Book Review: How to Train Your Viscount by Courtney McCaskill

About the Book:

Title: How to Train Your Viscount

Author: Courtney McCaskill

Series: The Astley Chronicles #1

Page Length: 346

Publication Date: July 17, 2021

Publisher: Hazel Grove Books

Synopsis: The only one who can help her is the man who broke her heart.

Four years ago, Lady Caroline Astley took one look at Henry Greville, Viscount Thetford, and fell horribly in love, in that particular way you can only fall in love at the age of fifteen.

He didn’t just reject her.

He humiliated her.

But now, in a stroke of rotten luck, he’s the only one who can help her.

It turns out that the “paste” pendant she borrowed from her sister, Anne, was no fake. It’s actually an ancient Egyptian amulet, and now Anne wants to auction it off to save hundreds of widows and orphans. What Caro can’t bear to tell her sister is that the necklace was stolen from right around her neck.

Caro has a few clues, but she doesn’t know an amulet from an obelisk, and the trail has gone cold. Guess who grew up in a house stuffed with Egyptian artifacts? Caro may despise Henry, but she needs him if she’s going to track down the thieves. Which begs the question of which is worse: letting down the orphans or risking her heart all over again.

LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon

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My Review:

I won How to Train Your Viscount in a giveaway and am so glad I did. It’s a wonderful historical romance that follows Lady Caroline Astley and her brother’s friend Henry Greville, Viscount Thetford, a pair that met years ago when Caro was a teenager. Caro was so eager to meet Henry and was devastated when she overheard Henry saying some very unkind things about her. Humiliated, Caro never got over his cruel and hurtful comments, and ever since that night, she worked to be the most sought-after woman in London so she could show Henry how wrong he was. Now a popular debutante, Caro has many admirers, and she wants nothing to do with the man who broke her heart. However, when her sister’s pendent is stolen from Caro, she knows Henry is one of the only people who can help her.

Henry has been ashamed of his behavior ever since he hurt Caro, and he is eager to help her find her missing amulet. This gives him the perfect opportunity to make up for his past insults, and he can help his father, who is also missing an expensive artifact. As the pair investigates the missing pieces, they become embroiled in an unexpected mystery filled with twists, turns, and dangerous people and situations. They also grow closer. Can Caro forgive Henry for what he said about her, and will Henry prove he’s changed?

Caro and Henry are both well-developed and interesting characters, and their love story is fantastic – fun, sweet, and a bit sexy! Their banter is so sharp, acerbic, and witty, and their chemistry is fire!! Some of my favorite parts of the book were when Caro and Henry bickered and antagonized each other. Their conversations were quick and smart and filled with sarcasm – it made the scenes so funny, playful, and spicy. They are definitely a well-suited pair!

Henry isn’t used to women like Caro, and he loves that she speaks her mind and challenges him. She doesn’t treat him differently because of his status or wealth, unlike most people he knows, and he finds this refreshing. Their banter shows how thoroughly they enjoy each other’s company, and I enjoyed how their romance progressed. There are several swoon-worthy scenes (one includes a sarcophagus and another includes a mirror – very steamy!) Plus, there’s a full-circle element at the end that I totally loved, and it made me swoon even more for Henry. Even though he makes mistakes, Henry works so hard to prove his remorse and sincerity, and I love that!

There are several other dynamic and interesting characters, including Caro’s brother, and Caro’s maid Fanny. Fanny is so fierce, protective, and funny, and she is very loyal to Caro. I loved the scenes with her in it. She adds a bit of fun comic relief, especially when she’s with Caro and Henry. Caro’s sister Anne is another interesting character, and I’m curious to learn more about her. Anne’s missing amulet, which she plans to sell to build a shelter for women and children, propels much of the plot. The mystery behind the stolen goods is intriguing and dangerous and added a bit of suspense to the story. Other obstacles, like Henry’s family and money issues, past insults, and Caro’s suitors also prove problematic for the pair, and it’s interesting to see how they work through and deal with their issues.

This is a great debut novel from Courtney McCaskill! It’s fun and funny with a good mystery, dynamic characters, and a swoon-worthy love story. I would definitely recommend the book to readers of historical romance, enemies-to-lovers romance, or brother’s best friend romance, and I can’t wait to read the next book in The Astley Chronicles.

Rating:

Favorite Parts:

The romance!

The secondary characters.

The humor.

The witty banter.

Favorite Lines:

There were obstacles in his way. Insurmountable obstacles. He was just going to have to damn well surmount them.

Having a man isn’t so different from having a puppy. You have to train them, ya see? And I think you are just the woman who can bring that man to heel.

When one had so much to say, sometimes the only course was to say nothing at all.