The Earl of Vailmont is tired of his mother going on and on about him finding a bride. He escapes to Bath where his friends are and where he can relax and not have to court any of the ladies. But things are not going according to plan when he finds out that one of his bachelor friends ran off to Gretna Green and eloped, which was quite out of the blue. The rumors circulating are that Val’s buddy may have succumbed to a love potion. And since Val doesn’t want to be a victim of this potion he will find the fiend who is responsible.

Before Val can investigate further, he is blindsided by the beautiful widow Lady Sylvia Lyndonbury who is with her young stepdaughter, Amalie. As soon as Sylvia and Val meet, the sparks between them are very intense. Val can’t help but compare Sylvia to a witch and comes to the conclusion that Sylvia may be the one responsible for making the potion. He will get as close as he can to Sylvia to find out all her secrets and if she is indeed the one with magical powers or just a con artist trying to make money and cause problems. If Val knew how close he was to the truth Sylvia would run far away, but she is falling for Val and very soon he will know all and could possible destroy all her wishes for a future she has longed for.

The mystery within Aphrodite’s Brew is that of the heroine Sylvia. Is she really a witch with magical powers or just an intelligent woman trying to make her way into the world for herself and her maturing stepdaughter? Val has major trust issues and thinks everyone is out to get him. I had some problems with him because of that, but when he allows himself to let go and be with Sylvia as a lover and friend, Dells Jacob’s tale begins to shine.

Aphrodite’s Brew has a nice regency feel and is a lovely romance with some twists you don’t see coming. If you are a fan of sweet yet emotional romances and a strong hero and heroine, pick this one up!

Reviewed by: Katie