Megan Frampton’s Heirs and Spares series kicks off with The Devil’s Charm, full of family rivalry and unexpected passion. This was an enchanting story of opposites attracting in the most delicious way.

Lord Lucian Blackwood is the ultimate charming rogue—handsome and an easygoing pleasure-seeker. Lady Diantha Courtenay, on the other hand, is the epitome of propriety, always striving to meet society’s expectations and to keep her eccentric family in check. Their undeniable chemistry sparks at the celebration of their friends’ wedding, leading to one unforgettable kiss. But when they find themselves forced to work together, their attraction proves impossible to ignore.

Frampton masterfully blends humor, heart, and sizzling romance, crafting a story that is both emotionally satisfying and utterly entertaining. Lucian and Diantha’s journey from reluctant partners to passionate lovers is fairly low-angst, and it was a perfect evening’s read.

I received an ARC from NetGalley. This is my honest review.

Lord Lucian Blackwood is the second son of a Duke, and due to his status as a spare, he has learned to be individualistic and to prioritize pleasure. This sets him apart from Lady Diantha Courtenay, a practical and intelligent daughter to an impulsive Earl. When Lucian and Diantha meet at a wedding, their attraction is instant. Diantha decides to go against her typical behaviors and indulge in one night of pleasure and spontaneity. This, followed by a necessary business partnership, leads to their obsession with each other. Their collaboration and chemistry become increasingly intense, and as their relationship develops, Lucian and Diantha learn to grow and change.

There are so many aspects of this book I adored. The dialogue is sharp and witty. The majority of the book has a jovial, humorous tone similar to Tessa Dare or Julia Quinn’s work. Whenever Lucian and Diantha are alone together, their banter shines as seductive and funny. I also loved Diantha’s character, and I appreciate the way that Frampton balances her intelligence and practicality with equal parts curiosity and desire. The building of intimacy also stands out as exceptional. Lucian and Diantha’s rendezvous are absolutely charming and satisfying.

While almost all of this book worked beautifully, I found the last portion to be a bit overwrought and rushed. There’s a plot complication and a relationship realization that seem a bit tedious, and this occurs right as I looked forward to seeing the fruition of the relationship. It is interesting to see how dramatically the hero and heroine change, but this element could have been revealed more efficiently.

I haven’t read many books by Megan Frampton even though she is an established romance author. This book made me want to revisit her backlist. Her prose and dialogue definitely show her experience and knowledge.

Many thanks to @netgalley and the publisher for this copy. As always, these are my opinions alone. Cheers!

Overall rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

When the mysterious man you kissed the night before in a coat closet is the son of your father's nemesis, and now you have to work together to resolve an issue between the two men, what else to do but kiss him a little more? Diantha, the only responsible, put-together, proper one in her family, meets Julian, the black sheep, spontaneous, devil-may-care, second son of his somber and stern family. But with some time working and maybe having a bit of fun together maybe their personalities will rub off on to each other, and perhaps they might be a perfect pair.

Diantha and Julian are actually so cute together I love it. The term opposites attract definitely applies. The story is fun and had my interest through the whole thing, I wanted them to succeed in their business dealings and their romantic relationship. I think both of their character arcs were perfect and showed growth in them as people and as a couple. Can't wait to see who the next book is about!

This was a fun story between two people who both feel like the black sheep of their family, whose families also have been feuding for twenty years. The two families’ perspectives on life changed following the sight of Halley’s Comet, causing the fallout.

The juxtaposition of Lucian and Diantha characters’ wants and relationships’ to their family made for an entertaining setup and storyline. It was lighthearted with Diantha’s family being a bit eccentric and having a love for alliterations.

Lucian and Diantha sit through several product demonstrations to figure out what to do with the shared factory. From the macabre to the useless, they were entertaining and provided ways for the two to connect. Lucian and Diantha shared a lot of page time together, working together and visiting the British Museum and Madame Tussaud’s.

I especially liked how while they were both trying to figure out their feelings and what they wanted, Diantha wasn’t willing to compromise the life she wanted and Lucian was respectful of her dreams.

This was a new to me author and I enjoyed the writing and storytelling.

The Devil’s Charms is the first book in the Heirs and Spares series.

There was one encounter plus another scene with heavy petting.

I received an advance copy from the publisher from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I thought the two main characters, their troubles and their growth, were really well written and fleshed out. The whole ‘fun vs responsibility’ dynamic was nice.
Cheeky writing style, but ultimately something was missing for me.

I enjoyed this book and the characters though it was a bit slow going. In this book, Diantha and Lucian's fathers used to be friends in school and bought a factory together years ago. Since then they had been enemies and were required to either sell the factory or update it to make a new product. Lucian's father tasks him with dealing with the issue, though he has always treated Lucian, the Spare, as pretty much useless.

Diantha's family is quirky, and she's always felt responsible for them so she takes over their side of the negotiation. Diantha and Lucian become friendly and find a good solution to the issue. Diantha works toward freeing herself from her family responsibilities while also getting to know her family a bit better. Lucian starts to learn more about himself and tries to become a more serious person.

The best parts of the story were Diantha and Lucian falling in love, Diantha getting to know her family a bit better, and Lucian finally discovering how much in common he and his older brother have. I found the end of the book really funny, and ultimately made the book for me.

I look forward to reading more of Frampton's Heirs and Spares series.

I recieved an advanced copy and am giving an honest review.

Lady Diantha Courtenay, the eldest daughter of the Earl of Courtenay, has spent most of her life trying to keep her parents in check, she is reliable, responsible and therefore a complete mystery to her family. She always does the right thing and hopes for a day when she can pursue her own dream of a quiet, stable life. But a stolen kiss with Lord Lucian Eldridge, the younger son of her father’s greatest foe, turns her whole world upside down and then to make matters worse, she learns that the cause of their parent’s feud has been decided by the courts and now she and Lucian must work together to find a solution to factory in question or their parents will risk losing the building to the crown, and while that would be unfortunate, the real risk might be the fact that she is losing her heart to a man that is exactly like her parents, a man she shouldn’t want.

Lord Lucian Eldridge, the younger son of the Duke of Waxford, has tried to please his father for most of his life and failed, Lucian likes being happy and enjoying himself, basically the complete opposite of his stodgy, duty-loving, rigid father. When his older brother is injured and his father has to attend him in Scotland, he leaves Lucian in charge of figuring out what to do with the factory the duke with the earl. Lucian is wondering if he can find someone to take over the job when he meets the earl’s daughter and shares a kiss that he can’t forget. He throws himself into the project and falls head over heels with a woman he can never have.

This was a quick, fun read, with a different plot and very likable characters. Diantha and Lucian are complete opposites and their fathers are enemies, but that doesn’t stop them from falling in love, but it may prevent them from finding their HEA. The romance part of the story was good, but there was a side story featuring the Duke’s cousin that just didn’t really impress me or add anything substantive to the story – if just felt like filler and made the story drag in places. Overall, it was an enjoyable read with wonderful characters, a bit of steam, some amusing scenes and finally a HEA that seemed almost impossible, and while it wasn’t quite the story that I have come to expect from Ms. Frampton, I would still be happy to recommend this title to HR readers who enjoy the enemies to lovers and the opposites attract tropes.

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

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon for providing a DRC of this title.

Enjoyable historical romance between a dissolute rake and dutiful daughter of two feuding families. Not my favorite romance by Frampton, but I'd recommend it to patrons looking for some Romeo and Juliet vibes in a regency romance.

This one was so fun! We follow Lucien, the adventurous and loving spare of a strict and no-nonsense duke and Diantha, daughter of an eccentric family who prides herself on being the only normal one of the bunch. There is a bit of a Hatfield/McCoy type feel between their family because they have been at odds for a while. We follow Diantha and Lucien as they navigate their growing feelings for each other but also trying to dissolve the distaste and strife between their families.

I was first drawn to this book solely off the cover because it's so cute and I love the dark blues and purples used in the background. I also love that the two main characters are smiling at each other in a fun and flirty way because that fits their personalities perfectly.

I don't really have much to say other than this was so fun. Both main characters aren't afraid to laugh and have some fun which I appreciated because I find that some main characters are so broody in historicals.

Thank you to

Megan Frampton’s The Devil’s Charm was a fun read with some great banter and a unique setup, but it didn’t quite pull me in the way I’d hoped. I liked the idea of Lucian and Diantha being caught between their feuding families and forced to work together, and their first meeting had a spark that made me excited to see where things would go. I'm a sucker for a forbidden romance with Romeo and Juliet vibes.

Lucian was constantly described as a carefree rake, but I never really saw that side of him. Instead, he was sweet, responsible, thoughtful, and attentive, and while he’s supposed to be a rake, I actually liked his softer side. Diantha was just ok for me. I feel like her personality was kind of inconsistent. Sometimes she was so confident and others she was incredibly insecure. I didn't always understand the change in her, and I definitely enjoyed her moments of confidence more, especially when she took charge of the business side of things.

As far as the romance, there were some really lovely moments between Diantha and Lucian, especially when they let their guards down and just enjoyed each other’s company, but it never felt like the stakes were very high. Considering they came from feuding families and there is a forbidden nature to their relationship, I expected a little more conflict and tension.

That said, Frampton’s wit shines through in the dialogue, and there are some genuinely comical moments throughout the story. There was more than one scene that had me chuckling. I liked the side characters, too, and while they're not as layered, they add a lot of humor and warmth to the story, especially Diantha’s unconventional family.

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

Historical romances are my favorite subgenre and I will never get tired of reading them. I was drawn in by the pretty cover while I was looking through the catalog. This was my first Megan Frampton book and it unfortunately may be my last. This book didn't work for me. I've never minded "instalove" books in the past because I recognize authors have a specific timeframe to tell the story. They need to fall in love in order to progress the narrative. The Devil's Charm had these characters falling in love at the speed of light and I could barely keep up with the frenzied pace of their courtship.

Lucian and Diantha were enamored by each other from the word "go". I couldn't fathom that quick of a connection just by locking eyeballs. I wasn't sold by their chemistry. I had a bad feeling reading this book and didn't enjoy myself. I didn't fully buy their relationship and it seemed like their relationship was merely built on physical attraction. I understand it's important to fancy your partner, but that shouldn't be your foundation. These two needed to realize you're not always gonna be young and pretty.

I was once again duped by a pretty cover with an unsuspecting underbelly. I'm sure others will enjoy this book, but I prefer a story with more substance. I'll continue to keep reading my favorite subgenre and won't let this misstep bother me. I must be immune because The Devil's Charm didn't affect me at all!

🤍Book review 🤍

The Devil's Charm
A Novel
by Megan Frampton

The Devil's Charm by Megan Frampton is a fun historical romance filled with humor, romance, and witty banter.
Lord Lucian Blackwood and Lady Diantha Courtenay share an unexpected kiss at a wedding, only to later discover their families are longtime rivals. Forced to work together to resolve a business dispute, their initial tension turns into friendship and undeniable attraction.
Lucian is a playful and caring hero, while Diantha is strong-willed yet practical. Their adventures, especially their secret meetings at the British Museum, add a unique touch to their romance. The side characters bring extra humor, and the story is full of lighthearted moments.
While the enemies-to-lovers aspect feels a bit forced at times, the book’s charm, engaging dialogue, and amusing situations make it an enjoyable read. Fans of historical romance will appreciate this entertaining story.
Very grateful to the publisher for my copy through NetGalley, opinions are my own

DNF at 41%. This was so inoffensive, it was boring. For a guy who is occasionally called Lucifer, Lucian feels really lacking. And Diantha was equally muddled and forgettable. Dear historical authors, you can absolutely write compelling plots without having to choose between your characters being “awful” or “boring!” I want to support you, because the genre is dying, but either you’re not giving what needs to be given, or the publishers just aren’t getting the message about what readers want!

Overall, I enjoyed this book. The male main character was a Duke's second son which is unusual and gave the story an interesting spin. The main characters were appealing and their connection was evident when they were together. However, I would have liked more scenes with the characters together and much less time with the characters in their own heads, rehashing the same thoughts over and over again. I enjoyed this story but wish there was a bit more of it.

I wanted to like this more, but the characters just didn’t ring true for me. They all seemed like hooks that the author could use to set up her romance. The mean father was too mean. The flibbertigibbet parents of the heroine were just too silly. The charming hero and very proper heroine didn’t seem real. They also fall for each other way too quickly and soon they’re sneaking off for kisses and more. None of it was believable and that was irritating.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

⭐️/4
🌶/2

I'm always a fan of a historical romance, and this one didn't disappoint.

Diantha is your regular staid lady and Lord Lucifier (Lucien 😉) is your certified gentry rake. When fate keeps throwing them together, they decide to run with it and try to "cleanse their systems" of each other, even though their parents are enemies.

I loved Diantha's family. They were a hoot. Always doing something or saying something random. It was also nice watching Lucien grow up a little and seeing Diantha let loose.

I really enjoyed this one. If you want a little bit of comedy with your regency, this is the one!

https://rynniereads.wordpress.com/2025/01/25/the-devils-charm-by-megan-frampton/When Lord Lucian and Lady Diantha meet at a ball there is an instant spark but their two fathers are former business partners who now hate each other so they know there is no chance they can be together. When the two are forced to work together on behalf of their respective fathers they develop a friendship that leads to deeper feelings as their attraction continues to grow.

I’m so happy to have a new series from Megan Frampton. I love a light and happy romance and this was exactly that. I love that the cover perfectly captures the mood of the book. I knew I was in for a treat when the first chapter was written in two perfect parallels from Lucian and Diantha’s perspectives. I really enjoyed their various ventures to The British Museum as it was the only place the pair could find privacy. The plot itself wasn’t that complicated which allowed for the relationship between the pair to be the main focus. I’m excited for the next book in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This story answered the question what happens when an oldest daughter in an attempt to let loose for one night, meets a charming second-son with little care in the world? It also begs the questions, what happens when two dumbass aristocrats decide to make business and life decisions based on a comet? You get the story of a decades long feud between two silly men who's children meet unexpectedly and find they have more chemistry and things in common then they initially thought.

When Diantha and Lucien meet at their friends' wedding and share a passionate kiss, they think they will never see each other again, especially as their fathers are enemies. That is until their fathers' mutual business interest from decades ago comes back, and the two must work together to figure out what to do with the factory left behind. So they embark on a project to revive the factory and choose to solicit feedback from randos, which turns into a bit of a pitching Shark Tank situation that had me absolutely rolling on the floor laughing. And in between these hilarious business pitches, the two plan kissing escapades at the British History Museum and it's cute as hell.

Frampton does a really good job at writing hilariously lovable goofball side characters. Diantha's family is a perfect example of this as they're more than a little unusual but despite that you can tell there's inherent love in the family. They provided such great additional humor to the story and their scenes were some of my favorites. They also helped explain a lot of Diantha's tendency toward sensibility. Lucien was a great foil to her character, as his carefree attitude and constant desire for enjoyment was so different from hers. To see these two such different characters, grow closer toward each other and develop more of each other's good qualities was a treat. While I typically go for the dark broody hero, Lucien was the perfect Nice Guy and his biggest appeal was how often he deferred to Diantha's opinion and wishes. He truly was not afraid to be seen as not as smart as her and understood the power of women.

While not a totally original plot I see and enjoy what Frampton is doing here. Part of what kept me reading and engaged were the lovable characters and funny situations they were put in. So although I feel like I've read similar stories, this has the author's trademark wit, charm, and unique sexy settings (there's no basic chaise lounge hook-ups here).

A delightful story to read! Diantha is a full, rich character who doesn't want to be like the rest of her family. As the story unfolds, she is often examining whether that is true or not. She is a smart, capable, witty female heroine. The writing is well done. There is an abundance of great dialogue, with witty repartee. There are touching moments, as well as spicy scenes. This book has it all.

My first Megan Frampton! Firstly, this conceit is delightful: One man sees Haley's Comet and dedicates his life to whimsy, and one sees the same comet and dedicates his life to seriousness. Their rebellious children have to resolve their business disagreements with a side of kissing lessons.
I feel a little seen by Diatha and her love of order and museums. Lucian is such a delightful but misunderstood rake. They two of them save lives! They get it on in a sarcophagus! It's a hilarious and sexy romp.
Drink this book: Enjoy this book with a glass of saline white wine like Albarino or Muscadet and think of the sailors.