Book Review #bookreview #stacyreid #amatteroftemptation #arcreview
Stacy Reid is a go to historical romance author for me, I know when I open one of her books I will be swept up into her story and at the end left extremely satisfied. A Matter of Temptation is Reid's newest work and it is a wonderful addition to her previous works. This novel is a new standalone that is well paced, full of complex and dimension character and full of a beautiful love story. Reid's writing is accessible, she has a way of drawing the reader quickly into her stories and keeping them captivated to the last page.
Mina has spent the last handful of years secreted away on her family's crumbling estate after a scandalous mistake made in her youth. When she discovers that her twin brother and her financial situation is much more dyer than she expected, she decides to take up employment. Simon, the earl of Creswick, has been working on getting a reform bill that he has been championing for years to pass, and help comes in the form of Mina with her boldness, fiery determination and lighthearted humor.
Reid crafts the perfect meet cute between Mina and Simon, through a fencing duel in which Mina takes her twin's place and ultimately bests Simon. When Simon finds out he has been beaten by a woman, he knows that she will make the perfect secretary to help him with his work in parliament. I just adore the relationship that Mina and Simon build, it is one of respect, trust and understanding. They both learn that they work so well together and compliment the other perfectly, which makes their working relationship swiftly shift into a friendship that instinctively moves into a loving relationship. I love that Reid lets her characters establish a trust between themselves that can then blossom in a beautiful and heart felt relationship. I love that through the physical side of their relationship these two can really grow in their love and respect for each other. I think that Simon is an absolutely swoon-worthy hero, every step of the way he is on Mina's side and when their relationship is tested, he never wavers in his trust and feelings for her.
Stacy Reid knows how to write a romance between two people who are strong and capable on their own but when they are together they can be explosive and the perfect partner to the other. I would strongly recommend this book and all of Reid's other books, in my eyes she can do no wrong and I am always extremely excited to pick up a new or backlist book from her!
Thank you to Entangled Publishing and NetGalley for an eARC, all thoughts and opinions are my own.