The Gilded Age Heiresses: Book 3
Publication Date: February 22, 2022
A fake engagement brings together a lady with bold and daring dreams, and the heir whose heart she captured—perfect for fans of Bridgerton!
Tall, dark, and brooding—to say that American Maxwell Crenshaw stood out in the glittering ballrooms of London, is an understatement. He vowed never to set foot in England again, but when a summons from his father, along with an ultimatum to secure his legacy, has him crossing the Atlantic for the last time, reuniting him with the delectable Lady Helena March, he can’t deny the temptation she presents. Or the ideas she inspires…
Lady Helena March is flirting with scandal. Instead of spending her time at teas and balls in search of another husband, as is expected of a young widow, Helena pours her energy into The London Home for Young Women. But Society gives no quarter to unmarried radicals who associate with illegitimate children and fallen women, and Helena’s funding is almost run out. So when the sinfully seductive Crenshaw heir suggests a fake engagement to save them both—him from an unwanted marriage and her from scorn and financial ruin—Helena finds herself too fascinated to refuse the sexy American.
As their arrangement of convenience melts oh so deliciously into nights of passion, their deception starts to become real. But if Max knew the true reason Helena can never remarry, he wouldn’t look at her with such heat in his eyes. Or might the Crenshaw heir be willing to do whatever it takes to win the one woman he’s never been able to forget…
After having read and loved the first two books in the Gilded Age Heiresses series by Harper St. George, there was no question that I would be reading The Lady Tempts an Heir once it was available. And it was just as good as the previous books in the series. The book does stand on its own, but it also ties pretty closely to the other books, and the family relationships and dynamics will make more sense if the series is read in order.
The Lady Tempts and Heir follow Helena and Max. The previous books were about Max’s sisters, and Max made appearances during their stories. Helena also popped up in the series as a friend to the sisters. The two were briefly thrown together during The Devil and the Heiress and The Lady Tempts an Heir picks up a few months later.
There are sparks between the two that neither wants to act upon since they live in different countries and have their own lives. But then Max’s father gives him an ultimatum to find a wife, and Max goes to Helena to suggest a fake engagement… and well, you know how that’s going to end in a romance novel.
I really liked Helena. After losing her husband, she threw herself into her charitable works for unwed women and their children. Others in society look down on these individuals and thus Helena by association. But she’s passionate about helping them and won’t let anyone get in her way. Not her father or Max. It was so fun to watch her grow as the story unfolded.
Max was just as intriguing. He’s heir to an American fortune and is basically running the family business for his father. But he disagrees with how his father sees the company. He’s outspoken—arrogant at times—and almost the stereotypical American in the middle of English society. He’s attracted to Helena but isn’t ready to settle down. But the more time he spends with her, feelings develop, and it is an enjoyable ride.
I couldn’t put The Lady Tempts an Heir down. I needed to know what would happen next, and the last quarter of the book had me in tears as Max and Helena tried to find their happily ever after. This was a wonderful addition to the series, and while we might be done with the Crenshaw siblings, the series will continue with The Duchess Takes a Husband, and I, for one, can’t wait!
Harper St. George was raised in rural Alabama and along the tranquil coast of northwest Florida. It was a setting filled with stories of the old days that instilled in her a love of history, romance, and adventure. By high school, she had discovered the historical romance novel which combined all of those elements into one perfect package. She has been hooked ever since.
She lives in the Atlanta area with her husband and two children. When not writing, she can be found devouring her husband’s amazing cooking and reading. She would love to hear from you. Please visit her website at www.harperstgeorge.com. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagra
