Nopțile unui nelegiuit

The Devils of Dover #3

by Kelly Bowen

Baron. Doctor. Contrabandist. Sir Harland Hayward duce o viata dubla: aristocrat pe timpul zilei si contrabandist noaptea. In calitate de doctor, Harland are motivul perfect pentru a aparea in locuri ciudate in miez de noapte si se foloseste de acest lucru pentru a face contrabanda. A ales acest stil de viata pentru a-si salva familia de la ruina, cu toate acestea nu poate accepta sa profite de fascinanta Katherine Wright.

Intoarsa in Dover dupa o perioada de absenta, Katherine descopera ca tatal si fratele ei fac contrabanda pentru un barbat a carui identitate este invaluita in mister. Crescuta intr-o familie de contrabandisti, ea stie ca este doar o chestiune de timp pana sa fie prinsi… si ucisi.

Asadar, dupa ce fratele ei este ranit in timpul unei asemenea misiuni, ea isi convinge familia sa plece si sa o ia de la capat cu ceva mai putin riscant. Dar nu pot face asta decat dupa ce isi onoreaza ultima misiune. Cum fratele ei este ranit, iar tatal, prea batran si bolnav, Katherine se vede nevoita sa accepte sa revina la viata ei de demult si sa duca sarcina la bun sfarsit ‒ si iese, inca o data, in calea misteriosului Harland Hayward.

Vor reusi cei doi sa se tina departe unul de celalalt sau se vor trezi prinsi intr-o aventura care le va pune nu numai viata in pericol… ci si inima?

Genres: Romance, Historical Romance, Historical, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Regency, Audiobook

Unknown Binding

First published May 28, 2019

About the author

Award-winning author Kelly Bowen attended the University of Manitoba, earning a BSc & MSc in veterinary studies. She worked as a research scientist before realizing her dream to write historical fiction. Currently, Kelly lives with her family in Winnipeg, Canada.

Reviews

[Anovelqueen · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a book! I have found a new romance writer to add to my pre-release purchase list.

Harland Hayward, Baron of Strathmore, is more than a peer of the realm. He is a skilled surgeon and he also has ties to the post-war smuggling underworld. He meets Katherine Wright, a gifted healer in her own right as well as part of a smuggler family. They come together after Katherine’s brother Matthew becomes injured while attempting to smuggle brandy off the coast of Dover, England.

There was instant chemistry between Harland and Katherine. Katherine is a very strong and strong-willed woman who only wants to be respected for her medical skills and take her family away from the smuggling life. Harland is astonished to find a woman with Katherine’s intelligence and abilities. They bond over their shared love of healing. Harland is the perfect mixture of the good guy with some bad boy mixed in.

This is a beautiful love story full of action and adventure from beginning to end. Kelly Bowen is an exceptionally talented storyteller. This is the first book I have read in the series and it can be read as a stand-alone. I plan to read the others in the series and there are several interesting characters in this story that I hope have their own story as well.

This is four stars for me. I wish there had been more romance between the hero and heroine but overall a great read. Highly recommend.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Harland is a titled doctor & reluctant smuggler.
Kate is a surgeon and comes from a family of smugglers.
They're going to need to team up a so some sort of a heist-thing and fall in love!
This should be goooood!



Well. Yes and no.
Harland is just sooooooo nice. I like my guys made with a bit of piss and vinegar, and he was just such a gentleman. He was understanding, he was polite, he respected her. I mean, yes those are all fantastic qualities in a man. But it didn't make for much of a fiery passion.
And Kate was just so fucking stubbornly straight. Loosen up, girl! Smuggle some shit for fun!
Eh.



But. I will say that I enjoyed listening to this story quite a bit. Kelly Bowen is a great writer and even though I wasn't all that enamored with the two main characters, I'm sure they're perfect for someone.


Ashford McNab - Narrator

[Heather K (dentist in my spare time) · Rating 2 out of 5]

A confusing, disappointing read from the usually reliable Kelly Bowen.

I feel like I missed a lot of information about the baron/doctor/underworld smuggler main character. By the way, please ignore reality and historical accuracy if you are going to try to read this book. I couldn't wrap my brain around a member of the nobility practicing a trade and being so heavily involved with a crime syndicate. It... just didn't fit.

Also, it's like we are thrown into Harland Hayward's character and expected to just... go with it? I needed way more explanations if I was going to buy what Kelly Bowen was selling.

I struggle with books that are attraction-forward, meaning if the two MCs want to get busy at the start of the book, I don't get that slow-burn, slow-build that I love so much. I found the romance part of the book to be underwhelming. It was too inevitable, too predictable, without any of that anticipation that I adore.

I had less of a hard time with Katherine's character, mostly because I have a soft spot for historical women who practice medicine (thank you, Outlander). However, I wish she called herself a healer or something to make it seem more historically appropriate.

I can overlook a lot of things with the lack of historical accuracy and the outlandish plot, but I found the story to be slow and the lack of romance surprising. Bummer.

*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*

goodreads|instagram|twitter|blog

[WhiskeyintheJar · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

“I don't like to be told what I can and can't do. What is right and wrong based on nothing but preconceptions and ignorance.” He stepped closer. “I don't think you do either.”

A Rogue by Night follows Harland Hayward and Katherine Wright as they get caught up in smuggling, doctoring, and falling in love. The Devils of Dover's previous two books starred Harland's sisters and while you could start here like I did, I think I missed out on the hows and whys of Harland's character. We're introduced to him as a surgeon, learn he's also a Baron, and is the go-between in a smuggling business. It's obvious that he doesn't want to be apart of the smuggling, we don't get in depth scenes with him in this capacity, but we don't learn why he is apart of it until halfway through the book; his parents died suddenly leaving the family in debt (this may have been explained in the previous two books). I was also a little unsure of his desire to be a surgeon, where was the passion to pursue this line of work when it is stepping outside the norm as he was a baron? Missing some of this background on Harland's character had him feeling only like a pencil sketch to me and I never felt connected to him.

“I chose to ask for forgiveness rather than permission. [...]”

Katherine was the better flushed out character to me and read strong on the pages. I still thought the why and how she became a de facto surgeon in the army was left unexplained too long in the book. I think some emotional moments that would have endeared her to readers (a flashback to the moment she was betrayed by her lover, the war raging as she helped save the lives of soldiers would have been highly emotional) were left out or lost their impact by her simply revealing them in one paragraph. Katherine and Harland were pretty busy from the get go and I missed some time to simply get to know them. Katherine is interested in medicine because of her mother and she got into smuggling because of her father, both explanations or impacts from these past occurrences got lost in the current action; they both could have added to the emotion of current events if given more depth in their relaying.

Forget intrigued. Despite his best intentions, he might also be smitten.

The attraction between the two was pretty immediate, especially from Harland's side. I thought the romance was weak, there wasn't time to enjoy the initial spark, then growing, and eventual succumbing. The situation that led them to travel to London and then France together felt very forced, there already seemed like numerous opportunities for them to be together, Haverhall School (a plot continued from the first two books), smuggling danger, or doctoring. Katherine and Harland were two characters with an abundance of personal similarities, so conceptually, their attraction was easy to understand, but the emotions never came off the pages for me.

If you've read other series by Bowen, most notably Season for Scandal, you'll recognize the character of King and a few others, I have a feeling the clamoring for King's story is going to increase as we get another look at this enigmatic character. Other secondary characters played their roles well, adding to the story and lead characters without stealing the show. The journeys Harland and Katherine go on, the character of the captain trying to shut the smuggling down felt over-the-top at times (did a smuggler kick his puppy once?), they sometimes felt contrived (who the colonel turns out to be at the prison), and a little too many off-shoots but I also enjoyed how Bowen tied everything together.

The last thirty percent was top notch writing and drew me into Katherine and Harland's lives but this was ultimately hurt by the lack of emotion, chemistry, and spark I felt was missing between the two. Flashbacks to previous moments in the lead's lives would have created a stronger emotional base and had me feeling these characters more, especially Harland, the issues from his former marriage/wife felt very foggy. If you've been a reader of this series or Season for Scandal, you'll probably enjoy seeing Harland get his happily ever after and getting a peek at King, but I'm not sure I'd recommend starting here.

And because no matter what she tried to tell herself, they were indeed the same. Different. Alone. Untouchable. Until the moment when they weren't.

[OLT · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read the first two entries in Bowen's The Devils of Devon series, so, for, shall we say, closure, I decided to read #3. It's about smugglers and has a woman doctor as heroine. Oh. Wow. How unusual. Excuse me, I'm feeling a touch of ennui. I need to go take a quick nap and I'll be back shortly...

...There. All refreshed. But, unfortunately, not in a better mood about the book. Please, HR authors. Enough with tales of smuggling in Devon and Cornwall. Enough with 1800s women doctors. I realize that there were actual 19th-century females attempting to break the medical field barrier, but there are so many of them running around in HRs I've read that they are all starting to bore me.

Perhaps if the romance were really, really romantic and full of feels I could give the hackneyed plot a pass, but in this case the romance between Harland Hayward, Baron Strathmore, doctor and part-time smuggler (Don't tell anyone about that last bit. It's a secret.), and Katherine Wright, smuggler's daughter, midwife, surgeon, and herself a former smuggler, was pretty meh. It consisted of some insta-love, followed by internal struggles not to give in to the feelings, followed by giving in, followed by a minor conflict at 70%, followed by a quick resolution. And all the while I, quite frankly, my dear, didn't give much of a damn about any of it.

There's a lot of blah, blah, thoughtful stuff about accepting a woman as a man's equal, or about overcoming biases against people just because of their social status, or about not wanting to feel love again because of past betrayal, or about being all that you can be. Oh, please. I know all that. Don't be preachy. Give me a good romance. And, BTW, is there any reader besides me who thinks that that school for young women at Avondale run by Clara Hayward (Harland's sister and herself the heroine of the first book of this series) is just a wee bit silly for the times? I'll be glad to say goodbye to it. It's not that I don't want women to learn to live up to their potential. It's just that I like my HRs to be more realistic.

So, what's the story here? There's smuggling, of course, and run-ins with the law and there are people getting injured and doctors (hero and heroine) coming to the rescue whenever medical intervention is necessary. There are some intense moments fraught with danger. And during quiet times we have a lot of H/h internal agony over whether there can possibly be any future in their relationship.

The intrigue/action/adventure is meant to make the reader interested in the plot. I guess I read this on the wrong day. But then, it seems that every day is the wrong day for me now when I sit down to read new HR releases. When is somebody going to write something unique? Or at least write a romance that gives me some feels. I'm tired of the instant love with uninspired sexual attraction that leads to tedious pages of boring sex, followed by a mini-conflict to resolve before the HEA.

(Perhaps I should apologize for this whole review. I think I'm in a politics-inspired funk lately. Guess I really shouldn't take it out on HR authors. Unfortunately, they're an easier target than the ones really inspiring the funk.)

[Caz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve read and enjoyed a number (nearly all?) of Kelly Bowen’s historical romances, and have particularly admired her ability to create strong, determined heroines who manage (mostly) to operate within the conventions of the time period in which her novels are set.  Yes, they have unusual professions or ambitions – a fixer, a bounty hunter, a professional gambler - but they’re not generally obvious about it and don’t go about proclaiming their unconventionality.  The same is true of the heroine of A Rogue in the Night, Katherine Wright, a young woman born into a family of smugglers who became very good at that particular ‘craft’ until she fell in love and followed her lover to war, where it appears she developed her knowledge of the healing arts to become a highly competent surgeon.  But this time around, I couldn’t quite buy into it.  I know there were women who disguised themselves as men in order to train as doctors, so I’m not saying it could never have happened; my problem with it here is that I was just asked to accept that she’d been a battlefield surgeon and was told nothing about how she became one other than that the army surgeons were grateful for the help so hadn’t minded that she was a woman – which seemed rather... convenient.  It was easier to believe that the hero – having two independent sisters and, as both a peer and a doctor, being unconventional himself – could so quickly and unquestioningly accept Katherine’s abilities, but the fact that he insisted on introducing her as Dr. Wright, when he surely must have known no woman could actually hold that moniker (and anyway, surgeons in the UK are addressed as Mr./Miss not Dr.) came across as gimmicky.

Harland Hayward, Baron Strathmore, is an unusual peer of the realm in that he is a doctor and surgeon who served on the battlefields during the Napoleonic Wars.  Society frowns upon the idea of a nobleman actually having a profession, but Harland doesn’t care – being a doctor is more than a job to him, it’s who he is. Faced with the ruin of his family’s shipping business after a number of terrible losses, Harland made a deal with King, the enigmatic, ruthless crimelord who has appeared in several of Ms. Bowen’s other books (and whose story I continue to await with bated breath!), which saved the business and his family, but at quite a cost.  Harland now works for King, co-ordinating smuggling runs off the Kentish coast and secretly acting as a liaison between the smugglers and purchasers.  Katharine’s brother Matthew is a member of one of these gangs, and when he’s shot while on a run, she’s surprised when Harland – Lord Doctor, as she calls him at first – turns up at their cottage to offer his help.  She’s suspicious of titled men and she’s wary of him, even though she’s attracted to him, too.

But when Harland not only helps treat her brother but also hides him from the soldiers who arrive to search the cottage, Katherine starts to unbend a little, and agrees to allow him to transport Matthew back to Avondale House (where the summer school run by his sister Clara, Duchess of Holloway operates) so he can be properly cared for.  He hits on the idea of asking Katherine to teach the medical students at the summer school – an idea Clara supports enthusiastically – and Katherine, after her initial surprise, is pleased to accept.

Not long after this, however, Harland receives a dangerous commission from King, and knowing he’s likely to need a skilled medical practitioner to help him, asks Katherine to accompany him.  The pair embark upon an adventure which carries them from London to the French coast and back as they dodge bullets, hide from soldiers and face up to past mistakes. The plot is fast-paced and well-executed, but ultimately, all the action in the story detracts from the romance between Harland and Katherine, which is of the insta-love variety and not nearly as well-developed as I’ve come to expect from this author.

I liked both characters, particularly Harland, a dedicated professional who is determined to do his best for his family no matter the heavy price.  (And I would completely dispute the adjective “merciless” applied to him in the synopsis!) Katherine is similarly motivated, her talent and competence making her a good match for Harland, but there isn’t a great deal of chemistry between them and the sex scenes seemed forced and ‘for the sake of it’ as a result.

Given the current deplorable state of the historical romance sub-genre, it was a pleasure to read a novel featuring well-developed characters and an intriguing plot by an author capable of penning focused, satisfying prose. I enjoyed A Rogue in the Night and liked it considerably more than the previous book (Last Night with the Earl), but the under-developed romance was a disappointment.

[Barbara Rogers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Series: The Devils of Dover
Publication Date: 5/28/19
Number of Pages: 368

***3.5 Stars rounded up to 4 ***

Well, I’m going to tell you two things right up front. (1) I thoroughly enjoyed this fast-paced, action-filled book. (2) Be prepared to suspend any credulity you have because there is not one – nope, not one – historically accurate thing in the book. I believe there should be a separate sub-genre for books like this because they can’t rightly be called ‘historical romance’ or ‘Regency romance’ because there is nothing historical or Regency about the book. Maybe there should be another sub-category – like ‘fantasy historical romance’. The same has been true for the entire series so far.

Harland Hayward, Baron Strathmore, became a physician because that was just who he was. Society doesn’t condone it, but that doesn’t matter to him. He’s also caught in a snare and has been for many years – with many more to go. In order to save his family, he agreed to work – for twenty years – for an underworld kingpin named King. Being a physician makes the smuggling easier because he has a handy excuse for being out and about at strange times and places – and he can care for any of the smugglers who are injured. That is how he meets our heroine – her brother was badly injured and Harland went to care for him, only to find he was already being cared for by someone else.

Miss Katherine Wright has quite a history. She was born into a smuggling family and grew up learning to be good at it. She was told that she could be the best smuggler there ever had been because of her skills, cunning, and intelligence. Her mother was a midwife as well as a smuggler and Katherine learned her medical skills as well. Katherine didn’t want to be a smuggler and she didn’t want her family to be smugglers either – constantly in danger of being found out. So, when the opportunity presented itself, she left Dover and followed the drum where she learned and perfected the skills of a surgeon.

When Katherine returned to Dover, it was to learn that her father and brother were still smugglers and Captain Buhler is obsessed with catching them. Buhler is a fanatic that will do anything to catch smugglers – burn homes, arrest feeble old men – it doesn’t matter to him. She knows she has to get her family away from that life, but they have to finish that last job that was interrupted when her brother was injured. She’ll have to step in and finish it for him. That is nearly her undoing.

The story is full of action – smugglers, soldiers, prison breaks, underworld kings – you’ve got some of all of it in this book. The romance was steamy and very believable. Overall, an enjoyable though unbelievable read.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Amanda · Rating 1 out of 5]

Note: I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.

As a major history buff, my huge problem with this book is that it isn't historically accurate in almost any way. The story is set in the late Regency period of 1820. Even if this book were set another hundred years into history, in 1920, I would find it really hard to believe this story line. The female lead, Kate, is supposed to be a surgeon (and midwife on the side) which would NEVER have happened in the Regency time period. Similarly, the male lead, Harland, is not only a baron, but he's also a doctor AND a smuggler. Titled men were much too busy taking care of estates to have time to pursue medicine and way too visible to be smugglers. Due to the main characters unbelievable occupations, I found I had a very difficult time trying to like them. (I thought the female lead also had a pretty hateful attitude that I didn't find attractive.) The romance between the two main characters is also extremely unbelievable in that the female lead is the common daughter of a criminal with the male lead being a titled baron. The male lead wouldn't have even looked twice at the female lead if they ever even had occasion to meet.

Another impossible historical detail was that the male lead's titled sisters run a boarding/finishing school for young ladies that specializes in nontraditional subjects like medicine, law, metal smithing, and sex education. There's absolutely NO WAY titled women would have been allowed to run something as common as a boarding school let alone get away with teaching men's subjects to unmarried noblewomen.

As if the previous reasons weren't enough, an additional historical inconsistency is that the male lead's entire NOBLE family insists that even the lowliest servant or commoner call them by their first name and never reference a title. It would have been perfectly acceptable for family members and extremely close friends to call members of the nobility by their Christian names, but no servant would EVER have considered calling their superiors by their given names. All of these ridiculous things together made me dislike this book. However, I understand that some readers like historical heroines to have a profession no matter how unbelievable it is. So, if you are that kind of reader, you might very well love this book where I didn't like it.

[Jen Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really am a fan of Kelly Bowen and although I found this romance to be a little--I don't know--quieter than some of the others I've read from her, I still found it to be a solid read.

The previous book in this series centered on the sisters of Harland, our hero here. He is a baron, but also a doctor and a reluctant smuggler. He's in the service of King (whose book I am still waiting for) and must continue to do the man's bidding in exchange for the criminal kingpin saving his family from ruin.

Our heroine is Katherine, a healer and also reluctant smuggler. She was born into the life and only wants to get herself and her family out. She and Harland cross paths when her brother is shot and the baron doctor helps hide him from the troops looking to hang him. She doesn't want to like the man--she's been burned by a peer before. And he doesn't want to ever open his heart to someone who could break it the way his wife did.

Of course, they share an attraction and a mutual respect that gets harder and harder to ignore.

Bowen did a good job making me understand how and why Katherine became the woman she did, but Harland's backstory felt much more superficial. I understood, but I didn't feel it as much. However, I loved how he saw the value in her and never treated her as less than his equal as a doctor. And while I would've loved an epilogue, Bowen gave me an ending that satisfied.

[Laurie (barksbooks) · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is book 3 in the "Devils of Dover" series and features Harland who is the brother of the two sisters whose stories were told in the previous novels. He was the aloof doctor always running here and there with no time for dalliances. This time he finds love and adventure. I guess it’s the adventure bit that threw me off because I didn’t enjoy this one as much as the previous two. Well, that and the smuggling plot line. That was just not at all for me.

And can we talk about this horrendous cover? What did Harland ever do to deserve this pouty, shaggy haired, bug eyed cover shot? Couldn't they have cleaned him up first? Given him a little trim?

Katherine comes from a family of smugglers and has the skills of a surgeon but she is super vague about her training when she meets Harland after her brother is shot. She has reasons. The two have a frisson of sexual tension that blooms into some full blown insta-love without the witty banter and fun I love from a good romance. Kate has her back up and she’s a bit rude and because of a past love she has turned herself into a human ice pop who does not want to be licked - errr melted by love. Neither she nor he want or expect the feelings but the feelings won’t be denied. What can you do? They only intensify once he brings Kate and her brother to his family estate so the brother can recover.

So, I nearly DNF’d this story when Kate’s brother puts her life in danger because they’re all going to starve to death if she doesn’t do as he asks, apparently. Personally that sounded a wee bit dramatic but I wasn't living back in those times. Anyhow, since I was listening on audio I decided to stick it out and it wasn’t awful. It wasn’t my favorite either and it’s not a romance that’ll stick with me. I found it hard to believe that Harlan who is a baron which makes him titled and rich and super important (right?) is also a full time doctor and a helper of the smugglers. Shouldn’t he be off riding horses, tending to his estates and tying the perfect cravat? Hell if I know. What I do know is that you SHOULD NOT START THE SERIES HERE. Read the other two first or you'll really have questions. Anyhow, if you are a completest and/or have nothing better to do when you are scrubbing the house, give it a go. But honestly there are much better romances out there in the world. I’d recommend seeking out one of those instead.

I’m giving it a 2.5. Some of it was okay but some of it was aggravating and sleep-making because I personally find smuggling adventures uninteresting. You might love smuggling and love at first sight and if you do I say go for it!

[Maida · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m happily suspending disbelief because the storytelling is superb, nonstop action is exciting, and the characters are compelling.

We have Harland, our hero, who is a doctor, a baron, and a criminal all at the same time. He is so enlightened, he calls the FMC a surgeon and offers for her to be his partner, his equal. Of course, he's handsome. Swoonworthy, right?

Then, you have an intrepid heroine, Katherine. She's a midwife/self-taught doctor (?), a caring daughter and sister, and a smuggler. She's also smart and beautiful, naturally.

There's a cowardly former lover, a lord of the underworld whose story I'd love to read, an overzealous captain, and a couple of funny old ladies for comic relief. Quite balanced.

This book caught me in the right mood, because had I read this at any other time, I'd have rolled my eyes at all that perfection of the MCs and the historical inaccuracies in the story and given this a three. With historical romance, I'm so much more forgiving, I guess . I enjoyed it for the fiction that it truly is.

Thanks to Grand Central for giving me an advanced copy to review via NetGalley.

[Mei · Rating 5 out of 5]

RTC...

[Barb in Maryland · Rating 4 out of 5]

A strong conclusion to this trilogy. I have loved all three books for the strong women, troubled men, and their angst-y roads to an HEA.

In this one I enjoyed getting to better know our hero, Dr Harland Hayward, aka Baron Strathmore. He wandered in and out of the first two books; now he has taken center stage. We finally learn the details of how he managed to save the family's shipping business and the cost to him in making that deal. The author didn't let me down by presenting that deal as a simple business transaction. She made it very complicated, emotionally and physically, for our hero.
Our heroine, Katherine Wright, was wonderful. She had her emotional scars, which caused her lack of trust in Harland. The author did a good job of showing us her gradual change of mind and heart. Our couple hit some rough patches on their way to their happy ending, but I had faith that the author wouldn't let them down. (It is a Romance, after all!).

I am glad I took a chance on this author, as I love historical romances but have been sorely disappointed by recent books from long-time favorite authors.
Thank you, Ms Bowen.

[Robin Loves Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

How is it Sir Harland Hayward, who happens to be both a baron and a physician, managed to show up just as Katherine Wright's brother Matthew was bleeding out? Katherine, very experienced as a physician, while in the process of stitching up Matthew, was suddenly forced face Harland. He is quite impressed by her skill and ends up devising an ingenious way of protecting Katherine and her family from soldiers.

Thing is, Harland is also a smuggler, a fact that he keeps close to his vest. As a doctor, Harland is able to find himself in any number of situations without attracting much notice. Although well titled, Harland has good reason for his illegal activities, and that is to save his family from financial ruin.

Katherine has only recently returned home after several years away. She is actually not surprised that her father and brother are smugglers, although she is rather curious as to why they do not even know who their boss is. After patching Matthew up, Katherine accompanies him to Harland's residence for him to recuperate - and to hide him from the soldiers seeking to punish him for his crimes.

As Katherine spends time in Harland's home, she learns that the "job" Matthew was involved in when he was injured was not complete. and Katherine has no choice but help finish what was left undone. It is at this point that she runs dead smack into Harland and begins to learn the truth about him.

Things become a battle of wills, and much more, for Katherine and Harland. They share a strong attraction to one another, all while facing very dangerous conditions. This story morphs into quite an intense journey that brings these two to a place neither can deny, and that is, to each other.

I adored this read by Kelly Bowen. In fact, the previous two stories, A Duke in the Night and Last Night with the Earl, were equally compelling and are excellent predecessors to this engaging series, The Devils of Dover. The way this story is told, it definitely can do quite well as a standalone. So, for excellent storytelling, action, danger, passion and great characters, this book most certainly comes highly recommended.

Many thanks to Forever and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Amarilli 73 · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5 - Chi ha la casa di vetro non dovrebbe scagliare pietre contro quella degli altri.

Di mio, ho già una predilezione per la Bowen, ma devo dire che questo romanzo si è rivelato il migliore della serie.

La Bowen riesce sempre a ideare trame originali: stavolta aveva ricreato una famiglia nobile caduta in disgrazia, con i tre eredi (un fratello e due sorelle) che cercano di barcamenarsi, anche accettando lo scandalo di "lavorare".
Così le due sorelle si sono dedicate all'apertura di una scuola femminile, dove insegnano veri mestieri alle fanciulle delle classi elevate, mentre il barone si divide tra l'attività di commercio mercantile e la professione di medico. Ed è appunto al barone Harland Hayward che è dedicato il volume conclusivo della trilogia.
Perchè Harland non ha soltanto una doppia vita, bensì una tripla e neppure così legale.
E tuttavia si delinea come un personaggio brillante, colto, illuminato, con una notevole dose di coraggio.
A questo punto, se gli fosse stata affiancata una fanciulla acqua e sapone, l'avrebbe davvero resa infelice. Ecco perché la Bowen, con grande acume, sceglie per lui una donna non convenzionale: Katherine proviene da una famiglia di contrabbandieri, è una levatrice e, grazie all'esperienza, una chirurga migliore di tanti maschi che hanno studiato, ed ha vissuto tutte le guerre napoleoniche al seguito dell'esercito. Potrebbe non essere all'altezza?

Ho amato molto questo libro, dove, più che amore e corteggiamento, c'è azione e intraprendenza, e la coppia nasce sul filo del rischio continuo. Entrambi mi sono piaciuti e li ho trovati credibili e coerenti.
Tornano poi anche tutti i personaggi della serie, compreso quel King che fa da elemento di unione tra la precedente (bellissima) serie "Season for Scandal" e questa, e che è protagonista di una novella ("Night of the Scoundrel") inedita in Italia.
Nel complesso, una trilogia per me assolutamente promossa.

[Dalia · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Tracy Emro · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up.

This is not your typical Regency, there are no ballrooms, no drives in the park, no ices at Gunter's, no simpering, virgin heroines or rakish heroes - No, this is a down and dirty, emotional story packed with smugglers, secrets, danger, prison breaks, crime bosses and strong characters.

Katherine Wright hates the life her family leads and wants them to stop smuggling and leave Dover. She has come home after years abroad, where she expanded her medical knowledge and skills, skills she is using when she meets Dr. Harland Hayward, Baron Strathmore. She is stitching up her brother Matthew after he was nearly captured by soldiers. Harland offers to help, but Katherine doesn't trust him - but thanks to hard learned life lessons, she really doesn't trust most men, especially members of the nobility. But when the soldiers come to the door, she doesn't have a choice if she wants to save her brother.

Harland is immediately smitten by the lovely doctor and feels responsible for the families current dilemma. He helps them escape the soldiers and takes Katherine and Matt to his sister's home of Avondale. Harland has secrets and a some heartbreak in his past, but he is a good man and when he learns that his "boss" has a job that will require his medical expertise and will pay more than his usual jobs, he offers Katherine the opportunity to help him. At first she refuses, but after learning more about him and his family, she changes her mind and agrees. Let the adventure begin!

This was a well written, fast paced, intense story with a lot of action, emotion and well developed characters. There are secrets, lies, life and death moments, heartache, steamy love scenes and an ending that will have you on the edge of your seat! Personally, I would have liked a bit more romance and for Katherine to lighten up a bit, but overall, it is a very good read. This is the third book in the series, but it can easily be read as a stand-alone title with no problems.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher.*

[Romancebooksandmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

this just might be the best of the series, two people doing what society says they shouldn't falling in love under odd circumstances both with heartache in their pasts, sign me up please.

this story is fast paced and intriguing and if you're read the other Devil's of Dover series well here is your chance to get to finally know the elusive older brother the Baron of strathmore what has this whily devil been up to. we get sneak peeks of him in Clara and Rose's stories but now he has one of his own, and a woman in Kate that can keep him on his toes, who is strong and is willing to fight for what she wants,

A lovely story of hardship, love and overcoming the past. five stars for sure.

in full disclosure I got this book from forever publishing for a fair and honest review.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Did it need an epilogue? No. Did I want one? Yes! But otherwise I really enjoyed the story.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lord Harland Hayward wears many hats. He's a baron and a doctor but also moonlights as a smuggler at night. His role as a doctor gives him legitimate excuses to pop up in odd places and times when he's bringing in illegal cargo. He's done what he must to save his family's finances but even though his coffers are now full and the family business is thriving, he's stuck in a 20 year contract with a London crime lord known as King with no way out.

Katherine Wright grew up in a family of smugglers and is dismayed when she returns to Dover after years of working as a field surgeon to find her father and brother once again working for a smuggler. When her brother is shot, she convinces them to move and start anew somewhere else, but they insist on honoring their last contract first. Since her brother is injured and her father is in poor health, Katherine is forced right back into the vicious world she left behind and straight into the path of Lord Strathmore.

Katherine can't help but be snarky with the mysterious lord doctor and subsequently even more suspicious when he still continues to be nice to her despite her vitriol. She's been burned before and now carries strong prejudices against the titled and privileged. She makes the widowed Harland feel things he'd rather not after his disastrous marriage and it soon becomes apparent that these feelings are mutual. Even as he needs her help with his latest smuggling assignment, Harland is determined to keep Katherine safe. As much as she longs to leave the smuggling life behind, Katherine knows she has the skills to help Harland and that it would be unforgivably selfish not to. This last job will give her enough money for her family to move and start over so it's worth it, but she's still full of betrayal-fueled hatred and has nothing left to give Harland romantically, despite the temptation he poses. But Harland knows what that emptiness is like so he's not willing to give up the not-wholly-welcome feelings Katherine is reigniting in him.

This premise was quite unique and provided a good bit of depth for both main characters. Despite Katherine's hatefulness, I didn't dislike her (which would normally be the case), likely because she was willing to communicate with Harland about her reasons for such behavior, she was big enough to apologize, and she showed growth and development. This one had some good suspense, as well as some steamy goodness and it was very well-written and enjoyable all around.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Blog link: https://mustreadalltheromance.blogspo...

[Aly · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75

Why choose to become a field surgeon when you have a pampered life ? That's the question that comes to mind for Katherine Wright when she meet Baron Strathmore. He's a perfect gentleman but she doesn't trust him. After all, rich titled men wouldn't get their hands dirty to work in difficult conditions. So what is he hiding? A doctor herself (not that it's recognized, mentality of that time and all that), Katherine thought she was done with the family business but her father and her brother are still smugglers and when her sibling is injured and they need her help, the love she have for them is stronger than her principles and wishes. Kat will have to work with the Lord Doctor, without knowing about his double life and because he's just too charming, she'll use his titles as an excuse to keep her distance.

Kelly Bowen's books are always an adventure. A rogue by Night is no exception. I'll admit I would have prefered more heat between Katherine and Harland or maybe more difference between them because their personalities were similar, and I wanted an epilogue or at least an ending less hasty but having said that, the MC's journey was an entertaining ride, showing the difficulties of war, especially the repercussions afterwards, and the way the author makes me okay about the smuggling, because while it's illegal, there's extenuating circumstances. I liked how the hero is impress by Kat's surgical abilities but even more by her courage and her strong spirit.

[Lisarenee · Rating 5 out of 5]

>>>>>My Synopsis (Review follows): <<<<<
Sir Harland Hayward, is a very multifaceted man. A baron by birth, a doctor by trade, and a smuggler-- not by choice but out of necessity. The latter being something few people know, and he'll do what he can to keep it that way. He's been doing his darnedest to keep his family financially stable in ways that could cost him everything. The fewer who know about it the better.

Miss Katherine Wright has recently come home. Her brother and father are both smugglers by trade, and when her brother gets shot during his latest run she finds herself stitching him up. When the good doctor unexpectedly shows up to help, as if on cue, Katherine immediately goes on high alert. 'Rich men, titled men did not labor in such professions. They did not lower themselves to toil in a field hallmarked by disease and blood and gore. They didn't spend time worrying about people who did not possess an address west of Haymarket, London. And they certainly didn't prowl the back roads of Dover on a night like this when the air was heavy with the promise of rain.' In other words, something doesn't add up about the Baron. and she intends to find out what. Especially as she steps back into the family business of smuggling one last time.

>>>>>My Review: <<<<<
This is the third novel of The Devils of Dover series. You could read it as a standalone, but I don't recommend it. Harland Hayward's story has been woven into the fabric of this series since the very beginning. His sister Clara marries August Fulkner, the twelfth Duke of Holloway, in 'A Duke in the Night' . Likewise, his sister Rose marries Eli Dawes, Earl of Rivers, in 'Last Night with the Earl' . In each of those two novels you'll garner insight into Harland's character, and tidbits into what makes him tick. Family means everything to him and he's loyal to a fault, but despite that, he's haunted with regret. His first marriage all but killed him and rendered him emotionally unavailable.

Katherine Wright is like no woman Harland Hayward has ever met. She's smart, strong, and is haunted by a few ghosts of her own. Using her expertise as a midwife on the field she learned from others and by doing. All the while mastering and obtaining more and more skills and knowledge. A talented surgeon based on skill, but deemed only a lowly midwife due to her gender, she's rather extraordinary. During her years with the military she excelled at her craft and became as good, if not better, than any man who called himself surgeon during the war. Lured into following a man into war by the promise of marriage, she emerged husbandless with emotional scars, and a loathing and distrust for any man carrying a title.

I adored how this couple had the courage to each take a leap of faith and give in to their mutual attraction. I liked how they learned to trust one another after being so deeply hurt in their previous relationships. I'll admit it, I'm a sucker for a happy ending when someone totally deserves it, and this one totally delivered. Add in the fact that Katherine Wright was a woman ahead of her times and Harland admired her for it, and I couldn't help but love this story.

As you can probably already guess, I gave this one 5 out of 5 roses. I loved the drama, suspense, and twists and turns that happened along the way. What I loved the most, however, were the two main characters and all the little cracks and imperfections that made them perfect and deserving of one another. While there may not have been many female surgeons during this time period, I can't help but feel if a woman had the brains and drive to acquire the skills they would somehow find a way to practice regardless as to whether or not they had a piece of paper to prove it. Or perhaps they'd go the route of Elizabeth Blackwell who studied in the US and later came back to England to open a medical college where woman could learn and practice. She also was the first woman to have her name entered on the Medical Register of the United Kingdom in 1861, thereby, breaking down the barriers for other women to enter the field. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one earned a STEAM rating--too hot for a fan, but you still have a handle on things. You should use extreme caution when reading a book with this rating in public. People may inquire as to why you looked flustered and flushed. I HIGHLY recommend this one.

Notes: I received an eARC loan of the book from the publisher for review purposes. This in no way affected my review. Any and all quotes used are subject to change and will need to be checked against the final version as they were taking from an Advanced Reader Copy.

[Sabrina Susanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I hate to say it but this one fell flat for me.
I still love Kelly Bowen‘s writing but the love story did not convince me. Too much instant attraction/love on both sides. I‘d have needed some more time for feelings to be developed rather than them just being there.
It was a nice read but at some time I just found myself skimming pages - even the main love scene, which is never a good sign. I guess I‘m also over the „tell me where you want me“-love scenes as well as the „let me repeat your exact words back to you“- second love scenes.
I also struggled because there was not a single element of surprise in the story. You could already tell how things would develope miles in advance.

[Ermione Pickwick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have no idea why I waited so long to read this, I have had it on my kidle since it was released. I love the series, I love the author.

And I ADORED this. Such a great historical romance. The heroine is marvellous, the best thing in this novel. And the hero, the sweetest. There is so much passion between them.
Very well-paced, there is not a moment of boredom, the "adventurous" side of the plot is frankly very entertaining, and sub-plots - if we can even call it this - can be the thorne in the side of many novels.

[Jes · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first part was good— especially with the audiobook actor— but it got super tiresome.

[Jaci · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book three in the "Devils of Dover" Series is a wonderful love story. Kelly's writing is spectacular, she can make the list of ingredients in a recipe a must read! Her novels are character driven and her plots are original and compelling, making it hard to put down. There is passion, mind-numbing danger, laughter, and love that makes this story a treat to read.

Harland Hayward is a Baron, Doctor, and Smuggler. He made a deal with a devil to help him get the title and estates he inherited back from ruin. He is the man in charge of the smuggling ring and must keep this secret or he and his family will be ruined. Now he has no choice but to keep to the bargain he made so he makes sure he is close at hand on the nights when smugglers are out making a living just in case someone gets hurt. No one has made the connection between the smuggling runs and his presence to help patch up the injuries.

Katherine Wright has come home to take her father and brother away from the danger of smuggling and start a new life and a legal way of making money. Kate had left her family to follow the man who she loved and thought he loved her. Now she is heartbroken, tired and just wants to find a spot someplace where she can live a quiet life and take care of her brother and father. The only problem is that neither one of them wanted to leave the smugglers life, it is all they have ever known.

Into the absolute worst night of her life walks in a doctor who offers his services to help her. Kate is immediately suspicious of him. Why is a titled gentleman roaming the area and how does he know when to show up just when he is needed? She doesn't like him and wants him to leave her alone. She has had enough of good looking gentlemen who say they want to help her.

No matter how much Kate wants to have nothing to do with Harland the more she winds up in his company. She absolutely refuses to make another stupid mistake and trust her feelings for any man. Harland is wildly attracted to Kate and wants to show her how much better she should be treated. Just when Kate thinks that maybe he is right and she should start trusting him she finds out the secret he has been keeping from her and she is devastated again. Can Harland find a way to keep Kate and leave the smuggling operation for good?

Don't miss this one. I recommend you read this one and any of Kelly's novels.

[eyes.2c · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rollicking good story with a woman surgeon/smuggler!

[Amy ~ Love At 1st Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Kelly Bowen’s books. Within a matter of minutes I’m completely swept away in a beautiful and compelling story with characters that quickly pull me in until I’m lost in their journey and I completely forget the world around me. I’d been anxious for Harland’s story since the start of this series. He was involved in something secretive and I was dying to know more. I knew his story would be outstanding, but I was still amazed at what a thrilling, seductive adventure it turned out to be.

Katherine Wright was a gifted healer and the daughter of one of the most intrepid smugglers in Kent. Though her whole family had survived on the smuggling trade, she’d hoped that would change. But the end of the war left families struggling to survive. Food, shelter, and medicine for her ailing father took coin and they were paid handsomely for goods by an anonymous entity in London.
Harland Hayward, Baron Strathmore was a doctor and a wealthy widowed baron. He spent his summers in Dover and saw to the county’s medical needs while there. It was also the perfect cover to bring illicit cargo from across the English channel, an alternate lifestyle he’d led out of necessity to save his family from ruin. One he’d also managed to keep hidden. Until now.
When Katherine’s brother is shot during a smuggling venture, Katherine is surprised at the doctor who happens to show up when most needed. A doctor who would come to strange places at strange times and not ask questions made her more than a little suspicious. And the fact that he was a titled gentleman only added to that suspicion. Rich, titled men didn’t labor in such professions. Katherine didn’t understand him. And she didn’t like what she didn’t understand.
When circumstances require Harland and Katherine to work together in an unusual and dangerous smuggling venture, they’re faced with an awareness and attraction neither had felt in a long time. An awareness that made them feel emotions they didn’t want to feel. Emotions made one discard judgement for blind devotion. That kind of distraction was dangerous.
Katherine and Harland were such perfect soulmates for one another. Both Katherine and Harland were living mired in the heartache of their pasts and the fear that their undeniable attraction to one another would only lead to a repeat of that pain. But the more they were together, the more they found themselves wanting things they’d promised themselves to never want again. As much as I enjoyed the tension of them trying to resist their building attraction, I loved them most when they were able to finally trust each other and work as partners, allies, equals. Through that trust, they were able to let go of the hurt and the hate of the past and replace those feelings with hope and happiness.
There’s so much to love in this story. The passion was sizzling and the dangers they encountered only added to the tension and excitement of their relationship. I love how strong Kelly Bowen’s characters are. Katherine was fearless and clever. She was the perfect partner for Harland. They both had unflinching courage under fire and were loyal to those they loved, willing to go to any lengths to protect them. And last but not least, I loved getting to see King again. I have been so anxious for his story ever since Ms. Bowen’s Season for Scandal series. I hope his story comes soon.
Fans of this Devils of Dover series will be thrilled with Katherine and Harland’s story. If you love breathtaking passion mixed with a fast-paced adventure and danger, you’ll be swept away with this beautifully vivid and exquisitely written read. Thanks to Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this riveting story.

[Jackie · Rating 2 out of 5]

ARC courtesy of Netgalley.

For those who can completely set aside their knowledge of early 19th century English culture, social mores, and expected gender roles, Bowen's latest provides a fairly enjoyable read. Set in 1820, her story features a woman doctor/surgeon as protagonist, with a baron/doctor/smuggler as her romantic match. I could make a long list of historical anachronisms (no surgeon, never mind no woman surgeon, was called "doctor," just to start), but other Goodreads reviewers have done it already (see Amanda's here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...)

Katherine Wright was born into a family of Dover smugglers, but ran away with her lover to follow the drum. Apparently she somehow learned medicine and surgery during that time, and stayed to tend to the wounded for four years following Waterloo, after her cowardly lover raced home without her. Now, she's back in Devon, trying not to become entangled again in the family smuggling business. But when her brother is shot while on the "job," the local baron/doctor, Lord Strathmore, comes to pay a call, not knowing of Katherine's return or her medical expertise (of course, the smuggler family's dialogue is just as posh as the baron's; no class differences here to trouble a reader's mind). And the two are immediately physically attracted to one another.

Harland Hayward, Baron Strathmore, has been drawn into a smuggling ring because he needed the $ due to profligate parents and the need to support his sisters. We never really learn why the London criminal kingpin (named King) needs Strathmore's involvement in the smuggling; he doesn't really do much on the Devon smuggling front. The kingpin does need him, though, to provide medical attention to 3 French prisoners he's been hired to free from English imprisonment. For some reason, Strathmore can't manage this doctoring alone, and so recruits Katherine to help him. The two fall into bed while on the road to London, despite reservations, and sex happens at regular intervals as the book, and the rescue, progresses. Katherine's smuggling connections, as well as her medical prowess, prove providentially helpful in extricating Strathmore from his promised commitment to the kingpin.

The two protagonists are of the "everything we did that seems bad was done for the right reasons" ilk, making them sadly one-dimensional; there's not much character conflict or growth here. Both protagonists have evil/stupid exes, too, a particular bugaboo of mine.

Bowen is the queen of the "have your duke/nobleman, but strip him of all offensive beliefs/assumptions characteristic to the aristocracy of the Regency period and give him 21st century attitudes" vein of historical romance writing. As you can tell from the above, I'm not a fan of it. But there are huge numbers of readers who are; this book is for them.

[Debby *BabyDee* · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I have not had the opportunity to read books one an two in the series I got bit confused with time period while reading this story. With that being said, I thought the story as a nice read for a Kelly Bowen novel.

It takes place in Dover and Baron Harland Hayward, a doctor meets Katherine, a midwife when a smuggling operation goes bad with her brother Matthew. There were tense moments and danger that started the onset of romance for the H/h. The story was well-written and I enjoyed it.

I will have to read the priors in this series to compare the writing style. Thought it could have been a lot better.

I received this ARC for a fair and honest review.

3-Stars🌟.