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Maggie Sims
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Sophia's Schooling (School of Enlightenment Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Maggie Sims (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.0 out of 5 stars 142 ratings
Orphaned at eighteen, Sophia Wilkinson has learned love means loss. Now she must leave her country home to navigate the opulence of the London Season, although she has no desire for romance or a husband.

Edward Morduant, the newest Earl of Peterborough, is struggling with the business of his family estate. He has shunned marriage due to a shameful secret, but with his title comes the need for heirs.

Despite their misgivings, Sophia and Edward cannot resist their attraction. When she accidentally discovers his penchant for spankings, her curiosity is her undoing. A clandestine meeting risks a scandal. Only marriage to a reluctant bridegroom can save her reputation. But perhaps the School of Enlightenment can give her an education in love.
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  1. Book 1 of 4
    School of Enlightenment
  2. Print length
    313 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    May 23, 2022
  5. File size
    2.7 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"...a perfect balance of proper manners and delicious perversity." --Annabel Joseph, NYT and USA Today bestselling author of The Properly Spanked series
"Sophia's Schooling is a wonderful erotic romance. Sexy, intriguing, and engaging characters. It hooked me in, and I loved it. I couldn't put it down."--Marie Tuhart, author of The Wicked Sanctuary series

From the Inside Flap

An innocent country girl...a jaded earl...an education in pleasure.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09XQV9XVZ
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ The Wild Rose Press, Inc. (May 23, 2022)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 23, 2022
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.7 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 313 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 out of 5 stars 142 ratings

About the author

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Maggie Sims

Maggie Sims

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Maggie Sims began her love affair with romance before her teen years, drawn to the Regency by her mum’s British influence. In her twenties, she did her best to live the Carrie Bradshaw life in New York City, albeit with less expensive shoes and more books.

Despite reading hundreds of romance novels in her life, she was still blown away when she met the love of her life, an ex-Marine cinnamon roll with creative woodworking and culinary skills.

Having retired from corporate life, they live in Central Texas and are parents to a varying number of dogs and cats. When not writing, Maggie is a wine enthusiast, a travel junkie, and a romance reading fiend. She also sporadically crochets for KnotsofLove.org and does just enough exercise for that second glass of wine at night.

To find out more about Maggie’s latest reads, favorite wines, and travel destinations, sign up for her newsletter at maggiesims.com, and follow her on social media.

Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
142 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this debut novel engaging and enjoyable to read, with well-developed characters. The story quality receives positive feedback, with one customer describing it as a well-written historical romance.

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4 customers mention "Character development"4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book.

"...probably a little too kind and understanding, but a really good person through and through. I also loved Nicholas and Roslynn...." Read more

"...Eighteen-year-old Sophia is such a great character. Sadly, her mother and father have both died...." Read more

"...The characters were interesting, not just the main characters of Sophia and Edward, but the relatives and friends too...." Read more

"...Her story was excellently crafted, with well rounded, believable characters, enlightening me to the fact that if all erotic stories were this good,..." Read more

4 customers mention "Plot"4 positive0 negative

Customers praise the plot of this debut novel.

"...For the rest of us... (insert happy dance) this is a GREAT debut novel...." Read more

"...A nice plot and plenty of spice!" Read more

"...This was an exciting debut and I look forward to the development of this series!" Read more

"Promising Series Debut..." Read more

4 customers mention "Readability"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book enjoyable to read, with one mentioning it kept their interest throughout.

"...it, and I decided on 5 starts, because in the end, I truly enjoyed reading this novel. And, I look forward to the next in the series...." Read more

"...All in all, I really enjoyed this debut book and look forward to reading future stories in the series and how the School of Enlightenment plays a..." Read more

"This was a fantastic book. I went in sort of blind - I knew it was a historical, but that's about it. I was surprised by the content in the best way...." Read more

"...This story is not only a great steamy read but has all the elements of a classic historical romance...." Read more

4 customers mention "Story quality"4 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the story quality of the book, with one customer describing it as a well-written historical romance, while another notes that the writing and story flow smoothly.

"...The sex scenes were well written and steamy, although there were some instances when the fears of the two protagonists intruded on the scene just a..." Read more

"...that he loves Sophia? Sophia's Schooling is a well written historical romance. A nice plot and plenty of spice!" Read more

"...You definitely want to pick this one up if you're a fan of historical romance with a lot of spice. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series!" Read more

"...Her story was excellently crafted, with well rounded, believable characters, enlightening me to the fact that if all erotic stories were this good,..." Read more

Sassy bluestocking and stoic noble in a spicy romance? Yes please.
4 out of 5 stars
Sassy bluestocking and stoic noble in a spicy romance? Yes please.
RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ STEAM: 🔥🔥🔥🔥 Edward and Sophia are just trying to survive the marriage market. Edward, who is now the new Earl of Peterborough, has the difficult dilemma of needing heirs but refusing to get marriage. Sophia just wants to get courtship and marriage over with so she can retire peacefully -- with or without her husband -- in the country. So what's stopping these two from going through what seems to be a perfect match? The characters are fantastic and played their parts well. Sophia was the sassy bluestocking who jumped into her curiosity about physical engagement head-on. Edward was the stoic noble who was not so stoic when it came to being alone with Sophia. (There was some moments I had to give him the side-eye.) The plot kinda got murky at times, but let's admit it: we're here for the spice, and did Maggie Sims deliver. The earl sure likes the connection between his hand and Sophia's peach, so if that's your thing, this fits your jam. I certainly enjoyed the irony of setting their naughty interactions among the proper and (seemingly) straight-laced ton.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • M. Crum
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great debut novel. Definitely worth the read!
    Reviewed in the United States on June 1, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Ok, so... if you don't like erotic spanking romance... then this isn't for you. For the rest of us... (insert happy dance) this is a GREAT debut novel. I vacillated between 4 and 5 stars because, while there was a lot that I loved, there were a few that I didn't. As a result, I took the time to read this entire novel twice before reviewing it, and I decided on 5 starts, because in the end, I truly enjoyed reading this novel. And, I look forward to the next in the series. In fact, I will be following this author so I don't miss any future releases in this series.

    What I loved: Sophia. Hands down. She is truly sweet, probably a little too kind and understanding, but a really good person through and through. I also loved Nicholas and Roslynn. (Get Maggie Sims' newsletter and you can read their story/novella). There are a fun couple and wonderful human beings. I would like to have them as friends. :)

    What I didn't: Don't get me wrong, I like a grumpy hero. Truly, I do. And Edward definitely fits that bill. But while he softened a bit, I would have liked to see him turn the corner a bit more... especially once he figured out that Sophia was an even better person than he originally thought. Can't add details here because I don't want to spoil.

    Parting thoughts: I liked Nicholas in the novella, and liked him even more in this novel. So, following that same logic, maybe in future novels, if Edward has more time to see the complete GEM he has married, he will become even more overtly lovable as well. Time will tell. But even if he doesn't... it was a good story. And it was definitely worth the read. ENJOY!
    One person found this helpful
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  • Jules
    4.0 out of 5 stars Promising Series Debut
    Reviewed in the United States on May 23, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Lured by the promise of some Regency erotica, I approached this debut author’s work with trepidation, wary of awkward sentences, stilted dialogue, and a boring plot, but I was pleasantly surprised. The writing and story flowed well and kept my interest.

    Our heroine, Sophia, is a young woman who has been used to happily assisting her father on his veterinary visits to their local country neighbors. Bright, curious and eager, she has honed her skills under his direction. His sudden death puts Sophia in a precarious situation but a distant cousin and his wife take her into their London home, with the promise of a Season and finding her a suitable husband. During her stay, Sophia accidentally comes upon cousin Nicholas and wife Roslyn engaging in some intimate play, which she finds more intriguing than alarming. Naive to the ways of the ton, she attempts to reconcile what she has witnessed with what may be expected of her in a future relationship with a husband.

    Edward, a second son living a carefree life, suddenly has the heavy mantle of responsibility as a new earl thrust upon him and seeks advice and help from his best friend, Nicholas. Nicholas is aware of two secrets that Edward has managed to keep out of the ton’s scrutiny — one of which they shared as clients of Sarah Potter’s Spanking Club. The other secret could potentially ruin Edward’s chances to be taken seriously in his Parliamentary role. Edward is unaware that Nicholas has managed to find a solution to continue indulging his own proclivities, and thinks he must give that up, too. He is wary, distrustful and frustrated, and although he now needs a wife to produce heirs, Edward is sure he cannot share any of his secrets with her.

    Edward and Sophia’s orbits overlap and then the sparks begin to fly. Sophia can carry on a mature and knowledgeable conversation about Parliamentary issues, but can also unwittingly manage to put herself in situations that push Edward’s limits and his urges to discipline. And Sophia, surprisingly, seems to enjoy his discipline. Nicholas and Roslyn see the potential in a match between the two, with the benefit of a little tutoring for Sophia from the School of Enlightenment, a progressive and exclusive enterprise Nicholas and Roslyn both endorse and support. Once married, Sophia is both happy to have a home with a man she has grown to love, but also frustrated by his lack of trust in her abilities to help him in his horse training business. Sophia’s underlying insecurity that she not be “abandoned” again causes her to consider all ways to stay in the good graces of her husband and become a partner to him, so she puts the teachings of the School to use. Edward does stubbornly wallow in his fears for quite (almost too long) awhile around his secrets being revealed.

    The sex scenes were well written and steamy, although there were some instances when the fears of the two protagonists intruded on the scene just a bit.

    I liked the idea of the empowerment the School of Enlightenment was meant to provide. Women generally truly lacked power in their relationships and the School gave women tools to influence both their own personal agendas and societal issues. And, not only privileged married women were given the opportunity to attend the School, but also women with less secure futures.

    All in all, I really enjoyed this debut book and look forward to reading future stories in the series and how the School of Enlightenment plays a part.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • LMN
    3.0 out of 5 stars A Spankingly Good Romp
    Reviewed in the United States on June 16, 2022
    I don't think I'm giving anything away by mentioning that this story is all about spanking—and not of the sort my exasperated mom did to me (I grew up before spanking children was no longer a done thing).

    Sophia, the heroine, is young and innocent of the opposite sex when the story begins. She has a good heart, which means that it takes her a while to figure out what life is about among the "Ton" when she is taken in by a high-born distant cousin and his wife after her father passes away.

    Edward, the hero, is very experienced, and sets his sights on Sophia because he has a big secret he thinks she is too innocent to figure out. His secret is shaming to him. His assumption will cause trouble for him and Sophia and propels the plot as he falls for her charms but tries to keep himself from falling in love.

    Of course, this means a fair amount of hurt for Sophia as Edward blows hot and cold. She is sure that being the perfect nineteenth-century wife by pleasing her husband in all ways, and maybe pleasing herself in a few particular ways, too, will be the solution that will make Edward fall in love. He, on the other hand, is sure controlling his wife is the best way to keep his secret and the pleasure flowing.

    Edward does his manly best not to melt for the heroine. But this is a romance, after all, so we all know this is not going to be a successful plan for him. How he finally gets "there" adds suspense to this sweet story about a submissive and her man.
    2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Debbie
    5.0 out of 5 stars A spicy story of a young woman’s schooling in more than reading, writing and arithmetic!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 27, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Phew! This is a smoking hot read! It’s the first in the School of Enlightenment series so be prepared for an education!
    The book is the love story of Sophia and Edward.

    Sophia is an eighteen year old orphan who comes to live with her cousin Nicholas who is an earl, and his wife Ros, when her veterinarian father passes away. Sophia has always helped her father in his job and is very knowledgeable about animal husbandry. She loves animals, especially horses, and more especially her beloved horse Nellie. Nicolas and his wife Ros (whose book you can read by signing up to Maggie Sims’ newsletter- believe me it’s another great story!) have an unconventional marriage, accidentally witnessed by Sophia who is left feeling curious about what she saw. Ros saw her watching and she and Nicholas speak to her the following day about what she saw. They also suggest she enrols at the School of Enlightenment (a secret school for women of all backgrounds, guiding them through all different scenarios of life and also teaches them how to love themselves, no matter what anyone else thinks).

    They introduce her to Edward, the new Earl of Peterborough. He has been tasked with being her escort for her first season in preparation to marry. Edward was the second son who has been thrust into the position of the Earl without any previous preparation after his brother died. He also has a secret impediment that only Nicholas and his brother knew about that would cause embarrassment if discovered and constant worry for Edward now that he has so much more reading and writing to do as an earl. He also has a taste for spanking young women, in fact he frequently visits a spanking club which he would have to give up when he was to marry, so marriage for him was a not in his future, even with the expectation of having an heir is now his responsibility.

    Spending time with Sophia, Edward realised that she may have similar interests to him regarding a spanking and is intrigued. They have an instant connection with each other and when they are caught in a compromising situation and they marry.

    The rest of the story focuses around how they become a loving couple, invested in each other’s happiness. This story includes very steamy open door scenes of intimacy, including spanking, light bondage and the use of objects in intimate moments- I told you it was a hot, spicy read!
    I loved both of the main characters. Both have a lot of personal growth throughout the story. Sophia is a loving, kind and caring young woman who worries more about her horse Nelly’s future than her own. She wants to help everyone and everything that needs help, even if it means she gets into trouble. She certainly gets an education in the classroom of the school and in her marriage.
    Edward is more old fashioned in his thinking at the beginning. He is so worried about his secret being revealed that he comes across as being controlling in their relationship at the beginning but once he realises his downfalls as a husband and they both have their HEA!
    Nicolas and Ros are lovely secondary characters.

    Although this book does have a lot of steam, it also has a great story about two young people, both not wanting to fall in love with anyone, deciding that it might not be so bad after all.
    Maggie Sims has become one of my favourite authors.
    I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading steamy historical romance novels with a bit more education than other books!
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  • Patricia Lloyd-Jones
    3.0 out of 5 stars Bottoms up!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 25, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    A bit too much deviant sex for my liking, but really well written. My heroine was rather good at being brave! I don't think I could have put up with the same carry on. Different times, though. Worth a read if you don't mind squirming a bit.
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