I received a copy of this title from the publisher; all thoughts expressed are my own. Lorraine Heath remains one of the few historical romance authors that I still enjoy reading and this title is no exception. I really appreciate to the way she tells a story and creates very likable characters. I struggle with some of the historical romances that incorporate very modern ideas creating wallpaper historicals. I really appreciated that the hero, James, was not a womanizer with a string of broken hearts; his behavior makes sense in context with his childhood experiences with his parents (especially his father). I really like Leonora and the fact that she is an inventor; Heath does a great job of showing her struggle in trying to fit into the role allotted to women during the time by allowing her brother to be the public face of the business with the intention of him eventually taking over all running of it despite the fact that she is clearly the better businessperson in the family. I enjoyed the romance and will continue to look for future stories by Ms. Heath.

This is my least fav in this trilogy. It was a bit repetitive for me and a slow burn. Just seemed a bit different than the other 2 in the series as well. Lenora is an American came to England to search for investors for her invention of a writing machine and help her family business. She meets Rook at a club who is also a Viscount but they ended up eventually kissing each other. Just this had little drama throughout to keep me engaged. You meet some of Lorraine’s other characters as well.

I received this book at my request and have voluntarily left this unbiased review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review

WOW! This book. Lorraine never disappoints and her writing is superb. This lovely tale of longing and wanting and slow burn is such a satisfying read. A woman inventor, yes!!! An understanding man, double yes!!! Both Rook and Nora were such nice people and there is no way you cannot like them. Their story is so sweet. I did not think I would need a tissue, but damn it, I sure did. The Chessman, along with their wives, are such a great group of people and throw in the Trewloves, and you have a clan of amazing people.

I do love a new Lorraine Heath story, especially one where we get to catch up with so many characters from her past books. (Don’t worry - this one can definitely be read as a standalone.) Here, we finish the Chessmen series with Rook and Leonora’s story. Leonora is an American who has traveled to London to seek investors (or so she believes) for her late father’s business. The Chessman are potential investors but it all becomes much more complicated when Rook and Leonora share an anonymous kiss as the story begins.

Leonora and Rook together are wonderful. Both wanting only the best for the other, even if they aren’t sure that that best means them. Rook especially accepts and encourages Leonora in the absolute best ways, even as he is trying to maintain an air of respectable perfection that I can only imagine is completely exhausting. The chemistry between them is palpable and the slow burn rather exquisite - and slow burns are not always my jam. They kiss but they also talk. And Rook sees Leonora in a way no one else ever has.

The secondary characters add much to the story, as is generally the case with Heath’s books. Love seeing so much of the Trewloves. Rook’s mother is lovely, Leonora’s is . . . not. I did not care for her spineless brother all that much, either. I do wish we could have seen Leonora make deeper connections with the other Chessmens’ wives, but I also recognize that could have detracted from this as a standalone.

4 solid stars. And I am wondering if a certain Scotland Yard inspector will be the MMC of one of Heath’s future books. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a complimentary ARC of this book. These opinions are my own,.

In Want of a Viscount continues the chessman series theme of no one has daddy issues like heroes in a historical romance. However, the backdrop of the Gilded Age and an American heroine looking for investors for her company gives the trope a fun new twist.

I really loved Leonora as a heroine. She was so smart and industrious while also being compassionate and caring. Rook was also incredibly compassionate and carried a lot of guilt for things that weren't his fault. I loved that they each appreciated the other's good qualities so much and I loved seeing them through each other's eyes.

This is one where I would recommend reading some of Lorraine Heath's earlier works first. Ideally, you would have read the Chessman series, the Once Upon a Dukedom series, and the Sins for All Seasons series but The Duchess in His Bed is the most important (Sins for All Seasons Book 4). You could read this one as a standalone but you will likely be confused by some parts.

🌶️🌶️🌶️- This story doesn't have a lot of fully detailed steamy scenes but the sexual tension and anticipation is well written and a large part of the story. From simply on-page scenes this would be two peppers but given that sexual experimentation is a big part of their early relationship, it becomes a larger part of the plot.

American Leonora “Nora” Garrison has come to London with her brother Sam and her mother, to find investors for their machine factory. And it is in London that she learns about the Elysium, a private club for ladies. She goes to the club and seeks to fill a secret desire; to be kissed. Nervous, she overindulges in absinthe and is quite tipsy when a man joins her in the private room. They share an amazing kiss and then she passes out, waking much later and mortified by her actions. But that is nothing compared to the mortification of coming face to face with her mystery lover at a dinner with potential investors! Despite the awkwardness, Nora is drawn to John Castleton, Viscount Wyeth, or Rook to his fellow Chessmen, not only is he handsome, but he takes a real interest in Nora, making her feel intelligent and beautiful. They know there is no future for them, nor does she want one, but they can’t seem to stay away from each other, which is why they are found in a compromising situation and find themselves betrothed. While Nora has come to love Rook, she refuses to enter a marriage with a man who doesn’t love her back. But is her plan to save them actually going to save them from heartbreak or has that ship already sailed?

As part of an elite group of investors known as the Chessmen, John “Rook” Castleon, Viscount Wyeth has made a fortune, enabling him to live a life independent of his father the Earl of Elverton. The earl is a libertine whose exploits, mistresses, insatiable lust, and illegitimate children are widely known, and he is the last person Rook would ever want to emulate. To that end, he has devoted his life to being above reproach, so it is completely out of character for him to kiss a stranger in a club devoted to women, but that is exactly how he met Nora. He had gone to the club to see the owner, his brother Aiden Trewlove (one of his father’s many by-blows), and is talked into kissing her. He is intrigued by her the minute he meets her and is desperate to learn who she is, especially when she falls asleep during their kiss. Nora is unlike any woman he has ever known and when they end up betrothed, he isn’t as upset as he should be, considering he never planned to marry. So when Nora sets her plan in motion to free him from their forced engagement, he should be happy, right?

This was a well-written, engaging read with wonderful characters and lots of emotion. The book is filled with emotion, Trewlove cameos, really awful parents, a STEM heroine, secret trysts, a “technically virgin” hero who has been hurt before, steamy love scenes, a bit of heartache, some betrayal, and finally a HEA complete with an epilogue. I liked this story, but it is not the ending I was expecting for the series as I was hoping for a bit more Chessmen involvement, especially in the epilogue. This is the third and final book in the series, but it could easily be read as a standalone title as there isn’t any ongoing plot tying the books together, however, it is worth mentioning that this book is also loosely connected to the Sins for All Season series – so if you read that series you will see lots of familiar faces in this book! Overall this was a very good read and I wonder if the next series will pick up where this book ended (I hope so! Fingers crossed!) If you enjoy intelligent heroines, heroes trying to atone for the sins of their fathers, steamy love scenes, and happy endings, then I am happy to recommend this book to you!

4 stars

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.*

I think In Want of a VIscount is my favorite book in this series, and I super loved getting to see all of the Trewloves again! I loved Rooks and Lenora's first meeting along with their slow-burn romance once they meet each other again. I loved how Rook supported Lenora's scientific endeavors and didn't let her mother's intentions keep them from growing closer. I thought their romance was full of explosive chemistry, and heartwarming moments. They are truly meant for each other, and I loved how their relationship played out.
The ending was especially lovely, and I loved how her mother got what she deserved as well.
I can't wait to see what Lorraine Heath is going to write next.

I always enjoy Ms. Heath's books and this one is no exception. The chemistry between Rook and Nora is off the charts. I loved the tension between them as Nora tries to find investors to save her late father's factory. She was so strong and independent--a woman who knew what she wanted, and yet, she was soft and vulnerable as well. I really loved Rook. He was such a tower of strength and respectability until he lost his heart to Nora. These two were willing to do whatever they could to help each other, even walking away, but in the end, Rook and Nora got their happily ever after.

I really disliked Nora's mother. I think the author went a little overboard on how awful she was, and her brother wasn't better as far as I'm concerned. I think with Sam, though, it was that he hadn't found his own true passion yet--the factory was never that for him so at least he redeemed himself a little at the end.

Lorraine Heath, man. I love when authors bring back previous characters, and this book was full of references to all three of her most recent series. And yet, despite all of that, my favorite parts of this book were truly the blooming romance between Rook and Nora. I will always have a weak spot for “different” and “quirky” women who just want to do science and not talk to people, and Nora was great at that. Was new ground tread here? No. This was a historical romance, and had all the historical romance bits you’d imagine from someone who has been writing historical romances about as long as I’ve been alive. And it was delightful. The only reason it’s not a full 5 stars is because there was a little too much internal dialogue from Rook that I ended up skimming. But Nora? She was great from start to finish. 4.5 stars rounded down.

I'm always in the mood for a new book by Lorraine Heath. In Want of a Viscount is the third book in The Chessman series and if you haven't read the first two books, this is your sign to go pick them up as soon as you can.

Our fmc is Leonora Garrison, an American who has come to England in search of investors to keep her family business in America afloat. When she decides to visit an exclusive ladies club and dares to kiss a stranger, she is tempted to consider something more.

Viscount Wyeth AKA Rook, stops at his brother's club, Elysium, and is wrangled into doing him a favor. Said favor is to visit a private room and fulfill a lady's request. This turns out to be the room Lenora is in and includes giving her a kiss. This is actually the complete opposite of who Rook truly is. Based on his father's past behavior, Rook has done everything in his power to not follow in his footsteps as a womanizer but he can't help himself from providing Lenora with the requested kiss.

When Lenora and Rook separate that evening, they believe they will never see each other again, even though they can't stop thinking about their encounter. When fate brings them both face to face, they are torn between desire and duty. Lenora wants an investor, not a lover and with her family relying heavily on her to save the business, she has to figure out what is most important.

I do want to say here that I really didn't like Lenora's mother. Heath made her a very unlikable character - it's not even the fact that she was relying on Lenora to save them all, it was the way she spoke to Lenora, engaged with people around her, and just her overall personality. Her brother wasn't that great either but definitely not as bad as her mother.

Overall, this was a great installment to the series. I loved getting Rook's story and seeing him matched up with Lenora was perfect. If you have an opportunity to read this book (and the series) definitely do so.

CW: Death of a parent (off-page); infidelity (not main couple); sexism; bullying

Oh my god, this book made me so giddy! It’s so swoon-worthy and romantic, and I am absolutely obsessed with Rook and Leonora. I’ve been lukewarm on the Chessmen series – the previous two books have been missing that special something that makes Lorraine Heath’s books magical. But this book, this book had all the emotions and everything I’ve been wanting from the Chessmen series, and I’m just sad we had to wait until the last one to get it!

While the romance is built off insta-lust, the connection between Rook and Leonora goes so much deeper than that. Sure, they have the hots for each other (and boy, do they have the HOTS for each other), but Rook also loves her for her brain and passion for her work. Oh my god, these two together – they melted my heart. He encourages her and builds her up in the best ways possible. I DIED at the surprise that he gave her around midway through as it brought Leonora so much joy, and it showed how well he knew her and what he would do to make her happy. I seriously was mush at how he encouraged her love of engineering and how much joy it brought him to see her happy. She can be herself around him and know he’ll accept her as she is.

Despite the instant attraction, the romantic relationship still felt like a slow burner as they spent time getting to know each other on a deeper level in between stealing hidden kisses at balls and secret trysts. It’s so clear that they love each other, but they’re both hesitant to voice those feelings. But when they do, oh my god, I swooned. The declarations of love in this book were *chefs kiss* and all the feelings and emotions that went along with it are why I love Lorraine Heath’s books. She’s so good at making your heart feel all the things.

I was SHOCKED that I didn’t make the connection that John Castleton, aka Rook, aka the Viscount of Wyeth, was the brother of Aiden Trewlove. As a massive fan of the Sins For All Seasons series, I was kicking myself for not realizing that when I read the blurb as we met Viscount Wyeth in The Duchess In His Bed. I was so excited when I realized that this book was deeply intertwined with the Trewloves, and I loved all the cameo appearances. If you’re a fan of Lorraine Heath’s most recent two series, you’ll really appreciate seeing so many key players again (I know I was screaming with joy every time one showed up). You don’t have to have read Heath’s Sins for All Seasons or Once Upon a Dukedom series to enjoy this book, but it does bring something extra special to those readers who have read it.

My heart melted for Rook! He’s been the one Chessmen we’ve known the least about, but I was so excited to get his story once I realized who he was. Rook is so upstanding and tries to avoid any hint of scandal, as his father is literally the world’s WORST man and the biggest libertine I’ve ever seen. He’s very careful with his emotions and romances as he never wants to be like his father. But of course, when he meets Leonora, that becomes a challenge, yet he still tries so hard to keep his heart (and lust) in check. What I love about him is how much he cares for Leonora. Unlike other men who mock her for her passions, he encourages them. All he wants to do is see a smile on her face, and I just love that. I also really appreciated seeing his relationship with Aiden – they definitely have that brotherly bond despite not being raised together.

Leonora was so not what I expected when I first met her, and I love that! I don’t know why, but I expected her to be more of a shy wallflower as she goes to the Elysium ladies club to get her first kiss, but she’s so not that. She’s outspoken and goes after what she wants. I loved her passion for her family’s business and the writing machine she created with her father. I melted when hearing what drove her to make the writing machine succeed, as her love for her father shone through. She’s willing to do anything to get the investors she needs to fulfill her father’s legacy, even if her mother and brother do not believe in it or her (her mother is truly the WORST). If you like a woman in STEM, I feel like you’ll love Leonora as she’s very much an engineer, as she loves taking things apart to figure out how to put them back together again and coming up with new machines that make everyday tasks easier. As a woman, she’s definitely looked down upon for her talents, but that’s why I loved how much Rook encouraged them! He was one of the few people in her life who encouraged her interests and made her feel seen.

The plot of this isn’t groundbreaking, and sure, it was a little predictable, but what makes this book so good is the romance and the emotions! Something about this story and these characters just clicked for me. The connection between Leonora and Rook was apparent from their first meeting, and watching that connection grow and develop was magical. I was swept up in the emotions and the romance and couldn’t get enough of these two! Truly, I feel like I’m obsessed with them. I was missing that emotional connection in The Counterfeit Scoundrel and The Notorious Mr. Knightly, but this delivered it in spades.

I’m so glad the Chessmen: Masters of Seduction series ends on a high note! I already can tell this will be another Lorraine Heath book that I know I will be revisiting in the future. It’s so romantic, swoonworthy, and sweet, and I could easily see this joining The Duchess Hunt as a new comfort read.

Thank you to Avon/Netgalley for the ARC. All thoughts, ideas, and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is a fabulously entertaining story. I love the fact that Leonora is such an empowered woman for this time period.
Her brother owns a company that their father started. Leonora is the inventor for the company. They are in England from America to find investors for the company and her new invention, a typewriter.
She meets Rook at a women's club when he is asked to do a favor by the owner and cater to her wish to be kissed.
I loved the relationship between Leonora and Rook. They both had their own wishes and desires for life. Her mother and brother were a bit hard to take at times.
I loved the fact that characters from another series appeared in this book.
I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Leonora travels to England seeking investors and finds unexpected pleasure in a daring kiss with a handsome stranger. Viscount Wyeth, known as Rook, normally resists his rakish instincts to maintain respectability. They’re caught between passion and duty—but can love triumph in the end?

I loved the characters in this emotional and heartwarming novel. There’s plenty of steam and sensual tension.

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

This is an absolutely touching and beautiful story of Leonora and Rook. I adored both the characters in the book. They both were trying to do their best shaped by their own pasts. I loved Rook and Nora’s relationship especially adored how Rook all the qualities of Nora that she tried to suppress because of her mother or society’s expectations. I also loved how Rook is a genuinely good guy and is trying his best to undo the damage his horrible and disgusting father had done in his lifetime. An utterly enthralling and sexy romance that kept me reading it into the early hours of morning.

This is book three in the Chessmen: Masters of Seduction but could be read as a standalone. I loved this series so would highly recommend it and if you are curious about when we first met Rook, read The Duchess in his bed which is the story of Aiden, his illegitimate older brother.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Rating: 4 Stars ⭐️

This book had an interesting setup. I enjoyed the bluestocking older heroine, and a hero who is trying to avoid making the same mistakes as his father. The characters are portrayed as being repressed but they fall in insta-lust with each other. The Americans in the story were portrayed as uncouth, fickle, and rude which was unnecessary.

Thank you to the publisher for providing the ARC.

Such a fabulous novel, I absolutely loved the story. One of my favorite Tropes in historical romances is when an American woman goes England, either as a dollar princess, or as in the heroine's case for financial investors. I loved the banter and the romance was superb.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an eARC of this book via NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager, Avon. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Rating: 5/5 Stars
Publishing: February 20, 2024
Series: The Chessmen: Masters of Seduction #3
Pages: 384

This was one truly enjoyable book by author, Lorraine Heath. Although I have not read the first two in this series, however this was one of two books that I have ever read where the hero in the story was a virgin…so to call the Chessmen “Masters of Seduction” is a bit odd because he was pursued but was seduced by the heroine in my opinion.

Miss Lenora “Nora” Garrison, a bluestocking American comes to England with her family in search of investors in her writing machine in order to continue her father’s business and keep her family flowing with income. She does not want to marry, however ventures out to an exclusive ladies’ club in search of a kiss. Viscount “Rook” Wyeth desires to live a life free of scandal and being labeled a “rogue”. He lets his father hold the title and the consequences of his actions and vows never to become him…in other words be the most upstanding gentleman of the ton. When one of his many half siblings asks a favor, he obliges by giving Nora the kiss that desires. Unfortunately, with that one kiss he finds himself smitten by the beautiful woman and eventually discovers that she is one of the Americans seeking the Chessmen as investors.

All the characters in the story were likeable characters except for the Lenora’s mother who was just rude and selfish individual who only cared about how she could elevate herself in society at the expense of her daughter. I admired Lenora’s determination to continue her father’s business although not being abled to inherit it as the daughter. She is a bluestocking through and through because she wants to fight for her own ambitions more than just marrying and undertaking all that goes along with the title. I also loved Rook’s admirable attempts to not become like his father but gets caught in a scandalous act by the despicable social climbing mother.

Although the story contains tropes of a bluestocking heroine, secret identity, and spinster. I was surprised by the trope of a virgin hero…yes the hero was a virgin and well kept until his scandalous act with the heroine. This is a well-written story by Ms. Heath. The plot and transition of the story was very good, and I enjoyed the development of both characters throughout the story. The characters endure issues of loyalty, trust, pain, and ability to love. This is one of my favorite reads thus far in this year of 2024 and highly recommend this book for those who love a good historical romance to comfy up to reading. Will have to read the first two in this series.

When you need to curl up with a good romance novel, grab the Chessmen series. You won't be disappointed.

American Leonora Garrison has come to England in desperate search of investors to keep her family business afloat but instead finds surprising pleasure when she visits an exclusive ladies’ club and dares to kiss a stranger, who leaves her yearning for more.

With a libertine for a father, Viscount Wyeth, more commonly known as Rook, vowed to live his life above reproach, with nary a hint of disgrace. Until one night, he takes a mysterious beauty into his arms, a lady who tempts him to cast his sterling reputation aside in favor of more wicked pursuits.

When fate reunites the couple, they are torn between desire and duty. Leonora may want the viscount, but she needs a stakeholder not a lover. When caught in a compromising situation that places everything they hold dear at risk, they must determine how best to win. However, in this scandalous game, nothing except love takes all.

Recommended for all fans of romance and historical romance. #InWantofaViscount #NetGalley #SaltMarshAuthorSeries

I really enjoyed this story! I absolutely loved that the character's from Lorraine Heath's Sins for All Seasons series were in this one. I highly highly suggest reading that series before jumping into this book because the main character in this one is part of that other series and you learn a lot about his background from that one. I loved that Nora was an inventor and loved taking things apart and putting them back together. I really enjoyed that Rook was actually a virgin because we really don't get a lot of MMC's that are virgins. Lorraine Heath has become an auto-read author for me, and I'm so glad that I read this book right after finishing the Sins for All Seasons series. Definitely recommend this one to all the Lorraine Heath fans!

Leonora is an American inventor in England with her family seeking investors in her writing machine, although her crass overbearing mother is seeking a titled husband for Leonora. She sneaks off to a ladies’ club and asks for a kiss. The club owner seems to be short-staffed in the gentlemen escort department and asks his own titled brother, Rook, to see to the kissing. Rook and Leonora don’t exchange names, but do exchange a kiss, leaving Leonora passed out from absinthe and Rook wondering what he did wrong. And of course, they cross paths later when Rook turns out to be a potential investor in the company. They flirt, they dance, they can’t seem to stay away from each other. And Rook is the only man (aside from her father) who has ever appreciated Leonora’s curiosity for machinery. However, Rook is not interested in marriage and basically a very controlled man who denies himself lustful indulgences due to his own father’s scandalous behavior. These two are fairly slow to realize they’re perfect for each other, but it’s a fun read along the way.