A Matter of Temptation Books in Order

Under the umbrella often called Unforgettable Love, the A Matter of Temptation books are Victorian era romances about people who step far outside what society expects of them and fall in love in the process. There are currently two interconnected novels, each complete on its own but richer when read together.

A Matter of Temptation opens the series with Miss Wilhelmina “Mina” Crawford. Once ruined by a youthful, starry eyed mistake, she lives quietly at her family’s crumbling estate, helping her twin brother manage land they can barely afford to keep. When her brother’s reckless behavior leads him to challenge a powerful earl to a duel, Mina disguises herself as him and takes his place, drawing on the fencing skills her father once taught her. She wins, stunning Simon Loughton, Earl of Creswick, a reformist peer who has spent years fighting for progressive legislation.

Impressed by her nerve and desperate for competent help, Simon offers Mina the post of secretary in his household, an outrageous arrangement in the eyes of polite society. Working side by side on bills that could transform life for women and the poor, they move from wary allies to partners and then lovers. Yet Mina’s past scandal and a secret tied to that earlier elopement threaten their future, forcing both of them to decide what risks they will take for love and for change.

An Earl to Remember shifts to a lighter, though still emotionally grounded, tone. Georgianna Heyford is a talented chef struggling to support her younger sisters at their dilapidated seaside inn. When she is hired to cook on the yacht of Daniel Stannis, Earl of Stannis, a rakish aristocrat known for his decadent parties, a heated encounter and an accident at sea leave him overboard and without his memory. Seizing a chance to claim the wages she is owed and protect her reputation, Georgianna tells everyone that the confused earl is her husband.

As Daniel recovers among her humble household, working alongside her and building bonds with her sisters, the dynamic between them changes. He becomes the kind of man she could genuinely love, even as the lie at the heart of their relationship grows harder to sustain. When his memories return, both of them must face questions of class, forgiveness, and what marriage means when it is chosen rather than assumed.

Together, these books showcase Reid’s fondness for competent heroines with real jobs, progressive heroes willing to confront their own privilege, and slow building, very steamy chemistry. They are excellent choices for readers who like their historicals with a strong dose of partnership and social commentary.