Review by Booklist Review
Myrtle Allen is not opposed to the idea of marriage in general; just when it comes to herself specifically. The problem is that Myrtle has yet to meet the man who can, at least, match if not exceed Myrtle's own mathematical ability to manage her considerable fortune. So, when artist Simeon Jones, who was hired by Myrtle's brother, Lord Richard Allen, to paint his wife's portrait, is discovered trying to fend off the romantic overtures of his artistic subject, Myrtle spots an opportunity to escape the matrimonial expectations of her family. Dismissed by Richard, Simeon will be immediately returning to London. All Myrtle has to do is convince Simeon to let her tag along. However, what begins as a simple business transaction turns into something quite different once the two hit the road. Frampton (His Study in Scandal, 2023) richly rewards readers with the latest effervescent addition to her Victorian-set School for Scoundrel series by delivering a perfectly calibrated mix of wry wit and super-charged sensuality along with an unforgettable heroine, who shares an admirable passion for both cake and mathematics.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Frampton continues her School for Scoundrels series (after His Study in Scandal) with a rollicking Victorian romance. After Lord Richard Allen's wife drunkenly comes onto Simeon Jones, the artist hired to paint her portrait, Richard fires Simeon and he flees to London. Hitching a ride is Myrtle Allen, Richard's mathematically minded sister, who's desperate for some freedom. Richard follows them, however, and allows Myrtle to stay in London in return for chaperoning his daughter, Lilah, during her coming-out season. Myrtle agrees, but only if Simeon can help her in "navigating Society"; she's afraid that her blunt, forthright manner would otherwise ruin Lilah's chances at making a good match. The pair spending so much time together starts a scandal, and Richard, worried about the family name, insists Myrtle and Simeon pretend to be engaged to lend an air of propriety to their connection. As their fake relationship progresses, Simeon envisions a life with Myrtle, who would use her brilliant mind to advise society ladies on financial matters while he paints his masterpieces, but he worries the distance between their stations is insurmountable. Myrtle's refreshing candor about her intellect delights, as does Simeon's quick-thinking to cook up lies about their relationship. Historical romance fans are sure to fall in love with Frampton's forward-thinking protagonists. Agent: Louise Fury, Bent Agency. (Jan.)
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Library Journal Review
Lady Myrtle Allen does not want to get married; she'd rather use her mathematical genius to start a business advising other women on investments, so she absconds to London with portrait artist Simeon Jones. The two pretend to be engaged so Myrtle remains respectable and can chaperone her niece's debut season. Simeon, a gorgeous heartbreaker and social butterfly, compensates for Myrtle's social deficiencies. Myrtle agrees to pose for Simeon's next great masterpiece that will finally gain him renown as an artist, while she uses her new social connections to start her finance business. Simeon and Myrtle find they complement each other perfectly, and they cannot help but develop feelings for each other. Yet Simeon refuses to propose to Myrtle, not wanting to trap her into marriage. Little does he know that Myrtle's opinion of marriage has changed, as long as such a union is with Simeon. VERDICT Frampton fills the next amusing installment in the "School for Scoundrels" series (after His Study in Scandal) with a smoldering artist and a smart, guileless woman, who are opposites and yet somehow the perfect pairing, as well as lots of cameos from Simeon's fellow scoundrels.--Eve Stano
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A lady mathematician conducts a scandalous experiment. It's not Miss Myrtle Allen's fault that she's not married yet. She's had at least 27 proposals, but none of those men understand Babbage's Table of Logarithms or are likely to tolerate her supposedly "difficult to deal with" self. Her brother the Viscount is on the verge of giving her an ultimatum when an opportunity presents itself in the form of Mr. Simeon Jones, an artist with a scandalous reputation who needs to make a sudden departure from her family's country house. She will abscond with him to London in order to prove that she can support herself using her prodigious math skills; Simeon agrees to take the unusual woman with him mainly because she offers to pay and he's desperate for funds, but also because he's a softie. Despite experiencing both attraction and opportunity on their illicit trip, it's not until he drops her at her family's London home that she dares to ask for a kiss. And when Myrtle opens the front door, she finds that her time in London is about to unfold a bit differently than expected, and she'll need to call on her only friend in the city for help: Simeon. The third book in Frampton's School for Scoundrels series features yet another hero who's got a lot to prove alongside a heroine who doesn't quite fit in with society and doesn't care to, both of which Frampton continues to write well. The plot is a bit contrived, but that's easy to overlook thanks to the refreshing heroine, who shines throughout, especially in several skillfully developed scenes featuring the inexperienced Myrtle unabashedly enjoying the benefits of learning about sex from a rake. As the Bastard Five make only brief appearances in this volume, it can easily be read as a stand-alone, but the book will be enjoyable for fans of the series as well. A strong historical romance for fans of bluestocking love stories. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
