How to Steal a Scoundrel’s Heart — Vivienne Lorret

Rating: 4/5

Quick verdict: Sparkly, slightly wicked fun with an unexpectedly tender center.

Two-sentence summary: A desperate lady’s scheme to liberate herself collides with a gentleman rogue’s plans—and sparks a partnership that looks suspiciously like trust. Masks slip, hearts follow.

Writing & voice: Flirty, fast, sprinkled with wry asides.

Themes & conflicts: Survival vs. propriety; found-family; deserving happiness.

Memorable element: A “practice seduction” that becomes a confession.

Emotional impact: Playful to poignant.

What worked:

Joyful trope play (fake lessons, real feelings)

Side-cast that adds stakes without hijacking the plot

What could be stronger:

Antagonist exits tidily after a long build

Helpful pre-read info: Standalone-friendly. Moderate steam; mild peril.

Who will love this / readalikes: Fans of Kerrigan Byrne’s lighter fare, Scarlett Peckham’s bold heroines.

Hook: “She planned a scandal. She found a home.”

Full review (expanded):
Lorret lets her couple flirt their way into honesty, turning caper beats into character beats at every opportunity. The heroine’s need to outmaneuver a rigged system makes her daring feel righteous; the scoundrel’s charm lands because he listens. Glitzy set pieces—house parties, midnight escapades—deliver on the promise of the title, but it’s the quieter conversations that lock the HEA into place. A neatly tied antagonist thread may strike some as swift, yet the heart of the book is so generous it’s hard to mind. You’ll grin, then melt.

Vivienne Lorret has become an auto but author for me! She weaves interesting characters and wonderful plots all within the perfect happily ever after that's sought after in regency romances.

Vivienne Lorret knows how to write an emotional humorous book. I loved How to Steal a Scoundrel's Heart. You will laugh, cry, and absolutely fall in love!

I started this book and just could not get into it, I don't know if it was the mood I was in at the moment but this book just was not for me. I will give this authors books another shot, there was promise but the premise just wasn't for me. This was a DNF

Another great read from Vivienne Lorret! This is one of my favorite series from her and I love the mix of humor, romance and drama in her books!

Vivienne Lorret's "How to Steal a Scoundrel's Heart" earned a solid 4.25 stars from this avid reader. The adventurous and emotional journey of Prudence Thorogood, our prim heroine with a penchant for mischief, and Leo Ramsgate, the reformed rake with a wounded heart, had me hooked from the start. Lorret's lighthearted and amusing narrative, coupled with the fast-paced plot, made this a page-turner that I devoured in one sitting. The marriage of convenience trope takes a refreshing turn as secrets, scandal, and a touch of mystery unfold. Lorret skillfully weaves a tale of love, trust, and second chances, creating characters that feel both authentic and endearing. The overall execution and the charming interplay of emotions make "How to Steal a Scoundrel's Heart" a highly enjoyable addition to any historical romance enthusiast's shelf.

This book wasn't holding my attention and after talking to a friend on bookstagram made me not want to pick it up anymore. Nothing was wrong with this book I just overall felt neutral about it and as the year comes to a close I just don't see myself trying to finish this. I love love love this author's new release so maybe I'll focus on those instead

I love this author's work and have read her since I was reading paperbacks in the bathtub as a young adult. Always a good story with likeable and interesting characters and a solid dose of steamy goodness. This book was no exception and I would recommend to anyone that loves that kind of formula in their stories.

I’m ashamed to say that I had never read anything by this ASTOUNDING writer and now I want to read everything she wrote! I was enchanted by the perfect mix of humor, steam and angst and by the characters, who were gorgeously fleshed out. I fell in love with Leo, of course, who is just my type of hero, confident, but also vulnerable and determined not to fall in love after a bad experience in the past. I also loved Pru, who was mistreated by his father, but decided to reclaim what was hers. A compelling read, but also quite fun.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Overall: 4.5 to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Intimate Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥🔥 - this is generous – the last couple are on the shorter side but I still counted them
Humor: Yes, a bit
Perspective: Third person from both the hero and heroine
When mains are first on page together: Not long at all 3% in the prologue
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes, ten months later

Should I read in order?
It’s not tooootally necessary but I think reading at least the prior book, The Wrong Marquess, will give you some of this heroine’s background. And I adore that book so you should read it! I didn’t read book 1 of the series but did read book 2. They are all loosely connected by a group of heroines that are friends.

Basic plot:
Prue is out to steal back her inheritance and finds help in a relationship bargain with Lord Savage.

Give this a try if you want:
- Regency (?)
- Marquess/rake hero
- ruined heroine
- mistress
- Vauxhall
- bargain – hero will help the heroine steal back her inheritance if she becomes his mistress
- character focused
- mid steam – I have 4 full scenes but the last 2 are on the lighter side

My thoughts:
Oh I just love Vivienne Lorret. I love the time she takes on the little romantic things. I love all the little touches, and the back and forth banter and the emotional build up of her scenes. I just adored this book so much.

I was worried with it being a mistress theme I might not get into it because I find the tension can kind of dwindle for me with a ‘business transaction’ feel going on but I loved how it played out there. It even feels like more of a slow burn (the steam is definitely later in the book) but I appreciated that because it let the tension build up for me.

Leo is smitten, everyone. He is head over heels, obsessed with Prue and I ate it up! The time he takes with her. The gentleness. The playfulness. Ahhhh I was swooning left and right over him.

And Prue is just the best. I loved her as a heroine. Her strength and recovery and her journey to healing was really heart warming to me.

I just found myself loving so many lines in this one. I found it really romantic and sweet and I loved it.

Prudence’s story has been teased throughout this series, and here it is…

I kind of expected more, to be honest. I’m not sure what I mean by that. The story was fine, the characters were fine. But maybe my expectations were too high.

Enjoyable romance between a fallen woman & a notorious scoundrel. Prue has been sent to the country because of a past liaison, but when she learns that her inheritance is being gambled away, she goes back to London. Leo meets her before she makes it there & makes her an offer. A month later they meet again & they begin a relationship. Liked the characters, but I would have liked more chemistry between Prue & Leo. It seemed more of a lust thing rather than love.

Prudence! I've been eagerly awaiting her book since the first in this series. What a lovely way to wrap it up, my favorite of Lorretts to date!

Vicente Lorret’s series just keeps getting better and better. We finally get Prue’s story. From the previous books in the series we know she’s had a rough season and unfortunately fell into the path of the wrong man. Her strict and religious family has pulled her away from society to rehabilitate her but she can’t handle it anymore. She flees back to London and her friends via coach but runs into Lord Savage. Everyone knows him as a scoundrel who only allows himself affairs for a limited time. But Prue has plans to win back her inheritance- the prize possessions that will help her live her life in solitude away from society. She makes a pact with Savage to be his mistress if he helps her with her larceny. Little does she know, Lord Savage will not only help her with her plan but teach her what it’s like to be with a real man who respects and loves her. Great read!!

This book has characters that are so much more than you expect, complex storylines in each of their pasts and a bargain for their own gains.i love the heroine in this story and how she isn't afraid to just do what she wants

I liked this story well enough and read the next in the series because of it, and hope to read the ones that came before

Ohhhhh Prue and Leo!!! Amazing chemistry. All my love to the author fir combing all my favorite tropes in one! The pining !!! I loved it!!!
Thank you so much for the ARC!!

Haven't we, as a society, moved on from the third act breakup?
Despite that I really did enjoy this. The two characters had so much chemistry, and it was fun to see them both try to address their traumas to come together. Worst part is everyone was very mean to her and it personally hurt my feelings.

I loved this book -- I loved the intensity of the relationship between the leads. Lorret's series is gorgeously rendered, with each hero and heroine distinct from one another. This novel is a worth addition to the series, and I'm looking forward to the next novel in the series, Meg's book!

Prue Thorogood is no longer a respectable lady and is outcasted by her famil and is shunned by society. Her awful step mother has gambled away her inheritance incuding heirlooms and she is willing to do anything to get them back. She isn't willing to live off her friends charity or be a burden she seeks the help of Leo Ramsgate, Marquess of Savage. Unfortunately he is a known rake who's had his heart broken and will never love again. He contracts is mistresses for 4 months. Pru enters a contact with Leo and becomes his mistress in hopes of moving on after the term ends and obtaining her family heirlooms. What she does not count on is Leo marrying her out of honor.

I really enjoyed this book and seeing the two fall in love with what was suppose to be a marriage of convenience. I Loved how they both helped eachother. Her with finding herself and him with breaking down the walls that he used to protect his heart. Sex didn't happen until 70% of the book. It was more of a slow burn but it was worth all the wait. This book is well written with a wonderful HEA.