She’s never met a problem she can’t fix…Lady Fredericka Ashworth observes the world around her with the intention of making it better. Blessed with a gift of tinkering and the skills of designing and woodworking, she has thought of everything from an easier way to cook eggs to candlesticks that allow for a longer burn. All she wants for her own life is to continue the work that has become so … has become so important to her. The only problem? She needs a husband. Her solution — to find one who will provide for her and will otherwise leave her alone. But where to find such a man?
He hides a secret none can ever know…
Lord Miles Luxington is cold, standoffish, and unfriendly — or so everyone thinks. The truth is, his cold exterior has hidden his affliction for the entirety of his life. If the secret was ever revealed, his father would follow through on his threats to ensure the bloodline remained unsullied. All Miles has ever wished for is to be accepted for who he is — yet he fears such a possibility might never come to be.
A marriage of convenience…
When Freddie reconnects with her childhood acquaintance, he seems to be exactly the man she is looking for. When she proposes a courtship, Miles is hesitant at first, until he finds that he can no longer hold himself back from the woman he has admired since childhood.
With secrets and a desire for more hanging between them, will marriage to one another become a life of regret, or one of love greater than either of them could ever have imagined?
For readers over 18, due to some steamy scenes.
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I loved this book – Ellie St. Clair really pulled out all of the stops on this one! I smiled, laughed, got teary and was on the edge of my seat more than once – I started reading and could not stop reading until I was sure of a HEA.
Miles Luxington, Viscount of Gilmore and heir to the Marquess of Dorrington has a secret that no one knows except his Mother and his tutor. He was born impaired and his Father hates him as the heir and has always threatened to have him declared insane or to ship him off to relatives so no one would ever know he existed. The marquess wants his second son to be the heir and before his death, he will do whatever it takes to eliminate his first born son.
Lady Fredericka “Freddie” Ashworth is fast becoming a spinster as she is four and twenty. The betrothal to an earl of her parents choosing had been called off after Freddie told her father that he was not a gentleman as they had thought and of course, that caused scandal towards Freddie but she didn’t much care what the Ton thought. Freddie had grown up with a father who taught her woodworking talents and she had taken on creating items to help people — whether rich or poor, young or old. This was always a gossip item for society and Freddie’s friends were also interested in “non-accepted interests” by society such as chemistry and astronomy.
Miles and Freddie had know each other all their lived as their estates were near and their mothers were friends. Freddie knew she needed to marry – not that her parents would not provide for her and even after their deaths her married sisters and their husbands would make sure she was well. Miles mother was pushing him into finally finding a wife and he knew it was time and his duty to do so. He and Freddie danced a waltz at a ball and Freddie made him a proposition – a marriage of convenience for both of them – she could go on with her pursuits and he could carry on with his own life. Now the fun begins, the secrets are revealed, love comes at the strangest of times and situations, murder lurks in the periphery.
I was gifted the Advanced Reader Copy of this book & all opinions are my own & have been voluntarily given.
An amazing addition to the series
This is an amazing continuation of the series, with a plot that is full of suspense. The characters are beautifully portrayed with the strength and determination to overcome their fears and obstacles. This is a great book that will be suitable for all those who love steamy historical romances.
Freddie and Miles
This is a wonderful story. It touches on how one mothers love for her son helped him become a functional person in the ton as the heir to the Marquess despite his invisible problem. Freddie figures out why he doesn’t answer and ignores her. she goes about inventing some thing that will help him. There marriage of convenience turns into love.
Miles was misunderstood because of his hearing impairment. Many thought he was a boor who didn’t say much. Freddie was made fun of because of her working on inventing things that would help make life easier and because an former suitor attacked her and made it seem like she was a loose woman. She comes up with the plan to have a marriage of convenience between them so she could continue to work her inventions and be safe from the mercies of an unknown cousin if her father passed, but as they discover more about the other it’s harder to keep their hearts from becoming involved. Miles’ father was truly evil and should have been the one being committed. I liked his brother Benjamin and hope he finds his own love interest in a future book. I loved that Ellie and her friends all have their own unconventional for a woman during that time passions that they pursue and that Miles was an artist. This was a sexy historical romance with plenty of sweet, funny, and intense moments.
*** SPOILER ALERT ***
I loved, loved, loved this book. The story is completely original and unique. It deals with two subjects: 1) creative inventors and 2) the treatment good and bad of deaf people. Both the h/H were ideal for each other. I absolutely loved their characters. So realistic, raw, sensitive. The h is outgoing and inventive. The H was sort of reclusive and avoided crowds and social events. They were both criticized and gossiped about for being different. I appreciated the author’s point of view on the social injustice of women’s rights in a man’s world and championing the efforts of those who would not label a deaf person as an imbecile. My heart went out to the h/H but mostly to the H. He had been terrorized from a child to the present by his evil father. Thank God for the H’s mother who got him as much help as he needed growing up. He was able to function to a point with people. Better than expected. But as the h and H grow to love each other the H’s father became more dangerous and what came next was absolutely unbelievable and shocking. An excellent story and I highly recommend it.
I adored Freddie and Miles’ story! After reading the ARC I was left speechless. This was such an amazing novel. Thank you Ms. St. Clair!!
A convenient marriage?
Lady Fredericka Ashworth is an inventor, all she wants is to be left alone to work on her inventions. When she decides that maybe she should marry she picks her childhood friend. Lord Miles Luxington has a secret, but since he is the heir he decides if he married any one it would be Freddie. Their one obstacle is his father who is against the marriage. If the two of them stand together with love they can conquer all. Emotional and a little scary with a horrible villian. Fast paced and very much a page turner.
Be still my heart. A wonderful heartwarming story that Ellie St. Clair is a master at creating. Whenever she has a new book out, I am always excited to read because I am never disappointed!
The wounded hero, my favorite, and Miles fits that with his difficulties that his father has scorned him all of his life and threatened to send him off. Something he could not help or at least I do not think his family did anything to try. He seems very standoffish at first but there is a reason.
Lady Fredericka wants to live her life as she wants. She loves science and inventing and has been successful on a small scale. But she wants to help others and to do that she must find a husband that will continue to let her pursue her passion. Could that be he friend from childhood, Miles Luxington, Viscount and heir to a Marquess?
She broaches the subject with him and with her logic, he agrees. But there is a lot more going on than on the surface. Misunderstandings, verbal abuse, a terrible villain and a budding romance that just made me sigh. Amazing characters, a heroine full of enthusiasm and her friends that are amusing and like her. What’s not to love? Yes you are right. Loved every word!
Frederick “Freddie” and Miles are a charming couple, married by convenience, both with secrets that may cause them to think badly of each other. Freddie was taken advantage of and Miles is hiding his near deafness. When Miles vindictive father lays out their secrets they unexpectedly accept each other’s faults and come to care for each other even more. But Miles father has other plans that may tear them apart forever and even put Miles life in danger. Review of complimentary copy.
This is a wonderful love story filled with friendship, love, and laughter but much more it tells of the horrid things that could happen if you had a disability. Unlike the world we know, in the past just about anything is seen as different could see you locked away for life sometimes with a family member or an insane asylum. Which is the other side of this well-written story. Freddie likes to find a better way to do things with her inventions not really wanting a husband to take over her life but she knows she must marry, she decides to bring it up with her friend Miles they decide to marry but to continue living life their way. Trouble is they both have a secret while Freddie’s is important to most Miles isn’t bothered by except for the fact it hurt her. Miles has much larger consequences, his father hates him and seems to wish he was dead so the younger son could take the title at best he could be locked away forever if his father wishes. Read to find the secret and to watch the love and laughter they both find.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! As always, Ellie St. Clair has provided us with another great read that I could not put down. The tale of the two main characters was original and thoughtful. I liked them immediately in their own way and really wanted to see love triumph in the end! I look forward to the next book in this great series.
An incredible story, full of surprises, strange situations and romance…
A young lady that love to create new things…
A young lord that hidden his affliction for the entirety of his life…
A lovely family… an odious father… how far it will go?
If you love Regency and mystery, this book is for you…
She’s looking for a husband to leave her be.
He’s trying to find someone in spite of his secret.
I truly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.
Why?
Lady Fredericka “Freddie” is whip smart and astute. Highly observant, she’s a tinkerer, an inventor who needs a husband to let her be with her eccentricities.
She has no wish for more than friendship and a blind eye.
Miles is delightfully complex. He’s almost deaf and has been threatened with the madhouse daily by his father. He is close to his mother and has successfully hidden his impairment from society. I adored him.
He’s got a secret to keep and she’s highly observant and smart.
Recommend.
Blue stocking Lady Fredericka Ashworth had known Miles, Lord Gilmore for most of her life. She needs to find herself a husband who will ignore her hobby as an inventor. Miles had given up hope of having a wife as his secret deafness poses a huge barrier. Lady Fredericka proposes a marriage of convenience which Miles agrees to much to the consternation and anger of his father, Lord Dorrington. While they stumble into love, Lord Dorrington becomes more enraged but how far will he dare to go to rid himself of his disabled offspring and his bluestocking wife? The story is convoluted with twists and turns, it addresses important issues and failings of the time. Interesting, thought provoking and thoroughly entertaining.
I received an ARC copy and am voluntarily leaving a review.
ONE HOT SMOLDERING DELIGHT!!!
Ah snap! Ellie delivers one enthusiastic approach with such fervor and delight, showcasing this arresting storyline and engaging plot, with such ingenuity, imagination, passion and insight for detail, fusing this gem together flawlessly. A raging vortex of fervent events and baffling circumstances, blow this bad boy wide open. Exposing the drama, doubt, intrigue, turmoil, danger, mounting suspense and unexpected situations, along with a boatload of chaos while dodging mayhem, you have one prize winning masterpiece. Anarchy, escapades and havoc run amuck, kicking this gem into a tempest, blasting it into a frenzy with a mind-blowing culmination. Observing the instant realization and charged atmosphere, along with a bevy of startling twists and stunning turns, testing our characters in ways they could have never imagined. The attraction and chemistry is intense, alluring and mesmerizing, grounding in it’s strength and awe-inspiring in it’s depth. The characters are complex and authentic with depth and traits that blend and flow smoothly transforming into genuinely relatable personalities. The scenes are strikingly sharp with abundant details and descriptions, as to give you a full understanding and realism that flows smoothly. Amazing job Ellie, thanks for sharing this little guy with us.
A father who hates Lord Miles because he is deaf, a Lady who wants her freedom asks Miles to marry her, the marriage and threats, the fathers insanity results in Miles being put in danger and so much more in this intriguing story
I wanted the H’s father to get what he deserved for the awful way he treated the H. For his cruel words and actions against the H. I ached for the H and how he was treated and how he retreated from everyone. It proves how words can be devastating to how a person feels about themselves. Whether you are a child or an adult.
The H/h started out using each other for their own purposes. They thought this would make them happy and content because they could do what they wanted. Little by little this proved not to work for them. Especially when the h figured out the H’s secret. You understood why he kept this info from his wife and others. It was the way his father always treated him and he felt he had no self worth.
This is an emotional story of verbal abuse that will touch your heart. I liked the spunk and spirit of the h and of course her unusual friends.
There is lovemaking within marriage, heat level 4 out of 5 if that. I felt a connection to this couple so it was filled with passion. This is slow on the romance front. Mainly because why they decided to marry. But, as they spend time together their romance blossomed.
We have an awful villain who caused a lot of suspense. No cheating, no cliffhanger, HEA, romance builds slowly and a tad of spice.
I received an advanced copy. All opinions expressed are my mine and freely given. (ljb)
Frederica is a spinster who marries Miles, a deaf lord. His father tries to have him killed because of his deafness. The two fall in love and find hope.
This is the 2nd book in the series The Bluestocking Scandals. This is a stand-alone read, but if you read the 1st book you will enjoy the people in this book. This book is about Freddie who is an inventor and who wants to marry a man who will leave her alone to keep working on her inventions. It is also about Miles who is quiet, doesn’t really like society and is hiding a secret. In this story there is Friendship, Love and an evil Father. Ellie St. Clair writes an intriguing story which I always enjoy.
Lady Fredericka Ashworth observes the world around her with the intention of making it better. Blessed with a gift of tinkering and the skills of designing and woodworking, she has thought of everything from an easier way to cook eggs to candlesticks that allow for a longer burn. All she wants for her own life is to continue the work that has become so important to her.
Lord Miles Luxington is cold, standoffish, and unfriendly or so everyone thinks. The truth is, his cold exterior has hidden his affliction for the entirety of his life. Freddie & Miles have known each other since they were children when they meet again she realises he seems to be exactly the man she is looking for. When she proposes a courtship, Miles is hesitant at first, until he finds that he can no longer hold himself back from the woman he has admired since childhood. So they marry each knowing they have secrets & they must also deal with his father.
This is the second book in the series & is easily read on its own. A very well written book which handled Miles’ affliction with sensitivity & also really brought home how people who were thought of as not normal suffered two hundred years ago. I was taken on a plethora of emotions throughout the book from laughing to crying to being horrified to rejoicing & I couldn’t put the book down & read it in two sittings, finishing it well into the night. I loved both Miles & Freddie who were perfect for each other they were also two immensely strong characters especially Miles who was caring, honourable even after all his father had put him through. I totally & utterly despised the marquis & I so wanted him to get his comeuppance, my only disappointment was that I really, really wanted him to suffer far more. An enthralling, engrossing, captivating read & one of the best books I’ve read by the author.
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read