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The Beaumonts #4
A Deal With a Notorious Devil
Miss Phoebe Toogood has never wanted children of her own and, at nine and twenty, has spent a decade avoiding matrimony in her efforts to remain happily childless. But now that her potential suitors have turned toward widowers seeking mothers for their children, Phoebe is growing increasingly desperate.
The bastard son of an earl, Christopher Moore has been both criminal and spy in his time. Now that his connection to his half-sister, Lady Emma, is public knowledge, he knows he must polish his dreadful reputation lest it taint hers, too. For that he needs a damned wife. Not just any wife, but a proper lady from a respectable family to ease him into a society that will not accept him otherwise.
When Phoebe’s family moves into the house next door to Chris’, they forge a secret friendship between them. Neither wants to be married, but they need each other nonetheless—so they strike the perfect deal. A marriage of convenience, to the benefit of both. At least until their convenient marriage becomes somewhat less than convenient…
The bastard son of an earl, Christopher Moore has been both criminal and spy in his time. Now that his connection to his half-sister, Lady Emma, is public knowledge, he knows he must polish his dreadful reputation lest it taint hers, too. For that he needs a damned wife. Not just any wife, but a proper lady from a respectable family to ease him into a society that will not accept him otherwise.
When Phoebe’s family moves into the house next door to Chris’, they forge a secret friendship between them. Neither wants to be married, but they need each other nonetheless—so they strike the perfect deal. A marriage of convenience, to the benefit of both. At least until their convenient marriage becomes somewhat less than convenient…
264 pages, Paperback
First published November 4, 2024
29 people are currently reading
150 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
December 15, 2024
Love Aydra Richards. This book didn’t have the angst or sizzle that her other books have. I was excited for Kit’s story, but it didn’t deliver on the level other books in this series have. I felt like the FMC was rather shortsighted about some things and her whole personality revolved around her vehemence against having children. I also thought it was weird how
she chose to spend time with and befriend his mistress.
Having said all of that, it was still well-written and entertaining.
she chose to spend time with and befriend his mistress.
Having said all of that, it was still well-written and entertaining.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 7, 2025
4 stars
I had read the first book of the series (Exit, Pursued by a Baron) and enjoyed it very much. The plot and preview of this one amused me and after reading it, I once again can say that AR is a very fine writer.
This romance between older characters might not be of the dashing and swooning kind, but the characterisation felt alive and well constructed. Kit and Phoebe were written like believable, fleshed out persons. Their romance developped organically in an again believable manner. And overall, the whole plot pacing was very well done.
💯 recommended for AR fans, and new HR readers.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 8, 2025
“A Deal with a Notorious Devil” is the story of Phoebe and Christopher.
A spinster tired of her very large family enters into a marriage of convenience with her neighbor, our hero.
He is a rake who rose up the ranks and is frowned upon by the ton due to his paternity.
It’s a purely platonic romance in the first half; while the second develops into much more as the hero gets shot, feelings get involved as their marriage is consummated.
What I really enjoyed was the novelty of it all- a heroine who doesn’t want children and sticks to her words, a hero who is also the same, an understanding family, a wonderful dandelion eating pet turtle and all the chatter about contraception.
Did I like that the hero visited his mistress after his wedding ? No. But did I like Charity and her input in this book? Yes.
Overall a pleasant read with a satisfying ending.
Unsafe
3.5/5
A spinster tired of her very large family enters into a marriage of convenience with her neighbor, our hero.
He is a rake who rose up the ranks and is frowned upon by the ton due to his paternity.
It’s a purely platonic romance in the first half; while the second develops into much more as the hero gets shot, feelings get involved as their marriage is consummated.
What I really enjoyed was the novelty of it all- a heroine who doesn’t want children and sticks to her words, a hero who is also the same, an understanding family, a wonderful dandelion eating pet turtle and all the chatter about contraception.
Did I like that the hero visited his mistress after his wedding ? No. But did I like Charity and her input in this book? Yes.
Overall a pleasant read with a satisfying ending.
Unsafe
3.5/5
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November 26, 2024Per reviews: the H’s mistress plays a significant role so where
does that leave the h? 😓
does that leave the h? 😓
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
dnf
November 7, 2024DNF @ 62%
I really love AR, and this series in particular, but this one irritated me consistently until I gave up.
The relationship development didn't flow naturally to me. I really didn't like that Chris' mistress plays such a large role. And the heavy focus on avoiding pregnancy was tiresome. Seemed like an opportunity to place modern attitudes in the past, and it seemed like Pheobe's only personality trait.
I really love AR, and this series in particular, but this one irritated me consistently until I gave up.
The relationship development didn't flow naturally to me. I really didn't like that Chris' mistress plays such a large role. And the heavy focus on avoiding pregnancy was tiresome. Seemed like an opportunity to place modern attitudes in the past, and it seemed like Pheobe's only personality trait.
January 21, 2025
Ugh, I love Aydra Richards. She, Alice Coldbreath, and Felicity Niven are my GOATS for indie historical.
This was a lot lighter and less grovel-heavy than the rest of Richards' books which suits me just fine. Don't get me wrong, I love grovelmances! But it's nice to read a cuter, happier romance in her style. The hero and heroine really shine, in this one. I like Phoebe's attempts to avoid marriage and then her commitment to staying childfree. Chris is kind of a loser (in a good way). I love reading a MMC that's kind of bitchy (again, in a good way). He's kind of whiny and he's lived a tough life. So he's definitely earned it. Super endearing!
I specifically loved their pet turtle. I always find Richards' author notes really charming and her insights into why Chris even has a turtle really made my day. Apparently, she kept calling him a rat man to her friends (very accurate) and their response was to make jokes about TMNT. So I guess he's Shredder and Hieronymus is a ninja turtle. It just occured to me that Hieronymus is a Renaissance painter. Hehe. I love you, Aydra Richards.
This was a lot lighter and less grovel-heavy than the rest of Richards' books which suits me just fine. Don't get me wrong, I love grovelmances! But it's nice to read a cuter, happier romance in her style. The hero and heroine really shine, in this one. I like Phoebe's attempts to avoid marriage and then her commitment to staying childfree. Chris is kind of a loser (in a good way). I love reading a MMC that's kind of bitchy (again, in a good way). He's kind of whiny and he's lived a tough life. So he's definitely earned it. Super endearing!
I specifically loved their pet turtle. I always find Richards' author notes really charming and her insights into why Chris even has a turtle really made my day. Apparently, she kept calling him a rat man to her friends (very accurate) and their response was to make jokes about TMNT. So I guess he's Shredder and Hieronymus is a ninja turtle. It just occured to me that Hieronymus is a Renaissance painter. Hehe. I love you, Aydra Richards.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 21, 2024
I really enjoyed Phoebe and Kit's love story; it felt so authentic to the way they have been portrayed in previous books, and it was definitely worth the wait!
November 20, 2024
I wasn’t enamored with this couple as I was with others of this author’s work. I just left less engaged. They felt right for each other but they didn’t feel right for me.
November 6, 2024
I enjoy this author. Her writing pills you in. For me I think one of the things that works is that she makes the actions and events credible as they might naturally occur in life. I'm not a fan of instant lust in which the H and h are constantly fantasizing about each other. In this marriage of convenience story, the h and H become friends first who talk to each other. The h is practical rather than sugary sweet. The H seems to be curmudgeonly rather than hardened. At 29, the h is not interested in marrying widowers looking for mothers for their children. The H is rich but has no social graces. They marry for convenience but become each other's missing piece. According to the author's notes, this book is the last in a series.
November 9, 2024
Surprised it was Kit's story,but so glad it was . What a combo Phoebe and Kit made. So many things I want to say but they would be spoilers. Okay let me say the story was great and Kit lived up to what he indured during his life. Phoebe 's character was well, I loved her, stubborn loving and sweet, so protective of Kit and he of her. Great story to close out series
November 8, 2024
This was so sweet! I loved the child-free choice and ending, loved their dynamic, loved the independent spirit of Pheobe while still matching to the times and I loved the exciting plot. I also loved their slow burn, friends-to-lovers story. A solid way to end this series. Can’t wait for more! 4.5 stars
January 21, 2025
I have really loved Aydra Richards other books, but this one fell pretty flat with me. First, I did not like the mistress hanging around being best buds with Phoebe..ick. I dislike mistresses portrayed as evil witches, but this was a bit too cozy. What bothered me the most was the degree of focus they both put on remaining childless, especially Chris. Of course people have every right to wish to remain childless, even in Regency society when a woman’s value rested in her ability to reproduce. I just felt there was too much negativity about the children, that it took away from the romance. Chris in the previous book did not have the same character as Chris in this book, and frankly, the clever verbal sparring was cute at first but got old very quickly. I recommend her other books but this one can be skipped.
September 21, 2025
Kit waking up with the terrapin on his chest made me laugh so hard
November 29, 2024
Usually, I don’t like the marriage of convenience or friends to lovers tropes, but this one was good. It was refreshing to see a friends to lovers story where the characters aren’t in severe denial about their feelings. Instead, they let those feelings shape their relationship and marriage. I liked that they communicated openly with each other and were mostly on the same page.
• I usually don’t enjoy marriage of convenience stories with a mistress because the FMC often ends up pining for the MMC while he’s sleeping around. That wasn’t the case here. Both characters got what they wanted out of their formal arrangement, and when the terms no longer suited them, they renegotiated. It’s as simple as that.
I also don’t understand the reviews complaining about the mistress getting too much attention when she just got two scenes with the FMC in the book. Both MCs were fine with the arrangement when they initially made the deal, but as soon as the FMC wanted to take their relationship from friends/partner to a sexual level and didn’t want the MMC to sleep with anyone else, he accepted, and they started their relationship from there and then they fell in love. It's about clear communication. Bit unrealistic but I did appreciate the fact the FMC and the mistress understood each other.
• I liked how the MMC chose to teach her self-defense. He did try to take it on himself but he was not overbearing about it (same with FMC)
• I liked how FMC also took the lead in the relationship and she was the one who suggested him to compromise her and to get caught in that situation.
• I liked how the birth control aspect was handled: the FMC didn’t want kids, and the MMC understood and respected that. They both kept it in mind every time they were intimate.
It was a refreshing and fun read.
• I usually don’t enjoy marriage of convenience stories with a mistress because the FMC often ends up pining for the MMC while he’s sleeping around. That wasn’t the case here. Both characters got what they wanted out of their formal arrangement, and when the terms no longer suited them, they renegotiated. It’s as simple as that.
I also don’t understand the reviews complaining about the mistress getting too much attention when she just got two scenes with the FMC in the book. Both MCs were fine with the arrangement when they initially made the deal, but as soon as the FMC wanted to take their relationship from friends/partner to a sexual level and didn’t want the MMC to sleep with anyone else, he accepted, and they started their relationship from there and then they fell in love. It's about clear communication. Bit unrealistic but I did appreciate the fact the FMC and the mistress understood each other.
• I liked how the MMC chose to teach her self-defense. He did try to take it on himself but he was not overbearing about it (same with FMC)
• I liked how FMC also took the lead in the relationship and she was the one who suggested him to compromise her and to get caught in that situation.
• I liked how the birth control aspect was handled: the FMC didn’t want kids, and the MMC understood and respected that. They both kept it in mind every time they were intimate.
It was a refreshing and fun read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 30, 2024
This was my least favorite of the Aydra Richard’s books I have read. I like this series and I’m fine with these characters individually, but the book just didn’t land with me.
A few reasons why:
-it never really made much sense to me why the hero wanted a wife. Like he said it was to have social acceptance, but then after that he never showed that he cared about social acceptance.
-One thing I have loved about Aydra’s writing (in her other works) is the way she creates meaningful tension between a couple, and resolves it in a way that feels earned. But in this book there was never really any tension between the couple to speak of. They decided to get married pretty early in the book. Then as with most marriage of convenience plots they slowly got to know each other. But something about the way this book handled the marriage of convenience trope just didn’t really hold my interest.
-I don’t need my couples to have or even want to have kids. But the way this story handled not wanting to have kids, it felt like it was supposed to be the entire plot driver for much of the book, and that didn’t land with me. Like the characters didn’t just not want kids, at times they seemed specifically anti-child, like the kind of people who refer to kids as “spawn,” and that just wasn’t my cup of tea.
A few reasons why:
-it never really made much sense to me why the hero wanted a wife. Like he said it was to have social acceptance, but then after that he never showed that he cared about social acceptance.
-One thing I have loved about Aydra’s writing (in her other works) is the way she creates meaningful tension between a couple, and resolves it in a way that feels earned. But in this book there was never really any tension between the couple to speak of. They decided to get married pretty early in the book. Then as with most marriage of convenience plots they slowly got to know each other. But something about the way this book handled the marriage of convenience trope just didn’t really hold my interest.
-I don’t need my couples to have or even want to have kids. But the way this story handled not wanting to have kids, it felt like it was supposed to be the entire plot driver for much of the book, and that didn’t land with me. Like the characters didn’t just not want kids, at times they seemed specifically anti-child, like the kind of people who refer to kids as “spawn,” and that just wasn’t my cup of tea.
February 12, 2025
Completely ridiculous plot and characters. Also, so much "fuck", I'm not sure this still counts as historical romance?
It is actually not too bad, if you can overlook a MMC who is literally throwing temper tantrums like a 12 year old child, completely unable to stay calm or to listen to basic instructions — yet we are to accept this guy was a highly successful spy for the government?!
Dude can't even tolerate his wife telling him which fork to use, how does this guy get any spying done?
It is actually not too bad, if you can overlook a MMC who is literally throwing temper tantrums like a 12 year old child, completely unable to stay calm or to listen to basic instructions — yet we are to accept this guy was a highly successful spy for the government?!
Dude can't even tolerate his wife telling him which fork to use, how does this guy get any spying done?
February 21, 2025
Enjoyed this story. I’m a sucker for strong heroines and historical romance bad boys. Loved that Phoebe wormed her way into Kit’s heart without changing who he is and will always be. I don’t read a lot of historical romances (not sure why) but I picked up this series immediately after finishing this book.
December 30, 2024
I honestly forgot about this the moment I finished. Nothing wrong with the book per se but there's nothing worth remembering. The MCs are ok and I didn't like the bit about the step mom's proposal, that sounded plain tacky.
Overall, good while it lasts.
Overall, good while it lasts.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 17, 2025
What a fantastic read.
H is a surly, grumpy, gray character
h is super sassy yet gentle. The only one who could manage him.
Loved their fights and banter, H's transformation from surly bear to puppy moments, and how genuine love slowly grew between them.
H is a surly, grumpy, gray character
h is super sassy yet gentle. The only one who could manage him.
Loved their fights and banter, H's transformation from surly bear to puppy moments, and how genuine love slowly grew between them.
August 19, 2025
Adorable!!!
FINALLY! An HR without a baby epilogue, and actually no baby at all. YAY!!!
A great way to spend an afternoon. Now I'll have to work my way backwards and read the first three.
FINALLY! An HR without a baby epilogue, and actually no baby at all. YAY!!!
A great way to spend an afternoon. Now I'll have to work my way backwards and read the first three.
November 22, 2024
4 stars instead of the 3 I would have given because there wasn't a miraculous baby epilogue. Hooray!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 14, 2024
A brilliant finale to a wonderful series. Plenty of humour in this book.
January 2, 2025
i liked em both but for some reason this book wasnt for me
January 15, 2025
I love these two MCs. Chris' interactions with the kids were *chef's kiss*. They felt like a real couple, getting to know each other and working together to find happiness.
January 21, 2025
5 🌟's
obsessed with them LMAO they are both me
obsessed with them LMAO they are both me
Read
January 23, 2025It was funny I think
Not as angsty as other books by this author - not the grovel vibe
But it was like mostly lighthearted and fun!
Not as angsty as other books by this author - not the grovel vibe
But it was like mostly lighthearted and fun!
June 30, 2025
I didn’t have high expectations for this book but it was soooo good
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews