I liked this book better than the previous but it still wasn't really for me. I did like the plot surrounding her late husband and their previous meeting but it was too much of a 'bodice ripper' for my taste.

Great premise....

But did it deliver? Ambivalent...Was there for the premise...Isabella, a young widow, writes a naughty list.
A spicy list of things she would like to experience before she retires to the countryside, and I assume never has sex again. Which is unrealistic, as she is a young widow. With a hot friend, Leo. Leo has been carrying a torch for Isabella and is only too happy to help indulge her list request. He does, however, want more. She does not want to marry again. See? Great premise. My thoughts are the pacing was slow and I had to trudge along.

I had high hopes for this book, and sadly was a bit disappointed. I was enjoying the book for the first half of the story. After that, I found that the characters started acting very out of character and in ways that didn't make a lot of sense for who they had been for the first half of the book. The last 1/4 of the book felt very rushed. Also, *spoiler warning* I am not a fan of the unplanned pregnancy or the forced marriage tropes, so this was really just not a book for me.

I'm sad to say I really struggled with this. I absolutely love the premise of Isabella experiencing all these things and making a list of she things she desires but I did not but their connection at all. It was all very surface level and the writing, mostly the speech was very stilted. It's a real shame but it was hard to get through

This book had such a great premise. A young widow creates a list of sexual acts she wants to experience for a last time before returning to the country to rusticate, so she asks a trusted family friend to be her partner. Of course he’s been in love with her since he first spotted her as a young bride before her husband was killed in the war by she refuses to marry again. However, I found this book so slow to get there, that I ended up putting this book down to read something else and after a bit reveal happened I skimmed to the end because it wasn’t holding my attention.

While I liked the author’s writing style which had a sense of playfulness as we are flies in the wall watching scheming matchmaker friends and the like, at times it just dragged with not enough action to drive the story along because it wasn’t as interesting as watching Leo and Isabella. and while it makes sense for an unplanned pregnancy given quality birth control was unavailable, I just hated that this was the plot device to force Isabella along. Even then it all dragged out much longer than it needed because she’s stubborn and was pretty horrible to poor old Leo who was clearly besotted with her. I just think this books pace could been better and I’d prefer the plot developments not so cliche.

Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the ARC

A lovely third book for this series by Emma Orchard. I was introduced to the second book through Netgalley and loved the free flowing writing and modern twists involved in the story. This book is another well written addition and brings back the well known and loved characters from the first two.

I appreciated the modern feminist take, amongst regency chivalry and society. It's refreshing to see characters so open about their desires, especially set in the 1800s and especially for women.

I laughed to see how the chapters were 'numbered' and greatly enjoyed the first half of the book. The second half did get caught up in the old romantic cliche of a misunderstanding forcing the lovers apart unfortunately, and seemed to drag on a little bit before resolving.

All in all, a thoroughly enjoyable read with seamless writing and I can't wait to see if there are more books in this series!

My thanks to Netgalley and the author and publisher for an opportunity to read the book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Whilst this was a fun read I would have preferred less raunchy scenes are more character development. The characters all felt a little shallow and 1d.

What the Lady Wants had brilliant characters with some fun and lively interactions that definitely made me smile. I couldn’t help but like Isabella, she is a widow at a young age and still grieving her husband. However she decides to make a list, a very special but secret list and she needs help. In comes Captain Winterton, her friend who is actually secretly in love with Isabella. What could go wrong or maybe right?!

Leo makes for a great hero, he had strength and genuinely cared for Isabella. Together they were sweet but they also had plenty of chemistry which was a great combination. It’s safe to say I was rooting for this couple. The story moved at a lovely pace and I was invested throughout not only in the romance side of things but the way the characters interacted. There is some spice within this book but it works well. I thought it offered a pretty good balance with the rest of the plot too. The characters definitely go on a journey and at times a heartfelt one. I really enjoyed seeing it all play out.

All that’s left to say is that What the Lady Wants was a fun, romantic and engaging story!

What The Lady Wants by Emma Orchard

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

Autumn, 1816...

Lady Ashby is grieving the death of her beloved husband, just two years earlier. Although still young and beautiful, Isabella is resolved never to marry again, and plans to leave London, return to her parents’ Yorkshire house, and resign from society before the year is over. But first, she wants one more taste of life…

Isabella has written a list, the contents of which, if discovered, would create a scandal that neither she nor her family would recover from. A list of things she would like to experience, just once more, before she surrenders herself to the life of a widow. And she knows just the man to help her friend, handsome and honourable Captain Leo Winterton.

But Captain Winterton has a secret of his own. He is in love with Isabella – and when she makes her most improper proposal to him, he is powerless to resist her, even if she is resolved never to love again. Can he persuade her they are destined to be together? Or will their impropriety be discovered, to the ruin of both?

My Opinion

If you have followed my reviews for a while then you will know that I am trying to read more historical fiction and when they are as enjoyable as What The Lady Wants it is difficult to know why I have stayed away. Emma Orchard takes us on a journey of self-discovery as Isabella has to learn to live without her husband. I enjoyed the way that this had been cleverly written with Isabella and Leo trying to steal some time to spend together. A beautifully written novel.

Rating 4/5

How I ADORE this new author! Now that I got used to her Georgette Heyer inspired style of writing, I’m enjoying it more and more with each book and actually I found that I’m CRAVING it. It’s like reading Jane Austen with spice! It’s a curious mix and I’m captivated! This book has angst and humor artfully mixed, two characters who are perfectly suited to each other, but most of all a sweet cinnamon roll of a hero, willing to do anything for the woman he loves, but who won’t be used as a doormat. I really loved Leo’s fortitude, as much as I loved Isabella’s quest for something more, for her independence, for fulfilling her desires. A really wonderful book that I would willingly re-read many times!

Emma Orchard's What the Lady Wants is a delightful exploration of love, loss, and the pursuit of forbidden desires in the opulent world of Regency London. The novel follows Lady Ashby, a young widow determined to live out her days in quiet resignation. Yet, before retreating from society, she decides to indulge in a list of secret desires—scandalous by any measure of the time. Enter Captain Leo Winterton, whose loyalty and secret love for Isabella make him the perfect confidant in her quest. Orchard’s vivid descriptions and well-drawn characters bring to life the tension between duty and passion, making this novel an engaging read from start to finish.

While the plot may tread familiar ground in the historical romance genre, it is the chemistry between Isabella and Leo that truly shines. Their interactions are charged with a sense of urgency and forbidden passion, keeping readers invested in their journey. The stakes are high as they navigate societal expectations and personal boundaries, and Orchard handles these themes with a deft touch. What the Lady Wants is a captivating read for fans of Regency romance, offering a satisfying blend of romance, scandal, and self-discovery.

I would like to thank netgalley and Boldwood Books for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the idea of the spicy bucket list! I would have liked a copy of the list at the back off the book.

I'm reviewing this via NetGalley, as part of a tour with Rachel's Random Resources.

This is a Regency romance, and on first impressions, I found the writing elegant and sophisticated. The two main characters, Isabella and Leo, were characters who came to life easily for me, and I wanted to know more about them.

Reading on, I found that this was a surprisingly spicy read, and in part, it was the chemistry that kept me turning the pages. At the same time, it was romantic and moving, and I did find myself emotionally invested in the characters.

If you enjoy historical romance, and prefer it with some spice, you may enjoy this book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books, and to the author, for the opportunity to read and review this.

A relevant story that you can enjoy. Isabella, Lady Ashby Mauleverer, newly widowed following her husband Ash's premature death in her arms after Waterloo suffers a breakdown that takes her a long time to overcome. Once she has come out of the grief bubble that has enveloped her for two or three years, she returns to her cousin's house in London to witness Gabriel’s (the Duke of Mauleverer, her brother-in-law, and Ash's older brother) marriage to the love of his life, Georgiana.

While there, she meets Captain Leo Winterton who has carried a torch for her, following his initial encounter with her while she was a newlywed at a ball in Brussels. Now upon bumping into Isabella, he is still carrying the torch for her and is more than happy to see her again.

Isabella on her part, is planning to have a final hurrah in the form of sex with a person other than her beloved husband before sequestering herself in the country for the rest of her life. It is this that draws them together and they explore various facets of their sexuality.

Isabella needs to heal and recognise that she has fallen in love with Leo for the person he is and let go of her initial plans and embrace life once more. Enjoyed the story and was happy with how the author managed the topic of Isabella's grief and the hurt Leo experienced when he realised that his love was unrequited.

I received an ARC from Boldwood Books and NetGalley and submit my honest review voluntarily.

BOOK: WHAT THE LADY WANTS
AUTHOR: EMMA ORCHARD
PUB DATE: 20 AUGUST 2024
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REVIEW
Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for this ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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What a wonderful, fast-paced book! At first, I didn't understand the prologue, but it was remedied in the first chapter. The FMC, Isabella, is on a project to make her let go of her husband, and the MMC roped in to help her. I didn't even know The List was going to be what it was. It was a nice surprise. I also liked the author's description of depression, something the FMC suffered from after the death of her husband.
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The MMC fell first years before, and the FMC was unaware. Leo actually agreed to help because he thought it would bring a positive change to their relationship. I liked the progress of their relationship and how Isabella felt juggling her emotions, falling in love and feelings of betrayal. It all turned out nicely in the end. I liked the meddling of the characters in the book too.
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I liked that Isabella's feelings and her relationship with her dead husband were not tainted. Lord Ashby was a good person and husband to her, I liked that it was stressed, something not really seen in genres like this. There was no unnecessary comparison.
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This book was amazing and I finished it in record time. But, I would have loved an epilogue. Still worth it either way

Lady Isabella Ashby is grieving the loss of her husband and whilst determined to remain a widow she can't help but want just one more taste of the spicier things of life and the man she chooses to help her achieve her desire is the handsome Captain Leo Winterton. There is no doubt that Isabella would be totally ostracised from polite society if her connection to Leo Winterton were ever discovered as what is deemed acceptable for a gentle young lady in Regency England is certainly not included in the contents of Isabella's rather risqué list of experiences.

What the Lady Wants doesn't stop at the bedroom door but pushes us firmly inside to witness every intimate detail between Isabella and Leo and there's no denying the sexual chemistry between them however, that's not all the story gives us. It's also a gently unfolding love story between two characters who steal their way into your heart. As we have come to expect from this author the Regency setting is done well, all the constraints placed on women during this time in history is well known, so it was good to have a woman who set about getting what she wanted albeit in a way which ultimately would see her have make some difficult choices.

I have enjoyed travelling back to this world which the author recreates with a fine eye for detail and a fun sense of style. What the Lady Wants is now the third book in this series and whilst it is perfectly possible to read as a standalone story there are characters from previous books making an appearance which adds a nice sense of continuity. Perfect escapism from start to finish.

What the Lady Wants: The Runaway Heiress Book #3

By Emma Orchard: I read A Duke of One's Own-gave it 4 ⭐

Format: E-book, 306 pgs.

Publication date: 8-14-24, Read 8-14-24

🙏🏽Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC💙! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions are my own.

Genre: Historical Romance, Adult/Women's Fic

Tropes: unrequited love, H falls first, surprise pregnancy

TW: erotica, infertility, grief, depression

Summary: Lady Ashby/Isabella (20) is still mourning the death of her husband Ash two years ago but wants to have a last "hooray." Before retiring from society with her parents in widowhood, she writes a list of things she wants to experience sexually and asks her friend to help her. Captain Leo Winterton is an honorable naval captain whom she met in Brussel two years ago. He's been in love with her since they met and now is his chance to convince her to be with him.

🤔My Thoughts: I enjoyed this Regency romance about a woman discovering her own pleasure. In many historical romances I've read the women were either clueless about sex, or they were professionals. It was refreshing to see a woman ask for what she wanted, no matter how scandalous. Leo was as gracious and caring as they come. He was a true gentleman smitten with Isabella. He got his chance to make her his only after dealing with some misunderstandings and interfering relatives.

Isabella has rejoined society two years after her husband's tragic death at Waterloo. Her grief cost her dearly, and now, although she never wants to be a wife again, she does want to experience the intimate side of life on her terms before she returns to widowhood in Yorkshire. Leo, a naval Captain, has had feelings for Isabella since a chance meeting just before Waterloo. When he meets her again years later and finds she is a widow, he wants to share his feelings with her, but her intimate proposition stops him. They embark on a journey of sensual delight but emotional heartache full of misunderstandings and passion. The couple are well-matched and easy to like despite their lack of insight. I like the characters, romance, witty, and often humorous dialogue.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

3.5 stars
I could understand Isabella, Lady Ashby, wanting to be able to choose what she wants for herself but she was very naive to think that she would be able to return to her parents and let her mother decide things for her. She hadn’t taken into account her feelings or the other person’s. Captain Leo Winterton had always been attracted to Isabella and even though he realised how it would affect him, he went ahead with the proposal. I was glad when he decided to make a stand for himself. There was a lot of what they thought about their situation and I must admit I didn’t take to Isabella as a character. It was good to read about the characters from the previous book. I didn’t enjoy this book as much as the previous one but I will read more by this author. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own. However, I did preorder my own copy.

Lady Isabella Ashby is only twenty years old, but she’s already a widow and, two years later, she is still grieving the death of her husband, whom she loved deeply. She knows she will never love somebody as she loved him and she is resigned to a life alone with her parents in Yorkshire, but, before retiring from society once and for all, she is determined to have one last fun adventure and she makes a list of things she wants to experience. The activities on her list all require the “help” of a man and for that she has chosen the kind, handsome, and noble Captain Leo Winterton. What Isabella doesn’t know is that Captain Winteron has been in love with her for the last two years, so he is very happy to help her with her list, even if he knows that, at the end, he will have to give her up.

I really enjoyed What the Lady Wants. It is swoony, spicy, entertaining, and so romantic. There are a series of misunderstandings, interfering relatives intent on match-making, sexy and steamy scenes, lots of fun and witty banter, and two fantastic protagonists. Isabella is a strong female protagonist who, throughout the novel, goes through a journey of rediscovery and development: her grief for her husband and her conflicted feelings for Leo are relatable and authentic. And Leo is a good man who would do anything for the woman he loves, even if that love is unrequited. Their love story is beautiful, exciting, and very-well written and I loved it from starting to finish!