Is it just me, or are soft heroes made for fall reading? Earlier this season I brought How the Wallflower was Won by Eva Leigh on vacation with me and it was the perfect relaxing read to curl up with.
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​The second book in the ​Last Chance Scoundrels​ series, this follows Finn the-softest-mother-fucker Ransome and Tabitha Seaton​.​ They each require a marriage of convenience, and though Finn first tries to set her up with a friend, it quickly becomes clear that him and Tabitha only have eyes for each other.
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​Tabitha is hoping to join the Sterling Society​, eager to use her intellectual prowess to make London a better place. Finn has a learning disability and has been made to feel less than all of his life because of it. Even as it pushes him from his comfort zone, Finn goes above and beyond to be a champion and supporter for Tabitha in every way he can.
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This felt like such a realistic journey of two people working through their baggage and vulnerabilities to find love in each other.​ I loved how Tabitha supported and uplifted Finn (furious over how he'd been treated in the past) and of course Finn and his soft marshmallow heart and utter devotion to being the greatest partner he can for Tabitha. It was so wonderful to see him growing in confidence as he learned to see himself through her eyes.

I'm enjoying this series so much (y'all know how Rogue's Rules is my most-anticipated of 2023!) and this was such a lovely installment—perfect for anyone who craves soft heroes and bookish heroines.

I could look at the space where you had been and be happy, because I knew you'd stood there.

A rocky story with too much tension, this book may be for some but wasn't for me.

I really enjoyed the writing and characters in this book. In fact, I'm looking forward to reading other books by Eva Leigh soon. However, the themes and some plot points in this just were not for me. Even though our main couple is so sweet, their "third act breakup" did not sit right with me and I never got over that. It might be enjoyable for some but it wasn't my cup of tea.

Star Rating: 2/5
Tropes: Marriage of convenience,
CW: Toxic relationship, abuse

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book really tore through my chest to get to my heartstrings — a nerdy, awkward Wallflower more interested in books than dancing? A brilliant but soft hearted man who hides a deep secret? Yes please, sign me up! Tabitha Seaton has never been understood by her family, and she only has friends outside the ton. Finn Ransome has been brutalized by a father and teachers who don’t understand his learning disability so he thinks he’s stupid. Though he and Tabitha have crossed paths before, he figured he’s too dumb for a brilliant brain like her, and writes her off as anybody for him.

In fact, he tries to set Tabitha up with Dom, another hapless singleton caught up in a decree where the guys will lose all of their inheritances if they don’t marry within the year (I probably should read the first book in the series to figure out wtf is up with that plot).

However, because of this decree and the spark of a little something, Finn and Tabitha get married. It’s always something I like, strangers who get married first, and then become friends, and then fall in love, because it’s so bizarre to think about in today’s world. But it also takes the courtship pressure off the couple, and then the reader can see them fall in love without all of the contrived outings and chaperones and etc of a historical romance. I thought Finn and Tabitha were lovely opposites, and their interludes very sweet (she reads to him because he can’t read letters). The sex scenes were appropriately horny for people getting to know each other and learning likes and dislikes, and I was particularly pleased that Tabitha wasn’t only curious about scholarly matters 😂.

This book was charming and fun, and now I need to know what happens in the third of the series.

How the Wallflower was Won by Eva Leigh is the second installment of her Last Chance Scoundrels series. Tabitha Seaton is a wallflower found more often in a library or reading than in balls, leading to a disastrous previous seasons in London society. Finn Ransome is a talented gambler whose well-practiced poker face extends to his personal life, resulting in an often isolating lifestyle. Readers are led through a story of marriage-of-convenience between two seemingly polar opposites.

I liked how fast-paced this story was compared to the first because we see much more of the couple as that, a couple. This doesn't take away from the first one, instead it creates a perfect balance for anyone following the series. We also see a bit of Kieran and Celeste in this book, along with Dom (while also getting some hints into Dom's own upcoming love story).

What I enjoyed most was how Tabitha was written as an incredibly intelligent woman with complex emotions and fiercely independent while also loyal to Finn when needed. The couple didn't feel overbearing over one another and the love (while somewhat insta) unfolds at a reasonable pace.

Finn oh Finn the one that didn’t think he would be good enough for her but they find they are perfect for each other. Finn and Tabitha will make you love them so much with this fun marriage of convenience romance. Finn is trying to be okay with his learning difficulties while being married to such a huge nerd that reads so much. This starts as a marriage of convenience but then the chemistry is just too hot. This one has great steam- dirty talk!
I can not wait for Dom’s book!!

Finn Ransome is an expert on Lady Luck, which is why he refuses to take a chance on love. He believes his shortcomings will disappoint anyone he cares about. However, the clock is ticking on his father's matrimonial demands. The only woman to catch his eye is a bluestocking who would never consider a rogue like him. After a disastrous first Season, Tabitha Seaton decided to focus on books instead of ballrooms. She hopes to join the Sterling Society, a collective of the most influential minds in London. Except, they will never admit an unmarried lady. Now Tabitha needs a husband, and a notorious, handsome gambler may be her best bet. They decide to marry out of convenience instead of love. Once married, however, their potent attraction boils over into a deep passion that neither expected. When a painful mistake drives the new lovers apart, Finn will risk it all to prove a scoundrel and a wallflower are a winning pair.
This historical romance had two characters that showed great chemistry even though they were from different worlds. They both showed their inner strength by letting love in their hearts and conquering their personal challenges. I felt that the story was a little drawn out and some parts needed editing. It just seemed too long. But I enjoyed it overall. Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for this advanced reader’s copy. This review is my unbiased opinion.

I picked up the previous book, The Good Girl’s Guide to Rakes, for some background information and I vastly preferred the sequel. How the Wallflower was Won offered more tropes for me to enjoy and I felt the couple was better suited than their predecessors. It featured many elements I always enjoy within romance novels: marriage of convenience, bluestocking wallflowers, and the hero falling first. The critique I had with the first book unfortunately bled through into its successor. I understand the author did intense research to make this historical romance immersive, but it was difficult to follow at times. Nearly every page included ancient terminology and I found myself consulting the dictionary over 50 times for a proper definition. I’m incredibly grateful for my kindle’s electronic dictionary, and I’m sure I would have had a worse time if I was reading a physical copy. The writing was also rather verbose and I felt some passages could have been edited to be shorter. While I may have had some confusion regarding the writing, I was significantly enchanted by the main couple.

Our heroine, Tabitha, was a very relatable character considering I also sneak in books to social gatherings. I wanted her to be happy and successful, because I saw myself very easily as that character. She and Finn embarked in a marriage of convenience and they developed true feelings as the book progressed. One of my favorite honeymoon gifts I’ve ever read was when Finn gifted her with his beautiful home library. A whole flipping library! I would die happy with a fully stocked, stunning library to call my own. It was a full Beauty and the Beast moment where Tabitha was living her Belle fantasy. That moment is the main takeaway from this book and I’ll never forget that spectacular gift. I’ll be jealous forever thinking of this fictional scenario, I’m telling you.

While I may not have been a fan of the first volume, the sequel more than made up for it. I connected stronger to the characters and I was more invested in their relationship. I don’t believe I’ll finish the trilogy because I don’t enjoy second chance romances. The final hero is a gentle giant with a big brain and bigger biceps, but he’s rekindling his romance with the woman he jilted at the altar. I’m glad I read How the Wallflower was Won, but I wish I could get my time back from The Good Girl’s Guide to Rakes. I’ll definitely pass on the manual for garden tools, but this wallflower doesn’t mind in the least being won from a hunky bachelor like Finn.

I really enjoyed this!

I loved how the male love interest, Finn, had a learning disability and how he and Tabitha both had their own fully fleshed-out goals that they wanted to achieve!

The world Eva Leight enfolded us in her first Last Chance Scoundrels book continues on with the story of Finn Ransome and the pact he and his friends, Kieran, and Dom entered into with their fathers to marry. Tabitha Seaton needs a marital partner for a completely different reason, and when there's an undeniable spark between herself and Finn it overtakes all.

I loved Finn trying to pair Tabitha up with Dom and all the meet cutes he created for them that went awry with Dom having no interest whatsoever and Finn giving in to his heart. I loved Tabitha and Finn together, but I did not enjoy their miscommunication and their arguement in the final half of the book. It left a sour taste it my mouth that ended up puting me off of the book as a whole.

Despite that, I still did enjoy most of this book and am very much looking forward to Dom's story in A Rogue's Rules for Seduction.

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

***ARC provided by the publisher on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***

A wallflower and a gambler find a way to help each other reach their goals...through marriage, of course, in How the Wallflower Was Won by Eva Leigh.

While the dynamic is initially as awkward as it seems with the pair's contrasting interests, they soon find common ground, a support system in each other that they haven't seen anywhere else.

This was my first Eva Leigh, and the first time I feel like I've read a historical following a bluestocking heroine making it an entertaining journey to be on with Finn and Tabitha. I appreciated that they had fairly grounded ambitions, as we see Finn's initial desire to start a gambling hell and Tabitha's determination to effect change in public policy and education.

Though the latter is a touch on the modern side of things, it still feels relatively grounded in the general populace's day-to-day lives.

Finn and Tabitha are as fun to follow individually as they are together. It's what makes seeing them start to get closer and lose all pretense for their decisions as spouses so achingly sweet, especially Finn and his change of heart and determination to work on making Tabitha's dreams a reality towards the end of the book.

The couple delivered on chemistry, sweetness, and heat in equal measures. Still, my absolute favorite aspect of their development through the novel was seeing how they began to trust and confide in each other. Finding the solace and support system, they didn't have growing up in their respective families.

Tabitha and Finn were so extraordinarily supportive of each other without any pretext or ulterior motives. Seeing each of them try to push the other to get them to believe in their own talent, intelligence, and thoughts warmed my heart so much.

Seeing the pair ultimately find that sense of understanding, acceptance, and belonging in each other that their family never gave them was a highlight.

Because of this, the third-act break-up feels so wrong and incongruent with the Finn and Tabitha we know by that point. Of course, it's understandable that Finn's words hit a still raw nerve after so many years, especially when it comes to first love. But it feels particularly cruel on her part to comment on something that she knew Finn had told her in confidence in the hopes of it never being thrown in his face and that it's something that he had insecurities about, being a great source of pain and affecting his own sense of self-worth.

It's a heartbreaking moment that is only compounded as Finn remains incredibly understanding, apologetic, and determined to see Tabitha's dream come true. All over a past hurt she never even told him about!

It really feels like it changes the dynamic of things at that point, and I'm not sure if the whole thing feels wholly resolved or fully fleshed out by the time the final page is turned.

Overall, it's another quick historical romance read that shifts perspectives. But that third-act incident leaves a not-so-great feeling that changes things for me by the end.

Honestly if Eva Leigh ever stopped writing I might actually stop reading. This book was everything and more! It had everything I was hoping for, clueless characters, all the angst, all the spice! I love the wallflower trope so this book was love at first sight!

I loved every minute of this book. I love low-stakes romances and the marriage of convenience trope. This was a beautiful (and steamy) book about two people falling in love with each other and working through past hurts. Tabitha and Finn are a wonderful couple and I loved watching them care so ardently for each other and wanting the other one to succeed. Oh, and did I mention steamy? Wonderfully steamy and smutty. Fabulous. Loved it and will be reading more from this author.

This book was AMAZING!!!! I love a story where the characters have real feel flaws and they aren't hyped up to be a super hero because of it. The relationship between Finn and Tabitha is exciting. They compliment each other so well and really define what it means to be a partner.

Bluestocking Tabitha Seaton and third wheel Finn Ransome enter a marriage of convenience in “How a Wallflower was Won” by Eva Leigh!!

I love when Tabitha and Finn converse, I find myself smiling. Especially in the beginning, I’m at the edge of my seat waiting for someone to make a move. The easy conversations and imaginings make this story fast paced…. good because clearly they belong together and I needed to know when passion went from cold to fire!

Tabby and Finn have great mental and physical chemistry. One is a reader and the other an observer which allowed them to support each other's dreams and healing. The story is low-angst, but high steam.

If you enjoy when easy conversation, opposites attract, supportive partners, and falling in love post wedding bells, then I highly recommend this book!

Thank you to Net Galley, Avon, and Harper Voyager US for the ARC in exchange for a honest review.

Finn doesn't believe someone like Tabitha could ever love him. With his reading disability, he believes he is unintelligent despite his skills at gambling, math, and observation. So even though he can't get Tabitha out of his mind, he believes he should set her up with his friend Dom, an Oxford-educated man who can be her equal, at least in his eyes.

Luckily, Finn gets over that quickly as soon as Dom is not interested (but that will be the next book...), and Tabitha can't stop her feelings for Finn, even though she has tried to stay unemotional and fact-based since she was young and spurned by love.

They quickly enter a marriage of convenience and mutual pleasure (and pining), for while they allow themselves to be close in sex, they keep each other at a distance emotionally, sure the other will reject them.

*sigh* yes, of course, hence the mutual pining

Unlike the first in the series, this story focused on the emotional relationship of the leads instead of their physical development. Both characters also went through a lot of character development and had to admit they were in the wrong. Tabitha said things she shouldn't have and Finn needed to learn never to tell a woman to calm down. They both react poorly, but put in the effort to prove their love and respect for the other. They both go after each other.

Their happy ending was the pefect result for both of them, and they can continue to cheer their spouse on and proudly claim, "that's my wife/husband!"

Feat: pining, "it's a marriage of convenience but I love you," spinster/older heroine (26), learning disability representation, early marriage and lots of spice, and defends each other

Thank you to netgalley and Harper Collins for an arc in exchange for an honest review!

4.25 stars
2 spice

Received an advanced copy in exchange for a fair review.

I have a deep and abiding adoration for "yes yes, just a marriage of convenience, the other person will OBVIOUSLY feel nothing for lowly me, but I worship them despite clearly being worthless myself...." on both sides. Finn and Tabitha were charmingly established in the first book of this series and I was so excited for them to get their story. I had a great time watching them find their way to each other personally and professionally, supporting and helping each other as friends first. The final fight was a little forced... but it was helped by them recognizing that it was stupid and having the emotional intelligence to know why they reacted the way that they did. Communication! I cannot WAIT for book three, it's been killing me to see what happened.

When you love someone let them go. When you are bored out of your mind by a book, move onto monster p0rn. Words to live by.

I wanted to like this one. It’s a classic marriage of convenience where our booksmart heroine Tabitha needs a husband so she can join a smart man club. Gambler playboy Finn needs a wife or his family will cut him off financially…or he could just get a job, radical concept! They find each other and decide to marry but neither wants feelings bc feelings are bad and complicated and so they obvi both get feelings immediately. And of course they have amazing mind blowing sexy times on their wedding night where gambling man Finn puts his Ace in Tabby’s hole and gives her 726384 orgasms- virgin O jackpot!!!

After this these two just float around each other thinking about how neither wants to fall in love and Finn telling himself how dumb he is. I can’t do heros with low self esteem. No thanks. I only made it half way through and stopped bc I was bored and uninspired to continue.

This may be for someone who likes a slow burn marriage love story. I personally needed more action and more smut and less navel gazing.

Smut- 2 stars
Romance- 3 stars Perhaps more in the second half?
Story- 2.8 stars. Not horrible but couldn’t finish.
DNF- neg 615 stars

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Eva Leigh has done it again! This was even better than A Good Girls Guide to Rakes.

I didn’t have the highest expectations going into this installment just bc I’m dying for Dom’s story, but I was immediately sucked into Finn and Tabitha’s marriage of convenience romance. I adored how their relationship developed over the course of the novel, plus there are plenty of 🔥🔥🔥 sex scenes to go around. Basically everything I could ever want from a historical romance 😍😍😍

Finn might just be the perfect man? I’m obsessed with him. He’s kind, funny, an expert gambler, endlessly supportive of Tabitha, intelligent (even if he doesn’t think so), and a tender and passionate lover. What more could you want????

I truly think Eva Leigh is in her writing prime and I can’t wait to read the final book of this series!

**Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing an e-arc in exchange for an honest review**

I’ve seen mixed reviews for this one, but I loved it! After Kieran found a partner in the previous books it’s just Finn and Dominic who must marry in the next rig months. Finn is determined to connect Dominic to Tabitha because he believes they’re more compatible. He and Tabitha find themselves falling for the other as Dominic is determined not to connect with Tabitha. I felt for both of these characters throughout the book, but Finn stole my heart. What a sweet man despite the mask he puts on for the world. He was so supportive of Tabitha and her dreams even when it pushed him beyond his comfort zone. This was steamy and did not disappoint! I can’t wait to get my hands on Dominic and Willa’s story!

Finn and Tabitha HEA was wonderful. It was full of learning experience for each. Out of a marriage of convenience you were able to follow them fall in love. I truly appreciate that aspect because it did not seem rushed. I am
Also glad that they were able to work through their own narratives of themselves.