Might not have been for me

Officially, Sophie is the Dowager's new companion. But she is really in the Wyverne's mansion to get her revenge. Until she meets Lord Drake, returning to his childhood home only to visit his grandmother. The instant he sees her, he knows there's something about her, even if he can't seem to figure it out. Drawn together despite the situation, Sophie is determined not to fall for the enemy and enact her revenge.

I found the premice of this book quite intriguing. The one-sided enemies to lovers, the woman endorsing a false identity to get revenge for her family, it was all very promising and exciting. I did enjoy the story overall, but not as much as I expected. The romance felt a bit rushed, and the spice came too quickly for my taste in a regency romance, but that's personal. I found some aspects of the spice/romance quite cringy and weird at times, which kind of threw me off and disturbed my reading. As for the relationship in itself, it felt a bit rushed and like the characters didn't really know one another even at the end of the book. I did however enjoy the revenge plot and Drake's reaction when he learned the truth. All in all, it could have been great, but it wasn't for me, I think.

If you like regency romance with spice and an interesting subplot, maybe you could give this one a chance!

“None of this would be so hard if you didn’t love me as much as I love you.”

Also known as For the Viscount’s Eyes Only, this is the third book I have enjoyed by this author. Sophie Delavallois has arrived at Wyverne Hall as the new companion to the aged Dowager Marchioness, but she is not what she seems. She is really there to take her revenge on the Marquis for his previous behaviour towards her father, which left the family destitute and forced her into a very different life in order to survive.
Lord Drake (the Viscount of the title) is suspicious of Sophie to begin with, though there is something familiar about her that he cannot quite put his finger on. She doesn’t trust him either as his reputation has been tarnished by his father’s despicable behaviour. She is drawn to him, but cannot allow herself to be distracted. Rafe has distanced himself from his father, and usually only goes to Wyverne Hall to visit his beloved grandmother – now he also needs to make sure that Sophie comes to no harm.
There is none of the usual miscommunication here, as he discovers what she plans to do. Unlike a lot of novels set in the Regency period, The Viscount and the Thief has more to it than just another tale of debutantes attending balls in the hope of finding a rich husband – there is a lot of tension as Sophie tries to execute her part of the plan. Despite the life she has been forced to live, the reader is on Sophie’s side. The story is told from the perspectives of Sophie and Rafe, so we get insight into what is going on – both sides of the story. I have enjoyed all this author’s books and look forward to her next one. Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for a digital copy to review.

Heat Factor: Oral on the castle roof, and no, that’s not a euphemism

Character Chemistry: Instant connection

Plot: Dealing with a Bad Dad of Romance

Overall: This is a high tension book that went in an unexpected direction

So this was originally published as The Viscount and the Thief (since it only came out in November, I’m not sure when the title changed). That title does capture a central conflict—that Rafe is a viscount and Sophie is planning on stealing all of the family jewels—but does not convey how ultimately unimportant that conflict ends up being. Despite the conflict not going the way I expected, I was absolutely riveted by the tension in the first half of the book.

The tension starts immediately, with a masterful use of villain POV. Yes, it is I, Holly, who loathes villain POV, praising its use. Most of the Prologue is told from Rafe’s perspective, as he navigates a ball and dances with a young woman. But then, in the final two paragraphs, we switch perspectives to an older man—Rafe’s father—watching the dancers. And he’s not watching them with the doting eyes of a father dreaming of a match for his son, but as a hunter stalking his prey.

End scene.

This moment works well to build tension in that we see that there are stakes, but not what they will be. What exactly is this Bad Dad after? Is he out to sabotage his son? Or is he after the young woman? In addition, we don’t get so deep into the POV that we fall into the traps of villain perspectives that really drive me up the wall, ie, the Mr. Burns hands while we think about our dastardly plans.

Orchard successfully builds on this tension throughout the first half of the book. We meet Sophie, who creates a false identity to get a job as a companion to Rafe’s grandmother. We meet her handler, and know that she’s going in to steal…something. We go with Sophie to the ancestral castle where she’ll be working, which is simultaneously enormous and claustrophobic. We watch as Rafe circles around Sophie, certain that something is off about her. We see hints of debauchery in the background, as Bad Dad does his Bad Dad routine. All of this works together to ratchet up the stakes.

The tension still holds when we get our first plot twist: about a third of the way into the book, Rafe figures out who Sophie really is and why she’s there…and he doesn’t care. In fact, he decides to help her rob his father! Now, instead of the conflict pushing Sophie and Rafe apart, it’s pushing them together, as they team up against a common opponent. Have I mentioned that Rafe’s dad, is, like, the worst?

The heist itself happens about halfway through the book, which is odd in terms of pacing, but still works because while Sophie has the jewels in her possession, she can’t actually leave the house.

However, I do want to pause a moment and talk about the circumstances of the theft. So Bad Dad has a Bad Wife, who is very vulgar. Bad Wife wears all her jewels all the time, in a very vulgar way. Now, Bad Wife is going to engage in a ho-off à la Messalina (or, for those who read Old Skool, à la Niall’s Bad Wife in Skye O’Malley), so Sophie removes all of the jewelry from Bad Wife’s naked body after she passes out in the ballroom, having won the ho-off after servicing 25 men. Even though Orchard very clearly has Sophie reflect on Bad Wife’s potential lack of consent in this situation, the whole thing was gross and over the top. Why are romance villains so extremely terrible? Why can’t they just be like, normal levels of terrible? Being awful can be mundane.

Anyways, after the jewel theft the tension shifts again, as the setting becomes more and more claustrophobic. At this point, Sophie and Rafe are full-on danger banging while they play cat and mouse with Bad Dad, who is aggressively working to ferret out the thief.

I am planning on getting spoilery here, so here’s your note that it’s time to bail if you don’t want them.

About two-thirds into the book, there’s a big showdown between Sophie, Rafe, Sophie’s handler, and Bad Dad. Sophie is discovered! Secrets are revealed! And Bad Dad…dies. From shock. In his bed, after the fact. It’s very anticlimactic.

At this point, all of the tension goes out of the story. This final conflict shift, as Sophie and Rafe now have to address the opposition between them that they pushed aside to danger bang, doesn’t quite work. Now, instead of figuring out how to manage their external problem while also sometimes angsting about how their relationship has an end-date, they spend all their time angsting about how their relationship is impossible—even though their biggest obstacle is now out of the picture. Actually, Sophie spends all of her time angsting about how impossible the relationship is, and Rafe is trying to convince her that she’s wrong. And then “accidentally” manipulating her into seeing she’s wrong. (He announces that they’re engaged when his brother shows up.) I’m making the dynamic sound more lopsided than it actually is, because they do work out their problems by having a long, drawn-out heart to heart and I didn’t feel like Sophie stayed in the end because she felt she had to.

I don’t want to make it sound like I disliked this book, because despite it getting stuck towards the end, I did enjoy it. The voice is great—it’s just staid enough to telegraph historical romance without being wooden or overwritten. The characters are interesting, and despite the nonsense surrounding the Bad Dad and his overwrought machinations, they do have compelling forces pushing them apart and beleivable chemistry pulling them together. In short, even if this book wasn’t perfect, there was enough good here that I would read another book by this author.

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.

In this fantastic new and spicy Regency romance novel, Emma Orchard works her magic to bring Sophie Delavallois to life in spring 1811. The new companion to a dowager marchioness, Sophie has several secrets behind her job and working for the matron of Wyverne Hall. Lord Drake, the marchioness’s grandson, rarely returns to Wyverne, but his latest visit when he meets Sophie is strange because she seems vaguely familiar. Here on a mission of revenge, Sophie cannot act on her attraction towards Drake because it will only get in the way of her plan, but the best plans are not foolproof, and Drake may play a different role in Sophie’s story. With two excellent narrators and well-written and spicy interactions between them, readers will love this new Regency romance for its passionate and exciting plot and the fantastic character development. The characters are the star of the novel, and Sophie is a complex and deeply enjoyable protagonist with great motivations and a clever mind. The atmosphere of a house party and various Regency tropes and situations only add to the historical element of this romance novel, and readers will love the ways in which Sophie and Drake interact and grow over the course of this fantastic new title.

I’ve seen and heard about the books by this author because they keep popping up anytime I see anything about Bridgerton. This made me curious so when this book popped onto my radar I was too tempted to turn it down and I’m glad I didn’t. I loved this book, it drew me in from the first pages and though I started reading it late one evening I was tempted to keep going all night. It’s one of those books that has you thinking, just one more chapter, a few more pages, and next thing you know you’ve read half the book or only have 10% left according to your kindle, and it seems silly to stop reading there.

I liked Sophie, Drake and the Dowager Marchioness. All of them are strong, solid characters who find themselves in positions that they would rather not be in, for various reasons, though all are connected to Lord Wyverne. The way they dealt with their situations were fitting I felt, for the time period and in some cases quite dramatic. There’s a lot in this story including plenty of drama and tension which I hadn’t expected. I thought there would be some drama given the title and the blurb but I hadn’t expected as much as there was, but again it was fitting.

The descriptions of the house, the rooms used and even the grounds were brilliantly clear. I have very vivid imagery in my head when I read and when reading this book I could clearly see the little details described, for example in Lord Drake’s bedroom, even down to the pattern on the wallpaper, I also felt all the tension and worry of the characters as events unfolded in the book. When this is what my reading experience is like, then I know it’s a really good book.

If you’re looking for a period drama, something with some tension, a bit of spice and a read that will keep you wondering then this book is definitely worth checking out.

For a romance book, this was so surprising in a number of positive ways. There doesn't seem to be any of the usual tropes present and it was a very pleasant read. Sophie and Rafe were fantastic characters and did the unexpected. Just when I thought that Sophie would object or withdraw or be horrified, she turned out to be quite the opposite in a way that made her a superb protagonist and thoroughly 'modern' woman of the times.

Without any spoilers, I assumed that there would be a power play of wickedness or some underhanded plot that a certain character would use to assert dominance. Pleasantly, the story went in a different direction. Just when I thought that certain things were bound to happen, being a romance genre, they didn't and others did. A very fresh perspective and one I greatly valued.

It was beautifully written and I found it quite hard to stop reading once I had started. This is my third read from Emma Orchard and I must say I have thoroughly enjoyed them all!
4.5 stars rounded to 5. Thank you to Netgalley, and Boldwood books for allowing me the chance to read an ARC. All opinions are my own.

If you’re a fan of period dramas, this book delivers a light, enjoyable read brimming with Regency charm. The story had a solid foundation—a promising plot with an engaging setup. The author does an excellent job capturing the spirit of Regency England, crafting a lively tale with a colorful cast of characters. While not all were particularly likable, the Marchioness stood out as someone I’d love to meet in real life.

Though the story leaned into melodrama and cheesiness, it carried a certain charm—like a Victorian Hallmark Spanish telenovela. Some moments were so over-the-top they made me laugh instead of swoon, but the quirky tone added to its appeal.

With plenty of intrigue, simmering romance, and a hint of danger, this is an adorable, easy read that kept me engaged until the end. If you enjoy playful Regency mysteries with a dash of theatrics, this one is worth a try. I’m already looking forward to Emma Orchard’s next adventure!

“She had defended herself with ease –she didn’t need him to save her.”

Once again, For the Viscount’s Eyes Only was a delight to read. Emma Orchard has this way with words that brings you into the Regency Area, without overwhelming you. That’s the perfect balance that allows the story to be immersive but still fast paced enough to want to turn page after page (and, before you realize, this is the last one).
This novel doesn’t make an exception. Sophie is another strong MFC. I loved the hidden identities motif, but also how she can openly talk about this and all her past with Drake (and his with her). No miscommunication trope here, instead there are a lot of mysteries to solve, problems to get around, complicated people to deal with. I loved her strength(s), how resolute she is to get her revenge, but also how her feelings evolve afterwards. As often in Emma Orchard’s novel, Drake is very empowering and let her act, even though he is scared for her… because he TRUSTS her (so many feelings!). If you read for the steam, you’ll also find your scenes too.
The cast of side characters is amazing in its diversity, with a special mention to Drake’s father (who is super scary), and his amazing grandmother. I adored her. All these characters help to question the notion of Family, Appearances, Honor and Legacy. What does it change for someone to reject or to embrace their History? Does it define them?
With all that, the many plot twists and turns, and the French Heritage of many characters in the story, it felt like “Dangerous Liaisons” and Dumas’ novels had a romance novel baby. I loved every page.

Thank you Boldwood Books, Emma Orchard and Netgalley for the ARC. My opinions are my own.

Sophie is hired as a companion for the Dowager of Wyverne, but it's not her true job. She's a thief. The plan is to steal all of the Marquess of Wyverne's jewels, including a necklace stolen from her family, eight years ago. Rafael's father, Lord Wyverne, is more wicked than rumors suspect. He and his third wife together are not acceptable to Society. Gossip accuses Rafe of having an affair with his step-mother. It's entirely revolting to him. Drawn to each other, Rafe remembers Sophie's real identity. The young lady he danced with at a ball eight years ago. Once again drawn to her, it isn't long before they begin an affair. A thief and an a heir. What kind of life could they have together? Full of tension and revelations.
Descriptive sex.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book from NetGalley.

The Viscount and the Thief is a sweet, clever, and surprisingly suspenseful Regency-era romance. Read this is you like a strong, capable FMC, instalove, heists, and saucy grandmas.

Sophie is not who she seems. She’s waited years to get her revenge on the man who stole her family’s fortune and took everything from her and now she’s been employed by him and has her chance. The only problem is, will Lord Wyverne’s son be a distraction from her plan?

This was my first historical romance by this author. The plot was unique and fun, especially for the genre. I thought the execution was a little rough. It felt very long winded at times and it caused the pacing to be off. Sometimes it felt so fast paced and interesting and other times I felt like i was being drug through the story. Overall, i liked the characters and the romance. I thought the spicy scenes were well written.

Thank you so much to Netgalley, Emma Orchard and Boldwood publishing for the ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions in my review are honest, voluntary and my own.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It gave me Bridgerton vibes but with a twist. It had the spice but the revenge plot and mystery made it so much fun to read. It really was a fun read, and I can't wait for more from Emma Orchard. I recommend this to all those regency romance readers out there. Its a good read for a rainy day.

Thank you Net Galley ARC and Boldwood Books

Dark, steamy, mysterious, gripping- Emma Orchard’s new novel has it all. Sophie’s plan for revenge is almost fool-proof, except for one notorious viscount who is determined to find out who she is at all costs.

as a lover of period romantic dramas, this was a warm welcome and i enjoyed it for the most part - some things fell a little flat and confusing but it was a fun story nonetheless

💕Review: The Viscount and the Thief

☕Rated: 5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

📖 Characters: I absolutely adored this book! The characters are the perfect recipe for the perfect kind of romantic regency entertainment! Sophie and Lord Drake had my heart from the word go! With her sweet determination and heart mixed with his sexy Mr. Darcy mixed manner of sugar and spice! This book was everything and more!

🍾Details: When our young female hero is determined to get back what was taken from her family she will stop at nothing! Even pull a emotional masquerade and pretend to be someone she's not to get the revenge that she seeks. However a wrench is thrown into her plans when she encounters and starts developing feelings for our male hero Lord Drake 🫢 On top of it she is seeking revenge against his family! ( No spoilers!) Lol


💕Extra Details: The romance was beyond spicy! Beyond everything I wanted and more! A plot to take back what belongs to our female hero too! Can you imagine a mechanical brain? So used to moving and switching gears that she forgets she's human? That's what it takes for Sophie to move forward! Falling in love! Twist and turns take place, truths or revealed, and love is found!


Bravo! 🎆

What an interesting combination of historical romance and mystery!
Both the main characters and the story itself are well written and entertaining.
Overall, 'The Viscount and the Thief' is an intriguing read full of romance, mystery, revenge, and of course, love.

The overall story was interesting if not a bit difficult to read due to how truly horrible Rafe's was. I don't see it was necessary to make him such a horrible human being, but it certainly did provide reason for everyone's hate.
I'm not sure...I think the writing just wasn't it for me. I was able to skip through and still understand the story progression and the romance development between Rafe and Sophie.
Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity.

I am not quite sure why this story was a difficult read for me. I did find it to be slow in parts which made the story drag a bit.
I did enjoy the relationship development between the two main characters.
With that said, the story does have enough intrigue and romance throughout to keep me engaged enough to finish reading the book.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Viscount and the Thief was such a fun story. It had a revenge plot at its heart, a sizzling romance and a drama filled story. It’s safe to say that I was entertained from start to finish. In this story we meet Sophie who is the new companion to Lord Drake’s grandmother. However things aren’t quite as they seem and Sophie has other plans set in motion.

The pacing of the story was very good with plenty of intrigue as to how Sophie’s plans would take shape. I really enjoyed getting to know the characters and wondering how it would all play out. Sophie was a very likeable character and I was hoping her plans were going to be successful. There was an instant connection between Sophie and Drake. Their interactions were simmering with tension and as the story progressed you definitely got some spice. Drake was a great hero with a kind but strong personality. They made for a great pairing and I was hoping that everything would turn out okay for them.

All that’s left to say is that The Viscount and the Thief had a great combination of romance and heat. Along with an engaging and entertaining plot. A great read!

A gorgeous sexy romp of a novel, truly historically entertaining and enjoyable. Emma Orchard hits the spot!