It's such an incredible book with all the things I love in a historical romance; a wonderful storyline, history, and two characters bend upon breaking every convention of their time. What more can you want?
Mina has a secret she hasn't told even her twin. But when she starts working as a secretary and becomes clear she has feelings for her employer, she becomes scared. What if her secret comes out and ruins everyone around her? She doesn't know what to do, but she knows that she cannot hide or get rid of her feelings.
Simon is intrigued by the beauty who bested him in a duel. On a whim, he hires her as his secretary, thinking his legendary control will keep serving him. Unfortunately, he can't resist her charms. He knows she is hiding something but he doesn't care. But then, his heart gets involved in the matter and he must do something before their lives are affected by whatever happened in the past.
I thoroughly enjoyed it. And to be honest, it has been such a hard-to-put-down kind of book, that I didn't want it to end.

Miss Wilhelmina Crawford's family is in a dire financial situation. When her brother gets into a duel over a card game, Mina gets involved...saving her brother's life and unexpectedly securing employment with Simon Loughton, the powerful Earl of Creswick. Mina is living and working under Simon's roof as his secretary, but a smoldering attraction and long buried secret could ruin them both.

I'm not sure if this is a standalone longer novella, or the beginning of a new series. I am generally a fan of Stacy Reid's writing, but this one didn't work for me. The pacing seemed off. The first half of the story felt rushed, but then there were plot points that felt important and didn't go anywhere. I didn't connect with these characters and thought the grandmother matchmaking story was superfluous.

Tropes: Ruined, Working Heroine, Forced Proximity

Steam: 3

* I received an ARC and this is my honest review. #AMatterofTemptation #NetGalley

I LOVED THIS BOOK! A MATTER OF TEMPTATION is a delightful historical romance with plenty of steam, passion, and a fantastic couple. After Mina's poor decision making as a 17 year old, she has lived on the fringes of society, content to try to help the local children and bake with their cook while trying to help her twin brother, the Viscount, save their estate. Their financial situation is dire, and the mistakes are compounded by the duel to which her brother has just challenged the Earl of Cheswick. Taking her brother's place, Mina manages to best the Earl - and then receive a job offer to be his secretary, a position not typically open to women.

As they work together, their feelings grow, a new sensation for the Earl and something for which Mina feels weary after her youthful mistake. They both find themselves falling in love - a relationship that could never be, as the secrets from their past seem insurmountable. However, together, anything is possible.

This was such a fantastic steamy read. It was easy to instantly fall in love with both Mina and Simon, and their relationship escalates quickly and passionately. The romance was spot-on, and I loved their deeper understandings, misadventures, and kindness to each other. The primary plot is definitely their relationship, which I really appreciated, and the side revelations are mainly around things that could compromise their future. This focused read was really great, easy to get into and hard to put down. I ended up reading it in one sitting.

Overall, A MATTER OF TEMPTATION was a fantastic historical romance read with compelling characters, the right amount of steam, and a passionate relationship. Highly recommend checking this out!

Please note that I received an eARC. All opinions are my own.

I have really enjoyed Stacy Reid's historicals in the past and this book also did not disappoint. Mina has been ruined and does not see a bright future ahead of her. The Earl of Creswick is brilliant but ruthless. When Mina's brother is in danger of losing his life, Mina rises to the occasion and will do something scandalous to save her brother. From then on we will witness the blossoming love story of Mina and Creswick. The book flies by, and will keep you on your seat! What will happen? You have to read to find out.

A scandalized woman, Mina, is trying to help her twin brother save their estate. She attracts the attention of Simon, a man with political aspirations. Working together, they find much to admire in each other. When their relationship expands even further, they find they cannot stop themselves from being in a relationship that would be harmful to both their reputations. I received an ARC from NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for my honest review.

Mina and Simon story. They had a great banter between them from the start. There are not really any big cliffhanger here. Their courtship was gradual and very well written. Heat level is a 3. When it was happening I did not find it to be a pulse racer. It was an enjoyable read.
I voluntarily reviewed this ARC and the opinions expressed here are all.

I loved their romance so much! Simon is the sweetest and the most caring hero ever. Also, he loves to talk about feelings. Mina is a total force of nature, she's incredible. She's a fighter, an activist, and a kind and giving soul.

Another hit from Stacy Reid! This is a standalone novel telling the story of Simon and Mina. Simon is a nerd — he is dedicated to fighting for equality and the rights of the working class to education, to vote and even women’s rights. He does not like to kiss because he read when he was 10 years old that the mouth is home to 200+ species of bacteria. He had trysts in the past but he shows little interest in women.
Mina is a woman with a disgraced past who was living in the country and was pretty much resigned to being an old maid. She teaches the village children in her spAre time. She is highly intelligent and is a master at fencing. Her dad was a viscount but he lost his money after the corn laws were repealed. He is long dead and it’s just Mina and her brother. They are titled but poor, and have to continuously let their staff go due to lack of funds.
Mina and Simon’s meet cute happens after she tries to save her brother Anthony’s honor by dueling with Simon in a fencing match. He beats her, figures out she’s a woman, and offers for her to become his secretary.
From there they fall in love. They just sizzle. I love the meeting of their minds.
I love that Simon fell so hard for Mina that he was willing to give up everything. However her past is there to haunt her and threaten their happily ever after—donmt worry though, this is romance and happily ever afters are guaranteed! I love how that problem was resolved. Would definitively recommend this book!

Thanks to Netgalley and Entangled Publishing for the ARC.

What can I say, I loved this story, I loved Simon and Mina. I love their relationship and how it grew. One of my favorite lines in the book is when Simon says, “I would give it all up”, this just shows how much Simon loved Mina. Stacy Reid writes a book I never want to put down and I never want to end. Great book and Great Author.
I received a copy for review from NetGalley and am giving my honest opinion.

Intelligent, Humorous. Heartfelt Love Story
This is a story of setting two people free from the constraints of society and finding love:
My first time reading a Stacy Reid story and not my last. What a treat this exciting and captivating this story was. I absolutely feel in love with both of the characters.
A true romance journey both Mina and Simon took us on. I didn't know what was going to happen next. Fast paced, many times I was laughing out loud at their humorous banter. Many desirous intimate scenes along with many heartfelt confessions.
I highly recommend this story to any adult romance reader.
I did receive any early copy for my honest opinion.
Mature Advisory:

Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled for an advance copy of this title in exchange for an honest review!

In A Matter of Temptation, Mina Crawford finds herself at a crossroads. Ruined in the eyes of society after a foolish youthful dalliance, she cannot procure a wealthy husband to alleviate her family’s financial woes. What she can do, however, is fence in her brother’s stead after he challenges the formidable Earl of Creswick to a duel. After discovering her true identity and being impressed by her verve, Simon, the Earl of Creswick, offers Mina a job as his secretary. Passion flairs between them as Mina and Simon work to advance Simon’s reform agenda in parliament. But some secrets can never stay truly buried, and when Mina’s past come back to haunt her, Mina and Simon must decide whether they can brave society and build a life together.

A Matter of Temptation was so much fun. Set in the 1860s, this book broke me out of my Regency rut, and I enjoyed hearing more about reform efforts + various politicians of the day. I loved that there was a fundamental respect and friendship between the two characters— even when Mina’s secrets come out, Simon comes to her defense and supports her, even against the opposition of others. I loved this, especially because many authors/stories would take the easy out of a third act breakup to add more tension. If I had any small quibbles, it would be that the ending came together a bit quickly and so there were a few threads I wished to know more about that weren’t explained (like how Simon’s grandmother or the Ton would react to Mina’s husband’s fate, the real implications this would have on Simon’s political career, why Simon’s grandmother said she had seen Mina’s husband the year prior and Simon and Mina’s reaction to that statement after the truth was revealed, etc.). I think one more chapter between the current last chapter and the epilogue would have really rounded out the story a bit more and provided some better balance. But all in all, this was a wonderful romance between to empathetic, compelling characters, and I will definitely be reading more from Stacy Reid. Sure to be a hit with lovers of historical romance, and it will be a great addition to our library’s digital collection. 4.25 stars.

Another great read by Stacy Reid!

This is the story of Mina and Simon and I adored everything about this book. Simon hires Mina to be his secretary after she bests him in a duel (which she fought in her brother's stead with his permission / knowing). Simon does not care that she is a woman, he is intrigued by everything about her.

As you can guess as they work together the find more and more they are attracted to in each other. There is a catch however, Mina ran away for an assumed elopement (and was actually legally married in Scotland), so Simon at first does not consider her to be marriage material as she would greatly impact his political aspirations. However, he comes to his own conclusion that he cannot imagine not being with her and fights for her. Then he finds out she is married, so he sets out to secure her a divorce, a scandalous thing at the time. Turns out, her husband has died, therefore she is a widow, making her respectable and eligible to marry Simon.

I loved the development of their relationship, it felt real and not rushed. And, there is plenty of steam, too!

I received a free advance reader copy in exchange from my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Another fantastic and swoon-worthy read from Stacy Reid! I loved both Mina and Simon as individuals and as a couple so much! Their chemistry, not just romantically but also intellectually, are so satisfying to read. Mina definitely made me laugh several times especially whenever she insisted her occupational hazards pay and her unfiring herself. Simon, on the other hand, is definitely a swoon-worthy hero with his love and dedication to Mina that he literally would drop everything just to be with her. I loved how their relationship progressed as well. It started with a very fun banter between strangers then turned boss and secretary then the slowburn from friends to flings to lovers. Chef's kiss! I feel like the pacing and the transitions were very natural to the plot and the romantic arc of Mina and Simon. This is another five-star read from the author for me and I would highly recommend!

A Matter of Temptation was my first Stacy Reid novel and I must say I was not disappointed. The blossoming relationship between Mina and Simon was so sweet and I really enjoyed the underlay message of social equality. " I was beaten by a fighter of exceptional skill. That she is a lady has no bearing on the truth that I was defeated." one of my favourite quotes from the novel.

A case of mistaken identity and a swoon worthy meet cute, this historical romance is everything you're looking for. It's an entertaining story with steam and substance, thought provoking and wrenching at times.

5 stars

I could say so many wonderful things about this book, but all I want to do is just squeal in utter and absolute delight. Oh my goodness, this book! AHHH!

As someone who is attracted to intelligence, ambition, and passion in my own romantic life, this book was basically food for my soul. Reid has given us a couple in this book that is so intellectually compatible, emotionally open, and physically passionate that it may have singlehandedly ruined me. Everything in this book from the romantic gestures both small and large to the professions of love that had me practically swooning is just absolutely stunning and I need everyone to read this so we can gush about it together.

Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled: Amara for an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review!

This is another winner from Stacy Reid. I liked both parties in the relationship a lot and they had a great deal of chemistry. I thought the ending wrapped up a little too easily, but I was invested enough in Mina and Simon's relationship.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, A Matter of Temptation. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Wilhelmina Crawford, known as Mina, finds her family in desperate financial circumstances. The difficulties are compounded with brother Anthony deciding to cheat at cards and is due to meet Simon the Earl of Creswick in a fencing duel. The problem is Mina is skilled at fencing, not so Anthony. So Mina dresses appropriately and dashes off to meet Simon at dawn.
And so the story begins. It was a fresh and enjoyable start to a book and set firmly in the 1840s. In a period of great political upheaval, the Industrial Revolution was gathering pace. I genuinely believe there would have been women like Mina in this period. Circumstances force them to take risks to survive. I love how Entangled Publishing is producing Historical novels that capture the time and events. Goodness knows balls and promenading and carriage rides through Hyde Park are great fun, but it's also fascinating to discover what events were unfolding at the time.
Now onto the story, Simon lost his parents at a young age, and I think it's safe to say he's emotionally unavailable. He recognises the need to marry for the Earldom and advance his political career, so he accepts his grandmother's offer to identify and present his future wife to him. In the meantime, Simon had great respect for Mina's father-Who passed away, leaving the family in financial trouble. He offers Mina a role as his secretary. A position unheard of being held by a woman. Before Mina accepts the role, some fun and determined negotiations occur. This was the section in the story where it really stepped up a notch. Simon and Mina make a great couple with equal skills and faults.
I loved the author's extra details about the repeal of corn laws. The gathering momentum for women to be able to inherit and own property. Also, the fact of the first-ever chocolate bar made by Frys. If I see a Fry's chocolate bar, I always buy and scoff it down. Little did I know it's a trailblazer in the world of chocolate treats. Those little details added to the story how they were woven into the story.
I loved the romance between Mina and Simon. They truly were meant to achieve their HAE. After some tricky emotional growth and difficulties.
If you enjoy historical novels set in the early reign of Queen Victoria, this is a story well worth reading.

A Matter of Temptation is the first in a new series by Stacy Reid which I found to be a steamy and pleasurable historical romance. The characters were such a delight to read that it made it hard to put down and a fun and quick read. It was my first by this author but it definitely will not be my last.

Simon Loughton, The Earl of Creswick and Wilhelmina/Mina Crawford are the hero and heroine of the story and each are dynamic and charismatic individuals. They went from adversaries in the beginning, then to Simon employing Mina as his secretary, to becoming friends and eventual lovers. I loved how their relationship grew and how he wanted to protect her when his political adversaries wanted him gone. He would fire her but she refused to be fired. Working together then living together under his roof, they got to know one another and shared with one another their pasts and dreams. I loved how he went out of his way to make her wishes come true and it just endeared me more to Simon. Mina was no shrinking violet and kept Simon on his toes from her fencing to playing a good game of chess.

A Matter of Temptation is a steamy and passionate story and a story not so typical for this genre. How they were both willing to sacrifice their happiness for the other was both heartbreaking and beautiful. The way they were able to achieve their happily ever after was a huge relief and how it all worked out for everyone in the end. If you are a fan of historical romances you are going to want to read this story. I’m so glad I took a chance on reading this story and can’t wait to let others know that this is one not to be missed.

This was a really solid book for me. The meet cute for these characters is one of my favorites and I’m glad that the mistaken identity was a very small part of the book. I just wish that some parts had been a little shorter, such as some of the scenes with the two main characters working in the countryside. There was a bit too much time before the conflict hit and then it was wrapped up rather quickly at the end. Overall another solid historical romance from Reid. I found myself tearing up at parts. This is definitely a must read.