Welcome to the Blog Tour for The Gentlewoman Apprentice by Emily Opal, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
About The Book
Title: The Gentlewoman Apprentice
Series: The Gentlewoman Series #5
Author: Emily Opal
Publisher: Independently Published
Release Date: September 3, 2026
Genre: Historical Romance
Every seam hides a secret. Every valentine reveals the truth.
When Margaret Cooper departs the slums of East London for an apprenticeship in a quiet market town, she topples the established order—and no one feels it more than Peter Sloan, the handsome tailor forced to teach her his trade.
Margaret is steeled to prove her worth in a man’s world and has no leisure for courtship. But when anonymous Valentines begin to arrive, each with gifts and words that pierce her heart, she feels truly known for the first time. If only she could unmask the hand that distracts her from her aspirations.
Burdened by a failing business and an ill father, Peter has no patience for a female apprentice who upends his orderly life. Yet through a reckless wager, he finds himself sending Valentines to none other than Miss Cooper. What begins as halfhearted duty blossoms into admiration—and dangerous longing.
Excerpt
The sharp clip of footsteps on cobblestone drew Meg’s gaze from the trunk upon the ground in front of her to the morning light at the mouth of the alley. She stood outside her kitchen door, which opened onto the backstreet. A warm glow from her windows and the graying dawn illuminated Mr. Peter Sloan, master tailor and the man from whom Meg was meant to learn dressmaking. Her sham of an apprenticeship would end in disgrace if he discovered her enterprise—an eventuality that seemed likely, considering he lived across the street.
The lid of the wicker trunk slipped from her fingers and slammed closed before she could properly take an account of the trunk’s contents. Mr. Sloan stopped and pivoted toward her. Heart pounding, she stiffened and gave the barest nod. Why was he out so early?
Please, do not approach, she prayed.
“Fine morning.” His voice, too loud and too cheerful for the hour, made her jump.
She stepped in front of the trunk, drawing his eyes to it. Wouldn’t he love to catch her flouting guild rules? She tightened her red knitted shawl against the January drizzle, tucking her hands into its folds, and waited.
PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub
More in This Series
About The Author
Emily Opal spent her childhood reading, having tea parties, and imagining she existed in another century. While pleased to live in a time when chamber pots are obsolete, she loves researching a bygone world full of hardships both foreign and relatable. Fortunate to find a spouse equally afflicted with wanderlust, Emily and her husband travel whenever and wherever they can. They live with their children and Labradoodle in Utah, where she enjoys mountain views and hiking but pretends to love skiing.
Connect with Emily by visiting emilyopal.com to follow her on social media and subscribe to email newsletter updates.
Tour Giveaway
(3) winners will each receive a book box with 18th century bits and bobs and a $20 Amazon gift card!
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight September 7, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on September 14, 2026. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN only for gift card. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
This sounds like an incredible book!
Sounds awesome
Sounds like a fantastic read.
I liked the excerpt.
Thank You for the review
Marion
I am sooooo reading this one this fall season.
heather hgtempaddy@hotmail.com
thanks so much for sharing about The Gentlewoman Apprentice today!
Your book covers are such pretty colors!
Sounds like a great book!
I love historical romance and this one sounds amazing.
I love the excerpt.
I liked the excerpt.