This felt like a realistic victorian romance where the man doesn't have modern ideals (which brings you out of the book), and while I found myself annoyed that the conflict seemed to revolve around the fact that she gave Dom orders, and what society would think, it felt true to the time period. The two year engagement length was kind of wild to Leonora, could definitely be cut down to 6 months and then have a longer engagement to Torie.

Eloisa James reminds me of why I first fell in love with historical romance-- Torie Sutton and Viscount Kelbourne are real people from the very first page. Don’t describe him as arrogant and her as frivolous. They are, but they’re so much more than that! They strike sparks, spit, and go their own ways—until such time as they must face reality for the sake of others, which is where they slowly reveal their true selves. It was an utter delight watching the pair strip each other down, layer by layer, until their souls are as naked as the couple are in bed. Because, of course, the author writes sex scenes as intelligent as her characters. Amusing, passionate, and full of wonderful historical tidbits, Viscount In Love is pure delight.

✨Book 9 of 2024✨

Rating: 4⭐️

Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️ 🌶️

Format: 📖 e-book

Thank you @netgalley , @Avonbooks , and @HarperVoyagerUS for an ARC of Eloisa James’ newest book!

Review:

Y’all already know, if Eloisa James writes it, I have to read it! She is such an amazing historical romance author and one of my comfort authors. I was so excited to receive an ARC of her newest book!

This was a fun one, that’s for sure. I loved the whole sister’s jilted fiancé angle, and Tori (FMC) having to decide if Dominic (MMC) is really into her for her or just as a second choice nanny to his orphaned quirky twin nice and nephew (whom I adored). This obviously makes for some great banter and chemistry.

Of course, this also leads to some miscommunication going on between the main characters, which lead to Dominic coming across as an a**. However, he did redeem himself with his groveling.. which… was nice. 😂😉

I also loved how Eloisa James did a crossover with some of the characters in the Would Be Wallflowers series. That was a fun surprise! Overall, I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend if you like historical romance.

this is the first book in a new series. if you like historical fiction you will love it. I enjoyed it very much, looking forward to the next book.

Viscount in Love is, at heart, a story of two people who are made fools of by love. Or, perhaps more accurately, it’s the story of two people who believe themselves to be fools and therefore almost miss out on true love.

Eloisa James’ mid-Georgian-era based starter for the “Accidental Brides” series uses the word fool, among others, to great effect, as the novel follows the unlikely pairing of Viscount Dominic Kelbourne and Victoria “Torie”.

When we first meet the pair, Viscount Kelbourne is engaged to Torie’s sister, a polar opposite of our heroine in virtually every way. When we see this version of the man, he seems most suited to that other woman too. A perfect society-approved wife who will neither expect him to change his gruff, unfeeling aristocratic ways, or harbor any allusions that she will care for him in a meaningful way either. These two will never be foolish over each other, or bother with a pesky emotion such as love either.

Two years later, however, a massive wrench has been thrown into Dominic’s life in the form of twin pre-teen wards. He suddenly finds himself without a fiancée, but with a growing attraction to Torie, the sister that on paper seems everything Dominic does not want.

Torie has spent a lifetime taking the nasty little barbs from her drunken degenerate gambler of a father and first rate snob of a sister in stride. Even though she is a wildly talented painter and extremely intelligent, her illiteracy (she is coded dyslexic) has made her the butt of the joke and looked down upon by society.

When a series of events turn Torie from Dominic’s almost sister-in-law to his accidental bride, he must learn how often his own fears of being seen as a fool make him hurt the woman he has fallen deeply and irrevocably in love with.

The microtrope of *falling in love with your own spouse after you are married* pops up in Viscount in Love here perfectly, as James sets the scene for these two silly people to figure it out. Not to mention find out that they are very compatible in the bedroom. Bonus.

The transformation Dominic makes from bull headed stuffed waistcoat to family man is oh-so-satisfying. Even more compelling, Torie learns to not hide behind the labels other people give her because it’s easier and safer than putting herself out there and taking a chance. Her journey is both emotional and timely, even in modern times, as we learn to shake off the negative stories other people tell us about who we are.

Overall, "Viscount in Love" is a charming and uplifting read about the transformative power of love and self-assurance. Eloisa James has once again proven herself to be a master of the historical romance genre, and this novel is sure to enchant her fans.

Home run of a historical romance! I loved Val and Florence and the bunnies, and Torie and Dom are so swoony - two flawed main characters whose journey to love was delightful and believable. I was so sad when it ended! Can't wait for more from this series!

Thank you Avon for the eARC in exchange for my review.

First of all thank you #netgalley and everyone else who contributed to this ARC copy getting into my hands. I requested this book rather impestuously as the semester came to a close. Finishing my PhD coursework and looking at a my looming dissertation ahead, I wanted to read something silly, indulgent, and absolutely feel good to reward myself. Eloise James delivered on 2/3 and I am forever grateful. Nothing about this book was silly to me but it was everything I hoped for in indulgence and feel goodness.

Man do I love these characters and man do I love the messages in this book. Last, the ending author's note pushed me over the edge of just absolutely falling in love with the book. So yes I would totally recommend this book. Likely it won't hit others the way it did me, due to my personal circumstances, but I still think it will deliver to most any reader. That being said there is some graphic sex but it doesn't feel gratuitous more celebratory.

This book was a delight to read and I absolutely recommend it. Witty and funny and thoughtful and sweet. Both main characters were flawed and they were forced to confront those flaws in a meaningful way. (Although I do wish Dom had conquered his “I can’t let a woman control me” mindset earlier, it did get a teeny bit tedious.)

The twins were fantastic. Kids in an HR aren’t always done well, oftentimes IMO the authors write them as way too mature/wise for their age and it can be jarring. However, Val and Florence were perfect. They both had such big and interesting personalities and I loved their on-page time.

As it relates to my above note— I was ready to throw my kindle out the window 😂 I write notes for my reviews as I go and I had 3 good-sized paragraphs absolutely raging about what was going on and the main characters’ attitudes about it. Thank GOD that turned around quickly and it was a Big Misunderstanding

Also…..clothespin??

A big thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review! All opinions are my own.

This is a great historical romance if you are looking for something without too much angst and lots of heat. This is especially going to thrill readers who like children and animals, in this case bunnies, featured in the plot. I especially enjoyed how natural yet accurate the time period was and how it came alive; I feel like I learned things in an effortless way. I also enjoyed the heroine’s passion for painting and the fact that she had dyslexia.

Thank you Avon for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

The start of the new Accidental Brides series, this romance pairs an unconventional heroine with a conventional hero, after the hero has become guardian to a pair of somewhat feral, unconventional, and quite humorous young twins. Complicating the matter is Dom's engagement to Torie's sister, and Torie's belief that what the viscount really wants is a nanny for the children. How Eloisa James brings the story to their deserved happily ever after is a journey well worth taking. Recommended.

Elosia James well done. Viscount in Love grabbed my attention on the very first page. Torie Sutton is an artist who is beautiful and smart yet illiterate. I wanted to find the reason she could not read.
The dashing hero is engaged to her sister, Torie, who is intelligent enough to realize they are not in love.

The Viscount needs love even though he does not know it. He ends up raising his dead sister's children who have practically raised themselves. They are wild.
Ms. Sutton's sister will raise the children she finds them vulgar and not worthy.

When the reader and Ms. Sutton are introduced to the Viscount's wards they can't help but fall in love with children. I hope Elosia James writes their stories as well. This story is all about love.

This is a great love story and I can't wait to see what Elosia James writes next.

Got an ARC, but the review is my own. #NetGalley #ViscountInLove

Victoria (Tory) cannot read. Her perfect sister and drunken father are very happy to tell everyone that she cannot read. In fact, everyone knows and everyone treats her as though she is dumb and stupid. She is not. In fact, she is brighter than either her sister, her father or 95% of the people she knows. Other than being intelligent, Tory is also humorous, a talented artist, and a very good friend to nearly everyone she meets.

Dominic is her sister’s fiancee, until he isn’t. He is seriously involved with the House of Lords working to end slavery in the colonies. He believes that in order to succeed in politics, he needs a certain type of wife. When his sister dies and leaves her twin children to Dom, he believes that his perfect wife will need to learn to care for the twins as much he does. The twins, Florence and Valentine, are bright and very unusual thinkers. These youngsters are truly delightful characters.

This is a story of family. People do not always come from perfect families. People can learn to forgive imperfect families. Tory simply loves hers.

Tory and Dom are attracted to one another but overcoming some of their differences provides difficulties. Of course those difficulties are what makes the romance novel what it is. Their conversations are entertaining and show exactly who each of them are. They are honest people who want to do the right things in life.

There are no real surprises in the story. But, the journey to the “Happily Ever After” is a pleasant one.

Ms James is a talented author who creates complete characters and interesting plots.

I received this book from the publisher. I am voluntarily writing this review and all opinions are completely my own.

I really love the way Eloisa handles characters that are quirky and builds families out of all sorts of people not necessarily connected by blood. She really pulls it off in VISCOUNT IN LOVE. The attraction between the Dom and Torie is strong from the first page and the emotional rollercoaster is fun to watch.

I recommend this sexy, fun, emotional, story of acceptance and love.

I love books with "found families". The poor orphaned twins are completely feral and an absolute hoot. The heat between Torie and Lord Kelbourne is delicious. I wasn't sure how he was going to get out of being engaged to Leonora, Torie's sister, but that's a fun little bit of legerdemain. I hope Nora pops up again in subsequent books.

Just a delightful new series and I can't wait for more more more.

This is a masterfully written romance from one of the best historical romance authors.

The success of this character-driven novel hinged on the chemistry between Torie and Dom--and thankfully, from the first time we see them together, they have it in spades. Dom and Torie are not meant for each other, both because of temperament and because Dom is engaged to Torie's sister. Nevertheless, they are almost friends when Torie's sister runs off with another groom, leaving Dom without a prospective spouse just when he's trying to establish some normalcy for his recently orphaned niece and nephew. Of course, they adore Torie and she them, so when Dom turns his sights on Torie, it doesn't take much persuasion to get her to relent. Both Dom and Torie are motivated by more than the children, though: they have an incendiary chemistry they are eager to explore. But will it lead to love, when they are such different people?

It's not a particularly action-packed plot, which is fine because the character development is so rich. Each character is particularly memorable and multi-dimensional, especially Dom and Torie. The central conflict is really about them learning to understand and trust each other--with Dom having a further way to go than Torie--and each scene carefully adds layers to their developing relationship. And their chemistry is hot, with their physical scenes reinforcing the more emotional scenes.

I was hooked from their first scene together, well before they were a prospective couple on the page. And as with other Eloisa James novels, you will have a delightful time watching Torie and Dom reach their happy ending.

Highly recommend!

I started reading this book during a reading period where nothing sounded good. In one night, I had read 33%.

It's a cute lighthearted regency romance with a Grumpy x Sunshine vibe and a "Don't Judge a Book by Its Cover"/"People Aren't Always What They Seem" theme.

Lady Victoria thinks her sister's viscount fiancee is grumpy and too serious - while also admiring his brawn. After 2 years of the engagement, the Viscount's scandalous sister and her husband are killed in an accident and he must take in his niece and nephew who are slightly odd. An argument with Lady Leonora leads to her marrying a much older lord and the Viscount growing closer to Lady Victoria, trying to convince her to marry him.

I enjoyed it but I really wanted the story of Clara, Lady Victoria's friend. Maybe she will be the second book?

I love Eloisa James and probably always will. Is this the best historical romance ever written? She has better ones. Is it super predictable? Yeah, but so are all the other ones. Was it still worth reading? You bet.

Delightful personalities, humorous conversation, fully developed characters, and a refreshing take on historical romance! I have to admit that I’m a huge Eloisa James fan. She is my number one go to for romance. Her books always seem that much more substantial and interesting. The characters she creates are flawed, loveable, and memorable. This book is no exception, and seems to be even more impactful because of her personal connection to some of the subject matter (as indicated by her afterword). I really liked how the author incorporated historical events and actual people of the time yet made the characters relatable to 21st century readers. Fluffy in the sense that the story will hit you in the feels and has lots of yummy spice, but also meaningful because it really will make you think about your attitude and some of the words you use. This one goes on the reread list for sure!

What a twisty-turny tale this was. This one was such a fun start to a series from Eloisa James, one of my favorite historical romance authors!

“There was no denying that his broad shoulders and muscled body were a pleasure to behold. Not that Torie would ever ogle her sister’s future husband.” Torie’s sister is betrothed to the Viscount Kellbourne, the muscled, fiery-tempered, stubborn Lord who has recently become guardian to his charming, if not eccentric, twin niece and nephew. The Viscount’s betrothed cannot keep far away from the children while Torie finds them enchanting and lovable (as did I!). Eventually Torie’s sister elopes, leaving behind the Viscount and his wards. As Torie’s affections for the twins grow, so does Viscount Kellbourne’s for the flamboyant, sensuous Torie, the opposite of her sister in every way. Though articulate, intelligent, and talented, Torie has been a joke of the her family and the Ton, and longs for a love who will be proud of her, despite her inability to read and write. Is Torie merely as she seems, the pretty, nurturing influence the twins need? Or will the Viscount uncover her deeper, secret passions? Five ⭐️ for the tender-hearted romance that undeniably changes both characters, the comedic charm of the twins, and the sizzling chemistry.

Thank you to the publisher for the NetGalley ARC of this book in exchange for a review.