A somewhat interesting plot but a bit too slow for the most part and towards the end just a bit convoluted. . Definitely more 🌶️ than I expected in this one

Regency romance, twin swap, horrible parents, and a touch of mystery. Overall an enjoyable read for me. The writing style really fit the era and while it's a great way to keep the reader in the moment, it can make for a slower read, just because our brains, at least mine, isn't set up for it.
Dominic was a ideal main character. He's attractive, honest, earnest, and supportive. Did he have a single fault? I'm not sure.
Meg was also a strong character. She has great love for her mother and sister, is smart, inquisitive, and a writer.
These two are a perfect match. Their banter was fun and progress through the story felt natural.
My only gripe is that I'm not a big fan of insta-love which happens happens here.
Thank you Netgalley, Boldwood Books, and Emma Orchard for the arc!

The old twin swap but this time it's in a regency setting which adds it's own twist to the troupe. I enjoyed that I got a bit of a mystery with my romance in this one.

Apparently, it was Dominic de Lacy's father's fondest wish that he should marry Maria Nightingale. He's not getting any younger, so he does propose marriage despite barely knowing the young lady. It's during celebrations for their engagement that Maria reveals she is not Maria but her twin sister Margaret. Maria has run away and once Meg is sure her flight has nothing to do with Dominic, she teams up with him to find her. Of course, the chemistry between the two is quite good and even if when they find Maria, the idea of Dominic marrying her is unthinkable.

This was another enjoyable story from Emma Orchard. It includes some serious issues but also a nice bit of romance along the way. Both Meg and Dominic are likeable characters, and we meet a variety of interesting people through the story that add color to the tale. One thing I like about Orchard's books is the way her female characters are as empowered as they might be for that time period. Really, they didn't have many rights back then, but it definitely shows ways that might have worked around their circumstances.

Overall, a good read and I rate it 3.5 stars. I would like to thank Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the free advanced reader copy. My review is totally voluntary.

3.75/5
I really enjoy Emma Orchard's prose. A lot of historical romances use way too much modern language, which she luckily does not (in fact, there is a character that uses a lot of Regency slang & it's hilarious!) but her prose isn't stuffy or stilted either. The plot is also chaotic without being too far out of the bounds of reality.

Sir Dominic has agreed to an arranged marriage that was the dying wish of his father and all seems to be going well...until he realizes that the woman at the engagement party is actually the twin sister of his betrothed and that Maria has disappeared. He agrees to help Meg track down her beloved twin while pretending that nothing is amiss...and that they aren't catching inconvenient feelings for one another.

This is almost more of a family drama than a romance, which is fun. I wasn't the biggest fan of Sir Dominic and didn't fully understand his motivations, but I did find the plot engaging even though I guessed some of the twists.

The tale of a swap, families torn apart, blackmail and secret meetings.
This book went through a rollercoaster of items between the two sisters.
Though it was a good book, it didnt grip me in a need to rush to finish it.

The story has all the elements of a great book—a Regency-era romance about an arranged marriage with a twin twist—but I couldn't get into it. Although the premise is quite interesting, it fell flat for me. Also, the writing style is not a good fit for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for sharing the ARC. This is my first Emma Orchard book, but definitely, not the last.
This Regency romance is loosely based off the 12th night. Estranged twin sisters, Maria and Margaret Nightingale, are swapped in courting Monsieur Dominic Lacy. The first half deals with a missing twin and the second half, a redemption arc for the storyline. The romance is soft, and fluid and the dysfunctional family trope is at its muddled and loveable best!

A Gentleman's Offer is a Heyer-inspired Regency romance with some Parent Trap vibes. I like Emma Orchard's books and looked forward to this one, but wasn't sure how I felt about one twin standing in for the other's engagement. It worked, though! The conflict was fun and different, but the resolution felt a little dragged out. Read this is you like bookish heroines, instalove, and unfolding mysteries. Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC!

Thank you to NetGally and the publisher for this ARC. I really enjoyed this book! I’ve read all of the others in Emma Orchard’s series, although this could definitely be read as a stand-alone book (there was only one line in the whole book that mentioned a previous couple, and not at all related to the plot).

The premise of twins switching places was fun, and I appreciated that Meg was very up-front about her identity with Dominic. There were plenty of other secrets, things to discover, and funny hijinks with them working as a team, versus working against each other! The main characters worked well together, had chemistry together (with some spice), and worked through their issues together, relying on each other. The story also tied up well together at the end. Overall, a good book, and I look forward to reading anything else this author publishes in the future!

Dominic De Lacy is indifferent to marriage however, at the age of twenty-nine, it is his duty to take a wife and his late father’s wish is that he marries Miss Maria Nightingale, a young woman he doesn’t know well but who accepts his proposal with no resistance and little enthusiasm. With the marriage only weeks away Dominic is astonished to discover that his fiancé is actually not his fiancé at all but is in fact her identical twin sister, Margaret. The reason for this subterfuge becomes evident as the story progresses and as we become more involved in the consequences of this masquerade so we get to learn more about both Dominic and Margaret (Meg).

The door opens into this regency world with all the lovely attention to detail we have come to expect from this author’s historical novels. It’s a delightful romp, beautifully imagined, with sparkling dialogue and all the wit you would associate with a classic Regency romance, and if you have to suspend belief a little, isn’t that what good fiction is all about? Stepping into this world which the author brings so vividly to life is a real delight, her characters leap fully formed from the page, taking you into their confidence and all the while tender little snippets of romance start to twirl around, making the sizzle of sexual attraction between Dominic and Meg all the more tantalising.

A Gentleman’s Offer is pure historical escapism from start to finish, I enjoyed trying to work out how all the threads would come together and I finished this lovely story with a satisfied smile.

This was a fascinating, original, and well written historical romance. A terrible father, a forced marriage, a lord, a farce of marriages, identical twins, fraud, theft, blackmail, and so many emotional, heartfelt issues, and plot twists which are extremely exciting amd engaging. I enjoyed the characters and a chemistry that can't be denied, which leads love in the right direction. The ending is lovely. I highly recommend reading!

I am of course truly grateful to be able read and review ARCs, but this was just not IT for me.

I found the characters flat and unlikeable, the mystery and love story wasn't gripping in the slightest. 😪
The language used in the book was also a bit clunky, as it seemed like the author had sought to use regency timed language and wordings, but at times in the text it just felt like it was done without thought, as it became unreadable in some sections. This might just be me, but I do not find text like that enjoyable.

I enjoy Emma Orchard's books, and have read all of them. I quite enjoyed this - though I think it lacked a bit of the sparkle of some of the previous books she's released. The story feels somewhat familiar. There are slight Heyer vibes but without some of the wit that makes her books so fun. Our hero is a slightly jaded, fastidious, weary nonpareil who gets engaged for... no real reason, to a woman he has no opinion on. He then meets her twin sister - disguised as the fiance - and can't quite work out what's changed.

Worth a read, but I would go for other Emma Orchard books first, if you haven't read any of hers! The second Lady Silverwood or A Duke of One's Own.

Received an ARC from Netgalley / Boldwood Books in return for an unbiased review!

Emma Orchard’s A Gentleman’s Offer delivers an intriguing premise filled with mistaken identities, societal expectations, and an arranged engagement that takes an unexpected turn. Sir Dominic De Lacy, a respectable and eligible bachelor, finds himself engaged to Miss Maria Nightingale—until she confesses that she’s actually her twin sister, Margaret. With Maria missing, Dominic and Margaret must work together to find her before the truth is exposed and a scandal erupts.

The novel shines in its playful, fast-paced moments, particularly as Dominic and Margaret navigate their reluctant partnership. Their dynamic is enjoyable, with sparks of wit and slow-burning attraction developing as they investigate Maria’s disappearance. The tension between duty and desire adds an interesting layer to the story.

However, the execution falls a bit flat in places. The chemistry between Dominic and Margaret, while present, doesn’t always feel fully realized, making their emotional connection less compelling than it could be. Additionally, some parts of the plot feel rushed, especially in the resolution, which ties things up too neatly after a rather drawn-out setup.

Despite these shortcomings, A Gentleman’s Offer is a pleasant Regency romance with an engaging premise and charming moments. While it doesn’t entirely stand out in the genre, it’s an enjoyable read for those who love mistaken identity tropes and slow-burn historical romances.

I got this book from Boldwood books. They contacted me, because this is right my cup of tea reading taste speaking.

I started this book on monday, and put it down because I felt the language was a bit unsuaual and it took some getting used to.
On friday I picked it up again, and read half of it, and finished it on saturday.
This book is original, funny, steamy, unpredictable, romantic, it has queer aspect to it, a fast read,and honestly(?) a pefect book in my opinion.

Well, there were a few scenes with long descrriptions of clothes that felt out of place, and at the end it seemed like there would be a big conflict and then it was quikly resolved. But mainly this book NEEDS to be read by every hist rromance, reade out there.

I will defentky be eading more, Emma Orcard books.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for granting my request to read this e-ARC and provide my honest opinions.

This book is marketed as a historical romance with a bit of mystery in it, and I was so excited to read it, but unfortunately I couldn't connect to the story and the characters. The writing style was so bad that I kept reading a line over and over, and that led to me being bored with the story and even the characters 😩.

While the plot was really good—a perfect gentleman being betrothed to Miss Nightingale; really, it is a perfect match—but there are secrets lurking that even the gentleman does not know, so you see that whilst the plot was good, the execution and the writing style just made it so difficult for me to truly connect with the characters and the story.

Overall, I really wanted to like this one, but I just couldn't; it was so overly descriptive and boring that I couldn't care for even the love interest. Thank you once again for the e-ARC.

This story is a lot of fun. It's got a twin switch, unusual characters, and very dry humor. It is not a quick read, but it is certainly amusing.

Fun characters, spicy moments and great plot

I am really enjoying Emma Orchard's books and A Gentleman's Offer has got to be my favorite so far! It is full of mystery, fun characters, spicy moments, a great plot, and somewhat exposes how things were really done in the early 1800's. I read it in about 24 hours, it was so engaging! Highly recommended!

Thank you to the publisher who lent me a time-constrained e-arc via Netgalley with no obligation. This review is optional and my own opinion.

📖 Title: A Gentleman's Offer-a standalone

✍🏾 Author: Emma Orchard- I read The Viscount and the Thief and gave it 5⭐

📅Publication date: 3/22/25 | Read: 3/21/25

📃 Format: eBook 318 pgs.

Genre:
*Historical Fic
*Regency Romance

Tropes:
*arranged marriage
*age gap- 29/18
*family drama
*friends to lovers
*journey companions
*sapphic romance
*secret identity
*slow burn romance
*Shakespeare re-imagining-Twelfth Night

👆🏾POV: 3rd person

⚠️TW: prostitution-mentioned, homophobia

🌎 Setting: London 1817

Summary: Dominic has come to claim his betrothed- Marie Nightingale. He discovers that Marie has run away, and her identical sister Meg has assumed her identity. Meg wants Dom to help her find Marie and spend their time falling in love.


👩🏾 Heroine: Margaret "Meg" Nightingale

👨🏾 Hero: Dominic De Lacy

🎭 Other Characters:

* Marie-Meg's twin sister
*Hannah-Meg's maid
*Francis-Meg and Marie's half brother
*Lord Nightingale/Augustus-Meg's father
*Lady Nightingale/Hermione-Meg's mother
*Aunt Greystone-Lord Nightingale's sister


🤔 My Thoughts: I loved the secret identity/hidden truths that came with Meg and Dominic. Francis was the MVP taking over and elevating their families.

Rating: 4/5 ✨
Spice level 2/5 🌶️kissing, off page

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