Another winner from Harper St. George! While not my favorite in the heiress series, still I loved getting Lady Helena's story and thought her relationship with Max Crenshaw was honest and progressive. With St. George's signature steamy sex scenes, a faked engagement, and some fantastic verbal sparring, and we have another gilded era winner! As always, I appreciated her ability to draw in progressive and political topics, in this case - labor rights and the right to unions.

I binged read this series and it was just so good. I am excited for the next book in the series. Harper St George was a guest in the podcast.

Max Crenshaw has been summoned back to England for the third time… in the past it was over drama with his sisters and his parents matchmaking schemes… now his father is ill and has his sights set on his legacy. It’s Max’s turn to marry!



But Max isn’t going to just heed his father’s demands- he’s his own man and it’s a modern (Gilded) age! Solution: he will find a fake fiancée to cease his threats.



His sisters friend , whom he had a shared experience with, the widowed Lady Helena March would be perfect! Just what his father wants and bonus-she’s not interested in marriage either!

Ah, the old fake engagement! I suggest choosing someone you don’t actually like if you don’t want to end up married for real in the end!



I jest! Max and Helena make a perfect pairing… so perfect the only thing that seems to be keeping them from actually being engaged in truth is the long distanced nature of their respective homes (America & England)… But these star crossed lovers have more than just an ocean keeping them apart!



This was a beauty friends to lovers story that develops so naturally over the course of the book. Their chemistry was delicious and the emotional support they each provided was very touching. It was very easy to root for their HEA.



I really enjoyed this story and especially the ending. It could have gone cliché, but Harper St. George delivered a real and honest ending that suited these two perfectly!

The Lady Tempts the Heir by Harper St. George was released February 22nd, 2022.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

#TheLadyTemptsanHeir #HarperStGeorge #Netgalley #pinkcowlandreads

✔️ I always love a fake engagement story
✔️ really liked both Helena and Maxwell - I think they make a great couple and their story was sweet and steamy
✔️ this is by far my favourite book in this series

I LOVE this series by Harper St. George and The Lady Tempts an Heir was such a great addition to the first two books.

This book's main characters are Max and Helena. Both spent some time together when Max's younger sister Violet creates a potential scandal. Now that Max is back in London and having to consider finding a wife to appease his father, he comes up with a plan that will help them both. Max proposes that he and Helena pretend to be betrothed. This way he doesn't really have to marry and Helena can get the support she needs for her Home for Young Women.

Of course, what neither counted on was that they would start to have feelings for each other...despite the attraction they felt. As the story progresses, it becomes clear that these two are perfect for each other. Unfortunately, Helena has reasons why she will never remarry and they both have to determine what is most important to them.

I definitely recommend this series and this book to anyone looking for a wonderful historical romance. I can't wait for the next one!

This is the third book in the Gilded Age Heiresses series by Harper St. George and another success for this reader. I've been enjoying each installment very much. This book centers around Maxwell Crenshaw, brother to the first two heroines, August and Violet. I was looking forward to learning more about Max as I felt that he was a bit of a mystery in the previous stories. There wasn't much development around his character and he was very much in the background as a secondary character. In The Lady Tempts an Heir he's truly brought to life and becomes an honorable hero to really root for.

Once again, we have the Crenshaw parents meddling in their children's lives by forcing the last remaining single sibling to marry. To be honest, this was my only complaint and reasoning for taking off a star when choosing a rating. The theme is reoccurring in every single book and when that happens it tends to get a little stale. Yes, there were some variations to the attempt at forced marriages, but essentially we're reading the same thing. The parents are absolutely despicable and selfishly controlling. They don't go through any sort of redemption arc or grow from what transpires after the first two marriages. They manipulate their kids into marrying nobility for their own selfish gains, get what they want, and then repeat, despite the pain and suffering they cause along the way. It seems to me that the three siblings are very forgiving towards them, and I have to say that I didn't feel any sympathy at all for the father who developed a heart condition in this book and feared for his life. Maybe that sounds a little heartless, but it was hard to mete out any forgiveness when he put his social rank above his three children's freedom and happiness.

Max Crenshaw is the loyal and honorable prodigal son. He is following in his father's footsteps, learning the business at Crenshaw Iron in order to eventually run the company. While he is more than capable of taking over from his father, they have completely opposite values and managing styles when it comes to business. His father is a dictator and doesn't care about his workers' welfare or living conditions. Max is constantly butting heads with him because unlike his father, he believed an organization is the sum of its parts and that success isn't due to one sole person at the top. Another admirable trait was his loyalty to his family. When it came to his sisters, he jumped to defend them at every opportunity and fought for their happiness and well being. His father's sexist attitude toward August's contribution in the company is a constant battle that he's willing to fight for her. He sees the value in her work and he genuinely cares about the projects she initiates for the company. When his father uses that loyalty against him to attempt to entrap him in marriage, that was the final nail in his coffin for me. He threatens to sink August's business plan if Max doesn't get married by the end of the season.

Lady Helena March is a close friend of Max's two sisters. He encountered her in previous books, and there was an attraction there, but he forced himself to put it out of his mind. He had no time at the present to entertain thoughts of marriage, even though he felt oddly drawn to her. When they see each other again, there is an instantaneous reaction between them, and his respect for her only grows as he sees her efforts towards setting up a home to assist unwed mothers. Rather than turn his nose up at her charity for "fallen" women like most in their social echelon, he sees the value in her work and the generosity in her heart. You have to love his willingness to not only confront the snobbery that surrounds them, but his desire to help her achieve her goal. His plan for a fake engagement will assist both of them: he will get some breathing room from his father's threats and she will get the respect needed from her family and society in order to get financial backing for The London Home for Young Women. What could go wrong?

What started out as a fabrication started to feel more real by the day. As their respect, admiration, and passion grew, the line blurred between fiction and reality. However, even as they wished they could make their engagement into a true marriage, they didn't see how they could overcome their lives firmly settled on separate shores. She could never move to America where Crenshaw Iron was based when her own dreams were on the verge of being attained in England. Would they find a way to bridge the gap? There was another major roadblock between them, but that was quickly resolved because of Max's unconditional love and acceptance of Helena. Once he made up his mind that he had to have her, nothing was going to stand in his way.

I really enjoyed reading Max and Helena's story. It was a pretty straightforward story with no excessive drama. They had a ton of chemistry and sweetness between them to enjoy. Helena got the partner that she so greatly deserved after suffering through the heartache of her first marriage. I highly recommend this series if you're looking for historical romances with strong, independent female leads. That seems to be a staple in Harper St. George's stories, and I for one, will keep coming back for more as long as she is producing them.

Book 3 in the series just released and these books just keep getting better. Honestly, I am not sure how she does it because they are each such great reads. I love that each story is vastly different too. They follow one family with characters that are distinctly their own yet important to each others lives/stories.
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Now on to The Lady Tempts An Heir........MAXWELL CRENSHAW 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Absolutely adorable. Brother to heroines of book 1 & 2 (not missing out if reading this alone but highly recommend others). American businessman and owner of Crenshaw Iron, Maxwell, is not prepared to marry but his ailing father insists. Lady Helena may have more freedoms as a widow but society fails to take her or her charity seriously without a husband. Together Maxwell and Helena agree to a fake courtship to get some peace and support her charity. Sparks fly. Tempers ignite. Passions flare.

I fell in love with Harper St George’s series the second I opened the first book! Not only are the covers stunning with gorgeous dresses but the stories are sensual, romantic, and all around great reads. I actually kind of thought that the series would end after the second book since it’s the Gilded Age Heiresses series and there were only two sisters, but I was thrilled to see this book was coming out even if this book featured the brother of the two previous heiresses.

I instantly jumped at the chance to review this one—in fact I had in on pre order for months as soon as I saw it coming out! Since St George is such a great writer I couldn’t pass it up! If you love Bridgerton and other historical romances, you cannot miss this series. It’s full of all the things that are beloved in historical romances, swoon worthy heroes, steamy romantic scenes, the glitz and glamour of the period—-I just love it! Just add it to your TBR already!

While this latest book is the third in a series, I don’t think you need to read the other books first to enjoy this one. I felt the same with the second book, I could easily have jumped in to that one without having read the first one and not been lost at all. But I will ask you this—why would you want to miss out on all the fun romance of the entire series? The answer is you don’t so not only read this book but read the series too!

Summary

A fake engagement brings together a lady with bold and daring dreams, and the heir whose heart she captured—perfect for fans of Bridgerton!

Tall, dark, and brooding—to say that American Maxwell Crenshaw stood out in the glittering ballrooms of London, is an understatement. He vowed never to set foot in England again, but when a summons from his father, along with an ultimatum to secure his legacy, has him crossing the Atlantic for the last time, reuniting him with the delectable Lady Helena March, he can’t deny the temptation she presents. Or the ideas she inspires…

Lady Helena March is flirting with scandal. Instead of spending her time at teas and balls in search of another husband, as is expected of a young widow, Helena pours her energy into The London Home for Young Women. But Society gives no quarter to unmarried radicals who associate with illegitimate children and fallen women, and Helena’s funding is almost run out. So when the sinfully seductive Crenshaw heir suggests a fake engagement to save them both—him from an unwanted marriage and her from scorn and financial ruin—Helena finds herself too fascinated to refuse the sexy American.

As their arrangement of convenience melts oh so deliciously into nights of passion, their deception starts to become real. But if Max knew the true reason Helena can never remarry, he wouldn’t look at her with such heat in his eyes. Or might the Crenshaw heir be willing to do whatever it takes to win the one woman he’s never been able to forget… (summary from Goodreads)

Review

In the previous books we are introduced to both of the characters here, but not in any real depth. Max is just the ‘big brother’ to his sisters in the previous book and Lady Helena is just a random character that we casually meet on occasion. This is one of the reasons why I felt like new readers could pop right in without being lost, but as I have read the other books, I was familiar with them. I didn’t really recall much about either but I always found intrigue in Max because he came across as broody and protective in the other books you ya’ll know how much I love broody leading men! I actually really enjoyed Max’s character and found him very swoon worthy and charming. Just what a romantic hero should be but he also had this brooding streak that worked really well for me throughout the story. I also love marriage of convenience or fake marriages (in this case a fake engagement) so this was a great read for me!

Throughout the series, Crenshaw parents have been the absolute worst and this book was no different. But honestly I am getting a little tired of their constant intervention in their children’s lives. It made sense in the first book but by now we are in the third book and I am pretty over them by now. I would have liked to have seen some other catalyst for this story but ultimately it was fine and didn’t really change the outcome or rating of the book for me.

I loved Max and Lady Helena together, their chemistry is so electric and spot on I just adored them. The sex scenes were hot and just well written. I loved that they didn’t try and fight their attraction which is such a thing in many historical romances. It was clear from the beginning that they were attracted to one another and had a ton of chemistry. If you love steamy romances you need this book, I literally can’t say that enough times, you need this book. It has some more beefier topics though like infertility as an example so it isn’t all just bodice rip-y and sex, it does have some things to sink your teeth into as a reader. Over all it’s a great installment to the series and I can’t wait for more books by Harper St George! This one was another winner for me, yet another 5 star from her!

Book Info and Rating

Format: 314 pages mass market paperback

Published: February 22 2022 by Berkley Books

ISBN: 9780593197240

Free review copy provided by publisher, Berkley Book in partnership with HFVBT in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and in no way influenced.

Rating: 5 stars

Genre: Historical fiction

I've never had the pleasure of watching Bridgerton...but I've always wanted to. According to the brag line, it's a perfect fit for fans, so that leaves me with two things...an increased desire to watch the show I've longed to, and the chance to share my adventure between the pages of this fabulous story! First things first though, it's definitely meant for adult audiences because there are a few scenes that would bring a blush to most readers faces, but the story...oh that glorious story...you won't be able to turn or flick pages fast enough!

Lady Helena was a gem. She wasn't the most fortunate in love...as of yet...but her stars could have been painted worse. Despite being widowed at a young age, it also gave her unexpected freedom in some things she would not have previously been able to gain favor in. Now, before you get all excited, she was still a "prisoners" of the times and those times didn't cater to women having much say or power, but she knew her mind and was certainly capable of pursuing her dreams for a better tomorrow for those viewed as lesser or outcasts. I admired her drive, and her dream...as well as her will power. *ahem* May I present the other piece of this puzzle of the heart, Maxwell Crenshaw. He's in the market for a bride, whether he likes it or not, and is being ultimately manipulated by his father as the man threatens things he has no business sticking his nose into. But Max isn't the son that bows to every parental whim...and his sharp mind, and shrewd business skills have come up with a plan that ultimately solves everything. Or does it? He knew what he was getting into...or at least he thought he knew before his heart decided to get in the game...and while the lady is willing to play his game so everyone wins, they may BOTH find that the endgame they sought is no longer as clear cut.

I'm telling you, this pair was meant to be whether they will admit it or not! The banter, glances, and heated moments will have you holding your breath until all their defenses fall down, while the forward thinking of the characters have you holding your head up with pride. The side characters are nothing to write off either, from Max's sisters to Helena's parents, and everyone in between; they leave an impression whether they came for a page, or the length of the story. A definite recommendation for Historical Fiction fans, and a series I entirely intend to explore!

Review will be posted on 3/10/2022

Lady Helena March is a young widow who has some big plans. Instead of doing what is expected of her, like attend boring balls, she is inspired to start The London Home for Young Women. Well, society (and her father) don't look upon this as a reputable endeavor, but Helena persists; however, she realizes that this charity will need a lot more funding. Maybe having a husband or a connection to an heir might help? Cue Maxwell Crenshaw, an American and heir to Crenshaw Iron Works. His father told him that it is up to him to continue with the family's legacy and therefore, he must marry soon. Looks like Helena and Maxwell have more in common than they thought. What better idea than a fake engagement to get rid of both Helena and Maxwell's problems! As time goes on during their courtship, Helena finds it hard to resist Maxwell and his charm. This fake engagement is starting to get serious from both parties, but can they put aside the plans they have for their lives for this unlikely romance? Harper St. George's third installment in the Gilded Age Heiresses series, The Lady Tempts an Heir, is tremendously fun; fans of the series won't be disappointed.

Helena is the type of character I enjoy in The Lady Tempts an Heir. She wants so much more for her life and isn't merely a wallflower. Helena has her charitable endeavors that she loves to support despite the fact that many feel it isn't respectable. Maxwell could bring her some credibility to her charity (not to mention some funding), so when they both realize their need for a possible marriage, these unlikely friends work together to achieve their goals. Plus, they aren't *really* going to go through with a marriage. Once Maxwell has to go back to America, their engagement will be broken. However, sparks fly between the two and it has Helena questioning their plans. There's one major problem that Helena has though--her infertility--and she thinks it would be a deal breaker for Maxwell, so they couldn't actually form a real attachment....or could they?

Maxwell is an interesting character in The Lady Tempts an Heir. He is very similar to his sisters August and Violet from the previous books in the series and I love that his sisters make cameos in this novel. Maxwell feels the pressure from his father as the legacy of Crenshaw Iron Works lies all on him, so he feels he needs to get engaged and the sooner the better. He already has a rapport with Helena, albeit an awkward one, but they both could benefit from a coupling. I loved his bravado and his attitude and how it was the opposite at times to Helena's quiet confidence. Their witty banter was the best. Even though I had an idea of how the novel would end, I enjoyed getting there, very much so that I enjoyed The Lady Tempts an Heir more than book two in the series.

I will say that St. George dealt with the tough topic of infertility very well and it was something that I was surprised to see addressed in a historical novel; nonetheless, it was done well. I also got major Bridgerton's Duke and I vibes from The Lady Tempts an Heir with the fake engagement trope; however, St. George made it fun and fresh.

If you are looking for a historical romance that will whisk you away to the Gilded Age, give The Lady Tempts an Heir a try as well as the Gilded Age Heiresses series. It's a delight! So, are you a fan of St. George? Have you read any of the books from the Gilded Age Heiresses series? Let me know in the comments below.

The Lady Tempts an Heir
by Harper St. George
Berkley publishing group

@harperstgeorge @BerkleyPub @gwendalyn_books_

#TheLadyTemptsanHeir

From the desk of Gwendalyn’s Books
The Lady Tempts an Heir by Harper St. George

The Lady Tempts an Heir by Harper St. George is the third installment in The Gilded Age Heiresses series. These has been a delightful historical romance series. I do think that readers would have a better reading experience if you read the books in order to meet all the Crenshaws. It’s not completely necessary as all books can be read as a standalone. I have enjoyed the overall flow of this series and highly recommend it.

TLTAH features, Widowed Lady Helena March and the American, Maxwell Crenshaw, who is the heir to the Crenshaw Iron empire.
Lady Helena March, is passionate about her charitable works. Especially one that if it was made know she was involved in, her reputation would definitely suffer for it. The London Home for Young Women, is a charity that unexceptionable to polite society.
If her reputation is to be saved, and to keep the continues flow of donations coming, there is only one alternative.. to marry again.! This is something she has avoided at all cost. Her past experiences, and the emotional pain that came from her previous marriage has left its damaging mark on her. She keeps a well guarded secret close to her heart.

Maxwell Crenshaw, is called back to the one place he vowed never to return, London. Even though his mind has kept wondering back to a certain special lady who lives there. As the only male heir to his father’s empire, August,his father has found a way of make Max bend to his will. Maxwell has other plans and comes up with idea that would both benefit The lady Helena and himself, as well as his sisters.

A fake engagement!

Once again Harper St. George, has written another captivating book. The writer’s voice is fluid, and I was immersed from start to finish. Some much angst, and chemistry between Max and Helena. There are definitely some we’ll enjoyed twist thatI especially liked. I found myself completely taken in with this lovely couple. The storyline was meaningful. The author did a remarkable job tackling a very sensitive issue, that causes so much heartbreak to so many women.
I am looking forward to reading this author next historical romance.

Read The Lady Tempts An Heir by Harper St. George if you enjoy

Meddling Parents
Fake Courtship
Angst
Sizzling Chemistry
Charitable foundations
Candid real life issues

True Partners at Last


""Why don't you want to marry now, Mr. Crenshaw? You're the right age; you've mentioned a desire for children."
"I'd like to take my time and find the right woman. I want a union of mutual respect and affection, someone who can be a true partner to me instead of an ornament at my table and on my arm. An equal. I'm prepared to wait for such a woman."
She parted her lips to respond, but no words were forthcoming. Perhaps she was losing her grasp on reality, but the position of his wife suddenly seemed very appealing."

With tantalizingly steamy bedroom scenes and witty, intelligent dialogue placed on top of a detailed, well-researched historical backdrop, The Lady Tempts an Heir was a very enjoyable read with a couple whose love story is very easy to believe in. Lady Helena March is a wealthy, young English widow who champions the unpopular cause of "immoral" women--unmarried pregnant women, that is. Mr. Maxwell Crenshaw is a deliciously attractive American tycoon who manages to perfectly balance alpha-male authoritarianism with a shockingly progressive belief in women's equal status with men, and the obligation to protect society's more vulnerable.

When Max requires the appearance of an engagement, his sisters' dear friend Lady Helena seems the ideal choice for a fake fiancee. Should he fail to produce a would-be-bride, his domineering father will penalize his sister, August, by thwarting one of her plans for the family business--solely because she is a daughter. Max is thus a likeable hero, standing up not only for his own sisters but for Helena's "immoral women" and their offspring.

Helena and Max met in an earlier book, but their connection in this story grows quickly and I did not feel like I was missing anything having not read the earlier books in the series (though my interest is now piqued).

But my favorite part of the book was the way in which Harper St. George highlights her heroine's infertility and does not shy away from less commonly discussed topics in a romance novel. In her first marriage, Helena learned she could not have children and her husband was understandably disappointed--but less understandably very cruel to her after that. The book touches on marital rape, infertility, divorce, and there is no sudden miracle cure where the couple winds up with children in an epilogue. Personally, I find this refreshing as an HEA without children is absolutely possible and the norm for many.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the early review copy of this book!

Steam Level: Bedroom scenes so well-written they should win an Academy Award! *fans self*

Harper St. George’s Gilded Age Heroines series is definitely earning a place amidst some of my favorites. This one really walked the line between emotional and entertaining in such a skillful way (I was already here for the book and then the hilarious sheath disposal scene made me have even more of a renewed love for it). A great depiction of infertility that isn’t magically cured by the end of the book, and Helena and Maxwell had searing chemistry (though I would’ve enjoyed them leaning a little more into exploring certain bedroom antics even more than they already did!). Another winner for me, and I’m looking forward to Camille’s book just as much next.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is the third book in the series but as I'm not a stickler for reading in order (unless it's significant to a worldbuilding story arc) it means I have two more great stories to look forward too! I really enjoyed this fake relationship romance, with a strong female heroine Helena who knows her mind and has the freedom (being a widow) to follow her own passions (including championing the forgotten and ostracized women and children) though it still comes at a cost. For Maxwell, it's finding an equal that enthralls him, even if he realizes their lives, while intersecting at this point, are meant to head off in different directions. Their attraction to each other leads to some steamy love scenes and the realization that they may have gotten in over their heads. I loved how the plot progresses, felt engaged with the characters, and believed in their happy ending. It was interesting to have American and English viewpoints too. Great work by a new to me author!

The third book in the gilded age series is giving me the gilded age book vibes I’ve been craving since watching the new HBO series. #partner @harperstgeorge @berkleyromance

Max, the heir to the Crenshaw fortune, is being forced to marry or risk his sister’s newest project. He decided to enter into a fake engagement with Lady Helena that turns into a lust-fueled relationship.

I loved the push-and-pull of their hearts and heads. We know where this story is ending, but the journey was oh so good.

The Lady Tempts an Heir is the third book in The Gilded Age Heiresses series. This book, which begins in London, 1875, tells the story of Lady Helena March. Helena is a young widow who has found great meaning in helping orphans and unwed mothers - a scandalous charitable pursuit in Victorian England. When wealthy American Maxwell Crenshaw proposes a pretend engagement for the benefit of both their interests (her charity and the business he runs with his sister, Helena's friend), she accepts ... and sparks begin to fly.

I wanted to read this novel because I have loved the earlier books in this series. I am interested in the Gilded Age and Harper St. George does such a wonderful job at capturing the time period. It is a pleasure to visit the Gilded Age in this book series.

Helena is my favorite protagonist in this entire series. She is such a strong and admirable woman who has experienced great personal loss but found a way to help others in a meaningful way. I enjoyed her relationship with Maxwell, and appreciate that he admires her strength, determination, and intelligence. Also - what romantic sparks between the two!

Each chapter starts with a short, meaningful quote, i.e. "It takes two flints to make a fire" (Louisa May Alcott).

The descriptions in this book (and the series!) are fabulous, rich and detailed, and the dialogue is so smartly written that it moves the book along. I read this novel in just over two days because I could not put it down.

I highly recommend The Lady Tempts an Heir -- and the Gilded Age Heiresses series -- for fans of historical fiction, and especially for anyone who is interested in the Gilded Age.

This was another very standard regency romance, it was nice to see the continuation of the characters but it was a little flat overall. A sexy scenes were OK but I felt like they could have been drawn out a bit more. Still a solid continuation of the series and a great palate cleanser.

The Lady Tempts An Heir by Harper St. George is the third standalone historical romance in the Gilded Age Heiresses series and features, Lady Helena March & American Maxwell Crenshaw. Prepare for swoons, tender moments, and a story that pulls the reader in and holds them until the epilogue.

After their adventures assisting Max’s sister in The Devil and the Heiress, I was hoping we’d get Max and Helena’s story. While each of the books in this series has their own romance, you’ll want to start with book one to meet the all the Crenshaws.

Lady Helena is a widow and philanthropist seeking to make a difference for unwed mothers. Helena has a vision even if those in her social class frown upon it. She hopes to create The London Home for Young Women. Here she will house these families and offer training to lift them from their dire circumstances.

She often thinks of Maxwell Crenshaw, but knows no man will ever wed her, especially not the Crenshaw heir. Still, she cannot help but be drawn to him.

When Max’s father becomes ill, Max returns to London and finds his father making the same demands of him he had for his sisters. He has thought about Helena often, but she lives in London and his home is in America. So naturally, he is standoffish to hide his attraction. However, his father threatens to thwart his sister’s business idea if he doesn’t come to heel.

Meanwhile, society, thanks in part to her father, is sabotaging Helena’s efforts to fund her home. Max cannot seem to keep his eyes off Helena and enjoys conversing with her. That is when he hatches a clever plan that will aid them both. A fake courtship and engagement, which she can break in the spring. Oh, the tale that unfolds was delightful, heartbreaking, and completely swoon-worthy.

I loved the previous books in this series and was delighted to slip back into this world. Set in London with American heroes and heroines matched with London’s peerage, St. George has created characters you cannot help put root for. The women buck the expected norms of society and the men who fall for them prove to be worthy of their affections.

During this time period, I felt for Lady Helena regarding her secret. I thought the outcome was cleverly done. I admitted I was seriously worried about getting a happily ever after. The author delivered without compromise, and I was pleased with how she stayed true to the issue and showed that love conquers all.

Fans of fake arrangements, well-developed characters and the Gilded Age will want to devour all the books in the Gilded Age Heiresses series. You’ll fall in love with its characters.

✨I’m just gonna start it off with a bang here and work backwards because what do we want? Sex! When do we want it? Now! Or preferably at around 50% of the book and multiple times after.✨

Sex Scenes for the Soul:
- “Tell me you need me.” His voice was a trembling growl that vibrated across her already raw nerve endings. “My God, yes. I need you inside me.” His breath rushed past her ear. “You’re such a good girl, Helena. You do everything I ask of you.” And then he was there, his hard length buried inside her to the hilt from behind.

- “Has no one ever kissed you between your pretty thighs, Helena?”

- “I want you inside me.” She pressed harder with her palm, working up and down his length from root to tip in an imitation of a massage. He let out another shaky breath.

- There was something profoundly erotic about him being clothed while she was nude and lying beneath him as he used her for his pleasure.

I liked his beard and the hint at rough play (but it never really got rough) as they realize she likes his dominance. And there were definitely still the “pretty thighs” and “good girl” type of vibes that are always immaculate and it gave Max an edge in the bedroom that I think street Max needed. One minute he’s cleaning her up and the next minute he’s making her come again and then he’s cuddling her like a teddy bear with his leg draped over her body and then he’s waking her up and taking her from behind and I just think that’s very gorgeous gorgeous of him. I did also love that he was crude when he was drunk because I always love a good lost-filter drunk scene. That’s my chicken soup for the soul.

I’m always one for a starchy hero with a very horny monster, sexy beast hybrid deal living under the flashing eyes and clenched jaws. Max wasn’t too starchy (I mean the guy realized he wanted to fuck Helena before he returned to America which is a rather inspired realization) but he was burdened with familial responsibility and the ever present need to (even after glowing sexual fireworks) go back to America and be a good son to prefect his sisters. He didn’t change all that much from start to finish, but I still enjoyed him.

However, I would’ve enjoyed him SO much more if he would’ve gotten out of the Crenshaw Iron shadow at the beginning of the book. The whole reason for the fake engagement (surprise fake engagement!) was to appease ol daddio and Crenshaw Iron. A daddio in which I was firmly against appeasing. He was such a pain in the ass and I wanted him GONE. His threat against August just wasn’t that great to me and I didn’t really care about it. (Especially when he tried to tell Helena that August’s hurt feelings would be worse than mothers and children not having warm beds in the city. Like sorry, rich August will be a-okay with her hot and large husband. She also deserved to be told!! She never was I don’t think.)

The Iron company and its “legacy” just bogged the story down. I totally understood Helena’s reservations about getting into a relationship with Max and I didn’t need his whole daddy issues, heir to a mega million company woes plot. There could’ve been more time devoted to growing as characters and investing time in Helena’s charity.

I enjoyed this book a lot but I’m like super excited for book four bc we can finally get out from the annoying shadow of Crenshaw Iron. I think it lacked the final factor that would’ve made me risk it all for the two main characters and to get emotional, but I still had a very good time with their story and read the book super quickly because I was hooked! The fake engagement was fun (but I did feel a bit cheated out of their road-trip) and I was happy with their ending.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🌶🌶🌶.5*/5

This is the third installment in The Gilded Age Heiresses saga. I love this saga and each book is an absolute joy to read and lose myself in. Harper St. George is going to have a hard time in this readers opinion of topping this saga. I can't wait to see how she does it!!!!!!