Infamous

Rebels of the Ton #3

by Minerva Spencer

Bridgerton fans and readers of Scarlett Scott, Darcy Burke, and K.J. Jackson won’t want to miss this smart and stirring new holiday love story from the acclaimed author of Outrageous.

A mean girl reformed...

Once the reigning beauty of her social set, Celia--whom the newspapers dubbed Lady Infamous--has fallen on hard times and is practically destitute, her reputation in shreds. When Celia is forced to attend a society wedding as a companion to an elderly guest, she must confront the clique she once commanded; the gentleman she'd once hoped to marry--who is now wed to a girl Celia relentlessly taunted; and the powerful man who ruined her life a decade before--and is threatening to do so again...

A hero transformed...

Then there is Richard, the studious boy Celia used to ridicule, who is now gorgeous, wealthy, and more-than-a-little famous. As a youth, Richard was infatuated with Celia. He still seems intrigued, but Celia has acquired a shocking secret along with her hard-won humility. Will it put an end to the love blossoming between them? Does she have the courage to find out?

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

352 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 28, 2021

About the author

**I ONLY RATE BOOKS I REALLY ENJOYED**.

Before I began writing I spent time as a dock worker, a reader for the blind, a criminal prosecutor, and I taught American History on the college level for five years. My last job was running an 8-bedroom bed and breakfast, a subject I will never write about...

I like historical fiction because I enjoy escaping into the past when I relax. And I write romance because I love a happy ending and everything that happens along the way.

I came to writing late in life and I feel like I have to write fast to catch up! I work every day at a desk looking out over the Sangre de Cristo mountains, my free range birds, and my three flock protecting hounds Earl, Spot, and Rover.

When I'm not writing I'm playing with my animals, knitting, DIYing, crocheting, sewing, or watching old movies.

I also write historical romance and erotic romance under the name S.M. LaViolette and historical mystery under the name S.M. Goodwin.

Reviews

[Phrynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book in the Rebels of the Ton series and I liked it the best of the three so far. The author seems to be settling into her rhythm now and this one has a slightly unusual storyline which makes it more interesting.

The title refers to one of the main characters, Celia, who is known about town as Lady Infamous due to some of her actions. These become so disapproved of that she is obliged to drop out of sight and become a ladies companion. Eventually however she has to accompany her mistress to a large house party where she meets again all the other people who were involved in her downfall.

There are some excellent characters both good and bad. Richard who was the original victim has grown up from being a skinny nerd into a very good looking man who is well travelled, well educated and even famous - he is about to be knighted for his services to science. Of course this being a romance he has always loved Celia. Is there any way they can get over the past and be together?

This turned out to be a really enjoyable book and one that was hard to put down. Full marks again for the beautiful cover too!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Hannah B. · Rating 2 out of 5]

✨I beg for historical inaccuracy✨

No absolutely not. This book tried to do SO much. It had no business being 400 pages and completely surface level. There were 4 POVs making two couples. One couple had more on-page time but neither was convincing. We got like no introduction to these characters. Lucien was a politician but you knew NOTHING about it. I don’t know why he loved his wife. How she’s the love of his life. The character development of Richard was wild. One second he’s sucking the nipples of a widow and telling her to get a Brazilian and the next he’s all caring and falling at the feet of Celia.

The couple with the marriage in trouble didn’t even get a POV or solid conclusion at the end. It was all like wow you’re the love of my life and I’m like how????? I know nothing about either of you. BESIDES THAT YOU MADE ME WANT TO PUNCH A WALL. I don’t know what they like or dislike besides Richard being obsessed with bugs and by the WAY there was SO much bug content. I. DONT. CARE. It’s wild to me that in 400 pages I didn’t have a single character to root for nor a thorough look into the two main relationships and the characters in them.

On Richard: I thought I was getting an awkward, cute guy in glasses. No, I got a guy who starts the book by popping a nipple in his mouth and talking about how he liked a prostitute’s *grooming* and wanted another woman to adopt the *style* because wow it was so attractive. I can’t say I would ever need either of those two things in a book, let alone in a hero I’m supposed to like. I got guy who is a scientist and writes shit about the “breeding imperative” and has been subsequently fucking widows since the age of 15. I got a guy who thinks he’s attracted to Celia for “survival” because he wears glasses so his bad genes need her superior ones.

On the marriage in trouble side romance: I’m sorry she told him to take mistresses. I can’t with that. Like of all the whacked out shit in this book, that particular plot point really made me want to scream. I mean TEN years. I’m also so mad that he did. I could get attached to either of them because of this. It was just all icky and unappealing to me. This could’ve been a separate book with less mistresses and that would’ve worked for me. Maybe make him pretend but Jesus I don’t care why I don’t like him taking mistresses I just. hate. it.

I really couldn’t handle both Richard and Celia letting Toni continue the engagement for SO long. They BOTH knew what a lecherous fungus that bastard duke was. And they were going to let her “find out for herself?” W. O. W. We’ve got some winners right here. Why bring up what he did to that boy at school because it made his character 10x worse and every other character 10x worse for NOT THINKING IT WAS ENOUGH TO WARRANT A CONFESSION TO TONI. Don’t even get me started on the shit he pulled with Celia. I understood at the beginning but by the end I had no sympathy. Hugh was supposed to be this great angel man but he didn’t try hard enough.

*Spoiler* I couldn’t with Celia by the end when she STILL let him lie and assault every female in his path. We never even met her daughter until the epilogue so dear fucking me SUE me for not caring at that exact moment about her well-being when she was protected. But I ALSO knew that Richard and his family would step the hell up if need be and I can’t excuse her not realizing that. I know she tried to help Amy after he lied but STILL. I could not take it. She kowtowed to that pad for WAY too long. The final straw was that Amy business but I was pretty much incensed from basically chapter one.

ALSO for shits and GIGGLES please tell me Jonathan’s(16yo) friend (we don’t know his exact age just that he’s young) wasn’t fucking Steff (a grown ass adult) while he was underage. Like come on I can’t anymore. Why would that even need to be in this book?? At least mention his legal age?? Steff literally wasn’t shown at the end so fuck all what happened to her because she deserved a bitch slap too.

I’m not one for like severely flawed characters and every character/relationship in this book was severely flawed. On TOP of the less than savory introduction to the hero ten years in the future. l understand that me not liking the man being with another woman (before the MC relationship) is probably rooted in the patriarchy but call me a tree because I HATE it. Every. Single. Time. The only person I can kinda respect his Toni for planting that motherfucker a facer and cleaning his dirty ass clock.

I get that the past two books were also risky and I really loved book 2 but book 1 fell into the same “I just really hate seeing the hero fucking another woman at the beginning of a book I don’t care that it’s realistic or some shit I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again I don’t like real(istic) men” trap. There was just too much talk of mistresses and unlikeable people. I don’t want historical accuracy and flawed mofos. I want romances that don’t make me break out in anger sweat. Also if we really want this to be flawed and accurate they would all have disease and this book would’ve been very short.

Thank god this book is so thick. At least I can knock myself out with it.

⭐️⭐️/5 🌶🌶🌶*/5

*Also the sex was pathetic. One extended scene with Richard and Celia and one scene with Lucien and Phyllida. Why the fuck would Richard and Celia bring up her “darker proclivities” and how their needs were so aligned and spanking and all that shit and not do ANY of it on page. What kind of torture is this because that’s NOT my kink. There maybe was oral between Dick and Celery but I don’t even think there was.

And now let us CIRCLE BACK to the cover. Like what the flying fuck where’s Ashton because I’m being Punk’d that can’t have been released. Shuttershock really came for our throats.

Bonus points for tossing the phrase “pendulous jewels” in this book like we wouldn’t fucking notice lmao.

[Barbara Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Barbara’s rating: 5 of 5 Stars
Series: Rebels of the Ton #3
Publication Date: 9/28/21
Period: Long Regency (George IV) 1828
Number of Pages: 352

This was a most delightful read with engaging characters, two lovely romances, and a lesson for all of us – people are not always who/what they seem. I love it when I get two romances in a book – and both of these are really lovely. I almost said that one of them was a second chance romance, but I’m not sure that is true because they never had a chance at romance the first time.

Our first couple is Lucian and Phyllida (Phil) who had never even met prior to the night they were compelled to become betrothed. Lucian was planning to ask the woman he loved, Celia Trent, to marry him. He would be paying a visit to her father the following morning. Ah – such are the puny plans of men. Fate, however, is wiser than we are and sometimes steps in whether we wish her to or not. A very nasty trick, meant for someone else, goes awry and Phil and Lucian end up locked in a closet overnight – which, of course, necessitates marriage for them. Phyllida has lived with the insecurity of knowing she was not her husband’s chosen bride for the last ten years. She has pushed him away – and pushed him away – and pushed him away – and their marriage is definitely feeling the strain. After ten years and two children, Lucian is at his wit's end – until he gets some unsolicited advice from his bachelor brother, Richard.

Richard and Celia – what an unlikely pair – or are they? Richard was supposed to be the one on whom the nasty trick was to be played. Richard was supposed to be the one trapped in the closet with Phyllida because both of them were the recipients of the ‘bad girls’ scorn. When the trick is revealed, it seems the only person to pay a price – other than Lucian and Phyllida – is Celia. Not only does she lose Lucian – who was to be her salvation – she is cast out of society to begin a horrible ten years of suffering.

When the four of them are thrown together at a Christmas house party meant to celebrate Richard and Lucian’s sister’s wedding, tensions run very, very high. Phyllida’s insecurities rise to an incredible level, Richard is just Richard (you’ll love him), Lucian has fallen in love with his wife and doesn’t want Celia anywhere around, and Celia has no choice because she is now the paid companion to a very cranky old lady who insists they attend the house party.

It was utterly delightful to watch these four navigate the rocky road that is before them. Misconceptions are explored, forgiveness is given, a nasty viper of a villain is thwarted, and – well – love wins.

I loved this delightfully well-written, well-paced, very romantic read. I loved learning how Celia had grown and changed, and I loved seeing Phyllida blossom under Lucian’s care. Then, there is the BIG fall for our thoroughly analytical scientist, Richard. Richard doesn’t believe in love – until he falls and falls hard. I don’t think one romance really outshines the other, both are very different, and both are very romantic. I can definitely recommend this book and I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did.

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

[Janet Newport · Rating 2 out of 5]

More like 2.5 stars
Just couldn't warm up to either MC..

[Heather K (dentist in my spare time) · Rating 4 out of 5]

*4.5 stars*

I adore Minerva Spencer, but her Rebels of the Ton series has been a bit underwhelming for me. However, Infamous blew the rest of them out of the water, and I stayed up all night to finish it.

I love the intense, flawed characters that Minerva Spencer always brings me, and this book was no different. Celia starts off the book as a wiiiiitch (with a *b*), and I simply hated her, even though I knew this author would redeem her in the end. It did take awhile to warm to her, but I grew to understand her and her motivations.

Richard was a breath of fresh air, mostly oblivious to drama and simply focused on what he wants. I WISH I could be more like him, most unaffected. I liked his relationship with Celia, and I liked how he really didn't bring any of the past with him into his present relationship with her (I am *much* more petty...).

I enjoyed the side romance story between two of the side characters (Richard's twin and his wife), and I loved how everything wove together. I couldn't put this book down, and I read until the wee hours of the morning.

Simply put, Minerva Spencer just writes historical romance that I love to read. Her stories are always interesting and have explosive chemistry, and she redeemed the Rebels of the Ton series with Infamous.

*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*

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[Becky (romantic_pursuing_feels) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall: 3.5 rounded to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot/Storyline: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥
Humor: Yes, a bit

(These are all personal preference on a scale of 1-5 (yours ratings may vary depending what gives you feels and how you prefer you sex scenes written, etc) except the Steam Scale which follows our chart from The Ton and Tartans Book Club )

Should I read in order?
This book does feel like it stands alone in the series really well. But, it is a second generation story, so I would at least read Barbarous, which is the hero’s parents story. (Start with Dangerous and read the whole Outcasts series, followed by the entire series if you want the full timeline of events)

Basic plot
This is a dual story line between two twin brothers finding love. Lucien was pushed into marriage years ago when he was compromised with Phil. Their story is a second chance romance. Celia, the driving catalyst for Lucien’s marriage, has been shamed out of society for ten years. She returns to Lucien and his brother Richard’s circle when her companion she works for is invited to their younger siblings wedding. The second (and main) love story in the book is between Richard and Celia.

Give this a try if you want:
- Lower to mid steam – Lucien and Phil have one scene, Richard and Celia have 2 but they are fairly close together.
- Antiheroine story – Celia was a mean girl, a bully, and this story shows her downfall and recovery
- Late regency time period (1828)
- The beginning of the book takes place in London, but the majority of it is at Lucien and Richard’s country home
- Multiple POV – you’ll have at least 4 between the 2 couples

My thoughts:
So I’ll admit I struggled with this one. It took me over a month to finish it. It was probably just me and my head place at the time. (I also got sick with covid at the end of the month and that’s when I finished it so that could totally have affected how I felt about the story). This has been my least favorite Minerva Spencer.

Part of it is that I do tend to struggle when there’s focus on more than one couple. I’m always wanting more from some of them, and I found that here with Lucien and Phil. They weren’t the main focus, but I found myself really loving their story and I didn’t get a ton of time with them and that made me sad.

The pacing was a bit frustrating for me. The first half the book I just wanted to know more and everyone was still kind of at a standstill – relationships hadn’t progressed and I wasn’t in love with any character. Celia you are of course made to struggle with – she had ruined quite a few character’s lives. But the glimpses into her life I could have done with a bit more sooner. You kind of know what happened, but I wanted solid facts! The second half was much better and did turn to the book to 4 stars for me.

I also felt like the steam and emotional aspect to the sex was lacking a bit in this one compared to the others I’ve read by her. Maybe it’s because I still didn’t know Celia and Richard extremely well by the time they were intimate. I’m not sure.

Content Warnings:

Implication that villain raped a boy servant (It’s never really resolved in detail)
Attempted sexual assault on page
Remembered rape/assault/abuse (not in detail)
Dubious consent sex with villain – he manipulated heroine
Bullying
Abandoned during pregnancy
Parental neglect
Loss of a parent

Locations of kisses/intimate scenes – I had the large print version so pages might be weird

Pg 21 – scenes of Richard with his mistress
Pg 164 – kisses between Richard and Celia
Pg 179 – Lucien and Phil kisses
Pg 253 – Richard and Celia fingering o for her, followed by sex
Pg 271 – Richard and Celia kisses, her on top
Pg 298 – Lucien and Phil sex scene
(Can’t recall total pages, maybe around 330)

[Merry (Life is Busy so I will be in and out) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have not read the other books in the series. It was a new book at the library, and I just picked it up. Really enjoyed the writing. As many others have written it's about a mean girl who get knocked down by life and earns forgiveness. A fun and well-paced story of twin brothers who both are enchanted with the same girl. A mean trick is played, and Celia pays the price. 10 years go by, and we learn the reasons behind the actions of the main characters and how people change. The story is really about both of the twin brothers even though the main characters are Celia and Richard. The bad guy is written a bit too obviously. Naming the horses was a bit of humor that I enjoyed.

[Vintage · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written Regency that kept me interested but populated with a set of incredibly to mildly unlikeable characters. There are two “romances” going on.

Ten years ago, the heroine was beyond a mean girl, but an out and out cruel, manipulative bully that had her life torn apart from a prank that came back to bite her in the back. She’s now a lowly, scorned companion and has learned her lesson through social and economic deprivation.

The second heroine was the dupe in the main heroine’s little plot, and is now a self-pitying whiny bitch. She’s married to the man she loves, and she punishes him for their forced marriage and the fact he didn’t love her when they got married by withholding sex and any affection. Hold on to your hats, this may be the first time I not only forgave a hero for cheating but approved of it. As far as this H was concerned they were compromised, but he got over it before the wedding and wanted to make the best of their marriage. OK, not exactly your dream come true but something to start with, but the poor little Eeyore of a bride lets him know on their wedding night that sex will be convenient two months out of the year it, and he should go out and get himself a mistress. It takes him a year but he finally takes one on. In current times he comes to her to ask her to make it a real mariage rather than a stallion servicing a mare and she still wallows in her pathetic and brutal pity party. Ye olde HP Greek tycoons can create some outrage, but this character and her own canonization of her victimhood infuriated me. Oh, and she’s having an emotional affair with her husband’s secretary.

The main H, twin of the other one, is an entomologist who may measure on the autism spectrum. Hard to tell. He’s Mr. Sexy Pants and the second encounter in the book is of him studying the body parts of his mistress, without his magnifying glass this time. Wince.

All points come together because the twin H’s little sister is engaged to the villain of the piece. The little sister knowing that he currently has a mistress is one of his better qualities as he is a master manipulating, blackmailing rapist with possible homosexual/pedophile tendencies.

The story kept me interested as I ditched working out and doing laundry to finish this up (oh, the sacrifices we make) but I can’t say I like the characters that much. Would the main heroine ever have reformed from her cruel bullying ways if she hadn't been kicked in the teeth repeatedly? For someone who was bullied, it’s a big jump to accept that. The secondary heroine does straighten up when her H comes a wooing, but it took so long enough. And for the nice guy of the piece, the main H could be a little creepy. As for the villain, he does get somewhat of a comeuppance, but given his horrible behavior it’s not enough.

[Jenn (The Book Refuge) · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

Wow... this book was... wow.

The Rebels of the Ton series has been quite an adventure for me. I have had my ups and downs with it, but one thing that is always true is the very compelling characters that the author writes. She doesn't shy away from giving a character some unfavorable traits, and sometimes makes them almost unlikeable. But of course, characters... and people too are more than what we see at the beginning. And growing with them, watching them learn a lesson or two and come out stronger is the beauty of being a reader.

This book is about Celia Trent a.k.a. Mrs. Pehlam. Who went from Society diamond and mean girl to being a lady's companion. When she was young and reckless and cruel she made some mistakes and she meddled in some peoples lives in unavoidable ways and then she had a fall from grace, that was inevitable for her but hidden to the Ton until it happened.

10 years later, she goes to a house party with her patroness and is thrust back into the lives of those she wronged. It is a humbling experience, but also a spark to make change happen all around her.

Richard was a man that Celia had mocked and tried to ruin. When what she really did was ruin his twin, by accident. But Richard is a scientist and has an academic mind that doesn't hold grudges for the past and in fact, he is fascinated by Celia and wants to know her better than he ever did before.

This story also spends a good amount of time focusing on Phyillida and Lucian, the couple that Celia forced into marriage by a prank gone wrong. They have spend years at arms length and their marriage is about to get a revamp in a way they never expected. Will the coldness melt away into passion or will they stay doomed to impersonal bed chamber visits once a month?

I just ached for everyone in this book, more than I usually like to, in fact, but as I said.... it was so compelling. I couldn't wait to see how it all worked out. I liked seeing a former mean girl get her redemption, and to find out what made her that way in the first place. Not as an excuse but as a look into why hurt people hurt people... this book really goes there and I was riveted.

This book won't be for everyone, I know that right now but I will be passionate in it's defense and I look forward to seeing people give it a chance.

Lady Infamous has some secrets to share and you will want to be there when she does.

4.5/5 stars

[Petra · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading about so many wallflowers I really enjoy a story of a popular beautiful girl. Even beautiful girls deserve love 💕
Of course our heroine, Celia has her own struggles actually really big challenges to face and she does it with strength and dignity and also spark of heat.
Which brings me to Richard a beetle and insect scientist. Considering how popular these natural science were in 19th century I could easily see the prestige his studies brought him. I loved his lack of social graces and commitment to scientific method in all things.

The plot has gripped me from the beginning and didn’t let go until the end. There were always new twists and revelations I was simply in for it.

Plus there are actually two romances in here another one is between Richard’s twin brother and his estranged wife and those I also enjoy.

I’m taking down one star because I could not stand the villain. I felt that he was the weakest character of all. The book itself is so light and easy going with pets, nice family gathering, snow, Christmas and in the middle of the plot is this brutal villain. It felt a little cartoonish.
But I still recommend it for great characters, interesting plot and Christmas setting.

[ChasingLeslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Studious Richard Redvers was infatuated with Miss Celia Trent, and his twin brother Lucian planned to marry her. But a gambling father and a prank-gone-wrong have left mean girl Celia destitute. A decade later, she's forced to face her past when she has to attend Richard's and Lucian's sister's wedding as a companion to an elderly guest.

This is the third book in the Rebels of the Ton series. Besides a brief appearance from book two's couple, this book stands completely alone.

I had mixed feelings about this book because it wasn't just about Celia and Richard - which the blurb implies - but a large overarching story about how Celia was manipulated and her actions had unexpected consequences. There are dual love stories and secrets to be uncovered. Because so many elements are packed in, I felt like Celia and Richard's romance didn't get to develop as much as I wanted. I did, however, like the fallout at the end. 3.5 stars, rounded to 4.

Tropes: Class Difference, Ugly Duckling, Twins, Working Heroine

Steam Rating: 3 (two for main couple, one for secondary couple)

* I received an ARC and this is my honest review. #Infamous #NetGalley

[eyes.2c · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life changing moments!

I love Richard, Viscount Redvers, the nerd who's not a nerd. The man quietly simmers. Entomologist, naturalist and adventurer, Richard is returning home for his sister Antonia’s wedding--to a man he loathed, Sebastian Fanshawe, the Duke of Dowden, slithery as a snake and twice as poisonous.
Unknowingly, joining the party is the widowed Celia Pelham. She is now Dowden’s aunt, Lady Yancy’s companion / maid. Ten years ago Celia had been known as CT , the brightest star of her season, and whom all thought was going to marry Richard’s twin brother Lucien, including Celia. At that time, Celia secretly filled all Richard’ thoughts even as he knew Celia was all the woman his brother was determined marry. That was until a scandal threw Lucien and Celia’s friend Phyliida Singleton into an unfortunate situation. Celia as the instigator of the occasion is tagged Lady Infamous by Society. And just who was the behind this? Well let’s just say that whilst Celia might have pulled the trigger, the architect it seems was none other than the tardy bridegroom-to-be.
To be fair, in the here and now, the house wedding party was the last place Celia wanted to be.
Heaps of drama and nefarious doings happen, as our entomologist comes to find out that relationships aren't always down to survival of the fittest, there’s sometimes something more.
The thing is I'm never sure whether I like Celia. I really had to think about how to respond to her. Certainly in her “infamous” incarnation she's a mean girl, a cat and a bully. As the story moves forward we learn why. I can't help but be shocked by her being only seventeen when the story first begins. Now she's ten years older and wiser. A survivor. As much a victim of male perpetrators as others. How does a seventeen year old protect herself if there's no one to stand by her side? Sebastian is all that is bad. And the perpetrator who never stops persecuting Celia, even after all this time. I did love Antonia's way of handling him.
Redemption comes for Celia, as other threads of the story come together. Not without heartache and despair.
Another sparkling tale from Spencer bringing together parties from previous times such as those of the twins’ and Antonia’s parents, Baron and Baroness Ramsay.

A Kensington Books ARC via NetGalley

[Nelly S. · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

“She laughed—more of a choked gurgle, actually. And Richard realized, with a foolish chuckle of his own, that he’d do just about anything to make her laugh.”

• geek gets siren
• opposites attract
• class differences
• forced proximity
• insta-love
• steamy

I liked the story and found it entertaining, but the romance did not bowl me over.

What did I like? The premise of a mean girl, Celia, who gets her comeuppance and falls in love with the geek, Richard, she once scorned. Flawed characters, a dastardly villain and a secondary romance keep things interesting. Engaging writing, banter, and good pacing. A couple of emotional scenes at the end (Richard proves to be a mensch) made me tear up. Steamy love scenes.

So what didn’t I like? The pairing of an entomologist and former belle of society turned Lady Infamous is a true case of opposites attract which never seemed to quite gel. I found it hard to believe that Richard would be enamored with Celia, who was once shallow, mean, and grasping. It also felt like the transition in Richard’s feelings from lust to love was very abrupt. Finally, I read historical romance to escape to a bygone era, but this book has a very contemporary feel.

[MissBecka Gee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the best of the series thus far!
Celia & Richard were a fantastic pair.
Some saucy bits and enough of a storyline to keep things moving between spice.
Loved everything about this one!!!
Much love to NetGalley & Kensington Books for my DRC.

[Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

I requested this book because I loved Dangerous. I wanted to read more of Minerva Spencer and get a better idea of the author and her style.

Now, this book is the third one in the Revels of the Ton series, and is about Celia and Richard. Celia, who was a bully toward Richard when they were younger, had now changed as a person after a prank goes wrong. She is now a paid companion and meets Richard at his sister's wedding.

So, since reading this, I've also read The Music of Love and Notorious. The angst level is high in this one, just as in her other books (at least compared to the ones that I've read).

The thing that I genuinely loved is that Celia's growth reads so well. I really find it believable and find that her redemption was written well. I loved Richard from the first. The characters were well done and well written. The beginning of the book was not paced well. I found it sort of unnecessary. The second half is much better. Richard and Celia's relationship gets moving during the second half and although it's a little late, I started to enjoy myself much more.

I actually liked the side story between Phil and Luce and, unpopular opinion, kind of wanted the story to be about them. I found myself craving for more moments between these two and more relationship development here. I'm not a huge side-story fan bc this always happens to me. I end up loving the other relationship more and wanted a full book about it.

I will ay that, after having read four books from her, I don't know if Minerva Spencer is the author for me personally. The angst level, even in The Music of Love, wasn't for me and the lack of communication between the LIs is such a persistent problem in many of Spencer's books. I don't know if I'll read or request another Spencer book, but I'm happy to have read this in the end.

[Brinley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this one!! After the massive disappointment that was Outrageous, I was just praying this was better. Thankfully it was, and has redeemed my faith in Minerva Spencer.

I think my favorite thing about this was how developed every character was. All of them had their flaws, and it was amazing. I feel like this aspect was definitely much better than it was in the other books, as I don't remember caring much about the characters in the prior books.

Celia's arc was done incredibly well, and I loved the way it came to a conclusion. She didn't feel like a bad person, she just felt flawed. I loved how this deviated from the typical "mean girl" narrative we normally see. This was so much more, and I loved it for that.

I also loved how this followed two couples instead of just one. When I read this was about a set of brothers, I am was super worried it would just be a love triangle. It wasn't, and it excelled because of that. I was rooting for Phyillida and Lucien just as much as Richard and Celia. Both of the relationships balanced spice and emotion perfectly.

Although I've loved and hated books in this series, I can't wait to see what else Spencer comes out with. She has a talent for writing strong romances and complex characters, which are two things I love. I'd definitely recommend this!

Thanks to Netgalley and Minerva Spencer for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

[Ｓｈｉｆｒａ ♕ · Rating 4 out of 5]

In need of a reprieve from your cookie cutter, altruistic, regency heroines, who all- if not nobly, then naively- vow only to wed for love, or die a destitute spinster? If you thought even a tentative 'yes,' then welcome aboard!

Synopsis:

Miss Celia Trent, were she placed in any other story already housing a plucky protagonist, would surely be cast the antagonist for she is- from the outside- the consummate mean girl: calculating in her husband hunting, a ringleader of a posse of snarky bullies, and of course the undisputed reigning beauty of the season.

Indeed, fictional portrayals have not held back any punches in depicting beautiful mean girls, casting them in irredeemable lights: insipid, one-dimensional creatures, that are cruel just for the sport of it.

Ahh, were it as black and white as that life would be oh so simple! But it is not of course, and Infamous affords us a complex, human, and thus intrinsically imperfect heroine, who due to a perfect storm of desperation, coercion, and fake friends makes a mistake that lands two perfectly innocent individuals- one of whom would have otherwise wed her and solved all her problems- into an undesired compromise.

Her handiwork, though unintentional, is squarely attributed to her and she goes overnight from desired and on the precipice of a brilliant match, to shunned, earning the sobriquet: 'Lady Infamous.'

We then flash forward a decade and find Celia is now companion to a Lady Yancy and goes by Mrs. Pelham. She will be forced to revisit that unhappy chapter that transformed her life & sobered her fanciful notions, when a wedding Lady Yancy is invited to reunites her and all the key players that featured in her darkest hour. The groom happens to be Sebastian Fanshawe, the Duke of Dowden, an influential & charismatic puppet master, who abuses his influence to keep others- amongst which is our Celia- under his thumb & do his bidding.

As the bride in question is Miss Redvers, it is hosted at the estate of her brother, Lucien Redvers, Earl of Davenport. He is the man victim to Celia's compromise, and was forced to wed a rather plain, on the shelf, bluestocking: Phyllida.
Lucien:

He had fancied himself in love with Celia, at least before she showed her hand with the prank. What few know is that he was never the intended target, that distinction belongs to Lucien's dorky, bespectacled, twin brother: Viscount Richard Redvers.

You've heard of resting bitch face? Well allow me to introduce you to 'Resting Dissecting Face,' a most off-putting affliction that Richard suffers; that coupled with his fascination for creepy crawlers as a naturalist marked him as a sore thumb in the upper echelons of London society.
Richard:

He also has the misfortune of earning a powerful and determined nemesis in Sebastian.

Richard, were he your 'neurotypical' sort of man would hold a grudge, and justly, against the woman who would have so carelessly tried to compromise him as a prank, and had penned a scathing 'Ode to Odious' in his honor- but Richard isn't wired as such.

Armed with an analytical mind, and likely on the spectrum to an extent, renders him enviably able to rise above such trivialities and be unbothered. Due to this objective lens, he regards Celia as a source of fascination, and undoubtedly, beauty.

When Sebastian arrives to find Celia, who knows too much of what he truly is, he threatens her to make herself scare or else...


Surrounded by those who resent her, those who have used her ill, and in great social disadvantage, in 'The Reunion from Hell on Steroids,' how will the former Miss Trent fare in the trenches?


What Worked:

♡Characters felt authentic, well rounded, and were active. They never did anything that made me want to tear my hair out- which is increasingly rare in novels.

♡Witty dialogue, good prose, and engaging plot.

♡Celia’s journey! I loved how Celia’s insecurity and it leading to her folding to peer pressure and becoming a mean girl, even as her conscience haunted her, is portrayed.

Celia was sick and tired of arguing with her conscience- a battered, bruised, and malnourished thing that refused to die no matter how badly she abused it.

Her growth is in stunning evidence. As any girl who has survived the trials of cliques in school and the petty politics therein I think it really humanized the bullies who fall into those roles. I found her well written and compelling.

♡Phill's and Lucian’s honest portrayal of a marriage and coming to care for one another.

♡Celia & Richard's love story was potent.


What Irked:
✗I had a deuce of a time getting into it, but by 40 percent I was unable to put it down and finished thereafter straight through.

✗The insight into the baser inclined mind of Richard was a bit much for me but that got better with progression of story. I will say Richard is aptly named- the abbreviation of his name becomes him- for every other thought of his is phallic centered. The brunt of his narrative is the jarring insight into an overgrown, horny teenage boys mind I had never hoped to glimpse, and reading it was an unnerving, nose wrinkling, chore.


The Brass Tacks:
I must admit that when I got this ARC I realized belatedly it was a series and decided to go read the first installment 'Notorious' and couldn't get through it. I was starting to regret having requested this but to my not so small relief I enjoyed it immensely.

There was a lot to admire about this work: the characters, the plot that kept feeding reveals, the protagonist, and the layers to it. I found this engaging, satisfying, humorous, and it compelled pauses in appreciation of certain clever wording. Reader, if you are still here, then I would encourage you to try it as I found it well worth the read.

꙳ Spice Scale rating: Heady Habanero 🌶 🌶🌶🌶/5 ꙳
Wear gloves while handling!
In the spirit of the Scoville Scale- a system that measures the degree of spicy- I am coopting it to facilitate rating the degree of sensual content in reading material. For expanded scale ref. photos.
I received an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

📎 If you liked this, you might like Secrets of a Summer Night

[Kit Aab · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF. This book should have been titled Vicious, not Infamous. Entirely populated by idiots. Badly behaved idiots. Badly behaved vicious idiots. Badly behaved self-pitying vicious idiots. The only character who tried to be human (Lucien) was surrounded by so much idiocy that it is a wonder he didn't go crazy. Also, the entire book is a giant anachronism. Gadzooks!

[Katy O.]

I need to come back to this - life and mood intervened but I know it will be wonderful when the time is right!

[Maddison Michaels · Rating 5 out of 5]

Minerva Spencer has knocked it out of the park again with her latest, INFAMOUS. Weaving a spellbinding tale of romance and redemption, that will hook you from the first page and won't let you go until the end, INFAMOUS is one not to be missed! With characters so intriguingly flawed, you can't help but be drawn to them, Minerva creates a story that will stay with you well after you finish the last page. Spencer is a romance author superstar in the making!

[Jaime · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!! Loved this story - all of it! Lots of things going on in this book, a lot of emotion, hot as hell sex scenes, plenty of romance, and perfect endings for all! Lucian & Richard end up just where they were meant to be … even if it took them a decade to get there!

5 stars!! Full RTC

[Sophia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A mean girl gets her comeuppance and a gawky geek is forced to re-think his theory on love when they reunite at a Christmas Wedding house party. First a gorgeous cover, a curious title, and finally that blurb. It was well-nigh time for me to give Minerva Spencer's books a go and, I can only say, "Yet another author I shouldn't have waited so long to try!"

Infamous is the third of the Rebels of the Ton series which is the second generation stories of her The Outcasts series. I had no trouble reading this out of order, but for those who are sticklers, yes, there are scenes with and mentions of the previous couples in both series.

Infamous opens in the past when the key players were experiencing the London season and matrimony was a possibility for two until spite and malice destroyed that chance. There were a pair of identical twin young men who are opposites- suave Earl and dashing to the ladies was Lucien and awkward, scholarly and a joke among the ladies and gents, Richard. Lucien plans to propose to the prettiest woman of the Ton and Rich is well aware that Celia is only after Lucien's title and wealth even while she and her golden set, including the Duke of Bowden, are the cruel people who make fun of him and others like Phillida.

Years later, Celia is a dreary hired companion to a crotchety old woman, Luce and Phil were a forced marriage because of the scandal Celia helped cause, and Rich is a renowned naturalist on the verge of a knighthood. Along with the other players in the past, they all converge on Luce and Rich's home estate for the marriage celebration of their younger sister to Bowden. Celia would rather be anywhere else, Luce and Phil appear cold and distant, and Toni refuses to see Bowden for what he is. Rich, the awkward one sees them all clearly and goes against his isolationist nature to do what he can. This time, though, he will make the gorgeous Celia see him rather than his twin. And, Celia, has many regrets, but realizing her mistake about overlooking Richard Redvers for his twin is foremost on her mind. If she can only keep Bowden and his dangerous threats from finishing the ruin of Lady Infamous, Celia's mean girl title.

It's a tricky thing to reform a mean girl who was the real deal and make readers want to cheer her on to happy, but the author did a grand job and not far into the story at that. Celia might have been mean, but some others were evil and cruel making Celia's malice seem tame. In fact, my fickle self started to feel sorry for her after seeing that she properly served her time and was truly penitent. Then I was cheering her on as she let Richard lead her into a more colorful, lively world of seduction and play.

Richard was a fabulous awkward, complex hero with his scholarly fixation on beetles and the breeding habits of the animal kingdom, his direct and sometimes salacious statements, and his security in his own skin so the cruelty of others slid right off him. He wasn't ignorant of other people or their motives and, in fact, was the only one to see through the charm of some hideous people when others who saw him as an oddity and lacking in people skills couldn't see the truth. He's one of the few to truly see Celia and I enjoyed how he didn't blow off the bad stuff she did, but he was deft at letting the past go for what he wanted in the present. And, oh did this lusty man want and show a woman some ecstasy.

I dearly love to loathe on a villain and the author gave me one or two to really hate on. Oh, the hurtful and conniving plotting this one did and all the while people were twisted to his control and lives were devastated. Where was a convenient carriage to plow him over when needed? But, never fear, he gets his and it was sensational. I wish a few of his cohorts had a comeuppance, too, but I suppose having to live out their lives as the empty wasters they were is a punishment of sorts.

Fun that this was set during the Christmas season and all the goings on happened with this and the dreaded wedding looming in the background.

It was also fun to have the bonus of a secondary romance going on in the background for a pair my heart went out to from the beginning. It blended well into the main threads of the story as did the time of Rich within his family circle and the glimpses of that crazy-wonderful Redvers family.

I could gush on and on, but in the end, this was a marvelous intro to a new to me author and you bet your breeches I'll be tackling her backlist plus, I will be pressing ahead with any new releases in this series especially if a certain gal with a stunning right hook gets her romance. Historical Romance lovers who want sexy, flirty, and a plot that can dig a little deeper into the dark at times, should definitely give this book/series a go.

I rec'd an eARC from NetGalley to read in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a buddy read with Melissa for COYER Community.

[Teresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am always eager to see how an author will redeem a despised character, in this case, “mean girl” Celia Trent. Ten years ago, Celia thought she was about to be proposed to by the eldest twin and heir to a large estate, Lucian Redvers, but due to an evil prank perpetuated by her friend Sebastion, she was cast out of society. Lucian was forced to marry Phyllida, a young wallflower whom Celia constantly taunted and demeaned. Phyllida was a friend of Lucien’s twin Richard, whom Celia also ridiculed.

Now a decade later, Mrs. Celia Pelham is a companion to an older, wealthy woman. She is forced to tag along to attend Lucien and Richard’s sister Toni’s wedding to none other than her former friend Sebastian. Talk about a twisted plot!

This is a story about miscommunication, distrust, jealousy, greed, and just pure evil. There are several storylines happening with all the main characters, but the main story is about Celia and Richard’s attraction and whether two people with so much ugliness from the past can learn to trust and love again. In order to forgive herself, Celia must learn to trust Richard with her deepest secrets. Richard’s secret is that he once loved Celia and has never been able to love again.

I enjoyed this book, although it dragged a bit for me in some spots. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read it in exchange for my honest opinion. I gave it three stars.

[Keri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely fabulous read! This was one of those books where you read with your heart in your throat. This is the story of the mean girl, regency style and what her true story was. Admittedly I struggled at first to find any sympathy for Celia. Which was completely warranted, she was a horrible person. Slowly though MS started showing us the real Celia and we couldn't help but start to cheer her on. I mean we suspected the entire time who the real snake was and eventually all was revealed, but boy that ride! If you haven't read a MS, you can start with this one, although you will want to read the other stories once you finish this one. Well done!

[Kaitlyn DeHerrera · Rating 5 out of 5]

TW: sexual assault, rape

I've learned that when I pick up a Minerva Spencer book, I'm guaranteed three things: steamy romance, complex characters, and a dark narrative. Spencer doesn't shy away from unsettling topics, which makes her books different than the typical historical romance, hence the TWs.

Celia is a former mean girl who pulled a prank at a ball ten years ago, ruining the lives of several people and resulting in the nickname Lady Infamous. In the present we follow Celia, twin brothers Lucien and Richard, and Phil, Lucien's wife, as they all gather for a Christmas wedding. As the wedding day draws near, shocking truths from that long-ago night emerge, as well as secrets kept in the ten years since then.

Overall, I feel like the writing was well done and that Spencer told a compelling story. Even when the characters had traits or did things that were unlikable, I was rooting for all of them to get their HEA. There are also some Easter Eggs for those who have read the previous book in the series, Outrageous.

If you're looking for a page turner, second chance romance, or just a book with some interesting characters, I would highly recommend.

Many thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Aly is so frigging bored · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so much fun! Fans of Minerva Spencer will love it, and new to her and the series will enjoy it as well.

I like categorizing my reads, include them in different trope lists, but I can't find good ones fore this. The only one I can think of is a redemption story for the heroine, a power imbalance between the hero and the heroine(which I thought was handled perfectly) and that's kind of it.

We have Celia, the heroine, who was an insecure girl, living on the edge of poverty and always being afraid of losing her place in the ton. The only thing she saw as having was beauty and she took advantage of it. She also was a queen b in the ton, always making fun of the "lesser people" and trying to land a rich, titled husband. The story takes place 10 years after she falls from her position, lower then she and everyone could have thought(I can't get into it because it's too spoilery). Now she's working as a companion/servant to an old lady and trying to make the best of it. Her plans are thrown into a spin when she finds out they will be traveling to the house of one of the women she tormented and then created a scandal of and her husband(they had to marry because of it).

Richard is the hero, also the twin of the now married couple, a naturalist and a guy who doesn't care what anyone thinks of him. 10 years a go he got picked on by Celia(though not directly and he also didn't care what anyone was saying about him) and the scheme that got her ousted from the ton was actually directed at him, not his brother. He's a nerd and proud of it, he is also really earthy and women kind of throw themselves at him. He's wealthy, handsome, magnetic and on the verge of being knighted.

He and Celia are starting to develop a friendship at his brother's house party in honor of their half sister's marriage. They are also really attracted to each other and Celia isn't sure at first if they should do anything about it.

This book has a secondary love story, between Richard's twin Lucien and Pill, the woman he's been married to for 10 years. From the outside they have the perfect marriage: she helps him in his political carrier, he asks her her advice, they have beautiful, healthy children, they are partners, but they aren't lovers. Phill is convinced Lucien doesn't love her and she keeps him at arm's length, he's also oblivious about her feelings for him, but also yearning for more. Actually, both are kind of oblivious about each other, which is funny and heart breaking at the same time.

In this story we also have a wealth of secondary characters, a lot of whom we met in the earlier books in this series, and the one before it. I loved this and after finishing the book I kind of want a story about Lucien and Richard's siblings Toni and Jeremy.

I liked how ms Spencer resolved the plot and I would have read more, if the story was longer :D What I am trying to say is that I loved the characters, the story and I wish I had more stories to read from this series and from this author.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Celia was once the most popular debutante of the Ton, until an incident resulted in the unfortunate nickname, Lady Infamous, and ruined her reputation. Abandoned by her father and in need of funds, Celia was forced into service. Now, in her role as companion to an elderly lady, Celia must attend a society wedding and face the group she used to lead, as well as the earl she once hoped to marry and his wife, the girl Celia made the brunt of her most vicious teasing. She also has to deal with the powerful and exceptionally charming man who ruined her life ten years ago and is threatening to ruin her all over again.

Richard Redvers is taking a brief break from his travels as a naturalist to attend his younger sister’s wedding. The studious boy Celia taunted has become wealthy, successful and renowned for his work. His youthful infatuation with Celia is still intact in some respects, as he’s still intrigued by her. But along with her newfound kindness, Celia is also hiding a secret that could easily end any hope they may have of starting fresh if she can’t find the courage to make things right.

I was nervous about this book before I started it and I do still have some mixed feelings about it, but I must say it exceeded my expectations. I’m not sure I’ve ever read anything quite like this with a redemption arc for a reformed mean-girl heroine or with the two couples both sharing page-time either. At first, I was definitely more interested in Lucian and Phyllida, the secondary couple, but Richard and Celia definitely grew on me the more I read, which I think was also concurrent with their growth and development individually. Lucian was utterly charming in his slightly clumsy attempts to woo his wife and though she was harder to like given how very slow she was to release her preconceived notions about him, I liked them together and her behavior enabled me to forgive him for a transgression early on in their marriage which I normally would never tolerate. I still don’t like it, mind you, but I can ignore it for the most part. Richard was likeable in a unique way given his obliviousness and total lack of concern about the opinions of others and I liked that he was such a steadying presence on Celia, which finally made her feel safe enough to be honest for perhaps the first time in her life. I was glad to see some development in the character of the twins’ sister, Antonia, as well and I think a book for her could be interesting. I also greatly enjoyed seeing Hugh on the page again as he is one of my favorite heroes. Overall, this was a rather engrossing read; I enjoyed the holiday house party setting, the multiple couples, the steam, the convincing villain, and the growth demonstrated by all the main characters.

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

[Sawyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know at the end of Dangerous Liaisons when everyone is booing Glenn Close at the opera house after she's outed as being a vile schemer?

Welcome to Celia Trent's reality. A former Diamond of the First Water, she lost everything when it was revealed that she was behind a cruel prank aimed at Richard Redvers, the brother of the man she hoped to marry. Unfortunately for her, she misfires, and the real victim is Lucian Redvers. She loses Lucian's love, society's approval, and any hope of marrying to escape poverty.

Ten years later, living as a lady's companion, Celia is forced to attend a houseparty hosted by the Redvers family, where she has to face the people she hurt and come to terms with the consequences of her actions. At this point, Celia is deeply remorseful, but society has a long memory, and little use for a servant's regret, no matter how beautiful that servant may be.

Richard Redvers, Celia's bookish former target, is still fascinated by Celia, and he finds himself gravitating towards her. He's held no grudge, but he's also pretty matter of fact about the decade old scandal. His growing attraction to Celia is complicated by the fact that his brother's life and marriage has been marred by her.

Interestingly, Celia, the former mean girl, was a much more sympathetic character to me than Richard. Richard is an entomologist who doesn't believe in love (because beetles don't need it... or something), and that point of view quickly wore out its welcome. Luckily, Celia carries the book, so it didn't matter too much.

I got this as an ARC from Kensington! Now, how do I get Kensington to send me the weird musty books (Zebra Historicals, obv) that my vivid imagination is convinced they have in their basement?

[Tuesday Strange · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was super excited to win this from Goodreads, but it was so terrible I got 50% in and just could not bring myself to finish it. I didn’t care for any of the characters and actively disliked the mains. DNF.

[Mar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange of an honest review.

This book was SUCH a surprise! I’m usually very picky when it comes to my historical romances, but this book exceeded my expectations.

In summary: Celia, former mean girl, who is now basically destitute and with her reputation in shreds after a mean prank 10 years ago, is forced to attend a society wedding. She sees again the man she was supposed to marry — who wed a girl she incessantly taunted, and his brother, a gorgeous studious and wealthy man with enough wit and sensuality to turn her world around.

This book had four POVs, Celia’s, Richard’s (the LI), Lucien (the man Celia was supposed to marry), and his wife. We follow both couples through their different journeys. For Celia and Richard, it’s a heated, witty, and entangled affair, mingled with friendship, kindness and patience. She meets someone who’ll be always on her side, and he meets her match. For Lucien and Phillyda, it’s a timid courting and a realization of hidden feelings after 10 years married. They married because of Celia’s prank, so in many ways their path to happiness was a way for Celia to be pardoned after what happened.

The writing was incredible, and allowed me to be invested in every story, at all times. I never wanted to put the book down! The plot was very well done, and it was original enough that I truly did not know where it’d be going.

It was so fresh, and fun, and with such a good feminist message as well that I couldn’t help but root for all the girls/women in this book.

Even if you don’t normally read historical romances, trust me, you’ll love this one. It’s fast, romantic, steamy and original. It’s my first time reading this author but it certainly won’t be my last!!