In Want of a Viscount (The Chessmen: Masters of Seduction) – ARC review

In Want of a Viscount
by Lorraine Heath
Release Date: February 20, 2024
Publisher: Avon
Book #3 in The Chessmen: Masters of Seduction series
Number of Pages: 384
Source: NetGalley
Historical Romance
Ages 15 and up
CW: misogyny, talk of baby farming,
mentions of cheating
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American Leonora Garrison has come to England in desperate search of investors to keep her family business afloat but instead finds surprising pleasure when she visits an exclusive ladies’ club and dares to kiss a stranger, who leaves her yearning for more.

With a libertine for a father, Viscount Wyeth, more commonly known as Rook, vowed to live his life above reproach, with nary a hint of disgrace. Until one night, he takes a mysterious beauty into his arms, a lady who tempts him to cast his sterling reputation aside in favor of more wicked pursuits.

When fate reunites the couple, they are torn between desire and duty. Leonora may want the viscount, but she needs a stakeholder not a lover. When caught in a compromising situation that places everything they hold dear at risk, they must determine how best to win. However, in this scandalous game, nothing except love takes all.

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There is an element in this book I find I have a love/hate relationship with. There must be a simpler “catchphrase” for it…like only one bed, or brother’s best friend, or friends to lovers. In this case, it’s when both main characters express their desire to never get married yet fall in love, but love the other so much they don’t want to hold them back so don’t allow their true feelings to show. And each character also construes every romantic moment as a fluke and the other MMC as just being kind. What’s the quick explanation of this? I love it for the yearning and the romantic overtures, I hate it because I get frustrated at a certain point and want them to open their eyes already!

Rook aka Vicount Wyeth and Leonora are incredible together. He worships the ground she walks on and she has no idea. In fact, he doesn’t quite realize his devotion to her either. Of course, those closest to him have no problem seeing his infatuation and they just patiently wait for him to fall. Leonora may be a bit of a wallflower, but she’s no shrinking violet. She has always been thought of as “other” because she is always questioning the world around her and is fascinated by machines and how they work. Get her on a topic she is enthusiastic about and you’d be hard-pressed to get a word in edge-wise. But she would be lost if asked to recite poetry or play the pianoforte. Unlike many men of the time, Rook finds these attributes to be fascinating. With the other Chessmen all paired up with strong-minded, independent women, he is well aware of the asset women are to the workforce.

While I loved the connection Rook and Leonora had, especially Rook’s fascination with Leonora, this story moved a bit slowly for me at times. I think it was, as I mentioned before, the couple not fully giving into their love for each other sooner. But boy, could Rook make me swoon with his thoughts about Leonora and his actions regarding her.

4 stars

**I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely**