What do you think?
Rate this book
The Gilded Age Heiresses #3
The Lady Tempts an Heir
A fake engagement brings together a lady with bold and daring dreams, and the heir whose heart she captured—perfect for fans of Bridgerton!
Tall, dark, and brooding—to say that American Maxwell Crenshaw stood out in the glittering ballrooms of London, is an understatement. He vowed never to set foot in England again, but when a summons from his father, along with an ultimatum to secure his legacy, has him crossing the Atlantic for the last time, reuniting him with the delectable Lady Helena March, he can’t deny the temptation she presents. Or the ideas she inspires...
Lady Helena March is flirting with scandal. Instead of spending her time at teas and balls in search of another husband, as is expected of a young widow, Helena pours her energy into The London Home for Young Women. But Society gives no quarter to unmarried radicals who associate with illegitimate children and fallen women, and Helena’s funding is almost run out. So when the sinfully seductive Crenshaw heir suggests a fake engagement to save them both—him from an unwanted marriage and her from scorn and financial ruin—Helena finds herself too fascinated to refuse the sexy American.
As their arrangement of convenience melts oh so deliciously into nights of passion, their deception starts to become real. But if Max knew the true reason Helena can never remarry, he wouldn’t look at her with such heat in his eyes. Or might the Crenshaw heir be willing to do whatever it takes to win the one woman he’s never been able to forget...
Tall, dark, and brooding—to say that American Maxwell Crenshaw stood out in the glittering ballrooms of London, is an understatement. He vowed never to set foot in England again, but when a summons from his father, along with an ultimatum to secure his legacy, has him crossing the Atlantic for the last time, reuniting him with the delectable Lady Helena March, he can’t deny the temptation she presents. Or the ideas she inspires...
Lady Helena March is flirting with scandal. Instead of spending her time at teas and balls in search of another husband, as is expected of a young widow, Helena pours her energy into The London Home for Young Women. But Society gives no quarter to unmarried radicals who associate with illegitimate children and fallen women, and Helena’s funding is almost run out. So when the sinfully seductive Crenshaw heir suggests a fake engagement to save them both—him from an unwanted marriage and her from scorn and financial ruin—Helena finds herself too fascinated to refuse the sexy American.
As their arrangement of convenience melts oh so deliciously into nights of passion, their deception starts to become real. But if Max knew the true reason Helena can never remarry, he wouldn’t look at her with such heat in his eyes. Or might the Crenshaw heir be willing to do whatever it takes to win the one woman he’s never been able to forget...
314 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 22, 2022
202 people are currently reading
6112 people want to read
About the author
Harper St. George
55 books1,240 followersHarper St. George was raised in rural Alabama and along the tranquil coast of northwest Florida. It was a setting filled with stories of the old days that instilled in her a love of history, romance, and adventure. By high school, she had discovered the historical romance novel which combined all of those elements into one perfect package. She has been hooked ever since.
She lives in the Atlanta area with her husband and two children. When not writing, she can be found devouring her husband's amazing cooking and reading. She would love to hear from you. Please visit her website at harperstgeorge.com
She lives in the Atlanta area with her husband and two children. When not writing, she can be found devouring her husband's amazing cooking and reading. She would love to hear from you. Please visit her website at harperstgeorge.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 517 reviews
January 25, 2023
Upon reread: I was less annoyed with the parents bc I just hop skip and jumped right over those bits. One quickie scene at the end would’ve been great. Such a solid book.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️.25/5
________
✨I’m just gonna start it off with a bang here and work backwards because what do we want? Sex! When do we want it? Now! Or preferably at around 50% of the book and multiple times after.✨
Sex Scenes for the Soul:
- “Tell me you need me.” His voice was a trembling growl that vibrated across her already raw nerve endings. “My God, yes. I need you inside me.” His breath rushed past her ear. “You’re such a good girl, Helena. You do everything I ask of you.” And then he was there, his hard length buried inside her to the hilt from behind. (📣I’ll take one of him please📣)
- “Has no one ever kissed you between your pretty thighs, Helena?” (Has no one ever said your words are hot and pretty and beautiful, Maxwell?)
- “I want you inside me.” She pressed harder with her palm, working up and down his length from root to tip in an imitation of a massage. He let out another shaky breath. (I love scenes like this! Bring him to his knees! Big men fall hard! Kick him in the groin with love!)
- There was something profoundly erotic about him being clothed while she was nude and lying beneath him as he used her for his pleasure. (Yup. This tracks.)
I liked his beard and the hint at rough play (but it never really got rough) as they realize she likes his dominance. And there were definitely still the “pretty thighs” and “good girl” type of vibes that are always immaculate and it gave Max an edge in the bedroom that I think street Max needed. One minute he’s cleaning her up and the next minute he’s making her come again and then he’s cuddling her like a teddy bear with his leg draped over her body and then he’s waking her up and taking her from behind and I just think that’s very gorgeous gorgeous of him. I did also love that he was crude when he was drunk because I always love a good lost-filter drunk scene. That’s my chicken soup for the soul.
I’m a simple gal and just want the simple things in life: romance books that fuck (bonus points for many different positions, missionary is fun but I’m not religious.). I was so happy to see that her books still have sex in them! Because I swear we’re having a where’s Waldo (dildo?) moment of “wait wait where’s the sex?” in so many recent books and even the traditionally published genre as a whole. Especially when other books in the SAME series are explicit. So I’m so so so happy to report you can definitely expect steam here.
I’m always one for a starchy hero with a very horny monster, sexy beast hybrid deal living under the flashing eyes and clenched jaws. Max wasn’t too starchy (I mean the guy realized he wanted to fuck Helena before he returned to America which is a rather inspired realization) but he was burdened with familial responsibility and the ever present need to (even after glowing sexual fireworks) go back to America and be a good son to protect his sisters. He didn’t change all that much from start to finish, but I still enjoyed him.
However, I would’ve enjoyed him SO much more if he would’ve gotten out of the Crenshaw Iron shadow at the beginning of the book. The whole reason for the fake engagement (surprise fake engagement!) was to appease ol daddio and Crenshaw Iron. A daddio in which I was firmly against appeasing. He was such a pain in the ass and I wanted him GONE. His threat against August just wasn’t that great to me and I didn’t really care about it. (Especially when he tried to tell Helena that August’s hurt feelings would be worse than mothers and children not having warm beds in the city. Like sorry, rich August will be a-okay with her hot and large husband. She also deserved to be told!! She never was I don’t think.)
In my opinion, the father got too much of a fairytale-ending treatment. I wanted a Shrek type of fairytale where he gets eaten by a dragon or smooshed by a giant prop turret. I just didn’t buy ANY of his remorseful act because all his “reckoning” happened off the page. Like he’s nice to his family now but how about the workers? I’m even less convinced of that because the majority of the book was trashing him (and rightfully so).
The Iron company and its “legacy” just bogged the story down. I totally understood Helena’s reservations about getting into a relationship with Max and I didn’t need his whole daddy issues, heir to a mega million company woes plot. There could’ve been more time devoted to growing as characters and investing time in Helena’s charity.
I enjoyed this book a lot but I’m like super excited for book four bc we can finally get out from the annoying shadow of Crenshaw Iron. I think it lacked the final factor that would’ve made me risk it all for the two main characters and to get emotional, but I still had a very good time with their story and read the book super quickly because I was hooked! The fake engagement was fun (but I did feel a bit cheated out of their road-trip) and I was happy with their ending.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5 🌶🌶🌶.5*/5
*It could’ve used one more scene to bump it up a notch and/or to dive further into the pain play because the scenes here were hot! but left me wanting more from them. A good masturbation they’re-both-doing-it-on-the-same-night-but-different-houses-unaware-of-the-other-one scene would’ve been great too.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️.25/5
________
✨I’m just gonna start it off with a bang here and work backwards because what do we want? Sex! When do we want it? Now! Or preferably at around 50% of the book and multiple times after.✨
Sex Scenes for the Soul:
- “Tell me you need me.” His voice was a trembling growl that vibrated across her already raw nerve endings. “My God, yes. I need you inside me.” His breath rushed past her ear. “You’re such a good girl, Helena. You do everything I ask of you.” And then he was there, his hard length buried inside her to the hilt from behind. (📣I’ll take one of him please📣)
- “Has no one ever kissed you between your pretty thighs, Helena?” (Has no one ever said your words are hot and pretty and beautiful, Maxwell?)
- “I want you inside me.” She pressed harder with her palm, working up and down his length from root to tip in an imitation of a massage. He let out another shaky breath. (I love scenes like this! Bring him to his knees! Big men fall hard! Kick him in the groin with love!)
- There was something profoundly erotic about him being clothed while she was nude and lying beneath him as he used her for his pleasure. (Yup. This tracks.)
I liked his beard and the hint at rough play (but it never really got rough) as they realize she likes his dominance. And there were definitely still the “pretty thighs” and “good girl” type of vibes that are always immaculate and it gave Max an edge in the bedroom that I think street Max needed. One minute he’s cleaning her up and the next minute he’s making her come again and then he’s cuddling her like a teddy bear with his leg draped over her body and then he’s waking her up and taking her from behind and I just think that’s very gorgeous gorgeous of him. I did also love that he was crude when he was drunk because I always love a good lost-filter drunk scene. That’s my chicken soup for the soul.
I’m a simple gal and just want the simple things in life: romance books that fuck (bonus points for many different positions, missionary is fun but I’m not religious.). I was so happy to see that her books still have sex in them! Because I swear we’re having a where’s Waldo (dildo?) moment of “wait wait where’s the sex?” in so many recent books and even the traditionally published genre as a whole. Especially when other books in the SAME series are explicit. So I’m so so so happy to report you can definitely expect steam here.
I’m always one for a starchy hero with a very horny monster, sexy beast hybrid deal living under the flashing eyes and clenched jaws. Max wasn’t too starchy (I mean the guy realized he wanted to fuck Helena before he returned to America which is a rather inspired realization) but he was burdened with familial responsibility and the ever present need to (even after glowing sexual fireworks) go back to America and be a good son to protect his sisters. He didn’t change all that much from start to finish, but I still enjoyed him.
However, I would’ve enjoyed him SO much more if he would’ve gotten out of the Crenshaw Iron shadow at the beginning of the book. The whole reason for the fake engagement (surprise fake engagement!) was to appease ol daddio and Crenshaw Iron. A daddio in which I was firmly against appeasing. He was such a pain in the ass and I wanted him GONE. His threat against August just wasn’t that great to me and I didn’t really care about it. (Especially when he tried to tell Helena that August’s hurt feelings would be worse than mothers and children not having warm beds in the city. Like sorry, rich August will be a-okay with her hot and large husband. She also deserved to be told!! She never was I don’t think.)
In my opinion, the father got too much of a fairytale-ending treatment. I wanted a Shrek type of fairytale where he gets eaten by a dragon or smooshed by a giant prop turret. I just didn’t buy ANY of his remorseful act because all his “reckoning” happened off the page. Like he’s nice to his family now but how about the workers? I’m even less convinced of that because the majority of the book was trashing him (and rightfully so).
The Iron company and its “legacy” just bogged the story down. I totally understood Helena’s reservations about getting into a relationship with Max and I didn’t need his whole daddy issues, heir to a mega million company woes plot. There could’ve been more time devoted to growing as characters and investing time in Helena’s charity.
I enjoyed this book a lot but I’m like super excited for book four bc we can finally get out from the annoying shadow of Crenshaw Iron. I think it lacked the final factor that would’ve made me risk it all for the two main characters and to get emotional, but I still had a very good time with their story and read the book super quickly because I was hooked! The fake engagement was fun (but I did feel a bit cheated out of their road-trip) and I was happy with their ending.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5 🌶🌶🌶.5*/5
*It could’ve used one more scene to bump it up a notch and/or to dive further into the pain play because the scenes here were hot! but left me wanting more from them. A good masturbation they’re-both-doing-it-on-the-same-night-but-different-houses-unaware-of-the-other-one scene would’ve been great too.
March 22, 2022
TW infertility
UMMM THIS WAS PERFECTION!!! We have fake dating and mutual pining and I was obsessed. I loved both Max's and Helena's reason for needing a fake fiancé and I loved their chemistry. They had some history from when they both went after Max's sister in the previous book and they haven't stopped thinking of each other. I enjoyed how Helena was actually friends with Max's sister and was often around his family. Helena was such a strong character and I appreciated how she had her own passions in helping single moms and struggling women in society. Max and Helena got along so well and I just loved them so much. Helena, though, is hesitant to start something real because she knows from her last marriage that she's infertile and she saw how that had affected her late husband and strained their relationship. My heart went out to Helena and I just wanted her to find happiness with Max. This was SUCH a good historical romance and definitely a new favorite of the year!
UMMM THIS WAS PERFECTION!!! We have fake dating and mutual pining and I was obsessed. I loved both Max's and Helena's reason for needing a fake fiancé and I loved their chemistry. They had some history from when they both went after Max's sister in the previous book and they haven't stopped thinking of each other. I enjoyed how Helena was actually friends with Max's sister and was often around his family. Helena was such a strong character and I appreciated how she had her own passions in helping single moms and struggling women in society. Max and Helena got along so well and I just loved them so much. Helena, though, is hesitant to start something real because she knows from her last marriage that she's infertile and she saw how that had affected her late husband and strained their relationship. My heart went out to Helena and I just wanted her to find happiness with Max. This was SUCH a good historical romance and definitely a new favorite of the year!
January 21, 2022
*Thank you to NetGalley and the author for a ARC of this book*
Harper St. George brings us the 3rd entry in the Gilded Age Heiresses and it's the one I have been eagerly anticipating. Maxwell Crenshaw, the brash and bold American Heir and Lady Helena March, the quite and strong widow with a cause no one else believes in.
I loved when I saw these two interact in the previous novel and I was so curious about how they would get together. Max has a life in America and even though his family has him back across the ocean every other month, he is very much committed to his life there. But when his good old dad lays down ANOTHER ultimatum that could hurt his sister, he hatches a plan. A plan involving a fake courtship and engagement with a certain Lady.
Helena is skeptical of this plan, as it has serious potential to do more harm than good to her reputation, a reputation she wouldn't give to figs about if it didn't effect her work with The London Home for Young Women. She can't deny that she is attracted to Max, and being by his side at events and for secret meetings wouldn't be a hardship. However, the attraction between them is something that they are both aware could cause them to go up in flames and leave them both unhappy in the end.
There was SO much that I loved about this. Helena and Max were such a good match and I liked that neither one of them was denying their pull towards each other, although Helena is very wary of it. She has a secret that would make marrying the Heir ta a fortune almost impossible and she doesn't want to put Max in that position. She was bold and sweet and feisty about a her cause, in a way that was reasonable and true, in my opinion. She was progressive without being preachy and she was willing to educate Max when he was being obtuse without being a shrieking harpy, in a way some feminist Historicals have done in recent years.
Then there was Max. Oh boy, do I just adore him. I loved him from the first time he was on the page in book 1, and I have been salivating to get his story. He was not a perfect character, and he is kind of dense when it comes to some matters of the Home for Young Women, but he WAS willing to learn from Helena and see what the passions of her heart were. He was the BEST of big brothers and a swoony fake fiancé. He was charming and brash and he stood up to his father. I adore him and he will be a book boyfriend for many years to come.
Anyway, this review has rambled on but I am so happy to say that this is a wonderful story and a great romance and I hope you will give it a try.
5/5 stars
TW: Infertility
Harper St. George brings us the 3rd entry in the Gilded Age Heiresses and it's the one I have been eagerly anticipating. Maxwell Crenshaw, the brash and bold American Heir and Lady Helena March, the quite and strong widow with a cause no one else believes in.
I loved when I saw these two interact in the previous novel and I was so curious about how they would get together. Max has a life in America and even though his family has him back across the ocean every other month, he is very much committed to his life there. But when his good old dad lays down ANOTHER ultimatum that could hurt his sister, he hatches a plan. A plan involving a fake courtship and engagement with a certain Lady.
Helena is skeptical of this plan, as it has serious potential to do more harm than good to her reputation, a reputation she wouldn't give to figs about if it didn't effect her work with The London Home for Young Women. She can't deny that she is attracted to Max, and being by his side at events and for secret meetings wouldn't be a hardship. However, the attraction between them is something that they are both aware could cause them to go up in flames and leave them both unhappy in the end.
There was SO much that I loved about this. Helena and Max were such a good match and I liked that neither one of them was denying their pull towards each other, although Helena is very wary of it. She has a secret that would make marrying the Heir ta a fortune almost impossible and she doesn't want to put Max in that position. She was bold and sweet and feisty about a her cause, in a way that was reasonable and true, in my opinion. She was progressive without being preachy and she was willing to educate Max when he was being obtuse without being a shrieking harpy, in a way some feminist Historicals have done in recent years.
Then there was Max. Oh boy, do I just adore him. I loved him from the first time he was on the page in book 1, and I have been salivating to get his story. He was not a perfect character, and he is kind of dense when it comes to some matters of the Home for Young Women, but he WAS willing to learn from Helena and see what the passions of her heart were. He was the BEST of big brothers and a swoony fake fiancé. He was charming and brash and he stood up to his father. I adore him and he will be a book boyfriend for many years to come.
Anyway, this review has rambled on but I am so happy to say that this is a wonderful story and a great romance and I hope you will give it a try.
5/5 stars
TW: Infertility
February 19, 2022
American Maxwell Crenshall returns to London at the news that his father is ill. He finds him recovering and determined to force Max into a marriage by Christmas in order to secure a heir for Crenshaw Iron. Max has no intention of marrying even though every woman in London would love to hook him, but his father plays the one card that will convince him otherwise. The elder Crenshaw threatens to withdraw funding for a project Max's sister August is involved in if he doesn't choose a bride soon. He can't allow his sister to be hurt so he hatches a plan for a fake engagement with the one woman he's never forgotten - Widow Lady Helena March. Helena is skeptical but she agrees to go along with the charade in order to secure funding for a project near and dear to her heart - the London Home for Young Women which houses and secures jobs for the "fallen" women that society turned their back on. Both Maxwell and Helena will gain what they want from a fake engagement and then go their separate ways, right?
Oh, I do love a good fake engagement story, and The Lady Tempts An Heir is perfect! Readers who have followed the series are aware of the chemistry exploding between Maxwell and Helena from the previous book. Harper St. George has upped the odds in this book and the result is a sinfully sexy story that also dives deeply into gender roles and social class prejudices of the time period. Helena is the perfect heroine to buck societal expectations as she crosses barriers and spurns expectations. She is feisty, strong and on a mission to provide a better life for the women of the home in spite of society's scorn. She's also carrying a dark secret that delegates her to life as a single woman no matter how much she may wish otherwise. Maxwell is a dashing, bold if somewhat brooding hero with a kind heart and strong determination to make it on his own. The clash, bump and grind between these two makes for a deliciously sinful story with a whole lot of heart! I highly recommend it to fans of historical romance and fake relationship tropes as well as to any reader who loves a good romance with a lot of meat on the bones.
*Special thanks to Berkley Publ. for an arc of this book.
**Reviewed at Cross My Heart Reviews
***Blog Tour Stop - March 14
Oh, I do love a good fake engagement story, and The Lady Tempts An Heir is perfect! Readers who have followed the series are aware of the chemistry exploding between Maxwell and Helena from the previous book. Harper St. George has upped the odds in this book and the result is a sinfully sexy story that also dives deeply into gender roles and social class prejudices of the time period. Helena is the perfect heroine to buck societal expectations as she crosses barriers and spurns expectations. She is feisty, strong and on a mission to provide a better life for the women of the home in spite of society's scorn. She's also carrying a dark secret that delegates her to life as a single woman no matter how much she may wish otherwise. Maxwell is a dashing, bold if somewhat brooding hero with a kind heart and strong determination to make it on his own. The clash, bump and grind between these two makes for a deliciously sinful story with a whole lot of heart! I highly recommend it to fans of historical romance and fake relationship tropes as well as to any reader who loves a good romance with a lot of meat on the bones.
*Special thanks to Berkley Publ. for an arc of this book.
**Reviewed at Cross My Heart Reviews
***Blog Tour Stop - March 14
January 2, 2022
The third installment in the Crenshaw family. This time we follow Max Crenshaw, heir to Crenshaw Iron. Max's father has decided it is time Max choose a wife, settle down, and get ready to produce some heirs to keep the family business going. Unless Max finds a bride by Christmas his father will cut off August's (his sister from book 1) plans and hard work for a new foundry in London.
Not willing to cave to his father's demands entirely, but also wanting to spare his sister pain, Max decides to form an engagement ruse with Lady Helena, a gorgeous widow he can't stop thinking about.
Sparks and chemistry have already been simmering between these two for some time, but will this fake engagement be the thing that finally brings them together, or tear them apart forever because of a painful secret Helena is keeping?
I truly loved this book. Max is a delicious hero who is the perfect alphamellow, respecting Helena and supporting and caring for her while dominating her in other ways.
I loved how emotional this book was, it deals with heavy topics like infertility, illness, and death, but the overall story was one of hope and love and I found it so incredibly satisfying. Also the ending was the closure I needed after three books of these nearly insufferable parents!
Really loved this one. Passionate, romantic, and deeply emotional. My favorite in the series so far.
I was provided an ARC in exchange for my honest review
Not willing to cave to his father's demands entirely, but also wanting to spare his sister pain, Max decides to form an engagement ruse with Lady Helena, a gorgeous widow he can't stop thinking about.
Sparks and chemistry have already been simmering between these two for some time, but will this fake engagement be the thing that finally brings them together, or tear them apart forever because of a painful secret Helena is keeping?
I truly loved this book. Max is a delicious hero who is the perfect alphamellow, respecting Helena and supporting and caring for her while dominating her in other ways.
I loved how emotional this book was, it deals with heavy topics like infertility, illness, and death, but the overall story was one of hope and love and I found it so incredibly satisfying. Also the ending was the closure I needed after three books of these nearly insufferable parents!
Really loved this one. Passionate, romantic, and deeply emotional. My favorite in the series so far.
I was provided an ARC in exchange for my honest review
March 1, 2025
2.5 stars
The good news is that this was better than the first book in the series, The Heiress Gets a Duke. The bad news is that it’s still not very good. In fact, it was so boring that I’ll probably bore myself trying to write this review.
Maxwell, wealthy American scion of an iron empire, had met Lady Helena the previous summer when they teamed up to rescue his sister from a marriage her parents were forcing into with a titled British aristocrat. Apparently they were attracted to each other at the time, but it happened off page so (shrug). Now that he’s back in England, Maxwell’s parents want to force him to marry and have little heirs for the iron empire. Maxwell has no intentions of doing so, but decides a fake courtship of Lady Helena will keep his parents off his back. The rest of the book is all about this:
So what if there was mutual attraction between them? It couldn’t lead to anything.
Over and over and over, that concept circles the drain, interspersed withpreaching commentary about social issues such as unwed mothers and working conditions for laborers, long, loooong internal monologues and descriptions, and short conversations that still managed to bore because the author preferred to tell us what was said instead of writing dialogue.
As a reader reward for persisting, the conclusion featured the ever-popular plot device of the heroine deciding what the hero really wanted instead of what he told her he wanted, and the other ever-popular plot device of “I must hurt you to save you.”
What did I like? The clothes were fabulous. And I suppose someone needed to concern themselves with the plight of unwed mothers and the working conditions of laborers.
Is it naptime yet?
The good news is that this was better than the first book in the series, The Heiress Gets a Duke. The bad news is that it’s still not very good. In fact, it was so boring that I’ll probably bore myself trying to write this review.
Maxwell, wealthy American scion of an iron empire, had met Lady Helena the previous summer when they teamed up to rescue his sister from a marriage her parents were forcing into with a titled British aristocrat. Apparently they were attracted to each other at the time, but it happened off page so (shrug). Now that he’s back in England, Maxwell’s parents want to force him to marry and have little heirs for the iron empire. Maxwell has no intentions of doing so, but decides a fake courtship of Lady Helena will keep his parents off his back. The rest of the book is all about this:
So what if there was mutual attraction between them? It couldn’t lead to anything.
Over and over and over, that concept circles the drain, interspersed with
As a reader reward for persisting, the conclusion featured the ever-popular plot device of the heroine deciding what the hero really wanted instead of what he told her he wanted, and the other ever-popular plot device of “I must hurt you to save you.”
What did I like? The clothes were fabulous. And I suppose someone needed to concern themselves with the plight of unwed mothers and the working conditions of laborers.
Is it naptime yet?
June 5, 2022
2.5 stars
Content warning: infertility , marital rape
The prologue is a scene from the previous book. In the previous book, that scene was told from Max’s POV whereas in this book, the scene is told from Helena’s POV, so I thought that was nice, to get both POVs. This is the third book in the series and I think the book could be read as a standalone but I also think it would make for a better read if you had at least read the second book before this one since this book does reference an event (Max’s sister Violet running away) from the second book a few times that could distract the reader from fully enjoying this book.
The first 20% was uninteresting to me because most of it was spent on Max’s father’s ultimatum to Max, the Crenshaw business, and Helena’s charity for the orphans and single mothers. I think it’s great that these two have a passion and purpose in life but I was impatient to see them together and their romance blossom. Their business and charity is major plot line so they’re not just mentioned in the first 20% of the book. 😩
I didn’t read the blurb immediately before jumping into this book. That’s why I was surprised the book had the fake courtship and fake betrothal trope. I have read the blurb a few times before but had forgotten about the fake betrothal part. 😅 I’ve been reading so many blurbs that they started to blend together. See, I thought this book was going to be an enemies to lovers book. In a way, it was, since Max and Helena didn’t get along in book 2, but as soon as Max thought of the fake courtship/betrothal plan, the two of them were able to put aside their differences and work together for their own benefits.
All was going well with their plan until they encountered a conflict with their business and charity. I was on the edge of my seat during the scene. Who was going to win or forfeit the bid? What’s going to happen to their fake courtship now? But all of that was
The last 20% was underwhelming.
Sadly, this book is the weakest in the series (in my opinion). After enjoying the first two books, I went in with high expectations but I ended up being disappointed because this book was just underwhelming. There’s at least one more book in this series. If it is Camille’s book, then I will read it because that woman has deserved a HEA since book 1 of this series!
The steam level? Oh, geez. I can’t even remember! I’ll say, about a 2.5 out of 5??? Lol. Helena does kiss him first! You go, girl! This is why I no longer mind reading HRs with widow heroines, because widows are not always shy, innocent virgins and they oftentimes go for what they want!
Content warning: infertility , marital rape
The prologue is a scene from the previous book. In the previous book, that scene was told from Max’s POV whereas in this book, the scene is told from Helena’s POV, so I thought that was nice, to get both POVs. This is the third book in the series and I think the book could be read as a standalone but I also think it would make for a better read if you had at least read the second book before this one since this book does reference an event (Max’s sister Violet running away) from the second book a few times that could distract the reader from fully enjoying this book.
The first 20% was uninteresting to me because most of it was spent on Max’s father’s ultimatum to Max, the Crenshaw business, and Helena’s charity for the orphans and single mothers. I think it’s great that these two have a passion and purpose in life but I was impatient to see them together and their romance blossom. Their business and charity is major plot line so they’re not just mentioned in the first 20% of the book. 😩
I didn’t read the blurb immediately before jumping into this book. That’s why I was surprised the book had the fake courtship and fake betrothal trope. I have read the blurb a few times before but had forgotten about the fake betrothal part. 😅 I’ve been reading so many blurbs that they started to blend together. See, I thought this book was going to be an enemies to lovers book. In a way, it was, since Max and Helena didn’t get along in book 2, but as soon as Max thought of the fake courtship/betrothal plan, the two of them were able to put aside their differences and work together for their own benefits.
All was going well with their plan until they encountered a conflict with their business and charity. I was on the edge of my seat during the scene. Who was going to win or forfeit the bid? What’s going to happen to their fake courtship now? But all of that was
The last 20% was underwhelming.
Sadly, this book is the weakest in the series (in my opinion). After enjoying the first two books, I went in with high expectations but I ended up being disappointed because this book was just underwhelming. There’s at least one more book in this series. If it is Camille’s book, then I will read it because that woman has deserved a HEA since book 1 of this series!
The steam level? Oh, geez. I can’t even remember! I’ll say, about a 2.5 out of 5??? Lol. Helena does kiss him first! You go, girl! This is why I no longer mind reading HRs with widow heroines, because widows are not always shy, innocent virgins and they oftentimes go for what they want!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 22, 2022
A health crisis has not stopped American Industrialist Maxwell Crenshaw's father from trying to marry off his children. He wants Max to wed and secure the family legacy as soon as possible! But Max cannot forget the beautiful widow, Lady Helena March, who is dealing with parental pressure of her own. When Max suggests a fake engagement to save them both, Helena finds herself too fascinated to refuse.
This is the third book in the The Gilded Age Heiresses series, which has focused on three American siblings in London. It can stand alone, but I recommend reading in series order. All the stories are excellent, and they lay out the meddling of the Crenshaw siblings' father.
Maxwell Crenshaw and widowed Lady Helena March have met before. This time, Max is back in London to check on his ailing father. But Papa Crenshaw is once again up to his matrimonial scheming! He threatens to pull a business pet project away from Max's sister, August, if Max does not find a bride. Helena's father is also pushing for her to remarry. She has her own aspirations, pouring her energy into a home for unmarried woman. But her charity is struggling to find donors because the home doesn't turn away fallen women and their illegitimate children. Entering into a sham betrothal seems like the perfect solution to both of their problems, but of course things don't do as expected.
While Max and Helena know how to push each other's buttons, there's a wonderful kinship and chemistry that develop. Despite being raised in different countries and with different social constraints, they both have an empathy for others...Max for his company's workers and the families they support, and Helena for the women who often have no control over their futures. They begin to fall for each other, but both are cognizant that the other lives across an ocean and has their own commitments. This is one area that was a large obstacle in the story but was perhaps glossed over a bit in the HEA. I can let it go though, because the storytelling from St George is always so engaging. (4.5 stars rounded to 5)
Tropes: Class Difference, Fake Relationship, Widow, Sister's Best Friend/Best Friend's Brother
Steam Rating: 2
Trigger Warning: Infertility
* I received and ARC and this is my honest review. #TheLadyTemptsTheHeir #NetGalley
This is the third book in the The Gilded Age Heiresses series, which has focused on three American siblings in London. It can stand alone, but I recommend reading in series order. All the stories are excellent, and they lay out the meddling of the Crenshaw siblings' father.
Maxwell Crenshaw and widowed Lady Helena March have met before. This time, Max is back in London to check on his ailing father. But Papa Crenshaw is once again up to his matrimonial scheming! He threatens to pull a business pet project away from Max's sister, August, if Max does not find a bride. Helena's father is also pushing for her to remarry. She has her own aspirations, pouring her energy into a home for unmarried woman. But her charity is struggling to find donors because the home doesn't turn away fallen women and their illegitimate children. Entering into a sham betrothal seems like the perfect solution to both of their problems, but of course things don't do as expected.
While Max and Helena know how to push each other's buttons, there's a wonderful kinship and chemistry that develop. Despite being raised in different countries and with different social constraints, they both have an empathy for others...Max for his company's workers and the families they support, and Helena for the women who often have no control over their futures. They begin to fall for each other, but both are cognizant that the other lives across an ocean and has their own commitments. This is one area that was a large obstacle in the story but was perhaps glossed over a bit in the HEA. I can let it go though, because the storytelling from St George is always so engaging. (4.5 stars rounded to 5)
Tropes: Class Difference, Fake Relationship, Widow, Sister's Best Friend/Best Friend's Brother
Steam Rating: 2
Trigger Warning: Infertility
* I received and ARC and this is my honest review. #TheLadyTemptsTheHeir #NetGalley
March 1, 2022
A very fun book featuring a fake engagement between two very hot characters who have the hots for each other. Is it any surprise that their fake relationship might start to feel real? This book features rich characters with highly-developed senses of noblesse oblige (the best kind of rich characters, obvs) whose only real beef with each other is HOW exactly to help those less fortunate. Is it through fair labor standards applied to your company employees? Is it through charities to help unwed mothers find work that allows them to stay with their children? Honestly either way sounds good to us.
Possible spoilers: We especially liked the handling of Helena's infertility. Like many historical romances, The Lady Tempts an Heir includes a character's infertility as a relationship obstacle. Both characters' reactions felt authentic when considering whether their love for each other was enough to balance out a future without children. In addition, the solution August proposes and Helena embraces made us cheer. It was unexpected, practical, and perfect for the characters.
32-Word Summaries:
Laine: The Crenshaws are the worst parents in history, so they're forcing their son to marry or they'll hurt their daughter. Luckily, he's already crushing on a woman who needs a man's ... strength.
Meg: Max is crushing on Helena, and she’s crushing on him back… but she has Reasons she won’t get married again. Obvious solution for mutual crushes that must remain unrequited? A fake engagement.
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.
Possible spoilers: We especially liked the handling of Helena's infertility. Like many historical romances, The Lady Tempts an Heir includes a character's infertility as a relationship obstacle. Both characters' reactions felt authentic when considering whether their love for each other was enough to balance out a future without children. In addition, the solution August proposes and Helena embraces made us cheer. It was unexpected, practical, and perfect for the characters.
32-Word Summaries:
Laine: The Crenshaws are the worst parents in history, so they're forcing their son to marry or they'll hurt their daughter. Luckily, he's already crushing on a woman who needs a man's ... strength.
Meg: Max is crushing on Helena, and she’s crushing on him back… but she has Reasons she won’t get married again. Obvious solution for mutual crushes that must remain unrequited? A fake engagement.
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.
February 2, 2022
A health crisis has not stopped American Industrialist Maxwell Crenshaw's father from trying to marry off his children. He wants Max to wed and secure the family legacy as soon as possible! But Max cannot forget the beautiful widow, Lady Helena March, who is dealing with parental pressure of her own. When Max suggests a fake engagement to save them both, Helena finds herself too fascinated to refuse.
This is the third book in the The Gilded Age Heiresses series, which has focused on three American siblings in London. It can stand alone, but I recommend reading in series order. All the stories are excellent, and they lay out the meddling of the Crenshaw siblings' father.
Maxwell Crenshaw and widowed Lady Helena March have met before. This time, Max is back in London to check on his ailing father. But Papa Crenshaw is once again up to his matrimonial scheming! He threatens to pull a business pet project away from Max's sister, August, if Max does not find a bride. Helena's father is also pushing for her to remarry. She has her own aspirations, pouring her energy into a home for unmarried woman. But her charity is struggling to find donors because the home doesn't turn away fallen women and their illegitimate children. Entering into a sham betrothal seems like the perfect solution to both of their problems, but of course things don't do as expected.
While Max and Helena know how to push each other's buttons, there's a wonderful kinship and chemistry that develop. Despite being raised in different countries and with different social constraints, they both have an empathy for others...Max for his company's workers and the families they support, and Helena for the women who often have no control over their futures. They begin to fall for each other, but both are cognizant that the other lives across an ocean and has their own commitments. This is one area that was a large obstacle in the story but was perhaps glossed over a bit in the HEA. I can let it go though, because the storytelling from St George is always so engaging.
Tropes: Class Difference, Fake Relationship, Widow, Sister's Best Friend/Best Friend's Brother
Steam Rating: 2
Trigger Warning: Infertility
* I received and ARC and this is my honest review. #TheLadyTemptsTheHeir #NetGalley
This is the third book in the The Gilded Age Heiresses series, which has focused on three American siblings in London. It can stand alone, but I recommend reading in series order. All the stories are excellent, and they lay out the meddling of the Crenshaw siblings' father.
Maxwell Crenshaw and widowed Lady Helena March have met before. This time, Max is back in London to check on his ailing father. But Papa Crenshaw is once again up to his matrimonial scheming! He threatens to pull a business pet project away from Max's sister, August, if Max does not find a bride. Helena's father is also pushing for her to remarry. She has her own aspirations, pouring her energy into a home for unmarried woman. But her charity is struggling to find donors because the home doesn't turn away fallen women and their illegitimate children. Entering into a sham betrothal seems like the perfect solution to both of their problems, but of course things don't do as expected.
While Max and Helena know how to push each other's buttons, there's a wonderful kinship and chemistry that develop. Despite being raised in different countries and with different social constraints, they both have an empathy for others...Max for his company's workers and the families they support, and Helena for the women who often have no control over their futures. They begin to fall for each other, but both are cognizant that the other lives across an ocean and has their own commitments. This is one area that was a large obstacle in the story but was perhaps glossed over a bit in the HEA. I can let it go though, because the storytelling from St George is always so engaging.
Tropes: Class Difference, Fake Relationship, Widow, Sister's Best Friend/Best Friend's Brother
Steam Rating: 2
Trigger Warning: Infertility
* I received and ARC and this is my honest review. #TheLadyTemptsTheHeir #NetGalley
February 9, 2022
3.5⭐️
Thank you so much to Berkley and Netgalley for providing an e-arc of this. All thoughts and opinions are still my own.
I was so excited for this addition of this series!! I adored Max in the previous books and was so excited to his HEA with Helena.
This book took me awhile to get on board. This book somewhat relies on the fact that the main characters had chemistry and history in during the plot of book 2. And because of that I struggled to connect to buy into their romance. But this got me in the end and I was invested!
This story, like the previous ones, had so many amazing themes. It discusses gender roles, the working class, and the way the upper class treated everyone around them. It was so difficult to read at times because of how terribly people were talked about and treated. But I loved that the author addressed some of these darker topics about this time period.
This is mildly spoilery but I still want to mention it -
Overall this was a lovely addition to the series. And I'm so glad we're getting a spinoff(?) about Camille! I absolutely cannot wait for more historical romances from this author!!
Thank you so much to Berkley and Netgalley for providing an e-arc of this. All thoughts and opinions are still my own.
I was so excited for this addition of this series!! I adored Max in the previous books and was so excited to his HEA with Helena.
This book took me awhile to get on board. This book somewhat relies on the fact that the main characters had chemistry and history in during the plot of book 2. And because of that I struggled to connect to buy into their romance. But this got me in the end and I was invested!
This story, like the previous ones, had so many amazing themes. It discusses gender roles, the working class, and the way the upper class treated everyone around them. It was so difficult to read at times because of how terribly people were talked about and treated. But I loved that the author addressed some of these darker topics about this time period.
This is mildly spoilery but I still want to mention it -
Overall this was a lovely addition to the series. And I'm so glad we're getting a spinoff(?) about Camille! I absolutely cannot wait for more historical romances from this author!!
March 26, 2022
Okay, well, I was elected my union president in January and I've spent the last six months or so of my life negotiated our latest contract (we're all ratified now!), so a minor thread about the threat of a strike/organization MIGHT have affected my rating a bit, haha.
This is also one I read in bits and pieces and so the question is . . . would I have liked it more if I read it more quickly? Or would I have read it more quickly if I liked it more?
This is also one I read in bits and pieces and so the question is . . . would I have liked it more if I read it more quickly? Or would I have read it more quickly if I liked it more?
August 30, 2025
I enjoyed the first two books in this series, but this one felt boring to me. I even decided to DNF it, though I ended up picking it back up after a few days. Initially, I thought I’d like the widowed and independent Helena, but as the romance progressed, she lost her appeal, especially when she couldn’t be honest with Maxwell about why she felt they couldn’t be together.
Helena’s work at the women’s home added a mildly interesting side plot, but I found the couple’s numerous conflicts exhausting, as they could have been resolved with just a bit of honest communication.
I also had mixed feelings about Maxwell. I wanted him to be so much more—a true romantic hero with rugged American charm—but he just didn’t do it for me. He felt pretty basic.
Despite my issues with both Helena and Max, the romance was undeniably steamy, which was a plus. I appreciated that Helena wasn’t timid in bed, but her brand of angst wasn’t my favorite. Ultimately, it wasn’t enough to make up for the problems I had with this book and the way the author told the story instead of letting me experience it.
Helena’s work at the women’s home added a mildly interesting side plot, but I found the couple’s numerous conflicts exhausting, as they could have been resolved with just a bit of honest communication.
I also had mixed feelings about Maxwell. I wanted him to be so much more—a true romantic hero with rugged American charm—but he just didn’t do it for me. He felt pretty basic.
Despite my issues with both Helena and Max, the romance was undeniably steamy, which was a plus. I appreciated that Helena wasn’t timid in bed, but her brand of angst wasn’t my favorite. Ultimately, it wasn’t enough to make up for the problems I had with this book and the way the author told the story instead of letting me experience it.
February 22, 2025
so far my favorite in this series!!
March 15, 2022
Title: The Lady Tempts an Heir
Series: The Gilded Age Heiresses #3
Author: Harper St. George
Release date: February 22, 2022
Cliffhanger: no
Genre: historical romance
This is the third book in the Gilded Age Heiresses series by Harper St. George and another success for this reader. I've been enjoying each installment very much. This book centers around Maxwell Crenshaw, brother to the first two heroines, August and Violet. I was looking forward to learning more about Max as I felt that he was a bit of a mystery in the previous stories. There wasn't much development around his character and he was very much in the background as a secondary character. In The Lady Tempts an Heir he's truly brought to life and becomes an honorable hero to really root for.
Once again, we have the Crenshaw parents meddling in their children's lives by forcing the last remaining single sibling to marry. To be honest, this was my only complaint and reasoning for taking off a star when choosing a rating. The theme is reoccurring in every single book and when that happens it tends to get a little stale. Yes, there were some variations to the attempt at forced marriages, but essentially we're reading the same thing. The parents are absolutely despicable and selfishly controlling. They don't go through any sort of redemption arc or grow from what transpires after the first two marriages. They manipulate their kids into marrying nobility for their own selfish gains, get what they want, and then repeat, despite the pain and suffering they cause along the way. It seems to me that the three siblings are very forgiving towards them, and I have to say that I didn't feel any sympathy at all for the father who developed a heart condition in this book and feared for his life. Maybe that sounds a little heartless, but it was hard to mete out any forgiveness when he put his social rank above his three children's freedom and happiness.
Max Crenshaw is the loyal and honorable prodigal son. He is following in his father's footsteps, learning the business at Crenshaw Iron in order to eventually run the company. While he is more than capable of taking over from his father, they have completely opposite values and managing styles when it comes to business. His father is a dictator and doesn't care about his workers' welfare or living conditions. Max is constantly butting heads with him because unlike his father, he believed an organization is the sum of its parts and that success isn't due to one sole person at the top. Another admirable trait was his loyalty to his family. When it came to his sisters, he jumped to defend them at every opportunity and fought for their happiness and well being. His father's sexist attitude toward August's contribution in the company is a constant battle that he's willing to fight for her. He sees the value in her work and he genuinely cares about the projects she initiates for the company. When his father uses that loyalty against him to attempt to entrap him in marriage, that was the final nail in his coffin for me. He threatens to sink August's business plan if Max doesn't get married by the end of the season.
Lady Helena March is a close friend of Max's two sisters. He encountered her in previous books, and there was an attraction there, but he forced himself to put it out of his mind. He had no time at the present to entertain thoughts of marriage, even though he felt oddly drawn to her. When they see each other again, there is an instantaneous reaction between them, and his respect for her only grows as he sees her efforts towards setting up a home to assist unwed mothers. Rather than turn his nose up at her charity for "fallen" women like most in their social echelon, he sees the value in her work and the generosity in her heart. You have to love his willingness to not only confront the snobbery that surrounds them, but his desire to help her achieve her goal. His plan for a fake engagement will assist both of them: he will get some breathing room from his father's threats and she will get the respect needed from her family and society in order to get financial backing for The London Home for Young Women. What could go wrong?
What started out as a fabrication started to feel more real by the day. As their respect, admiration, and passion grew, the line blurred between fiction and reality. However, even as they wished they could make their engagement into a true marriage, they didn't see how they could overcome their lives firmly settled on separate shores. She could never move to America where Crenshaw Iron was based when her own dreams were on the verge of being attained in England. Would they find a way to bridge the gap? There was another major roadblock between them, but that was quickly resolved because of Max's unconditional love and acceptance of Helena. Once he made up his mind that he had to have her, nothing was going to stand in his way.
His eyes met hers, and it was almost like a physical touch. He meant what he said, and she felt the same sense of belonging she had felt the night of the music performance. It was the both of them together against all the rest.
I really enjoyed reading Max and Helena's story. It was a pretty straightforward story with no excessive drama. They had a ton of chemistry and sweetness between them to enjoy. Helena got the partner that she so greatly deserved after suffering through the heartache of her first marriage. I highly recommend this series if you're looking for historical romances with strong, independent female leads. That seems to be a staple in Harper St. George's stories, and I for one, will keep coming back for more as long as she is producing them.
FOLLOW SMOKIN HOT BOOK BLOG ON:
February 22, 2022
Barbara’s rating: 4 of 5 Stars
Series: The Gilded Age Heiresses #3
Publication Date: 2/22/22
Period: Victorian London
Number of Pages: 336
American Maxwell (Max) Crenshaw has certainly gotten his travel miles in over the last year or so. His very rich, manipulative, overbearing, social-climbing parents have taken his two sisters to England to force them into marriages with aristocrats. So far, that has been successful because they have bought a duke and an earl for husbands. Luckily for his sisters, those were also love matches. Max made the trek across the ocean both times to try to save a sister – only to fail. Now, he’s back in London again because his father is very ill. However, when Max arrives, he learns his father may be ill, but he is still manipulating his children’s lives. The latest target is Max himself – and unfortunately, his father knows Max’s weak spot is his sister Autumn. Being a very canny and smart man himself, Max will figure out a way to thwart his father and still not hurt his sister.
Widowed Lady Helena March is a perfect lady, but she is refusing her father’s demand that she should marry again. Helena likes her life as it is and she spends all of her time working for her charity. Unfortunately, that charity has the ability to sully Helena’s pristine reputation because one of the groups they help is unwed mothers. Even a remote association with that group could harm her reputation and Helena is very directly involved. When her father’s insistence she marries again turns to him actually working against her charity if she doesn’t marry, she knows she has to do something or lose the charity.
Helena and Max have met before because she has befriended his sisters and even helped him save Violet from ruin during his last trip. So, it was quite natural for the two of them to team up to thwart their parents. It would strictly be a business arrangement where each obtained their goals and then parted ways. After all, he lives in New York and she lives in London and neither has any desire to relocate. Can they keep it strictly business? There is the problem of that electric tingle they both feel when they are close. But – nothing could come of that with an ocean between them.
There are certainly many ups and downs – including manipulative parents – but Max and Helena still manage to fall in love. But then, there is still that ocean thing. Can they overcome that? You’ll just have to read this lovely book to find out. As always with this author, the story is nicely paced and well-written. The characters are all very likable and well developed – and the best part is seeing the parents being dealt with. I can definitely recommend this read.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Series: The Gilded Age Heiresses #3
Publication Date: 2/22/22
Period: Victorian London
Number of Pages: 336
American Maxwell (Max) Crenshaw has certainly gotten his travel miles in over the last year or so. His very rich, manipulative, overbearing, social-climbing parents have taken his two sisters to England to force them into marriages with aristocrats. So far, that has been successful because they have bought a duke and an earl for husbands. Luckily for his sisters, those were also love matches. Max made the trek across the ocean both times to try to save a sister – only to fail. Now, he’s back in London again because his father is very ill. However, when Max arrives, he learns his father may be ill, but he is still manipulating his children’s lives. The latest target is Max himself – and unfortunately, his father knows Max’s weak spot is his sister Autumn. Being a very canny and smart man himself, Max will figure out a way to thwart his father and still not hurt his sister.
Widowed Lady Helena March is a perfect lady, but she is refusing her father’s demand that she should marry again. Helena likes her life as it is and she spends all of her time working for her charity. Unfortunately, that charity has the ability to sully Helena’s pristine reputation because one of the groups they help is unwed mothers. Even a remote association with that group could harm her reputation and Helena is very directly involved. When her father’s insistence she marries again turns to him actually working against her charity if she doesn’t marry, she knows she has to do something or lose the charity.
Helena and Max have met before because she has befriended his sisters and even helped him save Violet from ruin during his last trip. So, it was quite natural for the two of them to team up to thwart their parents. It would strictly be a business arrangement where each obtained their goals and then parted ways. After all, he lives in New York and she lives in London and neither has any desire to relocate. Can they keep it strictly business? There is the problem of that electric tingle they both feel when they are close. But – nothing could come of that with an ocean between them.
There are certainly many ups and downs – including manipulative parents – but Max and Helena still manage to fall in love. But then, there is still that ocean thing. Can they overcome that? You’ll just have to read this lovely book to find out. As always with this author, the story is nicely paced and well-written. The characters are all very likable and well developed – and the best part is seeing the parents being dealt with. I can definitely recommend this read.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
March 12, 2022
Third book in the series which have all been 5 🌟 reads for me. Absolutely love Harper St George's writing. This was another compulsively readable, off the charts sexy, completely absorbing story. Cheeky, confident, caring Maxwell Crenshaw is absolutely my new HAF 🤤🥵 BBF📚 and one of the most lovable HR Heroes I've met. I find this series completely refreshing with an awesome balance of edge, humour, detail and angst in an elegant but unfussy package.
...Can't wait for BOOK 4! 🤩
...Can't wait for BOOK 4! 🤩
July 21, 2022
3.5 stars
A widow with a cause and an independent streak, a man with too many opinions and enough money to get away with it. It's a combo as old as the Regency romance genre, and yet...
Characters: ★★★★
Plot/Pacing: ★★★★
Romance vibes: ★★
Lady Helena March has already been through the song and dance of Society. She had her season, she got married, she was supposed to have heirs and get the traditional ending.
But then her husband died, and Helena discovered she couldn't have children. Now she's a very young widow with too much money, free time, and beauty for the Society ladies to stand for. They want her to be docile again and marry someone else. Helena has other plans.
Maxwell Crenshaw is the wealthy son of the the American Crenshaws, who had their fun exploits in books one and two of this series. Max's older sisters had exciting engagement periods to British men, but Max knows better. He's doing the family business and marriage can wait. But his father has other plans.
When forces conspire to push Helena and Max together, these two make a lot of fuss. But do they really mean it? They seem to be having a pretty good time for two people supposedly "forced" into a situation...
Y'all, this series continues to be one of the few Regency romances that I actively read. They are very plot-filled, all of the side characters are well constructed, and I love how the author relies on the bare minimum of clichés. What can I say, I have a good time!
My only gripe is that I wish that the romance itself got more airtime. With an established set of characters spanning three books and a LOT of family drama, Helena and Max were occasionally lost to the background as we dealt with larger Crenshaw family stuff. As a series fan, I liked that, but for newbie readers that might be a turnoff.
Blog | Instagram
A widow with a cause and an independent streak, a man with too many opinions and enough money to get away with it. It's a combo as old as the Regency romance genre, and yet...
Characters: ★★★★
Plot/Pacing: ★★★★
Romance vibes: ★★
Lady Helena March has already been through the song and dance of Society. She had her season, she got married, she was supposed to have heirs and get the traditional ending.
But then her husband died, and Helena discovered she couldn't have children. Now she's a very young widow with too much money, free time, and beauty for the Society ladies to stand for. They want her to be docile again and marry someone else. Helena has other plans.
Maxwell Crenshaw is the wealthy son of the the American Crenshaws, who had their fun exploits in books one and two of this series. Max's older sisters had exciting engagement periods to British men, but Max knows better. He's doing the family business and marriage can wait. But his father has other plans.
When forces conspire to push Helena and Max together, these two make a lot of fuss. But do they really mean it? They seem to be having a pretty good time for two people supposedly "forced" into a situation...
Y'all, this series continues to be one of the few Regency romances that I actively read. They are very plot-filled, all of the side characters are well constructed, and I love how the author relies on the bare minimum of clichés. What can I say, I have a good time!
My only gripe is that I wish that the romance itself got more airtime. With an established set of characters spanning three books and a LOT of family drama, Helena and Max were occasionally lost to the background as we dealt with larger Crenshaw family stuff. As a series fan, I liked that, but for newbie readers that might be a turnoff.
Blog | Instagram
January 24, 2023
“I disagree with this.” He was forced to step back as she turned to ascend into the carriage.
“I know,” she called back.
“You still want me.”
“I know.” This time she grinned down at him from the safety of the carriage.
ITS TIME. IM FINALLY WRITING THIS REVIEW.
Trigger warnings: Infertility. (No mentions of a miscarriage)
let’s consult the random notes I made at 4 am while reading this-
1. Our heroine wasn’t a blushing virgin. All too often with historical see have young, innocent women that were supposed to root for as they fall head over heels for the most promiscuous rakes. And that gets old really fast. And the few books that do have an older heroine still make them exceedingly naive. SO, IMAGINE MY SURPRISE TO SEE A MATURE WOMAN WHO HAS A FIRM HEAD ON HER SHOULDERS. GASP.
2. Our heroine has some very strong (and very right) opinions that didn’t fly with the crowd back then. People definitely weren’t as accepting of her views as they would’ve been around now. And no matter how much it infuriated her you never see her be condescending. IMAGINE THAT. someone who doesn’t shove their opinions down your throat or step all over you to get what they want. She will call people out but not in a way that makes them feel like shit. I might not be making very much sense but I guess you’ll have to read to find out.
3. FEMINISM.
4. our hero can be slightly dense at times and slow on the uptake when it comes to what she stands for. But you figure out that it’s on purpose. He’s TRYING. and unlike other books where we have the authors project their shitty views onto their characters, here we see both our protagonists with different opinions and we know one of them is clearly in the right and the other one is TRYING. He’s trying to learn and understand. And at times he’s one of the only ones who stands up for her. And never in a way that makes him steal her spotlight. In this house we love a supportive man who isn’t afraid to admit he’s wrong!
5. This book threw in a certain conflict I never would’ve imagined being resolved in a way that was so satisfying! Ah.
6. STEAMY. STEAMMMYYYYYYYYYYY. *Fans myself like a Victorian virgin*
7. This is completely irrelevant but their parents annoyed me to no end. IMAGINE BLACKMAILING YOUR OWN CHILD! RAGEEEEE.
8. AH. AND THE COMMUNICATION. if a bit delayed. I loved it😮💨♥️
9. The ANGST. THE SPRINKLE OF ANGST. WAS SO SATISFYING. THE YEARNING. THE MAN OBSESSED WITH HIS WOMAN. GREEN FLAGS EVERYWHERE. BROUGHT ME TO TEARSSSSS.
10. Our heroine’s infertility being something that kept them apart was so very believable and well handled. It never felt overdone and it was easy to understand their fears (especially given the circumstances) and they both handled it maturely.
11. TL;DR I love this book. I love these characters. I would lay my life down for them. They were so flirty, so devoid of the usual shyness between historical couples. Fuck propriety, they lit my soul on fire.
wishlist
November 16, 2021Blog Tour coming in February 2022!
February 14, 2022
I’ve loved this series from the beginning and couldn’t wait to get to Max and Helena’s story.
I loved both of them from the first time we saw them on the page. They’re both such good, loyal, and loving people and it was delightful reading their fake relationship turn real. Especially after they admitted how much they enjoyed riling each other up with the button pushing. And it’s always fantastic seeing August and Violet and the scenes with all three of them together are great.
Plot wise it was good. There’s a good amount of banter, push and pull, and a few longing filled glances (which is always a favorite). I could have done with a bit more from the epilogue, but I did like the mini futuretake.
Overall, this has been such a fun series and I can’t wait to see what Harper writes next.
**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**
I loved both of them from the first time we saw them on the page. They’re both such good, loyal, and loving people and it was delightful reading their fake relationship turn real. Especially after they admitted how much they enjoyed riling each other up with the button pushing. And it’s always fantastic seeing August and Violet and the scenes with all three of them together are great.
Plot wise it was good. There’s a good amount of banter, push and pull, and a few longing filled glances (which is always a favorite). I could have done with a bit more from the epilogue, but I did like the mini futuretake.
Overall, this has been such a fun series and I can’t wait to see what Harper writes next.
**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**
May 29, 2022
This review was originally posted on Addicted To Romance
This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.
First Impressions
The Lady Tempts an Heir is the first book that I have read from this author, and I know I started this series with the most recent release and I did that on purpose. I did know from other reviews and friends that I trust, that this author writes with more modern overtones but I had heard that this book “The Lady Tempts a Heir” is the best book in the series. So I was eager to try this author out and when I saw it at my local library, I knew I had to grab the audio and especially with one of my favorite narrators for historical romance, I knew that this book would be for me. So I immediately picked this up and I was completely drawn into the story, it has been quite a while since I have been drawn into a setting like this for a historical and I had a fun time with the setup. It does have a mix of Gilded Age and Victorian England feel to the story and I really liked the mixture of elements that the author is able to blend together but also there is such a interesting chemistry that is built between Max and Helena. And their unique arrangement, I was curious to see how it would play out.
Summary
American Maxwell Crenshaw has come to England due to the demand of his father and also due to some health concerns and is having to take over the Crenshaw interests while his father works on his recovery. The last thing that he wants to be is here in England, as he much prefers his home in America. But with his father giving him an ultimatum for marriage, Maxwell knows that his time is running out until he meets the lovely Lady Helena March. Helena, is a widow and embraces her independence and working on building a home for young women to help those with lesser means. There is an instant chemistry between them, and they work on an agreement to have a fake engagement that will suit both of their family’s interests and satisfy their parents demands while allowing them to have the freedom to pursue their individual interests. As Max and Helena work together, the chemistry between them is becoming more heated and something deeper forms between them and now they will have to decide if they are willing to fight for each other no matter what their families may say to the matter…
What I Loved
This story was such a swoony romance and I had such a charming time with this story. I do see why so many readers are gravitating toward this author’s writing. She does have a level of writing that has an elegant classy feel to it and I see the appeal especially if this book is similar to the previous two books in her style of writing. I was really intrigued by the relationship that builds between Helena and Maxwell. Seeing their powerful chemistry build throughout the story was quite delightful and I loved the manner in which the author build the chemistry as it was the chemistry between them that had me wanting to read more of them together. They are both powerful individuals with strong minds of their own, but they are so well matched. I loved the way that the way they are willing to fight for each other. It was such wonderful to see their relationship build and seeing them fight in the end for each other was AMAZING, the ending especially blew me away and it had me in my feelings.
What I Struggled With
There are some modern connections to the terminology used surrounding workhouses and it was the way certain phrases were used that it was super modern terminology and not how they would have talked about it back then. And Modernism can turn me off from an historical as I like a more authentic feel to a historical.
The Narration
Justine Eyre did a brilliant job with this narration, she really capitalized on the personalities of the characters and really added the right flair that was the author’s writing style and blended all the elements so flawlessly together.
Overall View
I found The Lady Tempts An Heir to be a beautiful elegant historical that portrayed such raw emotion and vulnerabilities, it built a sensual chemistry and focused on a well-built story that will satisfy many historical readers!
This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.
First Impressions
The Lady Tempts an Heir is the first book that I have read from this author, and I know I started this series with the most recent release and I did that on purpose. I did know from other reviews and friends that I trust, that this author writes with more modern overtones but I had heard that this book “The Lady Tempts a Heir” is the best book in the series. So I was eager to try this author out and when I saw it at my local library, I knew I had to grab the audio and especially with one of my favorite narrators for historical romance, I knew that this book would be for me. So I immediately picked this up and I was completely drawn into the story, it has been quite a while since I have been drawn into a setting like this for a historical and I had a fun time with the setup. It does have a mix of Gilded Age and Victorian England feel to the story and I really liked the mixture of elements that the author is able to blend together but also there is such a interesting chemistry that is built between Max and Helena. And their unique arrangement, I was curious to see how it would play out.
Summary
American Maxwell Crenshaw has come to England due to the demand of his father and also due to some health concerns and is having to take over the Crenshaw interests while his father works on his recovery. The last thing that he wants to be is here in England, as he much prefers his home in America. But with his father giving him an ultimatum for marriage, Maxwell knows that his time is running out until he meets the lovely Lady Helena March. Helena, is a widow and embraces her independence and working on building a home for young women to help those with lesser means. There is an instant chemistry between them, and they work on an agreement to have a fake engagement that will suit both of their family’s interests and satisfy their parents demands while allowing them to have the freedom to pursue their individual interests. As Max and Helena work together, the chemistry between them is becoming more heated and something deeper forms between them and now they will have to decide if they are willing to fight for each other no matter what their families may say to the matter…
What I Loved
This story was such a swoony romance and I had such a charming time with this story. I do see why so many readers are gravitating toward this author’s writing. She does have a level of writing that has an elegant classy feel to it and I see the appeal especially if this book is similar to the previous two books in her style of writing. I was really intrigued by the relationship that builds between Helena and Maxwell. Seeing their powerful chemistry build throughout the story was quite delightful and I loved the manner in which the author build the chemistry as it was the chemistry between them that had me wanting to read more of them together. They are both powerful individuals with strong minds of their own, but they are so well matched. I loved the way that the way they are willing to fight for each other. It was such wonderful to see their relationship build and seeing them fight in the end for each other was AMAZING, the ending especially blew me away and it had me in my feelings.
What I Struggled With
There are some modern connections to the terminology used surrounding workhouses and it was the way certain phrases were used that it was super modern terminology and not how they would have talked about it back then. And Modernism can turn me off from an historical as I like a more authentic feel to a historical.
The Narration
Justine Eyre did a brilliant job with this narration, she really capitalized on the personalities of the characters and really added the right flair that was the author’s writing style and blended all the elements so flawlessly together.
Overall View
I found The Lady Tempts An Heir to be a beautiful elegant historical that portrayed such raw emotion and vulnerabilities, it built a sensual chemistry and focused on a well-built story that will satisfy many historical readers!
March 21, 2022
Let me state two things first
One) I LOVE that this book has INFERTILITY issue - Helena really is barren, and not somehow saved by Max's magic penis/sperm by the end of this book. Sure, time will tell whether or not their marriage survive the no children situation, but let me believe in HEA. So yes, Max and Helena will forever live happily, maybe even adopt kids from her orphanage somehow.
Two) THE PARENTS ARE HORRIBLE!! Yes, I know that Max's parents are that abhorrent from the first and second book (which features his sisters)... but MY GOD, Helena's parents are also obnoxious! I HATE the parents... and it influenced my reading experience. I need historical romance where the parents are CHAMPIONING their kids WITHOUT ANY conditions what-so-ever!
Anyway... yes, I enjoyed this book as well. I already liked Max based on his sister's books, because he clearly love them so much. And Max is different than his father, so KUDOS on that.
I love that Max finds Helena smart and invigorating and challenging... clearly he needs that kind of woman. Helena is also lovey, my heart breaks for her infertility issue but at the same time, I can understand her needs to help the 'fallen' women as her cause.
I think these two are really good together. I love the moments of Max and Helena flirting, discussing, or even arguing! The attraction sparks are blazing. I am happy for the both of them. If only the parents are not in the pages of this book! Hmph.
One) I LOVE that this book has INFERTILITY issue - Helena really is barren, and not somehow saved by Max's magic penis/sperm by the end of this book. Sure, time will tell whether or not their marriage survive the no children situation, but let me believe in HEA. So yes, Max and Helena will forever live happily, maybe even adopt kids from her orphanage somehow.
Two) THE PARENTS ARE HORRIBLE!! Yes, I know that Max's parents are that abhorrent from the first and second book (which features his sisters)... but MY GOD, Helena's parents are also obnoxious! I HATE the parents... and it influenced my reading experience. I need historical romance where the parents are CHAMPIONING their kids WITHOUT ANY conditions what-so-ever!
Anyway... yes, I enjoyed this book as well. I already liked Max based on his sister's books, because he clearly love them so much. And Max is different than his father, so KUDOS on that.
I love that Max finds Helena smart and invigorating and challenging... clearly he needs that kind of woman. Helena is also lovey, my heart breaks for her infertility issue but at the same time, I can understand her needs to help the 'fallen' women as her cause.
I think these two are really good together. I love the moments of Max and Helena flirting, discussing, or even arguing! The attraction sparks are blazing. I am happy for the both of them. If only the parents are not in the pages of this book! Hmph.
February 17, 2025
The bottom line here is that while I liked some things about this, I didn't like others and I ultimately didn't enjoy reading this. My main concerns/issues:
1. The Crenshaw parents. We are in book three of this series, and we are yet again doing "my parents are forcing me to get married against my will" as a main plot motivator. In each of the previous books they seemed to "learn" a bit at the end, and yet we are still doing this here?? The lather, rinse, repeat of it was just too much for me. And it made the parents' Magic Off-Page Realization in the time between the end of the book and the epilogue ring extremely hollow. These parents were pretty awful this whole freaking series. I'm sorry, but the apology at the end was neither earned nor believable at this point.
2. The handling of the infertility plot. While I appreciate that there was no magic baby epilogue (just the magic unearned parental apologies), I really needed more from Max and from Max and Helena together to make this work for me. SO much of them dealing with Helena's infertility as an obstacle to their relationship happens off page, or in Helena's case, with his sisters. It wasn't so much an issue for me with Helena because this is something she's been living with for a while. But with Max, we get his immediate reaction and then a line at the reunion scene, and really nothing else. And look, it was a very nice line at the reunion scene. But without something in between, and without getting ANY real conversations between Max and Helena as to what this means for them together and their relationship, this was just never going to work for me. I understand that it's difficult to tackle the issue of infertility in a romance novel, but if you are going to do it and it's going to be such a big part of the story, then you actually have to do the work on it. And I didn't see that happening here.
3. I believe that Max and Helena were in lust, but I don't think I fully bought getting from lust to love. Possibly because I was distracted by my discomfort with other parts of the story.
4. Then there's the Camille stuff. Going back to my review for book one, the thing I've needed most from this series is for Camille to get a book that gives her all the happiness she deserves (and results in serious suffering for whatever is left of Camille's awful husband's family). The set up for Camille's book could work in theory (the idea of it could be good as long as it's not presented as she has, in her widowhood, taken other lovers and only Thorne's magic dick will cure her), but at this point I don't trust this series to give me the true HEA Camille deserves. I also was somewhat underwhelmed with the character set up in this book, after the first two books were a lot stronger on that front. PLUS, my book one take was I wanted Camille and Max, and while I was in theory okay with not getting them, I was very disappointed that this book dropped references to Camille having liked him back in New York. If you aren't going to give me them, that's fine! But then don't do this, either. ANYWAY, Camille deserves the world, and I will be extremely unhappy (although, at this point, not surprised) if she does not get it.
5. The epilogue generally was just weird???? Why had Max and Helena not been to England in two years?????
Anyway, these were my major concerns. When I finished this book last night, my reaction was "Okay, now what do I read so I can cheer myself up and go to bed" and that's just not what you want.
Edit 2/17/25 Kris just read the first book in this series, and the first thing I thought about when I saw her review was how angry this book made me. If I'm still having that kind of visceral reaction almost there years later, I think that is sufficient justification to bump this down to one star.
1. The Crenshaw parents. We are in book three of this series, and we are yet again doing "my parents are forcing me to get married against my will" as a main plot motivator. In each of the previous books they seemed to "learn" a bit at the end, and yet we are still doing this here?? The lather, rinse, repeat of it was just too much for me. And it made the parents' Magic Off-Page Realization in the time between the end of the book and the epilogue ring extremely hollow. These parents were pretty awful this whole freaking series. I'm sorry, but the apology at the end was neither earned nor believable at this point.
2. The handling of the infertility plot. While I appreciate that there was no magic baby epilogue (just the magic unearned parental apologies), I really needed more from Max and from Max and Helena together to make this work for me. SO much of them dealing with Helena's infertility as an obstacle to their relationship happens off page, or in Helena's case, with his sisters. It wasn't so much an issue for me with Helena because this is something she's been living with for a while. But with Max, we get his immediate reaction and then a line at the reunion scene, and really nothing else. And look, it was a very nice line at the reunion scene. But without something in between, and without getting ANY real conversations between Max and Helena as to what this means for them together and their relationship, this was just never going to work for me. I understand that it's difficult to tackle the issue of infertility in a romance novel, but if you are going to do it and it's going to be such a big part of the story, then you actually have to do the work on it. And I didn't see that happening here.
3. I believe that Max and Helena were in lust, but I don't think I fully bought getting from lust to love. Possibly because I was distracted by my discomfort with other parts of the story.
4. Then there's the Camille stuff. Going back to my review for book one, the thing I've needed most from this series is for Camille to get a book that gives her all the happiness she deserves (and results in serious suffering for whatever is left of Camille's awful husband's family). The set up for Camille's book could work in theory (the idea of it could be good as long as it's not presented as she has, in her widowhood, taken other lovers and only Thorne's magic dick will cure her), but at this point I don't trust this series to give me the true HEA Camille deserves. I also was somewhat underwhelmed with the character set up in this book, after the first two books were a lot stronger on that front. PLUS, my book one take was I wanted Camille and Max, and while I was in theory okay with not getting them, I was very disappointed that this book dropped references to Camille having liked him back in New York. If you aren't going to give me them, that's fine! But then don't do this, either. ANYWAY, Camille deserves the world, and I will be extremely unhappy (although, at this point, not surprised) if she does not get it.
5. The epilogue generally was just weird???? Why had Max and Helena not been to England in two years?????
Anyway, these were my major concerns. When I finished this book last night, my reaction was "Okay, now what do I read so I can cheer myself up and go to bed" and that's just not what you want.
Edit 2/17/25 Kris just read the first book in this series, and the first thing I thought about when I saw her review was how angry this book made me. If I'm still having that kind of visceral reaction almost there years later, I think that is sufficient justification to bump this down to one star.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 25, 2022
BOOK REVIEW: The Lady Tempts An Heir by Harper St. George
Series: The Gilded Age Heiresses | Book 3
Publication Date: February 22
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
T.I.M.E. Recommended Books By Genre | Historical Romance
T.I.M.E. Most Anticipated Books of 2022
CONNECT WITH THIS BOOK | T.I.M.E. SIMPLE LIVING TIP:
If you are not sure which path to take, pause & take time to consider your choice... The right path will be there waiting for you... ✨😎✨
T.I.M.E. BOOK REVIEW: Harper St. George continues to "top the charts" as one of my favorite historical romance authors, as I truly appreciate the strong female characters and women's rights issues she integrates into her storylines... BONUS: This originally planned 3 book series will now be continuing with additional books! Book 4 is in the works!!... ✨😎✨
Pages: 336
Genre: Historical Romance
Sub-Genre: Steamy Romance | Fake Engagement Romance
• T.I.M.E. Jalapeno Rating:️ 🌶🌶🌶 (Hot Spicy)
Time Period: Gilded Age
Location: England
IF YOU LIKE THIS BOOK THEN TRY…
Book: The Gilded Age Heiresses Series by Harper St. George (Recommend reading in order!)
TV Series: Bridgerton
--------------------
All my reviews can be seen at This Is My Everybody | Simple Living | Denise Wilbanks at www.thisismyeverybody.com
♡ Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to review it and the opinions contained within are my own.
// COME ON OVER & SAY HELLO!...
Website: https://www.thisismyeverybody.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ThisIsMyEve...
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/thisismyeve...
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisismyeve...
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thisismyever...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/t_everybody
And let's be friends here on Goodreads too!... ✨😎✨
Series: The Gilded Age Heiresses | Book 3
Publication Date: February 22
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
T.I.M.E. Recommended Books By Genre | Historical Romance
T.I.M.E. Most Anticipated Books of 2022
CONNECT WITH THIS BOOK | T.I.M.E. SIMPLE LIVING TIP:
If you are not sure which path to take, pause & take time to consider your choice... The right path will be there waiting for you... ✨😎✨
T.I.M.E. BOOK REVIEW: Harper St. George continues to "top the charts" as one of my favorite historical romance authors, as I truly appreciate the strong female characters and women's rights issues she integrates into her storylines... BONUS: This originally planned 3 book series will now be continuing with additional books! Book 4 is in the works!!... ✨😎✨
Pages: 336
Genre: Historical Romance
Sub-Genre: Steamy Romance | Fake Engagement Romance
• T.I.M.E. Jalapeno Rating:️ 🌶🌶🌶 (Hot Spicy)
Time Period: Gilded Age
Location: England
IF YOU LIKE THIS BOOK THEN TRY…
Book: The Gilded Age Heiresses Series by Harper St. George (Recommend reading in order!)
TV Series: Bridgerton
--------------------
All my reviews can be seen at This Is My Everybody | Simple Living | Denise Wilbanks at www.thisismyeverybody.com
♡ Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to review it and the opinions contained within are my own.
// COME ON OVER & SAY HELLO!...
Website: https://www.thisismyeverybody.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ThisIsMyEve...
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/thisismyeve...
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisismyeve...
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thisismyever...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/t_everybody
And let's be friends here on Goodreads too!... ✨😎✨
July 8, 2022
Class and privilege of the Victorian Era are once again joined together in transactional matrimony with the excess and opulence of the American Gilded Age in Harper St. George’s newest romance. When American iron and railroad heir Maxwell Crenshaw is given an ultimatum by his father to find a bride by the end of the year, and thus secure his legacy, he cannot think of a more perfect partner-in-lie than the strong-headed Lady Helena March, a young widow with a cause in need of assistance. They agree to fake an engagement that would benefit them both, but as the attraction between them flares into real passion, Maxwell begins to see Helena as someone he could spend his whole life with. Helena, however, holds a secret that she knows would stand between them forever. Angsty, well-written, and brimming with sizzle, this series never disappoints, and going back to this world always feels like a warm bath after a hard day. Sheer bliss!
January 20, 2022
I'm a big fan of both of the first books, but this one never hit a good stride for me. I felt the plot was all over the place and kept switching gears. I did think Max and Helena had some very sweet moments, and some real issues to work through that kept them from being together. However, their back and forth was so frustrating. Max was super in love with her and told her he wouldn't care about their obstacles, but she refused. Typical HR heroine. Then she kept switching so fast. Do you love him? Do you not? Do you want to marry him? Do you not? Make up your dang mind because I'm getting whiplash.
I thought it was okay, but it'll probably be my least favorite in the series. I was more excited reading the teaser for Camille and Jacob than while reading this whole book.
I thought it was okay, but it'll probably be my least favorite in the series. I was more excited reading the teaser for Camille and Jacob than while reading this whole book.
January 15, 2023
The Lady Tempts and heir is the third and last released book in The Gilded Age Heiresses series by Harper St. George.
Maxwell, the last remaining Crenshaw sibling and widowed Lady Helena March journeyed together to Edinburgh in the last book to search for Maxwell's sister Violet. This book is about the two coming up with a fake bethrothal in order to get their families off the back.
There was too much business talk in this one for me to be able to enjoy it thoroughly. I liked Helena's ambitious and goal oriented nature no doubt and the way Maxwell encouraged her charities was admirable imo but I would have liked to see more of romance and spice instead of pages upon pages of business discussions.
There was no doubt about both of them having strong feelings for each other and the few spicy scenes that they shared were honestly great. I enjoyed them a lot. I just wish this book had much more of it than it actually did.
One other thing that I didn't like is despite Hannah's passion for her charities she ended up moving to New York for love, it could have been inspiring if Maxwell had moved *sigh*
3 stars.
Maxwell, the last remaining Crenshaw sibling and widowed Lady Helena March journeyed together to Edinburgh in the last book to search for Maxwell's sister Violet. This book is about the two coming up with a fake bethrothal in order to get their families off the back.
There was too much business talk in this one for me to be able to enjoy it thoroughly. I liked Helena's ambitious and goal oriented nature no doubt and the way Maxwell encouraged her charities was admirable imo but I would have liked to see more of romance and spice instead of pages upon pages of business discussions.
There was no doubt about both of them having strong feelings for each other and the few spicy scenes that they shared were honestly great. I enjoyed them a lot. I just wish this book had much more of it than it actually did.
One other thing that I didn't like is despite Hannah's passion for her charities she ended up moving to New York for love, it could have been inspiring if Maxwell had moved *sigh*
3 stars.
March 4, 2022
Oh I REALLY liked this one, I think it's my favorite of the series. Love a book where infertility is on the table and it stays on the table. Would recommend wholeheartedly.
May 28, 2023
The Crenshaw parents are THE WORST and their kids manage to be good people who you root for in this series.
The last Crenshaw sibling is Max and his father insists he marry to satisfy some weird business interest that involves one of sister August’s projects. At the same time, Helena, who befriended the Crenshaw sisters in book one and helped Max search for Violet in book two, has been told that without a husband, the charity she has started will lose respectability. As the donations dry up, she becomes desperate and agrees to Max’s fake engagement scheme.
Of course with all fake dating/relationship stories, the two fall for each other. Throw in infertility and more idiot old guys messing with the business plans of the Crenshaw kids, and this is the mess you expect from a historical romance. The book is predictable, but that’s not a bad thing. Don’t we read these stories because we know we’ll get that happily ever after despite the obstacles thrown in our characters’ way? Four stars because this book embraces the genre and expected tropes while entertaining.
I mentioned this in my review of book two, but I really like how the stories overlap between books in the series. There are scenes in the prior book that set the stage for the start of this one. Similarly, there is a tragedy in this book that lined us up for book four.
The last Crenshaw sibling is Max and his father insists he marry to satisfy some weird business interest that involves one of sister August’s projects. At the same time, Helena, who befriended the Crenshaw sisters in book one and helped Max search for Violet in book two, has been told that without a husband, the charity she has started will lose respectability. As the donations dry up, she becomes desperate and agrees to Max’s fake engagement scheme.
Of course with all fake dating/relationship stories, the two fall for each other. Throw in infertility and more idiot old guys messing with the business plans of the Crenshaw kids, and this is the mess you expect from a historical romance. The book is predictable, but that’s not a bad thing. Don’t we read these stories because we know we’ll get that happily ever after despite the obstacles thrown in our characters’ way? Four stars because this book embraces the genre and expected tropes while entertaining.
I mentioned this in my review of book two, but I really like how the stories overlap between books in the series. There are scenes in the prior book that set the stage for the start of this one. Similarly, there is a tragedy in this book that lined us up for book four.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 517 reviews