This was not my favorite Eloisa James book. It took me quite a while to get into the story. The hero was a constant jerk to the heroine and the connection didn’t feel as real as it could feel. I do love that EJ wrote a sex seen gone bad. That was brilliant. Most books make the first time together come off as magic, and this is the first time that part came across as it can be in real life. The book was good enough that I made it through in one sitting, and with EJ being one of my favorite authors, I will definitely be continuing the series as it comes out.

Thank you to Eloisa James and the publisher for the arc via Netgalley

I usually enjoy books by this author a lot more and cannot put them down but I had a hard time getting through this and I’m not really sure why. Prob a me thing.

This author always writes a book that you can get into and forget where you are. This book is no different. This is about Yasmin, who is different from most ladies at the time, and Giles who can’t but help himself being attracted to her. Their sex scenes are sizzling, and the chemistry is outstanding. Of course, there is a villain which is Giles sister Lydia. Eloisa James is such a good writer she makes you almost hate Lydia, feel sorry for Yasmin and want to slap Giles.
I received an ARC of this book from Neg Galley and am leaving my honest opinion.

I received an ARC of this book by the publisher via Netgalley in an exchange for an honest review.

It's a truth universally acknowledged that historical romances are overrun with problematic male leads and behavior. It's gotten a little better in the past 5ish years, but it still rears its ugly head. Sadly The Reluctant Countess feels like it was written 15 years ago with all the red flags. I swear the level of toxicity of the male lead rivals arsenic. He's misogynistic and slut shames Yasmin pretty consistently. Even up to the 80% mark of the book, he's tearing her down and saying she's courting male harassment by how she's dressing. He's controlling and possessive and I don't find it sexy, or emotionally healthy. He consistently makes her feel like **** throughout the book and it's heartbreaking. At different points her friends try to convince Yasmin that Giles isn't treating her well, and they're right.

Maybe the lesson in The Reluctant Countess is that society is hypocritical, sexist, and judgmental. You see this reflected in Giles' truly detestable younger sister, Lydia. But I personally read historical romances as an escape. I don't mind more serious themes to be explored in the genre, however there's a level of happy ending that is expected in historical romances. I want to leave the book feeling happy for the couple. Instead I left The Reluctant Countess worried for Yasmin's future married to Giles.

I give this book 2 out of 5 stars.

For the most part, I found The Reluctant Countess a satisfying read though I had a hard time maintaining my interest at the beginning. Our heroine, Lady Yasmin Régnier, granddaughter of a duke, is such a likable character. Though her reputation has been sullied by her mother’s stance as a mistress of Napoleon and rumors about herself, she returns to England and has no problem gaining invitations and acceptance into society. She is a very kind person to everyone and has a sunny personality.

Our hero, Giles Renwick, the Earl of Lilford, is at the other end of the spectrum from Yasmin. He presents a chilly exterior and she feels he doesn’t like her as he only dances with her once an evening at most. Initially, I am dismayed by his demeanor and especially by his younger sister Lydia when she is introduced to the reader. I was struck by how controlling Lydia seems and also how Giles tends to accept her word for some of the situations encountered. Little by little my opinion about Giles changes favorably but not about Lydia. In fact, she becomes more deceitful in her perceived efforts to “protect” Giles from Yasmin. It was certainly a rocky road for the two main characters to reach their HEA.

I appreciate the fact that the author wrote good visual descriptions of the garments and accessories that Yasmin wore and used. For me, that enhances any Regency tale I read and stirs my imagination. And she also did a great job describing the temperaments of various characters. I couldn’t help but adore Yasmin’s grandfather, the Duke of Portbellow. I would like to learn more about some of the other characters in this work so will explore other works by this author. I received an uncorrected proof from NetGalley and offer this honest review, with a rating of 3 ½ - 4.

The Reluctant Countess/Eloisa James
3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️‘S.

Hey fellow paper and book lovers! Today I’m sharing my most recent read. It was a little slow to start, and it took a lot to pull me completely in. I enjoyed the first book in this series more than this one.

I gave this one a rating of 3 due to the slow start. So…

Read this book if:
✔️you love historical romances
✔️you want that happily ever after
✔️you love tropes in romance

This was a let down compared to other Eloisa James books. Yasmin was an exceptional character though, interesting and unique! Her grandfather is also amazing!

Giles was just dumb, shallow and annoying. He never apologizes so any of his behavior so he remains til the end unlikable. His sister Lydia was a major witch with no redeeming qualities. I get she’s the villain but also supposed to be young and naive so being so vindictive didn’t work.

This story was all over the place and we never know why Giles and Yasmin actually love each other so weird. Also some of the intimate scenes were off putting.

She was frivolous. It didn’t have to be a criticism.

A polarizing book that I enjoyed, but felt like never really clicked.

Here’s the thing: I heard a lot about this book before I started reading it. Some people absolutely hated it, and a lot of people hated the “villain” of the piece (Lydia). Eloisa James is one of my favorite authors and was the first historical romance author I ever read, so I had to give it a shot. And honestly it was just kind of meh?
Let’s get the obvious out of the way- Lydia. I have to wonder if Eloisa James has a sister in law named Lydia? Eloisa James seems very aware that the things Lydia does, and Giles’ reaction to them, are wrong. It felt very real to me and I thought it was an interesting counterpoint to the other choices made in this story. It really balanced Yasmin’s history and the theme that your decisions define you much more than your ancestry. I did not hate it.
One thing I loved was how history was really woven throughout the book. It was more than just things happening contemporaneously with the characters. Yasmin carries an antique purse, the prize for a scavenger hunt is a relic of Egypt-mania, the grandfather wears a wig even though it’s very out of fashion. This made the time period really come alive.
I loved seeing characters from past books, and it really feels like Merry, Cleo, and Yasmin are forming a sweet, sisterly bond. Hopefully we’ll get more of them in future books! One of my favorite characters in the whole book was Yasmin’s grandfather. You might assume he would be critical and harsh, but instead he’s supportive and incredibly funny.
But then we get to the heart of the book- the main couple. Yasmin and Giles have moments of incredible heart where I really loved them. However, there was so much that didn’t really spark for me. The plot felt a little empty as well.
Overall, even though I didn’t hate anything and truly loved a lot of this book, it wasn’t my favorite. I would recommend it but I probably won’t reread it.


Star Rating: 2.75/5
Tropes: Grumpy/sunshine, enemies to lovers
CW: Toxic relationship, suicide, death of parent, pregnancy, vomit

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

Enjoyable heroine, a flawed hero who does not quite earn her, and one of the most awful side characters I’ve ever read in a romance.

Yasmin was once a naïve girl who is ruined by a roue during her time in the French court. Years later, in a London season sponsored by her ducal grandfather, she is the talk of the season. Throughout the season, and despite his dour demeanor and seeming dislike of her, Yasmin continues to dance and verbally spar with Giles, Earl of Lilford. After observing that his younger sister Lydia has been using their dances as an opportunity to sneak off with other men, Yasmin tries to inform Giles of her suspicions about his sister’s flirtations. This brings them into closer proximity, and over time, their flirtation develops into something more.

What’s standing in their way? A few things: Giles is a bit of a stick in the mud and, based on some recent and unfortunate family history, exceedingly concerned about propriety and respectability.

Mostly, though, the obstacle is the absolutely awful Lydia. She was a caricature of a human being—selfishness, petulance, and impulsivity personified. It’s one thing to understand sticking by your family, so Giles can be forgiven for some of the stupid decisions he makes on Lydia’s say-so or that put him in opposition to Yasmin. After a period of time, though, he just seems like an idiot. And by trusting someone who has proven themselves so untrustworthy (and frankly horrible) instead of Yasmin, Giles fails to be worthy of her.

For the most part, Yasmin is delightful. She giggles way too much, but I think that’s meant to show her effervescence. She seems to have a genuine care for people of all stations and her early unfortunate experiences made her neither cynical nor fearful. In fact, it seems like the only real failing she has is Giles, because there are times when he’s being so completely boneheaded that you wonder why she’s in love with him. Overall, though, she is a character easy to love.

I enjoy Eloisa James, but this was not one of my favorites of hers. She writes flawed individuals well, but here, Lydia becomes such a black hole of awfulness that the whole plot and our feelings about all the characters get sucked into it.

I adored Giles and Yasmin's story! I just loved watching these two together! They were so much fun!!!!

Not my favorite historical romance but this was an okay plot with a few interesting moments. The overall story was lacking some depth, and I found it hard to connect with the characters. I really didn’t like the Hero which made this story a difficult read. It was just an okay read. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is author I really enjoy! Her books are wonderful & this one was just that! I adored the grumpy/sunshine trope of Lady Yasmin and Lilford. I think they were perfectly matched! I really loved Yasmin and how she was always herself and kept her head held high. Lady Yasmin is outgoing, fun, considerate, and has a big heart. She has a past scandal from when she was young and in France. She’s come to England and is staying with her grandfather. She isn’t looking for a husband. Giles, the Earl, is grumpy like, no non sense and cares for his sister. Lilford doesn’t want to want Lady Yasmin but does more than anything! These to two have all the banter! The chemistry between the two is fire! I loved watching these two go from dislike to lust to trying to fight feelings all to get to an HEA! Just a wonderful romance!

3 Stars
I have read Eloise James in the past and have enjoyed her crafting. In The Reluctant Countess, we have a woman who seems questionable and not the usual candidate for a proposal during the Wedding Season. She doesn't have the "right" breeding, she is too open to speaking her mind, and her presentation and dressing are close to scandalous.

The Earl of Liford can't understand what would possess him to propose to this woman...and he is shocked the words come out of his mouth. The question now is whether she says yes.

Eloisa James nails it again! This book has an extremely grumpy male lead, who’s misguidedly trying to do his best for his family. It also features a female lead who’s trying to evolve beyond her past and what people think of her. There’s more than a bit of tension and the story’s quite fun overall. There was one important character who I didn’t feel was properly developed, which definitely took some of the enjoyment out of reading for me.

Opposites save the first waltz for each other in “The Reluctant Countess” by Eloisa James!! Lady Yasmin Regnier smiles to show she is unaffected by the gossips regarding her past and why she moved in with her grandfather. Giles Renwick, Earl of Lilford, does not smile and tries hard to keep tabs on his marriageable sister.

I love the contrast between a sneaky snake sister and a G.O.A.T. grandfather! The book is epistolary-ish however Lydia got in the way and she constantly angers us. Yasmin’s duke grandfather is supportive and makes us laugh, as well as her friends. We feel anger and support, and everything in between from this book!

I could not stop smiling whenever the wallflower dress is described or mentioned. I had no clue why Yasmin would want to be a wallflower and the reason is infuriating, I could not read fast enough for the resolution.

We see strength from a woman who has been wronged before and I love how Yasmin keeps her head held high. Giles is proper however I especially love his improper yet proper reaction to seeing her past!!

This book is heart-warming and well-paced with a good-for-you-girl vibe!!

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for a honest review.

Yasmin is a young woman, already considered a spinster, in early 1800s England. She's trying to navigate society as best she can, which is challenging, due to her tarnished reputation. She's given up on love after being burned as a teen, yet she can't stay away from Giles, the Earl of Lilford. He also has his own troubled past, and fears his own family scandals coming to light among the ton. Despite their reservations about love, they are drawn to each other.

This is the second book in the Would-Be Wallflowers series. It follows a similar arc as the first book: a young woman with a darling grandfather attempts to overcome the scandals left by her mother. While the hero in the first book was rather like-able, I found Giles, the hero of this particular story, somewhat cold. I was disappointed by the way he treated Yasmin on many occasions. He judged her harshly, which I found surprising, given his own past and how much he detested rumors. I also disliked the occasions in which he encouraged her to suppress who she was in order to feel more comfortable himself. He does come around somewhat towards the end, however, but it was too little, too late, in my opinion.

Lydia, Giles' sister, turned out to be a villain in this story. I didn't care for her. I find mean girl characters a bit tedious. Also tedious, the numerous mentions of bodily functions, which turned off this mama, who deals with plenty of bodily functions on a day to day basis and is looking for an escape from that sort of thing when she reads romance.

I thought the love scenes were well written, except for the first rather awkward scene. I think that the emphasis on propriety, manners, and etiquette create a much more stark contrast when love scenes finally come into play. The love scenes are somehow more illicit, more shocking, and more compelling when compared with the way these characters have to carry themselves in "polite" society. Eloisa James can write a great love scene, no doubt!

I definitely plan to read more Eloisa James in the future, though this particular book fell a bit flat for me. I enjoyed seeing Cleo and Jake, characters from the first book, in this story as well. Bring on Would-Be Wallflowers 3!

Content Warning: several mentions of a person committing suicide by shooting himself.

Thanks so much to the publisher for an eARC via NetGalley. All opinions are honest and my own.

The Reluctant Countess is a delightful Regency romance from the master of historical romance, Eloisa James. Giles Renwick, Earl of Lilford, is looking for a proper and demure wife, but he cannot take his eyes off Lady Yasmin Regnier, a half-French half-English Lady of a scandalous reputation and frivolous behavior, who would never be a suitable wife. Lady Yasmin just wants to erase the permanent scowl from the brooding Earl's face and make him laugh, even though he is rather rude to her most of the time.

Giles and Yasmin have great banter and chemistry from the first page, and their "will they/won't they" romance captivated me from the beginning. I found the dialogue a little awkward at times, but it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the book. There are several interesting secondary characters, with Yasmin's grandfather being my favorite. The Reluctant Countess was a fun read that I recommend to all Regency romance fans.

This is one of my favorite authors that I have followed for years. But this book was not like her others.
The book definitely needs to be edited. The mistakes are not just simple mistakes, they are mistakes in the plot itself.
The heroine is a woman of 24 years, which I love because I like an older female lead. In my opinion, when an author tries to write a younger heroine, it is comes across as a dipsy, party girl or a woman who thinks and acts like she is 30 years old. This heroine had her first Season at age 16 during the Napoleonic period and she was presented to the Empress Josephine. The heroine's mother was the mistress of Napoleon. A ciscebo of the Empress wooed the heroine. Then he tricked her into marriage and swept her away to a cottage with servants. After a week, she woke up alone and had no idea where the cottage was and no way to get home. Lucky for her, her father came to tell her she had been tricked, there was no marriage and she was ruined, it was all set up by the Empress who hated her mother and her because her mother was the mistress or Napoleon. For two years she hid and at the first society party, the ciscebo walked up to her and she smiled then with one sentence, verbally eviscerated him. She was 18 years old by that time. So we spring forward and she is in English Society, her grandfather, the Duke, wants to present her. The heroine actually wants to get married. She wants a nice, older, but not too old man who will be nice to her and give her a few kids and a life in society. But she has to turn down a lot of fortune hunters and suitors who are bedazzled by  her beauty. She saves the first waltz for an earl, who is drawn to her, even though she set off warning bells and is not a modest lady and is not proper enough to be his countess. But he is so drawn to her. And he is mean because (this is where the story goes downhill) he wants her and hates himself for it. How old are we? Is he going to dunk her ponytail into the ink well?The hero has guardianship of his younger sister who is 18 years old. The heroine mentions to him, as a favor, to keep better control of his sister who is making a name for herself and being free with kisses. The heroine was not sharing gossip, she was trying to warn him and he goes cave man on her and forces her to help him find her. His sister freaks out when she realizes that the heroine knows what the sisiter is doing! And the sister's reason doesn't make sense: "...the girls at school were mean to her and she is getting revenge by leading their older brothers on...". So you are going to put your reputation in danger by doing something so risky? This is the second thing that doesnt make sense. Then, the author, who I have read since the late 90's starts forgetting who her characters are. The hero is referred to as a duke, an earl and a mister. The book introduces him as an earl. There is a scene in the book where the heroine is talking with her grandfather and a friend of the family, and you can't tell who is saying what and who is responding to whom. Then the hero comes in and it makes a little more sense. But I read over that part a few times and I still had problems interpreting the conversation.
This book had a great premise, great age gap, wonderful back drop and back story. It had all the winning points, except for the problems in logic that I mentioned above. I give this book 3.5 stars and I am mixed about recommending it.

**Thank you publisher and NetGalley for an E-arc

Grumpy jealous hero?
Sunshine heroine?
Enemies to lovers?
Say no more. Yasmin is a bubbly bright girl trying to heal from her past while being gossiped about and targeted by her peers and their family. No matter how hard they try to slight her she keeps her cheerful attitude except when it comes to the slight of the earl of lilford. He is pining over her but cannot let himself have her because of his position. The two cannot seem to stay away.

It was a good book, I enjoyed it quite a bit. I will say I felt like she forgave the hero to easily he needed to gravel more

Eloisa James' newest release does not disappoint!
It's filled with witty banter, tender scenes of intimacy and longing, and a couple that will make you fall in love all over again.
Full review to come on my blog when the HCP strike has been resolved.