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Scandals and Spies #2

Deceiving the Duke

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Well-mannered women don't have careers in 1806 so Philomena St. Gobain disguises herself as a man to attend the Society for the Advancement of Science meetings where she sells her inventions to a select, chosen few. The handsome Duke of Tenwick is not one of those chosen few, so when he corners Phil in the hallway during a clandestine meeting with one of her suppliers, she slips away as quickly as she can. Since she and the Duke have never been introduced and rarely travel in the same circles, Phil is hardly worried about him guessing her true identity ... until he shows up two days later at the ball she is holding with the missing piece from one of her most coveted inventions in his hand.Morgan Graylocke, the tenth Duke of Tenwick, takes the spy business seriously. Normally relegated to desk work, his brother's recent marriage has given him an opportunity to work in the field. He never imagined his first assignment would throw him in the path of someone as beautiful and intriguing as Philomena St. Gobain. But his delight soon turns to trepidation as he realizes it may not be a coincidence that Phil shows up at all the same locations where Morgan is sent to catch the traitor who is passing off information to the French. Is it possible the woman he is falling for is the very spy he is looking to capture?

397 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 27, 2016

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552 people want to read

About the author

Leighann Dobbs

135 books1,860 followers
USA Today bestselling author, Leighann Dobbs, discovered her passion for writing after a twenty year career as a software engineer. She lives in New Hampshire with her husband Bruce, their trusty Chihuahua mix Mojo and beautiful rescue cat, Kitty.

Her book "Dead Wrong" won the "Best Mystery Romance" award at the 2014 Indie Romance Convention.

Her book "Ghostly Paws" was the 2015 Chanticleer Mystery & Mayhem First Place category winner in the Animal Mystery category.

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5 stars
371 (37%)
4 stars
324 (32%)
3 stars
226 (22%)
2 stars
44 (4%)
1 star
21 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
Profile Image for Eve.
918 reviews20 followers
April 12, 2021
A fabulous second installation in this series. I was so happy to see a new side to Morgan since we didn’t see much of him in the last book. Not to mention how freakin’ cute he is!! It was quite nice to see a bumbling man growing red and getting awkward towards the woman he’s interested in.

Speaking of, I’m a big fan of Phil, I love her philosophy. She’s smart and witty and not a bumbling virgin which is always fun to see. Watching her interact with Morgan was such a pleasure.

If I’m being quite honest, this one did start to drag the tiniest bit at the very end, but I’m still very happy with how things turned out.
Profile Image for N.N. Heaven.
Author 6 books2,122 followers
April 19, 2021
Deceiving The Duke is a brilliant historical romance with a twist. Not only is there romance, suspense, intrigue, and spies, there's Philomena. Never in my life have I read such an intelligent, thoughtful heroine. I connected with her right away. The romance between her and Morgan is intense and swoon-worthy. If you love spy romance with a whip-smart heroine and a dashing hero, you need to read Deceiving The Duke. Highly recommend!

My Rating: 5 stars
31 reviews
December 28, 2019
I wish I’d DNF. Annoying heroine and misuse or misunderstanding of words by the author. I’m really not that pedantic but I’m fairly sure that only monarchs have regents appointed not dukes.

And that prisms cannot be rings.

I couldn’t let it go, having to stop reading to look up words (and determine if my understanding was wrong) or go back to check prior passages in order to understand an incorrect use of a word.
22 reviews
November 30, 2020
What’s up with the parrot??

Started the book and made it to page 50 or so, but quickly found that it was not something I was interested in continuing to read. The author went on and on about Phil and her parrot for pages! Pages! Then Phil went down to her ball with the Parrot on her shoulder. What?? I just couldn’t read anymore of that even when I tried to skim over the parrot parts. Not what I was expecting or hoping for this book. It’s unfortunate because I read and enjoyed the first book, gave that 5 stars, and was really hoping to keep going with this series.
Profile Image for Crystal.
287 reviews1 follower
September 17, 2016
This book was really boring for the first 200 pages and not a time piece at all. Phil's behaviour was to progressive and weird. I got lot in the unexpected jumps in the scenes, it didn't flow well at all
7 reviews
September 25, 2016
Couldn't get through it

I was excited to see the next book in the Scandals and Spies series was out. Unfortunately, I found the heroine and her pet bird, Pickles, more annoying than I could take. The story felt silly and contrived, meaning I didn’t finish the book.
Profile Image for Bonnie Dale Keck.
4,677 reviews58 followers
April 17, 2017
Kindle Unlimited, Leighann Dobbs writes under Leighann Dobbs, Annie Dobbs and (soon) L.A. Dobbs but her real name {not sure if she writes under that one} is Lee Dobbins, Hazel Martin Mysteries only one I found for this type with her, she has not made sure that terms used match the British terms as well as in other areas for that period of architecture and assorted styles.

The Notch Cozy Mystery Series {5 out as of this writing} and the Blackbore Sisters Cozy Mysteries are not on Kindle Unlimited which as said before about 1 & 7 {the only ones given free, sure would not have bought them} and ditto for Ghostly Paws which is 1 of 5 at this time but did get others free over time.

While some of her other books are Kindle Unlimited none of the Blackmoore Sisters Cozy Mysteries are which doesn't matter to me as read #1 and #7 and was way underwhelmed. Leighann Dobbs writes under Leighann Dobbs, Annie Dobbs and (soon) L.A. Dobbs but her real name {not sure if she writes under that one} is Lee Dobbins, Hazel Martin Mysteries only one I found for this type with her, she has not made sure that terms used match the British terms as well as in other areas for that period of architecture and assorted styles. By the way, bakeries and other food service places don't run like that. Badly needs to proof things, it's messing up the flow of the book, which my computer reads to me, so that's bad. As for these, it's not that the situations couldn't happen, it's in the telling of the story, with unlikable unbelievable characters and situations, again.

Yet another goodreads won't hide it don't want to see the badly proofed badly plotted poor excuse for bad soft core porn crap. The 'historical' ones are like that and so are the some of the non cozy mysteries and some of the sorta but not really mysteries because can't write, etc ad nauseum. The most any of them got was 2 changed to 1 for crap cozy, some get a 1 which means basically crappy soft porn 'romance' etc.

3 in Silver Hollow Paranormal Cozy Mystery Series so far which are on kindle unlimited, 3 in the Moosamuck Island Mysteries , 5 in the Mystic Notch Cozy Mysteries so far {not ku}, Blackmore Sisters has 7 {not ku}, Hazel Martin Mysteries only has 1 so far, Lexy Baker Cozy Mystery series 12 so far is on ku. Others.including Scandals and Spies Book series so far 4 which are basically romance soft core porn dreck but hey you can get them on ku. Witches of Hawthorne Grove 1 so far,Cevonne Bride of Oklahoma, Unexpected Series 4 so far ku.

The Lexy Baker Cozy Mystery Series By the way, bakeries and other food service places don't run like that. Badly needs to proof things, it's messing up the flow of the book, which my computer reads to me, so that's bad. As for these, it's not that the situations couldn't happen, it's in the telling of the story, with unlikable unbelievable characters and situations, again.

Copy/paste fill in the blank seems to be pretty much what she is doing in her books, which wouldn't be half as bad if the plots and ploys and actions were believable at all.Just change the name for a book and maybe change the series list under, and you are right back to copy paste same old same old.

NOTE: I specifically mentioned certain of the 'books'/series were achieving soft core crap status, and specifically said which ones those were, reference AGAIN the above quoted review, and did not specifically mention the blackmore ones as that, BUT and had not mentioned that had went back and rated all no talent no plot cardboard charactered 'stories' listed above as 1 as well. I will change the original review to reflect that, but it is still a 1, and MY review of the crap stands.
Profile Image for F. Freewel.
203 reviews39 followers
October 14, 2020
Arrrghhhh! What was this?!

Phil (short for Philomena), our heroine. is an inventor, and attends meetings dressed as a man to be allowed inside the club. She’s sooooo not like other women, you know? She doesn’t give a whit for fashion or acting lady-like or following society’s rules. She’s so different she doesn’t even want to *gasp* marry! Oh! She’s so UNIQUE. She even has a pet parrot! Such a FASCINATING female!

Morgan is the hero. He’s a duke, of course. And a spy, duh! His latest assignation revolves all around finding some dodgy British countrymen working with the hateful French.


Can I just say... The heroine was annoying. No, I did not appreciate her ‘uniqueness’. Her personality was all over the place: the first few chapters, she was one person, then the next chapter it was like a completely different woman. The parrot (Pickle) was boring. The other parrot (Antonia) was also boring.

Morgan seemed a promising male MC the first few chapters, but soon becomes a complete pussy. I prefer to read an alpha male, so his indecisiveness and melodic inner musings about the heroine left me extremely unimpressed.

The plot was blah. I mainly read for the romance, and since that one sucked, the actual ‘mystery’ plot didn’t even register in my brain.


Sigh, am I doomed to read bland historical romances for the rest of times now? 😔
Profile Image for Bonnie Klein.
345 reviews
Read
September 1, 2022
This is the second book in the series and had great possibilities. The Duke was introduced in the first as a spy for the Crown. The female lead is an inventor who dresses as a male in order to be a member of the scientific club. Initially I thought she might also be a klutz like the first female lead, but she isn’t. She’s a typical stereotype of an inventor, always distracted thinking about her ideas. The plot is good but didn’t develop its potential. There is some weak attempt at humor which might be blamed on the narrator.
The Duke changed personality after getting romantically involved. It was irritating because a Duke would never act or respond the way he does when he interacts with other people. Dukes are typically self-assured and in command. There is some tension as the book rose to its climax. However it was then that I realized that I just did not connect with the characters. Not going to continue the series at this point.
45 reviews
October 28, 2020
Wonderful read!

I have read all of this particular series and a book of each of MS. Dobbs other series. I don't think the other series were as complex or as believable this particular series. This series has romance, family bonds, and spy intrigue. Which I think makes for a great series. Every book was fantastic and connected to each other the very last page of the sixth book, and kept me guessing to the very end. That is the kind of spy intrigue books I enjoy. My favorite era is the Bonaparte era. Don't think just bc they didn't have the warfare we have today that there wasn't intrigue. Cyndi
Profile Image for HR-ML.
1,270 reviews54 followers
February 16, 2020
I skimmed+ jumped ahead on this Regency. The pace felt
too slow for a spy story, but it picked up somewhat. The
heroine's pet bird was annoying, not witty. DNF.

I so wanted to read about Philomena "Phil" the female
inventor. Morgan was a spy expert in ciphers (& a duke)
who became a more active spy once his younger bro/ spy
guy wed. The hero could have assumed a larger role, sooner?
Phil had French ancestry so naturally Morgan assumed
she was a spy.

Sorry, could not get into this story.
307 reviews2 followers
January 1, 2019
Dobbs/deceiving the duke

The story of phil, a lady inventor , Morgan, the duke , and giddy, the duke brother, and Lucy , Morgan sister were the main characters I liked and you linked them to French spy lady whitewood and you have intrigue , mystery, and crime. And the most fun little character is not a human being, but a parrot named pickles which brings humor to the story. I enjoyed the story .
27 reviews
December 15, 2019
Love the strong, complex, intelligent heroine

I loved Phil. Even though she flouted convention of the time, I wasnt looking for historical accuracy but a compelling story and vivacious characters. Thats what I got with Phil as a quirky inventor who carries her parrot on her shoulder much of the time. I love that her quirkiness wasnt treated as a defect the hero overlooked, but rather a part of her complex personality which is well developed and well respected.
Profile Image for Jeanne Johnston.
1,591 reviews15 followers
December 30, 2019
Spies again?

Why are French spies so common in romance novels? I almost jettisoned only a few pages in when I realized I'd stumbled into another one. Thankfully, even the equally tired "independent woman" trope was not as obnoxious as some, and I managed to finish.

That whole bit where Morgan kept rubbing the white streak in his hair was incredibly obnoxious and kept it at barely two stars, though. What a seriously lame and pointless affectation.
Profile Image for Rebecca Hale.
95 reviews
January 3, 2020
After reading the first book, I was looking forward to reading this one with the thought "this is just my thing".

Be careful what you wish for when you want to read the same thing. This was literally the same plot as the first book, the only redeeming factor is that the main heroines do have completely different personalities and interests apart from the fact they're both fiercely loyal and protective of their younger siblings.

Please let the next one be different!
Profile Image for Shannon Binegar-Foster.
2,781 reviews19 followers
May 14, 2017
Loved it better than the first book.

This one really drew me in. I loved that Philemena was an inventor. I am not really familiar with this time period but I don't think it was a common practice for a women. The v parrot totally had me in stiches with it quirky behavior. I look forward to the next book.
384 reviews2 followers
November 8, 2018
The middle of a great series

One of the things I like of this series is that the different stories are independent but the background stories are continuous. This one includes a unique inventor who's inventions are precursor to modern every day product. That plus enchanting characters ,ingenious plot and good writing make an enjoyable read.
265 reviews2 followers
November 24, 2018
Spying, what a funny business

Welcome to the world of spies in the old world: intrigues to no end, dangerous affairs, nobles who are also spies, a beautiful woman inventor who refuses to submit to love. The tale told with witty humor not only by people but from a talkative macaw. What else can you ask fo? Enjoy!
17 reviews
December 11, 2018
Liked but didn’t love

This one did have a good plot line, interesting and relatable characters and a heroine I really did like. The only reason this isn’t a four or a five was because at times the writing felt rushed or slightly less engaging than it seemed to be going for. Overall it was a good read, but couldn’t engage me enough to send me to read the next in the series.
Profile Image for Daryl.
1,151 reviews2 followers
December 1, 2019
*3.5* I definitely liked this, but I didn't love it. I really wanted and thought I would enjoy this series more than I have. I have yet to put my finger on what is missing, just know that something is. That really is the best way I can describe it, this book and the one prior are both lacking the something that could make this series special.
Profile Image for Mavi Santacruz.
202 reviews20 followers
December 31, 2019
Sweet

It had mystery, romance and fun. Great combination. She had her wits about her despite everyone trying to behave properly, she didn't give a shit about anyone/anything. I love her for it, Phil was a badass. Morgan was so upright, she helped him stop thinking and living more. (Learned a lot of old words)
Profile Image for Jane.
442 reviews1 follower
January 6, 2020
5 stars

I loved this novel. A witty historical mystery romance. Pickle stole the show until it became the pickle and Antonia show. I loved the strength of Phil and her forward thinking for regency era. And every romance needs a charismatic hero, who also happens to be a duke! Can’t wait to read the others in the series.
65 reviews1 follower
January 24, 2020
I don’t normally read books about spies in the regency era but with this could change.
This was such an enjoyable read off a lady that knows her worth and a Duke with a good sense of appreciation. Blackmailing, abduction and a spy that needs to be caught and a love with amazing connection and what made it so much more enjoyable is the excellent humor throughout the book.
2,363 reviews6 followers
November 24, 2018
Interesting read

Got through the book but it seemed to be confusing to me at times. Perhaps because it was too wordy or something. I really did not enjoy reading this book and perhaps it was for the above reasons
389 reviews
November 24, 2018
All in all a good read!

The first chapter was a bit confusing for me so made for slow reading but, it was so much better after that! So don't stop in the first chapter.....give it a.chance! The characters are great and the plot thickens!
Profile Image for JackEllena.
430 reviews
January 1, 2020
A wonderful historical romance!

I really enjoyed this book. They were definitely made for each other. The story fast and exciting, the romance sweet and passionate. What mor could be asked, thank you, Jack
Profile Image for Aaron.
484 reviews2 followers
March 19, 2020
Fantastic

It caught my interest right from the start. I loved the characters and their personalities. I hope her books are
on kindle unlimited cause I can't afford to buy them with my small budget...
762 reviews2 followers
March 16, 2017
Deceiving the Duke

Phil definitely kept Morgan on his toes. Between her inventions and secret societies he thought she was a spy and now they are married with a baby on the way.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews

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