This was such an unexpected historical romance, it kept me guessing and I loved the twists and turns! I loved the story of Sophie and Lord Drake from start to finish! Sophie (who has another identity but I'll let you discover that for yourself) is a lady's maid and she skillfully wins a position in the Wyverne household tending to Drake's grandmother. The two women strike up a lovely rapport and yet Sophie has another reason for being at Wyverne Hall. What is it? Will she succeed? Will anyone else find out? And if they do, will they turn her over or help her in her plans?

Lots of fun with all the period pieces you love!

I enjoyed my reading of The Viscount and the Thief a lot 🙂

*strong female lead
*a highborn son intent on not being like his father

While I’m generally not a fan of insta-love, Sophie and Drake getting involved more quickly wasn’t disappointing - the banter and chemistry between the two is witty and fun, and the entire story is well written, well paced, and kept me turning the pages.

Characters are well fleshed out and I especially appreciated Grandmère.

This was my first time reading Ms Orchard’s work; it definitely won’t be the last.




Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the DRC

As always, thanks to Boldwood Books for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC!

I love a period piece! It's my life mission to watch and read them all. This story had great "bones". The plot was great. I was excited to dive into the story...but in the end, all it was was good "bones" with no meat and saggy skin. The story was equivalent to a Victorian Hallmark Spanish novela. Overly dramatic and cheesy. I was laughing when I should have been swooning.

Are you ready for sassy, sweet, and spicy Sophie Delavallois? Sophie is the newest (of many) companions to the Dowager Marchioness whose main duties are to keep the nearly 100 year old dowager company and read her "dirty" books aloud in French! However, Sophie has a personal reason for seeking employment in this household - revenge against Lord Wyverne whom she holds responsible for her parents and younger brothers deaths.

Naturally, there are hiccups in Sophie's plan, namely the Lord's son, Drake - a dashing young man who is devoted to his elderly grandmother and loathes his father and stepmother. Lord Wyverne and his wife are not accepted into society as members for a variety of reason that you will find a bit racy as you read this book. To complicate things, Sophie grows fond of the dowager and realizes that Drake is nothing like his lecherous father or "loose morals" stepmother.

This was a fun, funny, spicy read!

Captivating Romance

Sophie’s life had changed since the first moment she met Drake, she was now a different person with a different agenda and looking after his grandmother who she soon learned to love was the first step!

An entertaining romantic read with wonderful character and I especially liked the Dowager and her views.

Sophie had become an independent woman not to be messed with and with Drake they made the perfect match.

I loved the way their love story unfolded and how the tenderness and passion between them shone through the book. A delightful read!

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was an entertaining and fast read. The story works well for me, as it does not focus mainly on the romance. It has a refreshing style and an original plot. Sophie and Rave are likeable characters and have depth to them.

Keep in mind this book is not appropriate for younger readers.

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

The Viscount and Thief is a captivating period romance that weaves intrigue, romance, and societal expectations into a delightful story. It follows the love story between Rafe, a viscount with secrets, and Sophie, a determined and independent woman who challenges the norms of her time.

One of the standout characters for me was the dowager. I loved how liberal she was in her views—something rare and refreshing for the time period. Her progressive attitude added depth to the story, and she quickly became one of my favorite parts of the novel. However, there were a few sections of the plot that didn’t quite resonate with me. Some scenes seemed included solely to demonstrate a point about a character's personality, but they felt a little out of place and time.

I really enjoyed Sophie as a strong female lead—her wit, independence, and resilience were inspiring. The love story between her and Rafe was, for the most part, well-written, with their relationship unfolding in a way that felt natural and engaging. Again, some parts of Rafe’s and Sophie’s storyline, especially early on, seemed a bit uncomfortable and maybe far fetched for the time period.

I would recommend The Viscount and Thief to anyone who enjoys period romances and seeing strong women take center stage. It’s was a satisfying read from start to finish. 3.5/5 stars

First of all, I would like to thank Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC in exchange of an honest review.
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What caught my attention when applying for this book arc was the cute cover and the title with the “thief” in it. I thought this would be your typical romcom style book but in the regency era, nothing out of the ordinary. However, this book was nothing like I was expecting (in a good way I swear).

Despite the cute cover and the funny scenes in the book (most of them courtesy of Grand-mère being an icon) the book was a little “darker” than you would expect. It is a story set away from the glittering and magical balls with debutantes and ruthless mamas ready to find a good match for their daughters. The story is very involving, getting me hooked up since the very first pages of the prologue. I really enjoyed the author’s writing style, with the more formal language, the size of the paragraphs and the chapters; they were not overly long to take up space nor so short that made you suffer whiplash and wonder what happened. They were well connected and kept the sense of continuity to the story.

I had also never been so anxious while reading a regency book lmao. I was on the edge of my seat during the entire time that Sophie was putting her plan in motion to steal the jewels and then later when she had to get them out of the Wyverne Mansion.
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Concerning the characters, Sophie was so interesting! She is not your typical naive regency fmc, as a result of certain circumstances that forced her to face the harsh reality that most debutantes and genteel women of society were not expected to come in contact with. Despite all that she suffered she maintained her principles and turned out to be a strong woman. She actually reminded me a bit of Sophie Beckett from Bridgerton.

Drake is not your typical brooding love interest either, but actually a really sweet and generous man who was forced to put on a mask to make sure his awful father, the Marquess of Wyverne, did not hurt anyone that he cared about. In some part, his initial interactions with Sophie actually reminded me of Show!Kathony, so if you enjoy these characters you’re sure to root for Drake and Sophie in this book.

This romance is definitely not a slow burn, and Sophie’s true identity is revealed very early in the show (and in a way that made me laugh in disbelief because I was not expecting it to happen that way lmao) which surprised me. I had thought that the reveal would drag a little and cause some misunderstandings and angst, but Emma Orchard went with a totally different approach. Nonetheless, the romance is skilfully written and the spicy scenes do not feel forced or added just for the sake of it, harmoniously inserted in the plot, with the characters motivations being well developed and in sync with the main plot.

It did bother me a tiny bit how quickly they started to get involved — as I mentioned before, it’s not a slow burn so it felt a little like insta love. Although I do wanted the story to have a bit of progress before their involvement, just a sprinkle of slow burn, it is not something that hinders the book or makes the story move too fast. The pining and tension are really off the charts, making it impossible not to see their chemistry.
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In summary, this is a fun mysterious and spicy read for those who like regency books or would like to start reading them! Definitely a solid 4 (four) out of 5 (five) stars in my opinion!

I liked the premise of this book but the execution was a little disappointing.

Sophie became a lady’s companion to a dowager marchioness so she could ruin the Wyverne family. As it turned out the dowager and her grandson, the marquis’s heir, were not as evil as she had expected.

I had a few issues with this book but there were parts that I enjoyed. The story itself is not bad, I like revenge driven drama 😈. The romance fits nicely too, even though I wish there were more buildup (that first kiss? 🤬😤). The side characters and subplots could use some fine-tuning though. The villain was so grotesque and his relationships so contrived that it was impossible to take it all seriously. Why did he marry that actress? He could have kept her as his mistress, which was the way things were done at the time. Why did he insist on keeping his mother close? He was not capable of loving anyone, so that could not have been the reason.

All the Wyverne family dynamic was weird and not adding up. The grandma was presented as this wonderful, warm soul, but her son was so evil that she didn’t love him anymore. Uhm what. He was her son! 🤷‍♀️ She had other children and grandchildren, but she was not in touch with them because she lived with the son she hated. 😐 She loved that one grandson, the heir, the one who grew up without a mother, only with the psychopath father. Probably because he was, despite his traumatic childhood, such a great guy.

I liked the fmc Sophie, she was smart and feisty and the best character in this book. Rafe was okay, but he did a few things that didn’t sit well with me and they were not addressed afterwards, so 😬.

All in all it could have been better but not a total disaster so three stars.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Sophie’s world fell apart eight years ago, and she turned to a life of crime and theft to survive. She has now worked her way into the Wyverne household as companion to the aged Dowager. She’s there to get revenge on the evil Lord Wyverne. Along the way, she meets his son, Rafe. She assumes he is just as depraved as his father – or is he?

I enjoyed this book. Sophie is a strong woman, determined in her mission, yet not so single-minded that she ignores everything else. Rafe is caught between the bad reputation of his family name and protecting his innocent family members.

I struggled a bit with the writing style and sentence structure at first, but I got used to it soon enough.

The book was everything one would hope for in a regency romance!

A delightful read from start to finish! Thank you to Netgalley and the author for an ARC, I enjoyed this delightful little romantic romp.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC

Another fantastic book from Emma Orchard. Her historical romances are a pleasure to read. They're entertaining and easy to sink your teeth into. I get so lost in the plot and characters that the pages fly by. I highly recommend her novels if you're looking for a amazing historical romance.

Bridgerton meets Oceans eleven

The Marquise of Wyverne is a truly deplorable and evil villain, the ringmaster for scandalous goings-on in the Wyverne mansion. His son, the staid Lord Drake, endeavors to be as different from his father as he can possibly be, and is no stranger to scandal. He has been abstinent to provide a role model for his step siblings and aid his gradmere, the Dowager Marchioness, in surviving this hellscape.

Enter Sophie Delavallois, the new companion to the ageing Dowager Marchioness, with a heart of gold and a thirst for vengence - against the Marquise who stole her inheritance, her childhood and her family! A grand scheme is concocted in unsavory back alleys that brings Sophie and Drake face to face. Sparks ensue and suspicions are aroused - what ensues is a steamy Victorian tale of revenge, most intense.

Will the aftermath of the scheme bring Sophie her heart's true desire or leave everything is more disrepair than ever before.

The only downside to the entire tale is there is no backstory as to why the Marquise is so dastardly! Thank you Emma Orchard for this diverting tale and Boldwood Books for sharing the ARC!

I do enjoy a good regency romp and this one hit the mark.
Sophie is a former society lady, forced into a life of crime after losing her family. The story follows her as she plots to steal back a valuable family heirloom from disgraced Marquess Wyverne, unexpectedly finding herself drawn to his much more amenable son, Lord Drake.
Full of Spice with a bit of adventure on the side.

Sophie Delavallois arrives at Wyverne mansion as the companion to the Dowager Marchioness, harbouring a secret motive that could devastate the family. Lord Drake returns to his childhood home to visit his beloved grandmother and is unexpectedly captivated by Sophie, feeling a strange familiarity. Though drawn to Drake, Sophie must resist him, as she seeks revenge on the Wyverne family. As her plans unfold, she grapples with whether he will be her saviour or her ruin.
Emma Orchard’s books are always beautifully written with believable characters. There is also great attention to the details of the period which I like. Sophie and Drake are a memorable couple and their romance is believable. Sophie is a strong woman and Drake is a perfect match for her.
The secondary characters are well fleshed out. I loved the Dowager. Rafe’s father and stepmother are genuinely awful people and the resolution is highly satisfying.
I received an advanced review copy from Netgalley and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I thought this was brilliant- a really gripping story line as Sophie sought revenge and the villain- Lord Wyverne- genuinely set me on edge and had me worried at times about what he would do if he discovered Sophie was responsible for the thievery. Nate was a great character too, and Fred and the viscount was particularly dreamy and just a generally all round excellent character.
I thoroughly enjoyed this- thank you!

"The Viscount and the Thief" by Emma Orchard is a compelling romance set in the Regency era that we all know and love so well. It was so good, I read it in a single Sunday. Taking place in the spring of 1811, the story follows Sophie Delavallois, a smart, strong young woman with a secret plan, as she becomes the new companion for the Dowager Marchioness at Wyverne Hall. There, she meets Lord Drake, the mysterious Viscount, who feels a strong connection to her and is sure he knows her from somewhere. As their attraction deepens, Sophie is not quite torn between her desire for revenge and her growing feelings for Drake, but it makes her plan more difficult to pull off.

Orchard’s writing features clever dialogue and well-developed characters, making the chemistry between Sophie and Drake exciting and full of tension. The romance unfolds at a good pace, keeping readers eager for more. The story is filled with intrigue and unexpected twists, as secrets come to light and characters’ true intentions are revealed. Orchard also pays attention to the details of the Regency period, bringing it to life in an enjoyable way.

This book will resonate with fans of "Bridgerton," Julia Quinn, and anyone who enjoys passionate historical romances mixed with a bit of mystery. Readers who like complex characters, family secrets, and redemption stories will find plenty to enjoy in "The Viscount and the Thief."

It's important to mention that even though the cheerful cover might seem quite innocent, I consider the book a 4 out of 5 for spice, as it includes adult themes that aren't suitable for younger teens. This engaging story is best for adult readers looking for a sensual and thrilling Regency adventure.

Thank you to both Boldwood Books & Net Galley for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

If you’re craving a historical romance packed with fiery passion, hidden agendas, and just the right amount of intrigue, then this one’s got your name on it! Orchard masterfully spins a tale that keeps you glued to every page. The chemistry between Sophie and Drake is off the charts—it's intense, electric, and layered with suspense that’ll keep you guessing. The steamy moments are perfectly placed, enhancing their connection without ever stealing the spotlight from the plot. Sophie’s inner battle between her thirst for revenge and her undeniable attraction to Drake is what really cranks up the tension. Add in the witty, engaging dialogue, and you’ve got characters that leap off the page with their natural chemistry. This is one love story you won’t want to put down!

Thank you to both Boldwood Books & Net Galley for an eARC.


#TheViscountandtheThief #NetGalley

I’m writing this review and I’m still smiling from what I read at the end. This story is full of drama, suspense, chilling, romantic, steamy and entertaining moments…honestly, it had it all. I love the book in spite of the cruelty and distressing scenes.

Clemance de Montfaucon is the daughter of a French Duke who emigrated to England in war times. In order for her to have a season where she could meet a wealthy husband and save her family from poverty, her father needed to sell his most precious heirloom. Obviously, he contacted the wrong man and lost not only his exquisite jewel but his pride and family’s future.

Rafael, Lord Drake, is the son of Lord Wyvern who is a despicable member of the ton who loves scandal and has tainted his family name for years or at least since Rafe was a child. What his father has done to him is something as disturbing and disgusting as you can never imagine a Father can do to his son.

Clemance and Rafe encounter each other eight years after their first meeting and before their life turn 360 degrees. Now, they need to fight their past, their feelings for revenge but above all, their misconception that their past will shape their future.

This book was a page turner from the beginning until te end. I’m so grateful to NetGalley, the publisher and author for allowing me to read this ARC.

This one should have been more fun than it was based on the summary but I just found it a bit boring although it did have it’s moments