“How to Catch a Lord” by Emma Orchard was an interesting take on a love triangle. Marcus loved Lavinia as a teenager but then she married his brother and he joined the army. Now he is back as a Lord because of the death of his brother and she is willing to do anything to get him to marry her. Amelia’s father has left her a large inheritance but a terrible reputation due to his actions while he was alive. She realizes that they could help each other, Marcus and herself, by entering into a fake engagement that would help show that she is respectable after all and discourage the ladies from trying to catch him especially Lavinia. As they spend more time together they realize that they aren’t just useful to each other but that they also really enjoy being together.

It was an interesting take on a love triangle and one I really rather enjoyed reading. I liked the fake engagement piece of the plot line as well and the story had me hooked about halfway through although it did have a bit of a slow start. I liked the main characters together but I found their chemistry as romantic interests go a bit tepid in terms of spic level. The secondary characters were lots of fun and overall it was a decent read.

To Catch A Lord, a fake to real love story that will have you rooting for the main characters and fighting for their right to fall in love. 💫💫💫💫💫

Lady Amelia needs to clean her family name after it was besmirched by her father. Lord Marcus Thornfalcon, war hero, needs to remove himself from gossip regarding his widowed sister in law, whom he loved first. Together, they devise a plan to fake a courting and eventual engagement in order to better their future prospects.
However, Amelia realizes that the more they fake their relationship and the more Lavinia, thw sister in law, tries to meddle and separate them, the more Marcus and Amelia fall for each other.

Thank you, Netgalley and Boldwood Books, for this sweet ARC. All opinions are entirely my own.

Feisty Lady Amelia Wyverne is discussing with her sister-in-law, Sophie, how she can escape the unwanted attention that the notorious Wyverne reputation brings her in Society. She tries her hardest to behave with complete propriety but gentlemen, young and old, believe her family name gives them free rein to find out if she’ll live up to the family reputation. Sophie, after some thought, suggests a fake engagement with a very respectable gentleman as his exemplary reputation may reflect onto her. And she can suggest just the person. Lord Thornfalcon has recently returned to England as a hero, after being injured in the war in Europe, and is suffering from the attentions of many young ladies who (literally) throw themselves into his way so he can save them and hopefully fall in love with them. A fake engagement may work to his advantage also!

Lord Thornfalcon agrees, and the plan seems to be working. But the path to true love in this very enjoyable romance doesn’t run smoothly. With plenty of misunderstandings, surprises, shocks and villains trying to separate the pair, assistance from some very surprising sources is needed.

Lady Amelia has an issue, her family’s not-so-great reputation affects her negatively as a gossip which in turn attracts horrible men. In her opinion, her only hope is to get fake engaged to a man people consider to be a hero. Lord Thornfalcon, even as a hero, has his own issues with gossip and a childhood sweetheart, Lavinia, who is interested in him again and decides to try out Amelia’s idea of fake engagement.

I enjoyed this book a lot! The fake engagement trope is and has been one of my favorite ones when done right. In my opinion, this book did it perfectly. The historical romance with the fake engagement was entertaining and I do think the way Thorn first reacted to the idea made the whole plot more realistic. At first, I was a bit skeptical about the Lavinia part of the plot, but once the story really started, I do think it was a nice touch and really well done. I did not see the plot twists coming and they tied in nicely with the story, which always makes the book more enjoyable. Maybe the only ”negative” thing that stood out to me was the way Thorn’s friend reacted to the revelation, I was expecting a bigger reaction. But then again, we did not see him much on the pages anyway.

This was my second Emma Orchard book and I will definitely be checking out her other work! I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical romance with somewhat high stakes.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I love when historical romance actually feels fun, not stiff or overly serious—and this one nailed that vibe. It had Bridgerton energy but with its own flavor: a little sassier, a little smarter, and with just enough tension to keep me fully invested. Honestly, I flew through it.

Emma Orchard writing style flows so well i am just obsessed!

If you’re into slow-burns, intelligent heroines, and brooding lords who absolutely do not want to fall in love but absolutely do, this is for you. I already want to reread just to enjoy the way it made me feel again.

Iet reminds me of BRIDGERTON series with a big if spicy


As a daughter of the notorious Wyverne family, Lady Amelia is used to being the subject of gossip. But while she has accepted her marred reputation – however unfair it is – she hates the horrible men it attracts.

Amelia decides she needs a suitor of impeccable repute to save her from the attentions of ungentlemanly gentlemen, and who better than the handsome and famously moral Lord Thornfalcon? Since coming into his title, ‘Thorn’ has been besieged by women who want to marry him, or have an affair with him, or both – so perhaps a pretend relationship might suit him too?

There’s just one small catch. Thorn’s childhood sweetheart Lavinia has also set her sights on him again, and rallied half the ton behind her. But what does that matter to Amelia – it’s only a fake engagement, isn’t it? Except, as Lavinia and her friends try to tear Amelia and Thorn apart, she starts to realise that her feelings may not be quite so fake after all.

Because the trouble with brave and handsome Lords is… they might just steal your heart.

I do enjoy a fake engagement, and this one did not disappoint! Only this one had so many twists and turns! Keen to salvage her family's slightly dodgy reputation, Lady Amelia Wyverne sets her sights on Lord Thornalcon. He's being pursued by his brother's widow, his former lover, and while society wouldn't approve of him marrying her, she is determined to elicit a proposal from him.
A fun, snappily written Regency rom com,

Whar can I say? It was not a book for me. . Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion

This book was a bit of a slow burn for me and it took a few chapters to really snag my interest. The fake engagement trope is always fun, and I was curious to see how the author would convince this couple to realise they were made for each other.
As soon aa Amelia and Thornfalcon started to interact I was hooked. There was all the steamy chemistry I’ve come to expect from Emma Orchard, and lots of shenanigans to enjoy. Thornfalcon was a worthy hero and Amelia was no simpering shrinking violet. While this does relate to a previous book, it could easily be read as a standalone.
All in all, a highly enjoyable Regency romp.

Loved it! I’ll definite be reading more by this author!

Read this if you enjoy….
-fake dating
-scandalous family
-funny side characters (spunky grandma!)
-just enough drama without being “heavy”

(Open Door but easy to skip)

To Catch a Lord weaves an intriguing plot with Amelia fending off societal predators and Lord XX entangled with his obsessive ex-lover, Lavinia. Their romance is charming, with cute banter, but the prose is overly wordy, making the middle drag. Lavinia’s motivations feel unclear until late, and the villain’s ending disappoints. As a standalone, it’s mostly followable but misses opportunities. Hopefully, the next book tightens the narrative.
Thank you NetGalley for ARC, all opinions are my own.

I DNF his book at 50 pages.
I did not care for any of the characters and was bored reading it.
Weird since I loved " a gentleman`s offer" by orchard, but not all books by one author can hit the mark.

Lady Amelia suffers under the weight of her family's scandalous reputation, while Lord Thornfalcon finds himself on the receiving end of too much attention — particularly from his late brother’s persistent widow. In a bold attempt to fix both their problems, Amelia proposes a fake engagement. But of course, matters of the heart rarely follow the plan.

While I finished this novel, I found it difficult to fully enjoy. The prose was overly wordy, and I often lost track of who was who among a large cast of underdeveloped side characters. The plot, too, stretched believability in several places — making it hard to stay immersed. That said, the book certainly delivers on Regency atmosphere and romantic tension, and fans of steamy Bridgerton-style romances may find much to enjoy here.

It wasn’t quite the right fit for me, but it may appeal to readers who enjoy drama-filled historical escapism.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 — A charming Regency romance with a twist of mystery!

To Catch a Lord was a light and enjoyable read, perfect for fans of historical romance with a dash of intrigue. The banter between the leads was fun, and I appreciated the cleverness of the heroine — she was no damsel, and I loved that! The setting had that classic Regency feel, with ballrooms, secrets, and scandal simmering beneath the surface.

That said, the pacing dipped a little in the middle, and I didn’t always feel fully swept away by the romance — it took a while to warm up. But once things picked up again, I was happily turning the pages to see how it all would unfold.

A solid read if you’re after something a little different in your historicals — with a spirited heroine and a mystery that keeps things moving. I’d happily try another book by Emma Orchard!

A story of rumors and innuendo that gets wilder by the page! I loved how strong and cheeky Amelia is as she repels rakes and fortune hunters. The description of her dancing shoes is amazing. The gossipy ton loves to whisper and create scandal. Amelia and her sister in law come up with a solution that begins a funny, weird courtship which then gets even weirder. I enjoyed the story and think it is a worthy read.

📖 Title: To Catch a Lord-can be read as a standalone

✍🏾 Author: Emma Lord- I read The Viscount and the Thief & gave 5 ⭐

📅Publication date: 6-21-25 | Read 6-15-25

📃 Format: eBook 332 pgs.

Genre:
*Regency/Historical Romance

Tropes:
*love triangle
*fake engagement
*slow burn
*family drama
*marriage

👆🏾POV: 3rd person

⚠️TW: sexual harassment, misogyny, bullying, blackmail, attempted murder, virgin h

🌎 Setting: London, 1813

Summary: Tired of being harassed by rogue gentlemen, Lady Amelia and her sister-in-law Sophie come up with a plan for Amelia to fake an engagement. She wants to silence the gossip about her family and Lord Thornfalcon is a man above reproach. His widowed sister-in-law and ex-lover Lady Lavinia wants him back. Amelia and Lavinia compete for his affection willing to fight for love.

👩🏾 Heroine: Lady Amelia Wyverne-19

👨🏾 Hero: Major Lord Marcus Thornfalcon-27

🎭 Other Characters:

* Marquess of Wyverne Rafe + Sophie-Amelia's half-brother and sister-in-law-her guardians
* Lavinia Hall-was in love w/ Marcus as a teenager, but married his brother Ambrose-now deceased
* Priscilla-Lavinia+ Ambrose's daughter
* Judith + Helena Thornfalcon-Marcus's mother and 19-year-old sister
* Jeremy "Jem" Gastrell-Marcus's BFF
* Lady Millicent Keswick-Amelia's paternal aunt
*Rosanna Wyverne-Amelia's stepmother, an actress who married Amelia's father Gervais


🤔 My Thoughts: I loved the fake engagement trope between Marcus and Amelia. There were a lot of people trying to insert themselves in their business, both family and foe. Lavinia was ruthless trying to get Marcus back, even willing to commit murder. Rosanna was given a redemption arc after being approached by Lavinia. This ended in a nice HEA, and I hope Jem and Helena get their own books.

Rating: 4/5 ✨
Spice level 2/5 🌶️kissing, off page

🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley, Boldwood Books, and Emma Lord for this ARC! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions are my own.

I found out part way through reading that this book is apparently a part of a series of interconnected stand-alones from author, Emma Orchard. It was clear through reading it that some context and history to some of the characters backstories was missing which could have been helped if I had read any of the other books. That being said, there are enough context clues and commentary that I was able to mostly follow what was going on.

Amelia Wyvern comes from a family with a disreputable reputation, thanks to her father. Now in her second season, she finds herself with less than desirable prospects and a dream to have the freedom of choice. With the help of her sister-in-law, they concoct a scheme for Amelia to fake a courtship and engagement to someone with an upstanding reputation to help lift up her own.

Enter, Marcus Thornfalcon. Returned war hero and known all around “good guy”. Marcus agrees with Amelia’s scheme so he can put a stop to the forward advances from Lavinia, his former childhood sweetheart and widow to Marcus’ late brother.

I love a good fake dating trope, but it just did not work for me here. I feel like there was some build up that was skipped. I actually was so sure that I skipped a few chapters and had to check multiple times that I did not. Marcus and Amelia do get on right away, and have an instant chemistry. But they went from less than a handful of fun conversations to being in love in a snap. I thought they had potential as a couple, and I was sad that I didn’t really feel it happening. I prefer to feel and see the build up in the feelings of the relationship versus being told it happened.

And don’t even get me started on whatever the heck was going on with Lavinia for the entire book. She was so unhinged and a bit too over the top as a “villain” of the story. I understood her motivations, but the execution of her schemes didn’t feel fully fleshed out. Especially at the end.

The premise to the story is a good one, but the execution felt all over the place. There were a few too many twists and reveals. The second half of the book felt very disconnected from the first half. And the ending left me scratching my head thinking, “That’s it?”

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

To Catch a Lord by Emma Orchid is the second book that features the Wyverne Family. However, the book can be read as a stand alone without any issues. The characters are clearly drawn with one nasty character named Lavinia.

Lady Amelia Wyverne is tired of her family’s reputation. It certainly means the only men that ask her to dance are creeps. She has stepped on toes and poked several with pins to get them to unhand her. She knows there must be a way to change her circumstances. Her sister-in-law believes that if she finds a “hero” and pretends to get engaged, the quality of her suitors will change.

Together they determine Lord Marcus Thornfalcon is the best candidate and Amelia approaches him with their idea. For Marcus, this will stop the constant harassment about marrying his brother’s widowed wife. Something that is not going to happen, no matter what Lavinia does. Marcus agrees to the fake engagement. However fake soon enough turns real, although neither is willing to admit it to the other until…

I enjoyed reading the novel despite or in spite of Lavinia and her mechanisms. There is something about an evil character pushing people together. What I didn’t like was the stilted speech patterns in the beginning of the book. I am not sure if the pattern changed or I just became accustomed to it as the book progressed. To Catch a Lord by Emma Orchid was a good read.

The book comes out on June 21, 2025

4.5 stars – To Catch a Lord by Emma Orchard was a fabulous read!! Lady Amelia Wyverne approaches Lord Thornfalcon about entering a fake engagement. Both are subject of heavy ton gossip and Amelia believes that an engagement will improve their situations. Unfortunately, Lavinia, Thorn’s childhood sweetheart and widow of his brother, wants to marry him as well and she won’t let anyone get in her way.

This was my first book by Emma Orchard but I plan on going back and reading her others. While this is book two in a series, it was absolutely fine to read as a stand-alone. There is wonderful banter and strong chemistry between Amelia and Thorn and it really made this so much fun to read. I loved the plot twist in the middle of the story – completely unexpected! If you like to read books about this time period, you will love this book!

A big “Thank You” to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for allowing me to receive a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
#NetGalley, #BoldwoodBooks

I would like to thank Netgalley and Boldwood Books for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

This features one of my favourite tropes, the proper hero and the scandalous women. Though the heroine isn’t really scandalous, just subject to gossip about her family. I loved seeing the villain get her comeuppance.