This checked off everything I look for in a book. Not your normal historical fiction. Really good. Was not disappointed. Really enjoyed this book. I will read more from this author. Must read. Historical fiction oh yeah.

This was really only a 3.5 out of 5 for me because of the hero. While I loved the heroine she was full of fire with lots of action and adventure which I loved and there were lots of interest side character's that I look forward to reading about, However the hero really dragged the book down. I didn't really like him and unlike in most books where the hero starts off like this and is then redeemed by the love of a good woman it never really happens in this. He just doesn't seem to improve and still seems to treat everyone as a lower life form to shout at and be angry with. This ruined parts of the book for me. Such a shame as I usual like the author's books more than this. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This book was good. Definitely had some funny moments in it, some romantic moments also and a good story that leaves you wanting more.

I liked Henrietta a lot...Giles? Not so much. He never gets any better. Rude, highhanded to his mother, his cousin, the staff, and doubly to Henrietta. She could do so much better. I didn't understand why she liked him in the first place since he showed zero redeeming qualities.

I liked Henrietta I thought she was smart, independent, carefree, she was a tomboy.
Giles was a man full of responsibility. there was a lot of tension between them and I didn't really like Giles he annoyed me as I read the story. Seems that this was a series and there will be more in this story probably her or anyone she is associated with.


I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving a review voluntarily.

Miss Henrietta Redford ran wild with the local lads most of her childhood. Now however it's time to grow up and behave like a lady.

Our heroine would much rather stay in control of her own life, not surrender to the rules a husband would expect her to keep.

Giles Thorpe has become extra responsible since he inherited the Earldom from his reckless father. He will protect his family from the slightest hint of scandal.

This historical romance is full of adventure and great characters. Oh! I wanted to smack the hero. I wouldn't have given him as many chances. I loved the heroine. She was brave, strong, kind and loving.

Great fun.

I loved the story, very entertaining and I read it in one sitting. Filled with lots of tension, brooding hero, remarkable tomboy heroine and lots of hidden desire. A good cast of minor characters.
Henrietta wants to rule her own life in a world that won't let her. She's carefree, genuine and loyal to her friends. Giles is a man full of responsibility and he holds a lot in and doesn't let his true self out. The tension between them is palpable, but eventually their desire turns to more and they find their way to a worthy happy ending.

This book made me have a lot of mixed emotions. One one hand, the main character, Henrietta, is absolutely charming and such fun. I really admire her spirit, beliefs, and decisions. However, her romantic interest just was not it for me. I did not mind that he made mistakes, but I just felt that he did not learn from them and I didn't love his constant temper whenever something went wrong. It's a shame since I enjoyed Henrietta's character, but he kind of ruined the vibe on occasion and I just didn't really like him as a person. Therefore, I just couldn't see what she liked about him. Overall, I liked Henrietta and her fellow misfit friends, but the love interest just wasn't it for me. However, I assume the following books will be about her friends who I did like and I was intrigued by them. Hence, I will be keeping an eye out for future books.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The Hellion, The Earl, Made This Story Sparkle:
The prologue had me interested and the large cast of characters kept this deeply emotional story moving at a very fast and intensive pace.
Enemies to lovers, or were they? You'll find out.
You gotta love when an arrogant man gets his comeuppance from a fiery lass who is loyal to a fault.
This is a thrilling story with many situations that many times I had to stop and take a breath, swear, or give a shout out to the strong women throughout this story.
Adult Advisory:
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.
All thoughts and opinions are completely my own.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story.

A cute fun enemies to lovers romance great writing and well thought out characters. Witty interesting dialogue. I want to read more from this author.

Rating: 4/5 Books

Wallflower or Warrior?

This novel was impossible to put down from start to finish. The addictive blend of fiery heroine vs. unyielding, brooding lord is always a winner and with Tomboy of the Ton it is this tension - so central to the plot - that keeps the reader hooked. Emily Royal does a fantastic job of bringing her world and its characters to life.

So come along with me as I dive into this romantic read!

[Note: A big thank you to Netgalley and Dragonblade Publishing for the opportunity to read and review such an entertaining book.]


Bridgerton meets She's The Man.

Tomboy of the Ton is a tale that puts a fresh spin on enemies-to-lovers romance. With a captivating cover - and an equally as captivating main heroine - it succeeds in being both entertaining and thought-provoking.

To start, we are introduced to a delightful bouquet of wallflowers whose very last wish is to be 'seen' by Society:

There's Lavinia who's mistrustful of handsome men and has strong opinions when it comes to gentlemen: "The fewer flaws in one's face, the more flaws in one's soul."

The quiet Eleanor who - if she could - would wish herself invisible. A wary appreciator of beauty, her social anxiety stops her from revealing her true potential.

And our heroine - the fiery protagonist - Henrietta. Labelled a hellion, 'Henry' (as she is known to her friends) delights in tree climbing, fencing, and irritating her arrogant neighbour Lord Thorpe.

There seems to be very little doubt in these ladies' minds that all handsome men are rogues and are not to be trusted. And Henrietta's love interest Giles (Lord Thorpe) says and does little to contradict this point of view.


Her knight in not-so shining armour.

"The horse's ears pricked up, and she rubbed his nose. Then she smiled, and it was like the sunshine breaking through a cloud. It was the first time he'd (Giles) seen her smile - she'd laughed at him many times during their encounters over the years, but a soft smile of friendship - and love - was something he'd not seen before.
His heart was lost. But the smile was not for him.​"

Giles is probably the main reason it was hard to rate this book a full 5. His blatant disdain for Henrietta's unbridled freedom and joy for life could be taken for the 'brooding' typical of most historical romance leading males (*cough* Anthony Bridgerton *cough*). Just like Anthony, Giles has low expectations of marriage and love in general, and is not looking for a wife to love or to be loved in return.

However...his words and actions are just so extreme. He takes great pains to privately - and publicly! - let Henrietta know that:
- She is not marriage material in his eyes
- She is a "grubby little urchin"
- Those around her are "tainted by her influence"
- He should not have kissed her "of all women"
- She is "the devil in female form"
- She is "evil"

I understand him being drawn to her against his will. The book also ties his behaviour to him carrying trauma from his childhood, and to him being somewhat emotionally stunted in love and relationships. But what I couldn't understand was (i) the sheer magnitude of his hatred, and (ii) how on earth this poor young woman continued to love him through all of it.

Everyone (myself included!) loves a good 'lord has to redeem himself" historical romance, but there was an edge to his anger towards her - a violence - that seemed far too great in comparison to her deeds. Maybe fuelled by his inability to express his feelings for her, yes, but still it didn't sit right with me. Nothing is worse than a man who takes out his frustrations on a woman, especially verbally. You're an adult. Deal with your baggage! By the end of the book, there was nothing that seemed to ever make him fully redeemable...at least for me. Despite his level of arrogance most likely being intentional for the purposes of the plot, it was genuinely hard to root for him to have a happy ending.

In Henrietta's own words: "Better an urchin who grubs around in the dirt than a pompous ass who treats the world with contempt."


The Power of Love

"A partnership for life must be nurtured," Lady Thorpe said. "Consider the rose bush, the sweet, soft petals, delicate aroma, and bright colours combined with the prickly thorns. That is how a relationship should be, a myriad of textures and layers."​

There are some truly beautiful words of wisdom interwoven throughout the book. Lessons on life, love, and what it means to come into your own.

I think one of my favourite characters was Henrietta's father. The way in which he taught Henrietta to embrace the necessity of maturity, but without giving up the spark that made her unique, was incredibly sweet. He saw her need for freedom but also knew that the world they lived in required her to put aside the limitless freedoms of childhood and to learn how to become a functioning adult who could properly fend for herself: "Your quality lies in your courage and strength of character, and nobody can take that away from you."

The bond of friendship between Henrietta and her fellow wallflowers - as well as with Gile's mother and cousin-turned-ward Beatrice - is another highlight of the book. Henrietta displays such fierce loyalty towards those she loves and learns a lot about herself through her relationships with others. She puts aside her own pain to support Eleanor, admires Lavinia's strength and unwavering support, and puts her own reputation on the line to secure Beatrice's happiness. She's honestly a stellar main protagonist who is unashamedly herself, even during the most dire of circumstances.

I enjoyed the heroine in this book she is daring, courageous and strives to be herself, even if it is against society’s norms. He thinks she is the antithesis of who he wants for a wife although he is clearly attracted. But they complete each other. They are Yin and Yang. Only understanding love’s sacrifice can resolve their issues. Also, intrigued to know the stories of the other ‘misfits’ and the idea of climbing trees!

I received an ARc of this book via NetGalley and leaving my review voluntarily.

Tomboy of the Ton is the first book in the Misfits of the Ton historical romance series, and it follows Henrietta, a tomboy who spent much of her childhood playing pranks on her neighbor Giles Thorne. Henrietta infuriates Giles, and he loathes her precocious and impetuous ways. So, when Henrietta takes a prank too far, Giles demands retribution, and her father sends Henrietta to live with her aunt in London for a season in the hopes that she will settle down and find a husband. Giles and Henrietta don’t know what to do because the one person they love to hate is also who they are falling in love with – each other.

This is a tough book for me to review, as there are several things I really liked, but one major thing I disliked. I loved the female friendships and the strong messages about gender inequality and the unfair standards and expectations put upon women. However, I vehemently disliked the male protagonist and his bullying ways.

Henrietta is a wonderful protagonist. She is unique, fun, and adventurous, and she’s a breath of fresh hair compared with many of the other young women of the ton. No matter how much others try to embarrass, shame, and change her, Henrietta stays true to herself. Giles, however, is not a likable character. He is arrogant and insulting, and sometimes he is downright cruel. In my opinion, Giles’s words and actions toward Henrietta cross a line too many times, and I found it hard to forgive him. I don’t think he deserves Henrietta.

The love story between Henrietta and Giles has total enemies-to-lovers and bully romance vibes. Giles is so hurtful and hateful toward Henrietta, and they have a history of animosity toward each other. Giles is very strict and conforming, whereas Henrietta is carefree and unique. They are opposites in many ways, though they are alike in their stubbornness and strong will. I’m not a huge fan of bully romances, and I hated how insulting Giles was. He hurts her deeply with his words. I get that he’s trying to fight his feelings for Henrietta, but his long-time cold, hurtful, and condescending ways were not my favorite. Henrietta doesn’t often stand for his arrogant insults and condescension, and she, too, says some really off-putting things.

The friendships in the book are fantastic, and I’m eager to learn more about Henrietta’s friends. Like Henrietta, they are considered misfits, as they don’t fit in with the other young women of the ton. These women are unique and intriguing, and I love how they accept and support each other. They contrast the mean, snotty peers well. Beatrice, Giles’s younger cousin, is a stand-out secondary character, as is Giles’s mother. They both stand up to Giles in their own way. Beatrice craves independence and freedom. She, like Henrietta, doesn’t want to conform to the dictates of society, as it’s squelching their interests, ethics, and individuality. I’m hoping she’ll be the focus of a future book in the series.

Overall, this is a good historical romance, it just wasn’t the right fit for me. Thanks so much to Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

Tomboy Henrietta has grown up playing pranks on her neighbor Giles. When she goes too far, her father sends her to her Aunt for a London Season. She tries to curb her hoyden tendencies, but cannot help it when confronted with Giles in society. Giles is looking to get married and have an obedient wife who gives him no trouble. However, he cannot stop thinking of Henrietta. I received an ARC from NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing for my honest review.

I'm so glad that an author, Emily, finally wrote a true tomboy into a historical romance. Most authors who write of outgoing Debs usually do a decent job of showing traits of a ton oh but Emily went beyond expectation with Henrietta a.k.a. Henry! It was a fun read though at times I wanted to knock Giles over the head for his masochistic views.