The last book in an enjoyable series, this tells the story of Emma and Samuel. Emma has been a character that I had looked forward to reading her story since she introduced in previous books, and I still enjoyed her here. The disconnect came a bit with the romance with Samuel. I didn't totally buy their romance or pairing and that reduced my enjoyment. Also I felt they were a bit too apart for a good bit of the book.

I will miss the crew and the first 2 books were really good to read.

Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for the ARC. ( )

Dark doings within the ton!

1790, Fifteen year old Emma Downing found her way to the Clifford Charity School for Wayward Girls. Her arrival was disconcerting, with “great gouts of blood” staining her dress, but as Lady Amanda Clifford noted, Emma had survived the abuse she suffered at Madame Manchard’s brothel. “That made her extraordinary. No, more than that. It made her a miracle.” The School for Wayward Girls is dedicated to bringing justice for young woman abused at the hands of the aristocracy. Now Emma will join their ranks.
Five years later, 1795, Emma is on the hunt for a nobleman who is abusing courtesans at that same establishment, the Pink Pearl.
Emma is concerned about two missing servant girls who’d disappeared from Lymington House, “and now the third, Caroline Francis, is pointing her accusing finger at Lord Lovell.” A charming young rakeshell who managed to keep the worst of bad company whilst his cousin Samuel deployed as a Captain with the Royal Navy during the war. Is Lovell capable of the level of debauchery hinted at?
Now that he’s home, Samuel Fitzroy, Marquess of Lymington is trying to help Lovell change his ways. He’s also concerned about missing servant girls and wants to talk to Caroline Francis. Sam and Emma are at Madam’s on the same night, unbeknownst to Emma.
Samuel and Emma’s paths cross frequently in their seperate investigations. Samuel knows Emma is more than she seems. Emma knows Samuel is astute and dangerous. It doesn’t help that both of them feel a strong pull of attraction. These two are at daggers drawn but maybe they should join forces, stand back to back, and turn their knives outwards towards the true culprit, when they track that person down.
Intrigue and romance. A powerful combination. I must say I loved the chemistry between Sam and Emma! I loved Emma’s repartee, so unsuitable for the debutante she’s supposed to be. But then she is an “original”.

A Kensington Books ARC via NetGalley
Please note: Quotes taken from an advanced reading copy maybe subject to change ( )

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

Bewitched is book 4 in Ms Bradley's The Swooning Virgins Society. Emmy will make you want to cry, her life was a horror story come true. Mrs. Clifford saved her in more ways than one. She's a little jaded & cynical but hasn't forgotten her girlhood wishes. She's also not a simpering English virgin but plays one very well. Samuel is a military man & that's hard to let go, in real life too. He's rigid & his smile is more like a grimace, he's forgotten how to enjoy himself, laugh & smile. They're an unlikely pair but in the end it works out. I read this book in one evening, straight through. I rarely do that so I can honestly say I enjoyed the story.

#AnnaBradley #TheSwooningVerginsScoiety #TheVirginWhoBewitchedLordLymington #Lyrical Press #historicalromance ( )

Barbara’s rating: 3.7 of 5 Stars
Series: The Swooning virgins Society #4
Publication Date: 11/2/21
Period: Georgian – 1795 London
Number of Pages: 377

Lady Amanda Clifford runs the Clifford Charity School For Wayward Girls. Each of the girls who have been featured in the series was found in truly dire circumstances and has been taught to be strong, resourceful young ladies. They have also been taught to have a strong sense of vengeance and respect for justice. Five years ago, fifteen-year-old Emma Downing was the fourth girl rescued by Lady Amanda and possibly the most damaged by her circumstances. Now, it is Emma’s turn to take on an assignment for the school and it will take all of her skills and talents to succeed.

It seems maids have been disappearing off the country estate of Samuel Fitzroy, the Marquess of Lymington and no trace of any of them have been found – until one turns up as a courtesan at Madam Marchand’s brothel. That maid, Caroline Frances, shares a tale of a Lord who seduced and debauched her, then left her on the steps of Madam Marchands. She even names the Lord who did the deed. It is now up to Emma to investigate Lancelot Banning, Viscount Lovell, and come up with the evidence to either exonerate him or convict him. To do that, Emma will live with Lady Amanda’s friend Lady Crosby and pretend to be her granddaughter, Emma Crosby, who just happens to be on the continent with her father.

Lord Lovell is the cousin of Lord Lymington and the two of them grew up together – in the same house. They are more like brothers than cousins and Samuel is very protective of Lovell. When a young debutante (Emma) starts flirting with Lovell, Samuel warns her away because he knows Lovell is head-over-heels in love with Lady Flora.

Samuel nor Lovell have any idea that Emma suspects Lovell of some very dire deeds, but Samuel certainly comes to question her and her motives when he keeps encountering her at places no well-bred young lady should be. She intrigues him – and she repels him. Yet, when Emma’s life is in danger, Samuel knows he has to save her.

I believe this was the final book in the series and it had a lovely epilogue that included visits with Sophia (The Virgin Who Ruined Lord Gray), Cecilia (The Virgin Who Vindicated Lord Darlington), and Georgiana (The Virgin Who Humbled Lord Haslemere). I’m always a sucker for a good epilogue.

I enjoyed this story but was left with a number of questions and no answers. First, since Emma is impersonating a real-life person, how will the person, the grandmother, and Emma explain all of that to the ton when the actual granddaughter appears? Emma and Samuel – and the entire family – will be shunned by the ton when they discover Emma’s time in Madam Marchand’s service – how would they explain that away? It just seems it was made much too easy and there was a rather blasé attitude to a very serious social issue.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. ( )