The Lord I Left

The Secrets of Charlotte Street #3

by Scarlett Peckham

He’s a minister to whores… She’s a fallen woman…

Lord Lieutenant Henry Evesham is an evangelical reformer charged with investigating the flesh trade in London. His visits to bawdy houses leave him with a burning desire to help sinners who’ve lost their innocence to vice—even if the temptations of their world test his vow not to lose his moral compass…again.

As apprentice to London’s most notorious whipping governess, Alice Hull is on the cusp of abandoning her quiet, rural roots for the city’s swirl of provocative ideas and pleasures—until a family tragedy upends her dreams and leaves her desperate to get home. When the handsome, pious Lord Lieutenant offers her a ride despite the coming blizzard, she knows he is her best chance to reach her ailing mother—even if she doesn’t trust him.

He has the power to destroy her… She has the power to undo him…

As they struggle to travel the snow-swept countryside, they find their suspicion of each other thawing into a longing that leaves them both shaken. Alice stirs Henry’s deepest fantasies, and he awakens parts of her she thought she’d foresworn years ago. But Henry is considering new regulations that threaten the people Alice holds dear, and association with a woman like Alice would threaten Henry’s reputation if he allowed himself to get too close.

Is falling for the wrong person a test of faith …or a chance at unimagined grace?

Genres: Romance, Historical Romance, Historical, Historical Fiction, Audiobook, Forced Proximity, Fiction

314 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 27, 2020

About the author

Scarlett Peckham writes sexy, gothic, feminist historical romances about alpha heroines. She splits her time between Los Angeles and the spooky cliffs of Coastal Oregon.

For a taste at her critically acclaimed Secrets of Charlotte Street series, download her free novelette, The Emerald Widow: https://geni.us/EmeraldWidow

To be the first to hear about her new releases and cat photos, sign up for her legendary newsletter: https://geni.us/TheScarlettLetter

Reviews

[buket · Rating 5 out of 5]

OH MY GODDDDD

guys guys you don’t know what yearning is until you read this book. he was like gripping the table biting his knuckles praying a million times a day bc of his love for her. he came in his pants from cuddling with her. he wanted to pray with her so he can hold her hand HOLD. HER. HAND. and he never even touched a woman before he didn’t even wanna touch someone before until her and omg he was a virgin and he kept blushing because he was so shy so inexperienced. and oh my god he was soooooo lovely and he needed to be loved and she loved him so much and they were so beautiful together and they are so dear to me and i’m actually obsessed with them and like my hands were shaking from their love my eyes were tearing i was giggling and longing and yearning for their yearning and so yeah.

the YEARNING guys ugh

always finding the most pathetic most down bad most in love guys with lila thank youu for reading together always a pleasure because you will get me on this

[Jite · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars! Short form one sentence summary: OMG this book is FABULOUS!!!! I love this author!!!! I’ve been awaiting this book ever since The Earl I Tempted and the Christmas novella that followed that but I was also a little nervous because I’m Christian and my faith is important to me and I was worried that I would feel offended or like this book was anti-faith or something. I should have known better. I should have known that this author knows how to take a controversial issue, something polemic, present it in a way that causes argument or discussion and leave you questioning your stance on things you were clear on before hand.

Entering into this novel, yes, it DEFINITELY is heavily religious in theme and some of it feels inspirational but at it’s core, this is an erotic religious taboo romance that feels even hotter, sexier and more spicy for the tension and internal conflict the Methodist minister hero experiences, than if it had been a love scene-a-minute. I admire the author in taking on this kind of romance because I think there’s a lot of potential for it to be disliked. People who are Christian might be offended and people who are not, might feel like this has too much religious content. I would most definitely read the content warning / trigger warning at the beginning before jumping in (it’s probably visible in the book preview on any vendor online if you’re not purchasing in person) before getting this to see if this might be your thing. As a caveat, I was almost discouraged from reading by the CW but I went for it anyway and I’m so glad I did.

The premise is that Henry, a Methodist minister (he was in the first couple of books as a very minor character), who would kind of be analogous to an evangelical Christian today, is the Lord Lieutenant of the House of Lords who has been appointed to look into vice, specifically prostitution, in the city. Alice, who works at the whipping house (BDSM club?) On Charlotte Street has taken an instant dislike to him because of his judgey ways. But when the two are thrown together on a perilous trip to the country, sparks fly and their lives are changed forever.

I love that the author took on difficult topics like prostitution and the legality of it and how it is discussed and I also love the exploration of how it’s a conversation led by men, how society views it, the alternatives for women and most of all, how religion views it. I don’t think this was the most complete and most rounded take on these issues but I think for making these narratives and conversations be seamless and interesting on a romance novel, this was absolutely fabulous. I think as a person of faith, there’s a lot to pick at here- the author’s message with Henry and his journey as a character did not always align with my doctrine and beliefs as a person of faith like Henry but I felt like his conflicts were realistic and the message she had was important for anyone who ever wants to feel pride in what a perfect person of faith they are.

This is a feminist romance and I like that the heroine wasn’t ever presented as the person that needed reforming and that she was strong in personality, funny and unashamedly who she was. Her swearing skills are beyond creative and I say this as a non-swearer! She had me on the floor. Also if you like the virgin hero trope, THIS IS IT done super realistically- Henry is not some kind of sexual savant and definitely Alice takes the lead and she’s also very open and unashamed of her rake-level experience. However, the weakness in this book, to me, is that this often felt like Henry’s book. He went through so much growth and transformation in this whereas the heroine, Alice, didn’t seem to have that experience. I liked her but I would have liked to see some growth from her as well in some way. Henry takes you on a journey with him whilst I feel like she started and ended very much in the same place.

Is this for everyone? NO. I think a non-religious person reading this has to have some patience or interesting in religious taboo tropes or motifs and a religious (Christian) person reading this has to be the sort not to feel like their faith is threatened by divergent opinions and also be willing to think about the balance of legality and Grace in Christianity. But if you like a romance that will challenge you and that will make you think and have opinions and change your mind about certain things or further entrench you in what you already think or upset you in some way, Scarlett Peckham is your author. I highly recommend this if you like religious taboo or like “religious themes but make it sexy” in your romance.


I think one thing Scarlett Peckham is absolutely brilliant at is writing books that push people. These aren’t books that are extraordinarily fluffy nor are they especially dark, but they’re challenging to existing mental models and push romance fans to re-examine stances on cheating (in The Duke I Tempted), find sympathy for a dead wrong, difficult heroine (in The Earl I Ruined) and overcome religious discomfort (with the amount of religious content or with the doctrine, depending on your POV) in this latest book in the Charlotte Street series, The Lord I Left. And this is my favourite thing about this author. That she pushes you but not for the sake of pushing you, but because she understands the complexities of human nature and in a romance, writes them soooooo sooooo very well!

I received a free advanced copy of this through a competition on the author’s newsletter with no obligation to review. This was honestly SOOOO good though! I’m still floored!

[Lily · Rating 3 out of 5]

The chaotic vibes with Scarlett Peckham's Secrets of Charlotte Street series continue!!!

Whew, where to even begin with The Lord I Left? I was incredibly excited when I saw that Henry was getting his own story and even more hype when I realized that the reverend was going to end up with a whipping house apprentice. However, I think the execution of this book was a little off—there was an asinine amount of God talk in here, and after a while I got tired of the various hijinks on their literal and metaphysical journeys. By the end I just felt a tad tired and not especially invested.

That said, I do appreciate that Peckham was trying to write a very different kind of historical romance, and she did a great job creating something that's thought-provoking and very unique compared to what's on the market. This book also lacked the certain type of toxicity within the couple that the first two books had, so I was a bit relieved to see that. I'll definitely be reading more from both this series (yeesss Elena getting her own book!) and Peckham's Society of Sirens series.

Content warning: Derogatory comments on sex work, presumed parental death, Christian preaching

[Crystal's Bookish Life · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author's note in the beginning warns you of the content. It was definitely not for me.

However the 3 stars doesn't really reflect how uncomfortable the content made me. It was because of one dimensional characters. Very lacking for this author.

Will be in my next vlog

[Elise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man, I really need to start writing reviews right after I finish a book.

This is about Alice who is an apprentice in a house for BDSM and Henry who is an evangelist. Alice needs a ride home to see her dying mother and Henry just so happens to be traveling that way.
So why don't they ride together, hmm? Alice isn't too happy about it, considering Henry wants to shut down her employer and is against everything she stands for. Henry wants to bring her to Christ. How could this possibly work? Well, my friends. It does. It does REAL GOOD.

This is written SO DANG WELL. It is an addicting read. It is hot. And it resolved in a way that seemed very realistic yet happy and satisfying. I can't recommend this enough.

Alice

[Leigh Kramer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have thoroughly enjoyed each book in this series but The Lord I Left is hands down my favorite. It was even more stunning than I thought it would be. How does Scarlett Peckham do it?! She keeps knocking it out of the park and I’m very glad for it.

Henry is a Methodist minister working on a report about how to handle London’s sex workers. He truly wants to help them, although he largely sees them as sinners who have lost their way instead of people who chose their work or who are simply trying to survive. Alice, a whipping house apprentice, wants nothing to do with him but when she receives word that her mother is dying and he offers to give her a ride home, there’s nothing but delicious forced proximity and one mishap after another. Henry and Alice are both more than they seem and I loved watching them discover each other.

Peckham is a gorgeous writer but she does something different in this book that really took it up a notch. Whenever we’re in Henry’s POV, we get to see and experience his needs vs. wants through parenthetical asides. He’s constantly repressing his desires and trying to lasso even his thoughts into submission. The parentheses where he acknowledges this or admonishes himself allow us to experience his inner tension in a very real way. He keeps denying himself, from never eating sugar or meat to how little he sleeps to squashing the faintest hint of a lustful thought.

The religious aspect was so well-balanced. I have many complicated (read: negative) feelings about the inspirational romance subgenre when it’s limited to Christian fiction. However, I love when general market romance explores faith because it’s usually incredibly nuanced and, more importantly, rooted in reality. Henry was the right amount of sincere and earnest but never tipped over into proselytizing.

Henry and Alice have incredible chemistry. There’s a foot-washing scene that is very Mary Magdalene and they almost get it on in a church. There’s also a fantastic scene in which Alice tells off Henry’s horrible father, which was much needed. But perhaps my favorite part is the letter Henry sends to Alice toward the end and the decision he makes regarding his report. What a wondrous transformation of a marvelous man!

CW: dying parent (it turns out heroine’s mother was only pretending to be dying), past death of father, grief, plight of sex workers, toxic father and brother, snowstorm, heroine’s mother slaps her, slut-shaming (challenged), carriage accident resulting in broken arm, brief reference to a child falling into a frozen pond and being rescued

[aarya · Rating 2 out of 5]

2021 Winter Bingo (#SnowInLoveBingo❄️): Backlist Title

Scarlett Peckham is a brilliant writer and nothing in this book worked for me.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Henry Evesham's fiery evangelical writings have seen him made a Lord Lieutenant by the House of Lords and tasked with producing a report detailing his investigations of London's flesh trade, along with his recommendations for curbing vice. He truly wants to help those who've lost their innocence and been corrupted by or forced into a world of vice, even as he is tempted by that world and struggles to keep his moral compass in place and not slip up, again.

Alice Hull is hoping to leave behind her country roots and make a go of it in London as an apprentice to a notorious whipping house mistress. Her plans are derailed when mother suddenly falls ill and Alice must rush home with all possible haste. Given the difficulty of winter travel, Alice finds she cannot refuse the handsome but judgmental Lord Lieutenant when he offers to allow her to travel with him. She knows she can't trust him, but she must take her best chance at arriving in time to see her mother again.

Their travels through the wintry countryside are fraught with mishaps which only serve to bring these two closer and make their mutual longing more apparent. Alice challenges Henry to examine his own heart more closely and he winds up inadvertently causing the same soul searching in Alice. But as a minister, Henry's reputation means everything and his association with Alice would ruin him thoroughly if he allowed himself to pursue his true desires.

Wow. Y'all this book gave me all the feels. While it's not considered an inspirational, it explores tenets of faith that, as a Christian myself, I found to be very moving and well done. This was a difficult and ambitious topic to take on and I think the author did a fantastic job with it. Henry was so hard on himself and it was nice to see him realize he could still maintain his faith and enjoy some of life's pleasures as well. This book made me examine my own faith a bit as well and I really felt for the characters as they both grew and developed and managed to choose each other without compromising their principles but rather, by establishing what those principles truly were as they both developed in their faith. This book was an emotional powerhouse and as such won't be for everyone, but I enjoyed it and found the author to be very talented. I will continue to read her work and look forward to the next installment in this series.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

https://mustreadalltheromance.blogspo...

[Natasha is a Book Junkie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t even describe what a fan I am of Scarlett Peckham’s magnificent Secrets of Charlotte Street series, and while I couldn’t wait for Henry Evesham’s book, I honestly wasn’t sure whether I’d connect with a hero who’s a pious evangelical reformer in the context of a love story. But I should have never doubted this author’s gift for delivering a beautifully crafted story that feels authentic and emotionally engaging, no matter what the premise happens to be. A hot virgin minister, a very outspoken sex worker, a snowstorm that traps them together for days… Ah, you can cut the sexual angst with a knife! Absolutely stellar start to finish.

[Nabilah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this one. The premise is interesting, and I didn’t know how the MCs would resolve their differences. Not as high steam as I expected (considering the premise), but the sexual tension was well done. I think Ms. Peckham is en route to becoming one of my favourite authors.

[Bárbara Morais · Rating 4 out of 5]

Esse livro é muito FOFO???????
Enfim, dos três achei que foi o melhor porque o Angst faz mais sentido e é menos baseado em mal-entendidos.

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alice Hull is working at an apprenticeship with the Charlotte Street club that was a feature of the previous two books. She's in the role of an unexpected temptress to evangelical reformer Lord Lieutenant Henry Evesham. Evesham has been set up by Parliament to produce a damning report into the flesh trade in London, but exposure to actual people and the fact that he's basically a good man is leaving him with some tough decisions. When an unexpected turn of events has Alice and Henry spending a lot of time together their conversation and attraction makes it even more difficult for him to fulfill his role.

Stepping out of London makes for an interesting turn for this series. Putting these two together in close proximity for most of the book makes for some funny banter and interesting conversation around self-determination, societal roles and sex work. In the latter stages of the book as you meet both their families, the contrast between them is interesting as well, with both wanting the same thing for Alice and Henry, but for very different reasons.

[Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think virgin hero might be my favorite trope. I also LOVE a heroine with quick wit and a dirty mouth. This was goood🤌🏼

[Miccaeli · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.5)

This book (and series) is playing fast and loose with the standard conventions of the historical romance genre in a way a lot of people won't like but I'm actually really enjoying. I like that the male character is the inexperienced one and that the woman is confident about what she wants, both in her career/life and her desires. I like that it's set in a completely different time period (the 1750s?!?!? we're pre revolution here people!!!) and there's a very harlots-on-hulu aesthetic/vibe going on. The characters were well fleshed out and there's genuinely nothing that will bond you quicker than a quick trip through the old familial trauma. The ending was too schmaltzy for me, but then again they nearly always are. VERY excited for the next book with elena and that dude who just wants to make an honest woman of her!!!!

[Johanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

sacrificed my sleep schedule for Scarlett Peckham once again (there was no way around it)

[Renae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely, utterly perfect and adorable. Earnest, virginal Methodist reverends with awkwardly large bodies are an untapped goldmine.

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[☾Sabrina♡༄ · Rating 1 out of 5]

The Book I Left
Quote:

He’d always disliked his stature. He’d always felt too big. But in this moment, he was grateful for his size. He was big enough to hold her grief.

I’ve tried reading this since last year. I’d read it til about 20-25% then stop because I really couldn’t get into the book (there were so many sentences contained in bracket like this) and the book (I wished it was written differently and not full of random disconnected bracketed sentences like this) was so depressing (made me so maudlin, bringer of gloom), and so painfully boring (I should have tried harder to read it).

I didn’t like Alice (someone should really stop all her singing, why does she keep singing?) and I couldn’t understand Henry even though he’s a lot more introspective than most historical romance heroes. For some reason Henry made me think of something Alain de Botton once said: there’s no such thing as overthinking – just thinking badly. Witnessing his relentless merciless battle with himself seriously drained my energy.

Something about Henry made me feel so sorry for him that it was painful to read and not it a good way. Henry reminded me a bit of Maddy from Flowers from the Storm (my #1 historical romance obsession), but it really didn’t work for me. As usual though I still appreciated the author’s role reversal.

I finished it anyway because I’m a fan of Scarlett Peckham’s other works – absolutely adored The Rakess – but this is a miss.

This was the 3rd book in The Secrets of Charlotte Street Series. I gave the first book 4 stars and the second book 5 stars.

Quote (which, okay, is to illustrate what I didn't like):

To run, to stay. (To kiss her again.) To kiss her again.

[cam · Rating 2 out of 5]

huuhhhhhhhhhhh???

[Julie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Couldn’t finish. I knew the premise of the book, but couldn’t get past the amount of inspirational religious. I’m an atheist and it was just too much.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Did I read this book in one night and am freaking tired now? Maybe.
Did i absolutely enjoy myself? Oh hell yes.

[Ariadna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual rating 3.8

In many ways, this book turned out to be my fave of the series (so far, at least.) The combination of Enemies to Lovers + Forced Close Proximity (Alice and Henry traveled for a few days) + the Mutual Pining combined into a novel that aaaaaalmost had the perfect ending. (More on that later.)

Both protags were incredibly likable: Henry's repression and inner struggle in his attraction to Alice and certain kinks (that are far milder than you might be thinking) contrasted nicely with Alice's independence and worldliness (whether in matters of daily life and things that happen behind closed doors.) It was a real delight to see how they started at complete opposite sides of a strong argument and slowly made their way to each other.

The intimate scenes weren't as plentiful as they might've been in the other books in this series. However, as per Henry himself, he's a sensualist and that vibe was v. strong from beginning to end.

My gripes about this book are two:

1. There's something a character does that, when seen in full context, is TREMENDOUSLY CRUEL. This character does apologize for their behavior and they are forgiven. However, I got the sense they never felt actually guilty for doing what they did nor did they grovel enough, imo.

2. I would've given this novel the full 4-stars...had it not been for the last two chapters. Not only does the story wraps a bit too neatly, but also certain characters seem to have had changes of heart when it came to what they wanted to happen in their lives. An argument could be made that they were adhering to the mores of the time, but I'd hoped they'd gone down a more unconventional route.

TW/CW for: mentions of past (non-sexual) child abuse, a character with low self-esteem, grief for a family member, someone lying about chronic illness

TL;DR: A solid novel that focused a little more on the emotional side of things (or, at least, that was my impression.) I rooted for the MCs to get together and work out their differences. Unfortch for me, the ending went down such a predictable route that I had to knock out some points.

I am, however, most deffo looking forward to the next novel in the series while I cross all crossables that it'll be great.

[PlotTrysts · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review is a tough one to write - Meg absolutely adored the book (specifically, Henry), while Laine couldn't think of one good thing to say about it. We'll go with: if you're looking for a hot virgin minister who falls for a more-experienced woman and you don't mind if he manages to hold on to his faith, then this is probably right up your alley. If you don't like foot stuff and prefer your priests corrupted, then you probably want to skip this one.

11-Word Summaries:

Laine: Fleabag did it better but this version could not be worse.

Meg: Work reports are sexy when the editor is your fantasy incarnate.

www.linktr.ee/plottrysts

[Monique · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm still stunned after reading this. The writing was beautiful, but not overdone. The lines from 'The Song of Solomon' really added to the overall tone of the story.
I LOVE the H/h! Alice was a creative, musical oddball, and Henry was very altruistic (in addition to being a hot, shy preacher - lol). They were real and relatable.
'The Lord I Left' is the fourth book that I've read by Peckham; she has a way of creating truly unforgettable, three-dimensional characters. I'm dying to read the next book!

[Raffaella · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a nice surprise, a love story where the hero is tempted by the heroine, and eventually falls in love with her. Much religion, doubts and a love that grows step by step. Really romantic.

[LadyAileen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Le Fantasie Proibite di un lord è il terzo e ultimo volume della serie Historical Romance The Secrets of Charlotte Street, chiamata così per il nome della strada dove è situato un club segreto a cui sono legati i protagonisti. I libri possono essere letti anche singolarmente nonostante i personaggi dei libri precedenti o successivi compaiono come secondari. Siamo in Inghilterra nel 1758, a Londra esiste un club dove i membri dell’alta società (sia uomini che donne) possono indulgere in piaceri senza essere giudicati per le loro eccentricità sotto le lenzuola, Il Lord Luogotenente e ministro di una congrega di Metodisti, Henry Eversham è incaricato di investigare sul vizio che infesta la città per estirparlo. Henry, però, proprio durante le sue ispezioni al club incontra Alice Hull, assistente della padrona del club. Henry ne è affascinato ma sa che tra loro non potrà esserci niente…
Le vicende sono raccontate dal punto di vista di entrambi. È sicuramente una storia insolita, come un po’ tutta la serie, ed è piacevole da leggere ma il primo resta il migliore, secondo me.
Il club gioca un ruolo marginale (c’è qualche scena ambientata lì ma non è di cruciale importanza) perché in realtà tutto ruota sulla profonda religiosità di Henry e il suo conflitto interiore. Ci sono molte dissertazioni religiose che non mi sono dispiaciute ma sono andate a discapito del finale che risulta un tantino frettoloso. Anche la scena di sesso che doveva essere il momento clou (per tutto il romanzo è un continuo “stuzzicamento”) sembra tagliuzzata.
È sicuramente una delle poche storie d’amore dove il protagonista maschile è vergine, timido, molto religioso e impacciato (ma nonostante tutto resta affascinante) mentre abbiamo una protagonista femminile che ha avuto molta esperienza, determinata e non teme il giudizio della gente (forse per certi aspetti mi è sembrata un po’ troppo moderna).
Ammetto di aver preferito il protagonista maschile, molto ben caratterizzato.
È un romanzo scorrevole e il livello di sensualità è alto ma la chimica tra i due protagonisti è un po’ debole.
Se proprio non avete niente di meglio da leggere.

[Jacque · Rating 5 out of 5]

At some point (hopefully soon) I mean to write a really detailed review of all my thoughts, but rn all I have is awe. This book made me feel the same way Priest by Sierra Simone did— it really explored the sensual & the sacred in a way that felt really authentic, meaningful, and profound. My family is pretty religious, and I've had to grapple with what personal faith looks like for me, so books like this make me feel so seen :)

I will say I wanted like a “2 years later” type scene at the end to really know things worked out for them! but regardless, a phenomenal book and one i’ll DEFINITELY be rereading

[*The Angry Reader*]

Calling it quits at 52%. I had a difficult time keeping up with the emotions in the book. Sometimes a character was described as behaving cheerfully or glumly when it felt like minutes ago they’d been the opposite. I struggled to understand from whence the peaks and valleys sprung. And I’m giving up. The hero is currently jovial in a situation where that seems bizarre. And I’m tired of worrying about it.

[romancelibrary · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 "Courtney Milan did it better" stars

The Lord I Left has a delicious premise—a woman who works at a high-end whipping house and a minister who's doing research on prostitution.

I think my issue here is that I didn't feel anything for Alice and Henry. They've got solid backstories and character motivations. But I didn't love them and it's hard to root for characters that I feel nothing for.

This book does provide some scholarly insight into sex work that echoes what criminologists have been arguing for decades. And as a criminology major who's written papers on this matter, I really appreciated that.

[BJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely story with a difficult H. He's a minister and the h works happily in a whipping house. She is a wonderful character, definitely different from previous heroines in the series. She's very real, bold and she falls in love with the righteous H. He's on fire for her, lots of angst and steam. Loved their story.

[simra🌸]

“I want you to be mine,” he whispered. “So much I’m sick with it.”