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Fallen Ladies #3
Lord of Lies
"You do strange things to me, Dell Turner. Tell me I am not alone in what I feel."
His voice was low and rough. His eyes burned. "You are not alone," he said.
Portia Chadwick knows she'll never have a life of adventure. But when a dangerous moneylender kidnaps her sister, Portia seeks help from a man known only as Nightshade. Soon she finds herself charging headfirst into his world of intrigue and danger―and unexpected passion.
Dell Turner grew up in London's back alleys and gin lanes. Vowing to escape his low beginnings, he hires himself out to society's elite. When he accepts a job from a beautiful young lady, he doesn't anticipate her relentless determination to join his mad occupation...or her unnerving ability to inspire emotions he thought long buried. She's as dangerous to him as his world is to her, and yet Dell can't bring himself to turn Portia away... even if it means risking her life.
His voice was low and rough. His eyes burned. "You are not alone," he said.
Portia Chadwick knows she'll never have a life of adventure. But when a dangerous moneylender kidnaps her sister, Portia seeks help from a man known only as Nightshade. Soon she finds herself charging headfirst into his world of intrigue and danger―and unexpected passion.
Dell Turner grew up in London's back alleys and gin lanes. Vowing to escape his low beginnings, he hires himself out to society's elite. When he accepts a job from a beautiful young lady, he doesn't anticipate her relentless determination to join his mad occupation...or her unnerving ability to inspire emotions he thought long buried. She's as dangerous to him as his world is to her, and yet Dell can't bring himself to turn Portia away... even if it means risking her life.
400 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 4, 2017
83 people are currently reading
818 people want to read
About the author
Amy Sandas
116 books347 followersMy love of romance began one summer when I was thirteen and complained of boredom. I ended up with one of my mother's Barbara Cartland books and an obsessive interest that expanded from there. My affinity for writing began with sappy pre-teen poems and led to a Bachelor's degree with an emphasis on Creative Writing from the University of Minnesota--Twin Cities.
I love pizza, wine, and dark brooding heroes! With a husband, three kids, and two dogs at home, it can be difficult to find the time (and the motivation!) to write. But somehow the words keep showing up on the page. I am endlessly grateful to the many wonderful readers who enjoy my books and ask for more!
I love pizza, wine, and dark brooding heroes! With a husband, three kids, and two dogs at home, it can be difficult to find the time (and the motivation!) to write. But somehow the words keep showing up on the page. I am endlessly grateful to the many wonderful readers who enjoy my books and ask for more!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews
July 10, 2017
“The men of my acquaintance either see me as an impertinent pest or a novel amusement. I knew nothing of desire…until I met you.”
From what we now know when Lily Chadwick was kidnapped Portia, her sister, together with their great-aunt went in search for the only man who could help them find Lily, the mysterious Nightshade. No one knows who he really is, but he has a reputation of a man willing to do what others can’t or won’t. And because Portia is impulsive and bold, she soon finds herself involved in Nightshade’s world of intrigue and danger and a passion she never knew existed.
Her honesty—her innocent curiosity—roused him and endeared her to him in a way he couldn’t have predicted and he found himself ill-equipped to resist. This woman was going to be the death of him.
Dell Turner a.k.a. Nightshade grew up on the streets. He’s brilliant at disguises and being someone else and it has given him the means to escape his low beginnings. He’s prided himself on his ability to keep his control whether in his professional or personal life. He has no time for passion as his work is the only passion he needs. Until he accepts the job from the beautiful and relentless Portia, and suddenly his world is turned upside down. How is he supposed to keep the stubborn and irresistible woman from joining his dangerous world when he can’t even stop him himself from losing all control around her?
“You do strange things to me, Dell Turner. Exciting and wonderful things. Tell me I am not alone in what I feel.”
From all the Chadwick sisters, Portia has been my favorite since she was first introduced and I was definitely not disappointed by her in this book. We finally get to see the events from this stubborn and headstrong heroine’s POV and it was just as adventurous and humorous as I expected it to be. I love that Portia isn’t this conventional heroine, she’s hotheaded, outspoken, fearless and confident. She refuses to be anything but herself, whether that means being seen as odd, she didn’t care. She isn’t shy and she has no problem going after what she wants. She has always believed she was meant for more that attending balls and being the perfect society lady, she wanted adventure and meaning and she found it in the fascinating Nightshade.
With every breath he possessed, every second he lived, he wanted her. So badly, he was desperate to prolong it as long as possible.
I absolutely adored Dell. He wasn’t arrogant, but instead quietly confident in himself and his abilities. I loved that he wasn’t part of the ton, but instead grew up on the streets which made him smart, strong and capable. And I loved how he lost his control around Portia, fascinated and bewitched by her despite how hard he tried to ignore her pull on him.
“The entire world exists in you. You are the adventure. The rest is just an added benefit. All I want is the chance to share it with you. All of it.
I LOVED the romance between these two characters who at the surface appeared so different, but underneath they had much in common, like their love of adventure and danger. I also loved seeing the jaded Dell experience life through the innocent and passionate Portia’s eyes. I loved how persistent she was with Dell, how she forced him to allow her to help with his investigation. Dell was very resistant at times, he didn’t believe he had anything to offer her, which made him try to push her away but luckily Portia was made of stronger stuff and had no problem standing up to him. And she didn’t just fall at his feet at the end, which I loved. Their chemistry was electric and I loved seeing them succumb to it, also the sexy times were very sexy!
In this book we got to see the events from Portia’s POV and the plot continues with us finding out what happened to Hale’s little daughter and Dell and Portia trying to save her. I loved the suspense this created and seeing them navigate London’s underground and infiltrating certain establishments or society to gain information. Although I can’t say I like Hale, not after the way he kidnapped Lily and had her sold at an auction, the way he protects his daughter, doing anything he can to find her, does make me wonder if there’s more to this burly man than meets the eye. I hope the next book will be about him.
I love all the characters in this series and I especially loved Angelique, the Chadwick sisters’ great-aunt in this book. What a delightful and interesting woman she turned out to be.
This book was AMAZING and just as fantastic as the first book. Well done Ms. Sandas, you have once again made me a total fan. This series is a must read for all HR fans.
June 26, 2017
ARC provided by NetGalley and publisher for a honest review!
Rating 2.5
Synopsis is a pretty accurate description of the overall story line of this romance. I'm just going to share some quick points and thoughts on this book.
I found it very difficult to get engaged or interested in the characters or plot of this story. I've loved the first one in the series but found this one lacking.
As the first chapter unfolds you are thrown back to previous books and the setting of the scene for this one. I found it a little confusing at first but it helped that I read the other in the series, so I highly recommend reading the first two.
The characters seemed more immature in this book then previous ones and some of the situations as well as resolutions were kind of out there as well as unrealistic. I found I lost interest at times in the story line and had to put it down and come back at a different time hoping I would become more reengaged. Unfortunately it was a struggle throughout the book. The story line was decent but the character development and depth didn't do it for me in this book.
It could be it just didn't work for me at this time and could for others. I will read the next in the series and hope I love it as much as I did the first.
Rating 2.5
Synopsis is a pretty accurate description of the overall story line of this romance. I'm just going to share some quick points and thoughts on this book.
I found it very difficult to get engaged or interested in the characters or plot of this story. I've loved the first one in the series but found this one lacking.
As the first chapter unfolds you are thrown back to previous books and the setting of the scene for this one. I found it a little confusing at first but it helped that I read the other in the series, so I highly recommend reading the first two.
The characters seemed more immature in this book then previous ones and some of the situations as well as resolutions were kind of out there as well as unrealistic. I found I lost interest at times in the story line and had to put it down and come back at a different time hoping I would become more reengaged. Unfortunately it was a struggle throughout the book. The story line was decent but the character development and depth didn't do it for me in this book.
It could be it just didn't work for me at this time and could for others. I will read the next in the series and hope I love it as much as I did the first.
June 4, 2017
This review was originally posted on Addicted To Romance
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Lord of Lies is the most latest release in this stunning series of these family of sisters. I truly adored this book in many ways however it did have its issues as well. The story did start out a bit slow, and I wasn't sure where it was really going. I do think that you can read this as a stand a lone, but I do recommend reading this series in order, since all three books are connected and deal with one major situation and seeing the way that these sisters deal with it in their own individual way. In Lord of Lies, our heroine Portia, is out looking for her sister. Portia isn't shy or reserved. She goes after her own share of adventure. But when her sister gets taken, she goes out looking for her and help to find her. Her help comes in a man of danger of different looks every time she sees him, but she can recognize him anywhere.
I really liked the chemistry that we see happen between Portia and Dell, and its pretty sexy in many ways. I love the way these two see each other as they are at the core from the beginning. I love their interactions with each other. Dell is a loner, reclusive and likes to keep to himself and hides himself away and doesn't get close to anyone. Portia is the complete opposite, she is social and can make friends anywhere and goes after what she wants including Dell. As Portia and Dell work together to find the mystery behind her sisters kidnapping and a missing little girl, we see some wonderful character growth from Portia. She realizes working with Dell, the importance of doing good and helping others and I like seeing how she finds more meaning in her life than just balls and parties of the Ton. She wants to be more than who she is and to be part of something important. I like seeing her discover her strengths and what she really wants in life. The romance is wonderful, I enjoyed the way these two dance around each other, their chemistry is off the charts but I also found the dynamics very stimulating and loved seeing Portia's story come to life.
But another intriguing element that I really liked was our villain from the first two books, the one behind Lily's kidnapping, isn't who you think he is and isn't the true villain. I actually liked his character so much in this book, and we see how much he loves his missing daughter. I wouldn't mind if he had a story, he is one of those anti heroes you want to find their happy ending. Excited to see what this author has up for us next.
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July 6, 2017
This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I thought that this was a very interesting historical romance. I picked up this book largely because of the cover. Isn't it gorgeous? I had never read anything by Amy Sandas before but I thought that the story sounded interesting so I decided to give it a try. I haven't read any of the previous book in this series and thought that this book worked well as a stand alone novel. I really enjoyed this story.
I really liked the characters in this book. Portia was quite the character. She was really outspoken and could be demanding when it was required. She was very focused on helping others and was incredibly brave. Dell lives a very interesting life. He seemed to know how to handle just about any situation. Dell and Portia really made a great pair and seemed to be very evenly matched.
This was an exciting story and there was a whole lot going on in this book. Portia and Dell first meet when Portia and her aunt hire Nightshade to find Portia's sister who has been kidnapped. There are questions that need to be answered and Dell is the man for the job. The pair work together on another related operation which turned out to be rather tense at times. I did think that the book had a bit of a slow start but once it got going the pace really didn't let up.
This book had some really unique aspects. I liked reading about all of Dell's disguises and how he was able to do the work that he does. I can really understand why Portia was intrigued by what he does. I loved the fact that there was a bit of humor woven into the story. The chemistry between the pair was very well written. I liked the secondary characters in this book as well. Portia's aunt was really interesting and I would love to know her full story.
I would recommend this book to fans of historical romance. This was a really wonderful story that held my interest. I hope to read more from Amy Sandas soon including the previous books in this exciting series.
I received an advance reader edition of this book from Sourcebooks Casablanca via NetGalley.
Initial Thoughts
Interesting story. I liked the chemistry between Portia and Dell. I found the begnning of the book to be a bit slow but I was hooked by the end.
I thought that this was a very interesting historical romance. I picked up this book largely because of the cover. Isn't it gorgeous? I had never read anything by Amy Sandas before but I thought that the story sounded interesting so I decided to give it a try. I haven't read any of the previous book in this series and thought that this book worked well as a stand alone novel. I really enjoyed this story.
I really liked the characters in this book. Portia was quite the character. She was really outspoken and could be demanding when it was required. She was very focused on helping others and was incredibly brave. Dell lives a very interesting life. He seemed to know how to handle just about any situation. Dell and Portia really made a great pair and seemed to be very evenly matched.
This was an exciting story and there was a whole lot going on in this book. Portia and Dell first meet when Portia and her aunt hire Nightshade to find Portia's sister who has been kidnapped. There are questions that need to be answered and Dell is the man for the job. The pair work together on another related operation which turned out to be rather tense at times. I did think that the book had a bit of a slow start but once it got going the pace really didn't let up.
This book had some really unique aspects. I liked reading about all of Dell's disguises and how he was able to do the work that he does. I can really understand why Portia was intrigued by what he does. I loved the fact that there was a bit of humor woven into the story. The chemistry between the pair was very well written. I liked the secondary characters in this book as well. Portia's aunt was really interesting and I would love to know her full story.
I would recommend this book to fans of historical romance. This was a really wonderful story that held my interest. I hope to read more from Amy Sandas soon including the previous books in this exciting series.
I received an advance reader edition of this book from Sourcebooks Casablanca via NetGalley.
Initial Thoughts
Interesting story. I liked the chemistry between Portia and Dell. I found the begnning of the book to be a bit slow but I was hooked by the end.
July 2, 2017
Book Review For: Lord of Lies by Amy Sandas 'Lord of Lies' by Amy Sandas this is the Third Book in The "Fallen Ladies' series. This is the story of Portia Chadwick and Dell Turner. I have not yet read the other books in this series...but I do think I would have enjoyed this one more if I had. Portia is trying to save her sister and looks for help which turns up to be in the form of Dell. Dell seem pretty stubborn in his feelings for Portia but love does win in the end. This was a spy type of romance that had some exciting parts. I liked the secondary characters too...and overall liked this book. I will not have to go back and try to read the other books to see what all I might have missed.."My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read."https://www.amazon.com/gp/profile/A2H... https://twitter.com/soapsrus68 https://www.facebook.com/RomanceBookR... http://booklikes.com/bloghttps://roma... https://www.tumblr.com/blog/romancebo...
August 14, 2017
The Fallen Ladies series has been such a great series find for me. I’ve really enjoyed all these books about 3 sisters, and going into Lord of Lies, I was very excited. This was for me the best of the bunch because it checked all the right notes! Both Portia and Dell were fantastic characters, and the chemistry between them made the story even stronger. Portia was headstrong, mildly stubborn, and was ready to do anything for her loved ones. I loved her devotion, and her desire and aspirations to want to be more than just a social darling. Dell isn’t the kind of hero you expect from a historical romance. Sure, he’s very very rich, and his alias as the Nightshade is quite the popular figure in town, but he has no title to his name. He has no absolutely no problem with that though. Dell was my favorite type of HR, stoic, broody, but who began to slowly and subtly show his emotions around Portia. Their romance was terrific. The pages sizzled with their chemistry from the very beginning, but their romance only progressed slowly and realistically. Dell initially sees Portia as a nuisance, one that he can’t stop thinking about. Soon enough she convinces him on going on adventures together to solve mysteries, and what fun it was. Like I said, Dell wasn’t exactly a man with words, he still somehow managed to make me swoon. There was a lot of passion between Portia and Dell, and though he tried hard to resist, he found himself incapable of not falling for her. There’s a common thread-line involving the sisters and the a man named Hale in this series, and we finally got to know more about Hale in this installment. His story was quite heartbreaking, and I really hope that we’ll get a book for him because he so needs his own HEA even though he does seem to do villainous things occasionally. If you’re in the mood for a historical romance that’s not only deliciously swoony, but also has a story line other than the romance, I highly recommend Lord of Lies!
August 3, 2020
3.75
Great writing and sexy times, but it lacks the warmth and romance from the 1st book as the characters are so irritated with each other a lot of the time.
Great writing and sexy times, but it lacks the warmth and romance from the 1st book as the characters are so irritated with each other a lot of the time.
August 23, 2018
2.5 Stars
I really liked the characters and storyline in each of the three books in this series. However there were three things I did not like about each book which lowered my rating.
1.) Each book takes place during the same timeframe and is told from the different POV of each sister. This would have been fine except much of the first book was continuously repeated word for word in each book after. It was like I read 50% of book one three times.
2.)I read each book on my kindle and each book just abruptly ended around the 75% mark.
3.)There were so many plots going on and characters with interesting stories in this book in particular, but nothing ever became of any of it. The book just ended and left all of these interesting stories completely up in the air.
I would still recommend this series because I did like the characters a lot. I’m hoping for a fourth book in the series with a continuation of the plots from this story.
I really liked the characters and storyline in each of the three books in this series. However there were three things I did not like about each book which lowered my rating.
1.) Each book takes place during the same timeframe and is told from the different POV of each sister. This would have been fine except much of the first book was continuously repeated word for word in each book after. It was like I read 50% of book one three times.
2.)I read each book on my kindle and each book just abruptly ended around the 75% mark.
3.)There were so many plots going on and characters with interesting stories in this book in particular, but nothing ever became of any of it. The book just ended and left all of these interesting stories completely up in the air.
I would still recommend this series because I did like the characters a lot. I’m hoping for a fourth book in the series with a continuation of the plots from this story.
May 26, 2017
I must say that the covers for this series are absolutely beautiful. It's what grabbed my attention initially.
This book is the third in the Fallen Ladies series. The previous book, The Untouchable Earl, was fantastic. Loved it! I absolutely adored Lily & Harte. Now I find when that happens, I get myself all fired up and go in to the next book anticipating it to be just as good--if not better--than the last.
As it has happened to me so many times before, this book just didn't grab me the way the previous one did. I really need to stop doing that to myself.
The books in the series all intertwine which I really enjoyed. You get to see each person's perspective of the same events. Sandas is a wonderful writer and really brings to life her characters. However, Portia's story-line just wasn't for me. The problem lies with my particular tastes. I'm not one for spy type stories, or heroes in disguise.
Would I recommend this book? Without a doubt. This series really is enjoyable and I look forward to more books by this author.
This book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This book is the third in the Fallen Ladies series. The previous book, The Untouchable Earl, was fantastic. Loved it! I absolutely adored Lily & Harte. Now I find when that happens, I get myself all fired up and go in to the next book anticipating it to be just as good--if not better--than the last.
As it has happened to me so many times before, this book just didn't grab me the way the previous one did. I really need to stop doing that to myself.
The books in the series all intertwine which I really enjoyed. You get to see each person's perspective of the same events. Sandas is a wonderful writer and really brings to life her characters. However, Portia's story-line just wasn't for me. The problem lies with my particular tastes. I'm not one for spy type stories, or heroes in disguise.
Would I recommend this book? Without a doubt. This series really is enjoyable and I look forward to more books by this author.
This book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
August 3, 2017
4.5 stars
I rated all three of these books four stars, but this was probably my favorite. I like them all well enough that I plan to reread them once the entire Series has been published. Usually stories about sisters (or relatives) falling in love happen in sequential order. However, in this case, all three of these books happen simultaneously from each sister's point of view. There are very few scenes that overlap but a couple. It's interesting just how secretive all three of these sisters are!
There are only three sisters so I am not sure what the fourth book could be about. Based on Goodreads, there is a fourth installment coming. I cannot say I am disappointed. Rather I look forward to it. Maybe it is about Angelique? Would it be odd to have a historical romance with the heroine a seventy-year-old woman? Maybe it is about the villain in these three stories? That would be interesting as well.
I rated all three of these books four stars, but this was probably my favorite. I like them all well enough that I plan to reread them once the entire Series has been published. Usually stories about sisters (or relatives) falling in love happen in sequential order. However, in this case, all three of these books happen simultaneously from each sister's point of view. There are very few scenes that overlap but a couple. It's interesting just how secretive all three of these sisters are!
There are only three sisters so I am not sure what the fourth book could be about. Based on Goodreads, there is a fourth installment coming. I cannot say I am disappointed. Rather I look forward to it. Maybe it is about Angelique? Would it be odd to have a historical romance with the heroine a seventy-year-old woman? Maybe it is about the villain in these three stories? That would be interesting as well.
July 1, 2017
This is the 3rd book in the Fallen Ladies series and I enjoyed it! The 3 books run concurrently. This is Portia, the youngest sister’s story. When her sister, Lily, is kidnapped, Portia goes to the infamous Nightshade to find her. Nightshade is Dell Turner’s moniker. Dell grew up poor and is determined to better himself. He is doing very well as an investigator, using many disguises. Dell normally works alone, or with a few of his men, but Portia is determined to help him find her sister.
He reluctantly lets her help if she follows his orders. Surprisingly, Portia is good at disguising herself and getting information. Lily returns home safely (see book 2), but there are other dangers lurking. While we might expect the danger to come from Mason Hale, he may not be the only danger. No spoilers from me, but I can recommend this one.
Thank you to the publisher for giving me an ARC. They did not ask or require me to write a favorable review. I liked this book!
He reluctantly lets her help if she follows his orders. Surprisingly, Portia is good at disguising herself and getting information. Lily returns home safely (see book 2), but there are other dangers lurking. While we might expect the danger to come from Mason Hale, he may not be the only danger. No spoilers from me, but I can recommend this one.
Thank you to the publisher for giving me an ARC. They did not ask or require me to write a favorable review. I liked this book!
July 14, 2017
Lord of Lies is the third book in the Fallen Ladies series by Amy Sandas. Having previously read the first book, it seems that this book runs parallel to it, meaning it can definitely be read as a stand alone. In fact until I realised the parallel lines I was a little confused thinking that I had read the book before. The first book was about Emma, one of three sisters. The second about Lily, which I haven't had the pleasure of reading yet, but know that I will. Then there is this book, about Portia.
Emma desperately wants to marry off her younger sisters, Lily and Portia. She wants them to marry well because they deserve the best, and because if they don't marry this season, they won't have the money to afford a second season. Lily isn't inclined, and Portia, well she knows she must marry but she really just wants some excitement in her life. She wants to feel useful, and needed. She is bored. When her sister Lily gets kidnapped all that changes.
Determined to find her sister she hires Nightshade, a man notorious for doing difficult jobs that no others have any success with, including Bow Street. Dell Turner is Nightshade, a man brought up on the streets, one that turned his upbringing to his advantage. He now hires himself out to the Elite for a tidy sum of money in return. He is a man of many disguises and personas all in the name of 'getting the job done' with nobody knowing who he really is.
Portia first meets Dell when she storms past his butler into his home in the wee hours of the morning. Their first meeting is a doozy, I'm not telling why, but suffice to say that lust filled sparks fly. Portia is determined to hire him to help find her sister and in the course of him attempting to the job without her interference, he finally gives in to the inevitable and lets her help him.
First the job entailed finding her sister, then when she returns of her own accord, the job changes to finding the man who abducted her.....but by the time they find him they learn why he kidnapped Lily, and once again the job changes, this time to helping the kidnapper out! During all this time Portia ends up getting under Dell's skin. Their attraction to each other is palpable and by the time Portia asks him to kiss her, it's not long before passion nearly spirals out of control. Dell can't see anything coming of their relationship, he thinks he isn't good enough for her. He also knows his line of work will put her in danger especially as she insists on helping him. He wants to finish the job they are on, and then for her own sake he needs to push her aside. Portia on the other hand loves him, and not only does she want to marry him, but she wants to continue working with him to solve cases. It makes her feel alive.
Can she make him see sense that they belong together and that the jobs he does don't always have to be as dangerous as they have been? They can be the perfect partnership in every way can't they?
The love and lust between our hero and heroine is potent, and the passionate scenes between them practically steamed up my glasses! It's one of my favourite story lines where a couple fight the attraction between them until they finally give in and the story ignites. Dell and Portia were just like that. But to top off a great romance, there was the added bonus of joining our couple as they endeavoured to solve their case. Lives are at stake including their own! This book was a real page turner and I couldn't put it down until I read it all. I love books like this one that hook me from page one and never let go right to the end. There was one particular scene at the end that had me laughing out loud at 3 am in the morning. I truly didn't see it coming and I am smiling now even thinking about it.
There was only one tiny negative for me, and that is that there seemed no follow through with a possible plot. Portia faces off with one man who takes liberties, and not being a demure miss she ends up humiliating him and leaving him suffering. When he immediately goes after her he is thwarted, then much later on he is staring daggers at her across a ballroom. I expected some kind of retribution, and every time something strange happened in the story, or something worrying, I thought it was going to be him. Even at the very end, when that laugh out loud scene happened I still thought that the 'bad guy' was going to turn up and get his revenge. It didn't happen, and I feel like he wouldn't have just let it go. Other than that, the book was fabulous and I recommend it wholeheartedly.
Emma desperately wants to marry off her younger sisters, Lily and Portia. She wants them to marry well because they deserve the best, and because if they don't marry this season, they won't have the money to afford a second season. Lily isn't inclined, and Portia, well she knows she must marry but she really just wants some excitement in her life. She wants to feel useful, and needed. She is bored. When her sister Lily gets kidnapped all that changes.
Determined to find her sister she hires Nightshade, a man notorious for doing difficult jobs that no others have any success with, including Bow Street. Dell Turner is Nightshade, a man brought up on the streets, one that turned his upbringing to his advantage. He now hires himself out to the Elite for a tidy sum of money in return. He is a man of many disguises and personas all in the name of 'getting the job done' with nobody knowing who he really is.
Portia first meets Dell when she storms past his butler into his home in the wee hours of the morning. Their first meeting is a doozy, I'm not telling why, but suffice to say that lust filled sparks fly. Portia is determined to hire him to help find her sister and in the course of him attempting to the job without her interference, he finally gives in to the inevitable and lets her help him.
First the job entailed finding her sister, then when she returns of her own accord, the job changes to finding the man who abducted her.....but by the time they find him they learn why he kidnapped Lily, and once again the job changes, this time to helping the kidnapper out! During all this time Portia ends up getting under Dell's skin. Their attraction to each other is palpable and by the time Portia asks him to kiss her, it's not long before passion nearly spirals out of control. Dell can't see anything coming of their relationship, he thinks he isn't good enough for her. He also knows his line of work will put her in danger especially as she insists on helping him. He wants to finish the job they are on, and then for her own sake he needs to push her aside. Portia on the other hand loves him, and not only does she want to marry him, but she wants to continue working with him to solve cases. It makes her feel alive.
Can she make him see sense that they belong together and that the jobs he does don't always have to be as dangerous as they have been? They can be the perfect partnership in every way can't they?
The love and lust between our hero and heroine is potent, and the passionate scenes between them practically steamed up my glasses! It's one of my favourite story lines where a couple fight the attraction between them until they finally give in and the story ignites. Dell and Portia were just like that. But to top off a great romance, there was the added bonus of joining our couple as they endeavoured to solve their case. Lives are at stake including their own! This book was a real page turner and I couldn't put it down until I read it all. I love books like this one that hook me from page one and never let go right to the end. There was one particular scene at the end that had me laughing out loud at 3 am in the morning. I truly didn't see it coming and I am smiling now even thinking about it.
There was only one tiny negative for me, and that is that there seemed no follow through with a possible plot. Portia faces off with one man who takes liberties, and not being a demure miss she ends up humiliating him and leaving him suffering. When he immediately goes after her he is thwarted, then much later on he is staring daggers at her across a ballroom. I expected some kind of retribution, and every time something strange happened in the story, or something worrying, I thought it was going to be him. Even at the very end, when that laugh out loud scene happened I still thought that the 'bad guy' was going to turn up and get his revenge. It didn't happen, and I feel like he wouldn't have just let it go. Other than that, the book was fabulous and I recommend it wholeheartedly.
July 4, 2017
Captivating and dangerous--in more ways than one!
I loved this Fallen Ladies episode. There was something about the energy between the enigmatic and fascinating Dell Turner and Portia Chadwick that really exploded off the page.
Clever and intelligent Portia is a restless soul looking for more than the acquiescent debutant's role. It seems Dell is the answer.
Their meeting is under difficult circumstance. Lily, Portia's sister has just been kidnapped and Portia's somewhat doddering great aunt Angelique takes her to someone who might help, the mysterious Nightshade!
The story is littered with other interesting characters. Hale, a boxer and his search for his daughter Claire, Thomas the young contact agent for Nightshade caught my eyes, as did a young boy met in the latter part of the story.
From the ballrooms of the ton to the brothels in the dank alleys of London--the action ranges high and wide, fast and dangerous.
I was so caught up with this story that I am about to reread the others in The Fallen Ladies series to review the dovetailing of the stories that the puzzle of the Chadwick sisters presents to us.
A NetGalley ARC
I loved this Fallen Ladies episode. There was something about the energy between the enigmatic and fascinating Dell Turner and Portia Chadwick that really exploded off the page.
Clever and intelligent Portia is a restless soul looking for more than the acquiescent debutant's role. It seems Dell is the answer.
Their meeting is under difficult circumstance. Lily, Portia's sister has just been kidnapped and Portia's somewhat doddering great aunt Angelique takes her to someone who might help, the mysterious Nightshade!
The story is littered with other interesting characters. Hale, a boxer and his search for his daughter Claire, Thomas the young contact agent for Nightshade caught my eyes, as did a young boy met in the latter part of the story.
From the ballrooms of the ton to the brothels in the dank alleys of London--the action ranges high and wide, fast and dangerous.
I was so caught up with this story that I am about to reread the others in The Fallen Ladies series to review the dovetailing of the stories that the puzzle of the Chadwick sisters presents to us.
A NetGalley ARC
October 5, 2022
Can’t say I loved this book because I didn’t love Dell or Portia. There wasn’t much chemistry between them, only sexual chemistry. I was neutral towards Dell, and disliked Portia. She came off as overbearing, stubborn and oblivious to the danger she was in/could be in by “forcing Dell” to let her go on his missions. The investigations bored me so I skimmed.
Romance could have been better.
I have read some of Amy Sandas’ western books and enjoyed them but this one was disappointing.
Romance could have been better.
I have read some of Amy Sandas’ western books and enjoyed them but this one was disappointing.
July 9, 2017
I received this novel as a goodreads winner. Thank you!!
I enjoyed this novel. It is the third book in the series. It is better to read the first two stories, since all three overlap each other. Each novel is about one of the Chadwick sisters and this is Portia's story.
Portia is a very independent young woman who is seeking an adventure of her own. She is outspoken, something frowned upon during this time period. When her sister Lily is kidnapped, Portia seeks out Nightshade, a man who handles tasks that others cannot.
Nightshade, aka Dell Turner, has many faces. He uses his abilities to change his appearance for his work. He is immediately attracted to Portia when they first meet and taken back by her stubbornness. He agrees to help her and gathers information on the kidnapping. However, Portia is more perceptive than he realizes and she can see beyond his disguises. Dell had a hard upbringing, but it molded him into the person he is and he is good at his job.
Portia and Dell work together to discover the reasoning behind her sister's kidnapping, which leads them into more dangerous situations. Portia and Dell work together, despite that Dell wants to keep her safe but knows she has access to things as a woman. As they get deeper into the darker parts of London, their attraction and passion for each other ignites. However, they still have a job to complete and the risks are high. Portia will do what is right, even if it means risking her life. Dell realizes Portia means more to him than he wants her to and pushes her away. He cannot have a "weakness" that can be exploited and Portia has broken through his defenses. Will the dangers they face bring them closer together or force them to go their own ways?
I enjoyed this novel. It is the third book in the series. It is better to read the first two stories, since all three overlap each other. Each novel is about one of the Chadwick sisters and this is Portia's story.
Portia is a very independent young woman who is seeking an adventure of her own. She is outspoken, something frowned upon during this time period. When her sister Lily is kidnapped, Portia seeks out Nightshade, a man who handles tasks that others cannot.
Nightshade, aka Dell Turner, has many faces. He uses his abilities to change his appearance for his work. He is immediately attracted to Portia when they first meet and taken back by her stubbornness. He agrees to help her and gathers information on the kidnapping. However, Portia is more perceptive than he realizes and she can see beyond his disguises. Dell had a hard upbringing, but it molded him into the person he is and he is good at his job.
Portia and Dell work together to discover the reasoning behind her sister's kidnapping, which leads them into more dangerous situations. Portia and Dell work together, despite that Dell wants to keep her safe but knows she has access to things as a woman. As they get deeper into the darker parts of London, their attraction and passion for each other ignites. However, they still have a job to complete and the risks are high. Portia will do what is right, even if it means risking her life. Dell realizes Portia means more to him than he wants her to and pushes her away. He cannot have a "weakness" that can be exploited and Portia has broken through his defenses. Will the dangers they face bring them closer together or force them to go their own ways?
December 28, 2020
Lord of Lies by Amy Sandas is the first of three (or four) books in the Fallen Ladies Series. This series seems to focus on the Chadwick sisters and their journey to find love. However, there are obstacles and problems and interesting twists. I like how the three books seem to intertwine around one event that happened and how the sisters dealt with the crushing debt left to them from their father. Portia Chadwick is unhappy. She finds having a life without adventure is not her idea of what she wants.
Portia does not want to be a simpering debutante. She wants adventure. She wants to make choices in her life. She wants to live. Then she met Dell Turner. He is like no other man she has ever met - dangerous, fascinating and passionate.
I enjoyed the book and loved finding a new author, Amy Sandas. This is an older series for her and I found the three sisters and their dilemma interesting. I liked how Portia found her future to look differently than what she expected. I binge read the three books and am disappointed they are over. Lords of Lies by Amy Sandas was a good read.
Portia does not want to be a simpering debutante. She wants adventure. She wants to make choices in her life. She wants to live. Then she met Dell Turner. He is like no other man she has ever met - dangerous, fascinating and passionate.
I enjoyed the book and loved finding a new author, Amy Sandas. This is an older series for her and I found the three sisters and their dilemma interesting. I liked how Portia found her future to look differently than what she expected. I binge read the three books and am disappointed they are over. Lords of Lies by Amy Sandas was a good read.
April 25, 2017
Book 3 in Amy Sandas' Fallen Ladies series was just wonderful. Passionate, adventurous, emotionally gripping, and a just plain wonderful story. I loved it. I think book 3 is my favorite in the series so far. The chemistry between Portia and Dell was fantastic. She was such a strong female character who was well-developed. The plot was strong and the conflicts fit the story line. It coincides with the same timelines as book one (Emma's story, Luck is No Lady) and book two (Lily's story, The Untouchable Earl), so you revisit their stories a bit but with a different perspective. The author doesn't lose clarity, and details from all three plots are not lost. They merge and play out well side-by-side. This was a great story and I highly recommend the series. This was a Netgalley read.
June 25, 2019
2.5 stars.
These books were interesting in that the stories followed the exact same time period through different character's eyes.
Unfortunately, those characters weren't all that interesting. Emma was great, Lily was boring, and Portia was reckless.
Again here, we learn next to nothing about the male lead. He exists soley as a prop for the heroine to grow and experience life. This has been the case for all three books, though Roderick (Emma's book) had a bit more to his story with his brother. Dell was a shell of a character but apparently the perfect opposite of Portia so take that as you will.
Somehow there's going to be a 4th book and if we don't get a new storyline I probably won't read it. It was boring reading the same conversation 3 times. I understand what Sandas was trying to do but I don't think it succeeded. There's a reason people don't write series like this.
These books were interesting in that the stories followed the exact same time period through different character's eyes.
Unfortunately, those characters weren't all that interesting. Emma was great, Lily was boring, and Portia was reckless.
Again here, we learn next to nothing about the male lead. He exists soley as a prop for the heroine to grow and experience life. This has been the case for all three books, though Roderick (Emma's book) had a bit more to his story with his brother. Dell was a shell of a character but apparently the perfect opposite of Portia so take that as you will.
Somehow there's going to be a 4th book and if we don't get a new storyline I probably won't read it. It was boring reading the same conversation 3 times. I understand what Sandas was trying to do but I don't think it succeeded. There's a reason people don't write series like this.
February 1, 2020
This was better than the 2nd book. This completes the sister's stories. Book 1 was Emma's, 2 was Lily's, and this one was Portia's. I think to really understand the story-lines, books need to be read in order since they are all taking place at the same time.
Dell is the person Angelique and Portia hire to find Lily. Portia wants something more and realizes she is capable of sleuthing/disguise. This leads to Dell letting her assist in her investigation into finding Hale's daughter. I liked the romance between the 2 and thought they complemented each other very well.
I read this for Romance-opoly Past Eaves Sun track
Dell is the person Angelique and Portia hire to find Lily. Portia wants something more and realizes she is capable of sleuthing/disguise. This leads to Dell letting her assist in her investigation into finding Hale's daughter. I liked the romance between the 2 and thought they complemented each other very well.
I read this for Romance-opoly Past Eaves Sun track
October 20, 2020
When her sister is kidnapped, Portia Chadwick looks for help from a man known only as "Nightshade." Dell Turner is a self made man who specializes in odd jobs and intrigue. He disguises himself as various characters and doesn't need a meddling society miss getting in his way, or under his skin.
This is the third book in the Fallen Ladies series. The three books focus on the three Chadwick sisters and take place during an overlapping timeline. I would recommend reading them in order, however I did find this third book to be a bit repetitive.
I like the author's writing style, but this book wasn't as good as the other two, IMO. Portia is the kind of heroine I generally do not like. She's sheltered and naïve, but thinks she can charge headfirst into Dell's line of work. I did find Dell intriguing and I enjoyed their chemistry later in the book. I also thought the conclusion of the backstory with Hale was well done.
This is the third book in the Fallen Ladies series. The three books focus on the three Chadwick sisters and take place during an overlapping timeline. I would recommend reading them in order, however I did find this third book to be a bit repetitive.
I like the author's writing style, but this book wasn't as good as the other two, IMO. Portia is the kind of heroine I generally do not like. She's sheltered and naïve, but thinks she can charge headfirst into Dell's line of work. I did find Dell intriguing and I enjoyed their chemistry later in the book. I also thought the conclusion of the backstory with Hale was well done.
January 9, 2021
This was my first romance novel and I enjoyed it fairly well. With only 2.5 sex scenes, it wasn't as smutty as I was expecting, though it did have a decent plot. I never did figure out why the little sister was kidnapped in the beginning and wouldn't tell who did it, but the other questions were answered well enough. My favorite part was when the man wrote her a letter in "strong, erect penmanship".
February 12, 2025
3.5
Better but still didn’t love this series too much. Gonna take a break before I dive back into the next 2 which are both spinoffs
Better but still didn’t love this series too much. Gonna take a break before I dive back into the next 2 which are both spinoffs
July 13, 2021
Best of the series. I LOVED Dell a d Portia. Wanted a second book about them. ❤️❤️❤️
July 6, 2017
I didn't like this book as much as I did the previous two. I was a bit bored and considered dnf'ing it, but I ended up finishing it although I did skim a lot.
This starts on the night that Lily was kidnapped, and Portia and Angelique go to a man called Nightshade to find her. Nightshade is a master of disguise and willing to take on dirty or sensitive jobs for pay. The job with Lily ends quickly, but in that time, Portia learns that Nightshade is really Dell Turner and is intrigued both by him and his work, and makes him bring her along on his next job.
I never warmed up to Portia. She was the spunky heroine who didn't really care about propriety or dancing. This type of heroine typically gets on my nerves, and Portia is no exception. Turner was a bit better, but I kept expecting something more from him, but ultimately, he was just as he appeared. He was just bland instead of mysterious. I think part of the reason was because the title was "Lord of Lies" but he didn't really have any lies or secrets. Portia figured them all out in the first quarter of the book.
Things happened too easily. Portia never had any problems getting where she wanted to be, and managed to spy on a master spy. I think this was supposed to show how clever she was, but it made Turner look incompetent instead because she wasn't even trying that hard. If an untrained 20 year old can get the jump on you, you might not be that good at your job.
Portia also forgave Hale too easily. Yes, he had valid reasons for what he did, but I would have trouble forgiving the dude who kidnapped my sister and sold her, no matter that nothing bad happened to her. I don't mind that she forgave him, but I would have liked to see a slower evolution of her feelings.
Portia's fight at the end was also too easy. I would have liked to have seen her actually hurt instead of just getting a scratch. That would have given Turner's decision more justification, and considering her training, more realistic. I also doubt that their elopement would have been forgiven and forgotten so easily, but considering how often that comes up in books in this genre, I can't really complain too much about it.
I was also expecting a bit more from the Merry Friars. Considering the fact that both Portia and Turner were involved with them, their non development felt like a forgotten plot thread.
It also irritated me that when they were rescuing Claire all talk of her fate was about how she'd be sold into child labor. Not even Turner gave much of a thought to her being sold as a sex slave; he gave it a bit of a thought, but that was much more likely to be her fate than just child labor. Most of the kids there were likely bound for that fate.
Anyway, this book just didn't work for me which was disappointing considering I liked the first two and had enjoyed most of Sandas other books. I'll probably still check out the next book in the series, but I'll wait to see more reviews before I get it.
Also, my ebook is 425 pages long, but the actual story ends at 324, and then there's a long preview for another book.
This starts on the night that Lily was kidnapped, and Portia and Angelique go to a man called Nightshade to find her. Nightshade is a master of disguise and willing to take on dirty or sensitive jobs for pay. The job with Lily ends quickly, but in that time, Portia learns that Nightshade is really Dell Turner and is intrigued both by him and his work, and makes him bring her along on his next job.
I never warmed up to Portia. She was the spunky heroine who didn't really care about propriety or dancing. This type of heroine typically gets on my nerves, and Portia is no exception. Turner was a bit better, but I kept expecting something more from him, but ultimately, he was just as he appeared. He was just bland instead of mysterious. I think part of the reason was because the title was "Lord of Lies" but he didn't really have any lies or secrets. Portia figured them all out in the first quarter of the book.
Things happened too easily. Portia never had any problems getting where she wanted to be, and managed to spy on a master spy. I think this was supposed to show how clever she was, but it made Turner look incompetent instead because she wasn't even trying that hard. If an untrained 20 year old can get the jump on you, you might not be that good at your job.
Portia also forgave Hale too easily. Yes, he had valid reasons for what he did, but I would have trouble forgiving the dude who kidnapped my sister and sold her, no matter that nothing bad happened to her. I don't mind that she forgave him, but I would have liked to see a slower evolution of her feelings.
Portia's fight at the end was also too easy. I would have liked to have seen her actually hurt instead of just getting a scratch. That would have given Turner's decision more justification, and considering her training, more realistic. I also doubt that their elopement would have been forgiven and forgotten so easily, but considering how often that comes up in books in this genre, I can't really complain too much about it.
I was also expecting a bit more from the Merry Friars. Considering the fact that both Portia and Turner were involved with them, their non development felt like a forgotten plot thread.
It also irritated me that when they were rescuing Claire all talk of her fate was about how she'd be sold into child labor. Not even Turner gave much of a thought to her being sold as a sex slave; he gave it a bit of a thought, but that was much more likely to be her fate than just child labor. Most of the kids there were likely bound for that fate.
Anyway, this book just didn't work for me which was disappointing considering I liked the first two and had enjoyed most of Sandas other books. I'll probably still check out the next book in the series, but I'll wait to see more reviews before I get it.
Also, my ebook is 425 pages long, but the actual story ends at 324, and then there's a long preview for another book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 23, 2017
3.5
The hero's job was a fantastic idea. It was definitely catching reading about his aliases, I was as charmed as the heroine when she spied him in the process of changing his costumes. Very sensual, too.
The story is nice, I liked the protagonists; Dell, the hero, and his silences were great, Portia, the heroine is stubborn, witty and I liked her too, I was very much entertained by her stubbornness in wanting to help Dell with his investigations.
I mean, to be honest I liked most of the story; overall is a lovely reading which I would happily suggest.
What I didn't particularly love though was the ending chapters.
That said, I'm a fan of the series, especially because the first one, Luck Is No Lady was magnificent. The second one unfortunately was a bit of a let down, and this one is more in the purgatory with good chances to be redeemed and go to paradise if it had avoided what I mentioned above. I'm sad now. But I'm really looking forward to adore the next one.
I received an ARC of this novel
August 3, 2018
I really enjoy Sandas's writing style. Her characters are compelling, and her prose keeps me turning the page, which for someone with ADHD like me, can be a difficult proposition. However, I had difficulty with the suspension of disbelief while reading this book. Her explanation of Portia's ability to sneak about unseen struck me as too pat, like a backstory someone might come up with for a D&D character. In addition, Dell's single-piece costumes weren't properly explained. Why wear something with fake buttons that could give him away, rather than actual clothing that could serve the same purpose?
If you're just looking for an entertaining read and don't care about accuracy or plausibility, then I absolutely recommend this book.
If you're just looking for an entertaining read and don't care about accuracy or plausibility, then I absolutely recommend this book.
September 10, 2022
Heroine: Portia Chadwick, 19. Her parents are dead and her father left her and her two sisters with significant debts.
Hero: Dell Turner, age unknown. Alias: Nightshade. A private investigator who is a master of disguise.
Date: 1817
How they meet: When Portia’s sister is abducted from in front of her great aunt’s home, they hire Dell to track her down. When they first meet, Dell is in disguise.
What happens: Dell figures out who abducted Portia’s sister and that she has been sold to a brothel where she was auctioned off, but before he can locate her she is returned home by an unknown rescuer. Even though she’s safe and unharmed, Portia has Dell tail her sister because she’s convinced her sister is lying about something and may yet be in danger. An impatient Portia interferes with Dell’s surveillance on a couple of occasions and the attraction between them is palpable. He determines the sister is in no danger despite meeting up with an unknown man late at night. He considers the case closed.
Verdict: This third book in the series was my least favorite and a bit of a slow read. I found Portia to be annoyingly reckless and headstrong. I was more curious about Dell and his background, which ended up being not all that interesting. Their chemistry was ok, but I didn’t really like the lack of a relationship between them beyond arguing and working cases (with which she wasn’t always helpful). The first two books had a deeper emotional connection between the hero and heroine, so this one felt rather superficial by comparison. The intimate scenes were very sensual, but fell a little flat, mainly because I disliked the heroine so much. I love the concept for this series, with each book covering a similar timespan, but each from the perspective of a different sister’s life. One should definitely read this series in order. This book explains more about the abductor’s situation, and Mason Hale’s love story is told in Noble Scoundrel (part of a different series).
Steam-level: steamy and explicit
Rating: 3 stars
Hero: Dell Turner, age unknown. Alias: Nightshade. A private investigator who is a master of disguise.
Date: 1817
How they meet: When Portia’s sister is abducted from in front of her great aunt’s home, they hire Dell to track her down. When they first meet, Dell is in disguise.
What happens: Dell figures out who abducted Portia’s sister and that she has been sold to a brothel where she was auctioned off, but before he can locate her she is returned home by an unknown rescuer. Even though she’s safe and unharmed, Portia has Dell tail her sister because she’s convinced her sister is lying about something and may yet be in danger. An impatient Portia interferes with Dell’s surveillance on a couple of occasions and the attraction between them is palpable. He determines the sister is in no danger despite meeting up with an unknown man late at night. He considers the case closed.
Verdict: This third book in the series was my least favorite and a bit of a slow read. I found Portia to be annoyingly reckless and headstrong. I was more curious about Dell and his background, which ended up being not all that interesting. Their chemistry was ok, but I didn’t really like the lack of a relationship between them beyond arguing and working cases (with which she wasn’t always helpful). The first two books had a deeper emotional connection between the hero and heroine, so this one felt rather superficial by comparison. The intimate scenes were very sensual, but fell a little flat, mainly because I disliked the heroine so much. I love the concept for this series, with each book covering a similar timespan, but each from the perspective of a different sister’s life. One should definitely read this series in order. This book explains more about the abductor’s situation, and Mason Hale’s love story is told in Noble Scoundrel (part of a different series).
Steam-level: steamy and explicit
Rating: 3 stars
July 17, 2017
Reviewed at Keeper Bookshelf
In the third story of the Fallen Ladies series, we finally get Portia’s story. The youngest Chadwick sister has been shown to be a bit more outspoken, more rough around the edges than her older sisters. Portia wants a life of adventure far beyond the ballrooms and strict rules of the ton. She’s not likely to get the life she believes she wants under normal situations. But life has a way of tossing in a few surprises, and when a dangerous event happens to her sister Portia is immediately head first into more adventures than she’d ever imagined.
I usually suggest reading series in order, but with this one I feel much more strongly about that suggestion. All these stories run somewhat parallel with each other in events happening and people coming into the sisters lives. I don’t think you’d be lost if you picked up Lord of Lies first, but you’d certainly miss some nuances and events seen through other’s eyes with slightly different perceptions. Of course, that’s merely my opinion, but I do feel these are best read in order for the most understanding and impact.
Dell is a master of disguises. As an investigator it’s in his best interests to blend and to work alone. Portia doesn’t give him that chance when she confronts him to help her search for her sister. She’s determined to be part of this. And he has no other choice but to to keep her close before she runs off and gets herself into trouble as well. The chemistry between Portia and Dell is strong, and while they may seen complete opposites – they definitely work well together.
Lord of Lies will bring answers to events that have happened throughout the series. Surprises, twists and turns that you didn’t see coming will add another enjoyment level to this story. While Dell wasn’t my kind of hero, he worked well for Portia. And in the end, that’s really all that matters. I enjoyed this world and I believe if you love Regency romance with a bit of mystery, then you’ll enjoy this story and series as well.
*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*
In the third story of the Fallen Ladies series, we finally get Portia’s story. The youngest Chadwick sister has been shown to be a bit more outspoken, more rough around the edges than her older sisters. Portia wants a life of adventure far beyond the ballrooms and strict rules of the ton. She’s not likely to get the life she believes she wants under normal situations. But life has a way of tossing in a few surprises, and when a dangerous event happens to her sister Portia is immediately head first into more adventures than she’d ever imagined.
I usually suggest reading series in order, but with this one I feel much more strongly about that suggestion. All these stories run somewhat parallel with each other in events happening and people coming into the sisters lives. I don’t think you’d be lost if you picked up Lord of Lies first, but you’d certainly miss some nuances and events seen through other’s eyes with slightly different perceptions. Of course, that’s merely my opinion, but I do feel these are best read in order for the most understanding and impact.
Dell is a master of disguises. As an investigator it’s in his best interests to blend and to work alone. Portia doesn’t give him that chance when she confronts him to help her search for her sister. She’s determined to be part of this. And he has no other choice but to to keep her close before she runs off and gets herself into trouble as well. The chemistry between Portia and Dell is strong, and while they may seen complete opposites – they definitely work well together.
Lord of Lies will bring answers to events that have happened throughout the series. Surprises, twists and turns that you didn’t see coming will add another enjoyment level to this story. While Dell wasn’t my kind of hero, he worked well for Portia. And in the end, that’s really all that matters. I enjoyed this world and I believe if you love Regency romance with a bit of mystery, then you’ll enjoy this story and series as well.
*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*
July 4, 2017
Received an advanced reader copy in exchange for a fair review
As the third book in the Fallen Ladies series, I genuinely think that this book is the best among the three. Not only Portia Chadwick is exceptional, I find her to be very charming and she's someone who is fierce and loyal to the people that she cared and loved
The story begins with the abduction of Lily Chadwick when Mason Hale is growing agitated while waiting for the payment from the eldest of the Chadwick sisters, Emma, to pay for their father's gambling debt. Mason Hale himself has his own reason, which was concealed until this book (which is why I think this book is the best because it provides a lot of details that was lost from the first two books in the series), why he did such a desperate thing to kidnap Lily and sold her to the brothel. Because of this incident, Portia came to know about Nightshade, Dell Turner, a mysterious man who will do anything for money
The part where Portia became affiliated with Dell's life is the best part of the story, because not only they have to solve the mystery together, they also have to battle the attraction that they felt to each other. Mason Hale, which I never think would be the central of the mystery in the third book, actually give much more to the story than what I was expected of him
Even though generally I think that the flow of the story is good and the msytery is actually better than the first or second book, the way Dell tried to deny his own feelings toward Portia because he feared of her safety until the end, while he had her as his partner in the most part of the story, irritated me for a bit. Out of the three men in the story, from Roderick, Avenell and Dell, I find that Dell's attitude irritated me the most. Maybe it's just personal preferences, but comparing him with the other two men in the story make him feel less likeable, since I love Roderick and his ever-stable love for Emma, and Avenell with his aversion to be touched but accepted Lily all the same
All in all, I did enjoy reading the story and I almost couldn't feel the time flowing while I'm reading the book. For this, I give the book a solid 4 stars out of 5
As the third book in the Fallen Ladies series, I genuinely think that this book is the best among the three. Not only Portia Chadwick is exceptional, I find her to be very charming and she's someone who is fierce and loyal to the people that she cared and loved
The story begins with the abduction of Lily Chadwick when Mason Hale is growing agitated while waiting for the payment from the eldest of the Chadwick sisters, Emma, to pay for their father's gambling debt. Mason Hale himself has his own reason, which was concealed until this book (which is why I think this book is the best because it provides a lot of details that was lost from the first two books in the series), why he did such a desperate thing to kidnap Lily and sold her to the brothel. Because of this incident, Portia came to know about Nightshade, Dell Turner, a mysterious man who will do anything for money
The part where Portia became affiliated with Dell's life is the best part of the story, because not only they have to solve the mystery together, they also have to battle the attraction that they felt to each other. Mason Hale, which I never think would be the central of the mystery in the third book, actually give much more to the story than what I was expected of him
Even though generally I think that the flow of the story is good and the msytery is actually better than the first or second book, the way Dell tried to deny his own feelings toward Portia because he feared of her safety until the end, while he had her as his partner in the most part of the story, irritated me for a bit. Out of the three men in the story, from Roderick, Avenell and Dell, I find that Dell's attitude irritated me the most. Maybe it's just personal preferences, but comparing him with the other two men in the story make him feel less likeable, since I love Roderick and his ever-stable love for Emma, and Avenell with his aversion to be touched but accepted Lily all the same
All in all, I did enjoy reading the story and I almost couldn't feel the time flowing while I'm reading the book. For this, I give the book a solid 4 stars out of 5
August 9, 2022
Lord of Lies was an unexpected pleasure. I didn’t expect Portia to end up working undercover helping the mysterious Nightshade in his dangerous profession. Portia isn’t the little girl her older sister believes her to be. Rather she’s wanting more than what the ton can offer her. She needs more than to be a society wife and mother who’s biggest concern is deciding the menu for the latest ball or working out what shade of lavender goes best with her hair. She needs the feel like she is helping those who need it. And she finds that with Dell Turner - a man of many names and faces.
Their first meeting as delightful. Portia was terrified for her sister Lily after her kidnapping but that didn’t mean she was going faint and wait to be rescued. She went to find help from a mysterious detective of sorts her aunt had dealt with in the past. Her inquisitive nature leads her further into his secretive world than either of them could have anticipated.
I enjoyed how their relationship unfolded. Portia is so bold and goes after what she wants without seeming to foresee the consequences. It contrasted nicely with Dell who knows just how dangerous his life can be and plans all outcomes. But he couldn’t have expected Portia or how she would make him feel. They have such chemistry and it burns up the pages. And I enjoyed this story more than the previous one. Possibly because there was more plot than just the relationship. As with the previous book there is a lot of overlap of events with Portia’s story and that of her two sisters. I was somewhat surprised by just how far into this book we were and still hadn’t elapsed the timeline of the first novel. There’s a redemption arc for one of the characters we have gotten to know over the course of the series. And aunt Angelique continues to shock and surprise.
It’s a fun book and I liked how things all wrapped up for the Chadwick sisters.
Their first meeting as delightful. Portia was terrified for her sister Lily after her kidnapping but that didn’t mean she was going faint and wait to be rescued. She went to find help from a mysterious detective of sorts her aunt had dealt with in the past. Her inquisitive nature leads her further into his secretive world than either of them could have anticipated.
I enjoyed how their relationship unfolded. Portia is so bold and goes after what she wants without seeming to foresee the consequences. It contrasted nicely with Dell who knows just how dangerous his life can be and plans all outcomes. But he couldn’t have expected Portia or how she would make him feel. They have such chemistry and it burns up the pages. And I enjoyed this story more than the previous one. Possibly because there was more plot than just the relationship. As with the previous book there is a lot of overlap of events with Portia’s story and that of her two sisters. I was somewhat surprised by just how far into this book we were and still hadn’t elapsed the timeline of the first novel. There’s a redemption arc for one of the characters we have gotten to know over the course of the series. And aunt Angelique continues to shock and surprise.
It’s a fun book and I liked how things all wrapped up for the Chadwick sisters.
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