Book Review: A Beguiling Ruse (Lords and Ladies of Mayfair #2) by Laura Beers

About the Book:

He needed to marry her for her dowry but falling in love with her foiled his plans.

Miss Rosamond Hendre has had the most remarkable change of fortune for a daughter of a seaman. She went from living a simple life in the countryside to being introduced to high Society as the ward of a marquess. She is excited to embrace her newfound life, and she wants nothing more than to find a love match this Season.

Malcom, the Viscount of Brentwood, needs to marry an heiress and Miss Hendre fits the bill. His family is on the brink of ruination and he doesn’t have time for games. The problem is that Miss Hendre seems immune to his charms and constantly rebuffs his advances. But he isn’t one to give up so easily, especially when so much is at stake.

Malcolm wants nothing to do with love, but he knows he must play the part of a devoted suitor or else he will lose Rosamond. But the more he plays the part, the more the line begins to blur between what is real and what is not. As his feelings deepen for Rosamond, Malcolm wonders if this battle of wills-and hearts-will end in happily ever after, or devastation?

As the second novel in the series by author Laura Beers, A Beguiling Ruse continues the Lords & Ladies of Mayfair series. This is a light-hearted, clean and wholesome romance set in the Regency era. All books in this series have their own Happily-Ever-After and are best enjoyed in proper order.

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My Review:

A Beguiling Ruse by Laura Beers
Pages: 328
Published: June 6, 2023
Series: Lords & Ladies of Mayfair

After reading the first book in this series a year (or slightly more) ago, I was excited to read this one! I did put it off a bit, if only because the author is LDS, and I personally tend to read certain books and try to be careful about reading things from authors with different religious beliefs, because as the Bible warns, we are to be set spart. I’m only mentioning it since I know I’d want to know that sort of thing when choosing a book as well. The story really doesn’t mention much about religion, well nothing directly, but I’m sure some values and beliefs are bound to slip through into the writing, as with all art it’s bound to happen at times.

I enjoyed this book from early on, but if memory serves I did enjoy A Lady’s Secret a bit more. I just don’t think I connected with Miss Hendre and Lord Brentwood as much as I did Lizette and Tristan. Which is bound to happen, and I did enjoy the story overall. I especially liked the parts where Lord Roswell and Mr. Campden continued to interfere, in the lives of the main characters. I love the humor and antics that are sure to arise with these two around! That was one thing I loved in the first book as well.

Malcom and Rosamond both had their good points, and I found myself really enjoying them on their own, but the romance in this one was a bit more stilted, and the story overall didn’t keep me up reading late into the night as the first book did. I would be interested in reading more of this series, and hopefully there won’t be as long a wait before I get around to picking up the next book… haha, oops!

There were also some loose threads in the first book that are addressed and wrapped up in this one, as well as some that were touched on to be concluded in later books. I’m intrigued by the hints and potential pairings we’ve seen so far, and I know there’s a few that I’m excited to read about soon!

Other books in the series:
(Below is a list of the other books I’ve read & reviewed for this series)