This was a fantastic historical romance. I liked the plot and the characters were a lot of fun. Very much recommend this book.

I loved this one! Miss Rose is so much like me it's laughable. A must-have for every bookworm who likes regency romance.

The story was engaging but the two leads didn't quite stick with me after the book was over. But it's engaging while reading

I strongly believe that my dislike for this novel was more down to my own personal pet peeves than anything truly wrong with this novel.

In fact, I quite enjoyed Rose and James and the way that she was unafraid to speak her mind and let her feelings be known to him when he said or did something that she didn't agree with. The chemistry between those two was apparent from the start. So what was my problem with this one?

To begin with we have the fact that three unmarried young women were living in the home of a bachelor male. And while yes, his aunt did also reside in the home, we all know how gossipy the ton was and I found it hard to believe that no one speculated on the fact that the aunt couldn't possibly be adequately chaperoning all three young ladies while her nephew was home. Especially considering that everyone knew that the young ladies in question had absolutely no idea of their parentage, or if they were even legitimate.


Speaking on that major plot point, I really expected more drama on that front than we were given (although there were instances of it it, some of which didn't make sense). Also the whole, "I like you but you are NOT an appropriate candidate for a wife.... but I'm still going to compromise you in public" versus the "I love you but I will not force you into marriage" troupe is just old. Don't get me wrong - I GET IT. A woman wants a man to propose because he is in love with her too and not because he feels he "has to", but just ONCE I would love it if a girl (especially one who didn't fully understand the ways of the ton) looked at the man who compromised her and went "WELL YOU KNEW WHAT COULD HAPPEN." I feel like that might make things more interesting especially when they have the chemistry that these two did.

Lastly, I felt that the final reveal was a bit ..... weird. There was so much information surrounding the circumstances that was still missing even after we got the truth that it felt kind of anti-climatic. What exactly was her mama hiding from?

Those things considered, I would give this author another chance, so if I happen to see another in this series up for review, I will request it just to see how the series progresses with the other sisters.

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

I liked the premise. The writing was pleasant and the characters were balanced. I did enjoy the secondary characters a lot too. I am intrigued about the other books by this author and in this series. I think the author's skill for world building is definitely a strong suit of theirs. Lastly, the book had a lot more to offer than just a romance title as it focused on mystery elements too, but I wish there was just slightly more focus on the romance part of it. Just a tad more.

ARC provided by NetGalley via Harlequinn Romance, and I have written my honest and voluntary review.

I used to read Harlequins religiously when I was younger, and then life got in the way. So when I had an opportunity to read this, I jumped at the chance. I am glad I did because this book was a well-written and intriguing book to read. It reminded me that some of the best-written romance novels are Harlequin's. I stand by that.

This story focuses on the youngest of the triplet sisters, Rose Lennox. The "Bella's" are tasked with solving the mystery of their late-mother's past. They are sent to their ward's sister to be introduced into society (for the purposes of finding a spouse). It is there where she meets Viscount James, the surly, aloof nephew (thorough marriage) who has inherited this estate after the tragic death of his owns parents/uncle. Rose has to navigate the world of the "ton", the mystery of their mother's past, and their own hearts.

This is well-paced, and every chapter builds a layer into the story. Because it is book one of three, it ends in a satisfying way, but obviously the whole mystery isn't concluded. I do look forward to reading the next few books!

My minor critique is that there is so much going on with secondary characters and their stories, along with the main mystery, that at times, the relationship feels simultaneously rushed, underdeveloped, and secondary to the other stories. Sometimes, subtraction is truly addition when it comes to writing romance, and other stories/plots should only be a necessary tool to advance and develop the romance. But it's not a glaring thing, nor do I feel any less satisfied when they do come together. It was earned all the same, and I LOVE when they have to earn their HEA.

All in all, I recommend the book, and look forward to the series. I would definitely buy the trilogy for my book shelf.

Thank you Harlequin (specifically Harlequin Historical division), Catherine Tinley, and NetGalley allowing me to read an advance DRC copy of the book in exchange for my honest review. Sorry for the late review as I was in the hospital/ill!

Every time I picked up "Miss Rose and the Vexing Viscount", I was whisked back in time, and went on such an emotional journey with this moving story.

This is the first book I have read by Catherine Tilney, and it certainly will not be my last! Her writing is vivid and visceral, and her characters all feel like such real people who jump right off of the page. I felt immersed in the story and time period due to Ms. Tilney's world-building, and I simply did not want to put this book down!

Rose, Anna, and Izzy are triplets. They are also orphans. They go to London for a season, and will be sponsored. The girls also want to find out information about their family as well.

(Possible Spoilers!)
This book focuses a lot on Rose and James, Viscount Ashbourne, who is the nephew of the woman sponsoring the triplets. Oh my goodness, THESE TWO! Rose and James! Opposites attract and enemies-to-lovers. The more time these two spend together, the deeper their feelings become. They bring out the best in one another, and follow their hearts, regardless of what a lot of society may think. I hope to see them in future books in this series!

This book truly has so much in it: romance. mystery, history, twists and turns, and so much more!

I can't wait to read the other books in the series, and am so curious to see how these stories continue.

If you enjoy Historical Romance, I highly recommend this book! I look forward to reading what Catherine Tilney writes next!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Harlequin Historical for the ARC of this novel! All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Good start to an intriguing series. The book opens with a prologue about a pregnant woman running for her life. The narrative was so vivid I felt as though I was there, experiencing the woman's fear and her worry about the child she carries. The end of the prologue leaves many questions about the who and the why and leads into the story proper.

Twenty-one years later, the orphaned triplet daughters of the woman find out they are to be sent from their guardian's home in Scotland to his sister in London. There, she will present them to Society in hopes of finding husbands for all three. They are also tasked with discovering the truth of their parentage despite having little knowledge to go on.

Annabelle, the oldest and known for her practical nature, is tasked with finding out what led their mother to flee to Elgin, Scotland. Isobel, the middle triplet and adventurous one, is to discover their father's identity. Rosabelle, the youngest and quietest sister, is supposed to learn the true identity of their mother. This book focuses on Rose, her quest, and her experiences in London. Rose is the least interested in making her debut in London. She prefers books to people and plans to become a teacher at the school she and her sisters attended in Scotland.

Lady Ashbourne is a delightful woman who is excited to have three young girls to sponsor in Society. I laughed at her stunned surprise at having three identical girls and loved her plan to keep them secret until their Court presentation. She knew that their uniqueness would help counteract their unknown antecedents. The only fly in her ointment is her nephew, James, Viscount Ashbourne, who believes that no good will come of his aunt's plans.

James is very protective of his aunt and the family name. After the typical shenanigans of a young nobleman were cut short by his unexpected inheriting of the title, James became prudent and cautious in all his actions. He is cynical about the marriage mart and what he sees of the young women Society approves of. He is dismayed at having three young women underfoot and wary of their suitability. He acted as a wet blanket on his aunt's excitement.

Rose and James butt heads from the moment they meet. James is predisposed to distrust the triplets from the get-go, and his tendency to constantly warn them against making mistakes gets under Rose's skin. She finds him cold and judgmental and pushes back every time. They can't be in the same room for five minutes without coming to verbal blows. But underneath the antagonism are sparks of attraction that Rose doesn't understand and James doesn't want. They are thrown together often enough that the attraction continues to grow, and they discover that they aren't so different after all. But James is keenly aware of Rose's unknown parentage, and his sense of family honor resists looking at her as a potential bride.

When James and Rose's attraction becomes a source of gossip, it puts the women's futures at risk. Rose and James face the reality of being parted forever if they allow Society's prejudices to dictate their lives. I loved James's awakening to the truth and strength of his feelings and watching him go after what he wanted. The reunion between him and Rose is sweet, emotional, and realistic in that they accept there will be scandal attached.

Rose's quest also takes up much of her time in London. I could feel Rose and her sisters' frustration and sadness as they ran into dead end after dead end. I loved the twist at the end that exposed a lie and revealed a truth. But there are still questions that need to be answered, and I can't wait for the next book to see what happens there.

There is a secondary romance between James's best friend, Robert, and Rose's new friend, Lady Mary. It was heartbreaking to see how awful Mary's mother was about her feelings for Robert while pursuing a title for her daughter. I liked James's attempt to help his friend and rooted for Robert's success.

Miss Rose and the Vexing Viscount is the latest enchanting Regency romance from multi award-winning author Catherine Tinley.

Bookworm Rose Lennox would much rather lock herself in a library than go anywhere near a ballroom. Unlike other young women of her age, she has absolutely no interest in making her debut and would be quite happy to never go anywhere near the marriage mart or high society. However, Rose knows that if she wants to find out the truth about her parentage, she must travel to London and discover who she really is.

Rose immediately finds herself butting heads with her sponsor’s nephew James, Viscount Ashbourne. The two of them do not seem able to agree on anything and need only be in the same room for five seconds before they find themselves clashing and arguing. The only thing they seem to agree on is how tiring the demands of polite society can be – especially for James, who shares Rose’s cynicism about marriage among members of the Ton.

Rose and James might fight like cat and dog, but fate seems to be conspiring to throw them in one another’s way and the more they get to know each other, the more they realize that they might have far more common than they had previously thought. Grudging respect soon leads to an attraction that simply cannot be denied, however, dare Rose dream of a future as a viscount’s wife when she doesn’t who her parents are?

Can Rose and James find a way to be together? Or is there simply no hope for the two of them?

Historical romance readers know that they are in good hands when they pick up a Catherine Tinley Regency and this hugely talented writer has once again penned an outstanding tale that will steal every reader’s heart. Witty, engaging, dramatic and emotional, this romantic tale is full of exquisitely evocative period details that sweep the reader back in time to the Regency, delicious humour, witty dialogue and a delightful love story that will keep them turning the pages.

A superb historical romance from a writer who always delivers and never disappoints, Catherine Tinley’s Miss Rose and The Vexing Viscount deserves a place on every reader’s keeper shelf.

A truly wonderful story. I loved the romance, and drama the lead characters had to face. A fantastic read.

This is one of the most fun and swoon-ful books I've read. I like that the story doesn't drag on about minor details. It really sets the story line and takes you on a fun fill adventure. It is mysterious throughout and has such an amazing ending that will blow your mind!

10/10

The Belles....

This is the start of the triplet trilogy and a bit of a mystery.
Rosabelle "Rose" is the youngest of the triplets and is smitten with James, the nephew of their London sponsor. James has no plans to marry until he's smitten with the improper Rose. Improper, as the triplets parentage is unknown, a bit of a mystery for the three girls to figure out. All things proper seem to really matter here.
Recommend.

A charming traditional (i.e. closed door) Regency romance. Rose and her two identical sisters (they're triplets!) descend upon the sweetest dowager viscountess of the ton for their debuts. The only issue? They don't know the identity of their father ... OR their mother. Thanks to their beauty, charm, and novelty, they're popular; because of the uncertainty of their antecedents, they are not "marriage material."

This is a comfortable series starter with a kind, confident FMC and a starchy MMC who means well. If you like traditional Regencies, there are no surprises, but you'll be pleased with what you get.

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.

This is such a sweet story! I was immediately drawn into the triplet’s story, and in particular Rose’s interactions with James. I love a slow-burn, “I want you, but we can’t” romance. And now I’m really looking forward to Izzy and Anna’s stories - and solving the mystery of their parentage!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

Bookish Rose has no interest in husband-hunting. She travels to London seeking clues about her parentage. James, Viscount Ashbourne, shares her disdain for the marriage mart. Despite their constant clashing, an attraction ignites. Can their connection overcome the secrets shrouding her past?

The plot of this novel centers on Rose's place in society and the questions about her parentage. The attraction between Rose and James is understated, without much strong emotion until the last third of the book. The ending is sweet and satisfying.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Catherine Tinley’s Miss Rose and the Vexing Viscount is the first in her Triplet Orphans series It’s a fun opposites-attract, bookworm heroine story with a little bit of a mystery mixed in.

The story opens with a prologue telling the tale of the Lennox sisters’ mother as she flees someone before she realizes she’s going into labor and knows it’s too soon. She blacks out as a gruff voice asks her “who’s there?” The story then fast forwards twenty-one years and the girls’ mother is now long dead. They are informed by their guardian that they are to travel to London where his sister will sponsor them for the Season so they can find husbands. He also informs them they are each tasked with finding some specific piece of information about their mother’s past. In Rose’s case, she is to find her mother’s true identity. Rose balks at the idea, but her sisters convince her to go so that they may find out more about their mother. Upon meeting James, Viscount Ashbourne, she is briefly attracted to him before he makes his disapproval of her and her sisters clear. From there, Rose tries her best to dislike him.

Rose and her sisters are presented to the Queen and declared the Diamonds of the season. This does them no favors, however, as rumors of their possibly being bastards begins to circulate. Rose and James slowly begin to become friends and share lots of witty banter. Rose uses social events as chances to find out more about her mother, but is vastly unsuccessful until the end.

I really enjoyed this book. My absolutely favorite part is the banter between Rose and James throughout as they constantly try to one-up each other, which makes for some rather humorous scenes. Early on, I feared thiis was going to be a case of insta-lust, since Rose is almost immediately attracted to James, but since he ruins it right away she fights it as hard as she can.

I loved Rose and James. She is such a sweetheart who is not afraid to put James in his place whenever she feels he is wrong. And bookworms always have a special place in my heart. James, for all his stuffiness, is still likable, and watching him thaw out is half the fun of the story. I especially enjoyed his desperation to get Rose back at the end once he realizes what an idiot he has been.

The mystery subplot takes somewhat of a backseat until closer to the end, but it still adds to the overall tale, and I was surprised by what Rose finds out. It’s not completely solved here, and I suspect will run throughout the books in the series, but that does not take away from the story at all.

While the mystery is not completely revealed, an engaging heroine, brooding hero, and their fun back-and-forth is enough to keep readers engaged. I will definitely be checking out the rest of the series!

“Oooooh,” my internal happy squeal makes an appearance (and I’m not a squealer). Wink.
Clean romantic historical fiction set in the early 1800s (Georgian era) in London and some of Scotland. Add a mix and hint of mystery, the strict propriety of the ton, dimensional characters, and wonderfully witty dialogue, and you get an inspirationally endearing novel.

The author’s voice is strong with descriptions of both personality, place, and events that bring the reader along for the experience (not just visually, but with all the senses). A delightful story with a happy ending.

Would you recommend it? Yes, to any age and sensibility.
Would I buy it? Yes

I look forward to seeing it in bookstores. This was an ARC from NetGalley, which I received for an honest review.
4.5/5-star rating.

Tropes: fish out of water, grumpy MMC/sunshine MFC, questionable heritage of MFC
Steam level: 1
Part of a series: Yes. Book 1.

3.5 stars rounded to 4. This is a sweet, lighthearted HR with old-school vibes, which added to its charm. There is the typical commentary on class divisions, but the main conflict is resolved quite easily at the end. I didn't quite buy the MMC's sudden turnaround from stuffy, rules-obsessed viscount with a troubled past to a man willing to risk all for love; I felt the main characters' relationship needed more development. Their verbal sparring was fun, though, and the HEA was heartfelt.

The mystery subplot isn't fully wrapped up, but there is a satisfying twist at the very end than led to my rounding to 4 stars.

I read an advanced reader copy of this book and this is my voluntary review. Opinions are my own.

Orphans, Annabelle “Anna”, Isobel “Izzy” & Rosabella “Rose” Lennox are identical triplets living in Scotland, they have just turned twenty-one and completed their education at Belvedere School for Young Ladies and are contemplating their futures when their guardian, Mr. Marnoch, a solicitor, informs them that he is sending them to London for the Season. He tells them that while he doesn’t really know much about their late mother’s past, he does know she was a lady and had a season in London. He tells the girls that they will be staying with his sister, the widowed Viscountess Ashbourne, who will be sponsoring them for the season. He then gives each girl a quest, to hopefully solve the mystery of who they are and how their English mother came to be pregnant and alone in Scotland.

Anna’s quest is to find out the circumstances that led their mother Maria to Elgin, Scotland, Izzy’s is to learn the identity of their father, leaving Rose with the task of learning the true identity of their mother, as Mr. Marnoch is sure Lennox is an assumed name. The girls arrive in London and are welcomed by Lady Ashbourne, who is stunned to learn the girls are identical, but she quickly realizes that with their small doweries and unknown origins, she can use the novelty of triplets to successfully launch them into society. The only hitch to her plan is her nephew, James Drummond, the current Viscount Ashbourne. James is very protective of his aunt and thinks sponsoring the girls is a mistake. But soon even James is won over by the “Belles”, especially Rose, who never seems to miss an opportunity to test his patience. But as much as he desires her, her unknown past makes her completely ineligible in the eyes of the ton, so that is that – right? Will the girls unravel the mystery of their parent’s past? Will they find their HEAs? Or are they fated to be spinsters?

This was an intriguing start to a new series, that promises to be filled with danger, mystery, and scandalous secrets! I love the idea of identical triplets, and the setup for the series was well done, while still giving the reader a gentle romance amid the mystery, intrigue, and speculation surrounding the “Belles”. I thought Rose was a very sweet but somewhat naïve, young lady, who had a kind heart and was willing to give anything to protect the people she loved. While James was a bit jaded and at times arrogant and immovable, yet, he too was willing to do whatever was needed to protect his family. It was clear rather early that they shared a connection, but their romance repeatedly seemed to get shelved in favor of secondary characters and series setup, making the story a little slow and clunky at times. Overall, this was a gentle, kissing-only romance, that I found delightful, and am anxiously awaiting the next installment!

3.5 stars, rounded up.