BOOK REVIEW: How to Steal a Scoundrel’s Heart by Vivienne Lorret

I received this book for free from Netgalley. That did not influence this review.

I broke my rule and read book 4 in a Regency Romance series before reading books 1-3. The series is called The Mating Habits of Scoundrels. The new novel is How to Steal a Scoundrel’s Heart by Vivienne Lorret. The novel works well as a standalone. There are cameo appearances by characters who were likely the protagonists of the first three books, but it isn’t necessary to know their backstories in detail to understand their roles here.

Prudence Thorogood is a disgraced debutante. Motherless, with an evil stepmother and an uncaring father, Prue is strong but naive. She fell prey to a marquess who pretended to court her then sexually assaulted her. She was then abandoned by her family, who shunted her off to the country to be a servant to pennypinching aunts. However, she has a plan. Her mother left an inheritance in her will: a cottage and about a dozen small objects of value, both monetary and sentimental. Although her stepmother stole it all, Prue is determined to steal everything back. Then she will go live the rest of her life alone but content in the cottage.

Leo Ramsgate, the Marquess of Savage, also has a horrible backstory. His mother abandoned him. His father was a cruel, violent narcissist who cycled through mistresses and fought duels. And Leo was once poisoned by someone he thought he could trust. Bitter, cynical, and unable to love, Leo is also extraordinarily handsome and wealthy beyond description. The one character trait he did adopt from his father was a taste for women. He has a strict 4-month limit for his mistresses (who vie openly to be chosen), enforced by contract. And one hard and fast rule: no infidelity during those four months.

They meet cute, then part ways. But when Prue finds it’s more difficult to steal back her inheritance than she imagined, she goes to him for help. He’s more than willing to help her, but only if she becomes his mistress for the required four months.

Prue is an innocent. Leo is not.

There is enough of a plot to hang the story on. They go to parties. They steal back a few things. They deal with the machinations of their enemies. And they fall in love. However, most of the story deals with the seduction and much of the word count is devoted to describing their sexual encounters.

For Regency Romance readers who prefer a high steam level, this novel (and likely this series) is recommended.