Where Have All the Scoundrels Gone

Dukes in Disguise #2

by Louisa Darling

The cold, inflexible Duke of Ashbourn has a he spends his nights taking on all comers at the Nemesis, a no-holds-barred underground boxing ring. The brutal fights are his one outlet, allowing him to maintain ruthless control of his life…until he meets Elizabeth Pickford.

 

Bess would do anything to aid her friends, including chaperoning Ashbourn's half-sister. Steady and practical, Bess longs for passion and is instantly drawn to the mysterious duke, though she believes he could never desire a woman so far below his station.

 

Consumed with his need for Bess, Ashbourn vows not to allow his darkness to touch her…but Bess's search for a scoundrel brings her to the Nemesis. Masked and nameless, they surrender to a forbidden intimacy too seductive to be denied. And when their secrets are bared, they must risk it all to claim one another in the light of day.

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Audiobook, Historical, Fiction

396 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 13, 2024

Reviews

[Crystal's Bookish Life · Rating 5 out of 5]

6 stars! THIS is what I'm asking for in historical romance! Adored this so much!

[nikki | ཐི༏ཋྀ​​݁ ₊ ݁ . · Rating 4 out of 5]

OK, I really loved the first half of this. It felt like really fun buildup, and I was really digging the dynamics.

But then the second half kind of dragged for me :/ there was definitely great chemistry, and the spice scenes were great, but it needed to build on the emotional aspect more quickly once the hook up happened.

I totally called who the gentle bandit is and I will definitely be reading the new book next month 🤭

Mary Jane Wells is such a talented narrator, she sells this shit so well.

[GigiReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Burly uptight Duke who manages his emotions by beating the crap out of people at an underground boxing club? Yes, please! The heroine is a tavern cook masquerading as a proper companion to the Duke's estranged sister. Bess came to the city looking to get her groove back and after squiring the sister to staid boring balls and soirees, she goes to the boxing club and sees the masked Duke beating the daylights out of some hapless fool and she's like I want me some of that. She's masked too and he immediately recognizes her too but these two ding dongs each believe the other doesn't know because they're masked. Ah, Romance genre ilysm 🥹

I really enjoyed myself reading this, it gave me Dreaming of You vibes which is the highest compliment I can pay a book. The MCs were not so well drawn out though. Maybe it's because I skipped the first book, but Bess never came alive for me. I was also not completely sold on the Duke's backstory. The way he treated his sisters was not great and I don't feel his change of heart was developed well enough to be believable. All that being said, the vibes were amazing and I'm looking forward to the books of a few of the characters introduced here.

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
🔥🔥/5

tropes:
Class Difference
Fake Identity
Masked Ball
Road Trip

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

A perfect historical romance. Seriously, I finished chapter 1 and was like oooh this book is going to slap. Read it in less than a day. I recommend you read it immediately.

[jakira · Rating 5 out of 5]

an excellent histrom -- a truly soulmates kind of love

reminded me a lot of nichole van's "A Heart Sufficient" with the tortured/villainous hero and the deeply kind heroine relationship

looking forward to book 3 so hard

louisa darling is def up there for me now with maclean, kleypas, etc. with how much she is able to write the deep yearning kind of romance i love reading so much

[KelseyreadsHR · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this one and was surprised that it was a redemption story for the Duke of Ashbourn. Nathaniel is humanized through his backstory and obstacles he faced; and there is also more given about how Henrietta became Nathaniel’s stepmother. It helped in my opinion of Nathaniel but throughout the story he ended up delivering enough to sway my judgement of him.

I liked Bess in the first book but wasn’t sure if she had enough character depth to be a heroine and I was wrong. I loved her practical and selfless nature. She showed there was more to her and enjoyed that she gave Nathaniel a run for his money.

There’s a double hidden identity but liked how it moved the story forward without being the reason for the third act breakup. Bess hid her class from Nathaniel and they both thought their identity was preserved at the fight club, Nemesis, yet knew who the other was. I loved how both these parts unfolded and added to the story.

I loved this one and cant wait to see what Lucy gets up to next.

Where Have All the Scoundrels Gone is the second book in the Dukes in Disguise series. I recommend reading book one first to get a good sense of the hole Nathaniel dug himself in.

There are three open door encounters. But it felt like more (in a good way).

[Hannah B. Slaughter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kleypas girlies, listen up! @louisadarlingwrites studied at the school of @lisakleypas, and she understood the assignment. If you haven’t already jumped head first into this series, please consider this your formal invitation.

The villain is the hero? ✔️
He hates everyone but her? ✔️
Was he raised in a gutter? No. But he sure as hell fights like was 💪😏
Bonkers dramatic set pieces? …Well, that leans more @sarahmaclean masterclass, but ✔️ there too.

Also: Hands down my favorite opening scene of all time.

You’ll want to buy all 3—not because there are cliff hangers but simply because it’s a binger. Enjoy 😘

[Trianna/Treereads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Parts of this one worked for me, but as a whole it was a bit of a letdown. I loved the high stakes, but the resolution felt so simple. Idk I think this author isn't for me which is a bummer.

[b.andherbooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

strong start, then just petered out for me.

[Cait M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew I would love this. Louisa Darling has picked up some of my favourite tropes and weaved them into a sigh-worthy romance.

Opposites-attract / class differences ✔️ He's a Duke, she's the cook in a country inn.

Hidden/mistaken identity ✔️ If you loved The Raven Prince, this book is for you!

Bare-knuckle boxing ✔️ Our emotionally closed-off hero deals with his feelings in the ring.

Hero's redemption arc ✔️ Heroine unlocks the hero's heart of gold.

I adore a book with a masquerade, especially when BOTH main characters know the other's identity, but think that the other person doesn't recognise them.
In this book the ruse was perfectly executed, lasting just long enough to deepen emotions and allow important truths to be told under the guise of anonymity, but not so long that it dragged and became ridiculous (obviously some suspension of disbelief is required on the reader's part in all these types of books).

This book contains multiple descriptive love scenes.

Bring on book 3!

[Hijinx Abound · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was such a delightful call back to older romance school romance but without the problematic elements.
I love the “I have no idea who you are with a mask on” or “you can’t possibly recognize me with a mask on” microtrope.
I love a man who doesn’t emotion because his childhood was traumatic and so he must fisticuff to feel better. Add a sexy boxing name, claiming a female spectator as a prize, and both knowing who the other is and I am here for it.
Sexy and emotional and complicated in the best way.

[Aamira · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me gripped from the beginning. What a provocative start to a novel. Bess is looking for adventure, which she hasn’t found much of in her small town. Determined to experience life before returning to the monotony of her days, she agrees to accompany her friend, Lucy, as she makes her debut into society. When she hears of an illicit boxing ring where dark desires are fulfilled, she’s determined to attend. It’s there she comes face to face with the Beserker, a bareknuckle fighter who has never been known to lose a fight. Caught in his gaze the two succumb to their desires.

Duke Ashbourn lives a life of restriction. Desperate to bring pride to his family name, he lives his life on the straight and narrow. By night, however, he dons a mask and fights in underground brawls known as the Beserker. It’s there he is able to unleash all of his restrictions. When he notices the beguiling woman who has been acting as his sister’s companion in the crowd he cannot deny his passions. They are from two different worlds, and marrying beneath his station could tarnish his already blemished family name. Will he let go of societal expectations to be with her?

The yearning in this novel is to die for. Bess is a caretaker, always making sure that those she loves are well cared for. Always putting others first, she decides to finally do something for herself. She can’t deny the attraction she feels for Nathaniel. The sparks that fly whenever he is near are electric. The chemistry between the two is palpable on the page. When she goes to the fighting match and recognizes that Nathaniel is in fact the Beserker, she cannot deny herself of one night of pleasure. Unbeknownst to her, Nathaniel is also aware of her identity. The two embark on a love affair letting down their guards with the anonymity their masks provide.

The conflict of stations was very well done. After the death of his mother, Nathaniel’s father remarried his nursemaid and promptly sent a very young Nathaniel to boarding school. Because of this he has a lot of resentment towards his stepmother and half sister. He blames them for the ruination of his family name and the scandal that came about due to this marriage. I would say that his character growth is profound. As he gets to know Bess and even his sister, his preconceived notions are challenged. He’s forced to reckon with the fact that life is not black and white and that the assumptions he had about his stepmother are just that - assumptions. He and Bess bring out the best in each other, and I was rooting for their relationship the entire time. Their attraction builds to love the more they reveal about themselves. It is a slow burn, but well worth it.

I can’t wait to read the other books in the series. Ms. Darling is a new to me author who I will definitely be on the lookout for.

[Rekha O'Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Louisa Darling has done it again—Where Have All the Scoundrels Gone is the second book in the Dukes in Disguise series, and dare I say… it’s even better than the first. We’re still playing with that delicious trope of a duke hiding in plain sight, but this time it’s layered with a hefty dose of redemption and emotional healing that hit me right in the feels.

The Duke of Ashbourne, once the frosty villain in Don’t Let Your Dukes Grow Up to Be Scoundrels, gets his turn in the spotlight—and wow, is there more to him than meets the eye. Turns out being raised without love or kindness will mess you up a bit, and when he meets Bess Pickford (a literal ball of sunshine and compassion), he’s absolutely wrecked in the best way. And Bess? She’s hiding her own truths, too—including just how far beneath him in station she really is. But the heart wants what it wants, and their chemistry is explosive. There’s angst. There’s yearning. There are moments I had actual tears in my eyes—especially that ending, which absolutely broke me, then healed me right after.

Also, Lucy—Nathaniel’s obstreperous little sister—nearly stole the show. She’s being paraded through the ton for her first season and is hating every second of it. I’m crossing all my fingers that her story is next because I need that firecracker to find her match... and I think I know who it will be!

If you’re not reading this series yet, what are you even doing? Spicy, swoony, and unexpectedly emotional—I’m hooked and already impatient for the next one.

[Kelli Matthews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where Have All the Scoundrels Gone is pure delight—Louisa Darling blends rom-com charm with deep emotional payoff, and I was hooked from the first page.

Nathaniel is the ultimate “duke undone”—all stiff collars and rigid self-control until Bess. Their chemistry crackles, but the way they challenge each other to grow makes this story hum. Nathaniel’s journey toward vulnerability and emotional honesty felt earned, and Bess’s realization of her worth was just as powerful. They both had to do the work, and Darling let them.

That third-act breakup? Devastating. Full of ache, regret, and heartache that makes a happily ever after feel sweet and triumphant. The angst hits, and it hits hard. We'll just say I was ugly crying on a Tuesday afternoon in the kid pick-up line at my son's school.

And the boxing subplot. Always yes. Always more. If there’s a sparring ring and some sweaty emotional epiphanies, you can count me all the way in.

If you enjoy reading with your ears, grab the audiobook. Mary Jane Wells absolutely nails the narration. Her performance brings every character to life, and her voices for the fussy aristocrats? Comedic gold. I laughed out loud more than once.

This one's staying on the favorites shelf and my "always recommend" list.

[Romance Novels List · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was excited for Bess to have her story and chance at love, especially since she was such a steady presence in the earlier book. Unfortunately, this book wasn't for me. Nonetheless, the story is not bad, just not for me.

Bess’s arc begins with promise, but the direction it takes left me underwhelmed. Her quick acceptance of playing the “hidden” mistress felt contradictory—she was willing to embrace that role, yet later rejected a marriage proposal knowing the class difference when she seized the moment the first. On top of that, the repeated self-recrimination over neglecting Lucy or failing to be a proper example became more frustrating than sympathetic.

Another personal reading pet peeve of mine came into play as well: when the heroine undercuts the romance by declaring what’s “best” for the hero, when really it’s her own insecurities driving the decision. While this trope can sometimes be done in a way that builds emotional tension, here it weakened the connection to me.

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED!
Bess Pickford is the cook at the Five Mile House coaching inn. She’s been perfectly content taking care of everyone in her orbit. But when she has the chance to chaperone her young friend’s debut in London she jumps at the chance to have an adventure.
When she hears about a tavern that holds bare knuckle fighting every night, she knows she must sneak out and witness the popular event. What she doesn’t expect is to see her young charge’s brother (a Duke!) fighting as the infamous Berserker. While all participants and viewers are masked, the thin premise is they don’t recognize each other as they embark on a torrid affair.
I loved Bess’s determination to grasp whatever pleasure she could in a man’s world, and Nathaniel’s journey to overcome his dark past.

[Carol lowkey.bookish · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up

I just finished this audiobook on Hoopla. I loved the meet cute and the fact that there was a free preview of the first audiobook in the series.

I didn't care for the inconsistent volume dynamics that occurred within short time frames; nearly blew out my eardrums! Audiobook producers take note, readers/listeners are doing other things when we are listening to audiobooks (on a busy street, noisy office, etc.) so avoid placing whispers and high-decibel sounds within the same minute without proper balancing or limiting. In other words, If I turn up the audio because of whispers, I don't want the eardrum-piercing jump scare of hearing shouting a minute later.

[Anna Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED it again! 4.5 stars 💕
Nathaniel and Bess are beautifully written and this book has soo many tropes (fire, near/death experience, different classes, spicy, …).
It is somewhat unbelievable that they would not recognize each other by just wearing half-face masks - but that did not really bother me. Would (ahain like in the first book) loved to see Nathaniel grovel/try a bit more, mostly Bess had to carry the relationship (again). Also, there were some spelling mistakes or wrong words inserted here and there (I read on kindle) that took me out of it.
Nonetheless, LOVED it, buying the third book right now and I‘m seated for more of Louisa Darling!

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was beautiful! One of the best historical romances I have read in a long time. Wow!! I cant say enough about how good this was. If you like masquerades, hidden identities, tortured heroes, secret clubs, romance, and so much longing, you will love this one too! Could be read as a standalone, however, I do suggest reading the book one in the series first (Gemma/Hal, also really good), so you get the full arc for our hero as he is part of the main plot line in book one. I cant wait for book 3 and Lucy/Thorne!

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

So far, I love Louisa Darling and the setting of this series! I have no idea why this doesn't have more ratings and more reviews. I loved Ashbourn and Bess. Ashbourn is totally self loathing but is completely smitted by Bess. I mean, what else could you possibly want? I was giggling and kicking my feet the entire first half. The end gets a little bit ridiculous and, to my mind, lets the story down a little but the yearning and pining and deep feeling of this story make up for that entirely.

[Sol · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an absolutely fantastic historical romance read. This book had me from the first chapter and I couldn't stop listening to it.
Where have all the scoundrels gone is book two in dukes in disguise but it can be read as a standalone. It is about Bess, a country cook who agrees to chaperone a friend (Lucy) during her season in London with the hopes to find a scoundrel and have some fun. However, they run into Lucy's half brother, the duke of Ashbourn, who is pretty starchy and ruthless and doesn't have a good relationship with Lucy. However, there is more to the Duke that meets the eye as he actually spends his nights in an underground boxing ring! Of course, Bess and the Duke get to meet both in and outside the ring and they have undeniable chemistry and are made for each other.
I can't wait for book 3 in this series which I think will be about Lucy!
highly recommend the audio for this book.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A scoundrel of a Duke who is unfeeling and arrogant but who secretly fights in an underground boxing ring. Bess who plays chaperone to her young friend Lucy, the Duke’s half sister, and has made a life for herself as a cook at an inn in her small town. Bess who comes to London for an adventure and takes herself to the underground boxing ring… Bring it on.

[Tween 2 Teen Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this several months ago and forgot to mark it. I blame it on the hectic semester. I absolutely loved it and highly recommend it! Where Have All the Scoundrels Gone is a great introduction to historical romance for newcomers and a welcome-home hug to those familiar with the genre! Also, it had some great spicy times!

[Stacie Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved a lot of things about this book. Mary Jane Wells really brought this book to life. The first 80% was perfection. I just really wish authors would stop the third act breakups when it’s not necessary.

[Ciji Prosser · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adventure, high stakes, and a woman taking down the establishment just by not being “well-bred”? Count me in.
On the DL, JA can really write a fight scene, too.
This book was well-written and well-researched. It was swift and fun. Can’t wait for book three!

[G Klo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Goodness I loved this one so much. The chemistry. The hidden identities and the brute claiming. But beneath all the delicious tension and steam was so much heart. I know this will be book a reach for again and again!

[Pam C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun historical romance but at the same time, so stupid. I mean, how could they spend so much time together and either of them think they didn't know who the other person was? A mask across the eyes? That's it? So so dumb.

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audio

Story is 4.5

Narrator is my favorite, 5/5

[Myrtha · Rating 4 out of 5]

OVERALL: 4
PERFORMANCE_. 5 Plus!!!
STORY: 3

Once more a good entertaining romance goes up a star or two thanks to an excellent performance.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yes, a tiny domino mask will fully hide your identity from the person whose home you're living in! I think I missed some context because I read this out of order, but I still really liked this one.