The Devil's Charm by Megan Frampton

Setting:
Victorian England

Characters:
Diantha
Lucian
Drusilla
Julia

Tropes:
Fake Rake Wallflower
Relationship of convenience
Slow burn

Rating:
3 🌟

Spice level:
1.5 🌶

Review:
It was a good story, but for the most part it was lackluster for me. I too like the heroine felt that Lucian was a fake rake. I like my devilish heros to be dastardly and grey area. To me Lucian was more so a simp. The plot was fine, but the characters didn't seem to have any motivation for the drama between their fathers to end. For me tje plot lacked intensity, and the romance seemed too slow burn, especially if one is to assume Lucian is in fact devilish. Overall it was more so a slow burn historical with a fake rake and wallflower. I am invested in the series, and would like to see where book 2 takes us. I absolutely love the cover art, very pretty.

I was extremely fortunate to receive an ARC of The Devil's Charm, written by the amazing Megan Frampton from Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This is the first in her new series Heirs and Spares. Lord Lucian Eldridge, second son of the very strict Duke of Waxford, is the kind of guy who likes to be useful by handing out responsibilities to those he thinks and knows will do the job as it is supposed to be done. Diantha Courtenay, daughter of the Earl of Courtenay, is a very meticulous, systematic, straightforward, orderly young lady. She has always kept her slightly outrageous parents in line by always being the sane and dependable person in her family. These two main characters seem to be two sides of one coin, where one is carefree and non-chalant, the other is bound by rules and regulations. Yet when the two meet, the saying that opposites attract is never truer. The magnetism, the pull, the electricity is magnanimous. The only problem is their fear that this temporary madness is just that, temporary. When neither knows what the future will hold, they make use of the time they have by breaking their own rules. A great read!

A cute historical romance, with fun spicy scenes and some meaningful conversations about one’s sense of self. There was not a time where I felt bored with this book, it’s a quick read with good chemistry between the characters. Though they may behave a bit differently, they have a lot in common and find themselves enjoying their company. It is lust at first sight but in the scenes they have together you can see their comparability and enjoyment. I have to say I found myself comparing my sense of responsibility with the FMC. Agree that it can be hard for people to relate when they’ve never been put in that position. It was a fun palate cleanser.

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager publishing, I received a ARC for an honest review !

This was an excellent book!! I enjoyed the character development as well as how the plot was developed throughout the story. The author was able to to do a good job with all aspects of the story. I would recommend to others.

Dianthus and Lucien are certainly opposites in this fun read. I’m a huge fan of Megan Frampton so I was looking forward to her new series and was a nice start. It took several chapters to warm to Lucien because I tend to like men who are a little more decisive but Ms Frampton brings him around nicely. Looking forward to the next one.

I would say this is a solid 3* there was just no oomph factor. Lucian and Diantha are challenged to solve a mutual factory and come up with a great solution. For Lucian, he needs to prove his worth to his very strict and ordered father, for Diantha, she needs to let go of her control and stiffness to have some fun. They are opposites in their outlook to life, but opposites do attract. They are drawn to each other and over the book become good friends with benefits that turns into love.

A decent book overall.

#netgalley #TheDevilsCharm

This is the first book in the Heirs and Spares series. It is a well written and charming opposites attract live story. The characters are interesting and likable. The way a relationship begins and develops into more was interesting. The plot twists and turns with such emotions were engaging. I enjoyed everything working out to everyone's satisfaction and ended happily. I recommend reading!

Decently cute book about two opposites, both sort of misfits in their family, as they are forced together and have some fun times discovering their passion for each other. I found her nickname for him (as she thought about him, not just saying it aloud) kind of annoying, otherwise a pleasant enough read.

Lucian is having way too much fun. Diantha is from an eccentric family, that to her does not take life seriously enough.. Having both something to learn from the other, they are attracted to each other. Can they both compromise for their mutual happiness? I received an ARC from NetGalley and Avon for my honest review.

"The Devil's Charm" by Megan Frampton
A fun, entertaining read with some heat!!!

A wonderful distraction...

I'm in like but not in love. Everything about this book (the suspense, the sdialogue) was just...meh? I did like how Lucian saw and appreciated Diantha for who she was, but I would have loved it if she wasn't painted so much in the extremes. She begins by clinging to safety and avoiding any and all risk, and flips on her head later in the book. It pulled me out of it a bit. I think I would have liked her character development more if she had ended up somewhere in the middle and finding a balance.team, the rapport, the dialogue) was just...meh?

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Lord Lucian Blackwood is a charming rogue who avoids responsibility whenever possible. He’s become quite the expert. His philosophy is that life should be enjoyed not spent in a stuffy office. Because of this, he’s often misunderstood. When he meets and kisses Lady Diantha Courtenay he suddenly realizes he wants more than the frivolity in which he lives his life.

Diantha has always been the responsible one in her family. While they mean well, her parents and sister always involve themselves in some hare-brained scheme, which she always has to pull them out of. She longs for her independence and the day she can finally stop worrying about their financial wellbeing and start living her own life. When the opportunity to work on a project that could prove to be lucrative presents itself, she jumps at the chance. It doesn’t matter that the person she’ll be working alongside of is not only the son of her father’s enemy, he’s also the handsome rogue she kissed at her friend’s wedding. The two cannot deny the sparks that fly between them, but can they have a relationship when their families are sworn enemies?

This was absolutely delightful, and I enjoyed every minute of it. Where to begin? Diantha was a strong and intelligent FMC who has a lot of love for her eccentric family. She takes on the responsibility of caring for her family’s finances and accepts them for who they are, even if she doesn’t agree with any of their whims. When she meets Lucian, who she jokingly refers to as Lucifer because he is the epitome of temptation, there’s an instant attraction. She secretly longs for adventure, but doesn’t want to shirk her responsibilities. She settles on planned spontaneity, which Lucian respectfully acknowledges.

Lucian is a lovable cinnamon roll. Miscast as a rake, he is actually a sweetheart who loves to live life to the fullest as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone. He’s respectful of Diantha opinions and wishes. He accepts her for who she truly is, and she does the same. I loved seeing their relationship blossom. It was great to see them working together to invest in the right scheme for the factory.

The major theme in this novel is that there is so much more to people than what they present on the surface. Every character is complex, from her flighty parents and sister, to his staid brother and stern father. We get to see other sides of each, and Ms. Frampton did a wonderful job in creating fully embodied characters. I absolutely loved this book; I couldn’t put it down, yet at the same time wanted to savor it. Frankly, I didn’t want it to end. Pick it up if you’re in the mood for a light hearted, spicy historical romance with a plucky heroine and a charming, cinnamon roll hero.

This book was cute. Nothing really stands out from this book too much for me. It's a quick read. Not too much spice (wish there was more) and there wasn't really a big antagonist or too much of a hurdle for the two leads to end up together.
Honestly, the best character from this book is the sister.

Lady Diantha Courtenay is the quintessential oldest daughter, who prides herself on being the sensible and reliable one in an unconventional family. But for one night, she wants to just do what she wants and ends up in a coat closet with the son of her father’s nemesis. Lord Lucian Blackwood is a charming rake-about-town who excels in nothing so much as delegating, but the second he sees Lady Diantha, he’s stopped in his tracks. They’re pushed together again when they have to work on their parent’s behalf to settle a co-owned factory – with a side project to help getting kissing out of Lady Diantha’s system.

The Devil’s Charm was a very fun, romp-y historical romance. Both characters are really enjoyable, you can see almost right away that Blackwood is undervalued by his family for his ability to put the right person in the right job, and Diantha is seen as stuffy by her family and undervalued for her ability to keep them from “eel days”. I liked the Romeo-and-Juliet star-crossed lovers vibes and how the same comet had such a drastic effect on both their lives. I really loved that they kept meeting at the British museum for trysts (they make out in a sarcophagus?!), and how frustrated they both became when they were thwarted by other people being in this public space. Overall, a good choice for those looking for a light-hearted Victorian romance.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon/Harper Voyager for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I love a good family feud trope, and Lucian and Diantha are two lovers who fight against their attraction due to an old family feud, but circumstances bring them together so that they cannot keep denying what’s between them. As the spare and the proper lady clash, they slowly realize that their love may be more important than an old grudge. Megan Frampton’s dialogue is as fresh and clever as ever, and don’t sleep on this excellent regency romance.

Two people who shouldn't get along, but certainly do. Lady Diantha is the level-headed member of her family that tries to keep the rest of them together and their lives afloat. Lord Lucian seems like the affable second son that doesn't have anything serious in his life, but that's not all true. Their fathers had business together before a falling out and Diantha and Lucian are left to resolve the final piece of their dissolvement and that has them spending a lot of time together and things get heated between them. It's a fun romance to read and I'd be interested in reading more of this new series.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.

The Devil’s Charm is the first book in Megan Frampton’s Heirs and Spares series.
Lord Lucian Blackwood, the carefree second son of the Duke of Waxford, is accustomed to charming women and winning at cards. At a friend’s wedding, he unexpectedly kisses Lady Diantha Courtenay, the daughter of his father's enemy. Despite her proper demeanour, Diantha is drawn to Lucian, leading her to a moment of recklessness. The next day, she resolves to uphold her reputation, only to discover they must work together on a project aimed at mending their families' feud. As they work together, they both find it hard to balance their growing feelings with their responsibilities.
This is an enjoyable first in series. Diantha and Lucien are likeable characters and I enjoyed their banter. Diantha is the sensible one in her family and I liked how she strived to finally just do something for herself. Lucien starts off living fairly aimlessly but working with Diantha he realises that there is worth in doing things for the greater good. What I liked is that they balanced each other out.
The cover is gorgeous and this was a fun read. I received an advanced review copy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Megan Frampton hasn't been on my radar until recently and I'm happy for it. This was a little bit slow by my tastes but it's promising and the writing was excellent. Besides, is the first on a new series, so i hope I can read the rest if the series. In the mean time, I'll read her backlist

Thanks to the publisher for the advanced copy

Megan Frampton’s The Devil’s Charm is a solid historical romance with a dash of intrigue but it doesn’t quite live up to its full potential. Set in the Regency era, the novel follows Lucian, a charming rogue with a dark past, and Diantha, a determined and intelligent woman who is far more than just another damsel in distress.

Frampton excels at crafting witty banter between her leads, and the chemistry between Lucian and Diantha is palpable. Their verbal sparring adds a delightful spark to their developing relationship, and the push-pull dynamic keeps the reader engaged.

Additionally, the secondary characters feel somewhat underdeveloped. With more attention to these elements, the world of "The Devil’s Charm" could have felt richer and more immersive.

In the end, The Devil’s Charm is an enjoyable read for fans of historical romance, especially those who love a dashing rogue. While it doesn't break new ground, Frampton's signature wit and the central couple's chemistry make it a pleasant diversion, even if it doesn’t leave a lasting impression.

I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This was book 1 in a new series. It was actually fairly good in the beginning but it got really slow. I liked it but was not over the moon.