This was a good book overall, though I did have a few things that I looked at a bit cross-eyed. Both characters are well-born, but not typical of their contemporaries. Their relationship is very volatile, as both have tempers.

Fenella is the daughter of a baron, but one who doesn't enjoy Society life, which she finds dreadfully dull. She is a modern woman who is interested in world events, politics, and women's suffrage. She has a suitor who takes the progress of their relationship for granted. She also has a secret. She wants to be an actress and has been taking acting lessons in pursuit of that goal. She is excited when the acting coach brings a new play to class, and she reads the leading role. Things go downhill quickly when the play's writer verbally attacks her interpretation of the character, and Fenella fires back with her own opinion, then walks out.

Edward is the illegitimate son of an earl. After the age of seven, he was raised with his legitimate siblings, who never let him forget that he was an outsider. He received an excellent education but became persona non grata with his family when he preferred to make his own way in the world. Edward is happy with his job as a research assistant for an English professor, which gives him time for his writing. The lead in his play is based on the girl who fascinated him when he was younger - Fenella. The woman she is now is equally fascinating but also incredibly frustrating.

The sparks flew between Fenella and Edward from the moment they met. Fenella is independent and outspoken and has no problem telling Edward precisely what she thinks. Edward is focused on his goal and protective of his work. I will say that I didn't like Edward much at the beginning. He is so volatile, flipping from angry to nice to angry again at the drop of a hat. I would begin to think that he'd finally settled down when something would set him off again. I understood why Fenella wasn't sure whether she liked the man, even though she was attracted to him. She was interested enough in the play to give him a second chance, but she was also wary. That wariness, however, wasn't enough to stop the attraction she also felt.

I was surprised by the speed with which Fenella and Edward became intimate. Those sparks burst into flame within a few days, and from there on out, they could barely keep their hands off each other. The ease with which Fenella was able to be alone with Edward was surprising. No one seemed to care that she went off alone, came home in the wee hours, if at all, or changed plans with no notice. There were a few instances where I saw some logic in her actions. I liked that she was determined to keep their personal relationship separate from their professional one, as she worried that he was only interested in keeping her in her role as Rose.

There were several times when I thought Edward strayed too close to abusive behavior. His frequent bursts of temper were disturbing, especially when he didn't seem to know what set him off. He had some times of being controlling, though Fenella did fairly well of pulling out of those when she wanted to. The more I got to know Edward, the more I realized that some of it was that he didn't know any better because of the way he was raised. There were other times when he was charming and thoughtful, which gave me hope for their future.

There was one point near the end when that future became questionable. When Fenella impulsively does something she thinks will help Edward, she doesn't think it all the way through. Edward blows up, saying some unspeakably cruel things, rather than considering the spirit of the offer. I ached for them both, as Fenella believes that everything is over between them, and Edward wants to find a way to mend fences. The dinner scene before the ball was painful for all, but especially for Fenella, stuck between Edward and George. The ball scene was fun. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing George get what was coming to him. Edward and Fenella had a productive discussion before going on to face down his nasty half-siblings. I loved the epilogue and seeing how the play was received. I loved Edward's big moment at the end. Fenella described their relationship perfectly when she said, "We're like pieces of a jigsaw; we fit together, except sometimes when we seem to be in different puzzles."

I liked Fenella's friends, Diana and Petra. I will need to go back and read Diana's story. I liked her and what I saw of her husband. There was a sneak-peek into Petra's book at the end of this one, and I am intrigued to read hers, too. ( )

I received an ARC of this book to read through NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. Seduce Me With Sapphires is the second book in Jane Feather’s London Jewels Trilogy. It can be read as a stand-alone. It’s been a while since I’ve read a book by Jane Feather and this one is an old school romance with a hero who’s just a little bit dark. Edward Tremayne is the natural son of an Earl who was raised within the Earl’s family but then disowned when he wasn’t interested in spending the rest of his life in servitude to the Earldom. Fenella Grantly wants something different than marriage to a peer and running his household. She is interested in woman’s suffrage and is secretly studying acting. When Edward brings a play he has written to her acting teacher, he asks her to read the lead role, and although she finds him overbearing, with a chip on his shoulder, there is a spark there, and she agrees to play the part. Edwards's pride and her desire for independence lead to conflicts between them and their road to HEA is not a smooth one. Medium Steam. Publishing Date January 28, 2020. #NetGalley #SeduceMeWithSapphires #JaneFeather #OldSchoolRomanceNovel #HistoricalRomance #bookstagram #bookstagramer #KensingtonBooks #ZebraRomanceNovels ( )