Inventing the Viscount

The Bluestocking Scandals #2

by Ellie St. Clair

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 important to her. The only problem? She needs a husband. Her solution—to find one who will provide for her but 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 ever wished for is to be accepted for who he is, yet he fears such a possibility mighty 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, 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.

Genres: Historical Romance, Historical, Romance, Marriage Of Convenience, Friends To Lovers, Regency, Historical Fiction

254 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 10, 2020

About the author

Ellie St. Clair writes heartwarming Regency romances with spirited heroines, swoon-worthy heroes, and happily ever afters. Her passion for history shines through in richly drawn characters and romances brimming with irresistible tension.

A former journalist with an incurable love of history, she is the author of popular series such as Remingtons of the Regency and The Bluestocking Scandals. She lives in Saskatchewan, Canada, with her husband and three children.

When she isn’t crafting romantic tales or keeping up with her kids, she’s mainlining coffee, sweating it out on her Peloton, valiantly attempting to keep her plants alive, planning her next dog rescue, or dreaming of lake escapes.

Ellie loves corresponding with readers, so visit her website, email her, sign up for her newsletter or join her Facebook group for exclusive content, giveaways, and sneak peeks at upcoming books.

Contact her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/elliestclair, and sign up for her mailing list at http://www.elliestclair.com/subscribe.

Reviews

[InD'tale Magazine]

An unusual tale of two unique individuals, this novel embraces a heroine who dares tread beyond the usual female role of the times, and a hero who is deaf.

Read full review in the 2020 September issue of InD'tale Magazine.

[-BeautifullyBookish-]

I love the premise of this book however the actual book fell a little short. I have the same to say of the first in this series. They have such potential but they're just not... Exciting? They're well written but I just feel something is missing. I could walk away from the book and not really wonder what I'm missing.

I forced myself to read the latter half of this book and whilst it wasn't painful, I don't like to have to force myself to read anything. I read this book to ensure that it wasn't just that the first book wasn't for me however I am now fairly sure that it's just that this author and her style just aren't for me. I like more pace, more witty dialogue and a feeling of fulfillment when reading. I hate posting negative reviews but I believe it is important to be honest.

If you were considering reading this book I wouldn't suggest you don't based on my review as this book may appeal to others where it doesn't to me. As I said, it's well written and the characters are well developed. Just something missing for me personally which is frustrating since I really wanted to like these books.

[Elaine]

I so much enjoyed reading this book. Great storyline and characters. Loved inventor Freddie and her lady friends. A fab story. 5☆

[Janet]

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

[Janice Hamel Poljak]

Lost interest

This was just okay for me. Once the relationship between the h and H was cleared up there just wasn’t enough to keep my interest. I could see the other threads of story but I assumed their resolutions would be predictable so I never bothered to find out. Stopped half way through.

[Lana Birky]

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.

[Lotten]

Inventing the viscount är bra romance med starka karaktärer. För att jag ska gilla romance behöver karaktärerna vara självständiga och inte forma sig efter varandra blint. Det kravet uppfyller Inventing the viscount. I synnerhet gillar jag den kvinnliga karaktären, Freddie, som det i efterordet framgår är baserad på en verklig karaktär, en kvinna som var före sin tid. Miles har jag lite svårt för till att börja med, att han döljer sin hemlighet för Freddie, men efterhand så förstår jag mer.

I bra romance ska det också finnas kemi mellan huvudkaraktärerna, och det finns det i Inventing the viscount. Jag tycker om den respekt som de har för varandra som människor, och deras relation. På vissa sajter står det att boken är för de över 18 år, pga ”steamy”, men jag tycker inte det är mer än i många andra romanceböcker.

Det finns en grundhistoria som är intressant, och bitvis så tycker jag att romancedelen får stå tillbaka för den berättelsen. Den hade kunnat stå på egna ben helt och hållet, och Inventing the viscount hade kunnat vara mer drama.

Sen förstår jag mig inte på dessa amerikanska omslag, som är så schablonartade. Titeln störde mig också, men det visar sig finnas en dubbeltydighet i den. Ellie St Clair var en ny bekantskap och jag skulle kunna tänka mig att läsa mer av henne.

Betyg: 4

https://lottensbokblogg.wordpress.com...

[Martina ✨]

Ok, este libro es el 2 de una serie, pero me llamo más la atención este porque el protagonista era sordo y no conozco muchos libros que retraten estos temas y más en el siglo XIX.

Si bien el romance histórico no es de mis géneros favoritos, por todo lo retrógrado de la época, admito que aveces los leo y son una especie de guilty pleasure.

La pluma de la autora es súper ligera y no me aburrí en ningún momento. Los protagonistas me gustaron, como dije no soy experta en el género, pero me agradó el hecho de que Miles no fuera tan retrógrado ni tóxico como otros protagonistas que he leído. Sí, tiene ciertas ideas o pensamientos acordes a la época, lo cual entiendo. Y Freddie, bueno, ella es una mujer adelantada a la época, porque es inventora, es su trabajo y es feliz con las cosas que hace.

Tal vez no fue uno de los mejores romances que leí, pero fue lindo, ellos fueron lindos y lo recomiendo para despejar la mente.

[Colorado]

Imperfect, but perfect for each other

Inventing the Viscount takes place in the 19th century when the condition of being deaf was concealed and considered shameful and was associated by some with mental illness. In the absence of effective treatment, people with hearing loss were often institutionalized. While Miles is the heir to a marquessate, he is rejected and ridiculed by his father because he is deaf. Miles isolates himself until his childhood acquaintance, Freddie, suggests a marriage of convenience. Freddie is very astute and figures out the secret disability that Miles is hiding. As their relationship develops, each reveals themselves to the other and begins to appreciate each other's talents.

There are a lot of parallels between this book and A Notorious Vow by Joanna Shupe. (The Shupe book is set in the same time period and features a deaf hero who is working to develop a hearing aid. He is also subject to attempts to institutionalize him because of his hearing loss.) If you're interested in a story like this, I thought the Shupe book was much better.

[Annette Drewett]

What a delightful storyline. Miles struggles with not only a physical disability but also a father who is determined to keep him out of sight from the ‘ton’. Freddie and Miles have known each other since childhood, but she knows nothing of his disability as he has managed to hide it from everyone. The way this author has treated Miles’ difficulties, is just wonderful and very realistic of the time period. When these two lovely characters marry, there are lots of misunderstandings between them. Can they overcome these problems to have a happy marriage? I really hated Miles’ father, and enjoyed the final chapters. This is a fantastic read and I highly recommend it to historical lovers everywhere.

[Kristin]

I would like to thank the author for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I liked how unique the heroine and hero were. The hero is not your typical masculine overly fit hero type, he's more quiet and emotional. His hearing impairment takes nothing away from his character and gives voice to people often forgotten by history.

[Suzette]

This series is about strong women. Freddie and her friends are considered unconventional for the things they are interested in. Miles is hiding a huge secret from society. The two are childhood friends and decide that marrying each other would serve both their purposes. Falling in love was never the goal but that is exactly what happens. Freddie uses her determination to slowly break down the walls that Miles has built and allows him to achieve his true potential. Their story is filled with grace and love that overcomes mountains.

[Pam Bereznak]

OMG! Such a great read.
You know it's a good book if you want to jump through the pages a throttle someone.. multiple times.

Loved Freddie and Miles' story. Really good!!! Really well written.

[Pam]

Can a unique female inventor somewhat hesitant to resign herself to a single life and an introverted viscount hiding his near deafness turn their old childhood friendship into a workable convenient marriage? Maybe, but they face major struggles.

While his father considers Lord Miles Luxington a stain on the family and unfit to perpetuate the lineage, his mother and a tutor had worked hard throughout his childhood to equip him with normal speech and ability to read lips well. But Miles avoided society events and courtship because he knew that if his secret got outside the immediate family, his father would make good on the threat to put Miles away somewhere and ensure he never inherited.

Lady Fredericka Ashworth marries Miles when he agrees not to interfere with her designing and developing items that help people. So when she figures out her husband's hearing impairment, Freddie just has to help him enjoy life fully - including their marriage. But as the marriage becomes more than just convenience, Miles's father intrudes and manipulates more and more unpleasantly.

This well paced plot highlights the historical stigma and lack of compassionate care for deaf persons of that time. I especially like the author's note about her inspiration for Freddie: an actual female inventor who patented a number of interesting ideas in the late eighteenth to early nineteenth centuries. Also, I liked how Miles evolved and strengthened through the story.

I recommend this book to historical romance readers who like stories about couples growing in love and working together to overcome adversity.

[Margaret]

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.

[Nanna]

This is the second book in 'The Bluestocking Scandals' series. All of the Ladies and Lords in this set have secrets that
have made them the people they are. All the women have some sort of scandal attached to them.
Lady Federicka Ashworth ( Freddie )is a very unconventional young lady. Her father showed her woodworking at a young age and she loves nothing more then designing items to help other. Things that will make life easier for all poor and wealth both. She is 24 and fast becoming what the ton would call a spinster. She needs a husband, one that will leave her alone to work on her projects while he does what he wants. She fell in love once before only to learn the so called gentleman was just using her and ruined her. She now figures she needs a marriage of convenience. Now where to find a man who will agree with her way of thinking.
While at the ball she meets an old family friend. Lord Miles Luxington, Viscount of Gilmore and heir to the Marquess of Dorrington. Freddie set her sites on him and has him come to call, without really thinking thru what she is about to ask him, to marry her! Poor Miles has his own secrets. He is known for being cold, and unfriendly by society. He has learned the hard way to stay out of society's way. He goes to very few events, and speaks with other only when he can't get out of it.
He is hiding the fact that he is almost totally deaf.. In 1820 there is a lot of stupid superstitious. If one can't hear they must be stupid and dumb. Most where locked away or keep in the county where they were thought to be mad.
Miles father Lord Dorrington hates him, has beaten him as a child, is always putting him down and calling him names.
He would have had him locked up if it wasn't for Miles mother she has stood up for him and with a teacher learned to read lips, and talk. After the shock of Freddie asking him, he agrees. He needs a wife and has always like Freddie.
Neither Miles or Freddie really thought what being married would mean. Both found that a marriage of convenience is not what they want. As they try to learn each other, find out secrets and feeling for each other.
His father makes trouble for them where every they go. He is the one who is going mad and they are in the way.
This is a wonderful story, and you will need to read it to see if with the help of her friends, they can find save Miles.
This story has is all a love story, second chances for both, and suspense when danger hits.
I want received and ARC from the author and would like to thank her for a really great read.
I am voluntarily giving my honest opinion.
I hope you pre order your copy and plan not to get much else done, as you will not want to put this one down....

[Linda J.]

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)

[Kaye]

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.

[Nicole]

I picked this up for the disability rep.

The hero, Miles is hard of hearing and hides it from the Ton. The heroine, Freddie wants to be left alone to be able to invent and tinker and proposes a marriage of convenience to the hero, a childhood friend whom she always found quiet and serious.

I loved the bond between the hero and his mother and how she made accommodations and adjustments to help him navigate communication and interaction.

Initially, Freddie thinks that Miles is ignoring her on purpose but she figures out that he cannot hear her. I liked how they stood up for each other especially with how much of a villain his father is (almost cartoonish). They way they support each other like how he praises her inventions and she thinks he should not hide his paintings was so romantic. She realises she does not want to be left alone and ants to forma. bond with her husband. The circle of friends she can lean on were great.

It was sad to see that people who were hard of hearing or deaf during that time could be declared insane and locked up against their will. One thing that annoyed me was how they kept things from one another when communication would have helped.

Tropes: Marriage of convenience, heroine is experienced, grumpy hero-sunshine heroine

[Lori D]

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!

[Emma]

*** 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.

[Cheryl Brown]

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.

[Cait M]

Lady Fredericka is a tinkerer/inventor and a pocket rocket. Friendly and pretty but after a bad experience with a suitor she is only after a marriage of convenience with an honourable man to give her his protection while allowing her to carry on with her inventions.

She decides on Miles, a Viscount who she knew as a child. He is quiet, aloof and bookish and tends to ignore most people. Turns out Miles is almost completely deaf, however he has become an expert at covering it up by lip-reading and avoiding certain noisy and confusing situations.

His father is a real villain and hates Miles because he is not 'perfect'.

I liked seeing how the author worked Miles' hearing difficulties into the story, but that they were not his defining characteristic. I loved how Freddy just realised Miles couldn't hear well, figured out what she could do to make things easier for him and then just moved on falling in love with him.

There is conflict, misunderstandings and danger. In the end true love conquers and it ends with an HEA.

This book contains descriptive love scenes.

[Wendy Tavenner]

They are reinventing each other

Loved the 2nd book in the series. Freddie just wants to invent things and wants to find a husband that will leave her alone. Miles is hiding such a big secret so he stays to himself. After a dance together at a ball Freddie asks for her former childhood friend to call on her in the morning.
Miles has been practically deaf his whole life. His father thinks he’s mad and treats him as so. With the help of his mother and amazing tutors Miles can read lips and hear as long as he is facing you. He is afraid if he tells others of his affliction they will consider him mad as they do on so many deaf people.
When Miles sees Freddie again he suggests a marriage of convenience. She agrees.
Freddie finally realizes what Miles has been keeping secret all these years. She always thought he was arrogant and ignoring her growing up but realizes he can’t hear.
With his father becoming more irrational he and Freddie need to be careful that he might not actually have Miles certified as mad! A wonderful story with a wonderful ending.

[Marie Bourgery]

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.

[Margaret]

This newest addition to the Bluestocking Scandals is one of the best books that I have read from this author. Lady Fredericka, aka Freddie, is at the age where she knows she needs to marry but she wants to marry someone that won't complicate her secret work as an inventor. Miles is someone who she has known since childhood. He would fit her father's requirements as he is a Lord and will eventually be a Marquess. Freddie convinces Miles that it would be good for them to marry. Miles is hiding an even bigger secret from her. His father, the Marquess, loathes Miles because of the secret he hides from everyone outside of his family. This leads to dangerous situations for the couple. Hopefully, they can overcome all these obstacles and find happiness.

[Ann]

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.

[Janice Campbell]

Wow what can I say this is just a fabulous read. Freddie and Miles are childhood friends. Freddie is an inventor and wants a marriage where her husband will understand, Miles is the heir to a marquis but has a disability that no one is aware of. Freddie is not aware of this when she tells him she thinks that they should marry, she does become aware of it but doesn't tell Miles she knows but she wants to invent something that will help him. The pair do realise that they have feelings for each other as the book progresses. The marquis is a totally obnoxious character and thinks Miles will bring shame on the family if it was known about Miles disability and has always wanted him shut away from society. I really enjoyed this book and couldn't put it down. Ellie has done it again I just loved this. I want to thank her for her ARC in exchange for a honest review.

[Lisa H]

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.

[Jess Downing]

I normally don't read books on Kindle, since I like having the physical book in my hand, but this one caught my eye. I loved this book! The hero and heroine were amazingly fun and funny. The story is compelling too, with a villain you want to strangle right out of the box, and is so calculating, you could feel the evil ooze off the page. I read this book in one night and plan on reading it again today (perfect for a rainy day read). Eventually, I plan on buying the physical book, but for now, Kindle will do.

I enjoyed this book tremendously, and look forward to reading more from the author. Reccomended.