Really loved this book!

It’s original, fresh and fun!

I really like how strong the heroine is in this story. The plot moves quickly and keeps the reader engaged.

If you love Regency romance, this one is not to be missed!

Tempting the Scoundrel by Tracy Sumner

A romance longed for from afar and a decades wait. A talented wealthy watchmaker and intelligent housemaid follow the journey.

This is another well written novel by Tracy Sumner.

A nice easy read for a lazy afternoon

Nice all round read.

3.5/5

I liked this short romance. It was an escape from the world's troubles if only for awhile. I found the book to be interesting and entertaining.

A cute, romantic mutual pining romance.
I loved the characters and I thought the conflict in this book was understandable. Now here’s the key part: THE MUTUAL PINING. Personally, this isn’t my favourite trope, but if you love this trope I think you will love this book.

I enjoyed this short historical romance story with the two main characters that were Christian Bainbridge and Raine Mowbray. And also the rest of the characters to.

Christian Bainbridge is a watchmaker. When a Duke asked him to come to fix some watches and other clocks at his home he is surprised to see a young woman from his past. The young woman is the girl that he fall in love with 10 years ago.

Raine Mowbray is a housemaid in the Duke's home. So when a watchmaker comes to visit and is in need of someone that can translate a letter that he has received.

This was an interesting short story. Quite different that most historical stories that I have read. Because they both are from the low classes.

I received a complimentary copy via Netgalley. This is my honest unbiased opinion.

This was such a quick read! I really enjoyed this book,but it flew by so quickly! Cantwait to read more from this author!!

This was a quick book to read but l was not disappointed in that it had a good story, interesting characters. I wanted to know what happens to them. There was good description and l do recommend that you read this book.

This was a cute and quick read. There were times where I felt scenes were a little too rushed, but overall it was very fun.

When a lad, he had spotted her reading a book. A maid in the house he was soon to leave. It was love at first sight. He did learn her name but nothing else. His other love was watches. Taking them apart and putting them back together.

Christian never forgot Raine and had never expected to see her again, but here she was...ten years later at the home of the Duke of Dexter, where he was a guest. He had made his fortune with his watches, but in reality he was the youngest son of a vicar.

Be still my heart is all I can say because Kit won it! A heartwarming romance that promised so much and delivered even more.

If you like low-angst, insta-love Regency romance, this book may appeal to you. The writing is good, though the story lacks any significant conflict. The hero and heroine were unusual, in that he was a clock-maker and she a housemaid. An interesting change from usual Regency fare.

That's how long it took for our hero, Christian, to FINALLY introduce himself to his crush, Raine! Ugh! 10 years. It was love at first sight, but he didn't step up to the plate back then. Well, he's all about making up for lost time. What a lovely story to watch as he attempts to convince her to overlook all that separates them now and accept him! It's a quick, happy, and fun read!

I wanted to like this book, I really did, But it just absolutely didn't click with me. We were supposed to feel the weight of the character's history (?) and why they were able to fall for one another so swiftly. But it didn't click with me. The tension was kind of strange and I didn't particularly like Christian. This was a miss for me.

An enjoyable read. Good writing but a story that would have benefited from being longer. As it is, the pacing was quick and the relationship didn’t grow as naturally as it could have.

A sweet book that’s written well and makes you swiftly care about it’s characters. Felt like a quick read and made me smile. So glad I came across it.

Most Regency romances focus on the ton. It's refreshing to read a romance below stairs - sort of. Christian considers himself as somewhere in the middle - a self-made man who is cousin to an earl. While staying with said earl, he spies a beautiful maid reading by lamplight and falls in love instantly. Too young and shy to even introduce himself, he leaves the next morning to begin an apprenticeship as a watchmaker.

Ten years later, he's the famous guest of a duke and she is the newest maid. Sparks fly - but can Christian convince Raine that the gap between them is not so impossible to bridge?

I really loved these two together - Christian is smart and determined, but terrible with expressing his long-held feelings. Raine is well-educated for a maid but is understandably wary of men of the nobility. There's an interesting theme of class - it's not exactly front of mind for us today, but back then there was a strong feeling about staying in your class and not looking above one's station.

I'm not a huge fan of insta-love and think this would have been better if it had been expanded, perhaps over a longer timeframe for initial crushes to grow into a deeper love.

If you're looking for a short and steamy Regency read with a different hero and and heroine, give this a try.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

This is a novella and is very well written by an author that I will be reading again. I really liked this story, very good plot line and characters. Ms. Sumner does a good job of telling the reader all they need to know in a short time.
The dialogue is a bit off putting at first, not lengthy but a bit choppy, but the reader quickly gets that it suits both of the characters.
One thing that did bother me however was that the two main characters were really desperate for each other and there really was no build up to their passion, although as mentioned, this was a novella and needed to get there quickly. But would have liked to see more interplay and relationship between them before jumping to marriage even though they met 10 years prior.
Overall, I'm glad I gave this one a chance.
My thanks to the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for review.

Tavistock House, Mayfair - 1808

Christian Bainbridge is watching a young maid, Raine Mowbrey. immersed in reading a book. He is a cousin of the Earl of Tavistock whose home he is living in. Having recently lost his brother, he is finding solace in living with the Tavistock family. Christian loves to work on timepieces and has just been apprenticed to a well-known watchmaker in Cambridge. He leaves at dawn.

Hartland Abbey - Yorkshire - 1818

Raine now works as a maid for the Duke and Duchess of Devon. She had been educated with the children of the Earl of Tavistock. She has even taught herself several languages. Today, she is watching Christian walking with Jonathan, eldest son of the duke. She learns that Christian had been offered a knighthood from Prinny for a watch he had made for the Prince Regent. Christian is now here to make a timepiece for Jonathan.

When Christian realizes Raine is here, he requests her assistance in translating a document written in German. While together, they discuss the past. Christian fell in love with her years ago and wants to marry her. When they get a chance, they walk out and enjoy learning more about the other. But is there a chance for them as she is just a maid?

A sweet romance with an unusual plot. However, there is not enough substance to the story to deserve more than 3 stars from me.

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

Ten years ago Christian Bainbridge fell in love at first site of a girl reading on the veranda. When Christian had had enough of living in his unkind cousin’s home, he left to apprentice as a watchmaker. Raine Mowbray left the same cousin’s home a few years later. They meet again when the now renowned watchmaker comes to Devon House where Raine works. This is the perfect second chance to win the girl’s heart, or is it? Raine resists. She believes her status to be below his, and, well, everybody knows Christian is a scoundrel. Can he convince her otherwise and win the lady’s heart, and hand?

What a wonderful story! Christian and Raine are a perfect pair. It was really fun to watch them move from working together to being friends to a sensual courtship. Who would think that translating German could lead to love? Raine’s friend Charlotte offered her advice, and Penny, Christian’s friend and valet, was there to offer his hilarious words of wisdom. The Duke is pleased and not at all surprised. At the House of Devon, love happens. I enjoyed this compelling and heartwarming story.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.

Christian Bainbridge is known as the most distinguished watchmaker in England, having been offered a knighthood for his services to the Prinny, Prince Regent. However, he holds a secret that no-one knows and that is that he fell in love many years ago, with a young woman that he has only seen from afar. When he meets Raine Mowbray in person, he finds that his feelings have not diminished. Raine must soon decide whether the love of the watchmaker will survive and whether she can take the risk with her heart.
This was a sweet novella which I enjoyed but found Christian’s intense feelings for Raine, whilst not spending any time together, quite difficult to believe. Whilst the only drama in the book is with Raine hesitating to begin a romance, this is quickly overturned when she decides she can love him. I wish that this book could have taken more time to delve into the feelings between the couple as it had such great potential.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Ah, to be young again and feel the keen sting of young love!

Tempting the Scoundrel is the 3rd book in the House of Devon series, where each book is by a different author.

One fateful summer Christian Bainbridge's life changes irrevocably. Both his father and brother pass away and he is sent to live with his horrible cousin. The only light in the dark is the fact he won't be there long as he, at 15, has been accepted to be an apprentice with one of the most famous watchmakers around. That is until he spots a young maid reading my lamplight beneath his window. Cue heart-eyes and immediate and unalterable love at first sight. Ten years later as fate has a funny. funny way about her, Christian arrives at the Duke of Devon's to alter and update his timepieces but is in need of a translator to help him decipher some correspondence with a German colleague. And wouldn't you just know, they have newly acquired a maid with education in multiple languages that would be able to help.

Tracy Sumner, in general, has such a way with writing flawed by compelling characters that you can't help but feel with them. And while I would say this book was a little on the lighter and fluffier part of the 'feels' spectrum she usually works within, it is still a solid read. Christian had his moments of petulant childishness... but once he reined it back it and reset his course, well, all was forgiven. Raine was a beautifully strong character who knew the limited environment in which she lived and strove to be content and happy within it. She was wonderfully level headed as compared to many maid-to-princess-type stories we are usually inundated with. Further, she had no desire to be a plaything for some passing rake and stood on her laurels. How I do love strong-minded females!

Being able to watch these two plus some other fun side characters as they danced and bantered into each other's orbit was delightful. I do love some good banter.

The steam was mild to moderate but that is to be expected from a historical romance where our ladies are generally first-timers and kept in the dark regarding bedroom matters. But, again, it was still fun and, well, steamy.

As always, I know I'm in for a good read with Tracy Sumner, whatever she's writing. I definitely recommend for those that love historicals and strong-minded ladies. I am going to be on the hunt for the rest in the House of Devon series (you know, to get an accurate picture of the whole overall story

*ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*