A Secret Consequence For The Viscount

The Society of Wicked Gentlemen #4

by Sophia James

Lady Eleanor believes Viscount Bromley to be dead. Now, after six years, he has returned a changed man. Brooding Nicholas Bartlett has no memory of their one night of passion, so how can she tell him he fathered a child…?

As he starts to regain his memories and with the danger from his past threatening to rear its head, it’s up to Nicholas to protect his newly discovered family!

Genres: Romance, Historical Romance, Contemporary, Regency, Harlequin

369 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 20, 2017

About the author

Georgette Heyer novels formed Sophia James' reading tastes as a teenager, but her writing life only started when she was given a pile of Mills & Boons to read after she had had her wisdom teeth extracted! Filled with strong painkillers, she imagined that she could pen one, too. Many drafts later, Sophia thinks she has the perfect job writing for Harlequin Historical, as well as taking art tours to Europe with her husband, who is a painter.

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good conclusion to the series. Throughout the previous three books Nicholas has never been far from his friends' minds, none of them ready to believe that he is dead, even though he's been missing for six years. As the book opens, he is in America, where he ended up, with no memory of who he used to be. Instead, he has had to fight off several attempts on his life with no idea why he has been targeted. However, in the latest attack, his memory is partially restored and he knows he must return home.

I loved the reunion between Nicholas and his friends. They are overjoyed to have him back, and deeply disturbed over what he tells them about what happened. I loved the fact that there was no hesitation in their welcome. Nicholas is a little confused at first by the changes he sees in them but happy for them. I ached for him because he felt a little lost, a little overwhelmed, and a lot like he no longer fit. Thanks to everything he had been through, he was no longer the young, reckless, dissolute rake that he used to be, but before he can look to the future, he has to find out who is after him.

Eleanor is Jacob's sister and has been present, though usually in the background, of the previous books. She has a young daughter and lives quietly, avoiding Society as much as she can. There is some mystery about the father of her child, though her brother claims a Scottish marriage. She is stunned by Nicholas's return, and heartbroken and angry when he barely acknowledges her. I ached for her distress and loved that she had the backbone to seek him out to find out why. What she learns diminishes her anger, but increases her caution. She decides she must know more before she will allow him near their daughter.

I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Nicholas and Eleanor. She is determined to help him recover his memories so that, perhaps, they can have the life together that she dreamed of. I loved seeing Eleanor take Nicholas to the places where they had gone six years earlier, and seeing the events through her eyes. Though Nicholas occasionally gets a flash of memory, it's just spending time with Eleanor that soothes his soul. The more time he spends with her, the more he wants something deeper. I loved his first reaction to meeting Lucy, even before he knew the truth. There was a connection there that could not be denied. Once he knew the truth, his happiness was obvious.

But there are still obstacles to overcome. Just when it looks like Nicholas and Eleanor are ready to embrace their future, Nicholas's past rears its ugly head. The threats made against Eleanor and Lucy cause him to push them away and retreat into his previous persona. I ached for Eleanor and her heartbreak at being rejected once again by the man she loves. I loved the conversation she had with her sister-in-law Rose, who opened Eleanor's eyes to the way the men in their lives behave when their loved ones are threatened.

The final confrontation with the person behind the attacks on Nicholas brought the book and series to a thrilling end. I was not surprised at the identity of said attacker, but that did not diminish the intensity of the confrontation. I liked how Nicholas handled it, proving once again that his soul is not as black as he paints it. I loved the aftermath, as Eleanor has a captive audience to show him how much she cares.

The epilogue was terrific. It brought all four couples together and emphasized their bright futures. It will be interesting to see if there are books in store for the new proprietors of the club.

[Vanessa · Rating 1 out of 5]

Well, if you love a romance book where the woman is the one who does most of the chasing and the one who has the determination to “let him realize he loves me” kind of thing, this is for you. Oh also a kind of woman who is just so martyr, she doesn’t bear even a single strand of anger towards him even though he suddenly disappeared six years ago leaving her pregnant and alone.... this is for you.
And when she saw him again she was whispering like a prayer that night, “ please love me again, please...”

Well, if that’s your taste go and buy this book for $3.75 , I think ...

For me , I should’ve used that money for a cup of very cold iced tea. I sure needs some cooling down reading about stupid women!!!

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

A little dull. I didn't really care for either the hero or the heroine, and the hero's backstory stretched the bounds of belief for me.

[Keri · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book I think this is one of the first or second books I have read of Sophia James and I know I will be reading more specially in the series. All of the characters the main and supporting ones were interesting and strong and I specially liked how they were all treated well even though there was angst and mystery and danger. Sometimes in books the female lead is portrayed as a doormat but in this case she was not.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know....this guy sure gets banged up in this book. I don't think the whole going to America was all that interesting or necessary other than putting him away from Eleanor for a long period of time. I think the author did mature the man suitably for what he'd been through and experience of common frontier man vs. upper crust life of England. Pretty good.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. well paced and poignant. Both characters dealt with serious issues. There were carry over characters from previous books so it was nice to see their stories updated.That the hero had a facial scar and heroine an illegitimate child were tropes that have been overused though.

[Ruth Harwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely romance, at times a little floral in language, but thoroughly enjoyable x

[Pcch2345 · Rating 4 out of 5]

i liked the storyline and all the couples in this series come together briefly, and we get to see their HEAs...trope of amnesia and secret child.

[IahMay · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not a fan of how it was written. The mood was just gloomy too, yes though the heroine did her best to get the hero's memories back it's still gloomy.

[Lauren · Rating 1 out of 5]

Best said: I liked the characters and I didn't feel the need to skip ahead. It was as an easy read.

Would have been better if the daughter was in it more or acted l I'll ke a child.

[Monique Robb · Rating 2 out of 5]

The level of submissiveness from Eleanor was not attractive.

[Ns2np5 · Rating 2 out of 5]

finished this book and when I wanted to update my goodreads turned out I put it on dnf 6 years ago. Did not remember at all that I had read this. I guess that's how unmemorable it is.

[Harlequin Books]

"James ends The Society of Wicked Gentlemen series in triumph! From the shores of Virginia to the Thames, the fourth wicked gentleman is found and brought home. The wounded lord meets an old flame whom he doesn’t remember, but one who is determined to win his heart again. This book stands alone. It’s a passionate and poignant tale, well written with realistic and individual characters. There is lots of suspense and lip-biting action. Readers will love catching glimpses of their favorite rakes and the strong women they married" (4 stars @ RT Book Reviews).

Miniseries: The Society of Wicked Gentlemen

[Babette Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nella media * * *

(#copiaacquistata)
Ero stufa di romanzi lunghi e prolissi e ne ho cercato uno breve e semplice (considerata la collana), tanto più che mi piacciono le storie con amnesia.
Breve certo, ma semplice no dal momento che non solo si tratta di un fine serie, ma anche di una storia con molta azione e qualche peripezia.
(Teresa Siciliano)

[Harlequin Historical]

Miniseries: The Society of Wicked Gentlemen