Purity

Diamonds of the First Water Series, Book Two

This title was previously available on NetGalley and is now archived.
Buy on Amazon Buy on BN.com Buy on Bookshop.org
*This page contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.
Send NetGalley books directly to your Kindle or Kindle app

1
To read on a Kindle or Kindle app, please add kindle@netgalley.com as an approved email address to receive files in your Amazon account. Click here for step-by-step instructions.
2
Also find your Kindle email address within your Amazon account, and enter it here.
Pub Date Jun 09 2022 | Archive Date Jun 15 2022

Talking about this book? Use #Purity #NetGalley. More hashtag tips!


Description

In this seductive early Victorian romance by USA Today Bestselling author Sydney Jane Baily, a proper young lady tries to civilize the unseemly bachelor baron. Can she do so without shattering her impeccable reputation?

She’s a straitlaced silk-stocking and he’s a scandalous fox!

Known as the “proper Diamond sister,” Lady Purity thoroughly enjoys adhering to the rules of society. Everything is right in her world when manners are minded and civility reigns. Clean gloves, no vulgarities, not a hair out of place!

Renowned for his past indiscretions, Lord Matthew Foxford doesn’t let propriety or tedious rules get in his way. Asking the prim earl’s daughter to teach him etiquette, he hopes to win her heart while loosening her corset.

Unaware of his intent, Purity agrees to turn this thundering buck into a reputable nobleman. Can she do so without falling for his seductive charm? Or will the Fox tempt her from the straight and narrow path into the garden of irreparable ruin?

Engaging characters, attention to period detail, and passionate romance with a touch of intrigue — you’ll find it all in the stories by USA Today bestselling author Sydney Jane Baily.

In this seductive early Victorian romance by USA Today Bestselling author Sydney Jane Baily, a proper young lady tries to civilize the unseemly bachelor baron. Can she do so without shattering her...


Available Editions

ISBN 9783985360727
PRICE

Available on NetGalley

NetGalley Shelf App (EPUB)
Send to Kindle (EPUB)

Average rating from 33 members


Featured Reviews

Loved reading the enthralling and engaging romance story. After Lord Matthew Foxford, a handsome rake, passionately kisses Lady Purity Diamond, the prim and proper he wants her and asks her to teach him the proper etiquette,. Read the highly recommended, wonderfully written, and riveting must read love story by the phenomenal author, Sydney Jane Bailey.

Was this review helpful?

I was given an advance copy in exchange for a honest review. This happens to be about my favorite genre. Purity, did not disappoint. It had all the parts of a great romance, in my opinion. You have a prim and proper Earl’s daughter who we get to meet in the beginning.....follow that with meeting the notorious Rake of the ton. You definitely have the components for a fantastic romance. Most of the book is taken with the characters coming together then being torn apart with the Rake’s past coming to the forefront.will they marry or call it off. All the classic pot burner stories within a story.. A great weekend read. Thank you to #NeGalley, #WolfPublishing #SydneyJaneBailry, #Purity for the advance copy.. if you enjoy historical fiction as much as I do you will want to read this one. The author has left me wanting to read more of her work.The followup books I expect to meet this high bar.

Was this review helpful?

When I read about Purity's personality in the first book in the series, I was sure she would be challenged to the fullest when it came to finding love.
Purity Diamond is ruled by the rules, but she breaks rules the first time she meets, Matthew, Baron Foxford.
He has a history of several love conquests, which would scare anyone.
Her name says it all, purity, but he simply decides that it's her he wants to be with.
Then begins a delicious game of cat and mouse where Matthew, also known as the Fox, will try to conquer a resistant, Purity, whom he calls kitten and we watches him slowly undermine her defenses as he struggles with the gossip and fallout from the scandals of his past.
Mathtew is slowly showing his personality, using his intelligence, also making mistakes and seducing Purity and what you see is pure passion.
Another gem for the collection.

Was this review helpful?

I must confess that this is the first book that I have read from this author, and it certainly won’t be the last! This story is a total delight, beautifully written with witt and charm, and such endearing characters that I truly felt that I had gotten to know them. The Baron , Matthew, is such a charming rake, that the prim and proper Purity could no way resist falling for him even as she tried to school him on his improprieties. Their attraction was intense, their kisses scorching! Although she adored him, she couldn’t trust him or believe in him, and it nearly cost her the love of a lifetime! One of my favorite reads of the year!

Was this review helpful?

I received an advance ebook copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for review.

Purity by Sydney Jane Baily is the second book of the Diamonds of the First Water. Lady Purity masterfully adheres to the rules of proper society. Notorious rake Lord Matthew Foxford asks Purity for lessons in etiquette, while also hoping to win her heart. Unaware of his intent to make her his wife, Purity agrees to help him become a gentleman. She soon finds herself unable to resist her attraction to him.

There is so much going on in this book that I don’t want to spoil it by talking about the premise in too much detail. Just know I adored this couple and their entire dynamic right from the start. There were a couple bumps in the road, but the journey to Purity and Matthew’s happily ever after is well worth the read.

Was this review helpful?

This book is excellent. Purity is very proper indeed.
Known as the “proper Diamond sister,” Lady Purity thoroughly enjoys adhering to the rules of society. Everything is right in her world when manners are minded and civility reigns. Clean gloves, no vulgarities, not a hair out of place!
Renowned for his past indiscretions, Lord Matthew Foxford doesn’t let propriety or tedious rules get in his way. Asking the prim earl’s daughter to teach him etiquette, he hopes to win her heart while loosening her corset.
Unaware of his intent, Purity agrees to turn this thundering buck into a reputable nobleman. Can she do so without falling for his seductive charm? Or will the Fox tempt her from the straight and narrow path into the garden of irreparable ruin?I received this book from the publisher and NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.

Was this review helpful?

London 1848

Their first meeting was indeed a surprise! He had mistaken her for a light skirt and given her the kiss of her life!!

Purity was just as her name... everything proper, never stepping out of line and one of the Diamond sisters.

He was a rake but needed to find a wife, and upon his kissing the wrong woman, he had to find a way to be around her. So a scheme began to form in his mind!

Loved this story and of course with the imagination of this amazing author, I knew it would be fabulous! Cannot wait for the next in this series!

Was this review helpful?

Matthew mistakes Purity for a courtesan and kisses her. She slaps him and runs away. He tries to get close to her by pretending to need help finding a wife. She is always using proper etiquette. He asks her to tutor him. He wants to court her. They are found kissing at a garden party. He asks her to marry him. He has an enemy who keeps giving the Times embellished gossip about him to print. Purity is afraid he will stray once they marry. She keeps jumping to the wrong conclusions. Will love be able to defeat his enemy.

The book was wonderful. Looking forward to the next one in the series.

Was this review helpful?

This is the first book I’ve read by Sydney Jane Baily and I am hooked!! I loved her main characters Matthew and Purity. This book is truly a story about falling in love. Very riveting, fast paced but detailed. Also some drama because of Matthews past with women. A must read!!!

Was this review helpful?

"Purity" is the second installment of Sydney Jane Baily's Diamonds series. The plot is relatively simple. Lady Purity Diamond, queen of being prim and proper, is in her second season of searching for a suitable mate. Lord Matthew Foxford is a rake of the first order who is now in search of a wife and mother for his little girl. Their relationship begins with a misunderstanding and a passionate kiss, then turns into one where Purity is teaching Matthew the correct manners for society. Along the way, Matthew and Purity fall in love, but the road has some hiccups along the way.

This was an interesting, yet sometimes frustrating read. Purity's need for good manners and decorum seems a bit excessive at times, often leading to make snap judgments that end up being wrong. While her concern about Matthew's past is valid, she let that concern cloud her view too easily.
Matthew was charming as a reforming rake. He so wanted to be the best man he could be for Purity, even when she was at her most difficult and judgy. It is clear his love for her was true.

Two other characters that feature are Lord and Lady Varley. Both are idiots. Each bore a grudge against Matthew for situations of their own making. Their need to gain revenge on him was petty and immature, and ironically make them a perfect match. Maybe somewhere down the line, they will learn to love each other....maybe not...though that would be interesting to see.

Ultimately, it was a good second installment. It engages you from start to finish, and makes you want to see what happens with the next installment. Definitely a winner.

Was this review helpful?

I love when I take a chance on a new to me author and find an entertaining story. Lady Purity is the proper, rule following, second daughter in the Diamond family. She knows all of rules of society and tries to live each and every one. Lord Matthew Foxford (a baron) meets Purity accidentally and is quickly taken with her. He is a notorious rake and hasn’t given much thought to those in his past. He has decided it is time to marry. When Purity shows no interest in him he asks her to tutor him in the proper etiquette to help him find a bride.

I love the rules, and she knows so many. How long visits should last, who gets tea, when to ignore unseemly remarks etc. She is genuinely perplexed at her attraction to Foxford. I love how the author takes a traditional romance and changes the pacing and adds some twists. Engagement and wedding plans come midway through the book. A surprise that should cause an angst moment but doesn’t. Someone out to stop their romance. And understanding parents that Purity can talk to are rare in historical romance.

One thing the author does is add lots of expressions and words I was unfamiliar with. I could only find a definition for a couple so I’m not sure if they are real words of the time period that are not in online dictionaries or if Baily is making up expressions. I found it distracting although I usually could guess at the meanings given the context in the sentence.

Overall I really enjoyed this fun story. And although I knew most of the rules I still learned some new ones. It is the second in a series and it looks like I will need to purchase the first one or renew my Kindle Unlimited subscription to read it. Look forward to brother Adam’s story next. Thank you to NetGalley, WOLF Publishing and the author for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. (4.5 stars)

Was this review helpful?

This is an entertaining book about a very prim and proper miss and a carefree rake who falls in love with her.. I loved loved how Purity managed to keep an organized and controlled head in the middle of a lot of issues she never thought she would be a part of. Even better, her surprise at her feelings for the Fox! It was interesting to see the Fox change and grow under her tutelage as well. This is an original storyline and the Villains are touched by Purity as well. Well written and the characters believable and endearing!

Was this review helpful?

Readers who liked this book also liked: