance reader copy via Goodreads.

This is my fair and honest review in exchange for this ARC. Perfectly readable story but it is pretty tame.

This is the reason I read historical fiction! The author brings the past to life in the pages that capture your heart! Life doesn't always go as planned and it definitely can make things difficult when you're running from your past or your family. It can also make love complicated, especially when that wasn't in your original game plan. Add a few noble titles with a father hell bent on finding his daughter and a daughter determined to make her own choices and you have a whopper of a story!

Miss Miranda is not really a Miss, exactly. Nor is her name Miranda. But to escape The Duke of Chatterworth her tyrannical father, changes were required. Now in the Scottish countryside, employed by her new brother-in-law’s unsuspecting friend, Heathcliff Marston, Viscount Kilpatrick, Miranda feels safe. Between managing Temptations and his newly acquired ward Iris, the last thing Heathcliff needs is investigators inexplicably hounding him about the whereabouts of some duke’s runaway daughter. At least he’s secured a governess, no doubt a sour woman or so he expects, until he meets the intriguing Miranda. Now Heathcliff is the one faced with temptation.
His is the second book in the series & follows on immediately from the first when Samantha leaves for Scotland, it could be read on its own but to fully appreciate the bullying Duke of Chatterworth I’d recommend reading the books in order. It’s a well paced book that grabbed my interest from the start & held it all the way though. Heathcliff has vowed never to fall in love or marry again but hadn’t been prepared for Miranda. Miranda hasn’t had a season & has always lived a very sheltered life so al last was able to spread her wings. The attraction between the pair sizzles but they also grow to like each other too. I also liked Iris & look forward to her story & perhaps a certain Marquis? It was also good to see how happy Lucas & Liliah are.
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

This series continues to get better with every book. Whilst this is a stand-alone novel, it would be a shame not to read the first book in the series “Gentlemen of Temptation”. The story opens with a recount of Heathcliff Marston, Viscount Kilpatrick, earlier life. Having married despite his father’s concerns, he soon finds his wife in bed with another, after which she confesses that she is pregnant. Whilst Heathcliff stays with her, she dies as does the baby. Together with his friends, Lucas Mayfield, the Earl of Heightfield (book 1), and Ramsey Scott, the Marquess of Sterling, he sets up ‘Temptations’, a gaming hell which boasts of its anonymity within the ton. Heathcliff has also found himself with a ward, Iris, who needs a governess. Enter Samantha, who unbeknownst to Heathcliff, is the sister-in-law of his friend Lucas, and with his assistance, is trying to escape an arranged marriage by her father, the Duke of Chatterworth. Under the guise of Miranda, she takes on the job but soon finds herself falling in love with Heathcliff. It is only when Lucas and her sister, Liliah return from their honeymoon, that all is revealed and everything between Heathcliff and Samantha becomes even more interesting!
This story has everything, romance and action, keeping me reading through in one sitting. I must admit that I was surprised that Heathcliff, never fully revealed his past relationship with this wife, which was such a significant part of who he was. Otherwise, this is a delightful story and I so look forward to book 3 and Iris’s story.
I received an advanced review copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Escaping his Grace by Kristin Hayden. I was really drawned to the book cover. I wasn't particularly wowed by the story line but the characters were engaging. I voluntarily review this ARC. The opinions here are all my own.

An enjoyable story with likeable characters, that made me want to read both the previous and next book in the series.
To escape her father, Samantha’s new brother-in-law finds her a position in the Scottish household of his best friend. However in order that Samantha’s new identity and location is not inadvertently given away to her father’s investigators he doesn’t tell Heathcliff the truth whilst he is residing in London. Therefore when he returns to Scotland and first meets and is attracted to “Miss Miranda” he is not aware of her social standing as Lady Samantha, younger daughter of the Duke of Chatterworth. Once he knows the truth he pulls away, knowing he is not worthy of her but he finds her temptations difficult to resist.
What I disliked was the use of American words such as fall, if a book is set in England and all the characters are English, I find this jarring and it interrupts my reading flow. At least there were only a few typos (these may have been addressed in the final copy).
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Miranda (an assumed name) has escaped her father, the Duke of Chatterworth and is in hiding in Scotland working as a governess for Iris, the ward of Heathcliff, the Viscount Kilpatrick. Her sister, Liliah has just married Lucas who is the eighth Earl of Heightfield and the one who gave a glowing reference for Miranda to his best friend Heathcliff. The story is well written and tells of a young girl escaping her tyrannical father along with her sister Liliah who just secretly got married. When Heathcliff returns to his Scottish home he is drawn to Miranda but because of a previous bitter marriage he tells her nothing can ever of their attraction. A party is to be held to try and find her a husband but when the Duke discovers where his daughter is plans have to change. There is a HEA but there is a lot that happens before this comes about. The book is worth read and I would highly recommend it.

Another great read from Ms. Vayden. She has a knack for writing fun stories with great characters that you can root for their happiness. I knew I would love Heathcliff. He was a little bit brooding – which we love, right?!? His interactions with Miranda/Samantha was so compelling that it was hard to put the book down. You know when you say “just one more chapter”. My only issue is that the last third of the book went kind of slow for me. Looking forward to Ramsey’s story.

When Miranda shows up to take her position as governess, no one in the house knows she is the daughter of a duke. When the owner, Healthcliff, shows up, the sparks fly. When he finds out who she is he steps back, as he feels he is unworthy. Quick wit and banter abound, and it is a fun book to read. Highly enjoyed this one, as it is the second in a series, and while a continuation it is not needed to read the first before this one. Highly recommend this book and author and look forward to the next in the series.

Escaping his Grace by Kristin Vayden is the second book in the Gentleman of Temptation series. This book can be read as a stand alone. I have not read the first one but after reading this one I will definitely be going back and reading the first. The writing is fantastic and I don’t want to miss a single thing in this series. Though it is not necessary to read the first I recommend doing so, because I felt like I was missing some important history in regards to the Duke. It didn’t take away from the story, just left me curious is all. I was pretty drawn into the story for almost all of it, there isn’t really a dull moment. It’s interesting and I loved the characters and the relationships. The hero and heroine were fantastic, I really enjoyed them and connected with them emotionally. I laughed and I cried. All in all, a fun, witty, and enjoyable read.

Second in the series, this is not one of Kristin Vayden’s best. Heathcliff, Viscount Kilpatrick, was betrayed by his first wife and is determined to never let love rule his life again. However, he is drawn to his new governess, Miranda, not realizing that she is in fact, Lady Samantha, posing as a governess in remote Scotland to escape her tyrannical father. Heathcliff is quite comfortable coming close to the line in forcing his attentions on Miranda, the governess, but once he realizes her true standing, he takes a big step back. If that’s not enough to make you close this book, the general unlikability of both romantic leads might push you over the edge. Of course, they are unable to resist their pull to one another, despite Heathcliff’s reluctance to marry. Will they overcome their self-made obstacles to reach happiness? Of course—and it’s not particularly enjoyable to find out how. – Megan Osmond

Kristin Vayden has wrote yet another book that I couldn't put down. After her sisters marriage to escape their horrible father, it is "Miss Miranda's" turn to escape. With the help of her sister, and her new brother in law, she has made some required changes, and for the first time in her life, she gets to taste a little bit of freedom. When she meets her new employer Heathcliff Marston, she gets the feeling that her new life is about to get a lot more exciting. As for Heathcliff, he believes that he has acquired himself a new governess for his ward, nothing very exciting about that, until he sets eyes on her. The desire that she stirs in him is not something that he has felt in years, nor something he really wants to feel again. Although it is frowned upon, he would not be the first to have a romance with the help, but there is something about "Miranda" that has him questioning who she really is. Once the truth comes out "Miranda" will have her work cut out for her, convincing Heathcliff that he is the man for her. I can not wait for the next book in this series, they are full of laughs, love, adventure, and of course romance. Great read, and I would definitely recommend it.

Viscount Heathcliff Marston goes back to his Scottish home to find his new employee, Miss Miranda, already deep into her new responsibilities as a governess to his ward. There is something about her that curious his mind. What does she hide? Why does she behave more like a Lady herself instead of a simple governess? He's on a way to discover her secret...

This beautifully written novel has landed on my lab in the beginning of this year and, honestly, I have mixed feelings about it. On one side I have found the sentences perfectly put together, flowing through the chapter magically on a flying carpet and on the other hand the story was quite boring, leaving me in an awful reading slump. Such a great potential that was wasted with a plot with no action and disappointment. This is a book that you appreciate only for writing and not the story itself.

First 70% of the book is filled with tension and excitement but once we reach that point, reader, AKA me, finds oneself bored and lacking the action. Once reached the end there is just misery left that nothing has happened. It's like this story was more about feelings than actual lives of the characters. I really don't want to say anything bad about this book because I really loved Kristin's writing but unfortunately this is how I felt.

I will try other books of this author just to see if I could find a better plot. Her hard work deserves an applause and I will not rest until I find that book that put her out there!


Thank you NetGalley for supplying me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved Miranda (Samantha) and Heathcliff's story!!

Miranda has been sent to Scotland by her sister to make sure that she is safe from her father's plans to marry her off for his gain. She ends up at the home of Heathcliff who needs a governess for his ward. She didn't plan for for for her employer.

Heathcliff is shocked by his reaction to the new governess. After a disastrous first marriage, he has no plans to marry again. But the temptation of Miranda, might be enough to change his mind. Only she wants a marriage based on love and he doesn't know if he is capable of loving again.

Can they get their HEA?

Loved this story and have been looking forward to it since I read the first book in the series. Vayden did not disappoint! The attraction between the two was there from the start. Heathcliff didn't think he could give Miranda what she needed, so he was determined to stay away from her, but things out of their control changed all that. :)

I've loved both books in this series and can't wait for the next one, which comes out in April!!

What a delightful read. Miranda/Samantha is a delightful young woman escaping a tyrannical father. Heathcliff is a joy. Betrayed in his first marriage, he has no interest in doing it again.

Enjoyed every page and now looking forward to the next story in this series.