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Lady Charlotte's Society of Angels #1
Olivia and the Masked Duke
He saved her life when she was a girl. Now, she is a woman determined to heal his heart...
Spirited debutante Lady Olivia MacLeod, cherished daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Strathaven, has two solving mysteries and winning the love of her secret girlhood crush, the infamous Duke of Hadleigh. When she joins Lady Charlotte Fayne’s charity for genteel young ladies and discovers that it is a front for an investigative agency, she is thrilled and dedicates herself to solving a deadly case. Little does she realize that the path to danger will also lead to her heart’s deepest desire.
Notorious widower Ben Wodehouse, the Duke of Hadleigh, has only one goal in redemption. After his tortured past, he seeks salvation behind a mask, channeling his dark demons toward helping those in need. The last thing he wants or deserves is innocence. Yet temptation taunts him by delivering pretty young Olivia into his she is everything he cannot have and everything he needs.
Will Olivia and Ben succeed in defeating a menacing foe? Will succumbing to their dark and forbidden desires lead to their happily ever after?
Spirited debutante Lady Olivia MacLeod, cherished daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Strathaven, has two solving mysteries and winning the love of her secret girlhood crush, the infamous Duke of Hadleigh. When she joins Lady Charlotte Fayne’s charity for genteel young ladies and discovers that it is a front for an investigative agency, she is thrilled and dedicates herself to solving a deadly case. Little does she realize that the path to danger will also lead to her heart’s deepest desire.
Notorious widower Ben Wodehouse, the Duke of Hadleigh, has only one goal in redemption. After his tortured past, he seeks salvation behind a mask, channeling his dark demons toward helping those in need. The last thing he wants or deserves is innocence. Yet temptation taunts him by delivering pretty young Olivia into his she is everything he cannot have and everything he needs.
Will Olivia and Ben succeed in defeating a menacing foe? Will succumbing to their dark and forbidden desires lead to their happily ever after?
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 18, 2021
441 people are currently reading
1736 people want to read
About the author
Grace Callaway
51 books1,084 followers
Preorder GLORY AND THE MASTER OF SHADOWS (Lady Charlotte's Society of Angels #4) for March 28th!
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Don't miss this thrilling new historical romance by USA Today Bestseller Grace Callaway! Set during the Opium Wars, this steamy and spellbinding Charlie’s Angels meets Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon romance will leave you breathless...
Their love is forbidden…and irresistible.
The daughter of a half-Chinese duke and a lady fossil hunter, Lady Glory Cavendish is a free-spirited campaigner for justice. She belongs to a secret society of lady detectives whose goal is to help women in need. During her latest case involving a dastardly dognapping, Glory crosses paths with the handsome and mysterious Wei Chen, a master of healing and martial arts. Fascinated by the noble shifu, Glory convinces him to take her on as a pupil; the more time she spends with him, however, the more she longs for lessons of a more intimate nature.
Master Wei Chen has led a life of discipline focused on a single goal: avenging his murdered kin. His journey takes him to London where, by day, he treats opium users in his East End clinic and, by night, he secretly hunts the villain who destroyed his family. Yet for the first time, temptation distracts Wei: his spirited and lovely new pupil stirs dangerous needs in him. Desires that are forbidden between a shifu and his student…and between a commoner and a duke’s daughter.
As Wei and Glory’s slow-burn romance ignites into fiery passion, they are drawn into a web of betrayal and deceit. Torn between honor and desire, revenge and love, the pair must decide if they will let the past determine their future…or if they will fight the shadows for their chance at happily ever after.
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About Grace
USA Today & International Bestselling Author Grace Callaway writes hot and heart-melting historical romance filled with mystery and adventure. Her debut novel was a Romance Writers of America® Golden Heart® Finalist and a #1 National Regency Bestseller, and her subsequent novels have topped national and international bestselling lists. She is the winner of the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery and Suspense, the Maggie Award for Excellence in Historical Romance, the Golden Leaf, and the Passionate Plume Award for Historical Novel. She holds a doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Michigan and lives with her family in a valley close to the sea. When she’s not writing, she enjoys dancing, exploring the great outdoors with her rescue pup, and cheering on her favorite basketball team.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 246 reviews
July 5, 2021
This book had so much going on, but I absolutely loved it all. First, we have Olivia who is 19 and decides she's finally going to tell Hadleigh that she's always loved him and it's time to see her as a woman. Hadleigh is 31 and has gone through a lot, including losing his wife tragically. While they have such a big age gap and they've each other since she was young, it never felt weird. I believed that Olivia was in love with Hadleigh and that Hadleigh hadn't ever seen her has anything more until she was 19. Then, we had this whole spy plot line which was so fun. Olivia was getting involved in dangerous situations and Haldeigh was usually there. The conflict between Olivia and Hadleigh was very believable considering Hadleigh's past and Olivia's all-consuming love for Hadleigh. Hadleigh wanted to protect Olivia but she wanted to be independent and help people through her spy organization. I enjoyed the different disguises Olivia put on and when she had to go uncover things for her mission. I do think that Hadleigh turned a bit too quickly in his treatment of Olivia at the end and he didn't grovel nearly enough, but I still loved everything about this book! While it was 350 pages, I couldn't get enough of the story, the romance, and the action!
January 30, 2021
4.5 steamy secret missions with her first love stars
This is the first book in a new series by Grace Callaway; though it involves characters from other series (specifically, Hearts of Enquiry, book #1 and Game of Dukes, book #4), it can easily be read as a standalone.
Lady Olivia McLeod is the eldest daughter of a duke and a working class duchess, so her upbringing would be considered unconventional to say the least. She has always been encouraged to be herself and to pursue the things that interest her, regardless of whether others might consider them to be gender or class appropriate. Knowing, however, that females are considered the "weaker sex," is what drives 12 year old Livy to show she is just as smart and tough by tracking down the prize through following the riddles set up by and intended for her young male counterparts to discover its location. Just as she is about to taste the sweetness of success in besting all the boys when she spies the gold crown dangling from a tree limb over the pond, she underestimates the strength of the ice as she attempts to retrieve it and falls through into the freezing waters beneath. As Livy begins to recognize the harsh reality that her short life may end with so many things left to do and experience, she sees and then feels the strength of a man's arm reaching out to save her. Her hero is the beleaguered Duke of Hadleigh, Ben Wodehouse, a man who has made many mistakes that he seems to punish himself for by living the life of a degenerate wastrel stuck in a miserable marriage.
Saving Livy's life was by far the best thing that Ben has ever done, and her devoted friendship has been his only saving grace as he suffered the loss of his wife and unborn child. When Ben hits rock bottom, he decides to give up his life of excess and debauchery and learn to care for his mind and body though exercise and meditation. From Livy's perspective, Ben has always been a hero - he saved her after all, and thus has earned her unconditional love and support. Over the years, she has looked forward to his visits and to spending time with the charming and intelligent duke, though he seems to not realize his value. But Livy's feelings change when she happens upon Ben engaged in salacious activities with a female guest at a house party... and now she wants to become his Lady.
But will Ben ever see Livy as anything other than a younger sister? Even if he does, can he take the chance of ruining the only good thing in his life as his past is certain to stain the purity of his innocent Livy? Given the hard lessons learned by Ben in his first marriage, would he ever be able to support Livy's fierce independence and willfulness? And what will happen when they become entangled in a deadly mystery where the stakes are high and the key to stopping the villains may require Ben to revisit the demons within he struggled to bury years ago?
What I liked:
--- I was honestly not sure I would find Ben sympathetic, but the author did a fantastic job of molding him into hero material
--- Emma Kent (now the Duchess of Strathaven and Olivia's mother) is one of my favorite h's and her reformed rake hubby is a favorite H, so it was fun to see them again (and see that their banter hasn't dissolved over time), and Livy's personality definitely lived up to what I would imagine a daughter of theirs would have - she was very likeable and spunky
--- The reveal of Lady Charlotte's Society of Angels was interesting, and I like the proprietress's style (am looking forward to her story that I am sure will come down the line) - since she goes by "Charlie," it's a fun spin on "Charlie's Angels"
--- Livy's peer group - "The Willflowers" - are also the "products" of H/h couples from earlier books, and they are an entertaining trio - looking forward to learning more about them in future installments of this series as well
--- STEAMY GOODNESS - with some twists (light D/S play)
What I didn't like a much:
--- The flashbacks didn't always go in sequential order, so I felt a little like I was being yanked back and forth and then trying to put it all in the right context and time line, but it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story on the whole
Overall, this was another engaging and action-packed read that delivered likeable and interesting characters, mystery and intrigue, and steamy goodness galore!
Please note that I received an advance copy from the author in exchange for my honest review.
Plot --- 4.5/5
Main Characters --- 4.5/5
Supporting Cast --- 4.5/5
Steam Level* --- 4/5
Violence --- nothing graphic
Language --- not egregious
POV --- 3rd
*Note that steam level is not a rating so much as a how hot was it: 0/5 - clean; 1/5 - mild (nothing descriptive); 2/5 - 3rd base action/1 home run; 3/5 - now we're getting somewhere (a couple of full-on steamy scenes); 4/5 - yes please! (erotica territory); 5/5 - they did EVERYTHING in this one, y'all
This is the first book in a new series by Grace Callaway; though it involves characters from other series (specifically, Hearts of Enquiry, book #1 and Game of Dukes, book #4), it can easily be read as a standalone.
Lady Olivia McLeod is the eldest daughter of a duke and a working class duchess, so her upbringing would be considered unconventional to say the least. She has always been encouraged to be herself and to pursue the things that interest her, regardless of whether others might consider them to be gender or class appropriate. Knowing, however, that females are considered the "weaker sex," is what drives 12 year old Livy to show she is just as smart and tough by tracking down the prize through following the riddles set up by and intended for her young male counterparts to discover its location. Just as she is about to taste the sweetness of success in besting all the boys when she spies the gold crown dangling from a tree limb over the pond, she underestimates the strength of the ice as she attempts to retrieve it and falls through into the freezing waters beneath. As Livy begins to recognize the harsh reality that her short life may end with so many things left to do and experience, she sees and then feels the strength of a man's arm reaching out to save her. Her hero is the beleaguered Duke of Hadleigh, Ben Wodehouse, a man who has made many mistakes that he seems to punish himself for by living the life of a degenerate wastrel stuck in a miserable marriage.
Saving Livy's life was by far the best thing that Ben has ever done, and her devoted friendship has been his only saving grace as he suffered the loss of his wife and unborn child. When Ben hits rock bottom, he decides to give up his life of excess and debauchery and learn to care for his mind and body though exercise and meditation. From Livy's perspective, Ben has always been a hero - he saved her after all, and thus has earned her unconditional love and support. Over the years, she has looked forward to his visits and to spending time with the charming and intelligent duke, though he seems to not realize his value. But Livy's feelings change when she happens upon Ben engaged in salacious activities with a female guest at a house party... and now she wants to become his Lady.
But will Ben ever see Livy as anything other than a younger sister? Even if he does, can he take the chance of ruining the only good thing in his life as his past is certain to stain the purity of his innocent Livy? Given the hard lessons learned by Ben in his first marriage, would he ever be able to support Livy's fierce independence and willfulness? And what will happen when they become entangled in a deadly mystery where the stakes are high and the key to stopping the villains may require Ben to revisit the demons within he struggled to bury years ago?
What I liked:
--- I was honestly not sure I would find Ben sympathetic, but the author did a fantastic job of molding him into hero material
--- Emma Kent (now the Duchess of Strathaven and Olivia's mother) is one of my favorite h's and her reformed rake hubby is a favorite H, so it was fun to see them again (and see that their banter hasn't dissolved over time), and Livy's personality definitely lived up to what I would imagine a daughter of theirs would have - she was very likeable and spunky
--- The reveal of Lady Charlotte's Society of Angels was interesting, and I like the proprietress's style (am looking forward to her story that I am sure will come down the line) - since she goes by "Charlie," it's a fun spin on "Charlie's Angels"
--- Livy's peer group - "The Willflowers" - are also the "products" of H/h couples from earlier books, and they are an entertaining trio - looking forward to learning more about them in future installments of this series as well
--- STEAMY GOODNESS - with some twists (light D/S play)
What I didn't like a much:
--- The flashbacks didn't always go in sequential order, so I felt a little like I was being yanked back and forth and then trying to put it all in the right context and time line, but it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story on the whole
Overall, this was another engaging and action-packed read that delivered likeable and interesting characters, mystery and intrigue, and steamy goodness galore!
Please note that I received an advance copy from the author in exchange for my honest review.
Plot --- 4.5/5
Main Characters --- 4.5/5
Supporting Cast --- 4.5/5
Steam Level* --- 4/5
Violence --- nothing graphic
Language --- not egregious
POV --- 3rd
*Note that steam level is not a rating so much as a how hot was it: 0/5 - clean; 1/5 - mild (nothing descriptive); 2/5 - 3rd base action/1 home run; 3/5 - now we're getting somewhere (a couple of full-on steamy scenes); 4/5 - yes please! (erotica territory); 5/5 - they did EVERYTHING in this one, y'all
June 30, 2021
This was so sweet and fun! The friends to lovers romance is the unrequited love type and even though I don't enjoy reading unrequited love that much, Livy and Ben were too charming and HOT for me to not love them. I loved that as soon as she kissed him, there was no one else for him. Livy was a headstrong heroine and very determined to win Ben's heart. It was great that she wasn't waiting on the sidelines as he came to terms about his feelings, and instead chose to join a secret society that helped women in need. I loved our girl gang – Livy and her best friends join the Society of Angels, a society of badass ladies a la Charlie's Angels. I can't wait to read the rest of the series!
July 2, 2021
Trigger warnings: death of a spouse (in the past), cheating, drug addiction, death, questionable consent (particularly around kinks), romanticised relationship between a teenager and a grown ass man.
Wow, I hated this more than I've hated anything in a long time. First of all, I'd like to apologise to the friends who I traumatised by sending them the worst parts of this book. But second, I'd like to say that I feel I should acknowledge that I went into this knowing it had a dad's-best-friend trope (which I hate) and an age gap romance (which I also hate) so it was never going to be a HUGE success for me.
But I didn't expect to hate this as much as I did. Let's start with the fact that Olivia is 19. She's known Ben since he saved her life when she was 12, at which point he was 24 and already married. Somewhere along the line, her hero worship turned to love. Now that she's 19 and out in society and he's a 31 year old widower, she's ready to declare her affections. And, like, FINE. It's not for me, because the power imbalance in that relationship is hugely problematic and I hate it. But, like, fine. It's not like she's 15 or anything.
BUT.
There were repeated flashbacks throughout the book to key moments in their relationship from the time they met. Which meant that you'd go from a graphic sex scene full of her dripping canal and his tree trunk sized dick to a 25 year old Ben teaching a 13 year old Olivia to swim and NOOOOOOO. NO NO NO NO NO. I don't want to go from a sex scene between two characters to "awwww he's one of her dad's best friends and look how good he is with children like her!". Please throw it straight in the bin, ta muchly.
And then we get to the fact that he - without having the words for it - has some Dom tendencies and yet never explains to her what that means, other than telling her that he wants to be called "sir" in the bedroom and that she has to obey whatever he says. There's no aftercare, there's no discussion of limits, there's no safe words. Even Christian Grey, who's abusive af and indescribably problematic (check SnarkSquad.com for receipts, ta muchly) has a contract discussing that shit.
Their first sexual contact is IN PUBLIC and features him being all "You've been a naughty girl so I'm going to smack your bare arse as punishment" and she's like "I mean, I've been in love with you for years and you're finally paying attention to me, so sure?". But she's such a proper lady and such a virgin that when she gets wet from him smacking her arse, she doesn't even KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING???? Like. Dude. If she doesn't know what's going on, you should probably stop smacking her arse and have a proper conversation about what she's comfortable doing.
But no, he doesn't do that. That would be respectful and consensual. Instead, he tells her "This is your pussy and it's supposed to weep pretty tears when we are together." WEEP. PRETTY. TEARS. I just...no.
Other "joys" courtesy of this book:
- She goes to his house for sexytimes and comments on the fact that it's strange that she's never seen his bedroom in all the times she's been there. "A gentleman's bedchamber was no place for a little girl," he murmured. "I am no longer a little girl." She gave him an adorably smug look. "Now, I am your lover." PLEASE KILL ME.
- "her instant parting of her lips injected steel into his cock." Alright, calm down, Wolverine.
- "He palmed her breasts, appreciating their rounded heft." Well thanks for clarifying that her boobs aren't triangles.
- "Her breath held as Ben lowered the flap [of his breeches]; a column of flesh fell forward with weighty momentum." A column of flesh is possibly the strangest description of a penis that I've ever come across.
- Other penis descriptions: "the huge rod", "She eyed his member, swaying like a giant branch",
" that thick truncheon of flesh", "His cock was huge, a thick and heavy truncheon between his thighs". OH MY GOD, WE GET IT. HE HAS A BASEBALL BAT FOR A DICK.
- "stabbing his tongue into her pussy while he strummed her needy bud". Sir, I know it's a tongue but STOP STABBING, HOLY HELL.
- "He ground his steel-hard base against her pearl, rolling his balls over her swollen folds" Yeah, no. Ta muchly. You cannot convince me that some dude rubbing his sweaty ball sack all over your vulva is sexy.
- The first time she confesses her love to him, he shuts her down. But, being from Scotland, she remembers the story of Robert the Bruce, who had the perseverance to defeat the English from watching a spider try a million times to build a web or whatever. Apparently she's always loved spiders because of this story, so HE BUYS HER A SPIDER-SHAPED ENGAGEMENT RING???? I honestly cackled because this is, like, straight out of a post-Avengers Clintasha fanfic written by a 16 year old.
- He describes her butthole as "her pleated rosebud".
- "His stones smacked her dewy folds as he hilted himself in her snug sheath" Grace, honey, WHY DO BALLS FEATURE SO PROMINENTLY IN YOUR SEX SCENES?!
- "Wonder expanded his chest...and his cock." Pretty sure that's not how erections work, but alrighty then.
- There was some questionable colonialism related content that I could have done without
- Ben consistently called Livy "little queen" in bed, a nickname he gave her when she was 12. He also called her "brat" repeatedly in the bedroom. STOP REMINDING ME THAT YOU'VE BASICALLY BEEN AN OLDER BROTHER TO HER OH MY GOD.
- The author's note at the end tells me that if I subscribe to her newsletter, I can get an EXTRA CHAPTER of Livy and Ben ;-) I appreciate the generous offer, but I've already spent my full monthly pay on bleach that I plan to pour into my eyeballs as soon as I finish writing this review, so I'll pass.
- Oh, also this is effectively an 1840s version of Charlie's Angels only they're trying to work out who's selling a spectacularly lethal type of opium. Mostly this was an excuse for Livy to sneak around at night to various shady locations in various disguises and for Ben to catch her and punish her for it. Yay.
In summary, I paid $6.99 for this book and I am mad about it.
Wow, I hated this more than I've hated anything in a long time. First of all, I'd like to apologise to the friends who I traumatised by sending them the worst parts of this book. But second, I'd like to say that I feel I should acknowledge that I went into this knowing it had a dad's-best-friend trope (which I hate) and an age gap romance (which I also hate) so it was never going to be a HUGE success for me.
But I didn't expect to hate this as much as I did. Let's start with the fact that Olivia is 19. She's known Ben since he saved her life when she was 12, at which point he was 24 and already married. Somewhere along the line, her hero worship turned to love. Now that she's 19 and out in society and he's a 31 year old widower, she's ready to declare her affections. And, like, FINE. It's not for me, because the power imbalance in that relationship is hugely problematic and I hate it. But, like, fine. It's not like she's 15 or anything.
BUT.
There were repeated flashbacks throughout the book to key moments in their relationship from the time they met. Which meant that you'd go from a graphic sex scene full of her dripping canal and his tree trunk sized dick to a 25 year old Ben teaching a 13 year old Olivia to swim and NOOOOOOO. NO NO NO NO NO. I don't want to go from a sex scene between two characters to "awwww he's one of her dad's best friends and look how good he is with children like her!". Please throw it straight in the bin, ta muchly.
And then we get to the fact that he - without having the words for it - has some Dom tendencies and yet never explains to her what that means, other than telling her that he wants to be called "sir" in the bedroom and that she has to obey whatever he says. There's no aftercare, there's no discussion of limits, there's no safe words. Even Christian Grey, who's abusive af and indescribably problematic (check SnarkSquad.com for receipts, ta muchly) has a contract discussing that shit.
Their first sexual contact is IN PUBLIC and features him being all "You've been a naughty girl so I'm going to smack your bare arse as punishment" and she's like "I mean, I've been in love with you for years and you're finally paying attention to me, so sure?". But she's such a proper lady and such a virgin that when she gets wet from him smacking her arse, she doesn't even KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING???? Like. Dude. If she doesn't know what's going on, you should probably stop smacking her arse and have a proper conversation about what she's comfortable doing.
But no, he doesn't do that. That would be respectful and consensual. Instead, he tells her "This is your pussy and it's supposed to weep pretty tears when we are together." WEEP. PRETTY. TEARS. I just...no.
Other "joys" courtesy of this book:
- She goes to his house for sexytimes and comments on the fact that it's strange that she's never seen his bedroom in all the times she's been there. "A gentleman's bedchamber was no place for a little girl," he murmured. "I am no longer a little girl." She gave him an adorably smug look. "Now, I am your lover." PLEASE KILL ME.
- "her instant parting of her lips injected steel into his cock." Alright, calm down, Wolverine.
- "He palmed her breasts, appreciating their rounded heft." Well thanks for clarifying that her boobs aren't triangles.
- "Her breath held as Ben lowered the flap [of his breeches]; a column of flesh fell forward with weighty momentum." A column of flesh is possibly the strangest description of a penis that I've ever come across.
- Other penis descriptions: "the huge rod", "She eyed his member, swaying like a giant branch",
" that thick truncheon of flesh", "His cock was huge, a thick and heavy truncheon between his thighs". OH MY GOD, WE GET IT. HE HAS A BASEBALL BAT FOR A DICK.
- "stabbing his tongue into her pussy while he strummed her needy bud". Sir, I know it's a tongue but STOP STABBING, HOLY HELL.
- "He ground his steel-hard base against her pearl, rolling his balls over her swollen folds" Yeah, no. Ta muchly. You cannot convince me that some dude rubbing his sweaty ball sack all over your vulva is sexy.
- The first time she confesses her love to him, he shuts her down. But, being from Scotland, she remembers the story of Robert the Bruce, who had the perseverance to defeat the English from watching a spider try a million times to build a web or whatever. Apparently she's always loved spiders because of this story, so HE BUYS HER A SPIDER-SHAPED ENGAGEMENT RING???? I honestly cackled because this is, like, straight out of a post-Avengers Clintasha fanfic written by a 16 year old.
- He describes her butthole as "her pleated rosebud".
- "His stones smacked her dewy folds as he hilted himself in her snug sheath" Grace, honey, WHY DO BALLS FEATURE SO PROMINENTLY IN YOUR SEX SCENES?!
- "Wonder expanded his chest...and his cock." Pretty sure that's not how erections work, but alrighty then.
- There was some questionable colonialism related content that I could have done without
- Ben consistently called Livy "little queen" in bed, a nickname he gave her when she was 12. He also called her "brat" repeatedly in the bedroom. STOP REMINDING ME THAT YOU'VE BASICALLY BEEN AN OLDER BROTHER TO HER OH MY GOD.
- The author's note at the end tells me that if I subscribe to her newsletter, I can get an EXTRA CHAPTER of Livy and Ben ;-) I appreciate the generous offer, but I've already spent my full monthly pay on bleach that I plan to pour into my eyeballs as soon as I finish writing this review, so I'll pass.
- Oh, also this is effectively an 1840s version of Charlie's Angels only they're trying to work out who's selling a spectacularly lethal type of opium. Mostly this was an excuse for Livy to sneak around at night to various shady locations in various disguises and for Ben to catch her and punish her for it. Yay.
In summary, I paid $6.99 for this book and I am mad about it.
July 3, 2021
So here we have an age-gap, dad’s best friend “romance” between 19 year old Olivia and 30-something year old widower Ben. They’ve known each other since Ben saved Olivia’s life when she was 12 years old. Since this moment they’ve become besties or whatever and he also became super close with her father.
Just so many things did not work for me. I despise the entire plot of this book. I get what the author was trying to do, but the execution was just not there. Yeah the sex scenes were probably some of the kinkiest I’ve read in a historical but honestly these characters and story sucked so bad, I couldn’t care less.
We’ll start with the flashbacks. Oh my god, the flashbacks made me want to throw up. I have no problem with a big age-gap, but this shit made me so uncomfortable and it was mostly because of the fucking flashbacks. It was definitely a choice to go from a literal sex scene in the present to a flashback of a child and a grown man playing cards, or him teaching her to swim… What was the reason? Please, stop force feeding me these supposed important key moments in their relationship. What does this contribute to the present time? I could not see a genuine love connection between Olivia and Ben, all I saw was a young girl who worshiped this hero like a big brother.
And I’m supposed to believe that the barely legal heroine discovers she’s in love with the hero when she sees him having kinky sex with another woman. Because that is so romantic. That’s the moment she knows she is in love with him. Honey, that’s your sexual awakening… it’s not love. And when did he fall in love with her? One page, she’s pushing and pushing and he’s saying he sees her as a younger sister… Next he’s talking about how much he loves her and all the dirty things he wants to do to her. Again, sexual attraction ≠ love.
The mystery was freaking laughable. On top of the hero being a pseudo masked vigilante, we have the freaking Charlie’s Angels, teenage detective spy agency. What a pain. I hated everything about it. I hated Charlie and how she was constantly pushing her own agenda and views onto these young girls she just recruited. I hated Olivia was so dishonest to Ben. How, knowing Ben’s past - his whole trauma with being in a manipulative, toxic relationship in which he was lied to all the time and after he specifically told her all this and that that dishonesty was the one thing he couldn’t accept - she still went and lied to him. Repeatedly. And got caught by him every single time, only to make up yet another lie. She had no regard for his wishes or feelings, she felt guilty lying to him but she just kept on doing it. And when he finds out the actual truth, he forgives her in two seconds and ends up apologizing to her. Because he should have known she was always a naughty wild child and he shouldn't have tried to control her. He did try to control her and that was wrong but there was a very real reason, which Olivia was well aware of, for why he was so protective of her. They both needed to communicate and not just have sex.
Just so many things did not work for me. I despise the entire plot of this book. I get what the author was trying to do, but the execution was just not there. Yeah the sex scenes were probably some of the kinkiest I’ve read in a historical but honestly these characters and story sucked so bad, I couldn’t care less.
We’ll start with the flashbacks. Oh my god, the flashbacks made me want to throw up. I have no problem with a big age-gap, but this shit made me so uncomfortable and it was mostly because of the fucking flashbacks. It was definitely a choice to go from a literal sex scene in the present to a flashback of a child and a grown man playing cards, or him teaching her to swim… What was the reason? Please, stop force feeding me these supposed important key moments in their relationship. What does this contribute to the present time? I could not see a genuine love connection between Olivia and Ben, all I saw was a young girl who worshiped this hero like a big brother.
And I’m supposed to believe that the barely legal heroine discovers she’s in love with the hero when she sees him having kinky sex with another woman. Because that is so romantic. That’s the moment she knows she is in love with him. Honey, that’s your sexual awakening… it’s not love. And when did he fall in love with her? One page, she’s pushing and pushing and he’s saying he sees her as a younger sister… Next he’s talking about how much he loves her and all the dirty things he wants to do to her. Again, sexual attraction ≠ love.
The mystery was freaking laughable. On top of the hero being a pseudo masked vigilante, we have the freaking Charlie’s Angels, teenage detective spy agency. What a pain. I hated everything about it. I hated Charlie and how she was constantly pushing her own agenda and views onto these young girls she just recruited. I hated Olivia was so dishonest to Ben. How, knowing Ben’s past - his whole trauma with being in a manipulative, toxic relationship in which he was lied to all the time and after he specifically told her all this and that that dishonesty was the one thing he couldn’t accept - she still went and lied to him. Repeatedly. And got caught by him every single time, only to make up yet another lie. She had no regard for his wishes or feelings, she felt guilty lying to him but she just kept on doing it. And when he finds out the actual truth, he forgives her in two seconds and ends up apologizing to her. Because he should have known she was always a naughty wild child and he shouldn't have tried to control her. He did try to control her and that was wrong but there was a very real reason, which Olivia was well aware of, for why he was so protective of her. They both needed to communicate and not just have sex.
February 27, 2021
TW: addiction, drugs
Tags: dad’s friend, under-negotiated kink
Its easier to approach reading this book as a farce. It was trying to do something with nods to colonialism and nefarious criminal activity but I couldnt take any of it seriously since there is no cohesion to the tonal changes between the hero and heroine’s POV. The age difference is brought up often in this novel but its much ado about nothing for a historical romance. In all honesty, the clunky time-skips are the least offensive part about this novel.
Aspects of this novel that might bother others kind of struck me as “hmmm” 🤔 worthy additions. Those story details were a risk but also an interesting combination of historical romance with contemporary erotica tropes. I can dig it.
However, actual issues I had were: the manipulative leader who presses her views on impressionable young women, the trio of girl-women who we’re supposed to see as competent but just seem like B-list versions of Totally Spies instead of independent criminal investigators with unique skillsets, the fact that the heroine continually lies to a traumatized hero that she professes to love and yet he’s the one forced to apologize when secrets come to light...
You know, basically the entire plot. The narrative doesnt find these things problematic at all.
Honestly, I couldnt find much to even like about this novel. I didnt care for the heroine’s “quirky” galpals (except maaaybe Fiona?) , their stupid edgy leader Charlie, and their training montage. While I understand the root of the hero’s manpain, I dont really like him?? I skipped the sex scenes, they did nothing for me because I could care less about these characters. The hero’s self righteous sister from The Duke Redemption makes an appearance here to do something even more self-righteous. Basically, I felt vindicated in disliking this novel towards the end.
Ultimately I finished it because I kept hoping for more. Foolish me. There’s really cool elements here that could have worked independently. Unfortunately, the novel was trying to be too many things at once and was underwhelming overall.
Tags: dad’s friend, under-negotiated kink
Its easier to approach reading this book as a farce. It was trying to do something with nods to colonialism and nefarious criminal activity but I couldnt take any of it seriously since there is no cohesion to the tonal changes between the hero and heroine’s POV. The age difference is brought up often in this novel but its much ado about nothing for a historical romance. In all honesty, the clunky time-skips are the least offensive part about this novel.
Aspects of this novel that might bother others kind of struck me as “hmmm” 🤔 worthy additions. Those story details were a risk but also an interesting combination of historical romance with contemporary erotica tropes. I can dig it.
However, actual issues I had were: the manipulative leader who presses her views on impressionable young women, the trio of girl-women who we’re supposed to see as competent but just seem like B-list versions of Totally Spies instead of independent criminal investigators with unique skillsets, the fact that the heroine continually lies to a traumatized hero that she professes to love and yet he’s the one forced to apologize when secrets come to light...
You know, basically the entire plot. The narrative doesnt find these things problematic at all.
Honestly, I couldnt find much to even like about this novel. I didnt care for the heroine’s “quirky” galpals (except maaaybe Fiona?) , their stupid edgy leader Charlie, and their training montage. While I understand the root of the hero’s manpain, I dont really like him?? I skipped the sex scenes, they did nothing for me because I could care less about these characters. The hero’s self righteous sister from The Duke Redemption makes an appearance here to do something even more self-righteous. Basically, I felt vindicated in disliking this novel towards the end.
Ultimately I finished it because I kept hoping for more. Foolish me. There’s really cool elements here that could have worked independently. Unfortunately, the novel was trying to be too many things at once and was underwhelming overall.
December 19, 2021
I found it mildly disturbing when we get past chapters when the heroine was 12, 13, 15 years old and the hero is twelve years older..
February 7, 2022
4 Stars
Quick Review
- Grace Callaway writes amazing stories, which I always enjoy! This lovely romantic mystery about the second generation of the characters we loved was great.
- The plot was very engaging, the element of mystery was perfectly intriguing, the main characters were utterly likeable, and the romance was as sweet as it was spicy! Big thumbs up to plot and character development.
- Ms Callaway managed to deliver a plethora of emotions. This story was funny, angsty, loving, dramatic, steamy, a little dangerous, and ostentatious to a certain degree.
- I found Olivia to be an adorable heroine. She had the best characteristics that any daughter of Emma & Alaric would have. Her innocent but willful nature was a refreshing combination. I liked how the author relayed her self-belief and unwavering loyalty. This girl was intelligent, undeterred, determined and dedicated.
- Ben was an interestingly complicated hero. His behaviour would have labelled him to be an autocratic jackass, but the way Ms Callaway presented him in conjunction with his past experiences made him to a case of "Oh, poor dear", hence, likeable.
- This age-gap romance was quite sweet, even in a forbidden way. Considering they had gotten to know each other uninhibited by any of the relationship pressures, them falling in love that quickly was believable. I felt it conveyed a "meant-for-each-other" flavour. It was cute. Their chemistry was a quirky presentation of the dynamic of powerplay in any couple, making their banter intellectual and logical, unheard of in most HR books. The steam was downright filthy but delicious.
Niggles
- The prose was quite modern, and certain plot elements were quite contemporary in nature.
- At times, I had a Bombshell throwback, and it was difficult for me to shake, considering the horror show that was this Sarah MacLean disaster. Olivia and her band of Willflowers had a lot of parallels with Sesily and her Victorian vagabond female troop. But thankfully, my logic kicked in, and I could discern that there were multitudes of differences between these two. Age, logic, honesty, and operating in secrecy being chief amongst them.
Special Mentions:
- An ode to "Charlie's Angels"
- A non guessable villain
- Honest conversations (hurray)
My Recommendation
Grace Callaway rarely disappoints. I loved this story, and I am sure you shall enjoy it as well. This book has prompted me to explore all the other series I may have missed.
Quick Review
- Grace Callaway writes amazing stories, which I always enjoy! This lovely romantic mystery about the second generation of the characters we loved was great.
- The plot was very engaging, the element of mystery was perfectly intriguing, the main characters were utterly likeable, and the romance was as sweet as it was spicy! Big thumbs up to plot and character development.
- Ms Callaway managed to deliver a plethora of emotions. This story was funny, angsty, loving, dramatic, steamy, a little dangerous, and ostentatious to a certain degree.
- I found Olivia to be an adorable heroine. She had the best characteristics that any daughter of Emma & Alaric would have. Her innocent but willful nature was a refreshing combination. I liked how the author relayed her self-belief and unwavering loyalty. This girl was intelligent, undeterred, determined and dedicated.
- Ben was an interestingly complicated hero. His behaviour would have labelled him to be an autocratic jackass, but the way Ms Callaway presented him in conjunction with his past experiences made him to a case of "Oh, poor dear", hence, likeable.
- This age-gap romance was quite sweet, even in a forbidden way. Considering they had gotten to know each other uninhibited by any of the relationship pressures, them falling in love that quickly was believable. I felt it conveyed a "meant-for-each-other" flavour. It was cute. Their chemistry was a quirky presentation of the dynamic of powerplay in any couple, making their banter intellectual and logical, unheard of in most HR books. The steam was downright filthy but delicious.
Niggles
- The prose was quite modern, and certain plot elements were quite contemporary in nature.
- At times, I had a Bombshell throwback, and it was difficult for me to shake, considering the horror show that was this Sarah MacLean disaster. Olivia and her band of Willflowers had a lot of parallels with Sesily and her Victorian vagabond female troop. But thankfully, my logic kicked in, and I could discern that there were multitudes of differences between these two. Age, logic, honesty, and operating in secrecy being chief amongst them.
Special Mentions:
- An ode to "Charlie's Angels"
- A non guessable villain
- Honest conversations (hurray)
My Recommendation
Grace Callaway rarely disappoints. I loved this story, and I am sure you shall enjoy it as well. This book has prompted me to explore all the other series I may have missed.
July 8, 2021
This was such an enjoyable historical romance that had everything! The story had excitement, romance, steam, friendship, and espionage. It was a thrilling adventure from start to finish.
When it came to the romance and the fact that there was an age gap introduced when the female heroine was younger, I was somewhat apprehensive. However, the way it was executed in this novel took away all of my original apprehension. There was a clear difference in the platonic relationship between the female heroine and male hero when they were both younger to when they discovered the romantic relationship as older characters.
I also loved the spin and twist with "Charlie's Angels" involved in this story. Surprisingly, it took me halfway through the story to discover that the coincidences were intentional.
This was my first Grace Callaway read but it certainly will not be my last! I can't wait to dive into more of her works!
When it came to the romance and the fact that there was an age gap introduced when the female heroine was younger, I was somewhat apprehensive. However, the way it was executed in this novel took away all of my original apprehension. There was a clear difference in the platonic relationship between the female heroine and male hero when they were both younger to when they discovered the romantic relationship as older characters.
I also loved the spin and twist with "Charlie's Angels" involved in this story. Surprisingly, it took me halfway through the story to discover that the coincidences were intentional.
This was my first Grace Callaway read but it certainly will not be my last! I can't wait to dive into more of her works!
February 24, 2024
2/23/2024 - Free on Amazon USA - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B089LLVXH2
I felt that this book could have been shorter if some scenes that didn’t move the story along had been removed, like most of the flashback scenes and, I can’t believe I’m saying this, some of the hot and steamy scenes.
I couldn’t connect with the hero. The Society of Angels theme reminded me of Sarah MacLean’s Hell’s Belles. For now, I don’t mind the investigative heroines this series and MacLean’s series will have.
I felt that this book could have been shorter if some scenes that didn’t move the story along had been removed, like most of the flashback scenes and, I can’t believe I’m saying this, some of the hot and steamy scenes.
I couldn’t connect with the hero. The Society of Angels theme reminded me of Sarah MacLean’s Hell’s Belles. For now, I don’t mind the investigative heroines this series and MacLean’s series will have.
February 14, 2021
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Olivia and the Masked Duke is the first book in a brand new Grace Callaway series: Lady Charlotte's Society of Angels. This book features Lady Olivia McLeod, the daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Strathaven (The Duke Who Knew Too Much) and Ben Wodehouse, the Duke of Hadleigh, who is the younger brother of Lady Beatrice Wodehouse (The Duke Redemption). Despite these connections, Olivia and the Masked Duke works perfectly as a standalone. So if you want to begin your Grace Callaway journey here, this book is a good place to start!
When Livy McLeod was 12 years old, Ben Wodehouse saved her life. Since that fateful day, Ben and Livy have become friends, despite the 12 year age gap between them. I think some readers may be concerned about the age gap because Livy was a minor when she became friends with Ben. I can confirm that Ben and Livy were solely friends during these years. It's not until Livy turned into an adult that she started seeing Ben differently and then decided to pursue him. As for Ben, well...it takes a while for him to even see Livy that way. He is shocked when Livy starts pursuing him in the romantic sense lol. But I won't ruin the journey for you! Just know that this is a heartfelt and SEXY friends to lovers romance and the age gap does not feel icky because sexual attraction does not come into the picture until after Livy becomes an adult. Even then, it's Livy who sees Ben as a man first and she's the one who falls in love first. So there is a bit of unrequited love in that sense. Despite the age gap, Ben and Livy's friendship is so natural. Their friendship never feels awkward and the transition from friends to lovers is done tastefully (and steamily 😏). Grace Callaway is always reliable when it comes to writing romances that are both romantic and steamy.
Ben is quite the dark and brooding hero. He has a very dark past, tied to his first marriage and his addiction to opium. Just a fair warning that the story gets quite dark, especially when the author delves deeply into the intricate subject of opium addiction. The romance between Ben and Livy is the heart of this book. But there is also a mystery surrounding a mysterious drug lord who has been distributing a new lethal variation of opium in the streets of London. Livy and Ben get dragged into this mystery for different reasons. The Society of Angels comes into play when Livy and her friends join Lady Charlotte to train as investigators. You do have to somewhat suspend disbelief here because Livy and her friends get trained in the space of weeks and they become experts after a short amount of time. But I didn't overthink this and just went along for the wild ride lol.
There are also flashbacks that are added sporadically throughout the story to depict the friendship between Ben and Livy and how it deepens throughout the years. These flashbacks really solidify their friendship and provide a strong foundation for the eventual romance that blooms between Ben and Livy. Furthermore, long time Grace Callaway fans will meet some of their favourite characters again! Characters from previous Grace Callaway series make special appearances, but luckily, they don't overshadow the main couple. The reason why I mention this is because there are other authors who have written second generation series, but whose original characters ended up overshadowing the second gen characters. But I knew I could trust Grace Callaway!!
Overall, I am SO excited about this series! Second generation characters, as well as brand new characters, are introduced in this book and I am already trying to guess the future couples lol. I'm SUPER excited for the next book in this series!!
P.S. Please read the Author's Note at the end regarding her research on Orientalism and the Opium Wars. I know a little bit about the historical and sociological context of opium (I have a degree in Criminology) and it was interesting to read about this topic in a romance novel!
Olivia and the Masked Duke is the first book in a brand new Grace Callaway series: Lady Charlotte's Society of Angels. This book features Lady Olivia McLeod, the daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Strathaven (The Duke Who Knew Too Much) and Ben Wodehouse, the Duke of Hadleigh, who is the younger brother of Lady Beatrice Wodehouse (The Duke Redemption). Despite these connections, Olivia and the Masked Duke works perfectly as a standalone. So if you want to begin your Grace Callaway journey here, this book is a good place to start!
When Livy McLeod was 12 years old, Ben Wodehouse saved her life. Since that fateful day, Ben and Livy have become friends, despite the 12 year age gap between them. I think some readers may be concerned about the age gap because Livy was a minor when she became friends with Ben. I can confirm that Ben and Livy were solely friends during these years. It's not until Livy turned into an adult that she started seeing Ben differently and then decided to pursue him. As for Ben, well...it takes a while for him to even see Livy that way. He is shocked when Livy starts pursuing him in the romantic sense lol. But I won't ruin the journey for you! Just know that this is a heartfelt and SEXY friends to lovers romance and the age gap does not feel icky because sexual attraction does not come into the picture until after Livy becomes an adult. Even then, it's Livy who sees Ben as a man first and she's the one who falls in love first. So there is a bit of unrequited love in that sense. Despite the age gap, Ben and Livy's friendship is so natural. Their friendship never feels awkward and the transition from friends to lovers is done tastefully (and steamily 😏). Grace Callaway is always reliable when it comes to writing romances that are both romantic and steamy.
Ben is quite the dark and brooding hero. He has a very dark past, tied to his first marriage and his addiction to opium. Just a fair warning that the story gets quite dark, especially when the author delves deeply into the intricate subject of opium addiction. The romance between Ben and Livy is the heart of this book. But there is also a mystery surrounding a mysterious drug lord who has been distributing a new lethal variation of opium in the streets of London. Livy and Ben get dragged into this mystery for different reasons. The Society of Angels comes into play when Livy and her friends join Lady Charlotte to train as investigators. You do have to somewhat suspend disbelief here because Livy and her friends get trained in the space of weeks and they become experts after a short amount of time. But I didn't overthink this and just went along for the wild ride lol.
There are also flashbacks that are added sporadically throughout the story to depict the friendship between Ben and Livy and how it deepens throughout the years. These flashbacks really solidify their friendship and provide a strong foundation for the eventual romance that blooms between Ben and Livy. Furthermore, long time Grace Callaway fans will meet some of their favourite characters again! Characters from previous Grace Callaway series make special appearances, but luckily, they don't overshadow the main couple. The reason why I mention this is because there are other authors who have written second generation series, but whose original characters ended up overshadowing the second gen characters. But I knew I could trust Grace Callaway!!
Overall, I am SO excited about this series! Second generation characters, as well as brand new characters, are introduced in this book and I am already trying to guess the future couples lol. I'm SUPER excited for the next book in this series!!
P.S. Please read the Author's Note at the end regarding her research on Orientalism and the Opium Wars. I know a little bit about the historical and sociological context of opium (I have a degree in Criminology) and it was interesting to read about this topic in a romance novel!
January 9, 2024
3 stars
Pros:
- Age gap trope (Livy is 19 and Ben is in his 30s)
- Sub/Dom trope
- Excellent steamy scenes
Cons:
- Willflowers / Charlie's Angels charade
- Suspense / Mysteries / Spy trope
- Heroine saying “zounds” too many times, plus I found her annoying overall
- Flashback chapters from when they were younger wasn't really necessary
This was my first GC book. Apparently, all of her books are connected and involve a mystery of some sort. While I don't like the spy trope (I skimmed these parts), I may give her books another chance as she writes amazing sexy/smutty scenes. Onto the next! 3 stars.
Pros:
- Age gap trope (Livy is 19 and Ben is in his 30s)
- Sub/Dom trope
- Excellent steamy scenes
Cons:
- Willflowers / Charlie's Angels charade
- Suspense / Mysteries / Spy trope
- Heroine saying “zounds” too many times, plus I found her annoying overall
- Flashback chapters from when they were younger wasn't really necessary
This was my first GC book. Apparently, all of her books are connected and involve a mystery of some sort. While I don't like the spy trope (I skimmed these parts), I may give her books another chance as she writes amazing sexy/smutty scenes. Onto the next! 3 stars.
July 4, 2021
3 stars
Olivia and the Masked Duke comes across as 'fan fiction-y', overindulgent in certain aspects and lacks concise editing for a cohesive whole. While it remains completely bingeable, with so many elements screaming for attention, the reading experience is like a runaway train on the verge of derailing.
At its core Olivia and the Masked Duke is a Victorian era Charlie's Angels. Wearing it's references on its sleeve, the novel explicitly recalls characters from familiar franchises with swapped gender: Charlie is now a female agency owner overseeing the 'Angels', and Mrs, Q is a seamstress creating garments outfitted with gadgets (referencing Q in the 007 series). I would've been more than satisfied getting a historical romance with an added layer of lighthearted, Nancy Drew style sleuthing, but the book has to throw in even more madness to the mix, in the form of a possessive tragic hero who's an ex-drug addict/alcoholic, and a traumatized murderer. Oh, and the couple is very much into dominant/submissive power plays.
Between setting up the agency's origin story (for the series), unpacking the hero's mental journey, tailoring to a specific kink for the sex, constant reminder of the age difference in their romance, and actually going through the motions solving cases, it's no surprise the book lacks polish trying to juggle all these narrative threads: the crime is solved with major leaps in logic, the couple's final conflict is settled in a less than convincing way (one individual was judged to be more at fault, justified only by a minuscule technicality), and with the abundant usage of 'cunt' and 'pussy', the steamy scenes come across as jarringly un-historical.
Overall, Olivia and the Masked Duke is less than the sum of its parts—even though I really enjoy the diversity in its characters, and infusing the historical romance genre with contemporary topics (addiction, meditation, etc.), it is simply doing too many things too soon. Fun read, if a little rough around the edges.
**Historical Romance Readathon 2021 | Group Read**
Olivia and the Masked Duke comes across as 'fan fiction-y', overindulgent in certain aspects and lacks concise editing for a cohesive whole. While it remains completely bingeable, with so many elements screaming for attention, the reading experience is like a runaway train on the verge of derailing.
At its core Olivia and the Masked Duke is a Victorian era Charlie's Angels. Wearing it's references on its sleeve, the novel explicitly recalls characters from familiar franchises with swapped gender: Charlie is now a female agency owner overseeing the 'Angels', and Mrs, Q is a seamstress creating garments outfitted with gadgets (referencing Q in the 007 series). I would've been more than satisfied getting a historical romance with an added layer of lighthearted, Nancy Drew style sleuthing, but the book has to throw in even more madness to the mix, in the form of a possessive tragic hero who's an ex-drug addict/alcoholic, and a traumatized murderer. Oh, and the couple is very much into dominant/submissive power plays.
Between setting up the agency's origin story (for the series), unpacking the hero's mental journey, tailoring to a specific kink for the sex, constant reminder of the age difference in their romance, and actually going through the motions solving cases, it's no surprise the book lacks polish trying to juggle all these narrative threads: the crime is solved with major leaps in logic, the couple's final conflict is settled in a less than convincing way (one individual was judged to be more at fault, justified only by a minuscule technicality), and with the abundant usage of 'cunt' and 'pussy', the steamy scenes come across as jarringly un-historical.
Overall, Olivia and the Masked Duke is less than the sum of its parts—even though I really enjoy the diversity in its characters, and infusing the historical romance genre with contemporary topics (addiction, meditation, etc.), it is simply doing too many things too soon. Fun read, if a little rough around the edges.
**Historical Romance Readathon 2021 | Group Read**
July 20, 2022
DNF. Annnnd this is probably the first complete MISS from grace callaway. I've been on a marathon and just read like five of her books at once, felt great about all of them EXCEPT this one.See I would have been able to get over the age gap if IT WASNT CONTINUOUSLY SHOVED IN MY FACE!!! to go from a kinky sex scene, to a flashback where he is almost 30 and she's only like 15??? I see no reason why the heroines couldn't be in their early 20's!! Olivia's mother's book, I'm pretty sure Emma was in her 20s. The whole thing would be so much less creepy if she was three or four years older but she's literally a CHILD COMPARED TO HIM!! what was the reason?!?! WHAT WAS THE REASON
Not to mention, the heroine is so fucking annoying. Like no means no bitch!! I was glad he called her out for her manipulation but the bitch didn't learn. I like real chemistry. Not a girl who is 'in love' with a man she truly knows nothing about and constantly throwing herself at him despite him saying no, and the hero viewing her as a forbidden temptation that he feels ashamed for cause it makes him look like a fucking pervert. This is NOT IT!!! I AM NOT A FAN OF THIS BOOK!!!! BOOK 2 and 3 ARE SOOOO MUCH BETTER BUT IM NOT A FAN OF 19 year olds being with 30 year olds!!! what the fuck is that !! you can't say 'its more historically accurate' bitch PUHLEASE NO ONE IS READING THESE TYPES OF BOOKS FOR HISTORICAL ACCURACY!! NOTHING ELSE ABOUT IT IS HISTORICALLY ACCURATE. IDC it just seemed like the author has a school girl/ dad's best friend kink. eeughh
Not to mention, the heroine is so fucking annoying. Like no means no bitch!! I was glad he called her out for her manipulation but the bitch didn't learn. I like real chemistry. Not a girl who is 'in love' with a man she truly knows nothing about and constantly throwing herself at him despite him saying no, and the hero viewing her as a forbidden temptation that he feels ashamed for cause it makes him look like a fucking pervert. This is NOT IT!!! I AM NOT A FAN OF THIS BOOK!!!! BOOK 2 and 3 ARE SOOOO MUCH BETTER BUT IM NOT A FAN OF 19 year olds being with 30 year olds!!! what the fuck is that !! you can't say 'its more historically accurate' bitch PUHLEASE NO ONE IS READING THESE TYPES OF BOOKS FOR HISTORICAL ACCURACY!! NOTHING ELSE ABOUT IT IS HISTORICALLY ACCURATE. IDC it just seemed like the author has a school girl/ dad's best friend kink. eeughh
February 22, 2024
I have complicated feelings about this book. The writing was excellent, the steam gave what it needed to give, and the MCs had excellent chemistry (I'm a sucker for well written friends to lovers and an MC who refuses to give up on the other MC) I just wish that the heroine was a little older. We would've still gotten that age gap tension had Livy been 20-21 instead of 19. And the fact that Ben had been a consistent figure in Livy's life (He's good friends with her dad) and he's known her since she was 12 made me a little ✨uncomfortable✨ It didn't help that whenever Ben and Livy bow chicka wow wow-d, we would immediately get a flashback to when Livy was 13 and Ben was 25! It was upsetting me and my homegirl.
One thing I really loved about this book was that the spying/private investigative shenanigans didn't take attention away from the romance. In fact, it was woven in WITH the romance. One reason that I rarely love spy romances is because that the books are usually 60 percent spying and 40 percent romance.
Also, the spider engagement ring was very cute. More nontraditional engagement rings in historical romances challenge.
One thing I really loved about this book was that the spying/private investigative shenanigans didn't take attention away from the romance. In fact, it was woven in WITH the romance. One reason that I rarely love spy romances is because that the books are usually 60 percent spying and 40 percent romance.
Also, the spider engagement ring was very cute. More nontraditional engagement rings in historical romances challenge.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 14, 2021
❤️❤️❤️❤️
💋💋
What do you do when then child you saved grows into the woman who will not take no for an answer.
When she insists on loving you no matter what.
And when you finally find yourself falling for her against your better judgment.
Read on, Grace Callaway has thought of everything.
Every challenge, twist and turn is brilliantly executed, wonderfully written and enjoyably satisfying to read.
I received an Arc copy of this book and chose to post this review
💋💋
What do you do when then child you saved grows into the woman who will not take no for an answer.
When she insists on loving you no matter what.
And when you finally find yourself falling for her against your better judgment.
Read on, Grace Callaway has thought of everything.
Every challenge, twist and turn is brilliantly executed, wonderfully written and enjoyably satisfying to read.
I received an Arc copy of this book and chose to post this review
not-for-me
August 18, 2022Has this author written a single safe book, ever? I look at my author page for her and every book I’ve ever considered has ended up on my “not for me” shelf. Yikes.
July 19, 2021
As Always , I decided to give the author another chance ....
And seriously , I don't know Why I keep doing that to myself !!!
This wasn't just horrible as the previous book I read by this author , It was problematic and dangerous!!
First, here are the trigger warnings " That weren't even mentioned at the beginning of this book " but you should keep them in mind before choosing this novel : death of a loved one , addiction, cheating , questionable consent (especially around kinks), romanticizing a relationship where there is a serious power imbalance .
I won't go into details ! But imagine reading a book where you read a scene about an adult taking care of a child then, opps , you are reading the next scene where that adult is having graphic sex with that teenager !
Yeah , I know the heroine was over 18 while they started having sex but , the way this book is organized between flashbacks and the present time made it super cringy and problematic for me .
I don't recommend this book at all !
And seriously , I don't know Why I keep doing that to myself !!!
This wasn't just horrible as the previous book I read by this author , It was problematic and dangerous!!
First, here are the trigger warnings " That weren't even mentioned at the beginning of this book " but you should keep them in mind before choosing this novel : death of a loved one , addiction, cheating , questionable consent (especially around kinks), romanticizing a relationship where there is a serious power imbalance .
I won't go into details ! But imagine reading a book where you read a scene about an adult taking care of a child then, opps , you are reading the next scene where that adult is having graphic sex with that teenager !
Yeah , I know the heroine was over 18 while they started having sex but , the way this book is organized between flashbacks and the present time made it super cringy and problematic for me .
I don't recommend this book at all !
February 22, 2024
Note: my original review of 2/21/24 seems to have disappeared.., I assume a glitch in goodreads, so here’s another one. Will be a condensed version as I will omit storyline.)
Alas, this first book in a new series by Grace Callaway is just not my cup of tea. I’ve read all her series over the years and some more than once. They are a beautiful interconnected work that’s memorable, interesting and written with style. Olivia and the Masked Duke is a continuation … the heroine’s parents are in a previous series.
In this book I thought the main story was implausible … several young ladies, including the heroine Olivia who’s the daughter of a duke, become Charlie’s Angels … detectives. They learn how to change their proper accents to Cockney, how to defend themselves a la karate style, throw a dagger and fire a pistol… all in a matter of weeks. They join this group trying to uncover a drug smuggling ring.
Also, the dialogue seemed to be quite modern for the time period. The hero, Ben who’s 12 years older than Olivia and a widowed duke, kept calling the heroine “my little queen” …, repeatedly. Not an endearment I cared for… perhaps I’m nitpicking.
The use of flashbacks to when the MCs first met.,, she was 12 and he was 24, was well done and added interest to the book.
If you like light stories, explicit sex scenes type HRs similar to ones by Caroline Lee then this book is your cup of tea. This one just didn’t feel like a Grace Callaway story to me.
Alas, this first book in a new series by Grace Callaway is just not my cup of tea. I’ve read all her series over the years and some more than once. They are a beautiful interconnected work that’s memorable, interesting and written with style. Olivia and the Masked Duke is a continuation … the heroine’s parents are in a previous series.
In this book I thought the main story was implausible … several young ladies, including the heroine Olivia who’s the daughter of a duke, become Charlie’s Angels … detectives. They learn how to change their proper accents to Cockney, how to defend themselves a la karate style, throw a dagger and fire a pistol… all in a matter of weeks. They join this group trying to uncover a drug smuggling ring.
Also, the dialogue seemed to be quite modern for the time period. The hero, Ben who’s 12 years older than Olivia and a widowed duke, kept calling the heroine “my little queen” …, repeatedly. Not an endearment I cared for… perhaps I’m nitpicking.
The use of flashbacks to when the MCs first met.,, she was 12 and he was 24, was well done and added interest to the book.
If you like light stories, explicit sex scenes type HRs similar to ones by Caroline Lee then this book is your cup of tea. This one just didn’t feel like a Grace Callaway story to me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 16, 2025
Olivia and the Masked Duke
2 Stars
Lady Olivia MacLeod has been in love with Ben Wodehouse, the Duke of Hadleigh, since childhood, but he thinks of her as a beloved younger sister. Determined to change his mind, Olivia admits her feelings only to be rejected. To keep her mind off her troubles, she joins Lady Charlotte Fayne's clandestine detective agency. Soon, the case she is investigating forces Ben to acknowledge his attraction to Oliva. Can these two survive a menacing foe and find their happily ever after?
Series note: This series is a continuation of Callaway's previous series. Olivia is the daughter of Emma Kent and Alaric McLeod from The Duke Who Knew Too Much, book #1 in the Hearts of Enquiry and Ben is the brother of Beatrice Wodehouse in The Duke Redemption, book #4 in The Game of Dukes.
Let me preface this by saying that I've read most of Callaway's books and loved 95% of them. Unfortunately, Olivia and the Masked Duke by Grace Callaway is disappointing, mainly due to the immature and self-absorbed heroine, and the annoying age-gap theme that undermines the romance.
Olive is very childish, both in her actions and her mindset. Consequently, it is difficult to accept that a mature, experienced man like Ben Wodehouse would be attracted to her. They have almost no chemistry, and their relationship feels forced.
This is not helped by the significant age gap, which is off-putting, especially considering that Livy and Ben have known each other since she was a child. The flashback scenes to the development of their friendship only exacerbate the situation and make it all feel icky!
The Charlie's Angels premise has potential, and it is the suspense plot that kept me engaged.
Overall, this is not the best example of Callaway's work, but I am interested in the other heroines and look forward to reading their books.
2 Stars
Lady Olivia MacLeod has been in love with Ben Wodehouse, the Duke of Hadleigh, since childhood, but he thinks of her as a beloved younger sister. Determined to change his mind, Olivia admits her feelings only to be rejected. To keep her mind off her troubles, she joins Lady Charlotte Fayne's clandestine detective agency. Soon, the case she is investigating forces Ben to acknowledge his attraction to Oliva. Can these two survive a menacing foe and find their happily ever after?
Series note: This series is a continuation of Callaway's previous series. Olivia is the daughter of Emma Kent and Alaric McLeod from The Duke Who Knew Too Much, book #1 in the Hearts of Enquiry and Ben is the brother of Beatrice Wodehouse in The Duke Redemption, book #4 in The Game of Dukes.
Let me preface this by saying that I've read most of Callaway's books and loved 95% of them. Unfortunately, Olivia and the Masked Duke by Grace Callaway is disappointing, mainly due to the immature and self-absorbed heroine, and the annoying age-gap theme that undermines the romance.
Olive is very childish, both in her actions and her mindset. Consequently, it is difficult to accept that a mature, experienced man like Ben Wodehouse would be attracted to her. They have almost no chemistry, and their relationship feels forced.
This is not helped by the significant age gap, which is off-putting, especially considering that Livy and Ben have known each other since she was a child. The flashback scenes to the development of their friendship only exacerbate the situation and make it all feel icky!
The Charlie's Angels premise has potential, and it is the suspense plot that kept me engaged.
Overall, this is not the best example of Callaway's work, but I am interested in the other heroines and look forward to reading their books.
January 29, 2021
Olivia and the Masked Duke is the first book in Lady Charlotte’s Society of Angels series by Grace Callaway. This book has pretty much reduced me to describing it one word sentences. RAWR. YUM. YES!! SWEET. MORE... like I’m truly struggling to review this. I’ll try to get through it and make as much sense as possible but wow!
I love the foundation that Livy and Bens relationship was built upon and the strong platonic brother/sister style relationship that followed. I was worried at first when Livy confessed her feelings. I was cringing just because of the nature of there relationship prior to that and there really wasn’t that build up for him to see her as a woman instead of a child. I thought it was going to be a very cringe-worthy moment but it wasn’t. It was masterfully done.
Livy’s character was fun and outgoing. She has a very determined, persistent and loyal personality. She was at times insecure. I really enjoyed her character and she was a super easy heroine to like.
Ben’s character was a bit more complex, there was many layers and angles to his character. Who he was, who he is now, who he was around Livy when he thought of her as a kid and who he was when he thought of her as a grown woman. It made his character very contrasting and sometimes contradictory. I never knew what to expect from him, he was an extremely flawed character but it made him seem all the more real and I wanted more, more, more! Livy and Ben together were ***swoon*** I really couldn’t get enough of them.
The writing as always with Grace Callaway, was beautiful, heartfelt and full of emotion. Every time I read something she writes, I can feel it completely. The storyline was fantastic and I was captivated from beginning to end. There was a bit of a dark edge to the story too, a bit gritty, a bit wicked. It had a Charlie’s Angels spin on it as well. I absolutely loved it! 5 stars!!
I love the foundation that Livy and Bens relationship was built upon and the strong platonic brother/sister style relationship that followed. I was worried at first when Livy confessed her feelings. I was cringing just because of the nature of there relationship prior to that and there really wasn’t that build up for him to see her as a woman instead of a child. I thought it was going to be a very cringe-worthy moment but it wasn’t. It was masterfully done.
Livy’s character was fun and outgoing. She has a very determined, persistent and loyal personality. She was at times insecure. I really enjoyed her character and she was a super easy heroine to like.
Ben’s character was a bit more complex, there was many layers and angles to his character. Who he was, who he is now, who he was around Livy when he thought of her as a kid and who he was when he thought of her as a grown woman. It made his character very contrasting and sometimes contradictory. I never knew what to expect from him, he was an extremely flawed character but it made him seem all the more real and I wanted more, more, more! Livy and Ben together were ***swoon*** I really couldn’t get enough of them.
The writing as always with Grace Callaway, was beautiful, heartfelt and full of emotion. Every time I read something she writes, I can feel it completely. The storyline was fantastic and I was captivated from beginning to end. There was a bit of a dark edge to the story too, a bit gritty, a bit wicked. It had a Charlie’s Angels spin on it as well. I absolutely loved it! 5 stars!!
April 1, 2024
Well, this author was a Twitter recommend. So many people raved about her books. This one was free (she's not in Kindle Unlimited) so I downloaded it a while back and last night I felt like a historical romance.
The book had me involved from the get go. Ben rescues Livy when she falls through the ice and this starts a friendship between the two. They are friends until Livy turns 19 and realizes that what she feels for Ben is more than just friendship. She's determined to tell Ben she loves him and wants to be with him. Ben, however, has a very dark past and he doesn't feel like he is good enough for Livy. He also feels he is too old for her as well, since he is 31 to her 19.
None of this deters Livy. After she kissed him in the garden at her 19th birthday party, he said nothing could happen between them and to forget about it but Livy won't give up.
As said, Ben has some very dark things in his past and he deals with that and Livy also works for a secret society that helps women who have no other place to turn. The leader is named Charlotte or "Charlie" and they are called Angels. I'm embarrassed to admit it took me way too long to pick up on it. Charlie's Angels. LOL
The book was good and good lawd, extremely spicy in scenes. There was one that I almost covered my face it was flaming so badly! LOL
There is just a bit of angst in this when Ben finds out about Livy's work and feels betrayed but it doesn't last long.
Anyway, I enjoyed this one and may pick up others from her. My library doesn't have many of her books so it may be a bit.
This book appeared to be a 2nd generation of a previous series so I'm intrigued to read those.
If you want a spicy, steamy, historical to pass the time, this is a good one to try.
The book had me involved from the get go. Ben rescues Livy when she falls through the ice and this starts a friendship between the two. They are friends until Livy turns 19 and realizes that what she feels for Ben is more than just friendship. She's determined to tell Ben she loves him and wants to be with him. Ben, however, has a very dark past and he doesn't feel like he is good enough for Livy. He also feels he is too old for her as well, since he is 31 to her 19.
None of this deters Livy. After she kissed him in the garden at her 19th birthday party, he said nothing could happen between them and to forget about it but Livy won't give up.
As said, Ben has some very dark things in his past and he deals with that and Livy also works for a secret society that helps women who have no other place to turn. The leader is named Charlotte or "Charlie" and they are called Angels. I'm embarrassed to admit it took me way too long to pick up on it. Charlie's Angels. LOL
The book was good and good lawd, extremely spicy in scenes. There was one that I almost covered my face it was flaming so badly! LOL
There is just a bit of angst in this when Ben finds out about Livy's work and feels betrayed but it doesn't last long.
Anyway, I enjoyed this one and may pick up others from her. My library doesn't have many of her books so it may be a bit.
This book appeared to be a 2nd generation of a previous series so I'm intrigued to read those.
If you want a spicy, steamy, historical to pass the time, this is a good one to try.
February 20, 2021
Just perfect!! Grace never disappoints. I fell head over heels for this book in the first chapter and it just kept getting better. I mean a historical romance version of Charlie’s Angles, yes please! Ben 😍😍 Who doesn’t love a reformed bad boy? This book just laid him bare & Livy loved him regardless. She was such a strong heroine. She knew what she wanted and went after it. I was cheering her along the whole dang time 👏🏻👏🏻. Can’t wait for Pippa’s story!
July 11, 2021
My first Grace Callaway book but it won't be the last.
Enjoyed this so much. It read more modern then I thought It would and was different from the historical I typically read. I had so much fun with this. I loved Olivia's character. She was naïve in her love for Ben but also so intelligent and mature in the way she handles everything. I also understood Ben's actions and his reactions on what Olivia was doing. The way he apologies' and handles the whole thing in the end was awesome. The way the conflict was resolved was so good. Loved the book and recommend it to all romance fans even if you don't read historical romance.
Enjoyed this so much. It read more modern then I thought It would and was different from the historical I typically read. I had so much fun with this. I loved Olivia's character. She was naïve in her love for Ben but also so intelligent and mature in the way she handles everything. I also understood Ben's actions and his reactions on what Olivia was doing. The way he apologies' and handles the whole thing in the end was awesome. The way the conflict was resolved was so good. Loved the book and recommend it to all romance fans even if you don't read historical romance.
June 19, 2022
This book had so much potential but unfortunately didn't live up to it. It seems that romance and romantic angst have been left behind in favor of crime/mystery solving.
February 13, 2021
Get out the high velocity fan because you will need it while reading this story. It is hotter than hot, I am not kidding. I love a tortured hero and if you do also, then grab this story right away. Hadleigh is tortured and is trying to make amends. Yep, swoon! All the while, Charlie (Charlotte) is gathering angels to help her in making women’s lives better because let’s face it, women get put on the back burner a lot. These women are kickass. Olivia is the glue that holds Hadleigh together even though he does not want to believe it. And then we have Chen, who might be a good hero for one of the characters in this story. Just saying. The action is non-stop. I love how Grace can pull you into the story of these characters and make you feel as if you are there with them. I was totally enthralled with reading and I swear I felt as if I was in their dilemma. Astounding storytelling. Grace you amazed me again.
Dammit, Grace has so many heroes that are totally swoon-worthy, Hadleigh ranks very close to Ambrose, Marcus, and Ransom. So many worthy men, so little re-reading time.
I received a complimentary copy from the author.
Dammit, Grace has so many heroes that are totally swoon-worthy, Hadleigh ranks very close to Ambrose, Marcus, and Ransom. So many worthy men, so little re-reading time.
I received a complimentary copy from the author.
February 28, 2021
This is a double whammy for me because the only kind of historical I hate more than a masked hero running around town doing good deeds is secret teenaged female spy team running around town solving a caper. Needless to say, as much as I love Grace Callaway, I didn't snatch up this book immediately the hour it was released. Due to a lack of options and some curiosity, I did cave after 10 days.
Olivia and the Masked Duke was a joke. I assume the whole Charlie's Angels theme was supposed to be cute, but to me it was corny. And the spy training was ridiculous, as if a month of practicing to fight is enough to send nineteen year old girls out in the night to fend for themselves. I was literally rolling my eyes at times with how ridiculous this spy society was. They were even trained in disguises, which apparently never worked because the Duke would find Olivia immediately EVERY TIME. LOL! And don't even get me started on the cheesy oath they would constantly recite to each other. God! If Callaway wasn't such a good writer, I wouldn't have even finished. The only good thing I will say is that the Duke running around town in a mask did not happen for long.
I'm bummed that one of the authors I've always looked forward to will now be stuck in this ridiculous Charlie's Angels trope for the next few years. From what I can tell, there's at least 3 if not more book in this series. *Sigh* 😔
Olivia and the Masked Duke was a joke. I assume the whole Charlie's Angels theme was supposed to be cute, but to me it was corny. And the spy training was ridiculous, as if a month of practicing to fight is enough to send nineteen year old girls out in the night to fend for themselves. I was literally rolling my eyes at times with how ridiculous this spy society was. They were even trained in disguises, which apparently never worked because the Duke would find Olivia immediately EVERY TIME. LOL! And don't even get me started on the cheesy oath they would constantly recite to each other. God! If Callaway wasn't such a good writer, I wouldn't have even finished. The only good thing I will say is that the Duke running around town in a mask did not happen for long.
I'm bummed that one of the authors I've always looked forward to will now be stuck in this ridiculous Charlie's Angels trope for the next few years. From what I can tell, there's at least 3 if not more book in this series. *Sigh* 😔
March 17, 2023
I don’t even know if the Duke was ever masked. I skipped all the flashbacks. I didn’t care how they interacted when she was growing up. I skimmed a lot. It started out strongly. My suspension of disbelief never did kick in Charlie’s Angels? I am so so so over virgins. I’m so over virginity being hot and a big deal. I’m tired of the phrases that say things like “ her wanton innocence was more alluring than the most practiced courtesan”. Also, “having sex with you is like having sex for the first time” it’s cringey. Let’s agree to stop please. This may just be me. Your mileage may vary. 12 year age gap. Hero with a past bad marriage and a heroin addiction. Heroine becomes a Charlie’s Angel.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 23, 2023
This ended up being a big mess for me, despite some promise. It boils down to:
-How the entire Arabella plot has been handled since Bea's book. In Bea's book, it was established that Arabella, who had been Bea's closest friend, was spreading rumors about Bea and calling her Lady Beastly and generally just being a terrible person to Bea. Then somehow Ben marries her, and apparently loved her (we are not given any indication of when/how/why this happened and he felt that way). Their whole marriage was a mess, and she was terrible to Ben. And along the way, Bea is honest with Ben about what Arabella did, at which point Ben defends Arabella and breaks with Bea. None of this is ever properly dealt with????? Just a giant mess, all of it.
-Because of all of Ben's issues from his marriage, he kept trying to be way too controlling. It felt like basically the exact opposite of Emma and Strathaven's book, where Strathaven just realized early on he couldn't stop Emma from investigating and thus just needed to include her in things. (The comparison felt particularly apt given that Emma and Strathaven are Olivia's parents...)
I could get into the details here, but all of my issues with the book really go back to these two things. I'll obviously keep reading the series, but I've got to give myself a break for a book or two.
One thing I will say though, is I am holding out hope that Charlie is actually Imogen from Fancy and Knight's book. I really want a good outcome for Imogen after what she's been through, and I'd love it if it turns out that she's remade herself, taken control of her life, and is now trying to help other women in need.
-How the entire Arabella plot has been handled since Bea's book. In Bea's book, it was established that Arabella, who had been Bea's closest friend, was spreading rumors about Bea and calling her Lady Beastly and generally just being a terrible person to Bea. Then somehow Ben marries her, and apparently loved her (we are not given any indication of when/how/why this happened and he felt that way). Their whole marriage was a mess, and she was terrible to Ben. And along the way, Bea is honest with Ben about what Arabella did, at which point Ben defends Arabella and breaks with Bea. None of this is ever properly dealt with????? Just a giant mess, all of it.
-Because of all of Ben's issues from his marriage, he kept trying to be way too controlling. It felt like basically the exact opposite of Emma and Strathaven's book, where Strathaven just realized early on he couldn't stop Emma from investigating and thus just needed to include her in things. (The comparison felt particularly apt given that Emma and Strathaven are Olivia's parents...)
I could get into the details here, but all of my issues with the book really go back to these two things. I'll obviously keep reading the series, but I've got to give myself a break for a book or two.
One thing I will say though, is I am holding out hope that Charlie is actually Imogen from Fancy and Knight's book. I really want a good outcome for Imogen after what she's been through, and I'd love it if it turns out that she's remade herself, taken control of her life, and is now trying to help other women in need.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 8, 2022
Save me from “societies” in historical romance novels. They’re silly, and so far I’ve not found one exception to that statement, this book included. The society is called “The Society of Angels” and it’s run by a woman named Charlie, so here we are treated to, you got it, Charlie’s Angels. Cue eye roll. I bumped this book up one star from the lowest rating possible because the author at least tried to give the main characters some history and tried to write something a little different from drawing room melodrama but the attempts were completely buried in ludicrousness. If you want to read a comic book with lots of prurient sex scenes set in Regency England you might like this. I did not.
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