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Dukes and Secrets #4
Betting Against The Scoundrel
"I'll be your scoundrel, not your hero."
Broken and devastated, the former Duke of Grandhampton, Lord Spencer Seaton, returns home from the war to find he has lost everything. His only goal is to exact vengeance upon the man who took everything from him.
Nothing will stop Spencer... except, Miss Joanna Digby—intelligent, cunning, and mysterious. A wallflower, she conceals her true self behind a facade, only to have her family threatened by the same man who ruined Spencer.
But as fate would have it, Lord Seaton stands in her path, and she in his.
And yet, it is his unlikely rival that begins to revive Lord Spencer's soul.
He proposes a deal: If he gets evidence against their mutual adversary first, she must surrender her virginity to him. If she is the first to procure the evidence, he will stop his chase.
One scandalous wager, two determined rivals, and three dangerous days spent in close proximity.
Can love resurrect the soul of the man who came back from the dead?
Broken and devastated, the former Duke of Grandhampton, Lord Spencer Seaton, returns home from the war to find he has lost everything. His only goal is to exact vengeance upon the man who took everything from him.
Nothing will stop Spencer... except, Miss Joanna Digby—intelligent, cunning, and mysterious. A wallflower, she conceals her true self behind a facade, only to have her family threatened by the same man who ruined Spencer.
But as fate would have it, Lord Seaton stands in her path, and she in his.
And yet, it is his unlikely rival that begins to revive Lord Spencer's soul.
He proposes a deal: If he gets evidence against their mutual adversary first, she must surrender her virginity to him. If she is the first to procure the evidence, he will stop his chase.
One scandalous wager, two determined rivals, and three dangerous days spent in close proximity.
Can love resurrect the soul of the man who came back from the dead?
340 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 12, 2024
799 people are currently reading
572 people want to read
About the author
Mariah Stone
67 books754 followersWhen time travel romance writer Mariah Stone isn't busy writing strong modern women falling back through time into the arms of hot Vikings, Highlanders, and pirates, she chases after her toddler and spends romantic nights on North Sea with her husband. Mariah speaks six languages, loves Outlander, sushi and Thai food, and runs a local writer's group. Subscribe to Mariah's newsletter for a free time travel book today!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 188 reviews
May 10, 2024
“There is nothing in my life that shines brighter than you.”
This follows Johanna and Spencer. Johanna wants to protect her family and do what’s best for her sister while Spencer has returned after being pressed ganged was missing this past year. Spencer wants to discover who was behind his capture and attack. That’s when they both join forces as they may both be looking into the same individual.
I’m loving these regency romances at the moment. The storyline keeps you engaged but the two main characters challenging each other and sneaking around in this book did something to my brain chemistry it’s one of my favourite things in romance books to read. We had steamy passionate moments of lust. I will say though right at the start when he was in love with another woman and then he was captured for a year and then came back to the reality of losing her my heart hurt for Spencer. Johanna and Spencer are meant to be. The audiobook narration by Shane and Justine was brilliant as well I highly recommend
If you love:
🔹Regency Romance
🔹Enemies To Lovers
🔹Forced Proximity
🔹On Bed
🔹Secret Identity
🔹Passionate Spice
Genre/Type: Historical Romance 18+
APK: Audiobook - ALC
Audiobook Length: 9hrs 35mins
Narrators: Shane East and Justine Eyre - Dual
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Spice: 🌶️
Series or Stand Alone: Book Four In The Duke and Secret Series
Tropes or Themes: Enemies To Lovers, Forced Proximity, One Bed, Secret Identity, Regency, Masquerade Ball, A Bet, Violence, My Wife, Injury, Guns, It’s Always Been You, Sexual Content and Virgin.
Check Triggers ⚠️ 💫
All Round Romance Reader
Sienasummerrreads 💕📚
TikTok | Instagram | Goodreads | StoryGraph | Everand | Amazon | Audible Reviews 💫
This follows Johanna and Spencer. Johanna wants to protect her family and do what’s best for her sister while Spencer has returned after being pressed ganged was missing this past year. Spencer wants to discover who was behind his capture and attack. That’s when they both join forces as they may both be looking into the same individual.
I’m loving these regency romances at the moment. The storyline keeps you engaged but the two main characters challenging each other and sneaking around in this book did something to my brain chemistry it’s one of my favourite things in romance books to read. We had steamy passionate moments of lust. I will say though right at the start when he was in love with another woman and then he was captured for a year and then came back to the reality of losing her my heart hurt for Spencer. Johanna and Spencer are meant to be. The audiobook narration by Shane and Justine was brilliant as well I highly recommend
If you love:
🔹Regency Romance
🔹Enemies To Lovers
🔹Forced Proximity
🔹On Bed
🔹Secret Identity
🔹Passionate Spice
Genre/Type: Historical Romance 18+
APK: Audiobook - ALC
Audiobook Length: 9hrs 35mins
Narrators: Shane East and Justine Eyre - Dual
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Spice: 🌶️
Series or Stand Alone: Book Four In The Duke and Secret Series
Tropes or Themes: Enemies To Lovers, Forced Proximity, One Bed, Secret Identity, Regency, Masquerade Ball, A Bet, Violence, My Wife, Injury, Guns, It’s Always Been You, Sexual Content and Virgin.
Check Triggers ⚠️ 💫
All Round Romance Reader
Sienasummerrreads 💕📚
TikTok | Instagram | Goodreads | StoryGraph | Everand | Amazon | Audible Reviews 💫
May 6, 2024
Another lovely tale in Dukes and Secrets. And an HEA for the whole family.
I was aching for Spencer after the last novel and I wanted nothing but good things for him. Unfortunately, for him to have peace, he is pushed to get revenge by destroying the man who ruined his life: The Duke of Ashton.
When he runs into a lovely Persephone in disguise at a masquerade ball, he discovers an adversary who is competing against him for the chance to stop the Duke. Only, she has very different reasons for it.
This Persephone he wants to seduce to the underworld happens to be none other than Joanna Digby. A lovely wallflower who also happens to be Ashton's niece. And while she also wants the Duke to pay, it's a bit trickier because her family's future is at stake.
Yet through their sparring, banter, kisses, and bets, they can't help but be drawn together. They both kept me on my toes and I was enthralled by their adventures.
I listened to the lovely Shane East and Justine Eyre narrate this lovely novel. Which made for another wonderful immersive experience. They both have a lovely rasp and scratch to their performances that made my skin tingle and kept my interest piqued.
I really enjoyed this novel and I look forward to trying more from Mariah Stone.
4 stars
2 on the spice scale
*Thank you to Must Love Audio & the Author for an ALC of this title.*
I was aching for Spencer after the last novel and I wanted nothing but good things for him. Unfortunately, for him to have peace, he is pushed to get revenge by destroying the man who ruined his life: The Duke of Ashton.
When he runs into a lovely Persephone in disguise at a masquerade ball, he discovers an adversary who is competing against him for the chance to stop the Duke. Only, she has very different reasons for it.
This Persephone he wants to seduce to the underworld happens to be none other than Joanna Digby. A lovely wallflower who also happens to be Ashton's niece. And while she also wants the Duke to pay, it's a bit trickier because her family's future is at stake.
Yet through their sparring, banter, kisses, and bets, they can't help but be drawn together. They both kept me on my toes and I was enthralled by their adventures.
I listened to the lovely Shane East and Justine Eyre narrate this lovely novel. Which made for another wonderful immersive experience. They both have a lovely rasp and scratch to their performances that made my skin tingle and kept my interest piqued.
I really enjoyed this novel and I look forward to trying more from Mariah Stone.
4 stars
2 on the spice scale
*Thank you to Must Love Audio & the Author for an ALC of this title.*
February 10, 2024
Betting Against the Scoundrel is the concluding book in Mariah Stone’s Dukes and Secrets series. It can be read as a standalone but there is an overarching mystery over the series and it would benefit reading from the beginning.
We finally get to find out what happened to Spencer, the former Duke of Grandhampton and who the villain was who had him press ganged and sent to the wars.
After returning from the wars, Spencer comes back to find that everything has changed. His brother has been declared Duke in his stead and the woman he loves is now his brother’s wife. Spencer now has just one thing on his mind – vengeance against the man that ruined his life.
But his plans are unexpectedly thwarted by Miss Joanna Digby [the niece of the villain] who has reasons of her own to try to find incriminating evidence against her uncle.
With both Spencer and Joanna reluctant to trust the other they engage in a scandalous wager leading to an uneasy alliance. Working together they discover they may be kindred spirits but can Spencer give up on his vengeance for Joanna or will it tear them apart?
This was a satisfying conclusion to the series and all the loose ends are tied up. Spencer and Joanna are a well matched couple. Spencer is understandably bitter and vengeful but meeting Joanna pulls him out of the darkness and he finds hope. Joanna has spent her life being overlooked and taken for granted whilst taking care of her unintentionally unappreciative family. It was lovely to see her regain her own sense of self worth and start to assert herself.
There are many twists and turns and it was really good to see the rest of the family come together. I was glad that the situation between Spencer and his brother is resolved and the air cleared between him and Penelope. The only thing that I found a little hard to believe is the premise that Spencer can no longer be the Duke because his brother inherited when he was declared dead. I would have thought that since it has only been a year since his disappearance, the title would have been able to revert back to him. But maybe it is accurate.
But that doesn’t diminish from the enjoyment of the book. I have enjoyed this series very much and it was great to see Spencer achieve his HEA. There is also an extra epilogue that can be accessed at the end of the book which is very satisfying and involves the whole family. We also get a hint of Mariah Stone’s next series which looks to be very interesting.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
We finally get to find out what happened to Spencer, the former Duke of Grandhampton and who the villain was who had him press ganged and sent to the wars.
After returning from the wars, Spencer comes back to find that everything has changed. His brother has been declared Duke in his stead and the woman he loves is now his brother’s wife. Spencer now has just one thing on his mind – vengeance against the man that ruined his life.
But his plans are unexpectedly thwarted by Miss Joanna Digby [the niece of the villain] who has reasons of her own to try to find incriminating evidence against her uncle.
With both Spencer and Joanna reluctant to trust the other they engage in a scandalous wager leading to an uneasy alliance. Working together they discover they may be kindred spirits but can Spencer give up on his vengeance for Joanna or will it tear them apart?
This was a satisfying conclusion to the series and all the loose ends are tied up. Spencer and Joanna are a well matched couple. Spencer is understandably bitter and vengeful but meeting Joanna pulls him out of the darkness and he finds hope. Joanna has spent her life being overlooked and taken for granted whilst taking care of her unintentionally unappreciative family. It was lovely to see her regain her own sense of self worth and start to assert herself.
There are many twists and turns and it was really good to see the rest of the family come together. I was glad that the situation between Spencer and his brother is resolved and the air cleared between him and Penelope. The only thing that I found a little hard to believe is the premise that Spencer can no longer be the Duke because his brother inherited when he was declared dead. I would have thought that since it has only been a year since his disappearance, the title would have been able to revert back to him. But maybe it is accurate.
But that doesn’t diminish from the enjoyment of the book. I have enjoyed this series very much and it was great to see Spencer achieve his HEA. There is also an extra epilogue that can be accessed at the end of the book which is very satisfying and involves the whole family. We also get a hint of Mariah Stone’s next series which looks to be very interesting.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 24, 2024
This is definitely not a light read, but an emotional whirlwind of angst, action and wicked attraction! A passionate hate-to-love-you, touch-her-and-die, I’m-not-good-enough-for-you, you’re-mine clash of two determined, strong and independent minds. They’re forced to trust and depend on each other, but their endgame is not the same and that leads to doubts, frustration and harsh words. On the other hand, they also take care of each other; she leads him out of the darkness back to his family, and he pulls her out of the shadows and gives her the confidence she needs.
They’re nothing without the other, but it takes them a good while to figure that out.
Although all the books in this series are great on their own, they really should be read in order if you want the full effect of this enthralling family saga. This story is the definition of going out with a bang! I loved it start to finish, and I can hardly wait for Rath’s story in the first book of the next series!
📚 A man with nothing left to lose and a lady who never stops giving.
He’s out for revenge. She’s looking for justice. Their target: a greedy despicable duke who’ll stop at nothing to get what he wants.
The previous book in this series ended with Spencer arriving at the London docks just when his family is about to board ship to come find him. They spend some hellish months first believing he was dead, and then trying to locate him when they found out he wasn’t. At this point however, Spencer only sees everything he’s lost - his title, his home and the woman he loved. He’ll never get any of it back, but the culprit for this gaping hole of numb nothingness must pay!
After their parents died, Joanna and her older siblings became wards to their uncle, a duke. When her brother came of age, the vile man cast them out and kept the deeds to their inheritance. Now, a decade later, he promises to hand them over if her sister becomes Prinny’s mistress. Joanna, used to being invisible, is set on making sure this never happens, and that’s why she needs dirt on her uncle.
Two secret investigations, a mutual target. He falls first and irrevocably at a masquerade. A fire, a bet - they both play dirty - but instead of collecting, they join forces against a relentless ruthless villain.
They’re nothing without the other, but it takes them a good while to figure that out.
Although all the books in this series are great on their own, they really should be read in order if you want the full effect of this enthralling family saga. This story is the definition of going out with a bang! I loved it start to finish, and I can hardly wait for Rath’s story in the first book of the next series!
📚 A man with nothing left to lose and a lady who never stops giving.
He’s out for revenge. She’s looking for justice. Their target: a greedy despicable duke who’ll stop at nothing to get what he wants.
The previous book in this series ended with Spencer arriving at the London docks just when his family is about to board ship to come find him. They spend some hellish months first believing he was dead, and then trying to locate him when they found out he wasn’t. At this point however, Spencer only sees everything he’s lost - his title, his home and the woman he loved. He’ll never get any of it back, but the culprit for this gaping hole of numb nothingness must pay!
After their parents died, Joanna and her older siblings became wards to their uncle, a duke. When her brother came of age, the vile man cast them out and kept the deeds to their inheritance. Now, a decade later, he promises to hand them over if her sister becomes Prinny’s mistress. Joanna, used to being invisible, is set on making sure this never happens, and that’s why she needs dirt on her uncle.
Two secret investigations, a mutual target. He falls first and irrevocably at a masquerade. A fire, a bet - they both play dirty - but instead of collecting, they join forces against a relentless ruthless villain.
February 6, 2024
And my not so humble opinion, this author did what many do which is to cater to those who want sex in everything. This story was excellent, the writing magnificent. The sex scenes were unnecessary, both to the plot and to the quality of the book.
I know there are many for whom a book is not worth reading if it doesn’t contain six the same as there are many who won’t watch a movie if it does not contain sex. However, there are also many of us for whom that is not something we want. If the author wants to continue catering to those ones who do want that, I won’t be reading her works anymore. However, this is a great loss to me because her work should stay in by itself, it doesn’t need any such thing to boost it. She’s an excellent author well worth reading except for the six in the books.
This is the story of a man who is press-ganged into war. I didn’t know much about this procedure, so I looked at more information. it was really sad to learn that this happened so very much in England’s history. And the stories around this man, the former Duke, were also fascinating. But the stories of the women we’re especially so! And the heroine of the story was so well-rounded (pun intended) and lovable, relatable, and admirable. The extended epilogue was so touching.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I know there are many for whom a book is not worth reading if it doesn’t contain six the same as there are many who won’t watch a movie if it does not contain sex. However, there are also many of us for whom that is not something we want. If the author wants to continue catering to those ones who do want that, I won’t be reading her works anymore. However, this is a great loss to me because her work should stay in by itself, it doesn’t need any such thing to boost it. She’s an excellent author well worth reading except for the six in the books.
This is the story of a man who is press-ganged into war. I didn’t know much about this procedure, so I looked at more information. it was really sad to learn that this happened so very much in England’s history. And the stories around this man, the former Duke, were also fascinating. But the stories of the women we’re especially so! And the heroine of the story was so well-rounded (pun intended) and lovable, relatable, and admirable. The extended epilogue was so touching.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 28, 2024
Mariah Stone is a new author for me and this is only my 5th book by her and last in this series. I couldn't put Book 1 down it was so good, so decided to get the complete series. I don't read book descriptions so I have no idea what I'm reading when I start a book but I assume it will be about some of the characters from previous books :). Makes for a more interesting read, I think. :)
I have been looking forward to this story since we found out about Spencer in Book 2.
So right away I read something that made me go, What? Huh? This kind of stuff usually never bothers me, but it was so different than I’ve read previously but because Spencer had been gone and assumed dead, Preston became the new duke. Okay, makes sense..but now that Spencer is back (sorry not giving anything away as it’s written in the book description 😊) so why isn’t he returned to Duke status? I’ve read many other books like that over the years when this has happened or something similar but they always end up going through parliament but always get back their Duke title. Not sure if it was done for the story or not enough research? Don’t know. Just thought it was strange and caught my attention.
I really like this author a lot. I have loved this whole series. There was so much depth in all her characters and in her stories. Sex was well written. Just overall really good reads on all of them. I really liked Spencer and Joanna. I can’t say anything different about Joanna that I haven’t said about the other women in the other stories. Strong, independent, stubborn, resourceful.. just great. All the men were smart enough to see what good women they had. Great series.
I have been looking forward to this story since we found out about Spencer in Book 2.
So right away I read something that made me go, What? Huh? This kind of stuff usually never bothers me, but it was so different than I’ve read previously but because Spencer had been gone and assumed dead, Preston became the new duke. Okay, makes sense..but now that Spencer is back (sorry not giving anything away as it’s written in the book description 😊) so why isn’t he returned to Duke status? I’ve read many other books like that over the years when this has happened or something similar but they always end up going through parliament but always get back their Duke title. Not sure if it was done for the story or not enough research? Don’t know. Just thought it was strange and caught my attention.
I really like this author a lot. I have loved this whole series. There was so much depth in all her characters and in her stories. Sex was well written. Just overall really good reads on all of them. I really liked Spencer and Joanna. I can’t say anything different about Joanna that I haven’t said about the other women in the other stories. Strong, independent, stubborn, resourceful.. just great. All the men were smart enough to see what good women they had. Great series.
June 2, 2024
Loved the Hades an Personaphe
I probably spelled that wrong but I just want to make sure I remember this he is the duke that was press ganged and presumed dead and he is back. His brother married the woman he loved and he could go longer be the duke. He is out for vengeance and so is Joanna. They work together to bring her uncle down. It was good but I wanted more I think k. Love this author too and this series. can't wait for Raths story.
I probably spelled that wrong but I just want to make sure I remember this he is the duke that was press ganged and presumed dead and he is back. His brother married the woman he loved and he could go longer be the duke. He is out for vengeance and so is Joanna. They work together to bring her uncle down. It was good but I wanted more I think k. Love this author too and this series. can't wait for Raths story.
February 13, 2024
Thank you so so much to the author for sharing an ARC of this book with me!!
“Allow me to take you to the underworld, then,”
“And he’d be damned if he’d stop here. He’d find her. Whatever it took.”
“Perhaps he was a Hades now, kidnapping Persephone into his dark and miserable world. ”
I’m absolutely in love!!! This series has been … more than what I expected and her everything I needed. I’m really sad it’s over but I’m so glad I got to experience finally the truth of everything that happened to our dear and mysterious Spencer!!! This book brought me the same amount of excitement and dread. I felt sad while reading recollection of the past, and I felt happy and giddy and deeply frustrated while reading about the present. In this final story of rivals to lovers, faced with unmatched passion and a common revenge plan, with a one end trope … I guess I can say hot and bothered is the way I started and it is also the way I finished!! Spencer and Joanna’s story was beautiful and so addicting!!! Spicy as heck and the things this man says … I’m constantly melting and swooning!! Feeling frustrated and all hot and bothered is a constant in this book!!
He feels so unlovable and incapable of giving her the happiness she deserves, not knowing that she wants him the same way he wants her!! And don’t let me even start on the Hades and Persephone references in this book … I LOVED IT !!!
It felt like such a perfect way to end this series!! And I’m so deeply thankful to the author for giving me the emotions I experienced while reading this series !!!
“What am I going to do with you, Miss Digby? You naughty girl. Playing dirty, aren’t you?”
“Just look at you…all lush and ripe and so full of life… Do not hide anymore, darling. You have nothing to hide from. You should be the one in the foreground. You were born to shine.”
“Oh, love,” he murmured, slowly shaking his head. “My Persephone. What a mouthwatering feast you are.”
“Allow me to take you to the underworld, then,”
“And he’d be damned if he’d stop here. He’d find her. Whatever it took.”
“Perhaps he was a Hades now, kidnapping Persephone into his dark and miserable world. ”
I’m absolutely in love!!! This series has been … more than what I expected and her everything I needed. I’m really sad it’s over but I’m so glad I got to experience finally the truth of everything that happened to our dear and mysterious Spencer!!! This book brought me the same amount of excitement and dread. I felt sad while reading recollection of the past, and I felt happy and giddy and deeply frustrated while reading about the present. In this final story of rivals to lovers, faced with unmatched passion and a common revenge plan, with a one end trope … I guess I can say hot and bothered is the way I started and it is also the way I finished!! Spencer and Joanna’s story was beautiful and so addicting!!! Spicy as heck and the things this man says … I’m constantly melting and swooning!! Feeling frustrated and all hot and bothered is a constant in this book!!
He feels so unlovable and incapable of giving her the happiness she deserves, not knowing that she wants him the same way he wants her!! And don’t let me even start on the Hades and Persephone references in this book … I LOVED IT !!!
It felt like such a perfect way to end this series!! And I’m so deeply thankful to the author for giving me the emotions I experienced while reading this series !!!
“What am I going to do with you, Miss Digby? You naughty girl. Playing dirty, aren’t you?”
“Just look at you…all lush and ripe and so full of life… Do not hide anymore, darling. You have nothing to hide from. You should be the one in the foreground. You were born to shine.”
“Oh, love,” he murmured, slowly shaking his head. “My Persephone. What a mouthwatering feast you are.”
February 9, 2024
A Bet With No Losers !
Betting Against The Scoundrel Book 4 in the Series: Dukes and Secrets , Mariah Stone wraps up the Wonderful Tale of The Grandhamton Familty . Throughout the previous Books they were on a Mission to find out what happened to the Duke. Was he dead or just missing ? The Family Never giving up ! Bringing us the answers we were all waiting for. What a Sad Story it is ! Kidnapped, Lamed , Rescued, to return and Lost Everything ! A Shell of A Man ! Wanting nothing but Vengeance !
Spencer Seaton was raised and groomed to be The Duke of Grandhampton . Till he was kidnapped, thrown on a ship and sent to war . He was declared dead. Only was he ? Hurt and barely surviving from a wound in his thigh.
Joanna Digby was the youngest of the siblings. Yet, she took on all the responsibilities. They never gave her credit or looked at her as anything special. Making her feel strangely ordinary.
Joanna and Spencer meet at a Masquerade Ball at her Uncle’s home the Duke of Aston. The Magic Begins ! A Bet is Made ! A Mutual Goal is Formed , Danger is all around , and A Love That Sparks !
This Adventurous , Enchanting, Story will have you Spellbound ! Beautifully Told ! With A Perfect Ending !.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Betting Against The Scoundrel Book 4 in the Series: Dukes and Secrets , Mariah Stone wraps up the Wonderful Tale of The Grandhamton Familty . Throughout the previous Books they were on a Mission to find out what happened to the Duke. Was he dead or just missing ? The Family Never giving up ! Bringing us the answers we were all waiting for. What a Sad Story it is ! Kidnapped, Lamed , Rescued, to return and Lost Everything ! A Shell of A Man ! Wanting nothing but Vengeance !
Spencer Seaton was raised and groomed to be The Duke of Grandhampton . Till he was kidnapped, thrown on a ship and sent to war . He was declared dead. Only was he ? Hurt and barely surviving from a wound in his thigh.
Joanna Digby was the youngest of the siblings. Yet, she took on all the responsibilities. They never gave her credit or looked at her as anything special. Making her feel strangely ordinary.
Joanna and Spencer meet at a Masquerade Ball at her Uncle’s home the Duke of Aston. The Magic Begins ! A Bet is Made ! A Mutual Goal is Formed , Danger is all around , and A Love That Sparks !
This Adventurous , Enchanting, Story will have you Spellbound ! Beautifully Told ! With A Perfect Ending !.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 7, 2024
Very slight spoilers.
This is a romantic mystery between a man who has depression and ptsd and a woman who has been told no one will ever want to marry her. Spencer was press-ganged, something I had totally forgotten existed. Everyone thought he had been murdered, when really he had been forced into military service. Now he is back. He was supposed to be a Duke, but the title passed to the next brother and apparently can't be given back to him even though he is alive. This is something I really want to find some royal scholars to see if that is true or not. I would think if his brother really wanted to return the dukedom, he could have reached out to the king or something. Of course, they were dealing with the American Revolutionary War, so probably a bit busy. Also, fiction. 😊
I received this as an ARC through BookSirens, and I missed key details in the blurb (the deal about the virginity) when I requested it. So I didn't know that was going to be in the book when I started reading and then was worried this was turning into a dubcon. Was glad to see that isn't the case, and that no one is pressured into doing anything they are not ready to do yet. I still didn't like the idea of bargaining away the virginity. Felt icky.
This is a romantic mystery between a man who has depression and ptsd and a woman who has been told no one will ever want to marry her. Spencer was press-ganged, something I had totally forgotten existed. Everyone thought he had been murdered, when really he had been forced into military service. Now he is back. He was supposed to be a Duke, but the title passed to the next brother and apparently can't be given back to him even though he is alive. This is something I really want to find some royal scholars to see if that is true or not. I would think if his brother really wanted to return the dukedom, he could have reached out to the king or something. Of course, they were dealing with the American Revolutionary War, so probably a bit busy. Also, fiction. 😊
I received this as an ARC through BookSirens, and I missed key details in the blurb (the deal about the virginity) when I requested it. So I didn't know that was going to be in the book when I started reading and then was worried this was turning into a dubcon. Was glad to see that isn't the case, and that no one is pressured into doing anything they are not ready to do yet. I still didn't like the idea of bargaining away the virginity. Felt icky.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 6, 2024
A rip roaring finale to a great series. I read it in one session as it flowed so well. Mariah Stone is a very talented writer, with engaging characters and a smooth writing style.
This particular narrative explores what happens when the missing, presumed dead brother Spencer returns. I was unsure how they were going to handle the complicated situation we saw at the end of Calliope's story but it worked suprisingly well. Partly because the heroine is such fun and daring, as well as a spectacular first meeting filled with passion and lust at first start. In fact there are lots of passionate scenes in this book.
We have a satisfying ending, full of action and a hint at a future spin off series which was a relief as I didn't feel ready to leave such a great bunch of characters yet. I will say that it is important to read these books in order, or you ll miss crucial elements.
Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This particular narrative explores what happens when the missing, presumed dead brother Spencer returns. I was unsure how they were going to handle the complicated situation we saw at the end of Calliope's story but it worked suprisingly well. Partly because the heroine is such fun and daring, as well as a spectacular first meeting filled with passion and lust at first start. In fact there are lots of passionate scenes in this book.
We have a satisfying ending, full of action and a hint at a future spin off series which was a relief as I didn't feel ready to leave such a great bunch of characters yet. I will say that it is important to read these books in order, or you ll miss crucial elements.
Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 31, 2025
Dios miooooo! Me tuve que fumar 3 libros horrendos para mí gusto para llegar a esta maravilla.
La química entre los protas.
La personalidad aventurera de la prota incluso, teniendo todo en su contra.
La dureza de su personalidad sin dejar su delicadeza a un lado.
La confianza que se fue creando entre ellos.
El prota si tiene una razon real y con mucho sentido a su nueva y desagradable personalidad.
La acción, un suspenso ligero y sobretodo, el apoyo incondicional que se dan el uno al otro a pesar de todo.
FINALMENTE, la escritora dejó aquí todas sus ideas y de verdad, maravilloso y entretenido.
La química entre los protas.
La personalidad aventurera de la prota incluso, teniendo todo en su contra.
La dureza de su personalidad sin dejar su delicadeza a un lado.
La confianza que se fue creando entre ellos.
El prota si tiene una razon real y con mucho sentido a su nueva y desagradable personalidad.
La acción, un suspenso ligero y sobretodo, el apoyo incondicional que se dan el uno al otro a pesar de todo.
FINALMENTE, la escritora dejó aquí todas sus ideas y de verdad, maravilloso y entretenido.
March 6, 2024
More research needed
If you’re going to set a novel in England then do some research or get an English person to proof-read it. We don’t use “gotten”; Dukes and Duchesses are “Your Grace” when addressed, not Duke and Duchess. It was also just too long. I had to skip read and, by the end, didn’t really care what happened to anybody.
If you’re going to set a novel in England then do some research or get an English person to proof-read it. We don’t use “gotten”; Dukes and Duchesses are “Your Grace” when addressed, not Duke and Duchess. It was also just too long. I had to skip read and, by the end, didn’t really care what happened to anybody.
February 18, 2025
Me ha encantado, aunque si me quedé con ganas de saber más sobre el duque Dorian y más que nada de Thorne que paso, para que se convirtiera en el señor del crimen
February 20, 2024
As seen on my blog (Jessie's Reading Corner):
TITLE: Betting Against the Scoundrel
AUTHOR: Mariah Stone
SERIES: Dukes and Secrets
SERIES ORDER: 4 of 4
PUBLISHED DATE: 2/27/2024
GENRE: Regency Romance
RATING: ❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥
-------------------------
DISCLAIMER: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
If you have not read this series yet, and you’re a fan of steamy historical romance with plenty of intrigue and heart stopping moments, you need to read this series, now! Preferably before Feb 27, 2024 so that you can enjoy the epic conclusion that is Betting Against The Scoundrel! If you’re reading this after Feb 27, 2024, you now have the full series to enjoy! Did I mention it’s in KU? What are you waiting for?!
Lord Spencer Seaton has taken my heart and run away with it in this book! Since Book 1 of this series, All Duke and Bothered, Mariah has ensnared us in the mystery of what happened to the former Duke of Grandhampton, and we got bits and pieces in the next two books, Her Rake Fiancé and Project Duke, but we get his full story in Betting Against The Scoundrel.
I absolutely loved this story! I adored Spencer and Joanna’s relationship!! Their chemistry was off the charts and I loved the little cat and mouse game they played while trying to best the other person in retrieving information that they were both after.
Spencer… I’ve said this a million times, and I’ll say it a million times more, who doesn’t love a hero that thinks he’s unworthy of the heroine’s love? Spencer has seen such cruelty, and his body bears the scars, that he finds it impossible to think that someone could ever love him for who he is now.
Then there’s our heroine, Joanna. Joanna reminded me so much of Penelope from Bridgerton. The wallflower. Content to be in the background because that’s what she’s use, and putting other people’s needs before her own. (It’s most likely because of all the teasers Netflix has been putting out recently for the new season lol.)
Then, they meet each other, and challenge each other, and help each other grow, and it was a beautiful thing to watch play out throughout the book!
This book has easily become my favorite book of 2024, and Lord Spencer Seaton as my #1 Book Boyfriend of 2024!
Oh, another thing to note is that you’ll likely never look at pomegranates again without thinking of this story. 😁
Thank you Mariah for the advance copy!
TITLE: Betting Against the Scoundrel
AUTHOR: Mariah Stone
SERIES: Dukes and Secrets
SERIES ORDER: 4 of 4
PUBLISHED DATE: 2/27/2024
GENRE: Regency Romance
RATING: ❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥
-------------------------
DISCLAIMER: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
If you have not read this series yet, and you’re a fan of steamy historical romance with plenty of intrigue and heart stopping moments, you need to read this series, now! Preferably before Feb 27, 2024 so that you can enjoy the epic conclusion that is Betting Against The Scoundrel! If you’re reading this after Feb 27, 2024, you now have the full series to enjoy! Did I mention it’s in KU? What are you waiting for?!
Lord Spencer Seaton has taken my heart and run away with it in this book! Since Book 1 of this series, All Duke and Bothered, Mariah has ensnared us in the mystery of what happened to the former Duke of Grandhampton, and we got bits and pieces in the next two books, Her Rake Fiancé and Project Duke, but we get his full story in Betting Against The Scoundrel.
I absolutely loved this story! I adored Spencer and Joanna’s relationship!! Their chemistry was off the charts and I loved the little cat and mouse game they played while trying to best the other person in retrieving information that they were both after.
Spencer… I’ve said this a million times, and I’ll say it a million times more, who doesn’t love a hero that thinks he’s unworthy of the heroine’s love? Spencer has seen such cruelty, and his body bears the scars, that he finds it impossible to think that someone could ever love him for who he is now.
Then there’s our heroine, Joanna. Joanna reminded me so much of Penelope from Bridgerton. The wallflower. Content to be in the background because that’s what she’s use, and putting other people’s needs before her own. (It’s most likely because of all the teasers Netflix has been putting out recently for the new season lol.)
Then, they meet each other, and challenge each other, and help each other grow, and it was a beautiful thing to watch play out throughout the book!
This book has easily become my favorite book of 2024, and Lord Spencer Seaton as my #1 Book Boyfriend of 2024!
Oh, another thing to note is that you’ll likely never look at pomegranates again without thinking of this story. 😁
Thank you Mariah for the advance copy!
February 16, 2024
4-4.5 Stars! I love Mariah Stone books. She is one of my favorite authors of historical romance. This is the final book in the ‘Dukes and Secrets’ series and can be read as a standalone. I’d recommend reading all of them in order because that just makes them better. I missed book two but I didn’t feel lost reading books 3 & 4. These books were easy for me to remember, which I love when I remember early books from a series that came out a year or more prior to the last one in the series.
This book is for the previous Duke of Grandhampton, now Lord Spencer Seaton and Miss. Joanna Digby. I really liked both of them, they were both wonderful main characters. He was a bit of a jerk at times but considering what he was put through, it’s understandable and she didn’t let him walk all over her, which I can’t stand when the female main character is weak, it annoys me. This book had a lot of mystery and intrigue, a couple of steamy ‘sexy times’ scenes that I mostly skimmed through, a few funny parts that had be smiling at their antics and it was wrapped up with an HEA ending. A few things had left me wondering ‘why didn’t they do this’ or ‘why wouldn’t they do that’ and the biggest question I have… What the heck happened to Joanna’s Aunt? She just sort of disappeared and I can’t stop thinking about her! I know she’s fictional but I need to know what happened to her, it’s driving me nuts!
All in all this is a fantastic book and a worth reading series I’d highly recommend. I can’t wait for the new series that will pick up with a secondary character from this book. And I hate waiting!
*I received this book at no charge & I voluntarily left this review.*
This book is for the previous Duke of Grandhampton, now Lord Spencer Seaton and Miss. Joanna Digby. I really liked both of them, they were both wonderful main characters. He was a bit of a jerk at times but considering what he was put through, it’s understandable and she didn’t let him walk all over her, which I can’t stand when the female main character is weak, it annoys me. This book had a lot of mystery and intrigue, a couple of steamy ‘sexy times’ scenes that I mostly skimmed through, a few funny parts that had be smiling at their antics and it was wrapped up with an HEA ending. A few things had left me wondering ‘why didn’t they do this’ or ‘why wouldn’t they do that’ and the biggest question I have… What the heck happened to Joanna’s Aunt? She just sort of disappeared and I can’t stop thinking about her! I know she’s fictional but I need to know what happened to her, it’s driving me nuts!
All in all this is a fantastic book and a worth reading series I’d highly recommend. I can’t wait for the new series that will pick up with a secondary character from this book. And I hate waiting!
*I received this book at no charge & I voluntarily left this review.*
February 28, 2024
Book 4 in this Regency romance with intrigue and retribution
I hated to see this series end. Each book has centered on different couples, one of whom comes from the Seaton family. This last book is about Spencer, the once “dead” and recently found on a ship fighting a fledgling nation. Apparently, a very influential Duke wanted to rid himself and London of the Duke of Grandhampton, one Spencer Seaton. Life changes dramatically for the Seaton family who were forced to continue with Spencer dead and for Spencer who loses everything after disappearing and being press ganged into the Navy for the Crown. Now he wants revenge. But so does the very attractive and much overlooked, Miss Joanna Digby whose sister and brother have also lost everything due to the very same dastardly Duke of Ashton, their uncle. What are Spencer and Joanna to do? They join forces and make a bet that will ruin Joanne if she loses.
I adored this book. It was a thrill-a-minute once they get close to taking down Ashton. Their intimate scenes are scintillating. The ending is wonderful! I would love to see more of some of the secondary characters such as Rath or Thorne Blackmore or even some others. I hope they get their own books in the future. If you like historical novels where the scoundrel gets what he deserves, you will want to read this book. I volunteered to review an ARC of it and I am so glad I got that opportunity. A very sexy and poignant ending.
I hated to see this series end. Each book has centered on different couples, one of whom comes from the Seaton family. This last book is about Spencer, the once “dead” and recently found on a ship fighting a fledgling nation. Apparently, a very influential Duke wanted to rid himself and London of the Duke of Grandhampton, one Spencer Seaton. Life changes dramatically for the Seaton family who were forced to continue with Spencer dead and for Spencer who loses everything after disappearing and being press ganged into the Navy for the Crown. Now he wants revenge. But so does the very attractive and much overlooked, Miss Joanna Digby whose sister and brother have also lost everything due to the very same dastardly Duke of Ashton, their uncle. What are Spencer and Joanna to do? They join forces and make a bet that will ruin Joanne if she loses.
I adored this book. It was a thrill-a-minute once they get close to taking down Ashton. Their intimate scenes are scintillating. The ending is wonderful! I would love to see more of some of the secondary characters such as Rath or Thorne Blackmore or even some others. I hope they get their own books in the future. If you like historical novels where the scoundrel gets what he deserves, you will want to read this book. I volunteered to review an ARC of it and I am so glad I got that opportunity. A very sexy and poignant ending.
February 22, 2024
4.5 Stars
Broken and devastated, the former Duke of Grandhampton, Lord Spencer Seaton, returns home from being press ganged to find he has lost everything. His only goal is to exact vengeance upon the man who took everything from him. Miss Joanna Digby is intelligent, selfless & self effacing. A wallflower, she conceals her true self behind a facade, only to have her family threatened by the same man who ruined Spencer.
But as fate would have it, Lord Seaton stands in her path, and she in his. Yet, it is his unlikely rival that begins to revive Lord Spencer's soul. He proposes a deal: If he gets evidence against their mutual adversary first, she must spend one night with him. If she is the first to procure the evidence, he will stop his chase.
The fourth & final book in the series & everything for the Spencer family is tied up. I struggled to love Spencer to begin with as he was so blinkered but the very lovely Joanna gradually broke down his walls & wormed her way into his heart. I loved how he finally let his siblings in again, that was one toughing scene. A well written well paced book, which flowed well. The chemistry between Spencer & Joanna sizzled & I loved how their relationship changed & deepened. I also like that the villain got his comeuppance
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
Broken and devastated, the former Duke of Grandhampton, Lord Spencer Seaton, returns home from being press ganged to find he has lost everything. His only goal is to exact vengeance upon the man who took everything from him. Miss Joanna Digby is intelligent, selfless & self effacing. A wallflower, she conceals her true self behind a facade, only to have her family threatened by the same man who ruined Spencer.
But as fate would have it, Lord Seaton stands in her path, and she in his. Yet, it is his unlikely rival that begins to revive Lord Spencer's soul. He proposes a deal: If he gets evidence against their mutual adversary first, she must spend one night with him. If she is the first to procure the evidence, he will stop his chase.
The fourth & final book in the series & everything for the Spencer family is tied up. I struggled to love Spencer to begin with as he was so blinkered but the very lovely Joanna gradually broke down his walls & wormed her way into his heart. I loved how he finally let his siblings in again, that was one toughing scene. A well written well paced book, which flowed well. The chemistry between Spencer & Joanna sizzled & I loved how their relationship changed & deepened. I also like that the villain got his comeuppance
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
February 12, 2024
I’m giving 4.5/5 stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
I was really looking forward to Spencer’s pov and I was NOT disappointed. Joanna is also a fmc to thrive to be.
I’m giving 4.5 because things got a little weird there over her virginity. I know he wouldn’t have forced her. But it seemed a liiiittle coercive. That’s my only complaint.
Tropes: Hades/Persephone, She falls first he falls harder, one room one bed, fake marriage, making a bet, rivals to allies to lovers
Intimacy started as rivals but quickly became lovers. He is convinced he is too broken for anyone. She is convinced she only belongs in the background. But to him, she is the only person in the room he can see. Both trying to foil her evil uncle’s plans (her for her family, him for revenge) they work toward the same goal from opposite ends.
Spencer’s fight scenes were hot. Joanna is sassy when she needs it. I loved seeing her growth. Miscommunication trope annoyed me but it wasn’t drawn out and I get why it happened.
I very much enjoy this series and have loved being at the forefront of all of them!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
I was really looking forward to Spencer’s pov and I was NOT disappointed. Joanna is also a fmc to thrive to be.
I’m giving 4.5 because things got a little weird there over her virginity. I know he wouldn’t have forced her. But it seemed a liiiittle coercive. That’s my only complaint.
Tropes: Hades/Persephone, She falls first he falls harder, one room one bed, fake marriage, making a bet, rivals to allies to lovers
Intimacy started as rivals but quickly became lovers. He is convinced he is too broken for anyone. She is convinced she only belongs in the background. But to him, she is the only person in the room he can see. Both trying to foil her evil uncle’s plans (her for her family, him for revenge) they work toward the same goal from opposite ends.
Spencer’s fight scenes were hot. Joanna is sassy when she needs it. I loved seeing her growth. Miscommunication trope annoyed me but it wasn’t drawn out and I get why it happened.
I very much enjoy this series and have loved being at the forefront of all of them!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 24, 2024
Betting Against The Scoundrel was a great conclusion to the series. I feel like it wrapped up these characters perfectly while leaving me wanting to read the next series with side characters from this one. I suggest reading this series in order because the plot continues throughout all the books even though you are getting different characters' love stories. This book is well written and captured my interest from the very beginning. It's a quick and easy read with action and romance. I recommend this series to anyone who likes historical romance books with a little bit of mystery, action, and an overarching storyline.
I received a free eARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I received a free eARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
May 10, 2024
This was the perfect wrap up to the Dukes and Secrets series. I’ve been dying to know Spencer‘s story and what happened to him. And I love a 19th century scandal!
Joanna has felt unseen her entire life, and is always busy taking care of the people around her. But everything changes when she runs into Spencer at a masquerade ball. I adored her and her aspirations. I loved their angsty tension and chemistry, and the overall story was really entertaining.
If you love:
🌺Regency Romance
🌼Family Drama
🪻Enemies to Lovers
🌺Broken Hero
🌼Strong FMCs
🪻Mystery/Suspense
🌺Spice
Then this one is for you! I recommend starting with the first book in the series and reading them in order. I especially recommend listening to the audio because the narration by Shane East and Justine Eyre is perfection and you don’t want to miss it 👏🏼
Joanna has felt unseen her entire life, and is always busy taking care of the people around her. But everything changes when she runs into Spencer at a masquerade ball. I adored her and her aspirations. I loved their angsty tension and chemistry, and the overall story was really entertaining.
If you love:
🌺Regency Romance
🌼Family Drama
🪻Enemies to Lovers
🌺Broken Hero
🌼Strong FMCs
🪻Mystery/Suspense
🌺Spice
Then this one is for you! I recommend starting with the first book in the series and reading them in order. I especially recommend listening to the audio because the narration by Shane East and Justine Eyre is perfection and you don’t want to miss it 👏🏼
December 21, 2024
Fabulous audiobook.
🖋️ regency romance
🖋️ rivals to lovers
🖋️ a deal with the devil
🖋️ overcoming trauma
🖋️ mystery
🖋️ revenge
🖋️ forced proximity
🖋️ one room/bed
🖋️ action and adventure
🖋️ spicy
🖋️ regency romance
🖋️ rivals to lovers
🖋️ a deal with the devil
🖋️ overcoming trauma
🖋️ mystery
🖋️ revenge
🖋️ forced proximity
🖋️ one room/bed
🖋️ action and adventure
🖋️ spicy
March 17, 2025
Es lo que dicen un broche de oro, el mejor final para la serie 😁 es bueno y me dejó queriendo saber de otros personajes que mencionan en la saga. Y la historia estuvo interesante y creativa.
April 5, 2024
Mariah Stone has definitely earned a place on my favourite historical romance list!
This series was such a great find that I read the whole series in under a week + cannot wait for her next series (all the little hints in the epilogue).
I’d really like a book about Thorn Blackmore. A character that reminds me a bit of Robin Hood with a dark twist.
This series was such a great find that I read the whole series in under a week + cannot wait for her next series (all the little hints in the epilogue).
I’d really like a book about Thorn Blackmore. A character that reminds me a bit of Robin Hood with a dark twist.
February 21, 2024
Ok, first off, this is not Austen. If you’re looking for a regency novel that reminds you of the great lady’s works, I’d suggest looking elsewhere. If you like Bridgerton, this is definitely more in a similar vein. I fall into the former camp and was therefore a bit mystified when characters apparently living in regency London, and part of the ton, threw caution to the wind and began kissing in a darkened study during a masquerade ball, in chapter two! It is VERY MUCH more explicit/spicy than the average regency novel I have read.
Having said that, if you’re going into the book with your eyes wide open, I’d say the beginning is ok, if a bit too obviously catching the reader up on what has previously happened in the story. If I’m honest, the part where the “regency” selling point really started to lose me was at the ball, where MMC arrives dressed as Hades and is the only one to notice FMC’s Persephone. Cue lots of way-too-obvious summarising of the story of Hades and Persephone, some horrendous inferences about pomegranates and how “pungent”(?!) they are (are they that strongly scented, and is it possible for anyone to actually smell of them?) and FMC’s breasts becoming “heavy and achy” just at the thought. At this point, she’s danced with him for less than 5 minutes, at a guess. It really didn’t feel very regency at all. There are several subsequent moments which felt decidedly not in keeping with a regency novel, but I won’t ruin the book by listing them here; suffice it to say that this is definitely a loose interpretation of regency society - one I’d suggest is heavily influenced by Bridgerton and not contemporary accounts.
The writing is pretty mediocre, without the wit and nuance I look for in a regency novel, and lacking the distinctive turns of phrase I would expect. There were several anachronistic Americanisms that particularly grated on me as an English reader; “gotten”, “garbage” and “cookies” spring to mind. There were also quite a few misspellings and missing words, which occasionally hindered comprehension. I’ve noted them down in case the author would like to take my suggested revisions on board.
The plot was relatively engaging and well-thought out and clearly linked to previous events in the other books in the series. I did, however, find it quite predictable and the regular reminders of “But he wouldn’t marry her” became a bit repetitive and wearing after a while.
I found myself cringing more than enjoying reading for most of the book, and I’m not sure if that’s because I’m a bit of a purist and an Austen fan, or whether it’s down to the writing style, which I just didn’t love. If you’re looking for a light-hearted regency-inspired romance, this is the book for you. If you’re a keen reader of regency and a dedicated devotee of Miss Austen, perhaps give this one a miss?
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Having said that, if you’re going into the book with your eyes wide open, I’d say the beginning is ok, if a bit too obviously catching the reader up on what has previously happened in the story. If I’m honest, the part where the “regency” selling point really started to lose me was at the ball, where MMC arrives dressed as Hades and is the only one to notice FMC’s Persephone. Cue lots of way-too-obvious summarising of the story of Hades and Persephone, some horrendous inferences about pomegranates and how “pungent”(?!) they are (are they that strongly scented, and is it possible for anyone to actually smell of them?) and FMC’s breasts becoming “heavy and achy” just at the thought. At this point, she’s danced with him for less than 5 minutes, at a guess. It really didn’t feel very regency at all. There are several subsequent moments which felt decidedly not in keeping with a regency novel, but I won’t ruin the book by listing them here; suffice it to say that this is definitely a loose interpretation of regency society - one I’d suggest is heavily influenced by Bridgerton and not contemporary accounts.
The writing is pretty mediocre, without the wit and nuance I look for in a regency novel, and lacking the distinctive turns of phrase I would expect. There were several anachronistic Americanisms that particularly grated on me as an English reader; “gotten”, “garbage” and “cookies” spring to mind. There were also quite a few misspellings and missing words, which occasionally hindered comprehension. I’ve noted them down in case the author would like to take my suggested revisions on board.
The plot was relatively engaging and well-thought out and clearly linked to previous events in the other books in the series. I did, however, find it quite predictable and the regular reminders of “But he wouldn’t marry her” became a bit repetitive and wearing after a while.
I found myself cringing more than enjoying reading for most of the book, and I’m not sure if that’s because I’m a bit of a purist and an Austen fan, or whether it’s down to the writing style, which I just didn’t love. If you’re looking for a light-hearted regency-inspired romance, this is the book for you. If you’re a keen reader of regency and a dedicated devotee of Miss Austen, perhaps give this one a miss?
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 19, 2025
Fue el que más esperaba y fue una decepción total. No me gustó el protagonista, la protagonista insulsa, la pareja tampoco me gustó. Me aburrió, se me hizo pesado. Después de lo que todos hicieron por encontrarlo, él se comporta fatal con todos, se enoja con Penelope cuando ella no le hizo nada, no eran pareja, ni sabía que estaba enamorado. Y eso de coaccionar a la prota para que se acueste con él sabiendo que no le dará nada, lo siento pero no.
Espero que en la próxima serie, el hermano de Jane tenga su propio libro.
Espero que en la próxima serie, el hermano de Jane tenga su propio libro.
April 22, 2024
The core premise is sound, but the portrayal of inheritance laws for peerage is inaccurate. In reality, the reversion of titles and estates is a possibility, especially considering the strong bond between the two brothers depicted in the books. It's implausible that they wouldn't pursue reversing the inheritance, given their affection for each other and their upbringing.
The book's numerous historical inaccuracies greatly diminished my enjoyment of it.
The book's numerous historical inaccuracies greatly diminished my enjoyment of it.
February 25, 2024
Thanks to BookSprout for a copy of this ebook and this is my freely given opinion.
This is the fourth story in the series and ends the overarching plot of the series of what happened with Lord Spencer Seaton, the former Duke of Grandhampton. Over a year ago he was living the high life, as the wealthy, handsome, rakish Duke with the world at his feet, a bright future, and about to propose to the woman he loved, and who was his good friend. That all ended when he was caught up in a raid, stripped down to his small clothes, and press ganged onto a ship, sent to the colonies to fight in a brutal war in the Americas, with Society and his family believing he was dead.
After the brutality of being forced into the navy, being injured, and traumatized by the brutality of war, he finally manages to return to London. But his life is further devastated when he finds that he has lost everything - his title and his love to his brother, his home, his wealth, his very identity. Nothing is as he remembers, and he has been left behind as his brothers and sisters moved on with their lives. He becomes isolated and bitter, with his only purpose now to seek revenge on the man he has found to be responsible for wresting his life away from him.
As he plans his revenge and stalks his prey, looking for the evidence to pin guilt of treason on his enemy, and to bring him down, Spencer finds himself thwarted by an unexpected barrier. Miss Joanna Digby is a wallflower and younger sister, used to being the plain, underappreciated, and overlooked Digby, compared to her more dynamic and beautiful brother and sister. But they are all forced to eke out a living because her uncle, their guardian after their parents passed, failed to pass on the family's inheritance when her brother came of age. Not only that, but he is trying to gain favour from the Regent by offering the old roue Joanna's beautiful, but innocent older sister as his mistress. Joanna would do anything for her family and that includes finding any information that she could hold over her uncle to gain their estates and protect her sister. Unfortunately she and Spencer find themselves at odds as they both seek the same things.
Spencer, giving in to his dark self, falls to his lustful urges and overwhelming attraction to the intriguing, lush Joanna, and makes a scandalous wager with her, in their pursuit of evidence against the villain. But in winning the wager, he falls deeper into lust, and then later love with Joanna. But both he and Joanna realize that his path to revenge may destroy Joanna and her siblings futures as well. After losing so much, and becoming so full of bitterness, would Spencer be willing to give up his quest, or is he willing to sacrifice Joanna and crush her and her family to get get the revenge he has been seeking for so long?
This is a dark angsty story of a man who had and lost everything. Spencer cannot reconcile himself to his losses, and loses himself in his darkness, even turning away from his family when he returns, and focuses on his revenge. Joanna is an unexpected distraction and he pulls her into his darkness. There is the strong theme and parallel of Hades and Persephone, especially in how they meet as it is a masquerade where they both are costumed as Hades and Persephone, but their story mirrors the myth as well. Spencer is pulled down in a dark and personal hell, and he seeks pulls Joanna down with him, but ultimately she is the light that pulls him up and out. I am a sucker for that particular myth and love how it played in and out in this story; it is a favourite of mine (second only to Eros and Psyche). This was an dramatic and exciting story of darkness, light, lust, revenge, treason, intrigue, drama, love lost, but ultimately found, and redemption as well.
I know this is the end of the story of the Seaton siblings, but it feels like two new Dukes were introduced and there will be more stories about them in the future as well.
5 out of 5 - rounded up because of the weaving of the myth into the romance. I loved that.
This is the fourth story in the series and ends the overarching plot of the series of what happened with Lord Spencer Seaton, the former Duke of Grandhampton. Over a year ago he was living the high life, as the wealthy, handsome, rakish Duke with the world at his feet, a bright future, and about to propose to the woman he loved, and who was his good friend. That all ended when he was caught up in a raid, stripped down to his small clothes, and press ganged onto a ship, sent to the colonies to fight in a brutal war in the Americas, with Society and his family believing he was dead.
After the brutality of being forced into the navy, being injured, and traumatized by the brutality of war, he finally manages to return to London. But his life is further devastated when he finds that he has lost everything - his title and his love to his brother, his home, his wealth, his very identity. Nothing is as he remembers, and he has been left behind as his brothers and sisters moved on with their lives. He becomes isolated and bitter, with his only purpose now to seek revenge on the man he has found to be responsible for wresting his life away from him.
As he plans his revenge and stalks his prey, looking for the evidence to pin guilt of treason on his enemy, and to bring him down, Spencer finds himself thwarted by an unexpected barrier. Miss Joanna Digby is a wallflower and younger sister, used to being the plain, underappreciated, and overlooked Digby, compared to her more dynamic and beautiful brother and sister. But they are all forced to eke out a living because her uncle, their guardian after their parents passed, failed to pass on the family's inheritance when her brother came of age. Not only that, but he is trying to gain favour from the Regent by offering the old roue Joanna's beautiful, but innocent older sister as his mistress. Joanna would do anything for her family and that includes finding any information that she could hold over her uncle to gain their estates and protect her sister. Unfortunately she and Spencer find themselves at odds as they both seek the same things.
Spencer, giving in to his dark self, falls to his lustful urges and overwhelming attraction to the intriguing, lush Joanna, and makes a scandalous wager with her, in their pursuit of evidence against the villain. But in winning the wager, he falls deeper into lust, and then later love with Joanna. But both he and Joanna realize that his path to revenge may destroy Joanna and her siblings futures as well. After losing so much, and becoming so full of bitterness, would Spencer be willing to give up his quest, or is he willing to sacrifice Joanna and crush her and her family to get get the revenge he has been seeking for so long?
This is a dark angsty story of a man who had and lost everything. Spencer cannot reconcile himself to his losses, and loses himself in his darkness, even turning away from his family when he returns, and focuses on his revenge. Joanna is an unexpected distraction and he pulls her into his darkness. There is the strong theme and parallel of Hades and Persephone, especially in how they meet as it is a masquerade where they both are costumed as Hades and Persephone, but their story mirrors the myth as well. Spencer is pulled down in a dark and personal hell, and he seeks pulls Joanna down with him, but ultimately she is the light that pulls him up and out. I am a sucker for that particular myth and love how it played in and out in this story; it is a favourite of mine (second only to Eros and Psyche). This was an dramatic and exciting story of darkness, light, lust, revenge, treason, intrigue, drama, love lost, but ultimately found, and redemption as well.
I know this is the end of the story of the Seaton siblings, but it feels like two new Dukes were introduced and there will be more stories about them in the future as well.
5 out of 5 - rounded up because of the weaving of the myth into the romance. I loved that.
July 28, 2024
Sehr unterhaltsames Finale der Reihe...
Das Cover gefällt mir gut und es super zu dieser Reihe.
Spencer ist endlich wieder zu Hause. Ihm ist es gelungen aus dem Krieg zurückzukehren. Aber nichts ist mehr, wie es mal war oder wie er es geplant hatte. Sein Titel des Dukes ist an seinen jüngeren Bruder übergegangen und die Frau, die er liebte, ist mit seinem Bruder verheiratet. Nun will er Rache. Rache an dem Mann, der ihm all das eingebrockt hat. Doch dann kreuzt plötzlich jemand seinen Weg, und zwar die Nichte eben dieses Mannes. Beide haben den gleichen Mann im Visier, doch sind ihre Ziele unterschiedlich. Und dann kommen auch noch Gefühle ins Spiel. Werden sie ihre ursprünglichen Pläne beibehalten?
Joanna ist eine äußerst liebenswerte, aber trotzdem starke Frau. Mit ihrem Äußeren scheint sie nicht dem Schönheitsideal des Heiratsmarktes zu entsprechen und so gibt sie alles, um ihrer Schwester zur Seite zur stehen. Doch auch der gönnt man ihr Glück nicht. Vielmehr soll diese als Mätresse für den Prinzen herhalten. Damit wäre ihr Ruf auf ewig ruiniert. Das ist Joannas Onkel egal, jedoch nicht ihr und so schmiedet sie einen Plan, um ihre Schwester zu retten. Leider kommt ihr Spencer in die Quere. Sie treffen eine Vereinbarung und es ist zu schön dabei zu sein, wie jeder versucht, das eigene Ziel zu erreichen, um die Wette nicht zu verlieren. Dabei merkt man, wie besonders es ist, was zwischen den beiden passiert und wie Joanna daran wächst. Ich mochte sie total und fand sie richtig stark.
Auch Spencer mochte ich total. Ich war sehr neugierig auf ihn, weil man durch die vorherigen Bände schon einiges über ihn erfahren hat. Doch ihn nun in seiner Art zu erleben, war sehr spannend. Er hat ganz schön damit zu kämpfen, was ihm passiert ist und ich konnte seinen Gram darüber auch super nachvollziehen. Er hat sich gerade am Anfang sehr abgeschottet und niemanden mehr an sich herangelassen. Er hat das ganze Leben als ungerecht empfunden, doch dann ist Joanna in sein Leben getreten und durch sie erkennt er, dass sich sein Leben auch wieder zum positiven wenden kann. Auch er wächst an seinen Herausforderungen und ganz langsam findet er ins Leben zurück. Ich mochte Spencer sehr und fand ihn mit seinen Orten und Ängsten sehr authentisch dargestellt.
Alle anderen Figuren haben mir auch sehr gut gefallen. Ganz besonders habe ich mich gefreut, dass man die Figuren aus den vorherigen Bänden wiedergetroffen hat und man nochmal dieses wunderbare Familiengefüge erleben darf.
Die Handlung fand ich sehr gelungen. Es gibt kleinere und größere Konflikte und auch überraschende Wendungen. Mich hat es durchweg im Buch gehalten und ich fand es bis zum Schluss spannend. Den Sachverhalt, den Joanna und Spencer auflösen wollen, fand ich gut und nachvollziehbar dargestellt. Die Liebesgeschichte war für mich niedlich und hat mir mit den Neckereien viel Spaß gemacht. Die gewählten Themen fand ich interessant und gut bearbeitet und das Ende war ganz nach meinem Geschmack und hat super zu den Figuren gepasst. Überhaupt hat es das große Ganze zu einem schönen Abschluss gebracht.
Der Schreibstil war wieder wundervoll. Alles liest sich angenehm und flüssig und ich fühle mich mit den Geschichten von Mariah Stone immer wohl. Sprachlich hat es prima ins Gerne gepasst und die Dialoge waren unterhaltsam und haben mich einige Male zum Schmunzeln gebracht. Die Beschreibungen der Settings und die atmosphärischen Beschreibungen haben mich wieder in die Geschichte eintauchen lassen. Es war, als wäre ich mittendrin. Die Darstellung der emotionalen Ebene hat mich auch voll überzeugt und ich konnte mich ganz prima in die Figuren hineinversetzen und sie in ihrem Denken und Handeln nachvollziehen.
Von mir erhält dieses Buch eine ganz klare Kaufempfehlung (5/5 Sterne), weil Joanna und Spencer ein tolles Paar und beide sehr sympathisch und unterhaltsam sind, weil Joanna eine starke Frau für die vorherrschende Zeit ist, weil Setting und Atmosphäre wundervoll sind und weil es einfach Spaß gemacht hat, diese Geschichte zu lesen. Kritikpunkte habe ich keine.
Vielen Dank an Mariah Stone für diese Geschichte.
Das Cover gefällt mir gut und es super zu dieser Reihe.
Spencer ist endlich wieder zu Hause. Ihm ist es gelungen aus dem Krieg zurückzukehren. Aber nichts ist mehr, wie es mal war oder wie er es geplant hatte. Sein Titel des Dukes ist an seinen jüngeren Bruder übergegangen und die Frau, die er liebte, ist mit seinem Bruder verheiratet. Nun will er Rache. Rache an dem Mann, der ihm all das eingebrockt hat. Doch dann kreuzt plötzlich jemand seinen Weg, und zwar die Nichte eben dieses Mannes. Beide haben den gleichen Mann im Visier, doch sind ihre Ziele unterschiedlich. Und dann kommen auch noch Gefühle ins Spiel. Werden sie ihre ursprünglichen Pläne beibehalten?
Joanna ist eine äußerst liebenswerte, aber trotzdem starke Frau. Mit ihrem Äußeren scheint sie nicht dem Schönheitsideal des Heiratsmarktes zu entsprechen und so gibt sie alles, um ihrer Schwester zur Seite zur stehen. Doch auch der gönnt man ihr Glück nicht. Vielmehr soll diese als Mätresse für den Prinzen herhalten. Damit wäre ihr Ruf auf ewig ruiniert. Das ist Joannas Onkel egal, jedoch nicht ihr und so schmiedet sie einen Plan, um ihre Schwester zu retten. Leider kommt ihr Spencer in die Quere. Sie treffen eine Vereinbarung und es ist zu schön dabei zu sein, wie jeder versucht, das eigene Ziel zu erreichen, um die Wette nicht zu verlieren. Dabei merkt man, wie besonders es ist, was zwischen den beiden passiert und wie Joanna daran wächst. Ich mochte sie total und fand sie richtig stark.
Auch Spencer mochte ich total. Ich war sehr neugierig auf ihn, weil man durch die vorherigen Bände schon einiges über ihn erfahren hat. Doch ihn nun in seiner Art zu erleben, war sehr spannend. Er hat ganz schön damit zu kämpfen, was ihm passiert ist und ich konnte seinen Gram darüber auch super nachvollziehen. Er hat sich gerade am Anfang sehr abgeschottet und niemanden mehr an sich herangelassen. Er hat das ganze Leben als ungerecht empfunden, doch dann ist Joanna in sein Leben getreten und durch sie erkennt er, dass sich sein Leben auch wieder zum positiven wenden kann. Auch er wächst an seinen Herausforderungen und ganz langsam findet er ins Leben zurück. Ich mochte Spencer sehr und fand ihn mit seinen Orten und Ängsten sehr authentisch dargestellt.
Alle anderen Figuren haben mir auch sehr gut gefallen. Ganz besonders habe ich mich gefreut, dass man die Figuren aus den vorherigen Bänden wiedergetroffen hat und man nochmal dieses wunderbare Familiengefüge erleben darf.
Die Handlung fand ich sehr gelungen. Es gibt kleinere und größere Konflikte und auch überraschende Wendungen. Mich hat es durchweg im Buch gehalten und ich fand es bis zum Schluss spannend. Den Sachverhalt, den Joanna und Spencer auflösen wollen, fand ich gut und nachvollziehbar dargestellt. Die Liebesgeschichte war für mich niedlich und hat mir mit den Neckereien viel Spaß gemacht. Die gewählten Themen fand ich interessant und gut bearbeitet und das Ende war ganz nach meinem Geschmack und hat super zu den Figuren gepasst. Überhaupt hat es das große Ganze zu einem schönen Abschluss gebracht.
Der Schreibstil war wieder wundervoll. Alles liest sich angenehm und flüssig und ich fühle mich mit den Geschichten von Mariah Stone immer wohl. Sprachlich hat es prima ins Gerne gepasst und die Dialoge waren unterhaltsam und haben mich einige Male zum Schmunzeln gebracht. Die Beschreibungen der Settings und die atmosphärischen Beschreibungen haben mich wieder in die Geschichte eintauchen lassen. Es war, als wäre ich mittendrin. Die Darstellung der emotionalen Ebene hat mich auch voll überzeugt und ich konnte mich ganz prima in die Figuren hineinversetzen und sie in ihrem Denken und Handeln nachvollziehen.
Von mir erhält dieses Buch eine ganz klare Kaufempfehlung (5/5 Sterne), weil Joanna und Spencer ein tolles Paar und beide sehr sympathisch und unterhaltsam sind, weil Joanna eine starke Frau für die vorherrschende Zeit ist, weil Setting und Atmosphäre wundervoll sind und weil es einfach Spaß gemacht hat, diese Geschichte zu lesen. Kritikpunkte habe ich keine.
Vielen Dank an Mariah Stone für diese Geschichte.
March 2, 2024
A triumphant end to finding Spencer! 🥳
Since the end of the first book, the Seatons have had a cataclysmic alteration of their lives. Spencer Seaton, the Duke of Grandhampton, had not died but was press-ganged onto a boat…destination unknown. His brother Preston was made heir and married Penelope who regarded Spencer as a close friend. His brother Richard and sister Calliope conducted their own investigations which led them closer to finding irregularities and corruption in the naval office. They eventually found the ship that sequestered Spencer and its destination. Richard was about to board another ship sailing to the Americas, when Spencer disembarked!
The beginning of this tale finds Spencer in a very dark place; revenge is oozing out of his pores. He knows exactly who is responsible for the destruction of his life, loss of his title and loss of his love. He has secured an invitation to the home of the nefarious Duke of Ashton who is hosting a masquerade in honor of the prince regent. Apparently the duke’s evil knows no bounds, since he promised the prince a new mistress…his own niece, Charlotte Digby. Aware of her sister’s dilemma and also uninvited, Joanna Digby, dressed as Persephone, intends to seek evidence in her uncle’s home that she could use as leverage. Usually unobserved, Joanna easily makes her way through the throng of guests until she runs into Hades. The King of the Underworld was going to wreak havoc at the ball until he singled out a source of Light…a woman in a white dress adorned with pomegranates. Hades and Persephone begin their waltz.
Stone rewards us with a sublime romance between a “still lost” man and a brave young novelist whose family has always relegated her to the background. While Joanna is seeking justice for her family, Spencer is seeking annihilation of Ashton.
Will true love conquer all? What will it take for Spencer to overcome the hatred that has controlled his actions? He has abandoned his family, but will they abandon him? The author has written a worthy ending to this series. It is action packed and a page turner adorned with passionate scenes between Hades and his Persephone. Both MC’s will steal your heart. It is no coincidence that readers are introduced to a new character, Dorian the Duke of Rath. It is his story that will lead to a new series, the Duke of Sins (the Seven deadly sins).
Enjoy this fabulous novel. I did receive an ARC, but I pre-purchased it. This is still an honest review for a story worth more than 5 stars 🌟.
Since the end of the first book, the Seatons have had a cataclysmic alteration of their lives. Spencer Seaton, the Duke of Grandhampton, had not died but was press-ganged onto a boat…destination unknown. His brother Preston was made heir and married Penelope who regarded Spencer as a close friend. His brother Richard and sister Calliope conducted their own investigations which led them closer to finding irregularities and corruption in the naval office. They eventually found the ship that sequestered Spencer and its destination. Richard was about to board another ship sailing to the Americas, when Spencer disembarked!
The beginning of this tale finds Spencer in a very dark place; revenge is oozing out of his pores. He knows exactly who is responsible for the destruction of his life, loss of his title and loss of his love. He has secured an invitation to the home of the nefarious Duke of Ashton who is hosting a masquerade in honor of the prince regent. Apparently the duke’s evil knows no bounds, since he promised the prince a new mistress…his own niece, Charlotte Digby. Aware of her sister’s dilemma and also uninvited, Joanna Digby, dressed as Persephone, intends to seek evidence in her uncle’s home that she could use as leverage. Usually unobserved, Joanna easily makes her way through the throng of guests until she runs into Hades. The King of the Underworld was going to wreak havoc at the ball until he singled out a source of Light…a woman in a white dress adorned with pomegranates. Hades and Persephone begin their waltz.
Stone rewards us with a sublime romance between a “still lost” man and a brave young novelist whose family has always relegated her to the background. While Joanna is seeking justice for her family, Spencer is seeking annihilation of Ashton.
Will true love conquer all? What will it take for Spencer to overcome the hatred that has controlled his actions? He has abandoned his family, but will they abandon him? The author has written a worthy ending to this series. It is action packed and a page turner adorned with passionate scenes between Hades and his Persephone. Both MC’s will steal your heart. It is no coincidence that readers are introduced to a new character, Dorian the Duke of Rath. It is his story that will lead to a new series, the Duke of Sins (the Seven deadly sins).
Enjoy this fabulous novel. I did receive an ARC, but I pre-purchased it. This is still an honest review for a story worth more than 5 stars 🌟.
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