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The Silk Knuckles Saloon #2
The Viscount's Silent Pugilist
When the world silences her, he gives her the courage to strike back.
When Viscount Jonathan Davenport discovers a mystery woman fighting off a group of bandits with only her fists and wits, he immediately knows she belongs at The Silk Knuckles Saloon. If only he could convince her to speak, or learn to read the notes she pens to him; only then they might come to know one another.
Lady Genevieve is on the run from her abusive father when a handsome stranger inserts himself into her life, offering her a fresh start. As much as she wants to talk to him, her throat refuses to work. Still, he seems to understand her, offering her everything she has ever dreamed of.
When Genevieve’s highly publicized fight leads a dangerous individual to their door, Jonathan and Gen must work together to save her from her haunting past.
When Viscount Jonathan Davenport discovers a mystery woman fighting off a group of bandits with only her fists and wits, he immediately knows she belongs at The Silk Knuckles Saloon. If only he could convince her to speak, or learn to read the notes she pens to him; only then they might come to know one another.
Lady Genevieve is on the run from her abusive father when a handsome stranger inserts himself into her life, offering her a fresh start. As much as she wants to talk to him, her throat refuses to work. Still, he seems to understand her, offering her everything she has ever dreamed of.
When Genevieve’s highly publicized fight leads a dangerous individual to their door, Jonathan and Gen must work together to save her from her haunting past.
316 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 8, 2026
About the author
Nicki Pascarella
25 books276 followersNicki Pascarella writes Contemporary and Historical romances. She enjoys mixing genres—adding mysteries to steamy small-town romances, or a pinch of paranormal fantasy to her romantic comedies. It’s all about making her readers laugh and fall in love.
Using her twenty-nine years of experience as a high school teacher and her background in creative writing and journalism, she coaches authors for The MediaCasters. Helping artists break through creative blocks is one of her passions.
When she isn't writing and editing, she reads, runs, and hangs with her husband, daughter, and Shetland sheepdogs. Nicki is also an award-winning belly dancer.
Using her twenty-nine years of experience as a high school teacher and her background in creative writing and journalism, she coaches authors for The MediaCasters. Helping artists break through creative blocks is one of her passions.
When she isn't writing and editing, she reads, runs, and hangs with her husband, daughter, and Shetland sheepdogs. Nicki is also an award-winning belly dancer.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
August 5, 2026
I voluntarily read and reviewed this advanced copy via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Earlier this year, I read the previous book in this series and was intrigued by the premise. Lady pugilists, roving eyes, and a murder subplot I couldn't be arsed reading. This sequel did have a unique setting with a mute heroine and a dyslexic hero whose miscommunication abounded. They were cute towards each other but there were 100 pages too many and my attention often flagged. I think I'm ringing the bell for a timeout because the titillation isn't enough for the filler. I didn't care about the suspense or minor characters. I just wanted the main couple to fall in love and declare their love however they could. I give major snaps for the uniqueness, but it wasn't worthy of a championship belt. You're outta here!
Earlier this year, I read the previous book in this series and was intrigued by the premise. Lady pugilists, roving eyes, and a murder subplot I couldn't be arsed reading. This sequel did have a unique setting with a mute heroine and a dyslexic hero whose miscommunication abounded. They were cute towards each other but there were 100 pages too many and my attention often flagged. I think I'm ringing the bell for a timeout because the titillation isn't enough for the filler. I didn't care about the suspense or minor characters. I just wanted the main couple to fall in love and declare their love however they could. I give major snaps for the uniqueness, but it wasn't worthy of a championship belt. You're outta here!
October 5, 2026
The Viscount’s Silent Pugilist by Nicki Pascarella
The Silk Knuckles Saloon #2
~ Survival requires the will to live and fight against what is trying to destroy you – Have you ever thought about what it takes to survive unspeakable situations and what you would be willing to do to protect yourself or someone else? I did while reading this book ~
What I liked:
* Lady Genevieve “Gen” “Ghost” Bailey: Oldest sibling, voice disappeared after witnessing a murder, athletic, protective, lost her mother and stepmother, loves her brother and sister, difficult childhood, abusive father, resilient, befriends a canine she names Horatio/Floppy
* Viscount Jonathan Davenport: loving son and brother, has difficulty reading and dealing with numbers, needs a man of business, good friend, cares about others, not ready to settle down BUT is rather taken with Gen
* Christopher & Sophia: her brother and half-sister, stand together and with Genevieve, don’t see them much in the story
* The women who boxed and were also friends and thinking about what would draw a woman to the sport…especially in that era
* The men who were friends, found or will find their wives, and the support they give to one another
* The plot, pacing, setting, and writing
* Finding out what Gwen was willing to do to save herself and her siblings and being glad she was able to do what she did
What I didn’t like:
* Thinking about how evil Gwen’s father and his friend Kilsby were and wishing Karma would mete justice out to both of them
* Thinking about how difficult it would be to live on the streets, not have money, and survive without skills, money, or support
Did I like this book? Yes, nice easy read
Would I read more by this author? Yes
Thank you to NetGalley and Dragonblad Publishing for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4 Stars
The Silk Knuckles Saloon #2
~ Survival requires the will to live and fight against what is trying to destroy you – Have you ever thought about what it takes to survive unspeakable situations and what you would be willing to do to protect yourself or someone else? I did while reading this book ~
What I liked:
* Lady Genevieve “Gen” “Ghost” Bailey: Oldest sibling, voice disappeared after witnessing a murder, athletic, protective, lost her mother and stepmother, loves her brother and sister, difficult childhood, abusive father, resilient, befriends a canine she names Horatio/Floppy
* Viscount Jonathan Davenport: loving son and brother, has difficulty reading and dealing with numbers, needs a man of business, good friend, cares about others, not ready to settle down BUT is rather taken with Gen
* Christopher & Sophia: her brother and half-sister, stand together and with Genevieve, don’t see them much in the story
* The women who boxed and were also friends and thinking about what would draw a woman to the sport…especially in that era
* The men who were friends, found or will find their wives, and the support they give to one another
* The plot, pacing, setting, and writing
* Finding out what Gwen was willing to do to save herself and her siblings and being glad she was able to do what she did
What I didn’t like:
* Thinking about how evil Gwen’s father and his friend Kilsby were and wishing Karma would mete justice out to both of them
* Thinking about how difficult it would be to live on the streets, not have money, and survive without skills, money, or support
Did I like this book? Yes, nice easy read
Would I read more by this author? Yes
Thank you to NetGalley and Dragonblad Publishing for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4 Stars
August 8, 2026
An amazing story with two characters who despite the fact that they can't communicate at first find a way to not only communicate but to trust and to bond with each other.
Jonathan can't read because he has dyslexia and she can't speak due to a tragic event as a child however with the right people in their lives, he helps her overcome that trauma enough to not only speak but to feel safe and she helps him realize that his dyslexia isn't something to be ashamed of and she helps him by creating a way for him to not only read but to navigate his own decisions for his accounts and so much more..
This story shows that just because someone is happy and outgoing on the outside doesn't mean they aren't struggling on the inside.. and just because someone's homeless doesn't mean that they are mentally ill etc they can be hiding from something or someone..
This story has so much packed into it about powerful women and the fact that even rich and powerful people have struggles too..
I definitely enjoyed this book from the beginning to the end..
I can't wait to read the next book in this series.
I received a complimentary ARC of this book from the Netgalley and Dragonblade Publishing. This in no way affected my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.
Jonathan can't read because he has dyslexia and she can't speak due to a tragic event as a child however with the right people in their lives, he helps her overcome that trauma enough to not only speak but to feel safe and she helps him realize that his dyslexia isn't something to be ashamed of and she helps him by creating a way for him to not only read but to navigate his own decisions for his accounts and so much more..
This story shows that just because someone is happy and outgoing on the outside doesn't mean they aren't struggling on the inside.. and just because someone's homeless doesn't mean that they are mentally ill etc they can be hiding from something or someone..
This story has so much packed into it about powerful women and the fact that even rich and powerful people have struggles too..
I definitely enjoyed this book from the beginning to the end..
I can't wait to read the next book in this series.
I received a complimentary ARC of this book from the Netgalley and Dragonblade Publishing. This in no way affected my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.
Read
August 7, 2026I like the idea of this series. Women who are strong and train in sports because they love it and the men who are into these sexy fierce women. Our lead here both are dealing with issues regarding internal and external conflicts. He really supported her wants to train and learn how to fight. I like that her desire to fight didn't have as much to do with her thinking she could take out her father but that she loved exercise and got a thrill from boxing. I know it sounds a bit leering but I loved how he recognized her strength but was so attracted to her athleticism.
I do think it dragged a bit in places but I am excited to read more by this author and can't wait for the next in the series.
5/6 stars
I do think it dragged a bit in places but I am excited to read more by this author and can't wait for the next in the series.
5/6 stars
August 9, 2026
I’m completely in love with the Silk Knuckles Saloon series and its prequels – and this slightly bonkers, witty and very much heartfelt tale only had me fall harder!
After witnessing her father’s atrocity at a young age, Genevieve lost her voice but never the drive to keep her siblings safe. Yet when he gambles her away to a cruel Lord, she runs. Homeless, hungry and fighting for her life is how London’s most dashing rake – Jonathan, Viscount Davenport – finds her in a fight club alleyway.
Too ashamed he cannot read, Jonathan prefers to let the ton think him a happy-go-lucky himbo – and it’s not his fault the ladies like him all the more because of it. He loves his frivolous life... then why did he abandon his mistress to save a stray?
I adore this man – and his mum is an unparalleled gem!
He’s been the goofy buffer in this series since the start, and he has the most ginormous heart! Open-minded, caring and currently troubled he can’t handle his estates as he’d like to, he really is an exemplary nobleman, adoring son and feminist – with a healthy appetite for bedsport.
Guilt and fear are what close up Gen’s throat. The unconditional kindness and support of the Davenports and their colourful coterie – this really is an extraordinary crew! – and the opportunity to channel her natural athleticism into boxing, give her the confidence she needs to overcome it. And she’ll need it, because her dad isn’t done yet!
Their attraction is instant – excellent chemistry! – but their communicational challenges and creativity in overcoming them really sealed the deal for me – funny, fumbly and touching; the perfect humour/heart balance with just enough friction.
It’s so obvious their love match is written in the stars, but there’s plenty of challenges (no TAB) to make this romance utterly enthralling and that slow burn sizzle was simply delectable!
Plus, I really loved how Horatio a.k.a. Floppy (Gen’s furry friend) stole his scenes!
And the vanquishing of the villain was chef’s kiss!
A fantabulous read, and one you should definitely check out!
After witnessing her father’s atrocity at a young age, Genevieve lost her voice but never the drive to keep her siblings safe. Yet when he gambles her away to a cruel Lord, she runs. Homeless, hungry and fighting for her life is how London’s most dashing rake – Jonathan, Viscount Davenport – finds her in a fight club alleyway.
Too ashamed he cannot read, Jonathan prefers to let the ton think him a happy-go-lucky himbo – and it’s not his fault the ladies like him all the more because of it. He loves his frivolous life... then why did he abandon his mistress to save a stray?
I adore this man – and his mum is an unparalleled gem!
He’s been the goofy buffer in this series since the start, and he has the most ginormous heart! Open-minded, caring and currently troubled he can’t handle his estates as he’d like to, he really is an exemplary nobleman, adoring son and feminist – with a healthy appetite for bedsport.
Guilt and fear are what close up Gen’s throat. The unconditional kindness and support of the Davenports and their colourful coterie – this really is an extraordinary crew! – and the opportunity to channel her natural athleticism into boxing, give her the confidence she needs to overcome it. And she’ll need it, because her dad isn’t done yet!
Their attraction is instant – excellent chemistry! – but their communicational challenges and creativity in overcoming them really sealed the deal for me – funny, fumbly and touching; the perfect humour/heart balance with just enough friction.
It’s so obvious their love match is written in the stars, but there’s plenty of challenges (no TAB) to make this romance utterly enthralling and that slow burn sizzle was simply delectable!
Plus, I really loved how Horatio a.k.a. Floppy (Gen’s furry friend) stole his scenes!
And the vanquishing of the villain was chef’s kiss!
A fantabulous read, and one you should definitely check out!
Did Not Finish
September 8, 2026DNF'd halfway thru chapter 5 (out of 31).
Premise caught my eye. Writing was okay.
My two big problems had to do with the protags.
In Genevieve's case, she's got a v. traumatic backstory. Her current situation is pretty bad too. However, she has an extremely innocent way of looking at the world. It was odd, NGL. On top of that, she adopts a stray dog that has a lot of personality which almost immediately made me think of Genevieve as a Disney princess.
Meanwhile, in order to explain why I was v. 🙄 abt Jonathan, I'm gonna summarize what happens in Chapter 1 of the book. I don't consider this a spoiler, but YMMV. Here we go:
Jonathan is heading to his carriage. He's got a lady companion. The plan is to go to her house and have some naked and fun sexytimes. There's a noise--which makes his companion worry that someone's hurting an animal. They both go to investigate. Only to find a small gang of homeless teens harassing/being violent toward a person who seems to be a 20-y.o man and his dog.
His companion keeps urging Jonathan to do something, but he's frozen up. It's not until she runs toward danger that Jonathan comes out of his trance. After getting rid of the teenager gang, the person they helped freaks out and runs away with the dog.
The planned sexytimes are postponed cuz Jonathan's in the middle of gay panic. For abt a page and a half, he's trying to suss out WHY, despite an entire life only being attracted to women, he's so taken by the 20 y.o. 'lad'. Eventually, he figures out it's a woman disguised as a guy and he's like "Oh, okay. That makes sense. Phew!" And then he decides to help her however he can.
FTR, he never says anything homophobic or gross during his freakout abt the 20-y.o. 'lad'. AND he does chastises himself for not reacting faster/sooner just because he didn't know it was a woman in peril.
However, IDK why, but that whole first chapter made me v. BEC abt him. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
That said, I did pushed myself into reading a bit more. If only to see if I'd click with the story. Unfortch, the more I read, the more the novel took an even stronger fairy tale-esque energy that I found cringy.
Trigger/Content Warnings up to halfway thru Chapter 5 (out of 31):
TL;DR: Good idea, too cute of a plot. Especially given the Female MC's circumstances. Kept expecting a smidgen more grittiness in the story and yet! I didn't like the whole gay panic thing the MMC had either.
I borrowed this book from Kindle Unlimited.
Premise caught my eye. Writing was okay.
My two big problems had to do with the protags.
In Genevieve's case, she's got a v. traumatic backstory. Her current situation is pretty bad too. However, she has an extremely innocent way of looking at the world. It was odd, NGL. On top of that, she adopts a stray dog that has a lot of personality which almost immediately made me think of Genevieve as a Disney princess.
Meanwhile, in order to explain why I was v. 🙄 abt Jonathan, I'm gonna summarize what happens in Chapter 1 of the book. I don't consider this a spoiler, but YMMV. Here we go:
Jonathan is heading to his carriage. He's got a lady companion. The plan is to go to her house and have some naked and fun sexytimes. There's a noise--which makes his companion worry that someone's hurting an animal. They both go to investigate. Only to find a small gang of homeless teens harassing/being violent toward a person who seems to be a 20-y.o man and his dog.
His companion keeps urging Jonathan to do something, but he's frozen up. It's not until she runs toward danger that Jonathan comes out of his trance. After getting rid of the teenager gang, the person they helped freaks out and runs away with the dog.
The planned sexytimes are postponed cuz Jonathan's in the middle of gay panic. For abt a page and a half, he's trying to suss out WHY, despite an entire life only being attracted to women, he's so taken by the 20 y.o. 'lad'. Eventually, he figures out it's a woman disguised as a guy and he's like "Oh, okay. That makes sense. Phew!" And then he decides to help her however he can.
FTR, he never says anything homophobic or gross during his freakout abt the 20-y.o. 'lad'. AND he does chastises himself for not reacting faster/sooner just because he didn't know it was a woman in peril.
However, IDK why, but that whole first chapter made me v. BEC abt him. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
That said, I did pushed myself into reading a bit more. If only to see if I'd click with the story. Unfortch, the more I read, the more the novel took an even stronger fairy tale-esque energy that I found cringy.
Trigger/Content Warnings up to halfway thru Chapter 5 (out of 31):
TL;DR: Good idea, too cute of a plot. Especially given the Female MC's circumstances. Kept expecting a smidgen more grittiness in the story and yet! I didn't like the whole gay panic thing the MMC had either.
I borrowed this book from Kindle Unlimited.
August 12, 2026
Sometimes I like to swim in angst, and sometimes I like to float in a cloud of feel-good escapism. This latest instalment of The Silk Knuckles Saloon falls into the latter category, although it still has its fair share of yearning and emotional upheaval.
Gen is on the run from her murderous father and terrifying suitor. Without a solid plan, she ends up on the streets with noone for company besides a friendly canine companion. When Jonathan saves a street waif, he realises (with time) that they weren't a scrawny lad at all, but a young lady. He brings her home, and unable to communicate with her, tries his best to help her get back on his feet. He introduces her to pugilism (of course), and they muddle their way through together.
Pascarella's books always have a fun, almost-comedic feel, underlaid by ominous villains and sensual romance. This one utilises two character tropes I really enjoy - mutism and dyslexia. The combo means that communication is even more difficult than usual, so Gen and Jonathan have an unconventional start to their relationship. Pouring your deepest secrets and heart out to a woman because you assume she doesn't speak English? Turns out, very effective courtship method. Teaching your love interest how to bulk, defend herself, and kick butt? Very sexy.
Besides the romance, I found this to have a very strong "found family" vibe. It's full of welcoming supporting secondary characters, in a histrom world where women can train, fight, and compete like men whilst maintaining their respectable Lady status. It's sweet, steamy, and fun!
Gen is on the run from her murderous father and terrifying suitor. Without a solid plan, she ends up on the streets with noone for company besides a friendly canine companion. When Jonathan saves a street waif, he realises (with time) that they weren't a scrawny lad at all, but a young lady. He brings her home, and unable to communicate with her, tries his best to help her get back on his feet. He introduces her to pugilism (of course), and they muddle their way through together.
Pascarella's books always have a fun, almost-comedic feel, underlaid by ominous villains and sensual romance. This one utilises two character tropes I really enjoy - mutism and dyslexia. The combo means that communication is even more difficult than usual, so Gen and Jonathan have an unconventional start to their relationship. Pouring your deepest secrets and heart out to a woman because you assume she doesn't speak English? Turns out, very effective courtship method. Teaching your love interest how to bulk, defend herself, and kick butt? Very sexy.
Besides the romance, I found this to have a very strong "found family" vibe. It's full of welcoming supporting secondary characters, in a histrom world where women can train, fight, and compete like men whilst maintaining their respectable Lady status. It's sweet, steamy, and fun!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Tropes: hidden identity; forced proximity; reformed rake; female pugilist
Steam level: 3
Part of a series, works ok as a standalone.
This is engaging for the most part, with "Cinderella-ish" vibes, but it doesn't stack up to other HR's I've read about female boxers. It starts off with an interesting premise and harrowing plot, as MFC Gen runs away from her murderer father and a forced wedding, but ends up leaning too much on fantasy and not enough on 1800's England reality. Sometimes I wondered if the modern American language and behavior were meant on purpose (early on MMC Jonathan thinks of himself as a "snowflake" and keeps referring as his mistress as his "date") but then sometimes the language is flowery and archaic. Also, Jonathan is a bit too rake-y for my taste. In contrast, Gen can't/doesn't speak much for quite a while, and she often comes across as younger and more naive than her age. The humor keeps things lively, but the pacing is inconsistent.
With Jonathan's frustrations about his dyslexia and Gen's struggles with trauma, the author's heart is in the right place. The storyline just doesn't quite come together for me.
This is my honest, voluntary review of an advanced reader copy of this book. Thanks to the author, Net Galley, and Dragonblade for the opportunity.
Steam level: 3
Part of a series, works ok as a standalone.
This is engaging for the most part, with "Cinderella-ish" vibes, but it doesn't stack up to other HR's I've read about female boxers. It starts off with an interesting premise and harrowing plot, as MFC Gen runs away from her murderer father and a forced wedding, but ends up leaning too much on fantasy and not enough on 1800's England reality. Sometimes I wondered if the modern American language and behavior were meant on purpose (early on MMC Jonathan thinks of himself as a "snowflake" and keeps referring as his mistress as his "date") but then sometimes the language is flowery and archaic. Also, Jonathan is a bit too rake-y for my taste. In contrast, Gen can't/doesn't speak much for quite a while, and she often comes across as younger and more naive than her age. The humor keeps things lively, but the pacing is inconsistent.
With Jonathan's frustrations about his dyslexia and Gen's struggles with trauma, the author's heart is in the right place. The storyline just doesn't quite come together for me.
This is my honest, voluntary review of an advanced reader copy of this book. Thanks to the author, Net Galley, and Dragonblade for the opportunity.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, given to me by Dragonblade Publishing via Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
3.5 stars.
“The Viscount’s Silent Pugilist”, by Nicki Pascarella, is an enjoyable, well written story, with likable, relatable characters and a romance that begins as sweet and quickly turns into something much more explosive.
I loved the trust and openess between Jonathan and Genevieve, how they’re honest with each other and there’s no melodrama or misunderstandings.
The affection, kindness and humor between the hero, his relatives and friends and how everyone makes Genevieve (and the dog) feel welcome and cherished is heartwarming.
One senses a strong author’s voice behind this atmosphere, and I really enjoyed it.
I also liked that both leads struggle with debilitating issues, and appreciated how they overcome it. And the irony of its impact on their communication isn’t lost.
I felt the story was too long and skipped the smut scenes. Genevieve’s healing process seemed too sudden.
The pugilism dimension was interesting.
3.5 stars.
“The Viscount’s Silent Pugilist”, by Nicki Pascarella, is an enjoyable, well written story, with likable, relatable characters and a romance that begins as sweet and quickly turns into something much more explosive.
I loved the trust and openess between Jonathan and Genevieve, how they’re honest with each other and there’s no melodrama or misunderstandings.
The affection, kindness and humor between the hero, his relatives and friends and how everyone makes Genevieve (and the dog) feel welcome and cherished is heartwarming.
One senses a strong author’s voice behind this atmosphere, and I really enjoyed it.
I also liked that both leads struggle with debilitating issues, and appreciated how they overcome it. And the irony of its impact on their communication isn’t lost.
I felt the story was too long and skipped the smut scenes. Genevieve’s healing process seemed too sudden.
The pugilism dimension was interesting.
August 8, 2026
The Viscount's Silent Pugilist immediately stands out because the title itself creates curiosity. The combination of a viscount and a silent pugilist suggests a story built around class, secrecy, strength, and a character whose abilities may speak louder than words.
What I found particularly intriguing is the contrast within the premise implied by the title: the refined world of the aristocracy set against the physical intensity and discipline of pugilism. That combination gives the novel a distinctive historical identity and creates a natural hook for readers who enjoy stories involving hidden identities, unconventional heroes, and historical intrigue.
With the book newly published and already showing a 4.17 rating from 6 ratings and 6 reviews, there is a valuable early foundation to build upon. Reaching more historical fiction and romance readers now could help turn that initial interest into stronger long-term visibility.
What I found particularly intriguing is the contrast within the premise implied by the title: the refined world of the aristocracy set against the physical intensity and discipline of pugilism. That combination gives the novel a distinctive historical identity and creates a natural hook for readers who enjoy stories involving hidden identities, unconventional heroes, and historical intrigue.
With the book newly published and already showing a 4.17 rating from 6 ratings and 6 reviews, there is a valuable early foundation to build upon. Reaching more historical fiction and romance readers now could help turn that initial interest into stronger long-term visibility.
August 14, 2026
Thank you NetGalley. This is the second of a series about women pugilist. Gen lost her voice for something she saw when she was a little girl. She could only talk to her brother and sister, Her father was a terrible person and when she was 21 she ran away because her father was giving her to a man who seemed as bad as he was to cover his debts, She was dressed as a boy to protect herself. Jonathan saw her being attacked by a bunch of boys as he was going home. He stopped to help and took her home, Cleaned and fed her and realized she was a girl. He and his mother had helped others they found on the street. They took her to the Silk Knuckles Saloon where she learned to defend herself and not be afraid to speak,
August 17, 2026
The Viscount's Silent Pugilist (Silk Knuckles Saloon #2) by Nicki Pascarella.
When Viscount Jonathan Davenport discovers a mystery woman fighting off a group of bandits with only her fists and wits, he immediately knows she belongs at The Silk Knuckles Saloon. If only she would speak — or reveal the secrets behind her silence.
A wonderfully unique Regency romance with a premise unlike anything else in the genre. Pascarella delivers an irresistible combination of action, mystery, and slow-burn romance — with a heroine who proves that you don't need words to be utterly compelling. When the world silences her, he gives her the courage to strike back. Swoony, fun, and completely addictive. On to Book 3!
When Viscount Jonathan Davenport discovers a mystery woman fighting off a group of bandits with only her fists and wits, he immediately knows she belongs at The Silk Knuckles Saloon. If only she would speak — or reveal the secrets behind her silence.
A wonderfully unique Regency romance with a premise unlike anything else in the genre. Pascarella delivers an irresistible combination of action, mystery, and slow-burn romance — with a heroine who proves that you don't need words to be utterly compelling. When the world silences her, he gives her the courage to strike back. Swoony, fun, and completely addictive. On to Book 3!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A great series of women who live outside the box in their life choices in Regency London. Whether it's in the ring or with the perfect man.
Viscount Jonathan Davenport's life changes in one night when he saves Lady Genevieve and her dog in a dark alley fighting off a ring of thugs. She holds her own, but is too weak to keep fighting. With Jonathan's sponsorship, she trains as a pugilist with the ladies of The Silk Knuckles Saloon. Only there's a problem in Genevieve and Jonathan's communication and she's in danger.
Descriptive sex.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book from Netgalley.
Viscount Jonathan Davenport's life changes in one night when he saves Lady Genevieve and her dog in a dark alley fighting off a ring of thugs. She holds her own, but is too weak to keep fighting. With Jonathan's sponsorship, she trains as a pugilist with the ladies of The Silk Knuckles Saloon. Only there's a problem in Genevieve and Jonathan's communication and she's in danger.
Descriptive sex.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book from Netgalley.
August 11, 2026
This second book in The Silk Knuckles Saloon series was an amazing and heartfelt slowburn historical romance. It was unique with a perfect blend of drama, action intrigue, and excitement that kept me captivated throughout. The characters were fantastic with good depth. How they overcame personal struggles and conflicts with the love and support of one another and from their friends and family was lovely. The pup was a delightful treat. I really enjoyed their strong connection and passionate love. I highly recommend reading!
August 8, 2026
A story of finding one’s inner strengths
This love story has a MMC who can’t read and a FMC who can’t speak to read to him and help him. The juxtaposition of their inner struggles doesn’t stop them from supporting each other in their personal growth quests or in finding love.
This was an excellent story in and of itself–Nicki’s past heroines in this series have been outspoken, strong ladies, and this FMC who lived life in the shadows was a unique, interesting departure. And of course, the message that love does make us stronger, and helps us see our own strengths through our partner’s eyes was wonderful.
At the end, the story was elevated further by reading the author’s note. This is a deeply personal book to her as both a special ed teacher and someone who had experienced selective mutism.
I can’t wait for the next book in this series!
This love story has a MMC who can’t read and a FMC who can’t speak to read to him and help him. The juxtaposition of their inner struggles doesn’t stop them from supporting each other in their personal growth quests or in finding love.
This was an excellent story in and of itself–Nicki’s past heroines in this series have been outspoken, strong ladies, and this FMC who lived life in the shadows was a unique, interesting departure. And of course, the message that love does make us stronger, and helps us see our own strengths through our partner’s eyes was wonderful.
At the end, the story was elevated further by reading the author’s note. This is a deeply personal book to her as both a special ed teacher and someone who had experienced selective mutism.
I can’t wait for the next book in this series!
August 14, 2026
Such a fun story to read! Gen is incredibly brave, no matter what adversity she faces. Jonathan is an absolute sweetheart. Their story makes one feel good. All of the characters add to the story. The pacing is good. The loving is passionate. It's an all around fun story!
August 9, 2026
Jonathan and Gen are so sweet together. I loved that they had to find a way to communicate. I am looking forward to the next book.
August 22, 2026
I absolutely loved!
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