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Regency Rossingley #2
To Defend a Damaged Duke
2025 Goodreads M/M Romance Members Choice Awards shortlist (Historical Romance category)
Benedict Fitzsimmons, the reclusive fourteenth Duke of Ashington, nurses a secret desire for his own sex he’d much prefer nobody ever found out about. Indeed, having only ever given in to his urges as a youth—and with disastrous consequences—he never imagined they would. Preferring the company of his racehorses to people, Benedict spends most of his time working on estate matters, longing for a lost love he can never have.
When an anonymous letter threatening to expose Benedict lands in his lap, he’s shocked to the core. He doesn’t have any enemies; why would anyone want to destroy him? Terrified, and with his family’s impeccable reputation at stake, Benedict joins forces with loyal friend, the Earl of Rossingley, to track down the culprit.
Risen from poverty and with a sordid past he’d rather forget, Tommy Squire has a mind dedicated to growing his business ventures and a heart shaped from stone. When the man who once broke it in a life-changing betrayal requests Tommy’s help to avoid a scandal, he finds himself embroiled in a daring scheme to bring down a blackmailer. As their plot unfolds, Tommy realises it’s more than his former lover he’s endeavouring to protect, it’s his battered heart.
This second book in the Rossingley Regency romance series turns to friends of the fourteenth earl of Rossingley, Lando Duchamps-Avery, who once again has a hand in the shenanigans set in London’s wealthy Ton society. This book can be read as a standalone.
Benedict Fitzsimmons, the reclusive fourteenth Duke of Ashington, nurses a secret desire for his own sex he’d much prefer nobody ever found out about. Indeed, having only ever given in to his urges as a youth—and with disastrous consequences—he never imagined they would. Preferring the company of his racehorses to people, Benedict spends most of his time working on estate matters, longing for a lost love he can never have.
When an anonymous letter threatening to expose Benedict lands in his lap, he’s shocked to the core. He doesn’t have any enemies; why would anyone want to destroy him? Terrified, and with his family’s impeccable reputation at stake, Benedict joins forces with loyal friend, the Earl of Rossingley, to track down the culprit.
Risen from poverty and with a sordid past he’d rather forget, Tommy Squire has a mind dedicated to growing his business ventures and a heart shaped from stone. When the man who once broke it in a life-changing betrayal requests Tommy’s help to avoid a scandal, he finds himself embroiled in a daring scheme to bring down a blackmailer. As their plot unfolds, Tommy realises it’s more than his former lover he’s endeavouring to protect, it’s his battered heart.
This second book in the Rossingley Regency romance series turns to friends of the fourteenth earl of Rossingley, Lando Duchamps-Avery, who once again has a hand in the shenanigans set in London’s wealthy Ton society. This book can be read as a standalone.
335 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 17, 2025
3 people are currently reading
131 people want to read
About the author
Fearne Hill
28 books348 followersFearne Hill resides far from the madding crowds in the county of Dorset, deep in the British countryside. She likes it that way.
Her novel, Oyster, is a 2025 Lambda Literary Award winner. Two Tribes is a 2023 Lambda Literary Award finalist..
Her popular Rossingley series was nominated in nine separate categories of the 2021 Goodreads M/M Romance awards and received an Honourable Mention in the 2021 Rainbow Awards.
Be sure to follow her on Bookbub for the latest sales and releases! https://www.bookbub.com/profile/fearn...
Join her Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/11724...
On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fearnehill_...
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/FearneHill
She also writes very brief and not especially insightful book reviews here on GR...
Finally, she also writes straight contemporary romance under the pseudonym Coco Chambers.
Her novel, Oyster, is a 2025 Lambda Literary Award winner. Two Tribes is a 2023 Lambda Literary Award finalist..
Her popular Rossingley series was nominated in nine separate categories of the 2021 Goodreads M/M Romance awards and received an Honourable Mention in the 2021 Rainbow Awards.
Be sure to follow her on Bookbub for the latest sales and releases! https://www.bookbub.com/profile/fearn...
Join her Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/11724...
On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fearnehill_...
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/FearneHill
She also writes very brief and not especially insightful book reviews here on GR...
Finally, she also writes straight contemporary romance under the pseudonym Coco Chambers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
July 25, 2025
~4.5~
To Defend a Damaged Duke is laugh-out-loud funny, charming, and poignant.
While Rossingley and Angel (MCs, book 1) play a significant role in the plot, this story stands on its own just fine.
Benedict Fitzsimmons, the Duke of Ashington, did a terrible thing. He was young and terrified, and in trying to save his own skin, left his lover stranded during a raid on a molly house. That wouldn't have been half as damning had he not, in playful fashion, tied Tommy's hand to a bedpost seconds before.
Tommy, now a wealthy businessman, has never forgiven Benedict for the bitter betrayal, which is just as well, since Benedict has never forgiven himself.
Seeing Benedict for the first time in a decade shocks Tommy to his core. Tommy wants naught to do with his one time lover, but when someone threatens to out them both unless they pay up, the men realize they're stronger together than apart.
I wish the tension between the MCs had lasted a bit longer. After making the Duke grovel a bit, Tommy gives in easily. That's okay though. I felt so bad for sad, lonely Benedict.
With the help of the Earl of Rossingley, his darling Kit Angel, three brilliantly conniving (and hilarious) ladies, and the Duke's youngest brother (who's desperate to marry one of said ladies), Tommy and Benedict set out to outsmart the blackmailer before he can damage the Duke's reputation.
The dialogue is sharp and witty; the characters, fun, real, and multifaceted. The heat is cranked up (a billiards table may or may not be involved)! And the ending is as good as it gets in historical fiction.
Highly recommended, even if you haven't read the first book.
To Defend a Damaged Duke is laugh-out-loud funny, charming, and poignant.
While Rossingley and Angel (MCs, book 1) play a significant role in the plot, this story stands on its own just fine.
Benedict Fitzsimmons, the Duke of Ashington, did a terrible thing. He was young and terrified, and in trying to save his own skin, left his lover stranded during a raid on a molly house. That wouldn't have been half as damning had he not, in playful fashion, tied Tommy's hand to a bedpost seconds before.
Tommy, now a wealthy businessman, has never forgiven Benedict for the bitter betrayal, which is just as well, since Benedict has never forgiven himself.
Seeing Benedict for the first time in a decade shocks Tommy to his core. Tommy wants naught to do with his one time lover, but when someone threatens to out them both unless they pay up, the men realize they're stronger together than apart.
I wish the tension between the MCs had lasted a bit longer. After making the Duke grovel a bit, Tommy gives in easily. That's okay though. I felt so bad for sad, lonely Benedict.
With the help of the Earl of Rossingley, his darling Kit Angel, three brilliantly conniving (and hilarious) ladies, and the Duke's youngest brother (who's desperate to marry one of said ladies), Tommy and Benedict set out to outsmart the blackmailer before he can damage the Duke's reputation.
The dialogue is sharp and witty; the characters, fun, real, and multifaceted. The heat is cranked up (a billiards table may or may not be involved)! And the ending is as good as it gets in historical fiction.
Highly recommended, even if you haven't read the first book.
June 22, 2025
I love a sex worker MC, I love a repressed aristocrat, I love an accidental-but-devastating betrayal, I love shenanigans, and I love a second-chance romance. This had all of those things! And I think it will work for a lot of Fearne Hill fans, especially those who dig the Rossingley world.
(Although two books in, I can now definitively say that I prefer the contemporary Rossingleys over the historical Rossingleys. Breezy style notwithstanding, Hill has a pretty good ear for modern dialogue, but the oldy-timey banter and POV voices are a bit too mannered and bodice-rippery for my tastes.)
But. But. I got a bee in my bonnet with this book early on, and it just got buzzier and increasingly difficult to ignore as it progressed. And while the source of my irritation may seem overly pedantic, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t matter.
First, friends, some homework. Some of you will have already read this, seeing as I’ve linked it in many, many other ranty histrom reviews, but it's always worth a refresh.
KJC’s point with this blogpost isn’t only to educate us about the proper use of titles and address for the British aristocracy – although by all means, bookmark that page so that you, too, can ruin all your future histrom reading by checking it incessantly every time the word “Lord” appears on page. Join me in this futile lunacy! No, KJC’s point is – well, I’ll just let her say it:
I guess you all know where all this is going.
The thing is . . . it’s not just that there are numerous mistakes on the use of titles and addresses, such as two separate characters each being (incorrectly) addressed as “Lord Fitzsimmons” (they are Lord Lyndon and Lord Francis, respectively; Lord Fitzsimmons does not exist), or repeated mentions of the “good Ashington name” (Ashington is the title, in the possession of a single man, while the family name is Fitzsimmons; no one would ever refer to the family as a collective by the title; see also three books worth of Richard fretting about the Vane name, not the Cirencester name, because that would be ridiculous). The reason I’ve linked the KJC post in numerous ranty reviews is because authors are constantly getting this shit wrong, so it’s by no means just a Fearne Hill thing. But – full disclosure – I think the reason the bee bonneted so hard this time is that I reached out to the editor after reading an ARC of book 1 to point out similar errors of address and title in that book – I even linked the authoritative post as my source! – and here we are again, with the same types of mistakes in book 2. And look, people are busy, they have lives, they have deadlines, I’m not taking this personally or anything, but there is something to KJC’s point about not respecting the reader. (Further full disclosure: sometimes I struggle to shed my professional identity in my reading. If I corrected a student’s paper and they made the exact same mistakes in the next paper . . . well. I realize this makes me sound like a horrible scold, but considering that’s an accurate summation of this review, I can hardly complain.)
On a more substantive note: while I appreciated the triple-barreled plot to bring down the extortionist, and I very much enjoyed that the ladies got in on the action, I do wish that the plot took more into account the fact that the ton knows what Benedict is like, has known what’s he’s like for years, and would probably be deeply baffled rather than convinced by a two week campaign of him doing the opposite. The thing is, this could have been so easily done! Benedict just inherited; his very, very uncharacteristic behavior could be explained by being free of the shackles of his intimidating, disapproving father, finally able to act as he wants with no consequences or accountability. Not a flattering look, for sure, but a believable story that would have made people more likely to accept the weirdness of what’s unfolding in front of them. But no groundwork is laid for this. Instead, we’re meant to buy that people disregard the years of evidence of what Benedict is like in favor of two weeks of him acting like a slobbering idiot, and it just doesn’t quite convince.
I also thought the resolution with the baddie was kind of anti-climatic – my thirst for vengeance was unsatisfied – but given that said baddie is one of the MCs of the next book (um, spoiler alert?), I guess they had to slink rather than be booted offstage. I’m not mad about this, it just took some dramatic potential from the big finale.
Three-starring this because there was a lot I quite enjoyed when I could get ignore my stewing annoyance at the whole titles thing. But seriously, authors, stop driving me to the brink of insanity. Bookmark KJC’s post and thank that extremely pedantic woman (compliment) for doing your research for you.
I got an ARC from GRR in exchange for an honest review.
(Although two books in, I can now definitively say that I prefer the contemporary Rossingleys over the historical Rossingleys. Breezy style notwithstanding, Hill has a pretty good ear for modern dialogue, but the oldy-timey banter and POV voices are a bit too mannered and bodice-rippery for my tastes.)
But. But. I got a bee in my bonnet with this book early on, and it just got buzzier and increasingly difficult to ignore as it progressed. And while the source of my irritation may seem overly pedantic, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t matter.
First, friends, some homework. Some of you will have already read this, seeing as I’ve linked it in many, many other ranty histrom reviews, but it's always worth a refresh.
KJC’s point with this blogpost isn’t only to educate us about the proper use of titles and address for the British aristocracy – although by all means, bookmark that page so that you, too, can ruin all your future histrom reading by checking it incessantly every time the word “Lord” appears on page. Join me in this futile lunacy! No, KJC’s point is – well, I’ll just let her say it:
Granted this is intricate and fussy stuff but if you’re writing aristos, it matters. The people inside the system care about the system, therefore if you’re writing characters inside the system, you have to care for the duration of the book. You cannot write about a society if you don’t understand its rules; you can’t write a book about a heroine constrained by social stratification if you have no idea what the social strata even are; you can’t do a faux pas scene of the out-group heroine getting it wrong if none of the in-group are getting it right.
You wouldn’t write a book about the Army in which an officer was addressed as ‘General’ or ‘Sergeant’ depending on the mood of the person talking to them, would you? Or describe an Army officer as ‘Admiral’? Well, same difference. If you don’t get titles right, you’re not respecting the setting–the very historicalness of the historical romance–and that means you’re not respecting the reader.
I guess you all know where all this is going.
The thing is . . . it’s not just that there are numerous mistakes on the use of titles and addresses, such as two separate characters each being (incorrectly) addressed as “Lord Fitzsimmons” (they are Lord Lyndon and Lord Francis, respectively; Lord Fitzsimmons does not exist), or repeated mentions of the “good Ashington name” (Ashington is the title, in the possession of a single man, while the family name is Fitzsimmons; no one would ever refer to the family as a collective by the title; see also three books worth of Richard fretting about the Vane name, not the Cirencester name, because that would be ridiculous). The reason I’ve linked the KJC post in numerous ranty reviews is because authors are constantly getting this shit wrong, so it’s by no means just a Fearne Hill thing. But – full disclosure – I think the reason the bee bonneted so hard this time is that I reached out to the editor after reading an ARC of book 1 to point out similar errors of address and title in that book – I even linked the authoritative post as my source! – and here we are again, with the same types of mistakes in book 2. And look, people are busy, they have lives, they have deadlines, I’m not taking this personally or anything, but there is something to KJC’s point about not respecting the reader. (Further full disclosure: sometimes I struggle to shed my professional identity in my reading. If I corrected a student’s paper and they made the exact same mistakes in the next paper . . . well. I realize this makes me sound like a horrible scold, but considering that’s an accurate summation of this review, I can hardly complain.)
On a more substantive note: while I appreciated the triple-barreled plot to bring down the extortionist, and I very much enjoyed that the ladies got in on the action, I do wish that the plot took more into account the fact that the ton knows what Benedict is like, has known what’s he’s like for years, and would probably be deeply baffled rather than convinced by a two week campaign of him doing the opposite. The thing is, this could have been so easily done! Benedict just inherited; his very, very uncharacteristic behavior could be explained by being free of the shackles of his intimidating, disapproving father, finally able to act as he wants with no consequences or accountability. Not a flattering look, for sure, but a believable story that would have made people more likely to accept the weirdness of what’s unfolding in front of them. But no groundwork is laid for this. Instead, we’re meant to buy that people disregard the years of evidence of what Benedict is like in favor of two weeks of him acting like a slobbering idiot, and it just doesn’t quite convince.
I also thought the resolution with the baddie was kind of anti-climatic – my thirst for vengeance was unsatisfied – but given that said baddie is one of the MCs of the next book (um, spoiler alert?), I guess they had to slink rather than be booted offstage. I’m not mad about this, it just took some dramatic potential from the big finale.
Three-starring this because there was a lot I quite enjoyed when I could get ignore my stewing annoyance at the whole titles thing. But seriously, authors, stop driving me to the brink of insanity. Bookmark KJC’s post and thank that extremely pedantic woman (compliment) for doing your research for you.
I got an ARC from GRR in exchange for an honest review.
July 14, 2025
I tried out this new-to-me author of MM historical romance and I very much enjoyed this one! It features a shy, awkward duke, Benedict, and his first (and only) love, Tommy. They met when they were both quite young (17/18), and Benedict betrayed his love out of self-preservation. When the book opens it's a good 10 years later and they meet under different circumstances: Tommy now owns a gaming hell and is somewhat respectable. Benedict has a reputation for stodginess and has just inherited.
I've written before about how queer historical usually fall into one of two categories: either full fantasyland where the HEA ends with public acknowledgement, or a more historically accurate HEA that might involve something like a closeted relationship or a lavender marriage. I read and enjoy both, but I think it's best for readers to go in knowing what kind of conflict and HEA to expect! This book leans more towards historical accuracy, with a conflict that includes the threat of Benedict being outed. I felt that it was well-written and handled with care.
Second chance isn't always my favorite romance setup, but I found the youth and circumstances of the couple to make a ton of sense. There's a great grovel paired with a pretty slow burn, and a plot that puts Tommy and Benedict on the same side pretty quickly.
TL;DR: I liked it!! If this plot and relationship setup seems like something you'd like, I definitely recommend.
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.
I've written before about how queer historical usually fall into one of two categories: either full fantasyland where the HEA ends with public acknowledgement, or a more historically accurate HEA that might involve something like a closeted relationship or a lavender marriage. I read and enjoy both, but I think it's best for readers to go in knowing what kind of conflict and HEA to expect! This book leans more towards historical accuracy, with a conflict that includes the threat of Benedict being outed. I felt that it was well-written and handled with care.
Second chance isn't always my favorite romance setup, but I found the youth and circumstances of the couple to make a ton of sense. There's a great grovel paired with a pretty slow burn, and a plot that puts Tommy and Benedict on the same side pretty quickly.
TL;DR: I liked it!! If this plot and relationship setup seems like something you'd like, I definitely recommend.
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.
July 14, 2025
B- / 3.5 stars
To Defend a Damaged Duke, Fearne Hill’s second foray into historical romance, is a cross-class, second-chance love story featuring a rather serious, introverted duke and the prickly owner of a gentleman’s club, who were lovers as young men – but were cruelly separated and have not seen each other for a decade. Rather like the previous book ( To Tempt a Troubled Earl ) this is ‘historical romance lite’, a breezy Regency romp without a particularly strong sense of time and place, and the plot is in the driving seat.
Benedict Fitzsimmons, fourteenth Duke of Ashington, inherited his lofty title and all that goes with it just nine months earlier, at the age of just twenty-eight. He has a reputation for being reserved, dour and somewhat humourless, but he takes his responsibilities seriously and recognises his role as custodian of his wealth and property for future generations. Although, as his father’s heir, he was brought up to fulfil the weighty role he would one day inherit, he doesn’t feel terribly comfortable in it, and would much rather spend his time in the stables with his beloved string of thoroughbreds. His twin brother, Lyndon, (younger by three minutes) is resentful and troublesome, a thorn in his side just as he was in their father’s, while Francis, five years Benedict’s junior, is outgoing, charming and funny – and would, Benedict thinks, have made a much better duke than he does. Especially as Francis, unlike Benedict, will marry a woman and eventually have children to carry on the line.
It’s at Francis’ suggestion that Benedict decides to take a short break from dealing with the ever-present mountain of paperwork on his desk and spend an hour or so at the recently opened Squire’s, a gentleman’s club on St. James’s. On entering, he immediately feels too old and staid for the place, but he finds Francis and his friends and spends some time conversing – mostly about horses – before making his excuses to take a turn about the room while wondering how soon he can make his escape without being impolite. He’s relieved to see an exquisitely dressed, fair-haired gentleman making his way towards him; the eccentric Earl of Rossingley is an old friend and is always happy to talk horseflesh. Benedeict’s nerves recede a little as he, the Earl, and the Earl’s companion, whom he introduces as Mr. Christopher Angel, settle in for a drink, away from the rowdier corners of the room.
Tommy Squire – or Thomas L’Esquire, as he calls himself now – has done whatever he needed to do in life to pull himself up and out of the gutter by his bootstraps and to leave behind a painful, sordid past. He’s not ashamed of having been a molly boy or an actor or the countless other things he did to keep body and soul together; all of it has made him who he is now, the successful owner of three gentlemen’s clubs, a couple of brothels and a boxing club - together with Rossingley, who is his ‘silent’ partner as well as one of his most trusted friends. Tommy works hard and plays… very little, so little, in fact, that he can’t remember the last time he indulged in, well, anything pleasurable. When Sidney, his doorman, and eyes and ears in the club (and other trusted friend) tells Tommy that they’ve got “a duke in tonight”, Tommy decides to observe the floor from the gallery for a while, noticing that gentleman chatting amiably with Rossingley and Angel. At first only the back of the man’s head is visible – until he turns to raise his glass in a toast, and Tommy’s stomach lurches. It’s him. His “young lordling”, the man he’d loved with every fibre of his being - who had left him to take his chances with the law on that fateful afternoon ten years ago.
The set-up is nicely done, with Tommy’s animosity leaping off the page and Benedict’s regret being palpable, and I was looking forward to a slow-burn second-chance romance as Tommy learns to let go of his resentment and Benedict works to earn his trust, but that isn’t what happens and the romance is - despite their obvious chemistry - rushed to make way for the plot. While I’m all for protagonists who talk their problems through, Tommy and Benedict work almost everything out in just a conversation or two, and while I could go with their agreeing to a truce after the explanations (Tommy) and heartfelt apologies (Benedict), not enough time is given to the development of their second-time-around romance. We see a little of their earlier relationship in the book’s prologue, but that wasn’t enough to convince me that they would, ten years later, simply pick up where they left off, and we’re asked to take their love for each other as read.
That said, the leads are engaging and well-drawn, and I liked them as a couple. Benedict is a hopeless romantic, a ducal cinnamon roll who is beset by insecurities and fears that he’s not enough – not clever enough, not personable enough, not imposing enough - to be a duke, and who simply doesn’t see that his strength lies in his kindness and honesty and desire to make things better for the people he cares about. His relationship with Lyndon – who is overflowing with bitterness and resentment and resists any and all attempts to help him – is really well done; Benedict obviously loves his brother and is hurt by his animosity and rejection, but even so, wants to help him, if he can work out how to. Tommy is clever, pragmatic, doesn’t trust easily and is, not surprisingly, bitter about what happened all those years ago - but is unable to maintain that bitterness in the face of Benedict’s genuine contrition and obvious unhappiness. As he comes to know Benedict better, he comes to realise that he (Benedict) struggles to believe in himself and to believe he deserves to be happy – and determines to help him to change both those things.
The plot revolves around the fact that someone – and we find out who it is fairly early on thanks to Rossingley’s somewhat unconventional questioning techniques – has got hold of a list of the patrons of the White Hart (the molly house where Benedict and Tommy used to meet) from 1813, and is threatening to reveal the truth about Benedict to the entire ton. Benedict is a bit martyr-ish about it at first, believing he deserves whatever is coming for what he did to Tommy, but fortunately Rossingley is having none of that, and comes up with a plan to neutralise the threat. It’s somewhat ridiculous, but the best thing about it is that it brings Benedict to the realisation that he has people in his corner who will fight for and alongside him and that he’s not alone. There’s a secondary plotline in which it appears someone is“nobbling” Benedict’s horses in order to win bets against them, which Benedict takes care of in spectacular fashion.
The prose is a bit flowery at times, and the strongly written secondary cast adds colour to the story, which is lively and entertaining with a depth to the emotional lives of the characters – especially Benedict, who is so different to most of the dukes that populate the genre – that kept me engaged. I very much appreciated that the author finds a period-appropriate HEA for the couple.
To Defend a Damaged Duke is charmingly frothy with some serious undertones, and I enjoyed it in spite of my reservations. Just don’t go into it expecting KJ Charles levels of historical accuracy and complexity.
To Defend a Damaged Duke, Fearne Hill’s second foray into historical romance, is a cross-class, second-chance love story featuring a rather serious, introverted duke and the prickly owner of a gentleman’s club, who were lovers as young men – but were cruelly separated and have not seen each other for a decade. Rather like the previous book ( To Tempt a Troubled Earl ) this is ‘historical romance lite’, a breezy Regency romp without a particularly strong sense of time and place, and the plot is in the driving seat.
Benedict Fitzsimmons, fourteenth Duke of Ashington, inherited his lofty title and all that goes with it just nine months earlier, at the age of just twenty-eight. He has a reputation for being reserved, dour and somewhat humourless, but he takes his responsibilities seriously and recognises his role as custodian of his wealth and property for future generations. Although, as his father’s heir, he was brought up to fulfil the weighty role he would one day inherit, he doesn’t feel terribly comfortable in it, and would much rather spend his time in the stables with his beloved string of thoroughbreds. His twin brother, Lyndon, (younger by three minutes) is resentful and troublesome, a thorn in his side just as he was in their father’s, while Francis, five years Benedict’s junior, is outgoing, charming and funny – and would, Benedict thinks, have made a much better duke than he does. Especially as Francis, unlike Benedict, will marry a woman and eventually have children to carry on the line.
It’s at Francis’ suggestion that Benedict decides to take a short break from dealing with the ever-present mountain of paperwork on his desk and spend an hour or so at the recently opened Squire’s, a gentleman’s club on St. James’s. On entering, he immediately feels too old and staid for the place, but he finds Francis and his friends and spends some time conversing – mostly about horses – before making his excuses to take a turn about the room while wondering how soon he can make his escape without being impolite. He’s relieved to see an exquisitely dressed, fair-haired gentleman making his way towards him; the eccentric Earl of Rossingley is an old friend and is always happy to talk horseflesh. Benedeict’s nerves recede a little as he, the Earl, and the Earl’s companion, whom he introduces as Mr. Christopher Angel, settle in for a drink, away from the rowdier corners of the room.
Tommy Squire – or Thomas L’Esquire, as he calls himself now – has done whatever he needed to do in life to pull himself up and out of the gutter by his bootstraps and to leave behind a painful, sordid past. He’s not ashamed of having been a molly boy or an actor or the countless other things he did to keep body and soul together; all of it has made him who he is now, the successful owner of three gentlemen’s clubs, a couple of brothels and a boxing club - together with Rossingley, who is his ‘silent’ partner as well as one of his most trusted friends. Tommy works hard and plays… very little, so little, in fact, that he can’t remember the last time he indulged in, well, anything pleasurable. When Sidney, his doorman, and eyes and ears in the club (and other trusted friend) tells Tommy that they’ve got “a duke in tonight”, Tommy decides to observe the floor from the gallery for a while, noticing that gentleman chatting amiably with Rossingley and Angel. At first only the back of the man’s head is visible – until he turns to raise his glass in a toast, and Tommy’s stomach lurches. It’s him. His “young lordling”, the man he’d loved with every fibre of his being - who had left him to take his chances with the law on that fateful afternoon ten years ago.
The set-up is nicely done, with Tommy’s animosity leaping off the page and Benedict’s regret being palpable, and I was looking forward to a slow-burn second-chance romance as Tommy learns to let go of his resentment and Benedict works to earn his trust, but that isn’t what happens and the romance is - despite their obvious chemistry - rushed to make way for the plot. While I’m all for protagonists who talk their problems through, Tommy and Benedict work almost everything out in just a conversation or two, and while I could go with their agreeing to a truce after the explanations (Tommy) and heartfelt apologies (Benedict), not enough time is given to the development of their second-time-around romance. We see a little of their earlier relationship in the book’s prologue, but that wasn’t enough to convince me that they would, ten years later, simply pick up where they left off, and we’re asked to take their love for each other as read.
That said, the leads are engaging and well-drawn, and I liked them as a couple. Benedict is a hopeless romantic, a ducal cinnamon roll who is beset by insecurities and fears that he’s not enough – not clever enough, not personable enough, not imposing enough - to be a duke, and who simply doesn’t see that his strength lies in his kindness and honesty and desire to make things better for the people he cares about. His relationship with Lyndon – who is overflowing with bitterness and resentment and resists any and all attempts to help him – is really well done; Benedict obviously loves his brother and is hurt by his animosity and rejection, but even so, wants to help him, if he can work out how to. Tommy is clever, pragmatic, doesn’t trust easily and is, not surprisingly, bitter about what happened all those years ago - but is unable to maintain that bitterness in the face of Benedict’s genuine contrition and obvious unhappiness. As he comes to know Benedict better, he comes to realise that he (Benedict) struggles to believe in himself and to believe he deserves to be happy – and determines to help him to change both those things.
The plot revolves around the fact that someone – and we find out who it is fairly early on thanks to Rossingley’s somewhat unconventional questioning techniques – has got hold of a list of the patrons of the White Hart (the molly house where Benedict and Tommy used to meet) from 1813, and is threatening to reveal the truth about Benedict to the entire ton. Benedict is a bit martyr-ish about it at first, believing he deserves whatever is coming for what he did to Tommy, but fortunately Rossingley is having none of that, and comes up with a plan to neutralise the threat. It’s somewhat ridiculous, but the best thing about it is that it brings Benedict to the realisation that he has people in his corner who will fight for and alongside him and that he’s not alone. There’s a secondary plotline in which it appears someone is“nobbling” Benedict’s horses in order to win bets against them, which Benedict takes care of in spectacular fashion.
The prose is a bit flowery at times, and the strongly written secondary cast adds colour to the story, which is lively and entertaining with a depth to the emotional lives of the characters – especially Benedict, who is so different to most of the dukes that populate the genre – that kept me engaged. I very much appreciated that the author finds a period-appropriate HEA for the couple.
To Defend a Damaged Duke is charmingly frothy with some serious undertones, and I enjoyed it in spite of my reservations. Just don’t go into it expecting KJ Charles levels of historical accuracy and complexity.
November 22, 2025
ARC Review from Gay Romance Reviews.
This is the second book in the Regency Rossingley series, and I made the questionable choice to read them out of order—1, 3, then 2. Honestly, I’m glad I did, because I would never have picked up book three if I’d read this one first.
I’m usually open to a good redemption arc for a series villain, but the portrait of Lyndon here made him so… pathetic. And truth be told, (slight spoiler alert) he stays that way; his rooftop scene in his own book did him no favors. Also (sorry to every fiery-haired man reading this), the way his hair is described here is the least sexy thing imaginable. In his book it’s politely upgraded to “copper,” which I can translate into auburn, which is more palatable. But here? He’s a literal carrot top, and that’s a cold shower for me. Red hair is one of the few beauty double standards that favors women. Anyway, Lyndon is absolutely not worthy of his wonderful partner, Rollo.
One interesting side effect: books 2 and 3 made Rossingley (the hero of book 1) far more appealing than he originally seemed. He wasn’t unlikable in his own book, but he really shines in the others. His partner, Kit, however, was basically an afterthought in this book which was a surprising choice.
So why only 3 stars? The writing itself is solid—clean prose, not a whiff of anachronism, and some genuinely witty exchanges. But the master plan to take Lyndon down was… not very masterful. And it took an interminable amount of time to get to the climax. Speaking of climaxes: this was a long slow burn, and once they finally hooked up, it wasn’t nearly enough to balance the wait.
A small timeline gripe: Tommy was arrested ten years ago; about a year later Rossingley saved him. But when Tommy explains how he knows Rossingley, he mentions that Rossingley had just lost his wife in childbirth. Then, in the next book, which is only two years later, the children are suddenly 19. A small but unnecessary continuity error that a careful beta could have caught.
And one personal (possibly uptight) note:
Sex work in the gutters of St. Giles in the Regency era just skeeves me a bit. No shade at all toward sex workers, but condoms weren’t a thing, neither were STI tests, and historically, most didn’t live long enough to retire to the countryside. It’s just a little hard for me to write the situation off as “all’s well that ends well”. That shit doesn’t end well.
All that said: good writing, a decent story, but a few frustrations that kept it from being a standout for me.
This is the second book in the Regency Rossingley series, and I made the questionable choice to read them out of order—1, 3, then 2. Honestly, I’m glad I did, because I would never have picked up book three if I’d read this one first.
I’m usually open to a good redemption arc for a series villain, but the portrait of Lyndon here made him so… pathetic. And truth be told, (slight spoiler alert) he stays that way; his rooftop scene in his own book did him no favors. Also (sorry to every fiery-haired man reading this), the way his hair is described here is the least sexy thing imaginable. In his book it’s politely upgraded to “copper,” which I can translate into auburn, which is more palatable. But here? He’s a literal carrot top, and that’s a cold shower for me. Red hair is one of the few beauty double standards that favors women. Anyway, Lyndon is absolutely not worthy of his wonderful partner, Rollo.
One interesting side effect: books 2 and 3 made Rossingley (the hero of book 1) far more appealing than he originally seemed. He wasn’t unlikable in his own book, but he really shines in the others. His partner, Kit, however, was basically an afterthought in this book which was a surprising choice.
So why only 3 stars? The writing itself is solid—clean prose, not a whiff of anachronism, and some genuinely witty exchanges. But the master plan to take Lyndon down was… not very masterful. And it took an interminable amount of time to get to the climax. Speaking of climaxes: this was a long slow burn, and once they finally hooked up, it wasn’t nearly enough to balance the wait.
A small timeline gripe: Tommy was arrested ten years ago; about a year later Rossingley saved him. But when Tommy explains how he knows Rossingley, he mentions that Rossingley had just lost his wife in childbirth. Then, in the next book, which is only two years later, the children are suddenly 19. A small but unnecessary continuity error that a careful beta could have caught.
And one personal (possibly uptight) note:
Sex work in the gutters of St. Giles in the Regency era just skeeves me a bit. No shade at all toward sex workers, but condoms weren’t a thing, neither were STI tests, and historically, most didn’t live long enough to retire to the countryside. It’s just a little hard for me to write the situation off as “all’s well that ends well”. That shit doesn’t end well.
All that said: good writing, a decent story, but a few frustrations that kept it from being a standout for me.
June 6, 2025
Ah this one was a lot of fun! It follows the quiet and shy Benedict, Duke of Ashington, who lost all joy in his life when he lost the love of his life, a molly named Tommy in a raid on the Molly house where they liaised. He is focused entirely on his stable of horses, and his brothers, the charming Lord Francis and debaucherous Lord Lyndon. But when a threat is made against his name, Benedict’s world threatens to come tumbling down around his ears.
Thomas L’Esquire is a man of business - owner of gambling hells, brothels and betting shops, he’s a self made man who has dragged himself up from humble beginnings. When the lordling who he fell in love with in his mollying days, and then left him for dead at the first sign of trouble, turns up in one of his clubs, beautiful and all grown up, he is determined to kick him to the curb.
But when Benedict comes to him in a state of panic, a mysterious person threatening to spill both his and Tommy’s secrets, the hell owner knows he has to do something to help. And this begins a charming romp through the ton to try and protect Benedict and unearth and discredit the blackmailer.
I loved the found family in this one - Rossingley and Angel from book one have multiple cameos and I adored Benedict’s brother, Lord Francis and his beloved, Lady Isabella. Catherine de Villers and Beatrice Hazard, friends of Rossingley and Benedict respectively were also amazing and I appreciated the cast of sly, clever female characters who help our MCs carry out their plans! All in all a great read and I look forward to the next in the series!
Knocked down a star because a lot of the dialogue was a little clunky for me, but this is definitely more of a 4.5 than a 4!
Thomas L’Esquire is a man of business - owner of gambling hells, brothels and betting shops, he’s a self made man who has dragged himself up from humble beginnings. When the lordling who he fell in love with in his mollying days, and then left him for dead at the first sign of trouble, turns up in one of his clubs, beautiful and all grown up, he is determined to kick him to the curb.
But when Benedict comes to him in a state of panic, a mysterious person threatening to spill both his and Tommy’s secrets, the hell owner knows he has to do something to help. And this begins a charming romp through the ton to try and protect Benedict and unearth and discredit the blackmailer.
I loved the found family in this one - Rossingley and Angel from book one have multiple cameos and I adored Benedict’s brother, Lord Francis and his beloved, Lady Isabella. Catherine de Villers and Beatrice Hazard, friends of Rossingley and Benedict respectively were also amazing and I appreciated the cast of sly, clever female characters who help our MCs carry out their plans! All in all a great read and I look forward to the next in the series!
Knocked down a star because a lot of the dialogue was a little clunky for me, but this is definitely more of a 4.5 than a 4!
June 7, 2025
I adore Fearne Hill’s writing, precise thoughtful prose drenched with feeling and sharp emotion. This book is everything I love from a regency romance, lovers who are pulled apart because of the times they live in, a fantastic redemption arc build on the blocks of being human, love everlasting, queer found family and the intricacies of the ton.
Fiery passion starts this book off on fast clip, young lovers in the midst of an interlude torn asunder for years. The devastating loss making them into someone else when they meet again, now with guilt on one end and rage on the other. But they have graver things to deal with and with their cobbled together friendship forces they manage to find an ultimately exceedingly satisfying HEA, sharing a grand adventure along the way. Also this book was cheeky in parts, humour that made me snort out loud, check out the quotes below for a taste.
I absolutely loved Ben and Tommy, they were everything to swoon about, good lord the emotions were sublime. I definitely loved Francis and Beatrice and the rest of the found family too.
While this can one hundred percent be read as a standalone, I definitely recommend reading the first book, it was also masterful and lends so much to some of the supporting cast in this book.
some quotes that stuck with me:
“You have very little experience, I’d wager, in communicating with individuals not of your class.”
“I assure you,” contradicted the earl, “I discuss my diary with my valet and my first footman in great detail every day. I’m a very much down-to-earth sort of fellow.”
Tommy sighed. “Yes, but not this earth. I meant speak with them as my equals and friends.”
“When my first love spoke, he called me home.”
Tommy wasn’t certain if he’d reached up or the duke had tipped his head down. But it mattered for naught because he knew that when he kissed this man back, when he melded his mouth to the other’s, his mind would never hold a rational thought again.
“I shall embrace you and cherish you, young Tommy Squire, because of our differences, not in spite of them.”
Fiery passion starts this book off on fast clip, young lovers in the midst of an interlude torn asunder for years. The devastating loss making them into someone else when they meet again, now with guilt on one end and rage on the other. But they have graver things to deal with and with their cobbled together friendship forces they manage to find an ultimately exceedingly satisfying HEA, sharing a grand adventure along the way. Also this book was cheeky in parts, humour that made me snort out loud, check out the quotes below for a taste.
I absolutely loved Ben and Tommy, they were everything to swoon about, good lord the emotions were sublime. I definitely loved Francis and Beatrice and the rest of the found family too.
While this can one hundred percent be read as a standalone, I definitely recommend reading the first book, it was also masterful and lends so much to some of the supporting cast in this book.
some quotes that stuck with me:
“You have very little experience, I’d wager, in communicating with individuals not of your class.”
“I assure you,” contradicted the earl, “I discuss my diary with my valet and my first footman in great detail every day. I’m a very much down-to-earth sort of fellow.”
Tommy sighed. “Yes, but not this earth. I meant speak with them as my equals and friends.”
“When my first love spoke, he called me home.”
Tommy wasn’t certain if he’d reached up or the duke had tipped his head down. But it mattered for naught because he knew that when he kissed this man back, when he melded his mouth to the other’s, his mind would never hold a rational thought again.
“I shall embrace you and cherish you, young Tommy Squire, because of our differences, not in spite of them.”
June 22, 2025
ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL!💕
We met Tommy L’ Esquire in Book 1- the delightful creature that helped his best friend the eleventh Earl of Rossingley- Lando in a rather scandalous predicament … Now we get the background story of the mysterious actor …among other things…!
1813
Everyone has a past and the one that got away…and that happened to Molly boy Tommy Squire when he was 18 and working as a male prostitute in a house of ill repute..
This is where he and one of his regulars fell in love- his lordling the Duke age 17 and was betrayed by him in the most horrendous cowardly way!
1823
Now ten years later he has become an accomplished businessman with the help of the flamboyant earl Rossingley and runs into his Lordling now the imposing 14th Duke of Ashington in one of his establishments- a gentleman’s club called Squire’s…
This is their second chance at love and redemption when his Lordling needs his help with blackmail and with the help and guidance of the Earl, his paramour Kit, his lovely “mistress” Mrs de Villiers and friends, they come up with a perfect “rakish” plan with hilarious results!
I loved their story of rivalry, revenge, thumb twirling, horse racing, seasonal balls, ton gossip and loved seeing more of Lando and Kit and new characters!
I look forward to the next book with the Earl’s mischievous son Rolo- oh the Apple does not fall far from the tree!
I voluntarily received an ARC from GRR for an honest non biased opinion on this book.
We met Tommy L’ Esquire in Book 1- the delightful creature that helped his best friend the eleventh Earl of Rossingley- Lando in a rather scandalous predicament … Now we get the background story of the mysterious actor …among other things…!
1813
Everyone has a past and the one that got away…and that happened to Molly boy Tommy Squire when he was 18 and working as a male prostitute in a house of ill repute..
This is where he and one of his regulars fell in love- his lordling the Duke age 17 and was betrayed by him in the most horrendous cowardly way!
1823
Now ten years later he has become an accomplished businessman with the help of the flamboyant earl Rossingley and runs into his Lordling now the imposing 14th Duke of Ashington in one of his establishments- a gentleman’s club called Squire’s…
This is their second chance at love and redemption when his Lordling needs his help with blackmail and with the help and guidance of the Earl, his paramour Kit, his lovely “mistress” Mrs de Villiers and friends, they come up with a perfect “rakish” plan with hilarious results!
I loved their story of rivalry, revenge, thumb twirling, horse racing, seasonal balls, ton gossip and loved seeing more of Lando and Kit and new characters!
I look forward to the next book with the Earl’s mischievous son Rolo- oh the Apple does not fall far from the tree!
I voluntarily received an ARC from GRR for an honest non biased opinion on this book.
June 30, 2025
The biggest problem for writers of historical gay romance is how they can write a happy ending for the characters and still have it made believable. Fearne Hill does a great job with this, but I’m not giving anything away. This series is rapidly becoming one of my favorite mm historical romance series. The adventures that Hill comes up with are interesting and add a lot to the stories instead of just focusing on the illegal aspects of the relationship. I definitely think that the aspect of Hill’s writing that I like most is the way she writes different voices and the poetic way she has of describing things. There is a whole group of characters that help Tommy and Benedict and I anticipate many more stories about this group from Ms Hill.
June 10, 2025
Honey, this book is messy! And I love that about it lol. I’m just so happy to dive back into the Regency Rossingley series, especially because the main characters from Troubled Earl are so well intertwined. It makes sense given how close Tommy and the Earl clearly were and how their previous shenanigans together continued. Getting Tommy’s full backstory and his initial encounters with Benedict the Duke made so much of the first book make even more sense.
Benedict’s sad and lifeless existence really tugged at my heartstrings. He reminds me of my favorite Aaron Burr quote from Hamilton: “I survived, but I paid for it.” That sums up the effects of his decision - sure he saved his reputation but he left his heart and soul behind. An unshakable and unrequited love with which he used to punish himself for what he expected to be the rest of his life. And a salty self-destructing twin brother who lives to make life miserable. Great.
Second chance stories are my favorite when the lovers have become enemies (although often one-sided enemies lol). Tommy has a right to be irate and Benedict is logical in his blackmail assumption. It takes emotionally intelligent people to put aside past hurt to give each other a genuine chance, and maybe a queer village to stand in the gap lol. Found family can be the best family.
I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest review. 4.5 stars because I have very strong opinions about people who I know are going to have rehabilitated images - that’s a problem for future me, I suppose.
Benedict’s sad and lifeless existence really tugged at my heartstrings. He reminds me of my favorite Aaron Burr quote from Hamilton: “I survived, but I paid for it.” That sums up the effects of his decision - sure he saved his reputation but he left his heart and soul behind. An unshakable and unrequited love with which he used to punish himself for what he expected to be the rest of his life. And a salty self-destructing twin brother who lives to make life miserable. Great.
Second chance stories are my favorite when the lovers have become enemies (although often one-sided enemies lol). Tommy has a right to be irate and Benedict is logical in his blackmail assumption. It takes emotionally intelligent people to put aside past hurt to give each other a genuine chance, and maybe a queer village to stand in the gap lol. Found family can be the best family.
I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest review. 4.5 stars because I have very strong opinions about people who I know are going to have rehabilitated images - that’s a problem for future me, I suppose.
July 30, 2025
3.5 stars
July 12, 2025
To Defend a Damaged Duke (Regency Rossingley 2)
By Fearne Hill
NineStar Press, 2025
Five stars
If Jane Austen had produced truly scandalous characters; if Georgette Heyer had written romances that were naughty; that’s the gift that Fearne Hill has given us with this Regency Rossingley series.
The Earl of Rossingley appears significantly in this book, too, along with his mysterious neighbor and friend, Mr. Angel. His flamboyant (and happy) personality offers a strong contrast to the restrained, austere, and literally gray persona presented by the socially elusive Duke of Ashington.
The link between these two men is the equally mysterious Thomas L’Esquire, proprietor of Squires, a social club in the city (as well as a number of other successful business ventures). Readers will recognize him as Tommy Squire, West End actor and all-around bad boy, who helped Lord Rossingley in the first book in the series. This book takes Tommy’s story deep into the past, when he was just eighteen.
Gosh, Fearne Hill does faux-Regency story-telling very well. There are a few tiny missteps (like: the concept of a parallel universe is a notion born in my own lifetime); but she really gets it, and delivers this delicious period setting with great humor and style and emotional punch.
Benedict Fitzsimmons, the young duke, is an endearing person—but uptight and frightened in the same way that Lord Rossingley was at first. His life is both complicated and enriched by his big-hearted younger brother, Lord Francis, and his very slightly younger twin brother, Lord Lyndon.
The one thing that makes the young duke feel safe is his horses—and he is a famous horseman and unsurpassed expert on horseracing. Lord Rossingley becomes a catalyst and a friend, safe from the unimaginative gossipmongers of the London “ton” because of his teenaged sons and his large fortune. Nobody concerns themselves with the handsome Mr. Angel, whose estate abuts Rossingley, and who, with his long hair, gold earring, and dancing skills, is a source of much intrigued speculation from society.
Tommy Squires is a brilliant character—more Dickens than Austen, subtly too modern for even Georgette Heyer, and yet perfectly drawn and characterized. He is tough and fierce, but also desperate for the one thing he’s never had: love. And that’s what makes this book so marvelous on every single page.
Fearne Hill sets up a complicated and seemingly impossible situation while juggling all of the aspects of historical social fiction, from clothing to manners to the very English etiquette of balls and dinners. There is one critical scene in the book centered on social precedence when going in to dinner. It is both informative and hilarious
This two-book series is top-notch and so very well written. I can’t quite imagine if there will be a third Regency Rossingley, but I certainly hope so.
By Fearne Hill
NineStar Press, 2025
Five stars
If Jane Austen had produced truly scandalous characters; if Georgette Heyer had written romances that were naughty; that’s the gift that Fearne Hill has given us with this Regency Rossingley series.
The Earl of Rossingley appears significantly in this book, too, along with his mysterious neighbor and friend, Mr. Angel. His flamboyant (and happy) personality offers a strong contrast to the restrained, austere, and literally gray persona presented by the socially elusive Duke of Ashington.
The link between these two men is the equally mysterious Thomas L’Esquire, proprietor of Squires, a social club in the city (as well as a number of other successful business ventures). Readers will recognize him as Tommy Squire, West End actor and all-around bad boy, who helped Lord Rossingley in the first book in the series. This book takes Tommy’s story deep into the past, when he was just eighteen.
Gosh, Fearne Hill does faux-Regency story-telling very well. There are a few tiny missteps (like: the concept of a parallel universe is a notion born in my own lifetime); but she really gets it, and delivers this delicious period setting with great humor and style and emotional punch.
Benedict Fitzsimmons, the young duke, is an endearing person—but uptight and frightened in the same way that Lord Rossingley was at first. His life is both complicated and enriched by his big-hearted younger brother, Lord Francis, and his very slightly younger twin brother, Lord Lyndon.
The one thing that makes the young duke feel safe is his horses—and he is a famous horseman and unsurpassed expert on horseracing. Lord Rossingley becomes a catalyst and a friend, safe from the unimaginative gossipmongers of the London “ton” because of his teenaged sons and his large fortune. Nobody concerns themselves with the handsome Mr. Angel, whose estate abuts Rossingley, and who, with his long hair, gold earring, and dancing skills, is a source of much intrigued speculation from society.
Tommy Squires is a brilliant character—more Dickens than Austen, subtly too modern for even Georgette Heyer, and yet perfectly drawn and characterized. He is tough and fierce, but also desperate for the one thing he’s never had: love. And that’s what makes this book so marvelous on every single page.
Fearne Hill sets up a complicated and seemingly impossible situation while juggling all of the aspects of historical social fiction, from clothing to manners to the very English etiquette of balls and dinners. There is one critical scene in the book centered on social precedence when going in to dinner. It is both informative and hilarious
This two-book series is top-notch and so very well written. I can’t quite imagine if there will be a third Regency Rossingley, but I certainly hope so.
July 22, 2025
Fearne Hill's Regency Rossingley series is absolute perfection.
To Defend a Damaged Duke begins with a pair of young lovers ripped apart. One suffers a cruel punishment that steels his resolve to succeed. The other languishes in his guilt, shutting himself off from the world.
Ten years later Tommy Squire, so memorable in book 1, gets his own story. Retired from the stage and now a respectable businessman, he’s shocked when a new member of his gentleman’s club is an unexpected face from his past.
Benedict Fitzsimmons, fourteenth Duke of Ashington has lived a reclusive life regretting his actions on the day that changed everything, ripping him from the man he adored. Given a second chance, he intends to atone and woo Tommy the right way, even if he doesn’t have a clue what he’s doing…
Enter the stylish, dramatic, loyal Lando, eleventh Earl of Rossingley. When a blackmail plot threatens two men he calls friend, the stage is set for another intricately plotted romp.
Casting Benedict as a rake to save his good name and disprove the scandalous accusation hanging over his head is a delightful subplot, and seeing Benedict blossom as color is added to his life is a joy.
Benedict may consider himself thick, but his heart is brilliant. While others would have thrown a blackmailing sibling to the wolves, Benedict does just enough to save his reputation and still offer his twin Lyndon a chance at redemption. His kindness made me love him even more.
No wonder Tommy forgives him so quickly. The stoic romantic and extrovert who prefers quiet nights are a perfect match.
Benedict’s younger brother - who is laser focused on marrying his childhood sweetheart- is surprisingly progressive in his views and acceptance of his brother’s secret. Lyndon, his younger twin, behaves badly, but we’re given glimmers of who he was before he let bitterness become his personality.
The final ball of the season is a whirlwind of intrigue and revelations. Seeing Tommy and his lordling getting their long delayed HEA is gorgeous.
And Fearne? How dare you give us such a tantalizing tease of the next book and now make us wait! The audacity!
As always, highly recommend!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
To Defend a Damaged Duke begins with a pair of young lovers ripped apart. One suffers a cruel punishment that steels his resolve to succeed. The other languishes in his guilt, shutting himself off from the world.
Ten years later Tommy Squire, so memorable in book 1, gets his own story. Retired from the stage and now a respectable businessman, he’s shocked when a new member of his gentleman’s club is an unexpected face from his past.
Benedict Fitzsimmons, fourteenth Duke of Ashington has lived a reclusive life regretting his actions on the day that changed everything, ripping him from the man he adored. Given a second chance, he intends to atone and woo Tommy the right way, even if he doesn’t have a clue what he’s doing…
Enter the stylish, dramatic, loyal Lando, eleventh Earl of Rossingley. When a blackmail plot threatens two men he calls friend, the stage is set for another intricately plotted romp.
Casting Benedict as a rake to save his good name and disprove the scandalous accusation hanging over his head is a delightful subplot, and seeing Benedict blossom as color is added to his life is a joy.
Benedict may consider himself thick, but his heart is brilliant. While others would have thrown a blackmailing sibling to the wolves, Benedict does just enough to save his reputation and still offer his twin Lyndon a chance at redemption. His kindness made me love him even more.
No wonder Tommy forgives him so quickly. The stoic romantic and extrovert who prefers quiet nights are a perfect match.
Benedict’s younger brother - who is laser focused on marrying his childhood sweetheart- is surprisingly progressive in his views and acceptance of his brother’s secret. Lyndon, his younger twin, behaves badly, but we’re given glimmers of who he was before he let bitterness become his personality.
The final ball of the season is a whirlwind of intrigue and revelations. Seeing Tommy and his lordling getting their long delayed HEA is gorgeous.
And Fearne? How dare you give us such a tantalizing tease of the next book and now make us wait! The audacity!
As always, highly recommend!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
June 17, 2025
I would like to thank GRR for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
Ahhhhh not only were the vibes impeccable, and Benedict's poeticism breathtakingly romantic, but the actual love story between Tommy and Benedict had me in a chokehold and made my heart ache for all the reasons, good and bad! I could not have asked for a better ride from Fearne Hill's majestic narrative, and i maintain that this Regency Rossingley series has been some of the most arresting historical romances i've read in recent times!
I'm still wriggling on the inside, sighing and mewling in equal measure, because Benedict did a number on my heart and i'm not sure when i'll recover from all his pretty cooing. The Duke was a horseman in all the ways, and i think he may have "whispered" straight into my soul every time he was on page, the way i found him so deeply affecting. Of course Tommy was a precious darling as well, but Benedict's EVERYTHING is still choking me up a day later and i love him for that!
Straight up, there wasn't ENOUGH Benedict and Tommy loving in this for me. And what i mean by that is that i wish there was MORE of the lovers loving each other in these pages, than the contrivances and the plotty stuff that threatened them for loving each other in the first place.
It's not that i minded the shenanigans, because the Earl of Rossingley was a magnificent, conniving babe who had both Tommy and Benedict's backs and i love that energy. And the cast of lovers, the Duke's youngest brother, and friends really pulled one off to save the Duke from maliciousness that would have done him in otherwise.
It was entirely entertaining!
But the moments Benedict and Tommy shared on page were so luscious and intimate and gorgeous and swoony i could not help wanting more. Still do.
So I hope Book 3 would have a lot more of the silky, luxurious, provocative love language i want to drown my senses in, because Hill is excellent at lovers and their evocative yearning during dangerous times and i'm mad for all of it!
Ahhhhh not only were the vibes impeccable, and Benedict's poeticism breathtakingly romantic, but the actual love story between Tommy and Benedict had me in a chokehold and made my heart ache for all the reasons, good and bad! I could not have asked for a better ride from Fearne Hill's majestic narrative, and i maintain that this Regency Rossingley series has been some of the most arresting historical romances i've read in recent times!
I'm still wriggling on the inside, sighing and mewling in equal measure, because Benedict did a number on my heart and i'm not sure when i'll recover from all his pretty cooing. The Duke was a horseman in all the ways, and i think he may have "whispered" straight into my soul every time he was on page, the way i found him so deeply affecting. Of course Tommy was a precious darling as well, but Benedict's EVERYTHING is still choking me up a day later and i love him for that!
Straight up, there wasn't ENOUGH Benedict and Tommy loving in this for me. And what i mean by that is that i wish there was MORE of the lovers loving each other in these pages, than the contrivances and the plotty stuff that threatened them for loving each other in the first place.
It's not that i minded the shenanigans, because the Earl of Rossingley was a magnificent, conniving babe who had both Tommy and Benedict's backs and i love that energy. And the cast of lovers, the Duke's youngest brother, and friends really pulled one off to save the Duke from maliciousness that would have done him in otherwise.
It was entirely entertaining!
But the moments Benedict and Tommy shared on page were so luscious and intimate and gorgeous and swoony i could not help wanting more. Still do.
So I hope Book 3 would have a lot more of the silky, luxurious, provocative love language i want to drown my senses in, because Hill is excellent at lovers and their evocative yearning during dangerous times and i'm mad for all of it!
June 25, 2025
4.5 stars
Very lovely second book of Regency Rossingley series.
Benedict and Tommy's second chance at love was very well written: romantic, swoony, intriguing.
I liked Tommy in the first book and I was so curious about this easygoing man. Of course, there are always the people who seem so unbothered and relaxed, the ones who have been hurt badly in the past.
Benedict is a reserved and a little awkward man, who feels under a lot of pressure since he inherited the title of Duke.
One of my favourite aspect of this story was the found family: for years, Benedict has been alone with his pain for his lost love and with the shame of being different from other men. But just when his life is threatened, he finds out he has more friends than he could imagine and that those friends are more than ready to help him. Some of those friends are like him, like Rossingley and Kit, other are just decent people who don't judge and don't hate, like Francis, Isabella, Beatrice.
I particularly appreciate that Benedict wasn't jealous about Tommy and Rossingley's past and current close friendship: on the contrary, he was glad that Tommy wasn't alone and had such a great friend at his side.
This story is low on the spicy side, but the few physical scenes are very beautiful: intimate and romantic, they show the readers how precious is Tommy and Benedict's love.
The part regarding the blackmail and the plan to save the Duke was intriguing and I had a lot of fun during the part when finally all is resolved.
I literally cannot wait to read the next book of this series: the two MCs are so very interesting and the author's choice to put them together genuinely surprised me!
I received an ARC of this book from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest review.
Very lovely second book of Regency Rossingley series.
Benedict and Tommy's second chance at love was very well written: romantic, swoony, intriguing.
I liked Tommy in the first book and I was so curious about this easygoing man. Of course, there are always the people who seem so unbothered and relaxed, the ones who have been hurt badly in the past.
Benedict is a reserved and a little awkward man, who feels under a lot of pressure since he inherited the title of Duke.
One of my favourite aspect of this story was the found family: for years, Benedict has been alone with his pain for his lost love and with the shame of being different from other men. But just when his life is threatened, he finds out he has more friends than he could imagine and that those friends are more than ready to help him. Some of those friends are like him, like Rossingley and Kit, other are just decent people who don't judge and don't hate, like Francis, Isabella, Beatrice.
I particularly appreciate that Benedict wasn't jealous about Tommy and Rossingley's past and current close friendship: on the contrary, he was glad that Tommy wasn't alone and had such a great friend at his side.
This story is low on the spicy side, but the few physical scenes are very beautiful: intimate and romantic, they show the readers how precious is Tommy and Benedict's love.
The part regarding the blackmail and the plan to save the Duke was intriguing and I had a lot of fun during the part when finally all is resolved.
I literally cannot wait to read the next book of this series: the two MCs are so very interesting and the author's choice to put them together genuinely surprised me!
I received an ARC of this book from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest review.
June 28, 2025
4.5 stars
“A life lived in fear is a life half-lived.”
This line from Strictly Ballroom popped into my head as I was reading because it perfectly describes Benedict, the damaged duke of the title. For fear of being revealed as a lover of men, Benedict has transformed himself into a dull, serious, and reserved man with few interests or friends. Benedict only starts to wake from his twilight existence when by chance he meets the only man he’s ever loved, Tommy, who he deeply wronged many years ago. As angry as Tommy is with Benedict, he still cares for the man, so when Benedict is threatened with exposure, Tommy can’t help but come to his defense. As they scheme together to thwart the blackmailer, they rekindle their relationship, and Benedict turns out to be quite the romantic when he finally frees himself of his inhibitions to pursue their HEA.
I mentioned scheming, and the plan they come up with to defeat the blackmailer had me laughing. Not to mention the scene that ensues at the culmination of their plot—hilarious!
Part of the fun revolves around Benedict’s and Tommy’s family and found family, who make for a great supporting cast. Rossingley always livens up proceedings, of course, but Tommy’s friend Sidney made me laugh, too. I also really enjoyed the affectionate bantering between Benedict and his brother Francis, along with Francis’s sweetheart and her bluestocking friend, Beatrice, all of whom are enthusiastically in on the action.
The third book in the series will apparently feature the blackmailer. I love a reformed bad boy, so it’s going to have to go on my TBR!
“A life lived in fear is a life half-lived.”
This line from Strictly Ballroom popped into my head as I was reading because it perfectly describes Benedict, the damaged duke of the title. For fear of being revealed as a lover of men, Benedict has transformed himself into a dull, serious, and reserved man with few interests or friends. Benedict only starts to wake from his twilight existence when by chance he meets the only man he’s ever loved, Tommy, who he deeply wronged many years ago. As angry as Tommy is with Benedict, he still cares for the man, so when Benedict is threatened with exposure, Tommy can’t help but come to his defense. As they scheme together to thwart the blackmailer, they rekindle their relationship, and Benedict turns out to be quite the romantic when he finally frees himself of his inhibitions to pursue their HEA.
I mentioned scheming, and the plan they come up with to defeat the blackmailer had me laughing. Not to mention the scene that ensues at the culmination of their plot—hilarious!
Part of the fun revolves around Benedict’s and Tommy’s family and found family, who make for a great supporting cast. Rossingley always livens up proceedings, of course, but Tommy’s friend Sidney made me laugh, too. I also really enjoyed the affectionate bantering between Benedict and his brother Francis, along with Francis’s sweetheart and her bluestocking friend, Beatrice, all of whom are enthusiastically in on the action.
The third book in the series will apparently feature the blackmailer. I love a reformed bad boy, so it’s going to have to go on my TBR!
July 5, 2025
Benedict and Tommy's second-chance romance was a dashing tale full of secret scheming and sweet love. I was captivated by the teenage lovers exploring their forbidden affection, and it was even more fascinating to see how each of them had grown into men after their tumultuous parting. Tommy had made quite the name for himself as a businessman, while Benedict inherited the title of duke after his father's early passing. Neither man expected their paths to cross again, but when chance intervened it reawakened old feelings that were long buried. Due to the traumatic nature in which their prior fling ended, Tommy and Benedict's reunion wasn't a happy affair. My heart ached to see the two of them so at odds, and there was a hefty helping of angst as each man wrestled with the reminder of all they'd lost. Had Benedict and Tommy not been united against a common enemy, I don't know if they would have rekindled their romance. Thankfully their time spent hunting down the responsible party and developing a scheme to discredit them also brought them closer to forgiveness. I do love a romance with forbidden love, and due to the time period anything Benedict and Tommy engaged in had to be handled with utmost secrecy. The risk made every action of theirs feel more intentional, every affectionate word hold more meaning as both men would be ruined if the truth came out. In the end, their love did prevail, and I thoroughly enjoyed the journey it took to get them to that point.
**I voluntarily read an ARC of this book. This review expresses my honest thoughts and opinions.
**I voluntarily read an ARC of this book. This review expresses my honest thoughts and opinions.
June 21, 2025
I loved the previous book, but honestly think this one is even better. It’s subtle. Benedict is the duke in question, and at first glance he’s kind of pitiful. Shy, withdrawn, afraid, he is not terribly inspirational. He made a horrid mistake as a youth and that, along with society’s judgement on men with his ‘urges’, has shaped him in profound ways.
Tommy rose up from nothing and, after a terrible episode in his youth, is convinced his heart is hardened to everyone. Except we see time and again that it really is not – he looks out for Sidney and Rossingley and even Angel, as well as all his employees. We get a better understanding of Rossingley in this story too, as we learn of his connection with Tommy.
Fate brings Tommy and Benedict back together as a plot against Benedict is revealed, and they tentatively reestablish their friendship, and then more. The truly clever bit is how Benedict evolves and, even before he realizes it, has become a true hero in defense of others whom he loves. What he could not do for himself, he willingly takes on for others. He also finds he is not nearly as alone as he always thought. The dénouement is brilliant, clever, and hysterically funny, and the HEA is wonderfully well deserved. The supporting characters are fantastic too, with all their family vibes and plotting. I particularly appreciated that there were women as legitimate, crucial characters in the story and in Benedict’s life. Highly recommend!
Tommy rose up from nothing and, after a terrible episode in his youth, is convinced his heart is hardened to everyone. Except we see time and again that it really is not – he looks out for Sidney and Rossingley and even Angel, as well as all his employees. We get a better understanding of Rossingley in this story too, as we learn of his connection with Tommy.
Fate brings Tommy and Benedict back together as a plot against Benedict is revealed, and they tentatively reestablish their friendship, and then more. The truly clever bit is how Benedict evolves and, even before he realizes it, has become a true hero in defense of others whom he loves. What he could not do for himself, he willingly takes on for others. He also finds he is not nearly as alone as he always thought. The dénouement is brilliant, clever, and hysterically funny, and the HEA is wonderfully well deserved. The supporting characters are fantastic too, with all their family vibes and plotting. I particularly appreciated that there were women as legitimate, crucial characters in the story and in Benedict’s life. Highly recommend!
June 22, 2025
Benedict Fitzsimmons is not leading a happy life. He was thrust into the Title and does not want to marry as that is not who he wants in his bed. His one time giving into his desires had disastrous consequences. He is considered a recluse with more interest in his stables that anything else. He works on his estates and pines for his lost love. When his brother convinces to go to a new club, Benedict finds himself in the company of that lost love, but Tommy Squires has risen from the ashes of his past to become a successful business man. When a letter comes to Benedict threatening to expose him, it is Tommy he turns to for help.
Tommy and Benedict had a past which was quite painful and yet at the same time heart felt. The two men along with their friends devise an amazing scheme to save not only Benedict but ensure his brother can marry the love of his life. Benedict gained confidence from the scheme while Tommy realized there was a second chance to be had. I loved how it all came together and everyone worked hard on its success. The best part is the ending. I am enjoying this series so much. Love during this time was difficult and filled with danger. Being discovered would result in a scandal and even jail time. This is the second book in this series and both are fantastic. If you like MM romance set in the past, then these are perfect.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Tommy and Benedict had a past which was quite painful and yet at the same time heart felt. The two men along with their friends devise an amazing scheme to save not only Benedict but ensure his brother can marry the love of his life. Benedict gained confidence from the scheme while Tommy realized there was a second chance to be had. I loved how it all came together and everyone worked hard on its success. The best part is the ending. I am enjoying this series so much. Love during this time was difficult and filled with danger. Being discovered would result in a scandal and even jail time. This is the second book in this series and both are fantastic. If you like MM romance set in the past, then these are perfect.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
June 24, 2025
**4.5**
I'm such a fan of the Rossingley books and this historical series is a wonderful trip into the past with outings amongst the ton and secret rendezvous to be with their partner whilst hiding their true selves except with a select few.
Benedict and Tommy don't have a good past, with one event changing one of their lives. Benedict has forever felt guilty ridden with what happened but he never dreamed of seeing the love of his youth again as the owner/manager of a gambling hall. Tommy was lucky to meet Rossingley when he did as his rescue helped him escape a much worse fate but he is the one who has worked hard to get where he is. Seeing Benedict was never supposed to happen unless it was to unleash his anger towards him.
However, the duke is as charming and handsome as ever with that shyness that keeps him from wanting to be centre of attention. Brought together by a charming friend, a plot of blackmail, and determination to protect each other, there is no escaping the attraction they still share or the feelings that grew in their late teens.
Such a well written romance that brings Rossingley and Kit back to keep things entertaining as well as Benedict's two brothers who couldn't be more different and at least three delightful women who are all in on a plan that will bring them all their HEA.
Another highly recommended read from Fearne Hill
I received an ARC and am happily giving a review.
I'm such a fan of the Rossingley books and this historical series is a wonderful trip into the past with outings amongst the ton and secret rendezvous to be with their partner whilst hiding their true selves except with a select few.
Benedict and Tommy don't have a good past, with one event changing one of their lives. Benedict has forever felt guilty ridden with what happened but he never dreamed of seeing the love of his youth again as the owner/manager of a gambling hall. Tommy was lucky to meet Rossingley when he did as his rescue helped him escape a much worse fate but he is the one who has worked hard to get where he is. Seeing Benedict was never supposed to happen unless it was to unleash his anger towards him.
However, the duke is as charming and handsome as ever with that shyness that keeps him from wanting to be centre of attention. Brought together by a charming friend, a plot of blackmail, and determination to protect each other, there is no escaping the attraction they still share or the feelings that grew in their late teens.
Such a well written romance that brings Rossingley and Kit back to keep things entertaining as well as Benedict's two brothers who couldn't be more different and at least three delightful women who are all in on a plan that will bring them all their HEA.
Another highly recommended read from Fearne Hill
I received an ARC and am happily giving a review.
June 17, 2025
This is a cute queer Regency romance. It's perfectly possible to read it as a stand-alone but you will get more out of it if you read the books in order.
Benedikt - a duke who doesn't really want to be one - prefers his horses to people. Scared since he was nearly caught in a raid of a molly house and the shame that he left his lover to fend for himself, he refuses to make any connections.
Tommy - the molly who had to re-invent himself, who worked hard to drag himself out of poverty with determination and some luck. Coming face to face again with the man he seems responsible for what happened, the last thing he wants is reconnecting.
It's an enemies-to-lovers where these two have suddenly to work together to uncover the person who tries everything to ruin both.
I really like how Benedikt, the social awkward one, and Tommy are forced to put aside their past. They slowly discover that there is so much more to what they had and I love how Benedikt is determind to make good and won't let Tommy go away again while also shy and unsure about himself.
The plan how to ensure their are not ruined feels a bit far fetched but I absolutely love how the secondary characters are playing their part and orchestrating it.
The couple from book one also is heavily involved and poor Benedikt has no idea what hit him.
Benedikt - a duke who doesn't really want to be one - prefers his horses to people. Scared since he was nearly caught in a raid of a molly house and the shame that he left his lover to fend for himself, he refuses to make any connections.
Tommy - the molly who had to re-invent himself, who worked hard to drag himself out of poverty with determination and some luck. Coming face to face again with the man he seems responsible for what happened, the last thing he wants is reconnecting.
It's an enemies-to-lovers where these two have suddenly to work together to uncover the person who tries everything to ruin both.
I really like how Benedikt, the social awkward one, and Tommy are forced to put aside their past. They slowly discover that there is so much more to what they had and I love how Benedikt is determind to make good and won't let Tommy go away again while also shy and unsure about himself.
The plan how to ensure their are not ruined feels a bit far fetched but I absolutely love how the secondary characters are playing their part and orchestrating it.
The couple from book one also is heavily involved and poor Benedikt has no idea what hit him.
June 21, 2025
I adore Fearne Hill’s writing. The first book in her original Rossingley series was the first I read by her and I’ve now read everything she’s published since then. While the original Rossingley series is my favorite there is also a lot to like about this new series.
To Defend a Damaged Duke is a great second chance story and so much more. Tommy is former sex worker but he’s now a very successful businessman with his fingers in many different pots – not all of them legal. Benedict has recently inherited a title he didn’t want and prefers the company of his horses to those of human beings.
This story was a little sad in places, bit witty in others, and it thoroughly held my attention from start to finish. There was a nice mystery about who it was that wanted to ruin Benedict. We found out who the culprit was fairly quickly because the meat of the story was how the group of people, who were pretty much just acquaintances before, banded together to devise a plan to thwart the bad person.
I love a good redemption story and the teaser for the next book gives me hope for that to happen.
An advanced copy of this book was provided to me at my request; my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author.
To Defend a Damaged Duke is a great second chance story and so much more. Tommy is former sex worker but he’s now a very successful businessman with his fingers in many different pots – not all of them legal. Benedict has recently inherited a title he didn’t want and prefers the company of his horses to those of human beings.
This story was a little sad in places, bit witty in others, and it thoroughly held my attention from start to finish. There was a nice mystery about who it was that wanted to ruin Benedict. We found out who the culprit was fairly quickly because the meat of the story was how the group of people, who were pretty much just acquaintances before, banded together to devise a plan to thwart the bad person.
I love a good redemption story and the teaser for the next book gives me hope for that to happen.
An advanced copy of this book was provided to me at my request; my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author.
June 13, 2025
Second in series (Regency Rossingley), but can be read as a standalone. Historical. Second chance. Found family. Dual POV.
Benedict is living a lonely life as a newly minted duke only interested in his horses when he stumbles across his first love, a man he regretfully abandoned ten years ago. After having struggled and survived his impoverished beginnings, Tommy is now a successful businessman, and has never forgiven the young lordling he once loved, until Benedict is now back in his life and needing his help with a blackmailer.
I was thoroughly invested in Benedict and Tommy’s first brush of love that gets a second chance, and Benedict tries so hard as he still has strong feelings for Tommy. The supportive secondary cast of characters that included family and friends was a really important and wonderful part of the story and made this all seem almost possible in the historical setting. I do wish they got to know each other a little more as they were now, but there were plenty of swoony moments as they profess their feelings that have never faded. An entertaining series. 4.25
Benedict is living a lonely life as a newly minted duke only interested in his horses when he stumbles across his first love, a man he regretfully abandoned ten years ago. After having struggled and survived his impoverished beginnings, Tommy is now a successful businessman, and has never forgiven the young lordling he once loved, until Benedict is now back in his life and needing his help with a blackmailer.
I was thoroughly invested in Benedict and Tommy’s first brush of love that gets a second chance, and Benedict tries so hard as he still has strong feelings for Tommy. The supportive secondary cast of characters that included family and friends was a really important and wonderful part of the story and made this all seem almost possible in the historical setting. I do wish they got to know each other a little more as they were now, but there were plenty of swoony moments as they profess their feelings that have never faded. An entertaining series. 4.25
June 22, 2025
I love when a Duke of Rossingley shows up in one of Fearne Hill's books - either the historical one or the modern one. The two dukes are so well drawn - those scenes are always worth the book, but if course there is so much more.
To Defend a Damaged Duke starts with a scene from the past that is so youthfully and wholesomely lustful and affectionate and winds up in a tragedy that shapes the two characters adult life. Thank goodness we have the whole novel to rectify that.
The characters, Tommy Squire and the Duke of Ashington, are both repressed in their own way when they meet again. Watching them both unfold from their defensive positions is lovely.
The Duke is being blackmailed - someone threatening to reveal his homosexuality to the ton. The viability of the cockamamie plan that is devised to protect him seems hard to believe. You just have to suspend your disbelief. It was hard for me. But one of the best results of it is the Duke's recognition of the community of support around him - gay men, blue stockings, and people like his youngest brother who accept him as he is.
To Defend a Damaged Duke starts with a scene from the past that is so youthfully and wholesomely lustful and affectionate and winds up in a tragedy that shapes the two characters adult life. Thank goodness we have the whole novel to rectify that.
The characters, Tommy Squire and the Duke of Ashington, are both repressed in their own way when they meet again. Watching them both unfold from their defensive positions is lovely.
The Duke is being blackmailed - someone threatening to reveal his homosexuality to the ton. The viability of the cockamamie plan that is devised to protect him seems hard to believe. You just have to suspend your disbelief. It was hard for me. But one of the best results of it is the Duke's recognition of the community of support around him - gay men, blue stockings, and people like his youngest brother who accept him as he is.
June 17, 2025
I love a second-chance romance that comes with enough baggage to make things complicated but also enough chemistry/connection to make it worth the effort, and that’s definitely on hand in this story. While the romance can stand alone, this is the second book in the series, and there are familiar faces from the previous work here who shine in supporting roles. The regency setting is deftly woven and characters believably crafted. Overall, I think the historical elements are capably navigated, although the dialog did occasionally clunk a bit. Still, there’s care and feeling and depth aplenty— not just to the main characters but the entire cast, and it’s lovely to see so many well-developed personalities moving through these pages. Charles and Benedict are easy, ultimately, to want the best for, and their story makes for an immersive read.
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
June 9, 2025
What a treat to be back in the regency world of Rossingley. I absolutely love this series and can see similarities with our contemporary aristos in these regency period gents. Starting with this hawt cover I enjoyed this book from the first to the last words. I love that there is not always a ‘straightforward’ story and our heroes have to work for their HEAs always keeping the reader on their toes. Fearne weaves such a fantastic tale and the language used was incredible and certainly made one think they were back in the 1800s. The ladies were amazing with their machinations and really made me smile. I also enjoyed the frequent cameo appearances from Rossingley and Kit. I cannot recommend this book enough and am now eagerly awaiting the next in the series especially since reading the teaser at the end of this book.
June 21, 2025
I enjoyed this quite a bit, I think it’s more romantic journey than book one. I was invested in these two, that opening heartbreak was so well done. The raid on the molly house that tore them apart was so compelling, Benedict and Tommy are so young but clearly very much in love. The raid changes the both. Benedict, is sort of frozen in time, the newly minted Duke closed to most everything except his horses. For Tommy, the raid has very real and scary repercussions, but I think it also fuels his mission to build his own security, his own little empire. I loved the second chance, it’s filled with authentic emotion and seeing the closed of Duke embrace his chance with Tommy was pretty amazing. I also loved Francis, the duke’s younger brother was a riot, I loved his support of Tommy and Benedict.
November 27, 2025
Benedict Fitzsimmons, Duke of Ashington has a secret. He prefers the company of his own sex and he would not want anyone to find this out. He then receives an anonymous letter threatening to reveal this secret to the world. Joining forces with Lando, the Earl of Rossingley from the first book in the series, Benedict sets out to find out who is blackmailing him.
He also meets again the one lover he'd let himself have, Tommy Squire (who we met in book one of the series as part of the conspiracy to defeat Lord Gartside), who he let be caught rather than let himself be caught in the past.
Then he finds out the blackmailer? Is a lot closer than he would like to think.
All ends up as happily as possible, with a nice setting up of the next book as well.
I received an advance copy from the author and this is my honest review of the story.
He also meets again the one lover he'd let himself have, Tommy Squire (who we met in book one of the series as part of the conspiracy to defeat Lord Gartside), who he let be caught rather than let himself be caught in the past.
Then he finds out the blackmailer? Is a lot closer than he would like to think.
All ends up as happily as possible, with a nice setting up of the next book as well.
I received an advance copy from the author and this is my honest review of the story.
June 26, 2025
Fearne Hill's Rossingley world is full of mischief, spice, and light-hearted intrigue. The light-heartedness comes from the fact that so many of her characters are prepared to push at the culture of the day, but while not taking themselves too seriously. To Defend a Damaged Duke flows well, continuing some threads begun in To Tempt a Troubled Earl, and expanding the community of characters. This is a light-suspense, second-chance romance in a time when being gay was definitely not something one could be easily and publicly. Despite that, Hill writes believably, allowing her characters to live joy-filled lives, an antidote to our current times. Read both books and await the third if you're looking for a mix of sweetness and spice, along with a bit of intrigue and a hefty helping of snark.
November 14, 2025
Romance in general can be precarious but there is something really interesting about it in a regency era. So many more dangers and pitfalls because of the social mores and rules. This second chance romance features Benedict and Tommy. They are men of different social standing but that does not do anything to cool the very real way they continue to have very real feelings for one another. Things did not end well for them their first time together, but they are given a second chance although it is crappy that they are both being blackmailed because of what they once were to one another. The mystery and the opportunity for lovers to reunite and have a better outcome kept me reading until the end.
I received an ARC from GRR and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received an ARC from GRR and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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