Opposites Attract trope, I enjoyed it. The characters made obviously wrong (to the reader) decisions a few times, but in ways that did make some sense for them. I smiled or chuckled repeatedly. Overall I liked both main characters and was happy to go along with their love story. ( )

After being seduced into a sham marriage by a much older man when she was just 16, Lady Yasmin Regnier has refused to hang her head in shame. She stayed at the French court and then, when she was older, moved on to England to live with her maternal Grandfather in his Ducal residence. People aren’t aware of the exact details there, unlike everyone in France. So she has more freedom to be upbeat self. Yasmin has made a splash with her daring French fashions and lighthearted personality. But through bitter experience she has also learned not to trust someone’s flattering words or obvious admiration.

Perhaps that’s why she’s so drawn to Giles Renwick, Earl of Lilford. He always seems to disapprove of her, despite dancing at least once with her at every ball.

This is a lovely, lighthearted, not enemies to lovers, but skeptics to lovers romance. It’s not going to challenge you. There’s nothing very scary or dire going on. It’s a pleasant diversion. It’s as light and breezy as Lady Yasmin, herself. Like that charming friend you like to go shopping and grab a coffee with. It’s comforting and reassuring and all comes out nicely in the end. If you really want a lovely escape with nice people, this is the book for you. ( )

Eh. I liked the first book in the series a lot but this did not do it for me. Giles is an idiot and walks through life never questioning anything including a terribly written sibling whose nastiness is telegraphed every which way to everyone who can breathe and yet it escapes this man we are supposed to think is smart. Yasmine is peerless in her priggishness but dresses like a courtesan. Her mother is in love with Napoleon, so she is apparently genetically predisposed to have bad taste in men. She is also sloppily written so that the only attribute one identify is a good rack. Everything that happens is predictable from about page 20. Yawn. ( )

I am posting an honest review after reading an advanced reader copy of this story.

A scandal in two courts. Poor Lady Yasmin hasn't had an easy time of it. Her parents are both self-absorbed & not very parental. Her English grandfather is a hoot & easy going for a duke. Yasmin does the best she can to go out to balls and ton events and ignore the comments said to her face & behind her back, or a fan. There's a fool me once attitude that you'll realize is with good reason. Giles is an earl with family scandals in his past too. He's stuck up and trying to be perfect so he can restore the family name. His sister is a class a bi*ch who does awful things to ruin his relationship. Boo, hiss. Giles finally has an epiphany and realizes that he'd rather choose love over perfect, it took an anvil falling on his head to smarten up. He just has to convince Yasmin to take a chance on him, love, & marriage.

#netgalley #EloisaJames #TheReluctantCountess #historicalromance #romance #AvonBooks #HarperCollins ( )

I miss the Wildes, but the Wallflowers are a pretty great bunch. Yes, it does feel like modern feminism transplanted to a historical setting, and the Earl takes a lot of energy to like, but the characters are appealing, and the drama is satisfying.

Advanced Reader's Copy Provided by Edelweiss. ( )