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The Duke's Men #3

The Lady and the Secret Lord

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In 1835 London, two stubborn souls from separate worlds clash and collide to find a missing child.

When a threatening message warns Lady Phoebe Marchmont to stop searching for her missing younger brother, the Earl of Grafton, she rebels. Donning a disguise that permits her to move freely about London despite her youth and station, she entreats one of Scotland Yard’s secret detectives to assist her—but she wants to be involved with the investigation.

Former beat cop Robin Jones jumps at the chance to work a case that could prove him worthy to join the ranks of a secret group preparing to be Scotland Yard detectives. But finding the missing earl threatens to expose Robin’s youth as a troubled street urchin when he was one of the Duke of Wenlocke’s lost boys. Of the seven, he was the only one who refused help to find his family. Now Robin must face his past to help the determined and witty Lady Phoebe find her brother.

The search moves from vibrant, decadent Soho to glittering ballrooms, peeling away their disguises and opening their hearts.

Kindle Edition

Published February 4, 2025

4 people are currently reading
1025 people want to read

About the author

Kate Moore

27 books136 followers
Kate Moore writes stand alone and series romances set in contemporary California and Regency England for readers who want to fall in love again standing up, mostly fully clothed, surrounded by family. In Kate's stories, kind, quick-witted women find love with hot billionaires, lofty lords, and sexy spies; longing is leavened with humor; and readers say the blend of sparks and spice is "just right sexy." When life happens, let a Kate Moore romance lift your spirits. To connect with Kate and find the right romance for you, visit her website at https://www.katemoore.com or sign up for her newsletter at https://www.katemoore.com.

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5 stars
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9 (20%)
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
Profile Image for Kamila Mykhailiuk.
1,449 reviews12 followers
February 4, 2025
Wow! I absolutely loved this book. Amazing characters and wonderful plot. Very beautifully written and easy to read.

I read this book in one sitting and I loved every second of it. The chemistry and passion between Lady Phoebe Marchmont and Robin Jones was undeniable and sizzling.

They were made for each other. It was interesting to see them work together and overcome their differences.

Overall I loved this book very much. If you’re looking for a history romance then you’re going to love it.
Profile Image for Emily Pennington.
20.7k reviews359 followers
February 7, 2025
Phoebe and Robin’s Investigation . . .

Lady Phoebe Marchmont’s younger brother Andrew, the Earl of Grafton, had been missing for a year now and Phoebe has been searching for him in vain. He had left for St. James Park with the dog, his old nurse Nanny Fellows, and a young footman, John Boyle, so Andrew could buy milk. The dog came back unattended with no collar or lead. There was a fire at the House of Lords and traffic filled the street as a huge crowd gathered, keeping searchers from being able to get into the park and search for Andrew. No one knew if he had gotten the milk he went for. Now a message arrives to warn Phoebe to stop her search. So she goes to Scotland Yard instead, hoping to find help to continue her search. Robin Jones, an officer hoping to become part of a group in training to become a detective, is given the opportunity to work the case; and Phoebe insists on being part of the search. At first irritated with her presence, Robin begins to appreciate Phoebe. Will they find Phoebe’s brother after so much time has passed? Will they become drawn to each other as their feelings for each other deepen? Is her brother even still alive?
Profile Image for Lyn D Rose .
1,132 reviews17 followers
February 14, 2025
This was an exciting and captivating mystery romance set in 1835. It was intense and well written. The characters were determined, interesting, and likable. There are sp many intriguing and interesting plot twits that kept me very entertained. I enjoyed the surprising and beautiful end. I highly recommend reading!
Profile Image for Susan Frances.
131 reviews5 followers
February 7, 2025
Based in California, author Kate Moore creates a page-turner of a story with her novel The Lady and the Secret Lord, the third book in the Duke's Men series. The story involves political intrigue set in the backdrop of Regency England.

Moore concentrates a bulk of the read on society's disparities between their expectations of men and women. Through the characters, Moore describes how women are expected to be submissive and docile while men are permitted to take risks and be exposed to the ugly side of society. Her female characters buck these standards, sometimes to the extent of making the story heavy on being about women's rights over being a historical romance.

At the heart of the tale is Lady Phoebe Marchmont, whose young brother Andrew, the Earl of Grafton, is missing. Lady Phoebe's efforts to find her little brother includes hiring a Bow Street runner whose investigation appears to hit a dead end. Driven by her unrelenting persistence, Lady Phoebe appeals to London's police force. Answering her call is Officer Robin Jones, formerly an orphan and street urchin turned law enforcement agent after joining the Duke's Men, a group of wayward boys mentored by Duke Wenlocke.

The clues which the pair follow to find Andrew sometimes require readers to make a big leap without the details to lead them there. In other words, the story goes from A to C and skips over B. The reader needs to make assumptions about point B without Moore supplying the details to jump from A to C. Making Officer Robin Jones the legitimate son of a baron really needed to be explored further as does the villain who blocked Jones from taking his rightful position.

Moore writes a clean romance for Lady Phoebe and Officer Jones, focusing on the sequences of the events and the actions of her characters. The reader is an observer of these characters and their plot, detached from making an emotional bond with them.

Written in third person, the narration baits the reader with morsels of corruption among England's elite class, peppered with intrigue involving the poorest class of England. The plot resonates with present day class struggles and arrives at a concrete resolution for the reader.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Fiona Marsden.
Author 37 books148 followers
February 5, 2025
Probably 4.5 stars because I did feel I was missing something by not having read previous books in the series.
Lady Phoebe Marchmont has been searching for her young brother who is the heir to the Earldom. He went missing a year ago and despite hiring a bow street runner, there has been no result.
Then a message is brought to Phoebe telling her not to keep searching as it is too dangerous.
This brings fresh hope to Phoebe as it indicates her brother is alive. But it also suggests that someone close to Phoebe is a danger to her brother.
Approaching Scotland Yard, Robin Jones is appointed to take on the case. Robin belongs to a small group being trained to be detectives and he is not impressed with the task initially. He is extremely suspicious of the clearly disguised Mrs Kendall who seems to want to be far too active in detecting.
The romance between Phoebe and Robin progresses slowly, side by side with the mystery which brings them together and develops a level of trust and respect. The conflict between their different status in society is hinted at being redundant as we learn more about Robin's background and connections to the Duke mentioned in the series title.
I really enjoyed the story and while the premise of the "lost boys" with the strong flavour of Oliver Twist's Fagan but with noble blood has been done before to good effect and about the same level of believability, this is a worthy addition to the genre.
I am keen to go back and read the first books in the series and will look out for further ones.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
65 reviews
February 1, 2025
The Lady and the Secret Lord is the third book in The Duke’s Men series by Kate Moore, continuing to be well written. Kate Moore has an impressive knowledge of the era, and her books are both immersive and educational of the era. Where this book shines is the unfolding mystery as the protagonists search for the missing Earl.

The story also includes a romance which is clean and enjoyable, though it felt secondary to the central plot. I enjoyed the wholesome nature of the protagonists' interactions, and seeing how they supported and worked well together. I appreciate the integrity and honor of the relatable main characters.

Though the ending is happy, I found a few parts of the last few pages to be a bit unsatisfying. For example, the main villain was not brought to justice, while the secondary villain is discussed as more of a victim rather than a perpetrator. Additionally, because the romance seemed secondary, I felt the protagonist’s relationship moved too quickly at the end, and I didn’t fully believe their feelings. For these reasons, I would drop the star rating to about a 4.5, rounding up to a 5.

Overall, The Lady and the Secret Lord was an enjoyable read that I would recommend. The author has an impressive knowledge of the era and creates well crafted and interesting scenes. The mystery is my favorite part of the story, while the romance was enjoyable but not as prominent as I hoped. Even still, I was glad to have read the story and I’m looking forward to more by the author.
272 reviews
February 2, 2025
This book deserves a good round of applause.

Kate Moore, I have no idea what you put in this book, but it had me hooked from the very first chapters.

I couldn’t put the book down, the story was that good and intriguing.

The plot and setting roped me in from the start.

The characters were unique, everyone having their own personality and being interesting in their own way.

Our two main characters were golden.

The moment lady Phoebe Marchmont and Robin Jones were introduced, I knew I would love them - and I sure did a whole lot.

From their very first encounter the tension was high, and the connection was there.

It was refreshing to see their relationship evolve and watch their connection get stronger.

I wouldn’t have complained if we had gotten even more scenes with them in close proximity👀

Nonetheless, a book that had me glued to it from the very start, all the way to the end.

An extremely unique, suspenseful, and intriguing story, that I’m sure I won’t be forgetting anytime soon!

An amazing job on this story by Kate Moore! I’m excited to see what else is waiting for us in her future books!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Profile Image for Elaine Coghlan .
1,491 reviews14 followers
February 7, 2025
The Lady and the Secret Lord ~ The Duke's Men #3 by Kate Moore.

Publisher Description
In 1835 London, two stubborn souls from separate worlds clash and collide to find a missing child.

I have been reading this series from Kate since the beginning, though I don't usually read this genre I have enjoyed these books, and for me, this is the best to date.
The Lady and the Secret Lord has been brilliantly written. Set in London (UK) in 1835, Lady Phoebe Marchmont is trying to find her missing younger brother, who disappeared a year ago. Disbite hires the Bow Street Runners, but they have not been able to find her brother. Lady Phoebe finds herself in the hands of Robin Jones, a detective with Scotland Yard.

Can Lady Phoebe and Detective Jones find her brother? will the bad people get to him first?

I was engaged from the start until the end, and couldn't put the book down. I highly recommend this book to all.

Reasons I enjoyed this book:
Easy-to-read, Happily Ever After, Inspirational, Original, Page-turner, Realistic, History, Set in London in 1850, and Wonderful characters.
1,572 reviews21 followers
February 4, 2025
Well written, full of drama, mystery, secrets, intrigue, danger, love, romance, action, emotions, villains, twists and suspense. Lady Phoebe has been asking for help to find her missing brother Andrew, Earl of Grafton. After a year and not being found, she receives a letter stating that he is fine. She hires a bow street runner who hasn't been able to find him. so she goes to the head of the Yard and asks for help. She is given to an officer who wants to solve this case and wants to move up in the Yard. She has decided to be involved in the search so she can have more input and answers. Robin hopes to have her stay away from the investigation. Both need to follow the clues and help each other. Along the way, Robin finds out something about himself that he didn't know about. Has lots of secrets that come to a head and feelings feelings that has started come to bloom between them. would recommend to everyone.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Charmaine Fernando.
425 reviews7 followers
February 1, 2025
This is the first story I have read in this series and was able to follow along nicely. We meet Lady Phoebe Marchmont who is determined to find her missing younger brother, the Earl of Grafton who has been missing a year. She hires a bow street runner, but when he proves useless, she goes straight to the lead detective to ask for his assistance. He assigns the case to a young officer, Robin Jones, who is hoping to make detective. Phoebe, used to being useful and Robin Jones is used to working alone. There are some clashes but when Phoebe brings Jones information relating to the case, it proves useful.

I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery / romance along with the twists and turns incorporated in the story. I received an ARC from the publishers and Booksprout and submit my honest review voluntarily.
4,126 reviews21 followers
February 4, 2025
I fell in love with Kate Moore’s characters as well as her style of storytelling from the first Duke’s Men book. Book three, The Lady and the Secret Lord has only served to reaffirm those feelings. The third of the Duke's Men, has two mysteries, the most pressing is finding the missing brother of Lady Phoebe Marchmont. The other comes about during the investigation of the first, which is how to-be Scotland Yard detective Robin Jones came to be a lost boy when he was a boy.

This page-turner is one that puts the case first with the relationship building happening while working on the investigation, which in my mind is the correct order. Now I eagerly anticipate further stories in this series, which will feature this amazing (and sometimes dangerous) 1830’s English setting. I highly recommend The Lady and the Secret Lord as well as all of the Duke’s Men Series.
583 reviews6 followers
February 9, 2025
This was a mystery about a missing boy and the reasons he disappeared. The main couple definitely started with an enemies to lovers, but it ultimately became friends to lovers. They worked together to solve the case, but they both wanted control. They were able to work together and fall in love at the same time to get the HEA. This book also helped solved the story of another of the lost boys and his birth family and how they ended up as an orphan. This was a clean romance but the connection lacked substance. Their love seemed a bit rushed. All of their interactions were about solving the case and finding her brother. There was no angst or obvious attraction and feelings. I enjoy the connection of the Duke and Duchess of Wenlocke with all of his boys.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Amanda Marlowe.
2,417 reviews25 followers
January 19, 2025
Phoebe's brother, Andrew, went missing nearly a year ago, she's never stopped looking for him. Jones is one of Wenlocke's boys, he's a detective. Phoebe uses her connections to get someone else to look into Andrew's disappearance.
Jones knows the woman in front of him is in disguise, he gets the information he wants and expects her to go, but she insists on helping with the investigation!
Phoebe is having feelings for Jones, but is unsure what they are. Jones knows that he's beneath Phoebe in the social sphere, he wishes he wasn't!
Who wants Andrew out of the way? And why? Who can she trust?

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Another great read in the series from Kate
167 reviews
January 20, 2025
Phoebe is determined to find her little brother who went missing during a bad fire in London. She had hired a Bow Street runner but he was useless. THis made her decide she had to play a more direct role in finding him. As a Lady, she was able to make direct contact with a lead detective and he assigned her case to a young officer seeking to make detective. Needless to say, he does not want her direct help but finds it difficult to dissuade her. In turn, she is actually very helpful as they go about the search that brings many secrets to light.
This is a delightful mystery/romance that does not follow the typical historical romance pattern. I enjoyed the twists and turns.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Lynn.
690 reviews6 followers
January 10, 2025
Another excellent novel about the Duke's Lost Boys. Robin meets his match, in mind and spirit. Each one of the books follows one of the lost boys, and are well written.

Lady Phoebe's young brother went missing a year ago. The first search yielded very little clues. A year later, she receives a note that her brother is safe, and she is determined to bring him home, and be part of the search as well.
Robin is used to working alone, but Lady Phoebe is determined to help. She has a sharp mind, and makes a fairly good detective. But danger follows their every step.

I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
3,639 reviews17 followers
February 4, 2025
Phoebe is desperate to find her missing little brother and she goes undercover to hire Robin to help her. Her previous investigator was either incompetent or paid off as he missed so many clues that Robin uncovered with Phoebe’s help quickly. But they discover a dangerous underground organization that will go to any means to get what they want even kidnapping and murder. Phoebe was a bit foolish at times thinking she could just join in on the case and going off on her own especially when it was turning dangerous and she underestimates the motivation of money and inheritance. There was some suspense and another mystery solved about Robin in this clean historical romance.
Profile Image for Berta Greenleaf Richardson.
1,279 reviews4 followers
February 17, 2025
This was a great historical love story with an exciting mystery thrown in. I enjoyed the search for Phoebe's brother and her influence on detective Jones. Phoebe was a strong woman who was tired of being told what to do or say according to London's ton. Jones was a lost boy who didn't want to find out who his birth family was. All becomes clear in the end. I highly recommend this book to all historical romance readers.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
273 reviews
March 22, 2025
Love this book but not just because it gave that Murdoch Mystery feel.
The mystery of the case the young detective takes on, not by choice and the Noble lady that brings the case to the Yard is quite interesting.
I love how the forbidden relationship and the mystery build as it continues to bring more to each character involved.
Very enjoyable book and once you start you won’t want to stop.
This is my first book read by this author and there at two others before this one. I will definitely be reading the first two books.

*I won this Kindle Book from Goodreads. Thank You!
1,533 reviews31 followers
February 4, 2025
Phoebe has been searching for her brother for a year and she finally is able to get a detective to help her. Jones appreciates the information she is able to give him but doesn't expect her to stay to help. It was wonderful to join them as they worked through the twists and turns of the case as well as figuring out their relationship. A great book!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Melanie Purcell.
679 reviews6 followers
February 4, 2025
Robin and Phoebe are such great complements in personality and talents. I love how they play off one another and support one another, even if not intended per se. The supporting cast are fantastic. While this is definitely a stand alone story, I highly recommend reading all of The Duke's Men; it is a engaging and intriguing series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
2 reviews
April 11, 2025
Love the entire series. This is a great ending.

I love the first three books in this series when I read them years ago and have reread them all. I love the characters and the inventive plots. I was surprised when this Trilogy started and I wish there could be but really each of the boys can't be part of the aristocracy. I think this is the best series of all of Kate Moore's books. Definitely worth reading
Profile Image for Paula Pugh.
2,287 reviews11 followers
January 24, 2025
Another sharp story in the Duke’s Men series. One of the duke’s men is a detective charged with finding the lost brother of a Lady. He also refuses to find out about the family he is from. Lots of action and, of course, love.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
1,075 reviews12 followers
February 4, 2025
Enjoyed reading Phoebe and Robin's story. Lady Phoebe Marchmont needs help to find her missing brother, the Earl of Grafton. Can Robin Jones a former beat cop help her and succeed in joining Scotkand Yard's secret group of detectives by helping her to find her brother.
Profile Image for Louise Bird.
671 reviews5 followers
February 4, 2025
Not my usual genre but I enjoyed this author’s writing style.
Profile Image for Nate.
24.1k reviews19 followers
February 13, 2025
I enjoyed the lady and the secret lord which was Phoebe and Robin’s story. It was an exciting and suspenseful read. I received a copy of the book and voluntarily leaving this review.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews

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