4.5 stars

🧐 Starchy Earl meets ruined impoverished spinster
💕 Forced proximity, she becomes his secretary
✖️Highly logical hero gets hit with *emotions*
😆 Smiling not allowed - too much temptation

We have a fantastic heroine that due to her exceptional rapier skills, takes her brother’s place in a duel against the Earl. She wins the duel and obviously he realises she’s not the viscount and offers her a position as his secretary.

This one was so fun, the heroine is very competent and self aware and the hero was giving me LK heroes vibes. It has been a while since I read a book I couldn’t put down and this one just did it for me, I love a highly logical hero that is confronted with emotions for the first time and doesn’t know what to do with them.

I really enjoyed this page-turner of a romance, which brings Mina out of her necessary seclusion on an impoverished estate and into the sphere of Simon, an Earl crusading for social reform. Neither of them expects or wants to be tempted by the other, but their attraction is blistering hot and impossible to ignore.

Both Mina and Simon are complicated characters, bound by their stations in life and chafing, to an extent, against societal expectations. Their relationship builds nicely; I liked their sparkling dialogue, and the way Simon develops from this rigid, unfeeling man into someone who will go to any lengths to make Mina his. They both discover that they don’t have to walk the path they believe is set for them, and it makes for a compelling read. Recommended.

I loved this book. Mina and Simon were so very different. Factual look at 18 century hardships were for women.

Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read and review A Matter of Temptation by Stacy Reid!

I loved this! It's all the things a good romance novel should be and then some! It was also well edited, and while you can tell that you author really likes the word lush, it was fun. It's just the sort of thing you can curl up with on a lazy evening and read.

I normally only read romance on Kindle Unlimited, or the books that I get when they're available for free on Kindle, but I'm willing to pay money to read Stacy Reid romance novels. (I just bought one because I have poor impulse control)

This book started out so strong! I love the woman disguised as a man trope. I wish it had carried on past the first couple of chapters. Once Simon discovers that Mina is a woman, he hires her as his secretary and they begin to develop a relationship. It was nice to watch their relationship develop, but I think the dynamics would’ve been more interesting if Mina’s disguise as a man had lasted a little longer.

I also found a few issues with the writing. For me some parts were a little clunky and it was hard to follow where characters were and who was in the room. Overall it was a good time though!

This book was cute. The heat was fabulous, as always from Reid and the dialogue was cute. I thought it brought up a great deal of really interesting political issues at the time, especially surrounding divorce and the world-building was done very well. I think some of the plot was slightly backloaded and I wish there were slight stronger hints of the actual problem AND that the characters' efforts brought about the solution in a stronger way. However , I thought the hero's arc was well done and his growth was lovely. All and all it was a well written, fun, quick read.

Stacy reid did it again! This book is so lovely with a little angst toward the ends. The heroine Mina is such a feisty heroine who meets the serious and logical hero. It is really heartwarming to read how the hero treats the heroine throughout the story. One thing that intrigued me is the topic of politics and equality really fit in this story where it actually sparks the relationship between characters.!

Six years ago, Mina Crawford made one mistake and is ruined in the eyes of society. Now she’s hidden away and helping her twin brother manage their crumbling estate. When her desperate brother gets into a mess and ends up in a duel he can’t win, Mina secretly takes his place.

Simon Loughton, the ruthless and brilliant Earl of Creswick, needs help if he wants to pass the reform bill he’s been championing for years. When Mina bests him with a rapier, he realizes who she is and is impressed enough to offer her a job as his secretary. His moods are mercurial but he’s singleminded to his purpose and unwilling to suffer fools.


Mina is an assertive woman with a sense of humor and Simon is quick and clever enough to be a challenge for her. The beginning action is fast paced and Mina and Simon’s debates and banter carry things forward from there. Mina is energized by having a purpose and Simon tries very hard not to be amused or intrigued.

Neither one believes they should bother being happy. It was lovely to watch them come to mean something to one another. These two are so smart but they just have to get out of their own heads and I am here for it.

I’m a Stacy Reid fan now!
I received an arc from NetGalley

When Mina finds out that her twin brother has challenged an earl to a duel, she disguises herself and goes to fight in his place. Simon (the earl) isn't even upset that he's beaten, when the swordsman turns out to be a beautiful and intriguing woman. He promptly offers her a position as his secretary, and the two are soon spending long days together, working on a reform bill and trying to ignore their mutual attraction. But even as they grow closer, a secret from Mina's past threatens to destroy everything they might have.

This was a very emotional read, with a lot of longing and angst. It's still a romance so I knew there was an HEA coming, but I wasn't sure how Reid was going to get there. The conclusion is satisfying.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC to review. All opinions are my own.

Lady Wilhelmina Crawford and her twin brother are struggling to keep the estate going. When her brother admits to doing something stupid to try and help, Mina steps in to fix it. Our heroine is an intelligent and capable young woman who feels she has nothing to lose. Already being "ruined" gives her a certain freedom.

Simon Loughton, Earl of Creswick uses his incredible intelligence in parliament to help push through the reform bills that will benefit the hard working, ordinary people of England. Our hero hasn't got time for socialising. His grandmother can pick the wife she insists he needs. He's too busy working to care.

This is a steamy historical romance with very intense characters. Being incredibly clever doesn't always mean you get your own way.

This is the first book in a new series, and if the rest are as much fun we are in for a treat.

I loved it.

I loved Mina (especially her name). She is fierce, lovely, loyal, passionate, and kickass at fencing (literally). She made some wrong decisions when she was young and now is paying the price of those mistakes secluded from polite society.

Simon, Earl of Creswick, is everything I love in a hero. He has a mercurial attitude - he runs hot and cold within seconds - which drives Mina crazy. But he loves deep and takes care of everything and everyone he loves or feels a sense of duty for.

They meet under the pretense that she is her brother, they battle at dawn and she wins. Imagine his face being bested by a woman. But he sees right away how intelligent she is and how she can be an asset to his professional career as a politician. As they start to work together on his political reform ideas, they start to fall for each other. But sadly, Mina has a secret and knows that it can never be more than what they currently have. As soon as Simon learns the secret, they break the relationship but he doesn't give up - he does what he does best. He threats anyone that tries to belittle and expose Ms. Crawford. They get their HEA and it couldn’t be any sweeter!!!

4.5 stars for an amazing read... I felt each of Mina's emotions in my heart as I read the book - melancholy, wistfulness, longings, happiness, elation etc etc etc...

An interesting story with these awesome characters 😍😍

Simon - a paragon... oh my... I loved him and his fierceness...
Mina - such a strong one - beautiful inside out and has her own fierceness in her.

The two were made for each other... oh how I hope we get to see more of them in the forthcoming books...

<spoiler> The one thing that nagged me was the incident that takes place during a journey was closed quickly in spite of the cryptic message we read early on. Yes it played a pivotal role in certain developments but I kept thinking maybe some more details will be revealed or more scenes would come into play towards the climax. </spoiler>

*****5 Stars!


“I will be the shelter for the storm over our heads.”


First I would like to thank Entangled Publishing, LLC and NetGalley for allowing me to read an arc of this book. I am honored to have been given the chance to read it and give it an honest review.

A Matter of Temptation is a story about a young woman named Miss Wilhelmina “Mina” Crawford, a woman ruined in the eyes of society due to a scandal that had taken place a few years ago all due to some foolish starry-eyed mistake. Mina spends her days secreted away in her family’s crumbling estate, helping her brother manage the land but unable to truly live the life she had always dreamed. When her brother admits to how dire their finances have gotten, Mina takes it upon herself to seek employment…though it seems the only one who would consider the scandalous idea of a female secretary is the brilliant, ruthless and infuriating Earl of Creswick.

Simon Loughton, the Earl of Creswick, requires help if he wants to finally pass the reform bill he’s been championing for years and secure the votes for England’s most vulnerable constituents. That is when help comes to him in the form of a woman with breathtaking nerve, fiery red hair, and a sense of humor to match.

Temptation in the disguise as a lovely, clever-mouthed devil lives and works under Simon’s very roof. With this new position Mina finally feels as if she’s living life to her wildest dreams, but even the most incendiary of kisses can’t incinerate Mina’s past…or the shocking secret that could ruin them both.

This book was an absolute delight to read! The story and the characters hooked me instantly and I found myself devouring page after page, eager to discover what would happen to them next. I really enjoyed the pace of this story, it was fast and easy to read and there were many twists and turns to enjoy along the way. Another thing that I really liked about the book was the dialogue between the characters. I absolutely loved Mina’s quick wit and how Simon would try to resist her allure to the best of his abilities. I really liked how the characters developed throughout the story, each character possessed charm and complexities that made them all the more interesting to read about.

I really enjoyed how optimistic Mina was despite her previous scandal, she never let it get her down despite how the rest of the world perceived her for her single mistake. The romance between Mina and Simon was absolutely swoon-worthy! With each chapter you read you could feel the tension between them slowly built up which was very enjoyable. Mina was a quick, clever, capable character--I love how she could accomplish whatever she set her mind to despite her hardships, and Simon clearly loved her for all these wonderful qualities. I really appreciated how he could look at her and see her for who she was, not what the rest of the world thought of her, the two of them made for a very excellent pair! Simon was the perfect love interest, I adored everything about him! He had such a wonderful view on the world and how it ought to be. He was handsome and powerful and beneath the ruthless demeanor he was compassionate and valued love above all else and was ready to give up his entire world for the one person who captured his heart.

This book was quick to become one of my favorites and it is one that I would highly recommend! If you like swoon-worthy, slow building tension, soulmate-connections then this is the book for you! I’m truly looking forward to reading more books from Stacy Reid in the near future.

I recently discovered Stacy Reid and was so excited to read her latest story. She writes spicy, emotional historical romance that I can't get enough of. I loved the characters. I am looking forward to more books in this series.

“He smiled, a tenderness entering his eyes. ‘You would help me hide the body, hmm?’
She stared at him, astonished. ‘Of course.’”

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Stacy Reid for this ARC for review!

Mina is a 24-year-old spinster—as a 24-year-old who has no money, no prospects, and is a burden to her parents; this felt like a personal attack—trying to hold her family’s crumbling estate together. After he attempts to earn some money by cheating at cards, and then blaming another player for cheating, he is to duel with rapiers. As Mina is the more skilled of the two with the rapier she goes in his stead and beats the Earl of Creswick.
A worthy opponent.
The Earl of Creswick is steadfast in his political ambitions, which include social reforms for the right to vote and the rights of women. He went to Oxford at age 12, can easily memorize large swaths of text, and has never felt the type of attraction that causes his friends to act outside of their interests. Until Mina.
Simon hires Mina to act as his secretary and immediately instructs her she is not allowed to smile. It’s a matter of temptation.
Throughout this book I found myself wondering whether Simon was on the spectrum or neurodivergent. He greatly reminded me of Lord Ian McKenzie, and Stacy Reid has previously written a few disabled heroes I can recall off the top of my head. I was looking forward to an author's note but did not see one in this ARC. I wonder if there will be one in the printed/official copy. I haven’t seen any reviews mention this, so I’m curious to know if anyone speculated similarly to me.

I loved this. Stacy Reid is one of my favorite historical romance authors, and this was no exception. She writes longing and love so well, and I find her premises often have a twist on a classic trope or archetype. Mina was one of, if not my favorite heroine by Stacy Reid. She is a great mix of headstrong and independent while remaining very considerate, and willing to be cared for by her hero.

Miss Wilhelmina Crawford has been hiding and living in her family’s country manor ever since a failed elopement left her reputation tarnished and her position precarious in society. But her life in the countryside isn’t as peaceful either, with a crumbling estate and dire financial straits, Mina knows that she must find a job to help her brother, Viscount Crawford. As if their situation isn’t already difficult, her brother somehow managed to challenge Simon Loughton, Earl of Creswick to a duel. In haste to protect what’s left of her family’s name, Mina decided to duel the Earl in her brother’s stead. But Lord Creswick isn’t a fool for he discovers her secret almost immediately, and instead of anger, he rewards her with something that is much needed indeed: a job as his secretary! Soon, they’re living under one roof and temptation arises with each moment they spend with each other. As they embark on an affair, both know that nothing good will come of it…for Simon should never marry a girl with a reputation such as hers, and Mina can’t marry him because of a secret that, if discovered, will ruin every hope of a future together.

A Matter of Temptation is a new book from Stacy Reid. It seems to be a part of a new series from the author. This one tells the story of Miss Wilhelmina Crawford and Simon Loughton. It was set some time during the Victorian era. I was really excited for this book! When I requested the title on Netgalley, I was so happy when I checked my email the next morning and saw that it was granted. I just know that I had to read it immediately because it’s already there, so why not? Also because I know Miss Reid would always deliver the perfect amount of angst, chemistry and romance with an equally compelling way of storytelling. I like the way she writes! I am happy to say that this book didn’t disappoint me!

I loved this heroine! She was clever and witty. She had been selfish in the past because she thought herself in love with a bounder. Obviously, this didn’t end up well for her. Now at four and twenty, with the scandal having been six years ago, she’s more selfless and considerate of other people that she may affect with her actions. At first, I wasn’t too sure whether I would love her character or not because I was scared she’d be like “I’m not like other girls!” (It is a pet-peeve! I definitely love my heroines to be like other girls, no shame in that!) but I am glad that her character is much more complex than that. There were times when I felt like she was way too forward with her words and yet it made complete sense given that she has no more reputation to protect. I definitely love how she didn’t try and fight her attraction to Simon. I like characters who own up to their feelings! I think she was utterly charming especially when she refused to be fired from her job. I just love her spirit, and even her child-like dreams make her more endearing. When the conflict finally arose, you wouldn’t be mad at her character for her resistance knowing very well that her argument is right and I sadly found myself agreeing with her. I liked this amusing heroine who wasn’t afraid to say what’s on her mind even if the reader gets second-hand embarrassment from it. I definitely understand why Simon Loughton fell in love with this wonderful woman!

While I loved the heroine, I loved this hero even more! At this point in my life, Stacy Reid is to blame for literally everything. She makes me feel and want for so many things! Whenever I read this author’s books, I literally get so emotional because I want someone to love me the way her heroes love the heroines. At the same time, because of my standards being way too high, made even higher by her heroes, I know that I would end up alone! Do you understand my problem? She makes me want for these soulmate connection-like relationships and at the same she makes me set my standards even higher to the point that it is impossible for me to feel anything for real people the way I do for these fictional characters! Literal words on paper! Moving on, I loved this hero. Did I say that already? He is an Earl (Yum!), wealthy, dashing and a powerful politician who is way ahead of his time. How can anyone not love him honestly? The way he dashed out of the carriage (It was raining!) to pick up a puppy who was left there when he let a family ride with him (Swoon-worthy). I fell in love with him even more during that moment! I loved the way he admired Mina even when she bested him in fencing and chess (both of which he was very good at). The way he let Mina experience everything she hasn’t yet experienced but wanted to: from kisses to the smallest things such as eating icecream and chocolates! I like how Reid makes each hero feel unique in every book of hers. I loved this intelligent, swoon-worthy hero who was willing to give up everything he has worked hard for if it meant keeping the heroine by his side. Foolish, yes, but the hopeless romantic inside of me was definitely swooning and hoping that I’d find someone who will love me the way these men love their women!

I loved the story of Mina and Simon! I can’t say that it is totally unique (I haven’t read every book in the historical romance genre) but I will say that this is the first time I’ve read about the conflict this couple had! The h and H had good chemistry and with each progressing chapter, it is hard to deny that they are made for each other. Mina bought out the best in Simon and made him feel things he never thought he was capable of feeling. Made him think of doing things he didn’t know he could if it meant keeping Mina safe and having her by his side. They met their match in each other! Simon, who was competent and well-skilled in fencing and chess and Mina who was even better than him and somehow managed to be the first person who ever beat him in both! She was his sunshine on a rainy day, and he was the shelter that would protect her no matter what storm came in their way.

I loved the way they loved each other. The way Simon protected and defended Mina’s honor to people who dared besmirch her name in front of him. As I’ve said, the conflict wasn’t something I’ve read before. I would be honest and say that I was very worried how they would be able to have their happily ever after. This is one of those times when I really loved the couple but could see how if they chose to be with each other, it would be total selfishness and might become a cause of regret in the future. Also, let us not forget that society wasn’t forgiving during the time this was set in so I don’t know how they could possibly be together without Simon losing everything he has ever worked hard for. He was a politician who was definitely progressive and listened to the plight of the poor, and if word got out that he married a woman such as Mina (due to her tarnished reputation and much more than that) he’d lose his good name, power, respect and everything. And yet he was so ready to give it all up for her! I was like, Yes! But also No! The world would be so cruel to the two of you! Also definitely not emotional (I’m kidding) over when he found out about Mina’s secret and yet he still managed to comfort her! It was definitely a moment where the reader could see how much the h and H loved each other.

Also, let me talk about Mina’s selflessness. She loved Simon and wanted nothing more but to be in his life by his side and yet she was willing to give him up because she knew that to be with him would see Simon be destroyed and vilified by his peers. Of course, Mina deserved to be happy and I am rooting for her but again! Her argument was very valid and true! I am just so glad they still managed to have their happily-ever-after because boy was the journey stressful! But, don’t worry. It wasn’t all stressful, of course, before all that, there was the cute banter, tender moments, sexy moments and just the h and H being a goner for each other! I was stressed out because the conflict wasn’t resolved in the beginning of the last chapter before the epilogue, and while I think the resolution was the easy way of allowing the H and h to have their HEA, it is still the most reasonable and much preferable than the first option! While the chapter before the epilogue felt rushed, I am somehow fine with that because the epilogue is set years later! Thank you, Stacy Reid! I needed that closure. I commend the author for always managing to make me smile, giddy, stressed out, tear up, and sigh. I guess we can say she makes me go through the so-called roller coaster emotions!

While Devlin Byrne (I know, I am so annoyingly in love with this hero!) is still my favorite Stacy Reid hero, and perhaps of all time, I still loved this new sexy, intelligent, politician hero! I definitely fell in love with Simon Loughton and I know I will not forget him soon! The heroine was a good one too! Also, I forgot to mention that I do not like the employer-employee trope but the author managed to make it work! I wasn’t the biggest fan of this trope but I somehow really liked and enjoyed this book so that means something. I think it means that Stacy Reid is easily becoming one of my favorite historical romance authors. I love the way she writes, her swoon-worthy heroes, her charming heroines, and the way she manages to make each of these characters and stories unique, feel brand new, and stand out from the rest.

I feel lucky that I am able to read this book before it’s even out and I am just so excited for everyone else to read this book and fall in love with the hero like I did! Also, the cover is just so pretty & I am in love with it! By the way, I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thanks to Entangled Publishing for the eARC! Can’t wait for everyone to experience this new book from Stacy Reid!

This author is a favorite of mine, and this is one of her best books! I really enjoyed this story. The main characters, Mina, the disgraced daughter (and now sister) of a Viscount, and Simon, Earl of Creswick, are attracted to each other from the beginning and the story isn't so much them getting together, but instead, how they get through the roadblocks keeping them apart. It was well written and I was rooting for the characters all the way! Mina is a strong, brave, independent woman, and Simon is a former child genius who is used to working with order and logic, so falling in love is a new thing for him, and it takes him by surprise. I couldn't put this book down!

A Matter of Temptation is the start of a new Victorian era historical romance series by Stacy Reid and I had such a fun time devouring this read. I was hooked from the start, the heroine and hero meet when she sneakily takes the place of her twin brother (clad in gentleman’s clothes and a wig) in a duel against the hero!

Miss Wilhelmina “Mina” and her twin brother Anthony, Viscount Crawford, have been living in dire straits for the past years. Anthony is desperate for funds. With 2 outstanding loans, he is turned down for a 3rd loan since the bank has no faith in his future prospects, both in him marrying an heiress or switching from farming to manufacturing. When tempted to cheat at cards one night, Anthony finds himself facing a duel the next morning with Simon Loughton, Earl of Creswick. Mina knows she’s better at fencing and sneaks away to take the place of her brother and meets Simon. After winning the fencing duel, Simon offers Mina a job working with him because he’s so impressed…once he realizes she’s a woman, his offer remains on the table and she even negotiates with him for better pay and to be compensated for occupational hazard (in the chance he might feel tempted to ravish her)! To say I loved Mina as a heroine would be an understatement, she was so smart and just a delight.

While working as Simon’s secretary, Mina gets an up close look at how passionate he is about politics and the social reform he is working towards. “It was up to men like him to use their considerable influence to help better the world. Simon believed in that duty above all else.” Simon is a very blunt, direct, and unapologetic hero who comes off as cold and starchy. He has never experienced such feelings as he does when Mina shows up in his life and I loved seeing him fall for her so strongly. Mina is actually the one who tries to keep him at bay. Due to her recklessness when she was younger, she is seen as ruined in the eyes of society and really sees no prospects for her future until Simon shows her all she could have and work towards.

This read was just a delight and I breezed through it. Simon had a lot of swoony, hot hero moments: I loved seeing him come after Mina in the pouring rain, he assists a tenant family also stuck in the rain and even goes back out into the storm to rescue their family dog. After an incident out with him on the job puts her life at risk, Mina decides she wants to experience all the things she almost lost out on and Simon helps tick the items off her list: eating ice cream for the first time, going to the beach, lots and lots of kissing. Simon is very studious, he even grabs 4 books worth of reading materials to ensure when he and Mina get together that she is thoroughly satisfied. 🔥 We get to see a lot of Simon and Mina working together and I loved their intellectual conversations and talks around the politics of the time. The Married Women’s Property Act of 1870 and the Reform Bill are focused on a lot and I liked how this played into the story.

Thank you to the publisher (Entangled Publishing) for an e-ARC via NetGalley. All thoughts in this review are my own. A Matter of Temptation has a pub date of June 28, 2022.

Tw: mention of past abuse.
Mina and Simon had a nice love story, The beginning of the book was interesting! I love the set up to how they first meet. I also enjoyed seeing a member of the ton so interested in politics. I also love a hero that is beside himself in love with a heroine. The twist was interesting too. I just thought she slept with guy, I didn’t expect her to be married.

I’m not sure how to best explain it, but Simon’s personality came off robotic to me. Sometimes he came off as too rational, if you get what I’m saying. I could be wrong, but I interpreted it as a sign of neurodivergence, which is great to see in historical romance. And I liked how Mina vibes with his personality. I also liked how they grew as people individually, with the support of each other. That is always lovely to see.

** This review contains content warnings at the very end **

This is a sensual, page-turning romance packed with lots of wit, clever banter, steamy scenes, and just enough suspense and drama.
I loved the fencing, chess-playing, bold, courageous, loyal heroine who can't keep from smiling as the cold, but good-to-the-core Duke starts to thaw and can't identify the feeling he's feeling because he's never been in love. So yeah, this is definitely a Sunshine and Grump trope romance with some Forbidden Love trope mixed in as well.
If you love reading about a couple getting it on in a carriage, and a library, and ... well, this is also the book for you. It's filled with passion.

There are two other reasons I liked this book so much:
Both scenes in which the heroine is in disguise are simply magical and put big smiles on my face. The other reason are the many instances the hero fights for social reform, for voting reforms, and equality.

Stacy Reid's books continue to deliver and entertain and melt my heart. I can't wait what else she's got in store next.

I sincerely thank the publisher Entangled Publishing, LLC and NetGalley for letting me enjoy this romance ahead of its publication date.


** Content Warning ** #cw
Physical abuse (briefly described on page but crucial to story line), lying (by omission)/ deceiving