What the Lady Wants by Emma Orchard was an absolute delight! The romance was swoon-worthy, with great chemistry and emotional depth. The heroine’s journey felt authentic and relatable, and the historical details added richness to the story. Orchard’s writing is elegant yet approachable, blending humor and tension perfectly. It’s a charming, feel-good read that left me with a smile. Highly recommended for fans of historical romance!

In the autumn of 1816, Isabella, Lady Ashby, re-enters society after a prolonged period of mourning her husband who was tragically killed at Waterloo. She is steadfast in her belief that she will never remarry, and wants to experience physical pleasure again on her own terms before retiring to live with her parents in Yorkshire. She has made a list which, if discovered, would create a scandal. She approaches a family friend, Captain Leo Winterton, who has a secret of his own. He agrees, partly to protect her from being taken advantage of by unscrupulous men, and partly in the hope he can change her mind about never marrying again.
The author paints a realistic picture of life in Regency England, highlighting the risks they are taking, and the graphic nature of the items on the list make sense in the context of the plot and motivations of the main characters. In a patriarchal society where women have little or no say in how they choose to live their lives, it is refreshing that here the woman is the stronger character.
The descriptive writing style and witty dialogue is reminiscent of Georgette Heyer, but with a modern twist. Isabella appeared briefly in the previous book in this series, A Duke of One’s Own, and it was good to catch up with some familiar characters. I really enjoyed reading What the Lady Wants, but found Isabella’s decision to go back and live with her parents very strange; she would lose any freedom she had gained, and I think her husband would have wanted her to be happy again. The ending felt a bit rushed, but maybe we will see more of Isabella in another book. Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for a digital copy to review.

This is historical romance. Our female main character's a young wido who's decided she doesn't want to marry again but she does have a list of thing she wants to experience.

So she makes a deal with our male main character to work through this list - the only thing is, he's secretly in love with her. How is this going to work out between them and can they keep it a secret.

This was good - it's a bit spicy, our characters have issues and they are kind of keeping secrets from one another. Mostly feelings related!

And he had a love at first sight moment some time ago whereas she doesn't remember that they'd met before.

I also enjoyed the practicalities of how do you conduct a secret affair in this time period, where you don't have your own homes and no one can know what's happening. Except of course when you tell some key friends.

4 stars, this was a new to me author and I would read again

This review is being posted as part of What The Lady Wants blog tour hosted by Rachel’s Random Resources.

What The Lady Wants is the latest compelling regency romance from author Emma Orchard and the third instalment of her The Runaway Heiress series.

Isabella and Leo had great chemistry and the spicy scenes were fantastic! The idea of a spicy bucket list captured my attention immediately and it worked really well in the story. It was brilliant to see the idea of this list initiated by the woman in the scenario, particularly with this being a regency romance, as it goes against the societal expectations surrounding sex and relationships that were seen at the time. Isabella and Leo spend most of the novel sneaking around, hiding their escapades from everyone around them, and this secretive element added a nice touch to the narrative.

One of my favourite things about both Isabella and Leo, and really all of the characters we’ve met in the series, is that they feel real. Everything isn’t all romance and sunshine all the time as they’re human and they will sometimes speak without thinking and hurt those around them. But in Isabella and Leo we saw the maturity that I always look for in romance novel characters, where they’re adult enough to talk through any miscommunications and resolve issues together. I think communication was particularly important in this book given that the plot centered around two people becoming intimate together for the first time and then exploring new sexual experiences together, so I was really pleased it featured so heavily in the dialogue.

I really liked Isabella as a protagonist. She has good character development over the course of the book, gradually starting to properly heal from the trauma of her husband’s death and opening herself up to the idea of loving again. Leo was a great MMC and I loved the exploration of the ‘he falls first and harder’ trope though him. It’s one of my favourite romance tropes and it was really well written.

The LGBTQIA+ representation we’ve seen within the rest of the series continues which was great to see. We also had some good mental health representation through the exploration of Isabella’s depression following the death of her husband two years earlier.

I also liked that we saw the return of the protagonists from the earlier books as supporting characters within this one so we got a chance to check in with them again, especially as they’re all linked to either Isabella or Leo through familial ties. Their little matchmaking plot was a nice inclusion too.

Overall, What The Lady Wants is another fantastic steamy regency romp from Emma Orchard and a great addition to the The Runaway Heiress series.

Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice Level: 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ / 5 (Explicit Open Door)

I have posted an extended review on my blog www.yourschloe.co.uk

*Thank you to Emma Orchard, Rachel’s Random Resources, Boldwood Books and NetGalley.

This was my first read of an Emma Orchard book. It was a little slow and confusing to start - so much background and it wasn't always clear when we were switching around. I did get through it. Maybe was a Kindle formatting issues. At the end of day, it was a fun steamy romance!

I absolutely loved the MMC in this book and spent 3/4 of it wanting to grab the FMC by the shoulders and shake her and say WAKE UPPPP GIRLYYYY. I really enjoyed it. The pacing was good, the spice was well written and not over or underdone. I liked the side characters and the roles they played in the story, and the ending was satisfying - though I really would've loved an epilogue in this one to see how things got on in the future! I would've loved to see into the side characters reactions after everything was sorted out in the end

A touching story that I liked, even if it took me longer to warm to the heroine. I found her too self-centered for long stretches, even though her matter-of-factly way of working through her list was quite amusing. I already knew Isabella and many of the secondary characters from the author's previous book. I liked Leo right from the start. He is a submissive cinnamon roll hero who would do anything for his beloved, even if it might leave him heartbroken in the end.
The plot is well written and has "he falls first" and house party tropes. Love, grief, lies, self-denial and unexpected twists make the story a real rollercoaster of emotions, which is also peppered with humor, entertaining interactions, a very likable cast of supporting characters and a few passionate love scenes.
The book can be read as standalone but I recommend reading the previous books by the author first as there are some references to the earlier books and their protagonists and other well-known characters appear in this story.

After the death of her husband at the Battle of Waterloo, Lady Isabella Mauleverer suffered from feelings of guilt, depression and a loss of reality. Now that she is feeling better again, she decides to take control of her life and travels to visit relatives in London. She compiles a list of sexual experiences that she would like to consciously relive before she retires to the country as a widow for good. Her choice of partner falls on the attractive Captain Leo Winterton, to whom she is related by marriage, and propositions him but with the note that she wants neither love nor remarriage.
Leo has been secretly in love with Isabella since their first meeting in Brussels at her husband's side. When Isabella proposes to him that he become her lover, he accepts, even though he knows that he has to keep his love secret and that sooner or later he will suffer for it...

If you like emotional romance novels about unexpected second chances in love with more experienced heroines in charge and lovesick heroes, you will certainly enjoy this book.

I received a free ARC of this book. Opinions expressed in this
review are completely my own and left voluntarily.

I enjoy a good historical romance and this was a good story, but it was a lot steamier than I was ready for. Lady Ashby is grieving the death of her husband, just two years earlier at Waterloo. She is still young and beautiful, but has no desire to remarry or fall in love. What she is looking for is someone to have trysts with. Isabella has written a list, of things she would like to experience, just once more, before she surrenders herself to the life of a widow. She meets handsome and honourable Captain Leo Winterton, a friend of her brother-in-law, and she propositions him. If anyone were to see the list, it would be a scandal, so they must be very discreet. Captain Winterton agrees, because he is secretly in love with Isabella and he can't resist her proposal. Can he convince her that they would be good together, or will they be found out?

I liked the story and the characters. Isabella is definitely a woman before her time, and Leo was actually a gentleman, even though it seems he took advantage of the situation. He had danced with Isabella before and had been attracted to her, but she was married. Now he had his chance, but has to convince her. There were those who wanted to see them together and did what they could to help them, but Isabella continued to resist. There were a lot of steamy scenes in this story, so if you enjoy that, you will love this book. I would have liked to get to know the main characters a bit more, but I did like them both. This is part of the Runaway Heiress series, but it can be read as a standalone. If you enjoy a Regency romance, one with a strong female lead, and enjoy a steamy story, then What the Lady Wants is one for you.

"What the Lady Wants" is everything I wanted and more.

I was worried when I realized they were "together" so early in the book—I literally thought, "If this is already happening, what else is new?" But I'm glad the story proved me wrong.

The book has spice and a heartwarming story. If you want to feel cozy, this is the book for you!

I'm definitely looking forward to reading more from Emma Orchard.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC.

This book!!! It was just so charming and beautiful! Gahhhh. I love the idea of the list! Leo might have just found himself on my own list of book boyfriends. So tender, so much emotions. What a great author and a great book. I joined this series late, but I don't feel like I've missed a lot. Chef's kiss!!!!
Thank you to netgalley for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

In this spicy and racy Regency romance, readers join Lady Isabella Ashby, newly widowed and determined to remain that way by returning to Yorkshire and leaving Society before 1817, but she has a secret and incredibly scandalous list she wants to experience before living a quiet life. Enter Captain Leo Winterton in autumn 1816, her friend who is handsome, honorable, and willing to help (despite not knowing the contents of the List). However, Leo has loved Isabella for years and has until the end of the year to convince her that she can find love even after being widowed. With their hearts and their reputations on the line, Isabella and Leo cannot turn away from the path they have chosen once they begin. Tropey, racy, and all-around exciting, readers are sure to lose themselves in Orchard’s latest novel. Isabella and Leo are fun characters with great chemistry, and they are also able to stand on their own as complex individuals -- though they could stand to communicate a little more. A fun, easy, and lighthearted read, fans of Bridgerton and the romance genre are sure to love the stakes involved, and Orchard brings all the hallmarks of a Regency romance into play.

Captain Leo Winterton sets himself up for heartache when he agrees to become Isabella, Lady Ashby's lover. He's been in love with her since Waterloo, when he saw her with her husband for the first time. She lost her husband on the field of battle and went through a very dark period. Almost two years later, Isabella has a list and wants a lover she can control. Very erotic and very painful to read.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book from NetGalley.

1816 - London

Isabella Richmond, Lady Ashby Mauleveren, 21, is the widow of Lord Ashby, second son of the Eighth Duke of Northreding. After less than a year of marriage, Ashby was killed at Waterloo. Isabella went through a very difficult time grieving him. Now, she has come to London to stay with her sister-in-law, Lady blanche FitzHenry. Tonight, she is attending a ball for her brother-in-law Gabriel and his bride Georgiana in celebration of their marriage.

Captain Leo Winterton, 27, asked Isabella to dance and afterward she said she needed some fresh air so they step outside. She ends up kissing him telling him she wants to experience the physical side of marriage one more time before retiring to the country to live out her widowhood. Even though Ashby was her one true love, she wants to fulfill a list of physical things. He tells her that he is in love with a woman he can never have so he agrees. They promise they will not fall in love with one another. While they begin on the list, they then journey to a weeks-long house party where they hope to discretely complete the list. Just a physical union with no regrets, right?

I had mixed feelings about this book. The over-the-top erotic scenes were too much for me. I liked Leo and found him to be a truly nice guy but Isabella was a hot mess. However, the story has a nice ending so I will push my rating to 4 stars. Check it out and see what you think.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I did enjoy it but preferred her previous book. A fun regency romance.
Thanks to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the eARC.

Such a great read! Highly recommend this one.

Many thanks to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher. This in no way impacted on my view.

After struggling following her husband’s untimely death, Lady Isabella Ashby is resolved to find herself again. She’s created a list of all the things that she is missing since widowhood, the intimate things, and has chosen the man who will help her explore her sensuality. Unfortunately the man she has chosen, the honourable Captain Leo Winterton, just happens to be in love with her, and will do anything she asks to have a small chance with her.

When this book was advertised on NetGalley, I decided that I needed to request it as we had met Isabella in A Duke of One’s Own, and her story had been so tragic that she just deserved a happy ending. I did like her character and resolve, and she and Leo definitely had the right chemistry for their agreement, but something was missing. I don’t know what it was, but I was always wanting a bit more, and the first 1/3 of the book was a little bit of a drag to get through. However, it definitely made up for it later on, and though the path to happiness wasn’t easy, it was worth it.

One more taste leads to more than one.
Set just after the Battle of Waterloo, we have a very young widow from this definitive battle. A widow still deeply in love with her dashing, dead husband, but about to retire to the depths of the country to live out her life remembering him.
But the best laid plans...
A sweet historical romance, nicely, if somewhat obviously, plotted. Good writing style and grammar.

Despite the cover this is not a romantic comedy like Bridgerton and Julia Quinn. I'd say this is more old school Regency Romance so if you like Stephanie Laurens, Mary Balough and Amanda Quick, definitely try Emma Orchard. Her spice scenes are wonderful and the low-level angst, pining and etiquette are so comforting. Enchanting and engaging in every way.

Light BDSM Georgette Heyer! This was like a warm hug for my soul. It's no secret that I love Georgette Heyer novels and this book took all the good parts of Georgette Hetere and added spice! But not just any spice but light BDSM spice! I would have liked to read more investigation into what was on the list and how it developed between each of the main characters, and an epilogue. I really need to know how the pregnancy progressed and if the baby survived! I wanted to read more! Hopefully there will be more in this series!

- Strangers to lovers
- Surprise pregnancy
- light BDSM
- a secret list
- Secret relationship
- He falls first

Big thanks to NetGalley, Boldwood books and Emma Orchard for this early release copy. This is my honest review.

I felt like this book had a lot of potential, but it fell flat for me I didn’t like the tropes, particularly late in the book, and it felt rushed. I might give this author another try, but this just wasn’t for me.