A stellar story. Julian has been determined to marry only one woman. The problem is he doesn’t think he deserves her. Portia loves to flirt but wants to do her duty by her family. It takes someone coming between these two for them to realize that they were meant only for each other. The story is filled with witty banter and charming characters. You will enjoy the machinations going on behind the scene as Portia and Julian plot and outwit the Duke she is engaged to. Julian is a character you can’t help falling in love with and rooting for.

You know sometimes you need to take a break from all of the alpha peers and settle down with a good book that features a hero who is good and kind and always a friend. That is this book. Julian is the definitive friend except he does not want to be. His anguish over seeing the woman he loves always looking at him with adoration is resonant throughout the story. If only she would look at him differently. I loved Julian. Portia was a little harder to like. She seemed a bit clueless when it came to Julian but in the end she realized he was right for her. A fantastic love story.

Being part of a series, I found ‘Lord of Sin’ a bit disjointed at the start. However, I quickly picked up the connection to the previous books. Lord Julian Wade cares for Portia Hayes, but with little money, he has little to offer her, so watches as she draws the attention of other gentlemen. However, when she accepts a duke’s proposal (Lord Montrose), their relationship changes and it soon becomes apparent that Julian is the one that will make her happy.
Whilst I initially wanted to shake Julian for missing his opportunity to declare his feelings to Portia, it showed his honourable character. His hesitation with Portia, meant that she had to really look at what she truly valued and to see Julian, for what he really was, and not what he presented to society. A delightful romance, with some twists to the storyline to keep it interesting throughout.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for honest review.

While I enjoy historical romance and regency books, ballroom settings are not my favorite. The best friends to lovers idea was a little hard to take because of the circumstances that allowed them to only be friends. 3 stars.

This ARC was courtesy of netgalley - all thoughts and opinions are mine and unbiased

I love a historical romance and this was a great one

I really enjoyed the story. It took a couple of chapters to get into but then couldn't put down. I had to finish this in one go

I found this a fun read. With goodies and baddies and a HEA that is very satisfying

Would recommend

I really liked this story. I felt the writing in the first few chapters was a bit bumpy, but this was soon overcome. I especially liked Julian's character, a sort of guardian angel of debutantes and helper of friends in need of a favor.
Portia understood she was to accept such an advantageous match as offered by the Duke of Montrose. However, she was a bit naive in believing the stiff and unfriendly duke she hardly knew would allow her to remain in contact with her male "friends" as she called them.
The forbidding character of the duke brought suspense into the story as the reader wondered how he would react to the developments along the way.
It was nice to revisit - though briefly -with Esme and Richard of Reason to Wed.
I read an advance copy I received via netgalley; the thoughts expressed are my own.

Heather Boyd is one of my all-time favorite writers of historical romance novels, but this one time I didn’t like her characters. Portia was flirting in front of Julian with other men. He was just sitting back watching others fawn over her. He meant to court her, but he was letting her “sow her oats.” He was acting like a pushover and Portia was just not a likable character to me.
I received an advanced reader copy from the Publisher through NetGalley for my honest opinion.

In the battle between love and duty, the heart has the most to lose.

Despite his previous irksomeness, Lord Julian Wade has become a dear confidant to Portia Hayes. He’s proven attentive, honorable, clever, and would make many a lady a fine catch except his pockets are to let.
Julian is frankly BROKE! He needs an heiress but will not marry Portia simply for her money because with all else said he is in love with her.
Will Portia realize before it's too late that Julian is the man for her and despite her parent's insistence that she marry a man with a loftier title that she prefers love over the title of Duchess.
There was one thing that bothered me about this book and that was the Duke being referred to as My Lord instead of His Grace. That being said it is an engrossing title that I finished in one sitting only taking the usual BR or snack breaks.
I gave this mostly sweet (only one heated scene) book 4.5 of 5.0 stars for storyline and characterization. All of the characters except the Duke of Montrose, are endearing. I look forward to Lavinia getting her own story. It looks like that may be with Sullivan but we can't be certain of that.

Loved the story. Loved the leads. Loved everything about it. Couldn't put the novel away and finished it within a day on the beach in Sicily.
Very wellsone, Heather!
(arc from netgalley in exchange for an honest review)

As this is my first read by Heather Boyd and the tenth in a series, I had no clue of who is who but except the murderess talk at the beginning of the book, but slowly it is unraveled along the chapters.
The author has definitively a style of her own, her narrative is very different from what I usually read and it was quite refreshing to be a bit unsettle at the beginning.
At first, I thought the main characters relationship a bit awkward, he hiding his feelings, only playing the friend and protector and she flirting rather shamelessly and always saved from disaster by her said friend.
Then when he thinks it is time he shows his sentiments for her, she decides to follow her family incentive to choose a lofty tittled husband-to-be, not because of some attractions between or a romantic courtship, just because he is a duke.
I do know it was the way things were done in the past, choose wealth and status over affections.
But as Portia is a cheerful personality, I did not liked seing her settle for the basic scheme of the marriage mart.
Sure Julian never expressed the intensity of his passion for her always keeping his emotions in a tight leash.
Julian is a hero as I love them, with a scoundrel side but so caring and kind, all doors are open to him. He makes things do as his family affairs are in dire straits, he keeps his head high and refuses to be bullied. And whatever arises, he always chooses the right path.
Why it was nice to watch Portia discovers who is really the man behind his society’s facade. One she shamelessly used to her own purpose until she understood he is not just a mean to an end. It is up to her so find what she really expect from life and with whom.
I was granted an advance copy through Netgalley by the author, I also purchased my own copy. Here is my true and unbiased opinion.

Julian is a little too passive waiting for Portia to see him as the man for her. Portia is too clueless to notice his desire. A great friends to lovers story. This is a new to me author and book 10 in the series. I will definitely go back to read the others in the series! I received an ARC for my honest review.

Portia Hayes and Lord Julian Wade met previously and have to come to know each other. Portia sees wade as a confidant, yet she does not notice all the attention he gives her and the things he does for her. Wade has nothing much to his name, due to his father. However, he still is welcomed at many ton events and has a habit of matchmaking. When Portia agrees to marry a man he detests, he is angry with her, believing her to only desire a title. Portia, while a bit spoiled, agreed to the match for her family, yet as she gets to know her betrothed, the more doubt she has about her upcoming marriage. Wade helps Portia see the darkness in the man she chose to marry and she begins to realize the man she has always wanted was right in front of her. But it is too late to change her course, or is it?